^^ 4 v) <^ /a ^> .^ 0% ''\^ /^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 lis 1^ m 1& 1122 I.I I us 17.0 1.8 Photographic Sciences Corporation /. O ^^ v; A* •^"'^V^.^ c <^' <^., -^/ 1-25 U ||.6 < 6" ► ^^ l\ iV \\ -i^ ^i; 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTF«:- ^«J* *^^ ^^•i^ ^*^ ^ X ^*^ ^gj-gj^ ^^* *^^' ^e# <3>*^ n*^ ^• P S A L. XXI. I, 2, 3, 4, 8, II, 12, 13. T/6^ King JJ:all joy in thyjlrengthy O Lord, midm thy fahation Ioqiv greatly JJoall he rejoice. Thou haji given him his heart's defire^ and hajl not with^ holden the requefi of his lips. For thou preventejl him with the blejjings of goodnefs ; thou fetteji a crown of pure gold upon his head. He ajked life of thee, and thou gave ft it him, even length of days for ever and ever. Thine hand fiall fnd out all thine enemies, thy right hand fiall find out ihofe that hate thee. For they intended evil againji thee : they imagined a mifchievous device, which they were not able to perform. Therefore fcall thou make them turn their back, when thcuJJ:alt make ready thine arrows upon thy firings, againji the face of them. Be thou exalted. Lord, in thine own flrength : fo will wejing and praife thy power. IT is probable David wrote this divine ode foon after he had received that promife of the ella- blifhment of his kingdom in an uninterrupted line of fucceflion thro* his fon Solomon, which we find, I Chronicles, if^ Chapter. On this promife David there dwells with admi- ration and rapture : it is plainly the fubjedl of feveral pfalms ; and he doubtlefs underftood it as of the fame tenor with the promifes made to Abra- ham and the Patriarchs, ultimately referring to the kingdom + (6) kingdom of the Mefliah. This he fcems principally to keep in view in this pfalm ; in a prophetic man- ner he defcants upon it, and rejoices not only in the higheft aflurance of his own continued vidories, and the greater glory of his fon SQlomoriy but of the irre- fiflible power of that future royal fonagainft whom no policy fliould prevail, no weapon prolper. But as far as this pfalm relates to himfelf, he de- voutly exprefles his intire dcpendance upon God, afcribes all his flrength, fafety, honor, and profpcrity to him, acknowleges them as anfwers to his continu- al prayers, and thankfully refledls upon divine good- nefs in prolonging his reign, and granting him the hope of an endlefs life : by the great things which God had already done for him, and a believing prof- ped of the Mefliah's kingdom, he rifes to the moft joyful confidence that God would flill continue his favours to Ifrael confidered as his church, and dif- appoint and confound all their enemies ; and fo he concludes with this exulting prayer of faith, whkh. he puts into the mouths of the whole body of faints Be thou exalted, Lcrd^ hi thine own Jlrength : fo ivill we Ji?jg ajjd praife thy power, q. d. Lord ma- nifefl thy divine peri'edions more and more, make thy power confpicuous in thy wonderful providences for the fafety and profperity of thy church -, let all nations behold thy majefty and univerfal dominion : io will thy people iing of thy goodnefs, and celebrate thy praife. Let us on the prefent joyful occafion fubjoin our hearty Amen. I have not time to mention many profitable in^ ftrudions contain'd in thel'e verfes ; but fhall confine tnyfelf to thefe three remarks, viz. ^ i. iiC J. ilC (7) I. The ftrcngth, fafety, grandeur, and profpcrity of kings, efpccially when in connexion with the fccurity and welfare of the church, muft be afcrib'd to God. n. 1 he long life and profpcrous reign of good kings is a great bleffing, and an encouragement to the people of God to depend upon his Con- tinued care of the church, and the further accomplifliment of his promifes. III. When God in his providence remarkably defeats and fubdues the enemies of his king- dom, good men will take peculiar notice of his power, and give glory to his name. L The ftrength, fafety, grandeur, and profpcrity of kings, efpecially when in connexion with the fecurity and welfare of the church, mull be afcribed to God. All things are of God : the cxiflence, order, beauty of univerfal nature, fprung from his almigh- ty word, according to that perfed plan of eternal wildom, by which all things appear'd diftindly in their moft minute circumftances to an infinite mind, when yet they were not : the conftant laws of mate- rial fyftems were fix'd from the beginning, and con- tinue by his will : and all ifitelledtual and rational beings are equally under the moft cxad regulation, by that fupreme moral government which he more immediately exercifes as God over all, and by the conftitutions which he has fettled agreeable to their various ranks and circumftances. All government originates from him who is the Creator and Lord of the univerfe ; who has plainly pointed out, by the different genius and capacities of men. tl 5 (8 ) men, various fervices, and different degrees of honor and power ; who has made Ibcicty neceflary for our welfare and comfort j who led the iirft families and tribes of mankind, by a certain inftind of nature, to acknowlege and obey their refpecflive heads, and confent to that authority which each found neceflary for their common fafety. Government began in patriarchal authority, and was gradually improved into more ample power, and extenfivc dominion, eftablifli'd upon new claims, according to the rifing exigencies of thofc little com- munities, and the opportunities which artful ambi- tious men feized upon from time to time to aggran- dize themfclvcs, and fubjedl cities and kingdoms to their will. There is fomethi'^g in the very confti- tution of man, and the general condition of the in- habitants of the earth, which tends to divide the world into diftindl nations, and produce the various forms and degrees of dominion which have appear'd in all ages. Thus the chil powers are ordained of God, defigned originally for the benefit of mankind, ■erected