THE CHRISTIAN PART OF THE KING OF SVVEDENS DISCIPLINE. The first Part.
IT is not without a mystery, I suppose, that the old Israelites had an Armory in their Temple: they would shew us, That these two cannot well be parted. And truely, me-thinkes, that a Temple in an Army, is none of the weakest peices of fortification. How prevalent an Orator, the prayers of devout warriours haue beene with the [Page 2]Lord of Hosts; the conquests and examples of the same old Israelites, may abundantly informe us. How often hath victory (and that almost visibly too, I am sure, sensibly) come ryding downe upon the triumphant wings of devout prayer?
The Tabernacle carried about by that most Christian Emperour Constantine, where ever his Campe went; and where, in stead of a Temple hee celebrated his daily devotions: conquered more, perchance, for him, than ten of his heathen Legions. If Moses prayes, whilest Iosuah fights,Exod. 17. Amalek must needes be dung downe. This our most pious Conquerour now, that he might as neerly as might be, resemble that great Hebrew Generall, that first of the nine Worthies: and that ever-glorious Constantine, that first of the Christian Emperours; hath not courage enough (it seemes) to adventure himselfe into the field, till he first be impregnably fortified with this holy Spell, this whole armour of God.
Vpon the dayes of the Israelites March, when their Camp in the Wildernesse removed, and the Arke of God with it; Moses had prayers then twice a day: at the Rising, namely, and at the Setting downe of the Arke againe,Num. 10.35 [Page 3]had Israel a set forme of prayer. And that this religious King, might not seeme to fight the Lords Battells, without the Lords direction, he hath taken order to haue it call'd for, by most solemne and frequent prayers; twice aday used throughout his whole Leaguer. And that not onely when the Campe remoues; but when it lyes still too: not onely before a battell, or a danger (as if he were at Sea) but even when no enemy is at hand; even then he prayes too. And not onely commands his Army twice a day; but himselfe, as I heare, uses to set apart many whole dayes, to his owne pious privacy, and his closest devotions: upon which may no man then speake to him, because he then speakes with God Behold here are two swords; Fighting and Praying, and Praying & Fighting: thus hath the King of Sweden learn'd to conquer. It is none of the unpolitikest parts of his Majesties new Discipline, that I now present you with; which the exemplary pietie of that religious Prince, hath taught me to put in the first place of his Discipline; seeing in the following Articles of his civill Discipline, himselfe giues the first place unto those Articles, which concerne God and his service.
To crosse that Proverbiall Verse therefore which sayes that Souldiers haue neyther Faith nor Religion in them, I will here afford you some of those Formes of his daily prayer, frequented in every Quarter of his Leaguer, as I finde them in the Booke called Arma Suecica, Pag 77.
¶ The Prayers.
In time of our Necessities, and for the Christian Church.
1 O Almightie and eternall Lord God, who delightest not in the death of a sinner, but wouldest rather that all should liue and come to the knowledge of the truth: we humbly intreate thee by thy Christ, thine onely Sonne, our Lord; that thou wouldest please to bestow thy grace upon all faithfull Doctors and Teachers; to the intent they may purely and clearely deliver thy Word: and that all such as eyther hate it, or with false doctrine corrupt it, or by force persecute it; thy teachers may be able [Page 5]manfully to resist; and so enlighten them, that they may bring them to the knowledge of thy selfe. Grant, mercifull Father, thy Holy Spirit unto all Christian and lawfull Magistrates, that they may well and peaceably rule their own Subjects; and that under them we all leading a quiet and a blamelesse life; may with a true faith celebrate the riches of thy grace; and with a constant mind in all holinesse and righteousnesse, as may be pleasing; serue thee the true God and Lord of Lords, thorough thy only beloved Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Another Prayer to the same purpose.
2 ALmightie and everlasting God, Creator of Heaven and Earth; we thy poore children, doe from the bottome of our hearts in the name of thy beloved Sonne Iesus Christ entreat thee: that by the power of thy Spirit thou wouldst be pleased to direct thine owne Christian Church, with all the true servants of it: that with constancy they may cleaue unto thy Word; so increasing in faith, hope, charitie, and patience unto [Page 6]to the end, that they may be saved. Vouchsafe thy divine grace also, unto all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governours; and especially the King our Soveraigne Lord: and to all their Counsellours and chiefe Officers; that they may so rule their Subjects, thy people, well and according to thy good pleasure; as that peace, good dealing, and righteousnes, may be cherished; troubles, injustice, and all wickednesse, may be banished, and quite taken out of the way.
