these three Kingdoms SCOTLAND ENGLAND IRELAND in the wreathing whereof some of this Nation cannot justly plead innocency Wee may look upon this day as the beginning of a blessed Peace after a time of much innocent bloud as upon a day of a civill Resurrection after a long civill or rather incivill Death as a day long wished and prayed for by all the truly godly in the three Kingdoms who have not learned that fanatique and overturning PRINCIPLE to divorce between Religion and Loyalty which GOD hath so nearly and strictly united And therefore the Lord hath called the Land to Rejoycing and to songs of Praise Jubilation Division These words of the Text May be taken up in five poynts I. Wee have the Condition of the Jews before the time of their release and delivery came They were in BONDAGE When the Lord brought back the Captivity of Zion They were under the power and slavery of their Conquerours the Babylonians II. Wee have their Deliverance the loosing of their Captivity with their Reduction to their native Countrey Brought back the Captivity of Zion III. Wee have the Authour of their Delyverance it was not Themselves not their own wisdome nor Power nor Policie not the arme of Flesh but GOD GOD alone When the Lord c. IV. How the loosing of them from Captivity and their Reduction from Bondage did affect them at first they wer so surprised with it that they could not beleeve that it was a true reall Thing they looked on it as a Dream We were lyke them that dream V. The Effects which the sense of their Delyverie did work upon them after that the Amazement was a little allayed these were Rejoycing and Mirth Then was our mouth filled with laughter our tongue with singing The first Thing considerable in the words is the JEWS condition before the Lord visited them with this mighty and gracious Deliverance They were in bondage and slavery When the LORD brought back the captivity of ZION by ZION wee ar to understand the two Tribes or the KINGDOM of Judah comprehending both their Church State They were carried Captives from their own Land by Nebuchadnezar to Babylon The STORY wherof we have at length II. Chronicl 36. and in the tenth book of Josephus de BELLO IUDAICO as also in the Ps 137. there is a hint of it By the rivers of Babylon there wee sate downe yea we weept when wee remembred Zion Wee hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song they that wasted us required of us mirth saying Sing us one of the songs of Zion How shall wee sing the LORDS song in a strange land If I forget thee O IERVSALEM let my right hand forget her cunning If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth if I preferre not IERVSALEM above my chiefe joy vers 1.2.3.4.5.6 That even that people whom GOD loves and respects Observ 1 may be brought under sad bondage that in reference both to their Ecclesiastick and Civill ESTATE This was the lot of the LORDS own peculiar People the Iews were bondmen in Egypt they laboured there in brick and mortar they wer Captives in ASSYRIA Captives in BABYLON they ar now scattered up and down the World for their Blasphemy Infidelity and Crucifying the LORD of GLORY and for not accepting their MESSIAH to reigne over them And what hath our Condition been these severall by gone yeares Even a Dark gloomy black Day wherein wee had light neither of the Sun nor Moon nor Starres in our civill Relations I do not say That we ar a people beloved of God in such a signall way as the Iews wer They wer a Royall Priesthood but I may say That the Lord hath had a singular respect to Britaine beyond many Nations for many ages And yet because we were not thankfull to God for His rich signall Mercies for such a faire day of the Gospell for so long continued Plenty and Peace under such a just equall ancient and wel-ballanced GOVERNMENT as any Nation in Europe injoyed but like JESHURUN wee waxed fatt in our sins and like a wild untamed Colt did cast our Ryder took the reins upon our own lawles necks Therfore the LORD brought us under a base Slavery and Bondage by which our sins might visibly be read in our judgement The Lord did justly bring us under by a Factious rebellious Hypocriticall Treacherous and usurping Party who have trode on the necks of three Ancient KINGDOMS as upon the Myre in the streets and rendered us Captives in reference both to our State and Churches Interests As for our State IT was clearly and totally overturned and razed to the very foundations our ancient Iudicatories changed