Sions Praises Opened in a SERMON PREACHED Before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of LONDON On the Day of Solemn Thanksgiving UNTO GOD For his long and gracious Preservation of that great City from Pestilence Fire and other Dangers By EDWARD REYNOLDS D. D. LONDON Printed by Tho Newcomb for George Thomason and are to be sold at his Shop at the Rose and Crown in Pauls Church yard 1657. To the Right Honourable Sir Robert Titchbourne Knight Lord Mayor of LONDON The Aldermen and Common-Council of that great and famous CITY Right Honourable INstead of a Dedication I must make an Apology that this short Sermon hath been so long in the second birth of it from the Press for besides my various diversions indisposedness by reason of infirmities to spend much time together in revising transcribing and maturing short notes for a publick view I had at the same time another service of the like nature upon me which having been before begun I could not till finished conveniently attend this It pleaseth the Lord still so to continue those mercies to this City for the thankful recounting whereof he put it into your hearts to appoint this service that as the Duty was very seasonable when it was performed so I hope the publication though too long after may not be altogether improper to mind us all of the Lords great goodness in continuing those comforts unto us and of our duty daily to resume and revive the memory of them If this weak endeavor of mine to quicken you and my self unto that great work of praising God be through his blessing of any use to engage your hearts thereunto and to provoke you unto any of those expedients which you were in this Sermon minded of I shall have abundant cause of glorifying God for so great a fruit of so small a service and for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ Which is the earnest desire of Your Honors Most humble Servant in the work of the Gospel ED. REYNOLDS Sions Praises PSAL. 147. 12 13 14 15. Praise the Lord O Jerusalem praise thy God O Zion For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates he hath blessed thy children within thee He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth his word runneth very swiftly GOD is All-sufficient unto himself and standeth not in need of any of his creatures to add any excellency unto him any more then the Sun doth of the light of a candle That which is wholly of him can contribute nothing at all unto him He hath all perfection Infinitely all the perfections of the Creatures without the finite bounds and limits wherein they injoy them Eminently in himself Our goodness extendeth not unto him It he be hungry he will not tell us for the world is his and the fulness thereof can a man be profitable unto God as he that is wise is profitable to himself Who hath first given to him and it shall be recompenced to him agaim Yet though the Lord be thus wholly self sufficient and do not receive any thing from the creatures yet he is pleased graciously to communicate himself unto them in several prints and degrees of goodness as the Sun sheddeth light upon those bodies from whence it receiveth no retribution at all But of all Creatures he hath chosen his Church to be nearest unto him and to participate most of him that is a society of men which he hath formed for himself to be a-chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People As the Sun manifesteth its light unto us in the Moon more then in any other of the Stars so the Lord his Goodness and Wisdom in the Church more then in any other Creatures And now as the Moon receiving light from the Sun doth not swallow it up and bury it but reflecteth it and as it were reporteth and publisheth it abroad unto the world So the Lord having shewed mercies unto the Church requireth that they be not buried in oblivion but that the glory and praise of them be acknowledged unto him Great Luminaries have certain Beams as pipes and channels through which their light is derived and diffused upon others Thanksgiving is the Beam of an illightned soul whereby it maketh report of those mercies which from the Father of light hath been shed abroad upon it Every thing naturally returns to its original All Rivers run into the Sea unto the place from whence they come thither they return to go Eccles. 1. 7. A straight line drawn into length the further it goes is still the weaker but in a circle returning to its first point and original it recovers strength so the Creature the further it goes from God is still the weaker till it return back unto him again And the best way of returning unto him is by praising of him for praises are the language of Heaven where it is that men are pefectly taken home to God Yet as we said nothing is hereby added unto him but onely his own glory acknowledged and adored by the Church as when the Sun shines on a Diamond the lustre thereof is not encreased but reported And as we esteem those stones most precious which do most exquisitely admit and reflect the splendor of that light which shines upon them so they are the Lords bests Jewels as he calleth them Mal. 3 17. which can most notably set forth the glory of his name as he who can with greatest eloquence commend the vertues of an excellent person is the best Orator though his Oration doth not put excellency into the person but onely represent and set it forth unto others Not therefore for any advantage or accession unto himself who cannot be a gainer by his creatures but onely for our benefit and comfort is the Lord pleased to require praises of his people as the window admitteth the light of the Sun not for the benefit of the Sun but of the house into which it shineth And as God requires this duty at all times of his people so most then when he doth greatest things for them and this was the condition of the Church at this time which Interpreters refer to the State thereof after its return out of Babylon and therefore in the Syriack and Greek versions we finde the names of the Prophets Haggai and Zacharie prefixed as leading to the times whereunto the mercies here mentioned did relate The whole Psalm is an invitation unto praising of God Arguments thereunto are drawn First From Gods general goodness to the world vers. 4 8 9 16 17 8. Secondly From his special Mercy to his Church 1. In restoring it out of a sad and broken condition ver. 2 3. 