hate Rebellion For he that resisteth saith the Apostle flies in the face of God Resisteth his Ordinance Rom. 13.2 And though possibly they may escape here hereafter 't will be dearly paid for For without Repentance They that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation ibid. And if we will prove our selves True Christians we must be thus obedient not onely for wrath lest we suffer for our Rebellion but for Conscience-sake as we hope to approve our selves unto God who hath laid this law upon us ver 5. ibid. St. Peter is of the same mind with St. Paul For in his 1 Epist 2.13 14. we read Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake Whether to the King as Supream or to Governours as to those that are sent by him Where you may observe That the subordinate as well as supreme Magistrate is to have our Homage and obedience without resistance paid unto him And this in Conscience towards God to for the Lord's sake Which are but other words for the same thing St. Paul had spoken so that whatever any sort of men suppose may be objected by the Law of Nature the Law of Grace controuls that Fancy and doth most plainly determine our Obedience and the Doctrine of Non-resistance For who may say unto the King What dost thou Eccles 8.4 And this is a great part of our Duty who are Ministers to declare unto you especially in such a Turbulent and Seditious Age namely To put you in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates to be ready to every good work Tit. 3.1 As if there were little likelihood of any other Good Works if this of our Obedience were neglected Touching the latter Their State must be supported likewise And this both by our Purse and Person also Support their State Need I remember you By Purse How shameful and unsafe it is for any Kingdom to have a King that is poor and needy Doth not the Honour and Interest of a People then Plead for a Liberal Supply unto their Prince But you shall hear that Contributions to this purpose are matter of Duty towards God For the Apostle Rom. 13.6 7. saith For this Cause even Conscience-sake the Words that do immediately precede Pay you Tribute also And the next Verse Render to all their due not your Curtesie but their Due Tribute to whom tribute Custom to whom Custom appertaineth Which makes me greatly wonder how any persons of sober or of honest Principles should as they say 't is common steal their Customs from the King 'T is so unconscionable that I nothing doubt it to be worse than Robbing of our common Neighbour of what are his unquestionable Goods Because our Soveraign's Right is manifest and the Wrong is highly aggravated by the Great and Publique Capacity of the Person injured 'T is plain our Blessed Saviour would rather work a Miracle for Paying Tribute to the Higher Powers than neglect the doing it Mat. 17.27 And if he perform this Duty should not we go and do likewise Nor are our Persons suppose them capable exempted from his Service when they are needful to it Honouring of our Parents injoyned by the Fifth Commandment intends the helping of them upon occasion with our Hand as well as succouring them with our Estate And the Civil Parent justly is by all Interpreters included there Was it not very honourable in Ittai a Stranger and an Exile onely taken under King David's Protection to vow That Wheresoever the King should be in life or death he would bear him company 2 Sam. 15. And should not natural Subjects think themselves under a greater Obligation Yes God's People of old would by no means have their King hazard his Person in the Battel because say they Thou art worth Ten thousand of us but they would freely venture their Lives for him 2 Sam. 18. They were not for Plotting his Destruction much less for actual Murdering of him as was too lately done upon the Royal Martyr by the prevailing Party in our late Rebellion to the Eternal shame thereof No no to save his blood they would spill their own and expose their own Throats to preserve the Crown upon his Head This is the part of Christian Loyalty And let me add That when we cannot by strength of Hand and force of Arms be Serviceable that must be made up by Counsel and Designs as far as our capacity reacheth What adventures did Husha Zadock and Abiathar and their Sons run to save their King the Lord 's Anointed and to defeat the Treasons of Ahitophel 2 Sam. 16 and 17 Chapters Whereas if their Loyal Practices had been Discover'd though they had been Masters of a thousand Lives we may be sure they had all been Sacrific'd to the most Exquisite Tortures that witty and enraged Traytors could have invented But there needs no more of this as being taught already in the Doctrine of Obedience which we have before discoursed of So much then of the Second Consideration to prove the peculiar care God takes of Kings by The Charge he lays on people concerning them The Third and Last I offer'd for the Proof hereof was this God's own very marvellous Actings for them 3 Considerations And if it shall appear That numerous Signal Providences have been exercis'd for the safety and preservation of God's Anointed Ones I think we shall have over-measure to our present purpose Now multitudes of Instances might be produc'd of this Nature both front amongst Jewish Heathen and Christian Princes I shall onely