A sermon preached in the parish church of St. James, Westminster, April xvith, 1696 being the day of the publick thanksgiving for the preservation of His Majesty's person from the late horrid and barbarous conspiracy and for delivering this kingdom from the danger and miseries of a French invasion / by William Wake.

A sermon preached in the parish church of St. James, Westminster, April xvith, 1696 being the day of the publick thanksgiving for the preservation of His Majesty's person from the late horrid and barbarous conspiracy and for delivering this kingdom from the danger and miseries of a French invasion / by William Wake.

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PSALM XXViii. 7. The LORD is my Strength and my Shield; my Heart Trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my Heart greatly Rejoiceth, and with my Song will I Praise Him.

Books Printed for R. Sare at Grays-Inn-gate in Holborn.

‘PSALM XXViii. 7. The LORD is my Strength and my Shield; my Heart Trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my Heart greatly Rejoiceth, and with my Song will I Praise Him.’

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THO' it be difficult to say what the particular Occasion was which moved the Royal Psalmist to Compose this Psalm; yet there is more than enough, in the very Subject of it, to shew, how suitable it is to that Great Deliverance which we are now Assembled to Offer up our Thanksgivings unto God for.

If First, We consider the Author of it; the Inscription will tell us that it is a Psalm of David. And if we look to the Character which he attributes to Himself in the Words following the Text; We shall find, that when He Composed it, he was King of Israel: And designed it as an Acknowledgment to God for some signal Favour which he had received from Him, after his Advancement to that High Dignity.

If Secondly, We enquire into the Subject of it; It is evident from the whole Series of the Psalm, that it was intended for a Thanksgiving to God, for some Eminent Deliverance which He had Vouchsafed to him. For [Page] this he Praises God in the Verse before the Text: Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the Voice of my supplications. And in the Words of it, declares the Joyful Sense he had of his Own Preservation: The LORD is my Strength and my Shield; my Heart trusted in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my Song will I praise Him.

But this is not yet all: For, Thirdly; If we look to the Circumstances of that Deliverance, we shall find it to be still more Agreeable, to the Occasion of our Own Thanksgiving.

For (1st.) The danger to which the Psalmist was exposed, was not only a Design against his Person, but such as extended to his very Life. He had Cruel and Merciless Men to deal with; and had not God seasonably interposed his hand, he had fallen a Sacrifice to their Rage and Malice.

So the first Verse of this Psalm tells us; Unto Thee will I cry O LORD my Rock, be not Silent to Me; lest if Thou be silent, I become like Them that Go down into the Pit. And in the Psalm immediately foregoing; and composed, not only about the same time; but, as is reasonably conjectured, upon the same Occasion too, with this before Us; He represents his Adversaries as so many Savage Beasts, that had designed to Tear him in Peices, and to Glut themselves with his Blood: Verse 2. When mine Enemies, and my Foes, came upon Me to Eat up my Flesh, they Stumbled, and Fell.

[Page] (2dly.) The Persons who had Conspired against Him, were not only a sort of Merciless, and Bloody Men; but they were as false, and treacherous, as they were Barbarous and Cruel. They spoke him fair, at the same time that they had resolved to Stab him to the Heart. They had long endeavour'd by Calumny and Mis-representation, to Alienate the Affections of his People from him: And when they saw that this would not Do; then they resolved, at Once, to make an End of Him.

And for this we have, again, the Psalmist's own Words, in both these Psalms; who therefore upon this very account Prays to God against them: Psalm xxviii. 3. Draw me not away with the Wicked, and with the Workers of Iniquity, who speak Peace to their Neighbours, but Mischief is in their Hearts.Psalm xxvii. 12. Deliver me not over unto the Will of mine Enemies; for False Witnesses are risen up against Me, and such as Breath out Cruelty.

But (3dly.) Tho' the Design of these Barbarous Men, was chiefly against the Person of King David; yet it did not stop there. No; They resolved to extend their Malice to All that Adhered to Him: And not to leave, till they had compleated their Vengeance, in the utter Ruine both of the One, and of the Other.

It was this gave Occasion to that Conjunction we meet with both of His and Their Deliverance, ver. 8. The LORD is Their Strength; and he is the saving Strength of his Anointed. And drew from him that Prayer with which he concludes this Psalm; ver. 9. [Page] Save thy People, and Bless thine Inheritance; Feed them also, and Lift them up for ever.

And as such was their Design against David, and his Followers; so if we enquire (4thly.) What may have been the Cause of so inveterate a Malice against Both, we shall be Able to give no other Account of it than this; That God had wonderfully Raised up the One, to the Throne of Judah, and the Other thought themselves Obliged in Conscience to Submit to him, and to Support his Authority.

This is what the Psalmist again declares to us, in the 4th. and 5th. Verses of this Psalm: Where he (for this very Reason) either Fore tells, or Prays for, their Disappointment: Give Them according to their Deeds, and according to the Wickedness of their Endeavours; Give Them after the Work of their Hands; Render to Them their desert:—Because they regard not the Works of the LORD, nor the Operation of his Hands: That is to say, Those Evident Marks of God's singular Providence, which were so plainly to be seen, in his raising Him up to be King of Israel.

