Real Thankfulness, Title page – Dedication
Reall Thankfulneſſe: OR, A SERMON PREACHED In PAƲLS Church LONDON, VponUpon the ſecond day of November, 1645. At a Publike Thankſgiving for the taking in of the Towns and Caſtles of Caermarthen and Mounmouth in Wales, it being the firſt LORDS-day after the inauguration of the Right Honourable Thomas Adams now Lord Major of that famous City. By Simeon Aſh Preacher at Baſingſhaw, London, and one of the Aſſembly of Divines.
PSAL. 50. 14. Offer to God thankſgiving, and pay thy vows unto the most high.
PSAL. 50. 23. Who ſo offereth praiſe, glorifieth me, and to him that ordereth his converſation aright, will I ſhew the ſalvation of God.
LONDON, Printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewſter at the Sign of the Bible on Ludgate-hill neer Fleet-bridge, M. DC. XLV.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS ADAMS Lord Major of the famous City of LONDON, together with the right worſhipfull the Aldermen and Sheriffs thereof.
Right Honourable,
WHen I prepared this Sermon to attend your commands, it was very farre from my purpoſe or thoughts, to make it more publike then in the Pulpit. And although I finde in my ſelf an utter averſneſſe (in many regards) to appear in print; yet your Lordſhips earneſt deſire (which I account a command) ſet on by the ſollicitations of ſome others, hath conquered my unwillingnes, to tranſcribe this Sermon for the Preſse.
I preſume upon this Dedication, not only becauſe the Sermon was preached, and is printed at your command, but alſo that I might hereby make an open, gratefull acknowledgement of your love divers waies expreſsed towards me.
My Sermon is for ſubſtance the ſelf ſame, which you heard, I know not any one particular head, which I have either added or diminiſhed, only ſome phraſes are changed (for my memory could not reach the ſame expreſsions) and the words of Scripture-quotations are given in more largely, then when I preached. My ſubject is ſeaſonable for theſe times, wherein the Lord hath been pleaſed to give us in this City occaſion to celebrate many daies of Thankſgiving. The practice of our praiſes, is that which God expects, and I perſwade.
VntoUnto how many in our Aſſemblies (when we meet to ſing praiſes) may our God ſay, Quid verba audio, cum facta video? This people draweth nigh to me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is farre from me. Loquere, ut te videam. Let your lives anſwer your language. When ſhall your works witneſſe your thankfulneſſe? My Lord, I have often heard you uſe theſe words, Quid retribuam Domino? Give me leave to be your Lordſhips remembrancer; your obligations to the Lord are now much increaſed, and with them God hath added opportunities of more puhlike ſervice to himſelf. Divine providence hath ſet you in a place of Honour, Authority and Truſt, wherein much is expected from you: Magiſtratus virum indicat. A man is that in truth, which he is when tried. The world will judge of you for the future according to this years ſervice. You be likely to meet with many temptations, to draw you aſide both to the right hand and to the left: but I beſeech you remember, whoſe you are, and unto whom you must give a ſtrict account of all your waies. Advance God in your hearts, deſign the welfare of Sion, conſult moſt with them, who counſell from God and for God according to his Word, and I beſeech you all, often, and ſeriouſly minde your ſelves, and remember others of the ſolemn Nationall Covenant, that the Almighty may not be further provoked by the neglect and violation of it. For the Sword under which we ſmart and bleed, doth avenge the quarrell of Gods Covenant, Lev. 26. 25. Therefore let every one thus ſpeak unto the Lord, Praiſe waiteth for thee ô God in Sion, and unto thee ſhall the vow be performed, Pſal. 65. 1. I will ſing praiſe unto thy Name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows, Pſ. 61. 8. Right honourable and right worſhipfull, the Lord hath conjoyned you as brethren, in the great work of the Government of this renowned City, I pray God you may be of one minde, ſoul and way, for the true welfare thereof, and for the incouragement of all ſuch in it, who ſincerely ſeek to ſet up the holy government of Ieſus Chriſt, in whom I am
Your humble Servant, SIMEON ASH,