Fidelity to Christ and to the Protestant Succession

Mr. Colman 's SERMON On the Accession of King George the Second. To the Throne.

TO THE Loyal Protestant READER.

IF I had not been persuaded that the Text, and and this short Discourse upon it here presented to thee, breaths the heart and soul of the Churches in New-England, both Pastors and People, I should not have brought the one into the pulpit upon the present occasion, nor have permitted the other to go into the press at the desire of those who heard it. But as I am conscious of no motive in the choice of the Subject, but I trust a sincere and fervent zeal for the Religion of Christ and the Protestant Succession in the Royal Family; so I am confident that the Gentlemen who have asked this copy of what they heard, did it on no other motive. And if it may in any measure help to confirm and increase a dutiful and loyal affection to CHRIST, his truths and spiritual worship; and to our rightful King as the Defender of them; I shall not repent the making so minute an offering at the Temple on so great an Occasion.

The Name of the great King William was ever dear to these his loyal New-English Colonies, and that beyond expression; but there is no one thing by which his Immortal Memory is more endeared to us, than the wise and just provision by Him made for the Succession of the Crown in the Protestant Line.

When we saw it take place in a manner so peaceful, after so much reason to fear the contrary, our mouths were-filled with laughter and our tongues with singing. Our Churches rang with the high praises of God, and with continued prayers for the life of the King and of his Son. We trusted in God that he was building a sure House for the Protestant cause, and speaking of it for a great while to come in the Person of His ROYAL HIGHNESS and his numerous Illustrious Offspring; as the Lord gave to David a Lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his Son after him and to establish his people.

But we were soon struck with horror and just detestation at the hellish plots and rebellions, formed by a restless party in the Nation, whom no oaths could bind, nor clemency conquer, nor the rebukes of a righteous Providence deter: Nor were we from time to time less affected wiah a sincere and dutiful joy, to hear how God brought their wicked devices to light, and covered the abettors of them with infamy; while at the same time the fame of the felicity of the Nation under the Kings wise administration reached us, and of the vast influence of his Majesty's Counsels and power upon the grand affairs of Europe.

When some of the Clergy, doubly sworn to the King and the Faith he defended, appeared to head the vile attenpts to disturb a Protestant Reign, we readily took the Occasion given us to declare our astonishment at and abhorrence of the perfidy and impiety. For what were those Englishmen and Protestants, falsely so called, plotting to introduce, but the two transcendent plagues of popery and slavery upon the Nations? With amazement and disdain the protestant Dissenters beheld the villainy, and cried to the God of Heaven against the men, his enemies more than ours. The mean while it was their humble trust in the mercy of God, that while his Majesty was asserting the rights of Conscience, and restoring to God his Throne in the Soul of man, God would not fail to defend his Servant on the British Throne. God answered the faith and prayer of his people, and returned the wickedness of the Kings enemies on their own head.

This was the language of the Addresses from the Ministers of the Province at their annual Conventions; and I have presumed to transcribe a paragraph or two of them, for an abiding Testimony of their servant loyalty to Christ and the Protestant Royal Family.

Thanks be to God the Protestant Succession lives in his present Majesty King GEOROE the Second; and accordingly the tide of Joy has run as high among us in the happy Succession of the Son, as it did on the Accession of the great King his Father.

May the Clemencies of his Majesty's Government extend always to these American Churches, which know not of one single person in their Communion that is not loyally affected to Him and to his House. May he shine long at the head of the Protestant Interest, its powerful Friend and Protector; and reign always in the hearts of all his protestant Subjects, being ever to them as the light of the Morning, and as the breath of their Nostrils.

Fidelity to Christ And to the Protestant Succession.

