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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94049	Immanuel, or The church triumphing in God with us. A sermon preached before the right honorable House of Lords, in the Abbey of Westminster; at their publique thanksgiving, November 5th 1644. By John Strickland, B.D. Pastor of the church at St Edmunds in Nevv Sarum. A member of the Assembly of Divines.	Strickland, John, 1600 or 1601-1670.	1644 (1644)	Wing S5971; Thomason E19_15; ESTC R12729	27,641	46

as a perpetuall and standing refuge to the Church in all succeeding generations wherein shee shall be kept secure and unmoved God is in the middest of her shee shall not be moved Ver. 5. Ver. 5. Though the earth be removed and the mountaines be carried into the middest of the Sea For he is not onely a rock against which the gates of hell cannot prevaile but he is watchfull and alwayes ready at the Churches right hand in the time of danger Psal 110.5 * Ju●ius Auxilium praesentissimum a very present help that never comes too late This the Church had late experience of how easily he could defeat her enemies when they rose up in greatest rage and fury ver 6. The heathen raged the kingdomes were moved he uttered his voice the earth melted and therefore shee makes this the maine of her dittie while shee triumphes over feares and dangers and enemies in the Text The Lord of Hosts is with us c. The words are a kind of Chorus or burden in this Song of praise once again repeated as being that strain wherein the Church now big with praises could best deliver her selfe in them note 2 generalls viz. 1. What it is wherein the Church so triumphantly rejoyceth in Gods presence and protection He is with us He is our refuge 2. Why Gods presēce is matter of such joy triumph to the Church there bee two grounds thereof viz. 1. He is the generall Soveraigne having all creatures at command Lord of Hosts therefore he can help her 2. He is God in Covenant with the Church The God of Jacob therefore he will never faile her Words opened Lord of hosts Lord of Hosts or Lord of the Armies of creatures whether visible or invisible whether creatures in heaven or earth for so largely the word is taken Gen. 2. 1. The heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them They are called Hosts in respect of their multitude order and obedience to their Maker * Creaturae scū Deo conserantur sunt tanquā milites nutum ducis expectantes Arist alicu●● in Metaph as an Army in martiall order or battalia ready to fall on when or where the word of command from their Generall shall require And though some conceive that name may be given unto God upon a more speciall ground as having a more especiall hand in disposing Armies and ordering the events of warre yet the former and more generall interpretation of this style in relation to all the creatures as it is particularly set forth Psal 148.2 c. whereby is holden our Gods universall dominion and soveraignty over them all suites better with the Churches purpose in this place Is with us Is with us These words hold out Gods presence with the Church But what priviledge may that be since God is every where in heaven above in hell beneath and in the utmost parts of the earth and Sea Psal 139.8 Psal 139.8 9. 9. Am I a God neere at hand and not a God far off Jer. 23.23 24. Doe not I ●●ll heaven and earth saith the Lord Jer. 23.23 24. Yea it is his nature and it cannot be otherwise * An●●●●● Deus in se no● recipit locorum vel temporum distinclionem saith one what advantage then that God is with his Church seeing he is also with her enemies Two-sold presence of God For clearing this phrase wee must observe there is a two-sold presence of God first his generall and common presence whereby he is re●● t●●● in all places and things without distinctiō or difference which is Gods omnipresence in which kind of presence to have God with her is no peculiar priviledge of the Church Secondly there is a speciall presence of God or his presence testified by some remarkable works or speciall demonstrations Effectivè whereby God may be so present in some places things as he is not in others in which kind to injoy the presence of God so it be in away of mercy is a speciall priviledge Three fold speciall presence Againe There be three sorts of Gods speciall presence all which may be justly accounted the Churches priviledge First His glorious presence or his presence testified by eminent glory and the residence thereof Thus God is said to be in heaven differentially so as he is not any where else and heaven is therefore called his throne or dwelling place 1 King 8.39 1 King 8.39 As a King is no where so majestically as upon his throne or in his Chaire of state and this is so great a priviledge of the Church as that she comes not to injoy joy it untill she be triumphant in heaven and therefore is not the presence here intended Secondly His gracious presence or his presence testified by tokens of his grace and favour toward a people whether visible as in the Temple where he chose to place his Name and wherein above all places he would be worshipped in which respect he is said to dwell between the Cherubims 2 Sam. 6.2 2 Sam. 6.2 or spirituall tokens of