Sermon in Boston 23 August 1716, Sermon

Sermon in Boston 23 August 1716 · Sermon

A SERMON Preach'd at BOSTON in NEW-ENGLAND On Thurſday the 23d. of Auguſt. 1716. Being the Day of Publick Thankſgiving, For the Suppreſſion of the late Vile and Traiterous Rebellion in GREAT BRITAIN.

By BENJAMIN COLMAN, M.A. Paſtor of a Church in Boſton.

BOSTON: Printed by T. Fleet and T. Crump; Sold by Samuel Gerriſh on the North ſide of the Town Houſe. 1716.

p. 3A Thanksgiving Sermon For the Suppreſſion of the late Vile and Traiterous Rebellion in GREAT BRITAIN.

1 King. X. 9.

Pleſſed be the LORD thy God which delighted in Thee, to ſet Thee on be Throne of Iſrael, Becauſe the LORD loved Iſrael for Ever, Therefore made He Thee King, to do Judgment and Juſtice.

IN this Chapter we have the laſt Publick Appearance of Solomon in all his Glory; His Wiſdom yet remaining with him. He is viſited here and admir'd by the Renowned Queen of Sheba. She had heard the fame of his Great Wiſdom, as well as of his Magnificence and Great Buildings; p. 4but more the fame of his Religion, and concerning the Name of the LORD whoſe Houſe he had built; and ſhe came to be Inſtructed by him, both in matters of Government and the Worſhip of the true God. She came with a Great Equipage and very Princely Retinue. "She came to trade for Wiſdom, to purchaſe it at any Rate, with very much Gold and precious Stones, which yet were not to be weigh'd with Wiſdom. She appear'd even a Rival to Solomon in Riches and Magnificence, Generoſity & Largeneſs of heart. She came with Great Expectations, rais'd by the Reports ſhe had heard in her own Land, but owns the one half had not been told her. When ſhe had ſeen all his Wiſdom, and the Houſe that he had built, and the meat of his Table, and the ſitting of his Servants, and the Attendance of his Miniſters, and their Apparel, and his Cup-bearers, and his Aſcent by which he went up into the Houſe of the LORD, (and I ſuppoſe with what Gravity and Seriouſneſs, true Majeſty, Humility and Devotion this Great Prince was won't to worſhip) there remained no more any Spirit in Her. She bleſs'd his very Servants, and was ready to envy them, and wiſh her ſelf in their place. Happy are thy Men, happy are theſe thy Servants, which ſtand continually before thee, and hear thy Wiſdom. "Finally, She bleſſes p. 5GOD the Giver of Solomons Wiſdom, Wealth and Grandeur, and the Author of his Advancement; Bleſſed be the Lord thy GOD which delighted in thee, to ſet Thee on the Throne of Iſrael; becauſe the LORD loved Iſrael for ever, therefore made He Thee King, to do Judgment and Juſtice.

THUS ſhe turns all her Amiration and Delight into an Act of Religious Thanksgiving to GOD. Something is ſaid of Solomon, but more of God, by whom he reigned. He was made King, and ſet on the throne of Iſrael, to do Judgment and Juſtice. But it was GOD that made him King, and who advanc'd him to the Throne, partly in kindneſs to Him, becauſe that he delighted in him; but more in kindneſs to his People, becauſe the Lord loved Iſrael for Ever.

MIND the Decency and Devotion of this wiſe and Princely Speech: which tho' it was the moſt honourable to Solomon that cou'd be, yet was void of Flattery. Flattery—, No, Solomon's State and Wiſdom were too Great to allow it, and Her Noble Heart and Majeſty, as well as Diſcretion, too High to give it. Her Words are Grave and Solemn, and did in excellent manner admoniſh Solomon, that he receiv'd his Crown from God; that he was to reign for Him; to be Juſt, ruling p. 6in his fear; that it was from the Undeſerved Love and Good Will of God towards him that he was Accompliſht for and Exalted to the Throne from among his Brethren; that what God had done for him was done in favour to Iſrael, and from his love unto them; and finally that He was bound and ſo were others to bleſs & praiſe the LORD his God, and give him all the Glory of his Advancement to and Eſtabliſhment on his Throne: Bleſſed be the Lord thy God which delighted in thee, &c.

The Words teach us this Doctrinal Truth.

