Dies Nefastus; OR A SERMON Preached on the Public FAST Day, FOR THE Cruel Murder Of Our Late SOVEREIGN, Upon that unfortunate day January 30.  
By Andrew Dominick, D. D. and Rector of Stratfieldsay in Hampshire  
LONDON, Printed by Tho Child, and Leon, Parry, 1662.   

To the Worshipful Matthew Wren Esquire, one of the Secretaries unto the Lord Chancellor, and one of the Worthy Members of this present Parliament.  
SIR,  
ALthough it may seem a presumption in me, to present so small and poor a thing unto the world under your Name, yet I have sufficient reasons, to Justify myself as to others therein; that albeit you have shown yourself a Master in History, as also in a fluency, and comptnesse of Language, and stile, making all things firm, and uncontroleable even to your adversary: so that it was reported abroad (even then in those days) that sure you had (which is well nigh a miracle in writing) converted him unto a righter Judgement. Yet s●eing this small piece is a kind of History, though, if there be any truth in me, but of few hours; composed merely, as you may see, out of a sad memory of things past, and is merely historical; it being methought (considering the duty of the day) ●he best argument could possibly be used, to any that had the least show of ingenuity, to bring them to a hearty mourning, sorrow, and repentance, to hear again what evils have been done in these unfortunate times passed; though I wanted some small helps even for this, to do those honourable persons, and others, right in naming them in particular, who ever suffered in the Cause. But it being (as I was saying) a matter of history, besides the particular application to the present occasion, to whom should I present it, but as in the Schools they use to do their exercise, even to him that is the very Master of the Science? and besides, I have other Obligations, you being the head of that loyal, and persecuted Family, next to your Right Reverend Aged Father, the learned Lord Bishop of Ely, that great Confessor of the Church of England. I having (as I was saying) been obliged to the other line of your Family many years since, by the greatest endearments that a Sober man can fancy: how can I but be offering my respects, in tendering some signification of my observance unto you? Against what else may be said, I have only this to answer in General, That Parents are wont to love their weakest Children most, and to seek for them the best favour they can get, it may be so perhaps with me, for I'll assure you, I have not been altogether idle, and could prove it too, were it not for some trouble I find in this; by something able of itself to stand alone. But if, most worthy Sir, you can pardon this present Boldness of mine; you shall add to the other Obligations in my account; and I shall be bound to pray for your Happiness, and remain  
Your humble Servant, Andrew Dominick.   

AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.  
GOod Christian Reader,  
Understand that in this my Sermon, it was not my aim to perstring the truly godly, but only those Counterfeit, that brought on things to that wicked pass; I do not mean the truly godly, I did disclaim that, as you may see in the Sermon, for many such I found about me, to my comfort, in the days of my trouble, who shown their Loyalty even therein, that notwithstanding I was in the last persecution accused for my services done the late King, yet did those help me what they could, and some of them professed in private, That there were indeed many who professed much, but could do no good, but hurt. These were grave, sober, godly people, and (for aught I could ever perceive) loyal in their hearts to their King, and such there are therefore, and God forbidden that I, or any one should make godliness the Mark to know who were, or are disloyal: a grace which includeth far better things, and by which I am persuaded we may escape (through God's mercy) any the like evils again, let not then Religion, or Godliness far the worse, for having been abused, only warily distinguish for the future, try every spirit, study the peace of the Church and State; pray for it, and seek it charitably, and God bless thy endeavour, Amen, Amen.   

DIES NEFASTUS. OR A Sermon Preached on the Public Fast Day, for the Cruel Murder of our late SOVEREIGN.  PSALM. 22.12, 13. 
Many Bulls have compassed me: strong Bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring Lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.  
IN the 2 Corinth. 12. chap. 10. vers. we read of St. Paul, that he took pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, and with the same great mind seemed He to be endowed, for whom we mourn this day; That Royal Person, and Great Prince, how meekly, how patiently did he take it to conflict with the greatest affronts and calamities in the world; but God is most potent and can uphold his Servants, (in spite of Satan and all he can inspire, to molest, provoke, and exasperate his Servants) that in their Trials and Sufferings, neither the Devil himself, nor all his Instruments, shall be ●ble with their unjustest do to provoke his Beloved, and dear Servants, and Children unto any less approved passage in words or gesture, in all their Sufferings; which thing, among all that ever suffered (next to our Saviour himself) 'tis conceived (by all comparisons) none more perfectly, exactly, and clearly manifested, than our most Gracious and blessed Prince of sweetest Memory, now in Heaven; of which perhaps I may speak more in the handling of this Text.  
