curabo Ecclesiam Deus pro me pugnabit I 'll take care of my Charge and the Defence of me belongs to God On the tidings of which the Duke disbanded his Forces Luther Expos in Isa 30. 15. Reformation and Holy Living of a Kingdom or Persons is Meant the Glory that Being indeed the Excellency and Glory of them God and his People being both Glorious in Holiness Now upon this Glory God Promiseth a Defensive-Shelter A greeably the Lord has Ingaged to Make that People's Enemies to be at Peace with them who in their Ways Please and Honour Him Prov. 16. 7. Nor can the Mightiest Force of the most Formidable Enemy Do any Hurt against those who Keep in with God and have Him on their Side as in Isa 8. 9 10. and Isa 54 1â— Whosoever shall Gather together against thee shâ—l Fall for thy Sake Without God there is Littâ—â— Hope but Against Him there is Certain Ruiâ— Yea further as Evill will be Prevented so All Good will be Obtained by Giving the Lord his Due Honour Hag. 2. 19. From this Day forward will I Bless Thee viz. from the Day that they Took Care of the Temple Thus c 2 Chron. 7. 11. Aâ— that Came into Solomon ' s Heart to Make in his own House and the House of the Lord he Prosâ—â—rously Effected Carrying on God's House with his own he Prospered in his Way d 1 Chron. 29 12 14. Both Richâ—â— and Honour Come of Thee and in thy Hand it iâ— to Make Great and to Give Strength unto All. And his Promises of Blessing both for Thâ—â— Life and That to Come are Made to Trâ—â— Godliness All Blessednesses according to the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are Due to him that Shuns God Reproaching Courses and Delights in God's Laâ— Psal 1. 2 and Ver 3. Universal Good Success Attends him God Metes out to Persons in their own Measure and Makes their Outward Estate to Carry Proportion to their Inward As â—â— Rise or Fall in our Respects to the Lord accordingly shall we be Made either the Head or the Tail among the Nations The Stories of Joseph Judg. 6. 11. Psal 78. 70. Job 42. 12. Psal 113. 7 8. Moses David Gideon Job Daniel c. Shew us how God will Raise from the very Thrâ—shing-Floor from the Sheepfold and the Dunghil those Poor and Needy Ones who Signally Honour Him to Set them among Princes and to Make Them Inherit the Throne of Glory As Contrarily He Abaseth such as Refuse him His Glory by Hurling Some out of their Kingdoms and Throwing Down Others from their Principalities and Great Dignities turning them to Graze with Oxen to Teach them that the Most High Ruleth in the Kingdoms of Men and will â—e had in Reverence and his Name Sanctified by All People To Draw then to a Conclusion know ye That it Lieth much on the Inhabitants of our Kingdoms under God Whether such Good Beginnings of Mercy as we Commemorate this Day shall have an Happy End and Progress or a. Sudden and Doleful Conclusion And I must Profess my Serious Thoughts and Belief hereof hath Wrought within me a Posture of Soul much-Like to that of Eli's of 1 Sam. 4. 13. old When he Sate on a Seat by the Way-side Watching to Hear Tidings of his People's Welfare his Heart Trembling the mean while for the Ark of God the Pledg of his Gracious Presence O Christians I must tell you That as our Outward Deliverances and All other Temporal Mercies are very Imperfect Things and being but Means to Greater Matters the Interest of God and the Good of Souls can be of no Further Significancy or Advantage to us than as they Further us in God's Service so the Diverting of them to Other Uses contrary to the Design and Honour of the Lord may Easily Draw down Fiercer Indignation and much Sorer Judgments from Heaven on Us than we ever yet Felt or Suffered according to Ezra 9. 13 14. Believe it Brethren and so may All England with you That the Lord will be Lord over us and will Rule us either as Subjects or Rebels If by God's Establishing the Kingdom in the Hands of our Gracious King His Heart with Jehosaphat's shall be Lifted up in the Ways of 2 Chron 25. 16. the Lord and All our People shall Set their Hearts to Glorify their God who has thus Woâ—derfully Delivered them the Lord will Rejoyce over us to Do us further Good as having his Hand upon them for Good that thus seek him Ezra 8. 22. But on the other Hand if we will not Conside the Operation of God's Hands nor Advance the Honour of his Name and the Welfare of Christ's Kingdom by the Blessings he Gives us to that Josh 24. 20. End He will Turn and Do us Hurt and Consume us after that he hath Done us Good I Close All therefore with my most Hearty Wishes That We may All from the Highest to the Lowest be Strong in Holy Purposes and very Couragious to Serve the Cause of God and the Publick Good with Absolute Resolution as firmly Believing That them that Honour God He will Honour and they that Despise Him shall be Lightly Esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. FINIS Page 42. Line 12. after for it adde Here then let All among us who in these Times of Common Danger have Perfidiously Enriched themselves by the Spoils of the Publick and made themselves Great by Robbing the Nation do their part and come forth with Achan and Give Glory unto the Lord by making Josh 7. 19. Luke 19. 8. Confession and with Zacheus full Restitution Their Sin is Villainous and Crying every such Offender being not only the Agent Mr. Baxt. Dir. of the Devill but his Image that Wicked Spirit making it his Businesse to Undo Men and bring them into Distresse and Misery 'T was Treachery against the Whole State Endangering the Publick Peace the Safety of the Government and the Souls and Bodies of Men by Tempting those that were less able to bear such Oppressions into Discontents Sedition and Insurrections Let therefore the Guilty in this kind know That it 's a Determin'd Case in Divinity that such Unlawfull Wealth ought to be Restored with all Damages and that there can't be a just Compensation made for such Wrong but according to the Proportion of the Guilt and the Loss compared together St. Austin tells them Non Remittitur Peccatum niâ—â— Restituitur ablatum Aug. That Without Restitution they can have no Remission and the Holy Movet Câ—rnicula risum Furtivis nudata coloribus Hor. Spirit assures them that How Great soever they may now look in the Kingdoms of Man they shall be Least and not thought worthy of a place in the Kingdom of God The Author's Absence hath occasion'd these Errata to Escape the Press As for Pointing and other small Literals the Reader is desired to pass 'em by PAge 4. l. 24. r. Sennacherib p. 5. l. 20. r. Affliction ib l. 29. r. Ps 66. p. 6. in Marg. r. Hos 14. 4. Ps 12. 5. p. 7. l. 26. r. Counsels p. 10. l. penult r. Arising p. 14. l. 18. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 16. l. 4. r. Jehoshaphat p. 18. in Marg. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 19. l. 30. r. he was p. 21. l. ult r. 2 Chron. p. 23. l. 16. r. Judges 7. p. 24. l. 5. r. Justice p. 25. l. 27. r. Conceitedly ib. l. 31. r. Counsel p. 27. l. 16. r. Doctrine p. 35. l. 27. r. Consecrating p. 37. l. 5. r. Blessings p. 38. l. ult r. and Prudent p. 44. in Marg. Ps 116. 2.
