or Fore-sight but Gods (r) Rom. VIII 31. Si Deus pro nobis qui vult adversari paret se si potest bellare adversus Deum Aug. de ver Ap. Serm. 16. pug 74. that made the Advantage be still on our side For his was a Divine theirs but an Human Power (s) Noli mirari victi sunt homines enim erant Aug. in Psal 124. 'T is plain their Rage was so great that they would not liesurely have devoured us but like some hungry Lion or Tiger they would have swallowed us up alive and raw (t) Vivos Hebr. Crudos Vid. 1 Sam. II. 15. Prov. I. 12. The Plot was laid to have given no time nor warning to those who were to be Massacred But King Prince and Parliament were all to be blown up and destroyed in one moment Ver. III IV. Again their Pride was risen to that heighth that nothing less than our utter destruction would have satisfied them Persecution must have taken off all that missed this Blow So that this unavoidable Desolation would have suddenly broke in upon us like a deep and irresistible stood of Waters (u) Aqua in S. Scripturâ ponitur pro Populo persecutore Aug. in loc We could not have waded through it without drowning nor could we have saved our Lives any other way but by denying our Faith and so damning our Souls which was indeed a dreadful case Ver. V VI. But since we were saved both from their Rage and their Pride by Miracles of Providence Oh what reason have we to praise the LORD who pulled us like helpless Lambs out of the very mouths of those Savage Creatures and rescued our Soul which like some silly Bird was suddenly catcht in the Fowlers Snare and not being able to break it by her own strength expected each moment to be taken and destroy'd In this condition were we when the Almighty broke this Snare and delivered us Ver. VII Wherefore let their hopes be never so great we will not fear any of their Attempts hereafter Their expectations of Success rely on false Principles wicked Policies and cruel Actions they trust in Saints (w) Isai LXIII 16. Mortus enim non norunt quid agunt patianturve mortales in hac vita Aug. de cura promortuis Relicks and other Created things which always fail them But our help comes by calling on the Name of that Supream Lord the Creatour of Heaven and Earth who can never want Power or Inclination to rescue such as depend on him and this is the true Reason why we are saved and they are disappointed For which let us sing Glory be to the Father c. The CXXVth Psalm doth consist of 1st A Declaration of the Safety of the Faithful Verse I. 2ly An Account 1. Of the Author thereof viz. GOD Ver. II. 2. Of the Reason viz. to prevent Apostacy Ver. III. 3ly A Prayer for the prosperity of Good Men Ver. IV. 4ly A Prosspect of the final State 1. Of the Wicked Ver. V. 2. Of the Righteous Ver. V. Brief Notes on the CXXVth Psalm § 5. PSal CXXV Ver. I. The former Psalm ended with a resolution to trust in God and this shews the benefit thereof for by this Faith good Men are safe All attempts to destroy them are as vain as the endeavours to remove a Mountain by Human strength would be (x) Montes transferre in S. Scripturâ sig rem supra humanam potentiam aggredi Math XVII 20. 1 Cor. XIII 2. Drus Prov. clas 2. l. 3. especially if that Mountain be the Hill of Sion the place in which Gods true Worship is fixed and over which he takes a special care This Mount and Gods Church will stand fast for ever Ver. II. The situation of Jerusalem was an Emblem of this for as that was surrounded and guarded with many Hills on every side of it and divers Watch-Towers and Forts were placed on them Even so the LORD by his All-seeing and Almighty Providence continually watches over his Church to prevent all the Mischief intended against it and this makes it inaccessible to all its Enemies Ver. III. When God hath given a Country to be the Lot of such as do believe and worship rightly he will not without the highest Provocation suffer those of a false Religion to divide it among them for a possession or let them keep the Dominion over it for any long time (y) Vers Tiguâ—in Pertica i. e. virga mensurationis Castal Sceptrum i. e. virga potestatis Because he fore-sees such Lords and Rulers by force and fraud by interest and cruelty will intice some and affright others into Apostacy Wherefore in tenderness to his weak Servants such Scourges as these either are not sent on a righteous Nation or however do not long continue (z) shall not rest Now Trans Ver. IV. On the due consideration of this thy tender Care of thy own People what can I pray for more properly than that thou O LORD wilt continue thy Providence over all that are upright and sincere and let them at all times be