in various forms by his fpecial providence. We no where find any certain model of govern- ment, prefcribed by exprefs revelation, except that given to Ifracl under Mofes j which was peculiar to their circumftances as a national church, a proper theocracy under the conduovern- er bafis 2 know s great- :ounte- ^ligious the or- blend- ? other, I weak- from a Dfperity snt it is appears aflem- 1, free rmitted again it the ( " ) the devil's kingdom, and ufc the heft means for its own inlargement and perfedion. The church thus built on its proper foundation, muft very much de- pend on the fafety and profperity of the kingdom, for it's own fecurity and welfare : if the nation is weakened by wars, or over- run by invafions, the enemies of the one will probably be enemies to the other, and the church muft have a great fhare in the public calamities ; but when the nation grows ftronger, and not only maintains its ground but multiplies its conquefts, and becomes great and for- midable, religion ftands more fecure, and fpreads knowlege and liberty farther and farther. A kingdom eftabliflied upon fuch equitable prin- ciples, where civil liberty and evangelical religion are encouraged and fupported, ftands fair for the pe- culiar guardianship of Heaven. As the hand of God may be feen in eredling, his providence will be obfervable in defending and aggrandizing it : he will make its kings great and lionorable by his fpe- cial favor, and grant them hisjirengtb andfahation. When good kings are rais'd up, who by their example and authority encourage piety and virtue, and rule in the fear of God, they are like David and Solomon^ dignified and protected by a peculiar providence, and given as bleffings to their people and the church of God : and he will make them great on the throne, and fuccefsful in war ; they will reign in the hearts of their fubjedts, and be fear'd and honor'd by neighbouring nations. The goodnefs and p:)vver of God will be as plainly vifible in their ad"- vancemcnt, and the profperity which attends their reign, as if they had been chofen and appointed by him in the moft immediate extraordinary manner, and (12) and gain'd their glory and magnificence In confc- qucnce of the moft exprefs perfonal promifes : and the people ought to have a juft fenfe of this divine goodnefs, and cfleem it a great blefling to have the life and reign of fuch kings prolonged. This naturally brings on the next remark, , II. The long life and profperous reign of a good king is a great blefling, and an encouragement to the people of God to depend upon his continued care of the church, and the farther accomplifhment of his promifes. Foolifh, irreligious, and vicious princes are often fent in wrath to a people, as a juft punifhment of their lins : when they have forfaken God and cor- rupted themfelves, he fuffers them to be corrupted more and more by the example of their kings, per- mits their vices according to their natural tendency to infedl and weaken the government, diftrad: their councils, impoverifh and lay them open to the power of their enemies ; and fends his curfc upon them in ^U their interefts and undertakings. By a fucceflion of wicked kings Ifrael was foon ripened for utter ruin ; and the favor or difpleaiure of God toward Judah was apparent according to the chara<5ter of the kings which from time to time reigned over them : nor fliould we be miftakcn perhaps in mak- ing the fame remarks upon the hiftory of our Eng- liJJj monarchs. Not that irreligious princes are never us'd by pro- vidence as inftruments of doing fome real good to a nation : to ailert this would be to* limit the wif- dom and power of God, in contradidion to fcrip- of n confc- es : and lis divine have the larkj . fa good nt to the led care iment of ire often iment of and cor- orrupted igs, per- :endency ad: their le power them in icceflion for utter I toward ad:er of ned over in mak- lur Eng" . by pro- good to the wif- to fcrip- ige even of ( 13 ) of the vices of the great, their pride, ambition, re-i I venge, avarice, or luft, tp accomplifti his defigns for i the good of a favorite nation, and the welfare of his church. Saul was a felf-will'd, jealous, revengeful prince ; yet he introduced order among a people who had lived for centuries too much at loofc from government ; he perform'd feveral worthy actions, and laid a good foundation for a profperous king- dom. Jehiis zeal was fir'd chiefly by ambition ; yet he did the work which God commanded, in cutting off the houfe of Ahaby and deftroying the worfliippers of Baal. The grand charter of Eng- land's liberties was obtain'd of kings far from the beft of characflers. And a monarch whofe chief aim was to gratify his luft, became the inftrument of our deliverance from the pope's tyranny, and the intro- dudion of the moft valuable bleffings of the refor- mation. But wife and virtuous kings, whofe breafts glow with all focial affedlions ; who are equally ennobled by great and generous adtions as by royal blood j who value their high authority only as a power of I doing the gre^teft good ; merit the warrheft love of V their fubjeds, and will be honor'd as fathers and benefadors, bleflings which Heaven gives and con- ^ tinues. Such amiable princes have appear'd even among the heathen, the delight of their people, the ftrength and glory of their kingdoms. Such was CyruSy the founder of the Pej-Jlan monarchy, Ju^ dab\ great deliverer from the captivity of Babylon^ whofe name ftood honorably regifter'd in one of the moft remarkable prophecies of Ijaiab near two hundred years before the event *. Such among the was .fiUgUjiUi.