OF THE FIRST .

David , that Man according to Gods heart , lamenteth here for Saul and Ionathan . It might seeme , he had but little reason to lament for Saul , his Enemy , his Persecutor , and a wicked man ; though reason enough for Ionathan , whose love he esteemed beyond the love of women : Notwithstanding , he lamenteth Saul , as his Father in Law , his King , and the Annointed of the Lord , although he dyed in his sinnes . By how much more then have we cause to lament and mourne for those Annoynted of the Lord , who besides their outward annointment of the Priest , had received withall , and were sanctified by the inward of the holy Ghost . The Christian man , as it is his duty to mourne and lament , under any kind of crosse & calamitie God sends upon him ; so he is especially obliged herevnto upon the death of his Magistrate , of his King and Prince , whom God had set as Vicegerent over him . Eccles 3. 4. There is a time of weeping appointed by God ; and as fish , flesh , and other creatures are not good nor wholesome to eate out of their season : so is joy and laughter unchristian , if it be unseasonable . Isaac mourned 3. yeare over his mother : Iacob 22. yeares for his sonne . The Rabbines tell us , that Adam mourned 100. yeares for his sonne Abel : The Egyptians raised a monument of their mourning for Iacob at Abel-Mitzraim : The Iewes did the like for Iosias in the vallie of Megiddo : Yea , the Iewes were wont to hire men for to lament their dead , who cut and pricked themselues , that they might weepe in good earnest .

Lamentations and weepings are of three sorts , that are required of Christians , as the Schooles doe divide them out of Gods word . 1. Lacrymae doloris , griefeteares : 2. Lacrymae compassionis , fellow-feeling teares . 3. Lacrymae penitentiae , repenting teares ; The first are personall ; the second for others ; the third for both .

1 Lacrymae doloris . Griefe-teares , are those which we shed every one in his private and particular crosse and affliction , when any evill befalls us , as we are never unfurnished of occasions , from the cradle to the grave . Low grounds are commonly moist and waterie : The earth lieth in Centro mundi , in a deepe bottome ; no marvaile , that it is a Vallie of teares ; Hence we have so often cause to wash our couch with teares , to eate the bread of teares , to drinke teares , to cover the Altar of the Lord with teares . Malach . 2. 13. what ever we doe , where ever we are , we have cause of mourning , weeping , and lamenting .

2. Lacrymae compassionis . Fellow-feeling teares , when we see or know others suffer , we have likewise cause to mourne , as fellow-members of the same bodie . S. Austine gives a fine reason why we should compassionate others in their misery , by this similitude : For , saith he , in a throng of people , one may easily tread upon another mans foot , & cause him to say , Cur me calcas , why doest thou tread me ? The foot , or the toe was hurt , and not the tongue , and yet the tongue complaineth , Cur me calcas ? By reason of that amiable sympathie and friendship that is betweene the membets ; Thus likewise should it be among Christians , if one suffer , all should be grieved and lament for it . It would be an uncomely thing , if one should weare a golden shoe upon one foot , and a woodden upon the other so unseemly it is in the Church of Christ , if there is disparitie of the affections , if they have not all one and the same , as they have one God , one Redeemer , one faith . And therefore Christ , as Paul persecuted the Church tooke it as done to himselfe , saying , Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? Act. 9. 4. Me inquit , non meos , Me , saith Christ , not Mine , as Austine speaketh .

