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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
land_n	city_n	great_a	lord_n	2,295	5	3.5103	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58858	Mirabilia dei, or, Britannia gaudio exultans Opened in a congratulatory sermon for the safe return of our Gracious Soveraign, and happy restitution to the full and free exercise of His royall authoritie. Preached on the 14th. of June, [16]60. which was the day set apart for the members, master, and students of the Kings Colledge, in the town and parish of Old Aberdeen, to commemorat and solemnly praise the Lord for the rich mercies above mentioned: by Alexander Scrougie preacher of the Gospel, and minister at Old Aberdeen.	Scrogie, Alexander, d. 1661.	1660 (1660)	Wing S2127; ESTC R218663	34,871	47

taken in their pit Lam. 4. 20. Servants ruled over them Lam. 5. 8. Their Priests Elders Nazarites and Honourable Persons were filled with contempt but when God begins to work their restauration he wrought so great things that his people who before were a by-word to cursers wishing these they hated to be dealt with as the Jews became a patern of blessing so that men prayed these they wished best unto might be in the Jews case Zach. 8. 13. He made them a name and praise among all the people of the earth Zephan 3. 20. and it is clear from Ezra and Nehem. The next word in the Text is Lagnasoth from Gnasa which signifieth more then ordinary doing Criticks observe that in strictnesse and propriety the word signifies two things First to do a thing compleetly and perfectly Hence Esau had his name Gen. 25. 25. which signifieth Perfect because he was full of hair looking like a grown man with a beard rather then an Infant without teeth Secondly to do exquisitly to adorn the work with comlinesse and beauty though at first their appear disorder and confusion in it yet ere he leave it and put his last hand as we say to it to make it appear beautifull And thus God did this great work of restauration he made not only an essay and left it in fieri but carried it on to its perfection and beauty too the work was so full of comlinesse that it ravished beholders unto admiration and these who shared in it unto rejoycing and congratulation The third word in the Text is Semechim from Samach which signifieth not an ordinary but a great joy like the joy of the Harvest and of these that divide the Spoil Isa 9. 3. and like the joy of a woman when she receiveth a man-childe John 16. 21. The joy of heaven is expressed by it Psal 16. 11. In the words we have two things First A solemn narration of Gods greatnesse in working Secondly An answerable return by solemn rejoycing or there is First a worker Jehovah Secondly the work and its quality done great things Thirdly the appropriating the doing these great things for us Fourthly the Improvement thereof whereof we are glad Where also there is first the measure of that gladnesse it was great as the word imports in some measure answerable to the work according to their capacities Secondly the ground of it Gods great doing for them so that all in the Text are great a great worker the Lord a great work great things and great joy the result of that work the great Lord manifested his great power by that great work and the manner of its doing and the people receive it with answerable Intertainment but in a different way the Heathen with great admiration yet as unconcerned in it but the Jews with great admiration and joy too as greatly concerned in it the Heathen acknowledged it but did not rejoyce in it and it 's like their acknowledgement was extorted even by the greatnesse thereof but the Jews did both joy in it and with gladnesse acknowledge it and these both most voluntarly If ye ask what were these great things Answ Great and mighty things as the Lord calls them Jer. 33. 3. the breaking the snare of the Fowlers and making his people escape Psal 124. 7 Cutting asunder the cords of the wicked Psal 129. 4. or as it is in the first verse of this Psalm the turning again their captivity Take notice of these three great things 1. God stirred up Instruments awakened and lifted them up above themselves the chief of whom was Cyrus a Heathen King to whom the Lord having in a special providencc brought to his notice the foregoing Prophesies spoken 200. years before by Isaiah the Prophet Isa 44. 28. and 45. 1. 2. did so turn his heart towards his people that he turned away by open Proclamation their Captivity 2 Chron. 36. 