Sermon 28 June 1660, Sermon – Illustration
PSAL. 118.
22. The ſtone which the builders refuſed, is become the head ſtone of the corner.
23. This is the Lords doing, it is marvellous in our eyes.
24. This is the day the Lord hath made: we will rejoi…ce, and be glad in it.
25. Save now, I beſeech thee, O Lord; O Lord, I beſeech thee, ſend thou proſperity.
IN Iſa. 61. one of the great changes which the Lords, Anointed ſhould make at his coming, was; that he ſhould appoint unto them that mourn in Sion, the garment of praiſe, for the spirit of heavineſs, v. 3. This Pſalme is that garment of praiſe, a garment of praiſe delivered out of Gods Wardrobe; for his Church, and people to rejoice in, upon two very remarkable occaſions. Firſt, for the people of the Jews, when their Civill Wars were at an end; the two great Factions, managed by Abner, and Joab; this, for David; that, for the houſe of Saul; being fairly, and unanimouſly complyed, in the ſol… eſtabliſhment of David over the whole Kingdome of Iſrael. Upon that conjuncture it was, that this Pſalme was firſt compoſed, and this garment of praiſe beſtowed upon his Subjects by David, the Lord's Anointed, and the Inſpired Pen-man of this Pſalm. But yet the wr…ſide of this garment of praiſe, (as I may ſpeak) was by them worn outward: for it belong'd to them (the Iews) only typically, and literally: the propheticall and hidden part thereof, being a myſterie to be reveal'd, in the ages then for to come. Which were
That ſecond, and more admirable occaſion of putting-on this garment of praiſe; and that was at the Inauguration of our bleſſed Saviour, when he aſcended up on high, led captivity captive, and ſate him down on that Throne, whereon he ſhall rule, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet, For this, the whole Church of Chriſt is deck'd with this garment of praiſe, upon Eaſter, and Aſcenſion day; on the former whereof, the Church hath appointed this Pſalme to be read, or ſung in her publique ſervice. To this occaſion you ſee the Pſalme referres in the Antitype, and ſo our Saviour is pleaſed to interpret it, by applying part of my Text unto himſelf, Mat. 21.42. Did you never read in the Scriptures, The ſtone which the builders rejected, the ſame is become, &c? And ſo St. Peter twice; once in Act. 4.11. and a ſecond time in his 1 Ep. c. 2.4.
This being the greateſt conjuncture, that ever did, or ſhould happen in the world; namely, the uniting of the Jew and Gentile, into one, holy, Catholique Church, under Chriſt their head; and typified by the uniting of Judah and Iſrael, under David their King, was the moſt ſolemne, and proper time for this garment of praiſe to be worn; the right-ſide thereof being now diſplayed; and the ſolid deſignations in the curious needle-work of this garment, eaſily diſcernable through the myſterious contrivances of Ceremoniall, and Hiſtoricall adumbrations.
Here's now a third occaſion, to make uſe of this garment of praiſe; and that's for us; us, the Churches and people of three great Kingdoms: we, who have for ſo long time, languiſh'd under the ſpirit of heavyneſs, may now, upon the coming of the Lords Anointed, boldly put on (I preſume) this garment of praiſe. For firſt, by the perfume and ſmell thereof, I cannot think, but it belongs to us: Iſaac knew his ſon Eſau's rayment, by the ſweet ſavour of it, Gen. 27. and ſo may this garment be known, out of whoſe Wardrobe it came, and to whom it belongs, it ſmels ſo ſtrongly of Myrrh, Aloes, and Caſſia, Pſal. 45. bitter things; the beſt perfume for the robes of the Church; who, as Chriſt her Head, muſt be beautified and perfected by ſufferings. This garment then hath been perfum'd with afflictions, and therefore ſorts well with us. And then, 'tis very fit for us; for us, on this occaſion, the coming of the Lords Anointed, and the uniting his people under his Government. Be pleas'd to put it on with me in this Text, and you ſhall then ſee, how well it ſits; for the Text is but the Analyſis of the Pſalme, and is (as I may ſpeak) a Pſalme in a Pſalme; containing in breif, the whole matter of the Pſalme in theſe four verſes; which are as ſo many quarters of this garment of praiſe, and which we ſhall, in their turn, put on, without making any rent, or diviſion thereof, or cracking ſo much as a ſtitch therein, by any ſtrein'd and forc'd Application.
Firſt then, here is mirandum; then, mirandi admiratio; next, admirationis ſolennitas; and laſtly, ſolennitatis celebratio.
1. Firſt, here is mirandum, ſomewhat that did not ordinarily come to paſs; nay a thing extraordinary and marvellous it was; and that is, The ſtone which the builders refuſed, is become the head-ſtone of the corner. v. 22.
2. Secondly, here is mirandi admiratio, mens admiring and wondering at it; notice was every where, by every one, taken of it, as a thing, wherein God had a very ſpeciall hand, This is the Lords doing; or, this is from the Lord, it is marvellous in our eyes. v. 23.
3. Thirdly, here is admirationis ſolennitâs; a ſolemne, and fit manner of expreſſing this admiration, with reſpect unto due circumſtances; not barely to wonder at it, and no more; to wonder and periſh, as they in the Acts; to wonder, and give God no glory, for working this wonder; but, a ſet time appointed, for making mans wondering to end in the glorifying of God; publique, prefixt, nationall bleſſing of God, and rejoycing in a publique place, at a publique time, a day for it, and a congregation on that day; this day, and we. This is the day the Lord hath made, we will rejoyce and be glad in it. v. 24.
4. Laſtly, here is ſolennitatis celebratio, the celebrating, or keeping this ſolemnity, as it ought to be kept, with praiſe and prayer, nay with a ſet form of praiſe, and with a ſet form of prayer; not in ſuch a manner as every man pleaſeth; as though there were no King in Iſrael; or ſuch a King, as had no care of the Church; but celebrated it muſt be with Hoſannah's, the uſuall manner of celebrating praiſe amongſt the Jews, Pſal. 20. Mat. 21. as are Te Deum's amongſt Chriſtians: and a form of prayer, for continuing and inlarging this mercy [O Lord, I beſeech thee, ſend now proſperity] foreign, quick, earneſt prayer, the pattern of the Antiphones in our Liturgie; the choiceſt part of all, and therefore the Devill ſhoots moſt of his arrows againſt it, even bitter words, [O Lord, ſhow thy mercy upon us, O Lord, ſave the King, &c.] perfectly reſembling theſe of the Text, Save now, I beſeech thee, O Lord; O Lord, I beſeech thee, ſend now proſperity, v. 25.
Be pleas'd to try the firſt quarter of this garment of praiſe, and if that fits, there's no fear of the other three. The ſtone which the builders r…fuſed, the ſame is become the head…ſtone of the corner. The mirandum, or thing to be wondered at.
1. The manner of expreſſion is clearly parabolicall (and, as I conceive, proverbiall too) foreign, in ſpeaking plainly it ſignifies, the unlook'd for, and unhop'd for promotion of a perſon, to a place of greateſt truſt and dignity. Such was that of David unto the government of all Iſrael; being not only taken from following the Ewes great with young, Pſal. 78.71. and ſo a great change made, when his Shepherds crooke was turn'd to a Regall Scepter, but compaſſed about with enemies on every ſide; hunted as a partridge upon the mountains, where little, or nothing of covert, and ſhelter could be had to ſecure him: the whole houſe of Saul, and all the dependents thereon, and adherents thereto, to be layd aſide, e're the thing could be brought to paſs. Tantae molis erat— ſo very great a difficulty, that there was little, or no probability, that a ſtone by the builders (with reaſon enough as they, and a world of others, thought) refuſed, ſhould in deſpight of all oppoſition, become the head ſtone of the corner. Yet thus it was in the iſſue, and the difficulty of effecting it, made the thing, when done, the more remarkable.