THAT when God raiſes up a wiſe and good KING to do Judgment and Juſtice, it is a ſignal Expreſſion of his delight in Him and of his love unto his People, for which they are highly Obliged to laud and praiſe him. Or, That when God delights in a PRINCE to ſet him on the Throne over his People, becauſe he loves them, they are highly obliged to render Him their thankful praiſes.

I will take the Text into the following Propoſitions.

p. 71. That it is the GOD of Heaven that makes Men Kings, and ſets them on their Thrones.

2. That with a more peculiar Care and Providence does the Lord their God fill the Throne of his Iſrael.

3. That he raiſes up wiſe and good Kings to do Judgment and Juſtice.

4. That when he does ſo it is from his delight in Them and love to his People.

5. That it is ſuch an Expreſſion of his favour to a People as calls for their thankful Praiſes, and obliges them to laud and magnify the Name of God.

I. THAT it is the GOD of Heaven that makes Men Kings and ſets them upon their Thrones. So the Text ſays that it was the LORD GOD that ſet Solomon on the Throne, and made him King. The Dominion and Providence of God is the Supream, Abſolute and Univerſal Government. The Heavens are his Throne and the Earth is his Footſtool. He is Lord of all. He rules in the Armies of Heaven above, and over the Inhabitants of Earth below, and doeth his Will. His is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory. He is the Bleſſed and only Potentate, King p. 8of Kings and LORD of Lords. His is the Greatneſs, and the power and the Glory and the Victory and the Majeſty; for all that is in the Heaven and on the Earth is his: Both riches and honour come of him, and he reigns over all, and in his hand is Power and Might, and in his hand it is to make Great and to give Strength unto all. He the moſt High ruleth in the Kingdoms of Men, & giveth them to whomſoever he will. Wiſdom & Might are His: He changeth the Times and Seaſons; He removeth Kings and ſetteth up Kings; He giveth wiſdom unto the Wiſe, and Knowledge to them that know Underſtanding. Thus the Kingdom is the Lords, and he is the Governour among the Nations: The Shields of the Earth belong to him, and he is greatly Exalted.

THE Dominions and Thrones, the Principalities and Powers in Heaven are his Subjects and Vaſſals; and ſo are Soverain Princes here on Earth. The Lord is high above all Nations, and his Glory above the Heavens. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on High! who humbles himſelf to behold the things that are in Heaven and on the Earth! He raiſeth up the Poor out of the duſt, and lifteth the Needy out of the dunghill, that he may ſet him with p. 9Princes, even with the Princes of his People. He gives to Men their Princely Spirits, and another heart, and calls them forth to Reign; Again he cuts off the Spirit of Princes and is terrible to the Kings of the Earth.

BY Him Kings reign and Princes decree Juſtice, by Him Princes rule and Nobles, even all the Judges of the Earth. Sometimes by a ſingular Providence he brings Them to their Thrones without their ſeeking and calls them to reign by a clear and certain loud Voice of his Providence and of a People, without their Aſpiring or forming Deſigns for their own Advancement; a wonderful Providence makes the motion to them, and opens their Way before them: As David was ſurpriſed by the Divine Election and Anointing, and then by Providence call'd to Court and on the ſtage of Action; And to the Conduct of Providence he reſign'd himſelf and waited on it to chuſe his Way and lead him in it, and in Its own time to crown him. Such a KING was Solomon, of God's chuſing and Anointing: He was not the Eldeſt Son, nor the firſt Branch of the Royal Stock; but the Perſon whom God pitch'd upon and Endowed to fill the Throne.

