Zions Hallelujah, Sermon
Sions Halelujah, SET FORTH In a Sermon Preached before the Right Honourable Houſe of Peers in the Abby-Church of Weſtminſter, on Thurſday, June 28. being the day of Publique Thankſgiving unto Almighty God, for his Majeſties ſafe return.
PSAL. 126.3.
The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoyce.
THis book of Pſalms is a little Bible,Pſalmorum liber quaecun que ſunt utilia ex omnibus continet, &c. Aug. Prol. in Pſal. repleniſhed with all ſorts of Heavenly matter. A great part whereof is Euchariſtical, tuned to heavens melodious Harmony. Amongſt all the Subjects treated of therein, none outnumbers the Subject of this Pſalm: Which what that is, the firſt words tell you; tis the reducing of a captivity, and a ſad one too. In which they were as dead dry bones, in their own eſteem, and out of which they had no hope, nor help to eſcape. But when God brought it to paſs, above, yea againſt all humane expectation, they were tanquam Somniantes, as men neither perfectly aſleep nor awake, verſ. 1. and could not believe what they heard, felt, or ſaw at the firſt. But being at the laſt put out of all doubt, they became Ridentes & exultantes, laughing and triumphing, verſ. 2. And the Heathens Admirantes & Agnocſcentes, admiring and acknowledging this miraculous diſpenſation; Of which this Text is the product and effect.
And its no other then the Churches Eccho and Halelujah to the Heathens confeſſion. Indeed, ſtrange had it been if ſpectators onelyonly ſhould have ſaid ſo much, and the Jews who were ſo deeply concernd in the advantage of this deliverance ſhould have been ſilent; but that they are not: He that conferred this bleſſing, gave both ſence and gratitude; they are both expreſt in this Text, The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoyce. Which being thus read according to our tranſlation, we may obſerve in theſe words,
1. An Acknowledgment of Gods bounty.
2. An Impreſſion, and retribution ſuitable thereunto.
1. In the acknowledgment, we have
1. A pointing out the mercy, under that expreſſion, Magna, great things.
2. A confeſſion of the Author, Jehovah, the Lord.
3. An aſſertion of the actual poſſeſſion; tis not faciet, he will do great things, but fecit, he hath done them, they be not ſuſpended mercies, but conferred.
4. A Declaration of the object, in which there is a comfortable appropriation by the Jews, to themſelves; and indeed, what were it to them, had it not been for them? Therefore they put in their claim and own it; tis for us ſay they, the Lord hath done great things for us. And theſe be the particulars of the firſt part, their acknowledgment of Gods bounty.
2. In the impreſſion and retribution, you have
1. The paſſion excited, joy.
2. The Subject, which is extenſive; the mercy was national, and ſo was the joy. Ʋs, in the preeedent part, was the object: And We, is in the Impreſſion, the Subject of this joy.
3. The time; tis ſutable too, and concomitant with the mercy; not vaniſhing, but continuing; fuimus laetantes, we have rejoyced, when this fecit Magna was extended to us, and are ſtill rejoycing in the memory thereof. And thus you ſee the ſeveral parts of this Text. I'le begin with the firſt.
1. The Mercies, expreſt by that term, Magna, great things, whereby the Pſalmiſt intends, not to diminiſh the dignity of any other work of God, as if it were ſimply little, but comparatively it may be ſo called; As lights in the heaven, exceed one another in magnitude and ſplendour, yet is the leaſt in it ſelf both great and glorious. There is a day of ſmall things, ſays the Prophet Zacharie, Zach. 4.10.And there is a day of great things, ſayes the Prophet Jeremiah; Ier. 30.7, 8.ſuch are theſe in this Text. The firſt are as certain beginnings, and the latter as completions of ſome great buſineſs. In the leſſer there is a luſter, as at the Sun riſing: But in the greater a brightneſs as at Noon day; ſo here, When God built up Sion, Pſal. 102.he appeared in his glory. But we may not count this a ſmall mercy; tis not ſome great thing, but things: Behold a Troop. A bleſſed conſtellation of mercies, whoſe happineſs, he multiplyed to do great things; So the Chaldee, Syriack and Arabick verſions render it; And the hiſtory of this deliverance makes it good.
The power that detaind them is broken, by the Medes and Perſians. They though Pagans, and ſo no friends to their Religion, become their deliverers. Impregnable Babylon their ſtrong Priſon is opened to ſet them free.Iſa. 45.23. 2 Chron. 36.22, 23. They are freely diſcharged by Proclamation, and encouraged, yea enabled to return to their own ſoil, Government, and exerciſe of Religious worſhip. And all this, when things were at the worſt with them, no power in their hands to help, no hope in their hearts rationally to expect it; how then could they ſay leſs if they would ſay any thing, but acknowledge that theſe were Magna, great things, as here they do!
