THough it be true that the Iudge of all the world must needs do right Gen. 18.25., and that hee who is of infinite maiestie, power, and iustice, can do no lesse then auenge himselfe of sinne and sinfull men; yet such is his patience and longanimitie, that now and then, as the wise man saith, dissimulat peccata hominum Wisd. 7., he dissembleth and seemeth not to see the sinnes of men. And as S. Austin obserueth, there is not alwaies apertio oculorum, when as this God seeth with the open eie, and takes apparant notice of the mischieuous practises of euill doers; but sometime opertio, when he con­sidereth (as I may so say) with the eie-lid, and appeares vn­to the wicked as one that sleepes, and winkes at their im­pieties.

Insomuch that the crie of Sodome Gen. 18.25. came vp to the very gates of heauen ere he came downe to them: the wicked­nesse [Page 2]of the Amorites 13.16. was rotten ripe ere he began to launce; and the day of trouble and time Isai. 22.15. prefixt expired, ere he pro­ceeded in iudgment with the Princes of Iuda. And Shebna in my text by his many impieties and wicked machinations euen turned his patience into fury ere he sent our Prophet vnto him to threaten his ruine. Till at length the sinnes of Shebna began to crie, and the measure of his iniquitie waxed full, and the day of his trouble came; and then when hee thought himselfe most strong, and flourished like the bay tree Psal., when he dwelt in the cliffes of the rocke Ier. 49.16., and kept the height of the hilles, and was (to vse our Prophets words in the fiue and twentieth verse Isai. 22.25. of this Chapter) as a naile fastned in a sure place, loe, euen then comes a fearfull mes­age and most direfull prediction of his vtter ruine and de­struction, Goe get thee vnto this Treasurer, euen vnto Shebna which is ouer the house and say.

Which parcell of holy Writ may very well be intituled, The Downefull of Shebna. Occidit vna domus, sed enim domus illa perire Digna fuit. For the better vnfolding wherof con­sider with mee I beseech you these three proposals.

• First, What this Shebna was.
• Secondly, What was his offence.
• And thirdly, How it was punished.

As touching the first, what this Shebna was; goe wee no further then to the title heere giuen him, and the bare sig­nification of the name it selfe, wee shall finde, that as was his name, so was hee: for the word [...] which our English renders Treasurer, Musculus. as Musculus very well obserueth, is not so much a name of office, as parentage: and he was called [...] Socuite, from the Citie wherein hee was borne. Now the Verbe [...] either signifieth to impouerish; so that Shebna as it should seeme, was one that was giuen to wrong and hurt others, and set light hy all such as had not relation to him, and fauoured his proceedings: and therefore among his other vices, which doubtlesse were many and great (as you shall heare anon) the holy Ghost Isa. 22.21. in the one and twen­tieth verse of this Chapter, plalnly specifieth the malice and [Page 3]spleene which hee bare vnto good Eliachim; and to regret and gall him the more, it is recorded as a parcell of his pu­nishment, that whereas hee laboured to supplant Eliachim, and bring him into disgrace with the Prince and State, Eli­achim should be aduanced, and that in Shebna roome: For with thy garments will I cloath him, and with thy girdle will I strengthen him: thy power also will I commit into his hand, and he shall be a father of the Inhabitants of Ierusalem, Isai. 22.21. and of the house of Iudah.

Or else it signifies to entertaine, to warme and cherish. In which sense it is vsed the first of Kings, the first Chapter, and second verse, 1 Reg. 1.2. where it is said that the seruants of Dauid perceiuing a decay of nature, and that his vitall heat was well-nigh spent, they brought a young Virgin vnto him, [...] & sit ei proficiens, foueat cum, let her che­rish him. Which signification of the word if we will follow in this title, then wee may conceiue Shebna was a great fea­ster, and by his reuelling and banquetting and royall en­tertainment and other his more secret practises indeered the loues and affections of the Assyrians and Aegyptians, but especially of the false and hollow-hearted people and na­turall subiects of Ezechia vnto him, in such sort, as that all men stood in awe of him.

Howsoeuer, certaine it is, Tacitus hist. 1. sect. 13. he was a man of speciall regard and eminencie in the common wealth: For though hee were an Aegyptian borne and a meere stranger to the Iew­ish nation, and a man who was besides those disaduantages of birth and life: the one, being meane, base and obscure, the other, lewd, wicked and vngodly, no way likely to rise in so good and well ordered an estate, as this of Iudah.

Yet had he by some such vertues, as Tacitus mentioneth in Tigellinus, Luxurie and Crueltie, and such other their in­separable companions, so humored the wicked King Ahaz, and by his fauour wrought himselfe into such place and ge­nerall imployment in the common wealth, as that Ezechi­ah, though hee were a good and a pious Prince, and with­out all question made choise of his seruants thereafter, yet [Page 4]hee not onely continued Shebna in that present greatnesse, whereunto Ahaz had aduanced him: But seconded what Ahaz had begun, and followed Shebna with many an addi­tion and fresh supply of future fauour and preferment. For whereas there are but two courses, which Princes ge­nerally take with such as hold not correspondence with them, either to disgrace and casheir them quite, or else to winne them by conferring fauors and honors vpon them: you haue many imbrace the former, and Dauid himselfe though abused by a false and slandering fugitiue could hardly brooke Mephibosheth: 2 Sam. 19.25. wherefore wentest not thou with me Mephibosheth? Yet this good King tooke the fairest and most charitable course, and heaped coales of fire vpon this wicked Shebna his head. And this will euidently appeare, if you will be pleased to take a view of the place which Shebna now held vnder Ezechiah, and of the great accompt which this good King made of him and of his seruice. For, to omit all busie discourse touching his office, whether he were Steward of the house, as some Writers reade: or as Iunius renders it, praefectus praetorio, one that had the ordering of the men of warre and marshall affaires: or whether he were Scriba honorarius, principall Secretary, as the storie hath it, the 2 of Kings at the 18. or, 2 Kings 18. whether he were keeper of the Rolles, or, Master of Requests, as else-where our Prophet seemes to imply, Isay 36.3. Isaiah 36.3. wee may boldly rest on this, that he was a prime man in that state, and indeed raised to that height of honor, or at least continued at that height of honor (vntill he deserued the contrary) as that higher hee could not goe, Junius. euen so high quantum potuit esse viri saith one, as possibly a subiect could be capable of. He was se­cundus à Rege, the Kings right hand, and as it should seeme by the description of Eliachims power and authoritie, who succeeded Shebna both in place and greatnesse, Isay 22.22. he had the very key of Dauid, and bare such sway, as that all men sought vnto him, all, euen from him that sate vpon the throne, to him that grinded at the mill, relied on him: The King for aduice, the people for dependance, and [Page]there was no one thing done, either in Church or Com­mon wealth, either at home or abroad, that Shebna was not priuy too: nay, such accompt made Ezechiah of this one Shebna, and such trust and confidence he reposed in him, as that when Zenacherib threatned the ruine and de­struction both of Ezechiah and Ierusalem, why, Shebna was a man, and a chiefe man sent from Ezechiah to appease Zenacherib and diuert him from his bloudy designe. In a word: when I consider either the place that Shebna bare in the common wealth, or the good opinion shall I say? nay, the strong confidence, trust and repose, which Eze­chiah had in him; mee thinks I heare Ezechiah speake vnto Shebna as Pharaoh vnto Ioseph, Gen. 41.40. Thou shalt be ouer mine house and of thy word shall all my people be armed, onely in the Kings throne will I be aboue thee. Gen. 41.40. Mee thinkes hee no lesse respected him, Ester 6.8. then Assuerus did Mordecay in the sixt of Ester at the 8 verse: or Balthasar him that could in­terpret the dreame Dan: 5.7. For, Dan: 5.7. Ecce (as Iunius hath it) Iehouah contegit to in tegumento, & amiciendo amicit te bellè. and what possibly can you name should be done to the man whom the King would honor, that was not done to Shebna. Hee had honor, wealth, power, command, and which is e­quall, nay aboue all the rest, hee had the fauor and good opinion of his Soueraigne, and what could the large and vaste heart of any reasonable subiect desire more?

But O ignominia domus Domini! you would wonder to see how soone this base fellow and earthly meteor, but now drawne aloft by the beames of the Princes fauour, vanisht; and how quickly his good seruice (as Lewis the XI. King of France was wont to say) vtterly vndid him (so that, Phil. de Com. lib. 3. quem vidit veniens dies superbum, Hunc vidit fugiens dies ia­centem.

For, Shebna looking vpon these blessings of God and fa­uors of his Prince, as Swine vpon maste, neuer lifting vp his heart or entertayning so much as a thankfull thought from whence they fell, so exasperated God the author and doner of them, that he seemeth here, as sometime hee did vpon a [Page]serious view and consideration of the old world, euen to re­pent that euer he made Shebna a man, or at least so great a man; and therefore he sends our Prophet here, and giues him in charge without any the least delay or preadmoni­tion whatsoeuer, to lay the axe vnto the roote of the tree and smite home.

But of Gods round and peremptorie dealing with Sheb­na, I shall haue occasion to speake, when I come to the pu­nishment of his offence: I am yet come no further, then the qualitie of his person, what he was, a man, who kept all other in awe, a man, of royall entertainment: a man, of prime note and eminencie, a pillar of the state, a patrone of the people, a fauorite of the King.

