he might by the faith of his own worshippers stagger and ensnare the servants of God But hath he not his dayes amongst us his dayes they were I think for I am sure God disowns them where men fasted to smite with the fist of wickedness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philem. in Just Mart. dâ— Monarchia Dâ—i and instead of letting the captive loose to make his bands strong And what were the Thanksgiving daies amongst us but such as they observed in Rev. 11.10 who when they had slain the Witnesses of God two it seems of so great note that they were thought by the Holy Spirit fit to comprehend a great body or Army of Martyrs made merry sent gifts one to another God Almighty forgive the deep dissimulation hypecrisiâ— and blasphemy of those dayes This to be sure is no such this is the day the day the Lord hath made Made why so he hath yesterday and the day before But God hath provided us a speciall business for this day the cause of our Rejoycing upon this day is from Him this was his doing to thank him for it is that we doe and so this day is his by a double account It is His day because it is the Kings day and it is the Kings day because it is the Lords work I hope I need not spend any part of this day in proving that the King hath power to dispose of this day Allow him but as much as hath been given to his Subjects and they the worst of them and we need not dispute for it I ain me-thinks I would have all things done in the Church as St. Paul adviseth Phil. 2.14 without murmuring and disputings and that men would but be so modest and ingenuous as to learn an example of the Jews though it be not so much for the credit of a Christian to be set to School to a Jew that as whatsoever King David did pleas'd the people 2 Sam. 3.36 So what the King doth at least what our King doth command might please us That was spoken in respect of a day too that day for a Prince that sell this for a King that 's risen up Shall I give you some motives to encourage you to an hearty complacency with his Majesty Why then know First that it is your duty to your King who hath power to determine things indifferent and exact your obedience to what part him pleaseth And if you were not sensible of this yet ingenuous nature could not but be willing to comply with such a Prince as ours and congratulate him into his Throne of whom I may say as Synesius of Dio that he is A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a cornu-copia of virtues Nay do but consider whether you are able to get quit of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the other part of St. Pauls similitude 1 Cor. 12.26 where he tells you that if one member be exalted all the members rejoyce much more when a dislocated Head the chiefest member of all is put in its own place This is all the Presents his Majesty expects from you and remember I pray you that such as brought Saul no presents when he was made King over Isra l are stil'd Sons of Belial 1 Sam. 10.27 indeed the foulest names I meet with in Scripture as well as the horriblest punishments are ever fixt upon Rebels and Rebellion and despisers of Government 2. Again conceive your self oblig'd to answer the providâ—neâ—â— of Allmighty God as well those which concerne you in your publique as in your private capacity not such only which concern you as a father husband brother neighbour freind and the like but as you are a Subject and a Christian as you are a member of the Church and of the State Can your reason perswade you that God doth things worthy your rejoycing and of your thanks in your family and yet not so in Church and State or that you are not as much though indeed you are more concern'd in nationalâ— than in personall blessings and that God expects a tribute of praise from you for the one and not for the other no man can be so unreasonable as to think it But if it be so with any men let me tell them that for so doing they are neither wise nor righteous men Epithets that they will be loath to part with at every price yet you shall have the Holy Ghosts word for it in Psal 64. wherein David having made mention of the defeat of his Enemies whose character you have at the 5 and 6. verses worth your perusall and these suddenly destroyed with an arrow shot from God so suddenly shot that all men must needs know it came from his bow and so surely shot that men could not choose but think it was from one that was ready for them and shot so home that they must needs know it was his strength that drew the bow saith the Psalmist men shall fear and declare the work of God for they shall wisely consider of his doing and then v. 10. the righteous shall be glad in the Lord. Like enough the wicked will not be so perhaps they had lost a party by it perhaps more their ill-gotten goods to boot and fooles would not be so for as they consider not when themselves do evill so they take no notice when God doth good but for wise and righteous men they were glad and rejoyc'd in the Lord wisely and duly acknowledging that is was his work 3. I am loath to adde one reason more because it is taken ex materia humili yet it is ex fortiori from too low and dâ—spicable ground to be pleaded to Christians yet such is the age from one strong enough to perswade Well then 't is the Peace the Liberty and the Plenty you are likely to enjoy under this Prince whom you may be assured will be a King and not a Tyrant one that will govern his people by known Laws and not by his will as Tyrants 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and you are sure you have no Vsurper set over you but a King one that is the right heir to his Fathers Kingdoms and Virtues too and so never likely to tyrannize over his people Onely this let me mention which is not of small importance that if it please God to take us away from our children e're they can discern betwixt good and evill and 't was no easie matter to discern when from the very Pulpits you should hear evill call'd good and good evill they have now some water-marks set up in Jordan again the revivall of their engagements in their Baptisme and the former assistances for guiding them into the profession and practise of the true refâ—rm'd Catholique Religion The bounds whereof were of late so defac'd or pluck'd up and Truth and Errour lay so intermix'd and promiscuous that of what truth almost soever any of us was in possession he might say as the African Philosophers in Hermias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hermias it
