Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

fpoufed by the Publick, and become Nåtional, it might, in the Event, prove a Just reason of our hopes, that God will bestow upon us all the Publick Blessings which are promised to Righteous Nations.

Let our Enemies then Truft in their Spears and their Mighty Men of Valour, and leave all Concern for God's Honour out of their Schemes and their Counfels; Let Us but provide for the Propagation of his holy Religion, and we may fafely leave the Iffue of Things to His Gracious Difpofal. Let us then continually add to the Numbers of fuch Innocents as are here before us, Evidences of your Abundant Love to Them, and to their Saviour; and therefore qualified to ap pear as most Proper and Acceptable Advocates in your Behalf, before the Throne of Grace, and you will have no great Reafon to dread the Might or the Machinations of your Enemies: For who shall harm you, if you be, in this Eminent Senfe, Followers and Supporters of that which is Good?

If therefore any Perfons fhould hap pen to become Audacious enough to oppose this Excellent Defign of promoting God's Honour, they would have too much Reason to fear that He may get himself Honour upon them, in a Sense not very Agreeable to them, as he got himfelf Honour upon Pharaoh and all his Hoft. And the Propitious Difpenfations of Heaven, which are the only fafe and immoveable Foundation of every Government, do so much depend upon the Suc cefs of this Charitable and Pious Defign, which is Manifeftly, and in an High Degree, fubfervient to God's Honour, that whofoever Meditates the leaft Oppofition, or Obstruction to it, may Juftly be Sufpected, whatever Plaufible Preten ces he may urge in his own Favour, of Meditating Malignant and Pernicious Purposes against the Government; And whofoever proceeds to an Actual Oppofition to This Defign, does in Effect Act in Conjunction with those who have Actually drawn their Swords for the Deftruction of the King and Conftitution. For That Imputation may properly fall е

upon

upon Those who dare to fet their Mouth against the Heavens, and by Confounding the Inftruments and Means of National Piety, Provoke the moft High to pour down his Judgments upon the Na

tion.

Indeed if any particular Perfons concerned in this great Defign fhould, by any kind of Iniquity or Enormity, become Obnoxious, Reafon and Religion require, that They should fuffer condign Punishment, in common with other Offenders; And a peculiar Infamy would rest upon Them, who are Happily engaged in fo Sacred a Design, if They fhould, upon any Account, be found in the Number of Evil doers. But ftill, neither the Demerits nor the Deferts of particular Perfons, can alter the Nature of Things: The Cause which is Sacred, ought to be accounted inviolable still; And every Man's Obligations, not only to dread the Thoughts of oppofing it, but to Efpouse and Promote it, and that with Constancy, and Zeal, and Delight, are still the fame, ftill indispensably Incumbent upon him.

3

Finally

Finally therefore, Let other Mens Neglect of this Good Work be answer'd by your Earneft Concern for it; Let their Coldnefs be Anfwer'd by Your Zeal; and let their Oppofition to it, if it be poffible for fuch an Impious Oppofition ever to arise, be repell'd and defeated by Your Activity in providing for its Support and Accomplishment. And let all Those join with you in your Holy and Indefatigable Labours, who would evince that their Profeffions of Religion are not purely Formal, and Superficial, and Hypocritical; who would faithfully bear Their Part, with all Other created Beings, in Displaying the Glory of their Creatour; who would act Correfpondently to the Glorious Privileges vouchsafed them in the Gospel, and Teftify that Chrift is in them of a Truth; who are really affected with the Love of their Country, and a Defire of its Peace and Profperity; who do Truly wifh to fee the Number of Those who fhall be faved continually Encreased, to be Themfelves in that Bleffed Number, and to be the Blessed Inftruments of Encreafing it; Q 2 and

[ocr errors]

1

and who are influenced by the Laudable, and Pure, and Spiritual Ambition of fhining as the Brightness of the Firmament, and as the Stars for ever.

Now to Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, three Perfons and one God, be afcribed, as is moft due, all Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, both now and ever, Amen.

To

« AnteriorContinuar »