AND ſuch a KING we bleſs God for this day, whom He Himſelf has choſen and p. 10called to the Throne, and eſtabliſhed thereon, by a Wonderful and Over-ruling Government of his own Soverain, Wiſe and Gracious Providence. It has been the Lord's doing and wonderful in our Eyes. The Hearts of Kings and Nobles are in the hand of God, and ſo the Hearts of a Wiſe and free People and the Lord turned them in the Reign before the laſt, in a legal manner to fix the Succeſſion to the Crown on the Serene Houſe of HANNOVER, being the next Proteſtant Heirs. The Subſequent Parliaments in the following Reign did from time to time and many ways Confirm that wiſe and Happy Settlement of the Crown; which render'd it the moſt Legal and Rightful that could be. And when at laſt ſome Adonijah was exalting himſelf, and ſaying I will be King, under the ſecret Aid and Abetting of ſuch as Joab and Abiathar the Prieſt; then better Nobles and Princes of the Nation, both Temporal and Spiritual, ſuch as Zadock and Benaiah and Nathan the Prophet remembred the Royal. Oath and the Engagement of Providence, and ſaid to one another—"Did we not ſwear by the Lord, and give the Public Faith unto our People and unto the Serene Houſe of Hannover, that they ſhou'd now Reign and ſit upon the Throne over us? As the Lord liveth that redeemeth p. 11our Soul out of all diſtreſs, as we ſware unto them by the LORD our God, even ſo will we certainly do this day: So they blew the Trumpet and all the People ſaid, God ſave King George; ſhouting and rejoicing with ſo great a Joy as made the Earth to rend again. The Pretender to the Crown and his wretched Adherents were beyond meaſure ſurpriſed and amazed at the wondrous Turn. Scarce cou'd they believe their own Eyes and Ears. And thoſe that wiſh'd and waited for the Event, but had long deſpair'd of ever ſeeing it, were now like them that dream; then was their mouth filled with laughter and their tongue with ſinging; then ſaid they one to another, The LORD hath done Great Things for us whereof we are glad: O Lord turn again our Captivity as the Streams of the South, i.e. As when God ſends Streams of Water in a hot and parching Seaſon to refreſh and revive a Land.

II. WITH a peculiar Care God fills the Throne of his Iſrael. The Lord's Portion is his People; as Jacob was his Inheritance. Happy is the People that is in ſuch a Caſe, yea happy is that People whoſe GOD is the LORD. It pleaſes the LORD to make ſome Places and People more his own Peculiar than others. As the Children of Iſrael were ſo of old, ſo are the p. 12Places which God now favours with the Adminiſtrations of the Kingdom of his Grace in the Purity and Power of them. The People ſhall dwell alone, and not be numbred among the Nations. They are a favoured and diſtinguiſhed Race whom God has taken near to himſelf, and mark'd out for his Own, and given to them his Adoption, his Covenant, his Law and Promiſes. So when at firſt the Moſt High divided to the Nations their Inheritance, when he Separated the Sons of Adam, he ſet the Bounds of the People according to the number of the Children of Iſrael: He found him, he led him about, he Inſtructed him, and kept him as the Apple of his Eye; So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no ſtrange God with him. God gave them not a King like the Nations round about them, for the LORD himſelf was their King, & their Government a Theocracy. But when they in proceſs of time would have a King like the Nations round about them, God choſe them their Kings. And how many moſt Excellent Princes did God raiſe up to them to be their Governours in Supream? Moſes and Joſhua, and the Judges; David and Solomon, &c. It is true too that Iſrael had their Evil Princes, more eſpecially in their laſt and degenerate Times; for as they grew p. 13worſe and worſe, they had at laſt the worſt of Kings, who were given them in Wrath, and bro't on their laſt Deſtructions and Captivities.

AND thus it is with the Profeſſing People of God unto this day: altho' it ſeems to ſare with one Nation as with another, all things hapning alike to all, to the Good and to the bad, as well to Places as Perſons. There are Tyrants and Uſurpers and Pretenders and Traitors in one Country and in another; and we cannot know good or evil by all that is before us. Nevertheleſs there is really a more ſpecial Providence concerning is ſelf for and exerciſed towards the Profeſſing and Covenant People of God, and that more or leſs peculiar too as they are more or leſs reformed, and as there is more or leſs of Vital Religion, Spiritual Worſhip, and true Obedience among a people. So the Lord loves a people as he makes them his Own; and as they know and fear him they are dear to him and his ſpecial Care; All his Saints are in his hand, and they ſit down at his feet and receive of his Words. He covers them and he bears them on Eagles wings, and makes them to ride on the high places of the Earth.

AND in ſome Meaſure of Great diſtinction, ſuch has been the Grace and Favour p. 14of God to Great Britain among the Nations of Europe. How early did the Governing Providence of God bring the Chriſtian Relilion into thoſe happy Iſlands and Kingdoms. The glad Tydings of Salvation reach'd them and Chriſtianity was received there, whilſt the Greateſt part of the Continent continued Pagan and in groſs darkneſs. And after the Apoſtacy of the Church the REFORMATION was early receiv'd in Britain, thro' the peculiar Grace of our God to that favoured Land. There the reformed Religion ſo fixt it ſelf that the Gates of hell have not been yet able to prevail againſt it. I wiſh they may not at laſt by Debauchery and Luſt, after that the many Efforts of Popery have been defeated.

