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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^*i*#«' L JUC!£3»UC£»»^JUt3»^[»|[JUEJU^lt SERMON, On the Day appointed for a General Thanks- GiviNG, 1759. jfjfi \MJ^ -^ni»"-^iwiP^WB ,'*-'-*^.>, - .■ I..- I GOD the Giver of Victory: A SERMON, Preached at Bide ford, Devon j On the 29th of "November^ ^759* ^^^^g the Day appointed for a General Thanksgiving, for the Succefs of his Majefty*s Arms. Publiflied at the earned Requeft of the Con- gregation. By SAMUEL LAVINGTON. LONDON: Printed for J. Buckland, at the Buck, in Pater-Nofter-Row -, J. Ward, at the King's Arms, in Cornhill ; and A. Tozer, at Exeter, MDCCLX. -% ^ { 3 ) PSALM XLIV. 3. For they got not the Land in Pojfejion by their own Swordy neither did their own arm jave them ; but thy right hand^ and thy arm^ and the light of thy Countenance^ becauje thou hadfi a Favour unto them, , BY the Royal Proclamation we are fum- moned this Day to the Houfe of God j and private and publick Bufinefs is fufpended for a Seafon, while a grateful Na- tion is offering unto God thankfgivingy and paying its vows unto the Mofl High. With what gratitude and chearfulnefs dp we now afTemble to celebrate the Lovingkindnefs of our God! Whereas, in Time paft, we have met together with Sorrow and Humiliation, to deprecate the Divine Judgments, and to implore thofe Mercies from the Hand of * Pfkl. i. 14. ' B God, (4) God, the Vouchfafement of which we are now joyfully and gratefully acknowledging. On former Occafions, when we were difpirited by a Series of Difappointments; when our Councils were divided and diftraded j when our Expeditions and Enterprizes by Sea and Land were unfuccefsfulj when our Trade was declining, and our Enemies infulting, and our Hope as the giving up of the Ghoft j with what gloom on our Countenances, with what heavinefs and pain at our Hearts did we then aflemble in the Sandluary of God ! With what Fervour and Importunity did we then wreftle at the Throne of Grace, for the Di- vine Bleffing on a Land which appeared al- moft to be devoted to Deftrudion ! With what Humility and Contrition did we then confefs thofc crying Sins, which had expofed us to the fevereft Judgments -, and how did we promife — Oh 1 how folemnly and repeated- ly did we promife, that if the Lord wctild turn again our Captivity *, and deliver us cut of the Hands oj our Enemies^ we would ferve him in Holinefs and Righteoufnefs all the Days of our Lives -f* 5 and that the Biffing of a Nation ready to ferijh Jhould come upon him J / This ,■# * Pfal. cxxvi, 4. xxix. I J. t Luke, i. 74, 75. X Job, me- (5) memorable Year has afforded us many glorious Tcftimonies that the Lord regardeth the Prayer of the dejlttute^ and that he doth not defpije their prayer *. For he hath rente m- hered the low Eftate of his Servants, becaufe hh Mercy endureth for ever ; he hath redeemed us from our Enemies, becaufe his Mercy en- dureth for ever ; and given their Land for an Heritage^ for his Mercy endureth for ever -^ even an Heritage to his Servant, our King, for his Mercy endureth for ever', who giveth Food to all Flejh, for his Mercy endureth for ever •f'; who caufeth cur Land to yield her in- creafe §, and hath filled our Hearts with Food and Gladnefs || . Praije ye the Lord, praife ye the Name of the Lord, praife him, O ye Servants of the Lord, ye that ft and in the Houfe of the Lord, in the Courts of the Houfe of our God . praife the Lord, for the Lord is good; fn^ Praifes unto his Name, for it is pleafant -, for .-, wc may hope the Lord hath chofen Britain to himfelf and England for his peculiar Trea-- fure *. Blejj'ed he the Lord this Day out of Zion 5 praife ye the Lord "f*. I apprehend it will not be deemed unfuit- .; able to the Occafion of this Day's Alfcmbly : * * Pfal. cii. 17. t Pfal. cxxxvi. 21, — 25. 5 Pfal. Ixxxv. 12. II Afts, xiv. 17. * Pfal. cxxxv. I,— 4. t Pfal. cxxxv. 21, 62 It • ( 6 ) It rather appears to me, to anfwer the fpecial Defign and Intention of the Royal Proclama- tion, that we gtvg Honour to whom Honour is due -f ; I mean, that while we cherifh a grate- ful Remembrance of thofe who, under God, have been the chief Inflruments of our Suc- ceffes, we (hould not in the Excefs of our Joy, and our gratitude to them, forget or negledt to acknowledge the over- ruling Pro- vidence of God, as the primary Caufe of our Succefs, to adore him as the Giver and Dif- penfer of Vidory, and as theabfolute and un- controuled Difpofer of the Fates of Nations and Kingdoms. ' The Penman of this Divine Compofition is not certainly known ; however, the Begin- ning of it is a pious Recognition of the Di- vine Providence in fubduing the Canaanites, and giving their Land to Ifrael for an Inheri- tance : And lead this People, who were wont to think very highly of themfclves and of their Anceflors, fhould miftake the Caufe of their furprizing SuccelTes to be their own Merit, or Power, or Valour j he gives