I dressed up as King Charles II and gave this sermon in the first person. PowerPoint slides are available. email jaykaymarsh@yahoo.com to get them
Greetings and Salutations. I am King Charles II. Some of you may know my great great great great great great great great great great great (that’s 11 greats) grandson, Prince Charles. He has had a little trouble with the British public. But his troubles are nothing compared to the trouble my father, Charles I and I had. 1,2
Charles I and his Parliament disagreed on how to govern England and the English Civil War resulted. Parliament’s army defeated Charles I’s army and on January 30, 1649 Charles I was executed. Fortunately I was able to escape to France. Two years later I returned to Scotland and gathered an army to reclaim my throne. By late afternoon on September 3, 1651 my army was defeated . After the battle I fled from my headquarters to my lodgings to gather a few things. I left out the back door as Parliamentary forces entered the front door. 1,2
Lesson #1. I could not reclaim my kingdom by force. I could only be King of England if the people chose me. So it is with God. He does not force His Kingship on us. Behold I stand at the door and knock- Rev 3:20. He waits for us to choose him as our King 3
Lord Wilmot, Lord Derby, and Charles Giffard and I fled to Giffards’s Boscobel estate. We arrived at about 3 AM. Here I met the Pendrell brothers: William, Richard, John, and George. They helped disguise me as a woodsman. I cut my long hair. I put on an old set of cloths. I darkened my skin with charcoal. I put on an old pair of shoes. No shoes could be found to fit me, so I cut the sides out of a pair and forced them on. I hid in a nearby woods the rest of the night and all the next day. It never stopped raining. It was miserable, but no doubt slowed down my pursuers. A kind woman, Francis Yates a relative of the Pendrells gave a me a blanket to the keep the rain off. 1,2
Lesson # 2: Kindness is never forgotten. In all my troubles I remember this kindness. These poor people had done much for me already. They had hid me at risk to their own life. They had given me their own cloths. They did their duty, but beyond that they were kind. I didn’t need a blanket but they gave me one. When we help the poor it is not enough to give them what they need. We need to go the extra mile and be kind. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 3
That night Trusty Dick and I went looking for places to cross the Severn River into Wales where I had more supporters. Along the way we needed to cross a small stream, thw Worth. Rather than get our feet wet we crossed at miller’s bridge. Unfortunately the miller, a grumpy man, challenged us. “Who goes there” he cried. “Neighbors going home,” replied Richard Pendrell. “If you be neighbors, stand close” replied the miller. At this we ran up a long lane and jumped a hedge and listened to see if he had followed.. He had not. 1,2
Lesson #3: Hospitality. Like the Innkeeper of Bethlehem, the miller missed the chance of a lifetime: to harbor a king. Let us always be hospitable to visitors. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2 3
We proceeded to a town called Madley. While I stayed in the background, Richard approached Francis Wolf and asked him if he would receive a gentlemen of quality who had escaped the battle of Worcester. Mr. Wolf replied that is was to dangerous to harbor anyone known and that he would not venture his neck, unless it were the king himself. Then Richard told Mr. Wolf it was I. Then Mr. Wolf replied that he would venture all he had to save me. I spent the rest of the night and all the next day hiding under the straw in Mr. Wolf’s barn. 1,2
Lesson #4. Although the gift of salvation is free, it compel us to venture all for the King. God has done so much for us. He created us. He sustains us. He redeemed us. He is changing us to be like him. Out of love we serve him. We will venture all for our King. I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,...one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 3:8,14 3
While I hid Richard Pendrell and Francis Wolf scouted the Severn but found all the crossings closely watched by Parliamentary forces. After dark Richard and I decide to return to Boscobel. Since the only place to cross was at the miller’s bridge, the same miller who had challenged us two nights earlier, I decided we should swim across. This was a problem because Richard did not know how to swim. It was a small river and I ventured half way through it and found it came up only to my middle. I returned to Richard, took him by the hand, and led him through the river. We reached Boscobel early Saturday morning. 1,2
Lesson # 5: When we follow the King we will encounter difficulties, more than difficulties, impossibilities. But the King will get us through. The Bible is full of stories that are humanly impossible. Could Abraham defeat 5 kings with only 300 soldiers? Impossible. Could Moses lead 2 million slaves through the desert. Impossible. Could Peter change himself from frightened deserter to fearless champion. Impossible. With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible- Matthew 19:26 3
After a couple hours sleep I was awakened by Colonel Carlis and told Parliamentary forces were on their way to Boscobel and I needed to hide. They would surely search the house and the woods nearby. Not far from the house was a huge oak tree out in the open. Colonel Carlis and took some cheese, bread, and a small beer and we hid for 14 hours in the tree while my pursuers searched the house and the woods, many times passing underneath me.1,2
Lesson #6: Sometimes one person makes a difference. Churchill saved England from Hitler. Lincoln saved the Union. David won the battle by killing Goliath. When we look around and see all that needs to be done it overwhelms us. A man walking on the beach saw a boy throwing shells back into the ocean. He asked the boy why. The said the shells were left when the tide went out and would die. The man looked at the 1,000's of shells on the beach and told the boy he couldn’t possibly make a difference. The boy picked up a shell and threw it in the ocean. “Made a difference for that one.” he said. Few of us will make a difference that changes the history of the world, but every one us can make an eternal difference for one person.
