The Strong Man EJECTED BY A STRONGER THAN HERALD In a SERMON Preached at Gloucester, the 15th of May, 1660. Being the day his Royal Majesty, King CHARLES the Second, was Proclaimed. SHOWING, How the Strong Man Satan is cast out of the Palace of the Heart, and the Lord CHRIST Possessed thereof. With some Application to the present Ejectment of the late Usurper, Satan's Confederate, out of the Royal Palace, and the Lords Christ, King CHARLES the Second Possessed thereof. By WIL BARTHOLOMEW, M. A. and Vicar of Campden in Gloucester-shire. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed, Jo. 8.36. Duae sunt Urbes, una Civitas Dei Jerusalem: Altera civitas Diaboli Babylon. Illam aedificat amor Dei-pertingens usq ad contemptum sui: Hanc aedificat amor sui-pertingens usque ad contemptum Dei. Aug. London, Printed by W. Godbid, for Richard Thrale at the Crosskeys, at St. Paul's Gate, entering into Cheapside. 1660. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, My very good Lady and Patroness, JULIAN, Vicountesse CAMPDEN, All increase of Grace and Happiness. MADAM, WHen I Preached this slender Piece, there was not the least thought in my mind of bringing it to the Press; but since, being besieged with a strong force of Importunities, Friends conquered me, though they can never confute me of my Opinion, touching the little worth so imperfect an embryo as this hath to go abroad in public: I was confident it would meet with Censures, and therefore careful it might find some Sanctuary: And no better than under your Honour's protection, where the unworthy Author, and those that are dear to him have found so good shelter. Be pleased therefore, I beseech your Honour, to let it come forth under your Patronage, both as a pledge of my Duty, and thankfulness, for your many and great Favours conferred on me, unworthy of the least. And also that others seeing your Honours Name prefixed, may be induced to read it over. Some right you have to it, also for the Argument sake: It is a discourse of a Christians Liberty, purchased by Jesus Christ, from under Sin, and Satan's thraldom. And to whom muy fitly can it be dedicated then to yourself, whom the Lord hath so conspicuously called to partake of that Liberty? witness the lustre of your personal Sanctity, your constancy in Private and Public Devotions, and your zealous endeavour to plant Religion in the meanest of your Family, that you and your House, may unanimously serve the Lord. There is something likewise in this Sermon, by way of Congratulation and Thankfulness, to the great God of Heaven, by whom King's reign on Earth, for that much longed for liberty, restored unto us as Subjects, by the most happy and miraculous Advent of our Dread Sovereign, King CHARLES the Second, to the Royal throne of his Ancestors. And in this Liberty, likewise as your Honour receiveth a large share, so of Joy and Thankfulness, you render unto God a liberal tribute. And not yourself only, but your Family and noble relations (who have ever given abundant testimony of their Loyalty to his Sacred Majesty, and to his Royal Father of Glorious memory) do now proportionably rejoice and bless God for his happy and wonderful Restauration: And all their Sufferings for their Fidelity to their Prince, are remembered no more, for joy that our Sovereign Lord the KING is come in peace to his House. Thus doth your Honour's Piety and Loyalty, both challenge an interest in this little mite, heightened much in worth by your Honour's acceptance of it. The Blessing of God go along with it, and make it effectual to the building up of every one that reads it in Faith and Love: And the good Lord continue and multiply the comfort of his Spirit in your Heart, and your blessed hope to be partaker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Campden in Gloucester-shire. Your Honour's Chaplain to all Christian Duty, and Service obliged, WIL BARTHOLOMEW. THE STRONG MAN EJECTED, BY A STRONGER then HERALD St. Luke Chap. 11. Ver. 21, 22. When a strong man armed keepeth his Palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. AT the 14. verse we find our Blessed Saviour casting out a dumb Devil; In his own nature dumb, as to any penitent confession of any sin he ever yet committed: Howbeit here he is said to be dumb in regard of operation, casting this Daemoniac into a disease that deprived him of his Speech, and of his Sight too, Blind a Mat. 12.12. and Dumb, saith Saint Matthew, and of his Hearing also, as some Interpreters suppose, because we do not read that our Saviour saith, as at other times, Believest thou that I am able to do this? Now, The coherence and occasion of the words being as most actions fall under divers constructions, the best we can say, or do, undergoes divers opinions and censures, so doth this miracle of Christ. The Common People, and Illiterate Multitude stand amazed and wonder; saying, b Matth. 12.13. This is (or is not this the Son of David?) the Messiah that shall deliver us and reign over us? But the learned Scribes and Pharisees, A Scandal which the Scribes would fasten upon Christ made up of depraving, they slander and disparage him (how much better is it to be Holy then Witty?) He casteth out Devils (say they) through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils: that Lord of Flies, so called, either from the abundance of Flies flocking to the Sacrifices offered to that Idol, or from his aid implored against those Swarms of Flies that did infest Ekron in Palestine their Country, where this Idol was worshipped: Or because, Removed by him, with three arguments. when the Devil gave his responses to the Enchanters, he appeared in the form of a great Fly. This their calumny and aspersion our Saviour refuteth. 1. From the evil consequent of dissension, Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Truth it is that (upon compact) one Devil may undo what another doth (attempting by such politic combination) in the same project to resieve the Body; but to gain the Soul, and to enlarge the Kingdom of Darkness. But for one Devil to oppose another, to cast the Devil's Kingdom out of the world, and to set up the Kingdom of God, c Ver. 20. (which is Christ's design) this Beelzebub will not do, neither can such a design be carried on, by those that unite in one, but amongst Enemies that are divided. The second Argument our Saviour useth for refutation of their Blasphemous slander, is ab exemplo pari, from the like example: d Ver. 19 If I by Beelzebub cast out Devils, by whom do your Sons cast them out? Your Sons (i) the Children of your own Nation, those Exorcists born amongst you, who cast out Devils e Acts 19.13, 17. Matth. 