ΤΑΠΕΙÎΑΙÎΟΣ Humble Praise Offered up in the Publick Solemnity June the 28th 1660. Being a day of Thanksgiving for his Majesties happy Restauration By T. A. an unwothy Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ in the work of the Gospel Non Deus humiles quibus dat gratiam ante datam humiles invenit sed dando gratiam humiles facit hoc ipsum enim gratiam Deus per gratiam donat ut quisquis eam acceperit humiles fiat Fulg. 2. 41. The humble shall see this and be glad and your heart shall live that seeke God LONDON Printed for Luke Fawne at the Sign of the Parrot in S. Pauls Church-yard 1660. To the Right Honourable Sir EDWARD HYDE Kt. Lord Chancellor of England One of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council My Lord IT 's a safe Rule that Statesmen must have no more anger then will serve their design for subjection to powerful wrath is dangerous both ab intra being a constant disease a fire that commonly consumes the house where first it kindles and ab extra it betrayes to ignoble acts and the unavoidable censure of the Soveraign The last Century hath been too fruitful in such instances And herein Prudence speaks her Mother tongue and hath learnt it from Religion which further saith Ira simulata charitas vera Let Anger be the dark shadow Love the beautiful body the one to fright the evil from their wayes and deliver from death the other cordially and constantly endeavouring every mans peace comfort and joy This is living in love and living in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Nâ—hiâ—â—â—pectu jacundius quam bonorum virorum cons nsus Plat. in 2 Epist God Oh that all the Subjects of our Soveraign Lord were thus qualified for advancing his Title King of Saints We have too long observed what Factions have done for us and for themselves In patience the reasonable Soul may be possessed which the distemper of impatience doth turn out to the courtesie of others and â— unawares it 's taken away If Lust unto destruction were a necessary or lawfull concernment of Mankind there would be less need of an able Ministry My Lord as I dare not here touch your Honours Name choicest Pictures are not for Tents and Boothes so I cannot smother this common sence for its generally noted in your Honour with great applause that your constant carriage doth rebuke the envy of those that would better conform to his Majesties Royal pleasure by endeavours for union I have good reason for this and all dutiful Addresses to your Honour for my native Soyl is the Inheritance of your noble and renowned Family my Christian name with admission to the visible Church and divers comforts of my life I owe your near Relations and as I may assert faithfulness from former Generations so I shall most gladly engage me and mine Your Honours in all Duty and Service Tho. Arnold DANIEL 6. 10. Now when Daniel knew that the Writing was signed he went into his house and his window being open in his Chamber toward Jerusalem he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime FOr a Preface to this Text take the History of the Penman 1. His Descent was Noble Of the seed Royal of Judah Thought meet for a Courtier to the greatest Earthly Monarch of his Cap. 1. 3. time and chosen Secretary to the King of Kings 2. His Attainment was admirable whether 1. Natural he was a lovely lad in whom was no blemish Cap. 1. 4. as the Spouse of Christ all fair without spots and as this is the ground of natural love uniting the heart of Shekem to Dinah and Jacob to Rachel so 't is likewise of spiritual 'twixt Christ and his Spouse God and his Church perfectly beautified with his own comliness Ezek. 16. and eternal love springs hence also for as horrid deformity causeth that hellish rage in the damned to one another and themselves so celestial beauties shining with the rayes of divine glory move heavenly delight called by the Apostle The bond of perfection Love is the golden chain that doth unite glorified Saints together 2. His acquired parts are no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuagint less rare as Moses was as learned as Aegypt could make him so Daniel wanted no Chaldean accomplishment which had now engrossed the excellencies of all neighbour Nations He was fraught with all wisdom understanding Science skilful in Letters and the rarest Tongues Now in this pure and well prepared gold was set the Jewel for 3. His inspired Attainment graces all an excellent spirit is found in him the spirit of the holy gods said the Magicians who onely had familiarity with the gods that dwelt with flesh such as the Witch of Endor conjured out of the Earth But as his name Daniel signifies the wisdome or judgement of God and Nebuchadnezzar called him Belteshazzar after the name of his god so he was incomparably inspired by the onely wise God 3. His Preferment begins this Chapter and who can better deserve it then our Daniel God promotes his servants by heathen Princes and 't is the interest of greatest Monarchs to advance such for it 's an honour to them as the name of Christ is blasphemed by disordered Christians the treacherous carriage of such hath hardned the Turks against Christ and a lewd servant is the shame of his Master for if his lewdness speaks his Masters temper 't is the greatest disgrace and if his Master cannot speak him into better manners 't is none of the least so 't is an honour to be nobly served Besides they are most faithful Obadiah is a good Steward to Ahab none in the Court more careful to the King Ahasuerus nor so ready to discover Traytors as Mordecai Artaxerxes is loath to have good Nehemiah his