Imprimatur,
A SERMON Preached before the Right Worshipful, The Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Sheriff, &c.
Of the Town and County of NEWCASTLE upon TYNE. On the 30 th of January 167 6.7.
At St. Nicolas their Parish Church.
BY JOHN MARCH, B. D. Vicar of Embleton in Northumberland, and Lecturer to that Congregation.
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Hodgkin, for Richard Randell, and Pet. Maplisden, Booksellers in Newcastle upon Tyne. 1677.
To the Right Worshipful, S r^ RALPH CARR, Mayor, the Right Worshipful, S r^ ROBERT SHAFTO, Recorder, And to the Right Worshipful, and Worshipful, the ALDERMEN, and SHERIFF, &c. Of the Town and County of NEWCASTLE upon TYNE.
YOVR commands, as they will be a just Apology for this weak discourse, so they cannot but give it some Title to your favourable acceptance. Your Attention spake your Affection to it in the Preaching: and your more than ordinary Iudgments commanding it to the Press will be its best protection against those Censures, it is now expos'd to. I hope it has already received its first Impression [Page] in the Loyal hearts of many, that heard it from the Pulpit: And I doubt not but this publication will help to imprint it in the hearts of others, who tho they were absent, were more concerned in the design of it. Writing, Voces signa sunt, per quae praesentibus loquimur, inventae sunt literae, per quas possemus & cum absentibus colloqui. Aug. de Trin. l. 15. c. 10. saith S t^ Augustin, hath this advantage above speech, that by it we speak as well to the absent, as to those that are present. So that such, whose guilt might possibly keep them this day from our publick Assemblies, may by this means be brought to a kind of Ocular confession. Our [...], advice to his Son. late Gracious Sovereign (whose Charity was equal to the greatest ingratitude of his enemies) is pleased to tell his Royal Son, ‘That the most of all sides, who did amiss in the late Rebellion, did so not out of malice, but misinformation and misapprehension of things, and that none will prove more Loyal subjects than those, who being made sensible of their errors [Page] and their Princes injuries, shall feel in their own Souls most vehement motives to repentance, and earnest desires to make some reparations for their former defects.’
That these Nullus virmagnus sine aliquo divino afflatu. Senec. Prophetick words of our Royal Martyr, may the better attain their due impletion, is the present design of the ensuing discourse: and will alwaies be (as hitherto it has been) the constant endeavour of Your known and eminent Loyalty.
I shall not stay You longer in the Porch of a Dedication, than till I have acknowledg'd to the World Your many and signal favours towards Me; which as they command my most hearty prayers for the prosperity of this Famous Town, so they give You an undoubted Title to the Subscription of
WE may justly take up the Lamentation of the Holy Martyr Polycarp: Bone Deus, E [...]seb. Histo. in quali tempora nos reservasti! Good God, for what times of Wickedness hast thou been pleased to reserve us! Times, which have produced such horrid Abominations, as former Ages were willingly ignorant of, and succeeding Generations will never sufficiently abhor! We have lived to see the Christian Calendar stain'd with Protestant as well as Popish Rebellions; a Thirtieth of January made blacker than the Fifth of November. Num. 16. 41. And the next day all the Congregation murmured against Moses and [...] the people of the Lord. We have seen Treason made a sign of Grace: A Corah, Dathan and Abiram, once more Canoniz'd for Saints, and Blasphemously styled the People of the Lord. We have seen Painted Jezebels proclaiming Fasts, that they might glut themselves with [Page 2] the blood of the Innocent, and with keener Appetites devour Naboth's Vineyard. We have heard our Steeples Ring for Victories that deserv'd no Triumphs: Bella geri placuit nullos habitura Triumphos. Lucan. our Pulpits loading innocent Majesty with direful imprecations, and sounding forth Thanksgivings for prosperous and too successful Rebellion. Nay, we have known this Famous Town made the Market of our King, Men of Belial, like Judas, selling their Master, and in this at least more wicked than He, in that they were guilty of far greater Covetousness. But tho men have committed these and much greater Abominations, yet they are angry, if they be not styled the Godly Party. They must still be believed to have tender Consciences, tho they have been found harder than Adamants, far more bloody and cruel than ever Scythia did produce. Tender Consciences indeed! that could stretch and comply with all Interests besides that of Loyalty and the true Religion. So tender are they, that they must not be touched tho with the most wholesome and seasonable Reproofs. Men in these days are come to such a height of wickedness, Gal. 4. 26. Am I become your enemy because I tell you the truth? that if you tell them the truth, you must be accounted their enemy; and tho you reprove their Villanies with more regret than they did commit them, yet you must [Page 3] pass for a Railer, and perchance for a blaspheming Rabshakeh. How unlike are these to that Anne of Bulloigne. famous Queen of this Nation, who charged her Chaplains not only to mind her of her evils, but also of the very appearances of evil too? Fitter are they to be compared to those peevish Animals in Plin. Nat. History. Pliny, who are reported to carry their Gall in their Ears; or rather unto Matt. 7. 