securing our profession of God's holy truth and faith, with a pure worship, an edifying administration of his word and sacraments, with a comely, wholesome, and moderate discipline; if being rescued from impious errors, scandalous practices, and superstitious rites, with merciless violence forced upon us; if a continuance of the most desirable comforts and conveniences of our lives; if all these are benefits, then was the deliverance of this day one of the most beneficial and important that ever was granted by Heaven to any nation. And notwithstanding the obscurity or intricacy that may sometimes appear in the course of providence; notwithstanding any general exceptions that may, by perverse incredulity, bę alleged against the conduct of things here below; there are marks very observable, and this event is full of them, whereby, if we consider wisely, with due attention, diligence, and impartiality, we may discern and understand that it was "the Lord's doing, "and it was marvellous in our eyes."

For these and all other benefits which have been in old time conferred, and often since preserved and handed down to us of the present generation, let us rejoice, and be glad, and give honour to him who hath so conferred and so preserved them. And let our affections and our lives harmonize with our voices, when we say,

"Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us over "for a prey unto their teeth. Our soul is escaped "as a bird out of the snare of the fowler; the snare " is broken, and we are delivered.

Allelujah! Salvation, and glory, and power unto

"the Lord our God; for true and righteous are his

"judgements.

"Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord "God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou "King of saints.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who only doeth "wondrous things; and blessed be his glorious name "for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his "glory. Amen and Amen."

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DISCOURSE XIX.

GOD THE PRESERVER OF PRINCES.

PSALM CXLIV. 10.

It is He that giveth salvation unto kings.

It was a fine eulogium passed at once on the head and heart of the greatest of commanders by the most celebrated of orators, that injuries were the only things he was capable of forgetting. The generality of mankind are liable, alas! to be reproached with a conduct of a very different nature.

.

They remember most things better than benefits; those, especially, which have been conferred upon them by their heavenly Father and Friend. "Praise the Lord, O my "soul," says David elsewhere, "and forget not all "his benefits." A propensity to forget is evidently implied by this warm and spirited exhortation not to do so. Thoroughly sensible of such a propensity in human nature; the best writers on the practical and devotional part of religion have prescribed the use of a diary, in which the many mercies and deliverances we from time to time experience may be regularly entered; that so, by recurring frequently to such a register, the traces of them, in danger otherwise of being obliterated by the cares and pleasures of life, may be refreshed and renewed in our minds.

If the case be so bad with individuals in this respect, there is no reason to suppose it better with communities; where, the benefit being shared by so many, each is apt to consider his own portion of it as small, and scarcely worth notice; where that which should be done by every body, is often done by nobody; and where the guilt of ingratitude, like the value of the benefit, by being divided, seems, in the conscience of every single member, to be diminished, and, as it were, brought to nothing. The astonishing instances of forgetfulness among the ancient people of God, recorded and reproved for our admonition in the Scriptures of truth, will occur to your minds; and parallel instances among Christians, notwithstanding such admonition, will present themselves to him who is disposed to behold them.

The preceding observations are intended to justify the wisdom of our ancestors, in appointing these annual commemorations of blessings, thus for ever registered in our national diary that they may not be neglected and forgotten. Nor let us by any means grow weary of celebrating them; but, even to the years of many generations, still continue, with thankful hearts, to exclaim-"We have heard with our .. ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what thou "hast done in their days, and in the old time before "them!" For though the mercy be old, the remembrance of it should be for ever young-renewed in our minds, from year to year, and from age to age; while the fathers to the children make known the loving kindness of the Lord, and speak good of his name, by contemplating afresh the doctrine of the day, and

the fact in which it is exemplified. The former of these is contained in the words of the text, which, when opened and illustrated, will prepare the way for a display of the latter" I will sing a new song unto thee, O God; upon a psaltery and an instru"ment of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee, who givest salvation unto kings.'

It is the high prerogative of the Almighty to give salvation, to preserve and deliver. "I, even I am "the Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour." The divine mercy, like the spacious vault of heaven, extends to all, and comprehends within its fostering bosom the whole creation of God. "Thou, Lord, "wilt save both man and beast." But its chief object is man, the lord of this lower world; so that still, comparatively, we may ask with the apostle→→ "Doth God take care for oxen; or saith he it not "rather for our sakes?" And, for this reason, Job cries out, emphatically, "I have sinned, what shall I "do unto thee, O thou preserver of MEN?"

He who is the preserver of men, above other creatures, is also the preserver of kings, above other men. This point was acknowledged among the Heathen, whose leaders are always represented, by the most ancient of the poets, as acting under the immediate guidance and protection of their respective tutelary deities. But we have a more sure word. "Great deliverance giveth he to his king; he is the saving health of his anointed; he is wonderful among the kings of the earth; he giveth salvation unto kings."

Let us inquire into the reasons why God is pleas