MY whole alotted time would be to short to stand, either to speak of the Pen-man heere the holy Prophet David, or this his worke in generall, or this his Psalme in particular. For him­selfe, he was a man after Gods owne heart, that is his greatest title, and he went beyond all the Sonnes of Adam, who was a King, and a Prophet, in all causes, both Ecclesiasticall, and pollitique, in foure particu­lars never yet paralleld; A Shepherd a Musition: a Souldier: and a Prophet.

For the first, ye know what service he did, he slew a Lion, and a Beare, an absolute tipe of Death, and Hell, to be overcome by this victorious Lion, of the Tribe of Iudah. For a Musitian, he was the sweet [Page 4] singer of Israel, yea he was able to charme the Devill himselfe, and quit that evill Spirit which vexed Saul. For a Souldier, he was most famous, witnesse that Battell wherein he slew Goliah, and beheaded that great Champion of the Philistines with his owne sword. For a Prophet, none so fully, and so clearly foretels the Person, Incarnation, Passion, and resur­rection of Christ foretold, as David did: he in his owne person did oftentimes intimate many other men, so that his divine writings are the Compendium of all the sacred Scripture, it seemes Christ himselfe set much by this booke, for you may observe that he used the sayings of the Prophet David, more then any other Prophet, yea more then all the Prophets together, Moreover when the Devill tempted Christ, he arged a Text out of this Prophet, as if the Devill had observed how greatly Davids sayings were re­spected Our Church considering the usefull excel­lency of this part of Scripture, hath ordained a more frequent use, then of any other part of Divine write. But I must stay no longer in the commendation of this our Prophet, or his booke of Psalmes, he rather bids as practise what we finde written: young Men and Maidens &c.

Which wordes are the Conclusion of a Psalme, which we may not unfitly stile by the name of a Di­vine Masque, where is scarce any Creature in the whole world but the Species are in this Psalme.

Here are Angels, verse. 2. and all Hosts. Sun, and Moone, and Starres of light. verse. 3. The Heaven, and Heavens, and the waters that be above the Heavens. verse. 4. The Earth, the [Page 5] Dragons, and all Depths. verse. 7. Fire, Hayle, Snow, and vapours and stormy winds. verse. 8. Mountaines and all Hils, Fruitfull trees, and all Cedars, verse. 9. Beasts, and all cattell, creeping things, and flying Foules verse. 10. Kings of the earth, and all People, Princes, and all Iudges of the earth. verse. 11.

And in the words of my text, Both Young Men, and Maidens, Old Men, and Children, let them praise the Name of the Lord. You that desire strange, and rare sights, O come hither, and view the whole troope of Gods creatures, a Chorus that is led by An­gells, followed by men, and directed by God him­selfe, and yet stay not too long in contemplating of them, for thou they selfe also of what degree soever, have a part to act, as well as the rest. Young Men, and Maidens &c.

For my better proceeding herein, I shall first ob­serve the connection of these wordes, with the pre­cedent. Secondly the duty that is commanded, and that is praise to God. And thirdly the Actors, and those are, Iuvenes & virgines &c.

So that you see the Text like the Iron gate to Peter, opens unto us of its owne accord; and to looke for more abroad, were like Esaw to hunt for Venison a farre off, when like Iacob, wee may have it neere our hand. I will treat of this Text very plainely, for, Ita non debet loqui Theologus, ut possit intelligi, sed ut non pos­sit non intelligi. First that we may know that this Mas­que is worth our labour, and not unbeseeming so glo­rious a creature as man is, our Prophet shewes us that it befits the Angels in Heaven, verse. 2. yea it is the height of their felicity, to comfort themselves in An­thems [Page 6] of praise to Almighty God. So saith Saint Luk. And suddenly there was with the Angels a mul­titude of the heavenly Hosts praising God. Luk. 2. verse. 13. The An­gels leaped out of Heaven for ioy, to congratulate mankinde with a morning Antheme of praise, and thankes. Thus you see the part we have of act is no­thing derogatory unto our worth, since the glorious Angels themselves are imployed in the same. But to go on, this our Prophet shews; that the very Beasts, and Trees, and Foules can performe that, which the Devill would perswade us, is so difficult. The Oxe knoweth his owner, and the Asse his Masters crib, but Israel doth not know, my people doth not con­sider. Esa: 1. verse. 3. So heere our Prophet would have us to take notice of Beasts, and Foules of the aire, nay the aire it selfe, wind, and stormes fulfilling his word. Christ tels the Iewes, that the Queen of the South should rise up in Iudgement against them at the last day, and not onely the Queene of the South, but the arie wind of the South, shall as it were rise up in Iudge­ment against us at the last day, because that also doth performe the will of God; Which man will not doe. Now I come to that which I chiefly [...] at, Young men, and Maidens &c.