7.22. in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You do not say they cast them out by Beelzebub, why then are you partial Judges, to pass contrary Sentence on the like fact? To applaud them who cast out Devils by my power, and to condemn me who am that Power? A third Argument is taken from the effects, pressed by a Military similitude. The Devil is strong and completely armed, and will not be cast out of his Possession, but by a strength superior: so that my dispossessing of Satan, is an evidence that I do not use his power, but that mine is greater than any he hath: For even common experience showeth, that no man can come into a Strong man's house, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Plunder his Householdstuff, unless he be stronger than he. When a strong man armed, etc.] Hitherto we have only viewed the Casket, The sense of the words. History. Mystery. Calvin in loc. & saepe. there is a Jewel in the Text not yet shown you. Besides the History (whereunto we shall have occasion to look back anon) there is a farther Mystery to be discovered in the words. Christ's bodily cures had usually a tendency to something Spiritual, for the saving of the Soul. This Blind and Dumb man whom Satan possessed, is a type of all men that lie under the Dominion of Sin: f 2 Cor. 4.4. whose Eyes the God of this world hath blinded, g Ephes. 2.2. whose heart the Prince of the Air keepeth in peaceable possession: When a Strong man, etc. Until a Stronger than he [i] Jesus Christ, shall be pleased in mercy to visit any such miserable Vassal. Then he ejects Satan, pulls down the reign of sin, takes possession of that poor captivated heart for his own habitation, restores to God his Creature that was lost, and to Man the Graces whereof he was despoiled. But when a Stronger, The division and parts. etc.] Which words are divided as the World is, two Kings over two great Families or Kingdoms divided both. Christ and Belial. the God that overcomes the world, and the God of this evil world. The King of Saints, Jesus Christ; and the King, the Prince of the Power of Darkness, the Devil. The order of the words invite me to speak first of the Prince of the Power of Darkness, wherein first we are to take notice of his Power, he is a strong man. Secondly his Armour, he is a strong man armed. Thirdly, his possession he keepeth the Palace. Fourthly, the posture of his Subjects, like the people of Laish, all quiet and secure, his goods are in peace. When a Strong man armed, etc. Until secondly, Jesus Christ, the King of Saints comes, ejects Satan, and enters his Territories by force: Who is described here, first by his strength and valour, He is stronger than Satan, and cometh upon him. Secondly, his Victory, He overcometh him. Thirdly his most prudent management of that Victory; 1. He disarms the enemy. 2. Rescues his Captives out of the enemy's hands, and (as David in the case of Ziglag, so the Son of David) recovers all the spoils and divideth them amongst them. But when a stronger than he, etc. To all which particulars I shall likely speak something whilst I insist on these two Propositions, Summed up in 2. propositions. whereunto we are to hold us at this time. First, That all unconverted ones, living in a state of habitual sin, and actual disobedience against God: they are in bondage under Satan: Led captive by him according to his Will. When a strong man armed, etc. Secondly, When Jesus Christ is pleased in mercy to visit any such poor captives, He ejects Satan, pulls down the Reign and Dominion of Sin, takes possession of their hearts for his own habitation, and restores unto them the graces whereof they were despoiled. But when a stronger, 1. Proposition. All men unconverted are in Bondage under Satan. 1 Cor. 6.11. Ephes. 2.2. etc. I will begin with the First. All unconverted, etc. Such were some of you, saith St. Paul to the Corinthians, such were the Ephesians, Walking according to the Prince of the power of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; amongst whom (saith the Apostle) we had our conversation in times past. Titus 3.3. We ourselves (saith he) had our conversation in times past, foolish, disobedient, serving divers Lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, haters and hating one another. (Deeds of Darkness all) which sins while men live under them, we need no other evidence that they are under the Dominion of the Prince of the power Darkness; for his Children ye are (saith our Saviour) whose works ye do; and his Servants ye are (saith the Apostle) to whom ye obey. Rom. 6.16. A hard & cruel Bondage because they are under. A very hard and cruel hondage. 1. A strong man. Prov. 21.16. Mr. Mede in loc. Prov. 21.16. First, Because he that deteins them is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a strong man, a Goliah-Gyant. The man that wanders out of the way of Wisdom, shall remain in the Congregation of the Dead; In caetu Gigantium, in the house of Giants (that's the proper signification) and so was Hell called by the Jews before the Captivity (saith a learned Critic) the assembly of Giants, of those Giants, and mighty men, who in the old world rebelled against God, and of those apostate Giants, who fell from God, and of Angels became Devils. Who since their fall have lost their spiritual Love, but retain their natural power. All which power in them, how great soever, is now become the power of Darkness, Triumphing in all the ungodly, drowned in Ignorance, disobedience, and unbeleif, which the Apostle calls Darkness: militant, combating with the godly, Ephes. 5.8. For we wrestle not (saith he) with flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness, against wicked Spirits in ability transcending the power of flesh and blood. Mighty Giants in whose sight we are but as Grasshoppers, and as easily destroyed by them. Job. 40.41. Behemoth and Leviathan names (say some) signifying the Devil, the King of the Children of Pride, and all the powers of the earth cannot match him; A roaring Lion who would devour all, But thanks be given to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ, who for those few Lamb's sake that are of his fold, the Church, hath chained that roaring Lion the Devil, and none become a prey unto him but such as yield to his Temptations, and by their wilful disobedience come within his chain, such he holds fast in the cords of their sins, and they are Captives to this Strong man; Whose miserable captivity is so much the more hard and cruel. 2. Armed having arms Secondly, In that he is armed as well as strong. A Strong man armed, being furnished with arms, first of his own, secondly from ourselves, thirdly from the Law. First, I from himself. He himself is a Magazine of temptations, having his Quiver full of poisoned Arrows or Darts (as the Apostle calls them) happily because most consonant to his name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a metaphor from casting of Darts. Ephes. 