ZION SHINING IN Gospel-Glory: OR, The Church's Advancement and Saints Engagement in Gospel-times; With some Hints of Thankfulness for England's Deliverance from the Popish Plot of the Powder Treason. Being the sum of a SERMON Preached at St michael's in Cornhill, London, upon the 5th of Novemb. 1651.  
By T. W.  PROV. 4.18. 
The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more to the perfect day.  
LONDON, Printed by A. Miller, and are to be Sold at the Sign of the Gun in Ivy-Lane, 1652.   

To the early Bud of real Piety Mrs E. H. increase of Grace on Earth, and a Crown of Glory in Heaven.  
THe sweet Discoveries you were pleased to make unto me of a gracious work upon your Soul, have exceedingly engaged my Heart dearly to love you, as a Child of God, highly to prise you as a Pearl in Grace, and really to respect you as an Heir of Glory. Truly I cannot but with dearest affections embrace the Darlings of God's Bosom, and hearty love them whom God sets his Heart upon, and Christ's sets as a Seal upon his own Heart. The Impression of God's Image upon the Soul, renders it truly amiable and excellent to a spiritual eye. Sweet Saint! Me thinks when I see you, I cannot but look upon you (with admiration of the Riches of God's Grace) as one whom I shall once behold blest with the bosom-embraces of Jesus Christ, and shining with an excellency of Glory, far surpassing the glorious lustre of the purest Sunbeams in the Kingdom of Heaven. Happy Soul! seeing God has crowned your tender years with Grace, you have an assured Title to Eternity of Glory. The Spouse of Christ is spotless, all-fair, all-glorious within, her clothing also is of wrought gold. And he that looks upon you with a spiritual eye, may he not behold you as a bright spark of the Spouses beauty? yea, is not all the Spouses beauty and excellency yours, while Christ is yours, Christ the Crown and glory of the Spouse and every Saint? Having therefore methodised a few sweet Meditations upon the shining excellency of the Church of God, the smiling Glory of Christ's Spouse, I have presumed to make them public, that I might present them as a poor Pledge of that dear Affection and cordial Respect which my Heart bears unto you. Read them therefore as written to, and of yourself, as one through the Grace of Christ interessed in the Church's Glory. What Christ speaks to his Spouse, that apply to your own Soul, as if you heard a voice from Heaven saying, ARISE SHINE. Bless God with your whole Heart, that He has invested you in the Church's Privileges, and labour to find yourself quickened thereby to all Christian Performances. Take heed of Pride, take heed of Self-love, take heed of Hypocrisy. These are the cankers that will eat out the very heart of your comforts, and vex your soul with restless torments. Humility, self-denial and Sincerity, will beautify the Beauty of all your Excellencies. Continue still to seek your God daily in secret. Present Him with an humble and empty Heart, and He will fill it with his saving Grace and sacred Comforts. Secret Refresh are marvellously sweet to the Soul. Walk humbly with your God throughout the day, as seeing Him that is invisible, and your Soul shall be more fit to maintain a Holy, Spiritual, Evangelicall Communion with God in Duty whensoever he shall call you thereunto. Labour to grow in Grace: ' Be not ashamed of Holiness: Study in all things to please God. The more Holy you are, the more Happy you shall be, the more of Heaven you shall have on Earth, and the more Assurance that you shall at length change Earth for Heaven. Now that the God of all Grace and Glory would enrich you with his saving Mercy, refresh you with his sweetest Comforts, and at length advance you to his glorious Kingdom, is the sum of his hearty Prayers for you, who is  
Yours in Christ Jesus, T.W.   

To the Ingenuous Christian Reader.  
