The mischiefs of changes in government, and the influence of religious princes to prevent them : a sermon preach'd before the Mayor and corporation of Oxford ...

speciAL
coLLecrloNS

t)OUQLAS
LibRARy

queeN's UNiveRSiT:^

AT kiNQSirON

kiNqSTON ONTARIO CANADA

The Mifchiefs of Changes in Government \ and the
Influence of Religious Tnnces to prevent them,

SERMON

Preached before the

Mayor, and Corporation
O X F°b R D,

On Friday March 8. 170^.
BEING THE

ANNIVERSARY

HER MAJESTY S

INAUGURATION.

^yjOSETH TRATT M. A. Fellow of
W'adham College Ox on.

Publilh'd at the Requeft of the Common Council.

OXFORD,
Printed at the Theater, iox John Stephens \-^o^.

And Sold byJ.KNAPTON at the Cotb in St.PauIs Ch Yard, LONDON.

Civ. OxOiNT. fr.

Ad Coiicil' Tobite Payn Aniiig. Major' Civit' pr^did' tent'
Die Lunsc Martii 1 1. 170s*

AT this Councilit is agreed that the thanks of this houfe be
given to Mr, Trapp of Wadham College^r the Sermon
he Preach' d before the Corporation on the day of the §1J BEN'S
Inauguration -, and that he be dejird to print the fame :
Mr, Knibb, Mr, White, and Mr. Hall are defr'd to wait on
Mr, Trapp, and acquaint Him therewith.

Samuel Thurftan

Clericus Com, Civiu O x on*

A

SERMON

§^EEN'8 iNAUGU-RAtlpN

rroYvXxviif. 2.

For the Tranfgreffioyi of a Land many are
^^^the Princes ihereof) but hy a Man of
." Under jlanding and Knouolidge the State
o: th^jst)ffhallbe:pr.olongi^ vr -

'^HE Defign of this Day's Solemnity be-
ing to offer up our Thanks to Ahnighty
God for Her Majefty's happy Aceeflion
to the Throne, and to pray for the long Con-
tinuance of Her Life and Reign over us; aDif-
courfe upon the Caufes and Mifchiefs oiOoanges
in Government^ and the Means by which rhey
'^H A may

A Sermon Treachdtipon the

may be prevented can be no improper Enter-
tainment upon this Occafion. To treat of this
Subje6l at large, and endeavour to affign all
the fecret Springs of thofe terrible Convulfions,
and frequent Alterations which States and King-
doms labour under, would be by no means for-
reign to our prefent Purpofe : but I fliall ra-
ther chufe to take a narrower Compafs, and in-
fill upon no more than what is either men-
tion'd, or imply'd in the Words of my Text.
The fenfe of which I fhall explain, before I come
to difcourfe upon it.

For the TranfgreJ/ion of a Land many are the
Trinces thereof In this former part of the Verfe,
the wile Author of it may i^Q^koimany Trinces
being in a Nation either at the fame t'tme^ or
Jucceffi^oely \ by either of thefe Expofitions the
Meaning is clear, and the Obfervation very ma-
terial. For it is certainly a moft preffing Ca-
lamity to any People, and therefore likely to
be occafion'd by their Tranfgreffions either to
have feveral Competitors or Rival Kings con-
tending together for the fupreme Authority, or
to have the civil Conftitution often changed and
varyd\ or even to \\^st frequent Succeffions
of Princes in the fame form of Government.
There is likewife another Interpretation which
may naturally enough , and without force be

put

Qjj E E n' s Inauguration. :j

put upon the Words : and it is this. That Mq-
narchy or the fupreme Power lodg'd only in
one Perfon is the eafieft and fafeft Kind of Go-
vernment, and the befl: calculated for the Wel-
fare of the Subjeft; but that any u4r'iftocratical
or Topular Scheme whatfocver, in which the
higheft Dominion is committed to many co-
ordinate Lords or Rulers, is rather a Misfor-
tune than a Convenience to a State or Nation,
in fpight of it s fpecious Pretences to Liberty
and Privilege. But tho' this be plainly deduci-
ble from the Words; yet becaufe there was no
confiderable Government in the World , but
that of Monarchy in this Royal Authors Time,
it is probable that this is not the Senfe inten-
ded by Him. I (hall therefore chufe rather
to take this for granted, than to infift upon it
in the Body of my Difcourfe.

