Sermon on 26 November 1691, Sermon
Die Sabbathi, 28 Novemb. 1691.
IT is Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament Aſſembled, That the Thanks of this Houſe ſhall be, and is hereby given to the Lord Biſhop of Ely, for his Sermon Preached on Thurſday laſt, before this Houſe in the Abby-Church at Weſtminiſter, and he is hereby Deſired to Print and Publiſh the ſame.
MATH. JOHNSON, Cler. Parliamentor.
A SERMON Preached before the Lords Spiritual & Temporal, IN THE ABBY-CHURCH at Weſtminſter, On the 26th of NOVEMB. 1691.
BEING THE Thankſgiving-Day FOR THE Preſervation of Their MAJESTIES: The Succeſs of Their Forces in the Reducing of IRELAND: And for the KING'S Safe RETURN.
By the Right Reverend Father in God, SYMON Lord Biſhop of ELY.
LONDON: Printed for Ric. Chiſwell, at the Roſe and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard. MDCXCI.
The Biſhop of ELY's THANKSGIVING—SERMON BEFORE THE Houſe of LORDS.
A SERMON Preached before the HOUSE of LORDS, &c.
DEUT. IV. 9.
Only take heed to thy ſelf, and keep thy ſoul diligently, leſt thou forget the things which thine eyes have ſeen, and leſt they depart out of thy heart, all the days of thy life.
THE Jewiſh Nation being repreſented to us, by St. Paul, as our Types and Examples; and their Hiſtory being written (as he informs us, 1 Cor. X. 11.) For our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come; We cannot have a more ſure direction for the preſervation and continuance of thoſe great Bleſſings, which we come, this day, to acknowledg with Praiſes and Thankſgivings, than from the Inſtruction which God himſelf here gives to that People by his Servant Moſes, in the Concluſion of his Miniſtryamong them.
They had ſeen ſtrange things, ſuch as no Age had produced the like ſince the Creation of the World.
They beheld innumerable ſigns, and Tokens of a Divine Preſence with them; and were ſurrounded with ſo many amazing proofs of an extraordinary Providence over them; that they could not doubt of God's ſingular favour towards them, nor of the continuance of his Divine Protection: Who doth not love to leave his own work imperfect, but deſigns to finiſh what he hath moſt graciouſly begun.
The only danger was, leſt they ſhould forget all that their eyes had ſeen; or be ſo negligent as not to lay to heart the great goodneſs of the Lord: Againſt which Moſes here gives them this Caution, Only take heed to thy ſelf, and keep thy ſoul diligently, &c.
And truly this is the only thing that we have to fear: Who are a People alſo ſaved by the Lord, a People who have ſeen his wonderful works; and may rationally hope to ſee further effects of his Almighty Mercy: if we be not ſo ſenſleſly careleſs as to let the Memory of what God hath done for us ſlip out of our Minds, and leave no impreſſions upon our Hearts. Which would load us with ſo foul a Guilt, that God might juſtly abandon us to all the Evils from which he hath delivered us; and let us periſh, even after we have been ſaved by his ſpecial Providence.
I cannot therefore do you better ſervice, than to preſs upon you, this weighty Admonition of Moſes, the man of God, as the moſt certain means of our preſervation, and the beſt expreſſion of our gratitude, Only take heed to thy ſelf, and keep thy ſoul diligently, leſt thou forget the things which thine eyes have ſeen, and leſt they depart out of thy heart, all the days of thy life.
In which words it is eaſy to obſerve two things.
Firſt, it is here too plainly ſuppoſed, that men are very apt to forget, even thoſe Wonderful works, which they have ſeen with their own eyes. Otherwiſe, there would have been no need of ſuch great Caution, as is here given to the Jews, to take heed; and not only take heed, but to keep their Soul; nay, to keep it diligently, leſt they ſhould forget what their eyes had ſeen. For without heed, and diligent heed, and careful obſervance of themſelves; he knew theſe things would ſoon ſlip out of their thoughts, and be no more remembred. And therefore,
Secondly, we ought to uſe our moſt ſerious indeavours not to forget them; no, not to forget them, as long as we live: But to preſerve the remembrance of them, to the very end of our days. For ſo it follows in the laſt clauſe, leſt they depart out of thy heart all the days of thy life.
Which being the Principal thing here intended, it is fit I ſhould begin with that; and reſerve the ſuppoſal, as an argument to inforce this duty, if I have time for it. Therefore we ought to take care to keep in mind the things which our eyes have ſeen; becauſe we are very prone to forget them.
Now when he bids us take heed leſt we forget them; it is as much as if he had charged us to remember them. And to remember them is not barely to call them to mind, or to keep them in mind; but to have our hearts alſo duly affected with them. For in the Holy language, all ſuch words as this, which belong to the mind, include the Affections: and ſuch Actions alſo as are agreeable to ſuch Affections. To omit the many inſtances there are of this in the Book of God, Moſes himſelf here gives us this Explication of his own words: When he charges the Iſraelites to take heed leſt the things they had ſeen did depart out of their heart, all the days of their life. There (in the heart) they were to preſerve ſuch an affectionate remembrance of them; as never to forget to perform the duties unto which they were obliged by ſuch wonderful works as God had done, to engage them to him.