Provoking Guilt and Offences against Heaven the Lord thus Appeared for us Could we Behold what Excellent Wisdom how Glorious Power what Free Goodness how Exceeding Great Compassions what Wonderful Patience and Long-Suffering the Lord has Displayed in Working out this our so Great and Multiplied Salvation with What Thankful Hearts Raised Affections Praising Tongues and Eminently-Fruitful Lives should we Set our selves to Bless Extoll Serve and Magnify our Good God Casting on Him the Glory of All What we Are the Lord has Made us What we Enjoy is the Gift of his Free Bounty Fetched by his Mighty Arm as out of the Fire and Handed to Us from the very Jaws of Ruin The Lord has Gone before Us in the Greatness of his Strength has been a Jer. 14. 8. the Hope of our Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of Trouble b Psal 72. 4. Who has Judged the Poor of our People and Saved the Children of the Needy and Broken in pieces oâ—â— Oppressours c Psal 72 14. he has Redeemed our Soul from Deceit and Violence and Precious has our Blood been in his Sight Even he d Jer. 10. 10. the Onely True and Living God the Everlasting King at whose Wrath the Earth doth Tremble and whose Indignation the Nations are not able to Abide has Looked on Us in our Low Estate Saved Us from Job 5. 15 20. the Power of the Sword f Job 5. 12. Disappointed the Devices of our Crafty Enemies so that their Hands could not Perform their Enterprize and does now Abound toward us in Riches of Goodness and Forbearance and Long-suffering Purposely to Lead us to Repentance O therefore let us Duely Oâ—â— Him Rightly Mention his Holy Name and Shew forth All his Praises Let us Break off oâ—â— Iniquities by Repentance and Turn unto the Lord with all our Hearts and not feignedly Let us study What to Render unto the Lord for all Hiâ— Benefits And according to the Modell of Truâ— Thankfulness though alas too short and lamâ— that has been Set before you always Strive to your Utmost with Heart Lip and Life with All you Are Have Meet with and Can Dâ— to Yeild unto the Lord the Glorious Honour of his Majesty and of his Wondrous Works Psal 145. 5. And to Provoke Us to such a God-Glorifying Course Know we and Consider well 1. That we are no True Christians nor will God so Account of us if we Do it not Taking the Name of the Lord upon us without Living after His Example who spent his Days in g John 17. 4. Glorifying His Father and h Acts 10. 38. Going about â—â—d Doing Good or Doing His Holy Will or Following the Conduct of His Spirit will Avail us Nothing Then only are we Christians in Truth when our Souls are Renewed Our Hearts Withdrawn from Vanity Wills Subdued to God and our Whole Man Absolutely Devoted to the Honouring of God in Christ Believe it To be a Christian indeed is a Very Great and Serious Business a Business which will not be Done with a Careless Mind or a Slothful Unresolved Soul nor with the Thoughts and Hours which Pride and Vanity can Spare and which are the Leavings of Fleshly-Lusts and Pleasures And Persons will One Day Find that Christ will not be Put off with Vain Complements or Reward Any who under His Livery Pleased the Flesh and Served the World 2. What ever Mercies and Gifts God Bestoweth on Any He Expecteth to Receive again with Usury The 19. Luke 12 13 23. Deserves your Serious and Lasting Consideration The Lord Keeps Account of What ye Have and will have a Reckoning with you to See What Work you have been Minding and whether you have Served His Interest with what you had or Proâ—â—gally Wasted it on thâ—t of the Flesh If you have Wealth Interest and Power and you Succour not the Poor do not Right and Protect the Distressed and Promote the Cause of God and the Common Good But a Job 29. 12. Ye Refuse to Dâ—liver the Poor that Cry and the Fatherless and him that hath none to Help him If ye b Isa 58. 7. Draâ— not forth your Soul to the Hungry c. If you Decline c Ezek. 18. 16. Loosing the Bands of Wickedness and Undoing Heavy Burdens to let the Oppressed Gâ— Free i. e. if you will not Honour God with Hâ— Own nor be the Instruments of His Beneficence to Others nor as Faithful Stewards Improve the Talents He has Entrusted you with to Holy Uses and Ends You 'll be Cast and Ruined in the Great Day of Account Live not therefore as if it were enough to Do No Harm and say as the Slothful Servant Here is thy Talent which I hid 3. 'T is most Excellent and Honourable Work the Lord Calls you to herein And Christianity surely is a most Noble Thing when it Requirâ—s and Makes Persons to be so Like unto the Holy God It 's Work and Business being but to Represent God's Glorious Perfections and by the Light of Holy Living to Shew forth and Recommend the Divine Majesty to a Darkenel World as a Candle Lighteth what Way so-ever it Goeth It Instates us into God's Family and Imploys us in that which is the Work yea the very Glory of Heaven it self Shall a Creature be Called forth to the Honouring his Maker and a Mean Worm be said to Glorify God O who can Conceive of the Glory and Honour hereof We Read Psal 78. 25. How Maâ— did Eat Angel's Food but we are Call'd to Angel's Work 4. The Neglect of this Duty Forfeits All our Mercies and Lays us open to All Miseries whatever a Deut. 28. 47 48. Because thou Servedst not the Lord thy God with Joyfulness and with Gladness of Heart for the Abundance of All Things Therefore shalt thou Serve thine Enemies which the Lord shall Send upon thee in Hunger and in Thirst and in Nakedness and in Want of All things and he shall Put a Yoke of thy Neck c. This Text was Greatly Verified on our Selves in the two Late Reigns untill the Happy Revolution under our Present Gracious Sovereign the Lord Making us to Feel that b 2 Chron. 15. 2. He will be no Longer with a People than they are with Him and that He will Forsake Them when They Forsake Him Where a Mic. 2. 7. Hos 2. 9. Religion Decays States or People cannot Thrive 5. A Good Discharge of this Duty is the onely Way to Put an Utter End to our Remaining Fears and Troubles and Make us Happy here and hereafter b Isa 4. 5. Upon the Glory there shall be a Defence The * A Bishop of Magdenburg hearing the Duke of Saxony was Preparing War against him fell to Reforming his Church and amending what was amiss And being ask'd by one of the Duke's Spiâ—s if he did not hear what the Duke was intending against him because he made no Defensive Preparation He said Year but Ego