THIS has been the ſignal Appearance of God for us from Age to Age. Neither the bloody Martyrdoms in the reign of Queen Mary, nor the Spaniſh Armada in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, nor the Powder Treaſon in the reign of King James the Firſt; nor the more ſecret Reign of Popery and Vice in the Reign of a Prince more Obliged by Providence in his Reſtoration than all his Predeceſſors, nor the more Open and barefac'd Power of Popery in the Reign of James the Second, nor the cover'd Treacheries and Perfidy in favour of the Return of Popery in the laſt Scene of the late Reign; p. 15have been able to reſtore the Tyranny of Rome over the Liberties and Conſciences of the Happy People of Britain. The ſame Providence that blaſted the former Attempts for its Return have blaſted theſe latter; and they are alike the work of God and not of Man. And now lately on the Death of Queen Ann when a Popiſh Prince was juſt ready to have ſtept into the Throne, by ſome Secret and Myſtery of Providence unſearchable to us He was in one Moment wholly fruſtrated, and our Proteſtant and Rightful PRINCE aſcended the Throne peaceably and without Oppoſition, tho' the Enmity of a powerful Party to the thing, and the Deſigns formed againſt it have ſince openly appeared. We may well look on our Miraculous Deliverance and ſing the 124. Pſal. If it had not been the LORD that was on our ſide, now may Iſrael ſay: If it had not been the LORD that was on our ſide, when men roſe up againſt us: Then they had ſwallowed us up quick, when their Wrath was kindled againſt us. Then the Waters had overwhelmed us, the Stream had gone over our Soul. Then the proud Waters had gone over our Soul. Bleſſed be the LORD who hath not given us a prey to their teeth. Our Soul is eſcaped as a Bird out of the ſnare of the Fowlers; the Snare is broken, and we are eſcaped. p. 16Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made Heaven and Earth.

SO has a peculiar Care of Providence from time to time guarded the Liberties and fill'd the Throne of Britain. The Acceſſion of King WILLIAM to the Throne, and now the Acceſſion of King GEORGE will be two Illuſtrious Inſtances of it in all Future Times.

III. WHEN God raiſes up Wiſe and Good Kings it is to do Judgment and Juſtice. For this God raiſed up Solomon; He made the King, ſays the Text, not to live in eaſe and pomp and ſplendor, not to have his will and do what he pleaſed, but to govern with Right and Equity. And this is the End of Government, and the true Honour and Benefit of it; the Felicity both of Prince and People. So the Rock of Iſrael ſaid to David, and they are among his Dying Words to his Succeſſor: 2 Sam. 23.1, 2, 3, 4. Now theſe be the laſt Words of David: David the Son of Jeſſe ſaid, and the Man who was raiſed up on high, the Anointed of the God of Jacob, and the ſweet Pſalmiſt of Iſrael, ſaid, The Spirit of the LORD ſpake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Iſrael ſaid, the Rock of Iſrael ſpake to me, He that ruleth over men muſt be juſt, p. 17ruling in the fear of God: And he ſhall be as the light of the morning, when the Sun riſeth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender graſs ſpringing out of the earth by clear ſhining after Rain. This is the moſt Noble and Elegant Character of a Good Prince that ever was given. Like the Sun and like the Rain he is a Bleſſing to his Dominions.

KINGS are ſet in the Throne of Judgment for this End, to ſcatter away all Evil with their Eyes. It is an Abomination to Kings to commit Wickedneſs, for the Throne is Eſtabliſhed by Righteouſneſs. Their Government ſhou'd reſemble the Kingdom of God among men, who is the Moſt Juſt; and Righteouſneſs and Judgment are the Habitation of his Throns David in his Prayer for Solomon ſhews us how we are to pray for Princes, that the Righteouſneſs of their Adminiſtration may anſwer to the Righteous Scepter of Chriſt, and the Benefits of their Reign be even like thoſe of the Meſſiah to the World: Pſal. 72. 1,—6. Give the King thy Judgments, O God, and thy Righteouſneſs unto the King's Son.—He ſhall come down like rain upon the mowen graſs, as ſhowers that water the earth.