3. Lacrymae paenitentiae . Repenting teares , in both cases : Why doth the hand of God lie upon us or others , but because we have sinned , therefore God chastiseth us for our sinnes , and sometimes others for our sake . Many times we draw the rod of God upon us , for , Flagitium & flagellum ut acus & filum , sinne and punishment follow one another , as the needle and the threed , one makes way for the other . Numb . 32. 23. And as God doth oftentimes punish us in our owne persons ▪ so doe others eft-soones feele the rod of God for our sakes , and they receive the punishment , that we deserved : God deales herein with us , as with great mens children , who are refrained from evill by seeing punishment inflicted upon others ; or as the Physitions deale sometimes with their Patients , when they have a rheume in their eyes , to open a veine in their necke or armes : Thus God many times chastiseth us in our goods , friends , children , kindred , for our correction and instruction . Many Israelites were put to death by reason of Achan : more for Davids sinne . Abimelechs familie suffred for their Master : And as Theodoret saith , when God tooke away Pharaohs first borne , he open'd a veine in the arme to cure the head , but because it would not be mended , it was destroyed at last it selfe . If then , Beloved , we are alwayes bound to mourne and lament , in one sort or another , how much more is it our dutie now , having those three motives together , to be stirred up to Christian lamenting , and to shed , 1. lacrymas doloris , griefe-teares , for the incomparable losse we suffer in our owne persons , by the death of those two Kings , who onely were our comfort , our hope , our shelter , our Castor and Pollux , according to whom we steered and governed our ships in the vast Ocean of this troublesome world : of whom it is hard to judge , whether the one suffered and endured , or the other endeavoured and did more , for the advancing and furthering of Gods glory and religious worship . But as the Poet joyned , Et agere et pati fortia , so we may well pronounce of both , that the beautie of Israel is slaine : How are the mightie fallen ? Alas ! Beloved , what tongue is able to expresse the greatnesse of our losse , and how grievously . God afflicts us by it ? A losse which heretofore we never feared , and which now we are not able to describe ; that those two Christian Kings , should follow one another in lesse then a fort-night , and be snatched from among us by such immature death , in the Summer of their age , in the midst of their victories , in the entrance to greater hopes , when we were fully perswaded now was the time , they were the men by whom God would ruine the Throne of Antichrist , and save his Israel . But I will rather leave unto you by my silence to consider of this losse , then lessen it for want of requisite expression , This onely I will remember unto you , that , had we as heartily prayed for them whilest they yet lived , as we now heartily lament their death , who knowes but God might have prevented our meeting here in the Vallie of Bochim , and instead of that have filled our mouthes with Alleluiahs .

2. As much reason have we to shed lacrymas compassionis , fellow feeling teares : For as we ought to mourne for the transgression of Iacob , Mich . 1. 5. so must we also be grieved for the affliction of Ioseph If our eyes should be so farre blended , and our hearts so much hardned , that we could not discerne nor apprehend our particular and private miserie , in this common and universall losse of whole Christendome ; yet let us at least turne our eyes upon the Church of God , who lost so great , so faithfull nursingfathers ; upon the Kingdomes of Sweden and Bohemia ; upon our deare Germanie , and especially upon our poore Electorall Palatinate , who lost such Kings , such Friends ; Let us but turne our eyes upon those pearles of Pietie , the two unconsolable Queenes , whose very names we cannot remember without teares and hearts-griefe , upon the Royall , desolate ; and yet tender posteritie , whereof part lost a Father afore they knew him . Can there be any heart so flintie , that would not be moved by the innocent teares of those Princely Infants , to condole with them , when he seeth them weeping for their losse , which , though now they comprehend it not so fully , yet they will too too soone be sensible of it . Though we had no particular share and part in the losse , yet we should have out part in the common griefe of whole Christendome , and thus approve our selues living members of Christs bodie . It 's but a rotten member , a whithered hand , a woodden leg , that is not sensible of the heads wounding . Assuredly such hard hearts , that are void of fellow-feeling and compassion towards others in their adversity , are but glasse eyes , silver noses , lvory teeth , and have nothing but the shape and fashion , fill up a roome , but have no use , and yeeld no profit .

