The ſecond and moſt welcome aſſertion that now invites your attention.2 Prop. A ſinners deliverance out of Bondage by Chriſt, who is

When Jeſus Chriſt is pleaſed in mercy to viſit any ſuch poor Captives, he ejects Satan, pulls down the reign and dominion of Sin, takes poſſeſſion of their hearts for his own habitation, and reſtores unto them the graces whereof they were deſpoiled.

But when a ſtronger, Firſt, ſtronger then Satan, and comes upon him. &c.

This ſtrong man Satan, he buckles on his Armour about him, ſtands upon his Guard, is reſolved to keep his Captives, and will not let them go. But there is no remedy, he muſt yeild perforce what he cannot hold.

For a ſtronger then he, cometh upon him, and overcometh him.

His valour that the firſt.

Pſal. 89.19. The Lord hath layed helpe upon one that is mighty. Dan. 9.25. Meſſiah the Prince, as Daniel calls him, enters the liſts, encounters the Prince of the power of Darkneſſe, and the enterprize ſhall go on with ſucceſſe,Eſay 53.10. the good pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hands, for he waketh in great ſtrength, and is mighty to ſubdue enemies, and mighty to ſave his people; In whoſe preſence, Conqueſt its ſelfe ſtands exſpecting only his dread beck.

Luke 1.19. The Lord hath raiſed up a horn of Salvation, his Son Jeſus Chriſt; Acts 10.43. To him give all the Prophets witneſſe. A horn of Salvation, noting his power and ſtrength to break all the horns of Satan, and to batter down his Kingdome, untill it fall to the ground, as the Walls of Jericho at the ſound of the Rams horns.

Hail King (ſaid they in ſcorn) but King he is in earneſt, Eſay 96.54. The Government is upon his ſhoulders, having a golden Scepter of Grace, which his people kiſſe, and an Iron rod of ſtrength, wherewith (according to the firſt Propheſie)Gen. 3.15. He breaketh the head of that old Dragon the Devil, who is as little able to reſiſt him as a Potters Veſſel a rod of Iron: to whom deſervedly appertains this magnificent Elogie, He is ſtronger then all. Greater is he that is in you, ſaith Saint John (that is Chriſt) then he that is in the world [i] the Devil. And for this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted,1 Joh. 3.8 that he might deſtroy the works of the Devil. For the accompliſhing whereof he is throughly furniſhed.Col. 1.19. In him dwelleth all fulneſſe. A fulneſſe of Wiſdome to contrive, a fulneſſe of Power to effect, and a fulneſſe of ſucceſſe; the Battell is not doubtfull, the Event is certain, He goes on conquering, and to conquer.

The ſecond particular,2. Overcomes him. His victory; But when a ſtronger then he ſhall come upon him, and overcome him.

David, with a ſtone out of a ſling, ſmote Goliah to the ground, and then with his own Sword ſevered his Blaſphemous head from his ſhoulders.

The Son of David, Jeſus Chriſt, Daniels ſtone, cut forth of the Mountain without hands (born of a Virgin that never knew man) ſmote that Great Goliah, the Devil, foyled him with his own Weapon, conquered him with his own Sword; By death, overcame him that had the power of death. 1 Cor. 23.24. Chriſt Crucified, was to the Jewes a ſtumbling block, and to the Gentiles fooliſhneſſe: but to them which are called, the power of God, and the wiſdome of God: The power of God to conquer the ſtrong man, in the Text Satan, and the wiſdome of God to befool that old Serpent, who would not have put it into the heart of Judas to betray him, had he not thought, that when he was nayled to the Croſſe, he could neither fight nor fly: but the Devil was miſtaken for all his craft.

The Croſſe was Chriſts triumphal Chariot, wherein he ſubdued all the Potentates and Powers of darkneſſe; Col. 2.15. having ſpoyled Principalities and Powers, he made a ſhew of them openly, triumphing over them in it, in the Croſſe: for duo in cruce affixi intelliguntur, (ſaith Origen) two were fixed on the Croſſe, Chriſt viſibly and willingly for a time, and Satan inviſibly and unwillingly for ever.

