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 A a 
 
 S E R M O N, 
 
 
 Delivered December 2d^ 179&* 
 
 
 ON tHE LATE 
 
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 By MATHER BYLES, D. D. 
 Rector or St. John, an» Chaplais 
 TO THE Garrison of New- 
 Brunswick. 
 
 4. 
 
 
 \\ I 
 
 3^ 
 
 SAINT JOHN: 
 pRiMTi* »Y J. Ryan, AT his PttMtiMO-Ofyifei, J^«. ^S, 
 
 PrXNCI; WlHIAM-ST^LKiX, 
 
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 "'^'dB^-.^.a^K.t^^r-^^ 
 
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 10 THE 
 
 CONGREGATION 
 
 OP 
 
 TRINITY CHURCH, 
 
 ^aOliJ^ncx at t/ielr ^^^.caacji:, 
 
 * * • ' - . • 
 
 tjd Tnoji rc/jficct/aliiL dcaccalcds \ 
 
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 IIS^^JS?^ 
 
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 J0^^^ y^^"^ yfSif^ ' 
 
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 A SERMON 
 
 Y^o^. ci i(-t<j ^v\a,^jl cu^i.t^jv^ / '^/y tf 
 
 '/ 1 
 
 s I 
 
 >^ Psalm XCVIII. i. 
 
 • OJmg unto the Lord a 7iew Song, for He hath done marvel- 
 lous things. His right Hand and His holy Arm hath gotten hir,i 
 theVidlory. ! 
 
 I 
 
 ^T 7E are not told who was the author of the Pfahn 
 V V before us ; but as David wrote fo lai'ge a propor.- 
 
 tion of this facred book, as he was engaged in fo many wars, 
 and obtained fuch frequent and fplcndid vi6tories, it ap- 
 pears moft probable that it was penned by him. It beans 
 the peculiar ftamp of the Royal Proj)het, — the fweetr 
 Pfalmift of Ifrael : and it fccms to be an cffulion from the 
 heart of that devout Monarch, in conicquence of fomc 
 fignal fucceffes which had attcr.ded his arms. We cannoi, 
 
 conceiv<r 
 

 H ' 
 
 
 • • ( 4 ) • • . ' 
 
 i J 
 
 conceive a fentiment upon fuch a joyful occafion, more 
 proper in itfelf, or more chara6leriftic of that excellent 
 man. Let David then be our example; and while vvc 
 exult in the illuftrious Triumphs of His Majesty's 
 Arms, let us acknowledge, with the humbled gratit a :ic, 
 that it is GOD who has given us the Victory ! I me^'t 
 you, my Brethren, this day with particular pleafure, as I 
 fee fuch evident dcmonftrations of your Loyalty to the 
 J\TNGi a univerfal, undilicmbled tranfport animating 
 every countenance, and fparkling in every eye. I acknow- 
 ledge the lliricl propriety of thofepraifes which you beflow 
 iij)on the intrepid conduft of our Officers, and the imri- 
 vailed gallantry of the Britijh Sailors. It is but equitable 
 to give honor to whom honor is due : and perhaps it 
 would be difficult to produce an inftance in hiftory, 
 of men who had a raore juft claim to the applaufes 
 of their country. But after all, it becomes us, as 
 Clirillians, to recollecl the idea of the text, to look beyond 
 fecond caufes to th^ Firji Caufe of every event, to realize the 
 Divine Agency , and bow our knees in Thankfgiving to God. 
 To affift yoja in cultivating thefc difpofitions of heart? is the 
 proper province of the pulpit, and the defign of the j)re- 
 fcntdifcourfe, *' O fmg unto the Lord a new Song, for he 
 hath done marvellous things, ///i right Hand andif/j holy 
 Arm hath gotten him the Viftory." 
 
 f 
 
 S4^---' 
 
 From this paifage wc co11q61 two propofitions, diftinft 
 
 iiideed, 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 indeed, but clofdy conne<5led: — That God always obtains 
 the viftory Himfclf ; — And that ITc gives it to whom He 
 pleafcs. 
 
 God always obtains the vi6lory Himfelf: never did any 
 fuccefsfully oppofc ////;;. * ** Who ever hardened him- 
 felf againfl: God, and hath profpered ?" 
 
