A81140:91
Davids prayer for Solomon
Davids prayer for Solomon, containing the proper endowments and duty royal of a king, with the consequent blessings upon a kingdom. Delivered in a sermon at Christ-Church London, before the Right Honourable the Lord Major, the right worshipful the aldermen his brethren, together with the worshipful companies of the said city, upon the 27th. of March, 1643. Being the commemoration of his Majesties inauguration. By Joseph Caryl, preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn. It is this present eight day of Aprill, anno Domini, 1643. Ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning printing, that this sermon entitled (Davids Prayer for Solomon, containing, the proper endowments and duty royal of a King, &c.) be printed and published. John White.Davids prayer for Solomon, containing the proper endowments and duty royall of a king, with the consequent blessings upon a kingdome. Delivered in a sermon at Christ-Church London, before the Right Honourable the Lord Major, the right worshipfull the aldermen his bretheren, together with the worshipfull companies of the said city, upon the 27th. of March, 1643. Being the commemoration of his Majesties inauguration. By Joseph Caryl, preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolnes Inne. It is this present eight day of Aprill, anno Domini, 1643. Ordered by the Committee of the House of Commons in Parliament concerning printing, that this sermon intituled (Davids Prayer for Solomon, containing, the proper endowments and duty royall of a King, &c.) be printed and published. John White.
London: printed by G. M. for Giles Calvert, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, They that are encompassed with temptations, had need be encompassed about with prayers, and intercessions; To be a King is a temptation; No man knows what his heart wo•ld be, if he had so much power as a King, in his hand; as he said once, can you tell me what you would be, if you were a Lyon? if to be a rich man be a temptation, if to have riches be a temptation, then much more to be a King, to be the Earthly Centre of Power, is a temptation; To be rich is so great a temptation, ⟨p. 33⟩that Christ tells us, It is a hard thing for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, harder then for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle; If bags of money, if Lands and Houses be such temptations, what are Crowns and Sceptres?
Thirdly, They that are encompass'd with temptations, had need be encompass'd about with prayers, and intercessions; To be a King is a temptation; No man knowes what his heart wo•ld be, if he had so much power as a King, in his hand; as he said once, can you tell me what you would be, if you were a Lyon? if to be a rich man be a temptation, if to have riches be a temptation, then much more to be a King, to be the Earthly Center of Power, is a temptation; To be rich is so great a temptation, ⟨p. 33⟩that Christ tells us, It is a hard thing for a richman to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven, harder then for a Camell to goe through the eye of a needle; If baggs of money, if Lands and Houses be such temptations, what are Crownes and Scepters?
And as the very estate it self of a King is a temptation, so there are multitudes of temptations waiting upon, and hanging about that estate: A King can hardly set his foot out of his Chamber-door, but he treads upon a temptation. A King can hardly hear a word, I was about to say a Sermon, but he hears a temptation, (some Sermons have more temptations in them, then instructions,) he can hardly cast an eye, but he looks upon a temptation; Now seeing a King hath so many temptations about him, let him have store of prayers about him. Prayer is the best Antidote against temptation. Especially when we pray for Him, as Christ teaches every one to pray for himself with others. Lord, lead not the King into temptation.