Now this victory takes quite away the ſcandal of the Croſſe, and bleſſed Paul will glory in nothingGal. 6.14. but the Croſs of Chriſt. Chriſts Death gave ſuch a blow to the Devil, as caſt him down without any hopes of ever riſing again: when he had ſwallowed up Chriſt in the Grave, he thought he had got the Field, and that all was ſure, but he found (to his ſorrow) a Hook under that Bait which he never ſuſpected; he received a Trojan horſe within his Walls, which forced him to yeeld both Field and Victory; and he by Death ſeizing upon him that was Innocent, forfeited his power over us that are guilty, ſo many of us as truly believe in Chriſt. An Eye of Faith, doth ſee in the Death and Paſſion of Chriſt. Hell diſappointed, Satan confounded, and Chriſts-poor captived Lambs reſcued (as a panting prey) out of the paw of that roaring Lyon, and the grim mouth of that raging Bear.

Object. But you will ſay, Satan doth ſtill fight againſt the Faithfull by his aſſaults and temptations.Satan yet fights againſt the faithful.

Anſw. True, he doth ſo, Chriſt permits him.

Firſt, To exerciſe his Childrens Graces, and to work them to a conformity with himſelfe.

Yet ſecondly, Satan is deprived of all power, to prevail to the ruine of the Souls of Beleevers, they being built upon a Rock, againſt which the gates of Hell ſhall not prevail.

Thirdly, For their comfort they ſtrive with a conquered enemy, who hath more Gall then ſtrength: ſo that if we like good Soldiers of Jeſus Chriſt reſiſt, ſtedfaſt in the Faith, the victory undoubtedly will be ours. He that hath trodden down Satan under his, will alſo tread him down under our Feet; and we ſhall have cauſe to triumph and ſay,1 Cor. 15.57. Thanks be unto God, which gives us the victory, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Who the better to encourage us in this conflict, and to aſſure us of conqueſt, hath taken away from him all his armour.

But when a ſtronger then he cometh upon him, and overcometh him, he taketh from him all his armour, wherein he truſted.

That's the third.3. Taketh from him his armour.

Satan is armed: firſt (as you have heard) with his own ſubtill & ſerpentine temptations, which are ſo many ſtings and darts, 1. Blunting the darts of his temptations. whereby precious Souls receive many deadly wounds. But as a Serpent fixing his ſting upon a Rock, finds no entrance, and renders his ſting thereby uſeleſſe; ſo that old Serpent the Devil, attempting to faſten the ſting of his temptations upon the Rock which is Chriſt, loſt his ſting there, the power, the venome of it, and hath made it uncapable of ſtinging us, having by Faith once taken ſanctuary in the clefts of that Rock. Eph. 6.16. Therefore above all, (ſaith the Apoſtle) take the ſhield of Faith, wherewith you ſhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Devil. Temptations are as ſo many darts that poyſon the Soul, and ſcorch it as with fire: But Chriſt touched by Faith, Faith in the promiſes made unto us, yea and Amen in Chriſt, fetcheth vertue from his blood, (our Antidote) to repell that poyſon, and to quench thoſe fiery darts, which otherwiſe would drink up our ſpirits.

Receive Chriſt Jeſus into your hearts by Faith, ſet open the everlaſting doors, and let the King of Glory come into his Palace: then let Satans temptations fly like Darts and Arrowes ſo thick, as they may ſeem to darken the Sun: we ſhall fight in the ſhade, even under the ſhadow of the wings of the Sun of righteouſneſſe, we ſhall be ſafe under his Feathers, his faithfulneſſe and truth ſhall be our Shield and Buckler.