Strangers imposed on us for our Iudges men unacquainted with our Lawes and Customes our Parliaments with their power totally taken away OVR GRACIOVS and DEAREST KING of Sacred and Eternall Memory CHARLES the FIRST the PEARLE of earthly Kings most cruelly inhumanely and barbarcusly martyred and murdered by a faction of Godlesse Cruell Bloudy Perfidious and Hypocriticall TRAYTORS and yet under a pretence of Zeale for GOD and justice O unparalleled hellish Villany Traytors who plotted it Traytors who acted it traytors who rejoyced in it Traytors who allowed it for by that one fatall O fatall blow these Canniballs cutted the throats of three KINGDOMS left them bleeding they did put out the most GLORIOVS and SHYNING LIGHT that ever sway'd Scepter in Britaine But the Cruelty and bloudy Designe of that Murthering Faction was not satiaâ—ed with that Royall and innocent Bloud after that sweet SOVLE was posted into GLORY to receive the immarcessible Crowne whether no Traytor can reach a bloudy hand then they voted down MONARCHICALL GOVERNMENT by a faction having secluded and forced from the Parliament the godly honest and loyall Party thereof they proscribed and by an ungodly Act they disinherited our most GRACIOVS KING now reigning by the mercy and goodnesse of GOD over their bellies and laid aside that ROYALL FAMILY from having any right to the CROWNE and declared Him the Capitall Enemy of their new-moulded COMMON-WEALTH they did raze the HOVSE of LORDS that Ancient and wel-ordered Pillar of the STATE And when this Nation of SCOTLAND had brought home our Native and Righteous KING and set the CROWNE on His Head Did not that bloudy faction headed by that Cerberus Oliver Cromwell force Him from all His DOMINIONS to live as an Exile in forreign Nations Were not our Nobles and ancient Gentry despised and abused Were not these three KINGDOMS impoverish'd with heavy Assesses and sad impositions the bloud of the poore sucked out and all to maintayne the ambition and tyrannie of an usurping Faction Were not the Lives of the most godly and most faithfull Subjects of the three Nations made bitter unto them their hearts sadded by
Post nubila Phoebus Or A SERMON OF Thanksgiving For the safe and happy Returne of our gracious SOVERAIGN to His Ancient DOMINIONS and Restauration to His just and Native DIGNITY ROYALTIES and GOVERNMENT Preached in the City of Aberden at the desire of the LORD PROVEST Bailies and Councell thereof upon the XIX day of Iune By Mr. IOHN PATERSONE Minister of the Gospell in the said BVRGH PROV 20.28 Mercy and truth preserve the King and his Throne is upholden by mercy Let the KINGS Enemies become a Portion for Foxes ABERDENE Printed by Iames Brown Ann. DOM. M.DC.LX Unto the Right Honourable GILBERT GRAY LORD PROVOST And Unto the Right Honourable JOHN JAFFRAY Late PROVOST Baylies WILLIAM GRAY ALEX. ROBERTSONE ALEX. ALEXANDER Mr. ROBERT PETRIE PATRICK MOIR GILBERT MOLYSONE Late Baylies Iohn Duncan Dean of Gild Iohn Burnet Thesaurer And Remnant Honourable Counsellours of the City of Aberden Thomas Mercer Late Dean of Gild Thomas Mitchell Late Thesaurer And whole Remnant of the Late honourable Councell of Aberd. Right Honourable THE Day of BRITAIN'S solemnities for the Happy Returne and Restauration of our Most Gracious and Illustrious KING safe in His Person and sound in the truth of Religion after such a long and dismall Absence to His Ancient Dominions and to His native Royalties and Government is such an transcendent temporall Mercy as deserves to be writen not only on Pillars of Marble and with a Diamond and Pen of Iron but upon the Spirits of all who are truely Godly and Loyall within BRITAINE and Ireland And it cannot be expected but such an great mercifull Revolution brought about in such an unanimous peaceable sweet way without bloud will be exceedingly magnified and called Blessed by all succeeding Generations so long as SCOTLAND ENGLAND and Ireland remains to be NATIONS And who are so stupid but must look upon this at an signall token for good that after such an great State-quake and Overturning in these three KINGDOMS when all concernments in them were wrap'd up in Darknesse and Confusion when mens thoughts were quivering like the needle in the Sea compasse and knew not where to rest The LORD should have been pleased even then in such a sudden to concenter the hearts and desires of these three NATIONS in the KINGS MAIESTY his Person and Government as the only earthly Foundation of their