his grace as assistance and acceptance in the duties of his worship together with injoyment and benefit of his Ordinances Thus he is present with his Church and people in times of the Gospel Mat. 18.20 Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the middest of them Mat. 18.20 This kind of presence is a priviledge of the Church militant that he will be with her in holy and spirituall administrations and Ordinances yet this is not the presence principally intended here Thirdly His providentiall presence or his presence testified by acts of speciall providence wherein the power wisdome or any other of Gods attributes are eminently put forth either by way of assistance or defence for a people Thus the Lord was present with Israel in the Wildernesse by the pillar of fire and of a cloud Exod. 13.21 Exod. 13.21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light And as this presence was intended for a guide so was it also for a defence to his people against their enemies at which their enemies the Aegyptians were troubled Exod. 14.20 Exod. 14.20 By this kind of presence the Lord is with his Church militant in reference to her externall regiment more especially in her warfare standing up for her with her against her enemies and this is the Churches priviledge in these words The Lord of Hosts is with us The God of Jacob. The God of Jacob Jacob is in Scripture sometime the name of a person sometime the name of a people It is the proper name of Abrahams grand-child the fathe of the Patriarches and one of the feoffees in trust for the covenant of grace together with Abraham and Isaac And if any shall aske me why

Die Mercurii 6. Novemb. 1644. IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled That this House doth hereby returne thanks to Mr. Strickland for his great paines taken in the Sermon preached by him yesterday being the fift of November in the Abbey Church Westminster before their Lordships who is desired to print and publish the same And it is farther Ordered that none shall Print or reprint the said Sermon unlesse he be authorized under the hand of the said Mr. Strickland Jo Browne Cler Parliament I doe Authorize Mr Henry Overton to print this Sermon JOHN STRICKLAND IMMANVEL OR THE CHURCH TRIUMPHING IN GOD WITH US A Sermon preached before the Right Honorable House of LORDS in the Abbey of Westminster at their publique Thanksgiving November 5th 1644. By JOHN STRICKLAND B. D. Pastor of the Church at St EDMUNDS in NEVV SARUM A Member of the Assembly of Divines PSAL. 23.4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no evill for thou art with me LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons for Henry Overton at his Shop in Popes-head-Alley 1644. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS NOW ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER MY LORDS BEsides your Appointment which carries the sacred authoritie of a command with me there are three things somewhat incline me to yeeld this Sermon to the Presse notwithstanding the just sense I have of mine own weaknesse and its unworthinesse First The birth-day of it allowed not sufficient time for a full delivery your Lordships great occasions after the Morning Sermon so straitned the time of your Evening-Sacrifice that by your late coming together I was compelled wholly to lay aside some parts and to deliver the rest by pieces Raptim as I could in such haste Now the Presse hath given me leave a little better to gather the materialls which then I scattered and to couple all into some better proportion by the sinewes of coherence that I may present you with the intire though yet unpolished body of my Meditations intended for you Secondly The matter which was suited to a day of Praises before your Loraships may be very usefull if not necessary at all times Even now * A Fast observed by both Houses of Parliament when You are putting on Your mourning-garments and when the whole Kingdome seems to be in a more sad posture then it was Novemb. 5 th Our praising God for his being with us in a thanksgiving-day may effectually admonish and prepare us to mourne after Gods presence in a day of humiliation with more affectionatenesse For as it is true Monendo laudat it is likewise true inverted Laudando monet Yea the paying of God his due tribute of praise for the great things he hath done is the way to ingage him to doe greater things for us in a future time of need if we doe it heartily it ministers courage and resolution in the cause and gives an unconquerable strength to our faith in expectation of a happy end Iehosaphat therefore made the praising of God a part of his preparation to battell when a dreadfull Army of enemies came against him 2 Chron. 20.21 2 Chron. 