A Model of True Spiritual Thankfulness, Title page – Dedication 1
A MODEL OF True Spiritual Thankfulneſſe.
Delivered in a SERMON Before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, Upon their day of THANKSGIVING, being Thurſday, Feb. 19. 1645, for the great Mercy of God, in the Surrender of the Citie of Chester into the hands of the Parliaments Forces in CHESHIRS, under the Command of Sir WILLIAM BRERETON.
By THO. CASE, Preacher in Milkſtreet London, and one of the Aſſembly of Divines.
ISA 1.25.3.
The ſtrong people ſhall glorifie thee, the citie of the terrible Nations ſhall fear thee.
ISA 1.26.2.
Open ye the gates, that the righteous Nation which keepeth the Truth, may enter in.
London, Printed by Ruth Raworth, for Luke Fawne, at the ſigne of the Parrot in Paul's Church-yard. 1646.
Die Lunae, 23 Februarii, 1645.
ORdered, by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, That Maſter Rous do give Thanks to Maſter Caſe and Maſter Woodcock for the great pains they took in the Sermons they preached at the intreatie of this Houſe on Thurſday laſt (being a day ſet apart for a day of publike Thankſgiving for the taking of Chester) and to deſire them to print their Sermons. And it is ordered, that none ſhall print their Sermons without licenſe under their hands writing.
H. Elſynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I appoint Luke Fawne to print my Sermon.
THO. CASE.
To the Honourable Houſe of Commons in Parliament now aſſembled.
NOBLE SENATORS,
TO ſerve Your and the Kingdoms Thankfulneſſe for the late mercy of God, in putting Chester into your poſſeſſion; give me leave from the Preſſe to preſent unto your view what might have been burdenſom from the Pulpit; a ſhort List or Catalogue of ſome eminent Providences, wherewith the mercy of the day being clothed, will appear very rich and glorious.
1. And firſt, you may pleaſe to obſerve, that the very lengthning of the Siege, was the advance of the Deſigne, while in the iſſue it appears to have been nothing elſe but an ambuſhment of Providence laid of purpoſe to draw on the enemy to their own deſtruction: Surely their pride and power have not met with a more burdenſome ſtone in all their bold and confident Adventures, then the Siege of Cheſter; upon which God bath broken them with breach upon breach, and bleſt you with victory upon victory worth many Cheſters; and when he had done, caſt that alſo in for an advantage. Thus many times do we look upon diſappointments of our hopes, as frowns of diſpleaſure, which afterwards we finde to be Plots of Mercy. Who would not wait upon that God; who if be withhold a mercy for a while, pays intereſt for the forbearance, of more worth many times then the principal it ſelf.
2. That in three Storms of the greateſt diſadvantage that height of walls, depth of trenches, impregnableneſſe of Forts, and multitudes of enemies (as many in the City as yours in the Siege) could render, the Forces were confeſt by the enemy to have done more execution then they received, either in their aſſault or retreat: wherein one particular providence muſt not be ſilenc'd:*Lieut. Col. Ven…bles. an active Commander who was four times upon the walls; and though through the unexpected diſadvantages of the deſigne, not ſeconded according to expectation, yet was brought off harmleſſe, ſave onelyonly a ſlight wound on his arm, to minde him what arm it was that made his reſcue.
3. That in all the Sallies which the enemy hath made upon the Parliaments Quarters, they had more cauſe at their returns into their ſtrong Hold, to wring their hands then to ting their bells, being always ſent home with more blowes then they give.
4. That our Engines during the Siege have conſtantly done more execution upon the enemy within, then theirs have done upon our men without, though the oddes of all offenſive and defenſive advantages were on their ſide; whereby God would manifeſt the difference, between having walls and bulwarks for Salvation, I…a. 26.1.and having Salvation for walls and bulwarks.
5. It was onelyonly an unexpected Help to our ſide, that a Blinde of Providence cauſed them to leave the Proſpect of a Steeple ſo neer the City-walls undemoliſhed from whence our men did perform daily juſtice upon the Rebels, ſlaying one of their ſterueſt, and divers others. So God oftentimes beats the enemie with their own weapons.
6. The patience and conſtancy of your Souldiery, was eminently remarkable, which was ſuch, as though there were temptations enough to ſtorm it, as extremity of weather, want of pay, clothes, food, unparallel'd hard duty all the time of the ſiege, being forced many times to fetch their water from *… Sam. ….15.the gate of Bethlem, and that not for wantonneſſe, but for neceſſity; their bread from the enemies Quarters▪ the ſtores of the languiſhing Countrey being drained, and expected ſupplies from neighbouring Counties failing, to the extreme haraſſing and hazarding of their Forces both abroad and at home: I ſay ſuch notwithſtanding was their conſtancy and patie…ce, that none of all theſe could conquer it; Providence always ſtepping in with timely Supplies and admirable Reſenes in their deepeſt diſcouragements and deſertions. In the mount the Lord hath been ſeen.Gen. 22.14.
