Clayton, Mayor. CVria special. tent. die Dominico, quarto Die Julij, 1680. Regni Annoque Regis Caroli Secundi, Angliae, etc. XXXII. THis Court doth desire Mr. Shelton to Print his Sermon, lately Preached at the Guild-Hall Chappel, before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of this City. Wagstaffe. Divine Providence. THE SUPPORT OF GOOD MEN Under all EVENTS. A SERMON Preached before the Lord Mayor, etc. At Guild-Hall Chappel, June 20th. 1680. By William Shelton, Rector of St. James Colchester. LONDON, Printed for Nathaniel Ranew at the King's Arms, and Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lion, in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1680. TO THE Right Honourable, Sr. ROBERT CLAYTON Lord Mayor, And to the Right Worshipful the ALDERMEN and SHERIFFS OF THE CITY of LONDON. Right Honourable and Right Worshipful, THe Doctrine of Providence has divers Adversaries: Not only such as Atheistically disbelieve it, but such also as perversely infer from it; so do they who from present Success argue to the Merits of their Cause, and justify their Villainies in the Name of God. If to grate upon former times were a pleasing Argument, or such as might serve any good End, I could have made this a part of my Discourse: But having contented myself to give an hint, that the Providence of God is no Justification of wicked Erterprises, I chose these Words for another purpose. Instead of disputing a Controversy (of which these Times are full) I thought it as seasonable to put men in mind of a Truth, which we all acknowledge, but it has not a sufficient Influence upon our Lives. If it be too hard to call them Adversaries to this Doctrine, yet it must be owned that they disparage Providence, that they have low and dishonourable thoughts of God's governing the World, who cannot infer from his Wisdom and Goodness and Power, that it is safe and happy to trust in him. That which is said to this End in the following Sermon, was by your Lordship and the Aldermen then present, received with such candour and good acceptance, that you have thought fit to command it to be made Public. To which I consent more as a Testimony of my Obedience, than an Instance of my Choice. I have not so great an Opinion of it, as to think, it deserves better than many others which are not Printed. Yet I know it was preached with an honest Design, And I know there is need that men should be awakened to a sense of their dependence on God; And if any honest man finds himself brought to a better temper of mind by reading this Sermon; If it give occasion to any man, to resolve by the Grace of God to live better, that he may not make God his Enemy; and if it shall then encourage him to trust in God whatever befalls him; I will thank God, who put these thoughts into my mind, and I will thank your Lordship and your Brethren, for being Instruments thus to reform any wan's life, or to satisfy his mind. I am, Right Honourable and Right Worshipful, Your most Humble and Faithful Servant, W. SHELTON. Colchester, July 8th. 1680. DIVINE PROVIDENCE, THE SUPPORT OF GOOD MEN UNDER ALL EVENTS. A Sermon preached before the right Honourable the Lord Major, etc. on June 20th. 1680. PSALM 97. 1. The Lord Reigneth, let the Earth Rejoice. THey who deny that the Providence of God is concerned in humane Affairs, as they may well be thought to deny the being of God, because the very notion of a Deity infinite in knowledge and Almighty in Power, supposes it no difficult task for him to govern the World who first made it; so do they undermine and destroy the principal support of a good man's Confidence. For where shall the weary mind of man repose itself, amidst the surprising Accidents, and afflicting disappointments of this life? Is the World a Lottery? and do things come to pass by chance? What a poor content then do our present Enjoyments administer to us, and where is our security for the time to come? To what purpose Antonynus. do I live in a world void of God, and void of Providence? But there is a God, and he doth take care of human Affairs. This was the satisfaction of the Heathen Emperor; The Lord Reigns, let the Earth rejoice. So here the Divine Psalmist. An Inference which a Religious man may at all times make, but he never more needs it than in an unquiet and unsettled state of things. The Doctrine is great, and the Inference is good. The Lord Reigns, the most high rules over all the Kingdoms of me. Nothing escapes his Knowledge. Nothing controls his Power: All things are managed by incomprehensible Wisdom, and infinite Goodness. And here we sit down and rest