A SERMON PREACHED AT St Mary Whitechappel, ON THE Second of DECEMBER, 1697.  
BEING THE Day of Thanksgiving For the PEACE.  
By RICHARD WELTON, Rector of the said Parish.  
Published at the Request of the Parishioners.  
LONDON: Printed for B. Aylmer, at the Three Pigeons against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. MDCXC VII.   

To my Honoured UNCLE, Samuel Atkinson, Esq.  
SIR,  
THE kind Reception I have met withal from my Parishioners, ever since it has been my Happiness as well as Duty to Preach unto them; and the Encouragement they have given me, in their Favourable Approbations not only of This, but all my Other Undertake, have obliged me to gratify them in their Requests, so far as to appear in Public in the following Discourse.  
It is contrary to the Dictates of my own Inclinations, thus to venture myself Abroad: 'Tis purely to oblige them in this, as (to the utmost of my Capacity) I shall be glad to do in all other Respects.  
And yet, I must confess, 'tis with a Joyful Satisfaction I embrace this Opportunity, to declare unto the World how deeply I stand engaged to Your Goodness and Generosity; and from hence I presume upon the Freedom to offer You These the First-Fruits of my Early Endeavours.  
To You, Sir, they do most properly belong in every respect; to You, that have been my Worthy Friend and Patron by Your Kindness; my Father, by a perpetual Affection and Indulgence.  
To You therefore I humbly Address myself, and beg the Favour of Your Patronage; knowing that (however deficient I may have been in the Management of my Subject) You will Accept my Intentions; which are sincerely designed to promote the Glory of God among those over whom his Providence has been so signally wondered: In giving them a Sense of the Mercies they have received at his Hands; that thereby they may be won by his exceeding Goodness, to praise him for it by their Lives and Actions, and consequently that they may prospero and flourish; as They must do, whoever have the Blessing of God upon them.  
This is my whole Aim in the following Discourse; which if it succeeds in any measure, it than answers the Design and hearty Wish of,  
SIR, Your most Obliged, most Affectionate, and Obedient Kinsman, RICHARD WELTON.   

A Thanksgiving-Sermon.  PSALM CVII. 8. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wondered works to the children of men! 
BY a strict Enquiry into the Design of this Psalm, we shall found it (composed by David) an Hymn of Praise, suitable to the Circumstances of most Men; wherein the Royal Psalmist shows us the various and strange Revolutions which hap, not by an Auspicious Contingency and Hit of Chance, but by the All-guiding Hand of the Divine Providence, to the Kingdoms and People in the World.  
There are several Instances offered to our View, which do directly express the Wondered Care of Almighty God towards his Creatures, in delivering them wonderfully from their Troubles and Distress, as he did the Israelites from their Egyptian Captivity, when no Power, besides the Hand of God, was able to redeem them.  
In the foregoing Psalms we may found the Particular Miseries of that People: They were delivered into the hand of the heathen, and they that hated them were the rulers over them; their Enemies also oppressed them: So that they became their Slaves, for they were brought into Subjection under their Hand: And the reason was, Because in their Prosperity they forgot God their Saviour, which had done great things in Egypt. They apostatised from God, though he had so wonderfully delivered them from their Egyptian Bondage, even by the strange Overthrow of Pharaoh and his Host in the Read Sea: And yet upon their Repentance, God regarded their Affliction; and whenever they made their Application to him, He constantly raised up the Spirit of 
Bp. Ely 's Paraph.  some Great Man to (Redeem or) Rescue them from the Cruelty of their Oppressors.  
This he did for his own Mercies sake; and this was one reason why the Sweet Singer of Israel composed this Anthem of Thanksgiving; even out of a deep Sense of the Immense Love of Almighty God towards those that call upon him.  