20.21 He appointed Singers unto the Lord that should praise the beautie of holinesse as they went out before the Army and to say Praise the Lord for his mercy indureth for ever And it was not in vaine their praising God prevailed as if it had been praying to him Ver. 22. for ver 22. When they began to Sing the Lord set Ambushments against the Children of Ammon and Moab and Mount-Seir and they were smitten Wee are behind with God in this above other duties Nature and self-love can prevaile with us to a kind of prayer in time of distresse because that is the ordinary knowne way to obtaine reliefe but praising God is a more refined and spirituall dutie above Nature and requires both puritie and strength of grace to be well performed 'T is not impossible but this plaine and home-spun Discourse may stirre up the endeavours of some in this neglected dutie one of ten to returne and give God praise and so contribute somewhat unto publique benefit Be not You guiltie of unthankfulnesse to God most Noble Peeres lest the Lord lose his end in bringing in publique mercies lest wee fare the worse and prevaile the lesse in a good cause yea lest you bring evill upon the Land as Hezekiah did by not rendring againe according to the benefit done unto him for therefore was wrath come upon him ● Chron. 32.25 and upon Iudah and Ierusalem 2 Chron. 32.25 Thirdly You are the Men my Lords with whom God will plead the Kingdomes cause and through whom in this great Controversie now on foot wee look for Gods presence with England by Gods being in your Counsells and by his blessing of your martiall affaires we all say The Lord of Hosts is with us It much concerns you it much concerns us all that You earnestly seek after and carefully keep God with you in your great imployments and that we all strive by prayer for Gods presence with You that God may stand and judge in the Assembly of our gods and therefore doe I thus humbly present this poore peice to Your Noble acceptance and patronage that it might happily put You in remembrance of your dutie if You cast your eye upon it or the people of theirs in praying for You that God may be with You in the great work of Church and State which is and shall be daily the prayer of The meanest of those that serve You in the Lord JOHN STRICKLAND IMMANUEL OR THE CHURCH TRIUMPHING IN GOD WITH US PSAL. 46.7 The Lord of Hosts is with us the God of Iacob is our refuge THE mention of the sonnes of Korah in the Title and of the earths removing and the mountaines shaking ver 2. 3. seems somewhat to countenance the opinion that the sonnes of Korah penned the Psalme upon their deliverance when the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up their father Numb 16.32 a Muscu●●s Others conceive it penned by David or some other upon a notable deliverance of the Church from the Ammonites Moabites and Syrians in the dayes of David recorded 2 Sam. 10. But most probably the miraculous b 〈…〉 deliverance of the Church from the Assyrians in the time of Hezekiah when the Lord by the hand of an Angel from heaven slew in one night 185000. of the enemy as the History makes it appeare 2 King 19.35 This I say was probably the occasion but whether David or some other was the Penman of this Psalme as it is not determined so is it not materiall to our purpose However it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Psalme of praise or triumphall Song wherein the Church rejoyceth in the Lord giving him not onely the praise of her experience for a deliverance received but also the praise of her hope and confidence for the future setting him up

her Now wee are to look upon the words in reference to the scope and purpose of them namely to hold forth the ground of the Churches triumph in Gods being with her not onely that he will be with her alwayes but because his being with her secures from others being against her so as to do her hurt or prevaile against her so that as she triumpheth she shall triumph and that this is the ground may appeare from ver 5. God is in the middest of her Ver. 5. she shall not be moved The Churches confidence is built upon a stronger mountain then Davids was note Gods presence with his Church secures her in time of danger and makes her for ever invincible Doct. The opposition that Kings and Rulers of the earth can make against the Church though they be the greatest of men and combine themselves is but matter of derision unto God Psal 2.4 Psal 2.4 No more likely to prevaile against her then an earthen vessell against an iron mace which easily breaks it into pieces ver 9. God will make Jerusalem a burdensom stone for all people Ver. 9. all that burden themselvs with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it Zach. 12.3 Isa 8.9 10. Zach. 12.3 As appeared when the King of Assyria in all his glory came against her 8.9 10. Isa 8.9 10. All her enemies though they associate and gird themselves they shall be broken in pieces saith the Prophet their counsell shall come to nought their word shall not stand and all because God is with us And indeed the Lord is at hand even at the Churches right hand to strike through Kings for her sake in the day of his wrath Psal 110.5 Psal 110.5 In a word Gods presence with his Church is the summe of all that God hath promised her for temporall salvation whereby to incourage her in times of greatest danger and difficultie It is enough that God is with her though she walk in the valley of the shadow of death as David said Psal 23.4 It is a Supersedeas to the crueltie of fire water those mercilesse Elements Isa 43.1 2 3. Feare not Isa 43.1 2 3. O Jacob O Israel saith God when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Saviour Vartis excreemur aerunmis sed tandem