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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81245	A model of true spiritual thankfulnesse. Delivered in a sermon before the Honourable House of Commons, upon their day of thanksgiving, being Thursday, Feb. 19. 1645, for the great mercy of God, in the surrender of the citie of Chester into the hands of the Parliaments forces in Cheshire, under the command of Sir William Brereton. / By Tho. Case, preacher in Milkstreet London, and one of the Assembly of Divines.	Case, Thomas, 1598-1682.; England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons.	1646 (1646)	Wing C833; Thomason E323_4; ESTC R200593	35,919	45

Ez●kiel c. giving the hand Ezek. 17.18 or as with us lifting up the hand to the most high God doth God aggravate their Covenant-violation when lo he had given his hand God speaks with indignation as of an eminent and remarkable treachery and persidiousnesse When lo he had given his hand And for this indeed now they begin to judge themselves We have no King because we feared not the Lord that is because we have not feared the Oath of the Lord but have dealt falsly and treacherously in the Covenant it is just with God we should have no King that our King should break Covenant with us that have broken Covenant with our God yea they judge themselves not onely for what is past but unworthy to sinde mercy for the time to come not onely We have no King but What then shall a King do to us q. d. We deserve never to see the face of our King any more but to be left to per●sh in our Confusions and Divisions while every man doth what is good in his own eye or if our King should come back out of Captivity What should he do to us Can we expect a King should do us any good while our God is angry with us for our Covenant-wickednesse No if he should come out of Babylon again God might make him a curse in stead of a blessing a plague and a snare to our destruction Men and Brethren this I take to be the sense of the place and I need say no more Surely every one of you here before God have with trembling hearts prevented me in the Application onely let me adde this If God were so angry and threatens so furiously the breach of a Covenant made with an Heathenish Tyrant an Infidel with whom the other Babylon Mystical Babylon teacheth no faith is to be k●pt because it was made before God and by the Name of God shall he prosper shall he escape that doth such things Jer. 17.19 or shall he break the Covenant and be delivered As I live mine Oath that he hath despised and my Covenant that he hath broken even it will I recompence upon his own head c. Oh how shall she escape yea of how much sorer punishment shall we be thought worthy if we be found guilty of so high a perjury in breaking and despising a Covenant made not onely before God in the Name of God but with God himself In so solemn and sacred a manner with Fasting and Prayer and Sermons and lifting up our hands to the most high God Oh that as we have sinned with this people and beyond insinitely beyond the line and measure of their transgressi●ns so we would judge our selves with them in the bitternesse of our spirits We have no King because we feared not the Lord speaking words swearing falsly in making a Covenant and what then should a King do to us We hope an end shall be put shortly to these bloody desolating wars and we cry to the Sword Oh thou Sword of the Lord Jer. 47.6 how long will it be ere thou be quiet put up thy self into thy scabbard rest and be still but the Sword will not obey our voice and no wonder for we have not obeyed the voice of the Sword we have not heard the Sword and who had appointed it and therefore meth●nks I hear the Sword replying How can I be quiet since the Lord hath given me a charge against England Vers 7. Yea methinks I hear God renewing the Commission of the Sword in the words of that threatning I will bring a sword upon yo● that shall avenge the quarrel of my Covenant We keep now a day of Thank●giving for the surrender of a strong Hold in the Kingdom Levit. 26.25 and God hath sent us in the glad tiding of a great Victory in the West to fill up our joy and to bespeak more days of Rejoycing and Thankfulnesse but for my part I fear that for these things the Sword hath yet a Commission to come up to London to passe thorow the Kingdom and that we shall hear ere long as fast of Losing Cities and Castles and the strong Garisons of the Kingdom as now of gaining them and read our Catalogue of Deliverances and Victories backward with sad hearts Chester lost Hereford lost Dartmonth lost sic in caet If you would prevent so sad a turn of things give me leave humbly to commend to you these two short Advices 1. Proclaim I beseech you a solemn Fast wherein we may professedly humble and afflict our souls for our Covenant-violations whereby God is so deeply provoked and wherein if it might seem good to your wisdoms the Covenant might be renewed in a more solemn and serious manner with our God that as Samuel called the people to Gilgal to renew the Kingdom upon Saul so you that are England's Samuels 1 Sam. 11.14 might call the people together to this Galgal where the Lord first rolled away our reproa●h by bringing us into the bond of the Covenant to renew the Kingdom upon our Lord Jesus whom God hath appointed to be King in his holy Hill