them to under- ftand, that they were not primarily owing to the Condud and Courage of their renowned t Rom. xiii. 7. General ■s^^^ *■■ ( 7 ) General JoJJ.ua, nor to the dauntlefs Intrepi- dity of thole who fought under him j but to the favourable and efficacious Intcrpofition of the Mod High. Accordingly he declares in the Words of the Text; T bey get not the Land in Pojfcjjion by their own Sword^ neither did their own arm fave them^ hut thy Right Hand and thy arm and the Light of thy Countenance ; b'Xaufe thou haft a Favour unto them. I am perfuaded you have already anticipated me in the Application of thefe Words to the glo- rious Train of Succefs and Viftory over our Enemies, and to the Conqueftsand AcquKitions with which we have been favoured, and which we are called this Day to commemorate. Senegal,Gokee,Guadelupe,Louisbourg, and efpecially Quebec, (in which Conquefl, in a manner, all North America is com- prifed,) are Acquifitions fo valuable and im- portant, that we cannot be deemed Friends to our Country, if our Hearts do not feel an in- ward Pleafure and Exultation ; and I flatter myfelf I (hall not be charged with defigning or attempting to damp or diminish the publick Joy, or to call the leaft. Refledtion on thofe gallant Men who uere employed in thofe glorious Expeditions, if I fay, that They got not the Land in PoJJ'eJJion by their own Sword, neither i f 8 ) neither did their own arm fa*oe thenty hut thy Right Hand and thine arm and the Light of thy Countenance, hecaufe thou hadjl a Favour unto them. In difcourfing on thcfe Words, I (hall en- deavour to {hew, / 1. In what Senfe, and on what Accounts it is our Duty to afcribe our Vidlories to the Di- vine Interpojition. II. How the Divine Wifdom, Power, and Mercy are peculiarly and fignally difplayed herein. I. I am to (hew, in what Senfe, and on what Accounts, it is our Duty to afcribe our Vidories to the Lord. 1 anfwer, 1. This is not intended to lefTen or obfcure the Merits of Men, ai Infiruments in the Di- vine Hand, God himfelf is pleafed to put an Honour on thofe who fignalize themfelves in a good Caufe, in Defence of their Liberty, their Reli- gion, and their Country. And accordingly when God had determined, in a miraculous Manner, to deflroy the Midianites by the Hand of Gideon, the chofen Band which Gi- deon led to the Attack, were commanded to cry, ** The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon •.*' * Judg. vii. 1 8. I For • ,> :o )r (9 ) For though God will not fufFer his Glory as the principal Agent, to be ufurped by or tranf- ferred to any of his Creatures ; yet as he is pleafed to effed his Purpofes, by their inftru- mentality ; he permits that to be acknowledged, provided there be a due Diftindlion preferved between his Agency and theirs. Wife and able Statefmen and brave and fuccefsful Com- manders, (hould have their due (hare of Com- mendation and Praife from a grateful People» whom they have faithfully and fuccefsfuUy ferved. Let then the Names of thofe illuf- trious Heroes, who have contributed to the Triumphs of this Day, live for ever. Let them be recorded in Golden Characters, in the Annals of Fame; and when the numerous, the uncxpeded, the aftonifliing Succelles, and Vic- tories which diftinguifh this glorious ^ra are mentioned in future Times, let the wife con- dud and intrepid Spirit of thofe truly Britifh Worthies be remembered with the Applaufc they deferve. It were ungrateful, it were unjuft, to permit fuch diftingui(hed Services to pafs into oblivion ; to fufFer men, who have deferv»id fo highly of their Country, who have quitted the Endearments of viomeflic Life, and cxchanped them for the Perils of the Camp or the Sea, who have facrificed their own ( 10) own eafe and fafety to the Hazards and Hard- ships, which attend fuch daring and arduous Enterprizes ; I Tay, it were bafe and dilinge- nuous to the laft Degree, to fuffer fuch great and refpedlable Names to lie buried in equal Silence or Obfcurity vvidi theirs that have in- finuated or obtruded themfelves into Places or Stations to which they were unequal, or have accepted Commiflions which they had neither Inclination nor Ability to execute. But I for- bear — The juft, though extraordinary Honours paid to the Memory of that youthful Hero, who fo nobly fell before the Walls of Quebec* 2nd conquered in his fall, are a recent de- monflration that Britain is not infenfible, nor ungrateful to the Merits of thofe who greatly dare, or freely bleed, or die, in her Caufe. '••i2. We are to afcribe all Vidtory to God, in order to fecure his Honour as the firll Caufe, and principal, though invifible, Agent. ! ' It mufl be acknowledged to be difficult, while we are ftruck with Admiration at the great Qnalities, or fignal Exploits and At- chievements of our fellow Men, to preferve a becoming Senfe of the Divine Prefence and Agency. Our regard to an Arm of Flelh is . v€ry apt to make us forget or overlook the Arm of the