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SERMON
PREACHgD
At the N E W MEETING
I N
WHITE-ROW SPITAL-FIELDS,
On Thursday 29 November 1759.
Being the Day appointed by his MAJESTY For a General Thanksgiving.
By E D W A R D H I T C H I N'. (Price Six-p£Nct!.)
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SERMON
PREACHED
Atthe NEW MEETING,
IN
WHITE-ROW SPITAL-FIELDS,
On Th uR SD A V 29 November 1759.
fieing the Day appointed by his MAJESTY. For a General Thanksgiving.
By EDWARD HITCHIN.
— — — I » I ■ I ■ I m-mmmmmmmmmmmimmm-mmmmmmwmmmm
O give thanks to the Lord of lords : For his mercy en- dureth for ever.
To him who alone doth great wonders : For his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm cxxxvi. 3,4.
LONDON
Printed ; and fold by J. Buckland, in Pater-mjier-row i
T. Field in Cheapfidt j E. Dill y in the Poultry i
and G, Keith in Gractchureh-Jireet,
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T O T H E
CHURCH of CHRIST
MEETING IN ;
WHITE-ROW SPITAL-FIELDS.
Dear Brethren^
NO other apology is needed for the publication of this Sermon to the world, than that it is atyour una- ninaous requeft. If (in the Spirit's hand) it (hould prove a mean of exciting thankfulnefs in your breafts, and of leading any of the congregation wor- fhipping with us, to admire and rejoice in the furprifing way of a finner's ap- proach to the Father J a moft valuable purpofe will be anfwered,
I take this opportunity to acknow* ledge, that my labours among you in Chrift's fervic^, are my higheft plea- fure on this fide the grave ; and there-^ fore I think it my duty to dedicate that to you from the^pyefs, which was acceptable from the pulpit,
That
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DEDICATION.
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That the facred harmony which breathes among us, may be happily continued; that we thus joined in church-communion, walking in ho- linefs, may be more and more knit together in love, and built up in Chrift Jefus ; and that we may fpend an eternal day of thankfgiving toge- ther for the Great Salvation^ is the prayer of^
1 I
BRETHREN,
Your afFeflionate brother,
'A
and chearful fervant .in the Gofpcl,
Boll-Lane, Spltal-Fields, Decfm. 1 759.
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EDWARD HITCHIN.
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Ephesians v. 2d.
Giving thanks always for all things ^' unto God the Fat her ^ in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrifl.
THESE words declare the duty of thankfgiving to be always fuitable, and argue the propriety of our efpecial attendance to it on this day, which fmiles with the won- ders God hath wrought for Great- Britain and Ireland.
The text occurred to my mind, as particu- larly fuitable on this occafion, in that it (hews Us to whom, and by whom, our thankf- givings are to be offered.
The apoftle Paul, having explained and enforced the deep truths of the gofpel, ad- drefles the Ephefians in the warmeft exhor- ts, tations, founded upon, and deduced from thofe gofpel truths. He was concerned to have their walk correfpond with the truths they profeiTed and believed. In the 15th and 16th verfes of this chapter, he exhorts them to be very accurate and careful in their walk J " fee then that ye walk circumfpedly,
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not as fools but as wife, redeeming the time, becaufc the days arc evil." It con- tributes very little to the publick good to complain of the evilnefs of the times (not that there is no ground for fuch a mournful complaint.) This dreadful peal, tbe badnefs of the times y hath been rung in every age ; and while we live, I fuppofe there will be oc- cafion for the fame. Now the apoftle tells the church, what they were to do in the midft of the badnefs of the times, viz. redeem ttme^ make a double advantage of it, becaufe fo very few did ; and efpecially as they knew not how long their privileges might be con- tinued.
In the 17th verfe, the apoftle proceeds to (hew them of what true wifdom (neceffary to fuch a walk as he is fpeakingof) confifted, viz. underftanding what the will of the Lord. ** wherefore be ye not unwife, but un-
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** derflanding what the will of the Lord is.** The knowledge of the divine will, is the fummit of underftanding ; to do it, is the greateft dignity and pleafure of a believer. The knowledge of God's will is a defence from error, and guides the feet in the paths of truth : — Therefore obferve the connexion, •* wherefore be ye iiot unwife, but underft:and- " ing what the will of the Lord is ; and be
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" not drunk with wine, wherein is excefs j
«' but be filled with the fpirit."
