Sermon Comparing Solomon and Queen Elizabeth

TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader Grace and Peace.

P RESENT occasion (gentle Reader) moveth me to present thee with this little Sermon, lately preached & earnestly requested at my hands. Once printing doeth ease the often copying out. Verily therein is no great matter of such moment, but only a desire to affect and stir up some dutiful cogitations in the minds of the hearers in these last and unthankfull days.

And soothly, I was the less careful to perfourm many proofs either of the Princes sacred authority or happy government in the execution and fruits thereof, being privy afore-hand to the printing of M. D. Bilsons very learned and like careful book in these respects, even now coming forth, by way of thorough & perfect answer to turbulent wits and troublesome heads, and vain defenders of falsely so called Catholics against the necessary and merciful execution of due Justice and her Majesty's Laws.

And herein (good Reader) my very heart rejoiceth that the long barennesse of one and the same College at length with much ado first hath brought forth him enabled to encounter with the best of our old deceived predecessors, to wit: D. Cole, D. Harpsfield, D. Harding, D. Sanders, Dorman, Rastall, D. Stapleton, Points, Marshall, Fouler, Hide, William Rainolds and the rest. God of his goodness increase our knowledge zeal and discretion, to the discharge of our duties unto the full. Pharaoh non dimittet nisi in manu valida: Popery is not overcome by silence, ignorance and sufferance. And know you my brethren of greater ability & gifts (whoever you be) it is a certain experienced truth; Papists never flock together, never mutter Asdod and Spanish in corners, never vent & sparse abroad lies & fables at ordinary meetings, never write, crake & vaunt so fast, but as croaking toads against a storm. God make us wise to discern who be who, and ready pressed always to divert their spite, & defend his truth. Remember that word: Negotiamim, donec veniam. Hide not your talents, omit not opportunities, occupy till I come. Fare you well in Christ Jesus.

1. KINGS 10.9. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which loved thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel, because he loved Israel forever, and made thee King to do equity and righteousness.

T Hese words, some years since (as some of you may remember) upon this yearelie and happy occasion were most learnedly, largely, and effectually debated with you. In resuming the same again, my purpose is not to venture flight with the Eagle, or to run with the Giant, or any way to compare with that excellent man. Onelie, for good reasons moving me there-unto, I have rather chosen to sow in a ground ready plowed up to my hand, than to break up a new at mine own choice.

Without more ado, or farther impertinent prefacing, these words and the whole story of the Queen of Saba is not only recorded here, but also word for word repeated again in the latter book of Chronicles, as a matter worthy all memory and admiration. For, that a woman and she a Queen, and (as our Savior noteth) from the farthest partes of the earth, only moved with the fame of a wise man, should come so readily to learn wisdom, is more than strange, & deserveth everlasting praise with all posterity in ages succeeding, and she shall rise at the last day of doom and judgment to the condemnation of the marvelous sloth of some whole generations. Some other, her like, would have dealt after a diverse and a dislike sort, as for example, reasoning thus: I am a woman, by nature weak and cannot; a Queen, and need not; of sovereign estate and it were vnseemelie to leave my people at random and to uenture at auentures & to travel abroad. The way is long and tedious: the journey dangerous, full of cruel beasts, and of men worse than beasts: the fame is but a report, and reports are not always true. But she fore-casteth none of all these doubts and inconveniences, neither the uncertainty of the event, nor peril of the way, nor tediousness of the journey, nor dignity of her person, nor infirmity of her sex. She, as a fair type, and a timely first-fruit of the gentiles, presenteth herself among the people of GOD, preferring the adventure for wisdom, more, than for silver, gold, or what ever thing else of richest price. And being now come to Jerusalem, conferreth at large with Solomon himself, and receiveth special answer in everything above expectation. After a while, she surueieth his buildings, and taketh particular view of his whole house and government, and when she had considered all; the order of his realm, the array of his seruiters, the manner of his waiters, their attire, their diet, their blessed room and place whereby they enjoyed the happy presence of so woonderfullie wise a Prince, that could answer to every her question, demand, and motive that she could make, she was all amazed, and her spirit was taken from her. And coming to herself again, she breaketh forth no doubt, by the spirit of God into the words of my text:

A blessed God and a loving, a blessed Prince, and a blessed people beloved of God.

