the Ring that 's required of all as here done by all vvhich is the next particular the generality of the operation and effect All the men of Judah and he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah All the men of Judah Iudah of all the Tribes vvas the last that paid the tender of their duty and obedience but being vvrought upon by those kinde messages and endearing svveetnelfes of the Ring their conversion becomes more full more universall than the rest of the Tribes 't is of all the men of Iudah Nullus mansit qui non inclinaretur not one dissenting Brother among them Sheba the Son of Bichri may blovv a trumpet of sedition and being angry at the departure of the Scepter from the house of Saul and Tribe of Benjamin may to gratify his ovvn spleen engage the People in a nevv Rebellion though it cost him his head but the men of Iudah cleave unto their King 2. Sam. 20.2 So that me thinks this Tribe is like that Son in the Parable Mat. 21.28 vvho being commanded by his Father to go and work in the Vineyard said he would not but afterwards repented and went Those whom the spirit of God and the prudence and mildeness of reprovers have wrought to a true sight of their sins commonly prove most zealous and constant in the exercise of the contrary graces a converted siner is usually most punctual and intense in the acts of devotion and a reclaimed Subject in the acts of loyalty and obedience and good reason for such must make amends as I may say for their former deviations and justifie to the world the sincerity of their conversion by future acts of severe obedience to those Laws to which they had been formerly rebellious See what restitution is proffer'd by Zacheus Luke 19.8 Behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore him four fold What love manifested by Mary Magdalen Mark 16.1 she who had sinned by unlawful embraces you may find kissing the feet of our Saviour washing them with her tears Luke 23.56 and wiping them with the hairs of her head her love is stronger than death and follows Christ to the grave with prepared spices and oyntments John 20.1 her love prevents the day and is more early than it at the Sepulchre Oh let us not then despise those that have sinned but if they repent forgive them God does so and the King does so neither let us unworthily cast any man's former sin in his teeth or revile him for doing ill heretofore when as he does well now but rather by all acts of kindeness and sweetness encourage his present obedience without any unhandsome reflections upon his former disloyalty To this purpose let us lay aside all markes and names of difference and distinction this his sacred Majesty was pleased as well to desire as command in his gracious Declaration Dated from Breda Aprill 14. 1660. Alas we have enemies enough both to our Religion interest at home and abroad let us not then by weakening our selves give the enemy an advantage against us which certainly we shall doe if we splitt again into factions and revive any thing of our old animosities but let us all endeavour to walk by one and the same Rule to minde the same things the glory of God the peace and settlement of the Church the honour of his Majesty the interest of the true Protestant Religion and the right of every honest and innocent person in the Land and let us doe this not in word and in tongue onely but in deed and in truth in this let us cry One and All be as unanimous in this as Iudah for David's return let our hearts be as the heart of one man which is the next particular the consent unity and harmony which appears in this generality of operation and effect quasi viri unius as the heart of one man When the spirit of God descended upon the Multitude of believers Acts 4.32 't is said they vvere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of one heart and of one soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as some Copies adde and there was no difference among them the holy spirit of unity knit their hearts in the unity of faith and affections and vvhen the pacifick message of the King as the spirit of an earthly and delegated Deity was sent to his rebellious Subjects the sweet influence thereof fell upon their hearts not onely as the small rain upon the tender hearb but as the showers upon the grass Deut. 32.2 and not onely softned the hard and reduced the obstinate but allso joyned the heterogeneall and united disunited hearts in the one point of love and obedience and that tanquam viri unius as the heart of one man Whil'st the People continued in their Rebellion they could not but suffer under many a sharp throw and pang of conscience which oftentimes like that hand writing upon the wall before Belshazzar Dan. 5.5 changed their very countenances and loosened their joynts their midnight-thoughts startling their black souls with the frightfull remembrance of their guilt and the operation of their sin like Hector unto Aeneas In somnis ecce ante oculos moestissimus Hector visus adesse mihi left such a damp and horror upon their spirits as was equal to that of those visions of the night recorded Iob. 4.13.14 Stung with these sharp apprehensions both of sin and punishment they were many times ready to have cryed out with that Jaylor Acts 16.30 VVhat must we doe to be saved but those better motions were suddainly expell'd in some by desperate thoughts like those of Cain that their sin was greater than could be forgiven in others by pleasing reflections upon their nevv purchased vvealth they had bought much Land no matter though it vvere vvith the price of blood and therefore they cannot they vvill not come but vvhen God interposes his povver and brings home the Ring 's gracious message and proffer of peace unto their hearts they melt like ice before the Noon-day Sun and smoothly glide into the ancient Channell of their vvonted Loyalty and obedience And as the King invited them to the performance of their dutie so they invite him to the repossession of his Royall Crovvn and Dignity they sent this word unto the King which is the next thing considerable the happy consequent of this bovving of their hearts vvhich is the calling of the King home to the exercise of his Regall povver and authority vvhich is the very summe of this Text and the great business of this day return thou The People vvearyed vvith oppression and confusion vvhich are the undoubted consequents of Rebellion and convinced of their sin by their happy unhappy success and the no common death of the Usurper call back their King they sent this word unto the King return thou And sure I am this was an happy
