. l ■ft / \, !>t/-KK^ / Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://archive.org/details/heathensprofessiOOwebs scs #&$o 4 A*^ ^ /^/>vr ^/ ^ ns-4 ■ f£p£Zr**jfof**ffi HEATHENS PROFESSING JUDAISM WHEN The Fear of the JEWS fell upon them. '#£&Sy (fm m<) Z4w (Jg^o SgR <&*q FJ3| Brno SKo g|i jag «w — • Heathens profejfing Judaifm, when the Fear of the Jews fell upon them. The Subftance of Two SERMONS Preached in the Tolbooth Church Edinburgh, On Occafion of The Thanksgiving, June 23d 1746, appoin- ted by the late General A/fembly of the Church of SCOTLAND, for the Victo- ry obtain d over the Rebels at the Battle of CuIIoden, April 16th 1746. By Alexander Webster one of the Miniflers of the laid Church. j— - I know the Blafpbemy of them which fay they are yews and are not) but are of the Synagogue of Satan. Rev. ii. p. EDINBURGH, Printed by T. Lvmisden and J. Robertson, end fold at their Pnnrinq-houie in the Bjb-marker, and by the Bookicllcrs in town. M.DCC.XLVI. ]W To all Thofe Whofe Concern for the Welfare of our JERUSALEM, And Zeal for the BRITISH ISRAEL, COMMENCED Before the Battle of CU LLODEN- This DISCOURSE Is refpe&fully Dedicated By their Sincere Friend, and Obedient Servant, The Author, ( 7 ) ©ooooeeoooooooaooooooQOQ ■ To the Honourable, Lieutenant- General George Prefton of Valley field, Lieutenant-Governor of the Caftle of Edinburgh, &c. THE following Sermon, Brave Sir, claims your fpecial Pa- tronage, as dedicated in a particular Manner to fuch good old Friends of our excellent Eftablifh- ment, whole long and faithful Services in Defence of their King and Country fo juftly merit immortal Honour, The difappointed Hopes, by your iinjbaken Loyalty, of a Jacobite Party, once big with the Expectation of gaining the neighbouring Fort, are to Enemies ( * > Enemies themfelves a lafting Monu- ment, that TRESTON's Zeal for the illujirious Houfe of HANOVER does not take Date from the 1 6th of April 17^6. I will be forgiven to fay, -without derogating from the Regard due to any Perfon whatfoever; Happy was it for my Fellow-citizens, and happy for the Nation, that the Caftle of Edinburgh was then blefled with fuch a prudent and faithful Governor ! Permit me, SIR, to take this Op- portunity of acknowledging to the World, that I have the Honour to be, with all true Whigs, Your much obliged and very humble Servant > Wnl*. July 14. Alex, Webster. ( 9 ) ■wrrnnoB ■ -'it d^^£^ = - i- S. • Esther viii. 17/ — i# eWry, Trovince, and in every City, zvhithcrfoever the Kings Com- mandment and his Decree came, the Jews had Joy and Gladnefs, a Feaft and a good Day : And many of the ^People of the Land became Jews ; for the Fear of the Jews fell upon them. . 1 HEN fome few Years ago the languifhing State of this Na- tion called every true Britoni to oppofe the pernicious Schemes of Self-feekingMen* when the many bleeding Wounds of aft in- jur'd Prince and People required the iiiimedi- B ate ( io ) ate Affiftance of each friendly Hand ; I took Occafion, from the amiable Example of Mor- decai and E/lher, to excite in my own and in every Brealt a generous Concern for the pub- lick Weal: —And, from the impending Ruin of the Jews through the Advice and Infliga- tion of a wicked Hainan, was careful to caution againft thofe deftrudive Meafures which have fince proved one of the fatal Springs of the prefent execrable Rebellion. That the Abettors of Tyranny and Op- prefHon, under the Cover of Recantations, Vows and Oaths, mixed in with the Friends of Liberty at that Time ; — That the feem- ingly difinterefted Zeal of many pretended Patriots had no higher Aim than themfelves ; — That fome have attempted unjnftly to improve what WTas only meant to rectify the Errors of the Adminiftration, as Ar- guments againft our valuable Conftitution itfelf ;— And have even dared to impute the criminal Conduct of faithlefs Servants, to their Royal Mafter, cannot now be difputed. Shall we thence infer,— That publick Spirit is a mere Name ? — That Patriotism, or the Love of one's Country, is the high Road to ( I! ) to Rebellion ? — That thofe who complain- ed of the Mal-adminift ration of evil Coun- fellors, and not thofe who gave rife to fuch Complaints, have pav'd the Way to the pre- fent Difturbers of our Peace ? —And that henceforth the Minifters of Righteoufnefs ought to be filent Witneffes of Bribery and Corruption, Perjury and Wickednefs ? — He may perhaps be an honeft, but I will Venture to call him a iveak Man, who can admit thefe Conclufions. What Notion would we form of one, who becaufe Chri' Jiianity, the moft valuable Inftitution in the World, has been perverted to the worfl Purpofes, refolves to give up his Chriftianity altogether ? Or becaufe fo many have mif- improved their Under/landing, the diftin- guifhed Gift of Heaven to the rational World, wifhes to commence one of the Brute Creation ? And is it not a Species of the fame Folly, to negle6t the habile Methods of remedying Corruptions in Church or State, becaufe artful Men, by mifinterpre- ting our commendable Zeal, may feek to kindle the Flames of DifafTection ? That is, in plain Englifi, every Man, from the ima- B 2 glnar^ ( 12 ) ginary Fear of ruining his Country, fhould ftand by till the Ruin of his Country be cer- tain and inevitable, 'Tis no doubt infinitely below the Servant of Chrift, to become the Servant or Tool of a Party ; unbecoming the /acred Thee where he ministers, to entertain his Hearers with railing Accufations : But, methinks, Faith- fulnefs to his God, his King and his Country, obliges him to cry ahud and fpare not, when Attempts are made, from ivbatfoever Quarter, to wrefl from us any of our valuable Privile- ges. And I perfwade myfelf, every Minifter of the Gofpel, when teaching the important Doctrines of Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jefus Chriji, will, as necejjarily connected with this, faithfully point out, on all proper Occafions, the na- tional as well as private Sins, that call for fuch Repentance ; and will not ceafe to warn thofe under his Care, to beware of fuch Men as at once or piece-mail would take from them the holy Scriptures, the alone Foundation of their Faith. Few will denv, hereditary Slaves excepted^ that, when ALL is at Stake, ALL may and ( n ) and ought to intereft themfelves ; and it feems a juft Confequence, that ALL ought at ALL Times to ufe their beft Endeavours for the Safety of the Commonwealth, with a Zeal and Activity proportioned to the threat- ned Danger. If thofe in Power might go fo far as to im- bark their Sovereign and Fellow-fubje&s in an unfound Bottom, and without Controul com- mand them to lanch into the deepeft Waters, deftitute of Helm and Sails, Anchor and Tackling ; The finking VefTel would effeftu- ally and foon convince the World, that a Right to a5 ) Hearing ; which Portion of facred Writ, when fuggefting fuitable Meditations on occafion of our happy Deliverance from the Emiffaries of France and Rome, will warn us. alfo of a perfidious Race who lurk in our own Bofom. — In every ^Province, and in every City whitherfoever the Kings Commandment and his Decree came, the Jews had Joy and Gladnefs* a Feaft and a good Day j and many of the Teo- ple of the Land became Jews, for the Fear of the Jews fell upon them. In thefe Words, as illuftrated by the Context, the following Particulars deferve our fpecial Notice ; Firfl, The univerfal Joy of the Jews ; In every Province, and in every City, the Jews had Joy and Gladnefs. — ALL were in Dan- ger; — ALL are delivered ! — Therefore ALL rejoice. — No Heart unaffe&ed, — No Tongue filent ! Secondly, The Greatnefs of their Joy, pointed out by feveral emphatical Words ; They had Light, and Gladnefs, and Joy, and a good Day (a). Great w^as their Danger,— Great their Deliverance, — and their Satif- fa&ion (a) Verfes 16, 17. ( i6 ) fa&ioft is proportional ;-They had gone forth weeping, and now they return rejoicing. According to the Days wherein they