But besides this foregoing one, there are several other Arguments repeated in this Psalm, of God's Indulgence towards Mankind; showing that no Circumstance whatsoever is beyond either the Power or the Will of God, for the help of his distressed Servants: Of that God who could guide the bewildered Traveller to a Place of Rest and Habitation: Who could correct the starving Sharpness of hungry Famine; turning the barren Wilderness into plentiful and well-spread Tables of Quails and Manna: Of God who was able to calm the unruly Motion of the proud Waters, and quell the stormy Wind into a gentle Breeze: Of God who has delivered the Prisoners out of Captivity, even through Bars of Iron, and Gates of Brass; turning the wilderness into a standing water, and fountains of water from the rocks of stone.  
These and many other Instances might be given of the Goodness of God upon the World; from whence the Royal Prophet might well make his Inference; O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wondered works to the children of men!  
The great share of which we have been Partakers in the strange Indulgence of Almighty God, has laid as great an Obligation upon us to join our Voices with Holy David: Since we have found by a most Blessed Experience, such signal Effects of the Protection and Providence of Almighty God, as not only the Israelites, but as any other People under Heaven could ever pretend to.  
And here might be drawn a fair Parallel, comparable to the Context in every Particular: To mention no more than these Two Instances:  
1. The Wonders of God which we have seen in the Deep: Witness that Bold Adventure, when our Invincible Armada road in State on the Mediterranean; even on the same Waters where that Christian Israelite (St. Paul) suffered Shipwreck, when his Ship bulged upon that Coast: Where the Proud Waves do swell to the height of Mountains, and yet our Tall Ships lived upon those Mountains, to the Amazement of all Strangers, to the Defiance and Terror of our Enemies, and the immortal Glory of our English Nation.  
But than 2dly, to apply our Case yet more home; Might we not have compared our Bondage to the Egyptian Captivity, at that Time when Antichrist began to appear in his Deformity, and to lay that Yoke upon our Necks, which must in a small time have pressed us down with Sorrow to the Grave? But of this I shall be more particular in another Place: In the mean time 'tis sufficient only to remember in these two Instances, the great Assistance we received than from the Hand of God, in giving us the Victory over those that hated us; in delivering us from the Strength of that Power, when all our own Power was gone, and we were utterly unable to help ourselves; in stopping the Carrier of such prevailing Philistines, and bringing us in Safety to the beloved Haven of Security: Therefore let us praise God for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men.  
And that we may be the better disposed to such a Joyful Employment, I shall address myself to these following Particulars.  
I. To consider this Goodness of God in relation to the Inhabitants of this Kingdom.  
II. That all the Mercies which we have received, are the pure Result of his Goodness. And therefore,  
III. We have a great Obligation upon us to Praise God, and declare in our Thanksgivings the Wonders that he hath done for us.  
This Goodness of God than will appear in these two Respects: From the Consideration of the Dangers we have escaped, and in the Mercies we have received.  
1. He that will but open his Eyes, and look abroad into the World, cannot but be sensible under what Distress this once most happy Island has so lately groaned: How both Church and State were forced to bend under the heavy Weight of a Misguided Sceptre: When our Religion lay a bleeding; when it was sadly changed into Superstition and Idolatry, and the Word of God was become offensive, without a Leaven infused into it of Blind Zeal and Will-Worship. And though by a Miraculous Providence the Time of this Tragedy was of no long Duration; though some Drops only fell down to warn us of that Shower of Blood that must have followed (had not He in whom all Power is, stretched forth his mighty Arm to help us), yet even those Drops were of themselves sufficient to proclaim that Storm of Persecution that hung over our Heads.  
What might we not have expected at that Time, when Cruelty was applauded as meritorious! When the Face of Truth was eclypsed, and the very Foundation of our Church was shaken! When Vision was ceased among us, and we could discern no Prospect of unrestrained Freedom in the Worship of God When in the Scripture-Language, the Bells of Aaron had almost lost their Clappers, and their Divine Noise could scarce be heard 
Exod. 28. 33, 34, 35.  amongst us! How great was the Prospect of our Danger, when the Candlesticks were removed out of their Places, and the Light of our Temples were just extinguished! With what reason might the ways of Zion mourn, because none came up to her feasts; when her Gates were desolate, and her Priests lamenting! Did we not see all this already begun with the distressed Church of England? When our Gold was become dim, and our Sanctuaries neglected; and the Sons of Zion, which once were comparable to Fine Gold, were at that time esteemed as Earthen Pitchers. It might than be read in the Countenance of every man, what he was not allowed to speak, when the Elders of the Daughter of Zion were commanded to sit upon the ground, and to keep silence.  
