cies He has favoured Us with, as a Nation SER M. Placed Us in a Situation, and in Circumftances, XVIII. which point out to Us all Opportunities imaginable of being a great and flourishing People;

.

Made us the Subjects of a Power governed by Laws, and not of Arbitrary and Unbounded Tyranny; often delivered our Liberties and Lives from imminent Ruine, and our Happiness from the very Jaws of Destruction; Called us to the Knowledge of his Gospel (a Mercy which we can never duely value) not as it was hid, and obfcured, and made useless, by ignorant and wicked Men, but, by his Providence, restored to Light, fo far, as to lie open to All, in that Native Simplicity and Purity, in which his firft Followers preached, and wrote it, for the Ufe of All. And, to engage us the more to it, He himself has made This happy Condition of Ours fo much his Care, that no Attempts hitherto against it have profpered, but all have been wonderfully defeated. And then We may go on to confider, That, as Mercies have not been wanting to draw us, fo neither have Judgments to alarm and drive Us of this Generation to Amendment. It is not very long fince all was Confufion and Disorder; fince the Sword of Civil Fury was dyed in Blood and Slaughter; nor much less Time, fince a fatal Peftilence raged amongst Us, and

SER M. a terrible Fire laid waste this City. Now, if we XVIII. reflect on all thefe, we must think, either that we are amended and reformed so much as to turn away God's Difpleafure; or elfe, that the Day for Ruine and Deftruction cannot be at a very great Distance, unless we do very foon and very seriously prevent it, by forfaking our Vices, and turning to Him in Holiness and Righteoufnefs of Life. For thus We should call to Remembrance, He has dealt with the Nations of old; and particularly, with his chofen People, the People of Ifrael. And therefore, We should argue, in this fame Manner, and these fame Methods, will He deal with us, in the future Difpenfations of his Mercy, or of his Wrath.

The Thoughts, which I have now pointed out, will, in their natural Tendency, lead us all moft heartily to endeavour to amend.our own Lives, and to do what in Us lies to difcourage, and put a stop to, the open Wickedness of Others; and fo to confult our own Intereft and Happiness, in the Profperity and Happiness of that Nation, and Society, of which we are. Members. And, as what I have now offered cannot but be thought very seasonable upon the Occafion, which has at this Time brought Us together; fo, let me add, with regard to our prefent publick Circumftances; that fuch

Con

Confiderations can never be more feasonable, S ER M. than at a Time, when a Torrent of open XVIII. Wickedness, and Shameful Divifions at Home, and a Powerful Enemy Abroad, feem to conspire to open the Way, to the Ruine of all that is dear to Us, as Englishmen, and Protestants.

God grant, We may know, even We, in this our Day, the Things that belong to our Peace; and all of Us act according to what We fee to be our Duty, and our Intereft!

394

SERMON XIX.

Preached at St. Peter's Poor, March 8, 1708-9, being the Anniversary of the Queen's Acceffion, &c.

SERM.

XIX.

I TIM. ii. I, 2.

I exhort therefore, that first of all Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions, and giving of Thanks, be made for all Men: for Kings, and for all that are in Authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honefty.

T

HESE Words are a Direction to Timothy, who had the Care and Overfight both of Pastors and People, in the Parts about Ephefus; and they relate to the public Prayers of Chriftian Congregations: exhorting, that they should extend their Charity to the whole World, by recommending all Mankind to the Favour of Almighty God; particularly, that they should pray, and give Thanks, for Kings, and all that were in Au

thority,

thority, or, as the Margin expreffes it, nearer S ER M. to the Original, in eminent Place; for All whom xix. the Providence of God has raised to any Degree of Power; that they should pray for all fuch, that Chriftians might lead a quiet and peaceable Life under them, in all Godliness and Honefty. Which last Words are either defigned to direct them what should be the Matter of their Prayers; or else to exprefs one End which he propofed by Chriftians thus publickly praying for All in Authority, or Eminence; viz. that these Perfons in Power might be induced by this to be favourable to them, or, at least, not to treat them as Enemies. If they be understood the first Way, the Direction is, That they should pray for all in Eminence, to this. Effect, that God would be pleased fo to difpose their Hearts, that They might so use their Power, as that fo good Men, and Profeffors of fo holy a Religion, as the Chrif tians, might be fafe and fecure under them; that they might be Terrors only to Evil-doers, and a Praise and Safe-guard to them that do well. If they be understood in the latter Senfe, as one End propofed by St. Paul, why Chriftians fhould at that Time particularly pray for all in high Stations, the Meaning of them will be this, That he would have them pray for their Superiours and Governours, not only

because