A sermon of publike thanksgiuing for the wonderfull mitigation of the late mortalitie preacht before his Matie; vpon his gracious command, at his court of Whitehall, Ian. 29. 1625. And vpon the same command published by Ios. Hall deane of Worcester. Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656. 1626 Approx. 42 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 31 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A02589 STC 12713 ESTC S103657 99839406 99839406 3822 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A02589) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 3822) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1142:11) A sermon of publike thanksgiuing for the wonderfull mitigation of the late mortalitie preacht before his Matie; vpon his gracious command, at his court of Whitehall, Ian. 29. 1625. And vpon the same command published by Ios. Hall deane of Worcester. Hall, Joseph, 1574-1656. [4], 95 [i.e. 59], [1] p. Printed by M. Flesher for Nath. Butter, London : 1626. The first leaf is blank. P. 59 misnumbered 95. Running title reads: A sermon of thanksgiuing. Reproduction of the original in the Harvard University. Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Sermons, English -- 17th century. 2005-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-04 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-04 Ali Jakobson Sampled and proofread 2007-04 Ali Jakobson Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A SERMON OF Publike Thanksgiuing for the wonderfull mitigation of the late Mortalitie ; Preacht before his Matie ; vpon his gracious command , at his Court of Whitehall , Jan. 29. 1625. AND Vpon the same command Published By Jos . Hall Deane of Worcester . LONDON , Printed by M. Flesher for Nath. Butter . 1626. Psal . 68. vers . 19 , 20. Blessed be the Lord , who loadeth vs daily with benefits , euen the God of our saluation . Selah . He that is our God , is the God of saluation , and vnto God the Lord belong the issues from death . YEa , blessed bee the Lord , who hath added this vnto the load of his other mercies to his vnworthy seruant , that the same tongue , which was called , not long since , to chatter out our publike mournings , in the solemne Fast of this place , is now imployed in a song of praise ; and the same hand , which was here lifted vp for supplication , is now lift vp in thāksgiuing ; Ye that thē accompanied me with your tears and sighs , accompany me now , I beseech you , ( in this happy chāge of note , and time ) with your ioyfull smiles , and acclamations to the God that hath wrought it . It is not more natural for the sun , when it looks vpon a moist , and well fermented earth , to cause vapors to ascend thence , thē it is for greatnes , & goodnes , when they both meet together vpon an honest hart , to draw vp holy desires of gratulation . The worth of the agent doth it not alone , without a fit disposition in the subiect ; Let the Sun cast his strongest beames vpon a flint , a pumice , he fetches out no steame : Euen so the greatnes & goodnes of the Almighty , beating vpon a dry & hard hart , preuailes nothing : Here all three are happily met : In God , infinite greatnes , infinite goodnes ; such greatnes , that he is attended with thousand thousands of Angels ; ( a guard fit for the King of heauen ) such goodnesse , that he receiues gifts euen for the rebellious : In Dauid , a gracious heart , that in a sweet sense of the great goodnes of his God , breathes out this diuine Epiphonema , Blessed be the Lord , who loadeth vs daily with benefits , euen the God of our saluation , &c. Wherin me thinkes , the sweet singer of Israel seemes to raise his note to the emulatiō of the quier of heauen , in the melody of their Alleluiahs ; yea , let me say , now that he sings aboue in that blessed consort of glorious spirits , his ditty cannot be better then this , that he sung here vpon earth , and wherin we are about to beare our parts at this time : Prepare , I beseech you , both your eares for Dauids song , and your harts and tongues for your owne . And first in this Angelicall straine , your thoughts cannot but obserue , without me , the Descant , and the Ground ; The descant of Gratulation , Blessed be the Lord ; wherin is both applause and excitation ; an applause giuē to Gods goodnes , and an excitation of others to giue that applause . The ground is a threefold respect . Of what God is in himselfe , God and Lord. Of what God is , and doth to vs , which loadeth vs daily with benefits . Of what hee is both in himselfe , and to vs ; The God of our saluation ; which last , ( like to some rich stone ) is set off with a darke foile , To God the Lord belong the issues from death . So in the first , for his owne sake ; in the second , for our sakes , in the third for his owne , and ours ; as God , as Lord , as a Benefactor , as a Sauiour , and deliuerer , Blessed be the Lord. It is not hard to