A sermon preach'd before the Lords spiritual and temporal in Parliament assembled in the abbey church of Westminster on Monday, January the 31st, 1703/4, the fast day for the martyrdom of King Charles the 1st

speciAl
coLLecrioNS

tDOUQLAS
LibRAKy

queeN's uNiveusiiy

AT kiNQSXrON

kiNQSTON ONTARIO CANADA

A

SERMON

PREACH'D Before

The Lords Spiritual and Temporal
In PARLIAMENT Affenibled,

I N T H E

AEBET-CHURCH of Westminster.

O N

Monday JANUARY the ^i^- 170^

THE

FAST-DAY

FOR THE

MARTYRDOM
KING CHARLES the I

ft.

^Y GEORGE Lord Bifliop of St. Asaph.

LONDON, W\nx^^\h\J.Lejke, {or Walter Kettilh, at
the Bi\hof\ Head ill St. Paurs Chnrch-Tard. M DCC IV.

'*'?'. t f ;r u' Y « ■ f-j'^V

THE

BISHOP of St. ASAPH'S

SERMON

PREACHED Before the

HOUSE of PEERS,

O N

Monday the 31^ of January, 170I

\

Die Marti s V Februarijy 1703;

IT is Ordered by the Lords Spiritual
and Temporal in Parliament Affem-
bled, That the Thanks of this Houfe
Ihall be, and are hereby, Given to the
Lord Bifhop of St Afaph, for his Sermon
Preach'd before this Houfe, in the
Abbey-Church at Wefimwjier, Yefterday ;
And he is hereby Defired to Print and
Publifh the fame.

Mdtth, Johnfofj^
Cr Parliamentor'

Dtjore im nuusiiorrEERSi 2

Poffeis'd of a Fairer Territon-^ and which
lies better for our Convenience.

Its Enemies are not Men^, but Vices and
Paflions ^ fuch Lu^s as^ according to Saint
James ^ are the Common Caufes of Other
Wars : and thofe too chieflv^ as they are
lodged in our Breafts^ in the fame Bodv
wherewith we are encompafs'd. With thele
dwelling in the midft of us^ (for Others we
are to overcome by Perfuafion only) we
ought to live in perpetual Hoitility^ fub-
duing them to Reafon^ and bringing them
into Captivity to the Law of Chriit.

And as the Enemies are Different^ fo is
the Defign of the War : not a Foot of Earth
is to be the Purchafe of the Victory : the
Aim is not to gain a Name^ by being a Peft
and Terrour to the Neighbourhood ; by
Ruine and Slaughter ^ to be Talk'd of by
One part pf the World^ for having Defiroy'cl
Another.

The Intention of our Leader was^ not to
Conquer this Worlds but to Conduft us*
through it to Another ^ not to Deftroy^ but
to Save ^ not to Take away Lives^ but to
give his Ovon a Random for Many,

According to the Enemies^ and to the
DeTign of the Warfare -^ lo are its Orders :

B 2 not

Jl O il K iVl U IN I ' ^u^tJ u-

not to refift Evil with Evil;, but to overcome
Evil with Good., to turn the Other Cheeky
to give up the Coat^ to go the Other Mile ^
^ rather than be engaged in Revenge^ or any
'^ Uncharitable Retaliation -, or but Imitate
the fame Violence or Injuftice : On the con-
trar}"^ to forgive our E?iemies •, to blefs them
that curje us , to do good to them that hate
us 'y atid^ray for them that defpitefuUy ufe
vs^ and Ferfecute us.

This is the Known Method and Duty of
our Warfare. Thofe that obferve not thefe
Rules^ walk Diforderly^ tranfgrels againit
the Difcipline of their General^ are not re-
puted the Soldiers^ but the Enemies of Him
and his Crofs • and though under his Name^
they jfight againft Him.

To the Manner of the War^ the Weapons
are fuited^ they are not Carnal : none of
thofe of Offence or Defence which the Flefh
ufes. The Covering is neither by Shield or
Helmet^ nor by falfe Pretences^ and Hypo-
* critical Difguites , the Attack neither by
Sword^ or Spear ^ nor by Malicious Falfe
Tongues^, Poifoned Calumnies^ and Mur-
dering Accufations : all theAmbufliments
of Falfe Promifes^ and Enfnaring Allure-
ments^ are againit the Law of thefe Arm%.

The

utiurti lut JHL u u :i n ui i £ E RS.