safe and prosperous Ver. V. As for those who are so set on mischief that when one of their wicked Plots fails they begin to contrive another The visible Justice of thy defeating them will not discourage them nor any thing else amend them (a) Medicus si cessaverit curare desperat Hieron ad Castrut ep 33. Therefore I know thou O LORD wilt lead them forth like hardned Malefactors to suffer some dreadful punishment in this World (b) Puniet eos ut malâ—â—â—cos Castal or however thou wilt condemn them to eternal punishment in the next (c) Ducet eos in Gâ—â—â—nam Chal. Paraphr And in despite of all their policy and power the true Church and People of God shall enjoy peace and prosperity from age to age So that this and the next Generations shall continually own it and sing Glory be to the Father c. The proper Lessons 2 Sam. XXII and Acts XXIII § 6. NOthing can be more truly called proper than these Lessons The first is David's Hymn of Praise (d) 2 Sam. XXII composed upon his deliverance out of the hands of all his Enemies especially of King Saul his Father-in-Law who sought to deprive him both of his promised Succession and his Life I need not tell the Reader to which of our two Deliverances this belongs but shall only observe that the Words are so many Acts of Faith and Hope Love and Gratitude Humility and Devotion Praise and holy Resolution and are so pertinent that they explain themselves to an attentive and well-disposed Hearer The Second Lesson relates evidently to the Gun-powder Treason the History agrees with that Plot in some particulars but falls short of it in many others There we find (e) Acts XXIII a crew of desperate Zealots enraged at Paul for persuading them to reform the corrupt Tradiditions of their Fore-fathers binding themselves in a bloody
they had Covenanted to reform And having made themselves our Rulers impiously and sacrilegiously invaded the Revenues of the Crown and Miter plundered and oppressed imprisoned and murdered all that had opposed this New-invented Usurpation And finally they left the People no shadow of Liberty and broke Religion into so many petty and ridiculous Sects that we were the scorn of Atheists and Papists and a scandal to all the Christian World till these ambitious and bloody Oppressors fell out at last among themselves and nothing could make up that Breach but the Recalling the King to set up Monarchy and restore the Church § 1. This Office is introduced with some of the usual Sentences which are explained before The Minister hath the choice of Three all very proper The first is Daniel's Confession (d) Dan. ix 9 10. describing God's Mercy and our Sinfulness The other two are Jeremy's Prayer (e) Jerem. x. 24. for a mitigation of Judgment And David's Request (f) Psal cxliii 2. See Companion to the Temple par 1. for a total Sparing Instead of the Venite we have a very proper Hymn collected out of divers places of Holy Scripture so that the words are Divine and their pertinency to this Occasion will appear by the following Scheme This Hymn contains these Five particulars 1st A Preface owning 1. God's Righteousness Psal CXIX 137. Nehem. IX 33. 2. Our wonder at the Methods of it Psalm LXXIII 2 3. 2ly A Description of the matter of Fact setting out 1. His Enemies Plots Psal II. 2. LXXXIII 5. 2. Their Calumnies Psal XXXI 15. CIX 2. 3. Their Ingratitude Psal XLI 9. XXXV 12. 4. Their Injustice 1. To him Psalm LXXI 9. 2. To his Lament IV. 20. 5. Their Cruelty 1. In wishing his death Lament IV. 12. Psal XLI 5 8. 2. In condemning him falsly Psal XXXV 11. 3. In Executing him barbarously Lament IV. 13. 3ly A Reflexion upon it 1. With detestation as to our selves Gen. XLIX 6. Psal LXXX 17. 2. With contempt as to his mistaken Enemies Wisd III. 2. V. 4. III. 3. 3. With assurance of his felicity Wisd III. 4. V. 5. 4ly A Consideration of the Judgment due for it and thereon 1. The Prayer to spare the Innocent 1. The Nation Psal XCIV 1. LI. 18. Deut. XXI 8. 2. Our selves Psalm XXVI 9. LI. 14. 2ly The Reason why the Guilty may fear punishment 1. From God's hatred of such Psal V. 4 ver 6. 2. From his dealings with others Ps LXXIII ver 18 19. 