Zions Hallelujah, Title page – Author to Parliament
Sions Halelujah: Set forth in a SERMON PREACHED Before the Right Honourable Houſe of Peers, in the Abbie Church of Weſtminſter, on Thurſday June 28. Being the day of Publick Thankſgiving to Almighty God for his Majeſties ſafe Return.
By Tho. Hodges, Rector Eccleſiae de Kenſington.
Dulcem matris affectionem miſerorum caſibus tribuit Deus; nec dies, nec quies ulla ac ne momentum quidem tenue ejus tranſcurrit beneficiis otioſum.
Apul. Met. lib. 11.
Pſal. 69.7.
Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the earth, give unto the Lord glory and ſtrength.
LONDON, Printed by J. Beſt, for Andrew Crook, at the Green-Dragon in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1660.
Die Veneris 29 Junii. 1660.
IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament aſſembled, That Mr. Hodges who preached before the Lords in Parliament on Thurſday 28. of this instant in the Abby Church Weſtminſter is hereby thanked for his Sermon preached then before their Lordſhips. And it is the Lords deſire that he print and publiſh his ſaid Sermon.
JOHN BROWN Cler. Paliamentorum.
TO THE Right Honourable the Peers aſſembled in Parliament.
My Lords.
YOur command put me on the task of Preaching, and now Printing this Sermon; which preſents it ſelf to your view and protection; it was a day of mercies occaſioned it, & had the Preachers ability been anſwerable either to the vaſtneſs of the good by God exhibited, or the greatneſs of deſire to expreſs his reſentment thereof, it might have proved an excellent monument to poſterity of the wonders God wrought for our King and Nation.…u…l i… Sy…. Caeſ. Claſ. Heraclius the Greek Emperour being delivered from Choſroes the Perſian, as a memoriall thereof, ſtampt his coyn with Glory be to God in the higheſt &c. May the like impreſſion for ever remain on your hearts; that it may be your greateſt aim to glorifie him who hath exalted you. With ſad hearts you have ſeen the Emblem verified, ſwarms of gnats deſtroying the royal Lyon, whoſe orders and actings like Tiberius and Caligula's laws might rather be ſtiled outragious madneſſes,Tacit. Hiſt. then ſober and iuſt decrees and actions. But now bleſſed be God the Scene is changed, and a more pleaſant fight preſents it ſelf to you view; ſomewhat like that in the Revelation of St. John, Chap. 11. 11. The two great ordinances of God reſtored, of Magiſtracy and Miniſtry to an undeſerving Nation. And that too ſo ſuddenly, ſweetly, unanimouſly, in point of National conſent, as thoſe who had the largeſt hope could rationally ſcarce have dreamt of. May the greatneſs of this mercy work a greater miracle then all the pretenſions of twenty years; even an happy moderation, and regular reformation both in Church and State, that miſguided ſpirits may nevermore gain oportunity to ſhape coates for the Mooon, according to their ſeveral intereſts in point of Religion, nor act the part of Empiricks on the civil Government.Ioſeph, de bello judaico l. 6. c. 1. Jeruſalem might have ſtood much longer then it did, had not the treble faction forgot the golden rule of charity and moderation, by inteſtine conflicts and diſſentions gratifying there enimies deſign (though not intentionally) rather then conſulting their own ſafety and welfare.
Haughty and petulant ſpirits never bleſs their owners with permanent peace, nor their country with tranquillity. That God who hath bleſt both King and people with ſuch great mercyes, grant unto both ſo deep a ſence thereof, as may produce a vigorous retribution of prayſe for all his goodneſs. And give unto your Lordſhips ſuch wiſdom, moderation, and zeal for his glory, that you may be happy inſtruments in advancing the ſame, and ſetling upon firme foundations this Church and State. Always remembring that poſitive,1 Sam. 2.30. peremptory, and in alterable concluſion, Thoſe that honour me, I will honour; but thoſe that deſpiſe me ſhall be lightly eſteemed. And may your actings be alwayes at ſuch a rate, that when the Lord of Lords ſhall appear and require an account of your Stewardſhip, you may give it with joy, and not with heavineſs, which is the hearty prayer of
My Lords, Your moſt humble and faithful Servant. THOMAS HODGES.