2. In confirming it in an happy and prosperous estate both temporal in regard of strength peace and plenty vers. 12 13 14. and spiritual in regard of his Word Statutes and
Judgments made known unto them ver. 19 20. Lastly These mercies are all commended by the manner of bestowing them powerfully and swiftly He doth it by a word of command and by a word of speed He sendeth forth his commandment up on Earth his word runneth very swiftly The former part of this happy estate together with the manner of bestowing it is in these words from which we must by no means exclude the consideration of the latter And what can be wanting to a Nation which is strengthned with walls blessed with multitudes hath peace in the border plenty in the field and which is all in all God in the Sanctuary God the bar of the gate the Father of the Children the Crown of the peace the staff of the plenty a gate restored a City blessed a border quieted a field crowned a sanctuary beautified with the oracles of God what can be wanting to such a people but a mouth filled an heart enlarged a spirit exalted in the praises of the Lord Praise the Lord O Jerusalem praise thy God O Sion c. In the words we have three General Parts 1. A Duty required and that with an ingemination praise praise 2. The subject of whom required Jerusalem Sion 3. Arguments enforcing it drawn from consideration 1. Of Gods Relation unto them as The Lord that had authority over them as Thy God that was in covenant with them 2. Of the Benefits wrought for them wherein is considerable 1. The substance of them ver. 13 14. 2. The manner how performed by a powerful and a speedy efficacy v. 15. In the substance of the Benefits we have a great Climax and gradation of mercy First Jerusalem and Sion which erewhile lay ruinous and desolate have now walls and those walls gates and those gates bars and those bars strengthened and made fast by the hand of God By all which we understand both the material walls and gates newly built by Nehemiah maugre the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah Nehem. 2. 8 9. 6. 1. 7. 1. and also the policy and government which is said to be administred in the gates Deut. 21. 19. Amos 5. 15. for the strength the walls the gates of a Kingdom stands in the righteous administration of judgment whereby the throne is established Prov. 16 12. Secondly Not only strength in the walls but blessing in the City within them namely multitudes of Inhabitants according to that promise I will sow the house of Israel and of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast Jer. 31. 27 There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem and every man with his staff in his hand for very age And the streets of the City shall be full of Boys and Girles playing in the streets thereof Zach. 8. 4 5. The safety tranquillity and péace should be so great as that it should extend to all sorts of men even those who were most subject to fear and danger old men old women Boys and Girles Thirdly Because potent enemies might break the strongest gates though they were of brass and iron as the Lord promiseth Cyrus Is 45. 1 2. and being broken in might easily diminish the multitudes there till they be left as a tree bereft of branches on the top of a mountain till a man be more precious then the golden wedge of Ophir Isa. 13. 12. 24. 6. 30. 17. there is further added Peace in the borders violence shall no more be ' heard in thy Land Isa. 60. 18 Fourthly Because Famine may do as much harm within as an enemy in the borders the sword without may make them eat their children within Deut. 28. 53 55 therefore plenty is joyned unto peace he filleth thee with the finest of the wheat the vine shall give her fruit and the ground shall give her encrease and the heaven shall give her dew and the remnant of this people shall possess all these things Zach. 8. 12. Fifthly Because these inferior blessings without God can neither defend nor comfort a people therefore he is pleased to give himself unto them to be their portion he is Thy God O Sion he is pleased to own it as his name The portion of Jacob Jer. 10. 16. Lastly Least they should be discouraged by any present difficulties which might seem to render these mercies very improbable unto them he strengtheneth their faith by this assurance that he can with a word of his mouth give being to every one of these promises and can send forth his commandment as a winged executioner of his will He sendeth forth his commandment on earth his word runneth very swiftly The main Doctrine of the Text and work of the day is the Tribute of Praise which we owe unto God for these great mercies It is the glory due unto his name Psal. 96. 8. for according to his name so is his praise Psal. 48. 