22. and this was a great work if we consider First That Cyrus was a great Monarch and the Jews poor Captives Secondly He a Heathen man and stranger to them Thirdly He an Idolater and of himself an enemy to their Religion all these stood in the way of their deliverance and might in all likelyhood have turned away his heart from looking after them but the Lord the great Commander of hearts turned his heart to send out a Decree for their return which sure was a great work The second great thing God did was the overthrow of the Babylonians who had carried away and detained Judah in captivity and this was a great work 1. If we consider who and what they were The Babylonian was one of the greatest Potentates of the world he made the earth to tremble and shook Kingdoms he made the world as a wildernesse and did not open the house of the prisoners Isa 14. 16 17. He ruled the Nations in anger Isa 14. 6. All People Nations and Languages trembled before him Dan. 5. 19. the City was exceeding great and well Fortified as may be seen in Herodotus Lib. 1. and Plinius Lib. 6. there were gates of Brasse and bars of Iron Isa 45. and 2. yet notwithstanding of all these Babylon was overthrown and it was the Lord that did it Isa 45. 1. 2. and this he did for his peoples sake ibid. vers 4. The third great work was the general liberty granted them by Proclamation to return to their own Land and this was a great work also for but consider First that their captivity had many great evils in it 1. They were removed from their own Land given them of the Lord and Natale solum dulcedine cunctos afficit 2. They were robbed of all they had their pleasant things given to strangers their cruel enemies 3. They were made bond slaves and that in a strange Land to proud and insulting oppressors 4. They were deprived of the free exercise of their Religion Psal 137. 1 2 3. 5. Their souls were in captivity for they were threatned to fall down before the great Idol or else be cast in the fiery furnace Dan. 3. 1. 6. And so they were in a worse case in Babylon then in Aegypt for there although their bodies were in servitude yet they were not compelled to worship the Egyptian Idols Isis and Osiris now to be delivered from such captivity wherein so many great evils were imbosomed was without doubt a great work of God Secondly Consider the manner of their deliverance and that also will speak out the greatnesse thereof For 1. It was sudden they looked not for it 2. It was free they bought it not with their money they purchased it not by their sword they had no trained Commanders to conduct them to the Fields to fight themselves into liberty 3. They did not so much as Petition for it 4. In was incredible that a Heathen King an Idolater and a stranger to them should do it who would had believed it especially it looking to be against good Policy to set them at

late King Thirdly He was hotly assaulted and solicited by some Champions of the Romish Church and especially by some who had Apostatized from the Truth themselves and so knew the better how to perswade others Fourthly He receives kind intertainment and protection from some of the Romish Party Fifthly Assistance was offered by them of that perswasion unto Him if He would turn Papist were not all these strong tentations yet His heart was indivertible from God and His Truth that neither ill usage from His own nor favours conferred and offered by strangers could work that change His heart like Davids was fixed trusting in the Lord his heart was established Psal 112. 7 8. He hid Gods word in his heart that he should not sin against him Psal 119. 11. and this was a great and special work of the Lords The third great work God hath done for us is the bringing again our captivity of which remark but these shortly First It was Nationall for although we were not all exiled yet we were captivated in our own Land like a man Imprisoned in his own House and this was a sore ill A generous Woman once said Mallem mille mortes quam tributaria capita circumferre Secondly It was of a large extent reaching to all ranks Our King exiled our Nobles Imprisoned many of our brethren carried away further then from Judea to Babylon even to Barbado's and some of the Ministers of Christ removed from their own Nation and Flocks Thirdly Our captivity was spirituall to sin imposed on us by threatning as was done to the Jews in Babylon We wer threatned and urged to subscribe their Tender thereby to disclaim our King and the ancient Government of these Nations and to bow to there Idol of Anarchie and Usurpation to which too many readily yeelded Ministers were prohibited upon no lesse pain then silencing them from preaching the Gospel to pray for His Majesty a duty that lay upon all by Gods reiterated Commands All commanded to keep dayes of Thanksgiving for discovery of plots against Usurpers which was a justifying of them in their wicked Usurpations and proclaiming to the world that God was well pleased with them and their wayes Fourthly It reached even to the Church and Truth of God the Government thereof decreed as Antichristian her Discipline opposed and slighted Religion hazarded by a vast Act of Toleration her Ministers flouted and while they were officiating before God abused her Worship interrupted her Patrimony seased upon some crying out Let us take to our selves the Houses of God in possession Psal 83. 