A sermon preached on the 29th of May 1661 the day of His Majestie's birth and happy restauration, after a long exile, to his crown and kingdome : before His Excellency William Ld Marquis of Newcastle, at his house of Welbeck / by Clement Ellis. Ellis, Clement, 1630-1700. 1661 Approx. 55 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 27 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-11 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A39269 Wing E573 ESTC R24953 08703742 ocm 08703742 41587 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. A39269) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 41587) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1258:34) A sermon preached on the 29th of May 1661 the day of His Majestie's birth and happy restauration, after a long exile, to his crown and kingdome : before His Excellency William Ld Marquis of Newcastle, at his house of Welbeck / by Clement Ellis. Ellis, Clement, 1630-1700. [9], 40 p. Printed by Henery Hall for Edward and John Forrest, Oxford : 1661. Item identified on film and reel guide as E573. Reproduction of original in: Union Theological Seminary Library, New York. 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. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Bible. -- O.T. -- Psalms CXVIII, 22-24 -- Sermons. Sermons, English -- 17th century. 2003-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-06 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-08 Sara Gothard Sampled and proofread 2003-08 Sara Gothard Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A SERMON Preached on the 29 th of May 1661. THE DAY OF His MAIESTIE'S BIRTH , AND HAPPY RESTAVRATION , After along Exile , to His CROWN and KINGDOME . Before His EXCELLENCY VVILLIAM L d MARQVIS of NEWCASTLE . at his House of WELBECK . By CLEMENT ELLIS M. A. Houshold Chaplain to his EXCELLENCY . OXFORD , Printed by Henery Hall Printer to the University , for Edward and Iohn Forrest , 1661. TO HIS EXCELLENCY VVILLIAM L d MARQVIS OF NEW-CASTLE , PRIVY COUNCELLOUR TO HIS MAIESTY , &c. My most Noble Lord and Patron . May it please your EXCELLENCY , THe Duty which I owe , first unto GOD , as his Minister , then to my SOVERAIGN , as his Subject , and in the next place to Your EXCELLENCY , as Your Domestick Chaplain , made the threefold cord whereby I found my self indispensibly obliged , to contribute that little I was able , towards the Solemnity of that memorable and happyest Day , which this poor Kingdome hath in many yeares beheld . And having , after my weak manner , preach'd this plain and short Sermon , which had then Your Excellency's approbation , and ( I hope ) since GOD's pardon for my failings therein ; I had very well satisfied my self ; as I shall alwayes have great reason to doe , when by serving GOD , I can please Your EXCELLENCY . I confesse , I then understood no obligation that lay upon me to doe , what now I am commanded to doe , to preach it over again this Second time to the VVorld ; beeing ( I blesse GOD for it ) yet uninfected with that ambitious itch of making my self known abroad , and loving to be gazed upon , as some-body by the Multitude . 'T is very fitt that they , and onely they , should wear great names , who have great meritts to support them ; and that they alone should be permitted to praesent their labours to the publike eye , whose great abilities , by being so made manifest , may become more instrumentall to the publike Good : But ( My LORD ) Your HONOUR seem'd very well to understand the' extent of that Talent wherewith GOD hath intrusted mee , when You presented mee to the charge of my little Flock in the Country ; but too much to value it , when You committed to mee that other of Your Family : being thus entertain'd and employ'd , I need not seek abroad for more worke or more honour : and therefore ( My LORD ) that I now expose this rude piece , & my selfe with it , to the forward censures of all that see it , it is a piece of meer Obedience to Your EXCELLENCYS expresse , and indeed , importunate Commands : I alwayes resolving , soe farre as they are Iust ( and I know they will ever be most exactly so ) rather to suffer by them , then to disobey them . I have often heard Your EXCELLENCY , and My Lord , ( would it signifie any thing to say what pleased mee ) I would say , with much pleasure I have hearken'd to You , discoursing of that satisfaction You reap'd , from that sweet privacy and retirement his MAIESTY is pleased to grant Your LORD-SHIP here in the Country , where You live free from the Noise and Cumbrance of Court and Citty . Indeed , the greatest reward his MAIESTY can possibly recompense Your matchlesse services withall , is thus to bestow YOUR-SELF upon YOUR-SELF ; and I know You think it greater happinesse to enjoy My LORD MARQVIS of NEW CASTLE at WELBECK , then all the Offices and Honours which your exemplary Loyalty has meritted : And there 's all the reason in the VVorld for it , that Hee who hath so Nobly sacrificed the Fairest of his Yeares , and the Amplest of his Revenues , to the service of his King and Country , should now have leave to Consecrate the remainder to his Health and Quiet . My LORD , could I ever hope to merit of Your EXCELLENCY , I would not yet leave begging a Favour of the same kind ; that , as I have an Honourable place in Your Family , so I might live retiredly from all the world besides . But seeing . ( My LORD ) Your commands lye so heavy upon me , I will endeavour to bear them with the best strength I have , and still incourage my selfe with this confidence , that it is all one with Your EXCELLENCY to Command and Patronize : And therefore after others have served in their solemne joyes , with all becoming State and Magnificence , I hope I may ( atleast ) obtaine a pardon , If I make bold to drop in , in the Rear , and offer too my poor dish of cold water in the name of a Disciple . Many , 't is true , goe before mee , and it is very fit they should ; Others come with richer cloathing , and finer language , and why not ? They that weare soft rayment , and they that speak soft words too , are in Kings houses . It is the great freedome Your EXCELLENCY is pleas'd to indulge me , to speak mine owne sense in