5ly A Conclusion owning again God's Righteousness Apocal. XV. 3. Psal CXIX 137. Brief Notes upon this Hymn PSal CXIX 137. Even when we cannot discern the particular Reasons of thy Providence thy Nature assures us thou art ever Righteous and in time thy Judgments appear equitable Nehem. IX 33. It was a great Calamity to us to be so soon deprived of so excellent a Prince but we cannot censure thy Providence because we must own that though he were innocent yet we of this Nation at that time were grievous Sinners Psal LXXIII 2 3. But while so innocent and eminent a Saint a professor a practicer and defender of the true Religion suffers so unjustly and severely and the Hypocrites Atheists persidious and cruel Men who oppressed him prospered and flourished It startled many good Men (g) See Job XXI 6. Jer. XII 1. Flagitiosi vero in quantâvis prosperitate sunt calamitosi Apollon in Stobae who could not apprehend why God should seem to desert his Friends and abet the Cause which he hated Psal II. 2. LXXIII 5. The whole proceeding was indeed very strange the rabble and drags of the People mutinyed and the Great Men whom he had advanced met in Cabals and consulted how to pull down the true Religion which the Lord had planted here (h) Acts IX 4. me inquit Christus non meos Aug. de sanct Serm. 14. and to destroy Gods Anointed who they know would not permit them while he lived to overthrow the Church Therefore they plotted his destruction and entred into an illegal and wicked Covenant against him Psal XXXI 15. While he stayed in his Palace thousands of the vile Populace came in droves and railed at him crying out for Justice that is for Innocent Blood And He knew that those who stirred up these Tumults were then conspiring his Death Psal CIX 2. For the compassing of which bloody Design they represented all his Actions most falsly and maliciously in their Libels Speeches and Remonstrances and then raised open War against Him without any just Cause For he had not attempted either to alter Religion or invade Property as they falsly suggested Psal XLI 9. On the contrary He would have preserved both and was kind to all his Subjects but more particularly to some of these Traytors who had been raised to great honour and wealth by him enjoyed high and profitable Places under him and ate at his very Table (i) This is applied to Judas Mark XIV 18. yet like Judas these betrayed their Master Psal XXXV 12. These were very Monsters of Ingratitude like the young Ram which dashes with his horns the paps he sucks as the Greek Proverb is (k) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prov. ap Suid. They had received good from him but requited him with all the mischief they could do him This baseness touched him very neerly Psal LXXI 9. So did also the spiteful Reflexions they made on his Sufferings as if they were a demonstration of Gods having rejected and deserted him His losses and their success like David's Enemies encouraged them to persecute and seize him fancying Heaven would never call them to account for it But they were deceived both in their censures and their hopes for a little time shewed that God corrected Him in love (l) Hebr. XII 6. Prov. III. 2. and destroyed them in his anger Lament IV. 20. However they did prevail then but it was our loss more than the Martyred Kings for our welfare depended on his He was as necessary to our Safety as the Breath of our Nostrils is to our Life (m) Animus Rei Pub. es tu illa Corpus tuum Tu ille spiritus vitalis quem tot millia trahunt Senec. de Clem. l. 1. c. 4 5. And we hoped when God had Anointed over us so wise so pious and so gracious a King we might long have lived under him in peace and plenty and have been more happy than any Nation But God punished us in letting him fall into their Pits Lam. IV. 12. Psal XLI 5 ver 8. Who could have imagined that such Miscreants should have been let loose upon a rightly reformed Christian Church who should thirst so vehemently for the Blood of its Supream Governor And should be permitted to proceed to so high a degree of wickedness as to Try him without Law and pass Sentence on him that was intirely Innocent as if he had
the Martyr was restored to his Crown and the Posterity of such who were slain banished or undone in his Quarrel recovered their Estates and all things were so well setled again both in Church and State that such as sprang from Dunghils the Dregs of the People who are commonly the worst Oppressors (y) Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum we hope shall never more prevail at that rate in this Nation But that the Monarchy and Religion shall be established among us from henceforth for ever Amen Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The XI Psalm § 4. THIS Psalm was composed by David when he was threatned and his Life attempted by Saul or Absolon expressing what it was that supported him and is very applicable to our Royal Martyr under his Troubles Psalm XI contains a description 1st Of a good man under great afflictions viz. 1. His own steddy Faith part of Ver. I. 2. His Enemies practices 1. Their Insults part of Ver. I. 2. Their