A SERMON PREACHED Before the Right Honourable THE Lord Mayor, aldermans, And CITIZENS of LONDON, AT THE Church of S. Marry le Bow, the Fifth of November 1684. By FRANCIS BRIDGE, D. D. Rector of S. Mildred Breadstreet. LONDON, Printed for Walter Kettilby, at the Bishops-Head in S. Paul's Churchyard, 1685. Smith Mayor, Martis ximo die Novembris 1684. Annoque Regni Regis CAROLI Secundi Angl ' &c. xxxvi. THis Court doth desire Dr. Bridge to Print his Sermon Preached at Bow-Church on the Fifth of November instant (being the Anniversary day of Thanksgiving for the Deliverance from the Powder Treason) before the Lord Mayor, and Aldermen, and Citizens of this City. Wagstaffe. TO The Right Honourable Sir JAMES SMITH, Lord Mayor Of the CITY of LONDON. MY LORD, I SHALL make no Apologies, nor plead my unwillingness to appear in public. The whole design of my ensuing Discourse, was to Preach up Loyalty and Submission to Government: Upon the first notice therefore of Your Lordship's Command I was resolved to comply, lest I should contradict my Sermon by my own practice, in not showing myself (what I truly am) MY LORD, Your Lordship's most Humble and Obedient Servant, FRAN. BRIDGE. A SERMON PREACHED Before the Lord MAYOR, November V. 1684. PSAL. 58.10, 11. The Righteous shall rejoice when he seethe the vengeance: He shall wash his feet in the blood of the Wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the Righteous: Verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth. THE Book of Psalms is justly by one of the Ancients styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Dionysius Hierarch. Eccles. c. 3.4. The Choice and Flower of all things in other Books is Epitomised and briefly contained in this, and (in regard of the Poetry thereof) more movingly expressed. But although this due Character ought to be given of the whole Book in general; yet there are some particular Psalms written upon more solemn and remarkable occasions, which may more deserve and require our attention. This Psalm bears a different title in the front, Mictham, a word derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Golden Song of David, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 destroy not. By which is declared the sum of those petitions which are contained in Psalms that have such Titles as this is. David was now in some wonderful fear of death and destruction, therefore he prayeth unto the Lord, neither to destroy him himself, nor suffer the Sons of wickedness to lay hands on him. In this Psalm is contained both the Character and End of wicked men, and the just resentment the Righteous aught to have upon such occasions. In the sequel of this Discourse I shall not think it impertinent to reflect upon the former part of the Psalm, and take notice how the Character of David's Enemies will suit with those sons of Belial, Children of Perdition, whose very principles are nothing but Rebellion and Destruction; ruin of Persons, and subversion of States makes up a great part of their Zeal and Religion, whose defeat and overthrow we this day joyfully commemorate: Our Souls have escaped out of their Net, and they themselves are caught in the same Snare they privily laid to entrap their honester Neighbour. Thus the Day and the Text suit well together; we have seen the vengeance, we have washed our feet in the blood of the wicked, we may safely say, There is a reward for the Righteous; Verily there is a God that judgeth in the Earth. Such Deliverances, and such remarkable Vengeance are as great instances of Divine Providence as any in the World. Such Discoveries as these come not by chance; wicked purposes so closely contrived, could not be unravelled by Humane Strength or Policy. It was an Almighty Goodness that made bare his Arm for our rescue; it was the Lords doing, and it ought to be marvellous in our Eyes. It is not necessary I should recite the particulars of our Danger, it being a story so well known, that few here present can pretend to be ignorant of it; and of so known Truth, that there is none can endeavour to persuade men it was a Fable, only a trick of State to oppress an Innocent Party, but would willingly lead us blindfold to a like Snare, never let us perceive the Danger, till we are fatally involved in it; then they will acknowledge and triumph in their own Actions, call them not Cruelty or Injustice, but a due punishment for obstinate Heretics. They who are resolved to keep no Faith with us, will have no Compassion on us: The Cruelties of Queen Mary's Reign are not yet thought all