Looke mercifully upon our enemies, and upon all those that persecute us: cause that both they and we, may seriously repent us of our sinnes: grant them and us and all the whole Christian world, such a minde to the loue of peace, that we may serue thee, O holy God, in all pietie and honestie.
Comfort, moreover, all those that are afflicted, poore, sicke, sorrowfull, distressed captiues, troubled in minde, those that suffer persecution or temptation; that they may beare the crosse patiently, and obtaine at last a happie issue out of all their troubles. Blesse the fruits of the earth also unto us, for the necessary nourishment of our bodies; and preserve them from all danger and ill weather. [Page 7]And especially be thou present with us in this our expedition; pardon our sinnes, and mercifully turne away from us these punishments which we haue deserved.
Keepe safe, moreover, our Lord the King from all dangers both of soule and body, preserue all his Captaines & Commanders, higher and lower together with his whole Army, and our fellow-Souldiers. Grant us, O Lord our God, unanimous and sincere minds, wise direction, happie proceedings, and our desired end, in all our actions and endevours: So as may best make to the glory of thy holy Name, the quietnesse, peace, comfort, joy, and happinesse, finally, both temporall and eternall; of our selues, Countrey, and all these afflicted Christians, which professe the Orthodox and true faith. Shew us some token for good,Psal. 86.17. that they which hate us may see it and be ashamed: because thou Lord hast holpen us, and comforted us. These blessings that thou wouldest vouchsafe unto us, we thy poore children entreate thee humbly, by the death & passion of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ, who liueth and reigneth with thee world without end. Amen.
Another Prayer to the same purpose.
3 OMnipotent and eternall God, Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, Creator and preserver of all things: most humbly we entreate thee, together with thy beloved Sonne and holy Spirit, that thou wouldest be pleased to be favourable unto us; even for the merits of thy Sonne Iesus Christ: whom in thy wonderfull counsell thou hast given us to be a Sacrifice for our sinnes, and whom thou hast appoynted to be our Advocate and Mediator; that by Him thou mightest expresse thy justly conceived anger against the sinnes of the world; and thy mercies towards us. Sanctifie Lord and guide us by thy Holy Spirit: gather, governe, and preserue thy Christian Church; giue us thy grace, that according unto what thou hast in thy holy Word prescribed us, we may liue holily and unblamedly in this present world. Preserve our Lord the King,The Queene of Swedens name is Maria Eleonora; sister unto George William, now Marquesse & Elector of Brandenburg. This young Lady their Daughter being the onely childe of the King of Sweden, now liuing, is named Christina: who was by the States of Sweden in the Parliament of Stockholme. An. 1627. received for their Queene, in case the King should dye without other Issue. our soveraigne Lady the Queene, their royall Daughter, and all the regall Family, unto the glory of thy Name, and the generall comfort and protection of us all. Grant us a good government in the Common-wealth, and whatsoever els [Page 9]is necessary for our wel-being; Peace, namely, a happie government, with a good and an honest neighbourhood. Blesse, finally, our counsells & our enterprises: and that through Iesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Spirit, one God true and coequall. Amen.
Another Prayer to the same purpose.
4 MOst mercifull God, and heavenly Father: wee giue unto thee all thankes for those thy benefits, which untill this day thou out of thy Fatherly goodnesse hast bestowed upon us. And first of all, for that thou hast redeemed us by thy Sonne, and hast in thy Word revealed him unto us, in whom thou offerest remission of sinnes, righteousnesse, and everlasting life, unto all men, that with a penitent heart and true faith embrace it.
Preserue we beseech thee pure and uncorrupt, thine owne holy Word & Sacraments, in these dangerous times, against all Hereticks and false Teachers. Especially against the Papists: who at this present with many [Page 10]bloudy slaughters, and inhumane tyranny, doe like ravening Wolues & roaring Lyons, undeservedly scatter and devoure thy poore Christian flooke. Looke downe O Lord upon the miserable condition of thy people, refraine the insolency of their enemies, hinder thou their bloudy purposes, that so they may perceiue, that thou thy selfe fightest for thy holy Church; nor wilt giue it for a prey unto them.
