England's HAPPINESS In a DISCOURSE Occasionally Written on the glorious Solemnity of the CORONATION Of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY The 11th of April 1689. By B L. Printed for J. Blare on London-Bridge 1689. England's HAPPINESS In a DISCOURSE Occasionally Written on the glorious Solemnity of the CORONATION Of King VVilliam and Queen Mary the 11th of this instant April BEING An Incitement to Loyalty and Obedience and a Christian Acknowledgment to God Almighty for His Mercies and Favours towards these Kingdoms in Blessing us with so gracious a King and Queen and the extraordinary Felicity we are like to possess in our Great and Miraculous Delivery from the Danger we might have expected By B. L. Licensed according to Order Printed for J. Blare at the Looking-glass on London-Bridge 1689. ENGLAND'S HAPPINESS c. Prov. 29.2 When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoice WHat greater Blessing can fall to the share of any Kingdom or People on Earth than to be Governed with Uprightness and Truth to see her self fenced about with Justice and Judgment her Laws that are her security to run smooth in an interrupted Chanel of Impartiality where no Corruption can turn them aside to destroy the Innocent nor free the Guilty in such a Case I say a Nation is happy and this depends mainly on the supreme Power for where the Fountain runs with a Chrystal Stream the Waters are pleasing and desirable they refresh the fainting Heart and spread a Joy through those that partake of them but when it proves the contrary no satisfaction is rendered for according to the Saying of the wise Man Prov. 29.2 When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoice but when the Wicked beareth Rule the People mourn And we find that when God more immediately designed to favour his People Israel he gave them his Servant David to be their King and to Reign over them and with him he gave them Plenty in their Gates and Victory over their Enemies brought under the Oppressour and the Spoiler was no more seen in the streets the Cries of the oppressed were turned into Songs of Deliverances and they were made to hear of Joy and Gladness for how plainly may we behold in Holy Writ the Face of things to be changed and that People who but a little before were compelled to bow their Necks to the Yoke of the Philistines a cruel and mercifull Enemies had their Lands wasted and spoiled looking every moment to be destroyed suddenly raised to unexpected Advantages their Enemies were put to flight they had Peace in their Dwelling their Vineyards and Olive-yards flourished and Corn and Wine encreased so that they might conclude themselves by a sudden and unexpected Change more happy than the Nations round about them and it must consequently be a greater satisfaction to any People and create in their Minds a larger sense of Joy and thankfull Acknowledgment to be snatched from a Chaos of Disorder and Confusion threatning every moment Ruin and Desolation into Calmness Serenity and a prospect of lasting Tranquility than if they had been in no such Danger Holy David gives extraordinary Praise and Acknowledgment on this occasion Psalm 124.6 7 8. Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us a Prey to their Teeth our Soul is escaped as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowler the Snare is broken and we are escaped our help is in the Name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth And indeed it has been no less in all Ages of the World for any Man delivered from a sharp and torturing pain or from an extream peril and danger concludes that Deliverance an extraordinary Happiness then it behoves us to raise our Souls to a highth that may fill us with Joy for a more than ordinary Deliverance in considering the Royal Instrument is in the Hand of the Authour of all our Happiness from whom we have our being and our well-being for as it is written Prov. 23.11 He that loveth pureness of Heart for the Grace of his Lips the King shall be his Friend And what can be more desirable for the favour of a Righteous Prince is more excellent than Gold and his Love above the price of all precious things he sits fearless from Danger and is the brightness and lustre of his Kingdom And as a more excellent Epethite the wise Man says Prov. 29.14 The King that faithfully judgeth the Poor his Throne shall be established for ever and as no small honour and peculiar favour of Heaven even the Church of Christ hath a comfortable Promise viz. That Kings shall be her nursing Fathers and Queens her nursing Mothers These things bring us to a further consideration which may more and more open our Eyes to behold what may make us with a Holy Zeal cry out This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our Eyes for who but a short time since could have foreseen the Miracles he has done by the Prudence Conduct and Courage of the happy Instrument in his hand which in the performance required Vertues hardly to be credited till seen Great indeed have been the Actions and Fame of Men in most Ages for being renowned in War celebrated in Learning or excellent in curious Arts which has caused their Names to be Registred in the Golden Robes of Fame but in this the difference is vastly transcendent and nothing but wonder and astonishment can fill our minds whilst we contemplate it and are carried away with thoughts of our happiness when the Righteous are in authority the people rejoice But to come nearer there ought to be in this Case a great and more than ordinary sense of the highest Gratitude incumbent on us and first let us lift our Eyes to Heaven and give hearty Praise and Acknowledgment adoring his Goodness and Mercy confessing with Holy David Psal 126. v. 3. The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad especially according to the Advice of the Authour to the Hebrews Heb. 13.1 Let Brotherly Love continue Let us own our selves unworthy of so great a Blessing and humble our selves before him that exalteth the lowly and abaseth the Proud Let us commit our ways to the Lord and put our Trust in the Shield and Rock of our Salvation and ever bless his Holy Name that we live to see this happy day in which we beheld the Work of our Deliverance so fully wrought and as our Hearts ought ever to be full charged with Joy for the Peace and welfare of Zion so let us study to preserve maintain it to the utmost of our power by uniting in Peace and Unity that by our Breaches or Divisions we may give the Enemy to advantage over us that by the old Machiavilian Policy we may not divide thereby to suffer breaking in or going out and that there may be no murmuring or complaining in our Streets We no doubt are one of the best Governments founded upon wholesome and substantial Laws the
