A Nations Happiness, Title page – Dedication
SALUS POPULI OR A NATIONS HAPPINESSE, A SERMON Preached at the ASSISES holden at VVINCHESTER Iuly 22. 1658.
BY EDWARD BUCKLER Minister of the Gospel at Calbourn in the Isle of Wight.
Psalm 11. 3. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the Righteous do?
Lex justa ministros habeat innocentes. Aug. in Psal. 51. 3.
Faelix respub. in qua, qui imperat, timet Deum—Justin.
LONDON, Printed for Iohn Rothwel, at the Fountain and Bare in Goldsmiths Row in Cheapside.
TO THE HONOVRABLE THE JUDGES For the last Western Circuit, Iudge Nicholes one of the Barons of his Higbnes Exchequer, and Iudge Fountain, with Sir Henry Worsley Baronet, High Sheriff of the County of Southamptoh.
Honourable Sirs,
IF the publication of this Sermon shall be supposed to contribute nothing, that may advance the Interest of Christ and his People; but to prove rather an unnecessary addition to that Nause…us disease of Pamphlets, which the stomack of the Nation is already sick of: your selves are my witnesses, how many Honorable persons are bound to divide the inconvenience (or guilt) of it amongst them.
This yet, I confoss, is a supposition, which I expect no entertainment for but with that part of the Nation, which is at enmity with the Happiness of the whole. And even into these, how untooth some sov…r i… prove, …et who cantel but tra… wholesome? God, I am sure is able to perswade them by as mean a mo…agelas …, that it is by no meanes advieable to lay a mine under tho…e founaatons, when they must perish to the ruines o…; nor to fly in their faces that would prevent the springing of it.
The rest, when they look upon it coming to them (as all Sermons doe, or should) in the name of Almighty God, will, I hope, believe, and ccmply with all that is of God in it, for the sendes sake.
Such as are conversant enough with that invaluable pair of blessings which is the subject of this discourse, to see the Nations Happiness, and their own wrapt up in it, will find a Remember aneer, Such as wish well to the Land of their Nativity, and would contribute to the Happiness of it, if they knew which way, will find and In…er, as of their … and interest.
For your selves, although I shall perhaps have more … at my obedince … which hath troubled the Press with this Paper, then I had to suffer the continued repetition of it: I have yet this relief, that I shall hereby … one evidence of your great affections to the Happiness of the Nation, your unwillingness that any expedient (though the mea…est of a thousand) to remember them wherein it doth consist, and how it is to be provided for, should fall to the ground.
When you so earnestly desire the world should know, that you look upon it as your duty to promote Religion and Righteousness: 'tis an offer of very considerable security, that you constantly do and will practise it. You received not your many Talents for any purpose that is l…wer then this: nor can you imploy them to any advantage that is higher. Your Master is not like, by any other improvement, to receive his own with so much usury. Whose Honour and Interest, that you and all of your Quality, Parts, Power, Trusts, Places, and Imployments, may in all your designes and acting…, sincerely aime at, is in the daily Prayers of
Your Honours most humble Servant, in the things of Christ, EDVV. BUCKLER.