ourselves. When we have prayed (as we do in the Collect of this day) that God would keep us under the protection of his good Providence; with a Peace that passes Uall nderstanding, with an inward satisfaction of mind and a deep joy, among the manifold changes and hazards of this mortal life, we commit ourselves, and all our concerns to the governance of God, and give him thanks that he will please to undertake the care of us. A Consideration of so great Importance, that I willingly wave all farther preface, and take no notice of the rest of the Psalm, nor inquire whether these words may bear another sense in reference to Christ's Kingdom, but apply myself to discourse on this Argument. It is a great satisfaction to a good man, that the Providence of God governs the World. In which I distinctly consider. 1. The Lord Reigns. The Providence of God governs the World. 2. This is a great satisfaction to the mind of man. 3. But, He must be a good and religious man that may with reason actually rejoice in this Assurance of God's Providence. In all which I have not the Vanity to pretend that I can crowd into an hours discourse, all that might pertinently be said in this matter. But though out of respect to the time, and your patience, I must of necessity omit many things, that might here have a proper place, yet according to my poor ability, I will endeavour to say nothing that may be Impertinent. 1. The Lord Reigns. God guides and governs the World, all the Creatures in it, all the Affairs of it, especially those of mankind. By the right of Creation he has Authority over us, and he exercises that Authority in making Laws for us. To us Christians he has given his Holy Word, which is the Law of our Creation, and of our Redemption too. But to all men he has given a Law written in their Hearts, Rom. 2. a Conscience of good and evil. But because Authority separate from Power is insignificant; therefore▪ that is also visible, in rewarding those Hebr. 11. that diligently seek him, and punishing the Refractory and disobedient; which Rewards and Punishments, if to humane sense they sometimes seem unequally distributed; yet is this no sufficient exception against the Doctrine of Providence; as will appear in the sequel of this Discourse, when I have first given a fuller declaration of this thing. The Providence of God governs the world, and extends itself to all Times, and Places, and Persons upon the face of the Earth. Interposes in all Events, has the Supremacy in all Affairs, so that nothing upon any pretence is remote or exempt from his Jurisdiction. For, 1. There is nothing so high or great as to be above the reach, and out of the power of Almighty God. 2. Nothing is so mean, and low, and inconsiderable, as to be unworthy the Care of an Universal Father. 3. Nothing so secret, intricate, or perplexed; as to puzzle Infinite Wisdom. 1. The King of Kings Reigns over all: He is King of all the Earth, Emperors, and Kings, and Popes, Powers Civil and Ecclesiastical, have no Authority but what they derive from God; and if they usurp any other power, it is at least by his permission. We read of one that Opposes and Exalts himself above all that is called God, 2 Thess. 2. whether it be not the same who undertakes to dispense with and against Divine Laws, let they look to it that are concerned in the Usurpation. There have not been many greater than Nabuchadnezzar, nor that have arrogated more; but it pleased God to humble him, and to teach him to know, and to keep his distance: When his Understanding (which he had forfeited by his pride) returned to him, he knew that the Most High ruled in the Kingdoms of Men. He Dan. 4. acknowledged, that His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion, and his Kingdom from Generation to Generation: That, All the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing, that he does according to his Will in the Army of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, and none may stay his hand, or say unto him, what dost thou? 2. There is nothing so mean, and low, and inconsiderable, as to be unworthy of God's Care: He who numbers the hairs of our heads, who regards the falling St. Math. 10. of a Sparrow, who owns the Caterpillar and Locusts to be of his great Army; who made the smallest Creatures, and foresees the least Events; Joel 2. why should it be difficult to believe, that all these little things are within the guidance, and subject to the disposals of God's Providence. It is some what surprising, to find so grave an Author as Plutarch (who elsewhere De s●râ Numin. vindictâ, endeavours to reconcile the Providence