But ſecondly, beſides the darts of his temptations, 2. Subduing our corruptions. he is furniſhed with armour from our own ſins and luſts: True, but Chriſts conqueſt is over Sin, as well as Satan; he hath delivered us from the puniſhment of ſin by his death, and from the power of ſin by his Grace. Yet all this ſtill upon the condition of the new Covenant, (to wit) a lively Faith in Chriſt Jeſus, manifeſted by Repentance from dead works, and a care to live righteouſly. This is not a cauſe meriting Chriſts victory, but a condition, a qualification neceſſarily required in all that ſhall partake of his victory: which if by us performed, then our ſins ſhall never be our ruine: Not our ſins paſt, he hath caſt them all into the depths of the Sea, he will blot them out of his remembrance, which is (in ſome ſort) to make them, as if they had never been. And for thoſe preſent remainders of ſin, he will abate their ſtrength by the power of his grace, convert our Members to be weapons of righteouſneſſe unto God, and bring us daily to a more intimate communion with himſelf in knowledge, love and obedience.

Yet thirdly,3. Paying the debt, the Law requires of us. There is another parcel of armour Satan makes not a little uſe of, the Law. He drawes up a charge againſt us, as debtors to the whole Law by us violated and broken, and therefore expoſed to the wrath of God, which is even a conſuming fire. But ever bleſſed be our Redeemer and ſurety Jeſus Chriſt, he hath paid the whole debt, the debt of univerſal and exact obedience, which we did owe to the Law as a Covenant of works, that he hath paid, It behoveth us (ſaith he of himſelfe) to fulfill all righteouſneſſe: The debt of malediction and wrath, which the Law inflicteth as a curſe that he hath paid, being made a curſe for us, and having done ſo much, he hath wrung the evidences out of Satans hands; ſo that now there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus. The Law being ſatisfied, the deluge of Gods wrath is abated and dryed up, and the Father looking on Beleevers through his Son, in the midſt of Wrath remembers Mercy. For is his wrath a Fire? the water that flowed out of his ſide hath quenched it. Is it a Cup? he hath drank it; the potion killed him, but cured us. Is it a Wine-preſſe? he hath trodden the Wine-preſſe of his Fathers wrath alone, and none of the people were with him. Is the ſevere Juſtice thereof to be ſatisfied? he hath done it without the impeachment of an iota. Is it a debt? he hath paid the utmoſt farthing. And to eſtabliſh the hearts of Beleevers, and penitent ſinners in this truth, that they may have ſtrong conſolation, it was not without a Myſterie, that the Lord ſent an Angel to roule away the Stone from the Sepulchre of Chriſt, what needs an Angel? he was God as well as Man: If ſtones cleave aſunder at his Paſſion, they would remove at his Reſurrection? True, but an Officer, an Angel is ſent to teſtifie the debt is paid, the Law is ſatisfied, the Priſon door is opened, and the Priſoner may come forth.

Let not Satan now boaſt of his armour, his own policy, our Sins, or the Laws claim: Chriſt hath taken away all his armour wherein he truſted, and divideth his ſpoiles. The laſt Improvement of this great conqueſt and victory.

And divideth his ſpoyles. 4. Dividing the ſpoyls, which is ſpoken in regard of

Whereof we have have a good comment in the 4. Chapter of the Epiſtle to the Epheſians, and the 8. verſe, He hath led Captivity captive, and given gifts unto men. He hath led Captivity captive, 1. Perſons. is either taken actively or paſſively, actively, he that did lead his people, his Elect captive (to wit) the Devil, him Chriſt hath led captive, andEpiſt. Jud. v. 6. reſerved him in everlaſting chaines under Darkneſſe, unto the Judgement of the great Day, Paſſively, he hath led Captivity captive [i] thoſe that were led captive by Satan, the Lord Jeſus hath turned their captivity, and brought them under his Government, to march under his Banner, to fight his Battles, and to receive his pay. Thus then he divides his ſpoyles, diſpoſeth of Satan as his Priſoner, of Satans Vaſſals for his own Free-men, ſo many of them as renounce Satan, and come under him for protection.

