THESE Words are most wise and excellent Advice, a [...] should be esteemed as one of the principal Sentences rec [...] ­ded in this Book. They not only enjoin Obedience, [...] direct to the Order of it; commanding us first to obey God, and th [...] the King, as immediately subordinate to him, constituted to see Go [...] Laws observed, and to enforce the Observation of them by enacti [...] such Laws as are not repugnant to them.

It is universally agreed by all Persons who have with any Ca [...] studied the Nature of Government, that Factions and Divisions ha [...] a natural Tendency to expose Kingdoms, or any other Form of G [...] vernment to Destruction; and that the Peace, Safety and Secur [...] of all civil Society, are best secured and established, when a rig [...] Understanding subsists between the Governours and governed; wh [...] both Parties are heartily united to prosecute the same End, in a [...] Execution of the same Means.— This Observation will be sufficien [...] illustrated, by calling to Mind the History of our Mother Count [...] in the Beginning of the glorious Reformation. How steadily, h [...] invincibly did SHE bear up against the infernal Malice and Policy [...] Rome, the Arms of Spain, the Abettors of a Pretender to her Cro [...] and a malignant Party within her own Bowels, to second and p [...] mote the Interest of the Enemy without! How steadily, I say, [...] she bear up against their united Attempts, whilst Harmony and g [...] Understanding subsisted between the Court, the Country, our glori [...] Queen Elizabeth, and the People! This Unanimity did not only [...] flect Honour upon our Country, but make England the Wonder Europe, and effectually subverted and confounded the Designs of [Page] [...] Enemies: It made our Queen and Nation reverenced in those [...]ays, and will perpetuate their Fame to all Posterity, as long as the [...]istory of those Times continues to be read.

And the same Cause will for ever produce the same Effects: Bri­ [...]s will again become as considerable, as much revered and envied [...] ever, if they make the Maxim in my Text the Rule of their Ac­ [...]s; to fear God and the King, and meddle not with them that are [...]en unto change.

We are all from our Infancy instructed in our Duty to God; we [...]ve Pastors and Teachers set over us for this Purpose, and not only [...] but we can see with our Eyes the Duties enjoined in the Oracles Truth: This ought to be regarded as a most invaluable Blessing, [...]ectually sapping the Foundation of that great Diana of the Church [...] Rome, implicit Faith. I can't indeed pretend to say so much of the [...]aws of the Land, nor is there any Occasion I should: If there be [...]y Defect in the Promulgation of them, it is sufficiently supplied by [...] Knowledge that every Man may acquire from the New-Testament, which Obedience to the higher Powers is indispensibly required: [...]d any Person whatsoever may learn from thence, upon due Re­ [...]ction and Consideration, that by fearing God and the King, is to [...] understood an unalterable Stedfastness to the holy Religion there [...]ealed to us; and due Subjection to the Government we live under, [...]d legal Obedience to it.

This is a very short and summary Account of our Obedience to [...]d and the King, and the Reason is, that I may have more Time [...] enlarge upon the latter Part of the Text, and meddle not with [...]m that are given unto change.

These Words are not only a Caution, but a Prescription, to secure [...] Fidelity and Constancy in both the forementioned Duties, our [...]ty to God and the King. As if the wise Man had said, One of [...] best Preservatives against all kind of Vices, is carefully to avoid [...] Company; there is, my Son, a strange Contagion in ill Exam­ [...], a [...]pecious tempting Outside in every Vice, which flatters our [...]ses, and is but too agreeable to one or other of our Passions: Beware [...]n, have nothing to do with those whom Discontent with the pre­ [...] State of Affairs, fondness of Novelty, Avarice, Ambition, Va­ [...] or Self-conceit, put upon innovating in Religion and Govern­ment, but preserve yourself by a stedfast regard to Duty in both these [...]ects: Avoid, fly from such Innovations; into their Secret be not [...]itted. And meddle not with them that are given unto change.

[Page] It may not be improper in discoursing from these Words, to assign some Causes of Men's being given unto change.

In the second Place, I shall represent the Danger of engaging with Men that are addicted to change.

And shall in the last Place, make such Improvements as Time and the Design I have in View will admit of.

