Gods Working and Britains Wonder

History David.

He was a select, a precious, a firm stone, in God's building; a square stone in all estates, which way soever he was cast, he fell right: a stone trampled on by Sons of Belial; and he killed Goliath with a stone.

Refused this stone was, as not fit to head, or bed well in the building, as architects use to speak, we have no part in David, cried a mutinous, rebellious malcontent.

This stone was hewn, and cut by homebred, and other foes, by Saul, Absalom, Achitophel, and many others, many ways; yet under all was he patient, as a stone, though not senseless, or stupid.

By builders was he refused, that is, those that were esteemed, and thought themselves state-builders, though they by refusing this stone, took the next way to demolish all; as he that but loofens a foundation stone, endangers the whole fabric.

This very rejected stone David, in God's due time, which is ever the best time, became the head stone of the corner.

The head of God's own, and only people; the head, whence under God, they derived civil life, sense, and motion; He being the light of their eyes the breath of their nostrils; as the Scripture speaks. The head is the glory; the guide of the whole body. To this headship Abigail prophesied he should arrive. 1 Sam. 25.29, 30. All Authors style the supreme governor, head, The head stone, that covers, and protects from storms, or what ever might rot, loosen, or weaken the building.

The head, and the foundation also; the greek name for K. Βασιλὲυς, imports the foundation of the People.

The head stone of the (corner) a corner stone, uniting and strengthening the double wall of Church and State: He being custos utriusque tabulae, the keeper of both tables of God's law. Therefore the fifth commandment stands as the center of the Decalogue, being as the joint combining the duties Godward, and Manward.

This is the History so remarkable in David 's, the work to which God is so peculiarly intitled; striking the world with admiration

The Mystery is fulfilled in David's Son, and Lord, [ 2] the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Mystery.

The stone, cut out without hands, prophesied of by Daniel; without hands; for as man, he had no father; as God, no mother. He is the stone, the rock, whence all comforts flow. 1 Cor. 10.1, 4. The rock, whereon the Church is so firmly founded, that the gates, (the power and the policy of Hell) shall not totally, or finally prevail against it. A stone laid by God himself, the Master-builder, in Zion. A living stone, and an enlivening stone. A stone whereon a Moses may rest his hands at prayer; and a Jacob, his head in the greatest distresses. Though a stone of offense to some through their own unbelief and disobedience.

This stone was refused, and rejected, misused, cut, mangled, bruiz'd, broken, hewn, nailed, hanged, so mis-handled, that the vale of the Temple rent, the earth trembled, the Sun hid himself at it. He was contemtibly cast aside, wretches cried, we will not have this man to reign over us; not him, but Barabbas: So refused he was, that a thief, a murderer was preferred afore him. And refused by those then went for [Builders] by a Disciple, the High Priest, other rulers; which of the rulers value him? On a farfetch'd politick conceit of saving their nation by this feat, they utterly ruined it. They lopped of that branch, whereon they stood. They brought the guilt of that sacred invaluable blood on their own head, and their children's, which lies heavy to this day.

This is the stone, that was buried in a grave of stone: and a stone was rolled against it;

Yet this stone, maugre the malice of men, and devils, is become the head stone of the corner.

Yet, yet, (that is, notwithstanding the Peoples rage, and the Grandees combination against him, and the builders spiteful rejection of him) yet (saith God) I have set him on my holy hill of Zion.

He is become the head stone; the Head in all things to his body, the Church especially; She deriving from him spiritual life, sense, and motion, light, and influence. Besides he is head, and Lord of all; all is subdued under him, Men, Angels, Devils, Law, Death; his Jurisdiction is unlimited.

Head of the Corner he is; uniting the second wall of male and female: of bond and free; of Graecian, and Barbarian, of Jew and Gentile, of dead and living.

And all this is said to happen in David 's days, to denote the infallible certainty of Scripture promises. Indeed David and Isaiah, deserved the names of Evangelists, as Prophets; and their writings are Gospels, as well as Prophecies.

This, this ] is said here to be The Lord's doing, or from the Lord, as the Hebrew hath it.

