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A87630
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A sermon preach't at Christs-Church Dublin before the generall convention of Ireland. May 24. 1660. By Henry Jones D.D. Vicechancellour of the University of Dublin and Bishop of Clogher.
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Jones, Henry, 1605-1682.
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1660
(1660)
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Wing J952; Thomason E1041_3; ESTC R207927
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18,448
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32
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you may already see how sutable this Text is to the present occasion It is Davids in the History Christs in the prophecy so must it then have been and it will be found ours in the Application I shall not at present insist on the opening of the words only as to that here where the Lord is said to make this day This is the day which the Lord hath made c. All dayes are the Lords and made by him Times as things are from him but some dayes are his more especially having his stamp and being owned by himself as his above others of this kind were those 1. Which had his appointment in his word by speciall command as the Sabbath also other dayes mentioned and observed under the Leviticall Priesthood called also Sabbaths and his Sabbaths 2. There are dayes also of the Lords making which are so made by the wayes and works of his Providence made by the voice of his Providence as were those other by express appointment in his word written Such are 1 dayes of the Humiliation private or publick in them is Gods voice heard The Lords voice crieth unto the City and the man of wisdom shall see thy name Hear the Rod and who hath appointed it Mich. 6. 9. Do we see a rod cross dispensations from the Lord then and in that is the Lords voice heard and what then speaks that voice unto us In that day did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping and to mourning c. Is 22. 12. That is a day then and thereby made by the Lord for Humiliation for Weeping and for mourning c. In like manner 2 when the Lord doth speak good to his people to some in their private or to mauy or all in publick concernments thereby is there a day of the Lords making a day of thanksgiving such as is this which we now celebrate These are dayes of the Lords making 1. Because they are from him and by that his voice of Providence called for and appointed to us for dayes of praise The day is made by him when the good given in the day is by him and from him 2. A day of praise is then of the Lords making more especially when the Lord not only gives good in it but that is done in such a manner and with such eminent Manifestations of his goodness and glory that it cannot but be owned his and from his hand and his only The right hand of the Lord doth valiantly the right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord doth valiantly v. 15. 16. For the Stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner v. 22. which must be acknowledged the Lords doing and marvellous in our eyes v. 23. thereupon it follows This is the day which the Lord hath made v. 24. And this is this above others a day of the Lords making The point on the whole shall be That those dayes made by the Lord for good unto his People are to be of them particularly observed I shall reduce this into parts That the Lord doth many times make dayes in which he will give good unto his People That it is our duty to improve such opportunities In the first is Gods work this is the day which the Lord hath made in the other is our work we will rejoyce and be glad in it I shall begin with Gods work That the Lord doth many times make dayes in which he giveth good to his People There is none of you which hear me this day who in your own experiences cannot but witness to this truth But I am at present for this in a more publick consideration so doth the 〈◊〉 require it and in the proof of this doctrine I shall confine my self unto the Lords dealing with those two hinted at in my Text David the tipe and Christ the Antitipe to both whom these words particularly referr and what will be said of these will fall into our present work so naturally that little application will be therein necessary I shall speak first of David of whom are these words as to the letter that he was a stone which the builders refused and after made the head stone of the corner v. 22. concerning which it might well be said This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our eyes David although he were not that stone which is properly understood of Christ yet was he a stone refused by the builders c. A stone in the Scripture sence and as here intended signifieth Government principality Soveraignty A King is in this sence a stone so we find it in the blessing of Joseph that from him should be the Shepheard the stone of Israell Gen. 49. 24. Intending the Kingdom of the ten tribes and beginning in the house of Jeroboam of the tribe of Ephraim For on that sin of Reuben Jacobs first born desiling his Fathers bed was the birthright and principality given from him unto Joseph or to Ephraim his Son 1 Chr. 5. 1 2. And in that sence is Christ also called a stone cut out without hands smiting and breaking the Image in peices Dan. 2. 34. after expounded a Kingdom which should break in pieces and consume all those Kingdoms and it self for ever v. 44. 45. and where a King is called a stone in that is intended a foundation stone so is it said of Christs Kingdom Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a tried stone a precious coâ—â—â—r stone a sure foundation c. Is 28. 16 A King is therefore a stone a foundation stone the basis and foundation of a Peoples happiness And how David this stone was first refused and after made the head stone of the corner is worthy our consideration in the severall steps and degrees of it wherein we shall find a parallel and lively Portraicture of our gracious Soveraign whose day is thus celebrated of us and on the same occasion as was that day of Davids First David you know had been anointed King and by the Lord appointed the Shepheard and stone of Israel that notwithstanding that his right which was well enough understood he was refused and opposed by Saul and by the people and the chief of them here called builders they joyning with Saul against him Also after the death of Saul David found opposition from Ishbosheth Sauls Son who succeeded him although he were farr short of his Fathers resolution and parts for Government being a weak Prince and governed rather then governing easily checkt by his great ones especially Abner Generall of his Army by whom whilst he stood by him he was supported but was soon cast down when forsaken of him 2. Sam. 2. 8. 3. 8. 9. 10. 11. And what David suffered in all this especially under Saul is evident he being persecuted pursued prescribed declared against and at length enforced to flee his Country into forreign parts to a People of a strange Language and Worship with other
