As Daniel obserued the time when Nabuchadnezzer sinned , so he obserueth the time when Nabuchadnezzer is punished , as if God had lien in wait to catch him in his words , & take him at the trip : euen as hee watched Lots wife , when she looked backe , Ge. 14 and transformed her into a piller of Salte , so soone as shee looked behinde . So now the Lord laie as it were in the scout , to watch when Nabuchadnezzer spake treason , and to apprehend him vpon it . O Nabuchadnezzer , thou hast vaunted these twelue moneths , since I warned thee , and I made as though I heard not , but suffered thee to doe and speake thy pleasure , and vauntest thou still ? Surely , thou shalt scape me no longer , I will not heare a worde more against mine honour : so hee cut cut him off while the wordes were in his mouth , and propundeth the wordes of iudgement against him . If you marke the time when the voice spake from heauen , you may see three wisedomes of God , first God takes him in his fault , that hee might see his falt , ● . Kin. 13 4. as Ieroboam was stroken when hee stroke the Prophet , that he might knowe why he was stroken . Then he takes him sodenly , because hee contemneth his warning , as the fire came vpon Sodome while they contemned Lots warning . Gen. 19 24 Thirdly , God takes him where he is pleasantest , & lustiest , & safest , in his pallace , which was lyke a castle , as hee tooke Herod , when his gard stod by him , Acts. 12. 23. that he might see that nothing can garde him from God , but God must garde him from danger , or else Princes be not safer than subiects : so thogh a man sin often , and steale his sins as it were without punishment , yet at the last he is took napping while the wickednes is in his hand : as the Iewes were , Num while the quailes were in their mouthes , and his day is set when he shall pay for al , whether it be after twelue moneths , or twelue yeares , whensoeuer it commeth , it will seeme to soone . Vengeance doth stay till sinne be ripe , & watch the time when they are most occupied : then iudgement steps foorth , like the Angell to stoppe Balaam in his way . Num Because the punishment is more terrible and greeuous when they looke not for it ( for the worst that is , wish like Balaam to die the death of the righteous ) therefore God will crosse them in that : though they prosper alwaies before , yet their endes shall bee a kinde of iudgement vpon all theyr lyfe , and a prophesie of torment , for all men to see what becomes of the wicked after death , that they may feare to bee lyke vnto them . As when we see some striken dead while they forsweare themselues at the barre : some fall downe vnder the table , while they sit swilling at the wine : some striken dumbe in the pulpit , while they preache vntruths : euen as the Philistines were slaine while they feasted : and as Herod was shamed while he vaunted : Act. 12 23 and as Ieroboam was striken while he stroke . 1. Kin 13. 4 What doeth this teach vs , but that our sinnes depart from vs , so soone as they are done , vnto the iudge , and there they accuse vs , as Cains murther cried out against him , so soone as hee slewe his brother , Gen. 4 I know thy words , saith God : Reu. 3 15 hee may saie , I knowe thy wordes and thy thoughts too . For Iudas coulde not goe so closely about his trecherie , Mat. 26 14 15 , 16 but that Christ did knowe when his thought entered into his heart , and hearde when hee conferred also with the Scribes , and sawe likewise when he tooke the bribe , though he kept a time to punish him , as hee sayth in the seuen and thirtie Psalme the second verse : When I see a conuenient time , then will I execute iudgement .

Now the time was come , when this king should be made an example vnto all other kinges after him , to amend their liues and reforme their realme . When the Prophet commeth from God vnto them , to tell them what they should doo , when dreame & Daniel had done what they could : nowe God calles foorth his iudgementes and bids them see what they can do , & commands them to chase Nabuchadnezzer , vntil he haue lost his kingdom , vntill hee be driuen out of his pallace , vntill hee be fled into the wildernes , vntil he be degenerat like a beast , vntill his subiects & seruants , and pages , make their sport , & gaze and wonder at him , like a foole which goeth vnto the stockes , or a trespasser , which is gazed at vppon the pillorie : So this king was debased , when God heard him but vaunt of his buildings .

Therefore let vs take heede , and be carefull , after what sorte wee speake , and what wordes slip from vs , least God take vs in our lies , or othes , or slanders , or ribauldrie , as he took Nabuchadnezzer , when his toong walked without a bitt : for if he had supposed that God had bin so neare , and that hee would haue aunswered him as hee did , hee would haue held his peace , and laid his hand vppon his mouth , rather then pay so deare fo● a vaine word , which did him no good when it was spoken .

