of the Kingdom of the ten Tribes of Israel and that of the Roman Empire after Commodus's time First of the Kingdom of Israel after the murder of Zechariah the last King of Jehu's Family After his Death there was no King for some years together Then the Army set up a King They kill'd him and set up another There were five such Kings one after another every one coming in by the killing of his Predecessor How the Nation flourisht the mean while you may guess or you may read in the Book of Hosea he Prophesied at that time and he tells us how this People having cast off God he cast off them to utter destruction and this way he brought it upon them In the Roman Empire after Commodus's Death who was the last of the Aelian Family after him the Army set up whom they pleased for above a hundred years together In this time they had about twenty Emperors I mean successively for of Competitors they had near thirty at one time but I do not reckon these Of those successive Emperors there were but two or three that succeeded their own Fathers all the rest came in by Violence and went out by violent Deaths For the People the mean while what Case they were in you may imagine At almost every Change there was Rapine and Oppression and Blood till Diocletian's time He indeed put a stop to these Evils but there was no end of them till Constantine the Great set up a kind of Hereditary Empire From these two Examples we may guess what we were to have expected if the Power had continued in the Army We had some trial of it in the last Year of their Reign when not to say what they had done before they changed the Government for us five or six times in the compass of that One year For Religion the mean while whosoever considers what it was that prevailed in the Army may easily judge to what a miserable pass we were brought There were of all Religions among them but ours and they granted a Liberty to all but ours Yes they joyn'd Popery with it in their Declarations Prelacy and Popery were always Excepted together But as for Popery as it was never more freely Profest so I will be bold to say it never had a greater Harvest then at that time But with Prelacy they were in earnest We found it so in being deprived of all those Rights the Law had given us Our Liturgy our Sacraments our Offices of Worship tho' they were Establisht then as much by Law as they are now yet Men were punisht without and against Law for using them But that which was worst our Body of a Church was dissolved our Discipline was trod under foot our Eyes could not see our Teachers and as for our Bishops the Order was near being extinct it subsisted but in five or six old Men that probably might have died all within one or two years Let others think as light of this as they please they that have a true sense of Religion will grant that these were Wounds in the Vitals of the Church of which our Church had certainly died at that time if he that raises Men from the Dead had not given our Church a new Life at the Kings Restauration But how was that brought about I am coming to shew that it was a most visible Work of God so visible that I know not whether any thing could be more perhaps we may except one thing that hath lately happened but certainly there was no greater in all the Examples of ancient Times The great Instance of old in the Christian Church was that which I mentioned of Constantine the Great It was indeed the Hand of God that brought him into the Government But I do not know whether his coming in was more wonderful then that of the Kings Restauration Here was certainly a greater Force to oppose then any that stood in Constantine's way to keep him out of the Government There were both in England and all over the three Kingdoms great numbers that would have done all they could to have hinder'd the Kings Restauration being engaged so to do not only by their Affections but even by their Judgment and Conscience and few of these but were engaged by their Interest too All these having Swords in their Hands or being backt by an Army that had such a numerous Army of Disciplin'd experienced Men as well paid as ever was Army in the world as absolute in their Power and as unwilling to part with it How was it possible that all those Armed Men should either lay down their Arms or wear them to bring in his Majesty that those others likewise should give up their Interests and smother their Prejudices and Disaffections that all the Kings Enemies should be so charmed that at his coming in not a Dog should stir his Tongue against him A Thing that was certainly done do I ask how it was possible The matter is plain that which is impossible with Men is possible with God It was God that did that which none other but God could do It was God that partly turned their Hearts and partly insatuated their Counsels Their dividing as they did among themselves was an absolute Insatuation And when they were thus divided God turn'd the Hearts of part of them to bring in his Majesty But especially it was God that so united the Hearts of the People not only in this but in all the three Kingdoms as they never were before nor since but upon one Occasion If ever there was an Agreement of the People we know when there was a thing falsly so called but if ever there was truly such it was at the Kings Restauration Other things I might instance wherein God shewed himself wonderfully at that time But if there were no more then these three that I have mentioned I think these are enough to shew it was the Lords doing He did great and unaccountable things he did them for the preservation of his Church he did them at that time when she was at the very brink of destruction Our Church was certainly then at the brink of destruction But was it never so since If we forget we are extreamly unthankful to God It is too true we are an unthankful People but yet none of us can easily forget so great a Dinger as we were in so lately as within these four years I know no Man of the Church of England except a few rotten Members that shewed what they were then and since none besides but what did acknowledge we were in extreme danger at that time It was a Melancholy thing to have our King whom our Religion binds us to obey for Conscience sake come to be of that Religion that obliges him to destroy us for Conscience sake All our hope was that our practising the Duty of our Religion would make him be dispensed with for the Obligation of His. For we know they have them that can dispense
