taken in their pit Lam. 4. 20. Servants ruled over them Lam. 5. 8. Their Priests Elders Nazarites and Honourable Persons were filled with contempt but when God begins to work their restauration he wrought so great things that his people who before were a by-word to cursers wishing these they hated to be dealt with as the Jews became a patern of blessing so that men prayed these they wished best unto might be in the Jews case Zach. 8. 13. He made them a name and praise among all the people of the earth Zephan 3. 20. and it is clear from Ezra and Nehem. The next word in the Text is Lagnasoth from Gnasa which signifieth more then ordinary doing Criticks observe that in strictnesse and propriety the word signifies two things First to do a thing compleetly and perfectly Hence Esau had his name Gen. 25. 25. which signifieth Perfect because he was full of hair looking like a grown man with a beard rather then an Infant without teeth Secondly to do exquisitly to adorn the work with comlinesse and beauty though at first their appear disorder and confusion in it yet ere he leave it and put his last hand as we say to it to make it appear beautifull And thus God did this great work of restauration he made not only an essay and left it in fieri but carried it on to its perfection and beauty too the work was so full of comlinesse that it ravished beholders unto admiration and these who shared in it unto rejoycing and congratulation The third word in the Text is Semechim from Samach which signifieth not an ordinary but a great joy like the joy of the Harvest and of these that divide the Spoil Isa 9. 3. and like the joy of a woman when she receiveth a man-childe John 16. 21. The joy of heaven is expressed by it Psal 16. 11. In the words we have two things First A solemn narration of Gods greatnesse in working Secondly An answerable return by solemn rejoycing or there is First a worker Jehovah Secondly the work and its quality done great things Thirdly the appropriating the doing these great things for us Fourthly the Improvement thereof whereof we are glad Where also there is first the measure of that gladnesse it was great as the word imports in some measure answerable to the work according to their capacities Secondly the ground of it Gods great doing for them so that all in the Text are great a great worker the Lord a great work great things and great joy the result of that work the great Lord manifested his great power by that great work and the manner of its doing and the people receive it with answerable Intertainment but in a different way the Heathen with great admiration yet as unconcerned in it but the Jews with great admiration and joy too as greatly concerned in it the Heathen acknowledged it but did not rejoyce in it and it 's like their acknowledgement was extorted even by the greatnesse thereof but the Jews did both joy in it and with gladnesse acknowledge it and these both most voluntarly If ye ask what were these great things Answ Great and mighty things as the Lord calls them Jer. 33. 3. the breaking the snare of the Fowlers and making his people escape Psal 124. 7 Cutting asunder the cords of the wicked Psal 129. 4. or as it is in the first verse of this Psalm the turning again their captivity Take notice of these three great things 1. God stirred up Instruments awakened and lifted them up above themselves the chief of whom was Cyrus a Heathen King to whom the Lord having in a special providencc brought to his notice the foregoing Prophesies spoken 200. years before by Isaiah the Prophet Isa 44. 28. and 45. 1. 2. did so turn his heart towards his people that he turned away by open Proclamation their Captivity 2 Chron. 36. 22. and this was a great work if we consider First That Cyrus was a great Monarch and the Jews poor Captives Secondly He a Heathen man and stranger to them Thirdly He an Idolater and of himself an enemy to their Religion all these stood in the way of their deliverance and might in all likelyhood have turned away his heart from looking after them but the Lord the great Commander of hearts turned his heart to send out a Decree for their return which sure was a great work The second great thing God did was the overthrow of the Babylonians who had carried away and detained Judah in captivity and this was a great work 1. If we consider who and what they were The Babylonian was one of the greatest Potentates of the world he made the earth to tremble and shook Kingdoms he made the world as a wildernesse and did not open the house of the prisoners Isa 14. 16 17. He ruled the Nations in anger Isa 14. 6. All People Nations and Languages trembled before him Dan. 5. 19. the City was exceeding great and well Fortified as may be seen in Herodotus Lib. 1. and Plinius Lib. 6. there were gates of Brasse and bars of Iron Isa 45. and 2. yet notwithstanding of all these Babylon was overthrown and it was the Lord that did it Isa 45. 1. 2. and this he did for his peoples sake ibid. vers 4. The third great work was the general liberty granted them by Proclamation to return to their own Land and this was a great work also for but consider First that their captivity had many great evils in it 1. They were removed from their own Land given them of the Lord and Natale solum dulcedine cunctos afficit 2. They were robbed of all they had their pleasant things given to strangers their cruel enemies 3. They were made bond slaves and that in a strange Land to proud and insulting oppressors 4. They were deprived of the free exercise of their Religion Psal 137. 1 2 3. 5. Their souls were in captivity for they were threatned to fall down before the great Idol or else be cast in the fiery furnace Dan. 3. 1. 6. And so they were in a worse case in Babylon then in Aegypt for there although their bodies were in servitude yet they were not compelled to worship the Egyptian Idols Isis and Osiris now to be delivered from such captivity wherein so many great evils were imbosomed was without doubt a great work of God Secondly Consider the manner of their deliverance and that also will speak out the greatnesse thereof For 1. It was sudden they looked not for it 2. It was free they bought it not with their money they purchased it not by their sword they had no trained Commanders to conduct them to the Fields to fight themselves into liberty 3. They did not so much as Petition for it 4. In was incredible that a Heathen King an Idolater and a stranger to them should do it who would had believed it especially it looking to be against good Policy to set them at
us whereof we are glad TO show this Text pertiuent to the present occasion will require no long processe We may say of it as our Lord Christ did of an other Text This day is this Scripture fulfilled in our ears Luk. 4. 21. If ever God did great things for these Lands and his Church in them now hath he done them If ever he gave us cause of Rejoycing sure this is the time God did a great work in delivering his People the Jews from the Babylonian captivity in freeing their Consciences from Tyranny in bringing them home to their own Land and granting them the free exercise of his Worship and in overthrowing their enemies This was so great that it wrought in the Heathen admiration and in themselves great joy and congratulation Gods arm is not shortned toward us he hath made it bare and turned again the captivity of our Sion of our King and advanced him to his Forefathers and his own Throne He hath put down the mighty from their seats in remembrance of his mercy and scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts Luk. 1. 51 52. 54. for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136. 23. and this is so great a work that at first it seemd incredible to us so great that strangers stand wondering at it so great that Enemies stands amazed and discouraged at it But I hope it is so great in our eyes that it hath wrought and ere we have done will work in us a religious Intertainment a solemn and thankfull acknowledgment thereof and beget in us a great joy even a full joy joy of the heart and tongue too and engage all of us to pray in the highest fervency of our spirits for the increase and continuance thereof To come to the Text I will first shew the diverse readings thereof and the meaning of the words The Arabick Version hath the first part of this Verse thus Multiplicavit Dominus beneficium erga nos The Syriack Multiplicavit Dominus facere nobiscum The Chaldee Paraphrase Multiplicavit Dominus benignè facere nobiscum The Septuagints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Ethiopian Magnificavit Dominus facere nobiscum so the vulgar Latine Junius and Tremelius Magnifica Jehova efficit erga nos The last words both the Arabick Ethiopian Version Chaldee Paraphrase and vulgar Latine reads Et facti sumus laetantes the Syriak Et facti sumus in laetitia Trem. and Jun. Sumus laeti August Facti sumus jocundati The first word in the Original is Higdil from Gadal which signifies to grow or wax great so Gen. 26. 