A blessed God, to be praised and blessed forever (as the Apostle speaketh) Amen. But wherewith this Queen beginneth, namely, with the praise and blessing of God, God willing, we mean to interlace all, and end the whole. In the mean while, consider we apart God's blessings,

• 1 upon Salomom, and
• 2 upon Solomon's subjects.

1 Solomon's blessing, and lovely estate is therefore termed so and so pronounced here because god placed him in the throne of regiment amongst his people. And in truth, to be a plant in the Lord's orchard, to be the woorkmanshippe of his own hands, toward the top, or in the middle, or near the foundation, or where-about so-ever in the frame of his building, even to be the poorest door-keeper in all his house, is no small benefit, or common blessing: yet is this more properly his doing, and he alone chiefly planteth and placeth all that are allotted to chiefest roumes. The Sun placeth not it self above the Moon and stars: The head setteth not it self upon the shoulders: By me (saith the wisdom of God) Kings reign: as if it were said, if by others, as it is complained in the Prophet Osce, then not by me, and therefore by me alone (saith the wisdom of God) Kings reign: that is, they bear their scepters and wear their swords and sit in their thrones, BY ME they reign.

And, great reason we thus judge of Sovereign authority. All things in the world: the least, the vilest, the least of account; the leaf of a flower, the fall of a sparowe, the feather of a bird, the food of ravens, the fodder of oxen, the brissell of a hog (as Augustine speaketh,) the tears of our eyes, and color of our hair come all within the span and compass of God almighty's power-full doing, and particular direction. Now, he that careth for little things, is he careless of the greatest? He that careth for the hair, he cannot but care for the body: and he that careth for the body, careth for the head; and he that respecteth the body, the head, the hair, the whole, the parts, great and less, principal and excrementall of private men, without all question regardeth much more the body politic and the head of the common-wealth. All authority is of God, and therefore kinglie most of all, even as all the waters ishue from the Ocean, but more immediately the great rivers.

This speech were utterly needless, were we not fallen into the waning of the world, wherein S. Jude’s reprehension may justly take place: when men are not only despisers of governors, as Shimei was of David, but evil speakers and misconsterers of authoitrie it self and sovereign government in the highest degree. Treason against the Prince is no sin against God, saith Everard Hance, as you may read in the wise and True report of the Arrainment and execution of the Popish Traitor.

Our present story, of the enthronizing of Solomon informeth us better, & teacheth us a contrary lesson, and showeth plainly, whence princely government is derives and doth depend. I know, Berzabe Solomon's mother, David his Father, Nathan the Prophet, Zadok the Priest, were all for Solomon. But Adonijah was the elder brother, and Solomon the younger; Abiathar the high priest anointed Adonijah, and not Solomon; Solomon's mother was a blemished woman, and Adonijah was in a kind of real possession of the kingdom, and what human means can we imagine then could hinder him and them, and help Solomon to remedy all? Joab a great man and a mighty for valor, cunning and courage, would venter limb & life, and had set his rest upon the cause.

Wherefore Bennaiah when he saw how the world went, yet on the contrary side perceiving how David was resolved that Solomon for all this should succeed, wished from his heart it might be so: So be it, said he, & not contented therewith addeth after in few but effectual words, praying: The Lord God of the Lord my king ratify it. As if he should have said, Berzabe, Zadocke, Nathan, and I, yea David himself would have it so: but God say so to. For if God say no it cannot be, but if he say so notwithstanding all vnlikelihoods, if God ratified it, it shall stand, and must be so.