SEe here a few Meditations which having been offered to the Ear, are now presented to the Eye: I have adventured them forth to try the Temper of the Times, the genius of this Generation. If they shall gain the Approbation of those who love the Lord's Zion, and the Lord Jesus (Zions glorious Guardian-Angel) in sincerity, I shall find (I hope) my Heart warmed and enlarged into further Meditations of the same kind, and shall be also encouraged to a communication of them: yea and many Meditations which are predecessors to these in birth, may then also (perhaps) become their successors upon the world's stage. If these be condemned (though I know them innocent) to be burnt, I shall never willingly make any more of my Children pass through the fire. If my Thoughts please not others, I shall be content to reserve them for the future to myself, until it shall please the Lord to enrich me with better Treasure. However, I have cast in this poor Mite into the Lord's Treasury, who graciously accepts of his servants, not according to what they have not, but according to what they have. From him alone proceeds all good, and to Him alone be ascribed all Glory by the Church of Christ, throughout all Ages, and to all Eternity. Amen.   

ZION SHINING IN Gospel-Glory.  
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ISA. 60.1. Arise, shine.  
GLorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God. Many gracious promises and glorious privileges make Zion the glory of the world, and Jerusalem the praise of the whole earth. The sweet Spouse of the great King is presented to us by this Evangelicall Prophet in her rich Attire and excellent Ornaments for Beauty and Glory. She that lay polluted with blood, and sullied with dust, being washed in blood, and sanctified through grace, is prepared for the bosom of her glorious Redeemer. Know ye not (O beloved) the beauty of her Grace, the excellency of her Glory? Arise, be enlightened, come and see. This Prophet opens unto you her well-furnished Chamber, and her presents you with the golden Key of her costly Closet. Here behold, 

1. The glorious Lamp of the Gospel put into the hand of the Church, who is commanded to hold it forth that it may pour out its light to the world, v. 1.— 3.  
2. The mighty concourse out of many Nations of Zions converts to this glorious Light, and the brightness of this burning Lamp, v. 4,— 14.  
3. A glorious Crown of eternal Excellency set by the hand of God upon the head of the Spouse of Christ, possessed of a blessed Paradise of everlasting peace, v. 15. ult.    
This is thine Excellency, O Zion, this is thy Glory, O Jerusalem: Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.  
Arise, shine.  
Here's a Precept pregnant with a Promise: The Spirit of God deals forth comfort wrapped up in a command; For God assures that he will cause his Church to arise and shine, in this that he commands her, Arise, shine.  
Consider this in relation to the Church in general, and to particular Saints.  
Considered in relation to the Church in general, it hints sundry particular observations, which we shall briefly pass over.  
Arise, shine. Then note, that  
Obser. 1 The Church may be sometimes in a cloud, The Sun may for a time wear sackcloth, the Stars may lose their light, the Temple may be full of smoke, and the Ark wrapped up in darkness. A mist may cover the face of Canaan, and a thick cloud may rest upon Jerusalem. God loves to beautify the Face of Time with some spots of darkness. God delights in chequering the world with interchanges of light and darkness, day and night. The returns of darkness do illustrate the beauty of light, That light is most beautiful, amiable and acceptable, that's born out of the womb of the thickest darkness. The Sun shines forth most clearly when it hath washed its beams in the waters of the Clouds. Then let not any Star think it strange that it is sometimes obscured, when the Sun itself may be Eclipsed, and the Constellations of Heaven masked in darkness.  
Arise, shine. Then,  
There are castings down before liftings up, Clouds before clearness, Darkness (as in the Old so in the New Creation) before light. The Church is called to Arise, therefore she was yet down; She is commanded to Shine, therefore she was yet dark. Despair not then, poor dejected souls, who lie down in darkness and see no light; when you have a while with sad hearts sorrowed for your sins, your light will break forth as the morning, and you shall hear this sweet Gospel-voice, Arise, shine.  