OUR faithful zeal for and adherence to the Protestant Succession in the House of Hannover, is our fidelity to CHRIST and his holy Religion. Upon the death of the first Protestant King of that illustrious House, and the succession of his Son to the Throne over us, my Thoughts have fixed upon the words read as proper to direct and excite our Allegiance, first to Christ and our holy Religion, and then to the Royal Protestant Family, which is to us as the House of David was under God to Israel, the bulwark and defense of the Word, worship and truth of God. And if it may be pleasant to us as Britons and Protestants to make before God our solemn protestations, thro' Grace, of an inviolate Loyalty to the House of our King, and to pour out our prayers to God for his long and peaceful Reign over us; How much more ought it to please and delight us as Christians to have an higher Application of the words in our view? I mean a cordial and fervent profession of our duty to Christ, who is David our King; by whom Kings reign, and to whom in coming up to worship we do in effect always say, Thine are we, thou Son of David! and on thy side thou root of Jesse! Peace, peace be to thy Church and kingdom, cause and interest among men, and unto all its helpers, for thy God hath helped it and will do so.

THE form therefore into which I shall cast the present Discourse, is this;

• 1. I will consider the words a little as they stand here spoken by Amasai to David.
• 2. I will apply them to ourselves in the House of our Protestant King, And then
• 3. I shall apply them to our Lord Jesus Christ and that bond and profession of Fidelity to Him, which we are all under by our Baptism.

1. I will consider the words as they were spoken by Amasai unto David. And so I shall consider Who this Amasai was? the Occasion on which he spake; the Spirit by which he spake, and the Words themselves.

As to the first we can only say with certainty, that he was of the children of Benjamin or Judah, and one of the chief Captains, a Colonel or General Officer that had Captains under him. But I judge he was not that Amasa who afterward sided with Absalom, and was made the General of his Army.

AS to the Occasion of his coming to David and speaking as he did, the Chapter gives this plain account of it: "That before and after the death of Saul many Persons of distinction, and men of war fit for the battle, appeared openly for David and went over to him; to assert his right to the Crown, and to bring about a Revolution in God's time. Among these were some of Judah and Benjamin with this Amasai at the head of them. Upon the notice of their approach David went out to meet them; either to show them the more respect and do 'em honor, or rather in some fear and jealousy of their design: For he had lately met with many treacheries from his own Tribe, and his caution now was wise and just. Wherefore he met them on his guard, and said to 'em, If ye be come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if ye be come to betray me to my enemies, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our Fathers look thereon and rebuke it. What could be said with more piety, probity and prudence on such an occasion? The wisdom and honesty of the man equally shine forth in this divine sentence, worthy the mouth of a King. My text is the answer of Amasai unto these words of David; a noble and heroic Answer.

WHEREFORE in the next place let us note the Spirit, wisdom and fortitude with which he spake: The spirit came upon Amasai and he said.

Nothing could be said more fine and great on a sudden. His words breathe the spirit of love, and power and of a sound mind. The man spake as one inspired on the occasion. He was carried away in the Spirit, and spake above himself, to the surprise of all that heard him. Here was the spirit of wisdom and might, the spirit of courage and of the fear of the Lord. The sincerity and zeal, the vehemence and eloquence are equal; and so the loyalty to David and the devotion towards God. It was spiritus audaciae et fortitudinis, a spirit of fortitude and boldness, as became a religious Soldier and a chief Captain. David 's words to him and his company were very moving and engaging; and no doubt but Amasai 's heart was full before, what and how to speak when he came into David 's presence; but he seems to drop all that he had premeditated, and answers under a sudden impulse of Spirit, and as in an ecstacy of love and joy; Thine are we David, and on thy side, thou Son of Jesse! &c.

AND so I come to the Words themselves, wherein we have

• 1. A profession of Allegiance to David.
• 2. A Prayer to God for him and his.
• 3. An assurance to him of help from God.

1. HERE is a cordial and open profession of true faith and allegiance to David; Thine are we David, and on thy side thou Son of Jesse.

THE heart manifestly went with the mouth in these words. Here is nothing of mere compliment, flattery and daubing; but an honest and zealous heart laid naked and open. A thousand words artfully put together would not have expressed so much of the Soul. Tecum sumus: A partibus tuis stamus et stabimus. We are with thee, and will stand by thee.

