to his Messengers and which shall render him the fruits in their season according to the Condition of the Covenant made with him And this was the Event in this Case for God soon after the Death of Christ cut off and miserably destroyed the unbelieving Jews and finally rejecting them chose the Christians for his own People And in our Case Heaven brought our Regicides to condign Punishment and set up rightful and just Governours both in Church and State The Last Morning Collect. This Collect relates to the happy End of that great Rebellion and contains 1st An humble Confession 1. In general of Gods Mildness O Lord our Heavenly Father c. 2. In particular of 1. Our great loss by the Fathers Death that though for our many c. 2. Our own deliverance from Anarchy Yet thou didst not leave us c. 3. The preservation and restoring of the Son But by thy gracious providence didst c. 2ly A hearty Thanksgiving for these Mercies For these thy great and unspeakable mercies c. 3ly An earnest Prayer for 1. The whole Royal Family Beseeching thee still to continue c. 2. His Majesty now reigning and to grant to our Gracious c. 4ly A Vow of Gratitude on the Answer of it So we that are thy people c. A Practical Discourse on this Collect. § 10. O Lord our Heavenly Father who didst not punish c. The late Gospel puts us in mind that our Sin was so like that of the Jews as may give us just cause to fear our Punishment also should have been the same that is to have our Name and Nation rooted out But since the Mercy of Heaven reversed that severe Doom we begin this Prayer with the words of Ezra and Job's Friend (b) Exod. IX 13. Job XI 6. and confess that our Heavenly Father exacted of us and punished us less than our Iniquity deserved The Debt of our Sins was so great that if God had exacted the utmost Farthing for an Impiety so transcendent we had been no more a People But while he was punishing us under the Regicides usurpation according to the Prophets Prayer in the midst of wrath he remembred mercy (c) Hab. III. 2. and even while he was correcting us he was contriving a way for our escape (d) 1 Cor. X. 13. which shews Mercy is his Nature and Delight always it proves he doth not either afflict willingly or long because while our Sins force him to punish his Heart inclines him to pity us and his Power is at work to deliver us and our grief for a past and now helpless Calamity must not proceed so far as to make us ungrateful for the Event which Gods goodness gave to those Dismal Times We acknowledge it thine especial Favour that though c. This Period begins to apply Gods correcting Mercy to our Case and to render our Deliverance more illustrious we here place the Midnight of our sad Distress before the Light of our thrice happy Deliverance commemorating how far our Sins had forced the Divine Permission to give way to the very worst of all Judgments to befall us that is to give up one so dear to himself so like to be a Blessing to us and so perfectly Innocent as to his own Actions into the hands of the worst and most wicked of all Human Race Our Sins must be very provoking to move our Heavenly Father to suffer such an injury to be done to us and his Mercy must be as stupendious to pity us then when we were groaning under the Iron Rods of their Tyranny whose lashes we had made our selves liable to by suffering the best of all our Princes that ever adorned the English Throne to be cut off so unjustly And therefore the Judgment it self though very severe must not hinder us from owning the truly admirable concern of Divine Mercy for so just sufferers which we therefore own to be his especial Favour Yet didst thou not leave us for ever as Sheep c. Kings are often compared to Shepherds in Sacred Ecclesiastical and Civil Authors (e) Isai XLIV 28. Sorores sunt artes pascendi D. Basil Conc. 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer And the comparison is verified by woful experience when the sheepherd is smitten and the sheep scattered (f) Mat. XXVI 31. For then alas a People becomes like sheep having no shepherd (g) 1 King XXII 17. And if this were Israels case when Ahab was cut off it must be more sadly ours upon the Death of our good Josiah The Wolves and Foxes who seized his Power fleeced us and tore us scattered and devoured us without Restraint or Mercy during their twelve years Tyranny But God did not leave us for ever in this estate but by a singular Providence very gracious to us and miraculous in it self did first preserve the Martyrs Son King Charles the 2d though Bloody Peters a name twice fatal to us after the Fathers Murder blasphemously applied that of Isaiah (h) Isai XIV 21. Prepare the slaughter for his Children to encourage the Regicides to cut off the Son Yet after they had routed this Innocent Prince in Battel and not only sought him here with all the diligence of implacable Malice but hired Assassins and offered Mony to Foreign Nations whither he fled for refuge to dispatch him still he was by Heaven preserved and as David in Sauls Persecution hid as it were under the shadow of Gods wings until their Tyranny was overpast (i) Psal LVII 1. This was the first step of Divine Mercy And didst bring him back in thy good appointed time c. The second step was the Restauration The Storm was long and violent but when we had smarted severely under variety of precarious Forms of Government then Gods appointed and the fit time came for our Deliverance Then the Martyrs Son was restored not by Blood and Foreign Arms which that good Prince would never use against his own Subjects but by Gods turning all mens hearts (k) 2 Sam. XIX 14. the thing was effected to the satisfaction of all but the surviving Criminals But this was a Blessing which reached farther than that Kings Person and lasted longer than his Life for with him that Family was restored which had before afforded us Two Religious and Righteous Kings and which was more with him came in the True Protestant Religion and the Primitive Doctrine Discipline and Government of the Church as also the ancient hereditary Monarchy evenly poised between the Princes Prerogative and the Peoples Rights was recalled with him And these consequences of his Return made his Return to be so great a Blessing in it self and so Just a Subject of our Praises For these thy great and unspeakable Mercies we render c. The preserving that Prince abroad and bringing him back to Rule over us was therefore an unspeakable Mercy to us because with him our ancient Government and true Religion was so
been really guilty yea and at last to bring him to that cruel Death which they all along designed Psal XXXV 11. 'T is true they could not do this without perverting his Actions and hiring false Witnesses (n) cum sint proemia salsi Nulla ratam debet testis habere fidem Ovid. But these prosligate Wretches after repeated Murders and Perjuries stuck at nothing though never so false unjust and impious Lam. IV. 13. Without doubt the People of this Land had highly provoked Heaven by their Sins and the very Priests had grievously offended God or he would not have laid such a Judgment on Church and State both (o) adsit Regula peccatis quae poenas irroget aequas Nec scutica dignum horribili sectere flagello Horat. Sat. 3. nor permitted Religion and the Government to be both ruined by the Murder of this just Prince whose Blood was openly shed in the greatest of our Cities and none appeared to rescue him Gen. XLIX 6. But as old Jacob hearing of the Massacre of the Shechemites shewed at once his innocence and indignation by detesting the Fact So we abhor their Plots abominate their Counsels and bloody Judicatures (p) Consilium eorum non placuit animae meae Targ. Hieros in loc We desire our Life may never come before such Judges nor our Honour be stained with such Associates (q) Eorum nolim ut in fidem vita mea veniat aut in Societatem honos committatur Vers Castal who make nothing of killing a man Psal LXXX ver 17. No nor of murdering a King who was set up by Gods own right Hand singularly beloved by him and advanced to live and dye for Gods true Religion Wisd V. 4. III. 3 4. V. 5. They foolishly imagined he was brought to the last degree of misery and thought they had with his Life deprived him of all good And as the Pagans thought the Christians mad (r) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. Iphigen who for fear of dying after they were dead feared not to dye for their Faith So these Atheists thought his holy Life madness and his fatal Stroak infamous Not considering that this outward punishment sitted him better for and sent him sooner to Eternal peace His death made him immortal (s) Si tamen fas est omnino mertem vocare quâ tanti viri mortalitas magis est finita quam vita Plin. lib. 2. ep 1. And he whom they falsly numbred among Transgressors is numbred among the Saints in glory Psal XCIV 1. LI. 18. However this was a grievous Sin and when we remember that thou O God art the supreme