Lies; Such, and no better entertainment may we expect from them, if we come under their Power; especially if we approve ourselves true Sons of the Church of England as now Established by Law, and are obedient to that Doctrine and Discipline which they this Day endeavoured to overthrow. I come now in a closer pursuance of the Argument in my Text (which also will be more proper for the Solemnity of this Festival) to take notice of the Nature and Quality of David's Enemies, and see whether they be not Applicable to those who were most deeply concerned in this days Treachery. In the first words of the Psalm you may observe, whatsoever pretences they had to Righteousness and Equity, Justice and Upright dealing, yet they contrive mischief secretly; they keep it close, till they find a fit time to vent it; there was a Number of them too, a whole Congregation in Saul's Court, who sought to undermine and disparage David in all his actions and behaviour: Nay, to show the unaccountableness of these men's Enmity, he saith in Verse 3. They are estranged from the womb, before any visible Cause or Provocation could arise, an Enmity entailed upon their Nature; it comes to them by Inheritance, they derive it from their Parents; and though they speak Lies, flatter and endeavour to deceive with pretences of Kindness, and shows of Friendship; yet they lurk in secret like a Serpent, and privily lie in wait to oppress the innocent Passenger, and their poison will soon appear; they cannot hid their Venom; they will be exercising mischief, although it returns upon their own head, and proves Fatal only to themselves. Nay, Verse 4. They are like a deaf Adder, that stoppeth her Ear, which will not hearken to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely: Whatsoever kindness or respect may be shown to them, whatsoever persuasions or entreaties may be used, yet is their wrath implacable, and their malice irreconcilable; nay, many times the more favours they receive, the greater opportunities they take of doing mischief; like the Snake which the man in the Fable took into his house almost dead with cold, cherished it in his Bosom, and revived it with the heat, yet at last it risen up against him, and had almost slain its Benefactor: And this I account the first part of the Psalm. In the second part he devoteth these his Enemies to God's Judgement, and hearty prays, that he would take from them their Instruments of Cruelty; that he would assuage their malice, and confound their devices; deprive them of the opportunities to do mischief, by restraining their wrath, and diminishing their Power, by keeping them (as he doth the Devil, 2 Pet. 2.4.) in Chains of darkness, to be reserved unto Judgement; This is comprised Verse 6. Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young Lions, O Lord, etc. And happy is it for us that God will hear such Petitions; that he will grant us Security against the subtle and undermining Adversaries of his Truth, whose delight is in mischief; who take great pains, compass Sea and Land, run to and fro over the whole Earth, under pretence of making Proselytes, but in reality seeking whom they may devour. My Text I account the third part of the Psalm, wherein is described the good Man's behaviour, in such times of Vengeance as are here specified; he will rejoice that God hath vindicated his Honour, and secured his Truth; that the Dispensations of his Providence are not now so liable to the Cavils and Calumnies of the Scorner: Not that we should imagine the Righteous Man here mentioned to be (as his Enemies were before described) a Person delighting in mischief; that hath pleasure and satisfaction in another's Ruin; that will rejoice at his Neighbour's downfall, though it contribute nothing to his own rise, though he received no benefit or advantage thereby. Whatsoever the Jews might pretend to this, by that Commission God himself had given them for the total destruction of his Enemies therein mentioned, I am sure the Gospel allows no such Spirit, no such revengeful Temper, no Fire from Heaven to fall upon the obstinate and ungrateful Samaritans; therefore in the next words are contained the Reasons of this Joy. 1. That there is a Reward for the Righteous, that there is a Fruit of Righteousness, that it is an advantage and security to be Good and Virtuous; that though such Persons be oppressed for a time, yet they shall not totally be suppressed; but their Enemies shall fall before them, by hidden and unaccountable Methods of God's Providence; be consumed as Waters, which run continually, as a Snail which melteth, and be suddenly snatched away, as with a Whirlwind. There will a time come, when it shall appear to all Men, that the Judge of the whole World shall do Righteously. Therefore 2. It is said, Verily, he is a God that judgeth in the Earth; we may safely trust in him. It is a great temptation to question Providence, when we see the wicked prosper, and all things in security about them, neither are they plagued like other men; On the contrary, Just and Innocent persons are plagued all the day long, and chastened every morning: It is natural to infer (as the Psalmist did, Psal. 73.13.) Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency: To what purpose is it that I have taken such pains to serve God? that I have abandoned my own inclination to promote his Honour? that I have obeyed him with so great difficulty? Nay, the greatest cause of my trouble hath arisen from a strict adhering to his Commandments, in that I have not swerved from his Precepts, or gone on in a way of wickedness and perverseness, as others have done: How comes it to pass that I am thus destitute and forlorn? The more I endeavour to please God, the harder measure I meet with in the World. This is very difficult to flesh and blood, and but few can attain the meaning of it: The Righteous himself is ready to stumble, and his feet to slip, when he perceives such unequal distribution of Favours here below, and can hardly recover himself, till he go into the Sanctuary of God, and there understand the end of these Men, Verse 18, 19, 20. of the forequoted Psalm; Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castest them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment? they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. This the Poet excellently well expresseth, Claudian. when he describeth himself doubtful, whether there were a Supreme Justice, as long as Ruffinus, a wicked and lewd person, was in such prosperity: But when he saw his overthrow, and was acquainted with his Destruction, Abstulit hos tandem Ruffini poena tumultus, Absolvitque Deos: It takes off the charge of Injustice from Divine Providence, and makes the Wicked and Profane, with horror and amazement, acknowledge that there is a God that judgeth in the Earth, that is able to exalt his Servants, and be fully avenged of all the implacable Enemies of his Kingdom. An easy Application will make out the Parallel I at first intended. We have almost every where in the Psalms, Prayers against, and Thanksgivings for preservation from attempts of this nature. David's Enemies were numerous, whole Congregations of them; and have not ours been so too? The best Men have been subject to most Trials; the maintenance of the true Religion is a great eyesore to all its Opposers; it causes Mutinies, Seditions and Rebellions, by those who cannot endure the least sense of Duty. David was a Virtuous and Pious Man, not only God's Deputy, but his Friend too; a great Soldier, and a gracious Prince; and wanted no accomplishment to oblige his Subjects to obedience and respect. Yet for all this did he find many Adversaries, his troubles were innumerable, both from the Enemies of Religion, and the ambition of his own Family: And have not our Kings been persecuted on every hand, ever since the Reformation, only because they have been Defenders of the truly Ancient Catholic and Apostolic Faith? This makes both Papists and fanatics conspire their overthrow; and all the mad Sects and Opinions in the World, however disagreeing in other things, yet concentre in this one Tenent, to raise all the Tumults and Disorders they can in a well-setled Commonwealth; and endeavour to break down the Hedge, that all the Beasts of the Forest might enter in and destroy the Vineyard. This is that which only galls them, all other pretences are but frivolous and feigned, and till this grievance be removed, they will never leave Petitioning or Remonstrating against the miscarriages of the Government Give me leave to observe but one thing more before I conclude this point. The Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England was that which the Papists this day so wickedly endeavoured to overthrow: They knew we alone were able substantially and rationally to oppose them, by the Truth and Antiquity of what we maintain, Doctrines as Ancient as our Saviour and his Apostles; the Government confessedly prevailing in the Church since the first founding of it, till some pretences, contrary to it, were started in the last Age: These subtle contrivers of mischief knew all other Structures would fall, and like Babel's, end in the confusion of Tongues, Quarrels and Division among themselves. I cannot but wonder how any of our Dissenters, who have endeavoured to destroy the same Establishment so lately, can excuse their Ignorance or Hypocrisy in giving God public thanks for the preservation of that which they openly brand as Popish and Antichristian. 