Prosperity and Peace This admirable Mercy hath brought forth many loud and Publique Acclamations of joy in all Cities Counties Incorporations and Churches of the three LANDS and indeed Duty to GOD ALMIGHTY who hath made his own Aâ—me bare in our Deliverance Duty to Our SOVERAIGNE the KING GOD His immediat Vice-gerent over us the Duty which wee owe to Our Consciences Relations and Interests and to the Protestant Religion at home abroad cals for very singular appearances and resentments of such an eminent Blessing Amongst many other His MAIESTIES Royall Burghs in SCOTLAND I beleeve none be it spoken without envy or disparagement did appeare more early and with greater alacrity and cheerfulnesse in the publique and solemne manifestations of their Joy for His MAJESTIES safe and happy Returne and Restauration to His just Government nor this City did which hath alwayes accounted its Fidelity and Loyalty to its native KING its chiefe earthly Ornament whereof it hath many testimonies and evidences standing in publique Register and during His MAIESTY'S sad dayes absence none loved His MAIESTY more none Prayed more heartily none longed more earnestly nor ABERDENE did for that blessed day of His MAIESTIES Returne and Restauration which the right hand of the LORD hath at last brought to Passe Beside many other very Solemne and Publique Manifestations of the joy of this CITY for this Mercy never to be forgotten it was your HONOURS command that the following Sermon being preached in your Pulpit at your desyre should be put to the Presse although the Conscience of my own weaknesse and the worthlesnesse of any thing which can drop from my Mouth or Pen might and would have put mee from any appearance in Print Yet the subject being so Royall and at such a nick of time and my respects to your HONOURS being so many and so pressing have prevailed with mee to let this poor Mite of yours and my own Loyalty appeare on the Stage of a Criticke World Veritas non querit angulca I know I must meet with Censurers but if men will censure Truth harshly it will stand upon its own joints and if they censure my meane conceptions and expressions I can suffer that easily for it is the matter and not the manner that I have chiefly aimed at which makes this paper come out in its naked Simplicity without Ornaments Whatever it is I have put it under your Patrociny and I lay it down at your feet as a small testimony of my many Obligations and Ingagements to your HONOURS and to this Honourable City The LORD multiply His Spirit and Grace upon you that you may go on to act for the Glory of GOD for the Power of GODLYNES for the KINGS MAJESTY'S happinesse and for the Good and Prosperity of this People So Prayeth Your Honours affection at servant in the Work of the Ministry Mr. JO PATERSONE From a very Reverend and Faithfull BROTHER Mr. William Dowglasse Professor of Divinity in the KINGS COLEDGE of the University of Aberden MY thoughts of this SERMOM after perusall are as followes That the whole Draught is plaine pertinent and powerfull That the Observes have such a naturall and genuine arise and the Uses are so consequentially flowing from the Observes and Doctrines that the committing of it to the Presse shall tend much to the publick good And so much the rather That herein is holden forth what have been the publick faults of these three NATIONS as also pointing punctually at our duties wee owe most to OVR SOVERAIGNE both which are to very good purpose branched out in many particulars This is testified though much more might be said by my subscription Mr. W. DOWGLAS At Old Aberdene AUGUST 4. 1660. A SERMON OF Thanksgiving For the safe and happy Returne of our SOVERAIGN LORD CHARLES the SECOND by the Grace of GOD KING of great Britaine France Ireland Defender of the faith to His Ancient DOMINIONS and Restauration to His just and Native DIGNITY ROYALTIES and GOVERNMENT PSAL. CXXVI Vers 1. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion Wee were lyke them that dream Vers 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing c. WEe may look upon this day as upon the springing up of a bright faire morning after a cloudie dark night wherin so many beasts of prey did creepe out of their den's and lurking places of their hatefull and hellish Hypocrisie we may look upon it as the beginning of a sweet calme after a long and dangerous storme as upon the breaking of an heavy and sad yoke which hath lyon sore upon the necks of
