I Cannot but with Tertullian, Adoro Scripturae plenitudi­nem. Tert, lib. cont. Hermog. adore the exquisite and compleat Fulness of the Scriptures, for this one thing amongst many others, That let the Occasion be what it will, of calling a Solemn As­sembly, whether for Prayer or Praise, to receive Instructions, Directions, or Encouragement to any Duty, general or particular; what­ever the Case be, you cannot dip into the Sacred Leaves, but you shall presently meet with some Passage or other, that will be pertinent to the Business in hand.

Such are these Words that I have pitch'd upon to en­tertain you, as an Helper of your Joy upon this Thanks­giving; (for such Festivals as these, come not within the Censure of our Nicer Spirits; those who have quar­rel'd with the rest, the Festivals of Christ and his Apo­stles, and his Virgin Mother, do yet allow of Feriae repentinae, & ex re natâ institutae, as they please to phrase it; such as are instituted and ordain'd upon New Emergencies)

Taken by themselves, they look as if they had been Penn'd for the very purpose, as if they had been ad­dress'd and fitted only to this Occasion, exactly circum­stantiated [Page 2]and proportion'd to the Time. Seeing that by Thee we enjoy great Quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this Nation by thy Providence; We accept it always, and in all places (most Dread Sove­reign) with all Thankfulness.

It's worth observing, That we are sometimes com­manded to honour Bad Princes, but never to rejoice in them, as we ought to do in Good. Then, Sing, O heavens, Isa. 49.7, 13.and be joyful, O earth; break forth into singing, O mountains. Few Virtuous Men, but fewer Virtuous Princes; many a righteous man in Sheep skins and Goat-skins, but few in Ermins.

But if ever Subjects had Cause to glory in a Prince, We are the Men. The Peoples Argument to the Cen­turion was but a petty Topick to this; they tell him that He was worthy for whom he should do this; Luke 7.5. for he loved their nation, and built them a synagogue: Whereas our Sovereign not only loved, but saved our Nation; and not only saved our Nation, but crowned it at once; (We have Him in the Throne before our Hopes, though later than our Wishes:) Nay, saved and crowned Three Nations at once, and blest them with Peace; and merits to govern much larger Territories than he yet possesseth.

We have a Sovereign that is a Sovereign indeed, in the sense of Medicine as well as Majesty; of an healing Virtue; Majestas & Amor; Majesty and Mercy lodg'd in his Royal Breast; a Sovereign like our Saviour, that can be touch'd with the feeling of our Infirmities: A Prince that takes Delight and Pleasure in all Generous Actions; whom Foreign Crown'd Heads admire for his Wisdom, Closeness, Prowess, and Activity, and court for his Friendship; and yet is endued with that Steddiness of Mind, that doth not grow giddy with its own Height. A Prince, whose August Majesty hath [Page 3]not only Enobled the Nation, and recover'd its lost Reputation; but who Stands the World's Triumphant Ʋmpire, maintains the Balance, and has Even Now gi­ven Check (as a Noble Ancestor of his from whom he is descended did before to the Swelling Monarchy of Spain, when she thought to have grasp'd all the Liber­ties of Europe;) to One whose Ambition and Acquists grew too big for the common Safety of our Neighbour­ing Nations, and obliged him to come bending unto Him; Isa. 60.14. Luk. 14.32.to send an Ambassage, and desire conditions of Peace.

For which Things, amongst the rest, I question not in the least but the very Hearts of his Enemies admire him in Secret; and that the very disaffected Party of the Nation themselves, if they look round about, could not name any One King now reigning in Christendom whom they would have to rule over them than Him­self under whose Government at present they are so un­easy. Whose Virtues shall out-live himself, and many Generations shall fare the better for him. Thus Solomon the Father, and Rehoboam the Son, and many more were preserved from Ruin for David's sake; and in the days of Hezekiah (above 300 Years after) Jerusalem her self, in great distress, was defended by GOD for his own sake, and for his Servant David's sake. Religious Princes and Potentates are an Extraordinary Blessing. Isa. 1.26 I will restore thy Judges, as at the first, &c. a Mercy representative of all the good GOD has in his Thoughts to bestow upon Judah. He makes choice of this as the fittest Interpreter of his large Heart, as that which might best assure them of his Love. The Queen of Sheba, without a Spirit of Prophecy, was able to see happy days coming upon the Jews, from the Piety and Wisdom She observed in their Prince. 2 Chron. 9.8. Because thy GOD loved Israel to establish them for ever, therefore made he Thee King over them to do Judgment, and Justice.

I know (My Brethren) it's a Sin to flatter Kings; and let it be Treason if you will; but a good One ought daily to be praised. Ps 72.15. But lest I should be challenged for so bold an attempt as the giving any Character of His Most Sacred Majesty, (for Every Pencil is not permitted to draw a King's Picture;) and believing that Great Things and Greater Persons are not to be treated, or so much as treated of, but with the greatest Deference, Caution, and with the most profound Submissions; instead of inditing so good a Matter, I shall at present only speak of the Things that are fairly laid down in the Text, viz.

(1.) The very worthy deeds done unto this Nation by his Providence, or Prudence.

(2.) The great Quietness, or Peace, which, by his Conduct, and Management, we now enjoy. The First of which came to pass when he was our glorious De­liverer; the Second now He is Our Lawful and Rightful King. And then

(3.) I shall wind up the Discourse with some Pra­ctical Deductions. And

(1.) The very worthy Deeds done unto this Nation by his Providence. Such, which our Childrens Children shall Sing the Story of, whilst their pleased Parents smile them­selves into Tears of Joy that they liv'd to see the truth of the Strange Revolution; which to After ages may possi­bly wear the Face of a Romance, and either the Thing it self concluded to be only the extravagant Sallies of some Historians; or else the Person, whom Providence has Selected out of the Mass of Mankind, to be an In­stance what Wonders the Almighty can do for those he has a Strange Kindness for.