And ſuch indeed they are; whether meaſured
1. By utility and profit that thereby redounded to them. Things, certainly they were of great moment to theſe Jews; and of the greateſt relative goodneſs, in reference to their advantage; what could be more welcome to them, then liberty to the captive; Return to the debarred from their native ſoil; Reſtoration of the Plundered to their own poſſeſſions; dignity to the debaſed? Twas talkt of far and neer, and every mouth was full of, Who is like to Jeruſalem! happy art thou O people, ſaved by the Lords own hand.
2. Great things they were in reſpect of their power, or poſſibility. To them they were impoſſible, in reſpect of their own ability to effect them. Their wiſdome was too ſhallow: Their ſtrength too weak, their Priſon too ſtrong, their Enimies too ſevere, potent, and watchful,Lam. 1.2. their condition too low; Sion had no ſon to comfort her, her breach was great like the Sea, ſo that none could heal her.
3. Needs muſt theſe things be of more then an ordinary ſize, becauſe the greatneſs of Gods ſtrength was put forth to effect them. He hath magnified to work, ſayes the Original, he greatned himſelf to effect them, cald up great power, and clothed himſelf therewith, to bring them to paſs.Pſal 93.1. Now did the arme of the Lord put on ſtrength, Iſa. 51, 9, 10.and awaken, as of old, when he brought them out of Aegypt, and dryed up the Sea before them. He wrought magnificently like an Almighty God.Magnifice egit; So Vatablus renders Magna fecit. Magnifificentia eſt magnarum rerum et excelſarum, cum animi amp…a quadam etſplendida propoſitione cogitatio, at que adminiſtratio, Cic. in Rhet. Est virtus factiva magnorum. Aq. 2…. q. 134. art. As in the Thracian Hieroglyphick of Gods power, ſet forth by the Sun ſending forth three beams; whereof the firſt broke a rock in pieces; the ſecond diſſolved a mighty Mountain of Ice; the third raiſd a dead man; ſo was it here, he brake in pieces the rocky-hearted Caldeans, melted into charity towards his people the frozen-ſpirited Medes, and Perſians, Ezek. 37.raiſed this dead and buried Nation, the Jews out of their Caldean Sepulchres,Ezek, 37.11. and in all this diſcovered his extraordinary power and might.
4. We ſtile that great, which is extraordinary and ſtrange, not falling out every day, eſpecially if ſuch things come to paſs, unexpectedly if they be things that we look not for; Iſa. 64.3.and ſuch were theſe, ſuch a deliverance as Ezra ſtiles it:Ezra 9.15. after ſeaventy years, ſuddenly diſmiſt, ſolely and no other captives, though Pagans. Who hath heard who hah ſeen ſuch things? Iſa. 66.8.ſaith the Prophet Iſaiah; they filld the very ſpectators with admiration: and whereas the Heathens were dim-ſighted, and apt enough to detract from, and abate in Sions mercies and deliverances, they are here ſo extraordinary, of ſo great a grandure, and have on them ſuch eminent Characters of their Authors Omnipotency, being bleſſings of the firſt magnitude, that the heathens cannot chuſe but acknowledge them. Then ſaid they amongst the Heathens, The Lord hath done great things for them. And the Jews with thankfulneſs admire it; The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoyce. Which brings us to the Second particular
Viz. 2. The ſeaſon in which they were made partakers of theſe great things; fecit, he hath done them, and they have theſe mercies in their own poſſeſſion; tis not faciet, he will do this for them; that is true too, ſo oft as his peoples need requires it; I will, ſaith God, bring again from Baſhan, Pſal. 68.22.from the depth of the Sea; but here tis fecit, the work is finiſhed. To have had them decreed in heaven, might they but know Quam diu expectanda, How long before they might look for them, would have been a mercy; Wherein God gratified them, aſſigning the period of their bondage to be ſeventy years, by his holy Prophet;Ier. 25.11, 12. but in that thraldom many of them dyed beleiving, as yet not having received the impletion of that promiſe; at the laſt providence concurs to the accompliſhment of that prediction,Ezra 1.2, 3, 4 and the ruler of the Nations ſets them free. The Country-man when he ſees the clouds, thoſe bottles of heaven thicken by aſcending vapours, is glad; but when they let fall their drops in ſhowers, impregnated with natures crimſon ſalt, the fields laugh, and the husbandman grearly rejoyces; ſo was it with this people; Then was our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with ſinging. Well, but who may they thank for this? the Lord hath done it, ſay they.