Next, O Lord, pray we for all those Deputies of thine, to whom thou hast committed the government of the Cōmon-wealth, and the sword of justice. For our own King first of all, whom thou in mercy hast set over us, to be our head and protector: Preserue his Majestie from all perills, as well secret as open: grant prosperitie of successe unto him: victory and deliverance against the enemies of his person and Kingdome. Defend him, Lord, with the strength of thy right hand in this present and dangerous expedition; which for the safetie of his owne Kingdome, and for the obteyning of a good Peace, he hath undertaken: and graunt that the Warres being brought unto a happie end, both himselfe and his whole Army, [Page 11]may safely returne againe into their owne Countries.
Nor lesse earnestly doe wee recommend unto thee our Soveraigne Lady the Queenes Majestie, with her royall Daughter: Blesse Lord both him and her, and keepe them both with thy Fatherly goodnesse and mercy. Wee recommend unto thee in like manner the Right Honourable the privie Counsellours and chiefe Magistrates of his Kingdome: so governe and direct them all with thy Holy Spirit; that they may preferre thy glory before all; and with an honest and a good heart, study the prosperitie both of King and Kingdome, Pray we also for his Majesties Army, and Navy, and for all his Mettall mynes, and all things else, which may be beneficiall unto the Cōmon-wealth, and commodious unto the Subject. Turne away, for thy Christs sake, what ever may eyther destroy or endanger them: and giue a blessing unto any thing, that may any wayes advance the truth of our Religion, and our Country in generall. Looke favourably, O heavenly Father, upon all the Professors of the same true religion with us; who being sorely at this present oppressed by the Papists, [Page 12]suffer the losse both of their liues and fortunes: Succour them, Lord, that they may bee delivered from these troubles. Keepe us in health from the noysome pestilence, from sudden and unhappie death; from dearth, famine, scar-fires, mutinyes, disagreements amongst our selues, and from hayle and tempest. Infuse into our hearts concord, faithfulnesse, and mutuall charitie. Comfort all those that are afflicted, sicke, in prison or calamitie. Succour and comfort all widowes and fatherlesse, women with childe, and that giue sucke. Be thou guide unto all those that travell eyther by land or by water: that they walking in thy right paths, and having prosperously dispatched their owne businesse, may safely returne at length unto their owne families. Deliver us, Lord God, from all evill: and when our fatall houre of death shall come, mercifully receiue us into thy Kingdome: translate our soules out of this vale of misery, into thy heavenly Paradise, where we may laud and prayse thee for it, world without end, Amen.
II. A Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes.
1 O Lord God, heavenly Father, who delightest not in the death of a sinner, nor wouldest that he should perish, but that he should be converted and liue: we humbly entreate of thee, mercifully to turne from us those punishments which our sinnes haue deserved: and that thou wouldst be pleased in plentifull manner to bestow thy mercy upon us, thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Another Prayer to the same purpose.
2 O Wel-beloved Lord Iesus Christ, haue mercy upon us miserable sinners; and looke with the eyes of compassion upon us, as thou somtimes diddest upō Mary Magdalene, that penitent sinner, when lying at thy feete, shee from the bottome of her heart sincerely bewayled her owne transgressions: and the Publican in the Temple when he smote upon his breast, and implored thy favour: and the Theefe upon the [Page 14]Crosse when he entreated and obteyned thy pardon. Lord grant us to receiue the same this day from thee: absolue thou us in Heaven, forgiue us our sinnes, O God, thou author of all comfort. Cast us not away from thy presence; but cause us so to walke in thy feare, that in faith and loue wee may serue and please thee, thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
III. For Peace and Concord.
1 GIue peace, in our time, O Lord: because there is no other that fighteth for us, but onely thou O God. Giue peace unto our King, and all other Princes: direct them rightly to govern the Cōmon-wealth: and grant that under them wee may liue a quiet and a peaceable life, in all pietie and honestie. Amen.
Another.
2 O Lord God heavenly Father, from whom all courage of minde, good counsayle, and just workes doe proceede; giue unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot giue: that both our hearts may depend vpon thy Commandements; and also that being safe under thy protection, wee may passe our time in rest and quietnesse, thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Another.
