PSAL. LXXIX. v. 8. 
O Remember not against us former Iniquities! or the Iniqities of them that were before us!  
THE repeated Practices of Rebellion in this our Land, and our continual dread of Imminent Judgements, do add a new Seasonableness to this days Humiliation. And let us add a new vigour to our Interceding with the Almighty, to prevent those Punishments which we so highly deserve.  
For we are this day met to bewail the greatest National sin, except that which the Jews committed in Crucifying the Lord of Life. A sin which hath made us a Scandal and a Proverb of Reproach to other Kingdoms, a miserable and divided people within ourselves, and a dreadful Theatre of the continual Judgements of God.  
There was doubtless a general corruption of Life and Manners that disposed this Nation to enter into such horrid Counsels, and to engage in such furious attempts: Luxury, Wantonness, neglect of Religion and wise Discipline, first forfeited the protection of Providence, and then God delivered up an infatuated people to their own Passions and false Zeals, and let them follow their own Imaginations.  
It is indeed to no good purpose (at least in this place) to lay the whole Gild upon any particular Party amongst us: That may be the business of an Historian, but not of a Divine: That may serve to awaken Governors, but will not contribute towards the atonement of our God: That may give Men Rules of worldly Policy, but will never work in us a true and Spiritul Compunction.  
Sharp and eager Reflections may promote Revenge and Malice, but will hardly produce a general Humiliation and Repentance. Whatever Designs our Adversaries form, we may be sure it was our Sins that gave them their Success.  
The Tragedy is acted, the Murder completed, the anger of the Almighty is provoked, the Nation has sinned, and the Nation must repent; or else there is nothing but a fearful looking for of swift and final Destruction. But O! Remember not against us, former Iniquities!  
It is not requisite at this time to engage in any exact method of Discourse, the Subject of this days Meditation being somewhat too big for the common Rules of Art: 'Tis the property of great Passions to know but little Order.  
The sudden effusions of a pious and Loyal Heart, with some general remarks on the more fatal Springs and Principles of Faction and Rebellion, are more suitable to this Solemnity, than the smother compositions of a mind at leisure.  
Let such as please, study to be Elegant under the Indignation of God, and the Infamy of a Kingdom; all that I shall at present attempt, shall be only to manifest an humble and an Holy concern in every period I pronounce.  
The English Nation had been long held in singular repute for their Noble, their good-natured, and Loyal Courage; and not only the Neighbouring Kingdoms, but the remoter parts of the Earth, had been Witnesses of their unalterable Affection to their Kings, whom they cheerfully followed in their Expeditions, with constant and unwearied Duty.  
But the abomination of this day has almost silenced all our former Praise; and the stain of this days Murder has cast a blemish on our ancient Glory.  
How must we blush to think that it shall be always read in story, How that English men stood round a Scaffold with their Muskets and Javelins to guard and forward the Murder of their own King.  
Surely the strangeness of the Fact will make men suspect the truth of the History, they will abhor the Record that shows them such a Villainy! But yet does not this days Assembly, does not this present Generation too truly attest it? but can they, can all Posterity atone for it?  
The favour of Providence, and the Honour of our Country, which we have lost by our Rebellions, we must recover by our Humiliations: The Victories of the Field must be turned into the Repentances of the Temple; and the active Nobleness of Exploits, into meekness and sufferings for Truth and Holiness, if ever we expect that the Lord should forget the Iniquity of this day.  
Pontius Pilate, willing to give some check to the importunate malice of the Jews, who so tumultuously demanded the Crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour, put this harsh and dishonourable Question to them; Shall I Crucify your King? He cannot be crucified, but your Name also must be crucified with him, in the Superscription of his Titles; for he shall be crucified the King of the Jews.  
So might it this day have been put to the English Rebels, Will you murder your King? the Father of your Country, the Vicegerent of God, the Fountain of Justice, the preserver of your Laws, and the Guardian of your public Peace and Order? Will you murder your own most just and ●●●●al King? so Wise, so Meek, so Pious, and so Devout a King? whom Providence & Succ●●sion, your own Laws, and your Cons●n●● have established in the Throne, and of which his own Virtues had made him 〈◊〉 worthy? Will you murder that King who has parted with so much of his Prerogative for your satisfaction? who has delivered up a most able Counsellor to your importunate and unjust Petitions, and wounded his Conscience for your peace and safety? who has undergone the rudeness of your Victories, your Prisons, and your Mockeries of Justice, with the same mildness and constancy which he shown in the fullness of his Empire! who has given up every thing to your implacable demands, but your truest Liberties, your Laws and Rights, and your established Worship?  