12. her Judicatories interrupted and Gods Servants driven out from the General Assemblies and made specticles to men and Angels but the Lord hath turned away this our captivity and it is his great and glorious doing The fourth great work was the overthrow of the Kings and our Enemies 1. They were many 2. Proud puft up with Successe 3. Desperate whom no command of the Lord could bow nor threatning affright 4. Cruel acted by Jesuiticall and Anabaptisticall Furies 5. Covetous being mad upon unjust gain and al 's mad in the retention of it 6. United and combined together by all the ligaments of carnall Policy Yet the great and good Lord divided them and they melted away like a snail he laid their pride in the dust and turned these boasting Lamechs into Cowards and made them flee as chaffe before the wind so that we may apply that saying of the Psalmist Psal 76 5. The stout hearted are spoiled and none of the men of might have found their hands At the appearance of that chief Instrument they cryed out as the Egyptians of old Exod. 15. 25. Let ●s flee from the face of Israel for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians and this was the Lords great doing The fifth great work is the raising up Instruments for carrying on these great Works I name but six 1. The Lord Generall George Monck an other Cyrus to us who wrought under God the foresaid great things He our Ezra or help our Nehemiah or Comforter our Zerubbabel or mighty One made so by the mighty God of Britain before whom the great Mountains became a plain Zecha 4. 7. and Hushai-like defeated the crafty counsels of Achitophels 2. His Debora whose loyal heart made her put forth the uttermost of her conjugall influence 3. The good and loyal people of England influenced by the breathings of the Spirit of the Lord calling for a free Parliament and their and our King 4. The right Honourable the City of London joyning their endeavours with the Lord General and People of the Land 5. That famous Parliament that now sits crowning the work by their unanimous calling home His Majesty and restoring Him to His just Priviledges and Authority 6. The Lord General Montague who proved active to engage the Navie to own His Majesty and waft Him over safe unto His own Kingdoms That so many should all with one mouth and hand carry on so great a work is unto me an argument of Gods approving and working thereof for as it is an argument of the Divine Authority of the propheticall Scriptures that the Prophets though they lived in divers places and ages of the World yet they all agreed in one and the same Truth as if they had all spoken by one and the same mouth as ye have it Luk. 1. 70. As He spake by the mouth not mouths of His holy Prophets So when God stirreth up his Servants in all places of the Kingdom and them of all ranks and ●etteth them all about one work as if they were one man it may be taken for no lesse then Gods doing especially if ye consider the case of our King while they begin to act for Him not sitting on His Throne and swaying the Scepter but in His low estate even then to remember Him and lay themselves out for Him speaks out Gods great doing and that not only His finger but His whole hand yea His ten fingers yea both His arms to speak after the manner of man was lifting up these Instruments and imploying them in His work and to this we may add that these Instruments should undertake the work against so many high and great Mountains that stood in the way against so many sons of Anak and mighty Gyants combined so strongly together and yet levell them all and scatter them all can speak no lesse then that the mighty Spirit of God was in them and His strong hand with them Take a word more to advance the greatnesse of all these doings and works and for that end consider First The time when When we like the Jews thought it Impossible at least so soon we were like these dry bones Ezek. 37. our hope was almost lost vers 11. yet though it seemed difficult in our eyes it was not so in Gods Zech. 8. 6. to whom all things are possible Matth. 19. 26. and doth whatsoever he will Psal 135. 6. he breathed upon us