^ WiiOic rcjgn vvris • Ifai. xlv, glorioufly IxOruiifi ^iiipciurD L 1 is ! I !ll^ 1 ' ill) ( U ) glorloufly diftlnguifh'd by the birth of our Lord and Savior Jefus Chrift within the limits of his empire : and after him, VefpaJiaU: Antoninus^ Pius and fomc- others. But efpecially when kings are men of true reli- gion, fearing and giving glory to God -, it is a ma- ififeft token of the divine prefence with them, a plain intimation that God defigns the greateft favors to fuch a nation. The bed ot Kings will be im- pk)y'd in the moft eminent fervices, anddiftinguifh'd by providence with the greateft honors^ If ever we may depend upon remarkable public profperity, it is under fuch princes who acknowlege their de- pendence upon the fupreme Majefly of Heaven, and afk counfel of God, in all affairs of government, peace and war ; who make him their ftrength and confidence, honor his laws, obferve his providences, and give him the glory of their victories. What i» too great to be expedled under fuch a reign ? What can give greater joy to a happy nation than to be- hold their king governing with wifdom, prudence and jullice ; aiming, in every thing, at the honor of God and their intereft, proteded by divine goodnefs, and reigning profperouily even to old age. Long life may be confidered as a great blefling to the King himfelf : for though the life to come is infinitely preferable to the happiefl: flate on earth ^ ti'(\d. the honors of an heavenly kino-dom, the never- fading crown of glory, the true and everlafting riches, beyond all comparifon above earthly crowns and fceptrcs, and the utmoll iplendor of the king- doms of this world ; fo that cbriflians, in the vigo- rous exercife of faith, V7ou\d (itjire rather to be abfent JtQfil trJt Ovi*J uiiu ^-t ijc/ii, ■Li,Hfj iLc IjUI iiy CVCii liiUUVi^ they L but they will give glory to God above all, whofe inftru- ments they are. They will obferve how he glorifies himfelf and carries on his defigns in favor of truth and righteoufnefs ; how wonderfully he appears at one time and another for the fupport and defence of true religion ; how remarkably he difappoints it's adverfaries, even when they grow moft confident of fuccefs, and takes them in their own craftinefs. They will take notice, by what furprizing turns of providence the defigns form'd againft truth and liberty, and to introduce and propagate ignorance, fuperftition and flavery, are blafted and overthrown, and that. very mifchief brought upon the wicked projeaors which they meditated againft others. They behold the King of Heaven, in thefe things,, accomplifliing his own purpofes, notwithftanding the oppofition and rage of Earth and Hell ; fulfilling hispromifes; magnifying his power and wrath againfl his enemies ; and diftinguiHiing, by his wonderful goodncfs thofe who place their truft in ^'^"' ^,^^^^^^" f"ch things as thefc are vifible in our fuccelTcs, it is juitly exp'eded we fliould take notice of them, and give glory to ., i, as exalting himfelf in his own iflrength. Chriftians may triumph in the vlftories of war ; Out not as the heathen, who ihout a; " " age give to ■ ( 22 ) to their idols with frantic noife, nnd bruitini fenfu-. ality : the jo}/ ofchnjiiafis ought to be more ration- al, temneraV, and noble, fpringing from a proper fenfc ot the benefits recciv'd, and exciting religious iJentiments and affcdions. They ought to rejoice and give glory to God ; to alcribe to him all the ndvant.ige's tlicy have gained ; and praife him for fuch public bledings, and the profperity of Sion. By this joy they will find their knowlege, love, and reverence of God incrcaling, and their faith and con- fidence in him more and more Arengthned. But it is high time to pafb from generals to a more particular application of the fubjedl. Therefore to bring thefe things home to ourfelves In the firfl place. We have reafon to ackiioiv- lege the glory of cur Britifh Monarchs as a peculiar fan.ior of God. He has placed Great-Britain among the moll confiderable powers in Europe, and made her kings rich and honorable, fo that they may vie with the greateft abfolute mcnarrhs. Tyrants have the command of their people's purfes, yet they often find themfelvcs poor j they are dcfpotic, but hated :. but the kings of England have the affedions of a free people "; they are rich in the national wealth, which is freely granted whenever it is neccflary ; and their authority is obeyed with pleafure, \vith the iirmeil loyaltv, while they r^-lbrve to the conflitution, and love their fubjecls. Never did any nation more licartily abhor tyrants, or oppofc with greater refo- lution inch flrctchcs of authority as are inconfiftent with the natural rights of mankind : but no where can be f Mind a more loyal people while their princes obfervc the proper bounds of power, and aim to be benefactors. Every good king, crown'd according to (23 ) to the fettled laws of the realm, we revere as God's rcprefentcitivc, equally as if he could pie; i a divine right, in a fuccdiion efhblifliccj by Heave The liberties of Grcat-br'uain, and her p.ofperity, have been remarkably favorable to the church of Ch/ift: : for true chrillianity, the religion of Pro- teflants, is infcparably connedcd witliYree inquiry, coiwiaion, and profcllion. Where thefe are ol>. ftruded, though it may funport itfclf under difcou- ragemcnts and perfecutions, among a happy few, whole minds, by divine gr.icc,aj'e taught to reverence the truth, and obey God rather than men ; yet the church of Chrifl can have no firm footing in fucli a nation; it will be like a ftran^^er, difcountenai w'd^ opprels'd, and denied any fettled refidcnce amont?: them. As Tyranny, once eftablifh'd, commonly extends it's infolence to blind and curtail men's un- derftandings, and determine what they /hall believe, and how they fhall worfliip ; it muil either be taken avvay firft, in order to the introdudion of true chrifti- anity ; or ejfe if protectant principles Ihould gradu- ally enter and gain ground, by feme remarkable condud: of providence, they will efledually coun- terwork, weaken, and deilroy fuch tyranny, and *-2llore both civil and religious liberty. Thus tha:t Ipirit of liberty which has appcar'd from the firli foundation of the Britijh empire,, and fo often ex- erted itfelf, notwithlianding the encliantments and chains of po|.