Attempts Ver. II. 3. Their Success Ver. III. 2ly Of Gods dealing in such a case viz. 1. He is easie of access Ver. IV. 2. He knows all things done here Ver. V. 3. He always judges right Ver. VI. 4. He severely punishes the wicked Ver. VII 5. He is inclined to favour the just Ver. VIII Brief Notes upon this Psalm Ver. I II III. SINCE I firmly trust in the Lord who is a sure refuge it is not all your insulting threats can terrifie me (z) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nazian You advise me to desert my Station and fly to some remote place of Strength to save my Life you count me like a poor helpless Bird that the Fowler is just ready to shoot and kill I know they hate me for my Integrity I see they are raising Forces and preparing to fight against me to destroy me because I cannot renounce my Religion my Own and my Peoples Rights Some would persuade me to yield up my Honour and my Conscience telling me otherwise the Foundations of Church and State will be razed by this Cruel War Well if that be the sad event I must rather suffer than sin (a) Telerabilior est qui â—eri jubet quam qui male vivere Pub. Min. Frustra hominem terrâ—â—â—s nihil ille nisi peccatum timet Dict de Chrysost If I can say safely I am innocent and have done no wickedness to contribute toward it I shall have the testimony of a good Conscience and the will of the Lord be done Ver. IV V VI. So long as my Conscience is clear God will hear my Prayer (b) John IX 31. I can cheerfully go to the Church while I have liberty or to Heaven where God dwells if I were consined to a Prison and doubt not but I shall be accepted But if I do a Sin to get present ease God who sees and tries all mens Actions would soon discover it whereas now while I keep my integrity God will consider me though I be brougâ—â— into never so low a condition No man therefore shall prevail with me to pâ—rchase Peace with betraying my Trust (c) Pax sine Veritate preditio est Tert. Vid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paâ—â—m since I know and firmly believe that God doth approve and allow the Deeds of just Men even while he correct them And abhors the unjust and wicked from his very Soul even while he spares them and seems for a while to let them prosper Ver. VII VIII However it may go with good and bad Men here for a time it is certain God will punish the Wicked and reward the Righteous at last He will either bring a sudden dreadful and irresistible judgment upon them in this World as he did upon Sodom in that Lightning and Thunder as driven with a violent Storm and Tempest (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luc. XVII 25. i. e. Fulgur Tenuâ—ru Vid. Grot. in locum which catcht them all as in a Snare so that not one of them escaped or if by Gods forbearance some few of them escape a sudden and horrible Punishment here they shall suffer that Fire and Brimstone of Hell whereof this was but an Emblem for ever and ever (e) Quanto enim diutius expeâ—tâ—r 〈◊〉 gravius vindicat Aug. de temp Soâ— 1â—2 But as for holy Men God is holy in his Nature he therefore doubtless ever loves and will reward them He may hide his Face for a time but he will finally cast a gracious and favourable Look upon righteous Actions In which smal Belief I will now sing Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Lessons 2 Sam. I. St. Math. XXVII § 5. THere is no parallel for this Inhuman Murder of a Holy and Innocent King by his own Subjects in all the Old Testament and therefore the Church is content to read the History of David's Justice upon the Infidel who murdered Saul and his mourning for him who had been his Sovereign though he was his Mortal Enemy and had Apostatized from God and was forsaken by Heaven yet he was Master of so much Charity as to lament his Fate How much more Reason then had our State to punish those Barbarous Rebels who murdered a Righteous King beloved by God and who was Martyred for firmly adhering to the True Religion and also to set apart a Day of Humiliation for Fasting and Prayer and to draw up a mournful Office (e) 2 Sam. I. 11 12 and Ver. 18. after the Example in the Lesson on this occasion As for the Second Lesson it is the ordinary Chapter appointed in course by the Kalendar to be read for January XXX But by a signal Providence the Bloody Rebels chose that Day for the Executing their King on which at the Church which they seldom came to this History of our Saviours Crucifixion was appointed to be read His Majesty had actually forgot this was the proper Lesson and therefore when Bishop Juxon who said the Morning Office immediately before his Martyrdom named