he also never sleepeth never slumbreth Let their enemies be never so many all nations to him are but as the dust of the Balance Isa 40.15 the drop of a Bucket as nothing lesse then naught Let their enemies be never so mightie he hath their hearts in his hand can turne them as the Rivers of waters and make our enemies at peace with vs Ier. 33.4 changing their stabs into kisses he hath their heads in his hand and can infatuate the wiliest Herod the craftiest Achitophel turning their Councells into folly he hath their Hands and Hornes in his hand and can either binde them to their good behaviour or knocke out the Teeth of grators before they bite let them digge dippe to hide their plots the Lord will goe beyond them let them ioyne hand to hand they shall not prosper Prov. 11.21 Wee may say it wee may sweare it wee must beleeue it wee haue had experience never any Church more of the like what it is to haue such a Protector whose power is vnresistable his will vnchangeable his skill vnsearchable whose Greatnesse is such that he can doe what he will whose Goodnesse is such that he will doe what he can and ever magnifie both his Greatnesse and Goodnesse in the protection of his Israel and in the conversion or confusion of his enemies Witnesse this day of dayes on the morning of our fifth of November they would haue blowne vs vp on the evening of their fifth of November God beate them downe Vse 2 Is Iehovah the Deliverer of his Israel Why let God then haue the Honor of his owne worke not our wit not our wealth not our goodnes not our greatnes not our friends not our Bulwarkes but the Lord onely it was the Lords doing Psal 118.23.24 let it euer be marueilous in our eyes This is the Day which the Lord hath made let vs be glad and reioyce Let the wicked Politician the Machivilian Atheist sacrifice to their owne nets We will cry with that Kingly Prophet Psal 115.1 not vnto vs not vs ô Lord but vnto thy Name wee giue the glory Totum hoc quatumcunque sit quod certè miximum est totum est tuum the whole prayse of so glorious a rescue how great so euer it be which indeede is exceeding great is onely due to Iehovah Let the King say it is the Lord that giueth great deliverances vnto his David Psal 18. and sheweth mercy to his annointed and his seede for ever Let the Great Peeres and Princes say it is not our Arme that hath saued vs not our mighty strength but the Strength of Israel Iehovah Let the House of Aaron say and sing prayses sing prayses vnto the Lord that hath done wisely discouered our enemies broken their snares and we are escaped Ps 124.1.2.3 Let all England say if the Lord had not beene on our side if the Lord had not beene on our side when men rose vp against vs they had swallowed vs vp quicke when their wrath was kindled against vs. Praise waiteth for thee O God in Sion who is like our God who doth great and wondrous thinges Honored for euer be that Noble and Honorable Society The High Court of Parliament that to all ages hath set a Day apart for the Honor of that God who is the Protector of his Sion the Detector the Destroyer of his and their implacable enemies Goe on still O Noble Senate let King Prince Peeres Prelats Commons all conspire to honor the God of heaven by enacting such solemne Panagerickes to Iehovah and the God of honor will honor You this Church this State your Posterity the Generation to come shall blesse God for the deliuerance of this Day for the Record of this Deliuerance for this publicke gratulation vpon Record Blessed be that God which hath put it into the heart of that Great Assembly with an vnanimous and free consent to enact it for a Law in Israel and an Ordinance in Iacob for euer If euer we forget this mercy let our tongues cleaue to the roofe of our mouthes and our armes rott from our shoulders Let all faithfull loyall true hearted English Protestants with one heart and voice cry Amen Amen Finally doth the security of the Church State all lie in the presence of God Where God is there is no danger as where hee is nor no safetie O keepe him while we haue him driue him not from you who is our Buckler our shield all in all vnto vs keepe him in his Word in his Sabboths in his Ordinances and he will keepe you Would you know in a word what driues the Lord from a land a people sinne nothing but sinne can doe it and sinne will doe it Isa 59.2 your sinnes haue seperated betweene me and you where sinne is countenanced maintained multiplied there is no Harbor for the Almighty He is a God of purer eyes then to behold iniquitie what communion betweene God and Beliall Hab. 1.13 2 Cor. 6.14.15 light and darkenesse Christ and Antichrist Sinne chases the Lord away and leaues that person that Nation naked vnfenced exposed to the malice of men to the fury of Satan to the flames of hell Every wilfull sinner is a Traytor to God his King and Countrey as well as to his owne soule Away with beloued darling sinnes away with those wasting King-killing