>ery, prov'd very friendly to the refor- mation ; and die ellablifhment of the proteftar.t religion has, on die other hand, greatly fecured and inlarg'd our liberties. Divine Providence has feem'd to point out Bn fain, from the beginning, as a favorite n to ailOiJj tO iiiUivv iC ( 24 ) a pattern to othe; kingdoms of the mof^ .clonal and equitable government j to fhow how wealth, and power are connedted with freedom, and to prepare the way for her enjoying a remarkable fhare in the bleflings of knowlege and true religion. The Great Lord of the world commonly performs the deligns of his providence, not by immediate exertions of almighty power, but by means fuited to the geners! conftitution and courfe of things. Therefore ay Antichrifl had ingaged on his fide the policy and arms of the greatefl empires in Europe to crufh the Reformation -, it was necelTary that fome earthly powers fhould be rais'd up to encourage and defend it. For this end, from fmall and confufed begin- nings, by wonderful fteps, through many flrange I'evolutions, God flrengthened and aggrandized the Englijld nation, increas'd knowlege and liberty among them, and made them the eavy and terror of their neighbours, fo that they became the flrength and glory of the reformed churches. The Roman-catholic powers confider'd England as the grand fupport of the northern herefy, as they term'd the Reformation : therefore they tried their utmoft efforts, either to conquer, or reduce it under the Papal yoke. But He that fits in the Heavens derided them, and defeated all their attempts : in vain they formed flrong confederacies; in vain they f tted out the moft formidable Armadas * ; in vain did Hell fuggeft and carry on a fchcme to burfl its fire from beneath, and deflroy at one blow all the Princes and Senators of the nation -f- : neither po- licy nor arms availed to fubdue Great -Britain^ or loot out the pioteftant religion. rrtl. _ b * The Spaniards in Queen EUzaheth^i Reign, h Tiie Gun powder Plot in the Reign of '^ama I. a;* rrt|_ _ l lie (25) The moft refined policy of Rome, was to debaucH and infatuate our Kings themfelves * to purchafeof them the religion and liberties of theii fubicas and fo make us again a province of the papacy:' but rtiis was wonderfully over-rul'd, by Him who con- founds the wifdom of the wife, and takes them in their own craftinefs, for the more efFeaualfecurity of UiQ nation from all future attempts of that nature * WT?'? t"".".^^ ^^^^ ^^^"^"^ Revolution under Kin^ WILLIAM, and thofe parliamentary ads, by which ail Fapifts were forever bar'd from the Brim throne, and the fucceffion was fettled in the protef. tant line of the prefent iUuftrious houfe oi Hanover. 1 hus the nation has been guarded fmm time to temeby the peculiar care of Heaven, defbnded by almolt miraculous providences, and religion and liberty, arts and fciences, hufbandry, trade and ma- nutadtures have been increaiing and flourilhing to- gether We have been growing greater and more felpeftable among the fow^r . of Europe y we Iiave i^l'l ^,^^ejo claim the Sovereignty of the fcas, and aoid the ballance on the continent. Who, that attentively confiders fuch a feries of remarkable events, relating to a nation where liberty and truth have found the greatcft encouragement and fupport, can overlook the Divine hand lb mani- telt in them ? The wonderful works of God ought to be remembred from generation to generation as «ften as we read of the great things which he hai done for our Fathers j efpecially when we behold' his ads of power and goodnefs repeated in our own day ; our fouls fhould be filfd with irefh admiration and renew tlieir fongs of praife and gratitude. • In the fucccedlng reigns. D Let II Mi ( 26 ) Let us tlisrefore now nio'e particularly obfervc tbe wonderful goodnrfs of Cod :o m, in prolonging the Life and Reign of our mft gr adorn Sovereign^ his facred Majefty King GEORGE IL to com- pleat this day the fevcnty-fixth year of his age, and in crowning his arms ©f late with the moft glorious fuccefs, by fea and land, in all quarters of the world, elpecially in America. It is difficult to fpeak very particularly of the re- ligious charader of Kings j and the more fo, at fuch a diftance ; their piety muft exceed that of common chriftians in proportion to their greater temptations, and more illuftrious and extenfive fphere of ad:ion, or it cannot be conxpicuous. Flattery often covers the greatefl deformities, compliments even the vices of Princes, and paints them in thofe ornaments of grace which they never wore -, the greatefl monflers of wickednefs have fome times been fainted, and even deify 'd. It is rare to fee a David or a Solomon fhining on the throne in all the excellencies oi the greatefl Kings and real Saints. But we never had more reafon to fpeak well of any King of Greats Britain, than bfhis prefent Majefly. He has always 'adled as under a proper fenfe of his dependance upoa God ; concern'd to approve himfelf to his Mafler in Heaven j aiming to promote juflice and virtue, love and peace, in the nation, and fecure to his fub- je(fts their civil rights, and the mofl valuable liberty of confcience. He has never attempted to deprive his people of any of their privileges ; the fpirit of his reign has been the moil oppolitc'to every degree of tyranny and opprefHon ; and it is no inconfider- able part of the glory of it, that he never would iuiier any of thg fcveraidengminationiof chriilians. obfervc 'wg the ^n, his o com- ge, and glorious ; world, the re- at fuch Dmmon )tations, " a<-lion, covers le vices icnts of lonflers ;d, and Solomon of the i^er had Great" always :e upon Mafter virtue, lis fub- liberty deprive pirit of degree mfider- would riiiians, iu (27) in his dominions, to he compcll'd to -ovdm God contrary to the real fr-e perfwnfion of their nwtt minds. Vv^iatever mifcondua: may have been chargeable upon any of his