mine own words , fully and freely ; and I am so much the servant of my greatest Master , that I greedily embrace all the Liberty can be granted mee in this kind . If there be any thing in this short Discourse , disrelishing to the palates of those that read it ; it will be enough for mee to tel them , it is a Sermon , and therefore not purposely suited to any man's humour : and yet , I will adde ; it hath passed Your EXCELLENCY'S approbation , and that will be enough to answer whatever may be objected against it . Let men say what they will , I have abundantly satisfied my selfe , by praying that all , even they that dispise it ( if it be possible ) may be better'd by it ; and in taking this opportunity of expressing my selfe , by this , as by all honest meanes , I shall alwayes labour to doe , My LORD , Your EXCELLENCY'S most obedient Servant , and Chaplain CLEM. ELLIS . Psal : CXVIII . v : 22 , 23 , 24. v : 22. The stone which the builders refused , is become the Head-stone of the Corner . 23. This is the LORD 's doing , and it is marveilous in our Eyes . 24. This is the day which the LORD hath made , we will rejoyce and be glad in it . SHould the great GOD forbear to expresse his Goodnes towards the sinfull sons of men , 'till man begin to understand what is best for himself ; we should soon become all as miserable , as at present we are ignorant ; we should die in our sins , and drop into Hell , ere we would understand the happynes of an Heaven , or the lovelinesse of that way which leads unto it . And yet doth our grossest Ignorance fall much short of our perversenes ; what now aggravates our guilt , and ( without a timely repentance ) will adde to our torments hereafter , is this , that we so often know what we ought to doe , when we yet stubbornly refuse to doe what we know to be our duty . So that if our good GOD did delight only there to shew Mercy , where he meets with meritt , did he not , on the contrary , love to magnifie his Goodnes , by pittying even those , whose dayly busines it has been to provoke his Iustice : Blessings would soone be as rare , as Sins are rife ; and Heaven would at last be as empty of men , as Hell is of Saints . But ( Blessed be our Good GOD ! ) his mercy endureth for ever . The unnaturall sinner ever Kicks and spurns at the yerning bowells of a tenderly compassionate Father ; and they onely swell the more , and extend the wider towards the miserable wretch ; even so wide , till they reach a Miracle ; such a miracle as forceth Stupidity it self into wonder and Admiration ; yea such a wonder as cannot contain it self , but suddenly breaks forth into a signall joy , and a solemne thanks-giving . This , and more then all this , we read in the Text. 1. A blessing proffer'd , no sooner proffer'd but rejected , and though rejected , yet sent againe , and that with advantage . The stone which the builders refused is become the Head stone of the Corner . 2. This great mercy thus rejected , and thus returning , is ( as it ought to bee ) humbly acknowledged , highly admired . This is the LORD 's doing , and it is marvailous in our Eyes . 3. This great wonder and Humility are seasonably seconded with an Hearty Joy , and Solemne Thangs-giving . This is the day which the LORD hath made , we will rejoyce and be glad in it . Thus , the Text wants nothing that 's fit : for the day , presenting us with a Wonderfull Blessing , an Humble Reception , and a Ioyfull Thanks-giving : In all which we shall . briefly consider , first , the History and the Doctrine ; next , the Parallel and the Use. 1. We begin with the great Blessing : concerning which , let us enquire , 1. What it was ? 2. To whom it was proffer'd ? 3. What welcome it found ? 1. This Blessing in the Metaphor , is a Stone ; in the History , David in the Prophecy , Christ : and whether David ; the Type of Christ , or Christ the Seed of David ; still wee shall find it a Precious Stone , and a great Blessing . 1. The Stone in the History is David , thatholy King , in whose Royall Person most of the Happinesse of the Old , & in whose Heavenly Seed all the Happinesse of the New Israel of GOD did consist . David the Author and the Subject of this Gratulatory hymne , an Hymne composed and set for the Solemne Quire of Israel to be sung by them in their joyfull commemoration of the happy return of God's Anointed , and their long exiled King : He is the stone . A stone hewen out of the rock , by God's own hand ; consecrated with the Holy Oyle by God's own Prophet ; set apart by God's appointment , to smite down the great Goliah of the Philistines , to dash in pieces the Tyranny of a wicked Saul , to crush to nothing the Enemies of God and of his chosen Israel . A stone fitted and squared to be the foundation , and pillar of his Hierusalem , his Sion ; solid and firme , such as the hottest fires of Persecution could not crack ; nor all the stormes and tempests of Affliction impaire ; of that weight , and so well fixable , that all the strength and art of Sathan and his Instruments could not remove or shake it ; but still he stood fast , the Foundation , the Pillar , the sure stay and support of God's Church and People committed to his Charge . Hee is the stone in the History : which in the Prophecy is . 2. Christ IESVS our Lord , the everlasting seed of David . The sure rock of our Salvation . So He himself applies the text to himselfe . Math : 21. ) and after him , his Apostle S t Peter ( 1 Pet : 2. ) He , who was a stone of stumbling , and a Rock of Offence , to the Iew first , and then to the Gentile ; is a most sure hold , and a strong Tower of defence to all those that stedfastly believe in him ; the firme and everlasting Foundation of the New Hierusalem : the chief corner-stone , In whom all the building fitly framed together , groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord. Ephes : 2. 