Many Bulls have compassed me, strong Bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as ravening am a roaring Lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.  
In which words we have a great danger declared, (observe) even that most Holy King and Prophet was in, which sorely troubled him. Violent and unreasonable people, and many of them too, Many Bulls of Bashan have compassed me; And this was no small trouble if we consider, 1. Their Hostility; the malevolency of those wicked Enemies, which the Holy Ghost expresseth here by those Savage and Ravening Creatures, wild Bulls, and hungry Lions, such were those who could find in their hearts to pursue our Holy and Innocent David, whom nothing could satisfy (they were so wickedly resolved) but his dearest Life, end, most precious Blood, that so having slain (as it is in the parable) the Lord of the Vineyard, they might rise and take possession. Persecution, you know, may be carried on, either mode cruento, or i●cruento, they were too well versed in both kinds, speaking like him in the Book of Wisdom, ch. 2.19, 20. verses. Let us examine him with despitefullnesse, and let us condemn them with a shameful death. Here I could speak of the Apostles, and other Saints believing in Christ, how some of them were beheaded, and others crucified, others hanged on a tree, others killed with the swords; most sad stories, all yet even to be paralleled by these times in our memory. Eusebius tells us of a persecution under those monsters of Men, Dioclesian, and Maximinian, wherein 17000 Christians were slain with the sword 
* V D Johan. Pappas in Epist Hist. Eccles.  And an other tells of 900000. in the space of 30. years, from 1550. to 1580. in the Low Countries, England Italy, and Spain, that were miserably butchered, for the Religion we now profess 
* D. Saccus 2 part post Doni. 8. Tr. . But what is this to the cruelties our eyes have seen, or might have seen, in a lesser space, both of ground, and time? Oh how many thousands (beloved?) yea, who is able to number them that went to wrack by the means of that unnatural Rebellion of late years amongst us? Nay men of principallest quality, and best fashion amongst us 
* Here think up●n the Nobles, Knights, & Gent. . Nay, our dearl highly honoured and beloved King compassed by those Bulls of Bashan, and destroyed in open sight, at his own Doors, his poor loyal people sighing, and helpless Spectators. O horrid and unheard of cruelty! O bloody Catiline's! Can no blood satisfy, after so many noble streams your cruel hands had made, but the blood of your Sovereign? what vipers? what tigers? what bulls of Bashan were these? certainly David could not more bitterly entitle his malicious enemies, than we may justly those of the late King, many are the adversaries which risen up against him may Israel now say, many are the adversaries, and they fought against me with cruel hatred may Israel also say, and who were those adversaries that risen up so violently against David? not strangers, but his own Subjects, his own vassals, and servants, this aggravated the matter; had it been a stranger (as he said elsewhere) he could have borne it with much more patience, but our late Sovereign was afflicted by his own people, insolently handled, by rebels most barbarously murdered; yet bore it with unheard of patience, sweetly counselling and advising as if he had been not so much to die by them, as for them; Oh beloved, let us bewail that wicked fact, let us lament that ever Englishman should prove so unnatural, so cruel, so inhuman as to rise up against his own, own own natural Prince. What a disgrace by that barbarous fact, did those vipers bring upon the Nation? 'tis storied of vipers, that grown to maturity in their dams belly, they gnaw a hole, and so those serpents come forth into the world; just so did those Rebels of old, grown up to some strength gnaw a hole thorough the bowels of those that bred them, and destroyed the Patrem Patriae, and had well nigh murdered their Country; beloved, for this should we mourn this day, for this lament, abhorring all thought of the least refreshment; For know ye not that a great prince fell in Israel this day, let us therefore mourn, let us express and show our sadness before God and man; and let this be Dies Nefastus, an unlucky day, a day of darkness for ever, a day of blackness and gloominess; let no joy or gladness be heard in our streets; but rather paleness in our faces, and sorrow perceived in our hearts on this day for ever. Let us also by prayers and godly readings humble our minds at the footstool of Divine Majesty, that he may be entreated concerning the blood of our gracious Sovereign, that some of the chief actors having been hung up before the Lord, the kingdom may be guiltless before the Lord for ever, Oh hear us we beseech thee O Lord, and make not inquisition upon the guiltless for blood, but let the blood of those which spilt that most precious blood, satisfy thy sore displeasure for shedding of that blood.  
