CHAP. I. There are two grounds of true Soveraignty in our gracious Lord King CHARLES , 1. He receiving His Authority from GOD , hath no Superiour to punish him , but GOD alone . 2. The Bond of his Subjects in Obedience to His Majestie , is inviolable , and not to be dissolved .

GOD denouncing his judgements against wicked Kings , as Saul and Rehoboam , threatens with Renting their Kingdoms from them , and making their houses desolate . The deposing of a King , and the disposing of his Dominions , belong only to God . Obedience , Or the duty God enjoyneth all men is , To eschew evill , and doe good , which is diffused into the particular duties of 1. A Servant to his Master . 2. A Son to his Father . 3. A Subject to his Prince .

In the Allegiance of a Subject to his Soveraign , the evill he is to esc●ew , is evill in action , For he is not to touch him with any hurtfull touch , or stretch out his hand against his Sacred Person , Psal . 105. 1 Sam . 15. Or any way to affright or disgrace him , by cutting off the lap of his garment . Evill in words , For he is not to curse his Ruler , Exod . 22. Evill in cogitations , For he is not to curse the King in his thought . Eccles . 10. The good which he is to doe out o● Obedience to his Majestie , is in deed , by Paying Tribute . Rom. 13 By fighting his ba●tells with Joab , adventuring his life with David , to vanquish his enemies . In speech , By revealing with Religious Mordecai , the treasonable designments of B●gan and Teresh , Host . 2. By pouring out Prayers for his welfare . 1 Tim . 2. In thought By esteeming and dou●●●ing him from the Heart , out of conscience , as the Anointed of the Lord , Gods holy Ordinance , and Minister , and as a God upon earth ; for this is to obey him for the Lords sake , to fear God , and honor the King ; When we fear God , by whom the King reigneth , and his throne is established . 1. Pet . 2. Prov. 8. By this we plainly discern how impious and irreligious the practises of those are , who have not only actually offerd violence to his Sacred Majestie ( witnesse Edge-hill ) but have been favourers of those who have any ways vilified , nay , belch'd out most horrid treasons against Gods Anointed , as one Pym , who said , He would wash his hands in the Kings blood , and many more in the like nature , too tedious , or odious for me to recite .

CHAP. II . How these two Pillars , ( viz. Soveraignty , and the Bond of Obedience ) are supported , and upon what foundations they are built .

1 I Shall discover unto you the foundation of the first prop or Pillar , Our Soveraign Lord King CHARLES receiv ng his Authority only from God , hath no Superior to chastise and punish him , but God alone .

The Ancient practise of this Kingdom is cleer for this truth . Bracton , Chief Justice under Hen . 3. in his Customes of England 1 cent . rubrica . 35. saith , There are under the King Freemen and Servants , and both subject unto his Power , as also whatsoever is under him and he himself is subject unto no man , but God only . Et ipse sub nullo nisi tantum sub Deo . And again , If there be any offence committed by him , forasmuch as there is no Breeve to enforce , or constrain him , There may be supplication made , that he would correct and amend his fault , which if he shall not doe , it is abundantly sufficient punishment , that he is to expect God a revenger , for no man may presume ( disquirere ) judicially to examine his doings , much lesse to oppose them by force or violence . And this is no other Kingly Soveraignty then God himself hath given unto Majestie . I couns ll thee ( saith God by the mouth of Solomon ) to keep the Kings commandment , and that in regard of the Oa●h of God b● not hasty to goe out of his sight , stand not in an evill thing , for ●e doth whatsoever pleaseth him . Where the word of a King is , t●ere is Power , and who may say unto him , Wha● doest thou ? Eccles . 8. An evident testimony . That Kings are subject unto God , and have no mortall man their Superiour , who may require of them an account of their doings , and punish them by any judiciall sentence . This Divine truth is taught both by David and his Son Solomon , Against thee , ●gainst thee only have I sinned . Against thee only , for he was a King ( saith Ambrose ) not bound unto Law , because Kings are free from the bond of crimes , and are not called unto punishment by any Law , being safe by the Power of Command : therefore David sinned not against man , unto whom he was not obnoxious , in regard of punishment , but of admonition only , and reproof uttered in the Name , and by the Authority of God himself .