23. the man Isaac waxed great in Hiphil it signifies to magnifie and also to multiplie and so here and it is some times taken intransitivè so Ezek. 38. 23. Thus will I magnifie my self and other whiles it is taken transitivè so Josh 3. 7 And the Lord said unto Joshua this day will I begin to magnifie thee in the sight of all Israel It may be taken both wayes here First Intransitivè I will magnifie my self to do or in doing efficiendo as Jun. and Trem. in their Marginal Notes Translate it in the former Verse and the Lord did magnifie in this great work 1. His power when the people in their bondage were calling for the manifestation of his power Isa 51. 9. Awake awake put on strength O arm of the Lord awake as in the ancient dayes c. It is answered in the 11 vers Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return with singing unto Sion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads c. and vers 14. The Captive exile hastneth that he may he loused and that he should not die in the pit And the reason of this is taken from Gods power vers 15. I am the Lord thy God that divided the sea whose waves roared the Lord of hosts is his Name and Nehem. 1. 10. Now these are thy servants whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand 2. His goodnesse as it is Jer. 32. 41. I will rejoyce over them to do them good and I will plant them in the land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul And God promises to magnifie this his goodnesse that it shall be to him a name of praise and an hononr before all the Nations of the earth which should hear all the good he did to his people Jer. 33. 9. 3. His faithfulnesse in performing his promise The Lord had promised to turn again their captivity Jer. 29. 14. I will turn away your captivity and I will gather you from all the Nations and from all the places whither I have driven you saith the Lord and I will bring you again to this place So Jer. 30. 3. 10. and Chap. 32. 37. 44. and by so doing he magnified his word his gracious promise above all his Name Psal 138. 2. 4. His Justice by the overthrow of the Babylonians the enemies of his people of whom God threatned to take vengeance Isa 47. 3. by sending out upon them in a moment in one day Losse of Children and Widow-hood in their perfection vers 9. and Jer. 25. 12. he threatned that after seventy years were accomplished he would punish the King of Babylon and that Nation and make that Land perpetuall desolations see Isa 13. and 14. Chap. and Jer. 50. and 51. Chap. Secondly It may be taken transitivè and then it relates either to his facere his doing or to his people and God did magnifie both he magnified his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his doing For First he made it appear so great and glorious that the Heathen did notice it as it is vers 3 and Jer. 32. he promiseth that this restitution of his people shall be a name of joy a praise and an honour before all the Nations of the earth and he assureth that he will so magnifie it that the Nations shall fear and tremble c. and it is Lyra his observation on the place that Gods doing was so magnified in the sight of the Nations that thereby some of them were turned Proselyts Secondly He magnified his doing by making it grow and increase as the word in the Original bears and ye heard some Translate it multiplicavit for this work was not done in a moment but of a longer tract being much opposed and retarded as appears from Ezra and Nehemiah and is clear by comparing the former Verses of this Psalm with the prayer in the 4 verse but God left not his work in its Infancy and half done but still stepped on in his glorious working and multipliing his work till the top-stone was put on that all might cry Grace to the Work and Glory to the Worker As God did magnifie his doing and his work so by it he magnified his people their enemies a little before mockt at their Sabbaths Lam. 1. 7 They opened their mouths against them they hissed and gnashed the teeth Lam. 2. 16. Their King the anointed of the Lord was
late King Thirdly He was hotly assaulted and solicited by some Champions of the Romish Church and especially by some who had Apostatized from the Truth themselves and so knew the better how to perswade others Fourthly He receives kind intertainment and protection from some of the Romish Party Fifthly Assistance was offered by them of that perswasion unto Him if He would turn Papist were not all these strong tentations yet His heart was indivertible from God and His Truth that neither ill usage from His own nor favours conferred and offered by strangers could work that change His heart like Davids was fixed trusting in the Lord his heart was established Psal 112. 7 8. He hid Gods word in his heart that he should not sin against him Psal 119. 11. and this was a great and special work of the Lords The third great work God hath done for us is the bringing again our captivity of which remark but these shortly First It was Nationall for although we were not all exiled yet we were captivated in our own Land like a man Imprisoned in his own House and this was a sore ill A generous Woman once said Mallem mille mortes quam tributaria capita circumferre Secondly It was of a large extent reaching to all ranks Our King exiled our Nobles Imprisoned many of our brethren carried away further then from Judea to Babylon even to Barbado's and some of the Ministers of Christ removed from their own Nation and Flocks Thirdly Our captivity was spirituall to sin imposed on us by threatning as was done to the Jews in Babylon We wer threatned and urged to subscribe their Tender thereby to disclaim our King and the ancient Government of these Nations and to bow to there Idol of Anarchie and Usurpation to which too many readily yeelded Ministers were prohibited upon no lesse pain then silencing them from preaching the Gospel to pray for His Majesty a duty that lay upon all by Gods reiterated Commands All commanded to keep dayes of Thanksgiving for discovery of plots against Usurpers which was a justifying of them in their wicked Usurpations and proclaiming to the world that God was well pleased with them and their wayes Fourthly It reached even to the Church and Truth of God the Government thereof decreed as Antichristian her Discipline opposed and slighted Religion hazarded by a vast Act of Toleration her Ministers flouted and while they were officiating before God abused her Worship interrupted her Patrimony seased upon some crying out Let us take to our selves the Houses of God in possession Psal 83. 12. her Judicatories interrupted and Gods Servants driven out from the General Assemblies and made specticles to men and Angels but the Lord hath turned away this our captivity and it is his great and glorious doing The fourth great work was the overthrow of the Kings and our Enemies 1. They were many 2. Proud puft up with Successe 3. Desperate whom no command of the Lord could bow nor threatning affright 4. Cruel acted by Jesuiticall and Anabaptisticall Furies 5. Covetous being mad upon unjust gain and al 's mad in the retention of it 6. United and combined together by all the ligaments of carnall Policy Yet the great and good Lord divided them and they melted away like a snail he laid their pride in the dust and turned these boasting Lamechs into Cowards and made them flee as chaffe before the wind so that we may apply that saying of the Psalmist Psal 76 5. The stout hearted are spoiled and none of the men of might have found their hands At the appearance of that chief Instrument they cryed out as the Egyptians of old Exod. 15. 25. Let â—s flee from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians and this was the Lords great doing The fifth great work is the raising up Instruments for carrying on these great Works I name but six 1. The Lord Generall George Monck an other Cyrus to us who wrought under God the foresaid great things He our Ezra or help our Nehemiah or Comforter our Zerubbabel or mighty One made so by the mighty God of Britain before whom the great Mountains became a plain Zecha 4. 