that he calls to minde how in despite of Pharaoh and his Host from the House of Bondage it was thou O Lord who didst lead thy people like sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron Gods Deliverance when past all hopes in Humane reason is a strong Rampire to keep off Despair Let us bear then with patience all our crosses since the Arm of the Lord is not shortned He saves by unities as well as universalities and one Moses and one Aaron is enough for him to lead his people out of Egypt But Magistracy and Ministery are under a cloud and yet the people like sheep are led by those the Lord hath set over them You see adversity of old could not make disloyal Subjects but prosperity of late hath buoyed up too many into Rebellion This is too apparent parent while all the people like sheep were led by the hand of Moses and Aaron But in our times Moses and Aaron have been led like sheep to the slaughter by the hand of the common people I shall not so much inveigh against our bloody Regicides as commend these loyal subjects though in a forreign Land and they all captivated yet the words import their obedience to their Superiors they are at the command of Moses their head Magistrate and Aaron their prime Diocesan Where Loyalty and Conformity is the Coat Deliverance by the Prince and Priest is the Cresh we shall stick in the mine till these bring us out of the dirt Know it That obedience to the Law of the Land and the Discipline of the Church assure deliverance We may suffer long and see small help yet let us live in Loyalty to the King and obedience to our Aaron and God will bless us There hath been no want on Gods part we want hearts seriously to consider what great things our great God hath brought to pass for the good of us by the hand of our Moses and our Aaron by the meekness of the one and wisdom of them both they have settled the Laity in their Lands and the Clergy in their Livings So that now to the praise of God and comfort of us and all ours we can say Though not out of the Land of Egypt yet out of the house of Bondage thou O Lord hast led thy people like sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron It is thou O Lord nil desper andum Caesare duce Thou didst lead that 's our joy the work is done and we delivered But who are these the Lord delivered A people for plurality thine for propriety It is Gods good will to be guid to the people whilest led they are sure not to be misled For thy people thine by Creation thine by Redemption Redemption spiritual from the Power of the old man Redemption Corporal from the sons of Belial But thou O Lord hast led the people like sheep Israel of old Ireland of late like sheep Thou hast led us not to the slaughter but from the slaughter-house the High-Court of high-in-justice and many slain and yet we thy people were like sheep scarce opening our mouthes before the Shearers content to part with our fleece to save our flesh What is more innocent the sheep And what had we done against them that did rise up against us Thus O Lord thou hast called back the Captivity of a people as harmless as sheep for neither against our King nor Kingdom were we Offenders But it is here said O Lord how thou ledst thy people by the hand to point out the way not by the sword to cut out a way But this is done by hand of Moses and Aaron and blessed be those Counsellours to our King who when it was War have made Peace The worst of Enemies if they have the least of Grace will shake hands with this Moses and this Aaron The twain are said to have one hand to note an unanimity O happy is the Land when these go hand in hand the Prince and the Prelate Then is the best of times when Aaron bows to Moses his Scepter and Moses by Law upholds Aarons Mitre Though these be the Instruments God's the Author of our Deliverance Our help then stood in the Lord our God for thou didst lead us out and brought us in for our sin thou didst punish us and of thy mercy thou forgavest us we may blame our selves for our captivity It is to thee O Lord we give thanks for our liberty But thou who dwellest in Heaven made use of some choice servants upon earth to redeem us as the Israelites yet give thanks but to thy name be the praise Here must we after a thankful acknowledgement made to thee our God not neglect to honor those whom under thee O God thou hast honored to be our Church and State Restorers Blessed shall they be in the Kingdom of Heaven who under God and the King have been instrumental to set at freedom this Kingdom It is fawning flattery but Christian civility to bless them both who have the chief Government in this our Church and Kingdom whose hands and hearts these many years have been lifted up to God by prayer for us when others had made a prey of us whose grave counsels added to the wisdom of our young