A SERMON Preached before QVEENE ELIZABETH, AT GREEN∣VVICH, on VVednesday the XI. of March, A. D. MDLXXXIX.
PSALME. LXXV. VER. III.
Liquefacta est terra, & omnes qui habitant in ea: Ego confirmavi Columnas ejus.
The earth, and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved: but I will establish the Pillars of it.
IT was MOSES the Man of GOD, that, by speciall direction from GOD first began, and brought up this order, to make Musique the conveigher of mens duties into their mindes (Deut. 31.19.*) And DAVID sithence hath continued it, and brought it to perfection, in this Booke, as having a speciall grace and felici∣tie in this kinde: He, for Songs; and his Sonne SALOMON for Proverbs. By which two (that is) by the vnhappy Adage, and by a wanton song, Sathan hath ever breathed most of his infection and poison into the minde of man.
In which holy and heavenly vse of his harpe, he doth, by his tunes of Musique, teach men how to sett themselves in tune (Psal. 15.) How not onely to tune themselves, but how to tune their housholds (Psal. 10•.) Page 264 And not onely there, but (heer) in this Psalme, how to preserve harmonie, or (as he termeth it) how to sing Ne perdas, to a Common-wealth. So saith the Inscription, which Saint Augustine very fittly calleth the key of every Psalme.
For, the time of setting this song (by generall consent of all Expositors) being the later end of the long dissension, between the Houses of David and Saul; evident it is, the estate of the Land was very neer to a Perdas, and needed Ne Perdas to be soong unto it.
For, besides the great overthrow in the Mountaines of Gilboa, given by the eni∣mie, wherin the King and three of his sonnes were slaine, and a great part of the Coun∣trey surprised by the Philistin; the Desolation of a divided kingdome, was come upon them too.* For, within themselves, they were at Cujus est terra? (2. Sam. 3.12.) even at Civill warrs: At the beginning, but a play; (So Abner termeth, it 2. Sam. 2.14.) but bitternesse at the end, as the same Abner confesseth, ver. 26. Surely, it was a weake State and low brought: So much doth David implie (in the fore-part of the verse) that he found the Land a weake land, by meanes, the strength and Pillers of it, were all out of course, by the mis-government of Saul. But then withall (in the later part of the verse) he professeth, he will leave it a land of strength, by re-establish∣ing the Pillars and re-edifying the State new againe. The earth &c.
The stile whereof runneth in the termes of Architecture: very aptly resem∣bling the government, to a frame of building; the same sett upon and borne up by certaine Bases and Pillers (the strength whereof assureth, or the weaknesse endange∣reth the whole:) and David himselfe to a skillfull Builder, surveying the pillers, and searching into the decayes; repairing their ruines and setting them into course a∣gaine.
*Whereout ariseth naturally the entrety of these foure points.
[ 1] That the weaknesse, or strength of a Land, is a Point of important conside∣ration.
[ 2] That the strength of a Land is, in the Pillers: And, what they are.
[ 3] That the upholding of those Pillers apperteineth to David.
[ 4] How, and in what sort Saul weakened them in his time; and David, in his, made them fast.
[ I] FIrst, David had read, that, among the instructions delivered by Moses to the spies (Numb. 13.19.) the very first and chiefe of all was, Whither the Land were weake or strong. So he had read; and so he beleeved it to be: and, so it is. For sure, in such Lands, where this is their song, The earth is weake; their Musique is all out of tune. For, the note is such, as affecteth the Inhabitants with feare.* 1. Feare in the inhabitant, for these two, 1 Virtus testacea, and 2 Cor cereum, strength like a potsheard; and a heart like waxe: A weake land, and a fearefull inha∣bitant go togither. 2. Courage, in the enimie: For, where RABSAKETH know∣eth but so much, that the land is weake, you shall not entreate him to speake any thing but Hebrew (Esa. 36.12.)
This Musique is heavy: and therefore David saw, the song must be new sett. And so, he doth sett it new, changing it into a more pleasant note, But I will streng∣then it. And, when the note is so changed, in that day shall this Song be soong in the Land of Iuda,*We have a strong Citie; Salvation hath GOD sett, for the walls and bullwarkes of it.
