A Dawning in the West, Title page – Dedication
Oriens ab Occidente: OR, A DAWNING IN THE VVEST.
As it was delivered in a Sermon before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, at Weſtminſter; upon their day of THANKSGIVING, for ſeverall Victories in the Weſt, &c.
By JOHN BOND Mr of the Savoy, and one of the Aſſembly of Divines.
Ezra 9. v. 8. And now for a little ſpace grace bath been ſhewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to eſcape, and to give us a naile in his Holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
Pſal. 2. v. 11. — Rejoyce with trembling.
London, Printed by J.D. for Fr. Eglesfield, and are to be ſold at his Shop, at the ſign of the Mary gold in Pauls Church-yard. 1645.
Die Sabbathi 23. Auguſti. 1645.
ORdered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, That Mr Gourdon and Mr Bond doe from this Houſe give thanks to Mr Caſe and Mr Bond, for their great paines they took in the Sermons they preached yeſterday before the Commons, at St Margarets Weſtminster, it being a day ſet a part for publike Thankſgiving: And it is Ordered that they be deſired to Print their Sermons, and that none ſhall preſume to print them without Licenſe under their hands-writing.
Henry Elſynge Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.
To the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, aſſembled in Parliament.
Worthy Senators,
AS this Sermon was too much ſhortened in time at its conception and birth, (in the Study and in the Pulpit) ſo hath it been too too long (in the cradle) comming forth to publike view. One principall cauſe of this ſlow motion (beſides ſome avocations of mine owne) hath been the great throng of your late Victories, which crouded-in upon the Stationers ſo faſt, that this Sermon (like that *2 Kings 7.17.Courtier in the gate of Samaria) hath ſtuck faſt in the preſſe of good news: and even now at laſt 'tis no ſooner gotten through the croud, but behold another pair of Thankſgiving Sermons are ready to tread upon its heels. Surely if the Lord of hoſts did ever ſtrive to overcome a Parliament of England with giving them Victories, your ſelves are that Parliament: For what Nation is there ſo great, that hath God ſo nigh unto them, as the Lord your God is in all things that we call upon him for? Oh what a Maſter do you ſerve? Deut. 4.7.Or what doth the Father of mercies meane to do with us? As for mine own part, I muſt confeſſe, that the preſent unexpected heapes of ſalvations doe caſt me into the ſame trance with that of *Gen. 42.28Joſephs brethren, when opening their ſacks for provender they found meate and money to boot; tis ſaid that then, — Their hearts failed them, and they were afraid, ſaying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? The men would have bin glad a little before with aſſurance of their lives, much more glad with ſome corn for ſaving the lives of their families: and now behold lives, corne, and money beſides; your ſelves can eaſily apply. OnelyOnly give me leave in this Epiſtle, to be your remembrancer in two particulars, concerning theſe glorious ſucceſſes, and and this Sermon, viz. That
1. Great victories are (to meere nature) great Temptations: proſperitie is an heady wine, a little of it will inflame, eſpecially if it meet with an emptie or diſtempered body; and therefore mortified Agur prefers a coarſe commons, yea, a piece of *Prov. 30.8. foreign Statuit.ſtatute-bread before ſuch Cavëare. You know what befell *2 Sam. 11 2, &c.David, whilſt his Army was ſucceſſefull againſt Ammon, and lay beſieging Rabbath the Citie of waters. *2 Chron. 26.16.You know Uzziah's ſacrificing, and Amaziah's overthrow by conquering. It is one principall end of this Sermon, as to prevent all ſuch ſurfets, 2 King. 14.7, &c.s;o to mortifie and ſpiritualize our mercies, that we may freely and ſafely feaſt our ſelves upon them.
2. Great victories are great engagements: 'Tis both a divine & humane rule of proportion, that *Luk. 12.48.to whom men have committed much, of him they will aske the more. The Parliament of England hath lately taken-up very great ſummes of mercy (to the uſe of the Kingdomes) upon truſt and credit, may it pleaſe you now to conſider of diſcharging theſe greateſt publike debts. May it pleaſe you as Abraham, to ſet up ſome *Gen. 22.14.Jehovah-jireh, ſome proverbiall monument, [The Lord will provide.] Or as Moſes, ſome *Exod. 7 15.Jehovah-niſſi; ſome monumentall altar, with [the hand upon the throne of the Lord.] Or as Samuel, ſome Eben-ezer, ſome pillar of praiſe, with a [ne plus ultra] upon it, as [the ſtone of help.] Some ſuch thing I beſeech you let there be, to carry the name of this our God to poſteritie: let the Lord of your hoſts have ſome jewell from you for all theſe victories; it is another end of this Sermon, to help you in this duty alſo. If your weighty occaſions will not permit you to read over the whole (as commonly we deſire to hear good news once and again) yet may it pleaſe you to caſt an eye upon *1 Sam. 7.12.ſome particular pages therof. As page 36, &c.As for my ſelf, it muſt be my prayer, That this oyle of gladneſſe may equally quicken both wheeles of your proceedings; I meane in the affaires of Religion and Liberty. 'Tis not long ſince that theſe two, like *Gen. 50.Joſeph and Pharaohs butler, were fellow-priſoners together, but the latter of them (ſtate-libertie) bleſſed be the Lord, is lately delivered and advanced in great part, though not without the help of the former; and now Religion, Joſeph-like, doth (in his words) ſupplicate to her quondam fellow-priſoner and ſaith, Thinke on me (or remember me with thee) when it ſhall be well with thee, Verſe 14.and ſhew kindneſſe, I pray thee, unto me. Let the King of Saints and of Nations goe on to ſettle by your hands Truth and Peace in all the Churches and common-wealths of theſe three Kingdoms, cauſing us more and more to feare the Lord and his goodneſſe in the latter dayes.Hoſ. 3.5.
So Prayeth continually, your ſervant for Jeſus ſake, JOHN BOND. Savoy Octob. 8. 1645.