GOD'S PARLEY WITH PRINCES: WITH AN APPEAL from THEM to HIM.  
The SUM of two SERMONS on the 3. last Verses of the 82. Psalm,  
Preached at SERGEANTS-INNE in FLEETSTREET.  
BY THOMAS GATAKER B. of D. and Pastor of Rotherhith.  
LONDON  
Printed by EDW: GRIFFIN, and are to be sold by Timothy Barlow, at his shop in Pauls-Church-yard at the sign of the Bullhead. 1620.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, his singular good LORD, Sir HENRY HOBART Knight and Baronet, Lord Chief justice of the Common Pleas, increase of true Honour here, and eternal happiness hereafter.  
Right Honourable,  
WHat hath formerly been offered to your RELIGIOUS ear, is now further presented to your JUDICIOUS eye. Neither doubt I, but that, as it then found attentive audience with the one, so it will now find kind welcome and acceptance with the other: the rather it being, for the matter and substance of it▪ the message of Him in whose seat you sit, though brought by a weak and unworthy Messenger, and delivered in mean and unpolished manner. Messages are wont to be respected and received, and Presents esteemed and accepted more for the party from whom they come, then for the Person by whom they come, or for the manner of the delivery of them. The matter, I hope, will not be altogether unprofitable or unfruitful, though not handled so artificially or methodically as it might, or as were meet But neither mine incessant encumbrances, and perpetual distractions, 〈◊〉 of body, variety of business, and slender means of assistance, will afford leisure or liberty for any accurate and exact discourse: Nor is there much need of Art to persuade godly regard and holy obedience, where the power of piety hath already in some good measure possessed the heart. The Truth of God cannot but find good entertainment with all those that sincerely love and like it, although it come naked and bare, as 
a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 E●…rip. Ph●…niss. Veritatis simplex oratio est. S●…n. Epist. 49. 〈◊〉 ●…ritati operam dat oratio incomposita debet esse & simplex. Ibid. 40.  best beseemeth it, or but meanly attired, not bedecked and set out with such ornaments and dress, as the natural eye and ear only affect and regard. If in aught it seem over-harsh unto any, 
b C●…ncti qui ●…derunt mandatum sacrum, causam od●… in seipsis habent▪ omne illis fastidium non in legis praecepti●…, said in moribus sun. Salvian▪ ad Eccles. cathol. l. 4.  the fault is in themselves, not in it. 
c M●…ca 2. 7.  The word of God, saith the Prophet, is good, yea and pleasant too, as 
d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod idem cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  the word used there signifieth, to every one that walketh uprightly: 
e Psal. 119. 103.  as sweet as honey, yea 
f Psal. 9 11.  sweeter than 
g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 distillatione favorum. i. melle acoeto, sive maxi n●… landabili, quòd è favo ultrò stillat. I●…. ex Plin. hist. net. l. ●…1. c. 15.  the purest honey to such; as DAVID professeth of himself. But even Honey itself, though of itself 
h Pro●…. 24. 13.  good and pleasant, and wholesome and medicinal, yet 
i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alex. Aphrodiss. problem. l. 2. 130. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Dion. Chrysost. orat. 57  causeth pain and smart to an exulcerate part: And 
k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Idem ibid.  children therefore that, at other times much desire it and cry for it, yet will not endure to have it come near their lips, when they have sore mouths. 
l Quam d●… blanditur sibi & dulcis est iniquitas, 〈◊〉 est veritas. Aug. de verb. D●…. 4.  It is man's love of his own corruptions and impatience of cure, that maketh the word of God harsh and unpleasant unto any. But there is no fear or doubt that ought here should in this kind be distasteful to your Lordship, whose discreet, and moderate and upright carriage in your place is so generally acknowledged and testified of all sorts. If at vacant hours your Lordship shall vouchsafe to cast your eye on it, it shall be more than a sufficient recompense of my pains in it. A monument it shall at least be of that duty, that I deservedly own unto your Honour, and of my thankful acknowledgement of that undeserved favour and countenance that your Lo: hath been pleased from time to time to▪ vouchsafe me, as well before, as since I came under the wing of your Honourable protection. And the Lord of Lords protect your Lordship, increase in you his graces, direct you in your courses, and bless you with long life and many good days, to his glory, the public good, your own spiritual comfort in this life, and your eternal salvation after this life.  
Your Lordships at command in all Christian duty THO. GATAKER.   

GOD'S Parley with PRINCES: With An APPEAL from them to Him.  PSALM. 82. verse. 6, 7, 8. 6. I have said; Ye are Gods, and sons of the most High, all of you. 7. But ye shall die like men; and fall as one of the Princes. 8. Arise, o God, judge thou the earth: for thou inheritest 
* Or, in all Nations.  all Nations. 
THe Book of Psalms, though it be called from 
b Certis Psalmos Davidis numeri●… constare. Aug. Epist. 131. Davidem Hebraei 5. incisionibu●… & uno Psalmorum volumine comprehendunt. Hieron. prolog. galeat.  the greater part, by the name of 
a 74 Psalms are expressly so entitled: that some others that want titles expressing their Pen men were his also, see Act. 4. 25.  David's Psalms; yet were 
c Contra quam Enthymius praefat. in Psalt.  not all the Psalms in it composed by David; but some of them 
d Psal. 90.  by Moses, some 
e Psal. 〈◊〉.  by Heman, some 
f Psal. 89.  by Ethan, some 
g Psal. 137.  by others. This Psalm, as 
i Sicut & Psal. 50. & 73. & 74. & 75. & 76. & 77. & 78.  diusers others, uncertain, whither written 
h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel Asaphi, vel Asapho. Vise Drus. obseru. lib. 5. cap. 3. sic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 72. & 127. quod alij Solomonis, alij pro Solomone.  by or for Asaph: the Hebrew will bear either.  
But being certain, that it was indicted 
k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 2. Tim. 3. 15.  by the Spirit of God (our Saviour himself 
l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. joh. 10. 36.  alleging part of it giveth express testimony thereunto) 
m Quis haec scripserit, supervacuè quaeritur, cum autor scripti Spiritus sanctus fideliter credatur. Greg. Rom. praefat. moral. c. 1.  we need not stand to discuss by what or whose pen it was written. 
n Regis epistolis acceptis, quo calamo scriptae sint, ridiculum est quaerere. Ibid.  When letters or mandates are known to come from the King and to be signed with the Kings own hand, it is needless to inquire either by what Secretary they were drawn, or with what quill his name was subscribed.  
The matter of the Psalm doth mainly and principally concern Magistrates: Which to make the more effectual, 
o Vers. 1.  God himself is produced here sitting on the bench, said to be 
p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  his, amids the judges termed 
q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  Gods; tam praeses quam praesens, not as present only with them in place, but as Precedent in power; and by virtue of that power of his parlying and expostulating with them; and that  
1. 
r Vers. 2.  by way of reprehension; rebuking them sharply, and taking them up roundly, for their unjust and corrupt carriages in matter of judicature.  
2. 
s Vers. 3. 4.  By way of admonition, inciting them to the due and diligent performance of their office, and discharge of their duty in the upright and unpartial administration and execution of justice.  
3. 
t Vers. 5.  By way of admiration; as wondering at their sottish and senseless behaviour; that, though 
u Terra statumina dimoventur.  the pillars of the whole State, and their own seats withal were shaken under them, partly through their own misgovernment, and partly also through the just judgement of God upon it; yet they would not see it and take notice of it, to amend what was amiss; but go on still wilfully in their corrupt courses, till all came to confusion.  
Now because such great men might peradventure allege for themselves that 
x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 58. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Diotogen. Pythag. de regno apud Stob. tom. 2. c. 46. Sine dubio D●… terrenu●… est Imperator. Paulus. Diac. in Theodor. & Principes instar Deorum. Tacit. annal. l. 2.  judges (as 
y Leyfield.  some expound the Psalmist) are Gods upon earth: yea that 
z Exod. 22. 8, 9, 28. cum Act. 23. 5. Aug. quaest. E●…od. 86. Sed & Levit. 24. 15. si Drusium audimus miscel. l. 2. cap. 65.  God himself hath so styled them, he hath said himself as much of them: and therefore 
a Quod ●…ovi, hoc R●…gi licet. Lyc●… apud Sen. H●…rc. fur. act. 2. sc. 2. Quod & à Clyti cade A●…xarchus Alexandr●… adulat●…, ut Plut. ad perfect. indoct. Sic Persi●… R●…gibus licere quicquid liberet, à Magis responsum Cam●…isi relatum: Her●…t. lib. 3. M●…mento ●…ihi omnia & in omnes licere. Caius apud Sret. c. 29. Et Iulia incesta Bassian●… apud Spartian●…: Si licet licet. A●… nesci●… t●… Imperatore●… esse, & leges d●…re non accipere. jezabel altera 1. Reg. 21. 7.  they may do what they li●…t 
b Culpas i●…hic redarguere pres●…mit mortalium 〈◊〉. de Papa Bonifac. dist. 40. Papa ●…emo a●…deat dicere, Domine, c●…r 〈◊〉 fac●…? Gloss. ad e●…tr. de concess. pr●…nd. neque 〈◊〉 legi Papa subi●…cet ulli. Ostiens. de office Lega●…  without check or control.  
This the Spirit of God here meeteth withal and maketh answer to, partly 
c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, ut jun. parall. l. 1. c. 77. verse. 6.  by way of concession, and partly 
d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse. 7.  by way of correction: as if he had said: True it is indeed; I have said it; and I still grant it; ye are by office and commission Gods, and Gods sons and Heirs as it were in some part of his power. But yet neither doth this exempt you from your native condition of frailty and mortality; nor deprive or abridge God of his authority and soueraignti●…, which he hath in part so imparted to you above others, as yet 
e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. de reg●…o. R●… 〈◊〉 in proprios greges: Reg●…s in ipsos 〈◊〉 jovis est. H●…rat. 〈◊〉. lib. 3. 〈◊〉 1.  he retaineth over you and them still: That which you shall one day find and feel, when you that are now above others, shall die as well as others, even 
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adam pro homine pleb●…io, ubi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vt●… Psal. 49. 2. & 62. 9  as other ordinary me●… do, and 
g Sicut vn●…s (aliorum) princip●…. ●…orum scil. de quibu●… Psal. 89. 9, 10, 11.  as others of your own rank have done before you; and you that now judge others, shall be judged with others, coming 
h Post mortem iudicium. Heb. 11. 26.  after death to give up your accounts unto him.  
In 
i Vers. 9  the last verse is the conclusion of the Psalm; (as the Preface was in the first verse) wherein the Psalmist by an Apostrophe turneth his speech: and, whereas before he spoke in the person of God unto Rulers, he now leaveth them, as little hoping to prevail ought with them; so bend especially as 
k Vers. 5.  then they were (
l Drant on Eccles. 11. 1.  It is in the reformation of a State, as in flaying of a beast, the matter sticketh most when it cometh to the heads:) And he speaketh now in his own person, or in the person of the poor and oppressed, whom he had 
m Vers. 4.  before mentioned, concerning them unto God: Entreating him, whose 
n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scuta terr●…. i. protectiones. ●…un. Psal. 47. 9  the Shields of the world are, and 
o Psal. 2. 8.  whose Inheritance the whole world is, 
p Psal. 10. 14.  to take the matter into his own hand, and 
q Psal. 146. 7.  to execute justice himself for those that sustain wrong, as well on those by whom they are wronged, as on those that refuse to do them right.  
And thus much both for the General sum of the Psalms, and the principal parts of it; which might easily be minced out into many more particulars: But because 
r Aequè c●…nfusa est divisi●… & ni●…ia & nulla. Senec. epist. 89. Itaque in parts divid●… utile est, non in 〈◊〉 concidi (vel comminui 〈◊〉) ●…d.  multiplicity of division, as one well observeth, breedeth but confusion; this for the present shall suffice.  
Now to leave the rest of the Psalmists discourse either of, or with these earthly Gods and Governors; in the three last verses, which my purpose is principally to insist on, we may consider according to the former analysis and resolution of them, these two parts;  

1. 
s Vers. 6, 7.  A parley with them: and,  
2. 
t Vers. 8.  An Appeal from them.   
In the former the special points observable, may be referred to two Heads;  

1. 
u Vers. 6.  The dignity and eminency of Rulers and Magistrates above others, in regard of their divine constitution;  
2. 
x Vers. 7.  The frailty, misery and mortality common to them with others, in regard of their humane condition.   
For the former of these: The dignity and excellency, 
* Vise justin. 〈◊〉. quaest. 14●….  as of Angels above other Creatures, so of Magistrates above other men, herein appeareth, in that the name of God himself is given unto either. To Angels, where the Psalmist saith of man. 
y Psal. 8. 5.  Thou hast made him little less than the Gods: that is, 
z Hebr. 2. 7. Et ●…ic Sept. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  than the Angels. And of Christ the son of God; 
a Psal. 97. 7.  Worship him, all ye Gods: that is, 
b Heb. 1. 6. Et sic Sept.▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  all ye Angels of God; as the Apostle himself expoundeth it.  
To Magistrates, where it is said: 
c Exod. 22. 8. & 21. 6.  He shall appear before the Gods: and, 
d Exod. 22. 2●…. Act. 23. 5.  Thou shalt not rail upon the Gods, nor revile the R●…ler of thy People. And, not to go far, as 
e Vers. 1.  before, where God is said to sit in judgement 
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  amids the Gods: so here, where he both avoweth the style, and extendeth it to all of them, what ever they be otherwise, good or bad, just or unjust, godly or godless; I have said it: Ye are all of you, both 
g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  Dij, Gods, and 
h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  filij Dei, sons of God: as the Heathen Poet calleth 
i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Ho●…er. passim. Et Plin. Paucgy●…. Necdum Imperator, 〈◊〉 Dei fili●… 〈◊〉.  Kings, Persons divinely descended; and the Heathen King speaking in his heathenish language, saith 
k Dan. 3. 25.  he saw in the furnace with those three servants of God that abode safe in the fire, 
l I●… sed pia s●…amma tunc pepercit. Prudent. stepi●…ā 6. Et quorum vestimenta non attigit, vincula consumpsit, ut uno codemque tempore & haberet flamma virtutem suam ad solatium, & non haberet ad tormentum. Oreg. mor. lib. 9 cap. 49. & dialog. lib. 3. cap. 18▪  which though it burst their bonds asunder, yet burned not their bodies, a fourth person 
m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sicut Apo●…. 1. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Like a son of man. W. May.  like a son of the Gods, that is like 
n Alexander Sacerdoti jovis filium ●…uncupāti: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. apophth.  some rare and excellent personage.  
Now if we ask the question, why Kings and Rulers are so termed; our Saviour himself will inform us, if we conceive him aright. 
o joh. 10. 35.  Si illos dixit Deos, 
p Sic vetus vulg. Vatabl. Leo I●…d. Erasm. Beza etc.  ad quos sermo Dei factus est: If he called them Gods, to whom the word of God came; or, was made, or, was. They were (saith our Saviour) called Gods, not, because 
q Sicut Angl. vecu●… tum communis tum Ge●…r.  the word of God was spoken to them: but 
r Sic Syr. Quia.  because the word of God came, or word for word, 
s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fuit. Syr. prout. & Ebr. joel. 1. 1. & jon. 1. 1.  was made unto them. Word by an Hebraisme is used commonly for charge, command, commission, or warrant. So 
t Deut 10. 4.  decem verba, God's ten words, for his ten precepts, or edicts. And, 
u Dan. 3. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uti joan. 10. 35. Syr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  verbum Regis, The King's word, that is, his command, was urgent. And 
x Ester. 3. 12, 15.  Queen Vashti refused to come, adverbum Regis, at the King's word, or command. And, 
y Ester. 3. 15. & 4. 3.  the Posts went out sped 
z Vel cum edicto, vel Rege 〈◊〉. Drus.  in or cum verbo Regis, with, or by the King's commission. As by the King's word than is meant the King's commission or warrant: so by God's word in our Saviour's speech may his charge, warrant or commission be well understood in the judgement of very 
a Vise Zanchium ad Hosh. 1. 1.  good Divines. And as it is said of 
b Hosh. 1. 1.  Hoshe, 
c jon. 1. 1.  jonas, 
d Luk. 3. 2.  john the Baptist and others, that the word of God came, or, 
e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  was made unto them, because they had special charge and commission from God for the performance of some Offices with the people of God: so 
f Frustra enim est Origen. qui ad Angelos detorquet, in Exod. ho●… 8. frustra etiam, quod ad totum genus humanum distendit idem in Rom. 3. de qu●… Aratus tamen v●…rè, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.— ad sanctos saltem universos, Iusti●…, cum Tryph. Tertull. ad Hermogen▪: & Hieron, ad Gal. 1. de quibus 2. Petr. 1. 3, 4. Et Sen. in Apocol. Pictate & institia principes Dij ●…iunt.  of Magistrates saith our Saviour that the word of God is made to them, because they have a special commission signed them from God, for the executing of a special place under him and from him.  
That Kings and Princes therefore are termed Gods and Sons of God, it is 
g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Eustath. Itaque quod H●…od. in Theogon. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉- Ho●…er. Iliad. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eustath. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Iust. quaest. orth. 142. O●… communitat●…m ipsi●… pot●…ntiam & potestatem Zanch de na●…. Dei. lib. 1. cap. 12. Non quod natura sint Dij, sed quod officium ●…orum sit ordinatio divina. Brent. in joam. 10  not in regard of nature or natural descent, but in regard of honour, authority and power conferred upon them from God. For, 
h Prou. 8. 15, 16.  By me, saith 
i P. 18. 23, 25.  the eternal Son of God by Solomon, do Kings reign, and Lords execute judgement: By me Princes rule and Nobles, even all the judges of the earth. They rule and reign all of them aut missi, aut permiss●…, Either 
k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  sent of him or 
l Pet. 2. 18. ●… judg. 3. 8. & 4. 2.  suffered by him: wrongful Usurpers by permission of him, rightful Governors by commission from him: by his providence the one, by his ordinance the other: For, 
m Rom. 1●…. 1.  there is no power but it is of God: and the powers that are, are ordained of God: saith the Apostle Paul of the one: And, 
n joan. 19 11.  Thou couldst have no power over me, were it not given thee of God: saith our Saviour himself of the other. 
o I●…de est Imperator, unde & homo antequam Imperator: inde potest as illi, unde & Spiritus Ter●…ull. apolog. Cuius 〈◊〉 homines 〈◊〉, buius iussu & Reg●…s constituunt●…r. Ir●…n, lib. 5. cap. 24.  Of him alone are their places, of whom are their persons, whatsoever their persons are▪ And 
p Potestas enim 〈◊〉 (etiam nocentin●…. Aug. de nat. bo●…i cap. 32.) à summa Dci potestate omnino datur. Idem cont. S●…cund. ●…. 10. Qui dat regnum caelorum solis pijs, regnum terrenum & pije & impijs, sicut ei placet, cui nihil injustè placet. Idem de civet. l. 5. c 21. A quo sunt omnes potestates, quamvis ab illo non sent omni●… voluntates. Ibid. c. 8. Legatur & Theoplryl. in Rom. 13.  the power it is his, howsoever they come by it, or howsoever they abuse it.  
Hence it is that the King's chair of estate is called God's Throne. 
q 1 Chron. 29. 23.  Solomon sat on the Throne of God as King in steed of David his Father. And the Bench of judges is called Gods Bench. 
r Vers. 1. inca●… Dei. jun.  God standeth in the Congregation, or assembly of God. And the judgement they execute is said to be God's judgement. 
s 2 Chron. 19 6. & Deut. 1. 17.  The judgement ye judge is not Man's, but Gods.  
Yea hence it is that Kings and Princes are termed Christi Domini, The Lords anointed: not Hebrews only, as Saul, though a bad one and one that feared not God; 
t 1. Sam. 24. 7.  He is, saith David, the Lords anointed; but even Heathens too, as Cyrus, though a pagan and one that knew not God; 
u Esay. 45. 1, 5.  Thus saith the Lord to Cyrus his anointed; I strengthen thee, though thou knowest not me. And not Christi Domi●…i, 
x 1 San. 12. 3. 2. Sam. 1. 14, 16.  the Lords anointed only, but Domini Christi, 
y 1 Cor. 8. 5. Christus Cherub. Ezech. 38. 14.  Lords anointed, or Gods anointed, if you will: as 
z Psal. 89. 20. 1 Sam. 10. 1.  anointed of God, so anointed, 
a Psal. 45. 6, 7. Esai. 61. 1. & 1. Reg. 19 15, 16. ungere sic sumitur.  that is, solemnly appointed to be Gods, though not by nature, yet by office, by deputation from God, as 
b Ego e●… omnibus mortalibus placui electusque sum, qui in terris divina vice fungerer. Sen. de ele●…. l. 1. c. 1. Sed & Eleutherlus Episc. Rom. Lucium nostratem Dei in regno suo Vicarium agn●…scit.  Deputies, Leifetenants and Vicegerents unto God.  
Neither is this an idle appellation only, titulus sine re, a naked title without truth, or a bare shadow without substance. 
c Aug. in Psal. 108.  Deus cum benedicit, faci●… quod dicit: God where he blesseth, he doth what he saith: where he imposeth a name, he imparteth withal what the name imposed doth import. As he hath given an eminent appellation unto them: so he hath conferred an eminent power and authority upon them, 
d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Diotog. de regno. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Ecp●…ā. tes Pythag. de regn●… apud Stob. tom. 2. c. 46. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Ag●…petus justiniano. Ind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diotogenes, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philippus Mac. d●…cit; quod Plin. in Panegyr. Aequata●… dijs potestatem.  a divine power representing and resembling his own sovereignty. He hath made them sacred and sovereign; he hath put his own sword, the sword of justice and judgement into their hands.  
The Magistrate is 
e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Rom. 13. 4.  Ensifer Dei, God's Sword-bearer: saith the Apostle: and that not to bear, or wear the sword for a show; (
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid.  for he hath it not for nought:) but to draw it out, and 
l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  to make use of it according to such directions as from God himself he hath received. 
m V●…s quibus rector maris atque terrae Ius dedit magnum necis at ●… 〈◊〉. Sen. Thyest. act. 3. sc. 3. Vit●… necisque gentibus arbiter datus. S●…noc. de clem. l. 1. c. 1.  He hath ius vita & necis, power of life and death, the most sovereign power that may be: the greatness whereof may hereby appear, in that 
n Non fit re●… homicidi●…, qui hominem occiderit, obedions potestati; 〈◊〉, nis●… fecerit, imperij deserti. quo●… tamen si sua sponte atque authoritate fecisset, in crimen effusi human●… sanguinis incidisset. Aug. de civet. l. 1. c. 26. Non enim ipse occidit, qui 〈◊〉 debet i●…benti; ●…icut admini●…ulum gladi●…e est utenti. Ibid. c. 21. Visatur Th●…. p. 2●… 2●…●…. 74. ●…. 3.  that being done in due sort at his appointment is good justice, which being done without him were no better then murder the highest degree of injustice, even to them that should deserve it.  
And thus you see summarily both the ground and reason of this Title; as also the great dignity and excellency that it importeth.  
The Use whereof concerneth either Rulers themselves, or others in regard of them.  
For the former: (Give, I beseech you, not me leave, but God leave, in whose place I stand here, as yourselves sit elsewhere, to put you in mind and admonish you of your duty to him:) Hath God himself conferred this great honour on you? 
o Apud Grat. 〈◊〉. ●…. dist. 81. c. 18. & Lucius c. 19 Et Bo●…fac. 8. in 6. d●…cret. l. 1. tit. 3. c. 15.  Non datur beneficium nisi propter officium: No benefice, saith the Canon, is bestowed upon any, but in regard of some office to be performed for it. Then as he hath honoured you, be you careful to honour him.  
It is a point of great Equity. For 
q Quid aequius, quid iustius, quam ut vos honoran●…em honor●…tis ipsi?  what can be juster or more equal, then that you should honour him again when he honoureth you, whom you stand bound to honour whether he thus honour you or no? yea what is more agreeable both to religion and reason, then 
r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Arist●…t. polit. l. 5. c. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Agapet. justin.  that they should honour him more than others, whom above others he hath honoured? 
s Cur qui in saeculo prim●… es, non in Christi familia pri. mus sis? Hieron. juliano. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Pietas optimus est Imperatoris cultus. Soz●…m. praefat. ad Theodos.  Why, saith he, shouldest not thou be a prime Scholar in Christ's school, that art a prime person in the State? Why should not you be more forward than others in advancing of God's glory, whom God hath in such glorious manner advanced above others?  
And on the other side 
t Quid iniquiu●…, quid indignius quam beneficio tanto mal●…cium rependere? jerem: 18. 20.  what can be more unworthy or unequal, then for you to repay God again with evil for good, for so high an honour, for so great a good? where consider (I beseech you) in the fear of God, what a fearful thing it is, when it falleth out as it did in jeremy's time. I will get me to the great ones: saith the Prophet, when he could not prevail with the poorer sort of the common people: they (I am sure, though the other be foolish and sottish;) know the way of the Lord, and the judgement of their God: But how found he them affected? But they have wholly shaken off the yoke, and broken the bonds: not unlike those of the same rank, 
u jerem: 5. 5.  that say in the Psalm, 
x Psal: 2. 3.  Let us break his bands asunder, and cast his cords away from us. The greatest men were the greatest Rebels; 
y Vt divitijs, s●…c vitijs primi ●…uere. Salvia●…. de provide. l. 7.  as foremost in wealth and worship, so forwardest in wickedness. And remember withal, as that of the Wiseman, that 
z Potentes potenter tormenta patientur. Sap. 6. 7. Leviusque ferit leviora Deus. Sen. Hippol. act 4.  Mighty men shall be mightily punished: so that also of the Centurists, that 
* Ingentia bene●…cia, ingentia flagitia, ingentia supplicia. Cent. 5. praefat.  Extraordinary blessings seconded with extraordinary sins will at length draw down extraordinary judgements.  

