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blow upon it; and why? faith the Lord of hofts: because of mine boufe that is waste, and ye run every man to his own boufe: therefore the Heaven over you is ftayed from dew, and the earth is ftayed from her fruit. And I wish there was not reason to make this melancholy application to ourselves: Hath there any one ever yet returned home from this place in peace, to enjoy the bleffings of his native land, with the fruits of his labours, fince the time that this House of GOD hath lain wafte? For from the leaft to the greatest every one is given to covetousnefs, and from the Prophet to the Priest every one hath dealt very treacherously. Jer. vi. 13.

But whatever judgments of reproach or poverty the long neglect of this facred building, almoft for the space of thirty years, hath brought upon our nation, our forefathers or ourselves, furely the rebuilding of it, in the best manner we are able, is the likelieft means of averting God's anger, and of bringing variety of bleffings upon us, and our pofterity after us. And therefore upon us it lies to fee that it be done; upon us, I say, who have the greatest share and intereft in the benefit; and this, I hope, will be inducement fufficient to go and fet about this neceffary work; which was the second thing proposed to be confidered; namely,

II. The encouragement here proposed for the doing this work, For the Lord is with thee. And what greater encouragement could we wish for or defire, than to have the Lord on our fide: for if he be for us, who can be againft us? The Lord is my light, and my falvation, faith the Royal Pfalmift, whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the ftrength of my life, of whom then fhall I be afraid? GOD's favour is our greatest happiness, and his loving

kindness

kindness better than the life itself. His mercy ufually entails a bleffing upon his people, and his faithfulness remains upon children's children; it affords the most comfortable afsurance of happiness in this life, and will be the very perfection of our enjoyments in the next.

For GoD is not unrighteous to forget fuch works and labour of love; and when he is pleased with us, what may we not hope for or expect from him? All these bleffings fhall come upon thee, and overtake thee, faith Mofes, fpeaking to the children of Ifrael; if thou shalt bearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God: bleffed fhalt thou be in the city, and bleffed fhalt thou be in the field: bleffed fhall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy fheep: bleffed fhall be thy basket, and blessed shall be thy ftore: bleed fhalt thou be when thou comeft in, and bleffed fhalt thou be when thou goeft out. Deut. xxviii. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Thefe and many more fuch bleffings are promifed to obedience in general, and therefore may well be expected from this fhining inftance of it, our charity in particular; and of all the gracious promises made to recommend charity in general, this of building and repairing Churches is in the highest degree the moft commendable and praiseworthy, inafmuch as it is of all others the most excellent fort of it; defigned more immediately for the fervice of God, and coming to us in the name of the Lord.

You have heard of the bleffing that attended the ark of GOD; how the Lord bleffed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertained unto him, because of the ark of God, which remained in his house; and if the receiving of the ark of GoD into his house was fo well-pleafing in his fight, how

:

how much more acceptable may we fuppofe the building an house for its reception and ufe?

But who is able, fays Solomon, to build an houfe for God; feeing the Heaven, and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him? much lefs that house which he had built for him, though the most magnificent in all the world. But fince it pleased GOD, out of mere love and condefcenfion to mankind, to have his Temple here on earth, and to place his name there; this was what induced that wife king in erecting that glorious and stately fabrick, to make up in ornament what it wanted in extent; and, fince it was in vain he faw, to enlarge its dimenfions, he refolved to adorn it sö much the more with richness, and beauty, and excellency of workmanship.

Now, though we cannot pretend to parallel thofe great and shining examples of Mofes his Tabernacle or Solomon's Temple, either in fplendor or magnificence, yet ftill we may in fome proportionate degree imitate their zeal and affection for God's honour, by a pious emulation to the utmost of our abilities; our honeft endeavours will prove never the worfe for having fo bright an example before us: for acts of charity, and other good works, like the facrifices of old, are accepted, not according to the value of the offering, but according to the ability and good will of the offerer; the perfon under the law, who was not able to bring a lamb, was to bring two turtles or two young pigeons; and in building the Tabernacle, goats hair and badgers fkins were an offering fufficient from thofe who had not wherewithal to give more; according to this fame rule of proportion, the widow's two mites, we read of in the gofpel, were looked upon as a greater prefent than all the offerings of the rich put together; For

all

they did caft in of their abundance into the treasury; but be of her want did caft in all that he had, even all ber living. Mark xxi. 44.

So that if there be firft a willing mind, which all may have, and none can be without, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not; a willing mind, I fay, for that is the life and foul of benefactions; it is that which conquers all difficulties, and renders all excufes vain. And, fince St Paul affures us, that GoD proportions the quality of the bleffing to the quantity of the gift, this fhould alfo encourage us to do all that ever we can in this matter, and even to ftraiten ourfelves to do GOD fervice, when need fhall fo require it: For be that foweth fparingly fhall reap fparingly, and he that Joweth bountifully fhall reap alfo bountifully; but let every man do according as he is difpofed in his heart, not grudgingly, or of neceffity, but willingly and cheerfully, for God loveth a cheerful giver: we need not be afraid of lofing any thing laid out after this manner; for we have the beft fecurity, when God himself stands bound for it, and is engaged for the payment; it is laying up in ftore a portion for hereafter, and a good foundation for the time to come.

Moreover, we fee the usefulness of good works, in that they conduce both to the honour of God, and the intereft of our religion; to God's honour, by promoting his fervice and worship; to the intereft of our religion, by preventing any causeless feparation from its communion; it is also a credit and advantage to the whole island, inafmuch as religion is, or ought to be, the chief concern and bufinefs of our whole lives; and when there is fuch a convenient provifion made for the free and open profeffion of it, it will be an encouragement to trade,

and

and a public indication of our faith and integrity. Besides, it is our fureft guard and defence against Popery, and a moft powerful argument and bulwark against Diffenters; a place of continual refort in profperity, and our greatest safe-guard in time of adverfity.

If ever, therefore, we expect to fee this ifland flourish and increase in honour, wealth, and power; if ever we hope for God's mercy and protection, or defire the light of his countenance to fhine either upon our counfels or endeavours, our families or ourselves, may we date these bleffings from the day that the foundation of this Church is laid? and may this Bleffing, not confined to time or place, diffuse itself beyond the circle of this royal settlement unto the neighbouring factories round about us! may their merchants carry out little, and bring in much; and when they have brought it home, may God breathe upon it, and multiply it exceedingly!

Then may we fay with holy David; Thou shalt arife, O Lord, and have mercy upon Sion: for it is time that thou have mercy upon ber; yea the time is come; and why? even because thy fervants think upon ber ftones, and it pitieth them to fee her in the duft. Then fball the heathen fear thy Name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy majefty; even when the Lord shall build up Sion, and when bis Glory fhall appear. This fhall be written for a memorial of us to thofe that come after, and the people which shall be born fball praise the Lord, Pfal. cii. 13-18.

In a word; may thofe be exalted to the highest degree of glory, and fhine forth as ftars of the firft magnitude, that fhall be thus happily inftrumental in promoting God's honour, in converting men from the error of their ways, and in C

turning

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