Arise, shine. Then,  
There's an excellency in the Church of God, a bright and shining excellency. This is the Sun of the lower world, which shall at length shine in the highest heavens. The Saints have their lustre, which is nothing else but the reflection of those glorious beams of grace, which are shed from the Sun of Righteousness upon them. This is the Woman clothed with the Sun, that hath the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars, Rev. 12.1. This is she that is come to excellent Ornaments, and crowned with perfection of beauty, through Christ's own comeliness put upon her, Ezek. 16.7,— 14. She is all Fair, all Glorious within, through the Glory of God arisen upon her, Cant. 4.7. Psal. 45.13. The Church of God is the Crown of the earth, and the Glory of the world. The world is wrapped in darkness till she Arise and shine. Horrible are the attempts of the Church's Persecutors. Hellish darkness would soon overspread the earth, if the Church's light were once extinguished. O ye strangers of the world! You that lie muffled in midnight, even in the Gospel's midday, lift up your heads, behold and admire the Church's excellencies. Leave your dark dens of sin and profaneness, and come to her shining light. Be ravished with the beauty of her Grace, and admire the brightness of her Glory. Walk in her light, and you shall partake in her brightness and beauty.  
Arise, shine. Then take notice that  
A Gospel- state is a glorious state, a Heaven upon Earth. The state of the Church of God under the Gospel is more glorious then under the Law, Isa. 60.17. 2 Cor. 3.7,— ult. Herein are more clear and glorious manifestations of Christ, dispensations of Grace, communications of the Spirit; more abundance of spiritual and glorious mercies, gifts and endowments. The state of grace under the Gospel is nothing less than the Kingdom of heaven upon earth, Mat. 3.2. Heaven is opened under the Gospel, and Believers enter in, and are invested with glorious privileges, and enriched with glorious enjoyments. This is that Heaven, wherein God's Saints shine as so many Stars in the lustre of that glorious light which they derive from the Sun of Righteousness. This Evangelical condition is an Angelical condition, wherein God's Saints (those bright morning-stars) sing for joy, and record the glorious praises of their gracious Redeemer. Gospel- Times are glorious Times, Gospel- mercies are glorious mercies, Gospel- graces are (as I may say) glorious graces, Gospel- comforts are glorious comforts, Gospel- Salvation is a glorious Salvation. Happy are we that live in Gospel- times, Oh that we could but embrace Gospel- Truths! happy are we that have Gospel- seasons, Oh that we were but Gospel- Saints. O how are we to admire the riches of God's grace, that he is pleased to vouchsafe us his glorious Gospel. Let us then labour to adorn this glorious Gospel by gracious courses. The dayspring from on high hath visited us, and the glorious light of the Gospel shines round about us; let us then cast off the works of darkness, and put on the Armour of light; let's cease to sin, arise and shine in the lustre of this light that shines upon us.  
Arise, shine. Know then,  
When God pours out light and lustre upon his Church, she must pour it out into the world. When Christ puts a burning Lamp into the hand of his Spouse, she must give light to the Nations that sit in darkness and the shadow of death. The Sun pours his light upon the Moon and Stars, and these pour it out with many precious influences upon the earth. When Jesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness pours out the light of the Gospel, with influences of love upon his Church and Saints, they must likewise pour out the same upon the world and sinners. When God sets up his Golden-candlestick at Jerusalem, 'tis that it might give light to the Cities round about. O then let every Star shine to increase the lustre of this light, and let sinners come to the brightness of this shining, that they may see the way of life, leading to eternal Glory, lest otherwise they be shut up under everlasting darkness and damnation, See Mat. 5.14, 15, 16.  
Doct. Arise, shine. Now let's consider the words as they bear reference to, particular Saints, and they'll import thus much; The Saints of God in Gospel-times shall and must Arise and shine. They shall, for this Precept implies a Promise: They must, for this Promise is locked up in a Precept, Arise, shine. This is the Saints Dignity, this their Duty.  