Judge to whom it originally alone belongs to punish (t) Vindicta pro Poena Mich. V. 15. Rom. III. 5. we cannot but humbly beg of thee Not to judge and condemn this Nation for this horrid Crime Since we are thy peculiar People be so kind for thy Truth 's sake which is professed here to spare this Land Deut. XXI 8. Thou didst command Israel when a man was found murdered to pray to thee in these words Be merciful O Lord unto thy People whom thou hast redeemed and lay not innocent Blood to our charge and by this means they were to remove that guilt We therefore use the same Prayer and hope it shall have the same effect in this deplorable case Psal XXVI 9. LI. 14. The Vengeance due to those Sinners and blood-thirsty Wretches who committed this execrable Murder is so dreadful that we beseech thee to keep off that Death from us here and that Damnation hereafter which they deserve Blood is a crying Sin O Lord deliver us for thou only canst save us from it and if thou wilt pardon and acquit us we shall have great reason to sing the praises of thy infinite Mercy Psal V. 4 ver 6. As for the Actors in this wicked Tragedy they cannot hope to escape for God is so Holy in his Nature that he cannot be pleased with Wickedness nor have Any agreement with the workers of Evil (u) 2 Cor. VI. 14 15. His Truth and Justice bind him to destroy false Witnesses and false Accusers and he abhors utterly such bloody Hypocrites as under colour of Religion (w) Simulata aequitas est duplex iniquitas Aug. in Psal 63. shed innocent Blood Psal LXXIII 18 19. They were indeed advanced by this Impiety to very great wealth and honour but they enjoyed not very long what they got so basely When Heaven began with these Regicides Oh how deplorable and how very suddenly did they consume away They perished without pity and such as did not dye of Grief and odious Diseases came to fearful ends either executing themselves (x) Percussorum autem ferè neque triennio quisquam ampliùs supervixit neque sua morte defunctus est Sueton. de percus Jul. Caesar p. 112. or being cut off by the Law as Traytors So that their usurped Power and Grandeur vanished like a Dream when one awaketh and like the Images we behold in sleep so God made them all to vanish and now nothing is left of them in this Kingdom but an indelible Infamy upon their Memory Apocalyp XV. 3. Psal CXIX 137. Now how can we consider this Mercy of God to the Royal Martyr and the Vengeance he took on his Murderers and not sing the Song of Moses and of the Lamb Owning that our Almighty Lord God is Great and wonderful in his Works his Methods at last appear to be Just and True He proves himself King of his Saints by avenging their Blood Wherefore we end as we began with declaring that He is righteous in his Nature and all his Judgments are just Glory therefore be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The proper Psalms IX X XI § II. THere are also very pertinent Psalms chosen for this Occasion which I shall first explain by a brief Analysis and then apply by short Notes Psal IX was writ on Goliah's death and it contains 1st Praise 1st With respect to himself and so 1st He solemnly performs it ver I II. 2ly He gives the Reasons of it 1. Gods Justice on his Enemies ver III IV V VI. 2. His continual Authority ver VII VIII 3. His care of the Injured ver IX X. 2ly With respect to others and so 1st He exhorts others to it ver XI 2ly Gives the Reason why he doth so ver XII 2ly Prayer 1st The Petition for Mercy in his Distress ver XIII 2ly The Motive for God to hear it viz. his Gratitude ver XIV 3ly A Declaration 1st Of the Divine Judgments on the wicked v. XV XVI v. XVII 2ly Of his Mercy to the patient and oppressed v. XVIII 4ly A Conclusion by way of desiring God to exert his Power still ver XIX ver XX. Brief Notes upon the IXth Psalm VEr I II. We who have seen the Justice of God executed on those
A DISCOURSE ON THE OFFICES FOR The Vth of November XXXth of January AND XXIXth of May. By THOMAS COMBER D.D. Dean of DURHAM LONDON Printed by Samuel Roycroft for Robert Clavell at the Peacock at the West-End of St. Pauls 1696. A DISCOURSE ON THE OFFICE FOR November the Fifth The Anniversary both of the Discovery of the Gun-powder Treason 1605. And of King WILLIAM's Arrival for Our Deliverance 1688. The Preface THe Jews of Old paid a double regard to that Festival which fell on their Sabbath Day and called it an High Day (a) Joh. XIX 31. The Athenians gained two great Victories on the same Day of the Month at Leuctra and at Gaerestus wherefore they counted it always a Fortunate Day and made it a Great Festival (b) Al. ab Alexand. gen dier lib. 4. c. 20. p. 232. The Romanists also have their Double Festivals And now God hath made this Day such an one to this Reformed Church by two eminent Deliverances thereof from utter Ruin On this Day in the Reign of King James the First the Gun-powder Treason was wonderfully discovered and happily prevented and above 80 year after when the same Enemies were in hopes to extirpate our Religion and subvert our Laws Providence caused a Deliverer to Land here on the same Day of the Month by whose means these Designs were blasted and our Church once more established So that this is to us a Day much to be remembred to the LORD (c) Exod. XII 42. I need not relate either of these Histories The former is fully described with all its Circumstances and Proofs by the late Learned Bishop of Lincoln (d) Dr. Barlow 's Discourse of Gunpowder Treason Printed at Lond. 1679. Exarsit importunè quorundam Catholicerum in aminis saeva illa omni a vo damnanda Conjuratio quâ Regem Regnique Proceres misso sub aedibus Comitiorum pulvere tormentario in altum tollâ—ndos duxerant ut è rebus humanis momento omnes tollerent Hist Missionis Angl. Soc. Jesu c. collectore Hen. Mero ejusdem Soc. Sacerdote Audomari 1660. In Praefat. §. 9. Vid. plura hoc ipso libro lib. 7. §. 21 22 c. to which Book I refer the Reader The latter is fresh in all our Memories and exactly set down in a Journal of later date (e) History of the Desertion printed at Lond. 1689. But my busâ—ness being to Explain the Offices I would rather meddle with Matter of Fact nor dispute with any Party Only I must clear the way to our grateful Observation of this Day by proving very briefly the reality of the Gun-powder Plot which some Romanists are so hardy as to deny and by shewing this latter Deliverance was also a mighty Blessing which some prejudiced Protestants seem unwilling to grant First That the Papists did really design to blow up King James with the Prince and Parliament by Gunpowder on this Day is not only evident in general by their former Plots and practices in Queen Elizabeths time and their endeavours to hinder King James his Succession to the Crown (f) See the Preface to Dr. Barlow's History But it appears more particularly 1st By the Materials found in that Infernal Vault and the seizing a desperate Papist with the Keys in his hands late in the Night before the intended Massacre 2ly By the Flight and open Rebellion of the other chief Conspirators upon the Discovery 3ly By the Confessions under the hands of Fawks and Winter two principal Agents in this horrid Plot. 4ly By the Trials of all the Criminals yet extant at large shewing the legal Evidence and judicial Proofs by which they were convicted 5ly By Father Garnet the Provincial of the Jesuits his owning his knowledge of this Design by a Declaration made before his Execution 6ly By the Letters of Sir Everard Digby a Person equally eminent for his Extraction and his Zeal for Rome who acknowledges he knew of and approved this Plot. 7ly By the Romanists abroad crying them all up for Martyrs who died in this Cause as intending to serve their Church Lastly By the Laws made here in full Parliament with mature deliberation upon this occasion And those who can deny this Evidence may outface the plainest Truth As to the Second Deliverance it is too fresh and was too publick to be downright denyed as yet but some endeavour to lessen our Sense of it and Gratitude for it by privately suggesting 1st That we were in no danger of Popery 2ly That it was only a pretence to remove one Prince and set up another 3ly That we are in as ill Circumstances now as we were before I would not mention these Objections but that how improbable soever they are some venture to assert them and others are so credulous to believe them and thereby guard their Ingratitude for this late Mercy which I think they ought to praise God for if they will impartially consider what is candidly offered to confute these Insinuations For our great Danger of Popery under the late King appears First By the great encouragement given to that Religion And here we may consider the Kings temper and zeal for it The numbers of Priests and Jesuits and their eagerness to promote it The great Army kept up in times of Peace and the care to model it with Officers that would support Arbitrary Power The liberal