a Interest hominis Deo cedere. Tertul. apolog. Dijs te minorem quod geris, imperas; Hinc omne principium, huc refer exitum. Horat. carm. l. 3. ode 6. Sic enim omnibus maio●… est, dum solo vero Deo minor est. Tertull. ad Scapul. Ideò magnus est, quia coelo minor est. Idem apolog. Tudelubra non nisi adoraturus intras: tibi maximus honor excubare pro templis, postibusque pratexi. Sic fit ut Dei sum●…um inter homines fastigium serves, cum Deorum ipse non adeptus. Plin. Pane. adoptes Lips.  It is a point of good Policy. For, 
b 1 Sam. 2. 30.  Honorantes me honorabo; Those that honour me, saith God to Eli, them will I honour. And, 
c Psal. 75. 6.  Promotion cometh neither from 
d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Pompeius' Syllae, non Cinnae, ut Eras. chil. 3. c●…nt. 3. adag. 15. test. Plut. Et Macroni Tiberius; Occidentem ab ●…o deseri, Orientem spectari. Tacit. annal. l. 6. Ezech. 8. 16. Eccles. 4. 15.  the East, nor from the West, nor yet from the South, 
e Eccles. 1. 6.  where the warm Sunshine is: but God is the sovereign judge that setteth up and pulleth down. It is God that maketh Gods and that unmaketh them at his pleasure: it is he, 
f Dan. 2. 21.  qui Reges deponit, regna disponit, that deposeth Kings and disposeth Crowns, and much more than other inferior places and powers. From him it is that you have them; by him it is that you hold them. 
* Qui dedit hoc hodiè, cras, si volet, a●…feret: ut si Detulerit fasces, indigno detrahet idem. Horat. ep. 15. l. 1.  And as he hath given you this honour, so he can take it again from you. 
g Quod contulit immerentibus, tollit malè meritis. Quod illo dante fit nostrum, nobis superbientibus fit alien●…m. Aug. homil. 14.  What he hath conferred upon you without desert, he can for your evill-desert withdraw from you again: And not so only; but (as he justly may and usually doth) 
h Deus alia exaltat; alia submittit, nec molliter povit, sed exfastigio su●…●…ullas habitura reliquias iactat. Sen not. qu●…st. l. 3. Vt rebus laetis par sit mensura malorum. juvenal. sat. 10.  make your punishment proportionable to your former preeminence. For, 
i job. 12. 21. Psal. 107. 40. Sicut diffundi dicitur gratia Psal. 45. 2. profundi spiritus joel. 2. 28. & Act. 2. 17. cum 1. 5.  profundit contemptum super Principes; He poureth out contempt, saith the Spirit of God, upon Princes. 
k Mala. 2. 3.  He heaveth dirt and disgrace in his wrath with a full 
l Apoc. 16. 1.  vial in their faces, as with 
m 1 Sam. 16. 113.  a full horn in mercy, he had before heaped honour on their heads. Oh, think ye not therefore, because ye are by God himself termed Gods, that 
n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Aga●…t.  you are thereby discharged of your duty unto God. 
o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Diotogen. deregn●….  This honour conferred on you, tieth you straighter than others; it exacteth it in a larger measure of you then of others. 
p Ezra. 4. 14.  Who owe more duty to their Sovereign than those, that have been by him highest advanced? It is a foul imputation, and no small blemish for great Ones, not only to go beyond others in dishonouring of God, but to come short of others, yea not to outstrip others in seeking the glory of God, in doing their duty unto him; to be more slack, less frequent and fervent, 
q Deut. 17. 17, 18, 19, 20. Psal. 2. 11. & 22. 29. Ezech. 46. 1, 2, 9, 10.  in hearing, in reading, in prayer, in the general practice of piety, either wholly neglecting such offices and religious exercises, or so performing them, 
r Quomodò de Theod●…rico Sidone. epi. 1. lib. 1. sic Deum vener●…ri solitum, ut possi●… quivis animo ad vertere, quod 〈◊〉 istam pro consu●…tudine potius quam pro religione rev●…rentiam. Legatur & Aug. de t●…mp. 251.  out of customary fashion, more than out of religious regard, as if they graced God by doing some such service unto him, or as if God were beholden to them for vouchsafing to serve him: So that God may have just cause to complain of them, as 
s Esai. 1. 2, 3.  he doth by the Prophet, that he hath trained up sons, and advanced them to high place; and they either spurn and rebel against him, or at least take no notice of it to honour him again for it.  
And here, let me more particularly, 
t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 2 Cor. 5. 20.  as from God and in God's name, entreat you, to have a special regard of observing Gods Sabbaths. You that 
u Exod. 20. 10. Deut. 5. 14. Nehem. 10. 31. & 13. 16, 17, 18.  are to see them observed by others, ought not you much more to observe them yourselves? 
x Vita Principis censura est, eaque perpetua. ad hanc convertimur; ad hanc dirigimur. Plin. P●…negyr. ad Tra●…an. Itaque rectè facere Prin●…eps cives suos faciendo docet. Velleius hist. l. 2. Et contra, vitia principes non solùm ipsa concipiunt, sed etiam in civitatem infundunt: plusque exemplo quam peccato nocent. Cic. de leg. l. 3.- totus enim componitur orbis Regis ad exemplum; nec sic inflectere sensus Humanes edicta valent, quam vita regentis. Clau: de 4. Coss. Honor. Rex velit honesta, nemo non eadem volet. Sen. Thyest. act. 2. sc. 1.  Your carriage is a kind of censure: that all men fix their eyes upon, that most men shape their courses by. If others then shall see you riding in your circuits on the Sabbath, will not they think within themselves? And why may not I as well ride on the Sabbath to a Fair, as the judge may to the place of Assize? If they shall be warned to appear before you for some hearing by themselves, or by their Counsel upon the Sabbath, will they not be ready to argue from the works of your calling, to the works of their own? And why may not I as well be about my work as they about theirs? And in truth (to speak plainly as the thing itself is) why may not a Smith as well work at the forge, or an Husbandman at the plough, as 
y Causas die D●…minico vel audire vel agere prohibent, apud Grat. Adrian. pp. c. 15. q. 4. Item Conc. Ephesin. Et Conc. Tarracon. can. 4. Item Conc. Matiscon. 2. c. 1. & Su●…ss. c. 5, & 8. & Conc. ad Compend. c. 2. apud Burchard. decr. l. 2. c. 81, 82, 85, 87. Sed & Con●…. Tribur, cap. 5. apud Cr●…spet. in Sum. Visatur & Aug. de temp. 251.  a judge sit to hear civil causes on the Sabbath? The one hindereth the sanctification of it as well as the other.  
And if it be alleged that the one is (as before was proved indeed) more specially 
z Deut. 1. 17. 2 Chron. 19 6.  Gods work. So were the repairing of a Church, which yet the Mason or Plumber may not work about on the Sabbath; no more than Besaleel or Aholiab might about the work of the Tabernacle, 
* Exod. 31. 2, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15. de quo rectè exponit Bound illud Exod. 35. 2, 3. quo ignis per Sabbatum accendi prohibetur: quod tamen defornacibus calcarijs etc. 〈◊〉 intelligit; Bradshaw ad tempus commorationis in cremo restringit.  for the furtherance whereof, God would not admit or give way to the least violating of his Sabbath. But I leave this to your grave and discreet consideration. You are wise and reverend: and a word with the wise is sufficient. I forbear therefore to press this further, & pass on to an other branch not much unlike this.  
In the next place then. Are you Gods in regard of your eminent places? 
a Grandis ●…onos; sed grave pond●… i●…tius est honor●…. Greg. Rom. in E●…ang. hom. 26.  It is a great honour indeed; but it is a weighty charge that this honour layeth on you. It is most equal that those that are termed Gods, should in their courses and carriage most resemble him whose name they bear.  
They perform but evil Offices, that buzz into great men's heads, that they may be borne with, though they do oft otherwise then they ought; because 
b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Isocr. ad Nicocl.  they have stronger temptations than others, and fewer means of restraint; they have wind and tide against them, and therefore, as the manner of those is that row on the river, they must be allowed the benefit of the bank. For 
c Quibus omnia principum honest●… atque inhonesta laudare mos est. Tacit. annal. l. ●…. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Adulator Antig●…no in Plut. apoph●…h. Indigna digna 〈◊〉 sun's qu●… rexfacit. Plaut. cap. 2. 1  they are too plain and palpable that instruct them to confound 
d Vndè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hesiod●… dicti, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Eust●…▪ ad I●…iad. ●…. In summa fortuna id aequi●… quod 〈◊〉. Tiridates apud Tacit. a●…al. l. 15.  might with right, and 
e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Thrasymach●… apud Plat. de rep●…b. l. 1. Id esse i●… quod ●…i qui plus potest vtilc est. Aug. de ci●…it. l. 19 c. 21.  goodness with gainefulnesse; that 
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉 apud Thu●…yd. l. 6. Nihil glori●…sum nisi tutum: & omnia retinend●… domination●… honesta esse. Lepidu●… apud Sallust. Itaque omnia recta & honesta negligant, dum modò potentiam 〈◊〉. Cic. office l. 3.  teach them to measure all things by the crooked metwand of their private profit or pleasure: as also those that listen to such Instructors, and 
g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Dion Chrys. serm. 62.  that follow such advice; taking occasion to live disorderly and to deal injuriously by the privilege of their place, because none may compel them to do otherwise or dare control them when they so do; as 
h saccti●…, pietas, fides priua●…a bona sunt: quâ l●…bet, reges ●…ant. Sen. Thyest. 2. 1. V●…icunque tantum honesta dominanti licent, Precario regnatur. Ibid.  if looseness and licentiousness were the proper fruit of greatness, and 
i Sceptror●…m vis tota perit, si pendere iusta Incipit. Lucan. l. 8. Id esse reg●…i maxim●… pign●… putant, Si quicquid aliis non licet, solis lice●…. Sen. Agam. 2. 2. Magnitudi●…ē fortuna sua peccand●… libidine 〈◊〉, quicquid liberet pro licit●… vindicans. de julia Vellei●…. l. 2. Impunè quid libe●… facere, id esse Regem esse. Memmi●… apud S●…lust. Ing●…rth.  sovereignty consisted in nothing else but in giving great ones liberty to live as they listed.  

k In maxima fortuna 〈◊〉 est li●…. C●…sar. apud Sallust. Quanto plus liceat, tam libe●…t minus. Auson. 7. Sap.  Rather the higher their places are, the less liberty is left them: Not in regard of God only: because (as before) 
l Minimum debet libere, cui nimium licet. Sen. Troad. Magna 〈◊〉 est magna fortuna. Sen. ad Polyb. c. 26. ●… Luk 12. 48.  where he hath conferred much. there he expecteth the more: And, as he said sometime of Christians, so may we well say of great Ones; 
m Salvia●… de provide. l. 4.  Ideò deteriores estis, quia meliores esse debetis: Therefore are they worse than others, if they be but as bad only, because they ought to be better.  
Or in regard of men, of others: because they are in the eye of the world, and all men's eyes are on them. 
n Math. 5. 14. Tu 〈◊〉 totius medio 〈◊〉 in ●…rbe V●…ere cognosc●…: c●…nctis tua gentibus esse facta p●…lam: n●…c posse darir●…galibus unquam 〈◊〉 vitijs: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f●…ti occ●…ltum nihil esse sini●…, 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 Intrat, & 〈◊〉 explorat fama recess●…▪ Claud. de 4. Coss. Honour. Observ●…ntur a turba circumstante ●…culi 〈◊〉▪ liberiora omnia sunt his, quorum affect●… tegi possunt. 〈◊〉 nullum secre●…um iber●… est: in multa l●…ce fort●…na te posuit. Sen. ad Polyb. cap. 25.  A city, saith our Saviour, set on an hill cannot be hid. A blemish on the eye or the face is sooner seen then on any other part of the body. 
o 〈◊〉 omne regi●… vitium domus. Sen. Agam. 2. 1. Omn●… a●…imi vitium tanto conspecti●… 〈◊〉 s●… Crimen 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 maior qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉 sat. 8.  Faults are sooner espied in great Ones then in others: and 
p Qui d●…missi in obscuro vitam agunt, si quid deliquere, pauci sciunt; fama atque fortuna eorum pares sunt. Qui magno imperio prediti, in excels●… atatem agunt, eorum facta cuncti mortales novere. Sallust. ad Caesar. Ad 〈◊〉 ●…culos, auresque trahis: ●…ua facta ●…tamus: Nec vox missa potest Principis ●…re tegi. P●…do ●…d Liv. Nostros motus pauci sentiunt; tib●… non magis quam soli latere contingit multa circa t●… lux est: omnii●… in ist●… convers●…●…culi sunt. facta dictaque vestrae rum●…r excipit: Et ide●… nullis magis c●…endū est, quale fam●… habeant, quam qui qualemcunque mer●…rint, magnam habituri sint. Sen. de cle●…. l. 1. c. 8.  not their principal actions and affections only; but even the least & the lightest things, every look & gate and gesture is in them eyed & regarded.  
But even in regard of themselves too; what for danger, what for dignity.  
What for danger, I say. Because their places as they are loafty, so they are 
q Psal. 73. 15. Confrag●…sa in fastigi●… dig●… itatis vi●… est. n●…n in prer●…pto tantum illic s●…abis, s●…d in lubrico. S●…n. Ep. 84. Aul●… culmen lubricum. Se●…. Thyest. Lubric●… esse secundum apud reges l●…cum, Pius 2. apud Pla●…tinam. Sed & regum. In grad●…●…lto immi●…et & maior cade●…di facilitas, & l●…sionis in cadendo gra●… 〈◊〉. Rob. Grosthed epist. 65. Qu●… excess●… videntur, 〈◊〉 sunt. Sen. de tranq c. 10.  slippery. 
r qui nim●…o 〈◊〉 hon●…res, Et nimi●…s poscebat opes; numerosa parabat excels●… turris 〈◊〉, undè altior esset Casu●…, & impulsae praecepsimm●… 〈◊〉. juven. sa●…. 10. Quid Crass●…s, quid Pompeios everti●…?- Summu●… nempe locus nulla non 〈◊〉 petit●…. Ibid. Scitè itaqu●… de Themist. Pallad. an●…hol. 4. 52. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  Many a man's advancement hath been his utter-overthrow. 
s Ipsa al●…itudo att●… summ●…. Macenas in Prometh. i. attonit●… habet. Sen. Epist. 19  Even height itself maketh men's brains to swim. And, 
t Nunqu●…m solido stetit superba faelici●…as. 〈◊〉 apud Sen. sv●…sor. 2. Elatio 〈◊〉, d●… extollit. Greg. mo●…. l. 23. c. 16. Et allevati●… ipsa ruina est. Idem l 1. epist. 5. Cito ignominia ●…it superb. gloria. p. Syr. 9  Insolency saith the Heathen man, never sat long sure. Examples are too too rise. 
u Quantum ad successum access●…rit, ad ●…tum (ad c●…telam saltem) accedat. Sen. Ep. 19  They had need therefore tread more warily that ride the ridge of an hill, than those that travel on foot below in the plain. Otherwise as 
x H●…ili loco sed certa sedet sordid●… 〈◊〉 fortuna domu●…: Al●…è 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…dit. Sen. Herc. fur. 1. 2. Quicquid in altum fortuna tulit, Ruitur●…levat. 〈◊〉 rebus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est. Nec insulsè Author ocu●… mor. c. 12. Pr●…positioni qu●…t accidunt? 〈◊〉. Quid? Casus tantùm. Qu●…t Casus? Du●…. Qui? Accusativ●… & Ablativ●…. H●…c onim pr●…latum 〈◊〉 timere; seil. accusari à crimine, & ●…uferri à regimine, & sit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  they are more in danger of falling; so 
y Quant●… 〈◊〉 altior, 〈◊〉 casus gravior. ●…cul. mor. c. 12. Qui cadit in plano; vix hoc 〈◊〉 eve●…it unquam; Sic c●…dit ut 〈◊〉 surgere possit 〈◊〉. At miser Elpenor tecto delaps●… ab alt●…, 〈◊〉 regi ●…bilis vmbras●…. Ovid. trist. l. 3. ●…l. 4.- c●…lsae 〈◊〉 graui●…re ●…asu Decid●…t turre●…. H●…rat. 〈◊〉. l. 2. ●…d. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 missa r●…nt. Ouid. trist.  the higher the place is, the heavier will their fall be, and 
z 〈◊〉. 73. 〈◊〉▪  the more ●…earefully will they come down, if they do fall.  
What for dignity: that they may not disgrace themselves and their places. For 
a lic 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉▪ ad Polyb. cap. 2●…. 〈◊〉 ●…cent, propter hoc ipsum multa no●… licent. Ibid. Quam multa tibi non licent, quae ●…obis beneficio tuo lice●…t? Idem de clement. l. 1. c. 8.  many things may beseem mean men, that will not beseem great Ones. God, as 
b 1 Sam. 10 9  he gave Saul a new heart; so he required of him a new carriage, when he called him to be a King. 
c Gen. 14. 22, 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Amic●… c●…mitanti de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spolijs per terram sparsis. Plut. Themist.  A meaner man may stoop and take up that without note, that Themistocles himself may not. And an other man, and a good man too, might have received of the King of Sodom, having done him that service that Abraham did, that which 
c Gen. 14. 22, 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Amic●… c●…mitanti de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spolijs per terram sparsis. Plut. Themist.  Abraham yet would not accept. 
d Nehem. 7 10, 11  When Shemaiah one of Sanballats' consorts would cunningly have persuaded Nehemie to take Sanctuary in God's Temple for the saving of his life; Should such an one as I am, saith Nehemie, fly? Who is he, being as I am, that to save his life, would betake himself to the Temple? For my part, I will never do it. As if he had said; Though it might well enough beseem some other private person in the like case, thus to withdraw himself for fear; yet being as I am, it standeth not either with my duty, or with the dignity of my place so to do.  
And surely as any blemish is sooner seen in the face or in the eye, then in any other part of the body beside: so 
e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. P●…ndar. ad Hieron. Pyth. ode. 1. Magna in oculo reputatur macula, quae in caeteris mentris modica, aut etiam nulla ●…ēseretur. Author. ocul. mor. cap. 12. propr. 7.  that is no small bleamish there, that would seem but small were it elsewhere: yea that is a sore eyesore oft in the eye, that in the hand or the heel or any other limb less eminent, would be little or no disgrace at all. 
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. precept. polit.  A wart or a freckle there is more than a scar or a main where it may be. As any defect in great persons is sooner espied and more eyed, then in other inferior ones: so that is a great fault in great ones, that were not so great in meaner ones; that is unseemly in the other that might well enough beseem the other; and that is ugly in the one, that were but unseemly in the other. For 
g Monstrosa res est, gradus summus & animus inf●…mus, sedes prins●… & vita ima. Bern. d●… c●…nsid. l. 2.  an high seat and a base mind, a principal place and a vulgar carriage, is a thing not unsightly and unseemly only, but even ugly and abominable, saith one of the Ancients.  
Great-men may easily be entreated to take notice of the eminency of their places, for the claiming of Offices of respect and regard from others their Inferiors: Happy were it for them, could they as readily be induced seriously to consider of it for the exacting of wise and wary, discreet and seemly carriage from themselves, that they might not by their unadvised and undiscreet carriage, or by any base and unbeseeming course, bring the least aspersion upon either their persons or their places: If they could and would say to themselves, when they are either by others solicited, or of themselves inwardly moved to do aught, yea though it be not simply evil of itself, yet that it is such as will not stand with their honour, and with the honour of their places, as Nehemie before, 
h Nehem. 6. 12.  Should such an one as I fly? so, should such an one as I am, receive gifts from 
i 2 King 5. 16, 26.  Naaman, 
k Non a cipio sturi●…m, nisi receperis preti●…. Galfrid. Carnot. Et Martinus Episcopo qui equum ei nec●…ssariū attulerat, Tolle eq●…um, decepistim●…; nesciebam uegoti●… tibi imminere Bern de consider. lib. 4. Scelus est accipere a reo: quanto magis ab accusatore? quam etiam sceleratius ab v●…reque? Cic. Verr. 4. Ne donum munusve Proconsul accipiat. Sever. & Antonin. apud Vipian. D. l. 1. t. 16. l. 6.  take bribes of such as have business before me, or with me, either by myself or by my servants? Should such an one as I am abuse my power and my place, to gild over a rotten post, or to shore up an Alesigne; or to make those that live near me, serviceable to me for fear of worse usage otherwise? Should such an one as I am give countenance to lewd and loose persons, or help to bolster and bear them out in their bad and base courses? Do such things beseem those that have the style of Gods by God given them? Or 
l▪ Duns proximus ille est; Quem rati●…, ●…ē●…ra movet, ius●… ique tenorem Flectere non odium cog●…t, non gratia svadet. Claud. de Mallij Consul.  doth it beseem such to be transported with choler, to be corrupted with favour, to be terrified with threats, to be puffed up with pride; to be greedy of base gain, to be earthly minded, yea or to be ambitiously affected; 
m Ludu●… iocus saevi●…ia & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Caio Calig. Sveto c. 29, 32.  to make a mock of men's miseries, 
n Summum ius summam crucem antiqui putarunt. Columel. l. 1.  to pursue things to extremity, 
o Amos. 5. 11, 12.  to trample upon the oppressed, 
p Nehem. 5. 15.  to suffer their servants and Officers to tyrannize over God's poor people? etc. Do these things beseem those who as by God they are 
q Osores averitiae. Exod. 18. 21.  called Gods, so should in their whole carriage of all others, come nearest him, whose name they bear.  
Happy, I say, were it for Great-men, could they with themselves thus weigh well and seriously 
r Nec tibi quid liceat, sed quid fecisse decebit, Occurrat, mentemque d●…met respectus h●…nesti. Claud. d●… 4. Honor. Consul. Quid deceat vos, non quantum liceat vobis spectare debetis. Cicer. pro Rab●…r. Vbi est sapientia 〈◊〉? In hoc, ut non solum quid possit, sed etiam quid debeat ponderet, nec quantum 〈◊〉, memi●…erit solum, sed & quatenus commissum sit. Ibid. Id facere 〈◊〉 est quod d●…cet, non quod licet. S●…. octav. 2. 2.  consider, what might stand not with the might of their power, but with the majesty of their places: and abhorring all such base and unworthy courses as may any way disparage them, endeavour so to resemble him in their whole carriage, whose person they represent, that those that see and observe them, as they cannot but be seen and are as sure to be observed, may truly say of them, as the Apostle speaketh in an other case, 
s 1 Cor. 14. 25. Princeps Dijs 〈◊〉, & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Pli●…. panegyr.  Certè Deus est in vobis; Surely God is in these men: They are not unworthily termed gods and Sons of God, that in all their courses carry themselves so like unto him.  
And on the other side wretched and thrice-accursed are they, if their carriage be not correspondent to this their divine title: if they be, as 
t Legatur Plinij Panegyr. Traian●… d●…ctus.  those Roman Emperors, sometimes were, Gods in name, but Devils rather indeed. For as he saith of ungodly Christians, so is it no less true of unworthy Rulers: 
u Salvian. de provide. l. 4.  Reatus impij est pium nomen; The Godlike style maketh their guilt the greater, that are Godless in their lives: that are any thing indeed and truth rather than that, which the divine appellation imposed on them implieth.  
And this for the general course of your lives; now further for your special carriage in your particular places.  
Are you Gods then? And hath 
x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Author. orthod q●…aest. ap●…d justin. q. 142.  God, saith one of the Ancients, imparted as his style, so his power and his place unto you? 
y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid.  Then judge ye, as God himself would judge. How is that? may some say.  
I answer: First advisedly, not rashly. For 
z Quod de ignorantia Aug. de civet. l. 22. c. 6.  Temerit as judicis calamitas innocentis: The judge's temereity is the guiltless persons calamity. And, 
a Aug. de temp. serm. 236.  Praeiudicium non est iudicium, sed vitium; Rash judgement is no judgement but misiudgement, saith Augustine. And 
b Ad paenitend ●…m properat, ci●…o qui iudicat. P. Syrus. Consil●…orum c●…leritatem c●…rem paenitentiam, sed eam seram & i●…lē sequi. Aetolus apud Livium. l. 31.  an overhasty sentence causeth hasty repentance, if not a worse matter. It was 
c 2 Sam. 1●…. 2, 3, 4. & 19 26, 27, 29.  David's case in Mephisosheths' cause, as it was 
d 1 Sam. 24. 10.  Saul's before in David's cause: and that left upon record, as other slips of God's Saints; 
e Vt ruina ma●…orum sit cautela minorum. Greg. mor. l. 33. c. 15. Facilitas credulitatis callidissima v●…lpecula, c●…ius m●…gnorū nemi●…ē comperi sat●… cavisse versutias. Ind innocentium frequens addictio, inde praeiudicium in absentes. Bern. de consider. l. 4. Quid miramur si, ●…allimur, qui homines sumus, cum D●…id spiritum prophetiae haber●… soli●…us, contra innocentem sententiam pronunciavit, cum mentientis verba audivit. Greg. dialog. lib. 1. cap. 4.  to the end that their tripping might make others, that come after them, 
f Cautum debet reddere, non sequacem error 〈◊〉. Cassiod. variar. l. 7. epist. 2.  the more wary.  
To this purpose God himself prescribing these his Deputies what course to take in such cases, willeth them not only 
g Deut. 1. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Menand.  to hear ere they judge indifferently, but 
h Deut. 13. 14, 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Cheraem. apud Stob. tom 2. c. 44.  to sift and search and make diligent enquiry, for the discovery of the truth and the bolting out of it, ere they proceed to censure or to sentence.  
Yea 
i Bern▪ de consider.  ita gessit, uti iussit; this course as by precept he commandeth them, so by his own practice he further commendeth unto them. To omit 
k Gen. 3. 9— 14.  the enquiry made by him about Adam and Eve's act; and 
l Gen. 4. 9, 10.  his questioning with Cain about the murder of Abel: 
m Gen. 18. 20. 21.  When the cry of Sodomes' sin was come up to him into heaven, I will go down, ●…aith he, and see whither they have done according to the cry, that is come up unto me, or no. 
n Omnipot●…ns Dominus, omnia sciens, cur ante probatienem quasi dubitat, nisi ut grauita●…is nobis exemplium propond●…, ne mala hominum ante 〈◊〉 credere quam probare? Greg. mor. l. 19 c. 23. & Eucher. in Gen. l. 2. c. 28.  God almighty that knoweth all things, before proof made seemeth to doubt of something▪ for what eause, but to give us an example of gravity, not to be light of belief in conceiving evil of others▪ before we see things plainly proved. For 
o Quam vis vera sint quaedam, non tamen iudici facilè 〈◊〉▪ nisi▪ 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 demonstrentur. 〈◊〉. homil. 50. Legatur Chrysost. in Gen. hom. 42.  though many things may be true; yet ought not a judge to give credit to them till he see evident proof made of them. And it is no evil rule here, that as Lex quemque pessimum fore praesumat; The Law should suspect that every man may be corrupted; and therefore leave as little as may be to the discretion of any▪ so I●…dex optimu quemque esse praeiudi●…et, that A judge should suppose every man to be guiltless and innocent; and so esteem of him. 
* Inauditi enim , it, haud aequus suit. Senec. Med. 2. 2.  till the contrary upon discussion of his cause be discovered.  
Secondly, 
p Deut. 1. 16, 17.  justly and uprightly; without respect of persons for favour, friendship or other sinister respects. Such is God's judgement. 
q Psalm. 119. 75.  I know, ò Lord, that thy judgements are just. And, 
r Psal. 92. 15. Deut. 32. 4.  God is just, and there is no iniquity with him. And such therefore also should yours be: As jehosaphat telleth the judges of his time in giving them their charge: 
s 2 Chron. 19 7.  Take heed that you do justly with an upright heart: For there is no iniquity with the Lord your God, nor respect of persons, nor receiving of bribes.  
Remember you that your seats are 
t Psal. 122. 5.  seats of judgement, of justice. And it is an evil of all others most foul and most fearful, 
u Eccles. 3. 16. cu●… inde manant iniuri●…, v●…de iur●… su●…rentur. Petr. Rl●…s. epist. 68  when oppression is found in the place of judgement, and iniquity sitteth in the seat of justice: 
x Eccles. 10. 5.  when a wrong sentence proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth and should do right.  