obserue that Dauids Alleluiahs are more thē his Hosannaes ; his thankes more then his suites . Oft-times doth he praise God when he begs nothing : Seldome euer doth he begge that fauour , for which he doth not raise vp his soule to an anticipation of thanks ; neither is this any other then the vniuersall vnder-song of all his heauenly ditties , Blessed bee the Lord ; Praysed ( as our former translation hath it ) is too low ; Honor is more then praise ; blessing is more then honor ; neither is it for nothing , that from this word ( Barac ) to blesse , is deriued Berec , the knee which is bowed in blessing ; and the cryer before Ioseph , proclaimed Abrech , calling for the honour of the knee from all beholders . Gen. 41.43 . Euery sleight triuiall acknowledgement of worth is a praise ; Blessing is in a higher straine of gratitude , that caries the whole sway of the hart with it , in a kinde of diuine rapture : praise is in matter of complement , blessing , of deuotion . The Apostles rule is that the lesse is blessed of the greater , Abraham of the King of Salem ; the Prophets charge is , that the greater should be blessed of the lesse ; yea the greatest of the least , God of man : This agrees wel ; Blessing is an act that will beare reciprocation ; God blesseth man , & man blesseth God ; God blesseth man imparatiuely , man blesseth God optatiuely ; God blesseth mā in the acts of mercy ; Man blesseth God in the notions , in the expressions of thanks . God blesses man whē he makes him good and happy ; man blesseth God when he confesseth how good , how gracious how glorious he is : So as the blessing is wholly taken vp in agnition , in celebration ; in the one we acknowledg the bounty of God to vs ; in the other we magnifie him , vocally , really , for that bounty . Oh see then what high account God makes of the affections and actions of his poore , silly , earth-creeping creatures ; that hee giues vs in them power to blesse himselfe , & takes it as an honor to be blessed of vs : Dauid wonders that God shold so vouchsafe to blesse man , how much more must wee needs wōder at the mercy of God that will vouchsafe to be blessed by man , a worme , an atome , a nothing ? Yet , both S. Iames tels vs that with the tongue we blesse God ; & the Psalmist cals for it here , as a seruice of deare acceptation ; Blessed be the Lord ; Euen we mē liue not ( Camelion-like ) with the aire of thanks ; nor feed ere the fatter with praises , how much lesse our maker ? O God , we know wel that whatsoeuer men or Angels do , or do not , thou canst not but be infinitely blessed in thy selfe ; before euer any creature was , thou didst equally inioy thy blessed selfe , frō all eternity ; What can this worthles loose filme of flesh either adde to , or detract from thine infinitnesse ? Yet , thou that humblest thy selfe to behold the things that are done in heauen , & earth , humblest thy selfe also , to accept the weake breath of our praises , that are sent vp to thee frō earth to heauen . How should this incourage the vowes , the indeuors of our hearty thankfulnes , to see thē graciously taken ? Would men take vp with good words , with good desires , & quit our bōds for thanks , who wold be a debter ? With the God of mercy this cheap paiment is currant ; if he thē wil honor vs so far as to be blessed of vs , Oh let vs honor him so far as to blesse him ; Quare verbis parcā ? gratuita sunt : Why do we spare thanks that cost vs nothing , as that wise Heathen ; O giue vnto the Lord , yee mighty , giue vnto the Lord the praises due to his name , offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiuing : and still let the foot of our song , be , Blessed be the Lord. This for the descant of gratulation ; the groūd follows ; His own sake hath reason to be first ; God will be blessed both as Iah , and Adonai ; the one the style of his Essence , the other of his Soueraigntie . Euen the most accursed Deist would confesse , that as a pure , simple , infinit , absolute being , God is to be blessed ; for if being be good , & these two be cōuertible , nature must needs teach him , that an absolute & infinit being must needs be absolutely and infinitly good : but what do I blur the glory of this day with mention of those monsters , whose Idol is nature , whose religion is secondary atheisme , whose true region is the lowest hell ; these damned Ethnicks cannot , will not conceiue of God , as he is , because they impiously seuer his essence from his inward relations ; VVe Chrstians can neuer be so heauenly affected to God , as we ought , till we can rise to this pitch of piety , to blesse God for what he is in himself , without the external beneficial relations to the creature ; Else our respects reflect too much homeward , and we doe but look through God , at our selues . Neither is it for vs only to blesse him as an absolute God , but as a Soueraigne Lord too ; whose power hath no more limit then his