THese words express the grateful resentment which David had of the loving-kindness of God, shewn to him, in his signal deliverance, and they also contain his resolution upon it, to place his whole future dependence on him, as the only return he cou'd make, for those mercies which he does in this Psalm so fully acknowledge: Nor is he in any thing a Man after God's own Heart more clear than in this; as it is [Page 2]not possible for us to conceive or ima­gine, that he can be pleasing to God who has no sense of his mercies, or thinks to approve himself by any other return. But when the blessings of Hea­ven fall so, as to sink into our Hearts, and we are made soft by them, as by the drops of Rain, God will delight to shower them on us; when his Good­ness enters into our Souls, and takes such hold of our Affections, that our spirits cleave stedfastly to him, then will he also rejoyce in the gladness of his People, and accept of the thanks of his Inheritance.

That those blessings of his which we this day Commemorate, may have this effect upon us; and that our Thanksgiv­ings may prove of this force and virtue with him; I shall proceed to consider.

1. The reasons we have to love God for his having inclined his ear unto us, and heard our Petitions.

[Page 3] 2. The Obligation we are under, in return, to call upon him as long as we live.

1. The Reasons we have to love God, &c. or as we read in the Liturgy, to be well pleased, that the Lord hath heard the voice of our Prayer, as no more is propo­sed to be understood by Love in this place, than barely that joyous affection, with which we are unavoidably carried, upon the sense of any Felicity, towards him we esteem as the Author, before we consider what sort of Gratitude he may expect at our hands: And then looking on God as having heard our Petitions, we can no more help loving him for it, than we can being pleased with what he has given; which before we weigh its Im­portance and Use, must needs be a de­light, as effectually answering those ear­nest Prayers we have put up these several Years.

For if the desire accomplished is sweet to the Soul, Prov. 13.19. as the Wise man assures us, and the Sense of the meanest finds to be true; bringing that to perfection at last which has been so long expected, and under so much suspence, cannot choose but afford a proportionate joy: when our Hearts are discharged of that sickness which al­ways attends the delay of our Hopes, and our Minds are delivered from that oppres­sion, which our fears brought in abun­dance upon us; they will of themselves grow erect, and break out in the praises of God.

And this admiration of his wonderful goodness will rise higher still, as we go on to reflect on the Blessings themselves: An advantageous Conclusion of Peace crown'd with the safe return of the King.

If we look upon Peace but in its gene­ral view, there are so many things agree­able in it, that he must have lost the Taste of all that Human Nature does relish, who can find in his heart, to make any doubt, whether it be a Blessing or no: [Page 5]A Blessing beyond all question it is, so far as the perfectest state of this World can pretend to be so; for we have no o­ther notion of Civil, any more than we have of Natural Health, but such a con­dition in which the course of things goes quietly on; when no violent obstruction forbids the due use of what we receive, but every thing we take, or enjoy, has leave to promote the most suitable end.

Nor does it alter the state of the case, that Afflictions are frequent occasions of Good, and the calmest condition often a Snare; this arising from our corruptions, and not so much from the nature of things. It is to mankind's disadvantage, that men often say we are by nature the Subjects of War, and they who say this ha'nt so much as a thought, that it would not be better for us to be always in Peace, if those Lusts that are in us wou'd let it be so. For as many Wars as there have been raised in the World, no Man ever yet desired they shou'd last as a gene­ral good, but only hoped to work by [Page 6]them some desperate Cure: And, taken alone, that must be an Evil which our Na­ture abhors, and which makes a part of the threatnings of God; as that must be accounted a happy Estate, which Men have ever press'd to enjoy, and which is proposed as the greatest reward of our Obedience here, by him who delights to be called the Prince, and King, and God of Peace; and is described as scattering those that take pleasure in War.

And well do they deserve to be scatte­red, who have burst the Bonds of Ten­derness so far, as to make sport of that furious Employment, which draws such a Chain of Miseries after it, and can hard­ly ever with any comfort be look'd back upon, but when it ends in such a Peace as we have attain'd: A Peace that makes ample amends for what we have endu­red, by the advantage it brings to our Civil and Sacred Concerns.

For this War is not ended, as Wars too often are, in our slavish subjection to some vile and imperious Sword, but that [Page 7]Royal Hand which has led on our Arms, and prevailed to our laying them down with Safety and Honour, has been stretch­ed out to maintain our Religion and Laws, and by the help of God, has defended them both.

Our Possessions now may be called our own, a Wall of Defence is placed round about them, and we may safely take our Pastime therein: The sound of Alarms is no more in our Ears, nor is our sleep broken by visions of fear, but our Days are all quiet; and our Nights are secure. No restraints Iy upon us, but what the wisdom of Laws directs us to choose, and our very Liberty it self does require; so that all the fair ways of thriving are open, and we are free to do all the good that we would.

Had we felt more of the smart of this, so many years War, we shou'd not have needed any representations of other Men's making, to give us a value of this blessing of Peace: And I trust, we shall not esteem it the less, for God's having been pleased [Page 8]to bring it home to us, before he had suf­fered the War to fall, with all its force and terrour, upon us. Not but that the Fire has been often so near us; and the ap­prehensions we have frequently had when things went against us, must be still so fresh in our minds; that we can­not choose but from our own observati­on, form great Ideas of that Mercy, for which we are called to offer our Thanks

And these will still be enlarged, as we our selves advance to consider the aspect it has in our sacred concerns.

By this our Religion is preserved to us uncorrupt and entire, and we are not on­ly maintain'd, but encouraged in keeping up its publick profession: Be it never so true what has often been said, that no Man's Religion can be rifled from him, that being a Treasure lock'd up there, where no outward malice can come; yet considering the weakness of Men, the arts of the World, and the wiles of the Devil; how apt we are to grow sick of our Faith, when troubles attend it, [Page 9]and how forward the great Deceiver ap­pears to suggest doubts in Belief, when 'tis hard to profess; we must needs ac­knowledge it a singular mark of Gods tender compassion, that he keeps off temp­tations from coming upon us, and suffers us not to be brought into such fiery Tryals as these.

It cannot but make us think the better even of the Truth it self, to see it pro­tected; and that Religion must invite our Obedience, which so visibly has the suc­cour of Heaven: The Duties of it are matter of easier practice, the freer we are from the cares of this World, and the more removed we come to be, from that Fear which has Torment, in so much the better condition we are to receive the gentle impressions of Love.

An entire dependance on God, and a joyful taking of all that he sends, are pret­ty difficult Lessons, when things frown up­on us, and we see nothing but Troubles about us: But when he is pleased to turn again and refresh us, new vigour arises, [Page 10]and rejoycing in him becomes a natural work. While our Thoughts are oppres­sed with the temporal dangers we find on every hand, they have hardly leisure or spirit to look to what passes within: Some, it is to be hoped, are brought to reflect on the state of their Souls, from the hazard they find their Bodies are in; but the care of most, it is to be feared, is limi­ted there, and the better part must have patience to stay till the worse is secure.

At best, the service we pay in the midst of distress, especially when it begins not till then, is very imperfect, and falls a­bundantly short of the Obedience we give, when we have strength to resist: And 'tis quite another Oblation we make of our selves, when we like our Condition, over that we put up, when we wish for a change: We may possibly be accepted in this thro' the mercy of God; but we are cheerful givers in that, and such as he loves: when we offer him all that we take pleasure in, it is to be sure, a greater sign of our Affection and Zeal, [Page 11]than just flying to him at a time that we know not whether to go; and we our selves have less comfort in this, than the other, where we are scarce able to keep up our hopes of being received, while there we move with all the fullest assu­rance of Love.

There are many virtues no doubt to be shewn in the most wretched Estate, and many occasions of Piety given us by those, that wish ill to our Souls: but a larger field of Obedience to be sure is opened, by making us room enough to go at our ease; and our outward Prosperity is a great invitation as well as a means, to compleat our felicity in every respect.

Promoting the knowledge of God, re­forming the manners of Men, and ex­tending of Charity with all the train of Religious Works, are things of great worth in themselves, and esteem in the World: and we account it none of the lightest mischiefs of War, that it is a mighty hindrance to these. How much then must it add to the advantage of [Page 12]Peace? That by it we are put in a state of pursuing these glorious ends; That we have leisure to look to our selves with such greater exactness, as withal to regard the wellfare of others, who cannot be forgotten but at our expence.

For it is when we want inclination or time to look to that which most nearly concerns us; that we neglect those who have a right to be part of our care, and will be remembred when we think of our selves; God having most wisely dis­posed our several interests in so mutual­ly depending a manner, that for our own sakes, we must be kind to our Bre­thren; and therefore we cannot but think those Circumstances exceedingly happy, that put us into so fair a Capaci­ty of following up our common Con­cern.

And we are in the better posture for this, thro' the extent of that Peace, in which so many others partake the Com­fort with us: which is not only a great addition to the general joy, but every [Page 13]ones particular Triumph is thereby ad­vanced; as that good fortune which af­fords us no more than a just satisfaction, while we think of it with calmness at home, is apt to transport us when we get abroad, and come to see what effect it has upon the face of the World. So natural is it for Joy as well as for Grief to swell up to a pitch from the num­ber of those that make up the Train.

And there is great reason it should do so here, where not only Religion, and good nature perswade us to be well pleased that others are happy; but our own opportunities of doing good, and receiving advantage are thereby enlarged; while all the kind Offices of Neighbours and Friends are freely exchanged in this part of the World.

We have also the more reason to hope the continuance of this mutual Access, for it's being so wide; which cannot but make the prospect more pleasing to all, and all the more carefull for that to prevent the cutting off any thing from [Page 14]it, and hardly can there be any one found so little concern'd what the rest shall think of him, as not to avoid with the utmost caution, that soul mark which must light upon him who first disturbs the the common Repose.

Which Consideration as it greatly en­hances our Joy on this happy occasion, in respect of what we might otherwise fear from Abroad; so it further Aug­ments it, by the hopes it affords of putting an end to our civil dissensions at Home: For tho' some may have been hitherto held by the mistaken Bonds of former Engagements against the plain sense and meaning of Laws, and the nature of Things, yet now perhaps they may find themselves free, and in a state to accept an Accomplished Deliverance. They might possibly be in a well meant suspence, while things were in dispute, and seem­ed to depend upon the Issues of War: but when that last Recourse has determined a­gainst them, and all the World besides confirm the decision; it is to be hoped [Page 15]that they also will be fully concluded. It cannot sure but give them a lower con­ceit of their private Opinion, to find it disclaim'd by the rest of mankind, who have less concern that it should be an er­rour; and prevent their being so fond of Disquiet, as still to resolve upon continu­ing uneasie when the World is at Rest.

This we will hope both for them and our selves, and with so much the more expectation of having our wish; as it has pleased God to Crown this Blessing of Peace, with the return of the King.

Had his Sacred Person been permitted to fall by the black Malice of Implacable Men, or taken from us by any other, all-most as sad, tho less violent Death; after all, that his Wisdom and Courage with the Blessing of Heaven, had accomplished for us; that Glorious Day had been overcast at its very first opening upon us in the dismallest manner; and what would have followed that Terrible Night, no Mortal can tell: The loss of him who is not on­ly of that importance to us, but to so [Page 16]many about us, at such a critical time, might well have unravelled all things again, and put our Afairs in a dreadful disorder: And such a Confusion had been too thick a Cloud for us to see thro', what wou'd be in the End.

But God has had pitty upon us, and by bringing back his Majesty to us, seems inclined to establish the wonderful things he has wrought for our good, and to make that Hand which has hitherto prospered with so universal an Honour in War, a further means of procuring to us, all the remaining Glories of Peace. And this we may have the fuller hopes he will do, if in the next place we proceed to consider.

2. The obligations we are under in return, to call upon God as long as we live. This calling on God implies our entire depen­dance upon him; and our care to order our behaviour so as may give our Hearts a Confidence in him. And what is there in either of these, that we must not ac­knowledge his due in a singular manner, [Page 17]for what he has done? What temptation can we possibly have so much as to think of withdrawing our affiance in him, who has been so far from forsaking us, that he has been exceedingly favourable to us, beyond what we cou'd even allow our selves to expect at his hands? Had Af­flictons and Wars been our Portion still, our Trust ought to have stood, where our Help ever did in the name of the Lord: But it would be now altogether as sense­less, as it wou'd be an ungrateful offence, to place it any where else. He who has safely convey'd us thro' so many Dan­gers, and brought us at last to the end of our temporal Hopes, has not only a right to our Trust, but such a one as it would be madness in us to dispute.

On the other hand it wou'd be a pre­sumption to rely upon God, without care to make our Conversation such as might give us an humble assurance in all our appearings before him. To keep on in ways of our own, when he has done so much to invite us to order our goings, [Page 18]in his, is such a contempt of his mercy, as wou'd soon provoke him to turn it away: To divert his Goodness so far from being a means to lead us to Repentance, as to make it a new occasion of sinning; wou'd be such a despite to his Spirit and Power, as must justly make us dread the return of his Judgements, with so much the fiercer Anger upon us.

To prevent this, and to secure our Peace, we must resolve upon paying an unfeign­ed Obedience to God, who has been so gracious to us; Psal. 105.43, 45. who has brought forth his people with Joy, and his chosen with glad­ness, that they might keep his statutes and observe his Laws. And to uphold us in these as well as to continue our happiness to us; we must according to the most ob­vions sense of the words call upon him as long as we live. Duly considering that while we are here, there will always be danger of our departing from God, and of his leaving us, when we do, to the fruit of our ways: both which we must pray to avoid, and for some reasons pe­culiar to Peace.

For tho', as it has been already observed, ma­ny great opportunities of promoting Virtue are thereby allow'd us; yet it must be confess'd, that there are too some Temptations in it, so apt we are to forget God, when we see no particu­lar need of his help, and let our vain Inclinati­ons take their extravagant course, when there is no visible stop in the way; and the apter still shall we be to do this, as our late visitati­on has had the less Influence on us: insomuch, that observing how little we are amended by that, we ought to be the more apprehensive of a tendency in us, to pervert and abuse our bet­ter success: And that should make us fear its Decay.

How highly then must it always import us to pray to God in the first place that we may be Obedient, and wisely employ the Blessings we have; to lay the better ground for our ask­ing their future continuance? And that these Prayers may be heard, we must be earnest and diligent in them; whether we offer them up in the Publick Assemblies, or in the less suspect­ed Zeal of a private Devotion: Both which ways of Address should always afford each other their mutual Help; that our secret Retirements may have the more warmth, by what we bring from the Concurrence of others; and our solemn meet­ings be quicken'd with greater Attention from our Practice at Home.

We are now more than ever obliged to be frequent and serious in these, as well that we may shew our Esteem of such Opportunities, as [Page 20]provide for their being the longer enjoy'd: since it cannot be thought we account them a Bles­sing, if we care not to use them, or be hoped they will last, if we do not pray that they may be preserved.

For tho' there is a Concurrence of several things to give us good hopes of an Enduring Peace; yet we cannot but know the state of this World, how uncertain it is; and the designs of those who have been most Disappointed, how unwearied they are. We ought therefore with the more carefulness to watch unto Prayer that our condition may be the less subject to change, and beseech God that we may never be added to that Church which has debased Religion and corrupted the World.

The better to guard against such a Bondage as this, we must pray for a union of all our strength and endeavours at home; that they who have long since divided from our Holy Communion, may upon looking nearer into what we profess, see thro' the thinness of those pretences upon which they withdraw, and not be frighted from calm­ly considering the state of the Case by any want of Temper in us.

To this let us add our Requests: that they who shall remain to dissent from this Days Thanksgiving, may come at last in this sense too, to see the things that make for their Peace; and be brought on their way by such usage from us, as may shew the desire we have to share our Happiness with them.

For both these ends, we must earnestly pray that the King may live long, and prosper among us, not only in gratitude to him, but for the sake of all that we owe to his Care; as we cannot hope to be settled and flourish in Peace, under any hand so well as that, which procured it for us, which steadily guided the Helm of this tot­tering state, dashed on each side with contrary Waves, and has brought it at last to the Haven where it would be.

A great deal remains to be done for repairing the hurt it got in the storm, and should not he who secured it then, live to make up the Breach­es of that, it would hardly bear the launching a­gain? considering of how many different parts the Vessel is made, it cannot but want the Ce­ment of so strong and piercing a spirit to hold them together, and secure the Effects of all that have an Adventure in her.

This, if he lives, (who has made the most di­stant Interests abroad work together for Peace) we may hope he will do, to consummate our Happiness, and fully compleat the Satisfaction he takes in perfecting that: And tho' a far great­er reward will come at the end of all his La­bour and Care than the brightest Scene of this World can afford; yet it cannot but be an agree­able earnest of that Glory which shall be reveal'd, to see the fruit of his Toils and Conflicts here, in the Virtue and Greatness of those Kingdoms for which he has been so often exposed.

For his sake therefore, as well as our own, let us joyntly endeavour to make this just and grate­ful [Page 22]Return, and help him to finish that excel­lent work he has so far advanced, that it must be our fault, if it ever miscarries: he has now by the favour of God, put it into our hands to do good to our selves; and it is our true Wisdom not to let the occasion slip▪ as it cer­tainly will, if we do not improve it; and not only vanish it self, but leave our Condition worse than it was.

To avoid this Relapse, let us here [...]n the presence of God reckon our selves to be saved from the hand of our Enemies, that we may serve him without fear, in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our life, and if our Deliverance has this ef­fect, our wellfare is safe in our Virtues and Bles­sings daily receiving a mutual increase, and the Better we are, the Happier still shall we certain­ly be.

Let it then be our Care to give the mercies we are met to acknowledge, this interest in us; that our present Rejoycing may leave an abid­ing Comfort upon us, and every moment make us fitter for all that we want: That the King may have the pleasure we owe him of ruling a People with ease, he has been at so much pains to preserve; and that from both God a­lone may have always the Praise. To whom be ascribed, as is most due, all Honour and Glory, Do­minion and Power, now and for ever. Amen.