I am confcious of the many Defects of This Difcourfe, which was the Production only of fome few bours which was written with Juch a Concern, as would not allow of much Ornament, and which cost me more Tears, than Invention.

J

I am alfo fenfible that I have given you here but a very imperfect View of but fome of the many Virtues of our most Dear and Sovereign Queen departed: For ba ving confin'd my felf in a manner to my own Knowledge and Obfervation of Her, I did not take Com pass enough to bring in half Her Worth: this forc'd me to neglect a main part of her Princely Character, and to speak of Her rather as a most Pious Lady, than

as

as almost Noble and Illuftrious Queen, er aq?

However, there is fome Advantage in this my low performance, that, that part of Her Example which you may read in this Sermon, Jeems most capable of a General Imitation: which, I affure you, was the chief Aim of this prefent Difcourfe; which, after fome Retirement, comes now abroad in the Habit of a True Mourner much Dress or care of Periods without Flattery, or mean Designs; without hopes of Applaufe, or fear of Cenfure; thofe little things,which Sorrow always difregards.

without

Receive it therefore as it is, a Compofure Plain and Serious, and

in

in its Circumstances bope, bot Un decent. A Compofure, which has nothing to recommend it but the Great and Dear Subject of which it Treats, the deep and fincere Grief of Him who made it and the many unfeigned Tears of those who Heard

Chapter the VIIIth of the Prophet A Mo S, Verfe the Ninth, and part of the Tenth.

And it fhall come to paß in that day, faith the Lord, that I will caufe the Sun to go down at Noon, and I will Darken the Earth in the clear Day.

And I will turn your Feasts into Mourning.

I

Twould have been proper on this Day, to have entertained you with fome further Enlargements, on the Wonderful Wisdom and Mercy of God, in fending His own Son into the World, to Compleat the Work of

B

our

१

our Redemption: from thence, to have rais'd your Minds into a joyful Frame, and a becoming Chearfulness; and to have laid down fome fuch Rules, as might make your Rejoycings fober and pious, Moderate and Christian, and fuitable to the Mercy, which at this Time, we Commemorate:

/ But, alas! there is a fad Occafion, which has given a new Turn to our Thoughts, a fufficient Temper and Solemnity to all our Joys, and has made it feasonable for me to change my Subject, and to turn my Song into Lamentations.

And it fhall come to paß in that Day, faith the Lord, &c.

The Prophet here expreffes the Greatness, Suddenness, and Unexpectedness of the Calamities that were coming on the Jews, by Phrases and Similitudes which are moft fignificant, and apt, both to imprint, and to declare great Confternation of