Such likewiſe was the foreign, Gods exalting of Chriſt, Phil. 2. who by taking upon him our humane nature, and the infirmities thereof (ſin onelyonly excepted) and being found in the form of a ſervant, and ſo nothing in him, which in the eyes of the world, rendered him deſirable, was by the Jewiſh builders, the Cheif Prieſts, the Scribes, the Phariſees, the Lawyers, and the Elders of the people rejected, and not barely ſo, but ſet at nought too; vilifyed, reproach'd, and blaſphemed: and in fine, layd ſafe enough (as they thought) in his grave, for ever pretending any more to the place and dignity of being the head ſtone in the corner: yet was he, by the mighty power of God, raiſed from this loweſt ſtep of exinanition; the priſon of the grave, and the honds of death, being unable to ſecure the reſolutions and practiſes of thoſe builders; but God raiſed him from the dead, through the ſpirit of holyneſſe, and ſet him at his own right hand in h…avenly places, farre above all Principalitie, and power, and might, and dominion; with other ſuch marks of univerſall Soveraignty, as you may hear from that great Herald of the Lords Anointed, St. Paul, Eph. 1. at the end.
Thus farre, you'll ſay, the garment of praiſe ſorts well enough with the occaſion of wearing it: but how for us? we'll parallel the caſe and ſee.
Firſt then, here's a ſtone, a ſtone refuſed, and that not by ignorant men, ſtanders by, men of no judgement in ſuch matters but by men of skil, the builders themſelves; and then this ſtone, after all this foreign, and foreign, this reprobation of him, and this ſetting of him at nought, become the head ſtone in the corner. We'll purſue it for a while in the Parable.
Stones, you know, are a very conſiderable part of the materials of building; without them, no building is ſtrong and durable. Babel may be built with brick inſtead of ſtone, and layd with ſlime inſtead of mortar; but a Building of Church, or State, muſt be like Solomons Temple, and Solomons houſe of the Kingdom, of hewen ſtones; ſuch ſtones as are wrought by the ſquare, and tryed by the line, and theſe ſet in well-temp…red mortar, or elſe 'twill not be right. And a building there was amongſt us of theſe Nations; a building of the Church, and a building of the State, excellently wrought, as men well-skill'd in ſuch kind of buildings, have often acknowledged, both of our own Countrymen and Strangers. But whether there were any neglect in thoſe, whoſe office it was to look unto, and ſecure theſe buildings; or whether time, which gnaws out, and vitiates things morall and politique, as well as naturall, had weakned theſe buildings by any dangerous faultrings and decayes; or whether the faſhion of the Structure was not ſuch as pleaſed ſome capricious build…rs, who (like Ahaz when he had been at Damaſcus, 2 King. 16.10.) muſt needs have the form altered, and quadrata mutata rotundis; or what elſe was in the cauſe, I ſhall not trouble my ſelf to remember, or imagine; but ſure it was, that theſe active Builders, like Solomon unto Lebanon, ſent out their Labourers by ten thouſand at a time, and quickly pull'd all to peices; all was levell'd with the ground; the materialls ſcattered; not one ſtone to be ſeen upon another, the very corner ſtone being digg'd up, and caſt away.
To ſet this together again, was in the judgement of all men, a work of much time and difficulty; and by ſome conceived, a thing utterly impoſſible; there being ſo many of the materials, and they the choiceſt, ſpoyled with the fall; many others loſt, and ſcattered, which could neither be found or ſupplyed; and the ſhape of ſuch as remain'd, unreducible to the new modell and platform.
Upon this the builders ſate for ſome years together, conſulting and contriving what was fit to be done, and frequently ejecting ſome or other of their fellows; either for that their numerouſneſſe, and equality, being all Maſter-builders, might cauſe diſtractions, as fell out at Babel; or, for that ſome of them (like the old men at building the ſecond Temple, Ezr. 3.12.) were not ſo forward, as thoſe who had either not ſeen, or not duly conſidered, the beauty and ſtability of the firſt building.
But at laſt, ſomewhat was reſolved on, and the ſtately, magnificent Fabrick of Regall Government was chang'd into the low, flat-roof'd ſtructure of a Commonwealth. This was ſo much diſlik'd by ſome, who as Adoniram, 1 King. 5. were over the Levies, that they conceived their pains ill beſtowed, in contributing all their endeavours (the expence of blood and treaſure, as they call'd it) to ſo homely a Pile. Reſolved therefore it was, that it ſhould have ſomewhat in it of the former firmneſſe and magnificence; and one choice ſtone ſhould be layd under the corner, upon which the weight, ſafety, and union of all ſhould depend. For this purpoſe one was thruſt in, hard, and heavy, like that peice of a Mill-ſtone wherewith the woman daſh'd out the brains of Abimelech, Judg. 9. a ſtone ſo hard, that it would be brought to no other ſhape, but what it naturally had; breaking and battering the edges of their tooles, who either endeavoured to Vemove him from that place, or to work him into ſuch a ſhape and ſigure as better lik'd them. So that as he was no tried ſtone, ſo in nothing ſo much as reſembling a precious ſtone; ſave, that as the Naturaltiſts obſerve of the red and fiery Carbuncle, Quod ſolus poſſit figuram ſuam aliis gemmis imprimere, that the Carbuncle, when it is ſet near other precious ſtones, imprints his colour and form on them, which no other ſtone doth; ſo this ſtone by its approximation, could fix impreſſions of his ſhape and colour on any ſtone in the building, how opacous, and oppoſite ſoever to compliances with ſuch reflexions.
But the ground being ſomewhat boggie and unſound, whereon the foundation was layd, this heavyſt ne after a while, ſank into the very bowels of the earth: And the whole building had then falien, if they had not quickly ſeiz'd a ſtone at hand, to fill up the chaſme: a ſoft ſtone, and ſuch as would very well anſwer the ſtroaks of the Workmen, and be, with no great difficulty, brought to what ſhape, and ſize the builders pleas'd. But in fine, it appear'd, that this ſtone was as much too ſoft, as the former was too hard: and therefore after ſome few months, the Build…rs, for fear it ſhould ſhiver to peices, thought fit to remove that ſtone out of its place in the corn…r: an enterprize of great hazard, and ſuch as was more eaſily than ſafely effected: for thereby the whole pile crack'd immediately: Yet Buttreſſe after Buttr…ſſe were ſet up, till in the end, as the manner of ſuch ſupports is, they fell, and with themſelves pull'd down the whole building.
All this miſchief was, by many of the builders themſelves, acknowledg'd to happen for want of a ſound, and truewrought corner-ſtone. Told they were, and foretold by divers, that unleſs they did make uſe of the ſtone they had formerly rejected, the building could hardly ever be finiſh'd; or if it were, could not poſſibly be ſafe and per…anent. But r…ſ…lved it was by them, that that ſtone ſhould never be admitted to that place: yea, though the builders ſhould labour for ever in endleſs confuſions, yet rather ſo, than that ſtone be ſet in.
Nay, ſo unworthy was he thought to be the corner…ſt…ne in this building, that the builders would not allow him the place of a perpin; nay not ſo much as to be a filler in this building: no place at all for that ſtone which ought to have had the firſt and chiefeſt place. And to be ſure it ſhould be as they deſired, they ever wrought about this building, as they that built the walls of Jeruſalem, Neh. 4. with a ſword in one hand, and a trowel in the other.
Nay more yet; the Reſolves of theſe Builders againſt this ſtone, in the middeſt of all their misfortunes and confuſions, were ſo deſperate, that after he had been with much violence tumbl…d out of the Land wherein he was dugg'd (preſuming that he was too heavy to be brought in again by their hands, whoſe hearts were ſet upon him) they tooke a courſe like that of Andronicus, to ſtrangle and ſuffocate all good inclinations towards him; of whom 'tis ſtoried by Syneſius, that not ſo much as a poor Biſhop of the Church, durſt ſhew any compaſſion to that man who was by him perſecuted; foreign Ep. 58. ad Epiſ.ſo deſperate and diffuſive was the rage and malice of that Tyrant. Not a man that durſt ſpeak of bringing back this ſtone, or ſo much as commend the fitneſſe of it, to be the head ſtone of the corner: A word ſpoken as fatally, as to have mentioned the recovery of Salamis to the Athenians of old: Nay, really to have been not compos mentis, as Solon counterfeited, would have been no ſecurity to him that ſhould have done ſo; againſt the paſſionate fury of theſe builders.
