A SERMON Preached at St. Mary's Truro, On the Second of December, 1697.  
Being the Day Appointed for A Public Thanksgiving FOR PEACE.  
By SIM. PAGET, Rector of Truro.  
LONDON, Printed by J. Heptinstall for Edward Evets at the Green Dragon in S. Paul's Churchyard. 1698.   

TO The Worshipful the Mayor, The Right Honourable the Recorder, The Capital Burgesses, And other, the Inhabitants of the Ancient Borough of TRURO.  
Gentlemen,  
AMongst the many Decent and Suitable Demonstrations of your Joy on the late Thanksgiving-day for Peace, I cannot but with great Pleasure and Satisfaction call to mind, what a full Congregation we had at Church, and how devoutly every one performed the Public Service for the Occasion.  
You were then pleased to approve of this Sermon, as a Discourse suitable to the Occasion, and apt to stir Men up to a thankful Reception of so great a Blessing. Trusting it will he thought so still, and have the same effect now it is Printed; I do in particular dedicate it to you, as a thankful Acknowledgement of the kind Welcome you have me at my first coming to you, and of the many great Civilities and Favours I have received from you ever since.  
I should have presented you with it sooner, but that my great Indisposition would not suffer me to transcribe it for the Press.  
I pray God requite you for all your Favours, and bless you both in your Spiritual and Temporal Interests, which is, and ever shall be the hearty Prayer of,  
Dear Sirs, Your most obliged, and Faithful Servant, Sim. Pagel.   

A Thanksgiving-Sermon, etc.  Luke II. 14. 
Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, Good will towards Men.  
THE Words are a joyful and congratulatory Acclamation of the Blessed Angels, ushering into this lower world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace. Him they attend with Branches of Palms, instead of flaming Swords; with good Tidings of great Joy to all People, instead of cursing Meros', burning Sodom, or destroying the Assyrian Camp.  
Him they attend, not as the Reverse of a Gracious God, as an Evil Deity naturally eclipsing and opposing the Emanations of Divine Goodness; nor as a Man of War, causing fear and dread to fall upon Mankind; dealing in Fury and executing Vengeance, tho' a good Deity: But as the Prince of Peace, displaying the Banners of Divine Love over Mankind, and reconciling the rebellious World to the Favour and Beneficence of his Heavenly Father. As the Prince of Peace! procuring and establishing Peace between Man and Man, as well as between Man and God; 
Isa. 2.4.  commanding them to beat their Swords into Ploughshares, and their Spears into Pruning hooks; Nation not to lift up Sword against Nation, nor to learn War any more.  
Well might a winged Embassy descend from the Court of Heaven, and call upon Mankind to attend the Arrival of such a Prince, with the utmost Demonstrations of Honour and Joy. Well might the whole World resound with Anthems of Glory to God in the Highest, when Peace is proclaimed on Earth, as the blessed effect of God's good will towards Men. When the Divine Goodness breaks forth into so glorious a Display of itself upon poor Mortals, as to join Heaven and Earth together in the mutual Beams of Love and Peace; the greatest Blessing Heaven can bestow, the greatest Earth can receive.  
And may not the occasion of this solemn Day raise in Our Minds the like cheerful Joy, and devote Us to the most grateful Returns of Glory and Praise to the same gracious God? Now, when the Divine Will has issued forth such an overflowing Tide of Goodness upon the Face of the Earth, and the Son of Righteousness is risen upon us with such Healing in his Wings. Now, when after a long Night of Darkness, we are got into the Morning of so promising a Day; and can behold our reviving Hemisphere to fill every day more and more, with the beautiful Rays of an advanced Peace. Now, when the Weapons of War are perished, 
2 Sam. 1.27. Ps. 68.30.  and the People that delight in war are scattered, and the Meek begin to inherit the Earth, 
Ps. 37.11.  and to delight themselves in the abundance of Peace. 
Isa. 11.6.  When the Wolf gins to dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard to lie down with the Kid, and the sucking Child to play on the hole of the Asp; and every man to sit under his Vine, 
Mic. 4.4.  and under his Figtree, and none to make him afraid. Shake thyself from the Dust, O Zion. 
Isa. 52.2, 9  Break forth into joy ye waste places of Jerusalem. Sing O ye Heavens, for the Lord hath done it: Shout ye lower parts of the Earth: Break forth into singing ye Mountains, 
Isa. 44.23.  O Forest, and every Tree therein, for the Lord hath Redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.  