2. But then as David's numerous and potent Enemies treacherously and secretly combined for his Destruction, so did the Enemies of this Day too: All Treasons and Conspiracies are usually transacted in the dark, they are properly the works of darkness, they cannot endure the clear discoveries of light, for fear they should be detected. Was not this our case this Day? was there much more than a moment between us and Destruction? was not the Deliverance as remarkable as the Danger? We thought ourselves secure from any contrivance of this Nature; our very Enemies seemed to behave themselves with modesty and moderation. But alas! they could not long hid their temper, like their Father, they must appear with their cloven Foot, the truest Emblem of Division and Dissension: They were not uppermost, and therefore must put the World into a Combustion; it was not enough for them to be the subjects of another's mercy, unless they themselves had Power and Authority for doing mischief: This they contrived in secret places, in dark corners of the Earth; they properly thought to undermine us; their malice was restless and active; an Oath of Secrecy, and the Sacrament itself were their Preludiums to our Destruction. Their Design was form under ground, nearer the confines of Hell, acknowledging the grand Adversary to be the Author of this device. The discovery of this contrivance was: highly remarkable, a Letter to secure one person, proved the safety of the whole Nation, and that by an Interpretation of the King himself, which seems little less than an Inspiration from God, whose Vicegerent he was. This plainly proves there are some who are God's peculiar care, as Signets on his Right Hand, who as public Persons are reserved to be a public benefit. These are they, who are in Scripture styled Gods: For though their mould be no more refined, and their End the same with other Men, yet their Character and Authority is Divine; who so slights them, slights God, and cannot expect to descend to the Grave without a full and remarkable Vengeance. 3. Once more and I have done; David's Enemies, though they did not indeed (yet seemed to) speak Righteously: No question they had fair and plausible pretences in their mouths: The vindication of the Truth, and the Catholic Cause, were the Traitor's pretences this Day; They come with Religion in their mouths, but Rancour and Malice in their hearts. Most of the Rebellions and Cruelties in the World have been transacted under the notion either of Religion or Reformation: Holy Leagues, Solemn Covenants; Associations, and the like, have been the usual Prefaces to such undertake. The bloodiest of all projects have been ever coloured over with Godliness, because the worse any thing is, the better gloss it willingly would have. Men of these Principles, however they have been led themselves by the Spirit of delusion, or endeavour to delude others, are still very active and busy; they come in Sheep's clothing, pretending Peace and Friendship, a concernment for our Souls, and a tender regard for our Everlasting happiness, but within they are ravenous Wolves; would convert us (as they did the Indians) by Murder and Assassination: What can we say of such Men, who pretend this, not only Interest, but Conscience; not only Gain, but Godliness; not only propagating their own Grandeur, but vindicating that Religion our Saviour came to establish. If an honest Heathen were to be Judge, he would surely esteem Christ's Doctrine (if it consisted in the Jesuits Politics) to be far more uneasy than the Light of Nature: We were certainly more at quiet before, when we were left to our Natural principles, than by such a super-induced Revelation be bound to disturb Societies, kill Kings, translate Governments, and engage us in all the Broils and Tumults in the World; As if the Prince of Peace were a Title only to cheat Men into an opinion of his Dictates; and when they were once so far Trepan'd, to instruct them in all unheard of Villainies, and unallowable practices abhorred by the more Religious, though more ignorant Heathen; and however contradictory such practices are to the peaceable rules of the Gospel, yet they have still