THE first fruits of Sinne , are Shame and Sorrow ; and euer since Sinne brought in Death , Death the lodge of all mens liues , driueth out Sinne , and triumpheth ouer Sinners . Looke on the foure first Fathers of the World ; Adam signifieth earthy ; Abel , mourning vanitie ; Enosh , sorrow ; Kenan , lamentation : and euer since , all times and all places , were and are ( as this time and place , representeth vnto vs ) a time of mortalitie . and a Region of death in the shadow of Death , Nonne haec est regio mortuorum , saith Ambrose , Ambr. vbi vmbra mortis , janua mortis , vincula mortis , & corpus mortis .

The present Cloud wherein wee are inueloped , and stand all as an amazed poore flocke of sheep , beholding a sauage Wolfe worrying our Royall Shepheard ; looking vpon the wrestling of our Royall Iacob , he that is spiritus oris nostri , Christus Domini , the very breath of our nostrils , the Lords Anointed , now in Combat with the last enemy that shall be destroyed ; the contemplation of it striketh vs with a terrible terrour : our sighes , & teares , and prayers witnes it ; and vnlesse the tender mercy of our God , whereby the day springeth from on high , doe now visit vs , to giue light to vs that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death , wee shall finde , that our strange neglect of the Sabbath , the Lords day , doth portend our fatall flight vpon this Sabbath day . But Lord , whatsoeuer shall become of vs the poore sheepe of thy pasture , O looke vpon thy Royall Seruant , O hide not thy face from thine Anointed : saue now , and heare our gratious Soueraigne , O King of heauen , now hee calleth on thee : now that the Angell of Death strugleth with him , let the Angell of the Couenant blesse him ; and as the Angell of Death striueth with him , so let the Angell of the Couenant striue for him , and free his pretious soule from all paine , all sorrow , all aduersitie , and present it to thy diuine Maiestie without spot or wrinckle . O Lord God saue our King , mercifully heare vs now we call vpon thee , Pitifully behold the sorrowes of our hearts , Fauorably with mercy heare our prayers , Both now and euer , vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ , Gratiously heare vs O Christ , gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ . O Sonne of God , O Lambe of God , that takest away the sinnes of the world , mediate with thy blessed Father , if it bee possible that this cup may passe from him , or else that his gratious soule may be bound vp in the bundle of life , to liue for euermore with thee in glory .

In the time of Ieremy , it was the style of mourning for Royall Personages , Alas , Alas : Ier. 22.18 . for that noble Prince , wee may take vp that Alas , Alas . How lately haue wee celebrated Dauids diem solennitatis , Psal. 77.2 . our sacred Soueraignes Inauguration ? on which day , Thursday before his Maiesties death . hee that crowneth the yeare with good things , crowned the Crowne of our Head , our Royall King , with an especiall measure of grace , in manifesting his heartie and deuout profession of the Faith and Protestant truth , which hee had liued in , and maintained , and resolved to dye in , desiring vs all that were present , to beare witnesse , sealing that resolution with the blessed Sacrament : after which diuine repast , his soule was setled in so ioyfull a repose , as that all worldly content could not compare with it . But Alas , that day , dies solennitatis , Psal. 81.3 . is become dies tribulationis : and as Ieremy spake , Lam. 2.22 . in this solemne day our terrours are round about vs : and this Lords day is the day of the Lords anger . And therefore let euery sorowfull and faithfull heart , pray heartily , and cry mightily into heauen , Saue now I beseech thee O Lord : O Lord I beseech thee send now prosperitie .