Miniftcrs ; if it fl^ould be fuppofed that they have ever carried on fchemes tending to undermine the liberties of the nation j for the bell of Kings may be deceived in the pcrfons whom they entrull with power, ^nd fcrvanis, we know, are often mere hmghty md imperious than their mailers ; our benevolent Sovereign never r^avc his pcopie the lenft; caufe of complaint on this fcore. He iinr a ways contented himfelf with that authority which belongs to him by the conflitution and laws of ti.e nation ; he has aded as the Guardian and i;atheroI his people ; He has reign'd in their affec- tions ^ ana his rei^n will forever be diftin?ui(li'd as one oi the longefl aiidhappieil in the^r////Z^Annals * * The Earcn de PoUnltx m Lis Memoirs publifli'd above twenty ycnrsago, ha.i a remark iblr par:gr«ph. which I cannot forbear tran- ir-^^'r'^'''^ . y ^f^*"'"^ '^ contains the cherafter of his prcfcrit M.jeily fip^iy drawn by a iorcign Nobleman, but is almoft prcpUtic with rc.pca to t^e continuance of his reign - — *• The prcieut King is net tall, but very well fli.pM ; has a ftately porr,avcrygr.vccomcnaro., and fpcaks little, but with great pri priety. Tnc French, tvghfi^ an J he Italinn largu^ges are as familiar 10 liim as the German lie reads a vail dc=1, and knows more than mcll do who weur U.e Kuyai Diadem. Bcirg not pufTed up with pageantry and vam grandeur, i.e docj not ;uvc into fupcifluous mag- mhcrnce, but is an ceconomia without avarice ; liberal without being r-ofu'c ; an enemy to vice, «nd a friend to virtue ; fober and regular m his wavs and manne.s ; of a lively temper, fall of fpirit and am- tv^'on, but fubmininR borh the one and the other to reafon. H- is 8itr.v and laborious, undeill.r.rfs afFdrs, h«s a quick apprchcnfion, and a wonaerful memory Hij p- opie arc happy under his reign. Tn Lvgland, l.is only liu.ly is to maint-iinthe peace and bailancc ot Europe, to make commerce flourifli. and to render the nation one of the moft powerful m the world. At //^mrr, he endeavours, by good offices to h,s Tubj as tlicre, to alleviaie tlidr forrow for his abfence. He has not made anymifcrabrc ilncc he bcrun his reign ; and if the bleOh'".^ of the p,.opie hUp io prolong the dtys of their Kings, hn Britannic M-jjettV may hope for one of (he /ongrft of Reigns, Poiln.Mem. Vol2d.P.445. 1 1 ii i fill I ( 28 ) ' If wc conMcrfbe latefituation of our public affairs] we muft be convinc d that the continuance of our good King's life was of the greateft iinportanx;e, and ought to be efteem'd a peculiar favor of divine pro- vidence. But a little while ago, the nation appear'd in a moft critical dangerous ftate. We were un- avoidably involv'd in a difficult expenfive war. Be- iides the daily bold encroachments of the French upon thefe American Colonies, France and Aujiria had enter'd into a deep confpiracy againft Hanover and PruJ/iay and aim'd at nothing lefs in the end than an intire extirpation of the proteflant religion. It was plainly neceffary for us to form fome alliance on the continent oi Europe ; and we were naturally led to unite with his PruJJian Majejiy in a defenfive and ofFenfive treaty. But againft PruJJia the greateft powers in Europe were confederate : France and AuJlria, the Empire, the King oi Poland as EMor of Saxony, Rujjia and Sweden, were colleding their forces to furround and aflault him on all fides with mighty armies : confident that they fliould make fliort work with him, they had already, in imagina- tron, made a divifion of his dominions among them* felves. And though by his unparallel'd military genius, and timely rcfolution, he very much difcon- certed their meafures, and early gain'd great advan- tages 5 yet there was the utmoft danger of his being overpower'd with numbers, and ruin'd in the end. On our part, the fuccefs of the war, for fome time after it began, was far from anfwering our fanguine exped:ations . E?/gIand was bullied with a threatned invafion, and thought herfelf oblig'd to fend over to Germany for feveral thoufiind troops for her own rriiiiy jLfUfiLC WUO picpuilfig iO UrJKe lilC firft UWV and end. time firfl f 29 ) ilrft blow upon Minorca, Our Navy was fnadllve^ or imployed to little purpofe. The French gained faft upon us in captures by fea, and diftrefs'd our trade, in the channel, in the Weft-Indies, and alone the coaft oi Africa : their Fleets efcap'd our vigi- lance betorc their ports, and prevented our defigna abroad, by leafonable aids where they were moft in danger. Our army of obfervation in Germany, un- der the Duke of Cumberland, was reduced to the neceffity of capitulating with the French General and delivering Hanover into his hands. Our ex' penfive armaments at Home efFe but miirch and take poircillon. But how did we find find (55) find ourrdvcs miftakcn ! Great difficulties foon np- pear'd in the prof edition of a war in a new country $ efpecially as it was to be carried far back beyond dur fettlements, thro' almoft impenetrable forefts, thro* mountains, rivers, and lakes, againft well conftruaed forts, and every advantage on the enemy's fide. And befides all this, our ralhnefs, or on the contrary, our flow and irrefolute motions, the frequent changes of our Generals, and the delays of our Fleets, discon- certed and fruflrated our mofl promifing plans of operation. Wc were flufhed with our early fucccfs /;/ Ncva^ Scotia f , which was indeed of great confequence, as it moft fcafonably defeated the defigns of the French m that part of the Continent. But how were we aftonidi'd and confounded, foon after, by the news of the inglorious bloody defeat of the army on which we had built our chief hopes, under the brave but unfortunate General Braddock"^, Our motions towards Lake Ontario, the fame year, againft Niagara and Frcntenac, were but a feint. Our provincial forces under General "jobifon indeed repulfed the French at Lake George, and took pri- + By taking Fort Beaupjour, and rrmovins fcvcral thoufands of French Neutrah, who had bcfn ^uilcy of the moft perndeous behavior, «nd were upon ths point of ioining the Canadians openly againft us ; the confequence of which muft have been our lofs of AtinapoUs Royal, Halifax, and all Neva Scotia. June 17, 1^5 5. * July 9. 