7. and Hushai-like defeated the crafty counsels of Achitophels 2. His Debora whose loyal heart made her put forth the uttermost of her conjugall influence 3. The good and loyal people of England influenced by the breathings of the Spirit of the Lord calling for a free Parliament and their and our King 4. The right Honourable the City of London joyning their endeavours with the Lord General and People of the Land 5. That famous Parliament that now sits crowning the work by their unanimous calling home His Majesty and restoring Him to His just Priviledges and Authority 6. The Lord General Montague who proved active to engage the Navie to own His Majesty and waft Him over safe unto His own Kingdoms That so many should all with one mouth and hand carry on so great a work is unto me an argument of Gods approving and working thereof for as it is an argument of the Divine Authority of the propheticall Scriptures that the Prophets though they lived in divers places and ages of the World yet they all agreed in one and the same Truth as if they had all spoken by one and the same mouth as ye have it Luk. 1. 70. As He spake by the mouth not mouths of His holy Prophets So when God stirreth up his Servants in all places of the Kingdom and them of all ranks and â—etteth them all about one work as if they were one man it may be taken for no lesse then Gods doing especially if ye consider the case of our King while they begin to act for Him not sitting on His Throne and swaying the Scepter but in His low estate even then to remember Him and lay themselves out for Him speaks out Gods great doing and that not only His finger but His whole hand yea His ten fingers yea both His arms to speak after the manner of man was lifting up these Instruments and imploying them in His work and to this we may add that these Instruments should undertake the work against so many high and great Mountains that stood in the way against so many sons of Anak and mighty Gyants combined so strongly together and yet levell them all and scatter them all can speak no lesse then that the mighty Spirit of God was in them and His strong hand with them Take a word more to advance the greatnesse of all these doings and works and for that end consider First The time when When we like the Jews thought it Impossible at least so soon we were like these dry bones Ezek. 37. our hope was almost lost vers 11. yet though it seemed difficult in our eyes it was not so in Gods Zech. 8. 6. to whom all things are possible Matth. 19. 26. and doth whatsoever he will Psal 135. 6. he breathed upon us
Lord that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy wondrous works and Psal 71. 17. he professeth that he hath performed his engagement Hitherto I have declared thy wondrous works The Lord doth great things for this end That we shew forth all his praise in the gates Psal 9. 13 14. Vse 1. Talk then of his great doings for us publickly with all solemn commemorations and confessions Let Parents declare it to their children If thy Son ask thee saying What is this and what meaneth these things thou shalt declare it fully unto him as ye have the like commanded Exod. 13. 14. and Josh 4. 5 6 7. the Psalmist promised to make known Gods works to the generations to come 78 4. 6 8. hide not then these things from others but say as the Lepers 2 King 7. 9. This day is a day of good tidings we do not well to hold our peace write them in your memories and open them in your communications he is a son of Belial that doth it not Take these motives to enforce the Duty 1. Thereby we advance Gods glory the work-man is exalted when the work is commended 2. Thereby we testifie our own thankfulnesse to God and gives the glory of all to him 3. We provock and encourage others to the like performance I will make thy name to be remembred saith the Psalmist in all generations therefore shall the people praise thee Psal 45. 17. Moses told Jethro all that the Lord had done for his people and Jethro thereupon blessed and magnified the Lord Exod. 8 9 10 11. 4. Thereby we engage our selves and encourage others to a right Improvement of Gods works that we neither contemn nor abuse them but take them with all dutifull respect and submissive reverence out of Gods own hand and entertain them as his gifts and doings Vse 2. Blame worthy then are they First who by their sinfull silence conceales these great doings Conscience of former guiltinesse choaks and shuts the mouths of some they are confounded and lay their hand upon their mouth But secondly Much more guilty and blame worthy are others who like the dog in the manger will neither commemorate Gods doings themselves nor suffer others to do it Or thirdly Who stands fretting within and gnashing the teeth while they behold others about it but these as it was told before shall be ashamed and confounded for their envie Isa 26. 11. Obs 5. Gods people should not only notice and declare Gods great doings but also apply them so did the Jews here and therein lay the difference betwixt the heathen and them for the Heathen could lay no claim to them nor had interest in them they could not appropriate because they were not done for them but for the Jews they were done they therefore had interest in them and rightly laid claim to them Thankfull ones are still applying and takes Gods doings as his gifts given to them and done for them And it is to be marked that their application was universall they did it as one man with one mouth and heart and as all concerned in it Search the Scriptures and ye will find the Lords people upon the receipt of common favours done to the body each of them laying claim to the same as a sharer therein and counting it done as for all in common so for himself in particular When they were delivered out of Egypt and possessed in Canaan or freed from their enemies or blessed with a good King they accounted these done to all in common and to every one in particular and if any one did otherwise he is branded as a son of Belial 1 Sam. 10. 27. and looked upon as unworthy of fellowship or protection but worthy of death 1 Sam. 11. 12. Vse 1. Look then upon these late Transactions and Revolutions as Gods doings done for us and not against us they are of common concernment and great mercies and should accordingly be entertained by all and every one of us will ye but reveiw the great things formerly mentioned and pause a little in your meditations and consider the great evils we are delivered from Church evils and State evils and the great blessings bestowed upon both Church and State and ye will find that every true Protestant and honest Patriot is so great a sharer therein that he may truly say The Lord hath done great things for us take but one under your cognisance to wit the restitution of our King to us a King the rightfull Heir of these Kingdoms indued with so many gifts and graces owned by the Lord perfected by sufferings and made glorious by so many wonderfull deliverances A King whom the Scripture calls our Father for His Fatherly love and care 1 Sam. 24. 11. and our Head for His beneficial Influences Deut. 28. 44. Our shepherd to lead and defend us Isa 44. 28. Our Nursing Father Isa 49. 23. The breath of our nostrils Lam. 4. 20. The great tree under whose shadow we dwell Dan. 4. 12. Our light 2 Sam. 21. 17. The Minister of God for our good Rom 13. 4. and doth not these work so strongly upon us to cry out and say The Lord hath done this great work for us whereof we are glade Are we not his Children and he our Father we his members and he our Head we the sheep of his pasture and he our shepherd Have we not seen already the first fruits of his restauration Let us therefore as one man say and sing it over again The Lord hath done many great things for us and this in particular in restoring to us our King whereof we are glad Vse 2. Far be it then from any I hope there is none here to forbear to make application of Gods great doings of late as done for us And if there be any such I must tell them that it proceeds either 1. From ignorance of the blessings bestowed and of the miseries from which we are freed Or 2. From beastly stupidity being insensible of good or evil Or 3. From prejudice Or 4. The want of Grace Or 5. Needlesse fears Or 6. Malice and desperate opposition to the work of God Or 7. Envie and such like There is none in whom there is any spark of Grace or affection to his Countrey and love to the Church of God and his Soveraign that can forbear to say it over and again The Lord hath done great things for us c. Obs 6. Great and real favours and deliverances should work a great and real joy The word rendred glad Imports so much They wrought so upon the Jews here their hearts were glade their mouths were filled with laughter and their tongue with singing Our joy should in some measure be answerable to the ground of it the receipt of a man-child brings great joy to the Mother Joh. 16. 21. A clear and calm morning after a dark and stormy night brings joy to the birds of the air that they creep and sing the Child