Rewards offered and given for turning to that Church The open profession of that Religion in defiance to all Laws unrepealed that did prohibit it The Arts used to procure a pre-engaged Parliament to make way for it by repealing the Test and Penal Laws The advancing Men unqualified Papists or their Friends into all sorts of Offices and Preferments Civil Military and Ecclesiastical The Contrivance to have an Heir in a lucky Hour to give them another Reign to bring this about if the first should too soon expire The open Boasts of the Romanists themselves who best knew that Prince's Mind and finally The vast number of Atheists Dissenters and pretended Protestants who came in as Tools to carry on this Design These Considerations shew that Popery was intended to be set up and it is as plain that Protestant Religion was intended to be pulled down by the violent proceedings against Corporations the altering their Magistrates and seizing their Charters by the disgracing and displacing all the steddy Professors of it out of their Offices in the Court and Camp on the Benches above and in the Country also by ejecting a whole Society and many private Persons out of their Freeholds in the Universities and elsewhere without Law by Imprisoning the Bishops for an humble Petition by setting up an illegal Court with an unlimited Power over all the Clergy and drawing all of them that were firm to the Protestant Religion into the danger of a Suspension This I hope may satisfie disinterested Men that our peril was as great as it was real and imminent Secondly That the present King did
contrived to blow up one King and pervert another but blessed be God still without any advantage to their Cause through his Mercy they could never yet prevail against us Psal XXXV 7. Psal LVII 5. In these two last Designs their Plots were carried on with great Secrecy for a long time till our destruction was neer being effected and not only our Lives but that Religion by which we hope to save our Souls were in extream danger We neither knew they had digged a Pit for the Life of our Protestant King James the First nor drawn in the Second of that Name to their party while he joyned with us in Communion But Heaven discovered both Designs time enough to prevent them and not only hindred them from hurting us but the Mischief both times fell upon themselves First by reviving of old severe Laws against them which that gentle Prince had suffered to sleep from His first coming to the Crown (k) Ergo Psal XXXV 7. sinè causâ h e. immeritò Vers Jun. Trem. à me non laesi Genebr in loc And this Second time their Practices rendered them and their Religion more odious and less likely to prevail here than ever Psal CXLVII 5 6. How can we but own those three Attributes of God which are so visible in these Deliverances First The greatness of his Power who so mightily dissipated their open and violent Attempts Secondly His infinite Wisdom in finding out and laying open all their cruel and concealed Intreagues Thirdly His eminent Justice in turning those things by which they hoped to pull down this peaceable and moderate Reformed Church into the ruine of their own proud and persecuting Babel (l) Non est injuria pati quod prior feceris Senec. de Ira l. 2. cap. 30. For hereby all their Politicks appeared to be folly and they were taken in their own craftiness Psal LXXX 17 18. And now O LORD who hast done so great things for us what remains but that we first pray thee to preserve our present King a Man exalted by thy right Hand and one whom thou hast made very strong to deliver us and defend thy true Religion And Secondly if thou pleasest to keep Him safe We do promise and engage we will all stand firmly to thy Truth and we may safely promise this since during His Reign we are in no danger of being tempted to Apostacy or falling into Persecution Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The proper Psalms LXIV CXXIV CXXV Psal LXIV contains 1st A Prayer for Deliverance from his Foes Verse I II. 2ly A Relation of their Malice appearing 1. By their Evil words Ver. III IV. 2. By their Secret plots Ver. V. VI. 3ly A Prophecy of their Ill success Noteing 1. The Author of it God Ver. VII 2. The Means their own Tongues Ver. VIII 4ly A Description of the Event 1. To them Derision Ver. VIII 2. To GOD Acknowledgment Ver. IX 3. To the Pious Rejoycing Ver. X. Brief Notes upon the LXIV Psalm § 3. PSal LXIV Ver. I II. My Enemies are so bloody that they aim at nothing less than my Life which being in imminent danger I cry loudly and earnestly in my Prayer to thee O God to keep me not only from the danger but even from the fear of Death for to be under such Terrors is a continual dying (m) Quotidiè moritur mortem qui assiduè timet Senec. Herc. Fur. Act. 4. They are a numerous Party who combine against me and though their Malice be open their Methods are hid from me therefore do thou O LORD hide me by thy Providence so that they cannot come at me to destroy me Ver. III IV. In the mean time till they can find an opportunity to strike at my Life they murder my Reputation expressing their impotent Rage by inventing Calumnies and spreading false Reports of me and my Religion which they use as they would do Swords and Arrows (n) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. strom lib. 1. if they durst However this way they secretly wound my good Name and labour to make me hated and never fear that thou wilt call them to any account for this kind of Injustice Ver. V VI. They persuade one another it is Zeal for Holy Church to seek the Extirpation of Hereticks and think it meritorious to Cabal and Plot our Destruction resolving so soon as they have contrived it cunningly they will execute it as suddenly Nor do they fear any discovery because they have bound one another in inviolable Oaths of Secrecy never to reveal it Ver. VII VIII But when I think of thy Omniscience and Justice O God I can foretel their fall They do not discern it (o) Ultor à tergo Deus But I see that while they are preparing to shoot at me Thy Bow is drawn to shoot at them with an Arrow so swift it shall be before theirs and so well aimed that it shall mortally wound them (p) Ferox Theseus qualem Miniodi luctum Obtulerat mente immemori talem ipse recepit Catullus And which will eternally expose them to derision after all their care and secrecy a casual Word or Paper dropt from some of the Accomplices shall discover all and they shall shamefully betray themselves Ver. IX X. But besides their shame in suffering that which they intended against us the Pious will make two excellent Uses of this Providence First they will discern such infinite Wisdom in the discovery of these Plots and such exact Justice in turning the Mischief on their heads (q) nec est Lex justior ulla Quam necis artifices arte perire suâ that they will own it to be the work of GOD thy Hand in it will be very visible And those good Men who are thus wonderfully delivered Secondly shall heartily rejoyce in thy Mercy O LORD yea this will strengthen their Faith against all future dangers and while they bless thee for past Mercies they will be glad also in hopes of as many Deliverances as they shall need for the time to come And ever sing Glory be to the Father c. The CXXIVth Psalm hath Three parts 1st An Acknowledgment of their Deliverer Verse I. 2ly A Description 1. Of the Malice of their Foes Ver. II. 2. Of their own great danger Ver. III IV. 3ly The Returns they make for escaping it viz. 1. Praises to GOD Ver. V. 2. Joy in their present safety Ver. VI. 3. Trust for future Mercies Ver. VII Brief Notes on the CXXIVth Psalm § 4. PSal CXXIV Ver. I II. The wondrous Deliverances of this Church and Nation shew that GOD most certainly takes our part For our Israel may justly say If others or less than the All-seeing and Almighty LORD himself had been on our side they could never have baffled such close and cruel Designs as this politick and powerful Party of Men have all along formed against us It was not our Strength