Again,2. Gifts and Graces as he divideth his ſpoyles [i] he hath given gifts unto men, even to the rebellious, if they will lay down their weapons of Rebellion, take up the gauntlet in his quarrel, and go into the field againſt Sin and Satan: Look what we have loſt by Adams fall, (who was foyled by Satan) and by our own wilfull diſobedience, is all reſtored to us by Chriſts victory. Particularly, the Image of God, perfect Liberty, the Celeſtial Paradice, withall the inexhauſted treaſures of Grace, and Glory conteined in them.

Firſt,1. The Image of God. The Image of God, that rich ſpoyl, that beſt robe Chriſt hath put upon us, ſo that if you ask a Beleever, whoſe Image and ſuperſcription he bears? Gods, Col. 3.10. Eph. 4.24. being renewed by Chriſt in Knowledge, in Righteouſneſſe and Holineſſe, after the Image of him that created him.

Secondly,2. Perfect liberty. perfect Liberty; For if the Son make you Free, then are you Free indeed: Free from Sin, and Free from Death, from the terror of the one, and from the torment of the other. Only abuſe not your Liberty (ſaith the Apoſtle) it is a freedome from ſin, but a freedome to ſervice, that having your Heart ſet at liberty, you may the more cheerfully run the wayes of Gods commandements.

Thirdly,3. The celeſtial paradiſe. the Celeſtial Paradiſe, Col. 1.13. he hath delivered us out of the Power of Darkneſſe, and tranſlated us into the Kingdome of his dear Son, a Kingdome of Grace in poſſeſſion, Ver. 20. the Kingdome of God is come upon you, and of Luk. 22.23. glory in reverſion. Theſe are the rich ſpoyles our moſt puiſſant conquerour divides amongſt his Soldiers. I appoint unto you a Kingdome as my Father hath appointed me. And having brought your Meditations hither, here I ſhall endeavour to lodge them, with ſome ſhort Application, and the ſhorter it will be, becauſe ſo much hath been interwoven in the former diſcourſe. That which remains is,

Firſt,Firſt, for quaere. you have heard the whole world is engaged, either for Chriſt or Satan, all fight either under Chriſts enſigne or the Devils. The important quaery now is, who are you for? unleſs you return the anſwer of a good Conſcience to this quaery, you loſe your ſoul, which is more worth then the whole world. Bleſſed be God we are yet in the land of the living, let us make it the buſineſs of our whole life, to give a good anſwer to this weignty quaery, before we go hence, and be no more ſeen. Think of it what anſwer you will give to God, when Death ſhall ſummon you to his awful tribunal: If you have been for Chriſt behold his arms open to releive you, if for Satan, the Devil will have his due. O that we could ſay (with that holy Martyr) none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt; certain it is, that all one day, ſhall be ſubject to Chriſt, either as Subjects or Rebels: if they that will not kiſſe the golden Scepter of his grace, held forth in the Word, they ſhall feel the weight of his Iron rod, which ſhall break them in pieces like a Potters Veſſel, while there is none to help. Let us therefore caſt down all their weapons of Rebellion and diſobedience, leſt we be found fighting againſt Chriſt, Are you ſtronger then he that hath overcome this ſtrong man? are you able to meet him with ten thouſand ſins, who is able to come againſt you with twenty thouſand Plagues and Judgements? who will come one day 2 Theſ. 1.8. in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.w Depart, (I pray you) from the Tents of Wickedneſſe, leſt you be conſumed in your ſins.

And now the alarum ſounds in our ears, reſolve to be volunteers for Chriſt, conſecrating and giving up your ſelves a willing people unto him, though other Lords and other Luſts have had dominion over us: yet now let us make mention of his name onely, ſaying, We will have no King but Jeſus Chriſt reigne thou over us, for thou haſt delivered us from Satan that ſtrong man. And being thus reſolved hearken

Secondly,2. Counſell. to the Counſel.