THEY choose him for their Prince and King; own his right to be over them, and voluntarily subject themselves to him as their ruler and leader. Thine are we to command us, thine to serve and obey thee: Thine to be protected and defended by thee; and thine to assist and serve thee, wherein we are able, in all thy rights and interests; thine in a particular manner to fight for thee, against all thine enemies. Thine upon the terms and covenant now proposed, which were— that they came peaceably to help him, and that his heart should be knit to them. Thine are we David.

2. HERE is a prayer to God for David and for all his; Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy helpers. A familiar prayer and form of salutation among the Jews; Peace be to thee. A comprehensive prayer for all manner of prosperity and happiness. Peace comprehends everything, temporal or spiritual, from God and with men. All the blessings of goodness for body and soul, for time and eternity, are contained in this single and short word, Peace.

PEACE to David in the text was to wish him all safety, defense and security from Saul and all his enemies; the protection of God upon his person, the presence of God with him in his councils and all his enterprises, and that success and victory might ever attend him. They wish him a peaceable accession to and enjoyment of the Throne of Israel in God's time.

THE wish is doubled peace, peace! twice peace; to express the ardency of their desire, and to assure him the more of their sincerity.

AND Peace be to thy helpers, to all thy friends and followers, to all who are on thy side, and favor thy righteous cause; to all that wish thee well, and are the helpers of thy peace, secretly or openly; to all that seek the peace of Jerusalem in thy Accession to the Crown: For the peace of the Church and people of God was bound up in David 's peace.

3. AMASAI gives him a very good reason both for the profession and prayer made by him, and a happy assurance of peace to him and his: for thy God helpeth thee.

THINE are we, and on thy side, for we see that God is with thee and for thee; and shall not we be on his (the Lord 's) side? Nay, but whom the Lord God of Israel is with and for, we will be with and for him also. Abimelech for this reason visited Isaac, and took his chief Captain with him, to make a league of amity; and he did wifely, Gen. 26.28. We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee, and we said— let us make a covenant with thee, for thou art the blessed of the Lord.

Again, THY God helps thee, therefore peace be to thee and thine, peace must and shall be to thee: For if God be for us who shall be against us? They whom He helps are helped indeed: Great peace have they and nothing shall offend them.

WE may understand Amasai here,

• 1. That he remembers and owns how God had chosen David, and sent Samuel to anoint him in his Fathers house.
• 2. How he and others had observed God's being with him and helping him from that day.

Before he came to Court or Camp, it was observed of him, that he was valorous and prudent and the Lord was with him. 1 Sam. 16.18. When he first came to the field of Battle, they had seen God wondrously with him in the slaughter of Goliath. Afterward he went out and came in wearing the royal Commission, and his conduct, courage and success was the envy of Saul and the talk of all the Kingdom. God prospered him in all his ways. 1 Sam. 18.14. In his Exile God marvelously led and guided him, covered and protected him, and twice delivered Saul himself into his hand. All that observed him saw the justice and prudence of his Councils, and the generous part he acted from time to time; and they could not but own and say— Thy God helpeth thee. They did well therefore to go over to his help against the mighty, and to predict and wish peace to him and to all his helpers.

FOR Amasai seems to prophesy as well as pray; to predict, foretell, promise and assure peace to David and his helpers. He strengthens his hands and encourages his heart in the Lord his God: Thy God helpeth thee, and will still help; he has hitherto delivered thee, and will deliver thee from all thy enemies: He hath thus far assisted thee toward the Crown before thee, and he will bring thee to the Kingdom, and establish thee on the Throne of Israel.

THY God helpeth thee, we come to be helpers under Him, workers together with him; in the hand of his Providence, Spirit and Grace. His peace be to thee, and in thy peace we shall have peace.

THEY do but pray for themselves, in their good wishes to David and his cause. They come in for a share in the peace they wish him, putting themselves among his helpers.

