A sermon of publike thanksgiuing for the wonderfull mitigation of the late mortalitie preacht before his Matie; vpon his gracious command, at his court of Whitehall, Ian. 29. 1625. And vpon the same command published by Ios. Hall deane of Worcester.

Psal. 68. vers. 19, 20.

Blessed be the Lord, who loadeth vs daily with benefits, euen the God of our saluation. Selah.

He that is our God, is the God of sal∣uation, and vnto God the Lord be∣long the issues from death.

YEa, blessed bee the Lord, who hath added this vnto the load of his other mercies to his vn∣worthy seruant, that the same tongue, which was called, not long since, to chatter out our publike mournings, in the solemne Fast of this place, is now imployed in a song of praise; and

the same hand, which was here lifted vp for supplication, is now lift vp in thāksgiuing; Ye that thē accompanied me with your tears and sighs, accompany me now, I beseech you, (in this happy chāge of note, and time) with your ioy∣full smiles, and acclamations to the God that hath wrought it.

It is not more natural for the sun, when it looks vpon a moist, and well fermented earth, to cause va∣pors to ascend thence, thē it is for greatnes, & goodnes, when they both meet together vpon an ho∣nest hart, to draw vp holy desires of gratulation. The worth of the agent doth it not alone, without a fit disposition in the subiect; Let the Sun cast his strongest beames vpon a flint, a pumice, he fetches

out no steame: Euen so the great∣nes & goodnes of the Almighty, beating vpon a dry & hard hart, preuailes nothing: Here all three are happily met: In God, infinite greatnes, infinite goodnes; such greatnes, that he is attended with thousand thousands of Angels; (a guard fit for the King of heauen) such goodnesse, that he receiues gifts euen for the rebellious: In Dauid, a gracious heart, that in a sweet sense of the great goodnes of his God, breathes out this di∣uine Epiphonema, Blessed be the Lord, who loadeth vs daily with benefits, e∣uen the God of our saluation, &c.

Wherin me thinkes, the sweet singer of Israel seemes to raise his note to the emulatiō of the quier of heauen, in the melody of their

Alleluiahs; yea, let me say, now that he sings aboue in that blessed con∣sort of glorious spirits, his ditty cannot be better then this, that he sung here vpon earth, and wher∣in we are about to beare our parts at this time: Prepare, I beseech you, both your eares for Dauids song, and your harts and tongues for your owne. And first in this Angelicall straine, your thoughts cannot but obserue, without me, the Descant, and the Ground; The descant of Gratulation, Blessed be the Lord; wherin is both applause and excitation; an applause giuē to Gods goodnes, and an excita∣tion of others to giue that ap∣plause. The ground is a threefold respect. Of what God is in him∣selfe, God and Lord. Of what God

is, and doth to vs, which loadeth vs daily with benefits. Of what hee is both in himselfe, and to vs; The God of our saluation; which last, (like to some rich stone) is set off with a darke foile, To God the Lord belong the issues from death. So in the first, for his owne sake; in the se∣cond, for our sakes, in the third for his owne, and ours; as God, as Lord, as a Benefactor, as a Sa∣uiour, and deliuerer, Blessed be the Lord.

It is not hard to obserue that Dauids Alleluiahs are more thē his Hosannaes; his thankes more then his suites. Oft-times doth he praise God when he begs nothing: Sel∣dome euer doth he begge that fa∣uour, for which he doth not raise vp his soule to an anticipation of

thanks; neither is this any other then the vniuersall vnder-song of all his heauenly ditties, Blessed bee the Lord; Praysed (as our former translation hath it) is too low; Honor is more then praise; bles∣sing is more then honor; neither is it for nothing, that from this word (Barac) to blesse, is deriued Berec, the knee which is bowed in blessing; and the cryer before Ioseph, proclaimed Abrech, calling for the honour of the knee from all beholders. Gen. 41.43. Euery sleight triuiall acknowledgement of worth is a praise; Blessing is in a higher straine of gratitude, that caries the whole sway of the hart with it, in a kinde of diuine rapture: praise is in matter of com∣plement, blessing, of deuotion.