The Lord of Lord's is all action, ever doing, the father hitherto works. S. John 5.17. but in this he shown himself an all-wise, all able artificer. Herein he manifested not only his finger, but his hand, his right hand, his arm.

All is from the Lord, both good, and vindictive penal evil; even the rending of Solomon's Kingdom in two; but this here was the issue not only of his Almighty power, but also of his unspeakable mercy.

What ever were the instruments, they were acted by the Lord; He was the doer; they were but axes, rods, staves, pens in his hand.

This work in the History, David and others lived to see, as in the mystery he by faith foresaw it.

They saw it with admiration; it being indeed a wonder; David owns it for such here, and else where and gratefully acknowledges it; He celebrates it in this song, and registers it for posterity, that it might never be buried in the grave of oblivion, but survive a lasting monument of God's miraculous operation, and a fartherer, and quickener of our faith, hope, joy, comfort, and instruction. That we may so improve it, we shall gather these flowers, as it were, into nosegays, in a few observations, which I shall open, and prove generally, but apply jointly, because I study brevity.

Observations sprouting hence. Observe, That

1. [Observation 1] Though all good is from the Lord, yet some things are justly and rationally said by way of Eminence, to be the Lord's doing.

Such namely, wherein more of God, and less of the creature appeareth, then in the crowd of common Occurrences; so that Pharaoh, a Nebuchadnezzar can see, and say, oh the finger of God.

1. When occurrences fall out above, or against the course of nature; as that fire shall descend from heaven; That it should rain brimstone, hell out of heaven, as Salvian speaks. That a Virgin should bear a child. Esa. 7.14. That he that is the eternal word should become an infant, not able to speak a word, This is the Lord's doing. Not to insist on Christ's miracles.

2. When events puzzle, and put reason to a stand; as that a frail man's preaching shall convert souls, 3000 at a Sermon; That baptismal water, and Sacramental bread, and wine shall, nourish to eternal life: That a noise of Rams horns shall lay Jericho walls flat. This is the Lord's doing. Such works the Scripture calls new creations. Psal. 104.30.

3. When matters happen beyond all human hopes, and Expectation; as Judah's return from the Babylonish captivity. It was as a dream: It was prefigured by the enlivening of dead dry bones. Such are called sensible tokens that confound men. Psal. 86.17. Things above belief. Act. 13.41.

4. When against the stream of human and devilish designs and endeavors, that is effected, that they studiously avoided: the will of God being fulfilled by the fierce opposers of it. Thus Josephs unnatural brethren intending to lay him low as the dust, unwittingly raised him to the highest pitch of honor: Satan, by hurrying Christ to death, paved a path to deaths death, and to his own greater confusion. This is, and can be no other, then the Lord's doing.

These, and many more are Magnalia Dei, the great things of God, wherein he is pleased to make bare his arm, that is sometime covered from our eyes by the interposition of outward means. Such works wherein God may be even seen, and felt; that extort confessions from very enemies, that the Lord alone hath done them; they being advanced above the sphere, and reach of nature or reason.

Observe, That

2. [ 2] The Lord's hand appears in nothing more then in his providential disposal of Kings, and Kingdoms. The book of Samuel, the Kings, and Chronicles, besides other historical monuments extant of the miraculous turns, and changes in States, is a large commentary on, and an undeniable proof of this great truth. It were too long to trace this Labyrinth or maze, in the Jewish, Assyrian, Median, Persian, Graecian, Roman, British Monarchies.

God is the King of Kings; His Son is a King; Kings are his Vicegerents on earth: By him Kings reign; Them he is pleased to make master-wheel in religion and policy; and to order that his mercy or justice, should signally appear towards nations through them.

Observe

3. [ 3] That God is much seen in righting the oppressed, and raising the deprest. He sets refused stones at the head of the building. That is indeed his proper work, his master-piece, to step in, cúm dignus vindice nodus; when a knot is worth untying. Because of the oppressed, now will I rise, saith the Lord. Man's extremity is his opportunity. Out of the mouths even of Babes and Sucklings will he create strength, because of the enemy, and avenger. He is a refuge for the oppressed. When he makes inquisition for blood, he forgets not the cry of the humble. He lifts us from the gates of death. He is known by his judgments. The poor sufferer shall not always be forgotten. Thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it. Thou judgest the fatherless, and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. The Psalms are full of such passages. Holy Scripture, and all Story largely exemplifies this comfortable truth.