liberty who peradventure might revolt and breed a new trouble to the State 5. It was accompanied with much bounty even all things needfull for their return as may be seen in Eza 1. 4. 7 8 9 10 11. vers 6. It was carried on vigorously notwithstanding of discouragements and dangers of the way and engagements upon some of the people to stay in Babylon they having purchased Lands there and contracted affinity with the Chaldeans and the idlenesse and lasinesse of some others of them sure these declare the greatnesse of that work From the words I shall present you some Doctrines with Application suitable to the present occasion And the first I gather by comparing the Text with the former verse which I shall but name is That it is lawfull to use the testimony and saying of others although Heathen and Enemies too The Heathen sounded The Lord hath done great things for them and the Jews made the Echo The Lord hath done great things for us c. Paul made use of Aratus saying Act. 17. 28. of Menanders 1 Cor. 15. 33. of Epimenides Tit. 1. 12. a Heathen a wicked man may sometimes let fall a savory Truth Balaam and Cajaphas may prophesie and a prophane enemy utter some precious Truths which we may repeat as well as handle Gold that falls from the mouth of Swine But we must take heed First that we take up none of their prophane sayings Secondly That when we repeat Truths uttered by them we do it in an other manner of way sure the Jews here though the words were almost the same spoken by the Heathen yet they were uttered in an other manner of way as was said before If then a Papist a Sectary a Rebell say the Lord hath done great things for us in turning again our captivity and restoring to us our King let us not stick to say it over again but do it in another manner First They say it but it 's sore against their wills that ever they had cause to say it the greatnesse of Gods work hath extorted and wrought it from them but let us with a willing heart and glad tongue say it Secondly They utter it yet can make no right application of it but let us apply it for God did not this great work at randome but for us and our good Thirdly They say it but with grief their hearts are cast down and disquieted within them but let us say it with glad hearts a chearfull countenance and joyfull lips Obser 2. The works which God doth in behalf of his distressed people are great he doth great things for them it is his property to do great things It is true he doth small things for the words are not exclusive He is not like the Heathens Jupiter who took no leasure to notice small things nor like Moses to whom weighty and knotty controversies were reserved and the petty matters transmitted and referred to the Inferiour Judges Exod. 18. 26. all things come within the compasse of his providence there is nothing so small but he noticeth it and his providence hath a hand in it Matth. 10. 29 30. things that seem most contingent and casuall even to them his providence extendeth what more casuall in respect of the means then when a man striketh to cut down a Tree and the head of the Axe flees from the helve and smites his Neighbour that he die yet Gods providence hath a ●●●oak therein as is clear by comparing Deut. 19. 5. with Exod. 21. 13. but his glory shines most in his great doings an works whether of Justice or mercy great things he doth in behalf of his people to passe by the works of Creation which are great and wondrous Job 9. 10. and of Redemption and Salvation which are yet far greater the works of his Providence have among them great ones the bringing of his people out of Egypt through the Red-sea and overthrowing Pharaoh and his Army was a great work Exod. 14. 31. the driving out the Cananites before them was a great work 2 Sam. 7. 23. compared with 1 Chron. 17. 21. and this spoken of in the Text was a great one so great and strange in the peoples eyes that it seemed in some sort to abolish with them the memoriall of their deliverance out of Egypt It shall no more be said the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel out of the North Jer. 16. 14 15. and Chap. 1. 23. 7 8. when God comes to act for his people he does like himself his great and glorious power doth great and glorious works he acteth not like man who sometimes take a great deal of pains and yet doth nothing or with a great deal of Art and Policy brings forth trifles but when God comes to visit his people we may look for great and noble acts he is their praise and their God that doth for them great and terrible things Deut. 10. 21. and the reason hereof is he is the Lord and not man a great Lord and of great power and will do like himself Great is our Lord his understanding is infinite The Lord lifteth up the meek he casteth the wicked down to the ground Psal 147. 5 6. He that is mighty doth great things Luk. 1. 