Purity of the Gospel shines bright as the Morning-Star amongst us Plenty flows in our Land and the Oppressours are removed from our Gates let us then conclude our selves a People in a happy Condition yea rather let us conclude our selves so because our God is the Lord who with a mighty and out-stretched Arm has raised up Salvation to us and heard us out of his Holy Hill in the time of trouble and has bound himself by a holy promise if we provoke him not by our sins he will never leave nor forsake us O! that Men would therefore Praise the Lord. But secondly O let us Kiss the Son least after all these Mercies he be angry and his anger burn against us for making no better use of so great a Mercy A Wise Man is as stedfast as the Foundation of the Earth says the Philosopher and in Holy Scripture finds he builds a House upon a Rock and that Rock is Jesus Christ the Son of God and therefore his House is never shaken down though the Storms or Tempests be never so rough and raging He that trusteth in the Lord shall stand as Mount Sion This made Holy David bold when he said Psal 23. Though I should walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no Evil for thou art with me thy Red and thy Staff they shall comfort me and again Psal 27. The Lord is my Light and my Salvation whom shall I fear When Ezekiah heard the proud Message of a Scribe sent to him and his People by Rabshaketh the King stood not much to consult the Arm of Flesh but went unto the House of the Lord and prayed unto the Lord to save him and his people out of the hands of their Enemies that all the Kingdoms of the Earth might know he is alone God and accordingly the Assyrian Host fell before them without any loss to the Israelites This Miraculous Deliverence may in somemeasure be applyed to our Case God sent his Angel to put fear into the Hearts of those who a little before thought of nothing but our Ruine blasting and withering all their Courage and enfeebling them that they were not able to carry on their Devices to any kind of perfection that had cost them extraordinary Treasure Labour and Industry This we must own to be the Lord 's doing for it is most plainly demonstrated as it was revealed to the great Babilonian Monarch that the most High God rules in the Kingdoms of Men and gives them to whom he pleases 'T is he that rules the Hearts of Kings and Princes disposing of them as it seemeth best to his Godly Wisdom all Crowns and Scepters are before him and in his Hands are the Ballances of the Earth his looks dry up the Deep and the Winds are in the hollow of his hand Power and Might are ever before him to do what seems best to his infinite Wisdom for whatever he wills that he has Power to perform These things considered What Persons ought we to be in all Holiness and Conversation that he may continue his Love and Favour towards us that he continue his Protection and Favour towards us for although his Mercy is and has been very great yet if we triffle with such transcendent Goodness What can we expect but that he should change his Smiles into Frowns as hath happened to many who have turned his Grace into wantonness O let us not like Gesserun wax Fat and kick against our Maker but rather seriously consider what he has done for this Land and People with all the thoughts of Humility and Gratitude that we enjoy the Royal Blessings on whose Heads the Crowns flourish in Righteousness and may their Thrones be established that every one sits under his Vine in peace not constrained or compelled to violate his Conscience or to undergoe hard-ships upon the Score of Conscience or Religion And the better to mind us of it let us look back a little into the times of Persecution wherein the Saints of God suffered all manner of ignominy and torment being hated of all Men for the Name of Christ despised as the Filth of the World and Dung of the Earth yet they continued faithfull and constant arming their Hearts with the comforts of God's Promises in his Gospel and were so far from repining that they suffered joyfully and many run violently to flames and torments not accepting Deliverance singing Triumphs even in the Arms of Death and when they were called before Kings and Princes and others of Authority and commanded to forsake the Truth of the everlasting Gospel they notwithstanding continued faithfull unto Death to gain a Crown of Life and glorious Immortality These Tryalls I say are not before us we live at Peace under a Pious and Vertuous King and Queen who make Religion the brightest Jewels in their Crowns and the highest concernment of Regal Glory We live under such Laws as guard and secure our Religion Lives Liberties and Properties to us This might raise us to the Rapture of the Kingly Prophet when he says Thou Lord shalt have both Man and Beast how excellent are thy Mercies O God! and the Children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy Wings they shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy House and thou shalt give them to drink at thy pleasure as out of a River for with thee is the Well of Lafe and in thee we shall see Light Psal 36.7 8 9. and certainly no Eye can perceive nor Heart conceive the high and sudden pleasures which God has in store for those that with thankfull Hearts and Minds obey and serve him be earnest then in running the Race that is set before you contend for the Prize of an inestimable value that may Crown you with Imortality and Eternal Life and be carefull to consider what the Apostle says Gal. 6. Look what a man soweth that shall he reap he who soweth in the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth in the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting Life for God says Holy David Rewardeth every man according to his work Psal 16.12 Let us take heed to our selves therefore that we mistake not our way and wander upon the dark mountains for as the wise Man says Eccl. 21.10 The way of sinners is paved with stones but at the end thereof is Hell and Darkness and Pains but let us with fear and reverence approach the Throne of that Tremendious Majesty who makes Darkness his secret place and Clouds and thick Mists are round about him yet dwells in unapproachable Brightness in whose presence is fullness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore Great we must confess it is to dwell in glittering Courts and gilded Palace to enjoy the Smiles and Favours of a Prince to have Attendance and Trains of Pomp and Grandeur followed with State and even the Ensigns of Majesty cringed too served with a kind of an Adoration this