The Courage too^ is not from Blood fer-
mented with Anger or Revenge ^ not from
any Impetuous^ Unruly Paflions ; all thefe
it reftrains and fupprejGTes. Its Conftancyand
Refolution is founded upon Faith in God^
animated by the Hope of Heaven^ and
difplays it lelf in Charity towards Men.
Whatever Terrors or Temptations areoffer'd^
they are repelFd by the Shield of Faith ^ the
Helmet of Hope^ and the Breaji-plate of
RighUpufnefs, Whatever Objedlions and
Arguments are urg d^ they are cut afunder
hy tht Sword of the Spirit ^ the Word of God.
This is the Armour of Proof with which we
may be abh to Jtafid^ evenagainftPr/;/cip^-
litiesy mid Powers ^ and the Rulers of the
Darknefs of this World,

This Wiwfare is not the Carnal : fo far
Different^ that it has been reputed not con-
fiftent • but that Swords were to be beat
into Plough'Jhares J and Spears into PruTWJg"
hooks ^ and the Noife of the Battle was to be
heard no more. It has been prefum'd that
thefe two Ibrts of Armours could never fit
the fame Perlon ^ and that the Soldier Enga-
ged in the one Service^ muft Defert the other.
This has been the Pious Error^ even oflome
Well-meanine Harmlefs Chriftians ; expref-

fing

A b ERMON rreacbd

fmg their Good Wiihes^ and Peaceful Difpo-
fitions ; not their Knowledge of Mankind^
or of the Precept of our Saviour : an Error
which may expofe the Miitaken to Rapin
and Murder ^ but is Dangerous only to the
Followers of it : It felf making no Widows,
or Orphans • and laying no Cities walte.

However^ fo much is certain^ that all
Wars undertaken by Chriftians^ are to be
under the Direftion of the Spiritual War-
fare^ and fubje6l to its Orders. W^tever
other Arms we put on^ thele. of the Spirit
are never to be put off : they are ftill to be
next us. He that fhall be found fighting
without them^ engages his Perfon raflily to
infinite Danger^ and expofes himlelf to
Eternal Death : runs a greater hazard than
his Enemy intends thn. For want of the
one ikrmour^ the Blow that wounds through
the other^ may be too Mortal^ pierce to the
Soul^ and not only diilodge it^ but difpatch
it to Hell.

This likewife is certain^that as Our Saviour
came not to Dilband Armies^ fo He gave
out no new Commiffions :He Licensed War^
and Permitted a Prolecution of Right^ which
the Violence and Injuftice of Man might
continue to m.ake neceffary ^ but He Com-
manded

(I )

2 C O R. X. 3, 4.

Though we Walk in the Fle/h^ we do not

War after the Flejh :
For the Weapons of our Warfare are not

Carnalj but Mighty —

- rTpHE Unity, Order, Difcipline, and

^ I Force of a Company of Men im-

JL bodied in an Army, have given

f^ frequent Occafion to the Holy Spirit

'^^ for Aliiifions that way : And lb, not to

mention the Old Teftament, a Hiftory of

commanded Wars under Cod the Lord of

Hofis ^ in the New, the Chriftjan Life is

called a Warfare.-^ we are Soldiers ^ and

ri ididi to Fight '^ in the Epiftle to th^Ephe-

"^ fioJtSj we are Armed at all Points ^ we have

our Leader whom we are to follow, Jeftis

Chrifty thtCaptain of our Salvation • under

^ whofe Banner we were, as it were. Lilted at

^ our Admiflion into the Catholick Church.

^ So does the Chriltian Religion enter the

V World, under a Phrafe that is very Military

5 in the Sound ^ as if fome new Conqueror

was to over-run the Earth, and a Fifth

Temporal Monarchy to be advanced.

B But

A o E K M U IN iicatua

But we know all this to be hut Figure of
Speech^ and that there is no other Ufe or
mention in the New Teftament of the one
Warfare^ but only to help to Exprefs the
other : For as the Tenour of the Golpel^ and
this Text informs us^ they areof perfedlly
Different Natures^ and almoft Oppofite one
to the other.

Though we walk m the Tlett)^ we do not war
after the Flejh : For the Weapons of our
Warfare are not Carnal ^^ but Mighty

That is^ The War that is w^aged^ is of ano-
ther Kind ', and the Weapons of another
Make. They are too of greater Power^ and
more certain Succefs. And thefe are the
Two General Confideratipns which I defire
firft to prefent to you^ intending afterwards
to apply them to the particular Occafion
for which we are now Affembled.

