war is ambition, and who promise themselves no other rewards, than the spoils of their innocent neighbours. In one word; that which completes his character, and adds the brightest lustre to it, is the religious regard he has ever paid to the influence of heaven in all his affairs. The settlement of the Protestant succession in his illustrious house, was an event wherein the hand of Providence signally appeared: nor did he forget to express his sense of this, when it first took effect in the peaceable accession of his royal father to the erown and dignity of these realms. During the several vicissitudes of his reign, we have seen him publicly implore the direction and blessing of Almighty God: and when victory has declared itself on his side, we have heard him with great reverence and gratitude ascribe praise to the same God, saying, in the language of David, whom he imitated in this as well as his other virtues, I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me but thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us a. Such was the character of this great and excellent prince; I should rather say, such are the outlines of his character, and so nearly, even in this general view of him, did he resemble David himself. Nor is the similarity less obvious in the circumstances mentioned in our text. Length of days, riches, and honour, were the liberal rewards they each enjoyed. Seventy and seven years 6 he lived, an age which exceeded even that of David: and thirty and three years he reigned, a period which few of his ancestors attained. His riches, I need not tell you, were far more considerable than any British monarch before him ever possessed. Of this, his numerous fleets and armies, his large acquisitions abroad, the prodigious trade of his people to all parts of the world, and the amazing supplies that have been yearly raised for defraying the expences of the present war, are a sufficient proof. All which instances of his greatness, have not failed to awaken the astonishment of Europe, and to command that respect from foreign powers, to which the favour of Providence hath justly intitled him. The cheerfulness also, with which his people have thus contributed b Within sixteen days. a Psal. xliv. 6, 7. to the support of the just and prudent measures of his administration, and the unanimity that has happily prevailed among them, as they have secured the highest reputation to his government, in the view of all the world; so they have shewn him to be possessed of the hearts of his subjects—an honour which every good king will account the greatest, next to the favour of God himself. With truth therefore it may be affirmed of him, that he died in a good old age, full of days, riches and honour. Happy Prince! Thus raised up by God, to humble the pride and restrain the power of haughty tyrants; to assist his oppressed neighbours against the violent attempts of Popish enemies; and, like a tender father, to guard the liberties, and promote the interests, of a dutiful and affectionate people. May his name ever live, not in the records of history only; but in the hearts of all those who have felt the blessings of his just, mild, and gracious administration ! But, while we thus lament his loss, let us remember that he, as well as David, has left a successor on his throne of fair and promising expectations—a Prince who we trust inherits, not the dominions only; but the virtues of his Royal Ancestor: and who appears in this high station, with this advantage above most of his predecessors, that he has been trained to government under the reign of the best of Kings, and been formed to the duties of humanity and goodness, under the instructions of the best of Princesses-A Princess, whose name will shine in history, with this additional lustre to all her excellent qualifications, that through the favour of Heaven she is the royal mother of GEORGE THE THIRD. To him the princes, and the mighty men, and the sons of the king, and all the people, have submitted themselves; as they did to Solomon of old a. Nor will they, I hope, forget to offer the like fervent prayers to heaven on his behalf which ascended from the lips of Israel and Judah on that occasion b. Give thy judgments, O God, to the king, and thy righteousness to him that ruleth over us. Let him judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. Let him a 1 Chron. xxix. 23, 24. b Psal. lxxii. save the children of the needy; and break in pieces the oppressor. Let him come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. In his days let the righteous flourish; and let there be an abundance of peace in our land. And since, through thy blessing on the arms of our late sovereign, thou hast given him dominion from sea to sea, hast made them that dwell in the wilderness bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust of his feet; let the kings of the earth acknowledge his power, and his people offer him the cheerful tribute of dutiful and constant obedience. Let prayer may be made continually for him: and let him reign with wisdom, equity, and moderation: and with increasing happiness, splendour, and prosperity, to the latest period. It remains that I now close what has been said, 1. How great a blessing is a good King! a Prince of a wise, honest, and generous heart; who fears God, and loves his people! Such, surely, do most justly merit our highest esteem, and our warmest gratitude; since, by their hands, Providence dispenses to us the blessings of peace and plenty; since he appoints them the guardians of our lives and liberties; and since knowledge and virtue flourish chiefly, through the encouragement they receive from their influence and example. What an unspeakable privilege this is, we have learnt, not by mere speculation, the only way in which most countries conceive of it; but by experience; for we have been the happy people, who have seen, felt, and enjoyed this great blessing. O what thankfulness should possess all our hearts; especially theirs, who have any sense of religion impressed on their spirits! Can we read of the cruelties exercised in some former reigns, and hear of the miseries which our Protestant brethren abroad suffer, for the sake of God and a good conscience; and not feel in our breasts every sentiment of gratitude, that can be conceived, to that infinitely good God who has cast our lot in this happy island, and given us existence in so bright an æra of the British history? May we ever retain a due sense of these things on our minds, and constantly express it, by the most cheerful and loyal obedience to our great and excellent Sovereign! As we fear God let us honour the king a : and ever lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty b. 2. From what has been said we are naturally led to reflect on the vanity of the world. How uncertain, how transitory, are all present enjoyments! Death holds an universal empire: his dominion reaches over the whole earth. He inhabits every place; knocks in his turn at every door; and obliges every creature to submit to his authority. Princes, you see, with all their power, and wealth, and policy, cannot bribe him; nor is the poorest peasant beneath his notice. The fairest palace cannot shut him out; nor does the meanest cottage pass unobserved. The fathers where are they? The kings do they live for ever c? Where are the heroes of ancient times, that gave laws to the whole world, and carried their arms into the most distant parts of it? Their wisdom, their fame, their power, could not make them immortal. Those lips which have spoke truth, and peace, and goodness from the throne, are closed in silence and death: and those hands, that have wielded the sword to the terror of thousands, are become inactive in the dark and cold grave. Such ere long will be our lot. Happy they who are prepared for this great event! Happy they who are formed into a noble indifference to the uncertain enjoyments of this world! Thrice happy they, who in the joyful expectations of a better state, can triumph over the last enemy in the language of an apostle! O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ d, In one word, 3. Is the breath of kings in their nostrils; and do they possess their crowns on the uncertain tenure of human life? Let us learn then not to put our trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. Their breath goeth forth, they return to the earth: in that very day their thoughts perish e. But there is a God who liveth for ever, and whose a 1 Pet. ii. 17. b1 Tim. ii. 2. c Zech. i. 5. dominion endureth unto all generations. On him may our confidence be immoveably fixed, while we rejoice in the power and grace of Jesus his Son, who, when all the grandeur of this world hath vanished away, shall reign happy and glorious, amidst the never-ceasing praises of those, whom he hath redeemed by his blood, and made kings and priests unto God for evermore a, a Rev. v. 9, 10, |