A sermon preached in the cathedrall church of York before Hi[s] Excellence the Earle of Newcastle and many of the prime nobility and gentry of the northerne covnties : at the publick thanksgiving to Almighty God for the late great victory upon Fryday, June 30, 1643, and the reducement of the west parts of Yorkeshire to obedience. Bramhall, John, 1594-1663. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A29206 of text R32864 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing B4233). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 52 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 17 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A29206 Wing B4233 ESTC R32864 12774867 ocm 12774867 93747 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A29206) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 93747) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1521:17) A sermon preached in the cathedrall church of York before Hi[s] Excellence the Earle of Newcastle and many of the prime nobility and gentry of the northerne covnties : at the publick thanksgiving to Almighty God for the late great victory upon Fryday, June 30, 1643, and the reducement of the west parts of Yorkeshire to obedience. Bramhall, John, 1594-1663. [6], 26 p. By Stephen Bulkley, Printed at York : 1643. Attributed by Wing and NUC pre-1956 imprints to Bramhall. Dedication signed: Joh. Derensis [i.e. John Bramhall] Page 25 misnumbered 16. Reproduction of original in the British Library. eng Sermons, English -- 17th century. Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649. A29206 R32864 (Wing B4233). civilwar no A sermon preached in the cathedrall church of York: before hi[s] Excellence the Earle of Newcastle, and many of the prime nobility and gentr Bramhall, John 1643 9851 127 0 0 0 0 0 129 F The rate of 129 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the F category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2003-05 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-06 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-07 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2003-07 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-08 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A SERMON Preached in the Cathedrall Church of YORK : Before hi●Excellence the Earle of NEWCASTLE , AND Many of the Prime Nobility and Gentry of the Northerne COVNTIES . At the Publique Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the late great Victory upon Fryday , Iune 30. 1643 , And the Reducement of the West Parts of Yorkeshire to Obedience . Printed at York by Stephen Bulkley , 1643. By speciall Command . To His Excellence , WILLIAM Earle of NEWCASTLE , Viscount Mansfield , Lord Ogle , Baron of Bolsover , Bothall , and Hepple , Governour of the Towne and County of Newcastle , Generall of all His Majesties Forces in the North Parts of this Kingdome , and in the Counties of Nottingham , Lincoln , Rutland , Derby , Stafford , Leicester , Warwick , Northampton , Huntington , Cambridge , Norfolke , Suffolke , Essex , and Hertford , One of His Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell . Sir , THis Sermon is Yours in right of the Author , being first Preached , then Published by Your speciall Command . Therefore it flyes thither most justly for Protection , from whence it had a being . But You have yet a nearer Interest in it from the Subject , ( a great Victory gotten with as great hazard of Your own Person . ) We are not so Sacrilegious to robbe God of His Glory , Neither are we so stupid or fanaticall , as to separate the Sword of the Lord and Gideon . So long as an English Chronicle shall be extant , this Northerne Good Fryday will be remembred , to the perpetuall Honour of Your Noble Family . In managing Your great trust ( conformably to Your Soverai ne ) You have rather expressed His temper , who would suffer no Man to depart away from him discontented , then the disposition of Vitellius , who thought no Smell in the World so Sweet . 〈◊〉 ●●at of a slain Enemy . God grant that 〈◊〉 to the bad may not prove accidentally cruelty to the good , Nor Christian pitty to spare effusion of blood , give the ulcer space to turne to a Gangrene , so to make the Cure both more costly , and more dangerous to the body Politiq●e . He is blinde that doth not see how God hath blessed His Majesties Armies beyond probability , and how all His Forces have almost ever proved Victorious in the Field ; Witnesse for this County . Seecroft , Tankersley , Yarum , Atherton , &c. Those losses which we have susteined have been upon surprises , and especially by the negligence of Scouts . The cold of the Feet strikes quickly up to the Head , And the carelessenesse of the meanest Officer may indanger the Life of the Greatest . But it is as superfluous as uncomely for me , like another Phormio , to discourse to Your Excellence of these things , which are out of mine Element . Accept , I beseech you , this Mite , as a poore expression of my obedience and gratitude ( two forgotten virtues in this Age ) for Your singular favours to my selfe , And to the Churches of this Province , which owe to your Protection their present Liberty to serve God according to their Duty , and the Laws and rites establ●shed , and to these Northerne Counties , which by Your endeavours are totall● in a manner freed from the fury of Sedition , which lies now gasping within the Walls of Hull . God Almighty prosper Your Excellencies Arms , for the happy reducement of the rest of your great charge to Obedience and Peace , To the glory of God , the Service of His Majesty , Your own lasting Honour , the tranquility of this distracted Kingdom , and the unmas king of all Politicall and Ecclesiasticall juglers ; which is the constant expectation , and shall be the dayly Prayer of Yarl , Iuly , 18. 1643. Your Excellencies Most Assured And Obliged Servant , JOH : DERENSIS . Psal. 44. Ver. 7. and 8. 7. For I will not Trust in my Bow , it is not my Sword that shall Help me . 