3. They acknowledg the Author is God. He,Diod. Sic. lib. 1 foreign. Ariſt. Ethic. l…b. 5. cap. 4. foreign &c. who as the cheif Egyptian Prieſt in their Divine Worſhip, uſed to ſtile their King by way of commendation, that truly is he, a bountiful imparter of his good things. And as the Philoſopher ſpeaks of the habit of virtue, that by actions it may be known and judged, ſo is his truth, wiſdome, goodneſs and power, who is the Author of his deliverance; by ſuch products as this, him they ſee and own in theſe great things; not any of the heathens Gods, but Jehovah the God of Iſrael they acknowledge to be the Author of them, who is the firſt and fountain of all beings. And indeed,Omne bonum nihil eſt niſi Dei exun datio, qua inferiora etiam replevit: Bern. what ever we admire in ſublunary things, what elſe is it but the overflowing of his wiſdome, goodneſs, and power, whereby he hath repleniſht even things beneath? He may fitly be reſembled to the Egyptians Iſis, all breaſt, whereby he ſuckles, and ſatiſfies with good terreſtial creatures,Macr…b. imparting to them, being, Life, deliverances, and all that is good, who being love, and ſo of a communicative nature, invites poor creatures to himſelf (as Veſpatian did the Egyptians) from his infinite fulneſs to draw forth to themſelves what ever may really turne to their advantage.Haurite à me tanquam ex Nilo. Philoſt. l. 5. c. …0. in vit. Ap…ll.
He is a God of truth, who gives being to all his promiſes, and makes good his predictions by his ſervants the Prophets.Iſa. 44.26. So here, after the accompliſhment of ſeventy years,and 43.6. he ſayes to the North give up my ſons and my daughters, and the work is done. His will is the tyring houſe, wherein his Emanations and actings receive their dreſs,Pſal 115.3. he hath done whatſoever pleaſed him, ſaith the Pſalmiſt.
foreign. Syneſ. Hym. 2. Hebr. 1.All ſecond cauſes depend on him whom Sineſias rightly ſtiles the root of the World, and the Center of beings, who bears up all things Manutenentia Divina, by the Almighty word of his power; and directs by his unerring wiſdom to their intended ends.
Mercanab R. Mayn. More Nevoch. lib. 3. cap. 7.The whole creation is his Chariot, in which he rides abroad, and manifeſts himſelf in the world; making ſuch uſe of every part thereof, as ſeems good to his wiſdom;N…us Dei eſt opus perfectum. & over all he hath ſo abſolute a command, that leſs then Pompyes ſtamp with his foot, his beck, ſuffices to raiſe an army of deliverers, for his inthralled people. Yet needs he none of theſe to do his work by; and that he is pleaſed to make uſe of any, tis a dignation in him to honour the creature, not of indigence as if he could not effect what he pleaſed without it. As here, in reducing this captivity, he makes uſe of Cyrus, Opus dignotionis, non indigentiae. Aq.but could have accompliſht it without him; and now he is his inſtrument, what is he without this agent?Iſa. 45. Twas the Lord (as the Prophet expreſſes it) that looſened the loynes of Kings, and opened the doors before him; He went before him, and made crooked places ſtraight, he broke op… the brazen dores, and burſt aſunder the iron barrs. Ezra 1.2.This Cyrus himſelf acknowledgeth; The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the Kingdomes of the earth. Twas he that ſtirred him up to attempt it, and gave him power, wiſdom and courage to atcheive it, enabling him to conquer Babylon it ſelf,Ier. …0 21. D…od. Sic. rer. antiq lib. 3. c. 4. that hammer that broke in peices the Nations: Although it was immured with mighty Walls, fortified with ſtrong Towers, and rampires, ſtrengthned with maſſy gates, repleniſhed with multitudes of Soldiers; furniſhed abundantly with all neceſſaryes, fenced with the impaſſible river Euphrates: by all which both King and people were ſo ſecure, and regardleſs, that Belſhazzer and his Courtiers feaſt,Invedunt u… be… ſomno vi…o que ſepultam. and carouſe it in the Temples ſacred veſſels, while Cyrus dividing the River into ſeveral Channels, he and his army enter the City being buried in ſleep and drunkenneſs, and ſo by force carry it.
