THE LIFE and DEATH Of the Late Q. Mary.
Prefaced, with some Observations upon the TURNS of Divine Providence, now bringing of mighty CHANGES, upon the World.
Whereto is added, The ADDRESS of Condolence, made unto His MAJESTY, by the Nonconformist Ministers, on the DECEASE of that Illustrious QUEEN.
Boston in N.E. Printed by B. Green, for Samuel Phillips, at the Brick Shop near the Old Meeting-House. 1695.
Observable Turns OF Providence.
As for the Wheels, it was cry'd unto them, in my Hearing, O WHEEL.
THE Prophet Ezekiel, is, by the Father Nazianzen, very justly call'd, A Beholder of Great Things. But some of the Great Things that were Beheld by that Blessed Seer, I must Invite you also, to Behold this Day; and the Great Things at this Day happening in the World, set an Edge upon this Invitation.
Of all Scripture, the deepest is that of Prophesy; [Page 4] of all Prophesy, the darkest is that of Ezekiel; of all Ezekiel, the Vision of the Wheels is not the least significant; but I say like Moses in another case, I will now Turn aside, and see this great Sight.
The Prophet was to Represent unto his People, That the Protection which this People had hitherto Enjoyed, was now to be Removed: and that the Gracious and Saving Presence of God, was not so confined unto this People, but that it should be taken away. The Turn of Moveable Wheels, gave the Prophet, a Figure of this doleful Thing; but at the same time, in these Wheels, the State of the whole World, as under the Government of God, was figured out unto him. And it seems herein to be particularly Indigitated: That how well soever a Constitution of things in a Nation, may be established, the Angels of our Lord Jesus Christ, are able presently to Turn it upside down. This Hieroglyphical Vision of the Wheels had been granted unto the Prophet, once already; as you may read, in the first Chapter of his Prophecies: But when he now comes unto a Second View of it; he apprehends it more thoroughly, he expresses it more positively; and there occurrs in the Text before us, a further circumstance concerning them.
To give this Text a right posture in our Undestandings, Imagine that you see Four [Page 5] most Illustrious Angels, which are called, The Chariots of God, Exhibiting themselves under the Characters with which the Cherubim were Pourtray'd in the Temple of Old. Imagine that by these Angels, you see Four, Large, High Wheels, each of them after the fashion of a Sphaere, with others transversly so Inlaid into them, as to intersect them with Right Angels. Unless you'l imagine a Chariot also implied in this Vision; which if so, you must not make the Wheels to be so Spherical. However then Imagine, that you hear the voice of our Almighty Lord Himself, making that Loud Cry unto them, O Wheel!
There you have had the Vision. It is in the Interpretation of it, a Vision of the Turns, which the Providence of our God gives unto the World, in His Governing the Affairs of it. For the Cry it self, O Wheel; the word is not the same, that is used, when the Four Wheels here cried unto, are themselves described; but this word may be rendred, O World! An Intimation, that the State of Things in the World, is intended by the Wheels that we have now before us.
The Object of the Cry, is, The Wheels; but if you ask, Why such insensible things as Wheels have a Cry directed unto them? I think, 'tis to show, that all the Creatures, and all the Motions in the World, are under the Direction [Page 6] of our Heavenly Lord; there is the Voice of the Lord; both to, and in, all Second Causes.
The Witness of the Cry is, The Prophet himself; It was Cry'd, said he, in my Ears: which teaches us, that the Ministers of God should Mind what He is a doing in the World; and we should have our Ears open to the Voice of our Lord in all Great Events, yea, and our Mouths open to utter it unto others that are concerned in those Events.
Well then; I shall but Obey and Practise my Text, when I Handle it. Let me have your Attention unto a mighty Cry, even unto that Voice, which is heard in Heaven it self, and which the Lord from Heaven is at this Day causing to be heard through our Earth; O WHEEL! O WHEEL!
There is this CASE, now before us, to be Considered;
What Observations are we to make upon the Observable TURNS of Divine Providence, in the Changes that come upon the World?
In a Psalm Composed, as is justly supposed, after Ezekiels Vision of the Wheels, and Referring to the Various Providences of God, wherein much of that Vision was accomplished, [Page 7] the Psalmist has advised us, ( Psal. 107.43) Whoso is Wise, will observe those things.
Now the things which we will here observe, shall be all fetched from that Vision of the Prophet; and you shall join with me in making of these Remarks.
I. The World, with all the Persons, and all the Concerns of it, is liable to a continual Revolution; or, The State of the World, is fitly compared unto the Turn of a Wheel. Briefly, 'Tis a Changeable World; and I pray, what else would you have of a Sublunary One? Wherever you look upon any part of this World, you may hear the Son of God crying, O WHEEL, unto it; World, I will have thee to Wheel about▪
One thing wherein you may see the Comparison adjusted, is this;
A Wheel is a very Moveable and Voluble Thing; and oh! believe it, oh! expect it; So is the State of this World. It is judged by good Historians, that Pythagoras was acquainted with Ezekiel, and that from this Vision of the Wheels, he invented that Wheel of Fortune, with which many Impious People do play their Witch-tricks in our Dayes. This I will now say, That Condition of men in the World, which they no less Foolishly, than Frequently, call, Their Fortunes; We may cry, [Page 8] O Wheel, concerning it: it is, Oh! how Turnable a Thing! Very memorable & significant, is the Story of Sesostrys, the King of Egypt; who being a Captive, was ordered, with other Captive-princes, to draw the Chariot of the Conqueror that made him so: In doing of this, he look'd so long and hard upon one of the Wheels, that the Conqueror demanded the cause of his Looking; whereto he replied, Syr, I am observing that in the Turn of the Wheel, what is undermost just now, by'nd by is uppermost: and this Reflection had a very mortifying Operation upon the Great man, to whom it was offered. So do things Turn in the World!
It is a famous Admonition, in Prov. 24.17, 18. Rejoyce not, when thine Enemy Falleth, Lest the Lord see it, and it Displease Him, and He Turn away His Wrath from him. Little Reason have [...] to see sad Changes come upon one another, without a charitable & compassionate Sadness in their own Souls thereupon; when any man shall be so wicked as to Rejoice in the Fall of a Neighbour, probably the Wheel of the Wrath of God, will soon bring a worse Turn upon so Unthinking, so Depraved a Creature.
Good Men, They find a Wheel in their Condition. Holy Job was once a man of Substance, but anon, Poor to a Proverb: and yet, [Page 9] O WHEEL; it was not long before it came to that, in Job 42.10. The Lord turned the Captivity of Job.
Bad Men, They too find a Wheel in their Condition. We are told, in Prov. 20.26. A Wise King Scatters the Wicked, and brings the WHEEL over them. Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Heaven, is that King; His Wicked Enemies may arrive to an Heighth of Wickedness and Advancement; but, O WHEEL, how strangely will He over-sett them▪
Small Men, Tis in a Wheel that They have their Condition. It is a thing Celebrated in Psal. 113.7, 8. He Raises up the Poor out of the Dust, and Lifts the Needy out of the Dunghil; That He may set him with Princes, with the Princes of his People. Thus, the Son of a Poor Potter among the Ancients, was lifted up, from the Wheels wherein he shap'd his Clay, unto a Scepter. And, O WHEEL; The Son of a Poor Blacksmith, among the Moderns, was made One of the Greatest Men, and the Grand Instrument of the Reformation, in the English Nation.
And, Great Men, Tis in a Wheel that They have their Condition too. It is mentioned, as no Unusual Thing, in Job 34.24. He shall Break in pieces mighty men without Number, and set others in their stead. A Person may at one Time, have the People and Riches of more than Three Kingdoms under his Command, and yet [Page 10] littte while after have nothing to support him. Thus, Belisarius was one of the most Renowned Generals that have been seen among Mortal men; But, O WHEEL; this Renowned Person may come to Beg by the Wall-side, Your Charity, Sir, to poor Belisarius!
Such a Vicissitude there is in Humane Affairs.
If you would see the Comparison further carried on, there is another thing to be Remark'd; Namely,
That a Wheel often Turns Apace, when once [...]t begins to Turn. And thus when the World [...] upon any Notable Alteration, tis no Rare thing for Quick work to be made of it. O WHEEL, What Quick Alterations dost thou hasten upon the World!
When the Lord is going to bring about any Promised and Marvellous Deliverance for His Church, He says of it, Though it Tarry, it will surely come, it will not Tarry; that is, when once [...] ha's begun to Come. When Cyrus, a Pagan Prince, had once begun a Deliverance for the Church, by Proclaming a Liberty for them to fall upon Building the Temple, unto That some have applied that passage, in Cant. 2.8. My Beloved, Behold, He cometh leaping upon the Mountains! And when the Lord is going to Execute His Vengeance on His Adversaries, He sometimes does make a Wondrous Dispatch of [...]hem; as He said once unto the Greatest man [Page 11] in Israel, In that Day, I will perform all the Things which I have spoken concerning his House; when I begin, I will also make an End. When the Judgments of God come upon the Papacy, tis said, in Rev. 10.3. Seven Thunders utter their Voices: there shall be the Swiftness of Rapid Thunders in those Judgments. There is a Leap, as well as a Softly and Gentle Walk, of Providence. On the one hand, when a Joseph was Raised up to be the Saviour of Israel, tis said, They brought him Hastily to be preferr'd. On the other hand, the Plagues which were to come upon Oppressors, tis said of them, They shall be as a Breach ready to fall, Swelling out in an high Wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
But will you Remark one thing more in this Comparison? If you will, it shall be This;
That a Wheel sometimes makes a Noise in the Turning of it: as you know the Prophet speaks of, The Noise of the Rattling of the Wheels. And thus, When any Considerable Men, or Things, in the World are turned up-side down; a Noisy Report accompanies it. Yea, a Considerable part of the Earth, sometimes does ring with the Report of Important Accidents. When some sort of Persons do fall, Tis said, The Earth is moved, at the Noise of their Fall. And shall I say it? So does Heaven too. Eminent Men of God have so comforted themselves, If any Extraordinary Thing befall the Church of God in the [Page 12] World, after that I am Dead and Gone, the News will doubtless come to Heaven after me. However, we read, in Isa. 17.12. Of the Multitude of many People, which make a Noise, like the Noise of the Seas. And when the World is like the Sea, Ebbing and Flowing, and Rolling to and again, that Multitude of many People, will make a Noise about it. But then,
II. It is the Glorious Lord Jesus Christ upon the Throne, by whom all the Changes of this World, are Ordered and Managed. Who is it that Cryes unto the Wheels, O WHEEL? Tis He whom we may see, in Ezek. 1.26. The MAN above upon the Throne. Tis that God-Man, who Turns, who Checks, who Holds all the Wheels of Providence.
All the Communion which the Great God now ha's with His Creatures, is by the Interposition of the Messiah, between Him and Them. Wherefore, tis fit that the Messiah so Circumstanced, should have the Government of all Creatures from and for the Great God, put into His Alsufficient Hands. And therefore there is a Mediatorial Kingdom which belongs unto the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is the Vice-gerent of God, by an Eternal Constitution. What the King of Egypt, said unto Joseph, was a Type of this matter; in Gen. 41.40. There is none so Discreet and Wise, as Thou art; Thou shalt be over [Page 13] my House, and according to thy Word, shall all [...] People be Ruled. Even so hath the King of th [...] whole World said unto our Jesus, There is none [...] Qualified for the Government of the World, as th [...] art; and now I put all into thy Hands, for Thee [...] Rule the whole World, and all the changes of it. Thi [...] is the true meaning of that, Session at the Righ [...] Hand of God, which is all the Bible over ascribed unto our Lord. The Right Hand both in Scripture, and in Custom, holds the Scepter; In Sitting at the Right Hand, the Scepter comes in divided between both of Those that are upon the Throne; even such a Share in the Empire of the Universe, our Mediator now ha's with His Eternal Father. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and so He is, the Heir of all Things, the Lord of all. And by the Gift of God, further strengthened by His own Purchase and Merit on the Cross, His Title to His Throne, ha's further Considerations of Establishment. All Men, yea all Things, and so, all Changes, are now, at the Dispose of our Precious Lord Jesus Christ. And, O Holy Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, the whole Earth, in all the Changes of it, is full of thy Glory.
Behold, Christians, what a Consolation we have in the midst of all the Changes, which the Wheels of Providence do bring upon us! All these Turns, are Directed by our Lord Jesus Christ, who is Present every where to direct [Page 14] all exactly: Who has Power enough to pull down the biggest Mountains that oppose His Glory; Wisdom enough, to make all things work together for the Good of His Chosen; Justice enough to Protect the Righteous, and Revenge the Sinful. Yea, shall I speak the most Joyful Thing, that ever was heard! He that has call'd himself, our Master, our Brother, our Father, our Husband; He that has call'd us, The Apple of His Eye; 'Tis He that Sits upon the Throne; and effectually says to every Wheel, O WHEEL, O WHEEL, Turn such a way, for my Immortal Glory.
I remember the Satisfactions of the Prophet Isaiah. There was a Time, when there were two Princes together Sitting on the Throne of Judah; one whereof, being Removed by the Stroke of Death, at a Time when there was a mighty party in the Kingdom, which desired further Alterations, that man of God was very Thoughtful, what Events the Wheels would now turn unto. But now, to satisfy him, he tells us, in Isa. 6.1. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the LORD Sitting upon a Throne, High and Lifted up, and His Train filled the Temple. Josephus affirms, that in the Earthquake, which, we know, happened a little before this, an High Hill was torn down, and in [...]s Rolling down, it spoiled the Kings House; but at the same time, it so rent the Roof of [Page 15] the Temple, that the Sun shone into it. Yea▪ but our Prophet now sees the Sun of Righteousness Himself come into the Temple; whatever happens, we may see our Lord Jesus Christ, Sitting upon a Throne, High and Lifted up.
III. The Angels of the Lord Jesus Christ, those Mighty and Holy Spirits, of the Invisible World, have a wonderful Influence upon the Changes that come to pass in this World. This was what the Prophet here saw, in Ezek. 10.9. When I looked, Behold the four Wheels by the Cherubims; one Wheel by one Cherub, and another Wheel by another Cherub. Truly, there is an Inexpressible Agency of those Cherubims, the Angels of the Lord, in the Turns that the World is agitated with. As one ingeniously says, The Angels are capacious Wheels that move in the great Clock of the world; so, the VVheels of Providence are marvellously Turned, by the Ministry of those Angels, whom God hath made Ministring Spirits, and who wait about the Throne of our Jesus. When a Great Prince was to be Dethroned, by the Turn of these Wheels, it was said, in Dan. 4.23. A Watcher, and an Holy One came down from Heaven, to accomplish it; but that VVatcher was the Angel of the Lord. The Courts of Princes, are some of the principal VVheels, according to which the Concerns of men do Turn about: yea, [Page 16] but as there were Angels in the Court of Persia, to Steer the Minds, and bring the Fates of those that had any Business there, so 'tis in every other Court, unto this Day. The Living Creatures whom Ezekiel saw by the Wheels many years ago, are Living to this Hour; & they are to be the Officers of the Lord Jesus Christ in Turning the Wheels of this World, even until their Office be superseded by the Succession of the World to come. What said the Angel Gabriel, in Dan. 10.20. I will Return to fight with the Prince of Persia, and when I am gone forth, Lo, the Prince of Grecia shall come. Alexander, the King of Groecia, with an Army of about Thirty Thousand, Invades Darius, the King of Persia, though he had an Army of Six Hundred Thousand to withstand him; but the King of Graecia Conquers the King of Persia, and makes him Fly his Kingdom: Whence was this? O WHEEL! There was the Angel Gabriel in it all. The Angel who directed Cornelius, the Angel who Comforted Paul, the Angel who Assisted Elijah, the Angel by whom Daniel was defended, is Living still. The Angel who Restrained Balaam, the Angel, who Blinded the Sodomites, the Angel, who kill'd the Aegyptians, and the Assyrians; that Angel of Death, is Living still. Now when such things as those, are to be done, in the Wheels of Providence; the Angels are the Servants [Page 17] of the Lord Jesus Christ in the doing of them. Oh! Those Chariots of our God, even Thousands of Angels; The Lord is among them, as in the Holy Place: And when our dear Lord shall give the word, great will be the Company of them that publish it: If our Lord say, O WHEEL, Turn so, or so, there are Angels at hand, for the jogging of it.
IV. All the Quarters, yea, and all the Ages of the World, have all their Changes Governed by the Lord, whose Kingdom Ruleth over all. It is said, Behold, There were Four Wheels! How so? Truly, A Wheel for Europe, a Wheel for Asia, a Wheel for Africa, and a Wheel for America likewise; even poor America too, is not forgotten, or neglected, by the Providence of the Lord. We are assured, in Prov. 15.3. The Eyes of the Lord, are in every place, Beholding the Evil and the Good. Whether the Changes do befal the Evil or the Good, it is the Wheel of the Lord in every place, that produces all. And America it self, tho' it have seem'd as if it had been intended for an Eternal Randezvous of Devils, until some late Symptoms of the contrary, yet the Changes that come upon America too, are by the Providence of God. It is not yet known, whether America have any part in Johns Vision of the Revelation; but I am sure it has in Ezekiels Vision [Page 18] of Providence. Yea, probably there is a signal Wheel of Providence to be Turned yet in America, with respect unto the Kingdom of God. O WHEEL; Thou hast mighty Turns to make in these Regions! But Oh! Let us consider all the Prosperity, and all the Adversity, happening, even to the Remotest Ends of the Earth, as not coming by Hap alone, but by the Watchful Providence of Him that performs all things for us. And as no Quarters of the World, so neither are any Ages of it, unconcerned in the Wheels of Providence. There are as many Wheels, as there are to be Universal Empires before the Coming of the Lord, at the Time of the End: A Wheel for the Assyrian, a Wheel for the Persian, a Wheel for the Graecian, and a Wheel for the Roman. The Providence of our Lord will reach the Circumstances of all Things, in all the Ages and Empires of the World; until the Kingdoms of this World, shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord.
V. There is a most surprizing Harmony, in those Dispensations of God, whereby the Changes of the World are brought about. Of the Wheels 'tis said, As for the Appearances, they Four had one likeness. The Wheels of Providence have a most Harmonious Conformity and Correspondence with one another. The Promises of God unto them who Diligenly Seek [Page 19] Him, are the same Now, that ever they were; The Threatenings of God unto the Children of Disobedience, are the same Now, that ever. It is said, in Psal. 12.6. The words of the Lord are pure words, like Silver, well purified seven times. Now the Dispensations of God, are still according to this His Invariable World. Things go in the World, but as they have done heretofore; the World Changes but as it Uses; and, There is no New Thing under the Sun. O WHEEL, How hast thou Turned hitherto? Even so wilt thou still Turn. The Dispensations of Providence, in our Dayes, have One Likeness with such as were in the Days of our Fathers. They that have drawn Parallels in History, have Entertained us with a delicate Curiosity; truly, 'twould be a curious Entertainment, for a devout Soul, to draw the Parallels in Providence! But besides this, there is a more special Harmony, with which the Wheels of Providence, are sometimes beautified. As now, at or nigh the same Time, there sometimes is a Like Face of Providence, in sundry places. The same cry, O WHEEL, is given to sundry places, at the same Time. Sometimes, All the Churches together have Rest, and are Edified, tho' very distant from one another. Sometimes, All the Nations are together to take the Wine cup of the Fury of God, and be Intoxicated into Confusions, tho' far from one another in their [Page 20] Distances. God Raises up Luther, a Great Reformer, in one Country; and at the very same Time, He Raises up Zuinglius in another. God permits the Rising of an Antichrist, in the West, namely, that of Popery; & at the very same time he permits the rising of another Antichrist, namely, that of Mahometanism, in the East. Yea, it may be the Revolutions in some little Countries, will have just those very Marks imprinted upon them, which the Revolutions of Bigger, and Mother Countries, at the very same Time, are Signalized with.
And as at the same Time, so in like periods of Time, the Wheels of Providence that Change the World, sometimes have One Likeness in them. How amazingly was Eighty Eight in the former Century, and Eighty Eight in this, made an, Annus Mirabilis, a year of Wonders for the English Nation! The Dying Martyr Hus, told the Papists, Post Centum Annos,—just this Time Hundred years, you shall see my Doctrine Revive among you. And in Luthers Preaching just an Hundred Years after, it Revived accordingly. Yea, and what you saw, at Luthers Preaching, you'l see much of that, and more than That, in the Turn that is now going to begin! Let me say it, and bestow you, as deep a Meditation, and as close an Application, as you please upon it. When the Wheels of Providence have brought about any Reformation, God ordinarily suffers those Wheels to Retard & [Page 21] Revert for a while, but afterwards, He will certainly set those Wheels a going again; and then, they shall have One Likeness with what they had before, only meet with no more such obstructions.
VI. The Changes that come upon the World, have a various Aspect in them, they look more wayes than one. Of the Wheels, 'tis said, When they went, they went upon their Four sides: no less than Four several wayes one Wheel of Providence has its Tendencies. In one Turn of Providence, there may be what is very Aflictive, and yet in the very same Turn, something that is very Merciful; or, as one speaks, One and the same Providence hath sometimes its Blacks and Whites: Thus, 'tis said in Isa. 57.1. The Merciful are taken away, The Righteous is taken away from the Evil to come. When Merciful and Righteous Men are Wheel'd out of the World, there is a double Aspect in it; First, there is a Blessing unto themselves in it, they are by the Swift Chariot Wheels of Heaven, fetch'd away thither, where the Weary are at Rest. But then, there is a Judgment upon the Survivers, who are now laid open unto more unhappy Changes, of Evil to come. The young Child of David was taken away by an Early Death: Why so? The Wheel turned on One Side, in that thing, to Chastise the Sin of the Relations; but on Another Side, it was to prevent [Page 22] a perpetual Monument of Shame, and occasion of War in the Nation. The best Child of Jereboam was taken away by an Early Death; why so? The Wheel turned on One Side for the Everlasting Happiness of the Deceased; but on Another Side, for the Hastening of Ruin on the Family. O WHEEL, How many Changes dost thou bear upon! Why is Jonah swallow'd by the Fish? It was to Correct him, it was to Reform him; yea, but, O WHEEL, there was more than this; it was to procure the Regards of the Ninivites unto his Ministry, when they heard of the Miracle.
Hence there are also Collateral Designs of Providence, which are the Four Sides of the WHEELS, in the Dispensations of God. Thus 'tis, in the most of our Changes!
VII. When the Lord will have Changes to come, they shall be Irresistible; Who hath Resisted His will? Tis once and again said of the Wheels, They Turned not, as they went. There is no Turning the Wheels of Providence out of their course; no Rubs can divert them, from what the Lord will have to be performed by them. All the Changes in the World, are Decreed by that Lord, who is Unchangeable; When the Wheels are Turning, tis by the Order of that God, of whom tis said, There is with Him no Shadow [Page 23] of Turning. Our Lord says, O WHEEL! Go, bring such a Great Thing about! But, it may be, there are Great Mountains that ly in the way of the Wheels: Great Persons, Great Factions, and Great Oppositions. Its no matter: I say, as of old, Who art thou, O Great Mountain? Thou shalt become a Plain, before the Wheels of the Chariots of our God. It was said, in Zech. 6.1. The Four Chariots came out from between the Mountains of Brass. The Firm Decrees of God, are those Fixed, Stable, Eternal Mountains of Brass; the Four Wheels do move according to those Decrees; and be of good cheer, none of our Little Mountains of Earth▪ [Mountains! I should say, Molehills,] can stand before them. When the Scepter of of a mighty Kingdom was to be transferr'd, from a Royal Hand, into another Hand, which the Lord had Reserved in the Obscurities of a Wilderness, how many thousands of Obstacles were there to hinder such a Turn of the Wheel? Yea, but when once the Lord said, O WHEEL! He also said, in 1 Sam. 15.29. He is not a man, that he should Repent. Oh! The whirl of these Wheels! when once they are set a Turning, in a way of Grace, or in a way of Wrath, stand clear all Opposers; there is no standing before these all conquering Wheels. In Artificial Engines, the Mechanick Powers of Wheels, are of a prodigious Efficacy; but the Wheels of Providence are infinitely more Efficacious.
[Page 24] VIII. All the Changes of the World, have the Infinite VVisdom of Heaven, to give Method, Guidance, Effect unto them. Of the Wheels, 'tis said The Wheels were full of Eyes round about. The Wheels of Providence, do Turn as Regularly, as if they were all full of Eyes. Things are not carried on Caeco Impetu; 'tis not a Blind Chance, or Force, that brings things about. It is said, in 2 Chron. 16.9. The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro, throughout the Whole Earth, to shew Himself strong, in the behalf of them, whose Heart is perfect towards Him. Whatever Wheels do Turn, there are the Eyes of the Lord upon them, still to make them Turn for the Advantage of those that He has made His Peculiar Treasure. O WHEEL, wast thou not out of the way, when such, or such a Disaster happened? No, 'Twas Full of Eyes; the Mortal Wheel saw which way to go. We are too Ready to prescribe unto the Lord; we would have Him to Turn things after such or such a manner, for the Welfare of His People. But what need of our Impertinent Counsels! Our Lord will do all things, According to the Counsel of His own VVill; and there needs no other Counsellor; that Will is the first Rule of all Right, for ever. Luther complain'd of himself, that he was too ready thus to Interpose his own Thoughts and Cares about the VVheels of Providence; but said he, Risit haud dubie [Page 25] Dominus hanc sapientiam; doubtless, He that Sat at the great Council-Table of Heaven, derided my wise Contrivancies. Never let us vex our selves under our Changes; but think, The All-seeing Eyes of the Lord, see which way they go!
IX. In the Changes that come upon the World, there do occurr those things that are both Formidable and Extraordinary. There are two things noted about the VVheels, in Ezek. 1.18, 19. which we may joyn together, in our Observation. First, The Rings of the VVheels were so High, that they were Dreadful. And then, The Wheels were Lifted up from the Earth. Truly so, the VVheels of Providence are evermore so High, that we must not suppose our selves capable to Fathom them. One says well; I know no harder Task put upon the Sons of men, than to make a true Trutination, and a clear Calculation, of Divine Providences. VVe should be very wary, what Constructions we make of Providences, and of the Changes which the High Ring'd VVheels do bring to pass: VVhen we go to Construe such a Turn as a Rebuking Providence, or such a Turn as an Inviting Providence; or such a Turn, as an Encouragement; we should Remember, The VVheels are too High for us to take exact measures of them. And in the Turn of these VVheels also, very Dreadful Changes are sometimes produced. There are [Page 26] Dreadful Concussions, Dreadful Confusions, Dreadful Desolations, brought about, by some VVheels of Providence; and because the VVheels are to Turn faster towards the Latter End of Time, there will now be more of those Dreadful Overturnings, wherein the Earth will be Removed, and the Mountains will be carried into the midst of the Sea, and the VVaters thereof will Roar and be Troubled! The Prayers of the Saints, have long been crying, O VVHEEL; but what will be the Answer of all? Even that, in Psal. 65.5. By terrible things in Righteousness, wilt thou Answer us, O God of our Salvation. Nor will the VVheels of Providence be confined unto the Ordinary Road of proceeding,. The Lord will not go by Ruled Cases, in many of the Changes that shall overtake the Children of men. The VVheels will be Lifted up, and unusual Turns will come about. VVhen K. Henry VIII. was Dead, the Popish Fathers, in the Council of Trent gave Thanks, that he had left such an Insignificant Successor, behind him; whereas, that Successor though a Child, gave the greatest VVounds unto the Man of Sin, that ever had been given in the Nation. O VVHEEL! it so sometimes comes to pass, as the Prophet spoke, in 2 Kings 3.17. Ye shall not see VVind, neither shall ye see Rain, and yet the Valley shall be filled with VVater.
X. Finally, There are many Intricate Things, [Page 27] in the Changes of the World; and there is a Mystery of Providence. There is this Article, in the Description of the Wheels; They were, as if a Wheel had been in the midst of a Wheel. The Wheel within, is not always perceived, when we perceive the Wheel without, whereby Changes are brought upon us. It is said, in Psal. 97.1, 2. The Lord Reigns, let the Earth Rejoyce, Let the Multitudes of Isles be glad thereof; Clouds & Darkness are round about him. The Earth in General, it seems, and some special Islands of the Earth in particular, may meet with Changes, that shall have much of Clouds, and of Darkness in them; the Dealings, and the Designs of the Lord, in those Changes will be, Oh! how Inscrutable! A Jacob is ready to say of the Changes that befal him, All these things are against me: but, O WHEEL! How gloriously did every thing Turn to Good at the last! I do offer you that Reading of what the Psalmist said, in Psal. 77.18, 19. The Voice of thy Thunder was in the WHEEL; Thy way is in the Sea, and thy path in the Great Waters, and thy Footsteps are not known. Why, when the Thundring Voice of God is crying, O WHEEL: We can't always Guess what Way, what Path, He will take.
But shall we Exemplify some of these Intricacies?
There is that Intricacy in Providence, That our Lord is doing very Much, when He seems [Page 28] to be doing Little or Nothing in the World. When Pharaohs Daughter took first Cognisance of Moses, who dream't of the Wheel in the midst of this Wheel; that this Moses was to destroy Pharaoh and his Egyptians?
There is that Intricacy in Providence, That Men shall do the Lords Business when they go on their own Errands. The King of Persia, was a Ravenous Bird, who did but gratify his own Ambitious, Coveteous, Revengful Appetites, in Preying upon his Neighbours; Yea, but, there was another Wheel in the midst of this Wheel; the Lord said, It is I that have called this Ravenous Bird, from the East; the man that Executeth my Counsel, from a far Country.
There is that Intricacy in Providence, That the Lord leads men by what they See, to what they never Thought. The Philistines commence a War against the Israelites; Why, but only from a Disposition to oppress their Neighbours? Yea, but there was a Wheel in the midst of this Wheel, all the while; the Lord caused the Kingdom of His David, thereby to be promoted.
There is that Intricacy in Providence, That a Mischief shall become a Kindness, when the Lord will have it so. The Persecution that befel the Primitive Believers, look'd like a Disaster and Injury to the Interest of the Gospel; Yea, but there was a Wheel in the midst of this Wheel; [Page 29] the Scatterirg of those Believers, prov'd but the Spreading of the Gospel.
There is that Intricacy in Providence, That the Enemies of God shall be Confounded by those very means, by which they look to be Preserved. Abimeleck accommodates himself unto the Shechemites, and that he might procure & secure the Kingdom to himself, he gets into their Box as much as ever he can; but there was a Wheel in the midst of this Wheel, which in the Issue carried all another way: Abimelek perishes by those Men of Shechem.
O WHEEL! These are some of thy Intricacies; and these are indeed but Some of them: For, Many such Things are with the Lord.
And what is now our Duty, under such Turns of Providence?
Christians, while our Lord Jesus Christ is Crying to the Wheels of Providence, O WHEEL; He Cryes unto Us also, to Behold the Turns of those Wheels. Behold them with. Wonder, Behold them with Patience, Behold them with Profit; and Behold them with a Profound Submission of Soul. Indeed, this is One Thing of peculiar concernment for us, under all Changes whatsoever. Our Lord says unto the Wheels, O WHEEL, Move! But what says He unto Us? unto us He says, Be still; There is that Voice annex'd unto the Turning of the VVheels, in Psal. 46.10. Be still, and know, that I am God. [Page 30] We are very prone to have our Spirits uneasy about the Changes that are before us; but as Luther sent word unto his Friend, who was too Sollicitous, how matters were like to go; Pray tell him, That I would have him give the Lord Leave to Rule the World! Even so, I say, Stand off; Don't you meddle; The VVheels of Providence are already in a Sufficient Hand; Oh! Leave to that Hand, the Turning of them all! Instead of your going to call, O WHEEL! Say rather, O LORD! Let our continual Supplications be made unto the Lord, that every Wheel may Turn after such a Manner as is to be desired. I assure you, The Prayers of the Faithful do give marvellous and powerful Jogs unto the VVheels. When we are much in Crying, Awake, O Arm of the Lord; that Omnipotent Arm which Turns all the VVheels, will Awake accordingly. And Oh! take heed of Every Sin, that may Expose you, to be broken by any VVheel of God, in the Turning of it. Mark what I say; The Business of the Wheels, is to Crush those that are in Rebellion against the Lord Jesus Christ, against His Truths, and against His Ways. When the Lord is Crying, O WHEEL! give me Leave to Cry, O SOUL, stand clear of the Sins that will make thee Obnoxious to that VVheel. If any of you are so Eager after this World, as to neglect the Great Salvation of your Souls; if any of you do not Pray constantly, [Page 31] both with your Houses, and in your Closets; if any of you Indulge your selves in the lewd Practices of Profanity; and if any of you continue Strangers to a Closure and an Union with the Lord Jesus Christ; Sirs, I am to tell you, The VVheels of the Indignation of God, are hastening apace to overwhelm you. Oh! Consider this, ye that forget God, Lest His VVheels tear you to pieces, and there be none to deliver you.
But, in the midst of these things, are not Men themselves to be Considered, as those VVheels, that are to Move agreeably unto the Lord, in the Changes of His Providence?
Truly, there is no Magistrate, but the Lord Jesus Christ crys unto him, O WHEEL, Move as well as thou canst for the Reforming of all that is amiss in thy Province, and for the Promoting of every thing that is Holy & Just & Good.
There is no Minister, but the Lord Jesus Christ, crys unto him, O WHEEL, Move as well as thou canst, for the Instructing, and Converting of thy Flock, & for the VVarning of every Soul, against every evil Thing.
There is no Christian in any Capacity whatsoever, but the Lord Jesus Christ crys unto him, O WHEEL, Move in thy Capacity, as Watchfully as thou canst, as Exactly as thou canst, and as Ʋsefully, as ever thou canst.
Let us all be Attentive to the Voice of our Lord; and while His Wheels are Turning, Let us in Complying with His Voice, be as Lively, as the Wheels on Chariots of Amminadib.
Dues Paid unto the Memory of Q. MARY.
BUT there is one Mighty and Awful TURN of Divine Providence, which more particularly this Day calls for our Observation; and that is the great CHANGE of Death, come upon a Great QUEEN, of a most Embalmed and Immortal Memory, and the vast CHANGE upon the State of Three Kingdoms, concerned in, and consequent on, so Universally Deplored a Death. Alas, We see the Beauty of Great Britain, Slain upon its High Places; How is the Mighty Fallen!
What shall we now say of thee, O WHEEL, which hast Overturned a Glorious Mountain, at the Fall whereof, The Earth is Moving, and the VVaters of the Sea do Roar, and are Troubled.
So Inexpressible a Grief, as is every where produced by this vast Occasion, will Oblige us to Brief and Broken Expressions in our Observations thereupon; but as well as the Season will admit of it, Let us now Observe, in the first [Page 33] place, the Wonderful TURN of the WHEEL which brought this most Illustrious LADY, unto the Throne of Three Kingdoms!
There were especially Two very Observable TURNS of Providence praeliminary to that Revolution.
The First Observable was that which the Reverend Dr. Bates, has noted in his Funeral Sermon on the Queen; That she was not Early Engaged in the Belief and Practice of Popery: That her Father, being so Amorous of his Religion, did not take the Season of Instilling it into her, before she could with Understanding make a Choice. It increases the Wonder, in that the Priests were Attendents in his Court, who, being deeply Struck with Superstition, are watchful to take all Advantages to Propagate it. Now, O WHEEL; how gloriously didst thou Turn the Education of this Chosen Vessel, into such a Byass as has made all the Protestants in Europe to Rejoice!
The Second Observable was that which all Mankind has also wondred at; namely, That notwithstanding the Popish Inclinations both in the [...] and in the Uncle of this Incomparable Person, she should yet be Disposed in Marriage, to a Prince of the Reformed Religion; and the Prince Raised by the God of Heaven, to Rescue the Nations from the Designs of those very Monarchs. Now, O WHEEL, how gloriously didst thou Turn this Match, unto the Confusion of all that Popery [Page 34] has intended, all EUROPE over!
'Tis time for us now to Observe, That altho' King JAMES, had in his publick Declaration, presumptuously promised himself, That nothing remained now to Interrupt his peaceable Government for the future, his Mis-Government quickly brought such an Astonishing Storm upon him, that this unhappy Son of her, who says, I shall see no Sorrow, did, as it were in one Day, find all come to a Dissolution. The Parliament, on, Feb. 12. 1688. (on which Day, the Princess Arrived from Holland, to Whitehal, with all the Demonstrations of Joy that could be given throughout the Nation,) made this Declaration, That James II. having Endeavoured to Subvert and Extirpate the Protestant Religion, Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom, and Abdicated the Government, the Throne was thereby become Vacant; and they thereupon made Offer of the Crown unto Their Highnesses, William and Mary, Prince and Princess Orange. Accordingly, on Feb. 13. They were Proclaimed; and on April 11. 1689. Crowned, with the Acclamations of a Joyful Nation; and on May 11. Ensuing, they Received, in like manner, the Crown of Scotland, from the Estates thereof, by the Hands of their Commissioners. Indeed, the First Essay of this matter, put the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power into the Hands of the Prince; but by a following Act [Page 35] of Parliament, the Execution thereof was put into the Hands of the Queen, as often as that Heroic Undertaking of Rescuing all Europe out of its Chains, required the Presence of His Britannick Majesty abroad, as Generalissimo of the Confederate Armies. Thus was this Renowned Lady, with the High and Mighty WILLIAM, advanced, by wonderful Turns of Providence, into the Imperial Throne of Great Britain; but with what a Disposition towards the Abdicated Relation, she did accept the Scepter, was continually manifested by the Filial Tears, wherewith She would Lament that Unhappiness of His, which made the Deliverance of whole Nations from the Destruction of their Liberty, Property, and Religion, impossible to be obtained by any other mean, but Her Accepting it. It could not perhaps be more Livelily described, than in those passages of the famous Epigram upon her Death.
It was now a most Observable TURN upon the Kingdoms, to see a QUEEN upon the [Page 36] Throne, professing the Holy Religion, to which the Queens of the Three Fore-going Reigns had been Aliens and Enemies. But that which made a yet more Observable TURN, was the Zeal of that Holy Religion, which rendred this Eminent Person, an Example, as one that knew it well saith, Enough to Convert a Nation. The Return of such an Astrea to us, Raised our Thoughts of a Golden Age approaching. The Last Lords Day that this Princess was in Holland, the Presbyterian Minister whom She then heard, in the close of his Discourse, addressed Her, with faithful Intimations of the Opportunities that She should now have to Serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and His People; at the Hearing▪ of which Address, She stood up, and Let fall a Flood of Tears. But what a Flood of Tears must now gush from us, who have in a few years Lived unto the End of those Opportunities, whereof God had made that Royal Heart so apprehensive! The wondrous Goodness, and Sweetness, of her Temper, the Innocent Chearfulness which gave an Air to her whole Conversation, the obliging Tenderness wherewith She perpetually treated all that were about her, and the Charming Sincerity wherewith She Did and Spoke every Thing, while yet She Laid not aside the exactest Prudence of Reservation; These were but the Lesser Strokes of Her Character. However These [Page 37] made her so extreamly Beloved, that, ‘Prisca parem nescit, aequalem postera nullam Exhibitura Dies;’
No Age perhaps affords a Parallel. God in this Thing, bestow'd upon Her, the Reward of Her own Averseness to Evil Speaking, or, the Censuring others: A Vice, that She not only did Avoid Her self, but also Reprove in others, on all occasions. And yet, when some Reflections on this Her Happiness were made before Her Majesty, such was Her profound Modesty, that She said, She Ascribed thus wholly unto the Goodness of God; for She doubted not but that many fell under hard Characters, who deserved them as little. She said also, God knew her Weakness, that She was not able to bear some Imputations, and therefore He did not Try Her beyond Her Strength. She added, She hoped God would still Bless Her in her own good Name, as long as She was careful not to Hurt others. Let us pass on to take our Observation of those more Fulgent Rayes, with which this Bright Star, of the First Magnitude, Influenced more than Three Kingdoms. Yea, now, Like that of Cassiopaea, She is Retired into Heaven, yet Let us continue the Observation. This Greatest LADY that ever Europe saw, was by God▪ Raised up to preserve that Sacred Religion of [Page 38] His, which was every where, as one says, in its Last Agonies; and She was Her self a Pattern, as well as Patron, of that Religion.
O WHEEL! What hast thou brought unto our View? ROYALTY improv'd by Religion, RELIGION adorn'd with Royalty!
A QUEEN, Who had her Daily, Constant, Secret Retirements, for the Service of God; from which, She would permit no Business, or Journey, to divert her; and therefore would Rise Early, that She might not Forget, or Shorten those Devotions, whereon She reckoned that the Blessings of the whole Day depended: and often own'd, that in Difficulties which rendred her uneasy, She felt her Thoughts calmed, by thus carrying them to God.
A QUEEN, Who kept the Lords Day, most Conscientiously; and besides her Hours of Privacy, was Thrice a day in the Publick Worship of God; and for a great part of the year, Four Times a day, while She Resided in the Low-Countryes ▪
A QUEEN, Who still once a Month, came to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; and in order thereunto, would Prepare Her self by the Exercises of a Solemn FAST before the Lord, choosing after it but a Moderate and a Temperate Meal in the Evening.
A QUEEN, Who in all her Approaches unto God, used a most Exquisite Seriousness and [Page 39] Attention; and was yet careful to conceal the more Solemn Elevations of Her mind. But hereby the like Spirit, came to be Spread among such as were about her.
The most Reverend A. B. of Canterbury hath given her this Testimony; It ha's at last been Understood that Her Exercises of Devotion, which were known, were not the Half of those which were then not known. If all were as diligent in Examining and noting down the Condition of their Souls, and Comparing the former, and the present Estate of them, Heaven would in some measure be upon Earth.
A QUEEN, Who, to prevent that common, but Fatal, Mischief, The Loss of Time, did spend much Time, in the Reading of Good Books, even those Written by Dissenters, as well as by Conformists, for the Excitation of true Piety. Yea, She frequently Ordered Good Books to be laid in the places of Attendence, that such as waited, might, by Reading therein, save themselves from the Infection of Idleness. And when She was weary of Reading Her self, (generally Aloud, for the Benefit of them that Served Her) She would call upon another to Read, unto the Rest; and in the mean Time She would Work, with Her own Royal Hands, as Industriously as if She had been thereby to Earn her Bread; for She said, She Look'd on Idleness, a [...] the Great Corrupter of Humane Nature! But hereby the [Page 40] whole City soon came to write after this Copy; and it was become (as ha's been said) as much the Fashion to Work, as it had been formerly to be Idle.
A QUEEN, Who was so Exquisitely Cautious against the Enchantments of the Devil, FLATTERY, that She would Frequently Talk about the Danger of it; and Fervently Ask of those about Her, To Speak the Truth Plainly to her, and with all Freedome Tell her, if they observed any thing amiss in her, that She might mend it. Oh! the Sincere and Pious Wisdom, of such a Caution!
A QUEEN, Who with most sensible Resentments considered all the Frowns of God, in His Dispensations; but Especially in sad Accidents that came from the more Immediate Hand of Heaven. Particularly, on a great loss at Sea, She said, Though there was no Occasion for Complaint or Anger upon these, yet there was a Juster cause of Grief, since the Hand of God was to be seen so particularly in them. And She would set her self to Examine, whether some Secret Sins lying at the Root, might not blast all; but She would then say, Where so much is Visible, there is no Need of Divination concerning what may be Hidden.
A QUEEN, Of so Diffusive and Extensive [...] Charity, that all the Miserable, on all Oppor [...]unities had Experience of it. How many [Page 41] Thousands of Refugees, found Her a Liberal Mother unto them all; and this, without any Regard unto their Different Perswasions, in the Circumstantials of Christianty! She would Encourage all that had Access unto her, to lay before her the Necessities of all the Good Men, that they knew, Languishing in any Needy Circumstances. And yet She managed this her most Royal Bounty, with such a Regular Discretion, and a Self-denying Secrecy, as was the Admiration of all that penetrated thereinto.
A QUEEN, Who yet Remembred, that She was a WIFE; and by the Raptures of Affection, Obedience, and Resignation, wherewith She always treated that Great Monarch, whom She made in all things her Oracle, She practically taught the Rules of Christian Oeconomicks unto all the Families of more than Three Nations. The Sitting of Two such Persons upon the Throne together had a Tendency to recover the Married State, from all that Infamy, which the Debaucheries of the Two last Reigns, had been trying to cast upon it; But the Matchless Love which ran through the whole Behaviour of Two such Persons towards each other, did Raise the Married State unto the Just-Heighth of its Reputation. The Tears of the King since her Death, are her most glorious Elegy and Elogy. Her Husband Praises her, Declaring, That in her whole Conversation, he never discovered a [Page 42] Fault. He, whom all the Powers of the French Empire cannot Shake, faints at the Convulsions of this Divorce, and Professes, The Loss is Insupportable! Indeed, as a French Divine in his Funeral Sermon for this Illustrious Dorcas, ha's Expressed it, The Taking of an Hundred Cities, and the gaining of an Hundred Battels, would not make up this loss unto our Sovereign. Such a QUEEN, ha's that Happy Island seen: And the most Glorious Island in the World justly counted this QUEEN, Her Glory!
Her Exact Conduct in the Administration of Her Government, even Then when the Nations were more than once Trembling under a most formidable Crisis of their Affairs, will no more be Forgotten: than that marvellous Aequality of Mind, wherewith She both Received and Resigned it. Her Dexterity in managing the Snarled and Arduous Affairs of the Government, & preserving the Tranquillity of the Kingdoms in the most Critical Times that ever they saw, was an Evidence of an Exalted and Consummate Understanding; and Her Humility, in still Receiving Authority with Tears, but still Resigning it with Joy!
But let our Observations proceed unto the Royal Designs, with which the God of Heaven Inspired Her Soul.
A Proposal, a Contrivance, How to do Good? was the most Welcome Thing in the World [Page 43] unto her. She would call for Suggestions of, that Importance, from those that were about her; yea, She Charged their Consciences, that they should keep nothing of that Nature from her, which they might judge it proper for Her to know: & when any Good Motion was offered, She would have it Repeated, until She had fully Shaped in her own Thoughts the Notion of it. She Did Good, unto her utmost; & then has been seen to Weep, that She could Do no more.
The Good that She was most of all desirous to Do, was, To Reform Her People of the Evil Manners that prevailed among them. Her Heart was Extreamly▪ Distressed, from the Apprehensions which the multiplied Impieties of the Nations, gave her, that the Judgments of God were Impending over them. When She was informed of the fearful Wickednesses committed all over the Land, it struck her with Horror, and Sorrow, and gave her a Melancholly prospect. She often said, especially upon the Licentious and Exorbitant Lives of many, that were the Servants of the Crown, Can a Blessing be Expected from such Hands, or on any Thing that must pass thro' them? And She Long'd for the Concerns of the Kingdom to be put into the Hands of such Vertuous and Generous men, as one might Reasonably hope for a Blessing of Heaven to accompany. The Crying Sins that [Page 44] abounded in the Armies and Navies, caused her to Mourn in the presence of God; and She gave persons in Eminent Stations, to understand, That it was impossible for them to oblige her more, than by a care to stop those Disorders, and Reduce Matters to the Gravity and Sobriety of the former Times.
When She heard, that Ireland before it was well got out of its late Confusions, was returning unto its Old Iniquities, She would speak of it, as one through Trouble, almost Unable to Speak.
The Lamentable Formality and Contention which overspread the Protestant Churches abroad, most sensibly Afflicted her; She would, with a certain Anguish of Heart, say upon it, Can such Dry Bones Live?
She Passionately Wished that the Church of England might be Reformed, of many things that She saw Amiss in it; And being One that Loved the Image of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whomsoever She saw it, without any Little Respects to Differing parties, there was nothing more in her Wishes, than a better Union among those that had that Image on them It was unto an Honoured Rela [...]ion of my own, that She uttered those words, Inasmuch as a Man cannot make himself Believe what he will, why should we persecute one another? I wish, I could see all Good Men of one Mind; but in the mean [Page 45] Time, I Pray, Let them however Love one another. Words, worthy to be witten in Letters of Gold She was particularly Resolved upon throwing Disgrace upon all Ministers, that should not Painfully and Faithfully, Watch over the Souls under their Charge. But the Day before her last Sickness arrested her, She said, She had no great Hope of Mending matters, yet She was Resolved to go on, and never Suffer her self to be discouraged, or loose Heart: She would still Try what could be done, and pursue her Design, how slow or insensible soever, the Progress might be.
She would therefore Listen most Attentively, to every thing, that gave any Hope of Things being better in the Next Generation. And when She was informed of a Religious Disposition, beginning to spread it self among the Young People, in the great City of London, She was mightily pleased with it, and would much and oft Enquire after it.—
But that at last, I may say something, which may more nearly Touch my Friends in the Plantations, I will Recite, and but Recite, the Words of the most Learned Bishop of Salisbury, who ha's been my Author, for some things already spoken, in his Essay upon her Memory; ‘She took particular Methods, to be well informed of the State of our Plantations, and of those Colonies that we have among the Infidels. But it was no small Grief to Her, [Page 46] to Her, to hear that they were but too generally a Reproach to the Religion, by which they were Named, (I do not say, which they professed, for many of them seem scarce to profess it.)’
But as none of all the Plantations have signalized their Loyalty to Her, more than the Countrey of NEW-ENGLAND, so, She ever Expressed a special Regard for that Countrey.
For New England She most readily Spoke unto the King at Home, and Wrote unto Him abroad, That He would be favourable unto His Good Subjects there.
And when One of the Agents for that Country, being Introduced unto the QUEEN, and having the Honour to Represent at large, the State of that People before Her Majesty; said, I most Humbly pray Tour Majesties Favour to Your Majesties Subjects in New-England; than whom, none are more in Your Interests, nor are there any who do with greater Devotion pray for Your Long and Happy Reign. They only Petition, that they may be Resettled in the Enjoyment of those Priviledges, whereof they were possessed, until the Last Year of K. Charles II. The QUEEN most graciously Replyed; I would not only have Justice done to that People, but Favour shown to them. And if any thing be yet wanting to that Province, it was not on Her part; who show'd her particular Tenderness [Page 47] for their Welfare, in sending them, by that Hand, a kind supply for their Defence against the Common Enemy.
And now, O WHEEL! what a doleful Turn hast thou given, in the Removal of so Excellent a Princess?
When She fell Sick, She set her self to take a View of DEATH; and She found the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Enabling Her to Encounter it, with such a Miraculous Calm of Soul, that She said, Though She did not Pray for Death, yet She could neither wish nor Pray against it; She left that before God, and referr'd her self Entirely to the Disposal of His Providence. Unparallel'd Words, for a Lady in the Flower of Youth, Surrounded with all the Temptations and Enjoyments of this Life!
The Tidings of Her Indisposition, cast the whole English Nation, into such an Astonishing Terrour, as no Colours, are black Enough to describe: a certain Trembling Siezed the Nation, and all things were in an Universal Agony.
She only Her self was easy, and Reaping the Fruits, the Joyes, of her past Godly Life, She found the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ Enabling Her to Triumph over the Last-Enemy.
Among the most Satisfying and Seraphical Things then uttered by this Dying Lady,
One was,
[Page 48] I know what Loose People think, of those who pretend to Religion; they think, it is all Hypocrisy. Let them think what they Will, I may now say, and I thank God, I can say it; I have not [...]ffected to appear what I was not.
Another was,
I believe, I shall now soon Dy; and I thank God, I have from my Youth Learned a true Doctrine, That Repentance is not to be put off unto a Death-bed
Her Distemper proved the Small Pox: and of That, amidst the Sighs of an amazed Nation, this Glorious QUEEN, fill'd with Internal Peace, Expired and Retired unto Eternal; On December 28. 1694 a Quarter of an Hour before One, on Fryday morning; in the Thirty Third Year of her Age. [She was Born, April 30. 1662.]
A TURN of the WHEEL, whereon all considerate persons have made that Reflection, which Dr. Burnet has in those Terms on this Occasion given unto us, God seems to be making a way for His Anger, and to be Removing that Interposition, which we have reason to believe did effectually stop the Miseries, for which we may well fear, that we are more than Ripe.
A TURN whereof our Brethren in Scotland also have been so sensible, as to Indict a Natinal FAST, for the Calamity befallen the Nations in so Ominous a Death.
[Page 49]A TURN, which has put Three Puissant Kingdoms, and all the Navies and Armies, & all the Plantations of both the India's thereto pertaining, into Mourning; yea, and all the Courts of Europe, except that One, wherein, as a French Divine on this Occasion says, It is a crime to deplore Vertue, as much as to profess the Truth.
She was Interred on the Fifth of March following, with Solemnities transcending what had ever been paid unto any of Her Predecessors.
The KING being, thro' the singular Mercy of God, at Whitehal, in the Time of this Terrible Disaster, the Parliament immediately Expressed their Concern for the Safety of His Royal Person, by Addressing Him with Humble Declarations of their Fixed Resolutions to Stand by Him, and His Government.
Those Declarations were immediately followed with ADDRESSES OF CONDOLENCE, from all parts of the Nation; among which there was One from the Non Conformist Ministers, which, because I know it expresses but vvhat the Ministers of New England, (a Province to which this Relation is especially directed) would most heartily have concurr'd unto, if the Extremity of their Distance in those Remote parts of America, had not rendred them uncapable of any seasonable Consultation for it, I shall conclude this Discourse, vvith the Recital thereof.
THE Address of Condolence TO His MAJESTY, BY THE Dissenting Ministers.
THO we come in the Rear of the Train of Mourners, to pay our Tributary Tears for the Unvaluable Loss in the Death of Your Royal Consort, and our most Gracious Queen, yet our Resentments of it are with as tender a Sympathy as are in the Breasts of any of Your Subjects. This gives the sharpest Accent to our Passions, that the Considerations which are most proper and powerful to allay our Sorrows, exasperate them: for while we remember what She was, how general and diffusive a Blessing [Page 51] to three Kingdoms, the severe Stroke of Providence in taking Her from us, is most afflicting. Such a Concurrence of high Perfection shin'd in Her Person and Actions, that would have made Her Illustrious in a low Condition; and in Her exalted Station they were attractive of the Eyes and Admiration of all. Her Mind was above the Temptations that attend the Throne. Majesty was mix'd with that condescending Humility, that tender and beneficent Goodness, that She was easily accessable to all for their Relief and Support. Her Piety and Purity were so conspicu [...]us, Her Affections were so comp [...]sed and temperate, that the Court, that is usually the Centre of Vanity and Voluptuousness, became Vertuous by the Impression of Her Example. Her Conversation was so regular, that Her Enemies (if Goodness in such a bright Eminency had any) could not fasten a Taint upon Her. Her Royal Endowments for Government, Wisdom, Magnanimity, Vigilance and Care in managing Affairs of State (without which the highest Princes are but civil Idols, useless and unprofitable to the World) these were in s [...]ch a degree of Excellency, that in▪ Your Majesty's constrained Absence, while You were defending the Interest of Christendom, against a potent Enemy Abroad, with the Sword of War, She sweetly ordered all things at Home with the Scepter of Peace. She is gone, and must return no more: O astonishing Gr [...]ef! But it becomes us with humble Submission to acquiesce [Page 52] in the Divine Disposal. The Will of God is always directed by infinite Wisdom, and is the Rule of Goodness. We must refresh our Sorrows with the hope that She is entered into her Saviour's Joy, whom She imitated and honoured, and that She is made happy in the Love of God and the Light of His Countenance for ever.
We humbly beseech Your Majesty to accept the renewed Assurances of our inviolable and constant Fidelity to your Person and Government; and that we shall influence all that are within our Compass to persevere in their Duty; We shall earnestly pray to the blessed God to keep you in the best Protection, his encompassing Favour, to support your Spirit with Divine Comforts, and to continue long your precious Life, so necessary for preserving the pure Religion, and the Civil Rights of this Kingdom.
ERRATA.
PAge 5. line 9. for Angels. read Angles. Page 8. l. 4. f. Who being. r. when.
POSTSCRIPT. For the Entertainment of the Reader, the Bookseller has been willing here to add, the manner of the QUEENS Funeral.
THis day was Solemnized the Funeral of Her late Majesty Queen Mary II. of Blessed Memory, from the Royal Palace of Whitehall to the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, all the way being Boarded, Railed in, & Covered with black Bays. The Proceeding began with the Knight-Marshals men and Deputy, three hundred poor Women in Mourning Gowns and Hoods, after whom followed the Banner of Union, several Classes of Their Majesties Servants, the Children and Gentlemen of the Chappel Royal, more of Their Majesties Servants, Chaplains to Their Majesties; Aldermen of London; others of Their Majesties Servants; The Lord Mayor of London; The House of Commons in long Cloaks, with their Speaker, and the Mace born [Page 54] before him, and his Train carried [...], and the House of Peers in their Robes, with their Speaker the Lord Keeper, having the Mace and Purse carried before him held up; The Banners of Chester, Cornwall and Wales, born by the Lord Spencer, the Lord Willougby of Eresby, and the Lord Viscount Longue ville; The Banners of Ireland and Scotland by the Earl of Montrath and Solkirke; The Banners of England and France Quarterly, of England, and the Great Banner born by the Earl of Denbigh, the Earl of Stamford, and the Earl of Bridgwater and Suffolk; Then followed the Mourning Horse led by the Lord Viscount Villers, Master of the Horse to her late Majesty, attended by two Equerries; The Helmet and Crest, Target and Sword, and Surcoat of Arms, born by Officers at Arms, followed by the Lord Marquiss of Wenchester, Lord Chamberlain to Her late Majesty; Then the Queens Body in a Purple Velvet Coffin, with a rich Cloth of Gold Pall, and thereon the Crown Orb, and Scepters on a Cushion, one of the Queens Bed-Chamber Women, sitting at the Feet, and another at the Head, in an open Chariot, richly adorned, drawn by eight Horses, close covered with Purple Velvet, and adorned with Escutcheons, & Feathers, Six Bannerolls on each side, born by Baronets, the Pall being supported by the Earls of Derby and Kent, Lord Marquiss [Page 55] of Normanby, Dukes of Northumberland, Somerset and Norfolk. The Dutchess of Somerset chief Mourner, supported by the Lord Privy Seal, and the Lord President of His Majesty's Council, the Dutchesses of St. Albans, and Southampton supporters to the Train, assisted by the Queens Vice-Chamberlain; Assistant of the Chief Mourner were two Duchesses twelve Countesses and four Baronesses, then the Ladies of the Bed-Chamber, then the Maids of Honour, then the Bed-Chamber Women, all in the deepest Mourning, according to their several Ranks The several parts of the Proceeding were attended by the Kings and other Officers of Arms, with Drums and Trumpets, and the whole closed with the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, and Yeomen of the Guard; and when the Body was taken out of the Chariot at the Door of the Church a Canopy of Purple Velvet was carried over it by the Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber, & the Crown, Orb, and Scepters on the Cushion carried by Clarenceux King of Arms. The Dean and Prebendaries with the Quire of Westminster attended at the Entrance of the Church, which was illuminated with a great number of Lights, & proceeded before the Body, which was deposited under a Magnificent Mausoleum, Erected in the middle of the Cross of the said Church, & there remained during the Service and Sermon Preached by the Lord Archbishop [Page 56] of Canterbury; The Chief Mourner and the rest of the Ladies that went in the Proceeding were placed about the Body; And the House of Peers & the House of Commons were seated on each side. After Sermon the late Queens Secretary and Treasurer, Master of the Horse, and Lord Chamberlain, the Dean and Prebendaries of Westminster, and both Quires, with the Officers of Arms, and those that bore the Atchievements and Regalia, proceeded before the Body to King Henry VII. Chappel, which was attended by the Supporters of the Pall, and followed by the Chief Mourner, her Supporters, and Supporters of her Train, and the Ladies, as in the former Proceeding. The Dean of Westminster performed the Office of Burial, which ended, Garter Proclaimed the Royal Styles, and the Body was Interred in a Vault on the Southside of the said Chappel.
The Bells were Tolled according to Order, all over the Kingdom. The Guns at the Tower fired for three hours at a Minutes distance between every one; And Orders were given to all His Majesty's Ships at the Buoy of the Nore and at Blackstakes, to fire their Guns the same day from Two in the Afternoon till Sunset, in the manner practised at Funeral Solemnities.