If you be for Chriſt then deliver up the Palace to him, let him have the Heart for his Temple, and let it be beautified and furniſhed as is meet for his entertainment, like the Temple of the triumphant Solomon, with the rod of Aaron, wholſome Diſcipline in an holy frame of Heart, the two Tables of the Law, the two Teſtaments written in the heart: the Pot of Manna; the Sacrament of the Lords Supper duely received, and with due preparation; Let not your heart be ſo withered within you, as to forget to eate that bread, with Morning and Evening Sacrifices of Prayers and Praiſes: For in his Temple doth every man ſpeak of his honour.

Having thus conſecrated the Temple of the Heart to Chriſt, yet know the heart is naturally deceitful, and Satan will be buſie to re-obtain his Poſſeſſion: Prov. 4.23. Go keep thy heart (ſaith Solomon) with all diligence; and above all thy keepings, keep thy Heart, and let not any boſome ſin lodge there with your allowance, but though it be as dear unto you as your right Hand, or your right Eye, yet cut it off, and caſt it from you, otherwiſe that ſin will hold Intelligence with the Enemy, to let him in again. But when he ſhall ſee that ſin killed and crucified, the Head of it (as I may ſay) upon the Walls, then he departs with ſhame and confuſion.

But this departure will be but as he departed from Chriſt for a ſeaſon (ſaith the Text,) therefore,

Thirdly,3. Courage and Animation. for Courage and Animation, we muſt all reſolve upon it as good Soldiers of Jeſus Chriſt, to make War againſt Satan as long as we live, and never to be at peace with him nor our ſins, according to our vow in Baptiſme, which was to renounce the Devil and all his works, and to continue Chriſts faithful Soldiers and Servants to our lives end. When the Children of Iſrael were entred into the Land of Canaan, God tells them that they were to make Warre with theNum. 33.53. Cananites, untill they had deſtroyed them. So we that are entred into a covenant of peace with Chriſt, muſt be at War with Sin & Satan, even to the utter deſtruction of every Amalekite. Luke 12.5. Think you (ſaith our Saviour to his Diſciples) that I am come to ſend peace? I tell you nay, but debate. Chriſts buſineſs that he came upon the earth for, was to pull down the enmity between God and us, and ſo to make peace; but not a ſinful peace, not peace with Satan, not peace with Sin, but to go out and fight daily againſt theſe Philiſtins.

This hath been the ſad Cataſtrophe of the Caeſars and Alexanders of the world, they have fled like Eagles to the conquering of Nations, and have been afterwards conquered with their own luſts. Bid we battle to our own corruptions, labour to be conquerours at home, to keep that vaſt Sea of Paſſions & Affections within due bounds: Fortior eſt qui ſe quam qui fortiſſima vincit, He that overcomes himſelfe, is greater then he that overcomes a ſtrong City. This is the holy War, to fight againſt Sin and Satan: a War wherein we have Jeſus Chriſt for our Captaine, whoſe quarrell whilſt we eſpouſe, he will Crown us with Victory, and after that gives us a Crown of Victory. Be thou faithful unto Death (ſaith he) and I will give thee a crown of Life.

The Jewel, the Myſtery conteined in the Text, you have had revealed and opened unto you: I muſt now beg a few minutes patience of you, untill we have reviewed the Hiſtory.

We read in the ſecond of the Kings and the ſeventh,The Hiſtory reviewed and revived at this time. how the Lord by implanting Phantaſies, and frightful apprehenſions into the mindes of the Syrians, (then warring againſt Iſrael) thereby diſcomfitted the whole hoſt, ſo that they fled whilſt none purſued them: Here was a ſtrong man, And a ſtronger then he came upon him, and overcame him, with a Phantaſie, for the weakneſſe of God is ſtronger then men. Hereupon the Leapers ſaid to one another, This is a day of good tidings, if we hold our peace we do not well. Doubtleſſe this is a Day too of good Tydings, of the Proclaiming and of the Returning of his Sacred Majeſty King Charles the ſecond into his Kingdome, and into his Dominions with peace, ſafety and honour.

