Hearts delight A sermon preached at Pauls crosse in London in Easter terme. 1593. By Thomas Playfere professour of diuinitie for the Ladie Margaret in Cambridge.

To the most victorious, vertuous, and puissant Prince, King IAMES the first, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defendour of the faith, all earthly and heauenly happines.

GLorious, gratious; It is our crowne and the highest toy of our heart, that the crowne of this king∣dome is to be set vp on your royall head. Otherwise, nothing in the world could haue co••n••eruail'd th'excessiue sorrow, that her late Maiestie departing hence left behind her, but the vncomparable

ioy and triumph which your expectation sent before you, and now your princely presence bringeth with you. When Salo∣mon,* 2.1 after his father Dauid, was an∣nointed king, they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, God saue king Sa∣lomon, and reioyced with great ioy, so that the earth rang with the sound of them. We haue thought, no trumpets, no proclamations, no bonefires, no bells suf∣ficient; neither haue we heard the earth onely ring-out, but also the heauens re∣double and ••ccho-backe againe the ac∣clamations and applauses of all men, which hau•• showted and said, God saue King Iames. Now also, when your Highnes approacheth nearer, the straight charge which hath bin publikely giuen to the contrarie, cannot restraine your peo¦ple, but that out of all countries & shires, they runne and flocke together, to behold and attend your Maiestie, as some bright and beautifull starre,* 2.2 which by his diuine-sweete influence worketh a gene∣rall prosperitie and peace. For what loy

all subiect doth not blesse God, and blesse himselfe that he liues to see this happie time, which was feared would prooue full of great disorder and trouble, so wisely and wonderfully caried (God as it were from heauen stretching out his holy hand, and holding the mindes of all men in a••e and obedience) as that in it the peaceable vniting of two mightie kingdomes, ma∣keth vs inuincible against all our ene∣mies, and all our enemies contemptible to vs? Wherefore at this time, when all your liege people striue to shew the glad∣nesse of their hearts, by tendring such seruices, as are sutable to their possibilitie and performance, I also among the rest haue taken occasion humbly to dedicate vnto your Maiestie such a poore present as I had in a readines.* 2.3 Assuring my selfe, that as none are more familiar with God then godly Kings: so no treatises can be more welcome to godly kings, then such as may draw them into greatest familia∣ritie with God. And I doubt not but that your Highnes hauing hitherto had

your heart's desires giuen you, because you haue delighted in the Lord, wil here after, if it be possible, much more delight in the Lord, that he may yet giue you more desires of your heart. Nay I am so farre from doubting of this, that I dare be hold to conclude with the Psalmist.

The King shall reioyce in thy strength,* 2.4 O Lord: exceeding glad shall he be of thy saluation.

Thou hast giuen him his hearts desire: and hast not denied him the request of his lippes.

For thou shalt preuent him with the blessings of goodnes: and shalt set a crowne of pure gold vpon his head.

His honour is great in thy saluati∣on: glorie and great worship shalt thou lay vpon him.

For thou shalt giue him euerlasting felicitie: and make him glad with the ioy of thy countenance.

And why? Because the King put∣teth his trust in the Lord: and in the mercie of the most High he shall not miscarie.

Your Maiesties most devoted, and obedient subiect, THOMAS PLAYFERE.

Notes

• * 2.1

  1. Reg. 1. 40.
• * 2.2

  Tanquā clarū ac beneficum ••ydus. Sen. de Clemen. l. ••. c. 3.
• * 2.3

  Nulli ita deo familiares sun••, sicut boni re∣ges. Emissenus. Dom. 21. post ••en••ecost.
• * 2.4

  Psal. 21. 1.