1755, on his march wirh 4.000 regular troops to Fort du ^ejne, now Pitjburg, en the Ohio. When he was advanced witliin a few miles of tliat iort. he was met by about feven or eight hundred Canadians and Salvages, who by the advantage of the woods and rocks intirely broke l.is army, and drove them back with the greatcft precipi- tation and confufion, having kill'd and wounded above a thoufand »f our troops; among the flain was the General himfelf, with a great number of officers ; the military cheft, and the fecretary's papers fell into the enemv^A h)inr)« ? mnA t'i^a (\mt-,,-,\',t^,mA U^J;^_ ... i.f. 1 !.j en the field of battle. foner ( 36 ) I! ( foncr their General Ba. on Diejkaw ; but this might be confider'd as an happy efcape on our fide, rather than a vidory, and was an inftance of the fpirit and refolution of the enemy, in venturing to meet us at our own ports *. The next year was remarkable only for our con- tinued fruitlefs parade againft Niagara, and Croum^ Pointy and the lofs of OJwego. \\ The following fummer was fpent to as little pur- pofe. Great preparations were made for the fiegc or Louijbourg j our expectations were rais'd ; our troops waited at New-Iork and Halifax for the ar- rival of the Fleet : hut it came too late j the French were beforehand of us, and guarded their harbour with an equal naval force. The defign was laid afide ; our ihips in cruizing on the coaft fuffer'd * With 2500 Canadians and Salvages they unexpcftedly came over to attack our Army at Fort Edtvard. But finding the main Body was advanced to the Lake, they refolved immediately to follow and engage Uf. One of cur R;gimf:nts, fent out upon the firfl; news of the Enemy, for the relief of Fort Edw&rd, narrowly eft«ped being intirely cut cff by an Ambulcadc, and were ciialed back to the camp with confiderable lofs. The camp had no defence, but a few logs or trunks of trees lying loofely on the ground for a brc?.il work, and one or two cannon haftily mounted, which were ot little fervicc ; and our numbers wer? but about two thoufand. Had the Enemy prefTcd on without halting, they had the fai'-cft profpcdof fucccfs ; but by fighting at a diftancc, they mifTcd their advantage, and were obiijicd 10 retreat with lofs. One of the moft remarkable circumllanccs of this siiair, was a ftcond adion the lame day, immediately attcr the enemy's retreat. At their place cf rendezvouf, they were n;et by 3 fniall fcout of a hunlercdand forty of the AVo/ Hamp/hirezTiil New Tcr^Rejiiments under the Captains Foljlme and McGentiis, who, haflening Ironi Fort F.divard loward the Lake at th« report of the canncn.difcovcr'd and engaged thccncmy. as they were reaf- fembling where they i:ad left their B-ig^age, (torn 4 P. M. till night, kilkd about an hundred, diiperlcd the body,& then proceeded to thcCamp with the lofs of only fix of their number killed. Tlus was on Sept. 8. 1755. II The Earl of Loudoun arrived at Niw Tori to take the general com- mand of all the Forces irt hWtb America July 23. 1756 ; and OJwego was furrcndered to 3000 French and Incians, the Gaxrilon cothilinij cf luQO iHsn bsifig Kii;'? pfifuccrs «f war, AugUU 14, greatly 1 t i might rather irit and :t us at ir con- le pur- e fiegc I ; our he ar- French arbour ^as laid [uffer'd ame over >ody was A engage E Enemy, \y cut cff :iridcrab]e of trees cannon )crs wcrq C hdilup.g, diftance, ofs. One nd adion r place cf forty of .3 Foljlnte kkc at the vere reaf- ;ht, kilkd imp with 8. i755. lal com- 1 OJwego zoitfiilini; greatly ( 37 ) greatly by a ftorm, and hardly cfcap*d a general deilrudion : and in the mean time General MontQalm fuddenly pafs'd Lake George with an army of ten or twelve thoufand men, and wrefted Fort William-Henry out of our hands, and demo- lifh'd it. f Thus we were difappointed and humbled from year to year j almoft every thing went againft us j the enemy gain'd ground, fortified and fecur'd every pals into their own country, grew more and more animated, and were meditating and preparing to drive us farther and farther, and follow us down to Albany, or even to the city of New-Tork, In the mean time thoufands of falvages were enticed over to their intereft, and impioy'd to harrafs our armies, rut off our convoys, and execute the moft horrid barbarities all along on our weliern frontiers : and even thofe Indians who had ever been our fail friends, began to defpife and defert us, and waited only for a fair oppoitunity to join our enemies. So that the Colonies were very much difheartencd, and appre- hended great danger of being over-run. But when God had thus prov'd and humbled, and convinc'd as that the race is not to thefwift, nor the battle to thejlrong^ and that our dependance muft be plac'd intirely onr him ; when every one trembled for the ev^ent of thefe things, and we began to cry to Heaven more earneftly for Divine aid, with hum- ble confeflion of our fins, and fubmiffion to God ; He that hears the prayers of his people, and pities them under all their afflidlions, regarded our cries, + The Gtrrifon confided of 300© men, and after holding out a week, having no profpcft of sfTiftance, obtained an honorable capitula- tion : but were aftprwar-i.o tM»tfir!iniifli# r,\„^ry ,„^ *^ k^ »t...J>.^J ...J ilaughtcfcd b/ the Salvages. This was Auguft 9. 1757. , ,?