564 / 652
$sa
THE RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT.
the
sceptre
of our
land
with
greater prudence
and suc-
cess.
It
is
to
be
numbered
also among
our
mercies,
that
king
GEORGE
the Second
is
no
stranger
to
our nation,
having
lived many
years
in
the
midst
of
us,
and
in
this he
bath
a
'rich
advantage
beyond
his
immediate predecessor.
Now
if our
late excellent
monarch,
who was
at
first so
much a
stranger
to
us,
became through the
mercy
of
our
God
so
wise
and happy
a
ruler,
how
hopeful
a
prospect
may
we
have
of
the
present
and
future
government under
the administration
of
his royal son-and
successor
who
has
studied our
laws,
has given diligence to
understand the
customs
of
the land,
and
acknowledges the excellency
of
our constitution.
How
happy are
we
in
a
prince who
has professed in
his
royal declaration,
that
our
laws,
our liberties
and
religion are most
dear
to him
:"
And
whose affection
to
bis
people
is so
conspicuous,
that
he
hath
gained
the
hearts of
some
of
his
subjects,
who
could scarce conceal
their
enmity to
his
predecessor.
Nor
should
I
be
just
to
my
text
on this occasion, if
I
should not take
notice
of that
religious
sense which
our
present
sovereign
bath expressed
many,
years
ago,
of
the
interposing providence
of
God
in
counterworking
all
the
mischievous
devices
of
Rome
and hell, and bringing the
protest
pt
succession
in
the illustrious
house
of
Brunswick
to
take
ffect in
the person
of
his
royal
father.* He
is
not
one
Of
those
that attribute
the
revolution.
of
kingdoms
to
chance,
but
he\
regards the
work
of
the
Lord
therein,
and
the
operation of
his
hands.
5.
It
should
be
added
to
the rank
of
our
mercies also
in
this
event
of
providence,
that
the
king succeeds to the
throne of
his
father
in so
much
tranquillity
and peace.
No
tumults nor insurrections,,
no rising sedition,
no
clashing
of
arms. The rebellious party are discouraged
and
broken,
their hearts
sink within them, and
their
men
Of
might have not found their hands
:
We
trust
their
number
is
greatly
diminished,
and
will
decrease continu-
ally.
George
the Second succeeds
to
the British
throne
with
so
general
a
satisfaction and applause,
that
we
*
Sec
Mr.Derbam's
dedication
of
his
«
Astro-Theology."