3 Great reason we have to powre out our lacrymas penitentiae , repenting teares ; which the Apostle 2 Cor . 7. 10. calleth a godly sorrow , which worketh repentance to salvation , never to be repented off Such as Daniel shed , Daniel 9. And the Church after the death of good Iosiah , especially when they sayd in the Lamentations of Ieremie ; The Crowne is fallen from our head , for this our heart is faint , for these things our eyes are dimme . Full well may we powre out whole buckets of repenting teares , and by them arraigne our sinnes , as the onely cause and firebrand of our present losse & calamity , saying , The Crowne is fallen off from our heads , woe unto us that we have sinned ; we have murthered the Kings with our sinnes , we have bereaved the Queenes of their dearest consorts ; the Royall Progenie of their Parents , the Countries of their Princes ; all this have we done , and for this is our soule perplexed , our eyes are consumed with griefe and waxed old .

But what then were those cut-throatsins , that committed this hainous murther upon the sacred persons of those noble Kings ?

I answer . They were two ; Omitting the good , committing the evill ; as the Commandements of God are two fold , so are the transgressions The Rabbines , according to their usuall curiositie , have calculated and summed up all the Commandements of Moses , and found 613. wherof 365 are negative and inhibitions , shewing us what we ought to shun , in number equalling the dayes of the yeare The rest are affirmative precepts , teaching us what to doe , in number 248. as many as there are bones in a mans bodie ; by which division , they would instruct us , that the whole man inward and outward to his very bones , should obserue Gods Commandements ; and that not for a while onely , but the whole yeare throughout , all the dayes of his life . But to leave those Rabbines to their speculations , this is undoubtedly certaine ; that there are those two sorts of Commandements in holy Writ , wherein God not only teacheth us what to doe , but likewise what to avoide , both which we grossely transgressed , especially in two capitall sinnes : The first whereof , is that most common and yet most heavie sinne of Vnthankfulnesse ; Ingratum si dixeris , omnia dixeris . The Centuriators of Magdenburgh in their Preface make a certaine gradation and degrees , in what order God brings his punishments upon us ; Ingentia beneficia , ingentia flagitia , ingentia supplicia . If God shewes extraordinary mercies & favours to a people , and yet the same continueth multiplying its sinnes against God , then God doth likewise muliply his punishments upon it , till it worke either amendment , or utter destruction Now what people or nation is there , to whom God hath imparted so many and so great favours , as to our owne selues ? How for a long time hath he blessed us with good Magistrates and Governours , what plenteous peace have we enjoyed , what honour and reputation had we of other Nations ? But when we began to slight those benefits , and would not rest contented with them , God tooke the rodde into his hand , and gave us severe correction . Yet , againe did those all-pittying bowells of our good God , yearne towards his poore Church , raising them a Deliverer , a mighty Iosuah , in a miraculous manner , all hope being lost , whereby he so much curbed and broke the Enemie , and so much comforted the disconsolate Church , that it is beyond expression . But how have we in the meane while demeaned our selues towards our good God ? Alas ! we have provoked him more and more , with our pride , haughtinesse , luxurie , envie , hatred , and all manner of filthinesse , and given him cause to deale with us as it is at this present . Gods servants have good reason to complaine of their people , saying , Deut. 32. 4 God is the rocke , his worke is perfect , for all his wayes are Iudgement ; they have corrupted themselues , they are spotted , and are not his children , doe yee thus requite the Lord ? This now is the first sinne , we have not beene thankfull unto God , neither in our former peaceable and happy estate for his manifold favours , nor now in our calamitous condition for the Deliverer he sent us , therefore hath God visited us with this sharpe correction .

The other sinne was affirmative , an overgreat confidence in impotent man , whom we have Idolized , reposing upon an arme of flesh , bragging and attributing to mortall Kings , the honour that belongeth to the Eternall , which he cannot brooke or connive unto . Esay 42 8. I will not give mine honour unto another . Therefore hath God taken away our Kings to avenge this dishonour , and to vendicate all the honour unto himselfe , to publish throughout the earth , that he was , he is the Lord , that onely worketh wonders , and that his Throne abideth for ever .