6.16. Amongst which multitude, there be two poisoned ones whereof he makes frequent use. The one dipped in a cold poison to benumb and make men stupid with careless security, whilst they presume to sin. The other dipped in a hot poison, to scorch men after they have sinned in restless despair. A pregnant Example of both which we have in the incestuous Corinthian, r 2. Cor. 2.11. whom Satan carries on so far in lust as to make him presume to join in an incestuous match. Afterwards (when by the Church's censure he felt the smart and repent of his sin) than Satan wrought upon his sorrow to drive him to Despair, that he might perish under cure. Which reach of Satan Paul discovering, he writ to the Corinthians to forgive him, and to comfort him lest he should be swallowed up of overmuch sorrow, and lest (saith he) Satan should get an advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his methods, Depths and Stratagems, especially in making use of these two, either to set men on the pinnacle of Presumption, that they may sin without fear, or persuade them to cast themselves down into the Precipice of Despair, that they may sorrow without hope. Secondly, 2. from us. He is armed from us, from those exerbitances that are by nature within us, he throws the stone, but 'tis the mud within us that troubles our peace. The Ignorance and Darkness that is in men's minds (especially being yet unconverted) their carnal reasonings, and all that stubborness that is in their wills, the faculties of their soul, the Members of their body yielded up to be weapons and instruments of sin. Musc. interpret. Haec sunt diaboli adversus nos tela infesta (saith St. Bazil.) These all become Satan's armour, wherewith he fighteth against us. The Prince of this world cometh (saith our Saviour) and he hath nothing in me. No darkness, nor disobedience in me, to arm him against me. But now there is by nature in debauched Man, many noisome and hurtful lusts, a party of the Devils within him, to open a postern gate, and give him possession of the whole Isle of Man. Otherwise Satan being without, could have no power to enter the Fort, unless it were given him from within; whom to cast out, it is beyond the sphere of Man's activity. For, Thirdly, he fortifies himself with a Law, all men out of Christ, and under the reign of Sin, are debtors to the Law: 3. From the Law. They own a debt of obedience to the whole Law, and a debt of eternal punishment in Hell, for the breach of the Law; all which Satan knows very well, and will not spare (when he sees his time) to thunder forth and discharge all his threaten of the Law against the guilty Offender, to write them in Blood, to pluck him by the Throat, and to say, Pay that thou owest? to awake Conscience, to fly in his face, and tell him, that they that do such things are worthy of Death. Death in the end, and Death without end. s Heb. 2.14. Under the Fear of which Death, (saith the Apostle) they are all their life-time subject to Bondage. A hard and cruel bondage. 3. Because he keeps the Palace, the Heart. Thirdly, Because the strong man armed keepeth the Palace, the Heart, the precious Soul. If we peruse histories of the anguish and cruel bondage, that the worst of slaves have suffered, we find that the commands which their rigid Taskemasters exercised over them, terminated in the body, the bodily service; that was the chiefest they looked after, whence they were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bodies. Doctor Sanderson Serm. 7. ad Aulam. Now this cruel Tyrant is not content with the Outhouse the Body, or the smaller Forts the Members of the Body, that's but petty inconsiderable Pillage and spoil: Da mihi animas (saith he) give me the Souls, the Royal Palace, the Heart. The principal thing that Almighty God challengeth of Man, is the Heart, My Son give me thy heart. That he would have for a Temple to dwell in, but this proud Devil hath usurped it: The House of God is become a den of thiefs; the Idol Dagon is set up in the Ark of God, and the abomination of desolation stands there, where by Creation was the holy place: The Heart, designed to be an habitation for God's spirit is become more impure than the Stable of Augaeus, A cage of unclean Birds. So that we need not wonder why the Heart is deceitful above all things, since it hath received the Father of Lies to lodge in it: When it speaketh fair, believe it not, for there are seven abominations lodge there. It was, and it should be a Garden enclosed for Christ, but till Conversion it is an open Field, where Satan sows his Tares, whence spring evil Thoughts, Adulteries, Fornications, Murders, Thefts, Covetousness, Wickedness, Deceit, Lasciviousness, an evil Eye, Blasphemy, Pride, Foolishness; for from this Palace, the Devil hath influence upon the whole Man. The Understanding is darkened, with mists of errors, and strong delusions; the Will is become Rebel to Jesus Christ, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us; And, What is the Almighty that we should serve him? The Affections are wedded to Satan's loves and hatreds, and the members of the body (like the Centurion's Servants) are ready to go and return at his beck, who sits in his Palace, and no man saith, cur ita facis, why dost thou so? for His goods are in peace. 4. Because his goods are in peace, The fourth and last, but not the least aggravation, of sinful man's slavery and bondage. When the strong man armed keepeth the House, his goods are in peace. The old Cerberus hath his Prisoners sure enough, and now he will not wag his tongue to disquiet them, yea rather useth all stratagems to preserve in his Vassals a temporary peace, which peace proceeds, that they may not attempt an escape from under his Yoke. In order whereunto, First, from Satan's tampering with Conscience. first he tampers with Conscience, to remove thence all scruple. The conscience of Man lies under two operations of the Devil, t Psal. 65.3. In the evil day of affliction, when a man's iniquities prevail against him, than he awakes Conscience, that every sinful moat may seem a beam, and so he may put all in a hurry, as if Hell and the Soul were met together. But in time of Prosperity, he sows Pillows under men's Elbows, and is desirous Conscience should stretch itself on a bed of Ivory, and take its ease. A Sermon at such a time (like that of Paul to Felix) of Judgement to come, is not in season. The time he knows is not yet for his Prisoner to receive his torment, therefore he desires he may live at ease, that his goods may be in peace. 2. 2. From the nature of habitual sin. This evil peace receiveth nourishment from the nature of habitual sin. A godly man, though he may be taken by occasion in a fault, yet finds he no rest in the way that is finfull; No rest in my bones by reason of my sin, (saith David;) but an ungodly man u Judas v. 12. feeds himself in sin without fear. For as no element (they say) is ponderous in its proper place (if we lie under deep waters, the burden thereof offends us not, though otherwise they may annoy us) so Sin is not a burden to a man in his unregeneracy, and his unconverted condition, it being in him as in its proper region or element, he is at peace. This Lethargy taketh growth. 