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Mapa. plate*, chart*, etc., may be filmed et different reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be entirely included in one expoaure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, aa many frame* aa required. The following diagrama illuatrate the method: Lea carte*, pianchea, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A de* taux de reduction different*. Lor*que le document e*t trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un *eul ciichA, il e*t film* A partir de Tangle aupArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en baa, en prenant le nombre d'image* nAce**aire. Lea diagramme* auivanta illu*trent la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 UP< UPO] " Put SERMON, UPON THE DEATH OF HIS LATE MAJESTY, WILLIAM IV. AND UPON THE ACCESSION OF OUR PRESENT SOVEREIGN, aUEEN VICTORIA ; PREACHED AT THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES, SAINT JOHN, NEW-BRUNSWICK. By the Reverend I. W. D. GRAY, A. M., ASSISTANT MINISTER. .1! " Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work."~Tt7ua iii. 1. SAINT JOHN : PEINTKD BY H£«RT CHUBS, MAKKEX S^tJARfi. 1837. r«i viev mill fror deli T«E following Sermon was not originally written wich any view to its being printed, but has been subsequently com- mitted to the Press, in consequence of a request t© that effect from seyeral members of the congregations to which it was delivered. 1 Ti th( ag( mi an< Hi ref tbi mi bU wh Su dis ed be an lat mi ck m< ha hu of in vo CO Sc wl Ii pc en mi ot SERMON. DANIEL II.-31. " He removelli Kings, and eetteth up Eingo." There is no point more clearly asserted in Scripture, than the constantly superintending care and universally directing agency of Divine Providence. We are there taught that the minutest object in this lower Creation engacfcs the attention and shares the protection of the Omniscient God : " without Him, it is said, not a sparrow fallcth to the ground." And reason, upon this point, is in perfect harmony with Scripture ; for no sound mind after duly weighing the subject, could ad- mit the idea, that the hand which gave existence to the Visi- ble Creation, would not be exerted for its preservation ; that what had once emanated from the wisdom and power of the Supreme Architect, should afterwards be surrendered to the disposal of a blind and uncertain chance. We have undoubt- edly, the evidence of reason to convince us, that the smallest being that lives, in the wide creation of God, is, at all times, an object of care to the Eternal Sovereign above : and Reve- lation adds its decisive attestation upon the subject. How much more, then, may we eixr'ict to find this vital truth de- clared and insisted upon, wit! , ^;ard to those who occupy the most prominent stations in Sov. aty, whose power and actions have an extensive influence upon the course and character of human events ! And here likewise, when we open the volume of inspiration, our anticipations are fully realized. We find in it, as we might reasonably expect to do, the most unequi- vocal statements with regard to the minute inspection and controlling agency of God, in determining the lot of earthly Sovereigns, and are pointed to a class of important duties which devolve upon us in consequence of this circumstance. I need offer you no apology, my Brethern, for making these points the topics of discussion this morning, while the sable emblems around us, and the altered forms of our Liturgy re- mind us that the Sceptre of our Kingdom has gone into other hands. I. Firbt then, 1 invite your attentiun to thii> admitted, but insufficiently considured truth; that the Providence of God determines the lot of earthlj/ Sovereigns, 1. His province it 'n to choose them from the rest of man- kind to occupy the high station assigned them, and by the wise disposition of his Providence, so to arrunge events, that at the appointed season they shall attain and fill that station. The consideration of this point was urgently pressed upon the minds of the Israelites, by the prophetic language of Moses, even prior to their entrance upon the promised land. While as yet they had no King but the everlasting Jehovah, and had never cherished the hope of placing them- selves under the direction of an earthly Monarch, this was the instruction he gave them. ** When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a King over me, like as all the nations that are about me ; thou shalt in any wise set him King over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose."* And tne authority of this injunction, was formally acknowledged by that people in after ages, when un- der the influence of religious declension they became dissatis- fied with the existing mode of judicial administration among them, and sinfully desired to have a king, in imitation of the surrounding nations.f A king was granted to their request, but it was the man whom Qod selected. " Samuel said unto Saul, the Lord sent me to anoint theo to be King over his people, over Israel."