open their eyes, and observe what it is before them this day, they would see enough to stop the mouth of atheism for ever. Are these fortuitous hits and accidents, or the effects and prcxluctions of the wise and steady counsels of heaven ? " The Lord is known by the "judgments that he executeth." But when his hand is lifted up men will not see. It is convincingly clear, the hand of God, not the power or policy of men hath done this. There was no power in the prevailing part, but what might, with far greater probability have lieen repelled by the other ; no policy in the one, but as great to countermine it in the other. But you see the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong ; it is the hand of God that dis- poseth these great events.
(3.) Be not staggered if you should see new difficulties arise in the way of mercy, after God hath begun to do great things for his people. Moses and his people encountered many such difficulties after God had lifted up his hand in great signs and wonders for them in Egypt : And so may we, even when we are come upon the borders of our expected mercies. Let us not say we shall never be moved more; there is a great deal of filthiness in England yet unpurged, many corruptions to be removed ; and let us not ex- pect much tranquillity till God hath refined and reformed us. When the morbific matter is not well purged out of the body na- tural, or politic, there is danger of a recidivation, or relapse into the old disease, which God in mercy prevent. Former sins and follies will cast us back into former straits and miseries. O let us not return again to folly. We are now upon trial once more how we will carry it under mercies and liberties : God forbid so great an opportunity as this for setting the church and state upon the true foundations of liberty and prosperity, should be lost. Take heed of a discontented spirit under gracious providences, lest you provoke the Lord to turn his hand of judgment again upon you* Who could have thought that Jonah, who was so lately in the whale's belly^ called the belly of hell^ and was so greatly humbled there, and so miraculously and graciously delivered thence, should presently fall into a great pet of discontent with God, and that for a trifle, the withering of a gourd ? Yea, and which was worse, for liis mercy to others. O we know not what manner of spirits we are of The greatest mercies and deliverances do not long please us unless our little by-interest be gratified.
(4.) Let England now study to do great things for God, who hath impressed his greatness upon the mercies it enjoys this day, O England, God hath done great things for thee, saved thee with sl great salvation ; and he expects returns from thee suitable to thy great mercies and obligations. Let me say to thee as Ehhu to Job,
chap. xxvi. 2. " Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I hate *' yet to speak on God's behalf."
(1.) A national refoTmation is now expected by the Lord ; he hath strongly obliged us to it this day by so glorious and unparal- leled a national salvation. It is our reproach, that a land of mini- sters, a land of bibles, a land of peculiar mercies, should be a land swarming in every part of it with profane swearers^ filthy adulterers^ beastly drunkards, and heaven-daring atheists. Do we thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and un^vise ? Thy Godj O EnglSnd, is pleading with thee this day by the voice of mercy, drawing thee out of these puddles and pollutions by the cords of love, whilst he is pleading against the same sins in the nations round about thee by fire and sword. He hath now set upon tliy throne a great example of virtue to correct thy lewdness, and effect thy reformation. O England, wilt thou not be made clean.? When shall it once be .^ When, if not now, under such strong inducements and signal advantages ?
(2.) The loosing of every yoke and undoing of every heavy bur- den is now expected from thee. God hath loosed the yoke of Popery from our necks, which neither we nor our fathers could bear: and, God forbid we should lay any other yoke upon our brethren's neck, than what Jesus Christ hath laid, by his plain commands, upon all his disciples, or make any thing a term or condition of communion which himself hath not made so.
O let the groans and cri5s of oppressed consciences be heard no more from henceforth in England. Did not the Lord lately shake the rod of our common enemies over us all ? Had we not an ecclesiastical co?irt erected among us, which made those to tremble^ at whose bars others had trembled ? If our God hath been so good to us, beyond all examples or expectations, to deliver us from our feai's and danger ; surely he expects that those who have found mercy should be ready to shew mercy ; else we must expect he w^ill make good his threatening against us, James ii. 1 3. " He shall " have judgment without mercy that shewed no mercy ;" or im- nnerciful judgment, as xp/c/j av/Xs^;? maybe rendered; and the in- struments and executioners of his judgments are not so far off, but he can quickly hiss for them again, if we answer not to the voice and call of mercy.
(3.) A hearty and lasting union amongst all that fear God, is now justly expected from us. I never expect union and coalition betwixt the godly and ungodly, it will be as much as I can expect to see the wickedness of men restrained and curbed by good laws that they persecute not ; but renewing grace must change their hearts, and destroy their inbred enmity before they close with the people of God in love. Nor do I think
supercilums pharisees, or superstitious bigots, will inwardly and heartily affect the sincere and spiritual servants of Christ : it will be a mercy that they cannot afflict whom they do not fiffect : But I should hope that, in such a time as this, all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, and are animated by the same Spirit of grace and adop- tion, should now every where depose their wrath, compose their little differences ; and that their hearts be now melted in the sense of these great and common salvations into more love and union than ever. Such returns as these will be pleasing to the Lord, and the only methods of lengthening out England's tranquillity. And though my infirmities, as well as age, cut off my expectations of being much longer serviceable, or of enjoying long the mercies God is preparing for his people ; yet I should account it an extraordinary mercy to see these beginnings of mercy well improved, in order to those greater and better ones. Which brings me to the last observation which next comes to be opened and applied, viz.
Observation. That the beginnings of mercy and deliverance to the church, are convertible into so many aiguments and pleas in, prayer, Jor the perfection and consummation thereof.
The point lies clear and obvious in the text : To open it let us consider,
1. What the mercies were which are here called the begin* nings of mercv ?