essence ; the great moderator of heauen and earth , giuing lawes to his creature , ouer-ruling all things , marshalling all euents , crushing his enemies , maintaining his Church , adored by Angells , trembled at by deuills ; Behold here a Lord worthy to be blessed . We honour , as we ought , your conspicuous greatnesse , ô yee eminent Potentates of the earth ; but alas , what is this to the great Lord of heauen ? When wee looke vp thither , we must craue leaue to pitty the breath of your nosthrills , the rust of your coronets , the dust of your graues , the sting of your felicities , and ( if yee take not good heed ) the blots of your memories : As ye hold all in fee from this great Lord , so let it be no disparagement to you , to doe your lowliest homage to his footstoole ; homage , I meane , in action ; giue me the reall benediction ; I am sure that is the best ; they blesse God that praise him , they blesse him more , and praise him best , that obey him . There are that crouch to you great ones , who yet hate you : Oh let vs take heed of offering these hollow obseruances to the searcher of hearts , if wee loue not our owne confusion . They that proclaimed Christ at Ierusalem , had not only Hosanna in their mouths , but palmes in their hands too ; so must wee haue : Let mee say then , If the hand blesse not the Lord , the tongue is an hypocrite . Away with the waste complements of our vaine formalities ; Let our loud actions drowne the language of our words , in blessing the name of the Lord. Neyther must we blesse God as a soueraigne Lord onely , but ( which is yet a more feeling relation ) as a munificent Benefactor , Who loadeth vs daily with benefits . Such is mans selfe-loue , that no inward worth can so attract his praises , as outward beneficence ; Whiles thou makest much of thy selfe , euery one shall speake well of thee , how much more whiles thou makest much of them ? Here God hath met with vs also . Not to perplexe you with scanning the variety of senses , wherewith I haue obserued this Psalme aboue all other of Dauids , to abound ; see here , I beseech you , a foure-fold gradation of diuine bounty . First , here are benefits ; the word is not expressed in the originall , but necessarily implyed in the sense ; for there are but three loads whereof man is capable from God , fauours , precepts , punishments ; the other two are out of the road of gratulation ; when we might therefore haue expected iudgments , behold Benefits : And those secondly , not sparingly handfulld out to vs , but dealt to vs by the whole load ; loadeth with benefits . Whō , thirdly , doth he load , but vs ? Not worthy and well deseruing subiects , but vs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rebels : And lastly , this he doth , not at one doale & no more , ( as euen churles rare feasts vse to be plentifull , ) but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 successiuely , vnweariedly , perpetually . One fauour were too much , here are benefits ; a sprinckling were too much , here is a load ; once were too oft , here is daily largition . Cast your eyes therefore , a little vpon this three-fold exaggeration of beneficence , the measure , a load of benefits ; the subiect , vnworthy vs ; the time , daily : Who daily loadeth vs with benefits . Where shall we begin to survey this vast load of mercies ? were it no more , but that he hath giuen vs a world to liue in , a life to enioy , ayre to breathe in , earth to tread on , fire to warme vs , water to coole and clense vs , cloaths to couer vs , food to nourish vs , sleep to refresh vs , houses to shelter vs , varietie of creatures to serue and delight vs ; here were a iust load : But now , if wee yet adde to these , ciuilitie of breeding , dearnesse of friends , competency of estate , degrees of honor , honesty or dignitie of vocation , fauor of Princes , successe in imployments , domestique comforts , outward peace , good reputation , preseruation from dangers , rescue from euills , the load is well mended : If yet , ye shall come closer , and adde , due proportion of body , integrity of parts , perfection of senses , strength of nature , mediocritie of health , sufficiency of appetite , vigour of digestion , wholsome temper of seasons , freedome from cares , this course must needs heighten it yet more ; If still , yee shall adde to these , the order , and powers , and exercise of our inward faculties , inriched with wisedome , art , learning , experience , expressed by a not-vnhandsome elocution : and shall , now , lay al these together , that cōcerne estate , body , mind ; how can the axeltree of the soule but crack vnder the load of these fauours ? But , if from what God hath done for vs as men , we looke to what hee hath done for vs , as Christians ; that hee hath imbraced vs with an euerlasting loue , that hee hath molded vs anew , enliued vs by his Spirit , fed vs by his word and Sacraments , clothed vs with his merits , bought vs with his blood , becomming vile to make vs glorious , a curse to inuest vs with blessednesse ; in a word , that he hath giuen himselfe to vs , his Sonne for vs : Oh the height , & depth , and breadth of the rich mercies of our God ; Oh the boundlesse , to plesse , bottomlesse load of diuine benefits , whose immensity reaches from the center of this earth , to the vnlimited extent of the very empyreall heauens . Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse , and declare the wonders that hee doth for the children of men . These mercies are great in themselues , our vnworthinesse doth greaten them more : To do good to the well deseruing were but retribution ; Hee ladeth vs , who are no lesse rebellious to him , thē he is beneficiall to vs. Our strait and shallow bounty picks out the worthiest , and most capable subiect ; The greatest gift that euer God gaue , he giues vs , whiles we are enemies . It was our Sauiours charge to his Disciples , Interrogate quis dignus ; Aske who is worthy , that is , ( as Hierom interprets it ) of the honour to receiue such guests ; Should God stand vpon those termes with vs , what should become of vs ? See , and wonder , and be ashamed ô yee Christian hearers ; God loads vs , and we load him ; God loads vs with benefits , we load him with our sinnes . Behold , I am pressed vnder you , saith God , as a cart is pressed , that is full of sheaues , Amos. 2.13 . He should goe away laden with our thanks , with the presents of our duty , and wee shamefully clogge him with our continuall prouocations : Can there be here any danger of selfe-sacrificing with Seianus , and not rather the iust danger of our shame and confusion in our selues ? How can we but hate this vnkind , and vniust , vnanswerablenesse ; Yet herein shall we make an aduantage of our foulest sins , that they giue so much more lustre to the glorious mercies of our God , who ouercoms our euill with good , and loads euen , Vs. The ouer-long interruption of fauours loseth their thanks ; and the best benefits languish in too much disuse . Our God takes order for that , by a perpetuation of beneficence ; Hee ladeth vs daily ; Euery day , euery minute renues his fauours vpon vs ; Semper largitor , semper donator , as Hierom . To speake strictly , there is no time present ; nothing is present but an instant , and that , can no more bee called time , then a pricke can bee called a line ; yet , how swift soeuer the wings of time are , they cannot cut one instant , but they must cary with them a successiue renouation of Gods gracious kindnesse to vs. This Sun of his doth not rise once in an age , or once in a yeare , but euery minute since it was created , riseth to some parts of the earth , and euery day to vs ; Neyther doth he once hurle downe vpon our heads some violent drops , in a storme , but he plyes vs with the sweet showers of the former , and the latter raine ; Wherein the mercy of God condescends to our impotency , who are ready to perish vnder vncomfortable intermissions . Non mihi sufficit ? saith that father ; it is not enough that hee hath giuen mee once , if he giue me not alwayes ; To daies ague makes vs forget yesterdaies health ; Former meales doe not relieue our present hunger . This cotage of ours ruines straight , if it be not new daubed euery day ; new repaired : The liberall care of our God therfore tiles ouer one benefit with another , that it may not raine thorow . And if he bee so vnwearied in his fauours , why are wee weary of our thanks ? Our bonds are renewed euery day to our God ; Why not our payments ? Not once in a yeare , or moone , or weeke , but euery day once ( without faile ) were the legall sacrifices reiterated ; and that , of all those creatures which were necessary for sustentation ; a Lamb , flowre , wine , oyle , that is , meat , bread , drink , sauce ; Why ? but that in all these wee should still daily re-acknowledge our new obligations to the giuer ? Yea , ex plenitudine , & lachrymis , as it is in the originall , Exod. 22.29 . of our plenty & teares , that is , ( as Caietan ) of a deare , or cheape yeare must wee returne ; More , or lesse may not misse our thanks ; We need daily , we beg daily , ( Giue vs this day ) we receiue daily , why do we not daily retribute to our God , and act , as some read it , Blessed bee the Lord daily , who loadeth vs with his benefits . It is time now to turne your eyes to that mixt respect , that reacheth both to God , and vs ; Yee haue seene him a benefactor , see him a Sauiour , and Deliuerer ; The God of our saluation ; The vulgars salutaria , following the Septuagint , differs from our [ Saluation ] but as the meanes from the end . With the Hebrewes , Saluation is a wide word , comprising all the fauours of God , that may tend to preseruation ; and therefore the Psalmist , else-where , extends this act both to man , and beast ; and as if he would comment vpon himselfe , expounds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saue , by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prosper , Psal . 