49. Thou art great and dost wondrous things O Lord thou art God alone What great things God did for his people the Jews ye heard before But to make Application which is the work of the day God hath done for us in these Lands not small and contemptible but great and glorious acts I mention five of them 1. The re-establishing of Kingly Government and to give you a glimpse of the greatnesse of this work consider first the thing it self Secondly the evils which followed upon the want of it Thirdly the impediments that stood in the way of its restitution First view the Government but a little it s the only Government these Nations have enjoyed for many hundred years and this Nation for neer 2000 years Secondly God hath blessed these Lands under it with many rich blessings both spiritual and earthly Thirdly It s the Government that Scripture doth most speak of with approbation and blessed with rare blessings Fourthly It s the most ancient approved Government amongst the Nations as appears from Scripture and the Judicious among the Heathen themselves Certum est sayes Cicero 3. De Legib. Omnes antiquas gentes regibus p●imum paruisse principio rerum saith Justinus lib. 1. Gentium nationumque Imperium penes reges erat and Callimachus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex Jove sunt Reges 2. The miseris which have of late flowed from and accompanied the want of it may teach the most stupid how excellent it is how many miseries have we seen and undergone while we stood deprived of it 1. The Church of God was distracted and divided Schismaticall and Erronious persons countenanced and

holinesse fearfull in praises doing wonders Exod. 15. 2 3. 11. Let the King say with David It is God that avaingeth me and subdueth the people under me he delivereth me from mine enemies yea thou liftest me up above these that rise up against me thou hast delivered me from the violent man therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord and sing praises unto thy name Great deliverance giveth he unto his King and sheweth mercy to his Anointed c. Psal 18. 47 48 49 50. Let all of us say O Give thanks unto the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever to him who alone doth great wonders for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136. 3 4. Vse 5. Fifthly Rely upon God alone in time of trouble for he alone doth great things for his people It is better to trust in the Lord then to put confidence in man then to put confidence in Princes Psal 118. 8 9. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the son of man in whom there is no help Psal 146. 3. Yea the Lord curseth him that trusteth in man that maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Make not wealth our strong City as the rich do Prov. 18. 11. for neither silver nor gold shall be able to deliver in the day of the Lords wrath Prov. 11. 4. Ezek. 7. 19. Zeph. 1. 18. But let the Lord be our City of ●●fuge and strong Tower run unto him for he sees our affliction and hears our cry Exod. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 3. 12. and He will save us Psal 18. 3. Prov. 18. 10. for salvation is of him Jonah 2. 9. Obs 3. Thirdly Gods great doing should be well noticed the Heathen did it vers 2. and his people in the Text. Moses and Aaron with the men and Miriam with the women of Israel took notice of their deliverance from the Egyptians Exod. 15. 1. 20. David was very carefull to remark Gods dispensations and pens many a Psalm on that account Debora and Barak so noticed the deliverance of Gods people from Jabin and Sisera that they commemorate it with songs of praise Judg. 5. When the men of Judah got their young King Joash restored to the Crown beyond expectation they observed it with clapping their hands and prayer for him 2 Kings 11. 12. And when Athalia the Tyrant was slain all the people of the Land rejoyced verse 20. the Lord commands his people to notice his doings Psal 46 8. Come and see saith the Psalmist the works of God Psal 66. 4. the nature of his works call for it being great honourable and glorious and wonderfull Psal 111. 2 3 4. The godly takes pleasure to seek them out Ibid. verse 2. God sheweth his people the power of his works verse 6. that they may notice them Vse 1. Come then and behold what the Lord d●th done for us Psal 46. 8. take reasons to move you 1. Ye offer a great indignity to God the doer if ye remark them not When a great Crafts-man hath brought a great and rare peice of Work to perfection and calls on us to look upon it if we refuse do we not affront him The Lord will sure take it as a high contempt if we do not consider his workings 2. His doings and workings are so full of ravishing wisdom power and love that there is in them a magnetick vertue to draw out our con●ideration and meditation and make us cry out as of all Gods works so of these in particular There are no works like unto thy works Psal 86. 8. Who is like unto thee O Brittain O people saved by the Lord Deut. 33. 29. Ask now of the dayes that are past and and a●k from one side of the heaven unto the other whether there hath ●●en any such things as these great things are Deut. 4. 