Solomon have brought to nought the Worldly wisdom of all Trayterous Achitophels Let us acquiesce under the pious Goverment of their Graces since no new custom but the old fashion thus to be governed and thus to govern for of old O Lord thou didst lead thy people like sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron A home CHARGE for all Subjects Prov. 24.21 Fear God and the King THe Object of fear is God in Heaven The King on Earth God in the first place the King in the second I must so reverence God that I slight not his Vice-gerent and so observe my King that I forget not to be the servant of the living God Love advises To fear God Allegiance bindes to stand in aw of the King The one for that The Father of Spirits the other for that Pater Patriae the Father of the Countrey But let us look at these two conjunct severed Conjunct as if no fear of God in them that injure the King as if the Civil Governor be contemned our Celestial Commander is lightly set by Fear God And shew thy self religious Thy fear to offend the King witnesses thou art righteous The first Commandment involves our fearing God the fifth our fearing the King In the first Table it s the first thing which God takes care of To fear him In the second Table the first precept implicite To honor the King While you do no homage to the person of your Prince fear to offend him is far to seek But since God commands all and the King immediate Vice-gerent unto God This considered all are engaged to Fear God and the King This Precept is like the waters of Trial Numb 5. The water tryed whether that a pure Spouse this who is
not have freed us Hadst thou not been our God thou wouldst not have done this for us We have experienced thy power as the Lord and none do come in competition we have found thy favour as our God and it is thy superlative mercy is solely to be magnified Let us weep for that we have sinned against so good a God let us joy in the Lord for that relieved by the arm of the Lord our God Of late we were in Babylon now in Sion servants to slaves now servants only to God and the King praised be God it is thou whom we do serve though of late O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have ruled us He that takes upon him to rule without God is sure to be punished by the Devil Let me tell you an Usurper on Earth is a Free-holder in Hell and though he make us suffers for the present he in all likelihood is to be tormented to Eternity But what a madness is this to strive to rule a multitude when thou canst not rule one to seek for soveraignty over men when thy usurped power makes thee a slave to the Devil It is the most unseemly sight for Peasants to personate Princes and for Princes to stand at the Bar when Peasants sit on the bench We have seen the time and God be blessed over-lived the time and though long inslaved at length relieved Yet to humble us and give God thanks we do confess to our late grief and now joy how O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have ruled us THE ANGELS ANTHEME Luke 2.14 Glory be to God in the highest peace upon earth goodwil to man THe occasion of this Antheme is Christs Birthdome the Messenger is an Angel his Message to the Sheepherds the news glad tidings to all people the Choristers a multitude of heavenly Souldiers their Angelical Carrol Glory be to God in the highest peace upon earth goodwil toward man Christ is born and Christs Brithdom and the Angels Antheme divulge the great love of the great God to mean man For God sent his Son from Heaven to Earth he came from Heaven he came to Earth he became man to make us all men was born of a Virgin O blessed Birthdom whose birth gives life to many millions O Divine condescention Our Christ came to live with men that we men might live with God He assmes our nature to make peace betwixt the Creator and the Creature nay more he took upon him life natural that so he might free us all from death eternal He lived to dye that we might not dye but live His Birth is the forerunner of all our benefits and therefore in honor of that Day Christs Birthday Angels sing a Gloria Patri they sing the Antheme in three parts In Alto. In Alto glory be to God in the highest In Basso In Basso Peace upon earth In Medio In Medio Goodwil towards men The Singers are the Angels the Ditty Glory Peace Goodwil the Tune in Alto Basso Medio behold Glory ascends on high Peace possesses the earth Goodwil pursues each soul And thus Heaven Earth and Man bear all parts in this Song God in Heaven Man on Earth and the Earth from whence Man came each do here bear their part apparent while glory is given to God Peace to the Earth goodwil to Man What soul is not ravished with this sacred Ditty sung by Angels sung on Christs Brithday sung for joy That our Redemption drew nigh A Song to be