First, I am to assign some Causes why Men are given to change. And the first and principal Cause may be, an unbounded aspirin [...] Ambition. Men measuring themselves by their own fond Conceit and fantastical Imaginations, are led on to think that the World should pay them the same Respect and Adoration that they vainl [...] imagine is due to them, and conclude themselves neglected, overlook­ed, nay, affronted, if their Expectations are baulk'd, and they hap­pen to be consider'd as second to any. Now, when this is the Case it is impossible for any Government upon Earth to gratify such Pre­tenders: For as there may be many Competitors, and only one Pri [...] to be disposed of, upon being disappointed, such uneasy Spirits w [...] naturally form Parties, and fall into Faction. We are they that oug [...] to speak, who is Lord over us? Psal. the 12.4. v.—

Another Cause which contributes greatly to Factions and Di [...] ­orders in Civil Societies, is the Fury, the Violence of Men's Passion [...]. These breaking thro' the Bounds of Reason and Religion, like an i [...] ­petuous Torrent, sweep all before them. Private Animosities a [...] well known to have had a larger Share in publick Distempers, th [...] Men are willing to own; and indeed it is impossible it should [...] otherwise, if Men are not disposed to use the proper Means for qua [...] ­fying and tempering their Passions.

The narrow contracted Provision Providence has been pleased [...] make for many in the World, may be another Cause of Men's be give to change. And a graceless Cause it is: The Men are strang to Contentment, and to the Law that enjoins it: No wonder th [...] that their pitiful Fortunes, and gaping Desires, give their ulcer [...] Spirits a new Edge: No wonder (that being deprived of the Com­forts of Religion, having no Prospect of approaching Glory and Ha­piness in another State, to qualify and allay the Afflictions and Tr [...] ­bles of this Life) the Men are led on and seduced into a thous [...] Errors and Follies, and to satisfy their Vanity, Ambition and Pr [...] ­gality, [Page]don't scruple to sacrifice the Peace of Society, and overthrow [...]he best ordered and most excellent Constitution.

Another Cause I shall just mention, which may contribute to pro­mote Factions and Disorders in regular, well constituted Bodies, is a [...]ragmatical, busy, intermedling Temper. Men can't confine them­ [...]elves within their proper Limits and Sphere; they are for grasping [...]t Things above their Fortunes, and beyond their Capacities; and because they can't be gratified, as Matters are circumstanced at pre­sent, and no Way so probable of bringing them into Play, as an Alteration, a new State of Affairs, they will leave no Stone unturn­ed, but engage in Courses most destructive to promote their own [...]nsanctified Ends.

I might assign many more Causes for Men's being addicted to [...]hange; but as these seem to be the principal, on which all others [...]ave a natural Dependance, I shall prosecute this Point no fur­ [...]her; but,

Proceed to my second Head, to lay before you the great Danger [...]nd Folly of engaging with those who are given to change.

I need not make use of Arguments, I believe, to convince you, that Men upon their enlisting into Parties and Factions, may design [...]onestly and innocently; they may be told, their Religion, their [...]iberties, their Properties are in Danger; and these we are all satis­fied may prove very engaging Motives to honest well designing Men, to join with such Persons as they esteem zealous Asserters [...]nd Defenders of such invaluable Blessings and Privileges. Their present Designs may not have the least Tendency to overset the Con­ [...]titution; but then they may be insensibly led on by the Heads of [...]he Faction to make one false Step, and so from one Evil to proceed [...]o another, until they are finally involved in the most indirect Courses, inextricable Mazes of Error and Sin; and not being able to make a safe Retreat, may become so intemperate, as to bear down all Considerations of Reason and Religion; and to avoid the Punishment [...]f one Crime, run headlong into the commission of another. Com­ [...]any causes Confidence, and Numbers give Credit and Defence; Credit to the Crime, and Defence to the Criminal.—Thus the modes­ [...]st Natures, hardned by the Fellowship and Concurrence of others [...] the same vicious Courses, may dwindle into quite another Dis­position and Frame of Spirit, and in a short Time lose all appre­hension of the Indecency, the Wickedness of those Actions which they have so familiarly and so long conversed with.

