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Kinge Dauid, when the whole Religion of God was altogeather brought out of frame by wicked Kinge Saule,* 1.1 brought home againe the Arke of God, that is to saie, he restoared Religion againe: and was not onely amongest them him self, as a counseller, and furtherer of the woorke, but he appointed also Hymnes, and Psalmes, put in order the companies, and was the onely dooer in setting foorth that whole Solemne Triumphe, and in effecte ruled the Priestes.
As Dauid restored all thinges to good order,* 1.2 after the euill Kinge Saule,* 1.3 so did Queene Marie redresse disorders before committed.* 1.4 But as Queene Marie did it by the meane of Priestes, so Kinge Dauid in priestly matters called for Sadoch, and Abiathar. In deede Dauid passed other Princes here∣in, because he had the‡ 1.5 gifte of Prophecie, whereby he wrote Psalmes, whiche to this daie we singe. But all this maketh nothinge to proue him Iudge of Spirituall matters. He did not vsurpe the Au∣ctoritie to Sacrifice, to discerne the lepre, and to doo the like thinges of Priestly charge.
Kinge Dauid, yee saie, restoared Religion by meane of the Priestes. Nay, verily, M. Hardinge: for by meane of the Priestes, the Religion vtterly was decaied. There∣fore yée spoile that Moste Noble Prince of his woorthy prayses: and geue them to others, that neuer deserued them. The Holy Tabernacle was broken, and loste: ye Arke of God was keapte, not in the Temple, but in a Priuate mannes house: the people had no common place to resorte vnto, to heare Goddes VVil: they had eche man his owne Priuate chaple in their Hilles, and Groaues.
Dauid therefore called the Bishoppes, & Priestes togeather: He shewed them, in what sorte the Religion of God was defaced: he willed them to bring the Arke into Sion: he was presente him selfe: he appointed, and ordered the whole Tri∣umphe: He assigned,* 1.6 whiche of the Leuites, and in what order they shoulde serue before the Arke: He alloted Aarons Children, whiche were the Priestes, to walke eche man in his seueral office.
So likewise it is written of Kinge Salomon, touchinge the same: Kinge Sa∣lomon, accordinge to the decree,* 1.7 and order of his Father Dauid, appointed the Offices of the Priestes in their seueral Ministeries, and the Leuites, eche man in his Order: that they shoulde praise God, and minister before the Priestes. For so Dauid, the man of God, had commaunded.* 1.8 Likewise it is written of Kinge Iosaphat, He appointed, and or∣dered the Leuites, and Priestes.
Thus then did these godly Princes: and thus dooinge, they vsurped not the Bishoppes office, but onely did that, they lawfully mighte doo, and apperteined wholy vnto them selues.
Where yee saie, Dauid was a Prophete, and not onely a Kinge, as though he had donne these thinges by the vertue of his Prophesie, and not by the righte of his Princely Power, this poore shifte is very simple. For notwithstanding Kinge Dauid were a Prophete, yet Kinge Iosaphat, & other Princes, that did the like, were no Prophe••es: neither doo wee reade of any other Prophete, that euer at∣tempted to doo the like: nor did Dauid these thinges, as a Prophete, but as a Kinge.
1. Paralip. 13.
Kinge Da∣uid orde∣reth ma∣ters of Religion.
An il compa∣rison. For that the one set vp, the other pluckte dovvne.
1. Paral. 15.
A simple shifte God vvote. For other Kinges, that did the like, vvere no Pro∣phetes.
1. Paralipom. 16. 1. Paralipom. 24.
2. Paralipom. 8.
2 Paralipom. 19.