6. Swine who trample upon Pearls, and delight to wallow in the Mud of their Abominations. But the madness and phrensie of the Patient, tho it may possibly make the Physitian more Intemperans aeger crudelem facit medicom. cruel, ought not to hinder his charitable assistance: It were no less than cruelty at such a time to please and humor the sick party; and in such desperate Maladies, we know it is the height of kindness to be cruel. And sure if we may at any time be allowed to speak, we should most of all on such occasions as these. The dumb Son of Croesus found a Tongue, when he saw a Ruffian but attempt to kill the King his Father: Herodot. C [...]o. And can we remember the Martyrdom of our late Gracious Soveraign, the unheard of indignities that were heap'd upon Sacred Majesty, and not express our Just and Loyal indignation? Though an Act of Indemnity may be allowed their persons, an Act of Oblivion must never [Page 4] be indulg'd their Rebellions. We must not Levit. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine heart, thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. suffer Sin thus to lie upon our Neighbours. We must also wash the paint from off the face of Jezebel, that she may not be accounted any longer a Revel. 2. 20. Prophetess, or seduce poor ignorant people, first to applaud, and then to commit the like horrid Abominations. The neglect of this duty was formerly charged as a fault upon the Church of Revel. 2. 20. Thyatira. And it would no doubt be a fault in us, since we are called not only by providence, but also by publick Authority, to solemnize this day. A Day, as black as Hell! and such as deserves more Curses than Job or Jeremy bestowed upon their Birth-days; for on it was Acted such a Tragedy, as was never done nor seen in this our Israel: Let us now seriously consider it, take advice, and freely speak our minds. For the better carrying on the design of this day, I shall
- I. Reflect a little upon the occasion of the words.
- II. Shew how well they may be accommodated to the present Solemnity.
- III. Descend to such Application as may be fetched out of the last words of the Text, which bid us, Consider, take advice, and speak our mind.
[Page 5] I. Let us reflect a little upon the occasion of these words. About the middle of this Chapter we find a poor Levite travelling with his Concubine from Bethlebem Judah towards the side of Mount Ephraim. He was now got as far on his Journy as Gibeah, one of the Cities of the Levites. And here, if any where, this poor I evite, one would think, might have promised himself kind entertainment. But alas! the poor m [...]n Ver. 15. is forced to sit down in the streets of the City; for no man offered to receive him into his House. It seems the World at that time afforded no Vide Bocha [...]t. ad loc. Inns; and at barbarous Gibeah no Hospitality is to be expected; no good Abraham to be found sitting at the door of his Tent, that he might espy poor wayfaring men, and invite them to his House. But at last Ver. 16. behold there came an Old man from his work out of the field at Even, who was also of Mount Ephraim, and sojourned only at Gibeah, and he took pitty on these Travellers. Where by the way two reasons are remarkable, why this Old man shews more kindness to these strangers than the rest of the City.
1. Because he was an honest man, who lived by his painful Labour, though he was now [Page 6] Old; whereas the rest of the City were Otia si tollas, periere Cupidinis arcus. idle and Luxurious, and more at leisure to be wanton and wicked.
2. Because he was also of Mount Ephraim, and but a Sojourner at Gibeah; by reason of his little stay at this place, he had not yet been infected with their wickedness; and being Countrey-man to the Levite, he shews him more compassion in this day of his distress: He invites therefore the Levite and his Concubine to his House, and provides a Lodging, and all things necessary for them. But they are no sooner got into the Old man's House; but the men of the City, Sons of Belial, beset it round, beat at the door, and demand the strangers. They had before it seems espyed them in the streets; and had been all this while making a party, and entring into a League & Combination to commit some Villany upon these passengers: And when they had gathered such a strength, and made such a body as was able to accomplish their wicked design; we find the Levites Concubine barbarously Murther'd. v. 26. And in the words foregoing my Text, her body is divided into Twelve pieces, and sent into all the Coasts of Israel; And it was so, that all that saw it, said, There was no such thing done or seen before [Page 7] in Israel; consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds. And thus I have shown you the occasion of the words, I proceed now to the
II. Particular, which was to shew how they may be accommodated to the present Solemnity. Though I dare not pretend so much skill in Holy Writ, as that I am able to suit a Text of Scripture, exactly to every Text of Providence. Though I am not able with some of our Sterries Sermon to the Parliament, &c. 1649. late Divines, or the famous Brightman in Apocal. Commentator on The Book of the Revelations, to shew you most of the Members of both Houses of Parliament, and the great ones of the Nation, marked out and pointed at in the Holy Scriptures; yet this I dare boldly affirm, that, excepting only the Crucifixion of our Saviour; there is not any wickedness recorded in the Bible, that can parallel this days Murther. And though the Text I have chosen run as high or higher than any I know; yet upon serious examination we shall find it fall short of this days Tragedy; and that whether we consider the Prologue, or preparations to it, or the Catastrophe and horrid fact it self.