But what is all this to Sions deliverance? perhaps they have but changed one Enemy for another, and peradventure a worſe; no, no ſuch matter; come therefore and behold the doings of the Lord;Zach. 4.6. he conquers their conquerour by his ſpirit, making him captivate their conquerours, and releaſe the conquered,Iſa. 14.28. 2 Chron. 36.23 Ezra 1. and that too in relation to a prediction of him, and precept impoſed by God upon him above an hundred years before he was born. Thus the Lord was favourable to his Land;Pſal. 85.5. and whence came the ſore, thence came the ſalve. Salvation belongs to the Lord, Pſal. 3.and his bleſſing is upon his people, which is the fourth particular.
4. The object of theſ… great things, for whom they were wrought; Tis Nobiſcum, with us, ſays the Original; not that we ſhould imagine they had any hand in it, or contributed the leaſt help thereunto;Pſal, 115.1. No; not to us, but to thy name, ſay they, we give the glory. Nor was it by chance, but propter nos, it was for us, ſayes the Pſalmiſt, both in Gods intention and exhibition. It might have been againſt, and not for them; they well deſerved it by theit tranſgreſſions,Neh. 8.34, 35, 36. not onelyonly before, but alſo in the time of their Captivity. But it was with and for them; all went well with them, and was as they would have it. Proportion was a foil, and propriety makes the mercy compleat; he hath holppen his ſervant Iſrael.Luk. 1.54.
Had theſe bin the mercies of others, good nature would have made them ſenſible on their behalf; but being their own, how can they chuſe but deeply reſent them, with hearts full of joy, and mouths full of praiſe, as the Plalmiſt predicted, When the Lord bringeth back the Captivity of his people, Jacob ſhall rejoyce and Iſrael ſhall be glad. So here do they fulfil it, Whereof we rejoyce, and that is the ſecond part.
2. The impreſſion theſe great things received make upon them; or, the paſſion excited hereby, expreſt in the Term Laetantes, rejoycing. Tis a branch of delight, wherein the heart is dilated, as by ſorrow it is coarctated; a Metaphorical expreſſion taken from the bodyes poſiture, when it is not pent up in a narrow room, but is at eaſe and pleaſure; ſo is the mind, when it enjoyes ſuch good things, wherewith it is pleaſed and delighted;Martin. Lexic. he rejoyces that enjoyes what ever he deſires; Etymologiſts derive Laetitia joy,Pſal 4.2.119.31. Iſa. 60.5. 2 Chro. 6.11. à mentis latitudine, and ſo tis ſtiled the hearts enlargment, whereby it makes more way for the object delighted in, to enter into it: As the Sun-flower opens and dilates it ſelf towards the ſun, to receive his beams and influence more abundantly.
Tis rightly placed in the Concupiſcible faculty, and is wrought by preſence of, and Union with the object deſired. Now there is no doubt, but as this Nation above all others was Impatient of bondage; ſo, nothing could be alike pleaſing to them, as freedome and liberty from their thraldome. And as of old, when God brought Iſrael out of Egypt, and preſerved them from their Enemies at the red Sea, There, ſay they, did we rejoyce in him; Pſal, 66.6.So was it here upon this deliverance from their Caldean ſervitude, whereof we rejoyce.
Gaudio cogendi vis ineſt. Plin. 2 Sam. 6.14. Laetū illum vocabant qui cum corona publice vitulabat. Seal. ad Va…r.Joy of all paſſions can leaſt be diſſembled. David dances; And indeed of old they uſed to ſtile him Laetus, joyful, that skipt and leapt amongſt the people with a garland on his head: In a word, the heart conceives it, and then quickly ſends it forth throughout all the province of nature, that every part may have a ſhare in the common comfort.
And he is truely joyful, ſayes Perottus, who manifeſts in his countenance the mirth he hath within; Eſt proprie laetus qui hilaritatem quam intus habet etiam vultu ostenditu Perot. Pſal. 16.9.And very frequently in the tongue, where it turnes to a Laudabo, praiſe, and thankful acknowledgment thereof; witneſs the Pſalmiſt; my heart, ſaith he, is glad, and my glory, that is, my tongue rejoyceth; ſo fares it with theſe Captives, verſ. 2. Then were our mouths fild with laughter, and our tongues with ſinging.
Cant. 8.7. Iſa. 24.5.The people of God, like the Star-fiſh will burn and ſhine in the water of diſtreſs, prayſe God in the very fire of afflictions: But when his dealing with his people is as it was here, the turning their captivity, thereby he takes from them their mourning weed, and makes them full of joy by his work of goodneſs, as the Jews in this Text. I, and obſerve.