Austin tells us, de Civit. 26. there sha●● be ●owards the end of the world such Persecutions as never was, and truly such days had we (within these few years passed) when those Bulls of Bashan were got lose, what swarms then of Locusts and Caterpillars were every where, upon every green thing.  
Zozomen and Theodoret tell us, That the Persecutions were not always with present death, to hang, or shoot them forthwith, but sometimes to macerate them first in Prisons, and to afflict them there with expectation of death, more intolerable than death itself. So was the Church afflicted in the Primitive times, and when those Bulls of Bashan were lose, (who ever escaped) the Clergy ever went to wrack; in the Primitive Persecution, John the Baptist was Beheaded, Peter and John we read were Imprisoned, Acts 4.3. S●. Peter and Andrew were Crucified, St. Bartholomew Skinned alive, St. Luke Hanged, Ignatius cast to Lions, the Prophet Michael fed with bread and water, others spoilt of their Goods and Estates, and sent away into Banishment. But with us many thousands of the poor Commonalty were sold into perpetual slavery, to Dig under ground in Mines, all the days of their Lives: Many were deprived, Zozom. saith oft times, of their civil Honours, and the Churches in many places shut up, the Ministers proscribed, and turned out, Church Revenues scamled amongst needy and bankrupt people, to encourage others, such like, to rise up and accuse their Godly Ministers; and now I beseech you doth not this seem like the History of our times, saving that we had something yet worse, which grew out of these eaves, and that was the damnable mask of Religion and Godliness, than which there can be nothing more , when true and sincere; For it is not my thoughts (I bless God for it) to speak, or hint the least in way of discountenancing of true Religion and Godliness, or to discourage or balk any in the sincere practice thereof, no it were better I profess th●t my tongue should cleave to the roof of my mouth. No, (my beloved Brethren) go on I beseech you in all Sincerity, and Truth, both to profess, and practice also, not in words only, but in deeds also, f●r there is nothing more beneficial, nothing more comfortable in the end, then to be able to say with the Holy Father, Egredere meâ anima, go forth my soul, go forth with cheerfulness to meet thy gracious Lord, whom thou hast (through his grace) served so many years; Then nothing is more  than Religion, but then I mean to note it also that nothing is more mischievous, when feigned, and counterfeited, and what was more frequent? it was that great Mask the prime Contrivers of our Ruin walked in themselves, and it was that they loved to see their Imps to imitate them in, so that if the commonest 
* So it was with myself.  Strumpet (in fame) could but scruple at the word Temple, or Church, or Altar, she was Godly enough to accuse her Minister for a Scandalous Person. Oh the Hypocrisy of those times, that Religion and Godliness itself should be so abused, to be made the Stalking-horse for Sacrilege, Robbery, and Theft, and that the exquisiteness of Villainy should grow to that strength, as to infect the World for many years after, if it be not lustily observed by us, and the World made sometimes ashamed. Quis tulerit Gracchoes? 