1. Let us consider the Prologue and preparations that were used to accomplish this horrid design. The Text as you have heard, presents [Page 8] us with Sons of Belial, making parties and joyning into bodies to perpetrate their wickedness. And does not this day present us with combinations of a far more direful Nature and Consequence? with men entring into Solemn Leagues and Covenants; and binding themselves by the most Sacred Oaths, to accomplish a Reformation, far more abominable than any thing attempted at this time by these Monsters of Gibeah? as will be made clearer than the Sun, by these following considerations.
1. Let us consider what it was these men Covenanted and Combined to do, even to destroy Episcopacy both Root and Branch: We find not in the New Testament any settled Church, wherein this Government of Episcopacy was not established by the Apostles. The Churches of Ephesus and Crete had Timothy and Titus for their Bishops, as does appear not only from the Inscriptions of these So Tertullian calls them, Quia de statu Ecclesiastico composit [...]e [...]. Adv. Marcion. l. 5. Hierarchical Epistles, but also from the best Leontius Bishop of Magnesia declared the same in the General Council of Chalcedon, Act. 11. [...], &c. that from Timothy to that time, there had been 27 Bishops successively in the Church of Ephesus. Euseb. l. 3. cap. 4. Reckons Timothy the first Bishop of Ephesus, and Titus of Crete. The same is asserted by Chrysostom, Hom. 15. in 1 Tim. 5. 19. And by Hierom in Catalog. Script. Eccles. Besides many more cited by Scultetus, obser. in Tit. cap. 8. Quid quod de Timothei & Titi, Episcopatu non solum Eusebius, Chrysostomus, &c. sed etiam vetastiss [...]mi quiqu [...], &c. Antiquity. The Seven Churches of Asia had their respective Angels, which are only other Names for Bishops, [Page 9] Ambros. in 1 Cor. 11. 10. telleth us, That the Bishops are in this place called Angels, as it is also taught in the Revelation of St. John. See also Euseb. Hist. l. 4. c. 15. Iren. l. 3. c. 3. as the most Authentick and Classical Authors do inform us. If we descend to the following Centuries of the Church, we shall find Ignatius, Cyprian, Basil, Chrysostom, Augustine, and many more brave Martyrs and Confessors invested with Episcopal Dignity. There is not one Council or Father that does not bear testimony to this truth: insomuch that Blondel. Apol. Blondel one of the fiercest Adversaries of Episcopacy is forced to acknowledg, That this Form of Government has flourished in the Church of God for more than Fifteen hundred years. And the Learned Heyl, Life of Archbishop La [...]d. Falkland, tho no sworn Friend to Bishops, did yet so much right to his own Learning and Conscience, as to declare in the Long Parliament, That we have the same Universal uninterrupted tradition for Episcopacy, that we have for the Sacred Oracles of the Bible. I have the rather insisted on this Argument drawn from Tradition, because the glorious Martyr of this day did formerly in this Town press it on See His Majesties Letters to Mr. Henderson. Mr. Henderson with so much Majesty and Success, that had he been as great a Conquerour in the Field, as he was at this time in his Prison; we had not needed so many tears to wash away the stain of this Day's [Page 10] guilt. Since therefore Episcopacy is warranted by Scripture, confirmed by Councils, owned by so many Confessors and Martyrs, and, which is more, sealed by the bloud of this Days Martyr, who as he lived so he dyed a Defender of this Faith, I think I may without offence take up the words of the Judicious Calvin, which use not at other times to be ungrateful to our Adversaries, Nullo Calvini Epistol. ad Cardinal. Sadolet. non anathemate dignos arbitror qui se Episcopis libentissimi non submittant. Which words cannot be translated into milder English than this, I think them, saith he, worthy of all the Anathema's or Curses of Heaven who do not willingly submit to Episcopal Jurisdiction.