Now this being premiſed, I have nothing to do but to conſider,
Firſt, What the things were, that their eyes had ſeen.
2 And then Secondly, I ſhall be your Remembrancer, by ſetting before you a few of the things that our eyes likewiſe have beheld.
3. And Laſtly, ſhew you what ſuitable Affections ought to be in our hearts, and what behaviour becomes thoſe (or how they ought to live) who have ſeen ſuch things.
1. As for the Firſt of theſe, the things which the Iſraelites had ſeen were of two ſorts: For they had been in very great dangers; and they had received as great Deliverances. Both of theſe are ſo well known, that I need but briefly touch them.
Nothing is more famous in their Story then the Affliction which they ſuffered a long time in the land of Aegypt. Where they groaned under ſuch heavy burdens; that when God ſent a Deliverer to them, they hearkned not unto him, for anguiſh of Spirit, and for cruel bondage, VI. Exod. 9. that is, they were to oppreſſed, they could not think, much leſs hope for any relief. From which they were no ſooner redeemed, but they fell into ſuch diſmal ſtraits at the red Sea, that they utterly deſpaired of ſafety. And when they had paſſed that danger, Amalek came forth with all his power, to oppoſe their paſſage through the Wilderneſs. Where they were ſo diſtreſſed with Hunger and with Thirſt, that they wiſht themſelves in Aegypt again, rather then dye in the Deſert, as they fancied they muſt for want of Food.
Theſe were ſome of their dangers: in all which they found God wonderfully merciful unto them. For they were delivered out of the Land of Aegypt, the Houſe of Bondage, with a mighty Hand and a ſtretched out Arm. The Red Sea opened a way for them to walk through it, on dry ground. He gave them a Glorious Victory over Amalek: Which he ordered Moſes to Record in a Book, for a Memorial. He made water to guſh out of a Rock; which followed them in a perpetual Stream, to give them Drink: And he ſhowred down Bread from Heaven upon them, for to eat.
Theſe and ſuch like were the Difficulties and the Deliverances, which their Eyes had ſeen: and which it concerned them never to forget.
2. And ſome things like to theſe have our eyes beheld; and this ſo lately, that it may well be expected they ſhould be in our memory: I wiſh they have not departed from our hearts. Which were this time three Year, very ſenſible of the great danger wherein we were of being thrown, into a worſe than Aegyptian Bondage. For we ſaw our Laws ſo boldly violated and trampled under Feet, that we could not but fear the loſs of all our Liberties. Many Loyal Perſons were turned out of their Freeholds, without any legal Proceſs: Several of our Biſhops impriſoned, and afterwards indicted as Malefactors; not for any Evil they had done, but merely for making an humble Petition, that they might be permitted not to do, what they thought to be Evil. We ſaw the main body of the Clergy in the ſame danger: moſt men thrown out of Civil and Military imployments, who would not help to enſlave their fellow Subjects: all our Corporations ſubverted; and their Rights and Liberties deſtroyed: a great many men put into places of the higheſt truſt; who, by the Laws, were not capable of any truſt at all.
We ſaw likewiſe Maſs-Houſes ſet up in ſeveral parts of the Kingdom: Popiſh Seminaries openly erected: Four Romiſh Biſhops ordained, who took upon them to exerciſe the Papal Juriſdiction, in all the Quarters of this Realm. Where all manner of endeavours were uſed, by threats and promiſes, to draw men to aſſiſt unto their own deſtruction; by taking away all our Legal fences and ſecurities. In one word, we ſaw the very foundations of our Ancient Government about to be raſed, and in great meaſure overturned: the whole Kingdom of Ireland, actually put into the power of Romiſh Butchers; who in the memory of many of us imbrewed their hands in the blood of our Proteſtant Brethren there: having Maſſacreed above an hundred Thouſand of them, in a time of perfect peace, when they had no ſuſpition of any harm from them.
This is a ſhort Repreſentation of the dangers in which we lately were; which I hope we have not quite forgotten: For then God may juſtly throw us back again into them, after he hath in a wonderful manner reſcued us out of them.
For, behold! when we were in this diſtreſs and ſo perplexed, that we knew not what to do; when all faces, as the Prophet ſpeaks, were turned into Paleneſs, and mens hearts failed them for fear of what was coming upon them; God ſent deliverance unto us by a great PRINCE: Whoſe Heroick Spirit was ſtirred up to venture his Perſon, and all his worldly intereſt, to free us from our impendent dangers.
Many things ſtrangely concurred to favour his deſign. The very Wind and the Sea were favourable to him. God bowed the hearts of all the people of theſe Realms, as one man, to wiſh well to him; and the hearts of many to aſſiſt him. Never was there a more Univerſal conſent to any enterpriſe: never was any more eaſily ſucceſsful. All oppoſition, in a ſhort time vaniſhed: The Forces that were raiſed to enſlave us, helpt to deliver us. In brief, a long laid deſign, which had been cunningly managed for many years, and ſo craftily carried on, that it was almoſt brought to perfection before it was generally perceived, was blown away and daſhed in pieces, like a buble, in an inſtant.