And that we may conceive a just Esteem of the Blessings we now commemorate, and in some measure glorify God as we ought to do, for bestowing them upon us, I shall from this Angelical Doxology do these four things.  

I. I shall make some Reflection upon the Excellency and Desireableness of Peace. This the words do plainly imply.  
II. I shall show what an argument of God's Love and Favour the Blessing of Peace is to a People. God's good will towards Men, breaks forth in Peace upon Earth.  
III. I shall observe concerning Peace, how highly conducive it is to the Advancement of God's Glory: On Earth Peace is Glory to God in the Highest.  
iv I shall conclude with some Inferences from the whole, and with showing you after what manner we of this Nation shall best glorify God for bestowing this inestimable Blessing of Peace upon us.   
I. I shall make some Reflection upon the Excellency and Desireableness of Peace. Peace! methinks the word sounds pleasant in our Ears; the very naming of it strikes a kind refreshment to the Heart, and diffuses a trembling Ravishment through all the Veins. On Earth Peace! 'Twas one of the highest Strains the Melodious Angels did ever sing to Men. They knew not how more irresistibly to charm Mankind, than by sounding forth the glad Tidings of a blessed Peace to them. And indeed considering, first, how unnatural a State of War is to sociable Creatures; and secondly, what dreadful Calamities do usually attend the drawn Sword; we cannot but conclude Peace to be of all temporal Blessings, the most excellent and .  
1. How unnatural a State of War is to sociable Creatures. That Man by original Creation was made for Society; bound by the use of Speech and Reason, and a tacit inclination of Mind, as well as the Necessities of humane Nature, to be a Companion and Friend, to esteem, and love, and assist the rest of his Fellow-creatures, is a truth, I think not to be denied, howsoever disputed by some of late Years, who would fain reduce a State of Nature into a State of War. For we find even in this corrupted State of Nature, wherein the unruly Lusts and Passions of Men have advanced the Principle of self-Preservation to the offensive part, and improved the Cruelties of War to such vast Destructions of Mankind; even here we find the Voice of Nature to cry against the alarms of War, though it cannot cry them down; and to proclaim an universal Peace, as most agreeable to our Natures, though it cannot establish one. Which plainly shows, that Men must in some measure put off their Natures, before they can engage in War; and become Wolves and Tigers before they can herd into Armies to prey upon one another. And this shows the great Excellency and Desireableness of Peace, to the more civilised part of Mankind especially, who always esteem that to be most excellent and , which is most agreeable to the innocent Principles of uncorrupted Nature.  
'Tis true indeed, since we have lost our Innocency, we have made War necessary; and God allows of it, we find, as a necessary Determination of Right between one Nation and another. But this is no argument for its agreeableness to our Natures, no more than it argues that Physic shan't make the Patiented sick, because he takes it out of necessity for the recovery of his Health.  
'Tis true again, that not only particular Persons, as Nero, Domitian, and others; but likewise whole Nations of People have been naturally addicted to a State of Immanity and War; as the Achaeans and Henioches about the Pontian Sea, who were wont to slaughter one another for Food, as we do beasts; and to serve up their Children as Dainties to be eaten at their Banquets. But to this it may be answered, that the universal Nature of Man ought not to be concluded from a few instances. Shall we say that it is natural for all Mankind not to see, because some few persons are born blind? And besides such a Nature as this is not so much original as acquired; 'tis an improvement made by Education and Custom upon the Stock of corrupted Nature. And sometimes, without doubt, 'tis owing to the just Vengeance of God, who, for their great Abominations, does give over a people to a rebrobate Mind, and to do those things which are not convenient.  
2. What dreadful Calamities do usually attend the drawn Sword. Thucydides discoursing of War, calls it the Idea of all Evil; as if the whole Posse of Evils was then rendevouzed, and followed the Camp in a body. And certainly of all temporal Calamities, there are none greater, none of more general Influence upon the quiet and prosperity of Mankind, than those are which proceed from War. And therefore the Scriptures do represent War to us under the Similitude of such things, as are most dreadful to humane Nature, and most destructive of the whole Composition of this world's Happiness. Thus Jer. 13.24. 'tis compared to a Wind of the Wilderness, scattering and destroying all before it. Jer. 12.12. 'tis said to be Sword devouring from one end of the land to the other. Joel 2.3. 'tis set off by a dreadful Fire running through a land as rich as Eden, and leaving nothing behind it but a desolate Wilderness. And Jer. 4.19. they that live in the times of War, and behold and feel the dreadful Calamites of it, are represented there, as lying under the greatest Consternations and Perplexities imaginable. My Bowels! my Bowels! I am pained at my very heart, my heart maketh a noise in me, I cannot hold my Peace, because thou hast heard, O my Soul, the sound of the Trumpet, the alarm of War.  