The latter part of the Text runs thus. But
hy a Man of Under fianding and Knowledge the
State thereof p^all he prolongd. According to
fome Tranflators, it is fpoken in the plural
Number, and render d Men of Under ftanding
&c. That Wifdom^ Knowledge ^ zwA Under-
Jiandtng conftantly include the Notions of Piety
and Religion in the Stile of this Book of Pro-
verbs, is fo well known , that I need but juft
mention it. And then, if this Claufe be read in

A X the

4. A.^ermon^reach'dtipm^

the plural nuaiber, it will be an exact Antithe-
fis to the former part of the Verfe. For then
the Senfe of the Whole will be this. As by
the Tranfgreifions of a Land, civil DifTcnfions
among many Princes, and frequent Alterations
in Government are occafion'd; fo on the con-
trary, by It's Wifdom and Vertue thofe Incon-
veniences are prevented , and the Conftitution
and /Xrapquillity of the State are perpetuated
and fecur'd. But if it be render'd Man ofUn-
derftanding in the Angular Number, as it is by
§ur;.TA\a)ftators, arijd by the mofl: and the beft
EKpolitors V then ic cannot without great force
Velate to any but tlie Perfon of the Ktng^ or
fupremi^ Go'vernor. This Interpretation there-
fore 1 make choice of; and according to it^ the
Text takers all together may be thus Paraphrafed,
^^ To have many Priiip^s either contending; for
^'Empire at the fame time, or by a quick Suc-
." ceflion coming after one another, are Calami-
" ties brought uppa a Nationi by if s Sins : but a
^^ Prince of Wifdom and Piety will prevent thofe
"Evils ; becaufe He will fo regulate His own
"Life, and fo influence thofe of others, as to
"make Religion flourjfli in his Dominions, by
"which means his Reign will beiprolongd,and

*^the Eftablifhment fequ;:'d. !

\j. •-• -J . i ' "

The

(X^ E E n's Inauguration.

The Words thus explain'd naturally fuggeft
thefe following Obfervations.

I. Fir/I ^ That civil Di vifions among many Pre-
tenders to a Throne, and frequent Changes of
Government and Governors are occafion'd by
the Sins of a Nation.

II. Secondly ^Th^i Wife and Religious Princes
have a mighty Influence to prevent thofe Mif-
chiefs, to lengthen their Reigns, and fecure the
Conftitution. And therefore

III. Third//, That the AccefTion of fuch a
Prince to the Throne,, and his long Continuancer
upon it, is a moft fignal Blefling to his Subjefts..
Which Confideration I fliall apply to our ovva
Circumftances. •♦

Thefe things I fliall conlider in the Order
they lie before me; and then
/ .IV. Fourthly y Di-aw fome praftical Inferences
from them, concluding with an Application of
the whole to the Occafion of the Day.

I. The firft Obfervable is This. That civil-
Divifions among many Pretenders to a Throne,
and frequent Changes of Government and Go--
vernors are occafion'd by the Sins of a Nation.^
In this, as in all other matters relating to G o d's
Providence and His Government of the World,
we cannot fpeak; in univerfal Terms^ as if we

had

A Sermon French d upon the

had Certainty and Demonftration about it. His
v^\.i6.6. Judgments are a great T>eep ^ and we are
not lb well acquainted with them, as to reduce
them to fix'd Standards and Meafures, or fay
in particular Cafes, that it is conftantlyj/c?, and
never otherwife. Thefe Evils therefore which
we are mentioning , when They happen to a
Nation, are not always perhaps infl;fl:ed upon
it, as Punifliments; and on the other hand,
when God punifhes. He does not always make
ufe of thofe Means; becaufe there are other
Methods of Scourging and Chaftifing a Rebel-
lious People. Tis certain that at all Times
they are great Evils; and whenever they hap-
pen, no Nation is fo Righteous as not to deferve
them ; but it does not from hence follow that
they are always occafion'd by it's Sins. Some
of them may be caus'd by a Title between Two,
or more Princes which is really doubtful! and
difputable; upon which they appeal to God
by a War, the bloody and pernicious Confe-
quences of which are unavoidable. Not but
that God by His Providence may fo order things,
as to receive their Appeal by a War, and at tne
fame timechaftife a wicked Nation by the Mi-
feries of it, and inflidl them as Punifliments pro-
perly fo caird. But I fay it does not necefla-
rily follow, that He doei fo in thofe Cafes. Be-

fides.

Qjj E E n's Inauguration,

fides, by the natural Intirmity of fome Politi-
cal Conftitutions arifing from fome fault in the
original Framing of them , the Forms of Go-
vernment may take feveral Turns; and as for
particular Kings, by the fame Weaknefs of the
Eftabllfhment, their Reigns may be fhort, and
the Succeflion very fwift. Thus it prov'da-
mong the Romans ; who, efpecially in the De
clenfionof that unmanageable Monarchy, had a
new Emperor almoft every year; and fome
reign'd fo few Days, that they feem'd to be ad-
vanced to the Imperial Dignity for no other
End, but that they might be thrown down
from it.

But notwithftanding all this, it is certain
from my Text that fometimes , and probahk
from Reafon thsit for the most part thefe Cala-
mities are fent from Heaven upon a People for
their Tranfgreflions, or are the natural EfFefts
and Confequences of them. That there are na-
tional Sins, and that They call for national Pu-
nifhments, is too manifeft to be queftion'd. And
no Punifhments are more proper, or more rea-
dy at hand than thofe Miferies of which we are
now difcourfing. Miferies they certainly are,
and that of the firft Magnitude; and therefore
likely to be brought upon a Land by the Wicked- p/iic/.j*.
nefs of them that dwell therein.