This certainly was the Lords doing; and ought to be had in everlaſting Remembrance. Eſpecially when we conſider by how long a Chain of wonderful Providences God, hath hitherto ſecured this great Deliverance to us. No year hath paſſed ſince this happy Revolution, wherein we have not ſeen moſt remarkable Inſtances of his Watchful care over us. And this year hath crowned them all, by the extraordinary ſucceſs, with which God hath bleſſed Their Majeſties Forces in Ireland. Where all the Armies of the Enemy are vanquiſhed; their ſtrong Holds taken or Surrendred; the very Robbers have forſaken the Woods and Faſtneſſes, to put themſelves under the Protection of Their Majeſties, and ſubmit to their Government. This reduction of that Kingdom, hath been attended with ſo many ſtrange Circumſtances, that all conſidering perſons, who are acquainted with them, cannot but acknowledge the hand of Heaven therein.
Which hath appeared alſo in the merciful Preſervation of His Majeſties Royal Perſon, from all the dangers to which he was expoſed during his late expedition abroad: in the Protection of the Queen, and defeating all deſigns of giving us diſturbance here at home: and in the bringing back his Majeſty to us in health and ſafety.
By which means we are preſerved in the peaceable poſſeſſion of thoſe Bleſſings, which of all other are the moſt valuable; and which we hope will be ſecured to our Poſterity, as the beſt Inheritance we can leave them: our Holy Religion, and the Engliſh Liberties Yea, our very Lives, we ought to conſider, are redeemed from deſtruction by this Signal Deliverance, which God hath wrought for us. For in a little time, if he had not moſt graciouſly interpoſed, They would have been at the mercy of our cruel Enemies: unleſs we had left our own dear Country, and ſled for ſafety, as the French Proteſtants were forced to do, into Forreign places. And yet, alas! whether we ſhould have fled would have been hard to find: For all other Proteſtant Churches would have been undone together with us, and preſently buried in our Ruines.
Can we be unmindful of ſuch a Deliverance as this? or inſenſible of the great Goodneſs of God, who hath preſerved us, from loſing all the happy fruits of it, by the marvellous ſucceſſes God hath hath given to their Majeſties Arms in Ireland, this Summer?
Can we forget thoſe frightful dangers which we have eſcaped; which would have been ten times more dreadful, had we relapſed into them? Shall we be ſo ſtupid as to have no more ſenſe than the Beaſts, which think of no danger, but juſt when it ſtares them in the face? This would be the greateſt danger of all. And therefore let us ſeriouſly conſider how we ought to be affected both with our paſt Dangers, and with our late Deliverances: that we may behaveour ſelves ſuteable to the obligations that are upon us. Which is the laſt thing I propounded to be conſidered; in purſuance of this caution given by Moſes of old, which concerns us as much now, that we take heed to our ſelves leſt we forget the things which our Eyes have ſeen, and leaſt they depart out of our Hearts all the days of our Life.
I.
And firſt let us reflect upon our Dangers; and ſeriouſly conſider what the Remembrance of them requires of us. To which if we apply our ſelves, theſe three things will immediately offer themſelves to our thoughts.
Firſt, That we ought to repent of thoſe Sins, which brought us into them:
Secondly, Make good thoſe pious Reſolutions, which, it is to be hoped, we made in the time of our diſtreſs.
Thirdly, Abhor the Spirit of Popery, which turns the World up ſide-down, and to ſettle it ſelf, puts all things into confuſion.
For the firſt of theſe, it is very proper on ſuch a Day as this, to call our ſelves to an account, and examine wherein we have any way offended God, that we may be humbled for it, and repent of it: becauſe, as our Sins brought us into all the forementioned Dangers, and if they be not amended will throw us into new ones, which may prove our utter undoing; ſo the due Conſideration of them will ſerve to magniſie the goodneſs of God and raiſe our thankfulneſs unto him, who, notwithſtanding our high Provocations, was pleaſed, of his infinite Mercy, to deliver us.
There is no Sin of which we have been guilty, but contributed more or leſs to our late dangers; but ſome Sins led us directly into them. I will mention a few.
Firſt, our remiſſneſs in Religion: in which ſome among us were ſo far gone, as to ſay, they could diſcern no ſuch great difference between us and Rome, that we need make a Conteſt about it. This was very comfortable News, no doubt, to thoſe of the Romiſh Faction; and gave them no ſmall incouragement, to attempt what our Eyes have ſeen.
2. And ſo did the coldneſs and careleſſneſs which was too notorious, in many places in the Duties of Religion: Scarce an handful of People appearing in many Churches at Divine Service, when the Play-houſes were crowded every Day with numerous Spectators. This I make no queſtion, emboldned their hopes of prevailing; for why ſhould not any Religion ſerve thoſe, who made little or no uſe of Religion?
As we love our Souls, or tender our wordly intereſt, let theſe things be amended. Let us grow more in love with our Religion; and let us expreſs it, in greater Devotion, and more frequent attendance upon all the Duties of God's Worſhip and Service. For it is impoſſible to be eminent in any other vertue, if we be negligent in this. Neceſſe eſt virum bonum, ſummae ergà Deum pietatis eſſe, as Cicero himſelf truly reſolves. It is abſolutely neceſſary that a good Man, have the higheſt piety towards God; without which he cannot be good.