y Elementum in loco non 〈◊〉. ex●…ra 〈◊〉 grave fit.  The Elements weigh not heavy when they are in their own place, as they do when they are out of them, in the room of some other element. A man that diveth under water, perceiveth not the weight of it, though he have a whole tun of water over his head: whereas were there but half an hogshead of the same water put into some vessel, and set above water on his head, he were by no means able to stand under the weight of it.  
In like manner 
z Psal. 41. 9 & 55. 12, 13, 14, 20.  is vice or sin nothing so offensive, while it is in its own sea, as when it is in the seat of the contrary virtue. For a man to be coosoned by some cheating Companion, some shifting Mate that liveth, as we say, by his wits, we are wont to make no great matter of it; He hath put a trick upon me; and I am well enough served: I had little reason to look for other at his hands. But for a man to be over reached by one that he hath trade and traffic with, and professeth to deal honestly and uprightly with him, that we can not so well brook or bear; we look for square dealing at the hands of such, and to have monies-worth for our money.  
So here for a man to be robbed by the highway-side, or to have his pocket or purse picked by a common Diver or Pickpurse, it is nothing so grievous: there is wrong and robery in his own proper subject. But for the judge that sitteth in the seat of justice to wring or wrong the party that sueth to him for right: to be as the bush, or the bramble (it is the Prophet 
a Mica. 7. 4.  Michaes comparison) that teareth the fleece from the sheep, that flieth to it for succour and shelter against the storm: yea worse than bush or bramble, in stripping not the fleece only from the skin, but 
b Mica. 3. 1, 2, 3.  the skin also from the flesh, and the flesh from the bone; and so 
c Quid est aliud omnium dignita●… sublimium quam proscripti●… civitatum? aut quid aliud qu●…rundam prafectura quam praeda? nulla siquidem maior est popul●…rum dep●…latio quam potestas. Salviam de provide. l. 4.  praying upon those, whom they ought to protect, worse than those, against whom they ought to protect them: for judges and their Officers or Followers to be Partners and Sharers with thieves and Murderers: (it is the Prophet 
d Esai. 1. 23.  Esaies' complaint:) When courses of law and justice are so perverted and corrupted, that (as 
e Piu●… 2. teste Platina.  one of the Popes sometime said, and it is no other similitude than the Prophet 
f jerem. 5. 26, 27.  jeremy long before him used:) 
g Litigatores aves forum aream, iudicem 〈◊〉, patronos 〈◊〉.  The Suitors are as Foules, the Pleaders as Foulers, the Court the Floor or the Plate, and the judge the Net: When 
h 〈◊〉 pr●…varicatur & decipit. Cyprian ad Donat. Publicae ●…ercis nihil tam v●…le q●…am advocat●…m perfidi●…. Ta●…it. annal. lib. 11.  the Counsellor treacherously betrayeth his Client's cause, whom he hath undertaken to defend; and 
i  the judge setteth his doom and sentence to sale; and he that sitteth to reform sin, committeth sin there himself; he that is called to redress wrong, doth wrong there himself, and that to those that repair to him for right; and 
* 〈◊〉 & seve●…è P. Syru●…; I●…dex damn●…r, c●…m noce●…s absolvitur. Quanto 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 cum ●…citur?  maketh himself guilty by condemning the guiltless: 
k E●…dem loc●… pone la●…ronem & p●…ratam, quo r●…gem animum latronis & pira●…ae 〈◊〉. S●…n. de been f. l. 2. c. 19 R●…mota enim iustitia quid sunt r●…gna nisi magna latrocinia? Aug. de civet. l. 4 c. 4. Et de iniquo iudice, iudicijsque i●…iustis ●…dem dixeris; esse illum latrone de●…eriorem, haec latroci●…ijs gemina, vel eisdem etiam d●…teriora.  This it is of all other most grievous and intolerable; because here is now injustice and iniquity in the room of justice and equity: Which as it maketh the transgression of such the more heinous here, so shall it cause their condemnation to be most hideous hereafter.  
Thirdly, as justly and uprightly, so boldly with confidence and courage: favoribus incorrupti, pavoribus interriti; as not led aside with favour, so not forced aside with fear. Else as Temerit as iudicis, so, Timidit as iudicis calamit as innocentis: as the judge's temereity, so the judge's timidity may prove the Innocents' calamity: as it was in poor Naboths' case. And therefore jethro adviseth Moses to choose out men as uncorrupt, so 
m Exod. 18. 21.  of courage to make judges and Rulers.  
Remember to this purpose and to encourage you herein, what Moses telleth them there in giving 
l 1 King. 21.  them their charge: 
n Deut. 1. 17.  Fear not any man's face: for the judgement is Gods. Ye are not the King's judges, but 
o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Rom. 13. 4, 6.  God's judges; at least your judgement it is his: as the Ministers of the word, though they be 
p Act. 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5.  called by men, and 
q Rom. 15. 8, 16.  minister to man; yet 
r Colos. 4. 17.  their ministry it is Gods, and they are 
s 1 Cor. 4. 1. 2 Cor. 3. 6. & 6. 4. & 11. 13.  Ministers not of man but of God.  
And what followeth hence? Surely if your judgement be Gods, and you judge according to God, God he will undoubtedly bear you out in it. So doth jehoshaphat assure those that he called to that office: 
t 2 Chron. 19 6.  Take heed how you judge: for you execute the judgement not of man but of God: and he will be with you. He will never be wanting to his own ordinance, nor fail to back and bear out those that duly execute it.  
See you do right therefore, because God is righteous: and therefore fear not to do it, because it is his will you should do it. 
u 2 Sam 13. 28.  Smite him, saith Absolom to his servants of his brother Ammon, and slay him; and fear not: have not I bidden you? be bold therefore. So smite you the wicked, as their wicked courses shall require: smite them, I say, and fear not: hath not God bidden you? be bold then. Absolom could not secure them: God is able to secure you: yea as 
x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Math. 28. 14.  the high Priests promised the Soldiers, though it was more than they could make good; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. He will secure you: Do you your duty, and you shall not need to take further care for it. 
y 2 Chron. 19 6.  The Lord will be with you: saith jehosaphat: as to assist you, so to protect you. As he hearteneth joshua: 
z josh. 1. 9, 5.  Have not I bidden thee? be strong and courageous: fear not, nor quail not; for I the Lord will be with thee: as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; I will never leave thee, nor fail thee. And 
a Rom. 8. 31.  if God be with you, as the Apostle speaketh, who can be against you? If 
b Act. 18. 9, 10.  God be with Paul, no man shall be able to lay hand on him to hurt him. If 
c 〈◊〉. 1. 18, 19  God be with jeremy, though Prince and Priests and people band all together against him, yet shall he stand firm like an iron pillar, like a brazen bulwark against them: they shall never be able to hurt him that God guardeth.  
Whereas on the other side, if to please men you shall displease God, shrinking and swar●…ing from the rules that he hath prescribed you, and for fear of man's face deal unfaithfully, in the execution of that office that he hath imposed upon you: 
*  by stepping aside to shun danger, you shall but plunge yourselves into greater danger. As the Proverb hath it: 
d Qui ti●…ent pru●…, irruet sup●…r e●…s nix. job. 6. 16. 〈◊〉 Drus prou●…. 1. cent. 2. prou. 2.  He that fears the frost shall be overwhelmed with the snow. 
e Pruiva i●…rius g●…atur; ●…ix de su●… ruit. qui i●… terram 〈◊〉 contra v●…ritatem pavet, eiusdem veritatis iram 〈◊〉 su●…tinet. qui conculcanda in infimis metuunt, à summis metuenda patiuntur. & cum transire ●…nt, quod caleare poterant, iudicium de supernis accersunt, quod tolerare nequaq●…am possunt. Greg. m●…r. l. 8. c. 12.  While you ●…eare the frost of man's anger that lieth under your feet and might easily be overcome; you shall be overwhelmed with the snow of the divine vengeance, that descendeth from heaven and cannot therefore be avoided. 
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, ut Lucian. Necyom●…t. ●…umum fugientes in flammam incidunt.  While you fly the smoke of man's displeasure, you shall fall into the 
1 Deut. ●…2. 22.  flaming fire of God's wrath, that burneth even to the bottom of hell.  

g Prou. 29. 25.  Trepidus homo ponit tendiculam sibi: The fearful man, saith Solomon, setteth a s●…are for himself. And it is in this case verified that the Prophets have, and 
i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  the jews use as a byword. 
h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esai. 24. 17, 18. jer. 48. 43.  He that flieth from the noise of fear, falleth into a pit, and he that getteth up out of the pit, is caught in the snare. We may well apply it with some transposition to the present occasion. When matters are to be heard before you, and some great-man's letters come, whom the one party hath some interest in, here if you be fearful of doing your duty, your fear setteth a snare for you, and if for fear of offending him you decline from the right, while you fly from the noise of a false fear, you fall into a true snare: or while you seek to shun one snare, you fall into another, a worse snare: while you seek to shun the snare of man's offence which you might easily have wound yourselves out of again, yea 
k Psal. 124. 7.  God would have broken for you and set you free from; 
l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Apostolius. Fugi●…ns pluviam incidit in lacunam. Drus. l. 1. cent. 1. prou. 36.  you fall into the pit of God's heavy indignation, out of which it is questionable whither ever you get up again or no.  
In a word; it is a sin for any man to fear man more than God, and for fear of man to do aught that may displease him: but it is much more a foul shame for those that are termed Gods to fear any but God, and out of fear to fail in the doing of that duty, which with courage and confidence God hath called them to execute.  
Fourthly and lastly, severely where God himself (were he present) would show severity, and hath willed severity to be shown. As ye have just cause to 
m Neque enim debet dispensat●…r crudelis esse, ubi paterfamilias misericors est. August. alicubi.  take heed how ye deal rigorously, where God would have lenity and clemency used, as 
n 2 Sam. 21. 2.  Saul with the Gibeonites, 
* Parvis peccatis ven●…am, magnis severitatem commodare, nec p●…na semp●…r, sed 〈◊〉 paenitenti●… contentus esse. Tacit. Agricol.  in lesser and slighter slips 
o Dat veniam c●…rvis, vexat censura columbas. juven. sat. 1.  with silly weak ones, in simplicity and infirmity overtaken rather, then offending out of malice and wilful contempt: that were as the Prophet speaketh, 
p Amos. 5. 7. & 6. 12.  to turn judgement into gall: 
q Etiam nocentes 〈◊〉 supra meritum manifesta iniquttas est. In quantum enim punitio excedit del●…ctum; in tantū●…tia punit●… Rob. Gr●…thed▪ 〈◊〉. 4●….  It is as well a point of injustice above desert to punish the guilty, as it is without desert, to punish those that be wholly guiltless.  
So have ye no less cause to beware, lest, as 
r 1 S●…m. 15. 9  ●…ul with Agag, you spare there, where God would have you severe. 
s Deut. 13. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16.  Thine eye, saith he, shall not spare them, that the Lord thy God may spare thee: neither shalt thou show any mercy unto them, that God may show mercy unto thee. 
t Prou. 17. 15. Aequ●… iniquitas est, non punire nocentes, & punire innocentes. Grosthed ibid. Non eris innocens, si aut punias eum cui parcendum esset, aut parc●… ei qui fuerat puni●…ndus. Bern. de consider. l. 2.  It is alike injustice not to punish the guilty, (as the quality of the crimes committed by them shall require,) and to punish the guiltless.  