pick out one of each and be brief therein because indeed this Point will lead me home to the Third Proposition which is so near unto our selves as can't but prove most convincing with us First then A Jewish King the Care of Providence about a Jewish King And David is the Person to be spoken of Now he observe it though hunted unto death whilst but a Subject and for none other fault than Saving of the King and Kingdom doth still approve his Loyalty not onely in not offering Violence to his Soveraign who most unjustly Persecuted him but abhorring the thoughts of such accursed Treason with The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord 's Anointed 1 Sam. 26.11 And this when injuries provoked opportunities invited companions urged and impunity seem'd to Charm him thereunto For he was Heir Apparent and the Crown doth purge all stains But he was not an Oliver or a Bradshaw hating to think that Providence justified or encouraged unto any Villany And yet when himself is Lawful King there are many Conspiracies for his Destruction I shall take notice but of one but that the worst of all the rest The Unnatural Plot of his Own Natural Child but Rebellious Son Absalom And here let us consider First 1. What a Bloody Design it was not onely to remove ill Ministers of State nor barely to prune the over-grown branches of Prerogative no nor
from Or that our Dear Religion and the Gospel would have been by such Confusions cast upon their Death-bed if ever they had recovered thence There is no man knoweth whose very Life should have been given him as a Prey How frightful are the thoughts of these things But how abominable to God and all Good Men must be the Authors of them But thanks be unto God Our King is safe and we together with him Wherein those Men of Mischief dealt proudly indeed cruelly the Almighty was above them Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us a Prey unto their teeth The snare is broken and we are escaped Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth Psal 124.6 7 8. Thus is our King a Signal Instance of God's peculiar Care of Princes which fairly leads us unto the Fourth 4. Propos and Last Proposition This is just occasion for His Mafesties and his Peoples great joy and thankfulness unto God All Mercies bring with them just matter of Rejoyceing in and giving Thanks for unto God that gives them But the more signal any Blessing is the greater is the Obligation thereby laid upon us to enlarge our Hearts in joyful gratitude 'T was a great fault in King Hezekiah though a good Man otherwise That he rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him 2 Chron. 35.25 And our Saviour makes a just complaint against the Nine Lepers That they returned not to give God glory for his Mercy to them Luk. 17.17 18. As for our Soveraign so many remarkable Circumstances in that Deliverance this day acknowledg'd concur to commend and advance the singular kindness of the Almighty towards him that they cannot but influence his Royal Soul to joyful Thanksgiving As First A Design in its Nature so horrid and feral to be disapointed The very Life of Himself and Dearest Brother with such Cruelty and Inhumanity to be ravish'd from them And by his own Subjects and Servants that ought with alacrity to have lay'd down their Lives for his sake So many Principal Ministers if not all his Loyal Subjects and Three whole Kingdoms lying at stake together Again To escape such a Plot that was unsuspected For though the King knew no doubt of a Discontented Party Nothing is more probable than that he was secure of any such vile and villanous Attempt And truly the thing is so uncouth and monstrous so aliene from and adverse to Humane Nature to say nothing of Christian Religion which damns the very Seeds and Principles thereof that an innocent honest and well-meaning man but for such clear Evidence that shines like the Sun at noon-day would be apt in this Case to take up the words of Nicodemus in an other How can these things be But so plain is the proof that now for one to deny it seems if not to Confess he is in it at least to signifie good wishes to it Yet further an horrible mischief to be blasted That was so easie to have been effected His Majesty though not without need we clearly perceive being always provided of a meet Defence for his Sacred Person yet at this time and place out of Confidence we may suppose of the Loyalty and Love of his People seeming to neglect his wonted Guards at least to be satisfied with a less number than usual encourag'd the Villany and threatned less danger to the vile Undertakers Besides The unexpectedness of the Providence that defeated the Treason adds much to the mercy of scaping it The burning down of his Majesties Town kept up the Tabernacle of his Majesties Body New-Market Fire though it were not likely to quench those Traytors thirst for his Sacred Blood yet it choak'd them from drinking it For that so sad an Accident there was made the occasion of great gladness elsewhere in causing the removal of the King before his intended and their expected Season Lastly That a Confederate in the Villany as deep and as forward as any of the vilest should be smitten so with the Horror of the Fact as himself doth confess that the Feaver and Convulsion of his own mind would give