But do you not think I may poſſibly wrong theſe builders? For ſurely this ſeems to charge… them with intollerable ignorance, or malice; that either they know not the things that belong'd unto our pence; or if they did, that they would not make uſe of the onelyonly expedi…nt; which was, to lay that ſtone in its own place.
Indeed, of ignorance I cannot accuſe them ſor…n…any of them were old builders; and the building of the Church to be ſure, if not that of the State, hath been long ſince acquainted with the fierie ſtroaks of their Axes, and Hammers, and therefore I cannot ſay of any of them, foreign, that he was ſo ridiculous, as not to underſtand the Principles of his own trade. They knew it wel enough: & ſo did many of thoſe Jewiſh builders, who rejected the bead ſtone of the corner of the Church, Chriſt himſelf; they knew him well enough (if they had not, the Devils were able to have inform'd them) and yet they cryed out, Nolumus hunc regnare, We will not have this man reign over us; and therefore, venite, trucidemus eum, Come left us kill him, and the inheritance ſhall be ours, Mat. 21. 'Twas malice then no doubt, with covetouſneſſe, and other ſins ſpringing from that root of all evill.
But being calumniari fortiter was an Aphoriſme amongſt theſe builders; not onelyonly to refuſe, but to ſet at nought this ſtone (their perſectly foreign) the ſeeds of which miſchief are not yet dead (perhaps) in all mens breaſts; ſo that, I fear me, I may boldly ſay with Tertullian, Poſt vindemiam, P…ſ… …demiam Parricida… racema… ſu…ſies, qui a… ſ…l …itate exemplum a…que im…gi…em …pei ſ… i…aug…rarent, …o…ed Pr…ncip… in corde muta… …. Tertul. Apo…. 35.&c. which I ſhall no otherwiſe tranſlate than thus; That every mans heart may not be ſo chearfull as his face this day. We will therefore lay aſide the Parable, and ſee what 'tis that may be deſir'd, or wiſh'd for in a Prince, that is wanting in ours, the now (bleſſed be God for it) head-ſtone of the corner, of our Church and State; whereby yee ſhall ſee how juſtly deſirable he was to theſe Nations, and with what inſolent malice theſe builders rejected him, let Syneſius, Biſhop of Cyrene be our guide herein, if you pleaſe, in his excellent Oration to Arcadius.
1. The firſt thing that he recommends unto that Emperour is Piety; becauſe a Government layd on that,foreign. Syneſ. foreign. is founded upon a Roek, no way lyable to the invaſion of Storms: that's his reaſon for it, and 'tis a ſound one. Princes are jealous of nothing ſo much as of their States. If therefore they would have their State ſecure, they muſt bee pious Princes. The Throne never ſtands ſo ſure, as when the Pedeſtals thereof are fixt upon Religion. We do not mean hereby ſuch a Religion as Machiavel recommends to a Prince; away with it, we have ſeen a tranſcript of that in the late Uſurper: But ſuch a Religion 'tis as Euſebius ſpeaks of,foreign. Euſeb. Eccl. Hiſt. l. 6. c.3. and commends in one of the Ancients, wherin holy principles were made legible by holyneſſe of life: Practicall Religion, which in a Prince doth not terminate it ſelf only in his own perſon: no Prince is religious enough, that like Gideons fleece is wet only, and all the ground about him dry: an impious Court, and an impious Kingdom, though himſelf be pious. He muſt be a godly Prince as well as a godly perſon; advance Religion in the capacity of a King too, at his Councill Table, in his Parliaments, in his Courts of Judicature: in a word, over all his Dominions; by his politique as well as by his perſonall conveighing it, unto every joynt and knot of publique Societies; which like thoſe, in ſtalks of corn, will diffuſe nouriſhment unto each grain in the ear.
Thus it ſhould be with Princes and (bleſſed be God) ſo it is with ours. Let a Phariſee with his Inciſion-knife dipt in vineger and gall, Anatomize his converſation; make inſpection into his publique deportment, and his moſt private receſſes, and then tell us where lyes the redundancie or defect: wherein he failes of the true Symmetry, of a rationall practiſe of Religious duties. I am very confident, that there is not a Prince or perſon in the world, that carries himſelf ſo well poyz'd, betwixt the ſlovenlyneſſe of the miſgovern'd Zelot, and the capriciouſneſſe of the nice Romaniſt.
And what is the greateſt comfort to all honeſt-hearted Chriſtians, we have cauſe to truſt, that God hath rewarded his Majeſties ſufferings (for that's the uſuall ſeaſon of dispenſing it) with the grace of perſeverance therein; having for a long time, divers years together, endured the aſſaults of two the moſt powerfull temptations, not only to fall-off from, but even to hate the Proteſtant Religion: That of ſcandall from the men of his own (at leaſt from ſuch as pretended to be of his own) Faith, and the immenſe favours of ſuch as are known to be of a contrary perſwaſion: theſe, who by the former ſort, were accounted little other than ravening Bears and Wolves, doing the offices of a Nurſe (as one may ſpeak) to this poor Prince, when his own Subjects had rejected him, unto the invaſions of all imaginable miſchiefs and calamities.
2. A ſecond thing is, not only the choice of good and wiſe perſons, with whom he may communicate his counſells freely, foreign, &c. ib.but whom he ſhould in earneſt ſtile his friends. 'Tis a very great happyneſs, both to Prince and people, when wiſe and good men, faithfull to the intereſt of the Church as well as of the State (otherwiſe indeed they are neither wiſe nor good) ſhall ſit at the helme of Government; ſo ſit there, as not to be ſquinted on by their Prince; who may be rather contented than pleaſed, that they ſhould be there; or ſit there as cyphers, whilſt all is managed by favourites, or by a Cabinet-councill Princes may indeed be neceſſitated to do thus ſometimes; but then we may aſſuredly conclude, that if the Princes be wiſe and virtuous perſons, they have the worſt of ill lucks, to be peſtered with wicked ſubjects: For Religion and Virtue, are firm bonds of mutuall confidence, and as they open the breaſts of all, to freedom and ſincerity of councils, ſo they unite all mens hands unto uniform, regular, and ſeaſonable execution.
And hath not his Majeſty given a very remarkable teſtimony of this? See, though himſelf be young, whether his Counſellors are like Rehoboam's, the men that he was bred up with, and not rather thoſe whom he was bred up under? Perſons, for their deſcent, honourable; for their gravity, reverend; for their experience, ſafe; for their fidelity, truſtable; for their piety, exemplary: and theſe entertain'd by his Majeſty with ſuch demonſtrations of affection, and (for ought we know) with ſuch conformity of judgement, that ſurely the double, but uniſon-ſtring'd Inſtrument of Government (I am loath to uſe that notion, it ſtickes by me like meat offered unto an Idol) muſt needs ſound harmoniouſly, when the ſtrings are ſo well accorded.
foreign.3. A third thing is, that a Prince ſhould, next to his Counſellours, receive his Armies as his friends; put himſelf into the field with them, exerciſing himſelf in feats of Arms. And he gives this reaſon for it, That his Souldiers may bee cordially affected toward him, foreign &c.for being able to ſtile them his Fellow-ſouldiers, by joyning himſelf to them in Martiall exerciſes. You muſt conſider this was written to a Roman Emperour, but enough of it is applyable to his Sacred Majeſty: For was he not bred up in Arms? Was he not ſcarcely out of his Cradle, ere he was got into the Camp? Will not Scotland where he layd the firſt, and Worceſter, where he plac'd the ſecond Scene of his Enterprize to recover his Crown, ſpeak aloud for his Majeſty?
No doubt thoſe who were his Enemyes can witneſſe enough in his behalf. The virtues of his Majeſty had (queſtionleſs) very much prepared a way in the hearts of his now Armies; it were not otherwiſe poſſible with men, that he ſhould meet with ſo univerſall, and cordiall a Reception with them, as we have reaſon to beleive he doth at this time: this being but the finiſhing of that Victory, which his magnanimity, courage, temperance, patience, and other Princely virtues, had before began in their minds. So that from this we may take an omen of his Majeſties future quiet Government: ſaying as St Cyrill of our Saviour, That if he could beginne to govern them by the power of his virtues, foreign: Cat. 15.whilſt they were in hoſtility againſt him, how much mor… obedient will they be unto him, now he is become confeſſedly their King?