118.25 . It is so deare a title of God , that the Prophet cannot haue enough of it ; the interposition of a Selah cannot barre the redoubling of it in my Text. Euery deliuerance , euery preseruation fathers it selfe vpon God , yet , as the soule is the most precious thing in the world , and life is the most precious thing that belongs to the soule , and eternall life is the best of liues , and the danger and losse of this life is the fearfullest and most horrible , chiefly is this greatest saluation here meant ; wherin God intends most to blesse , and be blessed . Of this Saluation is he the God , by preordination , by purchase , by gift . By preordination ; in that he hath decreed it to vs , from eternitie , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.30 . By purchase , in that hee hath bought it for vs , and vs to it , by the price of his blood , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 6. the last . By gift , in that hee hath feoft vs in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The gift of God is eternall life , Rom. 6.23 . Since therefore , hee decreed it , he bought it , hee bestowes it , iustly is hee the God of our saluation : Who can , who dares arrogate to himselfe any partnership in this great worke ? What power can dispose of the soules finall condition , but the same that made it ? Who can giue eternitie , but hee that onely hath it ? What but an infinite merit can purchase an infinite glory ? Cursed be that spirit that will offer to share with his maker . Downe with your Crownes , ô yee glorious Elders , at the foot of him that sits on the Throne , with a , Non nobis Domine , Not vnto vs , ô Lord , not vnto vs , but to thy name giue the praise . Away with the proud incroachment of the merits of the best Saints , of papall largesses : Only our God , is the God of our saluation . How happie are wee the while ? All actions are according to the force of the agent ; Weake causes produce feeble effects , contingent , casuall ; necessarie , certaine ; Our saluation therefore , being the worke of an infinitely powerfull cause , cannot bee dis-appointed ; Loe the beautie of Salomons , Al-chum ; who hath resisted his will ? When wee looke to our owne fleshie hands here is nothing but discouragement ; when we look to our spirituall enemies , here is nothing but terror ; but when we cast vp our eyes to the mightie God , here is nothing but confidence , nothing but comfort ; Comfort yee , comfort yee therefore , O yee feeble soules , and send your bold defiances to the prince of darknesse ; heauen is high and hard to reach , hell is steep and slipperie , our flesh is earthie and impotent , Satan strong and rancorous , sinne suttle , the world alluring , all these , yet , God is the God of our Saluation ; Let those infernall Lyons roare , and rampe vpon vs ; let the gates of hell doe their worst ; Let the world be a cheater , our flesh a traytor , the deuill a tyrant , Faithfull is hee that hath promised , who will also doe it , God is the God of our Saluation . How much more then in these outward temporall occasions , when wee haue to doe with an arme of flesh ? Doe the enemies of the Church rage and snuffe , and breathe nothing but threats , & death ? Make sure of our God , he shal be sure to make them lick our dust . Great Benhadad of the Syrians shall come with his hempen collar , to the King of Israel ; The very windes and waues shall vndertake those Mahumetan , or Marran powers that shall rise vp against the inheritance of the God of Saluation ; Saluation is rateable according to the danger from which we are deliuered ; since death therefore is the vtmost of all terribles , needes must it bee the highest improuement of Saluation , that to our God belong the issues from death : Death hath here a double latitude , of kinde of extent ; the kind is either temporall , or eternall ; the extent reaches not only to the last compleate act of dissolution , but to all the passages that lead towards it . Thus , the issues from death belong to our God , whether by way of preseruation , or by way of rescue : How gladly doe I meet in my text with the deare and sweet name of our Iesus , who conquered death by dying , and triumpht ouer hell by suffering , and carryes the keyes both of death , and hell . Reuel . 