But 'tis too late now to ask the Question, and I shall forbear to continue the Figure any longer. They have acted the Crime; they have brought an Eternal Infamy upon the Nation, an indelible blot upon Religion, and I fear an Hereditary Curse upon this miserable Land.  
But why should those be concerned in the trouble and confusion of this day, who had no share in the guilt of it? for are there not many now living who may justly boast of their extraordinary service to that Excellent Prince, and of the honour they had of suffering with him? And were not many of us unborn when this accursed thing was committed? Yet however this was most properly a National Gild, because so many of all Orders, Ranks, and Callings amongst us were engaged in that Rebellion which brought forth this execrable Fact; and in sins of this nature the Children must either inherit the Curse, or atone for the Iniquities of their Fathers.  
None of us, how innocent soever, either in our own actions, or those of our progenitors; None of us, though never so Loyal, either in our Principles or our Parentage, are above the reach of this days amazement, are beyond the necessity of this days Humiliation: For public sins, of such example, such scandal and contagion as this, like the first Rebellion of Man, remain a debt upon Posterity, and involve more in their unhappy consequences, than the immediate Instruments themselves, or the Offspring of those who first acted them: For when God upon such a provocation as this, comes to reckon with a Kingdom, who can escape the terrible Visitation, who can abide the Almighty Wrath?  
They were but few in comparison with the whole Body of the Jewish Nation, that were immediately concerned in putting our Blessed Saviour to death; they were not many, perhaps only a mercenary Rabble, who petitioned for his Crucifixion, and undertook to answer all the Appeals of his Blood at their own and their children's peril: Yet when the time of their Visitation came (which was not till Forty years after the kill of their King, when perhaps most of his Murderers were dead and rotten) every Age, Sex, and Family that were in Jerusalem, shared alike in the common Calamity; the Famine, the Pestilence, and the Swords of the Romans had no commission to distinguish.  
When the Divine Vengeance for the Blood of our Martyr will more signally break out, we know not; and we beseech the infinite Mercy it may never. Our Forty years have not yet expired, neither have the Romans as yet prevailed against us, or the Inundation of Sects overwhelmed us: How soon they may, he alone can tell, who alone can hinder; we have no better security left us, than strong Cries, deep Repentance, passionate Deprecations, O remember not against us former iniquities!  
But are we fit persons to intercede? are we fit to stand in the gap, to turn away the anger of the Lord, and to stop the destroying Angel? Do not our continued provocations, our daily repeated personal sins call for new Indignation on us? What atonement therefore can we make, or wherewithal shall we come before the Lord? Can Intemperance satisfy for Hypocrisy, or Profaneness expiate for Murder? Is Sedition and Rebellion a repenting for the barbarous outrages of a Civil War, or of this days Crime? Will Oaths, and Curses, and Blasphemies drown the noise of our crying Sins? Or will the contempt of the Blood of Christ, be a propitiation for the Blood of the Martyr.  
When our late Gracious Sovereign and the Royal Line, were restored by an extraordinary Providence, by a secret and wonderful hand; was our gratitude returned to God with that sobriety of Christian Joy as became a redeemed people? Or were the unquiet Zelots of our Land less obstinate in their Opinions, more forward to remit their Scruples, or more modest in their Demands? And have we not already undergone some remarkable instances of God's displeasure for the Murder of our King, and the Profanation of his restoring Mercy? such as a Foreign War, a raging Pestilence, a dreadful Fire, and an actual Rebellion.  
As the Jews were wont to say, that in every Calamity that befell them, there was an ounce of the Golden Calf in it, of that shameful and Idolatrous revolt; so may we also affirm, that in every Judgement that o'ertakes us, there is an ounce of the Blood of the Martyr in it: or else why are we like that stubborn Generation, such a forlorn people, as to be Hardened under every Calamity, and to turn our most signal Mercies into the greatest Provocations? Why are we continually murmuring, often Plotting, sometimes Rebelling! Why do we show so little remorse for our present, for our former Iniquities; for the Iniquities of this day?  
