pricious, or even perverse, in the use of it, but nĭust be more supportable than such a state of disorder and confusion.

A Nero or Caligula, provoke them not by opposition, and they will, indeed, be often unjust, and often bloody; but most commonly ridiculous and absurd giving cause of complaint but to few in comparison, while they afford matter of mirth to many; and a mirth that was much valued, as it should seem, although it could hardly be indulged, one might suppose, without incurring personal danger.

Whereas it would be impossible but to imagine the thousandth part of the mischiefs, and miseries, the injustice, and barbarity, and madness, that must prevail, if every man were left at liberty to be a competitor for every thing; without any other measure of claim but inclination, or ground of security, but in strength and fortune.

But then it might be, reasonably, expected, that this time of tumult would not continue. It must terminate, and that speedily, in some form of establishment or other; more rude or finished, of one, or few, or many, or some composition of these forms; by consent, or occupation, by conquest, art, or accident.

Absolute anarchy, indeed, could scarce be lasting, as, perhaps, it has not existed: but a considerable degree of it, and that embittered and aggravated by the animosities of party, and armed with the sword of civil war, need I say, might continue? if I consider either the persons before whom I am speaking, so well acquainted with innumerable examples of it in

the

the history of all nations; or if I reflect only upon the very event which we are now assembled to com

memorate.

The keenest quarrels are between friends. It is, often, found that there are no contentions carried on with so much rancor, or attended with so much mischief, as where the subject of the dispute is least, and there are the greatest reasons for union.

In the same manner civil discord is of all wars the most terrible and destructive. The states of Greece. and Rome are known examples of this truth: which stood for ages the most powerful assaults of foreign foes, and flourished upon the ruins of their enemies; till, at last, the bond of internal union being broken, they were consumed, and conquered, by their own strength and arms.

This nation is at this very time, indeed, engaged in a war, and that with a very formidable adversary; the nearest, and the most inveterate, and the most powerful, as it is probable, in Europe. Or were it not so, the accidents of war are, always, exceedingly uncertain, often dreadful, and the issue known only to God.

But yet it is some consolation to us, and some security, that the battle is not, as it was in those days, at our gates, and before our eyes. The fields of Britain, at least, are unstained with blood: they are cultivated, even to the coasts, with the same tranquility and perfect assurance as in the times of profound peace. What is wanted more than the produce of our country, for the convenience, delight, ornament, or even splendor, of life, is still brought in VOL. III. S abundance,

abundance, and almost in security, from every quarter of the globe. We perceive no difference: understanding that we have enemies no otherwise than by report; and only hearing of the wars that are waged against us.

How great a happiness this is, and how much we are indebted to those who procure it for us, at any price, we may be convinced by looking back to those days of domestic trouble, when, in the dispute between the two branches of the royal family, the best part of the blood of both, and of the nobles on both sides, was shed in the field and on the scaffold; for the conquered in every battle were traitors.

Or we may recollect those still more miserable and distracted times, though, indeed, not so bloody, nor lasting, which were, happily, ended as upon this day.

Nay, we shall but need to observe what is now the sad, exhausted state, the distress, the desolation of those provinces upon the continent, which, on either side, have been so lately overrun, or even now are in the possession of their enemies.

Or think only of what we all remember, and * saw, such of us, especially, as were at that time in any of the northern counties of the kingdom, the terror and amazement that was in every countenance, the sudden check to commerce, the starts of credit, the flight of the inhabitants, especially of those who had the most merit with the government, and the greatest substance to be exposed to its enemies; and other mis

Alluding to the rebellion in 1745. This Sermon was preached in 1758.

chiefs and dangers that were felt, and so strongly apprehended, that the fear, perhaps, did more hurt than all the rest, and was itself a great danger; and this because a handful of men,-they were then no more,

without either experience in arms, or property in the land, had dared to erect the standard of rebellion. "Follow peace with all men." But if while we follow peace, we must meet with war; may it never be a war in Britain: let the ocean roll between us and the armies of the enemy; or be itself our field of battle.

However, let us have no war with Britons. This, at least, is left in our own power. Blow the winds which way they list; if, notwithstanding the number and vigilance of our fleets, the adversary should steal in upon us, if by some chance or uncommon effort, he break through their opposition; let him find no friends in this island more than he brings with him, and we are not yet vanquished. He may learn that he has been too eager to press in upon us, and repent of his success; happy if he can return, as he has done so lately from those for whom we are most concerned -our confederates, shall I call them, or fellow-subjects? with his glory humbled, and his thinned numbers; to make it known to all the world, that the acquisitions of tyranny are but as the grass spoken of in the Scriptures," blasted before it be grown up."

Let us endeavor to shew them, that men who are not born slaves, will not, easily, be made such that those who have a country which can be called their own, and a constitution which they are sensible is worth their care, and a Sovereign like ours, are only animated

S 2

animated by their losses; and may be defeated, indeed, but not subdued. Let us be made valiant by the fear of God; and but the more closely united, and the more warmly loyal, for being free. So may we hope to reap laurels even from our disappointments, and without the guilt that is contracted by civil war, and the miseries that preceded the occasion of this day's solemnity, find matter for some more glorious, though not an happier, anniversary of thanksgiving.

SERMON