1.18 . He is the God , the Author and Finisher of our Saluation , to whom belong the issues from death . Looke first at the temporary , he keepes it from vs , he fetches vs from it ; It is true , there is a Statutum est , vpon it , dye wee must ; Death knocks equally at the hatch of a Cottage , and gate of a Palace ; but our times are in Gods hand ; the Lord of life hath set vs our period ; Whose omnipotence so contriues all euents , that neither enemie , nor casualtie , nor disease can preuent his houre , Were Death suffered to runne loose and wild , what boote were it to liue ? now it is tetherd vp short by that almightie hand , what can wee feare ? If enuy repine , and villanie plot against sacred Soueraigntie , God hath well proued vpon all the Poysons , and Pistols , and Poynards , and Gun-powders of the two late memorable Successions , that to him alone belong the issues from death . Goe on then blessed Soueraigne , go on couragiously in the wayes of your God , the inuisible guard of heauen shall secure your Royal head , the God of our Saluation shall make you a third glorious instance to all posterities , that vnto him belong the issues from death . Thus , God keepes death from vs ; it is more comfort yet , that he fetches vs from it . Euen the best head must at last lye downe in the dust and sleepe in death . Oh vayne cracks of valour ; thou bragst thy selfe able to kill a man ; a worme hath done it , a flye hath done it . Euery thing can finde the way downe vnto death , none but the omnipotent can finde the way vp out of it ; Hee findes , hee makes these issues for all his ; As it was with our head , so it is with the members . Death might seaze , it cannot hold : Gustauit , non deglutiuit , It may nibble at vs , it shall not deuoure vs. Behold the onely Soueraine Antidote against the sorrowes , the frights of death . Who can feare to lay himselfe downe , and take a nappe in the bed of death , when his heart is assured , that hee shall awake glorious in the morning of his resurrection ; Certainly , it is only our infidelity that makes death fearfull ; Reioyce not ouer me , O my last enemie , though I fall , I shall rise againe : O death where is thy sting , O graue where is thy victorie . Cast yet one glance of your eyes vpon the second , and eternall death ; the issues where from belong to our God ; not by way of rescue , as in the former , but of preseruation : ( Exinferno nulla redemtio ) is as true , as if it were Canonicall ; Father Abraham tels the damned glutton in the parable , there is ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) a great gulfe , that barres all returne . These black gates of hell are barred without , by the irreuersible decree of the Almightie : Those bold Fabulists , therfore , whose impious legends haue deuised Traian fetcht thence by the prayers of Gregory , and Falcon●lla by T●claes ; suspending the finall sentence vpon a ( secundum praesentem iniustitiam ) take a course to cast themselues into that pit , whence they haue presumptuously fayned the deliuerance of others . The reseue is not more hopelesse , then the preuention is comfortable ; There is none of vs but is naturally walking down to these chambers of death ; Euery sinne is a pace thitherwards ; onely the gracious hand of our GOD stayes vs ; In our selues , in our sinnes we are already no better then brands of that hell ; Blessed be the God of our saluation , that hath found happie issues from this death : What issues ? Euen those bloody issues that were made in the hands , and feete , and side of our blessed Sauiour ; that invaluablie precious blood of the Sonne of God is that , whereby wee are redeemed , whereby we are iustified , whereby wee are saued . Oh that our soules might haue had leasure to dwell awhile vpon the meditation of those dreadfull torments wee are freed from , of that infinite goodnesse that hath freed vs , of that happie exchange of a glorious condition to which wee are freed . But the publicke occasion of this day cals off my speech , and inuites me to the celebration of the sensible mercie of God , in our late temporall deliuerance . Wherein let me first blesse the God of our saluation , that hath put it into the heart of his chosen seruant , to set vp an Altar in this sacred threshing floore , and to offer vp this dayes sacrifice to his name , for the stay of our late mortall contagion . How well it becomes our Gideon , to bee personally exemplarie , as in the beating of this Earthen pitcher , in the first publicke act of humiliation , so , in the lighting of this Torch of publicke ioy , and sounding the Trumpet of a thankfull iubilation , and how well will it become vs to follow so pious , so gracious an example . Come therefore , all yee that feare the Lord , and let vs recount what hee hath done for our soules . Come , let vs blesse the Lord , the God of our saluation , that loadeth vs dayly with benefits ; the God to whom belong the issues of death : Let vs blesse him in his infinite essence , and power , blesse him in his vnbounded and iust Souerainty , blesse him in his maruelous beneficence , large , continuall , vndeserued , blesse him in his preseruations , blesse him in his deliuerances : VVee may but touch at the two last . How is our Earth ready to sinke vnder the loade of his mercies ? VVhat nation vnder heauen hath not enuied , and wondred at our blessings ? I doe not carie backe your eyes to the ancient