A worthy and a wise and a true saying (and to conclude this matter) most agreeable to the Psalm: Promotion cometh neither from the East, nor the West. No, my brethren nor from the north, nor south. The Lord of Lord's and king of kings and governor of all things, ruleth, overruleth all in all specially all these cases of regiment even by his plenary power and at his own and absolute pleasure: as hath been vouched in general and in particular is declared that his mere love to Prince and people it was that placed Solomon, & disappointed Adonijah.

But in sooth, is it such a blessing so great a benefit proceeding all of love to be a king? Howe saith one, that the Princely cloke is lined all within with pins and pricking needles? An other that a crown is not worth the stouping for? A third, that, if profer were made necessarily to accept either present death, or the Princely Diademe, he would make willing choice rather to go straightway to his grave, than any way to the chair of estate. And because domestical examples touch nearest, & affect most, our sovereign & careful queen the Lord's anointed over us, in an exhortation to her council and judges, for a due consideration over her people, among other words ever to be remembered of their honors, hath these of her self: I care not for myself, my life is not deer unto me: My care is for my people. I pray god whoever succeedeth me, he as care full as I am. They, who might know what cares I bear, would not think it so great a joy to wear the crown.

In the book of Judges the ninth chapter there is a parable and a story to this purpose; read you the story, I will touch only the parable: In deed the sweet fig tree, the pleasant vine, the fat olive refused preferment, when it was offered. But (beloved) figtrees, vines and Olives are geisen and rare, & grow not in every ground. The scratching brāble, that is rife & common in every hedge, redily accepteth the offer, & willed all the trees to come under his shadow without straining cursie at the matter. Generally, Adams children, some more, some less, & almost all, have some desire to ride the horse they cannot manage. Absalō in this affectiō embezelleth the harts of the subjects from his own most loving father. Aman blown up with this wind would needs ride the kingly horse, and wear the Princely robe and ring, with sound of trumpet & proclamation made in open sight. Thus shall the man be honored whom the king will honor. Yea ambition (saith Cyprian ) sleepeth (and lodgeth) in the bosom of Priests. No, no, Cyprian, lodge it may, but where it lodgeth it cannot sleepne maketh men wake when other mē sleep. Neither will I wander abroad for proafe hereof: It caused York to strive with Canterbury, and Canterbury often to struggle with the king, and York again of later years it made to be against and for the Pope: and lastly to the end to be Pope himself he would venter all England, as the Pope doth always all Christendom to maintain his triple crown. Philarchie lust for honor, and love of imperie troubled not only some single men, but (as in Nazianzens time) whole councils were so sea-sick with this passiō, that Nazianzenes quiet nature was fully resolved never to resort to such distem pered assemblies. But if it be thus in y ^e priest hood, much worse it cannot choose but be in their minds, whose life is a worldly glory & whose only desire is to be aloft, to be the monarks, if it be but of a mole-hill: and yet some whole dominions are to little for some, & sometimes meaner men of lower lot can dream even Joseph's dream, but not with Joseph's spirit: that all the sheaves of the field must stoop to their sheaue, that the sun moon and stars, the Queen, Nobles and realm must bow & bend before a stinking snuf, a Stukeley, a faithless person & perjured beast, & yet the best instrument of holy fathers pride. But pride hath had hir deserved ruin. As Absalom's fancifal head was hanged in his own locks, and Haman on his own gallows, so Stukeley & Stukeleis like have had their just deserts, & drank the wine of their own vintage.

Notwithstanding all this, to use Haman's words to a truer sense, most true it is: So & so and in greater, truer, & incomparably better sort shall he be honored, whō God will honor, w ^t this most honorable calling of being a lawful prince to the end he be his own lieutenāt, to sit in y ^e throne in his own stead, to be & bear the image of his majesty, to have the credit of kingdoms, & care of his people, to feed Israel, to guide Jacob, to govern Judah, to be a foster-father & a nursing mother unto his Church; to be the instrument & angel of God, as the woman of Thecuah said to David, to be the horse & chariot, the bones and strength; to be the head, & the eye of direction, for justice, equity & good order in a commonwealth. This is no small prerogative or common privilege. And in one word, this was Solomon's case: & was this no blessing?