I need not tell you in what a dreadful Posture our Af­fairs both Civil, and Ecclesiastic, stood at that Juncture when our almost unpresidented Deliverance was wrought for us. They were (as One speaks of the State of the [Page 5]Empire in his Time) [...], upon the Edge of the Razor. The Nation, such were its agonies and convulsions, seem'd like the Roll, Ezek. 2.10. written within and without, Lamentation and Weeping and Woe.

What Invasions upon our Rights were we long and sad Spectators of! The Character of England at that Time we might find in Isa. 59.14. Judgment was turned backward, and Justice stood afar off; Truth was faln in the Streets, and Equity could not enter. Our Foundations were out of course, and, like the Earth, our Govern­ment seemed to hang without any hold.

Our Laws (the common Inheritance and Patrimony of every Free-born Subject, the Security of all that can be valuable in this World) professedly run down; and Ju­stice and Trials were only become the Words of Form to be made use of for destroying us by Rule and Method; and were only the Solemnities. and Ceremonies of our Ruin. No Man's Fence was Strong enough to resist pre­carious Judges, and suborn'd Juries. Prerogative (which is only a Power to preserve People on extraordinary Oc­casions) was made the great Engine of their Destructi­on. Men by Law unqualify'd for any Trust, were thrust into all Offices of Trust; and those who were Traitors in the Eye of the Law, had the chief Management of Affairs.

The Nurseries of the Clergy were assign'd over to Pa­pists; and the Ministers of Religion were enjoin'd, con­trary to the Laws in force, to proclaim Liberty to their Parishioners to go to Mass, or where they pleased; and threaten'd with a Severe Prosecution for their Non­compliance, which in part was Executed by imprisoning the Fathers of our Church.

Publick Mass-houses, and Schools for the corrupting of Youth, were set up in several parts of the Kingdom. The Wolves, and professed Adversaries of our Church, were intrusted for the providing Pastors for it; the Jesuits, and other Popish Priests, having the Choice of our Bishops, and the disposal of all such Ecclesiastical Preferments as belonged to the Crown.

A Standing Army was kept up in the Time of Peace, meerly to over awe the People, and deter them from asserting their Rights; to bring us into Hobbs's State of Nature, that they should all have a Right to every thing of ours, nor leave us any other way to help our selves, and ease our sad Complaints, but our private Prayers, and our dry Patience.

Such as would not comply to promote their Popish Designs, were turn'd out of the Court, Corporations, and Commissions of Peace, and Lieutenancy: Not a Few debarr'd of their way of Livelihood; and a Resolution taken to suffer none to exercise any such Employment as required a License, unless they would make the like Engagement.

The Parliament, which should Redress our Grievan­ces, was no longer allowed the Liberty of Voting; but the Lords, and all others who were likely to be Members, were Closetted; and all Arts used to induce them to betray their Liberties.

The Nation no longer permitted the free Choice of their Representatives; but Threatnings, and Me­naces, and all Methods made use of to determine them to such Tools as the Romanists should think fit to Nomi­nate to them.

And at last, (to omit other Publick Grievances, too tedious to enumerate on such a Day as this, for their Name was Legion) a Prince of Wales was introduced into the World; the ill Manage­ment [Page 7]of which Business the very Papists themselves complain'd of. The Busi­ness of the Prince of Wales (saith One of them under the Mask of a Protestant, in a virulent Paper against his present Majesty, Entituled England's Crisis, or The World well amended, printed in Ire­land) I cannot but confess some people managed, as if they design'd either that we should not believe at all, or if we did, our Belief should be as implicit as to Successions and In­heritances here, as that of the Romanist is in the Expectation of the Kingdom of Heaven.

In short, We were dealt withal as Thieves do by them they Rob; we were bound and gagg'd tha we might not stir to help our selves, nor cry out for the help of Others. We were prest out of Measure, above Strength; insomuch that our Heart dy'd within us, and we despair'd even of Life, and had the Sentence of Death in our selves. We were just Sinking under the Waves, upon which we had walked so long not without a Miracle; when lo! the Saviour of Israel Stretched forth his Arm, and saved Us, and deliver'd us from so great a Death. He rais'd up a Man that scorned Ease and Pleasure, and Dangers; Acts 16.11. and inspir'd his Royal Breast with a vigorous and an active Fire, to come over and help op­pressed Innocence; which was no sooner done, but in a Moment, in the twinkling of an Eye, this great Com­plication of dangers was broken, dissipated, and utter­ly destroy'd; and we were Surpriz'd with Salvation. It shall come to pass, saith Zachary, that at Even-time it shall be Light. When we were expecting nothing but darkness (for what is the Evening but a Sepulchre prepa­red for the Light?) behold then it was Light, perfect day. The Matter was brought about by His Conduct and Providence, without undergoing the Mischiefs of having our Country made the Seat of War: The Persons of Power and Interest (what by guilty Fears, and Cowardise; what by a Spirit of Infatuation that seized them) with­out Power and Might (like Great Oaks pull'd up by an Hair) were removed; and an End was put to our [Page 8] Miseries, and almost to our Fears, by a dry Victory; and our Redemption was not purchased by Fields of Blood either of our Friends, or Enemies. All things were unaccountably reduced into that firm State out of which they were distorted, and we are once again the Honour and the Envy of Christendom. We are secured of our Ancient Laws, and Immunities by which we may live the Lives of reasonable Creatures, and not of Machines or meer Bodies; (as [...]. Slaves are rendred, Apoc. 18.13.) and our Religion is regnant, by which we may live the Lives of Christians and Saints. We may truly say, the Bible triumphs in this Deliverance; and the Northern Heresy, as they reproachfully call'd it, hath got a glorious Victory over human Inventions, and their Catholick Religion. The Maintenance and Preservation of which, we need not in the least be solicitous about, since the Representative of a GOD of Infinite Truth, cannot but be faithful when he hath promised.