27. Matth. 22. 21. 7. To obey them for conscience sake 1 Pet. 2. 13. 8. To be thankfull unto God for a good KING 1 King 1. 40. 2 King 11. 12. and Psal 118. which was Penned to teach the Subject how to entertain with joy and thankfulnesse Davids advancement to the Throne of Israel How greatly stand we of these Nations engaged to God for re-establishing among us the best of Governments and setling it upon the right shoulders and restoring to us our King It was our sins which deprived us of Him because we feared not the Lord Hos 10. 13. and did not thankfully and reverently entertian Him when He was with us as became dutifull Subjects The more tyes lyes upon us to blesse the Lord that notwithstanding of our unworthinesse yet he hath restored Him and set Him upon His Throne with Glory and Honour and so much the rather in that His Majesty is no stranger by Birth but our rightfull King no stranger by Religion not a Jeroboam to make the Land sin but of that same Orthodox Profession with us and Fidei defensor Not a Rehoboam not able to advise Himself but a Solomon a David wise as an Angel of God to discern between good and evil not a Zedekiah but a Josiah fearing the Lord not a Manasseh but gentle and mercifull as David not a covetous Ahab but willing rather to dispense with part of His own Revenues God hath not delt so with every Nation and in this he hath magnified His mercy toward us in giving us such a King a King Primae intentionis of special favour God hath been Schooling us under the rod of Oppressors to know the worth of our King and teach us better principles how to entertain Him with more sincere chearfull and constant Loyaltie and I wish all may learn their Lesson well My Lord To testifie our thankfulnesse in this place with publick Narrations Confessions and Praises for so great and rich a mercy It was resolved upon by the Masters and Members of the Kings Colledge here and Me to set apart a solemn day for that gratfull imployment which was solemnly gone about by all here and many others both Ministers and Professors from several places of this Countrey and among others the Magistrates and many Inhabitants of the Honourable and Loyal City of Aberdeen And in this we had the precedencie before many of this Nation that we celebrate here the fourteenth day of June whereas others followed after upon the ninteenth day This Sermon was a part of the work of that day which when ended I laid it by not intending to have sent it abroad to publick view But the Masters of His Majesties Colledge by their often and earnest entreaties fo far prevailed with me as to send it to the Presse Vpon which when I had resolved then immediately some magnetick vertue from your Lorddship drew my thoughts towards you and sweetly yet powerfully engaged me to transmit it under your Lordships Protection The Sermon it self is plain in which is nothing but the words of truth and sobriety I speak most in the words of God for in preaching Gods Word should have the preheminence and therefore I purposely forbear to garnish it with Testimonies of humane Writers My Lord When mean men speaks to the King they do it by the means of some Courtiour and when Scholers speaketh to the Kingdom they do it under the Protection of some worthy Patern I have made bold to transfer this Sermon to the Nation under your Lordships Name and Protection Reasons moving me were these First The subject of the Sermon is concerning the King and who should more own and countenance it then your Lordship beloved of the King and advanced by Him to the highest place in this Kingdom Secondly The eminencie and concatenation of Gods Graces and Heroick resplendent Vertues in you as they have drawn the eyes and hearts of all good and Loyall Subjects so mine too towards your Lordship and in this I am happy Wisdom leadeth men to shelter themselves and their Labours under the wings of the most eminent for Piety Learning and Vertue and such is your Lordship by the harmonious testimony of truly good men Thirdly Your Lordships good affection manifested to honest Loyal Ministers countenancing and incouraging them receiving them when they came with chearfulnesse intertaining them courteously and dismissing them with contentment Fourthly Your Lordships zeal for His Majesties restauration testified by your valorous undertaking When others would not ye went with a handfull of Loyal Subjects and jeoparded your self in the high places of the Field and so wisely and valorously acquit your self that ye became a terrour to the Enemy But when the Lord was not pleased to carry on his work by that mean then your Lordship testified your Loyalty by suffering for your Prince To you it was given not only to act but to suffer for Him Fifthly Tour Lordships activity and wisdom in advancing the work of His Majesties restauration when God offered the opportunity by dealing with the Lord General Monck now Duke of Albemarlie and others of his Army as I am credibly informed When open acting would have exasperated enemies and retarded the Designe ye acted secretly and successively for which your praise is through the Churches of God in these Lands to the perpetuating your Name to future Ages Sixthly Your several testimonies of love and respect which your Lordship was pleased to extend to my Reverend Brother Master William Scrougie Minister at Rathven and on singular among others which your Lordship procured to him from the Kings Majesty Be pleased therefore most Noble Lord graciously to accept of this my humble addresse and grant me and this Sermon your favourable Protection for the dayes are evil I have one word more and so I have done it is my hearts prayer to God that he will blesse His Majesties Person and Government and make the Crown to flourish on His head for many years and on the heads of His Posterity till there be no more time That He will blesse His People with Loyalty Vnity and Obedience The Ministers of the Gospel with zeal for God and the King The Church of God in this Land with the continuance both of His precious Truth in Power and Purity and of the Priviledges and Government thereof and that He will grant to continue your Lordship long in the high Charge His Majesty hath laid most worthily upon you to the Honour of the King the good of the Commonwealth the comfort of the Church the Glory of God and your own comfort in Him and that He will perfect His Graces in you and after many prosperous years on earth will minister an entrance to you into His everlasting Kingdom And I humbly beseech your Lordship to conceave of me as I am and shall be Your Lordships humbly devoted Servant in all dutifull submission ALEXANDER SCROVGIE MIRABILIA DEI. Psal CXXVI 3. The Lord hath done great things for