Having premised these things in favour of Episcopacy, if we now reflect a little upon the Text, we shall find the Covenanters of Benjamin much out-strip'd by the Covenanters of Britain: and these Monsters of Gibeah, as great as they were, but pigmies in wickedness, if compar'd to the Giants of this dismal day. For these men of Gibeah assault but one V. 22. house, and demand but one single Levite for a Sacrifice to their fury. Whereas our Modern Furies invade Three Kingdoms, with 1 Kings. 18. 13. Jezebel they seek to destroy the whole Tribe of Levi, and extirpate the most antient Government of the Church, root and branch.
Not the bloud of an Archbishop or one single Levite, but the bloud of an Foulis Hist. of our pretended Saints. hundred thousand Souls has scarcely satiated the thirst of their cursed zeal; so that now we have more right than the men of Israel had to use the words of the Text, and say, That there was never any such thing done or seen in Israel as we have seen done this day.
2. Let us consider the Circumstances both Parties lay under, and we shall find the wickedness of the Text much out-done by the wickedness of the day. Episcopacy had not only flourished in the Church of God for so many Centuries as you have heard, but was also established in this Kingdom by no fewer than Ibia. Thirty two Acts of Parliament, so that none of these Covenanters who were of any note, whether Clergy or Laity, but stood obliged by many Oaths to maintain that Form of Government, which was thus established by the Laws of the Land. To enter therefore into a League, and solemnly conspire the overthrow thereof, must render them guilty of horrid perjury. A Sin so hainous in it self, as that it puts a cheat both on [Page 12] God and Man, and therefore was antiently accounted by the Diod. Sicul. de Reb. Antiq. l. 1. c. 3. Aegyptians a double offence. As Aristophanes tells us, the wisest Heathens judged it worthy to be punished by a Aristoph. de fulmine [...]. Thunderbolt from Heaven: and the Prophet Zachary has threaten'd as many Woes, as his flying Roll could contain, against such as swear falsly Zach. 5 4. by the Name of the Lord. And I the rather propose this Sin of Perjury as matter of this Dayes Lamentation, because our late Gratious Soveraign thought fit to brand the Covenant by Proclamation for a Traiterous and Seditious Combination, and that not only against his own most Royal Person, but also against the Established Religion and Laws of the Realm. But these men who could act quite contrary to Magna Charta, who could make themselves Popes, and dispence with their own Oaths, knew also how to despise the express Commands of a Royal Proclamation. Nay to such a degree of Impudence did these furious zealots at last arrive, as to term his Majesties Proclamation Jo. Vicar's Gods Ark. p. 91. a Satanical Slander, a most impious and audacious Paper, Atheistical boldness, impious and Platonical pleasure. Thus these bold Rebels more wicked than the barbarous Scythians, did contorquere peccata, twist sin with sin, till at last they made [Page 13] the Sin of this Day thicker than the largest Cartrope. And sure the men of Gibeah must now yield the right hand of fellowship to these Modern Rebels; for they had Judg. 19. 1. at this time no King in Israel whom they could contemn, no Royal Proclamations to withstand, no Oaths of Allegiance, Supremacy, or Canonical obedience to violate; and therefore we have too much cause to take up the words of the Text, and say, that There was no such thing done or seen in Israel, as we have seen done this day.
3. Consider that their black and bloudy designs were varnish'd with the colours of Piety and Religion, and we shall find the men of Gibeah much out-done by the Villains of this Day. It is the highest degree of Hellish Policy to make Religion a stalking horse for Rebellion: and intitle Heaven to all the wickedness we design. ‘You may never expect (saith our [...], to the Prince of Wales. Blessed Martyr to his Son) less of Loyalty, Justice and Humanity, than from those that ingage in a religious Rebellion; their interest is alwayes made God's under the colour of Piety. Ambitious Policies do thus march not only with greatest security, but also applause as to the popularity. You may hear from them Jacob's voice, but you shall find at last [Page 14] they have Esau's hands.’ Thus Absolom pretended a solemn 2 Sam. 15. 7, 10. Vow at Hebron, when he raised Rebellion against the King his Father. Thus 2 Kings. 10. Jehu destroys Ahab's posterity out of a counterfeit zeal for the glory of God, while he intended chiefly the Establishment of his Throne. These holy Cheats may seem the original of our late hypocritical Transactions: For we have known men, that carried the hearts of Jews, and the demure looks of Pharisees; Their language was smoother Psalm 55. 21. than butter, but war was in their hearts: their words were softer than oil, and yet were they drawn swords. What more pretended than a glorious Reformation, when nothing intended but the subversion of the Church? They stamped on their Coin, God with us, while nothing but Rebellion was stamped on their hearts. With hands and eyes lift up to Heaven they sware to defend the King and his Crown, and yet drew Swords and shot hot Bullets against his Person. But sure to swear thus with hands lift up to Heaven, is without a metaphor to sin with a high hand. The men of Gibeah wanted their Machiavel to teach them these black Arts: they durst not make so bold with an holy God, or call down Heaven to be a vizor for Hell. Judg. 19. 22. With blunt simplicity they come and demand [Page 15] the Levite, and tell their errand in plain terms, that they designed to humble him. If they must be Villains, Religion shall not share in the shame: And though God will be judge, yet they dare not make him a party in their wickedness. What now does hinder, but that since our Covenanteers themselves have told us in the Fuller's Church Hist. Preface to their Covenant, that we read not either in Divine or Humane Histories the like Oath extant in any Age as to the matter, persons, and other circumstances thereof; I say what now does hinder, but that we may lawfully say after them in the words of my Text, that There was never any such thing done or seen in Israel, as we have seen done this day.
