Sermon 2 December 1697, Speech
Dr. BATES's Congratulatory Speech to the KING, Novemb. 22. 1697. In the Name of the Dissenting Ministers in and about London.
May it Please Your MAJESTY!
YOUR Happy Return with PEACE in your Retinue, has rais'd a Spring-Tide of Joy, that overflows the Nation. This great Blessing, We Primarily owe with our most Solemn and Dutiful Thankfulness to the GOD of PEACE, who has Calm'd the Tempestuous World, and Chang'd the black Scene of Horror, and Misery; wherein the most Tragical Cruelties were Acted, Cities were Fir'd, and the Fires quench'd in the Blood of the Citizens, wherein Death and Despair appear'd in their Terrible Shapes: And has introduc'd a Bright Scene of Prosperity, wherein Innocence and Liberty, Commerce and Abundance are secur'd. This we Owe, as to the Secondary Cause, with our most Humble Gratitude to Your MAJESTY; Your open and generous Opposition in the Field of Battle, has Tam'd our Potent Enemies; who presum'd to Level all Obstacles to their Lofty Designs, as if their Power had been Equal to their Pleasure. They had broke through the Circles of Justice and Honour, but Your MAJESTY has fix'd such Bounds, as may prevent their Swelling Exorbitancies for the Future.
EVROPE, has seen with Admiration Your Courage and Heroick Heat guided by an Equal Light, and Superior to all Dangers in War: There is a Just Expectation that an Equal Honour will attend Your MAJESTY, for Your Ruling Wisdom, Your Justice Temper'd with Equity and Goodness in the Counsels and Arts of PEACE: You are the Glory of Your Subjects Abroad, and their Delight at Home. Your Influxive Presence is the Vital Breath the Kingdom Draws, the Vital Band that Unites its Parts, and prevents their Breaking into Confusion.
YOUR MAJESTY is Ordain'd for Victories. Thereare more Noble Conquests to be obtain'd over worse than Foreign Enemies: Prophaneness in Manners, and Pernicious Doctrines in Religion that Fight against the Soul, and notwithstanding our PEACE on Earth, Expose us to a Fearful War with Heaven. WE Live in an Age of Degenerate Wickedness: Wherein are Numberless Numbers of resolv'd Loosness, who by their bold Impieties, defie the Supream MAJESTY of Heaven: These WE Hope by Your Authority and Influence, may be Restrain'd, if not truly Reform'd; for whereas other Princes assume an Infamous Prerogative to Live as they List, to satisfie their Vicious Appetites without Controul; Your MAJESTY Exhibites such Excellent Vertues in Your Practise, as may be a Persuasive Pattern, and Commandingly Exemplary to Your Subjects.
AND whereas, there are such Doctrines frequently Publish'd, as are Infinitely Injurious to the Person and Office of our Blessed Saviour; WE Hope Your Pious Zeal for his Divine Honour, will put a stop to the Licentiousness of the Press, that the Contagion of the Dead, may not Corrupt the Living. This will be a most pleasing Sacrifice of Praise to the Blessed GOD, who has Preserv'd Your most Precious Life in Raging War, and from more Imminent Dangers, by the Dark and Cruel Conspiracy of Wicked Enemies.
WE Humbly Renew the Assurances of our inviolable Loyalty, and our Continual Prayers, That GOD would Preserve Your Sacred Person, and make Your MAJESTY always Happy in Your Government, and Your Subjects Happy in their Obedience.