graces to be now exercised by us 1. True Repentance 2. Faith and Love let the consideration of this thy repented goodness c. 3. Holy obedience 2ly The motives urged both to move 1. Us to ask it that thou mayst still continue c. 2. God to grant it and that for thy dear sons c. A Practical Discourse on this Collect. § 9. ALmighty God our Heavenly Father who of thy c. The Litany is a proper Office for this Day being designed to avert or remove all kinds of Evil especially Privy Conspiracy and Persecution so that it is always to be used on this Day and after it this Collect which is chiefly Penitential Now nothing will lead us sooner to Repentance than a serious comparing God's goodness with our sinfulness wherefore we introduce the confession of our evil deservings with a memorial of his great Mercy in granting us two signal Deliverances from the Mischiefs designed against us by the same sort of men on the same day though in different Ages And we consider that herein God shewed 1. His Power to be Infinite and so we call him Almighty for he broke all their measures 2. His wonderful goodness and so we stile him our Heavenly Father Now there are two Properties of a loving Father First To provide a supply of all necessary good things for his Children Secondly To pity and help them when they suffer any evil (b) 2 Cor. XII ver 14. and Psal CIII 13. And thus our Heavenly Father hath employed his gracious Providence to secure unto us the free Profession of his true Religion And when these Plots were laid to enable our Foes to persecute us for it his tender mercy moved him to pity us and keep off the fatal blows from us Didst prevent the Malice and Imaginations of our c. From the consideration of those lovely Attributes which excited our good God to undertake our rescue we go on to consider the horrid Evils which he saved us from and First as to the Gunpowder-Treason the Plot sprang from pure Malice and they imagined it was certain to take effect but Heaven confounded this horrid wicked Enterprise by an unexpected Discovery And indeed King James the First could never have found out this Plot since he had no reason to suspect it He had suffered those Penal Laws which their Plots and Rebellions against Queen Elizabeth had occasioned to lie dormant and used the Papists so gently that he hoped he had made them good Subjects But such was their Malice to the Religion he professed and maintained that they imagined his good opinion of them and his security (c) Isai LIX ver 15. Aditum nocendi perfido praestat fides Senec. Oedip. Act. 3. was their opportunity to strike him secretly and unexpected together with all who with him were able by their Learning or their Interest to defend that Protestant Government and Religion And then they doubted not but they might set the Crown on a Strangers Head who was a firm Catholick and so alter the Government and the Laws and extirpate that which they falsly call Heresie out of this Land for ever But oh what horrid crouds of barbarous Cruelties must have made way for this The first Massacre of so much Royal and Noble Blood would not have effected it Popery was so known and so hated and Protestant Religion so setled and beloved here then that above nineteen parts of twenty must have been cruelly murdered and the extremest force have been used before so bitter a Pill would have gone down But they valued not making their Native Country one great Aceldema they count us all Enemies of Christ and damned Wretches and so would have gloried in the execution (d) Judaeis ipsis acerbiores hostes Christi multo magis detestandi Maldonat in Johan 4.9 Costerus optat se damnari cum Lucifero Si Lutheranus moriens possit salvari vel ovadere Gehennam Resp ad Osiandr prop. 8. And was it not an infinite Mercy to be delivered out of such Merciless Hands Their Barbarous Cruelties against the Albigenses and Waldenses of old against the Lollards and Protestants in England a sew Reigns before this and the Inhuman Proceedings of the Duke of Alva in Holland these taught that Generation to rejoyce exceedingly that they did not prevail in this bloody design and we have reason to remember it with gratitude to this very Day And didst likewise this Day wonderfully conduct c. But if this seem too remote Behold God hath delivered us from a Second and more probable Design to destroy our Religion and our Laws For now they had secretly gained the next Heir of the Crown to their side and dispensed with him to come to our Prayers Sermons and Sacraments for many years yea allowed him to swear and solemnly promise to defend our Church at his entring into the Throne (e) Nullo modo fides servanda haereticis etiam juramento firmata Simanca ap Sanders de oblig juram All which had so amused many unwary Protestants that their Loyalty would not let them see the danger their Liberties and Religion were in till the Romish Party under this Zealous Prince were grown almost strong enough to declare the Change they intended But blessed be God this Design was at last discerned by almost all the Nation and though they could not prevent it he did by sending on this very Day a Generous Protestant Prince who was deeply concerned in our Laws and Religion to rescue both from imminent and apparent ruin And if the escaping Oppression and Persecution Banishment Prisons Axes Gibbets and Stakes be a Blessing then the present King's landing was so to us We most humbly praise and magnifie thy most Glorious Name c. Having set out the Author of both our Deliverances and described them severally we next proceed to praise him for the Mercy and magnifie him for the Power which were so illustrious in these wondrous Works and they were so great Blessings to us that with the Royal Psalmist we declare No tongue can express our obligations (f) Psal XL. 7. CXXIX ver 17 18. Nemo dignè gratias agit nisi divinae gratiae magnitudinem attendit Greg. Mor. Now such extraordinary Favours deserve extraordinary Praises Mercies so often repeated merit reiterated and redoubled Acts of Gratitude a Day so signalized and singled out by Providence ought to be for ever solemnized with joy by all the true Sons of this Church The ruin whereof was twice intended and both times almost accomplished by Men of the same Principles and Temper and the same God prevented both these dreadful Mischiefs So that he who will not praise the Lord this Day for both may be justly suspected not to be truly thankful for either I know some do lessen our danger in the latter case by pleading That the late King's Promises his Good Temper and Interest would have hindred such severity as we apprehend But we
saw none of these could hinder the French King at that very time from Ruining Persecuting Destroying and Banishing Millions of his Faithful Subjects only for sticking to their Religion and since that King was then the Example and Guide for our Court and we had the same bigotted Priests to advise here who had pursued those methods there we know they would absolve our Prince from all ties and four his own gracious Disposition and make his Interest stoop to theirs So that we had reason to expect every thing here that was done in France so soon as they had power enough to hope to effect it and therefore to escape this Evil was an unspeakable Mercy and deserves humble and hearty Praises We confess it has been of thy mercy alone that we c. This is the Second and Penitential Part of the Prayer we have seen God's dealing with us and now begin to reflect on our Carriage toward him And lest Pride or Conceit of our Merit should abate our Gratitude we own with the Prophet Jeremy That it is only his Mercy that prevented our ruin (g) Lam. III. 22. We declare we are so far from Merit that we cannot pretend to bare Innocence For both in that Age and this the Nations Sins were so great as to cry loudly to the Divine Justice to punish us and these our Enemies both then and now stood ready to be the Executioners of his Wrath a bare Permission had let them loose upon us So that we can find no reason in our selves why we were spared nay why we were not given up for a Prey to our enraged Foes who like hungry Wolves were ready with open Mouths to devour us The only reason was in God it was his Pity and Clemency which moved him to punish us less than our iniquities deserved (l) Psal CIII 10. Poenam si tuto poterit donare sin minus temperare solet Sen. de Clem. l. 1. c. 20. All things were prepared for our utter destruction God alone who had the justest cause to consent to it was unwilling and by this meer Mercy of his we escaped the ruin prepared for us And it is very proper to mind us of this while we are praising God for our Deliverances for the less we deserved them the more thankful we ought to be for them (m) Majoris precij beneficium est quod praestatur indignis Salv. de gab l. 4. As our unworthiness heightens and increases his kindness so it should add to our joy and gratitude Let the consideration of this thy repeated goodness c. But there must be something more returned for two such eminent favours than bare praises wherefore we beg that this goodness of God may lead us to repentance (n) Rom. II. 4. Otherwise though we have been twice spared and both times guilty Iniquity may and will be our ruin at last (o) Ezek. XVIII 30. He rescued us not to give us opportunity to commit more sins but to afford us time to gain a pardon for past Offences by Repentance It is the most provoking abuse we can be guilty of to make this impunity the encouragement to our Vices St. Paul calls this Despising the riches of his forbearance and long suffering and in that case it is not God who would gladly save us but we that treasure up wrath to our selves against the day of wrath (p) Rom. II. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aster hom in Psal 6. That is we force God either to send some sad Judgment upon us in this World or if not however he must condemn us in the next And alas it is no advantage to be reprieved from a temporal and reserved for eternal Death which without Repentance we cannot escape But further we must not only repent and cease to do evil but bring forth also good Fruits His former care of us must quicken our Faith and engage us to trust in him when any future dangers threaten us it must encrease our Love to him who is so sure and constant a Defence to us against all our Enemies designs And if our Faith be lively and our Love sincere they will certainly produce all holy Obedience (q) 1 Joh. V. 3. Whoever firmly believes that God alone is his Preserver in and from all perils and intirely loves him for it that man will continually strive to oblige Heaven to watch over him by all the Duties of Piety and Charity and by whatever he thinks will please this his Heavenly Father the Faith is not sound nor the Love sincere if it do not produce these Fruits And if we make this use of our Deliverances they will be doubly beneficial to us not only as they are temporal Mercies but as they become by this means a spiritual and an eternal Blessing to every single man who so improves them That thou maist still continue thy favour with c. Finally there is a publick motive to engage us to pray heartily and labour diligently for this sanctified use of these Mercies because this will oblige him to continue his Protection over this Church and Nation in all future times Our Enemies at present seem to want Power but their Malice and evil Will continues (r) Nulla laus est non facere quod facere non possis Salv. de gub l. 6. they wait and wish for an opportunity to bring us again into that Popish Darkness wherein our Fathers lay so long But if we walk according to the Light of the Gospel which shines brighter here than in any other Land Heaven will still baffle all their Plots And why should God keep this Light shining if we resolve to walk in Darkness however What are we better for a Holy Religion if it do not make us holy Let our lives therefore come up to our excellent Profession and let us of this pure reformed Religion resolve to lead very pure and reformed lives and then our Church shall never fail This we must endeavour this we must pray for through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Fourth Collect. The Fourth Collect contains 1st An Introduction respecting former Mercies O Lord who didst this day c. 2ly A Petition both for 1. Our Preservation and be thou still our mighty c. 2. Our Enemies disappointment and scatter our c. 3ly A Description of the means of their failing in their designs 1. By Gods preventing them infatuate and defeat c. 2. By the Kings punishing them strengthen the hands of our gracious c. 4ly A Prospect of the happy events of this 1. The humiliation of our Foes that they may never prevail c. 2. The Church and Nations safety but that our gracious c. 3. Our own freedom to serve God we may all duly serve thee c. A Practical Discourse on this Collect. § 10. O Lord who didst this Day discover the Snares c. This is an Old Collect relating to the former Deliverance and removed to this
this fury Ver. LVI You hear my Preaching and see my Example both which tend only to Patience and Meekness forbearing and forgiving and winning all that differ from me by Love and Gentleness so that Cruelty and Force cannot suit the end of my coming now For the son of man in this dispensation of the Gospel is not come to destroy mens lives by his Power and Justice that is the business of his last coming to Judgment on the finally Impenitent your Motion therefore is very incongruous now since I am not come to send men quick to Hell but to save them and bring them by Mercy to Heaven Being thus checkt Christ passed by the Affront and they with him late though it was went to another village inhabited by the Jews The Sentence at the Offertory S. Mat. VII 12. WHatsoever ye would c. As this Sentence relates to giving in Charity at the Collection which should always be made this Day in acknowledgment of Gods Mercy I have considered it before (z) Comp. to the Altar §. 6. p. 30. But I must note it is very proper for this Day and contains a Method to prevent such evil Designs as we have been twice on this Day rescued from For if those Priesâ— who encouraged the Gun-powder Traitors had been asked Whether it were lawful for Protestant Subjects out of a zeal for their Religion to plot the Death of a Popish King his Heirs and his Nobles and to contrive afterward to set up their Faith by a violent Persecution of the far greatest part of their fellow Subjects doubtless they had answered No. Had it been enquired of the late Kings Confessors Whether it were lawful for a Protestant King reigning over a Country of the Roman Communion to break his Oath and Promises to his Catholick Subjects imprison their Bishops for an humble Petition turn men out of their Freeholds only for their Conscience and finally to resolve to impose the Reformed Religion by force on a Nation which generally hated it This had been certainly answered also in the Negative Wherefore since other men love their Religion Liberties and Lives as well as Roman-Catholicks they should not have advised their Votaries to do that against a Protestant Prince or Nation which they would not have these do against them (a) Quod quis in se approbat id in alio reprobare non possit L. in arenam Cap. de inoffic testum So that this single Rule impartially weighed had prevented both these wicked Projects and if duly followed will keep all Parties from Cruelty and Oppression The Sixth and Last Collect. The Last Collect hath four Parts 1st A Preface setting out the Glory of God O God whose name is excellent in all c. 2ly A Memorial of two great deliverances 1. From secret Mischief who on this Day didst miraculously c. 2. From open Violence and on this Day also didst begin to give c. 3ly A return of hearty Praises for both we bless and adore thy glorious Majesty c. 4ly A Prayer that they may produce in us 1. Love and Gratitude to God and we humbly pray that the devout c. 2. Submission to the King a Spirit of peaceable submission and c. 3. Zeal for the true Religion a Spirit of fervent zeal for our holy c. A Practical Discourse on this Collect. § 14. O God whose name is excellent in all the Earth c. This Collect begins with the words of one of Davids laudatory Hymns (b) Psal VIII 1. And they seasonably mind us that such eminent Deliverances of so famous a Church and Nation by so visible a Hand of Providence are not only famous among us but God is glorified for them in all foreign Lands they that live in the farthest ends of the Earth see and hear of this Salvation of God (c) Psal XCVIII ver 4. His Praise on so great an Occasion is so far from being confined to the narrow compass of our Island that this lower World cannot contain it (d) Tanta enim est gloria tua ut in hoc Orbe centinâ—ri nequit Vid. Gejer. in Psal 8. He sets his Glory above these visible Heavens For no doubt the holy Angels do sing Hallelujahs to his Honour when he so remarkably delivers and protects innocent and holy Men who are their special charge and discovers and punishes the wicked And methinks the prospect of the Joy and Gratitude of all other Reformed Churches and the Praises of Angels who are only engaged by their Charity to rejoyce with and for us should excite us whose Ancestors and our selves have been the Objects of these Divine Favours and who still enjoy the happy Effects of them to give Thanks most sincerely and fervently Who on this Day didst most miraculously preserve c. These being distinct parts of the Office we ought in every of them to remember these two Deliverances and in variety of Expressions to repeat our Gratitude We may here consider that the first time our Preservation was wrought miraculously for the Plot was laid so secretly and discovered so strangely that nothing lesâ— than a Miracle of Divine Omniscience could have brought it to light The Ruin also was intended against both Church and State our Religion and Government were resolved to be altered by the most violent methods after the fatal Blow was given The Plot was contrived by those of the Romish Church the implacable Enemies of the whole Reformation and especially of this Regular and Flourishing Part of it the Malice that inspired the Conspirators was so Diabolical that nothing but Hell could be the Original of it Now for so many Millions so excellent a Church so happy a Nation to escape from the merciless rage of such Foes doubtless is a great Mercy As to the second the danger was equally great but only it was more open the Enemies had the same Principles and Final Design but having drawn in a zealous King to abet their Interest against his own and his Peoples both they put him who would otherwise have been Gracious and might have been happy upon trampling on Right and Law and persuaded him by the terrour of a standing Army (e) Malè terrere veneratio acquiritur lengè valentior amor ad obtinendum quod velis quam timer Plin. lib. 8. cp 24. to affright his Subjects into parting with their Laws and Religion it was easie to foresee the dismal consequences of such Proceedings But alas we were Subjects and defenceless so that we had been for ever ruined if God on this same Day had not sent a foreign Prince to rescue us and from His landing we justly date our Safety We bless and adore thy glorious Majesty as for c. Upon these just Grounds we proceed to give most humble and hearty Praises to the Divine Majesty for his repeated Kindness to this Church and Nation which have been the special Care of Heaven for many Ages No People ever
