all Men, to their Actions, and to the Events that befal them.

First, Let us confider the Providence of God as refpecting Communities. I chufe to begin with this, because, if Providence concerneth itself about Mankind at all, it must be supposed to fuperintend the Affairs of Communities and Nations; the Events relating to which are of confiderable Importance, and upon which the Welfare and good Order of the World very much depends.

And with regard to this I would first observe in general, that the Formation and Establishment of human Societies must be confidered as the Work and Appointment of Divine Providence. God, as the Author of Nature, hath implanted in us, not only the Principles of Self-love and Selfprefervation, but the kind and focial or public Affections, whereby we are carried to ferve and affift one another in mutual good Offices, and to love our Friends, our Neighbours, and our Country. So strong is the Inclination that Man naturally hath to Society, that he cannot be happy without it, A great Part of the choiceft Pleasures of Life arife from focial Affections and Enjoyments. And this natural Inclination which is in all Men to Society, is very much strengthened by the mutual Need they

they stand in of each others: Affiftance. Nothing is plainer than that Men are formed and defigned to be helpful to one another, and that it is but a small Part of the Bleffings and Advantages of Life which can be obtained, and but a small Progrefs that can be made in valuable Improvements and Accomplishments, without focial Affiftances. So that it is evident, that he that made us defigned and fitted us for Society.

Families and fmaller Societies were first formed; from the Combination of which, and for their mutual Security and Benefit, larger Societies and Communities arofe. And for the preferving Order among them, it is agreeable to the Will of God the fupreme Ruler, that there fhould be Government and Magiftracy eftablished, and that Men should be Subject to the higher Powers. Thefe Powers are faid to be ordained of God, ordained for the Punishment of evil Doers, and the Praife of them that do well." Rom. xiii. 1, 3, 4. 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14. The Authority they are invefted with, is properly and originally derived from God the Fountain of all Power, but not ordinarily in an immediate Way, but mediately by the Choice, Confent, or Submiffion of the People. And it may be justly regarded as L 2 owing

owing to the Influence of Divine Providence, that fuch a Number of boisterous unruly Spirits are made willing to live in Subjection to the Government of a few. It is also to be afcribed to a wife Providence, that there is fuch a Variety of natural Genius's or Inclinations obfervable among Mankind, whereby they are difpofed and qualified for acting different Parts, and filling different Stations and Offices in the Community. All are not Heroes, or Statesmen, or Philofophers, endued with great political or intellectual Abilities. Some are strongly inclined to the Pursuits of Learning and Science: others have a turn for Business; and those again are of various Kinds: fome inclined and fitted to one Sort of Employment, fome to another. Some are for Confultation, fome for Action: fome have cool Spirits, flow and deliberate; others are quick, fervent, and active. And it is fo ordered, that the Generality of Mankind are of moderate Genius and Abilities, fitted for the common Affairs of Life, and they are all capable in their different Ways of being serviceable to the Community. And from hence arifeth focial Dependence, and mutual Usefulnefs, by which Societies are cemented together, and without which the Order and Harmony of them could not well be maintained. Secondly,

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Secondly, Another Thing which I would obferve here, is, that all Bleffings. and Calamities of a public Nature, and the Revolutions of Kingdoms and States, are to be regarded as under the fpecial Direction and Superintendency of Divine Providence.

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That Providence hath a particular Concernment in public Revolutions, the Rife and Fall of Empires, the flourishing and declining of Cities and Nations, can scarce be denied by any one that believeth a Providence at all. It is what Reason and Observation will lead a confidering Mind to acknowledge; and it is very expressly afferted in the holy Scriptures. We are told, that God increaseth the Nations, and destroyeth them, he enlargeth the Nations, and ftraiteneth them again. Job. xii. 23. Sometimes he bleffeth them, fo that they are multiplied greatly; again, they are minished and brought low through Oppreffion, Affliction, and Sorrow. Pfal. cvii. 38, 39. He changeth the Times and the Seafons; he removeth Kings, and fetteth up Kings. Dan. ii. 21. And in general, the Interpofition of Providence must be acknowledged, both in all Bleffings, and in all Evils and Calamities, of a public Nature.

All the Bleffings and Advantages which are bestowed upon Societies, must be thankL 3

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fully afcribed to Divine Providence. If Arts and Sciences flourish among a People, and they are furnished with valuable Means of Improvement in ufeful Knowledge; if they have Peace and Plenty, and are free from foreign Invafions and domestic Confpiracies and Tumults, or have Success in juft and neceffary Wars; if they be bleffed with a good Conftitution of Government, and have the Advantage of wife and honest Governors to rule over them; if they be preferved in the Enjoyment of their Liberties and Privileges civil and religious; if they have healthful and fruitful Seasons, and other Inftances of public Prosperity; in all these and the like Cafes the Goodness of Divine Providence is to be acknowledged, not excluding fecond Causes, but overruling and directing them; and devout and grateful Minds will find abundant Matter of Thankfulness. To which it may be added, that Providence hath eminently appeared in raising up, from Time to Time, Perfons of extraordinary Abilities, and rare Qualifications, who have been inspired with great Wisdom, Fortitude, and Zeal for the public Good; whereby they have been rendered fignally inftrumental for doing great Service to the Community, for delivering oppreffed Nations, and restoring the difordered State of Things. And though