The

8 A Sermon Trench d upon the

The fat«\l Calamities which a Nation muft
unavoidably labour under from the Qtiarreisof
Princes ftruggling for Empire at the fame time
are fufficiently apparent both from Reafon and
Hiftory : nay at this Day they are too vilible in
other Country s of Europe ^ and God grant
We may liever again experience them in our
Own. And as if the Vsf ox A^oi Solomon in my
Text had been a Prophecy concerning His ow^nt
Kingdom, immediately upon His Death, partly
upon the Account of hisown Provocations, and
partly for the P^rverfenefs and Idolatry of the
'Ifraelites^mi\Q2Li of one King God gave them two,
by whom the Monarchy was torn anddifmem-
ber'd; and their Subjefts felt the difmal Effefts
of a fierce Contention between them. For (as
T Kings the Sacred Hiftory alTures us) there was War
between Rehohoam and Jeroboam all their
T>ays.

-B:Then for the M-fchiefs which attend frequent
Changes of Kings one after another ; they are
likewife very confiderable, tho' perhaps not al-
together fo great as the former. If their Reigns
be fhorten'd, and the Succeffion precipitated by
Treafon, andAflaffination, or by Depofing, and
violent Revolution ; every body knows the Di-
ftraftion, Licentioufnefs, Madnefs, and Confu-
fion, which muft neceflarily follow upon fuch
•lijrir Alterations.

14.30.

Qjj E E n' s Inauguration, p

Alterations. But even if the Succeffion be ne-
ver fo regular, 'tis no fmall Calamity to a Na-
tion to \\?i\Qmanj Trinces^ tho' They all gis^e
way to one another by a natural Death. Sundry
Inconveniences will unavoidably enfue: There
will be ftrong Jealoufies, and Sufpicions of fe-
cret and Treafonable Praftifesagamft the Lives
of thofe Princes; the Hopes of fome Men will
be as unexpeftedly daflf d, as they were at firft
unreafonabiy rais'd ; fome Minifters will be re-
mov'd, and others advanced; Parties and Fa-
aions will increafe and multiply, to the \m-
fettling of Men's Minds and the Endangering of
the Conftitution. In a Word, the State will be
in a perpetual flux, always tofling and uncer-
tain: it will be like the troubled Sea i4/hen it^'^^-'ir-
cannot resi, whofe JVaters caft forth Mire and
Dirt: only with this difference, that the T/^-^'^i-^r
mult of the Teople in the one, will be far more
dreadful than the roaring of the Waves in the
other. Infomuch that a long Reign even of an
ill Prince would perhaps be lefs prejudicial than
the (hort Reigns of many good ones. That this
Mifery was likewife brought upon the People
of the Jews as a Punidiment for their Difobe-
dience may be collefted from hence; that when
They were moft wicked, the Reigns of their
Kings were fhorteft. After that People was di-

B vided.

I o A Sermon Preach' d upon the

vided, and Ifrael 2i\-\A Jtidah became Two di-
itinct Kingdoms; ^fa, who was a good Prince,
had a long and profperous Adminiltration over
the latter: the true Fear and WorfliipofGoo
being in a great meafure kept up among His
Subjedts. Whereas on the other fiJe, the ten
Tribes oi 1/rael ^ whofe Kings were wicked,
and who were themfelves over-run with Cor-
ruption and Idolatry, had during his Life, no
le(s than feven Sovereigns. And afterwards
when the Men ofjudah themfelves became as
abominable in the fight of God, as their Bre-
thren of Ifraely and the Kings of bothfeem'd to
contend and drive with one another in Wicked-
nefs ; (hort and many were the Reigns in both
Kingdoms. Which perhaps prov'd as heavy a
Judgment upon them, as the longed Life of the
moft barbarous Tyrant.

But when not only the Kings, but the Con-
ftitutions are often vary'd in a Nation ; when
not only Many are the Trinces, but many are
the forms of Government thereof; then the
Ruin, the Miferies, and Confufion areas much
greater, as the Alteration is more extraordinary.
For the Proof of this, we may go no farther
than our own Country; and even in the Hi-
ftory of That we need not look very much back.
There being many (till living among Us, who

