552 TÌiE RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT for a little time, and thenvanishes away ; we ought there fore to say, if the Lordwill, we shall live, and do this or that," according to our purpose ; James iv. 14, 15. 3. Let us remember that this great event carries in it the appearance of a huge affliction to Great Britain; for it is the death of a kingwhose happy accession was a glorious deliverance of our nation from slavery, and a defence of our religion from popish superstition, tyran- ny, and blood : We have lost a great and glorious bene- factor,:under whose government we-had enjoyed the bles- sings of peace and plenty for so many years together. At his accession to the crown he scattered our fears and filled every soul with gladness : He crushed a dangerous rebellion in our lard in the beginning of his reign.; and by the wisdom of his counsels at borne, and the terror of bis arms abroad, he maintained peace among The na- tions. This is he concerning whom we were ready to say, that we . shall sit many years under his shadow in our native land, enjoying the comforts of life, and the privileges of the house of Gód. But he is smitten, his life is vanished, and he is gone from the earth : Our deliverer and our guardian is removed from themidst of us, he will deliver and defend us no mòre. The lesson of instruction which we derive hence is this, " The great God doth not stand in need of the greatest of men to carry on his own work." O ! the divine magnificence of the government of God, who can prepare and qualify instruments for his own service, and employ them for a season for blessed purposes, and lay them aside again at pleasure, without the least interrup- tion to his important designs ! If the blessed God had stood in need ofa man, for the support of his interest in the world, and for the guard of our nation, one would be ready, to say, surely our gracious departed sovereign 'wouldhave been continued in the midst of us, and would have been preserved yet many yearson the British throne. " But the Lo;d seeth not as man sees ;" I Sam. xvi. 7. s His thoughts are above our thoughts, and his ways are above ours, as the heavens are above the earth;" Is. Iv. 9. He bath seen fit to cut short the life of our king, the guardian of our liberties, and thedefender ofourfaith, and yet we trust he intends to save Great Britain, and lopreserve his churches in the midst of her.; He can do
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