The second note is of the iudge . A voyce came downe from heauen : the controuling voice came downe from heauen ▪ God is most offended with our sinne : for Nabuchadnezzer might haue spoken more than this , before any other man : and no man could controll him , because he was a king : and kings delight in greater vanities than buildings , yet no man saith , why doest thou so : because Salomon sayth : Pro He which repeateth a matter , separateth the Prince , that is , he which tells Princes their faulte , maketh them his enemies : therefore since Iohn Baptist died , onelie God is lefte to reproue almost all that sinne by authoritie , yet one is in heauen hath an eare & a tongue , and cheeketh the king as boldly as euer the king checketh his subiects . When the voice from earth spake vainely , the voice from heauen spake iudgement . Heere is the king of heauen against the king of earth , the voice of God against the voice of man : a diuine wrath , warring with a humane pride : the fire is kindled , woe to the stubble . The Lord of hosts is in arms against the Lord of Babel , and begins to laie hands on him , and to thrust him out of his throane . First hee rattles him like a thunder , O king Nubuchadnezzer , as if he shuld saie ▪ for all thou art a king , thou shalt see whether another be aboue thee . Now garde thy person , now defend thy honor : for he whom thou hast despised , threatneth to take thy kingdome from thee : go now & walke in thy gallery , fetch one turne more before thou be turned out of dore , and walke with the beastes in the forrest . Now hee comes to the arraignment , & cals him to the bar , O king Nab. to thee be it spoken : he was neuer called king with lesse reuerence , nor had such pay for sinne in all his raigne . God giues him his title , but he tells him his lot , he calles him king , but without a kingdom , as if he said , late king of Babel , hold vp thy hand , here a king is araigned in his own kingdom , & no euidence giuen against him , but as though he had witnessed against himselfe , as all sinners do , God condemneth him out of his own mouth , and to open his eares , hee calleth him by his owne name , O king Nabuchadnezzer , as the prisoner is called when he holdes vp his hand at the barre . Then hee pronounceth the iudgement , To thee be it spoken , to thee which aduancest thy self like God , to thee which wouldest not take heed by the dreame , to thee which wouldst not be warned by the prophet , to thee which didst all for thine own honor . Now hearken to thy iudgement , Thy kingdome is departed from thee , thou shalt be driuen out of thy pallace , they which shoulde honour thee shall expulse thee , thou shalt raigne with the beasts in the desart , there shal be thy dwelling seuen yeares , go now and stalke in the woods , as thou didst in thy pallaces , and when thou art among the lions and wolues , and Beares , looke vnto Babell which thou hast built . Howe doth this speech differ from Nabuchadnezzers speeche ? his wordes were but words , but Gods wordes were , He spake , and it was done . Genes 〈…〉 For in the same houre that which was spoken was done ( saith Daniel ) and whatsoeuer the same voyce threatneth vnto our sinnes or vnto the sinner , shall be done at first or at last . To Nabuchadnezzer it was sayd , Thy kingdome shal be taken from thee : to vs it is said , Thy life shal be taken from thee : to him it was said , Thou shalt be thrust forth into the desart : to vs it is said , Thou shalt be thrown forth into darkenesse : to him it was said , Thou shalt be like beastes : to vs it is saide , Thou shalt be like the damned . Shall not the voice spoken to vs be remembred with God , aswell as the threatning menaced to him ?

