SER M. to give Success to Justice, and profper the best XIX. of Administrations; which it is highly abfurd to fix' upon the Chriftian Inftitutions Can those Subjects of any Monarch, in Countries abroad, for inftance, who groan under his Oppreffion and his exorbitant Demands, for the fake of what they themselves may think unjust Attempts of Force and War upon Others; can fuch Chriftian Subjects, I fay, be obliged by the Gospel to pray for his outward Profperity in all his Undertakings? This cannot be the Duty of fuch unhappy Subjects. We of this Nation, indeed, feel the Sweets of good Government, and know what it is to be engaged in a righteous Caufe; and therefore, are obliged to pray for Success to our Sovereign, whom we willingly obey, and of whofe Administration we are fo gratefully fenfible, and of whofe Juftice in the Cause She publickly maintains in Europe, we are fo perfectly satisfied. This is the Difference between Us and Others. And, as it is impoffible that Contradictions fhould be true; it is impoffible that the Duty of Chriftians, in feveral Places, should be fo abfolutely contradictory to itself. No, our Prayers and Thanksgivings must be agreeable to God's Will. We must not pray to him to profper Wickedness, even in high Places: nor must we thank him, as for temporal Bleffings, for the Victories of Tyranny.

For

For this is to thank Him, for what is, in truth, SE R M. one of the greatest Curses that even his Al- XIX. mighty Power can send down upon any Nation. A Curse, which fome Nations Abroad may either labour againft, or thank God for, according as their Hearts and Dispositions have been preferved in their natural State; or by continual Oppreffion, and theCustom of Injury and Infult, are become callous and totally infenfible. For our Parts, we know no fuch Sentiment; and therefore cannot, without Blafphemy, think that the Success of Power, sporting itself in the Miferies of Thofe around it, can be any Subject for Thanksgiving to the great Governour of the World; who wishes Happiness to all Civil Societies, and expects from their Rulers, a constant Attention to that Happiness, for which they were fet over their People.

The Third Particular proposed was this, Suppofing that the Subject of our Prayers be granted, or that it pleases God to give us that uncommon Bleffing of good and juft Government over us; what our Behaviour, under a Senfe of this, ought to be; and what Ufe we ought to make of fo great an Happiness. These are particularly pointed out to us in the laftWords of the Text, That we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honefly.

SERM.

Firft, This is the very End proposed by the XIX. Apoftle, in these Interceffions which he recommends for Kings, and all others in Authority; that, fhewing Ourfelves thus their fincere Friends and Well-wishers, we may, under them, enjoy an undisturbed Repose, and a State of Quiet, which we could not fo well hope for, if we did not give them this Testimony of our Affection and Good-will. This is as great an Happiness, as the Condition of Men in this World allows to any Society; to enjoy, under the Protection of Power, lodged in good Hands, and exercised in the Manner and to the End for which alone it was appointed, the Comforts, and Conveniences of Life, as well as Neceffaries; to reap the Fruits of their own Labours, and poffefs their own Acquifitions and Inheritances, without the continual Dread of Violence, and Arbitrary Rage, tearing them away and confuming them all. An Happiness, which we of this Part of the World, at this Time, may be faid peculiarly to injoy, whilst we may view, at a great Distance, the Storms and Tempefts which beat upon others; and the Exercife of all Power by military Force, to the utter Ruine of the Quiet and Repose of their Lives, and of the peaceful Injoyment of what they have at leaft as frict a Right to enjoy fecurely, as their Governours have to rule over them. And hence in

deed,

deed, will appear our peculiar great Concern in SER M. thefe Expreffions. For if we are fo peculiarly XIX. happy, as that our Governours watch over us, and rule us by Laws made and known by Ourselves ; and make our peaceable Poffeffion of what is our own, as fecure as this World admits of; we must be void of all Senfe, and abandoned of all Understanding, to be Ourfelves the Troublers of our own calm and fmooth Waters; and, by unreasonable and undeserved Noise and Difquiet, to break in upon fuch a happy Scene of public Serenity, as can alone give a Relish to all the Goods of the Earth, and alone fecure the Happiness of Ourfelves, and Families, and Pofterity, in it. But,

Secondly, There is fomething farther added by the Apostle, in his Description of the Conduct of Chriftians, under the Senfe of the great Bleffing of a good and beneficent Government. They must not only lead quiet and peaceable Lives, but muft lead their Lives in all Godlinefs, and Honefty. Religion and Piety towards God, and Honesty, or, (as the Word fignifies) all that is decent and becoming towards Men; These are recommended, as our own Duty; and, in the next Verfes, hinted at, as the moft proper and efficacious Means to reconcile all around us, not only to us Ourselves, but to God himself, who wills, and defires most af

fectio

SER M. fectionately, that all Men should be faved, as well XIX. as Ourselves, by coming to the Knowledge of his Truth.

But tho' this was faid, when the Chriftians were in the midft of Heathens, and Unbelievers; yet the Injunction, and the Reason of it, still fubfifts in great Force. For Chriftian Governours want and claim our Prayers as well as Heathen ones and Chriftians, as well now as at first, may find the good Effect of fuch a Behaviour, towards their Chriftian Governours; that it may even now tend to their own Peace and Quiet, in all their Enjoyments, as it did under others: and always have the fame indifpenfable Duty, of leading a quiet and peaceable Life, in all Godliness, and all Decency, or in all and every Practice that is truly lovely, - and truly becoming them in the relation they ftand in, to all around them, in the Civil Society of which they are Members. This is fo evident, in every Page of the Gospel, that it needs not one Word here to prove it; nor does the Time now allow me to go on upon this Head.

I will therefore, only add a word or two, upon a pleasing Subject, which offers itself unavoidably to our Thoughts, in applying what has been faid, to the prefent Occasion of our meeting together. I believe you will be before