 We read of rebel Angels, with Satan at their head, who 
 being lifted np v/itli pride, fell into the condemnation of 
 the Devil. Satan was the firft Rebel ; the firlt who dif- 
 dained fubordination, defpifed Government, infulted his 
 King, and renounced his GOD: And the Hime levelling; 
 fpirit flill -f* "worketh in the children of difobedicnce." 
 He deceives and infatuates a diilracled world; and under 
 the fpecious names of Liberty and Equality introduces a- 
 narchy and confufion. Thefc turbulent apoftate Spirits, 
 it feems, were not contented with dieir proper rank in tht? 
 fcale of beings; i^ *' they left their own habitations," ancl 
 were driven down, thunderflruck, into the abyfs of irre- 
 trievable perdition. There they are referved " in everlafl- 
 ing chains, under darknefs, to the judgment of the great 
 Day." This is the firft Victory which Revelation informs 
 us the glorious God obtained over His enemies. Michael 
 and his Angels, in the power of God, encountered thg 
 Dras-on and his Angels : and the Rebel Holl fell from 
 Heaveuj and their place is no more to be found. To this 
 
 the 
 
 Job 
 
 >. !X, 4. 
 
 -f Ep! 
 
 1 ■ « — « 
 
 Judi b« 
 
 >&iji.»Jbjiii;>5JSaf^ ni^^^jijM^^i'^-^at*. J;.^- ■ 
 
I 
 
 I : t' 
 
 M 
 
 ( 6 ) ^ 
 
 the Proplict Ifaiah ultimately refers ; thcngh in a Hcoiu 
 tlary fcnfc, that beautiful and elevated paflagc may be ap- 
 plied to the /JJJyriijn monarch, and the enemies of ancient 
 Jf'ihl; and in tlie fame fenfe, we may witli propri'^ty ap- 
 ]">ly them to thofc, over whom God now permits us to tri- 
 Vimj)h. "^ *' How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, 
 i\m of the Mornin?: ! How art thou cut down to the 
 gj'ound, v.'liich didll weaken the Nations ! For thou hafl 
 faid in thy heart, I will afcend into Heaven, I will exalt 
 my I'hrone above the Stars of God. — I will afcend above 
 the heidits of the Clouds, I will be like the moll Iliofh. 
 Yet tliou flialt be brought down to Hell, to the fides of 
 the Pit. They that fee thee fhall narrowly look upon thee, 
 and cc^fider thee, fayin'g, Is this the Man that made the 
 Earth to tremble, that did Ihake Kingdoms J'' 
 
 From age to age, the vi6lories and the triumphs of the 
 Almighty have been repeated among men. How did 
 Pharaoh boaft and fvvell, and oppofe the mandates and 
 the terrors of God! H/V profane language was alfcfomething 
 ilmilar to that of our enemies — f " Who is the Lord, that I 
 fiioald obcv his voice ? — I know not the Lord, neither 
 \vill I obey his voice." He raifcd all his numerous army, 
 aiid was determined to ilrike the decifivc blow. It v. as 
 TiO AT come to a pitched battle between the tyrant of Egypt 
 and the God of JfracL The Red Sea muilercd its waves 
 
 for 
 
 1 
 
 I/uiah, xiv. iij i(>. i" ^''-'^'cd. V. ?. 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 for the onfet : — down they niflied upon the proud pur*' 
 fliers, * " and buried Egypt all in arms." || ** Then fang 
 Moft's and the children of Jfrael this fon^ unto the Lord, 
 and fpakc, faying, I will fuig unto the Lord, for he hath 
 triumphed glorioufly ^ the horfc and his rider hath he 
 thrown into the fea." 
 
 When our bleffed Lord was here helow, h: excmpUfiecl 
 the fame triumphs :— He always obtained the vidory. 
 So the tempter found it, when he fled vanquidied from 
 tiie field, and defccnding Angels fhouted the Conqueror. 
 