were' afflicted, and had feen Evil, fo are they made glad. Thirdly, The particular Ground of their Joy ; Whitherfoever the Kings Commandment and his Decree came, the Jews had Joy and Gladnefs. -— The King's Commandment re- verting the bloody Edict (b), whereby ALL of them. Young and Old, little Children and Women, were hound over to Death and De- firutlion ; or, as others explain it, the King's Commandment impowering them to aft in their own Defence againft thofe who fought their Lives (c) \ the former Deed being, by the Laws of the Medes and Terjians^ irreversible : In vertue of which new Com- mandment, having obtained a compleat Victory over their Enemies (d), they had Gladnefs and a good Day. — Obferve, Fourthly, In what Manner their Joy and Satisfa&ion were exprefs'd, — They made a Feaft, — gave Gifts to the Poor, — fent Por- tion? (b) Chap. 3. 13. (c) Chap. 8r.ii. (V; See Chap. 0. 1. — 17. t 17 ) tions one to another, — paid all due Ho- nour to Mordecai the Inftrument of their Deliverance, — and appointed an annual Feftival. They made a Feaft ; a Thing cuftomary among the Jews and other Nations on Days of publick Rejoicing, and, when kept with- in the Bounds of Reafon and Temperance^ permitted by our heavenly Father; who allows on fitch Occafwns the more liberal Enjoyment of the good Things of this Life, that his Bounty in giving, and Kind- nefs in preferving them, may be acknow- ledge with becoming Gratitude. They gave Gifts to the Toor (e), as a pro- per Expreffion of their Thankfulnefs to our gracious God their liberal Benefa61or, who confiders -what is given to the Toor, as lent to the Lord (f); and, having at this Time fp remarkably preferred their Subftance from being the Spoil of rapacious Foes, it was doubtlefs highly reafonable, that, as good Stewards of the manifold Gifts of Heaven, they fhould clothe the Naked, feed the Hungry, and give Drink to the Thirfty. — ' C They (e) Efih. 9. 22, (f) Pr*~j* 19. 17. ( 18 ) They fent Tort ions one to another (g), m Teftimony of their Union and Affe&ion, and mutual Congratulations, on their mer- ciful Prefervation from the Hands of the common Enemy.— It was meet that they who lay together in Sackcloth and Ajlies, fafling, -weeping and w a:!ing (h), fhould rejoice to- gether on the Day which was tamed unto them from Sorrow to Joy, and from Mourning into a good Day (i). They paid all due Honour to the In- ftrument of their Deliverance. MOR- D EC A I was great among the Jews, and accepted of the Multitude of his Brethren (k) : u Not only great above them, far more " exalted than they, but great in their " Eyes;" highly honoured and efteemed by them, and his whole Conduct dear and acceptable to them. When the Ear heard him, it kiefs d him; and when the Eye faw him, it gave witnefs to him : He delivered Thou- fands from Definition, and hence the Blefmg of many that were ready to perijh came upon him. Once fc)*jW.9.ll (h).£^.4. 1-3. Q)Eftk. p.22. (k) EJlh. 10. 3. N ' ( '9 ) Once more, The Jews appointed an an- nual Feflival (I), in Commemoration of the Divine Wifdom and Goodnefs, fo con- spicuous in their wonderful Deliverance, and enfnaring the Wicked in the Work of his own Hand ; that they themfelves, their Children, and Generations yet to come, might fet their Hope in God, the Hearer of Prayer, the Saviour in Time of Trouble, and the never-failing Friend of injur' d Innocence. Lajily, You may obferve in the Text what Part many of the Medes and Terfians a£ted on this Occalion ; they became Jews% or rather pretended to become Jews, for the Fear of the Jews fell upon them. We will not deny that the glorious Ap- pearance of the God of Ifrael in deliver- ing the Jews, when Men would have fw allowed them up quick, might prove a blefTed Mean of determining fome Natives of the Land to embrace the true Religion, and fin- cerely unite themfelves to that happy People fo remarkably faved by the Lord, the Shield of their Help, and the Sword of their Excel- C 2 Iptcj: (1) Efth. p. 10.