And if from these faint Resemblances of Scripture, we proceed to the Thing itself; and consider the various miseries of War in the lamentable Experience of all Men, whether in a private, public, or religious Capacity; we shall want a Mind to conceive, and a Tongue to express even the half of their Dreadfulness.  
First, In a private Capacity. Wherein as God threatens by his Prophet Zephany, 
Zeph. 113.  men's Goods do become a Booty, and their Houses as Desolation; they build Houses and not inhabit them, they plant Vineyards and drink not the Wine thereof. Wherein the tender Infant is snatched from its Mother's Breast, 
Nahum 3.10.  and dashed in Pieces at the top of all the Streets. Wives do become Widows to be made a Prey off, and Children are left Fatherless, to be rob and beg their Bread.  
2. In a public Capacity. And here we may behold the honourable Men of a Nation to be cast lots for, 
Nahum 3 10.  and the great ones to be bound in Chains, and led about in Triumph through the Crowds of insulting Enemies. Here we may behold men of great Trust and Employment in Public Matters, falling to the great Loss and Danger of the Commonwealth; and even Kings themselves dying in Battle, and quenching the light of Israel. For War, as it knows no Laws, so it reuerences no Magistrate; the Higher Power is he that carries the longest Sword; and the Best Man he, that can do the greatest Mischief.  
3. In a Religious Capacity. But alas! what a frightful Scene must we open here? What a world of wickedness and impiety must we bring upon the Stage, to represent the Sufferings of Religion in the time of War? Here Malice and Revenge, Cursing and Swearing, Riot and Debauchery do Reign and Triumph over prostrate Virtue. There false Christ's, and false Prophets do arise, endeavouring to undermine Christianity itself, and, if it were possible, to deceive the very Elect. There again, we may behold either the Doors of the Temple shut against us, or the Temples themselves razed to the ground, or which is worse, made a Stable for Horses; the Treasures of the Temple made a Spoil of, and the Ministers of God mourning, because the meat-offering and drink-offering is cut off from the House of the Lord. I dare but just Name these things to you, for fear I should strike a damp upon the cheerful devotion of this Day, and instead of Raising your Joy, Depress you into Heaviness.  
But why must we represent War in such a Ghastly Visage, to set off the Beauties of Peace? Why must we go into the Heat of the Battle, into the Throng of Calamities that attend upon War, to look for the Excellencies of a peaceable Habitation? Alas! Peace wants no such Foil; she's of a more Divine Complexion, than to acquire any Addition to her Beauty from the Fire and Smoak of Hell. Let War appear as Lovely as 'tis possible for her to do; either in her Morning Dress of a Good Cause, or in the Evening Train of Success and Triumph; yet compared to Peace, she's an horrible Monster; and all Lustre, if she has any, like that which the Moon borrows, is derived from the Glories of a designed and succeeding Peace.  
— Minor est victoria Pace.  
Atque aliquid pejus Pace triumphus habet.  
II. I am to show what an Argument of God's Love and Favour, the Blessing of Peace is to a People. I must confess we ought to be very careful, in ascribing good events at every turn, to the Love and Favour of God. Because, as the wise Man tells us, 
Eccles. 9 1.  No man knoweth either Love or Hatred, by all that is before them. The Love of God is, with our doubt, grounded upon unerring Foundations, and constantly exerts itself in acts of Kindness and Beneficence to Mankind. When once God comes to have any Love for a people, all his Dispensations towards them are good, and arguments of his Love. But then we must consider, that the same deal of Providence may proceed from different Affections in God; and the good things which he affords to some out of Love, he may dispense to others out of Wrath and Hatred. 
Hos. 13.11.  Thus he gives a King sometimes in his Anger, and chastises an Hypocritical Nation under the Triumphs of a proud Assyrian, 
Isa. 10.  who is afterwards to fall into the same Calamities himself.  