Finally, THEY pray believingly, Thy God will help thee; peace will be to thee: They believe upon experience, Thy God has helped thee, and doth help thee.

BUT this for the first thing proposed, which was to open the words, as they are here spoken by Amasai to David.

II. I come now to apply them unto ourselves in the House of our King, the Protestant royal Family.

AND thanks be to GOD that we can apply them thus. Thanks be to God that there is the Protestant House of Hannover on the Throne over us, who are unto us as the House of David; the cause interest and kingdom of God among us depending so much on the peace and establishment thereof.

AND thanks be to God none is more ready than the Governor, the chief Captain over us, to make this profession and prayer of Amasai; and none more heartily inclined than the people of God in this land to accompany him in it. How ardently, God knows! there not being a disloyal heart known to us, nor suspected in our Churches. We can all say to our King and to his House, Thine are we, and on thy side: We can all freely and heartily pray for Him and His, Peace, peace be to thee and to thy helpers. We also can look back on the late years, and say with thanksgiving to God, Thy God hath helped thee. And let us humbly hope and trust that He will yet help.

I. THE House of our King is unto us as the House of David, chosen and raised by the God of Heaven as the present bulwark against Popery, and for the security of the true knowledge and worship of God among us. And may he be as David a man after God's own heart, ever on the side of true Religion and zealous for it, a lover of God's house and worship, a true defender of the faith, the high Patron of Godliness, and valiant in the cause of God to fight the Lord's Battles. May He like David be endowed and spirited for the day and time wherein Providence has cast his Reign, and have a great Name and Influence among the Nations. May he be wise as an Angel of God, and ever brave and open in a good Cause. May he be just, ruling in the fear of God, and so be to his people as the light of the morning, and as the showers upon the grass: Yea as the breath of our Nostrils. May he enjoy and reign in the hearts of his People, as David did in the hearts of all Israel. May he inherit and exhibit the more than royal Virtues and graces of David, and fall into none of his Sins. May he be owned, protected, prospered and established by the Lord God of Israel as David was, and his name be terrible to his enemies, and his arms victorious over them as David 's were; and both be always comfortable to the Church and people of God. And after a long and happy reign like David 's, may he be helped by Grace to finish his course and die like him; leaving his earthly Dominions in peace, and a Son to build up the House of God for future generations, while He shall go to reign in life by Jesus Christ. So may the King and royal Family be to us as the House of David.

2. SO let our Israel be to Him; loyal, faithful, dutiful and obedient; and those that shall rise against him, be as Absalom, Shimei and Sheba the son of Bichri.

HIS we are in the relation and bonds of Subjects. We profess it and swear to it. And we are his by inclination and choice as well as Oath. We are his and on the side of true and pure religion.

WE wish and pray peace, peace to Him and his serene House. We can do little but pray for him and his: Let us do that fervently and uprightly, and none shall do more or better than we.

THE Day calls for this prayer, and hitherto it has done so, and it has been graciously answered. Let this excite us to pray on; and we must be ready to add our united small endeavors, in our respective places, and be among the peaceable in Israel.

AND to move, animate, confirm and strengthen us in these our dutiful resolutions, professions, prayers and endeavors, let us consider how God has appeared hitherto for the help of the Protestant Succession. We must set up our Ebenezer, our Stone of help, and say, Hitherto the Lord hath helped.

LET us give all the glory to God, and thankfully remember to his praise the marvelous Operations of his Spirit and Providence, first in the Act of Parliament which limits the Succession to the Imperial Crown of Great Britain to the Protestant Branches of the Royal Family; And then in the restraints that have been upon the Enemies of that Succession, confounding them in their counsels, and defeating all their conspiracies and enterprises, turning them all into foolishness.

AND then let us implore always the continued help of God, and the watch of his merciful and tender Providence ovr the Person and Family of our King; beseeching God to establish his throne, and to build him a sure house; to bless all his helpers and blast all his enemies; to sling out their Souls, while the life of the King shall be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord his God.

