A sermon preached at the assizes at Leicester, March 19, 1685, being the county-court also when the nobility and gentry met to chuse [sic] their knights for the ensuing Parliament / by Richard Holland ...

A sermon preached at the assizes at Leicester, March 19, 1685, being the county-court also when the nobility and gentry met to chuse [sic] their knights for the ensuing Parliament / by Richard Holland ...

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TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THEOPHILƲS Earl of HƲNTINGDON, Lord Hastings, Hungerford, Botreaux, Moels, Newmarch and Molins, Captain of the Guard of Pensioners, and one of the Lords of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council.

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EXOD. 14. Part of the 13th. Verse.

Fear ye not, stand still, and see the Salvation of the Lord.

THE Words are part of a Speech, made by Moses, that Royal Captain, of a peevish and murmuring People, the Israelites, to quell their Jealousies, to stifle and remove their Doubts, when they laboured under some dreadful Apprehensions of most dismal Ruine. They were now indeed in Obedience to their God's Command, and under the Conduct of their wise and great Prince, upon their Journey out of Egypt; but the Egyptians plot against them, and pursue. Pharaoh storms, and resolves their Overthrow; and they thought themselves in no great Likelihood of making an Escape. They had just encamped near the Sea, weary and dissatisfied. [Page] Pharaoh and his mighty Host come thundering after them; the Waves of the Sea roaring before them; their Hearts fail, and they look for Destruction.

In this desperate Case the common People begin to repine; they repent now of their promis'd, hopeful Freedom, wish again their own slavish Condition, with Garlick and Onions, to be commanded by, and serve the Egyptians. There was nothing nearer, they thought, than Destruction; and tho' they had oft seen the Salvation of God; tho' they had been oft rescued from the Fury of their Enemies, by unexpected Means; tho' they had so oft gloryed in Wonders and Miracles for their Preservation▪ yet now their Hearts sink; now they almost refuse to be comforted, and begin to quarrel with their Governors. Moses is blamed, and thought hard of, as accessary to this their Misery: Yet in this great Stress he encourages them to keep up their Spirits; informs them of their Duty▪ endeavors to remove their Jealousies, [Page] and allay their so furious despairing Passions, & administers comfort to them in these words: And Moses said unto the People, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the Salvation of the Lord.

This Subject then, I presume, as proper for our present Thoughts, since there are amongst us those that will have low Hearts, and jealous Minds; tho' they have as little reason, nay, much less than these Israelites in the Text had. Men that are apt and greedy to suspect, that lie in wait to fear, and doubt, and surmise, notwithstanding the late Royal Words of our most Gracious Sovereign, so much of kin to these of Moses. Words not only of the wise, but resolute also, and unalterably brave; and such words (tho' nothing can add encouragement to the truly loyal and obedient to be so, but their Duty) yet they are such words, as must needs refresh all honest thoughtful Souls for the Loss of our late King; a King of eternal and unvaluable Memory; tho' neverhere enough honored and obeyed whilst amongst us.

[Page] We have indeed lately had dreadful Insinuations and Amazes, Stories of insulting proud Egyptians, and their Curses, more dreadful than Israel ever heard of all their 400 years of Bondage. Nay, even amongst our selves, we have had perfect and true Discoveries of whole Bands of Conspirators; Gebal and Ammon, Amaleck and the Philistines, Herod and Pontius Pilate, Turk and Jew, Atheist and True Protestant, all associated, and threatning us with their Tyranny. 'Tis true, Israel was oft delivered, and at the Expence of Wonders too; so have we been: And those Old Egyptians grew but more desperate when they saw those Deliverances, and received such confounding Defeats: So have we had Cause enough to suspect of our Egyptians, that their Hearts were hardened also, when we saw them go on so proudly, so impudently, notwithstanding so clear Discoveries and Confessions, and continue so confident in their Methods of Cruelty, of Flattery, of Injustice, of rebellious Obstinacy; and that that [Page] baulk'd at nothing that's sacred, that's sinful, that's great, rich, or plausible, to work out their hellish Designs.

