The Glass of Gods Providence, Imprimatur 1 – Dedication
Die Mercurii, 14. Auguſti, 1644.
ORdered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, That Maſter Rous doe give the Thankes of this Houſe to Maſter Palmer and Maſter Hill, for the great paines they tooke in the Sermons they preached before both Houſes on Tueſday the 13. day of Auguſt, 1644. being a ſpeciall and peculiar day of Humiliation appointed by both Houſes, and that they be deſired to print their Sermons, and that none preſume to print their Sermons, or either of them, but ſuch as ſhall be authoriſed under their hand writing.
H. Elſynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I doe appoint Thomas Vnderhill to print my Sermon,
HERBERT. PALMER.
THE GLASSE OF GODS Providence TOWARDS HIS FAITHFVLL ONES.
Held forth in a Sermon preached to the two Houſes of Parliament, at Margarets Weſtminſter, Aug. 13. 1644. being an extraordinary Day of Humiliation.
Wherein is diſcovered the great failings that the beſt are liable unto; upon which GOD is provoked ſometimes to take Vengeance.
The whole is applyed ſpecially to a more carefull obſervation of our late COVENANT, and particularly againſt the ungodly Toleration pleaded for under pretence of LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE.
By HERBERT PALMER, B. D. Miniſter of GODS Word at Aſhwell in Hertford-ſhire: A Member of the Aſſembly of Divines.
Behold, the righteous ſhall be recompenſed in the earth: much more the wicked and the ſinner. Prov. 11. 31.
All theſe things happened to them for enſamples: and are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Cor. 10. 11.
Whatſoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning, that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope. Rom. 15. 4.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Th. Vnderhill at the Bible in Woodſtreet. 1644.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE The Houſe of PEERES AND TO THE HONOVRABLE The Houſe of COMMONS Aſſembled in Parliament at Westminster.
THe Records of Holy Scripture, whether they concerne the Actions of GOD or Men, are not onelyonly Stories of things done in that Age, but Propheſies alſo of future events in ſucceeding Generations. This GOD hath been pleaſed to exemplifie particularly in that Word, which divers weekes agoe on a Solemne Day appointed for extraordinary Humiliation He ſent to be preached in your Eares. While ſome bodily Indiſpoſitions hindred me from a ſpeedy obeying the Call of tendring it alſo to your hands and eyes: It ſeemed good to Him, (who doth all things wiſely and faithfully,) to give Inſtances of His fulfilling both parts of it; affording ſome anſwers of Grace, and expreſſions of Pardon and favour in Wales and the parts thereabouts; and yet withall taking ſome Vengeance upon our untowardneſſes, by the ſad blow given us in the Weſt. I hope that as we ſhall all learne by it, even more and more, thata1 Sam. 3. 19. GOD lets none of His Words fall to the ground, but whatſoever He ſpeakes to us hath its effect upon us, andbZech. 1. 6. takes hold of us, even whether we take hold of it or no: So we will beleeve alſo, that the effect of it will never be ſpent as long as we live, or any of mankind, in as much as all the Word of GOD lives and abides for ever, as both thecIſai. 40 8. Prophet andd1 Pet. 1. 23. 25. Apoſtle tell us. And this Beliefe will both make all the Word profitable to us, and make us Happy by the Word: The Promiſes and Expreſſions of Grace in the Word never doing us good, never being fulfilled to us compleatly, but by our beleeving them: And the Threatnings or Expreſſions of Severity never endangering us, never being fulfilled at all upon us, but when we beleeve them not. We have all need to Pray,eLuke 17. 5. LORD Encreaſe our Faith! even in relation to Terrifying Truths, as well as to Comforting. And though Faith most commonly comes by Hearing, yet unqueſtionable Experience telling us, that it is partly encreaſed by Reading alſo, (ſpecially of what was once attentively heard) I cannot doubt, but this Paper-remembrance of matters of ſo grand Importance, will be bleſſed by GOD, as to ſome others into whoſe hands it ſhall come, ſo ſpecially to your ſelves, according to Your Leaſure for making uſe of it, unto your Furtherance and Joy of Faith. Which that it may be continually augmented in You, who have ſo great buſineſſes to goe through, and ſo great Adverſaries to encounter, and all Calling for Faith in the ſtrength and Glorie of it, through Ieſus Chriſt the Author and Finiſher of our Faith, is and ſhall be the earnest Deſire and Prayer of Him, who is for IESVS ſake
Your ever moſt Devoted and Humble Servant HERBERT PALMER.