False Bridge over Tiber where Constantine was to Pass But in his Hasty Flight Forgetting his own Treachery and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb Pamphil. Ecclesiastic Histor l. 9. c. 9. p. 358 359. Edit Paris 1659. Passing Thâ—â— Way was Himself with his Soldiers Drowned by the same Meaâ—â— In like manner Charles the Fisâ— his Dâ—signing the Utter Ruin of the Protestant Party in German by Disinheriting the Duke of Saâ—ny and Keeping the Landgrave of Hesse in Perpetual Imprisonment was the Very Occasion of the Confederacy of Smalcald whicâ— almost Drove Charles out of Germany and Established the Protestant Party in the Liberty of their Religiâ— Thus the Methods Used by the Two Late Kings and their Ministers to Settle Popery and Slaâ—â— in these Kingdoms hath by God's Oveâ— Ruling Hand been a Means of both Freeing Us from the said Fearful Evils with the Contrivers of them and of Establishing to us also our True Religion Rites and Liberties with Greater Advantages than before So hath the Church's Preservation from Time Judges 14. 14. to Time been a Good Interpretation to Sampson's Riddle Out of the Eater came forth Meat and out of the Strong came forth Sweetness It 's Bloody Foes Desperate Attempts against it have in the Issue been no more Pernicious unto it than His was to Phereus Jason when he Run at him with his Sword who instead of Killing him as he hoped only Opened an Incurable Impostume and Thereby Saved his Life Again It pleaseth God sometimes to Step in between his Church and Danger by Diverting the Enemies through some or other Urgent Emergency When Saul in the Pursuit of David had at last Lodged him in a Place whence he could not Escape and was just ready to Fail on him Lo a Messenger comes to him all in hast to Call him off to Defend his Country against the Philistines who had just then Invaded it 1 Sam. 23. And Sennacherib was Taken off from Hezekiah and his Pâ—ople in the same Manner 2 Kings 19. So Vile Julian being Resolved to Cut off all Grâ—g â—at Orat. 4. in Julian the Christians was Compelled to Go first against the Persians by whom the was Quite Overthrown And This Way did God Stop Charles the Fifth from Persecuting the Protestants even by the Turks Breaking into Hungary Thus the Over-Ruling Hand of God sometimes Orders the Wicked to be a Ransome for the Rightâ—ous Prov. 21. 18. The Lord will Give Men for them and People for their Price Isa 43. 3 4. Prov. 11. 8. At Other Times he Quells the Rage of his Enemies by Striking them with Amazing Terrors and Confounding them with Pannick Fears So he Saved his People of Old once from the Syrians by Scaring and Scattering them on an Empty Sound 2 Kings 7. 6. And again from the Midianites whose Vast Army a Poor Dream of one of their own Number so Affrighted and whose Terror the Pitiful Noise of Broken Potsherds so Aggravated that they Turned their Swords against one another Judg. 7. 1 3. And Remarkable to this Purpose is the Vengeance His Death was Precationis Opus non Morbi saith Socr. Schol l. 1. c. 15. Cambd. Elis God Took on that Sore Plague of the Church Arius for Causing a Sudden Consternation of Mind to Seize him he went a-side to Ease Nature but Died Miserably by Emptying out his Bowels A like Terror and Fear Overthrew the Germans in their War against the Hussites of Bohemia and the Spaniards at Zutphen in the Low-Countries Anno 1586. Under the Conduct of Germanus here in Britain who Arch. Usser de Britan. Eccles Primoid Came over from France to Subdue the Pelagian Heresy then Prevailing amongst us against a Mighty Army of Saxons and Picts the Britains Prevailed only by the three Times Pronouncing the word Hallelujah Which Voice Ecchoing and Redoubling from the Acclamation of his Followers among the Mountains nigh to which the Enemies had Encamped Frighted them and Won the Conquest upon which it was Called Victoria Hallelujatica And how likewise did the Spirits of the Late King and his Formidable Army Sink and their Hearts Melt away like Grasshoppers before the Suâ— according to the Expressions in Nah. 2. 10. Chap. 3. v. 17. Further Sometimes God's Servants are Preserved by the Lord 's sending a Spirit of Division among their Enemies that Sets them one against another Thus oftentimes of Old Israel was Preserved from their Malicious Enemies by God's making their Enemies like those terrigenae fratres to Fall foul upon one another 2 Chron. 20. 22. 1 Sam. 14. 20. So Charles the Fifth and Francis the French King after a Mutual Agreement to Root out Lutheranism Fell together by the Ears by which Means the Church Got some Halcyon Days And I find an Historian making it his Observation That the Little Religious City of Geneva had certainly been Ruined long since had it not been Environed by so very Many Enemies Again One while he Inspires some of his own Servants with a Preternatural Courage for the Confounding and Overthrowing their Enemies As Great Numbers of them could not Stand before Jephthah Sampson c. Zach. 4. 7. Not by Power or by Might but by my Spirit saith the Lord. And was not our Present Sovereign's Unexampled Bold Attempt and Glorious Success at the Boyn a Late Instance in this Kind Another while he Imploys the Glorious Angels above to Deliver Mittis Unigenitum immittis Spiritum ne quid vacet in coelestibus ab opere sollicitudinis Angelos mittis in Ministerium Bern. his People So in Daniel's Elisha's Peter's Hezekiah and his Peoples Wonderful Preservation 2 King 's 6. Chron. 32. Sometimes he Honours the Unlikeliest of Means and Contemptibliest of Creatures both from Above and Below with a Share in this Great Work From Above Thus he calls forth the Posse Comitatus Coeli Aerii to Defend his People As the Stars are Commissioned to Fight against Sisera and Discomfit the Philistines those Heavenly Bodies by their Influences Raising Winds Thunders and Lightening for the Scattering and Destroying the Power of the Enemy Judg. 5. 20. 1 Sâ—â—â— 7. 10. So Hailstones from Heaven Assist Joshua and Israel against the Five Kings of the Amorites the Stones killing more than did the Sword Josh 10. 11. Remarkable and Worthy the Notice of our Socinians is that Unusual End which the Heretick Olympius Came to being Smitten with Fiery Darts from Heaven after having Vented his Blasphemy against the Trinity A For which the Poet cries out Sudden and Mighty Wind from Heaven Drove back on their own O nimium Dilecte Dco cui militat Aether Heads the Showers of Arrows which Eugenius the Tyrant's Soldiers Et conjurati veniunt ad classica Venti Shot against the Christians Claud. under the Good Emperor Theodosius No less did the Divine Arm Appear for Us in this kind in the Time of the Spanish Invasion at what time the Fire Wind and Water so Victoriously
