Method, Explication, and Application.

VVHerein the 1. particular; the Altar, Explica­tion. Gods; Ʋnto thee, O God. If the King do's rejoyce for his people, or the people for their King, it is,Psal. 21.1. in thy strength, O Lord; In thy strength, not their power; in thy wise­dom, not their policy; in thy goodness, not their greatness; The strength of the Lord, that brings salvation, salvation permanent and perpetual; A salvation divine, exceeding good; and this begets an exultation devout, exceeding great; therefore, as it is said, the King shall rejoyce in thy strength, O Lord; so the Psalmist further adds,Ibid. Exceeding glad shall he be off thy salvation.

And certainly, if ever King might rejoyce in God's strength, and be ex­ceeding glad of his Salvation, our King much more, and we with him. The [Page 15] life of the whole Nation is bound up in the Kings life; for, sad experience tells us, we felt the stroak of his Royal Fa­thers Death, when this Kingdom's glory fell with his body, and was cut off with his Head. And sure, we can­not but be sensible, how we have con­tinued ever since, so enslaved, as not to know any other freedom, save that of the Psalmist,Ps [...]l. 88.5. free among the Dead. For, have we not walkt as so many Ghosts? liv'd indeed, but as in the in­fernal shades; and heartless as well as headless; nay, and such should we still continue,On the Tues­day after Easter week, the Parlia­ment with all loyal acknowledg­ments recei­ved his Ma­jesties graci­ous Letters and Declara­tion. did not the salvation of our God, give us a right Easter Deliverance, a resurrection from the dead; putting a new life into us, by the restoring of our gracious Soveraign.

Such is the Salvation of our King, as none could give it but God, the King [Page 16] of Kings; so that the Title of Honour assum'd of old by several Emperours, after great preservations, may now be properly our Soveraign's, even [...], Preserv'd of God. And observe, as God do's hereby the more engage the King unto himself in de­votion, so do's he the more endear the King unto his people in affection. For, who so considers his deliverances Especially when he past from Holland into Scot­land, by Sea, and his escapes byespeci­ally after Worster fight. Land: who so considers his dangers in his Native Country, and his distresses in foraign Nations; will easily discern, how God hath set forth our Soveraign as a Mir­rour of his Mercy; that the eyes of all his People beholding him the more Dear unto God, their hearts should esteem him the more endeared to them­selves; the Divine protection and fa­vour recommending him to their grea­ter Loyalty and Love.

[Page 17]Yea this Salvation of God; presents our King not only the more to be be­loved at home, but also the more to be feared abroad; Be it so then, that other Kings now shine in the full Meridian of their glory, as do the Crowns of Spain and France; yet we know, even at noon day our Charles's Star appears;At the birth of his Maje­sty, a Star ap­peared at noon. and 'tis not others more radiant Splen­dour of this Earth's Greatness, that can take away the light of his vertues lustre in Heavens salvation. Wherefore, there must David and Israel, the King and his People offer their oblation of praise, where they receive their bles­sings of goodness, and that is at the Al­tar of the Lord; non nobis Domine, Psal. 115.1. non nobis, not unto us O Lord, not unto us; but, Ʋnto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks; for, that thy name is near, thy wondrous works declare.

[Page 18]2. Particular. The offering, Thanks; Ʋnto thee do we give thanks. Which offering is made by fire; for the words of Gemination, shew there was an heat of Devotion. Ʋnto thee, O God, do we give thanks, were a Gratulation sincere; but to repeat it, & say it over again, unto thee do we give thanks, speaks that Gra­tulation fervent. But alas, in our Thanksgiving, what is it that we give worthy of Thanks? why, truly very little, as to any real worth in it self; yet very much as to the Devotion of faith, and hope, and love, and humility, &c. in the Divine acceptance through Christ.

Thus to Thank God, is to Bless God, but not to bless him as he blesseth us; His Benedixit is a benefecit; when God blesseth man he do's speak the word and it is done; Psal. 33.9. but, when man blesseth [Page 19] God, all that he can do is but to speak the word; even to declare the Glory, and set forth the praises of God's bles­sings: So that, God's blessing descends upon man as an heavenly Dew, in a quickning and refreshing Vigour: man's blessing ascends unto God, only as an holy Incense, in an acceptable and well-pleasing savour. Wherefore, when we view the blessings of this day's solemnity, and see how abundant God is in his mercy, do we let him see how enlarged we are in our thankfulness; making our hearts and our mouths, as so many altars of Incense, to breath forth the sweet savour of his goodness.

Herein to encourage our Devotion, and quicken our zeal; know, the receipt of blessings is not more comfortable to Man, then the returning of thanks is acceptable to God; yea, a devout Heart [Page 20] is not more truly joy'd in receiving mercyes, then in returning thanks.