the impudence to style themselves of the Society of Jesus. Good Lord! what a pass are we now come to? The honest and immediate Successors of our Saviour, (nay, and he himself too) were quite mistaken, they lived but in the Infancy of Religion, discoursed all things with plainness and sincerity, had no guile or reservation in their breasts: But alas good men, Prophets and other Penmen of the holy Scriptures how woefully were they mistaken: A new Sect of Christians are sprung up in the World, who have received greater Light and improvement, who are of more refined Principles and subtle Policies, who contradict all you have been exhorting us to. But I hope all such pretences to Religion will now vanish, and the works of darkness be made manifest; such as Envy, Hatred, Variance, Uncharitableness, Wrath, Bitterness. And whosoever they are that own such principles of resistance and disobedience to their lawful Superiors, let them undergo the same punishment with the Rebels of this Day, and be truly styled Papists in Masquerade, while they own the most mischievous of their Opinions. Thus have we seen all the Arts and Malice of all the Adversaries of Truth and Religion, conjoined in the wicked purpose of this Day; it was contrived with Treachery and Perfidiousness, principles abhorred by all generous Spirits from the foundations of the World: Nay, they acted with Deliberation, had Consultations and Assemblies about it; it was not the product of a fresh and rash Anger, which is commonly styled a short Rage or Madness; they had revolved it often in their minds, their wrath was of long standing and resolution, they consulted about it a considerable time, many Months before; they had Oaths of Secrecy and Seals of Confession, nay, the Blessed Sacrament itself, that Cement of peace, is publicly profaned to the abetting those horrid Massacres they designed. But (God be thanked) the Vengeance is returned upon themselves, their Counsels are defeated, their purposes disappointed, their Destruction did arise as suddenly upon them, as they designed it for us; and their unavoidable ruin (the just reward of all Traitors) did tread close upon their heels, and punishment from God did seize upon them. This, methinks, should be enough to terrify Men from attempts of this nature, if they did but consider, that God Almighty will take the matter into his own hands; and though the hands of Magistrates may be weakened upon Earth, their Power impaired, and their Authority lessened, yet he himself will avenge their Quarrel: No Traitor can exempt himself from Destruction, one way or other; God who is Truth hath said it, and God who is Power is able to perform it; Though hand join in hand, the Wicked shall not go unpunished, Prov. 11.21. And who knoweth what their punishment shall be? inscrutable as to the beginning, it shall come suddenly, without observation, in the manner we know not what it will be, and in the end who knoweth how long it shall last; it may reach as far as Hell itself, and from thence I am sure there is no redemption. Now what is our duty, but to rejoice in this Vengeance, which was so great and so remarkable; we may (as it were) wash our Feet in the blood of those that would have destroyed us. (2.) We shall acknowledge the Providence of God, and the Rewards he affords unto the Righteous. 1. It is a pleasant and easy Task required of us, to Rejoice; our Duty and Privilege are so closely joined together, that we cannot perform the one without being made partakers of the other. I shall not think it worth my time at present, to set forth the lawfulness of appointing set Solemn days of Rejoicing, as this is, especially when the days of Purim, and the Feast of the Dedication (which our Saviour honoured with his presence) were not of God's immediate appointment: And that which may sway most with us all, and convince us, it is not Conscience, but Obstinacy, and endeavour to lessen the Magistrate's Power, that the Dissenters thus Argue, when they themselves, besides (if not contrary to) Establishment, appoint set times of Humiliation and Thanksgiving; as if it were better, and more Orthodox from a Disobedient Schismatic, than from the hands of a lawful Magistrate, whom God hath set over us. Taking it therefore for granted, that such appointment of Festivals is lawful, let us see what we ought to do in them, to Commemorate and Rejoice in God's Works. The Sabbath, and the Passover were commemorations of those great Works God had done for his People; and this Day the Destroyer passed over our Dwellings, this is a