And then, when these Men had spread abroad their false and scandalous Rumors, we were as apt to have desponding Thoughts, as the old Israelites had. We, like them, would believe idle Tales, and embrace, and listen to disloyal Whispers, and were apt to conclude Truth in their lying fanatical Insinuations, even to the discouraging of the most mild, merciful, and gracious Prince, the over-turning, and indeed excluding of our sound Faith, loyal Hope, and christian Charity. We were as ready as those timorous Sons of Jacob were, to affront and scandalize our Profession by too low and mean Apprehensions of our Condition, by fearing and despairing of God's Favor, by distrusting his Protection; and began to hammer out new Projects of Security and Defence, which were not only unlawful, and in themselves cruel; but abominably ungrateful and rebellious: Projects [Page] which God no where commanded, good men never thought on, the World was never better for, and Reason blusht at.

For when we forsake our God, the God of Mercy, and leave the Covert of his Wings;when we begin to distrust his Governance, and waylay his ordering of Affairs, when we pretend by unwarrantable Designs of our own, to lay unlawful Scenes for Peace and future Safety. Thus when we despair of, and fly from God's Protection, we make haste to Ruin; we run briskly to our own Destruction, and shall hardly stop till we come in that bottomless Pit.

And one of the first Steps in that Journey; the first Lash is generally at the Government. We no sooner grow afraid of Security under God, we no sooner have such low Apprehensions of him, but we become uneasie at his Vicegerents: Our Governors presently trouble us, we make them to be most i'th' Fault; and then for Bills of Exclusion, and We will not have this Man to rule over us; the Consequence [Page] of which, is, that instead of every: we think much to submit our selves to any Ordinance of Man, tho' we know our selves obliged to it even for the Lord's sake.

Just thus these Israelites, when they look'd back, and saw the Egyptians first grew sore afraid, v. 10. and in the next ver. they fly in the Face of Moses, accuse him for helping forward their Destruction, and opprobriously upbraid him, tho' their rightful and honest Leader, ver. 12. To which he meekly answers in the two next Verses, and endeavors to appease their unruly domineering Passions, to assure them again of the Care and Assistance of the Almighty, and recommend to them the Duty of that Juncture which is most emphatically contain'd in the words to be discours'd of, Fear ye not stand still, and see the Salvation of the Lord.

The word in the Septuagint, which is here translated Fear ye not ( [...] from [...]) is derived from a word, which signifies Presence of mind, and Hope, as well as Boldness. [Page] This sence then is implyld, Be ye not so dismay'd at these Threatnings, and pursuit of your Enemies, confide you in your God, who has put you upon this Journey. He has delivered you oft, and now your are doing his Commands, be assured he will assist and secure you. Put your Trust in him then, and go on; mind your own Business. And now that you are thus awakened by their Approach, do not suffer any sneaking, and low unworthy passions to prevail over you; don't run into any Exorbitance to secure your selves, as if God was not able to do't: Be but patient a while, and you shall see the Salvation of God.

From the words, with Allusion to our present Circumstances, and this whole Story, I take leave to discourse of these Propositions:

1. That while we are doing what God requires of us (tho' we have noise of many Enemies; tho' their Designs be deep and cruel against us, and tho' we seem to be in great danger) we ought not to subject our selves to vile Passions, to Fears and Jealousies, but be courageous, [Page] and stout, and lively: Fear ye not.

2. That in the midst of these imminent dangers, and great Appearances of Evil, we must by no means embrace any unjust unlawful methods, tho' for our own Security and Preservation; but rather, Stand still.

3. That We, the Israel of God, thus doing our Duty, and retaining our Integrity, have the greatest security imaginable, that our Enemies shall not prevail over us; but We shall see the Salvation of God.