State-ruinating sinnes Idolatry contempt of Gods word worship Sacraments Sabbath Ministers scandalous enormous impieties out-facing Authoritie these if they should be found among vs will kindle a flame in our Citie Countrey a worse then Powder-flame that shall burne to the bottome of hell If we our selues betray not our soules our Church our State our Kingdome in vaine shall the Gates of Rome repine at the prosperitie of England if wee pull not downe our owne walls with our owne handes no Engins of theirs shall ever batter them if wee doe not open the sluces and floud-gates the Invndations of that Romish Nilus with her marish waters shall never over-flow our bankes If wee carry not Flax Tinder Gun-powder in our owne bosomes and strike not fire with our owne fingers their matches shall never take their sparkles shall not burne the flame shall not kindle vpon vs. For Gods-sake therefore for your soules-sake for your Countreys-sake if you loue your King Countrey peace plentie the Gospell of peace your goods friends children away with the toleration dispensation of knowne grosse scandalous notorious enormous Impieties maintaine a perpetuall correspondence with your Heavenly Father be in league with Heaven delight to Honour him his Name Word Worshippe Sacraments Sabbaths Messengers that hee may delight to Watch over you Serue him who saved vs and therefore saved vs that wee being redeemed from the handes of our enemies such subtle cruell barbarous savage enemies might serue him without feare all the dayes of our life in holinesse and righteousnesse before him Blessed are the people who are in such a case who haue the Lord for their God FINIS
intestine insurrections of bosome vipers at home How long haue wee carried fire in our bosomes and doe not our feete yet tread vpon Scorpions As many so great haue beene our Troubles Great enemies were stirred vp mighty Princes the most potent and puissant Kings of the earth friends to the Beast Psal 2. how were they enraged How did they bandy together against the Lord and against his Annointed Great Stratagems were laid even as deepe as Hell to the vtter ruination both of Church and State to the finall extirpation of our name and memoriall from vnder Heaven How oft hath the knife beene at our throate What treasons What conspiracies were hatched in the dayes of our late Queene Elizabeth that wonder of Women and mirrour of her sex No sooner was the fire quenched in one corner but it breakes forth in another place no sooner was one wound closed but another bleeds afresh Many a time were wee at the pits brinke and knew it not destinated as sheepe to the slaughter our Land quartered Dr Hall in his Panygericke or Doome prophecied When that Snow melts as they gaue it out triumphantly wee shall see a floud and pointed to the Gray-hayres of that then liuing Empresse But aboue all two especiall dangers never to be forgotten did threaten this Nation never any people vnder Heaven were put to the like straits You cannot forget that famous Climactericall yeare Eighty-Eight That Senacherib of Spaine how confident was he to haue swallowed vs vp quicke at one morsell How did he presume to command with his Invincible Navy Sea and Land How did he presume to put a bridle and make a bridge over the Ocean to over-run this spot of earth in one instant Now I trow you were in the midst of the waters This fifth of November mindes vs of another pinch as great if not greater then the former there wanted but the kindling of a match to haue set this Cittie all in a flame of fire this Country and Kingdome all in a flame of Combustion Were wee not now in the midst of the fire If the Lord had not beene with vs that water had overwhelmed all if the Lord had not beene with vs that fire had beene kindled and wee all had perished in that flame And thus are wee fallen suddenly from the danger to glance at the Deliverance blessed be That Iehovah that hath linked them so together that wee cannot speake of the one but wee must acknowledge the other Now since I am fled into this pleasant field I will not step backe but entreate you to follow me with your attention and as you haue tasted of the bitter so now close your Stomacks with the sweete which I haue reserved for the last as being the best and chiefest matter intended for this dayes discourse and most sutable to the occasion of our present meeting Hitherto you haue heard onely of the troubles now followes the triumphs of the Saints wherein was offered to our consideration as wee found in the resolution of the Text. 1. The victory it selfe which is acquired The flouds shall not over-flow thee the flame shall not kindle vpon thee 2. The Author of this victory to whom the glory of the day must be ascribed in those words I will be with thee The Conquest is further commended from the time When thou c. It shall come seasonably opportunely when they were in their greatest difficulties in their greatest perplexitie then even