In the Words before Us, there are these four things to be Consider'd:

I. The Deliverance it self for which David, in this place, Blesses God; I am Helped.

II. The Author of his Deliverance; It was the LORD.

III. The Motive which induced God to Deliver Him: The LORD was his Strengh, and his [Page]Sheild; His Heart Trusted in Him, and therefore, He was Helped.

IV. And Lastly. The Return which the Royal Psalmist made to God for his Deliverance: Therefore, says he, my Heart greatly Rejoiceth, and with my Song will I praise Him.

These are the several Parts which my Subject leads me to Consider: And I shall do it, all along, first (but very briefly) as they relate to King David, and his People; and then, more fully, as they may be applied to our Own Royal Sovereign, and to that Wonderful Deliverance, God has been pleased to afford us, out of the Hands of our Enemies.

And, First: Let us Consider the Deliverance it self, which is to be the Subject of our present Thanksgiving; I am Helped.

What the particular Blessing was to which David here refers, we cannot tell: But as the whole Tenor of this Psalm assures us, that it was some very signal Danger from which God had Rescu'd Him; So, I have before Observ'd, that the Occasion of it was Owing to that Implacable Malice which some few Wicked Men had Conceived against him, for his being Made King of Israel; notwithstanding the visible Marks of God's Hand, which appear'd in the whole Progress of that Affair.

It is, indeed, an Astonishing thing to Consider, that after so many, and such plain Assurances as God had given of his Pleasure, in this particular; yet still such [Page] numbers should continue not only, not to Regard his Work, but even to bid Defiance to his Providence; And to set themselves up against One, whom they could not but see, He was resolved to Exalt.

That Samuel was a true Prophet, and appointed by God to deliver his Will to that People; none among them ever doubted.1 Sam. viii, &c. He was the Person whom God employed to introduce the Kingly Government among them:1 Sam. x. 12. And it was upon his Credit, that Saul himself was received by them for their King. And yet it was this same Samuel that publish'd God's Decree for taking the Crown from Saul; 1 Sam. xv. 10. &c. and that so Openly, and in such a Solemn manner, that it was not possible for any among them to have been ignorant of it.

Nay, but this was not All: Samuel not only made known to them the Decree of God concerning Saul; but shew'd them the very Person whom God had chosen for them in his stead.1 Sam. xvi. 13. He Anointed him, for this very End, in Bethlehem; and commanded the Jews to look upon him, and receive him as their King.

This was so Notorious,1 Sam. xx 31. xxiv. 20. lb. xxiii. 17. that even Saul himself knew of it: And Jonathan, Saul's Son, and Heir Apparent to the Crown, not only knew the same thing, but Consented to it; and used his utmost endeavour to promote the Will of God in it.

And now, when all this was so plain, as I have here represented it to you, and as you all know that it was; Who could have imagined, that there should ever have Risen any doubt, whether the Jews were to stick to [Page] the House of Saul; Or to lay that aside, and without any more ado, submit to David, as their King? Yet so we see it proved: For Abner, Saul's General,2 Sam. ii. 8, &c. no sooner saw that his Master was slain, but he took Ish-bosheth his Son, and made him King in his stead; and eleven of the twelve Tribes of Israel, Acknowledged his Authority.

It would be too long a Story to recount to you, what unhappy Divisions this threw that People into; and through what a Multitude of Dangers, God, at last, brought his Anointed to the full Possession of that Power which he had allotted to Him. I shall only Observe, that so Generous, as well as Innocent, was the Conduct of the Holy David, in the whole Course of this Affair; as shew'd him to have deserved the Crown, tho' God had not bestow'd it, in so singular a Manner, upon Him. Tho' Saul several times endeavour'd,1 Sam. xviii. 10, 25. xix. 11, &c. by the foulest means, to destroy him; and God, (as if it had been on purpose that he might make him a Retaliation) twice put Saul himself into his hands;1 Sam. xxiv. xxvi. yet this brave Prince not only scorn'd to take the Advantage of him, but would not Consent that Any of his Party should touch him. And when, (tired out with the Confusions they had lain under, and convinced of the Will of God, to set David upon the Throne)2 Sam. iv. 6. Two of the Chief Officers of his Army treacherously slew Ish-bosheth their Master, and brought his Head to King David; that Excellent Man, did not only not shew any favour to them; but as he had before done to the Amalekite, who [Page] slew Saul, 2. Sam. i. 15. (tho' at his Own desire, and meerly to keep his Enemies from doing of it,) He punish'd them according to their desert: He cut off their hands and their feet, 2 Sam. iv. 12. and hang'd them up in Hebron; and gave an Honourable Burial to the Head of that unfortunate Prince, whom they had so basely and barbarously murder'd.