p. 18SUCH a KING we truſt God has now given us, and God forbid but that his Wiſdom and Juſtice, his Moderation and Clemency, his Princely Goodneſs, and the Mercy that upholds his Throne, his ſteddy Conduct and true Magnanimity ſhould endear his Name and ſtrengthen his Title in our Hearts. As it was once ſaid by a Nei'bouring. Prince concerning Henry the 7th. That he had three of the beſt Titles to his Kingdom of any Prince living; for that he was the Wiſeſt and the Valianteſt and the Richeſt Prince in Chriſtendom. Truly ſo while the King appears to be Wiſe and Juſt and Good in his Adminiſtration of the Government, in vain will his Enemies alledge any flaw in his Title; He muſt needs reign in the hearts of all that are Wiſe and Good, and the Spirit that came upon Amaſai will reſt upon them—. Thine are we David, and on thy ſide, thou ſon of Jeſſe: Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. 1 Chron. 2.18.

O what a GIFT of God, not only to us, but to Europe and to the Reformed Churches, muſt a Wiſe and Juſt King upon the Throne of Britain be. He is a Stranger to the World p. 19that knows it not, and he no Friend to Religion nor to the Good of Chriſtendom that is not ſenſibly affected with it. From an Evil Prince I hope we ſhould be able to ſuffer much without a traiterous Tho't, but for a Good One methinks we ſhould even dare to die. And I am perſuaded that Providence has now given us ſuch a King. Let us be affected with the Great and undeſerved Mercy.

To which End I proceed,

IV. THAT when God raiſes up Wiſe and Good Kings to do Judgment and Juſtice it is a high Expreſſion of his Delight in Them, and of his Love unto his People. So ſays the Text God delighted in Solomon to ſet him upon the Throne of Iſrael, and becauſe the Lord loved Iſrael for ever therefore he made him King to do Judgment and Juſtice.

AT Solomon's Birth, who in his Name was a Type of the Great Prince of Peace, God ſent by the Hand of Nathan the Prophet, and called his Name Jedidiah, Beloved of the Lord. 2 Sam. 12.25. In this His Preferment begun, and God intimated his pleaſure in him to ſet him on the Throne after David.

p. 20BUT was it for Solomon's ſake only, or David's either, that God delighted in Him to make him this Wiſe and Good and Great Prince? No, no! As David ſaid on this very Occaſion, (that is, on the Promiſe and Proſpect of it,) Who am I and what is my houſe—! O Lord according to thine own Heart haſt thou done all this Greatneſs! —for thou didſt make thy People Iſrael thine own people and becameſt their God. In truth there can be no higher Compliment made to a Prince than theſe two in the Text; Becauſe the Lord thy God delighted in thee, and becauſe he loved his People for Ever. Huram the King of Tyre knew this, and Congratulates in theſe very Words: 2 Chron. 2.11. Becauſe the Lord hath loved his people, he has made thee King over them.