Observe

4. The lower just men are brought by men, [ 4] the higher God exalts them. As a Ball, the harder cast to the earth, the higher it rebounds. David was cast aside as unfit for any place in the building; and God mounts him to the highest place. The lower the foundation, the higher the fabric, ever. God brought Joseph from the bottom of a pit to be second man in Egypt. Because Jesus Christ was debased to the lowest, therefore God exalted him to the highest; giving him a name above every name. It is God-like to do thus; for man uses to tread down the hedge, where it is lowest; to add misery to affliction; to wound the wounded; to push at the declining.

Observe

5. Though all God's works are remarkable, [ 5] yet some are more stupendiously miraculous then others. He is seen, and with wonder in the Ant and Fly, but with amazement in the Behemoth, and Leviathan. There are miranda and miracula; wonders, and miracles. Satan, and his slaves, (though he seem sometimes to be commanded by them, the more to infatuate them) may work wonders, through God's permission, but those are but Legerdemain, juggling tricks compared with miracles, called by S. Paul, lying wonders. The Devil is God's Ape, and Pharaohs Magicians Moses his Apes in some strange things, but they were but juglers; and confined and outdone by Moses in the miracle of lice. Every wretch can refuse a stone, but to make it the head of the corner, is the Lord's doing.

Observe

6. [ 6] True David's, men after God's own heart curiously observe, gratefully own, and duly admire God's doings, and adore him in them. They cry, as if they would have heaven and earth echo them, this is the Lord's doing. The works of the Lord are great, sought out by all them, who have pleasure in them. He that with an observing eye peruseth this golden book of Psalms, may find now studiously and exactly the Psalmist surveys God's great and gracious dispensations towards him, and others: how he varies his style; how he with orient colors celebrates them to the height. He summons all ranks of creatures, to make the Music full. He cites nature and art to assist. Sometimes he sits down by this banckless and bottomless sea, and admires, As Psal. 139.17, 18. O how great and numberless, are thy thoughts to me-ward! they nonplus Arithmetic. What shall I render to the Lord? The like temper we find in other Saints, as Moses, Hannah, Asaph, Simeon, Zacharias, and the blessed Virgin, in their heavenly compositions, in their songs memoriz'd in Holy Scripture.

But I detain myself and others too long from the Application.

Application.

1. [ 1] Let us hence see the vast difference between a good God, and evil men. They refuse, he rayses. They trample on those as the refuse, and off-scouring of the world, (as S. Paul speaks) those whom God exalts. They count those, as not worthy to live in the world, of whom the world is not worthy.

2. It follows by the rule of contraries, [ 2] that if it be a divine work to right the wronged, and to set up a King, it is a devilish work to do wrong, and to reject, and destroy a King. It is true, that God being provoked not oftener by Kings sins then by the Peoples, (if rheums destill from the head, it is commonly, because the Stomack vapor'd them upward) God, I say distresses Kings; yet this is his strange work; but to restore them is his genuine work, wherein he delights, and glories. Misericors de suo, savus de nostro, saith Tertullian. His mercy is innate, issuing out of himself naturally, but severity he borrows of us; as the Be makes honey naturally, and stings only, when provoked. I have found (saith God exulting, as if he had found a treasure) I have found David my servant, and anointed him; none shall harm him. God rayses readily, debases as it were with regret.

3. How unlike are they to David, [ 3] who

[ 1] Either consider not the operation of God's hands, or when his hand is lifted up will not see it; so taken up they are with worldly vanities.

[ 2] Or undervalue God's works, as if they were vulgar and ordinary. Some will admire nothing, Nil admirari prope res unica.

If it be taken ill to despise the day of small things; it is unsufferable to slight the day of great things.

Or who Sacrilegiously ascribe Occurrences, [ 3] Either to blind fortune, (which S. Austin repented that he had named so oft.)

Or to nature, which is but God's handmaid.

Or to reason, which is but a ray, or beam of his.