8. But it is Thou that Savest us from our Enemies , and puttest them to confusion that hate us . WE are not met together here to scanne curious Questions , but to Sacrifice unto God with the Voice of Thanksgiving . Therefore I passe by those doubts in silence , which concerne either the Author of this Psalme , or the occasion whereupon it was Indited . Saint Paul applying the 22 verse ( For Thy sake are we killed all the Day long , and accounted ss Sheep for the slaughter , ) to the sufferings of the Primitive Christians , is an authenticke Witnesse that it may be aptly used by us in the like cases . We have heard with our Eares , O God , our Fathers have told us , Fathers are Domesticall Preachers to their Families . How thou hast driven out the Heathen with thy head , how Thou hast destroyed the Nations and cast them out , God will have nothing stable in this World but himselfe . The highest Floods have the lowest Ebbes : All Nations have their Suns and their Nights : Kingdoms and Cities have their diseases and deaths , as well as Men : When God is angry , Momento sit cinis diu silva , A Wood that hath been many ages in growing , is turned to Ashes in an instant . For they got not the Land in possession through their own Sword , neither was it their own Arme that helped them , but Thy right hand , and thine Arme , and the light of thy countenance : Thy Power , and thy Wisedome , and thy goodnesse . Hath not the Potter power over his Clay ? Or the Mint-master over his Bullion ? They that have great Orchards doe cut up some Trees , and plant and transplant o●●ers , and all for order and profit : Shall no● God have the same power in the spacious field of this World ? Then if Go● be the Soveraigne Monarch and disposer of Kingdoms , to whom shall we repaire but to Him in all our extremities ? Thou art my King , O God , send help unto I●cob . Thou art my King , That Jehov●h is the great King both of Heaven and Earth , doth no more prejudice the rights of Earthly Princes , then it derogates from the Power of a naturall Parent , that his Child should pr●v , Our Father which art in Heaven , Mitte salutes , or Manda salutes , Send help , or command help ; dictum factum , saying and doing with God is all one , help and health and victory are His Embassages . Then followes . Through Thee will we overthrowe our Enemies , and in Thy name will we tread them down that rise up agai●st us . Through Thee , I can doe all things ( saith Saint Paul ) through Christ that strengtheneth me . But without Him we can doe nothing , especially nothing that is good . No man can say , That Jesus is the Christ , but by the Holy Ghost . In him we live , we move , and have our being . Will we overthrow , we will push them down , or we will tosse them to and fro , it is a Metaphor taken from horned Beasts . Every defeat is not an overthrow , but we will turne them upside down : yea , and trample them under our feet , so as they shall not be able to rise again : And tread them down , It implies an utter overthrow ; as Elisha said to King Joash , Thou shouldest have s●itte● them five or six times till thou hadst consumed Syr●a . And tread them downe that rise up against us , as dreggs are elevated out of the bo●●●one of a Vessell , ( a proper Phrase for Schismaticks and seditious Persons . ) Of your selves shall men arise speaking perverse things : And , in these dayes rose up Theudas . But all this must b● in the name of the Lord , And in thy name we will tread them down , That is not in an hypocriticall pretense of thy name , a frequent way of deceit , which give occasion to that common saving , In nomia● Domini incipit omne malum , All evill begins with the name of the Lord . But thy name , that is , thy power , and thy blessing , and thy protection , as Saint Peter said , we have la●oured all night and catched nothing , yet in thy name I will let down the Net . Nor in the name of our followers or confederates , for vaine is the help of man . Not in the name of our Friends , Friends are like Frogs , which seldome appeare but in a warme Season . No● in our owne name● like those builder of Babell , which re●ped con usion for their labour : but In thy name , we will tread them down that rise an against us . Therefore he addes , For I will not trust in my Bow , it is not my Sword that shall help me . He doth not say . I will break my B●w and throw away my Sword , but I will not trust in my Bow . It is not the having of Arm ; nor the using of Arms , but the relying upon our Arms , and placing our confidence in our Arms , which is forbidden . As our Saviour saith of Riches , How hardly shall a rich Man enter into the Kingdome of Heaven ? that is one that trusts in his Riches , We may not Deify our Bow , nor make an Idoll of our Sword . The Sword and the Bow were anciently the Princes of offensive Weapons , the Sword at hand , the Bow a farre off , as Iacob said to Ioseph , I will give the one portion above thy Brethren ; which I tooke out of the hand of the Amorite , with my Sword and with my Bow . Among the Aegyptians a bended Bow was the Hieroglyphicke of W●rre , and a Bow broken or unbent did signify a Cessation of Arms : So we read that the very night that King Attila dyed , Martianus the Emperour did see Attila's Bow broken , which did betoken that the Warres were now at an end . God himselfe is contented sometimes to borrow a Metaphor from the Bow , to expresse his own power , He hath bent his Bow and made ready his Arrowes . Who hath not heard of Asters Bow and his Arrow , which he sent to King Phillip , with this inscription , After Philippo ? a shrewd Message which cost Philip his Eye . The Parthian Bowes were more feared of the Romane Legions , then all Archimedes Mathematicall Instruments . And ou● English gray Goose Wing , hath been as terrible in former times to our Neighbour Nations . Next for the Sword . Among the Scythians their greatest Oath was by their Sword , as the Turkish Sultans used to sweare by their Cimiters . The Alani had not a Church , nor a Chappell , nor so much as a Cottage but it had a Sword fastered in the ground , with barbarous and superstitious Ceremonyes , as their Tutelary God . When God had expelled Adam out of Paradise , it is said that he placed a flaming Sword at the enterance thereof , to keep the way of the Tree of Life . And our Saviour saith of himselfe , that he came not to send Peace but a Sword . So then the Bow and the Sword do signify all kind of Arms and Ammunition , and Military