God, of his mercy, grant unto us all to be so faithful and so wise as to convert souls, and to be so blessed and so assisted, that we may give an account of our charges with joy, to the glory of God, to the edification and security of our flocks, and the salvation of our own souls, in that day when the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls shall come to judgment, even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, love and obedience, now and for ever more, Amen.

SERMON

PREACHED AT THE OPENING

OF THE

PARLIAMENT OF IRELAND,

May 8, 1661,

BEFORE THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS JUSTICES, AND THE LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL, AND THE COMMONS.

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL,

AND COMMONS OF IRELAND,

ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

I OUGHT not to dispute your commands for the printing my Sermon of Obedience, lest my sermon should be 'protestatio contra factum.' Here I know my example would be the best use to this doctrine; and I am sure to find no inconveniency so great, as that of disobedience; neither can I be confident that I am wise in any thing, but when I obey; for then I have the wisdom of my superior for my I remember the saying of

warrant, or my excuse.

Aurelius the emperor, 66 amicorum consilium, quam tot tales meam unius voluntatem sequi." I could easily have pretended excuses; but that day I had taught others the contrary, and I would not shed that chalice, which my own hands had newly filled with waters issuing from the fountains of salvation.

Equius est me tot et talium

My eyes are almost grown old with seeing the horrid mischiefs, which came from rebellion and disobedience; and I would willingly now be blest with observation of peace and righteousness, plenty and religion, which do already, and I hope shall for ever, attend upon obedience to the best King, and the best Church, in the world. I see no objection against my hopes, but that which ought least of all, in this case, to be pretended. Men pretend conscience against obedience, expressly against St. Paul's doctrine, teaching us to obey for conscience' sake;' but to disobey for conscience in a thing indifferent, is never to be found in the books of our religion.

It is very hard, when the prince is forced to say to his rebellious subject, as God did to his stubborn people, Quid faciam tibi ?' I have tried all the ways I can to bring thee home, and what shall I now do unto thee? The subject should rather say, 'Quid me vis facere?' What wilt thou have me to do? This question is the best end of disputations.

66

Corrumpitur atque dissolvitur imperantis officium, si quis ad id quod facere jussus est, non obsequio debito, sed consilio non considerato, respondeat," said one in A. Gellius: When a subject is commanded to obey, and he disputes, and says, 'Nay, but the other is better;' he is like a servant that