3 j:}, A Sermon on Occa lion of a public Fail. SERM. enemies made fome attempts againft us, but XIII. met with difappointments, in which the hand of God appeared very fignally. In the prefent reign we have enjoyed profound peace. But thefe means have been unfuccefsful, we continue in our provocations ; what then are we to expert but that he fhould firetch out his hand in anger ? If there were no out- ward appearance to ftrike terror into our minds, and cali us to humiliation and repen- tance, it would certainly be our duty, upon a due reflection on the demerit of our tref- paffes, but more efpecially, when we are aétually entered into a war, the event of which, what it may be, none of us can tell. The fword is one of God's four fore judg- ments, or the methods by which he 1E-etches out his hand upon a nation. It is true our prefent danger does not feem to be very great, and humanly fpeaking, our ftrength is fuffi- cient for our defence. I am afraid this is car - ried too far by fome of us. We think and fpeak of our enemies with contempt. What are the Spaniards but a poor and daftardly people ? What power have they wherewith to make head againft the naval force of Great Britain? But if they be the rod of God's anger,
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