have I in Heaven but thee All the Blessings that we do enjoy are the sweet influences of Heaven upon us Spiritual or Temporal First Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places arise from no other Spring and are Irradiations of the Trinity and the great kindness of Heaven to Mankind in relation to these Souls of ours The Father Son and Holy Ghost have all done their parts for them The Father gave his only Son the Son gave himself left his Glory and endured the bitter Death of the Cross meerly to keep our Souls from perishing The Holy Ghost is become as it were our Attendant waits upon us with continual offers of his Grace to enable us to do that which may preserve them These things all the Persons work equally and inseparably in respect of the Cause and Effect It is a Rule in Divinity That all the Works of the Trinity ad extra are common to the whole Trinity God the Father Son and Holy Ghost do co-operate and work together for what one doth all do yet in congruity we attribute a distinct Act in regard of the Order and Object 1. The Father Creates Gen. 1.1 In Order the original of Action is ascribed to the Father Joh. 5.17 19. 2. The Son Redeems Gal. 3.13 The Nature and Manner of Working to the Son Joh. 1.3 Heb. 12. 3. The Holy Ghost Illuminates 2 Pet. 1.21 The Efficacy and Power to the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 11.12 The Father is to be adored as altogether of Himself The Son to be glorified as that Consubstantial Word The Holy Ghost to be magnified as that Co-essential Spirit eternally proceeding from Both. The Three Persons in the Trinity is the Object of our Faith and we daily owne it in our Creed 1. We believe in God the Father who made the World 2. In God the Son who redeem'd all Mankind 3. In God the Holy Ghost who sanctifies all the Elect People of God An Unity of Essence and a Trinity of Order Ordo Originis though not Regiminis Co-ordinativus though not Sub-ordinativus of Priority though not Superiority a First a Second and a Third though not a higher lower and lowest Deut. 6.4 1 Cor. 8.6 for the Lord our God is one Lord the Godhead or Essence of God is one undivided * This Tradition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a point of great discourse amongst the Ancients it was the great Principle on which Parmenides founded his divine Idea's delivered by Plato Platonicae ideae ortum habuerunt ex Parmenide cujus magnum principium fuit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one and many one in the Architype Idea God many in their individual Natures or otherwise it relates to the Unity of the Divine Essence and the Plurality of Persons for the Platonists speak much of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Trinity Parmenides who followed Pythagoras is brought in by Plato philosophizing on that old Axiom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One and Many and determined thus That God was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. one Divine Essence he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one immutable Being he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Eternal Being This Plato discourseth in his Philebus at large shewing how 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One was Many and Many One. And it is not only good Philosophy but sound Divinity the Godhead considered diversly for the manner of Being is Three Persons in One Essence the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 The Father is the First Person of the Trinity having Foundation in none of Personal Substance 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not begotten to the Father The Son is the Second Person of the Trinity having Foundation of Personal Substance of whom he is eternally begotten Joh. 5.26 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Begotten to the Son The Holy Ghost is the Third Person in the Trinity having Foundation from the Father and the Son from both which he especially proceedeth Joh. 14.26 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proceeding to the Holy Ghost Here is a threefold Unity of Persons in one Nature of Natures in One Person of Natures and Persons in One Quality In the First is one God In the Second one Christ In the Third one Spirit All this Unity is but to usher in a single Deity S. Paul concludes all with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is one God Eph. 4.6 And the Soul carrieth an Image of the Unity of the Godhead and Trinity of Persons in that there is one Soul with three Faculties of Understanding Will and Memory Let us all now lift up our heart and voice and praise God chanting forth the Anthem of the Seraphims for the Redemption of the World by our Lord Jesus Christ the Second Person of the Trinity concluding with S. Basil's Liturgy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O God our God who hast sent this heavenly Bread the Food of all the World Our Lord Jesus Christ to be to us a Saviour a Redeemer Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all the Company of Heaven we laud and magnifie thy glorious Name evermore praising thee and saying Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory Secondly As Spiritual so Temporal Blessings are the product of Heaven This Day is a signal Instance and carries with it the Pomp of Blaze and Splendour as it is the Anniversary of His Majesty's happy Birth and Nativity And that Divine Providence that brought him this Day into the World hath led him by the hand of his visible goodness Ever since he entred the porch of life and walked upon the pavement of the Earth he has had the Royal Charter of Heaven and enjoy'd the testimony of Gods special care even a Writ of Protection 1 Chron. 16.22 Touch not mine Anointed do my Prophets no harm His Life hath been a continued Series of Divine Favour The Adversary hath not been able to do him violence the Son of wickedness could not hurt him but he hath smitten down his Foes before his face cloathed them with shame and wounded them that hated him The great Majesty of Heaven was a Helmet of Salvation unto him a strong Tower of Defence against his cruel Enemies Domestick and Foreign at home and abroad First Cruel Enemies at home who invested their Sword with the Authority of Law and made themselves after the Image of a King and usurp'd the Seat Royal chang'd the Kingdom into a State and Monarchy into a Common-wealth This was in the time of our late Troubles and Confusions when Monarchy was shaken off Religion and Property were lost and Laws and Liberty were with no small violence invaded being as in the days of Jeroboam whoever would 1 Kings 13.33 were consecrated Priests of the high places And when Souldiers turn'd Preachers every act of Providence that seems to favour their Designs shall be the voice of God Every opportunity to do mischief to such as they
Purple Robe they bow their knees and cry Hail King of the Jews Joh. 19.2 3. They cut down branches and spread them in the way singing Hosanna to the Son of David when they part his garments and for his vesture cast Lots And whatever dress they put on display them to be a spurious brood within the pale but no true Sons of the Church were they so their looks would not speak smiles whilst storms did surge in their breasts who about the froth of their own brains dare rent the peace and tranquillity of it and war for the aery projections of their giddied heads as if Heaven and Earth were little enough to be mingled in the quarrel tearing the seamless Coat of the holy Jesus in pieces causing Divisions and Schisms that our holy Mother the Church is forced to utter her unwelcome voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Caesar said to Brutus What thou my Son But we are of a strange disposition we use not to regard the Sun or Moon till we see them in Eclipse Lunâ non aspicimus nisi laborante saith Seneca And that course of Aristotle with his Auditors best suits with our Natures before we are enamour'd with this holy concord we must be acquainted with its opposite vices * It is a Rule in Logick Contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt And a little knowledge in Judicial Astrology will serve the turn to predict the ill effects of the Serpents teeth division An easie Observation can foresee and foretel the sad Events of excentrick Motions and intestine Wars Peace and Unity like light and fruitful showres descend from above from Heaven from God but strifes and dissentions like tempestuous Vapours and fiery Exhalations come from the Earth from the devillish hearts designs and practices of men The Orator said well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Any rash hand or furious head may inflict a wound or kindle a fire but it is God alone who can heal up the breaches of a Church or State Private grudges and contentions like several Cards in a Map whose Lines are drawn infinitely crossing cut and thwart each other must needs shew us the way to publick calamity When humane Societies become Cannibals to one another the bands of love which hold Mankind together must necessarily be dissolv'd and we can't but behold a very sad Landskip of horrour and confusion because animosities and divisions feed on envy and malice so long till they break forth into a consuming fire in ruine and desolation by an open Hostility The Earth grows wild and becomes a great Forest of savage and cruel Monsters and Mankind turns Beasts of prey one towards another When our united Force should encounter Babylon the common Enemy * Cumque superba foret Babylon spolianda trophaeis Lucan we weaken our selves like those ancient Romans by mutual dissentions and perish by our own oppositions If Christians would but take the Moralists counsel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to spend and derive their malice some other way for many had rather employ their time in picking and feeding quarrels in the Church at home than advance the unity of the Faith abroad and how can any expect security from their enemies while they are at variance thus with themselves Do any hope to escape the fury of Aliens while