2. The rejoycing is as extenſive as the deliverance. The one was National, ſo alſo was the other; thus was it with their fathers when God brought them with an outſtretched arme out of Egypt, Exod. 15.1, 2.all Iſrael rejoyced and ſang that ſong of Triumph.2 Chron. 20.26.27, So did Iehoſhaphat and all the men of Judah upon that great victory and deliverance, They returned to Jeruſalem with joy, and verſ. 28. They went to the houſe of God with Pſalteries, harps, and Trumpets. Such is the Thundering Haleluiah of Gods Redeemed, Rev. 19. And ſuch in point of unamimity and concurrence was theirs here in this Text.
3. Well but when were they thus joyful? fuimus ſay they; theres no doubt but this joy was at the highth when the mercy was freſh; then ſang they his praiſe, Pſal. 106.12, 13they deferd not their ſacrifice of praiſe to their deliverer. Truly, accommodation to their advantage, propriety in, and poſſeſſion of this deliverance, muſt needs make them happy, and its apprehenſion joyful. The more they deſired it before it came, the greater reliſh found they in it being now obtaind. Darius his muddy water was pretious when his drought was ſo exceſſive, that it threatned ruine; the Heathens admiration, and extorted confeſſion by clear conviction, do not a little heighthen it; indeed it was to them a bleſſed change, an unexpected mercy, of great concernment.
But doth not Fuimus ſpeak of this rejoycing as of a thing paſt and gone, as the deliverance was? no, by no meanes;Ibidem. It was indeed too ordinary with this people, One day to ſing his praiſe, the next to forget his goodneſs, and rebell againſt him: But here the Pſalmiſt hath no deſigne to put in an inditement againſt them, as if they were faulty in this reſpect, but rather he ſets before them an exemplar, that whenſoever forgetfulneſs or dulneſs doth ſurpriſe their minds, by this they may be excited to remember whence they are fallen, and do their firſt work: but let this ſuffice concerning the Jews.
Q. Whats all this to us?
A. Exceeding much; for if we conſider the mercy we commemorate this day, at leaſt it parallels theirs, if not outſtrips it; what tongue can expreſs the miſery we were reduced to by the late inteſtine War? How was peace deſtroyed, plenty vaniſht, trading decayed, order confounded, laws ſubverted, truth vaniſht, Orthodox Miniſtry contemned,Iocus eſt in militia et ludus domos deripere, fana spoliare. lawful Magiſtracy extirpated! Servants rid on horſeback, and Princes went on foot. What rapines and plunderings were in every corner of the Land! what traps and ſnares were layd for the Liberty, Eſtates, yea lives of thoſe who refuſed to Sacrifice conſcience and loyalty to the luſts and intereſts of Uſurping perſons! The Land was become an Aceldama. Caldean like, they neither ſpare Princes nor Prieſts. Lam. 5.In the War they ſlay in battel thoſe whom they find in arms, and many unarmed in cold blood. Not the lives of the living, nor the bones of the dead (if contrary to their corrupt intereſt) were ſecure; thouſands of our ſtrong men fell by the ſword;2 Chron. 36.17 our King was horridly murdered at his own door,Lam. 5.16. and ſo fell the Crown from our head; our real friends were few; many treacherous; deſigns failed, our hearts fainted, our miſeries were of twenty years continuance; we had no Prophets to predict,Pſal 74 9. we wanted our ſigns, nor knew any man Quamdiu, how long our diſmal night of miſery would continue on us; And our eyes even failed with looking for the ſalvation of our God. Thus, when we were moſt hopeleſs,Pſal. 69.3. helpleſs, our enemies higheſt, and we loweſt;Cedren. ad anim. 13. Heracl. they armd with power, treaſure, like the picture of Choſroes in the midſt of his heaven, full of might and dignity, warring and prevailing by their ſilver ſpeares, when they ſeemed fixed like eternal Mountains, and everlaſting hills; yet then,H…b. 3.9. even then was the Lord ſeen in the Mount, and our neceſſity was his opportunity; the wicked were ſnared in the works of their own hands. Pſal. 9.16.Higgaion Selath.