3. And this no doubt hath been the great Source of all the Wickedneſs, which hath abounded among us; that Men ſo ſeldom think of God, and ſo little regard the ſolem Performance of the Duties belonging to his Worſhip and Service. I will not mention the infamous Debaucheries, that have been committed in many places; whereby our Religion was diſhonoured and endangered.
4. There is another thing of which ſoberer Perſons have been too guilty; in their extream ſeverity towards thoſe, who differed from them in ſome things; though in moſt they perfectly agreed. Which hath proceeded to ſuch a a degree of Rage; that generally we were more kind to Papiſts, than we were to one another. This was the very thing that made them ſo bold and confident in their attempts upon our Religion and Liberties: Which they ſaw we our ſelves were deſtroying by our mutual hatreds.
Theſe hatreds were the very Foundation, upon which they built their Hopes. Theſe were the Engines which they managed, with all their arts to accompliſh our Ruine. For the bitter ſtrife and contention, which enſued hereupon, our zealous Endeavours to undue one another (even when we differed only about Civil, not Religious Matters) were ſtrong Invitations, and manifeſt Opportunities, to the common Enemy, to make their Aſſaults upon us: Seeing ſuch a wide Breach opened by our ſelves, at which they might eaſily enter.
5. What ſhall I ſay of that baſe Selfiſhneſs which hath reigned among us? That inordinate Affection to Mens own Private Intereſt, ſeparate from the Publick Good and the Love of their Country? This moved too many to go along with the Popiſh Faction, and lend them their helping hand in divers things; which they could not but ſee manifeſtly tended to our undoing: A Sin which the very Heathens abhorrd: Who could not be tempted to betray their Country.
Laſtly, That bad diſpoſition of Mind, mentioned by our Saviour, in the concluſion of all thoſe evil things that proceed out of the Heart of Man, viz. foreign; Fooliſhneſs, (we tranſlate it) or Inconſiderateneſs, hath had no ſmall hand in our Dangers▪ Mark VII. 21. From within▪ out of the heart of man▪ proceed evil thoughts▪ adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetouſneſs, wickedneſs, deceit, laſciviouſneſs, an evil eye, blaſphemy, pride, FOOLISHNESS; theſe defile a Man. There is no Nation I know of, wherein this Vice of Inconſideration hath had greater Power than in ours. Where we have been ſo fooliſh (to omit other Inſtances, which I am loth to name) as to ſuffer our ſworn Enemies to make us their Tools; and would not ſee how they managed us, to work our Deſtruction by our own Hands.
For having taken great care, long ago, that our Diviſions ſhould not be healed, ſometimes they courted one Party to fall upon the other: And then turned about, and courted the contrary Party to take their Revenge for it. Sometimes the Laws muſt be put in execution, with all imaginable ſtrictneſs; and then this ſtrictneſs muſt be condemned as Anti-chriſtian Rigour againſt our Brethren.
Sometimes we were the Favourites; and after a ſhort Courtſhip beſtowed upon us, we were turned off, and our Brethren that diſſent from us were complemented, as if they had been the only Darlings! Thus they play'd us one againſt another a long time, and we were ſo blind as not to ſee what they were a-doing. We could not, or would not underſtand, that they loved none of us; but deſigned the utter Ruin of us all. And this in the vileſt and moſt infamous manner; by making us the Inſtruments of our own Deſtruction; unto which we contributed with all our Might, by our fierce Oppoſitions, and violent Claſhings one againſt another.
Of which Folly we ought moſt heartily to Repent, together with all thoſe other Sins I have mentioned; as endangering the loſs of two of the moſt precious things in the whole World, Religion and Liberty: But we do not truly Repent of theſe Sins, unleſs we become more Zealous, both for our Religion and in it; more kindly affectioned one towards another in Brotherly Love; more publick ſpirited alſo, not ſeeking meerly our own things, but every one alſo the things of others, i. e. the Common Good; and be likewiſe at greater Unity among our ſelves, by Loving one another with a pure Heart fervently.
Of this let us take a ſpecial care, leſt our Affections (which ſeemed to be diſpoſed to Reconciliation) be again alienated one from another, by our preſent Differences. What? cannot we differ in Opinion, but we muſt declare War one againſt another? Or muſt we break off all Friendſhip and Kindneſs, yea, all Acquaintance and Converſation, and look upon one another as Infidels? Nay, I think we ought to have a greater Kindneſs for Infidels, than many of us had one for another, in our former Differences and Contentions. Which, for God's ſake, let us not act over again. If we cannot Agree, yet let us not Quarrel; no, nor be Angry; much leſs furiouſly bent againſt thoſe who are not of our Mind; nor paſs hard Cenſures on thoſe, as Men of no Conſcience, who (for inſtance) have endeavoured, by the beſt and moſt juſtifiable means, as they think, to preſerve the Reformed Religion, and the Engliſh Liberties. For ſuch Cenſuring looks like Raving; and that's no good ſign Men are in the right.
Let us learn at laſt, to be Sober and Wiſe, to Love one another, and to live in Peace; and the God of Love and Peace will be with us.
In the time of our Diſtreſs, I cannot but hope, we had very good Reſolutions about ſuch matters, and intended hereafter to be more moderate. Let us now therefore make them good.