Thus have I ventur'd to open the Book; and with all possible Brevity have given you a transient View of the very worthy deeds done to this Nation when His Majesty was our Deliverer; Services they were so brave, but withal so very desperate, that nothing but the ad­venturing into the Mouth of a Cannon to save a Friend, (and greater danger has no Man;) can give any just Idea of them.

Speak Ireland (for He was thy Saviour also), when a Sound of Battel, and of great destruction was in thy Land; Speak, how He gave thy Enemies as the Dust to his Sword; and as driven Stubble to his Bow; Say, what hardness he endured as a good Soldier; what dangers he exposed himself to in the High Places of the Field; how he gave no Sleep to his Eyes, nor Slumber to his Eye-lids, till he caused their Swords to fall out of their Hands, turning to Flight the Armies of the [Page 9] Aliens, and made Thee at last to dwell in Safety.

But still his Care and Travel is not over; for now he must cross the Tempestuous Ocean, to plead the Cause, and contend for the Common Safety of this Side of the World; with an Adversary whose Hand was against eve­ry Man, and every Man's hand against him; and what the Success and Conclusion of the whole Matter hath been, ask this very Day, and it will tell thee. For,

(2) By Him, this Man of Rest, We (and they both) enjoy great Quietness (or [...]. Peace); Rest on every side, So that there is neither Adversary, nor Evil Occurrent. The 2^d Thing to be Spoken to.

Thus Peace is the Intention and End as well as the Ground of Lawful War. Desired and Embraced by the Most Valiant, devoted to Martial Atchievements as the height of his Honour, and the utmost of his Ambition, as not to be purchased by the Excellencies of Nature, or all the Riches in the World. In respect to which the Poet sings of the Warlike Medes and Thracians;

The Soldiers of Fortune, that make a Trade of War, (I hope that Trade that hath broke all others, will break it self at last) are content, like the Estridg, to eat Iron, and live upon the Sword: Yet They that take up the Sword only upon an Honourable Necessity, will be glad to think an honest Convenience a Cogent Necessity to lay it down again: and afterwards look upon it to be as great an Honour and Happiness to live by their Head piece as their Sword.

The Disciples of our Lord and Saviour, weread, were once afraid of their own Master as if they had seen a Spirit. Mat. 14.27. Thus many when they see Peace coming, are afraid, and think it's an Apparition: but what Christ said to Them, His Majesty has been pleased to say to us, Be not afraid, it is I that bring you the glad Tidings of Peace. Thus after a weary Week comes a Sabbath of Rest. God has not only deliver'd us, not only raised us from the Grave, and comforted us with the Hopes that we shall not fall back into the same Grave again; (which comfort at the height of Affliction is like Mer­cy at the Block;) but after a Sore and Tedious War hath given us the invaluable Blessing of Peace. We have, like Jonathan, received our Honey at the End of a Rod; and out of the Eater, hath come forth Sweetness.

Who thought of this Twelve Months ago? There was such small or no appearance of such a Thing, that we might say, If the Lord would make Windows in Hea­ven, or say, Drop down ye Heavens from above, and let the Skies pour down Peace, might this thing be? Al­mighty GOD doth often sow his Blessings whilst Men Sleep. Whilst our Faith sleeps as to the Belief, (and so in­deed he has been more gracious to us than Christ was to his own Country, Matt. 13.58.) and Our Hopes sleep as to the Expectation of so great a Mercy, he comes privily, as it were, and lays it down by us upon our Pillows. Jer. 29.11. For I know the Thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord; thoughts of Peace, and not of evil, to give you an expect­ed End. And thus after all our Tossings, has he brought us to that fair Haven of Quiet where we would be. Inso­much that the Trumpets sound nothing but the welcome joys of our Common Safety; and the armed Troops in our Streets, march only as our Defence and Guard.

It was once, you know, said of Claudian, That he wanted Matter suitable to the Excellency of his Wit; [Page 11]but where is Wit and Eloquence worthy of this Subject? Such a Comprehensive Blessing is Peace, such a Circle of Blessings, that who can shew forth all its Praise? So that (my Brethren) you must e'en pardon me, if I am forced (like the Geographers) to set down a Line for a River, and a Spot for a whole Country.