We need not now to call for Sorrow before she come , it is now the time that the Church hath allotted to eate the sowre hearbs of repentance in Lent , that we may the more sauourly relish the sweet Passover of Easter , it is the spirituall Seed-time which ought to bee waterish , and wee are wont to be content with a wet Spring , to be sure of a ioyfull Haruest . Our true sorrow is Repentance which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an after-wit , and after-wisdome , wherein when wee see , how we haue betraid our selues into the hands of Satan , we may iustly wish that the Heauens aboue would weepe with vs , the Earth lament , the Rocks rend , the Mountaines eccho groanes , and riuers run with teares : and indeed I had prouided by Gods good hand , such a portion of food for this daily bread , and would haue endeavored by his Spirit , to haue watered this Gedeons fleece with that deaw of Heauen . For as Ezekiel describing the Temple , the Image of Gods Church , calleth it , Ezek. 48.35 . Iehovah Shammah , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord is there ; So all our Prayers and preaching are onely to stir vp these graces of God in your holy deuotion and conuersation , that your light may shine before men , to stop the mouths of any interloping Priest , or Iesuited Proselyte , that commeth to pry and spy , that he may see , that this place is , Iehovah shammah , the Lord is here , though he doth not know it . But as Saint Paul was called by an Angell in a Vision , when about to goe to Bythinia , one of Macedonia appeared vnto him , and sayd , O Paul come and helpe vs : Act. 16.9 . so when my intentions were setled on meditations of repentance , the sad face of this sorrowfull family represented it selfe vnto me , and diuers wise and religious desired the Conclusion of this text , begun on Thursday last , vnto which sudden motion I the rather yeelded , because S. Paul had taught me , & encouraged me in that confidence , that hee that beginneth euery good worke , will performe it , Phil. 3.6 . and perfit it vnto the day of Iesus Christ . The Text is like that Petition in the Lords Prayer , Forgiue vs our trespasses , as we forgiue , Sola petitio orationis Dominicae cum repetitione . There be two twins in the wombe of my Text. Gen. 38.30 . Pharez and Zarah were twins , but they were of an incestuous birth . Gen. 24.22 . Iacob and Esau were twins , but there was a battle betweene them in the wombe before they were borne ; but these two twins , two petitions , are like Esayes two Zeraphins singing one with the other : or like two fiery Cherubins taking wing together , and flying vp to heauen , in a needfull time of trouble , to seeke diuine assistance . In this later Petition , obserue plainly as in the former , 1. Cui , to whom it is directed , Lord . 2. Quis , the person who it is by whom it is vttred , I. 3. Quomodo , the manner how earnestly inplored , Lord I beseech thee , I beseech thee . 4. Quid , the matter of the suit so required , Lord I beseech thee send prosperity . Lastly , Quando , the time so vrgently , instantly importuned ; Lord I beseech thee send now prosperity . The sad presence and representation of this day , delighteth not in descant . Our Royall Master is in his sad Passover , and my meditations shall keepe the Passover ; The Lord Iesus who was our true Passover , be present with vs .

It was a wise speech , Iustin Martyr doth cite out of Pythagoras , in his booke de Monarchia , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , If any shall say , I am God , besides that onely one God , let him create and make another world like to this , that we may beleeue him . And Tully in his 2. booke de legibus , speaketh to this purpose , Nemo separatim habuisset Deos , neque novos neque advenas : for God saith St. Bernard is not only vnus but vnissimus : and as St. Gregory , Deus est intra omnia , extra omnia , supra omnia , infra omnia : superior per potentiam , inferior per sustentationem , exterior per magnitudinem , interior per subtilitatem : creating all things , disposing all things , ruling all things , directing all things ; and therefore God only to be invocated as the Psalmist admonisheth , whom haue I in heauen but thee , and in earth none in comparison of thee . It is the Lords day , and to bestow this pretious time impertinently , were but to gather sticks vpon the Sabbath day . In this religious assembly , you may aske as hee did after a long Oration spent in the praise of Hercules , Quis vituperavit ? who dare derogate from this great part of Gods seruice , which indeed containeth the whole worship of God ? so Scripture expresseth it , Gen 3. men began to call vpon the name of the Lord . I answer , wee know , and God knoweth that the Land mourneth for the apish Popish Idolatry of many who call vpon , not onely imaginary saints , but vpon Statues , and pictures , and medalls , and Idolls , creeping to Crosses , bowing to Images , like those who turned the glory of the invisible God , Psal. 106.20 . into the similitude of a Calfe that eateth hay . Giue me leaue therefore most briefly to put my Sithe into this Haruest , not onely , to cut downe those cursed tares , but also to gather some sheaues for the present occasion of this distressed Family , who when they see all helpe to be vaine , may the more earnestly rely vpon the God of Iacob for their refuge : It is enough to stifle and strangle this monster of Idolatrous Superstition , that in all the Bible there is no one called vpon but God only ; the godly in all ages neuer knew any other , and Rome hath no argument out of all the Scripture , but of damned Diues in hell , and let the wicked bee turned into hell , with all the people that forget God . The voice of the Church is , Te Deum laudamus , Wee praise thee O God , wee acknowledge thee to be the Lord : All the earth doth worship thee : To thee all Angels cry aloud : To thee Cherubin and Seraphin , continually doe cry : The glorious company of the Apostles , the goodly fellowship of the Prophets , the noble army of Martyrs , the holy Church throughout the world , doth knowledge thee . Heare our Prophet Dauid for all the rest , as collecting this from all the rest before him , and commending this practice vnto all that shall be after him , Thou Lord art the hope of all the ends of the Earth : Thou art God onely to be feared : Thou art God ouer all the Earth : Among the Gods none is like vnto thee : Thou art my rocke , my refuge , my shield , my buckler , my castle of defence , my deliuerance in whom I trust . O loue the Lord all yee that are his . And let mee draw you with a threefold cord of this loue , not easily to be broken , twisted of the most pretious twines of his presence , his omnipotence , his beneficence . For his presence , he is a present help in trouble , hee filleth Heauen and Earth : and as there is no place , where there is vacuitie , so there is no place , where there is not the presence of the Deitie . Non est locus , vbi non est Deus : in the field with Isaac , in the high-way with Iacob , in the pit with Ioseph , in the prison with Micheas , in the dungeon with Ieremie , on the dung-hill with Iob , in the wildernesse with Iohn Baptist , on the Sea with Peter , in the Sea with Ionas , in the nethermost hell with Dauid , Thou hast brought my soule from the nethermost hell . The Lord is nigh vnto all them that call vpon him , so nigh as that hee prepareth their hearts to call , hearkeneth to them when they call , inclineth himselfe to receiue their call , boweth downe his care vnto their call ; nay more , boweth the Heauens and commeth downe vpon their call ; nay more , he commeth into them , stayeth with them , suppeth with them , lodgeth with them ; nay yet more , will neuer bee absent from them , but bee about their beds , about their pathes , about all their wayes , & will for euer dwell in their hearts by faith . And as for his presence , so for his Omnipotence , He is Creator adesse , Conseruator in esse , Recreator in bene esse , Glorificator in optimo esse , He that measureth the Heauens with a span , holdeth the Sea in his palme , weigheth the mountaines in scales , bindeth the earth in a girdle ; Hee that out of the Stones in the street can raise children vnto Abraham , open the windowes of heauen and raine plenty , can make fruitfull land barren , and water-springs of a dry land : He that bringeth downe the high tree , and exalteth the low tree , and dryeth vp the greene tree , Eccle. 17.24 . and maketh the dry tree to flourish : he who with a word made all things , and with the same facilitie doth gouerne all things , and with the same abilitie shall destroy all things : hee who worketh all things , and is neuer troubled ; who worketh alwayes , and is neuer disquieted : who is in all places , and neuer moueth ; who both filleth and incloseth all things : He that is able to do exceeding abundantly , aboue all that we can aske or thinke , vnto him be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throghout all ages . Eph. 3.20 . And as in his presence and omnipotence , so in his beneficence : his grace , his good-will towards men ▪ the tender mercies , the bowels of his mercies , the mercifull louing kindnes of the Lord , the height , the depth , the bredth , the length of the loue of God in Christ Iesus . Deus meus , misericordia mea : not misericors Deus , but Deus meus , misericordia mea : not , my mercifull God , or God of mercy ; but , my God , my mercy . O nomen sub quo nemini desperandum .

Come hither then sorrowfull Christians , Vse . that feele an invisible hand cutting downe our Royall Cedar , vnder whose gratious branches we thought to haue seene many good dayes ; now yee see that they whom God hath called Gods , & sons of the most high , Quos homines , coelestibus aequat , hath taught them that lesson , they must dye like men , Et Sceptra ligonibus aequat . O then trust not in Princes . O blessed is the man that hath the God of Iacob for his help : Psal: 146.4 . whose hope is in the Lord his God . It was a good Speech in a bad King , who when the poore woman cryed out , Help me O my Lord the King , 1 Kings 6.29 . hee answered , How should I helpe thee when the Lord hath not helped mee . Alas , vaine is the help of man whatsoeuer he be .