The Heathens, who borrowed their no- tions of worfhip from the broken traditions they received of the mofaic cEconomy, were horribly profane in their moil facred rites j fome of their higheft devotions confifted of obfcenity and drunkennefs, Tliis is not to be wondered at, becaufe that religion which - encourages human- pride, and the gratifica- tion of fenfc, is agreeable to the natural bias of the heart of every fallen man.
Thus the Apoftle cautions the converted Gentiles againft the abufe of wine ; he is not fpeaking againft the lawful and moderate ufe of the divine bounty, but the excefs of it. And indeed nothing degrades human nature more, than this kind of excefs. How (hock- ing to fee members of co^jgregational chuvches falling often by this temptation ! The fa- cred oppofite is exprefled ** but be filled ** with the fpirit.*' Here we have prefented to our view the excellency of the chriftian life, and the nature of the chriftian's mirth. Out- ward expreflions of joy are lawful ; and this day of thankfgiving is to be lookv d upon as a day for chearfuliiefs j and a moderate enjoy- ment of the rich plenty our land is crowned with, is far from being unlciiptural: But how
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important is that concern we ihould, as be- lievers, have upon our minds ! *• be filled with ** the fpirit :*' — that is, the influences of the Holy Ghofl^, applying die Lord Jefus Chrift, who with his falvation is the wine of the Gofpel, and that alone which can chear the finner*s heart. The confequence of this mirth is divine melody, v. J9. " fpeaking ♦* to yourfelves.'* This (hews the happy de- iign of the ordinance of (inging, viz. that ii^ h believers may enjoy communion together, while they excite each other to admire and celebrate the fame falvation ; of which the infpired pfalms are full, ** fpeaking to your- ** fclves in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual " fongs, finging and making melody in your '' heart * to the Lord."
Thus the words of our text naturally fol- low ; ** giving thanks always, for all things, ** unto God and the Father, in the name of '* our Lord Jefus Chrift.^*
I (hall in my attempts to improve thefp ^words confidcr,
L To whom our thankfgivings are to be paid — " to God and the Father.'' IL How they become acceptable — •
our Lord Jefus Chrift."
name
III,
• The word is lingular, to exprefs the chur^h^s unity, agre^- fjsjc (p th^ idea of b^ine one h<^y.
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III. That thankfgivings are to be of- fered ** always, and for all things/*
IV. How this thankfgiving evidences itfelf.
I. To whom our thankfgivings are to be paid : " To God and the Father/* Giving thanks is the acknowledgment of a favour, or the expreflion of our obligation for that favour 3 and the deeper the fenfe of it is en* graved upon the mind, the more eminent will our expreffions of gratitude be, not in word only, but in the tenour of our condud : This ide^ is eafy to be improved in our fpi* § ritual view of it.
** Giving thanks to God and the Father.**
The conjundtion ** and" in the Greek te- d^ment, is often rendered " even j** and fo I humbly apprehend it fliould be here, ** God ♦^ even the Father.**
The Father, or the firft perfon in the Ef« fence, is not (tiled Father or firfl perfon be- caufe he is prior in nature 5 but in the me- thod of our falvation he fuftains this cove- nant relation. In Ephefians, ii. 18. you find the diftindl perfonality in the divine eifencc exprefled, a^ well as the oeconomical parts they have gracioufly taken in that covenant ; ** For through him (that is Chrift) we both ^' (that is Jew and Gentile) have an accefs,
♦* by one Spirit unto the Father/*
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Our prayers and praifes arc ofTered to the whole Eflence ; but in a peculiar manner to God the Father, who is reprefented as the perfon to whom they are to be offered, agree- able to my text, and that pai&ge I have juft quoted ; though, I, fay again, not to the ex- clufion of the other perfons, the Son, and the Spirit ; who are, in a variety of places in fcripture, particularly invoked and addreffed.
God the 7ather is reprefented as the per- fon v/ho hath chofen his people ; ) Pet. i. 2. *^ Eleft according to the foreknowledge of " God the Father:'* Alfo he is reprefented as the perfon who appointed and fent the Son, ift epiftle of John iv. 10. " Herein is <* love ; not that we loved God, but that he " loved us, and fent his fon to be the propi- •* tiation for our fins." God the Father is held forth in fcripture as taking vengeance on the furety, and accepting the facriiice offered, as being delighted with, and in, his fon. Attend to the import of the following texts to our purpofe : Zechariah, xiii. 7. ** Awake, O fword, againft my fliepherd, and ** againft the man that is my fellow, faith *' the Lord of Ho(\.s,fmife the fhepherd," &c. In this pafTage, you fee the Father taking vengeance. Again, A6ts, ii. 40, 41. *' Him
♦* God raifcd up the third day, and fhewed
«* him
0 the ler to s the Lgree- e Juft le ex- idthe ces in 2ffed. e per- . i. 2. 3ge of fented It the rein is lat he propi- :hcr is ^eance criiice
n, his owing
111. 7.