[Page 7] An undoubted Instance of this first we have in the Case of the Royal Martyr. I charitably presume, nay, I firmly believe, tha [...] many of those miserable Men that were concerned in that Rebellion and finally in the King's Murder, would have startled and trembled at the bare mentioning so horrible a Fact, when they first engaged in the Republican Faction. But having once prostituted their Understandings to the Cheats and Delusions of their Ringleaders, they were naturally led to assent to any Principles, any Method that might support the Cause they had embarked in: And thus their Zeal becoming outrageous, transported them into Sedition, and then having no other Way to escape the Danger they perceived hanging over their Heads, they fell into the most unnatural Rebellion; and being engaged in Rebellion, what other Sanctuary, what other Security could they have recourse to, but Regicide? (i. e) cutting off the King. People little know what they are made of, and can have no Security against falling into the very Depths of Hell, but Circumspection, Care and Watchfulness, (under the Influence and Direction of Grace) in the Preservation of their Innocence, and a due Consideration of the Consequence and Tendency of every Action and Undertaking.

The Case of Hazael seems very a propos to the Subject I am no [...] upon. When Elisha foretold him what mighty Mischiefs he should be Instrumental of bringing upon Israel, that he should fire their strong Holds, slay their young Men with the Sword, dash in Piece [...] their poor Infants, and rip up their Women with Child; Outrages [...] barbarous and bruitish, that he could not think human Nature capable of perpetrating them, as appears by his Answer: What, is thy Ser­vant a Dog, that he should do this great Thing? It could not enter into his Heart, that he should ever be inclin'd to commit such Cru­elties and Barbarities. But no sooner did his Ambition tempt him to stain his Hands in his Royal Master's Blood, but to attone for h [...] villanous Treachery, he fulfilled all that the Prophet foretold.

This Example should be a Warning, should teach Men to look [...] themselves, and preserve their Innocence, never to flatter themselv [...] that their Opinions will not alter with their Circumstances, or be­lieve themselves Temptation-Proof, because their Resolutions a [...] good for the present, and they design not to depart from that Ru [...] but carefully to avoid all Opportunities that may betray them in such Crimes as they seem now to abhor, and never perswade them­selves that it is in their Power to stop at this or to'ther Offence [Page 8]Degree in Sin, and proceed no further. There is no Instance of any Man's arriving at a desperate Pitch in Wickedness suddenly; this is [...]rought about gradually and by Progression; one Sin drew on another, [...]he Purposes of his Heart were changed by new and fatal Opportu­ [...]ities; he yielded by little and little to Custom and Example, im­ [...]ibed the Manners of his Companions, until at length he became the Man himself whose Image sometime before would have scared and [...]errified him. Meddle not with them then, my Brethren, that are given unto change, if you would preserve your Innocence and Virtue [...]ree from the most dangerous Temptations.

But, Secondly, Meddle not with them that are given unto change, be­cause thereby you may involve yourselves in the greatest temporal Mischiefs and Calamities.

We need not spend much Time to shew, that the Lord of Hosts, the Mighty God of War, is concern'd to defend the righteous Cause, and to arm his Power against the rebellious. All sovereign Power, we know, is immediately derived from him; by Commission from [...]im Kings act; every lawful Ruler holds his Government by a cer­tain Deputation from the King of Kings; and the Commission by which he holds it is God's Word: This is the Voice of Scripture, this is the Voice of Reason. To fly then in the Face of such Powers, regularly constituted and set over us, to take up Arms in a [...]ebellious Manner, in order to dethrone our Prince, and overset the Government established among us, discovers not only a peremptory Disobedience to those Laws of God, which require our dutiful Sub­mission to our lawful Superiours, but a direct Renunciation also of [...]he divine Authority it self; and consequently is such a Crime as the Almighty is more immediately concerned to punish. Wherefore, [...]f Men would not make themselves the Marks of divine Vengeance, and expose their guilty Heads to its Almighty Thunderbolts, it con­cerns them to be very careful not to swerve from their due Allegiance [...]o their Prince; it concerns them not to suffer their Pride or Discon­tent to prey upon their Loyalty; it concerns them not to imbibe sedi­ [...]ious Principles, nor intrigue with factious Combinations, which are [...]he very Seminaries of Rebellion; but out of an awful Fear and Dread of the Divine Majesty, they should honour and obey the King, and avoid as they would Plague or Pestilence, meddling with those that are given to change.