remember

Qjj E F n's Inauguration, 1 1

rcuiciiiber the Timcb ot Anarchy, Contufion,
Fanaticilm, and Rebellion between the Years
40 and 60. Times, which then made thib Na-
tion infamous, and will for ever be a Reproach
to it in fucceeding Generations. After the de-
teftable Murder of God s Vice-gerent, the Over-
turning of Monarchy in the State, and Epifco-
pacy in the Church, what a Train of Calamities
immediately folio w'd ! No Safety or Security
either to the Rulers, or the Rufd ; but Fear and
Perplexity, Rapine and Injuftice, Oppreflion and
Murder overfpread the whole Commonwealtk.
For then They had the Liberty to impofe that
beloved name y which was the only Privilege
They had purchased at theExpence of fo much
Blood and Villany. New Models of Govern-
ment were invented ahnoft every day ; and
while fuch Variety of Schemes was devifmg,
the People had either no Government at all, or
that which was worfe than none*. For even when
there feem'd to befomething like an Eftablifli-
ment, They labour'd under fuch Preflures, as
their Neighbours would have pity'd them for,
had they not known that They righteoufly de-
ferv'd em, and had by their own Contrivance
brought 'em upon Themfelves. Many Trinces
indeed we cannot fay They had ; that Name was
an Abomination to Them ; and They had taken

B z effeftual

12 A Sermon breach d upon the

cfFecUial Care to have no Royal Blood among
them, having murder'd the King, and banifh'd
His family. And their Rulers were, 'tis con-
feft'd, far enough from hQ\v\gTrwces\ few of
them being fo high as the Nobility, and many
of them lower than the Gentry. But then We
may, and do fay, that They had many Tyrants'^
who all together laid a heavier Yoke upon them
than ever had been impos d by any King. Thefe
were the unfpeakable Privileges which xhtfree
'People of England enjoy 'd in thofe blefled Days !
Thus they lecur'd their Liberty ^ by making
themfelves Slaves*^ and their Property^ by
throwing Affairs into fuch Confufion that no
Man could call any Thing His own.

What I have faid of thofe Times is not befide
my prefent Purpofe; it agrees with my Text,
and is applicable enough to the Occafion of the
Day. For to have the Nation throughly fenfi-
ble of the Mifery which was brought upon it by
that unnatural Rebellion, greatly contributes to
make Her iM aj e s t y's Reign over us fafe and
eafy. And tho' it has been fo often taken no-
tice of ( much oftner perhaps than fome Men
would have it) yet it isftill never improper to
mention it, whenever we are difcourfing about
Government to an Engli/h Auditory.

Now that ky the Trangreffions of this Land
I it's

^Qjj E E n's Inangtiration, , . i ^

it's Governments were multiply'd, and ail thofe
Judgments brought upon it, we have great Rea-
fon to believe. Tho' perhaps it may be unpar-
donable to lay any Guilt to the Charge of thofe
Holy Times''^ when the Saints ^ and the Ekci
carry'd all before them, and whatever was done
wasdonQinJbe name of the Lord. But.not-
withftanding thii^. We will venture to fay that
Generation was very wicked; and the more io
for pretending to be Holy. For if that Land
befinfull, in which Hypocrify, Lying, Perjury,
Pride, all manner of Lijuftice and Yillany, En^
vy. Hatred, Malice, and all L^ncharitablenefs,
Murder, Schifm, Sacrilege, Blafphemy, Sedi-
tion.Rebellion and Regicide are national Crimes,
and all varnidi'd over with a Show of Sanftity;
then was that as wicked an Age asiThis, or
perhaps any other Nation under Heaven ever
knew. And here we may obferve thatmoft of
the Enormities I mention'd, h#ive in themfelves
a Natural Tendency to produce thofe Divifions
and Alterations in a Kingdom of which I am
fpeaking: fo that (as I hinted in the Begin-
ning of this Head ) thofe Mifchiefs arc occa-
fiond hj theTranfgreJfion of a Land, not only
as they are Punifhmentsinflicled by Go3>, but
alfo as they are the genuine Etfe(5ls, Confe-
quences, and Products of thofe very Sins.

For

; 14 A Sermon Vreachd upon the

For let any iMan corsfider the nature and
bent of Turbulency and Fa£lion, of Difloyalty,
Schifm, Sedition/ a Defire of Change, and the
like ; and then let H>m judge whether any Go-
vernment be like to laft long, when Men of
fuch Principles are numerous and powerful!.
And it would be well, if fuch Perfons would
ferioufly confider whether it be even for their
own j^dvantage to purfue thofe meafures to
which their vicious Appetites in Political Affairs
may incline them. Thofe who are not involved
in that Guilt may perhaps fuifer for their other
Sins, by the national Miferies which fuch ill
Men bring upon the whole Community ; but
the very Authors themfehes will be fure to
feel thofe fatal Confequences, as well as others.
They will be punifh'd by their Succefs ; and
prov.i.3i.fufRciently verify that of the wife Man, The
Trojperttjy of Fools Jhall defiroj them. Nor
can they reap any Satisfaction from the Work
of their hands; unlefs it be the Satisfaftion of
Devils , that of having made others miferable
as well as Themfelves.

The Argument we have been upon, might be
turn'd another way. And as we have iuppos'd
frequent Changes in Government to be Evils,
and from thence infer'd that they are probably
fometimes inflifl:ed as Puriilhments: fo on the

Reverie,

■— ■■ ■' — ■■ . '.'. ''j v; —

Reverfe, we might fuppofe them to be fome-
timcs infl'Cled as Punifhraents, and from thence
infer that they are certainly Evils. For the
Suppofition we have the bed ground in the
world, theexprefs Aflertion of Holy Scripture
in my Text; and the Confequence drawn from
it is felf-evident. And yet we have reafon to
believe there are Men in Being, who are fo far
from thinking thefe Alterations to be Misfor-
tunes , that They look upon them to be the
choiceft Bleffings that can happen to a Nation;
at leaft that can happen to Themfehes. They
are ever diflatisfy'd with the prefent Admini-
ftration, and longing to fee another fice of Af
fairs. Whether it be a better, or a worfe,They
are not much concerned : if it be but another.
They are for a little time tolerably eafy. If
They muft have Government, They defire to
kQfome Variety in it; and are for Change of
Seafons in the State, as well as in the Year.
Men who have fuch Difpofitions, or any tend-
ing towards them, are by Principle Enemies to
their Country, and prefumptive Tray tors to
our mod gracious Sovereign. The Mention of
whom puts me in mind of the Second Thing ob-
fervable from the Text,

II. That wife and religious Princes have a
mighty Influence to prevent thofe Mifchiefs,

to

1 6 A Sermon breach d upon the

to prolong tlieir Reigns, and fecure the Gon*
Ititution. Here again we cannot fay in uni-
verfal Terms that the Wifdom or Piety of the
Prince always does produce thofe EfFe6ls. But
it may be affirm'd that It has always a Ten-
dency that way ; and that generally [peaking ^
thofe good Confequences actually follow. The
unfearchable Wifdom of Providence fometimes
gives long life to the worft of Kings, that They
may be Plagues and Scourges to a wicked Peo-
ple. ,Aiid on the other hand, the Beft are fome-
times cut off, when They are fcarce fettled up-
on their Thrones; to chaftife finfull Nations
who are not worthy of Them. But then We
muftobferve that tho'an ill Prince may govern
for many Years, yet the Conftitution will pro-
bably be rather weaken'd than perpetuated by
Him: and that a good one in a fhort Admini-
ftration may add Strength and Security to the
Eftablifhment.

Tho' we cannot affirm that even This is al-
ways effeded by the bell of Princes, whether
their Reigns be fliort, or long; and our own
Country gives us a moft Tragical Example to
the contrary. The Royal Grandfather of Her
Present Majesty (whofe aufpicious Ac-
ceflion to the Throne We this day joyfully
commemorate) found by fatal Experience that

a Man

Qjj E E n's Inauguration. 1 7

a Man of Undcrftandmg and Knowledge, and
of moft confummate Piety and Goodnefs, does
not necejjanly and infallibly prolong the State,
His Reign, or even His own Life. For the In-
fluence of the moft Excellent of Kings is not ir-
refiftible, as fome imagine God's Grace to be;
but by the prevailing Wicked nefs of a Rebellious
People it may be baffled and over-power'd, as
it aftually was in this very Inftance. So daring
and rampant were the Infolencies of the Sabjeds,
fo over-ruling and uncontroulable were thofe
Sins, which (like a general Deluge) overfpread
the whole Nation ; that the Piety and Wifdom
of that incomparable Prince were not able to
ftem the Tide, and put a Stop to fuch an In-
undation of Villany as then rolfd in upon Him.
God was refolv'd to let His Juftice take hold
of them; and tho' He would abundantly Re-
ward his righteous Servant in a better State, yet
to execute His Wrath and Vengeance upon Them,
He fuffer'd Him and the Conftitution to fall to-
gether. Thus was the beft civil Eftablifhment
in the World entirely fubverted ; that Church
which was the Pride of the Reformation, and
the Glory of Chriftianity was batter'd down
and deftroy'd ; the Authority, the Honour, and
the Life of Gods Anointed were vilely cafi
away ; Monarchy and Epifcopacy were by the

C fame

1 8 A Sermon Trench d upon the

fame Engines over-turn*d , and laid low, even
with the T>uft.

But notwithflanding thefe Limitations and
Exceptions, it is certain from my Text, from
the Reafon of the thing it felf, and from Hi-
ftory and Experience , that the Wifdom and
Piety of the Prince have always a very ftrong
Tendency to lengthen His Reign , and fettle
the Conftitution; and ih^t generally /peaking^
they aSually produce thofe happy Eifedls. How
prevailing an Influence a Sovereign has upon
His People to make them Religious, both by the
Authority of His Example, and by His vigo-
rous Execution of the Laws againft Immorality
and Profanenefs, is too well known to require
any fort of Proof. And then it is no lels ap-
parent that as Vice and Wickednefs, efpecially
thofe Sins which I mention'd, naturally tend
to the Subverfion of Government, fo the con-
trary Vertues tend to It's Support and Secu-
rity. A wife and pious Prince therefore by
His Influence makes His People Religious, and
by that means makes the Crown flouri/h upon
His own Head, and tranfmits the Kingdom fafe
and fettled to His Pofterity. For the real In-
terefts of King and Subjects arefo blended, that
'tis impoflTible to feparate them : and tho' the
former be the Source of the Profperity a Na-

tion

Queens Inauguration. 19

tion enjoys, becaufeHe has more Influence up-
on the People, than the People upon Him ; yet
that Happinefs, like Light, is reflefted , and
rebounds upon the Original from whence it
came. And then to this natural Tendency we
muftlikewife add the efpecial Blefling of God,
who in a fignal manner watches over His
Righteous Vicegerents, direfts their Counfels,
and profpers their Endeavours.

