Clavis mystica a key opening divers difficult and mysterious texts of Holy Scripture; handled in seventy sermons, preached at solemn and most celebrious assemblies, upon speciall occasions, in England and France. By Daniel Featley, D.D.

THE TRAITORS GUERDON. A Sermon preached on the Gowries conspiracy before his Grace, and divers Lords and persons of eminent quality, at Croydon, August 5. Anno Dom. 1618. THE FIFTH SERMON.

PSAL. 63. VER. 9, 10, 11.

9. But those that seeke my soule to destroy it, shall goe into the lower parts of the earth.

10. They shall make him run out like water by the hands of the sword: they shall be a portion for Foxes.

11. But the King shall rejoyce in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speake lyes shall be stopped.

Most REVEREND, Right Hon^r. Right Wor^sh. &c.

WEe are at this present assembled with religious Rites and sacred Ceremonies, to celebrate the unfortunately fortunate Nones of August, which are noted in red let∣ters in the Romane Calendar (as I ghesse) to represent the bloud of many thousand Martyrs spilt upon them: (twenty three whereof were put to most exquisite tor∣ments by Dioclesian in Rome) but deserve to be distin∣guished from other dayes by golden letters in ours, in memory of two of the most renowned Princes that ever swayed Scepter in these Kingdomes wherein wee live; the one received life, the other escaped death on this day. Fora Beda and Baronius in their Church Rolls of Martyrs, record on the fifth of August the nativity of King Oswald; who united theb Crownes of England and Scotland, and after hee had much enlarged the bounds of Christs Kingdome with his owne, in the end exchanged his Princely Dia∣dem

for a Crowne of Martyrdome, and signed the Christian Faith with Royall bloud. So happy an uniter of the Royall Diadems, and Princely Martyr of our Nation, should not be forgotten on this day; yet may hee not every way compare with our Rex Pacificus, who hath so fastened these Diadems together, that we hope they shall never be severed againe. Nor is the birth of any Prince by the usuall course of Nature so remarka∣ble, as the unheard of, and little lesse than miraculous preservation of our Soveraigne his Royall person, from the bloudy assacinate of the Earle Gowry, and Alexander Ruthen his brother, to the everlasting memory whereof our Church hath consecrated the publike and most solemne de∣votions of this day. And therefore wee are now to change the old spell, Quintam fuge, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Carefully shunne the fifth day, into Quintam cole, Religiously observe the fifth day of this Moneth; if not for King Oswald, yet for King James sake: if not for the birth of the one, yet for the safety of the other: if not for the ordinary Genesis and entry of the one into the gate of life, yet for the extraordinary Exodus, or exit of the other out of the chambers of death. Which wonderfull delivery of our gracious Soveraigne that I may print the deeper in your memories, I have borrowed characters from King Davids royall presse as you see: But those that seeke my soule, &c. Ver. 9, 10, 11.

All which Verses, together with their severall parts and commaes, even to the least Iota or tittle, by the direction and assistance of Gods holy Spi∣rit, I will make use of in my application, if I may intreat your Gracious patience, and your Honourable attention for a while in their explication. And first of the translation, then of the relation of these words, as well to the eternall destruction of the enemies to Christs Crosse, as to the tem∣porall punishments of the traitors to Davids Crowne.

They shall goe into the lower parts of the earth, these shall goe into the nethermost hell.

They shall fall by the hands of men, these shall fall into the hands of the living God.

They shall be a portion for Foxes, these shall he a prey for Divels.

But the King shall rejoyce in God,

David in Christ, Christ in his Father.

And all that sweare

by him, that is, Christ, to him, that is, David, shall glory.

For the mouth of all that speake

lyes against the one, blasphemies against the other, shall be stopped.

The vulgar Latine, upon which the Romane Church so doteth, that she is in love with the errours thereof, asc Alceus was with the wirts in his boyes face, rendereth the Hebrew thus: Quaesiverunt in vanum ani∣mam meam, introibunt in imâ terrae; They have sought my soule in vaine, they shall goe into the lowest parts of the earth. Of which words in vanum

inserted into the Text, I may say as Aristotle doth of the ancient Philoso∣phers discoursed de vacuo, of a supposed place voide of a body to fill it. Their disputes, faith he, of this void or empty space, are empty, void, and to none effect. For neither are they found in any originall copy, as is confes∣sed, neither serve they as artificiall teeth to helpe the speech, which soun∣deth better without them: yet Cardinall Bellarmine to helpe out the vul∣gar Interpreter, with an officious lye beareth us in hand, that his book was otherwise pointed than ours are, and that where we reade 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he reades 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as if Leshoath and Leshava, the one signifying to destroy, the other in vaine, differed no more than in prickes or vowels, and not in consonants and radicals; or the sense were so full and currant, they seeke my soule in vaine, as they seeke my soule to destroy it, or for the ruine or destruction thereof they shall goe to the lowest parts of the earth, that is, they that seek to overthrow me, and lay mine honour in the dust, they shall lye in the dust themselves.

They shall fall by the sword. So wee reade in the last translation, and the members of the sentence seeme better to fall and shoot one in the other, if we so reade the words, They shall fall by the edge of the sword, they shall be a portion for Foxes, than if we reade according to the Geneva Transla∣tion, They shall cast him downe with the edge of the sword, they shall bee a portion for Foxes. Yet because Calvin, Moller, Musculus, Tremelius, and Junius concurre with the Geneva Translation & Note, understanding these words as a speciall prophecy of Sauls death, who was Davids capitall and singular enemy; and this translation and exposition fitteth better the appli∣cation which I am to make of this Scripture to the present occasion: but especially because the Hebrew Jaggirhu signifieth as the last Translators rightly note in the margent, They shall make him runne out like water by the hand of the sword, that is, his bloud shall be spilt by the sword; I pre∣ferre the Geneva Translation before the last; and as the Macedonian wo∣man appealed from Philip to Philip, so I appeale from the Translators in the Text, to themselves in their Marginall note, and reade the tenth Verse thus: They shall cast him downe, or slay him with the edge of the sword.