To Begin with the Diff]?rence of
THE Warfare^ the FIRST Confide-
ration. This Warfare^ in the firft place^
declares none for its Enemies^ whom God
permits to dwell upon his Earth : not for
being Wicked^ or Infidel ; much lels for
beine too Rich, or too Near, for being

Poffefs'd

before ^^^ H o u s E of P e E r s.

manded none^ nor will have any Levied in
His Name. ' And therefore^ that Dominion
is founded in Grace^ that the molt Godly-
Man has the greateft Title to this World
and its Empire • is a wide Miftake of Earth
for Heaven ^ is the Doctrine of the Frhice
of this World ^ and whoever advances it^has
as fmall a pretence to Grace^ as he has to
Dominion ^ and is no more a Chriftian^ than
he is a King. In like manner^ that Heathen
or Heretick Princes and Countries mav be
given up to the next Orthodox^ and moft
Chriftian^ Occupant ^ that then a Saint is
to put on a Sword^ and if he falls in the
Quarrel he dies a Martyr ; this is a Dodtrine
of the Crdfs never taught by Our Saviour^
nor thought of by his Apoitles^ fmce Saint
Peter put his Sword up hi its Sheath ^ it
needs Indulgence and Remiflion ^ a greater
Herefie than any it goes to extirpate^ and
more becoming the Followers of Mahomet^
than ofChriJl. War indeed has been levied
upon fiich Pretences ; the Wooden Crofs
carry 'd in the Front of the Battle^ and the
Counterfeit of it borne in the Arms and
Enfigns • but He that was Crucified^ could
not own the Caufe ^ it was a Holy War,
againft the Defign of his Holy Religion.

Wlien-

8 ^Sermon Preached

Whenever Religion is pretended by One
Nation^ for the Title of an Oftenfive War
againit Another^ it is only put for the Co-
lours : but Ambition^ or Covetoufnefs^ or
Cruelty^ has the chief Command. It may
indeed be the Lawful Pretext of a Defenfive
War : but Occafionally only^ and as it is a
Poffeflion in which we ought not to be
Diiturb'd. Religion it felf is of too Pure
a Nature for the Jrin ofFIeJh to reach it ^
that Vtoleiice 'cannot come near to Hurt it :
when it is pferfecuted it improves^ purifies
in the fire^ and is PerfeBed by Suffering.
But the free Profeffion of this Religion^, as
it mav be Impeach'd^ lb it is capable of being
a Right and a Propriety ^ and a War againft
an Invading Neighbour^ Juft and NecefTary
in its Defence. But as a Propriety only^
and to which we have a Civil Title^ it gives
an Occafion for War : it makes of it felf no
new, nor feparate. Pretence. And therefore
in all thofe Cafes, where the Laws of the
Country prohibit the taking up of Arms ge-
nerally ,on the account of any Poffeflion • there
Religion underftands her Title to be inclu-
ded too, throws down her foreign Weapons^
trufts only to her own, and praftifes her
prpper Warfare. In fuch a Cafe, for a Chri-

ftian

oefore roe nu u.^ e or j' Ji £ r s.

ftian to be found Refifting^ for the fake of
the Gofpel j would be as incongruous^ as for
a Subjed: to Rebell^ in defence of a Statute
againit Treafon.

Where-ever the Humane Law hasEftab-
lifh'd Non-Refiftance^ the Divine does hy
no means Relax it : and where the Humane
Law abfolves or releafes,, the Divine does
does not tie up or reltrain. TheChriftian
Religion encourages Faffive-Obcdience^ and
enforces it^ where it is due • as it muft be
thought due to the Legiflative Authority :
but what meafure of Obedience is due to
the Regent part^ that the Law of the Coun-
try muft prefcribe ^ for wbo ^tays OurLord^
wade me a Judge and a Divider over you ?
As we are alfo left to underftand^ not only
that all Nations have not in this Matter
the fame Law^ but that the fame Nation is
not alwaj'^s Govern'd by the Same ^ that
even the Rules^ fometimes reputed Funda-
mental^ are Mutable ^ and it is in the
Power of Men^ and Time^ to introduce and
eftablifh others : though this will be always
true^ That the Bcft Policy is not the Loofelt ;
and that in Any^ a Good Patriot^ as well
as a Good Chriftian, will be the leaft for-
ward to Refift with Carnal Weapons.

C Such

lo ii Sermon rreactid

Such is the True Warfare oi aChriltian^
and thefe his Weapons : but Man would ra-
ther engage in the Carnal, He is ready to
be Aligns and Revengeful^ in the Caufe of
God ^ would be glad to have a Commiffion
from Heaven to Kill;, Wafte^ and Deftroy.
Such a Licenfe drew thofe vaft Numbers to
Mahoviefs New Se6t : all thofe Lawlefs
Pilfering SaraceJis were ready to receive a
Religion, that would make it their Duty to
Rob^ and accept of their Zeal to Murder.
When too we read of thofe great Bodies of
Men that marched from Chriltendom^ on
that their Jewijh Expedition^ for the Holy
Land ^ we may imagine^ the greateft part
of them would not have went an unarmed
Pilgrimage fo far^ to Weep and Repent ;
nor would have ftay'd at Home and forfaken
their Sins^taking upon them the True Crofs^
and the Apoftles Holy War. Had not In-
temperance^ Licentioufnels^ Rapine^ Difcon-
tent^ Anger^ and the reft of that train^ been
admitted to the Muiter ^ fewer poffibly wou'd
have went Out^ than ever us'd to Return.