The Apostles rule is that the lesse is blessed of the greater, A∣braham of the King of Salem; the Prophets charge is, that the grea∣ter should be blessed of the lesse; yea the greatest of the least, God of man: This agrees wel; Blessing is an act that will beare recipro∣cation; God blesseth man, & man blesseth God; God blesseth man imparatiuely, man blesseth God optatiuely; God blesseth mā in the acts of mercy; Man blesseth God in the notions, in the expressions of thanks. God blesses man whē he makes him good and happy; man blesseth God when he con∣fesseth how good, how gracious how glorious he is: So as the bles∣sing is wholly taken vp in agniti∣on, in celebration; in the one we

acknowledg the bounty of God to vs; in the other we magnifie him, vocally, really, for that bounty.

Oh see then what high account God makes of the affections and actions of his poore, silly, earth-creeping creatures; that hee giues vs in them power to blesse him∣selfe, & takes it as an honor to be blessed of vs: Dauid wonders that God shold so vouchsafe to blesse man, how much more must wee needs wōder at the mercy of God that will vouchsafe to be blessed by man, a worme, an atome, a no∣thing? Yet, both S. Iames tels vs that with the tongue we blesse God; & the Psalmist cals for it here, as a seruice of deare acceptation; Blessed be the Lord; Euen we mē liue not (Came∣lion-like) with the aire of thanks;

nor feed ere the fatter with prai∣ses, how much lesse our maker? O God, we know wel that whatso∣euer men or Angels do, or do not, thou canst not but be infinitely blessed in thy selfe; before euer any creature was, thou didst equally inioy thy blessed selfe, frō all eter∣nity; What can this worthles loose filme of flesh either adde to, or de∣tract from thine infinitnesse? Yet, thou that humblest thy selfe to be∣hold the things that are done in heauen, & earth, humblest thy selfe also, to accept the weake breath of our praises, that are sent vp to thee frō earth to heauen. How should this incourage the vowes, the in∣deuors of our hearty thankfulnes, to see thē graciously taken? Would men take vp with good words,

with good desires, & quit our bōds for thanks, who wold be a debter? With the God of mercy this cheap paiment is currant; if he thē wil ho∣nor vs so far as to be blessed of vs, Oh let vs honor him so far as to blesse him; Quare verbis parcā? gra∣tuita sunt: Why do we spare thanks that cost vs nothing, as that wise Heathen; O giue vnto the Lord, yee mighty, giue vnto the Lord the praises due to his name, offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiuing: and still let the foot of our song, be, Blessed be the Lord.

This for the descant of gratula∣tion; the groūd follows; His own sake hath reason to be first; God will be blessed both as Iah, and A∣donai; the one the style of his Es∣sence, the other of his Soueraign∣tie. Euen the most accursed Deist

would confesse, that as a pure, sim∣ple, infinit, absolute being, God is to be blessed; for if being be good, & these two be cōuertible, nature must needs teach him, that an ab∣solute & infinit being must needs be absolutely and infinitly good: but what do I blur the glory of this day with mention of those mon∣sters, whose Idol is nature, whose religion is secondary atheisme, whose true region is the lowest hell; these damned Ethnicks can∣not, will not conceiue of God, as he is, because they impiously seuer his essence from his inward relati∣ons; VVe Chrstians can neuer be so heauenly affected to God, as we ought, till we can rise to this pitch of piety, to blesse God for what he is in himself, without the external

beneficial relations to the creature; Else our respects reflect too much homeward, and we doe but look through God, at our selues.

Neither is it for vs only to blesse him as an absolute God, but as a Soueraigne Lord too; whose po∣wer hath no more limit then his essence; the great moderator of heauen and earth, giuing lawes to his creature, ouer-ruling all things, marshalling all euents, crushing his enemies, maintaining his Church, adored by Angells, trem∣bled at by deuills; Behold here a Lord worthy to be blessed. We honour, as we ought, your con∣spicuous greatnesse, ô yee emi∣nent Potentates of the earth; but alas, what is this to the great Lord of heauen? When wee

looke vp thither, we must craue leaue to pitty the breath of your nosthrills, the rust of your co∣ronets, the dust of your graues, the sting of your felicities, and (if yee take not good heed) the blots of your memories: As ye hold all in fee from this great Lord, so let it be no disparage∣ment to you, to doe your low∣liest homage to his footstoole; homage, I meane, in action; giue me the reall benediction; I am sure that is the best; they blesse God that praise him, they blesse him more, and praise him best, that obey him. There are that crouch to you great ones, who yet hate you: Oh let vs take heed of offering these hol∣low obseruances to the searcher

of hearts, if wee loue not our owne confusion. They that pro∣claimed Christ at Ierusalem, had not only Hosanna in their mouths, but palmes in their hands too; so must wee haue: Let mee say then, If the hand blesse not the Lord, the tongue is an hypocrite. Away with the waste comple∣ments of our vaine formalities; Let our loud actions drowne the language of our words, in bles∣sing the name of the Lord.