This Musique hath life in it, and hearteneth the inhabitant afresh; quaileth the enimie and resolveth the neighbour to say (1. Sam. 12.18.) Thine are we, Page 265 ô DAVID, and on thy side, thou Sonne of IESSE. When a Prince may say of his Land, as MOSES did of IVDA (Deut. 33.7.) His owne hands are sufficient for him (if the LORD helpe him) against all his enemies: And the Land may say of the Prince, that which SALOMON setteth downe, as the high commendation of a Prince, that he is Rex Alkum (that is) Ne surgito, Rise not; No rising, against him;* for that, they which have risen, had better have satt still. And they both may send word to the enemie (if he threaten to come and visit them) the word that Ioas sent (2. Reg. 14.10.) Tarry at home, and provoke not evill against thy selfe. This Mu∣sique is blessed; and such hath hitherto beene the song of our Nation.
What SAMVEL said, when he pitched the Stone of Help (1. Sam. 7.12.) we can∣not denie, but we may say the same, Thus farre hath GOD holpen us: whose arme is not shortned though PHARAOH's heart be hardned. Hitherto, Salvation hath GOD sett for our walls and Bulwarkes, and our Prince, Prince Alkum; and our enemie hath not boasted himselfe at the putting of his armour, as at the buckling it on:* and our Neighbours glad to lay hold of our skirts and say, We will be yours, for we see, GOD is with you (Zac. 8.10.) The great blessing of GOD having been upon us (Deut. 28.12) Thou shalt lend to many Nations, but shalt borrow of none. Such hath hitherto been our song: and, such may it long be; yea, ever, O LORD. And, that it may so be, DAVID teacheth the way of keeping it so still; Namely, by Setting fast the Pillars of it. Which is the second principall point: What this strength is; and what the Pillers are that beare it up.
The HOLY GHOST speaking of strength, nameth two (Gen. 32.28.) as (in∣deed) [ II] the Scripture knoweth no more: 1 The strength of IACOB; and 2 the strength of ISRAEL: 1 Of IACOB, supplanting, or prevailing over men: 2 and of ISRAEL, prevailing with GOD.
IACOB'S strength I call, whatsoever the counsell or might of man affoordeth; [ 1] His prudent forecast, whereby he over-reached ESAV (Gen. 27.36.) and LABAN (30.37.) And his bow and sword, whereby he wanne from the Amorite (Gen. 48.10.) Vnder these two, I comprehend all humane strength, the strength of IACOB.
But, when all is done, we must reserve and keepe a strength for GOD, saith DA∣VID (Psal. 59.9.) Who, if he forsake Alexandria,* though it have the Sea for his ditch, it shall be carried captive: who if he forsake Ephraim, though they be well har∣nessed and carie bowes, they shall turne themselves back in the day of battell. Therefore,* ever DOMINVS commeth in: (Deut. 33.7.) Iuda's owne hands are sufficient to helpe, Si tu DOMINE, If thou LORD helpe him against the enemie: And Nisi Dominus, If that the LORD doe not keepe the house and watch the house and make fast the Pil∣lars, all is in vaine (Psal. 127.1.) Ioine (saith the Wiseman) Ittiel (that is,*Dominus mecum) and then, Vcal (that is, Praevalebo) will not tarry from you: Vcal and He goe ever together. Sever (saith DAVID) Hij in curribus, Hij in equis, from In no∣mine Domini, the next newes, you shall heare of them, is *Ibi ceciderunt, &c There they are brought downe and fallen. Therefore we must allow Israël a strength, also; with∣out which, Iacob's forecast shall faile: (for, He casteth out the counsells of Princes, Psal. 33.10.) and his sword too: For, He can rebate the edge of the sword, Psalme 89.43.
Two strengths then there are: and these two DAVID (heere) termeth two Pil∣lers (that we may know what be the Pillers of the Land.) For, such was the manner of the Iewish building: arch-wise, upon two maine Pillers to set it. We may see it by Samson's desire, Ind. 16.29. so to be placed, as the two Supporters of the Temple might be in his two hands, that bowing them, all the Church might come downe upon their heads. Such an arch of government doth DAVID heere devise, & two Pil∣lers bearing it up. He telleth us, they be two: and he telleth us what they be; for, he hath already named them, in the two former Vses: 1 Celebrabimus te IEHOVA in the first: And, 2 Iustitias judicabo, in the second. GOD, and Right, the Pillers.
