any Man. And without doubt our Conduct towards GOD, and our Regard to his holy Religion, is the first and most interesting Confideration now before us.

It is well known that the People of Ifrael were the chofen, the peculiar People of God; and distinguished from the Reft of the Nations, by a special Providence directing them and their Affairs. If you confider this as the Effect of Partiality, and a weak Fondnefs for one Set of Men more than another, you injure the Attributes of God, who acts by Wisdom and Justice in all his Dealings, and is no Respecter of Perfons. The House of Abraham was called for the Sake of true Religion; to preserve the Knowledge of the one God among themselves, to propagate it among the Nations, and to prepare the Way for introducing into the World, under proper Circumftances, that Seed, in which all the Nations of the Earth were to be blessed. As they were chofen for these great Purpofes, fo whenever they acted contrary to them, they ceafed to be the chosen People, and were treated as Enemies and Rebels.

We are apt enough to boast of the Purity of our Religion, and our Reformation from the Errors and Corruptions of the Church

of

of Rome; and to flatter ourselves that we alfo are a peculiar People of God, and fet up by Providence to be the Bulwark of the Proteftant Religion. And indeed, if we judge from the many Deliverances we have had, when our Religion and our Liberties were in utmost Danger, we have great Reason to acknowledge the Care and Protection of Heaven over us. But remember ftill that we too are chosen to profess and maintain the Truth of God's holy Gofpel, and to bear our Testimony against the Corruptions, which have prevailed over a great Part of the Chriftian World. If, instead of acting up to this Part affigned us by Providence, we grow careless and indifferent to our holy Profeffion, and fuffer a Spirit of Irreligion to prevail over the Nation, we forfeit our Title to God's Protection; we are no longer the chofen People, and muft expect to be treated as Enemies and Deferters.

Our present Situation is attended with Fears and uneafy Apprehenfions; and if we look back and confider from whence we are fallen, we may fee but too much Reason to fufpect that our Fears are well grounded. How has this Nation been bleffed with the Light of the Gospel! How wonderfully

and how often has it been refcued from Danger, when to human Appearance there was no Help at Hand! Scarcely had the Reformation taken Root among us, but a Popifh Queen, made cruel by Bigotry and Superftition, afcended the Throne; and applied the only frong Argument of Popery, Fire and Faggot, to extinguish the Light that was breaking in upon us. Not only the civil Powers of this Country were in the Hands that meant to deftroy the Reformation, but they were supported and united to the Powers of Spain, whofe Prince was become a Partner of the Throne of England; who lived to deftroy (not in this Country, bleffed be God, but in his own Dominions) Thousands and Tens of Thousands on Account of Religion. Such were the Powers under which the Reformation here, ftill in its Infancy, was to struggle. It is painful to think of the Miseries of that Time; but think of them we ought, and bless God for the noble Examples of Conftancy and Chriftian Courage, left by those whom he raised up to bear Testimony, at the Expence of their Lives, to the Truth of his Religion. Had this Reign been long and profperous, it is highly probable that Philip of Spain had left this Country

Country in the fame Condition he left his own; where the Inquifition rules with lordly and uncontroulable Power over the Confciences and over the Fortunes of the People. But God, in whofe Hands are the Iffues of Life and Death, made Way for a Proteftant Princess to ascend the Throne ; in whofe long and glorious Reign the Reformation took deep Root, and the Establishment of this national Church was perfected. A Work of great Wisdom and Piety, and fo esteemed by the Proteftant Churches abroad, however unhappily fome among ourselves have forfaken her Communion.

The Reign of this glorious Princess was almost a continual Scene of Deliverances from foreign Invafions, and Disturbances at home. And notwithstanding she was diftreffed on every Side, by Bulls and Curfes from Rome, by Armadas from Spain, by Rebellions in England and Ireland, she left this Church and Nation in Peace and Security: fo wonderfully did the Hand of God appear in our Prefervation.

Peace and Security under a weak Government which fucceeded, produced by Degrees a Corruption in Principles and Manners, which ended at laft in the Ruin of

this Church and Nation, and the Deftruction of a virtuous Prince worthy of a far better Fate. With him fell all our Hopes of Order and Government in Church and State; Anarchy and Confufion ufurped the Throne; and Religion was fo divided into an almost infinite Number of difagreeing SECTS, that the true one could hardly be found in the Crowd.

But whilft we are under this thick Cloud, HE, who can bring Light out of Darkness, did, against all the Hopes of human Probability, restore us to our happy Conftitution in Church and State; not by Force of Arms, or the Power of Princes, but by over-ruling the Paffions of Men; fo that even they became Inftruments in reftoring thefe Bleffings, who had been greatly concerned in deftroying them.

It will be wronging the Nation to say that this Deliverance at the Restoration was not received with great Joy and Pleasure. The Joy indeed was exceffive; and, as the Cafe too often happens, left little Room for fober and ferious Reflections. The Hearts of Men being fet open to the Impreffions and Transports of Joy, foon grew sensual; and the Prosperity of the Nation broke out