Almighty. David, though a »•'« '^ mighty ( II ) mighty and fiiccefsful Warrior, celebrated as he was for his great martial Endowments, readily acknowledged, it is God that avengetb me and fubdueth the People under me ^, •-> - In fome Cafes we can hardly avoid feeing and acknowledging the Hand of Godj name- ly, when Succefs follows the Ufe of unlikely and inadequate Means, when great Effeds are produced by weak and feeble Caufes» when Events of the greateft Confequence take their rife from trifling and inconfiderable In- cidents, and when the moft decifive and im» portant Vidtories are gained by a handful of Men, over vaftly fuperior Numbers j I fay, in fuch Cafes, Succefs muft neceffarily and unavoidably be imputed to the powerful and invifiblc Agency of fome fuperior Being, and we find ourfelves conftrained, in a Tranfport of grateful Admiration, to cry out. Surely this was the Lord's doings and it is marvellous in our Eyes -f*. Nor indeed is it lefs fo, when out Meafures are mod wifely and judicioufly concerted, when the Perfons employed in carrying them into Execution, are moft emi- nently qualified for the Truft repofed in them > ♦ Jerem. jcviii. 47, f Matt. xxi. 42>2 C * •• ^* ■ - Suc»- « » ■ ( 'O Succefs IS ftill ultimately no lefs to be afcribcd to God, than when it appears to be moft ca- fual and contingent. For he gives his Crea- tures all their Powers of Council Or A6lion> he guides and diredls all their Motions, he animates and arms them with Intrepidity, or finks and difpirits theni at his Pleafure, and he has them fo entirely under his command and controul, that they cannot move or ad: without his Permiffion, nor profper without his Bleffing. The Royal Virtues of our ex- cellent and venerable Sovereign, the Penetra- tion and Steadinefs of that great Man, who is at the Head of his Councils, and the Con- dud and Courage of that heroic Commander, who fell in the Entcrprize againft Quebec, and of his gallant A^ociates, and of many other of our Officers and Commanders both by Sea and Land 5 whence were they derived, but from God ? and to whom are they to be afcribed, but to him ? Bkjfed be the Name ef God for ever and ever, faith the ^Prophet Daftiely jor wifdom and might are his, and be cbangetb the Times and the Seajbns, he removetb KingSy andfetteth up Kings, he giveth Wijdom to the Wife and Kiiowledge to them that know Underfianding j he revealeth the deep and fecret I'bings^ he knows what is in the Darknefs^ and the f 1 ( 13 ) the Light dwells with him *• Let nrt therefore^ (faith the Prophet Jeremiah) let not the wif^ Man glory in his Wifdom^ neither let the mighty Man glory in his might j let not the rich Man glory in his riches j but let him that glorieth glory in this^ that he underfiandetb and knoweth me^ that I am the Lord who exercife Lovingkind* nefs, Judgment^ and Righteou/nefs in the Earth | for in thefe Things I delight "f. - • r 3. We ihould count it our duty, and take a Delight in afcribing our Succefs to Divine Providence, becaufe it endears and fweetens our Vidories to confider them as proceeding from God, and as being an eminent and fignal Difplay of Divine Favour. , A Declaration of War is a Kind of Appeal to God, no earthly Tribunal being able to adjuH: or determine the Quarrels of contending Kings and Nations. When the Sword is therefore drawn, the Decilion is referred to the Supreme Monarch of the World, and it jS his Power which either fucceeds, or blafts, the bed concerted and bed conducted Enter- prizes of Men. I do not fay that Succefs is a fure Proof of the Goodnefs of any Caufej * Dan. ii. 20,-22. t Jercm. ix. 23, 24. C 2 though ( '4 ) tliough I do fay, if a Nation undertake a War from a Thirft of Univerfal Monarchy, to de- fend or maintain their unjuft Encroachments on the Territories of other Nations, in De- fiance of Solemn Treaties, or wantonly and unprovoked to difturb and diftrefs their Neighbours, there is no Reafon to expedl the Blefling of Gpd upon the Arms of fuch a People ; nor would their Succefs, fhould it for the Sins of other Nations be permitted, in the Iffue prove a Bleffing to them, but a Curfe. However, the Charge of ambitious Views, and of making Encroachments on the Rights and Pofleflions of neighbouring Na- tions, and of Treachery and Cruelty in the Profeeution of their unjuft Defigns, we pre- fume, find I think very juflly, are to be laid at our Enemies Doorj fo that we feem war- ranted to (ay with the Pfalmift, By this Iknow that thou farceur cfi me^ hccaufc mine Enemy doth jjot triumph over me^. /" " * ' Succefs and Vidory are always grateful inthem- fclves; but when we confider them as flowing from the Hand of God, when thofe peculiar Cir- cumftanccs attend them,which point to tlie Right Hand of the Lord, viflbly exerted j when his Arm docs wondrous Things, when the Light of his Countenance throws a Luftre upon the * Pfal.xli. \\, Fie^d (15) Field of Conqueft, when the Interpofitions of Providence ' are