this Chapter The Blessed Prince asked him if he had chosen it as fit on this Occasion But when he knew it was established of old he noted and admired the suteableness of it to his present Circumstances Who was Betrayed by some Denyed by others and Deserted by the rest of his seeming Friends and left to the Bloody and Implacable Malice of his Barbarous Enemies who used him with the same Contempt and Ingratitude Outrage and Cruelty that the Jews used their King and our Saviour while he imitated his Great Master animated by this Chapter in Meekness and Patience Piety to God and Charity to all even to his Murderers So that there is so exact a similitude between the Sufferings of Christ and our Martyr that there needs nothing to apply so exact a Copy to its Original The First Collect. The First Collect consists
their Patience and Piety under his afflicting Hand (p) Negotiatio est aliquid amittere ut majora lucrerit Tert. adv Marc. for he in a short time takes off their Burden and commonly restores them to a far better Condition than they were in before Thus he dealt with us wherefore we may justly sing Glory be to the Father c. § 3. Psalm CXXIX consists of Three Particulars 1st Our Enemies endeavours for our ruin 1. Early begun Ver. I. 2. Often repeated Ver. II. 3. Very near successful Ver. III. 2ly The Means of our Deliverance by Gods help Ver. IV. 3ly A Prayer against them and their success in Evil. Ver. V VI VII Brief Notes on the CXXIXth Psalm Psal CXXIX I THis Church may truly say of the Sectaries as David said of his Enemies that many a time since its Reformation and first Establishment they have been opposing its Doctrine Discipline and Government in contempt of both Law and Authority Ver. II. Many methods have they used to disturb and grieve our Governors both Civil and Ecclesiastical by false Representations abroad and seditious Practices at home by virulent Pamphlets and invective Sermons yea by Petitions Remonstrances and Clamours but none of these prevailed till they had put off their Mask and excited the People to an Offensive War against their Gracious Sovereign Ver. III. Our Sins indeed made them successful in this for some time and then they who complained so much of Persecution did most cruelly persecute they who pretended to stand only for Liberty denied it to all good Men (q) Ut imperium evertant libertatem pratendunt si perverterent ipsam aggrederentur Tacit. and this was not all for they inflicted all sorts of Punishments on such as they falsly called Delinquents plowing some of their Fellow-subjects Backs with Scourges like long Furrows and depriving others of their Liberty and Estates so that they bore marks of their Cruelty for a long time after Ver. IV. They had employed Informers and hoped to insnare all that were firm to the Crown or the Church but their Methods were so unjust and their Designs so cruel that the Righteous Judge of the World in a little time cut their Snares to pieces and delivered these Nations from their Power and Malice Ver. V. And we will pray to the same God who hath set up the True Religion and Regal Government in our Sion that such as are implacable Enemies to both and seek to subvert either of them may have all their Plots confounded and their Forces if they proceed that way always vanquished as these Mens Policies and Power were Ver. VI. We wish they and their Adherents may be like the Grain scattered in stony places (r) Mat. XIII 5 6. or those Tufts of Grass which do suddenly grow on the House-top (s) Quasi solstitialis herba paulispèr fui repentè exortus sum repentinò occidi Plaut Pscud Act. I. Scen. 1. which indeed look fresh and fair for a while but wanting Root and Moisture never come to perfection withering away in as little time as they sprang up in Ver. VII VIII These never come to a regular Mowing nor to a compleat Harvest none takes any pains about them nor is there occasion to say those Prayers which are usually made when Men are gathering in good Corn (t) Ruth II. 4. because this Kind is never like to turn to any Profit So we believe it will and wish it may happen to this sort of Men that they may live Despised Wither of themselves and Fall unpitied so that not One may put up any Prayer on their behalf because they see they are Blasted by Gods Judgment on them for their Impiety On the contrary so many innocent Persons do escape by their perishing that all good Men have reason to sing (u) Prov. XI 10. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. § 4. THis CXVIII Psalm was composed originally for David's Coronation after God had brought him from his Exile through many Troubles to sit on his Throne in Peace it is set last because it peculiarly relates to the last Scene of our Revolution and may with little variation be applied to the Restoring and Crowning of our late King Charles II. Psal CXVIII is David's Coronation Hymn in Six Parts 1st An Exhortation to all sorts of Men to praise God 1. In General Ver. I. 2. In particular Israel Ver. II. The Priests Ver. III. The Proselytes Ver. IV. 2ly The Grounds of it urged by David from 1. Gods hearing his Prayers Ver. V. 2. His Espousing his Interest Ver. VI VII 3. The Benefit of Relying on him Ver. VIII IX 4. The Dangers he had escaped thereby Ver. X XI XII XIII 3ly Comfortatable Reflections upon 1. His present Happiness in Gods help Ver. XIV XV XVI 2. His Hope it would continue Ver. XVII 3. His past Sufferings Ver. XVIII 4ly Resolutions to return God publick Praises Ver. XIX XX XXI 5ly His peculiar Reasons for it 1. Mens rejecting him Ver. XXII 2. Gods choosing him Ver. XXIII XXIV 6ly Acts of Devotion on this Occasion 1. Fervent Prayer Ver. XXV 2. Joyful Gratulation Ver. XXVI 3. Sacrifices of Righteousness Ve. XXVII 4. Hearty and repeated praises V. XXVIII XXIX Brief Notes on Psalm CXVIII Psal CXVIII Ver. I II III IV. O That all Men would give hearty Thanks unto the Lord as well for the greatness as the duration of his Mercy which was so visible in his long preserving and at last restoring our David But the People of this Land the Priests of this Church and all pious Strangers that have found refuge here (w) Proselytae dicuntur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. X. 2. 22. XIII 16. these are more particularly obliged to own that the Mercy of our God which brought this about is Infinite and Everlasting Ver. V VI VII The restored King had also peculiar reason to own this for God mercifully heard his Prayers in his Banishment and brought him home in Peace There were strong confederacies made to exclude him for ever but his Cause was good and since God took his part (x) Rom. VIII 31. Quis est qui vincit omnipotentem Aug. V. Ap. Ser. 16. he needed not to have feared his own final Advancement nor his Enemies being pulled down at last Ver. VIII IX He might have expected that some of his own Loyal Subjects should have attempted to shake off their heavy Yoke or that some Foreign Princes related to him should have assisted him in the recovery of his Right But alas they all failed him and then God alone restored him and taught him that it was better to trust in the Lord than in any Man or in the greatest Princes for he doth more than we can expect or he directly promises but they commonly do less Ver. X XI XII XIII Considering the Number and Malice of his Foes and with what Heat and Fury they set upon him in
Battle like a swarm of enraged Bees (y) ira modum supra est laesaeque venenum Morsibus inspirant spicula caeca relinquunt Virg. Georg. l. 4. and how violently afterward they sought his Ruin it was a mighty wonder how he could escape them But he still trusted in Gods help when all human aid failed him and he did miraculously preserve him till their vehement Fury was extinguished like a sudden blaze of Fire among dry Thorns Ver. XIV XV XVI No Prince in the World could upon more just grounds than he declare the Lord to be his Defence none had more reason to praise him or own him for his Deliverer Who could have thought the Voice of Joy and Praise should ever more be heard in that oppressed scattered Royal Family This was so unexpected and surprising an event that nothing but the right hand of God which hath the preheminence above all for bringing mighty things to pass could have effected it Ver. XVII XVIII When his Danger was greatest and his Case at the lowest ebb he still hoped he should weather out the Storm and Live not only to see better Times but to declare his Goodness who then indeed corrected him for his amendment as a loving Father (z) Non erudit Pater nisi quem amat Hieron ad Celant ep 33. but never intended he should be destroyed his Foes had no Commission to touch his Life though they seized upon all that was his besides Ver. XIX XX XXI Wherefore as David after his troubles were over being advanced to the Throne on his Coronation Day went up to Mount Sion and made them open those Gates which just Men frequented for him to go into Gods House and Praise the Lord. So did our restored King go to the Church and offer up his Praises unto God who had heard his Prayers saved him from his Enemies and brought him in Peace to Reign over his own People Ver. XXII XXIII XXIV And truly it was very strange that this Prince which our Great Men had before Despised Excluded and