Day of God's own making. All days indeed are alike Created by the Lord, whether Fair or Dark, all alike made by Diespiter, the Father of Days; though times of anguish and perplexity are looked upon as if they were not, Job 3.6. Nights rather than Days, as Job said in his hasty fit: Yet when the Sun shines clearly, and we are under the bright influence of his comfortable Beams; this is a Day indeed, a Day of Gladness and Rejoicing; and such is our Day, a Day of God's making, to which he hath a peculiar Title. We may well say as they in the Gospel, (Luke 5.26.) We have seen strange things this Day. Nay, Ask of the Days that are past, and inquire from one side of the Heaven to the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it, (Deut. 4.32.) Psal. 126.1. When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion, then were we like to them that dream; we were in a maze, knew not well what to think of it; it was none of Man's foresight or contrivance, and at such times every Righteous person ought to Rejoice. God by black Days calls us to mourning and lamentation, and it would be a Sin as ridiculous as odious in his sight, in times of War, Famine, Pestilence, etc. to appear with a merry countenance, in Feasting and Revelling, and all the outward indications of Gladness and Security: So here God by these Deliverances calls us to Rejoicing, no heavy burden. The word in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall Rejoice (saith Vatablus) may well be turned into an Optative, let him Rejoice, which is much at one; for here is either the Practice of good Men, or the Duty couched in the Exhortation. If the Prophet had bid us do some great thing, should we not have done it? how much rather when he calls us to Triumph and Exult in his Mercies? Nehem. 8.9, 10. We have a pattern for such exercises: This Day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep: Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet; and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared; for this Day is holy unto the Lord; neither be ye sorry, for the joy of the Lord your strength. Our Joy must not only be inward, but outward too; we must show it in our countenances, and in our behaviour; we must publish it unto the whole World, that we Rejoice in the rock of our Salvation, and that 1. By acknowledging and owning of it publicly in the great Congregation, constitute a solemn Day, in condensis, that we may stand so thick in the Church, as may fill it from the entry of the Door, to the very edge of the Altar; for so the Vulgar and S. Hierom's Translation of Psal. 118.27. seem to intimate, (Constituite diem solennem in condensis usque ad cornu Altaris.) Open therefore to me the gates of Righteousness, I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord. It is not every Rejoicing will serve the turn, it must be a Spiritual Rejoicing; we come unto the Sanctuary, that is the first place we ought to appear in, and give public testimonies of our Joy. 2. We are appointed not only a place where to meet in, but a Practice what we are to do when we are there; that is, Trust in the Lord that judgeth in the Earth, and be assured there is a Reward for the Righteous; if we do well, it shall be well with us; he that hath done such marvellous things for us already, will doubtless complete his Mercy in our future preservation. We may be well assured the Daughters of the Uncircumcised would have made this a Day of Triumph; and we are delivered, not only to stand and cry out of the foulness of the Plot, or those Devilish Monsters Actors in it, or bless ourselves for so fair an escape; No, we ought to serve God in sincerity, and persevere in our Duty. When we are under the apprehension of danger, we are all Godly on a sudden; but our Goodness is as the morning cloud, as the early dew it goeth away, Hos. 6.4. is quickly scattered, and gone before the Sun be many hours high; but by our Obedience alone we shall preserve ourselves. To day indeed is a joyful day, but who knows what the next day may bring forth? the implacable Enemies of our Peace are still working, the same Designs carrying on; our Sins are as many, and daring as ever; let us therefore pray to God, that he may be to us, as Jesus is a Saviour, yesterday, and to day, and the same for ever. If we can but truly pray, as the Church doth, O God, we have heard with, our Ears, and our Fathers have declared unto us the noble works thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them; it may very reasonably follow, O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thine