Branch 1 1. They shall, they must Arise; They must not lie down still in darkness, when the light shines, and the Spirit says, Arise, Arise from the  
1. Pit of horror and the dungeon of darkness, whereinto they have been cast by conviction: God doth indeed cast down, but doth not keep down his Elect in this dark and sad condition. God brings sinners to Heaven by the Gates of Hell. While they lie under conviction, their sins, like swarms of Bees, encompass them, armed with fiery, poisonous stings, the wrath of God flames against them, the Terrors of the Almighty surround them, and the unspeakable Torments of of Hell amaze them, their own Conscience (which should be a Port of Peace to a troubled Spirit) being full of Horror and Confusion, is a very Hell unto them. In this woeful condition when they are now ready to enter by the Gate of Despair into the Kingdom of everlasting Darkness, God calls to them in the sweet voice of the Gospel, saying, Return, Return, Repent, Repent, and believe the Gospel, and live for evermore; your sins are pardonable, your sins are pardoned. Christ, and Heaven, and Glory, and all are yours everlastingly. And withal he breaks the Chains of their Corruptions, beats back the fiery darts of their Temptations, takes them by the hand, and leads them out of the dark Prison of sin into the sweet Paradise of Grace, and speaks Peace, Peace to their souls, and so gives them possession of true, real, spiritual and lasting Comfort, Contentment, and Joy.  
2. Dust of affliction, and deeps of distress. God sometimes leads his people down from the mountains of joy into the valleys of sorrow. He eclipses for a time the light of life, and covers them with the shadow of death. God doth not always feed his children with the Honey of his Promises, the marrow of his comforts, the sweetness of his love, but sometimes he gives them the bread of adversity to eat, and the waters of affliction to drink, and causeth them to sit down in a state of darkness and desertion. But he is a tenderhearted Father, his Bowels are soon moved towards them, and so he shows them his pleased face, speaks to them in the voice of kindness and love, calls them to his embraces, and receives them into the bosom of his sweetest and soul-contenting mercies: He brings glorious Advantages out of these grievous Afflictions to their immortal souls. See 2. Cor. 4.17.  
3. Dunghill of Contempt, and mire of Disgrace. God raises his servants from the Dunghill, to sit with Princes on the Throne. He washes off the mire from their feet, and brings them up to his holy Hill Mount Zion. Wicked men who are as Swine, rooting in the Dunghill of the Earth, trample God's Jewels, his Pearls, under rheir feet: but they are still precious in God's account, and he will cause their shining brightness to appear: Gods precious Saints are often vilified by the vilest men in the Earth, they are made as the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things, 1 Cor. 4.13. But God will at length cloth them with Excellency and Honour, and crown them with eternal Glory. The world delights to cast the mire of Disgrace into the Faces of those that bear the blessed Image of God himself: But he that will at length wipe away all Tears from their eyes, will also wash away all such opprobrious Imputations, and cause them to shine as the Stars in the Firmament for ever and ever. Wicked men with the sharp Razors of their own malicious tongues wound the Names of God's dearest Saints, and labour to bury them in Ignominy and everlasting Contempt, but God will heal their Names, give them a glorious Resurrection, and an everlasting blessed Memorial: They study to cast the only Excellent down from their Excellency, but God will advance them to eternal Glory. Notwithstanding all the weight of Reproaches the wicked lay upon them, God will put forth his Almighty Arm, and they shall arise: See Psal. 68.13.  
Branch 2 2. They shall, they must shine: As they have had a time of sinning and a time of sorrow, so they shall have a time of shining and a time of joy. They are commanded and shall and must shine in the  
1. Spotless lustre of Christ's Righteousness. Every Saint is clothed with the Sun. God makes all his children Priests, and hath provided for them holy Garments for Beauty and Glory; He enstals them Kings, and  them with Royal Robes, far richer, far purer than Cloth of Gold. These Robes are none other than Gods own Son the King of Glory himself hath worn on Earth. They are the rich Robes of his perfect Righteousness, so pure, that Gods own all-discerning Eye cannot discover one spot in them. Saints must needs shine when they are dressed in such rich Apparel. The Sun itself the Fountain of Light, whose face is too glorious for us mortals steadfastly to behold, is but a darksome mote in comparison of the bright and shining Lustre of this rich Attire. Glorious is the clothing of every gracious soul.  
