I Haue chosen this storie of Nabucadnezer , wherin you may see his pride , his fal , and restitution . This Nabuchadneezer was a wicked king , and therefore God warned him by a dreame , and by Daniel to amende his life , but all would not serue : he made many shewes , but reuolted againe , therefore at the last GOD gaue him ouer for a time , and hee became like a beast vntill hee acknowledged his power to come from God . A warning to all rulers to remember that one ruler is aboue which must bee serued of them all , or else all their buildings and treasures , and gard , will not shield them from iudgment when the stroke commeth , no more than they could saue Nabuchadneezer .

At the end of ●welue moneths ( saith Daniel ) this king walked in his royall pallace . The Prophet shewes that he had deserued this punishment before , and that his dreame which he had did tell him how that his kingdom should depart from him for his pride : yet this respite was granted him , for twelue moneths , like the fortie daies which were granted to the Niniuites : Ionas . 3 4. 5 To try what he would do vpon his warning , & whether hee would repent as the Niniuites did , therefore the holy Ghost sheweth how the time ran , and how hee liued after . As if hee should saie , if he wold returne yet , and be warned by the dreams , & by the Prophet which I sent him , I will staie my hand , and his kingdome shall not depart from him : but here he shewes that hee forgot his dreame like a dreame , and was more desirous to knowe ▪ what it meant , than to be warned by it the twelue moneths ranne moneth after moneth . Now his dreames are gone , he thinketh that all his ended , yet Nabuchadneezer is all one , therefore hee getteth him vp into his pallace amidst his delightes , to beake himself as it were in the Sun of all his pleasures , where in deede he hastned God to take al his pleasures from him , when hee shoulde haue repented , as Daniel willed him , and ripped vp his sinnes , and bewailed his life , and poured forth teares , and preuented his iudgement with praier vppon his knees , then was hee stalking in his galleries , and thinking what sinne should be next , to fill vp the number of his rebellions , that GOD might not spare him when hee iudged .

So the wicked will not suffer the prophesies of God against them to be vaine , but they will put God in mind of their punishments and sinne , till the punishment come to fulfill the threatninges due vnto them .

Some thinke that Nabuchadneezer walked vpon the roofe of his pallace , from whence he might see all parts of the Cittie round about him . Math. 4. 8. Like the mountaine whither the Tempter lead Christ , to shew him the beautie of the world .

This Daniel would signifie , that the King liued in ease as hee liued before , and pleased himselfe in vanitie still , Math. 3. 10 for all his warning , and turned his time of repentance to sinne . Therefore the Lorde would defer no longer , but cut him down like the barren figge tree , to teach vs to take mercy while it is offered , to repent while we haue time , and if God speake but once to vs , to lay it vp in our harts for euer : not look to bee spoken to againe , because God is not bound to warne vs at all . One would haue thought that Nabuchadneezer would haue remembred his warning while he liued , which had such a straunge and fearefull dreame , and after an other dreame to confirme it , and after such a Prophet to expound it , and the exposition of it threatening such a downe-fall vnto himselfe . One would haue thought he could not haue forgotten it thogh he had liued vntil this day . But like a wonder , which lasteth but nine daies : so is the repentance of them that are accustomed to sin . When sinne is rooted , it stickes harde , and who shall weed it ? Though God should send vs dreams , though he should shew vs visions , though he should raise vp Prophets , Daniell himselfe cannot make this blacke Moore white , which hath beene euer blacke . We may see this in our selues , for what neede we to heare so often of repentance , more than of anything els : but it is such a thing that we can not frame ourselues to . If we bee warned of any thing but of sinne , one warning will serue : but we are so incorporate and inured with sinne , that a thousand Sermons wil not serue : so custome hath made sinne stronger in manie than the worde of God . Well remember , or consider , or applie it how he will , after twelue moneths God will come , and take account of his dreames , and of his Prophet which hee sent to see what Nabuchadneezer hath profited by them . Although lied haue leaden feete , which are long a● comming , yet he hath iron handes , which , when he commeth will strike home .

Now God comes and findes Nabuchadneezer vpon his Towers , when he should haue cast himself downe to the ground , & thought vpon his dreames , and Daniel , to humble his pride . Hee was pearched vpon his roofe , and there he begins to crowe of his wealth : Is not this great Babel , that I haue built for the house of my kingdome by the might of my power , and for the honour of my maiesty ? See how the man standeth in admiration of his vanity , like an vsurer which doteth of his money as though hee had deserued immortall fame for spending his money vainely , to lay one stone vpon another .