1. They that do their Duty, have no reason to be afraid of any thing, when Moses says, Fear ye not, to the Children of Israel, he does more than imply thus much, Why should you, of all men in the World, why should you be dismayed, and fear an Overthrow, when the Honor of your God is so much concern'd? Why should you be afraid, when those that pretend against you, declare against God? Has not God been wonderfully kind, and faithful to you bitherto; and have you any reason to doubt but he will be so still? Has [Page] he not dreadfully resented all those Egyptian Affronts, and esteemed their ill usage of you, as fighting against himself? Has he not returned their Flouts with Plagues that amaz'd the World, that daunted their Pride, that confounded their Devices? And has he not declared, that all that was done, that they might know that he was the Lord; and because he would get him Honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his Hosts, upon his Chariots, and upon his Horse-men? v. 17, 18. Does God take pleasure, think you, that bloody men, and deceitful, that dishonour God, and blaspheme him, that would root out those that are honest and obedient, and that worship him in Spirit and Truth, should prosper in their Designs against him and his own People? Has God forgotten to be gracious? or is he willing his name should be had no more in remembrance? Will he suffer his chosen to perish, for whom he has declared so signally, to whom he has assured deliverance so honourably? 'Tis true, our Enemies, these Egyptians that pursue, are many, are bitter and inveterate [Page] too, and hate our Worship, and our God, because we flourish, and they fall before us: We know their Kindness, if we were in their Power, and what Mercy we were like to receive at their hands; but tho' they be thus malicious and cunning, tho' they exalt themselves, and are mighty, our God is mightier: He that fights for us is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever; a revenger of his Adversaries, a rewarder of his Friends, and willing Subjects, and will never leave them, nor forsake them. Be not you tormented then, you that are the Care of so tender, and so mighty a God: You that have assurance of protection from one that is able to deliver you, that has deliver'd you oft, and still will deliver you, if yon rely upon him: Fear ye not.

Holy David needed no such encouragement as this; and'twas shameful that these his Ancestors did. He, when he was plotted against by many and mighty Foes, hunted into Rocks and Dens, and threatned with the severest fortune, ever received Comfort from, and delighted himself in his God, and rebuked, and chearfully [Page] quicken'd a thoughtful desponding heart. Why art thou cast down, O my Soul? Why art thou so disquieted within me? Trust in God; for I will yet praise him, who is the help of my Countenance, and my God, Ps. 42. And again, I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: Thy Blessing is upon thy people, Ps. 3.

This ought to have been old Israel's Sence: For by unmanly fears and doubtings, we scandalize our Religion, and dishonour our God; when we make our selves Cowards instead of Conquerors, and dwindle our Christian Courage into Fears and senceless Amazements, we fly from our Colours, we run away from our God; we disbelieve his goodness, and distrust his assistance; we accuse either his Power or his Will, and call in question his Mercy, and seek help from our selves by our unworthy Doubts and Suspitions of Evils; and consequently we forfeit his Protection and Assistance. Nay, [Page] and besides, by this timorous Disposition, we court all our unhappinesses, and complement even what we are afraid of: We anticipate Miseries, those that perhaps, but may be, and make them our own, before they have any Being at all; and are overtaken by them, even while they are afar off; and 'tis vast odds would never approach any nearer. These melancholy Apprehensions, low dejected Thoughts, do always debase the Man, bely his Condition, awaken his Dissatisfaction, create and encrease his Sorrows, sometimes even to utter Ruin, as some we have heard of that have died for fear of Death.

But a Christian generous Courage, a brave undaunted Valor, besides that, it baffles all base Attempters, and beats of both real and imaginary Evils, besides that, it is thus profitable for Man, so in a sence it honors God, and proves a holy Veneration of him: For, when we trust our selves in danger upon his score, when we are courageous at the approach of Evils that are called desperate, and yet keep on [Page] doing our Duty, we prove that we believe God's goodness, that we confide in his Mercy, that we reckon him as he is true and faithful.

He was pleas'd to list us under his Banner against Sin, the World, and the Devil. He commanded us to fight his Battels, not sneakingly to fear, plot to save a whole Skin, or run away; but to continue stout and undaunted to the end: And he has promis'd his Assistance to maintain us in his ways: He has assured us to be Conquerors; has made our Rock so strong, that the Gate of Hell shall not prevail against us.

Shall a little Thunder, or blackening of the Clouds, shall the roaring of that infernal Enemy, that goes about to devour: Nay, shall the rude Gatherings of the People, or idle Whispers of the uneasie ever be able to force us from our Posts, our Security, from relying upon God? No sure: That Lyon is chained, the Thunder shall go over our Heads, and those Clouds will quickly be dispers'd; and tho' they break, and drop upon us, it should be for Refreshment [Page] in our Holy Warfare: Tho we feed on Tears for a while, and eat the Bread of Affliction (and His Sacred Majesty, I hope, will pardon us, that we are yet forced to continue that affectionate Sence of our late most dear and incomparable King) yet we have better Hopes than to distrust our God, to subject our selves to any slavish mistrusts and doubtings: For those Tears will be turn'd into Joy; those Afflictions will work for us an exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory.