Thus having accorded the Translations, I now set to such heavenly lessons, as the Spirit of God hath pricked for us in the rules of this Scrip∣ture. The first is pricked in the title of this Psalme, (A Psalme of David when hee was in the wildernesse of Judah) and it is this:

[Doctr.] 1. That the wildernesse it selfe may be, and is often a Paradise to the ser∣vants of God. If the Poet could say of himselfe and his friend,

Quo cunque loco Roma duobus erit;

Wheresoever wee two are, wee make that place as Rome to us: have wee not great reason to thinke, that wheresoever God and the faithfull soule are together, and the one enjoyeth the presence of the other, there is Pa∣radise, nay, there is Heaven? This sweet flower I gather from this wil∣dernesse, to which David was driven by the pursuit of Saul his dreadfull and powerfull enemy. It was a vast and wilde place, a thirsty land without water, verse the first: yet here David is refreshed with waters of comfort,

and rivers of pleasure: there was neither Church nor Chappell in it; yet here David seeth the glory of God as in the Sanctuary, verse the second. It was a barren soile, yeelding no manner of sustenance for men or cattell; yet here David is satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse, verse the sixth. It was a hot and scorching place; yet here David findeth a shade to coole himselfe, (viz.) under the shadow of Gods wings, verse the eighth. In regard of which commodities of this wildernesse, I cannot but breake out into the praises of it, as Sainte Jerome doth into the commendations of the De∣sart of Syria: O Wildernesse, enameled with the flowers of Paradise! O Desart, in which those stones grow, of which the heavenly Jerusalem is built! O solitude, enjoying the familiarity of God and his Angels! Why doest thou keep under the shade of houses? Why doest thou shut thy selfe up in the pri∣son of smoaky Cities? come hither to mee, thou shalt finde here freer aire, and much more light. Such pleasure this holy Father took in that solitary and uncouth place. And Saintf Hilary seemeth to be in love with the like places, by those speeches of his: You doe ill to dote upon walls, to build your faith upon stately buildings. I for my part preferre hills and woods, desarts and dens, and caves, and rockes, and lakes, for these have been the habita∣tions and lodgings of Gods dearest servants the Prophets. The Law was first given in the Wildernesse of Arabia. The Gospel was first preached by John the Baptist in the Wildernesse of Judeah. The noblest duell that ever was fought, was between Christ and the Divell, and the pitched field was the Wildernesse. The woman that was clothed with the Sunne, and had the Moone under her feet, lived obscurely in the Wildernesse a thousand, two hundred, and sixty dayes: and many of Gods dearest children all the daies of their life, Apoc. 12.6.

The number of whom was so great, and their labours so profitable, and their lives so admirable in the Primitive Church, that as the Prophet spake of the barren woman, that she had more children than she that had an husband; so we may say of the barren soile and wildernesse, that it hath brought forth a greater increase to the Church than many inhabited coun∣tries, and better husbanded land. There are divers sorts of plants and fruits, that must be set in the Sunne, or else they will not prosper; but o∣thers are scorched with the heate thereof, and better thrive in the shade: such were Paulusg Eremita, St. Antony, St. Hilarion, St. Basil, S. Jerome, St. Isidore Pelusiotes, and others, which proved the fairest flowers in the garden of the Church, and prime-roses of Christs Spouse, yet grew in the Wildernesse: with whom the Bishops of the greatest Sees may not com∣pare, least of all the Bishops of Rome, of whom their owne creatureh Pla∣tina hath often nothing to say, but that he can say nothing: This Pope, saith he, left nothing behind him worth memory. Well fare this Popes gout, but for it he had gone out of the world without any notice taken of him.i Baronius himselfe, who received a Cardinals cap, to burnish the Popes triple golden Mitre, reckons himselfe up a dicker of Popes, who served for nothing but as ciphers to fill up the number of Bishops, or Chronologicall markes to designe the times. But I am affraid, lest I shall lose my selfe in this Wil∣dernesse

of Ziph; and therefore I will make haste out of it, and come into the rode of my Text.

They that seeke my soule to destroy it, shall goe, &c.

[Doctr. 2] Davids confidence in God in this Epitasis of all his troubles, and Crisis of all his affaires, and the height of his hope in the depth of misery, ought to settle fast the anchor of our hope in all the surges of tentations. Wee see in him what is the carriage of Gods Saints in their greatest extremi∣ties. They never cast away the buckler of their faith, but lift up their hearts and hands to the God of their salvation, and hope even above hope in him, who is able to save beyond all means. Thus resolute Martin Luther, when he had stirred up the whole world against him, and there was no o∣ther appearance, but that the doctrine of the Gospel should have been stifled in the cradle, flyes to his God, layes hold on him by faith, and offe∣reth violence unto him by prayer, and never leaveth wrestling with him, till he received comfort from him, and rising up chearfully from his devotion, comes out of his closet triumphantly to his fellow-labourers, saying: Vicimus; We have overcome: at which timek Sleidan observeth, that there came out a Proclamation from Charles the fifth, that none should bee far∣ther molested for the profession of the Gospel. What speake I of a noble Champion of Christ? Numa Pompilius a Heathen King of the Romans, when newes was brought him of his enemies, that they were at hand rea∣dy to surprize him, put the messenger off with this memorable speech:l 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, What tell you me of dangers or enemies? doe you not see that I am about sacrificing to God? Numa his confidence was paralleled bym Pausa∣nias the Lacedemonian Generall, who at Platea, when his Army was over∣taken by the enemies horse, and overwhelmed with flights of arrowes; as thicke as haile, quietly sate still, not making any defence or resistance, till the sacrifices for victory were happily ended; yea, though many were hurt and slaine before any good signe appeared in the enirals. But as soon as he had found good tokens of victory, he arose, and with excellent cou∣rage received the charge of the Persians, slew Mardonius that commanded in chiefe, and many thousands of the Barbarians. Did Heathen Religion put such courage, and breed such confidence in the worshippers of Idols, that they feared no danger while they were about their superstitious rites? and shall not true Religion beget more noble resolutions in us, who have God bound by promise to deliver us, when we faithfully crave his succour and assistance? Will he not glorifien himselfe by delivering us in time of trou∣ble, who calleth upon us, to call upon him, to this end: Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorifie mee? Where∣fore, as the Athenians, when they were in greatest danger at sea, accusto∣mably cast out the great anchor called the holy Anchor. Whenceo grew the Proverbe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; so when wee are tossed with waves of persecution, and so overwhelmed with violence of tentation, that wee are ready to sinke in despaire, let us lift up our hands to God, and cast anchor in heaven; and though wee see no meanes at all to subsist, yet still hang upon Gods providence. It is scarce possible, that wee should bee put to a greater plunge than David was in this wildernesse, who having but a hand∣full of men, and most of them hunger-starved, or fainting for want of wa∣ter