The first and last , highest and lowest of all the sonnes of Adam , are all vanitie . Some few of them may bee Honourable because Princes ; but they are borne sinfull , the sonnes of men ; and borne weake , there is no help in them ; and borne mortall , their breath departeth ; and borne corruptible , they returne to their earth : Trust not then in Princes . And sure , if the great Characters of Nobilitie , whose mortalitie this yeare hath made a large Commentary vpon those words , serue not , The fatall Earth-quake vnder which this great Pile , and euery person therein , now laboureth in the bitter conflict betweene life and death of our Royall Master , ( wherein O Lord send help vnto Iacob ; ) his sad and heauy day , this disastrous houre , might seale this lesson to vs all our dayes , and lay it vp till the last houre of our life , Trust not in Princes , Blessed is the man , who hath the God of Iacob for his help . Alas , how hath the witchcraft of Court so inticed and intangled many , that setling their eyes vpon sublunary obiects : with the Israelites , they forget God their helper , who still haunt the Court , because an vnquiet spirit haunteth them , whose ambitious wits being as high houses vpon weake pillars , are easily blasted and blowne downe , from aduancement or hope , from fruition , or possibility , though they thought to steale away preferment without Gods knowledge , besides Gods will , and so they remaine bladders puft vp with the wind of false hope and selfe loue , confused heapes of enuy , pride , and emptinesse : and why , because they called not vpon God : Happy is he , and blessed be God there be in Court many so happy , that know that the Court of heauen and earth , are not contrary but subordinate , and that the best Courtship springs from deuotion , when neither the name of Court , nor grace of a Prince , nor applause of inferiours can make them looke aboue themselues , or forget God or goodnesse ; to whom honesty , reason and religion bee their chiefest compasse , the Diall which they obserue how to spend their time : Providebam Dominum , I did set the Lord alwaies before my eies : and so liue that though they know Princes fauours nor liues bee permanent , yet in the great ecclipses of Court , such as this our present distraction is , they remember there is a wide world besides the Court , and a heauen aboue this world , where there is a God not subiect to change , but ready to heare , to helpe in a needfull time of trouble , as Dauids owne experience here , Lord I beseech thee send now prosperity . And so we are past our first step .

I beseech thee : 2. The person who it is by whom it is vttered . The Author of the Ecclesiasticall story relateth , that when the Temple was to bee built , there was a stone often taken vp , but as often refused by the workmen , sometimes too bigge , somtimes too little , till at length it was placed as a conspicuous corner stone aboue all the rest . Mist . Eccl. in 3. Reg. Dauid passed through the Zodiacke subiect to many disastrous influences , and yet remaineth still the same , vntill the storme of tyranny bee ouer-past : Enuy is like the Sun-beames , that beat more vpon a rising ground , then vpon a levell ; by many indignities hee came vnto that dignity hee had , his standing was slippery , constrained to flie into the Rocke , to wander in the wildernesse , to lodge in a Caue , to beg his bread of Abimelech , to make himselfe a mad-man before Achish , to serue the Philistins his enemies ; yet , all eyes are fixed vpon him , all tongues , all hearts , entertaining him the obiect of their discourse and desires ; he being young and lusty as an Eagle , strong as a Vnicorne , bold as a Lyon ; running his race as a Gyant , flourishing as an Oliue-tree ; established as Mount Zion which cannot be remoued . I will not launch forth into the Ocean of Davids life , I will content my selfe to walk by some rivulets of the waters of comfort , which fall into the great Sea , wherein are things innumerable to be obserued . In the Genealogie of Christ ; among all the Kings there is not one stiled a King , but Dauid , Math. 1.6 . Iesse begat Dauid the King , and Dauid the King begate Salomon . And of all the Kings of Iuda or Israel , Dauid was the Patterne . Amasiah did vprightly in the sight of the Lord , 2 King . 14. yet not like Dauid his Father . And Asa did right in the sight of the Lord as did Dauid his Father , 1 King . 