Page 268 [ III] Yet, these two Pillers as strong and as steddy as they are, except they be looked to, and vpheld; except they have an Vpholder, and that a good one, Religion will cleave, and Iustice bend, and they both sinke, and the whole frame with them. Therefore mention is made heere of a person, put in trust, with the bearing them up; which is the third point.
Which Person is heere, Ego autem, the first; that is, DAVID: the first and the chiefe Person in any governement. He it is, upon whom both these leane: He is the Head,* that guideth these two armes: He the breath of life in both these nosthrills: Yea, of all the body (saith Ieremie,* of Iosias.) Even Christus Domini, the Annointed of the LORD, is the breath of all our nosthrills.
Familiar it is, and but meane, but very full and forceable, the Simile of Esay: wherein he compareth the Prince to a naile driven into a wall,* whereon are hanged all, both the vessells of service, and the Instruments of Musique; (that is) He beares them up all. And great cause to desire GOD, fast may it sticke and never stirre (this naile:) for, if it should, all our Cuppes would batter with the fall, and all the Musique of our Quire be marred: (that is) both Church and Countrey be put in danger. Which GOD willing to shew (saith Philo Iudaeus) He did place the fifth Commandement (which is the Crowne-commandement) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as it were, in the middle, and confines of both Tables; Those touching Religion, and those touching Iustice; that, with one arme He might stay Religion, and with the other stay Iustice, and so uphold both.
And, where such support hath wanted, both have lyen on the ground. For, both of Mica's Idolatrie (that is, corrupt Religion) and of the villanie offered at Gibeah, and of the outrage committed by them of Dan, both in rifling houses, and sacking whole townes (that is) of open injustice, GOD rendereth no cause but this, Non erat Rex: the Pillers went downe: Ego wanted. Without which (that is, an established go∣vernement) we should have no Common-wealth,* but a wild forrest, where Nimrod and his crew would hunt and chase all others: No Common-wealth, but a Pond, where the great fish would devoure the small:* Nothing but a sort of sheepe scattered without a Shepheard (saith MOSES.)* No more Oves Pascuae, sheepe of the Pasture, when their Governor is gone, but Oves occisionis, sheepe for the slaughter. Non po∣pulus, sed turba, No People, but a Rout; No building, nor Pillers, but a heape of stones.* Therefore a joyfull noise is the shout of a King among them.
Ioyfull indeed, every way; but joyfull especially, if this Ego, be not Saul, but David. David, which giveth strength vnto the Pillers; and not Saul, an empairer or weakner of them. It is David's complaint, in the forepart, he found the land weake when he came to it. So, Saul had left it. It is his promise that, as Saul by his slack∣nesse, had brought the estate low; So he, by his vigilancie, would raise it up againe. And this is the last point, how Saul decayed, and David restored the Pillers againe.
[ IIII] *The Wise man saith, that evill looking to, will decay the principalls of any building: and that was Saule's defect (as the Scripture recordeth.) Religion first: Instead of Celebrabimus,*Negligimus IEHOVAM. King David, in his oration to the States of his Realme before his first Parliament, testifieth, the Arke was not sought to in the dayes of Saul: That Piller, was not looked to. Sought to it was, after a sort (Religi∣on:*) but, nothing so, as it should. Come, let us have the Arke (saith he) And then, Goe to, it skills not greatly, carry it backe againe: which, what was it, but, to play fast and loose with Religion?* To entend Paul (as Foelix saith) at our idle time; and not to redeeme time, to that end? Iudge of Religion's case, by the reverence of the Ephod:* A daughter of his owne bringing up (Micall) saw David, for honor of the Arke, weare it, and despised him in her heart. Iudge of it, by the regard of the Page 269 Priest, the keeper of the Arke: For very love to it, that calling was kept so low and bare, that they were tyed to the allowance of their Shew-bread,* the High Priest had no• a loafe in his house besides. This was the first rott of his kingdome: The Arke not sought to; The Ephod in contempt; The Priest-hood impoverished:*Et Saulo ni∣hil horum curae, and Saul regarded not any of these things.