The vse whereof may be that in the Psalmist, Man being in honor hath no vnderstanding, Psal: 49.13. hee is like to beasts that perish. Psal. 49.13. especially that man that riseth from a low and meane estate, none more insolent, none more ingratefull, none greater despisers of others, magnifiers of themselues.

And it may serue to admonish such as rise from meane parentage, birth and estate, to looke vnto the rocke from whence they were hewen, and in all humilitie and hearty acknowledgment of Gods goodnes towards them, to car­ry themselues fairely and respectiuely to others. Whereas such is the impotencie and weaknesse of many, that ob­serue it when you will, you shall seldome see men base by birth, base by descent, base by education, but if once they get into the stirrup and climbe to any place of honour, pre­ferment, meanes, command, why, presently they begin to play the Shebna, and as the Poet saith of drunken men, and what greater drunkennesse then this of the minde? Tum ve­niunt risus, tum pauper cornua sumit. And this shall suffice to haue been spoken of the qualitie of his person, what he was. I come now by your good fauour, to the nature of his of­fence, [Page 7] what he did. Go get thee vnto this Treasurer euen vnto Shebna which is ouer the house, & say. What was his offence. As touching the offence of Shebna, it will aske some time to finde it out, but being found out it will appeare to be a maruellous great one, no lesse then Treason, a transcendent Treason, and euery way de­seruing the seuerest punishment.

There are that haue taken great paines to finde out the sinne of Shebna, and they sticke not to charge him with arrogancie, vaine-glory, securitie, contempt of God and his Pro­phets, exaction, extortion, oppression, scandall, and bad example, with which, as one saith, hee did more hurt, then with all the rest.

Cyrill describeth him to be, elato animo, superciliosum ad­modum ac saenum in eos à quibus erat offensus, rapinis exultan­tem, sordido quoestui mancipatum, ostentabundum, & honores ab alijs semper venantem.

Whether Shebna were guilty of any one or all these, I will not say, but sure I am when wee shall lay all these toge­ther, they will not make vp the full measure of Shebna his impiety, they will not amount to the offence of Shebna, som­what else there was in all likely hood, which did exasperate God so greatly against him.

If you please to goe no further then our Prophets com­mission here, to the very words of my text, it will appeare without any the least strayning, euen from the bare letter thereof, that there was another notorious sinne in Shebna, besides all those which now were named, and that is his sin of Hypocrisie, in that God saith here, Go get thee vnto this, this Treasurer. [...] where the particle [...] is put for contempt saith Caluin. As if it had been said. Goe get thee to this Cercops (as they called Iulian) to this subtle and wilie fox, to this Amphisbaena, this two headed and double-hearted serpent Shebna. So that did we goe no farther then his hypocrisie, why here you see is fewell enough for Gods fierce and vnquenchable wrath to worke vpon. For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant. Inquire therefore I pray you of the former age, and call to minde ancient experiments, and [Page 8]they will tell you the guerdon and reward of an Hypocrite at the hands of Gods, did you euer see a rush grow without mire? or can the grasse grow without water, though it were in greene, and not cut downe, yet it shall wither before any other hearbe: So are the paths of all that forget God, and the hypocrites hope shall perish. His confidence also shall be cut off and his trust shall be as the house of a spider. Iob 8. ver: 11.12.13.14.15. Hee shall leane vpon his house but it shall not stand: he shall hold him fast by it, yet shall it not indure. Loe here the reward of an hypocrite, and Shebna was an hypocrite: but yet this was not the sinne of Shebna. Adde vnto his hypocrisie, Esay 22.16. what we finde in the 16 verse, to wit, his notorious ambition. In that Shebna being homo nouus, igno­bilis, a meere stranger, and which is more an Aegyptian stranger, with whom neither Ezechiah himselfe, nor any of his subiects ought to haue had the least commerce, or en­tercourse, and who by the law was excluded from all title of honour, or place of gouernment in that common wealth; yet notwithstanding this stranger, this Aegyptian, this Sheb­na, presumed to ranke himselfe with the bloud royall, the nobles and princes of Iudah, and omitted no one point of pompe and magnificence, whereby he might support him­selfe in the eyes of the world during his naturall life, and that once ended aeternize his name among them for euer. And therfore our Prophet begins with him as Achilles with that brauing and cracking [...], Homer: Iliad [...]. after a round and rough manner, by way of high indignation and great dis­daine, [...]? quis vnde hominum es? What hast thou to doe heere? And whom hast thou heere? that heere of all other coasts and countries, where thou hast least inte­rest, and canst not intitle thy selfe to any the least clod of earth, that heere I say, thou shouldest prepare and erect so rich and so sumptuous a tombe in so high and eminent a place aboue others.

Adde vnto his Ambition, vers. 18. his Ingratitude in the 18 verse, where our Prophet calls ignominia domus Domini, the shame and scandall and dishonour of his Lord and Master: now, ingratum dixeris, omnia dixeris, there is no fault, no [Page 9]vice whatsoeuer, but you shall finde it more or lesse in an vngratefull person, and Shebna was ingratefull, but yet this was not now the sinne of Shebna.

Adde therefore I pray you one sinne more, and then we shall come neere the sinne of Shebna: and that is, the vn­reconcileable hatred, despite, enuy, detraction, wherewith he daily and hourely hunted, and persecuted honest and harmelesse Eliachim, still whispering and bussing in the eares of the King, some infamous slander or vnchristian surmise, whereby he might bring innocent Eliachim in dis­grace both with Prince and people, as we may gather out of the 20. verse. O this is a sinne of all sinnes! vers: 20. when a cur­sed Belial and slandering Shebna shall hate goodnesse in any for no other reason but because he will hate, when hee shall carry a throat as wide as an open sepulchre, and tip his tongue with the poyson of Aspes, when hee shall bend his bow and make ready his arrowes, of detractrion, malice, slan­der, reports, suggestions, lies, and all to deuoure poyson, and shoot secretly (Lord into their secret let not my soule come) at the simple and vpright of life, and that when his furie is ouer, his passion setled and he come vnto himselfe, neither he nor the deuill that set him a worke is able to say, what hath the righteous done? O this is one and a principall one, of those peccata clamantia, which as they oft-times pierce the tender hearts of Gods deare children, (the more their weaknesse and want of true Christian fortitude) so do they with all importunitie knocke at the gates of heauen, and crie aloud for Gods heauy and vnsupportable venge­ance on the doers of them. And thus haue yee at length a list of Shebnaes foule sinnes and offences. Shebna was an hypocrite, Shebna was ambitious, Shebna was ingratefull, Shebna was enuious and giuen ouer to those crying sinnes of detraction, supplanting, slandering, lying, and what not, but yet we haue not named the sinne of Shebna, the particular capitall crime, the predominant sinne of Shebna which a­waked Gods iustice and prouoked him thus in all seueritie to proceed against him. For all these which but now I na­med, [Page 10] hypocrifie, ambition, ingratitude, enuy, why they were rather peccata hominum, peccata Iudaeorum, then any appro­priated sinnes of Shebna, they were sinnes incident to the corrupt nature of man: familiar to the people of the Iewes and cannot by way of denomination be termed the sinnes of Shebna. Insita est mortalibus naturâ, saith he, men by na­ture are wholy giuen to taxe and maligne vertue and good­nesse in others & pari dolore aliena commoda, ac proprias iniu­rias metiri and to take other mens benefits and blessings as much to heart as their owne proper iniuries. But especially the Iewes, no people, no nation so giuen ouer to hypocrisie, ambition, ingratitude and enuy as the Iewes.

Besides, it is worth the noting, that God proceedeth after another fashion with the Princes of Iudah, and the rest of the inferiour sort of people, and punisheth their offen­ces in another kinde, as he that will peruse the former part of this Chapter may easily perceiue, and I as easily shew you, could I now stay. But when he cals to minde the sinne of Shebna, he bids our Prophet addresse himselfe to Shebna in particular, as vnto a supereminent notorious offender aboue all the rest: Goe get thee vnto this Treasurer, euen vnto Shebna, which is ouer the house, and say. It was not then his hypocrisie, it was not his ambition, nor yet his ingratitude, no nor yet his enuie: it was a sinne of a deeper die, accom­companied I grant you with all these, but yet not any one of all these.

And that was his sinne of Treason. Shebna was a Trai­tor, patriae proditor, which (as one saith) comes à prodendis consilijs hostibus: so that Shebna (as I verily thinke) reuealed both arcana dominationis & domus, secrets of State, and se­crets of Court, and most treacherously combined to betray Ezechiah and Ierusalem into the hands of a professed ene­mie and atheall miscreant Zenacherib, as hoping forsooth that when once Zenacherib should be vested in the Throne of Iudah, he would thinke on Shebna, and make him King ouer his owne Countrey at the least. And this I take to be the sinne of Shebna. As for those other sinnes, I make no [Page 11]doubt but Shebna had of a long time nourished them, and God might say vnto him as it is in the Psalmist, Psal. 49.21. Haec fecisti & tacui: These things hast thou done, Shebna, and I held my peace. But when once he committed the sinne of trea­son, then was it high time for God, who as the sonne of Siracke saith, patient est etiam & redditor, Wisdome. to come downe and visit Shebna with a rod of iron.