And we are assured, that if we keep our Ranks, if we mind our own Concerns, if we observe the Commands of the Captain of our Salvation, if we keep true to the Duties of our Religion, the Defence of which we have fresh Assurances of from our Gracious Sovereign, we shall be usher'd to Eternal Comforts: For these few short, and but seeming Evils, we shall triumph in Glories, in real Happinesses, in heavenly Crowns, when this Life shall be swallowed up of Immortality.

[Page] In a word, we should remember, That the Author and Finisher of our Faith, the ever blessed Christ Jesus, has taken away the sting of all Afflictions, and of Death it self; and consequently remov'd all Fears and Doubtings out of their way that follow him. He knew well enough all his Enemies Plots, and had sufficient proofs of their inveterate Malice, and needed none of them to tell him what they intended against him, or what he was like to suffer from them. He freely underwent it; fear'd them not: He submitted to his Father's Will and Pleasure, and dreaded not to humble himself to Death, even the Death of the Cross. So those Holy Men and Women that followed him, those early Conquerors over Passions, and unruly Affections, who sacrificed their Lives to Truth and Reason, were so far from a sneaking cowardly Temper, that they rejoyced in their Tribulations, and gloried that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's Sake. Instead of fearing, they [Page] loved and complemented their Tormentors, and forgave them, and with cheerful Countenances and joyous Hearts, caressed themselves in those dreadful Flames that put an end to their Beings here. They performed their Duties, they minded the one thing necessary, they studied God's Honor, and the Salvation of their Souls, and continued true to their Religion; they awaited the Divine Pleasure, and gladly submitted, whether in doing, or suffering, for God's Sake, which if we do, we act like Christians, and shall die like such, and after that celebrate God's Honor with eternal Anthems, in the Society of that Noble Army of Martyrs. Which leads to the second Observable from the Text, and that is,

2dly. That in the midst of any great Dangers, and appearances of Evil, we must by no means embrace any unlawful methods, tho' in order to our own Safety and Preservation.

St. James says in chap. 2. of his Epistle, v. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend [Page] in one point is guilty of all. He disobeys God, and by that Disobedience forfeits his Mercies, and makes himself liable to the Wages of Sin. By any sinful Act we disclaim God and his Protection: We court the Devil and his Assistance: We abandon true Light, and must expect the End thereof to be the Reward of the works of Darkness: For there is no congruity betwixt Christ and Belial: We cannot serve two Masters: while we cleave to one, we must forsake the other.

God is our hope, and our strength; and he is a present help in time of Trouble: He is able to save, and while we keep true to him, he will be on our Side: But then he expects that we be always true to him, that we hate every evil Way; that we depend upon his Assistance, and do the duty of his most faithful Servants; draw comfort from him only our chief Fountain, and not hew out unto our selves broken Cisterns that can hold no Water.

No pretensions whatsoever can hallow an [Page] unholy Act: Shall we do evil that good may come on't? Shall we sin that grace may abound? God forbid: (said the Apostle) And indeed none say otherwise, but those present grand Enemies of our Order, and our Lives, the Jesuits, and those bejesuited Dissenters from our Church, tho' of many Sects. The former sort do but weigh, whether the good that ensues, overbalances the Evil of the Ʋndertaking, and then all's well; and themselves will always be Judges in the case; which is no sooner determined, but those terrible Bulls begin to thunder: Princes and Nations are anathematized, Kings dethroned, and People absolved from Allegiance, and Hereticks must be pickled in their own Blood. All this, and much more, they pretend, is lawful for God's sake: They may do't, they say, to promote the Honor of Holy Mother-Church: And by the other sort the very same things have been done, and resolutely design'd to have been done a second time in this last Age. They say, That Dominion [Page] is founded in Grace; and where the Prince does not in all points humor them, they think they do well to take him off, and then want nothing but their Arms and Leaders to encourage them to Rebellion; and this they pretend for Conscience sake, and to advance the Kingdom of Jesus.