A SERMON Preached at Christ-Church DUBLIN Before both Houses of PARLIAMENT May the 29 th 1661. Being the Anniversary of his Majesty King CHARLES the Second his most memorable and happy Restauration By the right Reverend Father in God John Lord Bishop of ELPNIN DVBLIN Printed by William Bladen Anno Domini 1661. Thursday May 30. 1661 By the House of Lords ORdered that the Bishop of Elphin shall have the thanks of this House for his Sermon yesterday and that the Speaker doe give him the thanks of this House and that the Bishop of Elphin be desired to Print his Sermon Copia vera John Keating Deput Cler. Parl. 30. May 1661. By the House of Commons ORdered that Cap. Trevor Lloyd and Cap. Henry Nicholls doe from this House return thanks unto the right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of Elphin for his Sermon Preached at Christ-Church the 29. instant being the day of his Majesties birth and return unto his Kingdome of England and to desire his Lordship that the same may be Printed and Published Copia vera Exam. pâ—r Philip Fernely Cler. Parl. Errat Pag. 28. l. 14. pro operation l. apparition 2. Sam. CHAP. 19. v. 14. And he bowed the heart of all the men of Iudah even as the heart of one man so that they sent this word unto the King Return thou and all thy servants THe People of Israel even in the infancy of their Monarchy and before the Tribes had unhappily stoop't to a divided Scepter had yet the hard fate like these later Kingdoms to be withdrawn from their due obedience to their natural Prince into a most horrid and unnatural Rebellion and under the splendid notion of Reformation to serve the basest ends of lust and ambition Absolom whose aspiring thoughts had swel'd his hopes to the expectation of a Kingdom begins to quarrel Davids justice and flatteringly bemoanes the people in the want of the executive part of it that although their matters were never so importunate of justice yet there was none deputed by the King to hear them 2. Sam. 15.3 The way to mount himself upon the svveling wave of popular affection he thought was not directly and at first to tax the King of want of justice in himself but his Ministers the want of able Ministers to distribute that justice which the King could not but necessarily bestow of which haveing once possessed the people they think none fitter to remedy the evil then he that first found out the malady and therefore are ready to joyn with Absolom in his ambitious option O that He were made judge in the Land that every man that hath any Suit or Cause might come unto him and he would do him justice 2. Sam. 15.4 'Tas been the sly practice of aspiring spirits secretly to bespatter his integrity whose office they cover and to wound the Prince through the sides of his Ministers and 't is the jealous madness of the people many times to believe that justice vvill be done rather by any than by him vvhom God has next unto himself principally intrusted vvith the distribution of it David indeed vvas a Prince vvho had so large an interest in the affections of his people that had Absolom struck point blanck either at the office actions or person of the King the people vvould have been startled as having their eares unaccustomed to any obloquies against the Lords Anointed he finds fault therefore first vvith vvant onely of persons deputed to hear them and vvhen once their eares are bored open though but to collatteral aspersions they vvill at length be made tame and obedient to more virulent invectives Absolom having thus planted a jealousie in the people of the vvant of Ministers under the King to execute justice doth at length falling from his first pretences though not first aim labour to six them in this persvvasion that the King himself vvas no friend unto justice and so consequently unfit to rule them To such a prodigious height of vvickedness do the small beginings of Rebellious evils grovv The people could not vvant justice as long as they had Darvid to judge them * Sal. de Guber Dei Lib. 7. qui regit hocipso quod regit judicat says Salvian he that reigneth even in that he reigneth judgeth and indeed vvhile David reigued in Hierusalem vve hear of no clamours of the people ecchoed forth for vvant of justice till Absoloms flattery avvakens their jealousies and then like peccant persons pursued onely by their own guilt they startle at each shadovv and false appearance But as soon as David is driven from Hierusalem the Metropolis of the Kingdom and dispovverd as to the execution of his Regal authority there they soon find the vvant of that justice vvhich before vvas but absent in a dream The actions and concerns of Princes should be tenderly dealt vvith and 't is dangerous to afford an open ear to any lessenings either of their Persons Actions or Office for by such vvayes disloyalty insensibly steals into the heart which does but too frequently break forth into open Rebellion in the hand For those vvhich at the first follovved Absolom vvent out in their simplicity saith the text 2. Sam. 15.11 simplicicorde vvith a simple heart they vvere men of a good meaning little dreaming then of ingaging against the person and life of their King they marched forth at most as 't is probable but as intentional Petitioners for a publick distributive justice I but vvhen once the svvord is unsheathed and that the people have in a personal though perhaps not cordial compliance bidden open defyance to that sacred power which they should have religiously obeyed they will rather by iterated acts of Rebellion seem to justify their first defection than by a timely repentance acknowledge