d,and faith
," &c.
raking Him
lewed
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" him openly, not unto all the people, but " unto witnefles chofen before of God," &c. —His railing him up was the divine evidence of his accepting the facrifice j and his (hew- ing him openly, a farther proof of the infi- nite fatisfadlion the Son had given : And this, agreeable to that blefled declaration you read, Matthew xvii. 5. " While he yet fpake, be- " hold, a bright cloud overfhadowed them j ** and behold a voice out of the cloud, which " faid, this is my beloved Son, in whom I " am well pleafed j hear ye him/* The confequence of this infinite delight the Fa- ther has in the Son, and the perfcdlion of his facrifice, is Jefus Chrift*s exaltation, his fit- ting at the right hand of the Father making intercefiion, Romans viii. 34. " who is even ** at the right hand of God, who alfo maketh " interceflTion for us." God even the Fa- ther is reprefented in fcripture, as having provided and promifcd all covenant blefiings in Chrift, agreeable to Philippians iv. 19.
But my God (hall fupply all your need,
according to his riches in glory, by Chrift
Jefus."
Thus you fee to whom our thankfgivings are to be paid, and the fcripture-reafons why they are to be* given to God the Father. I proceed to the fccond thing propofed, viz.
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11. How they become acceptable. In thd iiame of our Lord Jelus Chrift.
Our enlargement on the firft head Wilt illucidate this j fuch is the happy connexion of Gofpel truths, they eftablifli each other*
, The three names by which the adorable mediatour, in his complex perfon God-man, is filled in our text, are very expreffivej LoRDjjEbUs, Christ. His authority, power, and fovereignty, arc exprefled by the name
' Lord : His undertaking, which is to fave the {inner, is exprefled by the name Jesus> which fignifies Saviour : His undion to that work, is declared by the name Christ, which fignifies anointed 'y A6ts, ii. 36. *« There- ** fore let all the houfe of Ifrael know af- ** furedly, that God hath made that fame •* Jefiis whom ye have crucified, both Lord •• and Chrift." In his perfon the perfedt cha- radter appears, la which God can delight) and therefore in him alone, as our reprefen- tative, can we with our prayers and praifes appear with acceptance before God : agree* able to that language of fiiith, Pfalm Ixxxiv* 9. " Behold O God our (hield, [a covenant ** God you fee is the church's (hield] and " look upon t'le farr of thine anointed.**
The Lord Jt^fis Chrill appeared in this world without any fin, but that which was
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Imputed to him. As the Sent of God he Came in ourflefli, to fulfil the law, to vindi^ cate God's holinefs, to fatisfy divine juftice, to do away Hhj and reconcile the finner to God ; to juftify, not the righteous, but the ungodly, and purify a peculiar people to hini- felf.
He accordingly has accompUihed the whole, by a perfeft obedience, by his aton- ing death, by becotnirig the prifoner'of the tomb, by his coming forth as the dif- charged furety, and as conqueror over him that had the power of death 5 by afcending to his Father, taking his feat in glory ; as a prieft and king prefenting his atonement, his own blood and wounds, as the infinite plea for his church ; and fending down the Holy Spirit, by whofe omnipotent energy the fin- ner is enabled to believe, his foul cleanfed by the word of truth applied through his facred influence.
In the name of this perfsdt Mediatour Je- hovah-man, we have full warrant and liberty to offer prayers ^nd thankfgivings. In this view, how glorious does the bufinefs of this day appear ! Our prayers and thankfgivings are accepted within the veil, and though poured forth from hearts and lips defiled, they make their way to the throne of grace by vir-
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tue of this Name, and lofc all their imper-
fedion by being prefentcd with the incenfc
of the Interceflbr, whofe Name is as ointment
poured forth. In this Name the old-tefta-
ment -faints went to God through faith ; by
this Name Jehovah made known himfelf, as
the hearer of prayer, 2 Chronicles vii. 15, 16.
