6 Which things thus expounded , we may perceiue what the thing is that is , most effectuall and auailable to the prosperitie of a kingdome , that Kings and Rulers may succeed and hold out , to the comfort and happinesse of their people , our Apostle bidding make prayer and supplication , and giue thankes for these things . Not that policie , or strength , and counsell may be neglected , for that were tempting of God , and contemning the meanes which he hath appointed ; but because it is God alone that giues motion to these things , and the influxe of his prouidence makes them effectuall : By him Kings reigne , and Princes rule , and all the Nobles and Iudges of the earth , saith Solomon , Prou. 8. and Iob 12. He leades Counsellers away spoiled , and makes the Iudges fooles : he looseth the collar of Kings , and guirdeth their loines with a girdle : he powreth contempt vpon Princes , and weakeneth the strength of the mightie . If his helpe and mercie be wanting , the sinewes of a State will shrinke , and the wisedome of the wise will be infatuated ; policy wil be no better then lunacy , glory will turne into miserie , and armies of men will but helpe to make the fal heauier . Pachymer . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For what God will haue come to passe will outworke all humane consideration ; and then , as Nazianzen speaketh , Tandem submergetur nauis quae multos ad portum foeliciter appulit : hope which vseth to bring the most miserable to the shore , it selfe shall sinke and perish . Thus the mightiest States haue bene dissolued , and all worldly power , when God abandons it , falles to the ground . That , as Sidonius speaketh , Lib. 1. ep. 7. the most potent and politicke man that liues , may lie , veluti vomitu Fortunae nauseautis exputus : as if Fortune from her loathing stomacke had vomited him vp , and spit him vpon the ground : to preuent which danger , and to saue from enemies , the praiers and religion of the subiect haue alwaies bene the best meanes . a a Exo. 17. When Amalek fought against Israel , Moses , by his prayer , assured the victorie . b b 2 Chro. 20. When Iosaphat was in danger , he prayed to God with his people : We know not what to do , but our eyes are vpon thee . And this remedy hath neuer failed the people that haue vsed it . Saint Ambrose c c De obit. Theod. reports of Theodosius , that in a fought field against the tyrant Eugenius , when he had almost lost the day , alighting from his horse , and stepping before his armie , in the face of the enemie , he onely kneeled downe and cried to God , Vbi est Deus Theodosij , Where is Theodosius his God ? and wonne the day . d d Iust . apol. 2. When Marcus Aurelius , in the field against 970000. enemies , was in distresse for want of water , the prayers of the Christians relieued him : cum ipsa oratione affuit Deus , saith Iustin Martyr , so soone as they had prayed God was with them ; and he receiued the praiers of the Church as a garrison into his Empire . The Macabees had their name of this , that in their colours , when they went into the field , they had fiue letters , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , euery better signifying a word , Mi cha Elohim be Iisrael : Who is like to God in Israel : all their confidence was in God , on whom they called & depended . This is so well knowne and ratified by experience , that I neuer read of any State , Christian or Gentile , but they haue acknowledged it . That not the Church alone , but infidels in their idolatrie , and heretickes in their schisme , haue had recourse thereto . What more solemne with the ancient Greekes , Romanes , Carthaginians , or the Turkes and Barbarian at this day , then to enioyne prayer and religious seruice to their idols , for the securitie of their State ? The onely errour among Christians , being , either the performing of this exercise without cleansing their life , or the forgetting or neglecting thereof , or the casting it behind strength and policy , which ought to follow it . Your Bishops and Preachers honour and affect the outward policy of the State as much as nay in the kingdome do , and take as much comfort in the strength of our nation , the wealth of the subiect , the vigilancie and circumspection of the Counceller , the courage and skill of the martiall man , and will be as sorie to see them decay : yet will we neuer ceasse to crie in your eares , e e Psal. 33.17 . A horse is but a vaine thing to saue . The SPANISH ARMADA , and POWDER-TREASON , and ALL THE TREASONS that haue bene plotted beside , haue taught vs , that not the policy or counsell , or strength of our nation , but the mercie of God , the infinite , tender , sauing mercie of our God , hearing the prayer of his people , was it that rescued , when strength lay asleepe on Dalilahs knees , and policy was blind , and all humane wit foresaw no danger : the which may teach vs for euer not to boast too loud of great Brittains strength , but to remember PRAYER , and by maintaining RELIGION , and leading the subiect forward to DEVOTION , and by suppressing that which hath poisoned the prayers of thousands among vs , to procure that God euery where , by lifting vp pure hands , be called vpon , and blessed for his mercifull prouidence ouer the State .