Hence it is, that Psalms of Thanks­giving, they have in them the life and vigour of all holy Devotion; yea, songs of praise, they are the very Types of the joyes of heaven; Whereby it is, that the Church becomes even Trium­phant on Earth.Psal. 106.47. Thus the Psalmist; save us, O Lord our God, to give thanks unto thy Name, and to triumph in thy Praise; This then is the offering David and Israel bring to God's altar, an ob­lation of thankfulness; Ʋnto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks. this the altar and the offer­ing.

3. Particul. The reason of bringing this offering to the Altar; and that is, the nearness of God's name, declared in the wonder of his Works; for, that thy name [Page 21] is near, thy wondrous works declare. It is good that we can give a Rationale of Gods worship, that it may be known we serve God with a reasonable service, Rom. 12.1 which is the thing he so much requires. Now then, see we the glory of his Name in the wonder of his works, as especially relating 1. To the King; 2. To his People; 3. To their Ene­mies.

1. Relating to the King. That not­withstanding all the dangers of sick­ness and of Seas, of Treacheryes and of Violence; notwithstanding all the hazards of temptations, provocations, yea necessityes and wants; Necessi­tyes and Wants so great, that though his Kingdom was of this World, yea in this World he had three potent King­doms, yet had he not where to lay his head; not where to lay it to rest; For [Page 22] such and so many were his flittings, if not his flyings from the West of En­gland to the Isle of Scilly; from that Island into Holland, and from Holland into France, from France into Holland again, from Holland into Scotland, from Scotland into England; where, what entertainment he had at Worster, you may sadly remember; being forc't to fly for his life, take sanctuary in a Wood, and make an hollow Oake his Royal Pallace: from thence shadow'd with the Divine protection (as— Multo nebulae cir­cum dea fudit a­mictu, Virg. Aen. 1. Aene­as with the vayl-like cloud) he passeth thorow a throng of dangers, before he attains the Sea-coast of Sussex; from whence he hast's into France, and from thence (upon a dishonourable Treaty of that Crown, with this Nations Tyranny) he passeth into Germany, and from Germany into Flanders; from [Page 23] whence the God of all mercy's bring him safe into his own Dominions, and seat him to rest in his Royal Palace Here the Auditories zeal of [...]y­al Devotion did make the Church to eccho their loud Amen.. Thus, thus (I say) such and so many were our Soveraign's flittings, if not his flyings when driven from his own Kingdomes, he was forc't from others; that seldom could he find a pillow to rest his head, or if he did find a pillow, such were his Thorns of Cares, that his head could find but little rest.

Yet notwithstanding all hardships and hazards, difficulties and dangers, The King trusted in the Lord, Psal. 2 and through the mercy of the most high he hath not miscarried; not miscarried in Per­son, not miscarried in Religion, not miscarried in the Protestant Faith, nor in his Royal love. And see the high accent of all this mercy; that,Vers. 3. the Lord hath prevented him with the blessings of [Page 24] goodness. Prevented Him: His Fathers Throne, the Nation's deliverance, the Churches restoring, and his Peoples peace, no doubt, they were the desire of his Heart, which God hath satis­fied; they were the request of his lips which God hath granted.

But that a North wind should so suddenly and so fully drive away the tempest; that, all which his heart de­sired and his lips requested, should be so successfully attain'd, without a Sea, nay without a showre, I had almost said without one drop of blood: Yea that it should be with so general an accla­mation, and so hearty an affection from Nobles and Gentry, Ministers, Citizens and Country; this is such a preventing with the blessings of good­ness, as is not to be exprest with the Tongue of Angels. O miracle of [Page 25] mercy! O wonder of Compassion! to the maze and astonishment of the Na­tions! amongst whom, as well as a­mongst our selves,Psal. 21.5. God hath made the honour of our King to be great in his Salvation. Certainly, him shall men greatly Honour, whom God so graci­ously saves.

2. Relating to his People. Psa. 126.1. When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Sion (say the Jews) then were we like unto them that Dream. Sions Capti­vity, it was that in Babylon; and such a captivity had we, not in Babylon as to place and scituation; but in Babylon directly as to sense and signification; For, what is Babylon but confusion? the captivity then which we had under our so many confusions, what was it, but indeed a captivity under the worst of Babylons? Now when the Lord [Page 26] turned again the captivity of Sion, the faithful tell us, they were like unto them that dream; so amaz'd at the thoughts of their astonishing deliverance, that they could not believe their eyes, not think themselves awake.

