The Glory and Beauty of Gods Portion, Title page – Dedication
THE Glory and Beauty OF GODS PORTION: SET FORTH In a SERMON preached before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS at the Publique Faſt, Iune 26. 1644.
BY GASPAR HICKES, Paſtour of Lanracke in Cornwall, a Member of the Aſſembly of DIVINES.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Chriſtopher Meredith at the Signe of the Crane in Pauls Church-yard. 1644.
Die Mercurii, 26o Iunii, 1644.
IT is this day ordered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, That Maſter Rous, Maſter Salwey and Maſter Nicoll, doe from this Houſe give thanks unto Maſter Hardwick and Maſter Hickes for the great paines they tooke in the Sermons they preached this day, at the intreatie of this Houſe, at St Margarets Weſtminſter, it being the day of publike Humiliation, and to deſire them to print their Sermons. And it is ordered that none ſhall preſume to print their Sermons, but whom they ſhall licence under their hands writing.
H. Elſynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I appoint Christopher Meredith to print my Sermon, Gaſp. Hickes.
TO THE HONOVRABLE HOVSE OF COMMONS now aſſembled in Parliament.
IT is the commendation and glory of great works to be carried through difficulties, to be borne up and brought to paſſe in deſpight of oppoſitions. The ſtreet & wall of Ieruſalem were built in troublous times. The Church comonly paſſeth thorough fire and water to her higheſt advancements & inlargements. So it comes to paſſe, partly thorough the malice of adverſaries, who ſtraine their rage higher according to the Churches riſings; if we could empty hell and the world of enmity, we might perhaps) ſteale quietly to Heaven, and injoy ſpirituall priviledges with outward eaſe; principally, thorough the wiſdome of God in the diſpenſation of mercies; he raiſes the value of them by putting them off upon hard termes. We ſhould be apt to ſurfet of priviledges, to kick againſt him that feeds us, and lightly to eſteeme the rock of our Salvation, if the Lord did not diet and phyſick us, if he did not acute our appetites by ſome ſharp mixtures, ſome bitter ingredients in our ſweeteſt and fulleſt cup; if he did not keep our ſouls in a longing temper by holding forth bleſsings to us, after which we muſt reach and ſtraine, and preſse even thorow a piece of hell, through a world of dangers and hardſhips before we attain them. And if good things dearly come by are to be highly prized, I do not ſee how we can over-rate thoſe we are now purſuing. All our gold in full weight cannot ſatisfie our enemies, their ſword is cast into the ballance, they hunt after our pretious ſouls. Yea, the Lord cals upon us to expend not only teares and cries, but bloud and life and all: Rich mercies they are which he holds at ſuch a rate, indeed more worth then our all. The inſuing diſcourſe ſhewes forth a little glimpſe of their excellency, which in all humility I preſent to your view. It is your high preferment in Gods favour (Honourable Patriots) that he conveyes our bleſsings to us through your hands that you are made the chieftaines, the leaders among and above your brethren. And although the heat, the brunt lie mainly upon you, yet are your protections ſtrong, your reward ſure. I need not tell you that the eyes of men and Angels are upon you; that the Christian world is at agaze, filled with expectation of the glorious reſults of your high and difficult indeavours. We all riſe or fall, in all probability) as you ſtand faithfull & united in the work you have in hand. Your imployments are eminent, your intereſſes deep; the concernment is publike, reaching all that have a ſhare in Zions proſperity. The Lord faſten you as nailes in a ſure place, that we may be an habitation of juſtice, and a mountain of holineſſe, and the bleſsings of the Lord may be upon us. So prayeth
Your humble Servant in Soul-affaires GASPAR HICKES.