Neyther must we blesse God as a soueraigne Lord onely, but (which is yet a more feeling re∣lation) as a munificent Benefa∣ctor, Who loadeth vs daily with be∣nefits. Such is mans selfe-loue, that no inward worth can so at∣tract his praises, as outward be∣neficence;

Whiles thou makest much of thy selfe, euery one shall speake well of thee, how much more whiles thou makest much of them? Here God hath met with vs also. Not to perplexe you with scanning the variety of sen∣ses, wherewith I haue obserued this Psalme aboue all other of Da∣uids, to abound; see here, I be∣seech you, a foure-fold gradation of diuine bounty. First, here are benefits; the word is not ex∣pressed in the originall, but ne∣cessarily implyed in the sense; for there are but three loads whereof man is capable from God, fauours, precepts, punish∣ments; the other two are out of the road of gratulation; when we might therefore haue expect∣ed

iudgments, behold Benefits: And those secondly, not sparingly handfulld out to vs, but dealt to vs by the whole load; loadeth with be∣nefits. Whō, thirdly, doth he load, but vs? Not worthy and well de∣seruing subiects, but vs 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Rebels: And lastly, this he doth, not at one doale & no more, (as euen churles rare feasts vse to be plentifull,) but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 succes∣siuely, vnweariedly, perpetually. One fauour were too much, here are benefits; a sprinckling were too much, here is a load; once were too oft, here is daily largi∣tion. Cast your eyes therefore, a little vpon this three-fold exag∣geration of beneficence, the mea∣sure, a load of benefits; the subiect, vnworthy vs; the time, daily: Who

daily loadeth vs with benefits.

Where shall we begin to sur∣vey this vast load of mercies? were it no more, but that he hath giuen vs a world to liue in, a life to enioy, ayre to breathe in, earth to tread on, fire to warme vs, wa∣ter to coole and clense vs, cloaths to couer vs, food to nourish vs, sleep to refresh vs, houses to shel∣ter vs, varietie of creatures to serue and delight vs; here were a iust load: But now, if wee yet adde to these, ciuilitie of breeding, dearnesse of friends, competency of estate, degrees of honor, hone∣sty or dignitie of vocation, fauor of Princes, successe in imploy∣ments, domestique comforts, outward peace, good reputation, preseruation from dangers, rescue

from euills, the load is well men∣ded: If yet, ye shall come closer, and adde, due proportion of bo∣dy, integrity of parts, perfection of senses, strength of nature, me∣diocritie of health, sufficiency of appetite, vigour of digestion, wholsome temper of seasons, freedome from cares, this course must needs heighten it yet more; If still, yee shall adde to these, the order, and powers, and exercise of our inward faculties, inriched with wisedome, art, learning, ex∣perience, expressed by a not-vn∣handsome elocution: and shall, now, lay al these together, that cō∣cerne estate, body, mind; how can the axeltree of the soule but crack vnder the load of these fauours? But, if from what God hath

done for vs as men, we looke to what hee hath done for vs, as Christians; that hee hath imbra∣ced vs with an euerlasting loue, that hee hath molded vs anew, enliued vs by his Spirit, fed vs by his word and Sacraments, clo∣thed vs with his merits, bought vs with his blood, becomming vile to make vs glorious, a curse to inuest vs with blessednesse; in a word, that he hath giuen him∣selfe to vs, his Sonne for vs: Oh the height, & depth, and breadth of the rich mercies of our God; Oh the boundlesse, to plesse, bot∣tomlesse load of diuine benefits, whose immensity reaches from the center of this earth, to the vn∣limited extent of the very empy∣reall heauens. Oh that men would

praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and declare the wonders that hee doth for the children of men.

