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43

Sermo Septimus.

To my Honourable Friends, Master EDWARD, and Mistris RUTH PETRE.

The Argument.

We sing those Courtiers, who attend the Throne,
And act commands of that most absolute One,
Who gives all, takes from none, but what before,
Issued from his never exhausted store:
We likewise treat, with what despotike sway,
This Monarck governs, Citizens obey.
Plato fram'd a Republike, and it cost
Tullie much labour to write, what is lost,
A Common-wealth: so Aristotle writ,
His book of Politicks, prooving in it
How the best forme of Government is, where
One absolute Monarck shall the Scepter beare.
Be it so, or not, let slaine Cambyses Peres
Dispute the Question: jealousies and feares,
Arise on every side: a Monarck may
Turne tyrant, Nero, or Dionysius play.
Violently take your goods, command your Wives,
And what more precious is then both your lives:
Bring in an arbitrary Government,
Or feare, or scorne to call a Parliament.
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Forget himselfe, and how one single clause
Of his life more commands then all his Lawes.
He acts on a conspicuous stage, and is
Subject to all his subjects clap or hisse.
Thus Monarcks may decline, and may not such,
Who to a state turne Kingdomes doe as much?
Suppose your Noblemen should beare the sway,
Even these may erre as well as tyrants may:
Consult, combine, to keep the people low,
And from the publike pressures potent grow.
A crafty party circumvent the rest,
Some few prevaile, the bad oretop the best.
From reasons rule, and square of Justice erre,
Before the generall, private ends prefer.
Athens a slave by thirty tyrants made;
And Rome by the Decemviri betrayd.
These promis'd cures o'th body politick,
But made the same a hundreth times more sick.
Weary of Kings, Rome ordains Consuls, those
Supprest, shee ten chiefe Magistrates will choose.
Rods onely scourg'd her in the dayes of Kings,
And Consuls, these few men with Scorpions stings
Slash the poore Commons, as none can be sure
Of his owne goods, nor in's owne house secure:
The people grumble: let 'em, this base Yoake,
They brought upon themselves, and till the'have broake
Their Asses backs i'th carriage must endure
The burthen: armed Cohorts shall secure
The tyrants lives, and military bands,
Force speedy execution of commands.
For the fond multitude, they never knew
Their proper good, nor what belonged to
Or worth, or manners; Peers and Monarcks know,
When they do injuries, that they do so.
But the base Vulgars unrestrained wil,
Is model of their actions good, or il.
A many headed monster, yet not one
Sconce stuft with Reason, or Religion:
Fiery in prosecution of what's new,
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Which had, they presently their wishes rue:
And you as easily may, and even as soone,
Shape out and make a garment for the Moone,
Now crescent, now i'th full, now in the waine,
As satisfie the Vulgars fickle braine.
The Rable doated on this Parliament,
With clubs and staves for their protection went
To Westminster: gloryed to heare themselves
Cald Round-heads, others Cavaliers (new Guelphs
And Gibelines) what blood shed they? what fights?
Adventur'd for the Parliamentall rights?
How bountifully did they give their store,
Of gold at Guildhall? yea, contribute more
Then was requir'd. City and Country cry,
T' have reverend Laud and active Strafford dye,
As enemies to'th Realme, and Parliament;
And till their heads are off ne'r be content.
But now the case is altred, they rayle on
Both Houses, cry downe for oppression
Excises, are so impudent, they'd thrust
Them from their Voting, whom themselves did trust,
With all their rights; whisper, expresse their spight
In prose and verse, most dangerous pamphlets write:
Yea some ('tis strange) so rash they dare proclaime
Themselves the authors, and subscribe a name:
Boldnesse and mercy, these would spend their blood
Most willingly, our Senators are good,
And will not spil't, knowing a Magistrate.
Should th' Emperour Nero (yet young) imitate.
Who wept when he should signe to th' deaths of men,
Condemn'd, and wish'd he could not use a pen.
But howsoe're they hold a wolfe by th' eare,
Who court the multitude, and still must feare,
Heele byte 'em; all their bones are broke in twaine,
Who seek the fickle Vulgars love to gaine.
So weak our providence, so full of feare,
No state that's perfect can be stablish'd here;
None formed yet a body politick,
That sundry noxious humours made not sick.
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Eutopia fancied by our learned More,
Had faults, and Platoes Common-wealth had more.
Let Genoa, Jena, Venice, Amsterdam,
And my deare London a republike frame,
As they have fram'd, some Constitutions are,