But tho' God had therefore in so Eminent a manner set David upon the Throne, and David himself had appear'd, in all respects, so Worthy of that Dignity: tho' never any Prince more generously exposed himself for the Publick Safety, or came off with Greater Honour, or put things into a better posture, than He did that Country; yet was not all this sufficient to quiet the Minds, and to reconcile the Affections of some Perverse Tempers to Him: But they were still ready, upon every Occasion, to Assault his Person; and to do, what in them lay, to subvert his Authority. And which may be a sufficient demonstration to us, that some Mens Resentments, are not only without Bounds, but beyond Conviction too: And that we ought not to wonder if no Rational Considerations can take place with those, whose Passions and Prejudices are so violent and infatuating that we see a Prophet could not; And it may al, most be question'd, whether an Angel from Heaven would have been able to Perswade them.

Such was the Case of the Jews heretofore; and I would to God, I had no cause to say, that the same is our Case at this very Day. But what then means our Solemn Assembling at this time? Why are we here [Page] met together to Bless God for the Preservation of our Royal Sovereign, if neither his Person was in danger, nor his Authority invaded?

To recount the several Steps by which it pleased God to bring our David to his Throne; and shew you what just Reason an injured People had to look to themselves, and not suffer their Liberties to be subverted, and their Religion destroy'd, without taking any due Care to preserve either; would divert me too far from the Subject before me, and to which I desire now particularly to Apply my self. I shall therefore only say thus much as to this Matter; that if ever it may be lawful for any People to provide for their Own Safety: If the Constitution of a Limited Monarchy, be not a Meer Notion, that has neither Meaning, nor Priviledge in it: If a Nation Govern'd by Laws of its Own Approving; and that never engaged to Obey any Sovereign, but what mutually Obliged Himself to Rule according to Those Laws; has as just a right to the Legal Government of the Prince, as the Prince has to the Legal Obedience of such a People: In short, If it be Absurd to say, that a whole Kingdom may have a right to its Laws and Liberties, and yet have no right to defend them, tho' they should never so Apparently, or in such considerable Instances, be Broken in upon; tho' such things should be enterprized, as all Men must see were design'd, and if not prevented, must End in a total Dissolution of the Constitution: Then had This Kingdom also Reason to stand up in Defence of its Laws, and its Religion, establish'd [Page] by Those Laws: And to lay hold on the Happy Opportunity of the Desertion of a King, who was resolved rather not to Rule at all, than not to Rule in his Own way.

Whether this were our Case, as to Matter of Fact, whether our Constitution was really in danger of being subverted, and our Religion, Laws, and Liberties were invaded; this must be left to every Ones own Conscience to judge of. But if they were, and if our Monarchy be in the very Frame and Constitution of it a limited Monarchy; and establish'd not upon the Imperial Laws of a few Visionary Politicians, but upon the Fundamental Laws of its Own Making, or Allowing: Then I must Solemnly profess that either I am uncapable of judging what Sense and Reason is; or it must follow, that an absolute Monarch, a Prince not bounded by Law, but Governing only by the Arbitrary Motions of his Own Will, is no King of Our Acknowledging: Our Constitution knows no such Monarch, nor did we ever Oblige our selves to Obey such a One.

And now having thus truly shewn you how our Case stood when it pleased God to send our Royal Deliverer to Us, I shall need say very little to convince you, that he did not come without a Particular Providence attending him in the whole Course of our Deliverance. And tho' Success when it stands without any other Support, much more if it be contrary to Justice and Equity, is but a very bad Argument of the Divine Approbation; because God may Permit what He does not Allow of: Yet where a whole Kingdom is manifestly injured, Oaths are broken, Laws despised: Where the Religion [Page] of a Nation is endeavoured to be subverted; and a free People to be subjected to the intolerable Yoak of an Arbitrary Power, and an Idolatrous Worship; and God visibly appears on their behalf, in such extraordinary instances of his Providence, as scarce any Age can parallel: It must be Obstinacy and Perverseness not to see that his Arm has brought Salvation unto them; or seeing it, not to be persuaded, with all Thankfulness, to Accept of it.

For not to say any thing of those many Deliverances we have heretofore assembled to bless God for: How great was the Mercy that Saved us from our present danger? How evident was the hand of God, in every Circumstance of it?

That Men, neither the most Religious, nor Compassionate of Any in the World; Enemies to our Religion, and (if it were possible) somewhat worse than Enemies to our present Government; should yet be so strook with the Regret of an Enterprize, which alone could give them any just Hopes of succeeding in their designs against us, as to become Themselves the Discoverers of their Own Wicked Undertakings; is certainly very Strange: And what can hardly be accounted for, without Acknowledging some Extraordinary Impulse of Conscience in it.

That having discovered it; those who suffer'd for it; and whose Concern for their Own Reputation, if not for the Common Cause, one would think, should have prompted them to leave the Credit of such an Attempt as much in doubt, as was possible; should yet joyn [Page] their own Testimony, to the Witness that had before been given of the Truth of it; this is yet more Wonderful: And what neither the Principles, nor Politicks of the Church of Rome, usually Allow their Proselytes to do.