fauours of our God ; to the memorable frustrations of forraine Inuasions , to the miraculous discoueries of Treasons , to the succesfull maintenance of oppressed neighbourhood ; That one mercie I may not forget ; that in the shutting vp of blessed Queene ELIZABETH , the Pope and the then-King of Spaine were casting Lots for the Crowne , and palpably plotting for their seuerally-designed successors , as appeares in the publicke Posthume Letters of Cardinall D' Ossat , a witnesse beyond exception , Three seueral Briefes were addressed hither by that inclement shaueling of Rome for the defeating of the Title and succession of our late Soueraigne , of deare and blessed memorie , and his Royall issue ; Yet in spight of Rome and hell , God brought him in , and set him peaceably vpon this iust throne of his forefathers ; and may He perpetuate it to the fruite of those loynes , till world and time shal be no more , AMEN . If I must follow the times , let mee rather balke that hellish Sulpher-mine , then not search it , and yet , who can looke at that , any otherwise then the Iewes doe at the Rain-bow , with horror and astonishment ? VVhat doe I tell you of our long Peace , our full plentie , our wholesome Lawes , our easefull Gouernement , wirh a world of of these common fauours ; it is for poore men to reckon . Those two late blessings ( if no more ) were worthy of immortall memorie , The Prince out of Spaine , Religion out of the dust ; For the one ; what a winter was there in all good hearts , when our Sunne was gone so far Southward ? How chearefull a Spring in his returne ? For the other , who saw not how Religion began ( during those purposely protracted Treaties ) to droope and languish , her friends to sigh , her enemies to insult , daring to braue vs with challenges , to threaten our ruine ; The Lord look't downe from heauen , and visited this poore Vine of his , and hath shaken off these Caterpillers from her then-wasting leaues ; Now we liue , and it flourisheth . These would haue beene great fauours of God , euen to the best nation , but more to vs : VVho haue answered mercies with rebellions . O God , if proud disguises , if gluttonous pamperings , if drunken healths , if wanton dalliances , if bloody oathes , if mercilesse oppressions may earne blessings from thee , too many of vs haue supererogated ; VVoe is me , these are the measures thou hast had from too many hands ; That thou shouldst therefore inlarge thy bountie to an vnworthy , vnkind , disobedient generation , it is more then wee can wonder at , and wee could almost bee ready to say with Peter , Lord depart from vs , for we are sinfull men . Yet , the wise iustice of the Almighty meant not to cockney vs vp with meere dainties , with a loose indulgence , but hath thought fit to temper our sweetes with tartnes , and to stricke our backes , whiles he stroakes our heads , Ecce in pace amaritudo amarissima , the comfort of our peace , was allayed with the bitternesse of death : Hee saw that in this common Plethorie it was fit for vs to bleed ; he saw vs Eeles that would not bee caught , but when the waters were troubled ; He therefore sent his destroying Angell abroad ; who laide about him on all sides ; VVhat slaughter , what lamentation , what horror was there in the streetes of our mother Citie ? More then twentie thousand families runne from their houses , as if those had beene on fire ouer their heads ; and seeke shelter in Zoar , and the mountaines . Some of them are ouer-taken by the pursuer , and droppe downe in the way , and lye there as wofull spectacles of mortalitie , till necessitie , and not charitie , could find them a graue : Others passe on , and for friends finde strangers : Danger made men wisely , and vnwillingly vnhospitall ; The Cozen , the Brother forgets his own blood ; & the Father looks shiely vpò his own child , and welcoms him with frownes , if not with repulses ▪ There were that repaid their grudged harbor with infection ; and those that sped best ▪ what with care for their abandoned houses , & estate ; what with griefe for the miserie of their forsaken neighbours what with the rage of those Epidemiall diseases , which they found abroad , ( as it is well obserued by one , that in a contagious time all sicknesses haue some tincture of Pestilence ) wore out their dayes in the deepest sorrow and heauinesse : there leaue we them & return to the miserable Metropolis of this kingdome , which they left . VVho can expresse the dolefull condition of that time and place . The armes of London are the Red Crosse , and the Sword ; what house almost wanted these ? Heere was the Red-crosse vpon the doore , the Sword of Gods iudgement within doores , and the Motto was , Lord haue mercy vpon vs , VVhat could we heare but alarums of death , what could we see but Trophees of death ? Here was nothing but groaning , and crying , and dying and burying : Carts were the Beeres , wide pits were the