they are ready to sheath their Swords in each others bowels Eph. 4.3 S. Paul that great Patriot of Religion and glorious Angel upon Earth perswades all to keep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace And if he hath but reason enough to make him a man and so much Religion as will name him Christian I doubt not but he will hearken to S. Peters advice 1 Pet. 3.11 to seek peace and ensue it And will follow that which makes for peace as S. Paul would have us Rom. 14.19 for whether it be a security from open Invasions or an immunity from home-bred Oppositions it is dulce nomen pacis even to them that know no more of it besides its name The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a comprehensive term and signifies all prosperity or outward happiness in the Hebrew stile or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to knit being as 't were the tye of mens affections in either of these respects 't is a thing delightful under any notion it is amiable and lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Nazianzen It is a kind of sweet divine and heavenly concent harmony or beauty of things subordinate one to another In the oeconomy of Nature unity or peace is the combination of Creatures by symbolical qualities so contempered and disposed by the will and pleasure of the All-wise Creator that all agree to a perfect harmony of the Universe to make up one intire body the World In the lesser Worlds of mixt Bodies peace or unity is the equal balance or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 due moderation and temper of humors and parts which keep their true place and proportion Quâ quodlibet corpus non minùs appetit unitatem suam quà m Entitatem therefore it preserves Unity as its Being In the Political World the State peace or unity is the setling and due ordering of things by just Laws of Government so that Laws and Government are the Charter of our Lives and Liberty the Pillar and Basis of States and Kingdoms and Cement of all Societies for the whole design of Civil Power or Authority is to procure the private and publick happiness of Mankind to preserve men in their Rights against the insolent Usurpations and Outrages of murders perjuries fraud and violence and such like misdemeanors as would invade the World with Anarchy and disorder and bring the Politick Body to confusion There is no one thing Religion excepted that more secures and adorns the State than Justice * Jus aequitas vincula civitatum Cic. Parad. doth It is both Columna Corona Reipublicae saith a Reverend Father of the Church a prop to make it subsist firm in it self Pietas justitia duo sulcra Reipub. columnae regni Vbi non est pudor nec cura juris sanctitas pietas fides instabile regnum est As is well observed by the Tragedian and as a Crown to render it glorious in the eyes of others Truth Order and Justice are the only foundations of Peace and Unity in Church and State In the rational World as men who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rational and sociable Creatures Unity is the conjunction of every mans powers and faculties in himself composing one individual inclination and then concurring to a general union of wills and affections for Truth is but one as the Center and draws all minds to an unity which tend to it In the spiritual World as Christians the Church is not a name of division but of unity and concord * Ibi non est Ecclesia ubi non est
look for a Church triumphant here below What scandalous and irreligious Libels of factious Brains have been exposed to the publick view of all Athenian Gazers What indiscreet and Satyrical Pamphlets have been dispersed by a malevolent Party to incite a dislike and hatred of the Government in Church and State For Sions sake then I cannot hold my peace but deplore the decay of Religion by the want of Union and Loyalty and the defect of the practice of this ancient and heavenly Duty of Unanimity amongst us Our Saviour left to his Church the Legacy of Peace Joh. 14.27 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Farewel gift or as S. Basil calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a largess dropt from a higher World worth the keeping therefore let us in our several stations endeavour the unity of the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the bond of peace beating down all animosities study of Parties and obstinacy in Opinions which breeds disaffection and this humor grows impetuous * Animi inflammati ebulliunt ad certamen marching like Jehu the Son of Nimshi furiously till it flames into open contention giving to the restless Emissaries * Whatever the pretensions of Rome are to love and concord among themselves yet their want of unity appears in their different Opinions Schisms cruel Wars and in the contests between their Popes and Acts of their Councils contradicting one another Bishop Hall in his Tract of Rome sets down 300 differences of Opinions maintained in the Popish Church recited by Bellarmine himself the Arch-pillar of the Roman Synagogue The many Schisms in the Church of Rome may be easily conjectured when there were several Popes at the same time one fought against another and the greatest Conquerour wore the Triple Crown The people were wofully divided and many thousands of Christians were slain in those bloody Battels between Pope Vrban and Pope Clement This Schism continued almost fifty years one resident at Rome another at Avignon The want of concord and unity in the See of Rome is also demonstrable in their cruel Wars between the Popes and Emperours called Bellum Pontificum whereby all Europe at one time or another has been divided by Feuds and Factions And the Popes not only thundred out their Excommunications against the Emperours but also perswading their own Subjects to levy War against them as if Christ had ordained his Sacraments not to be Seals of Grace and helps of our Faith but hooks to catch Kingdoms and rods to scourge such Potentates as would not or could not procure the Popes favour and consequently has embroiled the Christian World in discord and dissention in great and cruel Wars It is a thankless work in the sight of God to improve his Worship by the dint of the Sword and to found his Church as Romulus did Rome in blood No such Sacrifices no such Ambages of cruelty can be acceptable to the God of mercy and Prince of peace and pity The bitter contention and envy of one Pope to another speaks their privation or want of unity one disannulling all the Acts of another as Pope Stephen VI. abrogated all the Decrees of his Predecessor Formosus and so of many others The like appears in their Councils contradicting one another the Council of Basil decreed for the Council against the Pope and the Council of Lateran under Leo X. decreed for the Pope against the Council The Council of Toledo did prohibit the Worship of Images the second Council of Nice commands it And so our Adversaries of Rome who boast of intire Unity may see their own vanity of the Church of Rome and growing Sectaries great advantage and to Satan no small occasion to laugh and triumph It were well for us if we would see or suspect the policy of the Devil or his Agents who envy our happiness and take advantage either of our judgments depraved or Natures corrupted to make us their instruments to break our blessed unity in Church or State And so while we are contending for shadows we may be deprived of the substance and be brought into irrecoverable confusion therefore let brotherly love and unity be maintained in the World standing fast in one Spirit with one mind for the Faith of the Gospel * It is one evidence of the Truth of the Christian Religion that Christ hath carried it on by means contemptible against all oppositions imaginable Who could have thought that a few illiterate Fishermen that had neither skill in Grammar or knowledge in Rhetorick should carry on the Truth in a Majestick simplicity The Princes of the Earth being not only non-assistants but all the great Monarchs of the World opposing Christianity in the infancy thereof whilst it was in the cradle Acts 4.26 27. King Herod's enraged jealousie burned so fiercely that it sucked up the blood of all the male-infants within the Coasts of Bethlehem And had not an heavenly inspiration diverted the Eastern 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the intended way of their return their blood also should have run among the ingredients and made up the dose to allay the fury of an angry Prince Add unto this those fierce persecutions continuing in their height and heat with a rage reaching up to Heaven for the space of three hundred years no storms could blow out the light of this Sun clouds might cover it but never extinguish it because the Gospel is from God the World cannot overthrow it Acts 5.39 whereas all those Religions which the Romans Greeks and all the Gentiles went a gadding after before the advent of our Saviour are all come to nothing and the rest risen since shall shortly be destroyed with the brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 therefore stand fast in an united conformity striving together for the Faith of the Gospel as Members of one Body under one Head Jesus Christ Which leads me to the second general as the alliance of humane Nature so the bands of a spiritual Consanguinity engages us to holy concord Gal. 3.28 We are all one in Christ Jesus Christ taught all alike to call God Father in the Lords Prayer All have the same filial Prerogatives Gal. 4.26 Jerusalem above is the Mother of us all All as one mans children have the same food provided them like Aristotle's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are brought up with the same milk 1 Pet. 2.2 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as S. Peter calls it of the Word For all Christians are Children of the same heavenly Father Mal 2.10 regenerated to the same lively hope Rom. 8.17 coheirs of the same heavenly Inheritance redeemed by a Saviour that breathed out nothing but Love Isa 63 9. Joh. 15 13. sanctified and sealed by a Spirit of Unity It is a Truth in the fourth of the Acts there were many bodies and but one Soul I wish unanimity may so combine * The language of Constantine to his Synod of Bishops has been
applied by the Royal Charles of Great Britain our most gracious Constantine to his Senate at Westminster or several Houses of Parliament I shall be as glad of your future Vnion as now I am of your welcome Meeting the people of this Realm and knit together the hearts of this whole Nation as the heart of one man in the defence of our King our Lawâ— and our Religion that as Aristotle taught in his Ethicks though they be many in Body yet they 'l be but one Soul Crederes unam mentem in dâ—â—â—bus fuisse divisam as 't was between Minutius Felix and his Octavius God grant 'em a Soul that 's one in will and one in desire one in resolution and one in Religion for united Spirits graciously consorting together by a sweet harmony of affections tend not only to the glory of our Jerusalem to be as a City that is at unity in it self but the Nature of our Religion specially requires it and the honour thereof exacts it from us because the Lord our God is one Lord. This Unity is Oyntment which covering the head and running down to the skirts makes the Prince glorious and the Subject happy for where it is there the Lord hath commanded the blessing As difference of Languages hindred the erection of Babel so disunion of minds the going forward of the second Temple whose foundation is laid in Love Surely Sion can as ill be built with discord of Hearts as Babel could with discord of Tongues God is not wont to be in the Whirlwind of dissention but in the still Voice and that heavenly Dove the Holy Ghost like the Halcyon only builds his Nest in a calm The garment of the Kings Daughter the Church is of divers colours though there be variety of Gifts yet it should be like Christ's Coat without seam in veste varietas sit scissura non sit Lines the nearer they approach to the Center the nearer they are to one another those then are at the greatest distance from God who are furthest off from one another in uncharitable differences It was the great business of our Saviour's advent into the World to make peace in Heaven and Earth to reconcile men to God and to one another to take away all feuds and to extinguish animosities to bring to an agreement Tempers most distant saith a Learned Divine to make the Lamb and the Wolf lye down together He came not to kill and destroy but for the healing of the Nations When the glorious Temple was built at Jerusalem God would have but one Altar there to shew quòd unum eundemque cultum inter omnes esse vellet all that sacrificed there should have one and the same Worship but one Altar typifying one Religion one heart and that it might be unto the people ut vinculum sacrae unitatis a bond of sacred union And this is the noblest Argument that can possibly be discussed to compose distractions and allay the animosities which particular respects private interests and parties of Religion have raised among us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be of one mind in the Lord for it is not enough concordare to agree but we must convenire come together and not only so but consentire agree in Judgment that we may be brought cohabitare to dwell together in unity O how happy a thing it is to see the Churches Children spread themselves like Olive-branches round her Table in a peaceable and flourishing manner Honour and Riches are insensibly multiplied upon a Nation that seeks its glory by a dutiful submission to its lawful Prince while it looks upon Union as the best Accommodation and choicest Treasure the Heavens and Earth conspire to make it plentiful and abounding in all wealth and opulency Deut. 28.2 3. 4 5 6. As those Pigeons then which having drunk of the River of Life held up their Bill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 joyntly together in token of thankfulness So let us all praise God with one accord in the Temple being of one heart and one Soul mind and judgment because the Lord our God is one Lord. Deut. 6.4 Mark 12.29 And what the Idea of the World could not the sacred Pages and Volumes of holy Writ have discover'd of the Deity the Co-eternity of the Son of God with the Father the procession of the Holy Ghost from both the Unity of the three in one uncreated Essence 1 Epist Ch. 5. ver 7. For there are three that bear record in Heaven saith S. John the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Thou art my Creator my Redeemer and my Comforter which makes the question past all question and needs no further disputation I have none in Heaven but thee The desire of this Celestial place and state causeth the Royal Prophet to despise all transitory flashes and sparks of earthly pleasures which is the second part viz. Low in a positive determination And there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee The Princes and Monarchs of the World who are retinued with all the Equipage of Greatness and strange variety of delights being liberally and abundantly provided for Silver Gold and Jewels are their's and all Creatures in the Earth and the Air and Water are pressed for their service yet all these enjoyments are nothing without thee None upon Earth I desire besides thee Et tecum non the negation is personal no man for his favour no Creature for its excellency that I desire in the least comparison of thee For the treasures of this world are but gilded Thorns and concealed Miseries and yet how many Shrines and Altars are there erected in mens hearts to this great Idol of the World Most scarce acknowledge any other God but this Golden Calf to which they pay their servile devotions And when thoughts stream towards wealth Rivers are but draughts enough for them Quod naturae satis est homini non est as Seneca that grave Moralist speaks of Alexander who had swallowed up Darius and the Indies and yet in those flouds did thirst and in that surfeit was hungry If the Earth were a Center of Diamonds and did the Heavens showre down Pearls into Diana's lap and could we enjoy the Land with its Minerals of Gold and the Sea with the greatness of its Treasure sending Ships to Tarshish and fetching Spices from the East in the Navy of Hiram all these things can't satiate the desires of the Soul but are miserable fruitions without the glorious Trinity Then when others lay up on Earth Heaven shall be my Treasure For the favour of a Prince is but a pleasing snare without thee and therefore non est in terris there is none upon Earth I desire besides thee The World is a Theatre of sorrow a warfare and a bondage all are prisoners some in golden Chains others in Iron some slaves to poverty others to riches some to honour others to meanness And all these are interwoven with mixt
oppose shall be interpreted a Command from Heaven to do it Judg. 5.23 Curse ye Meroz was the Text Rapine and Plunder the Comment and the Use Wars sounded as loud from the Pulpit as the Drum as if it had been the task of the Heavens to kill and slay and for its Arms hung in the Zodiack Man's Anatomy to shew they were born with those that arose oâ— the Dragon's Teeth in the Poet Mutuis perire gladiis to bleed to death on one another's Swords And here I may lead your thoughts to the unnatural Civil War in our British Isle when Tribe did rise against Tribe Brother against Brother Marte cadunt subito per mutua vulnera fratres Ovid. And the sight of one Aceldama one field of Blood will raise mens careless thoughts to a due valuation and grateful apprehension of the comforts we enjoy under our most Gracious Soveraign He that has escaped with him in Job to bring news of rapine and violence can best tell us what it is to see a flourishing Land become a Sea of Blood because War playes Pliny's Cockatrice annoying whatsoever it doth touch He can tell us what it is to see the Horse in equal state with its Rider both of them weltering in their own gore He can shew us what it is to see the obedient Son run over his slain Father to escape the hands of his own Executioner He can shew us what it is to see the burning of Cities and the woful Inhabitants martyr'd in the flames Is not every Siege the Funeral of a City * Quot obsidia tot urbium funera quot pugnae tot hominum lanienae quot agmina tot ruris supplicia quot turmae catervae cohortes acies tot suriae ad exitium agrorum hominum armatae Putean in stat bell pacis lit every pitched Battle a Massacre If a Samuel 1 Sam. 15.33 hew Agag in pieces a David in the heat of War falls a cutting Ammonites 1 Chron. 20.3 Sin Satan and War have all one Name Evil is the best of them The best of Sin is deformity the best of Satan enmity the best of War misery * The Turkish History makes mention of the Scythian Tamâ—rlane when he walked amongst the slain aâ—ter a bloody Victory against the Muscovites He accounted those Princes unhappy which by the destruction of their own kind sought to advance their own honour protesting himself grieved even from his heart to see such sorrowful tokens of his Victory It is no wonder now to complain as the Orator to the Athenians whatsoever they gain in their thrifty Peace they are deprived of by those consuming Tumults for what Paradise is there under Heaven which a lasting War will not easily turn into a Wilderness Many in this Nâ—tion have witnessed the truth of it with their eyes and its horrour with their tears by these inconveniences we may judge of the benefits of Peace and may see what gracious opportunities it doth yield for the practice of Religion and Godliness We may behold with joy and thankfulness that the Ark the Testimony of Gods presence which was long held captive among the Philistins is now returned and happily setled among us and that his Worship is duly performed in his Word and Sacraments Let his lungs waste in his breast let his spirits decay let his tongue languish to a perpetual silence that will not beseech God to establish this blessing as firm as the days of Heaven and wish its continuance O then pray for the Peace * Pulchriùs vomer quà m ensis splendet bidens quà m hasta meliùs ferro vervacta agrorum quà m agmina agricolarum proscinduntur saith