7 And we must not onely be mindfull of the duty , but carefull also that we discharge it well ; by reason that as true prayer rightly informed will preserue , so that which is otherwise will do no good : therefore , as Saint Chrysostome saith : Not onely the flowers , whereof the garland is made , must be fresh and louely , but the hands also of him that makes the garland must be cleane . For Saint Iames f f Iac. 4.3 . saith , You aske and receiue not , because you aske not as you should . We must ioyne three things with prayer , if we will be heard . First , the hands lift vp must be pure , that we liue not in sinne . Esay , 1. When ye multiplie your prayers I will not heare you , for your hands are full of bloud , in which case , g g Vit. Mos. lib 3. saith Philo , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : Sacrifice is abominable , seruice vnholy , and prayer ominous : For h h Pro. 28.9 . he that turnes his eare from hearing and obeying the word , euen his prayer shall be abominable . Next , we must perseuere without wearinesse , praying daily , and waiting patiently , if any thing be amisse , and daily giuing thankes ; So the Scripture teacheth : i i Col. 4.2 . Continue in prayer , and watch thereunto . For the State hath her daily charge , and daily enemies , and daily dangers : as a ship by sea in a long voyage ; where perseuerance , euery man in his charge , is it that makes a prosperous iourney . Thirdly , the mind must be lift vp to God by the puritie and the deuotion thereof : there must be faith and confidence , that God will heare vs ; reuerence of his Name , meekensse of spirit , loue to one another ; and , as our Apostle saith in the eight verse : holy hands without wrath or doubting . And in the point of Thanksgiuing , there must not onely be in the vnderstanding an apprehension of the mercies of God receiued , but in the will such a spirituall ioy therein , and loue to God therefore , that the mind thereby be reuoked from reioycing in any thing else , but onely in God that saues vs . This is the prayer that pierceth heauen : Praeteruolat montes & nubes , penetrat coelum , & implet mundum , ecce quousque volat vox clamantis animae : It flies higher then mountaines or the cloudes : it filleth the world and pierceth heauen , when the soule cries to God with an earnest voice . When Arius infested the Church , the saying was , that Athanasius resisted him with his learning , but Alexander the deuout Bishop vanquisht him with his prayers . Socrates telleth that when a terrible fire in Constantinople , fastened on a great part of the citie , and tooke hold of the Church , the Bishop thereof went to the altar , and falling downe vpon his knees , would not rise from thence till the fire , blasing in the windowes , and flashing at euery dore to come in , was vanquisht , & the Church preserued : with the flouds of his deuotion , he slaked the furie of the threatning element . The same shal be the force of our prayers for his Maiestie and the State , if we be faithfull therein : heresie may rage , treason conspire , and enemies cast fire-brands ; but we will trust in him that neuer forsaketh such as cal vpon his name .