preparations , which serve either at hand ora farre off , as Powder , shot , Gunnes , ( which are the successors of Bows , ) Pikes , yea , even shippes and Fortes . For I will not trust in my Bow , it is not my Sword that shall helpe me . How , not helpe me ? No , not of themselves : as the King of Israel answered the Woman when she cryed out helpe my Lord O King , so may our Boves and our Swords say unto us , If the Lord doe not helpe thee , how shall I helpe thee ? All secunda●y , subordinate adjuments how eminent soever , lose their virtue and efficacy , if God suspend the influence of hi● Favour . When the first and great Ring is fast , the lesser linkes do draw in vaine : as if a foolish Marriner should think by the strength of his arm , and of his small cord to draw the maine Rocke or Staith to his little boate . It is even as ridiculous , to thinke to subject the Power and Providence of God to humane Preparations . No , no , not so . But it is thou savest us from Our Enemies . Thou , not our own right hands , we dare not sacrifice to our own Netts . Thou , no Heathenish Tutelary God , nor Romish Tutelary Saint , all which are cast downe flat to the ground with this one word , But it is thou . Belus could not save Nineveh , not Iuno Carthage , nor Minerva Athens . Let others choose to themselves what protectors they please , from among the Societies of mortall Men , or Companyes of Caelestiall Spirits , as St. Iames , St. Dennis , St. Marke . But be Thou evermore the Patton and Protector of our City , of Our Kingdome , Be Thou evermore the Generall of our Army , If Thou be with us who can be against us ? Deo javante nil obest livor malus , Et non juvante nil prodest labor gravis . If thou give a blessing , envy cannot hurt us , if thou deny a blessing Labour cannot profit us . But it is thou that savest us , Thou only savest us , thou alwayes savest us , thou savest us from all dangers both of Body and Soule , Thou art the Fountaine , Salvation is the stream , thou art the Sun , Salvation is the Beame , thou art the Tree , Salvation is the Fruit . It is thou that savest us from our Enemies , It was Neroes vaine Complaint , that he had neither Friend nor Enemy , whereas in truth he had none but Enemies , Woe is me my Mother ( saith Jeremy , ) that thou hast borne me a Man of co●tention , I have neither lent nor taken upon usury , yet every one doth curse me . If innocence it selfe should assume the sh●pe of a Man , and dwell upo● Earth , it would 〈◊〉 Enemies , rather then a Man want Enemies , his bosome Friend shall become his Enemy , Inimici hominis Domestici ej●● , they of a Mans Houshold prove often hi● Enemye , ●e● , a M●● own selfe often proves his own greatest Enemy . To rise yet one degree higher , as it 〈◊〉 the greatest Crosse to want all Crosses , so to 〈◊〉 E●emies is the greatest Enmity . Enemies are the ●am n●rs that naile us closer to our God , Enemyes are the bru●h●s that weare away themselves to smite off the dust from us , enemies are the snuffers that soile themselves to make us burne more brightly . This is a triple Salvation , when God doth not only preserve us from our Enemyes , but also converts their Enmity to our good ; and lastly , makes their opposition to us , to be a meanes of their own confusion . That 's the last step in my Text , And puttest them to confusion that hate us , First to shame and confusion of Face , this is that in part which the Scripture calls heaping Coales of Fire upon an Enemies Head , to make his Cheeks glow with shame , and to scorch him inwardly with the testimony of ●●s own Conscience . But if the Enmity be growne higher to harted , that is , to habituated malicious Enmity , so as there is no more hope of his Conversion or recovery , periisse puto cui pudor periit , past shame past grace , then followes likewise an higher degree of Confu●●on , that is utter Ruine and Destruction , And puts them to confusion that hate us . Now you have the sense of my Text , I will not shred it any more into little parcells , Take five Observations which are as pertinent to the time and occasion , as they flow naturally from the Text . 1. That the People of God shall never want Enemies , and such as hate them in this World . 2. That therefore it is Wisedome to have in readinesse Bows and Swords , that is , all manner of Military preparations . 3. That when we have store of warlike Provision , yet we must not place our confidence in our Arms , not make them as Idols : For I will not trust in my Bow . 4. That our only defence from danger is the name of the Lord , our onely dependence ought to be upon our God . But it is Thou . 5. That in lieu of his Protection and our preservation , God expects Vitulos labiorum , the Calves of our Lippes , ( as the Prophet Hosea calls them ) that is , a thankfull acknowledgement of his favours . This brings my Text home to the present occasion , For I will not trust in my Bow , it is not my Sword that shall help me . But it is Thou that savest us from our Enemies , and puttest them to confusion that hate us . Of these in Order . First of the first , That the People of God shall never want Enemies in this World . As a Ltlly among the Thor●es , so is my Love among the Daughters , not onely sure to be pricked , but in danger to be choaked with Enem●es . Taulerus Writes of a devout Matron that had long affected to see her Saviour , At las he was presented to her Eyes like a little Childe wrapped in a bundle of Thornes , so as shee could not touch him without b●oody hands , We must passe through many Enemies to the fruition of Christ . Moses saw a Bush burning , but was not consumed with the fire , Exod. 3. A right Emb●em of the Church , which flourishes in a fiery travall , in the middest of Enemies . Behold ( saith our S●iour ) I send you as Sheep into the middest of wolves . Novum & inauditum ●ellandi genus , A new and strange kind of Warrefaire , ( saith Saint Chrysostome ) between a few nnarmed sheep● , and a great number of ravenous Wolves . Into the middest of Wolves , as if one should cast an handfull of dry reeds or flax into the midst of an ●ot fire to extinguish it . But this is the Wisdome of God , rather to magnify hi● power in the protection of his Servants from their Enemies , then