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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86504	A sermon, preached before the Right Honourable, Thomas Foote, Lord Maior, and the right worshipfull the aldermen, sheriffs, and severall companies of the City of London. Vpon the generall day of thanksgiving, October the 8. 1650. at Christ-Church, London. / By Doctor Nathanael Homes, teacher of the Church at Mary Staynings, London.	Homes, Nathanael, 1599-1678.	1650 (1650)	Wing H2576; Thomason E614_4; ESTC R202565	34,476	51

there is found no cause of sorrow for either of us But in the middle transactions did Israel fall in battle twice for some secret sin as they did at Ai we ever blessed be Jehovah fell not at all before the Scots Therefore the Israelites might well mourn more and have less cause of rejoycing then we But mark by the way for all the Notion of Brethren the Benjamites mourn not for the fall of the Israelites that we read of 'T is just as if now the contrary minded among us should mourn for the overthrow of the Scots because as they cry they are their Brethren but they never mourn for them few that were killed of us or for our distresses by weather or want of provision for the whole army or for the distresses and wounds of many of us as if we were not Brethren to them Benjamin will not mourn for Israel though in two battles they kill of Israel fourty thousand men Judg. 20. If Israel will they may at last mourn gratis for Benjamin and the mean while for themselves for their twice falling before Benjamin Benjamin regards it not whence I observe that if the Israelites had conquered the Benjamites at those times the Israelites would have saved their mourning and would have been glad of conquest For they are in the case immediate contraries 'T is true that afterwards that the most part of the Tribe of Benjamin were cut off and the whole Tribe even extinct the Israelites mourn But the formal consideration and precise reason would be weighed and heeded especially by men that most pretend to most reason The Israelites cannot mourn for standing up for a most righteous cause nor for Conquering the Benjamites to which God encouraged them by three severall answers bidding them go What then 'T is upon another account 1. A Tribe was cut off The distinction of Tribes being then much preserved to distinguish the comming of the Messias of the Tribe of Judah as was fore-prophesied Now this consideration of Tribes contributs nothing to our case to cause us to mourn or hinder our joy for our victory over the Socts 2. And mainly the Israelites mourned for their Rash COVENANT Which they choseing rather to break then keep they were pacified Judg. 21. But the Israelites were so farre from mourning for the slaughter of the Benjamites that now after all they send twelve thousand men against Iabesh-Gilead to destroy it and in it all both man and woman that had layn with man for that they came not up to help them to conquer Benjamin * Judg. 21. If possibly men may be convinced this would if weighed conconvince them Obj. But there was no solemn thanker for these victories against Brethren Answer Those that make this Objection can tell us if they please that extraordinary duties and daies as of Fasting and Feasting or Praying and Praising are to be taken up by the people of God e●renatâ occasionally as some extraordinary cause is offered by divine Providence So that we are not tyed to rules or example when to set such times apart but as God acts for and makes impressions upon the hearts of his people But if this answer will not serve their turnes we adde that though David blubbred for the overthrow of Absalom as we heard afore 2 Sam. 18. yet after he was not onely Convinced Chap. 19. as hath been declared but in the 22 Chap. hath a solemn psalm of praise for his deliverance from all his enemies in which Absalom must needs be included from the first opposition of Saul down to that day as the Title of the Psalm Canonical Scripture as well as the rest hath it And is twice upon record v. z. there and the 18. Psalm left for all Israel to sing and praise God But to leave disputes the truth is the greatest Core and cause of non-praising God is the corruption of mans heart if the heart be out of tune it will not praise be the cause almost what it will 1 Thess 5.18 though the Holy people are bound and obey In every thing to give thankes much more in greater mercies We have a renowned instance of both in Ezra 3. ver 10. to the end of the Chapter One could not but thinke had not the event shewed the contrary that all the Iewes would have praised God at the laying of the foundati on of their second Temple The Case of the compound of sorrow and joy at the laying of the foundation of the Temple after their return from the Babylont an Captivitie and with an heigth of joy answerable to the depth of sorrow they had been in for the ruine of the first and their long inslavement there But lo in stead thereof a many Mal-contents howle and mourn while others joy A confusion