hezekiah's thanksgiving for his recovery.
Isai. xxxviii. 20. The Lord tvas ready to save me: therefore ive will sing my songs to the stringed instruments, all the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.
TO make public acknowledgments to God for national mercies is a duty so evident, that persons of all characters and denominations are forward to the performance of it. The very heathens thought that they had not properly testified their joy on account of any signal victories or deliverances, till they had made some public procession to the temples of their deities, or offered sacrifices to their honour. A greater cause for thankfulness than that which we are now assembled to commemorate, England scarce ever sawa. A sove- reign, who, for his excellent qualities in domestic life, stands almost unrivalled ; a sovereign, who is truly the father of his people ; a sovereign, who is, if I may so speak, the idol of the nation which he governs, is restored to health from the most afflictive of all dis- orders, and to the government of his kingdom at the very moment it was to be transferred to other hands : what cause for joy and thankfulness is this! And indeed ye have already in some measure testified your joy; and I would hope the reality was as universal as the appearance : but surely we should not rest satisfied with such demonstrations of joy; we should have our lamps trimmed and our lights burning within us : we should have a sacred flame kindled in our hearts; and we should endeavour to excite others to rejoice with us. When David was brought, as he tells us, into the dust of death, and, in answer to his prayer, was
a Preached on the occasion of the recovery of his late Majesty, George III. March 15, 17S9.