A SERMON Preach'd at BARBICAN Upon the Sixteenth of April 1696. BEING A Day of THANKSGIVING unto Almighty God for Discovering and Disappointing an Horrid and Barbarous Conspiracy of Papists and other Traiterous Persons to Assassinate and Murder His most Gracious Majesty's Royal Person and for Delivering this Kingdom from an Invasion intended by the French By Andrew Burnett M A. Minister of the Gospel Psalm 144 9 10. I will sing a new song unto thee O God upon a Psalter and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee It is he that giveth salvation to kings who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword LONDON Printed for Rich. Baldwin near the Oxford Arms in Warwick-lane 1696. A SERMON Preach'd on the Thanksgiving-Day c. Micah VII Vers 15 16 17. According to the days of thy coming out of the Land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things The Nations shall see and be confounded at all their might they shall lay their hand upon their mouth their ears shall be deaf They shall lick the dust like a Serpent they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth they shall be afraid of the Lord our God and shall fear because of thee THE Providence of God the malicious mischievous and monstrous desperate and damned Plot and Conspiracy Cruelty and Malice of our Enemies The Royal and most Excellent Proclamation of His Majesty King William wherein He speaks of the Mercy and Power of God in discovering and delivering us from a Horrid and Barbarous Conspiracy of Papists and other Traiterous Persons hath assembled us this day to pay our Vows unto the Lord and to speak of his marvellous Acts. In order to which I have chosen this Portion of Scripture in which you have 1. The Lord standing ingaged to his Church and People to give them as great a Deliverance from their Enemies and Troubles as great and wonderful as that from Egypt was According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things O! The Lord will shew his Church and People as wonderful things in Mercy as he did when he brought them out of the Land of Egypt 2. You have the Amplification it self held forth in a general Expression in the first Words of Psal 16. 1. The Nations says he shall see 2. You have the Effects of this sight which are two 1. They shall be confounded This is heightned from that which was to be a special ingredient in that confusion viz. 1. It should be at all their might 2. From the sensible Signs and Symptoms by which their confusion should appear viz. 1. They shall lay their hands upon their mouth 2. Their ears shall be deaf And in the II. place In the 17th Verse You have another effect of the Nations seeing the marvellous things God was to do in the Deliverance of his Church and People viz. 1. They shall lick the dust like a serpent 2. They shall move out of their holes like worms of the Earth III. They shall be afraid Of whom Why the cause of their fear is 1. God Because of the Lord our God 2. The Church And because of Thee O Zion Before I proceed any further give me leave to open two things 1. What is meant by Nations here 2. What is meant by Seeing The Nations shall see 1. By Nations we are to understand those that are Enemies to God his Church and People the Nations That is a People that are afar off and Strangers to God and his People These are the Nations that are and shall be Counfounded at the Happiness of God's Church and People And no wonder it be so if we consider the Enmity and Envy that is in the World at God's Church and People Ishmael you know could not endure Isaac nor Esau Jacob in one Family and no wonder if it be so betwixt the Church and other Nations Hence They have consulted together with one consent they are confeder are against thee says the Royal Psalmist David Psal 83. 5. In the Original it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Berith Ychrothu Percusso faedere contra te conspiraverunt vel Leges contra te tuosque Gentes Sanciverunt They have conspired against Thee by a Covenant They have made a League and Laws against Thee and Thy Nations Thy People O! These are the Nations 2. The Nations shall see By this Phrase of seeing we may understand that 1. The World is the very Theatre and Stage as it were The Church is set as a City upon a Hill and therefore all that are about such as Nations cannot but readily see and perceive most of the remarkable Changes of her case wherefore this without question is a special one viz. The Lords shewing unto her marvellous things 2. The Nations shall see They shall be forced to see the Churches Prosperity to their own Confusion and Ruine O! The Marvellous Things which the Lord doth for his Church and People are Things not done in a Corner as Paul hath it to Agrippa Acts 26. 