to quench their thirst, was surrounded by Sauls royall Army; yet in this deplorate, and almost desperate estate, after parley with God by pray∣er, shall I say he conceived hope of delivery? nay, hee assureth himselfe of the Crowne, and in a manner insulteth over his enemies, as if they were already under his feet, saying: They that seeke my soule to destroy it, shall go into the lowest parts of the earth. They shall cast him, &c. that is, they that goe about to cast mee downe from my high throne of Majesty, shall fall low themselves; they who seeke to devest mee of my royall Purple and Diadem, shall bee clothed with confusion as with a garment: they who hunt after me, and would make a prey of me, shall be themselves a portion for Foxes: they that seeke my soule to ruine it, shall downe themselves; They shall cast him downe. [Doctr. 3] These words in Hypothesi containe a prophecy of Sauls bloudy end, and the desolation of his Army on the mountaines of Gilboa; but in Thesi, a generall judgement of God upon the wicked, whom he entangleth in their owne malice, and punisheth with their owne sinne, and bringeth to confusion by their owne order.

a〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Which Verses of the prophane Poet may be thus translated, and they be∣come sacred Oracles: Theb ungodly shall be trapped in the works of his own hands: he made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which hee made; his mischiefe shall returne upon his owne head, and his violent dealing shall come downe upon his owne pate. For it is just with God to mete to the wicked their owne measure, as he did to the accusers of Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego, who were burned in the fire of that furnace which they had caused to bec heat seven times more than ordinary for those three noble Confessors. And to the traducers of Daniel, who were cast to the Lions, which they keptd fasting, on set purpose, that they might make but one morsell of the Prophet. And toe Haman, who had the honour to bee hanged on that high gallows, to which he would have preferred Mordecai. And tof Adonibezeck, who when his thumbes were cut off by Judah, beshrewed his owne fingers, saying: Threescore and ten Kings, having their thumbes and great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: As I have done, so God hath requited mee. All ages yeeld examples in the like kinde, insomuch that the Heathen themselves have taken notice of Gods using the wickeds mete-wand, to measure out their own ruine. Thraseus in∣structing Busirus how to expiate the wrath of the gods, by the effusion of strangers bloud, was first himselfe sacrificed, and constrained to write a probatum est under that conclusion with his owne bloud:

gCum Thraseus Busirin adit, monstratque piari hospitis effusi sanguine posse deum; Illi Busiris, fies Jovis hostia primus inquit, & Aegypto tu dabis hospes aquam.

What Puny in the Schooles hath not read Ovids golden Motto upon Perillus his brasen Bull:

h—nec enim lex justior ulla est, Quàm necis artifices arte perire suâ.

There can be no juster law, than that the devisers of mans ruine should rue

their owne devices, and that the inventers of new deaths should dye by their owne inventions. Scironi the Giant, that sate upon the cleft of a high rocke, and kicked downe all that scrambled up to it into the sea, was him∣selfe served in the like manner by Theseus, who comming behind him, push't him downe with his foot into the deep. And Termerus, who had a strange fashion of beating out mens braines, by playing at hard head with them, in the end met with his match at that barbarous sport, and lost the little braine he had, his skull being broken by Hercules. What should I re∣late the tragedy of an agent of Popek Hildebrands, who standing upon a planke in the roofe of a Church in Rome, and taking up a huge stone to cast down upon the Emperour, when he was at his devotion, by the waight of the stone and his owne, the planke brake under him, and hee fell downe into the floore, having his braines struck out by the rowling of that stone upon him? Or of Laurentius Medices, who having fitted a flesh-baite forl Alexander Medices, and as he was greedily catching at it, being naked and disarmed, set a desperate villaine, in the habit of a Masquer, to stabbe him with a Stilletto; and himselfe was shortly after stilletoed at Venice, by a suborned Traitor at a Masque, in the habit of a Whiffler? The ancient Ro∣mans glanced at this retaliation in their sacrifices to Ceres and Bacchus, to whom they offered Swine and Goats, because these of all creatures most annoy corne and wine:

mPrima Ceres avidae gavisa est sanguine porcae ulta suas meritâ caede nocentis opes. Rode caper vitem, tamen hinc cum stabis ad aras, in tua quod spargi cornua possit, erit.

I will not charge your memory with more examples at this present than of Popen Alexander the sixth, who was poysoned in that very cup, through a mistake, and with that very potion, which he prepared for the Cardinals of the opposite faction: and of theo conspirators against Julius Caesar in the Senate, who most of them were slaine with the same daggers numero, wherewith they had stabbed him before: and of Saul, who fell upon that sword of his, which he sought to draw through Davids bowels; as he here prophesieth of him: They shall cause him or his bloud to run out like water by the hand of the sword, (viz.) his owne sword.

[Doctr. 4] And they shall be a portion for Foxes.