Thus we have heard the Prologue, and seen the preparations that were made to carry on this black design. I shall now proceed unto the Catastrophe or horrid fact it self: and here we shall find that the monstrous Rebels of this day have not only out-done the men of Gibeah, but have in some sort even out-done themselves.
The Text and the Day do both present us with the Sin of Murder: a sin indeed of the first magnitude, such as raseth the very Image of God, and stabs the Almighty as it were in Effigie. This Sin derives its pedigree from cursed [Page 16] Cain; occasion'd the first penal Gen. 9. 6. Statute that ever was made since the Fall of Adam, and has put Heaven to the expence of more Miracles to see it punisht, than all the Sins recorded in the Bible. But as Murder in it self is no ordinary Sin, so the Murder of the day is no ordinary Murder, as will appear, if we consider
- 1. The Person that was Murder'd.
- 2. The persons that Murder'd him.
- 3. The manner of the Murder.
1. Let us consider the Person that was Murder'd. He was a King, who, as he had the bloud of all the Princes of Christendom running in his Veins, so he had more than all their Vertues shining in his Soul. As Saul overlooked the rest of the Israelites by the stature of his body: so this mighty Monarch overtop'd all other Princes by the size and stature of his Mind. His Intellectuals were inrich'd with such natural and improved Indowments, that Plat. l. 6. de Repub. Plato might now have obtained his wish, and seen Learning and Philosophy seated on the Throne. The Character which Is. Casaub. Epist ad Reg. Jacob. Casaubon once bestowed upon the Father, seemed with his Crown to descend upon the Son; for he was truly Nobilium Doctissimus, & Doctorum Nobilissimus, of all Nobles the most Learned, and of all Learned Men [Page 17] the most Noble. Thus excellent were his Intellectual Indowments, and not to be exceeded but by those of his Morals. For he was more Chast than Scipio, more Valiant than Caesar; nor did he yield in Temperance to the severest Stoick. He was so free from Tyranny, that he never entertain'd jealousie; so far from severity, as that he could imbrace the very basest of his Subjects. His Justice, Clemency, and Goodness were great to such a proportion, that his Subjects had no fairer Pattern to imitate, and even Virtue her self might have been Ex quo virtutem discere virtu posset. Beza in Epitaph. Amici. taught by him. And as he was thus admirable for a Man; so he was much more Excellent, if we consider him as a Christian. His Graces like his Person were truly Royal. He was like David, a Man after Gods own heart, wise like Solomon, and Patient like Job: For his Zeal he was a Josias; a Moses for his Meekness: and tho none deserved less to endure the Cross, yet none knew better to wear it above the Crown. In his Devotions he was constant, regular, and Seraphick: In his Love to the Protestant Religion so firm and valiant, as that he durst own it in Spain, and dye its Martyr in England. He was the truest Defender of the Faith, that ever swayed the Scepter; for when he could no longer [Page 18] support it by his Arms, he would assert it by his Pen, and durst at last seal it with his Bloud. In a word, he was a King, a Christian, nay more, a Protestant, and perchance the very best of men. And can we now find words enough to express the horrours of this Hellish Murder? We should in some sort seem guilty of it our selves, should we think it but parallel to the Murder of the Text. For these men of Gibeah, as wicked as they were, slew no other than a private person, nay one that was a Judg. 19. 27. Concubine, and who might have seemed to have faln a just sacrifice to punishment, had Law and not Lust been the Author of it. But we lament this day the Murder of no private person, but a Prince: no Malefactor but a Martyr; nay one who trod so near the Footsteps of his Saviour, that Providence has been pleased to draw a more honourable parallel, by appointing the Passion of our Saviour as the fittest Lessons for this Days Martyrdome. And sure now we may boldly take up the words of the Text, and say, that There was no such thing done or seen in Israel, as we have seen done this day.