of Sion Psal 2.6 For think not Brethren I beseech you that because we have broken our Covenant with God therefore we are disobliged from our Covenant that were an easie way to get loose indeed if when we are weary of our Vows it were but to go and sin against them and then we are disengaged But it is with the Covenant as it is with the Law there is a twofold obligation the one to duty the other to a curse and if we break the one the other will hold us fast enough Did not my words take hold upon your fathers How Zech. 1 6. Surely not in the commanding power of them but in the executionary power they took hold on them with a vengeance And therefore our way is to bring our selves again under the commanding power that we may not lie under the condemning cursing power of the Covenant Indeed the Covenant is then broken and not fully till then when a people will not own their Covenant with God and therefore Oh that the Lord would help us in this our day to consider the things that belong unto our peace before they be hid from our eyes 2. To that end studie real Thankfulnesse To you that sit at the Stern guiding the Ship of this Church and State in this troublesome Sea let me commend unto you but this piece of Thankfulnesse Set up God Vers 23. Exalt him in the congregation of the people by setting up the Ministery of the Word Let this be your wisedom and honour that when God hath given up the strong Holds of the Kingdom to you you would render them up back again to God by placing able and faithful Ministers in those eminent places of the Kingdom that may undeceive the poor mifled people and to season them with Principles of Religion and Loyaltie to

shall melt for fear Let these I say and many other Improvements too many for an Epistle but not too many for our Thankfulnesse to enquire into let these Speak 10. And all this whether it have not been the cheapest Purchase the Parliament hath made since it was constrained to redeem this poor sold Nation with Money and Blood I appeal to your Selves and to that exhausted County which in the pursuit of this Service hath to their exceeding Honours issued not much lesse if I be not misinformed then 40000 l. the very last vital blood that was left in their veins Psal 110. ●● Surely the Lord made them a willing people in this day of his power There is yet a passage or two wherein you shall behold Mercy and truth meeting together Righteusnesse and peace kissing each other 11. Vpon the same day that the enemy began to fortifie the City of Chester and make their Outworks that very day three yeers the Parliaments Forces entred the same Feb. 3. 1642. Feb. 3. 1645 12. The King mustered the Cheshire Forces summon'd disarm'd the Train-bands upon Holt-Heath Sept. 24 1642. and upon the same day three yeers the Kings Army was routed upon Routon-we may rightly call it Routing-Heath and another Brigade which was intended for a Reserve commanded by the Earl of Lichfield and the Lord Gerard defeared upon Holt-Heath as I take it so it is called where the Earl of Lichsield was slain and all this in the Kings view He then standing in Phoenix-Tower in Chestr Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see I pray God to Repentance and not to Shame Vide Passages and Treaties of the Siege and taking of Chester Honou●able Parriots these sew passages to which you have already further discoveries and may sinde more hold forth much of God His Wisedom his Strength his Justice his Mercy beaming forth in the Light of this day And this you may observe as the result of all It is Fidelity God prospers and Crowns in his Service Now that God who hath made your Armies faithful to you make you every day more and more faithful to himself that what was Moses Honour and His too who is Moses and your Lord the Lord Jesus may be the Parliament of England 's renown to all Generations They were faithful to him that appointed them in all his House in doing all things according to the patern Which as it was the travel of this Cautionary Heb. 3.2 not Accusatory Sermon now the second time waiting upon your Commands so it shall be the daily prayer of Your Honours not more desirous to live then to serve Christ in you THO. CASE To the truely Noble Sir William Brereton Baronet Commander in Chief of the Parliaments Forces in Cheshire and to all those worthy Commanders and Gentlemen whom God hath honoured with the beginning managing and now happily finishing of the Work in Cheshire Honourable and ever to be honoured Gent. WHat Encomium the Apostle gave the beloved Disciple I hope the world wil give me leave to bestow upon you without the the least suspition of Flattery You do faithfully whatsoever you do in the Publike Trust committed to you 1. Joh. v. 5. and I beseech you look upon it as Gods honouring of you more then your honouring of God a heart to be faithful and happinesse to be successeful in Gods designes is a double engagement which I heartily desire may not lift up your hearts unlesse it be in the ways of God in whose Name you have gone out and prospered So that you may go and bear a part in his * Barak Judg. 5.13 Excellencies Song Then he made him that remaineth to have dominion over the Nobles among the people the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty As an acknowledgement of which honour God hath done you give me leave humbly to suggest