in the preservation of them without Enemies . Sanguine fundata est 〈◊〉 . sia , sanguine crevit , The Church was planted in blood , it was watered with blood . What need I reckon up the Persecutions of David , the blowes of Micheas , the Sa● of Isay , the bonds of Iohn Baptist , the stones of Steven , the Crosse of Peter , the Sword of Paul , the fire of Laurence , the Exile of Athanasius ? Purpurata est terra , &c. the Earth was purpled with the Blood of the Martyrs , Heaven flourisheth with the Cro●ns of the Martyrs , Churches are adorned to the memory of the Martyrs , the Times are distinguished by the Birth-dayes of the Martyrs , saith Saint Austine . And Saint Jerome in an Epistle to Chromatius witnesseth , that in his time there did not occurre that day in the year , wherein five thousand Martyrs had not sealed the truth of their Religion with their blood , except the Calends of Ja●●ary , when their malitiou ▪ Enemies were so intent upon their Heathenish So●emnities , that they neglected the slaughter of the poore Christians , and their hate gave place to their marth. The Jewes were their Enemies , the Heathens were their Enemies , Hereticks and Schismaticks were , and still are their Enemies . The Persecution of the Jews lasted but forty yeares , that of the Heathens but three hundred yeares , this last of Hereticks above a thousand yeares . The Jews sought but one field , the Heathens ten set Battles , the Hereticks have renewed their Forces above two hundred times . This was the way whereby Christians of old did disperse the Armies of their Enemyes , even by the effusion of their own blood , This was the way which God ever blessed , The Blood of the Martyrs was the seed of the Church : But now our Enemies the Incendiaries of the World have found out a cheaper way to plant their own dreames , which they guild over with the n●me of truth , a way which Christ never taught , a way which the Church never knew , even in the blood of Iunocents , by Dagges and Daggers , by Poyson and Powder , by Murders and Massacres , by Tumults and Treasons , by sheathing the Magistrates sword in his own Bowells . When the Disc●ples did aske our Saviour if they should call for fire from Heaven to destroy those Cities that would not receive them , He answered , Yee know not what Spirit yee are of . But our Brethren in iniquiry whose zeale is as hot , and yet as darke as Hell it selfe , can be contented to deface so many living Images of God , untill they make every Village in their Native Country a shambles of Christians , to introduce their fanaticall conceirs . And our very Anabaprists whose beginning was like Neroes , made up of Charity and Meekenesse , in so much as Trajant said , the best Princes came farre short of the first five yeares of Neroes Government , who when he was but to signe the condemnation of a Malefactor , cryed our , O utinam &c , I would to God I had never known a Letter ; yet afterward he proved a very Monster of Cruelty : So they at first were all mercy and Goodnesse , could not indure a Magistrate from the King to the Constable , nor a Sword ; held all Warres , all Captall Punishments , all effusion of blood to be u●lawfull , yet are now grown more bloudy then Nero himselfe , and have died their Garments as deepe a Scarlet as Anti-Christ . What shall a Man thinke of such a Religion , but as a Schoole of Rebellion , a Nursery of Traytors , a Mother of all abhominations . O my Soule come not thou into their secrets . The second Consideration is , That since we are sure of Enemies , it is wisdome to make pr●paration against them , Bowes and Swords , that is , ●ll Military Provision : as a skilfull Pilo●e when the Weather is calmest , doth prepare for a Tempest . Be of good Courage ( said Ioab to his Souldier ) let ●●pay the Menfor our People , and for the Cities of our God , and then let the Lord doe that which seemeth good in his Eyes . His meaning was not that they should goe to it with their Fists , that was to play the Boyes , not the Men . The small and peaceable Company of Christs Disciples , armed with Innocence and Poverty , yet had two Swords for their defence . What King ( saith our Saviour ) going to make warre against another King , sitteth not downe and cousulteth , whether he he ab●e with ten thousand to meet him that commeth against him with twen●y thousand ? Observe first that he saith , what King ? and against another King : Without the consent , or at least the impl●cir approbation of the Sover igne Magistrate , no Man can justly take up publicke Arms . Our Saviour charged Peter to put ●o his sword , for all they that take the sword , shall perish by the sword . Why put up his sword ? because he was a private Man , and They that take the sword , that is , without the Au●ority of the supreame Magistrate , shall perish by the sword , for He beareth not the sword in vaine . But if p●ivate Persons have power to raise Arms , he beareth the Sword altogether invain . Those places in holy Scrip●ure which prohibit Christians to resist evill , or to render evill for evill , are by all Interpreters restrei●ed to private Persons . Why did David inquire so often what reward should be given to him that killed the Philistine , yet after his Victory never made Demand of it ? But only by this meanes to gaine a Commission from Saul . This was the cause why Caesar before his march to Rome did rejoyce so much , when Anthony and some of the Tribunes of the People came into his Army ; that being no Monarchy but a Popular State . By all which we may easily judge what is the condition of our present Rebells . Secondly , we may observe from these words of our Saviour , that even they who have the Power of Arms invested in them , ought carefully to proportion their prep●rations to their necessary occasions . Saint Paul did thanke●ully accept of 200 Souldiers , 200 Spearemen and 70 Horse to convoy him to Caesarea , safe from the insurrection of the Jewes . When a Trojan Priest offered to Alexander to shew him Paris his Harpe , he desired him rather to shew him Achilles his Speare , the more honorable Iustrument . The Ph●nicians pictured their Gods like Merchants with great bags and purses , to represent the power of mony : But the Graecians like Souldiers compleatly