u ●… adsit Regula peccatis qua 〈◊〉 irroget aequas: Ne 〈◊〉 dignum horribili sectere slagello, Aut ferula caedas meritum m●…iora sub●…re verbera.- Horat. serm. lib. 1. sat. 3.  A discreet hand therefore is to be held of you in the administration of justice, and in the sentencing and censuring of Transgressor's and Offenders. You must remember that you are sent by God as 
x Deut. 25. 2, 3.  with a rod for some, so 
z Rom. 13. 4.  with a sword for others, 
y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 1 Pet. 2. 14.  to take vengeance on malefactors. And therefore you fulfil not your charge, you discharge not your trust, if you put not the power which to that purpose he hath given you in practice: And 
a Vnde punitur, si fecerit iniussus inde punietur, nisi fecerit iussus. Quod si ita est iubente imperatore; quanto magis iubente cr●…atore, cuiu●…●…on est f●… iussa contemnere? Aug. de civet. ●…. 1. c. 26.  you shall answer for it with your own souls, as Ahab; not only, 
b 1 King. 21. 19  if you slay Naboth, but 
c 1 King. 20. 42.  if you slay not Benhadad. If you let murderers, and Masse-preists soule-murtherers, & other like malefactors escape, whom God hath committed into your hands, 
d Naeista vobis mansuet●…do & misericordia in miseri●… vertet. Cato apud Sallust. in Catiline. Misericordia in pernici●… c●…sura est Memmi●… apud 〈◊〉 jugurth. videte ut profit illis ignosci▪ quos ad panam Deus ipse d●…it. Quod ad me attin●…t, non sum crudeli●…●… sed v●…reor: ne quod 〈◊〉, patiar. Petron. satire. Itaque hîc tenet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apud S●…ob. 〈◊〉. 2. c. 9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  your lives shall go for theirs, you shall answer it with your own lives for the saving of their lives.  
Yea, you shall not only bring that curse upon yourselves, that 
e jer. 48. 10.  the Prophet denounceth against that man that doth the work of God negligently, that with▪ holdeth his sword from shedding of blood when God calleth him thereunto: But, like either fearful or unfaithful Physicians, who by sparing an ounce or two of corrupt blood, that were better out then in, infect and taint all the rest, and so endanger the whole body; 
p Qui feri●…ndi petestatem habet, solus in culpa est, si culpa non feritur qua ferienda est, & ●…o imp●…tu quo ferienda vel potius fulminanda est. Bern. Epist▪ 23●…. Si ●…st 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 steterit, verendum est ●…e status ip●… sit casus v●…ster, d●… quicquid mali adiecerit, non illi iam s●…d vobis merit●… i●…tabitur. Ibid.  you shall bring upon yourselves the guilt of all such villainies as such desperate wretches shall by your preposterous and 
q Malorum omnium prima matter incuria▪ impunitas incuria s●…les, insolenci●… matter, r●…dix impudentiae, n●…trix viti●…rum. Bern. de consider. l. 3. Impunit●… a●…sum parit, 〈◊〉 excess●…. Ibid. l. 4.  pernicious lenity and impunity either survive or 
r Sicut est misericordia s●…viens, sic & crudelit●… parcens, Aug. Ep 54. Pernicios●… misericors, ubi se●… esse debuer●…. Bern. de temp. 94.  be encouraged to commit; yea and the wrath of God at length also upon the whole state, which by such means you shall cause to be totally defiled therewith. For 
s N●…. 35. 33.  the whole land, saith the Holy Ghost, is polluted with blood, and with the like enormous crimes, and cannot be purged again but by the blood of those that shed blood, and by the condign punishment of such as commit such crimes.  
In a word: as you bear the name of Gods, so let your conversation and courses, your carriage both general and special be Godlike, correspondent to this great and glorious title given you of God: that you may not be as he said sometime of the Heathen Philosophers and their writings, like Apothecary's pots, 
t Qu●…rum tituli habent remedia, py●…ides venena. Lact. instit. l. 3. c. 15.  that have an inscription of some sovereign medicine without, when there is either nothing at all, or that which is worse than nothing, nothing but some rank poison within.  
Hitherto we have showed what this stately and lofty style of Gods given to Rulers by God himself requireth of them: let us now see what it exacteth of us that live under them. That which the Apostles tell us both Peter and Paul. If Magistrates be Gods, and their power and place be of God, then must 
u Rom. 13. 1.  every soul be subject to the higher power, 
x Rom. 13. 5.  not for fear of man's wrath but for conscience of God: Then 
y 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14.  submit yourselves you must to every humane ordinance for the Lords sake; be it unto the King as sovereign, or to Precedents and other inferior Governors, as those that be also sent of him.  
Where cometh justly to be taxed the intolerable pride of that 
a 2 Thes. 2. 3.  Man of sin, who not only 
b Lex Canonica simplicit●…r exemit Clericos 〈◊〉 in civilibus tum in criminalibus caus●…s, cui cedere debet lex Imperialis, cum possit Pontifex Imperatoribus iu●…ere in eyes qu●… ad Ecclesiae autoritatem spectant. Bellarm. de Cleric. lib. 1. c. 28. propos. 3. rat. 2.  exempteth himself and his Shavelings from all civil subjection; but even 
c Sic Alexand. 3. Friderici i. Imper. pede collum compressit. Philip. Bergom suppleus. an. 1160. Petr. justin. rerum Venet. lib. 2. & 〈◊〉. Masson. in Alex. 3. ●… Cae▪ le●… Henrici 6 Imper. capiti coronam pedibus imposuit, eisdemque denu●… dimovit▪ Roge●…. H●…den 〈◊〉 par. poster. in Rich. 1. & Ranulph. pol●…ebron. l. 1. c. 26.  trampleth upon the crowns of Kings, in most presumptuous manner, 
d 2 Thes. 2. 4.  advancing himself above all that is called God, and carrying himself as God, yea 
e V●…s nobis à Deo 〈◊〉 estis: inquit Constantinus Episcopos ●…llocutus. Ni●…ol. pp. apud Grat. dist. 96. ex Ruffin▪ hist. lib. 1. c. 2. Episcopi ergò sunt Dij. Adrian apud Nauclorum l. 2. At Pontif●… Rom. est Episcop●…. Episcop●…rum: Ergò & Deus Deorum. Marsil. defence. pac●… pa●…●…. c. 2●….  making himself a God of Gods; as out of Pope Nicolas his grounds, faith Marsilius of Milan, his own Canonists well collect.  
The Ancient Fathers were not acquainted with this divinity of the Pope's Deity, they were utterly ignorant of it. 
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, ●… hominem à Deo secundum, solo Deo minorem. Tortull ad Scapul.  We worship the Emperor, saith Tertullian, as a man that is God's second, or next to God, inferior to none but to God alone. 
g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  That these things are enjoined not secular men only, saith Chrysostome, but even Priests and Monks also, the Apostle showeth evidently when he saith, Let every soul be subject to the higher power. 
h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  Be thou Apostle, or Evangelist, or Prophet, or whatsoever thou be'st else, 
i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  thou must not only obey them, but even be subject unto them. And Bernard, though he lived but in a bad and corrupt age, writing to a great Bishop; 
k Si omnis anima, etiam vefi●…a. quis vos excepit ab universitate? Qui tentat excipere, conatur decipere. Bern. ad Henric. Sen●…nens. epist. 42.  If every soul must be subject to the higher power, than yours also among the rest. For who hath given you an exemption from this general injunction? He that endeavoureth to exempt you, doth but seek to delude you.  
In a word to apply a speech of Optatus spoken of him by that insolent Schismatic Donatus to the present proud Romish Prelate; 
l Cum supra Imperatorem non sit nisi Deus qui fecit Imperatorem; dum s●… Donatus super Imperatorem extollit, iam quasi hominum excesserat m●…tas, non verendo cum qui post Deum ab hominibus timebatur. Optatus advers. Parmen. l. 3.  Since above the Emperor there is none but God that created him; (and not the Pope then, as 
m Caelestinus facto superius relat●… designavit, quod Papa potestatem habet creandi Imperatorem etc. Polychron. l. 7. c. 26. Ind Distich. Templi Lateran. vestibulo inscriptu●…; Re●… homo ●…it Pap●…, s●…it quo dan●…e coronam. Et Stanis●…. Oric●…ou. in Canfess. Cathol. Qui Regem anteponit Sacerdoti, i●… anteponit creaturam Creat●…ri.  they say:) the Pope advancing himself above the Emperor, goeth beyond humane bounds, and carrieth himself not as man but as God, in not reverencing him who of men is to be feared next after God.  
But to leave that Antichrist to his transcendent not eminency but insolency: we are admonished, when Kings and Governors are by God termed Gods, so to account them as God calleth them, and accordingly to carry ourselves in our demeanour toward them: to obey and be subject, as one saith, 
n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Basil. Bonis tanquam Deo; malis propter Deum.  unto good Rulers as God, bad Rulers for God; or rather, 
o T●… bonis quam malis. & tanquam Deo & propter Deum.  to both good and bad as well as God as for God. And herein is the true difference between the religious and the irreligious subject, that 
p jer. 44. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. P●…rpuram colentes, non Deum. Themist●… apud Socratem hist. lib. 3. ●…. 25.  the one worshippeth God for man, 
q 1 Pet. 2. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  the other obeyeth man for God.  
Yea not only are we to take heed of rising against them, and laying of violent hands on them. For 
r 1 Sam. 26. 9  Who can lay his hand on the Lords anointed, and be guiltless? 
s Qui insurgit in Christum Domini, insurgit in Dominum Christi. Psal. 2. 1.  Who so riseth against the Lords anointed, ariseth against the Lord himself by whom he is anointed. 
t Rom. 13. 2.  Who so resisteth the higher power, resisteth Gods own Ordinance: and those that so do, procure destruction to themselves: Or of offering the least outward disgrace unto them. 
u 1 Sam. 24 6.  It stuck shrewdly in David's stomach, and troubled his tender conscience not a little, that he had snipped away but a little shred of the skirt of Saul's coat: But also 
x Eccles. 10. 20.  how we do even but in secret speak evil of them, or in heart only wish evil to them: Since God, 
y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. add perfect. indoct. D●… enim imaginem l●…a. b●…t Rex, sicut Christi Episcopus. Aug. vet. Test. quest. ●…5.  whose person they represent, and 
z Principes enim Dei vices gerunt. Strigel. ad 1. Paral. 29. 23.  whose place they here supply, hath threatened both to disclose it, and to be avenged on us for it. He hath given them his own name, and 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.- Theocrit. idyll. 17. 1 Nuncupatiuè, non essentialiter Greg. in Ezech. lib. 1. hom. 3.  he will severely revenge whatsoever injury or indignity is done unto them, even as done unto himself.  
Hitherto we have considered of the dignity, eminency and excellency of Princes and Rulers in regard of their place and divine constitution: Now a word or two withal of the latter branch, concerning their frailty, misery and mortality in regard of their natural estate and humane condition.  
Prince's therefore and judges, though they be Gods 1 by name, yet are they not so by nature. It is not 
a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 68 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psalm. 83. 18. ratio utriusque Exod. 3. 14.  jah or jehovah a name of Essence, but 
b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 n●…men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 potestatis sive potentat●…s, sicut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 potentia.  E●…h or Elohim a name of Office that is given them. It is not true of them that they say of the Pope, 
* Mutatio nominis, mutatio hominis. Gloss. ad Proam. 61. Decretal.  The man changes when his name changeth: as if the change of the name bred a change of their nature. 
c 〈◊〉 adhuc quod eras: & non minus ho●… as, quam quod factus e●… post, f●…rte & magis. illud natus es. ●… mutatus hoc, non in hoc mutatus. non reiect●… illud, sed istud adiect●…. Bern. de consid. l. 2.  It is is not their place that can alter their persons: nor their divine constitution that can strip them of their native condition. Though they sit above others, yet 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Eurip. Archel●… apud Stob. c. 45.  must they die as others. Though they may live like Gods, yet must they die like men, even as other ordinary men are wont to do.  
We need go no further than experience for the proof of this point. For 
d Psal. 49. 10.  we see that wise men, and so great men, die as well as others. As 
e 2 Sam. 11. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Homer. Il. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. exaquat d●…os, Licet imp●…res si●…t, gladius.▪ Sen. Thob. act. 4.  the sword taketh away weak and strong indifferently: so 
f Certè aqua more est. Sen. Tr●…ad. act. 2. s●…. 3. Aequa leg●… necessitas sortitur in●… & 〈◊〉. Horat. Carm. l. 3. ●…de. 1. Pallid●… mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum taber●…, Reg●… turres. Ibid. 1. 4.  death sweepeth away great and small, high and low alike.  
And no marvel if it be so. For 
g Wisd. 7. 1, 2. Licet diversa sit dignitas, eadem tamen nascendi moriendique conditi●… est. Anton. apud Athanas.  they have all one and the same original; the like breeding and birth. They are all 
h Contra quam de regenitis 1 Pet. 1. 23.  bred not of incorruptible, but of corruptible seed: And therefore 
i Eccles. 3. 2.  have their time as of birth, so 
k Qu●… nata sunt, ●…a omnia 〈◊〉 aiunt. Cassius Homina annal. l. 2. apud Nondum. Quisquis ad vitam editur, ad mortem destinatur. Sen. ad Polyb. c. 30. Et cui n●…sci c●…igit, morir●…stat. Idem epist. 99 Moritur enim omne quod nascitur. Divinum autem id est, quod n●…c 〈◊〉 habet n●…c occasum. Minut. Octau.  of decay and of death.  
They are made of one mould: even great-men of the same metal that other men are. What is man, saith one of the Ancients, but 
l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Greg. Naz.  soul and soil? the one 
m Esai. 2. 22.  a puff of wind, and 
n Gen. 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Sept.  the other a pile of dust. What is he, but, as he said sometime of 
o Suillo pecori animam pro sale d●…tam, qua carn●…m serva●…t, ne putisceret. Varro dear rust. l. 2. c. 4. Cic. d●… nat. Deor. l. 2. & d●… 〈◊〉. l. 5. & Pli●…. hist. 〈◊〉. l. ●…. c. 51.  swine, a little 
p Car●… mor●…icina. Sen. epist. 52. putri●…. Idem ad Marciam. c. 11.  rotten flesh, that hath the soul given it as salt to preserve it from further putrefaction awhile, as the cerecloth doth the corpse deceased? And no other matter are the greatest or mightiest men made of. They are flesh, as others. 
q Nehem. 5. 5.  Our flesh, say the poor oppressed ones, is as the flesh of our brethren. And 
r Esai 40. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 24.  all flesh is grass, and all the glory of it as the flower of the field: 
s Psal. 90 6.  that in the morning is green and flourisheth, but ere evening is either cut down by the mower's hand, or decayeth and withereth of itself. They are earth, as others. 
t Psal. 2. 9  Earthen vessels, the Psalmist compareth them to. 
u Psal. 2. 10.  Earth they judge, and 
x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 10. 18.  earth they are. 
y August. de temp. 94.  judicani terra●… iudices terrae: They are earthen judges, saith▪ Augustine, that judge here upon earth. Nothing but 
z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 18. 27. Salubris capula, ut cogitans te summum pontificem, attendas pariter & vi●…ssimum cinerem non fuisse sed esse. Bern. de 〈◊〉▪ l. 2. N●…n pulver●…ū tantum sed ipsum pulverem. Partus ad Gen. 2. 7.  dust and ashes; as Abraham saith of himself.  
Again Great-men as they are made both for body and soul of the same matter that others are; so are their souls and bodies tied together with 
a Psal. 73. 4.  no firmer or stronger bands than other ordinary men's are. 
b Eccles. 8. 8. Nulli i●…sso cessare licet; Nulli scrip●…ū prefer di●…m. Sen. Here. fur. act. 1.  They have no more power over the Spirit in the day of death to detain it, than other ordinary men have. 
c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Apud L●…rtium Diogenes Perdicc●…m ●…rtē minit●…nti. Tu qui ●…e Deum credis successu aliquo tumens, quantulo serpentis 〈◊〉 dente p●…rire potes? Plin. 〈◊〉. nat. l. 7. c. 7.  Some little worm may do as much by them, as they can do to any man. 
d 〈◊〉 de Pont. R●…m. in Hadriam 4.  A fly or a gnat strangled that proud Pope our Countryman, that made the Emperor stoop to hold him his stirrup. And, I say not, a little fish-bone, 
e Sic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 Senator Rom. 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 h●…stu 〈◊〉 pilo strangulatu●… est. Plin. ibid. & Val. Max. l. 9 c. 14.  an hair, or a crumb of bread only going down the wrong way, may endanger, yea may choke and make an end of the mightiest Monarch in the world.  
They are subject to sickness as well as others; yea more usually than others, as being more crazy commonly than others are, more hardly bred than they. 
f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plus. de tranquil.  It is not a golden ring that can keep the finger from a fellow, nor a vel●…et ●…lipper that can fray away the gout, nor a crown or diadem, that can cure the headache, nor a purple robe that can free one from fevers. 
g Act. 12 23.  Sickness death's Pursuivant oft arresteth them, and death it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on them in the very place of 〈◊〉▪ where they pass sentence of life or death upon others, even as they are sitting on the Bench.  
They are subject to casualties as well as others. 
h Vitrei 〈◊〉; inter vari●…s cas●… 〈◊〉. Aug. de verb. Do●….  We are of a glassy 〈◊〉, saith one, and we walk amids many casualties. And 
i Eccles. 12. 6.  the p●…t▪ we say, goeth so oft to the well, that a●… length it cometh home broken. 
k Quem saepe ●…sit cas●…, aliquando in●…vit. P. Syrm.  He that misseth many of them, yet some one at length lighteth on, that maketh an end of him.  
And is it not so with Princes as well as others? Yes undoubtedly. They are subject to casualties as much as others. Yea 
l .  they are subject to casualties more than others their inferiors. They die not only as others, but ofttimes before others. 
m 〈◊〉 ipso pondere magna, Ceditque oneri fortuna 〈◊〉. Sen. Agam. 1. 2. Su●… & ipsa Roma viribus ruit. Horat. ●…pod. 16.  The massy metal sinketh, when 
n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pindar. pith. 〈◊〉. 2. 〈◊〉. Adspicis ut summa cort●…x l●…uis innat●…t unda; Cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉. 3. 4.  the cork and the reed swimmeth: the sturdy and stately 
o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid●…t ro●… frangi Sen. 〈◊〉▪  oak oft falleth or is felled, when the little and low hawthorn bush by it standeth still. They were safe enough that sat in the same caroche with him▪ when 
p H●… 4. Gall. ●….  that puissant Prince in the midst of his pomp and preparation for some extraordinary enterprise, was by the hand of a base Villain in butcherly manner with a knife stuck like a beast.  
They are liable lastly to God's judgement as well as others. Yea they are by him made examples oft 
r Num. 16. 29.  unto others. 
q Dan. 7. 9, 10, 11. Futuri 〈◊〉 praeiudicium. ut Tertull. apolog.  He preventeth the last judgement sometimes by sitting here upon such: and in the persons of some few beforehand showeth what all others that take their courses, must one day likewise come to.  
They die, said I, as other ordinary men usually do? Nay; they die otherwise then other ordinary men are wont to do. If these men, saith Moses, die the common death of all other men, or if they be visited in no other manner than all other men are; then the Lord hath not sent me. They die so that men know not what diseases they die of. And 
s Ad generum Cere●…ū sine caede & vulnere pauci Desce●…dunt Reges & ficca morte tyranni? juven. sat. Quota pars moritur tempore fati? Rarum est f●…lix idemque senex. Sen. Herc. fur. 2. 2.  few Kings or Tyrants, saith the Heathen man, die either in their beds, or a dry death: what for man's mischief and malice: As they are more eminent, so 
t Summa petit liv●…r: per●…ant altissima vent●… Sili●…●…ell. pun. l. 11. Nubibus ipsis inserta caput Turris pluvio v●…pulat austro. S●…n. Agam. 1, 2. Admota ●…therijs culmina sedibu●… E●…ros excipiunt, excipiunt Notos, Insan●… Bor●…ae min●…, Imbriferumque Corum. Idem Hippolito pol. 4. 2. Vt alta ventos semper excipiunt iuga; Imperia sic excelsa fortun●…●…biacent. Idem nec. 1. 1.  they are more eyed, more envied, more aimed at: and 
u ▪  any one is Lord of their life, that setteth light by his own life: And what again for the right dreadful and just 
x ▪  judgement of God; with whom the life of the mightiest Monarch i●… but as 
y .  a nip of his ●…aile: and he is terrible among these earthly Gods; as he 
z .  that can when he will, do as much, and doth oft, and 
* Math. 10. 28.  much more unto them, than they can do unto any of those that live under them.  
They die like men? nay (with reverence be that spoken, which the spirit of God himself speaketh) they die many of them like beasts. As abusing their power they live 
a Psal. 49. 12 20.  like beasts; and become in that regard 
b 〈◊〉 est comparari ●…mento quam nasci iumentum. Chrysost. in ascens Dom. tom. 3.  worse than beasts here: so through the just judgement of God, they die many times more like beasts than like men, 
c Psal. 49. 14.  like sheep, saith the Psalmist, dying in a ditch: as it was said of Pope Boniface, that 
d Intravit ut vulpes, regnavit ut lo, mortuu●… est ut 〈◊〉. Platin. & Stella. vit. Pont. & Math. W●…stmonast. l. 2.  he came in like a Fox, he ruled like a Lion, and died like a Dog: so 
e 2 Chron. 21. 15, 19  joram rotting away by piecemeal, till his very entrailes fall out: 
f jer. 22. 19  jehoiakim dragged and cast out like carrion, and 
g Asini sepultura s●…pelietur. vice Drus. in proverb. l. 1. cent. 1.  buried with the burial of an Ass: and 
h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Act. 12. 23. Agrippam Ioseph●… app●…llat legend●… antiq. l. 19 c. 7.  Herode eaten up with vermin, (as 
k .  others of his rank not a few) when but a little before he had been applauded and admired as 
i Act. 12. 22. Vox non hominis sed D●…i. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Ad 〈◊〉 ipse plaga affectus, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. jos. ibid.  a God. They so dye, that 
l 〈◊〉. 6●…. ●…5. I●…r. 29▪ 22.  they leave their names for a curse behind them after their death: 
m Psal. 83. 9, 11, 10.  Make them and their Princes like 
n judg. 7 25.  Oreb & Zeeb; or like 
o judg. 8. 21.  Zeba and Zalmanah, or like 
p judg. 4. 11, 21, 24.  jabin and Sisera: that perished at End●…r, and lay rotting there above ground unburied, like dung that lieth spread abroad on the surface of the earth.  
Yea that which is of all other most fearful; 
q Post greges ●…unt depravatione natur●…; 〈◊〉 & extremit●…te 〈◊〉. Bern. in Cant. 35.  as such are worse than beasts in their life; so shall they fare worse than beasts after death. For 
r Deus 〈◊〉 ration●…m non exiget, quibus rationem non d●…dit. Bern. ibid.  God will never demand a reason of them, whom with reason he hath not endued. The brute beasts shall never be called to any account. 
t Homin●… ad tremendum illud iudicium stare habent, non autem & pecud●…s. Bern. ibid.  There is no judgement for them that have no judgement themselves. But 
s Heb. 9 26.  it is appointed for all men, and among the rest then for great men, that once they must dye, and after that cometh judgement, which they must also come unto among others. 
u Luk. 16. 22, 23.  The Rich man's case in the Gospel, while he lived clad in purple, showeth great men what after death must become of them, which way they must go when they die, if they abuse their power while they live, if they be not 
x Prou. 19 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; Ag●…silaus. Plut. de laude sui. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Clem. paedag. l. 2. c. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Eustath. ad odyss. Hoc tantum caeteris maior, quo melior. Plin. paneg.  as well good as great. And as our Saviour saith of judas; 
y Math. 26. 24.  It had been much better for him had he never been borne: so may we well say of such, It had been much better for them, if they had never at all been; or if they could utterly cease to be. Better therefore by much shall it be with the beasts than with such. For 
z Non est dubium deterius fore his qui sie ●…runt, qua●… illis qui omni●… non ●…runt. Ber●…. in Cant. 35.  it must needs be far worse with those that so are as they shall be for ever, than with those that are not at all, that are now no more than if they had never been.  
A point of great importance, and that might prove of good use, had I longer time to insist on it, as well for others as for themselves.  
For themselves, for great ones. 
a 1 Tim. 6. 17.  Charge the rich men of this world, saith the Apostle to Timothy, that they be not highminded. And the great men of this world have as much need of the like charge (
b Vermis divit iarum superbia est. grandis est animus qui inter divitias isto morbo non tentatur. magn●… est dives, qui non id●… magnum se put at quia dives, Aug. de temp. 205. & 212. & homil. 13. & de verb. Dom. 5.  as riches, so 
c Contemptor animas & sup rbia commun●… nobilitatis malum. Sallust. ●…ug. Li●…et multos ●…ringat aduersi●…as, multo tamen pulr●…s extollit pr 〈◊〉 B●…rn▪ de ●…mp 52. In al●…o situm non alta sapere difficile est. Idem, epist. Magnae falicitatis est à 〈◊〉 non v●…ci. Aug. de v rb. Dom 13.  honours are wont so to transport men, and to make them forget themselves:) to look to it, and beware that they be not puffed up with pride in regard of their places; that they look not big on their brethren, though they sit above them; 
d Rom. 11. 21. & 12. 16. Al●…us sedens altum sapiens ne sis Bern. de consider. l. 2. Et Blesens. in Can▪ Epis●….  that they be not lofty minded, though they be seated aloft.  

e Deut. 17. 20.  He shall not lift himself up above his Brethren; saith God by Moses of the King himself. Though you be the firstborn, 
f Psal. 89. 27.  primogeniti, God hath given you 
g Gen. 4. 7. & 27. 29. & 49. 8.  the birthright, ius primogeniturae; yet are they still your brethren. You are 
h Rome 8. ●…9.  the firstborn, as he saith of our Saviour, but amongst many Brethren. 
* Act. 17. 26. Esa●…. 58. 7.  Both you and they are Adam's sons all, yea and Eues too, 
i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Chrysost: ad Rom. serm. 19 Omnes homines unius naturae partus sunt, intra eius iuxta concepti viscera, & uno foti atque effusi utero. Velut iure quodam germanitatis connex●…, ab uno patre conditi, & una ●…atre, tanquam fratres uterini, editi, Ambr. de Abr. l. 2. c. 6.  fratres germani, uterini, brethren on both sides, all by one and the same venture. 
k job. 31. 13.  Contemn them not therefore; but say as job saith, 
l job. 31. 15. Legatur Greg. mor. l. 21. c. 11.  Did not he he that made me in the womb, make them too? did he not fashion us both 
m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
n David Kimchi, & Merc. & Leo judae. Et Sept. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  in one womb? as some read it: or, did not 
o Vnus Hi●…r. idem: I●…: unus atque idem. Pisc.  one and the same person fashion us both in the womb? as others rather.  
Though you be now above them, yet 
p Quid Regi & misero common? Nasci & Mori. Epictetus' Hadriano.  there is no difference between you and them, either in birth or in death: you were both alike before death; you shall be both again alike after death: 
q Inter vallis distinguimur; exitu ●…quamur. S●…▪ ep. 99  It is but in the interim of this short life only, that you are somewhat in some things unlike. It is with men as with Counters: howsoever while the account lasteth, one standeth for a penny, and an other for a pound, yet are they all 
r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. quod alio sensu proverb●…aliter dicitur. Aequales calculi. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Phocylid.  Counters alike before and after the account, when they are together in the bag, aut in utero, aut in urna, 
s Aequat enim omnes ●…nis. impares (imò, par●…s) ●…ascimur, pares morimur▪ non distinguimur nisi dum sumu●…. Vbi ad finem mortalium ventum est, omnium siremps lex esto. Sen. epist. 91. Nescit natura discernere quando nascimur, nescit quando de●…icimus. omnes similes ereat, omnes simili gremio claudit sepulcr●…. nud●… fudit in lucem ●…●…dos recipit terra quos edidit. quis discernat species mortuorum? redoperi terram, & divites, si potes, deprehend. Ambr. de Nabuth. c. 1.  either in the womb, or in the tomb.  