These mercies are great in them∣selues, our vnworthinesse doth greaten them more: To do good to the well deseruing were but retribution; Hee ladeth vs, who are no lesse rebellious to him, thē he is beneficiall to vs. Our strait and shallow bounty picks out the worthiest, and most capable sub∣iect; The greatest gift that euer God gaue, he giues vs, whiles we are enemies. It was our Sauiours charge to his Disciples, Interrogate quis dignus; Aske who is worthy, that is, (as Hierom interprets it) of the honour to receiue such guests; Should God stand vpon those termes with vs, what should be∣come

of vs? See, and wonder, and be ashamed ô yee Christian hea∣rers; God loads vs, and we load him; God loads vs with benefits, we load him with our sinnes. Be∣hold, I am pressed vnder you, saith God, as a cart is pressed, that is full of sheaues, Amos. 2.13. He should goe away laden with our thanks, with the presents of our duty, and wee shamefully clogge him with our continuall prouocati∣ons: Can there be here any dan∣ger of selfe-sacrificing with Seia∣nus, and not rather the iust dan∣ger of our shame and confusion in our selues? How can we but hate this vnkind, and vniust, vn∣answerablenesse; Yet herein shall we make an aduantage of our foulest sins, that they giue so much

more lustre to the glorious mer∣cies of our God, who ouercoms our euill with good, and loads e∣uen, Vs.

The ouer-long interruption of fauours loseth their thanks; and the best benefits languish in too much disuse. Our God takes order for that, by a perpetu∣ation of beneficence; Hee ladeth vs daily; Euery day, euery minute renues his fauours vpon vs; Sem∣per largitor, semper donator, as Hie∣rom. To speake strictly, there is no time present; nothing is pre∣sent but an instant, and that, can no more bee called time, then a pricke can bee called a line; yet, how swift soeuer the wings of time are, they cannot cut one in∣stant, but they must cary with

them a successiue renouation of Gods gracious kindnesse to vs.

This Sun of his doth not rise once in an age, or once in a yeare, but euery minute since it was created, riseth to some parts of the earth, and euery day to vs; Ney∣ther doth he once hurle downe vpon our heads some violent drops, in a storme, but he plyes vs with the sweet showers of the former, and the latter raine; Wherein the mercy of God con∣descends to our impotency, who are ready to perish vnder vncom∣fortable intermissions. Non mihi sufficit? saith that father; it is not enough that hee hath giuen mee once, if he giue me not alwayes; To daies ague makes vs forget yesterdaies health; Former meales

doe not relieue our present hun∣ger. This cotage of ours ruines straight, if it be not new daubed euery day; new repaired: The liberall care of our God therfore tiles ouer one benefit with ano∣ther, that it may not raine tho∣row. And if he bee so vnweari∣ed in his fauours, why are wee weary of our thanks? Our bonds are renewed euery day to our God; Why not our payments? Not once in a yeare, or moone, or weeke, but euery day once (with∣out faile) were the legall sacrifices reiterated; and that, of all those creatures which were necessary for sustentation; a Lamb, flowre, wine, oyle, that is, meat, bread, drink, sauce; Why? but that in all these wee should still daily re-ac∣knowledge

our new obligations to the giuer? Yea, ex plenitudine, & lachrymis, as it is in the origi∣nall, Exod. 22.29. of our plenty & teares, that is, (as Caietan) of a deare, or cheape yeare must wee returne; More, or lesse may not misse our thanks; We need daily, we beg daily, (Giue vs this day) we receiue daily, why do we not daily retribute to our God, and act, as some read it, Blessed bee the Lord daily, who loadeth vs with his benefits.

It is time now to turne your eyes to that mixt respect, that rea∣cheth both to God, and vs; Yee haue seene him a benefactor, see him a Sauiour, and Deliuerer; The God of our saluation; The vul∣gars salutaria, following the Sep∣tuagint,

differs from our [Salua∣tion] but as the meanes from the end. With the Hebrewes, Salua∣tion is a wide word, comprising all the fauours of God, that may tend to preseruation; and there∣fore the Psalmist, else-where, ex∣tends this act both to man, and beast; and as if he would com∣ment vpon himselfe, expounds 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 saue, by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 prosper, Psal. 118.25. It is so deare a title of God, that the Prophet cannot haue enough of it; the interposi∣tion of a Selah cannot barre the re∣doubling of it in my Text.

Euery deliuerance, euery pre∣seruation fathers it selfe vpon God, yet, as the soule is the most precious thing in the world, and life is the most precious thing that

belongs to the soule, and eternall life is the best of liues, and the danger and losse of this life is the fearfullest and most horrible, chiefly is this greatest saluation here meant; wherin God intends most to blesse, and be blessed.