[Page 9] Many of the Scottish Rebels, we humbly hope (without any Breach of Christian Charity) are convinced before this Time, of the pernicious Consequences of unstable Principles: They have been taken in the Devices they imagined, and have had the Reward of their Deserts. Surely such Wretches must have been addicted to change with a Vengeance, who could prevail upon themselves to join the Inhabitants of Babylon, to rase the Walls of their own Sion, to conspire and rebel against a Prince, who is a Defender of the Faith they profess, and to join with one who by the Principles of his Re­ligion, is under the most solemn Obligations to destroy it. But this requires a more particular Consideration.

Now, what can be more astonishing? How could such a Relation ever obtain Credit, were it not verified in Fact, that any of our Fellow Subjects should be given over to such Infatuation; tha [...] any Protestant should have so little Regard either to his Religion or the Welfare of his native Country, as upon any Account whatsoever, to favour and encourage the Introduction of Popery, and the bringing over a French Army to subdue and enslave it? Oh! tell it not in Goth, publish it not in the Streets of Askalon!

But however, such it seems there are Many; Many who have dared to lift up their treacherous Hands against that very Crown they had sworn to support upon his Majesty's Head, and to set up the Standard of that Pretender whom they had frequently and solemnly abjured: Many who have been audacious enough to proclaim the Title of their sham Prince, with those very Tongues with which they had often sworn, that he had no Right or Title whatsoever to the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, and with which they had imprecated the Divine Vengeance upon their own Heads, if they did not act sincerely. Can such Monsters as these hope for Success? What do they take the Almighty to be? Think they that he can be imposed upon with broken Vows and Perjury? Can such be delivered? Oh, no! God has declared himself a jealous God, a God that will not hold them Guiltless that take his Name in vain.—But let us pause and consider, what Arguments can be framed, what Excuses or Pretences made for this unnatural Rebellion, this turning our Mother Country into a Scene of Confusion and Blood. Can his Majesty's Right and Title be disputed? Is not his Claim as good a [...] any Prince's in Europe? Has not the Crown been settled on him by the concurring Votes of Lords and Common, under the auspiciou [...] [Page 10]Influences of King William and Queen Anne? Is not the Protestant Succession in the illustrious House of Hanover a Point in which all Parties, all Factions have at least pretended to be agreed? And has not this Title been recognized in most solemn Prayers and Thanksgivings to Almighty God, when Men could not prevaricate without the vilest Hypocrisy? I know there has a Noise been made about indefeasible hereditary Right, and the like; but the Advocates for that Scheme have not duly considered, that that Doctrine will invalidate the Right of any Prince upon Earth; for upon their Hy­pothesis, there can be but one Person in the Universe, that has any Right to be a King, and he must prove himself descended in a right Line from the eldest Son of Noah, the Consequence of which must be Disorder, Anarchy, Confusion.

But, this Hypothesis will appear altogether whimsical, whether we consult the Laws of God, or the Laws and Customs of our own Country. If we consult the Scriptures, we shall there find David, who was of another Tribe and Family, succeeding Saul; Solomon suc­ceeding David, in Preference to his elder Brother; and Jehoahaz pre­fer'd to Jehoiakim; with many other Instances. If we consult the Laws and Customs of our own Country, we shall find, that from William the Conqueror, to his present Majesty King GEORGE, (in which Time we have a Succession of thirty and one Kings and Queens) we have not had above four, who have succeeded one another in (what is called) the right Line; and we shall there likewise find, that in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne, it was enacted High Treason to question the Power of Queen and Parliament to limit and bind the Crown, and the Descent and Inheritance thereof. These Authorities shew (beyond all Contradiction) that his Majesty's Title to the Crown of his Realms is consistent with, and establish'd both by the Laws of God, and the Laws and Customs of the Land.

But, secondly. May not his Majesty have exercised some Acts of Tyranny and arbitrary Power? May he not have made his Will the Measure of his Actions, and govern'd by Lust, Prejudice or Fancy? How the Subject is to seek for Relief in such difficult Circumstances as these, is not my Business to determine: But this we are certain of, that nothing of this Sort can be objected against our Sovereign, by the most audacious and insolent of those Rebels that are, or have been in Arms against him. The Prerogative has not in the least been stretch'd beyond its due and proper Bounds. No Man has been de­prived [Page]of Life or Fortune in an illegal Way: The Laws of t [...] Land are the Compass he has constantly steer'd by; and he can a [...] ­peal in the Words of the Prophet, Here I am this Day, witness again [...] me before the Lord; whose Ox have I taken, or whose Ass have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? and whom have I oppressed? Whence th [...] can that Spirit of Sedition arise which hurries and disturbs our Peace? It must be the Work of those mutinous Fiends, who first excited Rebellion in Heaven against the Almighty, and now against h [...] Vicegerent.