Were Hiftory and Experience to be confulted
in this matter; We fhould find that infa6l this
Obfervation has generally prov'd true. And in
this, as in all other Cafes of the fame Nature,
the Sacred Records of G o d's own People the
Jews^ as they are deliver'd in the Old Tefta-
ment, ought chiefly to be regarded. Becaufe
thofe things were written for our Admonition ; ^ cor. i
They are the beft Rules and Standards we have,
to frame any Obfervation by ; and from them
we can form the beft Judgment concerning
G o D s Dealing with any People. Now among
all the good Kings both oi Ifraehndijudah We
do not find one fliort Reign ; moft,of them were
long, and all of them confiderable. To enu-
merate Particulars would be as tedious as unne-
ceflTary: I fliall therefore pafs on to the next
Obfervation , which depends upon what has
been already faid. For iince wife and religious

C X Princes

.0.
II.

tio ASermon^reachdupon the

Princes have a mighty Influence to prevent thofe
Mifchieft above-mention'd , to prolong their
Reigns, and fecure the conftitution ; there-
fore

III. The Acceflion of fuch a Prince to the
Throne , and his long Continuance upon it, is
a moft fignal Blefling to His Subjefts. This
I propos'd to apply to our own Circumftances;
nor need We infift upon the Proof of it, fince it
is no more than a neceflary and felf-evident
Confequence from the Two foregoing Obferva-
tions. And it is confirm'd by many other Rea-
fons, which in a matter fo plain it would be fu-
perfluous to mention. Nor did I therefore lay
down this Head, becaufeit requires Arguments
to evince the Truth of it ; but becaufe it may
be of ufe to refrelh our Memories, and revive
the gratefull Senfe we ought to have, of the ma-
ny Bleflings we enjoy from Her Present
Majesty's happy Adminiftration. And to
do this is perhaps no lefs than neceflary ; fince
we are too apt to be unthankfull for God s Mer-
cies, efpecially for thofe which are National and
Publick. A Blefling which is fliar'd by Us all
in common is generally but little regarded ; and
what is every body's Advantage we take to be
Nobody's. Now that We of this Nation plen-
tifully enjoy the Happinefs here fpoken of, ap-
pears

Qu E E n's Inauguration. 2 1

pears trom hence ; that our moft gracious
Qv E E N, whom G 0 D, as upon this Day, in mer-
cy fet over us^ to fit upon the throne of Her
Fathers, do's in all points anfvver the Charafter
of fuch a Prince as the wife Man defcribes in
my Text.

The glittering Pomp and Glory of this World,
with all the Temptations of Power and Great-
nefs^are fo far from withdrawing Her AfFeftions
from Heavenly Things, that She is as emi-
nent for Her Piety and Devotion to God, as
She is for that High Station in which He has
plac'd Her. Her Royal Proclamations for the
Encouragement of Religion, and the Suppref-
fion of Vice and Immorality,are fufficient Proofs
of Her Zeal for the Honour of G o d ; and of Her
being fenfible,that the bed Method to fecure the
Authority of Human Laws, is to make them
fupport and vindicate the Divine. Her tender
Care of all Her Subje6ls in general appears from
Her unweary'd Diligence in providing both at
home, and abroad for the publick Good ; and
from Her fo largely contributing out of Her
own Revenue to eafe Her People of fome of
the Expences occafion d by this neceflary War.
Nor is Her particular Concern for the EftabliflVd
Church oi England lefs confpicuous; from Her
frequent AfFeSionate Declarations in It's favour,

and

22

A Sermon Treachd upon the

and above all from Her unparallerd Bounty to
the poorer Clergy. A Liberality which ought
always to be gratefully remember 'd by USy and
efpecially upon this Anniverfary Solemnity to
be always publickly taken notice of. As no-
thing could be a clearer Evidence of Her Royal
Affedion to our mod excellent Church ; fo it
was certainly the moft proper, and beft adapted
Charity that could well be thought of. As
tending to refcue Perfons of a facred Charadler
from thofe Injuries and Affronts which are eve-
ry day thrown upon them, by thofe who hate
and defpife either Religion in general, or the
Church of England in particular.