A SERMON Preached before Her Majesty On May 29 being the ANNIVERSARY Of the Restauration of the King and Royal Family By the Bishop of S. ASAPH Lord Almoner to THEIR MAJESTIES By her Majesties Command LONDON Printed for Thomas Jones in Lincolns-Inn new Square next Clare-Market 1692. A SERMON Preached before Her Majesty At White-hall May 29. 1692. Psalm 118. 23 24. This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our Eyes This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it THE day for which David intended this Psalm was probably the day of that great Revolution upon the Death of Saul by which he was exalted to the Throne of his Kingdom It was not long before this that David had said I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul He confessed afterwards that it was in his hast that he said this Psal. 31. 22. not considering as he ought the promise of God that he should live to be King of Israel But now after Saul himself was cut off by that terrible Judgment of God which David lamented as you see 2 Sam. 1. 17. Yet being thus secur'd from that which he fear'd and seeing his way open to that which God had promised now he corrects that hasty word of his He says here vers 17. I shall not dye but trve and declare the works of the Lord. What works That he sheweth in the following words there are other words between but I pass by them for I am not now Expounding a Psalm Verses 22. 23. The stone which the Builders refused is become the head stone of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our Eyes It is plain how these words were true of David himself Who tho he was Saul's Son in Law and made so on the account of his Merit which was so conspicious every way that the Honour of so high a Relation was the least part of his Character Yet they that were in power about Saul finding that Saul had a jealousy of him inflamed it to that degree that David was thrown out not only of his Place but of the Kingdom And so he continued in Exile till Saul's Death But then by a strange turn of affairs and of the People's hearts First the House of Juda and afterwards all the Tribes of Israel anointed him King And so God turned the Kingdom to David the Son of Jesse 1 Chron 10. last verse This I take to be the liteâ—al sense of the words Verses 22. 23. beforementioned But as Daâ—id was a most Illustrious Type of the Messiah who wâ—â— the Son of David according to the Flesh and who is called by the name of David in some of the Prophecies So the Actions and Events of David's life were many of them Types of the like Actions and Events that should be done by and should happen to the Messiah That particularly which you have heard of David's being rejected by Saul's Courtiers and Counsellors was a Type of Christ's being rejected by the Priests and Elders of the Jews And that which you heard of that strange Revolution by which David was advanced to the Kingdom was a Type of the Resurrection of our Saviour by which he was Exalted to be Lord and Christ. In both these respects as you have heard the stone which the Builders refused was made the headstone of the Corner both these were alike the Lords doing and were marvellous in mens Eyes But especially the last that of Christs Exaltation to his Kingdom to which these words are applied both by our Saviour himself and more then once by his Holy Apostles this was the very sence that the Holy Ghost intended in inspiring David with this Psalm and the Church has used it accordingly This is one of the Psalms the Church has appointed to be used on Easter Day When we Celebrate the memory of Christ's Resurrection then if ever we have reason to say this is the Day that the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it But as this intent of the Holy Ghost did not make it unlawful for David to make use of these words in a literal sense as no doubt he did for his part intend it in the composing of this Psalm So without comparing with the Resurrection of Christ with which no earthly thing ought to be named when we are in David's Case as to our Temporal condition I know no reason to doubt but we may lawfully take up his words And that 's enough to justify my Choise of this Text. For the matters contained in it here are two things in which we have David for an Example before us First When it pleaseth God to give us such a Deliverance as appears to be the work of God by the marks of his hand upon it we ought to give him the glory of it by acknowledging it to be his doing Secondly When God doth such a work for his People they ought to shew their sense of it by rejoycing in the Lord and by keeping a Day for that purpose of which we may say in David's words this is the Day which the Lord hath made I shall add that whensoever the benefit is such as is not confined to the present age even Posterity as they come to have a share of the benefit so they are to continue the memory of it by keeping Yearly Days of Thanksgiving to God We are now above thirty Years after the date of that mercy which we Yearly commemorate on this Day and yet now enjoying the full benefit of it we truly may and therefore ought to say it this is the day which the Lord hath made The first of these will be more then I can well bring within the compass of my time that where God has done a signal work we are to acknowledge 't is his doing This is nothing else but what all mankind will agree to All will agree that this is Just and Right It is but giving God the glory that is due to his name The Question will be how we shall distinguish such works as are to be ascribed to God only I am not now to prove that there is a God or that he Created the World or that he governs all things in it as well things that are wrought by humane means or otherwise by second Causes as those which God works immediately by himself These things I ought to take for granted by all that hear me What is it then that comes properly into our Question Only this how any work may be appropriated to God so that this or that above other may be said to be of Gods doing Not to reckon all that can be said of this kind I shall shew it particularly in these three respects First When it is so surprizing a work that we can assign no other Cause from which it does or can proceed but God only Secondly When beside the unaccountableness of the Cause we see the effect is such