 The triumphs of his Grace were alike illuilrious. How 
 ftubborn the hearts of fmncrs ! but how fiiarp were his 
 arrows in their hearts ! and how were they in multitudes 
 led off conquered ! A little company of poor Fifliermcit 
 fally out, unarmed, againft all the forces of Eartli and 
 Hell : and lo ! Satan falls down like lightning from Hea- 
 ven, and the kingdoms of the world fubmit before them. 
 Sec the Vi6lor on his march, going forth^]' ** conquering 
 and to conquer." The heart of every converted linncr is 
 the fubjedt of his triumphs. The Almighty 11edeemi:r, 
 overcomes all oppofition, and every thing which exalts 
 itfelf againfl his kingdom. And in the end, he will (o 
 fubdue all nations, when the mighty Angel fliall proclaim, 
 with the trumpet of God, :|:*' All the kingdoms of this 
 world are become the kingdoms of our LORD, and of 
 
 his 
 
 '^ Dr. Watts, [j Exod. xv. i, -f liav. vi, 2. i licv, n'u i^. 
 
i 'I' 
 
 rlfi 
 
 I 
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 his CHRIST, and he fliall reign forever and ever.*' 
 
 1 now proceed to the fccond propofitlon before us ; 
 that, as God always obtains the victory Ilimfclf, foHc 
 gives it to whom lie pleafcs. 
 
 The Sovereign Cod dlfpofes the events of battles, and 
 turns the corifjueft to the many or to the few, according 
 to his own counfcls. His are the fecond caufes, by which 
 thcgovcinmcntofthe world is, in fo myfterious a mannefi 
 nianagcd. The exertions of a fniglc Arm, through his 
 influence and alTi (lance, may determine the fate of Na-* 
 tions. A Sampfon fliall be raifed up, an infpired cham- 
 pior., to drive armies before him. A fon of Dodo fliall* 
 ** arifc, and fmite the Philijlines until his hand be weary, 
 and his hand cleave unto his fword, and the Lord fliall 
 work a great vi6lory on that day, and the people return 
 after him only to the fpoil." Even a Heathen Naaman 
 fliall be the inftrumcnt in his hand, and by him -f " the 
 Lord may give vi6lory to Syria'* 
 
 David himfelf, to whom we are probably indebted for 
 the words of the text, v;as a remarkable inftancc of God's 
 giving the viclory to whom he pleafes. The blooming 
 little fl:ripling was fired by the menaces of the tall monfter 
 of Gafhy when he defied the armies of the Living God; 
 Oat ran the inilignant youth, with only a fling and a 
 few pebbles, to the rugged encounter. J " Thoucomcft 
 
 to 
 
 i» i>nin, x;feiu, lo. + ii Kings^w^ i, \ iSum, xvii, 45. 
 
 
>) 
 
 )re us ; 
 , foHe 
 
 :s, and 
 :ording 
 which 
 lanncfi 
 gh his 
 
 cham- 
 fliall * 
 weary, 
 I fhall 
 return 
 
 aaman 
 the 
 
 (< 
 
 i 
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 to me, faul he, with a fword, and with a fpcar, and with 
 a ihicld i but i co.ne to tliec in the name of tlic Lord of 
 I lolls, the God of the armies of Jfmcl: He (hall dcUvci* 
 you into my hand." And away fang the vi6lor-fl:onc 
 toward the broad front of the enemy : — down fcl'l the 
 infoleut boaller, and bit. the ground, in blood and rage, 
 and dying agony. Well might fuch a grand <»vent be 
 gratefidly recollected, and deviuitly acknowledged l^nr; 
 after. § ** It is God whogiveth f.ilvationto Kings, who 
 dvlivereth D^^Whis fervant from the haitfid fword." 
 
 It becomes us, my brethren, to aclcnovvledge, that 
 our own fword is inTafiicient for our defence ; that our 
 own right hand cannot fave us ; that it is God " who docs 
 marvellous things, whofc riglit hand and holy arm gcttetli 
 him the vi6lory."-f- " The horfe is prepared againll the 
 day of battle : but fafety is of the Lord." Not the uni- 
 ted forces of troops by land, and f.ects by fea, can com- 
 mand fucccfs: but it all depends upon thefccret, inefifli- 
 blc fcheme of Providence \ the regular plan in the coun-* 
 fels of the Divine mind. 
 
 How frequently do we fee a Sovereign God blading tl>c 
 moll: fanguinc expectations of men ! Our enemies at the 
 prefent day exhibit a itriking example of this. How did 
 their gay armies, a little while ago, march fro-n the interior 
 country, and crowd to their refpe61ive ports 1 Mow cheer* 
 
 ■ " ■ fully 
 
 § l'J§.t. 144, 10. + tl 
 
 00, 
 
 'i o 
 
 ai. 
 
f? 
 
 1^' 
 
 « 
 
 I 
 
 • ( 10 ) 
 
 fliliy did they embark ! and how proudly did their fqua- 
 dron ifluc into the ocean, feciire of conqucft ! And, (incc 
 their departure, how impatiently have their countj-ymcn, 
 iriends and connections, waited to hear of their fuccefs, 
 and w ondered at the delay ^ while their mangled coipfcs 
 have been filent and inactive 3 bloated and disfigured at 
 t!ie bottom of the fea, or covering the waves with blood 
 and carnage ! So* the mother of Si/era looked out at 
 her w^indow, and cried through the lattefs, " why is his 
 ' chariot fo long in coming ? why tarry the wheels of his 
 chariot? Her wife ladies anfwered her, yea, flie returned 
 anfwcr to he'fclf, ,** Have they not fped ? Have they not 
 divided the prey ? To S if era a prey of divers colours, 
 a p#ey of divers colo<irs of needle-work, of diveis co- 
 lours of needle-work, on both fides, meet for the necks 
 of them that take the fpoil ?" At this very inllant, 
 when the fond mother, and the flattering court, were 
 preparing their fongs of triumph, Sifera had done with 
 mortal things : his pale head lay failcned to the earth 
 in the tent of Jacl^ and the quivering corpfe bled at a 
 diiiance. In the fine turn of words, the beautiful 
 Pkcnafm, of the Hcoreiv poetefs, " At her feet he bowed, 
 he fell, he lay down : at her feet he bowed, he fell ; 
 where he bowed, there he fell down dead." 
 
 The Caiifes upon which vi6tory depends, the fame 
 Infinite God regulates exactly as he pleafcs. The cou- 
 " ' -" rage. 
 
 ^^ 
 
ir fqua- 
 d, (incc 
 
 luccds, 
 
 coipfcs 
 ured at 
 I blood 
 
 out at 
 y is his 
 
 of his 
 "turned 
 ley rot 
 oloiirsj 
 vs co- 
 ' necks 
 nllant, 
 , were 
 •i with 
 ^ earth 
 d at a 
 ratiful 
 )cwcd, 
 
 fell; 
 
 rngc. 
 
 C '' ) 
 
 rage of the hero fliall infpire a Jq/hua : but when Mja^i 
 commits a trefpafs in the accurfed thing, Jq/hi/a Iiimfelf 
 fliall be diflieartened, and his troops fcattered in con- 
 fufion before the enemy. The condu6V of the politician 
 fliall dignify Akithcfhch that he fliall fliine, and pro- 
 nounce, like the oracle of God: and yet this coin^rcl 
 fliall he turned into fooliflmefs, if God choofes to dif- 
 appoint it. How often, to open the way to viclory, 
 does the Heaven-bred horror, the panic from God, 
 catch like a contagion throu;^h the boldefl: cohorts, and 
 intimidate the mofl: gallant commander. They flart at 
 the fliaking of a leaf, and flee when none purfueth. 
 " *Five of you," faid the Jeivijl lawgiver to the ancient 
 people, " fliall chafe an hundred, and an hundred of 
 you fliall put ten thoufand to flight : and your encniicB 
 Ihall fall before you by the fword." 
 
 The great Governor of the woi'ld can make the minutest 
 caufes produce the grandell: eiiects : or he can v/oik 
 without means, or againil means, jull as he pleafes. 
 When Jericho is deflined to deflruvSlion, the trumpets 
 of the Jubilee fliall found : — down fall the lofty bul- 
 warks thundering to the ground, and the invaders march 
 llraight forward to the conqueil. When the vail army 
 of the Midia?2itcs fprcad over the plain, numerous as 
 the grafshoppers, a little handful of men is diredcd to 
 
 * Lev, xxvi. 8, 
 
"♦I*' 
 
 M 
 
 f.W ' 
 