Cup-bearer go from his elbow And moreover they ordinarily bring a blessing with them this Laban got by Jocob's service and Potiphar but especially Pharaoh by Joseph's 4. In the next place we read of his danger the cause whereof is envy he was now lifted up and made the fairer mark Joseph's gay Coat was a light to the Archers that shot so sorely at him Persons in great places are commonly struck at The Adversarie's plot is this by irreligion they would shew their loyalty all the Courtiers were confederate herein but these were Persians that worship the Moon the emblem of worldly vanity and will do any thing for their god the world No wonder then if some Court flyes among us of the like disposition are so fruitful in like From May 29. to June 28. is just 30 dayes devotions and have neither troubled God nor man so much as his Majesty with their Petitions during these thirty dayes since 〈◊〉 turn home Our Monarch may vye Petitions with theirs though to their Caesar was engrossed Gods part also which with ours is sacred 5. Here in the Text is his
practice in his danger godly exercise and close walking with God 6. His reward twofold 1. Evil from his Adversaries who cast him into the Lions den 2. Good from God and the King who preserved and promoted him 7. And lastly his great End accomplished Gods honour is advanced and established by the Kings decree The Text is fairly translated He that will make no strife shall find none here allowing onely variety of terms to several Translators The Text opened shews us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 godliness in several parts with their harmonious dependance 1. Constancy but to be constant and faithful there 's required severity and strength of spirit this he wants not for 2. Here 's his secrecy He goes into his house Some reservations are inconsistent with honesty but here 's no unhandsom shift or treacherous concealment for 3. Behold his faith looking through his opened window to Jerusalem and the Temple And is he not over confident is not this presumption no for 4. See his humility he is upon his knees Though a complement doth not alwayes declare humility yet many acts do a habit for this 5. Observe his frequency in duty three times a day but are his addresses according to the divine will Yes witness 6. His piety his service is holy consisting of these two parts Prayer and Praise But is he as thankful now as formerly when in greatest state doth not his danger shorten this part no 7. Lastly His alacrity and equanimity is seen in serving and praising God now as he did aforetime Now because Wisdoms words are sweet to the soul and variety makes a feast let us touch every flower in the Text and taste the hony that our eyes may be inlightned The writing was signed so we read and Tremelius Exeratum illud scriptum esset 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. Statutum decretum cum cognovisset that learned Jew and divers other Translators with us The Septuagint of great authority in the new Testament read it the Decree was established all to one sence and Daniel knew it or had taken full knowledge of it yet he adventures to his devotions hence note 1. The greatest dangers and difficulties cannot terrifie a godly soul from his duty Here are three good witnesses near at hand and his companions who will Dan. 3. not give Gods glory to another nor his praise to graven Images but will rather offer themselves a burnt sacrifice then he shall want a service and this is from 1. The law of God his enemies had got a law against him which he will rather satisfie with his blood then deny God his bodily service It 's safer to obey God then man Princes have great power in their commands upon the command of Jacob and Abner the young men sport away their lives to please their Generals It 's said the Grand Signeur to entertain an Ambassadour commanded one of his Train to ride in full career over a steep cliff into the Sea and then asked the Ambassador how many such servants his Master had Our Lord hath many such servants we have Daniel Paul and many Worthies more 2. Their Heb. 11. Rev. 6. love likewise doth move them thereunto this is strong as death it crops the fairest flowers in their prime it brings strength and beauty to dust and ashes in amorous persons of both sexes The wives of dead heathens have contended urging before the judges their love and loyalty that they might burn with the bodies of their deceased husbands and is spiritual love less powerful surely no. Paul counted not his life dear for Christs sake and Peters love at last constrained Acts 20. 24. him to follow his Master in the like death though a sadder spectacle being crucified with his head down-ward and 3. The sence of Gods love to them makes them thus valiant Stephen resigned his soul to this revelation Acts 7. The goodship fears neither storms nor tempests if it hath Sea room enough Gods love is not onely a Fountain but an Ocean and Paul concludes that neither depths nor death can separate a godly soul Rom. 8. ult there from Therefore let us be incouraged to zeal and Christian valor what thou wantest in comfortable experiences make up in faith Christ is the Captain of our salvation Heb. 2. 11. and we his Souldiers and what makes souldiers adventerers in a field-fight or storm not so much their present pay and maintenance as the Generals promise of Victory Honour Booty and Preferment therefore Heb. 3. 12. this caution is added Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God If we believe not Gods promises we shall be terrified with the hardships of his service Yet Daniel is wise and retires himself Obser 2 Whence note Gods servans are serious and secret in his service The rule of Christ would lead us not Mat. 6. 