Thus the first Scene of this Tragedy was begun amongst us; whilst the Church of the Reformation laboured under these Agonies, travelling like the mother of Ichabod in the abortment 
1 Sam. 4. 19, 21.  of her children! Whilst our Land was filled with Idols, and with those Graven Images which did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria.  
This was the Danger of our Church at that time, when we had no Hopes of Deliverance, till God with his own Right Hand repelled our Enemies, and did Wonders for us; which will appear yet greater, from the Defect and Mismanagement in Civil as well as Ecclesiastic Matters.  
Corruption, Cruelty, and unjust Oppression, did they not cry out aloud, even to the most Western Part of our Island? How were our Ears filled in those Days with the Groans of the Oppressed! Was not the Seat of Justice in many Places made the Seat of Spoil, that robbed many Hundreds not only of their Privileges, but even of their Lives! Were not the Laws made than the Traps and Snares wherein both Plaintiff and Defendant were equally trepanned! When Right and Wrong were so in Name only, and Innocence too frequently was branded as an Offender! When the Cause of the Fatherless was not taken part withal, nor the distressed Widow relieved in her Calamity! Might it not than be said of ours, as the Holy Prophet exclaimed against the Governors of Judah, her Magistrates, and high-placed Officers, That indeed they should be blinded as to Respect of Persons; but instead of that, they were blinded with Gifts and Bribes; for the Matter was never examined by the Weight of its Merit, but by the Weight of the Reward of the Mighty: And the Poor, the Just, and the Righteous Man, his Cause neglected, and all of them equally oppressed and cashiered! How mournfully (methinks) did the Prophet in his Time lament all this, when he said the City was full of Judgement, and Righteousness lodged in her;— but now 
Isa. 1. 21.  Murderers.  
This not long since was the sad Decay both in Church and State; when evil was called good, and good evil; light was put for darkness, and darkness for light: When the Wicked were justified for Reward, and the Righteousness of the Righteous was taken from him: When the Innocent was pronounced guilty, and the truly Religious Heretical and Criminous.  
But, blessed be his Name, we see the Tribunal is God's; and with what Strength soever Authority may be grasped, still there is an Alwise Power above, who can Infatuate the Counsel of the Crafty; who for his own Mercy sake can wrist and take away the Sword out of the Hand of the Oppressors, although they have the Strength of Legions to secure it.  
And this is the Great Work which he hath done for us, whereof we rejoice: Rescuing us from a Captivity both in Body and Soul; both in Church and State; and that from so Great a Power, from such otherwise Invincible Armadas, that we may well say with Holy David, When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, than were we like unto them that dream: For what could it appear otherwise than a Matter of mere Fancy and Imagination, for us to have been thus surprised by such a strange Deliverance, without Blood, almost without a Struggle, from the Nefandous Stratagems of such a Convention; from the very midst of such well-appointed Men, as might in a Good Cause have challenged, have engaged the whole World, and overcome them? Therefore, Not unto us, most gracious God, not unto us, but unto thy Sacred Name be the Praise and Glory! O let us Praise our God for this his Goodness to us, and declare these Wonders that he hath done for us: Who has surpassed our very Hopes by the Greatness of his Love, and has done more for us than our own Hearts could wish for, or we were able to desire of him. But  
2dly. We shall found this Goodness of God enlarged, not only from the Dangers we have escaped by his means, but by the Immense Goodness of his Love to us, in the Merciful Favours we have received.  
And this has brought me to the Glorious Theme most proper for our present Occasion: 'Tis the pleasant Countenance of Peace, that we are now to fix our Eyes upon: They are the delightful Notes which she dictates, that we are now to sing: A Melody so grateful, so enchanting to the greatest Part of Europe, that I am persuaded no Voice could charm like this of an Universal Peace: Not Sound could yield so great, so melodious an Harmony: For what can be more tuneful to a Christian Ear, than to hear the consenting Voices of all Christendom, joining in a Symphony, and the sweet Consort of Peace and Concord.  