! A successor was chosen to Saul, but the choice was still the Lord's. || The sons of Jesse are all in succession rejected by the Prophet, with the declaration, " The Lord hath not chosen this ;" but when David comes forth, immediately, " the Lord says, arise anoint him, for this is he ;*'§ and so clearly was this principle understood and re- cognised by the Jewish nation, that the distinctive title of their monarchs was, " The Lord's anointed." Nor was it that pe- culiar people alone that shared in this instance the providen- tial care of the Most High ; it extended alike to all the other nations of the earth. Among these, it is true, the controlling agency of God was neither formally acknowledged nor under- stood, but it was not the less real because unperceived, not the less certain because unconfessed by any external form or ceremony. It was as true of Pharoah, of*^ Nebuchadnezzar, ju< ♦ »eut. xvii. 14-15. 1 1 Sam. viii. 10-22. 1 1 Sam. xv. 1- § 1 Sam. xvi. 6*12. 1 Sam. xvi. 1. and of Senacherib, Umt Ood placed them upon the throncf oi their respective kingdoms, as of any sovereign who swayed the sceptre of the Jewish empire. " By me," said the Almigh- ty, without any limitation or exception, ** kings reign and princes decree justice,"* and in full accordance with this de- claration, his inspired Apostle says, '* the powers that be," whatever nation they preside over, " are ordained of God."f 2. Nor is it only the selection of earthly sovereigns that is to be traced to the controlling ogency of Divine Providence, their relative power and influence^ whether in Council or in arms are derived from the same source, and are to be regard- ed, in like manner, as exclusively the gift of God. We are apt to forget this important truth, while turning to the history of past ages, and admiring the achievements of the men who have been noted for their wisdom, courage, or success. We follow them in their rapid career from land to land, from vic- tory to victory, and remember not whose agents they were. Filled with wonder at the greatness of the men, we transfer the glory of their actions from that Eternal Sovereign, who is the sole fountain of wisdom and strength, to the insignificant creature, who was the mere instrument of carrying into effect the comprehensive designs of His Providence. But when we turn to the prophetic pages of holy writ, this error is im- mediately corrected. There by the pencil of inspiration we see depicted beforehand, but with the utmost precision, the rise and progress and decline of earthly sovereignties. % We see what part each leading instrument was designed to exe- cute, and can trace to its legitimate source the momentary lustre of human glory. There, in a single instant, we disco- ver why a Cyrus, $ an Alexander,:]: and a Caesar, ft were raised up to wield the sceptres of the mighty empires over which they presided, and whence it was that they stood distinguish- ed from their contemporaries by the vigour of their talents, the power of their arms, and the splendour of their victories. S. We may further remark that GoD renders earthly Sove- reigns a blessing or a atrse to the people over jshom they pre- side^ according as they regard, or disregard, the laws which He enjoins. The previous wickedness of a people, in abu- sing the mercies, slighting the warnings, and despising the judgments of heaven, is a reason why God permits a nation * ProT. f iii. 15. f Rom. xiii. 1. IT Dan. ii. 36-45; Isai. xiii. 19-22; Zeph. ij. 13-16 ; Imu aiiii ; Ezek. xxiz. 8-12. § hai. xiif . 24-28 ; Ibid, xlv. 1-4. t I>»n. vii. 6 : 1\k4, Tiii. 4-7. K Dm. tii. 7. 8 to be ruled by a iiionnrch wbo is wniitiiig either in tlie will or capacity to promote its real interests. There are two de- scriptions of Sovereigns who arc a curie to their subjects — weak Sovereigns, and wicked Sovereigns. The former are incapable of wielding the power entrusted to them for the suppression of vice, and the encouragement of virtue.* They arc not, in point of fact, what their oflice requires them to be, " ft terror to evil doers," but, reversing the apostolical description, may be said, in this respect, " to bear the sword in vain."| Hence we find it threatened among the severest judgments which God determined to bring upon the people of Judah, for their wickedness, that "he would give children to be their princes, and that babes should rule over them ;"|| in other words, that persons of weak understanding, and di- vested of the requisite qualifications for government, should preside over the afYairs of their nation. But if weak Sove- reigns prove a curse to the nations they rule over, how much more, in the ordinary course of things, must they incur this reproach, who are devoid of virtuous principle, and whose extensive influence is thrown entirely into the opposite scale. In our own most favoured nation, things have hitherto been so happily constituted, that if, instead of being blessed as we have been for a long period with Monarchs who hare aimed at the advancement