1. IT is in Kindneſs to the Prince himſelf, and God's delight in the Perſon whom he makes a Good and Wiſe and Righteous Prince. For wherein can Providence ſhow a Man more favour on this ſide Heaven (at leaſt in a Humane Judgment of things) than firſt to qualifie and furniſh Him for the higheſt Dignities and Powers in the World, and then to advance him to them? It is no ways deſirable p. 21to be a Prince in Name or by Birth without a Princely Spirit: The folly is but the more expoſed in the high Dignity. Rule carries worldly Greatneſs, Riches and Honour along with it; but the true Glory lies in the Internal Accompliſhments of the Mind, Intellectual and Moral. A Prince without Knowledge becomes an Image and a Stock; or it may be a Scorpion, a roaring Lion and a ranging Bear to the poor people: Or tho' the Prince have the Knowledge of an Angel yet if without Goodneſs and Vertue he only becomes a Devil to his wretched Subjects. Wherefore I conclude, that as it is no favour to us that we be, unleſs we be wiſe and good; ſo neither is it any favour of Providence to any one that he is a Prince, a Governour, a Magiſtrate, if he be a fooliſh and a wicked one. I am ſure God can have no delight in ſuch a one, and I'm ſure he ought to have no delight in himſelf nor in his Station, nor can his People have any delight in him. His Advancement is a Judgment upon himſelf and a Curſe to his People. But now where there is Perſonal Worth and a Prinoly Spirit, Solomon's Wiſdom and Largeneſs of Heart, and then a Throne given to ſhine on and Power to do good with, how has God delighted to honour the Perſon? To make p. 22Him a Public Extenſive Bleſſing, a Father and a God to his People, like the light of the Morning for pleaſure after a dark night, and like the clear ſhining after rain for Benificence. There is as much difference between a wiſe Prince and one that is deſtitute within, as there is between the Princes Stamp on Paper and on Gold. The one has an Intrinſic Value and is worth what it paſſes at, but the other in a time of neceſſity may paſs for as much when it is in itſelf worth nothing. Then again, what a noble Pleaſure is it to a Princely Mind, to be in Gods ſtead to the World in reſpect of unknown Benefits done to it, and to know that he reigns not only over ſuch a Kingdom and Provinces, but in the Reverence, Honour, Eſteem and Love of the hearts of all that are Wiſe and Good in his Dominions? While fooliſh and wicked Princes are contemned and deſpiſed, loath'd and hated in the hearts of them whom they tyranniſe over and oppreſs. This Prayer therefore let us make for our King, That his Wiſdom Juſtice and Mercy may ever be ſuch as ſhall ſhow that he is the Delight of his GOD and of his People. Which brings to my Mind the glorious Style given to Titus the Roman Emperor by Hiſtorians, that he was Delicium Humani Generis: The Delight of Mankind.

p. 232. IT is in kindneſs and love to his People when God ſees a wiſe and righteous Prince upon the Throne over them to do Judgment and Juſtice. Becauſe the LORD loved Iſrael for Ever. And indeed what one Inſtance is there in any outward and temporal thing, wherein there can be an Equal Expreſſion of an univerſal Regard to the Happineſs and Weal of any People, as in this of a wiſe and righteous Prince on the Throne over them? What a direct and ſtrong Influence has this upon the Felicity and Flouriſhing of a Nation? yea unto the Comfort of many Nations may the Influence extend.

GOVERNMENT is ordained for the good of Mankind. The People are not made for the Prince, to make Him Great; ſo much as the Prince for his People, to do them Good and make them Happy: That under his wiſe and juſt Adminiſtration his Dominions may enjoy Tranquility and Peace, their due Rights and Liberties, both as Men and Chriſtians; That Vertue and Religion, Learning and Arts, Trade and Commerce may flouriſh together; and the Kingdom grow Wiſe and Rich, Potent and Renowned; the Subjects leading quiet and p. 24peaceable lives in all Godlineſs and Honeſty; every one ſitting under his own Vine and under his Fig-tree, and having none to make them afraid. Iſa. 32.1, 2. Behold, a King ſhall reign in Righteouſneſs, and Princes ſhall rule in Judgment. And a Man ſhall be as an hiding-place from the Wind, and a covert from the Tempeſt: as rivers of Waters in a dry place, as the ſhadow of a great Rock in a weary Land. Moſes and Samuel and David, and Hezekiah were ſuch Bleſſings to Iſrael, and wherein did Providence ever favour a people more than in raiſing up ſuch Men unto the chief Command? But a wicked Prince is an equal Curſe and Plague to his Dominions and to the World. Pſal. 109.6. Set thou a Wicked Man over him and let Satan ſtand at his Right Rand. 'Tis much at one, the devil let looſe upon a people, or a cruel oppreſſing Tyrant ſet over them.

WHAT a Token of the Divine Favour, Love and Pity to a ſinful People ſhould we then account it, that God has given us this Day a Proteſtant Prince endued with Wiſdom and Juſtice, to ſit upon the Throne of Great Britain? We are not yet forſaken of God, tho' the Land be full of Sin againſt the Holy One! Becauſe the Lord had Compaſſion p. 25on his People, and pity for his holy Name called on us, therefore has he not given us yet up to Reproach and Servitude, that they which hate our Religion and Liberties ſhould reign over us. Wherefore,

V. And laſtly, We are highly obliged to render unto the LORD our God our Thankful Praiſes this Day, and to ſay,— Bleſſed be the LORD our God which has delighted in our King to ſet Him on the Throne over us; Becauſe the LORD loves his People for ever, therefore we truſt that He has made him King, to do Judgment and Juſtice.

