To those Presbyterian Ministers and others, who are unsatisfied with the lawfulness of giving thanks to GOD for the shedding of blood.
THe objection of a Friend at our late meeting was, that he was unsatisfied in his Judgment, that it is lawfull to rejoyce at the sheding of blood, though it were granted to be in the distruction of an Enemy. To which I answer; That considering of it simply of it self, it is a sad thing, and a matter rather of sorrow then rejoycing, to see so Noble a Creature as man, to loose his life in such a manner, but as it is to be considered in the relative, and by the effects and drift of the Enemy, which sought for our lives, Liberty, and Freedome, even in the Ordinances of God; I say if men become thus stubborn and wilfull, their destruction becomes a matter of joy and delight. Then shall the righteous rejoyce and be glad. Syon heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoyced, because of thy Judgments O Lord. Psal. 97. 8. [Page 2] He casteth the wicked to the ground, sing unto the Lord with Thanksgiving. These places shew the behaviour of the righteous, when God ariseth and putteth forth his strength for the destruction of his Enemies, They exceedingly rejoyce: Psal. 68, 1, 2 and they expresse that Joy before the Lord verse 3. from which places it is evident, that the Church and people of God when they have victorie, are enjoyned to rejoyce, from whence I conclude, that solemn dayes of Tanksgiving for Victories obtained, are not only lawfull, but enjoyned as a duty, and when the people of God, do come before God to perform this duty, they ought exceedingly to rejoyce, Ps. 58. 10. The righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance, he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, what vengeance this is you may see in the former verse where the wicked are destroyed like thorns under a Pet. Gen. 15. 19. Melchisedick blesseth God for the Victory and successe given unto Abraham. And when the Lord drowned Pharoh and all his Hoast: Moses and Meriam rejoyced and sung praises unto God, Judges 5. So when David was compassed about with many Enemies, and the Lord had scattered them, the voice of joy and gladnes was in every godly heart, and certainly there is great reason why it should be so, for God is much glorified in this work of power, we see when Pharohs Chariot wheels flew off, then he acknowledged [Page 3] that God fought for Israel, Exod. 14. and the like in Psal. 83. 13. &c Now are the enemies of God by this means, brought to glorifie God, and shall not his own people in whom he puts forth his power, give evidence of thank fulnesse unto him. Psal. 50 23 He that offereth praise and thanks, glorifieth God. Again, this joy and gladnes comes from the benefits that come to Gods people, when their Enemies are destroyed. First their subduing of the Enemy gives them the more freedom and liberty in the service of God, as when Saul was dead, then David could frequent the Sanctuary. Secondly, it gives evidence of Gods favour, to be renewed and confirmed to his people, and therefore they cannot but reign Psal. 41. 11. By this I know thou favourest me, because mine Enemy doth not triumph over me.
Thus far have I thought good, briefly to communicate these Meditations unto you, which if you please to ponder and consider seriously of, I hope not only your self, but others of the Presbyterian Brethren will be so far from censuring us, that they will joyn with us in this Heavenly duty, from whence doth arise an over flow or breaking forth of the spirit into Songs of joy and gladness.
Mr. Jo: Goodwins Song or Hym.
THis is the day the Lord hath made,
On purpose to rejoyce.
To raise his praises to the Heaven,
Spare neither heart nor voice.
The Heavens on high have bowed down,
The Earth with joy doth ring:
For what he hath prepar'd and done,
On Earth he makes us sing.
Prepare and sanctifie your selves,
You Priests of God most high.
In likeness of a Man of War,
Your God to you's come nigh.
In heaven a glorious victory,
For you prepar'd he ha's:
And what he hath prepar'd in heaven,
On earth for us he do's.
You have seen, you have seen; his vision high,
The glory of your God:
Make hearts and bodies clean and pure,
Sacred for his abode.
Your Enemies rage and crueltie
Between them they had still:
No wonder God in flesh, they fell
Opposers of his will.
Your Enemies were not, afterward,
Why God himself had hid.
Though at their cost they lately had,
His presence with you try'd:
But fell into his ambushment,
And tumbled on his sword.
And by the sound of dreadfull fall,
Proclaim'd truth in his word.
And taught the world this victory,
In anguish of their blood:
That God to wicked men did pay
The Judgements in his word.
The Lord that Mountains he had toucht,
And made them smoke before:
This smoke it healed not their pride,
They swell'd still more and more.
And Scottish ground for their proud look
They thought too mean and base:
And would no longer there be born,
Their land of such disgrace.
Up from their native soil they rise,
With lofty pace they move
To Englands honoured ground, on which
They pitcht their hopes and love.
As commodation fit to bear
Their glory and their weight:
This Land they judg'd of measure just,
But God a fire prepar'd:
In place neer Worcester Town it was,
At Englands feet they lay.
To melt these Mountains that would not
By smoking, but by fire
Consume and melt, this is the way
Of Gods provoked ire.
Glory this day to our Land is come,
In glory swell not here:
The first born sons of Godly shape
To the world we shall appear.