with their Consciences in the Roman Church And at first we were made to believe it should be as we hoped But Alas we soon found those Dispensers with Conscience were too hard for us Instead of suffering him to let us enjoy our Religion and Laws they made use of their Power quite the contrary way It is as I said a Melancholy thing to speak of or even to think of it But it was too plain They had brought things to that pass that our Laws signified nothing but what they pleased Our Religion was held at the Curtesie of them that were the bloody Enemies of it Our Obedience was made use of as a perfect Snare to us We must not Resist that our Religion would not allow We could not Petition neither but at our peril What should we do then but let things go on in their Course They had us bound Hand and Foot They might do what they pleased with us They had us at their Mercy such as it is And considering the Mercy of Jesuits which in France and in England is much the same I think we have good grounds to judge that if they had held their Power six Months longer France is no worse Kingdom for a Protestant to live in then England would have been at this time But what hinder'd Nothing but the Prince of Orange's coming over nothing else could have hinder'd in all humane appearance He was the onely Prince in the World that could and durst Interpose between us and the last Stroke of our Enemies It was so hazardous an Attempt that I am amazed when I think of it how so wise a Prince could Embark himself in that Expedition much more how he could perswade the wary Dutch to venture with him in so many great Dangers and Difficulties as if he had miscarried would have certainly sunk their whole Nation I can give no other Reason for this but that it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an irresistible Impulse of God It was that Divine Power that has so often preserved this Church and Nation that now took this way to prevent that Ruine that was coming upon us It was God that Infatuated our Oppressors to joyn the Injuries of a People that could not lawfully Resist with those of a Prince that could not lawfully pass them by without Resistance A Prince whose Fates are so knit to those of the Publick of his Countrey of this Nation and of the Protestant Religion that as it is visible they cannot stand without him so he shew'd by this Proof that he had no mind to live after them Can any one think that thinks at all how these Just and great Interests could have been preserved how any one of these could have stood any otherwise then by his venturing himself as he did or when he had gone so far how he could Retreat afterwards without taking the Government upon him when it was as it were thrown into his Hands when he must either take that or lose all for there never was â—ny Offer of any other Condition But for the Justifying of what he did enough has been said and written I am now to shew only this that it was the great Work of God And of this the Marks are so clear that it cannot be denied even by them that would dispute the Justice of it For what can they say to so many things that God only can do and that all concurr'd together in this matter Was it by chance that things were so prepared Abroad that the French King tho' he had notice of this Expedition yet should be so blinded or benumm'd as to do nothing to hinder it Was it by chance that Winds and Seas which at that time of the year are most intractable were yet so wholly engaged on his Side that they both shut in the English Fleet that would have endanger'd him and brought him safe to the best Haven in England for his purpose Was it by chance that a whole Nation 's Hearts divided before in Religions and Interest should be now so united as they were to wish and pray and long for his coming These are all extraordinary things Yet if only one of these had happen'd That indeed might have been said to be by chance but no one or two would have done his business If all three had not concurr'd as they did the want of any one would have spoil'd his Expedition and such a Concurrence of such three things together any one of which was above the power of Man this I take to have been an extraordinary Providence of God Whosoever denies this I cannot but wonder at him But he that only doubts may soon find wherewith to be confirm'd Let him consult his own memory of things and let him see how every Year since this Revolution has brought forth a fresh Testimony of the care of God's Providence If Ireland had been quite lost the first Year it had involved his Majesty in the greatest Dâ—fficulties and Perplexities But do you remember how and by whom it was preserved even by the incredible Courage and Bravery of a few Men driven to Derry and Iniskellin much unprovided half Armed and wholly unskill'd in Warlike Matters See the next Year if then our Fleet had been lost none can doubt but that would have made a short end of the business But how was it preserved at that time when the Enemies Fleet were coming with full purpose to have burnt it in the Haven of Portsmouth What preserved us from this great Danger nothing but a sudden stop of the Wind that would not let them put this well laid Design in Execution After that when they had got an Advantage in Fight which quite divided and disorder'd our Fleet what hinder'd them so many Tides while they might have destroy'd it nothing could have hinder'd them but the unaccountable Will of God It was about the same time that his Majesty was in that Danger which I even tremble to think of and yet there is some comfort in the thought of it at this time He is sure the only King if not the only Man in the World that had his Skin brusht off with a Cannon Bullet without any other ill Consequence as if it had not come to do any hurt but rather an Honor to his Majesty Go on and remember this last Year when it was of so great moment to his Majesties Affairs that he should finish the Reducing of Ireland that Year what a strange appearance there was of a Divine Conduct over his Majesties Forces at Athlone and Agbrim and especially at Limeric which could not have been Reduced otherwise They are such Marks of Gods Hand in his Majesties Affairs that whosoever is not affected with a sense of it I should think that either he has not heard the truth of these things or he has an ill Memory that do's not retain what he has heard or some worse Defect there is that I would not name Sure I am that upon some of