II. Which is the Second thing I intended to preſs under this Head. It is ſcarce poſſible for a Man when he is in great Danger, not to conſider his ways, and to reſolve he will avoid thoſe things which evidently brought him into it: Nay, to make Vows, that he will remember thoſe Holy Reſolutions. There was great Reaſon, I am ſure, for every one ſo to do. We were ſtrangely falſe to God, and to our own Souls, if the Methods of his Providence wrought no ſuch Pious Purpoſes in us: And if we do not now make them good, we are ſtrangely falſe alſo to our own Promiſes and Vows.
If one might judge of all Places in the Kingdom, by ſome; one would conclude, that as our Coldneſs and Careleſsneſs in Religion had brought us into great Dangers, ſo our Dangers had quickned many Souls to greater Fervency and Zeal. For we ſaw our Churches filled, our Communions thronged, with larger Aſſemblies; as if the Fear that was upon us, had moved us to flee to the Table of the Lord ſon Sanctuary, as Joab did to the Horns of the Altar. God forbid, that any ſuch Souls ſhould ever hereafter forget thoſe Fears; or forget thoſe Reſolutions which their Fears created, of being more Diligent and Devout in God's Service. Take heed, I beſeech you, leſt you live to ſee the Day, when all the Apprehonſions you had of God, and of your Duty to him are vaniſhed, and you are fall'n back into your former Remiſsneſs. For what can bring you out of it again, but ſome ſuch Danger? And do you either deſire or hope or fear to ſee ſuch Dangers again, as you have lately ſeen? I am ſure you do not, you cannot deſire it: And you cannot hope for that which you cannot deſire: And if you fear ſuch a time may come again, it is becauſe you reſolve to deſerve it, by continuing thoſe Sins, which brought you into ſuch Diſtreſſes.
Conſider, I beſeech you, did we not, for inſtance, ſeem all inclined to be at peace one with another? Did we not, at length, begin to reflect with grief upon our zealous Folly, in our indiſcreet behaviour (to ſay no worſe) one towards another, upon the account of the differences that were among us? Did we not reſolve to be Friends, upon ſome Terms or other, to forget what was paſt, and to joyn together heartily, for our mutual ſafety and preſervation? And do we now break out again into the ſame Outrages, as if we had been wholly ſtrangers to all ſuch good Diſpoſitions? Do our Spirits boyl up with Anger, at the very mention of Reconciliation? As if we had no Reſolutions, but to return to our former Animoſities and Enmities; to rake into all Miſcarriages; revenge all the Wrongs that have been done us; renew our ancient Strife and Contention, Wrath and Bitterneſs, and all the reſt of thoſe Sins, which brought us to the very brink of Deſtruction?
What can we think then will become of us; having, by the dangers into which theſe Sins threw us, ſeen ſuch reaſon to reform them, as I hope we ſhall never ſee again? If they be not amended by what we have ſeen, we ſhall be in danger to periſh in our Sins.
For ſhould we fall into new dangers of that kind, which we have already ſeen, they will not, in all probability, be intended to reform us, but to ruin us.
But I muſt proſecute this no further, becauſe there is a Third thing, which deſerves to be preſſed longer, than I have time for it.
III. Learn, I beſeech you, by the dangers wherein you have been, to abhor the Spirit of Popery. Which, it is evident by what was lately acted among us, is void of all Truth, and of all Mercy; nay, of common Humanity. None can truſt thoſe ſafely, that are poſſeſſed with it, when they are in Power. No Obligations can hold them, (for they had the greateſt to treat us otherwiſe than they did lately) no Promiſes, no Oaths, no Ties of Gratitude, are of any force to bind them; but this Spirit breaks through all, being the Spirit of Falſhood and Violence, made up of Perſidiouſneſs and Cruelty.
Witneſs the Tragedy it hath acted in France (if you will not take the Character of it, from what your Eyes have ſeen at home) which hath been accounted the moſt moderate of all the Catholick Countries, as they call them: But they have taught us, that there is no ſuch thing as Moderation among them. For there they have not only violated the Faith of all Edicts, Treaties, Promiſes, and Oaths, but perſecuted thoſe of the Reformed Religion, in ſuch an outragious manner, that their Cruelty can ſcarcely be matched in the Hiſtory of the ancient Pagan Perſecution of the Primitive Chriſtians. And yet ſo little of common Honeſty there is in that Spirit, where it prevails; ſo little of ſhame, they have had the face to publiſh to the World, that no ſuch thing as ſeverity hath been uſed there; but they have made all their Converſions, in the moſt gentle and ſweeteſt Methods imaginable.
Be ſenſible, I beſeecli you, of the infinite Goodneſs of God, who hath prevented theſe gentle Methods here; in which, we have too much reaſon to think, they would have proceeded (had they not been ſeaſonably ſtopt) without ſhame, without remorſe, without any tenderneſs; even for thoſe, who had been ſo fooliſh, as to aſſiſt them to undo themſelves and others.
For we ſee they had the confidence, ſo far to abuſe our late Soveraign, as to make him declare; That none of our Laws were violated, none of our Rights or Liberties invaded: When all the World ſaw them break through the very ſtrongeſt Laws, which were purpoſely made, for the ſecurity of our moſt Holy Religion.