A ſtrong man armed not long ſince kept the Palace, the Royal Palace of the Kings of England, but a ſtronger then he hath come upon him and overcome him.

We ſhould not do well to refrain our lips to keep back Gods mercies from this great congregation.

Let us caſt our eyes therefore once more upon the words, and we ſhall meet with correſpondencies of like effects, as meet together in the Text, and therein behold Gods mercy, and our own duty.

Firſt,1. The ſtrong man, the late Uſurper who was for the ſtrong man in the Text, him you have heard to be the Devil; The ſtrong man that lately kept the Palace, what was he? We ſhall beſt judge by his works (our Saviours rule) Uſurpation, Tyranny, Murther and Rebellion, you know whoſe works they are, and you know whoſe works they have been of late years, and they repreſent him that did them, as ill-favoured a childe as the Devil hath any (unleſſe the Lord rich in mercy, gave him repentance) and that you may the better know him by his features or rather deformities,

Secondly,2. Armed. he was a ſtrong man armed, armed with the Serpents head, more ſubtill then all the Beaſts of the field: and armed with the Lions paw, with the Arms, Ammunition, Forts, Caſtles, and the whole Militia of the three Nations, by him uſurped and ſurreptitiouſly gained: but what ſpeak I of that ſtrength? Like the Man in the Goſpel poſſeſſed with a Devil;Luk. 5.3. No man could binde him, no not with chains, but he would pluck them aſſunder and breake them in pieces. This greatIob. 41.27. Leviathan eſteemed Covenants as ſtraw, Proteſtations as rotten wood, Engagements, Promiſes, and Oaths, (the ſtrongeſt bonds in the world) he would break them as eaſily asJudg 1.9. Samſon broke the Withs like a thred of Towe when it touched the Fire. Above all, this1 Sam. 17.5. Goliah was armed with a coat of Male, with Impudence of Meridian altitude; for he would Preach if need were, and Pray with the greateſt Phariſee of them all: yea weep too like the Crocodile over his murdered prey: full well he knew how to cover all his horrid actings with Religion, Saint-ſhip, and the Liberty of the good people of the Nation.

Thirdly,3. Kept the Kings Koyal Palace. in this poſture this ſtrong Man armed kept the Palace, the Royal and ancient ſeat of the Kings of England. There he played Rex. The Bramble was mounted above the Cedar of Lebanon, Antichriſt in his chair (for there are1 Joh. 2.18. many Antichriſts) exalting himſelf above all that is called God, his very Horſes in the Temple of God.

Fourthly,4. His goods are in peace, untill All this while his goods are in peace, none durſt ſay, why doſt thou ſo? He proſpered for a time in his wickedneſſe, lived in all jollity without the controulment of any judgement, which indeed is one of Gods heavieſt judgements, to ſuffer proſperity to attend upon evil actions: Yet nothing was more common with him and his Flatterers then to interpret it as a bleſſing, and from his good ſucceſſe, to juſtifie the evill of his enterprizes: Felix ſcelus virtus vocatur, it is no new thing to ſtamp the name of vertue upon proſperous impiety; as Dionyſius having a fair winde after he had robbed the Temple of Aeſculapius ſtuck not to ſay, that the Gods love Sacriledge. This conceit reigned with him as long as he reigned, that he was bound to God, not bound by Satan, whilſt his goods were in peace.

Pſal. 37.7. Ver. 2.10. But fret not thy ſelf (ſaith the Prophet David) becauſe of the man who bringeth wicked devices to paſſe, for he ſhall be cut down like the Graſſe, and wither as the green Herb, yet a little while and the wicked ſhall not be.

