m 
 
 I 
 
 '*>« 
 
 fltX. 
 
 lv'\M 
 

 s^ 
 
 t t^ Wpnlagb*/ $ 
 
 '*h. 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. , & 
 
 Dim 
 
 SCC- 
 
 Section «=*S..S? ^ ' 
 
 
FACE. v 
 
 and Liberty, and itroduced him to an exten- 
 five acquaintance with the Members of the 
 two Houfes of Pdiament; but he accounted 
 it his greatefr. horur to be the inftrument of 
 doing good to the >uls of thofe who attended 
 his miniftry. 
 
 In thefe, as welas in his other printed Dif- 
 courfes, the read ei will obferve his almoft ini- 
 mitable fkill of accomodating the word of God 
 to the various occurences of providence as they 
 turned up in his $ ; fo that the character of 
 Apollos may with seat propriety be afcribed to 
 him, ABs xviii. 24 " He was an eloquent man, 
 " and mighty in te fcriptures." 
 
 But after all tat can be laid of him, his 
 large underftandii^ in fpiritual things, his 
 fprightly genius, ri> unfhaken zeal, his com- 
 
 prehenfive thougl 
 faith and charity, 
 
 ;, his flowing periods, his 
 his godlinefs and honefly 
 appear in hisSermmstohavefuch a fufficiency 
 in them, that they leed no recommendation. 
 
 August 25, 
 
 1752. 
 
 tlCHARD WINTER. 
 
I i 
 
LI S 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 a. 
 
 MR John Adams. 
 Mr Thomas Andrews. 
 Mr Benjamin Andrews. 
 
 The Reverend Mr Samuel Brewer. 
 
 The Reverend Mr Thomas Bingham, of Dedham* 
 
 The Reverend Mr Benjamin Boyce, of Kettering. 
 
 The Reverend Mr James Burgefs, QiWhitiuortbx 
 
 Mr Giles Bailey. 
 
 Mr Thomas Bradbury, 
 
 Mr James Bradbury, 
 Mr Peter Bradbury, 
 Mr Thomas Barnes, 
 Mr Thomas Buxton, 
 Mr Caleb Brown. 
 Mr Roby Bifhop. 
 
 P 
 
 (t of Northten. 
 
 Saddlewcrib, Yorhjhirt, 
 
 c. 
 
 Mrs Cooke, of Stoke-Nenvington. 
 
 The Reverend Mr John Conder, 6 Sets. 
 
 Richard Coope, Efq; of Fulham. 
 
 Mr John Coope. 
 
 Thomas Corbett, Efq; 
 
 "William Cromwell, Efq; 
 
 Mr William Cowley. 
 
 Mr William Cowley junior, 2 Sets. 
 
 Mr Chater, 2 Sets. 
 
 Mr Duncan Campbell. 
 
 Mr Alian Cowper. 
 
 Mr Richard Cooper. 
 
 Mr Samuel Clare, 2 Sets. 
 
 Ax Cha. 
 
viii LIST of SUBSCRIBERS, 
 
 Mr Charenly, Bookfeller, Netbcajile. 
 Mr Benjamin Cox. 
 Mr Henry Calton. 
 Mr James Comery. 
 
 The Reverend Mr Robert Dick, of Aberdeen* 
 Mr John Dowfon. 
 Mr Jofeph Dudds. 
 Mr James Donn. 
 
 E, 
 Humphry Edwin Efq; 
 Mr William Everard. 
 Mr Samuel Edgar. 
 
 F. 
 Mr John Flower. 
 Mrs Elizabeth Flight. 
 
 G. 
 The Reverend Thomas Gibbons, M. A. 
 Mrs Grace Gibbons, of Royflon. 
 The Reverend Mr Mofes Gregfon, of Roivell,, 6 Sets. 
 Mr John Gibfon. 
 Mrs Sarah Gamble. 
 
 H. 
 The Reverend Mr Robert Heflceth, of Nortbouram,, Yorkjhlrt, 
 The Reverend Mr Huthwaite, of Idle. 
 Mr William Hill. 
 Mr John Heme. 
 Mr Thomas Harris; 
 Mr Turner Harris. . , ' 
 
 Mr Thomas Hancock, of Marlborough. 
 Mr William Hubbard. 
 Mr Thomas Holmes, of Nortbton. 
 Mr John Haveill. 
 Mr William Hunter. . 
 Mrs Halftone. 
 
 J. 
 
 r Robert Jones, of Hull. 
 
 K. 
 leverend Mr William King. 
 
 The 
 
LIST or SUBSCRIBERS. h 
 
 The Reverend Mr Samuel King, of Welford. 
 Captain Jofeph Kendall. 
 
 L. 
 The Reverend Mr Timothy Lamb. 
 Mr Thomas Lamb. 
 Mr Robert Lewin, 2 Sets. 
 Mr Jofeph Lomas. 
 
 M. 
 The Reverend Mr Michael Maurice, of Eaft-ivood, Torhjhire. 
 The Reverend Mr Thomas Morgan, of Saddletuortb. 
 The Reverend Mr Madder, of Harthottle. 
 Jofeph Morley Efq; 
 Mr William Maynard. 
 Mr John Mooring. 
 Mr Robert Maitland. 
 
 N. 
 Mr Samuel Need, of Nottingham. 
 The Reverend Mr Jofeph Neil of Keighhy. 
 
 O. 
 The Reverend Mr John Olding of Deptford. 
 
 P. 
 The Reverend Mr John Pye, of Sheffield, 6 Setts. 
 The Reverend Mr Daniel Phillipps, of Sowerby, Yorkjbire* 
 The Reverend Mr William Porter. 
 The Reverend Mr Piety. 
 The Reverend Mr Jofeph Pitts, 
 George Pembroke, Efq; of St Albans. 
 Mr Lifcombe Price. 
 Mifs Prentice. 
 
 R. 
 The Reverend Mr John Rogers. 
 The Reverend Mr Ryland, of Northton. 
 The Reverend Mr R.utherford, of Babington. 
 Mr Jolhua Reynolds, Mailer of a Boarding-fchool at Ware, 
 Mr Rutt, of Roy/Ian. 
 
 S. 
 The Reverend Mr John Stafford. 
 The Reverend Mr Samuel Stennett. 
 The Reverend Mr Samuel Sanderfon, of Bedford. 
 
 a The- 
 
* LIST of SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 The Reverend Mr Scott. 
 Mr Daniel Stump, z Sets. 
 Mr John Sadlington. 
 Mr Jofeph Salway. 
 Mr William Simpfon. 
 
 T. 
 The Reverend MrTurnbull, of Hammer/mi 'tb. 
 The Reverend Mr Thomas Toller. 
 The Reverend Mr Robert Trotter, of Morpeth. 
 Mr Philip Thirhvell. 
 Mr Thomas Taylor, of Nortbton. 
 Mr Edward Towle, junior. 
 
 U. 
 Mr Thomas Uffington. 
 
 W. 
 The Reverend Dr Walker. 
 The Reverend Mr James Webb. 
 The Reverend Mr Benjamin Wallin, 
 The Reverend Mr Richard Winter. 
 The Reverend Mr Wright. 
 Luke Weyman, M. D. 
 Lewis Way, Efq; 
 John Winter, Efq; 
 Mr John Warne. 
 Mr Samuel Walker, 2 Sets. 
 Mr William Walluby, 3 Sets. 
 Mr William Wright. 
 Mr George Wright. 
 Mt Richard Wainwright. 
 Mr George Welch. 
 Mr Thomas Wood. 
 Mr Burton Wilby. 
 Mr Anthony Wilkes. 
 Mr Ifaac Walker. 
 Mr John Wilkinfon, of Nortbton. 
 Mrs Martha Watkins, Cbarter-houje Square. 
 Mffs Walton. 
 
 Mr John Ycllowly. 
 
 CON- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON I. 
 
 G o d'j Presence the left Security : on Pfal. xlvi. 5. 
 
 SERMON II. 
 
 The Nature of that Joyw..i r h G o d'j Government of 
 bis Church obliges to: on Pfal. cxlix. 2. 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 The Value of a feafonable Deliverance^ conjidered and 
 applied: on Deut. xxxii. 36. 
 
 SERMON IV. 
 
 The Reputatin that ag> eat Deliverance has in future 
 Memory: o» Numb, xxiii. 23. 
 
 SERMON V. 
 
 G o d'j Empire over the IVind : on Prov. xxx. 4. 
 
 SERMON VI. 
 
 Public Revolutions the Work of God: on Dan. ii, 
 20, 21. 
 
 SERMON VII. 
 
 The divine Right of the Revolution: on 1 Chron. xii. 23. 
 
 SERMON VIII. 
 
 On the fame Subjeoi. 
 
 SERMON IX. 
 
 The Son, of Tabeal •, on the French Invafion in favour of 
 the Pretender : on Ifa. vii.* 5, 6. 
 
 SERMON X. 
 
 On a Thankfgiving Day for Succejfes in Flandeii and 
 Spain : on Ifa. xxiv. i£. 
 
 SER- 
 
V 
 
 iv CONTENTS, 
 
 SERMON XI. 
 
 Theocracy the Government of the Judges : on Judg. 
 ii. 1 8. 
 
 SERMON XII. 
 
 Steadinefs in Religion recommended from the Example 
 of Daniel: on Dan. vi. 10. 
 
 SERMON XIII. 
 
 The Afs or the Serpent : on Gen. xlix. 14 — 18. 
 
 SERMON XIV. 
 
 The lawfulnefs of reftfting Tyrants : on 1 Chron.. xii. 
 1 6— 18. 
 
 SERMON XV. 
 The true Happinefs of a good Government : on Pfal. 
 lxiii. 11. 
 
 SERMON XVI. 
 Jvftice and Property the Glory of a Deliverance, in tw& 
 Sermons: on Neh. v. 13. 
 
 E R R A T A. 
 
 Page 57, line 26, dele of 
 
 ■ 61, line 12, add does. 
 
 m <• 70, line 18, read Armada. 
 
 - 87, for dath read hath, in the text. t 
 
 ■ 138, laft line but one, read about. 
 
 • 155, line 24, for Price read Prince. 
 
 ■ ' 246, line 13, for Darious read Dariuti 
 
 - 296, line 25, for impiflure read impojlori 
 ' 320, line 26, dele it. 
 
 »■ 351, line 22, for dK<f read <j«. 
 
 - 364, line 12, for Egupt read Egypt. 
 
 4 " " ' 413, laft line but one, for persecution read perfuajion, 
 
 Note, The three Sermons Preached November 5, 1705, ^aw 27, 1706, iV«- 
 i<ember 5, 1706, at the End of the Second Volume, the Reader is de- 
 fired to read in their order after Sermon VI. in the First Volume, they 
 not being procured foon enough to be inferred in their proper Place. 
 
 SERMON 
 

 SERMON I. 
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 F"^^^^.* 5 ^ H E S E Sermons come abroad into 
 PAM tejfi the world with the fame defign that 
 Sj T ft raifed them to the pulpit ; and that is 
 ±kt~X 8f(2 t0 P romote a religious memory of that 
 £S*^^-ff2 deliverance, which put a new credit 
 &.£jfe*£jfeJK upon the fifth of tf ovm i, er% The 
 
 happy change which commenced in England, 1688, 
 deferves to be faved from death, and calls for a zeal 
 of all degrees, when fo many hands are at work to 
 give it the fatal blow. I have here endeavoured to 
 propound thofe doctrines which are the chriftian's 
 fupport in every terror of life; and more efpecially 
 in thofe extenfive dangers which include the whole 
 Church at once : God's fecuring prefence with his 
 people (a) ; his indulgent fway over them (b) •, his 
 readinefs to appear for them in the darkeft extre- 
 mity (c) -, the vaft compafs that a national mercy 
 takes (d) ; and the divine infcriptions that are upon 
 it (e) : thefe are matters of healing reflection in 2, day 
 of calamity. 
 
 Vol. I. B I cannot 
 
 {«) Serm. T. j (r) Serm. III. 
 
 </) Serm. II. J (J) Serm. IV. (*) Serm. VI. 
 
2 To the R E A D E R. 
 
 I cannot think that difcourfes upon thefe fubjects 
 are born out of due time in this juncture, nor am I 
 capable of fo much complaifance to the opinion in 
 vogue, as to fuppofe that now there can be no rational 
 ground to fear any mi/chief from Popery *. The 
 Scripture has made it no good fymptom, when men 
 cry out peace and fafely : the iflue is fo far from being 
 parallel to their vanity, that it is no other than fudden 
 deftruttion that comes upon them (g). That city had 
 the marks of ruin in her forehead, which promifed 
 herfelf an ample fecurity ; God took fuch language 
 fo ill, that he meafures his anger to them by the 
 excefs of their foolifh hopes. How much Jhe hath 
 glorified herfelf , and lived delicioujly, fo much torment 
 and forrow doth he give her : for fhe hath faid in her 
 heart, 1 fit a queen, and am no widow, and Jhall fee 
 no forrow, therefore fhall her plagues come in one day (h). 
 The Church made it one flrain of her lamentation, that 
 fuch as ought to have given her fair warning in blow- 
 ing the trumpet, endeavoured rather to help on a 
 dreaming prefumption : it is mentioned as a brand 
 upon their treachery, Thy prophets have feen vain and 
 foolifh things for thee, and they have not difcovered thine 
 iniquity, to turn away thy captivity ; but have feen for 
 thee falfe burdens, and caufes of banifhment [i)% though 
 their cafe was as probably fafe, and had as few pre- 
 fages of ruin as any, for the kings of the earth, and 
 all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed, 
 that the adverfary and the enemy would have entred into 
 the gates of Jerufalem (k). 
 
 There is a, great deal of pains taken to perfuade us, 
 that any farther methods to prevent the growth of Po- 
 pery are needlefs, though the reafons look very tran- 
 fparent in fome peoples eyesj they are fuch as a com- 
 mon 
 
 * Sec Dodor Binckes's Sermon before the Houfe of Commons 
 Nov. 5. And the ingenious anfwer to it in an Expojlulatory Letter, 
 (g) 1 Theff. v. 3.. (/) Lam. ii. 14. 
 
 \b) Rev. xviii. 7, 8. {k) Lam. iv. 12. 
 
To the Rfi ad e r; 3 
 
 rtaon fight may difcover a long train of dangers 
 through. Is it not time to think that there is a plun- 
 der defigned for the bleflings, which made their en- 
 trance with the Revolution, when the great Prince, 
 who was then our guardian angel, meets with fo lavifh 
 a raillery ? This is a proof equally convictive and 
 wounding, that the impreflion of our happy efcape is 
 gone. It looks like wheeling about to bondage 
 again, when people are making a new courtfhip to 
 the plagues of Egypt, and extolling Pharaoh, the 
 very worfl of them all. To make their defign more 
 fupple and taking, their firfl work is to fting the re- 
 putation of his late Majefty ; that a malicious cha- 
 racter of his perfon may fink a taint into the caufe 
 he came about. 
 
 No fooner had he taken his ferene farewel, and 
 mifted from one throne to another, but the brute was 
 Unchained : the malice that ufed to fleep in cowardife 
 or mafk in compliment, then began a fincere outrage. 
 Though few had courage enough to affront his life, 
 yet there was no danger in righting his dull. His 
 very name had often (like a powerful dart of light- 
 ning) melted an enemy in the fcabbard ; but when 
 this light was extinguished, then they came out of 
 their dens, like creatures whetted for prey ; and ne- 
 ver till then could they pretend to be his match. 
 When he could no longer fhew his face, they ventured 
 to fhew theirs. Thus it was with Ifrael, they begin 
 to murmur juft when Mofes was taken up into the 
 mount. The prejudice that went no farther than an 
 inward fret, or fome repining whifpers, broke loofe 
 when the check of fuch a ruler's prefence was gone : 
 and their rage was fo little frugal, that they include 
 both God and his fervant in one abufe ; idolatry in 
 worfhip and ingratitude in politics mingle in the 
 fame reflection : they flrike both at their God and 
 their captain, in this fentence, Up, let us make us gods, 
 which may go before us j for as for this Mofes, the man 
 
 B 2 that 
 
4 To the R e a d e r. 
 
 that brought us up out of Egypt, we know not what is 
 oe come of him {I). The fame fpiric in fuch a genera- 
 tion begun its clamour, as foon as our deliverer was 
 gone to fee God face to face. 
 
 So heady was this malice, that they charge him at 
 random with a crime of the deeped malignity : they 
 impute to him a defign of difturbing the line of fuc- 
 ceifion, breaking one great link in the chain, rafing 
 out her prefent Majejiy's title, and advancing the houfe 
 of Hanover to a more immediate claim. They had 
 given the ftory its complete fhape, and it was fpirited 
 with fuch a confidence, that fome people thought it 
 both their duty and intereil to believe it : and indeed 
 a faith thus expofed to fale is no rarity. But the 
 Houfe of Lords, in a noble difdain of this rumour, 
 gave it a fair fcrutiny, and then left a brand upon it 
 in this refohe : 
 
 " The Houfe being informed that there has been a 
 •' report ipread abroad, that amongft the late King's 
 " papers, fome papers had been found, tending to 
 " the prejudice of her prefent Majefty, or her fuc- 
 " ceflion to the crown, and the Lord Prefident, the 
 " Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl 
 " of Marlborough, and the Earl of Albemarle, who 
 " were the perfons appointed by her Majefty to in- 
 " fpect the faid papers, having, at the defire of the 
 " Houfe, feverally declared, That amongft the late 
 '* King's papers they did not fee or find any paper 
 " in the leail tending to the prejudice of her Majefty, 
 li or her ilicceflion to the crown, or to her prejudice 
 " in any refpect whatfoever, or which might give any 
 4< ground or colour for fuch report : it is thereupon 
 " refolved by the Lords fpiritual and temporal in 
 « c Parliament aflembled, That the faid report is 
 " groundlefs, falfe, villainous and fcandalous, to 
 " the dilhonour of the late King's memory, and 
 " highly tending to the differ vice of her prefent Majefty. 
 
 " It 
 
 (/) Exodus xxxii i. 
 
To /^Reader, <; 
 
 " It is ordered by the Lords fpiritual and temporal 
 *' in Parliament affembled, That the matter of fact 
 " aforefaid, and the refolution of this Houfe there- 
 " upon, be laid before her Majefty by his Grace the 
 « Duke of Bolton, the Earl Marfhal, the Earl of 
 " Radnor, the Earl of Stamford, the Earl of Scarbo- 
 •• rough, and the Lord Ferrers ', and that they do 
 " humbly defire herMajeity from this Houfe, That 
 " her Majefty will give order to Mr Attorney General 
 " to profecute, with the utmoft feverity of law, the 
 " authors or publifhers of the abovementioned, or 
 « fuch like fcandalous reflections." 
 
 When this collection of lies was routed, then the 
 noife run upon exorbitant grants : the Prince who 
 faved the nation's treafure from enemies, was accufed 
 of draining it by pen/ions. But the fame honourable 
 Houfe have again defended the immortal Name 
 from this afperfion, by telling her Majefty in their 
 late addrefs, [ Feb. 5. ] " That it appears by the 
 <c navy-books in the year 1697, (the laft year of the 
 " laft war) the penfions only amounted to Seven 
 <c thoufand feventy-feven pounds •, fince which time 
 cl they are fo far increafed, that the eftimate of the 
 " penfions for the year 1705 amount to Eighteen 
 " thoufand one hundred and eleven Pounds." 
 
 Now the moft fafhionable topic of accufation is, 
 that he defigned to dig up the foundations of the 
 Church ; but the argument they bring for it ruins 
 the caufe which it pretends to aflift, and inftead of 
 wounding his character, leaves a glory upon it. The 
 crime that is mentioned with fo much noife, is his 
 even tender carriage to all Proteftants, by which he 
 anfwered that great title of being a common father to 
 ell his people. This did not only fecure us of an en- 
 dearment abroad, but it abated that which has always 
 been the moft fatal diftemper of this nation •, I mean, 
 a fpirit of animofity which confumes us within, preys 
 upon the vitals of the kingdom, and thus makes us 
 
 B 3 the 
 
6 To the R E A D E R. 
 
 the eafier conqueft to a foreign enemy. What better 
 zeal cculd he mew to the Church, than by advancing 
 men of fo much learning, holinefs and moderation, 
 as have endeavoured to cool the fury on both fides ? 
 By their example and conduct we are learning to fill 
 up that diftance with love, which has been made by 
 varieties in opinion. Men of fuch qualifications will 
 always be attractive of praife, from thofe that long 
 to fee the things of peace purfued : and their methods 
 are more likely to profper an argument, than any dif- 
 mal fchemcs of cruelty. Perfecution carries a con- 
 viction no farther than its penalty ; it only deals with 
 the part that is vulnerable : the mind all this while is 
 untouched, and is fo far from being a captive, that 
 it rather fours into more fufpicion of the caufe that is 
 thus promoted. Fire and faggot are no proper illu- 
 minations for the judgment. The moft obtaining 
 character that Satan goes under, is that of a Defrayer ; 
 and certainly when our meafures are like to him, the 
 caufe can bear but little refemblance of (Thrift. Pafiion 
 and ruin have no place in the artillery of the Temple, 
 but mult always go for unhallowed things, the rag<*s 
 cf corruption and darknefs. 
 
 The Houfe of Lords ( in the laft year's conference) 
 gave a noble teftimony againft any feverities to Con- 
 fcience, and have fixed King William's character in 
 their argument. * c When by fuch {oppreffmg) me- 
 cc thpds (fay they) we were reduced to the laft extre- 
 44 mity, then was the late King invited over to come 
 44 and deliver us -, and after he had fecured our Reli- 
 *' gion, our Laws, and our Liberties, he, by the 
 44 Aft of Toleration which he palled, quieted thofe 
 44 heats that had almoft confumed us: whatever fome 
 44 may think, he will ftill be reckoned amongft the 
 44 greateft of our Kings ; to him we owed a long con- 
 il tinuance of a flourishing time, even during a great 
 14 war, and it is to him that we owe the great hap- 
 " pinefs of her Majeft y's being now on the throne. 
 
 " The 
 
To the R e a d e r. 7 
 
 " The Church has no reafon to complain of the ef- 
 " feels of the Toleration, for as the numbers of thole 
 <c who divide from us do vifibly abate all over the 
 " nation, fo the heat and fermentation which was 
 " raifed by thofe divifions is almoft intirely laid, and 
 " we cannot but look on that as an happy ftep to- 
 " wards the healing of our wounds." The neceQity 
 and charm of an healing fpirit is both recommended 
 and exemplified in myLordBifhop of &m/7#'s Charge 
 and Sermon at his late triennial vifitation. 
 
 But it is this temper which makes them obnoxious 
 to fo much indecency. Some people have been wait- 
 ing for a time, when the Diflenters fhould once again 
 be their game, purfued as roes upon the mountains. 
 The main buftle of their Religion (pardon the harfh- 
 nefs of the name) is to call down fire jrom heaven upon 
 thofe that differ from them •, though they miftake their 
 place, for none of the fire which they love is to be 
 found there : but fo eager are they in their chafe, that 
 they cannot endure any tendernefs in quality fhould 
 fkreen the prey. This makes them put all upon a 
 level in character, both the men they would deftroy, 
 and thofe that refift their fury. Dijfenters and Low- 
 Churchy Separation and Moderation ', are things of equal 
 repute ; they are both damned with the fame impa- 
 tience. 
 
 This is a thing fo notorious, that it is above ths 
 need of particular lnftances \ I fhall only mention one 
 which is very remarkable in its kind, being firft deli- 
 vered in Parliament (where the nation is epitomized) 
 and afterwards printed for a more general perufal, fo 
 that now it is addrefled to the larger volume of the 
 Commons of England. I have thrown the quotation 
 into the margin, as a paflage that ought to ftand by 
 itfelf *. There is another paffage in that fpeech 
 
 which 
 
 * I did wonder to hear (o many Bifliops againft the Bill ; but 
 that wonder ceafcd, when I confidered whom they owed their pre- 
 
 B 4 ferment 
 
8 To the Re aver. 
 
 which throws a reflection upon his lateMajefty, though 
 the accufation is fo happily founded, that mod people 
 in the nation are able to judge whether it is true or no. 
 I will give you it in the margin, and leave it to fuch 
 a reputation as every Reader's juftice directs him to 
 put upon it *. One would think thefe could never be 
 the men, who ufed to preach up an unlimited fubjec- 
 tion to Bifhops and Judges : the myftery of that doc- 
 trine is now unravelled. They do not exceed their 
 neighbours in any true value for the office, but they 
 defign to ferve a narrow interefl by the man that fills 
 it : for when they are baffled in this, both the chair 
 and the bench are the common-more of reproaches : 
 witnefs that faucy impudent reflection upon one, who 
 has been the glory of his great fiation, a fteddy example 
 of confcience, and facred regard to the law. I muft 
 once more difmifs the reader to the margin, for I 
 would do by fuch quotations as the Ifraelites did by 
 their undearmef, remove it to a feparate place, that it 
 might not annoy the camp : though when you have 
 read the charge, you will find it fo deeply loaden that 
 it muft burft. The (lory is as much a lie, as the re- 
 mark that hangs upon it is unmannerly f. 
 
 Some 
 
 Ferment to. The Archbifhop of Canterbury, I think, was promoted to 
 that See by my Lord <S — ^'s intereft; and being afked what reafons 
 he had againft the Bill, replied, He had not well confidered the 
 Bill, but that my Lord Semen told him it ought not to pafs. This 
 was a very weighty reafon for the head of our Church to give; and 
 yet, I dare fay, none of the reft of them could give a better. One 
 would be provoked by the late behaviour of the Bifhops, to move 
 for leave to bring in a Bill for the toleration of Epifcopacy ; for 
 fmce they are of the fame principles with the Difienters, it is but 
 juft, 1 think, that they fhould ftand upon the fame foot. 
 
 * They may remember, if they pleafe to recoiled, the language 
 ia the late reign, Sir, You muft turn this Gentleman out, or el/e I 
 cannot ferve you. And if any Gentleman was in the intereft of the 
 Church of England, it was a fufficient exception againft his being 
 imployed. No Gentleman of that principle was then fit to be a 
 Deputy-Lieutenant , or a jfujlice of Peace. 
 
 f So tender are they of their Difler.ting Brethren, that I am told 
 it has lately been delivered as Law, by a great man 'mlFeJlminfler- 
 
 Hall, 
 
To the Read el 9 
 
 Some that pretend a mighty deference for this 
 government have difputed the foundation of the laft, 
 and tell us our great Deliverer fhould not have been 
 King, but Regent'-, that a door might be left open for 
 the man, the fuperftition and tyranny, which were all 
 fent together to the nation from whence we got them : 
 but as that change was the refult of clofe and free de- 
 liberation, fo it has been honourably afferted in the 
 abovementioned conference ; for it is there affirmed, 
 " That the Lords do not well understand the inference, 
 " that as upon the revolution the laft reign begun with 
 " an Act in favour of the DiiTenters ; fo the Commons 
 " do defire in the beginning of her Majefty's reign, 
 ** an Act may pafs in favour of the Church. The 
 " Lords conceive that both reigns began upon the fame 
 " bottom and foundation ; and that as in this reign her 
 " Majefty has been pleafed to give gracious afiurances 
 * c as to liberty ofconfcience, loin the laft, theChurch 
 " ever met with protection and fupport." 
 
 But I am really furprifed at that length I have run ; 
 fo many quotations flowing into this preface, have 
 fwelled it beyond my firft defign : though they are all 
 of them paflages which I read with fo much guft, that 
 I cannot think they will be unentertaining. 
 
 As to the following Sermons, they are not fqueezed 
 from me by an invincible importunity ; I have not 
 that hackney fhelter to run to. If a voluntary defign 
 of recommending the Revolution to aferious value be 
 not excufe enough, I confefs, I am unprotected. This 
 you will find to be their main drift, efpecially in the 
 three laft. 
 
 1 am far from thinking that the end of this deli- 
 verance is attained by a zeal for the glorious memory 
 
 of 
 
 Hall, that a notorious perjured vagabond, with two wives at once, 
 being pofleft of a feparate Congregation, though without any licenfe 
 or legal qualification to preach to them, fhall for that reafon only be 
 exempt from the late Aft for lifting vagrants. 
 
 Preface to Moderation Difplayed. 
 
io To ^ Reade r.' 
 
 of King William (though that is a debt from every 
 Englijhman and P rot eft ant) but we are to confider an 
 infinite Agent in the whole, and learn to be more active 
 in his honour, more depending upon his goodnefs. 
 Let us not fin away the liberty and peace which have 
 fometimes been recovered with blood, but in our 
 Revolution came fo cheap and quick, as if God would 
 have little elfe but himfelf feen in it. Heaven has 
 now made us the Defence of Europe, the Guardians 
 of a crumbling Empire : let us not difarm ourfelves, 
 and grieve away that divine prefence and blefiing, 
 which is the glory of any people. 
 
 God has done wonderful things for us the laft year. 
 He fhews a willingnefs to be our guardian •, but let 
 us not lay an abufive ftrefs upon his forbearance. All 
 thefe liberalities of Providence are not to heighten our 
 rebellion againfl him, or give us any licenfe for fen- 
 fuality and hatred. If we ftill abound in luxury and 
 envy, deflroying ourfelves and one another, that is 
 acting the brute and the Devil in the face of an eternal 
 friend. 
 
 This being the day of his late Majeftfs quid depar- 
 ture to an immortal crown, we may give ourfelves 
 the liberty of a ferious paufe, and fay, Hitherto has the 
 Lord helped us. Let us blefs the divine goodnefs which 
 continued his life without any fcandal, and quenched 
 it without any horror •, prepared him both to rule and 
 to die ; made him glorious in pofTefTing, and eafy in 
 leaving a toilfome government, and fo largely fitted 
 cur prefent gracious Queen to fucceed him. Our value 
 for his memory is fo far from being a weakning of 
 duty and veneration for her, that we think the one is 
 eflential to the other. A malignant in the late reign 
 muft either be a Nonjuror or Malecontent in this. 
 
 I will conclude with an hearty wifh, that the victo- 
 ries of the laft year may be drowned in the greater 
 fucceffes of this •, that Blenheim and Hockftet, which 
 make fo brave a found in hiftory now, may be re- 
 
 membred 
 
To the R E A D E R. n 
 
 membred as introductions to fome more extended 
 conqueft. May this be the character of our wonderful 
 General, that as the common enemy has begun to fall 
 before him, fo he may go on finking, until he comes 
 to a mifery as deep as his wickednefs. 
 
 May her excellent Majefty, the great moving foul 
 of the alliance, find the benefit of that pious refolution 
 of calling in help from above. As fhe has gracioufly 
 appointed April 4, for a public faft, to invite God 
 into the confederacy •, fo may fhe find that his power 
 will neither be an enemy nor a neuter, but be em- 
 ployed in caufing the people to fall under her. 
 
 And may we in the next Parliament have men 
 whofe hearts arc gathered up into the common wel- 
 fare, who make the liberties of the people their darling 
 and charge. Then may we hope that Judgment will 
 run down our ftreets as a river, and Righteoufnefs as a 
 mighty ftream : the crown will fit more eafy upon the 
 royal head; ruling will not be fo thorny and oppreflive 
 a work as it has been. Such an union would terrify 
 the enemy, and crufh his only hopes of fucceeding. 
 That God may pour down fuch a fpirit, as an evi- 
 dence that we are a nation whom he cares for \ and that 
 England fhall be yet the flage of Gofpel-purity, a 
 fhelter of innocent refugees, and the greateft inflance 
 of concord between prerogative and liberty, mould 
 be the general cry to heaven : and of this number of 
 petitioners is (though molt unworthy) 
 
 Tour affeclionate humble fervant t 
 
 London, 
 March 8, 17O*. 
 
 Thomas Bradbury. 
 
SERMON THE FIRST. 
 
 God's Prefence with a People the beft Security; 
 
 Preached at Newcastle, 1700. 
 »»***»****»**** *»* ,$ $ , $ ,|, ,t>,:« »4>»»»h> 
 
 Psalm XLVI. 5. 
 G0</ ft /« the midji of her, Jhe Jhall not be moved* 
 
 J'*V* S J H I S is a Pfalm of triumph, where we find 
 \ t j? the Church ufing a majeftic language to 
 rf ^ thofe enemies, whom Providence had be- 
 
 ***> ^* fooled and undermined. The firft verfe 
 lets us fee what her courage took its principal footing 
 upon ; God is our refuge and Jlrength, a very prefent 
 help in trouble {a). This is a fatisfactory anfwer both 
 to foreign threats, and the inward objections of un- 
 belief. In a confidence of this fhe difcharges fear, 
 and refolves to keep a fteddinefs under the greateft 
 difturbance of nature : Therefore we will not fear, 
 though the earth be removed, though the mountains be 
 carried into the midfi of the fea j though the waters 
 thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains Jhake 
 with the fwelling thereof, Selah [b). When the world 
 is under the wildeft convulfion, the believer is upon 
 another bottom, and therefore keeps his fettlement. 
 He is built upon the rock, againjl which the gates of 
 hell cannot prevaiL 
 
 Now 
 
 {a) Pfal. xlvi. i. \ (b) Pfal.xlvi. z, 5. 
 
14 Gov'sPrefence the beft Security. Serrh. i. 
 
 Now left this challenge fhould pafs for a ground- 
 lefs boaft, the Pfalmift runs the old encouragement 
 over again. There is a river , the ftr earns whereof make 
 glad the city of air God, the holy place of the moji High(c). 
 Notwithstanding the laborious devices of malice agairift 
 this facred intereft, yet the Church has the beft afliir- 
 ances of relief -and folace. Here is a river of flowing 
 comfort, that fhall never be ' interrupted by an exter- 
 nal malice, nor run itfelf dry with any inward expence 
 or corruption. It is to be a lafting cordial. Now that 
 which he here reprefents in a fimilitude, he fpeaks out 
 in the plainer! terms in the text I have chofen, God is 
 in the midji of her ; this is his covenant with his people, 
 the river that fupplied fo many healing ftreams. 
 
 He is in the. midft of her, that is, the city of God, 
 as appears from the former verfes ; or Mount Sion the 
 place of religious worfhip in David's time, and there- 
 by endeared both to the company of faints, and the 
 fmiles of heaven. Sometimes it is called the joy of all 
 the land, the tribes of God go thither (d). And it is re- 
 prefented as the feat of a peculiar prefence; Out of Sion 
 the perfetlion of beauty God hasfhined (e). And again, 
 The Lord loves the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings 
 of Jacob (/). He has chofen Sion, and defired it for his 
 habitation-, This is my refi for ever, here I will dwell, for 
 I have defired it (g). And as we often read in the 
 New Teftament, that the Church of God keeps this 
 character, fo when we meet with it in the Old, we 
 are taught to put fuch a fenfe upon the word, as agrees 
 to the ftate of Religion now, fo that here by the city 
 of God, which the moft High has placed himielf in the 
 midft of, I underftand the whole body of thofe that 
 have really efpoufed his intereft, in diftinction from the 
 reft of the world. And the text founds forth the hap- 
 pinefs of fuch a people in the fulleft language, that 
 
 God 
 
 (e) Pfal. xlvi. 4. 
 
 (d) Pfal. cxxii. 
 
 (e) Pfal. 1. 2. 
 
 (/) Pfal. lxxxvii. 2. 
 (g) Pfal. cxxxii. 13, 14. 
 
Serm . I . Gods Prefence the bejl Security. i £ 
 
 God is in the midfl of them. He is in every particular 
 believer : this is a glory that we are bid to put to the 
 teft :, for if Ch rift be not in us, we are reprobates (h). 
 In another place, fuch are called the temple of God (i). 
 But thefe words have reference to the privileges that 
 are bellowed upon God's people in general. They 
 make up one body : they live in common upon the 
 grace that is lodged in the great head of the Church, 
 and from whom it is conveyed with freedom and won- 
 der. What I underftand by the text you may take 
 in this propofiticn. 
 
 God is and will be in the midft of his Church : or 
 he will be always near his people in public occurrences. 
 This is what the words principally mean, and, you 
 know, it is what divine Providence directs us to mind 
 this day. The method will be to fhew, 
 
 I. Under what characters God is prefent with his 
 people. 
 
 II. What his being in the midft of the Church 
 imports. 
 
 III. The reafons or grounds of this wonderful 
 kindnefs. 
 
 IV. The application. 
 
 I. Under what characters is God prefent with his 
 people, or in the midft ofSion ? This is fet down as a 
 favour, which the reft of the world are not marers in, 
 and therefore it muft be inclufive of fomething better 
 and more gracious than his omniprefence i for he fills 
 both heaven and earth with his glory : it is the mifery of 
 the wicked, that in this world he is near them to ob- 
 ferve their villainies •, and in hell he will be a God at 
 hand, to keep the flames alive with his own difpleafure. 
 But when he is faid to be in the midft of his people, 
 He is lb, 
 
 i . As a Governor. He holds the reins of provi- 
 dence which determine the actions of every creature. 
 
 He 
 {b) 2 Cor. xiii, 5. (*') 2 Cor. vi. 16. 
 
ib G on' sPrefence the beft Security. Serm. u 
 
 He does according to his will in the army of heaven, and 
 among the inhabitants of the earth (k). But he is in a 
 more peculiar manner the King of Saints, and there- 
 fore the Church pleads this title as an argument for 
 Gop's mercy, and a diftinction from their enemies. 
 We are thine, thou never bar eft rule over them ; they 
 are not called by thy name (/). Holy fouls are all fub- 
 jected to his difpofal. He has his own way of ma- 
 naging them. He prefcribes laws for the rule of life, 
 and he makes them fuccefsful upon his fervants. He 
 is the mafter of their hearts : he keeps up a garifon 
 there to fway the foul, and fulfil his pleafure. The 
 Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord 
 is our King (m). He rules with arbitrary grace, makes 
 them willing in the day of his power, ufes fuch a fweet- 
 nefs of authority as at once both pleafes and overcomes 
 the fubject His they are, and him they ferve (»). 
 Whatever remains of flubbornnefs they may feel, yet 
 there is not one foul of thofe that are devoted to him, 
 but who have an heart at his fervice. In this fenfe 
 God is in his Church. He walks among the golden 
 candlejlicks to fill them with his own light. He pre- 
 fcribes the laws of obedience. It is his prerogative to 
 rule confciences j this is an authority that he has never 
 given out of his own hand. 
 
 2. As a Guardian. In Judah God is known ; his 
 ' name is great in Ifrael •, there he broke the arrows of the 
 bow, the fhield, the fword, the battle (o). He is pre- 
 fent with his people, for their protection as well as 
 management. He is the hope of Ifrael, the faviour 
 thereof in a time of trouble; and therefore will not be 
 as a ftranger in the land, or a way-faring man, that 
 turns afide, to tarry for a night (p). This the prophet 
 pleads, why he mould not be as a mighty man that can- 
 not fave, becaufe he was in the midjl of them. His 
 
 Saints 
 
 (k) Dan. iv. 35. 
 (/) Ifai. lxiii. 19. 
 (m) Ifai. xxxiii. 22. 
 
 (n) A£ts xxvii. 23. 
 (0) Ffal. lxxvi. 1,3. 
 (/>) Jer. xiv. 8, 9. 
 
germ . f. God's Prefence the beft Security! 1 *f 
 
 Saints are chofen out of the world ; their intereft, me- 
 thods, progrefs and characters are peculiar. The 
 avowance of piety makes them a fair mark to a ge- 
 neral cenfure. If they Hand up for God's honour* 
 they run a great venture of their own. There is an 
 intail of reproaches upon thofe that dare to be ferious. 
 A devotediiefs to the will of heaven is the moil affront- 
 ing fpectacle to corrupt nature. As men have re- 
 nounced the beauties of holinefs themfelves, fo they 
 love not to read their own condemnation in the zeal 
 of others. 
 
 And fince vexation, difgrace, turmoir and malice 
 are the ordinary train that follow ferioufnefs, it is but 
 jufl to conclude, that fuch as God pitches upon for 
 his fervice, mould have a flock to bear them out in 
 all this expence and hazard. Thus he comforts his 
 people, Thou art my fervant, I have chofen thee, and 
 not caji thee away ; feat thou not, for I am with thee \ 
 be not difmayed, for I apt thy God, I will Jirengthen 
 thee ; yea, I will help thee, and uphold thee with the 
 right hand of my righteoufnefs. They that were incenfed 
 againft thee fhall be afhamed and confounded ; they fhall 
 be as nothings and they that ftrive with thee fhall pe- 
 rifj (q). Is he the maflerof our fouls ? Do we lie at 
 the conducl of his grace ? And will he let us be lofers 
 by our allegiance ? Shall we ever have occaflon to re- 
 cant a life of duty, or grieve over all our labours for 
 him ? No furely ; the character that he is known by 
 promifes other things. It founds harfn in the name 
 of our God, to fay he is one who plunges his people 
 into ruffle and difquiet, and then withdraws when 
 they are in the hottefl battle. This is crofs both to 
 the glories of his love, and the ufual roads of his pro- 
 vidence. When thou paffejl through the waters, I will be 
 with thee •, and through the river s^ they fJo all not overflow 
 thee : When thou ivalkeft through the fire, thou /halt not 
 be burnt ; neither fhall the fame kindle upon thee [r). 
 
 Vol. I. C As 
 
 [a) Ifai, xli. 9, 10, 1 1. j (r) Ifai. xliii. 2. 
 
1 8 Go d j Prefence the hejl Security. Serm. I .' 
 
 As God knew -what a venom and oppofition piety 
 would expofe us to, fo he refolved to ftand by his 
 people in the worft extremity. The Heathen raged, 
 the kingdoms were moved, he uttered his voice, the 
 earth melted. The Lord of hojls is with us, the God of 
 Jacob is our refuge {s). As no diftrefs of perfecution 
 fhall cool the believer's zeal for him, fo neither mail it 
 flop the courfe of his favours. Our Beloved is ours (/) 
 as intirely as we are his. Religion looks well in the 
 chriftian's eyes, when it meets with all the contra- 
 diction of finners. Such an one takes pleafure in Sicn's 
 dujl, and favours the disjointed flones -, and as the 
 caufe we eipoufe is never the worle for the clouds that 
 darken it, fb the hazard we run in thofe evil days fixes 
 no vilenefs upon us. The foul fhall be amiable to 
 God, when others are doing their utmoft to plunder 
 his reputation and intereft. Is he our Governor, and 
 will he not be our Guardian ? Will he let his people 
 be run down, when they fight his battles ? No, the 
 honour of his goodnefs cannot endure it. 
 
 It is love to him that has made them fo negligent of 
 their worldly credit and advantage : and we may fup- 
 pofe them to argue m David's words. For thy fake we 
 have borne reproach, fhame has covered our faces. The 
 zeal of thine houfe has eaten us up («). " Could we 
 ** have flood unconcerned, when Religion begun to 
 •' lofe its frefhnefs, and decline into a fhadow : Could 
 •" our zeal have allowed the abufes that were thrown 
 " upon thy name, we might have lived in quiet, and 
 •' never made ourfelves the jefl of profanenefs. But 
 " we found a fecret impatience that would not let us 
 " alone -, fomething that diflurbed the (loth of nature: 
 " we were jealous for the Lord of hojls : we mutt be 
 44 meddling with the corruptions of men, and trying 
 " a battle with thofe impieties, that were dearer than 
 " life itfelf. And what pity is it, that the principles, 
 
 " which 
 
 {s) Pfal. xlvi. 6, 7. (h) Plal. lxix. 7,9. 
 
 (/) Cant. ii. 14. 
 
 .^ 
 
Serm. i ^ Go d'j Prefence the bejl Security. I $ 
 
 « which made us loyal, fhould leave us miferable ? 
 •* That in our choice of thee, we have nothing to re- 
 <c pay the expences of an obedient zeal." 
 
 It is below the reputation of our Lord, to put by 
 the foul that runs for ihelter under his wings. O thou 
 afflitJed> tojfed with tempefts, and not comforted ; I will 
 lay thy ft ones with fair colours,— and great jhall be the 
 -peace of thy children (x). He is the protector of Ifrael. 
 He allows them guards, as well as laws ; that as the 
 one may train them in a courfe of duty, fo the other 
 may fecure them from all incroachment. As he keeps 
 the government in his own hands, and will allow no 
 rival in the honour of that poll ; fo he is the only 
 truftee and defence of his people. It is as much his 
 work to fave, as to guide them. He will not venture 
 them intirely upon a created care, but placeth him- 
 felf in the midft of Sion, God is known in her palaces, 
 for a refuge (y). Thefe two general heads might be 
 ranged into many particulars : but the time bids me 
 proceed to fhew, 
 
 II. What is implied in God's being In the midft of 
 a people. 
 
 i. Great Lome. They are the Temple of God, as 
 he hath faid, / will dwell in them, and walk in them ; 
 and I will be their God, and they floall be my people (z)« 
 Had their company been a difguft to him, he would 
 have removed his habitation. When the Jews had 
 grieved him with their murmurs and unbelief, the 
 amends that his anger would have of them was the 
 withdrawment of a gracious prefence. In that one 
 threatning he fums up all poffible defolation. I will 
 not go up in the midft of thee, for thou art a ftiff-necked 
 people (a) t They became naufeous in his eyes : he 
 did not delight in their numbers, but was for calling 
 off that providence, which was both the guard and 
 
 C 2 glory 
 
 (x) Ifai. liv. 1 1, 13. (z) 2 Cor. vi. t6. 
 
 (y) Pfal, xlviii. 3. («) Exod. xxxiii. 3, 
 
20 Go~DsPrefence the bejl Security, Serm. ?♦ 
 
 glory of their eamp. There is nothing that could 
 threaten a fuller vengeance, than his refufal to go 
 along with them. The fufpence of thofe favourable 
 fmileshad vexation and calamity enough in it. He ab- 
 horred them, becaufe of the provoking of his fons and his 
 daughters -, and he [aid, I will hide my face from them, 
 I will fee what their end will be (b). And as thefe 
 words are the language of a fore refentment, fo his 
 prefence is the molt amiable conviction of love. 
 
 When he fays, that he will be in the midft of a 
 people ; fuch a promife founds the great delight that 
 he has in them. A ftudied fociety fpeaks an endear- 
 ment between the perfons that defign and contrive it : 
 and God's attendance of his chofen, is a proof of 
 thole labouring bowels which he has for them. The 
 Lord's portion is his people : Jacob is the lot of his inhe- 
 ritance* He found him in a defart land, and the wafle 
 howling wilder nefs: he led him about, he inflrutled him, 
 he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle firs up 
 her nefl, fluttereth over her young, fpreads abroad her 
 wings, takes them, bears them on her wings ; fo the 
 Lord alone did lead him, and there was no Jt range Cod 
 with him (c). 
 
 He enjoys himfelf in the crouds of his fervants. 
 The duty of their homage and fubjec~tion, the free- 
 nefs of his own condefcenfion and mercy, are what he 
 is pleafed with. His love throws the moft cheerful 
 darts upon them, and all thefe rebound up to hisbo- 
 fom again in mighty fhouts of praife. He delights 
 to be encircled with an admiring throng, who are the 
 favourites of his breait, and the trumpets of his glory. 
 He inhabits the praifes of Ifrael(d). Thus when we 
 read of the exalted Hate which Chrift fills in heaven, 
 we find his honour is afiifted by thefurrounding crouds. 
 This he claimed as the wages of his fervice. Father, 
 I will, that they whom thou haft given me, be with ne 
 
 where 
 
 (b) Dettt. xxjrfE 19,20. [<i] Pfal, xxii. 3. 
 
 (r) Deut. xxxii. 9— \z. { 
 
Serin . I . God's Prefence the bejl Security, 2 1 
 
 where I am, thai they may behold my glory (e). And this 
 is paid with the greateft fairnefs and juftice. He is 
 called a Lamb in the midji of the throne (f). He lives 
 in the heart of triumph, and is the very centre of nu- 
 merous praifes. From him, in this ftation, they de- 
 rive a bleffednefs, and to him they direct all their hal- 
 lelujahs. Worthy is the Lamb, that was Jlain, to receive 
 honour, &c (g). So when he is faid to be in the midfl 
 of Sion, it imports his great folace in communion with 
 his people. If thy prefence, faith Mofes, go not with 
 us, carry us not up hence ; for wherein Jhall it be known 
 that I and thy people have found grace in thy fight? Is 
 it not in that thou goefi with us (h) ? 
 
 2. Diligent Attendance over them. He has chofen 
 a poft, that is moft ferviceable to obfervation and re- 
 mark. He places himfelf there, that he may with 
 the greater eafe deal about the penfions of his love. 
 Here it is, that he follows malicious enemies in all 
 their tracks and windings. He fees how their plots 
 are woven, and carried on towards fomething of a 
 ripenefs. The hidden frames of mifchief are open rtj 
 his eye. There are no fuch corners upon earth, as 
 can give their wickednefs a full fecrecy. Hell is naked 
 before him, and dejlrullion has no covering (i). Jt is 
 poffible indeed the haters of Sion may dig low for the 
 undermining of the caufe which bears heaven's (lamp. 
 The defign in itfelf may be cunning and probable, 
 defended with the beft confederacy and darknefs. We 
 may be wrapt up in our own eafe, without the lead 
 whifper of fcruple and jealoufy ; and all this time ini- 
 quity may be upon its march to our deftruction. 
 
 But God numbers the fteps of the contrivance. He 
 has Hinted their policy, and faid to the proud waves, 
 Hitherto fh all ye go, and no farther. So that the very 
 wrath of man has praifed him, and the remainder of that 
 
 C 2 wrath 
 
 (e) John xvii. 24. 
 {/) Rev. v. 6. 
 If) Rev. v. i|. 
 
 (b) E od. xxxiii. 1 j, 16. 
 (') Job xxvi. 6. 
 
•22 G o ds Prefence the befl Security . Serm. I . 
 
 wrath he has retrained. They Jhall furely gather toge- 
 ther, but not by me •, wbofoeier /hall gather together 
 {igainfi thee, /hall fall for thy f ike (k). He fees with 
 what caution and leifure they proceed forwards, what 
 reputation and confidence they give to their own in- 
 ventions : and all this time he jeers their devices, 
 beholds them with a generous fcorn, knowing how 
 fmall a turn of Providence can diflblve them. He that 
 fitj in the heavens /hall laugh, the Lord /hall have them 
 in derijion ; faying, Yet have I fet my king upon my holy 
 hill of Sion (/). Their defign is bold and foolifn, their 
 methods of obtaining it poor and vain : they aim at 
 no lefs than the dethroning of that Prince, whom 
 God's oath has afTured of eternal grandeur. But in 
 defiance of their mifchief, he fhall reign, and bathe his 
 fword in the blood of the mighty. Thus you fee our 
 defence is from him that keeps Ifrael, who neither 
 /lumbers nor jleeps (m). For except the Lord keep the city, 
 the watchmen watch but in vain (n). 
 
 3. Readinefs to give feafonable relief. Thus in the 
 context, he is called a prefent help in time of trouble {0) ; 
 which explains his being in the mid/l of his people : 
 and the words that immediately follow are to the fame 
 purpofe, God /hall help her, and that right early. He 
 is not afar off, when calamity urges his appearance. 
 We have not a Saviour to leek, when we mould ufe 
 him. He is to be found in the mid/l of Sion. Ene- 
 mies cannot get the flart of him. He was never fo 
 ilow m his mercy, as to come too late. Abraham ac- 
 knowledges this, when he calls a place, Jebovab-jireb, 
 i n the mount of the Lord it /hall be feen ( p ). There may 
 indeed be a Jong delay, but it is only to fweeten the 
 deliverance, and take a fuller blow at rebellious fin- 
 ners. The vifion is yet for an appointed time ; but at 
 the end it jhaU /pes!: and net lie; though it tarry, wait 
 
 for 
 
 {k) Tftu. liv. 15. (») Pfhl. exxvii. I. 
 
 '/) Pfal.h. 4, 6. (o) Pfal.xlvi. 1. 
 
 I. exxi. 3. I [p) Gen. xxii. 14- 
 
Ser m . i . God's Prefence the befl Security, 2 3 
 
 for it , becaufe it will fur ely come, it will not tarry (q). 
 He is always furnifhed with arrows to humble the 
 contradiction of men, ana) proclaim falvation for Jacob -, 
 and fometimes his readinefs to fave, fhews itfelf with 
 fo much wonder, that the fame report tells us both of 
 our danger and our efcape. We never come to know 
 that mifchief was upon the flocks, till we are fully 
 allured that God has blafted it. When he turned again 
 our captivity , we were like them that dream ir). Pro- 
 vidence does with the fame breath intimate, what 
 might have been our cafe, and fhew us what the over- 
 ruling votes of heaven were. 
 
 We have often received a mercy, which we never 
 faw any neceffity to pray for ; our firft addrefs to 
 God has been in a joyful gratitude. He has always 
 a fufficient number of bleflings ready for every diflrefs 
 that can befal his people. That promife carries a 
 wonderful encouragement in it. Before they call, I will 
 anfwer ; and whilfi ihey are yet J peaking, I will hear (s). 
 We account it an extraordinary privilege to have the 
 ear of God, and humbly to wreil deliverance with 
 ftrong cries and petitions : but here are ftranger me- 
 thods of love. Mercy is in hafte to fave us : as if 
 prayer and falvation were at ilrife which mould run 
 the fafler. The very moment of intreaty is often the 
 fet time wherein God vifits Sion ; deliverance flies on 
 with that refolution and vigour, that we have fcarce 
 leifure to conclude the requeft, before we fee it an- 
 fwered. We are forced to be abrupt, and break off 
 with a pleafing diforder and confufion. The returning 
 prodigal had framed an addrefs to his Father : he de- 
 figned not only to own the fouled guilt, but to exprefs 
 his value for the meaneft favour ; I have finned aga'mfi 
 heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be 
 called thy fori, make me as one of thine hired fervants ( t) : 
 $ut ere he could get his fpeech out, his difcourfe is 
 
 C 4 interrupted 
 
 (7) Hab. ii. 3. {$) Ifai. !xv. 24. 
 
 (r) Pfel. exxvi. i. J (/j Luke xv. 18, ig. 
 
24 God's Prefence the bejl Security. Serm. I« 
 
 interrupted by an hafty love : he cuts it off by the 
 ■half-, his concluding part is prevented with a full 
 aiiurance of welcome and kindneis. So ready is God 
 to appear for the falvation of his chofen. 
 
 III. What are the grounds and reafons of fo near a 
 prefence ? Or, what caufe have we to hope for 
 for fo great a bleffng ? The reafon of the hope that 
 is in us, I fhall juft mention in three particulars. 
 i. The nature of God's love is fuch, that it gives us 
 ground to look for this privilege. He has chofenSwn, 
 and he does not run back from his choice, but will 
 "redeemer poor with judgment, and her converts with 
 right eoufnef (u). The gifts and calling of God are with- 
 out repentUnce.{x). Can a woman forget her fucking 
 child, that fe fhould not have compaffion on the fon of 
 her wcnib? Tea, they may forget, yet will not I forget 
 thee. Behold, 1 have graven thee upon the palms of my 
 hands, thy walls are continually before me (y). 
 
 2. The exprels language of that covenant, that is 
 ordered in all things and fare, doubles our encourage- 
 ment. He has declared his heart in a promife, that 
 ty two immutable things, in which it is impqffible for 
 God to lie, we may have fir ong conflation (z). 
 
 3. The inter '-eft of his glory is nearly concerned 
 herein. He is no lofef by any goodnefs to his people. 
 It puts a reputation upon his name. The upright 
 adore fuch a Providence with gratitude •, and a praiie 
 
 fs forced out of finners in their complaints and vexa- 
 tion. The righteous fhall fee it, and be glad, and all 
 'iniquity fhall v flop her moid h (a). Ye fhall know, that 
 J am in the midft cf Ifrael; and that I am the Lord 
 your God, and none elfe; and my people pall never be 
 ^'ajhamed (b). Nay, tliofe witnefTes that ftand at a 
 ciiftancc, who are not parties either in the difappoint- 
 
 meiit 
 
 («) Tfa'i i. . - I (*] Hab. vi. 18. 
 
 (.*•) Rom x i'. zq. . [a] Pfal. cvii. 42. 
 
 f» Ifai. slix. 15, 16. I \t>) joelii. z;. 
 
Serm. i . Go d'j Trefence the bejl Security. 2 5 
 
 ment or the relief. Thefe can read a God in fuch 
 proceedings. They fat d among the heathen. The Lord 
 has done great things for them (c). Jethro profefles, 
 Now I know, that the Lord is greater than alt gods, 
 lecaufe in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was 
 above them (d). 
 
 APPLICATION. 
 
 1. Learn the happi.nefs and fafety of God's own 
 people, Cry and fhout, thou inhabitant of Sion, for 
 great is the holy One of Ifrael in the midfl of thee (e). 
 There is none like unto the God of Jefkurun, who rides 
 upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the 
 jky ; the eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are 
 everlafting arms •, and he jhall thntft out the enemy be- 
 fore thee, and fh all fay, Deflroy them : happy art thou, 
 O Ifrael, who is like unto thee ? A people faved by the 
 Lord, the fhield of thy help, and the fword of thine ex- 
 cellency : thine enemies fhall be found liars unto thee, and 
 thoujhalt tread upon their high places (f). If Go d be 
 in the midfl of Sion, then the weapons formed againfi 
 her ftrike equally at him : fo that when the enemies 
 cry out, Rafe, rafe it even to the ground (g) ; if they 
 will make clear work, they muft humble theMajefty 
 of heaven. He is in the midfl of his people ; and if 
 finners prevail, God and Saints fall together. And 
 what comfort is this to the Ions of Sion, to think that 
 their intereft is fo woven into his, that if they be in- 
 jured, he muft be a lofer ? He that touches them, 
 touches the apple of his eye (h). When the Egyptians 
 were ready to make Ifrael the morfel of their pride, 
 God fteps in as a wall of partition between the two 
 armies, fo that there was no way of getting at the 
 Jews, but by ftriking through Omnipotence. Happy 
 
 is 
 
 (<-) Pfal. cxxvi. 3. 
 (d) Exodus xviii. II," 
 \e) Jfai. xii. 6. 
 
 {/) Deut. xxxiii. 26, 27, 29, 
 (g) Pfal. cxxxvii. 7. 
 (h) Zech. ii. 8, 
 
26 Cods Prefence the bejl Security. Serm. 1 1' 
 
 is the -people that is in fucb a cafe ; yea, happy is that 
 people, whofe God is the Lord(i). 
 
 2 . Let us behave ourfelves ftiitably to fuch a prefence, 
 left we provoke him from his port, and caufe him to 
 lay, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his pa- 
 laces (k). 
 
 And if God's being in the midft of a people fpeaks 
 their happinefs, and calls for their gratitude, then all 
 who are concerned for England, or the Proteftant inter eft, 
 may at once fee their mercy and duty ; what David 
 fays of the Jews, Providence allows me to apply to 
 this nation. He exalt eth the horn of his people, thepraife 
 of all his Saints ; even of the children of Ifrael, a people 
 near unto him. Praife ye the Lord (/). We are not only 
 put in mind of that ancient deliverance, which is en- 
 graven upon the worfhip of this Day, but alio thole 
 late appearances that God has made on our behalf : 
 fo that I may fay, as Mofes to the Ifraelites ; Know 
 you this day, for I ffeak not with your children which 
 have not known, and which have not feen the chaflifement 
 of the Lord your God, his greatnefs, his mighty hand, 
 and his firetched-out arm; but your eyes have f sen all 
 the great things of the Lord which he did [m). 
 
 He is a ftranger in England, that needs telling 
 how much, in fome diflant reigns, the throne has 
 been a curfe to the nation. It is a public calamity, 
 when perfons, lodged in fo great a trull, are either 
 benumbed with debauchery, or imbittered with a 
 cruel zeal ; when they have a fair claim to no other 
 title, than that of aSHve tyrants, or royal drones. But 
 it is our happinefs, that God has recovered the cre- 
 dit of the land, by giving us one, who is framed for 
 the greatnefs which he appears in. He has been I 
 in the moft noble fervices. He is known to be the 
 fcourge of tyrants, the moderator of Europe, and 
 belt example of government. He maintained the 
 
 wai 
 
 [i) Pfal. cxliv. 15. I (/) Pfal. cxlviii. 14. 
 
 \k) Amos vi. %. (%) Deiu. xi. 2, 7. 
 
Serm. r . -Co ds Prefence the befl Security, 27 
 
 war with glory and fuccefs, and at lad changed it for 
 an honourable peace. Providence has made him its 
 happy charge. Let not us put out the light of Ifrael 
 by finning away fo great a mercy ; for if we ftill do 
 wickedly 1 we /hall be confumed, both we and our King (n). 
 Let us be ferving him with fervent prayers, engaging 
 the beft guards in his defence. Blejfed is he that comes 
 to fave us in the name of the Lord •, we have blejfed him 
 out of the houfe of the Lord (<?). 
 
 {») 1 Sam. xi. 25. J (0) Pfal.cxviii. 26. 
 
 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON II. 
 
 The Nature of that Joy which GOD's 
 Government of his Church obligeth to. 
 
 *****m|>*.h>********************** 
 
 Preached at Newcastle, 1701. 
 ************************* ****** 
 
 Psalm CXLIX. 2. 
 Let the children of Si on be joyful in their King, 
 
 ^^OME tell us, that the Pfalms are ranged 
 jjfc % into fuch an order, as to defcribe the be- 
 
 & S ^ liever's pafTage through the world. They 
 
 wV <*A> * et us ^ ec *" s ^ cnan t? e > anc * ms gradual 
 z£ ^**** 3» advances. They begin with a true ap- 
 
 prehenfion of blejfednefs (a) ; that which firft has an in- 
 fluence upon our choice : they are continued in a mix- 
 ture of lamentation and triumph, very much refem- 
 bling the compound life that we have upon earth : but 
 they end with fuch intire praife, as if one foot were 
 already in heaven. The Book is fhut up with pure 
 rapture, in fuch language as becomes an inhabitant of 
 paradife, rather than a paflfenger to it. 
 
 The occafion of this Pfalm, feems to be fome re- 
 markable deliverance that God afforded his people ; 
 for we find they are allowed a fuperiority over thofe 
 that ufed to affright them. A two-edged fzvordwas 
 put into their band, to execute vengeance upon the hea- 
 then, &c. This honour have all bis Saints (b). The 
 
 Pfalm 
 (fi) Pfalm i. J [b) Pfal, cxlix. 6— 9. 
 
3°> y°y * n ^ e D* v i ne Government. Serm. 2. 
 
 Pfalm begins with a demand to gratitude. Praife ye 
 the Lord, hallelujah; this is one of heaven's notes. 
 Sing unto the Lord a new fong, as frefh as the mercy 
 that fupplies it, in the congregation of his Saints {c). 
 Make the name of his goodnefs general ; that as every 
 ferious perfon has a fhare in the Providence, fo he 
 may bear his part in this confort. The ground of 
 this is hinted at, Let Ifrael rejoice in him that made him; 
 let the children of Sion be joyful in their King (d). Here 
 the Church names God under two titles, both of 
 which do not only oblige but fweeten praife. 
 
 i . As a Creator. Let Ifrael rejoice in him that made 
 him ; underftand this either of his omnipotence, that 
 framed all things, both the righteous and the wicked : 
 his interefl in our Being is matter of joy. Praife him 
 fun and moon, all ye far s of light; ye heavens of hea- 
 vens, and waters above the heavens ; let them praife the 
 ■name of the Lord, for he commanded, and they were 
 created (<?). We may alfo interpret this of his peculiar 
 goodnefs to them as his people. He is more immedi- 
 ately the maker of Ifrael. Every one that is called by 
 my name, I have created him for my glory, I have 
 formed him, yea, I have made him (/). He is more 
 nearly the author of his Church, the fpring of all Re- 
 ligion. Sion is the creature of his love, and that firft 
 care which built her up calls forgladnefs. We may 
 rejoice in that God, who made the Church, and 
 who hajs gracioufly brought us into it. 
 
 2. As a King. Let the children of Sion be joyful in 
 their King. Confider him not only as one that firft 
 brought them into a covenant with himfelf, but ad* 
 mire the continuing mercy of his protection and go- 
 vernment. He does not colled: a fociety, and then 
 leave it : no, there is a fteddinefs in his rule, and a 
 conftant prefence of authority with them : as he was 
 
 *• their 
 
 (c) Pfal. cxlix. 1i (?) Pfal.cxlviii. 3, \, 5. 
 
 (d) Pfal. cxlix. 2. *| (/) Ifai. xliii. 7. 
 
Serm. 2. jfoy in the Divine Government. gj 
 
 their Maker, fo he will be their King. That love 
 that gave them their firft Being will fecure it. 
 
 The text is a fummons to the work of praife. We 
 have, 
 
 i. The perfons called to this employment, The 
 children of Sion. This title is applicable to believers 
 under the New Teftament. JVe are come to Mount 
 Sion (g) ; and weftand in the relation of children, for 
 the Jerufalem above is the mother of us all (h). So that 
 here we are to underftand fuch as are united to her in 
 affection, intereft and hazard : who iove nothing {o 
 highly as the general good of Religion, and venture 
 all that they have in defence of it. Sion being the 
 place of worjhip, this title may exprefs their temper, 
 that they were the generation of feekers, a people who 
 made their flated vifits to God, and fcorned to be 
 afhamed of their intimacy or fervice. Sion alfo was 
 the feat of a peculiar pre fence, where the Almighty 
 took up his abode. And fo the children of Sion, are 
 fuch as derive a nature from the God that dwells 
 there ; who wear his image, and confequently mull 
 have principles of allegiance to defend his glory. 
 
 2. The duty they were to join in, or the affeclion of 
 foul which they were to flir up on this occafion •, Let 
 them be joyful. Though they have work enough for 
 tears, yet that mult now give way. All the fprings 
 of vigour mould awake, and fill the glad folemnity. 
 Let every heir of the kingdom unloofe his bondage of 
 fpirit. Whatever foul is akin to Sion y let his relation 
 make him a fharer in the common joys. Let praife 
 rife with mercy, and as the courfes of Providence are 
 extraordinary, ftrive to imitate them with fomething 
 peculiar in duty. 
 
 3. The objetl and provocation of this joy : that 
 which receives it, and that which Jlirs it up. Let them 
 be joyful in their King ; in what he does, and in what 
 he is : let his works quicken it, let himfelf have it. 
 
 This 
 {S) Hab.xn.23, { {h) Gal iv. 26. 
 
3 2 y°y ittrf je Divine Government. Serm. z> 
 
 This is to be underftood of Christ, whom the Father 
 has appointed to the chief place of note. / have fet 
 my King upon My holy hill of Sion (i). That hill from 
 ■which believers take their titles, and to which they 
 aim their devotions. The truth of our Lord's go- 
 vernment tht Church then believed, and the applica- 
 tion of it they forefaw. For if Abraham faw his day, 
 and was glad (k), we may well fuppofe the fame of 
 that age,' that did not look through fo great adiftance; 
 but who found the promifes ripening, and had their 
 faith enlarged with new difcoveries. David /peaks con- 
 cerning him, for being a prophet, he knew that God had 
 fworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, 
 according to the fie fb, he would raife up Chrift to fit on 
 his throne {I). Christ then, is the King of Sion, and 
 carries on the duties of his empire two ways : 
 
 ( i . ) Spiritually ; in the controls of grace : his 
 people are made willing in the day of his power (m) : he 
 binds them in cords of love, and makes all their per- 
 verfenefs yield to the arguments that give it battle. 
 He maintains them with a fecret influence : they are 
 kept by his mighty power through faith unto falvation (n.) 
 (2.) Providentially. He is the head over all things 
 unto the Church (o). He has authority to dilpofe of 
 thrones, tumble down kingdoms, and fhake the 
 foundations of the world, for their fecurity. He, that 
 took fuch care to furnifh the manfwns (p) in heaven 
 for them, will not lofe them by the way. And we 
 often find what remarkable changes his Providence 
 works upon their account ; if earthly greatnefs will 
 not ferve his Church, it fhall be crufhed under it. 
 The intereft, that is ufually funk fo low, may have 
 the lift of a kind hand, and come to trample upon 
 pomp, and debafe oppreHion. Now this is matter of 
 
 j°7- 
 
 («) Pfal.ii.6. - 
 (/£) John viii. 56. 
 (/) Afts ii- 25, 30. 
 \m) Pfal. ex. 2. 
 
 (n) 1 Pet. i. 5. 
 (0) Ephef. i. 22. 
 (/) John xiv. 1, 24 
 
5erm.2* Joy in the "Divine Government! 33 
 
 joy. Thou jhalt threjh the mountains, and make the 
 hills as chaff : thou Jhalt fan them, and the wind Jhall 
 carry them away, and the whirlwind fh all fatter them : 
 and thou Jhalt rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the holy 
 One of Ifrael (q)* 
 
 The meaning of the text may be contained in this 
 propofition. 
 
 All true Chriftians are especially bound to rejoice 
 in Christ, the King of the Church, upon any extra- 
 ordinary favour that he vouchfafes to it. I mail, 
 
 I. Enquire what there is in the confideration of 
 his being their King to excite this joy. 
 
 II. Explain the nature of this affection or joy in 
 him. 
 
 III. Shew why this is more peculiarly a duty after 
 fome eminent deliverance. 
 
 IV. Application. 
 
 I. Let us confider the object of this joy, Sion's Kingl 
 And here I will reftrain myfelf with the context of 
 thefe words, and the bufmefs of this day ; both of 
 which oblige my thoughts to his providential king- 
 dom. And there are three things more efpecialiy, 
 which deferve to be the matter of a Chriftian's joy. 
 
 i. His great perfections. He has all royal qua- 
 lities. 
 
 A King's nature ; every thing to fill a glory, and 
 claim our love. He has both an ample capacity, 
 and a flate that is level to it. I fpeak the things that 
 I have made^ fays David, touching the King * and this 
 is his firft character, that grace is poured into his lips y 
 and God has blejfed him for ever (r). And as his fur- 
 niture for this work is above the Jons of men, fo is his 
 refrefhment and folace in it ; God has anointed him with 
 the oil of gladnefs above his fellows (j). He has an arm 
 
 Vol. I. D that 
 
 ( q ) Ifai. xli. 15, 16. j (') Pfal. xlv. 3, 
 
 \r) Pfal. xlv. 1,2. 
 
34 Joy in the Divine Government. Serm. zi 
 
 that is fie to rule, a vvifdom that never darkens, at 
 power that cannot yield. In thy Majejly ride pro/per-*, 
 oujly, becaufe of truth, and meeknefs, and right eoufnefs ; 
 and thy right hand /ball teach thee terrible things : thine 
 arrows are /harp in the hearts of the. King's enemies, 
 whereby the people fhall fall under- t.hee (t). He tells us 
 no lefs himfelf, Connfel is mine, and found wifdom ; / 
 am underflanding, I have flrength{u). 
 
 The angels adore his capacity in a chearful homage. 
 All the people of that upper world, where he ha.? 
 fixed his throne, cannot but reverence the Majefty 
 that is within view. This is the fong of the Lamb, 
 Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord Gcd Almighty; 
 jiift and true are all thy mays, thou King of Saints : 
 Who fhall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name ? 
 All nations, fhall come and worjhip before thee, for thy 
 judgments are made manif "eft (#.). This is a lb vereign 
 that fills his empire ; he governs without difficulty or 
 miftake : and this may be matter of joy to God's 
 people,, to think that he, who has the management 
 of them, is fo capable of anfwering his trull. He 
 has a purity that adorns his perfon, infpires his laws, 
 and glorifies his palace -, fuch an one becomes us, who 
 is holy, harmlefs,, feparate- from finners, and made 
 higher than the heavens (y). 
 
 He has a King's heart, a love as wide as his domi- 
 nion -, and may not this ftir up the affections of thole 
 who are named after him, and have put their truft 
 in him ? Confider him in all his Titles, and they ex- 
 prefs an amiable grandeur. His nam is IVonderfid, 
 Counfellor, the mighty God, the everlafting Father^ tie 
 Prince of Peace (z). The noble attendants that fur- 
 round him do not make his excellencies, but only ad- 
 mire them. His perfections are not the effect of 
 praife, but rather the matter of it. This is. a King, 
 
 whom 
 
 {/) Pfal. xlv. 4, 5. I ( v) Heb vii. 26. 
 
 (a) Prpv.yiii.ui_. [ssj ii:;i. >x. 0. 
 
 ( I Rev. xv. 3, 4, J 
 
Sorttl. 2. Joy in the Divine Government. JjS 
 
 whom we may name with courage. The Lord fhall 
 reign for ever, even thy God, O Sion, to all genera- 
 tions (a). Something of his worth is feen here ; and 
 though it be but little, yet there is fo much as will 
 bear up a Chriftian's triumph. He is glorious in ho- 
 linefs-, fearfuHn praifes, doing wonders (b) : and as far 
 as this isdifcovered, it cannot but heighten our joy. 
 Thy way, OGod, is in the fantluary, who is fo great 
 a God as our God? Thou art the God that daft wonders, 
 thou hajl declared thy firength among the people (c). Ho- 
 nour and majefiy are before him, firength and beauty 
 me in his fanffuary {d). 
 
 2. His actual government. The Lord reigns, let 
 the earth rejoice, let the multitude of ifies be glad there- 
 of {e). He does not let his qualifications fleep unem- 
 ployed, but declares them in the moft beautiful con- 
 duct. The Lord reigns, he- is clothed witii majefiy % 
 he is clothed with firength, wherewith he has girded 
 himfelf \ and, becaufe of this, the world is fiablijhed> 
 that it cannot be moved (/"). He has Power to con- 
 quer for his people, Wifdom to contrive their fteps, 
 and Love to fave them. His throne is in the heavens (g) ; 
 but this lower world is fubjec~t to his rule. Though 
 the enemies of the Church ma^ think themfelves the 
 only gods upon earth, yet they have had a terrible 
 neceffity to own that there is One above them. He 
 may, for a longtime, hide his fovereignty, and feem 
 to neglect the courfes of government : but juftice will 
 run in its old channel again. The fpace of indulgence 
 that finners had, fhall wear out, and he will put on a 
 new zeal for his people. For the Lord will not cafi off' 
 his people, neither will- he for fake his inheritance ; but 
 judgment fhall return to right eoufnefs {h). 
 
 (a) Pfal. cxxvi. 10. 
 
 (b) Exod. xv. i i. 
 
 (c) Pfal. Ixxvii. 1 ;, 14. 
 (J) Pfal-. xcvi 6." 
 
 D a Som«-. 
 
 (e) Pfal. xcvii. 1. 
 (/) Pfal. xciii. 1. 
 [£) Pfal.ciii 19. 
 [%) Pfal. xciv. 15, 
 
3 6 jfcy in the Divine Government. Serm. 2. 
 
 Sometimes we are afraid that God has forfaken 
 us : the wicked threaten and fucceed : there is a con- 
 ftant obedience in all things to their wifhes : but all 
 this while God laughs at them (i), and will in a little 
 time publifh the difdain in providential thunder. 
 What the Pfalmift prays for, is a mercy that all ages 
 of the Church have met with, that the God to whom 
 vengeance belongs, the Judge of the earth, would lift 
 tip himfelf, and render a reward to the proud (k). He 
 takes care that ambition do not fwell too large, that 
 innocency be not quite deftroyed. And certainly this 
 is matter of joy to Sion's children, to think that their 
 God is univerfal monarch. He who loves us, has 
 all things under his control, and will not fuffer our 
 ruin. The Pfalmift repeats his fummons to praife 
 upon this confideration : Sing fraifes to our God, ftng 
 praifes to the King, fing paifes ; for God is the King 
 of all the earth. Sing ye praifes with under/landing : 
 God reigns over the heathen, God fits upon the throne of 
 bis holinefs (/). Nebuchadnezzar had this doctrine 
 preached to him by the captive Jews, and proved, 
 beyond all contradiction, by feven years banifhment 
 from human fociety. He then learned, that the mofi 
 High rules in the kingdoms of men (m). 
 
 Though finners are under no fubjection to grace, 
 yet there are refoiutions of Providence which they can- 
 not break. The enmity of their natures makes them 
 angry at heaven ; but actual dilbbedience is a thing 
 out of their reach. The counfel of the Lord fh all Jl and (»). 
 He is the only King of the creation •, and though they 
 are adverfaries of his holinefs, he can make them the 
 tools of his power. The Affyrian was ufed to variety 
 of purpofes : he is firft the rod of God's indignation, 
 and then the mark of it {o). Grace may be refilled, 
 but ibvereignty will not. They that would not have 
 
 him 
 
 (;*) Pfal.ii.4. 
 
 (A) Pfal xciv. r, 2. 
 
 (/) Hal. xlvii. 6, ;, 8. 
 
 (m) Dan. iv. 32. 
 (77) Prov. xix. 2r, 
 {0) Ifai. x. 5, 16. 
 
Serm.2. Joy in the Divine Government. 37 
 
 him to reign over them, are brought out againft their 
 wills, an&flain before his face {p). The Spirit is often 
 quenched, but Juftice lives. Sinners have life and 
 death, obedience and mifery offered to them ; the 
 firft choice is theirs, but after that is done, God will 
 choofe next. He puts it to them, whether they will 
 own him or no •, but it does not lie at their choice 
 whether mifery mall avenge their refufal. Had it 
 not been fo, the Church would, long ere this, have 
 funk under the tumult of malice. But God rules in 
 Jacob to the ends of the earth (q). He fits at the helm 
 of Providence, and directs all its courfes according to 
 his own pleafure. So that we rejoice in a King who 
 fills every part of the world, every moment of time, 
 with a great prefence of fovereignty. 
 
 3. The Church's propriety in both. He is their 
 
 King. His qualifications are to entertain their love, 
 
 his actual government to fecure their privileges. 
 
 What he is, makes up their portion ; what he does, 
 
 I is for their advantage. They have an intereft in his 
 
 -nature, and a benefit in all his providences. He faid y 
 
 Surely they are my people^ children that will not lie ; fo 
 
 he was their Saviour (r). He is a father to them, 
 
 when they lie under oppreflive cruelty. Thefe clouds 
 
 may hide the relation from public view, but they 
 
 cannot bury it : and in a little time, his bowels will 
 
 break through the oppofition, and command deliverance 
 
 for Jacob {s). Thus faith the Lord to Pharaoh^ Ijrael 
 
 is myfon t my firft -born j and I fay unto thee. Let my 
 
 fon go> that he may ferve me {t). 
 
 The enemies of the Church are fometimes tamper- 
 ing with divine love, trying how long it will bear 
 their rudenefs, without an open refentment : but they 
 ufually carry the experiment too far, and draw out 
 their cruelties to the Saints, till confuming zeal is 
 
 D 3 weary 
 
 {p) Luke xix. 17. 
 (?) Pfal lix 13. 
 [r) Ifai. Uiii. 8, 
 
 (s) Pfal. xliv. 4. 
 (/) Exod. iv, 22, 23. 
 
3^ y°y * n ^ e divine Government. Serm. '2l 
 weary of forbearance. The covenant that God has 
 brought his people into, is, like his own nature, un- 
 changeable and everlafting (u). Thou Ifrael art my fer- 
 vant, Jacob w horn I have chofen, the feed of Abraham 
 my friend. Thou, whom I have taken from the ends of 
 the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, 
 and f aid unto thee, Thou art my ferv ant. I have chofen 
 thee, and not cafi thee away (x). Till enemies can 
 quench the love of his heart, difturb the firmnefs of 
 a promife, and break the relation between him and 
 the Church, their malice muft live in vain, and die 
 in contempt. He cannot look upon believers, but 
 he remembers the bond he is in to them, and that 
 eternal love which inclined him to begin this rela- 
 tion. Whofoever, faith he te his Church, fh all gather 
 together againfl thee, Jhall fall for thy fake (jy). Not 
 for any worthinefs of thine own, but for thy fake as 
 joined in the fame covenant with me ; -and fo the rea- 
 fon devolves again upon himfelf. 
 
 And what a ground of joy is this to thofe whofe 
 God is the Lord (z) ? Is he fo capable of ruling, and 
 .actually pofTefied of government ? Be glad, O ye righ- 
 teous •, fee what an arm it is you truft in. His qualifi- 
 cations are glorious, his actual rule uninterrupted j 
 and both thefe are for you. Is he excellent ? that 
 is to make your portion the better. Is he bufy in 
 every providence ? that is to fecure you from the 
 enemy's rage. Let the children of Sion be joyful in 
 their King. 
 
 II. What is it to joy m Sion's King, after a remark- 
 able deliverance ? 
 
 Anfw. This may be exprefied feveral ways : 
 
 1. In a more admiring opinion of his excellencies. 
 Who is God, fave the Lord ? IVho is a rock, like our 
 
 God? 
 
 m Yxiii. r. ()») Ifai. liv. [$. 
 
 ..>, I'fiti. xli. 8,9. J (;,) Ffal. cxliv. it, 
 
Serm. 2 .' Joy in the Divine Government. 39 
 
 God (a) ? The foul that is truly gracious, cannot 
 but have fome valuable thoughts of God at the 
 lovveft ; but when difcouragements are "removed, and 
 heaven is peculiarly kind, then adoration fhould fill 
 with the mercy. Thy right band, Lord s is become 
 glorious in power : thy right' hand, O Lord s has dajhed 
 in pieces the enemy (b). The wicked make their whole 
 'conversation a flight upon God, as if his arm were 
 ^not deferving of reverence, or his grace of choice* 
 They fay unto God, Depart from us •, and what can the 
 Almighty do for them (c) ? And the hypocrite is really 
 of the fame temper, though he has the art to conceal 
 it. His devotion is a {train ; the gravity of his looks 
 and actions is no more than a compliment. His in- 
 ward part defpifes the Majefty whom he pretends to 
 adore. He has no awful profpeft of Omnipotence, 
 no fenfible tafte of the divine love. Nay, the Chrif- 
 tian himfelf may run low in this temper, and lightly 
 ejleem the rock of his falvation(d). 
 
 When Sion faid, God had fo'rfaken her (e) ; was 
 there not reproach enough in that language ? As the 
 flrength of faith gives glory to him (/), ib the fucceiTes 
 of unbelief are a robbery upon his honour. Could 
 infinite goodnefs fail, or eternal truth die? Can the 
 fupreme nature change, or the articles of an everlaft- 
 ing covenant be repealed ? No lefs than this horrid 
 blafphemy rs lodged in thefe defperate {trains. Now 
 when the King of the Church declares his majefty 
 and kindnefs in fome providence, it is time to drop 
 our fufpicions with fhame. When he turned again the 
 captivity of Sion, we were like them that dreamed (g). 
 We were fo far from believing beforehand, that we 
 doubted of it when the mercy came : but then was 
 ■our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with 
 
 D 4 finging-: 
 
 (a) Pfal. xviii. 31. 
 (/>) Exod. xv . 6. 
 (c) -Job xxii. 17. 
 \d) Deut. xxxii. 1 ^» 
 
 {e) Ifai.xlix. 16. 
 (/) Rom. ii. 20> i 
 (^) Pial. cxsvi. (, 1. 
 
jj.6 Jay in the Divine Government, Serm.2^ 
 
 finging : The Lord has done great things for us. Our 
 firft duties of joy are performed this way : we fhould 
 here take occafion to fee the height of his throne, 
 the compafs of his government, and the clofenefs of 
 his love to us. 
 
 2. In an hearty gratitude for all mercies received. 
 The kindnefs that comes from heaven mould draw 
 our hearts back again with it. What Jhall I render 
 unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me ? I will 
 take the cup offalvation, and call upon the name of the 
 Zord(h). I v/ill relifh my deliverance : as the falva- 
 tion is my mercy, fo it mall be my cordial. When 
 God fpeaks peace with fuch a powerful language, 
 we mould not be filent in his praife. We cannot 
 reward his love, any more than we could deferve it ; 
 but it is highly reafonable that we make a ferious ac- 
 knowledgment of it. Give thanks unto the Lord, for 
 he is good ', his mercy endures for ever : let the redeemed 
 cf the Lord fay foil). Though all are obliged to own 
 it, yet they peculiarly. Their dumbnefs is inexcufable. 
 
 Have we not prayed with all the violence of diftrefs 
 for this favour ? And is it not worth our gratitude ? 
 There mould be a flame of love in proportion to our 
 former earneftnefs. A ferious petitioner ufually vows 
 fomething of this kind beforehand. Arife, O Lord y 
 in thine anger, lift up tbyfelf becaufe of the rage of?nine 
 enemies : azvake for me to the judgment thou hafil com- 
 manded -, fo fhall the congregation of the people compafs 
 thee about : for their fakes therefore return thou on 
 high (/'). It is a fcandal upon the wicked, that though 
 affliction makes them howl upon their beds (/), yet 
 they are carelefs of all returns to the kindnefs that 
 faves them. Our Saviour takes notice, that ten 
 lepers were cleanfed, but nine of them had no regard 
 to the mercy, or their great Benefactor [m). Let not 
 
 this 
 
 (£) Pfal. cxvi. 12, 13. 
 fi) Pfal. cvii. 1, 2. 
 t-f) Pfal. vii. 6, 7. 
 
 (/) Hof. vii. 14. 
 (m) Lukcxvji, j 7, 
 
Serm.2. Joy in the Divine Government, 41 
 
 this be our reproach, that, when heaven took fo 
 much pains to deliver us, we were graves to our 
 bleflings : that they lay dead in our memories, and 
 did not ftir us up to any payments of gratitude. 
 
 3. In a frefh devotion to his wili, and a more zeal- 
 ous ftudy of his honour. The gratitude that is not 
 practical, both affronts God, and fliames the deli- 
 verance. At fuch a time, he owns us for his people, 
 and expects we mould do the like back again. The 
 Lord is my firength and fong, and is become my falva- 
 tion. He is my God, and I will prepare him an habi- 
 tation ; my father's God, and I will exalt him («). 
 Jacob refolved, when he came back to his father's 
 boufe, the Lordfhould be his God(o): he had cholen 
 him before, and certainly would not leave him upon 
 fo low a condition ; if he never came thither, that 
 fhould be no parting matter : but upon this mercy, 
 he will do it over again with a fuller love, and a 
 more clofe attention to the vows that he made. 
 
 The joy that only loves to fwill in an excefs of 
 riot, is earthly, fenfual, and devilijb(p). What, will 
 youpraifeGoD with fin, and ufe all thefe favours 
 as fo many inftruments of his dishonour ? If ferious 
 Religion doth not gain ground in your hearts and 
 lives, your mercies are loft, and your joys provok- 
 ing. 
 
 4. In an open proclamation of his perfeftions and 
 kindnefs. It is not enough that we have a rifing 
 love in our own hearts, and tell him in private our 
 fenfe of his hand in the deliverance ; but we are to 
 Ipread his name, and make his power knozvn (q). The 
 mercy is public, and fo ihould our expreffions of gra- 
 titude be : that all thofe who fee the Providence 
 may hear it repeated in our gladnefs. 
 
 5. In a refolution to truil him in future ftraits. 
 Our joy mult look both ways j backwards, to the 
 
 bleffings 
 
 («) Exod.xv. 2. (p) Jam. iii. 15. 
 
 (o) Gen. xxviii. 2i. | (7) Pfal. cvj, 8. 
 
'4 2 yoy in the Divine Government. Serin. 2.' 
 
 J blefTings that are wrought out already •, and forwards, 
 to thole providences that are but now ripening. It is 
 a reproach upon the Author of our mercies, if we dare 
 not put confidence in him when trouble revives. Let 
 Mount Sion- rejoice, let the daughters of Judab be glad, 
 becaufe of thy judgments {r). But this is not enough, 
 -he would have the -memory^ of this kindnefs handed 
 ■to following ages, -as fo much heartning to the faith 
 x>f the Church then : Mark well her bulwarks, conft- 
 der her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generations to 
 xonre : for -this God is our God for ever and ever, and 
 be will "-be our guide until death (j). We do not get 
 our full difcharge from fears, till we drop a finful 
 •nature, and fly above a noify world. After we have 
 received a mercy, we may expect that affliction will 
 take the next turn with us ; and the ufe we are to 
 make of prefent favours, is to venture ourfelves upon 
 the fame goodnefs in time to come. The forty-fixth 
 Pfalm was framed on purpofe to admire God, be- 
 caufe he had made the nations filent, had quafhed 
 their tumult ; making wars to ceafe to the ends of the 
 earth, breaking the bow, cutting the fpear af under, and 
 burning the chariot in the fire (t). Now the Church 
 takes heart in the fenfe of this, and makes a chal- 
 lenge as general as her troubles, The Lord of hofls is 
 with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge (u). 
 
 III. Why is this joy in Sion's King fo peculiarly a 
 
 duty after fome eminent deliverance ? 
 Anfw. i. Then is God mod glorified. He ap- 
 pears to ho. greater than all gods (at). Unbelief flatly 
 denied him, and faith daggered before him : but when 
 he makes thefe remarkable appearances, wickednefs 
 is dumb, and grace recovered. The Church ha r . 
 then an anfwer ready at hand to all the charges of 
 
 profanenefs. 
 
 (r) Pfal. xlviii. 1 1. 
 (j) Pfal. xlviii. 13,14. 
 (/) Pfal. xlvi. 9. 
 
 (a) Pfal. xlvi. II. 
 [x) Exsd. xviii. : j. 
 
5erm.2» Joy in the Divine 'Government'. 45 
 
 /profanenefs. When the Heathen fay, Where is now- 
 their God ? They can not only point upwards, and 
 fay, Our God is in the heavens ; but can alfo add, He 
 has done whatfoever he pleafed(y). When the fons of 
 men were fo bold, as to clare his power, who could 
 be joyful ? What ferious perfon could a6l in fo much 
 difcord to Providence, not to bleed when his Lord 
 is wounded ? As with a /word in my bones, do mine 
 enemies reproach met, while they fay continually , Where 
 is thy God (2) ? 
 
 But in thefe fignal mercies, he fetches up the ho- 
 nour that he feemed to lofe. The greatnefs that was 
 ^denied comes to be felt. Experience baffles Atheifm. 
 The wretched cabal of enemies cannot difbelieve the 
 arm that is fo heavy upon them. How great does a 
 Saviour appear, when finners are crawling, policy 
 •befooled, and opprefilon humbled ? And will it not 
 strike a joy through the honeft heart, to fee his 
 Lord's praife in theie frefh ornaments ? The children 
 of Sion mull be glad, when their King reigns in defpite 
 of malice, and lets his name above all robbery. 
 
 2. Then we have peculiar obligations to this work, 
 becaufe this comes in as an anfwer of Faith and Prayer. 
 In that day it Jhall be faid, This is our God, we have 
 waited for him, and he has faved us : we have wailed 
 for him, and will be glad and rejoice in hisfalvation (a). 
 Perhaps we have had many a ftruggle with the throne 
 of grace ; and to find that we did not believe and 
 cry in vain, mull needs make our joy glorious. We 
 have had but dull thoughts of this mercy before it 
 came : necefiity made us pray, and promifes bid us 
 hope ; but we were fometimes flat in requefl, and 
 oftner funk in expectation ; ready to fhut up an ad- 
 drefs with defpair, rather than keep afking. It was an 
 imagination that frequently returned, We have cleanfed 
 our hearts in vain (b) ; God would not lend any re- 
 gard to us. 
 
 Now, 
 
 (y) Pfal. cxv. 2, 3. I (a) Ifai. xxv. q. 
 
 (z) Pfal.xlii. 10. I (b) Pfal. lxxiii. ft, 
 
44 y°y * n the Divine Government. Serm. 2. 
 
 Now when petitions come back again changed 
 into mercies ; when faith is hung with thofe bleffings, 
 that it has been fighting for, may not the foul then 
 rejoice ? J love the Lord, because he has heard my voice ; 
 and my fupplications (c). We then cry out as they, 
 Let Ifrael hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is 
 mercy, and with our God is plenteous redemption (d). 
 
 3. Our outwaH hindrances in this work are all re- 
 moved. We have then an open door ; wide enough 
 for the moft extended zeal. In the heat of affliction, 
 we had the fcorn of enemies to flatten our joys. They 
 were jeering us with the fangs of Sion ; and iuch ade- 
 rifion as this muft be always painful. We could not 
 manage our part in that work of gratitude, whilfi: 
 Sion, the city of our folemmties, lay in rubbifh. But 
 now God has baffled them : our hopes cannot be their 
 jefl any longer. Their plots are unravelled, their 
 threats are dilfolved. Heaven has plunged them into 
 contempt, and made them infamous. They are now 
 paft bantering our Religion, or making their fcurrility 
 palatable with our ferioufnefs. We may now rejoice, 
 and have none to make us afraid. We durft fcarce 
 tell them, that we had a King in Sion, whilft ourfelves 
 Jay at their mercy : but divine fovereignty has at laft 
 appeared and we may well rejoice in that arm, which 
 themfelves cannot deny. 
 
 APPLICATION. 
 The mercies, that are united to the memory of this 
 day, are fuch as reprefent the great Keeper of Ifrael in 
 all his glory. We, in this nation, have feen an Arm 
 greater than earth, and a Wifdom deeper than hell. 
 God feems to have chofen England, as the flage, where 
 he would act his wonders, and glorify his love. When 
 the Devil and Sinners joined in one club, tempered 
 their plots with fo much cunning, and guarded them 
 with a powerful intereit; nothing below Almightinefs 
 could break the delign, and quench their induftry„ 
 
 // 
 
 fc) Pfal. cxvj. 1, I (4) Pfal. cxxx. 7. 
 
Serm. 2. jfoy in the t Divine Government^ 45 
 
 If the Lord had not been on our fide, may Ifrael now fay 9 
 the waters had overwhelmed us, and the fiream gone 
 over our foul : but the fnare is broken, and we are 
 efcaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who 
 made heaven and earth (e). 
 
 "When Religion lay gafping, bruifed with open 
 perfecution, and undermined with hypocrify ; God 
 ftunned the violence that was public, and expofed the 
 mifchief that kept working under difguife. Who 
 could have thought, when there was fo great a ven- 
 ture both of Gofpel and civil Liberty, that there 
 mould be any room for a Saviour upon Mount Sion ? 
 The gates of deliverance feemed to be locked up : a 
 piteous zeal could have no likely paflage to us ; and 
 yet, through all this defence and croud, God made 
 room. 
 
 All thinking perfons cannot but know, how he 
 reflrained our Rulers for fome time, and when that 
 would not do, he kindly changed them : that if the 
 earth would not help the woman, one of her own breed 
 mould. We have indeed feveral things to dif-tune our 
 gladnefs : the reformation halts ; mutual charity, the 
 ibul of our Religion, is ftarvingj confciences harden ; 
 practical ferioufnefs fails. But yet we lhall wrong 
 heaven, if we deny thefe extraordinary favours. God 
 has hitherto helped us with a kind omnipotence ; and 
 now, Let Ifrael rejoice in him that made h'nn, let tM 
 children of Sion be joyful in their King. 
 
 [e) Pfal. cxxiv. 8. 
 
 
 SERMON 
 

 SERMON III. 
 
 The great Value of a Seafonable Deliverance 
 Confidered and Applied. 
 
 Pre?,ch.ecl at Newcastle, 1702. 
 
 ******************************* 
 
 Deut. XXXII. 36. 
 
 The Lord JJjall judge his people, and repent himfelf 
 for his fervants, when he feeth that their power 
 is gone } and there is none Jlmt tip or left, 
 
 ^^HESE words are part of that fong 
 j£ % which Mofes was to leave the children of 
 
 % ^ *& Ifrael as a legacy to their fucceeding ages. 
 •s§«i* */4f * iac * ^ erve d them with courage and 
 
 *n ^«*» rv integrity all along : and now, at his 
 death, he is thoughtful about them-, and accordingly 
 pens this divine compofure, and charges them to be 
 often repeating it. It was a project of God's own 
 forming, as a prefervative from that apoftaiy which 
 they were already Aiding into. They had dangerous 
 fymptoms upon them of idolatry and faction. The 
 prefence of this great ruler could fcarce reftrain them 
 from a perverfe carriage and a fullied Religion. / 
 know, fays, he, thy rebellion, and thy Jtiff neck ; behold, 
 wbilji I am yet alive, ye have been rebellious againji the 
 Lord, how much more after my death ? For I know, 
 that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourfdves, 
 
 and 
 
4$ deliverance in Seafon, Serirt. 3. 
 
 and turn aftde from the way which I have commanded 
 you, and evil will befal you in the latter days, becaufe 
 you will do evil in the fight of the Lord, to provoke him 
 to anger, through the work of your hands (a). 
 
 The fong is well adorned with ferious rhetoric, that 
 it might at once give them both conviction and plea- 
 sure. Here is work enough for confeience to move 
 about, and yet the affections do not want their proper 
 charms of eloquence. His doctrine dropped as the 
 rain, and diftilled as the dew, as the fmall rain upon 
 the tender herb, and the Jhowers upon the grafs (b). 
 
 This fong is a mixture of hiftory and prophefy : 
 a memorial of what had been, and a conjecture at 
 their future carriage and difpenfations ; as they had 
 always fhewn an undutiful fliffnefs, fo Mofes takes it 
 for granted, that the old temper would revive after 
 his death. They were breaking into parties under his 
 government, and th reaming to ruin the whole ftatc 
 with confufion. They often endeavoured to mix their 
 worfhip with Heathenifm, as if they would quarrel 
 with God in their devotion : and it was but too pof- 
 fible, that this principle would break out with more 
 violence, and lefs correction, when Mofes was re- 
 moved. 
 
 But he gives them an awful afiurance, that if they 
 did practife their rebellions over again, they might 
 expect a revival of former punimments. This would 
 blaft all their endeavours, difpirit them in battle, and 
 put gall into every providence. How fhould one chafe 
 a thoitfand, and two put ten thou f and to flight, except 
 their rock had fold them, and the Lord hadjhut them 
 up (c) ? God would not always endure their provo- 
 cations, but mould at laft feek the defence of his 
 olory in their fall, if they did not promote it in a 
 way of actual duty. Thus the words, that imme- 
 diately forerun my text, reprefent him as lpeaking 
 
 our. 
 
 {a) Dent. xxxi. 27, 29. (c) Deut. xxxii. 30. 
 
 (i>) Deut xxxii. 2. 
 
Serm. 3. Deliverance in Seafotu 49 
 
 out his defigns of wrath to a wicked people : To me 
 belongs vengeance and recommences their fool jhall Jlidc 
 in due time, for the day of their calamity is at handi 
 and the things that Jhall come upon them make hafle {d). 
 Though they were never fo firm and fecure in thepof- 
 feflion of their privileges, yet heaven would give them 
 a trip, and bring them down. With fuch difpenfa- 
 tions as thefe would he vijit their iniquity. 
 
 Now this verfe lets us hear a change of notes, more 
 calm and healing language. He fuppofes them al- 
 moft wafted with the long corrections of Providence ; 
 and in this defolation, he breathes a reviving pro- 
 mife : for the Lord Jhall judge, &c. Where we may 
 obferve, 
 
 1. A fignal glorious mercy : The Lord Jhall judge 
 his -people, and repent him f elf for his fervants. It is 
 laid down in two expreflions, to intimate the fulnefs 
 of the blemng, that it fhall anfwer all their necemty 
 and complaint. 
 
 1 . He Jhall judge his people, He now fuppofes 
 them to be hardly dealt with by the oppreffor : in a 
 lonely defolate condition, erufhed with a barbarous 
 arrogance. And indeed, it is no drain upon reafort 
 to imagine, that the enemies of the Church mould 
 break the laws ofjuftice, as well as charity. An op- 
 pofition of nature to all ferioufnefs, is apt to make 
 them over-do it. But God will right his fervants, 
 and own their caufe, with a favourable appearance. 
 He will not fuffer imperious malice to fin both againft 
 equity and love. He has a conftant over-fight of 
 their carriage, and fometimes fpeaks as if he were 
 fufpicious of them. Thus faith the Lord of hofls, I 
 am jealous for Jerufalem, and for Sion, with a great 
 jealoufy, and I am very fore difpleafed with the Heathen 
 that are at eafe \ for I was but a little difpleafed, and 
 they helped forwards the afflioJion {e). But the other 
 branch of the promife fprings a richer vein of comfort. 
 
 Vol. I. E 2, He 
 
 [J) Deut.sxxiL 35. J (0 Zech. i. i*, ij. 
 
50 Deliverance in Seafon. Serm. 3, 
 
 2. He will repent him f elf for his fervants. They 
 might confider, that he was their adverfary, and all 
 the courage of nature muft bend under this reflection. 
 If finners perfecute them, they know it is fo much 
 pride, cruelty and injuftice : but God never ftrikes 
 an unrighteous blow ; all his ways are judgment and 
 truth (/). Now, though the punifhment was lb de- 
 ferred, yet it mail be removed. He did them no 
 wrong, when he vowed their calamity ; but he will 
 call in the refoiution again, and change the face of 
 Providence towards them. Since I [pake againji him, 
 I do eameftly remember him JIM ; therefore my bowels 
 are troubled for him, I will furely have mercy on him, 
 faith the Lord (g). So that, here is juftice for them 
 againft enemies -, here is a relent and turn of heart in 
 God. The adverfaries malice mall be avenged : the 
 divine anger fhall thaw down and run out in ftreams 
 of companion. This is the promife that he makes, 
 and (lamps with heaven's own feal. When he has 
 blejfed, no man can reverfe it (h). 
 