Is not this great Babel , &c. hee should haue saide : Is not this Nabuchadneezers follie , which he hath built for a mocke to his name , and an impeachment to his wisdome , for men to say when they passe by , looke how our King hath bestowed his reuenewes , here lie our subsidies , & our tributes in these stone walles ? But Nabuchadneezer thinketh that euerie man will prayse him for his follie . Therefore as a woman when shee is prickt vp in her brauery , thinketh that all doe admire her , and hath as goodlie opinion of hir selfe , as the Pecocke hath of his feathers , and frameth al her trickes , and speeches , and gestures accordingly : So when Nabuchadneezer sate in his pallace , and saw such sheeres about him , now , saith pride , thou must frame thy lookes , and gestures , and speeches accordingly , or else the Kings pallace will bee brauer than the King himself . So hee beginneth to exalt his minde higher than his pallace , and to looke & speake stouter then he did before : the temptation was no sooner in his heart , but it was in his mouth , and he pleased himselfe therein so well , that he could not refraine , beeing alone , but as a foole , admires himselfe in a glasse : so he , when hee was alone , and no bodie with him , yet he strouted alone , and bragged by himselfe , to thinke what a iolly fellow he was . Nowe men begin to talke of his buildings . By this we may see how wealth and honors chaunge manners , and howe a gay coate , or a wrought handkercher , or a golde ring can braue a mans minde , and make him looke and speake after another fashion than he did . It is a wonder to see what power these pettie vaine toyes haue ouer the minde , to alter and change a man sodainely , when hee thinkes better of himselfe that day hee weares them , than any day else .

Is not this great Babel , &c. Before the holy Ghost layeth Nabuchadneezers words , marke how he commeth vnto them . The King spake & said : was not one enough , but hee must say , spake & saide ? This doubling of the words sheweth , that he spake with a premeditated pride from his heart root , which should out whether it were sinne or no , come what will come . For the holie Ghost doth bring in other speeches with He said , and no more : but heere hee saith , He spake & saide , as though hee spake twise , not as hee spake at other times , but like a man at defiance , which could not recall anie worde that he saide , but if hee could say more , he would say it to anger him . Did I cal it great Babel ? I may call it great Babel . Did I saie that I built it ? I will say that I built it . Did I adde for the honor of my maiestie ? Let it goe for the honor of my maiestie . Thus he spake and said , as though he would bee constant in his pride , although he were constant in nothing else .

Is not this great Babel , which I haue built for the house of the kingdome by the might of my power , for the honor of my maiestie ?

Three thinges I note in this saying .

First , what a glorious opinion Nabuchadneezer had of his vaine buildings , out of these wordes , Is not this great Babel ?

The second , that hee tearmeth himselfe the founder of it , as if hee had done all without an helpe , in these wordes , which I haue built by the might of my power .

The third is , that in al his worke he sought nothing but vaine glorie out of these words , for the honour of my maiestie .

These three sinnes Nabuchadnezzer doth bewray in one bragge : and in all these three wee are so like him , that the beastes were not so like him , when hee became like a beast . First wee haue not so wonderfull an opinion of God , or of his word , or of heauen , as we haue of our owne actes , although wee neuer be able to doe halfe that Nabuchadnezzer did then , yet this is our manner , to attribute all to our selues , whatsoeuer it bee , riches , or honors , or helth , or knowledg , as if all came by labour , or pollicie , or art , or nature : if we cannot drawe it to one of these , then we thinke it fortune , though wee vnderstand not what fortune is : for if wee did count our selues beholding vnto God for them , wee would finde some time to bee thankfull to him . Lastly , when we ouer-viewe these matters , this is our solace and comfort , to thinke with ourselues , these are the things that make vs famous and spoken of , and pointed at , and there wee ende , as though it were enough to be pointed at . Is not this great Babel ?

That which one loueth seemeth great and pretious aboue all which hee loueth not , although they are better then it : so do these buildings seeme vnto Nabuchadnezzer . One would thinke , that a house , though it were a faire house , were not a matter for a King to be proud of : stone walles are not so pretious , that hee should repose all his honor vpon lime & morter . But this is a iust thing with God , that vaine men should haue vaine prosperity , and vaine comfort , and vaine glorie , that they may deceiue them when they trust to it . Therefore as the faithfull soule looketh vpon the word , or vp to heauen , and saith to it selfe , is not this my ioy , is not this mine inheritance : so the carnall man , when hee looketh vppon his buildings , or his money , saith vnto himselfe , is not this my ioy , is not this my life : and while hee pores and gapes to long vpon it , by little and little the loue of it growes more and more in his heart , vntill at last he mindeth nothing else . This was the first dotage of Nabuchadnezzer .