A ſtronger then he [i] Chriſt in the Text, and Chriſt too in the firſt place:2. A ſtronger then he came. he ſent his pale meſſenger Death, who came upon him, 1. The Lord Chriſt, and overcame that ſtrong man, and forced him from his Palace, and he is gone to his own place.

There it was Chriſtus Dominus, the Lord Chriſt; and Chriſtus Dominus hath ſent us Chriſtum Domini, the Lord Chriſt hath ſent us the Lords Chriſt,2. The Lords Chriſt King Charles the Second. the Lords anoynted, our Soveraigne Lord King CHARLES the Second, to reign over us who is ſtronger then the ſtrong man, perſonal or collective,1. Stronger being aſſiſted by God. for the hand of God hath been apparently with him in the whole ſeries and progreſſe of our ſettlement.

The great and infinite wiſe God did ſee ſo many mens hearts drawn away from their obedience to their Soveraigne by ſtrong deluſions, as they could not be reduced to their Allegiance, without the infinite expence of Blood, or by a miracle: Behold therefore a miracle, King Charles returned from his Baniſhment, arrived upon the coaſt of England, ſetled in his Throne, without one drop of Blood ſhed, or one blow given, either by way of offence or defence: All mountains of oppoſition are become a plain, and the Lord hath brought forth the head-ſtone of Englands glorious Fabrick with ſhoutings. And let us cry, Grace, Grace unto it.

Zech. 3.6, 7. Not by might, nor by power, but by my ſpirit, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. Who ſo ſeeth not a miracle here, and ſends not up thanks to God for it, muſt be like the man of whom I ſpake in the opening of the Text, poſſeſſed with a Blinde and Dumb Devil. The Lord hath ſhewed himſelf from Heaven wonderfully; the Finger of God hath caſt the ſtrong Man and his power out, and planted a ſtronger then he in. The right hand of the Lord hath the preheminence, the right hand of the Lord hath wrought this wonderfull alteration, and given us a ſtronger then he, his right hand, and his arme, and the light of his countenance, becauſe he had a favour unto him.

A favour to his right and unqueſtionable title: For the righteous Lord loveth righteouſneſſe.

A favour to his incomparable patience, under unparalleld afflictions:Ja. 5.14. You have heard of the afflictions of Job (ſaith Saint James) and you have heard of the patience of King CHARLES and have ſeen the end of the Lord:Pſal. 40.1, 2, 3. He waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto him and heard his cry, and hath brought him out of his diſtreſſe, and hath ſet his feet upon a rock, and eſtabliſhed his goings, and hath put a new ſong into his mouth.

A favour to his invincible conſtancy in the Chriſtian Religion, eſtabliſhed in the Church of England. In that Religion his Royal Father of glorious memory died, a Martyr, a King amongſt Martyrs: And in that, Religion his Royal Son hath lived, being immoveable as a Rock in the midſt of the Sea of temptations: Thus did the Stars of his Vertues ſhine moſt clearly in the Dark Night of his Exilement. And for this cauſe we truſt he will be daily ſtronger in the affections of his Loyal people, and of all the true Sons of our Mother the Church of England.

Secondly,2. And hath overcome. He will come upon them, and overcome them; yea, he hath overcome the hearts of his people already, by his Acts of Indulgence: As the Lord Chriſt draweth his people unto him, even ſo doth the Lords Chriſt.Hoſea 11.4. I drew them (ſaith the Lord) with cords of a Man, with bonds of Love, and I was to them as they that take off the Yoke, &c.

So doth our Gracious Soveraigne humanely and courteouſly draw the hearts of his people unto him, without rigor or violence, not roughly drawing them as ſlaves, but gently alluring them as Sons, ſparing many, as a Father doth his Son, that hath highly exaſperated him.

