A81140:94
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.
Further, prayer doth not only prevail with God to open the lock of a Kings heart, but (when need is) to fashion it anew.
Further, prayer doth not only prevaile with God to open the lock of a Kings heart, but (when need is) to fashion it anew.
The Lord (saith David, Psal. 33. 13, 14, 15.) looketh down from Heaven, and he beholdeth all the sons of men: From the place of his habitation, he beholdeth all the Inhabitants ⟨p. 34⟩of the Earth, he fashioneth their hearts alike (Alike) Not that the hearts of all men are cast in the same mould. Indeed the hearts of all men by nature are cast in the same mould, they are of the same Make, As face answereth face in the water, so do the hearts of the children of men; That is, they are all sinful. But if their hearts were in all respects alike, their thoughts and counsels, and actions would be a like too; but the truth is, there is not so much difference in the faces of men, as there is in the hearts of men; and therefore we cannot understand the Psalm thus, that God makes all mens hearts of the same likeness: But take the meaning thus; when God looks from Heaven, and beholds all the Inhabitants of the Earth, he can fashion the heart of one alike, as he fashioneth the heart of another, that is, look as •ee is able to fashion the heart of a mean man, so he is able to fashion the heart of a mighty man; as he is able to fashion the heart of a Subject, so he is able to fashion the heart of a King. Thus he fashions their hearts alike; when we put the heart of a King into the hand of God to fashion, we put a curious pee•e into his hand. The heart of a King, is the most curious piece of work in the world. Yet God can alike, namely, as soon, and with as much ease, fashion and frame that curious piece, as he doth the plainest piece in the world; he fashions all their hearts alike, and therefore if we would have the heart of a King fashioned, we must put it out to God; who only can do it, and who can easily do it. Now there is nothing can carry a Kings heart to fashioning unto God but only Prayer; therefore you see the necessity of this duty. Then, let the King pray this Prayer for himself. Kings should not put all prayer-work out to others, it is better to get a