Job's Friends thus triumph'd over him in a sanctified way; they made use of the Name of the Lord, and told him God was his Enemy: They called his Truths Lyes, and blamed him for multitudes of Words: they esteemed his honest Advice Mocking; and with Fanatical Cant and Zeal pretended to expostulate with God, as in chap. 11. of his Book, to whom in chap. 13. v. 7. he thus replies, What, Will you speak wickedly for God? Will you talk deceitfully for him? Certainly God expects it not: He never intended his Temple should be built by throwing down the chief Corner Stone: He never design'd his glorious Kingdom should be at all advanced by any of the works of darkness.

[Page] Without doubt, we have a very strange Notion of God, if in any Danger we fly to the Devil to secure us: For all that is good God can bestow on his Servants, and free them from all that is evil: Whatsoever is worth the having, the Sovereign of all has in Store for his Subjects: The goodness both of Himself and Creatures, the Forces of Heaven Earth and Hell too, he rules as he pleases, to his own good purposes; and at ease can frustrate the most malicious Resolves of the worst of Men, and Correct all their noisome Qualities: He can turn Fury into Peace, Malice into Quietness, Revenge into Love, mischievous Designs into Order, and extract out of all, Glory to himself, Benefit to his Church, and true Satisfaction to his Servants: And all this he has promis'd. When we sin then, to secure our selves, we become either Atheists or Infidels; we either disclaim God, or disbelieve him.

But those that truly serve him, are so far from being disheartned at Persecutions, that [Page] they glory in them for Christ's sake: And they know, that if evil Men be admitted to be Executioners of God's Royal Will and Pleasure (as in the late Rebellion they were) 'tis no less suitable to his infinite Wisdom, and their Advantage; and it may be for this good end (amongst others) that the world may know, that God is not paid with Eye-service; but those that attend his Courts, that give themselves to his Commands, love him so well, as to be content to suffer for him; So that others seeing their good works may glorifie their Heavenly Father. And 'tis not sordid Wealth, or flattering Peace; 'tis not fond Pleasures, or the world's Repute; 'tis not a few Sufferings, nor especially the Noise and Suspition of them, that can make them sin against God, and turn them from the Love of their Master and his Commands. Briars and Thorns, Lyons and Bears may lie in their way, but shall never cause them to stumble; the poyson of Asps may be design'd them, and prepared, i. e. Scandals, and Reproaches, [Page] and Affronts; and the Cup of Gall and Vinegar may be given them to drink, but not prove Bitterness to their Souls: They can still be patient, and cry out with their Saviour, Not my will, but thine be done. They are above the World, its Baggs, Titles, Possessions and Ease, and therefore not moved with the Loss of them: They sin not, tho' they receive Poverty and Disgrace, Hunger, and Nakedness, and Perils, knowing, that nothing, nor no one shall be able to hurt▪them, while they are followers of that that is good.

In short, they will be very true to, and serve their Master thro' the whole world of Miseries, if in Egypt, if in the Wilderness, in Babylon, or under an Inquisition, or the most solemn Covenant, since they know that there is a Canaan, a Land of promise, whereto they are going; where they shall be free and undisturb'd above, all Fears and Jealousies, and know these Sorrows no more. Which leads to the last Considerable in the Text; and that is,

[Page] 3. We the Israel of God, if we thus do our Duty, have the greatest Security imaginable, that no Enemies shall prevail over us; but We shall see the Salvation of God. In endeavoring to evince which, I shall now only mention these two among the many Arguments usually offered: The 1st. is taken from that Resolution of Almighty God, To secure his Church and People in general: The

Second, From those many Instances of his care, in the Preservation of this our Worship, this Religion reform'd and practis'd in the Church of England. For the

1st. God has resolved to secure his Friends and Servants in all Ages of the world. The Dragon and his Angels were quickly busie to afflict and assault the righteous; but no sooner began that Rebellion, but Michael, and his Angels, were raised, commissioned, and sent against them; and they cast out that great Dragon, overcame that old Serpent, called the Devil and Sathan, which deceiveth the whole world, [Page] and his Angels were cast out with him, Rev. 12 8.