6. onely into the House and Chamber but closet Vain-glory in Religion is an undoubted sign of hypocrisie Men do their best before those from whom they expect their reward Jehu will boast of his zeal and shew it to the world he hath therefore the better acceptance with men and the less with God The Pharisees in their religious duties had this aim to be seen of men and they had their expected reward Let 's present an instance 't is better then a Play or May-pole Here 's one stands in the corners of the streets or Mat. 6. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In quibus fere habentur hominum conventus Bâ—za rather angles turnings and cross wayes to be seen four ways 't is the forum or market where the greatest concourse of people is The people flock about him and thus admrie see what a holy man he is what a devout look he hath what markes of mortification are in his face Look 〈◊〉 his * A Plate of Brass upon his brows with the Dialogue inscribed Frontlet he hath the Law and fear of God before his eyes what a demure posture he stands in no butter shall melt in his mouth for he fasts behold his religious habit his large Philacteries on the Hemme and borders of his Garment Hence was a superstitious respect for the Hemme of the Garment there 's holiness to the Lord and many divine sentences wrought take notice of his patience and canstancy he hath stood here a great while he makes long and many prayers From this observation the people are alarum'd away with a Trumpet sounding a call why what 's the matter O there 's a merciful man doing his alms and 't is pitty but the world should know how good a man he is what a bountiful alms is here this is a noble Benefactor his charity declares that his ability is great a great man and a good man this is a Rabbi indeed And this is their usual course in their Synagogues ever sabbath in the midst of their service after the
to see the scuffle Some great men will sport away too much yet scarce feel the loss of it Theeves may break in and steal houshold goods but they cannot carry away Land The Law secures our earthly the Gospel our heavenly inheritance A Christian for Christ makes little of wealth liberty and life too Christ when he bids his friends not fear them that can kill the body he backs his counsel with Arguments Luk. 12. 4. 5. from the depths beneath and heights above the eternal rewards of the evil and good the one shall be killed and cast into hell better my body burn here then body and soul forever in hell sayes the Martyr And he further adds He that confesseth v. 8. me before men him shall the Son of man also confess before the Angels of God He that witnesseth a good confession with his blood shall find the day of his death the souls birth-day unto perfect glory And it concerns the people of God to be zealous and valiant for God keeps up the stage of this world that they may with honour act their parts their answer of God to the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and the testimony Rev. 6. 9. 11. which they held is this that they should rest yet for a little season untill their fellow-servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled Use 5 Hence comes the increase of mercy to Gods people they are faithful in that which is little I had but a little and did nothing with it said the evil servant I have made much of my little said the good servant and what said the Lord Thou shalt have more The words of Christ to Nathaniel Joh. 1. we may well apply Because I said I saw thee under the Fig-tree believest thou thou shalt have more matter for thy faith to work upon thou shalt see greater things then these A Tenant that paid his Rent well in the VVars shall be better trusted by his Landlord in times of peace hast thou in thy molestations brought me praise thou shalt not want consolations saith our Lord. If a Son improve a small Stock-well the father cares not how great his trust be VVhat Christ speaks of himself belongs also to Ministers He whom God hath sent and speaketh the words of God is faithful in Joh. 3. 34. the discharge of his Ministry God giveth not his spirit by measure to him he shall not be Joh. 4. 14 7. 38. stinted in Gifts or Graces so a Christian that in distress speaks the words of Gods praise shall obtain his mercy without measure Use 6 God hath assigned for his servants even a heaven upon earth their life is Angelical a life of praise By the golden Cherubins in the Temple is not only meant our protection from and under them but our communion with them in holiness and praises this is evident in that two Cherubins covered the mercy seat where the Oracle was thus signifying that where Gods presence and his mercy is vouchsafed there Men and Angels rejoyce And this is drawn to the life in Isaiah's vision where the whole Quire sing Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts heaven an earth is full of thy glory Though their joy be not alwayes full yet it alwaies remains in them and is sufficient for the work of praise though they have seemingly sad hours yet with the husbandman they plough in hope and sow 〈◊〉 hope their tears are spiced with joyes and they conclude as Daniel here in greatest danger their supplications with confessions of his praise They trust the onely wise God to order their good in all conditions and providences they thankfully take the cup their heavenly father gives them they say with their Saviour not ours But thy will be done Amen Halelujah