The Duty here inioyned, is a duty of Praise, but not so much [...], as [...] for then the Pharisee would have acted his part best: our praise must be both Ore, Opere, & Cora [...] Christ forbidding swearing in that Divine Sermon of his upon the mount, shewes us a Method, how to affirme, or deny any thing, Mat. 5. verse. 37. Let your communication be yea, yea, nay, [...]: [Page 7] for whatsoever is more then these, commeth of evill.

On which place (I remember) one glosseth well Christ doth not intend (saith he) that we should pro­nounce yea twice, or nay twice with our tongues, but that the heart should first consent or refuse, and then the tongue should follow, either in yea or nay, there should be an agreement betweene the tongue, and the heart, let your communication be, yea yea, nay, nay, so likewise in preaching the name of God it must be first performed by the heart, and then ec­choed out by the tongue, verse. 8. and afterward commented upon in all our actions, verse. 4. as yea may see in this Psalme, where the Prophet calling upon the creatures to praise God, urgeth them thereunto with an argu­ment taken from the wind, and storme, fulfilling his word. So that it is not enough for the wind to whisle, or the raine to rattle, if we should Praise God as wee ought, it must by fulfilling his word: What is that instrument of ten strings which our Prophet, speaketh of but the devout heart of a Christian, tuned, and rightly set to the ten comman­dements? This Musick sounds sweetest in the eares of Heaven, so saith Saint Augustine more at large in that excellent worke of his, de decem chordis. Good works should say to orall confession as Ruth did to Naomi, And Ruth said intreat me not to leave thee, or to re­turne from following after thee, for whither thou goest I will goe, &c. Ruth. 1. verse 16. and 17.

And where a godly conversation doth not con­comitate orall confession, that praise sounds harsh in the eares of God, Ergo (as the Father saith) Noli [...] We must have brace-lets [Page 8] as well as Earerings, good deeds as well as cour­teous language: or the ornament which our spiri­tuall Isaack gives to his Rebechah, and which he most e­steemeth; these are they which make him take plea­sure in our beauty, therefore let us take pleasure not onely to speake, and heare, but do the same: for this is truely to praise the name of the Lord, and as we must praise God in thought, word, and worke, we must labour to keep an agreement between them all; for if one onely string be out of tune, although all the rest be rightly set, yet this one will so jar, that the lesson playd upon it, to a skilfull eare, will sound as bad as if all were out of tune. If thou doest forsake drunkennesse, Whoredome, or such like, and yet dost cleave to covetousnesse, it comes all to on recko­ning, for he that offends in one point, is guilty of all, (saith the Apostle) looke therefore to thy bosome sin, and never leave striving untill thou quite extirpate the same. How many are there of us, that will pray in necessity, but will not praise in prosperity. The husband-man so long as the corne is growing, will hedge and fence the field, with all care, and dilli­gence: but when it is reaped then he lets it lye open, for Hogs, and other Beasts to treade, and trample in. When we have what we looked for, then welet the reine slip, in a storme we would be glad to shelter our selves under the branches of that tree: which af­terward we are ready to cut downe; and burne it. Af­ter the same manner the ungratefull Athenians delt with Themistocles, when there was any sedition, or uproare in the City, then who but Themistocles, but when by his discreet wisedome, and good Counsell [Page 9] all was quieted, then who more vile, who more contemp­tible then poore Themistocles? I wish, this might be apply­ed to too many of our times, who are fitly compared to a Herd of Hoggs, the keeper beates them downe acornes, and they eate them up greedily, but never look up to the tree, onely when they find their store spent, grunt a little for more like as when some wholesome potion is boyled in a brasse vessell, yet the brasse gives it such a relish, that it becomes good for nothing. Prayers, and praise in a good mans mouth, is like sweet incense, but in others, it is like brasse, and savours too strong of the Cask, and therefore the wise man saith, that praise is not seemly in the mouth of a Sinner.