t E●… quis e●…▪ sed noli oblivisci etiam quid fueris. opportunè cum eo quod es, etiam quod ante eras consideras. quid dico, eras; & ●…unc es. quid desi●…as intueri, quod non desistit esse? Vn●… consideratio quid fueris, & quid sis: nam quis sis factus, altera. non opertet ut illa extundat illam in scrutim●… tui. quid enim tibi horum videtur ad purum esse tui & ad te principal●…us pertinerae, quod factus, an quod natus. Bern. de consider. l. 2.  Consider therefore as well what you have been, as what you are, or rather what you continue still; even mortal 
u E●…ines, excellis, ut honour, ut potestas, qu●… super homines quidem, hominum sunt tamen. Pl●… panegyr.  men as well as others, and as much as ever; though you be now here termed Gods for a time, and carry yourselves accordingly. 
* 2 Cor. 4. 7.  We bear this precious treasure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in earthen vessels, saith the Apostle. As the 
x 2 Cor. 3. 8, 9 y Dan. 2. 37. 38.  ministry of the Gospel is a most glorious jewel: so is the Magistracy an exceeding rich gem. But it is no other than an earthen pot, though gilt and garnished, that both the one and the other is committed unto. Neither is it the gilt or the garnishing of it that maketh it the less brittle, or that hindereth but that soon it may, and once it must be broken as well as others. 
z H●…c ●…e consideratio teneat intrate, nec avolare sinat à te. Bern. de consid. l. 2. Erubescant ergò cordis elata supercilia; & qui se considerat i●…ter ortum & e●…itū communi 〈◊〉 cateris natu●…a lege constringi, desinat de sublimi●…ri gloriae singularit a●…e iactari. Pet●…. Dam●…ā ad Agneten.  So esteem therefore of yourselves in regard of others; so demean yourselves towards others; as being of the same mould and making that all other men are.  
Otherwise if you swell with pride in regard of your high places, contemn such as be beneath you, and forget your own frailty; hear your doom, ye Gods, from 
a Psal. 50. 1.  the God of Gods, as by the Psalmist here, so by the Prophet elsewhere. 
b Ezech. 28. 2, 6, 7, 8, 9  Thus saith the God jehovah: (he that is God by nature, as well as by name:) Because thine heart is lift up, and thou sayest, I am a God, and I sit in the seat of God; and 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Ath●…nienses Pompeio.  yet art thou but a man still, and not God, though thou takest it upon thee as if thou wert God: Therefore I will bring terrible ones upon thee, that shall draw their swords against thee, and shall spoil thy bravery, and shall cast thee down to the pit; and thou shalt dye the death of the slain, Wilt thou say then before him that slayeth thee, I am a God? But thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.  
Though you may a while with vain conceits soothe up yourselves, or suffer yourselves to be deluded by others; yet 
c Galat. 6. 7.  you cannot beguile God, 
d- decipe ner vos, st potes. P●…s. sat. ●…. Sic, Decipe mortem, si potes; decipe D●…um. Dic morti, Mortalis non sum. Imò, Qui cateris Deu●…, sibi certè homo est, velit, nolit: n●…c enim conscientiam decipit suam, si fallit ali●…nam. Min●…t. Octau.  you cannot deceive death. But as Alexander's 
e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Alexander saucius eis qui se Deum indigeta●…erant. Plut▪ apophth.  blood issuing from his wounded body, and the very 
f Cum represso sanguine sicci vulneris dolor cresceret, Omnes, inquit, iurant me lovis esse filium, sed vul●… hoc homin●… esse 〈◊〉 clamat. Sen. ep. 59 Se quidem l●…vis filium dici, sed corporis agri 〈◊〉 sentire. Cu●… l. ●….  grief of the wound, controlled too too plainly the gross flatteries of his pagan Priests and base Parasites, that vainly styled him a God: So death at least shall at last evidently and unanswerably, prove even to Princes and enforce them to confess, that though they be Gods by office and by divine deputation, yet they remain mortal men still; and therefore cannot, nor 
g Psal. 49. 19  shall not live for ever, but shall one day go the same way that all other men go, and that all their forefathers before them have gone.  
Let this Text be unto you, as 
h Fama est fictilib●…●…oenasse Agathoclea Regem, Atque abacum Samio saepe ●…nerasse lut●…. Quaerenti causam, respondit; Rex ego qui sum Sicaniae, figulo sumgenitore satus. Auson. epigram. 8 Vise Piut. in apophth.  Ag●…thocles the Sicilian his earthen plate, to remember you of your beginning and your birth: as 
i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. E pueris regijs quidam Philippo quot matutinis occinebat. Aelian. hist. var. l. 8. c. 15. Et Stob. cap. 19 Triumphantibus à tergo suggeritur, Respice post te, hominem. memento t●…. Tertull. apolog.  Philip the Macedonian his every mornings Monitor, his son Alexanderrs 
1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. Alexandro.  sleep, or 
2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antigonus in Plut. 〈◊〉.  Antigonus his sickness, to mind you of your end, of your mortality, of your death: that though you be Sons of the immortal God, yet you remain still but mortal men; therefore mortal, because men; Sons of Adam, yea and 
k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Geo. 3. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Hesych. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Agapet. ad justin. n. 3.  of Adamah too, as well as others: And as 
l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quid est Adam? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adam Abelo compar est. Psal. 144. 3, 4.  Adam is like Abel: so Abel is like Adam. 
m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ad●… totus Abel. Psal. 39 5. 11.  All the Sannes of Adam, even 
n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 62. 9  the greatest of them and the most glorious in their best estate are not all Abel only, that is, nothing but vanity, but even 
o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid.  less than Abel, that is, lighter than vanity itself.  
Let not the eminency, I say, of your high-places so transport you, as to blow your mortality out of your minds: But remember that 
p Psal. 9 20.  you are but men▪ that 
q Non 〈◊〉 ho●…ines se esse, quem hominibus praeesse m●…minerint. Plin. Panegyr.  as you rule men, so you are men yourselves; and therefore so live you as those that one day must die, as not exempt from the common condition of all Adam's offspring, from whom you come as well as others, and whom as well as others once you must follow.  
For others: Are Kings and Princes but mortal men, subject to death and dissolution? Oh 
r Es●… religiosus in Deum, qui vis illum propitium Imperatori. dis●…ne aliu●… De●… credere, at q●… it a & hunc De●… dicere, cousin Deo op●…s est. tanquam si hab●…s Imperatorem, alteri●… appelles, offensam maxim●… & inex●…rabilē contrahi●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, etiam ipsi ti●…endam, q●…em appellafti. Tertull. apolog.  then make not Gods of them: put not your trust in them; depend not upon them. It is no wise course, it is no safe course, neither for you, nor for them neither. 
s Psal. 146. 3.  Trust not in Princes, saith the Psalmist, nor in any son of Adam: For there is no surety of safety in or by any of them. 
t Esai. 20. 6. Qui aliis dicit dare sa salutem, sibi det. Aug. in Psal. 145.  They are not able to save themselves: and how then can they save others? Make not man therefore thy God. He is not able to lengthen thy life, that cannot prolong his own life, a minute longer than God giveth him leave.  

u Psal. 46. 1.  God is a sure stay, saith the Psalmist, 
x Psal. 18. 30. & 33. 22.  to all that trust in him, and 
y Psal. 9 10. Pro: 18. 10.  that betake themselves to him. But 
z Sunt infirma qu●…am refugia, quae cum quisque fugerit, magi●… infirmitur, qua●… confirmatur. Aug. in Psal. 45. Sun●… montes naufr●…gosi, quo navem quisque cu●… impulerit solvitur. jaen in joan. tract. 1.  there are, saith Augustine, some infirm and unsure stays, which when a man hath betaken himself unto, he is never a whit the surer, but more unsure oft then ever he was: they not only fail a man then, when they should stand him in most steed, but are themselves many times the means of his miscarrying.  
A man thinketh himself safe, if he can get into favour with the Prince; he shall be sure then to rise: or if he can compass the countenance of such a judge or such a great personage, he shall be able then to make his part good, and to go through with his suits against any adversary whatsoever. But what faith the Psalmist? 
a Psal. 146. 4.  His breath departeth, and he returneth to his dust: and then all his thoughts perish. This great-man that they depend upon is but a little 
b Gen. 2. 7.  air and dust tempered together. And while they live in hope of great matters by him, and he, it may be too, is purposing of great mat●…ers for them▪ cometh God and 
c Esai. 40. ●….  bloweth him away so dai●…ely with a blast of his breath; and 
d Na i●…le misirabilis, cuius in homine mertali spe●… omnis innititur. t●…tum enim eius auxilium cum extincto homine finitur. Minute. Octau.  then all his princely power perisheth together with him, and his projects they come all to nought.  
Yea oftentimes 
e Confugis ad aliquem in seculo magnum, ut facias tibi potentem amicum, refugium videtur. Tam incerta tamen hui●… seculi sunt, ruinae potentum tam crebr●…, ut postquam ad tale refugium confugeris, plus ibi timere incipias. Antea enim caus●… tu●… tantum timebas: cum verò ad talem refugeris, & de illo tibi timebis. Multi enim cadentibus illis ad quos confugerunt, & ipsi quas●…ti sunt, quos nemo qu●…reret, si●…on ad talia confugissent. Aug. in Psal. 45.  dependence upon such great ones, when they fall, proveth the ruin and break-neck of those that depend upon them or belong to them; who might have been safe enough otherwise, had they not sought to such succours: as the fall of a tall Cedar bruiseth the under-wood about it, that might have done well enough, had it stood further of it.  
It is with many an one in this case, 
* In Pelago periclitantim●…ns apparet: sed latent saxa sub monte. dum ad montem conatur, in saxa incidit, & invenit ibi non portum, sed planctu●… Idem in joan. 1.  as with the Seaman at sea, that surprised with a tempest, casteth about for some harbour, and espying a bay with high hills on either side, putteth in there hoping to find succour and relief, but striketh unawares on some rock or shelf that lay out of sight, and so is cast away irrecoverably in the harbour, whereas in the tempest it may be he might have done well enough; or as with a Passenger in a storm, that for shelter against the weather steppeth out of the way, betaketh him to a fair oak, standeth under the boughs of it with his back close to the body of it, and findeth good relief by it for some space of time, till at length cometh a sudden gust of wind that driveth down some main arm of it, which falling upon the poor Passenger, either maimeth or mischeifeth him that resorted to it for succour. So falleth it out with not a few: meeting in the world with many troubles and with manifold vexations, th●…y step aside out of their own way, yea and sometime too out of God's way, to get under the wing of some great one, and gain it may be, some aid and shelter thereby for a season: but after a while, that great one himself coming down headlong and falling from his former height of favour or honour, they are also called in question, and so fall by that means together with him, that might otherwise have stood long enough for their main estate untouched, if they had not betaken themselves to him.  
Let no man therefore trust to such unsure stays: let no man make any man his principal stay. 
f Psal. 1●…6. 5. jer. 17. 7.  Blessed is he that hath the true God for his stay: whose hope and happiness is fixed and founded wholly on him. But 
g jorem. 17. 6.  accursed is he that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm; and withdraweth his heart from God, by placing of man in the room of God. Let us take heed 
h Esai: 2. 22.  how we set by man more than is meet. Let us 
i Prou: 24. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 17.  reverence them in God, and God in them; but 
* Non tam propter Dominum, qu●… pro Domino venerari. Greg. mor. l. 24 c. 29.  not equalise them with God, nor prefer them before him. Let us beware how we offend God for the pleasing of them, or forbear our duty to him for fear of displeasing them. 
k jerem. 1. 18.  God is able to shield us against man: 
l Deut. 32. 39  Man is not able to shelter us against God.  
For both the one and the other. Seeing that all this glory, all these honours and things of this life must once have an end, 
m Finem aut tuum sunt habitura 〈◊〉 su●…m. Sen. quaest. nat. l. 3. Aut enim possidentēd serunt, aut à possidente deseruntur. Albin. in Eccles.  either we an end of them, or they an end of us; they can last no longer than this present life, which itself cannot last long: that therefore we 
n 1 Tim. 6. 19  lay all of us a good foundation here that we may lay hold of life eternal hereafter.  
How may that be done? The Apostles Peter and james tell us. By 
o 1 Pet. 1. 23, 24, 25.  being bred again not of corruptible, but of incorruptible seed, by the word of God that liveth and abideth for ever. For 
p Esai. 40. 6.  all flesh is grass; and all the glory of it but as the flower of the field: 
q jam 1. 10, 11.  The 
s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 2 Pet. 1. 4. 1 joh. 8. 51. & 11. 25, 26. Moriuntur viventes, & vivunt mori●…ntes. I C ●: Mali dum vivunt mortui sunt, iusti, 〈◊〉 moriuntur, etiam cum m●…rtui sunt, vivunt. Chrys st. ad pop. Ant. hom. 69.  grass withereth, and the flower fadeth away: But the word of God endureth for ever. By 
r jam. 1. 21.  receiving with meekness the word ingraffed into you, which is able to save your souls, and to make you partakers of the divine nature indeed.  
This if you do, then ● though you die, yet you shall not die, but you shall live even in death, and survive after death for ever: and as you rule by God in this world, so shall you reign with Christ eternally in the next world.   

AN APPEAL TO THE PRINCE OF PRINCE'S.  Vers. 8. Arise, o'God, judge thou the earth: for thou inheritest all Nations. 
WE have heard God hitherto parlying by the Psalmist with Princes, and partly 
a Vers. 2, 3, 4, 5.  controlling them for their corrupt carriage; partly 
b Vers. 6, 7.  admonishing them of their mortal condition, by means whereof they must one day die as well as other men, and with other men than come to an account; that which might alone serve to make them more wary, if nothing else would or could.  
Let us now hear the Psalmist 
c Vers. ●….  appealing from them unto God, and commending unto him the causes of such, as were either oppressed and wronged, or not righted by them.  
The whole verse being the conclusion of the Psalm consisteth of two parts:  
There is first an Appeal commenced by way of suit unto God; and that expressed in two Branches:  