a few Returns of Thankfulnesse that will no lesse become you then crown and perfect your work 1. Make it I beseech you your prime designe to surrender up that Citie to God which God hath surrendred up to you by engaging your best abilities and interests for the bringing in and encouragement of a learned godly Orthodox Ministery into the City the Spiritual Militia that must secure the peace thereof If Heresie and Schism break in I shall set down and cry Chester is lost the second time and in which more miserable it will not be easie to determine Agrippins to Nero. 2. Studie onenesse in your affections and onenesse in your Counsels Unitie and you are unconquerable Remember whose suggest it was Divide impera 3. Let your distinguishing favours run counter-motion to the enemies let Malignants have no more encouragement then may demonstrate you more studious of their Reformation then their Ruine Let them have no more cause to call the proud happie Hagg. 3.15 Vers 18. nor to say They that work wickednesse are set up but let them return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not 4. Be tender O be tender I say as of your own lives of the willing faithful party who in City or Countrey have served you in this Cause of Christ and the Parliament to the very last drop of livelihood and blood O to studie now the Rest Refreshing Recruiting of that languishing people more then your own interests and advantage will render you more truely honourable then all your Victories and bring the blessing of perishing families upon you and your posterity To that end imitate the true gallantry of Nehemiah read his 5 Chapter especially from the 14 verse to the end and the Lord grant you may get it by heart Then shall they that are delivered from the noise of the archers in the places of drawing water rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord Judg. 5.11 even the righteous acts towards the inhabitants of the Villages in Cheshire then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates 5. Studie Self-conquests Sin-victory He that is slowe to anger is better then the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit then he that taketh a City Prov. 16.32 Fortior est qui sequam qui fortissima vincit moenia If after ye have conquered the Lusts of men you are conquered by your own Lusts if after you have led your enemies captive Satan can take you captive at his will you are undone for ever The Lord make you every way more then Conquerors c. 2 Tim. 2.26 Rom. 8.37 6. Lastly remember what General Joab did when he had taken Rabbah of the Ammonites and do ye likewise now ye have taken this Cheshire-R●bbah send for King David yea send for that King who is Davids son and Davids Lord King JESUS give him possession and set the Crown of glory upon his Head bowing your beads before him and casting down your Crowns saying Not unto us O

c. and Oh that I could but say with the Apostle Such were some of you Yea what an improvement of wickednesse is there in the Kingdom as if the Covenant had blasted mens consciences not their corruptions But that which is yet worse then all this is that this holy Covenant is become amongst many a brand of infamy a Cain's mark almost Would ye stigmatize a man in some places to purpose call him a Covenanter He he will take the Covenant Ah Lord it is able to make ones hair stand upright to see what dirt and mire is cast into the face of this holy Covenant Surely never was Covenant so abused scorned and trampled under foot as this is and happie were we if it were by the wicked and profane malignant party onely Ah how many have dealt with the Covenant as the Scribes and Pharisees of old did and the Antinomians of this age do with the Law of God make it void through their distinctions and glosses which they have put upon it How many deal with it as the Papists do with the Scriptures make it a nose of Wax and ● Leaden rule a two-faced picture an Any thing to serve their own turns Do we thus requite God Oh foolish people and unwise Well Sirs we pray for the King's conversion and talk of his coming home but there is a place of Scripture sounds dreadfully in mine ears For now shall they say We have no king When should Israel say so Hos 10.3 Surely when Zed●kiah was carried Captive into Babylon of which you may read 2 King 24 15 16 17. and Chap. 25 7. They slow the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in fetters of brasse and carried him to Babylon Then did Israel cry We have no King Alas alas they have put out the eyes of his Majestie and carried him away captive our King is in Babylon among Idolaters and Murderers We have no King and it is just with God it should be so because we feared not the Lord we first cast off God before our King did cast off us we would not have God to be our King and therefore he would not suffer our King to be our god We have no King because we feared not the Lord. And wherein did this fearlesness of God appear It fellows Vers 4. They have spoken words swearing falsly in making a Covenant What Covenant was that Vers 4. Some refer it to the Prophecies of the false Prophets who though they prophesied lyes to the people a vision of their own head yet they were so sacrilegiously impudent as to father their lyes upon God by setting his seal to their Prophecies the form of oath which God himself did use