cripimur stuviis umpetimur sed non obruimur flammis urimur sed non consummur Calvin By water fire are meant all kind of miseries and temptations which the Church can be obnoxious to on earth though she be brought into varietie of calamities sometime into the water sometime into the fire yet she shall also be brought through them into a better condition through fire and through water into a wealthy place Psal 66.12 Gods presence shall both beare her up in troubles and give her rest from troubles at length as Exod. 33.14 it did to Israel and so make her to triumph for ever All this Gods presence can doe for the Church Reason 1 First Because this interest of presence brings with it an interest and ingagement of all other attributes of God who is mightie to save for the salvation of the Church So that if it be in his wisdome or goodnesse or power or faithfulnesse or soveraignty if it be in any or all to save her she shall not miscarry for besides that expression Isa 45.11 Concerning my sons Isa 45.11 and the work of my hands command ye me whereby is intimated that the prayers of his people shall have the power and the effect of a command with him so that they should prevaile with him as I may say ad ultimum potentiae in the Churches behalf though some understand the place otherwise we find God opening himself to King Asa suitable to our purpose by Hanani the Seer when the King relied not on God as before time after the Prophet had galled him with a repetition of former experiences which might witnesse Gods power and faithfulnesse unto him in past deliverances he sets down this character of God that he doth not only take notice of his own people but will shew himselfe strong in their behalfe 〈◊〉 16.9 as 2 Chron. 16.9 The eyes of the Lord run to fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him God will make himself strong so the word imports by collecting stirring up all the strength that is in him to put it forth in the help of his people after the manner of men for so we must understand it who have undertaken any thing upon strong ingagements and will doe all that lyes in them to bring it about It was a confident speech of Luther No man shall hurt us Nemo no● laedet nisi qui Deum vincit but he that can first overcome God And it was upon this ground that God is so much ingaged to the defence of his Church and people that he must and will set all his wisdome and all his power on work and do all he can as we say for their defence if the Church be over-witted by politique subtile enemies Gods wisdome shall be too hard for them the foolishnesse of God is wiser then men if she be over-matched in power behold here is such a reserve for the Church as cannot faile even the power of God whose weaknesse is stronger then men what a treasure of invincibilitie would here be discovered should we go thus on with the rest of Gods attributes which yet are all equally ingaged for the good of the Church No marvaile then if all be considered that wee say the Church is built upon such a rock as against which the gates of hell shall not prevaile since God himselfe will be her rock and refuge by being with her The heathen were wont when they came against any city to besiege take it to charm out the city-gods before they would assault or storm it as cōceiving it not possible while their gods remained in the Citie against them if they had so high an opinion of their Idols that were the work of mens hands how much more should we account of Gods presence in the Church that made heaven and earth how impossible must it be to take the Church by assault of enemies or any other way while God remaines in the middest of her 2. Gods presence with his Church diffuseth it self into all those instruments or means that are imployed for the Churches help Reason 2 so that they shall prevaile and prosper because God is present with them So it was with Joshua when he was imployed as Generall of Israels Forces the Lord promised to be

with him in behalf of the Church and thereupon he should be invincible Josh 1.5 Josh 1.5 There shall not any man he able to stand before thee all the dayes of thy life as I was with Moses so will I be with thee By vertue of this presence the instruments of the Churches help are instruments in Gods hand which puts upon them such a majestie and furnisheth them with such a power as that nothing dare or can stand in their way When God will use the poorest creature as an instrument in his hand either of mercy or justice it is exceedingly set up in esteem though otherwise in it self it be but contemptible and by making them so dreadfull the Lord powres out a spirit of feare and amazement upon the enemies of the Church who when they see the presence of God in and with his servants cannot stand before them Which made the Psalmist so earnest with the Lord by prayer to arise and shew himself Psal 68.1 2. Psal 68.1 2. Let God arise let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate him flee before him As smoak is driven away so drive them away as wax melteth before the sire so let the wicked perish at the presence of God So it was with the Aegyptians when once they perceived Gods presence with Israel they were presently routed and took it their best