1. Surge Deus; arise, o God: a metaphor taken from the common gesture of judges, whose usual manner is to 
d Exod. 1●… 13, 14.  sit while they are hearing of causes, 
e Esai. 2. 19 & 3. 13, 14. Si●… sta●…tem videt Stephanus Act. 7. 55. quem sedentem Marcus 16. 19 Greg. hom 29. non quasi causam dicentem, ut Aug. quaest. mixed. 88 sed quasi pro Stephano statim sententiam laturum, ut Psal. 76. 9  to arise and stand up when they come to give sentence.  
2. judica terram; judge thou the earth, or the Land: 
f Psal. 9 16.  do thou make thyself known and seen by executing justice thyself: do thou that that they will not do.   
There is secondly a reason, why this is required at his hands; because 
g Psal. 2. 8.  all Nations, these poor oppressed ones among the rest, are part of his portion, which it behooveth him therefore to take notice of, and to right them in their wrongs.  
Now in this practice of the Psalmist the first point that we observe is, that the highest Appeal is to God himself: As 
h Ad Dei verbum fit vl●…ima resolutio fidei. Camerac. ad 1. Sent. q. 1. a. 3. corol. 1. lit. H.  the utmost resolution of faith is into the word of God; so 
i Ad Dei tribunal sit ultima revolutio iustitiae.  the utmost revolution of justice is to God's Tribunal.  
Hence those forms of Appeal so frequent in Scripture. 
k Psal. 7. 8. & 26. 1. & 43. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Easil. 〈◊〉. Sept. Iudic●…m meum age. jun.  judica me, Domine: judge me, or, 
l Vindica me▪ ut Psal. 10. 18. & 35. 24. Drus. miscel. l. 1. c. 59  right me, O Lord. And, 
m Psal. 74. 22.  Surge Deus, Arise O God, and judge thine own cause: and, 
n Psal. 35. 23.  Arise unto my judgement: and 
o Psal. 10. 12, 14.  Surge Domine; Arise, o Lord, and lift up thine hand, the poor committeth his cause to thee. And 
p 1 Sam. 24. 13, 16.  The Lord be judge between thee and me, and right me on thee. Yea of our Saviour himself, when he was here upon earth, it is said, that 
q ●… Pet. ●…. 23.  ●…ee committed his cause to him that judgeth justly. And the Apostle Paul that 
r Act. ●…5. 10.  appealed from F●…lix and Festus, to C●…sar Augustus; yet from them and him too, and all men he maketh his appeal unto God: 
s 1 Cor. 4. 3, 4.  I pass not, saith he, 
t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. ex Cilicum idiotis●…. Hieron. ad Algas. q. 10. Diem tamen dicere ali●…ni, pro, in indici●… v●…care L●…tinis tri●… satis.  for man's day, that is, man's doom; Qui me iudicat Dominus est; It is the Lord alone that must be my judge.  
The truth and equity hereof may more fully appear, if we shall consider; that  
First, 
u Appellati●… fit semper à minore ad maiorem. Gloss ad Gra●…. c. 2. q. 1.  Appeal is ever made from the Inferior to the Superior: not 
x A maiore ad minor ●… appellare ●…ō licet. Digest. l. ●…9. t. 1. l. 1. & Gloss. ad Grat. c. 2. q. 6.  from the Superior to the Inferior: 
y Inferior patiorem non ligat Nicol pp. dist. 21. c. 5. Et, Lex 〈◊〉 per inferi●…rem 〈◊〉 non p●…st. Clement. l. ●…. tit. 3. c. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Luci●… T●…. & Apolog▪ 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  that were preposterous; the Inferior being subordinate to the Superior: 
z Ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appellat●…r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apud Grat. 〈◊〉 6. c. 27.  not from the equal to his equal; that were vain and frivolous; since 
a Par i●… 〈◊〉 hab●…t 〈◊〉▪ Dig●…. l. 4. 〈◊〉 ●…. 3. 4. & Inn●…t. 3 decretal. 〈◊〉. tit. 6. c. 20.  one equal hath no power over an other his equal: but from the Inferior to the Superior, as 
b 〈◊〉 2●…. 10.  from Faelix to C●…sar, from Festus to Augustus. But 
c  God is higher than the highest, and there is none higher than he. 
d Psal. ●…3. 18.  That they may know that thou, whose name is Ieh●…vah, art, 〈◊〉 
e No●…en soli●… veri Dei. ●…ellarm. d●… Chri●…▪ 〈◊〉. ●…. cap. 7.  altissimu●…, the only most high in the whole world. All Appeals end at him: they may be made to him, bu●… none can be made from him; they cannot go further or higher then him.  
Secondly, the party that Appeal is made unto, must have, that it may be effectual and to good purpose, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, & potestatem & potentiam, both right and might, both place and power, both power of authority, and power of ability.  
Now in man these are oft severed. Prince's oft want power: they have Potestatem sine potentia right oft without might, 
f C●…actus Princeps quos nolebat occidere: ereptumque Principi illud in principa●…●…mum, quod nihil cogitur. Plin. Panegyr.  they dare not do oft what they know they should do, and what they would if they could. 
g ●… Sim. 3. 39  Ye are too hard for me, saith David, ye sons of Zerviah. And, 
h jer. 38. 5. Minime is est Rex qui possi●… contra v●…s quicquam. jun.  The King, saith Zedekias to his Nobles, can deny you nothing: They had such an hand of him, that he durst not displease them.  
And 
i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (ita ●…mendo 〈◊〉 Stob. tom. 2▪ ●…▪ 44. quod v●…lgò, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. ad praef. indoct.  tyrannous Usurpers have power more than is meet: they have potentiam sine potestate, might without right: as had Nimrod, 
k Gen. 10. 9 Arripuit insuetam pri●… in populum tyrannidem. Hieron. qu●…st. in Gen. Non tamen primus, credo, primarius potius.  that mighty Hunter, not of Deer, but of men. And where they have right, they do not use it aright ofttimes, but abuse it. And therefore to appeal unto such, from Herode to Caesar, were but as for the lamb to appeal from the Fox to the Wolf, as 
l Luk. ●…3. 〈◊〉.  Christ termeth the one, or from the Wolf to the Lion, as 
m .  the Apostle styleth the other: or for the silly Hare to appeal from the Hound to 
n 〈◊〉. 10. 9  the Hunter.  
But with God these are not severed. He hath & 〈◊〉 & potestatem, both might and right, both 〈◊〉 and ability. For 
o Esai. 33. 22.  jehovah judex noster, 〈◊〉 legislator noster, jehovah Rex noster: jehovah is our ●…dge; jehovah is our Lawgiver, jehovah is our King. Yea God is all these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, in a kind of principality a sovereignty, a singularity; so as none are but he al●…e. He is not only Iudex, legislator and Rex, judge, Lawgiver, and King: but as he is said to be 
p Soli sapienti Deo. 1 Tim. 1. 〈◊〉▪ 25.  solus sapiens, only wise; so wise, that in comparison there is none wise but he; so 
q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 1 Tim. 6. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. I●…d. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ 〈◊〉 Desp●….  〈◊〉 Iudex, Legislator, & Rex, The only judge▪ the only Lawgiver, the only King; so judge, Lawgiver, and King 
r Praet●…r m●… null●… est. Esai. 45. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  as none are but he only.  
First he is judge. 
s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 75. 8.  For God is judge. And, 
t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 50. 6.  God himself is judge: And so judge, as there is none but he. For  
1. He is Iudex generalis: The general, the universal judge: not Iudex totius Angliae, but judex totius orbis: The judge of all the world. Other judges have their particular and several Circuits, and he that is judge in one is not in another: It is not so with him, he is judge every where; the whole world is his circuit. 
u Psal. 94. 2.  Arise, thou judge of the whole world, saith the Psalmist. And, 
x Gen. 18. 25.  Should not the judge of the whole world do justice? saith Abraham speaking both unto him and of him.  
2. He is Iudex caelestis▪ He is as 
y Dan. 2. 44. I●…de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theologia ap●…d E●…scb pr●…par. euang. l. 1.  the God of heaven, so the judge of heaven: an heavenly, a celestial judge. For, 
z Psal. 1●…5. ●….  Our God is in heaven. And, 
a 〈◊〉▪ ●…. 18.  The wrath of God is revealed from heaven. And, 
b Psal. 76. 8.  Th●…u causedst thy judgement to ●…e heard from heau●…. They are but 
c Iudica●…t▪ terram judices terr●…. Aug. de t●…mp. 94.  judges of earth that judge the earth. Earth they judge, and earth they are. 
d Aug. Ibid.  Ho●…o iudicans hominem, terra iudicans terram: saith Augustine. When Man judgeth Man, Earth judgeth Earth. But, Deus iudicans hominem, C●…lum iudicans coenum: When God judgeth man, Heaven judgeth earth. 
e Luk. 15. 18.  I have sinned against heaven, saith the Prodigal son; that is, against 
f C●…lum pro D●…. Vise Dr●…s. qu●…st. l. 2. c. 61. & obser●…. l. 9 c. 2. & Pro●…. l. 1. cent. 5. Pro●…. 46.  God in heaven. And, 
g Math. 21. 25.  john's Baptism, saith our Saviour, was it from heaven or of Men? that is, of God or of man. And, 
h Esai. 64. 8. jer. 18. 6.  Homo Deo, lutum sigulo; Man in God's hand is but as clay in the Potter's hand: Even Princes and judges as well as others, 
i Psal. 2 9, 10, 12.  whom therefore if they be 〈◊〉 the wiser, he will bruise with his iron mace, and break them to shivers like an earthen vessel.  
3. He is Iudex supremus: The supreme judge. Other judges iudicant, iudicantur; They judge, and they are judged, at l●…t iudicabuntur, they shall be judged. But it is true of 
* Omnes iudicat, à nullo iudicatur▪ Cyrill thesaur. l. 9 c. 1  God, that is untruely and bl●…sphemously ascribed 
k Vise Grat. dist. 40. Et caus. 9 quaest. 3.  to the Pope, Omnes iudicat, a nemine iudicatur: He judgeth all, but is judged of none. judicat iudicantes: He judgeth those that judge others. As 
l Prov. 8. 15, 16.  they judge now by him; so 
m Esai. 3. 14.  they shall once be judged of him. They are liable to his judgement: but he is liable to no judgement. For 
n Rom. 9 20, 21. Esai. 45. 9  none may call him to account; or 
o Dan. 4. 32. job. 34. 17, 1●…, 19  say to him, Why dost thou so?  
Secondly, he is Legislator, the Lawgiver: yea he is unicas Legislator, the only Lawgiver: so Lawgiver as none other is but he. 
p jam. 4. 1●…▪  There is one Lawgiver, saith james, able to save and to destroy. But judges ordinarily, they are not Lawmakers, or Lawmasters. They are but servientes ad legem, or iudicantes secundum legem: They are but Sergeants at Law; at the most, but Expounders of the Law, 
q Sedes secundum legem iudicaturu●…. Act. 23. 3. Hinc Diotogen. de regno. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. apud Stob. cap. ●…6.  sitting to judge according to the Law. They do not make Law, but 
r Expon●…t ●…ibi legem, & faci●… iuxta legem. Deut. 17. 9, 11.  Interpret the Law, and judge according to it.  
Or though they have ius condendarum legum, Power of enacting and making Laws, as 
s D●…n. 3. 29. & 6. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. ad praef. indoct. Quod principi placuit, legis habet vigorem. Vlpia●…. Digest. lib. 1. ●…. 4. l. 1.  in free Monarchies and absolute Estates Princes have: 
t In lege temporali nihil es●… iustum & legitimum, quod ●…ō ex hac aterna sibi homi●… 〈◊〉. Aug. de lib. 〈◊〉 b. l. 1. c. 6. Ci●…ro ips●… 〈◊〉. l. 〈◊〉 & legem non populorum iussi●…, nec princ●…pū decretis▪ nec sentent●…s i●…dicum, sed natura n●…ma 〈◊〉. Et l. 2. Ex sapientissimorum 〈◊〉, Princ●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…tis 〈◊〉 vetantis Dei: 〈◊〉 q●… loge●…illa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dan●… h●…ano.  yet must all their Laws be grounded upon and agreeable to God's Law, or 
u Non videtur ess●… le●…, iniusta si su●…rit. Aug. de lib. arb. l. 1. c. 5. N●…c ●…ura dicenda sunt vel putanda i●…qua hominum constituta. Idem de civet. l. 19 c. 21. Vbi de●…st ratio, quae legis est anima. Idem de lib. arb. l. 1. c. 6.  else they are no Laws, or as good as none.  
And those when they are so made, 
x See D. Field of the Church. l. 4. c. 32, 33, 34.  they bind and restrain the outward man only. As 
y Vsque ad car●…ē saevis; animam no●… attingis▪ terra terram per●…utis▪ p●…res f●…rire habitaculum; 〈◊〉 quid & habitatorem? terres visibilis visibilem ●… 〈◊〉 occides, quem non vides. Aug. de sanct. 13. Luk. 12. 4.  they can meddle only with the outward man, they have no power over the mind; Non occides quem non vides; What they cannot see, they cannot slay: So their Laws of themselves, as they are but positive Laws and subject to repeal, can take no hold of the inward man, though a man may by the breach of them make himself to stand inwardly guilty of sin; as 
z Gerson. d●… vi●… spirit. lect. 4. ●…rol. 5.  by not following the advice given him by the Physician he may incur the guilt both of sin and self-murder.  
But 
a Psal. 19 7, 8. Roman. 7. 7, 12.  God's Law reacheth directly eu●…n to the inward man also. For he is 
b jam. 4. 12.  The only Lawgiver, that hath power by Law to bind the soul as well as the body; as 
c Gen. 2. 7. Qui utrunque cre●…it, utrunque 〈◊〉: qui homi●… 〈◊〉. utroque constru●…it, vtrumq●…e ubi voluerit, destr●…ere poterit. Aug. desanct. 13.  he made both: and for the breach of it to inflict penalties as well on the soul as on the body; 
d Math. 10. 28. Luk. 12. 5  to destroy both soul and body together for ever in hellfire.  
Again they, even the highest and the absolutest of them, Leges daunt, & accipiunt, both give Laws and take Laws. For, to omit, that 
e Paret●… legi quisquis legem sanxoris. Pittac. Auson. Sapient. justum est enim Princip●… legibus obtemperare suis. Tunc enim iura sua ab omnibus 〈◊〉 ●…xistimet▪ 〈◊〉 & ipse ill●… reverentia●… praeb●…t. Principes legi●… teneri 〈◊〉, nec in se 〈◊〉 frustrare i●…a, qua in subiect●… constit●…nt. justa est enim vocis ●…orum auctoritas, si quod pop●…lis prohib●…nt, sibi 〈◊〉 non patia●…▪ tur. Isidor. de sum. bo●…. l. 3. c. 52.  by their own Laws, while they are in force, and afoot, 
f Digna vou est maiestate regnantis legibus alligatum se principem profiteri. Ade●… de antoritate iuris nostra pendet autoritas: & reverâ mai●… imperio est submittere legibus principatum. Theod. & Valent. Cod. l. 1. t. 17. l. 4. Idem es qui ante fuisti. & tantum tibi per te licet, quantum per leges anteà licebat. De Theodos. P●…catus panegyr.  they ti●… themselves 
g Princeps enim legibus solutus est. Vlpia●…. Dig. l. 1. ●…. 3. l. 30. Voluntate tamen sua seipsum sub●…jcit. v●… Gloss. ad Dig. melius quam Gloss. altera ad Cod. Alij 〈◊〉, quod hîc permitt●…tur mentiri.  in some sort: Though 
h Plin. panegyr. Ipse t●… legibus sub●…ecisti. legibus Caesar, quas 〈◊〉 Principi scripsit. Sed t●… amplius nihil tibi vis licere quam nobis. Sic fit, ut ●…os tibi plus velimus. Quod ego ●…unc primum audi●…, nun●… primū●…isco, Non est princeps supra leges, sed leges supra principe●…. Idem Caesari Coss quod cateris non licet. jurat in legem, non ignarus nominireligiosius quod iur●…verit custodiendum, quam cuius maximè interest, non peierari.  Principi nemo leges scripsit, yet Deus praescripsit; though no man may prescribe Laws to such Princes, yet 
i Vers. 3, 4.  God hath prescribed Laws as well to them as to others. They give them to others, they receive them from him.  
Whereas he Leges dat, non accipit, He giveth laws, but taketh none. Dat leges leges dantibus, Legislatoribus ipsis: He giveth laws to all, even to those that give laws to others, to the Lawmakers themselves: But he receiveth none from any: for 
k job. 36. 23.  no Creature may prescribe Laws or Rules to his Creator.  
Thirdly, he is 
l Psal. 93. 1. & 97. 1.  Rex, a King: and 
m Psal. 47. 2. Mala. 1. 14. Math. 5. 35. qui titulus olim Assyri●… datus Esai. 36. 4. sed & Persa. Di●… Chrysost. ●…rat. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Et ibid. 4. Alexander Diogeni, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Visatur Drus. obser●…. l. 12. c. 4.  Rex magnus, A great King.  
He is Rex, not Tyrannus. A King not a Tyrant: A rightful and lawful King, a King 
n Regnum enim Domini est. Psal. 22. 28. 1. Chron. 29 11.  of his own, not an Usurper: there is his right.  
And again Rex magnus, not Regulus: not a petty Prince, but a great King: a mighty, puissant, 
o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Apoc. 4. 8.  omnipotent Monarch: there is his might.  
Yea he is not only Rex magnus, a great King; but Rex solus, the only King: a King so as there is none but he.  
For 1. he is absolute and independent. 
p Omne sub regno graviore regnum est. Sen. Thyest. 3. 3.  Other Kings and Princes are not absolute. 
q Prou. 8. 15, 16.  They hold all from him; 
r Psal. 75. 8.  they depend all upon him; 
s Psal. 22. 27, 2●…. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Agapet. Magnus qui tantum pr●…mium cepit; sed maior, qui capienti dedit. Plin. Panegyr.  they do service all to him. As 
t Psal. 47. 9  the shields of the world; so 
u Apoc. 19 12.  the Crowns, and 
x Apoc. 1●…. 15.  the kingdoms of the world are all his: and 
y Dan. 4. 22.  he disposeth them at his pleasure. For 
z Ille regna dispensat, cui●… est & orbis qui regnatur, & hom●… ipse qui regnat. Tertull. apolog.  he dispenseth the kingdoms of the world, whose both the world is that is governed, and man that doth govern.  
But God is absolute and independent. He is 
a 1 Tim. 6. 15. Apoc. 19 15.  Rex regum, & Dominus dominantium, King of kings, and Lord of lords; and 
b Psal. 50. 1. & 96. 4.  Deus Deorum, God of Gods too: 
c Rom. 9 5. 1 Chron. 29. 11. Qui nuncupativ●… dicitur, inter omnia Deui, qui verè & essentialiter, super omnia Deus est. Greg. in Ezech. l. 1. ●…m 3.  God above all; and none above him; 
d 2 Cron. 20. 6.  regnans super omnia regna terrae, reigning over all the Kingdoms in the world, as he doth over all the kings of the earth.  
Domini sunt, & Dominum habent; Lords they are, and a Lord they have: to wit, him that is called 
f Apoc. 1. 5.  Princeps regum terrae, The Prince of the Kings of the earth. 
g Dij dicti, quosi à Dee dati; Domini quia à Domin●… potesta●… fortiti. Origen. in Exod. him. 8.  Gods they are called, because given by this God; Lords because they have received power and place from this Lord.  
But, as the Heathen man sometime said, 
h Qui Rex est, regem, Maxim, non habeat. Martial. epigram. 18. l. 2. Sit liber, Dominus qui volet esse meus. Ibid. ep. 32.  Let him be my King, who himself hath no King: So, let him be my God, who himself hath no God. 
i Solus verus Dominus es, qui Dominum non babes. Aug. confess. lib. 10. c. 36.  He is the only true Lord, that hath no Lord: he is the only true Prince, that hath no Prince above him: And therefore 
k 1 Cor. ●…. 5, 6.  though there be many that are called Gods and Princes and Lords: yet unto▪ us there is but 〈◊〉 
e Idem h●…bent iuris adversus imperia, quam adversus imperantes habet▪ Sen. epist. 91.  God, and one Prince and one Lord; because one 〈◊〉 absolute and independent.  
2. He is great in and of himself. Other Princes and great personages are not great of themselves. They are not to other men, as a Giant to a Dwarf, or as Cedars to shrubs. A Cedar is a tall tree, though there stand ne'er a shrub near it, and though it grow below in a bottom: and the shrub is but a shrub, though it stand aloaft by itself on an high hill, or on the top of a stone wall. 
l Non est magnus pumili●…, licet in monte constiterit. Coloss●… magnitudinem suam servabit, etiam si st●…terit in put●…. Sen. epist. 76.  A Giant is a Giant, though he lie along on the ground: and a Dwarf is but a Dwarf still, though 
m Pygmaei in turribus. Diverbium e●… Vulg. version tractum Ezech. 27. 11. Vise jun. not.  he get him up to the top of a turret.  
But it is with Princes, as with stones in a building, in a stone-wall: where some stand higher, some lie lower, of equal size otherwise the one with the other; and the lower support and bear up the higher. They are but men still in nature and stature, though 
n Gratia, non natura Dij dicti. Origen. in Exod. 8.  Gods by name and in state, rather higher in place, than greater in person than others are.  
Whereas God is great of himself and in himself; he is not 
o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Aristot. c●…teg. in quant.  relatively, or comparatively, but he is simply and absolutely and infinitely great. So great, that 
p 1 King. ●…. 27.  The heavens, and the heavens of heavens are not able to h●…ld him: but 
q jerem. 23. 25.  He filleth both heaven and earth. So great, that 
r Esai. 40. 12.  He meateth the heaven with his span; and taketh the whole sea up in the palm of his hand: that 
s Esai. 40. 15.  all the world is with him but as a little dust that hangeth o●… the balance and yet altereth not the weight, as a drop of water that falleth from the bucket, and yet minisheth not the measure: that 
t Esai. 40. 17.  all the people in the world compared with him, are but as vanity and a thing of nothing; yea that 
u Psal. 62. 9  all the nations of the earth, if they be weighed against him, they are lighter than vanity and 
* Esai. 4●…. 1●….  less than nothing. So great that there is no end of his greatness: 
x Infinit●… longit●… di●…is linea recta▪ circulum faciens, & in se rediens. Cusan●… presb. apud Trithem. ad C●…sar. quaest. 1.  a straight line, saith one, of infinite length, returning into itself, and so making a circle: 
y Sphara, cui●… centrum ubique, circumferentia nusquam. Empedocle●… ibid.  a sphere, whose centre is every where, and the circumference of it no where, not to be found. So great, that his greatness cannot be comprehended: 
z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. joan. Dam●…se. de ●…ide lib. ●…. cap. 13.  he were not God, if it could.  

a Psal. 14●…. 3.  Great is the Lord, saith the Psalmist, and greatly to be extolled, and his greatness is incomprehensible. 
b Magnus, magnus, magnus nimis. Volebat dicere quantum magnus. Et si t●…ta die, Magnus, magnus, diceret, quid magnum diceret? tota di●… dicens, Mag●…, finiret aliquando, quia fi●…iretur di●…. magnitud●… illi●… ante dies, ultra dies▪ si●…e die. dicendo, Magnus nimis, ●…misit (malè vulg●…, emisit) vocem, & reliquit cogitationi quod sapiat. q. d. Qu●…d 〈◊〉 nequ●…, tu cogita: & cum cogitaveris, parum erit. quod cogitatio nullius explicat, lingua alicui●… qu●… exprimat. Aug. in Psal. 144.  There is great, and great, and great: saith Augustine: He would feign, if he could, have told us how great. But had he said, Great, and great, all day long, what great matter had he said? He that saith, Great, all day long, must needs once make an end, because the day itself hath an end: where as God's greatness is infinite, without either beginning or end. But saying, His greatness is incomprehensible, ●…e gave over speaking, and left it to us to conceive what he could not utter. As if he had said; What I cannot utter, do thou imagine: and when thou hast imagined the greatest greatness that man's mind is able to reach unto, then kn●…w that thou comest yet infinitely short of God's greatness, Which since no man's mind is able to comprehend, no marvel if no tongue of man be able to utter.  
Again Princes receive power from their people. 
c Prou▪ 14. 28.  The might of a Prince consisteth in the multitude of his people. And 
d Eccles. 5. 8.  the throne is supported by the Ploughman's pains. It is their subjects shoulders that bear them up; as the lower stones in the wall do those that lie aloaft over them: take these supporters away, and they will lie as low as the lowest.  

Non est min●… ne●…essarius domino famulus, q●…m famulo dominu●…. Servus that Domin●…. Sen. de be●…●… lib. 7. cap. 4.  The master hath as much need of his servant, as the servant hath of his Master: and 
1 Quanquam Diogenes apud Sen. de tranquil. c. 8. Turpe est Manem sine Diogene p●…sse vi●…ere, Diogenem sine Mane non p●…sse. Atqui rectè Chrys●…st. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. tom 7. eclog. 30. ex ●… Cor. homil. 34.  the Master can no more be without his Servant, than the Servant can be without his Master: In like manner it is here: 
2 Nec magis s●…ne to nos esse selices, quam tu sine nob●…s esse potes P in▪ panegyr.  The Prince hath as much need of his people, as the people have need of their Prince: and the Prince can no more be without his people, than the people can be without their Prince.  
But God, he giveth to all, he receiveth from none. 
f Act. 17 25.  Dat omnia omnibus: He giveth all things to all: For 
g Rom. 11. 36. 1 Chron. 29. 14.  all things are of him: and 
h jam 1. 17. Omne enim bonum nostrum vel ipse, vel ab ipso est▪ Aug▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉. ●…. 1. 6. 32.  they cannot possibly have any thing but what they have from him.  

i N●… ill●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, n●…●…i q●…iquam conferre possumus. S●…. d●…●…nef. l. 4. ●…. 9 Deo banaficium p●…stare 〈◊〉 pass m●…. Aug. de 〈◊〉. Dom. 38.  He receiveth nothing from any. For 
k Rom. 11. 35.  who hath given, or who can give aught unto him? when 
l Psal. 16. 2.  all the good, that we can do, reacheth nothing near him.  
We may have need of him, yea daily and hourly we stand in need of him. It is he 
m Psal. 100 3.  that at first created us, and 
n Psal. 66. 9 C▪ 〈◊〉▪ 1. ●…6, 17. Heb. 1. 2, 3.  that continually supporteth us. But 
o Act: 17. ●…5. Ipsa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, nihil 〈◊〉 nostri▪ L●…cret. l. ●…. B●…orum meorum non eg●…s. quid est enim, bo●…, à quo om●…e bonum datu●…? Aug. in n●…l▪ 〈◊〉.  he hath no need of us, nor of aught of ours. 
p Psal▪ 90. 2. Sur●… 〈◊〉 illud▪ 〈◊〉 in●… b●…num, nec profic●…t, quia perfectum est, nec d●…ficit, quia ●…ternum est. Aug in 1. Ican. 4.  He was as well and as happy, before the world was, as now he is or can be.  

q Ipse Ipse Deu●… est tuus, qui tuis non eget bonis, non timet à malis. Idem in Psal 80.  He is the only true Lord, that hath no need of servants, and whose servants have need of him: 
r Ipse 〈◊〉 est Dominus, qui à servis nihil sumit; & à quo servu●…▪ hab●…t quicqui●… habet.  He is the only true Lord, that receiveth nothing from his servants, but from whom the servants have whatsoever they enjoy. And so is he the only true Sovereign that hath no need of his subjects, but they all need of him: 
s Quomod ò beneficu●… diceris, si non tam benefi●…us esse, quam beneficis praeesse desidera●…? Ber●…. de 〈◊〉. l. 3.  that receiveth nothing from them, and from whom they receive whatsoever they have.  
3. His dominion it is infinite. Other Princes have their dominions listed and limited; yea listed and limited by him. For 
t Act: 17 27.  he hath set them their bounds, as 
u Psal: 104. 9  he hath fet the sea hers, which they cannot pass. It seemed a great matter, when it was said; 
x Virgil●… Aen. l. 1. Sic Dan. 4. 19  Imperium Oce●…no, fama●… qui terminet astris: 
y Psal: 72. 8.  His dominion shall reach from Sea to Sea, and from the river to the lands end.  
But here is 
z Virgil: ibid.  Imperium sine fine; sine limit; a dominion without list or limit, other than the bounds of the vast universe. 
a Psal: 47. 2.  For Ieh●…va is high and dreadful: he is a great King over all the earth. And, 
b Psal: 103. 19  The Lord hath prepared his Throne in heaven, and his kingdom ruleth over all. And, 
c 1 Chron: ●…9. 12.  Riches and honour are of thee; and thou reignest over all.  
He hath prepared his throne in heaven: there is his chair of estate: But where is his footstool, or his footpace then? Himself telleth us by the Prophet: 
d Esai: 66. 1.  Heaven is my throne; and the earth is my footstool. The Kings of this world sit all at his feet: it is but his footstool, that they share all among them; the mightiest Monarches Territories are but a small patch of God's footpace.  

e Solus verus Rex est, qui regnat ubique.  He is the only true King then, that reigneth every where; which because 
f Dei solius est esse super 〈◊〉. Novatian. de Tri●…it. Vnus est regnatur omnium Deus. Tacit: histor. l. 5. Dan: 4. 32.  God only doth, and none but he, to him may appeals be made by men out of all places, because 
g Psal. Psal. 139. 7, 8, 9, 10.  every where they are within and under his jurisdiction, and out of his government they cannot go.  
4. His dominion as it is boundless, so it is endless. Other dominions can have 
h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Easil. Sel. in David orat. 1.  no further or longer extent▪ then the lists of this present life. They are regna huius mundi, The kingdoms of this world: And as 
i 1 Cor: 7. 31. 1 Ioh: 2. 17.  Mundus transit, so gloria mundi: As the world passeth away; so must they needs pass with it. As it hath an end; so 
k Dan: 2. 4●…, 45.  must they needs end with it, if they end not before it, as oft they do. 
l Dan: 2. & 7.  Those four mighty Monarchies had their times and their turns; and 
m O●…ta omnia intereunt. Sallust. ad Caesar. Certis eunt ●…uncta temporibus. ●…sci debent, crescere, extingui. Sen. ●…pist. Regna e●… in●…mo coorta supra imperantes iacuerunt, veter●… imperia in ipso flore ce●…idere. inir●…●…ō potest numerus, quam mult●… ab aliis fracta sunt. Idem not. quaest. l. 3. praefat. Quod regnum est, cui non par●…ta ●…it ruina? Idem de trāq. ●…. 11. Legantur quae V●…piscus praefatur in Caro.  their ruin and fall as well as their rise. And you know that as the wheel turneth, (and it is 
n Psal: 75. 7.  God only that turneth it) 
o Regnabo; regn●…; regn●…ui; Rex fine regno.  some get up and some go down; some stand aloaft that lay below before, and some lie along that stood aloaft before.  
But God's government is for ever. For, 
p Dan: 3. 33. & 4. 31. Psal: 145. 13.  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom: and his dominion endureth throughout all generations. And, 
q Dan: 2. 44.  His kingdom shall break and destroy all other kingdoms: but shall stand firm itself for ever. 
r Psal: 9 7.  The Lord shall sit (as judge) for ever on his throne, which he hath prepared for judgement, And, 
s Psal: 10. 16.  he will be king for ever and ever, even when all Heathen Kings are perished from of the earth.  