And now what more is it that you would have added to this foreign, this image and portraiture of his Majeſty? You cannot but beleeve but ſuch a one as my ſelf cannot be though capable of expreſſing him fully: Nay, who will be able to doe it, when years and practiſe ſhall enlarge his Sphear of ſplendour, and fill it yet fuller of Her…ick and Kingly Actions? May I not ſay then, as the people of Iſrael concerning Solomon, Becauſe the Lord loved Iſrael for ever, therefore made he thee King to dee judgement and juſtice?
And what think you now of this ſtone which the builders refuſed? was he not fit to be caput anguli, the head-ſtone of the corner? Doubtleſs ſo fit, that no ſtone fitter; yea no ſtone ſo fit. Fit for his ſtrength, fit for his beauty: ſtrong ſuch a ſtone had need be; for it bears a great weight; the weight of the two ſides; the two ſides of the building united: So did David of Judah and of Iſrael; ſo doth our Saviour of the Jew and of the Gentile, as Theophylact inferres, himſelf being the chief corner ſtone of the Church:foreign. Theoph. Mar. 12. And ſo doth CHARLES the burden and union of Great Britannie and Ireland, of the Church and State: and then bea…full he muſt needs be, becauſe a tryed, and a precious ſtone; precious in the eyes of God and man. Let His Name be therefore bleſs'd for him, and for that we have found him there, after almoſt a Zodiack of years ſpent in wiſhes and prayers that he were there. That wee have found him not Lapis poſitus, which ſome thought enough, others too much; not onelyonly a ſtone in this building, but lapis ſummus, the chief, the head-ſtone of the corner; there where we have wiſh'd him; there where we would have ſet him.
And now let me tell you (how much prolixity ſoever the handling of this part of my Text doth portend, yet) I cannot, I muſt not let goe this quarter of the garment of praiſe, till I have ſomewhat ſettled it upon you, with a word of Exhortation: which is,
That you not onelyonly reflect with thankfulneſſe, upon this great mercy of God, who hath found this way for atoning all parts, and compoſing our animoſities; but that you ſincerely endeavour to anſwer the Divine providence therein. Can there be a greater honour unto you than to bear a part in this building, when you ſhall lye on ſuch a corner-ſtone as this? when you ſhall be built on a tryed, and a precious ſtone? and together with your fellow Subjects, become a building, not cemented with blood and tears, but with charity and brotherly kindneſs?
Take heed, I beſeech you, that this ſtone become not ſuch unto you, as was propheſied of our Saviour, that he be not unto you a Rock of offence; that you doe not ſtumble and fall at him, and ſo daſh your ſelves; or that this ſtone doe not fall upon you, and ſo grind you to powder. It will be your own ſin, whether you doe one, or ſuffer the other. Honeſt, humble, and obedient hearts will help all; and penitent too, if need be. It was no diſhonour to the Athenians, foreign Propterea damnatus eſt Socrates, quia Deos deſtrucbat: plane olim, id ſempe eſt, veritas odi… eſt. Tamen cum poenitentia ſententiae Athenienſes criminatores Socratis poſtea afflixerint, & imaginem ejus auream in Templo collocarint, reſciſſa damnatio teſtimonium Socrati reddidit. Tert. Apolog. c. 14.that after they had in their tyrannical popular government, condemned Socrates (afterward executed by his own hand with a cup of poyſon) for defaming their Idols, that they erected him a golden ſtatue in one of their Temples, as a token of diſallowing the judgement and actions of his accuſers.
Take heed, I ſay, for believe it, God will own his King; He hath done it heretofore in his wonderfull preſervation of him, and he hath done it now in his more wonderfull Reſtauration of him. Take heed then of oppoſing God, as at all times, ſo moſt eſpecially when He is working of wonders; and of reſiſting him for whom God doth work wonders. No man ever did, no man ever ſhall proſper in ſuch attempts. And to further your propenſity to embrace this admonition, give us your company in our admiration of this marvellous thing that God hath wrought, that you may the better acquieſce, when you ſhall ſee ſuch a world of men acknowledging, confeſſing, and ſaying with us, that this is from the Lord; it is marvellous in our eyes. And ſo I paſſe to the ſecond thing, mirandi admiratio, as we have term'd it, the next quarter of this garment of praiſe.
2. And is it indeed (may ſome ſay) ſo great a wonder with you, that his Majeſty is reſtored to his Throne? and why was it not as great a wonder, that an Ʋſurper ſhould get into it? By no means; there be ſeveral reaſons of diſparity in the caſe; we ſhall name onelyonly two.
1. That Andronicus, that foreign, that miſcreant, that fear'd nor God nor man (as the world will further ſee, when the big-ſwolne belly of that Trojan ſtalking horſe of his pretenſions ſhall be ript up) had prepared himſelf a way to abſolute power, by creating a new Faction in both Houſes of Parliament, and in the then Armies; ſome of whom were in omne facinus parati, men of deſperate, bloudy tempers, and (which was the enchaunted circle of all their attempts, and the foreign, the amulet againſt all repentance) ſecured by an opinion, that men acted by a Stoicall, fatall neceſſity, being (in reaſon) no more reſponſible for any thing they did, than a beaſt for acting by the inſtinct of Nature, or a ſtone for moving downward. That Catiline himſelf, having (I conceive) raiſed his firſt Troup under the provocation and impulſion of the ſame fate; and therefore giving no other anſwer to a Kinſman of his, that diſwaded him from his rebellious attempt, than this, it muſt be. An anſwer ſo very well like that of Alaricus, King of the Gothes to a Religious man, who when he demanded of him,foreign. Socrat. Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 7. c. 10. why he ſhould delight in doing ſo much miſchief in the world? and that if he ſhould goe on to the populous City of Rome, hee could not but foreſee the moſt deplorable outrages, and bloody rapines which his Souldiers would commit: anſwered, that he had no great propenſion in himſelf thereto, but that there was ſomewhat within him impelling him to goe on, and ſack Rome. Their anſwers (I ſay) and the bloody complexion of their ſpirits ſorted ſo well, that the one, as well as the other, deſerved the Title of Flagellum Dei, as Alaricus was then call'd all the Chriſtian world over, The ſcourge of God. No marvellous thing then it was for one to get up to the Throne, who had a way made for him; and if not, a Sword in his hand, ſharp enough, and long enough to have done it himſelf.
2. Again, in what poſture trow ye was the spirit of this Nation at that time? But baſely dejected, by poverty and oppreſſion? how compliant and ready to yoak under any propoſall, that might give hopes to a faction that they ſhould be the leading party, and their guilt and rapine ſecured? Of which devices the Ʋſurper was ſo well provided, that he could threw out one of them, as the Prophet did the pe…ſ wood upon Jordan, and no Faction was ſo heavy, and deeply ſunk, that would not preſently ſhew its head above the water. You cannot but remember how all Factions moved within his Tropicks, and had their viciſſitudes and returns: and what hopes they had ſometimes given them, if not of being the higheſt, yet of not being to low and d…preſt as they were. Which Factions were by him ſo artificially poyz'd, that he was ſenſible of, the ſmalleſt luſt that brake the ſcale: himſelf like a great poyſonous Spider ſitting in the middeſt of his w…bb, which though ſpread, over three Nations, nay over the greateſt part of Europe, yet ſo acute he was by his own ſagacity partly, partly by the diligence of his Miniſters, and partly by the vigilancy of his numerous ſpies and intelligencers, that ſcarce a Gnat could ſtrike upon any meaſh of his Not (that Webb of vanity, as ſince it proved) not ſo much as a ſmall blaſt upon it, not a word ſpoken againſt it, but timely notice thereof came to his ear.