That to Strengthen both the Witness of Some, and the Confessions of Others, as to this matter; So many foreign Proofs should be sent us from all Parts abroad, and shew that to have been publish'd beforehand almost to all Europe, which ought, if possible, to have been concealed even from those who were to be Actors in it; this must be the Effect of a more than Ordinary Infatuation: And cannot be Reconciled to the Usual Caution, and Closeness of Those, who were the Great Contrivers, and Abettors of it.

In Short; That when such a Time was taken to invade us from Abroad, as (had our Own Measures succeeded) we must have been left utterly destitute of any possibility either of preventing, or Opposing it at Home; He who Governs the Wind and the Sea, should so Order Matters, that it was not possible for us to send away those Ships, on which our Safety was to depend: This is, above all the Rest, an evident instance of God's favour to us; and ought to be as Wonderful in our Eyes, as it has been Astonishing in those of our Enemies.

So plainly was God pleased to shew Himself on our side, in Every Circumstance of this deliverance. And that we may the better know what Returns we ought to make for it, give me leave to offer you, a very few Observations, with Reference thereunto.

[Page] And, 1st. If we consider it only in that part of the Design which was the first to have been put in Execution; God has prevented the Murder of Our King: Of that King whom He had chosen to be the Instrument of Our Preservation; and in whose Safety our very Enemies themselves account our Welfare to Consist. And God forbid! We should have a less Esteem of our Royal Sovereign, than those who the most Hate him, shew us that they Have.

2dly: This Murder was to have been follow'd with a Foreign Invasion: An Invasion from that Prince who has already fill'd most of the Other parts of Europe with Ruin and Desolation. And, particularly, has shewn Himself so Irreconcilable an Enemy to the Protestant Religion, as to be resolved (if it were possible) to root out the very memory of it from off the Earth.

And here then let us consider, what a Confusion and Desolation this must have put our unfortunate Country into? When we should have seen, Our Houses in Flames about our Ears; Our Land destroy'd; Our Friends and Relations slaughter'd before our Eyes: The Best and Greatest of our Nation, those from whose Courage or Conduct, from whose Counsel or Interest, we might have Especially hoped for Help, secretly cut off, in the very beginning of Our disorders. In short, when our Land being become a Seat of War; we should have beheld, and suffer'd All those Miseries, and Calamities, which we tremble to hear of, tho' at the Greatest distance from Us.

[Page] Oh! How happy would Those have been, who should have had the Priviledge of being first destroyed? Rather than to have outlived the fortunes of their Country, their Own Peace, and their Churches Establishment. But, Blessed be God! Who has graciously deliver'd us out of their Hands! And thereby given us a new earnest of his favour to us: And manifested to the World, that in Vain are all the Counsels of men to destroy Those, whom He has resolved to Help and Support.

And thus have I shewn you, not only What Our Deliverance is; but withal, which was my

IId. Point; To Whom we are to Ascribe the Glory of it.

For tho' God be, indeed, the Sovereign dispenser of all Our Fortunes; and, as such, must be recurr'd to as the final Author of whatsoever Good we enjoy: Yet in some Cases He is Pleased in a more particular manner to discover his hand in the Blessings which we receive from Him; and therefore ought in a singular manner to be look'd unto, as the Donor of them.

So He did in Davids deliverance; and so he did in Our late Preservation. It was neither our Hand, nor our Counsel that saved us: Neither the Strength of our Armies, nor the Cunning of our Contrivance, that disappointed the designs of our Enemies against Us. But it was the Arm of the LORD that defended us: He was our Strength and our Shield; and therefore we were Helped.

[Page] Which being so let us go on,

IIIdly, To consider, What it was that induced God to deliver David heretofore; and for which we may justly presume He was pleased, in so wonderful a manner, to Preserve Us now: My heart Trusted in Him, says he, and I am Helped.

There is nothing more frequently taken notice of by the Royal Psalmist, throughout this whole Book, than this One thing; that He was therefore so Often, and in so signal a manner, protected by God, because he put his trust in Him.

It is upon this ground that He sometimes prays to God for Help: Psal. vii. 1. O Lord my God! in Thee do I put my trust; Save me from all Them that Persecute Me, and Deliver Me. And again, Psal. xv. 2. O my God! I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed, neither let mine Enemies triumph over Me.

And when God heard his Prayer, and preserved him from his Enemies; it is to this that He ascribes his doing of it: I have trusted in the LORD, therefore I shall not slide, Psal. xxvi. 1. And again, Psal. xxi. 7. The King trusteth in the LORD; and thro' the mercy of the most High, He shall not be moved.

It is this that He recommends to all Others, as the best means they could use to secure to themselves the favour of God, and the Protection of his Good Providence. Trust in the LORD, says he, and do Good; So shalt Thou dwell in the Land. Ps. xxxvij. v. 3. They that [Page]trust in the LORD shall be even as Mount Zion, Psal. cxxv. 1. which may not be removed, but standeth fast for Ever.

And, lastly, not to mention any more particulars; It is this that makes him speak so often of God, as the particular Defender of such Persons: The LORD, says he, Redeemeth the Souls of His servants; and none of them that trust in Him shall be destitute. Psal. xxxiv. 22. And again, Psal. xviii. 30. He is a Buckler to all Those that Trust in Him.