of God, with the flow punishments of wicked men) De placit. Philosoph. should reprove Plato and Anaxagoras, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ As if he thought it below the Majesty of God, to condescend to humane affairs. But I am amazed to observe so learned a man as Jerome, who understood the Christian Religion so well, should think it absurd, Ad hoc deducere Dei Majestatem, ut sciat Commentar. in Habak. Cap. 1. per momenta singula quot nascantur culices quotve moriantur; the light of Nature did teach some Heathens better Divinity: From the exquisite Curiosities of the Industrious Bee, Virgil infers, — Deum namque ire per omnes Terrasque, tractusque Maris, Coelumque profundum. Georg. lib. 4. But I offer no other conviction in this thing, than this Observation; I hat great and signal Events do many times depend on small matters: Anacreon is choked with a Grape stone, and Pope Adrian the Fourth with a Fly; Absalon is hanged in his own hair; so small a thing as the want of a Night's sleep, is a means to preserve Mordecai's Life, and by consequence, to ruin Haman, and save a whole Nation. The over-Officiousness of Caesar Borgia's Butler, poisoned his Father, Pope Alexander the Sixth, and Onupher. Vit. Alex. 6. thereby broke all the designs of Borgia. In the course of Providence, all that concurs is not alike visible, nor at first considerable: Great weights may hang on small wires, we may be superstitious in observing every little Occurrence, as if it were ominous and presaging; we may also be too regardless of smaller Events; sure it is they are not altogether neglected of God: Within his wise disposal of all things, is comprehended his Governing those Events, which at first are as hardly discerned and as little regarded, as the Cloud about the bigness of a man's Hand; but as that overspread the whole Heavens, so sometimes are little Accidents the first steps and advances to greater matters. 3. Nothing is so secret or far removed from ordinary Observation, as to preserve itself from the knowledge and Control of God: The Empire of the great God extends farther than any power of men can; our secret thoughts and most inward motions of our minds, all these are naked and open to the eye of God; and he Prov. 21. in whose hand are the hearts of Kings, to turn whithersoever he will, is not a Stranger to what is secretly agitated in other men's Breasts. Thought is free we say; to humane Cognizance it is so, if by our own indiscretions we do not betray ourselves; but he that made the heart, and that will call us to account for every secret thing, he has a perfect knowledge of, and an undoubted Authority over all that is transacted within our own mind. Again, The Providence of God extends to secret things as well as open, to all those Mysteries of Iniquity that are plotted and contrived in Hell and Darkness: When we hear of Plots and Conspiracies, we are solicitous lest their depth should be unfathomable, and therefore lest the destruction they contrive should be unavoidable. But, There is no darkness nor shadow Job 34. of death, where the workers of Iniquity may hid themselves. He that cast the Devils into Hell, confines and rules them there; or if he suffer them sometimes to range the world▪ and inspirit men to designs devilish and hellish, i. e. full of subtlety and full of mischief; yet shall they make no farther progress than God will give them leave: He can check them when he pleases, he can discover the deeds of darkness, and disappoint the devices of the Crafty; He that sits in the Heavens, can laugh all the Devils in Hell to scorn. Against what has been hitherto said, if any prejudice arise, I conceive there is none greater than these three. If the Providence of God govern the world, than 1. Why does he permit sin, which he so much hates? Or, 2. If he think fit to permit it, why does he not punish it? And 3. Why are holy and Religious men so unregarded? 1. Why does a pure and holy God permit sin, which is so infinitely displeasing to him? I might answer, First, If there were no God, there would be no Devil, there could be no Sin: Sin is a transgression St. Joh. 1. ●. of the Law; if God did not Rule the World, if he have not exercised his Authority in giving Laws for the governing men's actions, Rom. 4. then, where no Law is, there is no Transgression; so that this Objection overthrows itself. The very being of Sin in the world, supposes Providence: but I add to that answer; God has done so much to prevent Sin, and to overrule it, and will do so much in the punishing of it, that this can be no reasonable Objection against Providence. 