Sermon at Westminster 22 August 1645, Title page – Dedication
A SERMON PREACHED Before the Honourable Houſe OF COMMONS At WESTMINSTER, Auguſt 22. 1645. Being the day appointed for their Solemn Thankſgiving unto God for his ſeveral Mercies to the Forces of the Parliament in divers parts of the Kingdome, In the Gaining of the Towns of Bath and Bridgewater, and of Scarborough-Caſtle, and Sherborn-Caſtle, and for the diſperſing of the Clubmen, and the good Succeſſe in Pembroke-ſhire.
By Thomas Caſe, Preacher at Milkſtreet, and one of the Aſſembly of Divines.
LONDON, Printed by Ruth Raworth, for Luke Fawne, at the ſigne of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard. 1645.
To the Honourable the Houſe of Commons aſſembled in Parliament.
IT was Aſa's ſin, and it ſtands as a blot upon him to this day, that he impriſoned the Seer, for dealing faithfully with him in a meſſage from the Lord: 2 Chro. 16.7,8,9,10.It hath been your exceeding honor, worthy Patriots, and there be monuments enough of it publiſhed in Print to all the World, that you have not onelyonly pardoned, but encouraged thoſe Hanani's which God hath ſent, and you invited, to this Service, to deliver unto you the whole Counſel of God. It was never heard yet (and I am conſident it never ſhall) that any man hath become your enemy, or you his, for telling you the truth; And therefore let me tell you one truth more: It is as great a ſin to impriſon the Truth, as to impriſon the Prophets that deliver it. Gal. 4.16. foreign, Ʋſurpatur de iis qui in carcere & cuſtodia detinenur, as Gen. 39.20.As it hath been your honour before men, that you have not impriſoned the Prophets, let it be your honour before God, that you do not impriſon the Truth. 2 Theſ. 2.10,11,12.O receive the Truth in the love of it, and it ſhall preſerve you from believing lies. You have by you a Treaſury, or Library of Parliament Sermons; in which, you have many choice directions and encouragements in the Service, to which, God and the Kingdom have called you. As you have heard them, hearken to them; as you have Printed them, ſo conſult with them: I preſume you Printed them for that end; If you do indeed obey the voice of God in them, they will witneſſe for you, if when you have heard Gods will, you will do your own, you have ſet up ſo many monuments (like Joſhua's ſtone) Joſh. 24.26,27to witneſſe againſt you in the day of your accompt. As for theſe poor hudled Labours, they are preſt to ſerve you, though not with ſo much skill as others, yet with as much ſincerity as any; as the Author himſelf, who, whatever he is, is
Your Honours, both in Life and Death, THOMAS CASE.