Assisted us against the Enemies that the same Furnished their General at his Return after their Defeat with this Excuse That his Master sent him not to Combate with Elements but with Men. And in like manner the Winds alone strangely Preserved our Coasts and Ships some Years since when the French Came on us eâ—re we were Prepared for them when the said Element first kept them off till we were Ready for them and then Helped us further in giving them a Mâ—morable Overthrow From Below also as How unlikely a Thing was it that Gideon the least of the Family with only three hundred most †Their taking Water with their Hands being a Natâ—ral â—ign of Fâ—ar as Josephus saith Timorous Fellows without ever striking a Stroke with meer Lamps Pitchers and Trumpets in their Hands taking their Posts Compassing in the Enemy Blowing with their Trumpets and Crying out The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon should Rout and Destroy an Invincible Army Judges 17. What was a Shepherd to Bring Israel out of Egypt What a Shepherd's Boy with a Sling and Stone in it to Overthrow Goliah who Defied Whole Armies What shall we say to the Most Despicable Insects and Petty Animals their Listing themselves too as Auxiliaries in the Church's Cause As when Frogs Flies Locusts and Water Confound at first and at last Overthrow Oppressing Pharoah and his huge Army Also we find the Immediate Hand of God sometimes suddenly Arresting and Amazingly Disabling the Instruments of Ruin from Effecting their Mischief Thus if Jeroboam Attempts to lay hold on God's Prophet he shall not be able to Accomplish it through the Withering of his Hand 1 Kings 13. So was Famous Basil Rescued from Banishment by the Almighty's Striking the Right-Hand of the Emperor Valens with such Sore Trembling when he should have Signed his Sentence of Banishment That nulluâ—â— Hist Tripart apicem complere potuit he was not able to Write one Letter of his own Name Thus in Queen Marry's Days one Justin Gilford going up Stairs to Mistress Roberts's Chamber to Compel her to go to Mass was Surprizingly Seized and Stopt with a Violent Fit of the Gout that Tormented him so sorely as Extorted from him an Oath never to Trouble her more Once again and I will add but this more viz. Lastly He will sometimes Change and Alter the very Course of Nature rather than suffer his Servants to Perish Thus the Fire shall not be able to Burn witness the Three Children nor the Water to Drown as in Jonah's Case who was kept Alive by being buried Alive Application 1. If God be so Chary of his People that he will even Work Wonders but he will save them amidst and from the greatest Straits and Dangers then we may Infer them to be the most Excellent Ones of the Earth If he will Rebuke the Greatest of Kingsâ— for their sakes and give People for their Price and Ransome surely they ought to be well Esteemed of in their Places though alas the envious purblind World will see no Beauty or Comliness in them for which they should be Desired Again has God such a Peculiar Regard to and Care for his Church and the Members of it in the Greatest of Calamities that may come upon the Earth then None can Truly Serve the Lord for Nought 1 Cor. 15. 58. Job 1. 9 10. The Almighty's Power Protects well here and his Infinite Grace Rewards well hereafter All that diligently seek and serve him Furthermore Let all Persons whatever that Oppose themselves to and are carrying on any Designs against God's Church and Servants take Gamaliel's Counsel Refrain from Opposing the same for they cannot be overthrown and in fighting against them they fight even against God Acts 5. 38. Know ye it for your good oh Persecuting Malignants of all sorts That though God's Flock be but a little One and his holiest Servants like the Pauperes Lugdunenses the poor Folk of Lyons seem a Weak and Despicable Body yet they will prove a burthensome Stone and a Cup of Poyson to their Enemies You will not only lose your Labour in Fighting against them but be guilty of Conspiring against your own Souls Zach. 12. 2 3 4. Psal 37. 12 13. Even the Mighty Behemoths and Leviâ—thans that Prey on Sea and Land the Insatiable Potentates of the Earth shall be Meat for God's People Psalm 74. 14. Behold All that Devour my People shall be Devoured All that Spoil them shall be a Spoil and All that Prey on them I will give for a Prey Jer. 30. 16. Tho' the Devices in your Hearts be never so many Crafty or Conceited by Strong yet the Counsel of the Lord that only shall stand Prov. 19. 21. And there is no Wisdom nor Understanding nor Counsel against him and therefore though you take Council together it shall Come to Nought though ye speak the word it shall not stand for God is with his Servants Prov. 21. 30. Isa 8. 10. Believe it in Time That This is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord That no Weapon Formed against them shall Prosper Isa 54. 17. God has Appointed to them Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks Isa 26. 1. So that when Salvation it self can be Destroyed theâ— may you who are Opposers of God's Ways hope for a Successful Issue of your Undertakings Repent you in Time of your Desperate Folly and Submit your selves to Christ's Scepter for he will Reign till he hath made all his Enemiâ—â— his Footstool Further Here is Strong Consolation and Incouragement to God's Servants under Troubles and Pressures or in Prospect of such They have no Ground of Fear or Desponding at all The very Gates of Hell all the Power and Policy of the Devil and his Angels shall never Prevail to the Ruining of but one of the Living Members of Christ's Body The Epiphâ—nema of Moses unto them in his Blessing of Israel Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto Deut. 33 29. Thee O People saved by the Lord the Shield of thy Help and the Sword of thy Excellency may be Applied to the whole Church and every sound Member thereof in all Times and Ages of the World O you greatly in Favour with the Lord whose Hearts and Ways are right before him know you that your Covenant-God hath Ingaged to be your Strength in time of Trouble and bound himself to be with you in the Water and the Fire and to keep you that nothing really Hurt or Worst you Though Enemies and Dangers Afflictions and Troubles of Various sorts should come thick on the Neck of one another though one Deep call to another and there be no Visible Humane Help Left yet you may Chearfully Trust in the Lord and Safely Stay your selves on your God Yea be Incouraged to Wait on him if happly he Delay for some time The hour and power of Darkness must have its Time The Waves may Beat the Ship and Fill it too and yet Jesus will awake soon enough to Still
