SERM. publick Bleffing has been convey'd to us. In either 1. of thefe Senfes, it is a Precept of great Weight, and may at this Time be very feasonably confidered.

First then, let us fuppofe the Royal Preacher's Words to extend to all profperous and good Times in general; and let us alfo fuppofe, that they are not only a Permiffion, but a Precept or Direction to rejoyce in thofe Bleffings, which, at fuch Times, we do all feverally enjoy. I fay let us suppose this to be the meaning of the Words. For though they may, indeed, be fo limited and reftrained, as to fignify no more, than a bare Licence or Permiffion to rejoyce in the good things, which God's Providence difpenfes, as if it had been faid, we may innocently delight, or lawfully take Pleasure in them; yet fince, befides this, there is another Kind of Joy, arifing from the Sense of God's Goodness and Compaffion in imparting fuch Bleffings to us, and fince the Exercife of this Joy will be shewn hereafter to be a Duty we are all bound to pay, I think it more likely, that my Text was intended as a Precept, to cultivate and promote this Joy: A Subject more useful and important in itself, and more worthy of the Royal Preacher's Care.

This being fuppofed to be the Meaning of the Words, I proceed, in pursuance of the Doctrine contained in them, to fhew,

First, that in all profperous and good Times in general, it is the Duty of all Perfons, in their feveral Stations, to rejoyce in those publick, as well as private Bleffings, which God's Providence beftows upon s. As to private Bleffings, all profperous Events, from the happy Iffue of our own Projects and Defigns, do naturally fill the Heart with Joy: And if Men

would

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would but fanctify and improve this Joy, by a grate-SERM, ful Senfe of God's Bounty to them, they would do all that is necessary to make a Virtue of it, and to convert the Success of their temporal Designs to their spiritual and eternal Welfare. But befides these private, incidental Bleffings, there are others of a more general and publick Nature, which, though they are greater and more important in themselves, are lefs apt to ftrike the Mind with Pleasure. These I shall distinguish into natural and political: By natural Bleffings, understanding those, which God has dealt to Mankind in general, however fituate with refpect to Government, or whatever Kind of Polity they enjoy; fuch, in particular, (not to mention all) are the Ufe of our Bodies, the Exercise of our Reason, the Light of the Sun, the Benefit of the Air, and the Plenty with which the Earth supplies us. These, by the Consent of all Nations in the World, are underftood to be the Gift of Heaven, and confequently proper Matter of Praife and Thanksgiving, which is what I mean by religious Joy. To raise our Plea fure and Delight in these, there is nothing more required, than to attend to them. Whenever we do this, if we do not actually rejoyce in them, we can have no Pleasure or Satisfaction in our Being. As to thefe Bleffings, therefore, it is enough to leave Men to the Convictions of their own Hearts concerning them, which, if they will but think, will fufficiently fuggeft how much Reason they have to return Thanks to God for them, as neceffary, in a manner, to give Worth and Value to all the other Bleffings he beftows on us. From these therefore I pass on to confider, in the next Place, those Bleffings which I call Political, arifing from the Virtues of thofe, who

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prefide over us, and the Forms of Government, under which we live. These alfo, as they tend to promote Peace and Quiet, as well as to our living in all Godliness and Honefty, must be confidered as things of the highest Moment, and as juft Matter of Gratitude and Thanksgiving. Since therefore there are fome, who do not feem to know, that it is our Duty to delight and take Pleasure in them, I fhall briefly fet forth the Neceffity of fo doing, by fuggesting a few Reafons for it.