That erre from reason, and with justice square.
Yet when Philolophers with all their wit,
(Though some were States-men) faile, our sacred Writ
Shall speak a Common-weale, so sound, so sure,
That for eternity it shall endure.
For lift your eyes up, and contemplate them,
Who fill the Senate of Hierusalem;
There you shall see an ordered policy
Establish'd, a sure grounded Monarchy:
That on the Burgers has more blessings brought,
Then Common-weales have dream'd of, or have sought.
A glorious City, that surpasseth far,
Ninus vast Ninive, or the grand Caire:
Though that could vaunt of threescore miles in length,
Wals of unmeasured magnitude, and strength,
Almost two thousand towers as Babel high,
Threatning as Memphis Pyramids, the skie.
Yet if with Sion you both these compare,
Both silie cottages, both Sheep-coats are.
The pavement, wals, and roofe of gold are made,
With diamonds and precious stones inlaide.
That with their lustre give a constant light,
Although such need not, for the sable night
Is ever banish'd thence; (the fulgent rayes,
Oth' slaughtered Lamb, causing perpetuall dayes.)
No watch, no warding at the severall ports,
No military stations at the Forts.
Onely at every Gate an Angel stands,
And brandishes a Fauchion in his hands,
To keep Malignants out, as heretofore
Th' Angel kept watch and ward at Edens dore.
And when that shame of nature went about,
To break Lots house, the angels kept 'em out:
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Besides the Citizens al souldiers are,
Knights of St. Vincent for their feats of War.
They made their passage through a crimson flood,
(As did the Israelites) of Iesus blood.
And Satan mindfull he was vanqush'd here,
Scarce lifts his eyes to Heaven, much lesse comes there.
The forme of Government is such; one King,
To whom all homage owe, and tribute bring;
His Court most glorious: Myriads of those Peres,
Whose charge it is to volve the circling Spheres,
Assist his throne: Cherubs who pierce, and see,
The secret Orders of the Deity.
And those Seraphike Lords, with firy love
Inflam'd, in and about the centre move
Oth' divine Essence. Sedentary be,
The thrones, and with a sweet tranquility,
Contemplate God. Ore sublunary things,
The dominations sway, and act their Kings
Commands; who uses to imploy the powers
When he will curbe those enemies of ours,
Th' Aerian Potentates: as Satan would,
Bring Moses body forth, that th' Hebrews should
It idolize, he was made hold his peace
By Michael, and from th' enterprize surcease.
Who take the charge of Kings and kingdoms, these
Are stil'd magnifique Principalities.
When God prodigious operations takes
In hand, he then the active Virtues makes
His instruments. Angels, archangels, are
His Nuntio's, when he pleases to declare
His mind to Mortals: the angel Gabriel went,
In Embassie to crave a Maids consent,
And as some Paranymph prepare a roome,
Where God himselfe should to our nature come,
And wooing in's owne person make a tye
Betwixt our flesh, and his Divinity,
The hypostatick Union was the Ring,
Did make the match, and to perfection bring:
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And made our lumpe of despicable clay,
Ore the Empyrian Dominations sway.
What time the Spouse, both Jewes and Gentiles takes,
And with them both a mystique marriage makes.
The fervent Seraphin, and Cherubs be
Lords of Gods privy Councell, although he
Nor sits, nor needs much to deliberate,
What's to be done in businesses of State.
Yet some blest Angels know more of his mind,
And in the Book of Life (read deeply,) find,
The fixt decrees of his eternall will,
How he elects the good, rejects the ill.
Some leaders of Gods Army, whom he sends,
Or to subdue his foes, or aide his friends;
So Michael, Generalissimo, commands
The sacred Brigades, and Cælestiall Bands;
Guesse at their strength, by what but one has done,
Killing in Egypt every first borne son.
All this one night perform'd: Did not almost
Two hundreth thousand of the Syrian Host,
Oth' ground lye gasping, by one Angell kil'd,
And all the rest with Panik terrour filde,
Trudge with their King away? some Angel must
I'th latest day collect all humane dust:
When soules shall reassume their flesh, and give,
Account of all their actions done alive.
All these great Princes hourely waite upon
Their glorious King, encompassing his throane,
To doe him service, and i'th very name,
Each one Enucleates his Creators fame.
For every single appellation suites,
To be the Banner of Gods attributes.
The Seraphim proclaime that ardent fire,
Wherewith the Persons mutually conspire,
To give existence, and communicate,
To whats existent an accomplish'd state.
The Cherubs witnesse an abysse of skill,
In the production, and a provident will,
49