the Tempest God's Help comes often in Extremity In Zach. 4. 2. The Candlesick of the Church has seven Pipes and seven Lamps signifying God's having seven Pipes to Convey Succour and Mercy to his Church and seven Lamps whereby to Discern its Straits i. e. his Providence for their help is as Vasâ— as his Omniscience and Knowledge of their Needs Again As the Text and Doctrines tell us That God takes a time to Deliver his Church in General from Distressing Troubles and Dangers So this Day witnesseth that he hath taken his Time to Deliver Us in Particular from Manifold felt and Many More Feared Sore Straits and Calamities and therefore Bespeaks our Blessing Praising and Honouring of Him And this brings me to the Third and Principal Proposition or Doctrinal Conclusion in our Text. Doct. III Viz. That it is the Duty of Delivered Kingdoms or Persons to Glorify God their Deliverer In speaking to This I shall first Explain this Great Duty of Glorifying God And Secondly Enforce it And Thirdly Apply it Now the Word in the Original for Gloâ—fying is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Pihel where Dagesh â—â—creases the Signification thou shalt very greâ—â— Honour me from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Kal signifying to be Weighty and Honoured And the Hebrâ—â— Noun 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answereth to the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— the Hebrew Verb doth to the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is rendred by three Words * Glorifico honorifico clarifico Glorificare honorificare clarificare tria quidem verba sed res una quod Graecè dictatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aug. I. cont sem Arian c. 23. Apud Graecos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apud Hebraeos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unum verbum â—â— sed nos pro Lat. Ling. proprietate Honorem posuimus Hierâ—n â—â— Malach. c. 1. p. 291. aiminâ— at one and the same thing And in the Fiâ—â— place it signifies to Think and Esteem and â—â— the next to Celebrate render Illustrious and â— Honour and Reverence unto Sometimes it is Attributed to God Thus he Glorified Christ in his Humane Nature whâ—â— Subjecting all his Enemies under his feet he Raised him from the Grave and took him â—â— into Heaven Placing him at his Right Hanâ— and thereby Manifesting him to be His Sâ—â— and the Only Mediator and Saviour of the World So likewise does he Confer Honouâ— and Glory on Us enriching us with Giâ—â—â— and Graces various ways dignifying us with Grace Here and Glory Hereafter Psal 149. 4. Rom. 8. 30. Otherwise it is Attributed to Men who are said and Required to Glorify God as in our Text with other places And here know That God is Glorified by Men two Ways Actionly and Passively The Latter Way God gets Glory to Himself by an Infinitely-Wise Over-Ruling All even the very Worst Actions and Rebellious Ways of Men and Making them Subservient to His Own Holy Ends and Counsels and so by Working Good out of Evil sets forth the Glory of his Great Power and Wisdom As a Physician 's Skill is discover'd and honour'd by Conquering the Malignity of a â—ost desperate Disease In this Passive Sense Men are but an Occasion of God's being Glorified But then in the Former Way God is Glorified Actively by Men When they Chiefly Intend and Aim at His Glory in the Things they do and the Course of Life they lead When the Honouring and Pleasing of God doth take up the Greatest and Best Part of their Thoughts Cares and Endeavours in All their Duties and Concerns with both God and Men. Here Note That God has not ever the more real Glory by any thing we can Do for him or Yeild unto him Nor can he Want any thing from his Creatures who Receive their All from Him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non ut Naz. in Orat. The Honour given God is not reipâ—â verè and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but Testimonio Agnitione ita solùm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gloriae aliquid accedat Deo We Glorifie him not by Adding unto him but by Receiving from him and his Glorious Perfections In our Discharge of this Duty there is not the â—ast Accession made to either God's Greatness or Happiness But only an Acknowledging Loving and Declaring him as he is Glorifying of God is but the Giving God his Own viz. The Reverence of the Inward and Outward Man according to that Worth and Weight of Excellency that is in the Divine Majesty We are to Bring Honour to his Great Name or Maâ—â— it Glorious by Acknowledging Him with oâ—â— Hearts Inwardly and with our Words and Dâ—â— Outwardly to be such an one as he hath â—â—vealed himself that so our selves and other may thereby Become truly Wise and Good and Happy For he will be Honoured in oâ—â— Minds by our Tongues and in our Way anâ— Course of Life But to be more Particular and Express in order to make it still more Plain Know I. We are to Glorify God in our Hearts bâ— Entertaining such Conceptions and Estimation oâ— Him and of his Works and Word and Wheâ— ever Relates to him as are Suitable to his Excellent Majesty and Infinite Perfections We must not Entertain any Low Mean Unequâ—â— Thoughts of so Glorious a Being But ever Conceive of him according to his Peerless Eminence as being Superlative in Power Knowledge and Goodness and so to be Feared Loved and Trusted above All. Yeild him therefore that Internal Reverence and Practical Estâ—â— that is Becoming him who is the End of the whole Creation and the Pleasing of whose Waâ— ye are Chiefly to Intend in All that ye Aâ—â— Have and Do. Also be seriously Affected with the Agreeable Awful Apprehersions of such an â—â— comprehensible Being And see that as All your Thoughts and Apprehensions of his Wonderful Perfections be Worthy of them so that they be Lively and Influential Working up All the Counsels Affections and Purposes of the Heart to an Agreeableness to the said Perfections So Behold Believe Consider and Imbrace the Divine Excellencies as they may have a Proper and Peculiar and Distinct Effect suitable to every one of them upon the Heart and Spirit Let a Good Image of God's Glorious Attributes be so Received and Entertained in your Hearts as that you may Answer the same with suitable Affections Let God's Wonderful Excellencies be Imprinted within you As v. g. So Conceive of his Goodness as to Enkindle in you a Superlative Love unto him and Cheerful Resolution for his Service and to Prevent Distrustfulness of his Providence Let the Apprehensions of his Greatness Impress on you an Holy Fear of Him and Steady Confidence in Him according to the Tenor of His Covenant and Promises Let the Thoughts of his Omniscience and Wisdom be such as to beget a Cheerful Resting and Entire Acquiescence in His Determinations and Disposals Let the Consideration of His Justice Keep you from Transgressions against His Law and Comfort you in your Way of