But it is not my Defign to enumerate all the
Vertues which adorn , and enrich Her Sacred
Perfon ; it may fuffice to have given fome ge-
neral HintS; and to have mentioned a few things
out of very many : which are enough to fhew
that She is as much raised above the Generality
of Princes by Her Goodnefs, as all Princes are
above the reft of the World by their Power and
Authority. That therefore in Her w^e abun-
dantly enjoy the Blefling mention'd in my Text^
and by Her our Happinefs is like to be fecur'd ;
if We do not by our manifold Provocations
over-power the Royal Influence, and render
our ielves unworthy of Her Reign over us.

Which

Qu E E n' s Inauguration. 1 5

Which leads me, in the Fourth, and laft place,
IV. To draw fome pradlical Inferences from
the foregoing Obfervations.

I. Fir ft then. Since civil Diffenfions, and
Changes in Government are fo great Calami-
ties; wemuft carefully beware of all Fomenters
of fuch Divifions, and Promoters of fuch Altera-
tions; muft fet a Brand upon all thofe who
would inftill fuch Notions into us ; oppofe the
Men, and deteft the Principles. And to do this
may fometimes perhaps be no very eafy matter.
For Faftion and Sedition are ftrangely reftlefs
and adlive^ as well as crafty and defigning ; they
will appear in a hundred different Shapes, to in-
finuate themfelves into our Affeftions; and if
we be not very cautious, may engage us deep in
fome wicked Project, before we are fenfible whi-
ther we are going. To prevent which in fome
meafure, it will be requifite to obferve, that
Schifm in the Church is nearly ally'd to Re-
bellion in the State: itappearsfrom Experience
that in faft thefe two have generally gone toge-
ther, and in Reafon there is a very good Ac-
count to be given of it. For they both depend
upon the fame Principle, a perverfe, moody,
untradlable Temper; which is ever quarrelling
with the Prefent, and never fatisfy'd with any
Eftablilhment, for no other RQ^fonhut l^ecai^/e

it

24- ^ Sermon Preach d upon the

it Is an Eftahlifbment. Thofe who are fuch
Lovers of Variety, are always the word of Sub-
jecls; and He that AQ{\xt%X.oktfeveralTrinces
upon the Throne, will never be truly loyal to
any. 'Tis obfervable that Perfons who are of
this variable Difpofition in Government ^ com-
monly iliew it in other Matters of the higheft
Concer n. Men who are unfettled in their Loyal-
ty are generally fo in their Religion ; and He
that i fickle in both has certainly but very little
of either. Very proper therefore to this pur-
pofe is that remarkable Advice which the Royal
rrov.24. Author of my Text gives in another place, My
^^ Son fear thou the Lordy and the King, and med-
dle not with them that are given to change.
For to love Changing for Changing s fake, to
be always longing for an Alteration, and en-
deavouring to effedt it upon every Diflike, or
even upon every great Inconvenience, thefe at
leaft are furely fuch RevoJution-Trinciples as
every good Englifhman^2inA every good Chri§lian
ought with the utmoft Deteftation to abandon,
and abhor.

a. Secondly, fince the above-mention'd Cala-
mities are brought upon us by our Sins; we
ought to live good Lives, in order to prevent
them. Could we but once fee Religion flourifh
in our Nation ; v^'hat Happinefs and Profperity

might

Qjj E E n's Inauguration. 2 s

might we not fairly promife to our felves ? And
fince we are fpeaking of a whole Commnniry,
of all the Kingdom in general ; it were greatly
to be wilh'd we could bring every Particular
Perfon off from that fatal Error, of acknow-
ledging every bodys Vices, but His own ! We
are all ready enough to complain of the Wicked-
nefs of the Age ; but who cares to look home,
and apply fome of it to Himfelf ? Whereas
would everyone of the Queen's Subjeds take
care to correal His own Faults ; we may anfwer
for it, that the Publick would be in a moft flou«
riOiing Condition. And to contribute a little
towards this bleffed End; tho' 'tis impradlicable
to reckon up the Sins of particular Perfons ; I
Ihall briefly put You in mind of fome of the
reigning and national Provocations, which call
for God's Vengeance upon this Kingdom.

The Contempt of all Religion in fome, the
entire Negle61:of it in others; no grateful fenfe
of God's iMeicy to us, and no fear of His Judg-
ments; want of Zeal and Affeflion to our moft
excellent, and truly Apoftolical Church, Slight-
ing and Undervaluing its Ordinances, and by
a moft unjuftifiable Schifm feparating from it.
The open and barefac'd Leudnefs, Debauchery,
and Profanenefs of great Numbers; the no Icfs
damnable Hypocrify, Prevarication, and Shuf-

D fling

26 A SermonTreacJ:) d upon the

fling iii Religion of others; and (to mention no
more) the Fiercenefs, Rage, and Unchrlftian
Malice of Parties and Faftions. By thefe laft
the Nation isfo fhatter'd and divided; that, if
we be not very carefull to remedy thefe Evils,
we have great Reafon to fear that it's Deftru-
dlion approaches. Let us therefore all endea-
vour to promote Unity and Concord among our
Eph. 4.a. felves hy forhear'mg one another in love, and la-
bouring to fupprefs that Spirit of Uncharitable-
nefs which now rages among us, and Triumphs
upon the Ruins of Chriftianity.

