A thanksgiving-sermon preached at St. Michaels Crooked-Lane April 16th, 1696, upon occasion of His Majestie's deliverance from the late intended assassination of his sacred person in order to a French invasion / by James Gardiner.

A Thankſgiving-SERMON. 2 TIM. 3 Chap. ver. 1. and beginning of the 4th.

1 This know alſo, that in the laſt Days, perillous times ſhall come; for men ſhall be

4 Traytors, &c.—

A Time (Solomon ſays there is) to be Silent, and a Time to Speak; ſuch an One is this that now offers it ſelf upon the Happy Diſcovery of the late Barbarous Plot deſign'd againſt His Majeſties Sacred Life, in Order to a French Invaſion. (Of the Truth and Reality of which, the flying of ſome from Juſtice; the very extenuating and mincing of Matters by others at their Tryals; and their Voluntary Confeſsions in their Papers deliver'd with their own Hands immediately before they were turn'd off, and went to their Place are full Evidence, and irrefragable Arguments; and muſt ſatisfie all the World, except ſuch Miſcreants that want Demonſtration from the accurſed Deed; from which Good Lord deliver us.) Which hath ſo much of Horror, and Villany in it, that ſhould we now be Dumb, and not open our Mouths in an utter deteſtation of it, the Stone out of the Wall would cry out againſt ſuch an Irreligious Silence, and the Beam out of the Timber would anſwer it.

It's a Sign that the World is a dangerous place to live in, and almoſt at an End, not far from the Gates of Death, when we ſee ſo many Grey Hairs (the Meſſengers of an approaching Diſſolution) upon her. My meaning is, when Men ſhall be Traytors. This know alſo that in the laſt days, perillous Times ſhall come; for men ſhall be—Traytors.

You'l pardon me if I be not over-methodical to Day, or do not ſpeak ſo cloſely to the Text as I ought to have done at another Time; my deſign being only this at preſent, viz. to draw you out a ſhort Figure of thoſe Miſeries which would infallibly have attended this Curſed Conſpiracy had it taken effect; and to hint in two or three Particulars what we are all obliged to (for the day is too little for the day to acquaint you with the whole of your Duty) upon the Receipt of ſuch Favours, of ſuch a Deliverance as this; that can be compared to nothing but it ſelf, and may have many Deliverances in it which we know not of.

When Sixtus Quintus began his Encomiaſtical Oration of the Jacobine that kill'd the French King, it was with the Words of the Prophet Habakkuk; Chap. 1.5. Behold a work wrought in your days, you will not believe it when it ſhall be told you; a poor Fryar hath ſlain the great King of France. Such another piece of Work ſhould have been done in Our Days, and I make no Queſtion but we ſhould have had ſuch kind of Speeches made too in Defence of it, and the Divine Providence Magnify'd in it alſo. But thanks be to GOD (who is wonderful in Counſel and excellent in working) he has done another work, in which with open Face we may behold his Glory: Behold! what Prevention of Deſolation he hath wrought in the Land! for nothing Leſs could have been expected from ſuch Conſpirators: Men that neither fear GOD nor Reverence Man; Men of ſuch debauch'd Principles; (to whom it's as Natural to hate and Kill Princes as to Eat their GOD) Men of ſuch Deſperate Fortunes, or, which is worſe of the two, Plentiful Ones.

What Fleſh does not tremble to think what would have follow'd upon the Kings Death, or a French Invaſion! Blood, and Fire, and Pillars of Smoak! The Confuſed Noiſe of the Warriour; and Garments rowled in Blood. The Mother daſht in pieces upon the Children: No Reverence to the Perſon of the Aged, nor pity to the ſucking Babe. The whole Body of the Clergy (to be ſure of it) either Baniſhed or Sacrificed: the Church deſtroy'd, and her Lands Eſcheated to pay all the Charges of the Plot, &c. All Laws overlaid, and ſtifled: The Nobility, and Gentry rooted out, and all their Poſſeſſions given to his Own Souldiers; (nothing remaining to their Heirs after them but Poverty; which is a ſure Inheritance, and can neither be plundered, nor forfeited;) forcing them notwithſtanding to hold it under them as their Salves and Vaſſals. Hear his Language.—Thy Silver and Gold is mine, thy Women and Fair Children. And if any thing be deny'd,—The gods do ſo unto me, and more alſo, if the Duſt of thy Land be ſufficient for my People, every man to take an handful. Not a Remnant to be ſaved; not a Berry here and there in the utmoſt Boughs.