 2 . Here is the feafon when he would make good 
 his promife. When he fees that their power is gone, 
 and there is none find up or left. His prefence is never. _■' 
 more needful than in fuch a fcarcity of friends. He 
 will thus time his favours, and publifh them in the 
 moment of danger. Here is a variety of words to 
 exprefs the wild and frightful cafe that they might be 
 brought into. I fhall not amufe you with the different 
 interpretations that learned men have put upon this 
 text : that is the way to lofe our time in an explica- 
 tion, and perhaps may rather give your thoughts an 
 intanglement, than a difcovery. This brief account 
 you may take of the matter. Their helplefs ftate is 
 fet out in two particulars. 
 
 1. Their incapacity of felf- relief. Their power is 
 gone. They are not in a condition to fence againft 
 
 the 
 
 (/) Dcut. xxxii. 4. {b) Numb.xxiii. 20. 
 
 (g) Jer. xxxi. 20. 
 
Serm. 3. Deliverance in Seafon. 51 
 
 t}ie enemy. All their ability is wafted. Thus the 
 complaint runs : He has made me defolate and faint all 
 the day. The yoke of my tranfgrejjions is bound by his 
 band ; they are wreathed and come up upon my neck. He 
 has made my flrength to fall ; the Lord has delivered me 
 into their hand, from whom I am not able to rife up. 
 The Lord has trodden under foot all my mighty men hi 
 the midji of me •, he has called an affembly againfi me to 
 crufh my young men (i). 
 
 2. Their defpair of foreign afllftance : There is none 
 jhut up or left. ' Not a friend to appear for them and 
 efpoufe their finking intereft. For thefe things I weep, 
 faith the Church, mine eye, mine eye runs down with 
 water, becaufe the Comforter, that fhould relieve my foul, 
 is far from me : my children are deflate, becaufe the 
 enemy prevailed r Sion hath fpredd forth her hands, and 
 there is none to comfort her (£). We cannot imagine a 
 cafe more diftrefled and cloudy than the Church is 
 here fuppofed to be in. But when it is thus with her, 
 when fhe has neither power within, nor friends abroad ; 
 when her defence is gone, her outward alliance broke, 
 then will God judge bis people, and repent himfelf of his 
 Servants. The fenfe of the text is this : 
 
 The Church's greateft diftrefs and danger is a fit 
 time for God to (hew himfelf in her deliverance : that 
 is a proper feafon of mercy. A time of hazard and 
 agony, is a time of love. When he pajffes by, and 
 fees them in blood, then he faith unto them, Live (I), 
 This might be made good from the records of the 
 Church in all ages. He promiies to fave us after the 
 manner of Egypt -, and that was a mercy of this na- 
 ture in all its fteps. 
 
 When the Israelite's bondage was mod fevere, then 
 he fets up Mofes on the ftage of fervice (m) : f when 
 Pharaoh was hardened by a long train of miracles, fo 
 that none could imagine there fhould be any refer ve 
 
 E 2 of 
 
 («) Lam. i. 13, 14, 15. j {/) Ezek. xvi. 8. 
 
 (i) Lam. i. 16, 17. (.?;) Exod. iii. 7, 8 
 
52 Deliverance in Sea/oft, Serm. 3. 
 
 of tendernefs in him, then death drops an arrow into 
 every family («) : upon this the people, who before 
 endeavoured to keep pofTeflion, tbrufi out their cap- 
 tives (0). And when they would needs recover all, 
 and fetch them back again With a mighty hand, the 
 power and fpirit of the nation is quenched in the Red 
 fea (p). So that you fee how Providence has acted 
 by this rule already. And feveral years after it is 
 faid, that the Lord faw the afflittion of Ifrael, that it 
 was very bitter -, for there was not any fhut up, nor 
 any left, nor any helper for Ifrael : and then the Lord 
 faid, that he would not blot out the name of Ifrael from 
 under heaven (q). 
 
 The method (hall be, 
 
 I. Briefly to mew, why God's intereft is ever fuf- 
 fered to run fo low, that his people mall want 
 their power ? 
 
 II. To reprefent the fitnefs of a providential ap- 
 pearance at luch a time : or how peculiarly fea- 
 fonable it is to vifit them in this diftrefs. 
 
 III. To make fome application. And, laftly, To 
 conclude with fome remarks upon this day, and 
 the mercy that we are called to remember in it. 
 
 I. Why does God ever let his intereft be fo much 
 a fufferer, that it fhall want both inward power and 
 iufficient alliance ? We might largely account for fuch 
 an order and method of Providence ; but you may 
 be fatisfied in thefe two anfwers. 
 
 1. Hereby he mews a juft refentment of his people's 
 folly and difobedience. There is in them a fpirit thai 
 lufts to envy {r), which fometimes gets vent, and pro- 
 claims itfelf in actual rebellion. They have notparted 
 with the infirmities and diforders of nature: they often 
 
 (hew 
 
 {») Exod, xii. 29. 
 (0) Exod. xii. 33. 
 (J>) Exod. xiv. 23, 
 
 [q) 2 Kings xiv. z5, 
 (r) Jam. iv. 5. 
 
Serm. 3." Deliverance in Sea/on. 53 
 
 fhew that their holinefs is mixed, Their contempt of 
 God and mutual ftrifes ; their fellowfhip with thofe 
 of a wicked converlation and boldnefs in tampering 
 with fin : All thefe are lamentable arguments, that 
 there is fomething elfe befides grace in their hearts. 
 Npw thefe out-breaks of corruption wound the name 
 of God with a peculiar difhonour. 
 
 Should this efcape the cenfure of Providence, it 
 would look as if he indulged their fins. What a rant 
 of blafphemy might the enemies of Religion allow 
 themfelves in ? Or at leaft it would give their atheifm 
 a fecret pleafqre to obferve God's indulgence of all 
 this folly. To prevent fuch odious reflections upon 
 himfelf, he draws a cloud over his difobedient chil- 
 dren : he lets the world fee, that though their perfons 
 are favourites, yet this rudenefs of nature is an abo- 
 mination. Tou only have I known of all the families, 
 of the earthy therefore you will I punifh for your iniqui- 
 ties (jj. 
 
 For this caufe he has crumbled Churches, loofed 
 the bands of fociety, becaufe they were not preferved 
 by a temper of love. / will kill her children with 
 {ieath, and all the Churches fhall know, that I am the 
 Lord, which fearcheth the reins and the heart, and I 
 will give unto every one of you according to your works (t). 
 Upon fuch a provocation he has wafted a people, 
 and fcorned a nation at once. When their fulnefs 
 has foftened them into luxury and atheifm, he has 
 dried up the fprings of relief, and born a dreadful 
 feftimony againft their abominations. The banquet of 
 them that ftretched themfelves fhall be removed. The 
 Lord God has fworn by himfelf •, faith the Lord God 
 of hojls, 1 abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his 
 ■palaces ; I will deliver up the city, with all the people 
 that is therein (u). 
 
 E 3 2. This 
 
 (j) Amos iii 2. («) Amos'vi. 6, 7. 
 
 (/) J<ev. ii. 23, 
 
54 Deliverance in Seafon. Serm. 3. 
 
 2. This way he purifies and reforms them. When 
 Religion flows in a channel of peace, many fall in 
 with it, who have no heart at all to God and his 
 intereft, but love the dalliance of profperity. What- 
 ever fervice thefe may do the Church by accident, 
 yet it is certain, as their natures abhor it, fo they are 
 ufually a diftemper in it. One /inner dejfroys much 
 good (x) : their hypocrify imbitters thofe that obferve 
 it againft Religion : nay, whilft they lie unfufpected, 
 they are a rot to the fellowship. They clog the work 
 of the Lord by a cold profeftion. They are fome- 
 times explained in fcandalous crimes -, but when they 
 are moft fecret, yet then they lie as a dead weight 
 upon the fociety. Thus it has been in all ages, and 
 the trick yet continues. Perfons will obferve where 
 the Iky looks cleared : they love a Religion that is 
 moft pampering to their ambition and intereft. Many 
 of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the 
 Jews fell upon them (y). 
 
 Now in a time of great trouble, the Church is 
 fcoured and gets fairly rid of this ftench and corruption. 
 They will not endure rubbing ; a lifting Providence 
 difcovers them. Perhaps no Church-cenfures could 
 remove them, but Providence wipes them off with 
 honour enough to the fociety they fell from. Thus 
 the Church is often melted down again, fcummed of 
 its drofs, and made more amiable and folid. Though 
 they have lain among the pots, yet they /hall be as tie 
 win?s of a dove, covered with filver, and. her feathers 
 libit b yellow gold (z). At fuch times does Religion 
 unload, and call the burden that it has long groaned 
 under. He that receives the feed into Jlony places, is 
 he that hears theV/ord, and with joy receives it \ yd he 
 has not root in himfelf, but endures for a while ; for 
 when tribulation and perfecution arifes, becaufe of the 
 Word, by and by he is offended {a). 
 
 II. Why 
 
 (*) Ecclef. ix. 18. (z) Pfal.lxviii. 13. 
 
 (y) Either viii. 17. "J («) Matt, xiii, 20,21. 
 
Serm. 3. Delivera?ice in Seafti. 55; 
 
 JI. Why is a time of this diftrefs and calamity fo 
 fit for God's appearing in his people's deli- 
 verance ? 
 
 1. He may then very honourably fave them in a 
 way of jullice to his enemies. Then the Lord awa }es, 
 as one out of flee p, and like a mighty man thatjbouts by 
 reafon of wine ; he fmites his enemies in the hinder parts, 
 and puts them to perpetual reproach (b). It is ufoal in 
 thefe black days, that blafphemy opens its mouth ; 
 malice and cruel cy (hew themfelves upon every tongue. 
 Ail the enemies of Sion open their mouths againfi her, 
 they hifs and gnajh their teeth -, they fay, We have [wal- 
 lowed her up ; certainly this is the day we have locked 
 for, we have found, we have feen it (c). The perfons, 
 who durft not fpeak their malice in pro fperous times, 
 are unchained from their refervednefs when Chriftia- 
 nity is under a cloud : that is their hour, and the 
 power of darknefs (d). They can eafily trample the 
 intereft that is already proftrate before them. Sinners 
 have the cowardice of their mailer ; as Satan was the 
 fiercefb upon Chr 1 st in the wilder nefs, fo the tools of 
 his intereft pour in upon the Church when fhe is in 
 the like folitude. The reins are taken off in a time 
 of Sion's troubles : fuch as flattered her before, or 
 however behaved themfelves with a calmnefs, will 
 now declare a more tempeftuous enmity. 
 
 "When fo much of this rancour is ftirring, it is time 
 for God to appear : Thus faith the Lord God, My people 
 went down aforetime into Egypt, to fjourn there, and 
 ■ the /Jfjyrian op pre I fed them without caufe : No-w : 
 have 1 here, that my people is taken away for nought ? 
 They that rule over them, make them to bowl, and my 
 name continually every day is blafphemed (e). He fuffers 
 by every reflection, and more especially in the actual 
 cruelties of wickednefs. Perfecution cuts into Chr ist 
 
 E 4 himfelf, 
 
 (if) Pfal. Ixxviii 65,66. I (d) Luke xxii. 53. 
 
 (c) Lam. :'.. 16. (.») Ifai, Hi. 4, 5. 
 
^6 Deliverance in Seafon. Serm. 3. 
 
 himfelf, crucifies him afrejh, and puts him to open 
 Jhame(f). Now when Religion is funk fo low, by 
 the prelTure of enemies, it is but juftice to throw off 
 the load. At that time it may be prefumed that the 
 finner has filled up his meafure of guilt, and is ripe 
 for ilaughter. Therefore the Lord /hall go forth as a 
 mighty man, he /hall Jlir up his jealoufy like a man of 
 war: he Jhall cry, yea, rore ; he fh all -prevail again]} 
 his enemies. I have a long time holden my peace-, I 
 have been fill, and refrained my f elf '.* now will J cry 
 like a travailing woman, I will dejlroy and devour at 
 cnce(g). He will give a rezvard to the proud. If 
 he was no more than the Governor of the world, and 
 flood in no particular relation to his people ; yet he 
 would ftir up himfelf to the repairs of that honour 
 which enemies violate : Seeing it is a righteous thing 
 with God to recqmpence tribulation to thofe that trouble 
 us (b). 
 
 2. A deliverance fo timed will bring all the glory 
 to himfelf. The earth mourns and languifhes ; Lebanon 
 is afhatned, and hewn down j Sharon is like a wilder- 
 vefs -, Bafihan and Carmcl fhake off their fruits \ Now 
 Will I arife, faith the Lord ; now will I be exalted, 
 now will I lift up my f elf '(/). He has fometimes ex- 
 prefTed a caution, left his people fhould rob him of 
 any rightful honour. He knows how apt Self is to 
 be creeping into God's throne, and catching at hjs 
 ihare of reputation. To prevent this, he makes a 
 double reform in Gideon's army. He thinks it dan- 
 gerous to profper a multitude, left he fhould lofe his 
 part amongft them. The people that are with thee, 
 are too many for me to give the Midianites into their 
 bands, left Ifrael vaunt thcmfelves againft me, faying, 
 Mine own hand has faved me (k). The perfon that 
 either dives into himfelf, or obfcrves the greedinefs of 
 
 pride 
 
 (/) Heb. vi. 6. 
 '(_£) Ifai. xlii.13, 14. 
 m) 2 Theft! i. 6. 
 
 (/) Ifai. xxxiii. 9, 10, 
 [i) Judg. vii. z. 
 
Serm. 3. Deliverance in Seafon. 57 
 
 pride in the world, will fee the need of fuch a caution. 
 As it is dangerous to run away with God's honour, 
 fo it is a fin that we cannot eafily guard againft. Con- 
 ceit and felf-applaufe is the freeft breath of nature. 
 
 Now when the Church is in her afflicting folitude, 
 abandoned to an helplefs unpromifing condition ; 
 ^Deliverance then will proclaim its Author. At fuch 
 a time God writes his name upon the mercy in great 
 letters, for the common perufal and wonder of his 
 people. 'They got not the land in poffejjion by their own 
 /word, neither did their own arm fave them ; but thy 
 right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy counte- 
 nance, becaufe ihou hadjl a favour unto them (/). Thus 
 he puts a ftop to the creature's claim, and gathers up 
 all the glory of the action to himfelf. Such a Provi- 
 dence is the work of pure divinity : it is above hu- 
 man reach, and pulls the ferious heart upwards in 
 jfongs of gratitude. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto 
 us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy and thy 
 truth's fake (m). 
 
 3. His appearing fo feafonably will continue the 
 impreffion of the mercy upon his peoples minds. It 
 is thus with particular fouls. Abraham rears a mo- 
 nument to the honour of God, and names it after the 
 Providence that he would remember by it : Jehovah- 
 jireh, in the mount of the Lord will befeen (n) •, fo does 
 David, I was brought low, and he helped me {0). He- 
 zekiah is another inftance to this purpofe : The Lord 
 was ready to fave me, therefore will we Jing my fongs 
 all the days of our life, in the houfe of the Lord {p.) And 
 phus will the whole Church do : They will not be fo 
 apt to forget the deliverance which caught them up 
 in the moment of ruin. When they were in a daily 
 expectation of mifery, and faw what trains of deltruc- 
 tion were laid for them, the face of falvation then is 
 
 like 
 
 (/) Pfal. xliv. 3. 
 {m) Pfal. cxv. 1. 
 (») Gen. xxii, 14. 
 
 (0) Pfal. cxvi. 6. 
 (p) Ifai, xxxviii, 20I 
 
58 Deliverance in Seafon. Serm.3. 
 
 like the fun's rifmg at midnight •, it is too ftrange not 
 to fink into the memory. 
 
 God lets his people tremble upon the lips of a gulph 
 that would fwallow them ; and when the ground be- 
 gins to give way with them, he pulls them back by 
 an arm of love. And is not this enough to perpetuate 
 the mercy, and make it lb infeparable, as if it were 
 rather a part of the mind, than agueft lodged in it ? 
 
 4. It will determine and encourage their hope in his 
 goodnefs for the time to come. When Deliverance 
 cuts a glorious way through fo many hazards, it lets 
 us fee what a God can do: fo that upon the return 
 of the like difficulties, we may freely truft in One 
 who is fo well acquainted with the methods of falva- 
 tion. Awake, awake, put on ftrength, O arm of the 
 Lord ; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations 
 of old ; art not thou it that haft cut Rahab, and wounded 
 the dragon (q) ? As this is a good argument in prayer, 
 fo it may ferve as a prop to our faith, when it bends 
 under heavy difcouragements. 
 
 It is eafy to argue from paft experience to future 
 mercy : there is a connection between old kindnefles, 
 and thofe we are now begging for, becaufe they are 
 the work of the fame God. As he got fuch an ample 
 victory over our calamities once, lb a capacity of 
 faving us again is ftill laid up in his omnipotence. 
 Thefe taftes of his power and love will put more 
 fweetnefs into the promife, and activity into our hope. 
 It fnall both fwell the breaft, and teach the mouth to 
 draw it. Thou fhalt bring then?, &kh.Mdfes\ and plant 
 them in the mountain ef thine inheritance, in the place, 
 O Lord, winch thou haft made for thee to dwell in -, in 
 the fantluary, O Lord, which thine hands have eftabVijhed ; 
 the Lord Jhall reign for ever and ever {/). How can 
 he tell all this ? He gives gives a reafon of the hope that 
 was in him in the next words; For the horfcs of Pharaoh 
 went down, with his chariots and horfe men, into the fea, 
 
 and 
 (?) Ifai li. 9. I [r) Exod. xv. 17,18,19. 
 
Serm. 3. Deliverance in Seafon. 59 
 
 and the Lord brought again the waters of the fea upon 
 them, but the children of Ifrael went on dry land in the 
 midfi of the fea (s). 
 
 5. Deliverance is very feafon able in times of greateft 
 danger, becaufe it ufually comes upon the exercife of 
 fuch grace as is moft honourable to God. He pu- 
 nifheth us for his glory ; and he lets his hand lie heavy 
 upon us, till the very removal of it fhall add a bright- 
 ,nefs to his name. When the Lord has performed his 
 whole zvork upon mount Sion and Jerufalem, then he will 
 punifh the fruit of the flout heart of the King of Affyria, 
 and the glory of his high looks (t).^ Humanly fpeaking, 
 he would have been a lofer had the falvation made 
 more hafte, and given an earlier interruption to the 
 fcourge that his people lay under. In this cafe, the 
 cordial had come before the ill humours were cleared 
 off. But when they are funk fo low, they are com- 
 monly in a fit temper to receive the mercy. Becaufe, 
 
 Firft, Their humility qualifies them for the deli- 
 verance. It was not meet to reftore the profperity, 
 which pampered their ambition till they had parted 
 with the abufive temper. They muft enter into the 
 rocky and hide themfehes in the duft, for fear cf the Lord, 
 and for the glory of his Majejly («). But when their 
 fpirits are upon a juft level, as low and declining as 
 their condition, then its not fo dangerous to truft them 
 with the mercy. Awake* awake, put on thy frength, 
 O Sion, put on thy beautiful garments, Jerufalem, 
 thou holy city ; for there Jhall no more come into thee 
 the uncircumcifed and the unclean, fhake thy f elf from the 
 duft, arife and fit down, O Jerufalem ! Loofe thy f elf 
 from the bands of thy necks, O captive daughter of 
 Sion (x). God brings them by his grace to value his 
 meaneft appearances, to love Religion in its ruins. 
 Thus he takes off that wantonnefs of temper which 
 provoked him in the day of their folemn feafts. He 
 
 gives 
 
 (s) Exod. xv. 20. (a) Jfai. ii. 10. 
 
 (/] Ifai. x. 12. \x) Ifai. lii. 10. 
 
60 Deliverance in Seafin. Serm.3.* 
 
 gives them an appetite to the crumbs that fall from 
 his table. And how honourable is his conqueft over 
 all their pride and lightnefs ? Is not that deliverance 
 well-timed that finds them in tears for fin, melted 
 down under the rebukes of a Father, and embracing 
 the wounds of Chriftianity ? The time to favour Sion, 
 the fet time is come, when God's fervants take pleajure 
 in her Jl 'ones ; and favour the dufl thereof (y). 
 
 Secondly, They receive deliverance at fuch times 
 upon the wings of prayer, fo that he appears to be a 
 God who hears the cry of the humble, and this is one 
 of his darling characters : Many times did he deliver the 
 Israelites, but they provoked him with their c&unfels, and 
 then were brought low for their iniquity : never thelefs 
 he regarded their affiiclion, when he heard their cry{z). 
 Diftrefs has fent them often to the throne of grace, 
 to beg the dawn of that falvation that God has pro-^ 
 mifed. Turn us unto thee, O Lord, and we Jhall be 
 turned, renew our days as of old {a). It may be, they 
 feldorn minded the common interefl of Religion, 
 when there was no apparent hazard of it : they carried 
 it fiightly enough, and with a continual trifle of fpirit, 
 till the fcourge made them feel. There is none calls 
 upon thy name, none fiirs up- himfelf to take hold of 
 thee (b). But when they came to find a reproach and 
 vexation upon the name of Christ, when God hid 
 bis face from them, and confumed them, becaufe of their 
 iniquities, it has taught them the way to their knees. 
 But now, O Lordy thou art our Father, we are the clay, 
 and thou art the potter, we are all the work of thine 
 hand. Be not wroth verv fore, Lord, neither re- 
 member iniquity for eve*' ; behold, fee, we befiech thee, 
 we are all thy 'people U\ 
 
 Thirdly, Salvation, at fuch times, comes after an 
 eminent trial and conquelr of faith. When faith tells 
 
 (r) Pffel cii. 1 j, 14. (' {/>) Ifai. bciv. 7. 
 
 (z) Pfal. cvi. 43, 14. (c) Ifaj. taavi 3, • 
 
 [a) J z~n. v. 2 ;. 
 
Serm.^. Deliverance in Seafin. 61 
 
 us of the mercy, it looks at two attributes in the di- 
 vine nature, Power and Goodnefs, though it has prin- 
 cipally to do with the former. It lays down this as a 
 certain rule, that God is able tofave us : and it flrives 
 to be allured that he actually will do it* Indeed, our 
 diftrefs may be fo great, as to give us a fufpicion of 
 the latter •, but perhaps in the darkefl moment of un- 
 belief upon that head, we may have unufual convic- 
 tions of Omnipotence. Our God, whom we ferve, fay 
 the three Worthies, is able to deliver us from the burn- 
 ing fi er y f ur ^ace , and he will deliver us out of thine 
 handy King : but if not (d), if he not actually fave 
 us, yet we believe his power, and will not worfhip 
 another God. Now this puts a credit upon his name, 
 when we can truft him in defiance of all danger and 
 objection. Abraham confidered not his own, nor 
 Sarah's age ; he ft agger ed not at the promife, through 
 any unbelief of this kind, but was ftrong in faith, and 
 hereby gave glory to God (e). 
 
 APPLICATION. 
 
 i. See what fecure guards God's people are under. 
 When ftripped of all created help they may run to a 
 confederate Omnipotence. Their Redeemer is ftrong^ 
 the Lord of hofts is his name (f). 
 
 i.~ Let us carry it with an ingenuous caution to this 
 great and perpetual friend, that when others leave us, 
 we may be fure of an Almighty referve. 7, even 7, 
 a?n he that comforteth you ; Who art thou then, that thou 
 fhouldejl be afraid of a man that fh all die, and the f on of 
 man, that fljall be made asgrafs, and forget t eft the Lord 
 thy maker (g) ? 
 
 3. In the time of S ion's troubles, fee your relief: 
 flee to him with confidence ; hang about his throne, 
 and let no unbelief beat you from it. If Deliverance 
 take but flow fteps, yet (till ad faith in the promife, 
 
 and 
 
 [d] Dan. iii. 17, 18. (/) Prov. sxiii. 1 1. 
 
 (t\ Rom, iv. 19, 20. (j) Hai. li. 12, 13. 
 
62 Deliverance in Seafon, Serm. 3, 
 
 and keep yourfelves quiet with thefe two confedera- 
 tions. 
 
 Firft, That you have deferved a longer bondage : 
 fhould he draw out the thread of your captivity, yet 
 he is righteous. All this is come upon us for our great 
 trefpafs, and our evil deeds ; thcu, our God, haft pu- 
 nijhed lefts than our iniquities defterve (h). 
 
 Secondly, Rather believe that you are unfit for the 
 mercy, than that God is unwilling to give it. Suf- 
 pect your own diforders, and keep up a venerable 
 opinion of his love. This is both fafe and dutiful. It 
 will preferve your fpirits cool and temperate : you will 
 never lludy any revenge upon heaven, but believe 
 yourfelves ftill under a courfe of providential medi- 
 cine, and will be defirous, that patience Jhould have its 
 perfect work (/). 
 
 Thus I have done opening and applying this doc- 
 trine. We have a moft remarkable proof of it in 
 thofe providences that are recorded upon this day, to 
 the memory of after-generations. 
 
 It is now fourteen years fince God blelTed us with 
 a kind of Revolution in England. Our cafe before 
 anfwered the moft difmal characters of this text : 
 Our power was gone, nor was there fcarce any ftout up 
 or left, to appear for Religion and Liberty : thefe the 
 enemy had damned to ruin. We may apply Deborah's 
 words to that troublefome ftate : They chofte new gods, 
 then was there war in the gates -, yet there durft not be a 
 fhield or a [pear feen among forty thoufand in Ifrael{k). 
 Thofe brave and gallant fpirits, who ventured to op- 
 pofe an exalted tyranny, were, many of them, cut 
 off. The caufe, which they wanted ftrength to de- 
 fend, they lealed with their blood ; and conquered in 
 martyrdom, when they could not do it in battle. 
 And though they lived to fee themfelves diiappointed, 
 yet they died in the belief of what we have found. 
 
 Their . 
 
 (h) Ezra ix. 13. {&) Judg. v. 8. 
 
 {*) J am - i- 4- 1 
 
Serm. 3. Deliverance in Seafin, 63 
 
 Their laft breath was fomething like Jofepb's : God 
 will fare ly vi fit you, and bring you up from hence (/). 
 
 You may remember how the channels of equity 
 were choked up with arbitrary power. The confu- 
 fion that begun Ifrael's captivity, was the forerunner 
 of our deliverance. In tbofe times there was no peace 
 to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great 
 vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the country (m\ 
 The Religion we now profefs call but a dim light, 
 and was almoft extinguished. But in this defperate 
 moment, God appeared to judge his fervants, that 
 the man of the earth might opprejs them no more (n). 
 
 He put a frefh reputation upon this day, by the 
 arrival of his late Majefty King William; a perfon 
 richly formed to all the duties of government, and 
 whole name is embalmed with Mordecai's character ; 
 He was great among the Jews, accepted of the multitude 
 of his brethren, feeking the wealth of his people, and 
 f peaking peace to all his feed {0). The blemngs we 
 enjoyed in his reign, were fo many intimations, that 
 a peculiar fway of heaven directed him all along. He 
 had a foul both for the camp and the palace. His 
 battles retrieved our honour and grandeur, and his 
 councils maintained them. It was a fignal mercy that 
 he had life enough to make the nation ready for a 
 war, and the throne fecure to a Proteflant Queen. 
 We owe the bleffing of this government to God's 
 prefence with the lait. The fame hand that raifed up 
 cur firft Deliverer, has continued his own work in 
 her prefent Majefty, who has given the mod gracious 
 affurance, that the fame war mail be maintained 
 abroad, and the fame peace at home. Toe fpirit of 
 Mofes refted upon Jofljua (/>) ; the per Ton of the ruler 
 was only changed : and fo it is in England, though 
 King William is dead, we have a living Copy of 
 
 him 
 
 (/} Gen.l. 25. 
 
 (m) 2 Chron. xv. J. 
 
 [»J Pial. x. 1 2, 
 
 (0) Either x. 3. 
 [p) Deut> xxxiv. 9. 
 
64 Deliverance in Sea/on* Serm. p 
 
 him upon the throne. The fame God that taught 
 his hands to war, has bleft the fame caufe under an- 
 other Sovereign. Her armies have fhrunk the com- 
 mon enemy of Europe^ to that degree, that we hope, 
 he only lives for Si/era's fate, to fall by the hands of a 
 woman. Let this text be our confolation in a time" 
 of danger, and the voice of our gratitude when falva- 
 tion comes. 
 
 c The Lord judges his people, and repents himfelf for 
 his fervants, when he fees that their power is gone i and 
 there is none Jhut tip or left. 
 
 4 * * 
 
 .* * A A 
 
 V * 4» 4- -J 
 
 <*• A * <fc 
 A - A £ 
 
 4* A 
 
 S E R M O N 
 

 S E R M O N IV. 
 
 The Reputation that a great Deliverance has 
 in future Memory. 
 
 Preached at Wapping, 1703. 
 
 Numb. XXIII. 23. 
 
 Surely there is no enchantment againji Jacob, nofi 
 divination againji Ifrael; accordi?2g to this time 
 it Jhall be /aid of Jacob, and of Ifrael, What 
 hath the Lord wrought f 
 
 K%y&%^ H I S Book is part of the hiftory of God's 
 S _ S dealings with the Jews in their travels 
 ^ g from Egypt to Canaan. It was a thing 
 
 j£&)§(*§ t ;^> fo remarkable, to be pulled out of bond- 
 age with miracles, and led through a wil- 
 dernefs with fafety, that they are charged to keep aa 
 exact journal of their motions and experiences. Mofes 
 wrote their goings out, according to their journies, by 
 the commandment of the Lord (a). 
 
 Here are three chapters that tell us what treatment 
 they met with from the King of Moab. They had 
 an efpecial caution not to meddle with a foot of his 
 land{b), becaufe he was the feed of righteous Lot. 
 The Lord faid unto Mofes, Dijirefs not the Aloabites, 
 
 Vol. I. F neither 
 
 (<?) Numb, xxxiii. 2. \ (I) Deut. ii. 5. 
 
66 The Reputation of a Public Mercy, Serm. 4.; 
 
 neither contend with them in battle ; for I will not give 
 thee their land for a pojfej/ion (c). Yet this man looks 
 upon them as enemies. He is in all the terror of 
 defpair and jealoufy. Moab faid unto the elders of 
 Midian, Now /hall this company lick up all that are 
 round about us, as the ox licketh up the grafs of the 
 field (d). And his methods of relief are as wild as 
 his fears. He had no hopes of crufhing them in bat- 
 tle, but drives to get hell on his fide. He fends to 
 Balaam for a curfe upon this numerous people, and 
 tempts him with all the rewards of divination (e) ; 
 which the NewTeftament brands with another name, 
 by calling them, the wages of unrighteoufnefs (/). 
 
 We find that God denies him leave at firft to go 
 upon this wretched errand : and afterwards, when he 
 allows him to comply with Balak, yet he gives his 
 thoughts and words fuch a wonderful turn, that in- 
 itead of finking the people, he raifes them : he pro- 
 nounces the fuccefs which he was hired to blafl. He 
 runs quite contrary both to his own covetous and 
 malicious bias, and alfo to the defign that Balak had 
 in fending for him. 
 
 So that here we have a lofty account of Ifrael's 
 happinefs. We cannot fuppofe that a man, whofe 
 ways were perverfe before the Lord (g), fpoke his own 
 heart in all thefe beauties of eloquence and praife. 
 No, he was over- ruled and commanded by a fuperior 
 Being. The Lord put a word in Balaam 1 's mouth, and he 
 /aid. Return unto Balak, and thus /halt thou /peak (b). 
 Thus he had told him at their firft meeting. He had 
 as much inclination to have damned them with a 
 curie, as he had afterwards to corrupt them with 
 his more fenfual arts. But he knew his malice was 
 hampered, and therefore fays, Lo, lam come unto thee, 
 have 1 now any power at all to fay any thing ? The word 
 
 that 
 
 {c) Deut. ii. 9. 
 {J ) Deut. xxii. 4. 
 if) Deut xxii. 7. 
 
 (/) 2 Pet. ii. 15. 
 (g) Numb. xxii. 32. 
 \b) Numb, xxiik 5,. 
 
Serm.4» The Reputation of a Public Mercy^. £>f 
 that God 'puts into my mouthy that Jhall I Jpeak(i). 
 And when the King was ftartled at the blefllng he 
 pronounced, he gives the fame reafon, Muft I not 
 take heed to [peak that which the Lord has put in my 
 mouth (k) : So again, / have received commandment to 
 blefs, and he has bleffed, and I cannot reverfe it (/). 
 So that we may look upon all this parable as God's 
 voice, a peculiar communication of his mind and 
 will to this perfon. Spake I not unto thy meffengerSy 
 which thou fentefi unto me, faying, If Bala k would give 
 me his houfe-ful of fiver and gold^ I cannot go beyond 
 the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad 
 of my own mind ; but what the Lord faith, that will I 
 [peak (m). 
 
 In the words we have Ifrael* s fafety and glory. 
 
 i. Their fafety. There is no enchantment againft 
 Jacob, nor divination againft Ifrael ; i, e. None Jfhall 
 attain their end. Every plot and attempt is blafted. 
 It is in vain to fetch the arts of ruin out of hell. 
 The moft accomplilhed intrigues of darknefs cannot 
 do their part upon a nation that is fenced about with. 
 Omnipotence. 
 
 2. Their glory or character. According to this 
 time, &c. Here obferve, 
 
 i. The general extent and furprize of the mercy. 
 It Jhall be j aid. It will be a thing of notorious view, 
 expofed to univerfal admiration. 
 
 2. The particular relation it had to them. It floall 
 be faid of Jacob and of Ifrael; the people whom hell 
 invades, and heaven defends. 
 
 3. The Author of it : his name is infcribed upon 
 it, What has the Lord wrought ? They fhall all look 
 at him, when they are wondring at the Providence, 
 Though enemies deny him, and others are apt to for- 
 get him, yet fuch an adt of greatnefs would make its 
 way to their confciences. 
 
 F 2 4. The 
 
 (/) Numb. xxii. 38. (/) Numb, xxiii. 20. 
 
 \k) Numb, xxiii. 12. («) Numb.xxiv. 12, 13. 
 
6 8 e the Reputation of a Public Mercy] Serm. 4 , 
 
 4. The occafion of it, and that is fome particular 
 deliverance : According to this time, &c. Perhaps he 
 has refpect to the whole train of mercies that reached 
 from Egypt to Canaan. This was a thing of long 
 and honourable memory 5 it was often faid of them, 
 What has the Lord wrought (») ? This entred into his 
 character, The Lord liveth that brought up the children 
 of Ifrael from Egypt {0). But it may be Balaam *s re- 
 mark does not take fo large a circuit ; he is only 
 confidering the particular favour which himfelf was 
 the unwilling inftrument of \ and from that time it 
 might be faid, What has God done for his people ? 
 Now, that he has given them fuch an eminent refcue 
 from the defigns of men and devils ? 
 
 The fenfe of the words may be exprefTed in this 
 proportion. 
 
 God's fignal appearing for a people, is a furprifing 
 evidence of his power, and a continual honour upon 
 them. 
 
 I. What fort of an appearance is it that will bear 
 this glorious character r* 
 
 II. How is this fo general and furprifing an evi- 
 dence of his power ? 
 
 III. How does it put a continual honour upon the 
 people whom he thus delivers ? 
 
 IV. The Application. 
 
 I. We mull: confider the Providence itfelf which 
 the text gives us fo magnificent an account of; and 
 that is God's appearing with fuch a largenefs of mercy, 
 as does not only proclaim himfelf, but fixes a lading 
 reputation upon his people. This I might anfwer in 
 feveral particulars, but I will only inftance in four 
 cafes, all of which are vifible in Jfracl's deliverance, 
 which we are confidering in this chapter ; and the 
 late Revolution in England* which we are called to 
 jemember this day. 
 
 1. God 
 
 (f) Jer.xvi. 15* 1 (*) Jer.xxiii. 8. 
 
Serm. 4 . The Reputation of a Public Mercy. 6^ 
 
 1. God declares himfelf and honours his people, 
 when he faves them againft the mod likely attempts 
 ©f enemies. Here Ifrael was inclofed with a great 
 number of envious monarchs, who grudged the fuc- 
 cefs of their arms, and (trained their inventions to 
 fwallow them up. We read of none that entred into 
 a league with them, but a little handful afterwards. 
 God had hardned their hearts (p). They acted with 
 a froward zeal againft this pilgrim nation. This is 
 afterwards mentioned both for the honour of God's 
 people, and to fecure a reputation to himfelf ; as a 
 monument of their privileges and his greatnefs : Be- 
 caufe he loved thy Fathers, he chofe their feed after them 
 —to drive out nations from before thee greater and 
 mightier than thou : — Know therefore this day, and con~ 
 fider it in thy heart, that the Lord is God in heaven 
 above, and in the earth beneath, there is none elfe {a). 
 
 There was all the policy of nature to weave out 
 the intrigue of deftroying this people; and becaufe 
 this was too little, they muft have a fcholar from be- 
 low, to infpire their councils. The court ofMocib was 
 not fufficient, and therefore they fent to Balaam -, that 
 what they could not do with courage, they might make 
 out with charms. And you may obferve, though 
 they had no great comfort in their own projects, yet 
 they fet an high rate upon his curfe. / wot that he 
 whom thou blejfeji, is bleffed ; and he whom thou curfeft, 
 is curfed{r). As if the fcales of Providence were hung 
 in hell: as if God had refigned the government of 
 the world to the vileft rebel againft his own throne. 
 But this is the ufual giddinefs of the Church's enemies ; 
 when they have loft their natural courage, they fup- 
 plv it with a whimfical faith in fome wretched con- 
 trivance or other. There are many devices in a man's 
 heart, neverthelefs the counfel of the Lord Jhallfl and {s). 
 The God who had terrified Balak, could manage 
 
 F 3 Balaam. 
 
 (p) Joih. xi. ?,o. (r) Dent. xxii. 26. 
 
 (f ) Deut. iv. 37, 38. J (;) Prov« xix. zi y 
 
no The Reputation of a Public Mercy. Serm. 4, 
 
 Balaam. The heart of the one finks and falls, and 
 the tongue of the other is hurried into a rapture of 
 bleffing. 
 
 And thus it has been in England's cafe. Our hif- 
 tories tell us of a pompous fleet, that once came from 
 Spain, with all the gallantry of that nation, on pur- 
 pofe to lay wafte our Religion and Liberties. And, 
 that it might work a more expeditious ruin, they fent 
 to Rome for a bleffing •, that the Balaam of that place 
 might ftamp his name upon the undertaking, and in- 
 fure the fuccefs : for they imagined, xh?xfucb as he 
 Iplejfed, were blejfed ; and they that he cur fed, were 
 turfed. Thus they came with more ftatelinefs to en- 
 joy the prey, than they had courage to fecure it. This 
 gave them immoderate expectations, becaufe a Church- 
 gale blew them on. But God took this affront, and 
 declared a loud refentment in his providence : for the 
 armado funk under the bleffing it was fo proud of. 
 Now this is an eminent difcovery of his greatnefs, 
 and the peculiar indulgence that he followed us with. 
 'The day of the Lord of hofis fhall he upon every one that 
 is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, 
 #nd he Jh.all be brought low ; and upon all the floips of 
 Tarfhijh, and upon all pkafant pictures : And the lofti- 
 nefs of man fhall be bowed down, and the haughtmefs 
 cf men fhall be made low, and the Lord alone fjjall bz 
 exalted in that day (/). 
 
 2. When he works after an extraordinary manner, 
 without the help of his people. Perhaps he ufes them 
 as he did his armies againfi Sifera, though the militia 
 of heaven did the main execution (a). God brought 
 them out of Egypt, he has as it were the firength of an 
 vmccrn (x). And this particular deliverance was of 
 the fame kind. His ftiving them from Moab, was 
 after the manner of Egypt. He changes Pharaoh'^ 
 heart from ftoutnefs into trembling, from unwilling-- 
 
 nefs s 
 
 (/) Ifai. ii. J 2, 14, 16, 17. [*) Judg. v ZU 
 
 (*) Judg. v. zo. [ 
 
Serm. 4." The Reputation of a Public Mercy. 7 r 
 
 nefs into a compliance ; and now he fets Balaam*^ 
 tongue to a quite different purpofe than it was de- 
 figned. It could be no act of theirs, that fetched a 
 blefftng from thofe lips, which were hired for a curie. 
 Here God wrought alone : he is feen in the affair 
 throughout. 
 
 Their victory was very glorious over the Amorites, 
 whom they fcattered in battle : but now they are only 
 to fland ftill. As the enemy had trufted all their caufe 
 with an hellifh agent, fo God would anfwer them in 
 a more immediate battle. With thefe mixtures did 
 they go triumphant into Canaan: they are faved by 
 wonders, by war, by a mighty band, and aftretched-out 
 arm (y). Sometimes they muft undergo the toil and 
 hazard of war, to teach them their own duty ; and 
 at other times, they are only the fpectators of a fight- 
 ing Providence, that they might know whofe hand it 
 was that drove out the heathen. They got not the land 
 in pojfejfwn by their own /word, neither did their own 
 arm fave them -, but thy right hand, and thine arm> 
 and the light of thy countenance, becaufe thou hadft a fa- 
 vour unto them (z). In this Scripture we read both 
 the author of their falvation, God's right band; and 
 the motive, the favour that he had to them. Thus he 
 is feen, and they are owned in the fame Providence. 
 
 Had they been engaged in a doubtful war, yet 
 the fuccefs muft have come from him : but now he 
 does the whole ; both gives them the victory, and 
 actually completes it without them. This was I/rael's 
 cafe feveral generations after, in a new quarrel with 
 Moab. In good Jehofhapbat\ days they were in dan- 
 ger from this enemy, and could have no other pro- 
 fpect, but of defolation and ruin. Their condition 
 was fo hopelefs, that their only recourfe is to a friend 
 in heaven ; and he faved them after this wonderful 
 manner that I am fpeaking of. Be not afraid, fays 
 &e Prophet, neither be dfnayed by rcafon of this great 
 
 F 4 muUiiude - % 
 
 [y] Deut. iv. 34. | (*) Pfal, xliv. 3. 
 
j2 The Reputation of a Fublic Mercy. Serm. 4. 
 
 multitude ; for the battle is not yours, but God's ; you 
 Jhall not need to fight in this battle : fet your/elves-, ft and 
 you ftill, and fee the falvation of the Lord with you, O 
 Judah and Jerufalem : fear not, nor be difmayed, to- 
 morrow go out againjl them, for the Lord is with you (I?). 
 
 And how often has he thus expreffed himfelf to his 
 Church in thefe nations ? when there has been none to 
 help, his own arm has brought falvation. All they 
 that devour thee f hall be devoured, and all thine adver- 
 faries, every one of them fijallgo into captivity j and they 
 that fpoil thee jhall be a jpoil -, and all that prey upon 
 thee will I give for a prey. For I will reft ore health 
 p.nto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, faith the 
 Lord, becaufe they called thee an out-caft, faying, This 
 is Sion, whom no man feeketh after (b). 
 
 3. When it is all clear gains without any lofs or 
 damage to his people. Had Ifrael fought xhtMoabites, 
 though they might have come off with honour and 
 viclory, yet it is not to be fuppofed but fome of them 
 ■would have fallen in the battle -, fo that whilft the 
 generality of the people were glorying in their mercy, 
 fome defolate families might be mourning over their 
 {lead. The public interefl was promoted, but their 
 relations were cut off; others rejoice at their cofl : 
 but here is no occafion for this mixture in their glad- 
 nefs j the conqueft is cheap and intire to them. 
 
 And, my friends, the great Revolution which be- 
 gun this day in England, was thus inhanced. God de- 
 livered us without any expence of blood and (laughter. 
 The Perfon that came to fave us, may wear the cha- 
 racter that God gives to Cyrus. I have raifed him up 
 in right eoufnefs, and I will direcl all bis ways ; he Jhall 
 build my city, and he fijall let go my captives, net jor 
 price nor reward, faith the Lord of hefts (c). Had 
 we come by our mercies with the wafte of feveral ar- 
 mies, the mofl' ufual way of prevailing, then we 
 
 mould 
 
 (a) ? Chron xx. 16,17. (<") h" a '- 
 
Serm.4« The Reputation of a Public Mercy. 73 
 
 fliould have thought the gains glorious : but we have 
 the deliverance in all its fweetnefs, without the charo-e 
 of thofe troubles that once lay in the way to it. 
 
 And it is the more remarkable, that a govern- 
 ment begun with murder and policy, and maintained 
 with cruel revenges, mould be overturned without 
 a drop of blood. As the errand upon which the 
 late injlrument of our fafety came was peaceful, fo 
 there was nothing deftructive in the methods that he 
 took. Providence gave this continual teftimony to 
 his glorious defign ; that as he came to refcue the 
 people, he mould do it without any damage to them. 
 We may well cry out with the awakened church, 
 When the Lord turned again our captivity, we were 
 like them that dreamed (d). Senfe out-did faith ; 
 we faw what we had fcarce the power to believe ; 
 victory without a battle, a general tumult and no 
 war. The great preparations of the enemy, nou- 
 rished the caufe that they were to ftrangle. Was not 
 this the doing of the Lord ? was it not once marvellous 
 in our eyes ? 
 
 4. When it is a comprehending mercy ; including 
 many deliverances, and reaching a vaft length. Of 
 this fort was Ifrael's conqueft over Moab. This 
 ruffle of their plots, was a double refcue, they were 
 at once faved from earth and hell, men and devils. 
 
 Sometimes God feems to neglecl: his intereft for 
 a feafon ; he does not fcatter his favours in drops as 
 he ufed to do, here a little and there a little : but 
 when he appears, they may fee that his Jove has 
 neither been idle nor unkind. He has taken the 
 whole bundle of mercies which they have been wait- 
 ing for, and wrapped them up in one great deli- 
 verance i fo that as foon as Sion travailed Jhe brought 
 forth (e). It was not a tedious lingring Salvation. 
 
 God 
 
 (d) PfiJjfl cxxvi. 1; { (?) If a . lxvi. 7. 
 
74 The Reputation of a Public Mercy, Serm.4. 
 
 God cut the work Jhort in right eoufnefs (/) ; and thefe 
 are glorious evidences of his power and love. 
 
 This mifcarriage of Balaam's malice, was enough 
 to difhearten all attempts of the like nature : Hell 
 would be ftruck into defpair when lb great an agent 
 talks in a ftrain as if he had been a refugee from 
 darknefs, a profelyte to Ifrael ; fo that he fpeaks the 
 common language of a diftreffed world, who cannot 
 bring about their defigns of wickednefs : Surely there 
 is no enchantment againjl Jacob, and divination againfi 
 Ifrael. There is no affaulting them that way : All 
 the engines of fpiritual wickednefs are not able to 
 cut through the pillar of fire •, the burning guard 
 that goes along with Ifrael. There is more than 
 Balak's difappointment in it, for this is equivalent to 
 a victory over all the forceries of Canaan. 
 
 And then befides, it was a favour of long memory % 
 and like to have an influence upon their future lot. 
 Had Balaam fucceeded in his arts, they might have 
 expected enough of thofe engagements from other 
 nations. The Canaanites would have plundered hell 
 of its armory, rather than lofe their country. But 
 this difappointment in the firft venture, broke all 
 their defigns that way. Of this nature was their de- 
 liverance at the Red-Sea. The people fhall hear and 
 be afraid, forrow fhall take hold of the inhabitants of 
 Paleftina (g). 
 
 Such a mercy was our Revolution : (as it is faid 
 of Rebecca) there were nations in its womb (h). It 
 brought us a revival of the Proteftant intereft, that 
 was almoft driven out with new gods, whom our fa- 
 thers knew not (i). It gave us a fecurity to our lives 
 and liberties ; it reflcred that fence that we have of 
 both, the laws of our nation, which had been mat- 
 tered with a profperous tyranny : nay, it brought 
 
 dominion 
 
 (/) Romans ix. 28. {b) Gen. xxv 2,3. 
 
 (#Exod. xv. 14. (/) Judges v. 3. 
 
Serm.4. $%* Reputation of a Public Mercy. j$ 
 
 dominion to England, which was before but the tool 
 of one country, and growing the jeft of others. 
 
 We were too much like Ifrael ; though Balaam 
 could not reach them with a curfe, yet he found 
 another way to bring a plague among them ; and 
 that was by the midianitijh woman (k). Cozbi was 
 his moft effectual charm. This made the people de- 
 generate, and ingaged heaven's anger againft them. 
 With the fame abomination was England allured into 
 bondage. The corruption was getting ground, 
 making its way over law, fobriety, juftice, and every 
 thing that is facred, pertaining to life and godlinefs. 
 We might bewail the degeneracy in thofe words, 
 How does the city fit folitary that was full of -people ? 
 How is fhe become as a widow ? She that was great 
 among the nations, and princefs among the provinces^ 
 How is fhe become tributary (/) ? Thus was England 
 at the Revolution. And from this unhappinefs, fhe 
 advanced to be the fcourge of a common tyrant, the 
 defence of abufed and threacned Hates, and the fu- 
 preme moderator of Europe. 
 
 I could enlarge with pleafure enough, upon a 
 theme where God and Mercy are writ in great letters ; 
 but I will only mention one thing more, which gave 
 the completing ftroke to our other privileges : And 
 that is, the fame Revolution which begun this day, 
 gave us not only the reign of a King, who had an 
 equal largenefs and inclination to fecure a peace in 
 his own dominions, and be glorious in an ufeful war 
 abroad : but it has given us a happy and promifing 
 SucceflTion, fo that our liberties are not buried with 
 the Great Prince that reftored them -, but they are 
 continued, and gracioufly defended by our prefent 
 Sovereign, whofe government (lands upon the fame 
 foot, and who is (bleiTed be God) a profperous agent 
 in thole great affairs, whch his late Majefty begun 
 
 with 
 
 (4) Numbers x*v, | (/) Lam. i. \ . 
 
y6 The Reputation of a Public Mercy. Serm.4. 
 
 with fo much vigour •, and befides, the crown is in- 
 tailed upon an illuftrious Proteftant family. So that 
 you fee, if we were to unbowel the deliverance, we 
 mould find it contains all the national privileges we 
 are now poiTefl of, and the whole iecurity we have 
 in view. And may it not be faid according to this 
 time, of England* Scotland and Ireland, What has 
 the Lord wrought? This was the firft link of that 
 glorious chain; that which begun the mercies we en- 
 joy, gave the crown its prefent fettlement, and the 
 kingdom all its expectation of a continuing happi- 
 nefs. 
 
 II. How is this a furprifing evidence of God's 
 power ? What I have already faid, would furnifh out 
 an anfwer to this queftion. The oppofition that he 
 cut his way through ; the pure unaffifted divinity 
 that appeared in the whole ; the fafety of his people, 
 and the vaft croud of favours that lay in the general 
 bulk of our deliverance •, thefe are proof enough of 
 his greatnefs and conduct in the Providence ; fo that 
 having enlarged upon thefe things before, I might 
 difmifs them with a tranfient reference ; I will only 
 here take notice, that at fuch times, he ufually con- 
 veys an impreffion upon the general part of mankind ; 
 fo that it is almoft the univerfal cry, This is the finger 
 of God. 
 
 1. It is furprifing to his own people; fuch as are 
 moft converfant with all the fweetnefs of the Provi- 
 dence : To be fure they will be looking through 
 fenfe, and above nature : This difpenfation will be 
 a glafs, not to hide their father, but to mow him in 
 his glory. This remark do the Jfraelites put upon 
 the time of their deliverance out of Egypt. It is a 
 night much to be cbferved unto the Lord, for bringing 
 them out of the land of Egypt ; this is that night of the 
 Lord, to be obfertkd of all the children of Ifrael in 
 their generations (;;?). 
 
 In 
 
 (wi) Exodus xiv. 42. 
 
Serm.4- ^ e "Reputation of a Public Mercy, yf 
 In their afflictions they confidered bis hand, and 
 mourned under it. . Their addreffes for relief were 
 preiented to his throne ; and now they take this de- 
 liverance as an anfwer to all the arguments and in- 
 treaties which they have prayed out. Their faith and 
 hope were creeping upon the ground, rather feeding 
 upon duft than promifes : unbelief lodged a cloud in 
 their minds, and a burden in their obedience : And 
 now, when God fplits the darknefs, and makes his 
 own way through it, they muft afcribe all to him. 
 It is a reafonable debt to his love, and the genuine 
 effect of theirs. I will not truji in my /word, neither 
 jhall my fword fave me ; but thou haft faved us from 
 cur enemies? and put them to Jhame that hated us : in 
 God we boaji all the day long, and praife thy na?ne for 
 ever (n). 
 
 2. It is wonderful to ftrangers, thofe that have no 
 perfonal intereft, either in the vengeance or the mercy 
 of this difpenfation. The labour of Egypt, the mer- 
 chandize of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans, men of 
 fiat lire Jhall come over unto thee, and they Jhall be thine ; 
 they Jhall come after thee, in chains Jhall they come over : 
 they Jhall fall down unto thee, and make fupplication to 
 thee, faying, Surely God is in thee, and there is none elfe, 
 there is noGod{o). They cannot but obferve how won- 
 derfully a people are caught from ruin, who lay 
 trembling upon the very lips of the pit. And though 
 the conviction may not be religious in thefe perfons, 
 though it is no more than a ftartle of nature, yet 
 there is a glory redounds to God from it. Thus 
 Jethro beholds the exploits of heaven for Ifrael, with 
 a fweet furprize. Now I know that the Lord is greater 
 than all gods, for in the thing wherein they dealt 
 proudly, he was above them (p). And in another na- 
 tional deliverance, the gazing kingdoms took their 
 part in admiration. They faid among the heathen, 
 The Lord has done great things for them (q). 
 
 It 
 
 (n) Pfalm xliv. 6, 7, 8. (/>) Exodus xviii. 1 1. 
 
 l») Ifa. xlv. 14, [q] Pfalm exxvi. 2. 
 
78 The Reputation of a Public Mercy] Serm.4* 
 
 It is furprifing to enemies, the creatures whofe 
 plots are diibrdered and blafted. They cannot but 
 be fenfible that a favourable prefence goes along with 
 iuch perfons ; and fometimes the conviction is fo pow- 
 erful as to fqueeze a wifh out of them, Let me die 
 the death of the righteous , and let my latter end be like 
 his (r). Indeed it is not with any pleafure that they 
 fee God in this triumph, much lefs have they a 
 pious refentment of it : But the wrath of thefe men 
 Jhall praife him (s). He gets a glory by their vex- 
 ation and defpondency. The righteous Jhall rejoice 
 when he feeth the vengeance : he JJjall wajh his feet in 
 the blood of the wicked. So that a man Jhall fay. Verily 
 there is a reward for the righteous 5 verily he is a God 
 thatjudgeth in the earth (/). 
 
 III. What honour doth this put upon his people ? 
 
 1 . It diftinguifhes them from the reft of the world : 
 J gave Egypt for thy ranfom, Ethiopia and Seba for 
 thee : fince thou waft precious in my fight thou haft 
 been honourable, and 1 have loved thee ; therefore will 
 1 give men for thee, and people for thy life (u). He 
 fweeps over other nations, and drops his mercy here. 
 He is doing that for them which the neighbouring 
 countries can only look at, but not tafte. prom the 
 top of the rocks I fee him, and from the hills I behold 
 him -, for the people Jhall dwell alone, and Jhall not be 
 reckoned among the nations (#). The fame does Mofes 
 take notice of-, Did ever a people hear the voice of 
 God Jpeaking out of the midft of the fire, as thou haft 
 heard., and live ? Or hath God affayed to go and take 
 him a nation from the midft of another nation, by temp- 
 tations, figns, and wonders, by war, and a mighty 
 hand, and a ft retched out arm, and by great terrors? 
 — Unto thee it was Jhewcd (y). 
 
 Indeed 
 
 (r) Numb, xxiii. 10. 
 {s) Pfalm Ixxvi. 10. 
 (/) Pfalm lviii. 10, it. 
 
 (u) Ifa. xliii. 3, 4. 
 (.v) Numb, xliii. 9. 
 (j) Deut. iv. 33, 34. 
 
"Serm.^ The Reputation of a Public Mercy, yg 
 
 Indeed thefe peculiar vouchfafements do not always 
 proclaim a lingular worth in the people that receive 
 them : for, if this had been requifite, England muft 
 have perifhed for want of a title to the deliverance. 
 Not for your fakes do I this, faith the Lord God, be 
 it known unto you : be a foamed and confounded for your 
 own ways. houfe of Jfrael (z). But it fhews his eipe- 
 cial goodnefs to fuch a nation, when they are in this 
 happy cafe, rolling in fulnefs, their liberties guarded 
 by Providence, their arms fuccefsful, whilft others 
 want both the bread of this life, and that which 
 feeds a better. He does not fo refent their folly as to 
 caft them off. He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob* 
 nor feen perverfenefs in Jfrael ; the Lord his God is with 
 him, and the Jhout of a king is among them (a). I may 
 repeat the Pfalmift's words, and apply them to our 
 land, and more efpecially this year, wherein God has 
 bleft us with a peculiar harveft. Our garners arc full* 
 affording all manner of fore , our fheep bring forth 
 thoufands and ten thoufands in our fireets : our oxen 
 are ftrong to labour ; there is no breaking in nor going 
 cut, no complaining in our ft reels. Happy is that people 
 which is in fuch a cafe ; yea, happy is that people 
 whofe God is the Lord {!?). 
 
 2. It is an affurance of further kindnefs. We are 
 allowed to plead that long thread of mercies we have 
 already received, and to defire it may be drawn out 
 yet further. It gives the ranfomed of the Lord (c) a 
 peculiar greatnels of mind and courage. It is 
 heartening enough againft all the fiercenefs of hell, 
 to confider that we are got into fo ftrong an alliance. 
 'The people Jhall rife as a great lion, and lift up himfelf 
 as a young lion ; he fhall not lie down until he eat of the 
 prey, and drmk of the blood of the flain \d) % 
 
 APPLI- 
 
 (z) Ezek. xxxvi. 32. (<•} Pfalm cvii. 2. 
 
 (a) Numb, xxiii. 21. (d) Numb, xxiii, 24* 
 
 \6) Pialm czliv. 13,14,15. j 
 
So The Reputation of a Public Mercyl Serm.4. 
 
 APPLICATION. 
 
 Let not us forget either this deliverance, or the 
 God that appeared fo full in it. Let this enter into 
 England's character, that heaven has bleft us with 
 fuch a Revolution. According to this time may it be 
 faid of us, What has the Lord wrought? You know 
 this is the day which God pitched on to give us his 
 late Majefty King William : And hereby he equally 
 retrieved the liberty of the people, and the glory of 
 the crown, which were both loft in tyranny and 
 darknefs. Indeed this noble work at firft was ft ruck 
 at with a vain oppofition, and afterwards fubmitted 
 to with an ungenerous regret. It grieved them cx- 
 ceedin%ly, that a man was come to feek the welfare of 
 the children of Ifrael (e). But the defign made its own 
 way, and fwept offrefiftance with fuch a difpatch, 
 as if it had run on celeflial wheels. Such as now 
 gall the undertaking with cenfure and reproach, were 
 then as clumfey at banter, as they were at fighting. 
 Though their malice was not cured, yet it was dazzled 
 by thofe beams of divinity that blazed out of the 
 Providence. When all our enemies heard thereof \ and 
 the heathen that were about us faw thefe things , they 
 were much cajl down in their own eyes, for they per- 
 ceived that this work was wrought of God (/). 
 
 And though the impreftion is much wore off, yet 
 God ftill continues to glorify the Revolution, by 
 raifing up another Sovereign on that bottom, and 
 making her the life of a juft confederacy, againft 
 that monarch who begun to fink in a former reign, 
 and perhaps may tumble in this. As we are to own 
 God in gratitude for what is paft, fo we muft do it 
 with prayer for what we yet expect. I will conclude 
 with the prophet's words, applied to this great Pro- 
 vidence, Who raifed up the righteous man from the 
 
 Eaft 
 
 {e) Neh. ii. io, J (/• Neh. vi. 16. 
 
Serm.4. The "Reputation of 'a Public Mercy. Si] 
 
 Eaft, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him± 
 and made him rule over kings ? He gave them as the dujt 
 to his fword, and as driven Jlubble to his bow. He 
 ■purfued them and paffed fafely, even by the way that 
 he had not gone with his feet. Who has wrought it 9 
 and done it, calling the generations from the beginning ? 
 I the Lord the fir ft, and with the loft, lam he{g). 
 This has the Lord wrought. 
 
 (g)lh. xli. 2, 3,4. 
 
 S£" *Y? $£* "3t? ST "2? ^* *5C? 
 
 ktLJHs 
 
 Vol. L G SE R: 
 
SERMON V, 
 
 ****** * * * • - ^ jj*^ 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 R E A D E R. 
 
 &4^«J^-$> HIS Sermon was defigned for no other 
 JS[ rp $. ^ en ^ e than the ear, and no further a fpread 
 % if t ^ ian amon S a f in gl e congregat ; cn ; and 
 
 Hfe^**^^. therefore it is eafy to obferve* with how 
 little guard either of accuracy or language 
 it comes out. As my own hurry in making it ready 
 for the prefs allowed me only time to tranfcribe it, fo 
 indeed I durft not be at any new pains to prepare it 
 for the public tafte, left it ihould appear more like 
 a gaudy jeft, than a memorial, or an improvement 
 of the late liorm. I am fure, the tempeft, which 
 occafioned this difcourfe, blew no foftnefs of rhetoric, 
 but a plain indignation. That long roar of wind, No- 
 vember 25, 26, and 27, 1703, which tumbled down 
 houfes upon their inhabitants, and lodged the fhips, 
 with their unhappy contents, in the gaping ocean, this 
 is too folemn for an airy flaunt of words. 
 
 It was therefore my chief ftudy, as Providence is 
 only the Bible repeated in action, to give a fcriptural 
 account of God's Sovereignty, and of our carriage 
 under fuch a difcovery of it : I have found, in my 
 little experience, that infpired words have funk with 
 the moil penetration and empire within the hearts of 
 men : when God fpeaks Judgments, he refers us to 
 
 G 2 the 
 
84 To the READER: 
 
 the lively Oracles : the doctrines, threatnings and pro- 
 mifes there, are level into all his difpenfations in the 
 world ; they tell us as much of his Majefty as we can 
 fever fee in Providence : the latter is but a vindication 
 ( of the former j it is God's reply to the challenge of 
 unbelief and prefumption : he then lets mankind feel 
 that he will be Heady to his word. That we may take 
 both thefe together, has been my endeavour in the 
 following difcourfe, 
 
 It was fome ground of encouragement on the Faft- 
 day, to find moft congregations in this city and the 
 adjacent parts, not only crouded, but with fuch per- 
 fons as declared "a good fenfe of their bufinefs there. 
 And perhaps one thing that both filled and regulated 
 our aifemblies, was, that other Storm that we were 
 apprehenfive of, in the moment of worfhip. God 
 teemed to be repeating the former quarrel, though 
 not in the fame degree of loudnefs, and extent of 
 ruin 5 as if he would catch our departing ferioufnefs 
 back again, and reflore fomething of that awe that 
 we felt in the great Tempeft. 
 
 But it is equally certain and deplorable, that thefe 
 
 imprefljons foon wore off. The people, that could 
 
 not but tremble at the found of this judgment, have 
 
 profanely mocked it fince. It is difmal to think that 
 
 lb fweeping a calamity as this, fhould ever become the 
 
 entertainment of the ftage. That men fhould act the 
 
 mimic lb far, as to make ruin a diverfion, by dreiTing 
 
 it up with atheifm and foppery. The banter of this 
 
 ungodlinefs is fo extreme, that the Right Reverend 
 
 the Lord Bifhop of Oxford, thought fit to arraign it 
 
 that day in a Sermon before the Houfe of Peers : 
 
 there is a vein of fweet and ierious eloquence runs 
 
 through the whole difcourfe, but upon this fubject 
 
 his lordfliip difcovers fo much of a chriftian warmth, 
 
 that I mall tranfcribe the paifage, and cover my own 
 
 inli>' nificant regret with this venerable authority. 
 
 44 To mow how far wc have exceeded the impieties 
 
 .of 
 
To the READER. 85 
 
 " of the Jews, permit me to mention one inftance, 
 
 " though I cannot do it without horror, of a late 
 
 " daring affront to God, unparalleled by the Jewijh 
 
 " or any civilized nation, which looks like a defying, 
 
 " if not a ridiculing, of his Judgments ; I mean 
 
 " that impudent reprefentation of a mock Tempeft 
 
 " on the Itage, fo foon after we had felt that dread - 
 
 -" ful one, that gives occafion to our meeting this day. 
 
 " I think I mould not have been juft to my fubjecl:, 
 
 " if I had omitted to take notice of this unprece- 
 
 " dented piece of profanenefs ; and certainly it 
 
 " will be no digrefllon from it, to add, that whilft 
 
 " thefe nurferies of lewdnefs are fuffered to corrupt 
 
 " the age, it is in vain to hope to fee it reformed." 
 
 Page 17. 
 
 If there were more of this noble fpirit among 
 thole whom Providence has raifed above the common 
 level, it would either make fuch as profefs one Lord 
 drop their little varieties, or continue them without 
 any violation of harmony and peace. I will only 
 add, that if this zeal was kindled where it is now 
 wanting, enlarged where it has begun to live, and 
 fuccefsful in every attempt and flame that it breaks out 
 in, it would be an hopeful fecurity to the nation's pre- 
 fent happinefs, and a good fign that Glory fhall yet 
 dwell in our Land. 
 
 That the various Sermons which are printed upon 
 this occafion, may ftir up a courage againft the wick- 
 ednefs that makes God our enemy, is the hearty de- 
 fire of 
 
 T. BRADBURY. 
 
 Wappini, 
 Fib. zi, 1703-4. 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON THE FIFTH. 
 
 God's Empire over the Wind, &e. 
 
 Preached on the Fast-Day, January the 19th, 1703-4. 
 
 Proverbs XXX. 4. 
 
 — Who dath gathered the Wind in his Fi/ls ? 
 
 The whole verfe is thus ; 
 
 Who hath afiended up into heaven, or defended $ 
 Who hath gathered the Wind in his fifts f Who 
 hath bound the Waters hi a garment f Who hath 
 ejlabh 'JJied all the ends of the earth? What is his 
 name, and what is hisfon's name, if thou canft 
 tell? 
 
 >iOOOO(HIS chapter is a collection of inftruftive 
 y& M fentences, afcribed to Agur the fon of 
 
 5 $ Jakeb (a), and they are added to SoUt 
 
 WWW¥^ ®*0»'s Proverbs as being much of the 
 ;&f&7k$K7k fame contexture with them. Though we 
 have no further account of this perfon in Scripture, 
 yet there is furBcient ground to believe that he was q 
 man of peculiar reputation for wifdom •, one that ftood 
 highly advanced in the efteem of the world, and it 
 is alfo very natural to fuppofe, that Ithiel and Veil 
 were either his fcholars, or his intimates, that ex- 
 pected great advantages by his converfe : they apply 
 
 G 4 themfelvea 
 
 la) Prgv. xxx. i» 
 
gj God' s Empire over the Wind, &c. Serm.5. 
 
 themfelves to him as a walking Oracle ; fo that we 
 ^ay, without any ftrain, imagine, that this chapter 
 j 3 an anfwer to their importunity. 
 
 He begins his difcourfe with words that exprefs 
 l^gth a decent modefty, and an awful furprize. He 
 ^| pnce confeffeth his own narrownefs of thought, 
 a i^d alfo adores that myfterious head of knowledge 
 which he entered upon. 
 
 He tells them, that, as for himfelf, they had 
 over-rated him i his accomplifhments were no way 
 parallel to their expectations ; inftead of having any 
 peculiar degree of wifdom, he will not take with a 
 common fhare. Surely I am more brutijh than any 
 man, and have not the under/landing of a man. I 
 neither learned wifdom, nor have I the knowledge of 
 the holy (b). And indeed, thus it ufually is, fuch 
 as have treafured up any intellectual riches, know the 
 fcantinefs of their own attainments •, whilft, on the 
 other hand, perfons who are Grangers to any folid 
 learning, do oftentimes make the greateft pretence 
 and fiourifh. "Where the waters are deep, they gene- 
 rally run fmooth and filenr, but when they are fhal- 
 low, they proclaim themfelves with a rumbling 
 noife. This good man funk lower under all his dis- 
 coveries : he found himfelf ignorant of much more 
 than he could pretend to an acquaintance with •, fo 
 that as he fills with light, he has a more humbling 
 view of his own darknefs. This is the front of his 
 difcourfe •, he blames that excefs of character, which 
 his friends had given him. 
 
 But afterwards he throws a flight upon all the human 
 race. Perfons of the greateft figure in learning, who 
 have the richeft hoards of experience, and the beft 
 penetration of mind, lofe themfelves in their con- 
 templations of God. They are but blundering in 
 the dark, when they pretend to ftudy his infinite 
 nature and furprifing works. 
 
 Who 
 (&) Pro v. x.xx. 2, 3; 
 
Serm.£. God's Empire over the Wind, &c. 89 
 
 Who has afcended up into heaven ? and who has de- 
 fended ? This intimates, that it is impoffible there 
 mould be any full knowledge of thefe things but 
 what is firft learned above, and then declared upon 
 earth by a meflenger from that world of light. This 
 character, that he fpeaks of, agrees only with Jesus 
 Christ the great prophet of the church : John the 
 Baptift gathers up this glorious title for a mediator : 
 No man hath feen God at any time ; the only begotten 
 fon, which is in the bofom of the father, he hath de- 
 clared him (c). And afterwards in another place, 
 He that comet h from above is above all : He that is of 
 the earth, is earthy, and fpeaketh of the earth: He 
 that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he 
 hath feen and heard, that he tejlifieth : He whom God 
 hath fent fpeaketh the words of God (d). 
 
 After this he mentions fome things, which muft be 
 afcribed to no other than God, and which none can 
 have a comprehenfive knowledge of. Who has ga- 
 thered the Wind in his Fiji s ? Who has bound the Wa- 
 ters ? &c. The meaning of this queftion may be 
 twofold. 
 
 1 . Who but God has done thefe things ? Who 
 can lay a plaufible claim to fuch divine performances ? 
 To this purpofe agree the Pfalmift's words, Among 
 the gods, O Lord, there is none like unto thee ; neither 
 are there any works like thy works : for thou art great, 
 and do f wondrous things: thou art God alone (e). Or, 
 
 2. Who can throughly underftand this ? He does 
 not only fpeak of it as a truth, but a myftery. It 
 claims faith, and it is above comprehension. 
 
 The laft words feem to exprefs a Mejfiab's intereft 
 in thefe things •, What is his name, and what is his 
 fon's name? He was concerned in rearing the fabric of 
 this world : Without him was not any thing made that 
 was made (/). He has alio a mare in propping the 
 
 great 
 
 (c) John i. 18. (e) Pfalm Ixxxvi. 8, 10. 
 
 {<*) Johniii. 31, 32, 34. J (/)Johni. 3. 
 
90 Gods Empire over the Wind, &<,. Serm.5; 
 
 great bulk of the creation. By him all things con* 
 jift (g). He challengeth this glory to himfelf, as a 
 party in the vaft performance. When he, that is the 
 Father, prepared the heavens, I was there \ when hefet 
 a compafs upon the face of the depth : When he eftablifhed 
 the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of 
 the deep : When he gave to the fea his decree, that the 
 waters fhould not pajs his commandment : When he ap- 
 pointed the foundations of the earth : Then was 1 by 
 him (h). 
 
 And as to the Winds, we know they were made 
 fubjeft to him in his loweft abafement. When 
 he appeared only in the form of a fervant, he 
 fhewed himfelf the Lord of nature. This way he 
 furprifed his company. At his command the wind 
 ceafed, and they were fore amazed in themfelves beyond 
 vieafure, and wondredij). Another Evangelift gives 
 us an higher account of this impreflion, and tells us 
 what they obierved convinced them of his deity, 
 They worjloipped him, faying, Of a truth thou art the 
 Son of God (k). We read alio of another inflance of his 
 authority over the Winds, that out of the mouth of 
 two witngfling miracles the thing might be eftablifh- 
 cd. We may firft obferve their diftrefs •, There arofe 
 a great fiorm of wind, and the waves beat into the 
 (I). After this we are told of their wondrous 
 deliverance. He arofe and rebuked the wind, and 
 faid unto the fea, Peace, be fill; and the wind ceafed, 
 and there was a great calm (;«). And the hi (lory is 
 concluded with the remark they pafs upon this per- 
 formance. They feared exceedingly* and faid one to 
 another, What manner cf man is this, that even toe 
 wind and the fea obey him (/.) ? 
 
 Thefe other works are afcribed to him. He has 
 bound the waters m a garment: The clouds are thole 
 
 vail 
 (g) Col i. 17. [I) Mark W. y;. 
 
 \b) Prov. viii. 27 — 50. - {>") Mark iv. 39. 
 
 (/) Mark vi. ^ 1 . (») Marie iv. 41, 
 
 (<j Matt. xiVj 33. 
 
Serm.5' God's Empire over the Wind, Sec. 9 1 
 
 vaft extended meets, which he has wrapped them up 
 in. He has eftablijhed the ends of the earth. This 
 world is fixed by his authority, and though it is 
 hung upon nothing {0), yet he maintains it with his 
 own arm. 
 
 But I fhall confine my thoughts to that claufe 
 which I firft read to you, which you may take the 
 fum of in this Proportion. 
 
 'The whole /lock of wind is in God's hand. 
 
 Here I fhall briefly ihew you, 
 
 I. "What we are to understand by this phrafe. 
 
 II. What ufe we are to make of this truth. 
 
 1 . The wind's being gathered into his fijis, fhews us 
 his power over it. That it is no more than the in- 
 ftrument of his fovereign pleafure. He gives it all 
 its breath, and difpofeth of it to the fervice of his 
 will. It is the vaflal of his authority : this is three 
 times alTerted in the fame words, When he utters his 
 voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, 
 and he caufeth the vapours to afcend from the ends of 
 the earth, he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth 
 forth the wind out of his treafuries (p). 
 
 Though Satan is fometimes called the prince of 
 the power of the air (q). We are not to fuppofe, 
 that he has got the fupremacy of the wind. What- 
 ever leave he may have, upon fome occafions, to 
 affright and difturb this lower world, yet the govern- 
 ment is in a greater hand. For lo, he that for meth 
 the mountains, and createth the wind, and declaretb 
 unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morn- 
 ing darknefs, and treadeth upon the high places of the 
 earth, the Lord, the God of Hofts is his name (r). Wt 
 fcarce read that ever the devil had a larger fcope to 
 
 his 
 
 (0) Job xxvi. 7. 
 [p) Pfalm exxxv. 7. Jer. 
 1 3. and li. 16. 
 
 (q) Eph. ii. 2. 
 (r) Amos iv. 13. 
 
92 God's Empire over the Windy &G. Serm.£. 
 
 his malice, than againft Job's family : he begins his 
 mifchief with an army of the S abeam (s). After this 
 he burns up the fervants and cattle with lightning (t). 
 Then he plies the remainder with three bands of the 
 Caldeans (u). And his lait havock is of the children 
 by a wind from the wildernefs (tf), which mattered 
 the houie, and deftroyed the perfons : but all this 
 was owing to a com million from above •, The Lord 
 faid unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in thy power, 
 only upon hi?nfelf put not forth thy hand (y). 
 
 It is God that rules the whole armory of nature : 
 whatever can be dreadful lies under his management ; 
 he has not quitted his own right of difpofal. The 
 creation received a Being from him, and muft pay a 
 complete deference to his will. It is he that troubles 
 the air, and fpreads an univerfal faintnefs through the 
 the world. The feamen fee the work of the Lord, and 
 bis wonders in the deep : For he commandeth, and 
 taifeth the fiormy wind, which lifteth up the waves 
 thereof (z). 
 
 2. The wind's being gathered into his f ft, intimates, 
 that this power belongs to him alone. No creature 
 hath a breath of wind to difpofe of, it is all collected into 
 the divine hand. This God takes to himfelf as his 
 own prerogative. He has his way in the whirlwind, 
 and in the form, and the clouds are the duft of his 
 feet (a). And it is a way that the vultures eye fees not. 
 None can trace his footftcps, or pretend to imitate 
 him. Sometimes the Almighty pleads againft idola- 
 ters from the ordinary courfes of nature, that lie 
 under his rule. The prophets challenge, banter, and 
 reproach the heathen gods. Are there any among the 
 vanities &f the Gentiles, that can cmfe rain? Art mt 
 thou he, Lord oar God ( b) 
 
 ? 
 
 Y\ hen 
 
 (s) Job i. I J. 
 
 (t) Job i. 16. 
 fu) }ob i. 17. 
 (xj Job 1. 19. 
 
 (y) }o'o i. 1 2. 
 
 In3 evil. 24, 
 (a) Nah. i. 3. 
 (b)]*r. xiv, zz 
 
Serm. 5. Gov's Empire over the Wind, Sec. 93 
 
 When he is difpleafcd, nature groans under the 
 weight of a fingle frown. There is an univerfal dif- 
 trefs that the creation feels : this he threatens, I will 
 Jhake the heavens, and ibe earth Jhall remove out of her 
 place in the wrath of the Lord of hofis, and in the day of 
 his fierce anger (c). This is all his own appointment : 
 whatever calamity befals us, it is in obedience to his 
 fupreme order ; finow and vapour, and ftormy wind 
 fulfil his word. 
 
 Mankind are very apt to fwell, when they imagine 
 themfelves pofleft of any fingular capacities; but they 
 are fometimes put to the blulh by confidering their in- 
 ability to perform the leaft acts of Providence ; they 
 cannot make one hair white or black ; ox by taking thought 
 add one cubit unto their filatures . Much lefs are they 
 capable of turning the great wheels of government. 
 
 Good Jehofhaphat entred into a league with the 
 King of Jfirael ; and, to make this alliance more ftately 
 and pompous, they build a fleet : this was to ftrike 
 an awe upon the adjacent countries ; but they could 
 neither fix their endeavours under a bleffing, nor guard 
 them againft a curfe. A judgment from God blun- 
 ders all their fchemes and imaginations. Thus the 
 Prophet told the King, Becaufe thou haft joined thyfelf 
 with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works ; and 
 the fhips were broken, that they were not able to go to 
 Tarfijijh (d). 
 
 What great havock has he made of kingdoms and 
 rulers ? He has taken thofe into his own hand who 
 loved to be the general plagues of mankind. All 
 their terror and preparations for war, are no refi (lance 
 to his ibvereignty. Crowns and fcepters are tolled like 
 the ball of Providence : the nations and princes, that 
 once mowed the fulled upon earth, are funk with an 
 hafty ruin : he takes away the man that made the earth 
 to tremble, and fhook kingdoms (e). And the country, 
 
 where 
 
 (c) Ifai. xiii. 13. (?) Ifai.xiv. 16. 
 
 (d) z Chroa. xx. 37, j 
 
'g~4 God's Empire over the Wind> Sec. Serm. ' §, 
 
 where he ruled and gathered up materials for tyranny* 
 \sfwept with the befom of deftruttion(f). 
 
 3. The wind is gathered into God's hand, that it may 
 have a fecure abode there In me a fur e when hejhooteth 
 it forth ', he debates with it , and flays his rough wind in 
 the day of his eaft-wind (g). If any other had the dif- 
 pofal of it, there would be a continual havock of na- 
 ture : he alone can check its violence : it will allow 
 of no bridle but his command ; it is above all other 
 control. The four angels were his fervants, whofiood 
 on the four corners of the earth, holding the wind, that 
 it fhould not blow on the earth, nor the fea, nor any 
 tree (h). 
 
 And it is well for us, that the fway of this judg- 
 ment is in God. I have let you fee, under a former 
 head, what dreadful ravage Satan makes, if he has 
 but a commifiion to indulge his malice-, he would 
 (hew no more pity to the world, than he did to Job's 
 family. Should enemies have the difpofal of ftorms 
 and national miferies, what fad confufions would they 
 bring upon the earth ? But here is our comfort, this 
 is heaven's own artillery : thefe are judgments wherein 
 mankind have no intereft ; they are not fo much as 
 the tools of God's fupremacy in this cafe. 
 
 4. The wind is faid to be gathered into his fifty 
 to (hew us how eafily he can Jet it out : it is but open- 
 ing, his hand, and the tempeft flies upon its mailer's 
 errand : his eommiffion is fulfilled with all the difpatch 
 and integrity of nature. He fcatters his bright cloud, and 
 it is turned round about by his counfels,- that he may do 
 fvhatfoever he commandeth upon the face of the world in 
 the earth. He caufeth it to come, whether for corretlioiiy 
 or for his land, or for mercy (i). Whatever the defign 
 be, it is eafily accomplished ; he is always in readi- 
 nefs to deal with an obftinate world ; he hath a flock 
 of terrors at command. And if the fons of men 
 
 will 
 
 (/) Ifai.xiv. 23. (/.>) Rev. vii. 1. 
 
 (^) Ifai.xxvii. 8. (/) Job xxx vii. 11— 13. 
 
Serm. 5. God's Empire over the Wind, &c. 9^ 
 
 will go on to harden themfelves, they fhall feel the 
 miftake of all their vain thoughts. He can with as 
 much eafe deftroy us as terrify us ; it calls for no 
 more expence and fatigue of power : we are as foon 
 crufhed as reproved. It is the fame thing with God, 
 to let out all his wrath at once, as to give us a weaker 
 tafte of it : he has greater referves than finners are 
 willing to imagine ; he does not put his whole ftrength 
 into one blafl of wind •, but can raife a more expedi- 
 tious tempefl, and let us fed the terror of thofe words, 
 In my jealoufy, and in the fire of my wrath have Ifpoken - y 
 furely there flail be a great flaking in the land of Ifrael ; 
 So that the fijhes ofthefea, and i be fowls of the heaven, 
 and all creeping things that creep upon the earth , and all 
 the men that are upon the face of the earth, fhall Jh ale 
 at my pre fence-, and the mountains fhall he thrown down, 
 and the fie ep places flail fall, and every wall fhall fall 
 to the ground (k). 
 
 The reafon why a provoking wretch, or a finful 
 nation are fpared, is not becaufe jufticeis unfurnifhed 
 for execution ; but God is willing to make his power 
 known, and therefore endures with much long-fuffcring, 
 the veffels of wrath fitted to definition (I). He will 
 glorify his patience in forbearing them a while, and 
 then they fhall be vifitedwitb thunder, and earthquake, 
 and great noife, with Jiorm and tempefl, and the flame 
 of devouring fire (m). How eafy a matter is it for him 
 to blow an hurricane in a moment ? He can at once 
 put nature into a ruffle. 
 
 The /IJJyrians fpread a formidable fiege before Je- 
 rufalem ; there was number enough to pave their 
 own way to victory •, but you fee what fhort work 
 God makes with them. It is little more than an hour's 
 toil to fweep them out of this life, and make them 
 #nly an army of carcafes j That night the angel of the 
 
 Lord 
 
 (k) Ezek. xxxviii. xq, zo. j {tn) Ifai. xxix. 6. 
 
 (/) Rom, ix, 22. 
 
96 God' *s Empire over the Wind, &c. Serm. 5. 
 
 Z#n/ went out, and/mote an hundred four/core and five 
 thoufand, and in the morning they were all dead corps (n). 
 And the fame may he do with his wind : he has a 
 tempeft within call, which he may, at any time, un- 
 loofe upon a ftubborn people : thus he informed Job 
 of his power, when He anfwered him out of the whirl- 
 wind io). Haft thou entred into the treafures of the 
 /now ? or haft thou feen the treafures of the hail, which 
 I have referved agamft the time of trouble, againft the 
 day of battle and war (p) ? 
 
 Thus I have confidered the import of this phrafe ; 
 but I principally defign the Application. 
 
 And this I fhall do three ways : 
 
 I. Shew what general ufe we are to make of this 
 truth. 
 
 II. How the confederation of God's rule over the 
 winds fhould influence us, when we are humbling 
 ourfelves before him. 
 
 III. What comforts true believers may gather from 
 fuch a text and providence as this. 
 
 [ i.J For the general improvement, we may take 
 thefe four heads of advice : If the wind is in God's 
 hand, 
 
 1 . Let us learn to adore his power, which is won- 
 derfully expreffed this way : bow before him ; Jerve 
 him acceptably with reverence and godly fear (q). He 
 will be acknowledged in all his peculiar fteps of go- 
 vernment : he is adorning his own name, fixing a 
 greater reputation upon it in a time of public judg- 
 ment •, he caufelh his glorious voice to be heard, and 
 (hews the lighting down of his arm, with the indigna- 
 tion of his anger, with fcattering and tempeft, and bail- 
 Jlones {r). This ufe does Agur make of it : he is filled 
 
 with 
 
 {n\ 2 Kingr> XIX. 3 5. 
 (0 ) Job xxxviii. 1 ■ 
 (/>) Job xxxviii. 22, 23. 
 
 (q) Heb.xii. 28. 
 (r) Ikii. xxx. 30. 
 
Serm.5- God' s Empire over the Wind, &c. 97 
 
 •with a religious dread of that Majefty, which infcribes 
 itfelf upon thefe providences. 
 
 This is the end why God declares an unufual great - 
 nefs to the whole race of mankind at once, that they 
 may ceafe to abufe his glory by their vain thoughts 
 of him, and the open contempt of their practice. If 
 •we refufe to tremble before him ; if we fludy more 
 impenitency, he may load us with a terror that has 
 no mercy at all in it. When Tinners fcorn to humble 
 themfelves, his indignation lhall do it for them : one 
 brum of his arm fhall feparate them from the vanities 
 that they truft in. The day of the Lord of bojis pall 
 be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every 
 one that is lifted up, and he fhall be brought low -,^—And 
 upon all the Jhips of Tarjhi/h ; — And they fhall go into 
 the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earthy 
 for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majefiy, 
 ■when he arifeth to Jhake terribly the earth (s). There- 
 fore it highly concerns us to break the approaching 
 itorm, by fe eking the Lord whilfl he may be found, and 
 calling upon him wbilfi he is near (/). 
 
 If we do not this way improve th» ftroke, it is loft 
 upon us, and we may fear there is worfe in referve. 
 We have all of us found, that there is a Power fupe- 
 rior to our own, that the wind is under an higher 
 management than we can give it : and what is this 
 for? Why mould God ftep out of his way, but to 
 bring us into ours ? Let us henceforth preferve a du- 
 tiful veneration for him upon our fpirits. 1 know, 
 fays the Pfalmift, that the Lord is great, and that our 
 Lord is above all gods ; he bringeth the wind out of his 
 treafures («). We fee he is terrible, when he dees 
 but fight us with outward afflictions, how dreadful 
 then is that wrath, which is pointed at the confeience ? 
 Thefe are no more than part of his ways, it is but a 
 
 Vol. I. H little 
 
 (1) Ifai. ii. 12, 16, 19. (k) Pfal exxxv. 5, 7, 
 
 It) Ifai.lv. 6. 
 
98 God* j Empire over the Wind, &c. Serm. J 
 
 little portion that we know of him ? The thunder of his 
 power who can zinderfiand (x) ? 
 
 2. We may learn to reft fatisfied in his will, know- 
 ing, that if the wind be under his command, it is 
 wifely difpofed of. The Scripture reprefents him as 
 confidering the cafe of a nation, and meafuring the 
 judgments that he fends againft them. He looketh to 
 the ends of the earth, andfeeth under the whole heaven, 
 to make a weight for the winds, he weigheth the waters 
 by meafure ; when he made a decree for the rain, and 
 a way for the lightning and the thunder, then did he fee 
 and declare it, he -prepared it, yea fearched it out (y). 
 I am not only preffing you to filence under this dif- 
 penfation, becaufe we cannot help it ; but as it is the 
 work of him who is excellent in counfel (z). He never 
 took a falfe or imprudent ftep in the kingdom of Pro- 
 vidence. Though things have but a cloudy face at 
 prefent, and perhaps there is not much appearance of 
 wifdom in them, yet we may conclude that God 
 orders them all aright. 
 
 We read of darknefs being under his feet (a). The 
 work itfelf that he goes about, and all his advances 
 in it are hid from the fons of men : there is a cloud 
 between our eyes and him ; but ftill wifdom has the 
 fovereignty in all thefe affairs. Though his power 
 admits of no control in the ordinary flream of Provi- 
 dence, yet this we are afiured of, that every difpen- 
 farion is the birth of a wife model. The balancing of 
 the clouds is called the wondrous work of him who is per-* 
 feci in knowledge ; the wind's paffing and cleanfing them, 
 is brought in as an argument, that with God is terrible 
 Majefty : but yet he concludes, touching the Almighty -, 
 we cannot find hi?n out : he is excelletit in power, and in 
 judgment, and in plenty ofjujlice; he will not ajflicl (b) y 
 i. e. not without valuable caule. 
 
 3. Sec 
 
 (*■) Job XXVl. 14. I (a) Pfal. win. 9. 
 
 {/) Job xxviii. 24— zj. [b) Jobxxxvii. 16, 21— -23. 
 
 [r,\ Ifai. xxviii. 29. { 
 
Serrri.5- Gov' s Empire over the Win^ &cc. 99 
 
 3. See how dreadful a thing it is to diipleafe him, 
 
 who is fo well provided of methods for our punifh- 
 
 ment. It is ufually the fulnefs of earthly delights 
 
 that makes us fecure and unthoughtful of God : but 
 
 we have lately felt what a difpatch his anger can wbrk, 
 
 when he defigns to narrow our fubftance, when he rents 
 
 it with aftormy wind in his fury (c). That which has 
 
 been the gains of long hazard and toil may be gone 
 
 in a moment. This was threatned againft Ephraim, 
 
 that though he be fruitful among his brethren, a wind of 
 
 the Lord fh all come upfront the wilder -nefs, and hisfpring 
 
 Jhall become dry, and his fountain be dried up : he Jhall 
 
 fpoil the treafure of all pleafant veffels (d)i 
 
 If we take a look at finners through this text, we 
 may fee how flupid they are to engage fuch a power 
 againft them : we have lately known the truth of that 
 threatning, as if it had been defigned for our days : 
 The rich man Jhall lie dozvn, but he Jhall not be gathered; 
 he opsneth his eyes, and he is not : Terrors take hold on 
 him as waters, a tempejl Jieals him away in the night (<?). 
 And does not this let us fee the folly of a quarrel 
 with God ? We may pamper a vain mind with one 
 idle imagination after another, but this only prepares 
 us for a more difmal furprize of ruin. There is fcarce 
 any thing that finners defign with more pleafure and 
 arrogance, than the deftruction of the godly : they 
 would raze out all the prints of ferioufnels from this 
 world : and every ftruggle in this project is attended 
 with as much affurance, as nature can either give or 
 take : but their eyes are too low fixed ; they only look 
 at the perfons whom this malice is directed againft. 
 They do not confider what a powerful alliance be- 
 lievers are brought into : lb that when they pufli on 
 their methods of iniquity, it is only to receive a baffle 
 from Omnipotence : thus the promife runs to God's 
 people •, Thou foal t fan them, and the wind Jhall carry 
 
 II 2 them 
 
 {c\ Ezek. xiii. 13. (e) Job xxvii. 19, 20. 
 
 \d) Hof. xiii. 15. 
 
xoo Got? $ Empire over the Wind, See. Serm.£. 
 
 them away, and the whirlwind Jh all fcatter them ; and 
 thou /halt rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the holy One 
 eflfrael(f). 
 
 4. See to whom you mufl direct yourfelves for the 
 blefling of the winds. Many of this auditory do more 
 efpecially know how ferviceable they are to the great- 
 eft concerns of life : and you here learn who has the 
 difpofal of them. They are fometimes the chief in- 
 ftruments of your profperity, and when their com- 
 miflion is altered, they can as eafily deflroy your ful- 
 nefs as promote it. Now as G o d muft be acknow- 
 ledged in all your ways, fo it is highly becoming your 
 protefiion to be often upon your knees, to maintain a 
 correfpondence with him, who is the great Infurer. 
 He alone can breathe a bleiling upon your attempts. 
 The gales that mufl carry you on in every voyage, 
 are laid up in the hollow of his hand, let it be your 
 work to fetch them out by prayer. You may alfo 
 fee, who it is that has blefled and fecured you ; he 
 has hzzn your refuge from the ft or m (g). 
 
 [2.~] We are to make fuch an improvement of this, 
 as more efpecially fuits with our defign this day. 
 
 We are come to humble ourfelves before the Lord 
 for a late dreadful blow that he has given to thefe 
 parts of the world. We may apply the Prophet's 
 words to our cafe : The fir-trees have been terribly 
 fhaken -, the gates of the rivers opened, and the palace 
 dijfolved (h). We have rirft, the call of heaven to the 
 prefent duty ; every blaft founds the exhortation : 
 and this is echoed to from our earthly powers, who 
 both confefs the obligation and inforce it. By giving 
 our prefence here, we anfwer the commands of civil 
 authority ; but there is fomething more required, if 
 we would come up to God's expectations. A bare 
 attendance upon him in worfhipping crouds is not 
 
 enough. 
 
 (/) Ifai. xli. 1 6. I {b) Nah. ii. 3, 6. 
 
 ) *) Ifai. xxv. 4. 
 
Serm.^- God'j Empire over the Windy Sec. 101 
 enough. He complains of a people that were very 
 exact in obferving times of humiliation, but they did 
 not look far enough. When ye fafted and mourned in 
 the fifths and eleventh months did ye faft unto me, even 
 unto me (i) ? Now he feems to demand the following 
 duties of us. 
 
 i. Let us humbly fubmit to his work. It be- 
 comes us not to reply and clamour at Providence, 
 but to look upwards with a filent devoutnefs, and 
 confider who has done it : One who never flood at 
 the creatures bar j who gives no account of his mat- 
 ters (k). Whole difpenfations are liable to no arreft, 
 and patient of no cenfure. Methinks there is a parti- 
 cular appearance of God in a wind, more than in 
 many other public calamities. Confumptions by fire 
 mould lead us to him, but thefe are brought on by in- 
 ftruments. General diflempers tell us of his hand, 
 but here alfo he makes ufe of fecond caufes : but a 
 tempeft is a work that we can have no fliare in, and 
 this calls for fubmiffion. David choofeth to have an 
 affliction of God's bellowing, Let me fall into the 
 hands of the Lord. Though he was more capable of 
 acting with a ruinous difpatch than enemies could do 4 
 yet there is mercy with him (/). When Job underflood 
 that his children were fwept off immediately by the 
 hand of Providence, he fubmits with a religious pa- 
 tience. The meffenger told him, -There came a great 
 wind from the wildernef, and f mote the four corners of 
 the boufe, and it fell upon the young men, and they are 
 dead. 'Then Job arofe, and fell upon the ground, and 
 worfhipped, and faidy The Lord gave, and the Lord 
 has taken away ; blejfed be the name of the Lord(m). 
 
 2. Let us look narrowly into ourfelves. In a time 
 of public judgment every one is to know the plague of 
 his own heart. How many of us may fay with Jonah j 
 I know that for my fake this great tempeft is come upon 
 
 H 3 you? 
 
 (I) Zach. vii. 5. (/) 2Sam.xxiv. 14. 
 
 \h) Job xxxiji. 15. [m) Job i. 19,20. 
 
102 Gov's Empire over the Wind, &c. Serm.5^ 
 
 you (n) ? We have contributed our part to the com- 
 mon miferies. We may this day denounce a Wo to 
 the crown of pride, and the drunkards of Epbraim, 
 when the Lord with a defraying form is cafting down 
 to the earth (0). Though perhaps we do not run to 
 the fame excefs of riot with a great many. De- 
 bauchery, lewdnefs and fwearing may be crimes 
 above our fize. But are v.e not chargeable with abo- 
 minations of another fort ? Our contempt of the di- 
 vine ordinances, the ravage that we make of Chriftian 
 love, the iloth and dulnefs of our zeal for God, thefe 
 are things that have their cry for vengeance. But if 
 we are hardned againft a cure, and reiblved that thefe 
 follies mould be our infeparable darlings, a more ex- 
 tenfive and overflowing fcourge may be prepared for 
 us. There is nothing but fury and black difmay, 
 for a people that hate to be reformed. Thus God 
 complains, Can the Ethiopian change his fkin, or the 
 leopard hisfpots ? then may ye alfo do good, that are ac- 
 cuflomed to do evil. Therefore will I fcatter them as 
 the flubble that pajfeth away by the tvind of the wilder- 
 nefs. This is thy lot, the portion of thy meafures from 
 me, faith the Lord, becaufe thou haft forgotten me, 
 and trufted in falfhood (p). Sometimes the very face of 
 a judgment tells us that the world is deeply charged 
 with guilt : and of this fort was our late ftorm. The 
 earth is utterly broken down, clean d'<ffolved, and moved 
 exceedingly : The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard \ 
 and is removed like a cottage, for the tranfgreffion thereof 
 is heavy upon it (q). 
 
 3. Let this put us upon a fpeedy reformation. 
 This the Pfalmiil begs, Perfecute them with thy tern- 
 peft, and make them afraid with thy form ; fill their 
 faces with fhame, that they may feek thy name, O 
 Lord (r). If any of you are ftained with fcandalous 
 
 crimes, 
 
 («) Jon i. 12. I (c) Ifai xxiv 19,20. 
 
 \o) Ilai. x.wiii. 1,2. [r) Pfal bcjcxiii. ij, «6. 
 
 (/•) }cr. x'lii. 23—25. I 
 
Serm . 5. God 's Empire over the Wind, &c. 103 
 
 crimes, take your laft farewel of them ; from this 
 moment hold them at a diftance. Do not dare to 
 go on finking the nation dill lower in guilt and un- 
 happinefs. Now that God has brought upon us, 
 as he calls it by the Prophet, A dry wind of the high 
 -places in the wilder -nefs, not to fan nor to clean 'fe, but a 
 full wind ; his cry to us is the fame with that to Je- 
 rufalem; wafh thine heart from wickednefs, that thou 
 mayjl befaved : how long /hall vain thoughts lodge within 
 thee (j) / And as for others, who think this is a charge 
 that flies over them, let them examine what is amifs, 
 and begin an univerfal amendment. 
 
 There is one thing that I would more efpecially re- 
 commend to you, as the lefTon of this Providence, and 
 that is, a zeal for the Reformation of Manners. 
 That good work goes heavily on, through the co- 
 wardice and bafenefs of fome that pretend to wifh well 
 to it. It is a national firoke that we are now lament* 
 ing, and I know no greater piece of national fervice 
 that we are capable of. Our Fleet is the very picture 
 of hell. They fcarce breathe any thing but blaiphemy 
 againft God. We have dreadful taftes of their vilenefs 
 afliore : you neglect the due methods that mould be 
 made ufe of to reclaim them, and therefore God has 
 taken the work into his owq hands : fuch as you would 
 not rebuke, he has drowned- X-et this warn us not 
 to be fo carelefs and remifs in a fervice of general im- 
 portance. Labour to prevent fuch another ftroke. 
 When the whole nation of Ifrael was infatuated 
 with the fpirit of idolatry, Gqd tells his mind to 
 Elijah in fuch a chain of terrors, as perhaps was the 
 model of his future dealings with that people. The 
 Lord pajed by, and behold, a great and flrong wind rent 
 the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks x and after 
 the wind an earthquake (/). Let us endeavour to break 
 this fucceflion of judgments. 
 
 H 4 4. Lev: 
 
 (:) Jer. iv. ii, 14. 1 (0 iKingsxix. \\ 
 
104 Got? s Empire over the Wind, &c. Serm.^; 
 
 4. Let us be earneft with him for mercy and par- 
 dun. God, then haft caft us off, thou haft fc altered 
 us, thou baftieen difpleafed , O turn thy f elf to us again : 
 Thou haft made the earth to tremble , thou haft broken 
 it, heal the breaches thereof, for it Jhaketh («). That 
 there are notorious abominations among us, is a thing 
 that will fooner bear a complaint than a denial. That 
 God has declared his refentment with a peculiar thun- 
 der, is alio plain : is it not therefore our neceflary duty 
 to beg off his wrath, and folicit the return of that fa- 
 vour, which has been interrupted ? And for your 
 encouragement, confider that ibmetimes a public 
 judgment goes before the moft valuable mercies. 
 God tells the Jews. I will fhake the heavens, the earth 
 the fea, and all nations, and then the defire of all na- 
 tions fball come (x). And Christ gives a promifc of 
 the fame kind to hisDifciples : There fh all be figns in 
 the fun, and in the moon, and in the ftars, and upon 
 the earth diftrefs of nations, with perplexity, the fea and 
 the waves roring ; Mens hearts failing them for fear, 
 and for looking after thofe things, which are coming on 
 the earth ; for the powers of heaven fjjall be fbuken. 
 But when thefe things begin to come to pafs, then look 
 up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth 
 nigh (y), 
 
 [3.] I mail conclude with an addrefs of peace to 
 God's own people, in two particulars. 
 