Beasts were given to men for their food, but here men are given to beasts for a prey. A lamentable spectacle to see the vilest of all creatures ra∣venously feast themselves with the flesh of the noblest; and irrespectively hale and teare in pieces the casket, which whilome inclosed the richest jewell in the world. Is it not against the law of Nature, that men should become beasts meat; yea, the meat of such beasts as are carrion, and not mans meat? Questionlesse it is: yet Nature giveth her consent to this kind of punishment of unnaturall crimes. For it is consonant to reason, that the law of Nature should be broken in their punishment, who brake it in their sinne; that they who devoured men like beasts, should bee devoured of beasts like men: that they, who with their hands offered unnaturall vio∣lence

to their Soveraigne, should suffer the like by the clawes and teeth of wilde beasts, their slaves: that they, who bare a Foxe in their breast in their life, should been tombed in the belly of a Foxe at their death.

Saintp Austin, expounding this whole prophecy of Christ, yeeldeth a speciall reason of this judgement of God, by which the Jewes were con∣demned to Foxes. The Jewes, saith hee, therefore killed Christ, that they might not lose their countrey; but indeed they therefore lost their countrey, because they killed Christ: because they refused the Lambe, and chose Herod the Foxe before him, therefore by the just retribution of the Almighty, they were allotted to the Foxes for their portion. Notwithstanding this allusion of Saint Austin to Foxes in speciall, Jansenius and other Expositors extend this grant in my Text to all wilde beasts and fowles, which are, as it were, in patent with the Foxe, and have full power and liberty given them to seize upon the corps of Traitors to God and their Country. But Foxes beare the name, because they abound in those parts, where was such store of them, that Sampson in a short time with a wet finger caught three hun∣dred, so that upon the matter, they shall be a portion for Foxes, is all one with that doome in theq Poet:

—〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

They shall be exposed to the teeth of every cruell beast, and to the bill and talons of every ravenous fowle.

I might insist upon the severall branches of this Scripture with delight and profit, but because the occasion of our meeting at this present is ra∣ther to offer unto God the fruits of our devotion for his Majesties and our enemies destruction, than to gather fruits of knowledge from Scripture for our instruction; I descend from the generall explication of the whole, to the particular application of the parts: and first, I will shew you how this prophecy, according to the severall members thereof, was accomplished in Christ Davids Lord, then in David the Lords Christ, and last of all in King James our David.

Saint Austin, Saint Jerome, Arnobius, and almost all the ancient Inter∣preters of this propheticall Psalme, understand the letter spiritually of Christ; on the other side, Calvin, Musculus, Mollerus, and others under∣stand the spirit literally of David. I know no reason why we may not spell them together, and of two make one perfect and compleat interpretation of this Scripture. Wherefore to avoid vaine jangling, where the golden bels of Aaron may bee orderly rung, and distinctly heard; for the literall exposition, I accord with the later Interpreters, yet beare a part with the Ancients in their spirituall descant upon the ground of the letter; the rather, because David is a knowne type of Christ: and therefore by the law of con∣traries, Saul and his host of Sathan or Antichrist, and their infernall troups; but especially, because (asr Calvin piously observeth) that wee never read of any blamed for drawing too much water out of the Well of life; so it is most certaine, that we cannot offend in ascribing too much honour to the King of glory. Then take the cliffe as you please, the notes will follow according∣ly; if you take it higher from Christ, thus the notes follow: They that seek my soule to destroy it, that is, Herod and Pilate, Scribes and Pharisees, Ru∣lers

and people that conspire against the Lord, and against his annointed, to take away his life from the earth, they I say shall goe into the lowest parts of the earth; that is, the nethermost hell, without repentance: they shall make him run out like water; that is, Pilat, who in discontent was driven to slay himselfe; as also did Saul, to whom the letter pointeth: or, as we reade in my text, They shall fall by the edge of the sword; that is, the Nation of the Jewes shall fall by the sword of the Romans: who shall make such a slaugh∣ter of them at Jerusalem, where they crucified Christ, that the channels shall run with gore bloud, and the streets be strowed with dead carkasses, left unburied for a prey to the fowles of heaven, and every ravenous beast: but the King, viz. the King of glory, and Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus, shall rejoyce in God, and triumph at the right hand of his Father; and every one that sweareth by him, and putteth his trust in him, shall glory in these his victories. But the mouth of all Jewes and Gentiles, Turkes and Infidels, A∣theists and Idolaters, that belch out blasphemies against him, shalbe stopped when he shall come in the glory of his Father, with his elect Angels, and sit in judgement upon quicke and dead.u Then at the sound of the last trumpe the earth shall tremble with the inhabitants, but thou O Christian shalt rejoyce. When thy Lord comes to judge, the world shall roare hideously, all the kindreds of the earth shall smite their breasts; the most puissant Kings shall appeare without their guard, panting for feare: Jupiter himselfe (the chiefe Idoll of all the heathen) with all his off-spring, shall be seene all in true fire: foolish Plato shall be brought with his disciples; Aristotles sophistry shall stand him in no stead. Then thou poore and simple countrey swaine shalt leap for joy, and say, Behold my God who was crucified, behold the Judge who sometimes wrapt in swadling clothes cryed in a manger: this is the Carpenters sonne, this is he who borne in his mothers armes being God fled from man into Aegypt: this he who was clad in purple, and crowned with thornes: see O Jew the hands which thou nailedst: view O Roman the side which thou diggedst with thy speare: behold O Jew the head which thou prickedst with thornes, now compas∣sed with radiant beames: behold the face thou defiledst with spittle, shining brighter than the Sun: behold the hands thou woundedst with Iron nailes, holding a rod of Iron, and bruising his enemies like a potters vessell: behold O Roman the naked side which thou piercedst with a speare, now guarded with a troupe of Angels with their polaxes: behold the body thou strippedst starke naked, cloathed with light as with a garment. In a word, behold him whom thou esteemedst the scorne of the earth, made now the glory of the hea∣vens, in a triumphant march, with millions of Saints and Angels, riding on bright clouds, as it were fiery chariots, through the aire, to execute speedie vengeance upon all his enemies, and to take up all the elect with him into heaven:x Etiam sic veni Domine Jesu; Even so come Lord Jesu, come quickly.