If it be so then Beloved , that we have so much cause of sorrowing , grieving , weeping , and lamenting , for our selues , for others , and especially for our sinnes ; Oh! then let us pray with Ieremie , saying , Ier . 9. 1. O that my head were waters , and mine eyes a fountaine of teares , that I might weepe day and night , for the losse of the daughter of my people , and for the sinnes of my youth . Our Christian faith allowes no Stoike stupiditie and blockish sencelesnesse , called {αβγδ} , by the Phylosophers , as that which is averse and repugnant to Christian charitie , which is full of tendrest compassion . Though sorrow be bitter at present , and an unsavorie portion , and hath such vehement operation , that it enfeebleth all naturall faculties , yet afterwards it worketh repentance never to be repented off Let the worldlings laugh , whilest we are weeping , the turne of weeping will once come to them , when they with grudge shall see us joyfull : let not our hearts be cooled by their coldnesse , but as the bellowes by their cold wind doe blow and kindle the fire , so let their cold affections serue ours as bellowes doe the kindled coales , to enflame them the more , to make them the more zealous & fervent , to manifest our Christian fellow-feeling before the world , but especially to find out and bewaile our sinnes . Thus God shall be honoured , our neighbour comforted , and we restrained and refrained from the wiles and snares of sinne Chiefly let us be frequent and much in considering what we have lost , no trifles , nor such things as we may easily recover else-where ; not some children with Rahel , or goods with Lot , or health with Iob ; but the Beautie of Israel , the Mighties of Iuda , as we shall heare in the second part of our Text , where David saith ; The beautie of Israel is slaine upon thy high places , how are the Mightie fallen ?

THE SECOND PART .

Our Royall Prophet in this part most elegantly describeth ▪ 1. The persons lamented , whom he calleth The beautie of Israel , and the M●ghties 2. The manner and fashion of their death , they are slaine and fallen .

For the former , the Originall useth a word signifying Glorie , beautie , or Excellencie : Kings , Princes and Magistrates are the beautie and glory of a Land , 1. In their persons and qualities , if they are wise and Heroike 2. In their Government , if they undertake and performe such things as may tend to the honour of their Countries ; Si quod invenerunt regnum lateritium , relinquunt marmoreum . And Mighties those are called , whose experience and courage is seene in difficult warres and encounters , as we have examples in Ioshua , in the Iudges , and in the mightie men of David .

For our better understanding of these words , we will briefly survay , what the principallest qualities and imployments of Kings and Princes are , for which they may be called the Beautie and Glorie of a Land or Nation ; Chiefly among the rest these following .

1. Pietie ; This must be the leader ; A Iove principium : For Kings are called Gods , not onely by reason of their Power and Authoritie , but likewise for the holinesse and integritie , that is required of Gods Vice-gerents , and those that shall carrie his character and Image in their persons here on earth ; whence it is , that the first commendation , the word of God gives unto good Kings , is , That they did that , which was right and pleasing in the sight of the Lord .

2. Iustice ; Suum cuique tribuere , to give every man his due , without respect of persons either in punishing evill , or rewarding good , for which end God hath put the Sword in their hands .

3. Bountie and goodnesse ; mildnesse and humanitie . Quâ proximè ad divinam accedunt naturam : whereby they doe most neerely approach to the nature of God himselfe : Parcere subiectis , &c.

4. Courage and Magnanimitie : Cass●neus observeth that Kings are annointed , as in many parts of their body , so among others upon their armes , as Organs and Instruments of action ; They must be going out and comming in before their people , lead , and protect them . Numb . 26. 7.

5. Wisedome ; The fountaine from which all good actions must be derived , so needfull and profitable , that when God offered a whole Cornucopiae , a Treasure of all sorts of gifts and graces unto King Salomon , he onely made choice of Wisedome , or rather taking it , tooke all , according to Gods promise : Omnia adsunt bona quem penes est v●●tus . Kings are annointed in severall parts , but onely the head is crowned , as the Throne and residence of Wisedome . These now are the ornaments , which if a King or Prince have , He is the Beautie , Glorie , and Excellencie of his Land and People .