 1 . How great is your Friend ? How able to deli- 
 ver and protect you r* This David remembers with 
 adoration : In my diftrefs I called upon the Lord, and 
 cried unto my God : The earth fhook and trembled ; he 
 rode upon a cherub and did fly, he was feen upon the 
 wings of the wind (z). When the Prophet tells us that 
 God brings the wind out of his trea furies, he calls him, 
 the portion of Jacob, and Ifrael the rod of his inheri- 
 tance, 
 
 (a) Pfal.Ix. i,2. (y) Luke xxl 25,26,28. 
 
 j (*) Hag. ii. 6, 7. \z) Pfal. xviii. 6, 7, 10. 
 
Serm-5- Gov's Empire ever the Wind, tec'. 105 
 
 tance {a). You are now toffing in a reftlefs tempef- 
 tuous world ; the floods of ungodly men make you afraid ; 
 but raife an eye to the Almightinefs that has under- 
 taken your welfare. For though the floods have lifted 
 up their waves ; yet the Lord 'on high is mightier than 
 the noife of many waters, or the waves of the fea (b). 
 With how much cruel pomp and thirft did Pharaoh 
 purfue the trembling flock of Ifrael ? There was no- 
 thing to difoblige his malice and flun his confidence, 
 till God blew with his wind, and covered him -, he funk 
 as lead in the mighty waters (r). 
 
 2 . How happy a thing is it to be interefted in a 
 covenant ? Becaufe, 
 
 ( 1.) That either gives you a protection from thefe 
 calamities, or a blefiing with them. Christ is called 
 an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the 
 tempeft (d). Sometimes God fteps in vifibly between 
 his people and danger •, according to that promife, A 
 thou f and flo all fall at thy right hand, and ten thoufand 
 at thy left, but the evil fjjall not come nigh thee (e). Or 
 if you do take a fhare in the common diftrefs, yet 
 you are not equal fufferers with others: they get no 
 good by it, but it is a means of fpiritual advantage 
 to you. So that you need not be afraid of evil tidings ; 
 your hearts are fixed, trufting in the Lord (/). 
 
 (2.) You have other bleffings that are not liable to 
 thefe hazards. The Lord will create upon every d~vell- 
 ing -place of mount Sion, and upon all her affembhes, a 
 cloud and fmoke by day, and the fhining of a flaming fire 
 by night ; for upon all the glory fhall be a defence : And 
 there fh all be a tabernacle for a fhadow in the day time, 
 and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from florm, 
 and from rain (g). No wind can blow away your 
 inheritance. Christ has compared you to an houfe 
 
 built 
 
 [a) Jer. x. 13, 16. 
 (6) Pfal. xciii. 3, 4. 
 (c) Exod.xv. 10. 
 (<0 Ifai. xxxii. 2. 
 
 (e) Pfal. xci. 7. 
 if) Pfal. cxii. 7. 
 {g) Ifai. iv. 5, 6, 
 
io6 Gcd's Empire over the Wind, &c. Serm. 5^ 
 
 built upon a reck, which fell not, though the rain de- 
 scended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and 
 beat upon it (h). It is faid of the upright fou], that 
 he Jhall dwell on high; his place of defence Jhall be the 
 munitions of rocks \ bread Jhall be given to him, and his 
 waters Jhall be fur e if). You hear that God has the 
 difpofal of ftorms, but he has a nearer hold of your 
 portion. The winds are gathered into his fji, but 
 your happinefs is in his heart. 'The Lord fhall rare out 
 of Sion, and utter his voice from Jerufalem, and the 
 heaven and the earth fhall Jhake ; but the Lord will be 
 the hope of his -people, and the (trength of the children 
 of Ifrael (k); 
 
 (3.) You are going to a place where there fhall be 
 no more of thefe frights and confufions. The Apoltlc 
 tells us, there muft be a removing of thofe things which 
 may be fhaken, as of thofe things that are made ; that 
 thofe things which cannot be shaken may remain. 
 We have received a kingdom which cannot be moved (/). 
 You are born for a ftate of eternal calmnefs. The 
 ruffle and diftradtion that this world is liable to, have 
 no place in thofe glorious regions where your Sa- 
 viour lives. Therefore look within the vail, where 
 there is nothing elfe but fedate purity and fatisfying 
 enjoyment. I will fhut up all with the Pfalmift's 
 words, giving them a little variation, Thou breakeft 
 the Jhips of Tarfhifh with a ftrong wind : but this we 
 have heard, and this we fhall fee, in the city of our 
 Cod, that God will eftabliJJj it for ever (;»). 
 
 {b) Matt, vii 24, 2 J. 
 (i) Ifai. xxxiii. t6. 
 \i) Joel iii. 16, 
 
 (/) Heb. xii. 27, 2S. 
 (m) Pfal.xlviii. 7, 8.. 
 
 £ E RMON 
 

 SERMON VI. 
 
 Public Revolutions the Work of God." 
 
 **************** ***************** ********g 
 
 Preached at Stepney and Crosby-Square, 1704, 
 *****************************************f» 
 
 ^^jSO^ Suppofe, every one that knows this to be the 
 Jg j Ms fifth of November will eafily call to mind, 
 ^ ^ that it is the birth-day of feveral deli- 
 z^/?Uk3s verances to this nation : And as the way of 
 the Lord is fo eminently in the fanffuary, {o they that 
 are wife will obferve thefe things (a) ; and they lie in 
 the way of a rich promife, that they Jl;. all underftand 
 the loving-kindnefs of the Lord, I fhall therefore do 
 as Mofes did, when he faw the bum on a flame, and 
 yet unwafted, viz. turn afide (from the fubjecl: of fome 
 late difcourfes) and fee this great thing (b). The mercy' 
 we are chiefly to look at, is our glorious Revolution, 
 wherein we had an amazing refcue from tyranny and 
 darknefs, by the arrival of his late Majefty King 
 William, and the fuccefs of his wonderful arms. 
 Now that we may fee the greatnefs and luftre of a 
 God in that affair, and take fome inftruction of duty 
 from it, I would recommend to your attention what 
 you find, 
 
 Da n 1 e l 
 
 (a) Pfalm cvij, 43. I \b) Exodus iii. 3, 
 
io8 Public Revolutions the Work of God Serm.6. 
 
 Dan i e l II. 20, 21. 
 
 — — • Blejfedbe the name of God for ever and ever ; 
 for wijdom and might are his. He changeth the 
 times a?idJeqfons -, he removeth kings, and fettetb 
 up kings. 
 
 npHE hiftory which thefe words are a part of, may 
 *^ be crowded into a little compafs. The Jews 
 being now captive in Babylon, fome of them are 
 chofen out to the preferments of the court. They 
 mufl be cunning in knowledge, and Jkilful in all wif- 
 dom, and underjtanding fcience, andjuch as had ability 
 in them to ft and in the king's palace (c). To thefe 
 beauties of nature, they were to add the improvements 
 of a nourifhing education, and be brought up in all 
 the learning of the Chaldeans. After this fettlement, 
 Nebuchadnezzar has the trouble both of finding a 
 dream, and lofing it. He had forgot the thing, but 
 it had left a terror behind : what the memory had 
 difcharged, the confcience felt. 
 
 Upon this he calls his Magicians together, fuch as 
 pretended an intimacy with things out of the com- 
 mon view. He demands of them, what the dream 
 was, as a trial of their fkill about the interpretation (d). 
 He imagined it was as eafy to know thefe things, as to 
 expound them. Their ignorance puts him into an 
 extravagant fury, and he refolves they fhall all fill a 
 facrifice to his humour (e). Daniel and his fellows, 
 being reckoned of their company, were to take a 
 fhare in the common ruin. This makes him beg a 
 little refpite (/) from the king which he fills up with 
 a confederate addrefs to the majefty who could relieve 
 
 them i 
 
 (t) Daniel i. 4. | (e) Daniel ii. 1 z, 13. 
 
 (d) Daniel ii. 9. (/) Danic! ii. 1 5. 
 
Serm.6. Public Revolutions the Work of God. 109 
 
 them j for he went to his houfe, and made the thing 
 known to his companions, that they would defire mercies 
 of the God of heaven concerning this fecret, that Da- 
 niel and his fellows might not be flain with the wife 
 men of Babylon (g). This was to put a glory upon 
 God's wifdom and fovereignty : here was the alle- 
 giance and courage of their faith. Their fuccefs takes 
 the next place in this hiftory ; Then was the fecret re- 
 vealed unto Daniel in a night vifion (h). And my text 
 is the beginning of thofe returns which his gratitude 
 fupplied. There are two things that urge this ado- 
 ration. 
 
 i. The difcovery of the dream, which prevented 
 an expence of innocent blood. This he mentions 
 with veneration and thanks. He revealeth the deep 
 and fecret things : he knoweth what is in the darknefs, 
 and the light dwells with him. 1 thank thee, andpraife 
 thee, thou God of my fathers, who haft given me wif- 
 dom and might, and haft made known unto me now what, 
 we defired of thee -, for thou haft now made known unto 
 us the king's matter (i). This was an extended mercy; 
 but, befides this, there feems to be another thing, 
 which draws out his arfeclion into praifes ; and that 
 is, 
 
 2. The matter of the dream. It gave him a view of 
 thofe great changes and convulfions that were to happen 
 in the world. That which affrighted Nebuchadnezzar 9 
 and made his refolutions defperate, has a more gra- 
 cious influence upon Daniel. He is neither funk 
 with an inward darknefs, nor hurried to the ravages 
 of cruelty. He praifes God both for the difcovery 
 and the thing itfelf. Bleffed be the name, &c. Here 
 you may fee, 
 
 Firft, His tribute of praifc ; and that is, eternal 
 adorations to the Majefty of Heaven •, Bleffed be his 
 name for ever and ever* The proipect that God had 
 
 given 
 
 ig) Daniel ii. 17, 18. (/) Daniel ii. 22, 2j. 
 
 (b) Danid ii. 19. [ 
 
r i io Public tteooktiom the work of God. Serm.& 
 
 given him reached to feveral ages. This dream repre- 
 fented a long roll of fuccefllons : and as they were 
 all to be fuftained by an infinite arm, fo he would 
 have them attended in all their motions with praife 
 to the author. Nay, when the things themfelves 
 are run out, they might ftill be reviewed as the me- 
 morials of a divine perfection. 
 
 Secondly* Here is what he grounds it upon, and 
 that is the glory of Gob's Nature and Providence, 
 This is, 
 
 i. Averted. Wifdom and Might are his. Wifdorn to 
 obferve the moft diftant purpofes, and Might to bring 
 them out upon the itage of time. 
 
 2. Proved. By the actual difpenfatioiis which were 
 figured out in the dream. He changelh times and 
 feafons -, he removeth kings and fetteth up kings. He 
 mentions thofe monuments of a divine authority, 
 which are feen in the chief places of the earth. He 
 tumbles down thrones, lays afide rulers with a dif- 
 dain of Providence, tears the fceptre out of their hands, 
 and advances others upon the rubbifh of their great- 
 nefs. 
 
 And we may be faid to have much of Daniel's 
 view. Such things as he admired, are what God has 
 reprefented to us : only he faw them in the diftance 
 and fhadows of a dream, and we in the actual rollings 
 of Providence. The matter of his night- vifion, is 
 the apparent blefling of our day. He had a know- 
 ledge given him, but we have a more fenfible reve- 
 lation of the things themfelves. We want nothing that 
 he had, but that gracious temper of mind with which 
 he improved all. We are upon higher ground with 
 refpect to advantage ; let us be upon a level with him 
 in obedience and zeal. And that this may be our 
 ftudy, I mall endeavour to found the voice of fuch a 
 Providence, and ihow you what we are to learn by 
 
 it.. 
 
 DoElrine. 
 
Serm.6. Public Revolutions the Work of God. 
 
 HI 
 
 DoBrine. The great Revolutions that God makes 
 in the kingdoms of the world, fhould flir up his peo- 
 ple to bleis and praife him. 
 
 The method fliall be to fhew, 
 
 I. How God manages thefe Revolutions in the 
 kingdoms of the earth. 
 
 II. What praife is that which his people are obliged 
 to upon this account. 
 
 III. Whence the obligation arifes, or what there 
 is in his removing kings and letting up kings, 
 that calls for this revenue of honour. 
 
 IV. The Application. 
 
 I. What methods does God take to work thefe 
 mighty changes in the world. I cannot pretend to 
 follow Providence in all its latitude and variety. I 
 will only mention three heads which lie open to the 
 iirft and eafieft view. 
 
 i. He works thefe Revolutions by the death of 
 kings. That the higheft orders of men are akin to 
 duft and mortality, is a thing that neither bears a 
 denial, nor needs an argument. They mutt in a little 
 time have all their pride quenched in a grave, and 
 change a gaudy retinue for worms and corruption* 
 They may have names that are lacquered over with a 
 falfe divinity •, be called facred, high and mighty, 
 invincible, and heap together abundance of fwelling 
 words ; but ftill death has as fair a blow at majefly, 
 and can as foon make it totter, as he has at the 
 meaneit beggar. They are called Gods, and the chil- 
 dren of the mofi High, but they Jhall die like men (k). 
 And this appears to be the Lord's work : if we 
 confider that the keys of hell and death (/) are hung at 
 his girdle. The breath that iwims through our noftnls, 
 
 can 
 {*) Pf«lm Ixxxji 6, 7. | (/} Rev. i. 18. 
 
112 Public Revolutions the Work of God. Serm.& 
 
 can have no current without his leave. He can pre- 
 fently flop up the channels of a royal life. Kings and 
 princes are but his tenants. He has authority to 
 diflodge them, being that God in whofe hands their 
 breath is, and whofe are all their ways {m). 
 
 We read of fome great men, that their inward 
 thought is, their houfes Jhall continue for ever, and 
 their dwelling-place to all generations («.) But as for 
 themfelves, they are Aiding in the ftreams of time, 
 and making hafte to no other palace than the cham- 
 bers of death, as the Pfalmift tells us in the further 
 courfe of his meditations. Neverthelefs, man being 
 in honour, abideth not (o). Whatever privileges they 
 may boaft of, that they are above control, yet they 
 mull furrender upon the demand of a fuperior King. 
 When his melTenger comes, there are no guards to refill; 
 him. He degrades all the fences of ftate, and hurries 
 away his prifoner. For no man has power over th-e 
 fpirit, to retain it in the day of death, and there is no 
 dif charge in that war (p). 
 
 They may weave out the fplendid fchemes of am- 
 bition, and refolve to purfue them with all the gree- 
 dinefs of nature. But it is all in vain, without the 
 confent of Heaven. The fineft contexture of policy 
 unravels all at once, when God gives his negative 
 voice. They are like a fpider's web, bruihed away 
 with a fmgle ftroke of Providence. Therefore we 
 are bid not to put our truji in princes, nor in the fon of 
 man, in whom there is no help ; for their breath goes 
 forth, they return to their earth, and in that very day 
 their thoughts perifh (q). 
 
 2. God removes princes, by giving them up into the 
 hands of foreign enemies. They are not too high for 
 the difcipline of Heaven. Sometimes he has them 
 upon their good behaviour ; If they be bound with 
 
 fetters, 
 
 (m) Dan. v. 23. [p) Eccl. viii. 8. 
 
 («) Pfalm xlix. n. {q) Pfalm cxlvi. 3,4. 
 
 (•) Pfalm xlix. 12. 
 
Serm.6. Public Revolutions the Work of God. 1 13 
 
 fetters, and held in cords of afflicTwn, then he fhews 
 them their work, and their tranfgreffion that they have 
 exceeded (s). He lets them fee that they have (trained 
 the law, and abufed their authority. He opens their 
 ears to difcipline, and commands that they return from 
 iniquity (/). If they obey and ferve him, they fhall 
 fpend their days in projperiiy, and their years in plea- 
 Jure (u). But if they obey not, they flo all perifh by the 
 fword, and die without knowledge (at). Their life is 
 among the unclean (y). What wrecks and rubbifh of 
 governments do we find in hiftory ? How has a deluge 
 of people broke in upon a nation, firft lweeping off their 
 rulers, and then pofieifing themfelves of the place ? 
 How many refemblances of that prophecy have we 
 found ? A mighty king fhall /land up, that fhall rule 
 with great dominion, and do according to his will: And 
 when he fhall fi and up, his kingdom fhall be broken, and 
 divided towards the four winds of heaven ; though not 
 to his people ; nor according to the dominion which he 
 ruled -, for his kingdom fhall be plucked up even for 
 others be fides thofe (z). 
 
 Thus has Providence cut into the banks of govern- 
 ment, interrupted fucceffions, and made authority 
 flow in another channel. He has dafhed one tyrant 
 againft another, that he might break them both like 
 a potter's veffel ; fo that we may fay that in mo- 
 defty, which Rabfhakeh did in a huff, What have the 
 kings of Affyria done to all lands, deftroying them ut- 
 terly ? as Gozan and Haran, and Rezeph, and the 
 children of Eden, which were in Thelafar ? Where is 
 the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king 
 of the cities of Sepharvaim, of Hena and Ivah {a) ? 
 They are all fwallowed up in a greater government, 
 and united in the fame captivity. 
 
 Vol. I. I Upon 
 
 (/) Job xxxvi. 9. 
 (/) Job xxxvi. 10. 
 {u) Job xxxvi. 1 1. 
 (*•) job xxxvi. 1 2. 
 
 (ji) Job xxxvi. 14. 
 
 (z) Dan.xi. 3, 4. 
 
 {a} 2Kjngsxix. 11,12,13. 
 
i 14 Public Revolutions the Work of God. Serm.6. 
 
 Upon his command, an army of the loweft crea- 
 tures have appeared volunteers in the battle. He 
 plied Pharaoh with fquadrons of flies, frogs, locufts, 
 and caterpillers (b). This the magicians confefled 
 was the finger of God. And furely the characters 
 of divinity appear no lefs full and legible, when he 
 flirs up one ruler againft another. He fent the AJfyrian 
 as the ftaff of his hand, and the rod of his indignation, 
 againft an hypocritical people (c) 5 that by feeling their 
 punifhment, they might remember their God. When 
 the nation was tinctured with the vices of the court, 
 he makes but one labour of it, by crowding rulers 
 and people in the fame drove of captives. He gave 
 them fair warning of this. The Lord/hall bring thee-, 
 and thy king whom thou haft ft over thee, to a naticn 
 which neither thou nor thy fathers have known [d). 
 He threatens this alfo to another people. / will de- 
 liver the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel lord, and a 
 fierce king flail rule over them {e). Sometimes he 
 does thefe things in mercy to his own intereft. When 
 they that call upon him are ripe for deliverance, he 
 can foon find out instruments to bring it about. He 
 laid of Cyrus, He is my Jhcpherd, and Jhall perform all 
 'my pleafure, faying to ferufalem, Thou fhalt be built ; - 
 a I'd to the tern/ le, Thy foundation fJoall be laid (/). And 
 therefore he faith further to his anointed, even to Cyrus, 
 wboje right hand he upheld, I will fib due nations before 
 him, and he fo all f mite through the loins of kings (g). 
 There is none fo high, but he can eafily abafe them : 
 he ordered the prophet Jeremiah to afTert this, and 
 alarm a fenfual court : Say to the king and the queen, 
 Humble yourf elves and ft down -, for your principalities 
 jhall come clown, even the crown of your glory {h). 
 
 3'. God brings about thefe Revolutions, by ftirringup 
 * people to afiert their juit rights and liberties. Thai 
 
 notion, 
 
 (h) E-xclus viii. 19. 
 \c) lia. x. $\6. 
 
 ;,/) Dent. XX Vii). 36. 
 
 {?) lia. six. 4. 
 
 ( f) Ifa. x!iv. a5. 
 
 [:■ | \-;\. xiv I. 
 (, : Jer Ji. 18. 
 
Seriii.6. Public Revolutions the Work of God. ti§ 
 
 notion, that all we have lies at the ruler's mercy, and 
 that he can do us no wrong, was different from Jona- 
 than's opinion : hefuppofesthat the tyranny of a prince, 
 is all an injuftice upon the fubject, and therefore; 
 pleads, Let not the king fin againfi his fervant, even 
 againji David, becaufe he has not finned againji thee (/')» 
 And again, JVloerejore wilt thou fin againji innocent 
 blood, to flay David without a caufe (k) ? Naboth 
 thought himfelf bound in confcience to keep his 
 vineyard from Ahab. The Lord forbid it me, that 1 
 Jhould give the inheritance of my fathers to thee (/). 
 And the method which that unrighteous king obferved, 
 proved that he had no honeft claim, which was firft 
 to kill, and then to take poffeffion : A thing that 
 has been often repeated. But fometimes God makes 
 a people weary of this bondage, and refolved to con- 
 clude it. He gives them an opportunity of unyoking 
 from the captivity they are in, and then fires up a 
 general refolution to take the advantage. 
 
 Thus it was with Ifrael, after they had groaned 
 under their flavery to Moab for many years. God is 
 faid to raife them up a deliverer (m), upon their 
 crying to him ; the man was Ehud, and the methods 
 he was directed to were as violent as the troubles 
 they endured ; to flab the tyrant that held them cap- 
 tive. After this, he blew a trumpet in mount Ephraim (»), 
 and headed the people whom he had begun to refcue. 
 Nay, we have an earlier inftance of a nation's heaving 
 off their burden. We read, that the kings of Sodom 9 
 Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Zoar, ferved Cbedor- 
 laomer the king of yiations twelve years, and in the 
 thirteenth year they rebelled (o). Now, though their 
 firft attempt made their chain the heavier •, yet God 
 bore a fignal teftimony to their caufe afterwards, 
 by making Abram the inftrument of their full re- 
 leafe. And this was ib remarkable a piece of fervice, 
 
 I 2 and 
 
 (l) \ Sam. xix. 4, 
 \k) \ Sam. xix. 5. - 
 {/) 1 K.irig.sxxi. 3. 
 
 (m) Judges iii. 15. 
 (n) Judges iii. 27. 
 (oj Gen. xiv. 2, 3,4^ 
 
n6 Public Revolutions the Work of God, Strm.6. 
 
 and fo worthy of him whole feed Jhould proclaim de- 
 liverance to the captives, that he is not only met and 
 bleffed by the king of Sodom, but by Melchizedeck 
 the king of Salem (p), a type of the promifed Saviour 
 and the oracle of more divine bleffings. 
 
 What a joyful reflection does Deborah make upon 
 that brave and generous fpirit which the Jfraelites 
 mewed in their purfuit of liberty ? Praife ye the Lord 
 for the avenging of Ifrael, when the people willingly 
 offered the?nfelves (q). She afterwards gives a doleful 
 character of thofe times when they were kept in awe ; 
 and from this darker view fhe takes her rife, and 
 embalms the courage of their nobility who affifted 
 in that Revolution. The travellers walked through 
 fry-ways (r). The inhabitants of the villages ceafed, 
 they ceafed in Ifrael (s). Then was there war in the 
 gates -, yet was there not a /hi eld or a f pear feen among 
 forty thou f and in Ifrael (t). After this complaint 
 comes a noble memorial of praife : My heart is to- 
 wards the governors of Ifrael that offered themfelves 
 willingly among the people ; blefs ye the Lord (u). 
 
 It is fad when a nation are folding their hands, and 
 putting themfelves into a pofture of flavery. This 
 is reprefented in fcripture fo far from being a piece of 
 religion, that it is an unmanly fottifhnefs. It may 
 be generally obferved, that the people who fo eafily 
 part with their liberties, do it not in any mortification 
 or felf- denial, but as an indulgence to fome perfonal 
 luxury. Iffachar is ajlrong afs, couching down be- 
 tween two burdens j and hefaw that reft was good, and 
 the land that it was pleafant ; and he bowed hisfhoulder 
 to bear, and beca?ne a fervant to tribute (x). Becauie 
 he would not run the hazard of a battle, therefore 
 he bends to the yoke i and the reafon that is given 
 
 for 
 
 (p) Gen. xiv. 17, 18. 
 (q) Judges v. 2. 
 (r) Judges v. 6. 
 (jJ Judges v. 7. 
 
 (t) Judges v. 8. 
 (u) Judges v. 9, 
 (x) Gen. xlix. 14, 15. 
 
Serm.6. Public Revolutions the Work of God. 117 
 
 for it is becaufe he faw that reft was pleafant : How 
 debafed are thofe apprehenfions that call bondage 
 reft ? His name flands in the catalogue of tribes as a 
 foil to that which comes next. Dan fhall judge his 
 people as one of the tribes of Ifrael : Dan fhall be a 
 ferpent by the way, and an adder in the path, that 
 bites the horfe-heels, fo that the rider fkall fall back- 
 wards (y). He will not fuffer himfelf to be trampled 
 on ; tyranny fhall have no high road over him ; but 
 like a ferpent he rolls himfelf about the foot that treads 
 down his liberties ; and herein he appears like one of 
 the tribes of Ifrael \ . he vindicates and fills up fo great 
 a title. And thus in the ufe of his policy and courage 
 he waits for the falvation of God (z). 
 
 Ufually in the worft of times, when the gene- 
 rality of people are tainted with cowardice, God ftirs 
 up fome few, that the caufe may twinkle when it 
 cannot blaze out. Sometimes it fo happens, that a 
 brave defigning worthy is almoft alone. The per- 
 fons whom he would deliver, tie up his hands by 
 their notions and their faintnefs. Thus it was with 
 Samfon ; "the Ifraelites feem to repine that they had a 
 victorious captain among them. They come and ad- 
 vile him to a non -reft 'fiance, and make ufe of their fub- 
 jeelion as an argument for it. Know eft thou not that 
 the Philiflines are rulers over us ? What is this then that 
 thou haft done unto us ? We are come down to bind thee, 
 that we may deliver thee into their hands (a). Thus 
 that fluggifh generation ufually left him to fight alone, 
 till at kit he died conquering, and perifhed in a tri- 
 umphant (laughter. 
 
 There was a more noble fpirit in Ifrael in the con- 
 cluding and dreggy part of Saul's reign. Many 
 were touched with a juft refentment of his arbitrary 
 meafures, and a companion to David, who was fleeing 
 from an unrighteous enemy. And that the records of 
 
 I 3 thefe 
 
 (y) Gen. xlix. 16, lj. | (a) Judo^s * v - **» l*« 
 
 (%) Gen. xlix. 1 8. 
 
1 1 8 Public Revolutions the Work of God. Serm.6, 
 
 thefe worthies might not be loft, we have a large 
 catai ^ue of their names and proceedings. There 
 are fo many pafTages in that chapter (b), that have a 
 blufh of our late Revolution, that I cannot but turn 
 you to them. You find fome of the neareft re- 
 latives of the court began this revolt. Thefe are they 
 that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himfelf 
 (lofe becaufe of Saul the fon of Kifh : They were among 
 the mighty men, helpers of the war — even of Saul's 
 brethren of Benjamin {c). We have afterwards the 
 defcription of another company, who were warmed 
 with the fpirit of their caufe. Of the Gadites, there 
 feparated themfehes unto David, into the hold in 
 the wildernefs, men of might, and men of war fit 
 for the battle, that could handle floield and buckler^ 
 whofe faces were like the faces of lions, and were as 
 fwift as roes upon the mountains (d). David meets 
 them with a declaration or manifefto •, If ye be come 
 •peaceably to me to help me, my heart fhall be knit unto 
 you ; but if ye be come to betray me, feeing there is no 
 •wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon 
 end rebuke it (e). They aniwer like perfons who were 
 acted from above. And fuch was the language of 
 thofe noble peers and gentlemen who helped on the 
 change of government that begun this day. The 
 fpirit came upon Amafai, who was the chief of the cap- 
 stains, and he [aid, Thine are we David, and on thy 
 fide, thou fon of Jeffe -, peace, peace be unto thee, 
 and peace be to thine helpers, for thy God helpeth 
 Shee(f). 
 
 Again, the army that came to refcue England, was 
 much like David's, it gathered ftrength and numbers 
 with rolling. At that time there came people day by 
 4ay, till it was a great hofi like the Hofl of God (g ) . 
 
 1 An4 
 
 (b) 2 Chron. xii. 
 
 (c) 2 Chron. xii. I, 2. 
 
 (d) 2 Chron. xii. 8. 
 
 (e) 2 Chron. xii. ij. 
 (/) 2 Chron. xii. 18. 
 [£ ) 2 C^ron, xii. 22^ 
 
Ser m . 6 . Public Revolutions the Work of God. 119 
 
 And laftly, we find the defign of this people pa- 
 rallel to that which completed the mercy of cj 4Re- 
 volution. They were ready armed, and came to David, 
 to turn the kingdom of Saul unto him, according to the 
 word of the Lord(h). I have been the longer in this 
 quotation, becaufe if the names were changed, it 
 would be an hiftory of our deliverance. This is all 
 the Lord's work, he calls the removing of Saul his 
 own action. I gave thee a King in mine anger, and I 
 took him away in my wrath (j). That is, he influenced 
 the courage and refolution of the people. 
 
 There feems to be fuch a ftruggle for liberty in the 
 fubjects of Babylon, though they were under a King 
 that obeyed very little law but his own will. Nebu- 
 chadnezzar is depofed for feven years : it is true, the 
 thing was a divine appointment •, but his people are 
 employed as the executioners of it. This is the phrale 
 of the threatning, They fhall drive thee from men, and 
 they fhall make thee eat grafs as oxen, and they fhall wet 
 thee with the dew of heaven (k). And upon the reco- 
 very of his honour and reafon, he was reftored to the 
 empire by their means ; this he acknowledges, My 
 counfellers and my lords fought unto me, and I was 
 ejiabli/hed in my kingdom, and excellent ?najejly was 
 added to me (I). Now the fin that might ftir up both 
 God and man againil him, feems to be injuftice and 
 cruelty, the fcandals of an arbitrary government; for 
 it muft be fomething contrary to Daniel's advice, viz. 
 That he would break off his fins by righteoufnefs, and 
 his iniquities by fhewing mercy to the ■poor, if it might be 
 a lengthning of his tranquillity (in). This account of 
 the fame matter Daniel gives to Belfhazzar ; fpeaking 
 of his grandfather, he fays, when his heart was lifted 
 up, and his mind was hardned in pride, he was depofed 
 from his kingly throne^ and they took his glory from him (»). 
 
 I 4 II. The 
 
 [b) 2Chron.xii. 23. 1 (/) Dan. iv. 36. 
 
 [i) Hof. xiii. 11. \tn) Dan. iv. 4. 
 
 (i) Dan. iv. 25. [• (»} Dan. v. 20. 
 
120 Public Revolutions the Work of God. Serm. 6.' 
 
 II. The next thing is, to give you an account, 
 what praise is owing to God for fuch remarkable 
 changes as thefe. How muft it be expreffed ? This 
 I have no time to anfwer with an enlargement. In 
 ihort, it is to be done by a great opinion of his power 
 and love, a devotednefs to his wili, a zeal for the in- 
 tereft of his glory, a cautious diftance from whatever 
 offends him -, a ftrong hope in his mercy for the time 
 to come, and an acknowledgement of his agency in 
 the whole deliverance. This being too much for our 
 time, I mall, 
 
 III. Inquire into the grounds of the obligation ; 
 or why fuch Revolutions as thefe mould engage us to 
 blefs and adore our Lord. Here I will mention fome 
 of thofe defigns that thefe Providences are aimed at ; 
 which are thefe, 
 
 i. To affert God's fovereignty, and make his name 
 glorious. To teach us, that promotion comes not from 
 theeaft, weft, or fouth, but God is judge j he fulls down 
 one, and fets up another (<?). At fuch times he vindicates 
 that character, he accept eth not the perfons of princes , 
 nor regardeth the rich more than the poor, for they are 
 all the works of his hand(p). And therefore our 
 practices fall in with the genuine defign and courfe of 
 the Providence. All the terrors that Nebuchadnezzar 
 felt, were to beat this conviction into him. Seven 
 times were to pafs over him, till he knew that the moft 
 High ruled in the kingdom of men, and gave it towhom- 
 foever he pleafed (q). Pie mull live the life of a beaft, 
 till he comes to ufe the reafon of a man. 
 
 Such as lie foft in all the delights of greatnefs, are 
 very apt to have their confciences dozed with what 
 they enjoy : and they feldom want thofe who help 
 on the charm with flattery. There are fome who 
 
 make 
 
 {o) Pfal, Ixxv. 6, 7. (?) Dan, iv 25. 
 
 (/>) Job x\x\v. iS. J 
 
Serm.6. PublicRevolutiomtheTVorkofGod. 121 
 
 make the King glad with their wickednefs, and the 
 Princes with their lies (r). They alfo make \\\mfick 
 with bottles of wine, fo that he ftretcheth out his hands 
 with the /corners {s). They call them gods on earth, 
 but tempt them to live as if there were none in hea- 
 ven. Many pretend to reprefent the Majefty above, 
 but, alas, too often it is no otherwife than a traitor 
 may be faid to reprefent his Sovereign, becaufe he re- 
 bels in the royal livery. 
 
 To be fure the great Fountain of all equity and 
 goodnefs, can give them no power to violate and op- 
 prefs the liberties of their iubjects. 
 
 For, as one has lately oblerved *, he has no fucfi 
 power himfelf, and consequently it is a falfhood to 
 pretend any is received from him. He made it the 
 magna charla oilfrael, that their King fhould be often 
 reading in his law, that his mind might not be lifted 
 up above his brethren, and that he might prolong his 
 days in bis kingdom (/). When they receive the flat- 
 teries of people who love not the ftrictnefs of Reli- 
 gion, and humour a fenfual court, they throw off all 
 regard to heaven. After the death of good Jehoiada, 
 the Princes of Judah came and made obeifance to the 
 King, and the King hearkned unto them : and they left 
 the haufe of the Lord God of their fathers, and ferved 
 groves and idols, till wrath came upon Judah and Je- 
 rufalem for this their trefpafs (»). He parted with his 
 Religion for a compliment. 
 
 Now, when they are running out into this extra- 
 vagance, it is time to draw the reins, and let them 
 know there is an higher Sovereign. Samuel calls Saul 
 a rebel, becaufe he had not paid a fuitable deference 
 to the Majefty above ; and tells him that God would 
 diftrain for his right. Rebellion is as the fin :>} witch- 
 craft, and Jlubbornnefs is as iniquity and idolatry ; be- 
 caufe 
 (r) Hof. vii. 3. (/) Deut. xvii. 20. 
 
 (;) Hof. vii. 5. (») 2 Chron.xxiv. 17, 18. 
 
 * 
 
 Mr Fleetwood, in his Thankfgiving Sermon, 
 
122 Public Revolutions the Work of God. Serm. 6. 
 
 caufe thou haft rejetled the word of the Lord, the Lord 
 has rejetled thee from being King (x). We read in this 
 prophefy of a King, whofe power fhall be mighty, but 
 not by his own power ; and he Jhall deftroy wonderfully , 
 and Jhall profper and praclife, and deftroy the mighty 
 and the holy people : And through his policy he fhall caufe 
 craft to profper in his hand, andjloall magnify himfelf in 
 bis heart, and by peace fhall deftroy many : but when he 
 flands up againft the Prince of princes, he ft) all be broken 
 without hand {y). They that will not give the things 
 that are God's, are likely to lofe the things that are 
 Cefar's. 
 
 2. To punifh the injuflice and cruelty which the 
 earth has groaned under. The King that faithfully 
 judgelh the poor, his throne Jhall be eftabiifhed for ever{z). 
 But as a roring lion, or a raging bear, fo is a wicked 
 ruler over a poor people (a). God will wreii a govern- 
 ment out of the hands of thofe that defile and abufe it. 
 The wife man was fo fully allured of this, that he 
 would have the injured believe a time of recompence 
 js coming. Seeft thou the oppreffion of the poor, and the 
 violent perverting of judgment andjuftice in a province ; 
 marvel not at the matter, for he that is higher than the 
 higheft regards it, and there be higher than they [b). He 
 has often given battle to thofe that delight in blood and 
 haughtinels •, as they have mown no pity to their in- 
 feriors, nor veneration for the laws, fo they have had 
 judgment without mercy. It is fo great a part of the 
 divine character to fave the opprefled, and punifh evil- 
 doers, that David makes his importunate claim for 
 fuch an appearance. O God, to whom vengeance be- 
 longs, Lord, to whom vengeance lelongeth, lift up 
 thy/elf, thou Judge of the earthy and render a reward 
 to the proud -, how long ft: all the wicked, how long ft) all 
 the wicked triumph {c) ? 
 
 And 
 
 (*) i Sam. xv. 23. {a) 
 
 (y) Dan. viii. 24, 25. {h) 
 
 {z) Prov. xxix. 14, J (0 
 
 ) Prcv. xxviii. 15, 
 Ecclef. v. 8. 
 Pfal. xq'w. 1 , z, j. 
 
Serm. 6. Public Revolutions the Work of God. 1 23 
 
 And is not this matter of praife ? It mingles the 
 glories of his power and juftice : we behold him both 
 as a mighty and a righteous God in the fame view. 
 And when he founds his own praife with fuch a loud- 
 nefs of Providence, can they that love his falvation be 
 filent ? They mud fay, Let the Lord be magnified, who 
 takes pleafure in the profperity of his fervants ♦, be is 
 known by the judgment which he executes-, the wicked are 
 fnared in the work of their own hands (d). 
 
 3. To relieve and fuccour his own people. He 
 will not fuffer the caufe of his fervants to perifh. 
 Though Princes and the great ones of the earth mould 
 be the affailants, yet they imagine a vain thing (<?). 
 Religion mall have a fettlement and a glory, either 
 by their favour, or in their ruin. No weapon that is 
 formed againjl thee Jhall prof per, and every tongue that 
 Jhall rife againjl thee in judgment, thou Jhalt condemn : 
 this the heritage of the fervants of the Lord, and their 
 right eou fiefs is of me, faith the Lord (/). Nay, fb 
 jealous is he of their peace, that he has exprefled his 
 refentment of any haughtinefs toward them, though 
 one of his own people mould be the offender ; their 
 religious liberties, the appointments of his houfe, 
 mult not be rifled. 
 
 Uzziah has the character of one that walked in the 
 ways of the\Lord (g). He is alfo reprefented as a great 
 artift in war, fo that his name fpread far abroad, for 
 he was marvelloujly helped till he was Jlrong. But 
 when he had the vanity to break in upon the inftitu- 
 tions of the temple, and commit a rapine upon a di- 
 vine inclofure, immediately God ftains his honour 
 with a leprofy. He is feparated from all public af- 
 fairs, and cut off from the houfe of the Lord. God has 
 always fhewn a tendernefs of heart for them, who 
 have any tendernefs of conicience for him. They 
 
 are 
 
 (4) Pfal. xl. 16. XXXV. 27. I (/) Ifai.liv. 17. 
 
 ix. 16. I (£) 2 Chrop. xxvi. K, 
 
 [() Pfal.ii. j. I 
 
'224 Tubllc Revolutions the work of God. Serm.6. 
 
 are dear in his eyes, he fets an higher rate upon them 
 than he does on a vicious ruler. They have the pre- 
 ference in his care : He fuffers no man to do them 
 wrong-, nay, He reproves kings for their fakes, faying, 
 ¥ouch not mine anointed (h). It is fpoke to the honour 
 of Afa, that he removed Maachah his mother from being 
 queen, becaufe fhe had made an idol in a grove (/') ; and 
 this God owned with a reward of profperity in his 
 affairs. 
 
 Now, may not this awaken all the powers of gra- 
 titude ? Here is a glorious vein of compaffion to us 
 running through the whole bulk of the Providence. 
 Though there is fo much terrible in it to the ungodly, 
 yet it is all checquered with love to the daughters of 
 Jerufalem. 
 
 4. To make way for Christ's further advance- 
 ment. All thefe Revolutions are fo many pioneers to 
 prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths 
 Jlraigbt. He will overturn, overturn, overturn it, 
 until he come whofe right it is, and will give it him (£). 
 That lift of changes which Daniel faw in his dream, 
 were all fo many fteps to a Mediator's empire. In 
 the days of thefe things fhall theGod of heaven fet up 
 a kingdom, which fjall never be dejlroyed ; and the king- 
 dom fhall not be left to other people, but it fhall break in 
 pieces and confume all thofe kingdoms, and it fhall ft and 
 for ever (I). 
 
 All power is now given to him in heaven and earth : 
 he has a claim to the allegiance of the world, and we 
 hope the day is coming, when he will more vifibly 
 aflert it ; when promifes fhall quicken into Provi- 
 dence, and what he has told his people in words he 
 will give them in things. This is a government that 
 fhall never ceaie, a King who muft not be removed ; his 
 name Jhall endure for ever, his name JJj all continue as 
 
 the 
 
 (/>) Pfalmciv. 14, 15. (k) Ezek. xxi. 25, 26, 
 
 (/') 2 Chron. xv. 16. I (/) Daniel ii. 44, 
 
Serm.6. Public Revolutions the Work of God. 125 
 
 the fun -, men /hall be blejfed in him, and all nations Jhall 
 call him blejfed {my 
 
 APPLICATION. 
 
 See how dear God's people are to their Lord, and 
 how foon they may come by their deliverance. He 
 can dethrone thofe ruling powers, who are the chief 
 movements in any defign againft them ; fuch as guide 
 and ftir all the inferior wheels. The fuccefs of thefe 
 vaft intrigues againft religion ufually depends upon 
 the power of fome one man : now, how eafily can 
 God crufh the numerous hopes that are gathered up 
 in that perfon ? He threatens to cut off the King of 
 Samaria as fome upon the water (n). 
 
 And this is that great exploit of love which we are 
 come to admire. Some years ago the eyes of Europe 
 were waiting to fee England plunged either in popery 
 or blood. Every thing feemed to promife the mother 
 of abominations either a converfion among us, or a 
 conqueft over us. They had actually got a monarch 
 in our own nation to head the intereft. We were al- 
 ready beginning to have a religion without gofpel, 
 and a government without law. What a treachery 
 and compliance was there amongft thofe who mould 
 have contended earneflly for the purity of their faith, 
 and the rights of their country ? What an unhappi- 
 nefs would the notions of thole times have brought us 
 to, when we muft neither defend the life that we now 
 have, nor inquire into that we hereafter expect ? Our 
 hold of this life was loft in the doctrine of non-re- 
 fiftance, and our ftudy of a better was to be drowned 
 in an implicit faith. But blejfed be God for ever and 
 ever, wifdom and might are his, he changeth the times 
 midfeafons, he remove th Kings, and fetteth up Kings. 
 
 He ftirred up his people to depofe the man whom 
 they could not before exclude. Though they failed 
 
 in 
 [m) Pfalm lx,\ii. 17. (n) Hofea x. 7. 
 
126 Public Revolutions the Work of God. Serm.6* 
 
 in refilling his claim, yet they effectually feized his 
 forfeiture. He gracioufly found them a perfon, who 
 was firft their Captain to recover Chriftian Faith and 
 Englifh Liberties, and then their King to defend them. 
 ♦And by his rich furniture of courage, wifdom, inte- 
 grity and temper, he appeared to be one of heaven's 
 own rearing, a King whom God bimfelf had fet up % 
 prepared with valour to empty the throne, and with 
 conduct to fill it. With what an expedition and 
 calmnefs was all this done ? Though there was fuch 
 a wafte of noble blood in bringing King James to 
 the crown, yet there is none fpilt in chafing him from 
 it. God put this early credit upon the Prince of 
 Orange, by making the eafinefs of his victory defcribe 
 the virtue of his caufe, which was not to deftroy 
 England, but to fave it. And this was the time 
 which was turned unto us from for row to joy , and from 
 mourning to a good day (o). 
 
 We may alfo blefs God that he has guarded his 
 own work from the ravage of men. Some have 
 taken pains to unhinge our fettlement, by fetting up 
 the degenerate plant of a ftrange vine. They fay of 
 England, as others did of judab, Let us go up againfi 
 it and vex it, and make a breach therein for us, and fet 
 a king in the midft of it, even the f on of Tabeal (p). 
 But fee the goodnefs of our God. We have not only 
 efcaped their mifchief in our own borders, but have 
 been able to crufh it in diftant nations. The Englifh 
 fword has both defended its own inclofure, and digged 
 up the French plants in other parts. 
 
 He has quickened the principles of our Revolu- 
 tion in France •, and though the perfons that efpoufe 
 that caufe are but an handful, yet they may fpread 
 out like Elijah's cloud, till they darken the face of 
 that heaven. He has maintained the fame principles 
 in England, by giving us another Sovereign upon the 
 Revolution foot, and making her lb zealous to fecure 
 
 our 
 
 (ff)Eilh. ix. 22. 1 [f) Tfa. vii.6. 
 
Serm.6. Public Revolutions tlx Work of God. 127 
 
 our liberties from the invafion of thofe abroad, and 
 the peevilhnefs of feveral at home. May the fame 
 blefling Hill go along with her, to fmother both in- 
 teftine broils and foreign tyrannies ; to prefer ve the 
 rights of people where they are eftablifhed, and reftore 
 them where they are loft. Let our chief regard be 
 gathered up to the fupreme fountain of thefe mercies. 
 Let us live like a people faved by the Lord, and be 
 preparing for that auguft and bleffed day when the 
 governments of this world mail all diflblve, and our 
 eyes fee the King of Heaven in his beauty^ and the 
 glory of the land that is now afar off (qj, 
 
 [q] Ifa. xxxiii. 17. 
 
 
 5 E R M G..N 
 

 SERMON VII. 
 
 The Divine Right of the Revolution. 
 
 Preached November 5, 1707. 
 
 i Chron. XII. 23. 
 
 *7&y£ are the numbers of the bands ; that were ready 
 armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, 
 to turn the kingdom of Said to him, according to 
 the word of the Lord, 
 
 3*"<*>#c$o"*S HIS chapter is the hiftory of a noble 
 % % Revolution in the land of Ifrael ; and 
 
 °|? X there are feveral things in it fo like ours, 
 
 k c$o&c$ojm| that the fame lines of character may de- 
 scribe them both. The courfes of Pro- 
 vidence towards us, are fo plain a copy of what we 
 read in the Bible, as if that Book did rat tell us the 
 cafe of other people, but was prophetic of our own. 
 I believe indeed, that fuch paflages are a fair account 
 of what happened in thofe days ; we here read the 
 great works that God did in the limes of old. But 
 they are capable of a more exteniive notion, and may 
 be confidered as the rule and fample of future won- 
 ders. When we look over this chapter with the neareft 
 application to ourfelves, it will bear the remark that 
 Vol, I. K, our 
 
130 The Divine Right of the 'Revolution. Serm.7. 
 
 our Lord made upon another place, Thh day are thefe 
 Scriptures fulfilled in your ears. 
 
 We have here a lift of thofe brave Worthies that 
 gave up themfelves to feek the welfare of lfrael, and 
 have it fecured in a better eftablifhment. Some of 
 them are more e^arly in their appearance than others. 
 
 Firjl, We have their names fet down who came to 
 "David to Ziklag, whilfl be kept himfelf clofe becaufe 
 of Saul the fori of KifJj ; and they were among the mighty 
 men, helpers of the war (a). God infpired them with 
 a tender fenfe of the injuries offered to that good man, 
 and their own common peace. Thefe join with him 
 in an evil day, when the tyranny of a diftorted court 
 had driven him out of the land, from abiding in the in- 
 heritance of the Lord, and laid him under temptations 
 to go and ferve other gods (b). Their generous friend- 
 fhip has a peculiar record, There fell fome of Manajfeh 
 to David, when he came with the Philijlines agahifl Said 
 to battle (c). Thefe made the firft attempt to break 
 the bondage that they were under to a cruel Prince, 
 and took a fhare with David, whilfl he was driven 
 like a partridge upon the mountains. This gave them 
 fuch an endearment to him, that he fends up their 
 names to heaven, and recommends them there. Let 
 them jhout for joy, and be glad that favour my righteous 
 caufe ; yea, let them fay continually , Let the Lord be 
 viagmfied, who has pleafttre in the prof per ity of his fer- 
 vant ; and then my tongue f!o all f peak of thy right eoufiefs, 
 and of thy praife all the day long (d). 
 
 Secondly, Here is another catalogue of thofe that 
 flowed in to the fame undertaking • but it was after 
 their King had been cut off for his tranfgrejjlon (e), as 
 God himfelf calls it. They all knew he had \eh ^ 
 fon behind him, and there was a party who could 
 never fo well fix their own intereft as upon that bot- 
 tom : 
 
 (a) 1 Chron. xii. i. 
 (Ij) 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. 
 tc) 1 Chron, xii. 1 9. 
 
 {d) Pfal.xxxv. ?.;, 28, 
 \e) 1 Chron. x. \ 3. 
 
Serm.7. ffl* Divine Bight of the 'Revolution* 131 
 
 torn : but the main body of the tribes had their 
 thoughts better turned, they do not fuffer their reafon 
 and the public peace to be inflaved with a groundlefs 
 notion ; but get themfelves ready armed to the war, 
 and came to David at Hebron, to turn the kingdom from 
 Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord. 
 
 Here you fee Firfl, The defign with which they 
 unite, a common inclination to turn the kingdom from 
 Saul to David; and, Secondly, what it was that guided 
 them in it ; the word of the Lord. 
 
 The defign or caufe that they came about was, to 
 turn the kingdom of Saul to David. He was now 
 dead in battle under a fignal frown of Providence. 
 God had laid him afide with a more than ordinary 
 fcandal upon him. And as he forfeited the crown 
 himfelf, fo he deftroyed the claim of his family. It 
 is true, he kept up the name and figure of a King, 
 till his woful life funk upon mount Gilboa ; but his 
 title was demolifhed, God had publicly difowned 
 him : thofe words were leveled at him in perfon, 
 when Samuel refufed the common civility of a fubjecT, 
 and told him, / will not return with thee : thou haft 
 rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected 
 thee from being King over Ifrael (/). And when Pro- 
 vidence made the full feizure afterwards, it was but 
 the late execution of this fentence. He was virtually 
 dethroned when the Prophet told him, The Lord has 
 rent the kingdom of Ifrael from thee this day, and given 
 it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou {g). 
 To fulfil thefe things, was that which thefe people 
 came about to Hebron. 
 
 That which gave the defign all its life, and made 
 it profper, was, its being according to the word of the 
 Lord. This may fignify one or both of thefe things ; 
 
 1 . It made good the prophecies that God had given 
 his people by Samuel. Thefe are the exprefs words 
 of the itory. All the elders of Ifrael came to the King 
 
 K 2 to 
 
 (/) i Sam. xv. 26. J {g) 1 Sam. xv. 28. 
 
132 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm.7 • 
 to Hebron ', and David made a covenant with them in 
 Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David King 
 over Ifrael, according to the word of the Lord, by Samuel (h). 
 This divine inftitution was a thing univerfally known. 
 Befides the threatning againfl Saul, which I have but 
 newly read, David was fet apart to the government 
 with the deepefl folemnity in the -prefence of all his bre- 
 thren. He owns this, when he comes to difrobe, and 
 lay down the authority that he had worn forty years. 
 He refigns it, as he took it, under the notion of a 
 grant from heaven. The Lord God of Ifrael has chofen 
 Judah to be the Ruler, and ofthehoufe ofjudah the houfe 
 of my father, and among the fons of my father, he liked 
 me to make me King over Ifrael (i). And the interval 
 between his confecration to the office and his enjoy- 
 ment of it, cleared the title : he was difpofed of into 
 fuch a life, as proved a working him up for the throne. 
 In his troubles he went to dwell with Samuel at Naioth 
 in Ramah. This fixed the eyes of all the people upon 
 him. It was the univerfal fenfe of the nation, that 
 God had chofen him to rule the tribes of his inheritance. 
 Nay the perfons who fet themfelves againfl this defign, 
 were Hung with a conviction that thus it would be : 
 as Jonathan tells David, when he went to him in the 
 wood, Fear not, fays he, for the hand of Saul my fa- 
 ther fhall not find thee : thou JJoalt be King over Ifrael, 
 and I f/jall be next unto thee, and that alfo Saul my fa- 
 ther knows ik). And Abne.r himfelf, who made fuch 
 a buftle to keep the fuccefiion in the right line as he 
 pretended, when he comes over, has his tongue very 
 ready at the common argument : The Lord hath fpoken 
 of David, faying, By the hand of David my fervant will 
 I fave my -people out of the hand of the Philiflines, and 
 out of the hand of all their enemies (/). 
 
 2. Their doing this according to the zvord of the 
 Lord, may fignify thole particular directions that he 
 
 gave 
 
 (h) 1 Chron. xi. 3. (&) 1 Sam. xxiii. 17. 
 
 (/) 1 Chron. xxiii. 5. j \l) 2Sam.iii. 18. 
 
Serm.7- The Divine Right of the Revolution. 133 
 
 gave them in the management. He did not only ap- 
 point the mercy, and nourifh their hopes of it, but he 
 ftirs up the people with an efpecial force and life to 
 clofe the defign. He makes ufe of their unanimity 
 and zeal as the tools of Providence. As for God his 
 way is perfetl, the word of the Lord is tried: he girds 
 me with fir ength, and makes my way perfect : he makes 
 my feet like hinds feet, andfets me up on my high places. 
 Thou hafl given me the jlneld of thy fahation •, thy right 
 hand has holden me up, and thy gentlenefs has made me 
 great -, thou hafl enlarged my fieps under me(m). In 
 that fong he enlivens the whole ftory of this mighty 
 change, and turns it into praife. For, as you fee in 
 the title of it, He fpake thefe words to the Lord in the 
 day that he was delivered from the hand of all his ene- 
 mies, and from the hand of Saul. 
 
 If you take the text in both thefe fenfes, it may be 
 applied to any deliverance in our days. They are 
 according to the word of the Lord. Though we have 
 not the names of perfons, and the particular forms of 
 mercy fet out fo plainly as the Jews had them ; yet 
 they are all conducted by the general funds of pro- 
 mile that refer to New Telia ment ages. They may 
 "be called his arifing to vifitSion (») ; it is the breaking 
 forth of his thoughts of peace towards us, and giving 
 his captives an expelled end (0). We wait for the en- 
 largement of the Church, the tumble of Babylon : 
 when the pomp and forceries of the harlot He floating 
 as a great wreck, then the year of his redeemed is come. 
 And this is no other than words quickened into life ; 
 the Bible breathing in Providence ; it is the myflery of 
 God that mould be finifhed, as he has declared to his 
 fervants the Prophets (p). And then it is according to 
 the word of the Lord. If you confider what a noble 
 difplay of Providence the happy fcenes have opened 
 
 K 3 with. 
 
 [m) Pfal. xvlii. 30, 32, 33, I (0) Jer. xxix. II, 
 
 35>3 6 - (/) Rev. x.7. 
 
 (») Pfal. cii. 13. 
 
 1 
 
134 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm .7. 
 
 ■with. It is the recompence of God, the vengeance of bis 
 temple ; the inquifition that he makes for blood, and his 
 kind remembring the cry of the humble. So that I 
 may give you the general truth of the words, and 
 adapt them to the mercy of the day in this 
 
 Docl. Such Revolutions in government, as make 
 
 for the common advantage and peace, fall in 
 
 wHh God's purpofe, and are under the conduct 
 
 of Providence. 
 
 We mean no lefs than all this, when we fay, they 
 
 are according to the word of the Lord. I muft neither 
 
 forget the text nor the day •, but as the one leads me 
 
 into the other, I will confider what is remarkable in 
 
 them both, under the following method. 
 
 I. I mail obferve what account we have of this 
 Revolution, the turning of the kingdom from the 
 houfe of Saul to David. 
 
 II. Confider that great affair, as it was according to 
 
 the word of the Lord. 
 
 1 . Here is the hiftory of a change in the govern- 
 ment, that God himfelf allowed among his people. 
 I fhall not run through the whole account, but only 
 touch upon fome things that are moft valuable in their 
 cafe, and may be eafily transferred to ours. What I 
 hive to fay upon this fubjecl: fhall be ranged under 
 thefe two heads, Saul's forfeiture, and David's title. 
 
 (1.) The kingdom is rent from Saul, who may be 
 called the Lord's anointed in a more fignificant way 
 than any perfon in the world now can be. He was 
 mentioned by name to Samuel. He had a vial of oil 
 poured upon his head, and the ceremony expounded 
 the fame moment ; Is it not becaufe the Lord has 
 anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance (q) ? To 
 make it more evident, he had another heart given to 
 Kim, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, he pro- 
 prieties, 
 (?) 1 Sam. x. i« 
 
Serm .7. The Divine Right of the Revolution. 135 
 
 phefies, and was in all his actions fo much above 
 himfelf, that all who knew him before-time faid one 
 to another, What is this that is come unto the fon of 
 Kijh ? Is Saul alfo among the Prophets ? He was after- 
 wards chofen by lot, and then prefented to the people, 
 who received him with fhouts of approbation. His 
 royal guards were a band of men whofe hearts God 
 had touched. He gives a noble handfel of his having 
 the fpirit of government, by raifing the fiege zx.jabejh- 
 Gilead, and defeating the Ammonites fo completely, 
 that not two of them were left together. This was fo 
 vifible an inftance of God's appointing him, that 
 they go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there ; they 
 facrifice peace-offerings, and Saul and the men of I fr a el 
 rejoiced greatly before the Lord. And yet, though his 
 title is fo well confirmed, he diffolves it by mal-ad- 
 miniftration ; and this was publicly known. Indeed, 
 with much ado, he gets Samuel to honour him before 
 the elders of the people, but he came no more to fee him 
 till the day of his death ; and though he mourned for 
 him, yet this was teftimony enough of the hordes re- 
 lenting that he had made Saul King over Ifrael. The 
 notions of an indelible character, and a facred perfbn 
 who could do no wrong, and muft fuffer no juftice, 
 belong rather to the language of Jfiodod, than of Ca- 
 naan. 
 
 There are fix things that the Scripture has laid to 
 his charge as the provocations of Almighty juftice 
 againft him. 
 
 1. The firft mifcarriage of his reign was a woful 
 diffidence of God. The ftory is a very awful one. 
 When Samuel had anointed him, he gives him feveral 
 figns that might be as a prop to his faith and courage : 
 but, among the reft of the things, he lays before 
 him one plan of his duty that was not to take place till 
 fome time afterwards. Thou (halt go down before me to 
 Gilgal, and behold I come down unto thee, to offer burnt- 
 offerings and to facrifice facrifces of peace - offerings ; 
 K 4 ' feven 
 
136 Tie Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm .7. 
 
 /even days Jhalt thou tarry, till I come unto thee, and 
 ■Jbew thee what thou Jhalt do (r). It is the firft act of 
 obedience that God required of him, and it feems to 
 be given as a teft of his behaviour. And indeed it 
 proved the turning point, upon which the continuance 
 or the diflblution of his authority depended. It was 
 two years after that he came to Gilgal, his army was 
 trembling, the Philiftines ready to fwallow him up. 
 At that time he had the weight of this charge upon 
 his confcience. He remembered with what folemnity 
 the command was given, but here is a mighty en- 
 counter between fear and duty. He tarried /even days, 
 according to the fet time that Samuel had appointed (s), 
 i. e. to the beginning of the feventh day, as that 
 paflfage is ufually underftood, but Samuel came not to 
 Gilgal, and the people were fcattered from him, and 
 Saul faid, Bring hither a burnt-offering to me, and 
 peace-offerings. Some writers think the crime of this 
 action was his own prefenting the facrifice, which was 
 a work that God had feparated an whole tribe to. 
 But we need not go fo deep in conjecture to find out 
 his wickednefs. Here is a vifible flur upon the Pro- 
 vidence that had kept him thus far. You fee how 
 little he mak^s of a command, when he fuffers the 
 appearance of danger to get the maftery over his con- 
 victions. You find, he does it with a regret ; I faw 
 that the people were fcattered from me, and that thou, 
 fays he to Samuel, camefi net within the days appointed, 
 and that the Philiftines gathered them] elves together to 
 Michmafij, therefore faid I, the Philiftines will come 
 dozvn to me to Gilgal, and I have not made fupplication 
 to the Lord, I forced my jclf therefore, and offered a burnt- 
 offering (t). This made a gap in his confcience, and 
 was the beginning of a carelefs diflblute reign : we 
 read of few applications to God afterwards : for 
 David complains and gives this as the reafon why he 
 
 would 
 
 (r) x Sam. x. 8. (/) I Sam. xiii. 1 1, 12. 
 
 (j) 1 Sam. xiii. 7,9. | 
 
Serm.7- The Divine Right of the Revolutidn. 137 
 would bring back the ark of God, becaufe, fays he, 
 we enquired not at it in the days of Saul (u). 
 
 This is a cafe fo very much perfonal, that it was 
 intirely his own : but yet there may be a parallel to 
 it in the carriage of others. It is a crime of the fame 
 malignity, when princes have no regard to the chief 
 obligations of their place ; when they fall into mea- 
 fures of their own, and do any thing that either fear 
 or paflion hurries them to, rather than take the plain 
 dictates of law and confcience. Thefe forces of 
 juftice make a perfon odious in the fight of God 
 and man. The King by judgment eft ablifheth the land-, 
 but he that receiveth gifts overthrows it (#). 
 
 2. Another thing that Saul was charged with, is, 
 his partiality to the Amalekites. They were the firft 
 of the nations that made an attack upon Ifrael when 
 they came out of Egypt ; but as Balaam faid of them, 
 Their latter end was to be deftroyedfor ever (y ). There 
 was fo much inhumanity and bafenefs in that action, 
 that God preferved it in the memory of his people, 
 and configned it over to their vengeance. Remember 
 what Amalek did to thee by the way, when ye came 
 forth out of Egypt : how he met thee by the way, and 
 fmote the hindermoft of thee, even all that were feeble 
 behind thee, and feared not God ; Therefore it Jhall be 
 when the Lord thy God has given thee reft from all 
 thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy 
 God has given thee for an inheritance to poffefs it, that 
 thoujloalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under 
 Heaven ; thou fhalt not forget it (z). Here was an 
 awful refentment of their cruelty, and it is in pur- 
 fuance of this quarrel that God put Saul upon that 
 expedition. / remember what Amalek did to Ifrael> 
 how he laid wait for him by the way when they came 
 out of Egypt. Now go and finite Amalek, and utterly 
 deftroy all that they have -, and fp are them not, but flay 
 
 7nan 
 
 (a) 1 Chron. xiii. 3. (y) Numb. xxiv. 20. 
 
 (*•) Prov. xxix. 4. [z) Deut. xxv. 17, 18, 19. 
 
138 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm.7. 
 
 man and woman, infant and fuckling, oxen and jheep, 
 camel and afs (a). Here, inftead of hearty obedience 
 he does the work of the Lord deceitfully : he fpared 
 Agag, and the heft of the fJoeep and oxen, and the 
 fatlings and lambs, and all that was good would he not 
 utterly dcftroy, but every thing that was vile and refufe 
 they deftroyed utterly (b). So that his obedience was 
 luft rather than duty. 
 
 This muffling with the command proved fatal to 
 him. God has an early refentment of it, and tells 
 Samuel, It repents me that I have fet up Saul to be 
 King, for he is turned back from following me, and has 
 not performed my commandment (c). The ingratitude 
 of this is what the prophet urges upon his confcience. 
 When thou waft little in thine own fight, waft thou not 
 made head over the tribes of Ifrael? and the Lord anoint- 
 ed thee king over Ifrael ; and he fent thee on a journey , 
 and faid, Go, and dcftroy the /inner s the Amalekites, 
 and fight againft them until they be confumed. Where- 
 fore then didft thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but 
 didft fly upon tbefpoil, and didft evil in the fight of the 
 Lord (d) ? 
 
 A little recollection will help us to turn thefe 
 things upon our own cafe. I need not tell you 
 what people have the vileft name in our laws, and 
 are always moft ready to embroil the conflitution. 
 They have fallen upon us, when we were faint and 
 weary ; and feared not God : and yet thefe Amalekites 
 are more than fpared. Indeed, chriftianity is no 
 doctrine of blood ; there is nothing more remote 
 from it, than perfecution and cruelty. But it is very 
 ill when they, who have been the tools of our pub- 
 lic confufions, are received into places of honour and 
 truft, in defiance of law and all the common cries of 
 danger. The party, who have the blood of above two 
 hundred thoufand laid at their doors in a neighbouring 
 
 kingdom j 
 
 (a) 1 Snm. xv. 2, 3. (<:) i Sam. xv. u . 
 
 (b) i Sam. xv. 9. (d) 1 Sam.xv. 17. 
 
Serm.7. The Divine Right of the Revolution; 139 
 
 kingdom ; thefe were impowered with new capacities 
 of doing mifchief. A few links more to their chain, 
 would have given them compafs enough to have de- 
 ftroyed our religion, parliament, and all the courfes 
 of juflice, and leave us to the difcipline of a ravenous 
 army. We may look upon our protection in thofe 
 days with wonder. It was the bleffing of that pro- 
 mife ; T^hou Jhalt keep them, O Lord, thou Jhalt pre- 
 ferve them from this generation for ever. When the 
 wicked walk on every fide, and the vileji men are ex- 
 alted {e). The faction, whom our Kings are fworn 
 to guard us from at their coronation, thefe had the 
 power of the fword and the bench. The extreme 
 zeal that appeared in the profecution of our beft no- 
 bility and gentry, might lead us into that lamentation, 
 Our necks are under perfecution, we labour and have 
 no reft : Servants have rule over us ; there is none that 
 delivers out of their hand (f). Men of low and bafe 
 original, viler than the earth, butraifed to be the engines 
 of tyranny. Princes are hanged up by the hand, the 
 faces of the elders were not honoured (g). And that 
 apparent invaflon of our privileges, in denying us a 
 parliament, may be fitly exprerled in thefe words, 
 The elders have ceafedfrom the gates (h). Is not this 
 fparing and advancing a people that have fhewn fo 
 long an antipathy to the peace of Ifrael ? We may 
 eafily forget the cry of the humble ; but God remem- 
 bered what Amalek did ; and the fin of Babylon is as 
 deeply engraven, as we fhall know, when they who 
 are drunk with the blood of the faints, and the martyrs 
 of Jesus, come to have their flejh eaten, and burnt 
 with fire. 
 
 3. Saul's killing the Gibeonites, is another of thofe 
 crimes that lay heavy upon him. Thefe were a people 
 received . into folemn covenant, and had enjoyed a 
 limited privilege for feveral ages ; but at laft there are 
 
 fome 
 
 (e) Pfalm xii. 7, 8. I (g) Lam. v. 1 2. 
 
 (/) Lam. v. 5, 8. \b) Lam. v. 14, 
 
140 The Divine "Right of the Revolution. Serm. 7* 
 
 fome reafons of (late for cutting them off. Indeed, 
 we have no full account of this, till the beginning 
 of David's reign, and then the wickednefs of doing 
 it is revived in a terrible famine. This public cala- 
 mity raged among them for three years, and God tells 
 David, It is for Saul, and for his bloody houfe, becaufe 
 he flew the Gibeonites (i): Which he is faid to do out 
 of his zeal for the children of Ifrael andjudah. It is 
 ftrange, that the man who fpared the Amalekites, 
 fhould be fo cruel to thofe that never offended him : 
 he has an air of companion againft a precept, and 
 none at all for it. Will not God be avenged on fuch 
 a nation as this t 
 
 The iniquity of our times that bears a parallel to 
 it is writ with a pen of iron, and the point of a diamond ; 
 it is engraven, as God fays, in the rock for ever. 
 Need I tell you now how jails and gallows, perfec- 
 tion in the mod hideous forms, were -the ufual argu- 
 ments of the party ; and that for no other crime, 
 than the ferving of God with a peace of confcience. 
 We had witnefles and juries contrived on purpofe, 
 and thus by fwearing, and lying, and killing, andfleal- 
 ing, they break out, and blood toucheth blood (k). Can 
 a courfe fo vile as this be to reprefent God ? Muft 
 a perfon that rages beyond all the bounds of temper 
 be called his anointed? What dreadful Ideas will an 
 oppreffed people have of thefe titles ? Such barbarous 
 treacheries cry for vengeance to the Lord God of 
 Sabaoth. He remembered the cafe of the Gibeonites 
 a long while after the injury was given, and he is 
 not to be appeafed, till juftice is done on the offen- 
 ders. The man that con fumed us, and devifed againfl 
 us, that we fhould be deflroyed from remaining in any of 
 the coajis of Ifrael ; Let feven men of his fons be given 
 us, and we will hang them up unto • the Lord in Gibeah 
 of Saul, whom the Lord did choofe {I). 
 
 4. His 
 
 (i) 1 Sam. xxL i. (/) 2 Sam.xxi. 5, 6. 
 
 {k) Hof. iv. 2. 
 
Serm-7* The Divine Right of the Revolution. 141 
 4. His unnatural cruelty to David: this had no 
 other provocation to lead it on, but the worth of the 
 perfon againil whom it was directed. JVrath is cruel, 
 and anger is outrageous -, but who canjland before en- 
 vy (m) ? When people are affronted with the in 
 grity of another, the chriftian has a fad choice, ei 
 to lofe his peace with man or that with conscience, 
 Befides David's fervice to the public, there was 
 another engagement upon Saul, I mean, the relation 
 he had brought him into ; though it was no love on 
 the father's part that guided it, but a meer felfifh 
 policy, be gives him his daughter, that Jhe might be a 
 fnare to him (»). Yet, after an obligation fo enhanced, 
 he purfues him upon the mountains, though there was 
 no iniquity in his hand. He is uneafy at the favours 
 that Jonathan fhews him, and ipeaks in a language, 
 one would think, beneath a throne ; Thou [on of a per- 
 •verfe rebellious woman, do I not know, that thou haft chofen 
 the f on of Jejfe to thy confufwn ; for as long as he lives 
 upon the ground, thou jhalt not be cftablifhed in thy 
 kingdom (0). And if you look into the fatal occa- 
 fion of this uneafinefs, you will be able to think what 
 it was that kept it working. When David came from 
 the flaughter of the Philiftines, the fongs of Ifrael at- 
 tended him with that praife, Saul has Jlain his thou- 
 fands, and David his ten thoufands ; and it is faid, the 
 king eyed him from that day forwards, and complained, 
 What can he have 'more but the kingdom ? The furious 
 purfuit of this quarrel I will not turn you to ; it lies 
 abroad in the hiitory, he that runs may read it. 
 
 You need not be at any violent pains to fix this 
 matter upon ourfelves with a pertinent application. 
 The methods that were taken to defraud the late King 
 with his royal Confort, and her prefent Majefty, are 
 notorious enough ; they flung in the meaneft im- 
 poflure, mams beneath the dignity of a throne, as 
 
 a bar 
 
 (m) Prov. xxvii. 4. (0) 1 Sam. xx. 30. 
 
 (n) 1 Sam. xviii, 2 1 . 
 
142 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Sertti . fi 
 
 a bar between the nation and their happinefs. Solo- 
 mon has taught us what to think of a court that gives 
 any protection to forgery. When a ruler hearkens to 
 lies, all his fervants are wicked (p). When ill defigns 
 are carried on by worfe methods, can any name make 
 the delufion facred ? Does a fair title need to be fup- 
 ported with artifice and violence, or can a bad one be 
 defended by it ? No, God has broken the net, and we 
 are efcaped (q). We live to fee, that all their in- 
 trigues to hinder our fettlement were in vain ; he has 
 difappointed the devices of the crafty, fo that their 
 hands could not perform their enterprize. 
 
 5. Another fatal mifcarriage that we meet with in 
 Saul's hiflory, is, his killing the priejls of the Lord. 
 This was a paflion inflamed by a private jealoufy. 
 Ahimelech had given David fome bread, and Goliath's 
 fword ; and this was obferved by Doeg the Edomite. 
 Upon which, the king charges them with confpiracy 
 againft him ; and to make out the plot, there is only 
 the evidence of a profane flranger. Saul commands 
 the foldiers to fhed their blood, but they ftarted back 
 from a thing fo vile and hateful : but the man, who 
 had fo little confcience as to be an informer, takes 
 upon himfelf the laft part of that tragedy : fo that 
 on one day, there fell [our [core and five perfons wearing 
 a linen Ephod (r). 
 
 Such a brutal excefs as this, is enough to fet the 
 crown a tottering. Mercy and truth prefirve the King, 
 and his throne is upheld by mercy (j). And the reverfe 
 to thefe, carries an unavoidable ruin in it. It is time 
 for Providence to take the alarm, and fcatter a dif- 
 fufive thunder. Here is profanenefs and cruelty 
 joined, when the minifters of the Lord's houfe are 
 made the off-[couring of the earth. Thefe feverities 
 have ftrained the conftitution of empires. When 
 once men run into the fury of perfecution, they are 
 
 only 
 
 fp) Proverbs xxix. 12, (r) 1 Sam. xxii. 18. 
 
 (q) Pfalm cxxiv. 7. [4) Proverbs xx. 28. 
 
Serm-7' The Divine Right of the Revolution. 143 
 
 only digging a pit for themfelvcs. Jerufalem is to be 
 both a cup of trembling, and a burdenfome flone to all 
 the -people that are gathered againfi her (t). The cry 
 of thofe under the altar, mail be heard at laft againfi 
 them that live on the earth, and then the things that 
 Jhall come upon them make hajie. Whilft our land 
 was covered with a deluge of perjury, rapine and 
 blood, the glory was departed from Jfrael ; our public 
 reputation in the world vanifhed ; we looked like a 
 people neglected by God ; till he breathed upon our 
 flain, and made the dry bones live. 
 
 6. Plis applying to Satan for advice, was that 
 which gave the laft blow to his government. Saul 
 died for his tranfgreffion which he committed againfi 
 the Lord, even agaitift the word of the Lord, which he 
 kept not ; and alfo for afking counfel of one that had a 
 familiar fpirit, to enquire of it ; and enquired not of 
 the Lord : therefore he flew him, and turned the kingdom 
 unto David the f on of Jeff e (u). It is hard indeed, 
 to fpeak of any people who go under the name of 
 Chriftians, and fuppofe that a ftory fo profane can 
 belong to them ! But, really, the application is 
 fairer and more genuine than I could wifli it. For, 
 befides their cries to departed faints, and the clumfy 
 dealings they pretend to have with evil fpirits, the 
 meafures they took to promote their caufe were in- 
 deed a work of darknefs. No treachery or blood 
 could flop the career of their zeal. Inftead of keep- 
 ing up to the chriftian rule, they funk too low for 
 human nature : and whence could they have their 
 afliftance, but from beneath, where they got their 
 caufe ? This is the language which the holy fpirit 
 gives of fuch whofe profeilion breathes out cruelty, 
 the people themfelves are called, The fynagogue of 
 Satan (x) ; and the fu Bering party are told who it 
 is that heads the tumult, the devil fhall c aft fome of you 
 
 into 
 
 (t) Zcch. xii. 2, 3. (x) Rev. xi. 9. 
 
 [u) 1 Chron. x. 14, 14. 
 
144 ^he Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm.7. 1 
 
 into prifon, and they Jhall have tribulation ten days (y). 
 And they that bear their teftimony for Christ in a 
 fuperftitious place, are faid to do it in the city where 
 Satan' s feat is (z). 
 
 Thefe were fome of the things that gave an ef- 
 fectual blaft to Saul -, and fo, after he had gone his 
 round of oppreflion and bafenefs, the God that lighted 
 him up blew him out again ; and he went away in 
 a muff. I gave thee a King in my anger, and took him 
 away in my wrath (a), 
 
 II. David's title fills up a large part of the hif- 
 tory. His being the King's fon-in-law, fet him more 
 to the view of the people, and gave them a refent- 
 ment.of his ill ufage ; but the fcripture has mentioned 
 feveral other things, as his right to the crown. 
 
 1. He was chofen by God himfelf : There is no- 
 thing can have a brighter evidence than this. The 
 Apoftle, who fpeaks of it fo many ages after, refers 
 it all to Providence. After God had removed Saul, 
 he raifed up unto them David to be their King, to whom 
 alfo he gave teftimo?iy, and faid, I have found David 
 the fon of Jeffe, a man after mine own heart, who Jhall 
 fulfil all my will (b). Samuel foretold it, and as an 
 aflurance of what was to be, they had it upon the 
 credit of a great folemnity : he was anointed in the 
 midfi of all his brethren : and it is this that clenches 
 the argument at their Revolution ; We are thy bone 
 and thy flejh* And alfo in tunes paft, when Saul was 
 King, thou waft he that leddefl out, and brought in 
 Ifrael: and the Lord thy God faid unto thee, Thou fh alt 
 fave my people Ifrael, and be ruler over them (c). So 
 plain an ele&ion as this God has never promifed to 
 any other kingdom : it is confined to the Jewifh hif- 
 
 tory. 
 
 2. He 
 
 (y) Rev. xi. 10. 
 (xJRev. xi. 13. 
 (a) Hof. xiii. 1 1. 
 
 (b) Afts xiii. 22. 
 
 (c) 1 Chron. xi. z. 
 
Serm .7. The Divine Right of the Revolution, 145 
 
 2. He had the unanimous call of the people. Seve- 
 ral came to Ziklag, and others afterwards to Hebron. 
 There was, indeed, a faction that had Abner a vete- 
 ran foldier for their head; but thefe dwindled away •, 
 the general revolted, the pretender loft his life, and 
 they that herded with him all their fair expe&ations. 
 
 3. His fitnefs for the work is very accurately laid 
 down in the hiftoryi He is fometimes called a man after 
 God's own heart : and when Samuel tells Saul of his 
 forfeiture, he lets the fentence fall with the weight of 
 this in it : The Lord has rent the kingdom of lfraelfrom 
 thee, and given it to a neighbour of thine better than 
 thou. And indeed, without this it is in vain to fay. 
 that rulers are of Got>'s raifing up, in any other 
 fenfe than public calamities are. 
 
 4. To mention no more, he had beefi prepared for 
 the tender part of the government by many adverfi- 
 ties ; it is upon this that they could fay, Lord, re- 
 member David and all his afflictions (d). The public 
 enemies of religion had almolt deftroyed his life to 
 the ground, and a malignant party among themfelves 
 gave him an equal difturbance. Thus he was hap- 
 pily moulded by the difficulties that he met with, to 
 a reign of univerfal clemency. Thefe were all pre- 
 parations for a throne. He was taken from ihejheep- 
 folds, from following the ewes great with young, to 
 feed Jacob and Ifrael ; fo he fed them according to the 
 integrity of his heart, and guided them according to the 
 Jkilfulnefs of his hands (e). The troubles of his own 
 life were of great advantage to foften him in the 
 courfe of his government. This was fo juft and equals 
 that there is a threefold honour put upon it in fcrip- 
 ture. He was a pattern to all his fuccerTors -, for 
 when any of them are commended,' it is under this 
 character, he walked in the ways of David his father. 
 But more than that, the King and ruler w h of e goings 
 
 Vol. L L forth 
 
 {d) Pfalm exxxih i. (e) Pfalm. Ixxviii, 70, 71, iz. 
 
ja.6 The "Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm.7 
 
 forth have been of old from everlajling (/), takes a name 
 from him; I mean our great Mediator. I will fet up 
 afhepherd over them, ad he fh all feed them, even Da- 
 vid my fervant ; I the Lord will be their God, and my 
 fervant David a Prince among them (g). And then in 
 the lafl place ; when the Lord revives his work in 
 the latter days, luch as he employs are to be thus 
 qualified ; He that is feeble among themfhall be as David, 
 and the houfe of David fh all be as God, as the angel of 
 the Lord before them {h). 
 
 You will eafily imagine, that in turning over thefe 
 characters I have a later example in mine eye •, the 
 noble Prince who landed amongft us this day. God 
 had fhewed him fore troubles, and afterwards enlarged 
 his greatnefs and comfort on every fide (i). His bravery 
 of foul was pent up for a time within a fphere of more 
 private action. But, as it is faid of David, when he 
 was only a General, Wherever he went he behaved 
 himfelf wifely, fo that his name was much fet by (k). 
 Providence made him capable to Hand the mock of 
 many an affault in his younger life, that at laft he 
 might be fixed as a bank to flop the roring waves of 
 tyranny. The early dangers that he met with were 
 to temper his foul for a more copious fervice. After 
 he had been the defence of his own country from a 
 French deluge, he comes to refcue ours when verily 
 there was but a (lep between us and death. The paffions 
 of ftoutnefs and clemency, that are fo remote from one 
 another, mingled all their force in him ; that he might 
 anfwer both the offices of a King, a General to fight 
 our battles, and a nurfwg Father to the welfare of his 
 people. And what reafon have we to admire the di- 
 vine goodnefs that turned the kingdom from Saul to fuch 
 an one ? There is another part of the text, which my 
 thoughts had their chief defign upon, when I begun 
 
 with 
 
 {/) Mic. v. 2. 
 
 (g) Ezek.xxxiv. 23, 24. 
 
 \/j) Zcch. xiii. 8. 
 
 («) Pfal. Ixxi. 20. 
 ('*) 1 Sam. xvii. 30. 
 
Serm.7. Tf^e Divine Right of the Revolution. 147 
 
 with it ; and that is, the conduct of Providence in 
 thefe Revolutions ; they are according to the word of 
 the Lord. But I cannot proceed to thefe things, with- 
 out giving you too much enlargement, or them too 
 little ; I will therefore venture upon another oppor- 
 tunity for that. What you have heard may clofe 
 your attention, with a general remark or two upon it. 
 
 We lee from thefe changes, that God is King, he 
 ■puts down one, and fets up another. The wicked may 
 deal in -proud wrath, but he is above them. Come and 
 behold the works of the Lord, the defolaticns that he has 
 made in the earth : he has broken the bow, and cut the 
 fpear af under, and burnt the chariot in the fire {I). We 
 may juftly fay on this day of good things, Beftiil, and 
 knozv that he is God. And then, 
 
 This may teach us what to do with our hopes of 
 any new blefilngs -, turn them into Prayer, and fend 
 them towards heaven. 'The falvation of Ifrael is not 
 yet come out of Sion ; but the vifion is for an appointed 
 time-, at the end it fh all f peak, and will not lie. Our 
 fucceiles this year have not run fo fmooth as they 
 did the former ; we have had fome rubs to a cam- 
 paign that our hopes had magnified beforehand. But 
 you fee from whom we are to fetch the remains of 
 victory. Let faith rife out of the difappointment. 
 Bewail and plead together, as the Pfalmift does : Who 
 will bring me into the firong city ? Who will lead me 
 into Edom ? Wilt not thou, O God, who didft caft us 
 off? And thou, OGod, who didfl not go forth with our 
 armies (m) ? We have this day a fample of Almighty 
 love ; the liberties and peace that were reftored at the 
 great Revolution, tell us what God can do. The 
 continuing mildnefs we are under at home, when the 
 gains of war are fo rich abroad, lets us fee, that the 
 mercies which began with the laft reign did not end 
 with it. He has fo owned our fettlement, as gives 
 us the cleared evidence, that this turn of the kingdom 
 
 L 2 from 
 
 {/) Pfal. xlvi. 8, 9, J (m) Pfal. lx. 9, ia 
 
5 48 ^ Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm. 7, 
 from one to another, was according to the word of the 
 Lord. 
 
 When the late King William was called into his 
 Mailer's joy, Many were gathered together, that /aid, 
 Let her be defiled, let our eye look upon Sion. But they 
 know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither do they under - 
 ft and his counfel (»). He has gracioufly given us an- 
 other Sovereign upon the foot of the Revolution, and 
 guided her by the fame Spirit. This has been a reign 
 of wonders in the field, and no lefs admirable for an 
 union among ourfelves. The devices that were fet on 
 foot to embroil us were happily crufhed. God has 
 fcattered the people that delight in war. Let him have 
 the glory of all our gratitude for what we have got, 
 and of an unfhaken dependence for what remains. 
 I will fay no more, when I have put the Pfalmift's 
 words into your mouths : Thy God has commanded 
 thy ftrength ; ftrengthen, God, that which thou haft 
 wrought for us {0). 
 
 (») Mic.iv. 11. J (0) Pfal. Ixviii. 28. 
 
 
 SERMO 
 
^ar-a* ar-^? ar^ sr^ -WO S£"a? sr^ sr-3? ar^*/* 
 
 jsLJ* aL^s a^JB a^ja -ncv z^jk *£.jx$ sljs *LJ&:k 
 
 SERMON VIII. 
 
 The Divine Right of the Revolution. 
 
 Preached November 5, 1708. 
 
 i Chron. XII. 23. 
 
 Thefe are the numbers of the bands, that were ready 
 armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, 
 to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to 
 the word of the Lord. 
 
 % 
 
 t^*^., HE laft year I told you thefe words be- 
 flj* % long to the hiftory of a Revolution in 
 
 J Ifrael, and may be considered with an 
 <w ^p e Y e t0 ours, which begun by the favour 
 ****** of Heaven this day twenty years : there 
 are two parts in the text ; Firfl 7 The defign that 
 thole people came about to Hebron, and it was a 
 caufe worthy of their being armed •, it deferved their 
 drawing a iword : it was to turn the kingdom from 
 Saul to David. Secondly, This is all according to the 
 word of the Lord, i. e. either the birth of the many 
 prophecies that he had given them ; or it may fig- 
 nify, that what they did was by the peculiar direction 
 of Heaven ; and fo the fenfe of the words lies in 
 this plain obfervatian : 
 
 L 3 Such 
 
j 5 o tfhe Divine Right of the Revolution. Ser m . 8 tt 
 
 Such Revolutions as make for the common 
 peace, are according to the word of the Lord. 
 They agree with his purpofe, and fall under 
 the conduct of his Providence. 
 
 The method I made choice of was, 
 
 I. To confider this Revolution among the tribes of 
 Jfrael. 
 
 II. Show how thefe great and happy things are 
 according to the word of the Lord. 
 
 The former of thefe, the turning the kingdom 
 from Saul to David, had two branches ; Saul*s abdi- 
 cation or forfeiture, and David's title. 
 
 Under the firft, I run through the feveral parts of 
 his mal-adminiftration, and fhewed to what it is that 
 the fcriptures impute the rending the kingdom from 
 him, and giving it to another. Though, when he 
 was called the Lord's anointed, it fignified no lefs 
 than his being the very man whom God had chofen 
 bv name. An honour confined to thofe people, and 
 what none elfe can pretend to, without an impudence 
 that deferves to be laughed at rather than argued 
 with. And yet this man, who had an undoubted 
 grant of the kingdom by Heaven itfelf, is rejected 
 from being a ruler, and another chofen. 
 
 David's title was a divine appointment, and a po- 
 pular concurrence ; the tribes came to Hebron to turn 
 the kingdom' from Saul to him ; and this is faid to be 
 according to the word of the Lord, which is 
 
 The fecond part of the text. I have already given 
 you two things as the fenfe of this expreffion, and 
 fhall now confider it at large with an eye to them 
 both. 
 
 Firft, That fuch Revolutions fall in with his de- 
 fign : And, 
 
 Secondly* 
 
Serm. 8. The Divine Right of the Revolution. 151 
 
 Secondly, That they are fupported by the bleffing 
 of his Providence. 
 
 1. The rending of the kingdom from thofe that 
 have abufed their truft, ani putting it into better 
 hands, is not only the right of human nature, but it 
 is according to the word of the Lord, and anfwers the 
 defigns that he has publiffoxl. This has been the 
 courfe of his Providence in all ages. /IJk 1 by father, 
 and he will few thee; thine elders, and they will tell thee. 
 It is an obfervation as old as Job's, days, He foal! 
 break in pieces mighty men without number, and ft 
 others in their fiead(a). And left we mould think 
 this only means their dying, he goes on to fhevv us, 
 that a vifible juftice is acted upon them ; He ftrikes 
 them as wicked men in the open fight of ethers (b). And 
 this is with regard to thofe, who are under their yoke ; 
 The hypocrite Jhall not reign, left the people he en- 
 fnared(c). God fpoke his mind at large to the Jews 
 upon this head. He had ordered them a long while 
 before-hand, if they would have a King, to make 
 them like other nations, he muft have a copy of the 
 law before him, left his heart jhoidd be lifted up abov-e 
 his brethren, and turn afide from the commandment \ to 
 the end that he might prolong his days in his kingdom, he 
 and his children in the midft of Jfrael (d). This way. 
 the condition of the government : for, as here is the 
 promife of an enduring honour to him and his race, 
 whilft thefe rules of empire were facred to him, lb 
 the reverfe to it muft be underftood in the cafe of his 
 rebellion againft God, and his tyranny over the people. 
 When they hurried on to have a King, Samuel teils 
 them on the coronation-day, if they Jtill do wickedly, 
 both he and they jhall be deft oyca (e). From thefe 
 general hints they had warning enough , and the 
 fchemes of government laid down before them ; but 
 
 L 4 the 
 
 {<?) Job xxxiv. 24. 
 [b) Job xxxiv. 26. 
 {c) Job xxxiv. 30. 
 
 {J) Dent, xvii 20. 
 (e) l Sam. xii. ult. 
 
152 The Divine Right of (he Revolution. Serm. $*, 
 
 the cafe is ftill plainer, when he comes by divine 
 order to confront Saul at the head of his army : Thy 
 kingdom Jh all not continue ; the Lord has fought him a 
 man after his own heart, and commanded him to be 
 captain over his people, becaufe thou haft not kept the 
 word which the Lord commanded thee (/). This he 
 repeats upon the occafion of another crime, The Lord 
 has rent the kingdom of Ifrael from thee this day, and 
 given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than 
 thou (g). In both thofe places, the prophet argues 
 from Saul's being unqualified ; and grounds the Re- 
 volution that mould happen among them upon the 
 general advantage of that change. After this, when 
 David was anointed, that all Ifrael might know it, 
 the fpirit of the Lord came upon him from that day 
 forward. This was fuch a difcovery of God's mind, 
 that Saul himfelf owns it under a violent imprefiion. 
 I know that thoufhalt furely be King, and that the king- 
 dom of Ifrael Jh all be eftablifhed in thy hand. Abner 
 falls in with the argument, The Lord hath fpoken, 
 faying, By the hand of my fervant David will I fave 
 my people (b). 
 
 Indeed thefe are things that we have no immediate 
 concern with ; it cannot be faid of any now, that 
 they are governors according to the word of tfie Lord, 
 if you take the exprefiion in this itricler fenfe. He no 
 further names the perfons in our age, than as his 
 Providence gives them a fitnefs for the work, and 
 an endearment to the people. But yet fuch Revolu- 
 tions may be faid to be according to the word of the 
 Lord, as they fall in with thofe defigns, that he has 
 told us, are very dear to him. 
 
 1. The reforming of his worfhip. 
 
 2. Reftoring the rights of human nature. 
 
 3. Making 
 
 (/) j Sam. xiii. 14. I (h) 2 Sam. in. 18. 
 
 {g) 1 Sam. xv. 28. J 
 
Serm. 8 . The Divine Right of the Revolution. 1 5 3 
 
 3. Making inquifition for the blood of his people. 
 
 4. The advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. 
 
 1. It is certainly according to the word of the Lord* 
 that all the abominations which have run into his 
 worfhip mail be taken away •, we have a fure word 
 of prophecy to tell us the things which will Jhortly 
 come to pafs. We have lived to fee what the Apoftle 
 fpoke of in his day, that the man of/in, the f on of perdition, 
 Jhould be revealed, who oppofesand exalts himfelf above all 
 that is called God, fo that he as God fits in the temple of 
 God) fhewing himfelf that he is God (z). The myftery 
 of iniquity has been working for a long time : and 
 we know, that that wicked one Jhall be confumed by 
 our Lord with the fpirit of his mouth, and deflroyed 
 with the brightnefs of his coming {k) t . There is a day, 
 when he will take his fan into his hand, and throughly 
 purge his floor (/). Whatever unconcern there may 
 now be upon the churches, yet the time will come 
 when they who are written among the living in Jeru- 
 falem mail be jealous for the Lord of Hofls. JVe, ac- 
 cording to his promife, look for a new heaven and a new 
 earth, wherein dwells righteoufnefs ; the brighter! Re- 
 formation that ever yet was feen -, when a zeal for 
 God's ordinances in their purity will fwallow up all 
 carnal affections ; according to that prophecy, It Jhall 
 come to pafs in that day, faith the Lord of Hofls, that 
 J will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and 
 they Jhall no more be remembered : alfo I will caufe the 
 frophets and the unclean fpirit s to pafs out of the land ; 
 and it Jhall come to pafs, when any Jhall yet prophejy, 
 that his father and his mother that begat him, fhall Jay 
 unto him, Thou JIj alt not live, for thou Jpeakeft lies in the 
 name of the Lord ; and his father and his mother that begat 
 him, Jhall thrujl him through when he prophejies (m). 
 
 The 
 
 (i) 2 Theff. ii. 3,4. j (/) Matt. Hi. 1 2. 
 
 (*) 2 Theff. ii. 8. (») Zech. xiii. 2, 3, 
 
1 54 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm.8. 
 
 "The wifdom that defcends from above, as it came out 
 of Christ's hands, was pure and peaceable -, and with 
 this native fimplicity it run through the kingdoms 
 of the earth : it is reprefented as ajlone cut out with- 
 cut hands (n) ; there was no human art to give it a 
 beauty, or make its way more profperous ; and yet 
 it breaks to pieces the image of iron, clay, brafs, Jilver 
 and gold. The powers of this world are fo little able 
 to fland before it, that they become like the chaff of 
 the furnmer tkrefhing- floor ; and the ftone that fmote 
 the image was a great mountain, and filled the whole 
 earth. Thus it was that Chriftianity inlarged itfelf 
 at firft, not by might nor by force ; but by the fpirit of 
 the Lord of Hofis. But when the beauty of holinefs 
 decayed, people endeavoured to fupply what was 
 o-one, by drefiing it up to the luxury and pride of men ; 
 till at length, inftead of a gofpel and a worfhip that 
 are the power of God, we had it new modeled ; it 
 was only the creature of human prudence. And 
 what confufion has this made in the world ? Firft, 
 They refined upon the inftitutions of Heaven, and 
 then eftablifhed their own amendments with as much 
 terror as they could. That order has flood a long 
 time, That whoever will not worfhip the image of the 
 beafti fhall be killed. And he caufelh all, both rich 
 and poor, fmall and great, free and bond, to receive 
 a mark on their right hand or their foreheads : And that 
 no man might buy or fell, fave he that has the mark, 
 or the name of the beaft, or the number of his name (<?). 
 Thefe were things foretold by the Apoftles, it begun 
 in their day. There would be falfe teachers who pri- 
 <vily brought in damnable herefies, denying the Lord 
 that bought them, and bringing upon th em f elves fwift 
 dejlruclion. Many fhould follow their pernicious woys, 
 by reafon of whom the way of truth would be evil 
 fpoken of and through covet oufnefs, with feigned words, 
 
 thty 
 
 (*) Dan. xi. 34, 36. | {0} Rev. xiii. 1 5, 1 6, 1 7. 
 
Serm.8. The Divine Right of the Revolution. 15^ 
 
 they would make merchandize of the -people (p). That 
 church of Ephefus in particular, where St. Paul for 
 the fpace of three years declared to them the whole 
 counfel of God, was to have grievous wolves enter in 
 among them : nay, of themfelves jJoould men arife, fpeak- 
 ing perverfe things to draw away difciples after them (q). 
 But when the day of the Lord comes, it is over and 
 over again called, The vengeance of his temple (r). He 
 will turn to the people a pure language, that they 
 may call upon the name of the Lord, md ferve him 
 with one confent (s). We know, that the mother of 
 abominations fhall come down, that the Heavens, and 
 the Apofles, and Prophets may rejoice over her. The 
 nations of the earth fhall have day-light to fet them 
 at liberty from the fuperftitions that they are fallen 
 into. Thefe are things according to the word of the 
 Lord. And 
 
 This is one of the bleflings that came with our Re- 
 volution. As the time was haftning that the Kings 
 of the earth fhould hate the whore, and make her de- 
 folate ', God put it into their hearts to fulfil his will(t). 
 England had made an admirable ftand in the general 
 Reformation, under the fliort reign of that excellent 
 Price Edward VI. in whom there was fo many good 
 things towards the Lord God of Ifrael, in the houfe of 
 Jeroboam. After that Queen Mary over- run the 
 work with blood and ravage, the men who had done 
 fo famoufly by the word of their tejiimony, came to 
 plead another way, by not loving their lives unto the 
 death. For the elecls fake thofe days were fhortned. 
 The bloody and deceitful did net live out half their days ; 
 and in a little time the indignation was over-pafi. But, 
 in many refpects the glory of the fecond houfe was not 
 equal to that of the firji. From that time, they 
 have been making their fecret encroachments upon us, 
 
 as 
 
 (p ) 2 Peter ii. i, 2, 3. 
 (q ) Adls xx. 29, 30. 
 {r) Jer.l. 28.andli. 16. 
 
 (j) Zeph. iii. S. 
 
 (/) Rev. xvii. 16, 17. 
 
156 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm. 8. 
 
 as if they would bring us to that by degrees, which 
 could not be propofed without danger all at once. They 
 took up with lower conquefts for a while, pleafing 
 themfelves that we had got a fmattering of their fuper- 
 ilition, when we fpoke half the language of Afadod, 
 and half that of Canaan. Calling miniflers of the 
 gofpel by the name of priefts, the Lord's table an altar, 
 and the communion of the body ofChrift a facrifice. This 
 is a perverting the phrafes from what the New Tefta- 
 ment means by them. Whilfl we Jlept, an enemy 
 fowed tares (u) . 
 
 They carried on the myjlery of iniquity through feve- 
 ral reigns, and were at lafl fo powerful as to get a 
 furious champion of their caufe upon the throne. We 
 were then in theworft condition of leprofy, and muft cry 
 out utterly unclean , when the plague was in the head (x). 
 But God had pity on his great name, which we had 
 profaned, and once more refcued our religion from 
 the pride of men, and the jlrife of tongues. This was one 
 thing faved at the Revolution, and it is according to 
 the word of the Lord, as it falls in with a defign that 
 we fo often read of in fcripture. We are told that 
 the time will come, when nothing that belongs to 
 idolatry mall ftay behind. All the terms and ways 
 of expreffing ourfelves that we have got from a fuper- 
 flitious crew, muft be fent to the place whence they 
 came. 1 will cut off, faith he, the remnant of Baal from 
 this place, with the names oftheChemarim and priefts (y). 
 We are no longer to talk like them. In that day thou 
 /halt call me IfJoi, i, e< my hufband •, thou fhalt no more 
 "call me Baal (z), which fignifies my Lord •, becaufe 
 I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouthy 
 and they fljall no more be remembered by their name. 
 
 2. It is according to the word of the Lord, that the 
 rights of human nature mail be eftablifhed, to crufh 
 under his feet all the prifoners of the earth j to turn 
 
 a/ids 
 
 0?}Matt. xni.2$. fj'J Zephi.4. 
 
 (*) Lev. xiii. 44. (z) Hoiea ii. 16, if. 
 
Serm.8. The Divine Right of the Re-volution, i §j 
 
 afide the right of a man before the face of the mofi High> 
 to fubvert a man in his canfe the Lord approveth not (a). 
 It is pity the doctrines of flavery fliould be promoted 
 under the Chriftian name, when there is nothing 
 wider from the defign of our Lord's coming into 
 the world, and the rules that he has left for his people 
 to walk by. What can be more abfurd and cruel than 
 to tell us, that he who came to deliver us from Satanj 
 has made it effential to our peace with him, that we 
 fubmit to all theexceffes of tyranny. It is a reafonable 
 fervice that we are called to, as it includes our beha- 
 viour both to God and man. There is nothing in it 
 that nature itfelf will flart at when it is well informed. 
 But if this is a truth, that a fet of people have a diving 
 right to our obedience, and to refijl them is damnation, 
 when they are going on with a notorious injuftice, we 
 muft by no means fay, that the yoke of Christ is an 
 eafy one. * 
 
 There is nothing in reafon to perfuade me that my 
 life is another's property, and am I brought into this 
 mifery by the Gofpel ? Our Lord came not to defiroy 
 mens lives, but to fave them ; and are his rules fo much 
 a difcord to himfelf ? I know two or three fentences 
 in the thirteenth chapter to the Romans come under a 
 yearly execution by fome that walk in craftinefs, and 
 handle the word of the Lord deceitfully. But it is plain 
 the Apoftle could never fay, that a tyrant is an ordi- 
 nance of God, in any other fenfe than our afflictions 
 are ; the Prophet indeed has told us, that God has or- 
 dained them for judgment, and eftablifucd them for cor- 
 rection (b). But if that is all, they are no more jure 
 divino than a diftemper is ; and we may apply to the 
 rational methods of cure in one cafe as well as the 
 other. The reafon that he gives for our obedience, 
 ftrikes off fo wild an opinion as this ; that they are not 
 terrors to good works, but to the evil : Wilt thou then 
 not be afraid of the power ? If thou dofi that which is 
 
 good, 
 {a) Lam, iii. 34^ — 36. j (£) Hab. i. 12. 
 