But that we may ascribe the good events of Peace to the special Love and Favour of God, will appear to us, if we do but consider, first, what legible Characters of the divine Goodness do appear upon Peace: and secondly, how constantly God did bestow it upon his ancient People the Jews, when at any time, by turning from the evil of their ways, they restored themselves to his Love and Favour.  
1. What legible Characters of the Divine Goodness do appear upon Peace. Now the Characters of Divine Goodness are more or less legible, according as the acts of Divine Providence are more or less Signal. In things of a lower Nature, and such as concern only private and particular persons; the Tokens of Divine Goodness are not near so discernible, as they are in weighty matters, and such as concern whole Bodies and Communities of Men; because 'tis highly becoming of God to adopt his Providence in proportion to the worth and value of the thing 'tis concerned about. And therefore Man being of more worth and value than many Sparrows, he is consequently made by our Saviour to have a more particular providence attending him. Are not ye of more value than many Sparrows? Now Peace being a thing of the highest worth and value that the Providence of God can be concerned about, in that it frees whole Nations from the Calamities of War, and restores to them their Lives and Fortunes, their Liberties and Religion, and all other  Goods, which a State of War is wont to subvert and destroy: therefore, 'tis but reasonable to conclude, that the Providence of God is more especially concerned about Peace; and consequently Men must be Blind, if they don't discover the manifest Tokens of the Divine Goodness upon it, and acknowledge it to be one of the greatest Arguments of God's Love and Favour to a People.  
2. How constantly God did bestow this Blessing upon his ancient people the Jews, when at any time, by turning from the evil of their ways, they restored themselves to his Love and Favour. This is a truth so well known to every one, that 'twill be needless to relate any particulars for the confirmation of it. The whole History of that people being but one continued Series and Narrative of the Divine Dispensations towards them; either in causing the Sword to devour them for their Sins, or in giving them Peace within their Borders upon their sincere Repentance.  
And though God does not govern the World now by such immediate Providences as he did then; neither can we behold such direct Strokes of his hand, in rewarding and blessing a beloved people: yet considering that God still keeps the Government of the world in his own hands, and governs by the same unalterable methods of Wisdom, and Goodness, and Justice to the end of the World. Considering, that as the Goodness of God extends itself to all Creatures in general; so the special Love and Favour of God extends itself to Men and Kingdoms in particular, according as they approach nearer to him in Truth and Holiness; and that this special Love and Favour of God is always exerting itself in the greatest acts of Kindness and Beneficence to Mankind; amongst which, Peace is the greatest, nay the only Blessing he can bestow upon Nations and Kingdoms; it being impossible for a Nation to subsist in any tolerable degree of Happiness, without Peace: considering this, I say, 'tis but reasonable to conclude, That as God did love his ancient people the Jews, when they observed his Statutes and Judgements which he gave them; and did bless and multiply them, and give them Peace, because he loved them: so does he continue to do the same now to all the Nations and Kingdoms of the Earth. And that although his Blessings do come about in a larger Circuit, and after a more abstruse and intricate Manner now to what they did then; sometimes carrying the visible marks of deep humane Counsels and Contrivances, so that we may be apt to think them the works of men's own hands, and sometimes proceeding from a long Train and Series of unforeseen and unexpected Accidents; so that Men may be apt to ascribe them to Fortune or Chance; yet if we believe any thing of a super-intending Providence, we must run all these remarkable Occurrences up to their Fountainhead, and derive them all in their various turn and wind from God their Author. They do all of them proceed from him, who governs the World now by the same Rules of Wisdom, Goodness and Justice, as he ever did, and ever will do; notwithstanding the Executions of his Government are not, neither is it necessary they should be, so immediate and visible now, as they were formerly.  