3. From evil managing plenty, unto living voluptuously: 3. From plenty ill managed. It is the rich man in the Gospel that said, Soul take thy ease, thou hast goods laid up for many years. A Surfeit of plenty or pleasure drowns sinners in a sleep of security, and then Satan hath them sure. It was Crasus his council to Cyrus that that if he would hold the Lydians in Slavery, he must let them sing, and play, and drink, and dance and dally, and such pipes Satan wants not, that a dead sleep of carnal security may fall upon his Vessals, and that they may for the present live in peace: A wretched and miserable peace that ends in ruin and destruction. The w Arist. Prob. Sect. 23. q. 5. Philosopher tells us of a Sea, wherein by hollows of the Earth, or some whirling attractive property, the Ship is sucked in, and cast away in a calm; so do wicked men's Souls gently perish in the midst of their own security: While they cry peace, peace (saith the Scripture) sudden destruction shall come upon them, as travel upon a woman, and they shall not escape. Great peace have they that love God's Law, (saith the Psalmist) and nothing shall offend them. But such as have forsaken God's Law, and cast it behind their back, if they have Peace, the Devil is in that peace. If Pharaoh be at peace with the Israelites, it is a sign they are his Bondslaves. If the Gaoler be at peace with his Prisoner, it is a sign he hath him under Bar and Bolt; and if Satan be at peace with wicked men, and they at peace in their Sins, it is a sign he is possessed of the Palace, (their hearts) and they are his Vassals; and so my first Proposition is cleared. That all unconverted ones, etc. Whither now (by way of Application) shall I convert my Speech, Application to all that are unconverted, to take up a Lamentation, and to cry mightily to God, to send his Son Jesus Christ, to make them free. but to such as are not yet converted from the error of their ways, and from the evil of their do. To all that live in the practice of any known sins, and yet are at peace in themselves: that they would take up a Lamentation and Mourning for their sad and miserable condition, as one that mourneth for the death of his firstborn. The Prince of the Power of darkness, they are under him; his Captives, Vassals and slaves. You walk in darkness, in disobedience against God (that's the way you are in) and darkness, outer darkness will be your portion, that's the end you are hasting to. Profligate sinners may say in their ruff and jollity, as those Gallant fellows in the 12 Psalm and 4 verse. Who is Lord over us? Truly it is no hard matter to answer you, even the Devil, all you have, all you are, is his, he hath the custody of that Royal Fort, the Palace the Heart, that's his house; I will go to my house (saith that unclean spirit) Matth. 12.44. and when he comes he finds it empty, so is every heart that is not established with grace, and garnished, ready for him and his guests, even seven Devils more wicked than himself, which push on miserable captives to commit iniquity with greediness, Doctor Sanderson. Ser. 7. ad Aulam. for go they needs must whom the Devil drives: Hence some melt themselves in Lusts and sordid pleasures, possessed with a Voluptuous Devil; others pine themselves lean, whilst they behold the fatness of their neighbour's portion, w Jo. 4.5. The spirit that dwells in them lusteth after Envy, behold a malicious Devil. Another upon the wings of Ambition, soars to an usurped pinnacle of Honour; lo there dwells a proud Devil. Another stops his ears, and will not hear sound doctrine, nor seasonable reprehension, but is a follower of such teachers, as are after his own lusts, not being pleased with that which is true, but allowing that only to be true which pleaseth him: The Devil hath infected his ear with an itch, and unless you claw him, he will not hear you. Another labours of a Bloody Flux, of Oaths, or lets his mouth lose x Epist. Judas ver 8. to speak evil of Dignities: The Devil hath possessed his tongue, and set it on fire with the fire of Hell. O that all men living and lying in these and the like sins, would take this to heart, that their precious Soul (for which the world assords not a valuable compensation) is in the possession of Satan: they are under the shadow and government of that Bramble the Devil, whence nothing can be expected but the fire of Hell to come forth and destroy them. y Exod. 5.19. The people of Israel finding themselves in evil case under Pharaoh, when they were to gather straw, and the whole tale of Brick also exacted, they cried for anguish of heart, because of their cruel bondage, and the Lord heard their cry, z Exod. 6.6, 7, 8. and by the hand of his Captain Moses did bring them from under their burdens. O that all in their sins would be so sensible of their bondage, as to cry earnestly to God for their Souls, as the man in the Gospel for his Son, Have mercy upon me O Lord for my Soul is possessed with a Devil, and sometimes he throws me into the Fire, and sometimes into the Water; Makes me as hot as fire to the pursuit of that which is evil, but to that which is good, as cold as Ice. That they would cry mightily to God, one deep call upon another, a depth of misery, on a depth of mercy. I am so fast in prison, I cannot get out. Then would the Lord send a greater than Moses to deliver them, even his Son Jesus the Captain of our Salvation, on whom he hath poured his spirit to bring deliverance to Captives, and to open the Prison door, to such as are bound under Satan. The second and most welcome assertion that now invites your attention. 2 Prop. A sinner's deliverance out of Bondage by Christ, who is When Jesus Christ is pleased in mercy to visit any such poor Captives, he ejects Satan, pulls down the reign and dominion of Sin, takes possession of their hearts for his own habitation, and restores unto them the graces whereof they were despoiled. But when a stronger, First, stronger than Satan, and comes upon him. etc. This strong man Satan, he buckles on his Armour about him, stands upon his Guard, is resolved to keep his Captives, and will not let them go. But there is no remedy, he must yield perforce what he cannot hold. For a stronger than he, cometh upon him, and overcometh him. His valour that the first. a Psal. 89.19. The Lord hath laid help upon one that is mighty. b Dan. 9.25. Messiah the Prince, as Daniel calls him, enters the lists, encounters the Prince of the power of Darkness, and the enterprise shall go on with success, c Esay 53.10. the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands, for he waketh in great strength, and is mighty to subdue enemies, and mighty to save his people; In whose presence, Conquest its self stands expecting only his dread beck. d Luke 1.19. The Lord hath raised up a horn of Salvation, his Son Jesus Christ; e Acts 10.43. To him give all the Prophet's witness. A horn of Salvation, noting his power and strength to break all the horns of Satan, and to batter down his Kingdom, until it fall to the ground, as the Walls of Jericho at the sound of the Rams horns. Hail King (said they in scorn) but King he is in earnest, f Esay 96.54. The Government is upon his shoulders, having a golden Sceptre of Grace, which his people kiss, and an Iron rod of strength, wherewith (according to the first Prophecy) g Gen. 3.15. He breaketh the head of that old Dragon the Devil, who is as little able to resist him as a Potter's Vessel a rod of Iron: to whom deservedly appertains this magnificent Elegy, He is stronger than all. Greater is he that is in you, saith Saint John (that is Christ) than he that is in the world [i] the Devil. And for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, h 1 Joh. 3.8 that he might destroy the works of the Devil. For the accomplishing whereof he is throughly furnished. i Col. 1.19. In him dwelleth all fullness. A fullness of Wisdom to contrive, a fullness of Power to effect, and a fullness of success; the Battle is not doubtful, the Event