Let it be a warning to you, not to truſt them; though they give never ſuch goodly words, and engage their Faith to you in the moſt ſolemn Promiſes. Have nothing to do with that Spirit; which will infallibly delude you, if you hearken to it, into your deſtruction. Suffer not your ſelves by any artifice, to be inveigled into a Belief, that they can be innocent and harmleſs. For whatſoever Declarations they make to this purpoſe; they are mere Impoſtures, and moſt dangerous Snares, laid to entrap you: Perſecution being of the very Spirit of the Church of Rome; by its Principles, by its Doctrines, and by its Practices; which cannot alter.
This hath been ſo clearly, and ſo lately demonſtrated by thoſe of our Church, that I ſhall only briefly remember you:
Their Principle is, That we who ſtand ſeparated from their Communion, are Hereticks; who muſt periſh everlaſtingly.
Their Doctrine is, That the Secular Power ought▪ to extirpate all thoſe, whom their Church condemns, as Hereticks.
And their Practices are ſufficiently known to be conſonant to this: For where have they failed, when they had Power, to exterminate thoſe of our Religion?
Bleſſed be God then, ſhould we all ſay, that this Spirit is, if not quite caſt out of theſe Three Kingdoms, in a fair way to be utterly diſabled from acting ſuch Tragedies among us, as they were manifeſtly preparing for us; What ſhall we render to the Lord, for his Goodneſs towards us? Can it be ever forgotten by us? And how can we remember it, without ſuch Affections, as are ſuitable to ſuch a remarkable Deliverance?
Which is the Second Part of this Diſcourſe.
II.
We ought to reflect frequently upon our wonderful Deliveronce, from thoſe apparent dangers, wherewith we were compaſſed: and conſider what the remembrance of it requires of us.
There is no need, I hope to go about to prove that God hath wrought a great Deliverance for us. If any be ſo unhappy as to queſtion it, they may ſoon be reſolved, by asking themſelves; would we be willing to be in the ſame condition wherein we were Three years ago, in the Power of our Popiſh Enemies, who without the help of our Deliverer, might have done what they pleaſed with us? No body ſure can think of being in ſuch a Condition, with any ſatisfaction. And therefore I muſt conclude we all own the great Mercy of God to us, in a moſt ſeaſonable Deliverance.
Let us ſee how we ought to be affected with it. Which is a Subject very large and copious: but it may ſuffice to ſuggeſt theſe Four things to your Chriſtian Conſideration.
Firſt, We ought ſo to remember the Loving kindneſs of the Lord, as never to fail to bleſs and praiſe him for it, as long as we have a day to live.
Secondly, We ought to be very grateful to the glorious Inſtrument of our Deliverance.
Thirdly, Look upon our ſelves as preſerved on purpoſe by God, that we may live to the Praiſe and Glory of his Grace and Mercy towards us.
Fourthly, And then we may learn hereby, to place our truſt and confidence in the ſame Mercy for the time to come.
I. There can be no diſpute of the firſt of theſe, that the Praiſes of God ought to be continually in our Mouth; for the great thing he hath done for us. Nothing can be more unbecoming, nothing more diſingenuous and vile, than inſtead of this, to hear ſuch undutiful murmurings, repinings and complaints, as too many Mouths are filled withal. Which would be quite ſilenced, if we would make it our buſineſs, as it is our duty, to think how much we owe to God, and what thanks we ought to be giving continually, for the Deliverance he hath wrought for us; and for all the Bleſſings which by that means we enjoy.
There is nothing can be more rational than this.
II. And one would think, there ſhould be as little diſpute, about the Second: That we ought to be highly grateful to the Glorious Inſtrument of our Deliverance. For whoſe coming all Men longed. The News of whoſe arrival, was every where welcomed with the greateſt joy. Which I hope we have not already forgotten; nor ſuffered the Benefits we have received thereby, to ſlip out of our Mind. For we owe the happy Liberty we now enjoy, of worſhipping God here together, according to the Rules of the Goſpel, unto that Deliverance. Which hath been followed with a very long train of Labours and Toils which His Majeſty hath undergone, and of marvellous Succeſſes God hath bleſſed him withal, for the confirming the Peace and Proſperity, which is continued to us by his means. With how many Difficulties hath he wreſtled? Through what Hardſhips hath he waded? And to how great Hazards hath he expoſed his Royal Perſon, both this year and the laſt, that we might reap the peaceable Fruit of them in ſafety and eaſe? If it had not been for his Courage and Conduct, our Iriſh Brethren might have ſtill languiſhed under thoſe heavy Oppreſſions, from which they are now freed. The Common Enemy might have ſtill made greater ravages in our Neighbouring Countries, if he had not ſtood in the Gap to ſtop their Fury. Which we our ſelves might have felt long before this time, had not God raiſed him up to be our Deliverer, and ſtrengthned his Hands to maintain what he had atcheived.
How vaſt are the Obligations, which by theſe things he hath laid upon us? Can we think, that we have ever done enough for him, who hath done and endured ſo much for our Preſervation?