III. I observe, concerning Peace, how highly conducive it is to the advancement of God's Glory. The Glory of God is properly an Excellence of the Divine Nature, whereby God (as we may express it for the help of our own Apprehensions) does infinitely transcend all created Being's in the vastness of his perfections. The Scriptures, in condescension to our Capacities, do set it forth under the resemblance of a King, with all his Glory and Majesty about him. The Lord is King, 
Ps. 93.1. Ps. 104.1  and hath put on glorious Apparel. Thou art become exceeding glorious, thou art clothed with Majesty and Honour. And because it is not for such Creatures as we are, to appear before the Throne of God, and there to behold him in those vast Effluviums of Glory, which proceed from the immense perfections of his Nature; therefore does God condescend to become visible to us in the remoter works of his hands, and to let us see the backparts of his essential Brightness and Lustre, in some wonderful Works either of Wisdom, or Power, or Goodness, or Justice, or Mercy. Now when we say, that Peace conduces to the advancement of God's Glory; we are not to understand, as if Peace could make any real addition to the infinite Glories of God: for certainly God would have been infinitely Glorious in himself, whether ever he had made this World, or Man, or any thing belonging to them. But that Peace conduces to the setting forth of this Glory to the Observation, Esteem and Admiration of the World. It causes Men to conceive reverend Thoughts of God; to admire and adore the infinite perfections of his Nature; and by all holy ways to set them off in their brightest Lustre to others, that they may observe, admire and adore them too. Peace is a work of that Divine Original, Composure and Establishment; it shows so much of a Divine Wisdom, in contriving a fit way to appease men's outrageous Lusts and Passions, and to satisfy so many different Humours, and Interests, and Religions, which are so furiously carried on in the times of War: it shows so much of a Divine Power, in overruling the deep Counsels and indefatigable Practices of so many different Parties; and causing them all to submit to, and concentre in the alwise Determinations of his Will: it shows so much of a Divine Goodness, in closing up the wide Ruptures of the World, in healing the sad Breaches of War, in delivering whole Nations and Kingdoms from the brink of unavoidable Destruction, and restoring to them their Lives and Liberties, and all other  things; that if men have not cast off all sense of God and a Providence, they mud necessarily break forth into the devoutest Admiration and Love of God, when at any time he is pleased to make Wars to cease, and to bless the world with the return of Peace. They must needs sing Praises to the Honour of his Name, and make his Praise glorious. Thus the holy Psalmist, Give unto the Lord, O ye Mighty, give unto the Lord Glory and Strength, give unto the Lord the Glory due unto his Name, worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness. And for what reason? why, the Lord will give Strength unto his People, the Lord will bless his People with Peace, Psalm 29.1, 2, 11.  
IU. And lastly, I shall now conclude with some Inferences from the whole, and with showing you, after what manner, we of this Nation shall best glorify God, for bestowing this inestimable Blessing of Peace upon us.  
1. From hence we may learn to be suitably affected with the Solemnity of this Day, and to put a very high esteem and value upon the Peace we now commemorate, as the greatest Blessing could possibly come to our Nation. This we lie under a great obligation to do, upon the account of Gratitude to God, the Author of our Peace; who is pleased kindly to accept of so splendid a Compensation for the many wonderful Benefits we are daily receiving from him. But this I shall have occasion to enforce upon you more methodically by and by. At present, I shall only remind you of the sad Miseries of War, together with the blessed Benefits and Effects of Peace, as a sufficient argument to make you prise this happy charge of your condition, and to esteem it as a Blessing, both to yourselves and Children beyond comparison.  
'Tis true, indeed, we have not felt near the Miseries that other Nations have, who were less concerned in the War than we were; and for this reason, 'tis to be feared, we shall be less Sensible of the Peace. We have had no Streams of Blood running down our Streets, nor Flames of Fire clasping about our Houses, nor our Husbands, our Wives, our Children either famished or slain. God be thanked, we have enjoyed a Peace in the midst of War, to what our Neighbour-Nations have done. Our Sons have grown up as the young Plants, and our Daughters have been as the polished Corners of the Temple; our Garners have been full and plenteous with all manner of Store, and our Sheep have brought forth Thousands and ten Thousands in our Streets. We have had the free exercise both of our Religion and Laws, Piety and Virtue, Learning and good Manners, Commerce and Trade; and all other things tending to the Good and Honour of a Nation, have in some measure, God be thanked, flourished amongst us. But what? Shall we despise the Blessing because it comes so Cheap? Shall we grow sick of it, because it puts us to no more Pain? This is such an odd fort of an humour, that one would think Men should never be guilty of it. So long as the Physic cures, what matter is it how insensibly it works? And so long as we enjoy Peace, let us be contented to have felt no more of the War. Peace is highly valuable, whether we compare it with War or no; and it ought with all reasonable people to be esteemed a Blessing at the end of a foreign and less calamitous War, as well as if our own Nation had been the bloody Stage of its Slaughters, and we ourselves the greatest Sufferers imaginable under the Calamities of it. Nay, I know not but the Blessing may be the greater; for now I am sure, we have fewer Damages to repair, less Miseries to bewail, more Comforts and Conveniencies left us to enjoy, and consequently are the better qualified to derive a larger share of happiness from the Influences of Peace. And to this give me leave to add, that God knows how soon our condition might have altered for the worse if the War had continued much longer. Our Enemies, you know, were come to their last push, and that proves oftentimes very dangerous. They might have given us one sparring Blow at their going off, which might have been of ill consequence, and have proved very fatal to the quiet of our Nation. And though we should have had but little reason to suspect this, having so wise and brave a Prince to fight our Battles for us; yet considering that humane Strength and Policy are not always infallible, and that the greatest Conduct of Princes, is oftentimes providentially disappointed, because their Subjects are unworthy of the benefits of it: We could have had no assurance that it should not be so with us; but our condition, for aught any thing we know, might have altered much for the worse, and our Nation in a very short time, have been made the seat of the most barbarous Treatments since the beginning of the War.  
