IX.

SER M. ful Ferment abated. But now they takè Care to corrupt their Principles firft; which ever after shuts up all Avenues to a Reformation. Hence that flagrant Contempt of all Authority divine and human. Hence that avowed Difregard to all Subordination of Servants to their Mafters, Children to their Parents, Subjects to their King. And why should Those wonder at this, who have taken no Care to cultivate a due Use of the greatest Regard, the Foundation of all the Reft, that of a Creature to His Creator.

To conclude this Head ; one cannot more effectually fhew a Zeal for his Majefty, who has declared he will make the Intereft of Religion his firft and chief Concern, than by fhewing a Detestation of thofe Principles, which would unhinge his Government. Add to this, that a National Impiety, when once the People had filled up the Measure of their Iniquity, never failed, as all Hiftories inform us, to draw down a National Vengeance. But this is too melancholy a Subject to be dwelt upon; I haften therefore,

IIdly, To enforce Obedience to the King, Now as GOD has made us fociable Creatures, He muft will Society-confequently He muft will whatever is neceffary to Society There can be no Society without fome Government. The very Idea of

Society

Society includes Superiors and Inferiors There can be no Government without Honour, Homage and Obedience to Governours. Thus Government in General is the Will and Inftitution of GOD: though the particular Forms and Modes of Government, except the Ifraelitish, are plainly of human Inftitution. The Scripture orders us to be fubject to the Powers that be, It hath enjoined Obedience in General without clogging it with particular Exceptions; which was wifely done, and worthy of it's divine Author... Cafes of Neceffity are always implied, and therefore need not be fpecified. The Misfortune is, People are apt rather to imagine Cafes of Necessity of a Refiftance, where there are none, than not to feel them when they really are fuch. They are apt to fancy folid and fubftantial Grievances without a juft Caufe, and to carry their Refentment too far when there is a juft Cause. 'Tis hard to hit, in fome Cafes at leaft, the dividing Point between Rebellion and Refiftance, and to fay, Hitherto fhalt thou go in thy paffive Obedience, and no farther. As therefore thin Partitions, in fome Cafes, divide the Bounds between Rebellion and Refiftance, it was beft to inculcate the Doctrine of Obedience at large without exprefs Reftrictions.

The Scripture need not be explicit on this Head. When Cafes of Neceflity hap

pen,

IX.

SERM. pen, the Voice of Nature, in every free Nation where their Minds are not graduallyprepared for Slavery, the Voice of Nature fpeaks within us in the moft importunate and feeling Manner, demands an Audience, and with the most powerful and awakening Call, intimates to us, that it could never be the Defign of that Being, who wills the Happiness of all his Creatures, that the Bulk of a Nation fhould be made miserable by the arbitrary and lawlefs Pleasure of a Tyrant. Such a Cafe of Neceffity there was before the Revolution, when the Vitals of our Conftitution both in Church and State were wounded; when Power was affumed to lay afleep, and difpenfe with, our Laws (the Security of our Property) and Popery and Slavery had like to have been intailed upon us. And we fee by the univerfal Bent of the People, who acceded to the glorious Scheme, that human Nature is not over-dull of Apprehenfion, when aggrieved in fo extraordinary a Manner. The Nobility and Populace, the Gentry and Clergy, with united Hearts combined in the Scheme of our Deliverance. And as long as We have any Regard for our Constitution, as long as We fet any Value upon the two moft valuable Things, the pure, uncorrupt Chriftian Religion as profeffed by the Church of England, and our Liberties, which were both in imminent Danger of being loft; We ought

And

IX.

ought to exprefs a Regard for our Deliverer S ER MI at that Juncture, who took Care, as far as in him lay, to perpetuate the Blessing, and to tranfmit it to our Pofterity, by fettling the Crown upon the prefent illuftrious Royal Family (as our fureft Barrier against the Evils We were before expofed to) where may it long continue! as long as any Branch of the Family remains! The Boundaries between the Prerogative of the King, and the Liberties of the People, were then better adjusted, and have continued down to us, than they had been before. notwithstanding all the late Outcries, all the virulent Libels against his Majefty's Government, it is certain We enjoy more Liberty than any well regulated Government befides can pretend to, of which those very Libels are a Proof. We cannot be faid to honour the King, if We do not discountenance all thofe groundlefs Clamours, which tend to alienate the Affection of his People, to clog the Wheels of His Government, and to embarrass the Administration. them, as far as the Sphere of our Power extends, promote a dutiful Submiffion, and inftil loyal Principles. May all Schemes, that tend to bring in Popery, and it's conftant Attendant, Slavery, or to poison the Minds of Men with Republican Principles, be blafted. May the King long live happy in his numerous Progeny, happy in the

Let us

Affections

IX.

S E R M. Affections and Hearts of his People. And
may we live long happy in His paternal
Regard and Rule over us.
LORD, and the King,

Let us fear the and not meddle with those turbulent Spirits who are given to Change.

To Speak Evil of the Ruler of the People, and of Dignities, is a Vice exprefsly forbidden in Scripture. On the other Hand, to extol them while they are upon the Throne, creates a Sufpicion of fome finifter Views and By-ends. And indeed Praises are feldom valuable, but when they come from those who can difpraise with Impunity. In the present Cafe they are intirely needlefs, it being a Confideration of fufficient Weight to inforce Obedience, that whoever would attempt to new-model the Government, or to diíplace the prefent Royal Family, muft embark, it is to be hoped, in an impracticable Scheme.

But

if he fhould fucceed in his Attempts, he must throw this Kingdom into Convulfions, and leave us in a much worfe State than He found us. He muft unhinge the best constituted Government, to give us I know not what in it's Room.

Which brings me,

IIIdly, To conclude with fome Reflexions fuitable to the Solemnity.

GOD,