advanced 2. The Church it self by some decryed as no Church her orthodox and venerable Ministers branded as Impostors 3. Gods precious Truths detained in unrighteousnesse and Gospel Truths flooted as Errours 4. Innumerable Errours and Heresies owned and promoted 5. The priviledges of Congregations trode upon and none of the best obtruded upon them 6. The Church Judicatories prohibited and not yet permitted to sit or else raised by Military force or if suffered to meet yet forbidden and impeded to act any thing prejudiciall to the Interest of any persons although never so faulty and Erronious if they did comply with the times and humors oâ— these in Power 7. Gods worship in several places interrupted Ministers officiating before God abused and threatned 8. All sin did abound Rebellion Murders Oppression Cruelty â—erjury Robery Uncleannesse Atheisme contempt of Gods Ondinances c. so that it was our case as it was When there was no King in Israel Jud. 17. 6. Every man did that which seemed right in hiâ— own eyes 9. Our brethren cut down by the sword or carried captives unto strangâ— Lands and sold for bond-men 10. Our Noble-men Dispised Captivated Imprisoned Forefaulted their Inheritances and Houses given to strangers or treacherous and unnaturall Countrey-men 11. Our Laws lay silent and we made liable to the Arbitrary power of strangers or men disaffected 12. Loyalty was counted a Crime and Rebellion a Vertue and some came to that height of Atheisme and Turcisme as to father their most wicked and horrid acts upon God and Martion like derive their Pedegree from him 13. The Inhabitants of the Land Impoverished by Robbery Cesse and Excise Fines and Compositions To close this in a word we sate as a disconsolate Widow in a dark night lamenting the losse of her Husband her solitarinesse poverty and pressing miseries or as a Ship without a Pilot and Helmn tossed with tempestuous and stormy winds and waves among rocks and shelves or pursued by Pirates or we lay as a beheaded man without breath and life like a dead Lion over whom every timerous Hare or paltrie abject did insult at pleasure without controle for our Head the King The breath of our nostrils the anointed of the Lord of whom the world was not worthy being taken in the enemies pits was disarmed Imprisoned and cruelly Murthered and by that one blow the three Nations lay Headlesse without spirit and motion any breath and motion that seemed to be in the bodie was but like the sturring of a man new beheaded which soon ceased But while we enjoyed that Government in its just Priviledges and Authority we knew not these evils Gospel Truths did drop as the dew in plenty Ordinances were administred Church Judicatories were protected honest Ministers reverenced as the Ambassadors of Christ the Laws were in force Justice administred Treads and Traffique promoted the Vitious punished the Vertuous protected and advanced and propriety secured our Nobles honoured Rebellion discountenanced in a word it went well with Church and State Then without peradventure great is the blessing of this Government which â—rees us from these manifold evils and brings with it yea secures to us these refreshing and solacing mercies so that we may say of it God hath done this great thing for us Thirdly View the Impediments that stood in the way of its restitution First When it was brought under strange contempt and opposition was it not spoken against as unnecessary and burdensome and so declared by an Act of their Parliament and did not some perswade themselves it to be inconsistent with Christianity as if Christs Scepter like Aarons Rod did swallow up the Scepters of earthly Monarchs But non eripit terrestria qui regna dat coelestia Did not others like these mentioned in Jude 8. and 2 Pet. 2. 10. Filthy dreamers presumptuous and self-wilâ—ed dispise dominion and not afraid to speak evil of dignities and thus the bands of Monarchy were loosed and it trode under foot and its Authority contemned Yet the Lord who is wonderfull in working wrought such a change that it is now cryed up as Gods Ordinance to which all reverence is due 2 Pet. 2 17. Rom. 13. 1. Prov. 24. 21. He hath made the tongues of revilers which a little before was their shame now become their glory to advance its glory by their loud Acclamations Secondly When the contempt and opposition having the advantage of many years became strong To bend a twig is done with little strength but when it is grown to a strong and confirmed Oak then either to bend or break it requires Samson-like strength The fire when but beginning to smoak is easily extinguished but not so when it comes to a raging flame To have broken and extinguished the Anti-monarchicall Party in their raw beginnings and while they were but Incipients or small proficients would have argued no great Power but when grown to their full height and strength that to themselves and others they seemed like Gyants insuperable when they were habituated in the gain-saying of Corah when principles of rebellion seconded with successe were habituated and so become an other nature when they were hardened so that the Ethiopian could sooner change his skin and the Leopard his spots then they abandon their Anti-monarchicall principles and practices Then to overturn them and reestablish that which they had pulled down evidenced and magnified the Lords great power when the Anarchicall Oak became so strong that he defied the Axe and the scales of that Leviathan became so hard that he did laugh at the shaking of the Spear and counted Darts as stuble then the great Lord made that great Oak bow as a willow to the tall Cedar of Monarchie and fastned his hook in the mouth and scales of that Leviathan so that now he is become a suppliant and speaks soft words and hath made a Covenant with Monarchy to become his servant for ever Job 32. 3. The third that stood in the way was the several lusts of men As first Discontentednesse every bramble being unsatisfied with their own condition 2. Pride and blind ambition Absolon-like and Stanley-like in the Reign of Henry 7. Some carrying a self King in their bosome thinking themselves fitter to Rule then the Ruler himself 3. Covetousnesse the root of all evil setting the Nations on fire that they might steal the goods and troubling the waters that they may catch the fish and having catched the prey and booty became mad against Monarchy lest it should plume them 4. Old rooted malice against Monarchy upon some private and selfish account making them restlesse and vigorous in opposition These lusts swelling like the raging sea upon suspition and hear-say of the restitution of Monarchy did cast up mire and dirt and were enraged at it But what men could not do to the sea the Lord did his power to these lusts He stilled the noise of these raging waves Psal 65. and 7. and 69. 9. and tamed their fury and landed Monarchy
and by his great doing hath made us live and stand up in his fight both our King and us his People and delivered Him and us from the hand of our enemies and blessed us as in the dayes of old Secondly Consider the manner it was without blood or sore labour Judâ—h was not so delivered but God hath magnified his doing toward us for our enemies melted away as a snail which melteth Psal 58. 8. As smoak is driven away so were they as wax melteth before the fire so did they perish at the presence of God Psal 68. 2. Thirdly Consider by whom and in this also God hath magnified his great doing it was not the Babylonians but Cyrus that set the Jews at liberty but here many of these who were instrumentall against the King are now under God the means of His restitution The great God who changed Labans heart to enter in Covenant with Jacob Gen. 31. 34. and made these who joyned with Absolon in his rebellion against David their King prove afterwards most forward to call him home 2 Sam. 19. 9. he bowed also their hearts to show all forwardnesse for our Kings reduction and kisse Him with the kisses of subjection and reverence and will we hope ere long secure them to Him by the Oath of Allegiance As the hearts of Kings are in the hand of the Lord and he turneth them whether soever he will Prov. 21. 1. so are the hearts of Armies and Subjects in his hands and he hath turned them by his mighty influence to run in the ancient and right channell as we see this day Vse 1. Let us improve the Doctrine And first let no proud oppressing Tyrant glory in his might and boast like Pharaoh Exod. 5. 2. Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go or as Senacherib Can God deliver out of my hand 2 Chron 32. 14 15. presumptuous fools the foolishnesse of God is wiser then men and the weaknesse of God is stronger then men 1 Cor. 1. 25. He bindeth the arms of the strongest and taketh the prey from the mighty he catcheth the wisest in their own wiles He breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder Psal 46. 9. He bringeth out those which are bound with chains Psal 68. 6. He woundeth the head of his enemies verse 21. and brings his people from the depths of the sea verse 22. No might nor policie can withstand Him Mountains melt at his presence When he writes Mene Tekel on the wall the spirit of the mighty fails their thoughts are troubled their countenance changed their joynts loosed their knees smite one against another and the Tyrant is forced to cry out Do victas in tua vincla manus and with Julian Vicisti tandem Galilaee Vse 2. Secondly Fear the great Lord greatly who can do great things both for us and against us this use the Psalmist maketh of it Psal 89. 