vereign has the diftinguished glory of governing a free people, the leaft of whom is protected by the laws, in fuch a manner, that, until condemned by his own peers, he cannot be put to death. The very poffeffions, as well as perfons, of Britons are fo defended, that the meaneft fubject cannot be forced, without a parliamentary authority, to part with his own property. And, though the whole executive, and a principal fhare in the legislative, power, is lodged in the British monarch, it is neither his prerogative to counteract established laws, nor folely to impofe new statutes: nay, the fovereign's claims upon those over whom he fways the fcepter, muft be made, and can only be effected, by due courfe of law; and, what crowns our privileges as British fubjects, the fovereign himself, in his officers of ftate, may be fued, and caft in his own courts. When fuch a happy conftitution is compared with that of other nations, how dear, to us, should our fovereign be, who has accepted the regal office, upon conditions fo fafe for the fubjects, as well as honourable for himself? And with what diftinguishing infamy does their ingratitude deferve to be branded, who make no confcience of the Christian duties of fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and thankf"givings," for him.

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But, while the British monarch is fo reftricted by law, as the loyal and obedient fubject has nothing to fear, he is juftly cloathed with fuch power and authority, as, from every thinking perfon, muft challenge veneration and refpect. Befides the whole Exccutive power of the laws, which includes the right of filling every chair in the different courts of judicature, his fole prerogative extends to the making of peace or war, fending or receiving ambaffadors, entering into leagues and treaties with foreign ftates, convoking, adjourning, proroguing,

and

and diffolving parliaments, chufing and nominating commanders, and other officers for the fleet or army, counfellors 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 pleaseth. These 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 majefty, should stir up Chriftians to the faithful discharge of the duties prefcribed by our apostle, that the fovereign may be under the direction and influence of heaven, in the exertion of it.

And

"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. 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 exercising a due concern about him, Christians may be faid to exercite a concern about "all in authority."

The true intereft of the fubjects, however, depending fo much on thofe in eminent places, as the phrafe might be rendered, it may not be unuseful 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 shall we proceed to this, without admiring and adoring the divine goodnefs, in the wifdom 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 past? Thefe qualities my brethren, of thofe in authority,

animated

3

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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 perions themielves to their countrymen at home. And has not our prefent fovereign, given reason for the further exercife of that gratitude to Jehovah our God, in the jud cious meafure of continuing thele lervants, in their respective offices, at least, for feveral months to come? Who knows but this is the refult of his afking, and getting wildom 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 fift 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 caffern monarch, fay, "Give therefore, O "Lord my God, unto thy fervant, an understanding 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 iii. 2. May the event demonftrate, that the fame an"fwer was given to him, from the hearer of prayer, which young Solomon received, "Behold, I have done according to thy words," ver. 12.

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To return The eminent perfons, whom Chriftians fhould 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 usefulness. Thefe, though employed in no office of the ftatc or the crown, have much in their power, toward promoting or fuppreffing the interefts of true Chriflianity; and, therefore, that Chriftians may lead the

quiet

quiet and peaceable life mentioned by the apoftle, 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 proba ble, 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 truft is discharged, may, nay, muft infallibly affect the intereft of individuals.

Thofe with whom the legislative power is lodg ed, claim cur first 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 most secure the honour of their fovereign, and the good of their country, fhould be the burden of the Chriftian's concern in their behalf.

The fecretaries of ftate 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 business for the council-board, and making propofals, of public concern to them. Thefe and fuch things are their immediate province, and, on the right difcharge of them, it is eafy to fee how much the common good muft 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 present war? The ministerial character has been highly honoured in

the

the diligence, capacity, refolution, patriotism, and other diffusive virtues, fo illuftriously displayed 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 exposed, should recommend them, and their brave followers, to the special concern of the church of Chrift.

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 Christians, are more immediately owing; and, therefore, by a particular concern for them, our gratitude to God fhould be more immediately expressed.

The college of juftice, 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.

Taking