An Olive Branch Found After a Storm in the Northern Seas, Title page – Letter 1
AN OLIVE BRANCH Found after A Storme in the Northern Seas. AND Preſented to his MAJESTY in a Sermon at the Court in New-Caſtle.
By SAMUEL KEM, a little before his Majeſties going to HOLMBEY.
GEN. 8.10,11.
And he ſtayed yet other ſeven dayes and againe he ſent forth the Dove out of the Ark: And the Dove came into him in the evening, and loe in her mouth was an Olive ſprig pluckt off: So Noah knew the waters were abated
HAGGAI 2.9.
Thus ſhall the glory of the latter Houſe bee greater then the former ſayeth the Lord of Hoaſts, and in this place will I give peace ſaith the Lord of Hoaſts.
Publiſhed according to Order.
LONDON. Printed by J. D. & R. I. for Andrew Kembe, and are to bee ſold at his ſhop, at Margaret Hill, next doore to the Talbot-Gate in Southwark. 1647.
TO THE KINGS MOST Excellent Majeſty.
May it pleaſe your Majeſty,
WHen the King of Kings had faſted forty dayes and forty nights, hee was afterward an hungered: (although aſſiſted by the deitie) and then for any within knowledge of it to neglect adminiſtring to him a morſell had really concluded them guilty of the higheſt ingratitude and inhumanity. Man lives not by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth ofGod▪ Which your long abstinence from, in relation to publique adminiſtration; hath put mee upon this bold attempt, in tender compaſsion to your better part; as to preſent you with a branch the fruit whereof will, if ſavoured ſenſibly, procure an appetite, to thoſe delicates, which by more excellent hands are ready at your call to be ſerved in unto you: which degree of recovery will diſrobe thouſands of Gods people, and your faithfull Subjects of their ſad and ſable thoughts, and ſerve up their hearts to the higheſt degree of prayſe that hath, in relation to his glory, and your good, ſo far heard their prayers.
Thus, thus Sir, if your Majeſty pleaſe to forſake your nets that intangle you; deny your ſelfe, and your ſelf-reaſoning audience that aſſault You, andfollow Jeſus Chriſt in his ordinances the Prince of peace, whoſe name is Councellor to adviſe you. You may yet create all good men your cordiall friends; and admit none to repine at your returne, but the Goſpells and Religions enimies.
Great Sir, If this plainneſſe bee an error it is my affection to your Majeſties ſoule makes mee to erre, and the proſperity of one fault, hath made mee confident to commit a ſecond; for I profeſſe I long after it, and make it one part of my deſigne, at the throne of grace, that God would ſo ſanctifie all your experiences for the time paſt; that you may be a gratious Inſtrument for the advancing of his glorious will for the time to come: And now the Lord grant you uſefull profit, in peruſing my poore indeavours ſo as ſhall beſt ſort both for the accompliſhmentof your owne eternall good, and the Kingdomes juſt deſires, yea the Lord grant that as this ſermon received grace from you in hearing it with reverent attention; ſo it may increaſe grace in you by your ſerious intention. And the Lord of peace peaceably ſalute you by it: and grace you with all ſpirituall bleſsings till he bring you to injoy his, and your peoples firme love; your Parliaments councell; and Heavens Glory: which is and ſhall be the daily prayer of
Gods Majeſties poore Embaſſador to You in this Treatiſe of Peace, and Your Loyall Subject SAMUEL KEM.
TO THE Right Honourable PHILIP Earle of Pembroke, BAZILL Earle of Denbeigh and the reſt of the Honourable Commiſsioners with His Majeſty at Holmbey.
Right Honorable,
I May not (without your leaves obtained) approach his Maieſty in perſon or paper; It is my duty to begge it; May it pleaſe your Lordſhips to grant it; I call God to record, and my conſcience is cleare, I neither have, nor will ſpeake one word but for his glory and the furthering, (if poſsible) the Kingdoms Peace and his Majeſties good. I ingenuouſly confeſſe, if you ſearch, you may finde about me one Epiſtle ſuperſcribed to his Majeſty, but it is unſeal'd, and on purpoſe for your peruſall; For my ſelfe I am unworthy to come under that roofe, being the meaneſt ſervantin my Maſters Family; yet this Teſtimony I have in Heaven; I have ever deſired to doe the beſt ſervice I could in theſe ſad times, to promote the Peace of Church and State; and although I have obſerved many men to have beene thought rare at an eaſie rate; yet it hath beene a peece of my infelicity to multiply enemies by acting and ſpeaking to my power to ſettle Peace and Truth. Therefore as I implore your Lordſhips favour for your lilence; ſo I humbly Petition your pardon for my boldneſſe; and preſent all your conditions daily to the Throne of Grace; that as you have beene Pillers of Gods Truth; ſo you may be prevailing Councellors with His Maieſty, and be honored in your generations, which is the hearty and conſtant prayer my Noble Lords and Gentlemen Of
Your Obliged and Immutable Servant, SAMUEL KEM.