to be wondred at which will more appear and serve this day if we do but shew you barely the roots of ten remarkable observations natively growing there which transplanted by your selves into your own hearts will spring up to a great talness by a little meditation Namely That the beginnings of reformation are times of great discrimination of the complexions of mens Spirits In this Third of Ezra 10. c. upon the said occasion Iew is distinguished from Iew. They are not all of one mind some take content some discontent in and about the same thing They are all fire-brands but newly taken out of the fire some flame with joy but others quencht and hisse with teares of sorrow In such times of reforming will arise counter actings contrary transactions For the self-same thing some here sing and praise others weep with a loud voyce In the like times the afflicted endeavour to o're-top drown and swallow up the actions of the well-affected with their peremptory counter-actings the cryings of the lamenters almost overcome and confound the shoutings of the rejoycers Of those that are so ill-affected there are Ministers and ancient Professors Neither learning nor experience without the help of grace are able to act graciously and they are the men chiefly that conterpoise against the well-effected both of Ministers and Professors in the solemnity of that dayes praise For the Text is express And when the builders layd the foundation of the Temple of the Lord they set the PRIESTS in their apparell with Trumpets and the LEVITES the sonnes of Asaph with Cymhals to PRAISE the LORD after the ordinance of David King of Israel And they sang by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord because he IS GOOD FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER See with what manner of solemnity and high observation of the day the Sweetly-composed Ministers and People praise God And observe with a judicious eye what is the matter of their song and praise even part of the 136 Psal as now further fulfilled as before it was fulfilled in part in their deliverance from Egypt and their Conquests in the wilderness c. and in Canaan as before we

yet the last-named Tribes will neither fight nor praise Therefore in this Chapter where their part should come in there is as we say in Musick a Large-Rest They sing not keep not tune nor time Yea their part is smeared with a blot upon record by God himself to disgrace their evil deed to this day The Case of David mourning over that Victory of which others were glad But there is a greater wonder then this of David 2 Sam. 18 c. that when the danger was neer even in the bowels of the Kingdom of David and the foundation of the Insurrection was laid in the hearts of the most of his own Subjects headed by his own leud son likely to pull the Crown from his fathers head who now with his petty Army is fain to flee from his own Throne yet upon the obtaining of a glorious Victory against that Arch-rebel and Rebellion David is so far distempered in spirit that he mourns over the matter and means of his deliverance and not unlike some others would comply * See 2 Sam. 19.2 as the manner is with a King or at least frown upon them that wrought the deliverance But Joab and his Army were glad as they had good cause You will say Can ye blame David Absalom that was slain was his son And some of Davids BRETHREN fell in Battel with him Was he The Rebellion was the more horrid the danger far the greater if Absalom had prevailed and therefore the merciful deliverance was of the same size and should have been the measure of Davids joy And to our business the Objection is our advantage Absalom was his son and that was neerer kin to David then any King to us And they that were beaten in Battel were Brethren and therefore neerer allied to David Joab and to the conquering army in Notion and Nation in form of Worship union of Policy Blood Territories and Temple then the Scots are to us yet for all this 't was Davids failing his great failing to mourn over Absaloms death See D. Har. in Absal funeral and his armies downfal .. So learned and godly Divines urge the story for the proof of Saints weaknesses and unto that form and shape the divine story most emphatically limbs it out to the life And Joabs wise carriage on the contrary part Chap. 19. is as singularly pourtrayed his honour emblazoned and he commendatorily described for rounding the King to purpose for his indiscretion 2 Sam. 19.5 c. Thou hast saith Ioab to David shamed the faces of all thy servants this day which this day have saved thy LIFE and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters and the lives of thy wives c. in that thou LOVES thine ENENIES and HATEST thy FRIENDS for thou hast declared this day that thou regardest neither Princes nor servants for this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all we had died this day then it bad pleased thee well Now therefore arise go forth and speak comfortably Heb. to the heart to thy servants c. A notable speech and looks keenly