For when God comes to visit men
In such a shining path,
He n'ere departs till sin doth say,
D [...]part with high disgrace.
And sin when God hath once then shew'd
His lovely face to men,
Its no great matter to disdain,
And fear the same agen.
O let this great salvation [...]
Which greets us now from heaven
Be kept a sacred record,
And on our hearts be graven.
And let it be our Councellor,
To instruct us what to render:
That God who it to us hath given
Out of his bowels tender.
The heavens in travail lately were
Of Englands joy and peace:
They are deliver'd, and brought forth
A crop of pleasant fare.
The Heavens do pipe, come let us dance,
They call to joy and gladness:
Lats answer in the voice of man,
Saved by God from sadness.
And after this days sacred joy,
Where is no place for sorrow:
Abstain from sin, then this day joy
Shall be your joy too morrow.
Yea then they shall nere take away
The voice of joy from our Land,
Our joyes without or clips or clouds,
Like Sun and morn shall stand.
Mr. [...] Song or Hym.
AWake, awake, Let's all arise,
With loud voice let us Sing.
To God our Lord and Saviour,
A Song of Thanksgiving.
O all ye Saints behold and see
The beauty of your God:
Who hath prepar'd another Glass,
Besides that of his Word.
For you to see his Glory in,
Who are so much in's heart;
He loves to shew his glorious Face,
Though we have no desert.
Look full his Sons of glory then,
Be strook with admiration:
To see the wonderous works of God,
The God of your Salvation.
Neer twenty thousand men of Arms,
Of late crept in this Nation.
Whose face was principally set,
Against Gods Habitation.
Princes and great men more then one,
In this works had their hands.
The liberty of English Saints,
To put in Iron bands.
They said within themselves, all's well,
How rich is our design.
To kill and slay, spoil and destroy,
The Company of English men.
So stout and big the Sons of Pride,
Whose hearts were full of Lust,
The great and mighty God hath sent,
What they for us did trust.
He crusht their rage and cruelty,
The proud which did advance;
The wicked he hath now brought low,
And troden down their place.
Amongst Princes and Nobles all,
The Lord contended sore.
This is the fruit of cruelty,
The Saints they have the more.
O all ye Enemies abroad,
Why should you vainly think:
Of thorns to gather Grapes, and make
Your sweet and pleasant Drink.
Tis righteousnesse and peace doth kiss,
And truth them both imbrace.
If ever you would taste such fruit,
Let righteousness take place.
And yea O sons and Saints of God,
What say you to this sight,
Shall not the goodnes of your God,
Be greatly your delight?
And now O Saints, what Creatures then,
Can carry you away.
Who have been blest with such a sight,
To make you go astray.
Let all agree with us this day,
Let this be our Thanksgiving:
To give our selves and ours to God,
And bring in all men living.
Another Hym of Mr. John Goodwins.
THe mighty God hath once again
appear'd from Heaven high,
His people to deliver from
The house of slavery.
The Iron yoke he lately broke
which men prepared had,
To put upon the necks of Saints
to make their hearts full sad.
The Northern waves lift up their voice,
and roar'd so terribly,
That English Land thereat 'gan quake,
and tremble fearfully.
Of Men, and Horses fierce and stout
Their Armies were prepared,
Gebal and Ammon, Amalek,
and Tyre were insnared,
To joyn in sinfull league against
the Lord, the Lord of might,
And his despised ones, because
they weak appear'd in fight.
Come, let us tread them down (said they)
Like clay and mire in street:
Wee'l give them Laws, and Lords, and Kings,
And all as we think meet.
Our Sword shall teach them what to know
Of God, what to believe:
To worship God as they think meet,
No longer will we give.
Their lives upon their knees they shall
Of us begg and intreat:
The dust o'th Earth we will compell
Them to lick at our feet.
These swelling words the Heavens above
Disdeigned long to bear:
The Starrs made ready for to fight,
Each one out of his sphere.
And God, the holy one of those,
Who thus despised were,
To stop the way 'gainst such rebukes,
Brought forth both shield and spear.
His Enemies heart he takes away,
And gives unto his Friends
[Page 12] To them the wings of fear, for flight;
To these, a Sword he sends,
To execute his judgment just
On them that sought their woe,
To teach them violence to hate,
And righteous things to do,
The Lord, and his, together thus
Triumphed gloriously,
Thousands by death, yet thousands more
Fell by Captivity.
This mighty work recall's to mind
The dayes of ancient date,
When God on high the swelling power
Of Egypt did abate.
And when the staffe of Midian
Was by him broke in sunder,
Wherewith he smote the innocent,
And sought to bring them under.
This is a day the Lord hath made,
A day of grace and wonder,
Where in our prayers from the Heave's
He answer'd hath in thunder.
Out of the hands and bands of those,
Who sought to make us thrall,
He hath deliver'd us by an Hand
Far higher then they all.
He that hath thus deliver'd us,
Shall be our God forever;
Him will we love, Him will we serve,
Forsake us be will never.
FINIS.