viz. That the Happineß and Prosperity of Nations, is to be attained the fame way that any particular Man's Happineß us; that is to fay, by being fencerely vertuous and religious; or, as my Text expreffes it, by fearing God, and keeping all his Commandments always.

This is a true Propofition, both with refpect to particular Perfons, and to Nations too; but with this Difference, That if we take Happiness and Profperity for that which the World accounts fo, that is to fay, the Poffeffion of a great many outward Bleffings, and the Freedom from temporal Evils and Inconveniencies ; the Propofition is not fo univerfally true, with reference to particular Perfons, as it is with reference to Nations and Kingdoms. For every Man that fears God, is not always bleffed with happy outward Circumstances. On the contrary, fome good Men are exposed to many and great Afflitions, and Misfortunes, and Sickneffes, and Croffes, all their Lives long. But it is certainly true of all Nations and Peoples whatsoever. Every Nation or Society fhall fare better or worfe in this World, exactly, according as they fear God, or defpife or affront him; exactly, according to the Degree they keep God's Commandments, or break them. Tho it is not certain that every particular Man fhall always do fo. And there is great Reafon that it fhould be thus. For,

First, We know that all God's Ways are juft and equal. Now as to particular Prfons, there is a great Room left for the dispensing

this Juftice and Equity to them. For they being in their Natures made to live for ever, it is enough for the vindicating God's Juftice, that they be at any time hereafter, either rewarded for their Piety and Vertue, or punished for their Wickednefs and Abuse of God's Mercies. So that wicked Men may be happy and profperous here, and good Men may fuffer many Afflictions and Tribulations, without any the leaft Reflexion on the Justice or Goodness of the great Governour of the World: Because there is a farther Day reserved for the Adjusting all Mens Rewards according to their Works.

But now the Confideration of publick So. cieties and Nations, is quite different. Nations are not made to be Immortal, but end with this World. No Society, as a Society, fhall be called to a future Account: But all the Rewards and Punishments they are capable of as Societies, must be adjudged and diftributed to them in this prefent Life. And therefore if we fuppofe God to be the Judge and Governour of the World, and of all the Nations in it; as well as he is the Judge and Governour of particular Perfons; we must likewife fuppofe, that he adminifters all Affairs fo, that Righteous and Religious Nations have in this World their Reward of their Vertue in the Bleffings of Peace and Plenty, and all manner of temporal Profperity: And on the other fide, impious and incorrigible Nations are likewife punifhed in this World for their Wickedness, either by fevere Judgments,

or

or by a total Deftruction; as God in his infinite Wisdom fees Cause.

This now that I have offered, is, I think, fo reasonable, that if there was no more to be faid, it ought to go a great way towards the making of the Point I have in hand highly credible. But in the fecond Place, there is a great deal more to be faid. The Word of God doth all along bear Teftimony to the Truth of this. A multitude of Texts of Scripture there are, that do moft plainly give this Account of God's dealing with Nations and Peoples, that I have now mentioned.

There is no Judgment threatned to any Nation in the Holy Scripture (and abundance of Nations are there threatned) but it is upon the Account of the Sins and Wickedness they were guilty of. Which Sins, if they repented of, fo repented as to forfake them, they might find Mercy.

And accordingly we find in Fact, that God always dealt with Peoples and Nations according to these Measures. God had folemn. ly denounced Destruction to the City of Nineveh, by his Prophet, and that within Forty Days. But upon the Repentance of the Ninevites, and turning to God with all their Hearts, he reverfed his Sentence (tho', to the great Discontent of the Prophet) and gave them a further Time.

On the other fide, he waited long for the Repentance of the Canaanites, but would not destroy them; because their Sins, though very heinous, admitted a Place for Repentance. R 3

But

But when their Iniquities were filled up to the Measures according to which God proceeds in his Deftruction of Nations; he then fent the Ifraelites to root them out, and to take Poffeffion of their Land.

And thus was Nebuchadnezzar raifed up by God, to be a Scourge to all the Nations about him, for the Punishment of their Sins. Nebuchadnezzar had, indeed, other Things in his Head. That which he defigned was, the gratifying his own Ambition, and enlarging his Dominions. But thefe were not the Ends which God had to ferve by him. God made ufe of him as his Inftrument, as his Servant, (and fo he calls him) for the rendring to the Nations that juft Recompence of Vengeance which their Sins called for.

I mention thefe Things the rather, because they are Inftances of God's dealing with Heathen Nations, who were under no particular Covenant with God.

And I might have Recourfe likewise to the Hiftories of all Nations, to fhew the Truth of this. Name any Nation that was ever remarkable for Juftice, for Temperance, and Severity of Manners; for Piety and Religion (though it was in a wrong way); that did not always thrive and grow great in the World; and that did not always enjoy a plentiful Portion of all thofe Things which are accounted to make a Nation happy and flou rifhing. And on the other fide, when that Nation has declined from its former Vertue, and grown impious or diffolute in Manners,

we

we appeal to Experience, whether it has not likewife always proportionably funk in its Succefs and good Fortunes. I am fure any one that will be at the Pains to read either the Greek, or the Roman, or even the Turkish History, will meet with Matter enough there to fatisfie him of the Truth of this Obfervation.

But I confine myself to the Scripture, and in that the History of the Jews is the most remarkable, for indeed it makes up a great Part of the Old Teftament. Now in that History it is worth our taking Notice of; That every Degree of publick Vice, and Departure from God's Laws, was always punished with publick Judgments. And, on the other fide, every Degree of publick Repentance and Reformation, was always rewarded with publick Happiness and Profperity: So that any one that could make a right Eftimate of the Morals of that Nation, and how it ftood as to Vertue and Vice; might conftantly make. a Judgment likewife how it would fare with them, as to their outward Temporal Affairs...

I must confefs, that generally speaking there is little Force in those Arguments that are drawn from Examples; but in the Cafe I am now upon, I think there is a great Weight in them. For though we cannot argue from God's dealing with one Perfon, that he will juft deal in the fame manner with another; Yet as to Nations and Kingdoms, the Cafe is otherwife, as I before faid. For God's Difpenfations and Providences to them, feem all

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