Shebna then was a Traitor, his offence Treason, nay, I added more, a transcendent Treason: For looke vpon the most hainous Treasons and bloudie assassinats in the bookes of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iudah, and other faithfull stories in the word of God, you shall finde some­what that will lessen them, and giue occasion of extenuati­on. In all of them you shall obserue that flesh and bloud will haue some Sanctuarie to flie vnto; and an indulgent obseruer will easily inuent arguments to mitigate, if not quite to purge the foulenesse of each offence. But Shebna his treason was so dangerous and inexcusable, that it will admit of no extenuation.

In the second of Ester you shall reade of a dangerous treason attempted by Bigthan and Teresh, Ester 2. vpon the body of an annointed King, the King Assuerus; where, if we looke vpon the authors of the treason, it was very dangerous and inexcusable: for what could not these mischieuous villaines doe, that were Squires of the body, and had the life and be­ing of the King in their owne custodie? But yet if wee cast our eie vpon the obiect of their treason, why surely it ex­tended no farther, neither had they any other obiect, then the bare life only of Assuerus at the most.

In the third of that booke you shall finde recorded a bar­barous massacre intended by Haman against the person, not of one or two, but euen of Mordecay and the people of Mordecay. Heere now if you looke narrowly vpon the la­titude [Page 12]of the obiect, Mordecay and all the Iewes, verily the crueltie of mercilesse Haman can no way be extenuated: but yet if you will search a little farther, and enquire after the end he proposed vnto himselfe, we cannot say that the life of his liege Lord, or that the welfare of the proper in­habitants of that Countrey, or that the preseruation of the state wherein he liued, and whereof hee was a principall member, was any way put in hazard: onely Mordecay and certaine Iewes dispersed vp and downe thorowout the Kings prouinces were aimed at.

In the second of Samuel at the 15 we haue storied a foule and vnnaturall treacherie of Absolon against his father Da­uid; 2. Sam. 15. where if we marke well the end he proposed vnto him­selfe, to wit, the vsurpation of the Kingdome, or the meanes he vsed for the atchieuing of this his end, namely by stea­ling away the hearts of the people, sollicitando, pollicitando, (as Simo chargeth Crito in the Comedie) feeding their fan­sies with affable gestures and faire promises, by getting armes and militarie forces into his hands, by quarrelling the execution of iustice and course of gouernment, by de­luding his father with a pretence of performing his vow, and the more free seruing of God, and a world of such like traiterous lies and deuices, nothing can be said for it. But yet if you will weigh the issue and euent which in probabi­litie must needs haue followed, you will not thinke it so hai­nous: for the worst that can be said or feared, was but the change of a Prince, of the father for the sonne, of an old for a new: the Law should haue remained the same, the Reli­gion the same, the gouernment the same, and there would haue ensued little or no inuersion, much lesse euersion of the state. So that in all these, though dangerous and inex­cusable treasons and murders in themselues, yet somewhat there is that a man partially affected may picke out to al­leadge, if not for defence, yet for excuse and extenuation of them. But Shebna his treason heere is like a strong poi­son composed of whatsoeuer was most bad in the worst of these. And it was dangerous and inexcusable, not onely in [Page 13]regard of the author, as that of the Eunuches; nor yet of the obiect, as that of Hamans; nor yet of the end and meanes which he vsed, as that of Absolon: but in all these re­spects, both of author, obiect, end, euent, euery way.

First then, it was dangerous and inexcusable in regard of the author who committed it, Shebna.

And heere I must intreat you to conceiue of Shebna not as now we finde him, dismantled and detected by our Pro­phet, but as then he was when he first hatched and concei­ued this treason. For conspiracies and treasons are like sparkes of fire, which in the darke and deepe hearts of Trai­tors glitter, and are lightsome, probable, and very likely to take effect: but when as they Sunne shines on them, and that they are discouered, they fall to ashes. Euery childe can passe a iudgement vpon the euent and successe of a designe. But we must not thinke Traitors so foolish as the euent, or rather God (whose glorie it is to raine snares, fire and brim­stone, Psal. 11.6. and stormie tempest vpon the mischieuous machinati­ons of treacherous wretches) in the euent and conclusion makes them. He replied with great indignation, when led to the Tower a friend told him, Ah my Lord, I am sorry you had no more wit: Tush (quoth he) thou knowest not what thou saiest; When sawest thou a foole come hither?

And you shall neuer reade of any treason, especially such a compleat treason as this of Shebnaes, but it was attempted by such as were great promisers vnto themselues, confident of their wit, secure of the successe, and such as made no more difficultie to effect then to affect a treason: and such a one was Shebna. Wherefore let vs take Shebna as hee was when he first plotted and contriued this treason, and then tell me if he carried not the matter dangerously, if hee did not as much a any man of his spirit and working dispositi­on could haue done for the vtter ouerthrow of Ezechiah and the whole Land of Iudah.

For first, he tooke the same course that all deepe Trai­tors euer haue and will take, whose manner is to pretend one thing, when in heart they intend another; and like [Page 14] Lapwings, to flutter most and crie loudest, when they are farthest from their nest; or with bote-men, to looke one way, and row another.

Thus to omit all forraine instances, whereof there is no storie so barren, but it hath store and plentie, thus I say the Traitor Digbie pretends a match of hunting, while his heart lay among the crowes of iron, the piles of billets, and bar­rels of pouder in the nethermost vault. Thus Parry, more to prepare accesse and credit, then for any care had of her Ma­iesties person, the late Queene Elizabeth of euer blessed me­morie, came to the Court, praied audience, discouered the coniuration, but yet (as himselfe confessed) couered with all the skill he had, hee disclosed only so much as hee thought good and necessarie to ground in her Highnesse a setled confidence towards him, whereby hee might effect his traiterous intent with better opportunitie, and his owne safetie.

Right so, Shebna tenders his seruice to the King his Ma­ster, ioines in commission with Eliachim and Ioah, parlies with Rabshakeh chiefe Coronell of Zenacheribs host, laieth out an huge summe of money vpon a costly and glorious Tombe, and all to diuert the obseruation of the state, and beare them in hand he minded nothing more then to liue and die amongst them, when notwithstanding hee held in­telligence with the enemie, and vnder these pretences tooke the more libertie to play the professed Traitor, and recommend his loue and seruice to Zenacherib.

Againe, Shebna was not alone, he was not singular and selfe-conceited: it is probable a great part of the people ( for the leaudest men, Tacit. saith Tacitus, misdoubting the present, and fearing the change, prepare before hand friends) they also held it safest to doe as Shebna did, and close with Zena­cherib, as being perhaps animated thereunto partly by the submission of Ahaz, who had sworne fealtie and homage to Tiglath Pileser King of Ashur, 2. Reg. 16.7. the second of Kings, the sixteenth chapter and seuenth verse: and partly also by the dishonourable carriage of Ezechiah himselfe, who vpon the [Page 15]first assault, brake out into a most base and vnbeseeming acknowledgement, I haue offended, depart from mee, and what thou laiest vpon me I will beare it: the second of Kings, 2. Reg. 18.14. the eighteenth.

And now I pray helpe me. Wherein tro you lay Eze­chiahs strength, or what was there in Ezechiah, or the fence and munition of Iudah, that could encourage any man of that experience and vnderstanding that Shebna was, to stand out against Zenacherib? Lay it in the multitude of his people? Zenacherib had two for one. Lay it in their firme adherence and constancie? which is the chiefest thing a King can take comfort in in the time of w [...]re, where, as Dauid said, the sword deuoureth the one as well as the other, the second of Samuel, the eleuenth; and where, 2. Sam. 11.25. as Hanni­bal in Liuie tels vs, nusquam minus euentus solent respondere, only if the people be firme and constant, and carrie them­selues like loyall and louing subiects, ther's some comfort. But alas who knoweth not populi mobilem animum, & fi se ducem prabnisset Zenacherib, as hee saith of Ʋespasian, they would haue borne the same affection and demonstration of loue and loyaltie to Zenacherib, which now they made shew of to Ezechiah: it being true of the common people in generall, that they doe nothing vpon iudgement or any true meaning, but vpon a receiued habituall kinde of ti­morousnesse to sway with the Prince whatsoeuer hee be; especially of this people, who were as timorous as Harts, and as wauering as the winde: and therefore vpon a slighter occasion, and lesse danger, the Prophet saith, all were ouer­taken with such astonishment, that none could hold a ioint still, but quiuered and trembled like so many aspen leaues, Isay. 7.2. As also in the originall storie it selfe, Isay 7.2. 1. Reg. 18. and in our Prophet at the 36. chapter you shall finde that Ezechiahs Embassadors craued this as an especiall fauour of Rabshekeh, that hee would not speake vnto them in the Iewes tongue in the audience of the people that were on the wall, because they were naturally mutable, saith Cal­uin, and inconstant, and suddenly drawne to reuolt. So [Page 16]that had Zenacherib sped and got the vpper hand, there was no doubt but the common people illa ipsa diceret hora Au­gustum. Adde heereunto the greatnesse of Shebnaes place and power to doe mischiefe, being (as was said) praefectus praetorio, or principall Secretarie, and therefore priuie to all the secrets of State, those arcana Imperij, and might giue Zenacherib perfect intelligence. Adde his strength of wit to inuent mischiefe, and secure himselfe: his knowledge of the State, how weake and vnable to resist: the opportunitie he now had (being the only man of trust, Eliachim and Ioah excepted) to deale with the enemie.

And lastly this plausiblenesse with the people, being (as Iunitus cals him) fautor & magister impiorum, and (as in all good confirmation we may ghesse) pullus & puppus, the mi­nion and darling of the multitude. So that though hee en­tred into a desperate peece of seruice, where his life and ho­nour and all lay at stake, yet hee did nothing but what hee saw and knew they would second.