You have heard how sweet and heavenly the musicke is, if you take the highest cliffe from Christ; if you take the middle from David, thus the notes follow; They that seeke my soule to destroy it, that is, my bloud-thirsty ene∣mies, shall goe into the lowest parts of the earth; that is, either enter into their graves, or hide themselves in caves of the earth: they shall make him to run out like water; that is, cause Saul my capitall and mortall enemie to spill his

owne bloud, by falling upon his owne sword.

And they shall be a portion for foxes. This clause of the prophecie was not fulfilled in Saul his person, nor his sonnes, fory their flesh was burnt and their bones buried under a tree at Jabesh: but in his servants and souldiers, which mortally wounded on the mounts of Gilboa, and being not able to helpe themselves, nor having any to burie them after they had breathed out their last gasp, fell to the foxes share: and therefore David purposely al∣tereth the number, saying not they shall cast him downe, and he shall bee a portion for foxes; but they shall be a portion for foxes, as in the truth of the story afterwards they fell to the foxes commons. Now after the death first of Saul, and the discomfiture of his royall armie, and the overthrow after∣wards of the Philistims, and destruction of all his enemies round about; King David, sitting safely and quietly in his throne, full of joy and comfort, breaketh forth into a Psalme of thanks-giving to God for his wonderfull victories and strange deliverances, and all the loyall subjects of Judah and Israel beare a part with him in it: whereat all those that before had falsely traduced his person, or impugned his right to his crowne, were put to si∣lence and shame.

Thus have I set the tune in my text to the middle key also, and as you heare the musicke is sweet; if you will have the patience to heare it once more set to the lowest key, you will all perceive that every note in it confor∣teth not onely with our voices, but our thoughts and affections at this pre∣sent. I have shewed you how this prophecy in my text was fulfilled in Christ, Davids Lord, and secondly, in David the Lords Christ: may it please you out of your love to him, to whose honour you have dedicated this feast, to stretch out your patience to the length of the houre, and I shall briefly exemplifie the same in our Israels David. To resume then the words of this Scripture, and by the parts of it to draw the lineaments of that nar∣ration, which shall serve for my conclusion. First, I will relate unto you the attempt of the conspirators the Earle Gowrie and Alexander Ruthen his brother, and their complices, by the occasion of these words, They that seek my soule to destroy it. Secondly, the event, by occasion of the words follow∣ing, shall goe to the lowest parts of the earth, &c.

They that seeke my soule to destroy it. Were there ever any such? or are there any at this day? Doth hee breathe that would goe about to stop thez breath which so many thousands draw? Doth the Sun give light to any that would go about to quench the light of Israel? can the earth bear any such an ungratefull and gracelesse varlet, whose conscience is burthened with so heavie and heinous a sin as Parricide in the highest degree; laying violent hands upon the Father of his countrey, whom for his clemencie and wise∣dome the world at this day cannot parallel? Yes beloved, this hath beene the lot of the best Princes that ever ware corruptible Crownes.a Titus sir∣named Delitiae humani generis, The darling of mankinde, drew this lot; andb Augustus before him, the mirrour of mildnesse,

Quo nihil immensus mitius orbis habet.

And David before them both, a man after Gods owne heart;

Quo nihil majus meliusve terris,

Fata dona vere boni{que} diu; Nec dabunt quamvis redeant in aurum Saecula priscum.

Moses the meekest Magistrate that ever drew the sword of Justice had a murmuring Core, and his Majestie a mutinous Gowrie, and a brother in ini∣quity, Ruthwen; both bearing as the hearts so the names of two ancient most infamous Rebels and Traytors, the one of Core, whom the earth swal∣lowed up: the other ofc Ruthenius a desperate caitife, that attempted a like villanie upon the person of Tiberius, to that which Ruthwen would have acted upon the person of King James.

• Nomen
• Omen

• Core
• Gowry

• Ruthenius
• Ruthwen

conveniunt rebus nomina saepe suis.

As their names were ominous, so their facts were abominable. It is pi∣tie it should be so, yet it is certaine that it is so. A Princed may be hated by some, (wrongfully I grant) yet hated he may be though he hate no man; and that which is to be bewailed with bloudy teares, he may have bloody treasons plotted against him, though his innocencie bee untainted with the effusion of the least drop of bloud: for ambition is a sworne enemy to so∣veraignty, envie to eminencie, libertie to law, disorder to justice, faction to peace, schisme to unity, heresie to true religion: whereby it comes to passe that Princes, who are to right all men, are themselves most wronged of all men, by mis-information of their subjects demeanours towards them, and mis-construction of their actions, and proceedings, and affections also to∣wards their subjects. You will yet say, be it that the actions of Princes are subject to censure, and their persons, though sacred, yet sometimes lie open to violence: howsoever, if they establish their throne with judgement, and support their scepter with equity, their innocencie shalbe a perpetuall guard unto them, and the arme of the Almighty shall be a buckler of steele over them, and the love of subjects shall be a wall of brasse about them; so that the enemie shall not be able to hurt them, the sonnes of wickednesse shall not come neere them. Notwithstanding all this, it pleaseth him, by whom Kings reigne, either to make Princes to walk more humbly before him, and more warily before their subjects; or for the greater triall of their faith in grea∣test distresses, or cleerer manifestation of his power in their delivery, to ex∣pose their persons to imminent dangers, and suffer them to be led to the brinke of destruction, and to be entangled in the snares of death. How did he suffere Charles the fifth to ascend to the top of the Pantheon in Rome, and there to looke out of a great gallery window, where there was a desperate villaine set to take him up by the heeles and throw him downe headlong? How did hee suffer that staine of the French Nobility to approach neare Augustus in the dangerous passage of the Alpes, with a purpose to justle him out of the narrow path into the steepe of the hill, where it was impos∣ble to stay himselfe? Was not Titus past all mans helpe, and given over for dead a thousand times, when scouting out with a few to spie the ene∣mies campe, at the siege of Jerusalem, he fell unawares into an ambush, and