1. In order to the prevention of Sin, God has declared his pleasure in Commanding the contrary; he has offered the assistance of his Holy Spirit, that Sin may not have Dominion over us. He withholds no help or aid that he is bound to give, but if, in the offering or bestowing this Assistance, he think not fit to do violence to the nature of a reasonable Creature, it ought not to be wondered at. He forbids sin, and makes known the danger of it, and earnestly solicits men to turn from their evil ways: Why will ye die, O House of Israel? But if men will abuse their own liberty, this is enough to vindicate the Providence of God toward those that remain wicked; he deals with them as with reasonable Creatures: Men are wanting to themselves, God is not wanting to them. 2. As God has done much to prevent Sin, so does he likewise overrule it. He restrains it and makes it serve his own Glory; so succeeded the Envy of Joseph's Brethren, and the malice of the Jews to our blessed Saviour: And in many other cases God has brought good out of evil, and thereby declared that his Providence governs the world. Especially when, 3. It is considered, that God will punish the sin he so much hates: But this is of itself another Objection. 2. If God govern the world, why does Providence seem so lame and unconcerned; when men dare the Justice of God and defy Heaven, and grow enormously wicked? Yet The wicked live, become old, and are mighty in power: Their Houses are safe from fear, neither is the Rod Job 21. of God upon them. I answer as followeth. 1. Who can tell that the Vengeance of God does not often overtake wicked men, when to outward appearance they brave & hector, and live as if nothing disturbed them? There are secret throbing of Conscience, which men strive to preserve from outward notice, and so long as those inward Horrors do not approach very near despair, they may be undiscerned. But the Heart knows its own bitterness; the mind of man doth severely lash itself. And from hence may it rationally be argued to the conviction of those that quarrel at Providence. Juven. Satyr. 13. — Cur tamen hos tu Evasisse putes, quos diri conscia facti Mens habet attonitos, & surdo verbere caedit, Occultum quatiente animo tortore flagellum. Do you think wicked men escape the vengeance of God? No; the Viper gnaws and torments within. Dreadful are the Agonies. Bitter is the distress and anguish that men feel in their own minds. Or, if this do not always happen, yet for aught a by-stander knows it may happen, and even then, when men outwardly ruffle and seem to sin without fear. But, 2. is our Eye evil because God is good? What if the long-suffering of God wait upon men, that his goodness may lead them to Repentance, this must not be accounted an Imputation upon Providence? 3. God has it in his power to animadvert when he pleases: And therefore no wonder if he delay that execution, which he can hasten at his own pleasure. For, 4. Punishment shall come, and the longer it is deferred, the more dreadful it shall at last be. Sometimes Providence justifies itself, and meets with men in this world; by many strange discoveries of Treasons, and Murders and Robberies, and other licentious practices, God has honoured the Justice of his Administrations, or if he sometimes delay, Yet 5. The revelation of the Righteous Judgement of Rom. 2. God, at the last and great day, will give all men satisfaction, that the righteous God is not now an Idle, and unconcerned spectator of the wickedness of men: for than he will reward every man according to his deeds. 3 There remains but one thing more to be argued in this matter. Why does a gracious and good God, so little regard holy men in the midst of those tribulations they suffer in this World? A common objection, and some have boldly expressed it. When Lucan finds Pompey, whom he thought the better man, and to have the juster cause, ruined by Caesar, how does he exclaim and blaspheme? Lucan. Lib, 7. —— Sunt nobis nulla profectò Numina, cum caeco rapiantur saecula cursu Mentimur regnare Jovem.