The first that I fhall mention, is what obliges us to rejoyce in all Kinds of Profperity whatsoever, viz. because it is the Gift of God. The Proof of this it would be needlefs to undertake; because none will deny, that to God's fovereign Direction all human Happiness, of what Kind foever, must be referred, as to its proper Source. To him therefore we must give the Glory, to him we must return the Thanks: And particularly with refpect to the Point now in View, fince the Scripture tells us, that by Him Kings reign, and Princes decree Juftice, they teach us in Effect, that for the Blefings of their Reigns, for the Execution of Justice, for the Living under good and wholfom Laws, for the Peace and Profperity of the Nation, in which we live, and above all, for the Enjoyment of our Liberties and Religion, we are bound in Duty to rejoyce in the Lord, and to give Thanks to him for a Remembrance of his Holiness. On the contrary, from the fame Principle it will as evidently appear, that to murmur and repine in fuch Times as these, when Liberty is enjoyed in as full and ample Manner, as was ever known in any Nation upon the Earth; when the Properties of Men are as well fecur'd, as the moft jealous Heart can wish them; when the Thoughts

I.

Thoughts of Men are not fettered and confined by SERM. the false Establishments of a superftitious Church, but are indulged in as great (if not greater) Scope to range at large, and search out for Truth, as was ever granted in any Christian Country; I fáy, to murmur and repine in fuch Times as these, to fow the Seeds of Discontent in the Minds of our Fellow-Subjects, and to bring an evil Report on God's Bleffings to us, is an ungrateful Part with respect to him, and a bafe Attempt to diffeminate and spread abroad the fame Spirit in the Minds of others, teaching them, in their Turns, to withdraw their Gratitude, and depriving them thereby of the most pleasing Exercife in which the Heart of Man can be employed. And this I lay down as a fufficient Reason, why we ought to encourage that religious Joy, with refpect to the Peace and Profperity of our Country, which the Royal Preacher in my Text prescribes. But

Secondly, Another Reason,why we ought to do this, is, because it is no more than a just Debt of Gratitude to thofe, who, under God, are his Inftruments and Agents, in conveying thefe Bleffings to us. Little do we know, in our humble Stations, of the Cares and Troubles which good Princes fuffer, while they labour to promote the Happiness of their People. But enough we know of the Difficulties they encounter, the Toil and Fatigue they fuftain for our Sakes to entitle them to the highest Duty and Respect. Reafon alone and Common Sense would teach us, that this cannot with any Justice be withheld. The Rules of Chriftianity confirm their Claim to it. And little does he know either of Reafon or Religion, who thinks he may prefume on any flight Occafion, which either his own Jealoufy or Refentment may fuggeft, to call in queftion the Conduct

SERM. of his lawful Governor, from whofe tender Care for his People's Liberty, he himself derives the Licence to defame him. But

Thirdly, Another Reason, why we are bound in Duty to testify our Joy in the abovementioned Bleffings, is, because it is a Debt, which not only our Superiors, but the Publick alfo may, in Juftice, claim. The Zeal, which is exerted by every private Perfon, in Defence of that Government, which supports us all, is, in fome measure, a Support to the Government itself, and tends therefore to the Benefit of the Whole. As long as the People have no Jealoufy of their Prince, and as long as the Prince has no private Views, inconfiftent with the true Intereft of his People, this Harmony between both is the beft Security to the Publick, against all Kinds of Danger, that may arise. He therefore, who goes about to destroy that Harmony, by raising needlefs Jealoufies in his Fellow-Subjects Minds, is an Enemy to the publick Peace; He, on the other hand, who would cultivate and promote it, is a Friend to the publick Happiness of his Country, because he ftrengthens and fupports the Intereft of that Government, from which the publick Happiness is derived. Since therefore it is the Duty of every private Person to promote, as much as poffible, the publick Happinefs of his Country, and fince this Happiness is most effectually fecured by a good Harmony between Prince and People, and fince the best Method to promote this Harmony, is, to be pleased with the publick Bleffings we enjoy, it must needs be our Duty, on all fit Occafions, not only to rejoyce, but to testify our Joy, to declare the Pleasure and Satisfaction we receive from the Care and Vigilance of those who are fet over us, in order to ftrengthen and support this Harmony,