8 The next thing mentioned in the text , is the matter of our prayers , containing the Persons & the thing to be prayed for : touching the Persons , he enioynes that we pray , first , generally , for all men : and then particularly , for Kings and all in authoritie . First , for all men , the reason whereof is yeelded , verse the fourth , because God wills that all men be saued , and come to the knowledge of the truth : and Christ the Redeemer , in some true manner or other , gaue himselfe a ransome for all . Our deuotion must attend Gods will , that what he willes we pray for , that so his will may be done in earth as it is in heauen . There were no difficultie in this point if by , ALL MEN , no more were meant than All the elect , or All that professe Christ , and are true members of the Church . For in these the mercie of God , and the effect of our prayers infallibly and apparantly shew themselues : for , Rom. 8. Whom he predestinated , them he calles , and whom he calles those he iustifies , and whom he iustifies them he also glorifies . But when we see with our eies innumerable companies , and whole nations , to be Barbarians , Infidels , Iewes , Idolaters , Heretickes , Atheists , Profane , Excommunicate , Enemies ; and when we certainly know by the Scripture , and without controuersie beleeue , no small part of mankind , in Gods decree and eternall purpose , to stand reprobate and reiected from saluation , and all the effects of election , ( whether in the masse of sinne or not , and whether vpon the foresight of their vnbeleefe or otherwise , all is one to the point of this difficultie : ) when , I say , it is of all hands yeelded that there be so many reprobates , denied the grace of election , and from all eternitie , prepared , or * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom 9.22 . fitted , made vp , finished . finished , as the Scripture speaketh , to destruction ( for what God executes in time he willes in eternity , ) what shall we say to Prayer and Thanksgiuing for these ? or what benefite can either they or we receiue thereby ? Marke my answer . Touching the former the case is not difficult , such being the extent of the grace of God , that there is k k Act. 10.34 . no respect of person with him ; but either Iew or Gentile , or Barbarian or Scythian , or idolater or hereticke , may reape the benefite of our prayers , if it be no more but the outward comforts of this life ; which God by his owne example , l l Mat. 5.45 . making the Sunne to shine vpon the iust and vniust , will haue vs vow and wish them . And abstracting from reprobation , which is hid from vs , and considering no more in them but what we can infalliblie see , God can or may also giue the meanes , that they may be called to the truth and be saued . For so we see the riches of Gods mercie to extend it selfe to the sinfullest and wofullest persons that euer were . Gentiles in some ages haue bin conuerted ; idolaters , Atheists , heretickes in all ages haue bene reclaimed and ioyned to the Church ; and if they be not , yet we to whom God hath no imparted his secret purposes , see nothing in them but we may desire it : Nay the more miserie and infidelitie we see them drowned in , the more doth Christian pietie bind vs to pitie their state , & desire their conuersion . Therefore m m Liturg. Iacob . & aliorum . in the ancient Liturgies of the Church we often reade , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; Lord remember and haue mercy vpon All men : And Celestin , a godly Bishop of the ancient Church : n n Ep. ad epise. Gall. Apud diuinam clementiam , sanctarum sedium praesides humani generis aguntcausam ; vt legem credendi lex statuat supplicandi : The Bishops of the Church , saith he , commend to God the cause of all mankind , and * * Not that , as we pray for all men , so God will saue all men ; but that as we pray for All , so we beleeue it to be his will we pray for all , and that God in all estates of men will saue whom he pleaseth . by their prayers shew what we are to beleeue . They intreate God to giue Infidels faith , Idolaters truth , Iewes light , heretickes repentance , Schismatickes humilitie . But touching the reprobate there is more to be added . For albeit no man pray God to saue them whom he , in his secret counsell , knowes to be reprobate , that is to say , to change or abrogate his eternall decree : yet foure things are certaine touching them , which I will lay downe in so many conclusions . First , We pray not God to SAVE those whom we beleeue he hath reprobated from all eternitie : the reason is , for no man prayes for that which God hath made no promise to grant , as there is no promise that he will saue him or those whom he hath reiected from election , but the contrarie ; an expresse reuelation that he will condemne them . Secondly , it is vnknowne to all men who in particular are reprobate . For albeit a man may discerne violent signes of reprobation in some , as in a Turke or a Iew ; yet , speaking precizely , the reprobation of this or that man is a secret laid vp in Gods owne bosome , and he that guesses at it may be deceiued , in as much as Gods works of grace are secret , o o Ro. 11.23 . that he who to day is a wilde oliue , to morrow in an instant may be graffed in . Yea he that most strongly thinkes himselfe a reprobate , as Spira of Padua did , may suddenly be preuented by the grace of God , and brought to his iustification , for any thing that we know . Thirdly , the commandement of prayer no where distinguisheth betweene elect and reprobate , but generally binds to pray for all men . There is a distinction , and God that made it , knowes it ; but we must do our owne worke , and let God alone with his . For , Deut. 29. Secret things belong to the Lord thy God , but things which are reuealed , to vs , that we may do the words of the Law . And , to authorize vs to pray for any man , it is sufficient that , all things considered , it is morally possible he may be saued : which morall possibilitie may be had , touching the saluation of any man aliue , if God , by reuelation , or some other certaine way , shew not the contrarie . I call it morall possibilitie which , in our vnderstanding , may be so , by reason there are many things which , for any thing we know , may fall out to effect it , albeit absolutely , in Gods knowledge , it shal neuer be . Metaphysicall possibilitie , hauing no ingredience into our morall actions , is not enough no giue this warrant : & therfore how vehement soeuer the coniectures & likelihoods of any mans reprobation be , yet still we haue fiue things that ouercome such coniectures , and make the possibilitie of his saluation morall to vs . First , the generall promises of the Gospell offred to all . Secondly , the efficacy of Gods grace when it comes . Thirdly , the possibility that it may come . Fourthly , the commandement to pray that it may come . Fiftly , the examples of diuerse in desperate state , to whom it hath come . All which being put together and well considered , make it morally possible that he may be called ; and ouercome the most violent coniectures and presumptions to the contrary , in as much as when they are at the highest , yet they neuer exceede the latitude or dimensions of a coniecture . Fourthly , though in the sense of my first conclusion we do not pray that all men generally , including the reprobate , may be saued ; nor can giue thankes for the saluation of those whom God saues not ; yet for the temporall good of reprobates and all , whether spirituall or concerning their outward state , we may both pray and giue thankes . The reason is , for God giues such temporall things to the reprobate , and for his Churches good , to glorifie his Name , magnifie his liberality , make them without excuse , and benefite his children : which being ends belonging to the sanctification of Gods name in the wicked , we iustly pray for all that which may aduance them .