But what ſaw we of any ſuch advantages towards his Majeſties Reſtauration▪ What rational account could thoſe of his party give for being ſo highly ſanguine and hopeful as they were? if they had been put to it, could they have given another more ſatisfactory anſwer than that which Celſus in Origen derides? All things with God are poſſible. foreign. Orig. cont. Celſ…l. 5.240.Surely I cannot apprehend my ſelf miſtaken, if I ſay what I then thought, that all things were not long before, in a poſture diametrically oppoſite to his Majeſties return: And if not that, yet to ſuch a return as this: to the return of him as a free Prince; and to be carried into his Throne upon their ſhoulders, whoſe necks were ever thought to have too ſtiffe a ſinew in them, for ever enduring to wear, though but the eaſie yoak of Monarchicall Government, at leaſt if impoſed by one of the Royal Family.
But when a mans way pleaſeth the Lord, Solomon tels us, that he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him. 'Tis the work of God that, to make a mans enemyes to become his freinds: ſuch a multitude of enemies, of victorious enemies, and that on a ſudden, that his Majeſty like the Church in the Prophet, might wonder and ſay, who hath begotten me all theſe? Iſa. 49.21.
Immediately before the day breaks, the night (they ſay) is darkeſt. It is Gods manner, to ſhew himſelf in the mount of the Lord, when things are deſperate, in the very conelamatum eſt. If I am able to gheſſe any thing, within few months before the Lord ſtirr'd up the ſpirit of his ſervant, the now Lord Gen…rall, the Kings affaires foreign (as one ſpeaks of the ſtate of the Empire in his time) were upon the edge of the razor.
Again, what doth more demonſtrate a very ſpeciall hand of God in the Reſtauration of his Majeſty, than the univerſall reception of him, with ſuch joy, and acclamations of his people? Reception ſayd I? yea, than ſuch impatiencies and longings for his return; all men fearing, they ſhould bee thought the laſt that ſhould deſire to bring back the King. Think you that it may not be ſayd of theſe, as of them who ſtuck to Saul in the Sedition, 1 Sam. 10.26. That God had touch'd their hearts? Muſt all be lodg'd upon the mobility of the vulgar, the changeable temper of the people? For my own part, I ſay with the Father, hoc ſoli Chamaeleonti detur, de c…rio ſuo ludere; let the Chamel…on be the onelyonly turn-coat. I ſhall for ever commend the ingenuity of my countrymen, Tertul…de Pallio.and bleſſe the Providence of Almighty God, ſaying with St. Iraenens, Volunt as & operatio Dei effectrix eſt & providens cauſa, Cited by De…tr. D…acop. a v…. Se…m. de Ign. I rag. Iren.omnis temporis, loci, & ſaeculi, itemque naturae omnis. That the will and operation of the Divine Majeſty is the efficacious and provident cauſe of all changes, in times, places, ages, and natures. Take heed therefore, that you doe not rob God of any part of this honour, therewith to raiſe Trophies, and cbelſques to men; who though free Agents, are yet but ſecond cauſes. When you ſee the nimble, and advantageous motion of a ſhip, foreign &c. Theoph. ad Autolyc. lib. 1.weathering of it out in a ſtorm, and coming ſafe into the harbour in the end; you cannot but believe ſhe is guided by ſome skilfull Pilot within; whoſe art and directions are not ſeen by you on the ſhore. Apply this with Theophilus to the providence of God, in governing inviſibly the Affaires of the Univerſe, and you will be ready to ſay with the Prophet Daniel (one who ſaw wonderfull changes, not onelyonly in his native country, but in the Land of his captivity) Bleſſed be the name of God for ever and ever, for wiſdome and might are his, and he changeth the times and the ſeaſons, he removeth Kings, and he ſetteth up his Kings, Dan. 2.20, 21. And theſe Euchariſticall devotions of that holy Prophet hath arrived me at my third part, Admirationis ſolennitas, the ſolemnity of that admiration, which is due to this marvellous thing, by reflecting upon fit circumſtances for performing it, place, time, perſons, &c. a fit day for it however. This is the day the Lord hath made, &c. the third quarter of this garment of praiſe.
3. Though God be in truth the Author of all good things, and the Creatour of time (being himſelf not meaſured by any time, no not by eternity it ſelf, but rather eternitie by him) ſo that we may truly ſay, the day is thine, and the night is thine, thou haſt prepared the light and the ſun, Pſal. 74.16: Yet hath not Satan failed to play his part, in filtching away ſome dayes from God, which he hath made dayes of his ſolemne worſhip. Of old he had his Feſtivals and his dayes of Expiation amongſt the Heathen; yea ſome imitation he had of the Crown of Martyrdome, as we know by his Mithrae milites. And it was one of his Devices, by theſe imitations to lye as cloſe upon the confines of the true Religion as mought be; and to keep as narrow land-ſhares betwixt the fields of Truth and Errour, as poſſibly he could, that affecting the app…arance of divine things in his ſervice, … — id…rco quadam de … …os de ſ…o…um fide conſund… & …. Tert. de Co…on. mil. c. 15.he might by the faith of his own worſhippers, ſtagger, and enſnare the ſervants of God. But hath he not his dayes amongſt us? his dayes they were I think (for I am ſure God diſowns them) where men faſted to ſmite with the fiſt of wickedneſs; foreign— Philem. in Juſt. Mart. d… Monarchia D…i.and inſtead of letting the captive looſe, to make his bands ſtrong: And what were the Thanksgiving daies amongſt us, but ſuch as they obſerved in Rev. 11.10. who when they had ſlain the Witneſſes of God (two it ſeems of ſo great note, that they were thought by the Holy Spirit fit to comprehend a great body, or Army of Martyrs) made merry, & ſent gifts one to another. God Almighty forgive the deep diſſimulation, hypecriſi…, and blaſphemy of thoſe dayes.
This to be ſure is no ſuch: this is the day, the day the Lord hath made. Made? why ſo he hath yeſterday, and the day before. But God hath provided us a speciall buſineſs for this day: the cauſe of our Rejoycing upon this day is from Him; this was his doing; to thank him for it is that we doe, and ſo this day is his by a double account.
It is His day becauſe it is the Kings day; and it is the Kings day, becauſe it is the Lords work. I hope I need not ſpend any part of this day in proving, that the King hath power to diſpoſe of this day. Allow him but as much as hath been given to his Subjects, and they the worſt of them, and we need not diſpute for it. I ain me-thinks I would have all things done in the Church as St. Paul adviſeth, Phil. 2.14. without murmuring and diſputings: and that men would but be ſo modeſt and ingenuous as to learn an example of the Jews (though it be not ſo much for the credit of a Chriſtian to be ſet to School to a Jew) that as whatſoever King David did pleas'd the people, 2 Sam. 3.36. So what the King doth, at leaſt what our King doth command, might pleaſe us. That was ſpoken in reſpect of a day too; that day for a Prince that ſell, this for a King that's riſen up.
Shall I give you ſome motives to encourage you to an hearty complacency with his Majeſty? Why then know,
Firſt, that it is your duty to your King, who hath power to determine things indifferent, and exact your obedience to what part him pleaſeth: And if you were not ſenſible of this, yet ingenuous nature could not but be willing to comply with ſuch a Prince as ours, and congratulate him into his Throne: of whom I may ſay, as Syneſius of Dio, that he is A- foreign, a cornu-copia of virtues. Nay, do but conſider whether you are able to get quit of the foreign, the other part of St. Pauls ſimilitude, 1 Cor. 12.26. where he tells you, that if one member be exalted all the members rejoyce; much more when a diſlocated Head, the chiefeſt member of all, is put in its own place. This is all the Preſents his Majeſty expects from you; and remember I pray you, that ſuch as brought Saul no preſents when he was made King over Iſra l, are ſtil'd Sons of Belial, 1 Sam. 10.27. indeed the fouleſt names I meet with in Scripture (as well as the horribleſt puniſhments) are ever fixt upon Rebels, and Rebellion, and deſpiſers of Government.