course to flee Exod. 14.25 Exod. 14.25 Let us flee from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians So it was also with the enemies of the Church that ver 6. of this Psalme rose up in rage against her the Lord did no sooner declare himselfe to be for the Church by uttering his voyce but as wax melteth before the fire they melted the earth melted Vse 1 1. Hence they must needs be concluded enemies to the Church of England that would have bereaved her of such a precious priviledge in driving away Gods presence from her such a generation of men there were among us that by compliances with Idols and Idolatry went about to drive God away and yet bore up themselves as the onely friends and patrons of the Church of England What consistence can there be between the Ark and Dagon What concord between God and Idols By their cursed innovations the glory was even departing from our Israel and the Church of England made even like Jerusalem when the glory of the Lord was upon the threshold to depart Ezek. 9.3 Ezek. 9.3 The glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the Cherub whereupon he was to the threshold of the house a sad praeludium saith Calvin of his departure indeed for though it returned from the threshold of the house and stood over the Cherubims againe Ezek. 10.18 as loth to depart Ezek. 11.23 yet Ezek. 11.23 at length the glory of the Lord went not onely to the threshold of the house but unto the middest of the Citie and from the middest of the city to the tops of the mountains How far the state of our Church hath run parallel to those tragical dispensations in Jerusalem I leave to your wise observations but sure I am Gods presence both of grace in his Ordinances and of providence in our State-affaires which hath been heretofore the glory of our Land was not long since in a departing posture upon the threshold with us God was weary of our new Moons and Sabbaths and the calling of our Assemblies he could not smell in our solemn feasts our sacrifices were an abomination to him through the noysomness of those corruptions which Hophni and Phinehas superstitious and wicked men in the Priesthood mingled with them yea look what made the Lord forsake the Tabernacle of Shilo where he had placed his Named Psa 78.58 60. Psal 78.58 60. the same was found in the middest of us They provoked God to anger with their high places and moved him to jealousie with their graven Images whereby they have caused the Lord so far to forsake us that as the Prophet speaketh Here is a great forsaking in the midst of the land and the Church as a man in deliquio Isa 6.12 by the conflicts of truth and error is brought to that passe Ut nec morbum ferre potest nec remedium shee faints under our hands while you the Physicians of Church and State are about the cure and the spring of our present miseries in the Church was the late corruption and tyrannie of those in the Ministery that lorded it over Gods heritage their Popish setting up the power of nature and depressing the grace of God in matters of salvation formerly hath begotten a sleighting of all inherent sanctification and a scorning of all duties of obedience to the Law in these dayes under pretext of setting up the free grace of God their pressing men with such rigour to conformity hath begotten an humour of separation from all order and uniformity in our Church I might shew the like in other evills of errours and divisions now among us whereby confusion is threatned both to the Church and State and which and many mischieves of another kind have been occasioned by them Vse 2 2. Let us learn to improve this truth to the best advantage of our Church and State both by labouring to get God an interest of presence in our counsels and in our armies surely it will both secure us in time of danger and make the Church for ever invincible If God be with us saith the Apostle Rom. 8.31 who can be against us the danger of our times the malice of our enemies How the consideration of Gods presence with the Church may be improved at present to a fourfold advantage of our Church and the distractions of our selves call upon us earnestly to such indeavour and also by taking the advantage and opportunity of Gods presence with us to carry on the publike work of Church and Stage-reformation against all opposition with more life and cheerfulnesse for which purpose wee may make a fourfold advantage of Gods presence with us 1. It may incourage men to stand up and heighten their spirits in standing for the Churches cause that Gods presence with the Church makes her so impregnable if the Lord in former times did but lift up an ensign if he did but hisse the nations from far and they from the ends of the earth would come with speed swiftly to the work of the Lord Isa 5.26 how much more should a people that are not strangers Isa 5.29 be incouraged to come with speed swiftly to the work of the Lord when hee hath not only lift up an Ensign and given a Eanner to them that feare him that it might be displayed because of the truth Psal 60.4 but also hee himselfe stands up and having girded his sword upon his thigh Psal 60.4 with his glory and with his majesty will goe before them therein to be with to fight for them Gideon