Now , Beloved , it is needlesse to enlarge my selfe in the application , as that which is notorious to all , that we have a most lively patterne and representation of all those qualities in our two Kings , that now are blessedly resting in the Lord : of each of whom we may well say , Sic oculos , sic ille manus , sic ora ferebat . For was not his Majestie of Sweden of happie memorie , one of the lewels of the Protestant Princes in those parts , not onely by reason of those rare and celestiall endowments and qualities , that so illustriously shined in his Person ; but also for his matchlesse and imparalell Heroike Acts and Expeditions , whereby he ennobled himselfe and his Countries , throughout the Vniverse . So likewise was not his Majestie of Bohemia an Orient Pearle , and excellent Gemme , among all the Electours and Princes of the Empire , for his ever praise worthy and vertuous disposition , for his constant and unreprochable endeavour to propagate the Gospell of Christ , whereby , all unhappie accidents notwithstanding , he hath purchased glory and honour both to himselfe and to our common Country .

1. It is universally knowne , without my instancing of it at large , what may be sayd in the commendation of both the Kings constant Tenour of their Pietie and Devotion , both private and publike , wherein they have alwayes beene patternes and singular examples to their Subjects and followers ; as especially , those are able to witnesse , who had the honour to be much about their Majesties ; especially , how carefull and assiduous they have beene in the observation of their pray-and readinghoures , as well in warre , as in peace , as much as possibly they could recover from their infinitely employ'd and busied Time , as it is reported and knowne all the world over .

They write of Helena , that , having found the materiall Crosse of Christ , and the nayles wherewith hee had beene nailed upon it , shee caused one thereof to be inserted into the Crowne of Constantine the Emperour , and the other linked unto his bridle , minding him thereby , that Christ was not onely his chiefest honour , but likewise his bridle and directour . But wee may truely say of our deceased Kings , that Christ was their chiefest glory and Diademe ; the onely Rule and Compass● of all their Life and Actions We need no further proofe of their Pietie , least we should seeme to make it doubtfull .

But because Kings especially , are not borne for themselues alone , but for all theirs and for their Subjects , as Gregorie the Great speaketh , Reges in orbe fecit Dominus , ut terrestre regnum famuletur caelesti . God hath given Kingdomes unto Kings , that they should bring their Subjects to the Kingdome of Heaven , and shew them the way unto it . This was likewise a principall care of their Majesties ; We have the effect of this godly care of his Majestie of Bohemia , before our eyes , in the nursing up of the young Princes and Princesses in all Pietie and Christian Vertues : and we beare yet in fresh memorie the fatherly care in this kind which he manifested to all his Subjects in Bohemia and in the Palatinate ; an infallible argument of sincerest pietie : the like his Majestie of Sweden ever carefully and praise-worthily intended and furthered to his uttermost . Lastly , if it be an undoubted marke of Christianitie and godlinesse , to fight and suffer for God and his Truth , what then shall we say of those two Kings , who partly lost , partly hazarded all their Possessions and Countries , to doe service to God , his Church , and the grievously oppressed Christians , and to spread and extend the sweete Gospell of Christ ? In a word , we may well and deservedly give them this Encomium and commendation out of Gods Word , That they have done what was right and pleasing in Gods eyes . 2 King . 18. 3.

2. Iustice , was another Iewell , wherewith our two Kings were gloriously adorned . How just and impartiall they ever shewed themselues , as well in the publike administration of Iustice , as in private cases in their owne Courts , is more cleare and manifest then the light of the Sunne , one may as soone disprove one as the other ; insomuch , that we may well apply this sentence of Gods word unto them , that The wisedome of God was in them to doe iudgement 1 King . 3. 28.