Piety and Support you against the Unjust Dealings of the Wicked So Behold His Holiness as to Admire and Imitate it And let the Apprehensions of His Truth Fix and Quicken you for an Heavenly Life because God's Commands are Serious and His Threatnings and Promises Real and True In short God is to be Honoured in our Minds by such Admiring Thoughts of him as may Raise and Cherish such Dispositions of Mind as may Bear a Due Proportion to the Name of God in All his Perfections Relations and Works and may Well Become Us as His Creatures Subjects Lovers and Beneficiaries who Owe Our All unto Him II God is Honoured with the Tongue when He is Praised and Blessed by it Our Lips must both Benedicere and Laudare Praise and Magnify God upon the Account of his Admirable Perfections and Bless and Thank Him for his Gracious Goodness and Benefits and Perform Both with a lively Sense of His Goodness and Excellency Imprest on our Hearts We are to speak forth the Glory of His Name by Declaring and Extolling His Infinite Greatness Goodness and Felicity And This God Accepts as One Way of Glorifying him In the End of our Psalm He that Offereth Praise Glorifieth me And so agreeably * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost on our Text Expresses himself thus God calls not for our Honouring him as standing in need of Glory from us for how should he need it who is Himself the God of Glory But he Intends That we by Hymns of Thanksgiving should Commemorate his Kindness So Basil Interprets the Glorifying of God to mean 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil de Spir. S. c. 23. l. 2. p. 200. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Relating his Wonderful Works in the best Manner we are able And Theodoret Expounds it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Theophilact does by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by singing Hymns to God and giving Thanks unto him Thus we are taught to Extol God with our Tongues Psal 66. 17. And Praise the Name of God with a Song and Magnify him with Thanksgiving Psal 69. 30. Thus the Prophet in Psal 107. 8. Wisheth men to Praise the Lord for his Goodness and Declare his Wonders to the Children of Men. And let the Redeemed of the Lord say That his Mercy Endureth for ever Verse 2. Great is the Lord and Greatly to be Praised and his Greatness is Unsearchable One Generation shall Praise his Works to Another and Declare his Mighty Acts Psal 145. 3 c. Who can say What Great Praise and Blessing That Adorable Goodness and Mercy doth Deserve which Runs throughout the Whole World and is the Life and Hope and Happiness of them that Fear God Oh how Great is his Goodness to them that Fear him Psal 31. 10. And therefore How Great should be the Acknowledgments made him Oh Praise the Lord therefore in the Congregation of the Saints Let Israel Rejoyce in him that Made him Let the Children of Zion be Joyful in their King Let the Saints be Joyful in Glory Let the High Praises of God be in their Mouths Psal 149. 1 2 5 6. III. We must Glorify God in Nec Verbo tantùm vel Lingâ—d sed Opere Veritate exhibeamus nos Gratos ei qui Graciarum Actionem magis quà m Dictionem à nobis exigit gratiarum Dominus Deus noster Born contr Ingratid p. 377. our Way and Course of Life And that is Done When we so Order our Ways as to shew our selves in our Places Like unto God That Devotedness to the Most High may Appear in our Whole Conversation and our Lives may Represent God's Glorious Perfections We Ought to live after so Heavenly and Excellent a Manner as to Hold forth the Divine Virtues 1 Pet. 2. 9. and Manifest the Impressions that God's Attributes have Made on our Hearts as for Instance Our Ways should Declare the Lord's Infinite Knowledge by Great Circumspection in our Walking and Hold forth his Majesty's Transcendent Greatness by Awfulness before Him and Humble Trâ—â—â— in Him and Magnify His Holiness by Purity and Strictness and Shew forth His Goodness by Superlative Love unto him But more Particularly We are to Honour God in our Course of Life 1. By Making His Glory our Chief Aim in Alâ— that we Do 1 Cor. 10. 31. In All our Purposes and Enterprises we must so Behave our selves as Men may See That No Carnal Endâ— or Interests are our Ends or Governing Principles But that God's Honour is More unto us than the Whole World and that His Interest in All Things and above All Things is Regarded by us and That the Pleasing of Him by Living to His Glory is the Principal Design and Main Scopâ— of All our Concerns and Affairs and the Management of them 2. We must Glorify God in our Lives by Conforming and Submitting Our Wills to God's Will both His Regulating Will of Precept and Disposing Will of Providence As 't is the Great Honour of a Prince that his Subjects Duly Observe his Laws and Live 〈◊〉 Good Subjection to their Sovereign so it is an Honouring of our God for Us His Creatures to Move after our Creator's Will and Regulate all our Concerns and Actions by His Royal Si juxta â—irtutis Normam conversamur Glorificatur Deus ab his qui nos coâ—spiciunt Eâ—thymius ad cap. 6. Mat. Laâ—â—â— When Nothing Contents us though never so Grateful to Flesh and Blood but what our Mâ—ker's Word and Will Allows us and when we Refuse Obedience to no Branch of Duty though most Difficult if known to be Commanded but stadiously Frame all our Doings by Gospel Rules When I say we seek such a Compliance of our Wills with the Will of God we Own His Sovâ—reign Authority and Honour His Punishing and Rewarding Justice and Walk as 't is Injoyned us Worthy of him unto all Pleasing So again To be Willing to be at God's Finding and Contented with What He * An Heathen's Son could say to his Earthly Father Tibi Pater me Dedo quidvis Oneris impone Impera I Give my self to Thee O my Father Injoyn What thou wilt I will Do it Lay on what thou pleasest I will Bear it Chuseth for us to Prefer His Interest and Glory to Our own Ease and Outward Satisfaction to Desire rather to have our Lives Friends Trials and Comforts at His Disposal than Our own as Believing His Will to be always Good and Infinite Love it Self and therefore Chooseth ever what is Best is Another Branch of this Excellent Duty of Glorifying God Contained in Our Will 's Conformity to God's Will We Give Glory to God by a Sincere Submission both to His Law and Providence to his Will Discovered in both of these 3. By Living Holy Thankfulness to God our Saviour and Benefactor And This is done 1. By Cheerful Yielding and Conscerating our Whole Man Body * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysoft in Psal 114. and Soul to His Excellent Service