expressing this admiration with respect unto due circumstances not barely to wonder at it and no more to wonder and perish as they in the Acts to wonder and give God no glory for working this wonder but a set time appointed for making mans wondering to end in the glorifying of God publique prefixt nationall blessing of God and rejoycing in a publique place at a publique time a day for it and a congregation on that day this day and we This is the day the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it v. 24. 4. Lastly here is solennitatis celebratio the celebrating or keeping this solemnity as it ought to be kept with praise and prayer nay with a set form of praise and with a set form of prayer not in such a manner as every man pleaseth as though there were no King in Israel or such a King as had no care of the Church but celebrated it must be with Hosannah's the usuall manner of celebrating praise amongst the Jews Psal 20. Mat. 21. as are Te Deum's amongst Christians and a form of prayer for continuing and inlarging this mercy O Lord I beseech thee send now prosperity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quick earnest prayer the pattern of the Antiphones in our Liturgie the choicest part of all and therefore the Devill shoots most of his arrows against it even bitter words O Lord show thy mercy upon us O Lord save the King c. perfectly resembling these of the Text Save now I beseech thee O Lord O Lord I beseech thee send now prosperity v. 25. Be pleas'd to try the first quarter of this garment of praise and if that fits there 's no fear of the other three The stone which the builders râ—fused the same is become the headâ—stone of the corner The mirandum or thing to be wondered at 1. The manner of expression is clearly parabolicall and as I conceive proverbiall too 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in speaking plainly it signifies the unlook'd for and unhop'd for promotion of a person to a place of greatest trust and dignity Such was that of David unto the government of all Israel being not only taken from following the Ewes great with young Psal 78.71 and so a great change made when his Shepherds crooke was turn'd to a Regall Scepter but compassed about with enemies on every side hunted as a partridge upon the mountains where little or nothing of covert and shelter could be had to secure him the whole house of Saul and all the dependents thereon and adherents thereto to be layd aside e're the thing could be brought to pass Tantae molis erat so very great a difficulty that there was little or no probability that a stone by the builders with reason enough as they and a world of others thought refused should in despight of all opposition become the head stone of the corner Yet thus it was in the issue and the difficulty of effecting it made the thing when done the more remarkable Such likewise was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods exalting of Christ Phil. 2. who by taking upon him our humane nature and the infirmities thereof sin onely excepted and being found in the form of a servant and so nothing in him which in the eyes of the world rendered him desirable was by the Jewish builders the Cheif Priests the Scribes the Pharisees the Lawyers and the Elders of the people rejected and not barely so but set at nought too vilifyed reproach'd and blasphemed and in fine layd safe enough as they thought in his grave for ever pretending any more to the place and dignity of being the head stone in the corner yet was he by the mighty power of God raised from this lowest step of exinanition the prison of the grave and the honds of death being unable to secure the resolutions and practises of those builders but God raised him from the dead through the spirit of holynesse and set him at his own right hand in hâ—avenly places farre above all Principalitie and power and might and dominion with other such marks of universall Soveraignty as you may hear from that great Herald of the Lords Anointed St. Paul Eph. 1. at the end Thus farre you 'll say the garment of praise sorts well enough with the occasion of wearing it but how for us we 'll parallel the case and see First then here 's a stone a stone refused and that not by ignorant men standers by men of no judgement in such matters but by men of skil the builders themselves and then this stone after all this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this reprobation of him and this setting of him at nought become the head stone in the corner We 'll pursue it for a while in the Parable Stones you know are a very considerable part of the materials of building without them no building is strong and durable Babel may be built with brick instead of stone and layd with slime instead of mortar but a Building of Church or State must be like Solomons Temple and Solomons house of the Kingdom of hewen stones such stones as are wrought by the square and tryed by the line and