Whoever is not sensible of this great Blessing, must be wholly ignorant of the direful Effects of a Bloody War: No man that has ever tasted the bitter Cup of an Invasion, or that has ever set his Foot upon the Bloody Stage of War, can forbear to Praise the Living God, for the Divine Blessings of a Peace. He that has heard the Clashing of the Sword and Spear, the direful Shouting of prevailing Parties, and the sad Mourns of poor Wounded Captives: He that has beheld the fenced Cities begirt with bloody Regiments, surrounded with those merciless Executioners of Death, that black King of Terrors, whilst no place has been left open, but into the Grim Jaws of certain Ruin and Destruction: He that has beheld the Heaps of wounded Bodies lie weltering in their own Gore, whole Countries become an Aceldama, and Field of Blood: When the flourishing Stateliness of whole Kingdoms have been laid Level to the Ground, and their Lofty Turrets have retained no Memory but in their Ruinous Heaps and Demolitious: When Cities by their general Conflagrations have become Resemblances of the General Judgement: When Parents have beheld their Children deflowered before their Faces, prostituted to the Villainy of Insulting Conquerors, and have taken it as a Favour to be sent out of the World, jest they should be tormented with the Sight of such Barbarities: And on the other hand, when Children have lifted up their Voices in the mournful Strains of Lamentation and Sorrow, to behold the mangled Bodies of their murdered Parents, stretched forth and dead: He, I say, that has ever beheld these common Effects of the Rage of War, may easily be convinced of what reason there is to Bless and Praise Almighty God for the Blessings of a Peace.  
And though through a most Blessed Providence, this Favourite Island of Heaven (as I may well call it) has been miraculously preserved in all these Jars and Fightings round about us, from those Shocks of Violence, when almost the whole World besides have laboured under them: Yet even upon this very Account, our Praises to our God for such singular Mercies, should rather be enlarged with greater Acknowledgements: That We, over whom the greatest Danger was impendent; We, who have deserved the greatest Judgements by our Sins, should yet come of with the lest Reproach, with so much Honour and Renown.  
'Tis true, and therefore we are obliged to acknowledge, That we own this our Deliverance and our Peace, in a great measure, to the mighty Valour of a Brave Heroic Prince, whose Generous Conduct has made him Famous and Renowned in all the Courts and Empires in the World: And in this our Gracious God has declared his Goodness to us, in raising up such a Glorious Instrument to complete his Wonders: For let me tell you, though this Mighty Man has already silenced that sullen God of War, and purchased Peace for us; yet has he another Conquest to pursue; an Achievement that requires an Arm not lesle Puissant than that Conquering Princes, who has reduced the violent Outrage of an Insulting Enemy, into a calm Serenitude of Quietude and Peace: He has a Noble Conquest still to make, by which he will obtain unto himself Another Crown in a Better Kingdom.  
Sin, that Black Prince of Darkness, has set his Standard up in our Nation; and God knows, he has his Thousands and his Legions that are daily fight under his Proud Banners. If we consider the whole Realm in all the common Qualities and Dispositions of Men, shall we not found them all in a strange Defection from Piety and Virtue; listing to Apostasy, and falling from God: Some running confusedly into Divisions, and they know not what Schisms: Others making Religion a Cloak for their Hypocrisy: Every one setting up his own Temple to serve God in; and that is, in plain English, God has no Temple allowed him, no Devotion paid him. Shall we not found them like those men of Athens, dedicating their Lives and Actions, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, to a God which they know not; of whose Goodness and Mercy, of whose Majesty and Power, of whose Providence over them in this World, and most Gracious Proffers of Eternal Life, they are resolved to be ignorant, and not regard them. Is it not too plain, That our Religion, like the Blessed Author of it, has scarce a Place where to repose its self? Is it not too apparent, how the Temple of Bacchus is more frequented than the Temple of God? Has not a degenerate Custom made it a common Practice for daring Men to be, instead of fearing God, openly disputing against God; instead of Hearing or Meditating on his Word, Blaspheming the Sacred Oracles of Life? And do not our Ears glow even of the Blasphemy of the Multitude, who are resolved, rather than there shall be no Divisions amongst us, to divide Almighty God even from himself; to confounded the Trinity in Unity, and as far as their Narrow Capacities can reach, to destroy the Saviour of the World? Thus do they run together in whole Battalia's, fight against the most High; and as it were storming the Throne of the Son of God.  