20. & 21. This is the living stone , of which that former was no more but the bare shadow : the stone whereon our Hopes , our Comforts , our present priviledges , and our future Inheritance , all are surely founded : the Rock on which , if we be once well bottomed , let the winds blow , and the waves beat , and all these with all the violence they can , yet shall we stand sure and unshaken to all eternity . These be the stones here proffer'd in the Text , David first and afterwards Christ ; and ( what I would desire you to note ) both these Kings A good King is indeed a most precious stone , the most solid foundation of the Church's peace and the Peopl's happynes : remove this stone , and the whole house comes down upon your head ; touch but the Lord's anointed , and you disjoint all , the whole Kingdome shatters into confusion ; all falls into pieces , and all the wit of man is not able to bind it up again : Proofs and instances of this sad truth we have too many , our own lamentable experience , still fresh in our memories , renders all citations of them at present needlesse : Hereby we have found , that whosoever wildly pushes at these sacred stones , he onely runs his head against an hard Rock , which though he should have the unhappy strength to shake a little , yet he shall be sure withall to dash out his own brains , at lest he must expect to receive such a wound , as cannot easily be healed but he is like to bleed into a too late repentance : He that fights against the powers set up by God , can onely beat the skin off his own fingers . It will be therefore our Prudence as well as our duty , not to strike with too much violence upon these holy stones , left like men hammering too boldly on a good flint , wee thence produce such a fire as will not again be quenched : Saint Paul dares not warrant so strange a Confidence , when he tels us , ( Rom. 13. ) They that resist the power shall receive to themselves Damnation . Rather pray we , that we may never come to want such a Stone as God here profer'd in the Text. but , 2. To whom did he proffer it ? Even to those , who wanted not eyes to see it , nor experience to understand the worth and value of it , nor skill sufficient to make a right use of it . David was profer'd , not to the poor rude Israelites , that could not distinguish their right hand from their left , but to the Grandees of Israel , to Saul and his Councellours ; whose businesse and Profession it was to deal in such Stones . Our Blessed IESVS was profer'd , not onely to a few blind Gentiles , who had all their knowledg but at the second hand ; the wonder had not been great if these had refused what they so little understood ; but he was proffer'd to the VVise men and Rulers of the Iews , to the great Maister-builders of that Church , Scribes and Pharisees , Lawyers and Doctors ; those that knew the Law , and had read the Prophets , and understood what was foretold , and prefigured concerning him : whose bare acceptance of him , had been precedent and warrant enough for the Peoples Faith ; as appears by that question ( Iohn 7 , 48. ) have any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him ? So would they doubtlesly have said , Have any of the Rulers or Pharisees received this stone ? If they have , then so will we . This is God's method , he so proffers his great Blessings as to leave the refuser without excuse ; to those who best could discerne the worth of it , and therefore should first in all reason have begun to use it , was this Gift proffer'd : lest afterwards they should goe about to excuse themselves with a Non novimus , we knew is not : The fittest Blessing to the fittest persons , the stone to the builders . 3. Lett 's now see , what 's it's welcome . Indeed very course and more strange , considering the persons to whom it was proffer'd : so foolish were they , or so selfish , or both ; they refused it . 1. David is thrust out from the presence of Saul , bannish'd the Land , driven into Caves and Dens , to lead a sad & melancholly life with Bears and Tygres ; or at best , amongst strangers , too frequently more inhumane and barbarous , then those beasts of prey . He is hunted like a silly partridge upon the Mountains , and no means that a cruell and jealous Saul could invent , left unattempted , to rid him of his Kingdome and the world at once . 2. And in this particular too , was our Blessed JESVS , very truly the Son of David . He is refused of his own People and Nation : rejected by the chief Rulers , and High-priests , with a — No King but Caesar : — Not this man , but Barabbas . Any murtherer , rather then the Lord of life ; a bloody Tyrant , rather then the God of mercies ; away to the Crosse with him . This is the very voyce of the builders , No stone of God's squaring for our building , out with it amongst the rubbish : Give us rather a Nero , any lump of clay kneeded up in Christian blood : Give us such stones as will admit of no Cement , but what 's made of the blood of us and of our Children : that blood which Caesar sheds , be it on the heads of us and ours , but this stone which God would in mercy bestow upon us , be it thrown out into the streets , and trampled under our feet forever . This is the language of these prudent builders . Thus , even thus doe the builders too often prove the unhappy demolishers , and when they should strengthen , rase to the ground the walls of Hierusalem : whilest they lay their own ambition , their Humors , and their Interests , the onely Foundations of all their actions ; they are sure to refuse that stone , which is sent down from Heaven . Here 's the Wisedome of the Wise , this is the Counsaile of the Prudent , when they have not God before their Eyes . The stone is refused , which yet in spite of all their little Policies , and petty devices , shall most certainly return the Head-stone of the building . Which brings us from the Folly and Basenesse of the builders , to the unerring Wisedome , and Constant Goodnesse , of God Almighty . They cast out the stone , God brings it in again , They reject it with scorn , He sets it in with advantage , They refuse it as uselesse , and unfit for any thing , He restores it the Beuty , the strength of the whole Fabrick . David , after his long and tedious exile , is call'd home again , even by those same persons who at first were as ready as any to reject him ; with the shouts and acclamations of Israal he is welcomed , and made the Glory of that people , and their bulwark , by whom he had been so much sleighted . And thus was it with the great Rock of our Salvation , after his numerous