• i r ( 3S) sand gave us help from tronMe. His Providence bro^t about a change of meafures al Home, the happy ef- fefts of which foon reach'd America. More powerful ficfeafonable aids were fentover, under brave, faithful, and virtuous officers. Our armies were ad've ; our fleets terrified and fhut up the enemy on every fide. Laft year Louijhourg^ the key of Canada^ was fur- render'd into our hands : Frontenac was demolifh'd, and Fort du ^efne reduced, by a peculiar turn of Providence in our favor, by which even that melan- cholly defeat and flaughter of our troops at Ticon- dcroga *, was over-rul'd for our advantage. Thefe were the beginnings of our triumphs. But this year what Wonders have been wrought for lis ! Befides reducing Gaiidaloupe^ one of the fined: Ifiands in the We/i-Indies, and recovering the ground which we had loft at Ofwego ; we have gain'd the command of the pafiages thro' the Lakes, by the im- portant conqueft of Niagara ; where we had a double triumph, in defeating, with great (laughter, a confiderable body of troops fent for the relief of that garrifon. From Tliconderoga and Croivn-Point the enemy fled, and left to our forces the forts which guarded the entrance into the heart of their countiy, and which had been the principal objerts of our former expeditions. And rtow, to crown all, ^EBEC IS TAKEN : ^ebeCy the Metropolis of Canada, the ftrength and dependance of our ene- mies ', ^lebeCy to which our moft earneft attention * July 8. 1758. Our army. confiftinK of about 14000 men.nttarked thcFiench in their entrercliments m'Tic'jnderoga, h\xi vfere rfpulicd, and obliged to return, about 1500 of our foldiers being killed or wound- ed. Upon this a refolution was immediatciy taken, to fend Colonel BraJJfrcet with a number of troops agtinft Fnnterac in which expe- dition he .uccceded, and lo prepared the way for the redu6\ion of « « « < ( 39 ) was tarn d, is taken, by a brave General, the inde- fatigable refolute WOLFE ; who, in the lervice of his King, for the welfare of this Country, in the faithful difcharge of his duty, willingly expos'd and facrificed his own life, and triumphed in the agonies of death. With his litde army he cheerfully pufh'd on thro' the greateft fatigues ; tried every generous, every forcible method, to accomplifli his defign ; till at lafl he found it neceifary to trufi: all to a battle : and accordingly, with all the art and iirmnefs of a fkilful and heroic General, he drew the enemy from their entrenchments, met tliem in the field, though their numbers were more than double to his own, and gained a furprizing vidory with the lols of very few of his troops. — Alafs ! among the ilain He himfelf fell ! by his zeal and activity He was foon diftin- guifh'd, and mark'd out for death ! — But he died in the midft of the fhouts of vidory, with the fatis- fadlion of having finifh'd, faithfully,, and fuccefsfully, the work which had been committed to him by God and his King : and if true religion was the bafis of his courage and fidelity. He is ftill, and fliall be forever triumphant. His name will be remembered, in thefe Colonies more efpecially, with the greateft honor and gratitude, to the lateft pofterity. This is the Lords doing, and it is rnarvellous in our £yes : we muft fay, not unto us, Lord, not unto us^ but unto thy name be the glory, for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. We mufl not glory merely in ma;i. While we give defer ved honors to the worthy Commanders of our armies and fleets, we mufl vtmtmhtv that the njidtory is the Lord's, and that they are but inftruments in his hands by which he performs ( 40 ) performs all thefe things for us. Amherjl, Wolfe, Bofcawen, Saunders, are names which God has high- ly honored 5 they have been his officers to execute his purpofes of goodnefs towards us, by chaftening and fubduing a proud, perfidious, and refllefs enemy: by them God has magnified his own power, exalted himjelfin his ownftrength, and dif charged his arrows in the faces of the adverfaries of his Church.^ Thai: which we have fo long been wifliing for, Vv^hich has been projcded again and again, and at- tempted in vain, is now accompliflied. Canada miijl befuhdued, has been the cry of New-England, ever fmce we have felt the efFedts of their barbarous prac- tices againfl us. Without any regard to the mofl folemn ratifications of peace, they have continually irritated the Salvages againft :hefe northern Provin- ces more efpecially, and hired them to deflroy our towns, murder and captivate the inhabitants, and do us all the mifchief in their power. We therefore had fuflicient reafon to look upon Canada as v/orfe than a Carthage to us, and make it our grand aim to deflroy or reduce it. But former Expeditions mif- carried and came to nothing : corruption, treachery, or cowardice, and the vices of our armies, which were filled with the mofl horrible profancfs, and en- feebled with luxury, drunkenefs, and debauchery, rendered all our fchemes abortive. The time was not come for our conquefl of that Country : their iniquities were not full ; and we were not fufficiently chaflifcd and humbled. But now we havefeen that ' joful day which our Fathers fo earneflly wiflied for. We may confider all Canada as reduced, unlefs there fliould be fome farther remarka!)le interpofition of Providence. The pafTages of the Lakes arc ours j we ( 41 ) we have ^ofleffion of their Capital, and only Sea- port 5 they muft furrender, or live another year without fupplies of provifion, and fight without am- munition. The Indians are forfaking their intereft $ our frontiers are quiet, and will be from henceforth fecure, if we are permitted to enjoy, at the conclufioa of the war, this important conqueft. But, asChriftians, we fhould rejoice in thefe things chiefly as they relate to the Church and Kingdom of Jefus Chrift. We are, by profeffion, the people of God. Great-Britain has been one oftheiirft among the reformed nations, and on her fecurity and profperity the Proteftant intereft very much de- pends : and New-England has been highly favored with the light and liberty of the Gofpel j the dod- lines of Chrift have been taught, and the worftiip and difcipline of his Church maintain'd with equal purity here, as in any other part of the worldi And therefore for his own name's fake, for the honor and