graues , mens clothes were their coffins , and the very Exequies of friends were murderous . The carkasses of the dead might say , with the sons of the Prophets ; Behold the place where we lye is too strait for vs ; new dormitories are bought for the dead , & furnished ; neither might the corpses be allowed to lye single in their earthen beds , but are pyled vp like fagots in a stack , for the society of their future resurrection . No man suruiued , but he might say with the Psalmist , that thousands fell at his side & 10000. at his right hand ; And if we take all together , ( the mother & the daughters ) surely the number was not much short of Dauids , though his time were shorter . It is not without reason , that from the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the Plague , is deriued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a desert ; Certainly the plague turnes the most populous Citie into a desert . Oh the wofull desolation of this place , it was almost come to Herba tegit Troiam ; And if some infrequent passenger crossed our streets , it was not without his medicated Posie at his nose , and his Zedoary or Angelica in his mouth : Euery roome seemed a Pest-house , euery scent mortall ; heere should he meet one pale ghost muffled vp vnder the throat ; another dragging his legs after him for the tumour of his groyne ; another be-spotted with the tokens of instant death : here might hee heare one shrieking out in a frantik distraction , there , another breathing out his soule in his last groanes : What should I say more ? This glorious chamber of the Kingdome seemed no other then a dreadfull dungeon to her owne , a very Golgotha to all beholders ; and this proud Queene of our Brittish Cities sat in the dust of her compassion ; howling in the rags of her sackcloth ; not mourning more then mourned for , pittied no lesse then forsaken ; VVhen the GOD of our saluation looked downe vpon her deepe afflictions and miraculously approoued vnto vs , that vnto him belong the issues from death . It was hee that put it into the heart of his Gracious seruant to command a Niniue-like humiliation , what pithie , what passionate prayers were inioyned to his disconsolate Church ? VVith what holy eagernesse did wee deuoure those fasts ? How well were we pleased of the austeritie of that pious penitence ? VVhat loude cryes did beate on all sides at the gates of heauen , and with what inexpectable , vn-conceiueable mercie were they answered ? How suddenly were those many thousands brought downe to one poore vnitie ; not a number ? Other euils were wont to come on horse-backe , to goe away on foote ; this mortalitie did not poste but flye away , Mee thought like vnto the great y●e , it sunke at once ; Only so many are stricken as may hold vs awfull , and so few as may leaue vs thankefull ; Oh , how soone is our fasting and mourning turned into laughter and ioy ? how boldly doe wee now throng into this house of God , and fearelesly mixe our breaths in a common deuotion ? This is the Lords doing , and it is maruailous in our eyes ; Oh thou that hearest the prayer , to thee shall all flesh come ; And let all flesh come to thee with the voyce of Prayse and Thanksgiuing . It might haue beene iust with thee O God , to haue swept vs away in the common destruction ; what are we better then our brethren ? thou hast let vs liue that wee may praise thee . It might haue beene iust with thee to haue inlarged the commission of thy killing Angell , & to haue rooted out this sinfull people from vnder heauen ; But in the midst of iudgement thou hast remembred mercy : Our sins haue not made thee forget to bee gracious , nor haue shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure ; Thou hast wounded vs , and thou hast healed vs againe , thou hast deliuered vs , and beene mercifull to our sins for thy names sake . Oh that wee could duly prayse thy name in the great Congregation , Oh that our tongues , our hearts , our liues might blesse and glorifie thee , that so thou mayst take pleasure to perfect this great work of our full deliuerance , and to make this Nation a deare example of thy mercie , of peace , victorie , prosperitie to all the world . In the meane time , let vs call all our fellow-creatures to helpe vs beare a part in the Praise of our God ; Let the heauens , the stars , the winds , the waters , the dewes , the frosts , the nights , the dayes ; Let the Earth and Sea , the mountaines , wels , trees , fishes , foules , beasts ; Let men , let Saints , let Angels blesse the Lord , praise him , and magnifie him for euer ; blessed , blessed for euer be the Lord who loadeth vs daily with benefits ; euen the God of our saluation , to whom belong the issues from death : Oh blessed bee the Lord God of Israel , who onely doth wondrous things ; And blessed bee his glorious name for euer , and euer ; and let all the earth be filled with his glorie . AMEN . Amen . FINIS .