2. Excellent Ornaments of saving Graces. Every Saint is as a little Heaven full of shining Stars. God  all his children with white Garments of Sanctification, all-bespangled with sparkling precious Pearls of heavenly and Divine Graces, as Faith, Repentance, Love, Hope, Obedience, Sincerity, Humility, etc. There is not one of these but is worth ten thousand times more than a world of Gold, being as it were a Ray of God, a Pledge of his eternal Love, and a Character of Glory, stamped upon the soul. There is a chain of these Heavenly Graces wherewith God adorns the souls of his Children, to which is annexed Glory itself, as a Gem of infinite excellency and invaluable worth. See 2 Pet. 1.3,— 6. Now the united splendour of these Heavenly Graces must needs beautify the soul with an admirable Excellency and shining Lustre.  
3. Beautiful garments of Salvation. Every child of God sits encircled with eternal smiles from the Face of God, and thence hath cause to be everlastingly merry. All the Saints are welcome guests to the Gospel's Feast, Isa. 25.6. where that nothing may be wanting for their full Contentment and Delight, they are clothed by Gods own hand with Festival garments, and anointed with the sweet Oil of joy and gladness. O how can the Saints of God choose but smile and shine in joy, who are admitted to such a Heart-contenting Feast. O what immortal joys must needs spring up in the Hearts of God's children, from a lively apprehension of the infinite sweetness and excellency of the Love of God, and the invaluable preciousness of his Grace which they enjoy, the dreadful and everlasting Tormenes of Hell fire, which they have escaped, and the incomprehensibly glorious and eternal Joys of Heaven, whereof they shall shortly be possessed, besides those many sweet and gracious comforts wherewith Jesus Christ hath already crowned their thrice happy souls: Thus the Day-stars-of Grace cannot but shine on Earth, which are already prepared to be eternally fixed in Heaven.  
Thus having passed through these particulars, we come to the Use.  
Use. Herein let the holy Ghost speak to your Hearts; Arise, shine, O ye Saints of God, and Sons of the Most High. The Night is now past, and the Day is come, yea, far spent, the Sun of Righteousness is drawing nigh to the highest Point of his glorious Ascent, and darts forth his gracious, reviving beams into the lowest and humblest hearts: Rouse up yourselves therefore O ye children of God, lift up your heads, Arise, shine.  
1. Put on the Royal Robes of Christ's Righteousness. See your own nakedness, and blush to behold the shame of your nakedness: See the Wardrobe of the Gospel open, and Christ Jesus with his own hands offering you the rich Robes of his own Righteousness: Put forth the hand of Faith, and put them upon your naked souls; so Christ will embrace you as his Brethren, God will embosomed you as his children, the Angels of Heaven will at length with shouting entertain you in the mansions of Eternity, as Heirs of Glory.  
2. Deck yourselves with the Pearls of Heaven. See God's Cabinet is unlocked for you: Get your Hearts furnished with sanctifying Graces, the souls Jewels. God hath given you the Key of Heaven, Prayer, and the wings of Faith and Love to mount up thither: Away then, and fetch thence daily what precious Ornaments soever you want to render your souls beautiful and amiable in the eyes of your Beloved. Put on these Ornaments daily, and wear them continually. They'll be the brighter for the wearing. So at length you shall put off some of your Ornaments of grace, and put on evershining Robes of Glory.  
3. Vnmask your smiling faces, and send forth your Rays of joy; For God smiles and shines upon you. Unlock your joyful Hearts, and pour forth your souls in praises; for God hath unlocked the Ark of his Covenant, and unfolded the Riches of his Grace for your eternal Good. The Lord himself rejoices over you, and calls upon you to rejoice in the Lord, Psa. 33.1. Phil. 4.4. Psa. 32.11. Serve the Lord with joyfulness and Gladness of heart for his abundant Goodness and Love to you in the Lord Jesus Christ. Burnish your Christian Profession and adorn the Gospel with joyfulness. Reflect the beams of God's Love with Rays of spiritual Joy. With Joy draw Waters of life out of the Wells of salvation. With Joy walk on in the Paths of Righteousness, until you shall come to Zion with singing Halelujahs, and everlasting Joys upon your heads.  