The second was , which I haue built by the might of my power . What a vant was this to say , that he built Babel , when al histories record , that it was built by Semiramis before Nabuchadnezzer was . Wherefore doth hee boast of that which an other did ? The answer is easie : why doe other so now ? Wee see that euery man doth labour to obscure the fame of others , that they may shine alone , and beare the names , especially in buildings . If they doe but adde or alter any thing in their schooles or hospitals , or colledges , they looke straight to bee counted the founders of them .

And thus the first founders of many auncient places are forgotten : so it is like that Nabuchadnezzer did adde or alter some thing in this Cittie , and therefore he tooke all to himselfe . But if Semiramis , or any other had not built it but Nabuchadnezzer had beene the founder of ( as he would seeme ) yet this had beene a proude and arrogant speech to say , which I haue built : for it was not hee that could build Babel , no more than Nemrod could finish Babel : Psal. 127. 1. but vnlesse the Lord build the house , the builders build in vaine .

Therefore when hee sayth , By the might of my power , hee should haue saide , by the might of Gods power .

But by this you may plainelie discerne how harde and difficult a thing it is for him to hitte vppon a right worde , or a good woorke which hath not a good thought to bring it foorth . Therefore make the roote sweete , Mat. 12. 33 or the fruit will be sower , counterfaite as cunningly as he can .

Lastly , where he putteth in for the honour of my maiestie : hee sheweth that he was of Absolons honor , though hee had deserued shame , yet he would haue fame : because hee had no children to keepe his name in remembraunce , 2. Sam. 18. 18. therefore he erected a piller , which he called Absolons place : so stately houses in England , beare the names of the Lords that owe them , for the same vanitie .

Here Absolon thought to be buried , 2. Sam. 18 ▪ 17. as Nabuchadneezer thought to dwel in his pallace , but he was cast into a pitte , as Nabuchadnezzer was turned into the wildernes : Esay . 22. 16 ▪ 18 so Shebna made his sepulcher in one cuntry , & was buried in another . For why should pride haue the reward of humilitie . Honour ( saith Salomon ) goeth before humilitie , Prou. 18 ▪ 12 that is , honour is the reward of humilitie : and yet Nabuchadnezzer would bee honoured for his pride . What hath he done , or Sheba , or Absolon , that they should erect such monumentes , to bee praised after death , which were not worthy to bee praised in their life ? Before the building of Babel , hee had done nothing worth the speaking , for because he liued alway like a beast , therefore God punished him like a beast .

And doth he deserue nowe to bee spoken of in all ages , for heaping stones together ? Hereby we may see a small matter maketh great men proud , and they would be praysed for euery thing they doe .

But looke how God ouerthwarteth them : for in that wherein they looke to make their greatest glorie , they shame themselues the most of all : and that which they practise to exalt them , doth disgrace and ouerthrowe them , getteth them hatred of such , which otherwise would not meddle with them : sinne so deceiueth them , like the blinde Ammorites , that they take a cleane contrarie waye vnto their desires , as wee mae see in the second chapter of the book of Genesis , they which built Babel , saide , Gen. 11. 4. that they would builde it to get vnto themselues a name : but they get to themselues shame : for they could not finish it , when they had begun it , but were confounded in such a wonderful sort , to their seeming , that they knewe not what they did : so sodainely likewise they vnderstoode not a worde that one another spake . So when Nabuchadnezzer came vnto himselfe againe , hee sheweth , that when hee sought his owne honor and glory , honour and glory both departed from him , and hee was made like a beast : but when hee sought the honour and glorie of GOD , his honour came againe , and he was made a king .

This would pull away manie toies from womens backes , if they did well weigh and consider with themselues , how God makes them ridiculous by that , which they do weare to make themselues amiable . If they did thinke that the supersluitie of apparel , which they clogge on to please the world , by the secrete iudgement of GOD , did not please but displease , they would bee as much ashamed of their attire , as Eue was of her nakednesse . Would they weare such gardes like a Pedlers shoppe vpon their backes , but to please . See nowe howe GOD doth mocke them : for they are not liked , but disliked , and worse thought of for it , then they that goe in Russet , and seeke no prayse at all . They thinke , am I not braue : others thinke , is she not proude : they thinke , am I not sweete : others thinke , is she not light : yet they dreame that euerie one prayseth them : as Nabuchadnezzer thought that euerie one would honor him for his pallace .