manifeft, and when they are decifive, they are peculiarly acceptable and grateful. ' ■" -—-' -- - • • ■''- In this view, with what Pleafure do we walk over the Plains of MinJcn? where a few Regiments of Briti(h Infantry, unfupported, fhamefully unfupported by the Cavalry of their own Nation, and notwithftanding the vaft Superiority of the Enemy, fo glorioufly triumph 'd : A Vidtory, which was as feafon- able as it was important, and which faved the Countries of HefTc and Hanover from being made a Defart by the Enemy, on Account of the War in which our Sovereign was engaged with France as King of Great Britain. In this view we recoiled with Gratitude and Admi- ration, the critical Capitulation of Guadelupe ; when, had it been delayed even a few Hours longer, the large Reinforcement which was adtually landed, would have rendered the Conqueft extremely difficult, if not impra6li> cable. With equal furprize and thankfulnefs we received Advice of the feafonable Surren- der of Quebec, when Difficulties unforefeen, and apparently unfurmountable, feemcd to have rendered the Enterprize dubious, if not defperate ; when the laft noble Effort appears ^ to ( i6 ) to have been made, rather in Obedience to the Call of Duty, than with any very fan- guine Expedations of Succefs, when the ad- vanced Seafon of the Year prefled hard upon our Fleet, to retire from a River which was beginning to grow rough and rapid, and wher^ they were in danger ^f being locjced up by the fetting in of the Ite, or deflroyed by tem- peftuDUS Weather. It really enhances the Pleafure arifing from our Conquefts, to regard them as Divine Gifts; we hold them as it were by a Hr mer Tenure j we call them ours with greater Confidence than we fhould other- wife do. Whereas thofe who difbelieve a Providence, can take no Confolation of this kind from their Succefs ; becaufe the fame Chance that has been favourable To-day, may be unfavonrable To-morrow. But God is faithful and immutable, and his Affections to his chofen People are fteady and invariable: So that if we fecure him on our Side, by a right Improvement of his paft Mercies, we may apply to ourfelves thefe words, which were fpoken to the Children of Ifrael^ ^he Lord did not fit his Love upon you^ he^ eaufe ye were more in number than any People ; hut Becaufe the Lord loved youy and becaufe bg would keep the Oath "jjbich he had fivorn unt) 3' your ( >7 ) your Fathrs^ hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty Hand, and redeemed yau out of the Houfe of Bondmen, from the Hand of Pharaoh^ King of Mgypt *. And the Favour of God, not only endears, bat fecures our Succefs and our Acquifitions. As it is faid, 7he Fear of the Lord was on all the Kings of thofe Countries, when they heard how the Lordjought againfl the Enemies «/ Iff ael \ jo the Realm c/' Jehofaphat wai qiiiet } for his God gave him rejl round about -f, ^ . ■ IL I am to fhew how the divine Wifdom. Power and Mercy, are peculiarly and fignally ;<;■)*.■.', »v^4i X* ' ;.;. !,*i j j,>iivt\ ( difplayed herein. ^' ■• All the Works of God, in all Places of his Dominions J, praife him; even in the com- mon and ftated Courfe of Nature and Providence are clearly feen his Eternal Power ami God" ^ head^. But fometimes the All-glorious Jeho* vah exerts as it were, (I (peak it with the low* licft Reverence) his more vigorous Efforts, and -the Mojl Mighty girds his Sword upon his Thigh^ with his GJory and his Majejiy^ and in his Ma- jejly rides profperoufly, becaufe of I'rutb and Meknejs^ and Righieouffiefs i and his Right Hand teaches him terrible Things ||. At fuch Scafons there is a more remarkable difplay, * Deut. vii. 9. fa Chron. ii. 29, % Pfal. ciii. 22. § Rom. i. 20. II Pfal. xlv. 3, 4. I. Of '( •« ) . ■ I. Of infinite Wifdom : ftiled, in our Text, 7he Right Hand of Gody as it was that which dircded all the Motions of the Children of Ifrael, marked out their Camps, regulated their Marches, and pointed out to them the fureft Way to Victory and Triumph. ^e Wifdom of the Worlds (faith the Apoftle on a different Occafion, though in Words very appli- cable to my prefent Purpofe,) and of the Princes of the JVorldy cometh to nought *. But thanks be to God we have abundant Teftimony of this in our late Experience : For who^but he, whofe all-penetrating Eye not only pierces the Cabinets of Princes, but who fearcheth the Hearts and trieth the Reins -f- of the Children of Men, and underftandeth their 'Thoughts afar ^§, could have unveiled the deep-laid Defigns of the crafty, and difconcerted the Combination of the Mighty, again ft our magnanimous Proteftant Ally ? Who but he, who \swonderfid in Coun- fel, a?2d excellent in working 1^^ could have en- abled him to find Refources and Expedients for maintaining his ground thus long, againft the united Efforts of the mofl formidable * I Cor. ii. 6. \, Jerem. xvU. lo. § Pfal. cxxxix, ^. 1 Ifawh xxviii. 