Now this being the benefit of such a trust, even with respect to our present Welfare; it cannot but be a Matter of great consequence to us to know, wherein the Nature of this Trust do's consist; and how we may intitule Our selves to the Benefits of it?

And here, 1st. I must observe, that we ought not so far to mistake either our duty, or our Interest, as to imagine that because we are commanded to Trust in God, therefore we must take no farther Care of, nor make any suitable Provision for the success of our Affairs.

This would be not so much to Trust in God, as to Presume upon Him: To expect that He should work Miracles for Our Sakes; And do All to Save those, who will do Nothing to Save themselves. On the contrary we see how even David Himself, amidst all his trust in God's Help, yet still took care to make the best Provision He could for his Own Safety. And when the Israelites before, were sent by his Own [Page] peculiar Commission, to kill and take possession; and were assured of Victory, before they went into the Field: Yet still they were required to act with as much Art and Cunning; to contrive as wisely, and to fight as resolutely, as if the whole Success of their Enterprizes were to have depended upon their Own Courage and Conduct.

And so must We do Now: God has, 'tis true, in a wonderful manner, deliver'd our King, and discover'd the designs of our Enemies against Us. He has shewn us what kind of Men we have to do with; and from whence our danger is likely to Arise. And it must be, in great measure, our Own fault, if we do not prevent it. But yet, if because God has done thus much for Us, we shall from henceforth grow Careless and Secure: If while our Enemies threaten us from abroad, and we are beset with a discontented, designing party at Home; we shall neither be careful to discover what their Strength is, nor to consider How to fortifie our selves against Them: We must blame no body, but our selves, if we shall at last fall into their Snares, and sink under those Attempts, we have now so narrowly escaped.

But 2dly. Tho' we may, and ought to Use our best endeavours to provide for our Own Security; yet we must not place our dependance upon them: but when we have done all that we can, must still look up to God, for Deliverance and Success. And this is truly to Trust in him; and will furnish us with a clear [Page] Notion of the Nature of that great duty which is required of Us on all these Occasions.

To provide for our Own safety, and to take those Measures that seem the most likely to promote the publick Welfare; this is not only very Lawful, but is Reasonable and Necessary. Nor shall we ever be secure, without doing of it. But yet, when all is done, 'tis neither our Arms, nor our Counsels; neither our Strength, nor our Policy, that we must depend upon: But we must still Recur to God for Help; And put our whole Trust and Confidence in his Mercy.

So David did; and it was this that Crown'd his Enterprises with Honour and Victory. I will not trust in my Bow, says he; neither shall my Sword Save Me. Thro' thee will we push down our Enemies; thro' thy name will we tread them under, that rise up against us. Psal. xliv. 5, 6. And in Another Psalm, He makes this Wise, and Pious Remark, upon the different Conduct of his Enemies, as to this matter; and How it succeeded with Them accordingly: Psal. xx. 7, 8. Some trust in Chariots, and some in Horses; but we will Remember the Name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen; but we are Risen and stand upright.

For men to look only to the number of their forces; the Exactness of their discipline; and the Cunning of their Management; and then boast of their Enterprises as Certain and Infallible; and exalt Themselves in their own Imaginations, as if no Disappointment could happen to them: This is not only to shew too great [Page] a Contempt of God's Providence, but too little a reflection upon the State of the World; and those numerous Accidents to which the Greatest and Wisest Undertakings are exposed. And I am pretty Confident, our Enemies themselves begin, by this time, to be sensible of their Own Folly in this Particular: And to Perceive how vain a thing it is to lay great designs, and build up mighty expectations upon them; and not consider all the while, that there is a God who Ruleth in the Kingdoms of Men, and whose Counsel, when we have done All we can,Dan. iv. 32 Prov. xix. 21. shall Stand.

But above all, 3dly: As we must not trust in our Own Strength or Policy for Success, and Security: So must we take heed not to engage in any Wicked Courses, either to promote our Interests, or to prevent our Danger. For this will be plainly to Forsake God; and to trust in our Own devices, even in Defiance of his Ability to Controul, and Disappoint Us.

There is a certain justice to be observed even against an Enemy: and War its self has its Laws, from which the more upright Heathens thought it, not only Evil, but Scandalous to depart. And much more ought we Christians to do likewise. And tho' to a Weak mind, and a Bruitish policy; it may appear a very Wise method of proceeding, to endeavour, by secret treachery, to cut off a dangerous Enemy; and do that by a suddain Stab, or a deadly draught, which cannot without much hazard be accomplish'd in a fair Engagement: Yet there is a God above, who as He abhors himself, [Page] and has taught us to detest such barbarous undertakings; So do's He for the most part bring them to nought: And leave the projectors only to the Regret of having been disappointed in their designs; and to the Hatred and Contempt of Mankind, for having ever engaged in Them.

