A sermon being an incouragement for Protestants or a happy prospect of glorious success: with exhortations to be valiant against our enemies, in opposing the bloody principle of papists, and errors of popery, &c. Occasionally on the Protestants victory over the French and Irish papists before London-Derry, in raising that desperate siege, a glorious prospect of the Protestants happiness, &c. By Mr. Walker minister, and governor of the city. Walker, George, of Londonderry. 1689 Approx. 22 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A66968 Wing W345 ESTC R219334 99830813 99830813 35267 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. A66968) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 35267) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1878:21) A sermon being an incouragement for Protestants or a happy prospect of glorious success: with exhortations to be valiant against our enemies, in opposing the bloody principle of papists, and errors of popery, &c. Occasionally on the Protestants victory over the French and Irish papists before London-Derry, in raising that desperate siege, a glorious prospect of the Protestants happiness, &c. By Mr. Walker minister, and governor of the city. Walker, George, of Londonderry. 11, [1] p. Printed at London, and re-printed at Edinburgh, [[Edinburgh] : 1689] Caption title. Imprint from colophon. Copy faded. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. 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Protestants -- Ireland -- Early works to 1800. 2007-05 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-05 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-05 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2008-05 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A SERMON Being an Incouragement for PROTESTANTS , or a Happy Prospect of Glorious Success : With Exhortations to be Valiant against our Enemies , in opposing the Bloody Principles of PAPISTS , and Errors of POPERY , &c. Occasionally on the Protestants Victory over the FRENCH and IRISH Papists BEFORE London-Derry , In Raising that Desperate SIEGE , a Glorious Prospect of the Protestants Happiness , &c. By Mr. WALKER Minister , and Governor of the City . Judges VII . XX. The Sword of the Lord , and of Gideon . WE may through all the Course of Holy Scripture , plainly behold that when the Almighty designed to work 〈◊〉 a Deliverance to his People , he made them sensible that it was not so much the Arms of Flesh , as his immediat Power that sav●● them . The Israelites at the time that God raised up Gideon the Son of Joash , to be an Instrument in his Hand of saving them , were oppressed by the Midianites and Amalekites , a cruel and wastful People that spared no Means that Force or Fraud could invent to vex them , and lay their Countrey Desolate , to draw them away to Idolatry , and the Worship o● strange Gods , which their Fathers had not known ; and least they should seem to attribute the Victory to multitudes , and not give the sole Glory to the God of Battles ; This great Captain had an express Command , to try first their Courage and Resolution , and after that proving too many , they were selected at the Water-Brook , where three hundred only were chosen , and with that small number , the mighty Army was overthown , destroyed , broken , and con●ounded at first onset by the breaking of Pitchers , and sounding of Trumpets , and crying , The Sword of the Lord , and of Gideon , Judges 7. 20. Let but the Lord arise , ( sayes Holy David ) and his enemies shall be scattered : ( And again ) God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in trouble : Therefore will we not fear though the earth be moved , and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea ; Though the Waters thereof roar , and be troubled , Psas . 46. 