— 31. ( *0 ) hncy : But one might, perhaps, venture to fay, that, by many of the ^People of the Land be- coming Jezvs, the facred Writer means little more, than that many now pretended great Friendfhip for the Jews, and feemed ready to affifl them againft their Enemies, And if you underftand this Phrafe, as we {hall do, according to the Opinion of Interpre- ters, that many of the Terfians, a&ually profeffed Judaifm, it may be juftly obfer- ved, That their fudden and hafty Change, and the Reafon affign'd for it, gives too good Ground to think that this Change, as to the far greater Part, was only in Appear- ance ; and their Profeffion of Judaijin a mere "Pretence to fcreen them from the juft and impending Vengeance due to their wicked Defigns. The Text and Context, thus explained, naturally lead us, fuitably to the Intention gf our prefent Meeting, . 17?, To meditate on our prefent Situation as fimilarto that of the Jews, of whom it is faid, they had Light and Honour, and a. good Day^ 2d!y, ( * ) ndly. To imitate them in making this good Day a Day of Gladnefs and Rejoicing, %dlyy To exprefs our Joy in the fame focial, grateful Manner, according to the Nature of our Deliverance, and Genius of pur holy Religion. Laftly, To make fome Remarks concer- ning the pretended Subje&ion of the Medes and Terfians to the Jewijb Inftitution. Firfi, We are naturally led to meditate on our prefent Situation as fimilar to that of the Jews, of whom it is faid, they had Light and Honour, and a good Day. The Parallel cannot be fuppofed to hold in every Inftance, or in lefler Matters ; but, as to the great Lines of their Hiftory, the Refemblance is abundantly obvious ; and that in refpeft — Of our Deliverance from the prodigious and impending Ruin to which we were expofed ; — The Victory we have obtained over our Enemies ; — The Reit we now enjoy from their lawlefs and violent AfTaults ;— and the Profpeft of future Peace and Tranquillity *. I. Our - * I. dare fay, none will imagine me fo foolifh as to attempt the running a Parallel betwixt our Situation in aB Refpetfs ( 22 | *3r. Our merciful Deliverance from the prodigious and impending Ruin to which we were expofed. A whole People devoted to Deftruclion, as in the Inftance before us ; — the defign'd Sacrifice of their Blood-thirfty Enemies; — in Kefpecls and that of the Jews ; but it will be univerfally ad- mitted, that the Circumftances of two Nations may in fom* Refpects be every Way fimilar, and in other Refpe&s widely different, nay quite oppofite; and that the Characters of Two or more Perfons may be the fame in one View, when in another you will find no Refemblance : Thus in the Cafe before us, tho' a thoufand Things may be faid to (hew the different Situation of free-born Britons, the Subjects of a gracious Prince, and the Jews fcattered up and down the Dominions of a Perfian Monarch ; it will neverthelefs re- main true, that our Situation bears a near Refemblance to theirs in the Particulars above-mentioned, firft with refpeft to their Danger, and afterwards as to their Deliverance.— A^ain, tho' it needs no Penetration to fee that the Chara- cter of Haman and his Abettors will by no means apply in every View to that of any Perfons amongft us ; — yet thofe who formerly in a more imperceptible Way, or the Son of the Pretender and his Party who in an open and more hoitile Manner, fought of late to deftroy our civil and religious In- terests, may juftly be confidered as having acted the Part of Haman and his Abettors ; their Characters agree in this main Point, that both fought to ruine the Church and People of God.