But me thinks, we, as we were un­der a greater Babel of confusion, so are we under a greater maze of astonish­ment; having such a deliverance, as we did not so much as dream off; and this makes it for the suddenness and the strangness,Psal. 118.23. the more marvellous in our eyes. As our captivity and Sion's was much alike, only with this diffe­rence, that our confusion was the worse Babylon; so our deliverance and Sion's are much alike, only with this diffe­rence, that our return is the more diffi­cult work; Sion's deliverance was wrought [...]. of God, by turning the [Page 27] heart of Cyrus the King toward Israel; Ezra. 1.1. But alas our Kings heart was ever turn'd towards his People; whereas then Sion's deliverance was wrought of God, by turning the heart of Cyrus the King towards Israel; ours was by turn­ing the hearts of all Israel towards Charls their King; A work of far greater dif­ficulty, and so, a wonder of far greater mercy; a work of far greater difficulty, considering the malice of the seducers, and the madnes of the seduced; and a wonder of far greater mercy, consider­ing the facillnes of attaining, and the fullnes of accomplishing our deli­verance.

3. Relating to their Enemies. Who convinc't by the strange events of Pro­vidence, they cannot but acknowledge God in it; and therefore say, that the Lord hath done great thing for them; Psa. 126.2. [Page 28] ay, and made them great too by the things that he hath done. They (who not long before Sion's deliverance, had called her an out-cast, Jer. 30.17. and taunted at her, with a where is now thy God?) They have their Argument from Provi­dence, in the Jews so miserable capti­vity, quite confuted by Providence, in their so wonderful return.

But now, when Sion's Enemies say, The Lord hath done great things for them, what say's Sion of her self? Why, the same confession, but not the same affection; Her Enemies say it with wonder and enyy, but Sion her self with Devotion and joy,Ps. 126.3. The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoyce; And this their Gratulation is presently seconded with a further supplication; Their captivity was turn'd, but their return not perfected; therefore they [Page 29] would have all obstacles either remo­ved, or born down, like as by a Sou­thern stream from the snowy Moun­tains, carrying all before it; accord­ingly they pray amidst all their joy, Turn our captivity as the Rivers in the South. Vers. 4.

And let their Devotion have our Imitation; that we pray God, to per­fect a turning again the Captivity of our Sion, as the Rivers of the Southern Climate by the Summer's Sun; even by melting the hearts of the People of this Nation, if there be yet any thing of an Arabia deserta in our Land, any persons of so wilde, hard, and unre­lenting a temper amongst us, as not to cry in so general acclamations, Vivat Rex, God save the King.

Surely this effect of Grace upon the Hearts of Men to melt them to Loy­alty [Page 30] and Allegiance, would be as joy­fully welcome to every conscientious Royalist, as are the refreshing streams to the thirsting Traveller in the dry and parched desert. For that, (Be­loved) God hath tutored us by afflicti­on to melt in sympathies of compassi­on; and we have learnt this Lesson of Christian experience, that there is no greater joy then the Souls conversion, no truer honor then errors retractation, and no firmer tye then loves commu­nion.

O let this then speak our Loyalty and Love, our this day's communion of thankfulness and praise; joyfully conjoyning in this Laudatory Gratu­lation of David and Israel, the King and his People; Ʋnto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks; for, that thy name is near, thy wondrous works declare.

The Application we make is in a two­fold Admonition, Applicat and a twofold Exhortation.

1. ADmonition. When the Salva­tion of Israel is come out of Sion, then is it a fit time for Jacob to rejoyce, Psal. 53.6. and Israel to be right glad; to be right glad! Ay, that's good indeed; but how are we glad aright? Why, when we rejoyce in the Lord with thankful­ness, and rejoyce in the Spirit with chearfulness; which is right, so to rejoyce in the Salvation, that we re­joyce in God our Saviour. Thus the Blessed Virgin rejoyced of old,Luk. 1.41. and thus do we rejoyce for blessings now: Let our joy be that of the Virgins, pure in Devotion and thankfulness, not ravished, not defiled with Gluttony and Drunkenness.

[Page 32]Praise and Rejoycing do as proper­ly become the celebration of a Feast, as Mourning and Weeping do be­come the solemnity of a Fast: But now, if this rejoycing be onely that of Mirth and Jollity; then strange Children will dissemble with me, Psa. 18.44. says David; Men given to changes, they know how to change their counte­nance, and put on a shew and sem­blance of joy; but the Children of Si­on,Ps. 149.2. they will be truly joyful with their King; and how truly joyful? why rejoycing in Heart and in Spirit. The joy then of the countenance and of the voice, may be that of the prophane persons or the Hypocrites; but that of the Heart and of the Spirit, is that of the good Christians, and the Loy­al Subjects.

[Page 33]Not, but that a [...], a sowre or sad countenance do's argue a disgust of malevolence; he certainly having no good will to this time's Salvation, who ha's no good mind to this day's Exultation. Wherefore let the Spring­head of our joy be in the inward Man, the heart and spirit; and then let the streams flow into the outward man, the voice and the countenance; ay, and the plentiful, but not inordinate use of temporal Blessings; For so, Ne­hemiah instructs the Jews, for the solem­nity of their festival; Eat the fat, Nehem. 8.10. and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared, and this do freely, so it be done soberly; be­cause, as in the close of that Verse, the joy of the Lord is our strength; and that is, when the strength of the Lord is our joy.