then I will be with thee c. The afflictions of Ioseph are neuer so many neuer so great but they shall find an evasion The Church can never be so straitned but first or last it shall be enlarged the Church can neuer be so distressed but sooner or later it shall be relieued Her case is oft dangerous never desperate Let her walke in the valley of the shadow of death with David Psal 23.4 let her be cast into the Denne of Lyons with Daniel with Ieremy Dan 6.16 let her be plunged into the deepe dungeon let her be projected with the Hebrew babes as was noted into the midst of the waters with the three children and with those innumerable troupes of Martyrs into the midst of the fire what though the members of her body with Isaiah passe vnder the Saw with Iames are cut off by the sword let their carkasses be mangled and chopt into pieces their bodies scorched burned racked rosted come what can come Premi potest ecclesia opprimi non potest Psal 30.5 Psal 112.4 the Israel of God may be pressed cannot be oppressed though sorrow may befall them in the euening ioy shall arise in the morning Vnto the righteous ariseth light in darknesse This is the Close as David had learned in the Schoole of Affliction Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all delivered they are not from one or few or many but from all Marke the end of the vpright man his latter end is Peace there may be stormes in the way but in the end there will follow an eternall Calme This Shippe may be tossed cannot be drowned Psal 112.6 this Mount Sion may be moved cannot be removed Reason Shee hath the word of Iehovah to secure her a word more firme then Heaven The Lord of Hoasts will come in to her succour He comes with salvation vnder his wings He comes in seasonably to helpe at a dead lift Mans greatest extremitie is Gods fittest opportunitie when no hope in earth then exspect helpe from Heaven then the Almightie comes riding on the Clouds and commands deliverance for his Iacob let the Sea worke and rage and boyle and foame and swell vp to Heaven his word makes all husht But what doe I preventing my selfe Let vs leaue dilating on this Subject to his proper place and now make application of the point and grow to that cōclusion which this day doth witnesse and proclaime to the whole world Looke backe my Brethren remember those Marian dayes that bloudy Quinqueinium Nero his Quinqueinium famous for those sparkles of humanitie that of Q. Mary contrary what a desperate pinch were wee brought to in time of that persecution What massacring What butchering What Bonnering What burning of those chast Virgins that would not prostitute their soules to that Whore of Babylon that would not licke vp their filthy vomit disgorged in the dayes of King Edward What streets did not flame with fires What faggots did not fry the bones of those mis-called Heretickes What Citty What Towne What Village was not watered with the blood Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae enlightned with the flames of those constant crowned Martyrs The mercies of the wicked are cruell as the wise King obserues as those barbarous savage Tygertyrants made it too true who to shew themselues more mercilesse then the mercilesse Elements fire and water retorted that Infant into the Mothers flames Fox in his Acts Mon. which the
Men as the Stories record wished all the people of Rome had had but one head that he might chop it off at a blow that which was but desired of Nero was not wished onely but plotted and attempted by these Sanguineous Antichristian Neroes had their plot taken effect not the head of Rome but of England had beene cut off at a Blow Nero caused the Citie of Rome to be fired and laid the blame on the Christians If their traine had blowne vp our Church and State the imputation of so foule a fact by these equivocating Catholikes must haue beene cast on the Puritans Three famous kingdomes by a blessed Peace-maker vnited into one happy Monarchy Vno actu tactu ictu with one blow and blast in a day an houre a moment had perished ere they knew who hurt them no sect no sex no person nor age might be spared no not those of their owne Religion the Powder like the Duke of Medina his Sword These be your charitable Catholikes would haue knowne no difference betweene Protestant and Papist The Kings Maiestie the Golden Head of this Land the Lords Annointed and the breath of our nostrils His deare Queene the Roote that bare so royall stems His Princely heire the pledge of our succeeding hopes the Honorable Councell the eye of our Land the Noble Lords and Baron the Shields and shoulders of our Land the Reverend Bishops and Cleargie the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel the graue Sages and Iudges the Handes of our Land for execution of Iustice the flower of our Gentry and Commons the feete of this Land roote and branch Priest and people Head roote branches eyes shoulders armes tongues handes feete all all should