2. Again, conceive your ſelf oblig'd to anſwer the provid…ne… of Allmighty God; as well thoſe which concerne you in your publique, as in your private capacity: not ſuch only which concern you as a father, husband, brother, neighbour, freind, and the like; but as you are a Subject and a Chriſtian, as you are a member of the Church and of the State. Can your reaſon perſwade you, that God doth things worthy your rejoycing and of your thanks in your family, and yet not ſo in Church and State! or that you are not as much (though indeed you are more) concern'd in national… than in perſonall bleſſings? and that God expects a tribute of praiſe from you for the one and not for the other? no man can be ſo unreaſonable as to think it. But if it be ſo with any men, let me tell them, that for ſo doing, they are neither wiſe nor righteous men: Epithets that they will be loath to part with at every price; yet you ſhall have the Holy Ghoſts word for it in Pſal. 64. wherein David having made mention of the defeat of his Enemies, whoſe character you have at the 5, and 6. verſes, worth your peruſall; and theſe ſuddenly deſtroyed with an arrow ſhot from God; ſo ſuddenly ſhot, that all men muſt needs know it came from his bow; and ſo ſurely ſhot, that men could not chooſe but think it was from one that was ready for them; and ſhot ſo home, that they muſt needs know it was his ſtrength that drew the bow: ſaith the Pſalmiſt, men ſhall fear and declare the work of God, for they ſhall wiſely conſider of his doing: and then v. 10. the righteous ſhall be glad in the Lord. Like enough the wicked will not be ſo; perhaps they had loſt a party by it; perhaps more, their ill-gotten goods to boot: and fooles would not be ſo; for as they conſider not when themſelves do evill, ſo they take no notice when God doth good: but for wiſe and righteous men, they were glad and rejoyc'd in the Lord; wiſely and duly acknowledging that is was his work.
3. I am loath to adde one reaſon more, becauſe it is taken ex materia humili, yet it is ex fortiori, from too low and d…ſpicable ground, to be pleaded to Chriſtians, yet (ſuch is the age) from one ſtrong enough to perſwade: Well then, 'tis the Peace, the Liberty, and the Plenty you are likely to enjoy under this Prince, whom you may be aſſured will be a King, and not a Tyrant; one that will govern his people by known Laws, and not by his will, as Tyrants; foreign, and you are ſure you have no Ʋſurper ſet over you, but a King, one that is the right heir to his Fathers Kingdoms and Virtues too, and ſo never likely to tyrannize over his people.
OnelyOnly this let me mention, which is not of ſmall importance, that if it pleaſe God to take us away from our children e're they can diſcern betwixt good and evill (and 'twas no eaſie matter to diſcern, when from the very Pulpits you ſhould hear evill call'd good, and good evill) they have now ſome water-marks ſet up in Jordan again; the revivall of their engagements in their Baptiſme; and the former aſſiſtances for guiding them into the profeſſion and practiſe of the true, ref…rm'd, Catholique Religion. The bounds whereof were of late ſo defac'd, or pluck'd up; and Truth and Errour lay ſo intermix'd and promiſcuous, that of what truth almoſt ſoever any of us was in poſſeſſion, he might ſay as the African Philoſophers in Hermias, foreign. Hermias.it was dangerouſly bordered upon ſome phanatique principle or other; in ſo deplorable a condition had we left our Poſterity: Nay I am very well aſſured, that no perſon living could have given convincing reaſons, that this Nation ſhould be long ſecured from Atheiſm under the f…rmer Ʋſurpations. So fatall a thing is this foreign, this popular Government, if not to Chriſtian Religion in generall, yet to the Reform…d Religion I am afraid.
But ſome perhaps there may be, who after all this, may tell me, that this cannot find ſuch matter of rejoycing on this day, as I ſpeak of. Shall I divine the reaſons of it? and will you not think I am become your enemie, if I tell you the truth? Well, if you doe, no great matter to me. I know 'tis that you would have call'd [conſcience] that the grumbling lyes in: But I pray examine your ſelves wel, and ſee whether,
1. Your conſcience may not be in your purſes. Men may fear that Taxes and Subſidies may grow heavy: O how diſlike Iſſachar and his Embleme are we become now! I have ſomewhere read of the Polanders, that they conceited the Chriſtian Faith ſo chargeable to them by their payment of Tythes, that after a very ſuccesfull converſion, they well-nigh all fell back again into Paganiſm: A fate ſomewhat like that of the Iſraclites, who for fear of Payments, at once turn'd Rebels and Idolaters: God permitting that the Mammon themſelves adored in their purſes ſhould by Jeroboams wicked policy, be turn'd into Idols for them to worſhip at Bethel and Dan.
But, beloved, will you ſee what opinion the Primitive, holy Chriſtians were of, concerning this point? let Juſtin Martyr inform you, who tels you, that the Chriſtians were th… firſt that ſtrove to pay in the Emperours Tributes and Cuſtomes, foreign. Ap…l 2. p …4. & …rt. Ap…l. c 42.44.You'l ſay perperhaps, 'twas more for fear of being plunder'd and und…ne, than for any love they bore them. Not ſo: 'twas for conſcience ſake they did it; ſo the Father adds [as He, that is, as Chriſt hath taught us.] and after him St. Paul the ſame Doctrine, Rom. 13. But this is a needleſſe fear in them, who doe it not for conſcience ſake; for why ſhould we fear the Kings Sh…ars having been ſo lately under the Ʋſurpers Razer.
2. Again, your conſcience may ſwimme (perhaps) in your brains, and then your fantaſtical, imaginarie Religion will over-rule you into reall, practicall ſins; for diſ…bedience and murmurings againſt lawfull Govern…urs are ſuch, and damning ſins too. Let ſuch men therefore turn imagination out of the Throne of R…aſ…n, and begin upon Principles of meekneſſe and humility; and believe that we, ſome of us at leaſt (and perhaps more of us than your uncharitableneſs will yet give you leave to think) who profeſſe our ſelves, Sons of the Church of England (which by the Logick of this Nation God hath very ſignally own'd in his providence) are as carefull to ſave our ſoules, as any of thoſe who make more noyſe about it; and rather than walk with us in a way caſt up, the ancient pathes of the Church of God, leap all the mounds and hedges of duty and obedience. Beloved, I ſpeak it confidently, that the greateſt part of the deſerters of the Church of England, are more, at beſt as much, lyable to a charge of an implicite faith, as any Romaniſt whatever; the having mens perſons in admiration having clearly (I had almoſt ſayd, alone) ſeduc'd them into their Schiſm, Errours, and Hereſies: of which (I am ſatisfied) they are never able to give any rationall account, beyond the credit of their Teachers, who to them are Scripture, Church, Canons, and what not.
3. Laſtly, your conſcience may be, perhaps, in your cuſtom, and practiſe, men will not, they cannot tell how to lay down former uſag…s; it creates a bluſh in them. But, beloved, let ſuch men get humility, and love of the truth; and if need be, confeſſ…, give God the glory of their c…nverſion, and returne into the Communion of the Church: and for our parts, we will provide our ſelves to receive them with all …erneſs and br…therly kindneſs; giving them all ſatisfa… … any ſcruple or doubt they may have, ſo they deſire it in ſincerity. If this, or what elſe they can think on, be an expedient for cleanſing the wound, and healing theſe breaches amongſt us, we are ready for our parts, in our places and callings to aſſiſt in the cure, laying aſide all bitterneſs and anim…ſities: which being firſt done, and ſo the wound wip'd and cleans'd thereby; that balſamum naturale will be excited (as in bodily cures) the naturall diſpoſition of mankind into ſociableneſſe and converſe; which will, by the bleſſing of God, grow in a ſhort time, into brotherly kindn…ſſ… one for another.
I am loath, me-thinks, to part with any man in this ſolemnity: the [we…] here is a word of communion: all have their ſhare in the bleſſing; let none then be wanting in the rejoycings of this day: I mean alacrity and chearfulneſs of heart; nor a ſmooth forehead only; but a ſer…ne and calme mind; no cloud nor ſt…rm there. However, faile who will, either of rejoycing at all; or of alacrity and chearfulneſſe of doing it; yet there be enough, who having felt the ſmart and miſery of the puniſhment, will be very forward and active in bleſſing God for their deliverance from it. See then, how the Tribes goe up to Sion to give thanks to the name of the Lord; and it may be, that as Saul alſo propheſied, when he met the company of Prophets, 1 Sam. 10. So the provocation of the example, may make you ſenſible of your concernments in the duty.