Object. But here the Saints of God themselves may object: Rejoice? should we rejoice when our sins cry? should we rejoice when Zion weeps? Can we, ought we to rejoice when our sins and the abominations of the Land are daily multiplied, and the wrath of God provoked against us? When the ways of Zion mourn, and the gates of Jerusalem are desolate? does not God rather call to mourning, and weeping, and lamentation?  
Answ. I answer; 'Tis true, these things ought to be taken to heart with hearty grief and lamentation: And oh, that we could pour out our hearts in abundant sorrows for these Abominations, and in melting Compassions over the bleeding Miseries of God's people! O that our Heads were Waters, and our Eyes Fountains of Tears, that we might weep day and night for the slain of the People of the Lord, and the Abominations that are be found in the City of our God. These things are a Lamentation, and shall be for a Lamentation. But yet withal consider;  
Note. 1 1. These Clouds will not obscure your Clearness, These sorrows are consistent with your joys. Sensual joy and grief mutually expel one another, but spiritual joy and grief, as loving twins bred in the same womb, though successively born, live together in the same sanctified soul. Yea, the more your Heart's greve for sin, the more will your souls rejoice in the God of your salvation.  
2. These mourning Blacks will beautify your shining brightness. This spiritual sorrow will increase the lustre of your Evangelicall joy. These showers of grief will beautify your beams of joy; your sorrowful sighs will increase the beauty of your joyful smiles. Sad Tears dropping from such smiling Eyes, are such Pearls, as God will treasure them up every one in his bottle. Sweet Smiles shining through a shower of Tears, are such sparkles as will ascend to Heaven and be crowned with Acceptance.  
3. There's light of joy sown in the darkness of these sorrows. Psal. 97.11. The blessing of God crowns the Heads, and the comforts of God shall fill the Hearts of such mourners in Zion. Mat. 5.4. The precious seed of spiritual sorrows, will bring a plenteous Harvest of eternal joys. Psal. 126.5, 6. Who mix therefore their mirth with mourning, shall have their sorrows concluded with everlasting glorious joys.  
Let's close these Considerations with these Corollaries.  
Coral. 1 1. Weep your Beams. Dart forth streaming beams of joy, and pour out beaming streams of grief. Rejoice with trembling, Psal. 2.11. Sweeten your mourning with mirth, and season your mirth with mourning. The Base of Godly Sorrow joined in Consort with the Triple of Spiritual Gladness, makes the best Melody in the ears of God.  
2. Wash your Smiles in Tears, and beautify your Mirth with Mourning, the Beauty of your Beauty.  your shining Souls in Sorrows and they'll shine the brighter. The choicest Beauty consists of a pure whiteness with some mixture of a clear ruddiness, being actuated with a sparkling liveliness, the soul of Beauty: so a serene and smiling soul with a bleeding heart enlivened by the sanctifying Spirit of grace, make up the most perfect Beauty in the eyes of God. Learn then so to temper your joy with sorrow, that both may be more acceptable unto God.  
3. Sow your Seed of Sorrows, that you may reap your Harvest of Joys. Sow your Seed in the Night, and you shall reap your Fruit in the Morning. Fill God's bottle with Tears, and he'll give you for every drop a Pearl. Let your Heart bleed for your grievous sins, and God will at length crown your soul with glorious joys. Weep for Jerusalem and you shall sing in Zion. Mourn for the sorrows of the Saints, and you shall rejoice for joy with them. Lay a deep foundation in sorrow for your sins, and God will crown your Building of Grace with the Top-stone of Glory.  