Banished as unworthy and unfit to Govern should come to the Crown with such general Acclamations and extraordinary expressions of an Universal Joy (a) Putrum despexerunt aedificatores qui fuit inter Filios Jesse at meruit constitui Rex Chald. Parap No man could have devised or brought about so wondrous a Change it was the Lords doing and our admiration Oh what a joyful Day did God make that to us after so many years of Tyranny and Anarchy Faction and Impiety Misery and Confusion to see our rightful King the Defender of the True Faith happily restored So great was that Mercy that it is appointed to be a Festival Day in all succeeding Generations Ver. XXV XXVI And it ought now as it was then principally to be celebrated with Religious Exercises the King People and Priests mutually joyned in Prayers Hymns and Praises The King Prayed and said O Lord now thou hast set me over thy People help me to rule them justly The People answered O Lord send us Pease and Prosperity under so good a Prince The Priests welcomed Gods Anointed to his House and said Blessed and happy be our King that professeth the True Religion and comes to us by so special a Providence The King replied He wished and would endeavour the Church should flourish whose Prayers he believed would bring a Blessing on Him and his People Ver. XXVII XXVIII XXIX Then the Priests again broke forth into Praises and said God hath restored us the Light of his Gospel and brought us out of our late Miserable Darkness let us offer a multitude of Oblations of Praise on his Altars And while the Sacrifices were offering the King said Thou art my God who hast set me up to thee therefore and to thy Name let all the Praise and Thanks be given Finally all of them King Priests and People exhorted one another to Bless the Lord as well for the Greatness as for the Continuance of his Mercy Of which since we have many assurances also in our Times let us joyn with them and say Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Lessons 1st 2 Sam. XIX from Ver. 9. or Numb XVI 2d The Epistle of St. Jude § 5. GReat care hath been shewed in the choice of proper Lessons for this Occasion The First Lesson being part of 2 Sam. XIX is almost an exact Parallel to our Case and describes how after Absoloms Rebellion happily ended by his death the People universally resolved to bring back their Lawful King David and sent an honourable Message to him in his Exile to invite him back and he returned not only without any Opposition but by general Consent and to the great satisfaction of all his Subjects his Enemies begging his Pardon and his Loyal People only contending which part of them should shew themselves most forward in bringing their beloved Prince back or express the most Joy at his Return But if any new Practices make it necessary to reflect upon that Faction and Sedition which began the Rebellion the XVIth of Numbers is aded where the Example of Corah Dathan and Abiram doth very clearly set out the greatness of their Sin and the severity of their Punishment who oppose righteous and religious Governours The Second Lesson being the Epistle of St. Jude foretels the coming of false Teachers in the last days and describes their Hypocrisie in pretending to Piety while their Lives are notoriously Evil remarking particularly their railing at those in Authority and prophesying falsly for Reward But withal containing a Prophesie of their Fall and as the Character was exactly answered by some in those sad Times so the Prophesie was soon after fulfilled in their Ruin to warn all others not to be deceived by such Pretenders The Collects § 6. THe first of these is the very Form of Thanksgiving for restoring publick Peace at home which is fully explained before (b) Companion to the Temple Part II. §. 16. p. 408. And if we do but apply that which is there suited to all Occasions to this most eminent restoring of Publick Peace we cannot but make this Prayer with Understanding So that I shall only note that the Composers of these Offices did not affect needless Novelties but when the Old Liturgy had any Form suitable to a new Occasion they chose to retain it being ready to declare as David did of Goliahs Sword (c) 1 Sam. XXI 9. That there was none like it The Second Collect hath Three Parts 1st A Description of our Deliverance setting out 1. The Author of it O Lord God of our Salvation c. 2. The Evils from which we were delivered didst deliver us out of our miserable c. 3. The Means by which by restoring to us and to his c. 4. The Blessed Effects of it thereby restoring also c. 2ly The Return we make for it by 1. Thankful Acknowledgments