of their people's happiness, it had been the will of Providence to suffer men of opposite principles to sway the British sceptre, their power of doing evil would have been, no doubt, in many important respects, restrained by salutary laws; still it cannot be questioned that in our nation, as in all others, a licentious court must in time produce a li- centious people, and that a licentious people cannot long be a free people, or a happy people. On the other hand, how ex- tensive is the good, how innumerable are the blessings, how incalculable the benefits that must flow down upon a people through the medium of a Prince whose mind and heart are thoroughly imbued with Christian principles; who makes the revealed will of heaven the standard of right and wrong, and who studies the highest and purest interests of his subjects, and aims, in his public and private life, at the glory of the King of Heaven ! Truly we might say of such a Monarch, as the King of Tyre said in a letter to David's successor, " Because the Lord hath loved his people, he hath made thee King over them."f • 2 Chron. xiii. 7. t Rom. xiii. 3-4. || Isai. iii. 4. f 2 Chron. ii. 11. 4. Thus it is obvious with ronrnnl to those exalted |icr»orn who arc called to preside over the nations of the world, thnt Ciod fhooses thcni, invests them widi their power, and em- ploys them ns his instruments ; and wc may add to these ob- servations one further parliciilar, that lie icrminalva their earthhj career u/icn their 'work is done. Their lives, like the lives of all upon whom the witherinrr sentence of Divine wrath lins fallen, arc uncertain and precarious. Death is no respect- er of persons. The sable emblems which noxv surround us, my brcthern, bespeak the utter insijrnificance of human pow- er and glory. They remind us that the same awful curie must be inlllcted upon the monarch a'.id the bcg fi'^ni a motive higher still, " for the Lord's sake :" from a supreme regard to the will, a paramount respect for the law and honour of Christ. The christian reflects how much the glory of his Redeemer is con- cerned in this matter; he knows that the confusion and anar- chy which result from the contempt of human laws and insti- tutions, have a tendency to bring discredit upon the Christian faith ; and on the other hand that a strict and conscientious regard for them, reflects a glory upon his religion, as well as upon its illustrious author. These motives are sufficient for * Rom. xiii. 7. § MaU. zxii. 21. f Rom. xiii. 8-4. X Ibid, xiii. 5. s ) I ! i> i u him ; he knows his duty, and he discharges it tor the Lord's saJce. 3. We owe a further duty to our earthly sovereigns, and that is to prciyjhi' them. Is it so that their character and our own interests are so closely connected that they must prove to us and our fellow subjects a blessing or a curse ? Then let us supplicate in their behalf, the everlasting God, remember- ing that "the hearts of kings are in his rule and governance, and that he can tlispose and turn them as it seemeth best to his godly wisdom." The language of our Liturgy here is in beautiful accordance with the language of Holy writ. " The king's heart," says Solomon, " is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will,"* and the duty resulting from tliis circumstance is clearly exhibited by St. Paul : " I will," he says, " that first of all, ' supplica- tions and prayers, intercesssions and giving of thanks be made for all men ; lor kings and for all that are put in authority; that we may lead a quiet ami peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."f Such is the plain conmiand of heaven, and never was it ap- parently more neediul to evince our deference to that com- mand than at the present critical period. Never in the an- nals of our nation has a crisis arrived, when it was more re- quisite to address the God of Heaven in its behalij and lor the illustrious personage w lio is summoned to preside over it. When we look back npon the glory and happiness we have so long enjoyed, we are compelled to exclaim, how great and manifold have our natl.Mial mercies been I How^ many tern- jyoral blessings has a gracious God showered down upon us ! What wholesome laws do we live under I What freedom do we enjoy 1 What power does our nation possess ! What honour amonij;: the kino'doms of the world ! And how^ lonjj have these great and incalculable blessings been secured to us ! But far beyond all other privileijjes, what spiritual mercies have been vouchsafed to us 1 What a mercy is it that we are permitted to possess the clear and sacred light of the Gospel of Christ, while other nations are suffered to dwell in darkness and ignorance. What a mercy to have the free use of our Bibles, and to enjoy the ordinances of a pure and Apos- tolical Church, which recognises and teaches the holy doc- HI * Prov. xxu 1. t 1 Tim. ii. 1-4. 15 triiies of that sacred hook ! Can we look iiround us and be- hold these evidences of divine mercy and goodness on every hand ? Can we look back and reflect how lon