BUT I hasten in the third and last place,

III. TO consider and improve the Text in an Application of it to CHRIST, who is David our King; and to that bond and profession of fidelity and love to Christ which we are under by our Baptism. "Thine are we, and on thy side thou Son of David: Peace, peace be to Thee and thine; for thy God helpeth thee.

DAVID and his kingdom were but Types of the Kingdom of Christ, the Son and Lord of David. HE is God's King upon his holy hill of Zion; the King of the Church and of the World; our Lawgiver, our Judge, and our Savior. We have no King but JESUS; that is to say, none but in Subordination to and under Him the supreme King of the Earth and of the Church. By Him kings reign, and to Him every knee must bow: All kings must fall down before him, all nations must serve him. We must cry before him Hozanna, blessed be thy kingdom. We must pray for the peace of his people, and bless God for all the help and protection granted to it. God has helped it, and will help it forever. Amen.

IN us, in our worship and obedience is fulfilled that word of the Prophet Hosea, 3 Chap. 5 v. They shall seek the Lord their God and David their king, and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. Jerem. 30.9. They shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up untto them. Our Allegiance to Christ must be our first and chief care; on this our eternal Salvation depends. It is our first duty and interest. Our reverence and loyalty and fidelity to our earthly Prince is of little price in the sight of God, and will turn to little advantage to us, if we do not first come into a religious subjection to the Son of God, as Prince and Savior. In obedience to Him we obey Caesar. It is Christ 's Law, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. In all the duty we render to Men we serve the Lord Christ, and must do it as his Subjects and Servants; in obedience to his Precept, in submission to his Providence, and for the sake of his people, cause and kingdom in the World.

First then, let us say to Christ, and say it heartily, Thine are we, Thou Son of David. We have said so in our Baptism, we say so in our open Profession. We have said so in our solemn Self-dedications to the Lord that died for us, whether in secret or in public: We say so in all our prayers, in every act of worship, and in a special manner every time we go to the Table of Christ. Our professions and declarations are those, O my Soul, thou hast said to the Lord, thou art my Lord! I am thine, save me! The Lord, whose I am and whom I serve.

THINE are we, O thou Son of David! Thine by absolute propriety and unalienable right, made by thee and for thee, and having our being in thee; for thou art One with the Father! Thine by purchase, for thou hast bought us with thy blood: 1 Cor. 6.20. Ye are nor your own, for ye are bought with a price. Thine by Covenant, by sacred promises and religious vows; thine by choice and thine by contract! Thine by conquest, for thou hast saved us from our enemies and from the hand of them that hate us, that we should serve thee without fear in holiness and righteousness before thee all the days of our life. Thine truly and indeed if subdued by thee, and made thy willing people in the day of thy power! For then we may know also that we are Thine by the donation of the Father; for all whom the Father hath given thee shall come unto thee! And whosoever does so is thine to be saved by thee; eternally and unchangeably Thine, to be blessed in thee forever and ever, and that thou mayest be magnified and admired in them thro' the ages of Eternity.

THIS is the Covenant of Grace made with us in Christ Jesus; Ezek. 34.23, 24. I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them; even my servant David, He shall feed them and shall be their shepherd: And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it, and I will make with them a Covenant of peace.

THUS every way, and by all possible bonds, we are Christ 's: His to serve him, his to enjoy him; his to glorify him on earth, and his to be glorified by him and with him forever: His and on his side; his People our People and his God our God. We are his and for none else; none in comparison of him, none in competition with him; We call no Man Master on Earth but in subordination to him; for one is your Master, even Christ. Mat 23.10.

AND as this is our Christian Profession, Thine are we David! so secondly this is our prayer for his Church and people, kingdom and interest, Peace, peace be to it and to its helpers. So has God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into the hearts of the true members of his Church, the Spirit of grace and supplication, teaching and inspiring them to pray for the peace of it. Every devout Soul, man woman and child can do this, and are ready to do it; they abundantly owe it to the House of the Lord their God; to Him whose the House is, and to them that belong to it; and for the sake of both they are heartily inclined to pray always this prayer. Psalm. 122. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee: Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces: For my brethren and companions sake I will now say, Peace be within thee: Because of the House of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.