Wonderfully remarkable has been the Security of God's People from the Creation; and that Instance of the Israelites none are unacquainted with, when those many, and so wonderful Plagues were inflicted upon the Egyptians, and still they were free, brisk & lively, not one feeble person among them▪ And Christ has told his Disciples, He will be with them to the end of the World: He walks in the midst of the Candlesticks, and he that hath placed them, never ceases to watch them: He hath his Stars, his faithful Servants in his Right Hand, where they are safe, and is resolved of all those God hath given him, he will lose none: But lastly,

2dly. We have great Hopes and Encouragements to expect the Salvation of God, if we be true to our Religion, since we have so oft experienced his great care in the Preservation of this our Reform'd Church. It has hitherto triumph'd over all those so damnable Assaults, [Page] those deep hellish Contrivances, and desperate Attempts of its most subtle and malicious Enemies: That neither Invasions, nor undermining Plots, nor bloody Massacres, nor private Assassinations, nor (as was last designed us) all these associated together, that not any thing, nor all that's devilish, tho' invented with the greatest security, carried on with most wonderful Secrecy, enforced by those important motives of Religion, of Merit, of Envy of Pomp, Grandure and Conscience; that these should all be quash'd when there appeared the greatest moral probability of succeeding, the Church remaining secure, not jealous, but otherwise charitably disposed to most, if not all those Abettors; that notwithstanding all these, this Church should be maintained, its Honour defended, the Plots discovered, the Enemies ashamed, and the Villany it self hated and disowned: All this cannot be seen without a Wonder; this cannot be solv'd, but by the Power and Goodness of him, who only is able [Page] to deliver us. It evidently proves, that God is not so weary of our more hearty fervent worship and sounder Faith, as instead thereof to be willingly serv'd with false, formal, or slovenly careless Addresses. As he scatter'd that brave Armado with the Breath of his Mouth; as he sate in Heaven, and laught at P owder and Faggots, and undermining, and brought to light those deeds of Darkness: As by his great Providence he has since discover'd these late cruel and dreadful Designs of men amongst us: As he has dissolv'd Covenants and Associations, and brought to nought Bills of Exclusion; so we have great hopes he will go on conquering and to conquer: For he that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps: He sees the Designs are against him, his Honor, his Worship and Government. He is challenged to the Field. I will up then, says God, and avenge me of my Adversaries; those that will not I should reign over them shall be slain before me.

To Conclude, While there are Arms of [Page] Mercy, and Bowels of Compassion; while there is a God that judgeth in the Earth, he will be the Safety and Preservation of his Church and People: And 'tis only required of us to be godly, if we would be happy; to be true to our Religion, if we would have that secured to us: Then it would defend both it self and us: Then we should be for ever blessed: Then all our Enemies, the Enemies of our King, and of our Church, as by Law establish'd, the Enemies of our Peace and Order, who under the specious Pretexts of Religion, and tenderness of Conscience, thirst after our Confusion, our Ruine, and our Blood, would howl in envy, and despair in Solitariness; tho' they roar as Lyons, and raven it as Wolves, and rest not Day nor Night, like the Devil and his Angels, shall in the end prove their own Tormentors, and vent their Curses on themselves. And our Church, that has Christ for her Head; that has Reason, not Money, or worldly Interest for her Rule; Charity and Peace, not Revenge [Page] and Murder, Patience and Meekness, not Mischief and Cruelty, Obedience and Love, not Rebellion and Hatred for her Doctrines: This Church shall not keep Silence, but repeat her Songs of Deliverance: This Church shall triumph with that true Divine, Rev. 12. 10. Now is come Salvation and Strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the Accuser of our Brethren is cast down.

There remains now only a Recommendation of those honest just Endeavors, to save our selves, and discover the Ginns of our Adversaries, which we have express Warrant for from Almighty God. There are evil, factious, discontented, and quarrelsom Spirits amongst us, that are the Troublers of our Israel, that would tear us in pieces, dissolve the Government, and shipwrack our Peace and Safety. They would do with our whole Nation as the evil Spirit did to that poor Man's Son, mentioned St. Mark 9. 9. And that our Land may be dispossest of them, let us observe our Saviour's [Page] words, when he was about to cast out that unclean pernicious Spirit, This sort (says he) comes not out but by prayer and fasting. Other things, 'tis true, are required of our Governors, the Prudence, Courage and Vigilance of whom at this time so honourably and eminently appearing, makes it impudent in any to pretend to directthem. But for us of the same Level with these discontented murmuring People, this is not only the most justifiable Method; but for this season more especially worthy of our Thoughts.