him no rest till he made the Discovery These are all such Circumstances that severally would do much but joyned as they are do mightily enhance the price of God's Care for the King's Preservation And accordingly they have prevailed upon him for the most Solemn and Publick Acknowledgment thereof Which past all doubt is very well and most Religiously done That as Mordecai called his People to a day of Publick Gladness and Rejoycing for his Own and Their Deliverance from Haman's Rage and Cruelty So on a much like occasion our Soveraign should invite his Subjects to such a Solemnity of Publick and joyful Thanksgiving as at this day both on his own behalf and ours For it must be remembred as 't was told us before That we likewise are concer'd in duty herein It must be our business as well as our Kings To rejoyce and bless God for this great Salvation And were there none other reason we were oblig'd hereto solely for the sake of our Soveraign The Holy Scriptures have told you already That Prayers and Praises besides are owing for Kings and All in Authoriiy And what is more reasonable and just Doth not He Protect us under God in our Lives and Liberties and Estates Nay which is yet more Is not He the Defender of the Faith and a Preserver of the Gospel amongst us You know He 's our Governour our Father and our Head How great is our Concernment therefore in His Safety and Happiness Is there any of us that can honestly grudge to say to our King as David's good Subjects once said unto him Thou art worth ten thousand of us And if God's Church of Old bewailed the loss of their King as loosing the breath of their nostrils Lam. 4.20 Should not a Christian Church have an Equal Value for their King now Nay verily if God had permitted this Dreadful Design to have prosper'd we should have had but too much cause to have taken up their mournful Dialect and in the Utmost Extent of its sense too For I beseech you consider into what a dismal Chaos Matters had presently been trun'd What frights and spoils what havocks and slaughters must have instantly followed When the White Flag of Peace had been dip'd a Blood-colour and the ravenous Sword like an hunger-bit Lyon at his Prey were tearing and devouring our Flesh whither then could we fly for Refuge Say that some of us might have scaped with our Lives where had our Liberties been Must not our Ears have been bored and We sealed an Indenture of perpetual Slavery to the Prevailing Party What would have become of Religion Posterity and Numberless Souls God onely knows The Prevention whereof gives us just reason to say This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad therein But this will have its more proper place in
The Practical Reflections on the Whole Practical Reflections which are but these Two For 1. Obedience to Man For 2. Thankfulness to God 1. For Obedience to Man the Magistrate 1 Reflect that is the King as Supreme and Governours as sent by him as St. Peter Expresseth it And I need do little else than pray you to remember What plentiful Testimony you have already had from the Holy Scriptures for this great Duty So that the Refusers hereof must needs be Rebellious against God disobedient unto and contemners of his Word Whoever will prove faithful Servants of the Lord must also be found Loyal Subjects to their Prince He can never be true unto God that is false to his Minister which the Magistrate is Be dutiful therefore in chearful complying with all good Laws And if any be suspected you must be paâ—…ent in submitting where you cannot be active in fulfilling Joyn also highest Veneration for your Governours and the Chief especially Having heard before That the best thoughts of them should always fill your Minds And let your Discourse be sparing about Publick Matters and still most reverend thereof and of those that manage them Is it fit to say unto a King Thou art wicked And to Princes ye are ungodly Job 34.18 Beware of speaking evil of the Rulers of the people Act. 23.5 The best Constructions and best Expressions of all Publick Managements do best become us and are due from us Our distance will not allow a due Judgment and our duty binds us to the fairest Interpretation of them The Covering very nakedness of Superiours gat the Blessing when the contrary method of divulging it brought the Curse Gen. 9. Private Men's Work doth lye at home within their own Sphear and such a Person should check his aptness to extravagate with Who makes Me a Judge as our Saviour once rebuked a Pragmatick Spirit Luk. 12.14 Why will any be so busie then in Affairs of State which are not their Province Would we consult the Spirit of the Gospel and tread his Steps the Prince of Peace and Lamb for Meekness that did send it and theirs the Sons of Peace of Patience and Submission who did bring it how easie would this business be and how effectual would the Counsel to it prove with All Let us therefore study to be quiet and do our own business as St. Paul Commands 1 Thess 4.11 And according to St. Peter make a full proof that we Fear God by Honour paid unto the King 2. For Thankfulness unto God 2 Reflect The just occasion for it hath so fully been already manifested that nothing else is wanting but the Practice of it whereto so many Motives press us How should our Hearts be now enlarged