And now tell me whether this were not a dangerous treason, if we goe no farther then the author, who you see had made all so sure, that it was euen tempus faciendi Domino, high time for God to put his helping hand; otherwise the power of Zenacherib without, the inconstancie of the leau­der sort of people within, considered, Shebna went as neere as the wit of a man, actuated by the deuill himselfe, the au­thor of all mischieuous subtiltie and deepe deuices, could goe, to compasse the ruine and destruction, not of one As­suerus, or a Mordecay, and those of his Religion; but of his liege Lord and master Ezechiah, and the whole Land of Iudah.

Heere now the obiect and the latitude of the obiect much aggrauates Shebna his treason.

For Shebna aimed not at the ruine of a priuate man, which had beene bad and inexcusable, sith (as one saith) domestica & familiaris Deo est hominis natura: and quicunque effuderit humanum sanguinem, Gen. 9.6. per hominem fundetur sanguis illius: Ge­nesis 9.6.

Neither leueld Shebna at Eliachim alone, at some chiefe Magistrate or Sentinell of the state, which had been worse, sith publike Ministers stand for thousands and hundreds: they are the charets and horsemen of a common-wealth, 2 Regū 2.12. they are Gods Lieutenants and Ʋicegerents on earth, and therfore the least contempt, the least sinister thought tending to their hurt, God takes as done vnto himselfe.

But as those two and thirty Captaines in the 1 of Kings and the two and twentieth, 1 Regū 22.31. did Shoot neither at small nor great, saue at the King himselfe: so Shebnah his chiefe aime was at the King, and this King was Ezechiah, I say Ezechiah, so that here Shebna his treason appeares in it's full bignesse, sith there was more in Ezechiah then can be verified of ma­ny, I had almost said of any King besides, and therefore the more eminent and worthy the Prince, the more vile and inexcusable the traytor, the more goodly the obiect, the fouler the treason.

For first, had Ezechiah been a King onely by conquest, without iust title to the crowne: this fact of Shebna had been the lesse, sith Kings by conquest are no better than great theeues. Augustine. Elegant and excellent was the Pirats answer to the great Macedonian Alexander saith S ^t Austin in his 4 ^th booke de ciuitate Dei and 4 ^th chapter. The King asking him, how he durst molest the sea so? hee replied with a free spirit saith the Father, how darest thou molest the whole world? but because I doe it with one onely Galley-foist, I am called a theife, thou doing it with a great Nauie art called an Em­perour. And Lucan makes no scruple to terme Alexander a happy theife of the earth,

Conquerors then, whose right is their power, are theeues, and there is such an antipathie between the Conqueror and [Page 18]the conquered, that it is impossible for subiects of any good bloud truly and in heart to loue a Conquerour; whervpon it is, that the Politiques giue a precept, and their schollers put it in practise, A Conqueror, say they, must subuert and destroy all such as suffer great losse in that Conquest, and altoge­ther roote out the bloud and the race of such as before gouerned there.

This doctrine Thrasibulus taught, when he led a Messen­ger into a field of corne and bruised the tallest eares be­tween his hands, and this from him Periander practised, when hee tooke out of the way the chiefe and noblest men of Corinth. This Tarquin the proud commended to Sex­tus his sonne, when he cut off summa papauerum capita, and this Sextus accordingly put in vre, when hee caused to be massacred in their houses, all the greatest and noblest of the towne of Gabium. But Ezechiah was no such bloudy con­queror. Hee was an absolute Monarch and free borne King. Secondly, had Ezechiah been offensiue or burdensome to his subiects, or dissolute in his gouernment, Shebna might haue had some pretence. Bellar: de Rom: Pon [...]: lib. 5. c. 7. For though I am not of their o­pinion who teach that Kings receiue their Crownes from men, and hold them at their dispose, yet I rest assured that the vertue, worth and affable vsage of a Prince are they that gaine and keepe the affections of the people; whereas on the other side, the enormious defects and harsh vsage of a King alienates their mindes from him, as from one that a­buseth his Soueraigntie, and causeth them to flie to others, whom they hold more fit to command, and vnto whom they are more willing to yeeld obedience. A Prince, as he is aboue others in place, so he should shine aboue others in vertue; pettie blemishes in a Prince breed a loathing in the subiect: their least defects are soone spied and as soone censured. Qui magno imperio praediti, in excelso aetatem agunt, eorum facta cuncti mortales nouere. Ita in maxima fortuna mi­nima licentia est (saith Caesar in Salust.) ne (que) studere, neque o­disse sed minimè [...]asci debet. Quae apud alios Iracundia dici­tur, ea imperij superbia at (que) crudelitas appellatur.

The ill-willers of Pompey the great, obseruing that now and then he scratched his head with one finger, thought the worse of him for that. The Athenians found fault with Simon because he loued to drinke a cup of good wine. And the Romans finding no other thing in that famous Leader Scipio, Plutarch: pre­cep: pol. tooke occasion to blame him (saith Plutarch in his precepts of policie) onely for sleeping. For like as a little freckle, a little mole or pendant wart in the face of a man or woman is more offensiue then blacke and blew marks, then scarrs and maimes in all the rest of the body; euen so, small and light faults otherwise of themselues, shew great in the liues of Princes, saith that author. Now if men be so apt to take offence at such pettie scapes as these, what will they not doe, when they descry those prints of tyrannie, mur­ders, breach of promises and othes, frauds and deceit, and all kinde of iniustice; he will tell you Qui sceptra duro saeuus imperio regit, timet timentes. And Tully, No force or power of Empire be it neuer so great, can long stand, if it be prest with con­tinuall feare and hatred of the subiects. Comminaeus. Memorable is that which Comminaeus sets downe at large in his 7 booke & 11. chapter, of Alphonso a rich and potent King, who for that he forced his subiects to feed and fat his hoggs, for that hee bought vp all the oyle, and graine in the country before it was ripe, sold Bishopricks, gaue away Abbeyes to Falconers, and committed a many the like insolencies, grew in the end despicable in the sight of his people, and was forsaken of all.

The like befell Lodouic Sforza Duke of Millan, Guice: Inuen­torie of France, vita Lewis the 12. who by his great exactions and impositions (saith Guicciardin) so exasperated his subiects, that when Lewis the 12. came a­gainst him, they forthwith tooke armes, killed his Treasu­rer, forced him to flie, called in the French and yeelded the towne and themselues to their obedience.

And lastly, Mathew of W [...]stminster tells vs of King Iohn, Mathew West­minster. how that exosum se praebuit, he made himselfe hatefull vnto his people, as well for the murther of his nephew Arthur, as for his adulteries, his tyrannie, his exactions, and the like, in [Page 20]respect whereof Vix alicuius meruit lamentatione deplorari, he deserued not to be lamented scarcely of any.

How well and warrantably the subiects of these Kings demeaned themselues, I leaue to your iudgement, I like it not. By these few examples you may see how apt the peo­ple are to grow in dislike with their King, when hee once ceaseth to be truly royall and by hard vsage alienateth their mindes and affections from him. But here was no such matter, Shebna could not implead his Prince of any such outrage. Ezechiah was a good and godly King, vnto whom the Scripture still giues thi [...] testimonie, that he did vprightly in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Dauid his father had done, he trusted in the Lord God of Israel. So that after him was none like vnto him among all the Kings of Iuda, neither were there any such before him, 2 Reg: 18.5. 2 Kings 18.5.

But this is not all, maius opus moueo & maior mihi nascitur ordo rerum, there was more in Ezechiah then all this. Eze­chiah was a King, and a King of the line of Dauid. A King and a King of the tribe of Iudah, vnto both which God had bound himselfe by so many promises and couenants as that he might as well faile to be what hee is, as not to be a faith­full protector of Iudah, and of the stocke of Dauid, saying, I haue sworne once by my holinesse that I will not faile Dauid, Psal: 89.63. His seede shall endure for euer, and his throne shall be as the sunne before me. Psal. 89.36.

So that here as in a mirrour you may see Shebna his more then Luciferian pride, his Gygantomachia, in that being a poore finite wretch, a Typhon, a vassall, a bramble, hee durst attempt that, which hee could not but know called in que­stion, all those holy and faithfull promises of that neuer-fay­ling keeper of Iudah and of the line of Dauid.

End. And, cui bono? that I may let goe those two former cir­cumstances the Author and the Obiect, and come to his end which he proposed to himselfe, and the meanes whereby he must obtaine this his end, to wit, that Shebna might bee a King.

Here may you obserue a strange point of nature in this Traitor, in that hee so impotently affected his owne priuat aduancement, as that hee cared not what became of Eze­chiah or of Ierusalem, or of the whole land of Iudah, so hee might bee a King. Nay, God himselfe must goe from his word, fall from his promise, forsake his annoynted abandon his owne peculium and proper people, and all that Shebna may be a King.

Deare Christ! what is this heart of man, how boundlesse the desires thereof? was it not enough for Shebna to bee glutted with the fauours of his Prince? was it enough for him (to speake in the phrase of the Poet) to detaine fortune captiue with all her treasures, and carry in triumph the feli­cities of this world, glory, honor, riches, but Shebna must needs be a King. I, thats it, Shebna must be a King. Other­wise his ambitious heart would pant and bray, and all this present greatnesse and honor wherewith he wa [...] now inve­sted, would but increase his griefe, sinke him in Melan­cholie, and driue him into a consumption or worse disease, so long as he was depriued of that which must crowne and actuate all the rest, and giue vnto his aspiring minde her full complacencie and contentment, and thats a kingdom. Shebna must be a King.