[Page 34]2. Admonition. That, having seen the salvation of God exceeding great; it will be allow'd us,Psal. 21.1. to be exceeding glad of his salvation; An excess of glad­ness, is allow'd, but not of drunken­ness; O let that be abhorr'd. Wine in a drunken excess, it inflames the heart, intoxicates the brain, and turns all fanatick. You must, you'l say, drink the Kings health: But tell me, is it congruous in cups of excess to drink the Kings health, when he pre­serves his health by little drinking? Again, beware of execrations and oathes, lest their sinful provocations out-cry your Loudest Acclamations.

Rejoyce with temperance and de­votion, as well, as with chearfulness and exultation: as good Christians, as well, as good Subjects; and indeed we are no longer good Subjects, then we are [Page 35] good Christians. Offer we, then, our oblations of praise in the Church, and in the closet; and after that, let the Earth ring and the Heavens resound with acclamations in the streets; Let the Bells, and the Trumpets, and the Canons; let your feasts, and fires, and other Insignia Jubilationis, the ensigns of Joy and Jubilation; let them all heighten the joyfulNum. 23.21. shout of a King among us. But still let me mind you to preserve your Moral Temperance, the better to perform your Loyal Exulta­tions; that rejoycing for your King, you may do it in the Lord; And then I'me sure, it will be very much your Kings joy, to hear that you have so rejoyc't.

1. Exhortation. To joyn Prayer with our Praises; Hosannas with our Hal­lelujahs; say,Luke 19.38. Blessed be the King that [Page 36] cometh in the Name of the Lord; Bles­sed from the King of Kings; with health of body, length of days, and encrease of honours; Blessed with the love of his Subjects, the dread of his Enemies, and the friendship of his Al­lyes; Blessed with a gracious life, an happy reign, and an everlasting glory. Let this, this be the incense we burn, the sacrifice we offer, the Devotion we perform in Gods House, and at Gods Altar.

Yea (Beloved) as we love the Kings life, pray we for the consummation of our joyes, the Kings Crown; For ob­serve, in Psal. 21. v. 3.4. it is there the right order of Gods Spirit, (and indeed so t'is esteemed by Kings, who have any thing of the Spirit of God) that the Crown is set before life; to intimate, that although, they who preserve the [Page 37] Kings life merit much, yet they more, who restore the Kings Crown; and a­gain, they who take away the Kings Crown, incur not only great guilt, but greater, then they who take away the Kings life. Our Soveraigns Royal Fa­ther, of blessed Memory, therefore lost his life, because he would not part with his Crown; no, nor part the Crown with others, though it were to save his life. It was done like a Royal Martyr indeed; one who knew well how hap­pily to change his Crown, but not ut­terly to part with it; even, change that Crown which bears a cross on Earth, for that which is all Crown, and knows no cross in Heaven.

As we love then (I say) the Kings life, pray we for the consummation of our joyes, the Kings Crown: And therefore, Lord, set thou a Crown of pure [Page 38] Gold upon his Head; Let our eyes see him crown'd, and that will crown our joyes. Yea, the Lord grant, it may be in the continuance of our present calm, and as an earnest of our future peace; that we may further know, that all this is Gods hand, Psal. 109.27. and that thou Lord hast done it. And what the hand of Heaven hath set up, let not the hand of violence throw down; what God hath put on, let not man put away: the King on his Throne, and the Crown on the King. And having obtain'd the Crown, may he obtain life, and that a long life, even for ever and ever, Amen, Amen.

Psal. 21.4.2. Exhortation. To observe Nehe­miah's order and instruction, To send Portions to them for whom nothing is prepared. Nehem. 8.10. Whereby we see that our dayes of Exultation must have their Acts of compassion; Otherwise, to eat [Page 39] the Lambs out of the flock, and the Calves out of the Stall; to drink wine in Bowles,Amos 6.6. and not to regard the afflicti­ons of Joseph, the necessities of the di­stressed; but to suffer them to mourn whilst we rejoyce; This is so provoking a guilt of unmercifulness, as will turn our joy into mourning. God requires a chearful giver; 1 Cor. 9.7. it is good then that we give, especially, upon our day's of chear­fulness. Otherwise, if our rejoycing gives no relief to the Poor, our Thanks­giving shall receive no reward from God; for indeed, how can we be thought to receive so great blessings from God thankfully; when we are not willing to bestow a little, of what He hath bless't us with, charitably?

To close then. In paying a Tribute unto Caesar, we do well to make an offering unto God. Indeed these words of [...]