with a piercing eye on some that now mourn for our Victory and worse then David who did it in his private chamber but they in their publike prayers With this ●ouzing home and just Oration David is convinced of his folly he ariseth yea and goes and sits in the gate to incourage and comfort the people for winning that victory Now therefore was it not well done of Joab and his Army to rejoyce in the victory though the King was the head and chiefe of them that would have turned it into a day of mourning But is there no regard to be had to the slaughter of Brethren and shedding of blood for which Israel mourned in the Case of Benjamin Judg. 21 Marke it once for all we rejoyce not at all in the shedding of blood precisely considered as shedding of blood much less in the shedding of the blood of Brethren But that the wronged English party as the several Declarations of the Parliament have demonstrated do rather Conquer then are Conquered therein we justly rejoyce and praise God for it though because it could not be avoided it cost blood and the blood of Brethren Benjamins Case discussed touching the Israelites mourning after their overthrow So in Hamilions invasion and in the relations of it in print and from other good testimonies to the Author as in the Case of Absalom For the Case of Benjamin we will refer our Case to that to be tryed It sures to our condition and is exceeding much for us The story is in the 19 20 21 Chapters of Judges I need not relate it but onely apply it The cause of the other Tribes of Israel warring against that of Benjamin was far less then ours against the Scots Ours was their pub-like invasion of our Country with a mighty Army by authority of the Parliament of Scotland wasting a part of our Nation killing some of our men occasioning the death of others taking away our children captives making their parents to redeem their own children with money and some more then once undoing many families with intolerable taxes plundering men of their goods and cattle calling our land Scotland as they further invaded us threatning death to them that contradicted them therein And since that they have proclaimed a King over this Nation of England contrary to the Declaration of our Parliament And for all this have refused to give in any satisfaction But the cause of the Israelites war against Benjamin was but personal some vile fellowes of Gibea ravishing the Levites Concubine to death that town and the rest of the Tribe of Benjamin refusing to give satisfaction in delivering up the malefactors though Israel were warned and wo●ed thereunto that so guilt might not lie upon the land Yet for this cause inferior to ours the Israelites make warre upon the Benjamites farre nearer brethren to them then the Scots to us Therefore thus farre no cause of sorrow to Israel or us a good cause is no cause of sorrow In prosecution whereof Israel asked counsel of God several times as did we they were bid by Oracle several times to go as we were by many clear impressions upon our Spirits upon solemn daies of Humiliation So it was impressed upon the hearts of the Army and of the Churches in London as they gave in their accounts after the dayes of Humiliation kept for that end to know the minde of God So that nor yet was there any cause of sorrow to us or them The ultimate event of the totall overthrow of the Army of the Benjamites sealed it to the Israelites that God was with them as the same seal was given to us in the totall rout of the Scotish Army And in this also precisely considered as Gods answer of prayer his performance of his own Counsel the manifestation of his presence with the innocent with punishment upon the wrong-doer

extoll'd by Book-polititians for Majestie and likeness to the rule of God But it hath so long degenerated into Arrogancie and Tyranny that it is now disgracing it self out of the world Democracie hath been sometimes despised where and while it hath been eclipsed by the seeming-splendor of Lord-ensnaring and people-vassal ging Royalty But what it wants in Majesty is richly made up in true Liberty and secure Safety The people loving the Governmen of the People as before described love themselves But Kings loving themselves and their Court-creatures they drained and suck'd out the life and blood and spirits of the State The Peoples misery and poverty as was their Maxime was their security to do what they list The time is now at hand to dethrone Monarchie and to raise Democracie according to our Text of the Honour to be given to the Holy-people compared with Dan. 7.27 Read it wisely The KINGDOM and DOMINION and the GREATNESSE of the Kingdom UNDER the WHOLE HEAVEN shall be given to the PEOPLE of the SAINTS You see then our Text and that of Daniel speakes fairely for a Democracie that is holy and our Times begin to ecchoe distinctly to it as we shall see more after in the Antitypicall consideration of the termes of our Doctrine and Text. 3 Word is Praise ye the Lord or as 't is in the Hebrew HALLELU-JAH which is as I may say the Heavenly