These are times of Action, as well as of Consultation; and this hath been your happiness, that while you have been consulting how to settle and assure (as an earthly felicity may be called sure) peace and Government at home, God hath prospered those with a very signal success, who are acting in a war abroad. And though success be no infallible ⟨image 4⟩argument of a good cause, yet a good cause receives a very comfortable encouragement by success. And as a neglect to go on in doing good is not excusable, even while we find that the good we are doing, doth not go on; So when it doth, our neglect is altogether inexcusable. When God seems to stand still or (as the Scripture sometimes saith) to be a sleep, 'tis our duty to awake and work, how much more when he appears eminently awake and at work for us? 'Tis not good to out-run providence, and 'tis as bad to loiter and lag behind it. The Arm of the Lord (as the Prophet long since prayed hard it might, Isa: 51. 9.) hath lately awakened for us (The occasion of this Sermon is his witness) it hath awakened and put on strength as in the ancient days, in the generations of old, it hath cut Rahab and wounded the Dragon in the Sea; It hath broken (some of) the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and given him to be meat to his people inhabiting the wilderness (Psal. 74. 14.) And is not all this bottom enough for me to cry, Awake, Awake O arm of man, O arm of the Parliament put on strength and be clothed with a holy care & courage for God and for his people, though as yet but in a ⟨image 4⟩wilderness condition, wherein we are much entangled with briars and thorns, and sometimes engaged in unbeaten paths? many thousands will bear this witness with me, that it is. And my hearts desire and prayer to God for you is, That your Counsels both in reference to this particular mercy for which you have so solemnly given thanks to God, as also in reference to all those important affairs of these Nations that are in your hands, may bear this witness also. Else I must take the boldness (with much submission) to say, That your own Thanksgivings will give witness against you.
THese are times of Action, as well as of Consulation; and this hath been your happinesse, that while you have been consulting how to settle and assure (as an earthly felicity may be called sure) peace and Government at home, God hath prospered those with a very signall successe, who are acting in a war abroad. And though successe be no infallible ⟨image 4⟩argument of a good cause, yet a good cause receives a very comfortable encouragement by successe. And as a neglect to goe on in doing good is not excusable, even while we find that the good we are doing, doth not goe on; So when it doth, our neglect is altogether inexcusable. When God seems to stand still or (as the Scripture sometimes saith) to be a sleep, 'tis our duty to awake and work, how much more when he appears eminently awake and at work for us? 'Tis not good to out-run providence, and 'tis as bad to loyter and lagge behind it. The Arme of the Lord (as the Prophet long since prayd hard it might, Isa: 51. 9.) hath lately awakened for us (The occasion of this Sermon is his witnesse) it hath awakened and put on strength as in the ancient dayes, in the generations of old, it hath cut Rahab and wonded the Dragon in the Sea; It hath broken (some of) the heads of Leviathan in peices, and given him to be meat to his people inhabiting the wildernesse (Psal. 74. 14.) And is not all this bottome enough for me to cry, Awake, Awake O arme of man, O arme of the Parliament put on strength and be cloathed with a holy care & courage for God and for his people, though as yet but in a ⟨image 4⟩wildernes condition, wherein we are much entangled with bryars and thornes, and sometimes engaged in unbeaten paths? many thousands will bear this witnesse with me, that it is. And my hearts desire and prayer to God for you is, That your Counsels both in reference to this particular mercy for which you have so solemnly given thanks to God, as also in reference to all those important affairs of these Nations that are in your hands, may bear this witnesse also. Else I must take the boldnes (with much submission) to say, That your own Thanksgivings will give witnesse against you.