So DOES THE Christian Warfare
feem to the Carnal Man^ Bafe and Ignoble^
Degenerous and Effeminate : He would not

wiih

before ;f^^ H o a s E of Pe E R s. 1 1

wifh a Weaker Enemy^ and an Eafier Con-
queft : If the War be not after the Flejh^ it
is Contemptible : and if the Weapons are
not Carnal^ they are Feeble. But this Imagi-
nation the Holy Apoftle prevents in a Word^
and diredis to the contrary Conclufion^
which we are now in the Second Place
to Confider. TheWeapons^ fays he^ of our
Warfare are 7wt Carnal ^ but Mighty : were
they Carnal^ they ought to be defpiied^^ and
would be weak • but they are Mighty : As
the Flefli is Heav}^^ and Una6live ^ all Force^
and Power^, is from the Spiritual Part.

For Firft^ The Spiritual Warfare is of it
felf attended with a Courage^ that does not
deferve to be Contemn d ^ that is, highly
efteem'd on other Occafions : a Courage not
Furious and Brutal^ that fomes and rages^
but calm and ledate^ founded upon true Re-
folution, and accompany 'd with Prefence
of Mind ^ that bears the Choque^ and re-
ceives the Charge^ unconcern'd and un-
mov'd -^ keeps its Poit againft tlie Af-
faulr 5 and againft the Provocation of
the Enemy ^ needs not to be heated^, and
chafed- can bear and endure^ expole itsLife
m cool undiftemper d Bloody and die vrith-
out the Satisfaction of a Revenge. This is

C 2 the

12 yi S E R M o N Preached

the Chriltian^ this is the True Fortitude ;
not alwa}^s fafely Infulted^ Dreaded rather
than Defpis*d by a Wile Enemy.

When fuch a Chriftian has Leave to put
on Humane Arms^ in Defence of his Coun-
try or Religion ^ it will not be found that
his Saviour's Doftrine has Enervatd^ or In-
timidated his Natural Courage : Non We pro
caris Amkis^ aut Vatr'tk^ tinndiis Ferire, His
Real Concern for his Religion^ will out-do
all Pretended Zeal- and his True Charity
for his Friends and Countrymen^ will make
him not unwilling to be (in St. PauV^ Senfe)
an Anathema for them ^ little valuing This
Life^ which he fball exchange for Life
Eternal.

So Powerful will the Spiritual Weapons
be in a Carnal Warfare : but they are of them-
felves and in their own Paflive Nature Migh-
ty : Powerful againlt thofe that are not Bar-
barous^ Obdurate^ and Infenfible • Power-
ful over all that are Noble and Generous :
Mighty to affwage Anger^ and to reconcile
Enmity ; they are powerful over God him-
feif^ and Appeafe his Juft Indignation.

Through God they are often fnightywpon
the Earth : He comes down to their Suc-
cour^ and frequently in their Aid engages

his

before /•/?d' H o u s E or F E E R s. 13

his Almighty Arms : interpofmg in the De-
fence of thofe that obey his Word, and de-
pend upon his Pleafure. Thtj jta?id jHH^
s,ndfee the falvatmi of God: they hold their
Peace ^ and he Fights for them.

But whatever the Fate of this Warfare be
in this World, however it mav be made
Paflive here by the Contumelies and Inju-
ries cf Men ^ }^et then in that State ^ it
fhmes Brightelt towards Heaven^ and finds
the greateft Favour there.

The Court of Heaven^ whofe Princes and
Nobles are thole who have been Afflidled
and Tormented^ ftript and Murder'd • has
thofe in greateft regard^ who are engag'd
in the fame Warfare. The Great G o d^ the
Fountain of True Honour^ whofe King-
dom Hands not by the Arm of Flefb^ nor
by the falle Bravery of Humane Strength ;
requires of his the Courage to Suffer^ the Da-
ring to undergo Afflidlion and Dilgrace^ for
his Sake : the Poor in Spirit^ the Meek^ the
Defam'd^ and the Perfecuted^ they are by
God himfelf deciar'd Bleffed^ and proclaim'd
Noble • theirs is the K'lngdojn of God^ and
their Title the Children ofthemojl High.

For fo Mighty are the Honourable Wea-
pons of this Warfare^ that they mult pre^

vail.

14- A bERMON rreacDd

vail^ and cannot be defeated of their De-
fign : after a little Oppofiti on here below^
which too only increafes the Reward and
Glor}^ of the Arms^ a Vidtory will certain-
ly be obtain'd^ and Crown given. For voho
fhaU feparate us from the Love of Chr'ifij
Ihall Tribiilat'ion^ or Diftrefs^ or Perfecu-
Uon^ or Fajnme^ or Nakeclnefs ^ or Feril^
or the Sword ? Nay in all thefe things we
are more than Conquerors.