these set in well-tempâ—red mortar or else 't will not be right And a building there was amongst us of these Nations a building of the Church and a building of the State excellently wrought as men well-skill'd in such kind of buildings have often acknowledged both of our own Countrymen and Strangers But whether there were any neglect in those whose office it was to look unto and secure these buildings or whether time which gnaws out and vitiates things morall and politique as well as naturall had weakned these buildings by any dangerous faultrings and decayes or whether the fashion of the Structure was not such as pleased some capricious buildâ—rs who like Ahaz when he had been at Damascus 2 King 16.10 must needs have the form altered and quadrata mutata rotundis or what else was in the cause I shall not trouble my self to remember or imagine but sure it was that these active Builders like Solomon unto Lebanon sent out their Labourers by ten thousand at a time and quickly pull'd all to peices all was levell'd with the ground the materialls scattered not one stone to be seen upon another the very corner stone being digg'd up and cast away To set this together again was in the judgement of all men a work of much time and difficulty and by some conceived a thing utterly impossible there being so many of the materials and they the choicest spoyled with the fall many others lost and scattered which could neither be found or supplyed and the shape of such as remain'd unreducible to the new modell and platform Upon this the builders sate for some years together consulting and contriving what was fit to be done and frequently ejecting some or other of their fellows either for that their numerousnesse
Sword in his hand sharp enough and long enough to have done it himself 2. Again in what posture trow ye was the spirit of this Nation at that time But basely dejected by poverty and oppression how compliant and ready to yoak under any proposall that might give hopes to a faction that they should be the leading party and their guilt and rapine secured Of which devices the Vsurper was so well provided that he could threw out one of them as the Prophet did the peâ—â—â—â—s wood upon Jordan and no Faction was so heavy and deeply sunk that would not presently shew its head above the water You cannot but remember how all Factions moved within his Tropicks and had their vicissitudes and returns and what hopes they had sometimes given them if not of being the highest yet of not being to low and dâ—prest as they were Which Factions were by him so artificially poyz'd that he was sensible of the smallest lust that brake the scale himself like a great poysonous Spider sitting in the middest of his wâ—bb which though spread over three Nations nay over the greatest part of Europe yet so acute he was by his own sagacity partly partly by the diligence of his Ministers and partly by the vigilancy of his numerous spies and intelligencers that scarce a Gnat could strike upon any meash of his Not that Webb of vanity as since it proved not so much as a small blast upon it not a word spoken against it but timely notice thereof came to his ear But what saw we of any such advantages towards his Majesties Restauration What rational account could those of his party give for being so highly sanguine and hopeful as they were if they had been put to it could they have given another more satisfactory answer than that which Celsus in Origen derides All things with God are possible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig. cont Celsâ—l 5.240 Surely I cannot apprehend my self mistaken if I say what I then thought that all things were not long before in a posture diametrically opposite to his Majesties return And if not that yet to such a return as this to the return of him as a free Prince and to be carried into his Throne upon their shoulders whose necks were ever thought to have too stiffe a sinew in them for ever enduring to wear though but the easie yoak of Monarchicall Government at least if imposed by one of the Royal Family But when a mans way pleaseth the Lord Solomon tels us that he maketh his enemies to be at peace with him 'T is the work of God that to make a mans enemyes to become his freinds such a multitude of enemies of victorious enemies and that on a sudden that his Majesty like the Church in the Prophet might wonder and say who hath begotten me all these Isa 49.21 Immediately before the day breaks the night they say is darkest It is Gods manner to shew himself in the mount of the Lord when things are desperate in the very conelamatum est If I am able to ghesse any thing within few months before the Lord stirr'd up the spirit of his servant the now Lord Genâ—rall the Kings affaires 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one speaks of the state of the Empire in his time were upon the edge of the razor Again what doth more demonstrate a very speciall hand of God in the Restauration of his Majesty than the universall reception of him with such joy and acclamations of his people Reception sayd I yea than such impatiencies and longings for his return all men fearing they should bee thought the last that should desire to bring back the King Think you that it may not be sayd of these as of them who stuck to Saul in the Sedition 1 Sam. 10.26 That God had touch'd their hearts Must all be lodg'd upon the mobility of the vulgar the changeable temper of the people For my own part I say with the Father hoc soli Chamaeleonti detur de câ—rio suo ludere let the Chamelâ—on be the onely turn-coat I shall for ever commend the ingenuity of my countrymen Tertulâ—de Pallio and blesse the Providence of Almighty God saying with St. Iraenens