that they may not Blemish their Holy Calling but Pay an inviolate Obedience to God's Commands do so Confess and Glorify their Lord before men that Christ has Promised to Confess and Honour them before his Father in the Day of Glory Matth. 10. 32. Luke 9. 26. 6. By Walking Orderly and Uprightly in out several Relations Callings and Conditions God has Placed and Ordered every one in the World in their Particular Stations and by his Word and Providence Appointeth them their Work that so in their said several Capacities and Relations which are the Sphere of their Activity they may Serve the Common Good Accordingly God and Religion are Honoured by us in them when we are not only Contented with the Places Providence has Assigned us but do Faithfully Discharge all the Relative Duties of them by Studiously Endeavouring to Promote the Holiness and Happiness of the Societies whereof we are Members As for Instance when Masters and Parents Walk in their Houses with a Perfect Heart and Instruct Govern and Guide their Families so as they may be a Means to Command their Children and their Housholds after them to Keep the Way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. And when Children and Servants Honour Love Serve and Obey their Parents and Masters in their Places as doing the same unto God in them Eph. 6. 1 5 9. Col. 3. 20 21. 1 Pet. 2. 18. When Husbands Walk in Love to their Wives Guiding them in Knowledge and Holiness and Wives live Piously Obediently and Peaceably When Neighbours so Perform their Offices of Love and Help to one another as to Provoke each other to Love and to Good Works When Ministers Carefully Oversee and Skilfully and Duly Feed their Flocks being Ensamples unto them in Holiness Peace and Self-Denial as Longing for and Earnestly Seeking the Conversion and Salvation of Souls And lastly When Magistrates and All in Power and Authority either as Supream or Subordinate Governors Zealously Use their Power and Authority for God from whom they have it by Discountenancing in those under them Whatever Tends to God's Dishonour and the making Men Miserable and Promoting by All Due Means the Service of God and the Happiness of Men When Rulers Set themselves to Advance Christ's Kingdom by Impartially Administring Justice for the Protecting of Innocence and Punishing and Preventing of Wickedness Violence and Disorder as well as by Beautifying and Fortifying of Goodness by their own Personal Piety and Temperance they Act as God's Ministers Appointed by Him for the Terror of Evil-Doers and the Praise of them that Do Well And by such their Providing that Persons under them may Live a Peaceable and Quiet Life in all Godliness and Honesty they truly Represent and Highly Honour their Supream Master and Heavenly King When I say All Persons in their Proper Places and Distinct Relations thus Endeavour to Fill them up by Doing the Business Allotted to them in the Same they Credit Religion and Glorify God And thus too will and must God have Honour Done him by us in All our Callings and every Estate and Condition of Life even by Diligence and Faithfulness in our Imployments Abhorring Idleness Gluttony Drunkenness Pride Contention and Evil Speaking and being Strictly Juâ— and Sincere in all our Concerns with all Men ever Doing by Others as We would be Done by Giving every Man his Dues and Parting with our Own Right for the Sake of Love and Peace or when our neighbour's Greater Good Calls for it Once again as Tradesmen must Honour God by their Righteousness So as God hath Distributed to every Man as the Lord hath Call'd every 1 Cor. 7. 17. Man so let him Walk and Act in and according to his Circumstantiated Condition as v. g. If Wealthy let him Glorify God by Humility and being Rich in Good Works If Poor by Patient Submission Uprightness and Diligence If in Honour by Making it Subservient to the Honour of Religion c. 7. By Industriously serving the Cause of Love and Peace among All that are Worthy of the Christian Name God is Love and Dwelleth in them and they are his Children and Christ's Disciples whose True Practical Effectual Love to All True Christians Appeareth in all the Course of their Life 1 John 4. 7 11 12. John 13. 35. We are all Required as much as in us Lieth to Live Peaceably with All Men 1 Cor. 1. 10. And Rom. 15. 5. To be like Minded One towards Another according to Christ Jesus i. e. to have so much Grace and Charity as to make us Imitators of Christ and of the Love and Condescention of Christ and to Bear with Others and Do by them as we would be Born with and Used our selves And for what should this be Why v. 6. That we may with one Mind and one Mouth Glorify God Dividers in the Kingdom of Christ Disserve Him who is the Prince of Peace and only Serve their own Bellies and Fleshly Interest in some Carnal Design Rom. 16. 17 18. Wherefore the Holy Ghost's Warning v. 17. should be Regarded viz. Of Marking Such as Cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine Taught and Avoiding them in their Sinful Dividing Offensive Ways Quarrels and Discords and Factious Divisions in the Members of the Church are Scandalous and Reproachful to the Christian Cause But His Disciples Living in Love and Concord as One in him Greatly Glorifieth Christ and His Gospel Live therefore in an Abhorrence of Love-Killing and Dividing Opinions and Ways Shunning all the Causes and Means of Hatred But Love and Pursue all the Good Causes and Means of Love and Peace 8. By being Abundant in Acts of Mercy and Beneficence God Entrusts Persons with Estates and Wealth as the Stewards of His Bounty to Communicate to such as are in Want Wherefore Visiting the Sick Feeding the Hungry Cloathing the Naked Ministring to the Necessities of the Saints are an Odour of a Sweet Smell a Sacrifice Acceptable well-Pleasing to God Heb. 13. 16. And such a Free spending of what God giveth us is Call'd by the Holy Ghost an Honouring of the Lord with our Substance Prov. 3. 9. 9. We must Glorify God our Glorious Deliverer by Placing our Whole Hope and Trust in Him for time to Come Ingaging his Presence with us and Blessing on us by Serious Prayerâ— So did David Resolve Because he hath Inclinâ—â— his Ear unto me therefore I will Call on him as long as I live And in Isa 26. 4. We are hidden to Trust in the Lord for ever for that in the Lord Jehovah is Everlasting Strength It was the Sin of Israel of old That they Forgat the Wonders God had Wrought for them And should we that have seen His Wonderful Works of Mercy toward us Suffer Future Difficulties or Dangers to Disarm Us of our own Experiences and God's Promises Should the Senâ—â— and Strength of his Great Mercies and Deliverances Stay but a little time with us and be iâ— Forgotten by us on the Approach of New Evils