prick-song of the times signified in the Revelation to our present time and downward When had we cause more to praise Jah or Jehovah then now When did he more manifest himself as such then now by that time we have reckoned up the many things of this daies memorial And the duty is like the desert It doth not onely sound of what we must do but savours of much sweetness in the doing and so a motive as well as a Command to praise For Praise is a preparation to prayer He that is not in tune to pray let him first play the praludium of praise he shall soon finde his heart before bed-ridden sick spiritually to come to his life and strength So it appeares by Davids Psalmes often For praise is a great heart-melter a Convincer of sin in regard of the unkindness of it and so an admirer of divine mercy as Jacob Lord I am lesse then the least of all thy mercies For Praise is an owning of the returnes of our prayers We know our prayers againe when we see them acted and effected and make us Eccho to God acts as David Away from me ye workers of iniquity the Lord hath heard me Psal 6 What shall I render to the Lord Psal 116 for all his benefit Therefore praise also is a quieter of discontent a composer of our spirits an allayer of the mutinies of the affections Psal 73. Psal 77. It is the intent and event of Gods deliverances and the acceptable glorifying of him Psal 50. v. 15. v. 23. And t is a great tryer of the actions that is in judgment and Conscience well done for which a Saint can cordially give praise Therefore praise we for the thing done for eyes to see cause of praise and for hearts willing to give thankes And whiles we praise we loose no time to procure at the Throne of Grace Praise is as well a potencie and prevayling to get as a pledge we have received As well a Petition as an accquittance So in the story of Iehosaphat who whiles he praised 2 Chron. 20.22 c. obtained the victory of an Army of enemies Therefore doubt not but that this daies praise shall have the fruit of Petitions Therefore to all these seven let the foot of the song be Therefore praise therefore praise c. 4 Word is Performance Psal 136.3 c. O give thankes unto the Lord of HOSTS who alone doth GREAT WONDERS for his mercy indures for ever c. Who remembred us in our LOW ESTATE for his mercy indureth for ever And REDEEMED us from our ENEMIES for his mercy indureth for ever Need I speak to this Text The day is a plain and compleat commentary 5 Word is according to his Promise Not onely great things are done for us but with the great seale of Gods truth that he heares when we do pray and doth as he speaks So that in what we have heard and seen and injoy being the issue of promises all is not done till THIS world be done Gods Promises are of an unknown worth a rich improvement and of endless incomes of Reversions Promises are like the sunne that casts its beames at first rising from East to West Yea they are like to fountainous streames the further they runne the more they are augmented till they disburded themselves into the Ocean This is a great mystery I had the first hint of it many yeeres since from learned and religious Calvin Promises have never an end of all in them till Saints attaine the perfect end of all So that as all the promises and performances of the Old Testament did first devolve themselves on the great period of Christs incarnation so next they reach to and rest upon Christs exaltation of his Kingdome on earth among his Holy-people as they are anewly promised or commented upon in the New Men may not yet say of the grand promises of the generall good of the Holy-people Now such a promise is fullfilled and now such a promise is fullfilled unless they mean fullfilled so as not yet fully fullfilled What ever is done till the full perfection of all things come is but an Epocha Intervall or Stage of the progresse of promises and their severall Gesses Promises in their effectuall movings are like the movings of the Sea the latter wave is the greater and the outwarder circle the wider We now wonder at the greatness of mercies present But he is immense that acts Now are but dawnings to the sunne hereafter rising 2 Pet. 1.19 The Holy-people are now honoured But shall be more and more So it followes in the two words behinde namely Honour and such honour with addition to ALL his Saints 6 Word is honour God will honour them whom the world all along till now have most vilified He will make them glorious before men whom as Paul faith men have made the off-scowring of all things Now it is not onely a matter of conscience towards God but of credit among men to be a Saint And shall not such praise Yea they must they do they will Rev. 5.9 c The four Beasts and the four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb c. And they sung a NEW song saying Thou art worthy c. for thou wast stain and hast redeemed us c out of every nation and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall REIGN on the EARTH And I beheld and heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand