Die Veneris 19. Iulij 1644. ORdered by the Lords in PARLIAMENT Assembled That Mr. Vines hath hereby thanks given him by this House for the great pains he hath tooke in his Sermon preached before the Lords and Commons on Thursday the Eighteenth of this instant Iuly in Margarets Church Westminster it being the day of Thanksgiving for the great Mercie of God in the happy successe of the Forces of both Kingdomes against the Enemies of King and Parliament neere Yorke And that the said Mr. Vines be intreated to Print and publish his said Sermon which no man is to presume to Print or reprint without his authoritie under his hand as he will answer the contrary to this House Jo. Browne Cler. Parliamentorum Die Veneris 19. Iulij 1644. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT That Sir Robert Harley doe give the thanks of this House to Mr. Vines for the great paines he tooke in the Sermon he preached at the intreaty of both Houses at S. Margarets Westminster upon the day of publike Thanksgiving for the great Victory obtained against Prince Rupert and the Earle of Newcastles Forces and he is desired to publish it in Print H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint Abel Roper to print my Sermon RI VINES A SERMON PREACHED BEFORE the Right Honorable the LORDS And COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT At Margarets Church in Westminster upon Thursday the 18. day of Iuly 1644. It being the day of Publick Thanksgiving for the great mercie of God in the happie Successe of the Forces of both Kingdoms neer York against the Enemies of King and Parliament By Alexander Henderson Minister at Edinburgh Job 34. 29. When he giveth quietnesse who then can make trouble And when he hideth his face who then can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or against a man onely Published by Order of both Houses LONDON Printed for Robert Bostock dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Kings Head 1644. Die Veneris 19. Iulii 1644. ORdered by the Lords in Parliament assembled That Mr. Henderson hath hereby thanks given him by this House for the great pains he took in his Sermon preached before the Lords and Commons on Thursday the eighteenth of this instant Iuly in Margarets Church Westminster it being the day of Thanksgiving for the great Mercie of God in the happie successe of the Forces of both Kingdoms against the Enemies of King and Parliament neer York And that the said Mr. Henderson be entreated to Print and publish his said Sermon which no man is to presume to Print or Re-print without his Authoritie under his hand as he will answer the contrary to this House Io. Brown Cler. Parliament Die Veneris 19. Iulii 1644. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That Sir Robert Harley do give the thanks of this House to Mr. Henderson for the great pains he took in the Sermon he preached at the intreatie of both Houses at St. Margarets Westminster upon the day of publique Thanksgiving for the great Victory obtained against Prince Rupert and the Earl of Newcastles Forces and he is desired to publish it in Print H. Elsyng Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint Robert Bostock to Print this Sermon Alex. Henderson A Catalogue of the Names of those Divines who have Preached before the Parliament beginning Ian. 18. 1644. to Iuly 18. 1644. At a Thanksgiving before the Parliament and City of London Jan. 18. Mr. Marshall 1 Chron. 12. 38 39 40. Jan. 31. Mr. Cawdrey Prov. 29. 8. Mr. Rutherfurd Dan. 6. 26. Febr. 28. Mr. Bâ—ylie Zach. 3. 1 2. Mr. Young Psal. 31. 24. Mar. 27. Mr. Gillespie Ezek. 43. 11. Mr. Bond Isa. 45. 15. At a Thanksgiving for the Victory over Sir R. Hâ—ptons Army Apr. 9. Mr. Ob. Sedgwick Psal. 3. 8. Mr. Case Dan. 11. 32. At the Thanksgiving for the Victory at Selby in Yorkeshire Apr. 23. Mr. Perne Exod. 34. 6. not printed Mr. Carryl Rev. 11. 16 17. Apr. 24. Dr. Staunton Deut. 32. 31. Mr. Green Neh. 1. 3 4. May 29. Dr. Smith Psal. 107. 6. Mr. Henry Hall Matth. 11. 12. June 26. Mr. Hardwick Psal. 126. 5 6 Mr. Hickes Isa. 28. 5 6. At the Thanksgiving for the Victorie over Prince Rupert and the surrender of York July 18. Mr. Vines Isa. 63. 8. Mr. Henderson Matth. 14. 21. Errata Page 1. line 3 for of r. in p. 6 l. 8 for in r for p. 7 l. 27 r. a time p. 11 marg. â—â—â— p. 15 l. 12 for he r. it p. 21 l. 4. for thus r. the To the KIRKE and KINGDOME of SCOTLAND Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Iesus Christ THree reasons have prevailed with me to set your Honourable and Reverend name before this Sermon One is That having Preached it before the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England I conceived it more convenient to send it to you in Print then to direct it to them the second time and in so doing I cannot apprehend any danger of censure Because the ground of my Calling to joyne in so solemne an action was rather a Nationall concernment then any personall respect to me or expectation of any thing that could proceed from my weaknesse worthy of such an Auditory as is one of the greatest and gravest on earth In this therefore if I mistake not I doe comply with their intentions and still follow their respects Another Reason is that after so long absence not onely from my personall charge but from you my mother Church and Native Countrey I doe willingly take hold of this opportunity to tâ—stifie that we your servants for Christ who have the honour to be in this imployment doe bow our knees to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ of whom the whole family of heaven and earth is named that hee would grant unto you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith a And that wee cannot enough render thanks to God for you for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and according to our calling and measure might perfect that which is lacking in your faith b The opinion of the merit of prayer is abomination but the principall Theam and matter of the solemnitie of the day wee take for an answer of the prayers of the godly in the three Kingdomes and in all the Reformed Kirks And the desire we have to see you is not onely that naturall instinct which is to be found in all of our Nation whom the cause of God hath brought from their owne homes and habitations but our longing to come unto you with rejoycing bringing our sheaves with us c and to find you such as we would for now we live if yee stand fast in the Lord d
heads there is one kind of it like unto that in Ioshua Numb. 11. 27 28. and in the Disciples of Christ Mark 9. 38 and in the Disciples of Iohn Ioh. 3. 26. We are not free of this kind of envy There is another kind of it like that of the Philistims Gen. 26. 14 15. which is most diabolicall But besides these there be other two sorts of it set on worke by Satan at this time and which all good men would beware of One is of those that cannot admit an equall that would engrosse all alone Mat. 20. 11. Acts 13. 44. Another of those that cannot permit any to be preferred unto them as in Cain Gen. 4. 3. 4. In the brethren of Ioseph Acts 7. 9. In Miriam Num. 12. 2. In Saul 1 Sam. 18. It was foolishnesse in the women and people yet it was truth in the Nobles of the Medes and Persians Daniel 6. 4. 5. The Scribes Pharises Sadduces and people of the Jews Matth. 23. 13. Acts 5. 17. Acts 13. 44. 45. We have an example of both sorts in the Courtiers of Saul against David and in Pompey the great and Iulius Caesar f As it is one of the most common so it is one of the greatest evils in the world it being not only most opposite unto Charitie but the cause of Contention Mutinies Lies Slanders Sedition and bringeth a world of miseries from the justice of God No sort of persons have more need to be upon their guard against this Enemy then brethren amongst whom if once Emulations Hatred and Envy find place to worke division they become irreconciliable Like unto fragments of Crystall glasse which after breaking cannot be demented againe Because the smallest injurie where kindnes is deserved and expected and much more envie is judged to be ingratitude which is acknowledged by all who know the nature of it to be a manifest injurie and as intollerable as any other And of all sores of Brethren none have reason to take greater heed unto this evill then such as naturally are strangers one to another and of divers nations but are sworne Brethren if the fire of envie and hatred once begin to burne in their breasts they want the affection of naturall brethren to extinguish it The best remedy for such is the right embracing of one true Religion and religiously to remember their Covenant by which they are joyned to Jesus Christ and amongst themselves which will make them forget that they be of divers Countreys and Kingdoms and timely to resist all divisive motions the mother whereof is Emulation and envie which I heartily wish may be as farre from us all as it was from the Disciples of Christ at this time Setting aside therefore with the Disciples all Emulation and Envie all Admiration and Adoration of men Let us follow the example of the Apostles in that twofold dutie performed by them the one is the Adoration of Christ the other the Confession of Christ They have not spoken amisse who conceave that there be foure parts of the Morall worship of God according to the parts of the first and great Commandment Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and with all thy minde and with all thy strength Mark 12. Luk. 10. The first of them is the attentive consideration of the works of God by the outward and inward senses The second is the right judging of the works of God by the minde and understanding The third is the congruous and sutable affection of the soule by the heart which is the seat of the affections The fourth is the testification of this affection in our whole life by the actions of the will Amongst which for they be many these two in the Text are to be numbred Adoration and Confession which were the thanksgiving of the Disciples at this time and now upon our Deliverance are required of us And who is it that beholding the power of Christ in the greatnes of the Deliverance the wisedome of Christ in the seasonablenesse of the Deliverance the jealousie of Christ who will not give his glory to another in the sensiblenesse of his hand in working it the truth of Christ in hearing prayer according to his promise and the mercy of Christ in passing by so many sins and so much doubting would not adore this mightie wise jealous true and mercifull Lord When the children of Israel had heard that the Lord had visited them and that hee had looked upon their affliction Then they bowed their heads and worshipped Exod. 4. 31. After that the Lord had spoken to Moses of the Religion of the Passeover and the smiting of the first borne of Egypt The people bowed the head and worshipped Exod. 12. 27. When Iehoshaphat upon his Fast and Prayer heard from the Spirit of the Lord which came upon Ichaziel that the Lord was to fight for Iudah and that they were onely to stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord he bowed his head with his face to the ground and all Iudah and the Inhabitants of Ierusalem fell before the Lord worshipping the Lord 2. Chron. 20. 18. At the restoring of Religion and cleansing of the house of God the King and all that were present with him bowed themselves and worshipped 2. Chron. 29. 29. And shall not wee when the Lord hath visited us and looked upon our affliction when he hath foughten for us and slaine the strength and first-born of our enemies when he is about the restoring of Religion and the cleansing and building of his Temple shall not we in all feare and reverence fall downe and adore before him acknowledging his Soveraignitie and our owne basenes and unworthines Let the whole Church Militant and Triumphant the twenty foure Elders and the foure living creatures men and angels fall downe and worship him that liveth for ever and ever saying Blessing honour glory and power be unto him that sits upon the Throne and unto the Lambe for ever and ever The other part of their thanksgiving is their Confession of Christ They give him this testimony of a truth thou art the Sonne of God This they all confesse and were ready to confesse before all the world which they also did afterward Of this testimony Iohn saith Whosoever shall confesse that Iesus is the Son of God God dwelleth in him and he in God 1 Joh. 4. 15. which is not so to be understood as if no other truth were to be confest of him but because that maine and fundamentall truth was then controverted and denyed by Seducers and Antichrists The Lord requireth of each one of us according to our place and calling that wee confesse and give our testimonie unto such truths as are most called in question At this time it is required of the Honourable Houses of Parliament that they give unto Jesus this testimonie which is a necessary consequent of the testimonie of the Apostles That Iesus Christ is the King of
weaknesse both at this time and afterward that he doubted and was afraid which made him begin to sinke and there can be no full and through Obedience without faith and confidence Two things are necessary for this 1. Self-deniall and renouncing all confidence in your selves or your owne wisdome courage strength or multitudes all which are but the arme of flesh Psalm 44. 3 4 5 9 7 8. Wisdome will have us to use all good means but faith will not have us to trust in them 2. A firm perswasion and full relying upon Christ holding the eye of our soul upon him continually Iohn the Baptist Iohn 3. 33. useth two words to expresse the nature of faith and confidence One is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Syr. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Cabala the word of receiving which in the Syriack is not every receiving but a receiving of a Doctrine sent from God as Divine and sent from him The other word is more {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Syr. Obsignavit conclusit hath set to his Seal when the word is used of God toward us wee know the meaning but when it is ascribed unto us in relation to God and his truth it expresseth the testing of our conscience on the truth of God that as the Lord sealeth his testimony unto us by the Sacraments and by his owne Spirit so upon our part our faith and affiance sealeth the truth of God that we acquiesce in it and close with God and the matter is concluded betwixt the Lord and our souls The writing thus sealed cannot be reversed for while the seal is at it it abides firm and the seal is keeped by the Lords faithfulnesse for our benefit This confidence will make us submit to the will of God and to say I will beare the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him untill he plead my cause and execute judgement for me Hee will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse Then she that is mine enemie shall see it and shame shall cover her which said unto me Where is the Lord thy God Mic. 7. 9 10. Woe is me for my hurt my wound is grievous but I said Truly this is a grief and I must beare it Iere. 10. 19. This will carry us through all discouragements because it maketh us to see greater things then the World It opposeth the wrath of God against the terrors of the world and the love of God against the love of the world This assureth us of the presence of Christ in all our troubles It is I be not afraid The most terrible word to the enemy and the most comfortable to the godly It perswadeth us that God cannot denie himself nor forsake his own cause and for our selves that although this life and all things in it should fail us yet our happinesse waits for us Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope Psal. 16. 9 Much might be spoken here and to good purpose of the notes whereby to try our faith and confidence whether it be weak or strong and of the means to encrease it that it may come to a full assurance but I have troubled you too much already and therefore I shall only desire that the recent proof of the mercy of God in our deliverance may be added to your Calendar of former deliverances to make your experience the stronger that your hope and confidence may be the stronger for all time to come FINIS An Excellent Allegory taken forth of this History by Augustine In his 14. Sermon Upon the Words of our LORD AS Christ going to the Mountain to pray gave commandement to his Apostles to get into a ship and to goe to the other side so after his ascending into heaven at his commandement the Gospel was to be carried through the Sea of this world As the Ship wherein the Apostles of Christ were Passengers meeteth with a great tempest so the Church of Christ sustaineth waves of persecution and is opposed by the various blasts of haereticall winds As the Disciples doe not straightway forsake the Ship but did toyle in rowing so the confession of our faith is not to be forsaken but the teachers of the Church both by word and writing in the midst of the contrary windes of the world and of the blasts of tumultuous Haereticks are to discharge their office faithfully Let the crosse yard be set up and Christ crucified be looked upon and let us not make defection from him but follow his steps let us through suffering and death it self presse toward eternall glory Let also white sailes that is a pure and honest conversation be laid hold of Moreover although the sea do rage the wind withstand strongly and the surges rise and make a noise so that the ship be sore tossed and covered with the waves yet is shee not drowned but runneth to the Haven so may indeed the Church be pressed but can never be oppressed for Christ is praying on high and beholdeth his own mightily wrestling with the contrary winds He therefore intercedeth for them that their faith fail not but that they may carry unto the Nations these Noble but to humane reason forein wares of remission of sinnes and the Kingdome of heaven through faith in Christ freely offered to all that earnestly repent and amend their lives Furthermore this small Ship shal be tossed and float on the water till the Lord come who alone is able to make a weighty body to walk upon the face of the liquid element which shall come to passe about the fourth watch of the night that is in the end of time when the night of this world is almost spent In the meane while although the roaring Sea doe murmur and repine under the feet of the Lord yet nilling willing it is constrained to beare him so although the swelling pride and powers of the world arise together never so high yet our Head shall trample on their head But when Christ cometh neer unto the ship before he be clearely seene and known of his owne he striketh their hearts with a new terrour that they seeme to themselves to see a Ghost for in the darknes of this night wee are not able rightly to understand the worke of the Lord But when the darknes is scattered and all the storme calmed we shall know him aright and shall worship him as the true Son of God our Redeemer and Saviour It is our part who do live about the fourth watch upon whom the ends of the world are come 1. Cor. 10. 11. to provide lest that by the sudden and unlooked for coming of the Lord we be surprised and confounded for as Christ in one moment and with one thrust brought the ship into the harbour so before we can look about us or turne our selves Eternitie shall come upon us for the Elects sake these dayes shall be shortned Matth. 24. 22. FINIS a Ephes. 3. 14 15 16. b Thes. 3. 9. 10. c Psal. 126. 6. d 1. Thes. 3. 8. e Eccles. 7. 10. f Rom. 11. 22 g Rom. 11. 33 34. h Ier. 10. 23. i Pro. 19. 21. k Iohn 21. 18. l Iob 29. 18. m Mat. 26. 39. Ier. 20. 3. n Micah 4. 5. o Ephes. 4. 14. p Psal. 44. 17 18 19. q Deuâ—. 29. 20. r 2. Tim. â— 5. s 1. Tim. 3. â— t 1. Tim. 1. 19. u â— Thes. 2. 10 11 12. a Numb. 28. 29. b John 6. VVhy this Text chosen c The admonition of Iohn Knox to the professors of the truth in England Paraphrased Divided Doct. 1. Reason 2. Reason 3. Reason Similes The greatness of Peters deliverance The seasonablenesse thereof The sensibleness of the hand of Christ in it The Relation it had to the prayer of Peter It was from free goodnes a Quid aliud â—â—t Christum sequi in atrium pontisicis quam super eisdem fluctibus ambulare cum Christo et quid aliud erat tentatio Ancillae quam ventus adversarius et quid aliud tentatio ex timore quam hic submertio ex timore Musculus in Matth. 14. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Etym. The five circumstances of Peters deliverance applyed to ours The use of this worke of Diuine Providence Use 1. Thankfulnesse in Adoration and Confession c Quid ergo est qd Iudaei dicu â—t cum virum quidem Dei Prophetam fuisse filium vero Dei non fuisse Si filius Dei non fuit certe neque vir Dei neque Propheta fuit cum non fit viri Dei ad exhibitum honorem divinitatis conticescere Quiâ— dicat cum Caesarianum esse prâ—bum ac geâ—uiâ—um Caesari fidelem qui honorem Casari â—oâ—â— compâ—â—entem ob aâ—um non repudiâ—verâ—t sed agâ—ovoris Muscul. in Matth. 14. Take heed to Emulation and beware of envie Difference betwixt Emulation and Envy d Plut. in Apo. e Ambae {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} sorores aâ—rae noctis siliae Hesiod Illa amulatio est laudabilis quae non est rivalitui similis Cic. f Caesarâ—e priorem Pompeiusve pâ—râ—m The Adoration of Christ The Confessing of Christ Charitum numâ—râ—s significâ—t â—râ—â— actus distinctos in beneficiis dare aeccipere referee carum nomen affectus quibus in benefice aâ—â— c. Heming de lege naâ— Use 2. Obedience to the voice of Christ Own ratione in sanite Use 3. Confidence in Christ