6. Who in heaven saith he can be compared to the Lord Who among the sons of the mighty can be likned unto to Lord and then from this he inâ—erreth verse 7. God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints and Exod. 14. 31. Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians and the people feared the Lord. Vse 3. Thirdly Expect great things from him who can do them we dishonour him when we expect only little and but small things as he requireth our greatest services because he is a great Father and a great Master even the Lord of hosts Mal. 1. 6. so it becomes us to expect from him great things because he is a great King that worketh wonders how unbeseeming is a pettie fidian and a great God a little saith and a great Lord doing great things Vse 4 Fourthly Let none in the deepest distresse dispaire of his own or of the deliverance of Gods people although it seem incredible and above the reach of mans reason and power although thy condition seem desperate in the eyes of the enemie that he say God hath forsaken thee there is none to deliver thee Psal 71. 11. although it seem so unto thy neighbours and acquaintance that they look upon thee as a dead man out of mind and like a broken vessel Psal 31. 12. and although it seem so in thine own eyes that thou say as it is in Ezek. 37. 12. Our bones are dried and our hope is lost we are cut off for our parts yet remember The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgement to be punished 2 Pet. 2. 9. Fear ye not as Moses said to the people Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will shew you Exod. 14. 13. Believe in God who quickneth the dead and calleth these things which be not as though they were Rom. 4. 17. Consider that unto God belongeth the issues from death Psal 68. 20. and that to him all things are possible Matth. 19. 26. and improve the former experiments of Gods great doings in behalf of his people or of thy self to the strengthning of thy faith in after times Conclude from former experience to future so did David 1 Sam. 17. 31. and so did Paul 2 Cor. 1. 10. as former Victories encourage Conquerors to a new Conquest so old deliverances and favours should help us still to trust in God and stand nudaunted in all our troubles Let us therefore register Gods former favours and the great things he hath done for us and make them as many Arguments to build upon God for time to come for God is alwayes where he was the same without any shaddow of change Vse 5. Fifthty Give God great praise for his great doings he will accept no lean or starved sacrifices Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised Psal 48. 1. and Psal 145. 3. When the Lord did a great work for Paul in delivering him from the Lions mouth he breaketh forth into great praise to him be glory for ever and ever amen 2 Tim. 4. 18. when the Lord turned again the captivity of his people their tongue was filled with singing the songs of praise as it is verse 2. God hath turned again our Kings and our captivity for ours was bound up in His Let us for this great work render unto God great and ample praise this is the end of all Gods doings for he doth all for his own glory and let this be our end to give the praise of all to him even praise in some measure answerable to his doing Obs 2. Secondly we observe Gods prerogative what ever great things are done for his people he is the doer of them he is the sole Author of his peoples good whether of their deliverance or their enjoyment of good things or the overthrow of their enemies He is the Author also of their misery Amos 3. 6. and Isa 45. 7.
God fits not as an idle spectator and leaves fortune to tumble things up and down but he is otherwayes the Author of good then of evil he is provocked by man to afflict For he doth it not willingly Lam. 3. 33. He is in a manner inforced to it by mans sins and therefore Isa 28. it is called his Work but his strange work his Act but his strange Act but of his peoples good He is causa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is the Author and occasion it comes of himself he moved only by his goodnesse doth great things for them this same work of the peoples deliverance is thrise ascribed to God in this Psal verse 1 2 3. and God himself told his people that he would be the doer of it Jer. 30. 8 9 10. Though he made use of Cyrus yet God was the principle and Cyrus but his Instrument He stirred up his spirit and held his right hand to subdue nations before him Isa 45. 1. and therefore he subjoyns there verse 5. I am the Lord and there is none else I girded thee though thou hast not known me He is the Lord and beside him there is no Saviour Isa 43. 11. He alone doth great wonders Psal 136. 4. Salvation is of the Lord alone Jonah 2. 9. Applic. To make Application Though the Army was Instrumentall in His Majesties restauration and though the Lord Generall did his utmost to perswade them to that great undertaking yet if the Lord had not moved their hearts they had not moved their hearts they had not moved nor promoved the Work There went with King Saul a band of men but God first touched their hearts 1 Sam. 10. 26. else they had proved as ill as others children of Belial and despised him as it is there verse 27. King Saul sent a severe Edict requiring the Subjects to give their assistance for the relief of Jabes-gilead but it was not the â—everity of the Proclamation that brought them to obedience but when the fear of the Lord fell on them Then they came with one consent 1 Sam. 11. 7. There is no Saviour beside him Josh 13. 4. It was the Lord who did begin and carried on this work which we commemorate this day Its beginning progresse and accomplishment is all of him Vse 1. Then first Let no Instrument mistake himself for the authour nor advance himself above his sphear nor appropriate to himself the Lords prerogative It was the folly of the proud Babylonians to do so Hab. 1. 16. They sacrificed to their own net and burned incense unto their drag The Assyrians also was deeply guilty of this as you have it Isa 10. 13. What God had done by him as an Instrument he arrogates to himself and ascribes to his own power and policie Instruments are sometimes ready with Israel to glory in their strength and successe which is but a thing of nought and say That they have taken horns to themself by their own strength Amos 6. 13. but Instruments should not â—acrilegiously robe God of his honour nor Dèifie themselves Let them beware lest their hearts be lifted up and forget the Lord who hath done great things by them and say in their heart their power and might of their hand their policie and industry hath done these things see Deut. 8. 14. 17. Vse 2. Secondly Let Instruments then be exhorted in a self-denying way to say Not unto us not unto us O Lord but unto thy Name give glory Psal 115. 1. and with Paul in an other case 1 Cor. 15. 10. By the grace of God I am what I am and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain I laboured abundantly yet not I but the grace of God which was with me for they prevailed not by their sword nor did their right arm save them but the right hand of the Lord and his arm and the light of his countenance because he favoured them Psal 44. 3. Vse 3. Thirdly My exhortation from this is to others First that they Idolize no Instrument When the people upon the hearing of Herods Oration gave a shout And cried it is the voice of a God and not of a man this puft him so up with pride that he gave not glory to God and therefore it turned to his ruine Act. 12. 21. 22 23. Two extreams there would be shunned The first is not to Deiefie Instruments although never so great set them not up in Gods room for God will not give his glory to another Isa 42. 8. and as salvation is in vain expected from them truly saith the Prophet In vain is salvation hoped for from the hills and from the multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel Jer. 3. 23. so it is impiously ascribed to them for what could they have done without God without whom they can do nothing Joh. 15. 6. God it is who worketh by them what he pleaseth God said of Cyrus his Instrument Thou art my shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure Isa 44. 