1 , 2 , 3. We find that when Samaria was Besieged , and even Famine raged in the City to a Degree , that a Woman was forced to eat the fru●ts o● her Womb , when all visible Means failed , and an Insulting Enemy every day expected to enter the City , and bring it to a final Desolation ; that only a no●se being heard in the Hills and Mountains , raised the Siege , and gave abundance of plenty to the Besieged , according as the Prophet had foretold . And Senacheribs Host trusting in the Arm of Flesh , and the multitude of Horses and Chariots , found themselves insensibly Defeated by the Revenging Sword of the Destroying Angel , falling dead , by the mighty stroak of an Invisible Power , whose Force they felt , but knew no way to resist , or fly from , till 80000 of them were scatter'd in the Cha●ns of Death . And upon consideration of these , and the like Deliverances , Holy David says , to comfort himself , and his People , viz. The Lord of Hosts is with us , the God of Jacob is our Refuge ; come , behold the Work of the Lord , what desolation he hath made in the earth , he maketh Wars to cease unto the end of the earth , he breaketh the bow , and cutteth the spear in sunder , and burneth the Chariot with fire : Be still , and know that I am God , I will be exalted amongst the heathen , I will be exalted in the earth . The Lord of Hosts is with us , the God of Jacob is our refuge , Psal . 46. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. For although God makes Man for the most part the Instrument in his hand , the more v●sibly to bring about his purposes ; yet without the Operation of Almighty Power and Wisdom , Mens Devices are brought to nought , for here we find , that when Gideon came to behold the Camp of the enemy , The Midianites , and Amalekites , and all the Children of the H●st lay along in the Valley like Grashoppers for multitude , and their Camels were without number , as the Sand of the Sea , Judges 7. 12. Yet this great Army that had so long been the wast●ul Terrour of the Countrey , was put into such a fear at the cry of the Sword of the Lord , and Gideon , that they were utterly confounded , and knew not what they did ; for as we find it in vers . 21 , 22. of the ●oregoing Chapter , viz. And they stood every man in his place round about the Camp , and all the Host ran , and cryed , and fled , and the three hundred blew the Trumpets , and the Lord set every mans Sword against his fellow , even throughout all the Host , and the Host fled , &c. By this we may see , it was more through Fear and Distraction they were broken , than through any slaughter the three hundred Israelites were capable of making amongst so great a Company of men , David incouraged by God , pursued the Amalekites that burnt Ziklag , and with four hundred Men fell upon those that had taken the spoil , and with four hundred Men Defeated their great Army , recovering what ever had been taken away . Barach and Deborah Defeated Jabin's great Host , Destroying it together with Sisera its Captain , who fell in Jael's Tent. Sampson with his single Arm , routed at sundry times , the Powers of the Philistines ; so that we see that God confounds strength with weakness , fo● when men presume too much on the Arm of Flesh , they ●●●quently deceive themselves ▪ and in the m●●st of their security are overthrown : Therefore let a good Christian consider that his strength is in the Lord , and 〈◊〉 God be on his side , he need not be afraid , th●ugh danger beset him round about ; but be comforted , an● ma●e v●liant by the words of the Kingly Prophet , viz. The Lord is my light , and my salvation , whom s●all I fear ▪ the Lord is the ●●trength of my life , of whom shall I be afraid ▪ When the wicked , even mine enemies , and my foes came up●n me to eat up my flesh , they s●umbled and fell : Thou●h an Hos● sh●uld en●amp against me , m● heart shall not fear , though War shall arise again●● me , in this will I be confident , Psal . 27. 1 , 2 , 3. This ought to be the confidence , and couragious resolution of every Christan , especi●l●y Soldiers ▪ who carry their Lives in their hands , and are said to live on the brink o● the Grave . Above all ●n a good Cause , and the Defence of the Sacred Truth , when their Religion is in danger , and the Enemy seeks not to gain a Dominion over their Bodies , but over their Souls , to obscure the Light of the Gospel , and Cloud a K●ngdom in Darknesse and Ignorance : Let them take Example by the Valiant Maccabees , who when they beheld their Holy Things Prophaned and Trampled unde● Foot by an idolatrous People , their Alter po●luted , and their Sanctuaries in danger to be defiled ; they took up the Sword of Gi●eon , and stood more for their Religion than for their Lives , no● was the Sword of the Lo●d wanting to give them success over the●r Enemies , and to Redeem their Blee●●ng Count●ey from the Distraction and Desolation it groaned under ; no● may we spare to come nea●er home , and find innumerable insta●ces of God's ra●sing up Gideons to save these K 〈…〉 ●●t only from