In God's Name therefore, let us act like reasonable Creatures, and prise the Blessing which the whole World is glad to enjoy. Let us think and speak of it, as if we had a concern for our Country's good; as if our Religion, our Laws, our Liberties, our Properties were dear and tender to us; and we highly pleased to see them delivered from the merciless Storms of War, and brought into the calm and secure Port of an honourable, and as we trust, lasting Peace.  
2. From hence we may be able to look back upon our former Days of Fasting and Humiliation, and those repeated Prayers we put up to God, for Deliverance from our Enemies; and now give some comfortable account of them, both to ourselves and others, of their being accepted and heard. Our Enemies now will have no occasion to reproach us, saying, Where is their God? 
Psalm 79.10.  Neither shall we ourselves any more conceive such hard thoughts of God, as to expostulate with him. 
Isa. 58.3  Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our Soul, and thou takest no knowledge? For now we lie under a comfortable Assurance, that he that is our God, is a God of Salvation. 
Psalm 68.20.  Now we perceive the blessed fruits and benefits of putting our Trust in the Lord, amidst all our vast Preparations, our deep Counsels, our indefatigable Endeavours in carrying on the War, and making our Enemies yield to our own Terms and Conditions of Peace. Now we find what it is to have waited patiently for the Lord, and to have tarried his time for the Accomplishment of his Mercies towards us: For having waited, we are not ashamed; and having patiently endured, we have obtained the Promise. Now we trust, that Mercy and Truth are met together, and that Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other.  
3. Having tasted and seen that the Lord is good; let us resolve from henceforth to put our full trust and confidence in him; and believe, that with this great Blessing of Peace, he will bestow upon us whatever may contribute to a lasting and happy enjoyment of it. This is St. Paul's argument with respect to God's great Love in redeeming Mankind by the death of his Son. He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? i.e. give us all things necessary and convenient for the Completion of so great a Blessing. And (to use the same argument) since God has been pleased freely to bestow upon us so great a Blessing as Peace, let us firmly depend upon him for the Accommodation of all subservient Mercies, let us trust that he will bless the King with a long Life, as the Guardian-Angel of the Peace he has given us; and cause him to be as sweet a nursing Father in Peace, as he was our gallant Champion in War; that now having given repose to Europe by checking the Progress of so powerful an Enemy abroad; he will secure England's Peace, by turning his Arms against the insulting Foe at home; I mean Vice and Profaneness, Heresies and Schisms, which, so long as suffered amongst us, will continually keep up a War in our Bowels, and make us the greater Sufferers by the Peace we have got. Let us trust that he will direct our Counsels, and bless our Undertake, and make us all obedient to Government, and loving one to another; that so our Peace may be a Blessing indeed, and the Effects of it, an universal Happiness both to Church and State for many Generations.  