advancement of true religion, God has granted us all this profperity. Zeal for pure religion brought over the Fathers of New-England from their native foil, to plant churches, on thefe diftant defolatefhores, upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apojiles^ Je" fus Chrift being the chief corner ftone : and God fmilcd upon their defign, and perform'd for them Wonders of Providence, almoft parallel with what he did for Ifrael when he bro't them out of Egypt ; fo that we can with great propriety apply the words of the Pfalmift, and fay— /^ have heard with our ears, &c^. We now enjoy the word and ordinances of God in their original purity and fimplicity, with that liberty which is the glory of chriftianity ; a blefling from time to time has accompanied the means of grace ; our Churches are greatly multiplied, well fuppiied jvith able and faithful ikf/»/'^^n oftheNew-Teftament^ • Pf«l. xUv. 1, 2, J, F and ( 42 )) and fpreading farther and farther into the wHdcrncfesr and notwithftanding our great dcclcnfions, there arc; multitudes not only of honeft, fober, virtaous pro- feflbrs, but humble, obedient, exemplary ehriftians in our numerous Parities, by whom the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift is and will be glorified. We may therefore behold the goodncfs of God ta us, to the natbn, to all the proteftant Churches, in the late wonderful fuccefs of our arms, and the arms of our Allies. Thus God is ftrengthning and giving weight to theprotejiant /»/^r^,manifcfting his wrath againft the anticbrijlian powerSy and preparing die way for the final ruin of that fpiritual tyranny and myftery of iniquity. For thefe ends He has raifed up and fupported his Pruffian Majefty j that like a fe- cond Cyrus, he may execute the Divine purpofes againft myftical Babylon, God has given him the moft extraordinary military Genius, infpircd him widi wifdom and courage, upheld and ftrengthned him, and fubdued mighty armies before his fword, not meerly that he might be famous, as the Mero of theprefent age, but, as we have better reafonto fup- pofe, to accomplifti fome important defigns of Pro- vidence in favor ot the Church. Providence has joined us in alliance with him -, we have fharcd in his profperity ; the Lord of Hojis has been with our armies ; thro* God we have done 'valiantly, for He hath fubdued our enemies before us> 7wice the French hav^ been difappointtd and totally defeated in their at>. tempts upon Hanover : the former vidlbry obtained over them by his Prujfian Majefty, in pcrfon j and the late fatal blow which they have received from Prince Ferdinand, are equally furprizing, and happy in their Confequents. When we review the repeated vidories which Jiavc beeh obtained on the continent of Europe finc^ the i 4 m (43) die prcfent war;— when we confider how our Flceti have alarmed and diftreffed the encnny on their fea-coafts, deftroyed their Navy, and ruined their Trade j — when we recollee of a mofi compofed and religious kind, excrcifed in the moil ferious confidcration of the wonderful mercies grant- ed us from Heaven. Tho* we could have wifh'd for, more religious folemnity on fuch an extraordinary oc* cafion, and even to have devoted a whole day to offer, our grateful acknowlegements to the God of the ar^ mies of Ifraelj and meditate on his m«rcies j this would have been attended with fome inconveniency , this laft day of the week.— We are called upon b/ authority " to perform divine fervice in the morning cnly. -f Let us therefore, .while we are in the Houfe cfGody labour to offer our thankfgivings to him with iincere hearts, and pure devotion. — But certainly 11 it would be inconvenient to fpend this whole day ia religious exercifcs ; it muft not only be inconvenient, but highly improper and finful, to fpend the reft of it in the noify, diforderly, fenfual mirth, and divert fions of the Mob, in revelling and drunkencfs, in any of thofe things which either are vicious in themfelves,, or tend to difcompofe the mind, and unfit men for approaching holy time. — This evening is the prepara^ tion, and the Jabhath is at hand. — Noifc and fhow, ' Guns and Fireworks this evening, can never be plca- fing to our King, as teftimonies of loyalty \ but to the King of Heaven they muft be highly provoking, as the plaineft indications that we have no becoming grateful fenfe of his Benefits. We are ready to honor tb»^ King by the utmoft teftimonies of due refpedt and allegiance : but whilft we render to Cefar the things which are Cefars, we muft alfo be careful to render unto God the things f The words of the Proclamttion for • general Thankfgiving ire^ " the Minifters of the Gofpel tre hereby direfted to perforin Divine Service m iijcir fsfpcdiive eosgregsiioBs in she moaning oniy, the nfier- t&oon being devoted to public rtjoicingSf and lawful divtrftomH^ which (46) ay of Wrath to come, when all the myfteries of providence and grace will be finifh'd ; when all the kingdoms of this woi d, and this whole yifible cre- ation fhall be difTolved ; when the wicked fhall be as ftubble to the flame, and all who know not God, and obey not the Gofpel of Chrift, fhall be punifli'd with everlafting deftrudtion from his prefencc and the glory of his power. — Let Sinners fear his wrath, and now make peace with him, while he offers to grant them not only the privileges of fubjedts, but the dignity and inheritance of children of the Moft High. — Let us acknowlege and obey him as our King and Savior, and we (hall rejoice that he lives, that he reigns and profpers ; we fhall now triumph in all his vidtories, and fhall finally triumph forever with his faints, enjoy all the bleffings of his glorious Kingdom, and reign with him in Life eternal. Blejjingy and honor ^ and glory ^ and power y be unto the King that Jit teth on the heavenly throne, and to the Lamb fore^jer and ever, AMEN. F. 1 4, 1. 3,dclc comma «{ Jntoninus, F.i6, 1. 4, r. prevail. I.7. r. advantage.