— So Atheistical men may talk: but holy men notwithstanding all they suffer in this world, are not dissatisfied in their Religion. Though God slay them yet they will trust in him. And by Job. 13. their casting all their care upon him, it appears they 1 S. Pet. 5. believe he takes care of them. If we consider farther, that no man suffers more than he deserves; that it is good for men to be afflicted. If Psal. 119. we can believe that the promises, which suppose that holy men may be afflicted, shall be fulfilled to them: God will never leave them nor Hebr. 13. Psal. 46. Rom. 5. forsake them. He will be a present help in trouble, and will work all things for good. And if we can rise up to St. Paul's confidence about the happy issue of our present sorrows. That our light Affliction which is but for a moment, shall work 2. Cor. 4. for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory; I say if we can believe these things, than neither is this any sufficient prejudice against Providence. I may conclude then the first part of my undertaking. The Lord Reigns; the Providence of God governs the World. 2 This is a great satisfaction to the mind of man; The Lord Reigns, let the Earth rejoice. We meet with enough in this world to make it a vale of Tears. Sometimes we foresee a storm, sometimes we sail in the midst of Rocks, and are just ready to strike upon the Sands. Few are so over-happy, as not to be often engaged in considerable difficulties: but we may always Hebr. 6. ride at Anchor; such is our hope in God, an Anchor sure and steadfast. Yea we may weather out the Storm, for if we can trust our Pilot he will never fail us. Under all our sorrows and fears, it is an unspeakable satisfaction, to commit ourselves to the never failing guidance of the good Providence of God. And of this I say three things. 1 Those things of which we are ignorant are known to a wise God. 2 Those things which are against our wills, which we apprehend evil for us, are guided and ordered by the will of a good God. 3 Those things which are out of our power, are within the Power of Almighty God. 1▪ Our Ignorance is one great cause of our solicitude and dissatisfaction: What would some men give certainly to foreknow their own fortune. Alas! In many cases our Ignorance is a great advantage to us. Horat. Carm. lib. 3. Prudens, futuri temporis Exitum Caliginosâ nocte premit Deus. God does wisely and mercifully conceal some things, a foreknowledge of which would add to our sorrow. But take the case as it is, we are utterly uncertain about the time to come: But how will this consideration calm those troubled thoughts, that upon this account arise within us? The wise God knows what shall befall us, tho' we do'ned. Great are the anxieties upon the minds of men in the present posture of Affairs. But now try we if this will not relieve us: What time I Psal. 56. am afraid, I will trust in thee. Thou, O Lord, Job. 5. art able to take the wise in their own craftiness. In Psal. 31. thee O Lord have I put my trust, let me never be confounded. Is not this now an ease to our minds? A wise God governs the World, He knows what shall come to pass; and why.: It is not blind chance, but infinite wisdom that superintends and governs all things. If men go down to Hell God is there. The most probable contrivances of desperate Ahitophel's, whose Counsel among men is received as the Oracle of God, may yet be turned into foolishness 2. Sam. 17. and end in their own confusion; and in a rage impatient to see their Plots miscarry, they may save the labour of public Justice and hang themselves. The subtlest platform of Policy of the most Atheistical Machiavels, may be as unfortunate as that of his wretched Duke Valentine, and may prove abortive from some unforeseen accident, to which they themselves may yet contribute. The mysterious Intrigues of the most villainous Jesuits (or if there be any other name among men, that signifies greater Apostasy from Faith and Truth, and closer confederacy with Hell,) that were ever hatched in the most inward Recesses of the depth of Darkness; these all are but like Spider's Webs, thin and transparent, and as easily swept down when Infinite Wisdom shall think fit to make use of Almighty Power. This then is our Comfort and our Joy, when they who are too cunning for us, have advantages upon us, he who is wiser than the wisest takes care of us. Yea moreover when we are disappointed in our expectations, this may satisfy us. It is with us as it pleases the alwise God. Peradventure we are mistaken in our own business, and may passionately desire what may be to our loss. However, shall we have less Religion than the Heathen? shall it be harder for us to resign our wills and wisdoms to God? Juve●▪ Sat. 10. Permits ipsis expendere Numinibus quid Conveniat nobis, rebusque sit utile nostris: It may come to pass, that our very Errors may be happy for us; as was St. Austin's being Posidonius de vitâ August. led out of his way by the error of his Guide, and thereby he was preserved from the fury of the Circumcellion's that waylaid him. Whatever befalls us, God is wiser than we, he who knows all things, best knows what is