armed , to shew that all things are obedient to Arms . The Romans had the Temple of Ianu● for their publicke Armory : and all provident States ever had their Arcenalls or Store-houses of Ammunition . A Travailers Sword though he be a Coward , yet it is a discouragement to a Theese . He that is best provided for defence , shall be sure to be least assaulted by his Enemies . It was an impertinent question of Socrates , when he see the strong Gates and Bulwarkes of Corinth , whether they were all Women that inhabited there . So soone as the Israelites were come into the Land of Canaan Manna ceased , they were then to till the ground for their lively hood : It is no better then a plaine tempting of God , to depend upon Divine assistence , and neglect ordinary meanes . It was the error of those frantick Anabaptists , who instead of sighting , were gaping up towards Heaven for a Miracle to fall into their mouths , and thought themselves able to catch all the bullets into their Coatelaps . Indeed the King is forbidden to multiply Horses to himselfe , Deut. 17. 16 : yet we know that King David provided speares and shields , and Solomon his Sonne provided not only Arms , but Ships , and Chariots , and Horsemen , without reproofe . The Text saith , that he had a thousand and four hundred Chariots , and twelve thousand Horsemen , which he disposed among the Cities of ●ud●ah , 1 King. 10. 26. The religious King Asa in a time of Peace builded fenc●d Cities with walls , & Towers , & Gates & Barres , and God prospered him in it . He provided shields and Bowes and Targets and Speares for 580000. men , and accordingly God blessed him against the Aethiopian his huge Host of a thousand thousand , 2 Chron. 14. 8. It i● not then s●●ply a sinne in a King to multiply his Warlike preparations , but accidentally to place his chiefe confidence in them , or by reason of them to lift up his heart above his Brethren . He that provideth not for his own , and especially for those of his own House , he hath deayed the Faith , and is worse then an Infidell , I T●●● . 5. 8. The Commonwealth is the Kings Family , He is the Father of it : Christian Religion is so farre from disobliging him , that it binds him under the pain of grtevous Sinne and the high displeasure of his maker , to provide not only for the sustentation , but also for the protection of his Subjects . Indeed the Scrip●ure saith she weapons of our warefare are spirituall , that is , our Christian Warefare with Sinne and Sathan , but we have another capacity as we are men , and a Politicall Warfare , also which requires corporeall Weapons . And Saint Paul saith , We wrestle not with Elesh and Blood , That is not only , not principally with Flesh and Blood , we have greater Adversaries to cope withall , even Sinne and Sathan . Courage then , a Bible and a Bow are ●ot opposite : a man may be a good Swordman , and yet a good Christian . How often doth the Scripture call them the Warres of the Lord , the Battells of the Lord ? How often doth it prescribe Military Rules and Precepts ? God stiles himselfe the Captaine of the Lords Hoast , having his drawn sword in his hand . Iosh. 5. 14. Thou teachest my hands to warre and my fingers to fight , said David ; I hope the Lord takes no Apprentis●s to teach them a wicked Trade . There is a time for Warre , and a time for Peace , Saith Solomon , but there is no time for that which is in it selfe unlawfull . Iohn Baptist bids the Souldiers do violence to no man , accuse no man falsely , be content with their wages , he doth not bid them give over their Profession . Christ commends the Centurion , that He had not found so great Faith in Israel . Saint Peter saith of Cornelius a Ciptein , that his Prayers and Almes were had in remembrance in the sight of God . And by Faith the Saints subdued Kingdoms , waxed valiant in Fight , and turned to flight the Armies of the Alients . Heb. 11. 33. Religion doth not make a Coward , Warre is the Exercise , Victory the Reward of Faith . To conclude this point , a Man may with a good Conscience meet his God with his Arms in his hand , ●nd safely lay down his Life in a just Warre . To dye for a Mans Religion , for his King , for his Country , is a degree of Martyrdome . Dulce & decorum est pr● Patria 〈◊〉 . Only there are some Rocks to be avoided , whereof this is one of the most principall , That a Christian Souldier doe not place his confidence in his Arms , which brings me to my third Observation . For I will not trust in my Bow , it is not my Sword that shall help me . The Creatures are Gods Souldiers , and cannot move till he give them the Word . Let him but suspend his influence , and the most powerfull Creatures in the World become weak . The Lyons are not able to open their mouthes against Daniel , nor the fire to sindge one haire of the three Children . Ye have sown much and bring in little , ye eat but ye have not enough , ye drink but ye are not filled with drink , ye cloath you but there is no warmth , and he that earneth wages puts it into a bag with holes , a bottomelesse purse , Haggai 1. 6. Thus Seed , Meat , Drink , Cloathes , Money , Armes , all Creatures have so much power , and no more , then God infuseth into them . What 's the reason of all this ● Reade the ninth Verse , I did blow upon it . It it more easie for God to empty and exinanite all the Creatures in the World of power , then for a Man to blow away a Feather . Besides Bread there is the nurritive faculty of Bread , which the Scripture calls the staffe of Bread , without which our Bread is like a lame Creeple without his staffe , who cannot move himselfe . Psal. 33. 15 A King is not saved by the Multitude of a Host , neither is a mighty Man ( a Giant ) delive●ed by much strength , a Horse is but a vaine thing to save a Man . He doth not say a King cannot protect others , but lesse , He is not saved himselfe . There is no Creature more conducible to safety then an Horse , either for Victory or Flight , in utrumque paratus , yet without Gods concurrence an Horse is but a vaine thing , or mendacium est equus , An Horse is but a Lie , as Saint Paul saith , an Idoll is nothing ; an Idoll is something , either Gold , or Silver , or Brasse , or Wood , or Stone , So an Horse also hath a true subsistence of flesh and blood and bone : But an Idoll is nothing in efficacy , it is nothing in respect of that which the Idolater doth imagine , So an Horse if God withdraw his power is a Lie , without efficacy , not answerable to the confidence and expectation of his Rider . What Marveile ? when One can chase a thousand , and two put ten thousand to flight , that want this influence . Deut. 32. 