The ancient Heathens thought themſelves ſo much indebted to the Deliverers of their Country: that they ſet no bounds to their affection, but honoured them as Gods. This was an exceſs of Gratitude to them. But had they given them all the Honour that is ſhort of Divine, owned them for Gods upon Earth; I mean for their Kings and Governours, they had not done amiſs. For Nature hath ever taught Mankind, to pay all manner of Service, to ſuch as ſaved their Lives, and redeemed their Liberties, when they were in danger to loſe them. Which was all I am apt to think, that the ancient Heathen meant, by calling ſuch Perſons their Gods: That is, their Kings, their great Benefactors: Which was the Name they frequently gave to their Princes, eſpecially to ſuch as had been their Deliverers. Whom they honoured under that Notion, while they lived; and ſuperſtitious Poſterity, purſued them with Divine Honours, when they were dead.
How could this Nation then do leſs, than own him for their King; who had been their Deliverer from Slavery, both of Soul and Body? This is no more than common Gratitude hath inclined all Mankind to do, for thoſe who only preſerved their Civil Liberties, when they were invaded. He that redeemed them, they thought had a good Title to them; and by reſcuing them from their Oppreſſor, entred upon all the legal Rights belonging to him. This hath been the conſtant Sence of all Nations.
And every good Man among us, who is of a contrary Judgment, I would willingly believe, ſeriouſly laments his infelicity, that he cannot acknowledge his preſent Majeſty, with ſuch Gratitude, as is due to ſo great a Benefactor. Which will not ſuffer thoſe who feel the leaſt touch of it, to do, or to ſpeak, or ſo much as think any thing, to the prejudice of him, who hath ventured his Life, many a time, to preſerve our Religion and Liberty. Yea, we ought in Gratitude to him, as well as out of love to our ſelves, to give him the utmoſt aſſiſtance we are able, for the ſupport and ſecurity of his Government: that is in truth, for the defence of our Country and Religion. Which is the only thing that he can be thought to deſign; unleſs it be the preſervation of the Reformed Religion every where, and of the Liberties of theſe Parts of the World which are in danger, by the Ambition of a Powerful Oppreſſor. And this is matter of Joy to us, and Thanksgiving to God this day, that however ſome particular Perſons may be ill affected, the Body of the People, it appears by their Repreſentatives, are unanimouſly diſpoſed to grant His Majeſty a Supply as large as his Deſires, for the carrying on what he hath ſo happily begun.
III. And if we look upon our Preſervation, as a moſt ſpecial Providence of God, a kind of New-Birth of this Nation, a Reſurrection from the Dead, or at leaſt, a Recovery from a deſperate Diſeaſe, a Marvellous Deliverance, wherein the Wiſdom, Power, and Goodneſs of God moſt ſeaſonably appeared, for our Reſcue from the moſt Dreadful Dangers; we cannot think He hath done all this for us, meerly that we may live, to eat, and drink, and ſleep in ſafety; much leſs, to ſatisfie our ſinful Luſts and Appetites: But that we may live to the Praiſe of the Glory of his Grace and Mercy towards us. For what elſe, ſhould God concern himſelf in our Preſervation? And therefore let us make that uſe of it, to live as becomes a People that are ſaved by the Lord; to ſerve him faithfully in the ſteady and conſtant Performance of our Duty, according to the Directions of our Holy Religion; which he hath continued to us, in its Purity, by this Deliverance.
Such an extraordinary Obligation, manifeſtly Challenges ſome extraordinary Return of Duty. But what Return, I beſeech you, have we as yet made, which may be thought in any meaſure ſuitable to the Benefits we have received? Nay, what have we not done, to provoke God to forſake us, after he hath been ſo wonderfully Kind to us? Is there any one Sin that we have amended? Doth not all manner of Prophaneneſs, doth not Hatred and Uncharitableneſs, abound as much as ever among us? When there hath been ſuch a great Change, an amazing Turn of Affairs by the late Revolution; are any of our Hearts changed, and turned ſincerely to the Lord? Do not all Men go on in the old Tract, as if we had done Nothing amiſs?
I am very loth to put any melancholy Thoughts into your Minds, upon a Day of Rejoycing: But aſſure your ſelves, as it was God's Intention in this Deliverance, to move and engage us to be a better People; ſo if we defeat his Intentions, by continuing as bad as we were before, we ought in Reaſon to expect that He will alter the courſe of his Providence towards us. And, as Moſes elſewhere ſpeaks in this Book, (Deut. XXVIII. 63.) as he rejoyced over us to do us good; ſo he will rejoyce over us to deſtroy us, and bring us to nought. Let us not run this Hazzard, I beſeech you, but endeavour ſeriouſly, to anſwer his Expectation, by learning from this Deliverance to fear the Lord our God, (as Moſes ſpeaks, Deut. X. 11.) to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and ſerve him, with all our heart, and with all our ſoul; to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his ſtatutes, which he hath commanded us for our good. And then will the Lord love us, and bleſs us; he will multiply his Mercy upon us, and make us a truly Great and Happy People. For he is our praiſe, he is our God, who hath done for us, theſe great and terrible things which our Eyes have ſeen.
