Ioy.
THe Iewes at their funeralls did vse melodie, Math. 9. 23. because they tooke Death to be an end of miserie, and therefore as Martial obserueth in the Swanne, Cantatur cygnus funeris ipse sui, he singeth alittle before he dieth; euen so it is noted in the children of God, they reioyce when they are ready to die, Acts 5. 41. because indeede, all people, yea all Princes are but pil∣grimes vpon earth, and their best habitation is in heauen. The departure of our godly Prince, though it be dolorous, in re∣spect of her subiects, it ought to be ioyfull, in regard of her selfe: for she hath left an earthly Kingdome, to possesse an heauenly King∣dome; and insteede of a crowne of Gold she hath put on a crowne of Glory: then what cause haue we to weepe, seeing she is partaker of so vnspeakeable Ioy, but rather, as the scripture teacheth vs, to reioyce with those that reioyce, Rom. 12. 15. Let this suffice for our com∣fort, Though death hath seized of her Highnesse Body, the Angels receiued her blessed Soule, and the world possesseth her glorious Name.
If we reade the scriptures, we shall find, that amongst all the Kings of Israel, King Salomon raigned longest; and if you reade the Chroni∣cles, you shall find, that amongst all the Kings and Princes of England, Queene Elizabeth raigned longest, sauing one: yet was there ne∣uer Prince more malitiously beset with treason then her Maiestie, nor any Prince more miraculously protected by Gods mercie: for he did, not onely protect her from vntimely dangers and deaths, but he did protract her dayes to the naturall course of declining, for shee died (as it was said of Dauid, 1. Chro. 29. 28.) in a good age, ful of dayes, riches, and honor; for which we haue great cause to ioy.
God for our sinnes might iustly haue made the heauens brasse ouer our heads, and the earth yron vnder our feete, and so haue con∣strained vs, as the people of Samaria did in extreamitie, not onely to eate dung, but their children, 2. Kings 6. But see how mercifully God hath dealt by vs; he hath taken away our Prince in a time of plentie, to take away all occasions of murmuring and mutinies amongst vs, whereunto many are subiect, if they be but pressed with alittle scarsitie: and though the Israelites liued disorderly when their Go∣uernours were gone, Iudg. 17. 6. yet, contrary to the expectation of many, our people haue liued very orderly and ciuilly since the ta∣king away of our Queene, for which we haue great cause to ioy.
To conclude, when God tooke away Iehoshaphat from the Throne, and Iehoram came to the Crowne, there was great cause of cala∣mitie, because he maintained Idolatry, 2. Chro. 21. but when Dauid died and Salomon was installed, there was continuance of ioy, be∣cause he continued true religion as his fathers did before. And so, though God hath taken away Queene Elizabeth our late and louing Nurce-mother, yet the succeeding of that mightie and godly Prince, King Iames, our new and renowned Nurce-father, doeth giue vs exceeding cause of ioy: insomuch, as the succession of the latter, is a mittigation of sorrow for the former. And as the Proclamation was read and receiued with great applause of the people, so his Coronation will be as ioyfull as euer was Salomons, when the earth rang with the sound of the subiects, in signe of exultation and exceeding Ioy, 1. Kings 1. 40. God make vs thankefull for so worthy a Prince; and himselfe ioyfull of so vnworthy a People.