Ah poore Shebna: quid hoc putemus esse? qui modo scurra aut si quid hae re tricius videbatur. Must he now needs be a King? was it euer heard that a traitor was rewarded? did euer wise man thinke him worthy of any reward, but such as is truly due vnto him, the gallowes? yet Shebna must be a King.

Alexander the great (saith Iustin) at his Fathers obse­quies, [Page 22]commanded publique [...] done vpon those whom he had himselfe secretly imployed to kill him.

Tiberius (saith Tacitus in the first of his Annales) disa­vowed his commission giuen to a souldier to kill Agrippa, telling him that he should answer the matter before the Se­nate. And howsoeuer men or rather monsters of men many times are contented to take the benefit of a seruice done by euill meanes: yet euer after they hold the instru­ment suspected, and hate the malitious nature and disposi­tion of him that doth it. Yet Shebna must be a King.

Inuentor: of France, vita Henry the 3. Iames Clement a Iacobine voweth to kill Henry the third of France, hee imparts his damnable proiect to Doctor Bourgoing Prior of his Couent, to Father Comelet and other Iesuits, and to all the chiefe of the sixteene, and to the forty of Paris. All incourage him to his happy designe, they pro­mise him Abbeyes and Bishoprickes, and if he chance to bee made a Martyr, no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles. This traitor thus incouraged, goes on, kills the King, and Paulus, Quintus spends a great deale of wit and inuention in commendation of the murther, it was rarum (saith he) inauditum, memorabile facinus.

There is abroad in the world that shames not to iustifie Rauillacs stabbing of Henry the fourth, late King of France, and saith it was not so much Rauillacs fault, as stoliditas Regis ob susceptum haereticorum patrocinium.

And I know there are that mince that superlatiue sulphu­rious treason. Alas it was but the attempt of some few, and those vnfortunate Gentlemen, and that when they held the King, for no King or not their King, and lastly, expectanda erat diutur­na persecutio: and what will you neuer giue ouer, saith Par­sons, that personated traytor, your clamors and exaggera­tions, the Powder treason, the Powder treason: But tell mee if euer you read or heard of any that truly and in heart lo­ued the traytor; yet Shebna must be a King.

Meanes. I but how or by what meanes say you must Shebna bee a King? why, sollicitando, pollicitando, which was Absolons course, and many traytors haue tane the like, and yet this is not all neither: a kingdome is not so easily gotten. But how then? Marry how haue greater spirits risen from no­thing, or how grew the Romane Empire, to that magnitude and greatnesse, or how haue high attempts been compas­sed beyond the expectation and reach of shallow and nar­row wits ?

Aske Liuie, and hee will tell you Agendo, Lib: 22. audendo (que) res Romana creuit &c. by doing and by daring the affaires of Rome increased, not by these dull and heauy counsels which timerous men terme warie. A wit too curious and caute­lous in casting of doubts for the most part hurteth, and he that omitteth an opportunitie present, vpon supposed dan­gers, shall neuer aduance his owne fortune.

Goe to Catesby heare what he saith: Wilt thou be a Traitor Tom? aude aliquid. Ʋenture not thy selfe to small purpose. If thou wilt be a traytor, there is a plot to greater aduantage, and such a one as nere can be discouered.

Good God! of what mould are these traytors made? or what wombe bare them? what difference and disparitie there is between them and all good men? how infinitely come they short of the cruellest heathens? Wee read that the elected Saints of God haue wished themselues Anathe­mised razed out of the booke of life, and vtterly excluded from the kingdome of heauen, for the publique good and preseruation of Gods deare people: but Shebna here wish­eth and plotteth the destruction and extirpation of Gods owne chosen peculiar people, and all that he may get a sillie kingdome on earth.

The most ambitious among the heathen, though they tooke an extraordinarie felicitie to imbrue their hands in bloud, to pill and depopulate whole townes and countries, yet they shooke not off all humanitie, they forgot not to be [Page 24]men, but had a feeling and were sensible of others calami­ties and distresse. Alexander wept for Darius, Iulius Caesar for Pompeius, Marcellus for Siracusa, and Scipio for Numan­tia. But so Shebna may be a King, Ezechiah, Ierusalem, and that g [...]orious kingdome of Iudah must be exposed to cru­eltie it selfe, to sacke and pillage, and all kinde of spoile and deuastation.

Euent. For what other can wee imagine should be the Euent of Shebna his treason, which was the fourth circumstance, and comes now in it due place to aggrauate the foule inexcusa­ble treason of Shebna. For howsoeuer Shebna was not so wise as to foresee, nor so honest as to feare what could not choose but follow, though Shebna proposing to himselfe his owne aduancement runne on blindfold and spied not the many many inconueniences and mischiefes which would haue ensued, no nor cared not what might ensue, so he might be a King: yet succeeding ages saw and Iudah feared, and how­beit a sinne once committed be but one and the same, yet the hurt that ariseth thereby much augments the venemous qualitie thereof, and thereafter as it doth dilate and spread and multiply to the preiudice and dammage of others, the more vile and dangerous and inexcusable must it needs be.

Let vs therefore see what hurt would haue insued. And that will appeare by the predictions, threats, and forewar­nings of that pseudo prophet Rabshekeh, who to make the people quake and tremble the more, sets before them the miseries and calamities into which they plunged them­selues, if they harkned to Ezechiah and stood out against Zenacherib.

Hath my Master sent me to thy Master, and to thee to speake these words, Isai. 36.12. and not to the men that sit on the wall. Ʋt comedant stercus suum & bibant aquas pedum suorum. Isai. 36.12. now

But we shall not need to argue the euent from Rabshekeh his threats, though I thinke he said no more then what Ze­nacherib would haue made good, and what Ezechiah and his people should haue felt.

You all know what are the proper immediate effects of warre and conquest; and therefore if you will needs haue me set downe what would haue ensued, I most earnestly desire you to remember (as Tullie sometimes said in his oration for Flaccus) the rashnesse of the multitude, and how the Grecian Victors handled the matter at the sacke of Troy.

And then, as there Aeneas tels you,

Or, if you will haue a more particular description of the dismall euent and bloudie effects which the vanquished of all sorts are sure to feele, take those which Caesar reckons vp as vndoubted fruits of Catilines conspiracie, in Salust: Salust. Ra­piuntur Virgines, &c. The Virgins are rauished, the children torne from their parents bosomes, the Matrons made the obiect of all the Victors lust, the Temples and houses spoiled, all things turned to burning and slaughter, all places stopt full of weapons, carcases, bloud, and lamentation.

Or if this content you not, take that of Quintilian in his eighth booke: The flames were spread thorow the Temples, Quint. a terrible cracking of falling houses is heard, and one confused [Page 26]sound of a thousand seuerall clamours. Some flie they know not whither: some sticke fast in the last embraces of their friends. The children and the women howle, and the old men (vnluckily spared vntill that fatall day.) Then followeth the tearing away of all the goods out of house and Temple, and the talke of those that haue carried away one burthen, and runne for another: and the poore prisoners are driuen in chaines before their takers, and the mother endeuouring to carrie her fillie infant with her. And where the most gaine is, there goe the Victors together by the eares.

But what need wee illustrate the effects of bloudie warre and victorie out of heathenish authors? Who hath not heard of the weeping voice of Elizeus vnto Hazael King of Syria, 2. King. 8.12.10.32.33.13.7. the second of Kings 8.12. I know the euill that thou shalt doe vnto the children of Israel: their strong Cities shalt thou set on fire: their young men shalt thou slay with the sword: thou shalt dash their infants against the stones, and rent in peeces their women with childe.

And this, if I conceiue any thing, had beene the deplo­red case of Iudah: this (if not farre worse) the euent of Shebna his treason, who all this while, as Dionysius (of whom Tullie reports in his third booke De natura Deorum) who hauing spoiled the Temple of Proserpina at Locris, Tully. of Iupi­ter in Peloponesus, of Aesculapius at Epidaurus, because Pro­serpina drowned him not as he sailed to Syracusa, nor yet Iupiter strooke him in peeces with his thunder-bolts, nor Aesculapius made an end of him by some long and misera­ble consumption, thought himselfe secure and past dan­ger, and that hee had done nothing but what was lawfull and warrantable, and what very well sorted with his great spirit and high imagination.

But beloued, I beseech God of his infinite mercie, giue me grace, and as many as heare me this day (forasmuch as we are all of vs in proportion of the same minde, wee all of vs in our iollitie thinke wee may doe what wee list, and so long as God forbeares to punish, we will neuer forbeare to sinne.) But God grant, which shall be all the vse I will now [Page 27]make, and with which I will shut vp this point, God grant (I say) wee may remember and lay vnto our hearts what that good Father S. Austin saith: Nihil est infelicius: Augustin. Nothing is more vnfortunate then the felicitie of sinners, whereby their pe­nall impunitie is nourished, and their malice strengthned and in­creased. When God suffereth sinners to prosper, then his indig­nation is the greater towards them (saith that Father) and when he leaueth them vnpunisht, then he punisheth them most of all. Witnesse this spectacle of Gods vengeance, Shebna, who not long since I my selfe saw, in the course and passage of my meditations, strong and in great power, spreading him­selfe like a greene bay tree: Vidi eum super exaltatum, as the vulgar hath it, honoured and exalted aboue measure, ele­uated and lifted vp farre higher then the Cedar trees of Liba­nus. And yet now againe I passed by, and loe he was gone: I sought him, but he could not be found, Psal. 37. Psalm. 37.