 I 
 
 
 r 
 
 I 
 
 Hi 
 
 i iz ) 
 
 go out againd them : and yet this fmall number, faid 
 the Lord,* js " too many for mc to glve^ the Midi unites 
 into then* hands, left Ifrael vaunt thcmfelves againfl mc, 
 laying, *' mine own hand hath faved me." I'his Httle 
 band, therefore, is crumbled away, by one diminution 
 after another, till three hundred men only arc retained 
 for the enter prifc : and the unnumbered hollilc army 
 v/ithcis before them, at the blaze of a few lamps, and 
 the craHi of a few pitchers. But then, recolle<!:l:, that 
 was not all — there was the fword of the LORD, and of 
 Gidco?u 
 
 Thus, my brethren, we have endeavoured to illudrate 
 the propofitions before us. The Almighty God always 
 gets the vi(51ory himtclf ; — The Sov^ereign God gives it 
 to vvdiom he plcafes. He orders all the fecond caufes of 
 it ; blows the trumpet to encountering fleets and armies ; 
 fpirits the hero, or intimidates liim, exacily as He 
 choofes ', and decides the event of battles : And to 
 convince us that it is all from Himfelf, the grcatefl 
 events are frequently produced by the minutcfi: means. 
 ^'-f-The race is not to the fwift, nor the battle to the 
 ftrong.'* 
 
 i fliall now conclude with a few refledlions. 
 
 From what we have heard, liow fafc and happy are 
 the favourites of this God ! Tlicy are urider the beil 
 • . protc:lion. 
 
 * J^^g' VH, a. 
 
 ■\- Ecc. IX, 11, 
 
 j\V 
 
i '3 ) 
 
 prote6i:ion, and are fecure of final wiB:.oij. ** ^Thougli 
 a troop Ihoiild overcome them, they fliall overcome at 
 the lad:." On the other hand, how vahi is every attempt 
 to oppofc this Glorious God, and to injure and opprefs 
 his faitliful people ! RabfiaL'b made the abfurd and 
 unfuccefsfal attempt :' — let us attend for a moment to 
 his haughty and licentious language. Hear the words 
 of the Great Nation. *' -j-Let not Hezehah deceive you, 
 for he fhall not be able to deliver you out of my hand. 
 Neither let Hezekiab make you trufl: in the Lord, faying, 
 the Lord will deliver us. — Hath any of the Gods of the 
 Nations delivered at all his land out of my hand ? — 
 Where are the Gods of Hamath, and of Arpad ? Where 
 are the Gods of Sepharvaim^ Hena^lxw^ Ru:h .? have they 
 delivered Samaria cut of my hand ? Who are they, 
 among all the Gods of the countries, that have delivered 
 their country out of my hand, that the Lord lliould 
 deliver ^Jemfalem out of my hand ?" — What inlolencc, 
 and v/hat blafpliemy is here ! We learn from this pafiagc, 
 that gafconadcs are not modern inventions : they are as 
 old as the days of Rabpakeh. And were our advcrfaries 
 better acquainted with the facred Scriptures, we fiiould 
 be apt to imagine, that they liad tlie whole of this con- 
 ceited rhapfody (v/hich you may read at your leifure) 
 conllantly before them -, that they confidered it as the 
 grand m.odel of military eloquence -, fiudicd it clofely ; 
 
 a 
 
 nn 
 
 * Gzn. xHx, 1 
 
 9- 
 
 i" 11 ivLV-TJ. xviii, 2 ). 
 
7" 
 
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 ( H ) ' 
 
 and endeavoured to imitate it, as far as they were able^ 
 
 in their public proclamations and manifeftoes. But aftei* 
 
 all, what was the refult of RiihJhakeJj s arrogance and 
 
 f rofancncfs ? — " *It came to pafs that night, that the 
 
 Angel of the Lord went out, and fmote in the camp of 
 
 the j1[Tyrlam^ an hundred four-fcorc and five thoufand." 
 
 A vvi'iter of more fire than judgment would probably 
 
 have defcribed this cataflroplie in a diffei'ent manner. He 
 
 would have faid, the Angel of the Lord ru(}xd out upon 
 
 them like a whirlwind — like a thunderclap — like a flafli 
 
 of lightening : but the infpircd hiftorian only tells us, 
 calmly, that the Angel tc^^;:^ out. It required no exertion : 
 
 it was a ferene, eafy, evening walk to hint^ to defeat their 
 
 united forces. Silent" as a midnight damp, he moved on, 
 
 and the vv^hole puiffant army ftrctched out breathlefs. — 
 
 Their fouls were licked up in an inflant, and the camp 
 
 was covered with corpfes. In like manner, fliall all they 
 
 that riie up againftthe church of the Living GOD finally 
 
 peiilli, '' f Whofoever fhall fall upon that flone fliall 
 
 l:c broken : but on whomfoever it fliall fall, it will grind 
 
 lilm to povvder." 
 