But, thirdly. May it not be said, that Religion is in Danger? Never, I believe, was there less Reason for this Complaint; but [...] this by and by.—

Our Northern Traytors then have not even Fig-Leaves to cov [...] the Nakedness of their Cause, nor the least Shadow of Reason to ex­cuse or palliate their Perjury and Treason. We read of the Je [...] blowing the Trumpet in Si [...]n, and lifting up a Standard in that hol [...] Mountain; but then it was in opposition to the Children of Babylo [...]. But our Northern Rebels are without Precedent, for they have join [...] the Inhabitants of Babylon, and to shew an unheard of Zeal f [...] their Religion, are disposed to commit it to the Care of one, who [...] the Principles of his Religion, is obliged to destroy it. Let t [...] World be Judge, if it does not discover a judicial Infatuation, a [...] utter Deprivation of Reason and Consideration, to imagine that Pr [...] ­testants, in any Shape, of any Denomination, can promise themselv [...] Security under the Influence of a bigotted Popish Prince, who think [...] himself as much obliged by the Constitutions and Councils of t [...] Romish Church, as we do our selves by one of St. Paul's Epistl [...]. Now by one of these Constitutions, all Secular Lords are ordered a [...] required to exterpate all sorts of Hereticks out of their Dominions, a [...] that under Pain of Excommunication, and the Loss of their Lan [...]. Sheep then may be as safe in the Custody of Wolves, as Protestan [...] under the Dominion and Government of a Child of Rome. Is t [...] gratis dictum? Oh, no! We have had woful Experience of it [...] the Reign of two Popish Princes since the Commencement of t [...] Reformation, Queen Mary and King James. Queen Mary in t [...] most solemn Manner assured the Gentlemen of Suffolk, who maintai­ [...]ed her Title against her Rival Queen Jane, that she would make [...] Innovation, no Alteration in the Religion settled and confirmed [...] King Edward: But no sooner was she established, but she forg [...] [Page] [...]r Engagements, and with Haughtiness told them, (when they sub­ [...]issively prefer'd a Petition to remind her of her Promise) that [...]embers were to obey their Head, and not to think to direct and [...]overn it. And much in the same Manner were the opposers of [...] Bill of Exclusion, and King James's Abettors against the Duke [...] Monmouth and his Rebels treated by him. These are Instances [...] a Manner fresh in the Minds of all Protestants. Now can it de­ [...]ve any Epithet better than Destraction in People, after two such [...]xperiments, to be for trying a third?

But I am willing to proceed to the very extent of this Case; and [...]ll now suppose (for Argument sake) such a Thing as indefeasible [...]reditary Right, founded in Reason, Scripture, and the Laws of the [...]and.

I will suppose, contrary to Experience and Matter of Fact, that his [...]ajesty King GEORGE has exceeded the Limits prescrib'd to the [...]erogative, and in some Instances abused the Power lodg'd and en­ [...]sted in his Hands. I will further suppose, that the Protestant Re­ [...]ion has not met with all the Countenance and Encouragement which [...] sanguine and zealous Ministers might probably expect.—And [...]st,

Of indefeasible hereditary Right: Supposing this founded in Reason, [...]ripture, and the Laws of the Land; yet those who make use of [...]s Plea in favour of the Pretender, do manifestly beg the Question. [...] how do they know that the Man ridiculously called Prince Charles, [...] Grand-son to James the second? It is well known, that his supposed [...]ther's Birth was controverted in the Day of it by some; and that [...]ers who allow'd the Birth of a Child, maintained that it was [...]angled in the Birth, and that a supposititious spurious Brat was im­ [...]sed upon the Nation. But be this as [...] will, every one that is at all [...]quainted with English History, very well knows, that the Laws of [...] Land were so far from being complied with, upon this Occasion, [...]t they were treated with Disdain and Contempt. These I take to [...] strong Presumptions, if not Demonstrations, against the Hereditary [...]ght of the Father. What then shall we think of the Son? Eng­ [...]men are absolute strangers to his Birth, strangers to his Education, one in ten ever heard there was such a Creature in Being, before [...]y had the News of his appearing at the Head of a desperate re­ [...]lious Crew of Ruffians in the North of Scotland. Shall such Pre­ [...]tions then as these be thought sufficient to found an hereditary [Page]Right to the Crown of England upon? For my part, I would as so [...] recognize the hereditary Right of an Indian Sachem, or Sagamore.

Let us now, in the second Place, suppose his Majesty had in so [...] Instances abused the Power lodg'd in his Hands, had stretch'd the Prerogative beyond its due Bounds, and that the People were imme­diate Judges of his Mal-Administration: Yet we know it is a settle [...] Point, and establish'd Maxim, that of two temporal [...] the least [...] always to be chosen. Now is there any Comparison between a Prin [...] who makes the Laws of the Land the Rule of his Government, wh [...] does not pretend to set himself above them, altho' he may at the sam [...] Time be guilty of some Frailties and Mistakes in the Course of h [...] Administration; I say, is there any Comparison between such a Prince and one who sets himself above the Laws, claims and exercises Power of dispensing with them at Pleasure, leaves all legal Securiti [...] at Mercy, raises Armies in Times of Peace, to subdue and terrify hi [...] Subjects, is an inveterate Enemy to the established Religion of the Country, and sworn to exterpate it; and to compleat all, borrows h [...] Maxims of Government from the arbitrary tyrannical Courts of France and Spain? Is all this chimerical? Look back, my Brethren, an [...] you'l find it verified to a Tittle in the Reign of the pretended Grand Father to him who now disturbs Great-Britain's Peace. You'l fin [...] King James exercising a dispensing Power with the Laws; you find him, by virtue of this Power, constituting Privy Counsellor [...] Judges, Justices of the Peace, and other Officers not qualified [...] Law: You'l find him garbling all the Corporations in England, an [...] entirely disfranchising some of them: You'l find him raising a standing Army, keeping it on foot in Times of [...]ace, in order to accomplis [...] his Designs, contrary to the fundamental [...]vileges of the Kingdom. You'l find him depriving a whole Society of their Free-holds ( [...] mean the Fellows of Magdalen-College) because they would not viola [...] their Statutes, and perjure themselves; and imprisoning seven Bishop [...] for petitioning in a Case where the Law was clearly on their Sid [...]. All this he did, and many Things besides, needless now to en [...] ­merate.

Behold then the glorious Change! Behold the Advantages! Behold the Chains, the Yoke, the present Propagators of Rebellion would hammer out for us and our Posterity! God of his infinite Mercy avert this Curse from us! but may those Incendiaries have the [...] Fruition of that Slavery they seem so earnestly to desire (I mean [Page]many as escape the Gallows) in those Countries where arbitrary and [...]rannical Principles prevail. In the mean Time, O my Soul, come [...] thou into their Secret, unto their Assemblies mine Honour be not thou [...]ited; cursed be their Anger, for it is fierce, and their Wrath, for it [...] cruel.

Let us now, in the last Place, suppose, that the Protestant Religion, [...] any particular Denomination of Protestants, has not met with all [...]e Countenance and Encouragement their sanguine Ministers might [...]obably expect.

It would be a vain Thing in me, to pretend to enumerate the Pri­ [...]leges and Blessings that not only the Establishment, but Dissenters of [...] Denominations enjoy, under the auspicious Reign of King GEORGE: [...]hey are many and great. It is not indeed to be expected, that any [...]overnment should subsist upon Earth without Malecontents and [...]ctions: And it is well known, that nothing is more abused than [...]eligion, to promote the irreligious Designs of Hypocrites. But if [...]en had the real Interest of Religion at Heart, they would never [...]l upon such Means of promoting it, as must necessarily prove de­ [...]mental to it, and subversive of it: They would certainly choose to [...]joy it in its Purity, tho' under some Difficulties and Uneasiness, [...]n truck it for Superstition. They would, instead of flying to Po­ [...]ry for Refuge, use all honest Means for Redress; and if they should [...]l in this Respect, they would patiently submit, until God in Mercy [...] pleased to relieve them, rather than subject their Country to Papal [...]ranny; their Laws, their Estates, their Liberties to Papal Invasion; their Lives to Papal Persecution, and their Souls to Papal Delusion.