30. So without Gods blessing , an horse is a Lie , an Army is a Lie , a walled City is a Lie . The Walls of Ecbatane were thirty Foot thick , and seventy Foot high , The Walls of Babilon were 50 foot thick and an 100. high , Ierusalem had a triple Wall about it : yet all these were ovethrowne , and if the Devotion of Pilgrims had not kept a little Life in Jerusalem they had all become long since deserts for Owles to , scriech in , and Satyrs to dance in . The like Fortune did Tyre run that was deemed invincible , The Walls of Jerischo fell down with the sound of Trumpets . And Capernaum which touched the Clouds with its lofty Turrets , was cast down to Hell . When Nicephourus Phocas was building a strong Wall about his Pallace , he heard a voice in the night , O King though thou build thy Wall as high as Heaven , yet the sinne that is within will easily destroy it . The confusion of Babell , may teach us what is the united strengths and attempts of a World of Men without the Lord . Obad. 4. Though thou exalt thy selfe as the Eagle , and set thy nest among the Starres , thence will I bring thee downe , saith the Lord . Then let not the Bow-man trust in his Bow , nor the Swordman in his Sword . Where Presumption leads the Van , Destruction commonly followes in the Reere . Where Pride is on Horsebacke , Shame alwayes sits upon the Crooper . Qui de se presumit ante prosternitur quam pugnat , said Saint Austine , He that trusts in himself is fallen already before he fight . Goliath threatned David to give his flesh to the Fowles of the Ayre , and the Beasts of the Field , but a little stone taught him what it was to reckon without his Host. Neb ●chadnezzar vaunted of his Power , Is not this great Babilon which I have builded , hy my might , for the Honour of my Majesty ? But a voice from Heaven whispered in his eare , Thy Kingdome is departed from thee , thou must dwell among the Beasts . Julian the Apostate threatned after his return from the Persian War , to root out the Sect of the Galileans , but a d●rt , ( God knows from what hand , whether from Heaven or from Man , ) learned him another lesson , Vicisti Galilaee , vicisti , Thou hast overcome thou Jesus of Galilee , thou hast overcome . Feed this man with bread of affliction and water of affliction , said Achab of Micheah , vntill I returne again in Peace ; Good , what was the end of this presumption ? Notwithstanding all his disguising himselfe in the day of Battell , the Arrow found him out , and the Joynts of his harnesse . There is no Wisedome , nor Vnderstanding , nor Counsell against the Lord , Prov. 21. 30. It is better therefore to trust in the Lord , then to put any confidence in Man . That leades me to my fowerth Observation . But it is thou that savest us from our Enemies , Prov. 18. 10. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower , t●e Righteous runneth unto it and is safe . And Prov. 21. 31. The Horse is prepared against the day ef Battell , but safety ( or Victory ) is of the Lord . Paul may Plant , and Apollo may Water , ●ut it is thou that givest the increase . Except the Lord keep the City , the Watchman waketh but in vain . It was a brave answer of David to Goliah , Thou commest to me with a Sword , and with a Speare , and with a shield , but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts , 1 Sam. 17. 45. When an Army of Syrians had begirt Elysha's City round , his servant cryed out , Alas my Master what shall we doe ? Feare not ( said Elisha ) there are more with us , then with them : And praying God to open the young mans eyes , he see all the Mountains full of Horses and Charrets of fire round about Elisha , 2. King. 6. 17. So the Angells pitch their Tents about Gods Children . The godly never want heavenly succour● , though they cannot be discerned with bodily eyes . The Lord himself is a wall of fire about them , 2 Zechar. 5. What virtue was there in Moses his Rod to break the hard Rocks , to divide the red Sea , to change whole Rivers into blood ? Or in Shamgars Good , ( an Instrument not made for War , ) to slay 600 ? Or in Sampsons J●w bo●e of an Asse , to m●ke such heapes upon heapes of caikasses ? Or in Elisha's Salt to sweeten the bitter waters ? Or i● Cl●y and Spittle to open the eyes of the blind ? Or in Peters shaddow to drive away diseases ? But it was Thou ; It was God that used these contemp●ible means for the manifestation of his own power , It was God that added weight to Davids little stone , to make it pierce into the Forehead of Goliah , It was God that added strength to a weak womans arme to destroy Ahimelech , It was God that cast Siserah into such a profound sleep , to give Jahell opportunity for her Hammer and her Naile . But it is Thou ; It was God that made Jeremiah a defenced City , an Iron Pillar , a wall of Brasse agai●st the whole Land , Jer. 1. 18. It is all one with him to save by many or by few . Though ye had smitten the Army of the Chaldeans ( saith God ) so that there remained none but wounded men , yet they shall arise up every man in his Tent , and burne this City with fire , Jer. 37. 10. God can infuse such strength and vigour into men halfe dead , that all the power of their Enemies is not able to resist . What shall we say then ? When we have both Bows and Swords let us nor presume ; When we want B●wes and Swords , let us neither disp●●re , nor yet rashly hazard our selves : The one argues want of Faith , the other is a tempting of God . Whether we have them , or want them , yet let us say , Some put their trust in Charrets , and some in Horses , but we will remember the name of the Lord our God , Psal. 20. 