 Tlie fealcMi will not fulTer mc to enlarge any further up- 
 on this point : it is time to draw to a conclufion. From 
 what we have licard, v/e learn, to v/iiom we mud afcribe 
 theviiloricSjin vvliich we rejoice this day. In this llicred 
 place, we have conflantly oucrcd our moil ardent petitions 
 
 to 
 
 * ii A'a7jj, x:x. 35. + Liikc^ xx, iSJ. ' 
 
 '* *\W 
 
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 to God, that lie would give us the vidory over our ene- 
 •mics. And how has God heard us ! Let us then acknow- 
 ledge that the viclory is not our's, but the Loi'd's. With 
 fiirj.Mifc, and with tranfport, we have fcen one welcome 
 Packet after another, confirming, and enkiiging our fuc- 
 cedes. And, my brethren, when have our irrefiltible 
 Navies, the floating buUvarks of the Kingdom, been more 
 potent, and more formidable ? At what period of hillory, 
 have their victories been more illuRrious, complete and 
 decifive ? Some have fpread the terror of the Britifi Arms 
 to the burning line, and others to the Northern Ocean : 
 Some have rode v/ith unrivaikd iMajerty on thefo American 
 feas : Others have controlled the Eailern world, and anti- 
 cipated the flrft blufli of the da';v*:filiig day : and others 
 have recalled to our memories the miracles of ancient times, 
 by turning the waters of Egvpt into Blood. In this un- 
 interrupted feries of profperous events, is not the Alniighty 
 Hand confpicuous ? fnall v/e not acknowledge and adore 
 it ? It is God alone who gives the victory, and determines 
 the dubious con tell, v;hen the fate of an Empire hangs la 
 fufpence, and waits for the deciiion of an hour. Every 
 defccnding Avord is guided by him : and every random 
 l^ot executes his commiOion. It is He v/ho ovei-rules, when 
 contending fquadrons dlfpute the Ibvereignty oftiie ieas, 
 and involved in fmokc and flame, denounce vengeance 
 fiom the mouth of their cannon. He iits tlie ("upreme 
 Arbiter, v/cidis their difFercntpretcnrions in ILs impartial 
 
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 balance : He frowns and they arc defeated ; and viflory 
 attends his fmlle./ Let us tlien, after the example of Da» 
 vid Eut mcthinks, 1 am interrupted. — 
 
 " What have we to do," Hiys the gay infidel, '' with 
 " Dc/vid or his examples ? David died, and was buried, 
 '' thiee thoufand years ago. Had he lived in the prefent 
 *' enlightened age, and been acquainted with our aftonifli- 
 *' ing diicoveries, he would doubtlcfs have cxpreiled him- 
 *^ fclf with more propriety. After paying a delicate com^ 
 *' plijnent to his ov/n courage, and conduct, and military 
 ** abilities j he would have attributed his fuccefs to mere 
 *' chance, good fortune, and lucky accidents. The 
 *^ doclrine of Divine Agency is now perfectly obfolete : 
 " and nothing can l?e ;nore unfafliionablc, than to unite 
 *' with foleninlty in an act of Thankfgiving to God.— 
 ^* The ideas of mankind are now more enlarged, their 
 '■^ minds more improved, and their manners more highly 
 *' polifhed : and to revive fuch antiquated opinions and 
 *' pra3:ices, would only expofc a man to fovereign con- 
 ** tempt." 
 