Of this Saluation is he the God, by preordination, by purchase, by gift. By preordination; in that he hath decreed it to vs, from eterni∣tie, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Rom. 8.30. By pur∣chase, in that hee hath bought it for vs, and vs to it, by the price of his blood, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 1 Cor. 6. the last. By gift, in that hee hath feoft vs in it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The gift of God is eternall life, Rom. 6.23. Since therefore, hee decreed it, he bought it, hee bestowes it, iust∣ly is hee the God of our saluation:

Who can, who dares arrogate to himselfe any partnership in this great worke? What power can dispose of the soules finall condi∣tion, but the same that made it? Who can giue eternitie, but hee that onely hath it? What but an infinite merit can purchase an in∣finite glory? Cursed be that spi∣rit that will offer to share with his maker. Downe with your Crownes, ô yee glorious Elders, at the foot of him that sits on the Throne, with a, Non nobis Domi∣ne, Not vnto vs, ô Lord, not vn∣to vs, but to thy name giue the praise. Away with the proud in∣croachment of the merits of the best Saints, of papall largesses: Only our God, is the God of our saluation.

How happie are wee the while? All actions are accor∣ding to the force of the agent; Weake causes produce feeble effects, contingent, casuall; necessarie, certaine; Our sal∣uation therefore, being the worke of an infinitely power∣full cause, cannot bee dis-ap∣pointed; Loe the beautie of Salomons, Al-chum; who hath resisted his will? When wee looke to our owne fleshie hands here is nothing but dis∣couragement; when we look to our spirituall enemies, here is nothing but terror; but when we cast vp our eyes to the mightie God, here is no∣thing but confidence, nothing

but comfort; Comfort yee, comfort yee therefore, O yee feeble soules, and send your bold defiances to the prince of darknesse; heauen is high and hard to reach, hell is steep and slipperie, our flesh is ear∣thie and impotent, Satan strong and rancorous, sinne suttle, the world alluring, all these, yet, God is the God of our Saluation; Let those infer∣nall Lyons roare, and rampe vpon vs; let the gates of hell doe their worst; Let the world be a cheater, our flesh a tray∣tor, the deuill a tyrant, Faith∣full is hee that hath promised, who will also doe it, God is the God of our Saluation.

How much more then in these outward temporall occa¦sions, when wee haue to doe with an arme of flesh? Doe the enemies of the Church rage and snuffe, and breathe nothing but threats, & death? Make sure of our God, he shal be sure to make them lick our dust. Great Benhadad of the Syrians shall come with his hempen collar, to the King of Israel; The very windes and waues shall vndertake those Mahumetan, or Marran powers that shall rise vp against the inheritance of the God of Sal∣uation;

Saluation is rateable accor∣ding to the danger from which

we are deliuered; since death therefore is the vtmost of all terribles, needes must it bee the highest improuement of Saluation, that to our God be∣long the issues from death: Death hath here a double la∣titude, of kinde of extent; the kind is either temporall, or e∣ternall; the extent reaches not only to the last compleate act of dissolution, but to all the passages that lead towards it. Thus, the issues from death belong to our God, whether by way of preseruation, or by way of rescue: How gladly doe I meet in my text with the deare and sweet name of our Iesus, who conquered

death by dying, and triumpht ouer hell by suffering, and car∣ryes the keyes both of death, and hell. Reuel. 1.18. He is the God, the Author and Finish∣er of our Saluation, to whom belong the issues from death.

Looke first at the tempo∣rary, he keepes it from vs, he fetches vs from it;

It is true, there is a Statutum est, vpon it, dye wee must; Death knocks equally at the hatch of a Cottage, and gate of a Palace; but our times are in Gods hand; the Lord of life hath set vs our period; Whose omnipotence so con∣triues all euents, that neither enemie, nor casualtie, nor dis∣ease

can preuent his houre, Were Death suffered to runne loose and wild, what boote were it to liue? now it is te∣therd vp short by that almigh∣tie hand, what can wee feare? If enuy repine, and villanie plot against sacred Soueraign∣tie, God hath well proued vpon all the Poysons, and Pistols, and Poynards, and Gun-powders of the two late memorable Successions, that to him alone belong the issues from death.

Goe on then blessed So∣ueraigne, go on couragiously in the wayes of your God, the inuisible guard of heauen shall secure your Royal head,

the God of our Saluation shall make you a third glori∣ous instance to all posterities, that vnto him belong the issues from death.