and grievous sufferings , hardly ending in a bitter and a shamefull death ; He rose again , and ascended into Heaven in Glory and Triumph , and is become the Head of the Universall Church , and the onely Sanctuary those very Enemies who refused him can confide in . God will have his designe , let man do his worst ; he will make all those in his due time to understand their own folly , who would not when they ought , embrace his Counsaile . The stones which He sends are more precious in his eyes then to lye always unreguarded on a Dunghill : David's Palace and Kingdome shall not forever be a Cave and a wildernesse ; Christ's Crown shall not alwaies be made of Thornes ; Those Cruell hammerings , and rougher usages , which the despised stone at present undergoes , shall not break and Crush it , but , on the Contrary , Square and smooth , and polish it , and make it the more serviceable , and fitter for the building ; His Enemies at length shall know , that those many torments they barbarously inflicted on him , shall reflect with doubled force upon themselves ; and by a seasonable and unexpected restauration they shall be made to acknowledge , that the undeserved exile of their David , was not the punishment of his Sins , but the greatest curse could be lay'd upon his very Persecutors . And here , on the one hand , we may clearly behold , the folly and blindnesse of worldly men , even of those who would fain be esteem'd the wisest and skilfull'st builders & repairers of a broaken state ; on the other hand , the Infinite Wisedome and Providence of God , even in those actions which seem lest considerable to the dim eyes of men . Here we see man's Unworthynesse and perversnesse in slighting and refusing the very choisest of God's blessings , there God's Infinite mercy and unalterable Goodnesse in redoubling his blessings after they have been refused : In short , here 's man's impiety in rejecting the stone which God had design'd , and by proffering it , Commended : there 's God's Justice in making that despised stone to become at last , all that he intended it for at first , even the Head-stone of the Corner . 2. Thus are we , from the wonderfull mercy , come to the cheerfull reception thereof . It is received ( as so great a blessing ought to be ) with an humble acknowledgement of the Author , with an high admiration of the Mercy . 1. This is the Lord 's doing : There King David acknowledgeth , and there he would have all those that joyne with him , to acknowledge the Divine Author of this great blessing . To the Honour & Glory of his gratious GOD , to the Comfort and Iustification of the late suffering David , to the shame & confusion of his once insulting persecutors , he utters it aloud — It is the Lord 's doing . The Restauration of this Royall person , and in him of Israel's happines , was a work more peculiarly & properly the Lord's whereby he was wōderfully pleased to exhibit to the world , as it were , under his hand and seal , a most signall testimoniall of David's Just and Righteous cause : Most things He brings to passe by such ordinary & common Instruments , and after so plain and easie a manner and method , that , though they be the Lord's doings too , yet the homelinesse of the visible Instrument , together with the frequency of such operations , keep us from taking so much notice of them , as we ought to doe : But such rare and remarkable passages of providence as this was , cannot goe by us without a due observation , a seasonable wonder , and an humble reflection upon the glorious and Omnipotent agent : If David had yet had any visible meanes left him , of ridding himselfe out of Danger , and attaining unto that Crown , which was fitted by God for his head , they would have been lesse apt through the multitude of humane means , to eye the hand of God in his advancement : But that he should be restored even now and thus , whose doing should this be but the LORD ' s ? for 1. Behold the poor exiled Prince , wandering to and fro , in a rude wildernesse , as destitute of all hopes to man's thinking , as of companions : his strength failing him , his lovers and his friends standing aloof from his Soul , many enemies on all sides , and perhaps some few well wishers , but , alas , no helpers : 2. Behold the sweetnesse of his generous & Princely Soul , abhorring to be cruell more then desiring to be King : more delighting in Mercy , and contented in his sufferings , and confiding in his GOD , and reverencing a King , though a Saul , a Tyrant , then to revenge himself , when GOD had put the life of his Enemies into his hand . 3. Behold his Enemies , for multitude innumerable , for malice implacable , for Interest insatiable ; no force could subdue , no Reasons perswade , no condescensions mollifie , no hopes of a reconciliation or agreement upon terms or articles ; so that in the first place to the Glory of the Author we must confes — It was the LORD's doing . And again , for the Justifying of David's righteous cause , and for the abatement of his adversaries confidence and boasting , he shewes , it was the LORD's doing . Prosperity and Success accompany'd with Oppression and Violence , make but a slender argument , for the Honesty and Innocence of a thriving Tyranny : but a sudden promotion out of the dust , by an unexpected hand from Heaven , conducting a poore rejected David , through the fury of his Enemies , into the embraces of his friends , frō a Cave to a Throne , may beget a very strong perswasion of a Righteous cause : when the mouth of the fierce Lyons are closed by a naked Daniel ; when the extreame raging of a fiery Furnace is still'd and cool'd at the approach of three fetter'd Innocents ; when the Bolts fall off , and the doors fly open without a Key or a File , to set the shakled Apostles at Liberty ; who will not presently say , that GOD's favour is Sanctuary enough for an Injured Innocence ; his purpose to save , armour enough against man's endeavours to destroy ; that there is no Policy against Providence , no stratagem against Heaven ? Had David by force of armes , with a great Hoste of men enter'd the Land , and so made havock of his Enemies , the residue of them might still have cbeer'd themselv's up with such