10. And it is due to him in the Text upon a double Title 1. As he is the Lord for his absolute greatness in himself 2. As he is Thy God for his relative goodness to his Church and People In the first respect it implies an adoring of his excellencies praise him for his excellent greatness Psal. 150. â— an extolling of his great name an acknowledging of his absolute soveraignty over us and surpassing dignity above us and accordingly abasing our selves in his presence I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee therefore I abhor my self Job 42. 5. Woe is me I am undone for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell amongst a people of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Isa. 6. 5. This is that which our Saviour maketh the principal and first petition in prayer Sanctified be thy Name that is be thou thy self in all the ways whereby thou makest thy self known glorified by us To Sanctifie is to separate and single out unto some peculiar and appropriated honor So Israel is said to be a people holy to the Lord separated as a peculiar people from all others to know and to serve him Ye shall be holy I have severed you from other people that ye should be mine Lev. 20. This people have I formed for my self they shall shall shew forth my praise Isa. 43. 21. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} are opposed to one another that which is common is unclean that which is holy is separated and reserved unto special use Act. 10. 14 15. To sanctifie then the Lord and to make him our fear as he is called the fear of Isaac Gen. 31. 42. is to acknowledge his infinite peerless surpassing and unparallel'd excellencies and pre heminence and to serve him with a peculiar and incommunicated worship to exalt his glorious name above all Blessing and above all Praise as being Lord Alone Nehem. 9. 5 6. as being God above All 1 Chron. â—9
11. Higher then the highest Eccles. 5. 8. there being none holy besides him 1 Sam. 2. 2. He is God alone among the gods there is none like him Psal. 68. 8 10. He is exalted far above all gods Psal. 97. 9. Who is a God like unto our God Mic. 7. 18. Exod. 15. 11. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou onely art holy Rev. 15. 4. In the next respect it implies 1. A Rejoycing in him as our onely Good Rejoyce in the Lord O ye righteous for praise is comely for the upright Psal. 33. 1. So the Prophet concludeth his Tryumphal song Although the Figtree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yeeld no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the Stalls yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation Hab. 3. 17 18. 2. A preferring him in our estimation infinitely above All as our soveraign and principal end living dying thinking speaking working walking so as that he may be glorified in us and by us Rom. 14. 7 8. 3. An acknowledging unto him his free and rich grace in all those manifold mercies and precious promises wherewith he hath blessed us in his beloved who are less then the least of all the goodness and truth which he hath shewed unto us For it is of the Lords mercies alone that we are not consumed An humble sence of our own misdeservings and utter unworthiness is essential unto this duty of praising God The Pharisees thanksgiving had a contradiction in it God I thank thee that I am not as other men or as this Publican Pride and praise are inconsistent whosoever arrogates to himself derrogates from God not unto us not unto us but unto thy name we cannot give glory to God till we disown it our selves Psal. 115. 1. when the Apostle begins and concludes with thanksgiving he doth not onely recounts Gods mercy but his own unworthiness I was a Blasphemer a Persecuter injurious ignorant unbeleeving the chief of sinners I thank Christ Jesus our Lord unto the King eternal immortal invisible the onely wise God be honour and glory 1 Tim. 1. 12 17. 4. Invocation of his name and dependance upon his grace as the onely fountain of all our comforts Sing shout publish ye praise ye and say Lord save thy people Jer. 31 7. As prayer makes way for praises when our petitions are answered call upon me in the day of trouble I will hear thee and thou shall glorifie me Psal. 50 15. So praises for mercies past do encourage and enlarge the heart to wait upon God for the supply of our present wants He hath delivered he doth deliver therefore we may trust that he will yet deliver 2 Cor. 1. 10. Lastly Obedience to his commands when the sence of his soveraign Authority over us as the Lord and of his special grace unto us as our God doth engage our hearts to glorifie him in an holy conversation for herein is God honoured when his servants do bring forth much fruit Joh. 15. 8 Hereby we put to silence the ignorance of foolish men and by our good works do cause enemies themselves to glorifie God as being ashamed to accuse their good conversation 1 Pet. 2. 12 15. 3. 15 16. Justin Martyr professed that the constancy of the Christian Martyrs was the means whereby he was converted to Christ We see the Duty and the Title upon which it is due The Lord for his Excellencies in himself Thy God for his Goodness unto thee Let us next consider the Subject from whom it is due Jerusalem and Sion God made all things for himself and will have the glory due unto his name from all his creatures Prov. 16. 4. all things are of him and therefore all things are to him Rom. 11. 