The husband man when he is like to have a good har­vest, or the Merchant a good returne from Sea. He will give praise to God, but with such a relation to his gaine, that a man may easily perceive it was not of free will, nei­ther indeed willingly did he give praise to Almighty God: and indeed men doe behave themselves so, as if they were bound no more to give God praise, then he is to give them benefits. The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away (saith Iob) blessed be the Name of the Lord. verse. 5.

Quando tibi benè est, lauda misericordiam Dei: quando male, lauda iusticiam Dei. And that lustily, and with a good cou­rage. Our prophet David calling upon the creatures to praise the Lord, he joyneth a reason: For (saith he) Let them praise the Lord, for he commanded, and they were created.

But we have much more cause; for besides we have the benefit common with them, we have above all other crea­tures, a great benefit of redemption by Iesus Christ: in this God hath exalted men above Angels, in giving unto them his onely begotten Sonne, as his power was mani­fest in the creating of the world, so the riches of his love, was never so fully shewed, as in sending his onely begot­ten [Page 10] Sonne to suffer for us. I remember a story of one Sa­leucus, who made a law, that all adulterers should be pu­nished with the losse of both their eyes: on a time it came to passe his owne son was taken in the same fault: his good old Father being perplexed much thereat, at last re­solved on this course: that the executioner should pull out one of his owne eyes: and another of his Sonnes; that so both iustice might be satisfied, and mercy shewed. We likewise were in danger both of loosing this life, and that which is to come, as also of suffering a double Death, tem­porall, and eternall, but God hath found out a meanes for our delivery: Christ came in, and suffered one Death himselfe, to free us from the other Death. Plato gave thankes unto the Gods. First, that he was a man, and not a Beast. Secondly that he was a Graetian, and not a Barhari­an. Thirdly that he was not one of the common rout, but a Philosopher. But besides we are men, we are Christian men, who live in peace, and plenty with the free passage of the Gospell of Iesus Christ. Therefore let us both Young Men and Maidens, old Men and Babes praise the name of the Lord. Gratiarum actio, respicit gratiam dantis, ubi igitur est gratia maior dantis, ibi gratia maior accipientis. Assure thy self of one thing as Saint Augustine hath, Qui non vult laudare in hoc seculo, obmutescet in futuro. God at the last day, will say to such an one, as the King did to him, that had not on the wedding garment. I should be too tedious if I should stand to reckon up the manifold mercys that God hath be stowed on this our land, beyond all the world besides, our Peace, and Plenty, with the Gospell of Christ, our many, and great deliverances, both from forreigne enemies, and Domesticke Traytors: so that we may rightly say, Ignem & aquam transivimus. God hath delivered us from the Spa­nish invasion, and the Gun-powder treason, and hath pla­ced us in a wealthy land. Be ye therefore filled with the [Page 11] Spirit (saith our Prophet David) speaking to your selves in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and spirituall songs: and here I might speak of the godly care of our Church, which hath ordeined singing of Psalmes, both before, and after Sermon, and in­deed are very fitting to be sung in order, for the better stir­ring up of our affections. And here I have a iust cause to taske them of the Seperation, who will not admit of any set forme of prayer, for that (as they say) is cursing of the Spirit, but why then should we have a set forme of singing? For my part it shall ever have my allowance & I thinke that these their Ex tempore prayers sounds as harshly in the eares of heaven, as divers Psalmes sung together in sevorall tunes, would in ours. I re­member the Apostle Paul makes mention of three graces viz. Faith, Hope, & Charity, but the chiefest of these is Charity, Charity, & love is the chiefest 1 Chro. 1 [...] verse 13. Propter durationem, for in Hea­ven we shall enioy both that we did beleive, and hoped for; but love shall accompany us there also: in imitation thereof, I shall also name three, prayer, praise, and Patience, but the chiefest of these is Praise, and that for the same reason, because it shall outlast all other, here we stand in need of things neces­sary both for the body, and soule, and therefore we have need of prayer, here we are troubled, and afflicted with divers kinds of adversities, And therefore we had need of Patience: but hereafter in heaven, all teares shall be wiped away from our eyes, we shall have no need then, of Prayer, or patience, onely praise shall still remaine, then it shall be as it now is, the greatest ioy of the Angels to consort themselves with the Saints, in singing glory, and Honour, and praise, to him that sits upon the Throne, & to the Lamb for evermore. And so I have done with the duty in generall. And now give me leave a little to acquaint you with some observations; and first for reproofe, there is no impartiall Christian, but it would grieve his heart to see the prophanation of Gods ordinances, when Coblers, Weavers, and Taylours, and Feltmakers. Frange le­ves [Page 12] calamos, & scinde Thalia libellos. And these to goe unpu­nished, nay much made on, and well countenanced: many of our Pulpits now a dayes, do ring of the Doctrine of Devils. On did preach publikely, that it was not fit for Parents to teach their children the Lords prayer. Another did maintaine, and approve, of that bloody act of Eelton. An other (to use his owne wordes) would maintaine that there was no more holi­nesse in the Church, then in his Kitchin, nor in our commu­nion Table, then his Dresserboard. O horrid Blaspemy! what will become of us, if Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction may not curbe such as these are. O that they might be permitted to pu­nish these things, with what fury would they dart out their thunderbolts, and with their Coruscant beames beat these bats into their accursed holes; the house of God prophaned: the memory of the Saints razed: the monuments of good Christi­ans; it is great pitty to see, that those who have beene speciall benefactors to this City, that their Monuments are defaced. I would it might be taken into serious consideration, neither Insignia Regalia can escape their censure. For in one Church of this City, it was openly preached, that the Kings Crowne should be pulled downe, because it had a crosse upon it. I wish we could pull downe the old man of Sinne, and leavell those mountains of Pride which are in our hearts. Gods house is abused, and the Ministers of God abused: there cannot one of them goe along the streets, but straight he is taken notice on, who he is, or the like contumelious reproaches, look yonder goes a Iesuite: and Abbilubber, one of Baals Priests: one of Canterburies whelpes.