3. Bountie and Humanitie ; The third Iewell of both their Majesties : the which was seene and praysed in his Majestie of Bohemia with admiration , how lovingly and how amiably , yea in a manner familiarly he carried himselfe to all , even of the lower sort , to his immortall commendation . Which as another excellencie was likewise observed and highly commended in his Majestie of Sweden ; how friendly , mildely , and courteously he demeaned himselfe , not onely to those of lower ranke , but towards his very enemies ; with whom he could so comport himselfe , ut Pyrrhus unà fuerit & Cyneas , that he conquered almost as many and great Cities with his loving behaviour , and heart-breaking eloquence , as he did by his valour and courage : whereof Elbing in Borussia , Frankfurt upon the Mayne , and Augsburg , are evident and fresh examples .

We read indeed in the Histories of many Kings , qui alienae facundiae egue●unt , aut illâ vsi sunt , who either were to be supplyed by the eloquence of others out of necessitie , or used it out of pride , And so we read of Leo , that he had alwayes Maiorian at his elbow , to interpret his minde , Cuius dignatur ab ore , Caesar in orbe loqui , as Sidonius speakes of him . But God had bestowed this singular gift upon the Majesties of these Kings , that they had no need , as Moses of an Aaron , to be their spokes-man , but ex tempore , and without premeditation they were able fully , wisely , and elegantly to expresse their mindes upon any occasion , which often put the hearers into admiration : So that we may say of both , that They knew to speake from the Cedar that groweth in Lebanon , to the Isop that sprouts out of the wall .

4. As for Courage , Valour , and undaunted Magnanimitie , another Iewell againe of the Crownes of those Kings , and which made them esteemed as the only gemme of the world , consider we their Heroicall resolutions , and that height of courage they have manifested in so many occasions , Countries , Times , and Seasons , even admiraculum usque as the whole world cannot but know , and those doe witnesse , that were oculati testes , the present and constant beholders of it . And we need no other proofe then the many hundred Cities , Forts , Castles , the severall bloudie battells and victories , the frequent and dangerous skirmishes , and innumerable other warlike expeditions , which were practised onely in Germanie , within these two yeares , under the commaund and government of his Majestie of Sweden . So that wee may well summe it up all with this part of Davids Elegie , 2 Sam . 1. 22. From the bloud of the slaine , from the fat of the mightie , the bow of Ionathan turned not backe , and the sword of Saul returned not emptie . And out of Gen. 49. 9. Iudah is a Lyons whelpe ; from the victorie thou art exalted ; Hee couched himselfe as a Lyon , as an old Lyon , who durst rouze him up ? But what doe we endeavour to commend that in his Majestie , which neither present , nor future ages can sufficiently and answerably to desert extoll and magnifie , although they shall never cease to ring and trumpet his noble fame and memorie .

5. There is yet Wisedome , that Royall Plant , which seemes was the Masterpiece of all the endowments the heart of those Royall Princes were adorned withall . For , Beloved , we may say this with out the least touch of pleasing flattery , that God had endowed those two Kings with such understanding and wisedome , that they were admired abroad , and joyfully honoured for it at home , and among their owne : And we could well have applyed to them , what Plinius saith of another ; Nihil est omnium quod discere velles , quod illi tedocere non possent : You could have devised nothing to learne , but you might have learned it of them . Witnesse , the great concourse heretofore to Heidelberg from all parts of Christendome , as to the Delphik Oracle , and afterwards to his Maiestie of Sweden , for counsell , helpe , redresse , and reliefe . In a word for the brevitie of Time , we may without blasphemie , pronounce of their Maiesties that the Heavenly wisedome had built her a house in the hearts of those Kings , Pro . 9. 1. which will preserue the Remembrance of their Names to perpetuity .