As GOD hath delivered us from as dreadful a Judgment as we could fear, so Peace is as great a Bles­sing as we can desire. It is one of GOD's good and perfect Gifts; when the Psalmist could say no more, he ends all with, The Lord will bless his People with Peace, Psalm 29.11. As Bread in the Lord's Prayer, compre­hends all Necessaries that conduce to the preservation of our Natural Lives; so Peace includes whatsoever is ne­cessary to make Church and State happy, It is every way excellent. If we speak of Goodness, lo! this is Good; if of Delight, lo! this is Pleasant. Utile Dul­ci. Among all the prodigious Paradoxes held in England, I think this is none, That Peace is not Good. It is so incomparably Good, that we cannot receive any due and adequate Thoughts of it, from any thing else but our own Ex­perience. Psalm 133.1. Behold how good and pleasant a Thing it is! An Excessive kind of Praise; and the high­est Stile of Praise is to profess our Inability of Expressi­on; even as the Psalmist useth to speak of GOD, O how excell nt is thy Name! and, How great is thy Good­ness! He could not comprehend the One, nor express the Other. Thus, since we cannot sufficiently set out the Praises of Peace, we will only ask, How good it is? And Praise it, by saying Nothing of it. We can only ask the Question, How Good? and, How Pleasant? But cannot answer it: However, He would try at it, and tells us, It's like the precious Ointment, &c. What has a Fragrant Smell we all admire, and draw near to. Because of the savour of thy good Ointments, Cant. 1. we will run [Page 12]after thee. Peace has an Attractive Power; for though Men naturally Love their own Country best, yet every Man likes best to live where there is Peace and Quiet. Isaac left Gerar when they Strove with him, Gen 26.17, &c. and went to Sitnah for Peace; and when they Strove with him there, he went to Rehoboth, and Beersheba, for Peace. And England can tell what a Conflux of French, &c. have come over, and still continue amongst us for the shadow of our Peace; insomuch that we have been like Nebuchadnezzar's Tree, a Shade, and a Refuge to all the Fowls of the Air, and the Beasts of the Field; and not only the House of our Church and Nation, but the great House of the World ( [...]) hath been filled with the sweet Savour of this our good Ointment. And as it is indeed like Ointment, so it is like the Dew; thus compared to shew its fertility, according to the known Nature of it in fructifying the Earth; not to Rain, which sometimes falling with Violence, doth more hurt than good; but to a distilling Dew, frequently called the Dew of Heaven. Thus Peace is of Celestial Extra­ction; the Ointment is pour'd on by the Hand of a Man; and our Peace is well promoted by Inferior Means; but the Dew comes from Heaven; and it is GOD that sends the Blessing of Peace; and as the Influences of Heaven fatten the Earth, so does this a Church and Nation. Nay, It's as the dew of Hermon, The Ori­ginal reads it, As the Dew of Hermon that descended upon the mountains of Zion; And so the Greek Version Renders it as the Vulgar Latin. Now in regard these Two seem'd to be far distant, the One in Jerusalem, the Other beyond Jordan; and so impossible that the Dew of One should run down to the Other; divers late Translations, with Ours, have added, And as the Dew; as if [...], it were to be repeated. But there are some Learned Interpreters that think it not necessary, in regard there was a Zion also near Jordan, adjoining to Her­mon. Deut. 4.48. Unto Mount Sion which is Hermon. And howsoever in the Hebrew there is some Literal difference between Sion and Zion, here and in the Psalm; yet they take it not to be of any Consequence, in regard there may be given divers Instances of such Varia­tions, and greater in the Names of the same Persons and Places. which [Page 13]was one of the richest Soils in all Israel, to denote the greatness of the Benefit that will redound hereby. It is so profitable, that if you were possessed of all things besides, and this was wanting, they could profit you no­thing: And therefore, How good is it? Is as if nothing was good without it, according to the Greek Version, [...], &c. What is good, but for Bre­thren to dwell in Peace? There is no real Blessing with­out it; take this away, and you destroy a Kingdom. As the Artificer Carved his own Name into the Buckler of Minerva so exactly, that whosoever should under­take to pick it out, must of necessity spoil the Buckler; so it is with Peace; which is so woven with the Prosperi­ty of a Kingdom, that whosoever destroys Peace, destroys a Kingdom. The Hebrews comprehended all manner of Prosperity under its Name; an Observation as common as their Vulgar Salutation, Peace be unto you; which is equivolent with that of Ours, I wish you all Happinss; and hereupon they used the word at every turn, and upon every occasion; insomuch that it is sometimes put, by a Catechresis, to signify the Prosperous Success even of War it self; 2 Sam. 11.7. David Commanded of Ʋriah, how Joab did, and how the people did, and concerning the Peace of the War, that is (as our Translators Render it) how the War prospered?

And now since I have mentioned that unlucky Word War, let your fancy lead you for a while into some Kingdom where the Weapons of War (the Weapons of the Lord's indignation) are brought forth. You need no other Foil to set off the Lustre and Beauty of this Jewel of Peace.

Imagine then that you see War Riding upon a Red Horse, and he Ʋnbridled; with his Sword wearied and blunted by Destruction, and made fat with fatness: Isa. 34.16. How dismal is the sight! How dreadful is the Place! it is no [Page 14]other than the Gate of Hell. Joel 2.1, 2. 2 Kings 8.12.Joel calls the Day of War, a Day of Gloominess and thick pitchy Darkness. Elisha wept to think of it. So that David was much in the right when the Prophet put him to his Trilemma, to chuse the Plague rather than the other Two; and earnest­ly to beseech, Let me not fall into the Hand of Man, whose very Mercies are Cruelty. Which may be one Reason why Nebuchadnezzar Seal'd the Den of Lions wherein Daniel was, because he thought it safer to trust him with the Lions than with his implacable Enemies.

War is a Colluvies of all Evil both of Sin and Misery; then behold a Troop comes; [...]; if they call'd it the Father of all, you may well add Mischief to make up the Sense. It's the very Abomina­tion of Desolation; abominable for the Outrages com­mitted in it; and making Desolate in the sad and woful Effects of it.

He was an Ingenious Limner, who most Lively Re­presented a Dying Piece in this manner: A Goodly Ma­tron Mortally Wounded at the Storming of a City; as she lay Bleeding and Expiring of her Wound, behold her helpless hungry Infant comes crawling towards her Breasts, whilst the Dying Mother looks Wistly and Care­fully upon it; Nè Sanguis metuens pro Lacte bibatur; fearing lest the Hungry Babe should suck down Blood instead of Milk.

No respect then to Persons: Birth and Family do but at that Time make the Condition the more deplorable; for the higher they stand, the more open and expos'd are they to the Storm and Envy of Others. Riches are then but gilded Thorns, and Honour but an higher Mi­sery. No Reverence then to Grey Hairs, no Tender­ness for Children, or those that suck the Breasts; no Compassion for the most Lovely and Charming Flowers of Beautiful Youth it self. The Bed doth not protect [Page 15]the Sick Person; nor the Woman the Burthen that she carries; nor the Seat of Justice the Magistrate; nor the House of Prayer the Priest, which is made in the most literal Sense a Den of Thieves; So that there can be no coming to Church, no publick Devotion, without the danger of the Galileans Fate, to have their Blood ming­led with their Sacrifices; and for fear of being Numbred with the Dead, that (Cruel Wretches as they are) cannot rest from their Labours, or Sleep in quiet for them. What Burning of Cities and Villages! What Slaughter and Havock of Human Flesh and Blood! Isa. 34.3. the Mountains being melted with it, and the Fields become a dismal Golgatha, groaning under the Weight of the Slain, and the Half-slain that beg for the Mercy to be quite Knocked o'th' Head.

