The Noble Mans Pattern of True and Real Thankfulness, Title page – Dedication
THE NOBLE-MANS PATTERNE Of true and reall Thankfulnesse. PRESENTED In a SERMON Preached before the Right Honourable House of LORDS; At their late solemne day of thanksgiving, Iune 15. 1643. For the discovery of a dangerous, desperate and bloody designe, tending to the utter subversion of the PARLIAMENT and of the famous City of LONDON.
By EDMUND CALAMY, B.D. Pastor of Aldermanbury in LONDON.
Published by Order of that House.
LUK. 1. 74, 75.
That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without feare, in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Christopher Meredith at the Signe of the Crane in Pauls Church-yard, M.DC.XLIII.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE House of LORDS Assembled in PARLIAMENT.
IF all Noble-men were as good and religious as they are presented to the World in the Epistles prefixed to the Books that are dedicated to them, we should not have so much cause to complaine of great mens Iniquities, or of poore mens flatteries. S. Augustine in his Booke of Retractations, Retracts it as a great fault, that when he dedicated a Booke to Mallius Theodorus, he praised him more then he deserved, though he confesseth that he was doctus vir & Christianus, a Learned and Christian man: It is none of the least miseries of great men, that they want faithfull friends to tell them their vices as well as their vertues. King Ahab had 400. flattering Prophets who were the cause of his ruine. Hence is that old Proverbe, that there are onelyonly two things that never flatter great men, Death and Horses. For Death seizeth upon great as well as small. And a Horse will cast downe a great man as well as any other, if he rides not well. This Sermon speakes plaine language, and this is the only Reason (for ought I know) that it received such kind acceptance, for otherwise it wants that neatnesse of phrase, and eloquence of speech which such Noble Auditors are accustomed unto, I have often heard of Great men, that complained upon their Death beds, that none would tell them of their faults, but never of any that complained hee was told too much. Theodosius the great Emperour confesseth of S. Ambrose, notwithstanding his severe carriage towards him,Theod. Solum novi Ambrosium dignum Episcopi nomine; That he knew none worthy of a Bishoprick but Ambrose.
It is a custome to send Sermons out unto publike view under the Patronage of some Noble-man or other. This Sermon hath this preheminence, That it comes forth under the Patronage, and by the commands not only of one Lord, but of a House of Lords. The Lord make it to obtaine that end for which it was preached! That you (my Lords) may make Joshua's choise your choise. The subject matter of the Sermon is very common and ordinary. But herein I follow the example of Chrysostome, who when he was made Patriarch of Constantinople, the first Sermon that he preached before the Emperour Arcadius and the great Courtiers, was a Sermon of Repentance. This is the message that I have received (saith Chrysostome) from my Master Christ to deliver unto you. Repent for the Kingdome of God is at hand. Haec autem non dubitabo vobis assiduè revocare in memoriam. Haec neminem reverentes neque potentes aut divites timentes ad vos loquemur. The Lord bestow this great grace of Repentance upon you, and inable you to serve God with all the ingredients mentioned in the following Sermon! Two things I would desire your Lordships alwayes to remember.
1. That the best way of thankfulnesse for mercies received, is to serve the God of those mercies, and to serve him with the mercies we receive from him.
2. That the best way for the House of Lords to prosper, is to indeavour earnestly and faithfully to reforme the Lords House, your own houses, and first your selves.
Some things I have added which were not preached, which relate to all men in generall as well as great men, which I then omitted for brevity sake, but have here interserted I hope without offence, that so this Sermon which is printed for a generall good, might have somethings in it tending to the good of all men as well as great men.
The Great God make the House of Lords as the House of the Lord wherein service may be done to God, and for Gods cause. So prayeth
Your Honours much obliged Spirituall servant Edmund Calamy.