7. When it was told Leonides that the Persian Arrowes did obscure the Sun , It is well , said he , then we shall fight in the shadow . But well and well againe is he , that fights under the shadow of the Almighty , and under the covering of his Wings : Life or Death or whatsoever happens , shall work together for his good . But we are apt to impute all occurrences to secundary causes ; If a sicknesse seise upon us , we ascribe it to some cold or distemper , we scarce think of God : We trust him more easily with our Soules , then with our bodies , or our Estates . And if we doe confide in God , it is as an Usurer trusts a Bankerupt upon a pawne ; So long as we have Men and Mony and Armes and Ammunition we trust in God , but we cannot with the Woman of Canaan pick comfort out of the name of a Dog , nor say with holy Job , Though the Lord should kill me yet will I trust in him . What is the result of all this ? If we affect prosp●rou● successe , we must place our confidence in God , not in our Bow , or in our Sword , 2 Chron. 13. 18. Judah prevailed against Israel , Because they relyed upon the Lord God of their Fathers . The Israelites had greater numbers , a better cause , all manner of advantages against the Benjamites , yet they lost two great Battells , and prevailed not till they sought for Victory with tears , and humiliation at the hands of God , Judges 20. Whilst Moses lifted up his hands in Prayer Israel prevayled against Amalech . Bellum tibi imminet O Balach , saith a Father , O Balach thou Sonne of Zi●por , Warre is in thy gates , six hundred thousand armed Israelites are entered into thy confines , And doest t●ou prepare curses in stead of dart● , and Words for We●pons ? Doubtlesse Balach had heard that Israel moved not a hand against Pharaoh , but the Lord fought for them , as an H●brew Rabbine did expound this Text unto Origen , Numb. 22. 4 , Now shall this Company licke up all that is round about it , as the Oxe licketh up the Grasse of the Field ; The Oxe licketh up the grasse with his Mouth , and cuts it with his Tongue , as with a sickle , So this People fight with their Lips , and overcome with their Prayers , When thou buildest a Fort , lay the foundation in Prayer , When thou puttest on thine armour , buckle it to thee with Prayer . But God heareth not sinners , as one said to a company of Pirates in their devotions , pray lower , least God heare that yee are passing this way . He th●t will pray aright for Victory over his Enemies , must first endeavour to conquer his own corruptions , He must doe his Duty , and referre the successe to God , as . Ioah said , Let us be valiant , and pl●y the Men , and let God doe what seemeth good in his Eyes , He must not swerve from the streight line of Justice for any advantage , He must not limit God to any meanes . There is a story of an Hermit , That prayed to God sometimes for Raine , sometimes for Faire Weather and God still granted his request , yet his Garden did not prosper : So going to another Hermits Cell , he found all his Herbes faire and flourishing ; And when he admired at it , the other Hermit soone resolved the doubt , O Foole , didst thou think thy selfe to be wiser then God ? Such another fellow was Naaman , 2 King. 5. 11. I thought he will come out to me , and call on the name of the Lord , and strike his hand over the place . If God doe not help us just when we please our selves , and by such meanes as we approve , we thinke God hath forgotten us . Let us therefore pray with due submission , and when God hath granted our request , let us give all the glory to Him . But it is Thou , &c. This is my fift and last Observation that in lieu of Gods Protection he exp●cts a thankefull acknowledgement from us , It is thou that savest us from our Enemies , and pu● test them to confusion that hate us . Why was Goliaths sword laid up in the Temple ? Though it was l●pped up in an Ephod , yet I doe not do●bt but that at solemne times it was to be she●ed to the People , to excite them to ● more cheerfull Thankesgiving , for Gods gracious deliverance of them from the Army of the Philistins . Therefore God caused a potfull of Mann● to be preserved , that Posterity might see with what food he had fed their Predecessors . And the Rod of Aaron was so carefully kept to be a memoriall of Gods great deliverances . How devoutly did the Idolaters give thankes to their Gods of Gold and of Silver , being but supposed Benefactors ? much more we to the God of Heaven and Earth . What thanks did Christ the Sonne of the living God give unto his Father , for a dinner of Barly Bread and of broiled Fish ? If any of us be invited forth to a Meale , we hold it uncivility not to return thanks , much more to God who dayly spreadeth our Table , and filleth our cups , yea , who hath preserved to us the Tables and the Cups themselves , and not these only but our Lands , our Houses , our Goods , our Wives , our Children , our Lives , our Liberties , our Religion , O sing prayses sing prayses unto our God , sing prayses sing prayses unto our King , who saveth us from our Enemies , and putteth them to confusion that hate us . The skirts of Aarons Garments were compassed with Bells and Pomegrannets . Pomegrannets are an excellent Fruit and signify Gods blessings ; the sound of the Bells is our thankesgiving . When his Pomegrannets do abound , it is meet our Bells should sound . After the Lord had taken his rod off from Zachary , and restored him to the use of his tongue , the first thing that he did was to sing thankes to his Deliverer , Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , which hath visited and redeemed his People . If God did require the first fruits of the Earth , much more the first Fruits of the Heart , and of the Soule . This is the end of this Assembly to return our thanks to the Lord of Hosts for a late victory obteined in the West parts of this County , by His Majesties Army under the Conduct of his Excellence the Earle of Newcastle , against the Lord Fairfax , and the Northern Rebells . A great victory indeed , whether we looke upon so many loyall Subjects that were redeemed by it , and restored to their Friends , as Isaac was to Abraham , even from Death to Life : Or whether we look upon the great number of the Rebels that were slain , ( the more the pitty ) either in the Act , or in the intention of murther , ( I cannot give , I conceive that no man that understands himselfe can give a better terme to these Arms which are raised without