158 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm . 8 . 
 
 good, thou jhalt have praife of the fame. He is the 
 Minifier of God to thee for good ; but if thou dofi evil, 
 he afraid, for he bears not tte fword in vain. He is the 
 Minifier of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him 
 that does evil {c). Yet this text that fhows us the juft 
 meafures of our fubmiflion has been abufed by the 
 flight of men, to make rulers above law, and fubjects 
 beneath it. 
 
 Is l his doing the work of an Evangelift, and mak- 
 ing full proof of their Miniflry ? Are thefe men 
 i.eacbi.g up repentance and remiffion of fins in the name 
 cf Chrifi ? Can fuch hard fayings belong to the glad 
 tidings of great joy that Jhall be to all people? That 
 which our Lord called the Gofpel, was to preach de- 
 liverance to the captives, and the opening of the prifon 
 doors to them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable 
 year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God ; 
 to comfort them that mourn in Sion (d) ; and it is pity 
 that they who pretend to have his name upon them, 
 fhould have no doctrines fo much at heart as thofe for 
 the enflavingof mankind. Itwasafad part of Jerufalem's 
 mifery, Thy prophets have feen vain and foolifo things 
 for thee, and they have not difcovered thy iniquity, to 
 turn away thy captivity, but have feen for thee falfe bur- 
 dens, and caufes of banifiment (e). Now when a people 
 fall in with thofe meafures that make for the refcue of 
 their liberty, it is according to the word of the Lord. 
 We have promifes upon record, and God will efiablifi) 
 his word unto his fervants, that there fhall be no hurt- 
 ing nor defiroying in all his holy mountain (/). When 
 the high-way of holinefs comes to be opened, the un- 
 clean are not to pafs over it. It will be fo plain and 
 eafy, that no lion jhall be there, no ravenous bird go up 
 thereon (g). And this we underftood at the Revolu- 
 tion. There was a conteft whether we fhould be go- 
 verned 
 
 (c) Rom. xiii. 3, 4. 
 
 (d) Ifai. lxi. 1, z. 
 (<?) Lam. ii. 14. 
 
 (/) Zeph. iii. 1. 
 (g) Ifai. xxxv. 8, 9» 
 
Serm .8. The Divine Right of the Revolution, 159 
 
 verned by the King or by the Law ; and when it was 
 brought to this, that no man could ferve thofe two 
 maftcrs, we turned out the one, and kept in the other. 
 
 3. It is according to the word of the Lord, that there 
 mall be an inquifttion for the blood that isjhed. God is 
 jealous and revengeth, he is furious and takes vengeance 
 on his adverfaries, and refervetb wrath for his enemies. 
 The Lord is indeed flow to anger ; but he is great in 
 power j and will not at all acquit the wicked: he has his 
 way in the whirlwind and in ike ftorm, and the clouds 
 are the ditft of his feet {h). Saul's killing the priefls of 
 the Lord, and his eager purfuit of David, came heavy 
 upon him at laft, when his fbield is vilely caft away 
 upon the mountains of Gilboa, and the beauty of Ifrael 
 was flain upon the high places of the uncircumcifed(z'). 
 God fuffers a tyrant to go on frowardly in the way of 
 his heart for fome time, but they that Jhewed no mercy 9 
 jhall have judgment without mercy (k). There is a cup 
 in the Lord's right hand, and the wicked Jhall wring 
 out the dregs of it (/). There is to be a reckoning for 
 all the blood of his fervants that isjhed. The fouls of 
 them that were flain for the word of God, and the tefti- 
 mony they held, are received under the altar, and are 
 pleading there, How long, O Lord, holy and true, doji 
 thou not judge and avenge our blood upon them that dwell 
 on the earth ? It is obferved, that white robes were 
 given to every one of them, and it was faid unto them, 
 that they flould reft for a little feafon, till their fellow- 
 fervants alfo and brethren that jhould be killed as they 
 were, Jhould be fulfilled (m). And when this is over, 
 we read of the Kings of the earth and the great ?nen, and 
 the rich men, and the chief captains fleeing to the dens 
 and rocks of the mountains, becaufe the great day of the 
 Lamb's wrath was come. 
 
 There 
 
 (b) Nah. i. 2, 3. 
 (*') 2 Sam. i. 19, 20. 
 (*)'Jam. ii. 13. 
 
 (/) Pfal. lxxv. 8. 
 \m) Rev. vi. 9— 1 1. 
 
I'6'o The Divine Right of "the Revolution. Serm8> 
 
 There are the materials of a long quarrel with Ba- 
 bylon, becaufe in her was found the blood of the Prophets 
 and Saints, and of all that dwell upon the earth (»). I 
 need not go far back into our hiftory to tell you what 
 violent meafures have been carried on to fink our Re- 
 ligion and Liberties. It is within the memory of fe- 
 veral yet alive, that near two hundred thoufand inno- 
 cent people fell in the year 1641, in that hideous 
 mafTacre of Ireland*. And it is dill frefher, if I 
 put you in mind of the wofu^perfecutions in Great 
 Britain : how many families 'were ruined ? Some 
 flarved in jails, others driven into dens and mountains 
 cf the earth, of whom the world was not worthy ; tho' 
 the Lord God of gods he knows, and Ifrael he Jhall know, 
 that it was not for any rebellion or tranfgrejfion againft 
 the Lotd, Swearing fome great men out of their lives ; 
 poifoning, {tabbing and cutting the throats of others ;• 
 the garbling of corporations, the packing of juries* 
 were fome of the fteps for a general conqueft over us. 
 And when things' were ripe enough, we had a (land- 
 ing army in the time of peace ; and moft of thefe 
 forces under the command of Irifh Papifts, in open de- 
 fiance of the law. But thefe people were the bell 
 ufed to Proteftant blood, and fo the more prepared for 
 another Daughter. Though this turning of things upftde 
 doivn was eft e erne d as potters clay ; in a little time, the 
 terrible one was brought to nought, the J corner confumed, 
 and they that watch for iniquity, cut off(o). 
 
 Ahab, when he had got Nabolh's life and vineyard* 
 was eafy enough for fome time ; but the Prophet 
 found him, Haft thou flain, and haft thou taken poft- 
 feffion ? In the place where dogs licked the blood of Na- 
 both, fhall dogs lick thy blood, even thine (p). From 
 that moment the decree commences, and the execu- 
 tion 
 
 (») Rev.xviii. 24. (p) 1 Kings xxi. 19. 
 
 (0) Ifai. xxix. 16, 20. j 
 
 • See.Dr Lamberfs Sermon preached before the Proteftant no- 
 bility and gentry of that kingdom, at St James's, 08. 23, 1708. 
 
Serm.8. The Divine Right of the Revolution. 1 6 1 
 
 tion comes at feveral times. For when Jehu had (lain 
 his fon, he fays to Bidkar his Captain, Caft him into 
 the portion of the field of Naboth ; for remember ; how 
 when thou and I rode together after Ahab his father ; the 
 Lord laid this burden upon him. Surely ■, / have feen 
 yeflerday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his fons, 
 faith the Lord, and I will requite thee in\ this flat of 
 ground (q). It is a^i^im that is laid down in Scrip- 
 ture, and founded upon everlafting morality, Te fhall 
 take no fatisfaclion for the life of a murderer that is 
 guilty of death, he fhall fur ely be put to death. Ye JJjall 
 not pollute the land wherein ye dwell : for blcod it defiles 
 the land : and the land cannot be cleanfed from the blood 
 that is fhed therein, but bythe blood of him that floed it(r). 
 If this is neglected by men, Providence takes up the 
 quarrel, and fometimes lays up the iniquity of fathers 
 for their children. We read in fome cafes, when the 
 fatisfaclion of public juflice is deferred, it has only- 
 fallen heavier at laft. Joab the fon of Zeruiah had 
 feed the blood of war in peace ; but he was ufeful to the 
 Revolution ; and David, though anoh 
 his hands too weak: however it is left as a death-bed 
 charge to Solomon, that his hoary hairs fmdd not come 
 down to the grave in peace. And his rebellion in fa- 
 vour oiAdonijah, lets in the long-defigned mifery. 
 This is what we are waiting for, in the prefent confu- 
 fion of war, that when the cities of the nations are fall- 
 ing, great Babylon may come in remembrance before God, 
 to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fiercenefs of 
 his wrath (s). 
 
 4. We know that the Gofpel is to have a free 
 courfe, and be glorified, and the kingdom fhall be 
 the Lord's : From the rifing of the fun, to the going 
 down of the fame, my name fJjall be great among the 
 Gentiles (J). The earth fhall be full of the knowledge of 
 
 Vol. I. M \ the 
 
 (q) 2 Kings ix. 25,26. I (s) Rev. xvi. 19. 
 
 (r) Numb. xxxv. 31, 33. J (/) Mai. i. u. 
 
1 62 We Divine Right of the Revolution. Serm.o*. 
 
 the Lord, as the waters cover thefea{u). The king- 
 doms of this world are to become the kingdoms of the 
 Lord, and of his Chriji, and he fhall reign for ever and 
 ever, lie will take to him his great power and reign. 
 The time fhall come, that he will give reward unto 
 his fervants the Prophets, and to his Saints, and to them 
 that fear his name, fmall and great, and will deftroy 
 them that deftroy the earth (x). He is to have the 
 Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of 
 the earth for his poffeffion \ to break them with a rod of 
 ircn, and dafh them in pieces like a potter's vejfel (jy.) 
 Now. whatever falls in with this defign, muft be ac- 
 cording to the word of the Lord. And what can do it 
 more Laan a Revolution that baffles Popery and Ty- 
 ranny r* For thefe two are the things that have let, 
 end will let, till they be taken out of the way (z). I 
 know thofe people pretend tovaft expences for fpread- 
 ing the Gofpel in foreign parts •, but it is only as the 
 Pharifees compajfed fea and land to make one prof elyte -, 
 and when I made, fays our Lord, be is twofold 
 f bell than themfelves (a). 
 lis l nj nas notorioufly hindred both the falva- 
 tion of Ifrael, and the fulnefs of the Gentiles, by the 
 itumbling-block of their iniquity. I will give you 
 an inftance of each : in the year 1666, there was a 
 general expectation, that it was the time when the 
 Jews would be converted in a body : and there were 
 fome hopeful fteps towards it •, for men of the bright- 
 eft figure among them, both for learning and riches, 
 met from all parts of the world, and had a Jxee con- 
 ference about him whom their fathers haa^pierced. 
 The great queftion was, whether the fame Jesus of 
 Nazareth, whom they crucified, was now made both 
 Lord and Christ ? The argument was managed 
 
 with 
 
 («) Ifai.xi. 9. 
 
 (x) Rev. xi. 15, 1", iS. 
 
 O) Pial.ii. 8,9.' 
 
 (z) 2The/T ii. 7. 
 {a) Matt, xxiii. 15. 
 
Serm.8. 'The Divine Right of the Revolution] 1 63 
 
 with a great deal of temper among themfelves : and 
 feveral of them pleaded our caufe with that ftrength 
 of reafon, and thofe forcible quotations of the Pro- 
 phets, that it was verily thought the majority would 
 have received the love of the truth. But when the 
 children were come to the birth, there was not ftrength 
 to bring forth. The Romijh priefts, who pretended 
 to ftand there as the fervants of the Lordjefus, proved 
 only fo to their own bellies. They flung in the doc- 
 trines of the Pope's fupremacy and tranfubitantiationj 
 and laid before them all the parts of a ridiculous fu- 
 perflition ; and fo fent away the poor wretches more 
 hardned than they came. And well they mighty 
 when Chriftianity appeared fo ill to them, to be made 
 up of principles that contradict their fenfes, a difci- 
 pline that only contrives to exalt the pride of Rome, 
 and a worfhip that deals with thofe little fopperies 
 that human nature would be afhamed of. 
 
 They had a ftrange way of converting the Moors, 
 baptizing them firft in water, and then in their own 
 blood. And, indeed, fuch a vein of cruelty has run 
 through their fchemes, that their taking upon them 
 the chriftian name, is enough to make it fcandalous. 
 Our Revolution begun to break off this yoke, and 
 put us into the way of ailerting the empire of Christ 
 over the confciences of men. This is not only the 
 great doctrine of the Proteftants, but, indeed, of the 
 Bible, that we ought to call no man mafter. Te are 
 redeemed with a price ; be ye net the fervants of 
 men (b). 
 
 2. This being according to the word of the Lord, 
 may fignify that the defign was carried on under the 
 favour of his Providence. This was fo remarkable 
 in the cafe of the Jews, as they came out of Babylon, 
 that when the enemies about them faw thefe things they 
 were much caft down in their own eyes •, for they per^ 
 ceived this work was wrought of God (c). There are 
 
 M 2 thofe 
 
 (£) 1 Cor. vii. 23. '|| (c) Neh. vi. 16, » 
 
' 1 64 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Ser m . 8 . 
 
 thofe lines of divinity in fuch Revolutions as proclaim 
 themfelves. When the Lord turned again the captivity 
 of Sion, they faid y among the heathen, He has done 
 great things for them (d). There is a twofold glory 
 that he fecures to himfelf this way. 
 
 1. In an awful juftice over his enemies. 
 
 2. A feafonable mercy to his people. 
 
 I. His juftice in fuch a Providence gives a recom- 
 pence to what is paft, and warning for the time to 
 come. 
 
 1. It is the day of the Lord's recommence. He is 
 known by the judgment that he executes, when the wicked 
 are fnared in the work of their cwn hands (e). He 
 lets them fee the vanity of what they ufed to be fo 
 pleafed with. People confufethem with flattery^ and 
 then leave them in the fnare whither they had brought 
 them. "We cannot fuppofe that Saul wanted his de- 
 pendents, who told him that their lives and fortunes 
 were at his fervice, if we may put it into the modern 
 language ; and yet, when he dies he has never an 
 Jfraelile near him befides his own armour-bearer. 
 This is the ufual round, for people to make a noiie 
 of their loyalty, and when they have infatuated the 
 man that believes them, then they leave him to fhift 
 for himfelf, and refolve to have no part in the hazard 
 that their deceit has led him to. But the juftice of God 
 is feen in this : It is a righteous thing with him, that 
 they who depend fo much upon the vows and devo- 
 tion of men, as to neglect plain duty, mould find that 
 they lean only on a broken reed, that inftead of bear- 
 ing them up, will cut them in pieces. Let not him 
 that is deceived truft in vanity, for vanity [Jjall h 
 recompenfd (f). 
 
 2. J 
 
 (tt) Pfahn exxvi. r, z. 
 
 | 
 
 (f) Job xc * 
 
 • •iniix. 16. 
 
 • 
 
 ; 
 
Serm.8. The DivineRigbt of the Revolution. 1 6$ 
 
 2. It is a warning to others; and if they do not 
 take it, themfelves are like to go the deeper in mifery, 
 Beljhazzar was the fori, or the grand- fon of a King, 
 who had {trained his authority fo far, that he was 
 turned both out of the government and human io- 
 ciety too. From a brute on the throne he is maye 
 one in the field. This was fo awful a Providence, 
 that to neglecl it is a defying of Heaven to do fome- 
 thing worie : and therefore when the fon is fo de- 
 bauched as to drink with his wives and concubines, and 
 a thoufand of his Lords ; and fo profane as to do it 
 in the veffels of the temple, Daniel argues with him. 
 The moft high God gave thy father Nebuchadnezzar a 
 kingdom, and majefty, and glory, and honour : And 
 for the majefty that he gave him, all the people, nations 
 end languages trembled and feared before him ; whom 
 hfagould hejlew, and whom he would he kept alive ; 
 whofche would be fet up, and whom he would he pulled 
 dowrf.' But when his heart was lifted up, and his 
 mind hardned in pride, he was depofed from his kingly 
 throne, and they took his glory from him. And thou, 
 his fon, O Beljhazzar, haft not humbled thine hearty 
 though thoukneweft all this (g). And what was the 
 iffue of this daring impenitency, but a greater adver- 
 fity to himfelf ? Thou art weighed in the balance and 
 found wanting : thy kingdom is divided, and given to 
 the Medes and Perjians (h). And the tragedy begun 
 both early and roughly with him, that night was 
 Beljhazzar the King of the Chaldeans fain. 
 
 II. It is in mercy to an opprefTed people. 
 
 i. By letting them fee, that they are yet in God's 
 
 hand. When the foundations are out of courfe, what 
 can the righteous do ? Their only relief is, that the 
 Lord is in his holy temple, and that the Lord's throne 
 is in the Heavens (i). It is with a recoil of hope, 
 
 M 3 that 
 
 (g) Daniel v. 1 8—22. (i) Pfalm xi. 3, 4. 
 
 (b) Daniel v. 27, 28. 
 
1 66 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Scrm.8. 
 
 that we can dare to believe he is among us in an 
 evil day. As Gideon fays to the Angel, O my Lord, 
 if the Lord be zvith us, why then is all this befallen us ? 
 And where be all his miracles which our fathers told us 
 of (k) ? But when he raifes up a Saviour, and a Great 
 One, it is like his returning to the many thoufands of 
 Jfrael : as it proved in Gideon's, cafe, which methinks 
 was not unlike ours. The Lord looked upon him, and 
 faid to him, Go in this thy might, and fave Ifrael. 
 Had there not been fomething of a Revolution- fpirit 
 left in Great Britain, we might have thought, that 
 he had cafi us off for ever, and his anger fmoked againfi 
 the Jheep of his pajlure ; We fee not our figns and 
 wonders, nor is there any among us that knows how 
 long (/). It would have been fad indeed, if the 
 things that were fo dear to former generations, their 
 Religion and Civil Rights, mould then have perijhed, 
 and no man laid it to heart. But the Lord awaked 
 as one out of fleep, and put his enemies to a perpetual 
 reproach (m). 
 
 2. By flirring them up to affert their juft liberties. 
 "When the Lord hath cafi out thine enemy, in that day 
 it /hall be faid to Jerufalem, Fear not ; and to S ion, Let 
 wt thy hands be fack (n). Conference and courage 
 were each of them fhackled for fome time. People 
 thought it well enough if themfelves could fave any 
 thing, whatever defolation came upon the public. 
 But furely, there muft be a day when a nation mail 
 be weary of her chains, and furTer the infatuation 
 no longer. Some way or other Providence will bring 
 a contempt upon thofe nations that have made gods 
 pf brutes, and brutes of men. It is a ftrange way 
 pf dividing a kingdom, that fome among them muft 
 be beafts of prey, and the reft beafts of burden. 
 This is a doctrine that will jade itfelf when it comes 
 to be ufed. When people talk of paffive obedience, 
 
 and 
 
 (-{) Judges vi. 13. I («) Pfalm Ixxviii. 66. 
 
 (/) Pfalm hxiv. 1 , g. | (») Zeph. iii. 15,16. 
 
Serm. 8. The Divine Right of the Revolution. 167 
 
 and quiet fufferings, they never mean their own. It 
 is a duty only for others ; for when it comes to them- 
 feJves, they cannot endure to pra&ife upon what 
 they have taught. They bind heavy burdens, and 
 grievous to be borne, and lay them on other mens 
 jhoulders ; but themfehes will not move them with one 
 of their fingers (o). We can remember enough of this 
 hypocrify. The men that gave our unhappy Prince 
 a right to fill the jails, and dip his foot in noble 
 blood, to mould our charters anew, and have an 
 army under his command, yet thefe think his 
 breaking the laws of a College, worthy an invitation 
 to a foreign Prince. Thus it was with Abner, he 
 knew that David was chofen by the Lord himfelf to 
 be head over Jfrael, a long while before he pleaded it : 
 but he afferts the right of defcent in favour of Saul's 
 fon •, till that pretender and he fell out about his de- 
 bauchery, and then he is as loud and full of the pro- 
 phecies as any. So do God to Abner, and more al/b, 
 except as the Lord has /worn to David, evenfo I do to 
 him, to tranjlate the kingdom from the houfe of Saul y 
 and to fet up the throne of David over Ifrael and over 
 Judab, from Dan even to Beerfheba (j>). Thus God 
 will find out proper ways to engage a people in defence 
 "of thofe liberties that can never be fairly loft. 
 
 3. By uniting them in this common bleffing. It 
 was the artifice of fome mercenary pens to divide us 
 among ourfelves, that whilft we were biting and de- 
 vouring one another, we might be confumed one of 
 another. Ephraim ufed to envy Judab, and Judab to 
 vex Ephraim ; but they could fly together upon the 
 fhoulders of the Philiftines, and lay their hand upon 
 Edom and Moab {a). We read of feveral animofities 
 among the tribes -, Benjamin quarreled with all the 
 reft ; Gilead with Ephraim \ for the divifions of Reuben 
 there were great fear chings of heart (r) : but it looks 
 
 M 4 like 
 
 (0) Matth. xxiii. 4. (q) Tfa xi. 13, 14. 
 
 {/>) 2 Sam. iii. 9, io. 1 (r) Judges v. 1.5. 
 
1 6 8 The Divine Right of the Revolution. Ser m . 8.' 
 
 like his doing, who has the hearts of men in his hand, 
 when all difputes are huihed, and there is no content 
 tion but for the general peace. All private jars were 
 laid afide ; they did not fo much heed the intereflof a 
 tribe, as that of the whole nation. Praife ye the 
 Lord in the congregation, faith David, even the Lord 
 from [the fountain of Ifrael, q. d. They are now as 
 much united as if they all flowed in one channel. 
 There is little Benjamin, with their ruler ; the Princes 
 of Judah and their council ; the Princes of Zebulun ; 
 and the Princes of Naphtali : Thy God commands thy 
 
 (j). 
 
 is chapter you have an account of the people 
 evoked to David: it begins in the court ; fome 
 that had been advanced in the former reign, draw off 
 to meet the new Prince upon his coming. Of the 
 children of Benjamin, of the kindred of Saul, three thou- 
 fand, for hitherto the rr eat eft part of them had kept the 
 ward of Saul (/). We meet with perfons of various 
 capacities among them. The Gadites were men of 
 might and men of war, that could handle fhield and 
 buckler, wbofe faces were like the faces of lions, and 
 ihey were as fwift as the rocs upon the mountains («). 
 Of the children of IJJachar, that had under/landing of 
 the times, and knew what Ifrael ought to do, two hun- 
 dred \ and all their brethren were at their command- 
 ment (.v). Of Zebulun, fuch as could keep rank, and 
 were not of a double heart (y). Thefe have a folemn 
 interview with him, which 1 cannot read, without think- 
 ing over the cafe of our late King at his landing. His 
 final! number had a daily increale, and he fo behaved 
 himfelf in that affair, as if this chapter was both an 
 hiilory for Ifrael, and a prophecy for us. David 
 went cut to them to meet them, and faid, If you be 
 come peaceably to help me, my heart /hall he knit unto 
 
 you : 
 
 (j) Pfalmlxviii 26, 27, 28. 
 (/) 1 Chron. xii. 2*9. 
 (.'/) i Chron. xii- 31. 
 
 (x) 1 Chron xii. 32. 
 \y) 1 Chron. xii. 33. 
 
Serm. 8 . The Divine Right of the Revolution. 169 
 
 you : but if you be come to betray me to mine enemies, 
 feeing there is no evil in mine hand, the God of our fa- 
 thers look thereon , and rebuke it. Then came the Spirit 
 upon Amafai, who was the chief of the Captains , and 
 he J aid, Thine are we David, and on thy fide thou 
 [on of Jeffe. Peace, peace, be unto thee, and peace 
 be to thy helpers ; for thy God helpeth thee. God 
 infpired them with a general fenfe of their danger ; 
 fo that at that time, day by day, they came to David to 
 help him, until it was a great hofi like the hofl of 
 God (z). 
 
 4. By putting them under a better government. 
 There is a particular reputation upon the clemency 
 of his reign; he fed them according to the integrity of his 
 heart, and guided them by the Jkilfulnefs of his hands (a). 
 We read how general a fatisfaclion the people had. 
 So many thoufands were with David three days eating 
 and drinking ; for their brethren had prepared for them. 
 Moreover, they that were nigh them, even IJfachar, Ze- 
 bulun and Naphtali, brought bread on affes and camels, 
 and mules, and oxen, and Jheep, and meat, and meal y 
 cakes of figs, and bunches of raifins, and wine and oil y 
 and oxen and Jheep in abundance ; for there was joy in 
 Ifrael (b). They now fell under the care of one who 
 had fought their battles, and fhewn a tendernefs for 
 them upon all occafions. Here was an happy turn 
 to Religion among them, David faid to the congre- 
 gation of Ifrael, If it feem good to you, and that it be 
 of the Lord our God, let us fend abroad to our brethren 
 every where, that are left in the land of Ifrael, and 
 with them alfo to the Priefls and Levites, which are in 
 their cities and fuburbs, that they may gather themfelves 
 unto us \ and let us bring again the ark of our God to 
 its : for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. And 
 all the congregation faid, that they would do fo : for the 
 
 thing 
 
 (z) 1 Chron. xii. 17, 1 8, 22. | [b) 1 Chron. xii. 40. 
 
 [a) Pfal. Ix'xviii. 72. 
 
170 TheDivine Right of the Revolution. Serm.8. 
 
 thing was right in the eyes of all the people (c). This 
 was a Revolution worthy of their joy, when there was 
 fuch a mutual tendernefs between King and people. 
 They move together in things of the bell defign. 
 
 This gives me a fair occafion to look back upon 
 the mercies that landed in England, with our great 
 Deliverer (his day. All thefe things that makeup 
 the fenfe of my text, may be brought over to that 
 cafe. It was eminently according to the word of the 
 Lord, that a Saviour mould come upon mount Sion, 
 and judge the mount of Efau (d). We had fold our- 
 felves into the hands of a cruel Lord, and had the 
 judgment of a fierce King ruling over us. Our abo- 
 minable wrangling about lefTer matters made us at firft 
 the fport of the Papifts, and then their prey. We 
 were in the fame cafe with Ifaac, forced to travel a 
 long while carrying wood and fire, not knowing that 
 ourfelves were to be the burnt-offering. May Jeho- 
 vah-jireh be infcribed upon this day -, when we were 
 bound and ftretched out, there was an angel to catch 
 the blow, that would have been as much againft 
 nature asdhrabam's: for they that called themfelves 
 Fathers of their country were to be the executioners 
 of this wo. Was not this the Lord's doing ? Then, 
 
 Firft, Let us refolve that he fhall have the glory. 
 Indeed the names of thole men will be very dear to 
 our lad hiftory, who jeoparded their lives in the high- 
 places of the field, and were refolved that either Reli- 
 gion mould live with them, or they would die with 
 it. But ftill the chief praife is owing to heaven. De- 
 borah admires the courage of the nobility, and the 
 unanimity of the commons, but it is with an entire 
 reference of the whole defign to God. My heart is 
 towards the governors of Ijrael, who willingly offered 
 themfelves among the people : Pratfe ye the Lord{e). 
 
 Secondly, 
 
 (c) 1 Chron. xiii. 2, 3, 4. (e) Judg v. 9. 
 
 \d) Obad. i. 21. 
 
Serm.8. The Divine Right of the Revolution. iy\ 
 
 Secondly, Another improvement that we mould make 
 of God's hand in it, is to defire that he who laid the 
 foundation would build upon it : and when he brings 
 the top-flone, the cry of a refcued people will be Grace y 
 grace. He will perfetl that which concerns us. It is 
 not his way to lead out of Egypt, and flay in the wil- 
 derness. Though there is a generation that were lately 
 making themfelves a Captain, and returning to their 
 bondage •, yet we are thus far preferved. We have 
 feen an impudent Invafion blafted with a contempt 
 of Providence, though it was a defign laboured with 
 all the force of the enemy. There were fevere days 
 of failing in Ireland, and the occafion kept very pri- 
 vate, till the fleet came out of Dunkirk, but then 
 they told their hopes with the fame confidence that 
 the French King did his in all the courts where he 
 had an ambaffador. Rome was to help it with money 
 and a blefling •, France with fhips and foldiers : and 
 what did the mighty preparation come to ? It brings 
 to my mind what you read in the Prophet, Why are 
 thy valiant men [wept away ? 'They flood not, becaufe 
 the Lord did drive them. They did cry there, Pha- 
 raoh King of Egypt is but a noife, he has paft the time 
 appointed (/). 
 
 Thirdly, Let us walk as a people thus near to the 
 Lord, with a religious tafte of the bleflings we enjoy, 
 and an humble contention for thofe we want. Thus 
 fhall violence be no more heard in our land, nor wafling 
 and deflruclion in our borders ; but we fhall call our 
 walls falvation, and our gates praife (g). Above all, 
 let us put on charity, which is the bond of perfetlnefs. 
 Do not fuffer the defign to take of widening the dif- 
 ference between Proteftants, but follow the things that 
 make for peace. Avoid them who have the inflru- 
 ments of cruelty in their habitation, and pretend to help 
 Religion by the ruin of fuch as do not agree to their 
 
 model. 
 (/) Jer.xlvi. 15, 17. \ (g) Ifai. Ix. 18. 
 
1 72 The Divine Right of the Revolution, Serm. 8. 
 
 model. Oh my foul! come not thou into their fecret ; 
 unto their affembly\ mine honour, be not thou united ; 
 for in their anger they would flay a man, and in their 
 felf-will would dig down a wall. We have many 
 promifes upon record, let us hope and quietly wait for 
 the falvation of our God, till he has'made Sion an eter- 
 nal excellency, the joy of many generations (£). 
 
 (JJIfa.lx. 15. 
 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON IX. 
 
 The Son of Tabea l, 
 
 Occafioned by the French Invafion in Favour of 
 the Pretender. 
 
 *************************** 
 
 Preached March 14, 1707-8. 
 *************************** 
 
 Isaiah VII. 5, 6, 7. 
 
 Becaufe Syria, Ephraim, and the Jon ofRemaliah 
 have taken evil counfel againjl thee, faying, Let us 
 go up againfljudah, and vex it, and let us make a 
 breach therein for us, and fet a King in the midfl of 
 it> eventhe JonofTabeal: Thus faith the Lord God> 
 Itjhall not fl and, neither Jh all it come to pafs. 
 
 )$(c$o§°$o}§( Ometimes God fpeaks fo loud in Provi- 
 # # dence as to call our meditations after 
 
 ^a ji him. The lion has rored, who will not 
 
 ^c^&c^o^ / Mr - ? The Lord God bath fpoken, who can 
 but prophefy (a) ? When he anfwers a 
 people by terrible things in right eoufnefs (b), it is not 
 merely to fet us a gazing, but to make Religion cir- 
 culate in our hearts and lives. There is an adoration 
 in every true regard that we have to his proceedings. 
 
 To 
 {a) Amos iii. 8. J (b) Pfal. Ixv. 5. 
 
174 ® n the French Invafion 1707-8. Serm.9. 
 To obferve what he does with an humble reverence, 
 is more than a fpeculation •, it has a place among the 
 folemnities of worfhip : for his way is great in the 
 fantluary, when he does wonders, and declares his 
 firength among the people (c). 
 
 You will all know the reafon of my choofing thefe 
 words by the very found of them : I leave your own 
 thoughts to fix a connection between what you read 
 and what you hear. That duty may have a mare in 
 our concern and difcourfes about the prefent Invafion, 
 that we may think and talk of it like Chriftians, I 
 have led you back into a cafe of the fame complexion 
 with your own. 
 
 You need look no farther than this chapter for the 
 whole ftory that the text belongs to. In the days of 
 Ahaz King of Judah, Rezin the King of Syria, and 
 Pekah the fon of Remaliah King of lfrael, went up to- 
 wards Jerufalem to war againfi it (d). This war was 
 begun in his good father's days •, it was a quarrel of 
 a long continuance (<?). Theypurfued it in thisKing's 
 reign with a great advantage : it is probable we have 
 two feparate ftories in that woful account ; The Lord 
 God delivered him into the hand of the King of Syria, 
 who fmote him, and carried away a great multitude of 
 them captives, and brought them to Damafeus. Befides . 
 this, Pekah the fon of Remaliah few in Judah an hun- 
 dred and twenty thoufand in one day, all valiant men ; 
 and Jfrael led captive of their brethren two hundred 
 thoufand women, fons and daughters, and exceeding 
 much fpoil(f) : though, by the folemn perfuafion of 
 a Prophet, they refunded the captivity, and fent the 
 people back again to their own land. Thefe two ene- 
 mies had each of them crufhed Abaz apart, and now 
 they are joining to make the next defolation more 
 complete. The news of this expedition comes to court, 
 with fuch an influence upon them, as a people under 
 
 the 
 
 (0 Pfal. lxxvii. 13,14. I (0 2 Kings xv. 37. 
 
 (d) liai. vii. i. (/) 2 Chron. xxviii. 5, 6. 
 
Serm.9* On the French Itivafion ijoj-%. 175 
 the frown of God are moft liable to. They, whofe 
 hearts are fixed, trufting in the Lord, need not be 
 afraid of evil tidings (g) ; but when it was told the houfe 
 of David? that Syria was confederate with Ephraim, 
 his heart was moved, and the heart of his -people, as the 
 trees are moved with the wind (h). 
 
 We do not find any tincture of piety in all the dis- 
 turbance : that Prince has a brand upon his name, as 
 one of peculiar ftupidity. He was neither to be al- 
 lured nor frighted into his duty. A defperate humour 
 of folly is what the Holy Ghoft records for his moft 
 notorious character : In the time of his difirefs he tref- 
 paffed more againft the Lord God of Ifrael ; this is that 
 King Ahaz (i). But here behold the divine goodnefs ! 
 God deals with the Jews in thofe furprifes of love 
 that are promifed to the Gentiles : we may fay of this 
 people, that he fends to them who ajked not for him 9 
 and is found of thofe who fought him not (k). Though 
 prayer has never a mefifage to him, yet mercy has one 
 to them. Thus kind is he to the unthankful and the 
 evil. And how truly may this be wrought into our 
 accounts of privilege under the Gofpel ? We are the 
 charge of a Mediator, who received gifts for men, even 
 for the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell amongft 
 them (/). 
 
 The Prophet comes upon a gracious errand, to 
 hufh the waves of terror and direct a calm : and you 
 may obferve with how much contempt he fpeaks of 
 the invaders, and the noify preparation they had made. 
 'Take heed, and be quiet % fear not, neither be faint- 
 hearted, for the two tails of thefe fmoking firebrands .; 
 for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and the fon of 
 Remaliah (m). Thefe are terms that Ahaz could not 
 dare to give an enemy, who had fcoured through 
 the land before ; his fear would rather magnify the 
 
 danger 
 
 {g) Pfal. cxii. 7. 
 
 (h) Ifai. vii. 2. 
 
 (/) 2 Chron. xxviii. 22. 
 
 (&) Pfal. her. I. 
 (/) Pfal.lxviii, ij 
 [m) Ifai. vii. 4. 
 
176 OntkFrencKhvafion 1707-8. Serm.gr 
 
 danger than banter it. But God fees not as man fees ; 
 he fits in the heavens, from whence he furveys all the 
 motions of nature, and there he laughs at them, there 
 he has them in derifion (n). My text is the grand re- 
 folve of eternal juftice, where we fee the enemy's con- 
 fidence expofed as a thing moft provoking; and then 
 their fentence fixed, becaufe Syria, Ephraim, and the 
 fon of Remallah, &c. The device and affurance of thefe 
 confederates are the crimes that fallen a ruin upon 
 them. God loves to take the wife in their own crafti- 
 tiefs, and the counfel of the froward is carried head- 
 long (0). It is true there were many abominations in 
 Judah. Ahaz is one of the moil infamous names in 
 all their roll of Kings ; but that was no excufe to a 
 ravening neighbour. The idolatry, violence, falfhood, 
 and unbelief of the people, deferved that God would 
 ftir up all his wrath, to make a full end of them : and 
 yet he takes it ill that Syria and Ephraim are com- 
 bined in a gloomy war againfl them. I will fwell up 
 the hiftory into a general cafe, and give you the fenfe 
 of it in this propofition : 
 
 God doth and will refent the defigns and confi- 
 dence of thofe who aim at the ruin or flavery of 
 his people. 
 
 The parts of the text and doclrine are the fame, 
 if 
 thod 
 
 and fhall be confidered together in the following me 
 
 I. I will open the provocation of thofe, who de- 
 fign no lefs than the fubjecting of God's people 
 and interefl to their own tyranny. 
 
 II. Enquire into the refentment of it, that has fo 
 good an afpe£t upon thofe in danger. 
 
 III. Apply the Difcourfe, 
 
 {»} Pfal.il. 4, \ (<?) Job v. 13. 
 
 I. The 
 
Serm. 9. On the French Invafion 1707-8. 177 
 
 I. The device and confidence of the enemy, that 
 is fcandalous in the eyes of heaven, and fhall be made 
 fo to the world, may be confidered in the feveral 
 branches of my text. 
 
 1 . There is a vigorous application to the moll 
 formidable meafures. Though it looks like a force 
 upon nature, and fhews what a power of infatuation 
 cruelty may pretend to. The Syrians and the ten tribes 
 were people whofe interefts and defigns ufed to lie far 
 afunder. In religious affairs they bcre a very differ- 
 ing character : we find in their hiflories a great many 
 quarrels and confufions among them •, and yet thefe 
 two unite in a defign againft Jerufalem. This was 
 very provoking to God, that mifchief mould do what 
 inclination could not ; he therefore threatens to take 
 off the reftraint, and let the people who were now 
 confederate with Ephraim return to their ufual ha- 
 tred. The Syrians before, and the Philiftines behind* 
 and they fh all devour Ifraelwilh open mouth (p). This 
 may put us upon lamenting the reputation that our 
 various opinions have grown to. What pity is it that 
 they fhould be thought worthy to divide us in the 
 meafures we purfue, and the converfation we choofe ? 
 How much wifer are the children of this world in their 
 generation than the children of light (q) ? When there 
 is any famous oppofition to be made againft. Religion, 
 men of jarring thoughts can unite in it •, all varieties 
 are laid afleep, and not fuffered to damp the vigour 
 they confpire with ; the noife of paflion is quieted •, 
 there is a fufpence of mutual jealoufies, when they 
 have fome common drudgery in hand againft the 
 peace of Chriftians. 
 
 David foretold this of our days j for though he 
 
 found it fo in perfon, yet the truth of the prophecy 
 
 out-lived him, and belongs to thefe latter ages. Il-e 
 
 Kings of the earth fet themfelves, and the Rulers take 
 
 Vol. I. ■ N counfel 
 
 (p) Ifai. ix. 12. (q) Luke xvi. 3. 
 
178 On the French Invqfion 1707-8. Serm.9. 
 
 counfel together againft the Lord and againft his anoint- 
 ed (r). The Apoftles, in their exposition of this paf- 
 fage, apply it two ways : Firft, It helps them to un- 
 derftand the violence that was offered to our Lord, Of 
 a truth againft thy holy child J efus, whom thou haft anoint- 
 ed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, perfons divided by 
 interelt and envy, withtbeGentiles and people oflfrael(s), 
 who were fo mutually inflamed, that the one was always 
 jealous of lofing a government, and the other groan- 
 ing under the weight of it -, yet thefe were gathered 
 together to do whatever God's hand and counfel deter- 
 mined before to bj done. Secondly, It is what they fetch 
 their own fupports from, looking upon the mifchief 
 done to themfelves as things aimed at in the prophecy : 
 Now, Lord, behold their threatnings, and grant unto 
 thy fervants, that with all boldnefs they may fpeak thy 
 word : q. d. They are purfuing the fame track now ; 
 thefe are the {landing politics of hell : the prince of 
 darknefs ufes them as the moft prevailing methods 
 for his empire. He is and will be a rival to that 
 King who rules in righteoufnefs, and fhall extend his 
 dominion from fea to fea, and from the river to the ends 
 of the earth. To thefe purpofes he knows how to ce- 
 ment a multitude, and keep them entire to a defign 
 againft Chriftianity : They have taken crafty counfel 
 againft thy people, and confulted againft thine hidden 
 ones. 'They have f aid, Come, let us cut them off from 
 being a nation, that the name of Ifrael may be no more 
 in remembrance. They have confulted together with one 
 confent, they are confederate againft thee (t). 
 
 2. They fpeak with a great deal of pleafure in the 
 defign, and of confidence about the fuccefs ; Let us 
 go up againft Judah, and vex it, and make a breach 
 therein for us, and fet a King in the midft of it, even 
 the fon of Tabeal. This is what God calls evil counfel 
 in the former verfe, and indeed there is every thing 
 
 to 
 
 (r) Pfal. ii. 2, 3, 4. (/) Pfal. lxxxiii. 3, 4, 5. 
 
 {s) Afts iv. 27, 29. 
 
Serm.o. OntheFrenchlnvafion 1707-8. 179 
 
 to make it fo ; a contempt of him, and a cruelty to 
 his people. He has blamed the former, when it is 
 the fpirit of an Invafion, and they fay, Let us take to 
 ourfehes the houfes of God in pofjeffion (u). And as 
 for the latter, their trampling upon the rights of 
 mankind, it is the abominable thing that his foul hates. 
 When once perfons have frozen up the compaffions of 
 human nature, and learned to adt without tendernefs, 
 as they are a burden to the earth, fo they muft needs 
 be odious in the eyes of heaven. Indeed violent mea- 
 fures are oftentimes needful for the refcue or the pro- 
 tection of liberty. God has owned them with his 
 blefling, and, upon fome occafions, has enforced the 
 terrible duty in a peculiar manner. Curfed be he that 
 does the work of the Lord deceitfully, and curfed be he 
 that keeps back his f word from blood (x). But they are 
 people of another fort whom he calls bloody and de- 
 ceitful men ; who are compared to the troubled fea that 
 cajis up mire and dirt : There is no peace, faith our God, 
 to thefe wicked perfons (y). He ordains his arrows 
 againft the perfecutors (2) ; and has hung a peculiar 
 vengeance over them, which fhall rebuke the multitude 
 offpearmen, and feat ter the people that delight in war (a). 
 The Lord trieth the righteous, but the wicked, and him 
 that loveth violence, his fid hates : Upon thefe he will 
 rain fnares, fire and brimjione, and an horrible tem- 
 peft ', this Jhall be the portion of their cup (b). 
 
 This is ufually the temper of thofe who take their 
 aim at Religion : the two things that made up the 
 unrighteous Judge's character are feldom parted, he 
 feared not God, and he regarded not man (c). Super- 
 ftition is the high road to cruelty. When once people 
 have fubdued all fenfe of divinity, they become like 
 
 N 2 the 
 
 (a) Pfal. Ixxxiii. 12. 
 (x) Jer. xlviii. 10. 
 ( y) Ifai. lvii. 20, 21. 
 (») Pfal. vii. 13. 
 
 (a) Pfal. Ixviii. 30. 
 (*) Pfal. xi. 5, 6. 
 {c) Luke xviii. 2. 
 
180 On, the F ernch Inva/ion 1707-8. Serm.9^ 
 
 the brutes that peri/h. And this falls under the cen- 
 fure of a God whofe ways are judgment . He blames 
 Edom becaufe he purfued his brother with a fword, 
 and did cafi off all pity ; and his anger did tear per- 
 petually, and he kept his wrath for ever (d). It is in 
 oppofition to a defign thus inflamed, that he puts 
 on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and covers 
 himfelf with zeal as a cloke [e). He prefers the fame 
 charge againft mount Seir, that they could, without 
 afking him leave, feize the land of Jfrael as their 
 own ; that is, they did it in meditation and fcheme, 
 but there was an interpofing fury to ruffle their mea- 
 fures. Becaufe the enemy hath faid, Aha, even the 
 ancient high places are ours in poffeffion ; becaufe they 
 have made you de folate, and fwallowed you up on every 
 fide, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and 
 are an infamy of the people : 'Therefore thus faith the 
 Lord God, Surely in the fire of my jealoufy have Ifpoken 
 againft the refidue of the Heathen, and againft all Idumea, 
 which have appointed my land into their poffeffion, with 
 the joy of all their heart, with defpiteful minds to caft it 
 out for a prey ( f). 
 
 3. The Defign itfelf. The matter it confifted of 
 was difpleafing, for which cauie he devotes it to ruin : 
 for who is he that fpeaketh, and it cometh topafs, when 
 the Lord commandeth it not (g) ? There were two things 
 aimed at by this Invafion. 
 
 1. Deftrudtion and cruelty at prefent •, Let us go 
 up againft Judah, and vex it, and make a breach 
 therein for us, i. e. Work out the defign by the un- 
 quiet and factious fpirits that are amongft them. 
 God may have one end in unchaining the enemy, 
 and they be purfuing another •, though it is our com- 
 fort, that there be many devices in man's heart, ne- 
 virthelefs the counfd of the Lord, that f hall ft and {h). 
 
 There 
 
 (d) Amos i. n. • 
 
 (e) Ifai. lix. 17. 
 
 (/) Ezek. xxxvi. 2, 3, 5. 
 
 (g) Lam. iii. 37. 
 (h) Prov. xix. 21. 
 
Serm.Q. On the French Imqfion 1 707-8. 1 8 1 
 
 'There is no evil in the city but be has done it (i). He 
 gave Jacob to the fpoil, and Ifrael to the robbers (k). 
 it is mentioned as an act of his Providence, that he 
 begun to fend againfi Judab Rezin King of Syria, and 
 Pekah the fon of Remaliah(l). When we confider 
 his hand in it, we mufl call it by no harfher a name 
 than correction ; take it with patience, and cry for 
 mercy. If the Lord has flirred thee up againfi me, 
 fays David- to Saul, there is no difputing the cafe with 
 him, let him accept of a burnt-offering {m). But this 
 is confident with a vigorous oppofition to the defigns 
 of men ; he feldom fanctifies the tools of fuch a dif- 
 cipline : they have nothing of his glory in view, but 
 are merely padive to the gracious purpofe of heaven ; 
 it is no part of their enquiry what fuch a people have 
 done to difhonour God ; the principles that breathe 
 life into their caufe, the meafures they take to ripen 
 it, and the end they are reaching to, are all compre- 
 hended in themfelves. The distinction between God's 
 defign in fending them, and theirs incoming, is very 
 plainly opened ; I gave him a charge to take the fpoil, 
 to take the prey, and tread them down like mire in the 
 Jlreets : howbeit, he meaneth not fo, neither does his 
 heart think fo, but it is in his heart to deflroy and cut 
 off nations not a few («). Sometimes an enemy has 
 the confidence to boaft a divine commiffion. Am I 
 come up without the Led ? The Lord f aid unto me, Go 
 up againji this land, and deflroy it {0). Which was true, 
 but not in his fenfe : thefe are part of the words with 
 which he came to reproach the living God. When a 
 tyrant has been the common fcourge of nations, tho' 
 Providence may over-rule the violence, and ufe it to 
 our fpiritual advantage, yet the thing itfelf is moil 
 abominable to thofe pure eyes that cannot behold evil, 
 and look en iniquity {p) ; fo that it is no wonder that 
 
 N 3 God 
 
 (/') Amos iii. 6. (m) i Sam xxvi. 19, 
 
 . (i) Hai. xlii. 34. (») li'ai.x. 6, 7. 
 
 (/) z Kings xv. 37. I (0) llki. xxxvi. 10. 
 
x82 On the French Invafion 1707-8. Serm.9. 
 
 God difTolves a power thus vexatious. He that fmote 
 the people in wrath with a continual ftroke, he that ruled 
 the nations in anger, is perfecuted, and none hindreth : 
 the whole earth is at reft and quiet, they break forth into 
 finging (q). But another thing that thefe invaders 
 aimed at was, 
 
 2. Conqueft and ufurpation for the future. It was 
 not enough to plunder them in one battle, but they 
 defign a continuing advantage over them : Let us Jet 
 a. King in the mid ft of it, even the fon of tfabeal. Who 
 this titular Prince was, that muft be the thing they 
 work with, is neither certain nor material. Be he 
 of what line he will, there were three flaws in his 
 pretences. 
 
 Firft, He was not of David's family, whom God 
 had chofen by name, and ordained a lamp for his 
 G>. chited (r) . For, though it was of the Lord that the 
 ten tribes mould revolt, when Rehoboam denied their 
 claim of right, yet flill David was not to want a man 
 before him. The reafon of this was rather prophetical 
 than hiftorical ; not ib much for his heart's being right 
 all his days, as becauje of the fruit of his loins, accord- 
 ing to the flefh, he would raife up Chrift to fit on his 
 throne (j). This honour of having the government 
 run in his family, was peculiar to him. This 
 is the only race of Kings that could ever claim 
 a divine appointment. Abijafrs argument for a fuc- 
 cefiion could be pleaded by none out of that fa- 
 mily : Ought ye not to know, that the Lord God of 
 Jfrael gave the kingdom over Jfrael to David for ever , 
 even to him and to his fons, by a covenant of fait (t) ? 
 He had taken away his leving kindnefs from Saul ; but 
 promifes to build David a fure houfe. So that this 
 Pretender, thefonofTabeal, by his Invafion, was 
 clafhing with a pofitive order of heaven, and in open 
 
 rebellion 
 
 (p) Hab. i. 13. 
 (?) Ifai. xiv. 6, 7. 
 \r) Pfal. cxxxii. 17. 
 
 (j) Ads ii. 30. 
 (/) 2 Chron. xiii. 5. 
 
Serm.c?- ® n ^ oe French Iiroafion 1707-8. 183 
 rebellion to a Meffiah, who was to be of the feed of 
 David according to the flefh («). But this argument 
 was peculiar to the Jews, and to thofe ages of their 
 conftitution ; God had limited and directed them 
 both in worfhip and government ; He has not dealt fo 
 with any other nation (x). 
 
 Secondly, This man did not come with the content 
 of Judah. It was a good argument in Hufhai the 
 Archite, though Abfalom had no claim to it : Whom 
 the Lord and his people, and all the men of Ifrael 
 choofe, his will I be, and with him will 1 abide (y). And 
 this laft branch of the claim is the higheft that any in 
 the world can pretend to. For though the powers 
 that be are ordained of God (z), yet it is a flaring 
 impudence for men to tell us that he names the per- 
 fons, or any other way fhews his approbation than 
 by the voice of the people. This gives the faireft 
 title to one in authority, and the beft hopes of a quiet 
 and -peaceable life to thofe that are under him. Im- 
 pofing a governor is an adt of prefuming cruelty, 
 and ufually an inlet to all national miferies at once. 
 God has therefore thrown it in amongft the plagues of 
 a people whom he contended with : I will give the 
 Egyptians over into the hands of a cruel Lord, and a 
 fierce King fhall rule over them {a). When the decree 
 was brought forth againft//r,3<?/, what a difmal compais 
 of ruin did it take ? Their religion was denied •> The 
 adverfary fpread out his hand upon all their pleafant 
 things-, the heathen entred into the fantluary, whom 
 God did command that they fhould not come into ike 
 congregation (b). Their civil liberties were equally 
 the jeft and property of others -, Their inheritance 
 turned to ftran%ers, and their houfes to aliens (c). And 
 therefore when God fmiles upon them, it is with a 
 
 N 4 refcue 
 
 (a) Rom. i. 3. (a) Ifa. xix. 4. 
 
 (x) Pfalmcxlvii 30. (n) Lam. i. to, 
 
 (y) 2 Sam xvi. 18. (c) Lam, v. z. 
 
 ' (z) Romans xiii. 1 . i 
 
184 On the French Invafion 1707-8. Serm.g. 
 
 refcue of this privilege : I will bring again the capti- 
 vity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling- 
 places ; and the city JJjall be budded on her own heap, 
 and the palace Jhall remain after the manner thereof. 
 Their nobles Jhall be of themfelves, and their governors 
 Jhall proceed J 'rem the midfi of them (d). This is more 
 than the fon of Tabeal could pretend to. 
 
 Thirdly, He was only to be the tool of thofe that 
 raifed him to the throne. His authority was not a 
 government, but an engine that others were turning 
 round at their pleafure. So that they make him a 
 jailor rather than a King : one that is to keep a na- 
 tion of flaves in awe •, and not be the head of a people 
 who have any privileges to enjoy, or any to lofe. 
 
 This vjzs the provocation of the invaders, and this 
 the miicrable ftate which they would humble Judab 
 into. Eut the people, thus endangered from abroad, 
 are fenced about with a promife ; Thus faith the Lord 
 God> It Jhall not Jland, neither Jhall it come to pafs. 
 Thefe words will have their place under the fecond 
 general head -, which is, 
 
 II. To inquire into God's refentment of it. He 
 breaks them and their defign with a rod of iron, be 
 dafhes them in pieces like a potter's vejfel(e). 
 
 1. This way he fulfils a providential anger againft 
 the enemy. It is but the iffue of a difpleafure that 
 has been long a gathering : a performing the intents of 
 his heart (/). When a people have prepared them- 
 felves for ruin by the flower and more common acts 
 of injuftice, they ufually take the final plunge by 
 fome vifibleoppofition to the intereft of Christ. For 
 the violence againjl Jacob, ftiame was to cover the Edo- 
 mites, and they mujl be cut of for ever (g). The ten 
 tribes were run very deep in fcore to juftice ; there 
 
 was 
 
 \d) Jer.xxx. 1 8, 21. (f) Jer. xxx. 24. 
 
 (e) Pfalm ii. 9. | (g) Obad. 10. 
 
Serm.9« On ^French Invajion 1707-8. 185 
 was a growth of guilt for feveral ages to deferve a 
 captivity. But when they enter upon this expedition, 
 vengeance deals more plainly with them -, Within three- 
 fcore and five years Jhall Ephraim be broken that it be 
 not a people {h), /. e. fo long from the date of fome 
 former threatning. For according to the cleareft 
 computation that I can make from fcripture, Samaria 
 was taken about eighteen or nineteen years after this ; 
 though indeed the captivity grew : armies were fent 
 afterwards to glean the country, and fetch away the 
 little that a former defolation had left. They were 
 told before that ruin would come upon them ; but 
 now God fixes a period, and tells them, that thefe 
 threatnings were of no longer than threefcore and 
 five years running, a great part of which time was 
 fpent when Ifaiab delivered this mefTage. This may 
 be an ufeful confideration to his people, when they 
 are molefted by fuch as God has a long reckoning 
 with. He will avenge the blood of his fervants that is 
 Jhedy though he bear long with the enemy. Iniquity 
 Jhall have an end. Let us therefore take fall hold of 
 that promife, Thoufhalt bring down the noife of fir an- 
 gers as the heat in a dry place, even the heat with the 
 fhadow of a cloud : the branch of the terrible ones 
 fhall be brought low (i). 
 
 2. Thus he fecures the honour of his name, not 
 only to fhew himfelf a God glorious in holinefs, fear- 
 ful in praifes, doing wonders ; but a God that keeps 
 covenant and mercy to thofe that fear him. That is 
 the favourite, the darling glory, for he has exalted 
 his word above all his name (k). It is in this language 
 that he props the faith of Jfrael, and enables them to 
 brave the enemy : Ajfociate yourfelves, O ye people, 
 and ye fhall be broken to pieces ; and give ear, all 
 ye of far countries : gird yourfelves, and ye fhall be 
 broken to pieces ; yea, gird yourfelves, and ye fhall be 
 broken to pieces. Take counfel together, and it jhall 
 
 come 
 
 (b) Obad. 8. I (i) Pfalm cxxxviii. 3. 
 
 (/') Ifa. xxv, 5. ) 
 
1 86 On the French Invafion ly 07- 8. Serm.9. 
 
 come to nought ; fpeak the word, and it /hall not /land, 
 for God is with us (/). Thus he promifes the Jews 
 a deliverance from the A/fyrian, that the Firft-born of 
 the poor pall feed, and the needy lie down in fafety (m). 
 And what is the fountain -mercy that the falvation 
 fprings from ?' You fee, The Lord has founded Sion, 
 and the poor of his people /ball truft in it (»). The 
 confidence of thofe that were united in this invafion 
 upon Judah, did equally ftrike at their happinefs and 
 God's honour. They difpofed of things and per- 
 fons, as if fuccefs was their property, and 1/rael 
 their claim. But God takes this occafion to let them 
 know, that he rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. 
 As they can do nothing without him any where, fo 
 rn a particular manner they have no right to meddle 
 here. I will read you a paflage which you can fcarce 
 hear without an application : it lets us fee how tender 
 God is of his honour, the honour of beng related 
 to a people, of having an intereft in the worfiiip they 
 pay, and the liberties they enjoy. Whenever thefe 
 are touched, vengeance awakens itfelf upon the cri- 
 minal. The words are ; Becaufe thou haft faid, 
 Thefe two nations, and thefe two countries Jhall be mine, 
 and we will po/fefi it, whereas the Lord was there : 
 Therefore as I live, faith the Lord God, I will even 
 do according to thine anger, and according to thine 
 envy, which thou haft ufcd out of thy hatred againft 
 ihem \ and I will make known myfelf among them, 
 when I have judged thee. And thou /halt know that 
 I am the Lord, and that I have heard all thy blaf- 
 phemies which thou haft fpoken againft the mountains of 
 Jfrad, faying, They are laid deflate, they are given us 
 to con fame. Thus with your mouth ye have boafted 
 againft me, and have multiplied your words againft me ; 
 / have heard them. Thus faith the Lord God, Wren 
 the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee defolate (0). 
 
 3. This 
 
 (/} Tf;i. viii. 9, 10. 
 (m) Ffa. xiv. 30. 
 (n) Ifa. xiv. 32. 
 
 {0) Ezek.xxxv. 10,11,12. 
 13, 14. 
 
Serm.Q* ?l ^ e French Invafon 1707-8. 187 
 3. This is in anfwer to the prayers of his people. 
 Though Ahaz took very irregular fteps, we cannot 
 imagine that all the remains of piety were gone. 
 There were fome few, of whom the Prophet could 
 ufe thofe words that are typical of Christ ; Behold 
 1 and the children thou haft given me are for Jigns ! In 
 what ? I wait upon the Lord, who hideth his face from 
 the houfe of Jacob, and I will look for him (p). This 
 will do : it has done, with little or no concurrence of 
 nature. I'he people refted themfelves upon the words of 
 Hezekiah, when Rabfhakeh was bauling at their 
 gates : that which heartned them was, With them 
 is an arm of flefh, but with us is the Lord our God(q), 
 It is an ill fign upon a nation, when God faith of 
 them, 1 fought for a man among them that Jhould 
 make up the hedge, andfland in the gap before me for 
 the land, that I fhould not deftroy it -, but I found 
 none (r). Things are brought to a fad pitch indeed, 
 when there is no good return to that enquiry : Run to 
 and fro, and fee now and know, and feek in the broad 
 places, if ye can find a man, if there be any that ex ecu t- 
 eth judgment, that feeketh the truth, and I will par- 
 don it (i). But when the fpirit of grace and fuppli- 
 cation is poured out, it makes a people terrible as an 
 army with banners. This was the ufual round of 
 the Jews, unbelief and revolt betrayed them into, 
 captivity •, but when they cried unto the Lord, he raifed 
 them up a deliverer (/). They that are in fuch a cafe 
 may ling, We have a ftrong city, falvation will God 
 appoint for walls and bulwarks (u). Let there be more 
 of this amongfl us, that our deliverance may be 
 capable of that title, When the enemy cometh in like a 
 flood, the fpirit of the Lord lifteth up a flandard againft 
 him (#). 
 
 4. it 
 
 (/>) Ifa. viii. 17, 18. 
 (q) 2 Chron xxxii. 8. 
 (r) Ezek. xxii. 30. 
 (s) Jer. v. 1 . 
 
 (') Judges iii. 15. 
 («) Ifa. xxvi. I. 
 (x) Ha. lix. 19. 
 
1 8 8 On the French Jnvafion 1 708-9. Serm. 9, 
 
 4. It is a preparation for the government he has 
 given to a Mediator. This deliverance out of the 
 hands of Syria and Ephraiin was a long way removed 
 from Christ's appearance upon earth, and much 
 longer from the kingdom that he is to have •, and 
 yet what the Prophet fpeaks of one mercy flows into 
 the other : A virgin jhall conceive a fon, and call his 
 name Immanuel (y). And in the next chapter he 
 runs up the argument to the fame pitch : Say ye not 
 a confederacy, to all them to whom this people Jhall fay 
 a confederacy ; neither fear ye their fear ; nor be afraid: 
 Saniiify the Lord of Hofts himfelf, and let him be your 
 dread ; and he fhallbe for a fancluary, but for afione 
 of ftumbling and a rock of offence to both the houfes of 
 Jfrael (z). This Lord of Hofts is he of whom the 
 Apoftle fays, To them that believe he is precious, but to 
 t he dij obedient afione of ftumbling {a). He muft reign 
 till he has put all his enemies under his feet (b). 
 Befides the conqueft that he has over the hearts 
 of men, making them a willing people in the day 
 of his power ; he alfo f mites through Kings in the 
 day of his wrath, wounding the heads over many coun- 
 tries^). Let us learn then to carry a deliverance 
 forwards. A Redeemer's blood has deferved it, and 
 his glory is promoted by it. Every temporal falvation 
 is the creature of his argument in heaven, and a ftep 
 towards his empire, upon earth. The burden fh all be 
 taken away from thy f boulder, and the yoke from thy 
 neck: the yoke Jhall be deflroyed, becaufe of the anoint- 
 ing (d) ; or becaufe of the Meffiah, that he may fhew 
 himfelf to be a Prieft, who atones and pleads for them 
 to pnrpofe ; and a Prieft upon his throne (e), who has 
 all authority committed to him, and muft have 
 a name above every name. 
 
 The 
 
 (y) Ifa. lix. 14. F (<r) Pfalm ex. 2, 5 
 
 (z) Ifa viii. 12, 73, 1 4. (d) Ifa. x. 27. 
 
 (a) 1 Pet. ii. 6. (e) Zech. vi. 13. 
 
 {!>) 1 Cor. xv. J 
 
Serm.9* On the French Invafion ijoy-ft. 189 
 
 The Application of this Difcourfe may be fummed 
 up in David's words, Beftill, and know that the 
 Lord is God (/). We are to confefs him upon 
 fuch an occafion five ways. 
 1 . By an expectation and reft upon his arm in all 
 our dangers : If ye will not believe* furely ye fhall not 
 be eftablijhed(g). When he writes bitter things againft 
 us, it is to let us know, that without him we (hall bow 
 down under the pri/oners, and fall under the Jlain (h). 
 Indeed preparations and counfels are needful. Our 
 hope of fuccefs is limited to a road of endeavour. 
 But an horfe is a vain thing for fafety, neither can 
 he deliver any by his great fir ength (/). Though he 
 is prepared for the battle, yet falvation is from the 
 Lord (k). And if he do not keep the city, the watch- 
 man watcheth but in vain (I). He blames on one hand 
 the confidence and ftupidity of a people that are dead 
 to all impreffions of danger ; and on the other, thofe 
 unruly fears that a<5fc as if we had loft a God. IVho 
 art thou that art afraid of a man that fhall die, and 
 the fon of man that fhall be made as grafs, and forget- 
 tefl the Lord thy Maker {m) ? 
 
 2. By earneft importunity for his help. We are 
 now got into the Prophet's cafe, who cried out, Make 
 ye mention to the nations, behold, publifh againft Jerufa- 
 lem, that watchers are come from a far country, and 
 give out their voice againft the cities of Judah. I can- 
 not hold my peace, becaufe thou haft heard, O my foul, 
 the found of the trumpet, the alarm of war (»). The 
 way to relief lies very open to us. When Hezekiah 
 had an enemy in his land, he makes a religious mat- 
 ter of it, and fends this mefTage to lfaiah : It is a day 
 of blafphemy, rebuke and trouble > wherefore lift up 
 
 thy 
 
 (f) Pfal.xlvi. 10. 
 
 (g) Pfal. xlvi. 11. 
 (/>) Ifai. x. 4. 
 
 (/') Pfah xxxiii. 17, 
 
 {k) Prov. xxi. 31. 
 [/) Pial. cxxvii. 1. 
 [m) liai. !i. 12,13. 
 (n) Jer. iv. 16, iu. 
 
190 On the French Invajion 1707-8. Serai. 9. 
 
 thy prayer for the remnant that is left (0). And what 
 an immediate anfwer does God make to it ? I will 
 fend a blafi upon him, and he /hall hear a rumour ; and 
 return to his own land {p). That good King does not 
 recommend the duty to others, that he may fhift it 
 out of his own hands, but begs in perfon : Incline 
 thine ears, Lord, and hear ; open thine eyes, Lord, 
 and fee (q). And when the mercy is given in, it is 
 under the notion of an anfwer to him : Whereas thou 
 haft prayed to me againft Sennacherib the King of Ajfyria^ 
 this is the Word which the Lord has fpoken concerning 
 
 him (r) He fhall not come into this city, nor fhoot an 
 
 arrow there, nor come before it with fhields, nor caft 
 a bank againft it -, by the way that he came, by the fame 
 fhall he return {s). 
 
 3. By a converfation that becomes the Gofpel of 
 of Christ, and our hope of a providental mercy. 
 Wafh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your do- 
 ings, ceafe to do evil, learn to do well : If you be willing 
 and obedient, ye fhall eat the fruit of the land ; but if ye 
 refufe and rebel, ye fhall all be deflroyed by the fword ; 
 the mouth of the Lord has fpoken it (t). Our greateft 
 danger is from thofe crying provocations which make 
 the earth to mourn, and the heavens to gather black- 
 nefs. Let not iniquity feparate betwixt you and your 
 God. Truft in the Lord, fo fhall ye be eftablifhed ; be- 
 lieve his Prophets, fo fhall ye profper (u). 
 
 4. By returning all the praife of our deliverance to 
 him. He ftamps his own name upon the flur that 
 was given to the Affyrian Invafion : I will put my hook 
 into thy nofe, and my bridle in thy lips \ and I will turn 
 thee back by the way which thou cameft („v). He fpeaks 
 to him as a brute and a flave. It is a comparifon 
 
 that 
 
 {0) Ifai. xxxvii. 3. 
 (p) Ifai. xxxvii. 7. 
 (^) Ifai. xxxvii. 1 7. 
 (r) Ifai. xxxvii. 21, 22. 
 
 (s) Ifai. xxxvii. 33,34. 
 (/) Ifai. i. 16, 17, 19, 20. 
 (a) 2 Chron.xx. 20. 
 (x) Ifai. xxxvii. 29. 
 
Serm.9« On /& French Invajion 1707-8. 191 
 
 that flains the "pride of all glory y fhowing him the 
 bafenefs of his nature, and of his condition too. 
 
 5. By an application to him for the fpiritual be- 
 nefit, and the everlafting ifiiie of all thefe mercies. 
 Every believer has a greater falvation in his eye, than 
 thofe that are now wrought out in Providence. There 
 is a city that has foundations, whcfe builder and maker 
 is God (y) : as it is never to fink with any weight of 
 its own, fo it is eternally above the danger of being 
 invaded. All our deliverances now, without a title 
 to this, are but a fhort refpite from a worfe and a 
 longer captivity. Let us therefore make it our chief 
 defire, that the fupreme redemption may be drawing 
 nigh. This hope enlarges and fhews itfelf by a pa- 
 tient continuance in well- doing : for the work of right e- 
 oufnefs fhall be peace ; and the effecl of right eoufncfs^ 
 quietnefs, and affurance for ever (z). 
 
 (y) Heb. xi. 10. | (z) Ifai, xxxii. 17. 
 
 
 SERMON 
 
! FQKtf Pf*^ eSrtNfc K%1* eWa KX& 1 
 I fc*# bt^ <^^2 &5# «i*W &*% 
 
 ♦ 
 
 SERMON X. 
 
 On the Thankfgiving-Day appointed for her 
 Majefty's Succefies in Flanders and Spain. 
 
 ^ 4»4" * 4* 'M'^^^ <§• 4> <$"!"$« -v v 4* ♦ 4"f 4» <J« ir £ * $ $♦ £ * 
 
 Preached November 7, i"io> 
 
 Isaiah XXIV. 16. 
 
 .FVwh /& utter moji parts of the earth have we heard 
 Jongs, ', fw« g/cry to the righteous : fe / ./w^> 
 ik?y kannefsj my learmefs, wo unto me ! the trea- 
 cherous dealers have dealt trcacheronjly, yea, the 
 treacherous dealers have dealt very treacheroufly. 
 
 |J°0§0°J? T is all one to the folemn occafion upon 
 ss^ s*-' which I have called your thoughts to 
 
 ^ ■*• ^ thefe words, whether you confider them 
 
 Xc>m>X as a Pro P hcc y of what W2S to ha PP en 
 
 afterwards, or a hiftory of what really 
 came to pafs in the days when they were writ. Though 
 they may be underftood of the Salvation that would 
 find its way to the Gentiles, the ut term eft farts of the 
 earth, and the fad calamity that Ifrael mud be lefc 
 under, when God had concluded thsfn all in unbe- 
 lief (a) ; yet they were true enough in the Prophet's 
 Vol. 1. O own 
 
 (a J Rom. xi. 32. 
 
j 94 On the Thankfgiving- Day, 1 7 1 o. Serm. 1 o. 
 
 own time. He lived in Hezekiab's reign, when the 
 King of Affyria had made one invafion upon them, 
 and was threatning them with another •, feveral good 
 defigns were blafted, when they had almoft got their 
 perfection : The children were come to the birth, and 
 there was not flrength to bring forth (b). They had 
 great difcoveries of a MefTiah, who was to raife up 
 the tabernacle of David ; but a flood of impiety and 
 violence gave them the profpect of a defolation be- 
 fore thofe times of refrejhing fhould come. Their pub- 
 lic mercies were interlined with danger, which obliged 
 them to worfhip with a compofition of praife and 
 forrow, to ferve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with 
 trembling (c). In the day of profperity their duty was 
 to rejoice, in the day of adverfity they were called to 
 confider ; and now God bad fet the one over againfi the 
 other (d). 
 
 The ill face of their concerns in one place mould 
 not make them forget what God had done for them 
 in another ; and the fuccefs they had abroad was to 
 be admired with a ferious dread of what they were 
 fuffering at home. Our Prophet takes his part in 
 both thefe reflections : 
 
 I. He owns the public mercy they had received, 
 though it was afar off ; From the uttermojl parts 
 of the earth have we heard fongs : or, that which 
 was the happy occafion of them, even glory to 
 the righteous. 
 
 II. He calls in the joy that was running fo freely 
 upon one act of Providence, to the different 
 views they were led to by another: I faid, My 
 kannejs, my leannefs ! Wo unto me I the treacherous 
 dealers have dealt treacheroufly, yea the treacherous 
 dealers have dealt very treacheroufly* 
 
 That 
 
 [b) Tfai. xxxvii. 3. {d) Eccl. vii, 14. 
 
 [c] Pfalm ii. 11. 
 
Ser m. I o. On the Tbankjgiving- Day y 1 7 1 o. 195 
 
 That I may comprehend my whole defign from 
 thele words within one Sermon, I can do little more 
 than take them afunder, giving you both the fenfe 
 and the improvement of them as we go along. 
 
 I. In his account of thofe public mercies that 
 Providence had given them, you may obferve three 
 things : 
 
 The place where they happened, the utter mofi parts 
 of the earth. 
 
 The work they inclined the people to, which is 
 here expreffed by the fongs that were heard. 
 
 And the nature of the blefling itfelf -, the happinefs 
 it either confifled of, or was tending to, glory to the 
 righteous. 
 
 (1.) The mercy that our Prophet takes notice of, 
 was fomething that happened at a great diftance from 
 the place where he lived, fo that his family and 
 country were not immediate gainers by it ; it was 
 from the uttermofi parts of the earth that they heard 
 thefe fongs * and yet they fall into the confort, from 
 the fympathy there is among all good people, who 
 will rejoice with thofe that do rejoice. From fuch a 
 temper, on this occafion, we may 
 
 Obferve, That every religious perfon is fo uncon- 
 fined in his thoughts and wifhes, that he can be glad 
 in a mercy that falls to the fhare of others. The 
 reafons of this ingenuous diffufive concern are plain. 
 
 17?, It is from that common interefl that unites all 
 believers. They are reprefented as the body of Cbrift, 
 and members one of another ; to tell us, that befides 
 the humble relation they bear to him, there is a mu- 
 tual tendernefs that circulates among themfelves ; 
 Whether one member fuffer y all the members fuffer with 
 it \ or one member be honoured, all the members re- 
 joice with it (e). The Apoftle could be glad at the 
 
 O 2 profperity 
 
 •'/} 1 Cor. xii. 26. 
 
196 On the Thankfgivi tig-Day, 1 7 1 o . Serm. 1 o. 
 
 profperity of the Corinthian church, though a very 
 different way of living fell to his lot : Te are full, 
 ye are rich, ye have reigned as Kings without us ; and 
 1 mould to God that ye did reign, that we alfo might 
 reign with you. VSe are fools for Chrifts fake, ye are 
 wife in Chrifl ; we are weak, ye are flrong -, ye are 
 honourable, we are defpifed (/). 
 
 Thus it ought to be in the reverfe of this cafe : 
 when we arc delivered from the hand of thofe that hate 
 us, and can ferve God without fear, we mould remem- 
 ber them that are in bonds, as being bound with them ; 
 and thofe that fuffer adverfity, as being ourfelves alfo in 
 the body (g) : not out of the reach of thofe evils which 
 are actually their lot, and may foon be ours. This 
 is bearing one another'* s burdens, and fulfilling the Law 
 of Chrijt (h). Though gratitude mould put us in 
 mind of the happy diftinctions God has made be- 
 tween us and others, yet compaflion has a noble way 
 of forgetting all that, and placing our own fouls in 
 their cafe. Thus it was with the Jews in their Revo- 
 lution : When Gcd turned again their captivity, filling 
 their mouth with laughter, and their tongue with Jing- 
 ing (i), they could not forget thofe they had left be- 
 hind, but beg it as a new mercy ; Lord, turn again 
 our captivity, as ft reams in the fouth ; that they who yet 
 few in tears may reap in joy ; and every one who now 
 goes forth weeping, bearing his precious feed, may come 
 again rejoicing, bringing his fheaves with him. 
 ' And the fame fpirit of univerfal concern mould 
 guide us when the fcales are turned. Though we 
 may be on the fuffering fide, it is a mercy that God 
 deals in foftcr methods with any of our brethren. 
 The poor Chriftians in Judea, who lived on the con- 
 tributions of other churches, they abounded in many 
 thankfgivings to Gcd ; it was with no envy that 
 they confldered other people in better circum fiances, 
 
 but 
 
 (f) 1 Cor. iv. 8, 10. 
 \g) Heb. xiu. 3. 
 
 {!,) Gal. vi. 3. 
 (1) Pfalm exxvi. i. 
 
Serm. io. On the Thaukfgiving-Day, 17 10. 197 
 
 but rather by the experiment of this miniftration, they 
 glorified Gccl for their profeffed fubjeclion to the Go'f- 
 pel of Chrift (k). Religion fanctifies and improves 
 fuch a temper, it helps us to take a part in the good 
 of others. People thus inclined are prepared to be 
 called in by thofe words, Rejoice with Jerufalem, and 
 be glad with her, all ye that love her ; rejoice for joy 
 with her, all ye that mourn for her (I). David begs 
 to have his mercies in a public way ; O vifit me with 
 thy falvaticn, that I may fee the good of thy chofen ; 
 that I may rejoice in the gladnefs of thy nation ; that I 
 may glory with thine inheritance {m). It was this that 
 fetched out fo many good wifhes from the people as 
 they went into the houfe of God ; Peace be within thy 
 walls, and profperity within thy palaces : For my bre- 
 thren and companions fake, I will now fiiy, Peace be 
 within thee (n). And it is promifcd as the greatest 
 encouragement to the man who fears the Lord -, God 
 fhall blefs him out of Sion, and he /hall fee the good of 
 Jerufalem all the days of his life (0). 
 
 2. The honour of God and our dear Redeemer 
 is advanced by this means -, fo that though we fhould 
 feem to be more out of the way of his care, yet we 
 muft blefs him that comes in the name of the Lcrd, and 
 fmg to the Providence, peace in heaven, and glory in 
 the highejl. If he does but increafe, and a way is 
 opened for the enlarging of his kingdom; though 
 we are in a decreafing ftate, therein we. do rejoice, yea 
 and will rejoice (p). It was a fad confederation to 
 the Aportles, that their own countrymen, the Jews, 
 had fo many marks upon them of a people caft off 
 by God ; but under this melancholy view, they had 
 the fatisfaction to fee, that though the Gofpel re- 
 moved its place, it did not lofe its virtue. Thus, 
 though Jfrael was not gathered, a Redeemer would 
 
 O 3 be 
 
 [i) z Cor. ix 12, 13. 
 (/) lia.lxvi. 10. 
 (m) Pulm cvi. 4, 5. 
 
 (»j Pfahn exxii. 7, 8. 
 [a) Pfalm exxviii. c. 
 (/■) John hi. 30. 
 
198 On the < n>ankfgi t oing-Day i 1 7 1 o. Serm. 10. 
 
 be glorious, by forming an intereft among the Gentiles : 
 and fo it ought to be with every Chriftian ; though 
 he cannot think of lofing what God has given him 
 without a dread (for wo unto us when his foul departs 
 from us) yet his good wiihes/<?//W the Lamb whither - 
 foever he goes (q). He rejoices at the fuccefs of reli- 
 gion, and the eftablifhment of liberty in thofe places 
 where he is never like to come : he loves to hear of 
 fongs, and glory to the righteous, though it be from the 
 uttermoft parts cf the earth. 
 
 3. It is an argument upon which faith can plead, 
 and wait for a return of mercy to ourfelves. The 
 God who had given this Prophet fongs from abroad, 
 was able to cure the leannefs he complained of at home. 
 It is a fign that his arm is not fhortned (r) ; nor has 
 he totally abandoned his people, but judgment will 
 return unto rightccufnefs, and all the upright in heart 
 fh all follow it (s). Thefe are plain demonstrations, 
 that the cafe is not defperate, upon which we may 
 thank God and take courage {t) ; fuch a turn as this 
 puts a new credit upon the promifes, when we begun 
 to think they were growing out of date : and thus, 
 to the uptight thtre arifes light in the midfi of dark- 
 tiffs (u). We may hope, though we have been 
 anfwered by terrible things in righteoufnefs, yet he is 
 ftill the God of our falvation \ when we hear that 
 he is the confidence of all the ends of the earth (x), it 
 is an argument that he will not be unmindful of us 
 when they who dwell in the uttermoft parts are afraid 
 of his tokens. 
 
 With thefe expectations we may look upon the late 
 victories in Spain and Flanders, as an evidence that 
 God yet goes forth with cur armies, and will be to the 
 Ytfidue of his people as in the former years. It is good 
 pleading on fuch an inftance, Wilt thou not revive us 
 
 again ? 
 
 (q) Rev. xiv. 4. 
 (>-) Ifa. lix. 1. 
 [s) Pl'alm xciv. i 
 
 (/) Ads xxviii. 15. 
 (u) Pfalm cxii. 4. 
 [x) Pfalm lxv. 5 . 
 
Serm. i o. On the Thank/giving- Day, 1 7 1 o . 199 
 
 again, that thy people may rejoice in thee (y) ? And we 
 may humbly conclude, that furely his falvation is near 
 unto them that fear him, that glory may dwell in our 
 land (z). 
 
 (2.) Another thing obfervable in this mercy, is 
 the duty that it led the people to, and that was fongs. 
 We have heard thefe, i. e. We have heard the joy 
 that it put them into : they are glad at the breaking 
 of a yoke which they could not bear. Or, we have 
 heard the things, and improved them into fongs at 
 home •, for when God's works praife him, his faints 
 fhould blefs him (a). This fignifies two things, which 
 the news of every public mercy ought to produce in 
 us. 
 
 1. A pleafure in ourfelves. Be glad for ever, fays 
 God, in what I create ; for behold I create Jerufalem 
 a rejoicing, and her people a joy (b). When the Lord 
 turned again our captivity, we were like them that 
 dreamed \ the thing Hole in upon the fenfes, before 
 it could make its way to reafon : it was equally hard 
 to deny it and believe it •, the former would be acling 
 againfl fads, and the latter againft hopes. On fuch 
 occafions our gladnefs mould have the control of 
 every other paffion. The Jews, when they went out 
 of captivity, met with a great many difficulties, and 
 they wept when they heard the law : but Nehemiab^ 
 Ezra, and the Levites that taught them, faid to 
 them, This day is holy unto the Lord your God^ vw.rn 
 not nor weep; but go your way, eat the fat and drink 
 the fweet, and fend portions to them for whom nothing 
 is prepared : for this day is holy unto the Lord : neither 
 be ye forry, for the joy of the Lord is your flrength (c). 
 And indeed our zeal for God's glory and the concerns 
 of religion, deferves to bear down any prefent affliction. 
 
 O 4 Whn 
 
 (y) Pfalm Ixxxv. 6. 
 (x) Pfalm Ixxxv. 9. 
 (a) Pfalm cxlv. 10. 
 
 (b) Ifa. lxv. 18. 
 
 (c) Neh. viii. 9, 10, 11, 
 
200 On the IH&nk/givmg-Day, 1 7 1 o . Serm .10. 
 
 When they fat by the rivers of Babylon, though there 
 was no linging the Lord's fong in a ftrange land {ft), 
 yet they could not forget Jerufalem, or ceafe to prefer 
 it above their chief eft joy. 
 
 2. A gratitude to the God who has given us this 
 great mercy. We are to turn it into devotion : Te 
 fhall have a fong as in the night, when a holy folemnity 
 is kept, and gladnefs of heart, as when one goes with a 
 pipe, to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the 
 mighty one of Jfrael (e). This is what he expects 
 from us as a return to any kindnefs. When Hezekiah 
 Recovered from his ficknefs, he went into the temple 
 with this refolution, The Lord was ready to fave me, 
 and therefore we will fing my fongs to the ft ringed in- 
 ftruments all the days of cur lives (/). And the be- 
 flowing of a favour is called putting a new fong into 
 our vi'.uihs, even praife to the Lord {g) ; which is an 
 argument that we mould receive it under fuch an in- 
 fluence. This lets us fee what courfe ourpleafure in 
 a mercy mould be directed to : it ought to go offin 
 a veneration for him whofe work it is. Befides the 
 krenity that it fpreads over our own minds, we mould 
 offer the facrifice of praife, even the fruit of our lips, 
 giving thanks unto his name{h). 
 
 (3.) We need not wonder that the mercy is ex- 
 prefTed m fongs, when we read what it confifts of, 
 even glory to the righteous ; either, 
 
 1 . To a righteous God, or the Mefliah, who is fo 
 often called the Holy One : he is to have the glory 
 of every Providence ; the fong is devoted to him : 
 
 2'. To a righteous czvSc ; which freedom of wor- 
 ship, according to the Scriptures, and quiet enjoyment 
 oi civil properties, always was and always will be. 
 
 This 
 
 (d) Pfalm exxxvii. 4. 
 
 (e) Ifa xxx. 25. 
 (/) Ifa. xxx\ iii 20. 
 
 ^j Pfalm xl. 3. 
 (h) Heb. xiii. 15. 
 
Ssrm.io. OntheThankfgiving-Dayy 17 10. 201 
 
 This will have a glory put upon it, by thofe difplays 
 that God gives of himfelf in favour of his own people. 
 Or, 
 
 3. To righteous men. They will have a mare in 
 the glory, which an envious world would not allow 
 them ; but it fhall rife from the fuccefs and blefling 
 that God has followed them with. All thefe inter- 
 pretations may be comprehended in the fenfe of the 
 words, which you may take in this 
 i Obferv. The public mercies we receive at the hands 
 of God, are for his own and his peoples glory ; to ad- 
 vance his name in the world, and preferve a feed toferve 
 him, who will be accounted to the Lord for a generation (i). 
 It is to make religion more triumphant in the hearts 
 and lives of men •, that being delivered from the fear 
 of our enemies, we may ferve him in right eoufnefs and 
 holinefs all our days (k). And if that is the defign of 
 fuch a Providence, then, 
 
 1 . It ought to be improved to thefe noble ends : 
 not to make provifion for the fiefh, and fulfil the lufts 
 thereof (I) ; but rather to take heart in the practical 
 part of Chriftianity : to abound in faith and holinefs, 
 learning to be more cool towards a world, where 
 every thing is uncertain, and uniting our main regard 
 to an intereft in heaven. From fuch a difpenfation 
 we mould get a fpirit above the fear of men : for 
 after God has over-ruled the fury of the oppreffor, it is 
 our glory not to be afraid of a man that fhall die, and 
 the fon of man that flmll be made as grafs, and forget 
 the Lord our maker (m). 
 
 2 . We may ufe it as an earned of thofe good things 
 that God has told us cf in his word : for if the glory of 
 the righteous \s promoted by every conqueft of the enemy, 
 what a happy ftate will that be, when they are all taken 
 away who rejoice in their pride, and are haughty 
 
 becaufe 
 
 (*) Pfalm xxii. 30. {/) Remans xiii. u!t, 
 
 [k] Lukei. 74, 75. \m) Ka. li. \z, 13. 
 
202 OntheThankfgiving-Day, 1710. Serm.io. 
 
 becaufe of his holy mountain ? When the remnant of 
 Jfrael Jhall not do iniquity, nor /peak lies, neither Jhall 
 a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth ; for they fh all 
 feed, and lie down, and none fh all make them afraid (n) ? 
 This is a glory that Jhall be revealed in us (0) : and 
 though things continuing as they were from the begin- 
 ning, or rather growing worfe, may lead us into the 
 queftion, Where is now the promt fe of his coming (p) ? 
 yet the time to favour Sion> yea the fet time will come. 
 And the miferies that fall upon God's people are no 
 contradiction to their hope : for there is nothing gives 
 a greater dawn to that mercy, than when they are 
 taking pleafure in the ft ones, and favouring the dufi 
 thereof (q). 
 
 Follow every victory then with prayer and faith : 
 do nothing upon thefe occafions unworthy of the 
 glory you bear atprefent, or that you expect hereafter. 
 Remember that all thefe confufions and darning of 
 one monarch againft another, are to promote the in- 
 tereft of Religion, that the kingdom may be the Lord's, 
 and he the governor over the nations ; and that fome 
 may arife, and declare to a people yet unborn, that he 
 has done this (r). 
 
 Thus you fee with what temper of mind the good 
 Prophet in our text regarded the fongs that he heard 
 from the uttermofi parts of the earth. He took a fhare 
 in them, as they imported glory to the righteous. The 
 whole argument may be eafily brought over into our 
 own cafe. God has lately renewed our hopes of fee- 
 ing the enemy diftreffed in Flanders, and driven out of 
 Spain : and in this his Providence teemed to remove 
 the only impediment to a general peace. The article 
 that came mod into debate, appeared in a fair way of 
 being anfwered, when the French were preparing to 
 receive the man, whom they would not agree to re-call. 
 
 Obliging 
 
 (;:) Zeph. jii. I I, !2. 
 {0) Rom. I'iii, 18. 
 (p) 2 Pet. ui. 4. 
 
 (q) Pfal. exxii. 14. 
 \r) Pkl. tirii. 2?. 31, 
 
Serm.io. On the Thank/giving- Day y 1710. 203 
 
 Obliging him to quit that kingdom, which they ob- 
 jected againft, was a work put into other hands, and 
 the difficulty almoft over. And if we could hear 
 what is fung in thofe iittermoft parts, it would be to 
 the glory of that learned hero, who has been mighty 
 both in deed and word ; and having fo nobly defended 
 a Revolution in Britain, has had the fuccefs to begin 
 one in Spain. A perfon equally happy at his pen and 
 fword, to convince gain fay ers, and put to filence the ig- 
 norance offooli/h men. May liberty always profper in 
 thofe good hands, when he either pleads it as an ar- 
 gument, or purfues it as a caufe ! But, 
 
 II. The Prophet had fomething very melancholy 
 in his cafe, when he gave thefe Jongs of glory to the 
 righteous fo much interruption, as to complain, My 
 leannefs, my leannefs ! Wo unto me ! the treacherous 
 dealer dealelh treacheroujly ; yea, the treacherous dealer 
 dealeth very treacheroujly. Here you may obferve, 
 
 1. The matter of his lamentation is leannefs : and 
 it muft fignify a difmal cafe, when he repeats it, as 
 if it had difiblved his hopes, and unraveled all that 
 God had been doing for them abroad. We can fcarce 
 underftand it of a perfonal calamity, though he calls 
 it his leannefs ; unlefs it may be fuppofed that he was 
 a man pointed at by a malicious world, as one that 
 mould be given up to popular fury, as he had once 
 complained before : Behold I, and the children God 
 has given me, are for figns and wonders in If met (s). 
 
 But the leannefs here leems to include the mifery of 
 feveral others befides himfelf : it is threatned upon all 
 Ifrael. In that day it fhall come to pafs, that the glory 
 of Jacob fhall be made thin, and the fatnefs of his flefh 
 fhall wax lean. And itJJjall be as when the harvefi-man 
 gathers the corn, and reaps the ears with his arm. Tet 
 gleaning grapes Jhall be left in it, as the fhaking of an 
 clive-tree, two or three berries in the ttppermojl bough, 
 
 four 
 (i) Ifai, viii. 1 8. 
 
204 On theThankfgiving-Day, 171 o. Serm.io. 
 
 four or five in the outmoft fruitful branches thereof {t). 
 And I the rather choofe to underftand the judgment 
 to be thus extenfive in this chapter, becauie we find 
 ibme of thole words repeated : When thus it Jhall be 
 in the midjt of the land, among the people , there jhall be 
 as the fhaking of an olive-tree, and as the gleaning grapes 
 when the vintage is done («). Now the leannefs that 
 gave him fo deep a concern may include two things. 
 
 (1.) The abounding of fin and wickednefs among 
 them. And the book is full of thefe complaints : 
 'Thy Princes are rebellious and companions of thieves ; 
 every one loves gifts, and follows after rewards (x). 
 Nothing could fave them but a thorough reformation ; 
 rejloring their Judges as at the fir ft, and their Counfel- 
 lors as at the beginning (y). In another chapter he 
 gives a mofl tragical account how they had funk from 
 the figure they made abroad, and the fedatenefs they 
 once enjoyed at home : The mighty man, the man of 
 war, the judge, the prophet, the prudent, the ancient, 
 the captain of fifty, and the honourable man ; the coun- 
 fdlor, the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator (z) : 
 thefe were all partners either in the crime or the infe- 
 licity of thofe days. And they feemed to be going 
 on fafl: to ruin, when common civility and juftice 
 failed among them -, rudenefs ran loofe and wild, the 
 laws were huihed that it' might have no control : 7" 
 will give children to be their oppreffors, and babes Jhall 
 rule over them : The people ffjall be opprejjed every one 
 by another, and every one by lis neighbour : The child 
 Jhall behave himfelf proudly againfl the ancient, and the 
 bafc againfl the honourable (a). Nay lb unhappy was 
 their cafe, that they who led them caufed them to err, 
 and deft r eyed the way of their paths. But it would 
 be too much to collecl: ail that he has faid on this 
 melancholy theme. I only take thefe as being moft 
 
 in 
 
 (/) Ifai. xvii. 4, 5, 6. 
 (a) Jiai. xvii. 13. 
 [x) Ifai. i. 23. 
 
 (y) Ifai. j. 26. 
 (z) Ifai. iii. 2, 3. 
 {a) Ifai. iii. 4, 5. 
 
Serm.io. On theTbankfgivmg-Day, 17 10. 205 
 
 in view, and mall add no more to them than one in- 
 ftance in the chapter before us : The earth is defiled 
 tinder the inhabitants thereof, becaufe they have tranf- 
 greffcd the laws, changed the ordinances, and broke the 
 everlafiing covenant {b). This may well be called 
 their leannefs, and deferved to be the lamentation of 
 every one who trembled for the fierce anger of the 
 Lord. 
 
 (2.) It may alfo fignify the miferies that were 
 coming upon them. \n this fenfe it was threatned 
 again!! the AJfyrian, that God would fend among his 
 fat ones leannefs, and underneath his glory jhould be 
 kindled a burning, like the burning of a fire (c). And 
 thus it was to be in Ifrael, as appears by this chapter. 
 Their riches were going : Beheld the Lord makes the 
 earth empty, and makes it wafie, turning it upfide down, 
 and feat tering abroad the inhabitants thereof (d). That 
 expreffion of turning it upfide down carries an allufion 
 too plain to be miftaken, that it mould lofe what it 
 was lately fo full of, and become as much the re- 
 proach of other nations as it had been their envy: 
 They might endeavour to keep their feet, by ftag- 
 gering out of one project into another : but theie 
 meafures are called their reeling to and fro like a drun- 
 kard, till the earth was removed like a cottage •, becaufe 
 the tranfgrefiion thereof 'was heavy upon it, it fhould fall 
 and not rife again (e). And to all this you may add 
 a dreadful circumftance, that in the days of this Pro- 
 phet they were frequently alarmed with invafions. 
 The word of the Lord came to him in the reign of 
 Ahaz and Htzekiah. It was againft the former of 
 them, that the Kings of Syria and Ifrael came up to 
 vex Judah, ' and 'make a breach in it, and fet up the fan 
 of Tabeal{f) : and in the reign of the latter, Rab- 
 fhaketh came with a powerful army. Now though 
 
 each 
 
 (/•) Ifai iii. 5. 
 (c) Ifai x. 16. 
 (a) Ifai. x. 1. 
 
 (c) Ifai. x. 20. 
 (/ ) liai. i. I. 
 
206 On the Thank/giving- Day, 1710. Serm.io. 
 
 each of thefe attempts mifcarried, yet when the Pro- 
 phet faw the people beginning to be miferable, and 
 not begin to be thoughtful, he might well cry out, 
 My leannefs, my leannefs ! 
 
 2. He tells us what the occafion of this was, how 
 it came to pafs that things had fuch an unhappy 
 run as he now complained of. It was not owing to 
 the force of enemies, though they had reafon in his 
 day to be afraid of that : nor did it arife from any 
 calamity brought upon them by the immediate hand 
 of God. The earth did not fail of yielding her increafe, 
 nor the heavens of dropping down their dew. Though 
 thefe are threatned as things that would be, yet they 
 either had not fallen with their full weight upon them 
 then •, or if they had, he turns his eyes to fomething 
 more lamentable, worfe than the miferies of drought 
 and famine ; what lay nearer his concern, and had 
 the main guilt of bringing this leannefs upon them : 
 and this is, that the treacherous dealers bad dealt 
 treacheroujly ; yea, the treacherous dealers had dealt very 
 treacheroujly. 
 
 Firjiy He complains of a moft formidable evil, 
 and what there can be no guard againft ; treachery in 
 thofe perfons on whofe integrity they had their chief 
 dependence. It might be hard to know the men, 
 but much harder to find out the fchemes they acl:ed 
 by. This is a crime carried on with the faireft pre- 
 tences to honefty and love ; nothing could make a 
 worfe appearance to human reafon than a kingdom fo 
 divided againft itfelf, as that ofjudah now was. 
 
 The cafe that he thus defciibes in his own nation, 
 is parallel to what he had laid down as the judgment 
 of Egypt. Surely the Princes of Zoan are fools, the 
 counfel of the wife Counfellors of Pharaoh is become bru- 
 tijh (g). And what is the counfel that he thus ani- 
 madverts on ? That inftead of advifing their King, 
 they were throwing flattery into his pride, and mak- 
 ing 
 
 (g) Ifai. x\x. 1 1. 
 
Serm.io. On tbeTbank/giving-Day, 17 10. 207 
 
 ing him great with mere names, at the time that his 
 intereft was really finking in all the valuable branches 
 of it ; filling his ears with hereditary right, and the 
 long race of Monarchs he had fprung from : Hew 
 fay ye to Pharaoh, I am the fori of the wife, the Jon of 
 ancient Kings ? q. d. What is this to the purpofe ? 
 Does it make his reign more honourable to himfelf, 
 or more happy to his people ? Well might he add, 
 The Princes of Zoan are become fools, the Princes cf 
 ~Noph are deceived, they have alfo feduced Egypt, even 
 they that are the flay of the tribes thereof. The Lord 
 has mingled a perverfe fpirit in the midfl thereof; and 
 they have caufed Egypt to err in every work, as a drun- 
 ken man fi aggers in his vomit (h) : i. e. The fame wick- 
 ednefs has both made their heads giddy, and their way 
 flippery. 
 
 Now that it mould be thus with Egypt is not fo fur- 
 prifing : but that Judah mould fall into the moil la- 
 mentable fate of the Heathen, that in the land of up- 
 rightnefs they will deal unjuftly, and not behold the via- 
 jejiy of the Lord, is what would touch the fevereit 
 cares of every good man. But, 
 
 2. The complaint reaches farther ; it is more than 
 repeated, he fays it over again with an aggravation ; 
 yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very i reach eroufly. 
 As if they knew no bounds to their nypocrify, but 
 had left off to be wife, and to do good (i). They will 
 flick at nothing, but allow themfelves at the fame 
 time in the faired pretences and the foulefl actions : 
 they can at once make Religion their imitation and 
 their jeft : With flattering lips, and with a double 
 tongue do they fpeak. It was this that made Jeremy 
 wim for a lodging-place in the wildernefs, that he might 
 leave his people and go from them, becaufe they were all 
 an affembly of treacherous men: every brother would 
 fupplant, and every neighbour walk with fanders ; 
 (bey would not fpeak the truth, but had taught their 
 
 tongues 
 (h) ffai xlx. 13, 14. f (ij Pfal. xxxvi. 4. 
 
2o8 OntheThankfgiving-Day, 17 10. Serm.io. 
 
 tongues to fpeak lies, and wearied themf elves to commit 
 iniquity (k). 
 
 Now thefe are ways that bring a certain calamity 
 alono- with them. Though the perfons who are guilty 
 may for a time defend themfelves, and deceive others, 
 yet fuch a connection of wickednefs will be fatal at 
 ]aft. When the Prophets prophefy fal/ly, the fnare be- 
 gins there, and the Priefts bear rule by their means (/) : 
 and it is fo far from making any uneafinefs at prefent, 
 that the people love to have it fo, but what will they do 
 in the end thereof ? If fuch things are left only to 
 their natural tendency, they will foon intangle a king- 
 dom, and make every thing precarious that they once 
 
 pofTeffed. 
 
 You fee the time is fo full of this plain account 
 that I have given you of the Prophet's words, that I 
 have no room for an Application ; inftead of that, I 
 will only endeavour to remove an objection that fome 
 may be ready to make againft this good man's con- 
 duct, in a cafe fo mingled as that of his country 
 
 was. 
 
 The argument lies thus : " If treacherous dealers 
 « are fo dangerous, no regard can be had to any 
 " mercies, efpecially thofe afar off. It fignifies no- 
 " thing whatfongs the Jews might fetch from the ut- 
 " termofi parts of the earth, when they had reafon to 
 " think themfelves undone at home by an extrava- 
 " gant hypocrify, where the treacherous dealers were 
 " dealing very treacheroufy." Thus would unbelief 
 plead from the fad afpect in Judah itfelf, to fink the 
 credit of a foreign victory. 
 
 I {hall give you fome few things in anfwer to this, 
 and fhew you, that fuppofing the cafe as lamentable 
 as the Prophet had made it, yet it was neverthelefs 
 his duty to take part in thofe Jongs that proclaimed a 
 glory to the righteous. 
 
 1. He 
 
 (k) Jer. ix. 2. J (/) Jcr. v. 31. 
 
SermiiOk On theThankfgfoitig^Day, 1710. 209 
 
 1. He was hereby led to confider the perfections of 
 God, who could as eafily diflblve a treachery, as hi 
 had confounded an open force. Thefe two-are joined 
 together ; With him is ftrength and wifdom, the de- 
 ceived and the deceivers are his (m) : his Jirength can 
 protect the deceived, his wifdom can baffle the deceiver. 
 This is what they are exhorted to think of a little 
 before their return from Babylon, there was a conflict 
 of hope and danger in their cafe ; and therefore tfce 
 advice is, Te that have efcaped the /word, go away, 
 Jiand not [till {n). Here they are put upon fleeing, 
 and yet they are charged to remember the Lord afar 
 off, and let Jerufalem come into their mind ; i. e. they 
 were to fuftain themfelves with thofe things that 
 God had done at a diftance from them : and when 
 their thoughts were rolling in his power and wifdom, 
 they might turn towards Jerufalem with this argu- 
 ment, he that has made bare his arm in other places, 
 can bring the falvation nearer and difplay himfelf 
 amongft us. If he is wife in heart as well as mighty 
 in Jirength, no man can harden himfelf dgainft him and 
 profper (0). 
 
