Mans Wrath and Gods Praise, Title page – Dedication
MANS WRATH AND GODS PRAISE. OR, A Thanks-giving Sermon, Preached at Taunton, in the County of Somerſet, the 11th. of May, (a Day to be had in everlaſting remembrance) for the gratious deliverance of that poore Towne from the ſtrait ſiege.
By GEORGE NEWTON, Mr. of Arts, and Miniſter of the Goſpell in that place.
PSAL. 118.24
This is the day which the Lord hath made; made ſolemne above other dayes, by extraordinary mercy: and wee will make it ſolemne above other dayes, by extraordinary joy: Wee will rejoice and be glad in it.
LONDON, Printed by W. WILSON, for Francis Eglesfield at the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard, and are to be ſold by George Treagle in TAUNTON, 1646.
To the VVorſhipfull the Major, the Common Councell, and the reſt of the Inhabitants of Taunton Magdalen, my duely reſpected, and dearly affected friends.
SIRS,
THey that have been acquainted with my reſolutions will admire to ſee any thing of mine (eſpecially by my conſent) made thus publick. This Infant as you know was very weake, and there was neither Will nor Strength to bring it forth in this way, but it was forc't into the world by ſtrong expulſives. Now it is come abroad my hope is, that either (like Zaccheus) it will bee hid among the croud of taller and more ſtout conceptions: or if any chance to ſpy it, he will not be ſo unworthy to wrong ſuch a poore weak thing as this is. If it may live to be to any of you a remembrancer of the uncomparable mercy of our God, who ſhow'd himſelfe upon the Mount, I have the utmoſt of my aime in this publication.
We finde ſometimes in Scripture, that a heap of ſtones hath ſerv'd for a memoriall, as well as a more curious Pillar. Though this be but a heap of things, not orderly digeſted in a curious Method, but haſtily throwne up together, as the ſhort time for preparation would permit; (this ſervice following cloſe upon the Sabbath dayes labour) yet it may ſerve for a memoriall of that ſweet and pretious mercy, which if it dye in your thoughts, I deſire to dye with it. The Lord ſet up a laſting monument of this deliverance in our hearts, and write it there with a pen of Iron, and the point of a Diamond in indeleble Characters, that no injuries of time may ever blot it out again; and give us yet at length, to render to him according to the benefits he hath done us, leſt we provoke him to repent, and doe us evill after he hath done us good.
My heart bleedes when I thinke what God hath done, what he expects, what we returne, and what is likely to become of all in the latter end. I have a horrid apprehenſion of it, as the Prophet had; if after God hath puniſht us farre leſſe then our iniquities deſerve, and giv'n us ſuch a deliverance as this, we ſhould againe breake his Commandements. We ſhould againe? Why, we doe break them ſince there came deliverance, and that more frequently and boldly then wee did before. The Lord breake our hearts for it, and helpe us to make up our breaches and our controverſies with him, in, and by him, who as our peace, before our houſes (that be left) be all deſolate; before it come to, Oh that thou hadſt knowne; before the wrath of God ariſe againſt us, and there be no remedy.
All that I have to adde is this deſire, that as the Sermon is a monument (ſuch as it is) of Gods praiſe for the deliverance of this happy day: So this Dedication of it, may be a monument of my thankfulneſſe to you, for all the great encouragement, and kindneſse, and reſpect, with which you have refreſht his bowells, who is, in the Apoſtles ſtile, 2 Cor. 4.5.
Your Servant for Jeſus ſake, GEO. NEWTON.