The Lord does often defer and put off the extremity of Temporal Judgements, to see if the next Generation will amend; but if they go on in the same ways, if they follow their Father's steps, imitate their bad Examples, and revive their sins, than he executes his Vengeance for both together; and most justly punishes a people for Offences committed many years ago, because they renew them, because they act them over again, against greater conviction, and with more obstinacy and malice; as all must do, who continue Schismatical in the Church, or Factious in the State, after so great a light and knowledge of Truth and Duty, and having had so long a time, so merciful a season to understand and to amend their Errors.  
There were three things that were more especially active and fatal in our late Distractions, concerning which some did wilfully mistake, though others were undoubtedly deluded.  
They were Popery, Zeal, and the extent of Subjection.  
The notions of these were strangely disguised both in men's Writings and Apprehensions, the effects of these most violent and impious: But since our Restoration and settlement, since men's Spirits have been in some disposition and capacity to receive a rational instruction; all these things have been so plainly declared according to their true nature, so fully stated as to their measure and extent, so frequently inculcated as to their just and sober use, that there is left no further pretence for Ignorance or Mistake; that the Seditious have now no cloak for their Rebellion.  
For First in respect to Popery. Men have been seriously advised not to measure the Protestant Religion by any peevish opposition to the Papists; nor to account every thing Popery that is practised in the Church of Rome; but to allow of such a judicious distinction between them, as Wise men may know what to Write for, and good men may know what to Die for.  
Men have been often told, that our Reformation was no new Religion, but only a necessary and discreet removal of some intolerable corruptions, and an establishing of the old Christianity taught us plainly in the Scriptures, and interpreted, where dubious, by the ancient Fathers.  
They have been told, that in the Reforming of this Church, all things were acted not by way of Anabaptistical Tumult and Rebellion, not out of a spirit of contradiction and furious Zeal, but by the consultation and authority of the lawful Powers, and according to the just Liberties of a National Church.  
What fiery turbulence did men show against the moderate and perpetual Episcopacy of this Land, as if it had been the principal abomination of Antichrist? And yet the voting down of that so dreaded Order was received with a Triumph at Rome.  
What Outcries were there made, and with what confidence was it asserted, that the chief of our Bishops and Clergy were driving on a Popish Interest, when it was manifest that they were the greatest, nay the only true Champions against it?  
As for some of the more eminent of them, when they could no longer remain with any safety in this Kingdom, wherever they traveled they gallantly maintained the fight against the Subtleties and Corruptions of that Church, and like Hannibal when he was banished from Carthage, where'er they came, they justly raised up Enemies to the Romans.  
Thus the renowned Brumhall, Cousins, and Morley, etc. carried the War into the Enemy's Country, were victorious abroad, though contemned at home; defended our Church against the strength and power of Rome, whilst their Adversaries went destroying of all Christianity here, by contending with the shadow of Error, by mistaking the Controversy, by showing great violence, little Learning, no Arguments. By cherishing those Distractions both in Church and State, which gave the greatest blow to the Protestant Cause, and the surest advantage to the Popish Interest, which staggered the Religious, confirmed the Atheist, and made the Enthusiast mad.  
Secondly, As to Zeal: That was made such an Engine of War, that Cromwell thought it the only Expedient by which he could match the bravery and spirit of the King's Cavalry; considering with himself, that the Fury of that Principle would as much inspire the Multitude, as Honour and Loyalty did the Nobles. This was his peculiar Policy, and to effect this was his singular Art, and this was the chief Stratagem by which he prevailed and Ruled; for he was forced to make the Army purely Fanatic, before he could make it truly serviceable to his purpose, and entirely His; still supplying it with Zealots of an Old Testament-Valour, and persuading every Captain, that he was a chosen Jehu to fight the Battles of the Lord.  
Sour Passions, Censoriousness, and Malice; Emulations, Wrath, Strife and Envyings, were the black Ingredients of their Zeal; whereas the true Zeal of the Gospel is that which is guided by Prudence, sweetened with Charity, tempered by Meekness.  