 2. The Prophet could not but know there Was a 
 certain intail of vengeance upon all treachery ; that 
 God abhors the bloody and deceiljul man ; that fuch do 
 feldom live out half their days. Sometimes when this 
 juftice of Providence is delayed, it has proved a fore 
 temptation even to good men. Jeremy complains, 
 Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee ; 
 yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments. Wherefore 
 doth the way of the wicked profper ? Wherefore are all 
 they happy that deal very treacheroufly ? Thou baft 
 planted them, and they have taken root \ they grow, 
 yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their 
 mouth, and far from their reins (p). But he gets 
 over this difficulty in the beft manner ; firft, it puts 
 
 Vol. I. P him 
 
 lm) Job xii. 1 6. (o) Job ix. 4. 
 
 {») jcr li. 50. j \f>) Jcr. xii. 1, z. 
 
210 On the Thank/giving* Day, 1 7 1 o. Serm. 1 0. 
 
 him upon looking within and inquiring into his own 
 fincerity. 'Thou, O Lord, knoweft me ; thou haft fi en 
 me, and tried my heart towards thee (q). And after 
 this important cafe is clear, he goes on to tell what 
 fhall become of them, pull them out like Jheep for the 
 flaughter. There is fomething fo provoking in the 
 carriage of a deceiver, that the vengeance of God 
 ufually condemns him to fall by his own arts, and 
 perifh in the fame way that he has made others do. 
 We have two dreadful woes againlt fuch people in this 
 prophecy. The former you meet with, Wo to them 
 that feek deep to hide their counfel from the Lord, and 
 their works are in the dark \ and they fay, Who fees us ? 
 and who knows us? Surely your turning of things upfide 
 down fhall be efieemed as potter's clay (r). The other is, 
 Wo unto thee that fpoileft, and thou waft notfpoiled-, and 
 dealeft treacheroufly, and they dealt not treacheroufly with 
 thee. When thou fhalt ceafe to fpoil, thoufJoalt be fpoiled, 
 and when thou fhalt make an end to deal treacheroufly, 
 they fhall deal treacheroufly with thee (5). 
 
 3. The Prophet was further fenfible, that it would 
 be a public mercy to have thefe treacherous dealers 
 better known ; that they might no longer have.it in 
 their power to wear a rough garment, and deceive : 
 The hypocrite is not always to reign, left the people be 
 enfnared (/). One of the mercies of that day, when 
 the Gofpel will have a free courfe and be glorified (u), 
 is, that the vile perfon will no more be called libera!* 
 nor the churl faid to be bountiful. And fometimes 
 Gob, in a righteous juitice, fuffers people to go on 
 in new crimes, that he may bring upon them the pu- 
 niihment of their old ones. It is thus that they fill 
 up the meafure of their iniquities. Joab was too nc- 
 ceffary to David's, government, and early in the Re- 
 volution, and therefore had his life fpared after a 
 
 double 
 
 (7) Jer. xii. 3. (t) Job xxxiv. 30. 
 
 (r) Ifa. xxix. 1 c, 16. (u) Il'a. xxxii. 5. 
 
 (1) ]fa. xxx iii. 1. \ 
 
Serm. 10. On the Tlankfgwmg-Bay, iyio. 211 
 double forfeiture, forjbedrfwg the blood of war inpeace> 
 killing two men better than bimfelf. Nay, it is ob- 
 ierved he was ftanch to the crown in the rebellion of 
 Abfalom, and yet he heads a party againft the fuccef- 
 fion of Solomon in favour of Adonijah, becaufe he was 
 firft in the line. Nay after this was overlooked, and 
 he only condemned to a private life ; he is quickly 
 again in a plot, as if bis hoary hairs were not to go down 
 to the grave in peace : And therefore, though he runs 
 to the boms of the altar, it was only to fall as a national 
 facrifice there. When the hypocrify of men is thus 
 opened out, The people Jhall no more flay themfehes 
 upon him that fmote them, but upon the Lord, the holy 
 one of Ifrael in truth (x). 
 
 4. The Prophet was fure that the intereft of God 
 would prevail, and the happinefs of his people be efta- 
 blifhed. He was not without hopes of feeing a public 
 turn in favour of Sion ; but whether that came in his 
 days or no, there was no cheating him of heaven : the 
 treacherous dealer could not extend his policy fo far. 
 
 We find a cafe very like this, that our Prophet had be- 
 fore him in the days ofEzekiel; The fpirit of the Lord lift 
 him up, and brought bint to the eaft gate of the Lord's houfe, 
 which looked eajlward: and behold at the door of the gate 
 were five and twenty men, among whom be faw Jaaza- 
 niahthe [on Azur, and Pelatiah the fon of Benaiah, 
 princes of the people (y). And God tells him, Son ofman> 
 thefe are the men that devife mifchief, and give wicked 
 counfel in this city. But when they are threatned with 
 falling by the fword, and being judged in the border of 
 Ifrael, fuch as they thought to enfnare are taken into 
 the tendered protection ; fecured in peace of con- 
 fcience, and the beauties of bolinefs. For, though th$ 
 inhabitants of Jerufalem would have baniihed them, 
 faying to them, Get ye far from the Lord; unto us is 
 the land given in pojfejjicn (z) i yet God promifes that 
 
 P 2 they 
 
 (x^Kz. x. 20. (s) Ezek. xi. 15. 
 
 (y) Ezek.xi. i. | 
 
196 On the Tbankfgfaing-Day, 1 7 1 0. Serm. 1 6? 
 
 they (hall have the honour to take away all deteftabU 
 things and abominations thereof: and he would give 
 them one heart, and put a new fpirit within them ; that 
 they might walk in his ftatutes, and keep bis ordinances 
 and do them ; for they fhould be bis people, and he 
 would be their God. 
 
 And in this chapter our Prophet declares his hope 
 of better times, that the Lord would punifh the Hofi 
 of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the 
 earth upon the earth ; they fhould be gathered in the pit, 
 and fhut up in the prifon ; And then fhall the moon be 
 confounded and the fun afhamed, when the Lord fhall 
 reign in mount Sion, and before his ancients glorioufly (a), 
 Thefe are the bleflfings with which he defigns to clofe 
 the confufions his people are now lamenting. And, 
 though it is not for us to know the times andfeafons, 
 which the father has referved in his own power, yet 
 every believer may take the advice given to Daniel, to 
 go his way, till the end be ; for be fhall reft> and ft and 
 in his lot at the end of the days {b). 
 
 (a) Ezek. xi. 21, 22, 23. | (b) Daniel xii. »//. 
 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON XL 
 
 THEOCRACY. 
 
 The Government of the Judges, confidered 
 and applied to the Revolution 1688, 
 
 Preached November 5, 171 1. 
 
 rfi >ti it, A iti >ti it 1 iti Jh A iTi A A A A A A iti it A iti iti A ■?■ ti t >■ 
 
 TTTTT7T"T'*TT7TV7TTT TV TTTTTT 
 
 Judges II. 18. 
 
 ^^/ when the Lord raifed them up Judges, then the 
 Lord was with the Judge, and delivered them out 
 of the hands of their enemies all the days of the 
 Judge : for it repented the Lord becaufe of their 
 groanings, by reafon of them that opprejfed them, 
 and vexed them, 
 
 JfW^HIS Book gives us the firft ages of Ifrael 
 S T & in the promifed land, and what happened 
 g H to them, after their fettlement there, be- 
 
 ^t#)9(#^ f° re tnev came t0 be governed by a fuc- 
 ceffion of Kings? It is a fad account we 
 have of them : That the people ferved the Lord all the 
 days of Jofhua, and all the days of the elders that out- 
 lived Jofhua, who had feen all the works of the Lord 
 that he had done for Ifrael. But when gll that gene- 
 ration were gathered unto their, fathers, there arofe 
 another generation after them, who knew not (be Lord x 
 
 F 3 nor 
 
6 1 4 The Government of the Judges Ser m . i t ; 
 
 ttor yet the works that he had done for Jfrael (a) : and 
 the national crime here charged upon them, is a pro- 
 ftitution to the idols of the country after they had 
 conquered the inhabitants : They followed other gods y 
 the gods of the people that were round about them, they 
 lowed down themfelves unto them, and provoked the 
 Lord to anger y they forfcok the Lord, and ftrved Baal 
 and Afhtaroth (b) : this was a revolt fo foolifh and 
 ungrateful, that their defence departs from them when 
 they depart from it. For a long train of calamity 
 and bondage was their conviction, that it is an evil 
 thing and bitter, thus to pervert their ways and cajl off 
 the Lord God of their fathers. 
 
 The following verfes, which tell us the mifery they 
 brought upon themfelves, and the way that God took 
 to fave them upon their return to him, may be called 
 an abridgment of the whole hiftory : it gives us the 
 fum of that cafe which is afterwards drawn out quite 
 through this Book. The anger of the Lord was hot 
 againft Ifrael, and he delivered them into the hands of 
 fpoilers that fpoiled them ', he fold them into the hand of 
 their enemies round about, fo that they could not any 
 longer fiand before their enemies ; whitherfoever they 
 went out, the hand of the Lord was again ft them for 
 evil, as the Lord had faid, and as the Lord had fworn 
 unto them, and they were greatly dijlreffed. Ncverthe- 
 lefs, the Lord railed up Judges, which delivered them 
 cut of the bands of thofe that fpoiled them, and yet they 
 would not hearken to their Judges, but went a whoring 
 after other gods, and bowed themfelves unto them , they 
 turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked 
 in, obeying the commandment of the Lord, but they did 
 not fo (c). This round they kept of finning away their 
 mercy, then repenting of that wickednefs, then being 
 delivered, and afterwards lofing their zeal when they 
 got their liberty. For i! came to pajs, when the Judge 
 
 was 
 
 {a) JuJg. ii. '/, to. (<-) Judg ill, 14 — 17. 
 
 • i 1 ') j uci g- ii lz > '3- I 
 
Ser m. 1 1 .. applied to the Revolution 1688. 215 
 
 was dead) that they returned, and corrupted them/elves 
 more than their fathers ', in following other gods to ferve 
 them, and to boiv down unto them j they ceafed not from 
 their own doings ; nor from their Jtubborn way {d). 
 
 The verfe that I have taken out of this hiftory, to 
 be the fubject of my difcourfe, lies between their firfl 
 mifery and their relapfe, and gives a noble account 
 how divine and happy the way of their deliverance 
 was ; that when the Lord raifed them up Judges, then 
 the Lord was with the Judge, and delivered them out of 
 the hands of their enemies, all the days of the Judge : 
 for it repented the Lord becaufe of their groanings, by 
 reafon of them that opprefjed them, and vexed them. 
 
 The defign I am purfuing from thefe words, is to 
 lay before you fome few hints about that form of 
 government that the Jews lived under when they were 
 firfl planted in Canaan. And in doing this, I take 
 all my information from the hiftory that is delivered 
 to us in the Word of God : and becaufe I forefee it 
 will carry me a considerable length, I ihall therefore 
 wave the ufual method of Sermons ; and inftead of 
 giving you the Doctrine and Application afunder, 
 ihall mingle the one with the other. 
 
 In defcribing the government of the Judges, I would 
 call in your attention to thefe {cv^n heads. 
 
 I. The nature of the office. 
 
 II. The honourable character that it bears. 
 
 III. The perfons who were advanced to it. 
 
 IV. The antecedents, or the things that prepared 
 the way of the Judge. 
 
 V. The credentials they came with to their ftation. 
 
 VI. The qualifications of the men. 
 
 VII. The happinefs of the adminiftration. 
 
 The Scripture hath given us a fure light into all 
 
 thefe particulars, fo that under every one of them, I 
 
 P 4 Ihall 
 
 [d) Judges n. ja. 
 
2 1 6 The Government of the Judges Serm. 1 i ; 
 
 fhall firft lay down the cafe as it is in this hiftory, and 
 then fhew you how we may improve it, and make it 
 our own concern. 
 
 J. In difcourfing of thofe Judges that governed 
 Jfrael, we are to begin with the nature of the office, 
 and inquire what fort of a Ruler the perfon was who 
 wore the honour of this title : now it is plain there are 
 two fenfes attend that word in the holy Scriptures.. 
 
 The Firft and more ordinary work of a Judge was 
 to try caufes and determine between man and man : 
 for this end they were directed by Mofes, to make 
 Judges and Officers in all their gates which the Lord 
 gave them, through all their tribes , who Jhould judge 
 the people with juft judgment (<?) : But, 
 
 Secondly, This word is ufed for fomething more un- 
 common and out of the way ; and that is pleading 
 their caufe againft a public enemy ; doing thofe offices 
 that in our day are comprehended under the title of a 
 General : thus you find it, when the people came to 
 Samuel, faying, Give us a King to judge us ; they ex- 
 plain themfelves, that our King may judge us t and go 
 jpefpre us, and fight our battles (/). 
 
 JBoth thefe interpretations do meet in the word when 
 it is applied to Gob, becaufe in him it fignifies not 
 only a regard to the rules of equity, but a refolution 
 to make them effectual ; The Lord fljall judge his people, 
 and repent himfelf for lis fervants, when be fectb that 
 tkeir power is gone, and there is none Pout up or left (g) ; 
 that is, he will both determine their right and pro- 
 cure it : each of thefe things come into the office of 
 that perfon who was called' a judge, in the extraordi- 
 nary fenfe that our text refers to : one defign of his 
 name was to lead them in the battle, as is plain from 
 the firft account we have of this inftitution : The Lord 
 raifed up Judges to deliver them, cut of the hands of 
 
 thefe 
 
 (e) Dcut. xvi. 18. [g) Deut. xxxii. 36. 
 
 (/) 1 Sam. viii. 6, 20. 
 
Serm. 1 1* applied to the Revolution 1688. 2 17 
 
 thefe that fpoiled them ; and that he was alfo to incul- 
 cate the moral and devotional parts of the law, is 
 evident from what follows : that they would not hearken 
 to their Judges, but went a whoring after other gods (b) ; 
 which fuppofes they were in fome fenfe teachers of the 
 people they governed. 
 
 From this account of the office, I think the de- 
 duction of thefe three things is very natural. 
 
 ift, That the chief defign of the Judge was to fight 
 their battles ; and therefore, 
 
 2dly, It was no part of his work to make their 
 laws : but only, 
 
 %dly, To imprefs the inftitutions that God himfelf 
 had put them under. 
 
 1 . The firft and chief defign of this officer was to 
 fight their battles. And indeed this gave a revival to 
 that dignity that God had conferred upon their an- 
 ceftors ; for though Mofes commanded them a law, even 
 the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob, yet befides 
 that, he had the character of King in Jefhurun, when 
 the heads of the people, and the tribes of Ifrael were ga- 
 thered together (/) ; thefe two are what the martyr 
 Stephen obferves of him, yet he was mighty both in 
 word and deed (k). And after him, the Lord the God 
 of the fpirits of all fiejh, fet another man over them, I 
 mean Jofhua, who fucceeded Mofes in his military 
 capacity,, though not in the legiflature (/). Now as 
 thefe Worthies died off, God raifed up others to fetch 
 them out of new dangers, that they might be faved 
 after the manner of Egypt : he could have delivered 
 them by the immediate executions of his own hand ; 
 their fighting was never neceffary to him, he might 
 have employed an angel, in the quality that one of 
 them bore, as a Captain of the hoft of the Lord(m) ♦, 
 
 but 
 
 (b) Judg. ii. 1 6, 17. 
 (»*) Deut. xxxiii. 4, 5. 
 |i) Ada vii. 22. 
 
 (/) Numb.xxvii. 1 6, 17. 
 (m) Jolh. v. 14. 
 
a i S The Government of the ^fudges Ser ra, 1 1 . 
 
 but inftead of that, he will have them refcued in the 
 ufe of their own valour, and therefore gives them a 
 Judge to lead out their forces to battle. 
 
 And this, my brethren, may fliew us the way how 
 a nation is to be faved ; they mud be active for it : 
 we are not to expedt that God will always deal with 
 the kingdoms that call not upon his name, as he did with 
 Sodom and Gomorrah -, for as it is an unchriftian Ipirit 
 to fetch fire from heaven, fo it is an inhuman one not 
 to ufe fire upon earth ; I mean, a zeal for the liberty 
 wherewith Chrift hath made us free {n). In thofe days 
 when they feldom wanted a miracle, yet it is by re- 
 fifting even unto blood, that they broke the captivity 
 they were under ; from whence it is eafy to obferve 
 that thofe doctrines have as little antiquity as truth, 
 that tell a people, they are to meditate no efcapc 
 for themfelves, when Providence hath brought them 
 under the weight of tyranny. 
 
 The Jews, in all thofe cafes that are fummed up in 
 my text, were fairly conquered ; and if the title of 
 their new Sovereign is to be ftrengthned by it, we 
 may add that it is oftentimes faid, the Lord fold them 
 into the hands of fuch a King ; fuppofe now any one 
 had, in thofe wretched days, told them that it was 
 unlawful to ufe the neceffary means for their liberty, 
 that to refifi the arbitrary power they were under was 
 to incur damnation ; for it is plain thofe powers were of 
 God ; and if they could not obey the decrees of idola- 
 try, they were bound to be pojfive ; that God's felling 
 (hem gave all thofe tyrants a divine right to rule them : 
 I fay, had this language been ufed to them in their 
 Tlavery, might they not have complained as David 
 afterwards did, they petfecute him whom thou haft fmit- 
 ien, and talk to the grief of thofe whom thou haft wound- 
 ed{o)? But though the craftinefs of fome hath ex- 
 tolled this notion, yet we fee by the record of antiquity 
 
 in 
 
 \n) Gal. v. i. I {c) Pfal.Ixix. 26. 
 
Ser m. 1 1. applied to the Revolution 1 688. 2 1<£ 
 in my text, that from the beginning it was not fi: for 
 then, though they had been brought into fubjection 
 and paid tribute, and it was a yoke that God himfelf 
 laid upon them, yet the Lord raifed them up Judges, 
 and the Lord was with the Judge, and delivered them 
 out of the hands of their enemies. 
 
 2. The Judge had no power to make laws for them ; 
 no, this was done before, the law came byMofes, and he 
 ordered every thing according to the pattern fhewed him 
 in the mount : the inftitutions they lived under were not 
 the contrivance of that perfon from whom they received 
 them ; for he was only faithful to him who appointed 
 him, as afervant in the houfe (p) : though when he raifed 
 up a Judge, they all knew him to be an extraordinary 
 officer, and that the Spirit of the Lord had come mightily 
 upon him, yet this perfon could not alter one jot or tittle 
 in the laws that either fecured the peoples property 
 or directed their worlhip : they were not to learn their 
 duty from him; that was never God's defign, in 
 appointing a governor to fix any other authority over 
 the confcience than his own; and therefore their King 
 is ordered to write him a copy of the law that Mofes de- 
 livered, and perhaps he is the only man that was ob- 
 liged to tranfcribe it, for two reafons ; as if God would 
 have it impreffed upon his memory more than others, 
 and that in cafe of mal-adminiftration, his own hand 
 might be a witnefs againft him : thus tender was he 
 of his peoples liberties in the time of the Jews ; and 
 can we think them more unguarded under the Gofpel ? 
 Hath Christianity deftroyed lb dear a privilege as this ? 
 If fo, we can fcarce fay that it brings peace upon earth, 
 or fhews a good-will towards men. Yet, 
 
 3. The Judge might enforce the obfervation and 
 execution of thofe laws they were under. It was their 
 difobedience that made God give them up into the 
 enemies hand ; and therefore, when he raifes a De- 
 liverer, 
 [p) Heb. iii. 2. 
 
£20 Hi Government of the Judges Serm. 1 1 '. 
 
 liverer, he muil be a reformer : that I think is plain 
 . from the verfe that follows my text, 7/ came to pafs, 
 when the Judge was dead, they returned and corrupted 
 themfelves more than their fathers in following othetgods ; 
 which fuppofeth that they were reftrained by his autho- 
 rity whilft he lived. And we have a more particular 
 account of this in the government of Deborah ; that fhe 
 wasaProphelefs, the wife ofLapidoth, and judged Ifrael\ 
 there the word is to be taken in this fenfe, for her im- 
 prefiing the laws, becaufe we do not find that fhe leads 
 them out to battle, but dwelt under the palm-tree of 
 Deborah, between Ramah and mount Ephraim ; and the 
 children of Ifrael came up to her for judgment (q). 
 
 And if this was the defign on which God raifed up 
 a Judge, to fight their battles, not to make their laws, 
 but only to inforce them -, methinks the Revolution 
 that begun this day, hath fome refemblance of the office 
 in it. The hand of heaven fitted up a man to deliver 
 us, and we may fay, The Lord was with the Judge ; 
 from the blood of the Jlain, from the fat of the mighty \ 
 his fword returned not empty •, and that he made no in- 
 croachments upon the law, but only revived it, is as 
 plain, where the main grievance he removed was an 
 enacting power where there was no law, and a dif- 
 ^penfing power where there was : nor is it the leaft ho- 
 nour of that happy turn, that it begun with liberty 
 to confeience, and correction to vice, that perfons 
 fhould have no reftraint in ferving God, and no pro- 
 tection in ferving Satan : to this end the Act of In- 
 dulgence, and Reformation of Manners, received 
 their life from the Royal Afient about the fame time : 
 ib that we may be tempted to bring down this text into 
 our own hiftory, and fay, The Lord raifed us up a Judge; 
 one that anfwered the defign, by being a repairer of the 
 breach in our Religion, and a rejlorer of paths to dwell 
 in (r), in our Property. 
 
 II. The 
 
 (?) J u<3 2- ' lv - 4> 5- 1 ( r ) ^ ai - lvi "* 1 2 ' 
 
Serm. if* applied to the Revolution 1688. 221 
 
 II. The next thing is to obferve what the fcripture 
 hath faid to the honour of this government, and 
 here I will lay before you three things. 
 
 ijt, That God always chofe the perfon. 
 
 2dly, That it was a folemn inftance of his being 
 their ruler ; And 
 
 %dly, The only form of government that had his 
 inftitution. 
 
 1. The perfon who filled it, was one raifedup by 
 God himfelf: thefe are the exprefs words of the 
 text. The voice of the people was oniy an after- 
 concurrence, and generally the honour fixed upon 
 thofe that were moll: out of the way of fame •, from 
 whence we may draw in this great fupport, that God 
 will never want hands for the doing of his own work : 
 we are ready to fay, By whom Jhall Jacob arife, for he 
 is fmall (j) ? The beft noble blood is run out, thofe 
 that were the pillars of our conftitution are gone ; 
 but if it is fo, he can either find a hero or make 
 one. 
 
 And furely the Revolution is a ftanding memorial 
 of this : the great hopes that the good people of this 
 nation once had to preferve their Religion and Laws, 
 was a bill of exclujion to keep out a Papift from reign- 
 ing; who being a bankrupt in his own confcience, 
 would be a plunderer of ours : but it pleafed God 
 that this brave attempt mifcarried, and the noble per- 
 fons who engaged in it, overcame in no other fenfe > 
 than by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their 
 teftimony,for they loved not their lives unto the death (t). 
 After that there were fome defigns to retrieve what 
 was almoft loft under the duke of Monmouth, con- 
 cerning whom many were ready to fay, as Samuel did 
 among the fons of Jejfe, Surety the Lord's anointed 
 
 is 
 {/) Amosvji. z. I (t) Rev. xii, 11, 
 
222 The Government of the Judges Serm. 1 1, 
 
 is before him : but when they were looking on his 
 countenance* and the height of his ftature> it is appa- 
 rent the Lord fee th not as man feet h ; man looks on the 
 cutward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 
 And there feemed to be a fufpenfe, mod peoples 
 eyes were hovering, not knowing where to fix, till 
 Providence directed them to our late Deliverer with 
 the voice of Heaven that fell upon David, Arife, 
 anoint him ; for this is he. 
 
 2. There is another thing that may be affirmed as 
 the honour of this government by the Judges, that it 
 was a folemn inftance of God's being the ruler of that 
 people : The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law- 
 giver, the Lord is our King, he will fave us(u): and 
 therefore it is notorious, chat when they were for 
 changing the form of their adminiftration, God him- 
 felf tells Samuel, They have not rejected thee, but they 
 have rejected me, that Ifljould not reign over them (x). 
 So that he had good authority to begin the firft 
 coronation with that reproach to their politics : Te 
 have this day rejected the Lord your God, who himfelf 
 favedyou out of all your adverfities and your tribulations, 
 and ye have J aid unto him ; Nay, but fet a King over us. 
 And when they renewed the kingdom, he ftill rubs 
 them with the old fault, as if they could never hear 
 it too often ; Te faid unto me \ Nay, but a King fhall 
 reign over us, when the Lord your God was your 
 King (y). And to confirm what he faid, he calls for 
 thunder and rain in the time of whcat-harvefl, both to 
 ftiew them the mind of heaven r and to give them art 
 emblem of their new monarchy ; which, at that 
 time, had fuch an impreffion upon them, that they 
 cried to Samuel^ Pray for thy fervants that we die 
 not ; for we have added to all our fins this evil to afk 
 us a King. They would have made this change be- 
 fore, and put themfelves into an hereditary govern- 
 ment : 
 
 (a)Ifa xxxiii. 22. (y) 1 Sam. xii. 12. 
 
 (x) 1 Sam viii. 7 { 
 
Sefm. II. applied to the Revolution 168S. 223 
 
 ment : but Gideon refuted it, for the reafon I am now 
 upon ; / will not rule over you, neither Jhall my fin 
 rule over you, the Lord Jhall rule over you (z). 
 
 So that the Judges were more properly the Lord's 
 Vicegerents than any of their Kings •, as the Prophet 
 fays in this very cafe ; They bad caft off the thing that 
 is good, they had fet up Kings, but not by him, and 
 Princes, but he knew it not (a). This muft refer 
 either to the firft King they had, which was Saul, or 
 the revolt of the ten tribes under Jeroboam : but there 
 is one reafon, which in my opinion holds it to the 
 former •, for Jeroboam had more of a divine right 
 to the government than Saul had : the defign of ad- 
 vancing him came firft from God himfelf by the Pro- 
 phet Ahijah, before he or the people ever thought of 
 it: but Saul had no more than Heaven's connivance: 
 it was only Samuel's having leave to hearken to their 
 voice ; in which fenfe the words have a very eafy 
 found, They made Kings, but not by me ; they did it in 
 fuch a way as to cajl off that thing that is good : and 
 though it is true, they were called the Lord's anointed, 
 yet it is plain they never were, nor ever could be, 
 his reprefentatives in that fenfe the Judges were •, for 
 every one of them was received as a new grant from 
 heaven •, as the Apoftle obferves, He gave them Judges 
 by the fp ace of four hundred and fifty years (b). 
 
 3. This was the only form of government that 
 had God's inftitution ; all the reft can plead no more 
 than permifTion : but this was his own, brought about 
 by the plain direction of Providence : he never called 
 himfelf King of any people but the Jews in a poli- 
 tical fenfe •, and the way of his fhewing this, was by 
 raifing up the perfon that fhould rule them. 
 
 How monftrous a folly was it then in a people fb 
 happy, to deftroy their peculiar, and put themfelves 
 upon a level with the heathen world . p One would 
 
 wonder 
 
 (2) i Sam. viii. 23. {b) Ads xiii. 20. 
 
 (a) Hof. viii. 3, 4, • I 
 
224 The Government of the Judges Serrrk n* 
 
 wonder that it mould ever be given as a reafbn why 
 they would have a King that they might be like other 
 nations , when it was their glory to be unlike them t 
 and perhaps therefore thofe words carry a political 
 fenfe in them ; O Ifrael, thou haft deftroyed tbyfelf, 
 quite ruined thy conftitution, but in me is thy help ; / 
 will be thy King : where is there any other that may 
 fave thee in all thy cities, and thy Judges, of whom 
 thou faidft, Give me a King and Princes (c) ? Thou 
 waft weary of thofe officers that I appointed, and 
 therefore I gave thee a King in mine anger, and I took 
 him away in my wrath. This hath the Scripture told 
 us for the honour of that government that the Jews 
 weie under during the adminiftration of the Judges. 
 
 III. We are to inquire what perfons were raifed to 
 this office, whence he took them ; now here the 
 hiftory is fo expreiTed, that he that runs may read it \ 
 that God was never confined either to tribe, fex, or 
 quality. 
 
 i. He never confined himfelf to a tribe •, it was 
 not hereditary, nor any thing like it. Mofes came 
 from Levi,..JoJhua was of Ephraim, Othniel, (the 
 firft of the Judges, after they entered the promifed 
 land) was of Judah ; and fo little was primogeniture 
 minded, that we are exprefly told of his being Caleb's 
 younger brother. Ehud defcended from Benjamin, 
 Baruch was of Napthali, Gideon of Manajfeh, Tolah 
 of Ijfachar, Jepthah of G Head, Elon of Zebulun, Samfon 
 of Dan, Eli and Samuel were of Levi ; and thus the 
 office ended in the tribe where it begun. It was a long 
 time before that came to be true, that Judah prevailed 
 above his brethren, for out of him was the chief ru- 
 ler (d). 
 
 2. He was not fo much as limited to the fex that 
 feems fitter for this undertaking : there were fome 
 
 parts 
 (c) Hof. xili. 9, to. [J) 1 Chron. v. 2. 
 
Serm. II. applied to the Revolution 1 68 8. 225 
 
 parts of their time when God himfelf gave this honour 
 to the weaker veffel. Thus happy was the admini- 
 flration under Deborah^ fhe appears at the head of 
 their Revolution, to the memory of which noble 
 act that fong was penned : The inhabitants of the valley 
 ceafed until that I Deborah arofe, until I arofe a mother in 
 Ifrael(e): She encouraged their nobles to rendezvous, 
 by faying, My heart is towards the governors of 
 Ifrael that willingly offer themfelves among the people (f) ; 
 and, as a confequence of that revolt, fhe feems to have 
 the fovereignty, He made the perfon that remains have 
 dominion over the nobles among the people, the Lord made 
 me have dominion over the mighty (g). It is again ob- 
 ferved in a particular way, that ihe was amongft them 
 at their insurrection, when they threw oft the yoke 
 that they were not able to bear, it was under her 
 conduct : <The Princes of Iffachar were with Debo- 
 rah (h) ; nay, indeed the great fame of that deli- 
 verance hung all one way, it was both contrived and 
 executed by the fame fex, for as it begun with De- 
 borah's order to Baruch, fb it ends with God's felling 
 Sifera into the hand of a woman ; who is faid to be 
 blefi above women in the tent, for putting her hand to 
 the nail, and her right hand to the workman'' 's hammer, 
 andfmiting off his head, when fhe had pierced and ftricken 
 through his temples: fo richly can our God adorn 
 perfons with thole qualities that are not the ordinary 
 difpofals of nature ; when he fits them for their work, 
 the weak Jhall fay, I amftrong. 
 
 It hath pleafed him to fet a Princefs over us now* 
 who had the firfl of thefe characters, who appeared at 
 the head of a generous army, and encouraged the 
 governors of Ifrael, when they willingly offered them- 
 felves, and if what is yet unimitated in Deborah's 
 glory be referved for the fame perfon, fhe may at lafl 
 fay, O my foul, thou haji troden ■ down Jlrength ! 
 Vol. I. Q^ How 
 
 (e) Judges v. f. (g) Judges v. i 3 . 
 
 (f) Judges v. 9. [b) Judges v. 1 5, 
 
226 The Government of the Judges Serm. 1 1. 
 
 How fuch things as thefe will be brought about, we 
 cannot tell \ but the method that Jael took to make 
 an end of S if era, was upon the foot of a treaty, 
 crying, Come in my Lord, and covering him with her 
 mantle. The fong faith, He afked water, and Jhe gave 
 him milk, Jhe brought forth butter in a lordly dijh : 
 This was only to ftupify him, that fhe might take 
 the fairer blow ; for at her feet he bowed, he fell, 
 where he bowed, there he fell down dead{i). 
 
 3. He did not always take theperfons who feemed 
 to be moft likely. Thus Gideon is called from the 
 threfhhig-floor, though his family was poor in Manajfeh, 
 and himfelf the leaft in his father's houfe. Yet thefe 
 objections were over-ruled by a caft of the Divine 
 Majefty, for the Lord looked upon him, and faid, Go 
 in this thy might, and thou fhalt fave Ifrael(k). Jephthab 
 is fetched from the country, whither his brethren had 
 banifhed him, and from being denied the leaft place 
 in the family, he comes to have the greater!: in the 
 nation : Samjon was the unexpected produce of his 
 mother, who had been barren ; and as nature was 
 over-ruled in his birth, it feems to be out-done in his 
 life. 
 
 This was their government for above four hundred 
 years, and though it is a form that no other people 
 came under, yet there are fome turns in the affairs or 
 our nation that may be thought to look like it: when 
 God calls in help from afar, and changeth the times 
 and the feafons, when he appears to rule in the king- 
 doms of men, by giving them to whomfoever he will ; 
 that fcripture comes true in our hiftory, He hath 
 raifed up the righteous man from the eafi, and called 
 him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made 
 him rule over Kings \ he purfued them, andpaffed fafdy, 
 even by the way that he had not gone with his feet (I) : 
 and when he ftrengthens the hands of a woman againft 
 
 one 
 
 (/) Judges v. 25, 27. (I) Ifa. xli. 2, 3. 
 
 (*) Judges vi. 14. ( 
 
Serm. II. applied to the Revolution 1688. 227 
 
 one who never had the courage of a man, it is raifing 
 Providence above the common rules that it goes by ; 
 and this we had the pleafure lately to fee, that what 
 the French call a falique law, Was fubmitting to a 
 neceffity that hath no law : and the fex that mufl not 
 rule them, had gone fo far as to conquer them. Such 
 Revolutions as thefe are the picture of Chriftianity 
 itfelf, that comes not of the will of the fiejh, nor of 
 the will of man, nor of bloody but of God, 
 
 IV. We are to inquire into the antecedents of this 
 honour, or thofe things that prepared the way for 
 raifing up a Judge ; and thefe are chiefly three, op- 
 preflion, reformation, and prayer. 
 
 1. One thing that led on God's giving them a 
 Judge was the oppreffion of their enemies. This is 
 plain from the words of my text, where it is brought 
 in as a reafon why be was with the Judge, and deli- 
 vered them , for that it repented the Lord becaufe of 
 their groanings, by reafon of thofe. that opprejfedthem, and 
 vexed them .• though he gave them up into the hands of 
 a fierce and cruel King on purpofe to fuffer hardmip, 
 yet he had always a refentment of the tyranny itfelf , 
 which fhews that he doth not chafien us for his czvh 
 pleafure, but for our profit. 
 
 I need not lead you through the particular miferics 
 they felt from the Moabites, the Amorites, the Edo- 
 mites, and the Philijiines : fome of them were io 
 preffing that the highways were unoccupied, the tra- 
 vellers walked in by-ways (m) , and the people were fo 
 much out of pofture for their own defence, that 
 there was not a fpear or Jhield feen among forty thou - 
 fand in Ifrael : Gideon was threading the wheat in the 
 night-time for fear of the Midianites {n). And perhaps 
 there are two reafons why the inhabitants of thoie 
 lands ufed to deal fo hardly with them. One was be - 
 
 Q/2 cain'j 
 
 (m) Judges v. 6, 8. (n) Judges v'x.ii. 
 
228 The Government of the Judges Scrm. 1 1. 
 
 caufe they looked upon themfelves as a conquered 
 people, who had loft their country to the Jews ; and 
 the other, becaufe the religion of Ifrael was fo dif- 
 ferent from what the Canaaniles had been ufed to : 
 and the quarrel founded upon thefe two refentments 
 was fo dreadful, that it was time for God to raife 
 up Judges. 
 
 It is eafy to fee that thefe are the things that pro- 
 cured fo much danger to Britain : the prodigious 
 ignorance of the wild Iri/h, their hatred of us both 
 as Englijhmen and Protectants, had made them in fe- 
 veral reigns a certain tool of tyranny. The dreadful 
 mafTacre in 1641 recommended their pofterity to the 
 defign that was carrying on in 1688. And they 
 whofe parents had been famous for the Daughter of 
 two hundred thoufand in cold blood, were the per- 
 fons for whofe fake the King thought fit to difpenfe 
 with the known laws of the land ; as our Saviour 
 faid of the Jews, They were witneffes to themfelves, 
 that they were the children of them that killed the Pro- 
 phets. That we had been under the feverities of a 
 party who neither loved juflice, nor knew mercy, is 
 plain enough : private affaflmations, the more public 
 control of bloody Judges and infamous Juries ; the 
 bullying of parliaments, the raifing of armies with- 
 out a war, the eftablifhing of an high-commimon- 
 court, for thofe perlbns to govern the confciences of 
 others, who had none of their own : thefe and a 
 thoufand more illegal methods, j%W up themeafure of 
 their iniquity ; till the fulnefs of their iniquity had the 
 fame effect with that of the Canaanites, that the land 
 fpued them out, and made them wanderers among the 
 nations. 
 
 2. Another thing that led on the great blefilng of 
 a Judge v/as their Reformation ; for as it was guile 
 that made their icck to fell them, and the Lord to Jhut 
 them up, fo there muft be a returning to him from 
 whom they had back-flidden : They / ut away their idols 
 
 which 
 
Serm. ii. applied to the Revolution 1688. 229 
 
 which had coft them lb dear ; and as they had changed 
 their liberties for their corruptions, they now make 
 the exchange back again : and indeed till there is 
 ibmething of this temper, till a people have fome dif- 
 folution of their impenitency, it is pity they fliould be 
 delivered •, the mercy will be loft upon them if their 
 uncircumcifed heart is not humbled., and they accept of 
 the puni/hment of their iniquity. 
 
 Some of you may remember, that it was from fuch 
 a dawn as this that our Revolution grew more and 
 more unto a perfetl day : though for feveral years the 
 whole cry of the pulpit had been little dk but obedi- 
 ence to the King, and perfection to their Proteftant 
 brethren, yet they were then as Ifrael fhall be when 
 they turn to the Lord, the vail was taken off from their 
 hearts and eyes : they came to find, that by indulging 
 the wrath of man, they had loft the right eoufnefs of God j 
 fo that the world hath been told in a very public way, 
 that Archbifhop Sancrcft himfelf was the perfon who 
 propoled a comprehenfion with the Non- conform ifts. 
 And it is plain that he, and the reft of the Bifhops 
 who were fent to the Tower, declared, " That they 
 44 were ready to come to any accommodation with 
 " their Diflenting brethren in a parliamentary way.'* 
 Then Goo fhewed them their error, that they had ex- 
 ceeded, and opened their ears to difcipline .- and thefe fen- 
 timents of peace and union led the way to our deli- 
 verance, from whence it need be no wonder to you, 
 that they who are for widening the difference with 
 Proteftants, and contracting that with Papifts, are fo 
 much out of love with the work of this day, that they 
 have in their hearts appointed to tkemf elves a Captain to 
 return to Egypt. 
 
 3. Another introduction to their having a Judge, 
 was the fpirit of prayer and f application. God heard 
 their cry, he would not be filent to them, as they had 
 been to him •, but firft opened the heavens to let in 
 the petition, and then bowed them to come down and 
 Q^ 3 anfwer 
 
230 The Government of the Judges Ser m .11. 
 
 anfwer it. This is one of the Chriftian's weapons, 
 and it is what he mall never be difarmed of: it was 
 thus that Jacob had fewer firft with God, and then 
 with man. You have feveral examples of this in the 
 hiftory before you; and as our nation hath applied it, 
 fo I hope they may do it again. 
 
 You know how long it was the defire of thofe excel- 
 lent perfons, who had any fenfe of the common dan- 
 ger, that God would raife up a Saviour-, and thofe 
 cries at length came into the ears of the Lord God of 
 fabkaoth ; for if an unjufi Judge, who neither fears 
 God, nor regards man, is to be moved with intreaty, 
 you may be fure that the Lord will fpeedily avenge the 
 caufe cf his eleel : it was with this requeft that many 
 of our Worthies breathed out their laft, commending 
 the cry of their blood to God's juftice, and the def- 
 lations of this kingdom to his mercy. This they had 
 begged from heaven, and argued with men, and at 
 the end gave up their fouls in good wifhes to the caufe 
 for which they fufrered ; and what they prayed for 
 upon the fcaffold, they went to plead over again un- 
 der the altar. 
 
 Nor was the cry in vain •, for the earth had fcarce 
 well drank in their blood, ere God revived the pu- 
 nifhment of Cain upon him that fhed it, to make him 
 a fugitive and vagabond on the earth, under a conti- 
 nual fear that every cue that found him would flay him. 
 
 V. We fhall confider the credentials of thofe per- 
 fons who were to be Judges : what it was that mud 
 iatisfy the people of their having a commiflion : now 
 under this head it may not be amifs to produce three 
 things ; . 
 
 if, That fometimes their authority was not pub- 
 licly received at the beginning ; yet, 
 
 idly, It never failed of having a general approba- 
 tion, fqpner or later. And, 
 
 %dly, That 
 
Serm .11. applied to the Revolution 1688. 231 
 
 idly, That which led on the popular fubjection to 
 them, was ufually fome mighty action that God 
 enabled them to do : this drew in the heart and zeal 
 of the kingdom, to blefs the Perfon who came to fave 
 them in the name of the Lord. 
 
 1. It is plain that their commiflion was not always 
 underftood at the beginning ; thus it happened with 
 Mofes, as he himfelf foretold it would be, when he 
 affirmed the Lord God of their fathers had fent him, 
 they would not believe, but faid, What is his name ? 
 Nay, when he begun to act for them before, he did 
 it by virtue of that authority, which was more re- 
 vealed under a commiflion forty years after ; he then 
 delivered an Ifraelite, and fmote an Egyptian, of which 
 the martyr Stephen gives this account ; hefuppofed his 
 brethren would have underftood, how that God by his 
 hand would deliver them, but they underftood not (/?). 
 And thus it was with Samfon, v/hoftew a lion in pri- 
 vate, on whom the Spirit of the Lord began to move at 
 times, in the camp between Zorah and E/htaol (0) ; but 
 by the ftupidity and indolence of the people, they did 
 not feem to take the meaning of heaven in lodging fo 
 great a flock of nature in one man. 
 
 Thus does Providence love to keep a blefling fe- 
 cret till the day of its fhewing to Ifrael : as it is ob- 
 ferved by thofe who wrote the hiftory of the late King, 
 " That the court of England defigned to intangle him 
 " by his affections to the virtuous Princefs, whom he 
 '« married ; but as he then declared he would not 
 " treat of that, until the affairs of the States were 
 " adjufted, and that he fcorned to fell his country 
 *' for a wife ;" fo we fee how much farther God de- 
 figned it ; that inftead of making that marriage the 
 fale of one country, it proved the redemption of two: 
 fo little do we know what Providence means by thofe 
 turns that appear with no great fhew at prefent. 
 
 Q_4 2. Though 
 
 (») A&svii. 25. [ (?) Judg. xiii. 25. 
 
232 Tfo Government of the Judges Serm. 1 1 .' 
 
 2. Though the credentials of the Judge might be 
 concealed for a time, yet fooner or later they were to 
 have the univerfal approbation of the people. Not 
 but that there was a number of difaffected perfons 
 among them, murmur ers and complainers , walking 
 after their own lufts : therefore it is faid in the verfe 
 before my text, that they would not hearken to their 
 Judges, but went a whoring after other gods ; it grieved 
 fome of them, that a Man was come to feek the welfare 
 of Ifrael. 
 
 But when I fpeak of the approbation that the people 
 gave, I have no regard to thofe whofe concurrence 
 was not worth having : they who had felt the bitter- 
 nefs of captivity, and lamented after the Lord, took 
 the proper ways of receiving a Judge, and declaring 
 the value they had for fo public a mercy : how rea- 
 dily did many of their tribes attend Barak, and threw 
 in their feveral capacities to that good caufe : Out of 
 Machir came down governors ; and out of Zebulun, they 
 that handled the fen of the writer ; Gilead abode beyond 
 Jordan, and Dan remained in fhips ; AJher continued on 
 the fea-ftoore, and abode in his breaches', Zebulun and 
 NafbtaH were a people that jeoparded their lives unto 
 the death in the high places of the field (p) : and what a 
 curfe is there upon Meroz ? it was the angel of the Lord 
 that faid, Curfe ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, be- 
 caufe they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help 
 of the Lordagainfl the mighty (q). 
 
 3. That which led on this popular efteem, was 
 ufually fome mighty action that God enabled them to 
 do. Mofes fixt his character among them by figns 
 and wonders : this kt't the people out of doubt, and 
 o-ave them hopes in a little time of being out of dan- 
 ger : and thus Jcfhua's authority was recognized ; as. 
 Mofes begun to have the full reputation of a Captain 
 at the Red fea, fo did Jojhua at the waters of Jordan. 
 We do not read that the children of Ifrael had any 
 
 more 
 
Serm .11. applied to the Revolution 1688. 233; 
 more regard to Ehud, than to make him the meflenger 
 of their fubjection toEglon the King oiMoab ; they fent 
 a prefent by him, but he had an errand beyond that, 
 a meffage of God unto him, which he delivered at the 
 point of his dagger. This indeed gave the Jews a 
 public fenfe of the office he entered into : after that, 
 he blew the trumpet in the mount of Ephraim, and the 
 children of Ifrael went down with him from the mount \ 
 and he before them (r). 
 
 And that Providence took thefe advances in the 
 mercy of this day, is a thing frefh within our memory : 
 Though fome who cried to our Deliverer for help, 
 would have had him left what he came for unfinilhed : 
 yet there were others who had no mind to do the work 
 of the Lord fo deceitfully : as God bleft his arms to 
 make the throne vacant, fo there were the beft voices 
 of the nation, that he that emptied it mould fill it : 
 Thus by degrees did all oppofition fall before him, till 
 he became our King and Governor. 
 
 VI. Another thing that we are to inquire into, is 
 the qualification or endowments of that perfon whom 
 God raifed up to be a Judge : there were three things 
 that none in this office ever milled of : 
 
 ift, A military fpirit, the courage and wifdom of 
 a foldier. 
 
 2dly, A fincere love for his country. 
 
 ^dly, The true principles of Religion. They have 
 had Kings who wanted all thefe, but none of their 
 Judges ever failed to have them in a glorious degree : 
 and the reafon is plain, becaufe in this government 
 God himfelf furnifhed out the men, and 'he always 
 took care that they fhould be equal to their fervice. 
 
 1. A Judge never wanted the true fpirit of a fol- 
 dier; courage againft an enemy, companion to a fub- 
 
 jed, 
 (r) Judg, iij. 27. 
 
234 The Government of the 'Judges Serm. n. 
 
 ject, and wifdom to guide and temper each of them. 
 This is what you will find infcribed upon every one 
 of their hiftories, that they were mighty men of 'valour ; 
 not foftned to danger by luxury, or hardned to their 
 people by flattering words; and though it is true none 
 of them could boaft of his defcent from a long race 
 of Kings, yet they had a glory above it ; not taking 
 the remains of a dignity which others had left them, 
 but carrying the whole flock in themfelves : and 
 though they wanted what we call royal blood, yet 
 that was made up in a divine fpirit, which mewed 
 them to be fent by the King of Kings. They never 
 thought Gideon the worle for being fetched out of a 
 threfhing- floor -, his hands were noble enough to do 
 the laft execution upon two Princes and two Kings ; 
 for when he had Jlain Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and 
 Zeeb at the wine-prefs of Zeeb, he and his three hun- 
 dred men went after Zebah and Zalmunna, faint, yet 
 purfuing them (j) : they would rather lofe their food 
 than their prey. 
 
 This is a fpirit fo efTential to government, that 
 though the Jews defired a King, they always under- 
 ftood it in his character that he mould be one to lead 
 them out, and fight their battles : not a meer rake in 
 robes •, but one of whom they might fay, as Jotham 
 did of Gideon, My father fought for you, and ventured 
 his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Mt- 
 dian(t). It is true many of their Kings were brave 
 men, but I do not remember one of them that had 
 always in him the fpirit of a Judge. David did the 
 nobleft acts among them, and yet he was guilty of in- 
 dulging his folly ztjerufalem, when the ark of God, 
 and the army of Ijrael abode in tents. An inftance of 
 this neglect and foftnefs is not once to be found in any 
 of the Judges. Though we have but a fhort account 
 of ibme of them, yet there is nothing unworthy of 
 the great name they bore. 
 
 The 
 
 [*) Judg. viii. 5. 1 (/) Judg. ix. 17. 
 
Serm. ii. applied to the Revolution 1688. 235 
 
 The application of this to our Revolution is eafy 
 enough : when it pleafed God to give us a Prince who 
 had an early difdain of what the Scripture faith deftroys 
 Kings {u). The great events of his battles with the 
 French , had fent over his name long before we had 
 his perfon ; he had no Priefts in pay to flatter him, 
 and force a reputation ; no, his army was a proper 
 college for that, and every foldier had a better tongue 
 to proclaim him : we jufl wanted fuch a one, who 
 had been a man of war from his youth, to help and 
 head the nation ; to unbind a people who were 
 brought into fo much danger by a ftanding Army 
 and a fawning Clergy. 
 
 2. The Judge was always a hearty lover of his 
 country. Never could any of them be guilty of 
 making their court to an enemy, or putting them- 
 felves under a foreign yoke •, all their actions and 
 cares were directed this way, that Ifrael might rejoice 
 in him that made him, and the children of Sion be joy- 
 ful in their King (x). And this may help us to un- 
 •derftand fome pafTages in Samfon's life, more in his 
 favour than they could be in an ordinary perfon : I 
 will but mention one, and that is, his feeking a wife 
 among the Philiftiiies, which his parents were both 
 furprifed and troubled at, becaufe there was a divine 
 command againft it : but faith the text, his father and 
 mother knew not that it was of the Lord, tofeek an oc- 
 cafion againft the Pbiliftines (j) : And this myfterious 
 alliance led him into a twenty years quarrel with that 
 nation, till they themfelves called him a dejiroyer of 
 their country. 
 
 Some of their Kings had more of an indifferency 
 to the good of Ifrael ; and either through a fear to 
 thofe abroad, or a defire to be abiblute at home, neg- 
 lected the improvement of a conqueft. Thus does 
 Saul (pare Agag the King of the Amalekites, againft 
 
 the 
 
 (a) Prov.xxxi. 3. {y) Judg. xiv. 4. 
 
 O) Pfal.cxlix. 2. 
 
23 6 The Government of the Judges Serm. 1 1 . 
 
 the plain voice of heaven ; but Samuel does otherwife, 
 who was the laft of the Judges, and had yet in him 
 the fpirit of the office, though he had laid down the 
 form r nor could there be a nobler conclufion to the 
 public actions of the Judges, than to hew a tyrant in 
 pieces before the Lord : it was the very laft thing he 
 did in that character. 
 
 Thus treacherous was Ahab to the intereft of his 
 own country ; firft, by fubmitting to the King of 
 Syria' s claim, who fent him that meffage : Thy filver 
 and thy gold are mine, thy wives and thy children are 
 mine{z); how mean, and below the dignity of a 
 Prince was it to return that anfwer, My Lord, King, 
 according to thy faying, I am thine, and all that I 
 haiK (a) ? Perhaps you may think that this was ow- 
 ing to the neceflity of his affairs ; but you find the 
 fame fneaking cowardice when matters had taken a 
 turn in his favour : he beats the Syrian army twice, 
 fo that Ben-hadad is in the diftrefs to run away on foot ; 
 and yet afterwards he recovered by peace what he had 
 loft in war. One would think Ahab under an infa- 
 tuation to enter into any terms with the man that had 
 bullied him, that had difpofed of his kingdom, as if 
 he had fome pretender to fend thither, that he had 
 vowed the ruin of Samaria, and dared the God of 
 Ifrael himfelf, calling him the God cf the hills, and 
 not of the valleys : and yet Ahab enters into a disho- 
 nourable treaty, which was founded upon a partition 
 of their conquefts : Ben-hadad faid unto him, The ci- 
 ties which my father took from thy father I will reft ore, 
 and thou fh a It make flreets for thee in Damafcus, as my 
 father made in Samaria. Then faid Ahab, I will fend 
 thee away w'uh this covenant (b). Could any thing be 
 of more dangerous conlequence to Ifrael ? It was not 
 mere pity and good nature, for at the fame time that 
 he is fo tender to an enemy, he is perfecuting the 
 
 Prophets 
 
 («) i Kings xx. 3. (/>) 1 Kings xx. 3^. 
 
 (a) 1 Kings xx. 4. 
 
Serro.il* applied to the Revolution 1688. 23.7 
 Prophets of the Lord : and no wonder then that Gon 
 fends one of his fervants with this meffage ; Becaufe 
 thou haft let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed 
 to utter deft ruEl 'ion, therefore thy life fh all go for his life, 
 and thy people for his people (c) : and thefe were not 
 mere words of terror, for the new peace held but a 
 little time ■■> we only read that they continued three years 
 without war between Syria and Ifrael(d) ; but in the 
 third year it breaks out again, and slhab lofeth his life 
 by the very Prince whom once he had pardoned. 
 
 The Judges never made fuch abatements, but, avert- 
 ed the rights of Jfrael againft all the monarchs upon 
 earth : how noble was Jephthalfs meflage to the Kino- 
 of the Ammonites, tfhe Lord God of If r a el hath difpojfeffed 
 the Amorites from before his people Jfrael, a}id fhouldji 
 thou poffefs it ? fVtlt not thou poffefs that which Chemofh 
 thy god giveth thee to poffefs ? So zvhomfoever the Lord 
 our God fhall drive out from before us, them will we 
 poffefs (e). 
 
 3. The Judges were always good men, perfons of 
 true Religion. Not that they were without the infir- 
 mities of human nature : Gideon defired the ear-rings 
 of the people, and he made an ephod of it, which thing 
 became a fnare to him, and his houfe (/). Jephthatfs 
 vow was ib rafh, and intangled others befides him- 
 felf, that it can fcarce be defended. Samfon let his 
 heart be deceived by a woman, and revealed a fecret 
 that God had lodged with him ; and after he had 
 violated his truft, it was in vain for him to go out and 
 fhake himfelf, as at other times, for God was departed 
 from him. 
 
 But you are not to take the character of them, or 
 of any good man, by the fuccefs of a temptation upon 
 them, but from the main tendency of their lives. 
 Now notwithftanding thefe blemifhes, yet they have 
 obtained a good report. You find them among the 
 
 Worthies 
 
 (() 1 Kings xx. 42. (r) Judg xi. 23, 24. 
 
 (d) 1 Kings xxii. 1. ' (/) Judg. viii. :;. 
 
23 8 The Government of the Judges Serm. 1 1. 
 
 "Worthies that begin with righteous Abel : Though the 
 Apoflle had aimoft filled his argument and time with 
 the Patriarchs, yet he takes care that the reputation of 
 the Judges be not quite loft ; arid therefore fays, that 
 Gideon, Barak, Samfon, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and 
 the Prophets, through faith fubdued kingdoms, wrought 
 right eoufnefs, and obtained promifes (g). 
 
 And indeed thefe are the fitteft to be employed in 
 a government, for though a bad Ruler, a Heathen, 
 a Tyrant may be called the Lord's anointed, yet it is 
 with an undeniable harfhnefs in the found. Thefe two 
 characters can fcarce come together without confufion •, 
 that a man mould reprefent God in his office, and yet 
 ferve nothing but Satan in his life. How unhappy is 
 it, when for his ftation he is called a God, and yet 
 his actions make every one take him for a Devil ? 
 The civil titles of a Prince never come off the tongue 
 fo clean as when they are given to a man after God's 
 own heart. There the names of facred Majefly, gra- 
 cious Sovereign, Defender of the Faith, Chriftian 
 King, and God's Vicegerent, have fome meaning in 
 them, they are not mere fwelling words of vanity. 
 Thefe were the qualifications of the Judges, which 
 every perfon brought along with him to that office : 
 he had always courage to defend the people from a 
 foreign power, no inclination to betray them to it ; 
 and he ruled, as they that rule over men, over crea- 
 tures equally rational and immortal with themfelves 
 fhould do, byjujiice, and in the fear of the Lord. 
 
 That thefe endowments were eminently found in 
 our late Sovereign, is an argument too much for the 
 time, but it lies abroad in his hiftory. His being a 
 foldier is enough out of the queftion, our enemies 
 were never capable of doubting that : that he had 
 the intereft of Great Britain at heart, appears by the 
 hazards that he run, the honourable alliances that he 
 made againfl; an exorbitant power, that always hath 
 
 been, 
 ig) Heb, xi. 33. 
 
Serra. n. applied to the Revolution 1688. 239 
 
 been, and always will be, our greateft danger ; and 
 the regard he fhewed to Religion, appeared in the 
 whole of his conduit, and by the particular care he 
 took to advance Minifters of the beft learning and 
 probity ; men famous for what they had done in the 
 pulpit j well knowing, that the main credit of one 
 intrufted with the Go/pel, is to be a workman, not a tool : 
 nor is there any thing that will better fecure them from 
 being afhamed, than rightly dividing the IVord of truth. 
 
 VII. The happinefs of this administration is but a 
 natural confequence from all that I have faid : we 
 may well fay, Blejfed is the people that is in fitch a cafe ; 
 yea, happy is the nation whofe God is the Lord : but, 
 befides what you have heard, there are three things 
 that will tell you the felicity of being governed by the 
 Judges : they were always fure of fuccefs ; never laid 
 any burdens upon the people ; and under no tempta- 
 tion of amafling great wealth to themfelves. 
 
 1. The nation was always fure of fuccefs in the 
 concern that the Judge led them to. Though they 
 had the fatigue of a war, yet it was without its un- 
 certainty : you never read that any of them failed of 
 conqueft ; and indeed the profpecl they had of getting 
 the better, arofe from God's own choice of the men, 
 and avowance of the caufe : his raifing up a perfon 
 was a prefage that he would never leave him, and 
 therefore they are joined in the words of my text, 
 when the Lord raifed them up Judges, the Lord was 
 with the Judge. Thus when Ehud had flain Eglon, 
 he gave the enemy fo full a blow, that the land did 
 reft eighty years ; and in Deborah's, ftory it is faid, 
 that the hand of the children of Ifrael profpered till they 
 had defrayed Jabin King of Canaan (h). Midian was 
 fubdued before the children of Ifrael, fo that they lifted 
 up their heads no more, and the country was in quieinefs 
 forty years in the days of Gideon, 
 
 We 
 
 (b) Judg. iii. 30. — iv. 24. 
 
240 The Government of the Judges Sernv ti* 
 
 We do not find that any of them left the work in- 
 complete but Samfon, for he himfelf died in captivity : 
 now this was not from any deficiency in him, but a 
 wretched lownefs of fpirit in the people. We never 
 read of their attending him to battle ; his victories 
 were all perfonal : the Jews had not yet retrieved their 
 fenfe of liberty : inftead of following the ftrongeft 
 leader that ever they had, Three thoufand of them 
 came to bind him, and deliver him into the hand of the 
 Philijlines : their plea for it was a very flavilh one, 
 Knoweft thou not that the Philijlines are rulers over us ? 
 What is this that thou haft done unto us if) ? Which 
 was a fort of charging rebellion againft him. Now, 
 though he could as eafily have broke the argument, 
 as he did the cords \ yet he makes no other terms with 
 them, than that they would not fall upon him them- 
 felves. Such people as thefe were not fit for liberty ; 
 leaving them in bondage, is but fuiting their condi- 
 tion to their temper : and therefore we read no more 
 of him, than that he fhould begin to deliver Ifrael cut 
 of the hand of the Philijlines. 
 
 We cannot now have the fame affurance of fuccefs 
 that they had, this was the peculiar of that govern- 
 ment : and I wifh the cafe of our Revolution could 
 be better applied to any other hiftory of the Judges, 
 than what I have laft mentioned : but it is not to be 
 denied, with what toil of Empire his late Majefty 
 reigned amongft us. 
 
 That there were fome to cramp him in his mea-- 
 fures, and who would not know the things of their peace 
 in that their day, the length of this war does abun- 
 dantly tell us : fo that the parallel between him and 
 Samfon feems but too juft, that they would bind him with 
 new cords, what were never ufed to his predecefTors : 
 though bleffed be God it held alfo in another cafe, 
 that he did us the greater!; fervice at laft, by bringing 
 about the Proteftant Succefiion, which we hope hath 
 
 given 
 
 (') Ju^S- xviii. ii. 
 
Serm. 1 1, applied to the Revolution 1 638* 241 
 
 given us a better fecurity than any thing he did be- 
 fore ; fo that in this he expired as Sam/on did, in the 
 fulnefs of fervice and fame : for the dead that be /lew 
 at his death, were more than thofe that he /lew in his 
 life. 
 
 2. Another happinefs of this government was, the 
 flate which attended it laid no burden upon the people : 
 there was no fuch thing as the nation groaning under 
 a royal pomp : it was reckoned a judgment that their 
 King fhould take their fons, and appoint them for his 
 borfemen, to run before his chariots, and make them 
 captains over thoufands, and hundreds, and fifties, and 
 tens ; and make them ear his ground, and reap his har- 
 veft, and prepare his injiruments of war ; and that their 
 daughters fhould be confeclionaries, cooks and bakers (k). 
 Thefe are fo far from being burdens now, that people 
 catch at them as fo many honours ; but they had not 
 fo much as a court under the Judges, to give their 
 fuperiority the leaft air of oppreffion to the people : 
 fo little did they underftand the ceremonial part of 
 dominion, that we read upon Saul's being King, he 
 came after the herd out of the field {I) : therefore it is 
 fo often hinted as the felicity of thofe times, that there 
 was no King in Ifrael, but every one did what was right 
 in his Qwn eyes : not that they lived in a lawlefs way, 
 but there was nothing like prerogative to intrench on 
 the liberty that God had given. 
 
 And thus they continued, -as Paul fays, about the 
 (pace of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the 
 Prophet : that it was not fo afterwards, is plain from 
 their hiftory : there was foundation enough for the 
 diftinction that Solomon made, A Prince that wants un~ 
 derfianding is a great opprejfor ; but he that bates covet- 
 oufnefs flj all prolong his days {m). 
 
 3. The laft thing that I mall mention among the 
 felicities of that government was, that the Judge could 
 
 Vol. I. R be 
 
 (i) 1 Sam. viii. n — 13. {/n) Prov. xviii. 16. 
 
 (/) 1 tarn, xi, t;. 
 
242 The Government of the Judges Serm. 11. 
 
 be under no temptation of amaffing great wealth to 
 himfelf ; becaufe as his office was not hereditary, fo 
 he had no necefiity of laying in the materials of a fu- 
 ture ftate to his family : the tyranny of fome thrones 
 hath been the growth of feveral ages : the myftery of 
 iniquity took time to work up to what it now is : but 
 this was impoffible in the reign of the Judges : be- 
 caufe the honour of the family funk with the perfon 
 who had it. 
 
 And the circumftances into which God was pleafed 
 to call our late King were not unlike to this : as he 
 had none to bear his name in the world, fo there was 
 no temptation to make any incroachments either upon 
 the peoples treafures, or their liberties. It is true, 
 the intail of the crown was upon the heirs of his body, 
 after thofe of her prefent Majefty : but that was a 
 thing out of all profpect ; and thus God fitted his 
 condition to the greatnefs of his foul, and put him 
 into the full fcope of his temper, to ad as if the Prc- 
 teftant Religion, and the Liberties of Europe, and in 
 particular the honour of Great-Britain, were to be his 
 heirs, to enjoy all that he had got or could leave : for 
 this end he nobly refufed the propofals that were made 
 to him of leaving out the Queen or the Houfe of 
 Hanover from a claim to thefe kingdoms, though 
 the temptation of making him eafy and profperous 
 was ufed to perfuade him. 
 
 Thus have I given you an account of the beft go- 
 vernment that ever was in the world, on a day that 
 brought us to one of the beft that ever we had in 
 England : it hath been my endeavour in the hiftory of 
 thejezvs, and the application that was made of it to 
 our own cafe, to keep the hand of God in your view : 
 it is thus that you are to regard the Revolution, as 
 the conduct of a mighty Providence ; this will both 
 faniftify your value for what is pall, and hold on your 
 dependence for bleffings yet to come : for he who 
 
 hath 
 
Serm. ii. applied to the Revolution 1688. 243 
 \\2x\\/hewn us his /alvation, may put on ftrength as in 
 the ancient days ; here is our great fecurity in every 
 new danger : it is he that can diffufe a fpirit of unity 
 and refolution in the time we mod need it ; look to 
 him then for the birth of that promife which refers 
 to the Messiah, and we may challenge it when the 
 faith that he delivered to the Saints is in any danger. 
 This manjhall be the peace when the AJ/yrian /hall come 
 into our land, and when he /hall tread in our palaces : 
 then will we raife againfi him /even jhepherds, and eight 
 principal men, and they /hall wajle the land of Ajfyria 
 with the /word, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances 
 thereof', thus /hall he deliver us /rom the Aj/yrian when 
 he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our 
 borders (»). 
 
 («) Mic. v. 5, 6. 
 
 
 R 2 SERMON 
 
SERMON XII. 
 
 Steadinefs in Religion, 
 
 Recommended from the Example of Daniel under 
 the Decree of Darius. 
 
 Preached March 23, 1711-12. 
 
 TTTTTV 1 ! 11 "J* *V "'♦* *** *+* 'I* V T ** V"T V V V VTTVTr 'I* V T* *** 
 
 Dan ie l VI. 10. 
 
 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was 
 Jigned, he went into his hoiife : and his windows 
 bei?ig open in his chamber towards Jerufalem y 
 he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and 
 prayed^ and gave thanks bejore his God as he 
 did aforetime. 
 
 3*l)8(*)8(kt O U have here the great example of a man 
 3$( „ M who ventured all his inrereft in this world 
 n&£ W t0 P re ^ erve ^ ln another ; and run the 
 
 1%M*MK ^ azai "d of lofing his life, that he might 
 five it to life eternal. The words con- 
 fzft of two parts : 
 
 I. The difficulty he was brought into when he 
 knew the writing was figned. 
 
 II. His behaviour upon it : he went into his houfe, 
 and the windows being open in his chamber to- 
 
 R 3 w-.irds 
 
246 Steadinefs in Religion. Serm. 12, 
 
 wards Jerufalem, he kneeled upon his knees three 
 times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before 
 his God as he did aforetime. 
 
 I. I will give you fome few thoughts of the cafe 
 itfelf, that made his duty fo dangerous to him : and 
 if you would fetch this from its original, you will 
 find in it thefe two things ; 
 
 The honour that had been conferred upon Da- 
 tiiel: And, 
 
 The uneafinefs that it gave fome great men at 
 that court. 
 
 1 . We are told of his advancement : It pleafed 
 Various to fet over the kingdom an hundred and twenty 
 Princes which fhould be over the whole kingdom, and 
 over thefe three prejidents, of whom Daniel was the 
 firft (a). Where you fee that King was unconfined in 
 the diftribution of his favours, and refolved never to 
 lofe the fervice of an honeft man for the fake of any 
 varieties in religion. He understood his intereft bet- 
 ter, and knew how to employ thole of capacity and 
 faithfulnefs, whatever opinions they might have dif- 
 ferent from his own. Herein hath the Babylon of the 
 New Teftament gone beyond that of the Old, in a 
 a decree that no manfhall buy or fell, five he that hath 
 the mark, or the name of the beafl y or the number of 
 his name {b). 
 
 The reaibn of Daniel's having this place, ihews 
 how little bigotry was concerned in his promotion. 
 It was that the King fhould have damage in nothing : 
 he was preferred above the P reft dents and Princes, be- 
 caufe an excellent fpirit was found in him, and the King 
 thought to fet him over the whole realm (c). Nor is it 
 any wonder that Darius fhould be fo early with his 
 
 honours 
 
 (a) Daniel vi. i, z. (c) Dan. vi. 3. 
 
 (b) Rev. xiii. 17. 
 
Serm. 12. Steadinefs in Religion. 247 
 
 honours to this great man, if you do but confider 
 what a long reputation he had poiTefled in Babylon. 
 He was prepared by as good an education as Nebu- 
 chadnezzar could give him : In all matters of wifdom 
 and under/landing the King inquired of him, and his 
 companions, and found them ten times better than all 
 the magicians and afirologers that were in his realm (d). 
 "When he unfolded that prophetic dream about the 
 golden image, it is faid, Then the King made him a great 
 man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him 
 ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief 
 of the governors of the wife men of Babylon ; and he 
 was placed in the gate of the King (<?). There he 
 lived in fo full credit, that upon another occafion 
 Nebuchadnezzar fays to him, / know that the fpirit of 
 the holy gods is in thee, and no fecret troubles thee (f). 
 
 It is certain he had fome public office in Belfhazzar' 5 
 time -, for you read of a vifion in the third year of the 
 reign of King Belfhazzar, and he had it in Shufhan 
 the palace {g). It is likely fome employment kept 
 him there •, nay it is out of all doubt from what he 
 faith at the end of it : / Daniel fainted and was fick 
 certain days, and afterwards I rofe up, and did the 
 King's bujinefs (<6). It is probable he was afterwards 
 out of place, and feems determined againit one by his 
 anfwer to the King ; Let thy gifts be to thyflf, and thy 
 rewards to another (i). Belfhazzar fpeaks to him as 
 one that had been a long while out of his prcfence ; 
 Art thou that Daniel which art of the children of the 
 captivity of Judah, whom the King my Father brought 
 out of Jewry ? I have heard of thee, that the fpirit of 
 the gods is in thee, and that light and und-r (landing and 
 excellent wifdom is found in thee (k). This looks as 
 if he had been for fome time laid afide from honour ; 
 
 R 4 but 
 
 (d) Dan. i. 20. 
 
 (e) Dan. ii. 48, 49. 
 
 (f) Dan. iv. 9. 
 
 (g) Dan. viii. r, 2. 
 
 [b) Dan. viii. 27. 
 
 («') Dan. v. 17. 
 
 [k) Dan. v. 13, 14. 
 
24*3 Steadinefs in Religion. Serm. 12 
 
 but a very folemn Providence brought him to read 
 the hand-writing on the wall, that confounded the jeft 
 of drinking wine in the vejfels of the temple. That 
 King himfelf, who but a few hours before had all 
 the contempt in the world for the Jewi/h Religion, 
 comes with an awe to fo great and good a man as 
 Daniel : He is clothed with fcarlet, they put a chain of 
 gold about his neck, and proclamation is made con- 
 cerning him, that hejhouid be third ruler in the king- 
 dom. Thus does God bring men under a neceffity of 
 advancing the very perfons whom they hate : This 
 honour have all the faints (/). It lets us fee, that in- 
 tegrity carries its own reputation, and will make its 
 way through all the Hander of a party. Belfloazzar 
 had turned out Daniel, and now, at a great feaft, 
 refolved to be merry upon his religion -, but his laft 
 work mud be to reftore him, for that night was Bel- 
 fljazzar the King of the Chaldeans Jlain. And as 
 Darius the Median took the kingdom, he knew it 
 could not be put into better hands, and therefore- 
 gave him the office I have mentioned. 
 
 2. Here is the uneafinefs of the Prefidents and 
 Princes : Th-y fought to find occafion againfi Daniel 
 concerning the kingdom : but they could find no occafion 
 or fault, forafmuch as he was faithful, nor was there 
 any error or fault found in him (m). 
 
 This might be from the defire of getting into his 
 place : Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous, but 
 who can fiand before envy ? that is a pa ; I;on never 
 to be conquered, becaufe it grows upon a perfon's 
 doing well. What need have good people to be look- 
 ins out after a better world ! Solomon confidered all 
 travel, and every right work, that for this a man is 
 envied of his neighbour ; this alfo is vanity and vexation 
 of fpirit (n). How bitter an imagination does it give 
 us of duty or public zeal, to have it fo ill received, 
 
 that 
 
 (/) Pfalm cxli;;. 9. (») Eccl, iv. 4. 
 
 ■ Dan, vi. 4. j 
 
Serm. 12. Steadinefs in Religion. 249 
 
 that a man's ufefulnefs is his guilt, and he mail pro- 
 voke by all the meafures he takes to oblige ? But 
 there is a ftate, where obedience will fit eafier upon 
 ourfelves and thofe about us : as Lucifer the fon of 
 the morning, and his companions were the firft examples 
 of envy in Heaven, fo they are the laft ; no unquiet 
 temper comes there, but fatisfaction and love circulate 
 among them for ever. 
 
 Or it may be thefe Prefidents and Princes had a 
 mind to be more at liberty than Daniel's infpection 
 would allow. They did not like the integrity of a 
 man whofe character anfwered this condition, that 
 the King fhould have damage in nothing. The getting 
 him turned out would give them an opportunity of 
 revelling in difhoneft gain, and upon thefe motives 
 they are in a general defign againft him : Thenfaid 
 thefe men, We fhall not find any occafiGn againfi this 
 Daniel, except we find it againft him concerning the law 
 of his God(o). He muft be thrown out upon a reli- 
 gious teft ; which though it was an inftance of their 
 wickednefs, yet leaves an honour upon him that was 
 to iiifFer by it. It is an argument thofe perfons are 
 blamelefs in their office, whom nothing but a new 
 law can turn out. of it. Thus it was here, they come 
 to Darius with the ufual compliment : O King, live 
 for ever ! All the princes of the kingdom, the governors, 
 the prefidents, the counfellors and the captains, have 
 confulied together to eflablifh a royal ftatute, %.nd to 
 make a firm decree, That who fo ever fb all afk a petition 
 of any god cr man for thirty d ys, five of thee O Ki'g, 
 he fhall be caft into the den of lions. Now, O King, 
 eflabhfh the decree, andfign the writing, thai it be not 
 changed according to the law of the Medes and Perfians^ 
 which alters not (p). The pretence of this was, that 
 it wou!d make for the King's honour, and give him 
 an advantage of endearing himielf to his new people : 
 thus was loyalty a cloke of wickednefs. 
 
 There 
 (0) Dan. vi. 5. \ (p) Dan. vi. 6, 7,8. 
 
250 Steadinefs in Religion, Serm. 12. 
 
 There feems to be two parties in this defign. 
 
 1. They that acted by malice and envy. It was 
 formed in their minds, and covered with all the pre- 
 tences of duty and zeal to the throne ; though how 
 void they were of that, you find by their infulting 
 the King afterwards, giving him no room for his 
 mercy, but refolving to huff him with the ftatute into 
 which they had tricked him : Know, King, that the 
 law of the Medes and Perfians is, that no decree or 
 ftatute which the King ejlablifheth may be changed (q). 
 
 2. There was another party that confented to this 
 woful device, with more inadvertency than malice, 
 and that was the King himfelf. One would wonder 
 indeed that he mould, upon any views whatfoever, 
 come into fo ill a defign, or that the common pru- 
 dence and confcience of a man mould not have kept 
 him out of it ; but there is an inchantment goes along 
 with flattery, it is hard to believe it and not to be 
 ftupified with it : If a ruler hearken to lies, all his fer- 
 vants are wicked (r) ; when they find his weak fide, 
 where he is moft unguarded, they will ply him 
 there. 
 
 That the King was drawn into this by a mere error, 
 appears from the honeft unaffected pain that it gave 
 him : He was fore dfpleafed with himfelf, and fet his 
 heart on Daniel to deliver him -, and he laboured to the 
 %oing down of the fun to deliver him (s). Thus does a 
 hafty refolution make way for a flow repentance ; 
 but he was enfnared with the words of his mouth. And 
 you may obferve the equity of Providence, that the 
 man who was fo weak as to make this bargain, is the 
 firft that feels the mifchief of it. 
 
 Now it is out of his power to help the perfon who 
 had ferved him beft : he fees the intrigue when it was 
 
 too 
 
 (?) Dan. vi. 15. (s) Dan. vi. 14. 
 
 (r) Proverbs xxix. 1 2. 
 
Serm. 12. Steadinefs in Religion. 251 
 
 too late i his favourite, his counfellor, and the greateft 
 friend of the empire, muft be given up to the lions. 
 What a melancholy time this proved to Darius, you 
 read : He went to his palace , and faffed the night in faff- 
 ing ; neither were the inftruments of mufic brought before 
 him, and his Jleep went from him. He arofe early in 
 the morning, and went to the den of lions -, when he 
 came to the den, he cried, with a lamentable voice 
 unto Daniel (t). Thus you fee this ftatute was agreed 
 to by perfons of different views •, the Princes for their 
 own ends drew in the King to facrifice the moft able 
 and upright counfellor in his dominions. 
 
 How long this matter was depending, we cannot 
 tell •, the fcripture hath left us uncertain whether there 
 was any diftance between prefenting the decree, and 
 having it pafs into a law. If it was a thing done 
 haftily, Daniel might not know of it, till it was too 
 late to prevent it : if he had warning beforehand, 
 and made his application to the King againft it, yet 
 the cafe is neglected by the man that had fb much 
 reafon to value him. However this was, yet we 
 are fure of that which is more our concern •, and that 
 is, 
 
 II. His behaviour upon it : When he knew that 
 the writing was figned, he went into his houfe, and 
 his windows being open in his chamber towards Jeru- 
 jalem, he kneeled upon his knees three limes a day, 
 and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did 
 aforetime. 
 
 Here are fotne things to be explained before they 
 come to be improved. 
 
 1. The place of his worfhip. 
 
 2. The manner of it. 
 
 3. The frequency. 
 
 4. The 
 
 (/) Dan. vi. 18, 19, 20. 
 
252 Steadinefs in Religion* Serm. 12. 
 
 4. The matter it confifted of. 
 a. The cuftom he obferved in it. 
 
 1. As to the place of his worfhipping God, it was 
 in his own houfe : they had no other temples in 
 'Babylon, and were a great way off from that city 
 and fabric where God had fixed his name: but 
 neither his blefiing nor their duty was confined thi- 
 ther ; as it was happily obferved in the confecration 
 of that temple, that the heaven of heavens could not con- 
 tain him, how much lefs this houfe ? He would be a 
 God, a friend, a benefactor to his people, when they 
 could not come thither. 
 
 And if Daniel's worfhip was accepted in a private 
 family during that age, when the holinefs of places 
 were allowed ; the believer need be under no fufpence 
 now that all thefe ceremonial doctrines are laid afide : 
 for neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerufalem, fhall 
 they worfhip the father (#). It is all one where, pro- 
 vided the work be carried on in fpirit and truth : he 
 dwells net in temples made with hands (#). 
 
 And then befides you may obferve, though Daniel 
 lived in a houfe fuitable to his quality, as being the 
 chief minifter of ftate, yet he does not think it too 
 good for a houfe of religion. He had other cares 
 upon him above thofe of the kingdom : wherever he 
 is an inhabitant, he will be a fupplicant. 
 
 2. The manner of his worfhip is very remarkable, 
 that his windows were opened in his chamber towards 
 Jerufalem. This was not to give his enemies an 
 advantage of feeing him ; for it is no man's duty to 
 court his own danger : nor was it any new thing, for 
 it is faid that he prayed and gave thanks before his God 
 as he did aforetime. And lead of all can we fuppofe, 
 that he did it from any low thoughts of the divine 
 omnifcience or favour, as if a prayer was eafier to 
 be heard from an open window, or went out under 
 
 an 
 (u) John iv. 21. J (x) Aftixvii, 24. 
 
Serm. 12. Sieadinefs in Religion. 2^3 
 
 an advantage by being pointed to fuch a quarter : no, 
 he knew that he had to deal with a God vihok prefence 
 fills the heaven and the earth (y), and valued not which 
 way his eyes were turned. Not but that fome of the 
 Jews run headlong into this vanity, as another Pro- 
 phet of thofe times acquaints us : There were five and 
 twenty men between the porch and the altar, that were 
 worfhipping with their faces towards the eajl (z). But 
 as Daniel was above thefe abominations, fo he does not 
 fo much as fall in with their ceremony : for Jerufialem 
 was almoft full fouth from Babylon \ fo that his open- 
 ing the window that way muft have another meaning, 
 and feveral things offer themfelves in anfwer to it. 
 
 (1.) It was complying with the original terms of 
 the confecration : Solomon begged, If thy people be 
 carried away captive far or near, yet if they bethink 
 themfelves, and make fupplication to thee in the land of 
 them that carried them away captive, and pray towards 
 the land which thougave.fi to their fathers, the city thou 
 baft chofen, and the houfe that I have built for thy name ; 
 then hear thou their prayer and fupplication from heaven 
 thy dwelling-place, and maintain their caufe (a). Nay 
 before this, David faid, / will wcrfhip towards thy 
 holy temple (b). 
 
 (2.) It was to fhew his faith and hope of the peoples 
 return thither ; according to that direction oVjeremiah, 
 whofe writings Daniel was often perufing : Remember 
 the Lord afar off, and let Jerufalem come into your 
 mind{c). God had told them that he would bring 
 back their captivity, that Jerufalem fijould be the throne 
 of the Lord (d) : though it was for a long time with- 
 out inhabitant, yet the remnant fhould return, even the 
 remnant to the mighty God. • He had called Cyrus his 
 fhepherd and anointed feveral ages before he was born, 
 * becaufe in his reign the foundation of the temple Jhould 
 
 be 
 
 (y) Jer. xxiii. 24. 
 
 (z) Ezek. viii. 16. 
 
 (a) 1 Kings viii. 46 — -49. 
 
 {b) Pfal cxxxviii 
 (0 Jer. li. 50. 
 {a) jer. iii. 17. 
 
254 Steadinefs in Religion, Serm. 12. 
 
 be laid. Perhaps here was a great deal to obfcure the 
 promife, no dawn of that felicity now : but yet he 
 takes his daily looks that way, under an aflurance 
 that the Lord would perform that good thing to the 
 houfe of Ifrael. 
 
 And as he believed it, fo by this you fee how 
 heartily he wifhed for it ; which mews us what an 
 amplitude of zeal he had, and how much a care for 
 the public intereft of Religion fwallowed up all that 
 was due to himfelf. Why mould a perfon in fo much 
 danger trouble his thoughts about the return of a 
 people ? As he had not many hours to live, it feems 
 to be a roving meditation that leads him into a con- 
 cern for others : one would rather imagine he mould 
 think of nothing elfe now befides the den of lions. But as 
 Jerufalem was his chief eft joy in profperity, fo it is his 
 deareft care in a time of trouble. Though he might 
 beg for mercies to himfelf, to be directed through 
 the temptation, or delivered out of it, yet you fee the 
 opening of his heart, by that of his window, is to 
 Jerufalem the city cf the great King. 
 
 (3.) There he knew that the Messiah was to 
 come : He of whom Mofes in the law, and the Prophets 
 did write (<?). Whether this matter happened before 
 that Prayer of his in the ninth chapter, I cannot tell : 
 but it is plain that they could not be far afunder ; 
 for that was in the firft year of Darius (/), and there- 
 fore I think it not improbable that the angel Gabriel 
 might have appeared to him before this plot of the 
 Princes took effe&. And as in his Prayer he makes 
 a very moving inquiry about the temple that was defo- 
 late, the city that was burnt, and the people who 
 groaned under a long captivity ; fo the anfwer was, 
 that Jerufalem fhculd be built, and there the Meffiah ^ be 
 cut off, but not for himfelf: fo that he opened his win- 
 dow that way, in hope of the promife made of God unto 
 their fathers, lfaiah had fe en his glory, and fpake of 
 
 bim, 
 
 [e) John i. 45. I (/) Dan. ix. i. 
 
Serm. 12. Steadinefs in Religion, 255 
 
 him, that he Jhould fit on a throne high and lifted up, 
 and his train Jhould fill the temple (g). And if you 
 take this fenfe of the words, it lets you fee that good 
 people in thofe ages came to God by a Mediator; 
 their Religion was a looking to Jefus, though the light 
 did not fijine out, as it does in our more perfect day. 
 
 3. The frequency of his worfhip : He kneeled upon 
 his knees three times a day. The Scripture hath hinted 
 at this circumftance with a great deal of variety : It 
 is good to Jhew forth his loving-kin dnefs in the morning, 
 and his faithfulnefs every night (h). David refolves in 
 one place, that evening, morn, and noon will I pray 
 and cry aloud, and thou Jhalt hear my voice {i) : in an- 
 other place, Seven times a day will I praife thee becaufe 
 of thy righteous judg?nenis {k) : and here Daniel does it 
 three times a day. This fhews him to be a man like 
 Enoch who walked with God, his general life was un- 
 der that regulation. There is a being in the fear of the 
 Lord all the daylong ; and from the temper we fhould 
 have for this duty, we are bid to j,ray always, and to 
 pray without ceafing. Daniel had found the good of 
 this method before ; it was by his own prayer, and 
 the concurrence of his partners, that he obtained the 
 revelation of the King's fecret. Upon any folemn turn 
 of affairs, he was fervent in this duty : when he under- 
 jiood by books the number of the years in which God would 
 accomplijh the defolations of Jerufalem, he clofes the cal- 
 culation with a cry to heaven, i have fiet my face tofeek 
 it withfajiing andfupplication, and weeping and afhes (/). 
 But befides what he did upon thefe extraordinary cafes, 
 you find it was his ufual bufinefs to kneel three times a 
 day. 
 
 4. The matter of his worfhip, the parts that it con- 
 fided of : He prayed, and gave thanks. Here was work 
 enough for prayer, to be delivered from the ungodly, and 
 
 have 
 
 (g) Ifai. vi. 2. 
 \h) Pi'al.xcii. 2. 
 (i) Pfal, lv. 17. 
 
 f£) Pfal. cxix. 164. 
 (/) Dan.ix. i, 2. 
 
256 Steadinefs in Religion. Serm. 12. 
 
 have his foul brought out of all adverfity : that peti- 
 tion would have fuited his cafe, Keep me from thefnare 
 they have laid for me, and from the gins of the workers 
 of iniquity : Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilft 
 that I withal efcape (m). But one would think that there 
 could be no praifes, .no giving of thanks expected from 
 a man on the brink of the lion's den. But, 
 
 As no trouble can make the believer miferable, fo 
 none fnould make him filent : he hath mercies to own 
 of a greater fort than can be taken from him here. 
 The lofing of honour, intereft, and life itfelf, " draws 
 no ill confequence along with it upon holinefs, joy, 
 and the inheritance referved in heaven for us : we may 
 go through the fire, fhouting in the profpect of what 
 comes after it. When perfecution hath taken away- 
 all we can lofe, there is ftill a referve that will oblige 
 us to eternal praifes. 
 
 5. The cuftom he obferved. It was what he did 
 aforetime-, not an unufual heat that this new danger 
 had put him into : this was his way when he fat in the 
 gate of the King. He came down from the dignity of a 
 prefident to the humility of a petitioner. Greatnefs does 
 not run away with his thoughts and time : though he 
 had the accounts of an hundred and twenty Princes to 
 fettle, yet he vows to have leifure enough for his God : 
 thus happy is the man that fears always. 
 
 From all which I may give you this note, as the 
 fenfe of the whole ftory. 
 
 Dotlr. That no profpec~l of lofs or danger ought to 
 hinder a good man in the courfe of duty that he 
 owes to God. Nothing could be more perplexing 
 than the cafe before us •, and therefore the perfon 
 that can find his way out of Religion, may have 
 that reproach left upon him that is given to the 
 Prince of Tyrus ; Behold ! thou art wifer than 
 Daniel (/;). 
 Here I muft take a method that is a little unufual. 
 
 1. Give 
 (jw) Pfal. cxli. 9, 10. J (») Ezek. xxviil. *. 
 
Serm. 12* Steadinefs in Religion. 25? 
 
 1. Give you Come particulars as the foundation of 
 this truth. 
 
 2. Confider the further light we may have into it 
 from this ftory. 
 
 I. I might argue the Chriftian's obligation to hold 
 on the prof ejfion of his faith in the face of all danger, 
 from more heads than either the time will allow, or 
 the cafe does need ; but you may take tliefe three. 
 
 17?, This fhews that your religion is founded on 
 no other authority than a divine one : it is not often 
 that the Church of Christ hath been ertablifhed by 
 law ; for as it never needs a law to make it better, 
 fo it feldom hath one to make it fafer. Your duty is 
 nothing elfe but a homage paid to him that hath made 
 you, and bought you with a price ; and his bare word 
 is enough to claim it. Sometimes he will have this 
 principle fet out in a good light, when his people mew 
 they underftand an obligation that no commands of 
 men can dhTolve. His Providence hath wifely or- 
 dered it in moil: ages, that there mall be a clafriing 
 between the laws of God and Man. Thefe aie times 
 that put the brighter! honour upon religion, and 
 prove how it is founded upon a will that is purely 
 divine ; but if you fuffer it to be changed upon any 
 new face of danger, it is plain you mean fome other 
 authority, and Jt ay yourf elves upon him that fmote you, 
 rather than on the Lord, the Holy One of Jfrael (0). 
 
 idly, This alfo gives a teftimony to the pleafure 
 and benefit there is in ferving God. When it is at- 
 tended with the grandeur and profits of this world, 
 Satan can play his accufation againft thofe that pro- 
 fefs it : Does Job ferve God for nought? Haft thou not 
 made a hedge about him, fo that his fubflance is in? 
 creafed in the land ? 
 
 Conjlantine did the Church of Christ more harm 
 than ever Dioclefian did, though he did not defign it ; 
 for by the loads of revenue and titles he gave to 
 
 Vol. I. S the 
 
 (0) Ifa. x. 20. 
 
258 Steadinefs in Religion. Serm. 12. 
 
 the fawning biihops, he fucked out the love they 
 had to one another under perfecution j it was eafier 
 for them to agree in a prifon than in a palace.. But 
 
 A man that runs the hazard of lofing what is dear 
 to him, rather than he will take any undue liberties 
 with his confcience, is a living record to the world, 
 'That truly God is good to Ifrael, to every upright- 
 hearted one (p). Here is employment, honour, and 
 the greatefl article of intereft gone ; but it is for the 
 fake of that which makes it richly worth my while to 
 part with it. If I cannot have the bleflings of both 
 worlds, 1 will make fure of the better ; and in all 
 the miieries of a defert, My foul Jhall be fatisfied as 
 with marrow and fatnefs(q). 
 
 %dtyi Thefe troubles do but call you to ufe your 
 fatisfaciion in the Divine Providence. Do you be- 
 lieve that God governs the world ? Though it is 
 what any one will readily grant, yet an infidelity 
 upon this head is the moft common of any. The 
 Pfalmift found it fo hard to poife himfelf with this 
 truth, that his Jleps were well nighjlipt, and his feet 
 almofi gone. Are you fatisfied that Christ is Head 
 over all things to his Church, that nothing happens but 
 by his permifTion, and nothing but to your advan- 
 tage ? Muft there not be fome ufe of your Faith in 
 his Providence, as well as in his promife ? You de- 
 pend upon him for another world, and fo you mult 
 for a good journey through this : This is our God 
 for ever and ever, and he jhall be our guide until 
 death (r). 
 
 Here is now a conteft between my duty and intereft j 
 the former is plain to me, the latter's under a cloud. 
 Let me then take the furer fide •, I may better truft 
 Providence in a way of duty than out of it : with- 
 drawing myfelf from the obedience I owe to him, is 
 caftino- him off. And what? Shall I depend upon his 
 
 goodnefs 
 
 (p) Pfalm Ixxiii. i. (r) Pfalir. xviii. uk. 
 
 [a] i'lalni Ixiii. 5. ! 
 
ft 
 
 Serm.12. Steadinefs hi Religion. 259 
 
 goodnefs to feed me, when I deny his authority to 
 rule me ? And let me tell you, that 
 
 As God is never at a lofs to fnpply the wants of 
 his people, fo every mercy that comes after fuch a 
 refignation hath a double fweetnefs in it. He can 
 revive my honour, and fat isfy me with bread, though 
 duty to him throws me out of the way of both. 
 What method he will take to do it, I cannot tell ; 
 but how much beauty and joy will there be in the 
 thing itfelf ? Therefore truft in the Lord, and do good, 
 fo /halt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou /halt be 
 fed(s). 
 
 2. As an application to what you have heard, I will 
 confider the cafe of this ftory under two heads. 
 
 (1.) Lay before you fome plaufible objections that 
 might have been raifed againft Daniel's doing thus. 
 
 (2.) Tell the confequences of his integrity. 
 
 (1.) No doubt of it but feveral, who had a value 
 for the man, would perfuade him to keep out of the 
 reach of this law. As, 
 
 1 . They might argue, that it was a great deal to 
 lofe life, and efpecially in fo difhonourable a way : that 
 though it is true, what he did was plain duty, yet in 
 a cafe fo extreme God would be gracious; for he 
 that loves mercy rather than facrifice, hath allowed his 
 people to have mercy on themfelves, rather than give 
 up their lives for a facrifice to others. Had it only 
 been difgrace, or fome lower damage, then they would 
 not have advifed him •, but certainly life is a more fo- 
 lemn poffeflion than to be fo eafily parted with. 
 
 This could not make his integrity, he was far from 
 defpifing life, but he knew of a loving -kindnefs that 
 was tranfcendent to it ; and if he could not have it 
 confident with the honour of the God that gave it, it 
 is better loft than kept. Or, 
 
 2. It might be objected, that this would have been 
 a lofs to the public. Here is a king well inclined to 
 
 S 2 l . the 
 
 (s) Pfalm xxxvii. 3. 
 
260 Steadinefs in Religion. Serm. 12. 
 
 the Jews, and his moderation drew the hatred of an 
 hundred and twenty Princes upon him. The govern- 
 ment is fcarce well fettled, Daniel feems to be the chief 
 fecurity that it can have ; and if he will not be per- 
 fuaded to keep his life, all muft fall into confufion, 
 But, 
 
 He knew that God is never in that diftrefs for his 
 own caufe, as to oblige any man to take one wrong 
 ftep in order to promote it. It is no maxim in the 
 politics that he gives us, to do evil that good may come 
 of it{t). It is enough that when his Providence opens 
 a door of being uleful, his grace makes us fo ; but 
 when that opportunity is gone, he hath defigned us 
 for his honour fome other way. Daniel was as much 
 an ornament to his religion in the den of lions, as he 
 had been in the palace ; and brought more glory to 
 God by lofing his place, than ever he could have 
 done by keeping it. 
 
 3. They might urge, that this was only a decree 
 for thirty days j and therefore it was but excufing 
 himfelf from his duty fo long, and he might return 
 to it again without any danger j and certainly it was 
 worth his while to baffle the project of a tricking 
 party. But, 
 
 He that knew not what might be brought forth in 
 a day, hath no mind to run any hazard for a month. 
 What if God had cut him off before the end of that 
 time ? though he might die fafely, yet a good man 
 defires to be found fo doing, in the actual courfe of his 
 duty. And befides, 
 
 If this project did not take, after the thirty days, 
 they would concert another ; for their bufinefs was 
 not to honour the King, but to exclude Daniel : there- 
 fore he makes a (land at firft, to fhew they have 
 nothing to do with his confeience. And fuch an ex- 
 ample we have from the Apoftle to the falfe brethren, 
 who came in privily to fpy out the liberty they had in 
 
 Cbrijl; 
 (t) Romans iii. 8. 
 
Serm. 12. Steadinefs in 'Religion, 261 
 
 Cbriji ; to whom they gave place by fubjetJion no not 
 for an hour, that the truth of the Gofpel might conti- 
 nue with them (u). 
 
 4. They might urge that there was no exprefs com- 
 mand for his praying fo many times a day ; and there- 
 fore it might be lawful to make fome omitiions : that 
 a neglect of worfhip is not fo bad as running into 
 fin. This is not a cafe fo dangerous as the decree of 
 Nebuchadnezzar, that obliged them to fall down before 
 the golden image that he had fet up. Here was only a 
 waving what the extremity of the danger would not 
 allow. But, 
 
 He acts up to this principle, that no human autho- 
 rity can make any limitations to his duty ; and if he 
 would not lofe one feafon of Prayer to fave his life, it 
 is a reproach to thofe who let every little trifle come 
 in the way of that duty, and do not continue therein 
 with perfverance. 
 
 5. If he would do it, they might advife him to ufe all 
 the fecrecy that was pofflble. There was other houfes 
 more proper than his own, where the enemies could 
 not find him, and thus he might preferve his confci- 
 ence and intereft too. But, 
 
 He knew how much honour it would bring to 
 God, to make religion a condition of life ; that he 
 will not have the one without the other : therefore 
 he goes where he ufed to do? into the place where he 
 knew his enemies would feek him. 
 
 Thus you fee what Daniel had to conquer before 
 he went to the lions, and that no perfuafion of this 
 kind could touch him : he receives the fentence with 
 more temper than the King could give it. And that 
 leads me to, 
 
 (2.) The confequence of this matter, which I will 
 only mention in four particulars. 
 
 i. His miraculous prefervation : God fent his Angel* 
 and clofed the mouths of the lions* as he himfelf tells 
 
 S 3 the 
 
 (u) Gal. ii. 4, 5. 
 
262 Steadinefs in Religion. Serm. 
 
 the King. The brutes in the den were eafier to him 
 than thole in the court : there goes more to the turn- 
 ing of a politician than the muzzling, of a lion. 
 What a teftimony did God then give to the Word of 
 his Grace ? 
 
 Here I expect it will be replied, Daniel was an ex- 
 traordinary man, one that had the fpirit of prophecy ; 
 and it is no wonder if a perfon who forefaw his deli- 
 verance fhould venture into danger : but I think it is 
 very plain he had no afTurance of his efcape. ' The 
 three men that talked to Nebuchadnezzar , feemed to 
 be under the direction of fome hope •, Our God whom 
 we f rve is able to deliver us, yea and he will fave us 
 out of thy hands, O King (x) ! but we find nothing of 
 that in this other cafe ; unlefs you fuppofe Darius 
 himfelf to be the Prophet, when he took his leave of 
 him, Thy God whom thou ferveft continually r , he will 
 deliver thee (y). 
 
 If you fay that miracles are ceafed, thefe things 
 are not to be expected nov. ; I do not fee any foun- 
 dation in Scripture for that opinion : we ought not 
 to limit the Holy One of Ifrael. And as he did this 
 by the care of an Angel, thefe continue miniftring fpi- 
 rit s to the heirs of falvation> and are readier at their 
 office fince Christ is got to a place above them : for 
 when he brought agam the firft -begot ten into the worlds 
 he [aid, Let all the Angels of God wor/Jiip him. Nor 
 is this matter fo much out of the way as we may 
 imagine : we are directed to live by faith, as the good 
 people in all ages have done •, and though it is not 
 likely that our names will be fo famous as theirs, 
 yet the principle is the fame. It was by faith that the 
 elders obtained a good report \ and one of the exploits 
 that is recorded of it is, that faith hath flopped the 
 mouths of lions. 
 
 2. The 
 
 (x) Dan. iii 1,7. (z) Hebrews xi. 2. 
 
 (y) Dan. vi. 16. 
 
Serm. 12. Steadinefs in Religion. 263 
 
 2. The punifhment of his enemies. The lions who 
 were under a reftraint to Daniel, are at liberty when 
 his accufers were tumbled down ; for they brake their 
 bones before they could reach the bottom of the pit. Here 
 feems to be the cry of common juftice againft thofe 
 men. Though very often when a bad law is repealed, 
 the procurers of it may efcape ; yet Darius would 
 have his vindication in the hearts of the whole land, 
 when he emptied fuch a court into fuch a den : every 
 mouth admired the fentence. Thus did God plead 
 the caufe of his fer-v ants reproach: The Lord is known 
 by the judgments that he executes, when the wicked is 
 fnared with the work of his own hands. 
 
 3. His own advancement : he is reftored to his 
 dignity again. So that you fee the believer ferves a 
 good mailer : lofing any thing for him is but putting 
 it out to uiury ; we receive in this world an hundred 
 fold, and in the world to come life everlafling. And 
 how different is the figure that Daniel made upon his 
 Reftoration, from what it would have been had he 
 evaded the law ? It might then have been faid of him, 
 here is a man that makes a noife about his religion, 
 but we now know the rate of his confcience, the 
 price that he will fell it at; he is more fteady to his 
 place than any thing elfe : this is an infinuation that 
 the world will come into ; it is but talking as Satan 
 himfelf did againft Job, Put forth thy hand and touch 
 his bone and fleflo, and he will curfe thee to thy face. 
 But, 
 
 Daniel hath it without any reproach of that kind : 
 every one fees him fit to be ft over the whole realm, 
 and owns him the man whom the Kin% of heaven and 
 earth delighteth to honour : nor would there be any 
 objection againft what he faith of himfelf, My God 
 hath fent his Ar.gel to Jhut the mouth of the lions that 
 they might not hurt me, becaufe before him innocency 
 was found in me, and alfo before thee, King ! have 
 I done r.o hurt. 
 
 S 4 4. It 
 
264 Steadinefs in Religion. Serm. 12. 
 
 4. It ended in the greater advancement of religion : 
 Darius wrote to all people, nations* and languages* 
 and made a decree, That in every dominion of his king- 
 dom , men Jhould tremble and fear before the God of 
 Daniel ; for he is the living God, and ftedfaft for ever, 
 and his kingdom that which fhall not be deflroyed, and 
 his dominion fhall be even unto the end : he delivers and 
 refcues, he works figns and wonders in heaven and in 
 earth* who hath delivered Daniel from the power of 
 the lions {z). And doubtlefs this was dearer to the 
 good man than any other benefits of his efcape. 
 