Thus God did Do in the Case of David, whom Saul so often endeavour'd, and hoped to have destroy'd: And thus has he done for Our Royal Sovereign. He has deliver'd Him from the Secret practices, as well as from the Open Violence of his Enemies. And continued him to be, as he is this day, a living Monument of his Own Mercy; And of the Un-Christian, Un-manly designs of those, who are Great only in Treachery and Deceit: In endeavouring basely to destroy Those, whom they never yet durst meet in the Field of Honour; nay, to whom they would Rather tamely yield up, if they had it, the Empire of the World, than let the Sword decide it between them, to Whom it should belong.

And let them rejoice, if they please, in their Inglorious proceedings. Let them raise Armies, and train up forces, not to fight, but to countenance the treachery of their Proceedings. Let them buy Victory; and Corrupt those, whom they would be thought to Engage: And fancy, after all, that they are Great and Honourable; because they are able to Command Panegyric's, and to Reward the mercenary Authors of them. But Posterity will know the baseness of their proceedings; [Page] and God, in a little time, will judge them for Them. In the mean While it will be our parts to provide, the best we can, against their Wickedness: And having so done let us not doubt, but that God will turn their devices to their Own Confusion; and not suffer us to fall by them, whilst we continue to put our Trust in Him.

And now, it remains only that I conclude all with the IVth and last Point, which I proposed to speak to, Viz. The Return which the Royal Psalmist made to God for his deliverance: Therefore my heart greatly Rejoiceth, and in my Song will I praise him.

In which Words we have these (2) Things represented to Us:

1st. The Inward Sense which David had of God's Mercy to him: His Heart greatly Rejoiced. And, 2dly. His Outward Expression of it; In my Song will I praise Him.

These Two together made up the Return of that Holy Man; and Both of them must concur in Our Thanksgiving; if ever we mean to Render it Pleasing and Acceptable to God Almighty.

1st. We must entertain a Worthy, and Grateful Sense of our Deliverance.

And this, one would think, Every One should do, who is Capable of Understanding what it was; and from what a deluge of Miseries, we have reason to believe, we are Freed by it.

[Page] Were the mischief, design'd against us, to have reach'd no farther than to the death of the King; yet sure we cannot have so soon forgot, How much we Owe to Him, as not to account our selves, in an Eminent manner, concern'd for his Preservation. He who in the time of our Greatest Danger ventured His Own Life and Fortunes, to secure Ours; and when our Enemies seem'd to be in their full Career, trampling both our Laws, and Religion under their feet; Stept forth into the Gap, and bravely withstood the Torrent, which would otherwise have born down all before it: As he must needs deserve our most Grateful Acknowledgment for so seasonable an Interposition; So shall He, I hope, be always consider'd by Us, as the Repairer of our Breaches; the Supporter of our State; the Defender of our Liberties; and the Preserver of the true Religion among us: And in whose Safety, we therefore ought, as we do, most heartily to Rejoice.

But this is not all: The very danger he was exposed to, was meerly for our sakes; and upon the Account of that Protection which he continues to afford us, against the fury of Our Enemies. Nor would they ever have thought of Destroying him, had He not been so Zealous to Save Us.

The truth is, if we will consider the design of our Enemies aright; we must look upon our solemn Rejoicing at this time, to be not so much upon the account of Our Royal Sovereigns Preservation, as of [Page] Our Common Deliverance. Our Country; Our Families; Our Estates; nay our very Lives Themselves: The Constitution of our Monarchy; the Laws by which we are Govern'd; the Religion in which we serve God now, and thro' which we expect to be Saved hereafter; All these were Struck at: And, had their Attempt succeeded, must All have fallen together with the great Defender of them. Nor can any One excuse himself from a grateful Resentment of this Happy Deliverance, without declaring himself thereby a publick Enemy: An Enemy, not only to his Prince's Safety; but to the Peace, the Welfare, nay to the very Establishment of the Church and Government under which we live.

We were appointed as Sheep for the Slaughter; Our Land to have been made an Akeldama, a Field of Blood: The Fury of War, always very dismal, and no where more, than where the French Tyranny has the Fortune to prevail; was to have been doubled upon Us. Whilst we should have been exposed not only to the Rage of those Abroad, (and who by the Treatment they have given their own Countrymen, have sufficiently shewn, what all others, of a different Religion, must expect from them;) but to the particular Resentments of our own Domestick Enemies. Or to speak all in one Word; we should have been laid open to all the Cruelty that a false Zeal, and a persecuting Church could inspire into the Minds of Men; who would [Page] have set no Bounds to their Rage; as they know no Measure of their Hatred, and Malice, against us.

Oh! the Horrour and Confusion, the Shreiks and the Lamentations, that would have been seen, and heard in all our Streets! How often should we in vain have wish'd to die, rather than live to behold and suffer such Evils, as would, before this Time, have come upon us? As the Horrour of a Shipwreck at Sea, or of an Earthquake at Land; As a City taken by Storm; As if the Day of Judgment were coming upon the Earth; such would the Case of this Miserable Country have been.

But, Blessed be God! who has not given us over for a Prey unto their Teeth. Psal. cxxiv 6, 7. Our Soul is escaped, even as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fouler; the Snare is broken, and we are delivered. Nay, we are not only saved from our present Danger, but are, I hope, in some Measure awakened to provide for our future Safety: And effectually convinced what Canaanites we have among Us; and how much it will concern us to Beware of them.