As I live saith the Lord. Others refer these words to the Covenant which God threatens to disannul The Covenant they made with death and hell Isa 28.18 But I conceive with others the words do relate either to the Covenant which Zedekiah and the people made with the King of Babylon to serve him and become his Vassals of which you may read Ezek. 17.12 13 14. The King of Babylon is come to Jerusalem and hath taken the King thereof Ezek. 17.12 13 13. c. and made a Covenant with him and hath taken an Oath of him that the Kingdom might be base i. e. be in subjection to the King of Babylon This Covenant Zedekiah and the Princes and the people had solemnly confirmed both by Oath and by lifting up or striking hand vers 18. Or else the words may relate to that other Covenant which Zedekiah the Princes the Priests and the People of Judah had made with God while this Captivity was yet threatned Jer. 34.2 3 14 15 19. concerning the letting of their servants go free at the end of Seven yeers according to the Law Exod. 21.2 And ye were now turned and had done right in my sight in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour and ye had made a Covenant before me in the house which is called by my Name I say To either or both of these Covenants may the words refer for in both these they sware falsly not in regard of the matter of the Covenant● for it was lawful and good but in respect of their managing of it Thoy have spoken words swearing falsly there was nothing but words to be found in their covenanting they were not real and substantial with God in this solemn Service they brake their Covenant assoon as they had made it that was their swearing falsly so you may finde it laid to their charge in the former places Jer. 34.16 Ye were now turned and had done right in my sight c. but ye turned and polluted my Name and caused every man his servant and every man his handmaid to return and brought them into subjection Ye were turned but ye turned here is one turn too much In the first turn they made a Covenant with God Verse 18. in the second they brake it I will give the men that have transgressed my Covenant which have not performed the words of the Covenant which they had made before me And no better dealt they in the Covenant they made with the King of Babylon Ezek. 17.15 16. to become his servants He rebelled against him c. He brake the Covenant He despised the Oath and he brake the Covenant And so again vers 18. And the breach of both these Covenants is aggravated from the Author of this Service Deut 6.13 it is a part of Divine Worship Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his Name and by the object or witnesse of the Covenant as God is the Author so he is witnesse thou shalt swear by his Name God is call'd in as a righteous Judge to take vengeance on the party that shall prevaricate Vers 19. in both which respects God calls it his Oath Surely mine Oath which he hath despised and my Covenant which he hath broken Jer. 34.18 As also it is aggravated in both places from the solemnity of the making of the Covenant as in that place in Jeremiah They have not performed the words of the Covenant which they had made before me when they out the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof And so again vers 19. The people of the land which passed between the parts of the calf which kinde of Ceremony or Sanction was taken from Gods own command to Abraham when he made a Covenant with him Diodorus Tarsensis Stabani caesa formaban● foedera porca Gen. 15. from whence also even the Caldeans and Romanes borrowed it as they had other parts and parcels of Religion by which Ceremony they did as it were silently imprecate this Judgement upon themselves that they might be so divided as those beasts were if they did violate their Covenant from this solemnity as from the other in

A MODEL OF True Spiritual Thankfulnesse Delivered in a SERMON Before the Honourable House of COMMONS Upon their day of THANKSGIVING being Thursday Feb. 19. 1645 for the great Mercy of God in the Surrender of the Citie of Chester into the hands of the Parliaments Forces in CHESHIRS under the Command of Sir WILLIAM BRERETON By THO. CASE Preacher in Milkstreet London and one of the Assembly of Divines ISA 1.25.3 The strong people shall glorifie thee the citie of the terrible Nations shall fear thee ISA 1.26.2 Open ye the gates that the righteous Nation which keepeth the Truth may enter in London Printed by Ruth Raworth for Luke Fawne at the signe of the Parrot in Paul's Church-yard 1646. Die Lunae 23 Februarii 1645. ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That Master Rous do give Thanks to Master Case and Master Woodcock for the great pains they took in the Sermons they preached at the intreatie of this House on Thursday last being a day set apart for a day of publike Thanksgiving for the taking of Chester and to desire them to print their Sermons And it is ordered that none shall print their Sermons without license under their hands writing H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. I appoint Luke Fawne to print my Sermon THO. CASE To the Honourable House of Commons in Parliament now assembled NOBLE SENATORS TO serve Your and the Kingdoms Thankfulnesse for the late mercy of God in putting Chester into your possession give me leave from the Presse to present unto your view what might have been burdensom from the Pulpit a short List or Catalogue of some eminent Providences wherewith the mercy of the day being clothed will appear very rich and glorious 1. And first you may please to observe that the very lengthning of the Siege was the advance of the Designe while in the issue it appears to have been nothing else but an ambushment of Providence laid of purpose to draw on the enemy to their own destruction Surely their pride and power have not met with a more burdensome stone in all their bold and confident Adventures then the Siege of Chester upon which God bath broken them with breach upon breach and blest you with victory upon victory worth many Chesters and when he had done cast that also in for an advantage Thus many times do we look upon disappointments of our hopes as frowns of displeasure which afterwards we finde to be Plots of Mercy Who would not wait upon that God who if be withhold a mercy for a while pays interest for the forbearance of more worth many times then the principal it self 2. That in three Storms of the greatest disadvantage that height of walls depth of trenches impregnablenesse of Forts and multitudes of enemies as many in the City as yours in the Siege could render the Forces were confest by the enemy to have done more execution then they received either in their assault or retreat wherein one particular providence must not be silenc'd * Lieut. Col. Ven●bles an active Commander who was four times upon the walls and though through the unexpected disadvantages of the designe not seconded according to expectation yet was brought off harmlesse save onely a slight wound on his arm to minde him what arm it was that made his rescue 3. That in all the Sallies which the enemy hath made upon the Parliaments Quarters they had more cause at their returns into their strong Hold to wring their hands then to ting their bells being always sent home with more blowes then they give 4. That our Engines during the Siege have constantly done more execution upon the enemy within then theirs have done upon our men without though the oddes of all offensive and defensive advantages were on their side whereby God would manifest the difference between having walls and bulwarks for Salvation I●a 26.1 and having Salvation for walls and bulwarks 5. It was onely an unexpected Help to our side that a Blinde of Providence caused them to leave the Prospect of a Steeple so neer the City-walls undemolished from whence our men did perform daily justice upon the Rebels slaying one of their steruest and divers others So God oftentimes beats the enemie with their own weapons 6. The patience and constancy of your Souldiery was eminently remarkable which was such as though there were temptations enough to storm it as extremity of weather want of pay clothes food unparallel'd hard duty all the time of the siege being forced many times to fetch their water from * ● Sam. ●● 15 the gate of Bethlem and that not for wantonnesse but for necessity their bread from the enemies Quarters the stores of the languishing Countrey being drained and expected supplies from neighbouring Counties failing to the extreme harassing and hazarding of their Forces both abroad and at home I say such notwithstanding was their constancy and patie●ce that none of all these could conquer it Providence always stepping in with timely Supplies and admirable Resenes in their deepest discouragements and desertions In the mount the Lord hath been seen Gen. 22.14 7. The nature of your Forces which performed this service renders it the more observable they being not an united Brigade cull'd and form'd for such a designe but a collective Body out of some few adjacent Counties the more capable of discontent and uncapable of Commands had not God put a singular Spirit of Wisedom and Activity into the Commanders and of willingnesse or awe into the Souldiers So that here you have that word made good again Zech. 46. Not by might nor power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts 8. The enemy were not so high all the time of the Siege in their demands but your terms were as honourable in the Surrender which received this addition Magmon est testimohium pro ●o qui judicium ad ●●sario comminit Abulens that the enemies themselves confesse Conditions were never better kept since the wars began A testimony out of the mouth of an adversary is double honour 9. Of what Consequence the Successe is let Chesters expectation from Ireland and the preparations of the Irish Cut-throats for Chester the Key of this Kingdom the Rest of that poor fainting County the trembling of all the malignant neighbouring Strong Holds in Wales and the securing of your Northern Leagur from the approach of an enemy the opening of the way of Trade between London and these parts the dashing in pieces of the Enemies Designes who lo were hastning now to the Infallible relief of their Garisons in Cheshire and Lancashire the reducing of the North the absolute Conquest of Scotland and then back again to the sharing of England for all this and more too Sisera-like they had not onely designed but dispatcht in their vain Confidences The strengthning the hands of our Friends thorow the whole Kingdom who shall hear and rejoyce the weakning of the Enemy who shall hear and their heart