Volunt as operatio Dei effectrix est providens causa Cited by Deâ—â—tr Dâ—acop a vâ—â—â— Seâ—m de Ign. I rag Iren. omnis temporis loci saeculi itemque naturae omnis That the will and operation of the Divine Majesty is the efficacious and provident cause of all changes in times places ages and natures Take heed therefore that you doe not rob God of any part of this honour therewith to raise Trophies and cbelsques to men who though free Agents are yet but second causes When you see the nimble and advantageous motion of a ship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Theoph. ad Autolyc lib. 1. weathering of it out in a storm and coming safe into the harbour in the end you cannot but believe she is guided by some skilfull Pilot within whose art and directions are not seen by you on the shore Apply this with Theophilus to the providence of God in governing invisibly the Affaires of the Universe and you will be ready to say with the Prophet Daniel one who saw wonderfull changes not onely in his native country but in the Land of his captivity Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever for wisdome and might are his and he changeth the times and the seasons he removeth Kings and he setteth up his Kings Dan. 2.20 21. And these Eucharisticall devotions of that holy Prophet hath arrived me at my third part Admirationis solennitas the solemnity of that admiration which is due to this marvellous thing by reflecting upon fit circumstances for performing it place time persons c. a fit day for it however This is the day the Lord hath made c. the third quarter of this garment of praise 3. Though God be in truth the Author of all good things and the Creatour of time being himself not measured by any time no not by eternity it self but rather eternitie by him so that we may truly say the day is thine and the night is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sun Psal 74.16 Yet hath not Satan failed to play his part in filtching away some dayes from God which he hath made dayes of his solemne worship Of old he had his Festivals and his dayes of Expiation amongst the Heathen yea some imitation he had of the Crown of Martyrdome as we know by his Mithrae milites And it was one of his Devices by these imitations to lye as close upon the confines of the true Religion as mought be and to keep as narrow land-shares betwixt the fields of Truth and Errour as possibly he could that affecting the appâ—arance of divine things in his service 〈…〉 idâ—â—rco quadam de 〈…〉 â—os de sâ—oâ—um fide consundâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Tert. de Coâ—on mil. c. 15.
over them Isa 3.4 and so to have many Princes the once darling-government of this Nation is with God esteemed a curse and a punishment for the iniquity of a people And in Homer's time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a popular government was esteem'd the worst Nay to have had a Prince that had but shewn himselfe a friend to the Christian Religion would have been by the Primitive Christians esteem'd a great blessing as bad as their Emperors were they held themselvs oblig'd to pray for theÌ„ and to keep such daies of solemnity for them as this See Tertul. Aâ—oâ—â— c. 30. and Just Mart. Apol. 2. p. 64. never to oppose and resist them though many hundreds of Christians fell in some dayes by the hands of their bloody persecuting Ministers I have heard some heretofore object that it was for want of a sufficient strength to make head against them But such had small acquaintance either with the virtues or with the writings of the Primitive Christians Tertullian can tell you that vel una nox pauculis faculis largitatem ultionis possis operari si malum malo dispungi nâ—bis liceret c. 36. a few fires in one night would 〈◊〉 given thâ—m a very plentifull revenge if they durst have return'd evil for evil They were but the Emperours Ministers whom they durst not resist though they did many times persecute them without any commission at all or under very poor pretences More may be seen of their number valour in those Apologists to the Emperours who were very well able to discern when they spake truth From this it was that their joy was inexpressible at Constantines coming to the Power the first that ever did any thing for the Christian Religion in the capacity of an Emperour and member of the Church though Philip indeed preceeded him in profession of the Christian saith And how can we choose but rejoyce then and bless God not onely for that he hath given us a Christian King an Orthodox King but a wise and courageous Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyr. ip ad Const. and what crowns all a Religious Prince of whom we may say as Cyril in his Epistle if it be his to Constantius that he is such a one who by his profession and examples of Religion wil teach others and this too in the judgment opinion of his enemies and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 't is a considerable testimony if it be for good that one hath from his enemy And as thanks are due to Almighty God for the good that we have received so also for the evil that we have escap'd from what we have felt from what we have fear'd Nay from more than most of us have either felt or fear'd for what man was able to foresee the mischief that this Nation was expos'd unto both in Church and State until this settlement They were no men to be scared with mormo's that fear'd an utter desolation of this kingdom in all the ugliest shapes of misery and mischief that malice and revenge could practise And certainly we have encouragements given us by a time so opposite to that to expect and pray for prosperity not that we may wallow in the milk and honey of Canaean