" Now mine eyes (hall be open, and mine
" ears attent unto the prayer that is made in
** this place, for now have I chofen and
" fandlilied this houfe, that my Name may
** be there for ever." Our blefled Lord efta^
bliflieth the truth of our text, and points out
the glory of the covenant-oeconomy^ John
xiv. 13." And whatfoever ye (hall afk in my
** NamCy that will I do, that the Father may
*' be glorified in the Son.** To conclude this
head, let me add the apoftle Paul's expre(lion
Hebrews xiii. 15. " By htm (that is Jefus)
" therefore let us offer the facrifice of praife
*' to God continually, &c."
HI. That thankfgivings are to be offered ** always and for all things." This cpnfi- deration, my Brethren, enters into the very heart of chridianity j and nothing evidences true faith moreJ than a thankful frame ; there is no time in wnich we (hould be (Irangers to this duty. - And yet is it not to be feared, that true thankfulnefs is a fubje^t too UttJie
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attended to by the believer ? To be truly thankful, is to acknowledge God's goodnefs ; in the midft of profperity as fovercign and un- merited ; and no lefs to acknowledge thofc very mercies that attend us in the depths of adverfity. — There is no moment in a believer's life without a mercy. To be thankful, at all times, and for all things, fecms a para- dox. Is a perfon to give thanks at a time, when every thing feems to be againft him, when every attempt in life is blafted, and the fea of adverfity is fwelling over him ? yea when the glory of Chrift's intereft in that church, or that neighbourhood, or even that nation he belongs to, feems to be departing ; is he then to give thanks ? Yes, certainly : For the mind bclievingly fixed on God, as a covenant-father, knows that what is mofl contradidlory to fenfe, and painful to human nature, is but a part of the divine plan, the whole of which mufl be executed. He fliould feel his afflidion, and fhould tremble with Eli, if the glory is departing from a place where it hath eminently fhone j but he is alio to give thanks to God for the fevereft trial of faith, and that the removal of his glory (I mean by glory the power of the Gof- pcl) is for the advancement of it elfewhere^ Mercy is the fpring of every providence ;
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God*s glory, and the church's good, arc the end of every providence. — The foul, refting upon the pure word of God by faith, fits thankful in the midft of the wreck of crea* tures. This agrees with fuch pafTages in fcripture, as James i. 2. " my brethren count ^* it all joy when you fall into divers tempta- ** tions," or trials, ** rejoice always,'* c.-^» The believer by faith will make ufe of fuch a foliloquy as this: " If I have one and but one mercy, it is matter for thankful* nefs !' — If I have a hope of mercy in the blood of the Son of God, I have fubftantial ground for the higheft praifes. — Though I beg my bread in this world, in which Jefus Chrift walked hungry, with hope of an in- tereft in him, I have fufficient reafon why I (hould not hang my harp on the willows, but on the contrary have it tun'd for his praife." I believe fome of the higheft notes in hea- ven will rife from the deepeft trials we have been exerclfed with on earth j to God the Father, who hath planned the whole fchemc of providence and grace j to God the Son, who perfcdly executed it; to God the Holy Ghoft, whofe power enabled us to believe, and patiently to wait for the end of every
providence and promife, " giving thanks
«* filways, and for all things."
There
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There are Come fpecial feafons which call
for extraordinary expreffions of gratitude, from the people coUedtively, and from the believer as an individual. There are perfonal and fa- mily mercies, both fpiritual and temporal, of a peculiar nature, that demand an extraordinary tribute of thankfgiving : And fure this happy day invites the churches and congregations of Chrift to ** give thanks to God the Father, " in the name of the Lord Jefus Chrift."
We have, as. men and chriftians, the greateft reafon to (hout aloud to the God of our mercies. How is this reafon ftrength- ened, when we confider the provoking fins of the people ! While I mention this, I have my eye chiefly upon that leading fin, a contempt of the pure Gofpel. The outward grofs immoralities, againft which we have wholfome laws, will be always the certain confequence of departing from the pure truths of Revelation. But the contempt the Gofpel in its purity meets with, from the greateft number of the inhabitants of thefe kingdoms ; the dishonour done to it by the fcandalr as walk of many who pro* fefs it ; the coldnefs alfo, the careleffnefs, and legality, found among fuch who are real believers ; make the mercies of this day the more aftoniftiing.