is certain, He goes on conquering, and to conquer. The second particular, 2. Overcomes him. His victory; But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him. David, with a stone out of a sling, smote Goliath to the ground, and then with his own Sword severed his Blasphemous head from his shoulders. The Son of David, Jesus Christ, daniel's stone, cut forth of the Mountain without hands (born of a Virgin that never knew man) smote that Great Goliath, the Devil, foiled him with his own Weapon, conquered him with his own Sword; By death, overcame him that had the power of death. k 1 Cor. 23.24. Christ Crucified, was to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness: but to them which are called, the power of God, and the wisdom of God: The power of God to conquer the strong man, in the Text Satan, and the wisdom of God to befool that old Serpent, who would not have put it into the heart of Judas to betray him, had he not thought, that when he was nailed to the Cross, he could neither fight nor fly: but the Devil was mistaken for all his craft. The Cross was Christ's triumphal Chariot, wherein he subdued all the Potentates and Powers of darkness; l Col. 2.15. having spoilt Principalities and Powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it, in the Cross: for duo in cruse affixi intelliguntur, (saith Origen) too were fixed on the Cross, Christ visibly and willingly for a time, and Satan invisibly and unwillingly for ever. Now this victory takes quite away the scandal of the Cross, and blessed Paul will glory in nothing m Gal. 6.14. but the Cross of Christ. Christ's Death gave such a blow to the Devil, as cast him down without any hopes of ever rising again: when he had swallowed up Christ in the Grave, he thought he had got the Field, and that all was sure, but he found (to his sorrow) a Hook under that Bait which he never suspected; he received a Trojan horse within his Walls, which forced him to yield both Field and Victory; and he by Death seizing upon him that was Innocent, forfeited his power over us that are guilty, so many of us as truly believe in Christ. An Eye of Faith, doth see in the Death and Passion of Christ. Hell disappointed, Satan confounded, and Christs-poor captived Lambs rescued (as a panting prey) out of the paw of that roaring Lion, and the grim mouth of that raging Bear. Object. But you will say, Satan doth still fight against the Faithful by his assaults and temptations. Satan yet fights against the faithful. Answ. True, he doth so, Christ permits him. First, To exercise his children's Graces, and to work them to a conformity with himself. Yet secondly, Satan is deprived of all power, to prevail to the ruin of the Souls of Believers, they being built upon a Rock, against which the gates of Hell shall not prevail. Thirdly, For their comfort they strive with a conquered enemy, who hath more Gall than strength: so that if we like good Soldiers of Jesus Christ resist, steadfast in the Faith, the victory undoubtedly will be ours. He that hath trodden down Satan under his, will also tread him down under our Feet; and we shall have cause to triumph and say, n 1 Cor. 15.57. Thanks be unto God, which gives us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Who the better to encourage us in this conflict, and to assure us of conquest, hath taken away from him all his armour. But when a stronger than he cometh upon him, and overcometh him, he taketh from him all his armour, wherein he trusted. That's the third. 3. Taketh from him his armour. Satan is armed: first (as you have heard) with his own subtle & serpentine temptations, which are so many stings and darts, 1. Blunting the darts of his temptations. whereby precious Souls receive many deadly wounds. But as a Serpent fixing his sting upon a Rock, finds no entrance, and renders his sting thereby useless; so that old Serpent the Devil, attempting to fasten the sting of his temptations upon the Rock which is Christ, lost his sting there, the power, the venom of it, and hath made it uncapable of stinging us, having by Faith once taken sanctuary in the clefts of that Rock. o Eph. 6.16. Therefore above all, (saith the Apostle) take the shield of Faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Devil. Temptations are as so many darts that poison the Soul, and scorch it as with fire: But Christ touched by Faith, Faith in the promises made unto us, yea and Amen in Christ, fetcheth virtue from his blood, (our Antidote) to repel that poison, and to quench those fiery darts, which otherwise would drink up our spirits. Receive Christ Jesus into your hearts by Faith, set open the everlasting doors, and let the King of Glory come into his Palace: then let Satan's temptations fly like Darts and Arrows so thick, as they may seem to darken the Sun: we shall fight in the shade, even under the shadow of the wings of the Sun of righteousness, we shall be safe under his Feathers, his faithfulness and truth shall be our Shield and Buckler. But secondly, besides the darts of his temptations, 2. Subduing our corruptions. he is furnished with armour from our own sins and lusts: True, but Christ's conquest is over Sin, as well as Satan; he hath delivered us from the punishment of sin by his death, and from the power of sin by his Grace. Yet all this still upon the condition of the new Covenant, (to wit) a lively Faith in Christ Jesus, manifested by Repentance from dead works, and a care to live righteously. This is not a cause meriting Christ's victory, but a condition, a qualification necessarily required in all that shall partake of his victory: which if by us performed, than our sins shall never be our ruin: Not our sins past, he hath cast them all into the depths of the Sea, he will blot them out of his remembrance, which is (in some sort) to make them, as if they had never been. And for those present remainders of sin, he will abate their strength by the power of his grace, convert our Members to be weapons of righteousness unto God, and bring us daily to a more intimate communion with himself in knowledge, love and obedience. Yet thirdly, 3. Paying the debt, the Law requires of us. There is another parcel of armour Satan makes not a little use of, the Law. He draws up a charge against us, as debtors to the whole Law by us violated and broken, and therefore exposed to the wrath of God, which is even a consuming fire. But ever blessed be our Redeemer and surety Jesus Christ, he hath paid the whole debt, the debt of universal and exact obedience, which we did owe to the Law as a Covenant of works, that he hath paid, It behoveth us (saith he of himself) to fulfil all righteousness: The debt of malediction and wrath, which the Law inflicteth as a curse that he hath paid, being made a curse for us, and having done so much, he hath wrung the evidences out of Satan's hands; so that now there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. The Law being satisfied, the deluge of God's wrath is abated and dried up, and the Father looking on Believers through his Son, in the midst of Wrath remembers Mercy. For is his wrath a Fire? the water that flowed out of his side hath quenched it. Is it a Cup? he hath drank it; the potion killed him, but cured us. Is it a Winepress? he hath trodden the Winepress of his Father's wrath alone, and none of the people were with him. Is the severe Justice thereof to be satisfied? he hath done it without the impeachment of an iota. Is it a debt? he hath paid the utmost farthing. And to establish the hearts of Believers, and penitent sinners in this truth, that they may have strong consolation, it was not without a Mystery, that the Lord sent an Angel to roll away the Stone from the Sepulchre of Christ, what needs an Angel? he was God as well as Man: If stones cleave asunder at his Passion, they would remove at his Resurrection? True, but an Officer, an Angel is sent to testify the debt is paid, the Law is satisfied, the Prison door is opened, and the Prisoner may come forth. Let not Satan now boast of his armour, his own policy, our Sins, or the Laws claim: Christ hath taken away all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. The last Improvement of this great conquest and victory. And divideth his spoils. 