was constrained to passe through a volly of darts and arrowes, cast and shot at him, whereof some fell before him, some behind him, many on each side of him: yet by Gods marvellous protection not one fastened on him? Was not Fredericke the first at the brinke of destruction by the river side, when a souldier tooke hold on him, and clasped about him to draw him with him∣selfe into the deep and drown him? Had notf Parry the meanes and op∣portunity to parley with Queene Elizabeth of famous memory in her garden privately, with a dagger in his hand, and a dag charged? These and many other presidents of the like nature make me the lesse marvaile that God should suffer Ruthwen, with a golden hooke, (a pot full ofg outlandish coyne) to draw his Majestie through divers chambers, which hee still locked after them, into that dismall study which was more fearefull than any Jesuits chamber of meditation; in which they shut up their desperate instruments to cracke their braines, and fit them for horrid designes. For there are but pictures onely of Divels, and Images of severall kindes of death; but here were very Divels incarnate, and death it selfe. Bookes he saw none in this study, but those two mentioned byh Suetonius, in which Caligula wrote the names of those men whose heads he meant to take off; calling the one of them, which was longer, gladium, the sword; the other, which was shorter, pugionem, the dagger. The subject he was now to medi∣tate upon was a bloudie assacinate, and the points he was to handle, no other than the sharpe ends of swords and rapiers. Made then he was to beleeve that he should there take an outlandish man, with great store of treasure; but he found an armed man, ready to take away that from him which was more precious unto him than all the jewels in the world. Here wee see what a soveraigne care the Highest hath over soveraigne Princes his vice∣gerents on earth, and what a terrour sacred Majestie striketh into the hearts of barbarous and bloudie traitors. The Italian varlet had not the power to lift at Charles the fifth: with a lift onely he had throwne him out of the window. The French miscreant had not the power to push at Augustus: with a push only he had broken his neck downe the steepe Alpes. Parry had not the power to draw the pin of his fire-lock: upon the moving but of a pinne the dag had gone off in his hand, and the Queene had beene shot through the heart. Parry's dag fell out of his hand, and Hendersons dag∣ger stucke in his hand; he could no more stirre it than the souldier at Min∣ternum, who drew upon Caius Marius, but was not able to strike a stroke, nor make a thrust at him.

i—primo nam caedis in ictu Diriguit, ferrum{que} manu torpente remisit.

Howbeit, though Hendersons faint heart and benummed hand would not serve him to act his bloudie part; yet the Divell so hardened Ruthwen, that he tooke out the other dagger, and set the point thereof at his Maje∣sties royall breast. And now if ever any lay interk sacrum & saxum, be∣tweene the axe and the blocke, orl 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, upon the edge of the razor, or in ipsis fatim faucibus, in the very chops of destinie, or jawes of death it selfe; at the point lay the hope then, and now the joy and life of us all.

Alone, in a remote place, his servans and attendants barred from him by many doores locked and bolted, himselfe destitute of all weapons, betweene two Conspirators, with a poynard bent to his heart. O King live for ever, is not thy God whom thou servest able to deliver thee from this perill of death? Could hee not snatch thee out of the paw of the Lion? Could hee not have strucke downe both the Conspirators dead to the floore with a thunderbolt from heaven, or at the least taken away the use of Ruthwens limbes, drying up that hand that presumed to touch the apple of his owne eye, the sacred person of our Soveraigne? With a word he could, but it seemed best to his all-sweetly-disposing providence wonderfully to preserve his Majestie, yet without a miracle. For if he had rescued him by any such miraculous meanes as I named before, there had beene no occasion offered, nor place left for his Majesties faithfull servants to stake their lives for their Master: neither had the world taken such no∣tice of his Majesties rare gift of eloquence, by the force whereof, like an∣othern Antonie, intentos gladios jugulo retudit, he stayed the Traitors hand, and delayed the intended blow: first, clearing his owne innocencie from the aspersion of bloud in the execution of the Traitors father, by course of justice, in his Majesties minority; then recounting to him the many princely favours he had conferred upon his brother, himselfe, and all their kindred: but especially laying before his eyes the horrour of the guilt of embruing his hands in the bloud of the Lords annointed; which said he, if my children and subjects should not revenge, the stones out of the wall, and the beames of the timber, conscious of such a villanie, would execute ven∣geance upon thee for so unnaturall, barbarous, and bloudie an act. In fine he promised in the word of a King, pardon for all the violence he had hi∣therto offered him, if he would yet relent and desist from his murtherous in∣tent and attempt of spilling royall bloud. At which words Ruthwens heart, though of Adamant, began to relent and give in; in such sort, that hee gave his Majestie a time to breathe, and offer up prayers with strong cries to the God of his salvation, who heard him in that hee feared, as you shall heare anon. In the interim, Ruthwen consults with the Earle Gowrie his brother, and according to the Latineo proverbe, the aspe suckes poyson from the viper, wherewith he swelleth, and brusling up himselfe, flies at his Majestie the second time to sting him to death, and wrapping about him, begins to bind his royall hands; who nothing appalled at the hide∣ous shape of death within a fingers breadth of his heart, answers like himselfe, that he was borne free, and would die free and unbound: forth∣with he unlooseth his hands, and with one of them clasping the Trai∣tors sword, with the other he grapples with him, and, after much strug∣gling, his Majestie draweth the Traitor to the window, by which it so plea∣sed God to dispose for his Majesties safety, that some of his Majesties ser∣vants passed at that very instant, and both heard and saw in part, in what distresse his Majestie was, and made all possible speed to rescue him: but before they could force a way through so many doores, the King by power from above got the Traitor under him, and drew him by maine force to the top of the staire-case; where soone after the Kings servants, forcibly breaking through all barres, bolts and lockes, met with him,

and throwing him downe staires sent him with many wounds to his owne place, verifying the letter of this prophecie in the confusion of our Davids enemies, qui quaerunt praecipitium animae meae, they which seeke the downe∣fall of my soule, they shall goe or rather tumble downe with a witnesse. And so I passe from the Traitors attempt to the event and happy catastrophe, on the Kings part, of this not fained Interlude.