This voyce came from heauen , and therefore it spake home , not like them which glide by the faults of Princes , and whisper behinde their backs , as though they would reproue them if they durst , but for feare least the Prince , or Councellour , or Iudge , or Magistrate , should take it as hee meanes it , and think that he aimes at them , which makes them speake in parables , as though they woulde cast a vaile ouer their reproofe , and eate their message before they haue spoken it . The holy ghost teacheth vs here to reproue , so that whosoeuer sinneth , may know , that thou speakest to him . Hee which speaketh from heauen ( as this voyce did ) must speake like Iohn Baptist among the Publicanes and harlottes , and soldiers , as though he went from one to another , and saide , this is spoken to thee , this is spoken to thee , this is spoken to thee . For vnlesse wee come neere this mortall Gods and proude Nabuchadnezzers , as neere as Elias came to Achab , when hee said , It is thou that troublest Israel , 1. Kin. 〈…〉 they will post it ouer , and thinke that thou speakest not to them , vntill thou speakest plainly , as the voyce spake from heauen , To thee be it spoken . And then they will reforme the matter , or else God shewe some iudgement vppon them , as hee did heere vpon this great King Nabuchadnezzer . Nowe the decree goeth foorth , that Nabuchadnezzer shall be king no more . Thy kingdom is departed from thee . This is such a saying , as if Nabuchadnezzer had thought of it before , hee woulde haue wept when hee vaunted , to thinke that his honour was going from him , when he thought it was comming to him : yet his kingdom was not departed from him , & yet God sayth , Thy kingdome is departed from thee , because thy decree was past , which shoulde as surely come to passe , as if it were past alreadie , Therefore because we care not so long as the Prophet saith , we shall die , we shall suffer , we shal answer , he leaueth Shall , and sayth Now , as God sayd to Abimelec : Thou art a dead man , ●ene . 20 3 not thou shalt die , but thou art dead , which roused him more , then if hee had threatned him an hundred deaths , because he thought that he should die presently : so the holy Ghost is forced as it were to exceede , and speake more than we thinke hee shoulde speake , for the hardnes of our hearts , which heare like stones , and go like snails . If we haue but a weeke to repent , we will defer it to the last day , that we may sinne all the rest .

Therefore it was meete to say , Thy kingdome is departed from thee . That seeing his iudgement should not stay , hee should not stay his repentance . If this voice had saide , Thy Babell shall sinck , as Nemrods Babel did , it seemeth hee woulde haue thought his honour buried , but when he was stript , not only of his pallace , but also of his kingdome , what heauy newes was this vnto him , which thought himselfe equal with God , and now may not be a king . But when hee was thrust among beasts to eat grasse with oxen , what a downfull was this to be brought vnder all his subiectes , which spake euen nowe as though there none but he : and now his seruauntes seruant would not be like vnto him ? So the king of kings wil be honoured of kinges , as they are of their subiects , or els he wil tread vpon their crownes , and they shall heare the same at last , Thy kingdome shall depart from thee . Now followeth the execution of this iudgement , for Daniel saith , The same houre all this was fulfilled . So he sheweth the order of it : as a prisoner is brought to the barre , and lead to gybbet , so this king was drawne from his throne , and turned into the wildernesse , where hee abode among wilde beastes so long , Till his haires were growne like Eagles feathers , and his nayles like Birdes clawes .

When God began , hee made haste , it was long before hee spoke , but when he spoke , hee did it , and effected in an houre all that the dreame , and the Prophet had foretold . Then was fulfilled , The pride of man shall bring him low : Euen in that houre that Nabuchadnezzer aduanced himselfe more then before , in the same houre hee was brought vnder al his subiects , al his seruantes and pages : so hee which setteth vp can pull down , he which gaue can take , he which made can destroy .

