The substance of 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. 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) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A66990 Wing W348 ESTC R219337 99830816 99830816 35270 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. A66990) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 35270) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1878:23) The substance of 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. By Mr. Walker minister, and governor of the city. Walker, George, of Londonderry. [2], 10 p. printed by A. Milbourn in Green-Arbour-Court in the Little-Old-Baily, London : 1689. With a license to print on verso of title page dated June the 5th. 1689. With title-page woodcut. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Protestants -- Ireland -- Early works to 1800. 2004-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-12 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-01 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2005-01 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion The Substance of 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 . By Mr. WALKER Minister , and Governor of the City . London , Printed by A. Milbourn in Green-Arbour-Court in the Little-Old-Baily . 1689. Licensed , June the 5th . 1689. Entred according to Order ▪ A Glorious Prospect of the Protestants Happiness , &c. Judges VII . 20. 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 out a Deliverance to his People , he made them sensible that it was not so much the Arms of Flesh , as his immediate power that saved 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 & Amalakites , a cruel and wastful People that spared no means that force or fraud could invent to vex them , and lay their Country desolate , to draw them away to Idolatry , and the Worship of 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 overthrown , destroyed , broken , and confounded at first onset by the breaking of Pitchers , & sounding of Trumpets , and crying , The Sword of the Lord , and of Gideon , Judges 7. 20. Let but the Lord arise , ( says 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 , Psal. 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 Fruits of her Womb , when all visible means failed , and an Insulting Enemy every day expected to enter the City , and bring it to final Desolation ; that only a noise 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 Senacharibs Hoast trusting in the Arm of the 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 fetter'd in the Chains 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 visibly 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 Amalakites , and all the Children of the Host ●ay 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 wastful terrour of the Country , 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 ver . 21 , 22. of the foregoing Chapter , viz. And they stood every man in his place round about the Camp , and all the Hoast 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 Hoast , 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 Amalakites 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 Jab●n's great Hoast , destroying it together with Cisse●a its Captain , who fell in Jael's Tent. Sampson with h●s single Arm , routed at sundry times , the Powers of the Philist●●s ; so that we see that God confounds strength with weakness , for when men presume too much on the Arm of Flesh , they frequently deceive themselves ; and in the midst of their security are overthrown : Therefore let a good Christian consider that his strength is in the Lord , and if God be on his side , he need not be afraid , though danger bes●t him round about ; but be comforted , and made valiant by the words of the Kingly Prophet , viz. The Lord is my light and my salvation , whom shall I fear ; the Lord is the strength of my life , of whom shall I be afraid : When the wicked , even mine enemies , and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh , they stumbled and fell : Though an Hoast should encamp against me , my heart shall not fear , though War shall arise against me , in this will I be confident , Psal. 27. 1 , 2 , 3. This ought to be the confidence , and courageous resolution of every Christian , especially Soldiers , who carry their Lives in their hands , and are said to live on the brink of the Grave . Above all in 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 bodys , but over their souls to obscure the light of the Gospel , and cloud a Kingdom in darkness and ignorance : Let them take example by the valiant Maccabees , who when they beheld their Holy things prophaned an I trampled under foot by an Idolatrous people , their Altar polluted , and their Sanctuarys in danger to be defiled ; they took up the Sword of Gideon , and stood more for their Religion than for their Lives ▪ nor was the Sword of the Lord wanting to give them success over their Enem●es , and to redeem their bleeding Country from the distraction and desolation it , groaned under ; nor may we spare to come nearer home , and find innumerable instances of God's raising up Gideons to save these Kingdoms , not only from Barbarous Nations , who in early times have invaded them but from a Papal Tyranny from Plots , and Conspiracys that have laboured to make their glory set in blood and ruine . Henry the Eight was raised up to scatter the Midian●tes , and Amalakites of Rome , whose Idolatries