And so I come to his punishment, which is set downe by our Prophet heere in so full and ample manner, as more cannot be said. All that I shall need to doe, will be to re­commend vnto your further consideration two speciall tra­ces and steps of Gods iustice in punishing Shebna: whereof the first is the suddennesse of it; Potentes potentèr tormenta pa­tientur, Wisdome 6.7. The second, the manner of it; Wisd. 6.7. In quo peccamus, in eodem plectimur.

Touching the suddennesse of it; lend me your attention, and you shall finde in our Prophets commission heere, what you shall seldome or neuer finde in any of the like na­ture. All other commissions giuen to Prophets when they were sent to denounce the ruine of any one man or nation, runne for the most part with a prouiso, and mercie is ioined with iudgement, as Fabius with Marcellus, to temper and allay the fiercenesse of it. Nouit enim Deus suas comminationes conditionaliter esse intelligendas, nempe nisi resipiscant, saith lear­ned Zanchius. Zanchius de Nat. Dei. sect. 2. c. 4.

As Ionas the third at the fourth verse: Yet fortie daies, and Niniue shall be ouerthrowne: true, if yee will not repent, Ionah 3.4. and amend your liues by my preaching. Isay 38.1. So Isay the 38. at the [Page 28]first, which commination some thinke came iust at the very time of Zenacheribs fearefull expedition: Put thy house in order, for thou shalt die, and not liue: true, vnlesse God may heare thy praiers, and see thy teares, and then his heart is turned within him: his repentings are rowled together, and he will not execute the fiercenesse of his wrath, as it is Hos. 11. Hos. 11.9.

But most pregnant of all other is that of God himselfe, Ier. 18. at the 7. Ierem. 18.7. I will speake suddenly concerning a nation or concerning a kingdome, to plucke it vp, and to root it out, and to destroy it. But if this nation against whom I haue pronounced, turne from their wickednesse, I will repent of the plague that I thought to bring vpon them.

Nay Diuines say, that if Iudas (whom I may tearme the Traitor) could haue repented, he might haue found mer­cie. Iudas had time, though not grace to repent.

But Shebna his case heere is farre more lamentable and desperate: heere's no respite for repentance, no hope of mercie, all iudgement. Transportando transportabit te: Volutando volutabit te. Behold, the Lord will carry thee away, and will surely couer thee; hee will surely roll and turne thee like a ball in a large Countrey: there shalt thou die, and there shall the Chariots of thy glory cease, O thou scandall and dishonour of thy Lord and Master.

Manner. See how euery word hath his weight, how euery sinne beares it owne burden, and which is a speciall token of Gods heauie wrath and vnpartiall processe in iudgement, see how he meets with him in the same kinde.

Adoni-bezek caused seuentie Kings hauing the thumbes of their hands and of their feet cut off, to gather crummes vnder his Table: and the thumbes of Adoni-bezeks hands and of his feet were cut off, Iudg. 1.7. Iudg. 1.7. Agags sword made women childlesse: and his mother was hewen in peeces and made childlesse among other women, 1. Sam. 15.33. 1. Sam. 15.33.

Ralphe Lardein (saith M. Fox) betraied George Eagles, a good and a iust man: and the same Ralphe afterward was attached himselfe, arraigned, and hanged.

The chiefe of the Vault-pioners resolued to blow vp the Parliament with powder: and the same Vault-pioners were maimed, disfigured, shot, wounded, and blowne vp with powder. Right so fareth it with Shebna. Shebna to refresh his reputation and vphold his greatnesse, suppresseth Elia­chim: God suppresseth Shebna, and raiseth vp Eliachim.

Shebna resolueth to liue and die in Ierusalem: God driues him out of Ierusalem. Shebna lookes for grace, releefe, and countenance from the enemie: the enemie disgraceth, han­geth, executeth Shebna.

Application. And now to make some application, and to compare Shebna with Gowrie, and Shebnaes treason with the treason of Gowrie so farre as my knowledge of their like condition can parallell them together: I must craue leaue to flie to that old refuge, Similitudes hold not in all things. Neither shall I be able to parallell Gowrie with Shebna, nor his trea­son with Shebnaes treason in each particular.

Howsoeuer, certaine it is (to begin with that I first obser­ued in Shebna) he was a man of note and eminencie, a man of maruellous comely deportment and behauiour, a man that had conquered the affections both of his owne Coun­try-men [Page 30]and strangers in such sort, as that notwithstanding a cloud of witnesses, the cleare and laudable depositions of sundry examinants, the Act of Parliament for the forfei­ting of his estate, and of his heires for euer, and which is instar mille testium, the all-prouident hand of God in ope­ning the mouth of Sprot, and hailing him to the Ministers of iustice, and causing him to be his owne accuser, and that an eight yeeres after, when Bour and Logan [...], two other Conspirators, were dead and putrified in their graues, and deuoured of wormes, and no mortall creature could detect him but his owne witnesse, Iudge, and executioner, the Conscience of his owne breast. Yet notwithstanding there are not a few who shame not to take vp that of the Prophet: Quis credet auditui? Who will beleeue your report?

But this I will boldly say, and it shall stand incontrole­able till the day of doome, to the eternall confusion of Gowrie, that he was as much tied vnto his Maiestie, as a sub­iect in his case and of his qualitie could possibly bee vnto his Soueraigne: neither shall it be any amplification at all, or any the least straine of wit, to tell you that his Highnesse proceeding and carriage towards Gowrie was farre more gracious and charitable then that of Ezechiah vnto Shebna. 1 For Shebna by the meanes of Ahaz was now thorowly ac­quainted with the course of gouernment, and happily Eze­chiah might haue especiall vse of his aduice, and could not be without him, and that the children of God are driuen often times to relie vpon the wise in their generation, is not Ezechiah his case alone.

2 Secondly, Shebna (for ought we finde) during the time of Ahaz, and vntill this terrible inuasion of Zenacherib, re­mained in his allegeance sound and vncorrupt: whereas 1 Gowrie, bloudie Gowrie (for I shall euer call him so: he was a man of bloud, his heart was died as red as scarlet with the royall bloud of an anointed King) could stand his Maiestie in no such stead. 2 Secondly, his race was tainted, the leauen of his fathers disloyaltie had sowred the whole lumpe and masse of his thoughts and affections, and therfore he could [Page 31]looke for no gracious aspect from his Maiestie, sith of so bad a kinde as Traitors are, it is true the souldiers said at the death of Maximinus sonne, there ought not to be saued so much as a whelpe.

A pardon, an indulgence, a conniuencie, doth neuer change the cankred and festered distemper of a wicked wretch. There are benefits which are odious, which exa­sperate, and cause the heart of an vnthankfull malicious miscreant to swell and burst againe, when he is as it were conquered and ouercome of loue and faire vsage.

All instances and allegations omitted whatsoeuer, take that of Parrie for a pregnant president, from whom in de­spight of Pope or Deuill, the very aspect of our late right il­lustrious Queene extorted this feruent acknowledgement: When I looked vpon her Maiestie, saith hee, (and what mar­uell? for she was the most glorious creature of her sex that then breathed) & remembred hir many excellencies, I was trou­bled, and yet I saw no remedie: for my vowes were in heauen, my letters and promises in earth; and had she preferred me neuer so greatly, yet must my enterprise haue held.

But what should we goe further then his Maiesties owne experience? who thought by being gracious at the beginning, [...] p. 31. to winne all mens hearts to a louing and willing obedience, but found by the contrary the disorder of the Countrey, and the losse of his thankes to be all his reward.

Yet notwithstanding so graciously dealt he with this vn­gracious Traitor, that for his sake he was content to dis­pence with the principles of morall wisdome, and after a sort to offer violence to his owne princely knowledge and experience. Whereupon it was that hee heaped so many coales of fire vpon this bloudie Gowries head, and that be­yond all example.

True it is that Saul, for reasons best knowne vnto him­selfe, could not endure that any of his subiects that were diffident and doubtfull of his title, should so much as bee called in question. There shall not a man die this day: for to day the Lord hath saued Israel, 1. Sam. 11.14. 1. Sam. 11.14. And Dauid, [Page 32]so farre foorth as it concerned his owne person, was well pleased to pardon Shimei: Thou shalt not die; and the King sware vnto him, 2. Sam. 19.23. 2. Sam. 19.23.

And Salomon dealt so mercifully with him, that he con­fessed, The thing is good: as my Lord the King hath said, so will thy seruant doe, 1. Reg. 2.38. 1. Reg. 2.38. But heere his Maiestie, vpon no one motiue in the world, neither vpon the apprehension of an extraordinarie blessing, as Saul; nor vpon a passion of ioy, as Dauid; nor vpon a point of policie for a spirt, and after three yeares to meet with him for good and all, as Sa­lomon: but freely and voluntarily, of his owne benigne na­ture and regall clemencie, forgiueth and acquitteth Gowrie, he restoreth him to his land, he restoreth him to his digni­ties, he nourisheth and bringeth vp two or three of his si­sters, as it were in his owne bosome, by a continuall attendance vpon his dearest bedfellow in her priuie chamber. And if all this had beene too little, he would haue giuen him (as it was said to Dauid) such and such things, 1. Sam. 12.18. 1. Sam. 12.18.

