Moderation Justified, Title page – Dedication
MODERATION IVSTIFIED, AND THE LORDS BEING AT HAND EMPROVED, IN A SERMON AT VVESTMINSTER BEFORE THE HONORABLE HOVSE OF COMMONS Aſſembled in Parliament: Preached at the late ſolemne Faſt, December 25. 1644.
By Thomas Thorowgood B. of D. Rector of Grimſton in the County of Norfolke: One of the Aſſembly of Divines.
Publiſhed by Order from that Houſe.
Matth. 10. 16.
—Be wiſe as Serpents, and harmeleſſe as Doves.
Menſura convenit, ne aut nimia remiſſio reddatur aut nimiaa ſeveritas.
Ambros. Offic. lib. 2. cap. 22.
Si quid corrigendum eſt, adhibeatur ea Moderatio, quae Chriſtianos deceat, &c.
Eraſm. Epiſt. l. 22. p. 916.
LONDON, Printed by I. L. for Chriſtopher Meredith at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard, and for Thomas Slater at the Swan in Duck-Lane. 1645.
Die Mercurii 25. Decemb. 1644.
IT is this day Ordered by the Commons Houſe of Parliament, That Maſter Heveningham, and Maſter Liſle, doe from this Houſe give thanks to Maſter Thorowgood, and Maſter Langley, for the great pains they took in the Sermons they Preached this day at the intreaty of this Houſe, at S. Margarets Weſtminſter: (It being the day of Publique Humiliation) And to deſire them to Print their Sermons. And it is Ordered, that none ſhall preſume to Print their, or either of their Sermons without firſt obtaining libertie under their hand-writing.
H. Elſyng. Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I Doe appoint Chriſtopher Meredith, and Thomas Slater to Print this Sermon.
THOMAS THOROVVGOOD.
TO THE HONORABLE Houſe of Commons, Aſſembled in Parliament at Weſtminſter.
THe thought of coming into that Pulpit was dreadfull to me, and I did unfainedly decline it;1 Sam. 10. 22. as Saul, I would willingly have hid my ſelfe among the ſtuffe, any where rather then undertake the taske.Palluit ut … qui preſſit calcibus anguem. Et Juvenal. Sat. 6. Lugdunenſem Rhetor dicturus ad aram, Did Advocates change colour pleading at that Barre? And ſhould I have no feare being to ſpeake in ſuch a preſence, where ſo many of you were, and each one reſembled the children of a King, Judg. 8. 18.as the Kings of Midian ſaid to Gideon, in reſpect of his brethren; yea upon whoſe votes and determinations, depends the welfare of three glorious Kingdomes? But being ſummoned to the ſervice, it was my duty to runne and prepare my ſelfe, and I found preſently my lot was caſt upon that very day, which the providence of heaven had deſigned to fall on Chriſtmas Day,Gentilet. Exam. p. 206. (as it is named yet) the Metropolitane of all the Feſtivities, ſo Gaſpar Ferrandi called it in the Councel of Trent; It was time for me then by conſideration, recollection, and other thoughts to caſt out feare; 1 Joh. 4. 8.and for my animation, the alluſion of him to Caeſar happily occurred, as they that dare confidently ſpeake in your judicious and formidable Aſſemblie, conſider not what Conſtellations you are, nor of what Magnitude; ſo thoſe, that deſpondingly be afraid, are ignorant of your benigne Aſpects, and gracious Influences. The election of a Theme, and the manner of handling it was in my power, and by Divine guidance I choſe Moderation, not becauſe you wanted it, but for that ſome ſo ſuppoſed, and I ſaw, even that Chriſtian grace, well underſtood would juſtifie your proceedings: Your eares entertained the Diſcourſe with ſpontaneous attention, with the vertue of the Text, which Tertullus beg'd of Felix, Act. 24. 4.foreign. you have now required it to the other ſenſe, to another cenſure, in publicum formidandumque judicium as Caſſiane ſaid upon his like occaſion;De Incarnat. praefat. and for my part,Pro captu Lectoris habent ſua fata libelli. though the ſubject matter, I know, will meet with fatall judgings, and my weakeneſſes alſo be ever before me, yet I have obeyed your Commands, and with the exoptation of Oroſius to Auſtin, Utinam tam efficaciter quam libenter: Praefat. Hiſt.for now, as Dedications have beene made to you of Zeale, Righteouſneſſe, Magnanimitie, Perſeverance, &c. ſo the world ſhall ſee you Patrons of Moderation alſo, notwithstanding the unpolitique, Antichriſtian, and Tyrannicall endevours of your Oppoſites, ſome of which laboured ſo much ſome yeares ſince to embroyle the Nation againſt Scotland, in irreconciliable and inteſtine combuſtions, the perfect uniting of whom to ENGLAND was the zealous induſtrie of the wiſeſt Patriots in former times, as our Chronicles relate, and who now alſo, by ſupernaturall providence, in Covenant, and many other obligations, are contrived into a more firme accord then ever. Thoſe other horrid Miſcreants of Ireland have raked Hell and Rome for the inventions, and exerciſes of ſuch cruel barbarities upon our miſerable brethren,King Charles Declarat. with the advice of his Privie Counſell. that no Chriſtian eare can heare without horrour, nor Story parallel, as his Majeſtie did declare againſt thoſe barbarous Rebels. I wiſh that Remonſtrance of our Clergie there were commanded to be in every Pariſh of ENGLAND, and the additionall depoſitions haſtened to the Preſſe, that all the good people of the Land might know their good meaning to them: And in this Kingdome there was a generation of New Reformers that paved the way to Popery, and under the colour of a good worke in hand, Holy Table, Name, and Thing, p. 2. p. 192. p. 204.and the pietie of the times were buſied in taking the out-workes, and that being done they would have a bout with the Fort it ſelfe: It is the language and ſentence of him that here may well be credited, and our eyes ſaw then, the Innovations ſo numerous, that with a little time and obſervation it might be demonſtrated, the lawleſſe Mutation even then was greater from the rules, and received practiſe, then it is like to be by the Directory ſo much expected, which beſide Parliament Authoritie, will have the Scriptures, and the example of Reformed Churches to give it countenance; I thought in this Epiſtle I might make ſome further mentioning, but I muſt remember that of Auſtin to Macedonius, Negotioſiſſimos in Republica viros, Ep. 54. Init.& non ſuis, ſed aliorum utilitatibus attentiſſimos non debemus occupare prooemio: I will turne therefore my prefacing, into praying, that our God onelyonly wiſe, Rom. 16. 27.would fill every one of you with wiſedome, Jam. 3. 17.even that wiſdome which is from above, and is firſt pure, then peaceable, gentle, foreign, the grace of the Text, Ruth 4. 11.Moderate, and full of good fruits, that gaſping Ireland may be recovered by you, and as you have done worthily for Scotland, you may be famous in ENGLAND, and regaining the Kings royall Perſon and favour, you may make him glorious alſo, and raiſe up in his Dominions the foundations for many generations, Iſa. 58. 12.and be called the Repairers of the breaches, the Reſtorers of the paths to dwell in. I ſhall waite the complement of Gods good providence in you, and by you, that in his due ſeaſon every mountaine of oppoſition may be a plaine, Zach. 4. 7.and theſe troublous times may determine in the readvancement,Dan. 9. 25. and firme eſtabliſhing of Righteouſneſſe and Peace, through your hands; which is, and ſhall be in the dayly devotion of
Your conſtant Oratour at the Throne of Grace, THOMAS THOROVVGOOD.