dieth the wise man? Even as the fool," saith the Preacher. Nay, one is wicked, and liveth in ease and prosperity; another feareth God, and dieth in the bitterness of his soul: they sleep both in the dust together, the worms cover them Job xxi. [30.] both alike. This only is the difference, "The wicked is kept to the day of destruction, and shall be brought forth But the just shall live by faith;" his soul shall live. The foundation from whence this life floweth is that covenant, which was made with 2 Sam. vii. David: "I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall [Hab. ii. 4.] to the day of wrath.” [12, 13.] 33.] Acts xiii.' [34.] [20, 21.] 66 proceed out of the body, and I will stablish his kingdom: he shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever." Now as David, so the children of David after him, fulfilled their days, and fell asleep: the throne of David was not established in them for ever. But of Christ the angel of the Lord Luke i. [32, hath said, "The Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom shall be no end." Wherefore in Christ this covenant with David is fulfilled. The mercies which were promised unto David are the benefits, and, as the apostle termeth them, "the holy things," which we receive by Christ Jesus. This covenant Jer. xxxiii. is everlasting. "If," saith God by the prophet Jeremy, "you can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, that there should not be day and night in their season, then may my covenant be broken with David." As the covenant made with David is everlasting, so the mercies therein contained are "sure." Of the sure mercies [Psal.lxxxix. of David thus he speaketh in the book of Psalms: "Mine 21-23, 28.] hand shall be established with him, and mine arm shall strengthen him: the enemy shall not oppress him; neither shall the wicked do him hurt; but I will destroy his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him: my mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him." The covenant made with David is made with us: his mercies are our mercies, if so be we perform that which here is required at our hands. If we hearken diligently unto him that crieth, "Come to the waters, "if we cleave fast unto his truth, ["The," probably an error for "thy."-ED.] if we embrace his promises with joy, eating that which is good, shunning and loathing that which is evil; surely his hand shall be established with us as with David, his arm shall be our strength, the enemy shall not oppress us, neither shall the wicked do us harm: but God shall destroy all our enemies before us, and plague them that hate us; his mercies he shall keep towards us for ever, his covenant shall stand fast with us, our souls shall live, he shall make an everlasting covenant with us, even the sure mercies of David. Which mercies the God of all mercy grant us; unto whom, with the Son by whose blood they are purchased, together with that glorious Spirit which hath sealed in sealed in our hearts full assurance that they cannot fail, be honour and glory for ever and Amen. ever. : 3 [SANDYS.] THE SECOND SERMON. A SERMON MADE BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER. The use of parliaments. 1 SAMUEL XII. 23. Be this sin against the Lord far from me, that I should cease to HISTORIES, as well sacred as profane, at large record, that good princes have ever vigilantly looked into the state of the commonwealth which is their charge; and perceiving disorder, or foreseeing danger, have speedily caused consultation to be had, as well for the reformation, as for the preservation thereof. In which consultation three especial things are commonly offered to consider of the state of religion; the state of the prince; and the state of the commonwealth. Three most necessary things to be regarded and provided for. If religion be not sound, men's souls cannot be safe: if the head be not preserved, the body of necessity must decay: if good government want', the commonwealth falleth into confusion. Our prophet, that good prince and ruler of the people, in the great assembly of the Israelites, remembered unto them these self-same things, as, by the words which I have chosen to treat of, it will appear. Our Samuel, our good and gracious governor, moved with like affection, hath called this honourable and high court of parliament for like end. Wherein that things well intended may the better proceed and take best effect, let us in our prayers crave help and assistance from above. Wherein let us not forget Christ's universal church, this particular church of England and Ireland, the Queen's excellent majesty, our most sovereign Lady and chief Governor, that God, remembering us in his mercy, may grant her majesty a [ Want-be wanting.