2. Consider the persons that Murder'd him, and we shall still find the wickedness of the day much surpassing the wickedness of the Text. [Page 19] The Text and the Day run parallel indeed thus far, that they were both private persons that committed these Murders, they had no power of life or death, but usurped that Rom. 12. 19. & 13. 4. vengeance whose execution belongs only to God and his Vicegerents. But tho they run parallel thus far, as to other Circumstances they are vastly different. For the Men of Gibeah murder only a Stranger, one that was at most but their Equal, and to whom they stood obliged by no bonds of Religion, Gratitude or Subjection: But the Bloudy Murderers of this Day slew no Stranger, but the Father of their Country: not their Equal but their Superior; nay one who had clothed them with Scarlet and other delights: one who had put ornaments of Gold upon their apparel, and whom by many Oaths, even by their Solemn League and Covenant, they were bound to defend. For Subjects therefore who stood obliged by all these Circumstances of Religion, Gratitude and Subjection, to imbrue their hands in the Bloud of their Soveraign, makes the Sin of this Day a Crimson and a Scarlet Sin. They can expect no City of Refuge, the Horns of the Altar will push away these Parricides. There is therefore a vast difference between the Text and the Day; so great indeed, that if the men of [Page 20] Gibeah, like Cain deserve to be avenged sevenfold, these of this Day like Lamech, truly seventy and seven fold, nay more, in as much as we are told that the Life of a King is more worth than Ten thousand of his Subjects. 2 Sam. 18. 3. We may therefore claim a right to the words of the Text and say, There was never any such thing done or seen in Israel, as we have seen done this day.
3. Let us consider the manner of this Bloudy Murder, and we shall still find the wickedness of the Day surpassing the wickedness of the Text. The men of Gibeah committed their Murder in a secret corner of the World, they chose also the silence and darkness of the Judg. 19. 22. night: But this was a publick Tragedy, the Sun and the World were made spectators of their audacious Villany. Here was no less than a Pageantry of Justice, a High Court of Judicature with all its Formalities erected; as if it had not been enough to have abused the name of Religion before, but the name of Justice too must suffer with their King. Many Kings indeed have dyed by the Sword, the Dagger, and the Pistol, many by Poisons and other Instruments of clandestine revenge. But never any did thus mock God, defie Heaven, and stain the very light of the Sun, whilst they kill their [Page 21] King by the Executioner's Ax, upon a publick Scaffold, and in the front of that Palace, where he used to give audience to the greatest Ambassadours. By such aggravations of villainous impudence as these the Rebels of this Day do not only surpass the Monsters of Gibeah, but all the Fauxes and Ravilliac's in the World, and commit snch a thing as was never done or seen in Israel.
There is one Circumstance still remaining in the Text, which must be dispatched before I come to Application, and it is the Levite's dividing the carkass of his Concubine, and sending her by piece-meal to the Twelve Tribes of Israel; a Barbarous Act indeed, as being against both the Deut. 21. 23. Law of God, and the Laws of Nations, Contra publica communia (que) humanitatis & honestatis jura, quae saevire in mortua corpora prohibent. Ma [...] venda. which have always commanded due honour and respect to be performed to the Bodies of the dead. But in this dreadful Circumstance too we shall find the Wickedness of the Text exceeded by the Villany of the Day. It was not enough for the Miscreants of this Day to offer all these Indignities we have heard, to Sacred Innocent Majesty: but their rage does prove more cruel than death: these Vipers tear in pieces the very Bowels of their Prince, and make the Carkass of their Soveraign sensible of their fury. But alas, their Lyncean Malice found [Page 22] not the least tincture of any noysome Disease, his Body was pure and innocent as Heaven, and fit to be the Mansion of so chast a Soul. Had the inhumane Tyrant, who made the search, been but half so chast himself, his carkass had never stunk almost as bad as does his memory, it had not killed those Physitians that imbalm'd it; and if the Spices of Arabia had not prevented farther mischief, the noysome vapours of his body had perhaps committed as many Murders as his Sword. But this their unparallel'd Wickedness does far exceed the wickedness of the Text. For the Levite's action, though Barbarous in it self, was capable of excuse from its intended design: This horrid Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurem quam quae sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus. Horat. Spectacle was prepared chiefly to incense the wrath of the Tribes, not so much to the dishonour of his Concubine, as to raise the spirits of the Israelites to revenge her death. But these Prodigies of wickedness intended only to expose Innocent Majesty, to murder his good Name, as well as his Person, and by an unheard of piece of Cruelty destroy the Saint as well as the King. And since these things are so, if we now have any breath left that is not wholly stopt by grief and sorrow, we cannot but cry out in the words of the Text, that There was never any such thing done or seen in Israel, as we have [Page 23] seen done this day. And thus I have dispatched the second Particular; I shall now descend to the Application, which is hinted in the last words of the Text, Consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.