The fifth of November is still celebrated among us, and fit it is [...]at the Memorial of it should be handed down from Generation to [...]eneration. I may be bold to affirm, that no good Man unacquainted [...]th the hellish Conspiracy of that Day, could with the utmost Stretch [...] Invention, form to himself such a complicated Piece of Villany. [...]t tho' such wicked Designs Could not have even been suspected [...]ore they were in Reality detected; yet after repeated Deliverances [...]m the same Quarter, not to be apprehensive of Danger from such human Adversaries, is Infatuation; not to be awake and upon our [...]ard, is Distraction. Catholicks (as they are pleased to call them­ [...]vs, with the utmost Impropriety) are the same ravenous Wolves [...], retain the same savage Disposition to the Flock of Christ, which [...]y (according to their charitable Principles) think proper to stig­matise [Page 15]with the odious Apellation of Hereticks; and as such, think it not only lawful, but necessary to exterpate them off the Face o [...] the Earth.

Thus I have examined the most plausible Pleas that can be urged in Favour of the Rebels; and tho' I have supposed them founded in Reason and Religion, yet you see they are all strongly in Favour of his Majesty, and directly against the Pretender. The Disturbers the [...] of our native Country's Peace, must have Recourse to some other ex­tenuating Pleas; and what can these be but Ambition, Avarice, Disappointment, Revenge, Vanity, Self-conceit, patching up bad Fortunes, Levity, Fickleness of Temper, scheming Heads, a love o [...] innovating in Religion and Government? It is not at all then to be wondered at, that Wretches should be given to change, who are in­fluenced by such abominable Motives, from which I pray God of his Mercy to deliver us.

The Ringleaders of the unnatural Rebellion in Great Britain, we have great Reason to think, have met with their just Deserts: (the Offences of the Nation must be very great, and their Sins in a man­ner desperate, if Rebellion and Perjury are permitted to prosper). But however culpable and unpitied they fall, their wretched and misled Dependants, who never considered the Consequences of this atrocious Villany, are really Objects of Pity and Compassion. I am perswaded that the most barbarous among them, would have trembled at the Thoughts of taking up Arms against the Government, had they been before-hand expostulated with in this Manner: You are now entering upon a dark and dismal Scene of Blood, Disorder and Confusion You are going to do you know not what, for the sake of you know not who! That you [...] whimsical Notions of some Body's Right may take Place, you are going to join the inveterate Enemy of you [...] Country, the perfidious French King, (who aims at no less than Universal Sway, to subject to himself all the Powers of Europe) to th [...] ruin not only of the Publick, but the exterpation of your selves: [...] you miscarry in the Villany, you sacrifice Wives and Families to Name, and you your selves die as Fools. If you succeed, it will b [...] thro' Seas of innocent Blood; thousands are like to suffer, with who [...] you never had the least Quarrel or Misunderstanding: Parents wi [...] be butchered, Children will perish and starve, the Trade of the Coun­try will be clogg'd and obstructed, and the Growth of it utterl [...] consumed; the Consequences of which must be Misery and Famin [...]. [Page]And besides, all this Mischief, all this Destruction spring only from Notion; for you have not the least Prospect of making your selves [...]app [...]er or easier, but you are embarking into the greatest Danger, without the least Appearance of any Good accruing from it. Finally, you are going to put your selves under the Direction of Persons who have Policy enough to contrive, cunning enough to dissemble, In­ [...]nuation enough to perswade, Dexterity enough to execute any Mis­ [...]hief, and no Sense of common Honesty to restrain them, no Princi­ [...]les of sound Religion to controll them. Were these Things fairly [...]epresented to the ignorant Disturbers of Great-Britain's Peace, they [...]ever would have risqued their Necks to gratify the Ambition and [...]icked Designs of their imperious Task Masters. But the Dye is cast, [...]nd they must stand or fall by it.

Against the united Strength then of all his Majesty's Enemies, all [...]ue Englishmen and Protestants have a Call to join with Heart and [...]and, to unite their scattered Forces for the preservation of our [...]ivil Constitution, and that Church which is the Fence of the English [...]aws and Liberties, the Eye of the Reformation, and the never [...]iling Bulwark against Popery; and for these Reasons has been, and [...]er will be most vigorously attack'd by Papists, and its Subversion [...]defatigably and maliciously studied.