False Zeal is the very Gall of bitterness; but that which is true, is the very Top and Flower of Divine Love: The one rages and Rebels; the other suffers and Dies: The one calls for Fire from Heaven; the other sends up Incense thither: The one is factiously busy in reforming of the State; the other is humbly employed in the due regulation of private Life and Manners.  
If men would be truly zealous, let them show it for Holiness and Righteousness, for Humility, and the decency of Public Worship. Let them show it against Sacrilege, Perjury, Covetousness, Hypocrisy, Rapine, and gross Superstition: Not by railing against Ceremonies, censuring the Clergy, cursing the Papists, moving of Sedition, and encouraging Rebellion; but by brotherly Admonitions, sound Reasonings, excellent Examples, singular Modesty, due Reverence, and Attention in our public Assemblies, by Praises, Prayers, and frequent Communions; by Entreaties, Tears, and solemn Humiliations, by interceding with the Almighty in strict Fast, and fervency of Devotion, and by averting public Judgements by an extraordinary Holiness of Life. This is the Zeal which is kindled from above, which is first Pure, then Peaceable; the other is kindled from below and is earthly, sensual, devilish.  
Thirdly, The last thing I mentioned, was the extent of Subjection. What was more tampered with in our late times, than the Doctrine of Obedience? What more disguised? what Proposition was accounted more contemptible than Subjection for Conscience sake? Every conceited Politician sent forth his new System of Civil Government: Every illuminated Brother, his new Models of Christ's Kingdom: every one was for erecting an Empire for himself, and a Platform wherein his own Imaginations might rule.  
Yet when they had tried all the several kinds and species of disorder, Government would fall back to its old Form; it could not where rest, but upon the Basis of ancient Monarchy, and primitive Episcopacy.  
Surely the Protectors of our Liberties, and the Reformers of our Religion, had a most wonderful prospect of a lasting Peace in the State, and a Godly Discipline in the Church; when the ignorance of the Multitude was guided by the Crafty, their ungovernable Passions inflamed by the Revengeful, and their intolerable obstinacy permitted to dictate their own Ecclesiastical Censures.  
But now the Essential Properties of Sovereign Power, the Fundamental Laws of the English Monarchy, the unalterable Right of Succession in this Hereditary Kingdom, and the just Privileges of the Christian Church, have been so clearly stated by wise and able heads; that they have left no room for Cavil, no plea for Ignorance, and no pardon for a malicious Opposition.  
More especially the unlawfulness of Resistance in any case, and upon any pretence whatsoever, either Popish or Fanatic, has been so strongly asserted, and so fully evidenced through all the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, through the Histories, Examples and Apologies of the Primitive times; by unanswerable positive Reasons, by a removal of all imaginable Objections, and by the Convictions of former and late Experience; that no man for the future can be a Rebel in this Nation, without being either an Hypocrite or an Atheist.  
Thus you see with what Conscience, Learning, Endustry and Persuasion, the Church of England has endeavoured to dispel all the mists of former Darkness, to take away all materials for Sedition, and to make all her Members Religious, Wise, and Peaceable!  
Especially Religious, for the truly Pious will undoubtedly be truly Loyal; they will find sufficient business with their own Souls, to keep them from a Factious enquiry into the miscarriages of the State; by studying their own Infirmities, they will be more tenderly sensible of the Temptations of an higher station; they will weep and mourn for those defects, which God, when we deserve it, will amend.  
The Lord deliver our most Gracious Sovereign and his good Subjects, from that corrupt Brood of pretended Loyalists, who blaspheme God, swagger for the King, curse his Enemies, and damn themselves! This is not Loyalty, but frenzy; either the voice of Flattery high-fed, or the Rave of a feavered Valour.  
Loyalty is a Virtue as calm as any of the Duties of Religion; 'Tis Brave, Modest, and Invincible; 'tis seated more in the Judgement and Conscience, than in the Imagination and heat of Blood: 'Tis the highest degree of Humane gratitude tempered with great awe and reverence: 'Tis that which would make a man Pious, Just, and Sober, were it only to bring down a Blessing on his King, and on his Nation.  