9 Touching prayer for our enemies , there lies no question ; our Sauiour so expresly including it in the commandement touching prayer , and by his owne blessed example and the example of his dearest seruants commending it to vs . Rom. 12.21 . Be not ouercome of euill , but ouercome euill with good . Philo , discoursing of Aarons Ephod which he put on when he went to pray , saith it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : A representation of the whole world : hauing in it all colours to represent all states of people whatsoeuer . And in very deed we erre more grosly in nothing then in bearing malice , and wiping mens names out of our prayers , as if our priuate affection were the calendar of euery mans saluation , when no man can rent himselfe from his brother , but first he must rent himselfe from Christ , who is the root whereon both he and his brother grow ; as a branch on a tree , cannot separate it selfe from the rest of the branches , but first it must depart from the tree it selfe whereupon both it and all the other branches grow . And therefore * * Ephiph . ep. ad Ioan. Hierosol . the Patriarke of Ierusalem was vnwise to quarrell with Epiphanius because he prayed for him ; for Ephphanius answered , he would neuer be so out of charitie with any man , that he would set him at nought , whom God had made : p p Lib. 1. de Cain & Abel . cap. 9. And Saint Ambrose giues a good reason : Quia singuli orant pro omnibus , etiam omnes orant pro singulis : When euery man prayes for all men , by this meanes all men pray for euery man .

10 But the speciall persons for whom particularly and namely we must pray , are Kings and all in authoritie : for Kings are Gods annointed : and as Tertullian q q Ad Scap. cap. 2. speakes , Homines à Deo secundi , & solo Deo minores : Next vnto God , and second to none but God . The King , r r Ad pop. Antioch . hom. 1. saith Chrysostome , hath no Peere vpon earth , but is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : the head and top of all men that liue . Our neighbours of Rome now say otherwise ; that the Pope is the man : and Kings are but his officers , and vassals , to hold his stirrop , to beare his canopie , to hold him the bason and ewre when he washes , to be vsed or deposed at pleasure , as he shall see cause . This is that which the late Councell of Lateran in Rome called Regale Pontificium Romanorum genus : The roiall race of our Roman Bishops . They call him that now is Paulus Quintus , Vice-deus , Reipub. Christianae Monarcha , Pontificiae omnipotentiae assertor inuictissimus . The vice-God and Monarch of the Christian world , and the inuincible defender of the Papal omnipotencie . But let them alone ; he is Antichrist for his labour , whom Saint Paule sayes , we shall know by this , that he will exalt himselfe , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : Beyond all Augusteïty and them that are called Gods ; as Kings , by Gods owne mouth are . S. Paul affirmes that to be the highest power which beares the sword . Rom. 12. and therefore himselfe s s Act. 25.11 . appealed to it . Optatus , against the Donatists , t t Lib. 3. contr. Parmen. saith , Super Imperatorem non est nisi Deus , qui fecit Imperatorem , there is none aboue the King but God that made the King . And with Kings must be ioyned all that are in authoritie ; Peeers , Iudges , Magistrates , Councellours of State , Captaines of warre : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . All that are eminent , or haue any stroke in the gouernment . For they also may do good or hurt : for u u Gen. 41.43 . Ioseph was the King of Egypts right hand : and they cried in the streetes Abrech , for he was Pater patriae , A tender father to his countrey , and preserued it in time of extremitie . Though Achitophel , and Shebnah , and Symmachus , and Stephen Gardiner , were not such . For though good Kings neuer so willingly , as the Sunne , yeeld their light and comfort to the State , yet bad persons about and vnder them , not louing the Gospell nor iustice , but aiming at their owne priuate ends , like clouds or malignant starres , may come betweene and hinder the influence . Besides , their example drawes like Adamant ; and their integritie is so needfull , that vnder the best Princes that euer were , that part of the State hath alway droopt and withered that bad officers haue meddled with . As on the contrarie , the vertue of the inferiour Magistrate hath oftentimes qualified the errours and distempers of violent tyrants : as we may perceiue in the gouernement of Iehoash of Iuda , u u 2. Reg. 12.2 of whom it is said , that He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the dayes wherein Iehoiadah the Priest instructed him . This is the reason why the Church must pray for Kings and all in authoritie vnder them .