Juven●●. Satyr. 10.  said the Poet, who is able with tolerable patience to see men such proficients in Villainy, that they can shift the Scene, and be Knaves on both sides, grow as confident with whom they have new●y insinuated, to do mischief by them, as ever they did, or threatened heretofore by the contrary. These be pure youths indeed, and would be uncased a little to appear in their own colours, these be those Bulls of Bashan that can breed disquiets, and through all bounds of Law and Right, pasture up●n men at their pleasure: Certainly David's Persecution was very great, but our Davids much more, it we consider the Hostility of it, either to Himself, Church, or Loyal people; or if we consider the Plurality thereof, David complained of many Bulls, 'twas not any one that could have compassed him, but they were many, he speaketh of many, of all his Persecutors, Many Bulls of Bashan, yea strong Bulls compassed me; so it is usually; the State is like a Ship, and the unruly Multitude like the Sea, which if by any means a leak be sprung, will pour in, to the endangering of all; After David was opposed with an Army, the very abjects could shake their heads at him, and many troubles followed one upon another; so beloved, when our bewailed King was compassed on every side, how did the mischiefs on every hand increase the Reverend Fathers pulled down, and Canting false Prophets set up, petty Tyrants, like young sprouts, started up every where out of the great root of Tyranny above, many but (to domineer over their Clergy, and have of his livelihood as they pleased) had their ways they gloried in, to do him mischief at pleasure, and if Aristotle's rule in moral Philosophy be true, Quicquid per amicos, aliqualitèr per nos, that what we do by friends, we may be said to do (in some sort) ourselves, than were some, and of such fashion too, as aught to have scorned such things, no honester than they should be, and yet beloved these were not half the evils of those days, which came upon us, without all question, through the untimely loss of our gracious Sovereign; then did they slander and reproach the footsteps of the Lords Anointed, then was the Orthodox faith exploded, the gravest Ministers proscribed, and many of the Rabble yet, for the contempt was poured out on Church men, can scarce yet entertain a just respect; but the servant is not above his Lord, there were who said Christ had a devil, Joh. 8.48. and in the time of Constantine the Emperor, the truly Orthodox were called of the Arrians, Homousians, Theod. lib. 1.4. Austin was called of the Palagians a Manichee, and as Ruffian, lib. 1.17. Athenatius was called a Conjurer, that they might deprive him of his Bishopric; nay they Excommunicated the most Orthodox party, and denied them Christian burial when they were dead. Lord whither will not the petulant rage, and madness of men carry them, when once let lose? Government is a precious thing, that distinguisheth us from beasts, and makes us to live like men, nay like honest and good men; which, if let lose, our late times show what beasts men will become, Bulls of Bashan, and ravening Lions; the holy Ghost thinks fit expressions to intimate their purposes, and practices, that once set themselves against Law and Supreme authority. The Leaders and instigators unto that evil are in God's account, and all reason shows in a Common-weal, as wild Bulls, and ravening Lions, drawing a world of evils after them, if not timely prevented, and discreetly avoided by all. For as Laws are the proper fences, and bounds of our properties, and rights: so is the Sovereign power the shelter, and preservation of the Law: As therefore is the loss of Law, such is the utimely destroying of the rightful Sovereign, which must needs draw after it (as we not many years since w●●fully experienced) multitude of evils. So that we may this day weep for ourselves, as Christ told the people of the Jews, Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, that God may avert the judgement due unto this land, for that most horrid and wicked fact committed on this day. Weep ye that so much innocence, uprightness, and justice should fall, by such guilty, and treacherous hands. Neither may ye wonder (Beloved) that God would let lose those bulls of Bashan, upon his David, upon so good a King; his best Servants eaten fittest to make greatest Champions, as ablest through greatest graces, to stand out most nobly in the causes of God; And beside Christ himself went this way to heaven, and it behoveth those who are mostly his members, to be made most conformable unto him, and was not Christ betrayed too and sold, and are there not many who have betrayed him over again in his members, an have gone, like Judas, unto the persecutors and said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And now, beloved, Observe again who is it in the text that saith, have compassed me, me; was it not David? Holy David, a King, and a Prophet, a man after Gods own heart, 1 Sam. 13, 14, 16, 13. to whom was promised the blessing, Acts 13.23. who spoke by the holy Ghost; yet so it was, that God suffers him to be in that manner compassed with Bulls and Lions, Many Bulls have compassed me, strong Bulls of Bashan beset me round about.  