36. But there are three different ways whereby this glory cometh unto him from his creatures 1. Per modum providentiae in a way of general Providence when the motions order influences beauty glorious contexture and admirable co-operation and concurrence of all creatures unto some excellent {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or consummate issue do shew forth the wisdom power and goodness of that supream Moderator who leadeth such variety of agents unto one end as the Artificer tempereth many colours unto the setting forth of one beautiful Table And thus Heaven Earth Sea Snow Ice Hail Birds Beasts are said to glorifie and to praise the Lord Psal. 19. 1 2. Psal. 148. 3. 10. 2. Per modum Justitiae in a way of judgment and severity when the Lord by the power of his Justice doth fetch glory out of wicked Angels and men and doth compulsorily drive them unto those ends which they never intended as the Smith by his Furnace and Hammer worketh-iron into those shapes unto which it could never have reduced it self And thus they whose whole study it is to dishonour God when they fly out of the order of his Precepts do fall under the order of his Providence and are made by their perdition to bring glory unto him For this purpose saith the Lord unto Pharaoh have I raised thee up that I might shew my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth Rom. 9. 17. And so the strong enemies of God who had been a terror unto his people are said to glorifie him when they are reduced to heaps and ruine never to be built again Isa. 25. 2 3. The Lord in the thing wherein they dealt proudly shewing himself to be above them Exod. 18. 11. 3. Per modum Obedientiae in a way of obedience when a creature doth voluntarily actively intentionally set it self to bring glory unto God and knowing the end unto which God hath ordained it to work Ephes. 2. 10. doth accordingly apply it self to conform unto the will of God therein and thus none can indeed praise God but Jerusalem and Sion his name is nowhere so great as in Israel Psal. 76. 1. whether we respect his own manifestations of himself in his word and gracious covenant which he hath magnified above all his name Psal. 138. 2. and which he hath shewed unto his Church and not unto others Psal. 148. 19 20. or his peoples chearful adoration of him and trust in him according to the tenor of that word and thus they who are called by Gods name are in special manner said to be created for his glory Isa. 43. 7. God hath done most for them taken them nearest unto himself Deut 4. 7. set them a part and fitted them for his own use Psal. 43. 2 Tim. 2. 2â— most notably revealed himself and the secrets of his love unto them Matth. 11. 25. Psal. 25. 14. Joh. 14. 21. They are most able to praise him because they have his special and peculiar favour called the favour
of his people Psal. 106. 4. He is their own and property enlargeth praise Praise is the language of Heaven best becomes those who have been partakers of a heavenly calling Heb. 3. 1. Excellent speech is not comely in the mouth of fools Pro. 17. 7. but praise is comely for the upright Psal. 33. 1. None can praise God in the pit the living the living he shall praise thee Isa. 38. 19. No wicked man how specious or plausible soever his professions may be is either so awed by the greatness or affected with the goodness of God as to sanctifie the Lord in his heart or to glorifie him in his life his words are fair his conscience is foul his pretences are gaudy and flourishing but his affections are crooked and perverse as if a Cook should poison his Lords dinner and in the mean time should garnish the dishes with painted or gilded vanities If we cannot call God our God if we have not by faith and hope an interest in his Covenant and special Mercies if we be not by his love shed abroad into our hearts conformed to his will and ways flatter him peradventure we may but glorifie him we cannot he that ordereth his conversation aright is the man that offereth praise and glorifieth God Psal. 50. 23. There is one special thing more to be noted concerning this duty and that is the ingemination Praise Praise It teacheth us First The natural Sluggishness and indisposition which is in us unto this Duty Want will make us importunate to obtain good things but when our wants are supplied how few are there who think of returning praises unto God All the ten Leapers were clamorous for mercy but there was but one of them and he a stranger that returned glory to God Luk. 17. 12 13 18. We are in this case like Fishermens Weels wide at that end which lets in Mercies but narrow there where we should let out our praises Our Mercies are like Gideons dew on the ground very copious our praises like his dew on the fleece very narrow and contracted Mercies run into us as Jordan into the dead Sea where they are all buried in oblivion The Lord had saved Israel from sore bondage in Egypt multipled his judgments on their enemies and his merces unto them had wrought wonders for them and terrible things which they looked not for and yet all these mercies multitudes of mercies wonders manifold wonders which of all things make the deepest impression upon memory were all forgotten and that quickly neither did they say where is the Lord that brought us out of Egypt Psal 78. 11. â—2 43. Psal. 106. 13 21 22 Jer. 2. 6. Secondly The ardent zeal of the Psalmist to have God receive his due The duller mens hearts are the more importunity should Gods Messengers use to draw them unto duty When the Iron is blunt we must put to the more strength Eccles. â—0 10. Hence those frequent iterations in Scripture to awaken men out of their dulness â— Samuel Samuel Saul Saul O Earth Earth Earth hear the word of the Lord Jer. 22. 29. precept upon precept precept upon precept line upon line line upon line here a little there a little Isa. 28. 13. It is called whetting of the Law with stroke upon stroke often and earnest inculcating of it Deut. 6. 7. fastning of nails with blow upon blow Eccles. 12. 11. One threatning will not awaken stubborn sinners we have seven upon seven Levit. 26. 18 21 24 28. One curse will not startle the heart of a proud Pharisee they must have woe upon woe Matth. 23. 13 29. When the Psalmist hath recounted various mercies he doth rather wish and perswade then expect a return of praise and that with a quadruple Ingemination O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men Psal. 107. 8 15 21 31. Thirdly the great necessity of this Duty when the Lord calleth often for one thing we must needs conclude that it is unum necessarium one very necessary thing The Hebrew expression of a superlative is by doubling the word good good that is exceeding good Holy holy holy that is most exceeding holy thou shalt follow Justice Justice that is thou shalt be most just so here praise praise seems to note a more then ordinary excellency and necessity in this Duty Fourthly The manner and measure how this Duty is to be performed Again again with redoubled Affections There is no Affection more copious and multiplying then that of joy Phil. 4. 4. It enlargeth and expandeth the heart it breaketh out into serenity of countenance into fluency of expressions into active and vigorous gestures as Davids into leaping and dancing before the Ark If we look into all the Scripture we shall seldom finde so frequent and emphatical ingeminations as in this of praising God Who is like unto thee O Lord amongst the gods who is like thee Glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders Exod. 15. 11. Awake awake Deborah awake awake utter a song arise Barak c. Judg. 5. 12. Bless the Lord O my soul all that is within me bless his holy name Bless the Lord O my soul bless the Lord ye his Angels bless the Lord ye his hosts bless the Lord all his works bless the Lord O my soul Psal. 103. 1 2 20 21 22. In the last Psalm containing but six verses we are called upon thirteen times to praise the Lord Jewels are made of divers precious stones couched together praise is a Jewel a comely a beautifying thing Psal. 33. 1. and we finde one of these Jewels are made up of no fewer then six and twenty ingeminations Psal. 136. praise him for his greatness he is the Lord and again praise him for his goodness he is thy God If a man shew me a precious and stately thing I shall be thankful out of curiosity as for a favor but if he shew it and then give it I shall be a thousand times thankful as for a rare bounty Great and Good and Mine nothing will move thankfulness if excellency and property will not The Greatness of his power mine to keep me the greatness of his Wisdom mine to counsel me the greatness of his Grace mine to sanctifie me the greatness of his Glory mine to save me who should be thankfull if not they who want nothing And who can be said to want any thing who have God for their God The Lord saith David is my shepheard I shall not want Psal. 23. 1. Of this excellent Doctrine I shall make these two Uses and then speak a little to the present occasion and so conclude First We should learn from hence to bewail our long and great unthankfulness under as many and wonderful mercies as scarce any Nation under heaven is able to parallel Unthinkfulness is not setting so high a price as we ought upon a good Land quiet Habitations fair Estates peaceable Borders flourishing
Fields abundance of Men Cattel Wealth Trade Strength and all other good things Unthankfulness for that which the Apostle calleth the riches of the world and the salvation of the Gentiles Rom. 11. 11 12. for the Oracles of God the Ark of his presence the glorious light of his Gospel and powerful means of grace and salvation in abundance of which I know not whether any Countries on the earth can outvy and surpass this of ours Unthankfulness which is worse in abusing mercies waxing fat by them and then kicking against the Author of them filling our selves in our pastures and then forgetting God making them rather the fuel of our lusts against him then the arguments of our love unto him turning peace into security and plenty into excess and grace into lasciviousness and pardoning mercy into presumption of sinning multitudes making little other use of the Gospel then that which the Gospel doth abominate to continue in sin that grace may abound to drink poison the more freely because they have an Antidote by them Nay which is yet more prodigious not using nor improving mercies when we were in danger to lose them when war and desolation should have taught us to value them to weep and bleed and languish and have grey hairs upon us to be set on fire round about and even then to lay nothing to heart nor to return to the Lord nor seek him for all that to cement our souls and our lusts together with mortar tempered with our own blood and tears to be wanton and dally with mercies when they were ready to depart from us and now when there is respite and the Lord hath given us a little reviving and put the sword into the Scabbard to become thereupon like Agag proud and delicate because the bitterness of death seemeth to be past to abuse outward and inward Liberty not only with sensual excess and luxury but with prodigies of wilde and wanton errors with a civil War of Doctrines as before of Blood this is an aggravation of unthankfulness then which I know not whether there can be an higher given The not using a mercy is to be unthankful for it how much more sad account must men give of abused mercies of requiting the goodness of the Lord with forsaking of him the culture and Husbandry the rain and dew which he hath bebestowed upon them with thorns and briars Deut. 32. 6. Luk. 13. 7 Heb. 6. 7. As the greater heat of the Sun doth more speedily ripen fruit so do great mercies hasten the maturity of sin and make them as the rod of an Almond tree which blossometh before other trees Jer. i. 11. or as a Basket of summer fruit which is quickly ripe Amos 8. 1. It is a swineish thing at the same time to feed on blessings and to trample them under foot to live upon them and yet to defile and despise them Secondly We should be exhorted unto the careful practice of this excellent Duty I shall not go out of the Text for Motives hereunto 1. He hath strengthned the Bars of our Gates we are not by the power or machinations of Enemies devoured or dissolved we have yet the face of a potent Nation notwithstanding the devices of any to dissipate our Laws or to reduce us to confusion 2. He hath blessed our Children within us though the sword have devoured thousands and might justly have swallowed the blood of many more should the Lord have dealt with us according to our provocations yet our streets our fields our Cities our Churches are still full old men with their staves little children playing in the streets with as much security as before 3. He hath given peace in our Borders When Ephraim was against Manasse and Manasse against Ephraim no man spared his brother when the Land did eat the flesh of its own arms when the strength of battel was poured out in every corner as if the Lord would have consumed us all at once then was he pleased to try us once again with the keeping of so rich a Jewel as peace And when thereafter he raised up against us new Enemies and troubles by Sea whereby trade was obstructed treasure exhausted Protestant Religion in danger to be weakned and unhappy hostilities like to have continued amongst neighbour Nations which had been before confederate and in amity this evill likewise the Lord put a stop unto and made the Sea which wrought and was tempestuous quiet and calm again and thus hath confirmed peace in our borders and abated the hopes which the enemies of the Reformed Religion had entertained upon those unhappy differences 4. He hath fed us with the fat and marrow of the wheat crowned the year with his goodness the fields and the pastures sing he hath sent a plentiful rain and refreshed the earth the fields and the clouds and the Sun have been confederate and at an agreement to empty the blessings wherewith God hath filled them into our bosoms according to those gracious promises Hos. 2. 21. 22. Zach. 8 12. 5. He suffereth us yet to call him our God he is still in the midst of us we have yet the custody of his oracles and liberty of his worship he hath not yet given us a bill of Divorce nor cast us out of his sight as our sins have deserved What great reason have we to ingeminate praises when the Lord is pleased to multiply mercies Who would ever mistrust such a God who can so powerfully and so suddenly help Who would ever provoke such a God who can as easily and as speedily destroy Who would trust in bars and gates in Castles and Armies in Ships and Navies and leave him out who is the strength of them all Who would not trust in him who is a God near and a God a far off a God in the Gate in the City in the field in the border on the land on the sea whose way is in the sauctuary and his path in the great waters Who would not fear thee O King of Nations and glorifie thy name for unto thee it doth appertain who alone art glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders I shall conclude all with a few words unto you the Officers and Representatives of this great City into whose hearts the Lord hath put so wo thy and pious a resolution as to appoint this day in the which to recount his mercies and to speak good of his name And albeit your selves who are best acquainted with the state of the City and Gods dealings therewith can more abundantly present to your own thoughts variety of particulars of divine goodness then I who am but a stranger can yet give me leave to be your Remembrancer in these few 1. Be pleased to look back on those bloody Marian days when the streets of this City were defiled with the blood of Martyrs when the blessed members of Christ were drawn from Cole houses and Prisons to Stakes and flames and consider the indefatigable
and crafty endeavors which have been from time to time by that party used and no doubt they are as unwearied now as ever though haply they are under new shapes and disguises to reduce us back again And consider the purity of Evangelical Doctrine and Worship and the great liberty you now enjoy therein The Lord pardon pitty and rebuke those who either through ignorance o prophaness do pray the wantons with such a benefit and abuse it to the rending and causing of breaches in the Church of Christ 2. Look on the sore plagues which have heretofore reigned in this place emptying the City of all that could fly and sending Armies of those that remained weekly to the grave The City is probably now much more populous many thousands of houses being since that time newly erected and few either of the old or new without Inhabitants yet for these many years this raging disease hath been banished from this place when probably it might have been a double Judgment unto you and you have that blessing which the Lord promised Jerusalem Zach. 8. 