wrong (l) Psal CXIX 175. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marc. Antonin l. 4. §. 10. It was very strange indeed that he should suffer his own anointed and faithful Martyr to fall into the hands of Sons of Belial (m) Viri Filij Pelial sunt Filij qui excusserunt jugum Coeli de collo suo Talm. Tract Sanhedr Atheistical and Impious Wretches who had first renounced their Allegiance to Heaven and then to their Sovereign hardned Miscreants who dipt their hands literally in his Blood and gloried in it Some horrid provocation had caused God to suffer this and the next Paragraph declares what it was We having drawn down the same c. Having removed all blame from God we do most justly lay it upon our Forefathers and our selves (n) Dan. IX 7. Some of us perhaps were then living and all that Age had sinned very grievously and very long persisted in such Crimes as Peace and Prosperity are wont to cherish (o) Adeo ex rerum prosperitate luxuria ex lxuriâ verò ut vitia omnia ita impietas adversus Deum nascitur Lact. inst l. 2. §. 1. They were ungrateful and ungovernable under one excellent Queen and two most gracious Kings which provoked God to take away the last and best of them of whom this Nation was not worthy Since therefore this great Judgment declares our Sins have been very great it is very fit we should fall down this day before our Heavenly Father and to our Confession add an earnest Petition for the pardon of all the Sins that then and since we have been guilty of but of this and the averting the punishment due to them which is mentioned in the last Paragraph I have spoken before And that thou wouldst deliver this Nation c. All Sin makes us liable to divine Vengeance but none like that of shedding innocent Blood which defiles a whole Land (o) Numb XXXV 33. and when Repentance obtains its Pardon as to the next World it is often sharply punished here So that after David had repented of the Murder of Uriah and God had promised by Nathan to forgive him (p) 2 Sam. XII 13. He still prays Deliver me from blood-guiltiness O God (q) Psal LI. 14. Since the Prophet had told him the sword should never depart from his house And the violent Deaths of Ammon Absalon and Adonijah were the sad accomplishment of that heavy Doom But our Fears and Importunities should be greater for behold a greater than Uriah is here the Blood of this Day was Sacred and Royal Innocent and Precious and the manner of shedding it so Wilful Malicious and Cruel that we cannot too often nor too earnestly repent of the Crime nor deprecate the Punishment thereof We have no Sacrifice indeed to expiate our Land as Israel had (r) Deut. XXI 13. But we come in the Name of Jesus Christ whose Merits are all-sufficient to procure Pardon for the greatest Sins and to remove from a penitent People the justest and heaviest Judgments so that we hope having such a Propitiation and such an Advocate we shall prevail Amen The Second Collect. The Second Evening Collect hath Four Parts 1st A Description of the Evil then committed in these particulars 1. God permitting Blessed Lord just and powerful who c. 2. The King Suffering thy dear Servant our c. 3. The Wicked Acting to be despightfully used c. 2ly Our solemn Detestation of the Fact though we cannot reflect upon c. 3ly A grateful remembrance of Gods Goodness 1. In his Grace given to the Royal Martyr Yet do we most gratefully c. 2. In his Mercy to his Son yet didst thou in great mercy preserve c. 3. In the happy Consequences thereof to us to restore thy true Religion and c. 4ly Our Return of Praise for the same For which we glorifie c. Brief Notes on this Collect. § 7. BLessed God Iust and Powerful who didst permit c. We are commanded in every thing to give thanks (s) 1 Thes V. 18. and a strict Observer may find matter of Praise in the saddest dispensations of Providence so that the Lord is to be praised even for his Justice and Power (t) Psal CL. 1. though in themselves terrible Attributes and David sings of Judgment as well as Mercy (u) Psal CI. 1. There is always some Mercy mixt with his Justice and to make that appear the brighter we introduce our Praises with a prospect of the black side of this dreadful Tragedy which was made up of so many horrid Crimes and deplorable Miseries that one would scarce imagine such a Lyon could yeild any sweetness But it was just so far as God permitted it and his Power also did bring good out of that which in it self was so very evil Though we cannot reflect upon so foul an Act c. The innocent Jew was obliged to rent his Cloaths if he heard any blaspheme Gods Name or was told of the Murder of his King (w) Isai XXXVI 22. 2 Sam. I. 11. to shew his detestation of such impious Crimes The Ceremony ceases but the abhorrence must be declared or we cannot be innocent to look on such a Sin without horror is a tacit intimation we are or would have been guilty of it our selves Had not Lot been vexed to the Soul at the Sins of Sodom in all probality he had both sinned and suffered with them (x) Magnus bonorum labor est toleror◠mores contrario quibus qui non offenditur parùm proficit D. Aug. Wherefore the entring this Protestation against the Murder this Day committed will go a great way in clearing of our Innocence and securing us against suffering for it if we make it with old Jacobs sincerity (z) Gen. XLIX 6 7. and heartily detest so foul an Act. Yet do we most gratefully commemorate c. Our indignation against the wickedness of Men must not make us forget the goodness of God to the Martyr to his Son and to us First For that abundance of Grace granted to the Father the shining Rays whereof were so conspicuous and so dazling as to convert some of his Persecutors and to strike others with a horror that never left them to their Death His being Betraied and Sold Imprisoned and Rudely used his Mock-trial and Infamous Sentence he bore with stupendious Meekness yet with a great and even Mind But the greatest glories of the Divine Grace shone forth at the time of his Death when he expressed so much Piety to God Patience under his Sufferings Love to all his Subjects and Charity to his Enemies whom he forgave and prayed for as Jesus did that it was apparent to all this was beyond the power of human Nature nothing but the most exalted degrees of Grace could reach these Heights It may be said of him as it was of the greatest Ancient Martyrs that he suffered Death so couragiously and so calmly as if the Wounds
then we grow very high and vain And if we barely conceit we are though but in one instance better than others (n) Prov. III. 7. this puffs us up with Pride till we forget the frailty and meanness of our Nature which though it be outwardly clothed with never so gay a fortune or inwardly adorned with never so excellent Gifts still we are in our Nature but like Dust out of which Man was made (o) Gen. III. 19. Pulvis non modo eris sed es D. Bern. Quid superbis pulvis ciuis cujus conceptus culpa nasci miseria vivere poena mori angustia id Medit c. 3. or the Ashes he shall be reduced to that is we are as soon and as easily scattered and blown away and being also very sinful alas we may provoke Heaven to cut us off sooner than our usual term of Life Why then should we be proud of any thing within us or without us when the Vessel it self is so brittle which contains it Why should we be exalted at these things which we have so slender hold of If Greatness or good Qualities had been preservatives against Death and Violence our Royal Martyr had been secure because both of them met in perfection in him but he thus falling methinks we should never presume But that according to the Example of this c. This excellent King may justly be stiled a Blessed Martyr since his Life was so holy and his Death was a Witness and Seal to his Faith for he chose a cruel Execution rather than he would violate his Conscience by deserting the Church and his Peoples Rights (p) Non poena sed causa facit Martyrem Aug. ep 61. And none of the noble Army of Martyrs have left us a better Example We may learn all the former Lessons from him He long expected and strictly prepared for Death he despised all the Glories of this World and while all but his blinded Enemies admired him he had low thoughts