being nick-named Malignants And were not the heads of unnaturall factious Incendiaries lifted up Thus was our State in perfect Captivity And as for our Church it also was in Captivity The just Power Priviledges and Authority of it was trode upon our Church Iudicatories threatned and not suffered to proceed in their own proper affaires our Assemblies yea the GENERALL ASSEMBLY raised by force and for want of our Native KING and lawfull Magistrats under Him to give life and vigour to Church-sanctions Was not the Authority and just sentences of the Church despised yea counteracted to by any who pleased by meanes whereof and of that vast and laxe Toleration the great engyne which made these men keep the sadle so long hath not Poperie increased in the Land have not all manner of Herisies schismes wild and abominable opinions abounded in Britain A whirle-winde of fancies delusions a swarme of Locusts Antiscripturists Antitrinitarians Arrians Sabellians Macedonians Photinians Pelagians Socinians Arminians Enthusiasts Beheminists Antinomians Levellers Seekers Quakers Ranters Fift Monarchy men a company of proud greedy Saints And beside all these sad and sinfull Captivities in reference to Church and State were not mens Consciences in Captivity Bondage being forced with Oaths yea with Contrary-oaths and Tenders contrary to former solemne Engagements contrary to Allegeance and Loyalty and was not this a perfect Bondage Observ 2 That it is no good Argument to prove that God hath rejected and fully casten off a People or Nation because in his just and wise Providence they are brought into sad Bondage and Captivity yee know how often God dealt so with these Jewes who yet for all that still remained his People The externall Passages of Providence are a very unsure Rule whereby to judge of Gods speciall Love Favour to a Nation As it is an evill Argument to prove that God carries no respect to a people but hath utterly rejected them and casten them off because their Enemies prevaile over them and they are brought under so it is as bad an Argument to prove that God carries a singular Respect and Favour to a people or alloweth their Vndertakings because they prosper and are victorious over others No man yea no Nation nor people knowes whether they be hated or loved of God by these externall passages of Providence All things fall alyke to all But I must confesse that this Turkish Argument built meerly upon externall Providence and Successe hath beene most sinfully factiously made vse of in these late Troubles and Revolutions How many false and unjust Conclusions have been drawn from the Lords most wise and providentiall Actings in Britaine of late as if God had allowed all these horrible Villanies these treacherous Attempts Conspiracies all the bloud-shed Murders Tyranny Vsurpations and oppressions which have been acted in the three KINGDOMS by a factious treacherous Party because they were like ANTIOCHUS who practised and prospered and so did these in their mischiefe but God will not take with their bastards although they laid them to the doore of his all wise and just Providence which stands cleare and orient when shame now is covering their faces The second Point in the Text is the JEWS Deliverance from their BONDAGE and CAPTIVITY When the LORD brought back the Captivity of Zion Which expression implyeth two things 1. The loosing of their Captivity or the taking away the yoke of BONDAGE from off their necks 2. Their Returning back to their own LAND in freedome and safety That although the Lord suffer Nations and Kingdoms to Observ 1 be under bondage and captivity for a long time yet Hee can put an end to their Captivity when he pleases and he doth so when his appointed time comes for all times and seasons are in his hands The JEWS were above 400 yeares Strangers and Bondmen in Egypt but the Lord redeemed them They were 70 years captive in Babylon but the Lord loosed their Captivity that Bondage came to an end and they returned safely to their own land thus hath the Lord in his unspeakable Mercy been pleased to deale with Britain Ireland the Lord hath reduced our Captivity And as in many things this Mercy is great and wonderfull so specially is it in this that the Lord hath been pleased to reduce our Bondage and Captivity so soone IT is a wonder of the Lords Goodnesse that he hath not wreathed the Yoke of our Bondage about our necks for many generations His own peculiar people were in bondage 70 yeares in a strange Land but God hath