 Such an integrity ftrikes the world with an awe, to 
 fee that you are guided by a principle that they took 
 for nothing elfe but fancy. The great difpute is be- 
 tween earth and heaven, which is better and more de- 
 ferving of our affedlions. Now, at fuch a time, the 
 believer hath the cafting of the fcales left with him ; 
 and plainly fliews that the caufe of God is never the 
 worfe for any fhame and danger that goes along with 
 it. And thus, The trial of his faith, which was more 
 precious than that of gold that perifheth, will be found 
 io praife and glory at the coming of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 (*] Dan. vi. 26, 27. 
 
 mm 
 
 * 
 
 SERMON 
 

 SERMON XIII. 
 
 The AS Si or, The SERPENT. 
 
 A Companion between the Tribes of Ifjachar and 
 Da?7, in their regard for Civil Liberty. 
 
 Preached November 5, 171 2. 
 
 Gen. XLIX. 14—18. 
 
 Ijfachar is a Jlrong afs couching down between two 
 burdens. And he Jaw that reji was good, and 
 the land that it was plea/ant j a??d bowed his 
 jlioulder to bear, and became a ftrvant unto tri- 
 bute. Dan Jljall judge his people, as one oj the 
 tribes of Ifrael. Dan JJmII be a ferpent by the 
 way, an adder in the path ; that biteth the horfe- 
 heels , Jo that his rider J hall fall backward. I have 
 waited for thy falvation, O Lord. 
 
 r^f^^HESE words are part of the prophecy 
 V? T *£ taat J a ™b dealt among his fons when the 
 c$o c$o d-iys drew near that he mujl die {a) ; and 
 
 &$)0($5(j tne y l et us f~ ee w ^h what variety of temper 
 thole people acted, who all grew from the 
 fame father : a full argument how well the diftinction 
 is formed, that all are not Ifrael, who are of Ifrael : 
 
 Neither 
 {a) Gen. xlvii. 29. 
 
266 TheAfs; or, the Serpent. Serm. 13. 
 
 Neither becaufe they are the feed of Abraham, are they 
 all children (b) : he here opens out what fhall befal 
 them in the latter days (c), and how they would carry- 
 it when they came into the promifed land ; and be- 
 caufe fome of them mould have little or no tafte of 
 liberty, and others would purfue it through all the 
 expence and danger that lay in their way, he places 
 thefe two together, that every one who reads may do 
 juflice upon the plain oppofition there is between 
 them. 
 
 I fhall confider the words, firft, as they defcribe a 
 people that are fluggifh and cowardly, who will ven- 
 ture nothing to fave all, whofe fouls are beneath 
 knowing the diftindtion of bondage and freedom : and 
 on the other hand, as they give us the character of 
 thofe who admire their liberties, and will dare to 
 feek and fetch them where-ever they are carried; who 
 reckon this a property that mould not be loft as long 
 as it can be kept, and will fcarce fubmit to an ex- 
 iftence under tyranny. 
 
 In thefe two branches you have the divifion of the 
 text ; here is a tribe of Ifrael that gives us an example 
 of each temper : Iffachar is remembred for his neglect 
 of that which Dan was refolved upon no terms to part 
 with : and by obferving what good old Jacob faith of 
 thefe two that were fo unlike one another, we may fix 
 the characters that are due to thofe who either defpife 
 or value the deliverance of this day. 
 
 I. I fhall begin with the account that you have of 
 Iffachar, whofe paffive obedience, if you will call it fo, 
 is condemned to memory by thefe words ; Iffachar is 
 a ftrong afs couching down between two burdens : And 
 he faw that reft was good, and the land that it was 
 pleafant, and bowed his fhoulder to bear, and became a 
 fervant to tribute : where you have three things : 
 
 1. The 
 (b) Rojn. ix. 6, 7. 1 (c) Gen. xlix. 1 . 
 
Serm. 13. TbeJlfs-, or, the Serpent. 267 
 
 1. The general temper of this people. 
 
 2. The fubjection and bondage they fell into. And, 
 
 3. The reafon they gave for this ftupidity. 
 
 (1.) You may obferve, that many of the tribes 
 have their hiftory couched in a refemblance that is 
 given of them : they are compared to fome creature 
 of that very difpofition that ihould obtain among 
 them : thus Judah is a lion* 5 whelp ; Naphtali a hind 
 let loofe j Jofeph a fruitful bough ; and Benjamin a ra- 
 vening wolf{d). Now thefe allufions would convey 
 to us fuch thoughts of the people as bear up to the 
 account we have of them afterwards : they are mod 
 of them to be understood as a reputation ; but what 
 is faid of IJJhcbar, is as full of contempt as a meta- 
 phor can be : we are to know him by his likenefs to 
 the mod heavy and ftupid animal in the creation. 
 Inftead of having his name from fomething vigorous* 
 and beautiful, his father leaves this upon him, that 
 he is aflrong afs couching down between two burdens. 
 The ground of the fimilitude you fee is the little re- 
 liih they mould have for their liberties, the forry and 
 dull furrender they would make of themfelves to ty- 
 ranny ; which is a temper expofed in this comparifon 
 two ways : 
 
 1 . It is imputed to nothing elfe but the ilupidity 
 of them that fubmit to it ; the tribe that finks into 
 thofe meafures is refembled by an afs. 
 
 2. It is condemned by the infinuation that it was 
 in their power to have it otherways ; lffachar is a 
 firong afs : that very ftrength that makes him couch 
 under a load, would be fuiiicient to throw it off. 
 
 1. What the comparifon leads me firft to tell you 
 is, that the foundation of all paflive obedience is laid 
 in ftupidity. They that couch down between two bur- 
 dens , who bow their jhoulders to bear, and become fer- 
 
 vants 
 (d) Gen. xlix. 9, 21, 22, 27; 
 
268 Hx dfs-, or, the Serpent. Serm.13. 
 
 vants to tribute, may here fee what herd they be- 
 long to. 
 
 Though an afs was more ufed in thofe eaftern coun- 
 tries than it is with us, yet the Old Teibment hath 
 accounted of it as fo mean a creature, that the com- 
 panion is very jult: it feems to be made for no higher 
 a defign than drudgery, bearing of burdens, no way 
 remarkable either for its head or its heels, fo little 
 capable of being taught, that the folly of our nature 
 is fignihed by it, that man is born as a wild afs*s colt : 
 and though it is true in thofe parts we find the greateft 
 men riding on them, yet it is a creature that the cere- 
 monial law hath branded in a very peculiar way : it 
 muft upon no terms whatfoever be thrown among 
 the offerings of the Lord: the command was very 
 general, Thou Jhalt Jet apart unto the Lord all that opens 
 the matrix, and every firJWng that comes of the beajl 
 •which thou kajl, the males Jh all be the Lord's (e). This 
 law was laid out in that compafs, to put them often 
 in mind of the Messiah, who mould be the fir -ft -born 
 of every creature; yet to this there is one exception, 
 and the only animal left out is, every f.rjtling of an afs 
 thou Jhalt redeem with a lamb ; and if thou wilt not re- 
 deem it, thou jhalt break its neck. 
 
 So that when Jacob fpeaks of IJJluhar under this 
 comparifon, it is a viler name than he could poffibly 
 leave him by another; and it may intimate to us, 
 not only the ftupidity of their nature that run into 
 this crime, but a particular unfitnefs for the fervice of 
 God. They feem to be the outcaft of both worlds ; 
 they give up all that is dear to them in this, and fhew 
 a dulnefs that can have no room in the other. The 
 way of ferving God is without fear, being delivered 
 from the wrath of enemies, in holinefs and righteoufnefs 
 all cur days ( f). The fearful and unbelieving are in the 
 front of thofe finners who fill the lake of fire and brim- 
 
 font. 
 
 (e) Exod.xiii. 12, 13. (/) Luke i 74, 75. 
 
Serm. 13. The^fs-, or, the Serpent, 269 
 
 Jlone (g). You may always obferve it, that an in- 
 difference to civil liberties goes along with a neglect 
 of that which is religious : a man that throws away 
 the blefllngs of Providence, cannot have a due relifh 
 to thofe of Grace. 
 
 Though fubmitting to the impious will of a Mo- 
 narch hath been exalted as if it was the one thing need- 
 ful, yet it is eafy to prove, both by the rule of Scrip- 
 ture, and the hiftories of men, this is fo far from con- 
 taining the whole of Religion, that it really poiTeileth 
 no one part of it : there can be no haith in it, for 
 that would both purify the heart and conquer the world. 
 It was this that made Mofes forfike Egypt, not fearing 
 the wrath of the King (h). And there can be no love, 
 I mean to God or his people, for that would teach 
 us to value what the one gives and the other enjoys : 
 and though this may be called patience, yet it is a 
 proftitution of the name to a temper which hath none 
 of the thing ; for this grace fhews itfelf in bearing a 
 burden, not in laying it on. The over-ruling hand 
 of God we mull: fubmit to, but this will confilt with 
 all the zeal we can ufe againft the tools he employs. 
 The distinction is a good one, and as old as David, who 
 knew how different his behaviour ought to be : If the 
 Lord hath Jlirred thee up againft me, faith he to Saul, let 
 him accept an offering, I have deferved it from him, and 
 cannot anfwer him one of a thoufand ; but if they be 
 the children of men, curfed be they before the Lord (i). 
 
 It is plain that people lofe their Christianity with 
 their liberties ; and when once an incroaching power 
 hath made them flaves, there needs little more to 
 make them Heathens. The Minifters that preach up 
 this doctrine, will loon underftand no other : it fhall 
 drive faith, repentance and holinefs out of the Pulpit, <S PA**»t V 
 and inftead of feeding the children with bread, they 
 will give them a Jlone : in a little while We fhall hear 
 
 nothing 
 
 (g) Rev. xxi. 8. (/') 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. 
 
 (b) Heb. xi. 27. 
 
zjo Thedfsi or> the Serpent. Serm.13. 
 
 nothing elfe but obedience to the lufl of men, as if 
 Christ had no other errand in laying down his life, 
 than to make the Kings of the earth a compliment of 
 ours -, that as he was a fervant of Rulers, we muft be 
 fo too ; as if no fin could be dangerous but what they 
 call rebellion, and the terms oi procuring to our/elves 
 damnation were never to be ufed but in one cafe, which 
 is refilling of a civil power. We mail feldom hear a 
 better application of that awful argument ; it is not 
 fo warmly pleaded to make us flee from the wrath to 
 come, that being warned of God concerning things not 
 feen as yet, we may be moved with fear : they will but 
 feldom trouble their heads about the danger of de- 
 bauchery, that whoremongers and adulterers God will 
 judge: they will tell us but little of the hazard fuch are 
 in, who are lovers of pie a fur e more than lovers of God, 
 who blafpheme the whole fcheme of Religion, and 
 ufe that book to make them laugh, which makes the 
 Devils tremble ; who rufh into the retirements of our 
 worfhip, the ordinances that ought to be kept clean 
 and holy ; I fay, we hear little of their danger, tho* 
 the Scripture hath given us the fame dreadful word 
 in that cafe which agrees fo well with them in the 
 other : They that eat and drink unworthily, eat and 
 drink to themf elves damnation {k). Thefe are the in- 
 croachments that flavery will make upon our Reli- 
 gion. 
 
 But we have not fo learned Chrift. The Apoftles 
 that went about with the Gofpel, were often claiming 
 the privileges of the law. For this did Paul argue 
 with the Centurion on the flairs of the cattle, and 
 would not ht theChriftian run away with the Roman: 
 for this did he threaten to fhake the government of 
 Philippi, and refufe to take his liberty at that eafy 
 rate of going out of the prilbn ; no, he was refolved 
 to let thofe Magiflrates know, that as the laws of the 
 empire had given him a protection, fo he would ne- 
 ver 
 (k) 1 Cor. xi. 29. 
 
Serm.i3- TheAfs-, or, the Serpent, 271 
 
 ver lofe it for want of zeal ; and though the jailor, 
 who was but converted the night before, brought him 
 the meffage, they have fent to let you go, now then de- 
 part in -peace ; yet he ufeth the advantage that inno- 
 cence gave him over tyranny, they have beaten us 
 openly , and uncondemned, being Remans, and have caft 
 us into frifon, and now do they thru ft us out privily, nay 
 verily but let them come them/ elves and fetch us out (/). 
 So tender was he of his privileges, that though he 
 knew as much as any man how to defpife the pomp 
 of the world, yet in this cafe he will infift upon a ce- 
 remony that perhaps was never demanded before ; 
 that the Magiitrates of the town mould come to the 
 prifon door and beg pardon, and bring them out, 
 whom through a miftake they had put in, and defire 
 them to depart from their city. For this did he refufe 
 to anfwer the iummons of Feftus, who would have 
 betrayed him to his enemies, but appealed to Ce/ar ; 
 and from this principle did he deal fo roundly with 
 Ananias, God fo all f mite thee, thou whited wall : for 
 fitteft thou there to judge me according to the law, and 
 commandeft me to be fmitten contrary to the law (m) ? 
 
 This is thefpirit of our Religion, it allows none of 
 the flupidity that I/fa char was run down into; for an 
 afs can no more be a pattern under the Gofpel, than 
 it could be a facrifice under the law. But it is enough 
 we are told what fort of creatures they are, by the 
 metaphor in my text ; defpicable to men, and re- 
 jected by God; made for fervice and contempt. 
 The comparifon gives us the loweft opinion of thofe 
 to whom it belongs. They are by this reprefented 
 as a ftupid fervile people, for the word fits their heads 
 as well as their moulders. 
 
 2. The crime of their becoming ferv ants to tribute, 
 is hinted at by the farther account we have of them, 
 that they lay under no necelTity of doing it : they had 
 it in their power to be otherwife, and might have 
 
 compelled 
 (/) A&s xvi. 36, 37. J («) A&sxxiii. 3. 
 
272 The Afs; or, the Serpent. Serm. 13* 
 
 compelled a better lot for themfelves and their pofte- ■ 
 rity. Had they been drained and weakned, and funk 
 down to an inability, that which was now both their 
 fin and punifhment, had been only the latter. But 
 JJfacbar was a ftrong afs, able to refufe a load as well 
 as to bear it. 
 
 Several annotators give us this note from the He- 
 brew word, that he was an a/s of bone ; which perhaps 
 is a farther contempt of him, to tell us his want of 
 fpirit, as if he was only outfide, a mere fhell and frame 
 of nature : and indeed they who fo tamely give up ail 
 that can be dear, mew but little foul in that furrender. 
 But I (hall take the words in the firft fenfe 1 gave you 
 of them, that he is called a ftrong a/s ; to fignify, 
 that he had capacity to have done otherwife, only he 
 wanted heart and courage to ufe it. He that couched 
 down between two burdens, might eafily have protected 
 againft one*, he that bowed bis /boulder to bear, could < 
 have clothed it with armour : and the wealth with 
 which he paid his tribute as a/ervant, might have led 
 him into the field as a rival. 
 
 All the inftances that we have in Scripture of fub- 
 miffion to an unrighteous power, reprefent the people 
 as not able to do otherwife. We never once find a 
 good man negledting to refift an injuflice when he 
 could do it. Mofes indeed fled from Pharaoh, becaufe 
 he had no profpect of conquering him •, but when he 
 had to do only with a fingle Egyptian, who was /wil- 
 ing one of his brethren, he is no longer about it than 
 whilft he looks this way and that way, and then he 
 kills him, and hideth him in the /and {n) : and this is 
 fo far from having the cenfure that a (lave would 
 give it, that upon that action he was in hopes to have 
 railed his public character, and by this juftice upon 
 the officer, thought to have led on that or the people 
 upon the King, as the martyr Stephen tells us; tor he 
 brings in this as the reafon why, feeing one of the Jews 
 
 fuffer 
 
 (») Exod. ii. 11, 12. 
 
Serm.i3« IheAfs; or, the Serpent. 273 
 
 fuffer strong, he avenged him that was opfreffed, and 
 f mote the Egyptian, becaufe he fuppofed his brethren 
 would have underfiood, how that by his ha,id God would 
 have delivered them, but they underfh od not (0). If their 
 zeal would have come on as fail as his would have 
 led it, they would have been Hived then ; but they 
 loft forty years by their unbelief. David run away 
 from Saul, when he had no friend to ftand by him, 
 but he put himfelf at the head of a little army as foon 
 as he could 5 and the only reafon why he did not give 
 him battle was, becaufe he had not force enough : 
 but when thofe great numbers came to him every day, 
 he makes no fcrupie to go out into the field, for there 
 fell fome of Manaffeb to Duvid when he came with the 
 Pbiliftines againft Saul to battle (/;). 
 
 A juft and holy God may indeed deliver us over to 
 the will of evil men, but to fay that he would have 
 us deliver up ourfelves, is to blafpheme his empire; 
 for he hath no fdluwfhip with the thrones of iniquity, 
 who frame mifciief by a law (q). That which held 
 Zion in captivity, was God's making her ftrength to 
 fail; he hud delivered her into their hands ogainfi 
 whom Jhe was not able to rije up (r) : but when fhe 
 had more ftrength, there is a new exhortation to ufe 
 it ; Shake thyfelf from the dujl, O Jerufalem; loofe thy- 
 felf from the bands of thy neck, thou captive daughter 
 of Zion (s). 
 
 In thefe two things you have the woful temper of 
 this people •, they were ftupid, and not to be impreft 
 by a generous argument ; and though it is true, they 
 had ftrength and capacity, yet it was all thrown away 
 upon a lazy nature that would not ufe it. Jfjdchar 
 is a jtrcr.g afs couching down between two burdens. 
 
 (2.) We have the folly of their behaviour, and are 
 told, how foon they parted with their liberties. And 
 
 Vol. I. T here 
 
 (0) Adlsvii. 24, 25. 
 (/>) 1 Chron. xii. i^. 
 {q ) Pfal. xciv. 20. 
 
 (r) Lam. i. 14. 
 (s) Ifai. lii. 2. 
 
274 TheAfs, or> the Serpent. Serm. 13. 
 
 here you meet with bondage in every form and fhape. 
 Here is oppreffion in all its weight, he falls between 
 two burdens. Here is a ilavery to his perfon, his 
 jhoulder is brought to bear what they lay upon him. 
 Here is poverty in his concerns, he becomes a fervant 
 to tribute •, and here is a neceffity for him to be active 
 in all this. Oppreffion ftupifies the faculties, he couch* 
 eth down beneath his burdens* he bows his Jhoulder* he 
 confents to be a fervant : What a gulph of perdition 
 was this people funk into ? Whither will tyranny lead 
 thofe who have the heart to follow it ? Can we ever 
 begin to ftop too foon, when it will be fo dreadful to 
 have it too late ? 
 
 1. You obferve here what weight this oppreffion 
 was laid on with : it was not what Rehobmm threatned, 
 the heavinefs of a little finger j but he couches down be- 
 tween two burdens. 
 
 Some tranflate this between two hills •, and under- 
 fiand it of the fituation that Iffachar had in the land 
 of Canaan : others fuppok that it refers to the quarrels 
 they might have with thofe two tribes that lay on each 
 fide of them ; but the words feem to tell us what a 
 load of milery they had brought themfelves under. 
 . Tyrants, who know no juihee, will allow no mercy : 
 they never think their grandeur advanced high enough •* 
 they will fet no bounds tq the luft of empire, but let it 
 rove in all the licenfe, of their own fancy. Do not ima- 
 gine that there is any dealing with an arbitrary govern- 
 ment. Laws are only fhackles upon you, but no rule 
 to them. Some remove land marks* they violently take 
 away flocks and feed thereon* they turn the needy out of 
 the way, the poor of the earth hide themf elves together .- 
 Behold as the wild affes of the defer t they go forth to work* 
 rifw? blames for a prey* and it is the tame afles of the 
 villages that fall into their hands : they caufe the naked 
 to go without clothing, he hath no covering in the cold ■* 
 tbey pluck the fathedefs from the breafl* and take a pledge 
 of the poor •* they take away the fheaf from the hungry ; 
 
 Mtn 
 
Serm. 13. The Afs-, or, the Serpent. ij§ 
 
 Men groan out of the city, and the Jcul of the wounded 
 cries cut (/). 
 
 If you would not couch down between two burdens^ 
 you muft enter an effectual proteft againft one : for 
 they that fubmit will, in a little time, be brought to 
 that pafs ; Her carriages were heavy loadcn, they are 
 a burden to the weary be aft, they ftoop, they bow down 
 tcgcther, they could not deliver their burden, but t'oem- 
 f elves are gone into captivity («). Thus did the Am- 
 monites with the men of Jabejh Gilead ; though the 
 poor people would have fubmitted themfelves unto 
 them, yet they will allow of no eafier terms than 
 thrufting out the right eye, and laying it as a reproach 
 upon all Ifrael (x). So unlimited did Ben hadad make 
 himfelf, in the court of a man, who had gone too far, 
 in faying, My Lord, O King, I am thine, and all that 
 I have : he does not only claim his Jilver and gold, 
 but his wives and children ; and would fend his fer- 
 vants the next day to take out what was pleafant in their 
 eyes. 
 
 This made David rather choofe to fall into the hands 
 of God, than into thofe of man : not but that the former 
 could have deftroyed him with more expedition than 
 the latter ; but with the Lord there was mercy, with 
 men there is none. And indeed the procefs hath been 
 very fhort •, when once a tyrant hath faid your laws 
 were his, he hath foon come to affirm your lives were 
 fo too. And therefore it is the fame thing, being his 
 Vaflals, and being his cattle. All that you have per- 
 taining to life and godlinefs, is thrown in as a morfel 
 to Cefar : They take up all of them with the angle, they 
 catch them with their net, and gather them in their 
 drag, therefore they rejoice and are glad ; they will 
 empty continually, and not f pare to flay the nations (y). 
 And how unhappy muft the cafe of a people be, who 
 never know when they have done fuffering ? Such a 
 
 T 2 government 
 
 (/) Job xxiv. 2, 3, Sec. (x) 1 Sam. xi. 2. 
 
 (a) Ifai.xlvi. t, 2. (y) Hab. i. 17. 
 
276 TbeAfs; or } the Serpent. Serm. 13. 
 
 government upon earth reiembles one of the word 
 ideas that we have of hell •, where there is no facrifice 
 for fin, but a certain fearful looking for of more judg- 
 ment and new indignation. 
 
 2. Their perfons were made vile and contemptible, 
 they bow their jhoulders to bear. There are fome ufages 
 which God always reckoned an indignity to human 
 nature. It is for this reafon that he limited the num- 
 ber of ifripes that were to be given to a malefactor, 
 left thy brother feem vile to thee : And the ftatute of 
 murder is laid out upon this ground, that in the image 
 of God made he man. Such an opprelTion did the Jews 
 live under in Egypt ; their burdens were very grievous 
 faiths brick-kilns, the tafk- matters obliged them to 
 their whole quantity of work though they denied them 
 flrazv, and then punifhed them for not doing what 
 they knew to be impoffible. 
 
 When this comes to be the lot of fuch as give up 
 their liberties, the juftice of Go d calls for our ado- 
 ration •, they that have lived in pleafure and vanity, 
 are moft likely to make a fate of all that they have •, 
 they have eaten the bread of idlenefs, and how righteous 
 is it with heaven to give them that of forrow ? that 
 they who are brought up in fcarlet, fhould embrace 
 dunghils ? This is one confequence of flavery •, and 
 it fell heavily upon the Priefts at Jerufilcm, who 
 might remember their fin in their puniihment : they 
 that ufed to lead the blind, came to wander as blind 
 men in the ftreets, and lb polluted with blood, that men 
 could not touch their garments : the anger of the Lord 
 divided the?n, and he would no more regard them (z). 
 An abfolute government fwallows as faft as you can 
 give, and what will this come to in time ? But the 
 banging up of Princes by the ha?id, not honouring the 
 faces of the elders, taking the young men to grind, and 
 making the children fall under the wood (a). 
 
 3- If 
 
 (z) Lam.iv. 14. (a) Lam. v, 12, 13. 
 
 V 
 
Serm. 13. TheAfs\ or, the Serpent. 277 
 
 3. It runs out into poverty. This paying of tribute, 
 mud be underftood or" exceffive taxes ; impofitions 
 that are enough to drain a country : not what a people 
 confent to for their own defence, but what are ex- 
 torted from them. And then what fignifies the good- 
 nefs of the land, when the profits are offered up as a 
 facrifke to the luxury of a flranger ? Thus hath a 
 fruitful, land been brought into barrennefs. The houfis 
 of the people were tnade a dungbil \ and they that 
 have lived in the midft of plenty, fought their bread 
 to relieve their fouls. They confent to the lowed 
 terms merely to enjoy what nature had made their 
 own : IVe have given the hand to the Affyrian to be 
 fat is fed with brea4 ; and, better are they that per if h by 
 the {word, than fuc h as are fir icken through for want 
 of the fruits of the field ib) : it was a dreadful article 
 in their judgment, thine enemy fa all difirefs thee in all 
 thy gates (c). 
 
 4. That which makes the cafe deplorable to the 
 laft degree is, that the people themfelves concur in it, 
 either through a neceffity, or the habit of bondage. 
 They bow their own fhoulder to hear ; and, by an un- 
 accountable mixture of choice and force, become fer- 
 vants to tribute. When a nation hath given up their 
 liberties, they do not only lofe the thing, but all the 
 tafte they ufed to have of it. 
 
 And this may be confidered both as a growing 
 vice, and a ftupidity that the righteous God hath 
 L j aled them up under. The milery of (uch a cafe 
 hath this in it, that the people are never likely to 
 remember from whence they are fatten^ or do their fir ft 
 works \ they fleep a perpetual jlsep, and dr. not awake. 
 It is not a damage that fets them a thinking, or 
 warms a powerful zeal to recover what they have 
 loft •, but by a long courfe of fubjeftion it becomes 
 their own act. 
 
 T 3 (3). I 
 
 (/-) Lam. v. 6, [ (c) Dent. xxviii. 5;. 
 
zyS The Afs-, or, the Serpent. Serm. 13, 
 
 (3.) I will inquire into the reafons they give for 
 this neglect of themfelves, or what it is they get in 
 exchange for their liberties ; and you find there are 
 two things that leave them under the power of this 
 infatuation. 
 
 1. What they reckon the favour of the enemy, 
 they faw that reft was good. 
 
 1. The natural advantages of their country, the 
 land it was pleajant. 
 
 1 . They fee that reft is good ; which fhews us how 
 their judgment is perverted, to fuppofe that there can 
 be any fuch thing as reft, while the yoke of tyranny 
 hangs upon their moulders. Now, this opinion hath 
 its only root in cowardife and lazinefs. They dread 
 the noble toil of war, though the hazards people run 
 that way, are far from being equal to thofe of a fla- 
 vifli temper ; you can fcarce lofe fo much by ventur- 
 ing, as you give away by fubmitting. Whilft the 
 Jews refifted Sennacherib, they had what we call a 
 chance for it 5 but he tells tijem roundly, if they made 
 an agreement with him by prefents, it mud end in his 
 taking them away from their own land. And is this 
 the reft wherewith they would caufe the weary to lie 
 dcwn ? is this all that a people get by throwing them- 
 felves upon the mercy of a tyrant ? we may well fay, 
 Arife and depart, this is not your reft, becaufe it is pol- 
 luted (d). 
 
 2. The benefits of their country was another thing 
 that foftened them into this compliance;, they fazv that 
 the land was plea f ant. They had no mind to be car- 
 ried off, becaufe here was enough for their own ne- 
 ccflity, and for the humour of him to whom they 
 paid tribute. But what a poCr argument is this ? if 
 the place was fo good, it deferved to be fought for •, if 
 the produce of nature there was fo great, it is pity that 
 they mould have all the profit who had none of the 
 pains. Thus they pleaded upon their return out of 
 
 captivity, 
 
Serm. 13. The Afs -, or, the Serpent. 2*79 
 
 captivity, 'The land that thou haft given to our fathers, 
 to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold we 
 are Jervants in it ; and it yields much increafe to the 
 kings whom thou haft fet over us becaufe of our fins ; 
 alfo they have dominion over our bodies, and over our 
 cat tie at their plea-fur e, and we are in great diftrefs (e). 
 Thus have I laid out to you the former of thefe 
 characters, and fhewn you how poor a figure Jffachar 
 made in the world. But, 
 
 II. We have an account of better things in the 
 bleifing that he pronounceth upon another tribe. Dan 
 fhall judge his people like one of the tribes of Ifrael : 
 Dan flo all be a ferpent by the way, and an adder in the 
 path, that bites his horfe's heels, fo that his rider falls 
 backward. I have waited far thy falvation, O Lord. 
 
 What is faid of this brave people, is fo plain a re- 
 verfe to the meannefs of the other, that a very little 
 enlargement will ferve here. 
 
 1. He begins with a new fort of language to give 
 us the defcription of thefe. What they did would be 
 worthy the name they derived from their father ; Dan 
 fhall judge his people like one of the tribes of Ifrael. 
 
 2. We have the meafures that he will take in order 
 to it i and that is, the ufe both of his policy and 
 courage : he is like a ferpent by the way, and an adder 
 in the path \ and, rather than be trampled on, he 
 will bite the horfes heels ; he will undermine the foun- 
 dations of tyranny, fo that the ridr fhall fall back- 
 ward. 
 
 3. Thefe noble defigns are what^W^ recommends 
 to the blefTing of God, in that prophetic rapture, / 
 have waited for thy falvation, O Lo>d. 
 
 (1.) We have a genera] honour put upon them. 
 Dan fhall judge his people like one of the tribes of Ifrael. 
 What judging of his people means, I had occafion to 
 mew you the laft year, that it includes an execution 
 
 T 4 of 
 
 (e) Neh. ix. 36, 37. 
 
280 The Afs\ or, the Serpent. Serm. 13. 
 
 of their law c , and a defending of their liberties from 
 any that would opprefs them. And this we find that 
 Sa-m [on did, who was of that tribe, and paid lefs re- 
 gard to an enemy, in whofe country he lived, than 
 any of the judges. Now, do but coofider how this 
 is placed in a full oppofition to what was faid of Jf- 
 facbar ; and from thence you may collect, that thofe 
 rulers do not judge their people, who perluade them 
 to bow down under two burdens : thefe are ;nconfiftent 
 with one another. 
 
 But what I would obferve to you, is, the honour- 
 able turn he gives this, that it is doing like one of the 
 tribes of Ifrtiti: as if they that neglect it were funk 
 below the name. But Dan kept up the dignity of 
 his family, and fhewed that his defcent from lb many 
 Patriarchs was not in vain. Thofe ancient worthies, 
 whom God had called out from the reft of the world, 
 led him the way to it. One of the mod remarkable 
 things that Abraham did in a public manner, was 
 the taking of Jive kings captive (f) ; though the peo- 
 ple, in whole quarrel he mingled himfelf, are thefirji 
 rebels we read of: he had armour ready for three 
 hundred and eighteen men, trained up in his houfe. 
 Upon his return from this fiaughter, Melchifedek, the 
 fnefl of the mofl b.'gb God, metis him, and gives him 
 a folemn bleffing in his name who is the pojfejjbr of 
 heaven and earth. And though it is true, he refufed 
 to be made rich by the Ipoils, yet the right that he 
 had to bring down and plunder fo many tyrants, ap- 
 pears from his paying tithes to Melchifedek •, for we 
 cannot think that he would have brought robbery for 
 a burnt -iff enng. Jacob recovered a part of the land 
 with his five rd, and his bow, cut of the hand of the 
 Amoriies ; nay, he had the name of lfrael given him 
 in the field of battle, becaufe by his Jirengih he laid 
 hold of the angel, and had power both with God and 
 man, and prevailed : fo that cowardice, in any of his. 
 
 pofterity, 
 (f) Gen. xiii. 1, 2. 
 
Serm. 13. The Afs ; or, the Serpent, 281 
 
 pofterity, was a departure from that noble fpirit their 
 fathers had been eminent for. 
 
 And efpecially, if you will confider them as a peo- 
 ple fet apart to the worfhip of God, they were bound 
 to run all hazards in defending what he gave them. 
 When they were frighted with the Anakims, faint- 
 hearted, and durft not go on, it was acting fo far be- 
 low themfelves, that he will fcarce own them to be 
 his people; but fays, that it is a generation that do 
 err in their hearts, they knew not his ways. Their 
 fpirits had a wrong turn, and he fwore, that they Jhall 
 never enter into his reft -, and if they mould allow an 
 enemy to break in upon the land of their pofleflion, 
 it was difhonourable to their name : but Dan bears 
 up the old figure, and in judging of his people, is like 
 one of the tribes of Ifrael. 
 
 (2.) Here are three ways that he takes to do it. 
 "Where you may obferve, 
 
 1. The policy and wifdom of this people: they 
 are compared to ferpents and adders. 
 
 2 . Their courage, or the hazard they run : they 
 will throw themfelves into the path, venture bein°- 
 crufhed, rather than lofe their end. 
 
 3. Their refolution to have the blefling whatever 
 it coft them : if they cannot difmount a tyrant by 
 mere force, they will bite his horfe y s heels, fo that the 
 rider Jhall fall backward. 
 
 1 . They are reprefented as a wife and well inftrucled 
 people ; a ferpent in the zvay, an adder in the path. 
 Doubtlefs Jffachar thought it a good prudential to 
 humble themfelves, and hold their lives upon no 
 other tenure than the will of a prince ; but this their 
 way was their folly. Dan takes his maxims as they 
 rife from the plain welfare of the community : he 
 will neither be hectored nor wheedled out of his pri- 
 vileges ; he v/ill lofe them neither by war nor treaty : 
 as he is ferpent enough to underftand what is beft for 
 
 him ; 
 
282 The Afs -, or> the Serpent. Serm. 13. 
 
 him ; fo, like the adder ; be flops his ears againft the 
 voice of the charmer, charming never fo wifely. 
 
 The want of fuch a fpirit is the prefage of ruin. 
 Thou haft hid their hearts from anderflanding, therefore 
 thou jh alt not exalt them{g). Christ himfelf hath 
 bid his people take to them the wifdom of the ferpent -, 
 though here I would not have you miftake this for the 
 mere wrigling of that creature. Fraud and artifice, 
 lurking ways, and lying words, are as much below 
 the wifdom that will fave a nation, as they are againft 
 the honefty that muft lave a foul. Thofe men that 
 came to David, and bad underflanding oj the times, and 
 knew what Ifrael ought to do, found that the wifdom 
 of the ferpent was confident with the innocence of the 
 dove. 
 
 2. Befides a capacity to contrive what isbefl, here 
 is a courage to execute it. This is a tribe that Mofes 
 fpeaks well of in the bleffing that he gave them. 
 t)an is a lion's whelps and he /hall leap from Bafhan (h). 
 And we may obferve a character of that fort in the 
 verfe before us, that he will venture himfelf as a fer- 
 pent in toe way, as an adder in the path ; he will run 
 the hazard of being trampled under foot, rather than 
 take up with the poor and icanty terms that an enemy 
 gives him. It is better being crufhed at once, than 
 condemned to a miferable exiftence : and thele are 
 things that will deliver a people over to the voice of 
 fame : the good efteem and hearty wifhes of the world 
 will be to fuch as offer themf elves willingly, and jeopard 
 their lives in the high places of the field. 
 
 3. They are determined to have the bleffing at any 
 expence : nor will they lofe things for want of mere 
 names and forms*, they will endeavour to bring down 
 a tyrant by his own methods, if all the reft fhall fail : 
 and when hedefigns to ride over Liberty and Religion, 
 if they cannot flop his career, they will break his neck •, 
 
 the 
 
 (g) Job xvii. 4. (b) Deut. xxxiii. 22. 
 
Serm. 13. The A fs; or, the Serpent. 283 
 
 the very horfe's heels, which fhould have ruined them, 
 mall receive the wound that will prove fatal to him. 
 And indeed when a people are thus inclined to loofe 
 the bands of their captivity, it is no very hard matter 
 to humble the wicked by the meafures they have taken. 
 Violence and iniquity do not fo eafily carry their load, 
 but in a little time, their rider may fall backward. 
 
 (3.) When Jacob hath thus defcribed his fon by the 
 brave meafures that he will take, he recommends the 
 whole defign to the blefling of God ; / have waited 
 for thy faivation, O Lord. 
 
 Some imagine that the good old Patriarch was, at 
 this time, almoft fpent upon his death-bed with goino- 
 fo far as he had done ; and in thefe words he takes 
 breath again : others think there is in them the horror 
 of that idolatry that he faw the tribe of Dan would 
 run into. But if you will take them for a paufe, it is 
 a fign, that what he had faid of a people getting back 
 their liberties, was of fo much value with him, that 
 his foul can reft a while upon it, before he proceeds 
 to the other bleffings. 
 
 Or you may underftand it, as feveral would do, 
 for a perfonal wifh, q. d. " Let me turn afide for a 
 " moment from telling what will happen to you, and 
 " fpend one thought upon myfelf. You hear what 
 " IJfachar will give up, and Dan retrieve ; but thefe 
 ** things belong to a world I am going from. There 
 «' is fomething nearer me than your profperity ; / 
 " have waited for thy falvation, O Lord." If you 
 take it thus, it tells us,. That for good men to know 
 that they who come after them will be zealous for 
 God, and truly concerned for the public intereit, is 
 one cordial in a dying hour ; zs David faith to Solomon \ 
 J go the way of all the earth ; but be thou Jlrong, and 
 [hew thy f if a man (;'). 
 
 But I fee no reafon why the falvalion that he waited 
 for, may not be connected to the ways that Dan would 
 
 take 
 
 (/) 1 Kings ii. r. 
 
284 The Afs' t or, the Serpent. Serm. 13. 
 
 take in judging his people. And then it includes in it 
 thefe three things. 
 
 1. His hearty wifhes to fo good a cauic, q. d. 
 M This will be thy temper, and my blelling go along 
 " with it. It is what I think of with pieafure, and in 
 " fome of my laft breath commit thee to the favour 
 <c of heaven : The God before whom my fathers walked ^ 
 " the Angel that redeemed me from all evil) eftrMiJh the 
 " work of thine hand** 
 
 And this we have had many examples of; though 
 good people were juft at the gates of glory, yet they 
 could not take leave of thole that flayed behind, with- 
 out a teftimony for the caufe they had been engaged 
 in : which ought to be of the greateft value with us, 
 that fuch a number of excellent perfons have died 
 praying for the peace of our Jerufa'e>v. They have 
 fpoke well of the Liberties of mankind, when them- 
 ielves were leaving all things of that fort •, and we 
 cannot think that God would let them go out or the 
 world, either with a lie in their mouths, or a trifle in 
 their hearts. 
 
 2. When he adds, I have waited for thy falvation ; 
 it may be underftood as a direction to thofe brave 
 people, to tell them, they muft hope for fuccefs in a 
 religious way. Second cauies are employed •, but the 
 o-ood old man would let them know, that their fiiva- 
 don is of the Lord: and if they will conquer in earneft, 
 they muft be a people that wait for it. 
 
 This comprehends the duty that they owe to him„ 
 their dependence upon his care, their jealoufy for his 
 honour. The profane, the unclean, the evil doers 
 do not come into the number. If they have any 
 hopes of being delivered, it is from fomething elle, 
 for God is not in all their thoughts. They that ule his 
 name without reverence, and his people without pity, 
 cannot think that he hath any pieafure in their ways. 
 But Jacob would have them give all their couniels and 
 attempts a ferious tincture, for when the h:gh praifes 
 
 of 
 
Scrm. 13. TheAfi-, or, the Serpent. 285 
 
 of God are in their mruths, it will add a weight to the 
 two-edged fword that is in (heir hands (k). 
 
 3. This feems to be an act of his faith in the great 
 Messiah •, for it is under this name that another good 
 old man received him : Lord, now lettefl thou thy fer- 
 vant depart in peace, for mine eyes have feen thy falva- 
 tion (/). Nor could this be thought improper to 
 mingle with the zeal they had for civil liberties : it 
 was by & faith in him that the elders obtained a good 
 report, in fubduing kingdoms, working right eon fuel's, 
 flopping the mouths of lions, waxing valiant in fight, 
 and turning to flight the armies of the aliens {in). The 
 believer hath in him the trueft courage. There is 
 nothing in any one doctrine of Chriitianity that will 
 tie up the hands of an injured people. One that hath 
 tafied that the Lord is gracious, muft have pity to the 
 deflations of mankind. He cannot endure to fee that 
 nature ruined by a tyrant, that hath been honqured 
 by a Saviour. 
 
 And then befides, as the kingdom of a Messiah 
 extends itielf, it will proclaim liberty to the captives. 
 It is an inftitution, as well as a prophecy, that there 
 mail be no hurting nor deftroying in all his holy moun- 
 tain ; and he is then faid to take to himfelf his great 
 power and reign, when he deflroys them that dejlroy 
 the earth (/?). 
 
 And again, one that hath faith in Jesus, is wait- 
 ing for that time, when Kings fhall Jhul their mouths 
 at him; Princes fhall fee and arife, and he \\W\firike 
 through Monarchs in the day of bis wrath, and wrench 
 his glory out of their hands who have taken it from 
 him. 
 
 Again, waiting for falvation, prepares a man for 
 the day of battle. A Chriitian does not right upon 
 thofe hazards that others do, who lofe two lives at 
 once, that which drops in the field, and that which is 
 
 eternal 
 
 (i) Pfal. cxlix. 6. I [m] Hcb. xi. 33, 34. 
 
 (/; Luke ii. 29, 30. {») Rev. xi. iS. 
 
286 The Aft; or, the Serpent. Serm.13. 
 
 eternal. The believer in thcfe dangers takes himfelf 
 to be fighting the good fight, and keeping the faith ; 
 and if his courfe is at an end in this attempt, it will 
 hefinifijed with joy. 
 
 And thus have I fet before you the two tempers 
 that diilinguifhed thefe tribes. Here is death and life, 
 and curfing and Uejfinv : the choice muft now be your 
 own aft. My time hath fuffered me to do little more 
 than take the words to pieces, and confider the parts 
 of them afunder ; you will eafily apply what you have 
 heard thefe two ways. 
 
 1 . Into a full refentment of thofe doctrines that would 
 perfuade you out of your liberties upon the fame terms 
 that IJfachar parted with theirs. It is pity that human 
 nature itfelf mould be fo far debafed ; but it is with 
 an aggravation that we fee the holy name of Christ 
 hath been blafphemed ; that thole myfteries mull be 
 our choice, which was the Romans abhorrence-, as the 
 Apoftle faith in another cafe ; it is a fornication not fo 
 much as natned among the Gentiles. Do not take it for 
 a fmall matter, for at this gap do they throw in all 
 the fuperftitions of worfhip, their damnable dottrines, 
 as well as their cruel meafures. It is by this means they 
 will Ileal away your Religion, and fill the nation with 
 darknefs and blood. 
 
 2. This calls us up to the praifes of God, who de- 
 livered us from the flupidity of Ifjachar, and infpired 
 us with the temper of Dan, at our Revolution. 
 
 I am fenfible this mercy hath had all the regards 
 that the children of Ifrael gave to the manna which fell 
 from heaven. At firft we gathered it, we tailed it, 
 lived upon it, and reckoned it angels food ; now it is 
 but light bread, and we want fiefh to eat •, nay, as it is 
 faid of Sodom, we are going out after ft range fiefij : and 
 I doubt not but the parallel would hold farther, that 
 it muft come as foon out of our noftrils as it did out of 
 theirs. What they defned in their luft, they enjoyed 
 
 with 
 
Serm. 13. TheAfs; or, the Serpent. 287 
 
 with a plague, for ere it was chewed, while it was yet 
 between their teeth , the wrath of God fell upon them t 
 
 But I would recommend the great things that he 
 hath done for us to your value and care ; and this can 
 be expreffed in no better way, than by walking in the 
 light, while we have the light ; a converfation that be- 
 comes the Gofpel ; an abhorrence of any thing that 
 would mingle with your Religion, or defile your 
 Practice ; a pity to the poor Proteftants in France, 
 upon whom the clouds have returned after the rain \ a 
 having no fdlowfhip with the unfruitful works of dark- 
 nefs. And whoever they are that have no companion 
 for blood, no reverence for leagues, my foul ! come 
 not ihcu into their feci et, unto their affembly, mine ho- 
 nour, be not thou united ! for in their anger they flew a 
 man, and in their f elf -will they digged down a wall : let 
 fuch couvfel of the wicked be far from me. I have 
 waited j or thy falvation, Lord ! 
 
 
 SERMON 
 
t a^S&^^ t ^&^*^^^S&^tr'&W^& t *^Stt> l *< 
 
 
 SERMON XIV. 
 
 v/ «J* «.'• v» A v»..»V «V.v». »V..»V.j^.svt..v»..j<e..»'«.,«S».j&,.>'»-..«5«. »'» .«*...«>.,«?» «fe. 
 'J,5--«5"»S"*ji •>.»•'«;»—*.»••;» '»;* *;**.* yf"*$ «» »;» V ';» ^ »;• •;» ';» «;«■>.*'«;»•*«' 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 F^®d^ H E laft year I publiilied a fifth of November 
 © Y Sermon, under this name, T/&£ #/}, or /£<? 
 ^ _^* ferpent ; or a comparifon between the tribes 
 \Lw® JS <?y Iflachar *wd Dan, in their regard for 
 civil liberty. Though this title is founded on the 
 very words of my text, yet I believe the oddnefs of it 
 has made fome people uneafy. The Examiner, who 
 is hired to abufe thofe that are fingled out for him, 
 and the Poft-Boy, who is commanded to do it, have 
 each of them, in their different ways, treated me as 
 they have done the beft men in the nation; and I 
 think it fo far from a difhonour to have my name 
 thrown into thofe papers, which are but the common- 
 more of fcandal, that it gives me a fatisfadtion to be 
 numbered with perfons ivbofe works praife them in the 
 gates. And it is a pleaiure that I have not done any 
 thing vile enough againft the Proteftant Religion, 
 and the Liberties of my country, to be commended 
 by thofe two authors. Let them write and rail on, 
 they are juft in that very way with me that I wifh 
 for. 
 
 Another gentleman, who has a mind to be as ob- 
 fcure as his works are, has writ a pamphlet, which 
 he calls (as he truly may) Some fiort Reflections upon 
 
 Vol. I. ' U Mr. 
 
290 PREFACE. 
 
 Mr Bradbury's late libel, &c. The fum of this book, 
 is to make a rumbling with rabbles, fathers, and mo- 
 dern furies ; then to reprefent me as dangerous to the 
 government, that it is time our Toleration was taken 
 awav ; and to fupport thefe ill-natured whims, he 
 has given fuch paffages as quotations out of my Ser- 
 mon, which every reader knows were never in it. 
 This could only be poffible to one who has taken care 
 not to be known, that he may be in no danger of 
 blufhing. We are now peftered in all our afiemblies, 
 both religious and civil, with a fort of officers, called 
 Lions ; to thofe political brutes I would recommend 
 my friend, and thofe of his reach, as a good fett of 
 Jackalls. If it is the perfon I take it for, he has writ 
 a great many little books, and to fo little purpofe, 
 that as he never was anfvvered, fo I dare engage he 
 never will be ; for it will be always impoflible to con- 
 fute a way of arguing, which it is fcandalous to 
 imitate. 
 
 Befides thefe, I have a whole preface flung at me 
 by a clergyman of yearly fame, Mr Luke Milbourne, 
 who at certain times does duly tell us, that he is Pref- 
 byter of the church of England. From him, I mufl 
 confefs, I expected to have at leaft good words. A 
 man that has writ a tranflation of the Pfalms and 
 Thomas a Kemps, and was fo confcious to his fuf- 
 ficiency in poetry, as to give us notes upon Dryden's 
 Virgil ; from fuch an one, who would not promife 
 himfelf an eafier temper and much politer language 
 than a poor muddy curate can come up to ? But, alas ! 
 how dangerous is it for a fine pen to write thirtieth 
 cf January Sermons, or any thing in defence of an 
 ofs, or a tory f you (hall lee how foft and clean his 
 itile is : he tells us, that " be read the afs in every 
 " page ; that the preacher of this difcourfe is H. Pe~ 
 " ters junior, alias 'Thomas Bradbury, a predicant of 
 " D. W. m'Jfion," (that phrafe wants a note more than 
 Dr\- den didj " and blejfcd almojl -wiih a double portion 
 
 ; m v 
 
PREFACE. 291 
 
 * l of his ordinary fiery fpirit, and ungrateful infolence" 
 After this, he gives me a name that may run very 
 eafy off his tongue, but I dare hardly venture it upon 
 mine, a theological boutefeu. He has pronounced this 
 fentence upon that fmall work, that " it is the mofi 
 " confummate piece of ignorance and impudence that 
 " ever was vented fmce the days of his anceftor Hugh 
 " of infa?nous memory :" and he is fo pleafed with 
 making himfelf my godfather by this title, that 
 young Hugh and fecond Peters come over and over 
 again. I can away with his calling me a " prefump- 
 ** tuous fon of ignorance, and outrageous incendiary " 
 when he has thrown off the command of modefty, 
 juftice and reafon fo far, as to comprehend the whole 
 body of Diilenters in this character, <« Tbey are a tribe 
 44 of ftrong affes, couching down between two burdens % 
 " atheifm and phanaticifm." 
 
 I mud confefs, I have no inclination to venture 
 myfelf into a quarrel with one who is troubled with 
 a chronical fury , and efpecially fo near the return of 
 his fit -, but the deference I owe to that good caufe, 
 which to me appears both true and glorious, has fo 
 much command over me, that I will give my free 
 thoughts upon every thing that bears the face of an 
 argument againft it in his Preface and Sermon. I find 
 he lays a great deal of weight upon any good that is 
 faid of an afs, or of IJfachar in fcripture, or any 
 thing ill that we read of in the ferpent, or the tribe of 
 Dan. Nay, he pretends to hook me upon " valuing 
 " thofe, who like the adder flop their ears to the voice 
 " of the charmer, though he charm never fo wifely." 
 But, if this muft go for reafoning, I do not fee how 
 any one comparifon in the Bible can give us the lead 
 idea of tsar.ight or wrong. There are few allufions 
 that may not be turned feveral ways, and the fame 
 metaphor does equally ferve a commendation, and a 
 reproach. Will any one fay that when a wicked ruler 
 ever a poor people is called a roaring lion, that it is 
 U 2 with 
 
292 PREFACE. 
 
 with a reputation to him, (Prov. xxv. 15. ) becaufe 
 God himfelf has exprefled his own providence by 
 that fimilitude, (I/a. xxxi. 4.) ? or can there be a 
 perfon fo weak and wicked as to think better of a 
 thief in the night, from our Lord's refembling his 
 own coming by it ? It is no fault in the ferpent (if 
 fhe has that faculty) to flop her ear againfi the char- 
 mers ; if nature has given her that defence againft an 
 enemy, it is to be ufed ; and yet this thing that is 
 innocent enough in that creature, may be a proper 
 allufion to the vilenefs of thofe great ones that will 
 not /peak right 'ecufnefs, nor judge uprightly, but weigh 
 tie violence of their hands in the earth, Pfal. lviii. 1, 
 2, 4, 5. 
 
 He infinuates, that this could not be underftood in 
 a contempt of IJfachar ; " firft, becaufe it is called 
 '* Jacob's blejjing his fons ; and lecondly, Mofes fpeaks 
 «' it-ell cf that tribe." But how little fway thefe 
 things ought to have, will loon appear •, it is faid that 
 be ll-fffd every one of them according to his blejfing •, 
 but it is impofiible to underftand all that he fays of 
 them in that fenfe. Was it blefiing Reuben, when 
 he called him unftable as water, and foretold \\tfhould 
 not excel ? I am afraid, by the lpirit that foams in 
 fome late iermons, that we have preachers who would 
 like the temper of Simeon and Levi, in being bre- 
 thren and having injlrumenls cf cruelty in their habi- 
 tations : in their anger they will Jlay a man, and in 
 their felf-will dig down a wall ; but certainly they 
 are not fo mad as to call the lot of thefe two tribes a 
 bleiTing ; when their pious father (who might forefee 
 that the priefthood would fpring from one of them) 
 faid, Cur Jed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their 
 wrath, for it was cruel ; I will divide them in Jacrb, 
 andfcatter them in Jfracl. I do not fuppofe that Mo- 
 fes's blefhng was inconfiftent with Jacob's •, and yet 
 the one may admire the very tribe that the other con- 
 demns, becaufe all that defcendtd from it were neither 
 
 involved 
 
PREFACE. 293 
 
 involved in one guilt, nor fharers in the fame glory. 
 Jacob calls Simeon and Levi murderers, and truce- 
 breakers ; Mofes faith nothing at all of the former, 
 but the latter he admires for what they did in the 
 great revolt at Majfah and Meribah, and recommends 
 him to the blefling of God as his holy one. 
 
 The little flings that he has at thofe of a former 
 generation, calling them " rebellious faints, execrable 
 *' regicides, whom God permitted to go out of the world 
 " with a lie in their mouths j" are fo profane and un- 
 becoming one who knows that vengeance belongs to 
 God, and fo needlefs fifty years after their deaths, and 
 is fuch a railing accufation as Michael the arch-angel 
 durft not ufe to the devil himfelf, that I will not retort 
 it. Though what does this gentleman think of Fen- 
 wick, Friend, Parkins, Charnock, Rookwood, /Jfhton, 
 and others who were executed for a defign of mur- 
 dering King William, fairly proved upon them ; and 
 yet avowed it, had abfolution given them, and de- 
 clared it agreeable to the dotlrine of the church of Eng- 
 land ? His flirts at the original comracl, and telling us, 
 that " all thefe civil liberties are but the chimeras of 
 " our own brain," fhews that the Revolution is a 
 myftery to him, if it be not a burden. In that great 
 and noble vote that loo fed the bands from our necks, 
 the Lords and Commons declared, that King James 
 had broke the original cunt rati : and how well it be- 
 comes a man who is fo afraid to fpeak evil cf digni- 
 ties, to be merry with the foiemnity of thefe terms, 
 is what the world will judge of. Would he perfuade 
 us that there is no fuch thing as Liberty ? or does he 
 think that a few noify unconnected fentences, which 
 may do well enough for a rattle, mult ever pafs for 
 an argument ? He covers his reflections by faying, 
 that ** what the ten tribes got by their revolt was what 
 '•' we would nQW be at, viz. A toleration of any reli- 
 •* gion but the true ;" which is falfe both in us and 
 them. Till he could prove it againft me, either as 
 
 U 3 my 
 
294 PREFACE. 
 
 my declared opinion, or a natural confequence from 
 my principles, lie fhould not condemn me as guilty 
 of that which I reckon the vilefl flander in the world, 
 viz. the hindring any from the worfhip of God, ac- 
 cording to the beft light they have. The ten tribes 
 did not bring idolatry into their claim of rights they 
 complained of a heavy yoke upon them, which the 
 King, upon the advice of his new Mimftry threatned 
 to make worfe ; for this they rebelled, and did well 
 in it : there was a divine prophecy and approbation 
 upon that great act •, and it is a thing not blamed in 
 Scripture, that when Rehoboam fent Adoram, who was 
 over the tribute, and therefore it is likely had multi- 
 plied their taxes, that they ftoned him, and he died. 
 Jeroboam was not guilty in having another throne, 
 but in rilling the worfhip of God with human inven- 
 tions. It was by this, and not his rebellion, that he 
 made Jfrael to fin. 
 
 His violence to expreflions that are eafy enough, is 
 below a man of fuch learning as I know he has, and 
 the temper that 1 hear runs through his converfation. 
 Thus, becaufe I had faid that the fearful and unbe- 
 lieving (land in the front of finners, {Rev. xxi ) he faith, 
 " I pretend to fill hell with thofe that fear God and the 
 < c King, and am againit working out my fa hat ion with 
 " fear and trembling, and am for feeding myfelfwith- 
 " out fear, and am like the Leviathan, made without 
 " fear." Certainly this man's concordance is to him 
 only a heap of Hones, that he may pelt as long as a 
 word laffo. 
 
 He furprifes me with faying, that " he never writ 
 tc for paffive obedience ;" and if fo, Why is he thus 
 angry that I have writ againft it ? The examples that 
 he produces out of Scripture, I mail confider ; but 
 his itebean Legion he may take back again if he pleafes. 
 What does he mean by « Mofes's not oppofing Pba- 
 4 raob, and faying, that he was then at the head of 
 c the greater army ? ' Were not Jfrael apprehenfive 
 
 of 
 
PREFACE. 295 
 
 of their danger ? Whatever they might be in numbers, 
 they were unarmed againft all the glory of Egypt. 
 Pharaoh thought himfelf fecure of them, and made 
 no doubt of it when he faid, I will purfue, I will over- 
 take, I will defray, &c. And could Mofes tie his 
 hands with any fenfe of allegiance ? Was Pharaoh 
 then their So vereign ? David's carriage to S aul, I have 
 confidered in the following Sermon : but I wonder he 
 mould bring Ahab's furviving the murder of Naboth, 
 as an inftance that Kings are to do what mifchief they 
 will, and none is to withftand them. Did not the 
 Prophet tell him upon that wickednefs, that he fold 
 himfelf to do evil, and that where the dogs had licked 
 Naboth's blovd, they fhould lick his ? And was not Jehu 
 anointed to cut off the houfe of Ahab his mafler f And to 
 infpire him in that act of national juftice, the night 
 before he did it, God brought frefh upon his mind 
 the blood cf Naboth. I know that Jezebel talked very 
 much the language of our author ; me that made 
 God her.jeft, and the King her tool, proclaimed a 
 faft, and had a man condemned for blafpheming God 
 and the King : fhe was full of hiftory and zeal againft 
 Regicides, and could clamour as loud from a window, 
 as fome do from a pulpit, Had Zimri peace that few 
 his mafler ? Though her whoredoms and witchcrafts 
 are fo many, yet fhe gets into all the cant of loyalty ; 
 but as God is not to be mocked, fo her name is branded, 
 her end is dreadful, they hurled her down in a mo- 
 ment, for the horfes to trample, and the dogs to eat. 
 
 He has drawn up one charge againft me, which if 
 true, it is pity I mould ever enter the pulpit ; and if 
 falfe, it is as great a fhame that he fhould : c I can- 
 4 not find, fays he, one fingle text quoted, but which 
 ' he has blafphemed, profaned and ridiculed to the 
 ' utmoft of his power.' This is a great deal more 
 than miflaking a. Scripture ; that is what I am as liable 
 to as another, and I thank this author for giving me 
 one inftance of it. I had faid that Abraham led five 
 
 U 4 Kims 
 
296 P R E EA C E. 
 
 Kings captive, which I own was a wrong both to the 
 ftory, and to my argument •, for it is plain, he killed 
 them, which I might have remembred from the New 
 Teftament, as well as the Old. The Apoftle thought 
 it an action fo glorious, that he gives us the time of 
 Melcbizedek's, meeting him, it was as be returned from 
 the flaughter of the Kings \ and if this Gentleman or 
 any one elfe will mew me that I have miftaken a text, 
 I mall freely own myfelf his profelyte •, but for blaf- 
 pheming, profaning and ridiculing that Word which 
 I take for my only rule of faith, worfnip and practice, 
 and by which I know the fecrets of all hearts will be 
 judged ', it is what I have always abhorred, and, thro' 
 the grace of God, mall never allow myfelf in. 
 
 He is fo afraid of coming inco temper, that when 
 he owns I have faid well, and cannot find in his heart 
 to rail at me, he turns his fury upon the good old caufe, 
 and tells us that ' the friends of that carry on all their 
 «' defigns by fraud and lying.' What is that to me 
 if they do ? I will own that a bleffing will not go along 
 with fuch meafures as deftroy the juftice and equity 
 that mould keep the world together ; and whoever 
 they are that break folemn leagues, that take oaths 
 to one Prince and think of another, that abjure the 
 fame creature as an impofture whom they wiih for 
 as a Sovereign, that endeavour to fill one Houfe of 
 Parliament with a gufti of new members, and the 
 other by mobbing and bribing, who can advife the 
 polling of men in their graves, the Indies, or fuch as 
 have no right ; let their party be what it will, I am 
 fo far from approving of fuch ways, that though they 
 be fprung from the good old caufe itfelf, may their end 
 he according to their works. However I cannot but let 
 the author know, he is either unacquainted with that 
 ftory, or has a mind that others mould be fo; had he 
 read my Lord Clarendon's account, and refolved to be 
 honeft, he would fill his pages with fomething more 
 to the purpofe than noify exclamations, that convince 
 
 the 
 
PREFACE. 297 
 
 the world of nothing but the writer's emptinefs. I 
 have read many a Thirtieth of January Sermon, and 
 they are fo much the fame that I can obferve very 
 little new in them but a tranfpofition of terms : let 
 but any one take a few rattling words for his materials, 
 fuch as Schifmatics, Atheifts, Rebels, Traitors, Mif- 
 creants, Monfters, Enthufiafts, Hypocrites, Lord's 
 Anointed, Sacred Majefty, God's Vicegerent, Im- 
 pious, Blafpheme, Damnation ; ftir thefe together in 
 a warm head, and after a very little making, bring 
 them out, fcum and all, diftribute them into feveral 
 periods, and your work is half done : if fuch expref- 
 fions as Religion, Confcience, Juftice, Privilege of 
 Parliament, Innocent Blood, Liberty and Property 
 come in your way, take off the crudities from fome 
 of them by foftning epithets, call it mock Parliament, 
 falfe Religion, pretended Confcience, and tell the 
 world roundly, that their privileges, trade, civil- 
 rights and liberties are chimeras ; that fuch talk fmells 
 rank of Forty-one, and is a certain mark of a villain, 
 and an enemy to the government. 
 
 But fliall filling an hour with fuch fluff as this go 
 for 2k f aft, and an acceptable day to the Lord ? Is this 
 being humbled for our fins ? When Ezra blujhed and 
 was afhamed to lift up his head, does he mean no 
 more than a fluttered face and glowing cheeks, that 
 take all their heat from an inward paflion ? How have 
 the fwearers and drunkards been hardned by hearing 
 godlinefs itfelf fo ill matched to the epithets that fuch 
 as Mr Milbourne have given it ? He that allows him- 
 felf fuch aukward words as hypocritical and rebellious 
 Saints, has reafon to fear that fome will fo confound 
 thefe ideas, as to think that to be a Saint is to be a 
 Rebel. And how many are there that after fuch dif- 
 courfes blefs themfelves in their own hearts, though they 
 commit uncleannefs with greedinefs ? And befides, I 
 muft tell him, though fuch Preaching has been very 
 
 agreeable 
 

 2 9 3 PREFACE. 
 
 agreeable to the luft of Princes, yet it has often proved 
 fatal to their thrones. I have thought that the Thir- 
 tieth of January Sermons coft King James his three 
 crowns. Men of corrupt minds were Hill 1 addrelling 
 themfelves to his humour, till they pufhed him on 
 to the fate that became public enough. And when 
 they had cried up his power as facred, and told him 
 all his actions were uncontroled, he no fooner took 
 them at their word, but they left him in the lurch : 
 and he judged extremely right in his troubles, when 
 he cried out, with a concern that I mould have pitied, 
 upon feeing a Clergyman, Ah, Sir, it is the men of 
 your cloth that have brought me to this. It was the un- 
 happinefs of that Prince to believe thofe in their Ser- 
 mons and Addreffes who never believed themfelves. 
 They may talk of Paffive Obedience, Resignation, 
 Meeknefs and Patience ; but the general filthinefs of 
 their lives, and their haftinefs- to anger with all the 
 world, make them a wretched party for any King to 
 truft in. The Memorial of the- Church of England tells 
 us indeed, that NonReJiftance has been always their 
 principle; but they confefs, nature is apt to rebel againft 
 principle •, and we believe them when they fay, that 
 in thofe cafes the odds are on Nature's fide. Such 
 a nice diftin&ion as this do we find in the Addrefs pre- 
 fented to the Queen fome time ago by the Clergy of 
 London : they call her Ma jelly's authority irrefifiible, 
 and yet the next breath fucks that in, for they fay, 
 
 * as they have withftood, fo they will withftand again y 
 nay, Mr Milbourne himfelf has his thoughts lying fo 
 loofe as to fay, page 2. ' That if the Jews could have 
 4 proved their charge (againft our Saviour ) or our 
 € Infidels (againft King Charles the Firft) the Crofs 
 
 * and the Scaffold would have been deferved.' So 
 that he does not by this feem to be angry at their ac- 
 cufing and trying him, but their not proving any 
 thing •, I am forry this ihould fall under the eye of 
 
 any 
 
PREFACE. 299 
 
 any Republican, who I fear will be apt to fay, they 
 were not like to prove when he would not plead. I 
 dare fay the good Prejbyter of the Church of England 
 had no defign to betray the royal caufe into fo much 
 contempt : my~ charity for him makes me think, 
 that lbmetimes he writes he knows not what. There 
 is another paffage fo unguarded, which had it come 
 from an antimonarchial writer in this government 
 and miniftry, wo be to him, page 14. « Where wo- 
 ' men are concerned in robberies, thofe robberies are 
 6 attended with murder, that timorous f ex concluding, 
 ' that themfeives and their companions can never be 
 ' fafe, fo long as there are any left alive who may 
 6 difcover them.' 
 
 He is angry that I fay, There is nothing in- any one 
 doctrine of Chriftianity that will tie up the hands of an 
 injured people. This he calls ' a difcovery referved 
 ' for long-headed Popes, and fays it is fit to be re- 
 ' vived by the Sidneys , Lockes, Hoadleys , Burnet s 9 
 * Bradburys, &c.' I heartily thank him for putting 
 me into fuch company •, and if he likes to herd with' 
 the Sibt harps, Manwarings, Hickes's, S ach ever ell s y 
 Wei — ns, Lefleys and Ropers, both fides are pleafed : 
 the great Algernon Sidney writ with a fptrit that none 
 of his adverfaries could gainfay or refiji, and therefore 
 they cut off his head : but no perfon will much value 
 the poor fling of our author who reads the book of 
 that truly noble perfon, by it he being dead yet fpeaketb. 
 And I cannot but think there is a great deal of diffe- 
 rence between a man's fealing the caufe of Liberty 
 and that of Tyranny with his blood : indeed we fei- 
 dom hear of any volunteers for the latter, who make 
 a King a prefent of their heads by way of fample to 
 their doctrine ; but would not fuch an one die as a, 
 fool dies ? How intrepid have thofe of the other fort 
 come to the block ? And, for my part, I have that 
 veneration for what a ferious man fays in fo full a 
 
 proipecl: 
 
300 PREFACE. 
 
 profped of eternity, that I mould not much heed 
 the whole volley of the Clergy againft a certain Gen- 
 tleman on the fcaffold, who told the Executioner, 
 6 Before thou canft fay, Here is the head of a Traitor \ 
 * the angels will have cried to heaven, We come 
 ' with the foul of a Saint.* As much above the 
 ill manners of this author is that learned Bifhop whom 
 he joins with Hobbes. His Hiflory of the Reformation^ 
 and his late Introduction to the third volume ; his 
 many difcourfes from the prefs and pulpit, the fer- 
 vour and argument of thofe warnings he has given 
 the nation, will convince any one, that a perfon who 
 can charge him with reviving Popijh doclrines, is re- 
 folved to live within no rules, either of truth or 
 decency. 
 
 The texts that he throws together, of " turning 
 *' the other cheek, doing good to fuch as hate us, 
 " recompensing to no man evil for evil, noc avenging 
 " ourfelves, being obedient to mailers, not only to 
 " to the good and gentle, but alfo to the froward," 
 do no more regard our behaviour to a Prince than 
 Jto any other enemy •, and if he takes them in an ab- 
 folute fenfe, they as much oblige his non- refinance 
 to a coxcomb that fhall huff him in the Streets, or a 
 litigious neighbour, as to his Sovereign. But how 
 little are Kings obliged to fuch arguments, as call for 
 the Subjects duty to them, on the fuppofuion of their 
 being the greateft villains and plagues on the earth ? 
 Though 1 have run this length, I cannot forbear 
 giving the Reader a fpecimen of this author's expo- 
 sition on thofe words, " Rulers are not a terror to 
 *« good works, but to the evil." Would not any 
 one have underftood this to be a defcription of good 
 Magiftrates, fuch as are called the ordinance of God •> 
 and from whom, if we do good> we may exped praife 
 of the fame? Such are God's Mniflers attending conti- 
 nually upon this very thing. Now all this our author 
 
 can 
 
PREFACE. 301 
 
 tan take in fuch a fenfe, that it fhall be true of Nero, 
 Caligula, or any Tyrant, nay of a fool or a fot, who 
 attends to nothing. He makes thofe characters not 
 refer to the Sovereign but the people, and his three 
 proportions from the text are thefe. 
 
 " That he, who exercifes himfelf in good works, 
 « c never entertains any fears or jealoufies of the fu- 
 *' preme Magiftrate, or his lawful Governors : And, 
 
 " That he, who exercifes himfelf in that which is 
 " evil, is always under violent fufpicions of his law- 
 *< ful Governors : And, 
 
 " That he, who is full of guilt and fufpicion, will 
 « always ftudy to revenge himfelf on that power 
 " which he ftands in fear of." 
 
 You fee he is refolved to bring the mountain to 
 Mahomet : but is not making the Scriptures to mean 
 any thing, the way to have them mean nothing ? Is 
 it not infolent to the laft degree that a man will rather 
 mock the fenfe and folemnity of God's word, than 
 be patient of any danger to his own fcheme ? At this 
 rate of turning things, David's fending out fpies to 
 know whether Saul was coming after him, his com- 
 muning with Jonathan, and faying, " There is but a 
 *' ftep between me and death," are fo many marks of 
 an evil doer. The poor French Protectants, who fled 
 from a fine country, could not entertain fufpicions 
 of their lawful Governor, unlefs they were villains. 
 No wonder that a great part of the Sermon is a pa- 
 negyric on perfection, which I only fay this in anfwer 
 to ■, that it is pity but he was in France, where he 
 might foon have as much of that bleffing as would 
 make his heart ake. But, as Mr Johnfon obferves, 
 when thofe men admire fufferings for Religion, they 
 never mean their own. Upon the whole, what can 
 any perfon think of a writer, who is fo free in charg- 
 
3 o2 PREFACE. 
 
 ino 1 others with a profanation of Scripture ? Can 
 any one read this performance without thinking ei- 
 ther the Text or the Preacher ridiculous? And is this 
 the man who was to defend our Religion againft the 
 Deifts ? Will they ever think the better of revealed 
 books, by his comments on them ? When he writ 
 in that controverfy, he either did it with fuch a 
 clamour and bitternefs as he now ufes, or he did not : 
 if he did, he fpoiled a good caufe with a foul fpirit : 
 if he did not, he has more zeal for the luft of his 
 Prince, than the divinity of our Saviour : but is it 
 not time to renounce tbofe bidden things of difhonejiy ? 
 This is too grofs to have it called walking in crafii- 
 nefi 9 but it is handling the Word of the Lord de- 
 ceitfully. 
 
 He concludes his Sermon with an account that 
 ' London has a club of thofe GoD-mocking wretches, 
 ' who profane this day with impious feafting.' As 
 I never was prefent at fuch an aiTembly, fo it is but 
 lately that I was well allured any perfons of note 
 could be guilty of a thing fo ludicrous ; but I am 
 fatisfied, it has been done within thefe few years ; 
 though I can tell him, (that excepting one) all the 
 perfons who met there, are fuch as our author and 
 his party do now admire for ftanch Churchmen, and 
 lovers of Monarchy •, and much joy may he have of 
 a flying fquadron, who can flep fo faft from pro- 
 faning a day to adore it. But if there is any thing 
 of this kind, I know none fo much to blame for it 
 as thofe high-flying Preachers that give the irritation. 
 From this fort of Sermons many, I mould fear, 
 would come with either anger or mirth enough for 
 fuch a defign. For, after they have attended on a 
 Par for,, and find he has not the law of truth in his 
 mouth (either truth of argument or fads) but inftead 
 of that, iniquity fires in his lips, they go away to be 
 at once revenged on his malice, and diverted with 
 
 his 
 
 ■v 
 
PRE FA C E. 303 
 
 his nonfenfe. I mould not have followed this author 
 fuch a length as I have done, if it had not kept me 
 ftill in view of that principle, upon which I fubmit 
 the Revolution and this Government as lawful, viz. 
 That if a Prince breaks the Fundamental Laws that 
 fecure the Rights and Liberties of his People, it isjujl 
 for them to take their remedy. If I had not believed 
 this to be true, I muft either have been a Nonjuror 
 or a Knave. And that fuch a turn as this is what 
 the people of Ifrael were contending for, will, I hope, 
 be evident from the ftory on which I have founded 
 the following Sermon. 
 
 
 SERMON 
 

 SERMON the FOURTEENTH, 
 
 The Lawfulnefs of refilling Tyrants, argued 
 from the Hiftory of David, and in Defence 
 of the Revolution. 
 
 Preached November 5, 1713* 
 
 1 Chron. XII. 16, 17, 18. 
 
 v4W there came of the children of Benja?nin and 
 Judah to the hold unto David. And David 
 went out to meet them, and anfwered and J aid 
 unto themy If ye be come peaceably unto me to help 
 me, mine heart Jloall be knit unto you -, but if ye 
 be come to betray me to mine enetnies, feeing there 
 is no wrong in my hands, the God of our Fathers 
 look thereon, and rebuke it. Then the fpirit came 
 upon Amafai, who was chief of the captains, and 
 he /aid, Thine are we, David, and on thy fide, 
 thou f on of fefje. Peace, peace be unto thee, and 
 peace be unto thine helpers, jor thy God helpeth 
 thee. 
 
 5&y&yifo£ Have chofen this text to ferve your medi- 
 £(-.')£ tations on the wonders of this day, that 
 ^ w at one view you may take in the cafe of 
 
 i$.y&*y&.cS- two a ° es ' anc ^ ^ ee c * c a ^ wa y s was » an d 
 
 always will be, both the duty and glory 
 
 of a people to break any yoke that is hung upon their 
 
 liberty : nor have I the leaft fear 10 do this> at a time 
 
 Vol. I. X who* 
 
306 The Lawfulnefs of rejifting tyrants. Serm. 1 4. 
 
 when the caufe itfelf is run down by men of corrupt 
 minds, and dejlitute of the truth, fuppofing that gain 
 is godlinefs (a), whofe only religion lies in their great 
 places : this, I fay, makes the defign as dear to me 
 as ever-, becaufe thefe thoughts return on a day that 
 is much to be obferved to the Lord in all our genera- 
 tions (b) : and, I hope, the wrath of man fhall be of 
 little value with my foul, whilfl I am tracing the glo- 
 ries of fuch a Providence, and calling over the won- 
 ders of old: it is, I confefs, like fin gin g the Jongs of 
 Zion on the banks of Babylon ; but though it be fo, 
 rather than forget thee, Jerufaletn ! may my right 
 hand forget her cunning (c). 
 
 The words I have now read give us a revolution, 
 a turn of government very like our own ; and it fhall 
 always make fuch a difpenfation the more facred to 
 me, when I fee it is according to the pattern in the 
 fantluary. I fhall take the fervice of this text to the 
 caufe of liberty, two ways : 
 
 Firji, As a vindication. 
 
 Secondly, As an account how fuch a defign is 
 brought about. It is both an argument of its being 
 lawful, and explains the way how it comes to be glo- 
 rious ; and the cafe of lfrael at their revolution, is 
 fo very like ours, that I need give you no other ap- 
 plication than what is mingled in the particulars as 
 we go along. 
 
 Firfi, I take this text to be a plain and notorious 
 argument that people have a right in themfelves to 
 dethrone a tyrant ; one that is in jeft with their laws, 
 and in earneft with their lives, even though the man 
 hath been spiled the Lord's anointed. This, every one 
 knows, was the cafe of lfrael, who had a King given 
 them by God himfelf : they a long while groaned 
 under the weight of his cruelty, and made good what 
 Samuel foretold, Tbey cried to the Lord in that day, 
 
 becaufe 
 
 (a) 1 Tim. vi. 5. (c) Pfalm exxxvii. 
 
 (k) Exod. xii. 24.. 
 
Serm. 14. The Lawfubzefs of ' reJiJlingTyrants. 307 
 
 becaufe of the King they had chofen (d) -, and now, at 
 lad, theyrefolve to put life and liberty upon the fame 
 foot, that if both cannot be had, both fhall be loft : 
 and unlefs you will fuppofe that thefe men ftand in 
 this chapter as rebels, without the fear of God before 
 their eyes ; if you believe, as any one muft do, that 
 the whole action appears in this flory as a thing right 
 and good, all the parts of the text may be brought 
 into the argument. If you look to the firll verfe, 
 you are told of fome that came to David to Ziklag, 
 whilft he kept himfelf clofe becaufe of Saul the fon of 
 Kifh, and they were among the mighty men, helpers cf 
 the war ; you have their names in the following ver- 
 fes, they are written among the living in Jerufalem,, 
 that the ages to come may rife up and call them bleffed ; 
 and in thefe words you meet with another number that 
 are joined in the fame caufe. 
 
 That I may lead you into the argument, I will put 
 my thoughts under thefe three heads : 
 
 I. Examine what opinion David himfelf had of 
 the caufe that thefe men of Judah and Benjamin - 
 came to help him in. 
 
 II. Shall anfwer an objection or two, and reconcile 
 what David did now, to the fcruples he had 
 formerly. And, 
 
 III. Confider what the army themfelves think of 
 the defign, who came to him, and the rather 
 becaufe what they fay is afcribed to the Sprigs . 
 
 falling upon Amajai. 
 
 I. I begin with Ddvid*s own opinion b¥ the caufe 
 he was now engaged in ; and I hope there is no need 
 to anfwer any infinuations, that what he faid was 
 from a private view for himfelf and his own intereft : 
 we will not be amufed by trifles of that nature, when 
 God hath called him a man after his own heart (<?)* 
 
 X 2 and 
 
 (d) I Sam. via. 18. (/) i Sarn \iij, 14. 
 
308 The Lawfulnefs of reji fling Tyrants. Serm .14. 
 
 and called him fo at the time that he was about to turn 
 off Saul, and transfer the kingdom to him. He had 
 now been feveral years in a kind of exile, driven out 
 from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord (f) ; and 
 we read fo much in the book of Pfalms of what 
 paffed between God and his foul in the wildernefs, and 
 all the places of his retreat, that it muft be a maxim 
 with us that he was then in the way of his duty •, fo 
 that what he faith now to the men that joined him, 
 could be no lefs than the folemn refult of confcience. 
 It behoved him then, more than ever, to know that 
 what he did was pleafing in the fight of God •, and 
 if he did not think it lawful to head an army againft 
 his King, he would never have been fo profane as to 
 life the facred name in the way that he doth •, If ye 
 be come to help me, my heart /halt be knit unto you ; but 
 if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, feeing there 
 is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look 
 on it, and rebuke it. 
 
 Thefe are his words to the children of Benjamin 
 and Judah, that came to him in the hold. This hold 
 might be the cave of Adullam, or fome other place of 
 defence, as we find it is called, 1 Sam. xxii. 4. where 
 you read that David' 's father and mother abode with the 
 king of Moab, all the while that he was in the hold : 
 and fo in the next verfe, the prophet Gad faith to 
 David, Abide not in the hold : but it is more proba- 
 bly the town of Zikl'g, that had been given him by 
 the king of the Philijlines •, there he dwelt a full year 
 and four months, at which time, they that favoured his 
 righteous caufe had more opportunity of affembling 
 to him, than they could have whilft he was [trolling 
 in the defart of Judah -, hither, among the reft, the 
 children of Judah and Benjamin repair, upon the fame 
 defign that others did, to break off the yoke of Saul, 
 and provide themfelves of a better king He hath a lit- 
 tle fufpicion of thofe that came to him from Benjamin, 
 
 they 
 
 (/) 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. 
 
Serm .14. The Lawfulnefi of refilling Tyrants. 309 
 
 they were of Saul's tribe, and retained by blood and 
 other obligations to his fervice j fo that we read of 
 them, that they were armed with bow, and could ufe 
 both their right band and left in burling ftones and /hoot- 
 ing arrows out of a bow, even Saul's brethren of Ben- 
 jamin (g) ; he had preferred them of the children of 
 Benjamin, the kindred of Saul th ee thou f and, for hi- 
 therto the great eft part of them bad kept the ward of 
 the houfe of Saul (h). He thought to have them 
 fure by places, and argueth to thole principles in them 
 that were the deareft to himfelf -, for fome there are 
 who have no influence upon any thing but the vices 
 and corruption of thofe they deal with ; they do not 
 pretend to convince your reafon, but only make pro- 
 vifion for the fiefh to fulfil the lufis thereof : thus did 
 the King to his own family, Hear me new, ye Benja- 
 mites, IV dl the fon of Jeffe give every one of you fields 
 and vineyards, and make you all captains of thoufands, 
 and captains of hundreds (i) ? and yet he was fufpi- 
 cious of them then. Nothing is more dreadful to a 
 tyrant, than men that will not be awed by the court 
 where they live, but dare to be good in great places : 
 thus were they at lead, in his opinion, AU of you have 
 confpired againfl me, and there is none that fheivetk me 
 that my fon hath made a league with the fon of Jeffe ; 
 and there is none of you is ferry for me, or fheweth unto 
 me that my fon hath Jiirred up my fervants againfl me 
 to lie in wait, as at this day (k). No, they were 
 above taking honours to tell lies •, though they were 
 born of his family, and had offices in his palace, yet 
 not a foul of them will compliment the King with 
 truth or confeience •, thefe are dearer to them than 
 any royal commands, and the only man he could find 
 to his purpofe, was Doeg the Edomite : he indeed ac- 
 cufeth David and the high priefl, and afterwards dips 
 his hand in the blood of fourfcore and five perfons that 
 
 X 3 wore 
 
 ( g) 1 Chron. xii. z. (i) \ Sam xxii. 7. 
 
 (b) 1 Chron. xii. 29. (i) Sam. xxii 8. 
 
310 The Lawfulnefs of refifting Tyrants. Serm. 14. 
 
 wore a linen ephod; and, like a true zealot for his 
 prince, facks the city of the priefts, kills man, and 
 woman, and child, and fuckling : he was before but 
 the' chief of the herd/men, and for fome notorious im- 
 morality, detained before the Lord ; but after this con- 
 summate wickednefs, he is preferred, and/<?/ over the 
 fervants of Saul-, that is, from a ranger of the foreft, 
 he is made, fteward of the houfhold. Thefe Benja- 
 mites abhorred a propofal fo bafe and vile as the king 
 made to them, and take the fir ft opportunity to de- 
 fert their mafter. 
 
 But David, who knew their obligations to Saul, 
 could not meet them without a little mixture of fuf- 
 picion, in which he lays down feveral things that are 
 arguments for the caufe of liberty •, If you be come 
 ■peaceably to me to help me, my heart Jhall be knit unto 
 you -, but if you be ccme to betray me to mine enemies^ 
 feeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our 
 fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. Where you may 
 cbferve, 
 
 1. He declares himfelf in a flate of war ; he de- 
 ftres their help •, he tells them of his enemies, and 
 who could thefe be but the men that followed him as 
 a partridge upon the mountains ? he fmgles out Saul 
 from all the world, left he tear my foul like a lion, rend- 
 ing it in pieces, while there is none to deliver (I) -, him 
 he defcribeth, behold he traveleth with iniquity, and 
 hath conceived mifchief, and brought jorth faljbcod (m) ; 
 and the vengeance of God upon this perfon he waits 
 to fee, and promifed to adore ; his mifchief Jhall return 
 ipon his own head, and his violent dealing Jkall come 
 down upon his own pale (n) ; he doth not confider 
 that head as under a crown, but as covered with guilt ; 
 and then, faith he, / will praife the Lord according to 
 his righteoufnefs ; I will Jing praife unto the name of the 
 Lord moft high (0). It could not be underftood of 
 
 the 
 
 (l) Pfalm vii. z. | (») Pfalm vii. 16. 
 
 (m) Pfalm vii. 14. | (0) Plalm vii. 17. 
 
Serm. 1 4. TheLawfuhefs ofrefijling Tyrants. 311 
 
 the Philiftines, for there he was received with the ut- 
 moft affurance, when Achifh gave him a city, and 
 faid of him, He hath made his people lfrael utterly to 
 abhor him, therefore he jhall be my fervant for ever (p). 
 They all knew whom he meant by his enemies ; tho' 
 he very often gives Saul his titles, My Lord the King, 
 and the Lord's Anointed, yet there are times of fpeak- 
 ing out, and he now reprefents him as a perfon loft 
 to all impreffions of fhame, or pity, or juftice. And 
 fuch language as this is what other good people ufe : 
 thus, when Abigail meets David, fhe is guilty of what 
 fome now have the profanenefs to call fpeaking evil of 
 dignities ; fhe doth not lay a hard cafe under a parcel 
 of foft and eafy words, and tell him that it is an un- 
 happinefs to be out of the royal favour, but ftill there 
 was nc remedy for him befide prayers and tears. No, 
 that would have been fpeaking as one of the foolifh 
 women fpeaketh ; but fhe lays down a venerable and 
 commanding truth, The Lord zvill certainly make my 
 Lord a fare houfe, becaufe my Lord fights the battles of 
 the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy 
 days, yet a man is rifen to purfue thee, and to feek thy 
 foul ; but the foul of my Lord Jhall be bound up in the 
 bundle of life with the Lord thy God, and the foul of 
 thine enemies fhall he fling as out of the middle of a 
 
 fling W- . 
 
 There is a decency that ought to be in our carriage, 
 
 when we fpeak to thole whom providence hath let 
 over us. Thus doth Paul wit the phrafe of Mofl No- 
 ble Fefius, to one that had told him he was mad ; but 
 yet thefe civilities are never to raze out a principle that 
 God hath put into every good man, that in his eyes a 
 vile perfon is contemned (r). I believe the prophet 
 Elifha underflood as much non-refijtance as ever was 
 his duty ; and yet you fee how he both fpeaks and 
 does when an officer of the King was coming againft 
 
 X 4 him •, 
 
 (p) 1 Sam. xx' 12. (r) Pfalm xv. 4. 
 
 (l) 1 Sam. x 28, 29. 
 
312 The Lawfulnefs of refifting Tyrants. Serm. 14. 
 
 him j fays he to the Elder s, See you how this fon of a 
 murderer hath fent to take away my head? look, when 
 the meffenger comes, Jhut the door, and hold him f aft at 
 the door ; is not the jound of his m after* 5 feet behind 
 kirn (s)? Thus David calls Saul his enemy, and 
 placeth him in no other view •, and I can fcarce think 
 that any one then would have the confidence to have 
 /aid that fuch a man difclaimed all imputation of re~ 
 ftftance. No, they came to him to the hold -, they faw 
 him at the head of an armed force ; he makes no 
 fecret of the defign, which he certainly would have 
 done, if he thought it had been difobedient to God, 
 and fcandalous to his people ; he would never have 
 fpoke thus, had it offended the generatibn of his 
 children. 
 
 2. He reprefents the juftice of his caufe ; it was 
 fuch a one that he claims their concurrence to it ; If 
 you be come peaceably to help me, my heart /hall be knit 
 unto yiu. He doth not only defire it as a favour to 
 him, but what he might with reafon expect from 
 every Ifraeliie, who underitood the danger of his 
 country, and the way to get out of it. It is a very 
 fm all matter who wears a crown ; the world are but 
 little concerned in the perfon ; but it is the moft ex- 
 ten five cafe, that he that rides over men be j aft, ruling 
 in the fear of the Lord (/) •, fuch a one is as the light 
 of the morning, as a morning without clouds, as the 
 tender grafs fpringing out of the earth by a clear fhining 
 after rain ; it is a blefllng to live under them. But 
 people ought to be guarded againft a tyrant, the fins 
 of Belial Jbould be all of them as thorns thruft away, 
 becaufe they cannot be taken with hands j but the man 
 that fh all touch them muft be fenced with iron, and the 
 ftaff of a [pear, and they fhall be utterly burnt with 
 fire in the fame place (u) ; to change the latter of 
 thefe for the former, was the cafe of their revolution. 
 
 It 
 
 (s) 2 Kings vi. 32. (u) 2 Sam. xxiii. 6, 7. 
 
 (t) 2 Sam. xxiii. 4, 5. 
 
Scrm. 1 4 • 7& Lawfulnefs of refifiing tyrants. 3 1 3 
 It is this both David and they had in view ; it run 
 through all his projects, When I Jhall receive the con- 
 gregation ^ 1 will judge uprightly ; the earth and all the 
 inhabitants thereof are diffolved, I bear up the pillars 
 of it. 1 find to the fools, deal not fioolifhly, and to the 
 wicked, lift not up the horn {x) : All the horns of the 
 wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous fh all 
 be exalted (y) : Thus did he fwear to the Lord, and 
 vow to the God of Jacob. You have his model of 
 government, which muft keep a court clean, and a 
 kingdom eafy, I will behave myfelf wifely in a perfecl 
 way ; O when wilt thou come to me ; I will walk within 
 my houfe with a perfecl: heart : I will fet no wicked 
 thing before my eyes : I hate the work of them that turn 
 afide, it jhall not cleave unto me ; a f reward heart Jhall 
 depart f> om me, I will not know a wicked perfion ; 
 whofo privily flanders his neighbour, him will I cut off; 
 him that hath a high look and a proud heart, will I not 
 fuffer ; mine "eyes (hall be upon the faithful of the land, 
 that they may dwell with me ; he that walks in a perfecl 
 way, he jhall ferve me ; he that works deceit, jhall not 
 dwell within my houfe ; he that telleth lies, Jhall not 
 tarry in my fight ; / will early defiroy the wicked of the 
 land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of 
 the Lord (2). How quiet would nations be, if 
 princes acted according to thefe rules ? 
 
 Saul's adminiftration was the reverfe to this ; he 
 had no opinion of any for their duty to God, or their 
 faithfulnefs to the public ; he loved a man that would 
 humour his revenge rather than one that could inlar^e 
 his empire. Thus when the Ziphites came to him at 
 Gibeah, and told him, Doth not David hide himfef with 
 us in the ftrong- holds ? Thou therefore, O King, come 
 down according to all the defire of thy foul to come 
 down, and our part Jh. ill be to deliver him into the King's 
 bands {a) -, he is more ferious to their treachery than 
 
 he 
 
 (x) Pfalm Ixxv. 2, 3, 4, 5. J («) Pfalm ci. 
 
 [y) Pfalm Ixxv. 10. (a) 1 Sam. xxiii. 19, 20. 
 
314 The Lawfukefsofre/iftmgTyrajrts. Serm. 14- 
 
 he was to all David's victories. You fee by his an- 
 fwer what it is that gives a tyrant the chief raptures, 
 and fooneft leads him into his te deums: Bleffed be you 
 of the Lord, for you have compafjion on me -, go, I pray 
 you, prepare yet, and know and fee his place where his 
 haunt ts, and who hath feen him, for it is told me he 
 deals very fubtilly *, fee therefore and take knowledge of 
 all the lurking places where he hides himfelf, and come 
 ye again to me with certainty, and I will go with you ; 
 and it fJjall come to pa/s, that if he be in the land, I 
 will fearch him out through all the thoufands of Judah 
 (b). This was the way to preferment then, to rail 
 at the man whom God had honoured in fo many bat- 
 tles : thus fweet and dear was revenge to the King, 
 that he neglects all intelligence about the Philiflines, 
 if he can but get it about David \ for as foon as he 
 went upon this fcandalous expedition, a mefienger 
 comes in all hafte to tell him that the Philiflines had 
 invaded the land (c). It was time for the people to 
 grow weary of flich a one, and turn their thoughts 
 another way •, and from the bondage they were in, 
 and the profpect they had of changing for the better, 
 does David expect that though they were Saul's kin- 
 dred, they would be his friends, and come peaceably to 
 help him, that his heart might be knit unto them. 
 
 3. He fuppofeth a cafe that he hopes they could 
 not be guilty of, and that was, betraying him into the 
 hands of his enemies. You know it was this fufpicion 
 among the Philifiine lords, that made them infift upon 
 it, that the king mould fend him away from their 
 army •, for wherewith flo all he reconcile him f If to his 
 majhr ? Shall it not be with the heads of thefe men ? 
 And how uneafy muft he be in this ftruggle between 
 his belief, that thefe were men that knew and purfued 
 the public intereft, and his fears that having been in 
 a vile court, they might come upon ill defigns ? And 
 therefore, 
 
 4. He 
 
 (b) 1 Sam. xxiii. 21, 22, 23. | (c) 1 Sam. xxiii. 27. 
 
Serm.14. The Lawfitlnefs of rejtjling Tyrants. 315 
 4. He afierts the innocence of his perfon, as well 
 as the goodnefs df his defign ; There is no wrong in 
 my hand. He could fay that when he had a fword in 
 his hand drawn to give his fovereign battle : he fpeaks 
 with a fecurity in the caufe itfelf, and could defpife all 
 thofe that would call him rebel or traitor j though I 
 do not know any fo likely to do it as Daeg the Edo- 
 mite, whofe loyalty I have already given you an ac- 
 count of. This juftice the Scripture hath done to the 
 priefthood of that age, to tell us that they were not 
 tools of the court, or rulers to the darknefs of the 
 people ; no, they have both the fenfe to underftand 
 the welfare of Ifrael, and the bravery to pufh it. Of 
 the children of Levi four thoufand and fix hundred, 
 and Jehoiada was the leader of the daroniles, and with 
 him three thou/and and fiven hundred ; and Zadok a 
 young man mighty of valour , and of his fathers houfe 
 twenty-two captains (d). It fignifies very little what 
 names thofe people give to a caufe, who never under- 
 ftood it : that need not break in upon the eafinefs that 
 a good man hath in himfelf ; though they that fit in 
 the gate fhould fpeak againfl him, and he become the 
 fong of the drunkards (/?). The two tribes and a half 
 on the other fide Jordan had the comfort of an ap- 
 peal to heaven, at a time when they were mifunder- 
 ftood by their brethren ; The Lord God of gods, the 
 Lord God of gods he knows, and Ifrael he /hall know, 
 that what we do is not in rebellion and tranfgreffion 
 againfl the Lord (/). 
 
 David was fo far from a feared conference that is 
 ■paft feeling, that his heart fmote him when he cut off 
 the fkirt of Saul's garment ; and yet now he hath no 
 fcruple to go out in battle, to refift unto blood, flnving 
 againfl fin. Thefe men of Judah and Benjamin find 
 him in arms, furrounded with his valiant Gadites who 
 feparated themfelves to him, men of might and men of 
 
 war, 
 
 (d) 1 Sam. xxiii. 26, 27, 28. J (/) Jofhua xxii. 22. 
 
 (e) Pfalm lxix. 1 2. 
 
3 16 The Lawfulnefs of 'rejlfiing Tyrants. Serm. 14, 
 
 war, fit for the battle, that could handle Jhield and 
 buckler, wbofe faces were like the faces of lions, and 
 were fwifter than roes upon the mountains. One of the 
 leafi captains of the hoji was over a hundred, and the 
 greatefi over a thoufand (g) \ they had already put to 
 flight them of the valleys to the eafi and to the weft \h) ; 
 and yet though he was going out againft his King at 
 the head of fo great a force, he could fay, there is no 
 wrong in my hands. 
 
 5. If they were come to fpoil fo good a caufe, he 
 appeals to the vengeance of heaven, The Lord God of 
 our fathers look on it, and rebuke it: obferve, he doth 
 not fay the Lord, whofe vicegerent Saul is, who 
 anointed him, who gave you him for a King. Thefe 
 were low confiderations of Providence; for that is 
 what he did in his anger ; but he puts them in mind 
 of that common intereft that God had joined them 
 all in, and how many ages this had continued by his 
 care : he was the God of their fathers. He could fee 
 through all their difguife ; if they were only pre* 
 tended friends, he would look on it ; and though they 
 might think it out of David's power to prevent the 
 treachery, yet he puts it into the hands of one who 
 could rebuke them ; and do you think that he had any 
 -fcruple about the lawfulnefs of refilling Saul, when 
 he calls down the great God to avenge him on thofe 
 that hinder it ? Durft he fpeak in this manner of fuch 
 a crime as would pur chafe to himfelf damnation? And 
 whofe opinion ought to be of value with us, whether 
 his, who makes the greateft figure in the Old Tefta- 
 ment, or fome who are plainly enough defcribed in 
 the New ? That they are raging waves of the fea, 
 foaming out their own Jhame ; wandring Jiars, who 
 count it pleafure to riot in the day-time ; fpots and ble~ 
 mi floes, fporting thetnf elves with their own Receivings (i), 
 who are gone aflray after the error of Balaam for 
 
 reward, 
 
 (g) Joftiua xxii. 8. I (0 2 Pet. ii. 13, 14. 
 
 (b) Jofhua xxii. 14, 15. | 
 
Serrti.i4' TheLawfidnefsofrefiftingTyrants. 317 
 
 reward, loving the ways of unrighteoufnefs, beguiling 
 unfiable fouls, freaking great /welling words of vanity, 
 who have mens perfons in admiration becaufe of advan- 
 tage (£). In this you may fum up the argument, that 
 David now declareth himfelf in a ftate of war with 
 Saul. He invites thefe Benjamites into his caufe ; and, 
 though he is in open arms againft the Lord's anointed, 
 yet he faith there is no wrong in his hands : nay, he 
 reprefents their betraying him as a crime againft hea- 
 ven, and tells them the Gcd of their fathers would look 
 on it, and rebuke it. 
 
 II. After I have laid out David's opinion of the 
 caufe he was in, I will not be very long upon thofe 
 Objections that we often hear of, though they each of 
 them refer to what he faid on a fudden, and ought 
 not to be of the fame value with this deliberate folemn 
 action that we have in the text. 
 
 Objetl. 1 . One is taken from his refufal to let Abifhai 
 cut off SauPs head ; and his own heart fmiting him 
 when he took away but a part of his garment ; and 
 giving this as the reafon, that none could Jiretch out 
 his band againft the Lord's anointed, and be guiltlefs \ 
 but this doth no; reach the cafe before us, upon fe- 
 veral accounts. 
 
 1 . All that was offered to him then was only the gra- 
 tifying a perfonal revenge. Behold the day is come which 
 the Lord faid unto thee, I will deliver thine enemy 
 into thine hand, that thou may ft do to him as it fhall feem 
 good to thee (/). And thus it was the fecond time, 
 when a deep feep fell upon them from the Lord, God hath 
 delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day, let me 
 finite him with the f pear. This David refuted, he was 
 of another opinion, and Abifhai perhaps was a better 
 foldier than a judge of prophecies -, for the clay was 
 not come, in which David mould be delivered frcm 
 
 his 
 (•*) Jude 13— 15. I (/) iSam.xxiv. 4. 
 
3 18 c TheLawfuhiefsofreJifti?tg c Tyrants, Serm. 14. 
 
 his enemy, he refers himfelf to a farther decifion ; 
 The Lord judge betzveen me and thee, and the Lord 
 avenge me of thee, but mine band Jhall not be upon thee. 
 And thus he tells them, The Lord Jhall fmite him, or 
 his day Jhall come to die, or he Jhall defcend into the 
 battle, and perijh •, as if he had made no fcruple of 
 doing it there. 
 
 2. It muft have thrown the whole kingdom into the 
 greateft confufion to have killed him at that time, 
 becaufe the people were not come to underftand their 
 intereft in David, as they did afterwards. Saul was 
 then only chargeable with a private courfe of envy j 
 the Scripture has left this credit upon his name, that 
 though he was an ill man, yet for fome years he had 
 not the marks of a bad King : he was never guilty of 
 betraying them to the enemy, under no influence from 
 Philijline counfels, but kept up the bravery of his 
 people •, He bad them teach the children of Judah the 
 life of the bow. He clothed the daughters of Ifrael with 
 fcarlet and other delights, and put ornaments of gold 
 upon their necks. From the blood of theflain, from the fat 
 of the mighty, his j word returned not empty (;;;). But 
 after his temper was foured, he run loofe into that 
 which deftroys Kings, and therefore there might be 
 more reafon for David to attack him now than there 
 had been before. 
 
 3. He had particular obligations to wait till the 
 promifes of God to him fhould take effect. At the 
 time of his o-oing down to Saul there were two things 
 extraordinary •, Firfi, The King and his armies being 
 in a deep ileep ; and, Secondly, David's knowing it 
 at that diftance : now, when he went to fee a miracle, 
 he would not allow himfelf in any common aft of juf- 
 tice ; he could eafily argue, that the God who had 
 clofed the fenfes, could extinguifh the life of his ene- 
 my, and therefore leaves him in his hands. 
 
