180 ,DEATH OF GEORDD I. invisible; 1 Tim. vi. 13. "He is the King of kings," who disposes of their breath, and their sceptre, and their domi- nions as he pleases ; but he reigns for ever and ever, and his kingdom stands 'to all generations. This duty was hinted be- fore : I add therefore, As christians, it becomes us on such occasions to remember Jesus, the Son of God, whose title also is the Lord of lords, and the Icing of kings: Into his hands are committed all the reins of government in the upper and the lower worlds. Ile hath the keys ofdeath and thegrave; Rev. i. 18. In his hand is the life of princes : they reign but under him, and ac- cording to hit pleasure. He numbers the days of their life, and the years of their dominion ; and he dismisses them from this world 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 of councils. Ile is the same yesterday, to-day andfor ever; Heb. xiii. 8. and of his kingdom there is noend; 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 Princeof Peace; Is. ix. 6. Let our eye be directed to him. Let us live upon himas the Icing of saints, and the King of nations. And amidst all the changes and revo- lutions of this lower world, let us remember that Sion is still safe under the eye and care of Jesus theKing. 3. " Let us manifest our gratitude to God for these great andimportant blessings which are mingled with the, present awful event," and let our thankfulness be expressed 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 madeit to take effect once and again : It is he bath 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 tomanifest our thankfulness in amore. eminent degree, let us enquire wherein we have mis-improved 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. O ! 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 sur- round us in a sweet succession; let our love toGod our supreme Benefactor be perpetually increased, and our duties of piety be ever multiplied. 4. That divine providence which lias called our present mo-
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