28. The other extream to be avoided is the neglect of Instruments Idolize them we may not forget them we should not remember them with civill honour and praise we ought are not Moses Joshua the several Judges Deborah David Cyrus and other Instruments of the Lord for his peoples good recorded in Scripture with honour in the 5 of Judges Deborah remembereth with honourable respect these who helped against the enemy others are branded with a note of Infamy for withholding their assistance and Meroz is cursed with a grievous curse because being neer and called to give their assistance they refused to do it and 23. let us then remember the Instruments before named with civil respect and praise Should we not honour them whom the Lord hath honoured let them be Chronicled to succeeding Generations my heart is towards them To use Deborah her worâ—â— Judg. 5. 9. That offered themselves willingly blesse the Lord. Vse 4. Fourthly Give all the Divine praise to God praise him in and for himself he is the principall and author of these great works For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Rom. 11. 36. When Jehoshaphat was delivered from his enemies he gave the praise of all to the Lord 2 Chron. 27 28. so did Theodosius being certified of the overthrow of John the Usurper Socrat. lib. 7. cap. 23. so did the people of Israel when David their King was advanced to his Throne see Psal 118. It is true we cannot sufficiently utter the mighty acts of the Lord nor shew forth all his praise Psal 106. 2. yet according to our capacity let us sing with Moses The Lord is my strength and song he is become my salvation The Lord is a man of war Thy right hand O Lord is become glorious in power who is like unto thee O Lord among the gods Who is like thee glorious in
holinesse fearfull in praises doing wonders Exod. 15. 2 3. 11. Let the King say with David It is God that avaingeth me and subdueth the people under me he delivereth me from mine enemies yea thou liftest me up above these that rise up against me thou hast delivered me from the violent man therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord and sing praises unto thy name Great deliverance giveth he unto his King and sheweth mercy to his Anointed c. Psal 18. 47 48 49 50. Let all of us say O Give thanks unto the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever to him who alone doth great wonders for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136. 3 4. Vse 5. Fifthly Rely upon God alone in time of trouble for he alone doth great things for his people It is better to trust in the Lord then to put confidence in man then to put confidence in Princes Psal 118. 8 9. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the son of man in whom there is no help Psal 146. 3. Yea the Lord curseth him that trusteth in man that maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Make not wealth our strong City as the rich do Prov. 18. 11. for neither silver nor gold shall be able to deliver in the day of the Lords wrath Prov. 11. 4. Ezek. 7. 19. Zeph. 1. 18. But let the Lord be our City of â—â—fuge and strong Tower run unto him for he sees our affliction and hears our cry Exod. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 3. 12. and He will save us Psal 18. 3. Prov. 18. 10. for salvation is of him Jonah 2. 9. Obs 3. Thirdly Gods great doing should be well noticed the Heathen did it vers 2. and his people in the Text. Moses and Aaron with the men and Miriam with the women of Israel took notice of their deliverance from the Egyptians Exod. 15. 1. 20. David was very carefull to remark Gods dispensations and pens many a Psalm on that account Debora and Barak so noticed the deliverance of Gods people from Jabin and Sisera that they commemorate it with songs of praise Judg. 5. When the men of Judah got their young King Joash restored to the Crown beyond expectation they observed it with clapping their hands and prayer for him 2 Kings 11. 12. And when Athalia the Tyrant was slain all the people of the Land rejoyced verse 20. the Lord commands his people to notice his doings Psal 46 8. Come and see saith the Psalmist the works of God Psal 66. 4. the nature of his works call for it being great honourable and glorious and wonderfull Psal 111. 2 3 4. The godly takes pleasure to seek them out Ibid. verse 2. God sheweth his people the power of his works verse 6. that they may notice them Vse 1. Come then and behold what the Lord dâ—th done for us Psal 46. 8. take reasons to move you 1. Ye offer a great indignity to God the doer if ye remark them not When a great Crafts-man hath brought a great and rare peice of Work to perfection and calls on us to look upon it if we refuse do we not affront him The Lord will sure take it as a high contempt if we do not consider his workings 2. His doings and workings are so full of ravishing wisdom power and love that there is in them a magnetick vertue to draw out our conâ—ideration and meditation and make us cry out as of all Gods works so of these in particular There are no works like unto thy works Psal 86. 8. Who is like unto thee O Brittain O people saved by the Lord Deut. 33. 29. Ask now of the dayes that are past and and aâ—k from one side of the heaven unto the other whether there hath â—â—en any such things as these great things are Deut. 4. 32. Who hath heard or seen such things Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day or shall a Nation be born at once Isa 66. 8. but sudainly so smoothly so wisely so gloriously hath the Lord done these great things for us 3. These things are done in our sight God did marveilous things in the sight of his people in Egypt in Zoan Psal 78. 12. he hath done them in our sight that we with open face might behold them 4. Strangers noticeth them they are saying as the Heathen did verse 2. and crying This is the finger of God Exod. 8. 19. and shall we not with the people in the Text Echo them and recognize his doing 5. It is a signe of a wicked man that when Gods hand is lifted up he will not see Isa 26. 11. Notice then Gods doings but do it First advisedly not slightly Men should wisely consider of his doings Psal 64. 9. Stand still and see this great sight Exod. 3. 3. Who is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord Psal 107. 43. Secondly With joy and delight The righteous should see and rejoyce Psal 107 42. for God doth his works to make his people glad Psal 92. 4. Thirdly Believingly and profitably to the strengthning our Fath and Hope for times to come that we may set our hope in God and keep his Commandments Psal 78. 7. Vse 2. Then justly reprovable are three sorts of men who come short of this duty in noticing Gods doings First carelesse and ignorant ones who like Swine take no notice of these Pearles How great are thy works O Lord a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this Psal 92. 5 6. some are like the Israelites of whom it is said Psal 106. 7. that they understood not Gods wonders in Egypt but these provocketh God as it is in that same verse Secondly Despisers who undervalue his doings They regard not the works of the Lord nor the operation of his hands Psal 28 5. Isa 5. 12. like Swine preferreth the Accorn to the Pearl or children in knowledge triffles to Gold to such may be said as it is Act. 13. 41. Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish God will destroy such and not build them up Psal 28. 5. Thirdly Envious persons who envieth the glory of our King and the happinesse of these Lands of such the Prophet Isaiah speaketh chap. 26. 11. But they shall see and be ashamed for their envie c. for their envious and spightfull carriage towards God's people they shall be ashamed and confounded Obs 4. Fourthly Gods great works should be publickly acknowledged not only noticed but acknowledged noticed with solemn Narrations and Commemorations so did Moses and the Children of Israel notice and commemorate with publique confessions and praises Debora Jud. 5. is large in acknowledging Gods great doings It is commanded that we declare among the people his doings Psal 9. 11. and David engageth to do it in that Psalm verse 1. I will shew forth saith he all thy marvellous works and Psal 26. 6 7. I will compasse thine altar O