15. and so of the rest ; Dauid is so much renowned , as the principall and Paramount Patterne of all the Royall line , that as in the Catalogue of bad Kings , Rehoboam did ill , and Ieroboam worse , and Omri worse then he , and Ahab worse then all ; so in the number of the good , though Salomon did well , Iehoshaphat better then he , and Iosias better then both , yet Dauid best of all , and therefore Dauid the King , the Diamond of the Diadem of all Kings , and of all other Kings this attribute in Scripture is giuen Dauid aboue all Kings , and before all Kings , Dauid the King . When Dauid was with Achish at Gath , Achish giueth this testimony vnto him , Thou art good in my sight as an Angel of God : 1 Sam. 29.9 . when the woman of Tekoa , came with a pretence of getting a pardon for her banished sonne , she vseth the same termes to Dauid , As an Angel of God , 2 Sam. 14 : 17. so is my Lord the King to discerne good and bad : when Dauid found the imposture , that shee was Ioabs instrument , the Tekoite applies this againe to him , My Lord is wise according to the wisdome of an Angel of God , 2 Sam. 14.20 . to know all things that are in the earth : when Ziba had slandered Mephibosheth , and Mephibosheth came being lame , somewhat late to answer for himselfe to Dauid , My Lord the King , saith he , is an Angell of God : An attribute giuen him especially among all the Kings , before all the Kings , and aboue all the Kings in Scripture , by enemies , strangers , subiects , seruants , friends , good , bad , all , 2 Sam. 19.27 . Dauid as an Angell of God .

St. Gregories obseruation is true , Per incrementa temporum , Greg. 16. Hom. in Ezek. creuisse scientiam spiritualium Patrum : Moses partaked more diuine knowledge then Abraham , the Prophets then Moses , the Apostles then the Prophets ; Chrys. Ep. 6. ad Theodorum . but of Dauid St. Chrysostome noteth , vt in ordine regum , sic in numero Prophetarum electum fuisse , Regum vero constat omnium optimum fuisse , &c. And Philaster in the same kinde , Sicut sanctis alijs diuersam tribuit Christus Dominus gratiam , it a majorem huic concessit scientiam , dicente Domino , Dabo vobis sancta fidelia Dauid . Aquinas proueth all the premises , quia Dauidi modus Prophetiae nobilior , videlicet per immediatam illustrationem intellectus : and Dauid himselfe explaineth the manner of his Illumination in Prophecy , as the light of the morning when the Sunne ariseth , 2 Sam. 24.4 . euen as a morning without clouds , as the tender grasse springing out of the earth , by cleere shining after raine : Summing vp Gods extraordinary graces in this kinde , Lord saith he , Psal. 119.99.100 . thou hast giuen me more vnderstanding then mine enemies , then my teachers , then my Elders . So that Dauid a Prophet , and more then a Prophet , a King , & the most worthy of al Kings , an Angell of God , and more then an Angell , as I shall now proue : for if the distinction of Angels and their Hierarchy doe hold , and that of Cherubins be true , Dion . Arcop . which the Ancients teach vs , Cherubin ordo Angelorum qui velocissime pareant Deo , I say Dauid was as a swift wing'd Cherubin , of all others ; through all the Scripture none so diuinely inspired , with a hearty , holy , fiery zeale , flying vp into the spheare of diuine & sacred contemplation ; none but hee that was the son of Dauid excelled Dauid in this kind . I know it is a strange curiosity to make a mans-selfe so skilfull in the orders of heauen , as to aduance Angell aboue Angell , and here it is little lesse then an Impertinency ; and I remember St. Austin dares not positiuely affirme it ; but when I find of all other orders of Angells the Cherubins at the gate of Paradise , Cherubins ouer the Arke , Cherubins in the Temple , the Oracle placed betweene the Cherubins , and the Chariot of Maiestie drawne by Cherubins , according to that , Psal. 18.11 . Nyss. de Asc . Domini , Dauidem maiorem esse Apostolis ; & Euangelica voce , sublimiorem . He rode vpon the Cherubins and did flye , I then thinke , that as one starre differeth from another starre , so one Angell may differ from another Angell in glory ; and if any Angell excell , the Cherubins doe ; and if Dauid were as an Angell of God , because he excelled other men , I dare say by his deuotion wherein he excelled , he was a glorious Cherubin : deuotion was his daily bread , his meat , his drinke , his diuine and dearest exercise ; I giue my selfe , saith he , vnto Prayer : doth dedicate & consecrate his time & studie and labour and endeauor , his heart and tongue , and body and soule vnto this blessed duty and seruice , to this diuine and heauenly exercise , I giue my selfe vnto Praeyer .