But then We muft beware that by a miftaken
Notion of this Vertue we be not carry 'd into a
very dangerous Vice. It is by no means incon-
Ment with that Love and Brotherly Kindnefs
which the Gofpel commands, to rebuke theDe-
figns and Principles of ill Men with Sharpnefs
and Severity ; nor to oppofe them with Vigour,
Conftancy, and Courage. So far from it, that
it is our indifpenfable Duty to aft in this man-
ner; it tends to the Peace and Welfare of cur
Country, and is the greateft Inftance of real
Charity that we can fliew to thofe very Men
themfelves. But to perform this Task of Peace-
making as we ought; we muft by all lawfidl
means ^ labour to heal thefe fatal Breaches ; muft
adminifter no occaiion of Divifions our felves;

and

Qjj E E n's Inat^wation, 27

and wnenany is offer d fo us, declii^ it^ if we
can with 2ifafe Confcience\ if not, we muftop*^
pofe illdefigning Men; but tho' it ought to be
with Zeal, Bravery, and Refolution, yet muft it
notbewithBitternefs,and Fury : but withCha-
rity, and hearty Prayer, for the Reformation
of their Lives, and the Coniufiouvof their De-
vices. ''

And now I am upon this, I cannot but take
notice of the great Incendiaries of the Nation ;
thofe fcandalous and profligate Scriblers of wic-
ked Pamphlets, as void of Loyalty and Reli-
gion as they are of Learning andSenfe.; who
in thefe licentious Times make it their Trade
and ProfefTion to fet the Kingdom in a fj-mie;
to vilify and befpatter fome ot the belt Friends
the (luE E N and Church have,to reprefent them
as Tapi/is and Enemies to H e r M a j e s t y, to
whom they have fworn Allegiance, and Friends
to a pretended Prince whom they have as folemn-
ly abjur d. I fhall imt go about to give an An-
fwer to thefe flandrous Objeclions ; Every body
of commohfenfe knows they require rione, and
every body of common Honefty will acknow-
ledge it. I only mention this to pufus in mind of
the pern cioi^ Tendency of fuch vile Praftices.

To concj.de this Head ; let us who are pri-
vate Pwrfc.^b reform cur own Lives; and con-

iider^

128 A Sermon Treachd upon the

fider. You that are in Authority, that it is Your
indifpenfable Duty to have a watchful Eye over
others as well as your Selves, by putting the
Laws feverely in Execution againft all that Im-
morality and Prophanenefs which falls under
Your Cognizance. By thefe means wefliall purfue
the real Intereft both of our Q.u e e n, and of our
Selves ; Ihall procure Her the Happinefs of fee-
ing Her Subjefts flourilh, and Her Subjefls the
Happinefs of long enjoying fo great a Blefling as
fo wife and gracious a Sovereign.

3. La/ily^ Since Princes have fo great an In-
fluence upon their People ; it is both our Duty,
and Intereft to put up our earneft Petitions to
the Throne of grace in their behalf, to pray for
their Happinefs and Profperity, tobefeechGoD
to turn the Hearts of thofe that are bad, and to
give Him praife and thanks for thofe that are
good. According to St. TauFs Advice, i. Tim.
a. I. / Exhort therefore that fir ft of allSuppU-
cations y TrajerSy and Interceffions be made for
all men ; for Kings ^and all that are in j^uthori-
ij ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life in allgodlinefs and honefty. This is our pleat
ingTask atthistime, to give God thanks for the
beft ot Princes, and to pray that We may have
many of thefe Aflembhes upon the fame Occa-
fion, and for the fame Perfon. Blefsed therefore,

and

Qv E E n's Inatigurati

and ador'd be the infinite Goodnefs nIM'E mer-
cy which was upon this Day beftowd upon us;
and may v^^U have grace to live fuch lives as
may defer ve the Continuance of it. May that
God, hy whom Kings reign ^ andTrinces decree ^^^^ g^
Ju/lice^ pour all his Blelfings upon the Royal '^
Head and Heart of our moft gracious Sovereign;
may He condufl: Her with fafety through thefe
difficult and dangerous Times, direft Her Coun-
felsat homeland profper Her Arms abroad ;give
Her a long and happy Reign over us here, and a
never-fading Crown of glory in His Kingdom
hereafter. In lhort,fince She fo fully anfwers the
Character given in my Text, may the Words of
it be punftually verify 'd of He r; by Her Under-
ftanding and Knowledge may the State he pro-
longd\ and for many, many Y'ears may none
but Her Self he the Trince thereof.

FINIS.

>

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I

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