This is the Warfare of the Chriitian
Churchy and thefe its Weapons : nor fhall
they by the Grace of God be ever wrefted
out of our hands : we in all things appro-
ving our f elves as the Followers of Chriit,
hy PureJiefsy hy Knowledge ^ by Long-fuffer-
ing^ by Kindnefs^ by the Holy Ghofi^ by Love
Unfeigned^ by the Word of Truth ^ by the
Power of Godyby theAr?nour ofRighteoufnefs
on the right hand^ and on the left^ in Ho-
7!our and Dijhonour^ in Evil Report and
Good Report \ ftill maintaining our Ground
and our Duty^ and fullering no Man to
take this Glory from us.

This was the Warfare of the Roy-
al Sufferer of this Day^ next under Chrift
the Supreme Governour of our Churchy its
foremoit and moft Valiant Leader and moft

Illuftricus

before the House 01 Peeks, 15

IlMtrioi-is Example : who Excell'd as much
in Chriltian Graces^ as in Tem.poral Dig-
nity ; in his Life and by his Death^ the
Defender of the Faith.

On This Day the Carnal Arins received
their Difgrace ^ and the Honour and Ad-
vantage of the Spiritual Warfare appear'd.
The Carnal profper d on the Wrong Side ;
The Weapons of the Flefh were the Weapons
of the Rebels^ and prevail'd in their hands ^
they faird the righteous^ the Royal Caufe^
and gave it up treacheroufly to the Iffue we
now lament. But the Other Arinour^ which
this Pious King receiv'd by fpecial Grace
from the immediate Hand of God^ and in
vohkh He Trufied., of that he could never be
defpoil'd :, The Enemy could no more take
it^ than he would wear it : It remain'd all
along with his Sacred Perfon^ protedled
him from all the Harms of Earth and Hell^
and brought him off fafe to his Heavenly
Country and Eternal Manfion. The Sword
of the Spirit^ the Word of God ^ was always
Succefsful in His Hand^ in all Encounters
againft the Heretical and Schifmatical Ad-
verlaries of our Church. Truth and Inno-
cence were Mighty on his Side, againft all
the Frauds and Calumnies of his Enemies :

and

i6 ^Sermon Preactd

and his Faith in God and Hope of Heaven
feciir d Him againft their Terrors : His Pa-
tience Itood firm^ and unfhaken • and his
Charity was abfolutely Invincible.

The very Show and Appearance of this
Spiritual Warfare^ how Powerful it is even
among Men, was too vifible from the Fa-
vour the Rebels found by the Pretence^ and
from the Friends they drew in^ deceiv'd
by falle Colours and borrowed Armour.
But the True Weapons how Mighty they
were^ appear d on this truly Chriftian
Prince. They were able to reclaim many of
his Enemies to their Duty to a lolt Caufe^
and fubdue them to Right and Reafon : but
they were indeed Mighty with God ; pre-
vailing with him to confound the Councils
of the Irreclaimable ^ to break their Force
and open a way through their Bloody Com-
binations as through the Red Sea^ for the
Return of Peace and the Royal Family :
Cod being pleas'd all along to difappoint
the moft Likely Attempts of Loyal Men^
the moft Probable Humane Defigns^ to
make Way for a Miracle^ with which He
intended to Honour the Royal Caufe^ and
eminently to own his Martyr.

For

before Z-/?^ H o u s E of P E E r s. 17

For the lame Reafon too^ ma}'- the fame
Divine Providence be prefum'd to have de-
feated the Carnal Auxiliary^ Force of his
Servant^ that He might This Day Sght alone
His Own Battle for Religion and the Laws,
He fought This Day alone fuccefsflilly^
againit all the Conqiiefts of his Enemies :
moreHappv^ and more Vi6lorious^ than if
He had Trod them under his Feet in the
Firft Battle.

They were able indeed often to Hinder
his Paflage to his Forts^ and Accels to his
Royal City : but the Correfpondence be-
tween Him and Heaven could not be fo
barr'd^ nor his Progrefs that way obftrudled.
But as the fame Soldiers^ by the Wonderful
Providence of God, williniilv afterwards
Guarded his Son to the Throne ^ fo did
they now unwittingly Attend the Royal
Father to a Nobler Triumph^ and put him
in Poffeilion of an hmnarcefjible Croivn :
making Him^ effecStually^ by God's fecret
Over-ruling Will^ a more Glorious Prince^
than the ftrain'dPhrafe of their Hypocritical
Leaders had ever prom is'd or pretended to
make Him.