What Cries and Ejulations! What wringing the Hands, and tearing the Hair, of poor Widows and Or­phans! What Rapes mingled with Murthers, and Mur­thers with Rapes; Soldiers Killing Soldiers in the very moments of their ungoverned Lusts, to perpetrate the same Villanies themselves!

Whole Families stript naked of all their Enjoyments, how do they sit Solitary and Forlorn! aggravating their Misery, by viewing over the Records of their former Prosperity, and pleasant Things; of which, alas! they have been plundered over and over, by one Party or another; so that what the Palmer-worm has left, Joel 1.4.the Locusts, Canker worm, and the Caterpillar has eaten; and they whose Goods, &c. escape the Sword of Hazael, are yet devoured by Jehu's; till they have sucked the very marrow out of those Bones which others had broken; and should any thing chance to have been left, yet that very little is so imbitter'd by frights and alarms of Fire, and Sword, the Caldeans and the Sabeans, that it cannot possibly be enjoy'd with any Satisfaction, but the Morsel [Page 16]is Eat with a trembling hand, and the Cup is drunk out of with a perpetual shaking.

How are the Rivers and Ponds died again with Purple Gore! by tumbling in Carcasses, and Men headlong in­to them, that endeavouring to crawl out, are knock'd down again, and so perish in the Waters; whilst Others are fain to sly for their Lives; the Woods and Mountains wanting Caves and hiding-places for them; being never likely to meet their dear Relations again in this World; Some of them leading a tedious life in a far Country; Others perishing by the way; and the Rest, it's to be feared, taken Captive, to be Slaves, it may be, to Slaves; a Case so very pitiable, that it made the Pro­phet forbid to weep for the dead, but bid weep sorely for them that are going away, Jer. 22.10.

As those Three Commandments, Thoushalt not Kill, Thou shalt not commit Adultery, Thou shalt not Steal, are ranked together in the Law; so are they usually violated in the Lawless Violence of War; and so you find them threatned together, Isa. 13.16. Their children shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes, their houses spoiled, and their wives ravished.

That of Erasmus is a short, [...]as. in Querim. Fa [...]s. but a smart and pithy Examination of the Soldiers Pater Noster; by which, with some little Alteration of it, you may give a guess at the deplorable Condition of that Country which is wounded with the wound of an enemy, Jer. 30.14.and the chastisement of a cruel one. Quid quaeso Orat Miles? &c. What, I beseech you (saith he) or How does the Soldier Pray?

Such, Nah. 2.3. Hos. 2.18. in Truth, is the Nature and uncontrouled Pra­ctice of the Men that are in Scarlet; such their Calami­tous Circumstances that are oppressed with the Bow, the Sword, and the Battel.

And as by War in the Great, so by War in the Little World, the Body of Man, we may know and see what an Evil thing it is, and bitter to be deprived of this Bles­sing of Peace; and consequently what a Value and Re­gard to put upon it.

If that General League and Ʋnion, that great Instru­mentum Pacis, the just Temperament of the Body, be not preserved and kept entire, How doleful are the Conse­quences! How are all Proceedings in all the Courts of Nature stopt; and all Actions, Natural, Vital, and Animal, very much hindred and retarded, if not let fall! How is all Trade and Commerce forbidden, though the several Parts of Nature are Nourished from and by each other! How is Nature shut up, and all the Passages stopt, Judg 5.6. and the high ways are unoccupied, and the travellers (the Spirits, the Blood, and the other necessary Humours preternaturally) walk through by-paths! and there is no coming in of usual and necessary Supplies, nor going out for those (Excrementitious) Humours, which are such a Burthen and Weakning to Nature's Garison, that it cannot hold out. In a word; The Seditious within are at such Contests one with another, that there is no­thing but complaining in its Streets. The Keepers of the House (the Arms) Tremble; and the Strong Men (those Supporters of the House, the Legs) bow them­selves; and the sound of the grinding is low, and those that look out at the Windows (the Eyes) are darkned; [Page 19]and the Doors (the Mouth, Ears, &c) are shut in the Streets, and the Voice of a little chirping Bird awakens, and all the Daughters of Musick are brought low (low as to his Power and Capacity to use them, for his Voice fails; and low as to any Esteem he hath of them, for he regards them not;) fear also possesseth him, and the Grashopper is a Burden to him, and his desire fails. Thus lies he on his Bed of Languishing; which though never so soft, can afford him no Ease, unless GOD be pleased to make it; so that he would willingly exchange his Bed of Down for one of Dust; and his Soul chuseth strangling and death rather than Life.

And now (My Brethren) put what I have said together, from considerations taken from both Worlds, supposed to be in a State of War; and it must needs be that you will presently fall in Love, and pay your Court to this Beauty of Peace, which is the perfect Reverse of all that has been spoken. And therefore since it is at last returnd to us from afar, let us lay hold of it; as the Pa­triarchs did apprehend the Promises. Heb. 11.13. [...], they Saluted them, they hugg'd them, they em­braced them.

Peace like the Vernal Sun gives new Life and Vigor to the World, and makes its Inhabitants, like the Hills of Sion, to laugh and sing. It whets mens Diligence and Industry in their several Callings; giving them hopes that their lawful Undertakings shall return Crowned with their desired Effects. It is the Spring of all Participa­tion; and gives a free Communication from One End of the World to the Other, that we share in the good things intrusted by GOD and Nature with other Na­tions, and Persons. It is so Excellent, that the Orator Dulce est Nomen Pa­cis; res tam jucunda, & salutaris, qud non modo ii quibus sensum Natura dedit, sea ettam Tecta atque agri laetari videntur. Cic. [Page 20]tells us, not only such as have Sense and Discretion, but the very Fields and Houses rejoice in it.