the approbation of Soveraigne Authority , ) and so without Gods extraordinary mercy perished both Bodyes and Soules : Or whether we looke upon the great number of Prisoners , the vast proportion of Ordinance , Arms , and Ammunition which were taken . A great Victory if we respect the place where it was , in the midst of all their strength , or the time when it was , in the very height of all their Power , or the Fruits and consequents thereof , the reducing of a great part of this County of Yorke to Obedience , and the settling and securing in a manner of all the North Parts of England . A great Victory if we consider the manner of it , upon all the disadvantages in the World , of ground , and wind , and preparation , as if God should say from Heaven , I alo●e will have the glory of this day to my selfe . Lastly , a grat Victory , if we looke upon the speedinesse of it : as Caesar sometimes writ to the Senate , veni , vidi , vici , I came , I saw , I overcame , So here what a number of strengths were deserted and recovered in one day ? If the Lord had not been on our side when Men rose up against us , Or if that Day had succeeded ill , God knowes what had become of all us here present , for our Estates we had been reduced to Beggery , for our Bodyes and Posterityes to slavery , for our Soules to He●e●y , Brownisme , Anabaptisme , or Familisme , or some ot●er more newly upstart vanity . Therefore once more Sing prayses sing prayses unto our God , sing prayses sing prayses unto our King . Who hath saved us from our Enemies and put them to confusion that hate us . When we enjoyed Peace and Plenty and Prosperity , we were not sensible of it , but apt to murmur , We see nothing but this Manna , ready to say militia est potior , Warre is better : and it is probable that our fore-p●ssed unthankefulnesse , is the true cause of our present Sufferings . Now then when the Crosse hath opened our eyes , when we find the excellency and the sweetnesse of those blessing , by wanting them , which we could not find by injoying them , though we were ungratefull for our former health , yet let us blesse God who hath put us into so faire a way of recovery from a desperate sicknesse . And now let us talke no more of supposed Delayes , when we see how God hath disposed of all things to the greater manifestation of hi● o●n po●er , and the more speedy expediting of that very Work which we desire . And what knowest thou O Man , whether God did order all things thus for this very end ? Yet give me leave to say there is lesse danger in sound deliber●te delay , then rash precipitation . The Graecians ordeined no punishment for him that lost his Sword , but for him that lost his Buckler . Aut hoc , aut super hoc , said the Spartan Mother to her Sonne . The Romans had two gallant Capteins at one time , Marcellus full of Courage , Life , and Activity , and Fabius Maximus , slow , but sure , who did all things with leisure and deliberation , undoing Hanniball by inches , The former they called the Sword , the latter the Buckler of Rome . And that Politicke Nation upon just grounds did prefere their Buckler before their Sword . Vnus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem , Non ponebat enim rumores ante salutem . But to returne . Thankesgiving is the Worke of this Day , let us doe it . Ingratitude dries up the Fountain of Gods Love , the Rivers of his Grace , the Dew of his Mercy . As we looke to have more Victories , and the light of Gods countenance to shine still upon us , let us doe it . It becommeth well the just to be thankefull . In Heaven there is no Preaching , no Praying , no Sacraments . but Thankesgivings and Alleluiahs . Let us doe it with intention and devotion , not like Children which give thankes looking another way with their Faces ; nor like Marriners which pray hard in a storme , but so soon as they are gotten into the Harbour , drown the remembrance 〈◊〉 all their former vows in full cups . O take heed of Forgetfulnesse , there is nothing that growes old sooner then a good turne . As the Sea is the Fountain of all Rivers , so they run into the Sea again by which meanes the flux and reflux is made perpetuall : All good and perfect gifts proceed from God the Father of Lights , and must be returned again to him by Thankesgiving , that the entercourse of his Blessings and our thanks may be reciprocall and perpetuall . We have not wanted Enemies and such as hate us , Enemies to our Church , Enemies to our State : But we wanted Arms , we wanted our Bow and our Sword , The Enemies had seized upon His Majesties Magazine , his Ships and his Arms , and left us naked both for Defence and Offence . Yet the goodnesse of Almighty God , and the Providence of our gracious Queen , which ought ever to be thankefully acknowledged by this Nation , hath supplied this defect , and furnished us again with a Bow and a Sword , Arms and Ammunition , and with these we have obteined the Victory ; with these , not by these , It was not our Bow , it was not our Sword that did helpe us , but it was thou O God who diddest save us from our Enemyes and put them to confusion that hate us . O Lord we render unto thee all possible Thankes . Doe thou settle our wandring imaginations , doe thou elevate our drowsie spirits , doe thou helps our dulnesse , That we may be yet more and more thankfull , with our hearts , with our tongues , with our Lifes , That so we may dayly heare of more and more Victoryes , which thou givest unto thine Anointed , untill the hopes of his Trayterous Enemies be like Winter Ice melted away to nothing , and his Crown be restored to it's ancient lustre , That under his Protection we may freely meet in this thy hol● Temple , to laud and magnify thy glorious Name , O Eternall God , Father , Sonne , and Holy G●ost , who art above all , and through all , and in all , To thee be Glory , and Dominion , and Thankesgiving , for ever and ever . Amen . FINIS Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A29206e-360 Rom. 8. 35. Ver. 1. Ver. 2. Ver. 3. 4. Ver. 5. Ver. 6. Act 20. 30. Act. 5. Gen. 48. 22. Am. Mar. 2 King. 6. 26. Jer. 15. 10. Cant. ● . ● . 〈◊〉 . 10. 16. Luke . 9. 55. Gen. 49. 6. 2 〈…〉 12. Luke 22. 38. Luke 14. 31. Mat. 26. 52. Rom. 13. 4. Act. 23. 23. ● King. 11. 10.