11 Learne here , that gouernement and eminency is of God , by his owne ordinance , for the benefite of mankind , and maintenance of ciuill societie : else the Apostle would not haue tied vs to pray for them . Yea he saith expresly , Rom. 13.1 . There is no power but of God , the powers that be are ordained of God ; therefore God giueth them his owne names and titles , and sets them in a throne like himselfe : And x x Mat. 4. the Diuell , making an offer to Christ , that he would giue him All the kingdomes of the world , promised more then he had either right or power to performe . But here we must distinguish . There are foure things in a King and euery one that is in authoritie . First , his person , wherein he partakes in the common nature of all other men , and liues and dies like them . Secondly , his power and royall dignitie . This is of God , whosoeuer he be that hath it , whether a good Prince or a Tyrant : a Nero or a Constantine , one or other . Thirdly , his coming to his power . This also is of God , when it is by lawful meanes , without vsurpation , else not . For he that ordaines the power , alloweth not the vsurpation of it . Fourthly , the vse of this power , which being iust , and godly , and right , is also of God : but the abuse of it by tyrannie or idolatry , or iniustice , for example , is not so ; for God allowes no power to ouerrule his owne Law . Our Anabaptists therefore , and such as are enemies to Monarchie , and all conspirators , Assasines , rebelles , and turbulent persons , are beasts , and enemies to Gods ordinance and to nature . For , saith Philo , He that liues vnder a law is a citizen of the world : the reason whereof he giues , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : He rules his actions according to the rule of nature . For albeit the Magistrate sometimes step into his place and vse it vnlawfully , yet still the place is of diuine ordinance , and the meanes to reforme what is amisse , is still to pray for Kings and all in authoritie . And not onely the King himselfe is of God , but all the eminency and distinction of authoritie that is vnder him , his Nobles , his Councellers , his Iudges , his Magistrates , his Officers , his Courts , are all of God ; to maintaine his State and royaltie , and to manage the affaires of the Common-wealth , which one man cannot do : and it is but a sauage and popular humour to backbite or despise this eminency in whom soeuer . Those rhymes , When Adam delued and Eue span , &c. were liker to be made in Wat Tylers campe , then any where else ; and the practise of Libelling against Magistrates and great persons , at this day , that neither the liuing can walke , nor the dead sleepe , cannot be iustified . If any thing be amisse , there is cause rather of sorrow then laughter , and it is fitter to pray , then to lay our heads together at a scurrilous Pasquill : which tending to nothing but the bringing of authoritie into contempt and disgrace , the end may be the ouerthrow of all at the last , when nothing is more dangerous in a State , then for Statesmen to lose their reputation : and the Stage and Poet , with ieastes and Satyres to deride sinne , which by the Bishops and Pastors of the Church is grauely and seuerely to be reproued . It is true indeed that among the Greekes , in veteri Comoedia the persons of men were taxed : but they were Barbarians whom Christians must not imitate ; and the Magistrates thereby were disgraced , and the rude people armed against them to the ruine of the best men , as we haue examples in Socrates and others , and therefore the best States put them all downe .