The people grevv impatient of their preſſures: God put it into their hearts to affect, ſtrongly to deſire, and petition for the reſtoration of their antient government, and fundamental conſtitutions, ſtird up the vvorthy General to be his inſtrument in a happy chang, united the generality of the people, (though of ſeveral opinions about Eccleſiaſticall things) in a bleſſed concurrence, vvhence came the loud ſhout of the Nation, like that in the Revelation, ſaying to their exiled King, Aſcend. And that to, after ſuch high indignityes, and affronts, horrid ſlanders,Rev. 11.1…. Pamphleters and railing Rabſhakies, like Smirnaes glaſs preſenting vvhat vvas moſt amiable in his ſacred Majeſty, moſt ugly and deformed to the Nation; yea, after ſuch ſad oppreſſions, great temptations, deſperate rejections and aſſaults; That God ſhould turn our captivity ſo ſuddenly, ſo ſvveetly, vvithout effuſion of blood: And ſhould ſet our King upon his Throne with ſuch high teſtimonies of National affection and ſubjection to him; are not theſe Magna, great things! yes certainly, Mirabilia, they are wonderful in our eyes.
Eſpecially that theſe great mercies ſhould be for us; A people loaden with prophaneſs, and Hypocriſie, who rather might expect extirpation then Salvation; yet wrought he all this for us, miſerable creatures, when we were in the deeps;Pſal, 136.23. He remembered us in our low eſtate; for us, weak Wights, when our ſtrength was gone; for us, unworthy wretches, when we were ripe for ruine; therefore we ſhould not content our ſelves to contemplate this, and rejoyce alone,and 66.5, 6, but invite others, as the Pſalmiſt doth, Come and behold the doings of the Lord, what Salvation he hath wrought for the children of men! And therefore come let us exalt and praiſe his name together.Pſal. 34.3.
Thus Laetantes, this rejoycing in the Text is a neceſſary duty, requiſite to our feſtivity, as it was to Iſraels.Deut: 16.14, 15.
But rightly to determine it in reſpect of the object,Herodot. lib. 1. muſt be our care. Agaſicles was baniſht by the Halicarnaſſeans, becauſe he conſecrated not to the Gods the prize he gained at the Olympick games, but carryed it to his own houſe: let us rather conforme to the Pſalmiſts invitation and advice,Pſal. 35.1, 2. Come let us ſing unto the Lord, let us heartily rejoyce in the rock of our ſalvation; let us come into his preſence with thanksgiving, and ſhew our ſelves glad in him with Pſalms. What could this holy Prophet have taken care for more then here he doth! Firſt, that there be a right fountain; the heart muſt not be abſent: it muſt be heartily. Secondly, that the ſtreames be pleaſant and ſutable to the preſent diſpenſation, ſongs of gratitude, Pſalms of acknowledgement: But thirdly, he contents not himſelf with this, but deſignes a place; and where ſhould that be, but the place or his preſent Hiſſan? and the place of publick worſhip is fitteſt for the expreſſion of publick joy: A perite portas juſticiae, Pſal. 118.19.the Temples Halelujahs beſt ſuit with publick deliverances: and what is more noble,No… eſſe candidatos Angelorum dicit. Te…t. de orat. cap. 3. then there to joyn in the employment of Angels, whoſe age is not meaſured by time, but praiſe? What more honorable then there not onelyonly to pay our tribute, by giving to him the honor due to his Name; but alſo to put the Crown of praiſe on his head, who with mercy and loving kindneſs crowns us! Pſalm 103.I am ſure the advantage is our own, Gods gracious emanations being like Solinus his Well, which if ſung to, riſes, elſe ebbs. When I ſing praiſes unto God, Pſalm 56.9.then ſhall mine Enemies be driven back, ſaith David; ſo was it with Jehoſhaphat, … Chron. 20, 2…when they began to ſing and praiſe the Lord, their Enemies were ſmiten; and ſo will it be with us, our great things will be teeming mercies, and bring forth more; they'l be but pawns,…ontinalia fest…s erat dies Romae, quo in…ntes coronas pro…icebanit, ut à quibus aqua… acciper…t, iiſdem gratiam referre hocritu viderentur. Vide Var. l. 5. de ling. lat. and firſt fruits of future good; only we muſt take heed, that we put not a bar in the way thereof, by our ingratitude. What can be more equal then if we draw good out of this Ocean of goodneſs! Roman like we ſhould crown the Fountain that imparts it.
The danger of mutability is a great allay in all ſublunary good, the ſtability whereof depends on Gods will and actual emanation, as beams on the Sun. Therefore the Pſalmiſt prays,Pſal. 90, 17. Eſtahliſh that which thou haſt wrought for us, or elſe it will quickly vaniſh and come to nothing: And our beſt way to make it durable,Luke …, …4. is, to anſwer Gods deſign, in conferring it upon us; whats that? but ut ſerviamus, ſays holy Zacharias, That we being delivered from the fear of our Enemies, and out of the hands of thoſe that hate us, ſhould ſerve him without fear, in holineſs and righteouſneſs hefore him all the dayes of our lives: That is indeed the real gratitude,Pſal. 56.13. when not only verbally but vitally we endeavour to expreſs it, as holy David, in our converſation, I will walk before God in the Land of the living.