In ſhort; the Conſequence would have been, a French Government, and French Popery; the Yoak of which is neither eaſie, nor the Burden light; which if not comply'd with would have forced us to the Galleys, or to be Martyrs or Refugees. Theſe would have been the Favours and the Graces that our Three Kingdoms had been crown'd and bleſt withal had the deſigns of our Foreign Enemies, and our Falſe Brethren within our Selves, (Good God! that ever there ſhould be in a certain Iſland of the World ſuch Devils in Humane ſhape!) had their deſigns I ſay ſucceeded.

But to the Lord our GOD belong the Iſſues from Death. Come, and behold his Works of Mercy, and Deliverance: See them, touch them, handle them; they are not Spirits, Fancies, Speculations; they are true Bodies, and have the fleſh and bones of real Works. Juſt when the Arrow was upon the String, and the down-lookt Rebels, men skilful to deſtroy, had prepared the Inſtruments of Death, and marked out the very Place where to Fire His Majeſty out of his Life; when the Decree was Signed by a Kings Letters, and they ſaid, the days of Mourning are come, come let us Kill the Spark, (for we will not have this Man to Rule over us;) and ſubvert his Kingdom, that his Name may be had no more in Remembrance; then it was that He ſcattered the Proud in the Imagination of their Hearts; and ſo diſappointed their Devices that their Hands could not perform their Enterprize: The Wicked is ſnared in the work of his own hands, Higgaion, Selah; Mark, and Meditate. This is the Lord's Doing, and it is marvellous in our Eyes. Da Veniam Imperator; Pardon me, (Great Sir) It was not Fleſh and Blood that Reveal'd this Myſtery of Iniquity unto you, but Your Father, and Saviour which is in Heaven.

Happy art thou, O England, who is like unto Thee ſaved by the Lord? Thine Enemies are found Lyars unto thee. The Snare is broken, and we are deliver'd; their Machinations are unravell'd into Folly, and Shame and Diſhonour are their laſt promotion. They are hurl'd out of the Land of the Living as out of the midſt of a Sling; and are periſh'd in their own Corruption, and have conſulted Shame to their Houſes. The Miſchief is return'd upon their own Heads, and the wicked are ſilent in Darkneſs, and we are ſure that the Judgment of GOD is according to Truth againſt thoſe which commit ſuch Things.

Oh the Depth of the Riches of the Wiſdom and Knowledge of GOD! How unſearchable are his Mercies as well as his Judgments, and his Ways paſt finding out! Of a Truth the Lord has not forſaken the Earth. Hear O Atheiſt; perceive, and underſtand and be Converted: The Lord GOD of Gods he knows; his Eyes behold, and his Eye-Lids conſider: He narrowly obſerved all their Thoughts, and watch'd their Motions when they wafted over into France, and conferr'd at Verſailles and St. Germains: He marked the hiſſing of the Bee of Aſſur to the Fly of Egypt; all the Intelligence, I mean, that paſſed betwixt a diſcontented Party amongſt us and an Unworthy Monarch, (whoſe Character will be infamous to the End of the World, as he is now the Scandal of his Age for this laſt Unnatural Conſpiracy, notwithſtanding his Manifeſto's, and Fulſome Gazettes, and the Induſtry of all his Miniſters abroad to perſwade the World, which no body will believe, of His and ſome Bodies elſe pretended Innocency, and that They knew nothing of the Matter,) and the Miſchiefs which they deſign'd for others, like over-charged Pieces hath recoyl'd upon themſelves; their own Counſel hath caſt them down. So true is the Obſervation of the Hiſtorian, Livy. Conſilia callida primâ ſpecie laeta, tractatu dura, eventu triſtia; Treacherous Counſels are kindled with many ſparkling Hopes, with great difficulty preſerv'd and kept in, and go out in as much Stench and Danger. Thus has GOD made the Wrath of Man (as well as do their Vertues and Graces) to praiſe him; and the remainder of Wrath he will reſtrain. The LXX in their Tranſlation have wittily expreſt the laſt words; the Remainder of Wrath, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , ſhall keep Holy Day unto thee; i. e. ſhall reſt from its Labour, ſhall be ſo curb'd and bound up as never more to break out, but give his People opportunity to Land and Magniſy his Glorious Name. Which naturally leads me to the Conſideration of ſome few things which this Grand Deliverance of ours does more eſpecially oblige us all unto; which I ſhall do with that freedom and plainneſs that becomes the Place I now ſtand in. And

