There is nothing an Englishman has more to fear than the prevailing Power of Popery; and fo univerfally it is dreaded, that Popery muft ever be a Millftone to the Neck of any Cause to which it is but fomuch as generally fufpected to be allied; and this, I presume, has been well understood by those who have always been labouring to infuse the Fears and Jealoufies of it into the Minds of the People, and to clog the Work of the Government with the Sufpicions of it. If there be any Afperfion, which Men fhould make a Conscience of cafting upon their Rulers, it is this, which contains whatever can be thought on to render a Man odious. To defign the Advancement of Popery, is to defign the Ruin of the State, and the Deftruction of the Church; it is to facrifice the Nation to a double Slavery, to prepare Chains both for their Bodies and their Minds.

What Intereft is to be ferved by fomenting thefe Jealoufies, is, I think, hard to be understood: the Proteftant Succeffion is eftablished by the Law, and what further Security can be had, must rise out of the Affections of the People; which will not be increased by perfuading them, that they stand fufpected

fufpected in the Opinion of those who may be one Day their Governors. Should thefe Jealoufies fo far prevail, (as we trust they cannot) as to render one great Part of the People of England fufpected to the Princes abroad, what Strength would the Proteftant Succeffion gain by thefe Means? Would not the Confequence be, that this Part of the People would begin to imagine their Caufe prejudged, and think with less Pleasure upon the Security, which now they efteem as their great Bleffing? What may grow out of fuch mutual Distrusts in Length of Time, fhould they once prevail, I cannot tell, but no Good, I am fure. They who heartily wish well to the Succeffion, will endeavour that there may be a mutual Confidence and good Opinion, between the People and the Princes of the Blood, that whenever the Time comes, which muft rob us of our dearest Bleffing, they may they may ascend the Throne neither suspecting nor suspected; but may be received with as much Joy, as the Circumstances of that fad (and I hope far diftant) Day will admit of. Let the People be told how fully they inherit the Virtues of their Royal Ancestors, that no Distance of Time or Place can ever efface

their Love for our common Country; but let none but theirs and their Country's Enemies infinuate, that there is any Caufe for mutual Fears and Jealoufies between them.

But whatever our Fears are, let them be fo far fufpended at leaft, that we may enjoy the Eafe and Tranquillity which the present auspicious Reign affords. Let not all our Zeal for our holy Religion be spent in quarrelling and difputing about it; but fome of it be shewn in our dutiful Behaviour to our Governors, in mutual Love and Charity. Let the Purity of our Religion be expressed in the Innocence of our Lives; that whenever God shall be pleased to deliver us from the Scourge of War, we may be in such a Difpofition to receive the Bleffing, that Mercy and Truth may meet together, and Righteousness and Peace kifs each other.

Above all, let us earnestly contend with God in Prayer for Mercies upon our good Queen; that she may be long continued to us; that he would give Peace in her Time; that no Demerit of ours may rob us of the invaluable Bleffings we enjoy in her; that whenever she, ripe for Glory and Immortality, fhall be called to everlasting Peace and a better Crown, that then he would

with a more efpecial Eye of Mercy and Tenderness regard these orphan Kingdoms, and hide them under the Shelter of his Wings, till the Danger be overpast.

DISCOURSE IV.

2 SAM. xxiii. 3, 4.

The God of Ifrael faid, The Rock of Ifrael Spake to me; He that ruleth over Men must be just, ruling in the Fear of God: And he fhall be as the Light of the Morning when the Sun rifeth, even a Morning without Clouds; as the tender Grafs Springing out of the Earth, by clear fhining after Rain.

T

HE Words read to you, are faid to be the laft of David, and uttered by the Spirit of the Lord, whofe Word was in his Tongue. They are by fome Jewish Interpreters referred to the Days of the Meffiab, as foretelling the Righteousness and Increase of his Kingdom for evermore: but in this Senfe, they can no otherwise relate to the

Meffiab,