29. . ., . .0 Powers :t { '9 ) Powers of Europe. And to come nearer home, who but the Father of Lights, hath diredled our Publick Councils, hath fuggefted fuch prudent and vigorous Mcafures as have fud- denly changed our Profpeds, aw^akened us from our Supinenefs and Timidity, roufed the Britifh Spirit, and united all Parties, v^^ith a Zeal unknown and unexampled, (at lead in later Ages) in Support of the Honour and In- tereft of their Country ? To him we owe it, that the Councils of France have loft their boafted Confiftence, that one unfuccefsful Prime Minifter refigns his Place to another* and that every new Adminiftration is fignalized by fome new Difappointment ; that the Defiga of an Invafion of thefe Kingdoms, which has been fo long forming, is not yet ripe for Exe- cution j that they have not been able to fecure their own Coafts from frequent Infults, and almoft perpetual Alarms j that their Finances are fo low, as that they are reduced to the moft defperate and difgraceful Methods to fupply their prefent prefiing NecefTities, and that in the emphatical Language of Scripture, they reel to and fro, and ftagger like a drunken Man, and are at their Wits end^ ; I fay it is M * Pfal. cvii. 27, D evidently .1 { a») evidently owing, and we mod thankfully afcribe it, to his prefiding in our Councils, and withdrawment from theirs, who is wife in Hearty and mighty in Strength *, and whofe Underjlanding is infinite 'f, 2. There is a Difplay of Almighty Power : intimated in our Text, by the Arm of the Lord. It is true, God does not ordinarily ad in fuch an immediate and miraculous Manner, as when the Walls of Jericho fell down at the Sound of Trumpets of Rams Horns, by an invifible Divine Agency 3 and the numerous Hofl of the AfTyrians was deilroyed by an Angel in one Night. However, when God ufes vifible and ordinary Means to accomplifh his Purpofes, his Power is as really exerted as if the E{Fe(5t were produced by the diredl and imme- diate Agency of his irrefiftible Arm. The Hand that is now vidlorious, had been equally weak and feeble, with the withered Arm of Jeroboam §, if it had not been ftrengthened from on high. To what, but the Arm of the Lord, are we to afcribe fuch Prodigies of Va- lour as Were performed at the Siege of Louif- -i. * Job ix. 4. xVii. 4* t Pfol. cxlvii. 5. § I.Kings t boijrg 5 m ( 2i ) bourgj when our Soldiers and Sailors made good their Landing, on a Shore which was little lefs than one continued Battery, and deftroyed and brought off the capital Ships of the Enemy from under the very Walls of the Town ? Wli^t but the out - ftretched Arm of Omnipotence could have animated and enabled our Troops in the Attempt on Quebec, firft to climb a Precipice (which in- deed the Enemy, deeming it impradticable, had left unguarded) and then wich only Five Thoufand to meet an exafperated Enemy com- ing againfl: them with confide rably more than Ten Thoufand, and give them fo furprizing andcompleat an Overthrow? The Power of God, in all the Inftances I have mentioned, is vifible to every difcerning Eye -, and it would be ungrateful ^nd infolent in us to fay, " Mine " own arm hath gotten me this Vidory." No, it was the Arm of the Lord that brought Salvation * ; through him it was that we did valiantly ; it was He that trod down our Ene- mies "f*, and c^ufed one to chafe a Thoifandy and two to put Ten Thoufand to Flight § . The Heavens thQvdoref jail praife thy wonders y Lordy thy Faithfulnefs alfo in the Congregation of the Saints » * Ifaiahlix. J 6. fPfal.k. J2. § Deut. atx:^ii. 30. ■ D 2 for ( 22 ) for who in the Heavens can be compared unto the Lord f and who among the Sons of the Mighty €an he likened unto the Lord f O Lord God of Hofisy who is a firong Lord like unto tlee^ or to thy Faithfuhefs round about thee * f But 3. He has magnified his Mercy above all his Name. If God had not had a Favour unto the Children of Ifracl (according to the Expreflion in our Text) and lifted up the Light of his Countenance upon them^ neither his Arm nor his Right Handy neither his Power nor his Wifdom, had ever appeared for them. Now there are two Circumftances which fignalizc Mercy, and render the Goodnefs of the Lord more confpicuous and alFeding. And the firft is, 1. When the Perfons on vvhom it is con- ferred are every way unworthy of it. When he might juftly have rejedted Ifrael for their Sins, when he might have caft them away from his Prefence, and fuffered thofc that hated them to rule over them, that he fliould then give them the Necks of their Enemies ; and when he might have cut off the very Remembrance of fuch an ungrateful and '-f % * Ffal. Ixxxix. 