There is one place I would have you look unto: where it is said. They mocked the messenger of God, and despised his words, and misused his Prophets: until the wrath of the Lord was against his People, till there was no remedy. 2 Chro. 36. verse 16. We read in the former verses that they had polluted the Temple and commited many, and great sins, bnt yet God did forbeare, untill they came to mi­susing [Page 13] of his Prophets, and then there was no remedy, the word in the originall doth properly signifie, that their sore was cancred. The decent Munimenta which have stood time out of mind in divers Churches, to keepe the Lords table from prophanaion, is fetched away by those that have no au­thority. (I conceive the order of the honourable house of Parliament) & I do confesse that there were too many altera­tions of late, but for those that have stood decently, time out of mind, that the rude, and inconsiderate multitude should demolish them! I would wish these to consider what the holy Prophet saith, He that breaketh a Hedge, a Serpent shall bite him: I conceive that ye all know what I meane by the Hedge, and I wish you may not too soon feele what is meant by the Ser­pent. We have too many in these our days are so invective a­gainst Bishops, as if they would pluck up both branch, & root in one day, although there may be some faulty in the Church, therefore shall the Church suffer? Some Aldermen have been faulty, and some Iudges have been Dilinquent, but therefore shall there be no Iudges, & no Aldermen? Let the parties, that have done evill, be punished, and not their [...] office. So likewise for the booke of Common Prayer, how is it condemned, and reviled (that I say) what was made by the consent of many godly Ministers, and sealed with their dearest blood; it hath bin termed by the name of Pottage, or Porridge, you must give me leave to be a forewarner to tell: you. For what things the wrath of God doth hang over our heads, but by my conseut, those that will have none of the Porridge, should have none of the meat, Ex tempore Prayer, & Ex tempore Preaching, as if their glorious Lord, & heavenly Father, had deserved no more reverence at their hands then to serve for blockes, and Posts, that when they are ready to tum­ble out of their way, by taken of theirin considerate hast, taken hold of these names, keep their tongues in play, while their rash invention makes a farther passage you shall read what Method was observed in the building of Solomons Temple, [Page 14] that it was built of stone, made ready, before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammor, nor Axe, nor any toole of Iron heard in the house while it was in building: 1 King 6. verse 7. if this Method were observed in the building of the Temple, we should not have such hacking, and hamering, as if Babell were now building, rather then the house of God; or if it were rather a pulling downe, then a building up, and there­fore our late King Iames, cals such Prayers, Monstrous births, and indeed how can they be otherwise, when they are con­ceived, and brought forth all in one houre? Prayer is the most necessary duty to a Christian of all other, and of all other most acceptable to Almighty God. Oratio fidelis est coeli clavis.

