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
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 LONDON Printed by J. C. for J. Crook at the Ship in St. Pauls Church-Yard 1660. A Declaration of the General Convention of Ireland for a day of publick Thanksgiving to be observed throughout the Kingdom WHereas it hath pleased Almighty God after so many and various Revolutions to look upon these Kingdoms of England Ireland and Scotland with the eye of Mercy by resettleing them upon the ancient basis of their lawful Government in which onely they can be happy And whereas God hath made his arm bare in this signal and eminent transaction that no flesh might assume glory to it self and hath removed all those great obstructions without the effusion of bloud a mercy as much beyond humane expectation as our merits We therefore the General Convention of Ireland that we may give unto God the things that are Gods as unto Caesar what belongs unto Caesar do in manifestation of our sense of this high undeserved mercy the humble yet fervent return of our praises to him for placing his royal Majesty King Charls King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. not onely in the throne of his Ancestors but in the hearts of his people Appoint accordingly ordain that Thursday the 24. day of this instant May be a day appointedand set apart throughout all the Churches in this Kingdom to praise God for this great seasonable deliverance afforded to us that are less then the least of his mercies and that this Declaration be then publickly read by the respective Ministers in their Congregations and all Mayors Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers and Ministers are respectively to take notice hereof and to take care that the samebe put in due execution accordingly and that all persons do forbear to labor or exercise their ordinary calling on that day God save the King Dated at Dublin the 15. day of May 1660. Ordered that this Declaration be forthwith Printed published Mat. Barry Cl. of the General Convention of Ireland Ordered Monday 14. May 1660. THat Dr. Henry Jones Lord Bishop of Clogher one of the Members of this Convention be and is hereby desired to carry on the work of the thansk giving day appointed upon thursday next come seven night being the 24. day of this instant May at Christ Church Dubl Signed by Order Math. Barry Cl. of the General Convention of Ireland Thurseday 24. May 1660. WHereas Dr. H. Jones L. B. of Clogher one of the members of this Convention was desired to carry on the work of this day appointed a day of thanksgiving that God in much mercy has restored his Majesty to the Government of these his Kingdoms which was both learnedly piously performed by his Lordship It is Ordered that the Chairman of this Convention do returne their hearty thanks to his Lordslip And that he be desired to cause his Sermon to be printed and published at the charge of the said Convention Signed by Order Math. Barry Cl. of the General Convention of Ireland PSALM 118. 24 25 26. This is the day which the Lord hath made We will rejoyce and be glad in it Save now I beseech thee O Lord O Lord I beseech thee send now prosperity Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord I Have chosen these words for this time A Psalm and of praise is a fit subject for this occasion such is this psalm It begins and ends with praise ending as beginning and with the same words O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever ver. 1. 29. There are we called on and invited to the Duty but here in the Text we are in the duty in the practice of it This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it c. This Psalm hath not the Author in its Title yet may we probably conclude it Davids A general consent of Writers ancient and modern is for it The matter also of the Psalm leads to it being much the same with the second Psalm that being as this of Davids and Christs Kingdom both first opposed and after established notwithstanding all to the contrary Why do the Heathen rage and the People imagine a vain thing the Kings of the Earth set themselves and the Rulers take Councell together against the Lord and against his anointed Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion Psa. 2. 1 2 6. where note that that Psalm hath also no title as this here yet is that declared to be Davids by the Testimony of the holy Ghost Acts 4. 25 26 27. Who by the mouth of thy Servant David hast said why did the Heathen rage c. Nor is this our Psalm as to the matter of it to be Apropriated unto David for here we find Jesus Christ of whom are principally the words which are next foregoing in the Text v. 22 23. The stone which the Builders refused is become he head stone of the corner This is the Lords doing it t is marvelous in our eyes Which are applied unto Chr i st Acts 4. 11 10. So also are these words in the Text Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord v. 26. with Math. 21. 9. David was here the tipe and what is to be said of David must be principally referred unto Christ the Antitipe the same matter being here as in many other Psalms common to both And whereas David is said to be A tipe of Jesus Christ it is intended Principally as he was a King he a tipe of Christs Kingly office as were others of his other offices propheticall and Priestly Therefore and for other reasons is Christ as a King called by the very name of David Ezech. 34. 23 24. I will set up one Shepheard over them and he shall feed them even my Servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their Shepheard and I the Lord will be their God and my Servant David a Prince amongst them I the Lord have spoken it Therefore must this Psalm be understood of David and of Christ as to the Kingly power and Government vested in them therefore is this Psalm in that yet neerer to the present occasion And yet more particularly these words seem to point to that very period of time when David first entred on his Kingdom in peace freed from those disturbances till then given him as it was also with Jesus Christ of either of them it might be said that he was A stone which the builders refused being after made the head stone of the corner v. 22. 23. unto this this tryumphant day in the Text doth particularly referr This is the day c. In all which
Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of waters he turneth it withersoever he will Pro. 21. 1. No man can command or change the course of tides but God can do it and who but he can order the hearts of men as he hath done it in the King so is it from him that it is done in the People the hearts of both being by him thus turned to each other That Reformation by Hezechiah was done in 16. dayes It was soon done for all hearts were made willing to it which is therefore said to be from the Lord And that God had prepared the People For the thing was done suddainly 1 Chr. 29. 17. 35 36. This is our very case this day being in this day of the Lord made a willing People Psal. 110. So that we may conclude concerning it as here that this is the Lords doing his and his only 2. Therefore it is marvellous in our eyes which now followeth v 23. Who would have believed that one cast out so as was David should in the condition he then was be on a suddain so raised and that to the highest pitch of all Imaginable glory for but a little before he had been in very great distresse at Zicklag 1 Sam. 30. 6. at that time also were the People of Israel in great confusions by reason of the Philistins then prevailing over them so was it then with David and such was the condition and State of affairs at home when David was brought in therefore all things considered it could not but have been marvellous in the eyes of all that beheld it And if the confusions of England and of the three Kingdoms be considered in this our day I dare be bold to say it the like cannot in any time or history be ever paralell'd For to speak nothing of the strange confusions in the foregoing years since the year 1648. we find in this very year in which we now are even but in the compass of these past twelve months taking in this in which we now are one of them we shall find I say within these twelve months ten Fundamentall changes 1. That violent dissolving of the Parliament in Aprill 1659. Called the Protectors Parliament 2. An Army-Government thereupon 3. The Armies recalling in May after that now called the Rump-Parliament 4. That Parliaments laying aside the Protector in June next after 5. The breaking up in October of that Parliament so lately recalled 6. The bringing them back again in December 7. The again excluding them soon after by the coming in of the secluded Members 8. The secluded Members dissolving themselves in Aprill 1660. 9. The meeting of the present Parliament which may be Justly called the happy Parliament 10. The resettlement of the three Kingdoms on the basis of their ancient Government in his sacred Majesty by whom is all happiness and peace promised to his People Who could expect so much good from so much evil who could look for order from confusions and from overturnings of Foundations one after and upon another to find such a settlement as at this day it cannot but be acknowledged with astonishment to be The Lords doing and it is surely marvellous in our eyes Let therefore the day of such great things and of so many and publick mercies be precious and valued of us as was that day of Davids with his People This is the day which the Lord hath made Let us rejoyce and be glad in it Thus of these words as to David of whom the words have been in the Letter considered I shall now look on the words as they pass from David the Tipe unto Christ the Antitipe Christ is indeed he who is herein principally concerned to him are those words particularly applied that He is that stone which the builders refused and now made the head stone of the corner c. 22. 23. He himself speaks so of himself pointing to this very Scripture in that parable of the husband mens not receiving but refusing and slaying him the Son sent by the Lord of the Vineyard to them Math. 21. 42. Of him also is that spoken by the Apostle Peter Acts 4. 10. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 6 7 8. and Paul Eph. 2. 20. the following words also v. 26. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord are applied to him and yet more particularly 1. That Jesus Ghrist was that stone refused by builders is evident That he is now made the chief stone of the corner who knoweth not and who could but stand amazed at that great work to see one so dispised of men cast off and cast out and to be dead and three dayes buried and yet after all this raised again and exalted above all Angels and Men and all being made subject unto him the Emphasis of all is laid here that he having been so low is now raised and exalted above all Him saith Aplc. being delivered by the determinate Counsel and foreknowledg of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain Whom God hath raised up Acts. 2. 23 24. This Jesus hath God raised up v. 32. That same Jesus whom ye have crucified hath God made both Lord and Christ v. 36. We see Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels for the suffrings of death crowned with glory and honour Heb. 2. 9 He made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of Men and being found in fashion as a Man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Wherefore God also hath highly axalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 7 8 9 10 11. In all which you see him who was the stone so refused by the builders to become now the head stone of the corner and that this is the Lords doing and marvellous in our eyes This of Christs glory is the day here pointed at this is the day c. Which his day strictly taken is the day of his resurrection his first step into glory from his humbled condition that having been before dispised he was then exalted above all Or this his day may be taken in a greater Latitude for all the degrees of his exaltation together then is this the day or of his glory begun in his resurrection and carried on to the fulness of glory of which he is now possessed for evermore in which is the ground of this joy here expressed by his People This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it You have hitherto heard of the Lords making or the Lords work in making this day for his People You have seen it as
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
to David and as to Christ and as to our selves in the application that the Lord doth make a day wherein he will do and give good unto his People 2. I now proceed to the next point herein observable Our work in this day We will rejoyce and be glad in it The point being this That those dayes by the Lord made and Given to his People are to be observed and improved by them I will not spend time in proving it it needs it not nor will the time permit it I shall rather speak to the manner and practice of our duty herein and herein I shall confine my self to the Text and to what therein we are directed Where we find three things proposed to us in way of duty in this particular 1. That we take notice of the Lords work what it is that he doth for us So here v. 24. This is the day 2. That we take notice of Gods work so done for us with thankfulness We will rejoyce and be glad in it 3. That we farther improve such the Lords mercies to us by Prayer Save now I beseech thee O Lord c. v. 25. 1. That we are to take notice of Gods work for his People here is a day for it and that day particularly pointed at This is the day c. as to the manner of it 1. This is by taking notice of Gods work in particulars not in the gross or bulk of them only A particular Enumeration and confession of Sins becomes a day of Humiliation so are mercies to be particularly remembred in a day of praise Psal. 111. 2. Ps. 103 1 to 6. 2. We are not in this not to pass over the works of God lightly but to insist on them in serious meditation and in speaking of them again and again as here v. 15. 16. but this I shall not dwell upon longer at present 2. The next part of our duty is our observing Gods works of good to us and that with thankfulness This is the day c. We will rejoyce and be glad in it Our rejoycing must be in the Lord and that cannot be but in a thankfull acknowledgment of his mercies to the praise of his name where therefore it is said we will rejoyce in it v. 24. it is after with praises unto God v. 27. 28 29. Let us see the practice and ground of this duty by what may be observed of it in Davids day 2. By what we find of the Lords goodness to us in this our day And 3. the ground of our joy and rejoycing in this day also of our Lord Jesus Christ 1. As this day referrs to David his day required such thankfull acknowledgment from him and from his People You have heard what the Lord has done for David and in him for his People such mercies required sutable acknowledgments See himself in the duty I will praise thee for thou hast heard me and become my Salvation v. 21. Thou art my God and I will praise thee thou art my God and I will exalt thee v. 28. He stirreth up others also in it O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever v. 1. 29. and thereunto he calls all the People Let Israel now say that his mercy endureth for ever v. 2. And the Priests Let the House of Aaron now say that his mercy endureth for ever v. 3. God is the Lord who hath shewed us light bind the Sacrifice with cords even unto the Horns of the Altar v. 27. And all this is done in a publick manner even in the Church the publick place for Gods worship Open to me the Gates of righteousness I will go into them and I will praise the Lord this is the gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter v. 19. 20. publick mercies must have publick acknowledgments as you have seen in Davids day 2. Our day also this which now we celebrate commands the like performances from us our duty of praises to our God I am sure no people under the Sun have more cause for it then have we in these three Kingdoms after so many and so great and such continued confusions to be thus as at present setled in peace under his sacred Majesty This surely is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes it is a day which the Lord hath made let us rejoyce and be glad in it Nor is the Lord to be praised in his works alone but in those also whom he makes his Instruments in those his works the Lord alloweth them their praise in this yet so as in reference to him in whose hands they are instruments and that those praises be not lodg'd with them but that they passe from and through them unto him who employed and fitted them for the work and carried them on in it 1. Let me therefore to the glory of God and to the praise of his great name this Day speak unto those in the first place who have been chief in this work I confine my self herein at present to what is within our selves in this Kingdom only unto you the heads and leaders of the People I shall say only as in Deborahs tryumphant song of praise My heart is toward the Governors of Israel that offred themselves willingly among the People bless ye the Lord Judg. 5. 9. You have herein your praise and we have cause to bless you for what have been by you done for us but bless ye the Lord Let your praises be returned from you to him by whom you have been so stirred up and owned in this great work 2. To you of the Army Officers and Souldiers is your praise also I may say of you as was said of Zebulun and Naphtali in the before mentioned song of Deborah Zebulun and Naphtali were a People that Jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field Jud. 5. 18. Blessed be God that it did not come among you unto that of death or to the least drop of blood of any of you It is a Miracle that it was so yet did you put your lives in your hands in this great cause and they were by you Jeoparded nor would you have drawn back from the utmost of dangers had it been necessary 3. As to you of this City both you in the chief Government and others you have your praise also and that very eminently as you have been even above others eminent in the work of this day in which also you continue even unto this very day 4. Nor ought you of the general Convention of Ireland to be forgotten but to be remembered with the first for you have in a time of trouble and great distractions risen from your severall places and set your selves here for the quiet and settlement of this Kingdom The happy fruits whereof we this day gather by you have our publick wants been supplied in a time of pressing necessities to the great refreshment of the