4. Dividing the spoils, which is spoken in regard of Whereof we have have a good comment in the 4. Chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, and the 8. verse, He hath led Captivity captive, and given gifts unto men. He hath led Captivity captive, 1. Persons. is either taken actively or passively, actively, he that did lead his people, his Elect captive (to wit) the Devil, him Christ hath led captive, and p Epist. Jud. v. 6. reserved him in everlasting chains under Darkness, unto the Judgement of the great Day, Passively, he hath led Captivity captive [i] those that were led captive by Satan, the Lord Jesus hath turned their captivity, and brought them under his Government, to march under his Banner, to fight his Battles, and to receive his pay. Thus than he divides his spoils, disposeth of Satan as his Prisoner, of Satan's Vassals for his own Freemen, so many of them as renounce Satan, and come under him for protection. Again, 2. Gifts and Graces as he divideth his spoils [i] he hath given gifts unto men, even to the rebellious, if they will lay down their weapons of Rebellion, take up the gauntlet in his quarrel, and go into the field against Sin and Satan: Look what we have lost by Adam's fall, (who was foiled by Satan) and by our own wilful disobedience, is all restored to us by Christ's victory. Particularly, the Image of God, perfect Liberty, the Celestial Paradise, withal the inexhausted treasures of Grace, and Glory contained in them. First, 1. The Image of God. The Image of God, that rich spoil, that best robe Christ hath put upon us, so that if you ask a Believer, whose Image and superscription he bears? Gods, q Col. 3.10. Eph. 4.24. being renewed by Christ in Knowledge, in Righteousness and Holiness, after the Image of him that created him. Secondly, 2. Perfect liberty. perfect Liberty; For if the Son make you Free, then are you Free indeed: Free from Sin, and Free from Death, from the terror of the one, and from the torment of the other. Only abuse not your Liberty (saith the Apostle) it is a freedom from sin, but a freedom to service, that having your Heart set at liberty, you may the more cheerfully run the ways of God's commandments. Thirdly, 3. The celestial paradise. the Celestial Paradise, r Col. 1.13. he hath delivered us out of the Power of Darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, a Kingdom of Grace in possession, s Ver. 20. the Kingdom of God is come upon you, and of t Luk. 22.23. glory in reversion. These are the rich spoils our most puissant conqueror divides amongst his Soldiers. I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed me. And having brought your Meditations hither, here I shall endeavour to lodge them, with some short Application, and the shorter it will be, because so much hath been interwoven in the former discourse. That which remains is, First, Application. By way of Query. Secondly, Of Counsel. Thirdly; For Courage and Animation. First, First, for quaere. you have heard the whole world is engaged, either for Christ or Satan, all fight either under Christ's ensign or the Devils. The important query now is, who are you for? unless you return the answer of a good Conscience to this query, you lose your soul, which is more worth than the whole world. Blessed be God we are yet in the land of the living, let us make it the business of our whole life, to give a good answer to this weignty query, before we go hence, and be no more seen. Think of it what answer you will give to God, when Death shall summon you to his awful tribunal: If you have been for Christ behold his arms open to relieve you, if for Satan, the Devil will have his due. O that we could say (with that holy Martyr) none but Christ, none but Christ; certain it is, that all one day, shall be subject to Christ, either as Subjects or Rebels: if they that will not kiss the golden Sceptre of his grace, held forth in the Word, they shall feel the weight of his Iron rod, which shall break them in pieces like a Potter's Vessel, while there is none to help. Let us therefore cast down all their weapons of Rebellion and disobedience, lest we be found fight against Christ, Are you stronger than he that hath overcome this strong man? are you able to meet him with ten thousand sins, who is able to come against you with twenty thousand Plagues and Judgements? who will come one day u 2 Thes. 1.8. in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. w Depart, (I pray you) from the Tents of Wickedness, lest you be consumed in your sins. And now the alarm sounds in our ears, resolve to be volunteers for Christ, consecrating and giving up yourselves a willing people unto him, though other Lords and other Lusts have had dominion over us: yet now let us make mention of his name only, saying, We will have no King but Jesus Christ reign thou over us, for thou hast delivered us from Satan that strong man. And being thus resolved hearken Secondly, 2. Counsel. to the Counsel. If you be for Christ then deliver up the Palace to him, let him have the Heart for his Temple, and let it be beautified and furnished as is meet for his entertainment, like the Temple of the triumphant Solomon, with the rod of Aaron, wholesome Discipline in an holy frame of Heart, the two Tables of the Law, the two Testaments written in the heart: the Pot of Manna; the Sacrament of the Lords Supper duly received, and with due preparation; Let not your heart be so withered within you, as to forget to eat that bread, with Morning and Evening Sacrifices of Prayers and Praises: For in his Temple doth every man speak of his honour. Having thus consecrated the Temple of the Heart to Christ, yet know the heart is naturally deceitful, and Satan will be busy to re-obtain his Possession: w Prov. 4.23. Go keep thy heart (saith Solomon) with all diligence; and above all thy keep, keep thy Heart, and let not any bosom sin lodge there with your allowance, but though it be as dear unto you as your right Hand, or your right Eye, yet cut it off, and cast it from you, otherwise that sin will hold Intelligence with the Enemy, to let him in again. But when he shall see that sin killed and crucified, the Head of it (as I