3 O Almightie and eternall God, King of glory and Lord of Heaven and Earth; by whose Spirit all things are governed, and by whose becke and providence all things are directed: thou onely art the God of peace, from whom all peace and concord doe proceede: wee humbly beseech thee to forgiue us our sinnes, and to giue us thy holy peace and true concord: that in thy feare we may serue thee, and for ever laud & praise [Page 16]thee: who together with the Sonne and Holy Ghost livest and reignest one true and eternall God. Amen.
IV. For the King.
1 ALmightie God, heavenly Father, for Iesus Christ thy beloved Sonne we beseech thee, favourably to looke downe upon our King: guide him with thy holy Spirit: keepe him with a guard of thine Angels, against all dangers both of soule and body: keepe him safely from all misfortunes: so bring it to passe, that by the expedition which he now makes, we may be delivered from our enemies; and that by his safe returne, we being made joyfull; may from thenceforth laud, honour, and prayse thee, world without end. Amen.
Another.
2 THe King shall rejoyce in thy strength, O Lord:Psal. 21. exceeding glad shall he be of thy salvation. Thou hast given him [Page 17]his hearts desire; and not denyed him the request of his lippes For thou hast filled him with the best of thy blessings; and hast set a Crowne of pure gold upon his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest him a long life, even for ever and ever. His honour is great in thy salvation: glory and great worship hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast filled him with all kind of blessings for ever; and thou shalt make him glad with the joy of thy countenance. Heare him, Lord,Psal. 20.1. in the time of trouble, let thy Name set him in a safe place. Send him helpe from the Sanctuary, and strengthen him out of Sion. Remember also all his offerings; and accept his burnt Sacrifice. Grant him his hearts desire, and fulfill all his mind. Helpe Lord thine Anointed, and heare him from thy Sanctuary, through Iesus Christ. Amen.
Another.
3 GRant peace, O God, unto our King and all his Officers, well to governe the Common-wealth: that vnder them we may lead a Christian, a quiet, and a peaceable [Page 18]life, in all devotion, and in honestie, Amen.
Another.
4 O Eternall and mercifull God, heavenly Father, that hast the hearts of all Kings in thy hands, and bowest them which way thou pleasest; so bring it to passe that by this troublesome warre, the meanes of making a good agreement, and of establishing a sure peace, may be found out: all heart-burning, offences, and dissention removed. Thou from whom all helpe in earch commeth, helpe us; that so we may liue peaceably and quietly in all devotion and honestie. We haue, to confesse the truth, plucked downe all thy plagues, vpon our selues, by our sinfulnesse, faultinesse, and transgressions. But rebuke vs not in thine anger, neyther chasten vs in thy heavie displeasure. Correct vs, to amend vs, but not vtterly to destroy vs. Enlighten our eyes, that we sleepe not in death. Returne at length, and be gracious vnto vs: satisfie vs with thy goodnesse, that we may rejoyce & be glad all the dayes [Page 19]of our life. Comfort vs according to the time thou hast afflicted vs; and the yeares wherein we haue suffered adversitie. Remember not our former iniquities. Haue mercy vpon vs, and that soone; for wee are brought very low. Helpe vs, O God our helper, for the honour of thy Name. Deliver vs and forgiue vs our sinnes, for thy Names sake; because thou are the Lord, the highest aboue all the world: thou art long-suffering, of great goodnesse, and gratious: nor art thou prone vnto anger and to vengeance; seeing to those that repent, thou hast promised remission of all their sinnes. So shall we thy people, and the sheepe of thy pasture, giue thee thankes for ever, and will speake of thy praise from generation to generation. Amen.
V. Against all evill.
1 O Lord God, heavenly Father, that despisest not the sighing of the miserable, nor the desire of such as be afflicted, mercifully heare our prayers which we [Page 20]make before thee in these our necessities: and grant that those evills which the Devill or man worketh against vs, be brought to nought, and that by the providence of thy goodnesse, they may be dispersed: that we being hurt by no persecution, may giue thee thankes in thy holy Church, and prayse thee evermore for the same, thorough Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord. Amen.
Another Prayer.
2 O Lord God heavenly Father, who well knowest, that by reason of our humane frailtie we are not able of our selues to subsist in so many dangers: graunt such strength vnto vs both of soule and body, that whatsoever doth vexe or trouble vs by reason of our sinnes, wee may by thine assistance be able to overcome, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Another.
