384 RIGHT REJOICING. wonderful an appearance of the Lord, but it holds forth matter that is amiable as well as admirable tohis church. Lastly. That all this is done with little or no effusion at all of blood, when so much blood was shed in the foregoing changes, ad- vanced' the wonder to a greater height; and I hope His Majesty and the two.Houses of Parliament will take notice how God bath gone before them in a tender and unbloody change, and will not hearken to them that protest against revenge, while theywould use it under the name of justice. When the wheel of Providence turn- eth so fast, if all that have the advantage of executing their wills under the name of justice, should take their advantage, you know what names and sufferings multitudes of the most useful members in such nations; in the several vicissitudes, must incur to the detri- ment of the commonwealth and governors. III. You see what cause we have of thankfulness ;.but I_must tell you that these, as all inferior mercies, are imperfect things, and being but means to greater matters, (the heavenly interest first treated on,) they are no further significant or valuable than they have some tendency to their end : and I mutt furtherteli you, that it is much committed into the hands of man, under God, whether such beginnings shall have a happy or unhappy end. If Christ become to many a stumbling- stone, and be set for the fall of many in Israel, (Luke ii. 34.) and if the gospel itself prove the savor of death to some, no wonder if it be yet possible and too easy for a sinful land to turn these forementioned mercies and successes into most heavy judgments, and to rob themselves of all the honor and the benefit. And, therefore, above all, for the Lord's sake, and for a poor, tired, yet hoping nation's sake, and for the sake of the cause of Christ through the world, I beseech you all, from the highest to the lowest, that you will be awakened to an holy vigi- lancy, and look about you in your several places, lest the enemy of Christ and you should play his after game more successfully than now you can foresee ; and lest the returnof.a sinful nation to their vomit should make the end yet worse than the begipning. It is not enough to have begun ; the fruit of all is yet behind. I must here deal plainly with you, however it be taken, lest I be charged with unfaithfulness at the dreadful tribunal to which both you and I are hastening. If these beginnings, through your neg- lects, or any others that have been the instruments, should nowbe turned to the reviving and strengthening of profaneness,and malig- nity against the holy ways of God; to the introduction of mere formality in religion ; to the casting. out or weakening the hands of the faithful ministers in the land; to the destruction oforder and discipline in the churches; to the suppression of orderly and
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