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' Our national mercies are not to be cbn- fidered in the fame point of view, as thofe the Lord bellowed on Judah and Ifracl. They were the Lord's covenant-people, diftinguifli- ed as ftich from all the other nations of the world. This is not to be faid of Great Bri- tain and Ireland, thefe iilands of the Gentiles* G<id does not under this difpenfation con- fine his church to this or that people and na- tion. Blefled be his Name, we, as a peo- ple, are favoured With his oracles : He has many churches itt theie kingdom^, yea we have reafon to hope many thoufandfi df hisf eledt are in thefe iflands ; for cbefe invalu- able bleflings^ we arc to be thankfulj and par- ticularly at this time, when God is fo emi-^ nently ptoteding the caufe of-Proteftants, and mercifully preferving the fpiritual liberties of the Redeemer's fubjeds in our land.
Is there not fome reafon to believe, that the War in which we are engaged, was fet on foot by the inftigatioti of the devil's fynod^ the Jefuits ? Was there no fcheme formed to unite the popifli force againft the pro- teftant intereft ? to deluge Germany with the fuperftitious abominations of Rome ? and fo to bring thefe happy iflands into the fame bondage ? H<ive we n^t great reafon to re- member with thankfulnefs, on this day, how
early
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early the king of Pruffia was ready for th« field, and how remarkably expeditious we were in our preparations for war, againft our n[K)ft inveterate and perfidious enemies.—- The Lord's defigns of mercy are not to be prevented by any fcheme of the enemy.
Allow me to fum up fome of the innume- rable mercies that we, in a peculiar manner, fhould this day give thanks to God for, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift.
1. For our liberty under the moft faith- ful and merciful king.
2. For the wifdom of our miniftry, and the harmony of our fenate.
3. For the unanimity of the people.
4. For the fucceffes of the war, and the kindnefs of that providence that hath kept the enemy from invading us.
5. For the plenty of our provifions.
I. For our liberty under the mofl faithful and merciful king. — It is true, we enjoy no more privileges than what every Briton hath by the law of equitable government a right to. But when we confider how often this privi- lege has been invaded^ how often denied (ac- S;ording to the true account our Briti(h annals give), we have great occafjon to be thankful for our civil and fpiritual liberties. One proof
among
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among many, that Jcfus Chrift's kingdom is a diftindl thing from this world, is, that it is conftantly oppofed by the world j and the outward tranquillity of Chrift's people is fel- dom known to continue long. If you read over the hiftory of England, I believe you will not find fo long a feries of liberty and peace to the people of God, as they have had in this, and the late reign of king George the Fiift.
The happy calm we enjoy (under God) is owing to the kindeft of princes, by whofe clemency we are not affrighted with tremen- dous ftar-chambers, nor with any religious pretences to Hop the mouths of Non-con- formifts. — By this blefTcd providence we en- joy our feafons of public worfhip, and forms of church government, that in their own nature never cla(h with, or difturb the civil or religious conftitution of this nation. We are not obliged to fly into corners, to appear in difguife, to run into woods, or feek the protedlion of the night ; we have no fines for preaching, nor you for hearing, but are pro- tedled by the juft fword of common liberty, while we worfhip the God of our fathers [ac- cording to the dictates of our own confcien* ces. In Ihort, what is faid Adls ix. 31. " then had the churches reft throughout all
I Judea,
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^ Judea, and Gallilee, and Samaria," may bejuftly applied to our churches through- Great Britain and Ireland. — I wifh the other part of the text might, with the fame po- priety, be added, ** that they are edified, and ^ walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the « comfort of the Holy Ghoft."
The Reji of the churches is difturbed by none but themfelves. The Diflenting Intercft has at prefent no deep wounds but what it gives itfeif ; and under this happy leign it feems in no danger of falling by any thing but fuicide.— rThis liberty llands at the head of thofe mercies we are to give thanks to God the Father for !
2. We are called this day to give thanks for the wifdom of our miniftry, and the har- mony of our fenate. God is to be acknow- ledged in all hi& ways of mercy toward us. In this bleffing the divine power and good- nefs appear glorious. God has given us pi- lots, who have fat fteadily at the helm in a rough fea, and, under the direction of Pro- vidence, have lleer'd the flate clear of fuch rocks and fands, as it was in danger of dash- ing againft.
That we might have extraordinary mat- ter for a divine fong this day, our God has failed us to admire the harmony of our fe-
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nate, in connexion wiJi the wifdom of the miniftry. Our Gracious Sovereign and his Parliament are one ; and both publickly at- tribute our late fucceffes to the goodnefs and power of divine Providence, How befitting the lips of Majefly is fuch language ! and how pleafant to obfervc fuch expreffions in the various addreffe^ carried up to the throne I. — The expreffions of our king*s fatisfadion in the duty of his parliament, and theirs in the king's wife meafures, call for our thankf- giviiigs before the God of heaven. A divided fcnate, v/eak miniftry, and difpleafed ma- jefty, are circumflances too difmal to thii>k of without trembling ; blelled be God, the reverfe of this helps to animate our fong of praife. I think in a happy fenfe Pfalm Ixxxii. 1. is fultable to conclude this head, as it (hew- eih all ti'iis harmony to be the fruit of di- vine Providence j ** He judgeth among the " Gods— *. ^ n' 3. For the unanimity of the people.
