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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	king_n	pope_n	power_n	9,357	5	5.4045	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59651	Divine providence, the support of good men under all events a sermon preached before the Lord Mayor, &c. at Guild-Hall Chappel, June 20th, 1680 / by William Shelton, rector of St. James, Colchester.	Shelton, William, d. 1699.	1680 (1680)	Wing S3098; ESTC R37383	13,523	41

appear in the sequel of this Discourse when I have first given a fuller declaration of this thing The Providence of God governs the world and extends it self to all Times and Places and Persons upon the face of the Earth Interposes in all Events has the Supremacy in all Affairs so that nothing upon any pretence is remote or exempt from his Jurisdiction For 1. There is nothing so high or great as to be above the reach and out of the power of Almighty God 2. Nothing is so mean and low and inconsiderable as to be unworthy the Care of an Universal Father 3. Nothing so secret intricate or perplexed as to puzzle Infinite Wisdom 1. The King of Kings Reigns over all He is King of all the Earth Emperors and Kings and Popes Powers Civil and Ecclesiastical have no Authority but what they derive from God and if they usurp any other power it is at least by his permission We read of one that Opposes and Exalts himself above all that is called God 2 Thess 2. whether it be not the same who undertakes to dispense with and against Divine Laws let they look to it that are concern'd in the Usurpation There have not been many greater than Nebuchadnezzar nor that have arrogated more but it pleased God to humble him and to teach him to know and to keep his distance When his Understanding which he had forfeited by his pride return'd to him he knew that the Most High ruled in the Kingdoms of Men. He Dan. 4. acknowledged that His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion and his Kingdom from Generation to Generation That All the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing that he does according to his Will in the Army of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the Earth and none may stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou 2. There is nothing so mean and low and inconsiderable as to be unworthy of Gods Care He who numbers the hairs of our heads who regards the falling St. Math. 10. of a Sparrow who owns the Caterpillar and Locusts to be of his great Army who made the smallest Creatures and foresees the least Events Joel 2. why should it be difficult to believe that all these little things are within the guidance and subject to the disposals of Gods Providence It is some what surprising to find so grave an Author as Plutarch who elsewhere De s●râ Numin vindictâ endeavours to reconcile the Providence of God with the flow punishments of wicked men De placit Philosoph should reprove Plato and Anaxagoras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As if he thought it below the Majesty of God to condescend to humane affairs But I am amazed to observe so learned a man as Jerome who understood the Christian Religion so well should think it absurd Ad hoc deducere Dei Majestatem ut sciat Commentar in Habak Cap. 1. per momenta singula quot nascantur culices quotve moriantur the light of Nature did teach some Heathens better Divinity From the exquisite Curiosities of the Industrious Bee Virgil infers Deum namque ire per omnes Terrasque tractusque Maris Coelumque profundum Georg. lib. 4. But I offer no other conviction in this thing than this Observation I hat great and signal Events do many times depend on small matters Anacreon is choak'd with a Grape stone and Pope Adrian the Fourth with a Fly Absalom is hang'd in his own hair so small a thing as the want of a Nights sleep is a means to preserve Mordecai's Life and by consequence to ruine Haman and save a whole Nation The over-Officiousness of Caesar Borgia's Butler poyson'd his Father Pope Alexander the Sixth and Onupher Vit. Alex. 6. thereby broke all the designs of Borgia In the course of Providence all that concurrs is not alike visible nor at first considerable Great weights may hang on small wires we may be superstitious in observing every little Occurrence as if it were ominous and presaging we may also be too regardless of smaller Events sure it is they are not altogether neglected of God Within his wise disposal of all things is comprehended his Governing those Events which at first are as hardly discern'd and as little regarded as the Cloud about the bigness of a mans Hand but as that overspread the whole Heavens so sometimes are little Accidents the first steps and advances to greater matters 3. Nothing is so secret or far removed from ordinary Observation as to preserve it self from the knowledg and Controul of God The Empire of the great God extends farther than any power of men can our secret thoughts and most inward motions of our minds all these are naked and open to the eye of God and he Prov. 