esteem them very great ones: and every pious heart will most seriously mourn, that the worthy name, by which we are called, is blasphemed among the Gentiles* through the sins, and peculiarly the enmities, of those who profess the Gospel; instead of its producing that glory to God, peace on earth, and good-will amongst men, which angels proclaimed at our Saviour's birth †. Still this dreadful evil, big with so many more, becomes, by the obstinate iniquity of men, sometimes unavoidable. It must be the will of the common Father of all, that societies, as well as single persons, be restrained from committing material injuries: else destructive ones would be committed perpetually. Now certainly amicable methods are to be tried in the first place: but often the only effectual method of restraint is by arms: and then, the minister of God, the supreme power, must not bear the sword in vain. Often again, treaties made to support allies, if unjustly attacked, are probably means of preserving peace and when that proves otherwise, the assistances promised must be given, in order to restore it. But above all, when a nation is directly attacked itself, defence is undeniably necessary. And our case, in the late war, was compounded of all these. We have therefore the comfort, that our undertaking it was justifiable: and our manner of carrying it on, I trust, no way peculiarly blamable. But it could never be lawful to refuse any equitable, any tolerable conditions of agreement, for putting an end to so much guilt and misery. Whether those, which we have accepted, are desirable, is not a question to be discussed here. You have decided * James ii. 7. Rom. ii. 24. + Luke ii. 14. Rom. xiii. 4. it for yourselves in the affirmative, by joining in this morning's service: and the people in general have shewn their joyful concurrence in the same opinion. If some well-meaning and able persons have thought otherwise, diversities of judgments are always to be expected in such matters; and if the illwishers to our happy establishment are sorry and angry, we have the more reason to be glad. Let us therefore proceed to observe, II. That the blessing of peace is God's gift. This will need only a short proof: but requires a much more serious and practical consideration, than we commonly allow it. Every enjoyment is from his bounty: every suffering, his infliction. The whole series of causes and effects, all the connections of all things, were originally appointed, and are continually superintended by him. He brings forth, in each generation, such persons, to act, according to their own free choice, their various parts on the theatre of life, as he foresees will answer, sometimes by their great abilities and good dispositions, sometimes by the contrary, his holy purposes of judgment or of mercy. And the influence of this one arrangement on the restoration of our present tranquillity, may have been, and probably hath been, unspeakably great. But be the tempers, qualifications, and designs of men what they will: he can, unperceived by themselves, put thoughts into their minds, to incite, withhold, divert them to another object, just as he pleases. Then besides, the entire frame of inanimate nature, as it was produced, is also actuated by him and he could by its original formation, or can now by the slightest change in the smallest part of it, occasion, obstruct, alter to any degree, the most important events. And lastly, the same wise and gracious motives, which induced him to make the world, must certainly induce him to be attentive to it. And the attention of an infinite mind must comprehend the regulation of every thing, even the smallest but affairs of such momentous consequence, as peace and war, cannot fail to occupy a distinguished place in the scheme of Providence. : These deductions of reason our condition of late years hath obliged me more than once to lay before you: but still they need to be inculcated. Passages of Scripture too, confirming them, I have produced to you in great numbers: but it is very easy, and would God it were not necessary, to add yet more. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things*. The heart of kings is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivulets of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will †. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand. And on the contrary, shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it §? Frequently indeed we perceive no marks of the interposition of God in what passes. But we are both inadvertent and short-sighted: ignorant, not only of the secret springs and material circumstances of many human actions, but yet more, beyond comparison, of principal purposes in the divine administration. Yet this however we know, that he is incessantly conducting the affairs of the present world, towards a full display of his wisdom, justice and goodness, in the next: though often by steps invisible to our eyes, and improbable to our imaginations. For his judgments are unsearchable, and his ways past finding out ¶. Therefore in all things we Psalm cxxi. 5. *Isaiahı xlv. 7. + Prov. xxi. 1. ¶ Rom. xi. 33. should believe a providence; but in many we may see it and very plainly in our own case: to whom true religion and liberty have been so wonderfully preserved, in the midst of such imminent dangers; and quiet and safety so unexpectedly restored, when the help of man was confessedly vain. Nor did God only bestow the blessing, but it is he who continues it: and every day's peace, as well as every day's bread, is a gift from him. Surely then we have cause, not for joy alone, but thankfulness too, from the bottom of our hearts. And if we ungratefully disown, or negligently forget, the Author of our happiness, what is it likelier, what is it fitter he should do, than deprive us of it again? We may think perhaps, that we have fully discharged our consciences towards him by our attendance on the present solemnity. And God grant we may hear, it hath been every where universally attended. But supposing that: outward acknowledgments singly are downright pageantry and mockery. Nay, indeed sense of obligation along with them, if it bring not forth suitable and lasting obedience, is imperfect, inefficacious, delusive homage, which our Maker cannot accept. Herein is my Father glorified, saith our blessed Saviour, that ye bear much fruit. And thus we are to understand that awful denunciation: If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse upon you, and I will even curse your blessings. Accordingly the text very clearly intimates, III. That to entitle ourselves to the blessing of peace, we must be his people; own his authority by observing his laws. * Psalm cviii. 12. † John xv. 8. Mal. ii. 2. The practice of religion and virtue makes nations industrious, frugal, rich, healthy, populous, unanimous, public-spirited, fearless; yet at the same time, just, prudent, friendly: which are the very qualities that constitute them formidable enemies, desirable confederates, inoffensive neighbours; and, so far as any thing can, will secure them peace. But wickedness impoverishes, enfeebles, dispirits, depopulates, disunites; extinguishes concern for common good, inflames selfish appetites and passions; renders men rash and provoking, yet indolent and despicable. It seems hardly needful for Providence to interpose, otherwise than it hath done in the original appointment of things, to exalt a people of the former character, or depress one of the latter. But when it is, we may expect it to be done. For God will reward what he loves, punish what he hates. And though his recompenses are neither perfect nor proportion-. able, they are real and considerable, even here. Experience hath found it: Scripture hath foretold it. The Jewish nation indeed prospered or suffered, according to their doings, more constantly and equally, than others. But still, not only these things happened to them for our ensamples, and are written for our admonition but in the same ages, God visited the heathen also for their iniquities; and lengthened their tranquillity, when they broke off their sins by righteousness t. Christian states, we confess, as they were not in being, are not mentioned, in the Gospels or Epistles: but godliness hath the promise there of the life that now is, as well as that which is to come and the Revelation of St. John, a prophetical work, describes whole kingdoms, and yet larger portions of the earth, as undergoing the severest of temporal * 1 Cor. x. 11. + Dan. iv. 27. ‡ 1 Tim. iv. 8. |