Hereupon the P●ophet Nathan , having used this Preface , Thus saith the Lord , admonisheth King David , that he should expiate his sin by R●pentance , but he gave no Sentence against him , whereby according to the Law , he should be adjudged unto death ; for if Nathan had given any such sentence against David , he should have had power to deprive him of his life , and so of the which he enjoyed by his life , his Regall Authoritie , which God only can take away from Princes , because he alone bestoweth it upon him . From whence have they received their Soveraignty , to be here upon earth as gods over men ? God himself answereth , Psal . 82. I have said , Ye are Gods , and by my Word the world was made ; so are ye appointed by the same word to Rule the world . Who hath given unto them their Kingdomes ? The Most High , he ruleth in the Kingdoms of men , and giveth it to whomsoever he will , Dan. 4. What power hath seated them in their Thrones ? The Power of the Almighty . Job 3● . Reges ( as the vulgar Translation renders it ) col●cat in solio ▪ He pla●eth Kings in the throne . And by whom doe they sway their Scepters , and govern their Kingdoms , By Gods speciall Authority , By me doe Kings Reign , and Princes decree Justice . Prov. 8. by his immediate Power , who is both Lord ●nd King of all the earth . Psal . 47. Doth not God by the mouth of the Prophet N●than , tell David , I anointed the King over Israel . 2. Sam . 12. Doth not Solomon acknowledge , That the Lord hath established him , and set him on the Throne of his father David . And the Prophet Ahija in the Person of God , unto Jeroboam , I w●ll give the Kingdom unto thee . Neither the Kingdom only , and the Power of Princes , but all things else proper unto them are after a peculiar manner Gods . Their Crown , their Anointing , their Scepter , and Throne are Gods , and their Persons adorned with all these , are so divine and Sacred , That they themselves are the Angels of God , and the sons of the Most High . 2. Sam . 14. Psal . 82.

Object . Are not Kings made by the people , and receive their Regall power by them and their election ? Is is not said of Saul , That all the people went to Gilgal , and there made him King before the Lord ? Of David , The men of Judah anoynted David King of Judah : The Elders of Israel anoynted David King over Israel .

Answ . Zadok the Priest , and Nathan the Prophet anoynted Salomon King , and the Lord also anoynted him , otherwise hee had not been the Lords Anointed , but the Anoynted of Zad●k and Nathan . The Lord anoynted Salomon as Master of the substance , and gave unto him regall power ; Zadok and Nathan anoynted Salomon as Master of the Ceremonies , and declared that God had given unto him this power : for outward unction doth not confer upon Kings their authoritie ( when without it Cyrus , Esay 45. and before the use thereof , some of the Patriarks over their families , were the anoynted of the Lord ) but it is a signe only of Soveraigntie ; because if wee powre oyle into the same vessell with any other liquour , it will still be uppermost .

The Elders of Judah & Israel anoynting David King , 2 Sam . 2. did manifest him to be their King ; but did not give unto him the right unto his Kingdome , this was only from the Lords appointing . So the people then made Saul King , not by giving him the right of his Kingdome ▪ but by putting him in possession of his Kingdome , to reigne over them : for the Jewes by Gods speciall commandement , being to make such an one King , whom their Lord God had chosen , unto whom their Lord God had given regall authority ; from their Lord God , and not from themselves , from Heaven , and not from Earth , was the Soveraignty of their Princes .

For as in spirituall graces , which God mercifully bestoweth upon the faithfull , neither the outward ministery of Paul in planting , nor of Apollos in watering , is any thing ; but God giveth the encrease , 1 Cor . 3. So in the civill power , which God vouchsafeth to Princes , the people are not any thing in giving this authority , but God only is the free Donor thereof .

CHAP. III . The bond of his Subjects in obedience to his Majestie is inviolable , and cannot be diss●lved .

THe principall meanes whereby the seditious sons of Belial doe pretend , that this sacred band may be dissolved , are either supposed crimes in the Persons of Princes , as Tyranny in governing , Infidelity , Heresie , Apostasie . First for Tyranny , Was not Saul a Tyrant in hunting after the soule , and seeking after the life of David , who was most faithfull unto him amongst all his servants , whom he himselfe confessed to have rendered good for evill ? Was hee not a bloudy oppressour in commanding Doeg , without any just cause of offence , violently to run upon the Priests , and slay foure-score and five persons that did weare a linnen Ephod , 2 Sam . 22.18 , 19. To smite Nob , the citie of the Priests , both man and woman , both child and suckling , both Oxe and Asse , and sheep , with the edge of the sword ?