21. in whose hand are the hearts of Kings to turn whithersoever he will is not a Stranger to what is secretly agitated in other mens Breasts Thought is free we say to humane Cognizance it is so if by our own indiscretions we do not betray our selves but he that made the heart and that will call us to account for every secret thing he has a perfect knowledge of and an undoubted Authority over all that is transacted within our own mind Again The Providence of God extends to secret things as well as open to all those Mysteries of Iniquity that are plotted and contriv'd in Hell and Darkness When we hear of Plots and Conspiracies we are solicitous lest their depth should be unfathomable and therefore lest the destruction they contrive should be unavoidable But There is no darkness nor shadow Job 34. of death where the workers of Iniquity may hide themselves He that cast the Devils into Hell confines and rules them there or if he suffer them sometimes to range the world and inspirit men to designs devilish and hellish i. e. full of subtilty and full of mischief yet shall they make no farther progress than God will give them leave He can check them when he pleases he can discover the deeds of darkness and disappoint the devices of the Crafty He that sits in the Heavens can laugh all the Devils in Hell to scorn Against what has been hitherto said if any prejudice arise I conceive there is none greater than these three If the Providence of God govern the world then 1. Why does he permit sin which he so much hates Or 2. If he think fit to permit it why does he not punish it And 3. Why are holy and Religious men so unregarded 1. Why does a pure and holy God permit sin which is so infinitely displeasing to him I might answer First If there were no God there would be no Devil there could be no Sin Sin is a transgression St. Joh. 1. ● of the Law if God did not Rule the World if he have not exercised his Authority in giving Laws for the governing mens actions Rom. 4. then where no Law is there is no

Clayton Mayor CVria special tent die Dominico quarto Die Julij 1680. Regni Annoque Regis Caroli Secundi Angliae c. XXXII THis Court doth desire Mr. Shelton to Print his Sermon lately Preached at the Guild-Hall Chappel before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of this City Wagstaffe Divine Providence THE SUPPORT OF GOOD MEN Under all EVENTS A SERMON Preached before the Lord Mayor c. At Guild-Hall Chappel June 20th 1680. By William Shelton Rector of St. James Colchester LONDON Printed for Nathaniel Ranew at the King's Arms and Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard 1680. TO THE Right Honourable Sr. ROBERT CLAYTON Lord Mayor And to the Right Worshipful the ALDERMEN and SHERIFFS OF THE CITY of LONDON Right Honourable and Right Worshipful THe Doctrine of Providence has divers Adversaries Not only such as Atheistically disbelieve it but such also as perversly infer from it so do they who from present Success argue to the Merits of their Cause and justifie their Villanies in the Name of God If to grate upon former times were a pleasing Argument or such as might serve any good End I could have made this a part of my Discourse But having contented my self to give an hint that the Providence of God is no Justification of wicked Enterprizes I chose these Words for another purpose Instead of disputing a Controversie of which these Times are full I thought it as seasonable to put men in mind of a Truth which we all acknowledg but it has not a sufficient Influence upon our Lives If it be too hard to call them Adversaries to this Doctrine yet it must be owned that they disparage Providence that they have low and dishonourable thoughts of God's governing the World who cannot infer from his Wisdom and Goodness and Power that it is safe and happy to trust in him That which is said to this End in the following Sermon was by your Lordship and the Aldermen then present received with such candor and good acceptance that you have thought fit to command it to be made Publick To which I consent more as a Testimony of my Obedience than an Instance of my Choice I have not so great an Opinion of it as to think it deserves better than many others which are not Printed Yet I know it was preach'd with an honest Design And I know there is need that men should be awaken'd to a sense of their dependence on God And if any honest man finds himself brought to a better temper of mind by reading this Sermon If it give occasion to any man to resolve by the Grace of God to live better that he may not make God his Enemy and if it shall then encourage him to trust in God whatever befals him I will thank God who put these thoughts into my mind and I will thank your Lordship and your Brethren for being Instruments thus to reform any wan's life or to satisfie his mind I am Right Honourable and Right Worshipful Your most Humble and Faithful Servant W. SHELTON Colchester July 8th 1680. DIVINE PROVIDENCE THE SUPPORT OF GOOD MEN UNDER ALL EVENTS A Sermon preached before the right Honourable the Lord Major c. on June 20th 1680. PSALM 97. 