In government oth' world: both in the height
Of wisdome, number, and of weight.
How fitly doe the quiet thrones expresse,
Gods never to be altered quietnesse?
Who in himselfe immov'd, alwayes the same,
With various motions alters the Worlds frame.
Mutations in the fire, ayre, water, land,
And in all these God has a speciall hand.
But as some Rock fixt firmly midst the waves,
Stirs not a jot, although the ocean raves,
And boysterous winds conspiring with the tyde,
Cause noyse, and feare alike on every side:
So in the world, though daily motions be,
Changes of elements, and Kingdomes; he
Who changes all, sits quiet in his throne,
Ever the same unalterable, One.
Powers, vertues, principalities, display
With dominations a despotick sway.
The Angels fancied young with Cherubs wings,
The cheerfull expedition in their Kings
Commands: these ninety nine have never er'd,
But alwayes loyal to their God adher'd:
When Lucifer that Catelin lost his place,
These purchast glory, keeping their first grace.
A mighty Prince prepar'd Assuerus feasts,
And sent his Vassals to invite the guests,
And bid 'em forthwith to the banquet come,
They onely wanted to adorne his roome.
They all excuse; one answers, he hath bought,
A Farme, and goes to see if't be worth ought;
Another has bought Oxen, and must know
By tryall, whether they be good or no.
The third's a married man, and for his life,
He cannot obtaine licence of his wife.
What's to be done? must all the Kates be spoyld?
This noble Prince, and all his court'sie foyld?
No sure his servants goe to every street,
And take up all the passengers they meet.
50

Yet there is place: he sends for the Rif-raf,
They come sit at his table, drink, eate, laugh.
Such is Gods bounty, he prepared feasts,
Adorn'd heavens Hall, and onely wanted guests
To fill the roomes of those rebellious Fiends,
Wherefore to Jews and Gentiles out he sends.
Many excuse themselves: some pride of life
Retard, some hope of gaine, others a Wife.
But who can crosse Gods efficacious will?
Guests are compel'd, whether they wil or nil,
By congruous grace to come, and fill the seats
O'th trayterous Elves, and feed on dainty meats.
The lame, the feeble, and the poore in spirit,
By grace of Christ advanc'd, not their owne merit,
To Gods owne table, eate Cælestiall Kates,
Where Angels minister, and Jesus waites.
Of these in Heaven a countlesse multitude.
Inhabit, not as the base vulgar rude;
But deeply learned, having for their book,
Even God himselfe, on whom they daily look:
And as they more or lesse relations see
Ith' sacred triad, so they learned be;
And happy more or lesse, and what them all,
Most firmly comforts, they shall never fall
From this beatitude: some ages past,
This state of things shall end; theirs ever last.
No sicknesse, no diseases can come neare
That happy Towne, nor is there any feare,
That all consuming time, or pensive cares,
Shall issue furrowing wrinckles, or gray hayres:
Never sedition troubled this blest towne,
Since Lucifer that Boutifew fel downe.
And care is had that none shall enter in
The gates, defil'd with leprousie of sin.
Tis true, there's difference twixt the light of stars,
Yet cannot inequality breed jars:
No Saint repining at anothers share,
Though some more glorious then some others are.
51

All rest contented with their proper store
Of grace, and glory, and require no more.
And 'twere a madnesse any should repine,
The cheerfull Sun should on his fellow shine;
Or dropping Clouds with a fructiferous shower,
Upon his neighbours fields a blessing poure.
The selfe same mirrour bounteously reflects,
Upon a thousand severall mens aspects.
The aiery species, nor is lesse your view,
Because a thousand sharers are with you.
God is this glorious planet, this cleere glasse,
That cheers all, shews all objects as they passe.
Though he cheer all, though he be seen of many,
All this is done sans detriment of any.
And had there been millions of such worlds more,
Of saints, and angels, an innumerous store,
All had had heat, all had as clearely seen,
Yet th'object never penetrated been.
As easily God giving life and forme,
To al as he doth to the silliest worme:
And though to some his bounties ampler be,
Yet even in this we shal Decorum see.
As architects, who reare a house or wal,
When pondrous stones are fit, apply not smal:
When smal proportion will not massie place,
For so the worke would want both art and grace.
Such is Gods City made of lively stones,
Spiritual Chrysolithes, and Unions.
The Sardonix, and sparkling Chrysoprase,
Beryllus, Jasper, Christaline like glasse.
All these rich Jems proportionably cut,
Are in that forme, and decent manner put,
And of such quantity, and valour be,
As with the Universe shal best agree.
For if the workman shewed such curious art,
In making this low Orbe, and every part
Contain'd in it, how must his skill abound,
When he a palace for himselfe wil found?
52