Two rebellions have appeared againft the glorious houle of Hanover j the laft, mod of
us
* The word Gods in the original, is D'H /K. the fame word is ufed in the beginning of the vcflc, and rendered by our tran- flitors i'> the fingular number, God. Thefe great perlons are fiilcd god?, I prcfumc, bccnuie they were in their character un- der tile llrong obligation of an oath, by which oaih they entered upon their Cilice.
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\J3 well remember, and cannot forget the con- fternation the minds of the inhabitants were filled with. — Unnatural as it was, how many befott.ed people were . caught in the treachv;- rous fnare, and drank deep into the poifon ! What ftagnation to trade! what confufion in towns and families! were the fad confe- quences of that commotion, till our illuftrious Duke, under the divine diredion, humbled the haughty enemy ! Now not fo much as the fhadow of rebellion is feen ; now no in- ward convulfion is permitted to pain the bowels of the nation, but fmiling harmony (hews her pleafant countenance through all our land ! — now no party making head againft party j no Jacobite mobs and riots in our ftreets; no difcontented murmur utters its difagreeable found.
This I think (lands alfo in the front of thofe bleffings for which we are now called to give thanks to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift.
4. For the fuccefles of the war, and the kindnefs of that Providence that hath kept the enemy from invading us.
The wildom of our miniftry would not have availed, h^d not the God of armies crowned their well concerted fchemes with fuccefs.
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The Lord has given fitill, courage, and re-* folution, to our officers by fea and land ; and has filled our common men with an extra- ordinary ipirit, for carrying on the war with the utmofl vigour.
This laft year, perhaps, is not to be equalled in the hiftory of England for fuccefs* Our acquifitions in North America are ailonifh- ing ! The four quarters of the globe, witnefs to the bleffing the Lord of Hofts has given to the Britifli forces* For thefe fucceffes our Sovereign the King has called his fubjedts to- gether this day, to give thanks.
The God of our falvation has enabled thofe who have been jeoparding their lives for us, to fight, not like men compelled by the force of duty, or excited by mercenary confidera- tions ; but like men inlpired with loyalty to their king, and eager to fecure the liberties of their country. That harmony maintained among our officers in the late eminer,i con- queft obtained at Quebec, is a circumftance as worthy our notice, as it was remarkable in bringing about the fucccfs of that enter- prize. Both our officers and men have rufhed into the mouth of danger, while our enemy, in feveral in (lances, have feemed as if they were adlually confounded by Providence : To allude to fcripture exprcffion, ** the men of
** might
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might did not find their hands." Surely we may well adopt the fublime poetry of the Pfalmift, Pfalm cvi. 2. " Who can utter the
mighty ad:s of the Lord ? Who can ihew
forth all his praife ?"
Amongft the crowd of mercies we are called to celebrate this day, the protedion and deliverance the king of Pruflia has received at the hand of the Lord, is a diAinguiC ing one. How has that monarch been befet, by one of the mofl: fubtle commanders in the world on one fide, while the Ruflian canni- bals threatened to fwallow him up on the ether ! And (hall wtf, yea can we, forget to fing of Prince Ferdinand's vidtory, when God fought for the Proteftants, and made the plains of Minden to drink in the blood of our unhappy enemies ?