The Lord hath chose vnto himselfe the man that is godly ; that is , saith the Chalde Paraphrase , Psal. 4.4 . the man that can pray . The Lord hath magnifyed , so St. Austin readeth magnificavit , or as Ierome , mirificauit . Surely blessed is that man that the Lord hath endowed with the least measure of his spirit , with one dramme of goodnesse , with one sparke of godlinesse , one drop of heauenly dew , one mite of grace , one grain of faith , one Iota of firme obedience ; but when the Lord hath showred so plentifull a dew vpon his inheritance , and so variously magnified and multiplied all these blessings vpon a man , then wee may say as it was of Mordochai , Thus shall it be done vnto the man , Est. 6.11 . whom the King of heauen delighteth to honour ; and such honour haue all his Saints ; but aboue all Dauid had this honour , which being distilled and infused on him , hee deriueth to others , Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord , that delighteth greatly in his Commandement , Ps. 112.1.2 . his seed shall be great vpon earth , his generation shall bee blessed , wealth and riches shall be in his house , and his righteousnesse shall endure for euer . To close vp my obseruation of Dauids person , he was not only Gods friend as his name importeth , but Gods fauorite , like the Disciple whom Iesus loued , and therefore most familiar in Gods bosome , and chiefe of his sacred and priuy Councell . Six times we read of Dauids familiar accesse , to consult God himselfe ; Dauid enquired of the Lord , 1. Sam. 23 2. Shall I goe smite the Philistius . Dauid againe enquired of the Lord , 1 Sam. 23.4 . Shall I goe downe to Keilah . Dauid yet againe enquired of the Lord , whether hee should pursue the troope that had sackt Ziglag . 1 Sam. 30.8 . When he newly came to the Crowne ; Dauid enquired of the Lord , 2 Sam. 2 : 1. Shall I goe into any of the Cities of Iudah : when all the Tribes had annointed him King in Hebron , 2 Sam. 5.19 . and the Philistins came against him , Dauid enquired of the Lord ▪ when the famine came vpon Israel for Sauls bloody act in slaying the Gibeonites . Dauid enquired of the Lord ; or , as in the Originall , 2 Sam. 21.1 . Sought the fauor of the Lord .

The Imitation whereof will blesse your gracious Highnesse ; for as Gregory proposeth the examples of Moses , and Dauid , of all others , to incite Rulers to enter into the Tabernacle , to consult with God ; not to come to their Counsell-Table , before they aske counsell , and pray for counsell from God ; and euen Pliny giueth a reason hereof , Nihilrecte , nihil prudenter , nihil prouidenter , homines sine Deorum immortalium ope , consilio , honore , auspicari : Let it not bee vnseasonable , that I presse this at this instant , now your Royall Father lyeth vpon the Altar of his Death-bed , for the sacrificing of his blessed Soule to his Redeemer , The Lord helpe him in this Day of trouble , the name of the God of Iacob defend him . I will not say that trouble is hard at hand ; and yet Corona gemmarum , is but Corona spinarum ; but a great and weighty Charge , is ready to fall vpon your Princely shoulders , a great doore is opening to your Highnesse , and there bee many Aduersaries : vpon whom are all the hearts and eyes , I say , not of these Kingdomes , but of the Christian World , set , but vpon your Highnesse ? and as Mordecai spake , who knoweth whether you are come to the Kingdome for such a time as this is ? to be the glory of the Christian , Ester 4.14 . and enuy of the Antichristian World ; for , since the Sauiour of the World went downe into Egypt , vt qui populus persecutor fuit populi primogeniti , fieret custos filii Primogeniti , neuer was any Prince so deliuered out of the hands of his Enemies , that hee might serue the Lord without feare ; neuer any Prince brought back from the imminent , eminent , emergent Iawes of death , as your Gracious Person : O , let it neuer bee vnsauory to remember that miraculous safety of your Highnesse returne ; wherein the right hand of the Lord had the preheminence , Psal. 116. the right hand of the Lord brought mighty things to passe . O , let it bee your Religious care , that euer your Soule may bee satisfied with the blessings of good things by prayer , that your Sacred Person may bee , as euer hitherto you haue beene , a blessed Patterne of this holy practice ; for such as