those that were present at the things that I have mentioned tho' otherwise they were far enough from being over-religious yet that which they saw could not but make a deep Impression And if that be your Case that only present things will affect you then I must crave leave to put you in mind of the things which are hardly yet past There lies now a great Army upon the French Coast and they say Transport-Ships that for six Weeks together wanted only a Guard of Ships of War to set them over into this Kingdom And we are told there hath been a sufficient number of Ships of War these six Weeks ready to set Sail only they wanted Wind to bring them first together and then into our Seas But the Dutch Fleet and Ours have wanted no Wind to bring them out nor to bring them together And the French have wanted it no longer then till our Fleet was in readiness and till all the Advantages of Number and Strength were on our side Then it pleased God to bring them forth with positive Orders to Fight us of which we can give no other account but that it was an Insatuation from God Whatsoever the Instruments were it was surely an Insatuation from God who was pleased with their own Kings Consent nay by his Order to deliver so many of their best Ships into our hands It was a wonderful thing that God should give us such a Deliverance much more that he should give us such a Victory and all this by Means to which we could contribute nothing The Deliverance was from such a Danger as we may reasonably hope we shall never be in again after such a Victory A Victory that not only puts an end to the present Descent but that if we know how to use it secures us against any the like for the future A Victory of which it seems to be as true as it was of the Spanish Invasion there ended their Power at Sea there ended their Terror to our Island there ended their hopes of an Universal Monarchy I might say a great deal more but this is I confess a fresh Subject which is reserved for some other Hand I shall therefore leave it to him to whom it belongs Only one thing I ought to observe as to the timing of this Victory Considering how little the present French King was a Friend to our Royal Family before the Restauration and considering how much he has been an Enemy to our Church both before and since I suppose he had very little Joy of that which happened on our Nine and twentieth of May. I do not believe that he did ever heartily thank God for it Well! for all that we thank God for that which happened on His Nine and twentieth of May. It was on his May 29. that God was pleased to send us this Victory We have cause indeed to thank God not only for this but for so many other great Deliverances that he has given us So many and so great he has heapt upon us in our Age nay in a small part of our Age within these very few Years that I do not believe he has shâ—wn the like care of his Proâ—iâ—â—nce over any other Christian Nation Nay he scarcâ— shew'd the like in any one Age over them in the Jâ—wish Church What should be the Meaning of our most gracious God in all this Is it his meaning to set us up like a Light on a Hill that we should be a Pattern to all other Nations Is it his meaning that we should be hiâ— Instruments to help others with the like Affection and Care as he has shâ—wn in helping us Is it his meaning that we shâ—uld shew our concernedness for those things which he has shâ—wn himself so much concern'd for Is it his meaning that wâ— should love the Church of England to which hâ— has shewn so much love in so many Deliverances Is it his meaning to knit our Hearts to their Majesties whom he has so wonderfully blessed and preserved and whom he has made the blessed Instruments of so much good to us The good God dispose us and enable us to perform his good meaning in every one of these Particulars The Lord make us as much concern'd for their Majesties Preservation and Service as they have shewn themselves concern'd for the Deliverance and for the Peace and Prosperity of this Nation especially to His Majesty in those great Dangers to which he is daily exposing himself it is all the Return we can make in Praying for him while he is Fighting for us The Lord make us alike affected to his Church and alike concern'd for it as he has shewn himself in all his Deliverances and Mercies The Lord make us as ready to help our Brethren specially those that suffer for righteousness sake as he has shewn himself ready to preserve us and to help us out of all our Dangers and Sufferings But one thing more The Lord dispose us in all things to live worthy of his Goodness and Mercy as a People that he has so often and so wonderfully delivered and that we may shew it by living blameless and harmless as the Sons of God without rebuke in this corrupt Age that we may shine as lights in the world The Lord grant it for his Mercies sake through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Catalogue of Books lately Printed for Thomas Jones in Lincolns-Inn new Square next Newmarket A Discourse of God's ways of Disposing of Kingdoms Part I. The Second Edition Price 1 s. A Sermon Preached before the Queen at Whitehall Ian. 30. being the Day of the Martyrdom of King Charles the First Published by Her Majesties Command Price 6 d. A Letter to Dr. Sherlock in Vindication of that part of Josephus's History which gives an Account of Jaddus the High Priest's submitting to Alexander the Great while Darius was living against the Answer to the Piece Intituled Obedience and Submission to the present Government The Second Edition Price 6 d. A Sermon Preached before the Queen at Whitehall May 29. being the Day of the Restauration of the Royal Family Price 6 d. 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