2 In the second place consider we the blessing & love of God toward Solomon's subjects. As the wickedness of the king bringeth the wrath of God upon the whole realm Gen. 20.9. so when wise & very wise men govern, the gouermnent is stable, and they so governed are most happy. As when Solomon should build the temple, he cared little for hey, for straw, for vntēpered mortar, for unskillful workmen, he sent for Hyerā, & provided (as David his father had done before him) for the gold of Ophir, & cedars of Libanus: Even so God in the edifice of his chosen peculiar people, for the greater benefit and beuty of the whole work, he chooseth no Nabal, no fool as Nabal was to be their ruser, but Solomon the wisest man that ever was. If the prince be wise, the people be the wiser; if he be blessed of God, they be most happy. Si caecus caeco praeierit: If the head be il, the members cannot prosper: if the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the pit & the pit is bottomless: but if the ese be sound, the fish is sweet. A good neighbor (as we say) is a great commodity, a grations prince hath no comparison to speak of. A candle lighteth a house, the sun the world: a well is competēt for a few, it is the stream that caseth the coūtry: one beam beareth another, one piece of a bough feedeth another; it is the foundation, it is the root that upholdeth the building & cherisheth the whole tree. Somway semblably in this case, Israel reaped mutual help ech of other, but the sun, the general light, the stream, the foundation, the root of their bliss & whole repose next & immediately under God depended altogether and rested most in having Solomon to be their prince. Under him, their peace and plenty was more than wonderful, silver was as common as ruble in the streets, and every mā sat without any fear at full ease under his vine. Were these no blessings? No dout the Lord's blessings & rare effects of his singular love, wherein he blessed Solomon and by him them, pouring the ointment on his head that it might descend & be derived to the rest parts of the whole body of the common-wealth. Not the poorest woman, but had access, and enjoyed her right, as appeareth in the strife for the live child, and whose the dead should be. So wise, so willing a prince was he, so happy a people were they, and (which was all in all) so loving a God was God unto them both.

And here I pray you have resort yourselves unto, and view the story as it lieth in the Bible, and you shall perceive I have but tripped over things. And now, because I am desired to be short, who never loved length, right worshipful and deer countrymen, look we homeward a little, and as it were out of the looking glass of this scripture by way of reflection I beseech you consider what blessings also on us God hath bestowed, by what means they have been received, & what dutifulnes is due therefore. Flattery becometh no place, but lest of all the pulpit. Be it spoken to the praise of God for it is a truth, and you, who know anything and have a true taste of things, know I lie not; God hath blessed her majesty with a wise, a wealthy, a peaceable, and a godly reign.

THE time was, when Stephen Gardener Bishop of Winchester and canceller of England, a wilier serpent than all his brethren, worse than Abiathar, and as bad as Achitophel laid his complot to prevent her preferment, and in deed upon vain surmises without all proof or legal calling to question most wrongfully brought her Grace to that heavy and doleful plight, that for grief of mind, and sorrow of heart she heartily wished rather to have been a poor milkmaid in Woodstock park than a Kings daughter, and a Queens sister, and heir apparent to sundry Bealmes.

In all the world she found no friend, no able friend, no firm hope or present help but in God alone, the sure rock of her foundation. Only he that is mighty magnified her and took her from the prison, as Joseph from the stocks, and made her our Queen, and as it were a Martha to provide for Christ in his members, and as a Marie to hear him in his ministers, and as a very Deborah, to execute justice, equity and truth in this English Nation. And he, that preferred her at the first, preserveth her still, (and preserve her ever.) But all this was, because he had a tender, a favorable, and fatherly respect to her and our former troubles forever more.