Puteanus of our Jerusalem that love her and consequently for the life and prosperity of the Monarch of Great Britain King Charles II. our dread Soveraign the light of our eyes and the breath of our nostrils Lam. 4.20 who causes malignant vapours to vanish and dispels those clouds of mischief by his Princely power that would turn Religion into Rebellion and Faith into Faction cry up Priviledge to invade Regal Prerogative and under the notion of the Preservers of our Peace and Defenders of our Liberties reach out their hand to turn the stream of Royalty and subvert an excellent Monarchy into a Tyrannical Republick The Fallacy having been put on the Kingdom and Cheat acted once before it will not easily prevail with men of sober and rational judgments to renounce their Religion the best in the world or their Loyalty and obedience to the best of Kings whose Princely Goodness is not more tender of the Imperial Crown and Dignity than of the Peace and tranquillity of the Subject The one as it regards Royal honour the other the care of his People to cause Religion happily to flourish and Liberty Laws and Property to be safe and inviolable with the Blessings of Heaven notwithstanding the subtile insinuations and cunning stratagems of the old Enemies of Monarchy and the Church to throw us back into a relapse which reminds us of the late Rebellion when men in Buff durst proclaim themselves the only Legal Authority of the Nation and these like a mighty Torrent did drive all before them with an unruly violence brake down the banks of Ecclesiastical Discipline making no difference betwixt things Sacred and Common swallowed up Churches with their Revenues and laid desolate Sanctuaries of Piety and Religion Here we may wail out an Epicedium War and desolation poverty and paleness and garments roll'd in blood hearing the woful groans of dying men and bitter lamentations of Children for their Parents The Orphan blubbers his cheeks and sighs with Elisha O my Father my Father Now David breaths out an Elegy and O Absalom Absalom my Son my Son And Rachel likewise weeps and will not be comforted because they are not These were the miseries this Kingdom groan'd under after the Barbarous and horrid Murder of that Glorious Martyr King Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory And so it continued under the heavy yoke of an insolent Usurpation till his Majesty's happy Restauration actual Government and gracious Reign over us in peace and quietness security and freedom We owe the happiness of these temporal enjoyments under God to the prudent Conduct of Regal Majesty And here take this Thesis or Doctrine by way of affirmative Position If the Church be depriv'd of Kingly Majesty she is as apt to be infected with home-bred Errours as Foreign injuries for when there was no King in Israel Judg. 17.6 every man did what was right in his own eyes We see then the Office of a King is attended with as much burden as Jurisdiction He must encounter with Adversaries For has the holy Oyl been pour'd upon his Head and the Crown setled upon it by Divine Providence which over-rules Nature He that has given him the Crown gave the Sword also to secure and guard it and as it was Judah's Prerogative to
igni remedium 't was this fire of holy Zeal and Christian Loyalty or Charity which out-burn'd that of Malice and Envy And in the midst of the fiercest flames that Barbarism and Cruelty could invent paid the Tribute of a peaceable subjection to their Murderers and made unforced acknowledgments of the Right they had to their obedience And the Church of England teaches no other Doctrine than what was taught by the Prophets and Apostles themselves i. e. Obedience and Submission to Kings and Governours In the Prophecy of Obadiah they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saviours or Deliverers In Ezekiel's language they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shepherds to feed and rule the People In S. Paul's they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God's Ministers nay Elohim Exod. 22.28 Gods by Office and Deputation to govern the affairs of men on Earth The Apostles also charged those whom they employ'd in setling of the Churches to put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers Tit. 3.1 and to obey Magistrates And S. Peter's Exhortation is Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 not only unto the King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as supreme but unto Governours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as being sent by him Rebellion then is as the sin of Witchcraft and Disobedience as the iniquity of Idolatry 1 Sam. 15.23 For whosoever disobeys the Viceroy affronts the Soveraign they fight against God and attempt to cross the Decrees of Heaven and frustrate the Counsel of the most High who says Prov. 8.15 By me Kings reign And it is the assertion of Plato That a Kingdom is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Divine Good which imprints on our minds a double instruction to Fear God and Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 First to adorn the Christian Religion with holiness and piety of life It is Religion that ennobles man erects his affections and estates him in a happiness above Nature alters his very being and puts him in opposition to what he was before Religion is the most effectual instrument to reform mens lives and bring them into an hatred of their vices which all Moralists especially the Pythagoreans after all their industry despaired of What Reports Diogenes Laertius and Valerius Maximus make of Polemus the Convert of Zeno are but mean and low things if compared with the Acts and glorious Success of Christianity whose virtue and influence upon mens Consciences inables them to subdue Self overcome their Vices check the impetuous force of their Passions and withstand their own carnal and sensual Inclinations the greatest and most noble Conquest As the Lustre of Christianity was thus bright and glorious in the Primitive Constitution so was the honour of its Professors that they were of such piety and integrity that their Adversaries confessed that their Religion was their only ruine Let us therefore be so stedfast in our Religion unshaken in our Faith so constant in our Devotion and holy and unspotted in our Lives that Wisdom may be justified not only of her Children but Enemies also which lays the greatest obligation on us to live the most holy and religious life towards God For were we more holy and righteous in our ways and did we walk in newness of life we should more convince the World of the Truth of our Religion Psal 93.5 Holiness saith the Psalmist becomes O Lord thine house for ever No garment becomes the Church so well as the garment of Holiness It is Sanctity that is the Churches Glory It is the Ephod of Purity that is the Churches Excellency Our first Creation set before us as Hieroglyphicks before the Egyptians whose very Shapes and Figures were Doctrinal and by a kind of Oratory preach'd the Spectators Duty What else means the Image of God in the Soul but that it might continually act and work according to the Pattern viz. Godliness after whose Likeness it was created according to Holiness and Perfection which it brought down from Heaven that reflecting still upon the same Image it might be holy as he is holy 1 Pet. 1.15 For a holy life and Christian works are the very way to the glorious Vision and Fruition of the great God in an everlasting blessed Life Therefore Fear God Rom. 6.22 and honour the King which is the best Christian practice and brings me to the next gradation in our Discourse viz. to crown our Zeal with Loyalty to the King for he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wears Gods Image and beautifies the World * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. ad Praefect indoct Dei enim imaginem habet Rex sicut Christi Episcopus S. Aug. Vet. Test quaest 35. with Order and Government whereby so many millions of men do breathe the life of peace and comfort For sooner might a heap of Ants be brought to an uniformity in motion and those little bodies that play up and down the Air in a careless posture to a regularity than the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or popular sort if they were not held in by the reins of Government whither would the fury of mens passions lead them if they were not bounded with Authority if the rapacity of these Orbs were not slack'd by the course of the higher Spheres and subdu'd to an awful subjection Religion would quickly feel a heavy Destiny and the World be drown'd in blood as it was once in water The Sword of Authority is put into the hand of the King by Almighty God To the like sense also is that of Nestor to Agamemnon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jove lent thee thy Scepter and Jurisdiction On this account speaks Themistius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God sent Regal Power from Heaven Holy Athanasius also confesseth the Power of Kings to be of God and their impiety not to be punish'd by man Ad Antioch quaest 55. Sicut in toto mundo Deus Rex est Imperator potestatem exercet in omnibus As God is King and Emperour over all the World and exerciseth his Power in all Creatures so the King and Prince is over all earthly men The Lord saith Athanasius Athanas apud Epiphan Haeres 68. to Constantine judge between thee and me since thou givest way to my false accusers against me Let us send our prayers and tears saith S. Cyprian * Mittamus precâ—s lachrymas cordis ad Deum legatos S. Cypr. lib. 4. Epist 4. to the persecuted Christians as Messengers and Ambassadours of our hearts unto God Lactantius speaking of Obedience to Princes says They are to be defended not by killing but by dying not by cruelty but by patience Gregory Nazianzen lived under five Emperours Constantius Julianus Valens Valentinianus and Theodosius in all which time he could find no remedy against the Tyranny Heresie and Apostasie of Princes besides prayers and tears speaking of Julian's * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nazian in Julian