sung in Triple time which as Musicians know allows of two Minnims down and one onely up And is not here one up Glory be to God on high And two down Peace be upon earth And two down Good-will towards man These are Heavens Waits and being come to the doors of us Mortals they double their strokes and having honored God God takes it for no dishonor in a redoubled note for them to express their love to us Thus shall be done to them whom the King means to honor Well let Angels be our Samplers and let us learn by them to us to give back again to God praise and glory praise for our Creation glory for our Redemption Let God have the glory for making our peace with him yea glory to God in the highest for affording us peace one with another peace within ourselves and for that hope we have of that Peace which passeth all understanding And as thus we give glory to God for this peace proclaimed so glory be to God for his goodwil to man we may possess our souls in peace for we have the good will of God we had enslaved our selves to sin and Satan It is Gods good will to free us from Hell and the Devil The Prince of darkness is rooted and our peace is purchased not onely peace for us who are earth but the goodwil of God to all mankinde on earth But though the Greek Fathers interpret these words of Gods goodwil to man yet the Latine Fathers thus translate this Antheme Peace be upon earth to men of goodwil As if men could never be at peace with God the Father whilest he bears ill will to his neighbour He is quite out of tune who is not in charity neither will God afford him peace that affords not his neighbour love As love is the fulfilling of the Law so the large and the long and the brief and the semi-brief in this sacred Sonnet An ill will d man is a wicked man and while he lives at odds with men can never have hopes of peace with God But the twofold Exposition of the Greeks and Latines the one expounding this Antheme of Gods goodwill to us the other of ours to God and all mankinde This proclaims How Heaven and Earth are agreed God loves us and we love him and we all one another He us before we were we him in time He loved us before we loved him we love him after his love to us hath mollified our stony hearts But how comes this good agreement none were more at odds then God and man O! the reconcilement is made by the Birth of Christ a Birth predicted by the Sibbels foretold by the Prophets and confessed by all Christians Christ Harbinger came before our Saviour came quickly afeter When nigh at hand the cry went Advenit advenit advenit advenit He comes he comes he comes he comes to us in utero Virginis in the womb of a Virgin O rate generation Adam was neigher of man nor woman Eve from a man but no woman Our Saviour is born of a woman begot of no man he is born man and Mary made the Mother of God For the Word was made flesh Joh. 1.14 and all this that we who are more flesh then Spirit might by the Spirit of Christ become less carnal and more spiritual And now since Christ is come to save us us his enemies such enemies as made a combination with the World Flesh and Devil against the Father Son and Holy Ghost
A FREE-WIL Offering Gen. 4. part of verse 4. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his Offering BY JAMES HARWOOD D.D. DVBLIN Printed by J.C. Anno Domini 1662. To his GRACE JAMES Duke Marquis and Earl of Ormond Earl of Ossery and Brecknock Viscount Thurles Lord Baron of Arclo Lanthony Lord of the Regalities Liberties of the County of Tiperary Chancellor of the University of Dublin Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of His Majesties Kingdom of Ireland one of the Lords of His Majesties most Honorable privy Council of His Majesties Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland Lord Steward of His Majesties Houshold Gentleman of His Majesties Bed-Chamber and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter May it please your Grace YOur great Imployments might implead my boldness while I have presumed with unpolished lines to withdraw you from your high affairs The Church and State under God depend upon you you have given such assured Testimonies of your care to tutor up these Twins so that Clergy and Laity bid you welcome as wished for by all true Protestants and prayed for by all the suffering Sons of Levi. We look upon you as the Physician sent to cure our Kingdoms maladies as the Master Pilot able to steer to a safe Harbour this crazy Vessel the Common-weal The Star in the East conducted the Wisemen to the Cratch of Christ and that most resplendent Constellation Charls his Wain is your Conductor to this Kingdom We honor our King for he honors God we honor you who honors the King The King hath given you a Commission and our Church gives you her blessing yea Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Most