been pleased to shorten the years of our bondage and to break the teeth of the old and young lions so wee may say now as Nahum cap. 2. vers xj Where is the dwelling of the Lions and the feeding place of the young Lions Where the Lion even the old Lion walked and the Lions whelp and none made them affrayed vers 12. The Lion did teare in pieces enough for his whelps and strangled for his Lionesses and filled his holes with prey and his dens with ravine vers 13. Behold I am against thee sayeth the LORD of Hosts and I will burn her Chariots in the smoake and the sword shall devoure thy young Lions and I will cut off thy Prey from the earth and the voyce of thy Messengers shall no more bee hard Where now is the dwelling of these men who of late did teare these Nations in pieces and devoured them like a Prey Are they not gone going to their own place Observ 2 That as the Lord can restore a banished captive People when he pleases so he can restore an exiled afflicted KING after long and many sad Sufferings I know not who can sufficiently enumerat our GRACIOVS KINGS Sufferings Hath he not been a Sufferer since his Child-hood What did he suffer before his DEAREST FATHER'S unparalleled Murther Consider how his tender SOVLE was affected when these sad Newes câ—me to his eares of that dismall blow given to his most ILLVSTRIOVS and LOVING FATHER by some incarnat Devils whereof one or two were Masked-Devils What hath he suffered since What a miraculous Escape did the Lord make for him at Worcester fight when an Hollow Oake was his ROYALL PALACE What hazards hath he been exposed to by sea and Land What temptations did hee meete with abroad What Leagues and Confederacies have been drawn up against him and his just interests by forreigne Princes States How unkindly used by these who should have been friends How deserted and forsaken How tossed with so many billowes of Adversities Was he not of late looked upon but as a broken vessell in whom the Enemies thought there was no pleasure and but as water spilt upon the ground And yet GOD in his wise just and gracious Providence hath been pleased to reduce him to his ancient KINGDOMS safe in Body and sound in the Faith and hath made his GLORY and HONOVR more resplendent and orient lyke a bright Sun after a dark
it is Marvelous in Our eyes Let all the GLORY of it be His. The Last words are Then was Our mouth filled with laughter c. in these words wee have the Effects which the JEWS Deliverance wrought on their Spirits it made them to rejoyce exceedingly Observ That it is not onely lawfull but it is also the duty of a People or Nation whom the LORD hath brought out of Thraldome and Bondage and restored them to their Ancient and fundamentall GOVERNMENT and Lawes and Liberties and brought home their long wished for Native KING to manifest the sense of their Deliverance not only in their hearts to GOD but by outward signs and publique solemnities of rejoycing before men When DAVID brought up the ARK from Kiriath Jearim II. Sam. 6. Hee did it with great state and solemnity and with great outward publick expressions of joy DAVID and all the house of Israel played before the Ark on all manner of instruments on harps cornets cymbals psalteries and timbrels And in the 16 vers of that same Chapter DAVID daunced before the Arke and none censured him for so doing but a vayne precise hypocriticall scold Michal II. Kings 11. When Jehoash was crownd it was done with great Solemnity and State So also was SOLOMONS Coronation and such was DAVIDS returne from beyond Jordan and from the land of the Hermonits All these signall Mercies were acknowledged by publick Expressions and solemnities of Rejoycings This hath been the Custome of all Nations Ages and Generations upon such eminent occasions and wonderfull revolutions of Mercies And who can forbid such Solemne publick Expressions of Joy But let it be much locked to that there be no Excesse nor Ryot and no Offence be given to GOD in our publique Rejoycings If I had said two things I have done If I may compare Spirituall things with Temporalls as I trust there is no sin in it and the rather because that Christian KINGS are CHRIST'S Vice-gerents on Earth I offer to you a passage of Scripture from Zech. 9.9 J Rejoyce greatly O daughter of Zion shout O daughter of Jerusalem behold thy KING cometh unto thee Hee is just meeke This is indeed a Prophesie anent CHRIST the MESSIAS as it is applyed Math. 21 Yet I beleeve it to be no offence to make