Such another indifferencie for Church matters, we finde in Ieroboam.*Tush (saith he jestingly) let them kisse the calves and spare not. Let it goe which way it will. But, therefore GOD sends him word by Ahijah, that Israël should be as a reed in the wa∣ter, bowing to and fro, at the devotion of every wave, and every wind,* without any steaddinesse. And was it not so? Search the Chronicles. So, GOD saw this minde in Saul to his Arke and was wroth; withdrew from him His religious and good Spirit, and sent upon him a prophane and furious Spirit; which carried him on, first to a sin∣full life, and never left him, till it had brought him to a shamefull death. And God was even saying his Disperdas, to the Kingdome,* but David (heere) intreated for a Ne perdas, and promised a better care of Celebrabimus Iehovam.
Now where Religion thrives not, the other (of Iustice) will not hold long: when one staff is broken, the other holdeth not whole, long after.* And surely his Iustice was suitable to the former, to his weake regard of Religion; That also was weake too.
1. Weake toward the enemie. It is said, there was want of necessarie furniture of armor and munition, in his daies. And there had beene defect, in teaching them to shoot: which David supplied, at his entrance. 3. Weake at home too:* where, he did not justitias, but injurias judicare.
The parts of Iustice are two (as we finde in the tenth verse) 1 To exalt the hornes of the righteous; 2 and to breake the hornes of the wicked.
1. For the first. Reason was, and so was promise too, that David should have been rewarded with Meroë his eldest daughter's marriage. I know not how,* one Adriel (an obscure fellow, never to have been nam'd, but to shew, such a one put David by) had his horne exalted above him. This for reward.
2. And his Punishment was no better.* Mercifull to Agag (whose hornes should have beene broken) and in Abimelech's case, too rigorous, putting him, and eightie foure more, to the sword for a douzen of bread.*
And whereas, in kindly Iustice, the rigour of frangam cornua commeth not at first, but Clemencie giveth gracious warning, with Dicam imprudentibus (verse 4.) So without regard heerof, as, upon any displeasure, without any word at all,* his Iavelin went streight, to naile men to the wall, they knew not, wherefore. Thus did Iustice decay after Religion, and one Piller fall upon another, whereof ensued his overthrow, and the Land dangerously sick of the Palsey. Whereof David complaineth, and pray∣eth, Heale the sores thereof, for it shaketh.*
Now, David, as when he read Abimilek's mis-hap in the Booke of the Iudges, he made his vse of it, as appeareth 2. Sam. 11.21. So heere, when he saw, what had tur∣ned Saul to domage, tooke warning by it (Ruina praecedentium, admonitio sequenti∣um) and, to make the Land strong, falleth to vndersett the Pillers.
And first, of the first (that is) the stone which Saul and his builders cast aside. For, comming to the Kingdome, he consecrates all his Lawes, with his Act De Arcá re∣ducendi: whereat, he would needs be present in his owne person,* because it touched Cel•br••i•us Iehovam; and that with some disgrace, as Mical imagined: but he was resolute in that point, He could receive no dishonor, by doing honor to God's Arke. And, when it was brought backe, sett such an order for the Service of it, by the Le∣vit•s; for maintenance so bountifull; so reverend for regard; so decent for order;* so every way sufficient, as the care of the Temple might seeme to reigne in his heart. As indeed it did; and as he professeth, he could not sleepe, till he had sett a full order for God's matters, and brought this Piller to perfection.* Which his care was se∣cun•um cor Dei, and God would signifie so much, by the ceremonie in the Corona∣tion Page 270 of the Kings of Iuda. Wherein, putting not onely the Diademe Imperiall, but the Booke of the Law also,* upon the Kings head; it was entended, that Booke should be as deare to them as their Crowne, and they equally studie to advance it. And in putting the Scepter of Iustice in their hands,* and in laying the key of the house of David on their shoulders, what els was required, but, as they executed the one with their hand, so they should putt to the other, arme and shoulder and all? that is (as David heere ex∣presseth it) two Celebrabimu's, to one Iudicabo.
