Evangelical Sacrifices, To the reader
To the Reader.
SO precious the remembrance should be of GODS thoughts of mercy to usward, when he delivered us from that hellish plot of the Gunpouder Treason, that if there were nothing else to commend this Treatise to us, the first Sermons here presented to us, which were preached upon that occasion, may justly procure it a ready and hearty welcome.
When GOD workes such wonders for a Church and people as that was, it is not enough to praise GOD for the present, and to rejoyce greatly in the great salvation He hath wrought for them; yea the more a people are in such a case affected for the present, the more inexcusable they must needs be, duplicate page duplicate page if afterward they slight and disregard it, and that because their former joy prooves, they were throughly convinced of the greatnesse of the mercy, and so discovers their following ingratitude to bee the more abominable; whence it was that when Ionathan put his Father Saul in mind how David killed Goliah, and thereby had wrought a great deliverance for them (to the end he might no longer seeke his ruine, that had beene the meanes of so much good to GODS people) withall hee wished him to consider that he himselfe stood by, an eye-witnesse of that Noble exployt of Davids, and was then mightily affected with joy when he saw that formidable Gyant fall under his hand, Thou sawest it (sayth he) and did'st rejoyee, 1 Sam. 19. 5. intimating, how inexcusable it would be, if he should forget that deliverance, concerning which himselfe had beene so wondrously affected when it was done.
As therfore we have great cause to bewaile the generall decay of mens thankfulnesse for this great deliverance (at …e first discovery of that cursed plot, …r mouthes were filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing all the Land over, and every man could say, The Lord hath done great things for us whereof wee are glad, as Psal. 126. 2, 3. and yet now scarce one amongst many is affected with it (as in former times) so have we also great cause to blesse GOD for the holy alarms of Gods Watchmen, wherby they have endeavored to stirre up those that are fallen from their first joy, and so amongst the rest for these of Reverend D. SIBBS, the Author of them, wherein he hath so feelingly set forth the misery of that Antichristian …ondage, from which we were delivered … that Deliverance, that methinkes he …hat reades them with due care must …eeds find his heart rowsing up it selfe, …s Deborah did, Awake, awake, Deborah, …wake, awake, utter a song, Iudg. 5. 12.
As for the other Sermons, which in this third Tome, be stiled Evangelicall Sacrifices, which are published together with these, you shall find them no lesse profitable then these, though in divers other respects. The most of them tend to fit Christians for their latter end (a worke of greatest importance) & do so sweetly set before our eyes that recompence of reward reserved for us in heaven, that I hope many of that brood of travellers, the generation of those that seek… Gods face and favour here on earth, shall find them a great helpe to the finishing of their course with Ioy, and others shall be wakened, that are too ready to slumber and forget whither they are going to strive to enter in at the strait gate, and not to content themselves with a lazy Balaams wish; which, Reader, let us seeke from him, who onelyonly gives the blessing, to whose Grace I commen… thee, resting still,
Thine in the hearty desire of thy Spirituall welfare,
Arthur Jackson.
THE BEASTS DOMINION over Earthly KINGS. A Sermon preached upon the 5th of November, in remembrance of Our Deliverance from the Papists Powder-Treason.
BY The late Learned and Reverend Divine, RICH. SIBBS. Doctor in Divinity, Mr. of KATHERINE Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher to the Honourable Society of GRAYES-INNE.
REVEL. 16. 14.
For they are the Spirits of Devils working Miracles, which goe forth to the Kings of the earth.
LONDON, Printed by T. B. for N. Bourne, at the Royall Exchange, and R. Harford, at the Bible in Queenes-head Alley in Pater-noster-Row. 1639.