 4. In 
 
 (m) zSam.i. 18, 22, 24, 
 
Serm. 1 4. Tbe Lawfukefs ofrefifling Tyrants. 3 r 9 
 
 4. In his fpeeches to Saul, he intimates that his 
 fparing him is more than could have been expected, 
 which he would not have done had he thought it fb 
 bad as fome do. Is it any wonder that David fliould 
 not purchafe to himfeif damnation ? Nay Saul puts it 
 upon no maxim of loyalty, does not tell him that he 
 had done no more than what every fubjecl: was obliged 
 to, but is rather furprifed at it : Q Ihou art more righteous 
 than I, for thou haft rewarded me good, whereas I have 
 rewarded thee evil : Thou hajl /hewn this day, how thou 
 hajl dealt well with me, forafmuch as when the Lord 
 delivered me into thine hand, thou killedfi me not ; if a 
 man find his enemy, will he let him go well away (n) ? 
 
 5. The moft that can ever be argued from this is, 
 that David was of a different fpirit from thofe Mo- 
 narchs, who encourage and hire afTafiinations. He 
 hated to murder a man by proxy, whom he durft not 
 fight in perfon : he never ftrove to be great by a 
 wickednefs in the cave, but by an appearance in the 
 field. 
 
 6. It is plain he had all his thoughts turned upon a 
 reconciliation to Saul, and therefore ventured to ftay 
 and talk with him •, // is my voice, my Father, my Lord 
 and King. JVherefore hear eft thou mens words againfi 
 thy fervant, faying, David feeks thine hurt ? See, for 
 that I cut off the Jkirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, 
 there is neither evil nor tranfgreffion in my hand, and I 
 have not finned again ft thee (0) •, and again, Wherefore 
 does my Lovd purfue after his fervant, for what have I 
 done, or what evil is in my hands (p) ? But now at laft, 
 Saul had almoil filled up the me a fur e of his iniquity ; 
 the people grew weary of his opprefhcns, and David 
 could have no hopes of living eafy with one who 
 had hardned again after fo many humiliations : nnd 
 therefore he never fcruples to receive thofe that 
 
 came 
 
 («) 1 Sam. xxiv. 17— 19, I {p) 1 Sam. xxvi. 1 8. 
 
 (#) 1 5am,?xiv. 9— .i 1, | 
 
320 TheLawfuhefsofreJiJlingTyrmits. Serm.14. 
 
 came to him, as there did zgreat company day by day y 
 till it was an hofi like the hojl of God (q). 
 
 Objeft. 2. Another objection is grounded on his 
 lamentation over Saul's death ; it is not likely he 
 would have acled what he fo greatly bewailed. And 
 he ordered the Amalekite to be flain for ftretching out 
 his hand againft the Lord's anointed. And how was 
 this confident with his own being in arms ? I anfwer, 
 
 1. The fall of the army on mount Gilboa, and the 
 triumph of the Philijlines over Saul's body, was a re- 
 proach laid upon Ifrael, and it was this he lamented : 
 befides he had there loft his friend Jonathan, whoje love 
 to him was greater than the love of women (r) ; and the 
 fart that he and his army kept was upon a very public 
 account ; They mourned and wept until even for Saul 
 and for Jonathan his fon, and for the people of the Lord, 
 and for the houfe of Ifrael, becaufe they were fallen by 
 the fword (j). 
 
 2. It is certain hepreffed with fome vehemence to 
 go out againft Saul to battle, in the rear of Achijb's 
 army -, he allured him, Thou fh all fee this day what thy 
 fervant can do (t): nay he took more troops under his 
 command at that very time : There fell fame of Ma- 
 najfeh to David, when he went with the Philijlines 
 againfi Saul to battle («). 
 
 3. As for his ordering the Amalekite to be flain, it 
 it does not in the leaft affect this caufe ; he was one 
 of that race whom God had commanded Saul to de- 
 Itroy i and it is likely there was fome revenge in what 
 the man did ; it is certain he did it on purpofe to 
 make his court to David : I have taken off the crown 
 and the bracelets, and have brought them to my Lord {x). 
 He therefore confiders him as an enemy to Jfrael, and 
 not as a rebel againft Saul; for in that fenle, the 
 
 argument 
 
 (y) 1 Chron. xii. 22. 
 (r) 2 Sam. i. 26. 
 \s) 2 Sam. i. 12. 
 
 (/) 1 Sam. xxviii. 2. 
 («) i Chron. xii. 19. 
 (a-) 2 Sam. i. 10. 
 
Serai. 1 4* ( TheLawfukefsofreJiJUngTyra?its. 321 
 
 argument did not belong to him : How waft thou not 
 afraid to firetch out thine hand againfi the Lord's anoint- 
 ed? God had not anointed Said for his Ruler; this 
 Amalehte was not fubject to him, and therefore David 
 in condemning him, does but punifli one of an ac- 
 curfed nation, a known adverfary to his people, a 
 thief and a murderer : and he fhewed a true greatnefs 
 of fpirit, not to owe his throne to Heathens and Ruf- 
 fians. 
 
 III. Having gone through David's opinion of his 
 caufe, and taken off the force of thofe objections that 
 are raifed againft it, I go on to the anfwer that was 
 made him by thofe brave fouls who came to join him. 
 Then the Spirit came upon Amafai, who was the chief of 
 the captains, and he faid, Thine are we, David, and 
 on thyjide, thou fon of Jeffe. Peace, peace be unto thee, 
 and peace be to thine helpers ; for thy God helpeth thee. 
 That the caufe was as clear to them, as it had been 
 to him, appears in every particular of this fentence. 
 
 1. The man that fpeaks for them is Amafai, the 
 chief of the Captains. There was no need to call it, as 
 fome have done a defign of the like nature, an ad- 
 vancing the power of the mob : here is a man of the 
 firft rank, that takes upon him to deliver the public 
 fenfe of thofe that were under his command ; and do 
 you think that he who lived in a court could be igno- 
 rant of loyalty ? Doubtlefs there was no man in Ifrael 
 that better underftood how much obedience was ow- 
 ing to Saul, and what confcience had to do with an 
 unrighteous command. 
 
 I could not forbear this note, it hits fo exactly to 
 a circumftance of our Revolution. Though we have 
 a late fpawn of writers, who reprefent that great work 
 as only the rolling of a multitude ; yet it is well known 
 that perfons of the firit quality invited the Prince of 
 Orange over. The Paper called, The Addrefs of the 
 
 Vol. h Y Engltfh 
 
322 The Lawfulnefs of rejijling tyrants. Serm. 14^ 
 
 Englifh Protefiants, was figned by Dr Sancroft, Arch- 
 bifhop of Canterbury ', and the greateft part of that 
 Order, which fhewed what fpirit they were of in th* 
 time of their danger ; and it is of little value with me, 
 that they who made no fcruple to pray to a Prince, 
 fhould make any to /wear to him. Our nobility and 
 gentry all over the nation declared the right that was 
 in them not to be undone, and flocked in to their 
 Deliverer, in the manner that thofe forces did to Da- 
 vid. Nay that which gave the greateft figure to the 
 defign was, that the prefent Queen and her late Con- 
 fort Prince George of Denmark, loved their Religion 
 and Country above any ties of blood •, her Majefty 
 began to be glorious at Nottingham, (as an earneft 
 what her name fhould be in Germany and Flanders) by 
 leading thofe people as a General, which Ihe mould 
 afterwards command as a Sovereign : Ihe then ap- 
 peared in the beft character of Levi, who /aid to bis 
 father and to his mother, I have not feen him, neither 
 did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own chil- 
 dren (z). And though there are Home who pleafe 
 themfelves with a phrafe of thanking God that they 
 had no hand in it, yet we are met this day to thank 
 our God that others had. Our hearts are towards the 
 Governors of Ifrael, who willingly offered themfelves 
 among the people : praife ye the Lord (a). And it is 
 pity that they who hate the principles of this caufe, 
 fhould roll in the profits. But there is fomething 
 greater may be faid of Amafai than that he was the 
 chief of the Captains-, for, 
 
 2. The Spirit came upon him. I own, that a re- 
 markable fhare of wifdom and courage (hall go by 
 this name in Scripture ; and this is what we are to un- 
 derftand by God's giving Saul another heart : but there 
 feems to be more defigned by it here,, becaufe he 
 fpeaks of God's helping David, and that peace would 
 
 be 
 
 (x) Deut. xxxiii. g. | («) Judg. v. 9. 
 
Serm. 14. The Lawfulnefs of rejjfting Tyrants, 323 
 be to the men who did fo too. So that we are to take 
 it for an uncommon impulfe, that mould both tell 
 him what would be, and warm him to purfue it. It 
 was a Spirit of wifdom and under/landing, of coanfel and 
 might -, and this comes from the Lord, who is excellent in 
 counfel, and wonderful in working. Now can we think 
 that his Spirit would ftamp a rebellion, or fet his feal 
 to that which is a damning fin ? Indeed a man that 
 can call the operations of the Spirit mechanical, may 
 Call duty and fin fo too, and thus add nonfenfe to his 
 blafphemy ; but they that know with what a reverence 
 thefe things are fpoke of in Scripture, will never doubt 
 the lawfulnefs of a caufe that is thus recommended ; 
 they will confider the work of God, that none can make 
 that crooked that he has made ftraight (b). 
 
 3. He alfures him of their union to him, in fuch 
 words as are laid down with the greater!: evidence and 
 beauty : Thine are we, David, and on thy fide, thou. 
 Jon of Jeffe -, which he would never have faid, if he 
 thought there was any wrong in his hands. Theie 
 people do not only approve of his defigns, but ven- 
 ture themfelves upon that bottom ; though you know 
 the hazard was no lefs than of their lives. He fpeaks 
 of his heart being knit to them ; and they, in return, 
 mingle thus with him ; they profefs themfelves to be 
 his, with his perfon, and in his caufe j his and theirs 
 was to be a common danger. 
 
 4. He pronounces a bleffing upon the defign, and 
 thofe that were engaged in it : Peace, -peace be unto 
 thee j as the chief leader in this noble caufe, and peace 
 be unto thine helpers. This may be confidered as a 
 wifh -, they defired he might have fuccefs, which they 
 durft not have done under any fcruple of its being law- 
 ful. Bidding a man God-fpeed {c) that is procuring 
 to himfelf damnation, is being partaker of his evil 
 deeds. But befides, this may be taken for a prophecy ; 
 they carried an affurance in them, that the defign 
 
 Y 2 would 
 
 {b) Ecclef. vii. 13, I (c) 2 John i<v 
 
324 < TheLawfulnefsofreJifting c Iyrants. Serm.14* 
 
 would do, and make its way through the fences of 
 tyranny ; and the reafon they give for it comes in 
 the laft place, 
 
 5. For thy Godhelpeth thee : and how profane would 
 it be to lay fuch an affertion as this upon an unrigh- 
 teous act ? Would they dare to fay that God hasfel- 
 lowfhip with iniquity ? That he is confederate with 
 rebels againfl his own anointed ? No, but they knew, 
 and fo may every one elfe that reads the Bible with 
 any care, that all government is for the good of thofe 
 that are under it •, and not merely for the glitter and 
 vanity of them that are in it : and therefore, when 
 the greatnefs of fingle perfons is founded on the ruin 
 of communities, the primitive inflitution is defeated ; 
 it is no longer of God, and ceafes to have any bu- 
 finefs with conscience. David and Jmafai, and all 
 this revolution-army, knew well enough that a great 
 deal of duty was owing to Saul, as the Lord's 
 anointed ; that whilft he ruled according to law, the 
 perfon that difobeyed him, incurred a penalty j. but 
 they could diftinguifh, as we in the gofpel may better 
 do, between living to the lujls of men y and to the will 
 cf God(d). 
 
 There were feveral of God's own inflitutions that 
 David broke in upon without being guilty ; as, his 
 eating thejhew-bread ; of which our Saviour fays it 
 was not lawful for him to eat it, nor thofe that were 
 with him, but only for the priefls ; and yet he could 
 tell Ahimelech, that the bread was in a manner commsn, 
 though it had been fanffified that day in the veffel (e), 
 which Christ puts upon nothing elfe, but his being 
 hungry. So again, he took away the weapon that 
 had been laid up before the Lord, behind the ephod, 
 the Sword of Goliath the Phihfline (f), which fome 
 would have the ignorance to call facrilege. But the 
 reafon was, he wanted thefe things; and mere cere- 
 monial 
 
 (d) 1 Pet. iv. 1,2. (f) 1 Sam. xxi. 9. 
 
 (e) 1 Sam. xxi. 5. 
 
Serm.14. The Lawfulnefs of refilling Tyra?2ts. 325 
 
 monial laws, though they were of God's own mak- 
 ing, give way to neceffity. Thus, they knew that 
 Kings were called gods, as well as we ; and yet they 
 could complain, How long will ye judge unjujlly, and 
 accept the perfons of the wicked (g)? Nay, perhaps they 
 do not think them above the great execution of juftice. 
 / have faid (that is, the Pfalmifi faid) ye are gods, 
 but ye Jhall die like men, and fall like one of the princes 
 (h). The title of god, as applied to a creature, is far 
 from making it jrreMible ; becaufe the devil is called 
 the god of this world, an, d we are to refift him y being 
 ftedfaft in our faith (i). 
 
 (2.) There is another ufe of thefe words, and that 
 is, not only to prove the caufe of liberty, but ex- 
 plain the way, how it becomes glorious ; and this 
 may be for the encouragement of thofe who are wait- 
 ing for the confolation of Ifrael. I would from the 
 text obferve to you, 
 
 1. That the intereft of liberty may run very low 
 for a long time, and have all its courfe under grounds 
 The perfons that refolve to offer it up in facrifice, may 
 have more than heart can wifh ; fet their ?nouths againfi 
 the heavens, and let their tongues go through the earth 
 (k) : and fuch as favour that righteous caufe, of whom 
 the world is not worthy, be treated as the off-fcouring 
 of all things. Thus it was with David-, Saul fixed 
 him in his envy, which put on all the forms of in- 
 juftice -, removing him from his command in the 
 army, where his name was much fet by, attempting to 
 flab him, perfuading his wife to murder him, chafing 
 him at the head of great numbers ; and this, after he 
 had deferved fo well of the crown, when he put his 
 life in his hand, and flew the Philiftine (/). 
 
 It is a true obfervation, that if a ruler hearken to 
 Y 3 lies, 
 
 (g) Pfalm lxxx. 1, 2. 
 [b) Pfalm lxxx. 6, 7. 
 {*) 1 Pet, v. 9. 
 
 {k) Pfalm Ixxiii. 7, 9. 
 (/) 1 Sam. xix. 5. 
 
326 The Lawfulnefs of refifting Tyrants. Serm. 14, 
 
 lies, all his fervants are wicked (m). Such a King 
 would foon find men to his purpofe. The Ziphites 
 betray the poor exile that hid himfelf in their woods. 
 Nabal denies him bread, though he had for fome time 
 guarded his flocks : but the moft ungrateful part of 
 all was, what the men of Keilah a£ted when he had 
 faved them from the Philiftines, who came to rob their 
 threfhingfioors •, yet God tells him thofe fordid crea- 
 tures would give him up to Saul. 
 
 There is a great deal of reafon why there mould 
 be a teeming death upon the caufe of God -, it is to 
 engage the more prayer and holinefs ; to make peo- 
 ple underfland the common intereft better than they 
 would do, and to fet off the deliverance, when it 
 comes, that, as it is the doing of the Lord, it may be 
 marvelous in our eyes -, it is alfo to diftinguifh between 
 thofe whofe zeal for the public is only to be private 
 gainers by it, and fuch as prefer Jerufalem above their 
 chief efi joy ; and it may be to give fin ners room for 
 filling up the meafure of their iniquities, that the wick- 
 ednefs of the wicked may come to an end, and Provi- 
 dence eftablifh thejujl (n): for thefe and feveral other 
 reafons, may the caufe of God and the liberties of 
 his people be a long while embaraffed : but, 
 
 2. You may farther obferve that the counfel of the 
 Lord fhall ft and, and the purpofe of his heart be efta- 
 blifhed. David had fome private encouragements which 
 he lived upon, when it was dangerous for any to own 
 him. Abigail tells him, that God would build him a 
 fure houfe, becaufe he fought the battles of the Lord (0). 
 Nay, Jonathan went into the wood, and strengthens 
 his hands in God -, Thou, fays he, fhalt be King over 
 Ifrael, and that Saul my father knows: which was 
 true enough •, for he himfelf confefleth it : it is ex- 
 torted from him, when he fays, Thou art righteous ', 
 my fon David, for I have played the fool and erred ex- 
 ceedingly, 
 
 (m) Prov. xxix. 12. (0) 1 Sam. xxiii. 16, 17. 
 
 \n) Pfalm vii. 9. 
 
Serm. 14. The Lawfulnefs of 'refijling Tyrants. 327 
 
 ceedingly, and now I know that thou Jhalt be King, and 
 the kingdom of Ifrael efiablijhed in thine hand (/>). 
 Saul's defign was to fet afide the fucceffion that God 
 appointed •, he had forfeited for himfelf and all his 
 pofterity : The kingdom was rent from him, and given 
 to a neighbour who was better than he. And yet he 
 has the vanity to tell his fon of an hereditary right, 
 though at the fame time he calls him the Son of a per- 
 verfe rebellious woman. Haft not thou, fays he, cbofm 
 the fon of Jeffe to thine own confufton? For fo long as he 
 lives upon the ground, thou Jhalt not be eflabliflped in thy 
 kingdom (q). 
 
 Indeed we may think, there was fo little appear- 
 ance of having things turn well, that it is a wonder 
 David would ever attempt it. His army at finl were 
 as mean for quality as for number. Every one that 
 was in diftrefs, and every one that was in debt, and 
 every one that was difcontented, gathered themfelves unto 
 him, and he became a captain over them, and there were 
 with him about four hundred men {r) : and yet with 
 this unlikely handful does he put himfelf into the 
 way of the promife ; for then he does not defpair, 
 but went to the King of Moab with this petition, Let y 
 I pray thee, my father and my mother be with you, till 
 I know what God will do for me (s). Thus he was 
 kept in heart, till the fet time for God to favour him* 
 came •, and thofe perfons are in the way of their duty, 
 who do not give up a caufe for all the bad fy mptoms that 
 are upon it. They know that judgment will return unto 
 righteoufnefs, and all the upright in heart will follow 
 after it (/). 
 
 3. That which looks fo mean is to be glorious. 
 Indeed David had the promife of a kingdom; we 
 have nothing fo very particular in our cafe : but, re- 
 member the covenant that is made with him, who 
 
 Y 4 is 
 
 (p) i Sam. xxiv. 20. (s) 1 Sam. xxii. 5. 
 
 (?) 1 Sam. xx. 30. (t) Pfalm xciv. if, 
 
 (r) i Sam. xxii. z. 
 
328 The Lawfulnefs ofrefifting tyrants. Serm. 1 4.^ 
 
 is called the root and offspring of David («) ; it is, that 
 he Jfha.ll be heado r cer all things unto his church (x) ; that 
 his enemies are to bow before him, and lick the duft ; 
 that none of themjhall be able to keep alive his own foul, 
 but a feed fhall ferve him, and fuch as are accounted to 
 the Lord for a generation (y). In order to this, when 
 he takes to himfelf his great power and reigns, he will 
 deflroy them that deftroy the earth (z). Thefe are 
 things we are fure of; the Lord has fworn to him, and. 
 will not repent it, thou art a prieft for ever {a). 
 
 The great enemy of his intereft is not an Heathen 
 power, but fomething that goes by his name, and is 
 called Chriftian. Babylon, the mother of witchcrafts 
 and abominations in the midfl of the earth {b). And 
 this is to come tumbling down from the laft degrees 
 of pride and ftupidity. How much fhe has glorified 
 her f elf and lived delicioujly, fo much torment and for - 
 row give her, for fhe has J aid in her heart, I jit a 
 Queen and am no widow, and fhall fee no forrow ; 
 therefore fhall her plagues come in one day, death and 
 mourning and fatnine ; fhe fhall utterly be burnt with 
 fire, for firong is the Lord God who judgeth her (c). 
 It is not for us to know when the end of thefe things 
 will be •, but happy is the perfon that comes out of her 9 
 yvho is not partaker of her fins, and does not help her 
 to be great, but rather teftifies againft her ; fuch an 
 one fhall reft in his lot at the end of the day (d)» 
 
 4. You may obferve, in the laft place, that when 
 the Spirit of the Lord comes upon a people, it will 
 give a glorious revival to the caufe that feems to be 
 loft. By this I mean not only a religious temper, a 
 holinefs of heart and life, but a wifdom that will 
 form defigns, and a courage that will dare to follow 
 
 them, 
 
 (a) Rev. xxii. 16. 
 (#) Eph. i. 22. 
 (y) Pfalm xxii. 29, 30. 
 (2) Rev. xi. 1 8. 
 
 (a) Pfalm ex. 4. 
 (t>) Rev. xvii. 5. 
 
 (c) Rev. xvii. 7, 8. 
 
 (d) Dan. xii. 23. 
 
Serm. 14. The Lawfulnefs of refifting tyrants. 329. 
 
 them. This will at any time be able to retrieve what 
 feems impoflible in a common way. For, 
 
 1. It eftablifhes a union among the people who 
 engage for this caufe. Till men have their hearts 
 extended beyond a private intereft, they will not be 
 honoured with repairing our breaches and refioring 
 -paths to dwell in (<?). David had the happinefs of 
 Ifrael in his view, which the army that joined him 
 were conlcious to. It was this that hut his heart to 
 them, and embodied them with him. Thine are we, 
 David, and on thy fide, thGU fon of Jejfe. But 
 how different is the language of the ten tribes to 
 his grandfon ? When his notions of empire are only 
 to make himfelf great, and his people little ; he lofes 
 their hearts, as they had loft his : What portion have 
 we in David, and what inheritance in the fon of Jeffe ? 
 Every man to his tents, O Ifrael, Now David, fee to 
 thins own houfe (f). 
 
 The good of an uniting fpirit is what they found 
 at their revolution. It is faid of Zebulun that they 
 were not of a double heart (g) ; and of the whole 
 army, that thefe were men of war, and could keep 
 rank, and came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make 
 David King over all Ifrael \ and all the refl of Ifrael 
 were of one heart to make David King (b). It has al- 
 ways been the artifice of enemies to work up private 
 views and pafTions as high as they could, and dafh 
 one good man againft another. Thus they endea- 
 vour to weaken an intereft, which when it is efta- 
 blifhed will crufh them to powder. But when the 
 ipirit comes upon a people, they will fee both the 
 folly of their own animofities, and the villainy of 
 thofe that prompted them. Judah will no longer vex 
 Ephraim, nor Ephraim envy Judah, but they fhall 
 have the fame zeal to unite, that they once had to 
 differ. 
 
 2. Another 
 
 (e) I fa. lviii. 13, (g) i Chron. xii. 33. 
 
 (f) 1 Kings xii. 16. (£) 1 Chron. xii. 38. 
 
330 The Lawfukefs of refiftwg Tyrants. Serm. 14.' 
 
 2. Another glory of this caufe is, that it is carried 
 on with a mighty fenfe of God upon the hearts of 
 men ; of him as a Sovereign, and of him as a Friend. 
 It is to this that Amafai refers all his good wifhes td 
 David's friends, and all his hopes in the defign itfelf ; 
 Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy helpers* 
 for thy God helpeth thee. Nor is there any thing that 
 infpires more courage into the hearts of people, than 
 this belief that they are fighting the Lord's battles ; 
 and therefore he, for whole fake they came into dan- 
 ger, is able to lead them through. All the other 
 principles of war are of a lower fort ; the juftice of 
 a caufe, the gains of a conqueft, may have a great in- 
 fluence upon thofe that look no farther than them- 
 felves •, but to think of an Omnipotence that is con- 
 federate with you, leads up the meditation to fome- 
 thing above. There is no perfon fo equal to the ha- 
 zards of a battle, as one that has good hope through 
 grace that all is fecure for his foul on the other fide ; 
 that to fall is to die but once, and then to live for 
 ever. And befides, fuch people are acted by a faith 
 that out of weaknefs can make flrong, and has turned 
 to flight the armies of the Aliens {i) : and no wonder 
 when they correfpond with the God of the fpirits of all 
 jlefh, with him who has the (lores of nature as well 
 as grace ; it makes them go into the field with a divi- 
 nity in their refolutions ; they bathe their fwords in 
 heaven (&), as God himfelf fays he would do ; it 
 takes a celeftial edge : they are helping the Lord againft 
 the mighty (I) ; one who has claimed fuch a concern 
 in the war, as to call himfelf the God of the armies 
 of Jfrael. 
 
 And it is this that we now want ; we have too long 
 trufted in an arm of flefh, and had our reliance upon 
 nothing greater than the courage and wifdom of men. 
 God has fhewn us the vanity of all this, by denying 
 
 his 
 
 (/) Heb. xi. 34/ (/) Jud. v. 23: 
 
 (i)Ifa. xxxiv. 5. \ 
 
Serm. 14. The Lawfukefs of reji/img Tyrants. 331 
 
 his bleffing to the bed counfels, and nobleft attempts ; 
 and by futfering little dirty fa&ions to confound the 
 molt honourable fchemes that ever were laid : he has 
 let us fee that all our defigns can only fucceed by his 
 Providence •, and when it pleafes him, who has the 
 refidue of the Spirit, to give it fuch a difFufion amongft 
 us, that people mall flow to their duty, be tender of 
 his honour, not dare to profane his name, or neglect 
 his worfhip ; when he fhews them the way to their 
 fenfes, and the value of their fouls, it will foon give 
 fuch a turn, that the righteous floall fee it, and rejoice^ 
 and iniquity for ever flop her mouth (m). The Jews 
 complained, that their preparations, nay, their very 
 fuccelfes came to nothing. We have been with child, 
 we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth 
 wind, we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth, 
 neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen (n). 
 But this caufe was to be fetched out of its grave, and 
 therefore he fpeaks of it in the terms of a refur- 
 rection : Thy dead men /hall live, together with my dead 
 body fhall they arife ; awake and Jing, ye that dwell in 
 the duft -, thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth 
 fhall caft out her dead {0). 
 
 If you afk what we can pretend to, as a parallel to 
 this that Amafai faid, Thy God helps thee ? Upon what 
 caufe and people can we lay fo great a promife ? I 
 muft only anfwer in the general, and leave you to fit 
 the defcriptions. 
 
 The intereft that he maintains, always takes into it 
 a political equity •, He fits in the throne judging right 
 (p). He will avenge any want of integrity in any 
 public leagues and covenants, David was fo fenfible 
 of this, that had he been guilty, it would have made 
 him defpair of mercy. If I have rewarded evil to 
 him that was at peace with me, let the enemy perfecute 
 my foul and take it ; let him tread down my life upon the 
 
 earth % 
 
 (m) Pfalm cvii. 43. (0) I fa. xxvi. 19. 
 
 (») Ifai. xxvi. 1 8. I (f>) Pfalm ix. 9; 
 
332 TheLawfulnefsofreJijiingTyrants. Serm. 14. 
 
 earthy and lay mine honour in the dufi (q). A na- 
 tional truth is fo great a duty in the fight of God, that 
 you fee how he deals with the King of Judab for his 
 violation of it, though it was to one that had con- 
 quered him. He fent his ambajfadors to Egypt, that 
 he might give him horfes and much people -, Jhall he 
 prof per, Jhall he efcape thai does fuch things ? Or Jhall 
 he break the covenant, and be delivered ? Seeing he has 
 defpijed the oath, by breaking the covenant, when lo he 
 had given his hand, and had done all thefe things, he 
 Jhall not ejcape (r). It fell heavy upon Jehojhaphat, 
 that he had helped the ungodly, and joined with them 
 that hated the Lord (s). 
 
 Again, the caufe of God muft be that of Reli- 
 gion •, by which I mean, not what man would make 
 it, but what Christ has left it, The faith that was 
 once delivered to the Jaints (t) : and therefore, any 
 agreements that give power to the beaft and the falfe 
 prophet, and make it harder with diftreffed Proteftants, 
 cannot be his. He blames thofe in IJrael who daub 
 with untempered morter -, to wit, the prophets, that 
 faw vifions of peace for Jerufalem, and there was no 
 peace (u) -, with their lies they had made the heart of 
 the righteous fad, whom he would not have made fad, 
 and Jlrengthned the hands of the wicked, that he Jhould 
 not return from his wicked way, by promifing him life 
 (x). But when there are any who feek the peace of 
 Jerufalem, for their brethren and companions fake, and 
 for the houfe of the Lord our God ( v) ; when their 
 prayers, their wifhes, their zeal include the rights of 
 nations, and the quiet of confcience, the liberty we 
 have as men, and the religion we mould have as 
 Chriftians ; Peace be to fuch helpers, for our God 
 will help them. 
 
 3. You 
 
 (q ) Pfalm vii. 4, 5: 
 (r)Ezek. xvii. 15. 
 (s) 2 Chron. xix. 2. 
 <>)Jude3. 
 
 (u) Ezek. xiii. 15, 16. 
 (x) Ezek. xiii. 22. 
 (y) Pfalm cxxii. 8, g. 
 
Serm.14* The Lawfulnefs of refiflirtgTy rants. 333 
 
 3. You obferve thefe men were immediately ad- 
 vanced ; Then ID avid received them, and made them 
 captains of the band. He wanted no other recom- 
 mendation of them, than what appeared in this noble 
 anfwer, that they were firm to the God of their fa- 
 thers, and to the caufe he now efpoufed : and that 
 nation, one would think, was in love with fhackles, 
 that will deny itfelf the help of thofe that are every 
 way capable, or throw any teft or bar upon the public 
 fafety. 
 
 4. When the caufe is fo filled with zeal, and fpi- 
 rited from above, it will make its way through all the 
 wrath of man. I do not queftion but Doeg the Edo- 
 mite was in full favour after fo much falfliood and 
 blood. Though every one believed him a finner, yet 
 few would have the courage to tell him fo. But what 
 would become of him, in the grand revolt of the 
 tribes ? Hiftory indeed is filent upon this head, but 
 prophecy is not ; and we may fuppofe what David 
 forefaw came all true : he writ the lii^ Pfalm, when 
 Doeg came to Saul, and there he fcores out his fate; 
 Godfhall dejlroy thee for ever -, he fhall take thee away 9 
 and pluck thee out of thy dwelling-place, and root thee 
 out of the land of the living. The righteous fhall fee and 
 fear, and /hall laugh at him ; lo, this is the man that 
 made not God his Jlrength, but trujled in the abundance 
 cf his riches, and jlrengthened himfelf in his wicked- 
 nefs (z). Amnfai and the reft of thefe mighty men 
 promifed themfelves a peace by helping David againft 
 the perfons who had entangled the public affairs. And 
 a neglect of thofe executions that were owing to an 
 injured people, entailed a famine upon the kingdom 
 three years : this was for Saul and his bloody houfe, be- 
 caufe he had/lain the Gibeonites {a) ; nor was the anger 
 of the Lord to be turned away, till f even of his Jons 
 were hanged up in Gibeah {b). 
 
 The 
 
 (as) Pfalm lii. 5, 6, 7. (b) % Sam. xxi, 6, 
 
 (a) 2 Sam. xxi. 1. j 
 
334 tfheLawfulnefsofreJiJling'Tyrants. Serrii. 14, 
 
 The fchemes of wickednefs are unraveled at once 
 when this fpirit comes upon a people ; and fuch an 
 overthrow of tyranny do we commemorate this day. 
 Some of you can remember the popular fears that ran 
 through the nation in a late reign •, and there was 
 ground enough for them* when a lewd prieft fat in 
 the council ; when judges told you from the bench, 
 that your laws were their King's, and preachers from 
 the pulpit, that our lives were his ; and Irifh dragoons 
 were ready to make application of that doctrine. 
 But God, in mercy to Great-Britain, fuffered the 
 King to perifh by his own devices, who had got no- 
 thing but the fumes of Popery in his head, and the 
 Ipirit of it in his heart : in a little time he brought 
 himfelf to the cafe of that prince of whom we read : 
 tfbe women of the houfe Jhall fay, Thy friends have fet 
 thee on, and prevailed againfi thee 5 thy feet are funk 
 in the mire, and they are turned away back (c). It 
 pleafed a wife and gracious Providence to raife us up 
 a deliverer, and a great one, whom the people met 
 with Hofanna's, bleffing him that came to fave them 
 in the name of the Lord. To this happy turn we owe 
 the prefent government, and the fuccefiion of a fa- 
 mily to thefe crowns, which gives us hopes for the 
 ages that come after us. Let a caufe fb good keep 
 us zealous and fteady to it in all its branches. Peace, 
 peace be to the defign, and Peace be to its helper s t for 
 cur God will help them. 
 
 (c) Jer. xxxviii. 22.' 
 
 
 SERMON 
 

 SERMON XV. 
 
 The true Happinefs of a good Government. 
 
 •J* 'J* V V V *♦' *♦*' *•' "♦* '♦' ♦ V V ♦ <•* ♦ t* '♦* '*' V V '♦* V V V 'J* v 
 
 Preached November 5, 1714. 
 
 Psalm LXIII. ii. 
 
 ¥he Kingjhatt rejoice in God, every one thatfweareth 
 by him Jhall glory, but the mouth of them that /peak 
 lies, Jhall bejlopped. 
 
 K#&&^OU will learn by the tide of this Pfalm 
 v5 v v5 that David wrote it when he was in the 
 *jg £g wildernefs of Judah ; a place of continual 
 
 fct&)§(&:^ danger and forrow to him : there did Saul 
 hunt him as a partridge upon the mountains : 
 there did the Ziphites difcover his abode, and, from a 
 villainous principle that fome call Loyalty, would have 
 betrayed him to the ravage of a greedy court : there 
 did Nabal deny him bread, when his army was juft 
 a ftarving, and all the while he continued in that bar- 
 ren and dry land he wanted xhzfanftuary of God, which 
 lay heavier upon him than all his other afflictions : 
 and yet, though he feems to be laid afide from devo- 
 tion and property too, driven out from abiding in the 
 inheritance of the Lord, and at the fame time expofed 
 in his perfon ; yet in this Pfalm he opens fuch a con- 
 fidence, as if his life had been fecure, and his Reli- 
 gion unmolefted: which lets us fee how well it is 
 
 with 
 
336 *the tnie Happinefs of Serin. i§l 
 
 with that foul, who hath faith in a promife -, fuchi a 
 one cannot only hope for a turn that his affairs will 
 take, but the Word of God hath with him both the 
 fweetnefs and the credit of the thing that he is waiting 
 for. He goes falter than Providence leads nim, and 
 can tafte the mercy before it comes. He takes it for 
 granted, that it will be, and he behaves himielf with 
 that prefence of joy as if he really had it. Of this ad- 
 vantage is the grace of God ; it doth not only pre- 
 pare us for a bleffing, but brightens all the darknefs 
 we are under till it comes. Though David was driven 
 out both from the fanctuary and court, yet he fpeaks 
 as if he wanted none of the true benefits that might 
 have been had in either. For, 
 
 Firfi, The work of Religion in his foul went on. 
 lie gives out a large experience both of his defires to- 
 wards God, and the returns that were made from him. 
 Though he could not fee the divine power and glory 
 as he had done, yet his meditation run out upon a 
 loving -kindnefs that was better than life. His foul was 
 fatisfied as with marrow and fatnefs. His mouth could 
 then praife God with joyful lips. He remembred him in 
 the night. He followed hard after him, and was up- 
 held by his right hand {a) ; fo that whatever enemies 
 were able to do, as heaven itfelf was fure, the pafTage 
 to it was open. 
 
 Secondly, He fpeaks with the fame perfuafion of his 
 temporal concerns ; not only what related to him as a 
 Saint, but what he muft come to as a Sovereign. He 
 knew that the malice of men could neither cheat him 
 of a treafure in heaven, nor of a crown in Ifrael; and 
 therefore, at a time when they feemed to have their 
 full fcope againft him, he could look to the end of 
 that noife and rage. They that feek my foul to dejlroy 
 it, fhall go into the lower parts of the earth ; they Jhall 
 fall by the fword, and be a portion for foxes : but the 
 King Jhall rejoice in God, every one that fweareth by 
 
 him 
 
 («) Pfal. lxiii. 2, 3, 5, 6, $. 
 
Serm. i$. a good Government. 337 
 
 him Jhall glory ; but the moulb of them that /peak lies 
 /hall be flopped {b). He is very particular you fee in 
 defcribing the various methods of vengeance that the 
 juftice of God and man fhall follow them with: 
 which I will not confider now, but place them under 
 that part of my text where they will belt come in. 
 
 Thefe words give us the true glories of a right Go- 
 vernment in all its branches. 
 
 I. Here is a clear and eafy happinefs to the Ruler : 
 'The King jhall rejoice in God. 
 
 II. Here is fecurity and honour to the bell: of fub- 
 jects, Every one that /wears by him Jhall glory. 
 And, 
 
 III. Here is that which is of abfolute neceffity to 
 the other two : a righteous juftice upon all thole 
 that are enemies to the Conftitution ; The ?nouth 
 of. them that fpeak lies, jhall be flopped. 
 
 Thefe are the parts of the text, and thefe the heads 
 of that method that I fhall obferve in a difcourfe upon 
 it. I cannot promife myfelf time enough to make a 
 diftindr, application of what you may hear, or to fhew 
 you what a refemblance there is betwixt our concerns 
 and David's \ but fhall endeavour to lead you into 
 thofe reflections as I go along, weaving our ftory 
 into his. 
 
 I. I begin with that happinefs and glory of a right 
 Government which relates to the perfon of the 
 Ruler : The King jhall rejoice in God. You will 
 here confider, 
 17?, Who it is that he means by the King •, and, 
 2d, What is fignified by his rejoicing in God. 
 1. Though he hath given us only the office and 
 not the name of the perfon he fpoke of, yet it is eafy 
 enough to fuppofe who it is that he calls the King. 
 Not Saul or any of his royal line, but David himfelf, 
 Vol. I. Z That 
 
 [b) Pfal. Ixiii. 9— -II. 
 
338 The true Happinefs of Serm. 15. 
 
 That which makes the exprefiion a little difficult is, 
 why he mould take the title before he got the throne. 
 If this Pfalm was given out in the days when he pen- 
 ned it ; if he fuffered it to go abroad for the comfort 
 and eftablimment of thofe who had fet their hope in 
 God-, and favoured his righteous caufe, it would lay 
 him open to more danger. They that were againft 
 the fucceffion would inflame the difference betwixt the 
 court and him. If it raifed the envy of Saul to hear 
 him commended as a General, it muft pufli him a 
 great deal farther into the quarrel, to read a Pfalm 
 where he calls himfelf a King. There is no doubt of 
 it, but this divine compofure would at that time be 
 reprefented as a /editions paper, and it is not the only 
 inftance where the Spirit of God hath been thought 
 to fpeak treafon. 
 
 But thefe are poor and little things with a foul that 
 lives in heaven. David, whofe mind had locked it- 
 felf in the promife and power of God, was not to 
 have his joys intangled by forms of fpeech. He that 
 had told him of a throne, taught him how to fpeak 
 of it beforehand : he had the phrafe where he had the 
 title. God had resetted Saul from being King over Ifrael, 
 and had given the Government to David-, and though 
 this happened feveral years before the change was 
 brought about ; yet it is a glory belonging to the 
 divine nature, to call things which are not as though 
 they were (c) : and it is an argument of this good 
 man's faith that he hath no diffidence of the great 
 event, though his cafe was fo unhappy now ; when 
 he is hiding or flying from the force of an army ; 
 when he is begging for bread whilll he lived in that 
 loofe and dangerous way, the promife could lead his 
 eyes through all the gloom of life to an efcape, to a 
 throne, to an empire. I had fainted, unlejs I had 
 believed to fee the goodnefs of the Lord in the land of the 
 living (d). 
 
 ^ He 
 
 t(C) Rom. iv. 17. I {-d) Pfal. xxvii. 13. 
 
Serm. 15. d good Government, 339 
 
 He could not mean Saul, when he faid, The King 
 Jhall rejoice in the Lord; that was far from being true 
 of him ; a man hurried and plagued with an evilfpi- 
 ril, whofe envy eat out his peace, and deftroyed the 
 very form of Religion; who lived in an open neglect 
 of worfhip, in a plain defiance of God, and aprofelfed 
 cruelty to his people ; fuch a one mufl be uncapable 
 of the joy here fpoken of. Nor had he any profpecls 
 of happinefs for Saul : he rather expected his ruin, as 
 he faith, at the time that he fpared him, The Lord 
 avenge me of thee \ and, the day jhall come when he Jhall 
 go down to the battle and die. He knew that God had 
 rent the kingdom from him ; and as thefirength of Jfracl 
 could not repent (*), fo he would not be baffied. The 
 fame perfections that made it impodible that a change 
 mould come from himfelf, were an affurance that it 
 mould never be brought on by the power of another. 
 He faw that God only held off his vengeance from 
 that wretched Monarch, till he had filled up his iniquity ; 
 but as to joy in the Lord, he had no lot or portion in that 
 matter, being plainly in the gall of bitternefs, and the 
 bond of iniquity. 
 
 You may judge by th'iSj how widely thofe people 
 talk from the language of Scripture, who tell us of 
 facred perfons and titles -, as if the one might not be 
 touched, nor the other ajfumed. It is true, Saul is 
 fpared, becaufe he was the Lord's anointed ; but you 
 muft not fuppofe that this fignifies no more than the 
 vial of oil poured upon his head, and that this makes 
 his dignity indefealtble, becaufe at that time David 
 was as much anointed as he •, and therefore it is plain, 
 either that this ceremony of itfelf did not give the 
 claim •, or if it did, that there might be a forfeiture. 
 Or thirdly, that it was pofiible two perfons might 
 have it at the fame time. Now the laft opinion is 
 what all fides reckon foolifh, and therefore the for- 
 mer muft be true. If the oil made the King, David 
 
 Z 2 was 
 
 (e) i Sam. xxiv. 12.— -xxvi. 10— xv. 28, 29, 
 
340 The true Happinefs of Serm. 15. 
 
 was fo a long while before he wore the crown •, but it 
 is plain from his cafe, that it did not make the claim 
 immediate, as it is evident from Saul's, that it did not 
 make it unalienable. It will farther appear who is 
 the King that he here fpeaks of, from the lecond thing 
 to be obferved : And that is, 
 
 2. The happy ltate of mind he mould be in : The 
 King jl j all rejoice in the Lord. Where you have, 
 
 Firfi, The affection that he would ufe, and that is 
 
 j°y- 
 
 Secondly, The object upon which it mull: be em- 
 ployed, and that is the Lord. 
 
 1 . As to the temper or paffion of the foul by which 
 he is diltinguifhed, it is the nobJeft that our nature can 
 feel. Every one carries along with him in his notions 
 of a King, an opinion that he is great to others, but 
 it does not always happen that he is eafy to himfelf. 
 Empire and joy may lie far afunder. The cares that 
 hang about a throne leave very little room for this af- 
 fection. Rejoicing in the Lord includes a great deal 
 more than a fuccefs in what he was aiming at. It is 
 poflible he might be a King to his people, and a flave 
 to himfelf: but the bleffing defigned in my text takes 
 into it an eafinefs in the manner of his coming to the 
 Government, and a chearful fpirit that run through 
 all the adminiftration. That God would bow the 
 hearts of the people to him, and make him their darl- 
 ing before he was their Sovereign. That there Ihould 
 be a general fubmiffion either to the clemency of his 
 fceptre, or to the reach of his fword. This affluence 
 of the tribes; this thorough difperfion of thole that 
 fet up for him who was the Pretender then, is what 
 David admires in the xvin th Pfalm. That was writ- 
 ten, as he telleth us in the title to it, When the Lord 
 had delivered him from the hand of ail his enemies, and 
 from the hand of Saul : and the way how he came by 
 this, was pufhing home in feveral battles. I purfued 
 mine enemies and overtook them : neither did I turn again 
 
 till 
 
Serm. 15. a good Government. 341 
 
 till they were con fumed. I have wounded them that they 
 were net able to rife. 'They are fallen under my feet, 
 for thou haft girded me with ftrength to the battle, thou, 
 haft fub due d thofe under me that rofe up againft me (f). 
 He underftood no compofitions with them. They 
 acled then upon the principle of hereditary right, to 
 fupport the pretenfions of the late King's fon, but as 
 he knew that foolifh notion was like to embroil the 
 public, fo he improved the bleffing that followed his 
 arms. Thou haft given me the necks of mine enemies ; 
 that 1 might deftroy them that hate me *, then did I beat 
 them as fmall as dufl before the wind, I did caft them out 
 as dirt in the ftreets : Thou haft delivered me from the 
 ftrivings of the people (g). You fee by this the me- 
 thod in which he proceeded ; but it will lead you far- 
 ther into the nature and dignity of this joy, if you 
 confider, 
 
 idly, The object upon whom he placed it, The 
 King /hall rejoice in the Lord, There are many things 
 that might be comprehended here, but I will keep 
 myfelf within thefe four ; that when David's joy was 
 fixed upon God he muft have, 
 
 1. Hopes of his own eternal falvation. 
 
 2. A knfc of that divine hand that raifed him to 
 the throne. 
 
 3. A knowledge of thofe rules that he was to go- 
 vern by, and, 
 
 4. A regard to that end that he ought to aim at. 
 
 1 . He that rejoiceth in the Lord mult have his hopes 
 extended to the falvation of another world. The glo- 
 ries of an empire are but fhort and low for an immor- 
 tal foul to take up with r no portion is great enough 
 that comes within this life. Though what he iup- 
 pofeth in the cafe of the wicked was defirable, That 
 God had filled their belly with hid trcafures : they were 
 full of children, and the reft of their fub fiance they Lft 
 to their babes -, yet as for himfelf he was looking a 
 
 Z 3 great 
 
 (/) Pfal.lxiii. 37-39, | {g) PfaUxui.40,42,43. 
 
342 The true Happinefs of Serm. 15, 
 
 great deal higher. / will heboid thy face in righteouf- 
 nefs -, I jhall be fatisfied when I awake with thy like-* 
 nefs (b). How foon is a King to be tumbled from his 
 throne, and fent without any guards or greatnefs to 
 the bar of a righteous God ? And what a poor fatis- 
 faction does that man give himfelf who ispleafed with 
 a crown here, though he hath no hopes of one that 
 fades not away ? "W hat was there in all the pomp of 
 a court to balance the diftrefs of mind that Saul fell 
 under, when he begged a favour of a witch, and 
 trembled before a fpetfre, and gave this as the fad 
 reafon of his doing fo, 'The Philijlines are upon me ; 
 and God is departed from me (i) ? What a wretched 
 flare muft a dying Monarch be in, who is hurried 
 away from the glory of a palace and the flattery of 
 fervants, and in a fevy moments hears no voice, but 
 that of an angry God and howling Devils ? But he 
 that rejoiceth in the Lord, in the way that David did, 
 leaves a throne to an advantage : he dies to be Hill 
 greater. Though it is like to be no better with him 
 than other believers, yet his remove is into a brighter 
 rnanfion, and into purer company, where they are all 
 Kings and P rifts unto God and our Father (£). 
 
 2. I own that David in his joy came down into a 
 lower occafion. He did it not only as a Saint, but as 
 a King. He rejoiced in the Lord, as the author of 
 his advancement •, thus he faith in another Pfalm, 
 The King JJjall joy in thy ftrength, O Lord, and in thy 
 falvation bow greatly jhall he rejoice ? For thou hajt 
 made him mojl blejjcd for ever. Fhou haft made him 
 exceeding glad with thy countenance, for the King truft- 
 eth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the mojl High 
 he jloa'l never be moved (/). He had the firft promife 
 from God, who took him from following the jheep great 
 %iiih y cung, that he might feed Ifrael bis people (m). 
 
 There 
 
 (b) Pfal.xvii. 14, 15. 
 (/) 1 Sam. xxii. 15. 
 (>c) Rev. i. 6. 
 
 (/) Pfal.xxi. 1, 6,7. 
 (;«) Pfal. xxviii. 7 1, 72. 
 
Serm. 15. a good Government. 343 
 
 There was a divine circle around him in all his dan- 
 gers, between pouring the oil on his head and putting 
 the fceptre into his hand. His wandrings were num- 
 bred and guarded from above. He had great ex- 
 amples of a Providence within that time, and could 
 remember God from the land of Jordan, and from the 
 Hermonites, and from the hill Mifar(n). The nar- 
 row efcapes he had from his enemy are what he puts 
 into the fongs of praife, and after the tirefome years 
 that he fpent this way, the Lord bowed the heavens and 
 came down. He Jens from above and took him. Tbot& 
 haft given me the flndd of thy falvation, thy right hand 
 hath holden me up, thy gentlenefs hath made me great ; 
 the Lord liveih, and bleffed be my rock, and let the God 
 of my falvation be exalted {0). It is God that avengeth 
 me, and fubdueth the people under me: Great deliverance 
 giveih he to the King, and fheweth mercy to his anoint ed^ 
 to David, and to his feed for evermore (p). 
 
 It is true in that Pfalm he fpeaks of God's fending 
 cut his arrozvs to fcatter them, and his lightnings to dif- 
 comft them; but you are not to understand it as if the 
 Revolution was produced only in a miraculous way : 
 as if there was no confent of the tribes, and no refif- 
 tance to the enemy : fo far from that, that his army 
 had a daily increafe till it became like the hoft of God {q) : 
 but however he owns that it was a divine bleffing that 
 gave the people, firft, an inclination to choofe him, 
 and fecondly, a courage to defend him. They wifhed 
 for a fair opportunity in Saul's time to change their 
 King, and fome defigns were laid to bring it about then, 
 as Abner reminds them. He had communication with the 
 Elders of Ifrael, faying, Te fought for David in timepaft 
 to be King over you, now then do it (r). But as it is 
 the hand of the Lord that turns the hearts of men like 
 
 Z 4 the 
 
 (k) Pfal. xlii. 6. 
 
 (0) Pfal.xviii. i, 9, 6. 
 
 (p) Pfal. xviii. 46, 47, 50. 
 
 {q) 1 Chron. xii. 22. 
 \r) 2 Sam. iii. 17. 
 
344 ^ e true Happinefs of Serm. 15. 
 
 the rivers of water, fo the King rejoiceth in him as the 
 author of this mercy. 
 
 3. This joy in the Lord mud comprehend in it 
 both a knowledge and approbation of thofe directions 
 that God had given him to govern by. He that rulet.h 
 over men mufl be juji, ruling in the fear of the Lord (s). 
 Greatnefs is nothing elfe but a capacity of doing good, 
 and therefore when this does not meet with a right 
 inclination ; it makes a man more like the Devil, 
 who is the god of this world, not to fave it, or to do 
 any divine offices of love and bounty, but to fill it 
 with fin and mifery. And fo he is the prince of the 
 fewer of the air-, not to clear the fky, or fan the earth, 
 but for a profufion of thunder and vengeance. His 
 empire is for nothing elfe but ruin to thofe that are 
 under it. And can a greatnefs like his produce any 
 joy in the Lord ? No, it is with a hatred of him, 
 and an enmity to the juflice and goodnefs of his na- 
 ture that thefe people live. Can a man delight in 
 blood, drive his fubjects into corners, break them 
 upon the wheel, let them groan in gallies, and rot in 
 dungeons, and yet rejoice in the Lord? 
 
 Indeed how far the confeience of a perfecutor may 
 be at the command of his luft, I cannot tell : efpe- 
 cially fince I have read of one King in Spain who in 
 his laft will recommends himlelf to the Virgin Mary 
 from his zeal to promote the Inquifition. But cer- 
 tainly the Holy Spirit never meant that fhe fhould be 
 the Patronefs of cruelty, when we read that all gene- 
 rations fo all call her Bleffed : no, fuch a doctrine as 
 that had better be traced from its parent Lain, who 
 was of that evil one and flew his brother, than the mo- 
 ther of Jesus, who came not to deftroy mens lives, but 
 to fave than (/). 
 
 4. This rejoicing in the Lord takes into it a regard 
 to the divine glory as the end of all his Government. 
 
 It 
 
 (j) 2 Sam, xxiii. 2, 3. J (/) ^1 John jii. 12. 
 
Serm. 15. a goood Government. 345 
 
 It is the way to debafe our thoughts both of God 
 himfelf and the King that he fets up, if we fuppofe 
 that he does it only to diftinguifh one man from an- 
 other. Does he take delight in the vanities of a court? 
 Is it fo worthy of him to make one perfon great, and 
 a whole community miferable ? Hath he eyes offejb, 
 or feeth he as man feetb ? When he pulls down one and 
 fets up another, is that all that he means by it, that 
 Providence fhall pay its compliment to this as a King, 
 and pour thunder upon a whole nation that are to be 
 his fubjects ? No, that be far from him. He loved 
 David and gave him a throne, but the reafon why he 
 eflablifhed it, was for his people JfraeVs fake iu). It is 
 but a very little thing with him who accepts not the 
 per fens of Princes (x), how great they are, but how 
 good they will be, and therefore he that rejoiceih in the 
 Lordmuft. have an honeftview to the divine glory. 
 
 And how can this be, when the worfhip of God is 
 polluted, and his people opprefled ? He fuppofeth 
 fuch ufage of them to be a flur upon himfelf. They 
 that take them captive make them hovel, and my name 
 continually every day is blafphemed (y). It is but a 
 wretched ufe of Government, if a man can only fay 
 that he hath made great additions to it, and perhaps 
 done it by fraud, cruelty and force. Is this acting to 
 the glory of God ? Nay, is it not rather an avowance 
 of Atheifm, that fuch a one lives as without God in 
 the world ? And what joy can thofe Monarchs have 
 in the Lord, who will foon fetch them to his bar, 
 that have advanced themfelves with a ruin to his in- 
 tereft, and have made tendernefs for his worfhip high- 
 treafon againfl their crowns ? It is eafy turning the 
 argument as a wicked heart would have it, when they 
 have Divinity and Law of their own choofing ; but 
 fhall thefe authorities be of any weight with Him, Who 
 frujirateth the tokens of liars ', and makes diviners mad ; 
 
 who 
 
 (a) 2 Sam. v. 12. (y) Ifai. lii. 5. 
 
 (*) Job xxxiv. 19. 
 
346 The true Happmefs of Serm. 15. 
 
 who turneth wife men hack-wards, and maketb their 
 counfel fooli/h (z) ? Whatever maxims they are guided 
 by I know not, but I will refer you to one that they 
 muft be judged by. To cru/h under bis feet all the 
 prifcners of the earth, to turn ajide the right of, a man 
 before the face of the mofl High, to fubvert a man in his 
 cau/e, the Lord approveth not (a). Fie that indeed 
 rejoiceth in the Lord, puts his whole affairs into better 
 meafures, as you will fee from the other parts of my 
 text, to which I proceed. 
 
 II. You find there is not only a true happinefs for 
 the Prince, but fecurity and honour to the bed 
 of his fubjetts ; every one that /wears by him, 
 that is, by the fame God in whom the King 
 rejoices, every fuch perfon fhall glory. I mall 
 here confider, 
 ift, The defcription we have of this people ; they 
 fwear by the Lord, 
 
 2d, The benefit defigned for them ; they /hall glory. 
 And, 
 
 gd, The extent of this favour : it reaches as far as 
 the character, to the whole body of thofe that fwear 
 by the Lord, every one 0/ them /hall glory. 
 
 1 . The people who may have hopes of this blefiing, 
 are defcribed by one folemn part of their Religion, 
 that thev /wear by the Lord. Surely none can be fo 
 grofs as to think thefe words are capable of an appli- 
 cation either to falfe or profane fwearing. They that 
 make ufe of this dreadful name in oppofition to truth, 
 have no fhare in this glory, but mull look for their 
 dividend in the latter part of my text, The mouth of 
 them thai /peak lies /hall be flopped. Nor can that 
 perfon think himfelf within the defign of this promife, 
 who takes the name 0/ the Lord his God in vain. That 
 fort of fwearing is upon fome accounts viler than 
 downright Atheifm ; for I could rather deny a God 
 
 than 
 
 (2) Ifai. xliw 25. (a) Lam. iii. 34 — 36. 
 
Serm. 15. a good Government* 347 
 
 than ridicule him. If there is fuch a Being, if he is 
 my Creator and my Judge, he will never be my jeft. 
 He has not given me his awful name to lard a com- 
 mon fentence, or heighten it with a little more found. 
 This is a practice fo vile and daring, that whilft it 
 continues a national fin, it both finks the glory of a 
 people, and puts an ill prefage upon the face of pub- 
 lic mercies. 
 
 Is it likely that thofe perfons mould be either the 
 patrons or the profeflbrs of Liberty, who fuffer their 
 tongues, upon all occasions, to be tipped with hell 
 and blaiphemy ? They may glory indeed, but it is in 
 their Jhame. God fometimes ufes them to ferve an inte- 
 reft which they can never honour ; but it leaves a worfe 
 countenance upon our national bleflings ; it does not 
 make them look fo well and lively as we would have 
 them, when they are in the hands of thofe who live 
 with an open contempt of the God that gives them. 
 So that this cannot be the meaning of the words. But 
 I take their fvvearing by the Lord to fignify three 
 things. It may be underrtood of, 
 
 1 . Their Allegiance. 
 
 2. Their Religion. Or, 
 
 3. Their Troubles. 
 
 1. Perhaps their fvvearing by the Lord may in- 
 clude that allegiance they paid to the King. The 
 affurance they gave him of homage and duty, was 
 laid upon a divine ground. They did it in a facred 
 name ; 
 
 1. With an appeal to God as the witnefs of their 
 integrity. 
 
 2. With a regard to his intereft, as the rule of 
 their fubjection. 
 
 17?, Swearing by the Lord, as it comes into the 
 cafe of a peoples homage, is an appeal to him for the 
 truth of what they pretend to. And this is fo great 
 afolemnity, that it is pity there mould be any thing 
 to take off from the minds of men the reverence with 
 
 \vhich 
 
348 The true Happinefs of Serm. i£. 
 
 which they ought to do it. For, it is as far as we 
 can go in affuring one another of our integrity. An 
 oath among men is for confirmation, and an end of all 
 firife (b) : and therefore thofe people muft have funk 
 their apprehenfions of a divine Majefty, and a future 
 reckoning, who will dare to fwear falfly. It is a great 
 deal more than deceiving man ; it is a challenge given 
 to the perfections of God ; a telling him that either 
 he does not fee the fraud, or that he cannot avenge 
 it. 
 
 There is in every oath a double folemnity ; Firfl, 
 it is laying one truth in pawn for another -, we give 
 in fomething that is undoubted in teftimony of fome- 
 thing that is now in difpute. That as furely as I be- 
 lieve a God, and take his word to be true, fo what 
 I now fay is agreeable to it. That I would no more 
 be a deceiver in this affair, than I would be an infidel. 
 But befides this, there is another part in an oath ; and 
 that is, Secondly, an imprecation ; that upon the falf- 
 hood of what I am now profefting, I difclaim all the 
 mercies promifed in the book of God, and challenge 
 upon my foul and body every curfe that is recorded 
 there. If what I fay be not true and juft, I quit hea- 
 ven for hell ; give up all my hopes of the former, 
 and avow my right to the latter. 
 
 There is no lefs than this in the homage of a fubjecl: 
 to his prince. He has called in God as a witnefs, he 
 Hands open to him as a judge. And would any per- 
 fon dare to do this with lying lips, who knows the fo- 
 lemnity of Swearing by the Lord? Keep the King's 
 commandment, and that with regard to the oath of 
 God (c). What muft that man have been, who, for 
 any fecular advantage would have given his oath to 
 David, and, at the fame time, believed an hereditary 
 right in Ifhbofheth ? Is it not dreadful to think that 
 people mould not only cheat one another, but that 
 the name of God mall be ufed to fanftify the lie ? 
 
 Can 
 
 {b) Heb. vi. 1 6. | (<r) Ecd. viii. z. 
 
Serm. 15. a good Government. 349 
 
 Can any intereft of a family, any zeal for a perfon, 
 be an atonement for the vileft mixture of falfhood 
 and blafphemy ? God will not hold him guilllefs who 
 taketh his name in vain (d). 
 
 Now, this is what David promifes, that they who 
 [wear by the Lord, whofe integrity he was fully af- 
 fured of, mould glory under his government. No 
 doubt of it, there were many crouding to his court at 
 Hebron, whofe loyalty rofe when Saul fell : they took 
 their convictions from Mount Gilboa, as fome in Eng- 
 land did theirs from the battle at the Boyne. But thefe 
 were his contempt. Ifibcjheth^ Saul's fon, had two fer- 
 vants, Baanah and Rechab (*), who were employed 
 in his houfe, which they could not have been, with- 
 out giving him an alfurance how hearty a zeal they 
 had for the royal family. And, yet you fee what a 
 Vain principle loyalty is when moral truth is wanting. 
 They continue in that intereft till Abner leaves it ; but 
 when they faw there was nothing to be got by their 
 King, they not only drop him but murder him. And, 
 though they had often called David an ufurper, yet 
 now they bring him the head of the right heir. 
 
 What a fad dependence mud a prince have upon 
 fuch zealots as thefe ? They will tell him of obedience 
 without referve, that their lives and eftates are at his 
 command, that he has an authority to ufe them as he 
 Would do his cattle •, and, which is the word of all, 
 they clothe thefe lying words with the name of God. 
 And, yet you fee, when things come to the pinch 3 
 their fovereign is their property, and inftead of having 
 the fervice of their lives, he hath no fecurity of his 
 own. For if they cannot make a tool of his crown, 
 they will make a fale of his head. But, are fuch 
 fwearers as thefe defigned for the glory that David 
 mentions ? Are thefe tiie ftrength of any government? 
 Or mould their weight be allowed to call the icale, 
 
 who 
 (d) Exod. xx. 7. \ (e) z Sam. iv. 2. 
 
350 The true Happinefs of Serm. 15. 
 
 who would come in on either fide ? No, the Pfalmift 
 meant a more upright fort of people in the defcription 
 that he gives us. 
 
 2dly, In fwearing by the Lord, they make the 
 divine Glory the rule of their fubjeftion. Can an 
 oath in the name of God oblige me to difbonour him ? 
 When I call aperfon my fovereign, is my reafon and 
 my confcience, from that time, his property ? No, 
 thefe I have received from the King of Kings -, nor can 
 I difpofe of them to any power upon earth, without 
 being guilty of high-treafon againft heaven. But, 
 this is what I have fo often enlarged upon in other 
 Sermons, that I mail difmifs it here. 
 
 2. This fwearing by the Lord, may be underftood 
 of their pure religion before God and our father. The 
 whole of his worihip, and of our concern with him, 
 is often exprefied in this as the moft important arti- 
 cle, and there are feveral things that we mufl compre- 
 hend in fuch a notion of a good man. If he is one 
 that fwears by the Lord, 
 
 It fignifies an engagement that he has laid himfelf 
 under to ferve him. It is a making over all the right 
 that he has either in foul or body •, that they mail be 
 the Lord's in a perpetual covenant, that is never to 
 be forgotten (f). l r ield yourf elves to him, as thofe that 
 are alive from the dead, and your members inflruments 
 of right eoufnefs unto holinefs (g). And this cannot be 
 unlefs we take him to be the guide as well as the ob- 
 ject of our duty. To aft upon any other rules than 
 he has given us, is a breach of our oath •, it is Swear- 
 ing by the Lord, and fwearing by Malcham (h). This 
 expreffion in my text fignifies that we are given up to 
 him, and can, upon no account, depart from the 
 commands that he has publifhed, we avow his autho- 
 rity over us, and difown every other pretention. 
 
 And 
 
 (pte-i-l- I wzeph.i.5. 
 
 (g) Rom. vi. 13. 
 
Serm. 1 5. ci good Government. 35 1 
 
 And then, their fvvearing by him muft have an in- 
 fluence upon their whole converfation. He that deals 
 faithfully with God, will do fo with men. For, by 
 that oath, he has obliged himfelf to a Confcience void 
 of offence towards bolh (i). And certainly thefe ought 
 to glory in a government which they do not only 
 ferve, but adorn ; Mine eyes, fays David, fhall be 
 upon the faithful of the land, that he may ever dwell 
 with me (k) : and that refolution would come with 
 him to the throne, which you find, PfaL xvi. 2. My 
 goodnefs extends not unto thee, but unto the faints and to 
 the excellent of the earth, in whom is all my delight. 
 Men who are afraid of difpleafmg God, and full of 
 an awe to his jealoufy, who dare not believe by proxy, 
 or take their opinions upon truft, do in thofe very 
 fcruples, (whether they are right or wrong) give a 
 public honour to confcience. They let the world fee, 
 that there is fomething that they cannot be hired to 
 to do. The Scripture has diftinguifhed them from 
 others, who ftick at nothing. There is a mighty 
 difference between him that fwears, and him that 
 fears and oath (/J, who knows how great a folemnity 
 it is. 
 
 Thefe may be defpifed, as they always are, by men 
 that make religion only an engine of ftate ; they ven- 
 ture at all, and run through any form of worfhip, 
 that has preferment on the other fide, fuppofing that 
 gain is godlinefs. And it is fcarce to be imagined that 
 they will object againft a pofiure in the church, who 
 put them (elves into any in a court. But what affu- 
 rance can thefe give to men, who are fo loofe to thofe 
 concerns they have with God ? They that fwear to 
 the Lord in truth, dare not take things for granted ; 
 they know he has no pleafure in fools {m). It is of 
 very little value with them what men fay is lawful, 
 
 if 
 
 (*) Atts xxiv. 1 6. (/) Eccl. ix. 2. 
 
 {i) Pfalm ci. 6. (mj Eccl. v. 4. 
 
352 The true Happinefi of Serm. 15. 
 
 if there is but an appearance that God has told them 
 otherwife. They do not work up a rule out of Scrip- 
 ture and councils, the voice of heaven, and the tra- 
 ditions of men ; for, what communion can light have 
 with darknefe ? Now thefe deferve to glory in a righ- 
 teous caufe •, they that are moft faithful in the fervice 
 of God, are likely to be fo in their allegiance to the 
 King. 
 
 3. This fwearing by the Lord, may refer to the 
 troubles they had been in. The phrafe is taken in 
 this fenfe. Lord, remember David and all his afflic- 
 tions^ how he [ware to the Lord, and vowed to the 
 mighty God of Jacob (n). It has been the practice of 
 good people, when their fears were gathering within, 
 or danger lowring over their heads, not only to fpread 
 their cafe before God, but to lay themfelves under 
 new engagements when the mercy came. So did 
 Jacobs when he run from his father's houfe, If the 
 Lord will be with me in the way that I go, and give me 
 bread to eat, and raiment to put on, then Jhall the 
 Lord be my God (0). And thus do the children of 
 Ifrael, when King Arad the Canaanite took fome of 
 them prifoners, they vowed a vow unto the Lord, and 
 faid, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my 
 hands, then will I deftroy their cities (p). And this 
 they might do in the time of David's banifhment 
 from the court. As his title to the crown had fpread 
 itfelf among the people, fo the wifhes of all good 
 men were on his fide. Abigail told him, that God 
 would build him a fure houfe : and it could not but 
 raife in every thinking perfon a dread of what was 
 coming upon them, when they faw King Saul indulge 
 his envy at the expence of all public juftice. Tho' 
 David was the only man that he now purfued, yet 
 what could a nation expect from one, who fought 
 
 the 
 
 (»)Pfalm cxxxiii. i, 2. [p) Num. xxi. 2. 
 
 (0) Gen. xxviii. 20, 21. 
 
Serm. if. a good Government. 353 
 
 the life of his fon, his beft commander and trueft 
 friend ? A prince that will facrifice all thefe engage- 
 ments to a private pafiion, leaves no room for any 
 confidence in his word. Who knows where the royal 
 fury will fall next ? 
 
 Upon this, the good people could not but defire 
 that they might be put into better hands ; and per- 
 haps, on that occafion, they would make vows to the 
 Lord, that if he would but unload them of a Ty- 
 rant, and fet over them a man after his own hearty 
 the eafinefs of their flate mould promote the ardour 
 of their duty. Thefe ought to glory in David's, go- 
 vernment, it is what they had longed and prayed for. 
 The mercy brings a claim with it upon them. God 
 has their vows upon record, what manner of perfons 
 they would be. They always attended the right in- 
 tereft as far as ever they could ; and when their hands 
 were tied, their mouths were open, in recommend- 
 ing it to the Lord God of Sabaoth. 
 
 2. The blefling defigned for thefe is, that they 
 Jhall glory. It is a fenfe too low for thefe words, and 
 does not exprefs enough of the mercy to think that it 
 means no more than the laughter of fools : or that in 
 this joy they arrogate any thing to themfelves ; if 
 they would fay, at a diftance from the blefling, 2" 
 will not trufi in my bow> neither Jhall my /word five 
 me (q), they will take care to leave the praife where it 
 ought to be, after the deliverance is come. It is not 
 merely infulting thofe whofe guilt and folly hath 
 brought them low, that gives us either the temper or 
 the happinefs that is here defigned : but their glorying 
 takes into it the following particulars. 
 
 1. Difappointment of enemies. 
 
 2. An eafinefs in their own property, and 
 
 3. A fenfe of the divine hand in both. 
 
 1. It fuppofeth a defeat to the enemy. When the 
 Vol. I. A a wicked 
 
 (q) Pfalm xliv. 6. 
 
354 ^ je true Happinefs of Serm. 15. 
 
 wicked walk en every fide, and the vilefl of men are ex- 
 alted (r), though a believer hath his inward joys which 
 the world can neither ileal nor f&d, yet nothing of 
 this appears. When righteous men do rejoice, there is 
 a great glory ; but when the wicked rife, a 7nan is 
 hidden (s). Therefore when the enemies of the Lor d 
 confume like the fat of lambs, it is no more than a trir 
 bute to the Providence for others to be glad : and 
 the greater compafs they took in their defign, the 
 more affurance they ufed to talk with, the brighter 
 ftrokes of a Deity may be feen in their fall. Thus 
 did David inlarge his thoughts upon the mifery of 
 Doeg the Edomite. That wretch wrought himfelf 
 into Saul's efteem by falfhood and malice : the King's 
 envy, and the informer's ambition were here making 
 their courtfhip to one another, the favourite thought 
 nothing too vile that would pleafe the King; and 
 the King thought nothing too great to reward the fa- 
 vourite. But God would deflroy him for ever, pluck 
 him out of his place, and root him out of the land of 
 the living (/). The righteous were to fee this and laugh 
 at him \ not barely in a difdain of his mifery, but 
 with a return of thanks to the juftice of Providence : 
 Lo, this is the man that made not God his firength, but 
 trufted in the abundance of his riches, and firengthened 
 himfelf in his wickednefs. 
 
 Befides, there is a public advantage in this, for 
 when it goes well with the righteous the city rejoiceth y 
 hut when the wicked perifh there is fhouting. This dis- 
 tinction doth human nature make between thofe vil- 
 lanies that are of a private fort, and fuch as are done 
 againft a community. Men do not defpife a thief if 
 hejteal to fatisfy his foul when he is hungry (u). There 
 is a pity follows fuch a one to his execution ; but 
 when there are finners of a greater extent, the refent- 
 ment is of the fame compafs with the wickednefs. 
 
 2. This 
 
 (r) Pfalm xji. 8. , | (t) Pfalm Hi. 5,6,7. 
 
 (t) Proverbs xxviii. 12. j (uj Proverbs vi. 30. 
 
Serm. 15. a good Government. 355 
 
 2. This glorying fuppofeth an eafinefs in their pro- 
 perty, that it is either regained from the plunder, or 
 fecured from the deligns of finners. They intended 
 evil againft thee* they imagined a mifchievous device that 
 they 'were not able to perform (x). One would wonder 
 that ever creatures mould delight in the ruin of their 
 own kind; but ib it is, an envious man mail have 
 more regard for his luft than he hath for his nature. 
 He is of that value to himfelf ; as to think his own 
 greatnefs well raifed, though the foundation of it be 
 laid in the tears or blood of thoufands. But they 
 will find that the getting of treafures by a lying tongue 
 is a vanity toffed to and fro of them that fee k death (y). 
 "What a reach had Haman in his pride ? For the ne- 
 glect of a little civility, he doth not only lay out the 
 death of Mordecai, but of a whole nation, who were 
 no fharers in the rudenefs that he fuppoled was offered 
 to him : and who could think that EJlher mould have 
 had any occafion to pray in the manner as me did, 
 not for her own and her people's liberty, for had 
 they been captives fhe would have held her peace; but 
 for their lives ? Now when people of thefe proj&fts 
 are defeated, The upright have all good things in pof- 
 feffion. 
 
 And of this kind, are feveral of our public mer- 
 cies ; we may take the great deliverance that began 
 on this day in fuch a view ; we had loft the Laws, the 
 left traditions of the fathers* and the Gofpel was a 
 going too. That there was a defign to fliare all that 
 pertained to life and godlinefs between France and Rome, 
 is as plain as that we had a King who was a tool to the 
 one, and a bigot to the other : whenever any oppo- 
 fition was given to theie encroachments, it could not 
 be without hazard of life to him that made it : and 
 indeed, the meafures of cruelty became fo very fami- 
 liar with them, as if they defpaired of making con- 
 
 A a 2 verts 
 
 {*) Pfalm xxi. 1 1. (y) Fro v. xxi. 6. 
 
356 The true Happinefs of Serm. 15^ 
 
 verts with reafon, and refolved to do it with blood. 
 It was not meerly a perfecution againft the DifTenters, 
 though if you confider who have been molt aclive 
 in that work, you will ufually find them to be either 
 French Apes or Irifh Wolves : but befides the banim- 
 ing of your minifters, the fining, goaling, and ftarv- 
 ing of your people, they ftruck at all profeflions, 
 every quality, both fexes •, as if there was no way to 
 prove the Pope the vicar of Christ, but by de- 
 claring him the enemy of mankind : and when things 
 were run thus far, God was pleafed to put a new fong 
 into your mouths * by making the party your jeft, which 
 had been your terror, and driving that Monarch to 
 France, in the quality of a prijoner, who had too long 
 ferved them in that of a pupil. It is not only a change 
 in the throne that we take notice of, that for a meer 
 creature of Priefls and Tyrants you had it filled with 
 a man of under/landing : but the difference extended 
 itielf to every corner. You were then reftored to 
 your freedom •, your religion was in y our f elves and not 
 in another ; you were not to be attempted by a lpawn 
 of friers, who had no other arguments but only to 
 juggle for a miracle, and threaten with martyrdom, 
 that if their folly could not prevail, their faggots 
 might. You have then done with the fear of dra- 
 goons, who had a plain lefTon fet before them in 
 France, and were ready to copy it out here. God 
 had pity on you, and fent you one who was formed 
 with thofe noble palfions of courage and tendernefs, 
 that made him a fcourge to evil-doers, and a praife to 
 them that do well. 
 
 And I the rather call you to a frefh remembrance 
 of this now, becaufe it is juft revived : we have lately 
 received the laft and nobleft confequence of it, the 
 family of Hanover upon the throne of Great-Britain. 
 By this, the hand of Providence hath touched the 
 Revolution over again, and given the lines a new 
 
 ftrength 
 
Serm. 15, a good Government, 357 
 
 itrength and force. I need not tell you, that they 
 who are enemies to the memory of King William y 
 are fo to the perfon of King George ; it was not too 
 grofs to call him an ufurper, and load his name for 
 the Acl of Settlement, which they reprefented as a 
 curfed legacy. The work was running back again in 
 fiich a way, as if they thought no method too fcan- 
 dalous to promote their caufe. Your Meeting- houfes 
 were pulled down out of a zeal for the Church, and 
 this by a rabble who never ufed the name of God 
 but in an oath. There were famous procelfions thro' 
 feveral parts of the kingdom., in defiance of law and 
 juftice : fo that if the queftion was now to be put, 
 which the chief Captain gave to Paul % we mould know 
 where to look for an anlwer, Art not thou that Egyp- 
 tian) who before thefe days ma a eft an uproar, and led- 
 deft out into the wildernefs four th.oufand men thdt -were 
 murderers (z) ? The Parliament, who had done juftice 
 to the Re-volution was dirTolved with Jflhame, and expof- 
 ed in the fongs of drunkards. The alliance on which 
 we had our human fecurity, treated at firft with cold- 
 nefs, and then with abhorrence •, our perfons threat- 
 ened upon all occafions: They hunted cur ft 'eps, thai 
 we could not go in our ftreets {a). The party that 
 thought of returning to their old bondage, did it 
 with fuch views as Efau had upon his father's death, 
 The days of mourning are at hand, and then fur ely will 
 I kill my brother Jacob : but, Bleffed be God, who hath 
 not given us a prey to their teeth ± the net is broken and 
 we are efcaped {b). We may look upon our property 
 in its whole compafs to be now feeured : there are 
 more of our hopes called into this government) than 
 there was into that of the late King ; becaufe he ha$ 
 none to bear his name, and fill the throne when he 
 ftept with his fathers ♦, but God hath been more liberal 
 
 A a 3 in 
 
 (z) Afts xxi. 33. (b) Pfalm cxxiy. 6, 7^ 
 
 (a) Lam. iv. 18. 
 
358 The true Happinefs of Serm. i£- 
 
 i'n this lafl bounty. We have the protection which 
 the wife man lb much commended, that if one prevail 
 againjl him, two foall witbjiand him, and a threefold 
 cord is not eafily broken (c). 
 
 3. Another thing included in this g^ory, is a fenfe 
 of God's hand in the whole mercy. Whatever means 
 are made ufe of to deliver them who are appointed to 
 die, yet their falvation is of the Lord(d). But fome- 
 times he doth it in fuch a way that it mail be all his 
 von. They got not the land by their fword, neither did 
 their own arm five them, but thy right hand and thine 
 arm, and the light of thy countenance, becaufe thou hadfi 
 a favour to them (e). And the more divinity appears, 
 in any bleffing the greater joy doth it raife in a good 
 man. Glory ye in his holy name, let the heart of them 
 rejoice that feek the Lord (/). 
 
 3. I fhall confider the extent of this bleffing : Every 
 one that fweareth by him fhall glory : none were to be 
 excluded, who had any fhare either of good wifhes 
 or diligence in favouring his righteous caufe. 
 
 1 . It mould reach to high and low : and, 
 
 2. Not be limited to any feci: or party. 
 
 1. Perfons of all ranks were to have the benefit of 
 it. The righteous confider s the caufe of the poor, but 
 the wicked regards not to know it (g). Thefe changes 
 in Ifrael would have been no great bleffing, if they 
 had only confided in another court, that Joab mould, 
 be General inftead of Abner. Do we think that Pro- 
 vidence throws all the gains of fuch a Revolution into, 
 a few hands ? If that is all, with us it is a fmall mat- 
 ter who wears a crown : but David fpeaks as if the 
 whole nation was to be the better for his government 5, 
 The land and all the inhabitants of it are dijfolved, I 
 bear up the pillars of it (h). The glory of Solomon's 
 
 reign 
 
 (c\ Ecclef. iii. 1 2. 
 id) Pfal. c*xiv. 8. 
 (e) Pfal.xliv.3. 
 
 (/) Pfal. cv. 3 . 
 (g) Prov. xxix. 7. 
 (h) Pfal. lxxv. 1. 
 
Serm. 15. a good Government. 359 
 
 reign was not to be a fplendid houfe, or fine gardens, 
 or a noble attendance ; but this, that all Jfrael, from 
 Dan to Beerfloeba, fat every man under his vine, and 
 under his fig-tree (i). 
 
 2. This mercy is not limited to a party. People 
 in all ages have had different apprehenfions about the 
 worfhip of God. And we need not doubt but, as 
 the minds of men were of the fame caft in David's 
 time as they are now, that there were fome varieties 
 among them. But in the diftribution of his favours, 
 he hath no regard to that : the great queftions upon 
 this head were determined by Juitice and Prudence. 
 Juftice wiil give the dift.incl.ion cf reward to thole 
 that have had that of danger ; and Prurience will con- 
 fider no other qualification in a man, than what mak- 
 eth him equal to his truft. Befides it is an unwar- 
 rantable jumbling of things that are no way related, 
 that a civil lift mould be moulded in a religious 
 creed ; and none to be fervants of the Prince, but 
 they who have got the ftamp of the Clergy. David 
 would not be thus confined in his dependence upon 
 the people, or his regards to them. It was the glory 
 of his reign to be ferved by all : Gllead is mine, Ma- 
 najfeh is mine, Epbralm is the (Irength of my hand, and 
 Judah is my law-giver {k). In the multitude of people is 
 the King's fafety, but in the want of people is the de- 
 jlruclion of the Prince (I) : and therefore, to cool the 
 affections of the fubjecls, or make them uncapable of 
 ferving him, is to weaken the crown, 
 
 III. The laft thing in my text, that makes up the 
 glory of a good reign, is, Juftice upon Of- 
 fenders •, the mouth of the?n that fpe.ak lies fh all 
 be flopped. I muft here confider ; 
 
 1. The Crime of thefe people : and, 
 
 2. Their Punifhment. 
 
 A a 4 1. Their 
 
 (i) 1 Kings iv. 25. (/) Prov. xiv. 28. 
 
 (i) Pfal. cviii. 8. 
 
360 The true Happinefs of Serm. 15* 
 
 1. Their fin is of that nature as makes them both 
 abominable to God and inconfiftent with fociety ; for 
 a -poor man is better than a liar. If you compare the 
 phrafe here with the other places where you often find 
 it, you will fee that David understands it of thofe lies 
 that were contrived againfc himfelf, and had a public 
 influence among the people. And if that which is 
 now, is that which hath been (/) •, if we may guefs at 
 his times by our own, the deceits that lay heavieft 
 upon him, and what he defired might be followed, 
 with a full and free juftice, were of three forts. 
 
 1 . Falfe Stories by fome about the court, 
 
 2. Falfe Promifes by Saul himfelf. And, 
 
 3. Falfe Doctrines by thofe who endeavour ta 
 make Slavery pafs upon the confeience. 
 
 1/?, He often complains of a wretched crew, that 
 got the King's ear, and carried on the prejudice 
 acrainft him : and no wonder there were fo many of 
 them when they were paid for every Story, But upon 
 this head doth David expostulate with him, Wherefore. 
 hearejl thou mens words, faying, David feeketb thy 
 hurt (m) ? And he fuppofeth an influence of this kind, 
 the next time that he gave Saul his life. If they be 
 the children of men that have jiirred thee up againfi 
 me, curfed be they before the Lord in). He knew 
 there was a party that had nothing todiSlinguiSh them- 
 felves by, nor any other fubfiftence than upon the 
 fplly and pafiion of the King : and therefore to pleafe 
 him, and to fave themfelves, they talk without any 
 guard either of truth or modeSly. He argues with 
 them, How long, ye fons of men ^ will ye turn my glory 
 into fhame ? How long will you love vanity, and fpeak 
 after leafing (0) ? Thefe were enemies to the fucceSHon, 
 though fometimes they carried on their defigns with a 
 fhew of zeal the other way. How long will ye i?nagine 
 mif chief againfi a man ? Ye Jhall be flain all of you; as 
 
 a bowing. 
 
 (/) E^clef.i. 9. I (») 1 Sam xxvi. 19. 
 
 (m) iSam.xxiv. 9. | ( ) Pfal. iy. z. 
 
Sfirm. 15. a good Government. 361 
 
 a bowing wall fhall ye be, and as a tottering fence, 
 'They only confult to caft him down from his excellency, 
 'They delight in lies, they blefs with their mouth, but 
 curje inwardly (/>). And he found this corruption 
 then fo general, that he complains, Surely men of low 
 degree are vanity, and men of high degree a lie ; to be laid 
 in the balance they are altogether lighter than vanity (q). 
 Sut there were fome fo notorious in treachery, that 
 their characters went along with their names ; and 
 therefore it made Saul's adminiftration to be fcandal- 
 ous when he committed the chief employment to a 
 known proftitute. Doeg the Edomite, was over the 
 fervants ; and before he accufed and murdered the 
 Priefts of the Lord, it is what any one would have 
 thought him capable of, / knew in that day, faith 
 David, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he 
 •would fur ely tell Saul '(r). 
 
 idly, He might carry the charge a great deal higher, 
 to the falfe promifes that were made by the King him- 
 fclf ; for firft, he gave his royal word and oath to 
 Jonathan, that David fhould not be flain (s) ; and yet 
 the next opportunity he would have been the affaffin 
 with his own hands. His pride and fury feemed to 
 be thawed down by the generous pity that David had 
 for him in the cave. Thou art more righteous than I, 
 for thou haft rewarded me good, whereas I have re- 
 warded the evil. Nay he goes farther, and delivers an 
 opinion that he had taken fo much pains to hide, / 
 know that thou Jhalt be King, and the kingdom of Ifrael 
 Jball be eftablijhed in thine hands (t). So that in that 
 fenfe, the fucceffion was neareft his heart, though it 
 was the fartheft from his inclination : and yet as if 
 he was in pain to fink his reputation, and to defile 
 the throne he fat on, he is foon after this at the head 
 of an army again. The next time David fpares him, 
 
 he 
 
 [p) Pfal. Ixii. 3, 4, (s) 1 Sam. xix. 6, 
 
 \q) Pfal. Ixii. 9. (/) 1 Sam. xxiv. ij, 19, 
 
 {r) 1 5a.n. xx. 22. 
 
362 The true Happinefs of Serm. 15. 
 
 he difiblves into the old confellion, and promifeth 
 fair, 1 have finned : return my J r on David, 1 will no more 
 do thee harm, becaufe my foul was precious in thy fight 
 this day : behold I have flayed the fool, I have erred 
 exceedingly («). Such an opinion as this would have 
 been affurance enough from any other man ; but 
 David who knew that there is always fomething 
 greater with a Tyrant than his confcience, his honour, 
 or his falvation, cannot depend upon one word that 
 he faith, but will rather venture himfelf among the 
 Philijlines, to whom he had been a glorious enemy, 
 than truft to the declarations of a muffling Prince. 
 How mean and low had he brought himfelf by this 
 unfteddinefs ? Who can more expofe the honour of 
 Sovereigns than they that put them upon a violation 
 of their word, which is fo far from advancing the 
 dignity of their thrones, that it makes them a fcandal 
 to their nature. Excellent fpeech does not become a fool, 
 much lefs do lying lips a Prince (#). 
 
 o>dly, I may fay with the Apoftle in another cafe, 
 that there might btfalfe Prophets among the people, as 
 there are falfe teachers among you (y). Unruly, vain 
 deceivers, whofe mouths muft be flopped, who fubvert 
 whole houfes, teaching things which they ought not for 
 filthy lucre fake: always liars, evil beafls, and flow 
 bellies (z). The mind of God had been declared in 
 Jfrael about the fucceffion. David was anointed by 
 Samuel ; and the Spirit of the Lord was daily form- 
 ing his foul to the great and awful truft. It was he 
 that led out and brought in the army of Ifrael as a 
 commander, and every one knew that he was to be 
 their King -, but they had fome among them who 
 could talk of hereditary and indefeafible right ; for 
 upon this ground did a poor fhiftlefs Prince incourage 
 a faction to proclaim him, and make a mighty ftir for 
 him. There were no pretentions that Ifbbofheth was 
 
 likely 
 
 (u) 1 Samxxvi. 21. (>) 2 Pet. it 1. 
 
 {x) Prov. xii. 7. J (*) Tit.i. 10—12. 
 
Serm, 15. a good Government. 363 
 
 likely to be a better ruler than David, or that God 
 had not fixed the fuccefllon > but they mud go upon 
 principles that fome in our day are governed by, that 
 Kings cannot forfeit either for themfelves or their 
 pofterity ; that a crown muft be taken in no other 
 notion than as an inheritance ; that though a Prince 
 does no juftice, yet ftili he mall feel none. Thefe 
 muft be the arguments that the friends of the Pre- 
 tender in David's time would juftify themfelves with; 
 and the notions you know are advanced by fome 
 among us, we hope with the fame fuccefs that attended 
 the others ; for the follies of thefe menfjjali be made 
 manifefl as theirs alfo was (a) : Should not the multi- 
 tude of words be anfwered ? Shall a man full of talk be 
 juftified? Shall their lies make men hold their peace? 
 And when they are mockers, fhall no man make them 
 afhamedib) ? 
 
 Shall we be told that Christ, who came to give 
 give peace on earth and fhew a good-will towards men^ 
 hath made us flaves ? Or that they whom he bought 
 with a price, are fold again to a Tyrant ? Are we to 
 have no other notion of the Jheep of his paflure than 
 as Jheep for the Jlaughter? Are thefe words by which we 
 muft be faved ? Are thefe the glad tidings of great joy 
 that fhoidd be to all people? Is this doing the work of 
 an Evangelift, and making full proof of their Minijlry, 
 to tell a monfter, that he hath a divine right to be 
 wicked, and that no Chriftians have a human right to 
 refill him ? This is fpeaking lies in the name of the 
 Lord : and yet it is hard to find an intereft of cruelty 
 carrying on, but fome of this tribe are tools to pro- 
 mote it. It is a method very ancient in the world, 
 for a Statefman to be the leader, and a Prieft the 
 fag-end of a party. I think the Scripture itfelf hath 
 given it no fofter a name. The ancient and honourable 
 he is the heady and the Prophet that teacheth lies, he is 
 the tail (c). 
 
 And 
 
 (a) 2 Tim. iii. 9. I (c) Ifai. ix. l£. 
 
 (b) Job xi. 2, 3. 
 
364 c fhe true Happinefs of Serm. ij. 
 
 And how well may thefe accounts be transferred to 
 our day ? O what a guilt of treachery does there lie 
 fomewhere ? What a vile furrender of our fafety, 
 trade and honour, only to keep one Monarch on a, 
 throne, end a few of his creatures out of a jail! I 
 will not defcend to particulars, which are open enough 
 to every one's obfervation ; but you may comprehend 
 the management of the lafh four years, in thofe fad 
 words of the Prophet : Ephraim feeds on windy and. 
 followeth after the enft-wind, he daily increafeth lies 
 and defolalions, and they make a covenant with the Af- 
 fyrians, and oil is carried into Egupt (d). Were it not 
 that the late turn of Providence hath begun to roll 
 away our reproach, Engliffj credit would have been 
 very much the fame with what the Romans ufed to call 
 the Punic faith. How vile muft a people be under 
 the weight of that charge ? Thou went eft to the' King 
 with ointments, and didft increafe thy perfumes •, and 
 didft fend thy meffengers afar off, and didft debafe thy- 
 feif even to hell {e). But whether or no this work is 
 agreeable to the Lord of hofts, I will leave you to 
 judge by the aim that he hath given to his vengeance. 
 Thefe are among the things that he hates, and that 
 are an abomination to him : A proud look, a lying tongue^ 
 and hands that fhed innocent blood (/). But that lead? 
 me to the fecond thing. 
 
 2. The punifhment of this people, which you find 
 in this and the two former verfes ; where there are 
 feveral things that exprefs both a divine and human 
 juftice. 
 
 They that feek my foul to deftroy it, fhall go down 
 to the lower parts of the earth. The leaft and weaken: 
 fenfe of thefe words is, that they are to be degraded 
 from their honours. Inftead of fwelling with titles, 
 and bafking themfelves in warm employments, they 
 fhall be reduced to a ftation where popular fcorn may 
 
 reach 
 
 (J) Hof. xii. u if) Prov.vi, 17. 
 
 (e) Ifai. lvii. 4. | 
 
Serm. 15. # good Government. 365 
 
 reach them. Men/hall clap their hands at him, and 
 Jhall hifs him out of his place (g). A righteous man 
 hates lying ; but a wicked man is ktbefome, and comes 
 tojhame (h). He goes on, 
 
 They Jhall be a portion for foxes. If you take this 
 in a metaphorical fenfe, you will fee their fin enftamp- 
 ed upon their punifhment : that the fly and tricking 
 perfons who led them into a fnare will leave them 
 there •, and as they had the guilt to make them knaves* 
 will have the triumph in fhewing thtm fools. That is 
 one way of becoming a portion for foxes. But cer- 
 tainly it here fignifies that capital juftice fhall be done 
 upon them ; They fhall fall by the fword, and their 
 carcaffes be left unburied, as not worthy to be re- 
 ceived into that earth which had groaned under their 
 Oppreffion. 
 
 And then, in my text you find, their mouths are 
 to be flopped. No farther encouragement fhall be 
 given to them, their fchemes are unraveled ; they 
 will either be totally filent, or talk with a confufion 
 that will but eXpofe them. A fword is upon the liars* 
 and they fhall dote (i). Judgment will return unto righ- 
 teoufnefsy and all the upright in heart fhall follow it {k). 
 And what a fweep would the hand of juftice take, if 
 the mouths of thofe liars were to be flopped who have 
 deceived and bullied fo many nations at once ? Oh ! 
 remember, remember the promifes made to the Ca- 
 talonians, and fee them all foked in the blood of thofe 
 brave people who waited for a vain help. 
 
 Juftice upon offenders, is fo far from fully ing the 
 work of God in the refcue of a people, that it is no 
 fmall part of their future fecurity. Nor can the pri- 
 vileges of a nation be better cemented than in the 
 blood of thofe that betrayed them. The Prophet 
 tells us, that there are lenities which cannot be ufed 
 but at the public expence. Let favour befhewed to the 
 
 wicked* 
 
 (g) Jobxxvii.23. (i"J Jer. 1. 36. 
 
 (b) Prov. xiii. 5. J {k) Pfal. xciv. 15. 
 
366 The true Happinefs of Sertti. 15. 
 
 wicked, yet will he not learn righteoufnefs ; in the land 
 of uprightnefs will he deal unjujlly, and will not behold 
 the majefty of the Lord (k). And it is a maxim too 
 divine and glorious to be dropped, hejjjall have judg- 
 ment without mercy, who has fhewed no mercy. David 
 was inftrucled to this in a very awful way. At the 
 beginning of his reign there was a famine for three 
 years, and the Lord told him* 7/ was for Saul, and 
 for his bloody houfe, becaufe in his zeal to the children 
 of Ifrael, he had fain the Gibeonites (I). Thefe people 
 were taken into league in Jo/bua's days; and though 
 they are condemned to perpetual fervice, to be hewers 
 of wood and drawers of water-, yet God will have al- 
 liances to be fo facred, that an injury to them mall 
 keep his wrath lowring over the country till feven men 
 of the blood-royal werehanged before the palace-gates 
 in Gibeah of Saul whom the Lord did chcofe. 
 
 And we find the laft words of David uniform to this, 
 which were a direction to Solomon, He that rules over 
 men muft bejujl, ruling in the fear of the Lord. And 
 he fhall be like the light of the morning when the fun 
 rifes -, even a morning without clouds, as the tender grafs 
 fpringing out of the earth by a clear /hining after rain bn). 
 Thefe metaphors defcribe the royal equity that fhall 
 make proper diftributions of punifhment and favour ; 
 to fcatter them whofe works are in the dark, and to 
 refrefh the fouls of the poor and needy. In the next 
 verfe he laments, that his houfe is not fo with God, and 
 that he would not make it grow -, but he intimates, 
 from what fort of people this danger would come upon 
 the royal family, as in fact it did. Men of bloody 
 and oppreffive tempers infinuated themfelves into Re- 
 hoboam\ favour, by giving fuch advice as coft him ten 
 tribes at once. David feems to know beforehand what 
 fuch barbarous counfels would bring his grandfon to; 
 Vbsfons of Belial fhall be all of them thruft away becaufe 
 
 they 
 
 (&) Ifai. xxvi. 9. (*») 2 Sam xxiii. 2, 3. 
 
 (/) 2 Sam. xxi. 1 . f 
 
Serm. 1 5. a good Government, 367 
 
 they cannot he taken with hands \ but the man that Jhall 
 touch them muft be fenced with iron, and the ftaff of 
 a fpear, and they Jhall be confumed with fire in the 
 fame place. 
 
 This is what he left with Solomon upon his death- 
 bed to regard thofe who had owned him in the time 
 of his adverfity. Shew kindnefs to the fons ofBarzillai 
 the Gileadite, and let them be of thofe that eat bread at 
 thy table ; for fo came they to me when I fled becaufe of 
 Abfalom thy brother ■(;/). But he warned him againft 
 the errors of clemency, as that which himfelf had 
 fuffered by. Shimei the fon of Gera had cur fed David. 
 as he went along weeping, and arraigned the Revolu- 
 tion that God had wrought in Ifrael. Come out thou 
 hloody man, and thou man of Belial : the Lord has re- 
 turned upon thee all the blood of the houfe of Saul, in 
 whofe ftead thou haft reigned (o). And yet, fuch is 
 the force of impudence and fawning, that this man, 
 by pretentions to an early loyalty, obtains his pardon. 
 Let not my Lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou 
 remember that which thy fervant did perverfly in the 
 day that my Lord the King went out ofjerufalem, that 
 the King Jhould take it to his heart, for thy fervant does 
 know that I have finned -, therefore, behold I am come 
 this day the fir ft of all the houfe of Jofeph, to meet my 
 Lord the King (p). It is true David was then fo 
 pleafed with his Reftoration, that he neglects the de- 
 mands of public juflice, and what he had vowed to 
 do. I will early deftroy all the wicked of the land, that 
 1 may cut off all evil-doers from the houfe of the Lord (q). 
 But now he is going out of the world, he owns the 
 deficiencies of his Government. We muft not think 
 that he faid this from a private revenge, or that he 
 was then deferted by the Spirit of God. We are told 
 the reverfe of that, and muft rather fuppofe it was the 
 Lord that lpake by him ; that a divine fentence was 
 
 then 
 
 (») 1 Kings ii. 7. (p) t Sam. xix. 19. 
 
 («} zSam.xvi. 8. (7) Pfal. ci. 8. 
 
368 The true Happinefi of Serm.i^. 
 
 then in the mouth of the King, and his lips did not tranf- 
 grefs in judgment (r). Thou haft with thee there Sh'unei 
 the fon of G era, a Benjam'ue of Bahurim, who cur fed me 
 with a grievous curfe, in the day when I went to Ma- 
 hanaim ; but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and 
 jfware to him by the Lord, faying, 1 will not -put thee 
 to death by the fword. Now therefore hold him not guilt - 
 lefs ; for thou art a wife man, and knoweft what thou 
 cughteft to do to him ; but his hoary head bring tkou 
 down to the grave with blood (j). And after Solomon 
 had gone through thefe executions, i. e. turned out 
 Abiathar from being Prieft of the Lord ; flain Adonljah, 
 who faid the kingdom was his by right, and by the death 
 ofjoab had put away innocent blood from the houfe of 
 his father 1 and now had difpatched Shimei, it gave 
 him a profpect of an eafy reign, he returns thus upon 
 himfelf ; King Solomon Jhall be bleft, and the throne of 
 David be eftablifhed for ever {t). 
 
 And that the mouth of liars mould thus be flopped* 
 agrees with thofe maxims that were imprerTed upon 
 himfelf, and which ftand in fuch a light, that they 
 iriufl convince whenever they are known. If a Ruler 
 hearken to lies, all his fervants are wicked (u). They 
 fee either his weaknefs or his corruption ; they will no 
 longer regard him as a Sovereign* but either as a child 
 or a fury. On the other hand, when the King Jits on 
 the throne of judgment, he fcatlers away all evil with 
 his eyes. A wife King fcatters the wicked, and brings 
 the wheel over them (x). Nor can there be a rejoicing 
 in the Lord for the Prince, or a glory for thofe who 
 fwear by him, if he is not the mini ft er of God for good, 
 but bears the fword in vain (jy). The law is made for 
 liars and perjured perfons (2). 
 
 Thefe 
 
 (r) Prov. xvi. 10. 
 (s) 1 Kings ii. 8, 9. 
 (/) 1 Kings iii. 45. 
 (u) Prov, xxix. 12. 
 
 (*) Prov. xx. 8, 26. 
 (>) Rom. xiii. 4. 
 («) 1 Tim. i. 10. 
 
Senftri. if. a good Government. 369 
 
 Thefe were the views that David had upon his ac- 
 ceffion to the throne ; thus he defigned to live and 
 rule. That it was not in the power of his hand to 
 go thorough with thefe noble refolutions, you may 
 learn from an early complaint : / am this day weak y 
 though anointed King, and thefe men, thefons of Zeruiah, 
 are too hard for me (a) -, but under this impotence of 
 Government, he refers the cafe to the Judge of all the 
 earth, who will do right ; The Lord fhall reward the 
 doer of evil according to his wickednefs. Such a Go- 
 vernment as I have here defcribed, looks like that of 
 a Redeemer, who, as the King of Saints, rejoices in God-, 
 he is anointed with the oil of gladnefs above his fellows : 
 he has provided glory, honour and immortality for 
 them that love him -, but filence, confufion and tor- 
 ment to all deceivers. For into the place where he 
 lives fhall nothing enter that defiles, or works an abo- 
 mination, or loves and makes a lie (b) : But the throne 
 of God, and of the Lamb fhall be in it, and his fervants 
 fhall ferve him', and they fhall fee his face, and his name 
 fhall be in their foreheads {c). 
 
 (a) 1 Sam. iii. 39. (c) Rev. xxii. 3, 4, 
 
 \b) Rev. xxi. 27. 
 
 * * * 
 
 * *• * * * 
 
 *J* •#£• ♦}«■ ij» 
 
 * * * 
 
 Vol. I. Bb SERMON 
 

 SERMON XVI. 
 