3 ALmightie and eternall God, which out of thine own meere mercy hast called vs miserable sinners vnto the knowledge of thy selfe in Iesus Christ; we from the bottome of our hearts entreate thee, to governe vs by thy Holy Spirit, and to guard vs by thy holy Angels; that neyther the Devill, or naughtie people, no nor the wickednesse of our own sinfull flesh, may thrust vs headlong into securitie, or to the leading of a wicked life, to the offence of our brethren: but that being by thee delivered out of all their snares, we may haue thee alwayes before our eyes, loue thee aboue all, and our neighbour as our selues: profiting thereby in faith, charitie, hope, and patience; vntill the comming of our blessed Saviour Iesus Christ, to deliver vs out of all these evils, with which we haue a daily conflict here in this world; and to translate vs vnto joyes celestiall: To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory world without end. Amen.
VI. Against our enemies.
O Lord Iesus Christ, Sonne of the living God; thou onely art the true Souldier and Captaine, the Lord mightie in Battell: Behold, thine enemies rage mightily, and those that hate thee rise vp against vs: they take subtle counsell together against thy people, and lay their heads together against thy secret ones. Goe too, say they, let vs cut thē off that they be no more a people, & that the name of Israel may be blotted out. For we put not our trust in our owne strength; for we know, that there is no King that can be saved by the multitude of an Host;Psal. 33.15. neyther is any mightie man delivered by much strength. An horse is counted but a vaine thing to saue a man; neyther shall he deliver any man by his great strength: but our trust is in thee, that art our refuge, and a Tower of defence against our enemies. Thou being our Captaine,Psal. 18.29. we shall discomfit an Host of men; and with the helpe of our God, wee shall leape over the wall. Thou being our ayde, we shall doe famous exployts; thou [Page 23]art able to beate our enemies to dust: they compasse vs about; but in thy name we will destroy them: they come about vs like Bees, & smoake against vs like fire among thornes; but in thy Name wee will destroy them. Thou overthrewest Pharaoh and his Host in the red Sea; thou constreynedst Senacherib to turne againe into his owne Country: thou overthrewest proud Haman; and threwest owne the haughtie Holofernes. So Lord deale with our enemies: doe vnto them as thou diddest vnto the Madianites, and as vnto Sisera and Iabin at the brooke Kison. Make their Princes like Oreb and Zeb; and their Leaders like vnto Z [...]ba and Salmana. Let the mischiefe which they prepare for others, fall vpon their owne heads; and their wickednesse vpon their owne pates. So shall wee sing of thy power, and prayse thy goodness [...] betimes in the morning For thou God art our Protector, & our refuge in all our necessities Amen.
A Prayer of King Asa, 2 Chron. 14.11 &c.
AS A cryed vnto the Lord his God and said; Lord, it is nothing with thee, to helpe, whether with many, or with [Page 24]them that haue no power. Helpe vs O Lord our God, for we rest on thee, and in thy name we goe against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevaile against vs.
A Prayer of Iudas Macchabaeus vnto his Souldiers, 1 Macchab. 4.8.
THen sayd Iudas to the men that were with him, Feare yee not their multitude, neyther be yee afraid of their assault. Remember how our Fathers were delivered in the red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an Army. Now therefore let vs cry vnto Heaven, if peradventure the Lord will haue mercy vpon vs, and remember the Covenant of our Fathers, and destroy this Host before our face this day. That so all the Heathen may know, that there is one, who delivereth and saveth Israel.
A Prayer of Luther for Souldiers, found in the 3. Tome of the Edition at Iena, fol. 330.
HEavenly Father, here am I by thy divine will in this externall calling, under the Command of my Generall; first to serue thee, as is fitting; and then for thee to obey my Captaine. I giue due thanks unto thy goodnesse and mercy, that thou hast called me unto this condition, and set me about that worke, which I assuredly know to be no sinne, but a right action, and a service acceptable unto thy will. And for that I haue learned out of thy saving Word, that our owne good workes doe not profit us for the meriting of salvation; and that no man is saved for that he is a Souldier, but for that he is a Christian; I will not therefore put my confidence in this worke and service of mine: but what ever I doe, I will doe it with a good will, as to doe thee a service: and I out of the bottom of my heart beleeue, that I am redeemed and saved, onely by the innocent bloud of thy beloved Sonne, my Lord Iesus Christ, which according to thy will, he shed for me vpon the Altar of the [Page 26]Crosse. In this beliefe I resolue to stand, in this will I liue and dye; for this doe I now fight and take paines: O Lord God, heavenly Father, preserue and encrease this faith in me, through thy Holy Spirit. Amen.