Mighty Prince I have neither Myrrhe nor Aloes nor Cassia to present to your Illustrious Highness yet a little oyl in a barrel not much for not Master of much not less lest my present had been less then the Widows Mite Christ feasted thousands with a few Loaves and Fishes No marvel He could make that little more My little I can make neither more nor less not less lest too little should be brought to the Table not more lest your State affairs should surfeit of long lines Here is a Viaticum Modicum an Offering and a small one presented by him who joys in your presence who was engaged to honor you before he saw you Your favours at a distance oblige and your love to the CHVRCH commands for you and all yours the prayers Of your most humble devoted Servant James Harwood THE CONTENTS A Christians Looking-Glass 1 Mercy beyond Measure 13 Gods Magistrates the Peoples Deliverers 21 A home charge for all Subjects 30 Sions sad Complaint 37 The Angels Antheme 43 A Lesson for Souldiers 51 Gods love mans life 60 Gods Presence Patients Protector 67 Where Unity Amity 76 ERRATA PAge 10. l. 6. after he is a sinner adde and whilst p. 58. l. 3. r. Mutineer p. 37. line 10 for Alphaltes read Asphaltes p. 41. l. 6. for Doe r. dare p. 46. l. 11. adde it after the word shall p. 47. l. 19. for men r. man p. 56. l. 3. for did r. dyed l. 18. for tripertite maudat r. tripartite mandat p. 59. l. 9. for care r. can p. 70. l. 6. for madles r. madles A FREE-WIL Offering A CHRISTIAN LOOKING-GLASS I Said I will look unto my ways Psal 39.1 A Good resolution if brought to Birthdom but O it is time to resolve of Good when Evil hath harrased the soul And yet what are all my resolves beneficial to me if I resolve not to do as I determine I confess Say well is good but Do well is better but as the fruit is first in the bud so the blossom of a good intent first blooms à Corde then in os then in opus I am in hopes to proceed on happily when à Radice from the root there is a visible shew tending to perfection I said I will A word would almost warrant an happy issue Resolute intents to do good are stout Agitators to assist first endeavours Yet if this I will proceed from humane confidence the weakest temptations lay flat our presumptuous undertakings Let me beg the assistance of God and by his adjuvant grace my Will will scale the Walls of Jericho I said I will This is the language of a Saint a Sinner a Devil Saith the unclean Spirit Then I will return the Devil he wills a mischief to man a Sinner to himself a Saint the sin-slaughter in his soul The Devil is peremptory to repossess the sinner wilful to do evil the Saint hath a will to do good What a fair shew makes this man of God so he is and yet a man after Gods own heart may have a fearful stop betwixt his intent and act Again had not David failed to perform he had never been thus resolute to have will'd when sin overtakes Gods childe if the childe of God he takes up new resolutions to amend and as the Ram giveth the biggest push runs the furthest back so the backsliding of a sinner may if grace serve to amend his pace to Paradise Surely here hath been a sinful party sent out to divert our Kingly prophet in his spiritual progress Else why is it resolved upon the case I will look unto my ways If he had not with Lots Wife lately lookt back to carnal Sodom here had been less need at this present to look unto his ways But O when the old Man stands in the way the good Man had need carry both his eyes in his head Though it be natural for the works of darkness to blindefold our best of intellectuals yet by a spiritual vertue in the herb of Grace my sin is made my eye-salve and fro once with the Snake I have rubb'd my speckled Conscience betwixt those two peeble stones the two Tables the ten Commandments then those scales Ignorance of my offences pill off And instead of walking Will. Then I resolve I will look unto my ways but no sooner do I look but lo Bears and Bug-bears sad afflictions and disguised trespasses I lookt and knew not this last my peccata splendida till I lookt and lookt again ad Dei Judicia I offered up for my Quit-rent to the Lord of Heaven counterfeit Coyn for current Silver till the Touchstone Affliction discovered Hypocrisie to be the metal within whilest External Profession the thin covering without O let me be what I seem to be otherwise there is a God will set me out in my own colours I know it and for certain that though I may cozen man yet I cannot deceive my God and therefore lest I be found a dissembler with man or with ire to encense my Maker once more I will look unto my ways and look at them with a double eye Corporis mentis At all without in the confines of my Conversation and at all within in the territories of my Conscience With my bodily eye I can spy much amiss