We are indeed removed at too great a Distance to be aiding and [...]isting to our distress'd Brethren; were we nearer them, they would [...]d we have Hearts as warm and well affected, and Hands as ready [...] execute as they. Wise was the Observation of Nehemiah, and [...]olsome the Advice he gave to the Nobles, the Rulers and Peo­ [...] of the Jews, Neh. 4. C. 19, 20. v. The Work is great and large, [...]d we are separated upon the Wall, one far from another: In what [...]ace therefore ye hear the Sound of the Trumpet, resort ye thither unto [...]; our God shall fight for us.

We cannot, my Brethren, resort to his Majesty's Standard, [...] the Sound of the Trumpet; but we may to the God and Father of all: Altho' we cannot with our Hands, yet we may assist our [...]llow-Subjects by our Prayers. Let us then supplicate, in the most [...]mble and fervent Manner, the great and infinitely wise God, to [...]te our Nobles, Rulers, and the rest of the People, in the Defence t [...] hose Ramparts which the Wisdom of our Law-givers has provi­ [...] against the Assaults of Popery and Arbitrary Power; that this [...]t, this large Work may be carried on by joint Assistance and [Page 17]well-concerted Measures, and that those who at present may be [...]epa­rated too far from one another, may draw nearer [...]ogether for their common Defence, and that every one in his Place and Station may diligently labour in this necessary Work, and that under the Guidance and Direction of God's blessed Spirit, Prudence may direct the Con­sultations of those that are set over us, that they may prove a Wea­pon of Defence against the treacherous Designs of our most subtle and inveterate Enemies.

The Curse of God, says the Prophet Zechariah, shall enter into the House of him that sweareth falsly by my Name; and it shall remain in the midst of his House, and shall consume it, with the Timber thereof, and with the Stones thereof. 5. C. 4. v. It is really melancholy, to see any of our Countrymen thus expose themselves to the Curse of God: But however, it is Matter of some Consolation, that this Curse will attend the Cause they have espoused; will be a dead Weight upon it, and finally sink it. Oh! may we never then entertain a Thought of such Perfidiousness and Perjury; but in all Respects be­have ourselves in a loyal and dutiful Manner to our gracious King, as our Church instructs and obliges us. The next great Duty to Piety to God, is Loyalty to our Prince, as God's Vicegerent and Minister. What Presumption then does it argue in Men, to pre­tend to promote Religion by Sedition and Rebellion? It may as well be done by cursing, swearing and Debauchery. He that pretends Religion for an Excuse for rebelling, has lost what he contends for, before he begins the Contest. For how can any Man [...] Reason be called religious, who resists the Ordinance of God?

Let us then, my beloved, shew that we fear God, by honouring the King, and medling not with them that are given unto change. This is the Language of Scripture, this is the Doctrine of our Church, the very same that was taught by Christ and his Apostles, free from Popish or Fanatical Corruptions and Additions.

And now, may the great God of Battles guide by his Wisdom, protect by his Power, the sacred Person of his Maj [...]sty King GEORGE; may Length of Days be in his right Hand, and in his left Hand Riches and Honour. May his Enemies be cloathed with Shame, but upon his Head may the Crown flourish. May his Royal High­ness Frederick, Prince of Wales, inherit the Virtues of his Father, together with his Dominions: May his ill [...]strious Consort be a fruitful Vine by the Sides of his House, and his Issue, those Olive Plants that [Page 18]are round about his Table, prove certain Pledges of England's Peace and Prosperity; and may there never be wanting one from the Loins of the illustrious House of Hanover, to succeed in the Throne of Great Britain, as long as the Sun and Moon endure. May his Royal Highness the Duke be safe under the Covering of the Almighty's Wings; and may the Enemies to the Peace of our Sion flee before him, as Dust before the Wind. Finally; may the Nobility, Ma­gistrates, Officers and Gentry exert themselves in their respective Ca­pacities at this critical Conjuncture: May the Glory of God, the Peace of the Nation, and the Salvation of Souls, be the principal Things to exercise the great Abilities of our Bishops and Clergy; and may the People of all Ranks and Conditions prove pious and well-affected, dutiful and loyal; may they fear God and honour the King, and med­dle not with them that are given unto change.—This God of his infinite Mercy grant, for the Sake of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all Power and Glory, Might, Majesty and Dominion, now and for evermore.