 Juftice and Property the Glory of a Deliverance. 
 
 In Two Sermons Preached January 20, (being a Day 
 of Public Thankfgiving for his .Majefty's fafe Arrival) 
 and January 23, 1715. 
 
 Nehemiah V. 13. 
 
 Alfo IJhook my Lap, and faid, So God flake out 
 every Man from his Houfe, and from his Labour ■> 
 that performeth ?tot his Promife, even thus be he 
 jhaken out and emptied. And all the Congrega- 
 tion faid, Amen, and praifed the Lord. 
 
 #><( #)><(* HERE is fcarce a verfe in this chapter, 
 X X but what fuits the great occafion upon 
 
 ,*, T # which I have chofen my text : and in- 
 •fi, wX deed, the whole ftory of Nehemiah, and 
 *** *** his conduct in public affairs, is fo much 
 like the times we are fallen into, that fome reflections 
 upon the ftate of things in their day, may lead us to 
 make the bed ufe of what Providence hath done in 
 ours. 
 
 There are three particulars to be obferved in the 
 cafe of that people. 
 
 1. That God had given them a very great deli- 
 verance, which no human reafon could ever have 
 
 B b 2 hoped 
 
37 2 Jujiice and Property the Serm, 16^ 
 
 hoped for : it was not the manner of thofe nations 
 that had taken them captive, to make any reftitution, 
 and it is a thing fo ungrateful to human nature, that 
 ■we mult always reckon it a divine work when Tyrants 
 are brought to refund : it is true, they had the pro- 
 phecies of Jeremiah, and other good men, all along 
 to foften their bondage, and by thofe Books they might 
 know the number of years in which the Lord would ac- 
 tomplifh the deflations of Jerufalem {a). But Hill it 
 was fo amazing in itfelf, that what they had often 
 fouo-ht with prayer, they cannot but receive with 
 •wonder •, for when the Lord turned again the captivity 
 cf Sion, we were like them that dreamed, then was 
 cur mouth filed with laughter, and our tongue with 
 finging. The Lord hath done great things for us, 
 whereof we are glad (b). And if you confider but 
 this falvation in the two main branches of it, you 
 will Hill go deeper into the furprize that ever any 
 thing of that nature fhould happen. They are re- 
 flored to the religion, as well as the liberties of their 
 fathers : the fame decree that allowed them to repair 
 the city, Commands them to build the temple. This 
 order came at firft from Cyrus, whofe character in 
 other hiftories is vile enough •, and when we read of 
 him in the book of God, it makes him no better than 
 a grofs idolater : For Jacob my fervanCs fake, and If- 
 rael mine elett, I have even called thee by thy name ; / 
 have fir named thee though thou haft not known me (c). 
 We there read with what a greatnefs he fpread his 
 arms over the earth. Thus faith the Lord to his anoint- 
 ed, to Cyrus, his right hand have I hclden to fubdus 
 nations before him, and I will loofe the loins of Kings, 
 to open before him the two-leaved gates, and the gates 
 /hall not befhut (d). And fo in another place, I have 
 called up one from the north, and he floall come •, from the 
 rifing of the fun, fhall he call upon my name? He fiall 
 
 come 
 
 (a) Dan. Jx. 2. [c) Ha. Ixv. 4. 
 
 (bj Pfolmcxxvi. t, 2, 3. | (dj Ifa. Ixv. 1. 
 
Serm. 16. Glory of a Deliverance, 373 
 
 come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter 
 treads the clay (e). And yet the perfon who had fiich 
 an appetite for conqueft, gives up a former captivity, 
 as if he alone was to have an univerfal monarchy, 
 without the temper that always attends it, which is 
 an univerfal cruelty, Thus faith Cyrus King of Perjia, 
 All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of 
 heaven given me, and he hath charged me to build him 
 an houfe in Jerufalem, which is in Judah ; who is there 
 among you of all his people, the Lord his God be with 
 him, let him go up (f). 
 
 And though this work was hindered by thofe who 
 hired counfellors againft the Jews in that reign, and 
 was totally at at end in the days of Artaxerxes, yet 
 God revived it again in the government of Darius: 
 all the deceitful arguments, that it was a rebellious 
 and a bad city, and had been hurtful to Kings, that it 
 would 'efien the revenue, and cut off" a branch of the 
 empire, thefe were controled by a divine impreffion 
 upon the royal confcience. -Darius atted like one 
 who hated thofe maxims of cruelty, that make brutes 
 both of princes and people, the former in ravage, the 
 latter in flavery •, Let them, faith he, offer facrifices 
 of fveet favour to the God of heaven, and pray for the 
 life of the King, and of his f on-, and I have made a de- 
 cree, that whoever fhall alter this work, let timber be 
 pulled down from his houfe, and being fet up, let him be 
 hanged thereon, and let his houfe be made a dunghil for 
 this ; and the God that caufed his name to dwell there 9 
 dejiroy all Kings and people that Jhall put to their hands 
 to alter and dcftroy the houfe of God which is at Jeru- 
 falem (g). What a Deliverance was this! They faid 
 among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for 
 them: but 
 
 II. The work met with a great deal of oppofition 
 feveral ways. 
 
 B b 3 1 . There 
 
 (e) Ifa. be. 25. (g) Ezra vi. 10, 11, 12. 
 
 (f) Ezra i. 2. \ 
 
374 Jufiice and Property the Sefm. 16. 
 
 i. There were public enemies to the defign. Iq 
 the fir it expedition we read of, Tatnai, governor on 
 this fide the river Shcthar-bozvai (£), that offered to 
 build with the Jews, and becaule they were refufed, 
 made all the falfe representations of them to the court 
 that they were able to form. In A^bsmiah's time, we 
 meet with the fame fpirit in ether perfons, there was 
 Sanballat the Heronite, and Tobiah the fervanl, the Am- 
 monite, and Gejloem the Arabian (i) ; theie oppofed the 
 good defign with all the variety that malice could fur- 
 nifh : fometimes they called it fedition ; What is this 
 thing that ye will do ? Will yc rebel agalnjl the King (k)? 
 Though Nehcmiah could have anfwered that infinua- 
 tion by the letters, or orders of council that he brought 
 along with him -, yet he takes no notice of that, but 
 replies to them in. the utmoft contempt, both of their 
 perfons and argument : The Qod of heaven^ he will 
 proffer us, therefore we his ferv ants will arife and build, 
 but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in 
 Jerufalem (I). 
 
 2. The work was incumbered another way, and 
 that was by thofe who had a fhare in promoting it. 
 The very Jews themfelves, the parties in this good 
 defign, ruu into thofe vile and wretched methods that 
 fliocked the whole caufe at once : it had like to have 
 perifhed in their own hands ; and this not by miftake, 
 or a few flips of policy, but by downright wicked- 
 nefs j things that were inconilftent both with the ho- 
 nour of God, and the fecurity of their brethren. 
 Thefe may be reduced to two heads, which I will only 
 juft mention now, and enlarge upon them as I get 
 farther into the difcourfe. 
 
 Firfi, One of the crimes that was fooliih, and 
 had like to have proved fatal, was a clemency to the 
 public and notorious enemies of the caufe. Such as 
 were for keeping the people in bondage, had wove 
 
 themfelves 
 
 (b) Ezra iii. 2. j (k) Neh. ii. 19, 
 
 (i) Neh. ii. 1 o. j (/) Neh. ii. 20, 
 
Serm,i6. Glory of a Deliverance. 375 
 
 themfelves into the families of others, who pretended 
 a zeal to bring them out of it : we find an unhappy- 
 acquaintance between plunderers and patriots ; men 
 who had built the wall, and thofe who had laughed at 
 it. The two oppofite caufes of bondage and liberty, 
 of hell and heaven are forgot, and people are fo loole 
 from their own pretenfions, that what they adorned in 
 words, they funk in things. The concord that feems 
 impoflible in nature becomes eafy to corruption : there 
 is a friendfhip between light and darknefs, between 
 Cbrift and Belial (m), and, 
 
 Secondly, At the fame time that thefe perfons were 
 fo complaifant to enemies, they are in the other ex- 
 treme to their own brethren. When clemency is di- 
 rected by a wifdom that is from above (n), it is uni- 
 form and glorious like the rule under which it moves; 
 it will befirft pure and then -peaceable ', and though it is 
 gentle and eafy to be intreated, yet it is without partia- 
 lity and without hypocrify : but when it is only prompt- 
 ed by the lull of man, when we enter into it upon 
 nothing higher than private intereft and perfonal views, 
 it is the mofl unfhapely and disfigured thing in the 
 world : in fome cafes it gives what the law forbids, 
 in others it denies what the law commands. When 
 people are fo very gentle to public enemies, they will 
 be as fevere to public friends : their paffiqns are in 
 diforder and tumult from firft to laft. Thus it is in 
 all qualities. The Prophets that fir engthened the hands 
 of the wicked in his zvickednefs, by promijing him life 
 (<?), at the fame time, made the hearts of the righteous 
 fad. Saul, who was fo very tender of Amalek againfl 
 the law of God, in his purfuit of David, runs away 
 from the common juftice of man. Ahab, who had 
 fo little regard to his own fubjects, as to murder all 
 that he could find of the true Religion among them, 
 hath fuch an extreme lenity in another cafe? that he 
 
 B b 4 lets 
 
 (m) 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15. I (0) Ezek. xiii. e?. 
 
 \n) Jam. Hi. 17. J 
 
376 Jaftice and Property the Serm. 16 J 
 
 lets go a man out of his hand whom God had appointed 
 to utter deftrutlion (p) : and thus it was in the hiftory 
 before us ; thefe very peribns who were open to the 
 acquaintance of fuch as they ought to have abhorred, 
 are quite clofed up to the danger and intereft of thofe 
 that were in the lame caufe with themfelves. There 
 was a great cry of the people again/l their brethren the 
 Jews (q) *, and the complaint runs upon two heads. 
 Firft, that they were little better than Jlaves to their 
 own countrymen : and fecondly, that by the fame in- 
 cauality of management, they were become beggars 
 at home : they had loft their eftates for the caufe, and 
 were now giving up their perfons, and under no more 
 prolpecl: of being relieved by the common Delive- 
 rance, than they were without it. You have them 
 all throwing in their grievances, There were fome that 
 faid, We our fons and our daughters are many, there- 
 fore we take up corn for them that they may eat and 
 live: there were alfo that faid, V/e have mortgaged 
 cur lands, and vineyards, and houfes, that we might 
 huy corn becaufe of the dearth. There were alfo that 
 faid, We have borrowed money for the King's tribute, 
 and that upon our lands and vineyards, yet now our flefh 
 is as the flefh of our brethren, our children as their chil- 
 dren -, and we bring into bondage our fans and our 
 daughters to be fervants, and fome of cur daughters 
 are brought into bondage already, neither is it in our 
 power to redeem them, for other men have our lands 
 and vineyards (r). Thefe were vices that incumbred 
 the work of God, and made it go on heavily among 
 them. But, 
 
 III. Another thing that you obferve from the ftory, 
 is, that Nehemiah fets himfelf to immediate juftice 
 upon thofe that were guilty, and a relief to them that 
 gave in their complaints. He calls them together, 
 ihews the vilenefs of the practice, and though he 
 
 could 
 
 (p) 1 Kings xx. 42. (r) i Kings xx. 2, 3, 4, 5. 
 
 (q) 1 Kings xx. 1. I 
 
Serm. 16. Glory of a Deliverance! 377 
 
 eould have little hopes of fixing his arguments upon 
 any principles of truth and honour, yet he does what 
 he can with the grofler paffions of fear and fhame. 
 The feveral methods that he took with them, and the 
 promiie that he extorted from them, I fhall open af- 
 terwards, and will now only take notice, that he clof- 
 ed his endeavours with a folemn curfe upon thofe that 
 proved deceitful ; Alfo I Jhook my lap, and f rid, So 
 God jhake out every man from his houfe and frotn his 
 labour, that performs not his promife, even thus be he 
 fhaken out and emptied : and this was fo good a day's 
 work, that all the congregation faid Amen, and pratfed 
 the Lord. 
 
 By thefe reflections upon the hiftory, you will be 
 able to fee your own concern in it, that here was a 
 glorious caufe, divine and heavenly in all its parts ; 
 Religion fecured, and liberty reftored, and yet it had 
 like to have been fapped and undone by the very peo- 
 ple who were fharers in it, and profeiTed themfelves 
 to be friends to it. That the danger they brought 
 upon it was an indulgence to enemies by private usu- 
 ries, and coldnefs to their hearty friends, and that 
 fuch a wicked and foolifh conduct would certainly 
 have defeated the great falvation, had not God raifed 
 them up a man of fuch a fpirit as made him every 
 way qualified to feek the welfare of Ifrael : things 
 were become fo defperate, that Nehemiah ieems to be 
 the only perfon who was able to give a remedy. I 
 fhall reduce the whole Hate of their cafe to thefe fix 
 heads, which are all of them fo many doctrines or 
 maxims upon the hiftory before you ; and as I defpair 
 of having time enough for a diftinct application at 
 the end, I will comprehend it in the feveral particu- 
 lars as we go along. 
 
 1. It is an abufe of the divine Goodnefs in the de- 
 liverance of a people, when the blefllng is not made 
 extenfive to all who are concerned in it. 
 
 2. It is an aggravation of this injury, when it is 
 
 done 
 
37 8 Jufltce and Property the Serm. 16. 
 
 done by thofe who are engaged in the fame caufe with 
 the very people that fuffer. This was the cafe of the 
 Jews, the cry of the men and their wives was againft 
 their brethren. 
 
 3. Thefe diforders muft be redreffed, if we expect 
 a return of the divine Mercy. You fee it was the firfl 
 thing that Nebemiab did, and that fuch a cafe is not 
 defperate, I will fhew you both from the fitnefs and 
 the fuccefs of the methods that he took. 
 
 4. It is a mighty inftance of God's favour to a 
 people thus*bufed, when he fets over them a Gover- 
 nor who is touched with a fenfe of their miferies. 
 
 5. The vengeance of heaven will come down upon 
 thofe who do not fall in with the noble meafures that 
 fuch a prince recommends ; for I take Nebemiab's 
 curfe, as it was founded upon juftice, to have in it 
 the value of a prophecy. I Jhook my lap, and /aid, So 
 Godjhake out every man from his houfe^ and from his la- 
 lour that performs not this promife, evenfo be he fhaken 
 out and emptied, 
 
 6. Whenever things are thus managed, it diffufes 
 through the people both the argument and the fpirit 
 of a thankf giving- day \ as thefe propofals arofe from 
 God's grace in Nehem\ah > % heart, fo they took them 
 to be the prefages of God's favour to his govern- 
 ment, this made all the congregation fay, Amen* and 
 praife the Lord. 
 
 1. One doctrine that you may collecT: from this 
 remarkable ftory, is, that people abufe the divine 
 Goodnefs in their Deliverance, when the bleiling is 
 not made extenfive to all that are concerned in it. 
 This obfervation is placed in fuch univerfal evidence, 
 that all men admit it into their opinion, though they 
 feldom heed it in their practife. In a time of danger 
 ■we underftand a general intereft. Every one is called 
 in to take a part in the ftruggles that we make for 
 liberty. Cyrus united all the Jews in his proclama- 
 tion, he gave them equal leave to do their utmoft in 
 
 fo 
 
Serm. 1 6. Glory of a Deliverance. 379 
 
 fo good a defign ; and they were alfo united in the 
 zeal that came from above. Every one whofe fpirit 
 God raifed to go up (s), entered into the work without 
 making any private articles ; and yet when the toil 
 was a little over, fome of them acted as if they 
 thought that Providence was not a public friend, but 
 only a fort of a faclor to a few private families. Now 
 this is abominable : becaufe, 
 
 1. They were all equal in God's regard, being tie 
 work of bis bands. 
 
 2. They were fo to one another as brethren. 
 
 3. They had been fo to the caufe, as fellow-labour- 
 ers. 
 
 1. It is a mifreprefentation of him who gives us 
 the mercy, if we do not make it extenfive. He ac- 
 cepts not tbe perfons of princes, nor regards the rick 
 more than the poor, for they are all the work of his 
 hands (t). Though he hath given fome a fituation 
 above their brethren, yet we cannot imagine that it is 
 purely for their own fakes. You mult not think 
 he is fo la villi of his bounty to the great men of the 
 earth, meerly that they may glitter upon a throne, 
 but be bis minijiers for good ; and this they cannot be, 
 if they refolve to confine their influence. Princes 
 love to be called God's Reprefentatives, but they ufu- 
 ally underftand it in no other attribute than his power, 
 whereas that is incommunicable ; it is a glory that he 
 never gives to another. The chief titles in which he 
 would be reprefented by them, are thofe of jultice 
 and mercy : the power of doing harm never belongs 
 to his vicegerent, becaufe it never was in himfelf. 
 He is abfolute, but he is fo upon the foundations of 
 equity, as well as greatnefs. He can no more defile 
 his throne, than he can lofe it. It is as impoffible 
 for his adminiftration to be condemned, as it is to be' 
 refilled : he does according to his will j but that will 
 js always holy, juft, and good ; and, when he pulls 
 
 down 
 0) Ezra i. 5. jjj (t) Job xx#iv. 19. 
 
3 8o Jujiice and Property the Serm. 1 6. 
 
 down one and fets up another, if they are to reprefent 
 him, this is the perfection that they ought to copy : 
 but one would think by the inequality of human 
 conduct, that fome people will fcarce allow others to. 
 be creatures ; as if they thought Providence does its 
 wonders meerly to raife a family, or maintain the hu- 
 mour of a party : againfl this we may argue as the 
 Apoftle does, " Is he the God of the Jews only, and 
 siot of the Gentiles ? Yes, of the Gentiles alfo." The 
 bounties of nature are unconfmed ; their line is gone 
 throughout the earth (u) : the fun takes his circuit 
 through the whole heavens, and there is nothing bid 
 from the heat thereof : and are the bleffings that he 
 gives out of the common way to be more a property 
 than the other ? It is no wonder that he ruins a mercy 
 in the hands of thofe that only ufe it as a monopoly. 
 
 2. The unfairnefs of this management in the Jews, 
 does farther appear in that they were all brethren. 
 To have talked of any qualifications that arife from 
 different opinions, would have been entertained at firft 
 as a reproach both upon the work and the people : it 
 was enough if they could but -prove their genealogy 
 that they were of Ifrael. If they had no varieties 
 among them about the worfhip of God, it muft arife 
 from one of thefe things ; either that they had a more 
 perfect rule to go by than we have, which is making 
 Chrift lefs faithful in his houfe than Mofes was (x) : 
 or that if men would add to the rule that God had 
 framed, all the people would run in with it, which is 
 as unaccountable to reafon, as the former is to Scrip- 
 ture. In the following ages we know with how much 
 value they received the traditions of the fathers, fo as 
 to make the command of God of no effett (y) : now if 
 any of them went this length in Nehemiah's time, we 
 may fuppole there were fome who would keep to the 
 law and to the teftimony : but they are equally included 
 
 in 
 
 («) Pfalm xix. 4, 6. | {y) Matt. xy. 6. 
 
Serin. 16. Glory of a 'Deliverance, 381 
 
 in this great falvation. The general mercy that God 
 had beftowed, was not given to feed a diftinction 
 among themfelves : the bleffing that regarded them as 
 Jews, muft not be made a perquifite to a feci: or fac- 
 tion. Are people delivered from a common ruin that 
 they may (till indulge the folly of a lower quarrel ? 
 Does God tear you from a bondage to a foreign ene- 
 my, on purpofe to incourage a domeftic perfecution ? 
 Will you make terms for his Providence, as you do 
 for his Grace ? If your hands are clofed to your bre- 
 thren, fhall his be fo too ? Are they to have no fhare 
 in what he does ? Allow him to difpofe of his bounty 
 as he pleafeth, and to do according to what he faith in 
 the parable ; / do thee no wrong, take that which is 
 thine and go thy way ; / will give unto this lafi, even as 
 unto thee ; Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with 
 mine own ? Is thine eye evil becaufe that I am good {%) ? 
 
 You will eafily fee by all this, how ill they are dealt 
 with who are call out from the privileges of a nation 
 -where they live, and neither ufed as Britons, nor as 
 Proteftants. When they hear fongs from the utlermofi 
 parts of the earth, faying, Glory to the righteous, they 
 may cry out, My leannefs, my leannefs, the treacherous 
 dealers have dealt treacheroufly (a). Till the founda- 
 tion is made wider, and men regarded rather for the 
 merit of their actions than for the cant and cringe of 
 a party, we are both fully ing God's work, and abufe- 
 ing his people. Nor is this out of the cafe of our 
 prefent thankfgiving : we do not come to rejoice that 
 God hath brought one amongft us who bears the name 
 of a King. It is a poor charm that goes along with 
 the found of that title. It does not always fignify ei- 
 ther wifdom or goodnefs. But the mercy is this, that 
 he hath given us one who is touched with a fenfe pf 
 our danger, and full of that principle which alone can 
 fecure our happinefs : and of this we have an early 
 proof in the noble declaration that he made in council : 
 
 « that 
 (z) Matt. xx. 13, 14. J (a) Ifa. xxiv. j6, 
 
%%z Jufiice and Property the Serm. 16. 
 
 that it was his purpofe to do all that is in his power 
 for the fupporting and maintaining the churches of 
 England and Scotland, as they are feverally by law 
 eftablifhed, and that his opinion was, this might 
 be effectually done without the lean: impairing the 
 Toleration allowed by law to Proteftant DhTenters, 
 fo agreeable to Chriftian charity, and fo neceffary 
 to the trade and riches of this kingdom : and, as 
 the good effects of making property fecure, are no 
 where fo clearly feen, and to fo great a degree as in 
 this happy kingdom, fo he affures us, there is not 
 any that fhall more earneftly endeavour the prefer- 
 vation of it than himfelf V You have the more 
 reafon to obferve this, when you remember how lately 
 fome were pulling all forts of mifery upon you ; tha* 
 they could not go through their defign to beggar you 
 by the Bill of Commerce, yet they have laid the fcheme 
 of another plunder, by denying you the education of 
 your children : as if great ignorance was the beft way 
 to prevent fcbifm. The Papifts tell us, that it is the 
 mother of devotion, and others would make it the 
 bond of uniformity : fo that you fee one door of ruin 
 is Hill open, for we learn by the Prophet, that peo- 
 ple are not only dejlroyed for lack of trade ; but for 
 tack' of know/edge. 
 
 But behold the goodnefs of God ! it is obferved 
 by the facred hiftorians, that the happinefs of Tfrael 
 bore date with an edict of this nature : There arofe a 
 King that knew not Jofeph, the fame did evil intreat 
 cur fathers, and caft cut their young children, to the in- 
 tent that they might not live, at which time Mofes was 
 born (b) : and by the fame rule, I cannot but obferve 
 to you, that his prefent Majefty began his life one 
 day before that reign in which your fathers were made 
 "Diffenters "j~ ; and he began his government the fame 
 day that your children were to be made Ideots || ; may 
 
 the 
 
 * Sept. 22, 1 71 4. + May 28, 1660. 
 
 {b) Afts vii. 1 3, 19, 20. J || Auguft 1, 1714J 
 
Serm. 16. Glory of a Deliverance. 383 
 
 the bleffmg of thofe that were ready to perijh come upon 
 him : may he have the glory as he hath the inclina- 
 tion to be a healer of our breaches, and a reftorer of 
 paths to dwell in : that as God hath given him the 
 hearts, he may in his Providence give him the fervice 
 of thofe who want more room to be ufeful ; that ir» 
 his days there may be an end of all fuch eftablifh- 
 ments as pinch the throne and grieve the confcience ; 
 plunder the prince of the help that he may have, 
 and prevent the fubjects of a duty that they would 
 pay : that the chains of incapacity may be taken off 
 from yourfelves, and thofe of ignorance from your 
 pofterity : thus his name will be dear to the prefent 
 age, and the children yet unborn will rife up and call 
 him bleffed. 
 
 3. There is another reafon why the mercies of a 
 Deliverance mould be thus extended, becaufe the peo- 
 ple had been equal in their concern for a general in- 
 tereft. It is not fair that fweat and blood mould pafs 
 for nothing. Rejoice ye with Jerufalem, and be glad 
 with her, all ye that love her : rejoice for joy with her, 
 all ye that mourn for her (c). It was fo in the ftory of 
 Nehemiah ; the poorer fort, who were brought fo low, 
 had taken as much pains in building the temple and 
 the city, as their brethren, who run away with the 
 main ihares of the bleffing. It is true, God condemn- 
 ed the Gibeonites to be hewers of wood and drawers of 
 water -, but he never fuffered one party of Ifrael to 
 ufe another at that rate. A little before this com- 
 plaint, there was work enough for all hands, when 
 they were ready to fink under the noife of enemies, 
 and the weight of fervice: Judah faid, The firength 
 of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much 
 rubbi/h, fo that we are not able to build the wall (d) t 
 and when the adverfary threatned to pour in forces 
 upon them from every quarter, Nehemiah fet the pec- 
 pie after their families, with their fwords, their fpears 9 
 
 and 
 (c) Ik. l*vi. 10. J {d) Neb, iv. 10. 
 
384 J uftice and Property the Serm.i& 
 
 end their bows (e). Where would have been the po- 
 licy of difqualifying any number of thefe, when they 
 were all little enough ? No, Zion then was not built 
 •with blood, nor Jerufalem with iniquity. He engageth 
 them all, without any diftin&ion, and argues upon 
 the common topics of Religion and Liberty : If aid 
 to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the reft of the 
 people, Be ye not afraid of them ; remember the Lord, 
 who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, 
 your fins, and your daughters, and your wives, and 
 your hou/es (f). It would have given them but a dull 
 profpect had they known beforehand what they felt 
 afterwards, that all their hazards was but to make 
 others rich, and keep themfelves poor. But they had 
 no fuch view ; they knew it to be a principle of uni- 
 verfal nature, that every thing mall fubfift upon his 
 own fervice : the creature that works muft feed. Who 
 goes a warfare at any time at his own charges ? Who 
 ■plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? 
 Or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the 
 flock ? Say I thefe things, or faith the law the fame 
 alfo ? For it is written in the law of Mofes, Thoufhalt 
 not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn(g). Does 
 God take care for oxen ? Is that all his defign to eftab- 
 lifh a privilege for cattle ? Ox faith he it altogether for 
 our fakes ? For our fakes, no doubt, this is written^ 
 That he that plows fhould plow in hope, and he that 
 threfheth in hope fhould be partaker of his hope ; that 
 another may not run away with all he hath been 
 taking pains for. 
 
 Not but that every good man acts upon higher 
 ends than an advantage in this life. He hath the 
 comfort Nehemiahfo often. rolled himfelf in, of com- 
 mending his foul to that God whofe caufe had in- 
 flamed his zeal, and led on his dangers. Remember 
 me, O Lord, according to the multitude of thy mercies : 
 
 and 
 
 (e) Neh. iv. 1 3 . | (g) I Cor. we. 7, 8, 9, 1 o. 
 
 (f) Neh. iv. 14. J 
 
Serm. 1 6. Glory of a Deliverance. 385 
 
 and certainly, we ought to imploy a fevere fufpicion 
 upon a temper that makes us uneafy at any good we 
 have done : it is apt to rife in an honeft heart, and 
 therefore we are warned againfl it : Do you think that 
 the Scripture faith in vain, The [fir it that dwell eth in 
 us lufteth to envy (h) ? No, it is not in vain, we all 
 of us need that caution, and the more we have an eye 
 to the recompence of reward, the greater ferenity will it 
 draw down uponjthe mind : as the caufe is good, fo 
 is the mafter who hath inftamped his name upon it. 
 It is an honour that he will help us to do any thing 
 for his people •, it is a greater if we are called to faff er : 
 however, it is to be wiihed, that human affairs were 
 conducted with more equity ; that men who are in- 
 different to any party, may not be gainers by all -, 
 and that thofe perfons whofe lives were not dear to 
 themfelves, may find they are dear to their friends ; 
 for it will ever have an unkindly afpect, that fuch 
 people mould not be owned asfervants to an intereft, 
 who were fure of being martyrs for it. 
 
 II. Another maxim that you may collect from the 
 ftory of the Jews in this book, is, that it is an ag- 
 gravation of the injury done to thofe who are no bet- 
 ter for the public mercy, when the guilt of ufing 
 them thus, lies upon fome who are engaged in the 
 fame caufe with them. This was indeed a pungent 
 article in the cafe that my text refers to ; the people 
 who in the former chapter had no imaginations of 
 danger, but what came from the enemy, turned the 
 next cry againft their brethren the Jews. Some of 
 thefe had made an advantage of the common hard- 
 fhips that the reft lay under •, they lent them money 
 upon extravagant ufury, taking the hundredth part of 
 it from them, which is what we call twelve per cent. 
 and they had fo little mercy for thofe that were thus 
 flraitened, that fome of thefe borrowers were forced 
 to mortgage their lands, and others of them to fell, or 
 
 Vol. I. C c at 
 
 (h) James iv. 5. 
 
386 Juftice and Property the Serm. 16. 
 
 at leaft, to pawn their children. Now the vilenefs of 
 fuch ufage appears in three things. 
 
 1. It fhewed a grofs want of all Religion. 
 
 2. It drew down a reproach upon the caufe itfelf. 
 
 3. This feverity to their brethren was attended with 
 a icandalous clemency to the enemy. 
 
 1 . Such a way of dealing with God's people after 
 the common Deliverance he had given them, was a 
 notorious argument how little Religion had to do in 
 th : mens hearts. Though they were but lately in 
 bondage, and by the rivers of Babylon dropping a tear 
 upon every thought of Sion (/), yet from that foft- 
 nefs they became infenfible to the groans of mifery. 
 Thefe very perfons had but newly catched at an op- 
 portunity that the proclamation gave them to build 
 the city and the temple, and the thick cloud that 
 hung over them all the while they were doing it, one 
 would have thought mould have kept them ferious ; 
 and yet you fee that Nebemiab argues upon the infi- 
 delity and atheifm of fuch a practice. It is not good 
 that ye do ; ought ye not to walk in the fear of the Lord 
 our God (k)? In which reproof, he fnews them that 
 the fear of God extends itfelf farther than meer devo- 
 tion. It was not rearing the temple *, it is not build- 
 ing of churches that will protect a people in the ne- 
 glect of their brethren ; for by mercy and truth ini- 
 quity is purged, and by the fear of the Lord men depart 
 from evil (/). It is not belonging to a good fociety or 
 runt ing out in a zeal for it, that will anfwer the end 
 of Religion. The wifdom that defcends from above is 
 full of mercy and good fruits (/»). The people guilty 
 of thefe abominations, were of the pureit church 
 then in the world, and had lately fhewn a regard to 
 their peculiar $ and yet they are doing that which is 
 fcandalous to all the profeflions of piety. 
 
 2. This courfe was enough to draw in a difgrace 
 
 upon 
 
 (/) Pfalm cxxxvii. i, 2. (I) Frov. xvi. 6. 
 
 (k) Neh. v. 9. (mj James iii. 17. 
 
Serm. 16. filory of a Deliverance, 387 
 
 upon the caufe itfelf, as Nebemiah tells them, we 
 ought to walk in the fear of the Lord our God, be' 
 caufe of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies (n). 
 He was always afraid of any thing that might give 
 the Perfmns a handle to think with a contempt of 
 their Religion. Ezra had rather run the hazard of 
 his life, than of the reputation that ought to be main- 
 tained upon the intereft of God : I was afhamed to re- 
 quire of the King a band of fddiers, and of horfemen, 
 to help us againft the enemy in the way, becaufe we had 
 fpoken to the King, faying, The hand of our God is upon 
 all them for good that feek him, but his power and his 
 wrath is againft all them that for fake him (<?). He 
 durft not beg for a common protection, left it had 
 looked like a diffidence of the promifes ; but if want 
 of faith is a fcandal to any caufe, I am fure want of 
 chanty will be more fo. What a jeft would the ene- 
 my make of all the pretences the Jews had, either 
 upon the head of Religion or Liberty ? Thefe men 
 that would not take a devotion of our forming, will 
 have a morality of their own : they hate one fort of 
 idolatry, but they love covetoufnefs, which is really a- 
 nother : and with what pretence can they talk of free- 
 dom to us, when they deny it to their brethren ? 
 When the Jews went into captivity, they were re- 
 ceived with a general fcorn, they had not the ufual 
 pity that is given to prifoners of war, but were by 
 every one looked upon as a vile and wretched nation, 
 When they entered unto the Heathen, whither they went, 
 they profaned my holy name, when they Jaid unto them, 
 Thefe are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth 
 out of his land -, but 1 had pity for my holy name, which 
 the houfe of Ifrael had profaned whither they went (p) ; 
 and now they are doing the fame thing in their return 
 from captivity, which was enough to make the peo- 
 ple that converfed with them think that Religion, the 
 
 C c 2 rights 
 
 (n) Neh. v. 9. (/>) Ezelc. xxxvi. 20, 21. 
 
 (0) Ezra viii. 22. j 
 
388 Jujlice and Property the Ser m * 1 6. 
 
 rights of mankind, liberty and property, were only mu- 
 fical founds to leave a delightful touch upon the ear, 
 and then be gone for ever. Nehemiah knew that 
 their constitution was but young and tender, and 
 there were enemies on every fide to make an advan- 
 tage of the leaft error ; and could a ftory of this na- 
 ture be carried to King Darius, that the rulers and no- 
 bles among the Jews were infatiable in their avarice, 
 and the common people more flaves to them than they 
 had been to him, he would have recalled his decree : 
 or, if by the laws of the country he could not do 
 that, he might let loofe thofe ravening enemies upon 
 them, who wanted no more than leave to fwallow 
 them up •, and indeed, if this was the cafe, the poor 
 people had better have gone back again, they had a 
 feverer bondage in Canaan than they had in Babylon. 
 
 And fo it is in our day, equal juftice, public 
 rights, freedom of confcience, and fecure property, 
 are what all mankind both underftand and admire ; 
 nor would ever any claims for thefe have been called 
 treafon, if the people that ufed the words had been 
 true to the thing : but when perfons begin to plunder 
 thofe whom they once protected, whatever they fay 
 upon the head of liberty and privilege paffeth for no- 
 thing : the caufe looks fcandalous as it comes out of 
 their lips. The kingdom of God, take it both in a 
 divine and a political fenfe, does not confift in trifling 
 diftinctions and badges of a party, but in righteouf- 
 nefs, peace and joy ; and he that in thefe things ferveth 
 Chrift is acceptable to God, and will be approved of man 
 {q) : fuch a generous and unbiaffed engagement in 
 the caufe of a nation will make its way to every one's 
 confcience •, but it is at the breach of this integrity 
 that thole profane noifes come in which our ears have 
 heard. Perfons would lay the title of God upon the 
 lulls of men, and call thofe the Lord's anointed 
 who were his greateft enemies, making our Religion 
 
 the 
 
 {q) Rom. xiv. 16, 17. 
 
Serm. 1 6. Glory of a Deliverance. 389 
 
 the property of an Atheift, and our liberties the mor- 
 &\ of a Tyrant. 
 
 3. Thefe Jews that were fo very fevere to their 
 brethren run into another practice equally fcandalous, 
 and that is an unrighteous clemency to their enemies. 
 One would think the beft palfion left in human nature 
 fince the fall, is that of pity ; and yet even this makes 
 fad work in the conduct of a covetous man, he denies 
 it where it is due, and he throws it away in the moft 
 lavifh manner where it will pervert public juftice : 
 now this unevennefs of temper, that a man fhall be 
 all mildnefs to fome, and cruel to others, flows from 
 a vicious love of himfelf ; he confiders no equity, but 
 only what he can get from his friends by fqueezing 
 them, and from his enemies by fparing them : and 
 this crime had ftole into the hearts of thofe who once 
 firengthened their hands for the good work that Nehe- 
 miah came about. The firft man that we meet with 
 in the lift of builders, was Eliafhib the high-priejl (r) : 
 he is placed there either for the dignity of his office, 
 or the earlinefs of his zeal, and yet he having over- 
 fight over the chambers of the houfe of God, -was allied 
 unto Tobiah (s), either by a marriage, which was fo 
 often forbid in their law, or by fome uncommon de- 
 gree of friendfhip. Now there was not a viler enemy 
 that the Jews had ; he was originally an Ammonite, 
 one of the curfed race, concerning whom God had 
 given orders that they fhould not come into the congre- 
 gation of the Lord for ever (t). And befides, the firft 
 time we read of him he is called a fervant{it), as if 
 he was of a mean and defpicable family ; and owed 
 his rife to fome grofs and lowly drudgery to the luft 
 of his mafter. This wretch had made ayVy? of their 
 caufe, and when he could not oppofe them bv open 
 violence, did it by fleering. It is he that faid thofe 
 cutting words, Even that which they build> if a fox 
 
 C c 3 go 
 
 ( r) Neh. Hi. i. (t) Neh xiii. I. 
 
 (s) Neh. xiii. |. (u) Neh. ii. 10. 
 
39° Jujlice and Property the Serm. 16. 
 
 go up he Jhall break down their ftcne walls (x) : and 
 yet to that excefs did the high-prieft carry his regard 
 for this man, that he prepared for him the treafure- 
 chamber in the temple, where they ufed to lay the meat- 
 offering and the frankincenfe, and the veffels, and the 
 tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, (which 
 was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the fing- 
 ers, and the porters) and the offerings of the priefis (y). 
 So that here is the houfe of God polluted, and his 
 fervants ftarved, meerly to gratify one who had no 
 other merit than being the high-prieil's relation. 
 
 Such things as thefe will always entangle the pub- 
 lic caufe. This Eliajhib acted far beneath the fpirit of 
 his anceftors, of whom it is remembered, in their 
 zeal for God, that he faid unto his father and his mo- 
 ther, I have not feen him ; neither did he acknowledge 
 his brethren, nor knew his own children (z) \ but this 
 man defiled the priejihcod, and had corrupted the cove- 
 nant of Levi (a). Nehetniah found it very hard to 
 pom on his defigns through the fnares that Tobiah laid 
 for him : the oppofition that he made to their work 
 was public enough ; he would needs have come at 
 the head of an army to fight againft Jerufalem, and 
 hinder it (b) ; and yet though the people had been 
 watching, and working, and praying, in a great deal 
 of fear, becaufe of this man ; no fooner was their 
 danger over, but he who had been their terror, be- 
 comes their darling •, he forms a numerous party 
 aaainfl Nehetniah himfelf : one would think it impof- 
 fible, that a man who had fo often deceived, mould 
 ftill have it in his power to perfuade ; and yet you fee 
 he hath ways to get a prophet of the Lord (c) on his 
 fide -, who under a pretence of friendship would have 
 had the governor done a thing cowardly and profane. 
 It is ftrange, that bribery fhould have fuch a force, 
 
 that 
 
 {x) Neh. iv. 3. 
 (y) Neh. xiii. 5. 
 (z) Deut. xxxiii. 9. 
 
 (a) Neh. xiii. 29. 
 
 (b) Neh. iv. 8. 
 
 (c) Neh. vi. 10. 
 
Serin. 16. Glory of a Deliverance. 39 i 
 
 that a man of a holy character fhall be prevailed upon 
 to delude a perfon that had ventured his life for them, 
 and put him upon doing a thing which would have 
 ruined their whole national caufe ; hay, and more 
 than that, for a fum of money he will both betray 
 his Prince, and belie his God ; for this was the cafe : 
 Lo, I perceived God had not fent him, but that be pro- 
 flounced this prophecy againji me ; for Tobiab and San* 
 ballat had hired him, therefore was he hired, that I 
 fhould be afraid, and do fo, and fin, and that I bey might 
 have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach 
 me {d). And what a cabal there was to form this 
 plot, you fee in his prayer ; O my God, think thou 
 upon Tobiah and Sanballat, according to their w:rks ; 
 and on the prophetefs Noadiah, and the reft of the pro- 
 phets, that would have put me in fear [e). Nor did 
 this public enemy ftick- at corrupting the Levites, 
 but he wrought himfelf into the good eiteem of the 
 quality, they held a traiterous correfpondence with 
 him, and both by his own and his fon's marriage into 
 their families, they fet him up for a man of merit. 
 Strange infatuation ! they do this on purpofe to fhake 
 the prefent government, betraying NebemialSz coun- 
 fels, and weakning his hands. In thofe days the no- 
 bles of Judah fent letters to Tobiah, and the letters of 
 Tobiah came unto them, for there were many in Judah 
 fworn unto him ; becaufe he was the fon-in-law of Shc- 
 caniah, the f on of Arab, and his f on Job an an had taken 
 the daughter of Meffjuilam, the fon of Berecbiah : alfa 
 they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my 
 words to him, and Tobiah fent Idlers to put me in fear 
 (f). What a wonder is it that a caufe lb intangled, 
 mould ever profper ! but nothing is too hard for 
 God ; he that forms the fpirit of man within him {g), 
 can give his fervants a foul equal to the burden and 
 C c 4 heat 
 
 (d) Neh. vi. 12, 13. (f) Neh vi 17, 18, 19. 
 
 (e) Ver. 14. (g) Zech. xii. 1. 
 
392 Ju/lice and Property the Serm. 16. 
 
 heat of the day. Nehemiah often puts up that prayer, 
 O God, ftrengthen my hands. 
 
 When any devote themfelves to the intereft of a 
 people, they muft look for fuch difficulties as thefe 
 are •, when men iliew no mercy to their brethren, that 
 pa (lion is like the tide which runs with an inequality, 
 in fome cafes flows as much too high, as in others it 
 is too low : as foon as ever you find that they mind 
 their own things, you may expect they will break all 
 the rules both of diftributive and penal juftice : and 
 of this his Majefty hath exprefied a royal fenfe in his 
 laft proclamation for calling a new Parliament : I can- 
 not forbear reading you fbme pafTages out of it, that as 
 you muft have obferved he hath very much of Nehe- 
 miab's troubles, you may with pleafure fee he is adted 
 by bis fpirit. He owns thofe ' remarkable fteps of 
 c Providence that brought him in fafety to the crown 
 
 * of thefe kingdoms, notwithstanding the defigns of 
 
 * evil men, who fhewed themfelves difaffected to the 
 ' fucceffion.' He takes notice, that 4 they have fince 
 
 * with the utmofl degree of malice mifreprefented 
 4 him, and attempted by many falfe fuggeftions to 
 « render him fufpe<5ted to his people :' he is aware of 
 the danger thefe meafures muft involve us in, and for 
 this reafon, ' that the mifcarriages of others may not 
 « be imputed to him, he Signifies to the whole king- 
 « dom the concern he had on his acceffion to the crown 
 « to find the public affairs under the greateft difficul- 
 4 ties : and that he was furprized to obierve, that 
 » the debts of the nation were very much increafed 
 
 * fince the conclufion of the laft war.' And truly 
 this is a matter fo obvious and eafy to be known, that 
 we muft think the hearts of people are very grofs, who 
 either have not difcovered it, or would not refent it. 
 There was one year's tax to pay an army for not fight- 
 ing : you had lefs charge to maintain the generals who 
 were a terror to evil doers, than fome negative heroes 
 that here the fivord in vain : and even fince thofe iham 
 
 campaigns 
 
Serm. 16. Glory of a Deliver attce. 393 
 
 campaigns are at an end, any one who reads over the 
 public accounts will find, that there hath been more 
 gold laid out in laccaring the peace, than was needful 
 to have fed the war. 
 
 And mall our eyes turn again to fuch as made them- 
 felves rich with the fale and fpoils of their country ? 
 If you were to be their victims, they mould be yours ; 
 ihall any fo far impofe upon you as to fay of meer 
 golden calves, Thefe are thy gods, O IJrael, that brought 
 thee out of Egypt ? This you know proved the blaft of 
 the Revolution : it gave life to the faction that was 
 dunned before, and made the fame people a fecond time 
 dare to undo you : It is feldom that you find any fuch 
 thing as political reformation, as if men that have 
 entered into the deligns of felling their country, were 
 given up to a heart that cannot repent : mercy to fuch, 
 is a contempt of the groans you hear at prefent, and 
 a preparation for more to come. We found it fo in 
 King tVilliam's reign : the Act of Indemnity unchain- 
 ed the beafts of prey, and let them do their old mif- 
 chicf over again : men came into places with the 
 blood of your murdered patriots upon them ; and 
 what did they do there, but continually clog the wheel 
 that ought to have cruihed them ? They forced the 
 King into a peace, and then quarreled with him for 
 making it. Though the hand of God is eminently 
 feen in thefe things •, for if either princes or people 
 will trttft in vanity, vanity Jhall be their recompence (b). 
 An enmity to your conftitution is ftill the fame, tho' 
 it appears in different forms : the Partition-Treaty, you 
 know, was arraigned, and the arguments againft it 
 taken from the danger, that giving fo much power to 
 France, would bring upon our Religion and Liber- 
 ties ; and yet the fame hand that carried up an im- 
 peachment for their having part of Spain, hath figned 
 the inftrument that gives them the whole. Thefe 
 are things fo dangerous, that his Majefty in the pro- 
 clamation 
 (!>) Job xv. 31. 
 
394 Jiiftice and Property, &c. Serm. 16. 
 
 clamation I have already quoted, recommends to you 
 the choice of fuch perfons for' the next Parliament, 
 as will ' redrefs the prefent diforders, and provide for 
 ' the peace and happinefs of thefe kingdoms.' We 
 muft look for the fpring of thefe noble refolutions 
 where* Ezra did: Blejfed be the Lord God of our fa-* 
 thersy who hath put Jucb a thing as this into the King's 
 heart (/). 
 
 (i) Ezra vii. 27. 
 
 
 SERMON 
 
]* ^4 fc > 1 1 & M « & 1*4 J&t i£ 
 
 SERMON XVII. 
 
 .jfe .;A„A..^..s»«„A\.!^..fe..!fc;y*..A.i^;!^..?*..j%..A..&«^.»V„»vt. s» .»"» »> »■, »v • 
 
 F^dP^ H E third obfervation from the hiftory be- 
 @ Y &> fore you, that thefe diibrders mutt be re- 
 ^ ^ dreffed, if we expect a return of the divine 
 at^-^jfi mercy. I have hinted already at the neceflity 
 of this, that it was roiling away their reproach, a keep- 
 ing up a facred unity to their own profeffion ; turning 
 their words into life and realities, and fo cutting off oc- 
 cafion from them that defired occafion (a). The argu- 
 ment that the Apoftle ufeth to a Church will have 
 the fame weight in the State : Ye do wrong and defraud, 
 and that your brethren ; know ye not that the unrighte- 
 ous Jhall not inherit the kingdom of God (b) ? Thefe 
 things are both a fcandal to any intereft, and like a 
 moth they eat into it. Mercy and truth preferve the 
 King, and his throne is upheld by mercy (c) : but it never 
 either can or will be fo in the reverfe to this ; God is 
 otfended, his people are infecure : the very Gibeonites 
 themfelves, though they were condemned to a perpe- 
 tual bondage, yet having been injured, are defired to 
 blefs the inheritance of the Lord, which they could not 
 do till Juftice was done upon the man that confirmed 
 them, and who had devifed againjl them, that they 
 fhould be defrayed from remaining in any of the courts 
 of Ifrael{d). This is both a divine and human ar- 
 ticle in our Deliverance : God requires it, that judg- 
 ment fLould return unto righteoufnefs -, and men expect 
 
 it, 
 
 (a) 2 Cor. xi. 12. (c) Prov. xx. 28. 
 
 {£>) 1 Cor. vi. 8, 9. J (d) 2 Sam. xxi. 5. 
 
396 Jujlice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 it, that all the upright in heart may follow after (<?). 
 He mentions that as a thing by which he will complete 
 the happinefs of his people. 'They jh all dwell in their 
 land, and build houjes, and plant vineyards ; yea, they 
 Jhall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judg- 
 ment upon all that defpife them round about, and they 
 Jhall know that I am the Lord their God(f). But I 
 need carry this argument no farther in mewing that 
 a redrefs is needful ; I will rather give my thoughts 
 another turn, in letting you fee that it is poflible : 
 the cafe is very dangerous, but it is not defperate : 
 there is a gracious God, who takes part with them 
 that own his intereft. Nehemiah puts all the fuccefs 
 of his government upon this •, when he difcovered a 
 plot, or when he did any thing great and noble, it 
 was flill according to the good hand of his God upon him -, 
 you fee he does not give over, though new troubles 
 fprung up fo faft. His adminiftration was a chain of 
 toils, fcarce any part of it could be called eafy, but as 
 God had fent him to the work, he furnifhed him with 
 a greatnefs of foul for it. You fee the methods that he 
 took, and they will feldom fail of an equal fuccefs. 
 
 1. He Jet an ajjembly againft them to put them in 
 fear. 
 
 2. He argued with them to put them to fhame. 
 
 3. He took a prcmije and an oath of them to keep 
 them fteddy. 
 
 1 . He entred into the moil proper methods to put 
 them into fear : this is the firft paffion you can work 
 upon in a wicked man, becaufe as for fhame, in many 
 cafes they are pall it ; and therefore Nehemiah begun 
 at the right end of the cure, engaging a popular dif- 
 dain of thofe who had done fo many public injuries. 
 They that Jin are to be rebuked before all, that others 
 alfo may fear (g). Not in thofe gentle and fofter ways 
 that will make impreffion enough upon modefty •, but 
 
 according 
 
 (c) Pfal. xciv. 1 5. {g) 1 Tim. v. 20. 
 
 (/") Ezek. xxviii. 26. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance. 397 
 
 according to the degree of their guilt and the brawni- 
 nefs of the finner •> for a reproof will enter more into a 
 wife man, than an hundred ftripes into a fool (h). I 
 am not certain that by this great affembly which Ne- 
 hernial? fet againft them, may not be meant their grand 
 council that is ufually called the Sanhedrim, which 
 anfwers to our Parliament ; though there are fo many 
 difputes about the firft Inftitution of that Court. Whe- 
 ther it was as old as Mofes, or bears a later date, that 
 1 will not deliver it as an opinion : however his fetting 
 this affembly againft them, muft be either underftood 
 of fuch a reprefentative body, or of the whole people 
 in general ; and in either of thefe cafes, there was a 
 certain view of Juftice : not but that the grand coun- 
 cil of a nation may be corrupted, and fcreen the vil- 
 lain that they ought to purfue. It is againft thefe 
 that the Pfalmift argues. God flands in the congrega- 
 tion of the mighty , he judge th among the gods: How long 
 will you judge unjufily, and accept the perfons of the 
 wicked ? Deliver the poor and needy ; rid them cut of 
 the hand of the wicked : They know not, neither will 
 they underftand : All the foundations of the earth are out 
 of courfe{i). And it is an obfervation that Solomon 
 made, I faw under the fun the place of judgment, that 
 wicktdnefs was there ; and the place of right eoufnefs, 
 that inquity was there (k). The wicked in a body, as 
 well as in a fingle perfon, blefs the covetous whom the 
 Lord abhors {I) : but when it is fo, if God' hath any 
 mercy in ftore for a land, he weighs a path for his 
 anger ; though hand join in hand, the wicked fhall not 
 go unpunifhed, that the feed of the righteous may be de- 
 livered (m) : If thou feeft the opprejfion of the poor, and 
 the violent perverting of judgment and juftice in a pro- 
 vince, marvel not at the matter, for he that is higher than 
 the high eft regards it, and there be higher than they [n). 
 
 It 
 
 (h) Prcv. xvii. to. 
 
 («') Pfal. Ixxxii. 1, 2, 4, 5. 
 
 [k) Ecclef. iii. 16. 
 
 (OPfal.x. 3. 
 (m) Prov. xi 21. 
 {») Ecclef. v. 8.. 
 
398 Jujlice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 It is no fuch rarity for a great man to be fure of car- 
 rying his point againft. the cry of innocence : Job fpeaks 
 of this, though he durft not ufe it : If 1 have lifted 
 up my hand againft the fatherlefs, when I faw my help 
 in the gate, then let mine arm fall from my fboulder- 
 blade, and be broken from the bone (0) : this is what he 
 blamed in others ; He will furely reprove you, if you 
 do fecretly accept per funs (p). 
 
 But when God flirreth up in a people the fame 
 tendernefs for the public that they have for their own 
 concerns, then (hall judgment run down our ftreets like 
 a river, and equity as a mighty fir earn : for in that 
 cafe it will be found that jealoufy is the rage of a man, 
 therefore he will not fpare in the day of vengeance : he 
 will not regard any ranfom, neither will he rejt contented, 
 though thou giveft many gifts (q). It is fuch a fpirit as 
 this, that God will pour out upon his fervants when 
 great Babylon comes in remembrance before him : reward 
 her as fhe hath rewarded you : double unto her double, 
 in the cup which fhe hath filled, fill to her double (r) : 
 fuch a Juftice as this will be an emblem of thofe glo- 
 rious diftributions that are given in an higher way. 
 When an angel comes down from heaven, having the key 
 of the bottomlefs-pit, and a great chain in his hand\ and 
 lays hold on the Dragon, that old Sepent, who is the 
 Devil and Satan, and fhuts him up, and fets a feal 
 upon him, that he fhall deceive the nations no more (s). 
 The Prince who hath fet his heart to the Law, and to 
 the Houfe of God, need not defpair even in a time of 
 great corruption. Nehemiah had as much reafon for 
 diffidence as the Pfalmift, when he faid, Who will rife 
 up for me againft the evil-doers, who will ft and up for 
 me againft the workers of iniquity (t) ? For if the rich 
 men were all in the crime, and the poor all in the 
 danger, the one would not vouchfafe to hear, as the 
 
 other 
 
 (0) Jobxxxi. 20, 22. 
 
 (/>) Job xiii. 10. 
 
 (?) Prov. vi. 34, 35. 
 
 (r) Rev. xviii. 6. 
 (s) Rev. xx. i, 2, 3. 
 (/) Pfal. xciv. '.6. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a 'Deliverance. 399 
 
 other would not dare to fpeak : but he ventures that, 
 and finds a great affembly that will join with him in 
 wiping off the public fcandal. 
 
 2. Having made himfelf fure of a good number 
 on his fide, he puts them to fhame ; and there is all 
 the force that argument can have, as he reafons with 
 them : he fheweth them, Firft, That it is exprefly 
 againft a divine command : / confulted with myfelf, 
 and I rebuked the Nobles and the Rulers, and /aid unto 
 them, Te exacl ufury every one of his brother [u) ; the 
 very thing that God had forbid. And, Secondly, 
 That it is running back from the zeal that they had 
 already fhewn, and the fuccefs that God had honoured 
 them with. fVe, after our ability, have redeemed our 
 brethren the Jews, that were fold unto the Heathen, 
 and will ye even fell your brethren (x) ? Nay, Thirdly ', 
 That it puts themfelves into the character and crime 
 of tyrants ; Shall they be fold unto us ? Shall we bring 
 the fpirit of Babylon into the land of Canaan, and be 
 as vile to one another as the Heathen were to us all ? 
 Fourthly, He infinuates that others, befides them, 
 could have made the fame advantage. I likewife with 
 my brethren and my fervants, might exacl of them money 
 and corn(y): And, Fifthly, He joins the fweetnefs 
 of an importunity with the gravity of a command. 
 I pray you let us leave off this ufury -, reft ore, I pray 
 you, unto them, even this day, their lands, their vine- 
 yards, and their olive-yards, and their houfes, and the 
 hundredth part of their money, of the corn, of the wine, 
 and of the oil that ye exacl of them (2). Now I know 
 you will expect to hear the fuccefs of thefe honeft en- 
 deavours ; and it was as much as he could wifh, and 
 a great deal more than he could hope for : his argu- 
 ment confounds them, They held their peace, and find 
 nothing to anfwer {a), his directions move them; then 
 
 faid 
 
 («) Neh. v. 7. 
 (x) Neh. v. 8. 
 {y) Neh. v. 10. 
 
 (z) Neh. v. 11, 
 [a) Neh, v. 8. 
 
4-oo J uftke and Property the Serm. ijl 
 
 faid they, 'We will reft ore them, and require nothing of 
 them ; fo will we do as thou fay eft (b) : The hearts of 
 men, you fee, are in the hands of the Lord, and he turns 
 them as the rivers of water (c). 
 
 Such a bleffing as this upon the attempts we make, 
 is worth all our pains and toil : any one v/ould have 
 thought that it was not fafe for Nehemiab to run the 
 hazard that he did, that it would but exafperate, be- 
 caufe, it is plain, the landed inlereft was againlt him, 
 and if he mi (carried in this affair, it would expofe his 
 government, be a handle to the public enemy, and 
 make the burden heavier upon the poor people. Thefe 
 are the arguments of fear and lazinefs ; for cowardice 
 generally paffeth for prudence, as a very nice obferver 
 hath told us : The Jluggard is wifer in his own conceit, 
 than f even men that can render a reafon (d). ButNe- 
 hemiah had put his hand to the -plough, and had he 
 looked back, he could not have been fit for that king- 
 dom of God (e), where he did thefe eminent fervices. 
 He knew this was as much God's caufe that he pleaded 
 againft the Jews, as they were his battles that he fought 
 againft the Ammonites-, and that he who hadftrengthned 
 his hands for the war, would be with his mouth and his 
 lips, that they fliould not tranfgrefs in judgment. 
 
 3. He took a promife from them, and had it con- 
 firmed with all the folemnity that was poffible : I called 
 the Priefts, and took an oath of them that they Jhould do 
 according to this promife (/). Perhaps he called thefe 
 Priefts as the chief of the criminals ; for we find all 
 along that they were a dead weight upon the good 
 caufe. In Ezra's, time, when the hand of G o d was 
 heavy upon them for taking of ftrange wives, the 
 reformation began among the Princes, and in their 
 complaint, they tell who had moft of the guilt ; The 
 Priefts and the Levites have not feparated themfelves 
 
 from 
 
 {b) Neh. v. iz. 
 (c) Pfal. xxi. i. 
 {d} Prov. xxvi. 16. 
 
 (e) Luke ix. 62. 
 {/) Neh. v. 1 2. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance. 401 
 
 from the People of the land j though at the fame time 
 they are fo ingenuous as to confels that the hand of the 
 Princes and the Rulers had been chief in this Irefpafs (g) : 
 and this intangled them too in Nehemiah's days : he 
 mentions a notorious cafe, that one of the fons of 
 Joiada, the fon of Eliajhib the High Prieft, was fon- 
 in-law to Sanballat the Heronite, therefore I chafed bim 
 from me. 
 
 Or it may be, all that is here meant by his calling 
 the Priejls was, that they might be witnefTes to the 
 oath, that he took from the Rulers. The making of 
 oaths common, is making them cheap, and in a little 
 while will bring a deadnefs upon the conference : but 
 in the hiftory before us, there were feveral great turns 
 which led them into thefe folemnities. In Ezra's time 
 one of the people propofed, Let us make a covenant 
 with our God to -put away all the ft range wives, and 
 thofe that are born of them, according to the counfel of 
 my Lord, and of thofe that trembled at the commandment 
 of our God, and let it be done according to the law (h) : 
 and it is obferved of the Leviles that they gave their 
 hands that they would do fo (i). And in Nehemiab's 
 adminiftration, after a long confeffion and prayer, 
 jthey clofe it in that manner : Becaufe of all this we 
 make a fure covenant, and write it, and our Princes, 
 Levites and Priejls feal to it (k). You have the names 
 of thofe that fealed it in the tenth chapter ; and it is 
 faid of the reft, that they clave to their brethren, their 
 nobles, and entred into a curfe, and into an oath, to walk 
 in God's law, which was given by Mofes (I). This was 
 laying it as faft upon every man's confeience as Nehe- 
 tniah could do. And when he hath gone thus far, 
 he only foretels and reprefents to them the danger of 
 being unfaithful ; Aljo I Jhook my lap, and f aid, So 
 God fhake out every man from his houfe, and from his 
 
 Vol. I. JDd lafaur t 
 
 (g) Ezraix. 1,2,3. 
 (/?) Ezra x. 3. 
 {1) Ezra x. 19. 
 
 (i) Neh. ix. 38. 
 (/) Nch. x. 29. 
 
402 Jujlice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 labour, who performs not this promife, even thus be be 
 fhaken out and emptied. 
 
 IV. It is an eminent inftance of God's favour to a 
 people thus abufed, when he fets over them a Go- 
 vernor who is touched with a fenfe of their miferies. 
 Thefe changes are of fo much weight to the intereft of 
 his glory, that the conduct of them is committed to a 
 Redeemer. He that comes tofave bis people from their 
 fins has taken into his own hands both the funds of 
 grace, and the reins of Providence. It is to the power 
 and the goodnefs of a Messiah, that the Church 
 afcribes all their Deliverance from public enemies ; 
 Thou hafi broken the yoke of bis burden, the jiaff of his 
 Jhoulder, the rod of his oppreffor, as in the day of Mi- 
 dian ; for every battle of the warrior is with confufed 
 noife, and garments rolled in blood, but this fhall be with 
 burning and fuel of fire (m). Thefe words are an ac- 
 count of thofe great ways that God will take to refcue 
 his people from the claws of tyranny. Now the reafon 
 of the hope that was in them, you find in the next verfe ; 
 it is brought in as the grand fecurity of what they were 
 waiting for, For to us a child is born, to us a fin is 
 given, and the Government fhall be upon hisfhoulders (n). 
 Though his incarnation is to fetch us out of a greater 
 danger ; he was made of a woman, and made under the 
 law, to redeem them that were under the law (0), yet it 
 comprehends all the lower falvations that we have from 
 the wrath of man, that being delivered from our ene- 
 mies, we might ferve him without fear in holinefs all our 
 days (/>). For if his blood could redeem us from the 
 law, certainly it will not leave us in a bondage that is 
 againft law. 
 
 And laying out the nature of this privilege, is 
 preaching Chrift. Thefe are the works that praife 
 him -, and by difcourfing upon them, his Saints fhall 
 
 blefs 
 
 (m) Ifai. ix. 4, 5. (0) Gal. iv. 4, 5. 
 
 («) Ifai. ix. 6. (/>) Lukevii. 74. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance. 403 
 
 blefs him. They /hall /peak of the glory of his kingdom, 
 and talk of his power , to make known unto the fons of 
 men his mighty alls, and thegkrious majefiy of his king- 
 dom. For his kingdom is an everlafiing kingdom, and 
 his dominion endures to all generations (q). In the eighth 
 chapter of the Proverbs, when he fpeaks of himfelf 
 under the name of Wifdom, he does not only tell us 
 of thofe things that enter into the myftery of our re- 
 demption, but of the ways that he takes to poife the 
 world, and keep up an order and harmony in it. It 
 is true we are chiefly concerned in what he fays of his 
 rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth, and having 
 his delight among the fons of men (r) : but befides that, 
 it is from him that we have the bounties of nature, 
 and from him the concord of Providence. It is he 
 that fet a compafs upon the face of the deep, and gave 
 to the fea his decree, that the waters Jhould not pafs his 
 commandment (s) : and he that has guarded us from 
 that element, has the fame care that we mall not be 
 over-run with a deluge of power and cruelty ; for by 
 him Kings reign, and Princes decree juftice (/); /. e. by 
 his grace in themfelves, or by his love to the people 
 that are under them. When they are qualified to the 
 honours they wear, and the charge that is upon them, 
 it is he that works them for the felf- fame thing. They 
 are not by him in any other fenfe ; he does not in thefe 
 words fet up a court of equity to try their titles, being 
 not made a Judge, or a Divider over them (u). He has 
 nothing to do in raifing up of Tyrants : Opprefibrs 
 are men of the earth (x), and he difclaims a inare in 
 them. They fet up Kings, but not by me -, and Princes, 
 but I knew it not : this was when Ifrael had caft off the 
 thing that is good (y). It is by his influence that the 
 great men of the world fhall be filled with a zeal for 
 
 D d 2 the 
 
 (^) Pfal. cxlv. 10 — 13. 
 
 (t) Prov. viii. 3 1 . 
 
 (s) Prov. viii. 27, 20, 
 
 (/) Prov, viii. ! 5. 
 
 (a) Luke iii. 14. 
 (x) Pfal. x. 18. 
 \y) Hof. viii, $, 4. 
 
4°4 JuJlice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 the Reformation, and throw off their dependence upon 
 the city that reigns over the Kings of the earth : They 
 (hall hate the whore, and make her defolate and naked, 
 and eat her flefh, and burn her with fire -, for God hath 
 put it into their hearts to fulfil his will (z). 
 
 He has apolitical as well as a fpiritual empire among 
 the children of men. It was he that ordered thole 
 tranfitions of the monarchy from the Ajfyrians to the 
 Medes and Perfians, and then to the Greeks, darning 
 one mighty kingdom again!! another for the fake of 
 his own people ; or, as it is called, Jifting the nations 
 with a fieve of vanity (a), that he might gather his 
 own wheat into the garner. Thus the angel tells 
 Daniel, I will return to fight with the Prince of Perfia -, 
 and when I am gone forth, lo, the Prince of Grecia Jhall 
 come, and there is none that holds with me in thefe 
 things, but Michael your Prince (b). Nor would he be 
 equal to the dangers of his own people, without a 
 greatnefs of this kind. He mull have power over all 
 fiefh, that he may be able to^i^ eternal life to as many 
 as God has given him (c). He has his Majefty on pur- 
 pofe to fave the poor and needy, and redeem their fouls 
 from deceit and violence (d). At that time, faith the 
 angel, Jhall Michael Jland up, the great Prince that 
 ftands for the children of thy people, and then Jhall be a 
 time of trouble, fuch as never was Jince there was a na- 
 tion even unto the Jame time, and at that time Jhall thy 
 people be delivered, every one that is found written in 
 the book (<?). I mention thefe things to fhew you, 
 that the power of a Redeemer over a Tyrant is a 
 doctrine of the Gofpel j an article of his glory, to 
 whom your fouls are committed for everlafting life. 
 You read of a woman clothed with the fun, and hav- 
 ing the moon under her feet, and Jhe brought forth a 
 man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of 
 
 iron. 
 
 (%) Rev. xvii. 16—18. 
 (a) Iiai. xxx. 28. 
 (/') Dan. x. 20, 21. 
 
 (c) John xvii. 2. 
 
 (</) Pfal. lxxii. 13, 14. 
 
 (e) Dan. xii. 1. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance, 405 
 
 iron (/). Indeed we are there told, that her child 
 was caught up to God and to his throne, yet he has a 
 right of government over the world : and this he ufes 
 not fo much in perfon, by any vifible acts of domi- 
 nion, fuch as thunder, earthquakes and miracles; but 
 he has committed it to his people, He that overcomes, 
 and keeps my words unto the end, to him will I give 
 power over the nations, and he Jhall rule them with a 
 red of iron, as the veffels of a poller Jhall they be broken 
 to fhivers, even as I have received of my father (g). 
 Thus you fee under what view we have our account 
 of political mercies, that ufeful Governors are fo many 
 blefiings from him, who is King of Kings, and Lord 
 of Lords (h). You find how divine a tafte the Jews 
 had of fuch a favour ; by the good hand of our God upon 
 us, they brought us a man of under/landing (?'). And 
 that he gave them an eminent inftance of his love in 
 fetting Nehemiah over them, is what you will confi- 
 der with an advantage under thefe three heads : 
 
 1 . The wickednefs of thofe that had gone before 
 him in the office. 
 
 2. The principle of Religion that carried him thro' 
 all his administration : and, 
 
 3. His frequent recourfe to the mercy of God for 
 acceptance. One of thefe characters fhews that his 
 rule was the Law, and the other, that his confidence 
 was the Gofpel. 
 
 1. The rarity of fuch an inftance, proves it to be 
 more eminently the work of God. If he would have 
 indulged himfelf in a grafp at all that could have been 
 got by his place, he had examples enough. What he 
 fays of others betrays the grofs corruption of human 
 nature, that when all the people were in bondage, 
 fome of them would make it heavier to the reft, 
 though themfelves were but a more exalted fort of 
 D d 3 flaves. 
 
 (/) Rev. xii. 1, 5. (h) Rev xvii. 14, 
 
 (g) Revii. 26, 27. (/) Ezraviii, 18. 
 
406 Juftice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 flaves. The former Governors that were before me, 
 were chargeable to the people, and had taken of them 
 bread and wine, thefe were perquifites, befides forty 
 Jhekels of filver, as a fine or bribe ; yea, even their fer- 
 vants bare rule over the people (k), they ufed them with 
 furlinefs and cruelty. There cannot be a viler difpo- 
 fition than this, that a man (hall defpife and aggravate 
 the miferies of others, though he has no way of doing 
 it but by forgetting his own. It was with this fpirit 
 that one of the thieves upon the Crofs reviled our 
 Lord : If thou be Chrijl, fave thy f elf and us (I). It 
 is not a petition for mercy, but a fcorn made up of 
 defpair and hatred. The other took it in that fenfe, 
 and fhews him how unfuitable fuch a carriage was to 
 their own condition-, Deft thou not fear God, feeing thou 
 art in the fame condemnation ? This was a thing that 
 grieved Mofes to the heart, when he faw one lfraelite 
 abufing another in Egypt ; and yet he that did his 
 neighbour wrong, is fo much in love with his own little 
 tyranny, that rather than lofe his revenge, he will re- 
 fufe his Deliverer, V/ho made thee a Judge and a Prince 
 over us (m) ? 
 
 What an heavy yoke muft there be upon the Jews 
 before JSfehemialfs time ? They might well fay, The 
 yoke of my transgtejjions is bound by his hand, they are 
 wreathed and come upon my neck (n). Here is a three- 
 fold cord to make them unhappy : Firfl, The power 
 of the Babylonians •, Secondly, The pride of their own 
 Governors ; and, Thirdly, The fawcinefs of fervants. 
 How was the beauty of Ifrael fallen ! It had been their 
 cry againft the enemy, Servants rule over us, and 
 there is none to deliver out of their hand ; Princes are 
 hanged up by the hand, and the faces of the Elders are 
 not honoured {0). But there is fomething more grating 
 in what the Prophet mentions, The people Jhall be 
 
 eppreffed 
 
 (k) Neh. v. 15. 
 
 (/) Luke xxiii. 39, 40. 
 
 \m) Exod. ii. « 1 — >4> 
 
 (») Lam. i. 14. 
 \o) Lam. v. 8, 1 z. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance. 407 
 
 oppreffed every one by another, and every one by his 
 neighbour -, the child fh all behave himfelf proudly againfi 
 the ancient, and the bafe againfi the honourable ( p). 
 Thus indecent will covetoufnefs be ; but Nehemiah 
 gives it as one reafon why for twelve years he required 
 not the bread of the Governor, becaufe the bondage was 
 heavy upon the people (q). The argument that Elifha 
 ufed with Gehazi might have been brought with more 
 weight into the cafe before us ; Is this a time to receive 
 money and garments, and olive-yards, and vineyards, 
 and fheep and oxen (r) ? Such a felfifhnefs looks very 
 ill in a day of general forrow. Nehemiah had a more 
 noble tendernels. We may fuppofe him to be of a 
 chearful temper, becaufe he had never before been fad 
 in the King's prefence : he then lived in the fulnefs of 
 a mighty court, and had almoft as great a diftinclion 
 as honour could give him, being the Cup-bearer, fo 
 that he wanted nothing for himfelf-, and yet he re- 
 members, he feels, Jemfalem afar off: Though he 
 might apprehend fome danger in looking melancholy, 
 which makes him very fore afraid when the King ob- 
 ferved it, yet he both owns the thing, and tells the 
 caufe; Why fhould not my countenance be fad, when the 
 city, the place of my father's fepulchre lies wajh, and 
 the gates thereof are confumed with fire (s)? This 
 made but little impreffion upon thofe that were be- 
 fore him. But, 
 
 You fee the good of a public fpirit •, it is a thing 
 mightily talked of, but the Apoftle himfelf complains 
 that the examples were very rare : he fays of Timothy, 
 I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for 
 your flat e. For all feek their own, not the things which 
 are Jefus Chrift's (/). It was an old charge, that the 
 Jhepherds fed them/elves, and not their flocks {u) -, and that 
 the Princes of Ifrael were like wolves ravening the prey, 
 
 Dd 4 to 
 
 (/>) Ifai. Hi. 5. 
 (q) Neh. v. 18. 
 \r) 2 Kings v. 26. 
 
 (s) Neh. ii. i, 2, 3. 
 (/) Phil. ii. 20, 21. 
 (a) Ezek. xxxiv. 2. 
 
40 8 J uflice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 to fhed blood, and to deflroy fouls, and to get dijhoneft 
 gain (#). Now it is a mercy if this temper is ever 
 divided from the title ; and efpecially fince it is fo 
 notorious, that if great men will indulge their wick- 
 ednefs, they feldom want perfons who will make both 
 Law and Gofpel a proftitute. They fay jlill unto them 
 that defpife me, Ye (hall have peace, and they fay to 
 every one that walks after the imagination of his own 
 heart, No evil jhall come upon you (y). The hand of 
 God is eminently feen in fitting perfons to a public 
 fervice, when their zeal, their contrivance, their car- 
 riage, nay their very pleafures, are all fo many lines 
 drawn to this as the centre. There is no great happi- 
 nefs in having ignorance or luxury made royal, that 
 folly or pride mould be fet in dignity. Wo unto thee, 
 O land, when thy King is a child, and thy Princes eat 
 in the morning : EleJJed art thou, O land, when thy King 
 is the f on of nobles, and thy Princes eat in due feafon for 
 fircrgih, and not for drunkennefs (2). And whenever 
 the Providence of God has plainly diftinguifhed the 
 two characters that are here mentioned, it is ungrate- 
 ful to his love and provoking to his jealoufy, it ar- 
 gues both a wicked and a mean frame of fpirit, not 
 to admire what he has done. And I am fure to fuch 
 a cafe as that, you may bring over Solomon's obferva- 
 tion for the confufion of all murmurers, Say not thou, 
 what is the caufe that former days were better than thefe, 
 for thou dofi not wifely enquire concerning this (a). 
 
 2. Another thing that mews how great an inflance 
 of GaD's favour it was to fet fuch a perfon as Nehe- 
 miah over the Jews, is the principle of Religion that 
 carried him through all his administration. You mufl 
 underftand it of fomething higher than human pity, 
 though there was abundance of that in it. And left 
 any Ihould think that he managed in a fneaking way, 
 you find he keeps up the port of a Governor with 
 
 all 
 
 {x} Ezek. xx. 27. («) Ecclef. x. 16, 17,. 
 
 (>) jer. xxiii. 17'. {a) Ecclef. vii. 10.' 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance^ 409 
 
 all the frugality of a Patriot, and the temperance of 
 a Saint. / continued in the work of this wail, neither 
 bought we any land : Moreover there were at my table 
 one hundred and fifty Jews and Rulers, befides thofe 
 that came unto us from among the Heathen that are 
 about us : Now that zvhich was prepared for me daily 
 was one ox, and fix choice fheep, afb fowls were pre- 
 pared for me, and once in ten days ft ore of all forts of 
 wine (b) ; fo that you fee he underftood a magnifi- 
 cence that would fet him above the contempt of any, 
 and yet for all this, required he not the bread of the 
 Governor, becaufe the bondage was heavy upon the people. 
 Now this is more than could be expected from com- 
 mon nature -, for, as we are in ourfelves, we live in 
 malice and envy, hateful and hating one another (c). 
 But this good man does with Juftice put it upon a 
 greater principle ; the reafon why he would not run 
 into the avarice and haughtinefs of thofe that went 
 before him, was taken from another world, So did 
 not 1, becaufe of the fear of God, 
 
 You fee how a vein of piety fpreads through all 
 this ftory, when he firft heard the news, that the 
 remnant of the captivity were in affliction and reproach, 
 the wall ofjerufalem broke down, and the gates thereof 
 burnt with fire ; he fat down and wept, and mourned 
 certain days and fajled, and prayed before the God of 
 heaven (d). When he was to appear before the Kino- 
 with an unufual fadnefs, which for any thing I know, 
 might be as much againft law as coming in fackclcth 
 within the palace-gates (e). He is at prayer again, 
 Profper, I pray thee, thy fervant this day, and grant 
 him mercy in the fight of this man. When the King 
 afked him, what he would have, he dare not anfwer 
 the quefiion, till he has wafted a defire ; I prayed unto 
 
 the 
 
 {b) Neh. v. 16—18. 1 (</) Neh. i. 3, 4. 
 
 {c) Tit. iii. 3. [e) Efth. iv. 2. 
 
410 Juftice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 the God of heaven (g) ; and when he got his requeft, 
 he looks at the divinity that fhone through it ; The 
 King granted me according to the good hand of my God 
 upon me (h). This is what he runs to in all his dan- 
 gers ; They made us afraid, faying, Their hands jhall 
 be weakned from the work that it be not done ; now 
 therefore, O God, ftrengthen my hands (i). And what 
 an happy Reformation mall a perfon thus qualified 
 carry on for the public fervice ? If it is covetoufnefs 
 that brings him to the government, he will be a per- 
 petual drain to his people : if it is ambition, though 
 that may give him a difdain that his country mail be 
 fold to foreign tyrants, yet it is always in danger from 
 himfelf. But if it is the fear of God that fupplies him 
 with rules, and a love to Religion that fills his fpirit, 
 he will think no toil too much. Other principles will 
 grow tired, but thefe make us never weary of well- 
 doing. You have in the lafl chapter of this Book 
 fuch a roll of fervices, as nothing but the mighty 
 grace of God could have carried him through. 
 
 He fetches back the Levites, who had left their 
 work, and fled every one to his field, becaufe their -por- 
 tions were not given them. He contended with the 
 Rulers and faid, V/hy is the houfe of God forfaken (k) ? 
 He took care to keep the Sabbath as the holy of the 
 Lord and honourable : and in restoring of God's wor- 
 fhip, he did what was mofl fignificant to it, and that 
 was reforming the Minifters ; I commanded the Levites 
 that they fhould cleanfe themf elves, and that they fhould 
 come and keep the gates to fanttify the Sabbath-day. 
 Nor can I look upon it to be any thing below Reli- 
 gion that would firft make him enter into this defign. 
 As I have before obferved, he wanted no perfonal 
 honour, being a man of figure at court. There he 
 lived at eafe, for it is plain that Babylon was not 
 
 then 
 
 (g) Neh. ii. 4. (») Neh. vi. 9. 
 
 \h) Neh. ii. 8. (i) Neh. xiii. 10, 11. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance. 411 
 
 then fo vile, as to have a religious tefi, but the Jews 
 were admitted to places of truft and profit. Here 
 he might have died in his nefi, and multiplied his days 
 as the /and {I). What was it that could draw him 
 away from a quiet and fplendid life, to the danger, 
 fatigue and reproach that he had in his undertaking ? 
 You mult account for this, as the Scripture does for 
 the behaviour of Mofes, that by faith he refufed to be 
 called the fon of Pharaoh's daughter; and chofe rather 
 to fuffer afflitlion with the people of God, than enjoy 
 the pleafures of Jin for afeafon ; efieeming the reproach 
 of Chri/i greater riches than the treafures of Egypt -, for 
 he had refpetl to the recompence of reward (m). And 
 yet, 
 
 3 . Nehemiah gives a farther evidence of his Reli- 
 gion, and that he underftood the truth as it is in Jefus, 
 becaufe he recommends himfelf to the mercy of God 
 for acceptance. There are fome paflages that ieem to 
 look another way, as that, Think upon me, O my God, 
 for good, according to all that I have done for this 
 people (») ; and when he had put the public funds into 
 a better way, and made Treafurers over the treafuries 
 who were counted faithful, and whofe office was to dif- 
 tribute among their brethren ; he lays, Remember me, 
 O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good 
 deeds that I have done for the houfe of my God, and 
 for the ojfices thereof fo). But there is one place that 
 mews how little confidence he had in any righteoufnefs 
 of his own •, Remember me, O my God, concerning thii 
 alfo, and fpare me, according to the greatnefs of thy 
 mercy (p). Mercy fuppofes both neceffity and un- 
 worthinefs. When we apply to that perfection of 
 the divine nature, it is an argument that we have no 
 merit upon which any thing is owing to us. And 
 
 what 
 
 (I) Job xxix. 18. 
 (m) Heb. iv. 24—26. 
 \n) Neh. v. 19. 
 
 (0) Neh. xiii. 14. 
 (p) Neh. xiii. 22. 
 
412 Jujiice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 what is it that he means by being /pared? delivered 
 from enemies ? not made the reproach of the foolijh ; 
 that he might live in the quiet poflefiion of all his 
 toil ? I do not deny that this is included : but he now 
 fpeaks of a future indulgence •, that God would /pare 
 him in the day when he makes up his jewels (q). That 
 he might find mercy at the hand of the Lord in that 
 day (r) •, And how comes the mercy then ? In what 
 regard does the juftice or the goodnefs of God confi- 
 der us, but only as we are found in Christ Jesus ? 
 
 You muft not think that the Jews did not fupport 
 themfelves with a view of this •, for though in feveral 
 of their hiftories which are taken up with political 
 affairs, there is little or no mention of a Messiah, 
 yet the reference they bore to him was underftood; 
 upon which the Apoftle fays, that all the Prophets 
 from Samuel, and thofe that follow after, as many as 
 have fpoken, have likewife foretold of thefe days (j). 
 And indeed, among them, there never was any no- 
 tion of happinefs without a pardon, and no hope of 
 pardon but upon a fatisfaction, for without fhedding of 
 blood, there is no remifjion, and no fatisfaction but in 
 the blood of fpr inkling, that fpeaks better things than the 
 blood of Abel (t). What we have done for God, does 
 yield a comfort, as it is an evidence of what he has 
 done in us; and fo flows from that, which is the 
 firji-fruits of the fpirit, the earneji of our inheritance. 
 Hezekiah, when he turned his face to the wall and wept 
 fore, had the pleafure to reflecl: upon this, that he had 
 walked before God in truth, and with a per feci heart (u). 
 And it is no more than what the Apoftle had in his 
 rejoicing in the teftimony of his confcience, that in Jimpli- 
 city, and godly fincerity, not with fle/hly wifdom, but 
 by the grace of God, he had his converfation in the worlds 
 
 and 
 
 (?) Mai. iii. 16. 
 (r) 2 Tim. i. 16. 
 \i) Adls iii. 24. 
 
 (/) Heb. ix. 22 — xii. 24. 
 (u) Mai. xxxviii. 2, 3. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance. 41 3 
 
 and efpecially in public affairs, more abundantly to 
 you-wards (x). 
 
 From thefe pafTages you may obierve, that no fort 
 of evidence fits eafier upon the confcience, or looks 
 brighter to faith, than that which arifes from a pub- 
 lic fpirit. For this reafon the Martyrs always have it ; 
 not that becaufe their external troubles are greater than 
 others, for I believe the torture of fome diftempers is 
 more acute than any violence that men can ufe againft 
 us ; and upon my own account, I fhall have as much 
 work for faith and patience on a fick-bed, as at a ftake. 
 But God does not ufually give his comforts with that 
 profufion in the one caie as he does in the other ; and 
 the reafon is plain, becaufe in thefe difeafes we fuffer 
 in a private capacity, and therefore we alone mufl bear 
 it. But in the other cafe, we are the fervants of 
 Christ, and a fort of partners with him. This 
 made the Apoftle rejoice in his fufferings, becaufe they 
 were for the people ; and fo he filled up that which was 
 behind of the affiiclions of Chrifi in his fie fh for his body's 
 fake, which is the Church (y). Private forrows are the 
 fruit of fin, but public trials are the refult of grace, 
 they flow from Religion, and therefore have a nearer 
 claim to be maintained by it. The believing Hebrews 
 are exhorted to look to this as their main evidence. 
 Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye 
 were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of ajfiiclions, 
 partly, whilfi ye became a gazing-Jlock by reproaches, 
 and partly whilfi ye were companions of them that were 
 fo ufed i for ye had compaffion of me in my bonds, and 
 took joyfully the fpoiling of your goods, knowing in your- 
 f elves, that ye had in heaven a better and an enduring 
 fubjlance. Cafi not away therefore your confidence, the 
 perfecution that arofe at that time, which has great 
 recommence of reward (2). 
 
 But 
 
 (x) 2 Cor. i. 12. (%) Heb. x. 32 — 35. 
 
 {y) Colof. i. 24. 
 
4 X 4 Jujlice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 But yet, this is not our juftifying righteoufnefs. 
 The Apoftle Paul had the molt of a public fpirit of 
 any man ; he fcarce underftood any interell of his 
 own. Befides thofe things that are without, that which 
 came upon him daily, was the care of all the churches. 
 Who was weak, and he was not weak f Who was of- 
 f ended, and he burnt not ? He laboured more abundantly 
 than them all (a). He had fought a good fight, and 
 finifhed his courfe, and kept the faith (b); but ftill he 
 defires to be found in Christ, not having his own 
 righteoufnefs (c). How happy is it for a people, when 
 the perfon fet over them fhews with Nehemiah fuch a 
 regard to his duty, to make him diligent ; and fuch 
 a fenfe of his imperfection, as to keep him humble ? 
 By the fear of the Lord he magnifies God's law, and 
 by pleading for mercy he advances his grace. Long 
 trains of bleffings will follow fuch an one, for thofe 
 that honour God, he will honour (d). 
 
 V. You farther obferve, that the vengeance of 
 heaven will come down upon thofe who do not fall in 
 with the noble meafures that are recommended by fo 
 good a Prince : you fee by this, that I take Nehemiah\ 
 words to be more than a curfe, or laying out the fen- 
 tence which they deferve : they are alfo a prophecy to 
 tell them what would happen. The ceremony that 
 he ufeth of Jhaking his lap, was agreeable to thofe 
 zealous ways that the eaflern countries had of exprefs- 
 ing themfelves upon any great occafion. Our Saviour 
 ordered his Difciples when they went into a city that 
 would not receive them, or hear their words, to /hake off 
 the dujl of their feet, which (he faith) would be a tejii- 
 mony againfi that place (e). We find the Apoftle Paul 
 ufing the fame method that Nehemiah did at Corinth, 
 
 when 
 
 (a) 2 Cor. xi. 28,29. 
 
 (b) 2 Tim. iv. 6. 
 {c) Phil.iii.9. 
 
 (d) 1 Sam. il 30. 
 (ej Matt. x. 1 4. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance. 41^ 
 
 when the Jews oppofed themfelves and blafphemed, he 
 Jhook his raiment, and [aid unto them. Tour blood be 
 henceforth upon your own heads (/), and it was very 
 fignificant in the garb of thofe countries, for there 
 they wore long garments ; and as making the corner 
 of thefe would throw off any thing that (luck to them, 
 fo the good man in my text both wilheth and threat- 
 ens that God would deal thus with every one that 
 performs not the promife. 
 
 1. He was to lofe his inheritance : and, 
 
 2 . His acquired eftate : and, 
 
 3. If human juftice could not reach him in either 
 of thefe, the Judge of all the earth would do right. 
 
 1 . One of the things that he either defires or pro- 
 nounceth upon thofe that were deceitful in their oath, 
 was, that they might be turned out of the inheritance 
 of their fathers •, Jo God Jhake him out of his houfe, 
 even fo be he fhaken out and emptied. And the equity 
 of fuch a blow is very plain, became they had taken 
 houfes and lands, and vineyards in mortgage, and 
 therefore it is a righteous thing with God, that they who 
 are for ingrofiing the fhare of others, mould lofe their 
 own. They fhall have judgment without mercy, that 
 fhewed no mercy (g). This, among the Jews, was 
 the heavier curfe ; becaufe their pofieffions could not 
 be forfeited or fold any longer than to the year of Ju- 
 bile : but fuch men as thefe were not to have the com- 
 mon clemency of the conftitution. They did thefe 
 things to the raifing of a family, but all the fuccefs 
 of their care and lull, was only a rot to what they 
 had from their fathers, and a curfe to what they leave 
 for their fons. God lays up his iniquity for his children, 
 he rewards him, and he Jhall know it (h). And it is 
 threatened againft a perfbn who had been haughty 
 
 enough, 
 
 (f) A&s xviii, 6. (b) Job x.\i. 19. 
 
 (s) James ii. 13. { 
 
416 J 'uftice and Property the Serm. 17; 
 
 enough, that his pofterity fhall be brought into that 
 fervile and fneaking way, his children wiUfeek to pleafe 
 the poor, and his handfliall reflore their goods (j), 
 
 2. Befides, they were to lofe what they had raked 
 together ; and as the curfe caufelefs Jhall not come, fo 
 what Nehemiah obferves of being fhook out of their 
 labour, is according to all the rules of Providence 
 that we have in Scripture. An inheritance may be got- 
 ten hajlily at the beginning ; but the end thereof jhall 
 not be bUffed (k) ; and agreeable to this, are thofe two 
 obfervations that come very foon after : The getting of 
 treasures by a lying tongue, is a vanity tojfed to and fro 
 of them that feek death ; and the robbery of the wicked 
 Jhall deflroy them, becaufe they refufe to do judgment 
 {I). Such an execution as this, was fometimes within 
 the reach of human j uftice •, you have a law to that 
 purpofe, They made a -proclamation throughout allju- 
 dah and Jerufalem, unto all the children of the capti- 
 vity, that they fhould gather together, and whoever did 
 not come within three days, according to the counftl of 
 the Princes and Elders, all his fubjlance fhould be for- 
 feited, and he himfelf feparated from the congregation 
 of thofe that had been carried away captive (m). Job 
 is pofitive that fuch a mixture of vainglory and fraud 
 falls within the ftroke of human equity : If I had 
 faid, that gold is mine hope -, and to the fine gold, thou 
 art my confidence ; if I rejoiced, becaufe my wealth was 
 great, and my hand had gotten much ; if my heart had 
 been fecretly inticed, this was an iniquity to be punijhed 
 by the judge, becaufe I had denied the God that is above 
 («) ; but if it fails there, 
 
 3. He intimates, that the Judge of all the earth 
 will do right. God will fhake them out, if men do 
 not, for the Lord will not hold him guittlefs that takes 
 
 his 
 
 (i) Job xx. 10. 
 
 (k) Prov. xx. 21. 
 (/J Prov. xxi. 6, 7. 
 
 (m) Ezra x. 7, 8. 
 
 (») Job xxxi. 25, 27, zi 
 
Serm. ij. Glory of a Deliverance. 417 
 
 his name in vain. He had made it a law among 
 the Jews, that if any one gave of his feed to Molecb, 
 hefhould furely be put to death ; the people of the land 
 were to Jione him withftones (0). This is the fate that he 
 had devoted them to ; but it is not unufual for com- 
 munities to be corrupted, and therefore fuppofing a 
 relaxation of jtiftice, God takes the matter into his 
 own hand ; If the people of the land do any way hide 
 their eyes from the man and kill him not ; then will I 
 fet my face againfl that man, and againfl his family, 
 and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him 
 among the people (p). Thus he is known by his judg- 
 ments that he executes, when the wicked are fnared in 
 the work of their own hands (q). It is giving his em- 
 pire over the world fuch a diffufion, that every one 
 mall own it : So that a man fh ail fay, Verily there is a 
 reward for the righteous, and verily there is a Gcd that 
 judgeth in the earth (r). This is what Mofes pro- 
 nounced upon the two tribes and a half, that if they 
 fhuffled in the public caufe, perhaps they might think 
 themfelves fecure from the rage of men ; but they 
 might be fur e their fin would find them out (s). 
 
 VI. The laft obfervation I fhall give you from the 
 words, is this, that fuch a behaviour as Nehemiah's 
 was, leads on fo many public bleffings, that it fup- 
 plies the people both with the arguments, and the 
 fpirit of a thankfgiving-day, All the congregation faid, 
 Amen •, and praifed the Lord. Mifery had taught 
 them to value thofe liberties which had been the plun- 
 der of their brethren, and were now the care of their 
 Governor ; they look upon it as a token for good, 
 and as it was faid in another cafe, From this day Gcd 
 would blefs them (/). You may here obferve their joy. 
 
 Vol. I. E e 1. That 
 
 (o) Lev. xx. 2. 
 \p) Lev. xx. 4, 5. 
 (q) Pfalm vii. 16. 
 
 (r) Pfalm lviii. 1 !, 
 (5) Num. xxii. 23. 
 (t) Hag. ii. 19. 
 
41 8 Jufiice and Property the Serm. 17. 
 
 1. That it was univerfal ; it went through all tfo 
 
 congregation. And, 
 
 2. It was hearty *, they faid, Amen, And, 
 
 3. Religious, They praijed the Lord. 
 
 1. It was an univerfal joy : we read, that all the 
 congregation came into it. If you comprehend thofe 
 in this account, who had been guilty of crufhing their 
 brethren, it (hews what a turn the grace of God had 
 given to them j for we are told in the laft part of the 
 verfe, that the people did according to the promife. And 
 if thefe were among the perfons that praifed the Lord y 
 it is apparent, that he had given them repentance from 
 dead works. But if you think that it is carrying the 
 matter too far, to have fo much charity for them, you 
 may {till look upon it as a mighty change in the con- 
 gregation ; that a numerous aflfembly, who a little 
 before gave in a heavy cry, are now employing their 
 voices in fhouts of praife -, they had another opinion 
 of their Hate, and what Providence had done for 
 them : they were lately ready to fay, Wherefore hath 
 God wrought fo much in vain ? Why are our liber-, 
 ties refcued from Babylon, and thrown away in Ca- 
 naan ? We had better return, and be flaves to the 
 Heathen, than to our brethren ; for in that cafe tho> 
 we be vile, yet the cauje remains glorious ; but here 
 we lofe the very things that we had wrought. The 
 Taxation of fuch an argument was now over : Righ- 
 teoufnrfs and peace had faffed each other («) ; juftice 
 had reached a blow to the offenders, and mercy had 
 fhone out upon the innocent : they could now fay, 
 that the Lop d was a rock, and his work was perfect 
 (x\ that he would not fufTer men to fpoil what he 
 had done. 
 
 And thus it will be when people are no longer con- 
 founded 
 
 (u) Pfalm Ixxxv. :o. | (.v) Bcyt. xxii 4. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliver wtc'L 419 
 
 founded with impudent names : The vile per/on /ball 
 no more be called liberal, nor the churl be /aid to be 
 bountiful {y) : the ftupidity will go off, as the wife 
 man oblerves, The hypocrite with his mouth dejlrcys 
 his neighbour, but through knozvledge JJoall the jujl be 
 delivered : God will let him fee into the difguife, and 
 then, when it goes well with the righteous, the city re- 
 joicetb j and when the wicked peri/b, there is /bouting 
 (t) : a fawning fervile carriage to the lufts of men, 
 and an infolence to their liberties, will fome time or 
 other grow fcandalous : He that faith to the wicked. 
 Thou aft righteous, him /ball the people curfe 1 nations 
 /ball abhor him j but to them that rebuke him /hall be a 
 delight, and a good bUffing fhall come upon him (a). 
 
 2. This expreffion of joy comes eafily from them, 
 and yet very full of lblemnity : they faid Amen, i. e. 
 they both approved the fentence, as it v/asjufl, and 
 
 fave in their wifhes that it might be fure. Religion) 
 know, hath taught us to forgive our enemies -, but 
 this is to be underftood with a twofold limitation ; 
 firfl, it is fuppofed that we act in a private capacity : 
 and, fecondly, that thefe men have given fufficient to* 
 kens of their forrow •, If thy brother trefpafs againfi 
 thee, rebuke him ♦ and if he repent, forgive him ; and 
 if he trefpafs againfi thee feven times in a day, and 
 feven times in a day fay I repent, thou /halt forgive 
 him (b). Now this is quite out of the cafe where 
 public injuries are cone. No man can flop the courfes 
 of juftice, without giving up the rights of a com- 
 munity. You will fee the reafon of this, and take 
 the matter in a proper light, by confidering the hif- 
 tory of Achan. Had he ftole from fome of his bre- 
 thren, his punifhment would have been no more than 
 refiitution four- fold : but as he made himfelf rich by 
 the ipoils that ought to have been utterly deftroyed, 
 
 E e 2 fo 
 
 (y) Ifa.. xxxii. 5. (a) Prov. xxiv. 24, 25. 
 
 (%) Prov. xi. 9, 10. (b) Luke xvii. 3, 4. 
 
42 o Jujiice and Property the Serm* 17. 
 
 fo he was taking of the accurfed thing ; and in what 
 manner is the procefs of human Juftice againft him ? 
 Jo/hua ufeth him with all the tendernefs that could 
 arife from pity to a foul : My fan, give, I pray thee, 
 glory unto the Lord God of Ifrael, and make confefjion 
 to him, and tell me what thou haft done, hide it not 
 from me (c). But this was not to break the fall of 
 vengeance ; as the man had brought mifchief upon 
 the whole army, fo there is a general approbation of the 
 fentence given againft him ; for Jojhua faid unto him, 
 Why baft thou troubled us ? The Lord pall trouble thee 
 this day : and all Ifrael ft one d him zvith ft ones (d). 
 "With inch a temper mail the whole family both in hea- 
 ven and earth behold the defolations of a perfecuting 
 Church ; for when Kings, and Merchants, and Pr lefts, 
 who traded in the fouls of men, {hall ft and afar off for 
 fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and faying, 
 Alas, alas, that great city (e) ; when they caft duft 
 upon their heads there are more chearful founds that 
 come from another quarter. Rejoice over her, thou 
 heaven, and ye Apcftles and Prophets, for God hath 
 avenged you on her (/) : and the reafon is, becaufe her 
 Merchants were the great men of the earth, and by her 
 forceries were all nations deceived, and in her was found 
 the blood of Prophets and of Saints, and of all that were 
 flain upon the earth (g). 
 
 3. There is a Religion in their joy, they praifed the 
 Lord. This they did partly in gratitude for what was 
 pafr, and partly from a faith in his juftice and mercy 
 for the time to come. It was matter of praife to him 
 that he had raifed them a man who did naturally care 
 for their State \ and had both the foftnefs to feel their 
 miferies, and the refolution to cure them. They 
 looked upon it as all divine that Nehemiah did not run 
 
 into 
 
 (i) JoHhua vii. iq. 
 
 w 
 
 (.;) Jo:hu:i vii. 2 5. 
 'cj Rev. xviii. 16. 
 
 (f) Rev. xviii. iq, 20. 
 
 (g) Rev. xviii. 23, 24. 
 
Serm. 17. Glory of a Deliverance. 42 1 
 
 into the voracious ways of former Governors, drain* 
 ing them with heavy taxes, and abufing them with 
 faucy fervants : and as he kept out of the guilt of 
 oppreftion himfelf ; fo he had the courage to reform 
 it in others : how much grace muft there go to the 
 working up of fuch a Saint, fuch a Patriot ! What a 
 contempt of this world ? What thorough views of 
 another ? To the cries of forrow he hath a pity that 
 fetteth him beneath a child ; to the terrors of wicked- 
 nefs, he hath a courage above a man : quickly touch- 
 ed by the former, and totally impenetrable to the 
 latter. We may think that the prophecy which came 
 a little before this time had collected its main fenfe 
 and glory into him. He that is feeble among them 
 Jhall be as David ; and the houfe of David Jhall be as 
 God, as the angel of the Lord before them (h). This 
 is the way for great men to anfwer their characters, 
 and fill their thrones as God hath promifed they mall 
 do : In that day I will make the Governors of Judab 
 as a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch 
 of fire inafheaf; i. e. able to deflroy the powers that 
 defign to fmother them, they Jhall devour all the people 
 round about (i). 
 
 Any appearance or dawn of this will call us to our 
 hofanna's : we may blefs thofe that come to fave us in the 
 name of the Lord, andjing hofanna in the highefi. This 
 Jhaking out of thofe men from their houfes and labours , 
 who have been guilty of making fo many exiles, is a 
 thing worthy of our God : as he threatens ; All the 
 /inner s of thy people Jhall die by the fword, which fay, 
 The fzvord Jhall not overtake nor prevent us (k). I will 
 conclude with an awful fentence very agreeable to that 
 in my text, and founded upon the crimes of ambition 
 and greedinefs. Wo unto him that covets an evilcovet- 
 Qufnefs to his houfe, that he may fet his neft on high, 
 
 that 
 
 (b) Zech. xii. 8, (i) Amos ix. \o. 
 
 (/) Zech. xii. 6. 
 
422 Jujlice and Property, &c. Serm. 17* 
 
 that he may be delivered from the power of evil : Thou 
 haft confulted Jbame to thy houfe, by cutting off many 
 -people •, and haft finned againft thy foul. IVo unto 
 him that builds th a town with blood, and ftablifJjeth a 
 city by iniquity : Behold, it is not of the Lord of Hofts 
 that the people fhall labour in the very fire, and the 
 people /hall weary themfelves for very vanity (I) ? This 
 he hath threatned againft the public enemies of Reli- 
 gion and Liberty. Let all the congregation fay Amen^ 
 andpraife the Lord* 
 
 {/) Hab, ii.9— 13,. 
 
 fbe End of the First Volume, 
 
 
ttdsSfc 
 
l&t&i * 
 
 il* I 
 
 
 -V'>-«^xo>ia8 
 
 IWtfgW