But thats not all, we muſt take care that both our internal, external, Joy and gratitude, bear ſome proportion to our mercyes.2 Chro. 32.25. This was Hezekiahs fault; he was not thankful according to the mercyes received;Diis & paren tibus non poſſumus retribuere aequalia. Ariſt. let it be our warning. To God, and our Parents, we can never ſufficiently retribute for the benefits we receive from them; ſayes the Philoſopher; the example of his diſciple Alexander the great is worthy our imitation,Plin. l. …. c. 14. who when he had conquered Arabia, ſent home a ſhip loaden with franckinſence, intreating Leonides to offer it liberally unto the Gods.
My Lords, God in this happy change greatned himſelf, that he might greaten you; What now is your task, but to make your buſineſs to greaten him in the ſight of the people; as to his eſſential glory you cannot. But in point of manifeſtation to the world, by your words and Actions, you may, and ought. I will deliver ſayes God; theres his benificene, and thou ſhalt glorifie me, there's our duty. He hath done the one for your Lordſhips,Pſal. 50. and now expects the other from you. And I make no doubt but the Pſalmiſts Quid retribuam is in your hearts, reſolving to performe it; And your inquiry whereby you may give Teſtimony to the world, of the deep ſence you have of Gods deliverance. Wherefore in all humility give me leave to preſent to you certain great things God reſpects by way of gratitude for thoſe great things of his beſtowed on you. As 1. Magna pietatis, that you take care for the great things of Religion. Who ever denies to the Civil Authority that power, hath not conſidertd as he ought; the commands given them by God, and ſo their obligement, the commendations he gives to ſuch, and therein their encouragement, the bleſſing conferred on them that faithfully did it, nor the puniſhments inflicted upon neglecters of this duty; neither their titles, office, or account they muſt give to the King of Kings, are underſtood by ſuch; and indeed they rob the Magiſtrate who aſſert it, of their greateſt dignity.
Therefore I beſeech you let it be your care to build God an houſe, and you may be confident he will do the like for you, let Iſraels reſolution in the ſence of their deliverance be yours, He is my God, Exod. 15.2.and I will prepare him a habitation; my Fathers God, and I will exalt him. This will be the Nations honour, when as the new Jeruſalem, England may be ſtiled Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is there; I and the Nations ſafety, The Lord is in the midſt of her, Ezek. 48.35.ſhe ſhall not be moved; he will help her and that right ſoon. Pſal. 46.….Tis fit thoſe places that are conſecrated to the publick worſhip of God, which by the iniquity of the late ſad times have been either neglected or defaced, ſhould be taken care off; but eſpecially I beſeech you beſtow your beſt endeavours upon the advancement of Knowledge and piety, whereby God may have a houſe of living ſtones;1 Pet: 2.5. and the Nation may grow up more and more, to be a habitation and Temple for the Lord to dwell in;Epheſ. 2.21, 22 To this end, promote not loyterers, but labourers to this work, that have both skill and will to promote it: That bear both Urim and Thummim in their hearts and lives,Ioh. 5.33. and are like John Baptiſt ſhining in ability, burning in zeal, and ſanctity. To be ſalt not having loſt it ſavour,1 Pet. 4: 11. Iohn. 13.15. but fit to ſeaſon the ſacrifice, and make the people a ſavory offering to the Lord,Loqui debent ut oracula, vivere ut numina. Cauſia. l. 4. c. 25 Exod: 21.17. Iſa. 52.11. Lev: 10.1, …, … Tis the Iews opinion that they were then drunk, whereby they occaſioned that law, v. …. Paal halturim. cum aliis. 1 Tim: 3.2, 3 Exod: 37.23 1 Tim: 4.12 The holy ſhekle weighed 320 barly corns, the common but 16…. 3. Maym. Pſ…l. 132.9. is their duty. They muſt ſpeak as the Oracles of God, and live after their Lords example. The Athenians would not permit foul-mouthed Democharis to blow Veſtaes fire. And a blemiſhed Prieſt was not amongſt the Jews permited to ſerve at Gods Altar. Thoſe that bear the Veſſels of the Lord muſt be holy. The two ſons of Aaron ſmart for their drunken miſtake, and from their error God takes occaſion to forbid ſtrong drink to their fellowes, when they are imployed in his publique ſervice. St. Pauls winebibber is unfit for this ſacred imployment. Gold is fitteſt for Lamps and Snuffers in Gods Sanctuary and exemplary Holines for his Prieſts. The Shekle of the Temple is twice, the weight of the Commonwealth; tis no ordinary meaſure of ſanctity is enough in Church-men. Thus let it be your endeavour, That Gods Prieſts may be cloathed with righteouſneſs, and the people will ſhout for joy.