1. The Lord Reigneth let the Earth Rejoyce THey who deny that the Providence of God is concerned in humane Affaires as they may well be thought to deny the being of God because the very notion of a Deity infinite in knowledge and Almighty in Power supposes it no difficult task for him to govern the World who first made it so do they undermine and destroy the principal support of a good mans Confidence For where shall the weary mind of man repose it self amidst the surprising Accidents and afflicting disappointments of this life Is the World a Lottery and do things come to pass by chance What a poor content then do our present Enjoyments administer to us and where is our security for the time to come To what purpose Antonynus do I live in a world void of God and void of Providence But there is a God and he doth take care of human Affairs This was the satisfaction of the Heathen Emperour The Lord Reigns let the Earth rejoyce So here the Divine Psalmist An Inference which a Religious man may at all times make but he never more needs it than in an unquiet and unsetled state of things The Doctrine is great and the Inference is good The Lord Reigns the most high rules over all the Kingdoms of me Nothing escapes his Knowledge Nothing controles his Power All things are managed by incomprehensible Wisdom and infinite Goodness And here we sit down and rest our selves When we have prayed as we do in the Collect of this day that God would keep us under the protection of his good Providence with a Peace that passes Uall nderstanding with an inward satisfaction of mind and a deep joy among the manifold changes and hazards of this mortal life we commit our selves and all our concerns to the governance of God and give him thanks that he will please to undertake the care of us A Consideration of so great Importance that I willingly wave all farther preface and take no notice of the rest of the Psalm nor enquire whether these words may bear another sence in reference to Christs Kingdom but apply my self to discourse on this Argument It is a great satisfaction to a good man that the Providence of God governs the World In which I distinctly consider 1. The Lord Reigns The Providence of God governs the World 2. This is a great satisfaction to the mind of man 3. But He must be a good and religious man that may with reason actually rejoyce in this Assurance of Gods Providence In all which I have not the Vanity to pretend that I can crowd into an hours discourse all that might pertinently be said in this matter But though out of respect to the time and your patience I must of necessity omit many things that might here have a proper place yet according to my poor ability I will endeavour to say nothing that may be Impertinent 1. The Lord Reigns God guides and governs the World all the Creatures in it all the Affairs of it especially those of mankind By the right of Creation he has Authority over us and he exercises that Authority in making Laws for us To us Christians he has given his Holy Word which is the Law of our Creation and of our Redemption too But to all men he has given a Law written in their Hearts Rom. 2. a Conscience of good and evil But because Authority seperate from Power is insignificant therefore that is also visible in rewarding those Hebr. 11. that diligently seek him and punishing the Refractory and disobedient which Rewards and Punishments if to humane sense they sometimes seem unequally distributed yet is this no sufficient exception against the Doctrine of Providence as will

into the Nose of the Leviathan Rabshekah's swelling words shall be but impotent Rage Haman shall build a Gallows for himself No weapon form'd against God shall prosper Isa 54. it shall not be as man pleases but as it pleases God No man indeed should be unconcern'd when either Sin or Judgment for Sin rages in the world but still keep we within our own bounds of Patience and Faith and Prayer endeavour we all to mend our selves and then whatever happens rest it not all on second causes The over-ruling of Gods Providence is no manner of excuse for wicked enterprises but if by a faithful discharge of our duty if in Religion to God in Loyalty to the King in Peace and Gentleness and Brotherly Love one to another we do what in us lies that the state of things shall not grow worse by any default of ours if others take not the ●ame care though they shall find no extenuation of their faults nor mitigation of their punishment from this Doctrine of Providence yet we shall gain a world of case and satisfaction from it It is not for us to know Times and Seasons which the Acts 1. Father has put in his own power we would fain hope well that God will never forsake those that seek him But whatever we may live to see or feel We commit our selves and all our private Interests we commit the Peace and Prosperity of the whole Nation we commit our King our Church our Religion all that is dear to us to a wise and good God We will cease to govern the world but commit it to him whose right it is neither the indiscretions nor the extravagant passions of men shall over-rule nor Men nor Devils but the Providence of God is the Supreme Arbitrator This is our satisfaction a joy that no man takes from us The Lord reigns therefore does the Earth rejoyce May I exercise your Patience but a little longer till I have finished the third part of my Discourse 3. He must be a good man that may with reason actually rejoyce upon this account Gods Providence is not the peculiar inheritance of some few men but the earth may rejoyce in it i. e. all men every where unless they disable themselves But if men will live wicked and ungodly lives there is another Text not far off Psal 99. 