of himself The Crown he alone desired was that of Immortality and therefore both in prosperity and adversity with St. Paul he still pressed forward toward this mark (q) Phil. III. 14. even that Prize of Eternal Life which God the Master of the Race hath promised to all that love and fear him And in order to obtain this Crown he exercised all those Graces practised all those Virtues that lead to it His Faith was active and steddy his Patience singular and extraordinary his Humility most conspicuous and truly lovely his Meekness under the highest provocations was stupendious and admirable his Mortification in the plenty and pleasures of a Court was unparalleld his Charity in pitying praying for and forgiving his Enemies was scarce ever equalled by any mortal Man finally he persevered in all these Graces to the end he was faithful to the Death and so no doubt he is now Blessed and hath obtained what he ever wished for even the Crown of Eternal Life (r) Rev. II. 10. Now if we-desire a part in the Glories he enjoys we must follow his Steps practise these Virtues in which he spent his Life (s) Nescio qua fronte cum omnibus sanctis partem habere in aeternâ beatitudine desideramus quorum exempla sequi non acquiescimus Aug. de Temp. Ser. 61. and hold fast that Faith which he sealed with his Blood at his Death and then though we be not called to the Crown of Martyrdom yet we shal ever live with him and all the holy Martyrs and our Lot shall be among the Saints And all this for thy Son our Lord Iesus c. These Petitions are all of so high importance to us that though as Sinners we are unworthy to ask them yet since we cannot be sanctified and saved unless we obtain them We come to the Throne of Grace and beg them in his Name whose Intercession can prevail for every thing that we can need or Heaven grant and if for Jesus sake these our Prayers be heard we do promise to make returns of Praise yea in hopes of success through this our most powerful Advocate we do now actually give to the Father to whom our Prayer is directed to the Son in whose Name our Prayers are heard and to the Holy Ghost by whose aid we pray fervently all Honour and Glory and resolve to do so for ever and ever Amen The end of the Office for Jan. XXX A DISCOURSE ON THE OFFICE FOR THE XXIXth of May. BEING A Thanksgiving for the Restauration of the King and Royal Family An. 1660. THAT which was premised to the preceding Office may serve for a Preface to this because the Miseries of that Day made way for the Joy of this Solemnity The Royal Martyrs Cruel Tragedy and all the Woful Consequences of it in Church and State for twelve tedious years made this Day to be celebrated with such extraordinary and universal rejoycing as if the Nation had got a New Soul and every Man had that day been first made Free. To see our Oppressors suddenly vanish our Ancient Government and our Lawful King our Native Liberties and Gods True Religion restored without Blood or the least Opposition was the wonder of all the Christian World and so great a Blessing to this Land that so long as the Church of England and that Royal Family then restored continue which I hope will be till Time be swallowed up by Eternity so long this Day must be registred in our Kalenders as a day of Praise and Thanksgiving And since we and the Ages after us have and will receive the benefit of the establishments then made we and our Posterity are bound to keep up the Memorial of this great Mercy The Sentences and the Hymn instead of the Venite § 1. THis Office is introduced with Proper Sentences The First Dan. IX 9 10. being Daniels Confession of his Peoples Transgression and of Gods Mercy and this is to be used also upon Jan. XXX and is explained in the Companion to the Temple Part I. The second Sentence Lament III. 22. ascribes our preservation from utter Ruin solely and intirely to the Divine Mercy and Never-failing Compassion The Hymn instead of the Venite hath seven Particulars 1st A Resolution to praise God for ever Ps LXXXIX 1. 2ly The Grounds of it 1. For the greatness of his Works Psal CXI 4. CVI. 2. CXI 2. 2. The Equity of his Providence Psal CXLVII 6. CIII 6. 3. The Wonders of his Mercy Psal CIII 9 10 11 13. 3ly A Commemoration of 1. Our great Troubles Psal LXVI 9.11 LXXI 18. 2. Our happy Deliverance out of them Psal CXXXVI 23 24. Psal LXXXV 1. LIX 10. 3. Our Enemies just fall Psal XX. 8. XXXVI 12. 4ly A Prophecy of future Success Psal CXV 12 13. 5ly A Prayer 1. For our own Gratitude Psal CVII 21.22 2. For our Childrens remembring it after us Psal LXXVIII 4 6 9. 6ly An Exhortation to all to praise God
Psal LXVIII 26 19. 7ly A Pious Wish that 1. Sinners may be punished Psal VII 9. 2. Good Men may rejoyce Psal XL. 19. Brief Notes on this Hymn Psal LXXXIX 1. THE restoring our Monarchy and reestablishing our Church were such a demonstration of Gods loving kindness to us and of the certain Truth of all those Promises which we relied on in our Trouble That his Goodness and Truth ought both to be the constant Subjects of the Praises of this Age and of the next Generation also Psal CXI 4. 'T is pity any of his Works should be forgotten But there was so much Free Grace and Mercy in his delivering us from our Oppressors and such Miracles of Wisdom and Power in restoring our ancient Government and Religion that we should be hateful to God and Man and the most ungrateful Wretches in the World (a) Omnes enim immemorem beneficij oderunt Cicer. de Offic. lib. 2. if we do not keep a Memorial of this for ever Psal CVI. 2. 'T is true this and the rest of Gods Noble Acts are such complications of Infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness and all of them so perfectly excellent that no man can sufficiently describe them nor express all the Praises due to their Divine Author (b) Ecclus XLIII 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hermes Aegypt So that being overwhelmed with Admiration at their astonishing Glories we must at first wonder in silence and Adore Psal CXI 2. However good Men delight in nothing more than in studying and meditating upon the Mercy which Contrives the Wisdom which Conducts and the Power which Accomplishes these stupendious Works 't is pleasant above all things to them to search into the Causes and happy Effects of them (c) Non patior me quicquam nescire de eo quem amem Plin. Epist they could with great satisfaction if it were possible spend their whole time in these Contemplations Psal CXLVII 6. If we turn our thoughts from hence to the most righteous administrations of his Providence thence will arise new matter for our Praises How often doth he pity the Humble and Meek who though extremely injured are perhaps not able however not willing to avenge themselves And doth he not at the same time cast down their impious and proud Oppressors from their usurped Power and Authority Psal CIII 6. They may be so strong and so secured that Men dare not accuse or cannot punish them but the Lord the supreme Judge of all will at last take the innocent Mans case into his hand and will not only pass a righteous Sentence but also execute it effectually by shewing Mercy to the Oppressed and sending his Judgments on the Oppressors Ver. 9. As to his own Children though they often offend him and sometimes go on a long time in their folly yet such is his gracious Nature that he bears with them a great while before his anger begin and then also it is soon over (d) Irasci quidem rebus indignus sed flecti citò Aurel. Victor de Theodos he doth not keep it for ever Ver. 10. When our Sins compel him to correct us for the vindication of his Laws he punishes us less than our iniquities deserve the Correction begins not so soon rises not so high nor endures so long as it justly might Ver. 11. His Mercy is as much higher and greater than ours as his Glorious Habitation of Heaven is higher and larger than this Earth on which we dwell this is but a small point compared to that vast Circumference yet such are all human Compassions in comparison of his infinite Pity towards us Ver. 13. We may help our weak Apprehensions by likening his Affection and Kindness to those that fear him when they are in distress to the tender pity that a loving Parent hath to his dearest Child when it is in extream Torment But this will fall far short of Gods Infinite Compassion Psal LXVI 9 11. Yet as the kindest Father is sometimes forced to correct his beloved but offending Child so our Sins and Corruptions do often compel our Heavenly Father to afflict us He is necessitated to put us into the Fire of Calamity and try us as Silver is tried (e) Omnia adversa caercitaâ—iones putat Sen. de Prov. cap. 2. but his design is not to consume but purifie us and therefore if we bear them patiently they ever end well Thus in our Case while our Oppressors had Power they used us with as much contempt as if they had trampled us under their Horses Feet we escaped as narrowly as if we had been to run through