SERMONS.
VOL. XV.
AMPLISSIMO SENATUI,
INCLYTISSIMO POPULl ANGLICANI CONVENTUl,
ob
Prisca Anglo-Britannorum jura strenue &, iideliter asserta ;
Libertatem patriam (nefariis quorundam molitionibus paene
pessundatam) recuperatam ;
Justitiam fortiter, to-wc. Ittlhkwq, airpo<Tto7ro\i7rT<ng
administratam ;
'Apxnv in ecclesiasticis aviepoTvpawiKriv dissolutam, Ritus
Poutificios, novitios, Antichristianos abolitos ;
Privilegia plebis Christianse postlirainio restituta ; -
Potissimutn
Protectiouem Dei O. M. his omnibus, aliisque innumeris, consilio, bello, domi, foras gratiose potitara ;
Toto orbe jure meritissimo celeberrimo, Toti huic insulae aeterna loemoria recolendo,
Yiris illustribus, clarissimis, selectissimis, ex ordine Com- munium in suprema curia Parliam. congregatis.
CoNcioNEM banc sacram, humilemillam quidem, ipsorum
tamen voto jussuque prius coram ipsis habitam,
nunc luce donatam,
D. D. C.
JOANNES OWEN.
B 2
SERMONS.
SERMON I*
A VISION OF UNCHANGEABLE, FREE MERCY, IN SENDING THE MEANS OF GRACE TO UNDESERVING SINNERS.
WHEREUNTO IS ANNEXED,
A COUNTRY ESSAY FOR THE PRACTICE OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT THERE.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There stood a tnan of Mace- donia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. — Acts xvi. 9.
The kingdom of Jesus Christ is frequently in the Scripture compared to growing things ;* small in the beginning and first appearance, but increasing by degrees unto glory and perfection. The shapeless stone"* cut out without hands, having neither form, nor desirable beauty given unto it, be- comes a great mountain, filling the whole earth ; Dan. ii. 35. The small vine brought out of Egypt, quickly covers the hills with her shadow, her boughs reach unto the sea, and her branches unto the rivers ; Psal. Ixxx. 8. The tender plant" becomes as the cedars of God; and the grain of mustard-seed to be a tree for the fowls of the air to make their nests in the branches thereof. Mountains are made plains before it, every valley is filled, and the crooked paths made straight, that it may have a passage to its appointed period : and all this, not only not supported by outward advantages, but in direct opposition to the combined power*^ of this whole creation, as fallen, and in subjection to the * god of this world,' the head thereof. As Christ was ' a tender plant,'* seemingly easy to be broken, and * a root
• This sermon was preached before tho-honourable house of commons, April 29, 1646, being the day of public iiumiliation.
a Ecclesia sicut luna defectus habet, et ortus frequenfes; sed defectibus suis crevif, &c. hiEC est vera luna, quse de fratris sui luce perpetua, lumen sibi im- mortalitatis et gratiac mutuatur. Amb. Hex. lib. 4. cap. 2. Psal. Ixviii. 13.
•> Isa. liv. 11. Zech.iv. r. «^ Isa. liii. 3— 5.
•' 1 John iii. 1,1. Rev. ii, 10. 2 Cor. iv. 4. ' Isa. Jiii. ','.
O A VISION Oi
out of a dry ground,' not easily flourishing, yet liveth for ever ;' so his people and kingdom, though as a * lily among thorns, 's as ' sheep among wolves/'' as a ' turtledove among a multitude of devourers,'* yet stands unshaken, at least unshivered.
The main ground and foundation of all this is laid out, ver. 6 — 9. of this chapter, containing a rich discovery how all things here below, especially such as concern the gospel and church of Christ, are carried along through innumerable varieties, and a world of contingencies, accord- ing to the regular motions and goings forth of a free, eternal, unchangeable decree: as all inferior orbs, notwithstanding the eccentrics and irregularities of their ov/n inhabitants, are orderly carried about by the first mover.
In ver. 6. the planters of the gospel are * forbid to preach the word in Asia''' (that part of it peculiarly so called), and ver. 7. assaying to go with the same message into Bithynia, they are crossed by the Spirit in their at- tempts ; but in my text, are called to a place, on which their thoughts were not at all fixed : which calling, and which forbidding, were both subservient to his free determination, who ' worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will;' Ephes. i. 11.
And no doubt but in the dispensation of the gospel throughout the world, unto this day, there is the like con- formity to be found to the pattern of God's eternal decrees ; though to the messengers not made known aforehand by re- velation, but discovered in the effects, by the mighty work- ing of Providence.
Amongst other nations, this is the day of England's Tisitation, ' the day-spring from on high having visited this people,' and 'the sun of righteousness arising upon us, with healing in his wings,'' a man of England hath prevailed for assistance, and the free grace of God hath wrought us help by the gospel.
Now in this day three things are to be done, to keep up our spirits unto this duty, .of bringing down our souls by humiliution.
' Heb. vii. '2."). S Cant. ii. '■2. *> iNlatt. x. 16. ' Psal. Ixxiv. 19.
^ Eo ipso tempore quo ad omiies gentes prsedicatio evangelii mittebatur, quas- daiu luca apostolis adire piohibehnlur ab eo, qui viilt ornnes Jiortiinef «alvOj fieri Protp. Ep. ad Rufin. Aict o' iriXvsro S'^vry,. Hoiu ' Mal.iv. -i.
UXCHAN'GEABLE, FR£E MERCY. 7
First, To take us off the pride of our own performances, en- deavours, or any adherent worth of our own. * Not for your sakes do I this, said the Lord ; be it known unto you, be ye ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel' [O house of England]; Ezek. xxxvi. 32.