26. The Nations Marvellous Iniquity and Malice Plotting and Contriving is in secret O! But God's Marvellous Works which he doth for his Church and People are openly done in the sight of all 3. The Nations shall see Marvellous Things of their own Nature use to spread far and draw many to see them The Queen of Sheba came far to see and hear the Truth of the Marvellous Reports of Solomon Sure we may say a greater than Solomon is here who deserves it much better that Men should talk of the Glory of his Mighty Acts. 3. The Nations shall see The Nations are often the subject of God's mighty Acts and marvellous Things for his Church and People Yea they are many times made both to see and fear them at once I gave Egypt for thy Ransom Ethiopia and Sheba for thee Isaiah 43. 3. And these are such wonders which the Nations cannot but see being so much concerned in themselves 4. The Nations shall see The Lord has promised that to his Church Isaiah 26. 11. Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see And be ashamed for their envy at the People Oh it is a sight that in the World they have worst will of Yet they shall see their own might confounded and weakned 5. The Nations shall see The Lords marvellous Things for his Church and People will not shall not want Publishers no no Psalm 145. 6. Men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts and v. 4. One generation shall declare thy works to another and shall declare thy mighty acts In the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dor Ledor Jeschachar Mehachecha Aetas Aetati laudabit opera tua One Age shall praise thy Works to another Age The Generation of the Old World and Old Testament shall declare thy Works and the Generation of the New Testament shall Praise thy Works viz. Works of
Creation Providence Redemption Grace and Glory Having opened these two Words the rest will come under this following DOCTRINE That the marvellous Things which God doth and will do for his Church and People shall have a dreadful Effect a terrible amazing and wonderful influence upon all the Enemies of God his Church and People The Nations shall see and be confounded In speaking to this we shall consider 1. What is Imported in this They shall be confounded 2. What Influence the seeing of God's marvellous Things can have so as to procure this effect upon them 3. We shall apply the whole for our own Use and Instruction 1. Proposition What may be Imported in their being Confounded 1. It Imports their losing as it were the very use of their Reason This is one of the marvellous Things God threatens to do to his Enemies Isaiah 29. 14. The Wisdom of the wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid It 's written says Paul I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent 1 Cor. 1. 19. They shall be Confounded they shall not have so much as the use of their Reason And indeed this is verified in our Enemies this day Have they not manifested their Madness witness Sir John Friend's Prayer It 's no Wisdom to Plot He is a wise Man in my Opinion that Plots not That is true Wisdom not to Plot. 2. It may Import also even the loss of their Tongue That they who not long ago were ready to say Our Tongues are our own who is Lord over us Psal 12. 4. Is it not just and right that they should now be put in that case as they shall not know what to say Then shall the Seers be ashamed and the Diviners confounded yea they shall cover their lips for there is no answer of God Micah 3. 7. This holds out that Confusion and Speechlesness as it were go together 3. It Imports shame in their Countenance Carriage and Deportment Psal 109. 29. Let mine adversaries be cloathed with shame and let them cover themselves with their own confusion as with a mantle Oh! Shame and Confusion go together 4. Confusion may Import an Incapacity of any further Action Oh When the Lord sends Confusion amongst the Churches Enemies they must quit the Building of their high Babels as they did long ago Gen. 11. 8 9. Our Enemies this day are they not rendred incapable of Plotting and Contriving any more 5. Confusion may Import especially as it is applicable to the Enemies of God's Church no less than ruine it self and a going to naught as it were Isa 41. 11. Behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall perish There you have the Exposition of their Confusion ere all be done Are not His Majesty's Enemies that were incensed against Him this day Ashamed and Confounded and they that strive with Him shall they not Perish Some of them have we see perished already and I do not doubt but the rest shall have the same Fate So much for the first Proposition We come now to speak to the Second Proposition What are the Influences the seeing of these marvellous Things the Lord doth and shall do to his Church and People they can or shall have upon the Enemies of his Church and People so as to Confound them The Nations shall see and be confounded says the Lord. 1. A surprising Influence So far contrary to their Expectation They hoped God would never so appeared for his Church and People and now they are all surprised and disappointed and so they begin to be Confounded like that Job 6. 