But thou (such as these) must not thinke to open Heaven gate with the rusty picklock of ex tempore prayer. The same au­thor King Iames saith in his [...]. If we were to come before an earthly Prince, how would we thinke with our selves before hand, what gesture, and language, we should use before we came into his presence: Doe you thinke this fitting to be done to an earthly King: and shall the King of Kings (my beloved) be thus dishonoured, in many places of this your City, & Surburbs, by Anabaptists, S [...]peratists, Burtonists, and Brownists, and I shall acquaint you with the passage concer­ning the first founder of the last of these sects?

It was one Browne a Minister who would preach no where but in private houses, ann desert places, and the like: and the reason that he alleadged, was, because we had no true Church but marke the event, a good benefice was offered this Brown, which he willingly accepted of, and he, that before would not acknowledge a Church in England, was content to be a Parson of A-Church a certaine towne in Northampton-shire: loe here you may behold the sincerity together with the anti­quity of these Brownists! We read in the vision of Elijah, that there was a Whirle-wind, but God was not in the whirle-wind: [Page 15] next an earthquake: next a fire: but last of all a still small voice, and there God was.

When was there a greater whirle-wind and Tempest in the Land then now is, and is there not an earth-quake in this land of ours? when one shall goe away with five or 600. poundes a yeare, and a poore Vicar for 40. pounds shall undergoe all the burthen? There was also a fire, but God was not in it, when many of our protestant Martyrs in the Marian days, were carri­ed up to heaven like Elijah in chariots of fire. But as for us throughout our second Deborah's days, & our second Solomons days, & in the raigne of our second Iosiah (whom God long pre­serve) among us, we have, & do heare the still smal voice of the preaching of the Gospell of Christ Iesus, we have had free liberty for the publike Worship, and service of God, even the full age of a man, till now of late, these disturbers of the peace of our Church, have risen, and the wind hath begun to blow againe in the whisling, and blustering of these Brownists. I know there are some who are ready to taske us for medling with these things we have nothing to doe with, but one an­swere is, what things are out of our reach, or what men in points of Religion? I am sure our commission extends to the highest Cedars, in Lebanon, as will as the Hysop, that groweth upon the wall. We are dogs of the flock, and therefore when we see cause we may bark, and live too. Now I come to give you a view of the actors: and those Young Men, and Maidens, &c.

The parties are mentioned by couples, being tied two and two together. Young men, and Maidens, old Men, and Children, &c.

And here is a double Caveat, first against presumption, and secondly against Despaire. First, that the younger sort might desire to praise God, they are exhorted to addresse them­selves to the service of God, to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. Secondly, for aged men, that they [Page 16] might not doubt of the acceptation of their service, our Pro­phet exhorts them also, for the first you know David cals up­on the Sun, and the Moone, to praise God. Should the Sun reply, I will not doe it in the morning, or at noone time, but when I am about to sit? or the Moone reply, I will not in the full, but in the waine? or the Tree not in the spring-time, or Summer, but at the fall of the leafe? so likewise, thou Young man deferre not the time of Praising God: take the swinge of thy youth & do not deferre to apply thy self to the service of God, till thy old age, but remember that for all these things, thou shalt come to judgement. He that stiles himselfe by the title I am cares not for I will be, or I have been; but he that is at this present: take heed therefore, thou strong, and lustie young Man, the Divell that holds the now, will every day tie a new cord about thee: Qui non est hodiè, cras minùs aptus erit: consider this, you that are yet yong, whom the morning Sun of light adornes with his glorious rayes, every-one doth not live to be old. Let us not procrastinate Gods service: For the long­er we deferre to serve God, the farther God's grace is distant from us, and the dominion of Sathan is more strenghthened in our hearts, the more we delay, the more is our debt, the greater our sin, and lesse our grace. I will commend this les­son unto all. He, that doth not repent to day, bath a day more to repent of, and a day lesse to repent in. I shall only conclude this point with an hearty exortation for us all, of what sect, Age, and degree soever, I could wish that all our lives, might end, like this booke of Psalmes in blessing, and praising Al­mighty God. I will hold your patience no longer in suspence, but will consummate all with the Psalmist. Let young Men, and Maidens, Old Men, and Children, praise the name of the Lord. Yea this name especially the name of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with the Father, and Holy Spirit, be all honour, Praise and glory now and for evermore. Amen.