Thus, God keepes death from vs; it is more comfort yet, that he fetches vs from it. Euen the best head must at last lye downe in the dust and sleepe in death. Oh vayne cracks of valour; thou bragst thy selfe able to kill a man; a worme hath done it, a flye hath done it. Euery thing can finde the way downe vnto death, none but the omnipo∣tent can finde the way vp out of it; Hee findes, hee makes these issues for all his; As it

was with our head, so it is with the members.

Death might seaze, it can∣not hold: Gustauit, non deglu∣tiuit, It may nibble at vs, it shall not deuoure vs. Behold the onely Soueraine Antidote against the sorrowes, the frights of death. Who can feare to lay himselfe downe, and take a nappe in the bed of death, when his heart is assu∣red, that hee shall awake glo∣rious in the morning of his resurrection; Certainly, it is only our infidelity that makes death fearfull; Reioyce not ouer me, O my last enemie, though I fall, I shall rise againe: O death where is thy sting,

O graue where is thy victorie.

Cast yet one glance of your eyes vpon the second, and eternall death; the issues where from belong to our God; not by way of rescue, as in the former, but of preser∣uation: (Exinferno nulla redem¦tio) is as true, as if it were Ca∣nonicall; Father Abraham tels the damned glutton in the parable, there is (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) a great gulfe, that barres all re∣turne. These black gates of hell are barred without, by the irreuersible decree of the Al∣mightie:

Those bold Fabulists, ther¦fore, whose impious legends haue deuised Traian fetcht

thence by the prayers of Gre∣gory, and Falcon••lla by T••claes; suspending the finall sentence vpon a (secundum praesentem in∣iustitiam) take a course to cast themselues into that pit, whence they haue presump∣tuously fayned the deliue∣rance of others.

The reseue is not more hopelesse, then the preuenti∣on is comfortable; There is none of vs but is naturally walking down to these cham∣bers of death; Euery sinne is a pace thitherwards; onely the gracious hand of our GOD stayes vs; In our selues, in our sinnes we are already no bet∣ter then brands of that hell;

Blessed be the God of our sal∣uation, that hath found hap∣pie issues from this death: What issues? Euen those bloody issues that were made in the hands, and feete, and side of our blessed Sauiour; that invaluablie precious blood of the Sonne of God is that, whereby wee are redee∣med, whereby we are iustifi∣ed, whereby wee are saued. Oh that our soules might haue had leasure to dwell awhile vpon the meditation of those dreadfull torments wee are freed from, of that infinite goodnesse that hath freed vs, of that happie exchange of a glorious condition to which

wee are freed. But the pub∣licke occasion of this day cals off my speech, and inuites me to the celebration of the sen∣sible mercie of God, in our late temporall deliuerance.

Wherein let me first blesse the God of our saluation, that hath put it into the heart of his chosen seruant, to set vp an Altar in this sacred threshing floore, and to offer vp this dayes sacrifice to his name, for the stay of our late mortall contagion. How well it be∣comes our Gideon, to bee per∣sonally exemplarie, as in the beating of this Earthen pit∣cher, in the first publicke act of humiliation, so, in the ligh∣ting

of this Torch of publicke ioy, and sounding the Trum∣pet of a thankfull iubilation, and how well will it become vs to follow so pious, so gracious an example. Come therefore, all yee that feare the Lord, and let vs recount what hee hath done for our soules. Come, let vs blesse the Lord, the God of our sal∣uation, that loadeth vs dayly with benefits; the God to whom belong the issues of death: Let vs blesse him in his infinite essence, and pow∣er, blesse him in his vnboun∣ded and iust Souerainty, blesse him in his maruelous benefi∣cence, large, continuall, vn∣deserued,

blesse him in his preseruations, blesse him in his deliuerances: VVee may but touch at the two last.

How is our Earth ready to sinke vnder the loade of his mercies? VVhat nation vnder heauen hath not enuied, and wondred at our blessings? I doe not carie backe your eyes to the ancient fauours of our God; to the memorable fru∣strations of forraine Inuasi∣ons, to the miraculous disco∣ueries of Treasons, to the suc∣cesfull maintenance of op∣pressed neighbourhood; That one mercie I may not forget; that in the shutting vp of bles∣sed Queene ELIZABETH,

the Pope and the then-King of Spaine were casting Lots for the Crowne, and palpa∣bly plotting for their seueral∣ly-designed successors, as ap∣peares in the publicke Post∣hume Letters of Cardinall D' Ossat, a witnesse beyond ex∣ception, Three seueral Briefes were addressed hither by that inclement shaueling of Rome for the defeating of the Title and succession of our late So∣ueraigne, of deare and blessed memorie, and his Royall is∣sue; Yet in spight of Rome and hell, God brought him in, and set him peaceably vp∣on this iust throne of his fore∣fathers; and may He perpetu∣ate

it to the fruite of those loynes, till world and time shalbe no more, AMEN.

