Justice Triumphing, Title page – To the reader
JVSTICE TRIUMPHING OR, The SPOYLERS SPOYLED. Laid forth in a Gratulatory SERMON For the Miraculous Discovery of, and our Glorious Delivery from the Barbarous POWDER-PLOT: PREACHED, At PAULS, November the 5th. 1646.
By NATHANAEL HARDY, Master of Arts, and Preacher to the Parish of Dionis Back-Church.
Woe unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him,
Isa. 3.11.
Who so diggeth a Pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it will returne upon him,
Prov. 26.21.
Deus non solum est in praestando benignissimms, sed etiam in vindicando justissimus.
Aug. l. 2. de lib. Arb.
foreign.
Chrysost. in Ps. 7.15.
LONDON, Printed by R. L. for Nathanael Webb, and William Grantham, at their Shop, the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard, 1648.
To the Right HONORABLE Sir JOHN GAYR Knight, LORD MAJOR: The Right Worshipfull the Sheriffs, and the rest of the Aldermen. Together with the Worshipfull Societies of this Ancient and most Renowmed City of LONDON.
Right Honorable, Right Worshipfull; Worshipfull:
I Should have been well pleased to have kept this scarce plumed Bird in my private Cage, had not the noyse of some virulent Fowlers shot forced her to flye abroad for Refuge; where to build her Nest better she knew not, then in the secure clefts of your favourable protection. In your eares she first sounded her notes, which (though harsh and broken) were attentively heard by many among you; and I hope will now be entertained no lesse acceptably.
True it is, she is no soaring Eagle in cloudy Notions, nor gaudy Peacock beautified with the Feathers of affected Eloquence: onelyonly thus much I may safely say, shee is an harmless Dove, free from the Gall of Malicious Bitterness, bringing in her mouth like that of NOAHS, the Olive Branch of peacefull Vnity. To the effecting and establishing whereof, that shee may prove in some measure subservient, is the hearty desire and unfeigned prayer of him who is
A constant Petitioner at the Throne of Grace for yours, and the Churches safety. Nathanael Hardy.
To the READER.
I Never so much prized my rude conceptions, as to judge them worthy of a publication; and the just diffidence of my immature yeares and shallow judgement, hath often caused me to withstand friends importunacy.
I well know to use Ruffinus his expression, non esse absque periculo multorum judiciis ingenium tenue & exile committere; it were far more safe for my slender Shallop to be confined within the narrow River of a private Auditory, then to launch out into the Worlds main Ocean. Besides, I sadly observe the curiosity of the times, the variety of mens humours; what one approveth, another rejects; one thinks it is too facile; another, too obscure; one sayth it is too loose; another, too elaborare. And (which is yet worse) such is the perversness of this Age that novell fancies, jangling controversies, (which like Rebecca's Twins cause a sore strugling in the wombe of our Church) nay, horrid Blasphemies finde more acceptance then solid and sacred Verities. So that might this Sermon have died the common death of others, it should have been buried out of sight.Psal. 57.41. Detractoria verba sunt arma & sagittae▪ arma propè slantes, saggitae longè absentes vulnerant. Ugo Catensis. But considering how slanderous tongues (sharp as swords that wound neer hand, yea, as Spears and Arrows that hurt further off) have sought to put it to a violent and ignominious death, I am enforced to revive it, that innocencies plea may reach as far as Envies accusation. The Adversaries of these weak labours stand both on the right and left, to wit, furious Novelists and fiery Papists.
As for the former, I wonder not that they contemne them; Since here are neither known truths clothed in uncouth phrases, nor (which is viler) old errours in a new dresse, the only fashions that Sectaries are enamoured with.
As for the latter, I lesse marvell that they should traduce them; the very subject, and occasion of them being their shame and anguish.
Illis siquidem pudor est audiendi quae faciunt,
Nullus faciendi quae erubescant.
They are unwilling to heare what they were desirous to have acted; it is their common cry, what, nothing but the POWDER-TREASON? But surely Gods undeserved favour to us, and his deserved punishment of them may well challenge a Marble Monument; and fit it is our Pens as well as Tongues should annually commemorate this deliverance.
Let then the Papist read and fret, the Novelist read and scoff, I doubt not but the moderate, sober-minded Christian will read and accept, at least pardon. Such I hope thou art; let but this well meant (though mean) discourse finde thee charitable, and thou mayst perhaps finde it profitable, which is his paayer, who is
Thine in the Lord Jesus, Nath, Hardy.