Christs Government, License 1 – Dedication
Die Mercurii 26. Octobris.
IT is this day Ordered by the Houſe of Commons, That Sir Francis Knollis doe returne thanks from this Houſe to Doctor Temple for the great paines he took in the Sermon he preached at the entreaty of the ſaid Houſe, at St. Margarets in the City of Weſtminſter, this preſent day of publick humiliation; and that he be deſired to print his Sermon. And it is Ordered, that no man ſhall preſume to print it, but he who ſhall be authorized under the ſaid Doctor Temple's hand writing.
H. Elſynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I appoint SAMUEL GELLIBRAND to print my Sermon.
THO. TEMPLE.
CHRIST'S GOVERNMENT In and over his PEOPLE.
Delivered in A SERMON Before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, At their late publick and ſolemne Faſt, Octob. 26. 1642.
BY Thomas Temple D. D. and Miniſter of the Church of Batterſea in Surrey.
Publiſhed by Order of that Houſe.
PSAL. 97.1.
The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoyce: let the multitude of the Iſles be glad thereof.
LONDON, Printed for SAMUEL GELLIBRAND at the Brazen Serpent in Pauls Church-yard, 1642.
To the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS aſſembled in PARLIAMENT.
BEing called to this ſervice by your command, I could not think of a fitter ſubject, & more ſeaſonable to the times and your places then this, touching the Kingdom of Chriſt: firſt, to ſet before you the chiefe employment God cals you to, and the duty lies upon you in it, that is, to ſtudy all the waies by which Ieſus Chriſt may be beſt ſetled in his throne, and his government moſt ſpread throughout theſe parts of the world, where your work lies. Secondly, to hold out unto you the great encouragement to ſo great a work, in which you are ſure to meet with ſo great oppoſitions; to let you know, God himſelf will carry it on, and Chriſts government ſhall be eſtabliſhed, notwithſtanding the rage of people, and the plots of Princes againſt the Lord and his Annointed. If you go on in this cauſe with upright hearts, there is no reaſon your ſpirits ſhould faint, or your hands ſlacken in fear of the iſſue: you are on a riſing ſide, and in a work that will improve it ſelf. And indeed you have need of encouragement, even from heaven, to go on in the work of reformation of the Chuch, and of eſtabliſhing Chriſts government amongſt us, where the endeavours of many are ſo mighty to oppoſe it, and their tongues ſo malignant to diſgrace it. But while your hearts are faithfull with God, reſolve to goe on with Gods work, knowing you muſt paſſe through evill report as well as good report. 2. Cor. 6.8.They who are called to great works, muſt be willing to ſacrifice all, eſtate, credit, life, in the cauſe of God: ſo we keep faith and peace with God, and doe not ſhipwrack a good conſcience, it matters not much what elſe we loſe. If Chriſt carry you through the work here, he is all-ſufficient to reward you hereafter. The Lord make all great mountaines that lie in your way, Iac. 4.7.to the ſetting up of the Kingdom of Chriſt, as plaines before you: Rev. 2.2.and in the end, reward your works, and your labour, and your patience; So praies,
From my Study in Batterſea, Nov. 6. 1642. The unworthieſt of the ſervants of Chriſt in the work of the Lord, THOMAS TEMPLE.