Peace, it's the Soul of the Universe, the Chain of the World, and the Cement of Nature. Peace, it's the Beauty of Providence, the Bond of Governments, and the Mother of Order. Peace, the Life of the Law, the Guardian of Learning, and the Encouragement of Ver­tue. Peace, the Health of the People, the Sojourner's Safety, and the Enemies Terror.

Further yet, for the better half has not been told you. Peace, it's the great design of the Ever-blessed TRI­NITY. The Promise of the Father; who has done this Vertue the Honour to stile himself from it, The GOD of Peace, Rom. 15.33. 2 Thess. 3.16. The Purchase of the Son who is the Prince of Peace, Isa. 6.9. and the Product of the Spirit, who is set forth to us by the Ʋnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, Ephes. 4.3. At the Birth of Our Saviour the Angels chanted it forth,—On Earth Peace. The Excellency of his Suffer­ings is couched in this, that They were the Chastisements of his Peace, Isa. 53.5. and He himself Published it at his Resurrection—Peace be with you. And, by the way, it may not here be improper to make one Remark.

Our dear Lord, though content to be Crucify'd on Mount Calvary; yet, whilst he was living, he was most delighted to be in the Mount of Olives. He lo­seth his Life in a place of Skulls, an Emblem of War; (where truly he is still Crucified;) but he leads his Life most commonly in a place of Olives, an Emblem of Peace; there he prays, there he preaches, there he walks, contemplates, and watches; doth every thing but die; that was reserved for Mount Calvary: Yea, thence he ascends into Heaven; and as Peace was one of the last Legacies his Lips bequeathed us when he dy'd, so Mount Olives (the dwelling-place of Peace) [Page 21]was the last piece of Earth his blessed Foot touched when he ascended. But to return, and I shall only speak this Once. Peace, it's the Reconciliation of Sin­ners, the Consolation of the Saints, and the Crown of the Blessed. Peace, at which the Scriptures aim, Faith intends, Hope aspires to, and it is compleat Beatitude to attain it. And therefore happy must that People needs be, that are in such a Case, whom GOD hath pre­vented with such a Temporal and Spiritual Blessing It is our own Case, blessed be the Lord, Ps. 68.19. Ps. 92.17.who daily loads us with his Benesits: The Beauty of the Lord our GOD is upon Ʋs; and we have lived to see the Dove and the Olive­branch of Mercy and Peace lighting upon the Head of the Nation.

Perhaps, we may think we have deserved as much at GODs hand. It may be it has been our Strictness and Exactness of Conversation before him; our Care of his Worship, and Vindication of his Truth; our Obser­vation of his Sabbaths, &c. perhaps it has been our Charity, our Hamility and Sobriety, which so far have prevail'd upon him; Surely it is because he hath not spy'd in Ʋs those Lusts and horrible Abominations which he hath beheld in some other Times and Places.

O Prophane I magination! Let not such vain Thoughts lodge within us. Should GOD have gone by this Rule, we had long, long since been in Ruins. Let us rather say, it's the free Grace of that GOD who is good, and doth good. Who hath Shewed favour to this Kingdom, because he would shew Favour, (as though he would be called the GOD of the English;) inso­much that We of all others have comprehended (or ra­ther been comprehended by) the Breadth, and Length, and Depth, and Height of GOD's Love. The Philosophers tell us but of Three Dimensions, the Apostle has sound out Four in GOD's Mercy, Ephes. 3.18. Let us [Page 22] rather think that we enjoy the Benefit of the Graces of Martyrs, and other Holy Persons, who, by their Prayers, and Votes whilst they were here below, reserved a special Blessing for Ʋs in these Succeeding Times. And this will engage our Hearts to the practice of those Duties which the Kindness that has been done unto us, so justly deserves at our hands. The 3^d and the last Thing to be spoken to. And

1. Deut Nob [...]s [...] O [...]ta. Let us ascribe this Mercy to GOD with all Thankfulness. We must not look upon this Peace as a Matter of Chance and Fortune; as the sole product of humane Wisdom, and Courage. It is true, Men are [...] GOD's hands, as Herbalists call Plants: And these Hands of GOD we may kiss; Acts 14 11. but let us be careful not to take the Crowns and Garlands which we should lay at GOD's Feet, to set upon Man's Head. It is no diminution in the least to His Majesty that we ascribe it to GOD. For what can so much dignify any Mortal Man, as to be an Instrument in GOD's hand, one whom he chuses to bring about glorious Things by, and to convey Blessings to a Kingdom?

To bring Peace out of War, is a Work worthy of GOD. Psal. 46.9. He maketh Wars to cease; he breaketh the Bow, and knappeth the Spear in sunder, and burneth the Chariots in the Fire. And therefore that great Promise of Peace runs thus, They shall beat their Swords into Ploughshares, and their Spears into Pruning-Hooks. Soldiers shall turn Vine dressers, and Husband­men; the Bees shall hive in their Helmets. Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation; That shall once for all be put up into its place, Non solum cum Rho­dus sed cum Arti­bus ger [...]tur Bellum. and never be drawn again; Neither shall they learn War any more.

Blessed days! when the Art Ta [...]lic or Military shall be out of date, and (being it self the greatest Interrup­ter of Learning) shall be learned no more. Thus again, [Page 23] Isa 45.7. I form the Light (Civil as well as Natural); —I make Peace (Temporal as well as Spiritual); I the Lord do all these things.