5, 6, 8. rebel- ,n ( 23 } rebellious People from the Earth, that he fhould then crown their Enterprizes with Suc- cefs, and enlarge their Dominions ; and when he might have executed all his Wrath, and made their Plagues wonderful, that he fhould then not only fpare, but bkfs them ; is fuch a Triumph of Mercy, as he will have all his People obferve and acknowledge. Very remarkable is the Earneftnefs with which God elfewhere prefTes this upon the Chil- dren of Ifrael, Speak not thou in thy Heart, that the Lord thy God hath cajl them out from before thee, frying. For my Rightcouf- nefs the Lord hath brought me in to pojjefs this Land', but for the Wickednefs of thefe Nations^ the Lord doth drive them out from before thee ; notjor thy Righteoiifnefs, nor for the Upright- nefs of thy Heart, doefi thou go to pojjefs their Land', but for the Wickednefs of thefe Nations the Lord thy God doth drive them cut from be- fore thee ', that he may perform the Word which he fware unto thy Fathers, Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob ; Under jiand therefore that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good Land to pojjefs it for thy Rightcoifnejs, for thou art a jiijf-necked People *. It is not impoffible that we may be fo vain and arrogant as \.o Jacrifice to cur own Net, and * Deut ix. 4, 5, 6. bum ( 24 ) burn Jncenfe to our own Drag * ; to imagine that our extraordinary Succefs is the Reward of our extraordinary Piety, and that it is be- caufe we have more Religion and Virtue than the Reft of the World, that we have been fo greatly and lignally profpered. If indeed we fink into a Forgetfulnefs what manner of Per- fons we arc, we may thus imagine ; but if we examine into the moral andrcliglous State of the Nation, if we enquire where any confiderable Numbers (in Proportion to the Bulk of the People) who are eminent for true Godlinefs, for Piety and Purity, and for the Profeffion and Pradtice of pure and uncorrupted Chrif- tianity, relide, whether in the City or the Country, we have reafon to blufh at our hafty and ijiiftaken Computation, and to confefs that we are preferved from general Dcfolation, as Sodom and Gomorrah might have been, by feme few righteous Perfons found among us. For did ever Iniquity abound more? Was the Love of profeillng Chriftians ever more cold and frozen ? Was the Name of the Lord our God ever more commonly blafphemed? Did ever profane Swearing and Curling more abound in our Navy and Army ? Was ever xu * Habakuk i. i6. 8 thd (25) the Lord's Day more loofely obferved, I fliould rather fay, more daringly profaned, by Per- fons of all Ranks and Conditions ? Was ever the Spirit of God more highly provoked to withdraw ? Was ever the Son of God more ihamefully But I ought not to make this a Day of Reproach whic^ is devoted to Con- gratulation and Joy. Surely we had little Reafon to expedl that God fliould have been on our Side, or (hould have fought for us againll our Enemies, after we had abufed fo many almoft miraculous Deliverances in Time paft, and when our Abominations might Lave been a fufficient Provocation to him, not only not to afiift us, but to aflift our Enemies. However, from the extraordinary Nature and Number of our SuccefTes, we have Reafon to hope that he is ftill among us, that notwith- ftanding all our Backflidings he regards us as his People, and that he is trying if by his Goodnefs he may even yet lead us to Repentance; and at the fame Time that he rekindles our Gratitude and Love, he encourages our Truft and Confidence and Joy, fo that if we do not by our Perverfenefs forfeit his returning Favour, we may fmile at the Threatnings of our Enemies, we may laugh c,t the Shaking of their (26) their Spear *, and even now that their Fleet is ; 2. The Mercy of God is fignally difplayed, when the Confequences of a Vidory are high- ly advantageous. ' •• ■ " The Honour accruing from Vidory is pleaL ing and grateful ; but when it is attended with lailing Benefits, and valuable Acquifitions to a Nation, as the Mercy is greater fo it is more acceptable and grateful flill. And thus it undoubtedly was, when in the Inftance before us, the vidorious Ifraelites had their Enemies Landsy and Cities^ and Vineyards given them for an Heritage -f, Vidorieg are fometimes dear bought, and the Advan- tages accruing from them will not compenfatc for the Blood and Treafure expended in ob- taining them. A great General once faid, when he was congratulated on his Succefs in a very obflinate and bloody Engagement, "Such ** another Vidory would ruin me." — But when in Confequence of our Succefs, our Do- * Job xli. 29. + Jofh. xxiv. 1 3. (a) The Advice of the Defeat of the Breft Fleet by Sir Edward Hawke, did not arrive till after the Day o^ Publick Thankfgiving, on which this Sermon was preached. And in this God did blefs u^ according to our hopes. minions (?7) minions are like to be enlarged, our ricliei) in- creafed, our Trade improved, and our Ene- mies are greatly weakened and diftrefledj it is a proportion ably convincing Arguh^ent, that herein God had a favour unto us, 1 awn my- felf not enough verfed in mercantile Affairs* to determine how many profitable Branches of Trade will be opened in Africa, by the Con- queft of Senegal and Goreej what greater Quantities of Sugar, Coffee, Cotton, and In- digo, will be imported by our being in PofTef- fion of Marygalante and Guadelupe; how greatly our Fiftiery will be enlarged and fe- cured by the Acquifition of Cape Breton and the Ifle of St. John's J and above all, what an almoft univerfal Trade will be opened by the Redudion of Canada.