hopes as these , that seeing there were yet more men in the world , they might yet come to regain all , as they got it a first , or lost it now , by an arme of flesh . But now when they behold the LORD making bare his own arme from Heaven , & shewing himself mindfull of David in his lowest condition , bringing all the subtile devices of the long prosperous sinner to none effect , & without the help of man , even against all the projects of man , restoring his Anointed to his own : how can they chuse , but seeing , be amazed & wonder , be silenced , and condemning themselves and their own Folly , with all humility , at least , with shame and confusion of face acknowledg , that it is the LORD ' s doing ? and therefore 2. Truly Marveilous in our eyes . Indeed all the works of GOD , when consider'd as they ought to be , are wonders , but such works as this was , the more immediate doings of the LORD , are to be acknowledged above measure wonderfull : Considering 1. The rarity of them , such blessings come not every day , the LORD makes a Day for them , and by them . He is not altogether prodigall of his Miracles , but reserveth them for speciall occasions , and for great Ends : that he may thereby manifest his power in the weaknesse of his servant David ; and his adversary's weaknesse and folly , in the very height of their policy and Confidence ; and the equity of David's cause in the midst of his Enemies triumph : Ordinarily GOD works by common and known methods , but when such a singular act of Providence , as unusuall and new , as true and effectuall , discovers it selfe to our view , must it not be marveilous in our eyes ? 2. Again , when such deliverances are wrought by methods so farre above all , both expectations and Inventions of friends ; and not onely so , but above all fears too and preventions of Enemies : when so many means formerly , in the eyes of man more likely , had proved utterly ineffectuall ; so many endeavours and projects , in the opinion of most men strong and sure , had been altogether quash'd and frustrated ; and yet notwithstanding all this , the blessing , when even almost despair'd of , comes at last , and that with interest ; it must needs be truly marvellous . 3. Once more , When GOD so works , that man doth not see it , yea even secretly in the hearts of those who do not yet understand it ; directing their actions to those very ends which , it may be , they least intended ; strangely , and secretly charming the Disobedient into Duty , the Rebellious into Loyalty : when the promoters of David's exile , are made the main Instruments of his restauration ; and all those fretting Shimeies which would still fain curse , can or dare do nothing but blesse and congratulate : certainly , This must needs be the LORD 's doing , and altogether marvailous in our eyes . And as it was the LORD's doing , thus graciously to re-establish , what man had so stubboruly and scornfully rejected ; so must it too be acknowledged his doing , to make these foolish men embrace what the second time he profer'd them . However without all doubt , it is man's duty in receiving the many and great blessings which GOD of his infinite bounty conferres upon him , to look upon them as GOD's doings , not as the rewards & purchases of his own merits and endeavours ; & withall to admire therein the Goodnesse , the Power , the Wisdome and Justice of the Author and Donor ; all which if we do but see as clearly as we ought and may , we shall not rest'till we break out into an holy Ioy and thanksgiving : after such a mercy and such a wonder , 't were a greater wonder yet , if Israel should not be Glad and Rejoyce . 3. Which is the third branch of the Text. And truly David was never backwards , nor David's followers , to answer God's miracles of Meroy , with holy returnes of Praise . Whilest the Blessings of GOD , descend upon the wicked as the dew of Heaven on a dung-hill , begetting nothing but a nauceous stench , & unwholsome weeds ; when they meet with a David like the same dew upon a good and pleasant Garden , they produce first a fair Spring-tide of sweet and lovely flowers , and afterwards as full an harvest of sound and wholsome fruits . Good words of Praise , and better workes of Righteousnesse . And , as private mercies challenge our private praises , so publike and Nationall blessings call for publike and Solemne thansgivings ▪ when the Crowne is restored to David , and David to his People , 't is very fit that all Israel should keepe Holy-day : And thus they did , and for this they have a double warrant . First , David's command , or ( if any will rather have it so ) his invitation . He sends forth a Generall Summons unto all Israel , in the second verse ; particularly to the house of Aaron , verse the third , and in short , to all that feare the LORD , at the fourth verse : and all the reason in the world they should comply with his will , who would share in his happinesse . And yet behold , a greater authority then David's is here , for — Secondly , 'T is the Day which the LORD hath made . He that made every Day , is pleased to make some dayes over againe and againe : and so hath he new-made by some extraordinary mercy or other all those dayes , which Holy Church has commanded us ( in commemoration of the same ) to keep Holy : such was this Day , made againe , by a new Sun shine of his Speciall favour overthe Land ; a Day by a most glorious mercy , so guilded and dignified , that it were a profanenesse to fully it with the low drudgeryes of our common employments : Graced it must be with hearts and countenances as glad and cheerfull , as the day it self is bright and glorious . There must be gladnesse in the heart ; not only in the mouth and in the cloathes : such new-made dayes are to be celebrated with all inward cheerfulnesse and alacrity of soul , proceeding from a sweet and pleasing sense of his favour who made them for us : away wich that grudging and Irksomenesse of spirit , we meet with Amos 8. 