Application.
I. Consider and lament the deep stain the Christian and Protestant Religion has received by this Days Bloudy Murder. It was the Glory and Brag of the Primitive Christians, That they could never be branded for Christiani nunquam Albiniani, nunquam Nigriani, nunquam Cassiani. T [...]tull. ad Scap. c. 2. Traitors, or condemned for Rebels. Their Religion allowed them not to fight against their Princes, but according to St. 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2. Oramus pro omnibus Imperatoribus, vitam illis prolixam, imperium securam, domum tutam, exercitus fortes, Senatum fidelem, populum probum, orbem quietum, & qu [...]cun (que) bominis & Caesaris vota sunt. Tertull. Apolog. Paul's Exhortation they offer'd up their Prayers for the very worst of Tyrants. But alas! the Beauty of Israel has been slain this day, and that upon our High Places by the hands of Protestants themselves. 2 Sam. 1. 20. O tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the Streets of Askelon, lest the Daughters of the Philistins rejoyce, lest the Daughters of the Uncircumcised triumph! Alas! what sport has this Scandal already made to the Adversaries of our Church? How have these Simeon's and Levi's made our Church to stink amongst the [Page 24] Canaanites and the Perizzites? The Calumnies which were formerly cast on the Episcopal Clergy See Parson 's 3 Conversions, And Sir Edw. Sandys Europ. Spec. by Martin-Mar-Prelate and other Dissenters amongst us, were reported by our Adversaries for undoubted truths, were believed at Rome and insisted on by the Papists to the disgrace of our Church: What advantages then will they make of this Days Tragedy? How will they serve up the Head of our late Gracious Soveraign (as the Baptist's head in a Charger) at all their Festivals. The Papists alone had for many Ages the Monopoly of Murdering Princes, of raising Rebellions under the colour of Religion, and Canonizing for Saints Beckets, Garnets, and the most prodigious Traytors: But that they have now any pretence of discharging part of this guilt upon Protestants themselves, ought to be matter of Lamentation to us: and could we command all the tears of a Jeremy, they would hardly suffice to wash away the stain of this Days guilt. But as we have too much cause to bewail, that the Papists have got some Protestants amongst us to be fratres in malo, Brethren in such horrid wickednesses with themselves; so we must withal Quis tui [...]rit G [...]acchos, &c. tell them, That the Church of England is no more concerned in this Barbarous Fact, than any State is in [Page 25] the Crimes of those Malefactors who suffer daily by the Sword of Justice: for the persons that were the Actors of this horrid Tragedy, were such as disown'd the Loyal Communion of our Church, and His Majesties Proclamation. were as far from being True English Protestants, as they were from being True and Loyal Subjects. But it were well if the Romanists could as easily vindicate themselves, as they can find fault with others: The World needs not be informed, that their Church allows Subjects to take up-Arms against their Princes, since they have owned this horrid doctrine by four Concil. Lattran. 3. & 4. Concil. Lugdun. 1. Concil. Constant. of their most Eminent Councils; and wrote the Canons of their Church (like the Laws of Draco) in the Royal Bloud of many Kings and Emperours. Does not their famous Cardinal Bellarm. de Pontif. Rom. proclaim unto the World, That Christ has left power to the Pope to dispose of all Crowns and Scepters, and that Soveraign Princes once blasted by the Thunderbolts of their Church, may be lawfully Deposed and Murdered by their Subjects? And lest the Catholicks of this Island should not understand their duty to the Pope, he is pleased to make a particular instance in the King of England. Now how much the Catholicks of this Nation have been influenced by such abominable doctrines [Page 26] as these, I wish we had learned otherwise than from this Days Barbarous and Bloudy Regicide. For let the Papists wipe their mouths as clean as they can, our late Gratious Soveraign, who had too much reason to know it, has declared in his See the Kings Works. Answer to the Parliament, That there were three Papists in the Parliaments Army for one that was in his; and when the Independent Faction polluted the Scaffold with Royal Bloud, more than fourty Prynne's Brief necessary Vindicat. p. 45. And Foulis's Histor. of pretended Saints. Priests and Jesuits (and they seldom want other company) were seen on horseback flourishing their Swords near unto the Scaffold. But though the Papists have little reason to upbraid Protestants in general for the misdemeanours of some few, yet for the fuller Vindication of the Protestant Religion, let every true Son of our Church for ever abominate the memory of these Monsters, and most solemnly detest their Principles, who have thus opened the mouths of our Adversaries against us, and do still keep many good well-meaning Christians from the Communion of the Quod si me conjectura non fallit, totius Reformationis pars integerrima est Anglia. Ubi cum studio veritatis viget studium Antiquitatis, quam certi homines dum spernunt in laqucos se induunt, &c. Is. Casaub. Epist. 40. ad Salmas. best of Churches.