and Wife exults at the return of the Parent and Husband after a long absence and the poor captive being set at freedom rejoyceth with joy unspeakable and should not a Nation rejoyce and exult when after many and sore pangs and troubles under misery when after a long and dark night of calamity when after long pantings often desired but withholden comforts the Lord comes with both his arms full of blessings and cleares up a fair Sun-shining day of prosperity and knocks off the Fetters and delivereth a fainting people from all their miseries and smiles upon them and satisfieth their longing desires and sits down in the midst of them and biddeth them live in his sight Sure these must quicken the heart and fill it with joy glorious and abundant Promises of good things rejoyceth the heart and cheareth the spirit how much more suppose ye when they are turned to deeds and fulfilled If the promise have such an Influence then how much more when perfected and enjoyed Vse 1. Let us resolve the Doctrine into practice to day and with glad hearts and joyfull lips sing This is the day which the Lord hath made let us rejoyce and be glad in it and say Blesse the Lord O my soul and all that is within me blesse his holy Name blesse the Lord my soul and forget not all his benefits c. Psal 103. 1 2. And say O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Who remembered us in our low estate and hath redeem'd us from our enemies for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136. 1. 23 24. We will sing and praise thy power O Lord Psal 21. 13. But let us take heed that our joy fall not short of the Jews joy let us endeavour to resemble them in it 1. Let it be great like theirs and like the joy of the people when Solomon was anointed after whom they piped with pipes and rejoyced with great joy so that the earth rented with the sound of them 1 King 1. 4. Secondly Let our joy be full Let our heart be glad and our glory rejoyce Psal 16. 9. Thirdly Let it be sincere and cordial saying My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psal 57. 7. Fourthly Universall like the joy of Israel upon their deliverance from Egypt and of the people at Solomons Coronation when All rejoyced 1 King 2. 4. Fifthly Manifest the Jews were not ashamed to publish their joy God was not ashamed to have done these great things for us but did them with delight in the open view of men and Angels and shall we be ashamed to publish our joy with loud acclamations Sixthly Constant not for a flash The Jews desires to perpetuate their joy And ye may observe in the Psam joy upon joy and joy after joy and such should our joy be rejoyce continually let not the memorial of it become wearisome to us like Israél whose praises and prayers ended almost assoon as they passed the Red-sea within three dayes turning their melody unto murmuring Exod. 15. 24. They song his praise but they soon forgot his works Psal 106. 12 13. Be ever ready to embrace all fresh occasions whereby our slumbering affections may be awakned and pray That the Lord wilt not only make us glad according to the dayes wherein he hath afflicted us but that we may râ—joyce and be glade all our dayes Psal 90. 14 15. Seventhly Let our joy be chiefly spiritual singing Psalms Jam. 5. 13. Speaking in â—salms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord Eph. 5. 19. singing praises to the name of the most high Psal 92. 1. and 98. 5. Let no drunken caâ—â—all or ranting joy be once heard or seen which will but provock the Lord Remember the Statute among the Jews upon their deliverance from Haman to keep dayes of feasting and to remember the poor by sending them gifts Esth 9. 22. Eightly Let our joy be practicall and strongly influentiall upon our lives follow after holinesse of Conversation which is a reall Thanksgiving Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord saith the Psalmist Psal 106. 2 Who can shew forth all his praise and he sheweth in the 3. verse the best way to do it is to keep Gods Judgements and do righteousnesse at all times seeing the Lord hath done so great things for us break not his Commandements any more least he be angry with us and consume us Ezra 9. 14. Vse 2. What shall we think and say then of these in whom these great doings of the Lord produceth no real joy but through the corruption of their hearts occasions these following evils First Sorrow and indignation like Haman grieving at the safety and advancement of Mordecai or like Athalia renting their hearts with indignation because of Joash his advancement to his own and his Fathers Throne 2 King 11. 14. The wicked see it and be grieved he gnasheth his teeth and melts away Psal 112. 10. Secondly Envie like Sheba fretting against the Instruments of Davids reduction and against David himself and turning away Israel from owning him because he had not the chief hand in calling him home 2 Sam. 20. 1 2. Thirdly Confusion Miâ—â—â— 7. 16. being confounded to see their power and glory to vanish into smoak Fourthly Fained submission bowing down with their faces towards the earth Isa 49. 23. and licking the 〈◊〉 a serpent Micah 7. 17. Fifthly Counterfeit joy like Shimei 2 Sam. 19. 18 19 20. or Rufus of whom Tacitus 〈◊〉 lib. 2 who came to Vitellius after his Victory Laetitiam 〈◊〉 vultu 〈◊〉 at animo anxius Counterfeiting joy yet with repâ—ning hearts â—rinding and grieving these 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—ming to themselves the faâ—â—â—on 〈…〉 tongues to speak the language of Canaan in thanksgiving but it is of no price with God who weigheth the heart As dale of death so do I hate that kind Whose heart from mouth whose tongue dissents from mind Quest If any ask how shall I know such And secondly What be the reasons of it Answ To the first it is answered they may be known First by their countenance Ex tristitia cordis sequitur tristitia oris saith Gregory on the place a sad countenance discovereth the want of joy Secondly If men have learned the arte of dissimulation and not so ingenious as the former they may be discouered by a quavering voice a tremblying note or some such thing while they are speaking of these great transactions Or Thirdly some word falls through inadvertancy from their lips that bespeaketh their sorrow and anguish of heart Or Fourthly Qualifications and reserves in their speaking and praying or preaching crying up and crying down with the same breath now Hosanna then Crucifie in the neck of it as for example God save the King if he be for this or that else c. Secondly The reasons why men are not really glad are 1. Misapprehensions and Jealousies some being void of charity that thinks no evil but of disposition suspecting the worst and interpreting all to the worst and therefor fear possessing their hearts choaks their joy 2. Deep rooted malice having contracted a habite of hating Kingly Government the King and the Royal Family and inured their tongues to revile it and Him therefore are tormented to see that Government re-established and the King restored 3. Old guiltiness being guilty of so execrable wrongs that although Shimei like they anticipate others and professe subjection yet their guilty consciences doth so affright them still fearing Shimei's reward that still echoes in their ears had Zimri peace that slew his Master 4. Envie choaks the joy of some others being chief in the Imployment in bringing home the King and turning away our captivity and therâ—â—â—â—â— like to be chief in Thanks Honour and Reward This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so ready to revolt when Sheba blew the trayterous Trumpet 2 Sam. 20. because they thought the men of Judah would have the greatest thanks for bringing King David back 2 Sam. 19. 5. Covetousnesse men haâ—e gained on the Kings Revenues and Church Patrimony by the câ—â—ft of pulling down Kings they have their wealth and places of Trust and by the Kings restitution they see their gain in danger and therefore Demetrius-like Acts 19. 24. they are full of wrath 6. Love to their opinions lusts and fancies like little Children who desire not their Father may recover that without controle they may run up and down They fear the Kings bands and cords will ty them too straitly Conclusion But I hope there is none such here ye have been better instructed in the principles of obedience and loyalty by my Reverend Father now with the Lord once your Pastor whose Doctrine and loyall Conversation notwithstanding of his removall from you ye have lively expressed in all these Revolutions And therefore let us all rejoyce in our Kings salvation Psal 20. 5 and pray Save Lord the King and let him hear us when we call Psal 20. 9. Let the Vniversity say O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 118. 1. Let Old Aberdeen and the Parish say The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad And blesse thou the Lord O my soul Let us all say This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it Psal 118. 24. God save the King The Name of the God of Jacob defend Him and grant Him according to his own heart and fulfill all his Counsel Psal 20. 1 4. Amen and Amen FINIS