20. They were confounded because they had hoped O How did the Duke of Berwick carry over that joyful News to Lewis and James that all Things were well in England and they hoped to bring their Cursed Design to an effectual Issue But now How are they surprised How are they disappointed 2. A convincing Influence O the Lords marvellous Works are able to convince the stoutest Adversaries he hath Acts 4. 16. For indeed that a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem and we cannot deny it said the Rulers Elders and Scribes There is the Finger of God could the Magicians in Egypt say when their Inchantments failed Now of necessity Lewis and James they must see and acknowledge the evident hand of the Lord in this great Deliverance wrought for his People and Church in these Nations and they cannot help themselves in it and no wonder it encreases their Confusion 3. The marvellous Things the Lord Works for his People hath an incensing influence upon them they are usually put in a rage by them Acts 5. 17. They were filled with Indignation at the wonderful Things and Miracles done by their Apostles Oh How are they this day inraged at the wonderful Things done by God to his Majesty King William to his Church and People here 4. The wonderful Things that God doth for his Church and People puts them out of their wits as it were for fear so as that they know what to do or what shift to make for themselves Psalm 48. 4 5 6. For loe the kings were assembled they passed by togeither they saw it and so they marvelled they were troubled and hasted away Fear took hold upon them there and pain as of a woman in travail O hath not Lewis and James two wicked Kings seen this this and do they not marvel Doth not this Deliverance that makes us Rejoyce this day Trouble them and make them Cry Oh What pannick Fear hath seized and taken hold on them 5. In a Word God's marvellous Workings pursues them to their ruine and never leaves them till it drives them to the utmost of their Confusion even to that as you have it Asts 13. 41. Behold the despisers and wonder and perish as it is cited out of Habbakuk 1. 5. 2. Another Effect as a special ingredient of the Enemies Confusion is thar it should be at all their might Which Phrase may admit of a twofold Sense 1. That all the Might of Adversaries were they never so Potent shall not be able to hinder their Confusion when the Lord's time of doing marvellous Things for his Church and People comes about no no. O There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord Prov. 21. 30. and so no might either The very Nature of their Judgment will clear this you see its Confusion which in effect will take away Reason Courage and Judgment from them and what shall all their Might avail them then The Nature of the Things which God promises to do for his People speaks this You see they are marvellous Things and what can poor sinful men's Might do against the Lord's Wonders Aarons reed you know swallowed up the Magicians rods Exod. 7. 12.
And hath not the marvellous Things of the Lord swallowed up the marvellous Policy Iniquity Plottings Strength and Might of our Enemies this day The way that the Lord takes to encounter the Adversaries of his Church as he is pleased to express it himself may put this above all doubt Isaiah 47. 3. I will take vengeance says the Lord to Babylon and not meet thee as a man If they had only to do with men men might meet men like themselves O But how shall they how can they and wherewith shall they meet God 2. It will bear this Sense also That the Enemies of God when they are at the height of their Power even at the highest pinnacle of their Might then is the time when the Lord brings Confusion upon them O then it is they begin to think themselves Invincible and that there is no reaching of them Now the Lord is concerned there as you may see Obadiah 3d and 4th verses Then it is readily they are and must be at the height of their Pride and Pride you know goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall Prov. 16. 18. Then they begin to trust in very Wickedness it self and to take such ways and courses as are wicked Isaiah 47. 10 11. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness Thou hast said none seeth me thy wisdom and thy knowledge it hath perverted thee and thou hast said in thine heart I am and none besides me Therefore shall evil come upon thee thou shalt not know from whence it ariseth and mischief shall fall upon thee thou shalt not be able to put it off and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly which thou shalt not know O then it is the Lord hath so to say the best opportunity both to magnifie his Power upon them and to get a full stroak of them For when they are at all their Might they use to be gathered best together as at the Red Sea When Phoraoh and all his Chariots and Host were together then did God drown them all Rom. 9. 