Thus far we have considered the words in reference to the Glorious Privileges of the Gospel of Christ, wherewith God hath crowned his Church and Saints; now let's apply them to you that are the children of the Church, of the society of the Saints in reference to the glorious Deliverance that the great God hath wrought for his English Zion, from the Popish Plot of the Powder-Treason, a mercy to be celebrated this day with Praises, and to be commemorated throughout all generations. Behold, O ye Saints, the Lord of hosts hath brought salvation this day to Zion: Rejoice and be glad, Arise, shine. O let the high praises of the most high God, be this day in your hearts and mouths. Take a large prospect of the Lords mercies, and then lift up your voices in joyful acclamations of Hallelujah. And that you may rightly celebrate the glorious solemnities of the great King,  
Duty. 1 1. Take your Lamps in your hands, and view that Den of darkness, wherein the hellish Monster that would have devoured Gods holy Ones, was almost hatched. A dark Vault there was under the Parliament House, where this deadly Monster brooded by Popish Policy, should have been brought forth, had it not been stopped and stifled in the birth, through Divine mercy, by the hand of the All-knowing, and All-powerfull God. This was a work of darkness in a place of darkness, the contrivance of the children of darkness, by the instigation of the Prince of darkness, against the children of Light. Thus a Veil of darkness was drawn over the foul face of this horrible wickedness. This was an hidden enterprise against God's hidden ones. Had this taken effect, hell had broken lose from the bowels of earth. This was an attempt to have blown up with one blast from the mouth of hell, the Parliament, Prince and Peers, and so suddenly to have involved our pleasant and peaceable Land in confusion and blood. For had but this Thunder-cloud burst, many showers of blood had been poured down upon England. This was Satan's strange Engine, by which he would have attempted to have sent up many bodies in a moment, nearer to heaven, that he might have drawn down many thousand souls for ever into the bottom of hell. For surely, if the Head had been cut off, the body would have soon died; if the Mother had been slain, the children of her bosom, that hung at her breasts, would have presently perished: If the Light had been put forth by this poisonous earthdamp, the people of the Land would not only have been wrapped in darkness, but have been stifled with this noisome Fog. Yet out of this Fog would have issued that fire that would have set all England into a flame, and have burnt up the bodies of God's dearest and precious Saints. But Satan was chained up by an Omnipotent hand that he could not so much as spit fire, to fright the children of God.  
2. Put off your shoes from your feet, and walk up to Mount Zion, and behold the Lord in his Glory, who hath vouchsafed this miraculous mercy and seasonable salvation to his Saints. Lift up your eyes to the hills from which the help of God's Israel comes in all the times of their distress and danger. Get your souls sublimed in heavenly contemplations of the wisdom, power and goodness of that great God, whose wakeful Eye of Providence continually watcheth over his Church and chosen Ones. He that sits upon a Throne of glory in the highest heavens, and with his All-discerning Eye discovers the depths of darkness and the deeds of men, brought forth this work of darkness into light, to the confusion of his enemies, and the consolation of all his faithful Ones. This was the Lords doing, and how wonderful should it appear in our eyes! O come with humble reverence to the God of mercy, and cast yourselves down at his feet with lowliest admiration of his wonderful goodness to an excessively sinful Land. O how ill have we requited the Lord for his love! And yet the Lord before he vouchsafed this favour, knew what our Requital would be. O the admirable Kindness of our God The unworthiness of the sons of men doth not obstruct the way of those sweet mercies, that flow from the Fountain of free Love. O prostrate yourselves with humblest Adoration, at the footstool of the God of Glory, who in his wonderful Works to the sons of men, acts merely out of free Grace. The Lord saw when the Design was laid, and said, Hitherto shalt thou proceed and no further. It was the hand of God that drew the Curtain, and discovered what wickedness was couched in the dark. When the Land was ready to be overspread with darkness, 'twas the Lord that covered it with Light. When Popish Agents (those bloody Philistines) thought and hoped to have obscured the Glory of Israel, the Lord still preserved the Ark of his Truth. When the great red Dragon attempted to draw the Stars from Heaven, the great and mighty God cast him into the bottom of hell. God caused the destruction plotted against his own People to fall upon the heads of their enemies. This is thy God, O Israel, this is thy Saviour, O Zion; this is thy Lord-Protectour, O England.  