Since her happy reign, some unhappy persons (as what field hath not some blasted ears?) have sought (& if they will needs be traitors, long may they seek but all in vain) the ruin of the realm, and destruction of her person, but they have not prevailed at all. The master of all misrule Pius the fifth, & his Bull which Harding and his fellow procured, & Felton affixed in her principal city, Moortons conspiracy with Westmorland and his complices in the North, Daluies promised aide; the great and popular man with all his potent endeavours, rumors and vauntings of the Duke of Florence and Don of Austria, what have they effected? have they prevailed? In late times and very lately of green memory, Mendoza his travels and treacherous embassay: his and his casting lots for our garments, Throgmortons beadroll of recusants, and calendar of Inglish help for the invading of England, Ardens villanous desire, Somerfieldes dagge, and Ap-harries dagger, as Stories axe in former times, have missed their wicked purposes all, and have not prevailed. Forren enemies, home libellers and rebels mighty or weak, many or few, subtle or rash, secret or open, they have undone themselves, against us, our Queen and contrary they have not prevailed.

Herein it is not to be denied, her sacred Majesty & her most honorable council have Argus eyes (or rather to speak in this place more religiously, & less profanely) In great measure, wise hearts have they, as Salomō had; her friends are many & sure, her nobles trusty, her servants true, & her subjects loyal, her people willing & her realm no beggar. Silver is not as plenty, as stones in the streets, yet most men have more plate now than their great grandfathers had peuter in elder age, & for general munitions, the like store of weapons, armor, shot, powder, & people were never comparable in her ancestors dates, her nauy incomparably strong & the sea about us a main defense. But, but (deer countrymen, & Christians) as I told you the other day, except God had watched & warded & kept our city, except he had held his holy hand over us, except he had risen up like a Giant, & plesaded his, her & our cause against our, her, & his mortal foes, except he had bard our gates, & bared his arm and stretched it forth for our defense ( Sanders warring; Alen libelling; the Jesuits finely lying, sophistically juggling, & doubtfully answering; the Pope cursing; the Guise practicing; the Spaniard undermining, Ireland & the North rebelling, & pioners still working) what had been come of this little realm?

Notwithstanding, brethren, be of good cheer, lift up your heads, your hands and hearts; lift up your heads and be of comfort, your hands to heaven & your hearts to God, the God and horn of our salvation, the Lord of hosts. The horse of Egypt is flesh & not spirit, their men but men & not God. The blast of a horn, the blaze & flash of a broken lamp, little things in the eyes of the world and less in their own conceit have overturned cities, conquered countries, and vanquished giants when God so would. And one woman by the help of him, in whom she trusteth, even ELIZABETH by the grace of God our gracious Queen is and shall be, and shall be reputed forever, the terror of her foes, the comfort of her friends, the glory of England, the Jewel of the world, and diamond of christendom. Even so (O Lord) because of perfect love thou hast loved her so.

In the mean time unnaturally minded men, traitors to Jerusalem & enemies to Siō, having evil will to both commonwealth & church of ours, & thinking it best fishing whē the water is troubled most, ban & curse, rave & take on like mad men, or losing mates & lost companions, not seeing so much as Balaam that saw less than his Ass, and yet saw thus much and said accordingly, that for a house full of gold he could not curse where God did bless.

But is there no remedy? can no music assuage these passions? Will Ephraim be willful? Will Israel trust to a reed? can Papists imagine that strangers will do them good? and deem they that God will prosper a cursing generatiō? And what if their treacheries (which god avert) might take effect? * he, that soweth a wind, shall he not reap a whirl-wind? do they remember, or have they forgotten, or have they not read coūty Melunes most memorable counsel to our English nobles? who, (after that the barons of this realm, missed by fancy of their own, and faction of the Clergy and provocation of the Pope at first had brought in Lodouik the French kings son, to be king of England, in king John's steed) moved with conscience, falling deadly sick at London, calleth certain of the barons unto him & said: I lament your sorrowful case, & pity with my heart the destruction that is coming towards you and your country, the dangerous snares which are prepared for your utter confusiō are hidden unto you: you see them not yet, but take heed of them in time. Prince Lodouike hath sworn no smaloth and sixeteen of his Earls and Nobles with him, that if he get once the crown, he will banish & deprive them all of lands and goods, at least, if not of life, even as many as he proveth to have gone against their liege king and his noble person. And (saith the worthy Melune ) because ye shall not take this tale for a tale, I assure you on my soul (lying now at the mercy of God, when it is no fit time to lie) that I was one of them which was privy & sworn to the same. I have remorse thereof, and therefore I give you this caveat. I pity poor England, which hath been so worthy a nation that now it is come to so miserable extremity. And when with tears he had blubbered a space he beginneth a little while a fresh again: my masters, I advise you earnestly to provide for future extremities in season, I forewarn you of good will and for my conscience sake, and so after a few words to like sense, having discharged & unburdened his heavy soul for the matter, he gave up the Ghost.