[Page 27] II. Take advice; and
1. Beware that none betray thee unto wickedness by the fair pretences and colours of Region. Our Blessed Saviour has told us, That the Luk. 11. 18. Pharisees, a Puritanical Sect amongst the Jews, were wont to fast and pray, and that long enough too, when they intended to devour Widows houses, and caress themselves with the tears of Orphans. And I wish sad Experience had not inform'd us this day, That Treason may be more commodiously hatched in a Conventicle, than in Fauxe's Cellar: and that Rebellion may thrive better in the hands of pretended Saints, than in the hands of the most wretched and debauched Catilines. Let thy credulous zeal therefore beware of such Wolves as come in Sheeps cloathing: Gen. 49. 6, 7. O my Soul, come not thou into their Secret: unto their Assembly or The Hebrew [...] signifies a Religious Meeting or Congregation. Schindler. Conventicle, mine honour be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, nay more, a King. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was so cruel, as that they Murder'd Three Kingdoms at a blow.
2. Let us all encourage, to the utmost of our power, Substantial Virtue, and Loyal Godliness. [Page 28] If the very shadow of Religion, like St. Peter's in the Acts, could work such wonders: if the colours of Virtue could manage a War with too much success against a Potent Monarch: what will the power of Godliness, what will solid and loyal Piety be able to do? It is a true Observation of the Antient Comedian, Plaut. Amphit. Sat habet favitorum semper, qui recfte facit. True Virtue seldom wants Friends and Abettors: And the Wisest of Men has told us, Prov. 16. 12. That a Kingdom never stands upon a surer Basis, than when it is established in Truth and Righteousness. Did our Adversaries therefore win the day, and prosper for a while, by their frequenting Ordinances, observing Sabbaths, and punishing Swearers and Drunkards? Let us out-live and out do their very hypocrisie; let our righteousness exceed the righteousness of these Scribes and Pharisees. Let us own God's Ordinances in truth and sincerity: Let our Church-Wardens, Constables and other Officers secure our Sabbaths from open prophanations: and let Drunkards and Swearers know, that there are still Laws against them. If we thus encourage Virtue and Piety, I am sure we shall either soon defeat our Enemies, or at least with more comfort yield to their prevailing faction. But [Page 29] if we will still continue our league with Sin, we shall find our Debaucheries the greatest Traitors in the Kingdom. Flor [...]s. Vitiis nostris fortes fiunt hostes, saith the Antient Historian, Our Vices will encourage and strengthen our Enemies, and weaken the best Cause, that we can adhere to. We may truly say of our late Gracious Soveraign, what was formerly said of Julius [...] in [...] Caesar, That he received more Wounds from his Friends, than from his Enemies. How many were there of the King's Party that had nothing to boast of but the empty character of Loyalty, and under that skreen did more mischief to his Cause than all the Zealots, that most furiously oppos'd it? Their scandalous Lives alienated the Subjects hearts from their most Pious Prince, made ignorant people believe the Master could not be righteous, who entertain'd such profligate Servants; nor that Cause be Gods, whose defenders carried themselves no better than Devils. And as our debaucheries will thus expose us to our Enemies, so they will at last arm Heaven against us too; they will in the end kindle the fury of an holy God, cause him to gird his Sword upon his thigh, and once more 1 Sam. 1 [...] 25. destroy both us and our King.
Lastly, Let us freely speak our Minds, whether [Page 30] all possible Merentur quidem cerebrosi illi (meaning cross-grain'd Puritans) gla dio ultore coerceri. Calvin. Epistol. ad Protector. Angliae. endeavours ought not be used to prevent the like enormities for the future. The Canaanite is still in the Land, men sworn like the Jews to destroy our Pauls, and totally subvert the Antient Government of our Church. Ut Horat. teipsum serves, non expergisceris? Shall we not then awake to secure our throats? I speak to those that are wise, and shall say no more than this, That whosoever he be, whether Magistrate or Minister, that does so far prefer his own private interest before the publick, as to hoise up Sails to a little stinking popular breath, he will soon make shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience. Now the Mighty God of Jacob who giveth Salvation unto Princes, defend our present Soveraign from these Sons of Violence, who would Mich. 3. 10. build Zion with blood, and Ierusalem with iniquity. To which God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be all Praise and Glory now and for evermore. Amen.