Or to fate, as if God were limited, or tied.

Or to second causes, to the wit, policy, counsels power of men.

Or to their own prudence, art, or industry; called sacrificing to our own nets.

Or who forget, with Israel, God's marvelous works; writing mercies in Sand or water.

Such are, (which is the worst that can be said of men) ungrateful. Besides they dam up all sluices and inlets of mercy towards themselves. Ingratitude is is a drying, scorching wind; that blasts all enjoyments, and curses blessings, and brings them to a dead low ebb. God will not sow in such barren, thorny, unthankful grounds.

[ 4] O let us write after a better copy; let us learn of King David.

[ 1] To study, and curiously to survey the Lord's doings, together with all the circumstances of persons, time, place, manner, measure.

[ 2] To admire, and value them at their due rate, and proportion.

[ 3] To see, and adore his divine hand in all; that wheel moving in wheels of all affairs; a wheel in a wheel.

[ 4] To trumpet forth his praises, and celebrate his reverend name, and divine perfections.

It is true, that the Lord is infinitely above all praises. All Libanon cannot yield wood enough, nor are the cattle on a thousand hills sufficient for one sacrifice worthy him; yet since this is an angelical, and evangelical, and all the tribute that we poor wretches can return; and such as God is pleased to accept, if tendered in his Sons name, from a humble, upright soul, O let us not withhold this his due from him.

We have seen, O Lord, thy goings in thy Sanctuary.

We may daily see the prints, and footsteps of his miraculous providence; and if ever, this day. Let us echo David, this is the Lord's doing, it is marvelous in our eyes; it dazzles us; this is the day that the Lord hath made, and stamped for his own. Let us cry, grace, grace unto it; Grace is all the tenure we hold by. Let gratitude ascend, that grace may still descend. This is like pouring water into a pump, that brings up more.

But I cannot stand now to let my discourse loose, to launch into this Sea of thankfulness, All treatises are full of it, only our hearts and lives, alas, are too too empty of it. The hardest wall gratefully reflects back the Sunbeams; The echo returns us our voice again; The rivers pay tribute to the Sea; The most stubborn ground makes some return to the sower; Only man is stupidly ungrateful, a sin to be bewailed with tears of blood.

But I must not dwell on generals.

My discourse hastens to the due celebration of the Lord's marvelous acting in the fulfilling of this Text in our eyes and ears this day.

Triumphant arches, Obelisks, Pyramids, are too mean expressions of this unparalleled mercy to Great Britain.

Were an Angel to undertake the task of the deciphering to the height this happy change, perhaps he would call for a supply of tongues.

The precious stone, our Gracious Sovereign, whom they, that would have been called builders of Church and Common-wealth, refused, disdained, shut out — But I will not stain our joy with that sad relation. Let the guilty be sure that their sin will find them out.

This stone is now become by actual fruition, as he was afore by undoubted right, the head stone of the corner, the supreme Head under Christ Jesus of the three corners of England, Scotland, and Ireland. All Sexes, Ages, qualities, embrace and welcome him with the highest joy, and humblest civil veneration. All true-hearted English longed to see this day long; but the Sons of Zeruiah were too mighty. This is the Lord's doing, if ever work was, to stir up a precious remnant of worthy Patriots, to join as own man to cast of that unsufferable yoke of confused Anarchy that we groaned under; and to recall the best of governments, Monarchy, and the best of Monarchs to his unquestionable right.

That Lord of Lord's, the heart-maker, and heartmover touched the hearts of all ranks to wish, to call for, and to endeavor his Majesty's restauration, and to clip the wings of those bastard English, and other Apocryphal Christians, that being levend for the most part with unsound Principles in religion, (to say nothing of their malice implacable, and insatiable thirst after power and possessions, usurped, and invaded by illegal shifts, and force) banded together against the Lord, and against his Anointed, against the King, and Kingly Government; As Jeroboam, and his apostate crew, fell at once from their God, and King.

The Lord, (forever magnified be his name) hath infatuated those Matchivillian Ahithophel's, and broken the snare that some unworthy Divines, Lawyers, Statists had hypocritically woven, to hold us entangled in a perpetual bondage.