17. Even for this purpose O Lewis the Great hath God raised thee up that he might shew his Power in thee and that his Name might be declared throughout all the Earth 3. A third Influence which the marvellous Things of God shall have upon his Enemies is held forth in these two Symptoms 1. They shall lay their hands upon their Mouth 2. And their Ears shall be deaf That is in effect they shall lay their hand on their Mouths in silent Admiration their Ears shall be made Deaf with the noise and fame of God's marvellous Works done to and for his Church and People O they who not long ago did boast and brag of their Understanding Quickness and Sagacity Now when the Lord shews his marvellous Things for his Church and People they appear very blockish and can neither speak nor hear O How can they speak when their Hearts are filled with carnal Grief When they see that they are like to lose for all their Might That Tyrannical Power they were wont to use and exercise over God's Church and People and that without hope of recovery O How can they hear that have received such an immediate stroak from God upon them as a piece of their Judgment to make them so much a spectacle to the world of his Displeasure 4. A fourth effect of the Influence that God's marvellous Things for his Church and People hath upon his Enemies is in this Similitude They shall lick the dust like a serpent VVhich Similitude denotes their Subjection such as it is This is an Allusion to the custom of the East-Countries where they use in their ordinary Salutations especially to Persons of Note and Respect to Bow themselves so low as if they seem'd to lick the dust So the Scripture tell us Jacob bowed to Esau Gen. 33. 3. He bowed himself seven times to the ground And Abigal to David 1 Sam. 25. 23. Abigal fell before David on her face and bowed her self to the Ground This denotes a Subjection with Homage as it were O They who a little while ago would scarce cast an Eye or look on the Godly now they are content to fall so low as if they kissed the Ground They who formerly looked like cruel fierce Mastiffs are now fain to stoop like Spaniels O great Change O wonderful Alterations 5. Another effect and Influence that the marvellous Works of God shall have upon his Enemies is Fear in this Similitude They shall creep out of their holes like worms of the earth This Similitude seems to hold out their fear in these three Things 1. It supposes they were fain to fly into their holes O they are most dark Creatures in themselves and so cannot endure or abide the light of his appearing like those Creatures spoken of Psalm 104. 20 22. The Sun ariseth they gather themselves together and lay them down in their dens And thou makest darkness and it is night wherein all the beasts of the forrest do creep forth O No wonder that these our Enemies those haters of Light get them to their holes and hide themselves in Prisons and Mad Houses under Beds when the Sun of Righteousness ariseth with healing under his Wings lest their Deeds should be made manifest 2. This Phrase supposes though they have got into their holes yet they dare not abide and stay there O Fear will not let them be secure there even when they are in their holes till they are forced to creep out again O an evil Conscience goes with them go where they will and you may be sure where it is Fear must be also O. they may Fear even to be surprised and laid hold on even in their Dens and Holes 3. This Similitude supposes that when they do appear it shall be in a most fearful manner for they shall creep out of their holes like worms of the earth O they are readily sure to be called to an accompt and that cannot but make them affraid O they are such as are destitute of all just defence for themselves and that cannot but make them Fearful Yea which is worst of all they have no hope for another World to counter-ballance all these Fears in this And I am sure the Absolution that Sir John Friend and Sir William Parkyns received by those Papist Priests who for a cloak went under the Name of the Church of England I am sure I say they never carried it to Heaven But thus much for the Doctrinal part Now I come in the last place to the APPLICATION Is it so that the Nations shall see and be confounded at all their Might Then I infer That many may get a sight of the Lord 's marvellous Works done to and for his Church and People but shall never be the better of it But let us contend for another sight of God's marvellous appearings for his Church His Anointing King William and his People this day even such a sight as David's was