— — So far we all know, they were the principal Sources from whencg our Enemies derived their Wealth and Power j and fhould Providence continue them in our PofTeflion, and give us Wifdom to improve them, we may expedt to find them of more real Service to this Nation than all the Gold Mines of Mexico or Peru. But the happieft Confequence of all would be, the Opportunity it might open to us, of introducing the Gofpel amongft the Indian Ndtionsj which it is hoped, fhould we extend our Territories on the Continent of America, £ and ( 28 ) and be fettled in the peaceable Pofleffion of them, our Governors will readily and ferioufly encourage. Human policy fuggefts it, and Chriftian-i Benevolence ftrongly recommends it. Nothing will more familiarize and endear their Conquerors, nothing will more attach them to our Intereft, nothing will more effec- tually annex them to our Crown, and be a firmer 1 ye upon their Allegiance, than Grati- tude for the Gofpel. Who can help antici- pating the joyous (and God grant it may not be a far diftant) Time, when amongft other valuable Exports from this Country to our Colonies, there fhall be a large Demand for the Bible ? When the JVord of the Lord pall have free Courfe^ and run and be glorified * -, when God (hall give his Son the Heathen for his Inkeritancey and the uttermoft Farts of the Earth for his Pojfeffion -f- ; when Converts (hall fiy as a Cloudy and as Doves to their Windows J, and a Nation fiall be born in a Day §. In this View, we may be allowed to rejoice in be- holding new Towns, new Forts, new Har- bours, and new Iflands, added to our Terri- tories in America and the Weft-Indies j and k :.V; S .ti ■ * 2 Theflal. iU. i. f P^l- "• 8. t Ifaiah U. 8. \ Ifaiah Ixvu 8. to 8. ,^- («9) to triumph in Quebec, as a Key to a new World, and as giving us. the moft encouraging Pfofpedl of extending both Commerce and Chriftianity. — What I have fuggefted I would be underftood to fpeak with the utmoft Mo- defty and Caution, fenfible, whether th^ fu- ture Events of this War (hall be profperous or adverfe is entirely in the Hand of Providence^; and confiding in the Wifdom of our Gover- nors, that Peace (whenever we are favoured with lb defirable a Blefling) will be concluded on the bed Terms, which our ClrcumftanceS will admit, for the Security and Welfare of thefe Nations, and of our Colonies, for the firmer Eftablifhment and Support of the Pro- teftant Inteiell in Europe, and for rendering our Tranquility both honourable and durable. Great and fignal, Britons and Fellow-Pro- teftants, is the Glory and Importance of the Conquerts I have been juft enumerating ; and they demand our warmelt Gratitude andThank- fulnefs to Almighty God. But I mufl: remind you of one Vidlory which I have not yet named, and which it becomes us this Day to celebrate : A Vidlory, which, whether wc confider the Nature of the Conflidl, the Power of the Adverfary, the Dignity of the Con- queror, or the glorious Fruits and Effedls of E 2 his (30) his Conquefts, greatly exceeds the boafted Triumphs of this menaorable Year. I am not commiflioned to inform you, that our glorious Ally, the King of Pruffia, hath totally de- feated the Auftrian Armies, or that our Ene- mies are driven out of their Settlements in the Eaft-Indies, or that their Fleets and Arma- ments, prepared at a vaft Expence, for invad- ing us, aredeftroyed or difperfed.— No; lam this Day * to remind you of an infinitely fupe- rior and more important Vidory than any of thefe would have been, I mean, the Triumph of our Redeemer over Sin and Satan, over Death and Hell, who were leagued and com^ bined againft us, by whom this World was en- flaved, and by whom it would have been ruined and deftroyed, if the Spirit of the Lord Go^had not come upon this Great Captain of our Salvation, had not anointed him to preach good hidings to the meek, to bind up the broken in hearty to proclaim Liberty to the CaptiveSy and the Opening of the Prifon to them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable Tear of the Lcfdy and the Day oj Fcngeance of our Cod ', to conifort them that mourn, to give mito * The Day when this Sermon was preached was, in Courfe, the Day of Preparation for the Sacrament, which vas to be adaiiniftcred the eijfuing Lord's Day, ^"' ' • . tbem ( 31 ) them that mourn in Zion, beauty Jor aftjcs, the Oil of Joy for Mourning, and the Garment of Praije for the Spirit cf Ileainnefs*, The' Fruits of his Vi6tory, which we alread}' enjoy^ are numerous and important. Hereby being" relcafed from a worlc than ^Egyptian Bondage, and delivered from a Darknefs that might be felt, we are tranflated in the Marvellous Light of the Gofpel, and