Neither is it a Scheme of Policy in the Brain that will make a Christian-Statesman; but 'tis the Oracle of Truth and Righteousness in the Breast, that will make his Counsel prosper and his Wisdom shine. He alone is best able to give his Prince a sound Advice, and he alone has the best courage so to do, who has first begged it himself on his Knees of God: He who has lain prostrate before the Almighty in Humility and Contrition, is the sittest to stand up against the Torrent of a Faction, or the Insinuations of a slier Party. That Magistrate who converses most with God, will like Moses, have most Divine Authority in his looks; he will be the most proper person to stand in the gap, and to turn away the destroying Angel.  
But still give me leave to ask that Humbling Question: Is this Nation likely to atone for former Iniquities, that is scarce sensible of their daily Transgressions? What solemn Humiliation can be expected from those who confess their present sins without Contrition? who pray without Devotion? Who praise God without Affection? And read the Scriptures without Faith and Obedience?  
When our sins have separated between us and our God, and our Iniquities have hid his Face from us that he will not hear, because our hands are defiled with Blood; then 'tis not a melancholy look, the abatement of a Meal, and a formal attendance on divine Offices, that will break our Cords asunder, and appease an Almighty Revenger. An extraordinary affliction of Soul can only wash out an extraordinary guilt.  
Is not this the Fast which I have chosen? saith the Lord by his Prophet Isaiah, Chap. 58. v. 6, 7. to lose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? but that of Government: Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hid not thyself from thine own flesh? Is it not to bewail those Divisions which this Church lies under, and those continual Discontents which disorder this State and Government? Is it not to forsake those reigning Sins which call down heavy Judgements on us; or which perhaps is worse, withdraw the Mercy of an afflicting Hand, and make us most unworthy of them! Is it not to practise that sincere Piety towards God, that religious Loyalty to our King, that Charity to our Neighbour, that Temperance, Moderation, and Contentedness towards ourselves, as alone can make us the Objects of Gods pardoning Mercy? Is it not that the Priests of the Lord should weep between the Porch and the Altar, and with incessant Supplications cry, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine Heritage to reproach? Be not wrath very sore, O Lord, neither remember this days Iniquity for ever!  
Behold, see, we beseech thee; we are all thy people! how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth? We are that ungrateful Remnant which thou hast made remarkable throughout the world by thy Mercies and thy Judgements!  
Thou hast rescued us from Superstition and Enthusiasm, and hast established the purest part of thy Religion amongst us! thou hast confirmed it to us, not only by the Blood of its first professors, but by that of a most meek and glorious King.  
Behold, O Lord, see, see, how we are this day united to implore thy Mercy; and not as once to call down thy wrath and Indignation upon us! we are engaged in no other Conspiracy now, but that of besieging thy Throne of Grace!  
Thou hadst continually a truly Religious and Loyal people in this Land, who utterly abhorred the bloody Act of this day, and all the accursed tendencies towards it! And as for the deluded Multitude, O pardon them Lord, pardon them, for whom our Saviour prayed; for whom our Martyr prayed; O pardon them, because they knew not what they did!  
Though our Calendar is red with this days Action, yet our Chronicle shines with this days Example: there Meekness, Humility, Patience, Charity and Constancy set triumphant.  
It was the honour of Constantine's Reign, that he was converted to the Christian Faith. Renowned were those Emperors who afterwards protected it by their wholesome Laws and Edicts: Blessed and thrice blessed were those Princes who gave Authority to it by their admirable Lives and Examples: But for a King to fall a Sacrifice for it; to Live in all its active Duties, and Die in all its passive Graces; this is only to be met with in the English Annals; this is only to be read in the Protestant Diptychs; this is the peculiar Triumph of our Church, and the Universal glory of Christianity at large.  
Let us therefore deeply Repent for this days sad occasion, and then praise the Almighty for this days glorious Event! Let our Humiliations wear out the black guilt of this days Crime, and our Lives copy out the Example of this days Martyr.  
Then may we recover the favour of Heaven, and either cancel all the commissioned Judgements against us, or improve them into Mercies!  
Then may we become an united people in Church and State; a Royal Priesthood, an holy Nation: then may we spread our Fame to the uttermost parts of the Earth, and the purity of Christ's Religion with it! then may we remain a standing Bulwark against the Policy of Rome, and teach some Protestant Churches a Doctrine which they have not yet completely learned, The true and Catholic Subjection to the Sovereign Powers.  
FINIS.   

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