Whence we may observe, That the afflictions of good men, are notes rather of love, than displeasure of the Almighty, for whom the Lord loveth, he afflicteth: and so he doth the wicked too, but in a different manner, and to a different end, they find not that comfort in it, nor that amendment by it, as do Gods Servants; wicked men are seldom the better for any cross, or at best of no long continuance: 'Tis true, 'tis said of Ahab, Seest thou not how Ahab humbleth himself? But yet a little after we read him threatening, and stalling at God's Prophet for telling him the truth; but gracious hearts are highly every way improved by troubles, Before I was afflicted, I went astray, saith David, but now I have kept thy word; So than afflictions as they are arguments in God's Servants of more goodness: so are they of more love, and therefore are they to be the more condoled, and lamented in their sufferings, by how much their translation hence (what way soever) may be for their own joy, and comfort above, but our misery in their loss, or manner of loss here below. Then I lay you down this doctrine, That it is most meet (according to command) that we mourn this day for the untimely death of our late King, for I may say with David, 2 Sam. 3.38. Know ye not that a great Prince fell on this day in Israel? Nay I have to observe farther, That the Church of God may be sometimes deprived of such heads, as would have been very much for her behoof to have retained: for what greater Prince than joshua for whom God fought, at whose prayer the Sun, and Moon stood still, unto whom God sent an auxiliary of Hail from heaven, to vanquish his enemies, Josh. 20. for whose sake the water of Jordan gave place fox him to go over, yet this Joshua was taken away, and the people of God lost so good a Prince, which would have been in all likelihood, much for their behoof, to have kept. What shall I say of David, of Abraham, and Samson, they are all dead; and which is more yet, Aliquando tristi aliqua morte extinguuntur, they are sometimes taken off with untimely, and to be extremely lamented deaths: and yet very good Kings too. As for example, josias whose heart was tender, and trembled at the word of God, and rend his clothes, 2 Kings 22.11. of whom it is said 2 Kings 23.25. That there was no King before or after him that turned so his heart to the Lord his God; yet was he untimely slain at Megiddo, and by an uncircumcised hand of Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt: Wherefore (beloved) let it not suggest evil thoughts of God, or our Prince unto us, that this happened as on this day, God hath his reasons for it, and he would humble us, we had sinned questionless, and therefore God suffered us to be rob of so great riches we had in our late King, that we might be punished in the loss, let us not then presume any evil of him, for otherwise must we suspect evil of good Josias, whom the Scripture highly commends, and yet so untimely slain; Let us then mourn for our sins and that will please God I am sure. Let us lament, and say with the Prophet Jeremiah in the 5th of his Lamentations, vers. 16. The Crown is fallen from our head, woe unto us that we have sinned. And as at the 40 verse, Let us search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord; Let us lift up our hearts and hands unto God in the heavens; We were deeply wounded through our Sovereign, but he 
* Co●nelius me evasit said the Tyrant Nero. Tacit.  escaped through the loss of him, lay groaning under heavy oppressions, due punishments for our sins: But now it hath pleased Almighty God (blessed be his holy name) to restore again (as much as may be) our gracious and desired Sovereign, in his beloved Son, our present and good King, the best of Princes. But let us not forget the duty of this day, to weep, to mourn, to be afflicted, to lament the fall of our former dear Sovereign, and to be able to say with the Prophet, Lamentations the 3. v. 48. Mine eyes runneth down with rivers of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people. And with the Prophet, Let us wish for a fountain of tears, to weep day and night for the slain. O let us mourn this day, as 'tis said of Joseph, and his brethren, for his Father Israel, that they mourned with a very great and sore lamentation, that even those Canaanites amongst us may say, This is a very grievous mourning to the Loyalists. And let us (beloved) give thanks to God for our Dear Sovereign that now is, who (as out of the Ashes of that Phoenix,) happily is returned to reign again his Father over us, and to deliver us from innumerable evils, and to restore us all the blessings of peace, for which the Lord bless him, as Solomon prayeth for himself, with wisdom and prudence: And the Lord bless him moreover (as he added unto his Solomon's desire) with riches and honour, and the Lord be with him in his going forth, and coming in.  
And let it repent us in particular this day, let it repent us of our Sins, let us resolve upon amendment of 〈◊〉, and let us not consecrate such days to Bacchus, and delights, but to God, let not those miscreants gather encouragement from their 
* 'tis said of Satan, be can turn himself into an Angel of Light.  Devilish holiness for that any of us seem to have none, but let us all be as really religious, as they would seem to be: l●t us endeavour to grow in faith, and all spiritual graces, and be constant in hope, and persevere in obedience, and be Zealous in good works, which make for the Worship, and Glory of God.  
And the Lord grant we may induce him by our prayers this day, to turn away his wrath and just displeasure from us. Amen, Amen.  
FINIS.