may say) upon the Walls, than he departs with shame and confusion. But this departure will be but as he departed from Christ for a season (saith the Text,) therefore, Thirdly, 3. Courage and Animation. for Courage and Animation, we must all resolve upon it as good Soldiers of Jesus Christ, to make War against Satan as long as we live, and never to be at peace with him nor our sins, according to our vow in Baptism, which was to renounce the Devil and all his works, and to continue Christ's faithful Soldiers and Servants to our lives end. When the Children of Israel were entered into the Land of Canaan, God tells them that they were to make War with the w Num. 33.53. Canaanites, until they had destroyed them. So we that are entered into a covenant of peace with Christ, must be at War with Sin & Satan, even to the utter destruction of every Amalekite. x Luke 12.5. Think you (saith our Saviour to his Disciples) that I am come to send peace? I tell you nay, but debate. Christ's business that he came upon the earth for, was to pull down the enmity between God and us, and so to make peace; but not a sinful peace, not peace with Satan, not peace with Sin, but to go out and fight daily against these Philistines. This hath been the sad Catastrophe of the Caesars and Alexanders of the world, they have fled like Eagles to the conquering of Nations, and have been afterwards conquered with their own lusts. Bid we battle to our own corruptions, labour to be conquerors at home, to keep that vast Sea of Passions & Affections within due bounds: Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit, He that overcomes himself, is greater than he that overcomes a strong City. This is the holy War, to fight against Sin and Satan: a War wherein we have Jesus Christ for our Captain, whose quarrel whilst we espouse, he will Crown us with Victory, and after that gives us a Crown of Victory. Be thou faithful unto Death (saith he) and I will give thee a crown of Life. The Jewel, the Mystery contained in the Text, you have had revealed and opened unto you: I must now beg a few minute's patience of you, until we have reviewed the History. We read in the second of the Kings and the seventh, The History reviewed and revived at this time. how the Lord by implanting Fantasies, and frightful apprehensions into the minds of the Syrians, (then warring against Israel) thereby discomfitted the whole host, so that they fled whilst none pursued them: Here was a strong man, And a stronger than he came upon him, and overcame him, with a Fantasy, for the weakness of God is stronger than men. Hereupon the Lepers said to one another, This is a day of good tidings, if we hold our peace we do not well. Doubtless this is a Day too of good Tidings, of the Proclaiming and of the Returning of his Sacred Majesty King Charles the second into his Kingdom, and into his Dominions with peace, safety and honour. A strong man armed not long since kept the Palace, the Royal Palace of the Kings of England, but a stronger than he hath come upon him and overcome him. We should not do well to refrain our lips to keep back God's mercies from this great congregation. Let us cast our eyes therefore once more upon the words, and we shall meet with correspondencies of like effects, as meet together in the Text, and therein behold God's mercy, and our own duty. First, 1. The strong man, the late Usurper who was for the strong man in the Text, him you have heard to be the Devil; The strong man that lately kept the Palace, what was he? We shall best judge by his works (our Saviour's rule) Usurpation, Tyranny, Murder and Rebellion, you know whose works they are, and you know whose works they have been of late years, and they represent him that did them, as ill-favoured a child as the Devil hath any (unless the Lord rich in mercy, gave him repentance) and that you may the better know him by his features or rather deformities, Secondly, 2. Armed. he was a strong man armed, armed with the Serpent's head, more subtle than all the Beasts of the field: and armed with the Lion's paw, with the Arms, Ammunition, Forts, Castles, and the whole Militia of the three Nations, by him usurped and surreptitiously gained: but what speak I of that strength? Like the Man in the Gospel possessed with a Devil; a Luk. 5.3. No man could bind him, no not with chains, but he would pluck them asunder and break them in pieces. This great b job. 41.27. Leviathan esteemed Covenants as straw, Protestations as rotten wood, Engagements, Promises, and Oaths, (the strongest bonds in the world) he would break them as easily as c Judge 1.9. Samson broke the Withs like a thread of Tow when it touched the Fire. Above all, this d 1 Sam. 17.5. Goliath was armed with a coat of Male, with Impudence of Meridian altitude; for he would Preach if need were, and Pray with the greatest Pharisee of them all: yea weep too like the Crocodile over his murdered prey: full well he knew how to cover all his horrid actings with Religion, Saint-ship, and the Liberty of the good people of the Nation. Thirdly, 3. Kept the King's Koyal Palace. in this posture this strong Man armed kept the Palace, the Royal and ancient seat of the Kings of England. There he played Rex. The Bramble was mounted above the Cedar of Lebanon, Antichrist in his chair (for there are e 1 Joh. 2.18. many Antichrists) exalting himself above all that is called God, his very Horses in the Temple of God. Fourthly, 4. His goods are in peace, until All this while his goods are in peace, none durst say, why dost thou so? He prospered for a time in his wickedness, lived in all jollity without the controlment of any judgement, which indeed is one of God's heaviest judgements, to suffer prosperity to attend upon evil actions: Yet nothing was more common with him and his Flatterers then to interpret it as a blessing, and from his good success, to justify the evil of his erterprises: Felix scelus virtus vocatur, it is no new thing to stamp the name of virtue upon prosperous impiety; as Dionysius having a fair wind after he had rob the Temple of Aesculapius stuck not to say, that the Gods love Sacrilege. This conceit reigned with him as long as he reigned, that he was bound to God, not bound by Satan, whilst his goods were in peace. f Psal. 37.7. Ver. 2.10. But fret not thyself (saith the Prophet David) because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass, for he shall be cut down like the Grass, and whither as the green Herb, yet a little while and the wicked shall not be. A stronger than he [i] Christ in the Text, and Christ too in the first place: 2. A stronger than he came. he sent his pale messenger Death, who came upon him, 1. The Lord Christ, and overcame that strong man, and forced him from his Palace, and he is gone to his own place. There it was Christus Dominus, the Lord Christ; and Christus Dominus hath sent us Christum Domini, the Lord Christ hath sent us the Lords Christ, 2. The Lords Christ King Charles the Second. the Lords anointed, our Sovereign Lord King CHARLES the Second, to reign over us who is stronger than the strong man, personal or collective, 1. Stronger being assisted by God. for the hand of God hath been apparently with him in the whole series and progress of our settlement. The great and infinite wise God did see so many men's hearts drawn away from their obedience to their Sovereign by strong delusions, as they could not be reduced to their Allegiance, without the infinite expense of Blood, or by a miracle: Behold therefore a miracle, King Charles returned from his Banishment, arrived upon the coast of England, settled in his Throne, without one drop of Blood shed, or one blow given, either by way of offence or defence: All mountains of opposition are become a plain, and the Lord hath brought forth the headstone of England's glorious Fabric with shoutings. And let us cry, Grace, Grace unto it. g Zech. 3.6, 7. Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who so seethe not a miracle here, and sends not up thanks to God for it, must be like the man of whom I spoke in the opening of the Text, possessed with a Blind and Dumb Devil. The Lord hath showed himself from Heaven wonderfully; the Finger of God hath cast the strong Man and his power out, and planted a stronger than he in. The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence, the right hand of the Lord hath wrought this wonderful alteration, and given us a stronger than he, his right hand, and his arm, and the light of his countenance, because he had a favour unto him. A favour to his right and unquestionable title: For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness. A favour to his incomparable patience, under unparallelled afflictions: h Ja. 5.14. You have heard of the afflictions of Job (saith Saint James) and you have heard of the patience of King CHARLES and have seen the end of the Lord: i Psal. 40.1, 2, 3. He waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto him and heard his cry, and hath brought him out of his distress, and hath set his feet upon a rock, and established his go, and hath put a new song into his mouth. A favour to his invincible constancy in the Christian Religion, established in the Church of England. In that Religion his Royal Father of glorious memory died, a Martyr, a King amongst Martyrs: And in that, Religion his Royal Son hath lived, being as a Rock in the midst of the Sea of temptations: Thus did the Stars of his Virtues shine most clearly in the Dark Night of his Exilement. And for this cause we trust he will be daily stronger in the affections of his Loyal people, and of all the true Sons of our Mother the Church of England. Secondly, 2. And hath overcome. He will come upon them, and overcome them; yea, he hath overcome the hearts of his people already, by his Acts of Indulgence: As the Lord Christ draweth his people unto him, even so doth the Lords Christ. k Hosea 11.4. I drew them (saith the Lord) with cords of a Man, with bonds of Love, and I was to them as they that take off the Yoke, etc. So doth our Gracious Sovereign humanely and courteously draw the hearts of his people unto him, without rigour or violence, not roughly drawing them as slaves, but gently alluring them as Sons, sparing many, as a Father doth his Son, that hath highly exasperated him. Thirdly, 3. Takes away the armour. Having overcome his people, he takes away their armour: All those poisonful weeds of disobedience and contradiction, which through the malice of the Devil, and craftiness of Seducers, were planted in many people's hearts, do now die and whither at the approach of this glorious Sun. The people are daily undeceived, and see plainly, that Liberty and Loyalty dwell together, and that they can partake of no true Freedom, who withdraw their obedience to their lawful SOVEREIGN. Who, Fourthly, 4. Divideth the spoils. divideth the spoils amongst his Subjects, by his most prudent distribution of Justice and Mercy: His Justice restores to him that was spoilt, that which the spoiler spoiled him of. And his Mercy is of large extent, manifested to a Miracle, even to such as are conscious to themselves that they have not deserved it. Blessed be our good God, and blessed be our Eyes, that we See, and our Ears that we Hear, that which many Loyal and right worthy persons (now asleep in their Graves) have desired to see and hear, but have not. Thus is our Captivity turned from under a strong Man a Bramble, to live under a stronger than he, a Vine which the Lords own right hand hath planted, and made so strong for himself: Thus I say is the Captivity of our Zion turned, whilst we were like unto them that dream, a dream indeed; Deliverance came without looking, without labouring for; the less of Man the more of God in it. The Lord was pleased not to give our desired success to the Battle at Dunbar, nor at Worcester, he reserved the glory of this great work for himself. Not unto thee O Lord, not unto thee, but unto us be the shame of our Rebellions; not unto us O Lord, not unto us, but unto thee be the glory of bringing the King back again to us. What remaineth now, but that you that hear me this day, and all the three Nations, would suffer the word of exhortation. To rejoice and give thanks unto the Lord Christ, Hence an exhortation to rejoice and give thanks cautioned with. who hath restored to us the Lords Christ, the Lords anointed, our dread Sovereign. The Lord hath highly magnified us in mercy, and deeply we are bound to magnify him for his mercy, saying and singing with holy David every one of us; l Psal. 35.10. All my bones shall say, Lord who is like unto thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea the poor and the needy from him that spoiled him. Thus let us rejoice and give thanks, yet with due cautions; First of Sobriety, 1 Sobriety. a sacrifice of joy and praise such a Mercy requires: But let it not be offered to Bacchus but Jovi Liberatori, to the great God of Heaven and Earth. Let us rejoice and give thanks, and express the same by walking honestly as in the day; m Rom 13.13. not in rioting and drunkenness: who so (after this manner, saith the Lord) offereth praise glorifieth me, and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God. Secondly, 2. Charity. Charity and works of Mercy. A day of feasting and joy is also a day of n Esther. 9.22. sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. Let Mercy be showed to them for his sake, from whom we have received so great a Mercy. Thirdly, 3. Unity. Unity and Peace one with another, and the rather, because it is the desire of a King to his Subjects, and should conjure our hearts to abstain from all terms and notes of separation. So should our Kingdom, our Nation, our Jerusalem be as a City that is at unity in itself, whilst we that dwell together in it are at unity amongst ourselves. Fourthly, 4. Daily prayers for his Majesty. with daily prayers for his MAJESTY, That the Lord would keep this Mercy forever, in the imaginations of the thoughts of his Heart, and prepare his Heart unto the Lord. That the rod of Affliction, which the Lord hath removed from him, may open his ear to Discipline, and teach him with all prudence to sway the Sceptre, which he hath put into his hand. That it may appear daily (by his wise Government) that the Lord hath preserved him to set forth his glory, to protect his Church, and for a blessing to his people. Glory to God in the highest. FINIS.