fit and convenient for us. 2. That which is against our wills, which we apprehend evil for us, is guided by the will of a good God, and this is marvellously to our satisfaction. Now we may rejoice in tribulation, because the hand of a good God is still upon us, and he will work even this for good; the Life of Dr. Hammond. Incomparable Dr. Hammond's word, Even this for good. When our affairs succeed not according to our expectation, shall we quarrel at Providence, and disquiet ourselves, and add to our own Afflictions by the fretfulness and impatience of our minds? No, say we every one to ourselves, why should I entertain any suspicion, that a merciful God who has made so many gracious promises, which my dear Saviour died to confirm, will be wanting to me? No, never let me distrust that God whom I have so much reason to love. Wisdom and goodness join together in the dispose of all that befalls me, therefore will I rejoice in the Lord, Habak. 3. and joy in the God of my Salvation. 3. Those things that are out of our power, are within the Power of Almighty God: We are troubled upon many accounts, and can't help ourselves, and because we can't help ourselves we are troubled; but he that governs us and our affairs, can do all things by the word of his power: When we come into Jehoshaphats case, then are we to behave ourselves as he did.; Neither know we what to do, but our Eyes are 2 Chron. 20. upon thee: The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it Isa. 59 cannot save. Nothing is too hard for him to do, God Almighty has undertaken our protection; wherefore when we consider these in conjunction, the wisdom, and goodness, and power of God, are sufficient reasons for our satisfaction and joy. And if we extend these latter Considerations as well as the former, beyond our private Concerns, and suffer our thoughts to travel the world; we shall indeed find that the follies and passions and interests of men bear great sway here below, and in a great measure turn the world upside down. Restless Ambition, insatiable Envy, greedy Covetousness, and Implacable Revenge, have often disturbed the peace and quiet of Mankind; yet sure we are, God has not let lose these Furies, and discharged them of his super-intendence, nor privileged them from his Control. We shall too curiously pry into the Arcana Imperii, if we will not be satisfied, till we can always render a reason why things are thus or so: The Judgements of God are often unsearchable, and his ways past finding out; but an humble Soul can trust itself and the whole world with God, can believe that all things are well and wisely ordered, is secure that the alwise God can commit no errors, that a good God cannot be chargeable with any maladministrations; and that God Almighty does not suffer things to run at random, because of any impotency to mend what is amiss: It would be uncomfortable living in the world, if all things were left to the arbitrement of mere men, who at best are too weak to bear so great a burden, and often are so corrupt, that Maximilians Exclamation may suit other times as well as his own, when he was Emperor, and Julius 2d. Pope. Deus Aeterne! nisi tu vigilares quam malè effet Morn. Histor. Papatus. mundo, quem regimus nos, ego miser venator & ebriosus ille & sceleratus Julius. But God retains his Supremacy over all the Kingdoms and Nations of the Earth, he does never sleep nor intermit his care; it shall not be entirely as men please: He that stills the raging of the Sea, restrains the madness of People. A great part of mankind know not of what manner of Spirit they are, and how much mischief they should do, if they had power to fulfil their own wills. But when it pleases God to put an hook into the Nose of the Leviathan, Rabshekah's swelling words shall be but impotent Rage. Haman shall build a Gallows for himself, No weapon formed against God shall prosper; Isa. 54. it shall not be as man pleases, but as it pleases God: No man indeed should be unconcerned, when either Sin or Judgement for Sin rages in the world; but still keep we within our own bounds of Patience, and Faith, and Prayer; endeavour we all to mend ourselves, and then, whatever happens, rest it not all on second causes. The overruling of God's Providence, is no manner of excuse for wicked enterprises; but if by a faithful discharge of our duty, if in Religion to God, in Loyalty to the King, in Peace, and Gentleness, and Brotherly Love one to another, we do what in us lies, that the state of things shall not grow worse by any default of ours; if others take not the ●ame care, though they shall find no