into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. We are admitted to Terms of Peace and Reconciliation with the great Monarch of the Univerfe, whofe Fa_ vour we had forfeited by our unnatural Al- liances, and by our unprovoked and obftinate Rebellion. Hereby a Free Port (if I may be allowed the Expreflion) is opened in Heaven^ where every humble and truly contrite Soul may purchafe the invaluable Bleffings of Par- don and Peace, Patience and Fortitude, and in fhort whatever, in a Foreign Country, and in a State of Indigence, it can be fuppofed to want, or can reafonably dtfire. Hereby are are 710 longer Strangers and Foreigners^ but we become Fellow Citizens with the Saints^ and f the Houfhold of God 'f-, hereby we have the Privilege of becoming the Sons of God-, and if * Ifajah Ixi. I, 2, 3, t Eph' "• 29. Sons, (32 ) Sous, then Heirs, Heirs of Go^, and Joint-Heirs with Cbri/l * ; and wc have received the Earnejl of our future Inheritance. Our Faith and Hope, whom we fent to fpy out the promifed Land, are returned laden with the Clufters of Efcboh, and they afTure us, that it is a goodly Land, a Land flowing, with Milk and Honey -f-, and replete with Bleflings 'which Eye hath notfeen, nor Ear heard, neither hath it entered into the Heart of Man to conceive J : they afTure us, that there is no Night there, and yet that the Sun doth not fcorch by Day ; that there is no Winter there, and yet no Draught arifcs from an Eternal Summer; that there is the River of Life, tl e Water of Life, and on either Side of the River grows the T'rce ■ ef Life, which bears twelve Manner of Fruit Sy and yields her Fruit every Month -, and the Leaves of the Tree are for the healing of the Nations § 5 that the Inhabitants (hall no more fay, I am fick ; Sighing and Sorrow (hall flee away, and the Voice of Weeping, Lamentation, and bitter Mourning fhall be heard no more ; tliat the City hath Walls, and Towers, and Bul- warks, fo ftrong and lofty, that there no Ene- ♦ Johni. i:^. X I Cor. ii. 9. Gal. Iv. 7. t Numb. xiv. 7, 8' § Rev. xxii. i, 2. my ( 33 ) my can furprize or alarm ; that the Land is a Land of perfedt Harmony, where reigns uni- verfal and everlafting Peace, where Nation . fhall not rife up againft Nation any more, nor Kingdom againft Kingdom; where the Bit- ternefs of Parties, and tht Noife of War, (hall be known no more for ever j that the City hath no need of the Sim^ neither of the Moon, for the Glory of God enlightens it, and the Lamb is tloe Light thereof 'y and the Nations of them that are Javed walk in the Light of it, and the Kings of the Earth bring their Glory and Honour unt^ it, and the Gates of it are tiotjhut at all by Day^ (for there is no Night there -J and they bring the Glory and Honour of all Nations into it ; and there in no wife enters into it any Thing that permit me to be a fuccefsful Advocate for oar divine, but much-injured, Benefador. Our political Profpeds are undoubtedly bright and glorious } and the Names of thofe brave Men, who, under God, were the Means of ren- dering them fo, are defervedly dear to us; fuch repeated and important SuccefTes loudly demanded a Day of Publick Thankfgiving ; and we fliould efteem it a great Mercy, that the whole Nation is fo unanimoufly difpofed i||reigp)f|MHk)rious Year I John xix. 30. t Heb. ii. 14. § LuJ'e xvi. 8. 8 united ( 37 ) vinlted Acknowledgments to the LordofHofls* Let this Day, devoted to the Commemoration of them, be witnefs to every innocent and decent Exprefllon of our Joy. But let not all our Gratitude be exhaufted on this Occa- fwn ; let us remember, that, as Chriftians* we have a hisfher and a nobler Call for it* o The enfuing Lord's Day will give us an Op- portunity of everting it. When therefore Jefus Chrift zs evidently fet forth as crucified before our Eyes *, ki our Eye afFe«5t our Hearts j and with the Emblems of his mangled Body in our Hands, and with our Souls tranfported at the unfpeakable Advantages arifing from his Death, let us refolve and adually begin to ered a Monument in every Heart, facred to the immortal Memory of Jcfus. Let us every Day add one Stone at ieafl to the Spi- ritual Building j and, at lafl, when it is got high above the Clouds, and the Top-Stone is laid in Glory, let us (liout, Grace, Grace unto it-j-j and by die fame impreflive Finger, which wrote the two Tables of Stone, let this In- fcription be engraven, Worthy is the Lamb that was Jlain to re- ceive Power, and Riches, and Wifdom^ and Gal. t Zech. iv. 7. A Strength (38) Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Blef- Jing \ for he was Jlain, and hath redeemed us to God l?y his Blood, out of every Kindred, and tongue, and People, and Nation, and hath made us to our God Kings and Briefs * : To ' whom be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. Amen, ♦ Rev. V. 9, 10, 12. ♦-- ~» S ;.'.' :; #";/'iv* t s.^ •* rtv t ■V ■> '-»■ ■ ■ ?v ? J V . U \ ■ ■ '' .'* ,-B', 1 ■) ;■-• ■• ^V Vef ' us and mth To4