1. that does rather belong to them The Lord reigns let the People tremble Every wicked man while he continues such has reason to fear rather than to rejoyce in the Providence of God For let it be considered 1. Only he who is in Gods way may hope for Gods blessing When men will walk contrary to God why should they hope but that God will walk contrary to them Must he be the darling Levit. 26. of Providence who scorns to submit to God but in pride and stubbornness contemns his Laws Who may flatter himself as if he were in a secure Station who may presume that God is on his side while he notoriously withdraws himself from obedience to his Commands He who waits on the Lord and keeps his way may hope well but to forsake God is the way to be forsaken of him No man may rejoyce in confidence that God will always watch over him for good who by running out of the way of a good life discharges Providence from taking any farther care of him 2. Who may rejoyce in Gods Providence that can make no Title to his Promises God is holy and just and true what he has promised he will perform But unto the wicked God Psal 50. saith What hast thou to do to take my Covenant into thy mouth There are Curses in the Holy Scripture as well as Blessings and for the same reason that Religious and Holy Men hope well that God will be merciful to them because he will be true to his word I say for the same reason may wicked men tremble God is angry with the wicked every day and he will be faithful Psal 7. to his Threatnings as well as to his Promises How then should they tremble who despise the Authority of God who forfeit all that goodness and kindness by which they live who are every moment obnoxious to Almighty Power who enjoy no Accommodations in this life but only by the long-suffering and patience of God which how soon it may expire no man can tell who if they continue in this sinful state must be miserable or God must lye who has told them so Let these things be well considered and then let wicked men say whether that Doctrine of our Religion which affords such unspeakable comfort and satisfaction to holy and good men be not otherwise very terrible and so much the more because he who can't take comfort in the Providence of God has nothing else to rejoyce in for all other things are under the dominion of Providence and controulable by it The greatness of his Fortune the multitude of his Riches the abundance of his Pleasures are all in the hand and power of God who can easily curse the blessings of men so that their very lives and all that was pleasurable in them shall be bitterness and a burthen to them This is a sad Argument so far as it reflects upon particular persons to whom while they continue in their Impieties the thoughts of God must needs be terrible But if we consider farther what influence growing wickedness has upon publick Calamities it will administer more sad thoughts to us We have been awakened to a sense of danger from an Enemy restless and daring we have prayed many and many a time that God would abate their Pride asswage their Malice and confound their Devices and hitherto God has been merciful to us But shall I be bold to say there is another Plot against the King against the Government and against our established Religion I say another Plot less feared but not less dangerous Every wicked man is a Traitor to his Prince and Country and by his doing wickedly provokes 1 Sam. 12. God to consume him and his King Every common Drunkard every bold Swearer every lascivious and unclean Person every dishonest Trader who postpones his Religion to Two-pence of unjust gain every man that allows himself in a wicked course of life is in conspiracy for the ruin of this Nation The Church of England the worthy labours of whose eminent Divines have made the Papists weary of disputing with them the Church of England whose regular Reformation is as strong a bulwark against the encroachments of Popery as any is this day in Christendom the Church of England who stands her ground and maintains the very same Articles of Religion that it did above an hundred years ago and who has not by any Rubrick or Canon or Constitution since those times corrupted our well-Reformed Religion yet this once glorious Church sometimes the Terrour of her Enemies and the Envy of her Neighbours cannot escape the Censures of