2. Mag na Juſtitiae, the great things of diſtributive Juſtice; Let your Tribunal be like that noble Romans, Reorum Scopulus, juſtorum refugium. Tacit. 2 Chron. 1….8, 9.Lucus Caſſiu…, A rock to ſplit in pieces the guilty, but a refuge to the innocent. I hope you remember God truſts you with his power, for which you are accountable, and your judgement is the Lords, who is no reſpecter of perſons, nor takes rewards; therefore let judgement run down as water, and righteouſneſs like a mighty ſtream. Amos 5.24. Plin. l. 2. c. 17.Democritus allowed only two gods, Puniſhment and Reward. There is nothing ſo forcible to preſerve humane ſociety, as the due diſtribution of them.
3. Laſtly, Give me leave to commend to you Magna Miſericordiae, The bowels of compaſſion, My Lords; We find ſome coin of Antoninus Pius, and Nerva's alſo,Cauſin. l. 1. c. 18. in which an Eagle ſits on a Thunderbolt, to which is added an Olive-branch; which took ſo much with Charles the fifth, and Max. the 2d. that they took this in amongſt the reſt of their Symbols and devices; which intimates, that though the Emperors power to avenge and puniſh be very great, yet is it moderated and reſtrained by clemency; And Caeſar got not leſs glory by mercy, then by victories.Caeſar dando, ſublevando, ignoſcendo, gloriam adeptus eſt. Sal…ſt. Iſ…. 8.6, 7, 8. Therefore give me leave to cloſe this in the words of the Prophet Iſaiah: If you break the bands of wickedneſs, and undo the heavy burthens, and let the oppreſſed go free, and break every yoke; If you feed the hungry, and cloathe the naked, and hide not your eyes from your own fleſh: Then ſhall your light break forth as the morning, and your health ſhall ſpring forth ſpeedily, and your righteouſneſs ſhall go before you, and the glory of the Lord ſhall be your reward. Then ſhall you keep a feaſt of rejoycing indeed to the Lord, when not only you take care for your ſelves,Deut. 16.1…. Ʋt abſit maeſtitia, & adſit laetitia, which was commanded as a neceſſary adjunct in all feſtivities: but alſo in reſpect of others who are relieved through your goodneſs, ſo that they alſo will be chearfully ready with your ſelves to joyn in the Halelujah of this Text, and to acknowledge heartily, thankfully, The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoyce.
Oſor. lib. 4.Amongſt the Ethiopians they had a cuſtom, that once a year the fires in all habitations were extinguiſhed, and then by the King reſtored to the Nobles, and by them to the common people. I am ſure the King hath not been wanting to make the Nation to feel the warmth of royal clemency; and I am confident through your management they ſhall be put into the full poſſeſſion thereof in due ſeaſon.
My Lords, I ſhall only add a few Arguments to remain with you as incitements to real gratitude. Firſt, Conſider our mercies are not meritoria, deſerved by us; No, 'Tis his mercy we are not confounded; but they are exploratoria, God proves us whether we will improve them for his glory and the publick good. Secondly, He that hath done for us great good things in mercy, can do to us terrible things in juſtice:Rev. 12.1. Pſal. 30. …. The world is fitly emblematized by the moon, 'tis full of changes. Nones mount ſtands ſo ſtrong that it cannot be moved.Cedren. Phocas Tower though never ſo high immured, ſo ſtrongly guarded, is no Fence againſt Heavens revenge for ſins tranſgreſſion, as an unknown voice declared. If you deſire honor, the way to it is through Vertues Temple: the ſhadow is not more inſeparable from the body, then honor and praiſe from excellent actions of piety, juſtice, mercy: The righteous ſhall be had in everlaſting remembrance. Pſal. 112.…,This is the way to erect monuments more honorable to your ſelves, and poſterities then of brick or ſtone. Thus God ſhall have the glory of his mercy; Your Country the benefit; and your ſelves the honor here, Comfort when you leave this World, and everlaſting happineſs in a better.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Hodges, Zions Hallelujah (1660)