The Great Interest of States and Kingdoms, Title page – Dedication
THE GREAT INTEREST OF States & Kingdomes.
A SERMON Preached before the Honorable Houſe of COMMONS, At their Late Solemne FAST, Feb. 25. 1645.
By THO: GOODWIN, B. D. One of the Aſſembly of Divines.
REVEL. 17. 14.
Theſe ſhall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb ſhall overcome them: For he is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and they that are with him, are called, and choſen, and faithfull.
LONDON, Printed for R. DAWLMAN. M DC XLVI.
To the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, Aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
I Here preſent you with one piece of the Counſels of God, next thoſe of his diſpoſing the eternall conditions of perſons of all other the greateſt, as which concerneth the temporall ſalvation or deſtruction of Kingdomes and Nations, which next to his Saints therein, are deareſt to God, as his patience towards them ſhews. A ſubject, which had it been ſet out according to the merit of it, would of it ſelf have faln at your feet, who are the Repreſentative Body of this Nation and Kingdom, and entitled it ſelfe to no other Dedication then to you. But Providence having brought it forth in the way of an ordinance of God, preaching, in your eares, (though rudely) and you having beene pleaſed to owne it, it is become yours by all ſorts of Intereſt.
It is certaine, that God did not bring that laſt and fatall deſolation upon the Iews, untill all ſtates and ranks of men amongst them had conſpired againſt the Lord and his Anointed, and his followers: nor did he bring upon them that their firſt captivity, untill all ſorts had corrupted themſelves, the great men had broken the yoke, Jer. 5.the Prophet prophecyed falſly, the Prieſts did bear rule by their means, and the people loved to have it ſo: and then as the Prophet addes, What will you do in the end thereof? And yet therein God did not regard ſo much what the People, as what their Rulers did. I ſaid, (ſpeaking of the people) Surely theſe are poore, ver. 4,theſe are fooliſh, I will get me to the GREAT men, but THESE have ALL TOGETHER broke the yoke, 5.and burſt the bands. Our comfort therefore is, we cannot be undone without you, nor you without failing in this, which is our GREATEST INTEREST. An Errour, which if this Kingdome ſhould after ſo much bleeding erre a ſecond time, is like hereafter never to be mended. Your preſervation and guidance in this, is, above all other, the conſtant and daily prayer of
Your moſt humble ſervant, THO: GOODWIN.