1. Firſt then, here are the Nobility and Gentry of this Nation; they rejoyce this day: becauſe now the fountain of honour is again unſtopt, and the ſtream of it, likely to be pure, without mingling with muddy currents, broken in by popular inundations: And not their Honour, but their Eſtates lay unfenc'd too, and open to all invaſions: the invaſions of ſuch as would make men offenders for a word; yea, not ſo often for a w…rd by them ſpoken, as by a word or name fixt upon them by that neſt of wasps, thoſe Delat…rs and Informers, that (as if Nero, after a tranſmigration into all the ravening beaſts of the earth, had at laſt compleated the Metempſychoſis into a greater monſter amongſt us, and revived here) did then ſwarm ſo thick… in this nation; an abject, baſe condition, they were then caſt into; when it might have been ſaid of them as of the Chriſtians in Athenagoras, foreign. Ath…nag. l…g. pro Chriſt.that the very name of cavaliere (which being interpreted out of the riddle, ſignified better importance than was intended) was crime enough, if not for preſent puniſhment, yet to dispoſe them for a quarrie and prey, at thoſe ſeaſons wherein that whole airie, and n…ſt of Harpies were caſt off at the royall game; which all know was frequently enough; yea ſo frequent, that in few years there would have been not much variety of ſport, for thoſe Aucupes & venatores hominum, thoſe devourers of whole families.
Well now then, good luck may they have with their honour: they are now incircled with advantages of filling up their wide and lofty ſphears with bright and ſhining examples of virtuous and religious actions; which I know they are ſo wiſe as to conſider, that God expects by way of return at their hands.
2. Again, the Judges and Magiſtrates do rejoyce and are glad this day; I mean ſuch of them as are men fearing God, and hating covetuouſneſſe; becauſe now they ſhall not be compell'd, or ſeduc'd to act againſt their conſciences; either by adminiſtring Juſtice without authority, or by giving ſentences of judgment upon ſuch as were not offenders againſt known Law, but rather the maintainers and vindicaters of Law.
3. The Commons alſo, for the comfort and ſecurity they have, of their lives, eſtates, and religion, without being indangered in the two former, by being left to the will and diſcretion of others: and in the latter, by being left to the government of themſelves.
4. But then for the Clergy (who might with St. Polycarp, foreign; Frag. Ir…n. …p.ad Flor.as well in reſpect of hereſies and blaſphemies (as that holy man was wont) as in reſpect of their own ſufferings, have cryed out, unto what times, O good God, haſt thou permitted us to live, that we ſhould ſuffer ſuch things as theſe?) their part and proportion of rejoycing is like Benjamins, four times bigger than their Brethrens: for they doe not only ſhare with their Brethren in their portion of the bleſſings of this day; but they have many things very peculiar unto their calling, for which they muſt give thanks; for now that abhominable, hypocriticall Act, for ejecting them out of their Churches, and that Abomination of deſolation, the Proclamation commencing from the firſt of January, 1654 are reſcinded for ever; and never to be revived, till the Ʋſurper and his Inſtruments ſhall ſtand trembling before the Judgement ſeat of Chriſt, accounting for the blood and tears of three Nations: the firſt of which was clearly deſigned to render the Clergy baſe and odious, and to lay our t…nd…r Mother the Church of England, under the feet of thick-ſhood Rupices and Barbari of this Nation, who were impowred cognoſcere at leaſt, if not judicare, to take cognizance of (thoſe foreign like the foreign, and the foreign in Athenagoras, the three great crimes objected againſt the Primitive Chriſtians) the ignorance, ſcandall, and inſufficiency of their Paſtours: crimes as untelligible, as undeterminable by ſuch Judges. And the later a project to cut up the remaining root of our Liturgy, by prohibiting, under the diſpleaſure of that Ʋſurper (which was, I warrant you, as far as his chain would reach) not only the reading of Common prayer, but the making uſe in publique of any clauſes and expreſſions therein. So that that excellent Book (once the Crown of our Martyrs, but ſince the ſcandal of our Miniſters) was by all preſumed to be (like the Idols of Iſrael) left to the Bats and to the Owle…; as many of our Churches long ſince were; moſt of the reſt being either ſupplyed by Idoll-paſtours, or groaning under the deſolating caprices of Zijm and Oijm, and Satyrs that dance therein.
But bleſſed be God, who though for our ſins he ſuffered that Bellows of H…ll to kindle and blow the fire of Schiſme, Her …e, and Sed…ti…n amongſt us▪ yet he did not permit him (no not when his lu… ▪ …i…gorg'd a whirlwind againſt it) to blow …ut the …ardle of his truth, ſet up in this poor Church of his Be ſad the… who w…ll this day (though I would have none but Devils y…ll… …o…i at it) yet will w… be glad and rejoyce in it.
No d…bt (will ſome be ready to ſay) the day will be well obſerved the… … …gs will have the face of heatheniſh Bacchanals▪ rat… …n … a Chriſtian feſtivall. I wiſh (if it might pleaſe God) … judging upon one ſide, and this deſpiſing upon to'ther might have an end. But whatever occaſion of provoaking th…ſe …enſures may be given by the extravagancies of ſome men; yet you ſhall ſee by what follows, we teach no ſuch things, in the celebration of our ſolemnity; the fourth quarter of this garment of praiſe, and my laſt task
4. Solennitatis celebratio, the way we preſcribe for teſtifying and ſetting forth our Rejoycings, v. 25. Firſt in Praiſes, or Hoſannah's. Save now I beſeech thee, O Lord: and then in Prayer; O Lord I beſeech thee ſend now proſperity. Though both theſe found like Prayers, yet the former of them is wel known to have been the common acclamation of the Iews at their Feaſt of Tabernacles; and was likewiſe uſed at other times of Feſtivity and publique joy. So the multitude ſang, or cryed out Hoſannah, and Hoſannah in the higheſt (that is poetically, in the Heavens) when our Saviour rode in triumph unto Jeruſalem on Palm-ſunday: the ſame word being uſed in the originall of the Text: and 'tis thus much, let us ſing to day Hoſannahs unto the Lord, for the good he hath ſhewne to us this day. And ſo if it be a Prayer yet it is a Praiſe too; and 'tis as if one ſhould ſay, Bleſſed be thy name, O Lord, for this ſalvation; ſave us henceforth, O Lord, as thou haſt hitherto preſerved and kept thy people.
The latter part of the verſe, is a prayer for temporall, and ſpiritual happineſs [O Lord I beſeech thee ſend now proſperity.] n…w, after the time wherein wee have been afflicted for our ſins, but are mercifully relieved by thy power. Quick and pr…gnant returns of D…v…tion; from which and ſuch like places of Scripture it is that the Church in all Ages hath taken her pattern for the faſhion and … of Antiphones: of which this Pſalm is according to the C…dee a notable inſtance; as the moſt judicious, pious, learned and never enough to be lamented, becauſe never ſo much as now wanted Dr. Hammond hath obſerved in his Annotations on this Pſalm. So that I take the reſult to be this; that this ſolemnity is to bee cel…brated with praiſe and prayer unto God. We muſt praiſe God for the ſalvation given, and pray unto him, that we may ſee more proſperous and happy times than we have ſeen.
Note, I beſeech you, that the Church of God hath eſteem'd it very well worth our moſt ſolemn addreſs of Thankſgiving; when a Good King (ſuch as David) is ſettled in his Throne: and not that only, but a ground to hope and pray for prosperous times. This doctrine reſults from the literall interpretation of the Text.
A good Prince is indeed a great ſalvation from God unto his people; therefore when God threatens deſtruction to a people, one thing amongſt the reſt for effecting of it is, that God will give children to be their Princes, and babes ſhall rule over them, Iſa. 3.4. and ſo to have many Princes (the once darling-government of this Nation) is with God eſteemed a curſe, and a puniſhment for the iniquity of a people. And in Homer's time, foreign, a popular government was eſteem'd the worſt.