Against the Plague, and other noysome Diseases.
A Almightie God, Lord and Father of all grace and consolation, haue mercy vpon vs, and vpon thy Christian people. Consume vs not in thy fury by this contagious pestilence: but as in the time of David thou commaundedst the destroying Angell to hold his hand, and giue over killing: so cause, O most gracious Lord, this terrible rod of thine anger to cease from vs, and not to destroy thine afflicted people. Strengthen vs with the wholsome power of thy Word, that we may be healthy both in soule & body; that we may laud & prayse thee here on earth for a time, and for ever in the Heavens. O Lord Iesus Christ, succour vs in this sickly time, for those bitter paines that for our sakes thou sometimes enduredst: make intercession [Page 27]for vs with thy heavenly Father: defend vs against the heavie wrath of God; forgiue vs our trespasses; giue thine innocency vnto vs. Call to minde in this grievous plague-time, how much our Redemption cost thee, and suffer not that thy bloud-shed for vs, to be lost, or become in vaine. O Holy Ghost, vouchsafe thou to descend sweetly into our languishing hearts; refresh thou and recreate our soules. And if it so fall out that this plague strike vs also, then take thou the cure of our soules in that houre, in which we must depart out of this life: lay vs in the most sweete bosome of Christ our Redeemer, that we may be there partakers of eternall joy and quietnesse. Fulfill all thy most sweete promises in us, which are in thy Word made unto vs. Take from us all unbeliefe, doubting, and impatience: make us ever readie to obey the will of God, even thou, who with the Father and the Sonne, livest one God world without end. Amen.
Of forgiuenesse of Sinnes: and of the Lords Supper.
O Good Lord Iesus Christ: I am no way able eyther in words or thought, sufficiently to make expression of thy great loue, which thou hast declared towards me, at such time as thou receivedst me miserable sinner into grace, and hast made me to eate and drinke of thy true body and bloud, vnto euerlasting life. Accept in the meane time this sacrifice of Thankesgiving of my heart and mouth, which in this mortall bodie I am able to pay unto thee; untill I come home unto thee, where I shall for ever praise thee. Giue thy Holy Spirit unto me, who may teach me to know how much good thou hast alreadie wrought in me: that so in faith, charitie, hope, & patience, I may begin to leade a new life; vnto thy prayse, mine owne amendment, and the good of my neighbour. Grant this for the merit of thy precious bloud, and the redemption which thou thereby hast made, Amen.
And these be some of those devout prayers, with which this most pious Prince teaches his Army, to call vpon the Lord of Hosts and Victory. Now vnto these good prayers, let all religious Readers that wish well vnto this King; adde this or the like, for a close vnto the rest. The Lord heare thee in the time of trouble, and the name of the God of Iacob defend thee; be vnto thee a Shield, and Buckler, against thine enemies: arme thee with the sword of Gideon: and the Lord of Hosts goe forth with thine Armies: that the Victories which God shall giue thee, may bring freedome and justice vnto the innocent and oppressed, inlargement to Religion, liberty to Germany: and the benefits of a sweet and a lasting peace vnto all Christendome. This grant vs for the Prince of Peace his sake, Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ANd now that you may know that the King of Sweden doth not onely enjoyne others to pray, but that in his owne person he practises these devotions by himselfe; I will here subjoyne you two severall prayers, conceived, no doubt, in his owne [Page 30]more private and premeditated consideration; and uttered in publicke, and extempore, as it seemed. The first was at his Majesties first landing upon the coasts of Germanie; where so soone as ever he out of his long boate set his foote upon the dry Land, he thus by prayer and thankesgiving, in Gods Name tooke possession of the Countrey; himselfe whilest his men were landing, stepping a little aside, and before them all, upon his knees, uttering these words of devotion. O most great God, that commaundest what ever thou pleasest both in heaven, and earth, and in the surging Seas: what thankfulnesse am I now bound to render unto thee, for that thou hast preserved me thus safely, in all this so perilous a voyage? Againe and againe doe I from the very bottome of my heart and soule, giue thankes unto thee: and here I humbly beseech thee, that seeing, as thou very well knowest, I haue not undertaken this expedition for any private end of mine owne, but onely for thine honours sake; and to be some comfort and assistance unto thine afflicted Church: so (if so be the time which thy selfe hast appoynted, be alreadie come) thou wouldst now be pleased [Page 31]to favour and blesse me hereafter also: and that, especially, thou wouldst send me a fayre winde and a prosperous; that the Army yet left behinde, which out of so many people and Nations I haue gathered together; I may with joyfull eyes shortly here behold, and with a happie beginning promote with them the glory of thy holy name. Amen.