Thus was strengthened the first Piller: and for the second, the HOLY GHOST giveth him an honourable testimonie (I speake not of his Militarie Iustice, I need not,* therein he was trained up; (but that in peace, he ex•cuted Iudgement and Iu∣stice to all his people. The Kings power (saith he) loveth Iudgement: Not Power in in∣jurie,* but Power in Iudgement (saith David:) Power to aedification (saith Saint Paul) not to destruction: that is, to build up, not, to decay the Building. Therefore, Ver∣tue and Valor wanted not their reward in his time. He professeth after, in this Psalme, The wind should blow no man to preferment, out of what Quarter soever it came, but GOD,* by his graces, should point them to it. And sure, the diligent description, the HOLY GHOST vseth of his Worthies,* and men of Place, sheweth him to have been most exact in this point: First, his Three; and then after, his thirtie in their order; and that those thirtie atteined not unto the first three, but every one esteemed and re∣garded, in his worthinesse.
And for depressing the wicked, it was his morning worke, as he testifieth Psal. 101.8. and that (as himselfe heere setts downe) in a most heavenly order, with Dicam first, as being sett over men,* and therefore willing to lead them with the cords of men (that is) faire and gentle, yet eff•ctuall perswasions. And Never did the dew of heaven more sweetly refresh the grasse,*then doth a favourable saying pierce the inferior, from the mouth of a Prince. Therefore, there was no estate in the land, but, in this Booke (I will not say, he mildly said, but) he even sweetly soong their severall duties unto them. To his Court (Psal. 101.) his Church (Psal. 45.) his Iudges (Psal. 82.) his Commons all in one (Psal. 144.) I will add this, that if David offended in ought, heerein it was, in that he vsed Dicam too much, and Frangam not oft enough.*Absalon could object it, when it served his turne: And, when David was to leave the world, it lay on his conscience, his Clemencie vsed in Ioab's and She∣mei's case.*A deare and pretious thing is the meanest blood in the eyes of David (so he saith:) And that made his people more afraid for him, then of him, and to value his life at ten thous•nd of their owne:* and that, so many Subjects, so ma∣ny of his Guard: Not, so many Subjects, so many Conspirators, as SAVL com∣playned.*
*Yet, because Clemencie is but one foot of the throne; and Severitie, at some other time (for,*Cum accepero tempus, time must be kept in this Musique) doth no lesse support it: Therefore, where saying will not serve, nor singing, Frangam must some∣times be vsed;* where the Rod contemned, let the Sword be drawen. It is GOD's owne course. If he, for all dicam, lift up his horne against GOD or good orders, sawe of his horne; if he doe still mut•l• fronte minitari, Caput •jus mittetur ad te, was Da∣vid's justice,* Take of his head. For dicam is the charme he speaketh of: which (if the viper stop not his eare) will doe him good:* If it doe not, contunde in theriacam, he must be bruised and made into Mithridate, that others may be amended by him, seeing he would not be amended by others.
Thus did D•vid repaire Saul's ruines; these are his stepps, thus did he shew him∣selfe as good as his promise (heere) a skillfull Vpholder of these two maine Pillers, which beare up and give strength to every Land. And by this meanes, he changed both the nature and name of his Countrie; finding it Iebus (that is) conculcata (and so, indeed, it was a Citie contemned and troden downe with every foot:) And leaving it a new name, Ierusalem; and so it was, Salem Ieru, a citie to be feared and envied of all round about it. So, the Land grew strong, and the Pillers fast; and Page 271David, for his fastening, in favour with GOD and man. GOD, whom he praised, graciously assisting him; and men, whom he preserved, willingly serving him. The LORD who hath sent forth the like strength for our Land, Stablish the good thing which He hath wrought in us. The LORD so fasten the Pillers of our earth, that they never be shaken. The LORD mightily uphold the Vpholder of them, long and many yeares: That we may goe forth rejoycing, in His strength, and make our boast of his praise, all our life long. Which our gracious GOD, &c.