But O ignominia domus Domini! It is more then stupendi­ous to see how all this wholesome nourishment, which should haue bred good bloud, turned to venome, and how strangely that which would haue dissolued an heart of flint, and wrought remorse, made this villaine more retchlesse and obdurate: all this louing commemoration of so many binding benefits, no more mooued the bloudie butcher Alexander, then the ruthfull mone of Lycaon, fierce Achil­les: but all this he heard, and (as there the Poet saith) re­plied:

For now, after a little pause, and conference had with his bloudie brother, he begins afresh:

Now, no one word falls from his blacke mouth, but dis­mall death; tell not me of thy gifts, nor of thy good turnes, nor of any price of redemption whatsoeuer, die, die thou must: the death of Patr [...]clus, saith Achilles; the death of my Father, saith bloudy Alexander will not suffer me to thinke on mercy.

Now Antaeus-like he renues his strength, Tusc: quest. l. 5. and as a furious Rambe vpon recoyle, comes with the greater force: or as Balistae lapidum & reliqua tormenta, telorum (as Tully saith) eo grauiores ictus habent, quo sunt contenta & obducta vehe­mentius, so grew this bloudy Alexander more violent and outragious.

Neuer did rauenous wolfe so insult and prey vpon a silly lambe, neuer did doting she-Beare rob'd of her whelps, so fret and foame as now this bloudy Alexander did. Where (though I confesse it addes little to what hath been already said) yet to the dishonor of bloudy Alexander, I beseech you note how devoide he was of all manhood and common ci­uilitie. For first; whereas Lyons and Beares will take some compassion on a prostrated creature, this bloudy vil­laine, shakes of nature it selfe and sets vpon him as a bird in the snare, vpon all the disaduantage that possibly may bee, [...], Homer: Iliad φ. naked of hel­met, shield, sword or lance, which none but a bloudy Alexander devoide of all manhood, would euer haue done.

Secondly, hee threatneth a King descended from as ho­norable predecessors as any Prince liuing, with a reproch­full and inglorious kinde of death: he must not die by the hands of a woman, which Abimilech held dishonorable, Iudges 9. Nor yet by the sword of his Page, Iudges 9.54. which had been a thought better, but he must die as a foole dieth, as an oxe goeth vnto the slaughter, Prou: 7.22. and as a foole goeth to the stocks bound hand and foote, so must he goe with all ignominie and dis­honor vnto his graue.

It behooueth you to be bound, saith he; 2 Sam: 3.34. but died Abner as a fool [...] dieth? his hands were not bound nor his feete tyed in [Page 34]fetters of brasse, but as a man falleth before wicked men, so should he haue fallen as on this day.

Now let vs goe on and see whether bloudy Gowry came any whit short of Shebna, for now all those circumstances, the end only excepted, must be renued againe, and brought in by way of application to aggrauate the foule inexcusable treason of Gowrie. Gow: conspir: c. 3. For, I will not now dallie out the time, or tyre your patience, or spend my breath in charging him with all those sinnes of Shebna, though I make no doubt but hee that was so giuen to Magique operatiue by birth and many yeeres descent and much practise, was guilty of all or more, or worse then those.

Neither shall I be able to say any thing of his end, of the vltimate end which Gowrie aymed at, being as yet vn­knowne. Howbeit that he looked no further then the life of an innocent and harmelesse King, or that hee proiected no other thing then the bare reuenge of his Fathers death, I for my part shall neuer beleeue. His trauelling beyond the seas, especially in Italie, the mint, and; but I forbeare to speake what we all know, for what haue I to doe with other nations? Gowries consp: D. 1. col. 2. Onely by the way you may remember what Rind vnder his hand sets downe, that in those parts where Gowrie was they would giue sundry folkes Breues.

His secret conference with Iesuits, men by profession dis­posers of Kings and kingdomes; men, whom that triple-crowned Monarch vseth as the Romane Emperors those they called agentes in rebus all his spies, intelligencers and infor­mers, with whom an honest heart cannot well con­uerse.

And lastly, his plausibilitie with the people, who vpon the report of Gowries death grew so tumultuous and stir­ring, as that his Maiestie was faine to cause the Bayliffs, and the rest of the honest men of the towne to be brought into the chamber, and made eye-witnesses of that which their hearts could not beleeue ( Plausibilitie being as you know alwaies the forerunner and harbinger of ambitious and swelling thoughts) these and the like, as the lowing of the [Page 35] Oxen which Samuel heard, and as the bleating of the Sheep, 1 Sam: 15.14. crying in mine eares, makes me more then suspitious, that there was in Gowries treason somewhat that the world can­not as yet iudge of, nor the wit of man certainly determine. Wherefore, not to speake of the end which Gowrie aymed at, nor yet to recommend vnto you coniectures and pre­sumptions only; may it please you to remember what was said touching Shebna his treason in regard of the Author, Obiect, Euent: all these present themselues againe, and come (as I said) by way of Application to aggrauate the fowle in­excusable treason of Gowrie.

First, in regard of the Author. Gowrie: Gowries con­spir: D. 2. col. 1. Gowrie was no foole. For first, he layes this downe for a ground. A wise man intending an high and dangerous purpose must communicate the same to none but himselfe.

Secondly, Exam: of George Spro [...] pag. 41. Restalrig (that is to say a perfect Gowrie) (for they two had but one heart between them) hee calls vpon him, My Lord you must be circumspect with your brother, that he be not rash in any speeches; such a purpose as your Lordship intendeth cannot be done rashly, but with deliberation.

My Lord if you will come ouer to my house, perswade your selfe you shall be as safe and quiet here, while we haue setled our plot, as if you were in your owne chamber. I doubt not my Lord but all things shall be well.

My Lord I am resolued to perill life, lands, honor, goods, yea and the hazard of hell shall not frey me, though the scaffold were already set vp.

What? such secrecies? such vowes? such coniurations? such protestations? as farre as their soules and the damna­tion of their soules came to? and yet this a silly plot? no, no, I will graunt as much as he that is most incredulous shall or can vrge, and yet this no sillie plot. There must be a concursus fortuitorum ouer and beyond the proiect, or else the best laid plot may easily miscarry. I grant it was sence­lesse for Alexander to thinke that a pot of drosse should haue any adamantine vertue in it to draw bounty it selfe to Gowrie his house: I grant, it was sencelesse for him to thinke [Page 36]that Curtesie or rather Glauering, bowing his head vnder his Maiesties knee could worke vpon the affection of a King, who is as an Angell of God, and can well distinguish sem­blance and bare complement, from truth and realtie.

Moreouer; his vnmannerly importunitie, his vnseasona­ble interrupting his Maiestie in his game, his deiection of countenance, his deep oathes, his faultring in his speech, his impatience of delay: all these I grant were arguments of Alexanders weaknesse and ill managing of the plot, but the plot was still the same and lay in Gowries breast, concealed and vnknowne to any, saue God, and the Deuill, with whom he delt, and who was his chiefe counsellor. Alexan­der was but instrumentum animatum, all that hee was to act and play in this bloudy Tragedie, was to get the King to Gowries house, and into the chamber, and then let him and the Deuill alone.

Againe, that the King should vse Alexander so louingly, as to lay his hand on his shoulder, that notwithstanding his many coniectures he could neuer suspect any harme to be intended, or that when he did suspect hee should presently checke himselfe, as being ashamed in respect of the cleare­nesse of his owne conscience, to giue way thereunto; these were not of the essence of the plot, neither can they be ascri­bed to any wisdome or forecast in Gowrie or his brother Alexander, but to his Maiesties open simplicitie and harm­lesnesse, Chrysost. there being (as Saint Chrysostome saith in his Homi­lie de Sancta Susanna, if the Tract be his) suspiciones male­nolae calumniantium & suspitiones beneuolae Gubernantium: malitious suspitions, proper to calumniators, beneuolous and friendly suspitions proper to Gouernors. If my friend betray me, I beshrew him, but if my enemie betray me, I beshrew my selfe, said he.

But goe we on, and follow his Maiestie into the darke chamber of death, and then tell me if Zenacheribs armie, Rabsaches threats, the inconstancie of the people, the disloy­altie of Shebna, could put Ezechiah in such danger, or that it was euer higher time for God to put to his helping hand [Page 37]then now? no beloued, here, here stand you still, and behold the saluation of the Lord, which he shewed as on this day; open the booke of his workes, read the doctrine of prouidence; Exod: 14.13. did euer God shew himselfe to bee a God almighty and a God of power, did hee euer manifest his particular proui­dence more articulatly beyond the strength of reason and compasse of second causes then now?

Was it not strange and miraculous, that he, that was ap­pointed to bee the murtherer should presently vpon the sight of the King (as Baltashar, when he saw the hand-writing on the wall) stand trembling and quaking rather like one con­demned then an excutioner of such an enterprise?

Was it not strange and miraculous that the King should dragg Alexander to the window, and that his Nobles at the selfe same instant should bee vnder that and the very same window?

Lastly, was it not strange and miraculous that that bles­sed Angell and messenger of the Lord, that Iosuah, and mighty Deliuerer, S ^r Iohn Ramsey should finde the turne­picke doore open, follow it vp to the head, enter into the chamber, rescue the King from Alexander, and strike bloudy Gowry himselfe stone dead in the place?