Therefore let no man vaunt though he were a king of his house or land , or farme or children , but knowe that he shoulde haue nothing , if God did not regarde him more than other : and thinke when thou doest reade this storie , whether thou be not as proude of thy welth , as Nabuchad . was of his pallace : whether thou be not as proud of thy children , as Nabuchadnezzer was of his kingdome : whether thou bee not as proude of thy parentage , as Nabuchadnezzer was of his honour : whether thou be not so proud of thy learning , as Nabuchadnezzer was of his traine . If thou be not so proud , then God doth say no more , O king , to thee be it spoken , O subiect to thee be it spoken , these blessings shall be taken from thee , For , hath God taken no mans kingdome from him but Nabuchadnezzers ? Hath hee taken no mans office from him but Iudas ? hath he taken no mans riches from him but Iobs ? how did Antiochus and Iulian , and Herod , and Saul , and Athalia , and Iezabel , and Richard the third goe from theyr thrones , as if God had pulled them out by the eares : he had no respect vnto their persons , but vsed them like beasts , as hee did Nabuchadnezzer , & fulfilled his threatning . The candle of the wicked shall be put out . Therefore as Christ saith vnto them which turne backe , Remember Lots wife : so I say to them which beare high minds , & proud lookes , and stout wordes , remember king Nabuchadnezzer , howe God resisteth the proud . Now if anie man long to be resolued , how this king was changed to a beast , he must not imagine anie strange metamorphosis , or popish transubstantiation , as though his shape were altered , or his manhoode remoued , or that he put on hornes & hoofe , as the Poets faine of Acteon , for the voice doth not saie that he should become a beast , but that he should dwell with the beastes . Daniel doth not saie that his head or arms , or legs were transformed , but that the haire of his head & the nailes of his fingers did grow lyke Eagles feathers , & like birds claws , as euerie mans haire and nayls wil if he do not pare them . Lastly , Nabuchadnezzer sayth not , that his shape was restored vnto him , but that his vnderstanding was restored vnto him : all which declare that he was not changed in bodie , but in minde : not in shape , but in qualitie . A sauage minde came on him , Genes. 4 12 like that which droue Caine from the companie of men , and he became like a Satire or wild man , which differeth not from a beast but in shape : though hee was not tourned to a beast , yet this was a strange alteration , to bee so changed in an houre , that his nobles abhorred him , his subiects despised him , his seruants forsooke him , none woulde companie with him but the beasts . Consider this all that aduaunce themselues agaynst God and despise his word , as Nabuchadnezzer did . Take warning by a king , which euen now walked in his galleries , and his nobles serued him in his pallace , with all dishes that the aire , or sea , or lande could affoord : now he is turned to grase and feede like an oxe with the beasts in the wildernesse . This was to shew that God maketh no more account of the wicked then of beastes , and therefore the holie Ghost calleth them often by the name of beasts : shewing how that sinne and pleasure make men lyke beasts , when they haue abused their wits often , and peruerted their reason , at last God taketh their vnderstanding from them , and they become like beastes , loathsome to themselues and others : many such beasts we haue stil like Nabuchadnezzer , who were fitter to liue in the desart among lions , wher they might not annoy others , then in townes amongst men , where they infect more then the plague . Thus if you haue not considered the beastlines of sin , looke vppon Nabuchadnezzer , Genes. 4 12 like a beast . If you would see the guilt of it , looke vppon wandering Cain , 1. Sa. 16. 14 If thou woldest see the frensie of it , looke vpon frantike Saul . If thou wouldest see the feare of it , loke vpon trembling Baltazar . Dan. 3. 〈…〉 If thou wilt see the shame of it , Hester . 〈…〉 1 looke vpon Haman hanging vpon his owne gallowes . If thou wilt see the end of it , looke vppon the glutton frying in hell . Luke . 1 〈…〉 2 These are the pictures of sin , which God hath set for a terror before vs : like the piller of salte , Gene. 1 〈…〉 2 or Achans sepulchre to speake to vs . Take heed by those , Iosua . 〈…〉 2 when I haue warned you , as I warned them , I will punish you , as I punished them .

This is the Epitaph , as it were , which God ingraueth vppon Nabuchadnezzers sepulchre .

Be thou an example to kings and rulers , for all the children of pride to beware how they sette themselues against him who aduanced them .

Thus he which sets vp , can pull down . Did not I send thee dreams to warne thee ? Did not I sende a Prophet to warne thee ? If either of them would haue serued , thou mightest haue ruled still , and walked in thy galleries , and feasted in thy pallace , and iudged vppon thy throne , and died a king : but now thy kingdome is departed from thee , who woulde bee like Nabuchadnezzer , now the king is like a beast ? If this heathen was thus challenged for his warning , which had heard but one Prophet , wee may tremble to thinke what wee shall aunswere for our warninges , which haue bin threatned as often as the Israelites , & yet prouoke the Lord whil he serueth vs , like those which curse the sunne while it shineth vpon them .

Thus haue you seene the fall of pride . Euen now he said , Is not this great Babel ? Now he may saie : Is not this vnhappie Babel ? euen now he sayde , Which I haue built by the might of my power : and now he may saie , which I haue built by the vanitie of my pride : euen now hee said , for the honor of my maiestie : now he may saie , , for the ruine of my kingdome : yet after this he rose againe , and came to himselfe , and receiued his kingdome , and honored him which punished him so : but the time will preuent mee to speake of his restitution , therfore here I end .