haue beene torne vp and mounted on high to fall headlong their carkasses mangled the sheepe brained and burnt by an vnheard-of kinde of execution In their wrath they digged downe a wall and in their anger would take away a whole nation as one man Cursed be their anger for it was fierce and their wrath for it was cruell into their secrets let not the righteous enter my soule be not thou ioyned with their Assemblies How neare was it come even to the point of execution the Children were at the birth wee had but the burning of a match to liue not a haires-breadth betweene vs and this Death these flames How miraculously was the plot discovered rod how opportunely were the traytors defeated the wisedome of the King came from the inspiration of the Almightie strange it is to consider what English his Maiesty did pick out of a dark and Aenigmaticall letter going against all Grammaticall construction He that sits in Heaven made their owne handes and Pens to bewray all so the Preacher Curse not the King Eccles 10.20 no not in thy thought for the fowle of the Heauen shall carry it and that which hath wings shall declare the matter If the Lord had not now beene with vs Prov. 16.10 among vs for vs and put a word of Divination into the lippes of our gratious Soveraigne wee had all beene long ere this as Sodom and Gomorrha King Prince Noble Peeres Prelates Iudges Gentry Commons Our peace plentie the Gospel of peace the comfort of our liues and the life of all our comforts all had vanished into Ash-heapes Thus am I fallen vpon the Author of this Great Deliverance who kept vs in this fire that the flame did not so much as kindle vpon vs. So literally are the words of this Prophecie fulfilled of this Church and State who kept vs Iehovah saith my Text Iehovah saith this day I will be with thee The safetie of the Church consists in the presence of the Lord. Iehovah is that Cloud which giues light to the Israelites Exod. 14.25 strikes terror into the Egyptians and takes off the Wheeles of their Chariots Iehovah is that Wall of fire that fenceth his elect and consumes his enemies the Lord is my Rocke my Fortresse so David The name of the Lord is a strong Tower Prov. 18.10 into which the righteous Nation shall enter so Salomon This Tower is invincible this Bulwarke impregnable this Fortresse is out of Gun-shot and therefore cannot be battered this Wall reacheth higher then the Heavens and therefore cannot be scaled The Lord is ever with his Church what he speaks of the Temple the type of the Church Mat. 28.20 needs must it be verified of the Church the truth of that type 2 Chro. 7.16 I haue chosen this place that my name may be there for ever and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually There is he present and resident and that not as a naked Spectator to behold their miseries but as a tender Father as a mightie Sauiour As a tender Father commiserating their distresses caring the cares grieuing the griefes and fearing the feares of his chosen Isa 63.9 In all their troubles he is troubled When the foote was trod vpon in earth the Head cryes from Heaven Saul Saul Acts. 9.4 why persecutest thou me He is present secondly as an Almightie powerfull Saviour is there any thing too hard for him Is his arme shortned Did not he wound Rahab Smite the Dragon overthrow the horse and his rider make a path in the great Water and allay the heate of the fire He works with meanes without meanes against means and doth what ever he will in heaven or earth Hath not he set bounds to the Sea Iob. 38.11 though it rage and foame here it must stay thus farre it shall come and no farther here the proud waues must be broken Hath not he Satan in a chaine Iob. 1. and all his instruments that they cannot plucke a haire from the head of his servants without his leaue and licence Vse 1 Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos Rom. 8.31 Behold now the safetie the securitie of the Church if God be with vs who shall be against vs If God be with vs what need we feare what man can doe vnto vs men or Devils No maruaile if the Prophet command feare not He that is thus guided thus guarded how can he feare or faint So the same Prophet Isa 51.12.13 Chap. 51. Vers 12.13 I even I am he that comfort thee who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man and of the sonne of man which shall be made as grasse and forgettest the Lord thy Maker c. Iehovah hath vndertaken to be the Lord Protector or Lord-keeper of his Red vine Isaiah 27.3 I the Lord doe watch over it by night and by day Hee will defend it against secret trecheries these are night-assaults against open Hostilities these are day-assaults What though the Ramping Lyon goe about continually 1 Pet. 5.8 seeking whom he may devoure Is not the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah as vigilant to defend as Satan to assault The destroyer of Israel never slumbreth nor sleepeth no more doth the keeper of Israel Psal 121.4