honour. Let us plead God's former Deliverances, and by them have hopes of future Security: Let us make God our Friend, be fearful only of ourselves, and our Sins, which cry aloud to God for Vengeance, make use of no unlawful means, either of Perjury or Subornation, and think by that to be Secured: This is a sure way to appease God's wrath, and more required at our hands than all the Revels and Bonfires of the Night, or the late over officious and foolish Zeal of some, to burn the Pope in Effigy. Thus have I done with my Text, and showed you both the Act and the Duty, Rejoicing, and Acknowledging, and Owning God's Providence in our own Preservation, and that just Vengeance he executeth upon the Wicked. I have but a few words for the Close of this Discourse, and so I shall dismiss you. THere is a clamour in the mouths of many at this day against Popery; nay, and to take off the imputation from themselves, they charge persons with favouring that Party, who publicly and solemnly have disowned all their proceed. I shall not therefore think it amiss, briefly to Exhort you, to take an estimate of men's Affections to Popery by their Doctrines and Principles, and judge them so qualified, by detesting or owning their Opinions, especially in the business of Loyalty or Resistance to Government; for by their fruits we shall easily know them. And I am afraid, by that time we have closely examined the several Parties, we shall find those who make the greatest noise against them, are the nearliest allied to them, especially in practices of this Nature, for the Subversion of an Established Government; and this hath made the Jesuits themselves so often assistant at their Conventicles. Cardinal Bellarmin would have the quiet and submission of the Old Christians consist in this, That they had not strength enough to resist; so hath a late scurrilous Apostate too deserved little thanks from the Primitive Martyrs of the Church, in that they were gentle and meek; it was neither Allegiance or Conscience (in his opinion) but want of Strength; for else the Emperors had suffered, and not They. Such persons as these justly admonish the Government to have a care, to keep them from Power and Authority; for they publicly Declare, they want not Will, but Force to Execute their Designs. Did not Parsons' Book (under the name of Doleman) serve the turn of the Papists in the days of Queen Elizabeth; it was but Reprinted again in a True Protestant Character, and it served the Regicides in the Year 48. and indifferent well since that time in the late Horrid Conspiracy. Calvin and Ignatius had their Original much at the same time, and the chief of their Followers in their Writings have shown the same disaffection to all Government, unless of their own appointment: And in the late Rebellion the Popish and Presbyterian Lords were generally observed to combine together. The Church of England (which is to be destroyed under the fine Notion of adhering to Popery) hath always declared her Reverence and Obedience to Magistracy; and therefore hath always been the common Enemy both of Popish and Republican Recusants. Our Saviour himself sufficiently testified his Submission to that Government which then presided, although he could have commanded twelve Legions of Angels; a Power able to encounter and overcome all the Armies in the World. None could say the Disciples after him Submitted for want of Force, they that could strike Elymas blind, Ananias dead, and had in a readiness to revenge all Disobedience, 2 Cor. 10.6. would certainly (if Christ's Kingdom had been of this World) have had further Commission to stop the violent proceed of all their Enemies. It is not always the Anointing of the Spirit required for our Subjection. Josias a King truly Godly and Religious, and Cyrus a mere Heathen, are both Recorded by the Prophets of the Lord, Isaiah and Jeremy. David a good King, and Saul one of the worst of Tyrants, both Anointed. Royal Unctions give no Grace, but a just Title only; and therefore in Scripture it is not said, Touch not mine Anointed, while he Rules well, in the Preservation of the true Religion; while he is endued with extraordinary Virtues and Gifts of the Spirit, while he pleases the People; but because whatsoever he is, He is the Anointed of the Lord: Dominion is not founded in Grace; neither Priest nor People can pretend any thing in setting up the Lords Anointed. The Opinions of these wild Dissenters, for the Destruction both of Governors and Government, were derived from Muncer, Knipperdoling, John