For however the Profpedl might appear,
to his Rebels, that look'd through aViZiird

D of

iS yfSERMON Preach d

of Religion ^ or to a Carnal Eye^that feesno
farther than the Shadows and Pageantry of
this World : a Chriitian will not doubt to
affirm^ That this his Laft Day was the moft
Glorious of his Reign -^ and that He w^as more
Happy when he afcended the Scaftbld^ than
A\ hen he frit mounted the Royal Throne.

For Ave are not to let our Carnal Imagina-
tion fo much deceive us^ as toeftimate the
Glory of the Day by its Outward Appear-
ance. Every Battle of the Warrkr is with
confiis'dNoife^ and Garments roWdinBIcod,
The Vi6tor is covered over with Sweaty and
Dult^ and Gore • and hardly to be difcern'd
from his Conquer d Prifoner. Ifv>^evv^ill
take a View of the Conqueror^ we muft fol-
io w him to his Triumph : not fee Our Saint
only mingled with the Enemy^ and as he
fights his Way out of This World • but as he
is received into the Other : what Glories he
then puts on^ and what his Triumphant
Entry into Heaven : How Bright he Riles^
the Morning after his Bloody Setting.

Other Conquerors^ that have made the
Earth to tremble^ and Imye Jhaken King-
doms^ that have made the World as a Wilder-
ness^ and de fir oyd the Cities thereof \ when
they receive their Irrecoverable f nal Over-
throw^

before /^d* House of Peers. ly

throw, and go at kit to thofe miferable Men^
that thev have lent with Complaints and
Accufations^beforethem : HeUfromheueath
is moved to meet them at their coining • //
Jlirs up its Dead for them J to receive them
into the fame Milery^ and infiilt over their
Darknefs and Chains. Whereas the Viftors
of our Warfare afcend to Mount Sion^ to the
City of the Hea'cenly King ^ to the Inmnne-
vable Company of Angels • to the Armv of
Martyrs^ Joy^i^g ^^ their Society, and Con-
gratulating their Succefs ^ to the Blefied
Jefii the Firft and the Great Sufterer^ fitting
ready with Lawrels and Crowns^ to beftow
them on the Glorious Companions of the
fame Arms.

The Seat of Honour in Heaven^ at the
Right-hand of God, is PoiTeffed by Our Rlef-
fed Saviour^ as the Purchafe of his Paflion :
and nearHim^ in Order^, theChriftian Sol-
dier is Advanc'd : according to the Propor-
tion of the Hardfhips they have Overcome^
the Recompence of Reward is Affign'd^ and
the Rank is Given.

This View, the Faith of the Chriftian
Church has always had ^ has Itill Congra-
tulated the Deaths of its Mart}Ts ^ iook'd
upon theDavs of their Pailion as their Birth-

D 2 Days,

20 ^Sermon Preached

Davs^ as the Days of the Birth of Princes^
and made them Times of Jo7;> and their
chiefeft Fcltivals.

Our Church is not Infenfible of the Glo-
ries of this Saint, and of theLuftre thence
retiedted on Her Self : She Congratulates to
the Royal Blood that Portion of it fo Di-
vinely Shed/and the Addition of a Martyr.,
to Our Kings. Had He fell by Pagan^or by
Foreign Hands • had He fell by theXreafon
of his Other Kingdoms only ^ had Our Na-
tion not had the Guilty as well as the Honour^
of the Martyrdom : this had been a Corona-
tion-Day, in the Ecclefiaftical Calendar^ a
Perpetual Memorial of an Eternal Crown.

Such a Day of Glory this was to
that Royal Sufferer • of Honour to God^
and to His Church among us : but to the
Nation it was a Day of Guilt and Ignominy .
for which they were then co'oercd wit/j Cmi-
fufion ^ Afliamed before Men^and Humbled
hefore God ^ as We now profels to be.

In the Stroke of ThisDay^ the Guilt of
the Carnal Arms^ employ'd lo many Years
againft the Laws and the Pri nee, was Summ'd
up and Compleated. All the preceding
Thoufands of Murders^ were accompli fn'd

in

before f^d' H o u s E of P E e r s. 21

in This ^ and the Whole Kingdom^ as it
were^ at once Beheaded b}^ that Blo\v^.

The Spiritual Wickednefs too of that War-
fare^ the falfe zealous Profeffion for the
Caufc of God^. and Laws of the Coiintrf^
was liiitably concluded with that folemn
Mockerv of Tuftice : which rendering; the
Affaflination more Criminal and Inexcuia-
ble^ than if it had been done in private
by Poifon or Dagger • Expos'd openl}^ to
the World, in their High Court^ and on
the IScaffold^ the H)^pocrifie of all their
former Pretences.