4. From hence we may perceive, what strong Obligations we lie under, to praise and glorify the great God of Heaven and Earth, who, in great Mercy hath delivered us from the Calamities of War, and given us the inestimable Blessing of Peace within our Borders. There is so much of the Perfections of God shining forth in the works of Peace, especially such transcendent Rays of his Goodness, the very Flower and Beauty of all his Excellence; that we must not only be guilty of the greatest Blindness, in not observing such manifest discoveries of the divine Attributes in general; but likewise of the deepest Ingratitude, in suffering such an Ooean of the Divine Goodness to run out upon our Score, without meeting with a suitable return of Glory and Praise from us. Now it we would make some grateful return to God, for the signal Deliverances we this Day commemorate, and glorify his Perfections as we ought to do, for bestowing this Peace upon us:  
We must in the first place, under a due sense and esteem of all God's Favours towards us; more especially of this last signal display of his Goodness in blessing us with Peace; we must send up our sincere Acknowledgements to Heaven, and humbly thank God, the Author of our Life and Happiness, for this, and all other his Favours towards us, since the beginning of the War. This is absolutely necessary, in order to the setting forth of God's Glory upon all occasions of his Goodness towards us; we must do it with a thankful Heart, otherwise we shall never glorify him aright. And therefore, Rev. 7.12. we find Thanksgiving and Honour to God joined together. And Rom. 1. 2●. St. Paul gives a very good reason why the Gnostics did not glorify God as God; they were not thankful. And accordingly we find it to have been the constant practice of holy Men of old, especially of that unimitable Pattern of Gratitude, and most devout Admirer and Publisher of the Divine Goodness, the Royal Prophet David; to celebrate God's Honour and Glory for his loving Kindness towards them, with the utmost Thankfulness their inflamed Hearts were capable of sending forth. Thus Psalm 107.21, 22. O that Men would praise the Lord for his Goodness, and for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men! and let them sacrifice the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and declare his Works with rejoicing. And Psal. 60.30. I will praise the Name of God with a Song, and will magnify him with Thanksgiving; and in the following Verse he gives a very good reason for it; This also shall please the Lord better than an Ox or Bullock that hath horns and hoofs. This cheap return of Thankfulness to God for Peace, will please him better than all our sumptuous and chargeable expressions of Joy. 'Twill reach the Heavens sooner than our loudest Acclamations; and be more acceptable to God than our richest Banquets. For will God eat the Flesh of Bulls, or drink the Blood of Goats? No, offer unto God Thanksgiving, for whoso offereth Praise, he 'tis that glorifieth him.  
And then because God usually works by a train of dependent means, and brings a people out of Misery by degrees, and by a constant Succession of many Favours and Mercies, which, like a Chain, hold altogether, and at length terminate in a general Happiness. Therefore in our thankful returns to God for this great Blessing of Peace, a Blessing which we have all along prayed for, and do now receive, as the very Crown and Perfection of all our worldly Happiness; we should make very sensible Reflections upon, and be sincerely thankful for all those Deliverances and Successes which we have met with since the beginning of the War; as tending all of them in their own Nature, and by the kind Influences of Heaven, to produce this grand Happiness of all, viz. Peace. O now we are got into the Land of Canaan! let us not be so stupid as to forget our Redemption out of Egypt. Let us still remember God's wonders of old, though we cannot forbear being transported with his present Mercies. Let us still remember the House of Bondage; the Hand whereby, and the Day whereon we were delivered out of it.  
Let us still remember the many kind Stages of Providence, whereby we safely passed from Danger to Danger; from one hazardous Enterprise to another with Success and Victory; till now at length we are arrived at our secure Port of Peace and Happiness: and let us under a due sense of all this, as a gracious method of Heaven in bringing to pass this glorious work of Peace; let us add mightily to the Thanks of this Day, and accumulate our Praise offerings to God, for such a constant Succession of Mercies towards us since the beginning of the War.  
And this let us do, not only for a day or two, but for a considerable time to come; nay, for our whole lives, if it be possible, because such signal Mercies do require a considerable space of time wherein gratefully to commemorate them; and because we may reasonably believe, that we shall enjoy the benefits of this Peace as long as we live. While we live, therefore let us Praise the Lord, and while we have any being, let us sing Praises to our God.  
Secondly, we must glorify God in declaring his Goodness to others; that so we may stir them up to an admiration of the great God, and cause, if it were possible, the whole world to join together in adoring the infinite Perfections of his Nature. This is one great reason, why God does oftentimes so visibly interpose his hand in humane affairs, viz. that men may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the holy one of Israel hath created it. By the exercise of his Wisdom, and Power, and Goodness in the affairs of the World, God would bring men to an acknowledgement of his Authority, to an obedience of his Laws, to a belief of his Word, to a dependence on and resignation to him, in all the circumstances of Life, and therefore it should be the great concern of all men, as they tender the Glory of God in the sincere practice of Religion, to declare and make known his signal Providences through the World, and to endeavour in all sincerity and gentleness to bring men over to a sight and acknowledgement of them, that so they may say, Verily there is a reward for the Righteous, verily there is a God that judgeth the Earth.  