When his Counsellors and Commanders then next his person, saw their devout King thus on the bare ground upon his knees; and heard with what a fervencie of spirit he uttered these devotions; an inward comfort and an holy joy they tooke at it, wrought more with them than their enemies could yet ever doe; that is, even forced, and pressed teares out of their manly eyes. This his pious Majestie then perceiving, Forbeare to weepe, sayes he to them, but heartily conjoyne your prayers with me: for the greater the army of prayers is, the greater and more assured shall the victory be. He that prayes diligently, hath in part overthrowne the enemy already, and already gotten the victory. Thus having sayd, he out of two hundred long boates lands his men, then on the [Page 32]shoares side, and then sends them to his shippes to fetch more: and God so heard him, and the winde so favoured him; that according to his former prayers, his whole Army very shortly, and very safely arrived.
I will not here compare this prayer of this pious and victorious Prince, vnto that of the great Iosuah; at whose request the Sunne stood still, as the winde here did at his: but that you may see that God did indeed heare the prayers of this King too; I will now giue you a more eminent example of it. The Papists, had one of theirs done it, would undoubtedly haue cryed out, A miracle: and well they might: for few such they haue, but I will onely thinke of it, as of a present and a visible blessing sent from that great God, to whom the windes and the Seas obeyed. And thus it was.
The King a little after this, having a designe upon Stetin; and his Army now readie upon the shoare, and his boats readie upon the River to imbarke them; the winde, behold, was contrary, and so had beene for some dayes before. This the King observing, turning a little aside, he before his Army [Page 33]with bended knees, and hands lift up to Heaven, uttered these words.
O thou most just God! full well thou knowest, that this enterprise I did not at first undertake, out of any rashnesse, or ambition, but for the glory of thy most holy Name, and the defence of the truth of thy Word: here, therefore, now call I vpon thy Godhead, and most humbly doe I beseech thee; that with the ayre of thy favour, and with a prosperous winde, thou wouldst vouchsafe to breath vpon this my vndertaking. Amen.
No sooner was this prayer ended, but the winde suddenly, as a man might say, chopt about, and swel'd the Swedish sayles with so hard a gale, that the whole Fleete passing the Swing, or arme of the Oder, was in two houres space runne full sixe Germane myles (twentie of ours perchance if not more) and all on the sudden, when they were little looked for, came to an Anchor within an English myle of Stetin, to the great admiration of the beholders, and the greater defeate [Page 34]of the hopes and purposes of the Imperialists; who had a designe within two dayes after, to haue layd siege to the same Towne, had not God thus miraculously prevented them.
And thus much, though I now giue you, out of a Latine Copie; yet, to confesse the truth, did I in the writing of my former Booke, finde mentioned in one of the weekly Currantoes: how that the Kings Fleete was by a strong and a sudden Northerly winde, strangely advanced through the Oder, even to the very walles of the Citie. But this I durst not then write, vpon the bare credite of a common Curranto; nor durst I with this winde (though a strong one it were) adventure to stemme the tyde of popular opinion; which I found not onely to runne against, but (to vse the language of the Sea) with a stiffe currant strongly to be set against the credite of these weekly Currantoes. Which warinesse of mine, made me indeed to leaue out many notable particulars, which I since finde reported, in the Booke called Arma Suecica.
God Almightie, that hath so graciously [Page 35]both heard and granted, these two prayers of this pious King; heare all the rest also; both those that himselfe makes, and what other good Christians make likewise for him. And those Englishmen that will not, I wish they would say Amen vnto it.