 Happy am T, therefore, that it is in my power to pro^- 
 dace more modern cxatnples. \7e are informed that one* 
 of our Admirals, im:nediatcly after a mod fevere and dc- 
 cifive ailion, which will tranfmit his name with the moil 
 vivid lull'cr to the bteil: poflerity, called all his furviving 
 
 company 
 
 * A dm a'«^ D t N t A .N , 
 
 *T;\\fe 
 
vlflory 
 jf Da" 
 
 '' with 
 buriedj 
 prefent 
 l:onifli- 
 ;d him- 
 te com^ 
 nilitary 
 to mere 
 The 
 bfolete : 
 to unite 
 iGod.— 
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 highly 
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 jompany upon the deck, and united with them in hum- 
 ble adorations of that Gcd, who had j)rerervcd them wheii 
 in imminent danger, and given them the viclory. It is 
 not cafy to conceive; a nobler fpe6tacle, than that gallant 
 commander ; in one hour, perfedly calm and ferene, 
 amidft all the tumuk, and horrors, and thunder of the bat- 
 tle ; and in the next, melting in grateful tears before the 
 Majefly of Heaven i'— in one hour, giving full demonllrar 
 tion, that he feared the face of no mortal man i and in the 
 next, not adiamed to confefs, that he was deeply impreiied 
 with the fear of his Maker. The mind that is not ftruck 
 with the exquifite beauty of this fudden tranfition, muft 
 not only be void of all religious principle ; but alfo, to- 
 tally deltitute of all fentiment, and -all tafte. 
 
 The other inftance to which I (hall point you, is that 
 of the* triumphant hero of the day ; whofc aftonifhing 
 exploits are the immediate occafion of the prefent dif- 
 courfe. After a naval victory, accomplifhed with fuch 
 refifllefs enterprife, and fuch brilliant fuccefs, as the an- 
 nals of hiftory can icarcely parallel 5 when a feebler mind 
 ^'ould have been intoxicated with vanity and felf-imporr 
 tance ; we fee, in one of his official letters, this devout 
 fentence dropping fpontaneoully fiom his pen. " Al^ 
 mighty God has blefled his Majefty's Arms in the battle, 
 by a viclory over the fleet of the enemy." How modell 
 and unafTuming is this expreffion ! We applaud the 
 
 Hero, 
 
 r-« 
 
 ^ Admiral, iitiiQH^ 
 
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 ( i8 ) 
 
 Hero, and wc love the Man. He docs not attribute the. 
 victory to his own conckict, and peifonal bravery, but 
 afcribcs it entirely to the ALMIGHTY. He was hinifclf 
 perfeftly capable of judging, aclually prefent upon the 
 fpot, expofcd to every danger, and minutely obfcrving eve- 
 ry circumftancc : and the refult of the whole was, a full 
 convi6lion that it was God who crowned him with con- 
 queft. As an intelligent Oiliccr, he pe 'eived it : and as a 
 humble and grateful Chriftian, he confelied it. — I have 
 now produced two examples, which none of us need to 
 be afliamed to follow : and let the fcoffing infidel blufli, 
 if he is capable of blufliing, when he fees two men, of 
 fuch fuperior charafler, acknowledging the Divine Agen^» 
 cy, and that they om^ all their fuccelFes to God ; — cha- 
 ra6i:ers highly elevated, far out of the reach of all the 
 pointlefs fhafts of his impotent ridicule. 
 
 To clofe all. How bafe and ungrateful will it be in a- 
 ny of us to " turn this grace of God into wantonnefs"; 
 and inftcad of the raSbnal and religious rejoicing, which 
 ihould diftinguifh tiie Man and the Chriftian, to fubfti- 
 lute the noify frolick, the unfcafonable andir ,i revel j th« 
 momentary ^te^ which is but as the " crackling of thorns 
 ^mdcr a pot !" Let us ^mafcc a right improvement of the 
 mercies we have already received, and ** continue inftant 
 in prayer" : then may we humbly hope for further victo- 
 ries and fucceffes. * " Go," ifeid the proftmte Prophet, 
 
 " feven 
 
 
 
 *iJiingSf xvuu4^. 
 
 
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 *^ fevcn timcf5, and look toward the Sea : and lo ! a cloud as 
 a man's hand appeared, and the Heaven's grew black with 
 clouds" 5 tlic anfwcnng voice of God Pxmdedat a diftancc; 
 and the bicirmg poured down abundant./ So while we | 
 wait upon our Cod, he will llili hear us j NEW SONGS I 
 Hiall afcend to him, and " in his Tcni])!c we will fpcak of \ 
 His Glories." i ^ I 
 
 
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