They shall goe downe. By this time as I intimated but now, the Kings ser∣vants partly made, and partly found their way into the study, rushing in to save the life of their Soveraigne; where they had no sooner dispatched one of the brothers Alexander Ruthwen, but the other brother the Earle, with seven of his servants well appointed, encountreth them. The skir∣mish growes hot betweene them; these fighting for their lives, they for their Soveraigne; these animated by hope, they whet on by desperation, After many wounds given and received on both sides, they of the Kings part, according to the words of the tenth verse, cast him down; or, as it is in the Hebrew, make his bloud spin or run out like water on the ground: his, I say, the arch-Traitor the Earle Gowrie, who may be compared to Saul Da∣vids chiefe enemie; whose downefall the spirit in the pronoune in the sin∣gular number him pointeth at, in many respects, but especially in this, that he tooke counsell of the Divell to murther the Lords Annointed. For as Saul conferred with the Witch at Endor before he put himselfe into the field which he watered with his bloud, so the Earle Gowrie, before hee entred into this Acheldamah field of bloud, pitched by himselfe, hee made the Divell of his counsell, and was found with many magicke cha∣racters about him when he fell by the edge of the sword.

If any man question how it could so fall out that Alexander Ruthwen, being more nimble, strong, and expert in wrestling, and having many wayes advantage on his Majestie, should not throw him downe, or get him under him; I answer out of the words immediately going before my text, dextra Jehovae sustentabat eum, the right hand of the Lord supported him the King: by whose speciall providence it was ordered, that his Majesties servants should passe by the window at the very moment when his Majestie looked out; as also, that some of them should finde that blinde way by the turne-pecke into the studie which the Earle Gowrie caused to bee new made for this his divellish enterprise. Therefore his Majestie, as soone as the bloudie storme was blowne over, kneeled downe in the middest of all his servants, and offered up the calves of his lips to the God of his life; promising a perpetuall memorie of this his deliverie, and professing that hee assured himselfe that God had not preserved him so wonderfully for nought, but that he reserved him for some greater worke and service to his Church, as wee see this day. There remaineth yet one clause in my text; And the mouth of every one that speaketh lies shall bee stopped: and answerably an appendix to the narration of the conspiracie of the Gowries, for stopping the mouthes of all that shall call in question the truth of that relation. Which besides the conscience of his Majesty, the deposition of his servants, the publicke justice of the Parliament of Scotland, the solemne piety and devo∣tion of the Churches of great Brittaine and Ireland, was sixteene yeeres af∣ter the plotting thereof, and eight yeeres after the acting confirmed by the

publicke, free, and voluntarie confession ofp George Sprot, arraigned and executed at Edinburgh for it.

Thus have I fitted each member of this prophecy to the severall parts of the storie of his Majesties deliverance as on this day: betweene which there is such good correspondencie, that the prophesie seemeth text to the storie, and the storie a commentarie on the prophesie. Ob∣serve I beseech you the harmony of them, and let your heart dance with joy at every straine.

1. The first is, They that seeke my soule to destroy it, shall goe downe, &c. This was exemplified, and according to the letter accomplished in Alexander Ruthwen, who sought the ruine of our David, and was himselfe throwne downe the staires, and after part of him into the lowest parts of the earth, a deepe pit, into which his bowels were cast.

2. The second is, They shall cast him downe by the edge of the sword. This was accomplished in the Earle Gowrie, whom the Kings servants smote in the study with the edge of the sword, that hee died and fell at their feet.

3. The third is, And they shall be a portion for foxes; that is, lie unbu∣ried for a prey to the fowles of heaven, and beasts of the earth: this was accomplished in all the Traitors, who were according to the Lawes of the kingdome hanged, drawne and quartered, and their quarters set up upon the most eminent parts of the Citie, where the fowles preyed upon them till they dropped downe to the ground, and were made an end of by some ravenous beasts.

4. The fourth is, The King shall rejoyce in God. This was literally verified in our King, who joyfull after hee was plucked out of the jawes of death, gave publicke thankes to God, and ascribed the whole glo∣ry of his deliverance and victorie over his enemies to his gracious good∣nesse; and in memorie of this so great a benefit, commanded this feast, which wee now celebrate, to be solemnly kept in all his Dominions yeerely.

5. The fifth is, And all that sweare by him, that is, all which worship the true God, the God of our Jacob; or all that sweare to him, that is, alle∣giance to his Majestie, shall glorie. This, as it was accomplished in other congregations, so is it in us here present, assembled to glorie in the Lord for this wonderfull delivery of their then, and now also our Sove∣raigne.

6. The sixt and last is, And the mouth of all that speake lies shall bee stopped. This was also fulfilled by the meanes of George Sprot, who by his pious behaviour, and penitent confession at his death, and a signe which he promised to shew after his breath should be stopped, and according∣ly performed (after he had hanged a great while, clapping his hands a∣bove his head) stopped the mouth of all such as before spake lies against the truth of the precedent relation. To the lively expression whereof, I have borrowed, as you see, Davids princely characters, and set the presse, placing each letter in his ranke, and part in his order. What remaineth but that I pray to God by his spirit to stampe them in our hearts, and so im∣print

them in our memories, that he that runneth may reade our thank∣fulnesse to God for this deliverance, and confidence in his future prote∣ction of our Soveraignes person, and love and loyaltie to his Majestie, whom God hath so strangely saved from the sword, to save the sword from us; that in peace and safety he might receive and sway the Scepter of these Kingdomes of great Brittaine and Ireland. Which long may hee, with much prosperity and honour, to the glory of God, and propagation of the truth, libertie, and safetie of the Church and Common-wealth, ex∣ceeding joy and comfort of all his friends, and remarkeable shame and confusion of his implacable enemies. So bee it. Deo patri, &c.