We praise Thee therefore, O GOD, we acknow­ledge Thee who art the Lover, to be the Lord and Au­thor of our Peace and Concord. This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice, and be glad in it, even in the presence of all those that have an Evil Will at our Sion: That would have Peace, but not yet; that would have Peace, but they would proclaim it themselves; and then I question not but it would be just such an One as our Country-man Galgacus in Ta­citus speaks of, in Relation to the Romans, whom he calls there, Raptores Orbis, the Robbers of the World, who when they have laid all Waste as a Wilderness, that they call Peace. These are People that do err in their Hearts; the way of Peace they have not known; but with Envy and Vengeance, and a raw, sore Mind, stand muttering and murmuring without, whilst in our Father's House there is Feasting and Musick.

We read in Ps. 126. that when the Lord turned the Captivity of Zion, we were like unto them that dream; Cajetan. in loc. but the words should rather be translated, We are like unto those that are restored to health; and it best suits with the following words, Then were our Mouths fill'd with Laughter, and our Tongues with Praise; which can never be said of a Man when he dreams; but to a Per­son that is restor'd to Health after a tedious fit of Sick­ness it is very applicable. Since therefore the Lord has turned Our Captivity as the Waters of the South, and we can truly say, Peace, Peace, and our Health is re­stor'd, let us praise the Lord. If he expects publick Thanks for private Mercies, much more then for pub­lick. Ps. 103.1. When therefore we hear such a joyful Sound; so that as Balaam said, Numb. 23.21. [Page 24]GOD is with them, and the Shout of a King is amongst them, as either conquering his Enemies, or giving them Rest and Peace, in his Name should we rejoice and boast all the day long.

Almighty GOD expects that his several dispensa­tions should be entertained with suitable Deportments, Eccles. 7.14. In the day of Prosperity be joyful. Deut. 16.15. Thou shalt surely rejoice. As it is said of the Jews upon the restoring and settling Jerusalem in Peace, that they rejoiced, because GOD made them to rejoice, Neh. 12.43. We should delight our Selves in the Abun­dance of Peace. Psa. 37.11. Praise the Lord, O Jerusa­lem, praise thy GOD, O Sion; For He hath strengthened the Bars of thy Gates, He hath blessed thy Children within thee; He maketh Peace in they Borders, Psal. 147.12.

To be Chagrin, Sullen, and out of Humour at such a Time as this, is as suitable as to put on Mourning at a Wedding, Quod exa­mini expe­dit idem api. or to Fast on a Sunday. We are all of Us now (since every Man is concerned in the Benefit) to awaken all manner of decent Expedients whereby to ex­press our Thankfulness to GOD. Let the Horizon Eccho our joyful Acclamations; Let the Roofs of the Temple return the loud Voice of our common Praises. Let the whole Kingdom build Altars to the Lord, and call them, Jehova-Shalom, saying, the Lord hath blest his people with Peace. Let the Streets be fill'd with Melody, and our Houses with Cheerfulness. Bring hi­ther the Tabret, the merry Harp, and the Lute. But after all, I would not be mistaken in the Point. It is not a prophane Mirth that I am pleading for; that is an horrid Sin, and to be detested. The Publick Joy of Christians is not to be expressed to the Publick disgrace both of their Joy and their Christianity. We are not to allow our selves in any intemperate, unwarrantable Transports; in sensual Revellings, and Baccanal Rites; [Page 25]indulging to Extravagancy, and offending GOD whilst we praise him. It would have been high Indiscretion in Noah and his Family when in the Ark, and perceiving the Dove approaching with an Olive Branch, to have made such a Noise and Lumber as shou'd have frighted her away. It behoves Us to walk circumspectly, not as Fools, but as Wise; not only as Men overjoy'd at present, but as circumspect Persons, Men careful to pre­serve what we rejoice in. Otherwise it may befall us as it doth some Young Heirs; who rejoice too much when they first come to a rich Inheritance; and so in a few Years by their profuseness and prodigality, their Revenues and their Joy are both brought to an End.

Since we are called to rejoice, let it be with Trem­bling. May we rejoice in GOD's goodness, Neh. 9.25. and yet fear him, and his goodness, Hos. 3.5. with such a Systole and Diaslole ought we to breathe and live: To rejoice with trembling, not out of distrust of GOD, but our selves; not for fear GOD will not continue, but that we shall not deserve our Happiness. GOD forbid that the Tree of Fortune (as it is called) should be so fairly Blown, that we might only see how great Hopes Sin is able to blast. We ought to have an holy fear, and trembling, of forseiting our Mercies by our Sins. Josh. 24.20. If you forsake the Lord, then will he turn, and do you hurt after he hath done you good. If we abuse our Peace into Licentiousness, and commit folly with our Mercies, this Dove will sly away to make room for a devouring Faulcon that will make a Stoop like Lightning with nothing but Destruction and Ruin engra­ven upon her Varvells. And then we may e'en thank our selves for being the Cause of our own Misery: For no man is hurt but by Himself, (saith the Moralist.) Great States, as Buildings, are crushed by their own Weight, (say Politicians.) Persons and Kingdoms [Page 26]are destroy'd through their own Wickedness (says the Divine.) Thy Destruction is of thy self, O Israel, Hos. 13.21. Propriis transfigimur alis.

But I'll tell you a Short, and a ready way how we may be safe and happy, and continue a long Blessing up­on our Selves, and Posterity. The way is, Am I out? — no sure; the way is— Let the Time past of our Lives suffice to have lived directly contrary to our Inte­rest and Duty. Let the Vices that reigned in the late Days of Ʋnhappy Memory, and, I'm afraid, still continue to do so, not be so much as once named amongst us as becometh Saints; and the thing is done: And Peace shall be upon Israel.

