OF PUBLIC EVENTS. 565 the years of their dominion ; and he dismisses them from this:worl&when they have finished the work to which he ordained ,them, and raises up others in their stead, to, carry on his own and his Father's wise and eternal scheme ofcouncils. " He is the same yesterday, to -day and for ever ;" Heb. xiii. 8. and of his kingdom there is no end ; Luke i. 33. Though he be the child that was born of the virgin, the Son that was promised to .Abraham, and given in mercy to the world, yet he is also " the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace ;" Is. ix.. 6. Let our eye be directed to him. Let us live upon him as the .King of saints, and the King of nations. And amidst all the changes and revolutions of this lower world, let us remember that Sion is still safe under the eye and care of Jesus her King. 3. " Let us manifest our gratitude to God for these great and,important blessings which are mingled with the present awful event," and let our thankfulness be ex- pressed in such a manner as becomes the professors of piety and strict religion. It is God that has ordained all things so well for us in this nation, who established the protestant succession at first, and bath made it to take effect onceand again : It is he that hath placed all things in so happy a situation to dry up our tears, and to allay our sorrows. To him be a thousand thanks and honours offered by the nation and all the churches. And in order to manifest our thankfulness in a more eminent degree, let us enquirewherein we have mis-im- proved the peace, liberty, and other numerous blessings of the former reign, and awaken ourselves to all holy diligence in a wise improvement of our present mercies. 01 let us not indulge riot, luxury, and vanity, nor waste the blessings of heaven in the follies and iniquities of life. Let .us ,not practise the crimes which my text severely reproves, nor indulge sensual merriment with the neglect of God and religion : But as temporal mercies surround us in a sweet succession, .let our love to God our su- preme Benefactor be perpetually increased, and our . duties of piety be ever multiplied. 4..That divine providence which has called our pre- sent monarch to the throne, " demands all dutiful affec- tion and obedience to be paid him with our hearts and hands." As-we fear God, and love our brethren, so let VOL. III. X40
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