Happy is that People that is in fuch a Cafe: Tea, Happy is that People whofe God is the Lord.

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MONGST the various Thoughts that prefent themselves to our Minds, none are more agreeable than thofe, which relate to our own Hap pinefs. There's a particular Satisfaction that attends both a Review of Bleffings receiv'd, and a Contrivance for those we want; and this, befides the Pleafure of it, Providence invites us to this Merning. 'Twas not long fince, that God was pleased to beftow a fignal Bleffing on this Kingdom on this Day: He then by a kind Hand led to our Throne, one who has prov'd a Nurfing Mother to us her Subjects: And how can we better begin this joyful Day, than by confidering the publick Mercies we fhare in, and what is further neceffary to make us a happy

Nation?

THIS Practice we have an encouraging Example of before us; for David, the facred Penman of this Pfalm, having gratefully remembred the Favours he and his People had received, and reckon'd up, and pray'd for what he ftill defir'd, in my Text (according to our Tranflation) he anticipated their Happinefs when his Requests fhould be granted: Happy is that People that is in fuch a Cafe.

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IN treating of thefe Words, I fhall not confine my felf to the State of Ifrael, to which they particularly refer; but shall beg leave to obferve this Method.

I. TO fhew you what Things are required to make a Nation or People happy.

II. HOW we may obtain and prolong these Blef fings. And

III. THEN conclude with fome fuitable Reflections on the whole.

I, I shall mention to you the Things that are required to make a People happy.

1ft. ONE Thing required, is good Government, a Freedom from Licentionfness on one Hand, and Absolute Monarchy on t'other.

THE Beauty of the visible World confifts much in the wife Difproportion of its Parts. To fee an humble Valley, and then a tall Mountain, at once overlooking and defending it, is a very pleafing Profpect. And one of the greatest Ornaments to a Kingdom, is a proper Diftinction in its Members: For a Body to be without a Head, or with one that overloads and oppreffes it, is equally monftrous: And for a People to be without a Governour, or with one left to his own Rage and Fury, is equally grievous. Should Anarchy obtain amongst us, was every one to be his own Judge and Lawgiver, we fhould run into endless Confufions; there would be no Safety or Security, but as 'tis amongst the Inhabitants of the Forrest, the Weak must fall a Prey to the Strong, and the Meek and Innocent to the more Cruel and Devouring. Was an unlimited Monarch advanced to our Throne, one that was neither circumfcribed by Lawhimself, nor gave any but his Will to his People, he may at pleasure act the Tyrant, and we muft fubmit like tame Slaves: Nothing we poffeft could be call'd our own; this arbitrary King, as the Prophet expreffes it, 1 Sam. 8. might

Might take our Sons, and appoint them for himself, our Daughters to be Confectionaries, our Fields, and Vineyards, and Olive-yards, even the best of them, and give them to his Servants; our Men-Servants and Maid-Servants, and goodlieft young Men and Alfes, and put them to his Work, and we should be his Servants. Then we fhould have no Incouragement for Increafe or Improvement; for when we had lain in our best Provisions, should this Lyon grafp it in his Paw, like the meaner Herd we must fly and leave it: Then we fhould have no Liberty or Freedom left, but fhould be forced to fubmit to any Chains by which he should confine or load us. To be plac'd therefore between these two Extremes, must be fafeft and most defirable. To be fway'd by a measured Scepter; to fit beneath a fixed and yet fufficiently exalted Throne, must be necessary to the Happiness of a People. 2dly. Another Thing required to make a People happy, is the pure Religion and Worship of God.

Let a Nation be cloathed with all the Charms of Wealth and Greatnefs; if it has nothing elfe to recommend it, 'twill make but a poor and mean Figure. There's fomething to be regarded by Mankind, befides the external Ornament: The rational World must be judg'd, not fo much by outward Appearance, as the internal Furniture and Accomplishment. Men have Souls as well as Bodies, and unless they are handfomly adorned, they have but little, very little, to boast of. As long as Ignorance, Superftition, or Idolatry cloud a Nation, in vain does the Sun of Profperity fhine upon it. 'Tis not a grand Alliance, a brisk Trade, or Security from Enemies, that can eftablish the Happiness of a Kingdom: The Safety and Felicity of Societies, is owing to God alone: All the Mercies that fall on any part of the World, are dropt from Heaven; and tho' they are fometimes, yet they are not ufually rain'd indifferently on any Soil: But God, like a wife Husbandman, fcatters his Favours moft on that Ground that produces best. If we trace the Footsteps of Antiquity, look into either facred or prophane Hiftory, we fhall find, that our Hea

venly Father has been very different in his Carriage to his Children: The Perverse and Stubborn have been feverely chastised, whereas the Dutiful and Obedient have been cherished, rewarded, and encouraged. When the Ifraelites, God's peculiar People, went aftray from their Fold; God, their Shepherd, departed from them, fuffered them to fall a Prey to fuch as worried and devoured them: But as foon as ever they difcovered their Wanderings, and were willing to return to their ancient Paftore, he gladly received them, and willingly fed and led them again. When they turned not afide from following the Lord, but ferved him with all their Hearts, be for his great Name's Sake, would not forfake them: But if they did wickedly, they and their King were to be confumed, 1 Sam. 12. latter part of that Chapter. Solomon's Remark is continually verify'd, That tho' Sin is a Reproach to any People, Righteousness exalteth a Nation, Prov. 14. 34. In God's Church, as well as in his Temple of old, his Glory may be seen. Where the Ark is lodg'd, the People, like Obededom, are generally bleffed. They who rightly bow at the Footstool, are mercifully regarded from the Throne: They who embrace God's Revelations, honour his Inftitutions, follow his Directions, add nothing to, nor diminish from his prefcribed Worfhip; thofe are particularly and fignally loved and favoured: Whereas they who reject those Discoveries he has made, and thofe Rules he has given; or, if they receive them, are not content with their Plainnefs, but must adorn or compleat them by their own Inventions, furely fuch reflect on the Wisdom, queftion the Mercy, and ufurp the Government of God, and fhall one time or other be remarkably punifhed. Therefore the true, the pure Religion, is abfolutely necessary to the Happiness of a People.

3dly. ANOTHER Thing required to make a People happy, is Liberty of Confcience in religious Matters.

AS there's a vaft Variety in the material World, fo is there in the World of Spirits. Men fcarce differ more in their Stature and Complexion, than they do in

their