prevail against it,-its destruction will be more owing to those who ought to be its Friends, than to those who are known to be its Enemies.

Would we defeat the wishes of the latter, and remain impregnable against their force? let us be united among ourfelves,-let a temperate, yet lively, Zeal for our most Holy Faith, fhine forth in our Conduct, and let us, individually, both by Example, Perfuafion, and Reproof, endeavour to fupprefs all Vice and Profaneness, -all Faction and Discontent, which have (the former fo long, and the latter so recently) disturbed the Peace, and endangered the Safety, of this Empire.

The most effectual Way to do this isfor us to add-to the Wisdom of the Serpent -the Innocency of the Dove: to add-to our Circumfpection against our Enemies—a peaceable and virtuous behaviour in ourselves :in Apoftolical language, to abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good; to feek Peace, and enfue it; to do violence to no man; but, as much as lieth in us, to live peaceably with all men; to honour all men; to

lové

love the Brotherhood; and (which is the Sum total of all) TO FEAR GOD, AND HONOUR

THE KING.

Amen.

PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY, juft, and omnifcient God, who art of purer eyes than to behold Iniquity, and to let it pafs unpunished without Repentance,-grant that we, knowing thy Power, may rather be disposed to Goodness by the Hope of thy Favour, than the Dread of thy Vengeance; as obedient Children, may love Thee for thy manifold Mercies, and teftify our Love by keeping thy Commandments.

Yet, O Lord, if the hardened and impenitent Heart (dead in Trespasses and Sins, and loft to a sense of thy Mercies) if by these gentler Motives it fail to to be influenced, make it know and feel, from the Deftruction which thou haft, at various Times, brought upon the Earth, that thy awful Denunciations fhall be accomplished, as well as thy gracious Promises, that thou, even thou art to be feared, and that none can ftand in thy fight when thou art

angry.

Have Mercy, O Lord, upon this finful Nation, and grant that it may turn into the Way of Righ

teousness.

teousness. Blefs the Sovereign, whom thou haft appointed over us, and perfect his Designs for his people's Welfare, May thy all-pervading Spirit go forth with his pious Admonitions, to correct and fanctify the Hearts of all his Subjects. Give us, O Lord, a deep Sense of thy Mercies, and of our Sins, and may thy Goodness and Long-Suffering lead us to Repentance.Grant thefe Prayers, for the Sake, and through the Merits, of thy bleffed Son, our Saviour, Jefus Chrift.

Amen.

SERMON

THES

which (though fomewhat uncommon) I conceive by no means improper for difcuffion in this place. The great Truths and Doctrines of Religion, as they concern the Souls of men, ought, I know, to be the principal objects of a Preacher's attention. As being next in importance-the focial Duties of life, or what relates to our family-connexions, to our Neighbour, and ourselves, ought also to be frequently enforced:-And thefeweightier matters" have not been

neglected

neglected by me; but have ever received a due confideration.-If, fubordinate to these, there be another Subject that may have a beneficial influence on the human mind, that may ferve to reftrain the cruel and favage propenfities of man, fhall fuch a Subject be deemed improper for a Chriftian-Audience; or, by difcuffing it, shall we be said to defecrate this holy place?

-If, to those inferior and irrational Animals with which a kind Providence has stored the Creation for our ufe; which live to alleviate our toils, or die to fatisfy our wants: -if, to thefe, we can perfuade men to extend all poffible Kindness, and tó forbear inflicting on them unneceffary Sufferings, we are fulfilling the Designs of God, who glories in the Happiness of his Creatures;-who, "when the morning stars fang together, and all the fons of God. fhouted for joy," beheld with a divine complacency, all the works which he had made, and rejoiced in their goodness and perfection.

Whatever has a tendency to destroy this common Happiness, and to introduce unnecessary Pain and Mifery into the universe : whatever

U