The bloud of many Innocents did cry unto God for vengeance , and by his speciall commandement , Gen. 9.6 . Wh●so sheddeth mans bloud , by man his bloud shall be shed ) deserved death : yet David , not an ordinary or private man , but by Gods owne appointment designed unto the Kingdome , a chiefe Captain and Leader in the Kings battels , the Kings son in law , when he had Saul delivered into his hand , and was encouraged by his servants to destroy him , said unto them , 1 Sam . 24 6. The Lord keep me from doing that thing unto my Master , the Lords anoynted , to lay my hand upon him ; for he is the Lords anoynted . And after unto Saul himselfe , vers . 14. Wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked , but mine hand be not upon thee . And againe unto Abishai , when the Lord another time had closed Saul into his hands , ( 1 Sam . 26.9 . ) Destroy him not ; for who can lay hands upon the Lords anoynted , and be guiltlesse ? Which pious and religious acts of David towards Saul , amongst the Israelites , Optatus hath elegantly described , the more effectually to comm●nd them unto Christians : David ( saith Optatus ) had the occasion of victory in his hands , he might have cut the throat of his unwary and secure adversary , without any labour ; hee might without shedding of bloud , without any conflict , have changed a publike war into a private slaughter , and his men the victory , occasion and opportunity encouraged him : he began to draw his sword , his armed hand was moved towards the throat of his enemy ; but the perfect remembrance of Gods Commandements stayed him : hee withstanding his men , and the occasions enciting him , in effect thus speaketh unto them : O victory , thou doest in vaine provoke , and invite me with thy triumphs , I would willingly conquer mine enemy , but I must rather keep Gods Commandements , I will not ( saith he ) lay mine hands upon the Lords anoynted . And so he repressed his hand together with his sword ; and whiles he feared the oyle , saved his enemy . Tertullian teacheth , to wish evill , to doe evill , to think evill , is indifferently forbidden us towards all men ; thence inferreth , if wee are not to offer the least of these injuries to any man , much lesse to him that is so highly advanced by our God , speaking of the Emperour Severus , who was an unbeleeving Tyrant , an Infidell , that did grievously persecute the Christians , whom he did afflict with the fifth famous persecution .

St. Peter writ his first Epistle in the time of Claudius the Emperour , and did direct it to his Countrey men the Jewes , thorowout Pontus , Galatia , Cappadocia , Asia , Bythima , regions then subject unto the Roman Emperour . And because some seducers ( with whom this latter age is much burdened ) had perswaded the Jewes , under a pretext of maintaining their liberty , that tribute was not to be payd to Caesar , neither any mortall man was to be accounted as a Prince or Lord over them , but God only : St. Peter exhorteth them to be free , as not using their liberty for a cloke of malicious●esse , but as the servants of God , ( 1 Pet . 2.16 , and 18. ) and to feare God , but yet to honour the King also . And although Magistrates be men , and so their Ordinance , in regard of their persons in whom it doth reside , but humane ; yet to submit themselves unto them , for the Lords sake , from whom they received their authority . And if we are commanded to submit our selves , and to be subje ● to a profane Infidell and mercilesse Tyrant , as Claudius was , who would have tortures in examinations , punishments for Patricides exec●●●d in his owne presence : hee had most cruell Searchers of all t●●● came but to salute him , sparing not ●●y sex or age ; he delighted to see the faces of Fencers ( whose throats hee had caused to be cut for stumbling by chance in their sword fights ) as they lay gasping , and yeelding up their breath : and being excessively given to the wanton love of women , hee was so enthralled to his wives and free-men , that as it was commodious unto them , or stood with their affection , he granted honourable dignities , conferred the conducts of Armies , and decreed impunities or punishments ; yet unto such an unbeleeving and bloudy Oppressor , St. Peter earnestly exhorteth the beleeving Jewes to yeeld obedience .

If Subjects are obliged in duty , and out of conscience cheerfully to obey tyrannous , unbeleeving , hereticall , Apostaticall Princes , as Powers ordained of God : with what alacr●●y th●● should we be in all things obsequious unto our gracious and truly religious Soveraigne ? Gracious , as being like unto God , whose Vice-Gerent he is in this , that his clemencie and mercie is over all his works : Religious , in that he is a zealous Propugner of the ancient and Catholike Faith , not only by his Kingly power and authority , but hath confirmed the same by many sacred vowes and protestations , to the glory of God , to the rejoycing of Angels , and to the great comfort of all his true-hearted Subjects , so to the terrour and confusion of all his seditiou● enemies .