their guilt so procreative is sin of sin that to justily the first they necessarily involve themselves in more Absolom having thus by slie insinuations and specious pretences stolen the hearts of the People and under the covert of Religion 2. Sam. 15.7.8 the pious payment of a vovv in Hebron gained an opportunity to assemble his confederates as the fovvlest actions are many times mask'd vvith the fairest pretences and 'tas been the hard fate of Religion to be but too common a cloak for Rebellion he then begins to take off the vizzard and plainly discover that 't is not so much David's vvant of Justice as Absolom's vvant of the Kingship is the religious cause novv to be contended for and therefore Achitophel vvho vvas his Mouth as vvell as Oracle delivers Absolom's old sense but in a nevv and plainer dialect I will smite the King onely and bring back all the people unto thee 2. Sam. 17.2.3 Had the ground of the quarrell been onely vvant of Justice in Darvid's Ministers as vvas pretended the designe me thinks should not have been laid so close to the person of the King But this vvas but pretended the other it seems vvas originally intended by the
themselves but justly slaves to an usurping povver Persons vvho could signe Letters of renevving obedience to day when as by excommunications denounced against him all that should adhere to him they had councermanded it the day before as if they intended to antedate their own apostacy and let the vvorld see vvhich is strange that their relapse was more ancient than their repentance of these things my eyes have been but too sad vvitnesses As for those that have constantly adhered to his Majesty and his interest as they have allready tasted of his Princely bounty and clemency so I hope they shall of your just care Consumetur nequitia peccatorum let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end but establish the just Psal 7.9 I remember it vvas the saying of that Noble person upon a publick occasion to vvhich some here I believe can bear vviâ—ness vvith me that it was more honourable to suffer with the best of Princes than to live gloriously with the worst of men He verified this in his practice and constant adherence to his Master and that vvithout any sinister or by-ends but meerly conscience to God and duty to his Prince And I bless God he is novv return'd again return'd an example of Loyalty and constancy to posterity And I hope I may speak as vvithout suspicion of flattery so likevvise of offence this vvhole Nation may bless God too I am sure this Church may I am sure it does and as vve all bless God for and joy in his Majesties return so is our praise heightned and our joyes enlarged by his return vvith such Servants return thou and all thy Servants There remains one thing more and that is a pious cordial and thankfull remembrance of the most signal mercies of this day A day not to be passed over in silence but a day to be celebrated with the greatest expressions of gratitude and joy we can imagine Herodotus tells us Herodotus Lib. 9. that the Persian Kings had allwayes a standing officer with a memento for them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And indeed our own gratitude should be that standing officer to put us frequently in minde of the great matters of this day for the more ready performance whereof let me exhort every one of you in those words of the Lord unto the Prophet Ezek. 24.2 Son of man write thee the name of the day even of this same day Our Sovereign Lord King CHARLES the Second after twelve yeares expulsion from his Kingdomes returned to the possession of his Crown and Royall dignity this same day A day fit to be written not onely with a pen of Iron or point of a Diamond but with a Quill borrowed from the wing of some glorious Cherubim God himself has writ it with a beam of the Sun in such glorious and resplendent mercies that he that runs may read it Oh let us write it too write it upon our hearts in the indeleble Characters of pious and religious thankfullness The Children that are yet unborn and the generations which are yet to come shall bless God for this day this day which was the restauration of our King of our Church of our Religion of our Laws of our Liberties of all that we can call venerable good honourable or sacred This day has in it a double festivall 't is the day of his Majesties most happy Birth and Nativity and 't is the day of his Majesties most happy restauration very well expressed by the Act of Parliament for the perpetual Anniversary Thanksgiving on the 19. of May the most memorable Birth-day not onely of his Majesty both as a Man and Prince but also as an actual King and of this and other his Majesties Kingdomes I may say then with David Psal 116.12 this is the day which the Lord hath made Assuredly it was his doeing and it is marvellous in all men's eves Let every one then in a grateful acknowledgement of the blessings and mercies of this day say with David quid retribuam Domino what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me Let us take the cup of Salvation and call upon the name of the Lord let us pay our vovves unto the Lord novv in the presence of all his people and let us all humbly implore the riches of God's mercy vvho is the fountain of all our joyes that he vvould graciously continue the joyes of this day unto us that neither vvenor our Posterity may ever behold the like sad confusions To this end let us pray that God would continue his Majesty upon his Throne the Church in her possessions Religion in it's purity the People in obedience and these three Kingdomes in a firme and durable peace For the better effecting of all this let us pray pray not from the lip onely but from the heart and spirit Vivat Rex let the King live let him live long let him live happy and lastly that the Soul of our Lord the King may be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord his God let us pray fervently pray ardently pray constantly yea pray as David danced before the * 1. Sam. 6.14 Arke even with all our might Domine salvum fac Regem GOD SAVE THE KING Amen FINIS