Let us then continually beg of God, That his Protection, his Deliverance may be continued to us: Let us all heartily pray, That he, who is the God of Peace, would maintain Peace, and Love, and Charity amongst us now and ever: That he would root up all those Seeds of Sedition, of Rebellion, of Schism, that are sowed and grow up amongst us: That he would dispossess our Land of all those evil Spirits that are enter'd into it, those Legions [Page] that lurk in Dens, and Holes, and Corners of the Earth, on purpose to amuse and affright us from our Duty, and then devour us▪ so that Men amongst us may sit cloathed, and in their right Minds, glorifie God, and sin no more: That Righteousness and Peace may kiss each other amongst us; that Truth and Order, Love and Loyalty, Justice and Mercy might dwell with us to the last: And that he would grant to our Gracious Sovereign a long, glorious, and peaceable Reign here, with the Hearts, Affections, and constant Prayers of all his People, and hereafter eternal Rest, with a Crown of immortal Glory.

And then for Fasting, would we be free from all Evils, the Evils of Fears and Jealousies, and still live in Peace and Safety; would we enjoy our most excellent Religion, and un-interrupted Quiet, we must subdue all Lusts and Passions, all inordinate Desires, vain Love, and silly doating upon earthly things; that our Souls may not be darken'd or clouded [Page] with them, but in purity declare the Honour of God; that our minds may enjoy the Fulness of Pleasure, the everlasting Good, being kept pure and clean, swept and garnished, and God himself may delight to descend and enter into us: Then would he▪ for ever defend us: Then should our King rule in Joy and Safety, and we obey in Peace and Plenty: Then should all our Enemies sneak and be ashamed; but we fear not, be bold as Lyons, and our Prince should live to see all his enemies scatter'd, the Government for ever secured, and such a Peace commenc'd as shall be above the Power of Rome, Geneva, or Hell, to quash or null it. Which God of his, &c.

FINIS.

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A SERMON Preached at the ASSIZES AT LEICESTER, MARCH 19. 1685.

Being the County-Court, also when the Nobility and Gentry met to chuse their Knights for the ensuing Parliament.

By Richard Holland, A. M. and Rector of St. George's Church in Stamford.

LONDON, Printed for Walter Kettilby, at the Bishop's Head, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1685.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THEOPHILƲS Earl of HƲNTINGDON, Lord Hastings, Hungerford, Botreaux, Moels, Newmarch and Molins, Captain of the Guard of Pensioners, and one of the Lords of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council.

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May it please your Lordship,

THis Discourse preached at the Assizes at Leicester, and now Printed at the Request of the High Sheriff, Grand Jury, and other principal Gentry of the Countrey, I presume to lay at your Lordship's Feet, and humbly beg for it and the Author your Lordship's Friendship and Patronage, which my Relations never wanted from your noble Ancestors. Nothing [Page] but its Plainness, Honesty and Loyalty could recommend it to the Auditory, consisting most of your Lordship's Tenants and Neighbours; and those Recommendations, I am sure, will welcom it to your Honor; which therefore I most humbly entreat your Lordship to accept as a Testimony of a grateful Mind, for those manifold Favours which my Relations for many Generations have received from your honourable Ancestors; and for those I have so often, and so lately experienced myself from your Lordship; and as an Earnest and Pledge that I shall always behave my self as becomes

Your Lordship's Most obliged, Faithful, and obedient Servant. Richard Holland.

Information about this book

Title statement

A sermon preached at the assizes at Leicester, March 19, 1685, being the county-court also when the nobility and gentry met to chuse [sic] their knights for the ensuing Parliament / by Richard Holland ...

Holland, Richard, 1679-1706.

Edition statement

1685

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A44166

ID [STC]

Wing H2435

ID [STC]

ESTC R805

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

13065063

ID [OCLC]

ocm 13065063

ID [VID]

97063

Availability

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.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A44166)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 97063)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 742:14)

Source

— A sermon preached at the assizes at Leicester, March 19, 1685, being the county-court also when the nobility and gentry met to chuse [sic] their knights for the ensuing Parliament / by Richard Holland ..., Holland, Richard, 1679-1706..

Extent

[4], 32 p.

Printed for Walter Kettilby ...,. London :: 1685.. (Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.)

Creation

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