IT is a Noble and Illuſtrious Law of our Holy Religion, that Supplications Prayers, and giving of Thanks be made for all Men, more eſpecially for Kings and for all that are in Authority, (or in Eminent place, as the Margin reads it) that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlineſs and honeſty. In Obedience to this Precept of CHRIST our Saviour, which is ſo Agreeable to the Natural Dictates of Juſtice and Gratitude, we are Convened this Day to offer the Sacrifice of Praiſe to the GOD of Heaven, giving Thanks to his Name for one of his Singular and Great Gifts to the Children of Men; that he has been pleas'd of his Infinite Mercies to ſet a PRINCE of ſuch excellent Wiſdom and Juſtice, p. 26Moderation and Mercy over us. This has been conſtantly and always done, every Sabbath and every Lecture in our Solemn Aſſemblies, ſince his MAJESTY's happy Acceſſion; and bleſſed be God neither Miniſters nor People need any Call to do the thing, for we dwell in a Loyal Land where none are Indiſpoſed to it. Wou'd to God that all the Kings Subjects were Senſible as we are of the Mercy of God, affected with it and diſpoſed like us; and wou'd to God that our Reſentment of it were as devout towards God, as I believe it is ſincerely Loyal towards the King.

BUT O the Ingratitude to Heaven, the Profaneſs and Contempt of Providence, in the Vile and Traiterous Rebellions lately carried on in Great Britain! How have a baſe and ſtupid Faction, mindleſs of Gods Wonders and Mercies to the Nation, been murmuring firſt and mutinying, and then riſing in Arms againſt God and his Anointed! quarrelling with their Happineſs, weary of their Religion, Liberties and Laws, courting Popery and Slavery, rejecting not the King ſo much as God that He ſhould reign over them, and this by the blackeſt Treacheries, Perjuries, Hypocriſies and Mockery of God. Shall I ſay, the Queen of the South ſhall riſe up in p. 27the Judgment againſt this Generation and ſhall condemn them? that wou'd be too mild a Cenſure and Condemnation of their Villany.

WHEN I conſider the Treaſons that have been acting againſt the King ſince his Acceſſion to the Throne, and the horrid Spirit of the Men that appear againſt his Title, it brings to my mind the words of David which he ſpake before the Lord concerning the Enemies of his Houſe and Family; Theſe Sons of Belial (ſaid he) are Thorns not to be taken with hands; but the Man that ſhall touch them muſt be fenced with Iron, and the ſtaff of a Spear.

O what a doleful Proſpect does it afford unto us, if God do not heal their Spirit and change their Heart! ſhould God return their Wickedneſs upon their own heads, even all that their own Heart is privy to; tho' the King might be bleſſed and his Throne thereby be Eſtabliſhed before God for ever; yet how are the Convulſions and Confuſions to be deprecated, which may be fear'd from that infamous and curſed Spirit of Perfidy and Violence that has already appear'd!

O might it never be nam'd more, to the Infinite Reproach of our Name and our Profeſſion! Can Proteſtants ſo prophanely forget their Religion, and Engliſhmen ſo baſely betray their Liberties?

p. 28BUT bleſſed be God that the whole Body of our United Brethren, ſo denominated in Great Britain, have thro' the Grace of God ſtood firm to a Man unto the Proteſtant Succeſſion, and been true in this day of tryal to God, their King and their Country. The Lord ſhow kindneſs and truth unto them.

LET us continue ſtedfaſt to our Religion and Allegiance, and wait upon God for his further Mercies to our King and our Nation and the Proteſtant Intereſt. My Son fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change. Let the Apoſtle Peter's Precept and Exhortation to us ſink deep into our hearts: 1 Pet. 2, 13—17. Submit your ſelves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's ſake: whether it be to the King as Supreme: or unto Governours, as unto them that are ſent by him for the puniſhment of evil doers, & for the praiſe of them that do well. For ſo is the will of God, that with well-doing you may put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men: As free, and not uſing your liberty for a cloak of Maliciouſneſs, but as the Servants of God. Honour all Men. Love the Brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King.

FINIS

End of the text · Benjamin Colman, Sermon in Boston 23 August 1716 (1716)