If I must follow the times, let mee rather balke that hel∣lish Sulpher-mine, then not search it, and yet, who can looke at that, any otherwise then the Iewes doe at the Rain-bow, with horror and astonishment? VVhat doe I tell you of our long Peace, our full plentie, our whole∣some Lawes, our easefull Go∣uernement, wirh a world of of these common fauours; it is for poore men to reckon. Those two late blessings (if no more) were worthy of im∣mortall memorie, The Prince

out of Spaine, Religion out of the dust; For the one; what a winter was there in all good hearts, when our Sunne was gone so far Southward? How chearefull a Spring in his re∣turne? For the other, who saw not how Religion began (during those purposely pro∣tracted Treaties) to droope and languish, her friends to sigh, her enemies to insult, daring to braue vs with chal∣lenges, to threaten our ruine; The Lord look't downe from hea∣uen, and visited this poore Vine of his, and hath shaken off these Caterpillers from her then-wasting leaues; Now we liue, and it flourisheth.

These would haue beene great fauours of God, euen to the best nation, but more to vs: VVho haue answered mercies with rebellions. O God, if proud disguises, if gluttonous pamperings, if drunken healths, if wanton dalliances, if bloody oathes, if mercilesse oppressions may earne blessings from thee, too many of vs haue supereroga∣ted; VVoe is me, these are the measures thou hast had from too many hands; That thou shouldst therefore inlarge thy bountie to an vnworthy, vn∣kind, disobedient generation, it is more then wee can won∣der at, and wee could almost

bee ready to say with Peter, Lord depart from vs, for we are sinfull men.

Yet, the wise iustice of the Almighty meant not to cock∣ney vs vp with meere dain∣ties, with a loose indulgence, but hath thought fit to tem∣per our sweetes with tartnes, and to stricke our backes, whiles he stroakes our heads, Ecce in pace amaritudo amarissi∣ma, the comfort of our peace, was allayed with the bitter∣nesse of death: Hee saw that in this common Plethorie it was fit for vs to bleed; he saw vs Eeles that would not bee caught, but when the waters were troubled; He therefore

sent his destroying Angell a∣broad; who laide about him on all sides; VVhat slaughter, what lamentation, what hor∣ror was there in the streetes of our mother Citie? More then twentie thousand families runne from their houses, as if those had beene on fire ouer their heads; and seeke shelter in Zoar, and the mountaines. Some of them are ouer-taken by the pursuer, and droppe downe in the way, and lye there as wofull spectacles of mortalitie, till necessitie, and not charitie, could find them a graue: Others passe on, and for friends finde strangers: Danger made men wisely,

and vnwillingly vnhospitall; The Cozen, the Brother for∣gets his own blood; & the Fa∣ther looks shiely vpò his own child, and welcoms him with frownes, if not with repulses▪ There were that repaid their grudged harbor with infecti∣on; and those that sped best▪ what with care for their abandoned houses, & estate; what with griefe for the mi∣serie of their forsaken neigh∣bours what with the rage of those Epidemiall diseases, which they found abroad, (as it is well obserued by one, that in a contagious time all sicknes∣ses haue some tincture of Pesti∣lence) wore out their dayes in

the deepest sorrow and heaui∣nesse: there leaue we them & return to the miserable Metro∣polis of this kingdome, which they left. VVho can expresse the dolefull condition of that time and place. The armes of London are the Red Crosse, and the Sword; what house almost wanted these? Heere was the Red-crosse vpon the doore, the Sword of Gods iudgement within doores, and the Motto was, Lord haue mercy vpon vs,

VVhat could we heare but alarums of death, what could we see but Trophees of death? Here was nothing but groa∣ning, and crying, and dying and burying: Carts were the