extenuation of their faults, nor mitigation of their punishment from this Doctrine of Providence; yet we shall gain a world of case and satisfaction from it: It is not for us to know Times and Seasons which the Acts 1. Father has put in his own power; we would fain hope well, that God will never forsake those that seek him: But whatever we may live to see or feel, We commit ourselves and all our private Interests, we commit the Peace and Prosperity of the whole Nation, we commit our King, our Church, our Religion, all that is dear to us to a wise and good God: We will cease to govern the world, but commit it to him whose right it is; neither the indiscretions nor the extravagant passions of men shall overrule; nor Men nor Devils, but the Providence of God is the Supreme Arbitrator: This is our satisfaction, a joy that no man takes from us, The Lord reigns therefore does the Earth rejoice. May I exercise your Patience but a little longer, till I have finished the third part of my Discourse. 3. He must be a good man that may, with reason, actually rejoice upon this account: God's Providence is not the peculiar inheritance of some few men, but the earth may rejoice in it, i. e. all men every where unless they disable themselves. But if men will live wicked and ungodly lives, there is another Text not far off, Psal. 99 1. that does rather belong to them; The Lord reigns, let the People tremble: Every wicked man while he continues such, has reason to fear, rather than to rejoice in the Providence of God: For let it be considered, 1. Only he who is in God's way, may hope for God's blessing: When men will walk contrary to God, why should they hope but that God will walk contrary to them: Must he be the darling Levit. 26. of Providence, who scorns to submit to God, but in pride and stubbornness contemns his Laws? Who may flatter himself as if he were in a secure Station, who may presume that God is on his side, while he notoriously withdraws himself from obedience to his Commands. He who waits on the Lord, and keeps his way, may hope well; but to forsake God, is the way to be forsaken of him. No man may rejoice in confidence that God will always watch over him for good, who by running out of the way of a good life, discharges Providence from taking any farther care of him. 2. Who may rejoice in God's Providence, that can make no Title to his Promises? God is holy, and just, and true, what he has promised he will perform; But unto the wicked God Psal. 50. saith, What hast thou to do to take my Covenant into thy mouth? There are Curses in the Holy Scripture as well as Blessings; and for the same reason that Religious and Holy Men hope well, that God will be merciful to them, because he will be true to his word; I say, for the same reason may wicked men tremble: God is angry with the wicked every day; and he will be faithful▪ Psal. 7. to his Threaten as well as to his Promises. How then should they tremble who despise the Authority of God, who forfeit all that goodness and kindness by which they live, who are every moment obnoxious to Almighty Power, who enjoy no Accommodations in this life, but only by the long-suffering and patience of God, which how soon it may expire, no man can tell; who if they continue in this sinful state must be miserable, or God must lie, who has told them so? Let these things be well considered, and then let wicked men say, whether that Doctrine of our Religion, which affords such unspeakable comfort and satisfaction to holy and good men, be not otherwise very terrible; and so much the more, because he who can't take comfort in the Providence of God, has nothing else to rejoice in; for all other things are under the dominion of Providence, and controulable by it. The greatness of his Fortune, the multitude of his Riches, the abundance of his Pleasures, are all in the hand and power of God, who can easily curse the blessings of men, so that their very lives and all that was pleasurable in them, shall be bitterness and a burden to them. This is a sad Argument so far as it reflects upon particular persons, to whom while they continue in their Impieties, the thoughts of God must needs be terrible: But if we consider farther, what influence growing wickedness has upon public Calamities, it will administer more sad thoughts to us. We have been awakened to a sense of danger from an Enemy restless and daring, we have prayed many and many a time, that God would abate their Pride, assuage their Malice, and confound their Devices; and hitherto God has been merciful to us: But shall I be bold to say, there is another Plot against the