(2.) Let us give unto Caesar the things that be Caesar's, who has made even our Enemies to be at Peace with Us. [...] (all Superlatives.) We accept it always, and in all Places, with all Thankfulness. It is what the King of Heaven ex­pects; returns of Gratitude not only to himself, but to the glorious Instruments likewise which he is pleased to make use of. It is reproachfully said of Israel, not only that they remembred not the Lord their GOD, who had deliverd them out of the hands of all their Enemies on every side; but that they shewed no kindness to the House of Jerubb [...]al, namely Gideon (who had been his Instru­ment in it) according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel, Judges 8.34.

We might wish (My Brethren) that Israel had been the only People in the World that had been guilty of such ill treatment of their best Friends, and Benefactors. But that wish comes too late? We of this Nation abhor that Age that shall pretend to outdo ours in any Crime what­ever, not that of Ingratitude excepted.

Very worthy deeds are done unto this Nation; We owe the correction of our Evil Fate, our Quiet and Peace­able [Page 27]Lives to the King's Providence; at the peril of his Life and Blood; which justly deserves the tribute of our most Thankful Acknowledgments: But instead of reve­rencing him for his Work's sake; there are risen up a Race of sinful Men that will never forgive him, but are mad they have lost the happiness to be Papists and Slaves; and are resolved to be peevish without Reason, rebellious without Cause, and troublesome without End. The very Heathen World will rise up in Judgment against such a Generation, and condemn it: For they not only paid their Wise and Gracious Princes their Highest Honours during their Lives; but worshipped them too after their Deaths. They could not imagine, that those who either by the Invention of Ʋseful Arts, or the Institution of an Excellent Government, or by many Noble Exploits and Deliverances, had in an high degree obliged their Coun­tries, dy'd like other men; they reckon'd they became Divine, and were translated among the GODS; and so changed their Allegiance into Adoration.

I confess to you this ought not to be done; but then neither must the other be left undone: If it was but for this One Christian Reason, that we might discover to the world the honour that we entertain for the Almighty him­self, who is the King of Kings. For in a proportion to that of 1 John 4.20. If we render not the Dues to these GODS whom we do see, (a strain of Speech, that if Divine Authority did not warrant it, Psal 8 [...]. [...]. would pass for impudent, and blasphemous Flattery) how shall we to Him whom we have not seen? How can we acknow­ledge the Supr am, that disown the Subordinate Deities?

Since therefore GOD hath setled us under such an Auspicious Monarch, who has so signally recommended himself to us, as he has done long ago to all the World beside; at all times let us Congratulate our own Happi­ness, and endeavour to make him happy too. Let us [Page 28] Obey him humbly; if he be the Minister of GOD for our good, we ought to be Servants to him for his good. Let us honour him Conscienciously, be Loyal upon Prin­ciples, and for Conscience sake; not for hopes of Preser­ment, not by Chance, or good Fortune, not because it may come into the Fashion to be so, but because GOD hath positively required it, and made it one special part of his unchangeable Law. Let us Love him Affectio­nately; that there be no Strise amongst his Subjects, but to outvy each other in pious Loyalty; that the Hearts of his People may be his Throne. Lastly, Let us Pray for him as we would do for our own Souls, That GOD would add many Years to his Life, yea, take from ours, who would most gladly spare them to add to his. That GOD would give [...] a Faithful Council, a Royal People; [...] omit nothing in our Prayers, that [...] give him his Hearts desire and not withhold the request of his Lips; that when be hath reigned many and many Years with all Prosperity and Honour, he may receive an Im­mortal Crown, and leave Flourishing King, oms to his Successor, and Peaceful Times to his Subjects.

(3.) Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, Psal. 122.6. Jeru­salem signifies the Vision of Peace; at first it was only cal­led Salem, Peace. Melchisedech King of Salem, that is, King of Peace; but afterward when Abraham's J [...]ireh was prefixed to Melchisedech's Salem, it became Jerusa­lem, a Vision of Peace; then pray for the Peace of this Vision of Peace. Blessed be GOD Our Jerusalem is become a Vision of Peace; then Pray for the Peace of this Vision of Peace; i. e. pray for the Continuance of it. The effectual Fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man availeth much; engages the Almighty, and calls in an Omnipotent Arm to Settle, Strengthen, and Secure our Peace. Such Pious Lips drop Balm upon the Countries [Page 29]and Places where they live; and such healing Tongues, as Solomon calls them, are a Tree of Life, Prov. 15.4. but as for those Tongues that cry concerning Jerusalem, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground, may they cleave to the Roof of all their Mouths, that at the Hour of Death, they may not so much as say, Miserere Domine.

Lastly, As GOD hath done great things for Ʋs, so it is necessary we do something again for Him; as he hath Given to Ʋs, so are we to Give to Him. Alas! How can that be? Since our goods reach not to him: He needs them not; true indeed, but His do: The Poor need, and by them our Goods reach even to Him too. We relieve Him in the Poor, and cloathe Him in the Naked; Matth. 25.45. and no Time so seasonable to do it in, none fitter than this; it's a proper Sacrifice for a Thanksgiving; let us make our Indigent Neighbours rejoice with us: That which would feed our Gluttony, and prove a provocation, being put into the Bellies of the Poor (and a Lazarus lies at every door) may plead our Pardon, and procure Mercy for Mercy. Let us break off our Sins by Righteousness, and our Iniquities by shewing Mercy to the Poor, it may be the lengthning of our Tranquility. Therefore having Refreshed our selves, let us Cheer others, and deliver them from Distress and Want; Those especially who have suffered in the Battel; the Sick, Lame, Maimed; the desolate Widows and Children of such as fell in the Service. Is there not all the reason in the World we should Relieve them who with so much Alacrity have hazarded their Lives to preserve ours? To whose Valour and Magnanimity we owe, in part, our Liberties and Religion, nay, (and for ought we know) the Life of the KING.

I Conclude all (Mutato Nomine) with that Accla­mation of Joy which the People of Rome gave Charles the Great at his Coronation;