A loyal subiects looking-glasse, or A good subiects direction necessary and requisite for euery good Christian, liuing within any ciuill regiment or politique state, to view, behold, and examine himselfe in, that he may the better frame the course of his life, according to the true grounds of the duties of an honest and obedient subiect to his king, and to arme himselfe against all future syren songs, and alluring intisements of subtill, disloyall, dissembling, and vnnaturall conspirators, traitors, and rebels. Collected for the most part out of both olde and later writers, whose names are in the next page set downe. Wherevnto are brieflie added sixe speciall causes of vndutifull subiects disloyaltie. By William Willymat.

CHAP. IIII.

Concerning prayer, the fourth duty of a loyall subiect.

AS euery faithfull and loyall subiect is to giue vnto Caesar obedience, feare, & ho∣nor, as here before in this present treatise you haue hard it plainly laide downe & prooued, so likewise for a fourth duty, are all true harted subiects, boūd, taught and commaunded by God in his blessed and sacred word to pray and call vpon him for the prospe∣rous estate, good successe, and long continuance of kings, * 1.1 princes, and all such as are set in authority, that the societie and companie of mankinde may liue quietly and peaceably

vnder them, considering how burthensome crownes & scep∣ters, how hard the welding of them is, and how difficult a matter it is to discharge them well, whether it be in respect of themselues, or of their subiects. They must be prayed for, that they may haue Gods fauour and his needfull protecti∣on from all wicked, treacherous and rebellious assaults, both of forreine enemies and home-borne, desperate male-con∣tented, dissembling, hypocritish, corner-creeping conspira∣tours, they must be prayed for vnto the Almightie, that he would direct, guide, and lead them in such wayes as are most acceptable to himselfe, & that he would preserue them from all euill: * 1.2 they must be prayed for that they may haue the ho∣nour and feare of God before their eyes, as the only marke to aime at in all their proceedings and purposes, and that they may be endued from aboue with the gifts of know∣ledge, prudence, Iustice, temperance, fortitude, vpright seue∣ritie, discreet clemencie, and an earnest zeale of Gods glorie, Gods truth, and of the welfare of their poore subiects com∣mitted to their charge.

They are to be prayed for, that like as God hath deliuered and put his sword into their hands, so he would take their hearts into his hands, * 1.3 and so temper and guide them, that they may vse his sword according to his owne will and plea∣sure, for the cherishing and praise of their wel-doing subiects, but to take vengeance on them that do euill; and finally that they may set before their eyes, meditate and consider well of the good and imitable examples of good, godly and ver∣tuous Kings, Princes, Iudges and gouernours, as of Dauid, E∣zechias, Iosias, Moses, and such other like, vnto these commen∣ded in holy scriptures, whose paths they may tread, & whose famous, godly, and zealous actes they may follow.

Thus in old time God commaunded the Iewes to pray for the life of Nabuchodonazer, and for the prosperitie of Ba∣bilon, as in Ierem. 29.7. And in Baruch. 1.11. Pray (saith he) for the life of Nabuchodonazer king of Babilon, & for the life of Bal∣tazar his sonne, that their dayes may be on earth, as the dayes of heauen. &c.

Thus many yeares afterward did S. Paul exhort, * 1.4 that sup∣plications, prayers, intercessions, and giuing of thankes be made for all men, for Kings, and for all that are in authoritie, that wee may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour.

And who was that King Nabuchodorazer, * 1.5 that the Pro∣phet so exhorted the people to pray so for him and his sonne Baltasar? It was euen such a one as had with sword and fire ouer-runne their whole land, burned their countrie, their townes and cities, yea euen Hierusalem it selfe, wherein was the holy temple of the Lord, that they trusted so much vnto, such a one as had slaine their king, their nobles, their parents, children, kins folkes and friends, and had carryed them away captiues to Babylon, he was an Heathen king, a tyrant, a cru∣ell oppressour, and a bloudie murtherer of many thousands of their nation.

And who were chiefe rulers, * 1.6 and had the supreame au∣thoritie in those dayes, that the holy spirit of God by Paul exhorted that prayer and supplications should be made for such. Truely about that time raigned the Emperours Caligula, Clodius, and Nero, no Christians but Pagans, and that was worse, most cruell persecutours, martyrs, and murtherers of godly professed Christians. And doth God himselfe commaund, charge, and exhorte their subiects to pray vnto him for such Emperours, Kings and Rulers, as were strangers, Pagans, Heathen, Infidels, murthe∣rers, tyrants, cruell oppressours of them, ransackers and destroyers of their countrie and friends whatsoeuer: How deeplie then are good Christians, and all loyall subiects bound continually to pray vnto God, and to praise God, for the blessed and most happie gouernment of godlye, zealous, and most Christian Kings and Gouernours, and for infinite benefites and blessings powred vpon them by such gouernement? * 1.7 Surely to fall into such extreame ingratitude, and seeinglie, willinglie, and wittinglie, to incurre such retchlesse and profound obliuiousnesse of Gods

most bountifull blessings through want of prayer & thanks∣giuing in this case, what is it else then to commit a most hai∣nous and greeuous sinne against God, against such gratious gouernours, and against their owne countrie, against them∣selues and the common wealth, & thereby to prouoke God to take away such blessings, and to cause them to feele many things, that willingly they would not, and to beare burthens of griefes, that otherwise they should not, and that worthily too: This was an exercise in the time of the primitiue church both highly regarded and feruently followed, their forward and prompt inclination to pray for Magistrates may appeare by due testimonie of diuerse godly writers in those dayes, * 1.8 whereof let onely Tertullian at this time speake for the rest, who saith thus: We pray alwayes for all Emperours, desiring God to giue them long life, a sure raigne, a safe house, valiant armies, faithfull counsellers, honest subiects, a quiet world, and what soeuer else a man or Emperour may desire. The king of kings for his sonne Christ his sake, graunt true Christian subiects the like feruent zeale and willing spirites, to be the more dili∣gent, watchfull, and mindfull herein, that Caesar may haue his due, and God his glorie, for euer and euer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Tim. 2.1.2. Iere. 29.7. Baru••. 1.11
• * 1.2

  What things espe∣cially are to be prayed for in the behalfe of kings, prin∣ces, &c.
• * 1.3

  Things to be begged by praver in the be∣halfe of kings, prin∣ces, &c.
• * 1.4

  1. Tim. 2.1.2.3.
• * 1.5

  What a kinde of king Nabu∣chodonazer vvas, for vvhō God cōmanded prayer to be made.
• * 1.6

  What kinde of rulers they vvere for vvhom Paul exhorted
• * 1.7

  What it is not to pray for kings, princes &c.
• * 1.8

  In the 30. chap of his Apologie.