fenders of the Proteftant Religion in the Low Countries for the last Ages.

I fhall but briefly glance on a few things with respect to the late King William.

First, In regard of the Time and Manner of his Acceffion to the Crown.

Secondly, I fhall mention fome things remarkable during his Reign.

Thirdly, Take notice of fome special Circumstances attending the time of his Death.

First, We are to confider the Time and Manner of his late Majesty's Accession to the Crown: It was when a Defign was form'd to fetter our Liberties, and extirpate our Religion; when all things were almost ripe and ready for Exe cution, our Feet being in the Snare before we perceiv'd it was spread for us: the flattering Promises of a Popish Prince having shock'd our common Prudence, fo that our Enemies began to triumph and to infult us as they had done our Laws. Even at this desperate Juncture did our late Sovereign enterprize our Deliverance, and hazard his own Perfon to fave a finking Nation, and to relieve the Reformed Churches. And nothing could difcourage this Prince, tho many Difficulties met him in this Noble Undertaking; for God was on his fide, and ftruck his Enemies with a panick fear, fo that they were fuddenly fcatter'd as Duft before the Wind, and the People of England were prepar'd to receive him with Acclamations of Joy. Providence conducted him to the Throne of thefe Realms, not through a Sea of Blood, for we were not conquer'd, but confented, in the Repre

Representative Body of the Nation, to receive William and Mary as our Rightful and Lawful Sovereigns. Now as the Time and Manner of the late King's Acceffion to the Crown did endear him to us, fo it deeply aggravates our Lofs, and gives a terrible Accent to our Sorrows. But,

Secondly, Let us glance on a few things very remarkable during the Reign of the late King WILLIAM. Immediately after his Settlement on the Throne, he enter'd into a War with France, and in his own Perfon engag'd from time to time at the Head of his Army, where he always signaliz'd himself for his Prudence and Courage. He was as well acquainted with the difficult Arts of Government, as the noble Stratagems of War; fo that I fhall not fcruple to say of him, that he was the Greatest Statefman, as well as the most Renowned Hero of the Age.

What Difficulties did he struggle through, and vanquish at the Boyn, where his Prefervation was equal to his Succefs, both of them great? So that what our King did there will be reckon'd by Pofterity amongst the most remarkable Atchievements of War; for in that Expedition it was very vifible, God had girded him with Strength unto Battel. And in many other Inftances did his watchful Providence discover its care of his Majesty's Perfon, preferving it by a Succeffion of Wonders, against the Inftruments of Death abroad, as well as from the murdering Hands of bloody Affaffins at home. I forbear to recite the Battels our Prince fought, and the Victories he won; his regulating the debas'd Coin of the Nation at

a very critical and hazardous Juncture; the Honourable Peace he procur'd, and the Check he gave to the Infolence and Pride of an Arbitrary Prince, who was afpiring after Univerfal Monarchy: not doubting but that you'll meet with all these in his History. Indeed if his pretended Friends fhould be ungratefully filent, and forget him after his Death, his Enemies will record his Vertues, and speak of his Valour. What Age ever produc'd a Prince of fuch Mildness and Lenity? a Prince that did Juftice without Revenge, that fhew'd Mercy without Weakness, was kind to the unthankful, heaping Coals of Fire upon the heads of his Enemies. He was the Refuge of thofe Protestants that fled for their Religion, as well as the common Father of his own People, which he eminently discover'd by his extraordinary Clemency and great Moderation, carrying it with an even hand betwixt contending Parties, fo that be deferv'd to be call'd, The Healer of our Breaches, and the Reftorer of Paths to dwell in: for he well knew that domeftick Divifions would put us into greater danger than a Foreign Power.

But further, like one that lov'd his People, and had a deep Concern for their Happiness, he did conftantly in his excellent Speeches from the Throne, recommend Reformation of Manners, thereby fcattering away Evil with his Eyes.

And how great Concern did this Prince difcover for Posterity, by his earnest and feafonable recommending to the late Parliament the Succeffion to the Crown in the Proteftant Line, thereby extinguifhing the hopes of a Suppofititious Heir, to make the clearer way for that admirable Princefs that now fills the Throne? So that however fome Male-contents have been

unea fy

uineafy under his Administration, yet the Generations to come will call him Bleffed; because if the Religion and Liberties of England be tranfmitted to late Pofterity, the Poffeffors thereof will be indebted for them to the Care of this excellent Prince, under the Providence of God. For what excellent Laws have been enacted during his Reign, and what care did he take to improve his Intereft and Time in concluding Alliances with Foreign Princes and States, in order to reduce the exorbitant Power of France, that England might still hold the Ballance of Europe? So that, in fhort, he has rais'd the Honour of the English Nation, and acquir'd to himself fuch a juft Esteem abroad, that all Foreign Princes and States have reckon'd him as the Center and Soul of our whole Alliance, as well as the Arbiter of Europe. But alas! this Great Prince in the midst of his Noble Designs has his Health impair'd by Distempers, and his Body finks down under the uncommon Weight of a fatiguing Reign into the Duft of Death: and this leads me to confider,

Thirdly, The Circumftances that attended the Death of the late King William, which together with the things I have already mention'd, greatly aggravate our Lofs, and justify our folemn Mourning.

He was taken away at a time when his Expe rience had to a very great degree ripen'd him for Counfel, and cultivated his excellent Noti ons of Government: At a time when we wanted his Direction and Conduct: At a time when we hop'd God had much Work for him to do, and we had rais'd Expectations of his enter

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prizing

prizing Great things: At a time when we needed him to go forth in the Head of our Armies. But alas! alas! on a fudden we lofe our King and our Hopes together. Lord, what have we loft!

A Prince that deliver'd us from Popery and Arbitrary Power.

A Prince that was for reforming our Land, as well as fighting our Battels.

A Prince that had every thing in him to render his Government a Happiness to all his Subjects.

A Prince that prudently fway'd the Scepter of Peace, as well as courageoufly manag'd the Sword of War.

A Prince whofe mild Government proclaim'd him to be the brightest Example of Clemency and Good-Nature.

A Prince who had the greatest Honour, and the largest Intereft in all Europe.

A Prince endear'd to us by the Hazards he ran, and the Deliverances God wrought for him.

A Prince that was the Terror of the Papal Hierarchy.

A Prince (if I may fay fo of any fince the Exit of good Jofiah) that was the Breath of our Noftrils, the Anointed of the Lord, the Delight of our Eyes, and the Joy of our Hearts.

A Prince that adorn'd the Crown he wore, while we were bleft with the happy Influence of his Government; but the Shadow of Death has ftain'd our English Glory.

I clofe this rude and imperfect Character with only adding, that bleffed be God, He that did not fear Death in the Field, was as undaunted when it approach'd him in his Pa

lace;