What less can we wish and ask for the whole Israel of God than this? Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity! Peace be to the Brethren, and love with faith from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ! The Lord of peace bless his people with it; give them peace always by all means.

THE reign of Solomon was a type of the kingdom of Christ, his spiritual reign in and over elect Souls. Peace was the blessing of Solomon 's reign, and this is the blessing of Christ's kingdom, who is the Prince of peace, who is our peace, whose kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

WELL then may we wish and cry peace, peace to this Kingdom of the Son of David, in whom righteousness and peace have met and kissed each other; that glory may dwell in our land.

GOD has spoken peace to the Church and kingdom of his Son, and therein directed us to pray for it. Isa. 66.12. I will extend peace to her as a river, and the glory of the Gentiles as a flowing stream. Psal. 72.3, 7. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hill, by righteousness; in his days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peaee so long as the moon endureth. These promises of a gracious God we must turn into prayers, and make pleas of them in our prayers. Gal. 6.16. Peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 1. Pet. 5. ult. Peace be with all that are in Christ Jesus, Amen.

AND now in the third and last place, let us consider the assurance we have of being heard in this prayer, and put our Amen to it, — It is so and it shall be so; Peace will and must be to the Church and kingdom of Christ, — for his God helpeth him.

HE who established the Throne of David, will much more build up and establish the Kingdom of his dear Son. The promises to David and his kingdom were but typical and prophetical of the glory and perpetuity of the Kingdom of Christ, and in him they are fulfilled in their utmost extent. I need only turn you to that famous place, Psalm. 89.20,—29. I have found DAVID my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him: with whom my hand shall be established, my arm also shall strengthen him; I will beat down his foes before him, and plague them that hate him; My faithfulness and mercy shall be with him, and in my name shall his 〈◊〉 be exalted: I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers: He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God and the rock of my salvation; Also I will make him my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth: My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him; His seed will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

MANY like promises of peace and success to Christ's kingdom, under the type of David, we find in the Book of God. And he must reign till all his enemies are put under his feet. Nebuchadnezzar saw this in his dream: He saw a stone that smote the Image of jealousy, Idolatry and and all false worship and impiety, and the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth: As Daniel interpreted the matter, so we have seen it, The God of heaven hath in these latter days set up a Kingdom never to be destroyed, which shall break in pieces and consume all these, and it shall stand forever. Dan. 2.35, 44.

THE Churches help stands in the Name of the Lord; and if He help, the Church must stand and prevail. Our Lord Jesus bids his weak and timorous Flock not fear, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give them the kingdom. If he help who shall withstand and oppose? On this rock he has built his Church, God shall help her and that right early; God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved: The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved; he uttered his voice, the earth melted. Psal. 46 5, 6.

NOW this is a sufficient reason 1. for the profession we make to Christ, Thine are we, for thy God helpeth thee: And 2. for the prayer, Peace, peace be to thee and thine, for thy God helpeth thee. This assures peace to the Church, this the rock of salvation to it; thy God helpeth thee.

THE Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my Salvation be exalted. He creates peace, peace. Faithful is He that has promised, who also will do it. The Lord sitteth upon the floods, the Lord sitteth King forever: The Lord will give strength to his People, the Lord will bless his people with peace.

AMEN! blessed God and Savior! It is so, it has been so, and so it shall be! We wish it, we believe it, we pray for it, and do as thou hast said; And let the house of David (which is the Church of the living God) be established forever.

We would join the multitudes that attended Christ with their joyful Acclamations, on his descent from the mount of Olives: Luke 19.38. Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord! peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

WE would join in the loud voice of those out of all nations and kindreds, and people and tongues; Rev. 7.10.12. Salvation be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb! Amen: Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be unto our God forever and ever. Amen.