a Leyden, and the rest of their Hairbrained Prophets, condemned by all sober persons of the Reformation, particularly by Luther in a Book written for that very purpose, where he plainly shows. That Magistracy is of God, and necessary for our good; and that whatsoever befalls us, it is the part of a Christian to suffer the Cross; Prayers and Tears were the Primitive Christians Arms; they embraced the Doctrine of the Bowstring, (as it is maliciously represented by one scarce worthy the name of a Reformed Christian) and we never find them interposing with Sword and Blunderbus, or any other Offensive weapon whatsoever. I have not time to enlarge upon this Subject, and what hath been said is to vindicate the Loyal Sons of the Church of England from all Aspersions of this Nature; and that we may be all convinced, that all the Stirs and Tumults which have been in our Land have proceeded from the same Principle, whether in Papists or fanatics; and till this be quite rooted out, we shall never be free from Rebellion. King James was this Day destined for Ruin by the Papists: His Son King Charles the First was reserved out of their Hands to suffer Martyrdom by pretended Protestants; and our present Sovereign (whom God long preserve) hath had his Troubles and Plots on all hands: But (God be praised) we are still in a condition to give Thanks, to abhor the Practices and Positions of such Men, whose only Piety is to make Religion a Cloak for Treason, and turn Rebels out of Conscience: And let all that fear God rejoice in his Name, in the midst of this, and all other his Wonders in our Preservation. For the Righteous must Rejoice when he seethe the Vengeance: he will wash his footsteps in the blood of the Wicked: So that a man shall say, Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous: Verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth. So let all the Enemies of thy Truth, and thine Anointed perish from thy presence, O God, even all that have Evil Will at Zion; so persecute them with thy Tempest, and make them afraid with thy Storm: Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thy Name, (O Lord) let them be confounded and troubled for ever, yea let them be put to shame and perish, that men may know, that thou whose Name alone is Jehovah, art the most High over all the Earth. But let thy Truth and thy Righteousness flourish; let the Throne of our Sovereign be Established, all the Plots and wicked Devices of his Enemies brought to nought; so shall we always be praising Thee, and continually Rejoicing in thy Salvation. Amen. FINIS. Sermons Printed for Walter Kettilby, at the Bishops-Head in S. Paul's Churchyard. DOctor Hick's Sermon of Temptation, before the Lord Mayor. 's Sermon at the Act at Oxford, 4ᵒ. 's Peculium Dei, before the Lord Mayor. 's True Notion of Persecution. 's Moral Shechinah. 's Sermon before the Lord Mayor, Jan. 30. 's Sermon before the Lord Mayor at the Spittle. 's Sermon at Worcester, May 29. Dr. Sharp's Sermon at the Yorkshire Feast. 's Sermon before the House of Commons. 's Duty and Happiness of Doing Good. 's Sermon at the Election of the Lord Mayor. Dr. Calamy's Sermon, May 29. 1682. before the Lord Mayor. 's Sermon Sept. 9 1683. 's Sermon Sept. 30. 1683. before the Lord Mayor. 's Sermon Sept. 2. 1684. before the Lord Mayor. Dr. Smith's Sermon. Dr. Bisbie's Sermon, Prosecution no Persecution. Modern Pharisees. Two Assize Sermons. Dr. Moore's Sermon before the Lord Mayor, 1682. 's Sermon before the Lord Mayor, 1684. Mr. Scot's Sermon before the Artillery-Company. 's Sermon before the Lord Mayor, Decemb. 16. 1683. 's Sermon at Dr. Croun's Funeral. Mr. Lamb's Sermon before the King at Windsor. 's Sermon before the Lord Mayor. 's Sermon, wherein the Liberty of Humane Nature is Stated, Discussed and Limited. Mr. Wray's Sermon, The Rebellious City Destroyed, Sept. 2. 's Loyalty protesting against Popery, and Fanaticism Popishly Affected. Mr. Resberry's Sermon at the . s Sermon at Sir Alan Broderick's Funeral. Mr. Payne's Sermon at the Brentwood Feast. 's Sermon Sept. 9 Mr. Milbourne's Original of Rebellion, Preached January 30. 's Sermon Sept. 9 1683. Mr. Battles Assize Sermon at Hertford. Mr. Leigh's Sermon of the Keeping of Holy Days, Preached before the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London. Mr. Grail's Four Sermons: I. Of True Reformation of Ourselves. II. Of Pious Reverence towards God and the King. III. Of Just Abhorrence of Usurping Republicans. iv Of Due Affection to the Monarchy. Mr. Gascarth's Sermon at Duke Lauderdale's Funeral.