And, I would to God; they did not give Us, every Day, more and more Reason so to do. For even since the Discovery of this Horrid, Barbarous, Base Design; Where is almost the Man, that has given us any good Assurance of his Abhorrence of it? That he is asham'd of the Undertaking; that he detests those who were engag'd in it: Or is indeed concern'd for any thing of it, unless it be for this [Page] one thing, that they succeeded no better in the Execution of it.

But such is the Power of Passion and Prejudice; and so Unaccountable are the Working of some Mens Consciences! For sure, Otherwise, one would think it should be somewhat more than Infatuation, to imagine, that to call in a French Power is a likely Method to secure English Liberties: Or that those who have been so Zealous to roct out the Protestant Interest at Home, will yet be so good natured, as to establish it Abroad.

I hope there is no one will so far mistake my Design in insisting upon these Matters; as to think that I desire hereby to raise up any Storm, against the quiet and conscientious Part of those who differ from Us, in Point either of Religion or Government. On the contrary, I freely profess, that I love, and value, a sincere and upright Christian, let his Opinion be never so contrary to what I take to be the right: And for the whole World I would not, willingly, be the Occasion of the least Evil, to such a one. Persecution for Matters of Opinion, is what, I thank God, I have ever Abhorr'd: And I hope I shall never be so far transported in my Zeal for any Cause or Party, as to give the least Encouragement to it.

But then I must beg Leave to observe withal,Jam. iij. 17. Colos. iij. 12. 1 Cor. xiij. 5, 6. that true Religion, is first pure, then peaceable; it is humble and charitable; it thinketh no evil, nor wisheth any; it rejoyces not in Iniquity; but desires the Welfare [Page] and Happiness of those, who are at the greatest Distance from its own Perswasion. And if instead of maintaining such a Character, Men will be peevish and morose; turbulent and unquiet: If they will not only shew an implacable Hatred towards all such as differ from them, but will, upon every Occasion, publickly censure and revile them too: If they will rejoyce in their Harm, and be concern'd at their Welfare; and resolve at any Rate to procure their Ruin, though they were sure to perish together with them: In short, if such be their Conscience, that they can without Remorse consent to have a King murder'd; their Country invaded; their Religion and Liberties given up into the Hands of those who are the profess'd Enemies of both: I cannot but think, that then it is high time for us to look to our selves, and to have a Care of such Zealots; and to consider, the rather, how to prevent our Ruin, for that it is become a Matter of Conscience, with some Men, to do all they can to destroy us.

And now if, from what has been said, it appears, that our Hearts ought greatly to rejoyce at this Deliverance; then I am sure I shall need Add very little to perswade you, 2dly. To let your Tongues declare the Sense of them. For the Expressions of the Mouth, naturally follow the Disposition of the Mind: And when the one is full of a grateful Resentment of God's Mercies; the other will break out, into Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving for them.

[Page] Now this we have, in some Measure already done; and shall again go on, with the Church, to do. But we must not let our Thanksgiving stop here; nor think that the Acknowledment of one such solemn Meeting, is a sufficient Return for so great a Preservation. Rather, we should teach our very Children to speak of this Mercy; and deliver the Memory of it down to succeeding Generations. That the Ages yet to come may know what a Deliverance we have received; as well as enjoy the Benefits of it. And by more and more Instances be convinced, how impossible it is to reconcile a Popish Power, to the Interest of a Protestant Church and Kingdom: And that they ought rather, to expose themselves to any Hazards, and to undergo any Burdens; than be brought again under the Yoak of it.

Thus then let us rejoyce in the Blessing we have received, and thus let us speak of it in all our Gates. And may that God who regardeth the Heart, and knoweth the secret Thoughts of every one of us; approve our Sincerity, and accept of our Thanksgivings! And ever more preserve us, from the Treachery, and Violence of All our Enemies; but, especially from the Tyranny of the GREAT OPPRESSOR.

May he incline those to consider and praise him, who are yet to be convinced of the Justice of our Cause, and the Happiness of our Deliverance: Nay, who perhaps break in upon the Solemnity of this [Page] Day, with Murmurings and Repinings against God for preserving us.

And as for those who are true and steddy to the publick Interest of their Country and Religion; may he every Day render them more useful, and serviceable to both! May they be active and vigorous; firm and resolute! Neither afraid to own a good Cause, though reviled by those who wish ill to it; nor unwilling to venture themselves, and all they have, for the Support of it.

May they to the Sacrifices of their Lips, add the Piety of their Lives: And by a general Reformation of Manners, and Union of Hearts and Affections among Us, remove the only Obstacles that seem any Way likely to prevent our Common Happiness!