5. which is ever crying out , when will the Sabboth be gone , that we may set● forth wheat ? except wee please our selves in the observation of these Daies , we cannot please the LORD that made them : And as Gladnesse is required ; so is 2. Rejoycing : a signification of that gladnesse to the world : an externall expression and profession ought always to be the inseparable attendant of that internall affection which GOD delights in ; thus were the feasts of old celebrated with shoutings , and soundings of trumpetts , and distributing gifts &c : all sober manifestations of Joy become that day , whereon GOD vouchsafes to manifest his Favour : Onely men are to take heed , how instead of be glad and rejoyce , they read , be drunk and Prophane : that were not to sanctifie but pollute the Day : David and his Subjects expresse their joy , by entring into the Gates of Righteousnesse , into the Courts of GOD's house , provoking mutually each other cheerfully to acknowledg ; and heartily to sing aloud to his Honour and Glory , who had done such great things for them , whereof they are glad , with an — O give thanks unto the GOD of all GOD's for his mercy endureth forever . We have heard of the Day which the LORD once made for Israel , let us now descend to consider the Day the LORD hath lately made for England : where it would be very easie , would it not be too tedious , almost in every particular to shew you , how King David and his Day is paralell'd by King CHARLES the Second ( to whom God make many long and happy Dayes ) and his Day . How much of England's happinesse is bound up in the Prudence and Fortune of England's Kings : How long this famous Nation may possibly continue one Body , without one Head , How long those two great sides of this glorious Fabrick the Church and State , may stand firme and unshaken , as they ought to be , the beauty , the strength and support of each other , if not well knit together by these Corner-stones : Our ancient flourishing , and out late miserable and never sufficiently deplored condition , when compared together , will too manifestly evidence . We have known what it is to have Kings our Nursing Fathers , and Queenes our nursing Mothers : and how happily those two Twins : the Church and Commonwealth did thrive , and grow , and flourish , when fed and cherished at such brests : and , alas ! we have to our sorrow found , what sad Daies those were , wherein there was no King in our Israel , dayes full of nothing but black clouds , raging winds , and fat all stormes , in which both God's house and Cesar's were blowne downe to the ground ; all honest and Loyall men driven out of the Land , or dispersed , and scatter'd , and hurled into the little narrow Corners of the earth , making privacy and poverty their sanctuary : nothing appear'd for many yeares together but the horrid face of Rebellion and confusion ; no Religion , no Law , no Justice , no Charity , no Order , nay , nothing but the bare name of that , a meer pretence wherof was craftily imposed upon a deluded multitude as a sufficient warrant for their disobedience , & a sure basis for Anarchy , or what 's neerest of Kin to it , a Democracy , indeed nothing but the bare name of Liberty . Was it ever thus , so long as England willingly embraced the Corner-stones which GOD proffer'd her ? and did she ever want such praecious stones , till her State-Architects became altogether as wise as the foolish builders in the text , refusing the stone which GOD had prepared ? They rejected a stone such as England never saw before , and therefore could never know how to prize sufficiently , and I would to GOD , that it might truly be said in diminution of their guilt , that through Ignorance they did it ! The singular worth and use of that Head-stone they first rejected ( alas , so altogether brutish were we ) nothing could teach us to understand , but the succeeding ruine of three most flourishing Kingdomes . A stone indeed he was so truly precious in himselfe , and for those many signall excellencies , which never shone brightes to the eye of the Christian world , then ( as such true starres and Diamonds use to do ) in the darkest night of his persecution ; that he vvas highly and deservedly valued of all that knew him , is still cabinetted up in the hearts and affections of those that loved him , and shall ( I doubt not ) be found in the first row , in that great day , when GOD shall make up his Iewells . And as our Corner-stone , he was so exactly squared , so solidly laid by the great author of all piety and Justice , that nothing but Sathan and Envy could find a fault . His Pious reign had left us nothing but a superfluity of happinesse to be sick of , and his exemplarȳ Clemency nothing but too much mercy to coplain of , the noted softnesse and freedome of his nature , gave those rude flints that came against him too great an advantage over him so good a man , and so gracious a King , that his most inveterate enemies had nothing else to fear , hardly to pretend , but that God's house vvould , by the help of such a stone , in a very short time , become more strong & glorious then their own . Late Posterity may indeed very well believe that God removed this stone so early , as too rich a Pearl to be thrown away upō such unworthy svvine ; but what faith will be so daring as to believe , that the very Master builders did reject this stone as uselesse and cumbersome . Oh! that it might be however forgotten in Gath , & silently bury'd in the streets of Askalon , how that a Christian Nation , an English Subject rejected a King that vvas as a Saint , & such a Saint as CHARLES the First . Oh , the desperate tementy of a blinded zeale . The infatiable fury of a cove●ous , Sanctity . The horrible attempts of a malicious Hypocricy . What execrable villanies barbarisme may execute when is walke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vizard of purity and Reformation ! for The LORD ' s Anointed was murther'd . And , can it be so much as thought , that those very Builders who were call'd together to make up the breaches , and repair the decayes in the walls of Sion , should thus rashly pull out , and dash in pieces in the open street the Corner-stone thereof ; and afterwards contrive and labour to fill up it's room with such Rubbish as a Common-wealth ; or such a rough and unhewen Flint , as that late prodigious Tyrant ; which whilest with all their Art and skill they strove to fit and pollish , they