IX.

they should be misled, by the perverfe SER M. Comments of their Own Cafuifts upon this Law, fo far, as to believe, that a Maffacring Spirit was reconcilable to the Spirit of Christianity, and that the Genuin Principles of it could lead, or permit Men to overturn States and Kingdoms! Such Ill Effects may fpring from the best of Causes, Religion, when perverted and abus'd! Such Horrid Impieties may Men arrive at, when they have once fix'd this Persuasion firmly in themfelves, That, how Vile foever the Attempts are, in which they engage, yet, if the End be good, it justifies and fanctifies the Means; and that the plainest Rules and Duties of the Gospel do not bind Thofe, who are, as they imagin, propagating the Interests of it.

Bleffed be thy Name, O Lord, who did'st, as on this Day, after a marvellous manner, disappoint their Bloody Defigns, when they were even ready to take place, and did'st suffer our Princes, our Prelates, our Nobles, all the Chief Ornaments and Supports of thy pure undefil'd

Z 2

SERM. undefil'd Religion Establish'd among us, IX. to escape out of their Hands, even as a Bird

Pfal. cxxiv.

7.

'from the fnare of the Fowler! Surely the

Pfal. lxxvi. Wrath of Man hath prais'd, and shall praise thee: The Remainder of Wrath

10.

fbalt thou reftrain.

I need not endeavour to raise your Thankfulness for the Mercies of this Day, by fhewing, that, as diftant as they are, they still belong to us. Some Blef fings wax not old, or decay; but, like the Rod of the Tribe of Levi, laid up in the Tabernacle, tho' feemingly faplets and dead, do yet fhoot, and fend forth their Bloffoms. And fuch is That, we now Commemorate; even Now we tafte the sweet Fruits and Effects of it: for to this Day's Deliverance (this Day's Double Deliverance) it is owing, that we are freed from the Fears of Papal Superftition and Bondage; that we enjoy all our Religious, and Civil Liberties, all that is dear and valuable to us, in respect of This World, or Another; and even that we fee HER on the Throne (the Throne of her Royal Ancestors, de

IX.

fign'd this Day for Slaughter) Who, by SERM. fitting there, protects and fecures us in these Enjoyments.

Great and manifold have the Instances been of God's Interpofition to rescue this Church and Nation, when they most needed it; nor is his Hand yet bortned Ifa. lix. 1. that it cannot fave: for, behold, what mighty things he hath lately wrought for us! in how seasonable and furprizing a Manner he hath blefs'd the Arms, which have been taken up in defence of his True Religion, the Liberties of Europe, and the Rights of Mankind, against the Common Invader and Destroyer of all of them! whose haughty Heart he hath at laft humbled, and ftain'd his boasted Glory; the Vain Idol, which that proud Monarch set up, and commanded all Nations to fall down and worship! The Succefs, which God hath given us, is great in it felf; but much greater in the Confequences which it seems to promise, For who knows but that, by this single Blow, the Fate of that Kingdom may at length be decided? of that Infolent King

SER M. dom, which thought fhe had put her Neft IX. in the Rock, whether none could approach Nu. xxiv. to hurt her? and feem'd (in the Expref

21.

fions of the Prophet) to say in her heart, Ifa. xlvii. I shall be a Lady for ever; Ι am, and none

7, 8.

elfe befide me? Who knows, but that the mighty Hunter of Men may, from this moment, be oblig'd to forego his Chace? may find it come to his turn, to fly, and be purfu'd every where? and have the Preys, which he hath violently feiz'd, ravish'd again out of his Hands! Who knows, but that the feveral Victories which he hath meanly Stollen, or Purchas'd, may now, after a more fair and generous manner, be regain'd? and all the Laurels, he unjustly wears, be torn from his Temples, and plac'd on the Head of Another, who better deserves them? Certain it is, that God hath already begun to do these great things for us; which, unless we are wanting to our felves, he will as certainly finish. Already, fince this Blow was given, we have feen the Happy Effects of it, in the Publick Confeffion of an Exhausted Exchequer, and a Languishing Credit: Evils, which,

God

IX.

God be thanked, are neither felt, nor SERM. fear'd by Us at home, under the present Vigilant and Wife Administration.

Do Thou, O God, we befeech Thee, go on to strengthen the thing which thou haft wrought for us! Shew thy Servants thy Work, and their Children thy Glory! And Pfal. lxvii. the Glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon us! Profper thou the Work of our Pfal. xc. Hands upon us! O, profper thou our handy

work.

28.

16, 17.