-ED.] long happy life, with the increase of all godly honour and felicity, to the great praise of his name and great good of his church. Let us also remember in our prayers the honourable privy council, the clergy, the nobility, with the whole people of this realm; that God may grant every one grace in his calling sincerely to serve him. And especially at this time let us call upon God for wisdom and grace from above, that in this consultation of parliament, all private affections and respects to our own commodities laid aside, God's glory and the good of his church and this commonwealth only and sincerely may be sought. For these, and grace, let us pray unto God as our Saviour Christ hath taught us: "Our Father," &c. considered of Samuel. He was a minister. 2. The better to convey myself to the matter which I Things to be have in hand, I shall crave leave that I may speak somewhat in the person of this princely prophet Samuel; who, descending of noble parentage, was by his mother consecrated to the ministry. Of which calling though Christ himself thought so highly and honourably that, refusing to be a king, he chose the John vi.[15.] office of a minister; yet so perverse is the judgment of the world, that they think no condition more base or vile. The minister with his master Christ is contemned: this holy office is become odious: "All men seek their own," and serve Phil. ii. [21.] themselves: it is accounted slavery to serve the Lord. godly ma misliked by whom he 3. Samuel was called of God to be a magistrate, He was a wherein he was so faithful and upright, that his adversaries gistrate; yet were forced to justify his doings, and to bear him record them over that he neither was a bribe-taker, nor an extortioner, nor was placed. one that had injuried any man. It were well with our commonwealth, if all officers could carry away the like testimony. But evil subjects cannot away with good magistrates. The prodigal, which have consumed their substance in lewdness and vanity, long for a change; supposing that their state will be bettered thereby, and persuading themselves that it cannot be made worse. "All change is perilous;" and an old saying is it, "Seldom comes the better." A better this people could hardly have had: yet so unquiet and discontented they were, that (the good and peaceable government of Samuel notwithstanding) they misliked their present state, and desired another governor to be given them. The worthy magistrate Moses was Exod. xv. [24.] [2, 3.] 2 Sam. xvii. muttered against; the noble king David for a time deposed; our faithful Samuel rejected. Behold the hard state of good princes, who are for the most part rewarded with great ingratitude. Moses' dear cousins became his Psal. Ixx. deadly enemies: David's familiar friends became his most fierce and violent foes: Samuel was rejected of such as Chrysippus. he most favoured. Chrysippus, observing the course of these things, saith that which experience proveth true: "Thou shalt be sure, if thou govern amiss, to purchase God's, if well, the people's anger and displeasure." The danger of this office, by reason of the great ingratitude of the people, made Moses say to God, "Send whom thou Demosthe- wilt send." It caused Demosthenes rather to wish banishThemisto- ment, than place of government; and Themistocles to prefer hell itself to the judgment-seat. When Antigonus should put on a royal diadem, he brake forth into this Valer. Max. speech, "O cloth of more honourable than happy estate; wherewith if a man were so throughly acquainted that Exod. iv. [13]. nes. cles. lib. vii. cap. ii. but me," saith the Lord. 66 he could tell the number of cares and miseries wherewith thou art fraught, he would not stoop for thee, though he might have thee for the taking up." Wherefore it grieved not Samuel to be eased of so heavy a burthen: but God was much grieved to see so great disgrace of1 Sam. viii. fered to his anointed. They have not rejected thee, [7.] To dislike and cast off a good Rom. xiii. magistrate is to dislike and cast off God; because "all power is of God." God, in his wrath for godly Samuel, gave them wicked Saul. I pray God in his justice serve all such alike, as seek after such change, as cannot submit themselves with loving and obedient hearts to the good government of worthy Samuel, their natural prince, their good and faithful magistrate; whom for conscience sake they ought to honour and obey. [1.] He was both a prophet Luke xvi. [2.] 4. Samuel was both a prophet and a prince, a miand a prince. nister and a magistrate: so was Melchisedec, Moses, David, Christ. He had need to be a rare man, that should well answer sundry offices. When Redde rationem, "Give account," cometh, then one office such as the least of these will be thought a burthen heavy enough for any one, besides these, to have borne. But the matching of these two offices doth teach, what agreement, love, and liking |