5,6,7.

Therefore let us hand down the Knowledg of these things from Age to Age, that upon a ferious review of them, both we and our Children may be encourag'd to hope in the Mercy, and truft in the Arm of the Lord of Hofts. And for this very end, God gave a Law in Ifrael, that they fhould fhew to Posterity the Pfal. 78. 4, Praises of the Lord, his Strength, and the wonderful Works he has done. For he establish'd a Teftimony in Jacob, and appointed a Law in Ifrael, which he commanded our Fathers, that they should make them known to their Children: That the Generations to come might know them, even the Children which fhould be born; who should arise and declare them to their Children: That they might fet their hope in God, and not forget the Works of God; but keep his Commandments.

2dly, How reasonable is it that we should praise God with the most exalted Vigour, as well for the late mighty Acts of his Providence, as for those of an antienter date! I hope many of us have a warm and a lively fenfe of the great Goodness of God to us, in the astonishing Succefs of her Majefty's Arms, and thofe of her Allies, under the Command of the Duke of Marlborough. And if our Minds are futably affected with the late glorious Victory, for which we are affembled to praise God, we fhall not make a faint and languishing Acknowledgment, but engage all the active Powers of our Minds, that we may praise him according to his excellent Greatness. To promote which end, let me prevail with you to confider the following things.

1. How little reafon we had to expect that Divine Providence fhould caft the Victory on our fide, when our Iniquities were fo many

and

and aggravated against Heaven. Surely we are a finful People, a Nation laden with Iniquity, a Seed of evil doers, Children that are Corrupters. The Peace that we have had at home has render'd us ftupid, and our Plenty has been abus'd by Exceffes.

England has been the Theatre of God's Judgments as well as the Scene of his Wonders: What an amazing Judgment was the late Storm! Yet equally amazing is it that the Impreffion it made should be fo foon worn out, and that aweful Warning no better improv'd! How do Men lay the Reins on the Neck of their Lufts, and outrage God with his own Benefits? How have we fpurn'd at the Bowels that founded towards us, and lifted up our Heels against him who has often stretch'd forth his Arm for our Salvation? Astonishing Goodnefs! that God fhould appear for fo wicked and unthankful a People as we are, and make our Arms Victorious. Let this Confideration greatly excite us to praife the Lord of Hofts.

2. Confider the Seafonablenefs of this late Victory: Our Affairs had a very melancholy Afpect at home, the Spirit of a Party had too much prevail'd and divided the common Intereft and Strength; and abroad almost all lay at the hazard of a Battel. Now at this critical Junature did Providence interpofe, and give the Victory on our fide; nothing fure could have been more opportune: Let therefore the Seafonablenefs of this Victory inspire as with futable fervour, and give a sprightly accent to the Hallelujahs we fing this day.

3. Confider the Greatnefs of this Victory: The French themfelves call the Day that it was obtain'd, the fatal, and mortal Day. And

if

if we take the number of the flain from their own Accounts, 'tis extraordinary; probably a more entire Victory has not been obtain'd in the last Age, in any part of Europe.

We know fome Princes abroad have boafted of Victories they never obtain'd, and have harry'd their poor Slaves to the Temple to fing Te Deum, when their Armies have been beaten in the Field.

How has a neighbouring Monarch brib'd his own Historians to publish partial Accounts, that by hiding Danger from his People, he might keep up the Vigour of their Spirits!

But the glorious Victory we praise God for this day is fo real and compleat, that we need not fear the Light, but leave our Enemies to tell the Story; for 'tis remarkable, that all the Accounts that have come fince the Battel was fought at Bleinheim, rather enlarge than leffen the Succeffes and the Triumphs of that never-to-be-forgotten Day. Now the Greatnefs of this Victory is yet more visible, if we confider that the Flower and Glory of France, the best disciplin'd Troops that Prince had, were ingag'd against us; and at the head of them fome of the bravest Officers that have appear'd in fight, fuch as had been us'd to lead out to Battel, and to lead on to Victory; Troops the French King thought almost invincible, they having fo often fetch'd home Victories thro Fields of Blood: and not only the French Generals, but the Elector of Bavaria must be acknowledg'd a Man of an Enterprizing and Martial Genius; and one that formerly had fpread his conquering Banners in the Plains of Vienna, and had been honour'd with Succefs and Victory in many Battels. Moreover,

their Number was fuperior to ours, and they had very much the Advantage of the Ground: And fo confident were our Enemies of Succefs, that they took no care to fecure their Retreat, who were not us'd to be wanting in that respect. But notwithstanding all these things, we have obtain❜d an entire Victory to that the greatest part of the French Army was either flain in the Field, or push'd into the Danube.

Sometimes a great Army is defeated, when yet the greatest part of them efcape; but here it was quite otherwife: Our Enemies were gi- Ifa. 41. 2. ven as Duft to the Sword of our General, and as driven Stubble to his Bow. Indeed the Dispute between the two Armies was hot and long; but the greater the Hazard in the Combat, the brighter the Glory in the Iffue. 'Tis number'd among the Glories of the great Captain Hannibal, that he refolv'd to besiege Rome, tho he was never able to lead his Army within the view of her Walls. But what then fhall we fay of the matchlefs Courage of her Majesty's Captain-General, who did not only march an English Army into the very heart of the German Empire to engage one more numerous, but when one Wing of ours began to give way, had the Prudence and the Prefence of Mind to rally it again, which under God turn'd the Scale? So that once more the World has had a fignal Inftance of English Bravery, under the Influence and Bleffing of Heaven: For 'tis the Lord's doing, and it ought to be marvellous in our Eyes.o

14. Confider what kind of Enemies, they were, which Heaven has vanquifh'd by her Majesty's Forces; fuch as are falfe and treache rous, full of Mischief and all Subtilty, whofe

tender

tender Mercies are cruel, a People profound for Slaughter, very expert in the use of those Wea pons that devour Flesh. God has profper'd our Arms against a Prince, whofe exhorbitant Power and boundless Ambition have push'd him forward to afpire after a Univerfal Monarchy: One that has stoop'd to all the bafe Methods, that could be fram'd by Earth or Hell, to ac complish his Designs.

How has he perfecuted and destroy'd his own Subjects, and with what Treachery and Bafenefs has he acted towards his Neighbours? bidding an open defiance to Honour and Religion, breaking all folemn Engagements and Treaties, upon the least prospect he had to enlarge his Dominions, and to prepare his way for Univerfal Empire.

Indeed, WILLIAM the Third, of glorious memory, gave frequent Checks to the Ambition of this Prince; but Heaven feems to have referv'd the great Work of humbling this proud Tyrant to his immediate Succeffor in the Throne, who has by her victorious Arms obfcur'd the Glory of France.

5. Confider the Distance of the place, which was the Scene of the late glorious Victory: This happy Circumftance ought to engage us to praise God with the more Warmth and Vigour. We have the Advantage of the Victory, without hearing the confufed noife of the Warrior, or feeing of Garments roll'd in Blood. O what caufe have we to blefs God, that the War has been kept out of the Bowels of our Country? Who can relate the Miferies and Defolations that the Inhabitants of thofe Places are involv'd in, where great Battels are fought, by the Sallies and Excurfions of different Par