your Highnesse shall appeare to bee by example and proucation , such will your Seruants bee by imitation : For , as all in Alexanders time , did affect Chiualry , because hee was a Souldier ; and Poetry in Augustus time , because hee loued Poets ; and Musicke in Nero's time , because hee was a Musitian ; and Fencing in Commodus time , because hee delighted in Fencers : so all were forward in Christianity in Constantines time , because hee loued Christians ; of whom as the powerfull examples of other ages in Hercules fortitude , Guevar . Epist. Marcus Aurelius his wisedome , Antonius Pius his care of the Common-wealth , Aristotle his learning , Cato his Seuerity , Scipio his Continency , and Laelius his Amity , were Presidents to all succeeding Ages ; so was Constantine of deuout Piety : who , the better to instruct his People in Deuotion , by his owne example , ordained that his Image , which we know Princes doe vse to coyne vpon their money , should bee stamp'd with the resemblance of him praying : And to say no more herein , Euseb. de vita Constan . C. 15. Cyp. de coena Dom. I close this with Cyprian , Quoties in conspectu Domini video aliquem suspirantem , toties Spiritum sanctum non dubito inspirantem : As often as I see any one in Gods fight sighing out prayers ; so often I doubt not God is present , breathing his Spirit vpon such a holy suppliant . Diuinity buildeth vpon this , Christianity doth require it , necessity doth enforce it , and no faithfull man maketh doubt of it ; and hee that shall bee frequent in it , shall be sure to finde fauour of the Almightie : O , did they consider this that dote vpon Courtly fauour , the Courts diety , Ambitions Darling : vpon fauour that flower , vapour , meteor ; palea , festuca , vmbra , pluma , spuma ; that shadow , that dust , that mote , that feather , that froth : vpon fauour that ebbeth as the Sea , passeth as a winde , and droppeth downe as the leaues in the fall , they would learne Dauids lesson , to seeke fauour and familiarity with God , for that shall bring a man peace at the last , Psal. 37.37 . & would make this their dayly suit , as Dauid , a King , being Master of Requests for himselfe , here doth , I beseech thee O Lord , O Lord I beseech thee : and so I haue done with the second step .

I beseech thee : 3. the manner how hee prayeth . Deuotion delayed or lingred , is soone quenched , but when heated , and hastened , when the passions are liuely and strong , when an earnest , Zealous , impetuous Petition is offered to God , not drawn from the lips or lungs , but from the inwards of a contrite , confident Soule , it neuer wanteth successe ; for not only the Body but the Soule hath a mouth , and language ; and as the heart giueth aspiration to the arteries , so doth the conscience to the affections ; and as we breathe in the ayre , so grace is breathed into vs from Heauen ; the motions of Gods Spirit are the lungs , knowledge and deuotion are as the lips , faith as the tongue , zeale as a string that passeth from the heart vnto the tongue ; Prayer is the language of Canaan , the holy Tongue ; for shee was bred in the holy Land , and the elegance of this Tongue , is the eloquence of importunity . Chrys. Quam grata apud Deum importunitas ▪ how gracious and gratefull is importunity in the eares of God ? Non importunus neque impudens , Aug. de verb. Apost. saith S. Austin , it is not a sawcy or a shamelesse part in thee to aske any thing of God with great importunity , hee bids thee aske , and seeke , and knock , and knocke not only til he heare , but till hee answer , and open , and grant thy request . Dauid hath a double supplication , it is like the former and the latter raine , the ingemination noteth an vnremoueable and constant affection to the suit hee desireth ; mans impatience in prayer can neuer offend Gods patience , the Musicke of Angels doth not more delight the Lord , then the redoubled obsecrations of his Seruants , wherby he doth suspend their desires in expectation , & extend them by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , their earnest importunity : Note only the Parables of a friend called vp at mid-night , the most vnseasonable and deadest time , wherein any would bee loth to be troubled , the doores shut , the children asleep , the sable mantle of the silent night , couering all the World ; yet vpon importunity the