Thirdly,3. Takes away the armour. Having overcome his people, he takes away their armour: All thoſe poyſonfull weeds of diſobedience and contradiction, which through the malice of the Devil, and craftineſſe of Seducers, were planted in many peoples hearts, do now dye and wither at the approach of this glorious Sun. The people are daily undeceived, and ſee plainly, that Liberty and Loyalty dwell together, and that they can partake of no true Freedome, who withdraw their obedience to their lawfull SOVERAIGN. Who,

Fourthly,4. Divideth the ſpoyles. divideth the ſpoyles amongſt his Subjects, by his moſt prudent diſtribution of Juſtice and Mercy: His Juſtice reſtores to him that was ſpoyled, that which the ſpoyler ſpoyled him of. And his Mercy is of large extent, manifeſted to a Miracle, even to ſuch as are conſcious to themſelves that they have not deſerved it.

Bleſſed be our good God, and bleſſed be our Eyes, that we See, and our Ears that we Hear, that which many Loyal and right worthy perſons (now aſleep in their Graves) have deſired to ſee and hear, but have not.

Thus is our Captivity turned from under a ſtrong Man a Bramble, to live under a ſtronger then he, a Vine which the Lords own right hand hath planted, and made ſo ſtrong for himſelf: Thus I ſay is the Captivity of our Sion turned, whilſt we were like unto them that dream, a dream indeed; Deliverance came without looking, without labouring for; the leſſe of Man the more of God in it. The Lord was pleaſed not to give our deſired ſucceſſe to the Battle at Dunbar, nor at Worceſter, he reſerved the glory of this great work for himſelf.

Not unto thee O Lord, not unto thee, but unto us be the ſhame of our Rebellions; not unto us O Lord, not unto us, but unto thee be the glory of bringing the King back againe to us.

What remaineth now, but that you that hear me this day, and all the three Nations, would ſuffer the word of exhortation.

To rejoyce and give thanks unto the Lord Chriſt,Hence an exhortation to rejoyce and give thanks cautioned with. who hath reſtored to us the Lords Chriſt, the Lords anoynted, our dread Soveraigne. The Lord hath highly magnified us in mercy, and deeply we are bound to magnifie him for his mercy, ſaying and ſinging with holy David every one of us;Pſal. 35.10. All my bones ſhall ſay, Lord who is like unto thee, who delivereſt the poor from him that is too ſtrong for him, yea the poor and the needy from him that ſpoyled him. Thus let us rejoyce and give thanks, yet with due cautions;

Firſt of Sobriety, 1 Sobriety. a ſacrifice of joy and praiſe ſuch a Mercy requires: But let it not be offered to Bacchus but Jovi Liberatori, to the great God of Heaven and Earth. Let us rejoyce and give thanks, and expreſſe the ſame by walking honeſtly as in the day;Rom 13.13. not in rioting and drunkenneſſe: who ſo (after this manner, ſaith the Lord) offereth praiſe glorifieth me, and to him that ordereth his converſation aright, will I ſhew the ſalvation of God.

Secondly,2. Charity. Charity and works of Mercy. A day of feaſting and joy is alſo a day ofEſther. 9.22. ſending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. Let Mercy be ſhewed to them for his ſake, from whom we have received ſo great a Mercy.

Thirdly,3. Unity. Unity and Peace one with another, and the rather, becauſe it is the deſire of a King to his Subjects, and ſhould conjure our hearts to abſtaine from all tearmes and notes of ſeparation. So ſhould our Kingdome, our Nation, our Hieruſalem be as a City that is at unity in it ſelfe, whilſt we that dwell together in it are at unity amongſt our ſelves.

Fourthly,4. Daily prayers for his Majeſty. with daily prayers for his MAJESTY, That the Lord would keep this Mercy forever, in the imaginations of the thoughts of his Heart, and prepare his Heart unto the Lord. That the rod of Affliction, which the Lord hath removed from him, may open his eare to Diſcipline, and teach him with all prudence to ſway the Scepter, which he hath put into his hand. That it may appear daily (by his wiſe Government) that the Lord hath preſerved him to ſet forth his glory, to protect his Church, and for a bleſſing to his people.