and Superstitions had infected our Israel , and whose Pride and Luxury had laid waste her pleasant places , and destroyed the good things of the Land : This , I say , was the Sword of the Lord , and of Gideon , for God made this Pr●nce 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 Go●pel in i●s primitive lustre , brighter than the Morning-Sta● ▪ and though a●ter the death of this good Prince , he 〈◊〉 his Sword , and suffered us to be crushed under the 〈◊〉 hands of our enemies ; yet the Bloody Reign of O 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 Barb●rous Nation had equalled , he heard the Groans of his suffering people , and sent us a deliverance , The Sword of the Lord , and of Gideon , was again on our side , as appeared in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth , who was valliant for the truth , and in spite of all the Conspiracies to raise a Rebellion , or bring her to an untimely end , by Poison , Daggers , and many pernicious Devices ; she stood the Gideon , or Deborah of our Land , and though Spain fill'd the Seas with fleating Castles to destroy this flourishing Kingdom , yet the Almighty by a small number manifestly bared his Arm to save us , and raine those that were too confident in the Arm of Flesh , not only destroying that huge Armado , but routing such Forces , as the Spaniards sent into Ireland , to assist the Bloody Irish Papists , in Rebellion against their lawful Soveraign , committing such Cruelties as are too tedious here to mention , and although in the frustration of their Plots and Devices they might well have perceived the immediate 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 Protest●nt 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 Div●ne Hand of Providence , who blasted it ; all which well considered , may make us confess with the Royal Prophe● , viz. We have thought of thy loving kindness , O God , in the midst of thy Temple , according to thy Name , O God , so is thy praise vnto the ends of the earth ; thy right hand is full of righteousness : Let Mount Sion rejoyce , let the Daughter of Jud● be glad , because of thy judgment , Psal. 49. verse 9 , 10 , 11. And now without tears of compassion , we cannot 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 Rage , and the natu●●l 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 Contageon , 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 Fierceness and Barbarity into their Nature : Nay , if we reflect what in a few Months 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 the English out of the Kingdom , with a further design of carrying on their Mischevious Enterprizes against the Protestant Religion ; In general , it is time for Protestants to become Valiant for the Truth , and bold as Lyons , not only for their Religion , but temporal intrest ; the preservation of their Wives and Children , from Murthers , Rapes , and Deflowrings , and all manner of Violence and Wickedness : to stand as Bulwarks against the Rapid Inundation of Antichristan Tyrany . 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 Mil●itant : Let us not be ashamed or afraid of our profession , when maintaining our Christian W●●f●re 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 p●in , for the former things pass away . Rev. 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 themselve ; 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 , and Kingdoms ; it was always well with the seed of Jacob , when they cleave 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 will bring down high looks . Niniveh humbling her self in Sackcloath and Ashes before the Lord , was saved from impendent Wrath , when Stubborn Sodom , and Impenitent Gomorrah 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 consceience , and an assurance in gods mercy's that makes men valiant ; Abraham on this score persued the Kings , and Rescued his Brother Lot , &c. out of their hands : David in this assurance undauntedly marched against the mighty Champion of the Philistims ; 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 desied the Armies of Israel : For when the great Jehovah was designed to show his last Judgment upon Pharoh ; and his pursuing Host in the Red Sea , and Israel cryed out 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 , if the first be wanting : God if he pleases can arm all the Elements to sight 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 Wall of defence , and a strong Tower , a Buckler , a Shield , and a mighty Deliverer ; who has power to do what he pleases : 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 unfeigned 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 mercys 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 Battles , 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 , but 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'er 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 , such as are valiant for the promotion of God's Honour , are said to fight the Lord's Battle ; that is , he owns them to be his Soldiers , and he puts power and strength into their hands , as he did into his Servant Joshuah'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 courageous 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 Enemys , 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 Errour ; give us hearts to fear , and Reverence thy Holy Name , that all our Astions and Vndertakings 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 . FINIS .