XI.

mixed with the Public ; Whether We taste of SERM.
its Beneficence, any otherwise, than as Mem-
bers of the Whole; or not: let us always re-
member that it is our Duty, not to measure our
Obligations to Thankfulness, by any private
Considerations, distinct from the Common Good;
but to rejoice, with as much Sincerity and Zeal,
for the inestimable Blessing of Public Security,
in which All partake, as God, and Justice,
and Reason, require, from a People, the most
happy in the whole World, if They would
but know their own Happiness! Which, God
grant They may, before it be bid. from their
Eyes!

The Restoration made a Blessing to Us, by the

Protestant Succeffion.

SERMON XII.

Preached before the King, at the Royal Chapel

at St. James's, May 29, 1716, being the Anniversary of the RestorATION.

PSALM cxxvi. 3.
The Lord bath done great Things for Us; where-

of we are glad.

SE RM. N all great Revolutions of States and KingXII. doms, which We are called upon to com

memorate in a Publick Manner, We must consider what Concern we ourselves have in the lasting Effects or Consequences of them; and what ought to be the real Ground of our Joy upon such Occasions.

If we feel no kindly. Influences from them upon our own Affairs ; it will be impossible to warm ourselves into any Disposition of Mind that can be called Thankfulness : Which must always be founded upon

Something,

Something, in which We ourselves have a Part, SERM.
They will be only like other Historical Matters
of Fact ; Something to amuse and entertain
Us; serving to please our Curiosity, but not to
raise our Gratitude. And if We feel the Sen-
timents of Joy and Thankfulness, rising in our
Breafts, from such Principles and Motives, as
no true Christian, Protestant, or Briton, ought
to entertain : Our Joy then becomes the Same
with the Joy of our Worst Enemies; and the
Expressions of it no better than the Tokens,
either of our Blindness, or of our Corruption.

In this Nation particularly, it is certain, that,
in all Affairs which concern our Constitution,
either in Church or State, nothing can be moré
absurd, than for the Friends of both, and the
Enemies of both, to have the Same Movements
and Paffions upon the Same Occasions. It is
impossible for a Protestant, if He knows what.
that Word means, to raise his Joy upon the same
Foundation with a Papift. It is impossible for
a Lover of his Religion, and his Country, to
rejoyce with Those who firmly believe it to be
their Duty to rejoyce in nothing more, than in
the Ruine of both.

As our Joy, therefore, could not possibly discover itself

upon this Day, if the Providence of God had done great Things, not for Us, but for our Forefathers alone ; and had permitted Them

R

to

XII.

SER M. to stop the Blessing from descending, or to con

vey down a Curse inftead of it: And as Our Joy cannot, in the Nature of Things, be the Joy of our Enemies; because it must be raised upon Something of Our own Happiness, which They have hitherto always made inconsistent with Theirs : Let Us now proceed upon this Foundation, and consider,

The Great Things God hath done for Us,' in that whole Scene of Providence, which this Day opened.

This will naturally fix our Minds, in a more particular Manner upon the Bleffings, in which We are immediately concerned.

And this will unavoidably lead Us to some Thoughts, of Importance to the present and future Interest of the Nation.

Now the whole Scene of Providence, which This Day opened, and which, taken in one View, can alone be said to make this Day a Blessing to Us, is indeed a Scene full of a long Train of Incidents, and a vast Variety of Cira cumstances, enough to make both Prince and People, in this Nation, for ever Wife and Happy.

The first part of it, is a King restored to his Kingdom; with his Brother in view to Succeed Him: but this, not till, on one hand, He had serm. seen, bath by Example, and Experience, how XII. terrible in its Effects, the popular Dread of Arbitrary Power could shew itself, when ever it was set on fire; and not till, on the other hand, his-People had sufficiently felt, how great an Evil the Want of their Legal Government

was.

One would think here was a plain Middle Way of Wisdom and Happiness, pointed out even by Sense it self.

But there was another, and a very

different Turn given to this Affair, by the indefatigable Workings, and Artifices, of our Enemies. An universal Madness of Loyalty (falsly so called,) as well as of Manners, prefently took place: And the People came preffing in Throngs, beseeching to be accounted Slaves, rather than Subjects; and begging, in Words, for Opportunities of unlimited Submishon, as if they were begging for Acts of Grace and Favour. The View in Those, who then had the Direction of their Paffions, was to keep that Spirit up to a Pitch, till a Popish Heir was secure of the Throne. Nor could all the Knowledge of the Nature and Principles of Popery ; nor the avowed Contradiction of it to the Religion and Liberties of their Country, engage the Hearts of many; or divert them from the Resolution of trusting the whole Concerns of a

Protestant