In the Guilt of this Blow^ all thofe too
were to Confefs their Share^ who had but
once lifted up their Hands againft their now^
Dying King. And many of thole who had
Strove for the julter Side^ but not Lawfully^
(in the Apoltle's Phrafe • ) and fought un^
der the Colours^ but not after the Example^
of their Prince^ might refledl upon them^
felves alfo as not wholly Guiltlefs^ and
remembring now their Diforders, and
breach of theRules of the Christian W^irfaie^
adore the Juftice of God^ in the Defeat of
.-their Carnal Strength. They might with
Trouble reHeft^ how much, by their Irregu-
lar Conduft^ they had Diilionoured and

Enfeebled

11--^- ■ — . 1. — I ■ » ■

22 ^Sermon Treachd

Enteeblei the Royal Caiiie : recommending
the Hvpocrifie of the Enemy to the Un-
diicerning People^ by tlie contrary too vifi- i
ble appearance of Profanenefs and Intern- \
perance upon themfelves ^ and fighting for
their King^ in the Breach of his Laws^ and
Spoil of his Subjeds.

For all thefe Reafons, the Nation at that
time wasEffedbually Afflidled^ and very Sen-
fibly Humbled before the Almighty : the far
Greater, and much Better part of it^ conti-
nuing alfo^ for many Years^ to groan under
the Oppreflive Confequences of that Fatal
Blow. And when afterwards God was
gracioully pleas'd to hear their Cry^ and to
take from their Necks that Intolerable and
Shameful Yoke ^ as they could not poffibly
forget thofe Great^ and Long Miferies , fo
they could not but think it neceffary to
fet afide One Day^ that iliould reprefent
thole many paft Years^ and be to them an
Annual Sad Memorial of thole Calamities^
and cxprefs Their Pious Senie of the Guilty
CaufeS;, This was a Juft and Humble Ac-
knowledgment^ Due for their Paft Delive-
rance • and their Sureft and Wifeft Preierva*
tive, for the Future : that their Ingratitude
might not bePunilli'd by fouie NewWorle

Miferies ;

before f^^ H o u s E of P e E r s, 23

Mileries ^ or that thev misjlit not^ at leaft^
be again Abandon'd to the Delufion of inch
Deftru6live Impoftures.

This Retnembrance therefore they Re-
ligioufly Inftiuited^ a National FAST^
for National Crhnes : alwa^^s Senfibly Ob-
ferv'd by thofe who are of Age to Remem-
ber thole palt Calamities ; but jtt more
Devoutly to be Kept by them^ when they
hear again the Sound of the Fore-runners
of the Carnal Battle • and fee thofe Prin-
ciples unhappily Reviv'd^ and audaciouflv
Own'd^ which brought on the now Lamen-
ted Excifion. The Same Wicked Rejtlefs
Spirit^ returning to a Land once frvcpt
and garnijh'd^ may well bring into its
Remembrance in what manner it was for-
merly Pojlefs'd : and will not fuflrer a
Time^ no further Diftant^ to be forgot^
by thofe who have but heard or read the
Story. I may iay^ That^ had this Tearly
Memorial Expir'd with the laft Century^
fuch Endeavours as Thefe would have call'd
loudly for the Revival and Re-eitablifhment
of it : as the too open Contempt^ which
fome have had the Boldnefs to exprefs for
this Religious Duty^ may give the Lovers
of their Country and Church a new Canle

for

2 A ..Sermon Vreachd

^^foTa yet Strider F A S T ^ to Atone for the
Plagiie of fo great a Guilt, freili breaking-
out, and to Supplicate againft its Direful
Contagion. But^

idly, T H I s D A Y, as it Religioufly
exprefs'd before our God, a Detellation of
thofe feveral Sins which provoked bis Righ-
teous Judgment -^ fo was it defign d to be
further Serviceable, to keep-up this Abhor-
rence in the Minds of the Coming Genera-
tion ^ that they might not be unawares
engag'd in the fame Warfare, and perijh
hi the Gain-faying of Corah ^ that they
might not, by the like Pradlices renew'd,
have another Occafion for fuch a Fa'ti.^
and be forc'd then Always to Keep it in
Private, ( as their Predeceffors Long did )
for want of another Kef oration of the
Crown and the Church.