If their gorgeous buildings and brauerie condemne them before men , how will it condemne them before God ? Therefore when Nabuchadnezzar sayth , for the honor of his maiestie , he should haue said for the honour of Gods maiestie , and then this had beene recorded for his honour indeede , and his house had bene the house of God , for as we should speake , and studie , and labour to Gods glory , so we shuld build also to Gods glorie , that our houses may be like Temples , as Obadias was : but few seeke glorie that waie , they had rather pull downe then build in such sorte . Thus you haue heard what Nabuchadnezzer spake , as though GOD would destroie the thoughts and pride of such builders . These are the thoughts and meditations of princes and nobles , when they beholde their buildinges , and open their coffers , and looke vppon their traine swinging after them , they thinke as Nabuchadnezzer thought , Is not this greate Babel ? Is not this greate glorie ? Are not these the treasures that shall make my children riche ? Is not this the traine that maketh me reuerenced in the streetes ? Is not this the house that shall keepe my name , and cause mee to bee remembred , and make them that are children now to speake of me heereafter , when they shall goe by and looke vpp , and see these antikes and knackes ouer their heades , they will saie , Oh hee that builte this was a greate man , hee did beare a greate swaie in Court and Countrie , who but hee while hee liued : although though this King bee dead and buried , yet his pride escaped and came to vs . Nabuchadnezzer hath children yet aliue , which builde as highe as hee , goe as braue as hee , spende as vainely as hee , and are as proude and insolent as hee , although they be not Kings nor Dukes , nor Knightes , nor yet good Squires . Looke vpon their pallaces , and then consider with thy selfe , and thinke whether they bee of Nabuchadnezzers broode , Is not this greate Babel ? and is not Nabuchadnezzer Lorde of it ? Oh if they might liue to walke in their galleries still , they would neuer desyre anye other heauen .

But Nabuchadnezzer hath shewed the waie before them , and they must all daunce after him , though they were as mighty , though they were mightier then he , death wil not take his kingdom for a ransome . Now what is Babel and what is Nabuchadnezzer the king therof . Now Babel is destroied , and the king which built it is laid in dust : had it not bene better to haue built an house in heauen , which might haue receiued him when he was dead . The name of these pallaces may well bee Babel , that is , confusion , because they prophesie confusion to them which build , them : for their foundation is pride , their wals extortion , theyr roofe ambition , and all the stuffings within them is vsurie , briberie , cruelty . Now if this be the best which Nabuchadnezzer hath to vant of , what is the worst which he may bee ashamed of ? When I see how earnest hee was about his dreame , and how loose he sate after in his pallace . Me thinks I see the image of the worlde in one man : how liuely doth Nabuchadnezzer resemble the dreamers of our time ? such inquirie , such diligence to know Gods will , that a man woulde haue sworne , if the king met with a prophet from heauen that can tell him the truth & instruct him from God , that his dreame warned him to amend his life , he will reclaime himselfe , and reforme his realme , and become such a king as was neuer in this land before . But behold no sooner resolued of his dreame , but he was readie to bee warned againe , and was not so attentiue to the Prophet as he was to his dream , thogh hee cared for neither , for when hee vnderstoode that his dreame went about to change the course of his life , 2. Kin 5. 11. he went awaie like Naaman in a chafe , and cared no more for his dreame after . Before the dreame came , all would haue sayd that such a dreame woulde haue humbled his heart for euer . Before the Prophet came , all would haue said , that such a Prophet woulde haue conuerted them with a word , but Nabuchadnezzer is Nabuchadnezzer , & if anie other dream come more fearefull then this , yet Nabuchadnezzer will bee Nabuchadnezzer , and loue his pallace better than paradice : so we thinke if God would send a famine vpon this land , that would make vs feare him , but God hath senta famine & yet we doe not feare him . If God would send an Earthquake vppon this land that would make vs feare him : but God hath sent an Earthquake vpon this lande , and yet we doe not feare him : If God would sende a pestilence vpon this lande , that would make vs feare him : but God hath sent a pestilence , and yet we do not feare him . If God would send warre vppon this lande , that would make vs feare him : but God hath sent warre , and yet we do not feare him : therfore what wil make vs feare him ? There be manie that dreame vppon Religion , as Nabuchadnezzer dreamed vppon his dreame . But hee desired onely to know what it meant : so doe they desire only to know . Mar. 10. 17. Maister what shall I doe to come to heauen , saith the yong man to Christ : hee would faine know the way to heauen , but when Christ shewed him the way he would not take it : so they that goe from preacher to preacher , as Nabuchadnezer sent from one wise man to another , to bee resolued in pointes of Religion , haue such a scruting , such attention , such heat , as though they would runne beyond the teachers , that a man would thinke they would doe anie thing , as the Iewes seemed to Moses , Deut. 5. 27. and the young man vnto Christ : Exod. 20. 19 & 19. 3. but when they haue heard what they can , they doe like Nabuchadnezzer , as they did before . Now they say it was but a dreame , because the meaning doth not answere to his will : 1. King . 2. 2 So Achab inquired of the prophet , to see what hee would say , but it appeareth that he neuer meant to followe him , vnles he would aunswere as hee would haue him .