In (hort, have not our Gazettes been fo filled with fre(h pieces of importanttiews, that we have looked at one another with a plea- fing aftonifhment ! And all this while we have known nothing of the defolations of war ! Our enemy has not been able to in- vade our coafts j their power has been fo re- markably reduced, that their defigns of this nature have proved abortive. What a mercy this ! Providence has been o&r guard. It ii$ to be looked upon as a peculiar mercy, that;
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bur government has been Co careful as to make ufe of all proper means for preventing the enemy's defign : But all their precau- tions and preparations at home, and all the ftrength of our navy, and vigilance of our officers at fea, would have been inefFedhial, had not the Lord been on our fide. None of our towns have been fet on fire, nor have our fields and orchards been laid wafte. We have not been turned out of our houfes, or laid under dreadful a .vtributions by the enemy ; we have not been terrified with the fhrili trumpet's alarm, nor with the roar of cannon and the buriting of bombs ; indeed the con- fufed noife of the battle has not been heard in our land : No, no, when our cannon have fired) it has been only to proclaim fome joy- ful news. We indeed fit and converfc about war, as tho* we were rather fpeaking of fome entertaining parts of hiflory, in which we have no immediate concern, than about a war we are adlually engaged In. Are we not^ upon a review of all this, in the moftefpecial manner called upon to give thanks to ;God the Father, in the name of the Lord Jefus Chrift?-%r — 'I add,
5. For oup plenty. Was it ever known
that fuch commerce has been carried on in a
tioie of war, as has been ever fince this war
3 began ?
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began } Extravagance and indolence are the chief things that make want. Our manu- fadtures (the grand fupport of our nation) are open, and the hands of the able and induf-* trious poor may find work.
Our harveft was uncommon : What words can exprcfs the riches of Jehovah's goodnefs to this land, fo fuitably as the words of fcrip- tur^, Pfalm Ixv. ii, 12, 13. " Thou crown- " eft the year with thy goodnefs, and thy ** paths drop fatnefs. They drop upon the " paftures of the wildernefs, and the little hills " rejoice on every fide. The paftures are " clothed with flocks," [a ftrong image to ex- prefs the largenefs of their numbers, as Well as the beauty of their appearance] " the val- " leys alfo are covered over with corn j they ** fhout for joy, they alfo fing.** Every part of the kingdom was blefled with an extraordi- nary harveft j and has not our feed-time fince been as remarkable ? Notwithftanding the large demands for corn, our granaries are full. Now the hoarders of corn, thofe worft of thieves, as unmoved with the diftrefles of families, as deaf to cries, as blind to tears, as the fenfelefs ftone, can no longer ftarve the poor, and make a prey of their neceflity *. Walk through
our
♦ There is a text of fcripture peculiar to fuch, Proverbs xi. 26. " He that with -holdech corn, the people (hall curie him : But '* blefling ihall be upon the head of him that felleth it.'*
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our (hambles in cities and towns, and admire the provifion God has made for the inhabi- tants i ride over our meadows, and thro* our fields, and behold how the Lord of nature has enriched our land with cattle! The droves and flocks that crowd the roads to this metropolis, proclaim how kind the hand of Providence has been ; while, by their lowing and bleating founds, they rebuke our bafcfl ingratitude. — The children of Zion may well cry out, ^* who •^ is like unto our God !'■ I proceed to the hil thing,
JV. How this thankfgiving evidence^ itfelf.
I. By lying low before God. By generous compaffion.
3. By fpeaking of our mercies to one an-, other, and to our children.
4. By defiring a thankful heart, a fanftified ufe of thefe providences, and that God would haften the kingdom of Chr*^ by the prefent ihakings amongd the nations of the earth.
The confideration of thefe particulars fhall ferve as the application of the fubjedt. —
I, u y lying low before God, The greateft thank ving frames, are the mod humble frames ; I mean by frame, the difpofition or hj^bit the mind is in -, and this arifes from what
it
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[ 25 ] it views and feels of the Gofpel, under the in- fluence of the Eternal Spirit.-^— David cries out in a divine rapture, i Chron. xxix. 14. " But who am I, and what is my people, that *' we {hould be abL to offer fo willingly after *' this fort !** His mind was influenced by the confideration of the divine fovereignty 5 and the mode of the expreflion in the ftrongeft manner fhews, that he viewed himfelf and his people, as being and having nothing wherefore the Lord fliould beftow the blef- fings of that day upon them. The other part of the text breathes the very language of faith : " For all things come of thee, and *' of thine own have we given thee."