t Sol●… ver●… Rex est, qui semper reg●… est.  He is the only true King that reigneth for ever. But 
u Psal: 146. 10.  jehovah only reigneth for ever, and Zion's God only throughout all ages. He is therefore the only true King.  
To conclude then: The highest Appeal is therefore to God, because he is the supreme judge, the supreme Lawgiver, the supreme King: yea the only absolute judge, the only absolute Lawgiver, the only absolute King: therefore the supreme and only absolute judge, because the supreme and only absolute Lawgiver; and therefore the supreme and only absolute Lawgiver because the supreme & only absolute King, the only infinite, universal, eternal King.  
Now theuse of this point doth partly concern private persons, & partly such as be in place of authority.  
For the former: Private men must be admonished, what their course must be, when courses of justice fail, and they cannot have it at man's hand, at the hand of the Magistrate: To rise instantly in arms, and seek to right themselves either by public rebellion, or by private revenge? No: 
x Psal. 9 19  Exurge Deus; Arise, o God; and, 
y Psal. 68 1.  Exurgat Deus; Let God arise. Not that upon every slight wrong, and every trifling occasion, men should be making of their moan in that manner unto God, and craving justice at his hand; as 
z Gen. 16. 5.  Sara with Abraham, when her maid Hagar having conceived by him, carried herself malapertly towards her: 
a Prou: 19 11. & 24. 11. Magni animi est iniurias d●…spicere. Sen. de ira. l. 2. c. 32. Non est mag●…s animus quem (ulla) incurvat ini●…ia. Ibid. l. 3. c. 5 Exilu est, qu●…m incurv●…t minim●… quaeque. Absit itaqu●… à serv●… Christi tale inquinamentum, ut patienti●…●…bus tentalionibus praeparat●…, in frivolis excidat. Tertull. de bon. pat.  it is very poor patience that is so easily worn threadbare. But 
b Psal. 142. 3, 4, 5.  when their wrongs shall be great and grievous, & they can have no redress of them with those that should do them right, then to make this 
c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Lucian. Dr●…pet.  sacram anchoram, their sheate anchor, their utmost refuge, to fly unto God, to betake themselves unto him, make their appeal to him, commence theirsuite beforehim, commit their right to him, and so leave it with him.  
So did our Saviour Christ, he committed his cause 
d 1 Pet. 2▪ 23.  to the judgement of God his Father. So the godly before Christ. David to Saul, 
e 1 Sam. 24. 13. 16.  The Lord be judge between thee and me, and do me right on thee. And jeremy; 
f jer. 18. 19  Harken, o, Lord, to me; and hear the voice of them that contend with me: 
g jer. 20. 12. & 11. 20.  And let me see thy vengeance on them: for to thee do I commit my cause. So the faithful ever since Christ. 
h Ab●…it ut v●…tionē no●… aliquam michinem●…r, quam à Deo expectamus. Tertull. ad S●…ap.  Far be it from us, saith Tertullian, to Scapula, to attempt or plot any revenge of our wrongs, which we expect from God alone. 
i M●…amus preces & lachrymas cord●… ad Deum legatos. Cypr. lib. 4. ep. 4.  Let us send our prayers and tears, saith Cyprian to the persecuted Christians, as Messengers and Ambassadors of our hearts unto God. 
k 〈◊〉 ultio dirin●… defendit; I●…em ad Demetr.  It is the divine 
l Athanas. apud Epiphan. hares. 6●….  vengeance that must right our wrongs. The Lord, saith Athanasius to Constantine, judge between thee and me; since thou givest way to my false Accusers against me. 
m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Greg. Naz. in julian. orat. 2.  We, saith Gregory Nazianzen speaking of julians' time, that had no other weapon, nor wall, nor bulwark, but our hope in God left us, whom could we have either to hear our prayers, or to protect our persons but him? 
n Rogamus, Auguste, non pugnamus: non timemus, sed rogamus. Amb. l. 5. epist. 33.  We entreat o Emperor, say the Soldiers in Ambrose his cause against the Arrians, We fight not: neither fear we, and yet we entreat only. Nay, 
o Stabimus, & pugnabimus usque ad mortem, si ita oportu●…rit pro matre nostra, non scutis & gladijs, sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad Deum. Bern. epist. 221.  We will stand to it, and fight it out, even to death, if need be, saith Bernard, for our Mother the Church; but with such weapons as we may, not with sword and target, but with tears and prayers to God.  
This hath been the practice of good Christians in all ages. And to do otherwise is 
p Deut. 32. 35. Rom. 12. 19  to sit down in God's seat, to take the sword out of God's hand, to make ourselves Gods, 
q Rom. 13. 2. Math. 26. 52.  to pervert the order, to resist the ordinance of God; and so to bring upon our own heads the just vengeance of God, while we seek to right or revenge ourselves upon others.  
Again those that be in place of authority and judicature must be admonished, that they be wary how they carry themselves in their places. Remember they must, that 
r Quicquid à vobis minor extimescit, Maior hoc vobis Dominus minatur: Omne sub regno graviore regnum est Sen. Thyest. 3 3.  as they are above others, so there is one above them: as they now judge others, so there is an other that will one day judge them, to whom they must once give account of their judgement, and unto whom an appeal lieth from the highest and greatest of them, even from Caesar himself.  

s Dan. 6. 1, 2.  It pleased Darius, saith the story, to set over his kingdom 120. Governors' to rule the whole state: and over them again three, that they should all give up an account unto of their government. And at Athens, howsoever 
t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  some of their Officers were not accountable to any; yet the most of them were after their offices expired to give a strict account to certain 
u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Vise●…di Poll●… & Harp●…cr. Et de Co●…. Romans Polyb. hist. l. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Hinc Plin. panegyr. Ad●… Imperator cum imperio calculum ponere: sic exeat, sic redeat, tanquam rationem redditurus.  Auditors by the state thereunto assigned, each one that could charge them before those of any wrong done him while they were in Office, having free liberty so to do.  
So it hath pleased God the Father 
x joh. 5 22, 27.  to make his Son jesus Christ his General, his ecumenical Auditor: and not some alone, but all Offices and Officers must be accountable unto him. For 
y Rom. 14. 10.  We must all appear before Christ's Tribunal: and, 
z Rom. 14. 12.  E●…ery one 〈◊〉 there g●… account unto God for himself. 
a 2 Cor. 5. 10.  We must all, saith the Apostle, be made to appear there. But what? And we alone? Mean men alone, or Ministers only? No: 
b Apoc. 20. 12.  I saw the dead, saith john, great and small; 
c Apoc. 6. 15.  Kings and Princes, and Captains and chief Commanders as well as others; stand before him that sat on the white Throne: and 
d Dan. 7. 10.  the books were opened, and 
e Apoc. 20. 13.  they were judged all concerning the things that were written in those books according to their works.  
As the Apostle therefore warneth Masters; 
f Coloss. 4. 1.  Masters deal equally with your servants; considering that you have also a Master in Heaven: 
g Coloss. 3. 25.  and there is no respect of persons with him. So be you admonished to carry yourselves in your places equally and uprightly; remembering that you have 
h Iudic●… omnium Deum. Heb. 12. 23.  a judge also in heaven, before whom you and those that you now judge must together one day appear; 
i Rom. 2. 11. job. 34. 19  and there is no respect of persons with him. And as 
k R●…lat quod ipse qui n●…nc testis est sub homine iudice, ●…abit aliquand●… indicandus sub Deo iudice, qui simul iudicis & testis 〈◊〉 officio. &c Rob. Grosthed Lincoln. Ep. in decalog. manned. 8.  that worthy Bishop willeth a witness when he is deposed before a judge here, so to speak as remembering that he must answer hereafter for what he now speaketh, before one that will be both witness and judge, because 
l Io●…. 2. 25.  he shall need no information from any other, and in whose presence now he speaketh: So you, when you sit upon the bench, remember that Bench, before which you must once appear to answer for what you do there; when you look down to the bar, be put in mind of that Bar, at which one day you must stand that now sit on the Bench amids those that stand before you now at the bar: and so judge you now as in the presence of him, that now seeth you, and hereafter will judge you, and 
* judex quisque iudicij sui supern●… i●…dicem sustin●…bit. Chrysolog. serm. 26.  unto whom you must all one day give an account of your judgement.  
Let the dread hereof prevail with you, as it did sometime with Nehemie. 
m N●…m. 5. 15.  The Rulers, saith he, before me were over-burthensome to the people, and their servants domineered over them. But so did not I for fear of God. As it did with joseph: When 
n Gen●…s. 50. 15.  his brethren justly expected some hard measure at his hands after their Father's decease, remembering 
o Gen 42. 21.  what hard measure they had before offered unto him; 
p Gen. 50. 19  Fear ye not; saith he: For am not I under God? As with job: 
q job. 31. 21, 22, 23.  If I have lift up mine hand against the fatherless, when he sought mine help, and I saw that I might steed him in the gate: Let my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arme-bones be broken. For destruction from God was a terror to me: I knew I could not escape his highness. And when you shall be moved and solicited to do aught against right, say as the same job saith, If I take this bribe, or do this wrong; 
r job. 31. 14.  what shall I do when God ariseth? or what shall I answer him when he visiteth?  
Let this dread, I say, of God that highest judge, that judge of judges, prevail so with you to keep you in awe and within compass, as the dread of you doth the like with other inferior ones for the present. Otherwise 
s O 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. ad praefect. indoct.  if you shall wittingly and wilfully pervert justice, and carry things away by might and main after your own pleasure, 
Libidine atque licen●…ia sua pro legibus vt●…ntur. Sallust. ad C●…sar.  making your own lust your only law; or 
t Quid enim re●…ert qua occasione viam 〈◊〉 ●…eritatis, seducantur ig●…ari, s●…quantur spontanei, attrahantur 〈◊〉, compellantur i●…viti Bern. de bonis d●…r.  if you shall suffer yourselves to be overswayed by fear, seduced and led aside by favour, or corrupted with gifts: 
u Eccles. 11. 9  Know ye for certain, be ye assured of it, that, as Solomon saith, for all these things God will bring you to judgement. And though you may carry matters here 
x Fsai. 29. 15, 16.  so closely and so smoothly, that men cannot espy nor discover your corrupt carriage, and so you go away with the name of good justices and just judges, when indeed you are nothing less; yet 
y Eccles. 12. 14.  Every one of your actions will God one day bring to trial, and 
z Luk. 8. 17. 1 Cor 4 5.  every secret work be it good or bad. And so I pass to the next point.  
Where men that should judge, either judge not at all, or judge otherwise then they ought, there will God himself at length arise and judge.  
I say, If they judge not, or if they judge unjustly, if they do not justice, or if they do injustice, (and it is a point of injustice in them not to do justice, 
a Non 〈◊〉 nocens, s●…d patt●…o fuit. de Claudio A sonius. Et Ausonium imitatus G. Godwin in ●…pic●…dio jac. Mauritii, Nes faciendo nocens, 〈◊〉 patiendo fui.  there is passive as well as active injustice) then will God arise and judge: For otherwise when they do their duty, there is no need for God to interpose himself and his power, unless it be to protect them. It had been needless and superfluous for Paul to appeal to Augustus, if Faelix or Festus had done him right.  
Again, at length, I say; because God doth it not ever instantly, but delaieth it oft▪ times: He seemeth sometime to 
b Hab. 1. 13.  sit still and say nothing, to look on and keep silence, 
c Psal 44. 24. & 78. 65.  to be, as 
d 1 King. 18. 27.  Elias said of Baal, as one fast asleep: as these kind of speeches and the like imply; 
e Psal. 3. 7. & 7 6. & 10. 12. & 74. 22.  Arise; and▪ 
f Psal. 35. 23. & 59 5. Esai. 51. 9  Awake; and, 
g Psal. 28. 1. & 39 12. & 83. 1.  Be not silent; o▪ Good: Which he doth, 
h 1 Pet. 1. 7.  to try our faith, 
i Apoc. 14. 12.  to exercise man's patience, 
k Rom. 9 22.  to show his own, 
l Gen. 15. 16. Math. 23. 32. 1 Thess. 2. 16.  to let wicked ones fill up the measure of their iniquity.  
But 
m Esai. 44. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.▪ Solon apud Stob. tom. ●…. c. 9  though he bear long in this kind, yet will he not always for bear; but he will at length arise and judge the earth: judge those that pervert justice, yea judge the whole State where judgement is so perverted. When children peeled the people of God, and women ruled over them, and they beat the poor to pieces, and ground their faces to powder: 
n Esai 3. 12. 16.  The Lord, saith the Prophet, will stand up to plead, and to give sentence for his people: He will enter into judgement with the Elders, and with the Princes of his people: And, 
o Esai 59 14. 19  when judgement was turned backward, and justice made to stand aloof off, and truth was fall'n in the streets, and equity could not enter; and true dealing failed; and 
p In ●…oc scelus res devoluta ●…st, ut non possit esse salvus qui nolit esse malus; nec à latrocinijs tut●…s, nisi qui latronibus ipsis par fuerit. Salvian. de provide. l. 5.  he that refrained from evil made himself but a pray and a spoil: and there was no judgement, not one that would or durst right the wronged: Then God, wondering that none would offer himself to plead for or to protect the oppressed, put on justice as a corslet, and salvation as an helmet, and zeal as a cloak, and robes of vengeance for a gown, to repay his enemies according to their deeds, and to render fury to the Wrongdoers and Oppressors of his people.  
The certainty hereof may be further confirmed, à natura rei, à natura Dei, Either from the nature of the thing itself,  
Or from the nature of God himself.  
For the former: It is the prayer of the Spirit: for by it were both this and the like elsewhere indicted. And as our Saviour saith of himself; 
q joh. 11. 42.  I thank thee, Father; thou hearest me always: As the prayer of Christ is always heard: so the prayer of the Spirit is always heard. 
r Rom. 8. 27.  For the Spirit maketh intercession, saith the Apostle, according to God for the Saints. And, 
s 1 joh. 5. 14. 15.  This assurance we have, that whatsoever we ask of God according to his will, he heareth us. And if we be sure that he heareth us, 
t Certi sumus quod habenius.  then are we no less sure that we have whatsoever we ask: as sure are we to have it as if we had it already. Yea to reason, as Augustine doth, 
u Orat Christianus, & exauditur? ●…rat Christus, & non exauditur? Aug. in Psal.  Is any Christian heard when he prayeth? and is not Christ himself much more? So 
x joh. 14. 13, 14.  is every child of God heard, when he prayeth though not immediately inspired? and is not the Spirit of God itself much more heard, and the prayer that 
y 2 Tim. 3. 15.  it immediately inspireth? 
z Qu●…dò n●…n exauditur à patre, qui exaudit cum patre? Aug. ibid.  How can he be but heard of the Father praying, that together with the Father is prayed unto and heareth prayer?  
As there is an echo of obedience answering the word and commandment of God in the heart of every faithful one. 
a Psal. 27. 8.  When thou sayest, Seek my face; mine heart, saith the Psalmist, returneth answer again, Thy face, ò Lord, will I seek: So there is an echo of audience and gracious acceptance with God ever answering the prayers and supplications of such. 
b Psal. 9 19  Surge, Deus; Arise, o God; and, 
c Psal. 68 1.  Exurgat Deus, Let God arise: saith the soul of the poor faithful oppressed. And, 
d Psal. 12. 5.  Surgam, I will arise, saith God, for the oppression of the needy, and the sighs of the poor: And, 
e Psal. 102. 13.  Surges, Thou wilt arise, saith the Psalmist to God, and have pity upon Zion, when the time is once come: And, 
f Esai. 3. 13.  Surget, He will arise, saith the Prophet of God, and st●… up to give sentence for his poor oppressed people.  

g Psal. 34. 17.  The just man crieth, saith the Psalmist, when he is thus oppressed; and God he●…th him. How can he do otherwise? Mark our Saviour's own argument. 
h Luk. 18. 4, 5, 7.  If importunate clamour prevail with the unjust judge that neither regardeth man nor feareth God, shall not God much more avenge his own elect ones that cry day and night to him, for the wrong that is done them, and the right that is denied them? I tell you; saith our Saviour, and he is 
i joh. 14. 6.  truth itself that speaketh it; though he forbear long, yet at length he will do it.  
Yea suppose they do not cry themselves; 
k Lam. 3. 27, 2●…, 29.  they sit down by it, and thrust their mouths in the dust, 
l Psal. 39 9  swallow their grief with silence, and 
m 〈◊〉. 7. 9  bear that burden with patience that God hath called them to undergo and endure, 
n Ps●…l. 109. 4. Luk 23. 34▪ Act. 7. 60. 1 Cor. 4. 12 13.  praying rather to God for those that persecute and oppress them, then either expostulating with them, or exclaiming against them, or making solemn appeal and complaint to God of them. They need not. Resipsaclamat; The thing itself doth it, whether they do or no. 
o jam. 5. 4.  The very hire of the Labourers that is withheld from them, itself crieth, saith james: and the cry of it as well as of the persons themselves entereth into God's ears. As, 
p Gen. 4. 10.  the blood of Abel from of the earth; so 
q Habb. 2. 11. 12.  the very timber and stone from the building that is founded upon falsehood and built up with blood, crieth for vengeance to heaven. And not 
r Gen. 1●…. 20. & 19 13.  from the sins of Sodom only, that filthy sty, but 
s jona. 1. 2.  from the sins of Nineveh too, that 
t Nahum. 3. 1.  bloody shambles where lies and robbery roost, and oppression and injustice harbour, doth a loud cry ascend and appear before God.  
And can God do less than regard and take notice of this cry? No: his own nature will not endure, that he should do otherwise.  
For first; God is 
u Psal. 92. 15.  a most just God; yea he is justice itself: He is originally just; essentially just: so just, that 
x Qui vult esse iniustum, non vult esse Deum. Bern. de temp. 58.  he can no more cease to be just, than he can cease to be God. Being so just, he cannot but love justice. 
y Psal. 11. 7.  justus jehova quae iusta sunt, diligit: The just Lord, saith the Psalmist, loveth that that is just. Loving justice he cannot but hate and abhor all injustice, and all unjust ones. Each thing naturally hateth that that is contrary to it own nature. 
z Psal. 45. 7.  Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity. And, 
* Psal. 11. 5.  Those that love violence, he abhorreth from his heart.  
But as there is no impiety to 
a jerem. 7. 11. 2 Chron. 36. 14.  that impiety that is committed in God's sanctuary: so there is no injustice to that injustice, whereby men 
b Inter leges ipsas contra leges deli●…quitur ●… inter iura contra iura peccatur. nec innocentis illic, ubi defenditur res●…rvatur Cyprian. ad Donat. l. 2. ep. 2. Sic Act. 23. 3.  amids the law's sin against Law, and do injustly 
c In loco iustitia sacr●…. Cartwr. in Eccles. 3. 16.  in the very seat and sanctuary of justice. 
d Quo quid esse 〈◊〉, vel iniqui●… potest? Saluian. de provide. l. 5. Prou. 24. 24.  Then which, what can be more abominable in the eyes of any just man; and much more than of him that is most just and justice itself. 
e Genes. 18. 25.  Should not the judge of the whole world do justice? saith Abraham. Or can he do less in a case of such injustice as this is?  
Again 
f Exod. 34. 6.  God is a merciful God; no less merciful than just. And therefore cannot but hear the cry of the oppressed, and take vengeance on unmerciful men. It is the argument that God himself useth by Moses. 
g Exod. 22. 22, 23, 24, 27.  Vex not, nor oppress the widow, the Orphan, nor the poor; (they are my Clients, that I have taken into my protection;) If you do, when they cry to me, I will certainly hear them: for I am merciful: and I will slay you with the sword, so that your wives shall be widows, and your children Orphans.  

h Psal. 59 5.  Awake, o Lord, to visit, saith the Psalmist; Et ne sis misericors, and be not merciful to those that transgress maliciously. A strange kind of prayer, that the Spirit of God should entreat him not to be merciful, who cannot be but most merciful, being mercy itself. But we must know, that even 
i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cleon apud Thucyd. l. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Eurip. Agave. Mis●…ricordibus miserendum est. Signin●… in Conc. R●…m. c. 18. At dissimiles insequi pium ●…st. Plin. panegyr.  this also, it is a point of mercy, to be merciless to unmerciful men.  
When an over-mild Ruler was sometime commended for a very good man; 
k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; Plut. d●… adulat. & de utilit. ex inim. Vel, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vti i●… lib. de i●…id. & odio. Vnde emēdand●… idem in Lycurg. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; dele●…a particula negativa. Neque enim sa●…is amarit bo●…s, qui malos sa●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…rit. P●…in. panegyr.  How can he be a good man, said one, that is alike mild to good and bad? So here, how should God be a merciful God, if he should show mercy on those that are unmerciful to others? No: 
l Math. 5. 7.  Blessed are the merciful, saith our Saviour; for they shall obtain mercy. 
m ●…ac & fie●…: fa●… alteri, & ●…et tibi. Aug. de sanct. 14.  Show mercy, and have mercy: show it thou to others, and thou ●…halt have it at God's hands. But 
n Misericordia●… qui non praestat al●… 〈◊〉 s●…bi. Chryso●…▪ ser●…. 42. Grati●… illic spera●…, qui 〈◊〉 non prastat. ibid. 8.  whoso denieth it to others, debarreth himself of it. 
o jam. 2. 13.  For there shall be judgement without mercy, to those that do not show mercy.  
In a word: God, if he be 
p Pater 〈◊〉▪ 2 Cor. 1. 3. 〈◊〉 de suo, 〈◊〉 de nostro. Tertull. con●…r. Mar●….  naturally merciful, as he is mercy itself; then as he loveth mercy in man; (
q Mica. 7. 1●….  mercy pleaseth him, saith the Prophet:) so he hateth unmercifulness toward man: and therefore cannot but do justice in the behalf of those that are cruelly and unmercifully dealt with.  
So that whether we regard the prayer of God's Spirit, which cannot but prevail; or the wrongs of the oppressed that cry aloud in God's ears; or the nature of God, who is justice itself, and 
r Habb: 1. 12.  can endure no iniquity, is mercy itself, and must needs then 
s Psal. 5. 6. 〈◊〉 ●…. 16▪ 19  abhor cruelty: it cannot be but that at length he must arise and redress all such abuses, though for a while he may seem to sit still and forbear.  
The Use whereof concerneth either the oppressed, or their Oppressors.  
The oppressed it teacheth patience. For is there a God, that will 
t Psal. 146. 7.  do them right that endure wrong. Then 
u jam. 5. 7, 8.  be patient, my brethren, and wait the Lords coming: be patient, I say, and quiet your minds: for the coming of the Lord draweth near.  

x Eccles. 5. 7.  If thou seest in a Country the poor oppressed, and judgement and justice perverted▪ 
y Sicut. 1 P●…t. 4. 12.  wonder not at it, saith Solomon. No? why who would not wonder, might some say, to see iniquity set, where justice ought to be seated? yea but be not utterly dismayed yet in that regard; but remember, that There is one higher than the highest of them that regardeth it; and there be 
z Mysterium Triad●…s jun. ad Angelos refer●… Cart●…r.  those that be higher than they. 
* Eccles. 3. 17.  He, when time shall be, will judge both the just and the wicked, by righting the one, by revenging the other.  