Let English harts apply this story, I will not amplify. In the book of Joshua the Gabionites for all their crouchings, old bottles finoed bread, and proffered friendship were made no better then wood-cleauers & water bearers, drudges and slaves to the vilest function. A foolish & a desperate sheaf it is that when it hath brought in fire & set the barn all in a flame can possibly suppose it self can escape. Experience doth tell the contrary; reason, religion and scripture do teach us better: To wit: to forethinke our selves, to think reverently of the Lord's anointed, & to thank God for all his blessings. They who were weary of Solomon were wearied out with Roboam who succeeded Solomon. But what speak I to deaf ears, which is, but to powder the flint, to plow the rock and sow the sand, and so to loose both salt, seed, and labor?

My brethren in christ, my natural and naturally affected Countrymen, I speak to you: we have gods blessings, we find and feel those bodily and ghostly commodities which our poor neighbors want, God help them. Neither are our deserts, better than theirs, for ought I see. Do we think we are priuileged without covenant of duty or proviso of forfeiting our estate more than are others? Security maketh fools, and folly bringeth confusion, and perfect wanton or wayward vnthankfullnes maketh a perfect separation and diuorse betwixt us and our God. The noble men of Israel, where they braued it most, and nothing remembered God, & lest thought of danger, in the hills of Gelboe lost their lives. God forbid that the mildness of our Queen, the fat of our Country, the plenty of the realm, the wisdom of our rulers, and the blessings of god should be our bane. Nay rather God bless us with the gift of his grace in thankfulness to bless him ever that he may bless us always more & more, & as Bennaiah wished, so wish we all, even god say so for evermore. The happy resolutiō of this time, the course of this great assembly, the cōueniency of my text & all holy writ besides, jointly with this good example of the Queen of Saba & the Sacrament and Eucharist which now we shall partake being y ^e pledge of his good will & paune of his favor, and seal of his mercies to us-ward, and likewise also on our partes to him being the provocation and promise of our thankfullnes, and Sacrifice of praise, should move all to laude and praise his holy name forever more world without end.

A PRAIER IN CONsideration of the former respects.

AL humble and hearty thanks be rendered unto thee O Lord God almighty, Father of mercies and compassion, that in this later age & evil days, hast placed, directed and preserved, by thy singular goodness and special providence thine handmaid ELIZABETH, our dread Sovereign in the Seat of her father, always maintaining her cause against all her enemies, who in great rage have risen against her, but thou O Lord was on her right hand, that she should not be moved. Continue the course of this thy goodness towards us, we beseech thee for thy holy names sake. Neither be provoked in thy displeasure for our unthankfulness toward her and thee. Aswage the malice, convert the harts or confound the devises of all them that have evil will to thine anointed, & repine at her good proceedings, & stir up her heart more & more to love thee, that hast so perfectly loved her, and to bless thee, that so hast blessed her, to serve thee her only Savior evermore, by publishing peace & truth, peace, justice and equity in this church and Common wealth, that we & our posterity after us may many years meet in this place and the like as at this time & upon this occasion and to this purpose, that thy blessings O Lord may be acknowledged, our joy increased, her old age comforted, this Realm established in the true worship & service of thy holy name through Jesus Christ. Amen.