5. made good unto you The streets of the City full of Boys and Girls playing in those streets where in the days of pestilence grass grew for emptiness and desolation 3. Look on the late bloody VVars when the Lord poured out on the Nation the strength of battel and set it on fire round about Ephraim Manasse and Manasse Ephraim when the people were as the fuel if the fire you here heard not the prancing of the horses nor the rarling of the wheels you saw not the glittering of the swords nor the displaying of the Banners you were not witnesses of the confusions which other places saw and felt Your houses were not shaken with the roaring of the Canon nor your wives made Widows or your children Orphans by the edge of the sword Your City was then like the top of the hill at Rephidim where Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses no hands lifted up here to fight but onely to pray no siege here but that about the Throne of Grace ut ad Deum quasi manu factâ precationibus ambiamus orantes no waring or wrestling here but that of Jacob with the Angel This City was as it were the Chappel the Oratory of the Nation 4. Look back on the late heavy blows by fire in this City that sad and sudden blast by Gunpowder on Tower hill whereby divers persons perished those dangerous fires afterwards in other places unto which the Lord could have given a commission to have spread and diffused it self into an universal conflagration the merciful rebuke which was upon the fire then and the safety you have since enjoyed from such dangers And truly when I consider how many Trades there are in this City which deal in combustible matters Powder Flax Hemp Pitch Tar Turpentine Hops Tallow Paper Oyl and many other like the casualties and carelesness which may be in many amongst so great a multitude by knocking of Links by misplacing of Candles by falling down or sparkling of fire by blowing out of Tobacco and many other miscarriages not easily ennumerable it is an evident demonstration of Gods watching over such a City and being himself a wall of fire about it and giving his Ministers who are a flame of fire a special charge over it that other fires do not break out in it 5. Consider the goodness of God to this City in giving it zealous and faithful Magistrates who make it their business to be vigilant over the good of this place who lay next their hearts the prosperity thereof to encourage vertue to punish and suppress wickedness to preserve peace to prevent prophaness to look to the health and good order of the place 6. Consider the goodness of God unto you in a learned and a faithful Ministry what endeavors some have used to cry them down and to leave this Nation as sheep without shepheards the copious and abundant light of the Gospel which shineth on this place this City being filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea If any City in the world may at this day be called as Jerusalem once was a City of Truth a holy Mountain in regard I mean of the doctrine of truth and holiness preached therein then certainly this may Insomuch that Forraigners Hungarians Germans Batavians others learn our lan guage and come over to this City that they may hear your Preachers and read your English Divines In one word look unto the concurrence with all Countries at home all foreign Nations abroad do joyn in to send variety of blessings and comforts unto this City As the beams of the sun are united in a Burning-glass so variety of blessings meets from a wide circumference in such a center as this The Sea sends you in Fish and the Air Foul the Fields Corn and the Pastures Cattel Some Countries adorn you with Silks and Jewels some warm you with Furs and Cottens some heal you with Drugs and Balsoms others comfort and refresh you with Wines and Spices some send in Materials to build your houses others send you in furniture for your ships read Ezek. 27. and that will shew you the benefits of a Celebre Emporium And when you have viewed these mercies look on the many and prodigious sins whereby the Lord is provoked in this place to withdraw these mercies from it Sins made much the more atrocious by the mercies and light against which they are committed Joh. 15. 22. Amos. 3. 2. Now then as the Lord hath put into your hearts to consecrate this day unto his praise and to stir up one another to speak good of his name be pleased to set your selves seriously about it Consider it is not the work of the lips alone though it consist much in uttering the loving kindness and in singing aloud of the goodness of the Lord Remember what David that great Artist in Divine praises did Ps. 103. 1. He calls upon his soul and upon all that was within to bless Gods holy name Our Mindes should bless him by meditation on his goodness and admiration of his mercy our Heads should study and contrive what to do to bring honour unto the name of so great a God our Hearts Wills and Affections should resolve to take the cup of salvation to call upon his name to love the Lord because he hath heard our supplication Psal. 116. 1. to fear the Lord and his goodness Hos. 3. 5. considering how great things he hath done for us 1 Sam. 12. 24. Our Mouths should make report what he hath done for our souls for our families for our Cities for our people Our Hands should praise the Lord by rendring back out of his own blessings for of his own onely do we give him 1 Chron. 29. 14. Some homage and acknowledgment that we hold all from him We read of the Lords offering Exod. 35. 21. and of the Lords tribute Num. 31.