32. Who hath heard or seen such things Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day or shall a Nation be born at once Isa 66. 8. but sudainly so smoothly so wisely so gloriously hath the Lord done these great things for us 3. These things are done in our sight God did marveilous things in the sight of his people in Egypt in Zoan Psal 78. 12. he hath done them in our sight that we with open face might behold them 4. Strangers noticeth them they are saying as the Heathen did verse 2. and crying This is the finger of God Exod. 8. 19. and shall we not with the people in the Text Echo them and recognize his doing 5. It is a signe of a wicked man that when Gods hand is lifted up he will not see Isa 26. 11. Notice then Gods doings but do it First advisedly not slightly Men should wisely consider of his doings Psal 64. 9. Stand still and see this great sight Exod. 3. 3. Who is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord Psal 107. 43. Secondly With joy and delight The righteous should see and rejoyce Psal 107 42. for God doth his works to make his people glad Psal 92. 4. Thirdly Believingly and profitably to the strengthning our Fath and Hope for times to come that we may set our hope in God and keep his Commandments Psal 78. 7. Vse 2. Then justly reprovable are three sorts of men who come short of this duty in noticing Gods doings First carelesse and ignorant ones who like Swine take no notice of these Pearles How great are thy works O Lord a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this Psal 92. 5 6. some are like the Israelites of whom it is said Psal 106. 7. that they understood not Gods wonders in Egypt but these provocketh God as it is in that same verse Secondly Despisers who undervalue his doings They regard not the works of the Lord nor the operation of his hands Psal 28 5. Isa 5. 12. like Swine preferreth the Accorn to the Pearl or children in knowledge triffles to Gold to such may be said as it is Act. 13. 41. Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish God will destroy such and not build them up Psal 28. 5. Thirdly Envious persons who envieth the glory of our King and the happinesse of these Lands of such the Prophet Isaiah speaketh chap. 26. 11. But they shall see and be ashamed for their envie c. for their envious and spightfull carriage towards God's people they shall be ashamed and confounded Obs 4. Fourthly Gods great works should be publickly acknowledged not only noticed but acknowledged noticed with solemn Narrations and Commemorations so did Moses and the Children of Israel notice and commemorate with publique confessions and praises Debora Jud. 5. is large in acknowledging Gods great doings It is commanded that we declare among the people his doings Psal 9. 11. and David engageth to do it in that Psalm verse 1. I will shew forth saith he all thy marvellous works and Psal 26. 6 7. I will compasse thine altar O

27. Matth. 22. 21. 7. To obey them for conscience sake 1 Pet. 2. 13. 8. To be thankfull unto God for a good KING 1 King 1. 40. 2 King 11. 12. and Psal 118. which was Penned to teach the Subject how to entertain with joy and thankfulnesse Davids advancement to the Throne of Israel How greatly stand we of these Nations engaged to God for re-establishing among us the best of Governments and setling it upon the right shoulders and restoring to us our King It was our sins which deprived us of Him because we feared not the Lord Hos 10. 13. and did not thankfully and reverently entertian Him when He was with us as became dutifull Subjects The more tyes lyes upon us to blesse the Lord that notwithstanding of our unworthinesse yet he hath restored Him and set Him upon His Throne with Glory and Honour and so much the rather in that His Majesty is no stranger by Birth but our rightfull King no stranger by Religion not a Jeroboam to make the Land sin but of that same Orthodox Profession with us and Fidei defensor Not a Rehoboam not able to advise Himself but a Solomon a David wise as an Angel of God to discern between good and evil not a Zedekiah but a Josiah fearing the Lord not a Manasseh but gentle and mercifull as David not a covetous Ahab but willing rather to dispense with part of His own Revenues God hath not delt so with every Nation and in this he hath magnified His mercy toward us in giving us such a King a King Primae intentionis of special favour God hath been Schooling us under the rod of Oppressors to know the worth of our King and teach us better principles how to entertain Him with more sincere chearfull and constant Loyaltie and I wish all may learn their Lesson well My Lord To testifie our thankfulnesse in this place with publick Narrations Confessions and Praises for so great and rich a mercy It was resolved upon by the Masters and Members of the Kings Colledge here and Me