— Due Attention to this is all that feems neceffary \q the right undexftanding of the following Difcourfe, and for preventing. Cavils, ( *z ) in the utmoft Danger of lofing- their ALL ; i every Thing valuable in Life, and Life itfelf at Stake ; is doubtlefs a proper Pi&ure of our late melancholy Situation, when threatned with the utter Ruin of all our important Interefts. Here I (hall only give Hints of what I have frequently, and more largely, fet before you, efpeeially fince the Com- mencement of thefe perillous Times. The Injuftice and Oppreffion, Raping and Plunder, Bloodfhed and Murder* hitherto occafioned by this mod wicked Rebellion ; is but a faint Emblem of the direful Miftry and DeftrutVwn that would have attended its further Progrefs. What a frightful Scene of the moft ihocking Bar- barities pafs before our Eyes, in Proportion as this unnatural Monfter is fuppofed to have made its Way once more through our dear Country !— " The Defolation of God's San- " ftuary ;— the Slaughter of his Servants ;,f — Numberlefs Innocents robbed, llain, mafTacred ; — Friends and Acquaintances tearing each others Bowels ; — Parents and Children embrewing their guilty Hands in one ( H ) one anothers Blood; — Fire and Sword; War and Famine, fpreading Mifery and De- flation all around ; — Horror and Anguifh^ Pain and Diftrefs, everywhere triumphant. One Enemy feeks to rob us of our Eftate, — another to deprive us of our Friends, — i a third to enilave and opprefs, — a fourth would wreft from us our holy Religion :— \ Bat here is an Enemy the Compofition of all Evil, who would at once deprive us of ALL thofe Bleffings, and bring upon us ALL this Mifery, Believe it, my Brethren,— our Nation and Church, — our Laws and Liber- ties,—our Bibles and Property,— -ourfelves and Children, mud all have periihed in thfc overflowing Deluge. — Then farewel Free- dom and Liberty of Confcience; farewel the peaceable PofTeffion of the Sanctuary ; farewel the pure Religion of Jefus j farewel all the ineftimable Privileges of the late hap- py Revolution, the Purchafe of fo much 'Treafure and Blood. Thefe are not mere Conje&ures, or diftant Probabilities, but the ahnojl necejfary Confe- quences of the fupposd Succefs of our Ene- mies. What could have been expe&ed from ( *5 ) from Rome 9 but Romlfh Superftition and Will-worfhip ? What from France, but French Tyranny and Oppreflion? — What from an arbitrary Monarch, but the Chains of Slavery M-What from a refolved Papift, but theRuin of the Proteftant Intereft?— What from an idolatrous Prince on the Throne, evenfuppofing Force out of the §>ueJtion, but the fudden univerfal fp reading of the fatal Conta- gion through City and Country ? What from lawlefs ftarving Banditti, but the Spoiling of our Perfons and Goods ? — And what from the bloody Houfe of Stewarts, but Fire and Faggot, Racks and Tortures ? Was ever a People fo infatuated as fome amongft us, who would have exchang'd our moft gracious and rightful Sovereign King George II. for one of this mercileis Race, a mere Pretender to every Thing but Bi- gottry and Cowardice ? How had the God of this World blinded their Minds, when willing to reft our holy reformed Religion on the Word of a Papift, whofe Principle it is to lie for God, and whofe Hope of Heaven, if he hopes for a Heaven at all, muft rife in Proportion as he can deceive D and ( rf ) and perfccute thofe who differ from him? Witnefs the many Edifts of Popes and Councils, and the barbarous Maffacres of too credulous Protectants. Alas, my Brethren, had God in his An- ger given us fuch a King as this, or had we been gull'd over by felie Appearances and fair Speeches, trufling to the Honour of an imaginary Trince, or the Faith of a pretended Chrifiian (a), we might this Day have been repenting our Folly in a Dungeon, or on a Scaffold. Sure you are not unacquainted with the perfecuting Spirit of Popery ; you have not yet forgot what you have feen, or have heard, of the late unhappy Times, when Poverty and Want, Famine and Na- kednefs, Peril and Sword, were often the ne- ceffary Attendants of genuine Chriftianity, and every publick Place the Theatre of the moft inhumane Cruelties. Don't you know, that our Anceftors were rack'd and tortur'd, dragoon'd, and maffacred, for no other Rea- ion but worfhipping the Lord God of their Fathers after the Way which the Enemy ignorantly call'd Herefy ? Such like was the dread- (s) See the Pretender's Son's fecond Mamfeftt. ( *7 ) dreadful, the univerfal Ruin that threatned us; and proportionally good this Day ex our great and happy Deliverance. 