could never hope to produce anything but a fire to consume at once both the builders and the building ? But will it not yet seem more strange and incredble , that even our Spirituall builders too , those that pretended , to be joynt labourers with Christ for the aedification of his heavenly kingdome upon earth , should make it their Pulpit and their Lecture trade , to mete out to their auditors such large measure of factions and seditious doctrine each Market day , and like the Jewish High-priests move and incense the People to run raging up and down the streets with a Crucifie him , Crucifie him , and never cease watching at the doors , with their trayterous Petitions in their hands , till they had obtain'd their request , the Murder of their King , and the ruine of his Kingdom ? And yet such unskilfull builders had unfortunate England on all sides set on work , who had a farre greater longing to grow rich upon the ruines , then famous by the repairs of Hierusalem . Yet , as if this had amounted but to some light matter , and were a thing excusable , or ( as they would have it ) very commendable : Observe how bravely and resolutely they go on . It had pleas'd our Indulgent GOD to hew us out a Second most excellent stone , out of the same Royall rock ; exactly squared and fitted for the same place , and dignity too : and this again the Builders reject , and throw as farre out of their sight as out of their affections , saying within themselves , as those honest servants we know where , This is the Heir , come let us kill him , and the Inheritance shall be ours ; thus stoutly resolve they , that neither they themselves who had been so long sools , would ever again grow wise ; nor that Church , which they had so Sacrilegiously ruined , glorious . But there is no fighting against Heaven , the same wise hand which fitted this Second stone is an Omnipotent hand too , and hath fixed it Even that same Royall stone , which ( with shame we may speak it ) for so many years together had layen in the dust , neglected by the People , Hated by the Builders , beat upon by stormes and Tempests ; and hath felt the heavy hammers of his implacable Enemies ; is now sent home again , more solid and firme for all that Hammering , more sound and undecayed by reason of that long obscurity , more welcome and acceptable , after so long an absence . With whom is restored a lost Justice , a long time smoother'd amongst numberlesse Interests and Factions : a lost Liberty , so long shackled by a most intollerable Tyranny and Usurpation ; a lost Religion , so long buried in grossest Atheisme , onely with a fair flourish of Hypocricy , and an inscription of Holinesse over her grave : This stone , the Basis of our Laws , the Pillar of our Church the Bulwork of our Peace , and I may truly adde , the Landmark of our Estates , for whilest he was removed , no man knew what to call his own , even this stone , uncrack'd by the blows of his Enemies , unmollified by the flatteries of his false friends , which the builders for so many years have shamefully refused , is now become ( Blessed be our good GOD ) the Head-stone of the Corner . And now , Whose doing is this ? Whos 's but his who is the great King of Kings , Protector of the Fatherlesse , Wise , Mighty , and lust , who putteth down one , and lifteth up another , and makes the most prosperous sinners to know themselves to be but men : He alone it is , that could do these mighty things for us , whereof we are Glad , he that hath so strangly turned againe the Captivity of Sion , that we seem yet like men that dream : Novv vve see vvhat that is , whereof our adversaries so boasted themselves , Divine Providence ; and in whose power it is , to still the raging of the waves , and in whose hands are the Hearts of the Mighty ; and by whom it is that Kings do reign . This is a work which the LORD hath all this while reserved to make his own Doing , that all the Earth might see , and be afraid , because there is a reward for the Righteous , there is a GOD that judgeth in the Earth . This cannot be the work of any hand but GOD's : for 1. If we cast an eye back upon our gracious David whilest under the cloud an Exile : what can we see , but the LORD alone , he had to confide in ? How was he round about begirt with miseries ? It is hard to say in which he was most unfortunate , his many inhumane Enemies , or his more cowardly friends . They of his own Religion ( If they vvere of any ) thought it more prudence to comply with a prosperous Tyrant , then to succour a banish'd Prince ; The sons of Rome grudged him their friendship , who was afraid to share in their slavery : Nay such is the naturall sweetnesse wherewith GOD hath blest our Prince , and such a gracious Prince hath GOD designed for us , that he was afraid to become a King by Conquest , and chose rather to wait for the Affections , then to triumph over the Lives of his rebellious Subjects . 2. Again , amongst his enemies here at home , we saw nothing could befriend him : A Power seemingly invincible , a malice utterly implacable , a Confidence built upon a long and wonderfull successe ; and yet certainly a conscience full of guilt , and consequently full of jealousies , and therefore most vigilant : Interests espoused in Rebellion , and therefore onely to be maintained by Injustice and Cruelty . Besides all these , a Confederacy of Oaches , Covenants , and Engagements , though these ( 't is true ) made little opposition to any thing but honesty , and Loyalty , being onely set up as meer engines of Policy , which might easily be scrued into all postures , to serve the Swearer's Interest Adde now unto all this , on the one hand , that grand and Master-craft of Hypocricy , whereby their enemies did their best endeavours to cozen even God himselfe as well as men into a false beliofe of their integrity and Innocence ; and on the other hand the Irreligion & profanenesse of pretended friends , whereby too many were throughly perswaded that a King could have no favourite but wickednesse , no friend , but the profane : considering this lewd temper of spirit in too many , and a coldnesse , an indifferency , a cowardise in more , we must needs confesse , it was the LORD's doing . And