This is the Lord's doing; let him have all the glory though those, whom he honored to be instrumental to him in this Godlike work, merit from us honor, and lasting love.

Now the blessing of him, who dwelt in the bush, and kept our burning bush from utter consuming, dwell on them and theirs, and recompense their religious, loyal endeavors, manifold into their bosoms.

But yet as the wisemen of the East, though they gladly used the guidance of the star, yet they reserved their gold, and worship for the babe Jesus; so let us so reverence those worthies, as to adore the Lord who hath wrought this for us.

It is a blessing to live to see this day; and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Pity it should be sullied by such a Pen as mine, it deserving a quil plucked from an Angels wing. My admiration obstructs my expression. This serves but to awake better Pens to celebrate it. I can but with those in my Text, stand and admire.

And is it not admirable, that so sinful a nation should, even in a moment, when all hopes were well nigh dead, and buried, recover their King, their peace, their happiness, and that without effusion of blood?

A bone is soon broken, but not soon set again.

One Erostratus could fire, and destroy the Temple of Ephesus, that many ages could not rebuild; But we who have made made a hard shift to undo ourselves in many years, are miraculously restored in the twinkling of an eye. What story can parallel ours? All Rhetoric is at a stand that would describe it. The tongue of men and Angels will find it a task to characterize it.

No foreign aid invited, or accepted by his Majesty to imbroil us in a new war. God will not seem to be beholding to Kings or States, and, which adds to the wonder, when they that do wrong never forget; he who hath suffered it, is ready to forgive, and forget all.

Let his Majesty, and his Dominions excuse this expression, I think it is an exaltation of his, and our joy and happiness, that we have some years suffered an eclipse.

Never was King so passionately desired, or so welcome; as showers to the mown grass, or chapped ground. After a dead low ebb follow the highest spring tides. Spring is doubly welcome after a long hard winter. In northern climates some worship the returning Sun. That rain that makes flowers droop and hang their heads, when Sunbeams come, increases their vernancy, color, and sent.

Yet let not our admiration stupefy us, but raise us to the highest pitch of love to our God, of faith in him for the future; (experience breeds hope,) of cordial, oral, real gratitude to him, who hath done for us above what we could ask, or think; marvelous mercy should beget marvelous returns.

Our zeal now for God, and his truth; our loyalty toward our dear and dread Sovereign, our confidence in our gracious never failing God, our piety, our charity, our studiousness of public and christ an unity and peace, our love of right and equity should be now more then ordinary; that they that admire at our state, may be also amazed at our admirable reformation, and glorify God for us. After thou hast crowned us, (O Lord) with such a deliverance as this, should we again return to our old Sins? To our images, or imaginations, to hypocrisy, to formality, to lukewarmness, to carnal security, to bestial excess, to brutish lusts, to self-confidence, to neglect or despising of God's ordinances and his ministers, to profanation of his name and his day, to discords, and heart-burning, to intestine mutinies, to • eedless uncharitable jealousies and censures, to turning justice into wormwood by illegal judgments and proceedings, or into vinegar by unnecessary delays? God forbid, If a bone be broken, it may be so set, • hat it may prove stronger then it was, but beware a second breaking. I beseech my Countrymen, by • he mercies of God, that we may henceforth offer ourselves a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable in a • easonable service of him. And it is but reason. O • et us not turn grace into wantonness. Let us not fight against God with his own weapons, peace and plenty. We owe ourselves to God afore by many obligations, he lays now a new tie upon us. To repay evil with evil, is carnal, to repay good with good, is human, to repay evil with good, is divine; to repay good with evil is devilish. Happy we, if we improve this day of grace; but the most unhappy nation under the sun, if we neglect, or abuse so great salvation. Let us now only contend to outgo each other in a holy thankfulness, and a religious conversation. Let us extol our God and bless his name forever; Let us daily praise him, and declare his mighty acts from generation to generation; let us abundantly utter the memory of his goodness, and sing of his righteousness. It is pleasant and comely to praise him, who builds up Jerusalem, and gathers together the the outcoasts of Israel. Let us praise him in the heights, who exalts the horn of his people.

Now unto him, who is able to do, (and hath done) exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.