a raging Fire (f) 1 Cor. III. 15. or wade over a deep Water But the happy Restauration brought us into a condition of Safety Peace and Plenty again Psal LXXI 18. Lord how many Miseries did then beset us Our Religion our Liberty our Estates and Lives were all at Stake yea we and our Hopes also seemed to be buried in the Earth Yet according to thy wonted Compassion thou didst turn and refresh us with an unexpected Deliverance So that our Church and Monarchy with all the true Friends of both seemed to have a new Resurrection from that Grave in which our Foes hoped they would have slept for ever Psal CXXXVI 23 24. Our Estate before was very low Plundering and Sequestration Fines and Imprisonment Banishment and the Sword had made our Condition seem helpless and our Ruin unavoidable But when thou O Lord didst undertake our Rescue moved by thy never-failing Pity we were suddenly and strangely set free Therefore we will sing that triumphant Psalm (g) Solet iste Psalmus rebus laetis auâ—iberi Gâ—ot in Psal 136. which celebrates the eternal duration of thy Mercy and was wont to be used on the most joyful occasions Psal LXXXV 1. and LIX 10. Never was so Blessed a Change in so short a space brought about in any Land and Heaven was eminently gracious to ours in so wonderfully putting an end to our miserable Bondage We had a most convincing Evidence of Gods abundant Goodness in his letting our Eyes see what our Hearts had so long wished even the Cessation of that Tyranny under which we had groaned Psal XX. 18. and XXXVI 12. By thy Providence we saw them fall from their usurped Authority and our selves raised up to our ancient Freedom under our Rightful Prince They were exalted by Injustice and we had been depressed by Violence therefore their Ruin is most just and we hope their Recovery impossible so long as thou O Righteous Lord dost govern the World Psal CXV 12 13. We thought our Misery very tedious and our Burden very heavy but found at last that God had us in his Mind all those sad times therefore why should we not hope he will go on to Bless both his People and his Priests after this Deliverance We cannot doubt the continuance of his Favour if we continue to fear him in our Prosperity as we did in our Adversity
bless with all increase c. Lastly As an assurance that our Loyalty is grounded on our Affection and from our Heart we do according to Gods Command devoutly pray for him and them (y) 1 Tim. II. 1 2. First as to this World we pray that neither He nor his Successors may want Grace to persevere in the profession and practice of the true Religion The want of which now we know by sad experience to be as woful a Judgment as can befall us Secondly That they may rule so uprightly and act so wisely and justly as not owe all their Honour to their Royal Extraction and Supream Dignity but to their Virtues (z) Magna est Christi gratia nobilitatem moribus superasse Foelix 4. Pap. ep 2. wherein we pray they may as much excel others as they do in Degree and Fortune And Thirdly That they may live long in Health and Wealth Peace and Plenty being ever Successful and Victorious and abounding in Power and Friends which will be their Subjects happiness as well as theirs who flourish in Prosperity under Pious Wise and Happy Governours and therefore we ask Blessings for our selves while we beg these Mercies for them But Finally Since all these are but the appendages of a fading Earthly Crown and we know the greatest of Princes as well as the best of Men are mortal our good wishes reach further and we pray that after we have enjoyed them long to our Comfort and Advantage here they may after many years (a) Serus in coelum redeas diuque Laetus intersis populo Quirini Horat. Od. 2. be translated to a higher better and never-fading Crown of Glory to reign with him in Heaven whose Honour they have asserted and whose Truth they have maintained in this World to which Prayers may Almighty God for Jesus sake say Amen The Third Collect. § 8. THis Prayer being the same for the main with that which is the first in the Office for November 5. needs not any Analysis or Explication here except only as to the recital of the Deliverance this Day compleated by the Restauration The Actors in the Popish Treason and this pretended to be as different in their Principles as they were in their Methods but their Ends were one and the same which was to ruin the Established Government and Religion and though their success was different for a while yet the same Gracious God who had prevented the first blasted also the later Design So that it is proper enough in general to make the same Acknowledgments on both Occasions But as to that which relates to this Day we may note 1. The Efficient Cause of this singnal and wonderful Deliverance which was the allwise and good Providence of God whose Wisdom baffled their Policies and whose Goodness moved him to Pity the injured King and the oppressed People of this Land and as on this Day he rescued both in so strange a manner as exceeded any thing that the Usurpers could fear or the Sufferers hope for For so great so sudden and so peaceable a Change never was wrought in any Nation in the World before it was the visible hand of God that did effect it Secondly The Objects of this Favour were our late Gracious Sovereign King Charles II. with the whole Royal Family who returned this Day from that tedious twelve Years Exile into which their Enemies Malice had driven them and in which their Power had till then detained them But the Mercy was not confined to them all Orders and Degrees of Men in Church and State shared with them in this Blessing The Nobility and Gentry had been trampled on and impoverished the Orthodox Clergy sequestred and silenced the Commons overburdned with Taxes and Freequarter and all but the Usurpers and their Myrmidons ruined and undone but with the King and his Family all these were restored to their Priviledges Honours Offices and Estates And Thirdly it should add to our joy to consider what the Nation was delivered from that is from an unnatural Rebellion wherein Subjects were engaged against a most religious King the Father of his Country and Natural Fathers against their Sons Brother against Brother and Relations obliged to kill their nearest Friends (b) Non victoria est ista quae à Civibus reportatur ferro quo ipsos necas teipsum confodis Job Ludolf histor Aethiop l. 3. c. 12. So that which side soever gained the Nation was sure to lose Again We were delivered from that Usurpation and Tyranny which the pretended Saints but really impious Conquerors had got by Force and exercised with Cruelty over their Fellow-subjects Finally We were delivered from all sorts of Confusions in Church and State and the woful Ruin to private Families and Persons consequent thereupon For all this to end in Peace and Tranquility and every ones regaining his own Rights was a stupendious Mercy deserving all those Acknowledgments and Praises with which this excellent Collect ends * Note The 4th and 5th Collect are repeated here and were explained before The Gospel § 9. THis Epistle is the same with that for January the 30th excepting the two first Verses which we will paraphrase here and refer the Reader for the rest to the Office for that Day 1 Pet. I. Ver. XI Though I have called you Christians a Royal Priesthood a chosen generation c. Ver. 9 10. you must not think your selves exempted from subjection to Governours or imagine that Dominion is founded in Grace No my Dearly Beloved Countrymen and Converts I beseech you for all these spiritual Priviledges to consider your selves as strangers not only far removed from Canaan but from Heaven also your proper and most desirable Country and as pilgrims in this World travelling toward your Fathers House Now such use not to concern themselves with the Government Fashions or Interests they find in those Lands they sojourn in or are to pass through (d) Vid. D. Bern. Serm. in loc p. 118. In like manner you must abstain from fleshly lusts especially those which will make you uneasie to the Government of the Countries where you are viz. Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murders and the like (e) Gal. V. 10 11. For it is not only contrary to the Character of Strangers and Pilgrims to be thus mischievous and troublesome But it will be hurtful to our selves to nourish such unruly Lusts which war not only against the Rulers of this World but against your own souls also encreasing your Guilt hindring your Devotion devesting you of Humility and Meekness Patience and Peace and extinguishing your Prudence as well as your Charity Ver. XII And besides abstaining from these Lusts will be much for the Honour of Christianity for your having your conversation honest and living quietly among the Gentiles will alter their Opinion of you So that whereas ranking you with the unconverted Jews they speak against you as being seditious stubborn mutinous (f) Adversus