Strength will I Sing for God is my Defence and the God of my Mercy Well then Creating Redeeming Sanctifying Upholding and Delivering-Mercy and Goodness Challenges and Requires us to Glorify God To which I might Add that He being very Jealous of His Glory as also it being All the Homage and Tribute He Expecteth from us for All He has Made us Given to us Done for us and further Promiseth to us we should Readily Diligently Thankfully Continually and with our Utmost even with All our Soul with All our Thought with All our Might cum omni Valde nostro Yeild it to Him Application Now to Improve the Whole of what we have Heard concerning the Lord's Gracious Delivering of us and His Expecting Returns of Thankfulness to the Glorifying His Name And I. It may Serve for Conviction and Reproof against All those amongst us who instead of being Thankful for the Wonderfull Appearances of the Almighty in the Rescuing these Kingdoms from accursed Idolarty and Slavery and in Preserving the Lives Properties and Religion of All True Protestants in them have been Grieved at their Heart for and with an Implacable Opposition Endeavoured to Hinder the Progress and Accomplishment of so Glorious a Deliverance O the Vile Malignity of their Natures and Poisonous Disposition of their Unhallowed Hearts who 't is like would never have been so Base and Viper-like had not God been so very Kind and Merciful 'T is sad that any of the Offspring of those Miscreants Sanballat and Neh. 2 10. Tobiah who were Grieved Exceedingly that there was but a Man that Came to Seek the Welfare of the Children of Israel should be Found among us Yet such there be whose Spirits are Troubled and Hearts Fret and Rage for the Welfare of God's Cause among us We read in Ez. 8. That among the Abominations which the Lord Shewed the Prophet One was a Company of Wâ—men that Sate Weeping for Tammuz even for the Loss of their Shamefull Idoll So these Grieuâ— to Part with the Sorest Plague on the True Church of God an Idolatrous Tyrant that Jeroboaâ— like would have Forced Us on Sin and Miserâ— Some tell us That Aromaticall Smells that are Refreshing to All others will Drive Tygers into a Rage And Oecumenius Writes that the Fragrantia Unguenti boni Columbam Vegetat Scarabaeum Necat Fragrancy of Precious Ointment which is Whâ—â—some for Doves does yet Kill the Beetle To like to such Tygers and Beetles do they Express themselves who under the Name of Protestants and Professing the Reformed Religion Repine as the Re-establishment of the Protestant Cause and Interest and the Depression of those whose Principles Constrain them to Seek the Utter Ruin of the Reformed Religion upon Pain of Damnation The Lord in Mercy Convince such Dangerouâ—â— Deluded Souls and Effectually Heal and Cure their too Serpentine-like Natures My only Counsel to them is To Repent of this their Imligious Perfidiousness lest they out-do the Vile Traitour Judas for even he after he had Betrayed his Master seeing What was done Repented him II. I Apply it for Advoie and Caution As God's Own People of old were too Prone to Misbehave Deut. 6. 10. 11 12. ch 8. 10 11. themselves upon the Receiving of Greaâ— Mercies and therefore were Warned by God aâ— such times to Take heed and Beware so it is too Easy for Us who have not Walked so Closely with God under Afflictions when the Rod was on our Back as we should it is I say but too Easy for us to Forget our selves and our God when our Condition Seems more Safe Wherefore let us Look Well to our selves lest after God's having Glorified His Power and Goodness in Shewing Us Manifold and Rich Mercy both Positive and Privative We do not Dishonour His Great Name by Sinning against Him hereupon Let us Fear the Provoking Sin of Ingratitude and Giving the Lord Evill Requitals for All His Kindness See we that we Reproach not the Lord and His Goodness either in Thought Word or Deed. Let not our Hearts Dishonour him by Forgetfulness or Unworthy Thoughts of God and His Benefits by being Listed up with Pride Arrogating to our Selves God's Glory by Security and Discontentedness or Unsuitable Affectedness to his Grace Let not our Tongues Offend against Him by Dâ—nying Him his Praises by Speaking Irreverently of His Majesty or Diminutively of His Favours or as Depreciating and Dishonouring his Holy Name Ordinances and Servants or by Murmuring Nor let us Lead our Lives Reproachfully before Him by Debasing the Divine Bounty to the Gratifying a Fleshly Course and Pleasing our Lusts by Growing Wanton or Riotous or any ways Diverting God's Blessings to Other Ends than for which they are Given III. By Way of Exhortation Consider Whaâ— Great Things He hath Done for you and Givâ— unto the Lord the Honour Due unto his Name Psal 29. 1 2. And here now Who can Set forth either iâ— Number or Weight the Exceeding Goodness of the Lord to Us which we are most Thankfully to Commemorate This Day and Live henceforth to the End of our Days to His Honour O what Catalogues of Most Valuable Mercies might be Readily Presented to us How Many have we in Common to these Three Kingdoms with other Kingdoms How Many in Common with the Kingdom which has been Priviledged above All Others that we Know of How Many in Common with the Places of our Abode and the Sâ—cieties to which we Belong And how Many Uncommon and Distinguishing Ones Peculiar to our Selves both in Soul and Body in our Families and Relations Callings and Conditions What Deliverances too beside Other Benefits and those Publick and Private upon both Civil and Spiritual Accounts Deliverances I say which are not Single Favours but Every One of them a Comprehensive Mother Blessing â— Saving us from Manifold Evils to Much God and such are those that we are to Own and Bless God for after a Solemn Manner viz. His Rescuing Us from the Enslaving Tyranâ—y of a Bigotted Papist and Overthrowing his Fumidable Army of Popish-Irish-Cut-throats His Driving hence the Soul-Destroying Idolatry of a Bloody Religion His Filling the Throne with a War-like Prince of Unexampled Zeal and Succour for the Trâ—â— Religion and Preserving Him Safe amidst the Iâ—numerable Perils of Private Plots and Open War And now at last Crowning of Him to be the Instrument of a Long-Desired Peace for the Security of our Religion Liberties and Properties that are Restored to Us with Great Advantages With All of These that are Each of them Most Fruitfull Blessings full of Goodness and Pregnant with Various Reviving Mercies are we Covered and Compassed round about as the Earth is with the Environing Heavens and should not such Divine Grace well Affect Us Heaven-ward But further let us View them in their Amiable and Greatening Circumstances and so if we Consider the Excellent Needfulness Convenience and Seasonableness of them to what a Low Ebb our Hopes and Helps were Brought and under what