a Cartwr. in Eccles.  As a man therefore that is overswayed with might and strong hand against right in some one Court, yet is not out of hope nor out of heart, so long as he hath liberty to appeal to some higher Court, so be it he be sure of the equity and sincerity, of the uprightness and integrity of the party whom he is to make his appeal unto. So those that are here oppressed, are not therefore to be discouraged, if at man's hand they can have no help here: they may make their appeal to God, and they are sure to prevail with him according to the equity of their cause: for he is one with whom 
b job. 34. 19  there is no respect of persons, 
c 2 Chron. 19 7.  nor accepting of bribes, one who as he will not be corrupted, so 
d Galat. 6. 7.  he cannot be deluded: And he (that 
e Psal. 9 18, 19  the poor may not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the oppressed perish for ever;) 
f Act. 17. 31.  hath set down a certain day, wherein he will without fail and without further delay, if not before, hear every man's cause, and right every man's wrong, and do justice upon every wrongdoer.  
As in this world then, howsoever some rebellious persons are by martial law sometime presently dispatched, and some notorious Malefactors are sometime 
g Hinc, Re●…s extraordinarius. C●…lius Cicer. famil. epist. 8. lib. 8. Et, Qu●…ionē extraordinariam 〈◊〉. Sen. epist. 97. Et, ius ex●…ra ordinem dicere. Ibid. 1●…6.  extraordinarily arraigned and out of hand executed in terrorem for the terror and example of others; yet the greatest number, the main multitude of thieves, Robbers and Murderers and the like Offenders are reserved to the ordinary Sessions, or the Gaoledelivery at the general Assize: So God, albeit he sit in Session sometime 
h Dan. 4. 28, 29, 30. & 5. 26, 27, 28. & 7. 25▪ 29. Act. 1●…. 23. I●… tanto crimi●… 〈◊〉 invenieus, quasi patientiam pretermisit, & diem extremi 〈◊〉 expectare ad vindictam ●…oluit, sed igne iudicij diem iudicij pr●…enis. Greg. m●…r. 19 23.  by extraordinary judgements on some notorious Blasphemers, or professed Atheists, or corrupt judges, or cruel Oppressors, or usurping Tyrants, etc. 
i jud. 6, 7. 2 Pet. 2. 6.  making them spectacles of his wrath, and their fearful ends so many real sermons of the divine justice and vengeance to others; yet the trial of most matters and the execution of most Malefactors hath he differed and put of to 
* Act. 17. 31.  that day, wherein he hath determined to judge the whole world 
k Rom. 2. 16.  by his Lord Chief 
l Act. 10. 42.  justice General, the Man jesus, 
m joh. 5. 22, 27.  whom he hath wholly committed that authority unto.  
And as one therefore that either hath been robbed himself, or that hath had his friend murdered, if he have the party apprehended and laid up fast in prison, is not presently out of patience, because he seeth him not instantly executed, but is well content quietly to expect the time of Assize, though it be half a year after, as long as he is sure that then he shall have justice against him. So ought we not presently to grow impatient, if we see not justice done instantly, so soon as our overhasty hearts shall require it, upon those that we suppose have wronged us, but rest content to stay God's leisure, and to expect his universal day of Assize, when we shall be sure without fail to have justice done us according to that which the equity of our cause shall require: Remembering withal, that all wicked ones are the mean while 
n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Plut. de vindict. divin. Et mundus carcer est, & corpus carcer est. Aug. in Psal: 141.  in this world as in God's jail, 
o Noli illum putare sine carcere esse. carcer eius, cer eius est. Aug. homil. 40.  under the chains of a guilty conscience, out of which there is no possible means of escape for them. But let us have patience till then, and assure ourselves we may, that 
p Idoneus patienti●… sequester est Deus, quicquid apud eum deposueris: si iniuriam, v'tor est; si damnum, restitutor est; si dolorem, medicus est; si mortem, resuscitator est. quantum patientia licet, ut Deum habeat debitorem? Tertull. de bono patient.  whatsoever loss or damage we shall thereby sustain, God will then undoubtedly 
q Morae dispendiū●…neris duplo pensatur. Hieron. in jerem.  with large overplus make good again to us.  
And for Oppressors and Wrongdoers, let them take heed how they deceive themselves, in hoping to go hand▪ smooth away with it for ever, because they can for the present carry matters so cunningly, delude or corrupt judge and jury, and make all so sure, that no writ of error can be had, nor reversement of judgement, none to call them or those they corrupt to account here. There is yet an other and an higher Tribunal, whereat they and those that they wrong must appear one day together, 
r Rom. 2. 2, 6, 11. jerem. 17. 9, 10.  where they shall not be able to delude or to bribe judge or jury, or to procure an unjust sentence. Yea 
Quotidiè ille scit, quis hîc sibi quaerat malum: Qui hîc litem adipisci postulant periu●…io; Mali res falsas qui impetrant apud iudicem: Iterum ille eam rem iudica●…ā iudicat; Matore multa multat, quam litem auferunt. Plaut rudent. prolog.  where their former sentence and judgement wretchedly purchased by them, and wrongfully passed for them, shall be ripped up, and sifted, and reversed again to their everlasting confusion, if it be not before that time seriously and sincerely repent of.  
Neither let them fond and vainly suppose, that because it is not done instantly, therefore it will never be. 
s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Vise Plut. de sera numinis vindicta.  God's Mil, saith the Heathen man, may seem to grind soft and slow, but it grindeth sure and small. 
t Non ille omisit proridentiam, aut amisit potentiam, sed patientiam exercet suam, dum panitentiam expectat tuam. Aug. de verb. Ap. 35.  It is not because God hath either lost his power or left his providence, but because he exerciseth his patience, while he expecteth thy repentance. Which unless with the more speed it 
u Currat paenitentia, ne praecurrat sententia. Chrysolog. serm. 167.  prevent his sentence, his 
2 Pet. 3. 9, 10.  seeming slowness and slackness before he cometh, will 
x Morae tarditatem paenae gravitate compensat. Qui quo tardius venit, severius percutit. Greg. mor. lib. 25. cap. 6 Tanto enim sequit●… dictrictior sententi●…, quant●… 〈◊〉 peccanti 〈◊〉 est patientia. dum divina se●…eritas e●… iniq●… acri●… punit, quo di●…tius per●…ulit. Grog ibidem c. 2.  be recompensed with the surer and severer payment, when he doth come. 
y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. E●…ripid. apud Plut. de vindict. diuin. Rarò 〈◊〉 sc●…lestum Deser●…it pede pana 〈◊〉. 〈◊〉. car●…. l. 2. 3.▪ Etsi quis primò periuria celat, Sera tame●… tacitis p●…na venit pedibus. Tibu●…. l. 1. eleg. 10. Et quod ille Odiss. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  Seldom, saith the Heathen man, is it, but that the divine vengeance overtaketh wicked wretches, though it seem but limpingly to pursue them. Seldom it is here, but that in some one kind or other it catcheth them and meeteth with them there, where they look not for it; but elsewhere it is certain never to miss of them, whether it meet with them here or no. Remember ahab's doom and Iezabels. They thought they had made all sure, when false witnesses suborned, and the judges corrupted, a wrong judgement was procured, and poor Naboth not condemned only but executed. But what doth Elias from God tell Ahab? 
z 1 King. 21. 9, 23. 2 King. 9 36, 37.  In that very place where the Dogs licked Naboths' blood, shall dogs likewise lick thy blood. And, The Dogs shall eat jezabel under the walls of Izreel: And jezabels' carcase shall lie like dung on the ground in the fields of Izreel; so that none shall be able to say, This is jesabel. And no less evil, if not the same, shall befall all those that take the courses that they did; 
1 Psal: 76. 9  When God shall stand up, as he will one day, to judge, and to right all those that are now wronged and oppressed.  
And it wanteth not his emphasis, that the Psalmist saith, judica terram, judge the earth: not, judica istos, judge these men; but judica terram ipsam, judge the earth, or the Land itself: as he said before, 
a Vers. 5.  Terrae ipsius statumina dimoventur; the very props and shores of the whole State are shaken. For when corruptions are crept into place of judicature, they become the sins of the Land, of the State.  
When private men do wrong, the sin is their own, it is their personal offence, and they must answer it with their heads. But when private men's abuses and enormities are borne with or bolstered out by authority, are not duly redressed and condignly punished by those that be in authority, when either justice is denied to those that be wronged, or injustice is done them by those that should do them right, than the offence becometh public, even the sin of the whole State: And maketh God enter into judgement not 
b Esai: 3. 13.  cum senioribus populi & principibus eius, With the Elders of his people and their Princes alone; but cum terra universa, with the whole Land, with the state in general. 
c jerem: 5. 28, 29.  They execute no judgement, neither for fatherless nor poor. And what followeth thereupon? And should not I then visit myself? saith the Lord: should not my very soul be a venged on such a nation? not on them alone, but on the Nation itself. And, 
d Mica▪ 3. 9, 10, 11, 12.  Hear this, ye heads of the house of jacob, and ye Princes of the house of Israel: ye that abhor judgement, and pervert justice, and judge for gifts, and give sentence for bribes: Therefore, Vestri causa, for your sake shall Zion be made a ploughed field, and jerusalem a waste heap, and the Temple a wild forest.  
Whence learn ye how to avert and prevent general judgements. 
e 1 Cor: 11. 31.  Si vosipsi iudicaretis, non iudicaremini: If you would judge yourselves, saith the Apostle, you should not be judged: so here, Si iudicaretis, non iudicaremur: If you that be in place of judicature would judge, you might save God a labour, neither you nor we should be judged. 
* Amos: 5. 15.  The surest course that can be to strengthen a state, and to keep the judgements of God out from a Country or Kingdom, is by the due and diligent administration and execution of justice, and by keeping out corruptions in places of judicature.  

f jerem. 22. 1. 6.  Go to the King's house, saith God to jeremy, and say; Hear the word of the Lord, o King, that sittest on David's throne, thou and thy servants. Thus saith the Lord, Execute ye judgement and justice, and rescue the oppressed from the hand of the Oppressor: and vex not the stranger, nor the fatherless, nor the Widow: nor do any violence; nor shed any innocent blood. For if you do this, there shall a succession of Kings sitting upon David's throne enter in at these gates, and ride in charets and on horses, both they and their Followers. But if you do otherwise; I swear by myself. 
g jurat vobis, per quem iuratis. Cassiod. variar. l. 8. ep. 3.  He sweareth to you, by whom you swear. And, happy you for whose sake he vouchsafeth to swear, if you regard 
b O beats nos quorum causa Deus iurat! o miserrimos si nec suranti credimus! Tertull. de penitent.  what he sweareth, most unhappy, if you neither fear, nor believe him, when he sweareth. But what is it that so solemnly he sweareth by himself? That this house, (the King's palace) shall be laid waist, and the whole City (of jerusalem) made a wild wilderness. For I will bring in those upon you, that shall utterly destroy either. And surely, if by justice and judgement 
i Prou: 25. 5. & 29. 14.  Throne and 
k Prou: 29. 4. Ius & aequitas vnicul●… civitatum. Cic. parad. Et Cartwr. in Prou. ex Psal. 75. 3. Pietas & iustitia du●… fulcra reipub▪ columnae regni.  State be upheld and established: no marvel if injustice and wrong judgement utterly overturn either.  
Whence further again observe we, who they be that may prove the greatest and most dangerous enemies to the public peace and tranquillity of the present estate. 
l▪ Vbi non est pudor, nec curaiuris, sanctitas, pietas, fides, Instabile regnum est.▪ Sen. Thyestes 2. 1. I●…iqua nunquam regna perpetuò manent. Sen. Med●….   
Were such a question propounded to many severally, it is likely, as the common saying and the usual manner is, that many men would be of many minds, that some would say one sort, and some other again name another sort.  
Some it may be would point at the promiscuous multitude of idle Varlets that swarm about the skirts and suburbs of this City especially, 
m Vulgus cuiusque motus novi cupidum. Tacit hist. l. 1. Seditiosum, atque discordiosum, cupidum novarum verum. Sallust. jugurth.  ready to make head and do mischief, if opportunity were offered. Others such notorious and enormous Transgressor's, as by wallowing in such beastly and abominable filth, as either 
n Levit. 18. 27, 21.  caused the Land of Canaan to spew out her Inhabitants, or 
o Genes. 19 24, 25. jud. 7.  drew down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrha from heaven. And it is not unlikely but that our Popish Priests and Jesuits would not undeservedly have the most honest-minded men's voices, whom yet we suffer too freely to lie and lodge like asps and Vipers in the bosom and bowels of our State.  
But I would say, and I shall make good what I say by God's word, that there may be (to let pass the former) much more dangerous enemies to us then these. 
p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Malum iudicium causa est c●…iusvis mali. jamblichus apud Sto●…▪ tom. 2. ●…. 44.  Corrupt Rulers, unjust judges, Oppressors of God's Saints and Servants, and Perverters of judgement and justice are more dangerous to Crown and State, I say not then idle Vagrants, or than Whoremasters and Adulterers, or than thieves and Murderers; (and yet the more duly and diligently justice is executed, the fewer there will be of all such sorts;) but even then popish Traitors and Conspirators, even the very worst of them, than the very Inventors and Contrivers of the Powder-plot itself.  
The one use the might and malice but of man, or of the Devil at most, against us; which God is able to curb and restrain, to rule and overrule at his pleasure. Whereas 
q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Hesiod. oper.  the other incense and bring in the wrath of God on us, which no created power is able to avert or avoid. 
r jerem. 21. 12.  Execute justice and judgement, saith God, and deliver the Oppressed out of the hand of the Oppressor: lest my wrath break out like fire, and so burn that none can quench it for the wickedness of your works.  
The sins of private Offenders bring wrath upon themselves: But the winking at them or partaking with them in those whose place and calling is to punish them, maketh them the sins of the State; and so draweth down the wrath of God upon the whole land: it is 
s Mica. 3. 12.  Vestri causa, For them that Zion is ploughed, and jerusalem sacked, and the whole Land dispeopled and destroyed. It is their not doing of justice or their doing of injustice, that enforceth God to arise and judge the whole State.  
But what is the reason, why God should so take to heart the poor people's oppressions as to stand up and judge himself in this sort? For all people, saith the Psalmist, are thine inheritance They are all 
t Psal. 28. 9  thy people, 
u Psal. 2. 8.  thy possession, 
x Psal. 74. 2.  thy portion, 
y Psal. 74. 9  thy poor; and therefore their cause it is in some respect 
z Psal. 74, 21, 22.  thine.  
God hath a special right to them, a special interest in them, 
* 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  in all nations, in all people, as well in poor as in rich, as well in low and obscure as in high and honourable, as well in people as in Prince, as well in Subject as in Sovereign.  
He hath interest in the one as well as the other;  
1. jure creationis, By right of creation: He hath made the one as well as the other. 
a Prou. 22. 2.  The poor and the rich 〈◊〉 together, saith Solomon; God is the maker of them both. 
b job. 31. 15.  He that made me, saith job, made my servant too. And, 
c job. 14. 15.  He loveth, saith the same job▪ the work of his own hands. 
d job. 34. 19  Neither doth he accept the person of Princes, or regard the rich rather the●… the poor; saith Elihu: because they be all alike the work of his hands.  
2. jure redemptionis, by right of redemption. He hath redeemed the one as well as the other. 
e Galat. 3. 26, 27, 28.  You are all alike the sons of God by faith in Christ; as many of you as being baptised into Christ, have solemnly put on Christ: And there is no difference of jew or Greek, bond or free, rich or poor, male or female, but ye all are one in Christ. Yea, 
f 1 Cor. 1. 25, 26.  You see, brethren, your calling, ●…ow that there are not many wise ones after the flesh, nor many great ones in the world, nor many rich ones neither, among you, But 
g jam. 2. 5.  God hath chosen a many mean and despised ones in the world, to be rich in grace, and heirs of his kingdom. The very poorest soul's ransom cost Christ as dear a price as the redeeming of the richest did: and the meanest true Christian hath as good, and as great a portion in Christ, as the mightiest Monarch in the world either hath or can have.  
3. jure protectionis, By right of preservation and protection. He preserveth the one as well as the other; he provideth for the one as well as for the other; he protecteth the one as well as the other.  
He preserveth and upholdeth the one as well as the other. For 
h job. 12. 9, 10.  as his hand hath made them all: so the soul, or the life, of every living creature is in his hand; and the brea●…h of all mankind. And be we high or low, rich or poor, 
i Act. 17. 28.  We all live and mo●…e and have our being in and by him.  
He provideth for the one as well as the other. His providence extendeth itself unto either. As 
k Act. 17. 26.  he made all men of one blood to dwell on the face of the whole earth: so hath he bounded out to each one his place of abode: and 
l Act. 17. 25.  he giveth as life and breath and being, so all things else too, unto all. As 
m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Aristip. apud Laert.  he sometime answered the beggarly Philosopher ask him whence he had all his store: 
n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Pindar. Is●…hns. ode 5.  The poor man hath his pittance from no other hand, than the rich man hath his world of wealth. It is the same God 
o Psal. 65. 9 & 68 10.  that provideth as well for the Peasant, as for the Prince.  
He protecteth the one as well as the other. Yea he hath undertaken more specially to protect as 
p Psal. 18. 50.  Princes, so 
q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Menand. apud Stob. to●…. 2. cap. 93. Pauperes 〈◊〉. Psal. 74. 19  poor ones. As Princes though they protect all their Subjects in general, yet are wont to vouch safe more special protection in some cases to some sorts: so God the Protector of all in general, hath yet more specially taken into his protection the poor, the Widow, the Fatherless, the friendless, the helpless. 
r Psal. 10. 14.  The poor, saith the Psalmist, committeth his cause unto thee: for thou 〈◊〉 the Helper of the Fatherless. And, 
s Psal. 9 9  The Lord is a refuge for the poor; or, as our Meeter well hath it, the poor man's Protector. And, 
t Psal 68 5.  He is the Father of the fatherless, and the Widow's judge, even God in his holy habitation.  
And therefore as he giveth judges his Deputies a special charge of such. 
u Vers. 3. 4.  Defend the poor, and the fatherless; see that the afflicted and needy have justice: deliver the poor and the needy; rescue them out of wicked men's hands. So to all others he giveth a caveate concerning them, to take heed how they wrong them: 
x Exod. 22. 22. Z ch. 7. 10.  Vex ye not any widow, or poor fatherless child. And where aught is done contrary to 
* Malac. 3. 5.  this his inhibition, he taketh special notice of it, and threateneth in severe manner to avenge it. 
y Psal. 10. 14.  Thou seest it, saith the Psalmist, and viewest oppression and wrong, to take the matter into thine hands. And, 
z Exod. 22. 22, 23.  If you vex or oppress any such, saith God, and they call or cry to me, I will not fail to hear them: But I will draw near unto you to judgement; and I will be a swiftwitnesse (there shall need no further proof nor pleading, I hear and see all myself, I see your wrong, and hear their cries) against those that vex and oppress such; and fear not me: saith the Lord of hosts.  
I might add a fourth right, Ius glorificationis, Of glorification, He hath purposed and promised to glorify as well the one as the other. For 
a Luk. 12. 32. jam. 2. 5.  he hath chosen the poor as to grace, so to glory, to be heirs of his Kingdom. 
b Luk. 6. 20.  Blessed be you, poor ones (so be you be 
c Math. 5. 3.  poor in Spirit as well as poor in purse) saith our Saviour: for yours is the Kingdom of heaven. And as Augustine well reasoneth in an other case, 
d Quidat regnum, non ●…abit ●…iaticū. Aug. de verb. Dom.  He that will give them a Crown, will he deny them a crumb? So, he that 
e Apoc. 1. 6. & 3. 21. 1 Cor 6. 2, 3.  will make them Kings and judges, will he not much more do them justice?  
To conclude: as he reasoned sometime for the body and the resurrection of it; 
f Quam De●… manibus suis ad imaginem sui struxit, quam de suo afflatu ad viv●…citatis suae similitudinem animavit, quam incolatui, fructui, dominatui totius suae operationis praepesuit, quam sacramentis suis discipl●…nisque vestivit, cuius munditias amat, castigationes probat, passiones sibi adpreciat; haeccine non resurget, toti●…ns Dei? Absit ut Deus manuum suarum operam, ingenij sui curam, adflatus sui vaginam, moli●…ionis suae reginam, liberalitatis suae haeredem, religionis suae sacerdoten, testimonij sui militem, Christi sui sororem in ater●… destituat interitum. Tertul. deresurr. carn.  the body that God himself at first fashioned, that he quickened, that he adorned and advanced, that he protecteth and preserveth, that he hath redeemed by his Son, that he hath sealed with his Sacraments, whose purity he desireth, whose chastity he delighteth in, whose discipline he approveth, whose patience he prizeth; how can he suffer it to perish utterly, that is so many ways his? So may we reason for the poor oppressed and Gods righting of their wrongs: Those that God hath created, and that in his own image, hath redeemed with a price of inestimable worth, doth in fatherly manner daily preserve and provide for, hath taken more specially into his protection, is purposed to make one day 
g Rom. 8. 17. Apoc. 21. 7.  coheirs with his Christ; how can he choose but do them justice, and right all their wrongs, that are in so special manner so many ways his?  
That which may serve, briefly to admonish, as all others, so those especially that be in place of authority and judicature, to take heed how they contemn or wrong their poor brethren in regard of their poverty and penury, and mean estate in the world; or how in favour of any great one, that oppresseth or opposeth them, they either deny or delay to do them right. Since the poor are part of God's portion as well as the richest, as the greatest, and may have as good part in God as they.  
Say of the poor man therefore that appeareth before thee, as job sometime of his servant: 
h job. 31. 13.  I may not contemn him, be he never so mean: 
i job. 31. 15.  The same God that made me, made him too: yea, the same Christ that redeemed me, redeemed him too: 
k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, quem serrum tuum vocas, ●…x 〈◊〉 or●…um 〈◊〉, e●…dem 〈◊〉 cae●…o, aequè spir●…re, aequè vivere, aequè mori. Sen. ep. 47.  He is made of the same mould that I myself am: he ●…eareth the same image of God that I myself do. And, He that either 
l Prou. 14. 31.  oppresseth or 
m Prou. 17. 5.  reproacheth the poor, he wrongeth his Maker: he that oppresseth or reproacheth him, he wrongeth his Redeemer.  
Yea he that oppresseth or reproacheth him wrongeth his Protector: (It is a wrong to the Prince for any man to meddle with those whom he hath undertaken to protect:) who will not suffer such wrong therefore to go unrevenged; it were against his own honour. 
n Prou 23. 10, 11.  Remove not the ancient bound, saith Solomon, nor encroach upon the fields of the Fatherless: For their Redeemer is mighty; (though they be feeble themselves) and he will maintain their cause against thee. And again, 
o Prou. 2●…. 22, 33.  Rob not the poor, because he is poor; neither oppress the afflicted in judgement: For the Lord himself will plead their cause; and he will spoil the soul of such as spoil them.  
If one have business before you, be he himself never so mean, that hath the Prince's protection, or that belongeth to some Great-man, my Lord Duke, or my Lord marquis, how charily will you be sure to carry yourselves in his cause, how wary of doing him the least injustice that may be? You make full account to hear of it again, if you do otherwise. But every poor oppressed one that repaireth to you for relief and redress of his wrongs, that resorteth to your seats, as to God's Sanctuary, for succour, he is a Sanctuary man, he is one that belongeth unto God, God hath special interest in him, he hath undertaken the protection of him. And how careful, yea how fearful should you be then of doing the least wrong or injustice unto any, that he owneth and that he hath promised to protect?  
Assure yourselves, if you do, you shall hear of it with a witness, 
p Psal. 76. 9  When God shall arise to judge the earth, and to right the wrongs of all his oppressed ones. At what time you shall find our Saviour's words to be true, which I shall shut and seal up all withal: 
q Math. 18. 6.  Better it were for you, that a ●…il-stone were hanged about your necks, and that you were so drowned in the deepest Ocean, then that you should, in your places especially, do the least wrong to the least of those little ones; whose wrongs God neither will nor can suffer to pass unrevenged, because they are part of his inheritance. (***)  
FINIS.