PREFACE To SERMON LV. WHEN I had just delivered this plain sermon from the pulpit, it was a great surprize to the to find myself surrounded with importunities to make it more public. Norcan I impute this to any thing but to the affectionatezeal andconcern of my auditors about all events that relate to the royalhouse of Great Britain, and to a mind well prepared by the late important occurrences to receive instructions of piety from a commondiscourse without art or orna- ment. I must acknowledge, that when any great and momentous changesarise in theworld, it is my custom, in the course of my ministry, to excite my hearers to a pions notice and improvement of them. Andwhen, upon the death of our late gracious Sovereign, I observed among my acquaintance sojust and sincere a joy for the peaceful succession of a protestant prince to the British throne, I was desirous to turn the streamof it into a religious channel, and to awaken their thoughts to a more solemn Ilnd distinct observation of the band ofGod, both in putting a saddenperiod to the reign of one excellentking, and the immediate advancement ofanother: But I havealways hadan aver.. sion to send any of these composures to the press. 'I know several of my brethren are much better qualified for such 'services ; and after almost thirty years spent in the ministry I have never yet published one Sermon on such political occasions. But the requests of many persons multiplied so fast upon me at thistime, that I foundmyself constrained to 'submit my own inclinations, and resign them up to the power which my friends haveover me. Perhaps the voice of the people iá this respect may be the voice of God. Had I designed to present theworldwith aldiscourse relating to this great event, I think -I should have chosen a different text, and taken much more time in the composition. -But such as it-is, I must now commit it to the can- dour of my readers 1 and humbly ask of God to bless my first essay of this kind to the service ofthe souls of men, that in all occurrences they may learn first to pay a religious veneration to the hand of God, 0,e supreme and eternal King, and then that they may give all due'honour to the memory of out de- ceased royal benefactors, and may yield all affectionate duty and submission to those whom the kind providence of God has been long preparing for the throne, and has now exalted to that sublime dignity and important station. May divine wisdom and mercy ever guide and defend them ! May the al- mighty God pour out his richest blessings on their royal persons and their issue, in a long and glorious succession, and render them the guards and honours of christianity and Great Britain, so long as the situ and moon en- :dare. Amen. June 23, 1727.
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