King, against the Government, and against our established Religion: I say, another Plot less feared, but not less dangerous: Every wicked man is a Traitor to his Prince and Country, and by his doing wickedly provokes 1 Sam. 12. God to consume him and his King. Every common Drunkard, every bold Swearer, every lascivious and unclean Person, every dishonest Trader, who postpones his Religion to Twopences of unjust gain; every man that allows himself in a wicked course of life, is in conspiracy for the ruin of this Nation. The Church of England, the worthy labours of whose eminent Divines, have made the Papists weary of disputing with them; the Church of England, whose regular Reformation is as strong a bulwark▪ against the encroachments of Popery, as any is this day in Christendom; the Church of England who stands her ground, and maintains the very same Articles of Religion, that it did above an hundred years ago, and who has not by any Rubric, or Canon, or Constitution since those times, corrupted our well-Reformed Religion; yet this once glorious Church sometimes the Terror of her Enemies and the Envy of her Neighbours, cannot escape the Censures of malevolent men: Instead of taking the advice that was here lately given, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same Rule, let us mind the same thing. Instead of uniting as far as we can, some there are that take a pleasure in reporting us to make advances towards Rome. Alas! There is another piece of Popery, in which the Nation does indeed advance; I mean in the Licentiousness of our Morals. They by their Doctrines of easy Confessions, ready Dispensations and plenary Indulgences, tempt men to be securely wicked: But how many among us practise as if they believed the same Doctrine? Were we as reform in our Lives, as we are in our Established Doctrines (for there is no reason the Church of England should be responsible for all that particular men may rashly say) But I say, were our Lives as sincere and uncorrupt as our Established Doctrines, we would fear neither Rome nor Hell. The Providence of God would be a wall of fire round about us: God would defend this City and this Nation, and would save it for his Name's sake: He would hear the Prayer we this day make, and would still keep us under the Protection of his good Providence. But if neither Plagues nor Fires: If neither Wars nor Conspiracies will reform us; though religious and holy men may hope well, that God will never cast them off, but whatever befall them, the good hand of God shall be upon them, and therefore they rejoice because the Lord Reigns: Yet all wicked men have as much reason to tremble in dread of the displeasure of Almighty God. What then remains, but that we should search and try our ways: What are we, and how do we live? If we endeavour to serve and please God, then will God watch over us for good; and then all the Comforts of this World are not comparable to the satisfaction we may take in this, that the▪ Lord our God, who loves us and has a kindness for us, that he Reigns in the World. It is a word too big for a Heathen, Horat. Carm. lib. 3. Si fractus illabatur Orbis Impavidum feriunt ruinae. Nay, every pious good Christian cannot reach Saint Paul's triumphant unconcernedness, who says, None of these things move me, neither Acts 20. count I my life dear to myself. But this our Religion teaches us to aspire to, and as we grow strong in the Faith, we shall with the greater Constancy of Mind, resign our wills and our enjoyments, and our designs to the wise disposals of God, and if we be true to our Religion, we shall always rejoice that we are under his care. But if our Consciences reproach us, that we take no heed to walk in the ways of God; then woe be to us, that dare contend with the Almighty. We are then upon our good behaviour in this matter. God will be to us a Friend or an Enemy; we shall inherit a Blessing or a Curse, according as we obey or as we contemn God. Thus I have set before you Life and Death, a Blessing and a Curse. Choose you this day whether or no you will serve God; but according as you choose, as you do so God will requite you. Judg. 1. The Lord Reigns, let the Wicked tremble. The Lord Reigns, let the Righteous rejoice. FINIS. The Reverend Author hath lately Published a Treatise Entitled, A Discourse of Superstition, with respect to the present Times, wherein the Church of England, is Vindicated from the Imputation, and the Charge retorted not only on the Papists, but also on men of other Persuasions. Sold by Jonathan Robinson, at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Churchyard.