3. Prepare your Hearts (in stead of Harps) to join in a gracious Consort, to sing forth the glorious Praises of the only wise and strong God, your Saviour. Labour to wind up your hearts to the highest pitch of hearty praisefullnesse and thanksgiving. Say with Moses, Exod. 15.11. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, amongst the gods! Who is like unto thee, Glorious in Holiness, Fearful in Praises, doing Wonders! To heighten your hearts into spiritual Raptures of Angelical Hallelujahs, consider that Religion itself, the Glorious Gospel and Precious Ordinances of Jesus Christ, are particular privileges, which as to the Continuance and Preservation of them, are wrapped up in this great Deliverance wherewith the merciful hand of God hath Crowned this sinful Nation. Had this hellish Plot taken effect, Oh how had our precious souls been poisoned with Popery! How had the Glorious, reviving, enriching, advancing Mysteries of the Gospel, been locked up in an unknown Tongue! How had our Waters been imbittered with Gall and Wormwood, and our Rivers turned to blood! How had our immortal souls been starved to eternal death, for want of spiritual food! Oh how had we lived in darkness, died in sin, and dropped into bell! Now reckon up the precious Mercies and glorious Favours that have been brought unto England, and home to your own souls, by the door of this Deliverance, and you will see and say that you have infinite cause to praise the Lord to eternity. O you that have had your drooping spirits and dying hearts revived and wonderfully refreshed with the precious influences of grace, falling in God's Ordinances, What are these Ordinances worth? You that have had your hard and sinful hearts softened and sanctified by the distilling dews of grace in the Gospel of Christ, What is this Gospel worth? You that have had your empty and humble hearts filled with a Heaven of glorious Joys in Communion with Jesus Christ, What is the enjoyment of such a sweet, Evangelicall, Soul-ravishing Fellowship with Christ Jesus worth? O precious Christ! O incomparable Mercies! O unutterable Joys! You would not, no (I know) you would not lose these glorious Gospel-Favours, for ten thousand worlds of Gold. O precious souls, now you have precious Christ, communicating himself to you in his blessed Ordinances! O ye humble hearts, now you have the Spirit of God enriching you with saving Graces, and breathing into the sweetest sacred Comforts. O happy Saints, now the windows of Heaven are opened, and plenteous showers of Grace, infinitely more precious than showers of Gold are poured out upon you. The dours of God's House stand open, and you may enjoy that one thing in which the desires of the Saints are all summed up. You may dwell in the House of the Lord, happily all the days of your life, to behold the Beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his holy Temple, Psal. 27.4. God's Treasury is wide open, you may store yourselves with blessings. God's Cabinet is unlocked, you may enrich yourselves with Jewels and Pearls of price, with saving and sanctifying Graces. The Fountain of Life is unsealed, and you may drink freely, and be satisfied with living Consolations. Now God drops Pearls out of heaven, and strews the earth with Mercies: O how pleasant now are the paths of salvation, which God hath strewed all along with the flowers of his love. Blessed are you Believers, you now have a habitation in Jerusalem, who might have been slain in the streets of Rome: You dwell now in Zion, who might have lived in Sodom: You are now in a Heaven on this side Heaven, who might have been in a hell before you had been in hell. Oh what shall we render to the Lord for this his wonderful goodness to us: Let us even take up the Cup of salvation and praise the Name of the Lord. God hath enriched us with the gold of Zion, O come therefore and let us offer up unto him the Incense of Praise. O ye children of the Most high God, Behold the night is past, the darkness of Popery, and the mists of superstition are dispersed and dispelled, and the Sun of the Gospel (by a miracle of divine mercy) stands still in our Horizon; your Light is continued, and the glory of the Lord resteth upon you, Arise, shine. Trim up this day your shining Lamps of Joy, fill them with the sweet Oil of Love, and let them burn and blaze up to the Heavens in a holy Flame of Praise: Set them burning upon the Altars of your broken hearts, and they shall burn in the Temple of the Lord for ever. Arise therefore ye Saints and shine on Earth: This Deliverance is but the shadow of a greater: For though you lie down at length and sleep a while in your Graves, yet you shall Arise and shine in Heaven with a perfect Radiancy of incomprehensible Glory throughout all Eternity, Amen.  
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