Next we fled to Mosely Old Hall, the home of Thomas Whitegrave who had fought for me at Nasby in 1645. While there we heard Parliamentary troops were on the way. After hiding me he opened all the doors in the house including the front door and went out to wait for the troops. They were coming to arrest him for fighting at Worcester. Because of his age, he hadn’t fought at Worcester and told them so. They questioned the neighbors. The neighbors all agreed he had not. The soldiers were convinced. They saw the open doors and figured Whitegrave had nothing to hid and left. It is ironic that the troops were eventually convinced of the truth but never asked the right questions, “Have you got the King here?” 1,2
Lesson #7: You’re never to old to serve the King. “As those who have spent there lives in the service of Christ draw near to the close of there service, they will be impressed by the Holy Spirit to recount their Earthly experiences. God desires the old and tired laborers to stand in there place, doing there part to save men and women from evil. He desires them to keep the armor on till He bids them lay it down.” 4
Whitegrave told us about Jane Lane. In those days a Catholic needed a pass to travel more than five miles from their home. Lady Jane Lane was a Catholic who wanted to visit her sister in Weymouth who was pregnant and had received a pass from the local officials. It was perfect. I could travel with her party. If anyone stopped us, we had a pass. It would get us out of the war zone. It would get us to the coast. I could get a ship at Bristol or Weymouth. I pretended to be her manservant and traveled on the same horse as her. . At Broomsgrove we discovered our horse had cast a shoe. As the servant I took the horse to the blacksmith, an anti-royalist. As I chatted with him I joked, “Its high time that rogue Charles Stuart was taken. He deserves to be hanged.” The blacksmith was not very observant and lost a 1,000 pound reward. That was 30 years wages in those days. At Wooten Waawan we met Parliamentary Cavalry. Jane Henry and I rode cooly through the troops and on to Stratford. 1,2
Lesson # 8: Be observant. Don’t let your daily responsibilities so weigh you down that you miss great spiritual opportunities. The blacksmith missed out on a 1,000 pound reward. The priest in the temple was to wrapped up in his job of dedicating children to notice he was dedicating the Messiah, but Anna and Simeon noticed. A man is more than that which he owns Be observant of the signs of the end. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:42 3
From Stratford we traveled to Bristol where we hoped to find a ship to take us to France. I waited three days but we could not find a ship so we went on to Charmouth. Here I witnessed the bizarre event of the villagers celebrating my death. At Charmouth we hired Captain Limbry to take us across to France. He left to make preparations but never returned. His wife feared for his safety and looked him in his chamber. 1,2
Lesson #9: Don’t make a big decisions without consulting your spouse. Be ye not unequally yoked together- II Corinthians 6:14 3
Jane Lane’s pass was only good to Weymouth, so she returned home. Next the Wyndom family, their servants, and I disguised ourselves as a runaway wedding party and pressed on toward Brighton. At Broadwindsor where we stayed in the loft of the Old George Inn. Here disaster almost struck again. A local constable arrived with 40 soldiers who were to billeted in the inn. Because I was in the loft there was no way out. I was saved when a woman traveling with the soldiers went into labor. The locals feared she would be left behind when the soldiers left and the parish would be forced to pay for the child’s upbringing. This squabble diverted the soldiers attention away from the occupants of the inn. 1,2
Lesson #10: Don’t be distracted from your mission. I’m proud of this church for keeping focused on its mission during the construction of this building. I’ve hear horror stories of other churches splitting over carpet color. This church discussed, voted, and both sides worked together to finish the project. O ne thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13
In the morning we started for Bryton where I stayed for three weeks while my friends attempted to secure my passage to France. Eventually Lord Wilmot and I crossed the English Channel on a coal boat named Surprise. For 60 pounds. After landing in France I proceeded to Paris where my mother, Queen Henrietta Maria greeted me. 1,2