From hence than we may look into the true State of our Nation: What a mighty Army there now is, revelling under the Black Ensign of Misery and Death; so that our only Hope, next to the Good Providence of God, lies in the unshaken single Courage of this Kingdom's Worthy.  
And I do not in the lest doubt but that this will be his next most Glorious Enterprise, to bring the Infidel and the Atheist to the Knowledge of his Maker: and by this means he will become as much a Favourite of Heaven, as by his own Prowess he has made himself the Wonder of the World. But  
3dly. It is the Goodness of God alone that has wrought out all these his Wonders for us: For alas! what can we pretend to, as a Motive springing from ourselves, to prevail upon him to bless us in such Signal and Extraordinary Mercies? If the Sin and the Profaneness of this Degenerate Age in which we live: If the Oppression, the Extortion and Injustice so predominant amongst us: If our Rebellion against God, and our Hatred of him: If our Contempt of all his former Mercies to us, can be Arguments to pled for us, than indeed the Case is otherwise; for we have nothing else to offer in our own behalf. Not, not; our Sins must be our Advocate, or there is nothing else that can come from us, to interceded with God for us: And therefore what might we not have expected from his Justice? What Visitation, but his Wrath? What Message, but the Punishment of our Sins? And yet when our Iniquities cried out aloud, even to Heaven for Vengeance; when our Transgressions were so great as justly to deserve some Signal Scourge and Judgement from above; even than are we delivered by a mighty Hand from the Scourge of Tyrannising Men; from the Fatal and Epidemic Cruelties of the Children of Blood. Blessed God So great is thy Love to thy sinful Creatures, that thou art more merciful than we can be sinful.  
In this than the Goodness of God is wonderfully apparent; that although he hateth Sin with a perfect Hatred, yet he regardeth Sinners with a stupendious Love: For though we have rebelled against him, and revolted from him, yet still he endeavours to draw us to himself and to his Obedience, by the Cords of his Mercy: For this he has blessed us hitherto; he has brought to naught the Malice which the Devil and Man had contrived against us: He has, if I may presume to say so, new modelled the Most Christian Temper; changed the Nature of that which was not long since stained with the Black Characters of Cruel and Tyrannic, into a Generous Disposition of Restitution; to the Honour of Himself, the Glory of our Mighty Monarch, to the Peace and Satisfaction of the whole Christian World. And all this to bring us to a Sense of his Lovingkindness, and our Obedience to his Righteous Commandments. And what shall we tender unto him lesle than this, for these the Benefits which he has done unto us? Shall we not remember that this is the Lord's doing, and let it be marvellous in our eyes? This is the Day which the Lord hath made, shall we not be glad and rejoice in it? For,  
4thly. We have an indispensible Obligation upon us to express ourselves in a grateful Acknowledgement of his exceeding Goodness. And indeed, to show ourselves insensible of such Favours as we have so lately received, would be an Ingratitude of the blackest Dye: This would be to tempt God afresh, and make him to repent that ever he has done such Wonders for us. And I would have all men seriously consider, that the same Almighty God who can do Wonders for our Good and Happiness; if he finds we are resolved that his Goodness shall work no good effect upon us; if we will not by that means be brought unto Repentance, (for that is the only way to show our Acknowledgements of his Mercies) the same All-powerful God than can sand as great Instances of his Anger, in his Punishments upon us. Let no man therefore be too secure, and think it beyond the Power of God to punish, now there is a Peace among Men; for when God arises in his Anger, with his Sword unsheathed, to execute his Justice upon those that will not be by any means prevailed upon to turn from the evil of their ways; when once the Sins of any People make them ripe for Vengeance; than 'tis that God wants neither Strength, nor the Assistance of Insulting Men; but he has ways enough to vindicate his Honour and his Justice, and to punish any backsliding foolish People: 'Tis not always that he commissions the Sword to pass through the Land: Sometimes he punishes by Famine, than by Pestilence; these are more raging, cruel Enemies, than any other. 