28. Lev. 5. 15. The antients called them {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} things belonging unto the Lord It is true our goodness extendeth not unto him a man cannot be profitable unto God yet we must obey him though we cannot do him good First therefore let us give our selves unto him and by a solemn covenant become the Lords people 2 Chron. 23. 16. 2 Cor. 8 5. resolving as a purchased people to live to him and not unto our selves Rom. 14. 7 8. and when we have given our selves to God we shall more readily give him what ever else he requireth for every thing else will follow a mans self Let us therefore labour for large hearts towards God to be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate No riches are durable but those that are consecrated unto God Isa. 23. 18 Manna in the house had worms Manna in the Tabernacle endured Rust se sâ—th on metâ—al that lies still keep it in motion and it never rusteth there is a scattering Solomon saith which tendeth to encrease Prov. 11. 24. He hath dispersed saith the Psalmist he hath given tâ— the poor his righteousness endureth for ever his horn shall be exalted with honour Psal. 112. 9. Men will buy great honour at a dear rate Act. 22. 28. Here Alms deeds which use not to be very great sums exalt a man unto honour Riches take wings righteousness onely endureth Our glory will not go after us we shall carry nothing of our wealth with us Psal. 49. 17. but our works will follow us into another world Rev. 14. 13 when you trade into other Nations you cannot transport their money and treasure but if you turn them into other commodities them you may transport to another Country so our silver and gold we cannot carry to heaven with us but turn them into good works and they will follow you as far as heaven In trading I suppose you esteem it a very fair return if you get one in five buâ— in sowing you part with one and haply reap ten in the Harvest and to be sure when the sowing is on earth and the reaping in heaven we shall have a better return then Isaac had who reaped an hundred fold Gen. 26. 12. As Sanctuary measure was double to other measures so Sanctuary returns are double centuple to other returns Ask then your souls the question What shall I render unto the Lord what shall I do for so good a God I have my life my comforts my soul my heaven from him what shall I do for his name Remember you have the truth of God a precious depositum which Solomon bids us buy and not sell Prov. 23. 23. Countenance it propagate it as you are able Hypocrits will be at great charges for a false way to heaven thousands of Rams rivers of oyl Mic. 6. 7 8. Be you ready with heart and hand to further the truth You have it many places want it there are places where two three four town belong to one Parish where the maintenance of the Gospel is not twenty pounds a year many a soul may go to hell in such places for want of the Gospel Many haply of you are risen to great estates who may remember such famished Congregations in the Countries where you were born O then if you have seen and tasted how good the Lord is to your souls endeavor to snatch others out of the fire that they may taste of Gods goodness too Haply it may lie in your way and power to stir up superiors to take some course in so necessary a work as this Shew your selves valiant for the truth study what may be done to preserve it and to remove that deluge of errors which would plunder you of it remember David Josiah Nehemiah what they did for the House of God and the Offices thereof You have the Messengers and ambassadors of Christ remember what Hezekiah did He spake comfortably to those that taught the good knowledge of the Lord 2 Chron. 30. 22. Remember what your selves in this City have been famous for in this business of encouraging your faithful Ministers and as the Lord speaking of the distress of Jerusalem which should have no parallel to liken it unto said Ariel shall be as Ariel Isa. 29. 2. so let London in this particular be as London continue to love to countenance to esteem beautiful the feet of those that bring glad tidings of peace Shew your honour to the Lord by your love to his Officers it will be so much the more your crown and comfort by how much the more they are reproached by others Lastly You have the poor Members of Christ amongst you He indeed who was once poor and was ministred unto himself Luk 8. 3. is now in glory but he is cold and hungry and naked and sick and suffers in many of his members still Col. 1. 24. Help them with your bounty as Christians help them with your orders and Authority as Magistrates where you can do neither help them with your prayers with your comforts as fellow-members Rejoyce with them that rejoyce and weep with them that weep remember none of us lives to himself none of us dyes to himself we are the Lords workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he hath ordained that we should walk in them Let it therefore be our chief care and study to live to the praise of his glorious grace and to shew forth the vertues of hâ—m that hath called us out of darkness into has marvellous light The more glory we bring unto our Lord on earth the more glory doth he provide for us in heaven FINIS Psal. 16 2. Psal 50 12 Job 22 2. Râ—m 11 35. Deut 4 7. Isa 43 11. â— Pet 2. 9. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Phil. de Sacrif. Abel Cain vid. Bernard In Canâ— serm. 13. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 7. Apolog. 1. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. Chrysost. in Psal. 148. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. Basil in Psal. 23 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Plutar. Apophth Hâ—s 7 9 10 Isa. â—2 25. Exod. 8 15. Ez a 9. 8. Jer 47. 6. 1 Sam. 15. 32. Tertul. Apol.