must raise the mind to a very high pitch though supported with an extraordinary vertue but when we consider this world and the Fashion of it passes away of what little moment and duration all earthly things consist then we must confess them of two small a value to six our hearts upon and own that here we have no tarrying City but look for one above the bright celestial City the new Jerusalem there our imperfect joys will be made full and complete when we shall be found worthy to attend on the Throne of the King of Kings with Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving and our Fellow-Courtiers shall Seraphim Cherubim Arch-Angels Patriarchs Apostles Saints and Martyrs and all the Souls of just men made perfect These are things worthy of our highest contemplation and the Stairs that lead to this Mansion built without hands are Faith Hope Charity Justice Uprightness and many other Graces and Vertues that ought to shine in the Soul of a good Christian as the Stars in the Firmament guiding him through the Wilderness of this World that he wander not into the Paths of error which at the enterance appear in prospect exceeding fair and many times be desired but are full of stumbling Blocks and paved with Ruine to overthrow and bring to destruction such as go astray and of this the Wise man gives us an Item Prov. 28.18 Whose walketh uprightly shall be saved but he that is preverse in his ways shall fall at once and this brings me to the third consideration and exhortation to follow the way of vertue and uprightness Since the Wisdom of the Father has declared that by him Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice and Judgment we ought to look upon them as extraordinary persons with a distence of respect and obedience becoming the highest Character upon Earth and more immediately charged by the Almighty with the care of the Kingdom Nation or People committed to their Trust and Care and here we are commanded to tender to Caesar the Things that are Caesars Rom. 13 8. And let every Soul be subject to the higher powers for there is no power but of God the powers that are are ordained of God. Tit. 3.1 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation 1 Pet. 2.13 Put them in mind to be subject to the principalities and powers and to obey Magistrates and again submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of Evil Doers and the praise of them that do well These are the Commands of Heaven carrying with them an undisputable Authority which demands our Obedience in so strict a sense that they leave us no place of turning to the right or the left and therefore our Circumspection must be great but a good Prince even commands the Hearts of his Subjects and there flows a universal concurrence in Duty and Affection from secret Springs of the mind for when the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoice A good Man a value and esteem inseparable from vertuous Actions which gives Life to those that are Influenced by him and obliges them to Joy and Gladness even amidst their melancholly Thoughts But on the contrary as 't is in the latter part of the Verse when the Wicked beareth rule the People mourn This is not difficult to be proved but rather evident if we look upon our present Condition for the former and on our Neighbour Kingdom for Instances of the latter I might lay down many particulars more than are already mentioned to exhort and persuade all to true Loyalty and Obedience but think it in our Case altogether needless in a generous Nation whose Souls scorn any thing beneath themselves and hold it the blackest of all Crimes to be branded with Ingratitude unless by the way I should take notice of the Sons of Rome who are bigotted into Opinions for which they cannot give us the least Reason unless they shuffle it upon a blind Obedience to their pretended spiritual head who sits upon his seven Hills and sends his Foxes with Firebrands at their Tails to inflame the World but we find his Measures have been taken amiss the Snare is broken and we are escaped and what shall we now say but that our Hearts are filled with Joy and Gratitude to our Deliverer who when they thrust sore at us and we had almost fallen upheld us even when with holy David we might truly have said If the Lord had not helped me it had failed but my Soul should have been put to Silence Psalm 94.17 when on the contrary though in a lower degree we may sing with Solomon Cant. 2.10 Arise my Love my fair One and come thy way for behold Winter is past the shower is over the flowers have appeared in our Land. And now to God the Father Son and Holy Ghost be all Power Glory Honour and Dominion World without end Amen A Prayer for the King and Queen and preservation of the Protestant Religion O Lord God Holy and Righteous in whose Hands are the Hearts of Kings and Princes we with all humility and low prostration implore thy Benediction upon Their most gracious Majesties King William and Queen Mary protect them with thy Almighty Power and give them Wisdom from above endue them with all Princely Graces give them the Blessings of the right and left hand and inspire them with Zeal and Courage ever to protect thy sacred Truth make the King a nursing Father and the Queen a Nursing Mother to thy Church and let their days be as the days of Heaven Grant O most Mercifull Lord God that the Vine which thou hast planted with thy own right hand may prosper and flourish till its Branches overspread the Earth prosper our Counsellours in great Affairs and inspire our Senators to carry on with a fervent Zeal whatever may tend to thy Glory and to the good and wellfare of the Kingdom for the sake of our ever blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen FINIS