Thirdly, we must glorify God in our duty to the King. It redounds to the Glory of God, for Caesar to have the things which are Caesar's, as well as for God to have the things which are God's. For there is nothing wherein God does more plainly discover his infinite Perfections, than in the establishment of Government upon Earth, and ordaining Kings to rule over us. Here his Wisdom, his Justice, his Power, his Goodness do all of them appear in a most conspicuous manner; and for men not to acknowledge their power, not to be obedient to their Laws, not to pay them them their Tributes, not to speak reverently of them, not to honour them as God's Vicegerents upon Earth, is, I am sure, to cast dirt in God's face, and instead of honouring him, to affront him in the highest degree imaginable.  
And now more especially we have great reason to be very fruitful in all the Branches of our duty to the King; for now after a great many Fatigues and dangers which he voluntarily exposed himself to for our sakes; he is returned home with the Olive-branch of Peace in his mouth, and will make us, if we are not wanting to ourselves, a flourishing and happy people. 'Tis to his Goodness and Love, to his Wisdom and Care, to his Courage and Conduct under God, that we own our Preservation and Peace; and therefore to him, next to God, let us ascribe all due Thanks and Honour, all just Admiration and Praise, all sincere Love and Obedience, as the seasonable instrument of all our Happiness. Let him now live in Peace, since he has made it himself, and not find it a harder thing to get the Hearts of his Subjects, than the Necks of his Enemies.  
Fourthly, We must glorify God in the amendment of our Lives. And here 'tis, that we shall glorify God indeed; this is the greatest Glory we can possibly give to God, and that which he expects from us as a most reasonable service at all times; but more especially when he has been pleased to confer any signal benefits upon us. He hath showed thee Woman such things as he good: He hath delivered thee from great Evils, and established thee in a happy condition; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love Mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. Let the light, therefore, so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Haling your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of Visitation.  
Fifthly, more particularly let me recommend to you mutual Love and Affection one towards another, and that to your Godliness in general, you would add Brotherly Kindness in particular. This I am sure the Apostle looks upon as very instrumental towards the promoting of God's Glory. Now the God of Patience and Consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another; and for what reason? but that they might with one mind and one month glorify the Father of our Lord Jesus Chrst. As it conduces to the Honour of a Master, to have his Family in good order; and to the Honour of a King, to keep his Subjects in Quietness and Peace; so it highly conduces to the Honour of the great God, when his Creatures live in a mutual Love and Esteem of each other. They do thereby signify their obedience to his Laws, and copy out that great original, who is Love itself, and whose tender Mercies are over all his works. Let us then, in the Name of God, lay aside all Disputes and Differences, all Rancour, and Malice, and Revenge, and live in the sincere Love and Friendship of one another. Now we have Peace, let us live in Peace; now we have Peace from our Enemies, let us not be so foolish as to throw up the Ball among ourselves; never let it be said, that we have brought the War Home. And let me beseech you to lay the Axe to the Root of the Tree, I mean of this pernicious Tree of Animosities and Dissensions, which does oftentimes spread itself so impiously large, as to lash, not only the King and Government, but Religion itself, and God the Author of it. The Root is little private Whisper, and Resentments, and Grugdes, and Misunderstandings of one another, in things of small moment and value; which in time do advance to that height, as contumeliously to disgorge themselves upon a Man's King, and his God too. I am verily persuaded, that most of our differences in Church and State, are in a great measure owing to these little Misunderstandings and Resentments in our private Conversation: and therefore, as we tender the Glory of God in the Unity of the Church, and the good of Government in the Honour of the King; let us now lay them all aside, and expel them our Neighbourhood for ever. And if we must keep up Contentions amongst us, let our only Contentions be, who shall forgive first, and love best; let our only Contentions be, who shall most devoutly serve God, who shall most entirely affect his King, who shall most vigorously promote the Public Good: And then we may expect that God will bless us, and suffer us to enjoy the Peace which he has given us, and which, he sees, we are so careful to keep and preserve.  
Sixthly and Lastly, We must glorify God in our Charity to the Poor. He that giveth Alms, sacrificeth Praise. To do good, and to communicate forget not, for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased.  
Now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, Three Persons, but one God of Love and Peace, be ascribed all Glory, Honour, Might, Majesty, and Dominion, both now and for ever. Amen.  
FINIS.