to set apart a solemn day for that gratfull imployment which was solemnly gone about by all here and many others both Ministers and Professors from several places of this Countrey and among others the Magistrates and many Inhabitants of the Honourable and Loyal City of Aberdeen And in this we had the precedencie before many of this Nation that we celebrate here the fourteenth day of June whereas others followed after upon the ninteenth day This Sermon was a part of the work of that day which when ended I laid it by not intending to have sent it abroad to publick view But the Masters of His Majesties Colledge by their often and earnest entreaties fo far prevailed with me as to send it to the Presse Vpon which when I had resolved then immediately some magnetick vertue from your Lorddship drew my thoughts towards you and sweetly yet powerfully engaged me to transmit it under your Lordships Protection The Sermon it self is plain in which is nothing but the words of truth and sobriety I speak most in the words of God for in preaching Gods Word should have the preheminence and therefore I purposely forbear to garnish it with Testimonies of humane Writers My Lord When mean men speaks to the King they do it by the means of some Courtiour and when Scholers speaketh to the Kingdom they do it under the Protection of some worthy Patern I have made bold to transfer this Sermon to the Nation under your Lordships Name and Protection Reasons moving me were these First The subject of the Sermon is concerning the King and who should more own and countenance it then your Lordship beloved of the King and advanced by Him to the highest place in this Kingdom Secondly The eminencie and concatenation of Gods Graces and Heroick resplendent Vertues in you as they have drawn the eyes and hearts of all good and Loyall Subjects so mine too towards your Lordship and in this I am happy Wisdom leadeth men to shelter themselves and their Labours under the wings of the most eminent for Piety Learning and Vertue and such is your Lordship by the harmonious testimony of truly good men Thirdly Your Lordships good affection manifested to honest Loyal Ministers countenancing and incouraging them receiving them when they came with chearfulnesse intertaining them courteously and dismissing them with contentment Fourthly Your Lordships zeal for His Majesties restauration testified by your valorous undertaking When others would not ye went with a handfull of Loyal Subjects and jeoparded your self in the high places of the Field and so wisely and valorously acquit your self that ye became a terrour to the Enemy But when the Lord was not pleased to carry on his work by that mean then your Lordship testified your Loyalty by suffering for your Prince To you it was given not only to act but to suffer for Him Fifthly Tour Lordships activity and wisdom in advancing the work of His Majesties restauration when God offered the opportunity by dealing with the Lord General Monck now Duke of Albemarlie and others of his Army as I am credibly informed When open acting would have exasperated enemies and retarded the Designe ye acted secretly and successively for which your praise is through the Churches of God in these Lands to the perpetuating your Name to future Ages Sixthly Your several testimonies of love and respect which your Lordship was pleased to extend to my Reverend Brother Master William Scrougie Minister at Rathven and on singular among others which your Lordship procured to him from the Kings Majesty Be pleased therefore most Noble Lord graciously to accept of this my humble addresse and grant me and this Sermon your favourable Protection for the dayes are evil I have one word more and so I have done it is my hearts prayer to God that he will blesse His Majesties Person and Government and make the Crown to flourish on His head for many years and on the heads of His Posterity till there be no more time That He will blesse His People with Loyalty Vnity and Obedience The Ministers of the Gospel with zeal for God and the King The Church of God in this Land with the continuance both of His precious Truth in Power and Purity and of the Priviledges and Government thereof and that He will grant to continue your Lordship long in the high Charge His Majesty hath laid most worthily upon you to the Honour of the King the good of the Commonwealth the comfort of the Church the Glory of God and your own comfort in Him and that He will perfect His Graces in you and after many prosperous years on earth will minister an entrance to you into His everlasting Kingdom And I humbly beseech your Lordship to conceave of me as I am and shall be Your Lordships humbly devoted Servant in all dutifull submission ALEXANDER SCROVGIE MIRABILIA DEI. Psal CXXVI 3. The Lord hath done great things for