After eight long years in exile, a new Parliament restored me to my throne. On May 23, 1660 I set sail from the Netherlands for England. On the voyage I recounted my adventures after Worcester to all who would listen. I renamed the Navy’s Battleships. The Richard Cromwell became the James, Duke of York. The Speaker of the House became the Mary, Princess of Orange. The Dunbar became the Henry, Duke of Gloucester. 2
At 3:00 in the afternoon of May 26, I was rowed ashore at Dover. The flags waved, the trumpets blew, The royal arms were publicly flown with joy. At Dover, the thunder of guns and cannons began and spread all the way to Tower Hill in London, just as bonfires sprang up from hill to hill. From Dover I traveled to Canturbery and Rochester. I took my time traveling the triumphal route, now lined with the local Militia and gracefully strewn with herbs by Kentish Maidens. 2
It was not until Tuesday, May 29, my 30th birthday, that I entered the capital. I rode on horseback between my two brothers. The Lord Mayor met me at Deptford and led us through Southwark and across London Bridge. The noise was incredible. The cannons, the bells, the clattering of soldiers and their horses. But above all was the noise of the people. 20,000 people laughing, shouting, crying, jostling to see the king. The restoration was complete. 2
I did not forget those who helped me escape. I gave Jane Lane and the Wyndoms1,000 pounds each, the same as the reward money for my capture. To the Penderel Brothers I gave a 300 pound pension that is still being paid to their descendants to this day. 1,2
Like Charles II we will be hunted. When all seems lost, there will be a bright spot in the sky and a great voice proclaims, “It is done.” The heavens thunder, the Earth quakes, the oceans swell, but we are not afraid. Then like a curtain the sky opens and the ten commandments appear. God’s people rejoice while the wicked hide. The sky curtains close and god’s voice booms out, “Jesus is coming!”
God’s people know where to look. In the east a small could about half the size of a man’s hand appears. It grows larger and larger. Soon a rainbow can be seen over it. Jesus is in the middle. The cloud stops and Jesus blows His trumpet and cries out, “Wake up!” Righeous dead people from very corner of the globe hear His voice. They stand and cry out, “Victory! O grave, where is your victory?” At that moment all God’s children are healed. Wheelchairs roll away. Crutches and glasses fall to the ground. False teeth, hearing aids, and bandages are tossed away. With their new bodies they rise to meat Jesus in the air. Angels scurry around giving babies back to their mothers. Old friends clasp hands.
The cloud rises to the City of God. On the way Jesus gives everyone a new name, a crown and a harp. When all are ready Jesus leads His people into the city. Suddenly someone calls out, “wait!” It is Adam striding up to meet Jesus. Jesus stretches out His arms to embrace Adam. Then Adam stops, stone still. His smile fades. He reaches out to touch the deep scar in Jesus palm. Then Adam falls at Jesus feet, weeping, “Worth, worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Gently Jesus takes Adam’s hand and lifts him up. “Adam, I have something to show you. They walk together until they come to an open doorway. “My park!” Adams eyes sparkle. Adam beholds the very trees he gather fruit from. He beholds the very vines he trained. His mind grasps the reality of the scene. He comprehends that Eden is restored. The Savior leads Adam to the Tree of Life and picks fruit and bids him eat. Adam begins to sing, “Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain...” Adam’s family joins and together they cast their crowns at Jesus feet. Angels who wept at the fall of Adam and rejoiced at Jesus resurrection behold the work of redemption accomplished and join the song. The restoration is complete. Sin is no more. All things declare that God is love. 5 Through out the ceaseless ages of eternity we will never tire of telling redemptions story.
Opening Hymn: Number 246: Worthy, Worthy, is the Lamb.
Closing Hymn: Number 425: Holy, Holy, Is What the Angles Sing
Scripture: Responsive Reading Number 750
Bibliography
1. The Escape of Charles II after the Battle of Boscobel
2. Royal Charles
3. The Holy Bible
4. Acts of the Apostles pg 74
5. The Great Controversy 35-52