certainly a very wonderfull Doing in our eyes . Hopes and expectations all dying , all Projects and endeavours failing , enemies rejoycing , flourishing , triumphing ; friends scatter'd , impoverish'd , imprison'd , all disponding ; the Conquerors sitting downe securely , and dividing the spoyle , and crying with David's enemies , Ah , so would we have it , persecute and take him , for there is none to deliver him : even then God throws in the Apple of dissention , and in pieces they fall , and a sudden storme from the North scatters them . An Army marches up not knowing whither ; all Sects and Factions meet it , and congratulate , and know not for what ; Well , the all-knowing God brings all this to an happy Issue ; the LORD 's Anointed is restored , his dying friends revived , all barking Shimeies silenced , Sectaries and Schismaticks confounded , Rome and her Children troubled and amazed . This surely was the LORD's doing , and therefore marvailous in our Eyes . What Praises therefore do we now owe unto God for all these his Marvailous workes ? This is the Day , which God hath thus ( as you have heard ) re-made for England ; a bright and clear Sunshine , after black clouds and thick darknesse , The Day of our Redemption from a more then Aegyptian bondage and slavery ; the Day of our freedome from Tyranny and Oppression ; the Day wherein our gracious King was at first usher'd into the world with a new & miraculous light from Heaven ; and the Day wherein he was welcomed into his Kingdome by all the lights of the Nation ; Starres of all Magnitudes with all the lustre and Glory they could cloath themselves withall . A Day , by the light whereof we begin to see our late Follies , God grant we may truly repent us of them ! And our present happinesse , Oh , that we could be heartily thankfull for it ! A Day , wherein Religion begins to appear again in her own dresse , and all those maskes and vizors , too freequently worne in the darke night of Ignorance , begin to fall off frō her face : All the Night-birds of prey and rapine begin to betake themselves to their Holes : & the doors of God's house are set wide open , that we his servāts may freely enter in and worship the God of our Fathers , after the manner of our Fathers , solemnly and decently . 'T were an endlesse task , to recount half the blessings of this Day ; the summe of all is this , The Anointed of the LORD , whom we fear'd to have been taken in their nets , is return'd in peace . Let us therefore be Glad and Rejoyce : be Glad inwardly , and Rejoyce outwardly , be so glad , that God may accept of our Joy , as an acceptable sacrifice of praise and thansgiving for his great and provident mercy , in having reguard unto his holy One : and so rejoyce that the world may see we are glad indeed , & acknowledg him the Author of our Happinesse . It is most fit , that as the world hath seen us sad , yea , perhaps too sinfully dejected in the Day of our Afflictions ; so it should now behold us cheerfull and full of joy , but still without sinfulnesse , in this Day which the LORD hath made . Onely let us here beware , lest we so rejoyce as to forfeit againe the ground of our joyes : In vain do we observe this Day as a Thanksgiving-day , except we labour to keep every Day of our life henceforward Holy-day . It is not enough to say LORD we thanke thee , but we are to Sacrifice our Persons and our endeavours to his honour and glory ; returning him not onely the Calves of our lips , but the Affections of our hearts , and the labours of our hands , and the obedience of the whole man for the abundance of his mercies . Our King , our Church , our Land have all too long groaned under our Sinfull rejoy cings , and let us take heed lest all these suffer over again by our confident and presumptuous re-assuming of such carnall Joyes : Why should it be any longer said , and that with so much colour of truth , that Loyalty and Piety cannot dwel together in the same brest ? Why should it be any longer said to our shame , that swearing , & drinking , and deriding Religion , and making a mock of Holinesse , are the Principall badges of such as call themselves Royallists ? We know who and what they are who have long agoe publikely boasted , that they have been the King's best Subjects and Friends , the way to confute them is not to swear they are not so , but to prove by our actions that we indeed are so : and to do this , there 's no way left us but to be as sincerely Religious , as they hypocrytically : We may safely give leave to the Covenanter , the Engager , and the rest of a Schismaticall people to pretend as high as they can , whil'st we are sure we are as much as they can pretend to Let us but once out-doe and out live them , 't is no great matter who out-talks , and out-braves us : but let us by no meanes give occasion to the enemies of God to Blaspheme ; but whilst we endeavour to expresse our Loyalty in our Ioy , let our joy be most clearly manifested in our Obedience to His just commands , and in our Conformity to his good example ; whose first Proclamation was to condemne and prohibit , and whose whole course of life is to shame all manner of Profanenesse and debauchery . Let but our good and righteous actions first stop the mouthes of our Enemies , and then our Righteous God will undoubtedly bind their hands , and turne their hearts , and make us all at last charitably and unanimously to joyne in the Praises of that great God , who hath miraculously restored our Corner-stone , and rebuilt our Hierusalem , and made her once more a Citty in a fair way to be at unity within herself . He will then make our King a glorious Prince , and us happy Subjects , and all of us at last more happy Saints , when we shall all obtain Crownes and Kingdomes , and be built up together one triumphant Church on our Head Corner-stone Christ IESVS ; full of all Gladnesse , and Rejoycing , and perpetuall singings , to the Honour and Glory of him that sitteth upon the everlasting Throne , who is LORD of Lords , and KING of Kings ; to whom for his unspeakable mercy to our Gracious King , and to us his Subjects in his happy Restauration , let us ascribe all Honour and Glory , Praise and Thanksgiving now and for ever . AMEN .