And having thus disposed our selves for his Blessing; May that God who has sent this great Salvation to us, multiply more and more his Favours upon us! May he direct our Counsels; animate our Resolutions; and give Success to our Undertakings! But especially; may he preserve our Royal Sovereign from all the treacherous Designs of his Enemies against him; and from the Hands of those who delight in Blood! May his Arms be prosperous; and his Reign happy! May he finish all his Enterprizes with Honour, And Victory: And may we consider more and more, how much our Safety depends upon his Welfare; and with what Zeal [Page] we ought to Unite together against all such, as by seeking his Destruction, shall give us the highest, and most fatal Demonstration that can be given, of their Desire to promote our common Ruin.

I shall conclude all, with the Words of our Royal Psalmist, when God had given him Rest from all his Enemies, and had delivered him from the Hand of Saul, Psal. xviii. 46. The LORD liveth, and blessed be our Rock; and let the God of our Salvation be exalted. He has deliver'd us from our Enemies; he has lifted us up above those that rose up against Us; he has deliver'd us from the VIOLENT MAN: Therefore, will we give thanks unto thee O LORD among the Heathen, and sing Praise unto thy Name:

Salvation and Glory, and Honour and Praise, and Thanksgiving; be unto the LORD our God, for Ever and Ever, Amen.

FINIS.

§

[Page]

[Page]

A SERMON Preached in the Parish Church of St. JAMES Westminster, April xvith. 1696. Being the DAY of the Publick THANKSGIVING, For the Preservation of His MAJESTY'S Person From the late Horrid and Barbarous CONSPIRACY; AND FOR Delivering this KINGDOM from the Danger and Miseries of a FRENCH INVASION.

By William Wake, D. D. Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty, and Rector of St. JAMES Westminster.

Publish'd at the Desire of the Honourable the Board of VESTRY; and of several other Persons of Quality of the said Parish.

LONDON: Printed for Richard Sare at Grayes-Inn-gate in Holbourn. 1696.

Books Printed for R. Sare at Grays-Inn-gate in Holborn.

[Page]

THe Genuine Epistles of St. Barnabas, St. Ignatius, St. Clement, St. Polycarp, The Sphepherd of Hermas, and the Martyrdoms of St. Ignatius and St. Polycarp. Translated and Published with a large Preliminary Discourse, by W. Wake, D. D. 8o.

A Practical Discourse concerning Swearing, especially in the two great Points of Perjury and Common Sw earing: By W. Wake, D D. 8o.

Fables of Aesop and other Eminent Mythologists, with Morals and Reflexions. Folio.

The Visions of Don Francisco de Quevedo. 8o. Seneca's Morals, 8o.

Tully's Offices, 12o. Erasmus's Colloquies. 8o.

Bona's Guide to Eternity. 12o. All six by Sir Roger L'Estrange.

Compleat Sets, consisting of Eight Volumes of Letters, writ by a Turkish Spy, who lived forty five Years undiscovered at Paris, giving an Impartial Account to the Divan at Constantinople, of the most remarkable Transactions of Europe during the said time. 12o.

Humane Prudence, or, the Art by which a Man may raise himself and Fortune to Grandeur. The sixth Edition. 12o.

Moral Maxims and Reflections in four Parts. Written in French by the Duke of Rochfoucault. Now made English. 12o.

Epictetus's Morals, with Simplicius's Comment, made English from the Greek. By George Stanhop, late Fellow of King's College Cambridge. 8o.

The Parson's Councell or; or, the Law of Tythes. By Sir Simon Degge. 8o.

Of the Art both of Writing and Judging of History, with Reflections upon Antient as well as Modern Historians. By the Learned and Ingenious, Father Le Moyne, 12o.

An Essay on Reason. By Sir George Mackenzie. 12o.

The Unlawfulness of Bonds of Resignation. 8o.

The Doctrine of a God and Providence; vindicated and asserted by Tho. Gregory late of Wadham-College, Oxford; and now Lecturer near Fulham. 8o.

Some Discourses on several Divine Subjects. By the same Author.

Death made Comfortable, or the Way to Die well. By John Kettlewell, a Presbyter of the Church of England. 12o.

Dr. Gregory's Divine Antidote against John Smith, a Socinian Writer. 8o.

Dr. Gregory's Sermon upon the Thanksgiving Day, for his Majesties Preservation from the intended Assassination.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A sermon preached in the parish church of St. James, Westminster, April xvith, 1696 being the day of the publick thanksgiving for the preservation of His Majesty's person from the late horrid and barbarous conspiracy and for delivering this kingdom from the danger and miseries of a French invasion / by William Wake.

Wake, William, 1657-1737.

Edition statement

1696

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Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A66392

ID [STC]

Wing W270

ID [STC]

ESTC R23585

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

07840569

ID [OCLC]

ocm 07840569

ID [VID]

40131

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A66392)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 40131)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1218:7)

Source

— A sermon preached in the parish church of St. James, Westminster, April xvith, 1696 being the day of the publick thanksgiving for the preservation of His Majesty's person from the late horrid and barbarous conspiracy and for delivering this kingdom from the danger and miseries of a French invasion / by William Wake., Wake, William, 1657-1737..

Extent

29 p.

Printed for Richard Sare,. London :: 1696.. ("Publish'd at the desire of the honourable the Board of vestry and of several other persons of quality of the said parish.") (Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.)

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