B●●b●●o●● N●t●o●● who 〈◊〉 ●arly 〈◊〉 invaded them ▪ but from a Papal Tyranny , from Plots and Conspiracies , that have laboured to make their glory set in ●lood and Ruine . Henry the Eight was raised up to scatter the Midianites , and Amalekites of Rome , whose Idol●tries and Superstitions had inf●cted our Israel , and whose Pride and Luxury had laid waste their pleasant places , and destroyed the good things of the Land : This , I say , is the Sword of the Lord , and of Gideon , for God made this Prince an Instrument in his hand : This was the Lord's doings , and it is marvelous in our Eyes ; and in the next place , he raised up a good Josia in the person of Edward the Sixth , and under him , gave us the Purity and Light of the Gospel , in its primitive Lustre , brighter than the Morning Star , and though after the death of this good Prince , he witheld his Sword , and suffered us to be crushed under the merciless hands of our enemies ; yet the Bloody Reign of of Q. Mary once over , wherein our Adversaries displayed themselves in their true Colours , feasting Flames with Martyrs precious Blood , at such a Riotous profuseness , as no Barbarous Nation had equalled , he heard the Groans of his suffering people , and sent us a deliverance , The Sword of the L●rd , and ●f Gideon , was again on our side , as appeard in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth , who was valiant for the Truth , and in spite of all the Conspiracies , to raise a Rebellion , or bring her to an untimely end , by Poyson , Daggers , and many pernicious Devices ; she stood the Gideon , or Deborah of our Land , and though Spain fill'd the Seas with floating Castles to destroy this flourishing Kingdom , yet the Almighty by a small number manifestly bared his Arm to save us , and ruine those that were too confident in the Arm of Flesh , not only destroying that huge Arm●d● , but routing such Forces , as the Spaniards sent into Ireland , to assist the Bloody Irish Papists , in Rebellion against their lawful Soveraign , comitting such Cruelties as are too tedious here to mention ; and although in the frustration of their Plo●s and Devices , they might well have perceived the Immediat hand of Heaven , protecting this great and prosperous Queen ; yet so far were they infatuated , or transported with inseperable Malice and Revenge , that though their Attempts cost many of them their lives , yet no sooner was the wise Protestant Prince King James the first advanced to the Throne , but they went to exalt him in a blast to the Skies , had not their Powder-Plot been discovered by the Divine Hand of Providence , who blasted it ; all which well considered , may make us confess with the Royal Prophet , viz. We have thought of thy loving kindness , O God , in the midst of thy Temple , according to thy Name , O God , so ●s thy praise unto the ends of the earth ; thy right hand is full of righteousness : Let Mount Sion rejoyce , let the Daughter of Juda be glad , because of thy Judgment , Psal . 49. verse 9. 10. 11. And now not without Tears of Compassion , we cannot but reflect on the Popish Cruelty in the poor Kingdom of Ireland ; in the Reign of King Charles the first , Anno 1641. when without any provocation , Armed with Hellish ●age , and the natural Cruelty of a Papist , they by inhumane Torments , Massacred no less than 200000 English Protestants , of all Ages and Sex ; insomuch that the Dead Bodies not being suffered by the Priests to be buried ; Created a Contagion , and in some measure took revenge on the Murtherers ; and what can we think ? but at this day a Papist is a Papist still , where even the Principle of Religion instills a kind of Fiercenes● and B●rbarity into their Nature : Nay , if we reflect , what in a few Moneths they have done , what better can be expected , if we consider the Spoil , Plunder , Ravagements , and Desolations the French and Irish in Arms have made , regarding neither Oaths Promises , nor nearness of Relation ; with a desire utterly to Root the English out of the Kingdom , with a further desig● of carrying on their Mischievous Enterprizes against the Pr●testant Religion ; In general , it is time for Protestants to becom● Valiant for the Truth , and bold as Lyons , not only for the●● Religion , but temporal Interest ; the preservation of thei● Wives and Children , from Murthers , Rapes , and Deflowrings , and all manner of Violence and Wickedness : to stand as Bulwarks