The Saints Thankful Acclamation at Christs Resumption of his Kingdom, Title page – Dedication
THE SAINTS Thankfull Acclamation AT CHRISTS RESVMPTION OF HIS GREAT POWER AND THE Initials of his Kingdome.
Delivered in a Sermon at Weſtminſter, before the Honourable Houſe of Commons, upon the day of their ſolemne Thankſgiving unto God, for the great victory given our Armie, under the Command of the Noble Lord Fairfax, at Selby in Yorke-ſhire and to other the Parliaments Forces in Pembrock-ſhire, April 23d, 1644.
By Joſeph Caryl Preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolnes-Inne.
Pſal. 68. 1.
Let God ariſe and let his enemies be ſcattered.
1 Theſſ. 5. 18.
In every thing give thankes: for this is the will of God in Christ Jeſus concerning you.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Giles Calvert at the ſigne of the black-ſpread-Eagle neare the weſt end of Pauls, 1644.
Die Martis 23 April 1644.
IT is this day ordered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament: That Mr Aſhe and Sr Peter Went-worth doe give thanks to Mr Pearne and Mr Caryll for the great paines they tooke in the ſermons they preached this day at St Margaret▪ Weſtminſter at the intreaty of the Houſe, it being a day of Publicke Thankſgiving for the great Victory God hath given to the Lord Fairfax over his Enemies at Selby in Yorkſhire and to the Parliaments Forces in Pembrookeſhire, and to deſire them to print their Sermons. And it is Ordered that no man ſhall preſume their or either of their Sermons to print without he have licence under their hand writing.
H. Elſyng. Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I Appoint Giles Calvert to print my Sermon.
JOSEPH CARYL.
Errata. Pag. 4. marg read foreign p. 42. l. …8. dele the. p. 44. l 7. dele in.
TO THE HONOVRABLE HOVSE of COMMONS aſſembled in Parliament at Weſtminſter.
MErcies are obligations to dutie; Every Deliverance writes us Debtor, and victorie over our Enemies, ſervants to the living God. It is good to receive a bleſsing, but it is better to uſe it well; And a thankfull heart is a greater Favour, then any outward Favour for which we give thankes. When the hand of providence workes gloriouſly with us, our Tongues ſhould render the providence of God glorious. Succeſſes and Events cannot make a bad Cauſe juſt or good: But they make a good Cauſe beautifull, and adde lustre to the Iuſtice of it. Though God ſhould not goe forth with our Armies (as ſometimes he did not with the Armies of his people) but ſhould make them turne their back upon the enemie: though he ſhould make us a reproach Pſal 44.to our neighbours, and a deriſion to them that are round about us, though he ſhould ſmite us into the place of Dragons, and cover us with the ſhadow of death, yet we ought not to forget his name or deale falſely in his Covenant: Yea, wee ought to bleſſe his Name, and give him thankes, that he hath laid our bones, and powred our bloud into the Foundation of ſo honourable a worke. It is a ſinne and a ſhame not to honour Chriſt, when in his work, we are put to ſhame: How ſhamefull then would our ſinne be, if we ſhould not honour him, while he gives us honour, in carrying on his worke? There is nothing more undutifull then for a people to humble God, while God, is exalting them. Not to acknowledge mercies, is at least an humbling, if it be not an Abaſing of God.
Wherefore (Honoured Senators) let your hearts be ever lifted up, in the waies of God, and let God be lifted up, in all your hearts. Let your pietie be as zealous (in keeping dayes of praiſe and thankſgiving) to record bleſsings, as it hath bin (in keeping daies of Prayer and Faſting) to procure them. God could tell the ſraclites in the Booke of Judges, how often and from what enemies by name, he had delivered them. Let your records be as exact in this point (to the best of your obſervation) as Gods are. He knowes ſtill, when, and what victories he gives; he knowes by whom, and over whomChap. 10. he gives them. Let your regiſters be as counterpanes of thoſe reſerved in heaven, yea, as the copies of all thoſe volumes of love, and care which God hath tranſcribed from that originall of his ſecret counſels, by the viſible hand and pen of providence, in the actions of theſe latter dayes. They that retaine the memorie of mercies, ſeldome looſe the fight of mercies: and God never breaks off (for evill) from doing them good, who ſpeake good of his name. How many ſucceſses, what victories have been given you, ſince you paid this debt of praiſe? You and we have had joy upon joy; then add Thankfulnes to Thankfulneſſe, till yours and our joyes be full. This filling up the Nation joy, is, and (Chriſt aſsisting) ſhall be the great deſire and earneſt prayer of
Your Servant in the work of the Lord, Ioſeph Caryl.