IV. And hath taught us thereby, that did we that Remember his Mercies, in our late Deliverance, we might then hope in the ſame Mercy for the future: Yea, be confident, God will continue to proſper▪ Their Majeſties Arms, and bleſs them with greater Succeſſes, in the preſent War wherein they are engaged! Which we cannot but wiſh, unleſs we be in love with Calamities, or our Forgetfulneſs of former Dangers makes us fearleſs of any future; … our Diſcontents throw ſuch a Miſt before our Eyes, that we cannot diſcern our Friends from our Enemies.
Let me intreat you to conſider, what Deſolations threaten us here in a Proteſtant Country, if the French ſhould prevail; when they have made ſuch havock in Germany, among thoſe who are as Catholick as themſelves. Where they have laid the moſt Beautiful Cities in Aſhes; only becauſe they could not keep them any longer in their Poſſeſſion. As if the World were made for them alone, and none elſe were Worthy to inhabit it; but every Place muſt be made deſolate, if they cannot continue in it.
Unto what pitch of Proud Wrath, or rather Diabolical Fury are they arrived! Which may juſtly make us look upon them, not only as the Enemies of all Proteſtants, but of all Chriſtians; nay, of all Mankind. Whoſe Intereſt it is to Unite all their Power to pull them down and chain them up; that they may not be able to make any further Ravage in the World, with their Infernal Troops.
It is manifeſt at what they aim, and how they intend to treat all thoſe who become their Slaves: And therefore, as we have the higheſt reaſon to bleſs the Goodneſs of God this Day, for driving them out of the Kingdom of Ireland, where they deſigned, no doubt, to ſettle themſelves, as a fair ſtep to maſter us alſo; ſo it is the utmoſt degree of Infatuation to favour their Pretenſions, or not vigorouſly to oppoſe the progreſs of their Arms: For it is to oppoſe Robberies and Rapes, helliſh Cruelties and utter Devaſtations: It is to aſſert the Common Right of Mankind againſt a Boundleſs Oppreſſor; who forges a Title at his Pleaſure, to any Country, which he hath a mind to invade.
And he hath invaded ſo many, that there are innumerable Souls in ſeveral places of the World, who cry out continually, in the Anguiſh of their Spirits, as the Pſalmiſt doth, O God, to whom vengeance belongoth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, ſhew thy ſelf. Lift up thy ſelf, thou Judge of the earth: and render a reward to the proud. Lord, how long ſhall the wicked, how long ſhall the wicked triumph? How long ſhall they ſpeak ſo diſdainfully, and make ſuch proud boaſting, &c. And he who Rules in all the Kingdoms of the Children of Men, all whoſe works are truth, and his ways judgment, and thoſe that walk in pride he is able to abaſe; will at length hear the Sighs and Groans of thoſe poor Wretches whom that Oppreſſor hath made very miſerable: And will daſh likewiſe all the Deſigns that are againſt us here in thoſe Kingdoms; if we be not ſo ungrateful to Him, as not to regard the works of the Lord, nor the operations of his hands.
For when did the Hand of God appear more viſibly, than it hath done of late, in Defeating the Attempts that have been made in theſe Three Kingdoms, upon our Religion and Liberties? And can we think that God intends they ſhould riſe up again, who have been ſo remarkably confounded? No, ſurely, if we be not ſo wickedly unthankful, as to forget the Hand that hath ſaved us, or ſlight his Mercies towards us. There's the remaining Danger; and therefore let us take heed to ourſelves, and keep our Souls diligently, leſt we forget the things our Eyes have ſeen, and leſt they depart out of our Heart all the days of our Life.
This is a thing which requires very great care, becauſe we are naturally forgetful Creatures, apt to be unmindful of Benefits; and in this particular Caſe, ſhall meet with many Attempts upon us, to make us (like the old Iſraelites) diſguſt our preſent Happineſs, and, in effect, wiſh our ſelves again in Egypt. Which I have not time left to repreſent ſo effectually as it deſerves; but muſt only intreat you to be aware of this Danger, and watch your ſelves ſo carefully, that nothing efface the ſenſe of God's great Goodneſs to you, in the late Deliverance he hath given you.
And then he who hath hitherto heard our Prayers, will ſtill fulfil our humble Petitions. He will hear the Cry of thoſe miſerable People, who are undone by a haughty Oppreſſor: Though he bear long, (as it is in the Goſpel for this Day) he will avenge his own Elect; yea, he will avenge them ſpeedily. And we may rationally hope he will alſo preſerve us, from falling into his cruel Hands. He will ſtretch forth his Hand againſt the furiouſneſs of our Enemies: and put them to ſhame that hate us. He will go on to diſappoint them, and caſt them down; and as the Pſalmiſt elſewhere prays, reward them according to their Deeds, and according to the Wickedneſs of their own Inventions. Recompence them after the Work of their Hands; and pay them what they have deſerved. In one word, break them down, and not build them up.
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth us: for his Mercy endureth for ever: He will not forſake the Work of his own Hands.
But we may take the boldneſs to ſing on this Day of Thankſgiving, as the Church doth upon the like occaſion, Pſal. xlviii. 9, 14. We wait for thy loving kindneſs, O God, in the midſt of thy Temple. This God (who hath done ſuch great things for us) is our God for ever and ever; He will be our Guide unto Death. Amen.
FINIS.