stuff our skins full oâ— Gods blessings and then spew them up again in his face as formerly I hope that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that holy flagellation wherewith we have been disciplin'd under the hand of God will preserve us from running into such excesses but the prosperity that we ought to hope and pray for is that the Church hath taught us in her Responds O Lord save thy people and blesse thine inheritance c. and give peace in our time O Lord c. and the poynt or câ—â—â—r wherein all these lines should meet must be the same which is by St. Paul sayd to be the great end of Christians in praying for their Kings and all that be in authority 1 Tim. 2.2 That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlyness and honesty Other carnal designs of such prayers for prosperity are but to pray to God to set an edge upon that knife wherewith a man intends to destroy himself And this Prosperity is very emphatically desired and pray'd for now now after thou hast O Lord been graciously pleas'd to begin to visit us now after that wee have suffer'd so much and so long now after we have again put our necks under the easie yoak of our lawful Government in Church and State now after we have repented us from all our former transgressions now after we have endeavoured to shew our selves thankfull for our deliverance And now what have I more to doe since I have told you for what God is to be praised this day and for what this day to be prayed unto Surely I think this garment of praise is very well fitted unto our occasion And if it sits too streight on any man here 't is because he is not clean-limm'd then some humour perhaps and swelling of the old disease which I hope this garment of garment of praise may heal in time as well as hide now That which remains to be done is to let the world see what doctrine 't is that we preach preach with a desire and a design to have it practis'd and that must be in your discharge of the duties of this day so as is fit for such a day as this the Lords day a day extraordinarily made his by the extraordinary blessing of this day Shall I tell you how the Primitive Christians were wont to keep such dayes as this this very day of their Heathen bloody persecuting Emperors O patient soules that could doe that for them who shed their blood which some of us will scarce do for them who have adventured their blood for us well then let the Ancient Father speake out the truth of it Solennia corum conscientiâ potius quam lasciviâ celebrant The Christians keep these solemnities for the Emperour in purity of conscience and not in lasciviousnesse of behaviour And afterward speaking of the wild demeanour of the Heathens upon such dayes grande videlicet ossicium saies he they think they have done a great matter by benefires and profâ—â—se spâ—nding c. and then after that sloâ—â— together unto many inordinate and filthy actions and injuries of others Sâ—ccine exprimitur publicum gaudium per publicum dedecus Is it fit thus to expresse publique joy by publique lâ—wdnesse Thus much the Father clearly to the very point in hand I am mostly jealous of them who take themselves to be more his Majesties freinds or to have been longer so than others And therefore cannot but presse this point the more earnestly Let it not be said of any of us as of those Heathens 〈◊〉 Majestas Tertal Apol. 6.35 Divinitas coastrupratur laudantibus vobis That God in his glory and the King in his honour do suffer by any disorderly rejoycings of ours The Passion of joy is a dilâ—ting Passion the spirits in it are scattered and diffused as we see by the motions of the lips in laughter and of some other parts that are fill'd with spirits from whence proceed ridiculous and mimiâ—all actions which are avoyded by the contraction of the spirits Be masters then of your spirits Publique civill testimonies of joy and rejoycing are not to be denyed unto men reason and examples approve and allow it but the danger is in falling into extreams Therefore take both his Majesties Proclamations in your hands let the one be a Canon and a rule for your demeanour in the t'other that against vâ—tious and debauch'd Persons your rule for giving obedience to that which hath appointed this for a day of Thanksgiving and holy rejoycing unto God Praise the Psalmist tels us is comely and no uncomely action must be seen in it if something slips out that sorts not with grave men yet set a surer watch over all that misbecomes a Christian man I had almost forgot one thing You know this day we are to solemnize the positure of the corner-stone of our Church and State Have some respect I beseech you to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fortune of this structure do what you can to secure it against any evill accident by your Christian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as I may speak and telesmatical Charity You know what the custom is when the first-stone of the Building is layd I beseech you purchase the prayers of the poor this day by your bounty that their hearts also may partake of the rejoycings of this day This is the way to have more cause of rejoycing for such rejoycing as this God will accept and in the company of this he will receive our prayers and will make us to rejoice in our King and our King in us and all of us to rejoyce in the Lord who hath given us this day to rejoyce in For which we humbly blesse and praise his holy name beseeching him to blesse our King to us and to blesse us us and all our Fellow Subjects unto our King that being mutually happy in each other in this world we may be eternally happy with each other in the world to come Amen FINIS HONI SIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT