For ourselves, we cannot better shew our thankfulness for this deliver- ance, by means whereof we enjoy our lives and our religion, than to pre- serve that truth, that is grounded upon the foundation of truth, which hath been derived unto us from those that -vfent before, who held out the same truth ; that hath been sealed by the blood of so many mai-t}TS ; that hath been established by the authority of gracious princes ; that God hath given witness to by so many deliverances ; that concurs with the confessions of all reformed churches ; that God hath blessed with a constant tenor of peace, even to the rejoicing of all neighbour churches, to the envy of our enemies, and to the admu'ation of all.
We see all countries round about us in a confusion, and we, as it were the * three young men in the fiery furnace,' safe, Dan. iii., without so much as smoke or smell of fire ; as if we were the only people of God's delight. Now, what is that which God careth most for amongst us, but his truth ? which, if we sufier, as much as in us lieth, to take any detriment, God may justly make us the spectacles of his wrath to others, as others have been to us. Beloved, God hath a cause and a people in the world, which he esteemeth more than all the world besides. Let us therefore own God's cause and people ; his side one day will prove the better side.
I beseech j'ou consider, what hui't have we ever had by the Reformation of religion ? hath it come naked unto us ? hath it not been attended with peace and prosperity ? hath God ' been a barren wilderness to us ? ' Jer. ii. 31. Hath not God been a wall of fire about us ? which, if he had not been, it is not the water that compasseth our island could have kept us. So long as we keep Christ's truth, Christ will keep us. Otherwise, trust to it, Christ and his truth v/ill leave us. No nation under heaven hath so much cause to say ' Behold ' as we have. Men are ready upon all occasions to be sensible of civil grievances (as in Solomon's time gold was as stones in the street, 2 Chron. i. 15, ix. 27), but we should be sensible of the spiritual favours we enjoy. If we look upon other kingdoms abroad, what nation under heaven hath the like cause to bless God for religion, for prince, for peace, &c., as we have ? Beloved, we cannot better deserve of our king, church, and state, than to give up our hves to God who hath thus blessed us. The greatest enemies of a church and state, are those that provoke the highest Majesty of heaven, by obstinate courses against the light that shineth in their own hearts. It is seriously to be considered what Samuel saith to the people ; and therefore, if not for love of our- * See original in note g. — G.
THE saint's safety IN EVIL TIMES. 813
selves, yet for the love of our king, religion, and state, let us take heed of provoking courses, and take heed of tiring the patience of God over-long. To conclude all, it is prayer that gets, but thankfulness witnessed by obedience that keeps, blessings. And what can our thoughts devise, our tongues utter, or our lives express, better, than the praise of our good God, that ever loadeth us with his benefits ? that so God may delight still to shew himself unto us in the ways of his mercy, and think thoughts of love towai'ds us, and dwell amongst us to the world's end.
NOTES.
(a) P. 306. — Augustine saith well, every sin is a lie. Fro7n De Civitate Dei, xlv. iv. 1, ' Unde non frustra dici potest, omne peccatum esse meudacium.'
(h) P. 307. — ' Sweet morsels their Herodians.' This is probably a mis- print for Herodiases, and the reference to Mat. xiv. 3, 6, Mark vi. 17, 22
(c) P. 307. — 'Sin . . . lay at the door,' Gen. iv. 7. For very inl cresting remarks on this passage, in the sense of Sibbes's quotation, consult Kalisch in loc, specially page 139 (Hist, and Critical Commentary on Old Testament . . . Genesis. 1858).
(d) P. 310. — ' The subsistence of things not seen,' Heb xi. 1. U'zosrasig is ren- dered ' substance ' in our authorised version. Professor Sampson of America m loc. accepts Sibbes's tran.slation, and observes, ' It is not only true of faith, that it is a "firm persuasion" of the existence of such things, but tliat it gives them, so to speak, "present subsistence." It gives them the force of present realities. This sense, therefore, includes the other, and is for this reason preferable, that, while it expresses all that is expressed by the other, it gives more fulness and strength to the apostle's words ' (Critical Commentary on Hebrews. New York, 185G).
(e) P. 310, — 'Our gunpowder plotters.' Sibbes preached numerous sermons on the anniversary of the memorable conspiracy known by the name of ' the gunpowder plot.' It was so designated from its design having been, by springing a mine under the Houses of Parliament, to destroy the three estates of the realm. It was dis- covered on Nov. 5th. 1605. An excellent summary of the facts will be found in a small volume dedicated to ' the plot,' by the Rev. Thomas Lathbury of Bristol, and a full ' history ' in the standard work of David Jardine, Esq.