And now I had almost made this generall conclusion of both Kings , with that of the Scripture , 2. Chron . 1. 12. that , scarce was any the like before them , and hardly will such come after them as were themselues : but that the Phylosopher puts mee in minde of his , Ante obilum nemo , supremaque ●ata beatus : And therefore it is requisite that according to the subdivision of our Text , we consider with David the manner and fashion of the death of our deceased , and with all how happie our Kings were in the same . I shall not be long in this matter , it toucheth too neere to the quicke : would to God we had never had occasion to heare or speake of these , to us , most dolefull deaths But as with all good Kings , so went it with these , Venit summa dies & inevitabile fatum The beauty of Israel is slaine upon thy high places ! How are the mighty fallen ? I● is remarkeable how that royal Prophet describeth their death ; though they were slaine , yet doth he add they were but fallen ; Cadunt , non occidunt , abeunt , non obeunt , praeeunt , non pereunt , which though it could not be applyed to Saul , yet of Ionathan it was certaine ; They are fallen ! So these , but they will rise againe , they are gone , but not perished , they are gone before , but not lost : they will not come to us againe , well we may goe to them . Beloved , it would breake not onely the tenderest , but the hardest heart , to consider how resolvedly , and quietly both Kings have left this miserable Wildernesse , and how , as Ambrose speaketh , regnum non deseruerunt , sed mutârunt : They have not put off their Crownes , but onely changed them . His Majestie of Bohemia , did so holily and comfortably resolue and fit himselfe divers dayes before with reading , praying , & singing especially the last night against the approaching death ; in the presence of divers of his Courtiers & Ministers , till death came which seemed rather to be a sleepe , his life failing and spending as the light of a dying candle . How resolutely and couragiously likewise his Majestie of Sweden hath encountred his death , none is able to expresse sufficiently , as we easily may conclude , if we waigh but a little one of his last discourses , praying that none would giudge him the honor God would bestow upon him , that he should loose his life for Gods word , & shed his blood for the German Liberty : exhorting withall the Princes and Commanders , to go on couragiously wth the Worke they had begunne , that none should looke upon him , an Instrument & Minister , but upon God the Mover & Master who doubtlesly would blesse their endevour , if their aime be & continue sincere , & that they onely would seeke the magnifying of his glory ; that hitherto he had done what he could , hoping none could lay any evill to his charg , that could have beene prevented by him . And thus both Kings blessedly departed in the Lord & as the Scripture phrase is , obd●rmierunt , they fell a-sleepe , leaving behind them as Pliniu● words are , duas Reginas & mille virtutes , Two disconsolate Queenes , and a thousand Heroicall vertues . Therefore wee conclude in the words of David 2. Sam . 1. 23. They were lovely and pleasant in their lives , and in their death they were not divided , they were swifter then Eagles , they were stronger then Lyons .

Lastly , it is worth observation , that as Samson slue more Philistines in his death , then all his life time ; so the two Kings have obtained nobler victories in their Death , then even before ; and thus entred the new Ierusalem , as it were in a Chariot of Tryumph , as it is apparant , out of that strange and miraculous victory the dead King of Sweden obtained , and out of the rendring up of the Citie and Fort of Franken●all , into the hands of the dead King of Bohemia . Thus have we viewed a patterne and lively contrafact , of a pious and Heroike Prince , in the example of those two excellent Kings ; to passe by many other and most commendable vertues , wherewith as Christians , they were endowed and adorned . But now some malicious scoffers may rise up and say , what , had those Kings nothing but perfections , that all this while we have nothing rehearsed but their praises and vertues . I answer ; Alas ! Beloved , Homines fuerunt . They were men , as we are ; they had their infirmities , as we have ; who lives and sinnes not ? But as Apelles , when he drew the picture of Antigonus painted onely the one side of his face , thus to hide and cover his infirmitie , he wanting an eye upon the other hidden side : So must we doe with our Princes ; remember and propound unto the view of the World , whatsoever of theirs was praise-worthy and commendable , to adde spurres and incouragements unto us to follow and imitate their example in all Christian vertues . As for the faults and infirmities , the Apostle tells us , that Love doth cover a multitude of sinnes , Iam . 5. 20. Especially , where the multitude and excellencie of vertues doe cover and excell the imperfections , the which we can and doe truely averre of our deceased Kings . What remaineth then , but that with the Centurion having seene their death , wee comprehend all their commendations in one word : Of a truth those have beene the sonnes and children of God . Mat . 27 , 54 ,