friend riseth at midnight , answereth , openeth , granteth , Luk. 11. the request , tendreth and giueth , because of the importunity ; so also that Parable of the vniust Iudge , that cared neither for God nor man ; yet because of the constant , continuall Solicitation of the poore woman , he heard her , and granted her suit : wee cannot hold a meaner opinion of God , then of a common vulgar Friend , ( which were too base to conceiue ) or a more vnrighteous iudgement of him , then of the most vnrighteous Iudge , ( then which , Aqu. Cat. Aug. what can bee thought more blasphemous ) they both were woone , non amicitia , non iustitia compulsi , sed taedio . Famous is the importunity of the poore woman of Canaan , miserere fili Dauid . 1. She cryeth , and calleth , and followeth : our Sauiour vouchsafeth not an answer , not a word , not a looke , yet shee surceaseth not , but calleth and cryeth out still . 2. The Disciples her back-frinds , they would haue her sent backe , Send her away , she cryeth after vs , and yet shee is not retarded , but continueth her calling . 3. Our Sauiour answereth her , and reiecteth her , as not capable of any good from him , I am not sent but to the lost sheepe of Israel : shee a Canaanite , yet neither Disciples nor Master can beat backe her Faith , shee followeth , and falleth downe , and worshippeth , and cryeth Lord helpe me . 4. Our Sauiour replieth in the most bitter Phrase that euer hee vsed to any poore Suiter , It is not meete to take the childrens bread and to giue it to dogs . Mat. 6. The daughter possessed with a Deuill , the mother accounted a dog , and holy things not to be giuen to dogs , this had bin enough to haue blasted her hope , and rooted vp her faith , and haue confounded her confidence , and wounded her distressed soule , and silenced her importunity ; yet behold , she that had all these discouragements , replieth , and by her reply crowneth her confidence with a blessed conquest , Truth Lord , but the dogs eate of the crummes that fall from their Masters table . She wrought a miracle vpon her Sauiour , made the deafe eares to heare , and the dumbe tongue to speake : to tongue and eares , shee cryed as Christ to the eyes of the blind , Ephata , bee opened , heare and answer my petition , and grant my request . O how well pleased is the Lord with the importunity of his seruants when they cry day and night , and double their ingeminated obsecrations .

Looke vpon blessed Hezekias his manner of Prayer , Isay 37.17 . Encline thine eares O Lord and heare , open thine eyes O Lord and see , & heare ; and when he lay vpon his death-bed chattering like a swallow , mourning like a Doue , I am depriued of the residue of my yeares , I said I shall not see the Lord , euen the Lord in the Land of the liuing : hee knew that no balme in Gilead , no vnguent of the Apothecaries , no skill of Physitians , no fruits of the fields , no flowers of the garden , no mineralls of the ground , Esay 38. could giue the least allay vnto his sicke and sorrowfull soule , but onely the Lord , whom therefore hee remembreth , and sixe times in his Prayer repeateth that sacred name of the Lord . It is obserued that God himselfe doth seeme to be pleased to vse often an ingemination of the names of those he best loued , in Scripture ; Gen. 22.11 . Exod. 3.4 . 1 Sam 3.10 . as when he called Abraham , Abraham , Moses , Moses , and Samuel , Samuel : & in a like manner we ought to be well pleased and much delighted in the blessed remembrance and inuocation of his name . And sure when the hart is full of God , the tongue will not refraine to talke of him , they that rarely thinke on God , shew how miserable their estate of grace is . If the Lord be not in our hearts wee are godlesse ; if in our hearts without ioy , we are hopelesse : If wee reioyce in him , and speake not of him , we are shamefully thanklesse ; If he be in our harts in our tongues , in our ioy , coldly and perfunctorily , we are negligently faithlesse : and therefore as wee must thinke on the Lord alwayes , so speake on him often , and when we pray to him , doe it earnestly , and zealously ; in faith without wauering , in confidence without doubting , in perseuerance without desisting , crying out as Ionas Mariners , Ion. 1. Wee beseech thee O Lord , wee beeseech thee ; or as Dauid here , I beseech thee O Lord , O Lord I beseech thee .