We have view'd Gods City, know the subjects, now
Let's contemplate the policy and how
This mighty Monarck governs, by what law
So steers, his subjects love, yet stand in aw.
Kings are compel'd to imploy their subjects hands,
As usefull instruments of their commands:
They cannot live without 'em, nor are Kings,
Unlesse the subject necessary things;
Supply for life, and state, whence come their treasures,
But from the subjects purse? even to their pleasures
The subject must contribute, nor the field,
Nor River without Subjects pleasure yeild,
Unlesse the Falconer traversing the mounds,
Shall lure the Hawke, the hunts-men rate the Hounds.
In masques, and showes, and playes, which Princes see,
Subjects must revellers, and actors be.
If he rule wisely the best Monarck heares,
More with his subjects, then with his owne eares:
He must have ledgers, and his spies maintaine,
To informe what's done in Rome, France, Flanders, Spaine.
Ist' the least misery of Kings to stand
In feare of their owne subjects, least they band
Against them, or plot treason; Monarcks are,
Jealous when subjects grow too popular,
Too potent, or too rich; on purpose send
Them out Embassadors, to make 'em spend
Their formidable treasures: Or in shew
Of honour, let 'em for their Viceroyes goe
To the remoter Indies. Who can tell,
How many Monarks by their Vassals fell?
We need not travaile Greece, Rome, Beme, France, Spaine;
In our sole Britaine fifty Monarks slaine:

Aventinus de Bello Turcico. George Abbot Archbish Can. in his description of the World.

That Aventinus boldly dares report,
The Roman-German Emperor kept a court,
Where Kings were subject: none but Asses were
Vassailes to the French King, because they beare
Such heavy burdens; the Hesperian Kings,
Were Kings of men, because the Spaniard clings
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So closely to his Prince. A King of Devils,
Our English King, by reason of the evils
Against their Kings done by the subjects hands,
Rebellions, depositions, murthers, bands.
Yet we must understand ther's mighty ods,
Betwixt the Commons, and terrestrial Gods.
Angels guard us, archangels wait on them,
Secure their persons, and protect the Realme
For Monarks sakes: let the world know that Kings,
Are gods on earth, and consecrated things.
Precious 'ith sight of God, in state most high,
Who touch 'em, touch the apple of Gods eye.
Semei may barke, Achitophel counsel give,
But how long after did these traytors live?
The polititian, farewell gently takes
Of all his freinds, and with decorum makes
(If hanging have a decency) an end
Of's loathed life. Semei is made a friend,
To the restored King; but with this law
(Which whilst he lives shal keep him stil in awe)
He must not leave his house: some few years passe,
His servants run away; mounting his Asse
He brings 'em back againe. 'Tis told the Prince,
And Semei dyes for's first, and last offence.
(Gods scourge oretaking (though 'tis sometimes long)
Still subjects, who dare doe their Monarks wrong.)
But though high powers guard Kings, yet we may see,
How to their subjects spleens they subject be.
No such dependant Monarchie in Heaven,
Where nothing by the subject can be given,
That was not Gods before: their very being
Glorious endowments, beatifique seeing.
For pleasure, not for want of power or skill,
He makes the Angels actors of their will.
Nor feares he mutinies; lov's the onely law,
Of their obedience, and a filyall awe.
Should any rise (which cannot be) one frowne,
Would easily cast to Hell the Rebels downe.
54

Who acts al things, above, beneath the Sun,
Needs no informers to know what is done.
The greatest Monark governs, as well clounes,
As Kings: in Heaven all are Kings, all weare crownes.
Nor can we reckon the innumerous list,
Of Gods apparent heyrs, coheyrs with Christ.
Commanders of his Military Bands,
Who for their brave exploits by Gods owne hands,
Have Diadems set on every Victors front,
Of precious stones, and every stone has on't
The trophees they have rear'd by Victories got,
As with the Devill, World, and Flesh they fought.
Thus is our Sions government in all
Points most compleat, truly Monarchicall.
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