All these are as so many bookes, wherein he that runneth may read, Gods especiall prouidence ouer his annoynted. Turne ouer the leafe againe.

That hee that should haue been the murtherer should now stand as one that was to be murthered.

That the King should dragg Alexander to the window: That his traine should be at that very time vnder that very window: That Sir Iohn Ramsay should lite vpon that darke, vnused, vnknowne by-way, free him from Alexan­der, and strike bloudy Gowrie dead in the very roome: read it aduisedly, and then awake all antiquitie and shew mee the like instance of Gods especiall prouidence againe.

I know you will tell me of Noah in the Arke: for what in the eye of reason should become of Noah in the Arke, in the Arke, without Anchor to stay her, without mast to [Page 38]poize her, without sterne to mooue her, without Pilot to guide her, had not the same God, who forgets nothing that he hath made, both shut him in with his owne hands, and pre­serued him being in, which otherwise in reason could ne­uer haue been.

I know you will tell me of the Israelites deliuerance from 70 yeers captiuitie, Psal. 126. which the Prophet Dauid saith, strooke such an amazement in them, that they were like them that dreame, Liuius 33. Psalme 126. and as Liuie saith in a case of great ioy, much liberty and freedome, Maius gaudium fuit, quàm quod vniuersum homines caperent, vix satis credere se quis (que) audiuisse, alij alios intueri mirabundi velut somni vanam speciem.

I know you will tell of Peters inlargement out of prison, which so maruellously affected the blessed Apostle, that hee was scarce his owne man, hee knew not that it was true which was done by the Angell, but thought he had seene a vision. Acts 12.9. Acts 12.9. But what was there in all these or any one of them, that you shall not read in some one page or other of this most omnipotent and all powerfull deliuerance of his sa­cred Maiestie. Reg: 12.9. Great is the Lord and most worthy to be praised, and his greatnesse is incomprehensible. Psalme 145. Generation shall praise thy workes vnto generation, and declare thy power.

Obiect. Another circumstance followeth; In applying whereof durst I presume, either on the time, or your patience, or mine owne strength, much might be inserted to the indeli­ble shame of these bloudy Gowries.

For they (miscreants as they were) thirsted not after the bloud of a priuate man, nor any subordinate Magistrate, but of the King himselfe. A King not precario, or by con­quest; pag. 29. read his [...], but an absolute Monarch, and free borne King, the which with vndaunted presence of minde he tould pale Alexander (for the righteous are as bold as a Lyon) hee was borne a free King, and should die a free King.

A King; not offensiue or grieuous vnto his subiects, but a King surnamed by the voice of all his people, of all humors, of all factions, of all religions, the geude King. A King, and a King of the line of Dauid, a King and a King of the tribe of Iudah.

Euent. But here I must lay my hand vpon my mouth, I cannot say what my heart conceiues, nor yet conceiue what ought and should be said: wherefore I come to the euent. For what of all this? a King and a free borne King, a King and a geud King, a King and a King of the line of Dauid, a King and a King of the tribe of Iudah; what of all this? It was a foule treason, they were bloudy villaines, what of all this? did you neuer heare of a treason before? did you neuer heare of a King murthered? and what a quoyle here is about one Gowrie, seduced happily by pestilent firebrands abroad in Italie? or what if his deep Melancholy now brake forth and growing starke mad as Aiax offended with Ʋlisses, Aga­memnon and Menelaus, wreckt his malice vpon a sillie and a harmlesse sheepe, thinking it had been Ʋlisses; So hee, in­steed of those that had done him wrong (as hee thought) and proceeded against his Father, missed his ayme and fell vpon the King as vpon a sillie and harmlesse sheep, who was in his minoritie, and wholy passiue in all that businesse? why what of all this?

Beloued, shall a Prince and a great man fall in Israell, the second of Samuel at the third, 2 Sam. 3.38. and will the sonnes of Zeruiah stand still? will no tumults, no vprores, no alteration fol­low? And shall an absolute Monarch, though but now in Hebron, as Dauid, yet in expectation and sight of all the world (to the ioy and comfort of Gods Saints, to the terror and amazement of the enemies of God and his Gospell) the puissant Monarch of Great BRITAINE and of all Israel, shall he I say, be bloudily mangled, and hewen in peeces, and no horror, no murthers, no massacres follow? [Page 40]Yes, yes for (to omit what thousands [...]e obserued, ho [...] about that very same yeere, nay within the compasse of one moneth and weeke almost, many subiects of principall note miscarried, and grew corrupt in their allegeance, many treacheries were attempted, many Protestant Princes mi­raculously preserued) what meant, what meant that posting to Rome, that gadding to Doway? what meant that hissing of the Bee of Ashur? that buzzing of the flie of Aegypt? and all about this time. Whereunto tended those many pas­quils and pamphlets touching the doctrine of Succession? Whereto tended those confident predictions of the Romish Rabshakehs? Nondum completa est iniquitas Anglorum, saith Pererius.

Dabit Deus tempus quando vetula illa anus, saith another, and all about this time. But of all other, whereto tended, or what construction can you make of Pope Clements Bull? to wit: After the death of the Queene, whether by course of na­ture, or otherwise, whosoeuer should lay claime or title to the Crowne of England, though neuer so directly and neerely inter­essed therein by descent and bloud-royall, yet vnlesse hee were such a one as would not only tolerate the Catholike Romish Reli­gion, but by all best endeuours and force promote it, they should admit or receiue none to be King of England.

Surely when I consider this in mine heart, as it is Lam. 3. I resolue it was the Lords mercy that we were not consumed. For had not God (his vnspeakable rich mercie be praised for it) vpon the decease of the late euer-blessed Queene Elizabeth, reserued a seed, and a seed of a right generous kinde, for ought that we can gather from the predictions, Bulles and Briefes of those Romish Rabshekehs, our Land (as the Pro­phet Isay saith) had lien waste, Isai. 1. our Cities had beene bur­ned with fire, strangers had deuoured our Land in our pre­sence, and it would haue become desolate as the ouerthrow of forraine enemies. Had not God reserued a seed, and a seed of a right generous kinde, the daughter of Sion should haue remained like a Cottage in a Vineyard, like a lodge in a garden of Cucumbers, and like a besieged Citie. Had not [Page]God reserued a seed, and a seed of a right generous kinde, wee had beene as Sodome and Gomorrah, all in combustion and hurly burly: then should you haue seene heere a Bon­ner whipping and broiling of poore innocents, there a Gar­diner proscribing, imprisoning, murdering of the right heires and zealous professors of Gods truth. Then should you haue seene the very channels in our streets swell with the bloud of Martyrs, as Iordan in the time of haruest, Iosuah 3.15. and their bodies piled vp for fuell, for beacons and bonefires, in vsum nocturni luminis. And which is a miserie, which the heathen, the sublimatest wit among the heathens could not expresse, no sacking, no rifling, no razing of Cities, no bur­ning of whole townes and villages commeth any whit neere it. Then should you haue seene cleannesse of teeth in all your Cities, and scarcenesse of bread in all your pla­ces: I meane the spirituall famine of Gods word, when the people and sheepe of Christs fold should haue beene tur­ned out to graze on the naked pasture of an implicite faith, and should neuer haue come to the sight of that holy Man­na, that pabulum animae, the sacred word of God; but hap­pily once in the yeere you should haue had a Ducking Frier step vp into this or the like holy Mount, and fed them with the saliua, the froth and foame of an allegoricall and tropologicall Postiller.

But why doe I argue the euent from the threats and Bulles and Briefes of those Romish Rabshakehs? or why should we feare their feares, or be afraid of them? Isai. 8.12.

Who seeth not? nay, as S. Austin saith, speaking of the blessings which the name of Christ and the Christian pro­fession brought into the world, in his first booke De Ciuitate Dei, and sixth chapter: He that seeth not this, is blinde: August. he that seeth it, and praiseth it not, is thanklesse: he that hindereth him that praiseth it, is mad.

How that if violence had preuailed in the day of bloud, we had beene bereft of all those blessings which his Maiestie as a ricke of corne came laden with into this Land, euen in number as many as the benedictions of Abraham, especi­ally [Page] [...] which [...]dually acco [...]anied his [...] person, and depended not so much vpon the change of the Prince, and death of Queene Elizabeth, as vpon his and his only succession in the Throne. I shall not need to rec­kon them; I assure my selfe there is not any thankfull heart or true Israelite indeed, but hath them in a table before him. Sure I am, had we wanted the least of them, and had not God as on this day auenged himselfe on bloudie Gowrie, [...]th suddenly, and in the same manner as it was said of Shebna, we had wanted them, very babes and sucklings would haue beene eloquent in the commemoration of them, and that now we haue them in their height and per­fection, we are not sensible of them.

But beloued I beseech you in the bowels of Christ Iesus, let vs in the day of wealth and all kinde of happinesse, so comfort our selues, as that we quite forget not the day of affliction.

Let vs so solace our selues with remembrance of what we now are, as that we abandon not all thought of what wee might haue beene, and of what God, had he not beene the more mercifull, might well haue depriued vs of. Now, O Lord God, let thy name be magnified for euer by them that shall say. The Lord of hosts is God ouer Iudah, and let the house of thy seruant the King be established before thee. 2. Sam. 7. Let it please thee to blesse the house of thy seruant, that it may continue for euer, and let the house of thy seruant and of his seed be blessed with thy best blessings. Amen.