The believer has nothing but what he has received : And therefore the high opinions we indulge concerning ourfelves, while we give thanks to God for diftinguifliing mercies, are as great an abfurdity, as if a perfon with a bucket filled out of the ocean, fhould ima- gine he was adding to the treafures of the deep, by emptying it into the fea again.—
The higheft trees have the deepeft roots ; our loftiefl: praifes come deepefl from the heart.— We are not to wi(h deftrudion to our enemies as men, or becaufe we are a bet- ter people than they are. God's infinite fo-
£ vereignty
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vereignty runs through all the difpenfationd of his providence. That our caufe is juft, for which we are contending with the ene- my, is beyond difpute j for breach of treaties and engagements are no ftrange things to France. But what have the poor fubjedls, or rather flaves, of that power to do with this ? Alas 1 we (hall find Great Britain not lefs deferving the tokens of the divine dif- pleafurej may be more, if we confider the largenefs of our liberties, and that no men can chain our confcicnces without our leave: And yet the open abufc and fin againft the greateft external bleffing God has to beftow upon a people, his Revelation, feems to weigh down the fcale of our guilt as the heavieft ; for 'tis well known, that the peo- ple we are fighting againft, are not allowed the privilege of a Bible, nor to read or think for themfelves, but muft implicitly follow their either ignorant or fophiftical guides, I believe no people under the heavens arc £o privileged as we are. To infult an enemy is tyranny and cowardice j to wifh them de- ft rudlion as men, is contrary to the nature of a chriftian. We in our various characters, upon this Day ofThankfgiving, haveoccafion to be afhamed before the Lord ; the greater I our
9
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our privileges, the greater the aggravations which attend our ads of ingratitude, or our finfui omiflions.
Minifiers in this day of liberty, have reafon to complain of their indolence, felf-feeking, time-ferving, want of zeal for the fimplicity of the Gofpel ; backwardnefs to promote the life of religion ; difhonouring the work of the holy Ghoft, who is glorified in glorify- ing the Son,, by taking of his things, and re- vealing them to his people.
Prof e for s^ in this fun-(hine of national profperity, have reafon with their thankf- givings to mourn over their legality of fpi- rit; their not looking more fleadily to the only foundation of hope j their loofenefs of walk, omiffion or carelefs performance of the family and clofet duties ; a want of upright- nefs and integrity ; a yielding to their own fpirits J in a word, their bearing fo little of the fruits of faith,— .
If we are truly touched with the mercies of this day, our fong of praife to God cannot
be without a heart-humbling fenfe of fin.
And furely the higheft note in our fong, if fung in faith, will be to God the Father, for acceptance with, and accefs to him, in the bleffed name of Jefus. — And fo (hall we with
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fweet amazement adopt the language of Jacob, and fay, ** we are Icfs than the leaft of all our mercies."
2. This thankfgiving will evidence itfelf by generous compaffion.
Our thankfulnefs for mercies, upon the plan of my text, will produce generofity to the poor-, fee Eflher ix. 19. — You well re- member what weeping eyes were feen, and what meltings of heart were felt in this con- gregation, when your pity was afked, and no fooner afked for than fhewed, to the poor fufFering Protcftants in Germany. Ah think, firs ! this day might have proved as fatal to you, as 15 Auguft 1758, was to the inhabi- tants of Cuftrin !
3. By fpeaking of our mercies to one an- other, and to our children.
I look upon this to be a great part of the bufinefs of this day. What hath God wrought, fhould be the animating topic of our conver* fation. Ye parents, ye mafters and miftref- fes of families, think how quietly you can fit and tafte the comforts of life, without be- ing afraid of the fword of a foreign ruffian ! Surrounded with your dear children, (who
might
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might have been murdered before your eyes) preach to them, and tell them of the ftriklng circumftances that compofe the catalogue of this day's bleffings : — make them fo fa- miliar to their minds, that they may tell them hereafter to their children j fo that the muiic of this day may be melody in the ears of c ar childrens children yet unborn. Yea do as Mofes commanded the Ifraelites to dos con- cerning the revelation of God, Deuteronmy vi. 7. — &c.
4. By defiring a thankful heart, a fandified ufe of thefe providences, and that God would haften the kingdom of Chrift by the prefent fhakings amongft the nations of the earth.
No fymptom fo dreadful as that of refting in carnal eafe. Our cafe will be dreadful, if the co'.ifequence of our mercies fhould prove to be ftupid indolence. To have a mercy fandtified, is to have it fo impreffed by the Spirit, that hereby we become more fe- parated to the Lord. — Let us pray that our churches may b-^ more purged from fpiri- tual floth, legality, antinomianifm, and every kind o^ Idolatry ; that the kingdom of the true David may fpread in our nation, and be ha-
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Awsi In Its Spread over the worlds for die gathering in of all the ele£t ; that fa^may be glorified who is th? defire of all nations, to whom the uttcrmoft parts of the earth dre given as his pofTeffion ; and let the glorious words of the Pfalmift be the matter of our prayer, with which I will conclude^ " Arife, « O God, judge the earth : For tiiou ihalt [[ inherit all nations.— -Amen> Hallelujiah*
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