IT was by your hand I received the commands of that Honourable House, whereof your self are a Member, to Preach and Print these poor labours, long since; and therefore I hope I am so much the more capable of your pardon, if by the same hand, I crave the advantage to present them to their favourable acceptatio: together with my humble Apology, that I come so extremely late with the tender of this service: occasioned partly by the conscientiousness of mine own weakness; and partly by the crowds of intervening distractions; through which at length I have forced my way, that I might no longer lie under the suspicion of neglect to their Commands. To this, divine providence hath added a new encouragement and ⟨image 3⟩and advantage, and that in reference to your self; while in the interim of this necessitated suspension, some of these notions (lying by me) served to celebrate *that great Victory and Deliverance (amongst many others) which God gave into the hands of your fidelity and Zeal, against that formidable Army of Rebels, at Namptwitch in Cheshire: so that now at length they come forth not as the Work only, but as the blessed return and fruit of a day of prayer; then the travel, now the birth (or celebration) of a great, yea of many great, Deliverances, and Victories. So that concerning this Text and Subject you may sing with the Church, Psal. 48. As we have heard, so have we seen: What you heard from this Text, and Sermon while you were here, that you have seen since your undertaking of this eminent Service for God and the Kingdom; Namely, that Gods Rising time is his Enemies Scattering time, his haters stying time; while in 22. Conflicts with the Enemy, you have bin Honoured with 18. Victories: all which, notwithstanding, that you got not by your own Sword, neither did your own arm save you, 2but Gods right hand, and Gods arm, and the light of his ⟨image 3⟩countenance, because he had a favour to you, and to those poor bleeding Counties; this may a bundantly evidence, that in all these blessed successes, you have had no other Artillery, but what you have wrested by main strength of that Arm, out of the hands of those proud daring Rebels; and so David-like have you cut off Goliath's head with his own Sword: and the surviving Enemy may complain Heu patior telis vulnera factameis.
IT was by your hand I received the commands of that Honourable House, whereof your selfe are a Member, to Preach and Print these poor labours, long since; and therfore I hope I am so much the more capable of your pardon, if by the same hand, I crave the advātage to present thē to their favourable acceptatio: together with my humble Apologie, that I come so extreamely late with the tender of this service: occasio'nd partly by the conscienciousnes of mine own weaknes; and partly by the crowdes of intervening distractions; through which at length I have forced my way, that I might no longer lie under the suspition of neglect to their Commands. To this, divine providence hath added a new encouragement and ⟨image 3⟩and advantage, and that in reference to your selfe; while in the interim of this necessitated suspension, some of these notions (lying by me) served to celebrate *that great Victory and Deliverance (amongst many others) which God gave into the hands of your fidelity and Zeal, against that formidable Armie of Rebels, at Namptwitch in Cheshire: so that now at length they come forth not as the Work only, but as the blessed returne and fruit of a day of prayer; then the travell, now the birth (or celebration) of a great, yea of many great, Deliverances, and Victories. So that concerning this Text and Sbject you may sing with the Church, Psal. 48. As we have heard, so have we seen: What you heard from this Text, and Sermon while you were here, that you have seen since your undertaking of this eminent Service for God and the Kingdome; Namely, that Gods Rising time is his Enemies Scattering time, his haters stying time; while in 22. Conflicts with the Enemie, you have bin Honored with 18. Victories: all which, notwithstanding, that you got not by your own Sword, neither did your own arm save you, 2but Gods right hand, and Gods arme, and the light of his ⟨image 3⟩countenance, because he had a favour to you, and to those poor bleeding Counties; this may a bundantly evidence, that in all these blessed successes, you have had no other Artilery, but what you have wrested by main strength of that Arme, out of the hands of those proud daring Rebels; and so David-like have you cut off Goliah's head with his own Sword: and the surviving Enemie may complain Heu patior telis vulnera factameis.
- *In a day of thanks-giving kept at Laurence Church London, for that purpose. Feb. 5. 1643.
- 2Psal. 44.2.3.