Firſt, Let not the Horror of the intended Miſchiefs chill the juſt Triumph of the Day; but let us be affected with, and raiſe an Altar of Praiſe, and Thankſgiving to the Known GOD for this ſo ſeaſonable but unexpected Mercy. What, think we, can be the deſign of it, but that we ſhould talk of his Loving-kindneſs in the Morning, and of his Faithfulneſs every Night; and make known to the Sons of Men his Mighty Acts, and the glorious Majeſty of his Kingdom? Awake, awake Deborah, and ariſe Barac the Son of Ahinoam. Glory and Honour and Thanks to him that ſits on the Throne; Hallelujah! For the Lord Omnipotent Reigneth. Nature it ſelf (if there was no Bible) reads us a Lecture and prompts us to this Duty. Hear one of her High Prieſts. Senec. de Benef. lib. 3. cap. 1. Ingratus eſt, qui Beneficium accepiſſe ſe negat, quod accepit; ingratus eſt qui diſſimulat; ingratus qui non reddit; ingratiſſimus Omnium qui oblitus eſt. That Man is ungrateful that denies a Benefit received, and ſo is He that diſſembles it, nor is he any better that doth not requite it, but he is moſt of all that hath forgot it. GOD by no means will admit that his Mercies ſhould be writ in Sand to be waſht away by the next coming in of the Tide; but expects they ſhould be thankfully had in remembrance. Let us not therefore look upon Publick Mercies as we do upon Publick Duties, That which is Every mans work is no mans; but let us rejoyce in the Good of GOD's Choſen, and glory with his Inheritance: And ſince this bitter Cup is paſt from us, let us take the Cup of Salvation, and praiſe the Name of the Lord. This is a Day wherein Praiſes ſhould wait for him; Tibi ſilet Laus, Pagnine renders it; Praiſe is ſilent to Thee O GOD in Sion; ſuch a Throng of Praiſes and ſo great that they were unutterable; and therefore ſilent praiſe. (as we ſay of Cares, Leres Loquuntur, ingentes ſtupent.) Yet ſuppoſing they ſhould be more than we can expreſs, we ought however to endeavour to expreſs them to GOD as well as we can; And we do it in the beſt manner when we walk anſwerably to ſuch Loving Kindneſs. The Riches of Gods Goodneſs ſhould lead us to Repentance, and a Pious Improvement of them: this is the way to hallow his Name, and not onely to preſerve his Mercies, but to Praiſe him into greater. But Fatal it would prove, if we ſhould count that we are deliver'd to commit Abominations: This will cauſe GOD to be weary of us, and as he hath done great Things for us, ſo to do great Things againſt us; to let looſe our Enemies upon us again, and to ſuffer them to ſtrike us home, to execute their Malice, and quench the Light of our Iſrael.

When Joſhua aggravates the Sin of Achan he ſeems to play the Herauld; Joſ. 7.1. for we are told that Achan was the Son of Carmi, the Son of Zabdi, the Son of Zerah, of the Tribe of Judah. Had Achan been a poor ignorant Heathen, his Sin, even in theſe lower Circumſtances, would have incenſed the Wrath of the Almighty, and have pull'd down Judgment upon him: But Achan that was a Jew, and that no mean Jew, but of the Royal Tribe of Judah, and deſcended from ſuch Noble Progenitors as Carmi, Zabdi, and Zerah; for him to commit a Treſpaſs of this Nature, his Priviledges and Advantages exceedingly aggravated his Sin, and rendred him obnoxious to a double puniſhment which were both inflicted, as you may read at your Leiſure. To apply this to our ſelves; If we who call our ſelves Members of the beſt Church in the World, and comparing our ſelves with other Nations and Churches Experience the Portion of our Mercies to be like that of the Firſt-born, double to what they have at any time enjoy'd; if therefore We, who have received much, inſtead of loving much, provoke him by our Iniquities, what can we expect but that he will pour out upon us the abundance of his Fury? You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth (certainly that People muſt be bleſſed indeed that could thus call him their Lord and their GOD; no, very far from it;) therefore will I viſit upon you all your Iniquities.

Strange Puniſhment, ſays Job, Chap. 31.3. is to the Workers of Iniquity; i. e. extraordinary, and unuſual. That Wee have and continue to be ſuch, is too notorious to be deny'd: Yet inſtead of Strange Puniſhment inflicted, We have had Strange Mercy conferr'd upon us: But let us not miſtake our ſelves, the Word of GOD threatned ſtill remains true, and ſhall do ſo for ever; and therefore, tho' he hath ſhewn his Prerogative at this time in the diſpenſation of his Mercy towards us, and ſuffer'd himſelf to except us from the General Rule by Proclaiming his Name, the Lord, the Lord Gracious, and Merciful, abundant in Goodneſs; Yet if we abuſe this his Mercy, this ſo great Salvation it will be bitterneſs in the Latter End; Judgment without Mercy.

Secondly, May we all, by this happy Deliverance, be provoked to Unity and Peace. We are deliver'd from being devoured by our Enemies, and ſhall we be our own deſtroyers? It was Barbarous in the Prieſts of Baal to cut and ſlaſh themſelves, but much worſe it is in us to cut, and Slaſh one another. Let us learn this Wiſdom I beg of you, of our Adverſaries, ſince there is One Soul, and Spirit poſſeſſes them to ruin us; to Love and Unite (that's the beſt Aſſociation) for mutual Safety. GOD has in Mercy, it's true, diverted the Blow at preſent; but it's as true that onely the Power of our Enemies is abated, not their Malice and Bloody Minds, not their Pride, or their Expectations. We need not a Prophet to tell us what is ſpoken in the King of Syria's Bedchamber. They ſtick not yet to ſay, They ſhall have a day for it; and if it ſhould not happen in their Time, they have provided that their Malice may ſurvive themſelves, (thus one Depth will call for another;) and their Children after them are to imbibe their Sowre, poyſonous Principles, and revenge their Quarrel. Like the plodding Spaniard at his game of Cheſs, who having not Succeſs, or Time to give Check &c. leaves it to be play'd out by his Succeſſor. But what need they to be ſo very earneſt and hot? Let us but alone, and we ſhall deſtroy our ſelves by our Differences and Diviſions; and it's a wounding reflexion to conſider that Men ſhould not ſee it plainly, but cauſe Schiſmes and Factions, and purſue them too on purpoſe to make our Ruin unavoidable.

If therefore we are ſenſible how Induſtrious, Politick, and numerous our Enemies are, in whoſe Heart ſtill it is to deſtroy and cut off Nations not a few; If we have any Senſe of the Dangers that our Diviſions, and Animoſities may bring upon us; (which next to Apoſtacy from GOD have always proved fatal to a Church, or Nation;) If we have any Honour, or Reſpect for our Country, our Religion, or Poſterity; (and GOD forgive them that have not) let theſe be perſwaſives to Unity and Peace. Let all petty Intereſts and Bones of Contention be ſacrific'd to the Publick Benefit; and though it is an Unhappineſs at preſent that we cannot ſyncretize in the Minutes of Religion and Worſhip; yet ought not this to prevent our being Publick-ſpirited, or that we ſhould not labour after the things that make for Peace: And was this but heartily once put in Practiſe, I doubt not in the leaſt but, through the Bleſſing of GOD, and the Prudence and Goodneſs of our Governours, but the effect would be the Security of the King, Church and State, maugre all the Attempts and Deſigns of Our Adverſaries.

Thirdly, Let this Diſcovery be a Warning how we engage in Factions and Conſpiracies. Our Buſineſs (my Brethren) is to be Quiet and Governable; and not to fill our Noddles with Politick Whimſies, or intereſt our ſelves with men of Roving Heads, and unſettled Minds: who cannot tell themſelves nor any body elſe for them what they would have but are reſtleſs and uneaſie in all Reigns. Such Converſation is infectious; it makes men Peeviſh, and Proud, &c. (with the froward men will learn frowardneſs;) and unawares draws them into Plots and Rebellion; and what the Conſequence of that is let the Tree ſpeak. For what Suetonius reports of ſuch as ſtabb'd Julius Caeſar is generally true of all Traytors, Ne quiſquam ſua morte defunctus eſt, not one of them dy'd a Natural Death, or went down to his Grave in Peace. And the reaſon why a Sevenfold Vengeance was threatned more upon him that ſhould kill Cain, than was upon Cain himſelf though a bloody Fratricide, by ſome is thought to be this, becauſe Cain was a Prince, and being eldeſt Son to Adam was Heir apparent to the Crown of the whole World.

The Sum of all is thus much: All Treacherous Plots are founded in a deep Malice, and Ambition; upheld for a time by Large Expence and vain Confidence, and end in an unexpected diſcovery, a juſt Puniſhment, and perpetual Infamy. My Son therefore, fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with thoſe that are given to Change: And let us all put up the Church Prayer, which is not to be found in any of the Roman Miſſals, that from all Sedition, Privy Conſpiracy and Rebellion GOD would deliver us.

Fourthly, Let this Deliverance oblige us to put our future Truſt in GOD; and to place our Confidence in Him that raiſeth the Dead, from whence in a Figure we have been raiſed. This is our meet, right and our bounden Duty; nay whither would our Reaſon direct us but unto that GOD whom we have found a very preſent Help in Trouble, and from whom comes every good and perfect Gift: Who can no more ſuffer a change in his Mercy then in Himſelf, but is yeſterday, to day and the ſame for ever. Fear not then Thou Worm Jacob, fear not then little Flock; if the Wolves aſſault thee, rely upon thy experienced Keeper that neither ſlumbers nor ſleeps; if the claſhing of Armour, or the Threats of the Proud affright thee, truſt thy ſelf and Cauſe to the Lord of Hoſts who does great things and unſearchable, marvellous things without Number; and has promis'd to be a Sun and a Shield to them that walk uprightly, Pſal. 84.11. A Shield to defend, and a Sun to extinguiſh the fire of the Adverſaries Fury by ſhining upon it. In ſhort they that know his Name (and Nature) will put their Truſt in him; for the Lord never forſaketh them that ſeek him.

Laſtly, Let us pray to GOD for His Majeſty King William (in whoſe Life all our deareſt Intereſts are bound up, and of whom we truſt he hath Sworn by his Holineſs that he will never fail him) that as he hath now wonderfully preſerv'd Him that was appointed to die, ſo He would ſtill keep him as the Apple of an Eye, and hide him under his Feathers, and ſuffer no Weapon formed againſt him to proſper: That he would Crown his Arms with Victory and Succeſs; that at laſt he may have reſt from all his Enemies on every ſide, and leiſure to paſs his Old Age in comfort and ſafety, ſerving that GOD without Diſtraction whoſe Mercies all along have been ſo eminent towards him; and then be received up into Glory. Which GOD of his Infinite Mercy Grant, &c.