the Throne, are as dear to her, as any Perfon whatsoever; and that no Pains or Diligence fhall ever be wanting on her Part, to preferve and maintain them.

Laftly, Of her folemn Refolution, (declar'd in her Proclamation) to Discountenance and Punish all manner of Vice and Profaneness and Immorality in all Perfons, of whatsoever Degree or Quality; and particularly, in fuch as are employ'd near Her Royal Perfon. And that, for the greater Encouragement of Religion and Morality, She will, upon all Occafions, diftinguish Perfons of Piety and Virtue, by Marks of Her Royal Favour.

I fay, if we may draw good Omens from those former Experiences of her Majefty's Life, and from these Aufpicious Beginnings of her Reign; There is juft Reason for us all to Congratulate with the whole Kingdom, the happy Profpect we have, that God, in fetting Her upon the Throne, hath again fulfilled his Promise in my Text; hath given us, in Her, another Nurfing-Mother to his Church and People; and one who will make good that Character, in all the Inftances I have before mentioned.

What have we now to do, but to thank God heartily for all the repeated Inftances of his Favour to us, and particularly this last one. And to pray earnestly for Her Majefty, that her following Reign

may

may be suitable to these happy Beginnings.

But in order to thefe Prayers being effectual, there is fomething required of us, which is fit here to be mentioned, as being a Natural Application of what I have already faid.

And that is, That we take Care not to hinder or obftruct the happy Effects of Her Majesty's Gracious Intentions to her People, by any unbecoming Carriage of ours: But always bear in Mind what Returns of Duty, and Gratitude, and Filial Obedience, this Confideration of the Queen's being a Nurfing-Mother to her People, doth call for from us, and all other her Subjects. This is the Third, and laft Thing, I proposed to speak to, but for fear of being too long, I fhall but juft touch upon it.

If all Subjects did seriously confider this Relation between their Princes and them, they would think themselves obliged to bear the fame Love and Affection, to pay the fame Honour and Reverence and Obedience to their Nurfing-Fathers and Nurfing-Mothers, as they do to their Natural

Parents.

They would endeavour to make their Reigns as eafy as was poffible, by contributing, every Man in his Sphere, what Affiftance they could to their Prince, for the promoting the common Good.

They

Gal. 5: 15°

They would make it their Study to live in as much Peace and Unity with their Fellow-Subjects, as if they dwelt together in one Family.

They would have no Interefts feparate from the Common-Wealth; nor would they, for the advancing themfelves, ever feek the Ruin of others.

They would not, for Difference in Opinion, about the Methods of the Publick Conduct, break out into Parties and Factions: Much lefs, in Cafe of fuch Divifions, would they Sacrifice the Peace of the Kingdom, to their own private Refentments, and mingle Heaven and Earth for the fupporting of a Side.

They would feriously remember the Caution which St. Paul hath given us, and which indeed concerns every one of this Nation, but efpecially thofe that are concerned in the Publick Management, often to think of. If (faith he) ye bite and devour one another, have a Care that ye be not confumed one of another. Nothing can ever fo much endanger this Kingdom as our own Divifions. And if ever we be ruin'd, in all Probability, it is these will be the Cause of it.

It is one very good Omen (among the reft that I have mentioned) of her Majefty's Happy Reign, that no Prince ever came to the Throne with a more general Satisfaction, and with more good Wishes of the People. And

And it must be faid, to the Honour of this Parliament, that never any Parliament gave more extraordinary Teftimonies of their fincere Affection and Duty, and Kindness to their Prince, than this Parlament hath given to the Queen.

0 may this good Understanding, these mutual Endearments between the Queen and Her People, for ever continue. And abhorred be the Memory of that Man, that makes the firft Step towards the breaking of them.

Then fhall we be happy: As Happy as the Viciffitudes of this World will allow us to be. And as the Queen will rejoice in her People; fo it will be Her Peoples daily Prayer, that God would long, long preferve Queen ANNE.

SER

110

SERMON V.

Preach'd before the

QUEEN

A T

St. JAMES's Chapel,

On Afhwednesday, February 10.. 170}.

HEB. ii. 3.

How shall we efcape, if we neglect fo great Salvation.

T

O fhew the Meaning of this Text, and the Ufe we are to put it to, there needs no more to be done, than to enquire what is here meant by Salvation: And then Secondly, Upon what Occafion these Words come in, and what was the Apostle's Design in them.

As