Sermon Preached Before the Parliament, Title page – Author to Parliament
A SERMON Preached before the Parliament, the Councill of State, the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common Councill of the City of London, and the Officers of the Army, In Chriſt-Church London, Octob. the 6th. A. D. 1659.
Being the Publick day of Thanksgiving appointed by the PARLIAMENT, to be celebrated in the Cities of London and Weſtminſter, and parts adjacent, for the ſuppreſſion of the Northern Inſurrection.
By Doctor NATHANAEL HOMES.
London, Printed By J. B. for Edward Brewſter at the Crane in Paul's Church yard, 1660.
Friday, Octob. 7. 1659.
ORdered, that the thanks of this Houſe be given to Doctor Homes for his great pains taken, in preaching and carrying on the duty of publick thanksgiving on Thurſday the 6th of October inſtant, before the Parlament in Chriſt-Church London.
And that M. Blagrave do give him the thanks. The like Order to M. Caryl.
ORdered that the Miniſters be deſired to print, and publiſh their Sermons; and that they have the like priviledge as hath been allowed to others in the like caſe.
Thomas St Nicholas Clerk of the Parliament.
I do appoint Edward Brewſter Bookſeller, and Citizen of London, to print the ſaid Sermon, in witneſs whereof I hereto ſubſcribe my hand, Oct. 11. 1659.
NATH. HOMES.
To the Parliament of the Com…wealth of England, and Councill of State.
My moſt Honoured Maſters,
IT had not been poſſible for me, ſanâ mente (I ſpeak the truth before the Lord) to have deemed this Sermon worthy of that dignitie, to be printed (much leſs to be preſented to your Honours), but that your deſtres, expreſt in your Order, and much otherwiſe (which are a ſufficient Command to me) ſtampt upon it that reſpect. Therefore I have not counterfeitingly painted the face thereof, fairer then it was: Nor have I cowardly maimed it of anything I then delivered: But just as ye then liked it, 'tis now as like it, as poſſibly may be ſaid of the ſame, in complexion, phyſiognomy, & ſtature.
The ſtream is as it firſt flowed thorow my mind, then to my mouth, thence to your ears, and now to your eyes. If now in this laſt running, the Spirits of it ſeem not flatt, and weaker to your faſt, but that it ſtill reteins its firſt life, and vigor on your Spirits, to incite your further praiſes for mercies, and truſting in the God of your mercies, I ſhall the leſs care for the cenſures of men.
And as God was pleaſed ſo … it, (and ye could not prevent it) that I ſhould be much ſtraitned in time, to prepare for ſo great a work, that all the Glory might be to him the fountain, and helper; ſo I am fully ſatisfied, and do deſire that he may have it, and not I.
I ſhall ſay no more (for prolix tediouſneſs in any thing, is irksom to my ſelfe) but what John Gerſon the Schoolman was wont to ſay, viz. When the Preacher hath ENDED, the Sermon is not DONE. For indeed it is ſtill in Doing, in the hearts, and prastiſe of ſpirituall living hearers; which is the prayer for your Honours, of your moſt obliged Servant
NATHANAEL HOMES. From my Study at Mary Staynings London, Octob. 11. 1659.