some Allusion to it And therefore I say Rejoyce greatly O thou BRITAIN shout for joy for thy KING cometh to thee A KING cometh not a Protector not a Rump-parliament not a Fanatique Counsell of State not a Tyrant but a KING THY KING not the King of France nor of Spaine not the Turke not a Stranger King but THY KING THY OWN KING THY NATIVE KING THY KING by a CIX lineall Descents from Royall Blood THY KING by Birth THY KING by Education THY KING by Profession THY PROTESTANT KING THY KING cometh to Thee not Against Thee THE KING cometh to us not Against us with forraigne Forces which might justly have been feared venit non irruit HEE comes Softly not Jehu-lyke marching Furiously HEE cometh Smoothly Calmly lyke the Waters of Siloah not Rashly but Deliberatly by the unanimous Call of HIS PARLIAMENT ARMY NAVY NOBILITY GENTRY city of LONDON and all the NOBILITY of the THREE NATIONS by the Ministry and Body of the people HEE comes not to Oppresse nor to Tyrannise over His Subjects but HEE comes JVST to restore JVSTICE which was fallen in Our Streets and where Equity durst not enter and wher Mischiefe was established by a Law HEE comes IVST to erect our Ancient Iudicatories Lawes Iust Iudges to lift up His afflicted and faithfull Subjects Heads which were trode under by a faction of Rebells Usurpers to bring Oppressors Tyrants and Bloudy men low HEE comes MEEK Iust Meek This His Meeknesse is abundantly manifested in His MAIESTY'S gracious Letters Declarations Proclamations and Emissions to HIS PARLIAMENT ARMY NAVY City of LONDON to the Houses of LORDS and COMMONS and to the whole NOBILITY GENTRY MINISTRY BURROUGHS people of these LANDS I trust that GOD hath so taught His MAIESTY and so principled HIM for ROYALL GOVERNMENT that HE can mixe Iustice with Meeknesse Meeknesse with Iustice and hath given to HIM a spirit of Wisdome to discern between the clamorous pretending Whoore and the true Mother of the Chyld Now before I close let mee offer to you some things by way of advice Let GOD have the Praise of this great WORK of this wonderfull and gracious Revolution for the WORK is His There hath not a Revolution fallen out in our time not in many generations before wherein the LORDS Power Mercy Wisdome and Goodnesse hath been more conspicuously eminently seen then in this our KINGS Restauration Hath not the Wisdome of GOD in a sudden befooled all these Bloudy-minded Treacherous Perfidious Disloyall Achitophels and Macchiavells in the three KINGDOMS And therefore let the Praise and Glory of this WORK bee to the Holy Name of the LORD our GOD Who is Excellent in working Wonderfull in Counsell doing Wonders Next under GOD Let that Noble Wise and Religious PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND That Noble Wise and Valorous GENERALL MONK now Duke of Albemarlie Knight of the most Noble order of the Gartar c. Let the honest and loyall Party of the Army who adhered to Him Let the Navy and all these in the three KINGDOMS both of the NOBILITY GENTRY BARONS MINISTERS BURROUGHS all who had an hand in this great WORK which some have been studying like Foxes in their den's and Conyes in their holes to underminde I say Let all these who have been instrumentall to carry on this great WORK and REVOLUTION have their own deserved Estimation and Praise and let them be looked on with Love Respect Honour as Lovers of Religion of their Native KING and their Countreyes Honour Freedome and Happinesse as polished shafts in the LORDS right Hand I beseech you let the KING have the benefit of your Prayers that is one of the best Offices that yee can do to HIM Pray for HIM often not for a Forme but in good Earnest and from a pious Loyall Affection hold up HIS Condition to GOD when ye remember your own Pray the LORD to establish HIS THRONE in Righteousnes to make the CROWNE to flowrish on HIS HEAD the HEADS of HIS POSTERITY while Sun and Moon indure Pray that no Treason nor Traytor at any tyme may reach the CROWNE that GOD would blesse His MAIESTY with a wise Godly faithfull and Loyall Counsell with an holy obedient and peaceable Clergy with a submissive contented Loyall People that HEE may be a Bulwarke for Truth Godlinesse Religion Iustice and Equity that HEE may be a Nursing Father to the Church an Advancer of the Protestant Religion and that HEE may Scatter the wicked of the land with his eyes and that HEE may be a Diademe in the hand of the LORD of HOSTS and a Paterne for all the Kings of the world to imitate For there was