as eternal as the God of those wonders And to that end Tenthly in longing to praise God in heaven Tenthly and lastly gracious spirits in laid and enamel'd with Thankfulnesse because they can live but a while to praise God on earth and their generations too shall not continue after them for ever to do this work therefore they breathe after heaven where in the presence of God their praises shall be perfected and perpetuated here they are weak weary full of natural and sinful mixtures and defilements there they shall be vigorous active pure perfect as unchangeable as interminable as eternitie it self They rest not day and night Revel 8.4 saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almightie which was and is and is to come Thankfulnesse is a pure flame of a restlesse motion ever mounting upward till it come to its element the Quire of Saints and Angels in heaven where it shall sing everlasting Hallelujahs to him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb where it shall keep a day of Thanksgiving that shall never know an evening And thus have I done with the fourth and last difference between Gladnesse and Thankfulnesse sc their operations and so with the whole Doctrinal part of my Discourse I should now come to improve it to Vse and Application two ways especially 1. By way of an Examination 2. By way of Direction But truely the very opening of the Doctrine unto you hath done both these already to your hands or at least furnisht you with materials upon which you may do both your selves Take this Model or Platform of true Thankfulnesse lay it before you operate upon it in your serious and impartial thoughts and if you would know whether you are a thankful people or no you may easily resolve into an Vse of Examination while every branch under all these four heads of differences will serve you as Note of Trial whereby you may make some Judgement upon the question Whether you do more then others of the world in this great work of Thankfulnesse And if you would know how you might be thankful set this Model in your eye and it will serve you as Directory wherein every branch again will be a Rule whereby you may form and proportion your Thankfulnesse according to the Word and the example of those Saints who have excell'd in this grace and duty of Thankfulnesse Truely Honourable and Beloved you had need to do it and to do it with your best and purest intentions for I professe to you the most not most of men onely but of Christians do wofully mistake both this duty and themselves too The world yea the greatest part of the Gospel-world is extremely out in this great businesse of Thankfulnesse It is sad and fearful to observe with what skins and shadows and almost mockeries God is turn'd off in stead of this pure holy spiritual active grace and duty of Thankfulnesse God looks for praise and we turn him off with a natural lazie selfish Gladnesse Some haply go not so far but like the elder Brother in the Gospel stand murmuring quarrelling without whilst in our Fathers house there is feasting and musick Many malignant spirits there be who fret and repine and gnash their teeth at the glorious Successes wherewith God hath been pleased to crown the out-goings of his servants and people in these later days But truely that sads not my spirit so much as to see a people whom God hath strived to endear unto himself by so many miracles of preservation Deliverances and Victories to mock God out of his praise and themselves at length out of their mercies Surely we may weep over our Deliverances and turn our days of Thanksgiving into days of mourning and lamentation to consider how we dally with God and put him off with a few empty formal Complements in stead of that real and spiritual and vital dutie which he expects and deserves at our hands And therefore I said when I heard I was designed to the service of this day I will not stand to analyse this mercie nor take in pieces this work of God the surrender of that strong impregnable Hold of Chester though very great and worthy to be sought out by all them that take pleasure in the works of the Lord but I will tell the Parliament and tell the Kingdom what it is to be thankful that they may see how much they are mistaken and what wrath hangs over our heads for the carnality rottennesse hypocrisie of our rejoycings over all the wonders which God hath done for England And therefore Noble Senators and all you that stand before God this day or to whom the words of this day may come sit down I beseech you seriously examine your selves by and compare your selves with this Model of Thankfulnesse held forth to you this day and see whether indeed you do come up to the Law of that Service which all the wonders that God hath done for you doth call for at your hands and what course you are to take for the preventing and averting of that wrath which I am afraid is gone forth against us for this thing I cannot stand to convince you by each particular in this Model Give me leave to single out but one branch and to deal faithfully with you in that particular it is a main one and such as will include many other It is the fifth branch of the fourth head of Difference between Gladnesse and Thankfulnesse namely Paying of Vows or keeping of Covenant with God Noble Patriots and all you that come hither to keep a day of Thanksgiving to God this day come