For as It admonifhes the Government
not to Exceed the Meafures of the Law,
nor to give the leaft reafonable Occafion to
the Subjecl: of any Juft Complaint ^ fo it
lets the Subjeil know the Bleffings and
Advantages of an Ancient Regular Go-
vernment, and of a Stated Fix'd Succef-
fion : that it is not to be Dilturb'd, with-
out

before ^^^ H o u s E of P e E r s. 25

out Abfolute Evident Neceffity • and that
as the Prince is for the Sake of the People^
fo are They^ for their Ov/n Sakes^ to Guard
his Perfon^ and Maintain his Rights : That
all Governments have their Inconvenience,
and all Mankind their Imperfe61"ions ^ that
Subjedls are not free from inordinate Defire
of Dominion and Riches^ from Envy and
Ambition ^ and that Thofe often molt ve-
hemently Exclaim againft Arbitrary Pro-
ceedings in Others^ who would be the
moft Arbitrary Themfelves : That They
whofe Dilcourles pretend to teach the Sub-
je6ls of any Lawful^ not wholly Intolerable^
Government^ in what Cafes they may
Refiit ; are no better Catechifts^, than thole
who Ihould make it their chief Bufi-
nefs to Initrudt Children of Good Parents
in what Cafe they may lawfully Difobey
their Fathers^, and lay Violent Hands on
their Perfons : that fuch Cafes^ as they are
not to be prefum'd^ lo are not to be fup-
pos'd 3 and cannot be put without Imper-
tinence^ unlefs with this Implication^ that
they are likely to take Place^ and of Prefent
Ufe : Laftly, That a Civil War is the
utmoft Ablurdity in Humane Policy^ to be
Prevented with all poflibleCare by the whole

E Com-

26 ^Sermon Vreachd

Commimtts^ \ and that it is no more a State
of Nature, than it is of Grace.

So will This Day^ in order to teach the
following, remember us of thofe that Pre-
ceded ; and put us upon refledling^by what
Arts^ and under what Popular Pretences,
that Furious "War was rais'd • how Unma-
nageable and Ungovernable it prov'd^ to
Thofe that firft promoted it ^ how much
They fail'd of their Defigns^ and the People
of Their Promifes : many at laft as much
Stripp'd^and all as much atMercy^ as their
Sovereign on the Scaffold.

But^ Laftly^ Whether This Day inftrufts
us^ or no^ in this Ufeful^ and notForeign^
Leflbn ^ warning us againft fuch Principles
and Seeds of Mifchief, as in this one Pro-
perty are unhappily like the Good Seed of
the Gofpel^ that though /w^// in the Grahjy
they may quickly take Root and grow a
Tree • and like the little Leaven^ may lie
negledted;, till they fowre and fwell up the
whole Mafs • however the Day^ through
our own Heedlefnefs^ may fail of that good
Efteft : yet let it teach us that which is
moft proper to it^ and which it fpeaks-out
Direcftly • what little Certainty there is in

the

before /"^^ H o u s E of P E E r s. 27

the Poffeffion^ Authority^ and Force of
This World -• and where our Chief Truft
and Main Confidence is to be plac'd.

If any One might have prefum'd himfelf
Free from all Calamitous Events^ this Prince
well might: Indifputably Rightful Lord
of a Great^ Flourifhing^ and then Peaceful
Country ^ himfelf of Unbyafs'd Redtitude^
and Exemplary Piety : and yet was God
pleas'd to fufter that Profound Quiet to be
broke-up and harrafs'd^ and not to fpare
the Vertues of his Servant.

The Great Men of the Kingdom were
then in the heighth of Honour and Power ;
by an undifturb'd Prefcription of many
Reigns^ poiTefs'd of the Reverence and Obe-
dience of the People : no Enemy from
Abroad^ or Rebellion at Home^ had inter-
rupted that longCourfe of Authority and
Profperity. But in a little time They were
brought Low ^ their Noble Blood mingled
on the Earth with the Common -, their
Eftates Confifcated^ their Authority levell'd,
and They diftinguiih'd only by the Rude-
nefs and Contempt of their New Equals.
This was then the Portion of Princes^ and
Nobles : and now They have no greater Se-
curity againft the Arm of Flefh^, They have

rather

28 y^ Sermon Preached, &c.

rather the Prefident of the laft Age a^ainft
Them : and will therefore have the Exam-
ple fo far at leaft before their Eyes^ as to
know the Armes of the Chriftian Warfare
to be the MightieH^ and that Defence the
Sureft.

Menof allRanks^ the lefs Precaution they
are able to take agamft the Warfare accord-
ing to the Flejhy the more they are to Arm
themfelves with the Weapons of the Spirit,
And thofe that areforwara to have Recourfe
to Carnal Arms, are to know^ they mult
mt hoafi o/that Harnefs till they put it off-^
that thofe Weapons are Frail and Treache-
rous ; a Spear^ Brittle like the Reed ofjEgyt^
and Wounding .the Hand of him that Leans
too much upon it. Our Obfervance of
the Orders of Our Lord^ and Exercifmg
our felves by His Difcipline^ will beft Secure
our Prefent Safety -, but will molt certainly
AfTurc us of -Everlafting Salvation. For
That^ we ought to be reitlefsly Sollicitous;
And That may the Good God grant us^
through his Son Jesus Christ -

Towbom^ with the lA oi.\ Ghost^ (Sc.

FINIS.