Notes

• a

  Bed. & Baron. in Martyrolog. mens. August.
• b

  Which were af∣ter severed for many ages, but ••ow by the speci∣all providence of Almighty God againe lye loving∣ly, encompassing and embracing each the other.
• Here he bowed to his Grace.
• Here he turned to the Lords.
• c

  Cic. de orat. Naevus in pue∣ro delectat Al∣ceum, est defor∣mitas in vultu, illi tamen lu∣men videbatur.
• d

  Aristot. Phys. auscust. c. de Vacuo. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• Martial. epigr.
• e

  Hierom. epist. ad Heliodor. O Desertum, Christ•• flori∣bus vernans! O Solitudo, in qua illi nascun∣tur lapides de quibus in Apo∣calypsi civitas magni Regis extruitur! O Eremus, famili∣arús Deo gau∣dens! Quàm diu te tectorum umbrae pre∣munt? quàm di•• fum sarum u bium ca cer includit? nescio quid hic plus lucis aspicio.
• f

  Hilar. con. Auxent. Malè vos parietum amor cepit, montes mihi, & sylvae, & so∣litudines, & la∣cus, & voragi∣nes sunt tutio res; in illis e∣nim Propherae aut demersi, aut manentes Dei Spiritu prophe∣tabant.
• g

  Vid. Hieron. in ••ita Paidi, & Hilarionis; & Marianum. Vi∣ctorinum in vita sancti Hieronomi.
• h

  Platina in vi∣tis Pontif. Hic Pontifex nihil memoriâ dig∣num reliquit: hic pontifex, nisi podagram habuisset, om∣nind ignorare∣tur.
• i

  Baron. tom. 10. ad ann 900. Intrudebantur in Petri sedem meretricum Amasii pseudo-Pontifices, qui non sunt, nisi ad consignanda tempora in Ca∣talogo Romanorum Pontificum scripti.
• k

  Sleidan in com. sui temporis. Vicimus.
• l

  Plutarch. a∣poph. & in vit. Numae.
• m

  Raleigh hist. of the World. c. 6. lib. 3.
• n

  Psal. 51.15.
• o

  Eras. adag. ex Lucia. Sacram Anchoram sol∣vere dicimur, quando ad ex∣tremum praesi∣dium confugi∣mus.
• a

  Hesiod. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 l. 1. Sibi ipsi mala fabricat homo, qui alteri fabri∣cat, & malum consilium con∣sultori pessi∣mum.
• b

  Psal. 7.15, 16.
• c

  Daniel 3.22.
• d

  Daniel 6.24.
• e

  Ester 7.10.
• f

  Judges 1.7.
• g

  Ovid. de art. l. 1.
• h

  Ovid ibid. Et Phalaris tau∣ro violenti membra Peril∣li, Torruit infoe∣lix, imbuit au∣thor opus.
• i

  Plutarch. in Theseo.
• k

  Beno Cardina∣lis devita & gest Hildeb.
• l

  Bodin l. 4. de rep.
• m

  Ovid. fast. l. 1. & Martial l. 13. cui nomen Xen. Lascivum pe∣cus & viridi non utile Bac∣cho, dat poenas, no∣cuit nam tener ille Deo.
• n

  Bodin. l. 6. de rep.
• o

  Suet. in Jul. Caes.
• Unnaturall pu∣nishment for unnaturall crimes.
• p

  August in Psal. 62 Jud ei ideo voluerunt Christum ••cci∣dere ne terram perderent; ideo terram perdiderunt, quia Christum occiderunt: quia repulerant Agnum, & ele∣gerunt Vul∣pem, ideò prae∣da Vulpium facti sunt.
• q

  Hom. Il. 1.
• r

  Cal••in. epist. ad Fran. gallo. reg. Nusquam legi∣mus reprehen∣sos quod nimi∣um de fonte aquae vivae hauserint.
• u

  Hieron epist ad Heliod. Tunc quod vocem in∣bae pavebit ter∣ra cum populis, & tu gaudebis. Judicaturo Domino lu∣gubrè mun∣dus immugiet, tribus ad tribum pectora ferient, Potentissimi quo••dam reges nudo latere pulpitabunt, ex∣hibebitur cum prole sua vere tunc ignitus Ju∣piter, adduce∣tur & cum suis stultus Plato discipulis, Ari∣stotelis argu∣menta non pro∣derunt. Tunc tu rusticanus & pauper exulta∣bis, & ridebis, & dices, ecce crucifixus Deus meus ecce Ju∣dex qui obvo∣lutus pannis in praesepio vagiit: hic est ille ope∣rarii & quaestu∣ariae filius, hic qui matris ge∣status sinu ho∣minem Deus fugit in Egyp∣tum, hic vestitus coccino, hic sen∣tibus coronatus: cerne manus Judae e quas fix∣eras: cerne la∣tus Romane quod foderas.
• x

  Apoc. 22.20.
• y

  1 Sam. 31.12.13.
• z

  Sen. de clem. l. 1. c. 4. Ille est vin∣culum per quod respublica co∣heret, ille est spiritus vitalis quem tot millia trahunt.
• a

  Suet. in vita Tui.
• b

  Sen. de clem. l. 1. c. 9. Severitate nihil profecisti: Salvid enum Lepidus secu∣tus est, Lepi∣dum Muraena, Muraenam Caepio Caepio∣nem Egnatius, ut alios taccam, quos tantum ausos pudet.
• Num. 16.32.
• c

  Sueton. in vita Tib.
• d

  Plin. in panegir. Potest iniqui Princeps, potest tamen odio esse nonnullis, eti∣amsi ipse non oderit.
• e

  Sen de clem. l. 1. c 11. Nullam te toto orbe stil∣lam cruoris hu∣mani mifisse.
• e

  Camerarius meditat. histor. c. 27.30.
• f

  Cambd. in vit. Reg. Eliz.
• g

  Vid l. Angl. scrip. de conjura. Gowr.
• h

  Sutton in vita Calig.
• i

  Lucan de bell. Pha••sal.
• k

  Eras. adag.
• l

  Theo••ri. in dios∣c••••.
• m

  Cic. Catilin. ••••ai. 2.
• n

  Cic. de orat. l. 3.
• o

  Eras. adag. Aspis a vipera sumit venenum
• p

  Vid. a booke intituled, the examination of G. Sprot, pub∣lished with a learned preface to it by G.A. Dr. D. and Dean of Winchester.