on set up tribunals and place Conscience thereon as an impartial Judge to keep a little day of Judgement in your bosoms this day We must all appear before the Judgemedt-seat of Christ one day 2 Cor. 5.10 and how soon the Lord onely knows Come start not back better judge our selves then be judged of the Lord If we cannot stand before our own Consciences how shall we be able to stand before that Judge who is greater then our heart and knoweth all things 1 Joh. 3.20 the great-heart-maker and the great-heart-searcher Come on then I say and see whether in this one branch of Thankfulnesse we can approve our selves to God to be a thankful people I will not ravel into your bosoms to enquire with what dispositions of spirit upon what grounds and interests to what ends and references you entred into the Solemn League and Covenant though I wish with all my heart that you would perhaps you would finde a pad in the straw in your entrance into this Covenant possibly you may discover rashnesse in opposition to judgement hypocrisie in opposition to truth and sincerity it may be base lowe carnal ends and aims in opposition to Righteousnesse which are the Qualifications of a religious Covenanter Jer. 4.2 perhaps such workings of heart as sometimes brought the Sichemites into Covenant with the sons of

which they have been so long strangers To that end hasten I beseech you your Ordinance for Ordination it were a sad thing that the strong Holds of the Kingdom should be taken for God and kept for the Devil for want of Pastors according ●o Gods own heart and that may feed them with knowledge and understanding Vers 32. Secondly Pra●se him in the Assembly of the Elders by setting up Church-Government according to your Covenant What it is I need not tell you enough hath been said about this matt●r and you are wise I will not I need not ask you Whether you intend really and cordially to go about this Work this greatest work wherewith God and the Kingdom have entrusted you I know you do intend it and if you do Why not now when the Lord hath so miraculously broken the power of the enemie and in so great a measure subdued the Kingdom before you as if God of purpose had created you an opportunity to give demonstration to the world that you are in good earnest Onely let me say thus much to you in that plainnesse you give the Ministers of the Gospel leave to use Jesus Christ will not always wait upon States and Kingdoms he will not always come a begging as it were to Parliament-doors He that bids his Servants shake off the dust of their feet Matth. 10.14 in case of refusal of their message knows how to do it himself Psal 2.12 should he be angred out of his patience Time is coming when Kings and Kingdoms would be as glad of Christ as he would be now of them When in their fears and dangers when enemies be upon them and ruine and desolation at their gates then Isaiah lift up a prayer then send the Lamb to the Ruler with supplications Lord Jesus come thou and rule over us But as the Scotch-man said of the English-mans Will Imprimis I bequeath my soul to God c. I but said he Will he tak it man will he tak it so may I question concerning such tenders of Thrones and Kingdoms Will Christ take them will he accept of them when haply they shall be surrendred upon no better terms then a desperate King would deliver up his Crown to any of his Neighbours Vortinger c. even to a Stranger that would come and help him against his prevailing enemies what Christ would do in such a case jude you And therefore Oh kisse the Son lest he be angry Psal 2.12 and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him Happie Parliament happie State happie People happie Person that makes Christ their choice and not their necessity I have done Onely suffer me one word more Take heed I humbly beseech you of setting your selves down at the upper end of Christs House and Table and of suffering Him to be thrust down to serve as an underling at the lower and to have no more then the lusts of some and the humours and fancies of others can spare him But you have not so learned Christ and therefore to all you that stand before God this day and to as many as desire to be a thankful people let me adde a word to close up all Here is a Model let it be your wisdom and honour to mould and form your Thankfulnesse for this days and for all your mercies upon it 1. Give all diligence to possesse your selves of the grace of Thankfulnesse as well as of the affection of Joy and Gladnesse to that end ply the Throne of Grace and plead the accomplishment of that promise A new heart will I give you Ezek. 36.26 and a new spirit will I put into you That is done when all the natural affections have a divine spiritual impresse stampt upon them when as they have born the image of the earthly so now they bear the image of the heavenly 2. Studie I beseech you Spiritual Grounds and Rises from which your Thankfulnesse may take flight heaven ward as First Scripture interest studie rather a good Title then great Possessions namely to enjoy what you have by Sonship as well as Creatureship by co-inheritance with Jesus Christ by promise as well as providence with Gods love as well as by Gods leave Studie the Covenant well and then count thy interest better then the principal I tell thee for thy comfort if thou canst do so if Scripture-interest can bring