Nay, to have had a Prince that had but ſhewn himſelfe a friend to the Chriſtian Religion, would have been by the Primitive Chriſtians eſteem'd a great bleſſing: as bad as their Emperors were, they held themſelvs oblig'd to pray for thē, and to keep ſuch daies of ſolemnity for them as this; See Tertul. A…o… c. 30. and Juſt. Mart. Apol. 2. p. 64.& never to oppoſe and reſiſt them, though many hundreds of Chriſtians fell in ſome dayes by the hands of their bloody, perſecuting Miniſters. I have heard ſome heretofore object, that it was for want of a ſufficient ſtrength to make head againſt them. But ſuch had ſmall acquaintance either with the virtues, or with the writings of the Primitive Chriſtians. Tertullian can tell you, that vel una nox pauculis faculis largitatem ultionis poſſis operari, ſi malum malo diſpungi n…bis liceret, c. 36. a few fires in one night would … given th…m a very plentifull revenge if they durſt have return'd evil for evil. They were but the Emperours Miniſters whom they durſt not reſiſt, though they did many times perſecute them without any commiſſion at all, or under very poor pretences. More may be ſeen of their number & valour in thoſe Apologiſts to the Emperours, who were very well able to diſcern when they ſpake truth.
From this it was that their joy was inexpreſſible at Conſtantines coming to the Power; the firſt that ever did any thing for the Chriſtian Religion in the capacity of an Emperour and member of the Church, though Philip indeed preceeded him in profeſſion of the Chriſtian ſaith. And how can we chooſe but rejoyce then, and bleſs God, not onelyonly for that he hath given us a Chriſtian King, an Orthodox King, but a wiſe and courageous Prince;foreign. Cyr. ip. ad Const. and what crowns all, a Religious Prince, of whom we may ſay, as Cyril in his Epiſtle (if it be his) to Conſtantius that he is ſuch a one, who by his profeſſion and examples of Religion wil teach others: and this too in the judgment & opinion of his enemies, and foreign; 'tis a conſiderable teſtimony, if it be for good, that one hath from his enemy. And as thanks are due to Almighty God for the good that we have received, ſo alſo for the evil that we have eſcap'd; from what we have felt, from what we have fear'd Nay, from more than moſt of us have either felt or fear'd: for what man was able to foreſee the miſchief that this Nation was expos'd unto both in Church and State, until this ſettlement? They were no men to be ſcared with mormo's that fear'd an utter deſolation of this kingdom, in all the uglieſt ſhapes of miſery, and miſchief, that malice and revenge could practiſe. And certainly we have encouragements given us by a time ſo oppoſite to that, to expect and pray for proſperity; not that we may wallow in the milk and honey of Canaean; ſtuff our skins full o… Gods bleſſings, and then ſpew them up again in his face as formerly: (I hope that foreign, that holy flagellation wherewith we have been diſciplin'd, under the hand of God will preſerve us from running into ſuch exceſſes,) but the proſperity that we ought to hope and pray for, is that the Church hath taught us in her Reſponds, O Lord ſave thy people, and bleſſe thine inheritance, &c. and give peace in our time O Lord, &c. and the poynt or c…r wherein all theſe lines ſhould meet, muſt be the ſame which is by St. Paul ſayd to be the great end of Chriſtians, in praying for their Kings and all that be in authority, 1 Tim. 2.2. That we may lead a quiet, and peaceable life, in all godlyneſs and honeſty. Other carnal deſigns of ſuch prayers for proſperity, are but to pray to God to ſet an edge upon that knife wherewith a man intends to deſtroy himſelf.
And this Prosperity is very emphatically deſired and pray'd for, now: now, after thou haſt, O Lord, been graciouſly pleas'd to begin to viſit us: now, after that wee have ſuffer'd ſo much, and ſo long: now, after we have again put our necks under the eaſie yoak of our lawful Government, in Church and State: now, after we have repented us from all our former tranſgreſſions: now, after we have endeavoured to ſhew our ſelves thankfull for our deliverance.
And now what have I more to doe, ſince I have told you, for what God is to be praiſed this day; and for what this day to be prayed unto. Surely, I think, this garment of praiſe is very well fitted unto our occaſion. And if it ſits too ſtreight on any man here, 'tis becauſe he is not clean-limm'd then; ſome humour perhaps, and ſwelling of the old diſeaſe; which I hope this garment of garment of praiſe may heal in time, as well as hide now.
That which remains to be done, is to let the world ſee what doctrine 'tis that we preach: preach with a deſire and a deſign to have it practis'd; and that muſt be in your diſcharge of the duties of this day; ſo as is fit, for ſuch a day as this; the Lords day; a day extraordinarily made his, by the extraordinary bleſſing of this day.
Shall I tell you how the Primitive Chriſtians were wont to keep ſuch dayes as this? this very day of their Heathen, bloody, perſecuting Emperors? (O patient ſoules! that could doe that for them, who ſhed their blood, which ſome of us will ſcarce do for them who have adventured their blood for us!) well then, let the Ancient Father ſpeake out the truth of it— Solennia corum conſcientiâ potius quam laſciviâ celebrant; The Chriſtians keep theſe ſolemnities for the Emperour in purity of conſcience, and not in laſciviouſneſſe of behaviour. And afterward, ſpeaking of the wild demeanour of the Heathens upon ſuch dayes, grande videlicet oſſicium (ſaies he) they think they have done a great matter by benefires, and prof…ſe ſp…nding▪ &c. and then after that ſlo… together unto many inordinate, and filthy actions, and injuries of others. S…ccine exprimitur publicum gaudium, per publicum dedecus? Is it fit thus to expreſſe publique joy by publique l…wdneſſe? Thus much the Father clearly to the very point in hand.
I am moſtly jealous of them, who take themſelves to be more his Majeſties freinds, or to have been longer ſo than others: And therefore cannot but preſſe this point the more earneſtly: Let it not be ſaid of any of us (as of thoſe Heathens) … Majeſtas, Tertal. Apol. 6.35.& Divinitas coaſtrupratur, laudantibus vobis: That God in his glory, and the King in his honour do ſuffer by any diſorderly rejoycings of ours.
The Paſſion of joy, is a dil…ting Paſſion: the spirits in it are ſcattered, and diffuſed; as we ſee by the motions of the lips in laughter, and of ſome other parts that are fill'd with ſpirits; from whence proceed ridiculous and mimi…all actions, which are avoyded by the contraction of the ſpirits. Be maſters then of your ſpirits. Publique civill teſtimonies of joy and rejoycing are not to be denyed unto men: reaſon and examples approve and allow it: but the danger is, in falling into extreams.
Therefore take both his Majeſties Proclamations in your hands; let the one be a Canon and a rule for your demeanour in the t'other: that againſt v…tious, and debauch'd Perſons, your rule for giving obedience to that which hath appointed this for a day of Thankſgiving, and holy rejoycing unto God. Praiſe, the Pſalmiſt tels us, is comely; and no uncomely action muſt be ſeen in it: if ſomething ſlips out, that ſorts not with grave men; yet ſet a ſurer watch over all that misbecomes a Chriſtian man.
I had almoſt forgot one thing. You know this day we are to ſolemnize the poſiture of the corner-ſtone of our Church and State. Have ſome reſpect, I beſeech you, to the foreign, the fortune of this ſtructure: do what you can to ſecure it againſt any evill accident, by your Chriſtian foreign, as I may ſpeak, and teleſmatical Charity. You know what the cuſtom is, when the firſt-ſtone of the Building is layd. I beſeech you purchaſe the prayers of the poor this day by your bounty, that their hearts alſo, may partake of the rejoycings of this day.
This is the way to have more cauſe of rejoycing; for ſuch rejoycing as this, God will accept; and in the company of this, he will receive our prayers, and will make us to rejoice in our King, and our King in us, and all of us to rejoyce in the Lord; who hath given us this day to rejoyce in. For which we humbly bleſſe and praiſe his holy name; beſeeching him to bleſſe our King to us, and to bleſſe us; us and all our Fellow Subjects unto our King; that being mutually happy in each other in this world, we may be eternally happy with each other in the world to come. Amen.
FINIS.
HONI SIT QVI MAL Y PENSE
DIEV ET MON DROIT
End of the text · John Martin, Sermon 28 June 1660 (1660)