against the Rapid Innundation of Antichristian Tyranny . Let us consider that the Fowls of the Air , and the Beasts of the Forrest , stand in the defence of their own lives , and the lives of their young Ones , with such Weapons as Nature has afforded them : And shall not men in such a case pluck up their Spirits , and redouble their Courage , since the Almighty has of late been so favourable in giving us , even by Miracle , a Protestant King and Queen to sit upon the Throne , and so great a Prospect of a through deliverance ; we are here Members of the Church Militant : Let us not be ashamed , or afraid of our profession , when maintaining our Christian Warefare in a good Conscience , and a just Cause , we make our way to the Church which is Triumphant , where God shall wipe away all Tears from our Eyes , And there shall be no more Death , neither sorrow nor crying , neither shall there be any more pain , for the former things pass away , Revel . 21 , 4. Though never so many Storms and Tempests threaten ; yet a good Christian ought not to be dismayed , though in a time , even when danger does beset them : yet it is required , they should humble themselves before their Maker , and Rely on him , who is able to save to the utmost , all that trust in him : For indeed , Sin is that which provokes him to with-hold his mercy , and bring calamities on Nations , & Kingdoms , it was always well with the seed of Jacob , when they clave fast to the Rock of their Salvation ; but when they grew Regardless , he gave them up to the oppressing Nations , who grieved his chosen Heritage ; for as 't is said Psal . 18. ver . 25 , 26 , 27. viz. With the Merciful , thou wilt shew thy self Merciful ; and with an upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright ; with the pure , thou wilt shew thy self pure ; with the froward , thou wilt shew thy self froward : For thou wilt save the afflicted people , but wilt bring down high looks . Niniveh humbling her selt in Sackcloath and Ashes before the Lord , was saved from impendent Wrath , when stubborn Sodom , and Impenitent Gom●rah sunk in Sulpherous fire ; let us turn then to the Lord with our whole hearts , and sing praise unto our deliverer , that our Enemies , and all those that seek to hurt us , may fall before us : 'T is a good Conscience , and an assurance in Gods mercy's that makes men valiant ; Abraham on this score pursued the Kings , ●nd rescued his Brother Lot , &c. out of their hands : David in this assurance undauntedly marched against the mighty Champion of the Philistines ; and with inconsiderable Weapons , as knowing God saves neither by Spear nor Shield , no more than by weak means , when he resolves to manifest his power , or intends to save , he overcame the man that had so long defied the Armies of Israel : For when the great Jehovah was d●signed to show his last Judgment upon Pharach , and his pursuing Host in the Red Sea , and Israel cryed cut for fear , they were only commanded to stand still , and see the Salvation of the Lord , and they even without contributing any help of their own , found themselves not only secured from the danger they feared , and a little before had threatned them , but saw their desire upon their Enemies ; the Element heard the voice of its Creator , and returned with violence to let the stubborn Monarch know , that the highest Rules in the Kingdoms of men , in whose hands are all the Kingdoms of the Earth , and all the breath of life . There is a Sword of the Lord , and a Sword of Man ; against the first there is no prevailing , but the latter is weak , i● the first be wanting : God if he pleases can arm all the Elements to fight for his Servants , as he did the Hail in the time of Joshua by which there fell more than by the Swords of the Israelites ; or inclose his people with Fiery Camps of Armed Angels , as he did Elisha , when his life was sought for by the Assyrians . Trust in the Lord , and he will be to his Servants a Wa●l of Defence , and a strong Tower , a Buckler , a Shield , and a mighty Deliverer ; who has power to do what he please● , in Heaven and Earth , whose Will is Fate , and whose Decrees are irresistable and irreversable : Let us but call upon him sincerely , with a true heart , and unseigned lips , and he will hear us , and deliver us out of all our trouble : Let us not then be afraid of their terrour that seek to harm us , but assuredly rest secure in his protection , whose mercies are over all the works of his Creation , and he will keep us from the Arrows that fly by Night , and the Shafts , though go abroad by day , the Adversary shall have no advantage over us : Therefore let us acquit our selves like men , and not faint , or grow weary : Let fear fly our Breasts , and let us Arm our selves with Courage in a good Cause ; and consider that the God of Battels , the Lord of Hosts is the disposer of all things , and if the Lord be with us , who shall be against us , and prosper ? for there is a Sword of the Lord and a Sword of Gideon . Thus by extraordinary means does the Almighty save , when he bares his Arm to make his power known to the Sons of Men ; then happy are all they that trust in him , for they shall never be confounded , their Enemies shall come out one way , and flee seven ; the Lord shall draw a Sword after them , and they shall be scattered , even from Heaven shall they be discomfited , and scattered o're the face of the earth , as in Judges 3. 2. They fought from Heaven , the Stars in their courses fought against Sisera . If Heaven be on our side , in vain is the Combination of man , for who is able to stand before that mighty God , whose very looks drieth up the deep , and whose wrath maketh the Mountains to melt , before whose Majesty Job confesseth himself to fail and tremble , like one in a stormy Tempest , and that his fear was so great , that he was not able to bear it ; nor ( can his hand be shortened , that he will not save those that stand for his truth ; suce as are valiant for the promotion of God's honour , are said to fight the Lords Battel ; that is , he owns them to be his Souldiers , and he puts power and strength into their hands , as he did into his Servant Joshua's , when he made the Heavenly Bodies , contrary to the course of nature , obey a Mortal Voice , the Sun and Moon stood still till his people had accomplished their desire upon their Enemies , as we find it in Joshua 10. 13. And when Moses held but up his hand , the Israelites prevailed , for there is nothing too hard for the Lord , when he designs to bring about his purposes : I called on the Lord in my distress ( says holy David ) the Lord answered me , and set me in a large place ; the Lord is on my side , I will not fear what man can do unto me : The Lord taketh my part with them that help me , therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me ; it is better to trust in the Lord , than to put confidence in Princes ; all Nations compassed me about , but in the Name of the Lord will I destroy them , Psal . 118 ▪ v. 5 , 6 , 7 8 ▪ 9 , 10. Thus we may behold , how a good Cause puts life into the Soul , and makes the Spirit rise to the extreamest height of valour , banishing the image of fear , by a confident assurance of success , makes Men bold as Lyons , and unwary in their undertakings . This made Nehemiah couragious for the House of God , and for his Sanctuary , when he caused the very Work-men to arm at their labour , having their Swords in their hands , even whilst they were building , and repairing the City of Jerusalem , to prevent and repel their treacherous Enemies , who sought always to surprize and bring them to destruction ; Let us take Courage then , and faint not , but acquit your selves like men . A Protestant Prayer for our Deliverance from Popish Enemies , and for future Success . O Lord God , Holy and Glorious , in whose hands are all the ends of the Earth , thou God of Battles , on whom all Success and Victory depends ; look down upon us thy poor afflicted Servants , pardon our Sins , and pass by the multitude of our Transgressions ; save us , save us , O Lord , from the Malice and Hatred of our Implacable Enemies , Defeat their Plots , and Confound their Devices , and let them know , neither Policy , nor the Arm of Flesh can do any thing against those thou art pleased to take into thy especial Care and Protection ; Give us Courage to be Valiant for thy Revealed Truth in the Gospel of thy dear Son , our ever blessed Lord and Saviour , and ever Defend us from the Clouds and Mists of Popery and Error ; give us hearts to Fear , and Reverence thy Holy Name , that all our Actions and Undertakings may redound to thy Honour and Glory , through Jesus Christ : To whom with Thee , and Thy Holy Spirit , be all Power , Praise , and Dominion , World without end . Amen . Printed at London , and Re-Printed at Edinburgh , 1689.