Will you hear the scriptures concerning this most necessary point? I exhort therefore saith saint Paul, that above all things, prayers, supplications, 1intercessions, and giving of thanks be had for all men, for kings, and all that are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life with all godliness: for that is good and acceptable in the sight of GOD our ⟨p. 556⟩saviour. &c. This is Saint Pauls counsel. And who I pray you was prince over the most part of Christians, when Gods holy spirit by saint Pauls pen gave them this lesson? Forsooth, Caligula, Clodius, or Nero? who were not only no Christians, but Pagans, and also either foolish rulers, or most cruel tyrants. Will you yet hear the word of God to the Jews, when they were prisoners under Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, after he had slain their king, nobles, parents, children, and kinsfolks, burned their country, cities, yea Jerusalem it self, and the holy temple, and had carried the residue remaining alive captives with him unto Babylon? Will you hear yet what the prophet Baruch saith unto Gods people being in this captivity? Pray you, saith the prophet, for the life of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and for the life of Belshazzar his son, that their days may be as the days of heaven upon the earth, that God also may give us strength, and lighten our eyes, that we may live under the defence of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and under the protection of Belshazzar 2his son, that we may long do them service, and find favour in their sight. Pray for us also unto the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God. Thus far the prophet Baruch his words: which are spoken by him unto the people of God, of that king who was an heathen, a tyrant, and cruel oppressor of them, and had ben a murderer of many thousands of their nation, and a ⟨p. 557⟩destroyer of their country, with a confession that their sins had deserved such a prince to reign over them. And shall the old Christians, by saint Pauls exhortation, pray for Caligula, Clodius, or Nero? Shall the Jews pray for Nebuchadnezzar? these Emperors and kings being strangers unto them, being Pagans and Infidels, being murderers, tyrants, and cruel oppressors of them, and the destroyers of their country, countrymen, and kinsmen, the burners of their villages, towns, cities, and temples?
Wyll you heare the scriptures concerning this most necessarie poynt? I exhort therefore sayth saint Paul, that aboue all thinges, prayers, supplications, 1intercessions, and geuing of thankes be had for all men, for kynges, and all that are in aucthoritie, that we maye liue a quiet and peaceable lyfe with all godlinesse: for that is good and acceptable in the syght of GOD our ⟨p. 556⟩sauiour. &c. This is Saint Paules councel. And who I pray you was prince ouer the moste part of Christians, when Gods holye spirite by saint Paules pen gaue them this lesson? Forsoothe, Caligula, Clodius, or Nero? who were not onlye no Christians, but Pagans, and also eyther foolishe rulers, or most cruel tyrauntes. Wyl you yet heare the worde of God to the Jewes, when they were prisoners vnder Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon, after he had slaine their king, nobles, parentes, chyldren, and kynsfolkes, burned theyr countrey, cities, yea Hierusalem it selfe, and the holy temple, and had caryed the residue remayning aliue captiues with hym vnto Babylon? Wyll you heare yet what the prophete Baruch sayth vnto Gods people being in this captiuitie? Pray you, sayth the prophete, for the lyfe of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon, and for the lyfe of Balthaser his sonne, that theyr dayes may be as the dayes of heauen vpon the earth, that God also may geue vs strength, and lighten our eyes, that we may liue vnder the defence of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon, and vnder the protection of Balthaser 2his sonne, that we may long do them seruice, and finde fauour in their syght. Praye for vs also vnto the Lorde our God, for we haue sinned agaynst the Lorde our God. Thus farre the prophete Baruch his wordes: whiche are spoken by hym vnto the people of God, of that kyng who was an heathen, a tyraunt, and cruell oppressour of them, and had ben a murtherer of many thousandes of theyr nation, and a ⟨p. 557⟩destroyer of their countrey, with a confession that theyr sinnes had deserued suche a prince to raigne ouer them. And shall the olde Christians, by saint Paules exhortation, pray for Caligula, Clodius, or Nero? Shall the Jewes pray for Nabuchodonozor? these Emperours and kynges beyng straungers vnto them, beyng Pagans and Infidels, beyng murtherers, tyrauntes, and cruell oppressours of them, and the destroyers of their countrey, countreymen, and kinsmen, the burners of theyr villages, townes, cities, and temples?
- 11. Tim. 2. a,
- 2Baruc. 1. b. •.