Beeres, wide pits were the graues, mens clothes were their coffins, and the very Ex∣equies of friends were mur∣derous. The carkasses of the dead might say, with the sons of the Prophets; Behold the place where we lye is too strait for vs; new dormitories are bought for the dead, & furnished; nei∣ther might the corpses be al∣lowed to lye single in their earthen beds, but are pyled vp like fagots in a stack, for the society of their future resurre∣ction. No man suruiued, but he might say with the Psalmist, that thousands fell at his side & 10000. at his right hand; And if we take all together, (the

mother & the daughters) sure¦ly the number was not much short of Dauids, though his time were shorter. It is not without reason, that from the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which sig∣nifies the Plague, is deriued 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which signifies a desert; Certainly the plague turnes the most populous Citie into a desert. Oh the wofull deso∣lation of this place, it was almost come to Herba tegit Troiam; And if some infre∣quent passenger crossed our streets, it was not without his medicated Posie at his nose, and his Zedoary or Angelica in his mouth: Euery roome seemed a Pest-house, euery

scent mortall; heere should he meet one pale ghost muff∣led vp vnder the throat; ano∣ther dragging his legs after him for the tumour of his groyne; another be-spotted with the tokens of instant death: here might hee heare one shrieking out in a frantik distraction, there, another breathing out his soule in his last groanes: What should I say more? This glorious cham¦ber of the Kingdome seemed no other then a dreadfull dun¦geon to her owne, a very Gol∣gotha to all beholders; and this proud Queene of our Brittish Cities sat in the dust of her compassion; howling

in the rags of her sackcloth; not mourning more then mourned for, pittied no lesse then forsaken; VVhen the GOD of our saluation loo∣ked downe vpon her deepe afflictions and miraculously approoued vnto vs, that vn∣to him belong the issues from death.

It was hee that put it into the heart of his Gracious ser∣uant to command a Niniue-like humiliation, what pithie, what passionate prayers were inioyned to his disconsolate Church? VVith what ho∣ly eagernesse did wee de∣uoure those fasts? How well were we pleased of the

austeritie of that pious peni∣tence?

VVhat loude cryes did beate on all sides at the gates of heauen, and with what inexpectable, vn-conceiue∣able mercie were they an∣swered? How suddenly were those many thousands brought downe to one poore vnitie; not a number? Other euils were wont to come on horse-backe, to goe away on foote; this mortalitie did not poste but flye away, Mee thought like vnto the great y••e, it sunke at once; Only so ma∣ny are stricken as may hold vs awfull, and so few as may leaue vs thankefull;

Oh, how soone is our fast∣ing and mourning turned in∣to laughter and ioy? how boldly doe wee now throng into this house of God, and fearelesly mixe our breaths in a common deuotion? This is the Lords doing, and it is maruai∣lous in our eyes; Oh thou that hea∣rest the prayer, to thee shall all flesh come; And let all flesh come to thee with the voyce of Prayse and Thanksgiuing.

It might haue beene iust with thee O God, to haue swept vs away in the common destruction; what are we bet∣ter then our brethren? thou hast let vs liue that wee may praise thee. It might haue

beene iust with thee to haue inlarged the commission of thy killing Angell, & to haue rooted out this sinfull people from vnder heauen; But in the midst of iudgement thou hast remembred mercy: Our sins haue not made thee for∣get to bee gracious, nor haue shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure; Thou hast woun∣ded vs, and thou hast healed vs againe, thou hast deliuered vs, and beene mercifull to our sins for thy names sake.

Oh that wee could duly prayse thy name in the great Congregation, Oh that our tongues, our hearts, our liues might blesse and glorifie thee,

that so thou mayst take plea∣sure to perfect this great work of our full deliuerance, and to make this Nation a deare ex∣ample of thy mercie, of peace, victorie, prosperitie to all the world.

In the meane time, let vs call all our fellow-creatures to helpe vs beare a part in the Praise of our God; Let the heauens, the stars, the winds, the waters, the dewes, the frosts, the nights, the dayes; Let the Earth and Sea, the mountaines, wels, trees, fi∣shes, foules, beasts; Let men, let Saints, let Angels blesse the Lord, praise him, and magnifie him for euer; blessed, blessed for

euer be the Lord who loadeth vs daily with benefits; euen the God of our saluation, to whom belong the issues from death: Oh blessed bee the Lord God of Israel, who onely doth wondrous things; And blessed bee his glorious name for euer, and euer; and let all the earth be filled with his glo∣rie. AMEN. Amen.

FINIS.