had formerly so opposed him But particularly see his clemency to Shimei who so unworthily behaved himself to David in his low condition He cursed David he cast stones at him and his followers he reviled him very falsely and scandalously calling him a man of blood and charging him with all the blood spilt in his Government 2. Sam. 16. 5 6 7 8. and have not the footsteps of the Lords anointed his late Majesty and even all his royall family been so reproached unto such there is a Scripture curse where they may expect from the Lord Psa. 89. 50 51. but as to David he passeth all that over For when in his return over Jordan Shimei had met him with the first and begg'd pardon for his faults It was easily and readily granted and that by an Oath confirmed to him 2 Sam. 19. 16 18 19 20. Of such Shimei's There have been many who may well repose on his Majesties gracious Declaration notwithstanding that there be Sons of Zerviah who may repine and interpose as did Abishai the Son of Zerviah who said shall not Shimei be put to death for this because he cursed the Lords anointed 2 Sam. 19. 21. Such may pick us and object words and actions so and then said and done against his Majesty but they may expect his Majesties return thereunto as was Davids in that case 〈◊〉 have I to do with you ye Sons of Serviah that you should this day be Adversaries unto me shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel for do not I know that I am this day a King over Israel v. 22. Clemency became him a King and then best when first entring on his Kingdom Yet must not mercy shut out Justice Justice without Clemency is but butchery and clemency without Justice is very cruelty Joab another of the Sons of Serviah had foully murthered Abner and Amasa this blood required Justice and what David could not do in this while the Sons of Serviah were too hard for him 2 Sam. 3. 39. He after recommends to his Son Solomon to see executed 1 Kings 2. 5. I know that David is hardly censured in this And some have objected to his Majesty that inquisition now made in the entrance into the Kingdom of the blood of his royall Father I find it therefore nccessary by what I hear of this that something be spoken of it It was no brand but a commendation of Amaziah King of Judah That as soon as the Kingdom was confirmed in his hands he slew his Servants which had slain the King his Father It is added but the Children of the murderers he slew not according unto that which was written in the book of the Law of Moses wherein the Lord commanded saying the Fathers shall not be put to death for the Children nor the Children be put to death for the Fathers but every one shall be put to death for his own sin 2 Kings 14. 5 6. He did according to the Law of Moses in sparing the children of the Murderers and he did according to the Law of Moses in not sparing the Murderers themselves Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a Murderer which is guilty of death but he shall be surely put to death so you shall not pollute the Land wherein you are for blood it defileth the Land and the Land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by the blood of him that shed it defile not therefore the Land which ye shall inhabit wherein I dwell for I the Lord dwell among the Children of Israel Numb. 31. 31 33 34. And in this case of blood it was provided that though the murderer should flee for refuge to the very altar yet should he not find protection there Exod. 21. 14. So fared it with Joab he being slain even at the very altar 1 Kings 2. 28 29 34. Solomon concluding in that act of justice the washing away the guilt of blood from his Throne and the settlement of his house and of his People in peace which had not been otherwise v. 31. 32 33. therefore this his Majesties inquisition of blood and of the murderers of his royal Father is his Justice and what God will require of him and of his People if in that Justice be not satisfied and for which the People hath so long so much suffered yet see his Majesties Moderation even in this not as Amaziah seeking the blood of all who were in that Guilt but some of them onely and referring himself in that also to his Parliament to do therein as to them shall be judged fitting That as by a pretended Parliament that royall blood was shed so by a just Parliament the blood should be expiated and the People in that justice cleared by their full representative Hitherto hath been spoken of David in his suffrings and of the great things by the Lord done for him in bringing him out of all his troubles also of the comfort which his people had in him their King thus brought home to them and of his being by them received with Acclamations Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord 5. Now follows the conclusion on the whole that all being duely considered it must needs be said that This is the Lords doing and that it is marvellous in our eyes 1. It is the Lords doing it is intended Davids Vindication and therein is his innocency cleared it now appearing how little he deserved those his injurious suffrings seeing God himself now and thus appears for him This is the Lords doing 2. It shews that the work was carried on by the Lord himself alone without Davids interposing and without outward probable means and beyond Mans expectation David might indeed have made use of force he wanted it not having then with him a very considerable force 1 Chr. 12. 20 21 22. But he waves all that and waits Gods way and time and casts himself altogether upon hls People I need not in this make application But that this was the Lords doing I speak it now as to our selves is very apparent 1. In the Lords timeing our work for us each step in our proceedings here towards it was as if it had been by a common and joynt correspondence of the three Kingdoms A concurrence indeed there was but which was the strangeness of it without any correspondence which must conclude it to have been from God 2. That all this was carried on and that throughout without blood This cannot to any who shall duely consider it but appear little less then a very Miracle 3. Above all it is an evident demonstration of Gods hand in this work both as to David and as unto us that the hearts generally of all were prepared every where and as it were at once in this great work surely this must be from the Lord and the doing of it his alone in whose hand only are the hearts of the Sons of Men It is said That the