7. The nature of your Forces which performed this ſervice, renders it the more obſervable; they being not an united Brigade cull'd and form'd for ſuch a deſigne, but a collective Body out of ſome few adjacent Counties, the more capable of diſcontent, and uncapable of Commands, had not God put a ſingular Spirit of Wiſedom and Activity into the Commanders, and of willingneſſe or awe into the Souldiers: So that here you have that word made good again:Zech. 46. Not by might nor power, but by my Spirit, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts.
8. The enemy were not ſo high all the time of the Siege in their demands, but your terms were as honourable in the Surrender; which received this addition, Magmon eſt teſtimohium pro …o qui judicium ad …ſario comminit. Abulens.that the enemies themſelves confeſſe Conditions were never better kept ſince the wars began. A teſtimony out of the mouth of an adverſary, is double honour.
9. Of what Conſequence the Succeſſe is, let Cheſters expectation from Ireland, and the preparations of the Iriſh Cut-throats for Cheſter the Key of this Kingdom, the Reſt of that poor fainting County; the trembling of all the malignant neighbouring Strong Holds in Wales; and the ſecuring of your Northern Leagur from the approach of an enemy: the opening of the way of Trade between London and theſe parts; the daſhing in pieces of the Enemies Deſignes, who lo, were haſtning now to the Infallible relief of their Gariſons in Cheſhire and Lancaſhire; the reducing of the North, the abſolute Conqueſt of Scotland, and then back again to the ſharing of England: for all this, and more too (Siſera-like) they had not onelyonly deſigned, but diſpatcht in their vain Confidences: The ſtrengthning the hands of our Friends thorow the whole Kingdom, who ſhall hear and rejoyce; the weakning of the Enemy, who ſhall hear, and their heart ſhall melt for fear. Let theſe, I ſay, and many other Improvements (too many for an Epiſtle, but not too many for our Thankfulneſſe to enquire into) let theſe Speak.
10. And all this, whether it have not been the cheapeſt Purchaſe the Parliament hath made, ſince it was conſtrained to redeem this poor ſold Nation with Money and Blood, I appeal to your Selves, and to that exhauſted County, which in the purſuit of this Service hath, to their exceeding Honours, iſſued not much leſſe (if I be not miſinformed,) then 40000 l. the very laſt vital blood that was left in their veins.Pſal. 110.…. Surely the Lord made them a willing people in this day of his power. There is yet a paſſage or two wherein you ſhall behold Mercy and truth meeting together, Righteuſneſſe and peace kiſſing each other.
11. Ʋpon the ſame day that the enemy began to fortifie the City of Cheſter, and make their Outworks, that very day three yeers, the Parliaments Forces entred the ſame:
Feb. 3. 1642.
Feb. 3. 1645
12. The King muſtered the Cheſhire Forces, ſummon'd, diſarm'd the Trainbands upon Holt-Heath, Sept. 24 1642. and upon the ſame day three yeers, the Kings Army was routed upon Routon-we may rightly call it Routing-Heath: and another Brigade which was intended for a Reſerve, commanded by the Earl of Lichfield and the Lord Gerard, defeared upon Holt-Heath (as I take it ſo it is called) where the Earl of Lichſield was ſlain; and all this in the Kings view, He then ſtanding in Phoenix-Tower in Cheſtr. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not ſee; but they ſhall ſee; I pray God to Repentance, and not to Shame.
Vide Paſſages and Treaties of the Siege and taking of Cheſter.Honou…able Parriots, theſe ſew paſſages to which you have already further diſcoveries, and may ſinde more, hold forth much of God; His Wiſedom, his Strength, his Juſtice, his Mercy, beaming forth in the Light of this day. And this you may obſerve, as the reſult of all; It is Fidelity God proſpers and Crowns in his Service. Now that God who hath made your Armies faithful to you, make you every day more and more faithful to himſelf; that what was Moſes Honour, and His too who is Moſes and your Lord▪ the Lord Jeſus, may be the Parliament of England's renown to all Generations, They were faithful to him that appointed them in all his Houſe, in doing all things according to the patern: Which as it was the travel of this Cautionary,Heb. 3.2. not Accuſatory Sermon (now the ſecond time waiting upon your Commands) ſo it ſhall be the daily prayer of.
Your Honours, not more deſirous to live, then to ſerve Chriſt in you, THO. CASE.