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and diffolving parliaments, chufing and nominating commanders, and other officers for the flet or army, counsellors alfo. and officers of ftate,-together with that of bestowing all honours of higher and lower nobility, at what time, and upon what perfons, he pleafeth. Thefe are fome of the great lines of that extenfive power, lodged by Britain in her king, which, as it is fufficient to fecure the refpect due to enthroned majesty, should ftir up Christians to the faithful difcharge of the duties prefcribed by our apoftle, that the fovereign may be under the direction and influence of heaven, in the exertion of it,

"All that are in authority," have likewife, by the apoftle's warrant, a claim upon Chriftians, for the concern to which our text has a respect. And as we imagine that civil authority is particularly intended, our prefent view fhall be confined accordingly.

The king, as was faid, is the fountain of all civil authority and honour, the prerogative of making laws excepted; and, therefore, in exercifing a due concern about him, Christians may be faid to exercile a concern about "all in authority."

The true intereft of the fubjects, however, depending fo much on those in eminent places, as the phrafe might be rendered, it may not be unufeful to put you in mind of fome of these eminent places, or perfons filling them, which have a fcriptural demand on the Chriftian's concern before God.

And fhall we proceed to this, with crore God.

admiring and adoring the divine goodnefs, in the wisdom that has appeared in our king's council, the faithfulness in his miniftry, the bravery in his army, the intrepidity in his navy, and the harmony amongst all his fervants, for feveral years paft? Thefe qualities my brethren, of thofe in authority,

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animated by the complication of them all, in their late royal mafter, have rendered Britain refpectable amongst different nations abroad, as well as endeared the eminent perfons themselves to their countrymen at home. And has not our present fovereign, given realon for the further exercise of that gratitude to Jehovah our God, in the jud cious meafure of continuing these fervants, in their respective offices, at leaft, for several months to come? Who knows but this is the refult of his asking, and getting wisdom from that God, "who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not?" Can you ever reflect on his retiring to his clofet, if public fame may be trufted, when firft informed of the crown devolving upon him, without imagining that you fee the royal, the lovely youth, proftrate before the King of kings, and hear him, in the words of an illuftrious eastern monarch, fay, "Give therefore, O "Lord my God, unto thy fervant, an understand"ing heart, to judge thy people, that I may dif "cern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy fo great a people ?" Kings in. 9. May the event demonftrate, that the fame anfwer was given to him, from the hearer of prayer, which young Solomon received, Behold, I have "done according to thy words," verf. 12.

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To return. The eminent perfons, whom Chriftians should remember, with concern, at the throne of grace, are thofe who are fo,either in refpect of extraction or office. The former include the whole peerage and grandees of the nation, with others, whole circumftances in the world, fet them on a level, for influence and capacity of ufefulnefs. Thefe, though employed in no office of the state or the crown, have much in their power, toward promoting or fuppreffing the interefts of true Chrifanity; and, therefore, that Chriftians may lead the

quiet and peaceable life mentioned by the apostle, it is ufeful, it is neceffary, that fuch perfons be comprehended in their "fupplications, prayers, in"terceffions, and thankfgivings."

In this paffage, however, it is more than probable, that thofe eminent in refpect of office, are more chiefly pointed out. Being entrusted by their king or country, with the concerns of the nation, the manner in which that trust is discharged, may, nay, muft infallibly affect the intereft of individuals.

Those with whom the legislative power is lodged, claim our firft regard; that public ftatutes may be always public bleffings; and, if in any thing, oppreffion is enacted, that it may, by their authority, be repealed.

The king's council is an eminent place, and all it's members are men in authority; that, therefore, they may fo confult and advife, in what comes before them, as fhall moft fecure the honour of their fovereign, and the good of their country, should be the burden of the Chriftian's concern in their behalf.

The fecretaries of state are in fuch eminent place, as makes them no lefs need the interceffion of Chriftians, than it intitles them to it. The receiving and making all difpatches from or to foreign parts; the reprefenting the fubjects to the fovereign, and the fovereign to the fubjects, as to addreffes and anfwers; the preparing bufinefs for the council-board, and making propofals of public concern to them. Thefe and fuch things are their immediate province, and, on the right discharge of them, it is eafy to fee how much the common good must neceffarily depend. Need I put you in mind of the fingular benefits Britain and her colonies have reaped from that very quarter, fince the commencement of the prefent war? The minifterial character has been highly honoured in

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the diligence, capacity, refolution, patriotism, and other diffufive virtues, fo illuftriously difplayed in the conduct of one, equally trufted by his king, and admired by his country. Without meaning to derogate from the praife juftly due to his noble and illuftrious colleague, the miniftry of a Pit will cut a refplendent figure in the British annals, long after we are gathered to our fathers.

The gentlemen of the fword may be confidered, as likewife in authority, or eminent places: those of them we mean, who command in the fleet or army, and are entrusted by the government, with the execution of the most important orders. The peculiar rifque they run, and danger to which they are expofed, fhould recommend them, and their brave followers, to the special concern of the church of Chrift.

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Need we mention the eminent places of judges and magiftrates through the land, as what inftruct their right to the "fupplications, prayers, inter

ceffions, and thanksgivings," of Chriftians? To their interpretation of the laws, and interpofition of authority, our peace and quiet, as men and Chriftians, are more immediately owing; and, therefore, by a particular concern for them, our gratitude to God should be more immediately expreffed.

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The college of justice, in particular, has, to this kingdom, been, generally, and with great truth, confidered as the moft fubftantial bleffing; for the fenators of it are not only a proper check upon all inferior and lefs qualified courts; but the manner of their procedure in judgment is fo modelled, that the mean and obfcure are equally encouraged to expect the fairest hearing, and jufteft deliverance, from that bench, with the noble and the great.

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Taking that court complexly,-in the characters and fuperior abilities of the judges, the extent of their privileges, the greatnefs of their power, the length of their attendance, the order, decorum, and folemnity of their forms, the number and erudition of their barristers, together with the weight and influence of their decifions, it will, in Europe itself, be equalled by few courts of judicature, fcarce excelled by any. While, therefore, Chriftians should exercise a holy gratitude to God, for fuch an effectual fecurity from the caprice and oppreffion of their fellow fubjects, they are indifpenfibly bound to make interceffions for fuch as have the honour to fill thofe eminent places, that the fpirit of their station may be given them; and that, in the faithful and judicious difcharge of their office, they may, under God, be for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praife of them that do 'well.

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The end, to themfelves, that Chriftians may pro. pole by fuch concern for kings, and all that are "in authority," fhould next fall under our view; namely, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable "life, in all godliness and honefty." The kingdom of Chrift is a kingdom of peace, and the end of it is quietnefs for ever; godlinefs, as Chriftians, and honefty, as men, are equally the ambition and endeavour of all its fubjects: every lawful mean," to ward the enjoyment of fuch quietnefs and peace, fo as to have freedom to exercife godliness and honesty, is incumbent on them: that prescribed in our text, is not only lawful, but laudable; not only fo, but vaftly conducive to the end in view; wherefore, without excluding motives of the generous and difinterefted kiad, it is evidently the intereft, as well as the duty, of Chriftians, to make fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving

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