in more content and satisfaction to thy soul then all earthly possessions if Covenant-title can draw out and endear thy heart to G●d more then all the deliverances and provisions cast in by providence fear not thou art a childe of promise Secondly observe the Returns of Prayer if thou hast been a praying Christian all this time of Englands trouble and art such a one as lookest after thine own prayers knowest them when thou seest them again if the hearing of thy prayer can endear thy heart to God more then the bulk of thy mercy whatever it is of these visible treasures I pronounce the a man or woman that hast more cause to rejoyce then if God had given thee this days surrender the City of Chester solely and entirely to thine own share Thirdly be critical to spie out soul-advantages the Spiritual part of every mercy and wear them as the richest piece of all thy possessions Fourthly eye the Exaltations and liftings up of God in all his works especially such as this day brings in to us and let them lie neerest thy heart they will keep it warm with an heavenly influence 3. Be careful to maintain a faithful Remembrance of the mercies of God in your heads and a setled constant frame of Thankfulnesse upon your hearts for know this The mercies of God cannot perish alone but thou shalt perish with them if thou forget them that is with a carelesse gracelesse forgetfulnesse God will forget thee if thou cast the mercies of God out to the dung-hill God will throw thee after them O be often charging thy soul Psal 103 2. with David Blesse the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits 4. Designe out for God the choisest and most spiritual Returns such as you have beheld First set up God in your thoughts exalt him in your admiring facultie Psal 66.3 Say unto God How terrible art thou in thy works through the greatnesse of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee Secondly engage your selves and others in Prayer to God say Psal 63.2 O thou that hearest Prayer to thee shall all flesh come Be stedfast and unmoveable always abounding in this work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. ult forasmuch as you see your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord He never said to the seed of Jacob Seek ye me in vain Isa 45.19 Thirdly let your Thankfulnesse work it self into pure flames of Love to God and expresse it by labouring To Know more of God Enjoy more Communion with God Boast and glory more in God Fourthly studie Self-denial let there be but one will between God and thee and let that will be Gods He is a thankful man indeed that in doing and suffering can say Father not my will but thine be done Fifthly pay your Vows If ever England or thou prosper it must be by ke●ping of Covenant Ezek. 17.14 Be often rolling that in thy soul Psal 56.12 I will render praises unto thee Sixthly Give glory to God by believing by all the wonders that God hath done learn to trust him in the n●xt strait if faith have not produced these Deliverances let these Deliverances produce faith If happie they that have not seen and yet believed what shall become of them that have seen and yet believe not Seventhly look to the ordering of your conversation the dispesing of your way aright The thankfulnesse of the life is the very life of Thankfulnesse Eighthly widen your hearts in enlarged desires that others may praise God go a begging from door to door thorow the whole Creation for praises for thy God Ninthly to that end declare among the people his doings Psal 9.11 Psal 66.2 Sing forth the honour of his Name make his praise glorious It were a good becoming Solemnitie on these days of Thanksgiving if Christians in their private meetings together to feast and rejoyce before the Lord would make it a Law that every one in their turn should remember and repeat some special eminent Victory or Deliverance wrought by God either for the Nation in general especially since the coming together of this happie Parliament and the beginning of these unhappie Wars or for themselves in particular Such conference as this would keep out vain and unprofitable discourse preserve the memorial of Gods Loving kindnesses exceedingly honour God and adorn your Christian meetings together surely such praise were comely for the upright Christians take all the ways you can that Gods praise may live when you are dead Tenthly be continually breathing after heaven where the praises as well as the spirits of just men are made perfect 〈◊〉 use Austins Contemplation with a little variation O Lord● says he can no man see thy face and live then let me die that I may thy face Say thou O Lord can no man praise thee and live then let me die that I may live to praise thee for ever And let me speak this one word to the comfort of all you who can spread or as the Hebrew signifies measure your Thankfulnesse upon this Model as Elijah spread himself upon the Shunemites dead son 2 Kings 4.34 mouth to mouth eyes upon eyes and hand upon hand limb upon limb and part upon part yea that do make it a businesse so to do you have begun your heaven on earth die when you will you may change your company but not your work you have begun an everlasting day of Thanksgiving you have the Word of God for it Who so offereth praise Psal 50. ult glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God AMEN FINIS