A81219:107
The saints thankful acclamation at Christs resumption of his great power and the initials…The saints thankfull acclamation at Christs resumption of his great power and the initials…
The saints thankful acclamation at Christs resumption of his great power and the initials of his kingdom. Delivered in a sermon at Westminster, before the Honourable House of Commons, upon the day of their solemn thanksgiving unto God, for the great victory given our army, under the command of the noble Lord Fairfax, at Selby in York-shire and to other the Parliaments forces in Pembroke-shire, April 23d, 1644. By Joseph Caryl preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolns-Inn.The saints thankfull acclamation at Christs resumption of his great power and the initials of his kingdome. Delivered in a sermon at Westminster, before the Honourable House of Commons, upon the day of their solemne thanksgiving unto God, for the great victory given our armie, under the command of the noble Lord Fairfax, at Selby in Yorke-shire and to other the Parliaments forces in Pembrock-shire, April 23d, 1644. By Joseph Caryl preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincolnes-Inne.
London: printed by G.M. for Giles Calvert, 1644
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Then, be hence directed in what, and for what chiefly to rejoice and give thanks this day. Say not, we give thee thanks ô Lord God Almighty, because we have got power and have prevailed, because we have got honour and are exalted, because we have got a victory, and many of our enemies are subdued; this were to give thanks for our selves ⟨p. 45⟩while we give thanks unto God. It was a great charge upon the people of the Jews, that they fasted to, or for themselves. When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh 1month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? It would be very sad, if we should give the Lord occasion to renew this charge upon our feast this day; Have ye at all feasted unto me, even unto me? It is as dangerous and unbecoming to feast to our selves, as to fast to our selves. This were to give thanks like a Roman, not like a Christian State. Heathens triumphed and gave thanks to their gods for victories, because their enemies were conquered, because their peace and safety were ensured, because their honour was increased and their Empire enlarged. But Christians must give thanks for victories, because the power of Christ is magnified, and his kingdom in a way of exaltation over All. It is observable that the four and twenty Elders worshipping God (in the fourth of the Revelation) cast their Crowns before the throne saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory 2and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Observe, they do not praise God for creating a world, wherein they had received so much pleasure, so many conveniences, such comforts and refreshings; but as if it had not been worth the while to reflect upon themselves, or any concernement of theirs in the world, as if God had made a world only for himself to dwell in; They bless him for creating all things, purely and precisely under this notion, because for his pleasure they are and were created. In this one point lies the very spirit, of all the spiritualness of this great duty. When we can so praise God for blessings received as if not we, but he himself had received them. It is the very ⟨p. 46⟩heaven of heavenly mindedness, when we can rejoice that all things are done for the pleasure of God.