'Tis not, as I'm informed, above Two and thirty Years, since this very Town did feel the impartial Stroke of one of these unrelenting Executioners: And I am apt to think that Tragic Time has not escaped the Memory of some that are here amongst us: When the Tolls of Passing-Bells scarce ever ceased; when the Voice of Mourning was never silent: When tenderhearted Parents dared not approach the Beds of their Sick and Dying Children; and when they on the other hand dared not approach to beg the Blessing of their dying Parents, for fear of the Infection: When men awoke and risen well in the Morning, and yet were laid among the Dead ere Night: When there was no Music but the Noise of Bells, to proclaim the Rage of Death: When in each Hour the destroying Angel mowed down Multitudes, and every Week's End brought the News of the Increase of Thousands. Did you not than, if you might venture through the Streets, behold them filled with the Voice of Lamentation, and the sad Liveries of Mourning. Thus than you were convinced, that God could be provoked; and when his Mercies would not do to reclaim men from their Sins, he had more ways than by a Common Enemy to punish the Transgressor's of his William.  
And shall not this prevail upon Us also to be wrought upon by his Goodness; to Praise his Holy Name as we ought to do! We must be sensible that he tries by all the softest ways of Tenderness and Love to win our Hearts to him, before he pleads with us with his Rod in his hand.  
Let us not than provoke so good a Benefactor, by a Contempt of his Indulgent Favours, and because they are so continually multiplied upon us. What could he have done more for us, that he has not done? O than! Shall we not praise this God? Is there any thing that he can command us, and we ungratefully refuse it? Surely, had we Hearts of Rock, we must be melted by his Goodness; and never be so stupid, so dumb, as not to open our Mouths, to declare the Wonders that he hath done for us.  
But what Anthem shall we device to sing these Mercies! How shall we strain our Voices to such a Key, as shall ever reach the Height of his Immense Love! O let it be the Harmony of our Lives! Let all our Actions speak the Sense we have of the Length, and Breadth, and Depth, and Height of the unbounded Goodness of our Heavenly Father: Remembering that 'tis not for this time only that God can enlarge his Love to this vast degree: His Almighty Power is as Immense, as his Love is Infinite; and he can make his Goodness to shine upon every particular Soul among us, as well as upon a whole Kingdom in general. And if God can thus bless us with his Goodness here, how transcendent will his Favour be upon us in another World!  
To conclude: Let this be the Method of our Praises and Thanksgivings, To redeem the Time that we have lost; to prove ourselves worthy of these Favours which we have received, keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. Let the whole Course of our Lives be squared according to the Rule of God's Precepts: That our Rejoices may flow from the Peace of a Good Conscience; than shall we have Peace indeed; even the Peace of God, which passeth all understanding. O let our Hearts be lifted up to God whilst the remaining part of our Lives is spent, not in a wild Profaneness, not in Revelling and Debauches, not in the secret Murmur of Factious Spirits; but in Sincerity and Truth, in Virtue and Religion: with a Spiritual Joy and Gladness; proclaiming and admiring the Goodness and wondered Mercies of Almighty God; praising and adoring his Holy Name; chanting out his Glory here, as it will be our constant Employment and Pleasure to do in never-ceasing Hallelujahs, when we shall come to see him, and enjoy his Blessed Presence in the next World: Which that we may all do, God of his Infinite Mercy grant, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ: To whom, with Thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed all Glory and Honour, Praise and Thanksgiving, both now and ever. Amen.  
FINIS.