how should our Mouthes be open'd to Bless and Praise the Lord to Exalt and Magnifie his Name for this so great Salvation he hath wrought 'T was not our Strength and Power no Wisdome and Fore sight of ours nay nor our Care and Diligence that was contributary to the Deliverance But it was God's right Hand and his own Arm and the light of his Countenance that did All because he had a favour to us Shall we not say then and say it from our Hearts Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel who onely doth wondrous things and blessed be his Glorious Name for Ever and Ever Do we love our King Who ought to be the Delight of our Eyes the joy of our Hearts and the breath of our Nostrils Let us Magnifie then the Almighty and most Merciful God That his Anointed was not taken in their pits Have we a value for our Country Acquaintance Friends and near Relations are they dear unto us Let us Exalt his Name that is most High that they are not wallowing in their own goar nor it become a New Akeldama a Field of Blood again Is our Religion and the Gospel more than our very Lives with us Let us give thanks and praise to God that still he doth preserve them For had that wickedness prosper'd when Irreligion like a Deluge must have overwhelm'd us what had become of the Word and Ordinances of all true Piety and Devotion Can we forbear the Psalmists Language now Bless the Lord O our Souls and all within us magnifie his holy Name How should we from our Hearts as I said declare God's praises with our Mouths And let me add thereto before we part How should our Lives and Conversations Eccho hereunto For I must tell you That Thanksgiving unto God is not matter of meer Complement Nor are his Praises the labour of our Lips onely No man can be truly thankful unless he will be really holy To speak well of God and spurn his Laws the while is like to Joab's kind saluting of Amasa when he stab'd him Whilst the Life Dishonours God the praises of the Mouth are no better then Dung Sacrificed which will be thrown back with indignation into his Face that offers it Will the most Holy and Alseeing God account That Tongue doth bless his Name as it ought with Thanks and Praise whose daily trade it is to Blaspheme the same with horrid Oathes and Execrations Or can he reckon those Persons thankful for his Mercies whatever they say that abuse those very Mercies to the Service of their Lusts and Satan What Atheism and Prophaneness pay God the Tribute of his Praises Can drunken Healths or wanton Embraces open Violences or secret frauds or any irreligious Courses give him Glory to whom they bid Defyance Assure your selves That ungodly Lives and holy Praises are like the Ark and Dagon they never stand together in the sight of God You must therefore either necessarily leave your Sins or loose your Thanks how fair soever they may seem If we would then be truly Thankful and to God's Acceptance Let us praise him with our Lips and please him in our Lives Let 's being deliver'd from our Enemies serve him that hath deliver'd us in righteousness and holiness before him all our days Luke 1.75 This is that Thanksgiving which is alone thank-worthy All other is not Current Coyn indeed Reprobate Silver or meer Dross Let us be renewed and reformed therefore Let us Renounce the works of darkness and walk as Children of the light Let us cleanse our selves from filthiness of Flesh and Spirit to the perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Without a sincere endeavour after which as our Praise is lost so are our Persons too for ever For God hateth all the workers of iniquity And take this further Motive hereunto You would be surely counted Loyal to your Prince but give me leave to tell you a debauch'd vicious and sinful Life is so far from being any proof thereof that it gives great cause to fear the contrary 'T is somewhat hard to think How that Man should be truly Loyal to his King that is an open Rebel against God So such Sinners are Whatever Obligation they may stand in to their Prince those on them unto God are infinitely greater And what security is there that he that breaks the stronger Bond should not likewise snap the weaker This we are sure of That Prophane and Ungodly Subjects may by their wicked Lives work great mischief to their Soveraign though they may not mean it in their Minds And so we are urged unto Holiness on the account of Loyalty also 'T was the Prophets Counsel unto Subjects 1 Sam. 12.24 25. Fear the Lord and serve him in Truth with all your heart for consider how great things he hath done for you And it follows But if ye still do wickedly ye shall be destroyed both ye and your King See here the Publick Mischief that may be done by Private Persons continuing in their wickedness Even Majesty it self is not secure from it And 't is strange Loyalty that over-turns Soveraignty Whereto 't is manifest That Subject's Sins have an apparent tendency For a Conclusion of all If we love our King our Country our Friends our Selves both Souls and Bodies let it be our care and business with highest Praises for all God's mercies and This signal One to joyn the Holy Practice of all God's Commandments Then Whoso offereth praise glorifyeth me saith the Scripture and to him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God Psal 50.23 FINIS