174 DEATH OF GEORGE I. The lesson of instruction which we derive hence is this, The great God loth not stand in need of the greatest of men to carry on his own work. O ! the divine magnificence of the go- vernment of God, who can prepare and qualify instruments for his own service, and employ them for a season for blessed purpo- ses, and lay them aside again at pleasure, without the least inter- ruption to his important designs ! If the blessed God had stood in need of a' 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 would have been conti- nued in the midst of us, and would have been preserved yet many years on the British throne. But the Lord seeth not as man sees; 1 Sam. xvi. 7. His thoughts are above our thoughts, and his ways are above ours, as the heavens are above the earth; Is. lvii. 7. He bath seen fit to cut short the life of our king, the guardian of our liberties, and the defender sf our faith, and yet we trust he intends to save Great Britain, and to preserve his churches in the midst of her: He can do it while king George our deliverer lies asleep in the dust and silence. 4. Among the many personal excellencies of this great man, mercy, goodness, and love were wrought into his very constitution ; theydiscovered,themselves even to the eyes of stran- gers in the very features of his countenànce,: Every one that saw his face, declared they saw the evidenttraces and signatures of benignity and goodness there : And these virtues shone so much the brighter, by how much the higher station they were placed in. Gentleness and love to mankind, and friendly bene- volence, are excellent dispositionsin any man, but when they are joined with majesty, they imitate the glories ofGod himself, and carry an illustrious resemblance of our Maker. The death of such a sovereign, whosat on the throne with meekness, and love, and compassion attending on each side of him, is a great and heavy loss to a free -born nation. 5. He was a prince without pride. His whole conduct made it appear, that he regarded the good of his subjects more than his own grandeur. He seemed to have no superior airs about himu ; no supercilious looks; but was affable in his wholedeport- ment toward those who were so much beneath him. Hehad no- thing of that restless and mischievous quality of ambition, that takes every opportunity to grasp at more power, and to seize on the ancient rights and the freedoms of even a loyal and obe- dient people.. The happiness of his subjects seemed to behis con- 'staid wish and highest joy. 6.' He was, a prince.who delighted to reward his friends, and would never forget past services Of this we are witnesses
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