2d[y, The Jews are faid to have had a good Day, in refpedl of the Vi&ory ob- tain'd over their Enemies. Heaven remarkably interpofes in their Be- half.— The Lot, to which Haman fubmitted, happily delays the Execution of his barbarous Defign (a) : — Mean while a Saviour and De- liverer is raifed up (b) ; —The Fear of this mighty Deliverer falls upon his Enemies (c)'\ —The Jews are infpir d with Courage and Refolution to Hand for their Lives (d) ; — They totally rout their Adverfaries with great Slaughter (e) ; — and with fmall Lofs to themfelves (f). — Thefe Circum- D 2 fiances (a) Eftk. 3. 7. It was certainly a figtial Interpofition of Providence, that Haman, tho* intent on the immediate Deftru- clion of the Jews, did fubmit to have the Time determined by Lot; and that the Lot determined that eleven Months, very near the longeft poffible Time, muft pafs ere he could hope, according to their Rules, fuccefsfully to accomplish his wicked Plot ; whereby Mordtcai and Efther had full Time to defeat the intended Mifchief. (b) Efth. 4. 1. & feq. (c) Chap. 9. 3. (d) Chap. 9. 2. (e) Chap. 9. 5, — 16. (f) This Circumitance is plain from the whole Ninth Chaster. ( *8 ) fiances lead us to reflect on the many fignal and fimilar Appearances of Providence in our Behalf, all tending to the compleat Con- quefl at length obtain'd over the Rebels. When we, as the Jews, were under the Power and lying at the Mercy of our Ene- mies, they feem reftrain'd, in a Manner al- .moft as wonderful, from immediately profe- ■ curing their wicked Defigns. The fatal A&ion at Trefton had given them all Advantages. — The univerfal Hor- rour and Surprife of our Neighbours in the Southern Parts of the Ifland, then deflitute of the proper Means of Defence (g)9 feem'd to open a PafTage to the Capital itfelf. — And I may add, A ftrange Conjunction of other Circumftances, unhappy for us, favourable for them, threatned univerfal Defolation. But our merciful God infatuated their Counfels ! Inftead of improving the Opportunity, they — give Way to Sloth and Indolence ;— -dream of fcaling Walls without Ladders ;— forming Blockades without guarding the proper Ave- nues ; florming Caltles without a Breach ; — and taking Forts thro' the mere Power of Im- '(g) Our Army at that Time was not arriv'd from f landers. '( $9 1 Imagination (h) ;— hoping, at one Time, .to bribe the moft faithful Servant to betray his kind Mafter;— fancying, at another, to frighten, into a Surrender, the brave Tre- fion, who " never knew Fear but in his " Enemies Face (i)r To proceed ; We were once more as a Trey in their Teeth, and a poor feeble Bird already in the Snare of the Fowler, after the ftrange Scene at Falkirk, January 17th 1745-6; a Day concerning which fome for their own Sake may poffibly wifh, Let Darknefs feize upon //, let it not be joined unto the Days of the Teary let it not come unto the Number of the Months ; But a Day that fhall perpetuate the Honour of the valiant Huske, and the Memory of a Munro, a Whitney, and many other valu- able Officers then given up to the Slaughter ; and doubtlefs a Day that fhould ever be re- membred by us with Thankfulnefs to the GOD of BATTLES, who, having the Hearts (h) The Rebels at this Time had no Artillery proper for a Siege. (i) As the Rebels could have no Accefs to the Property of General Gueft, their Declaration of the 30th of September 1 745, threatning the Eftates of thofe who were then in the Caftk, mult have been meant principally agair.ft General Prejlon.— C 30 ) Hearts of all Men in his Hand, made Fear take hold even of the Conqueror, and vi- dorious Rebels remain the harmlefs Spectators of our fcattered flying Army. Shou'd not this, my Brethren, give the more fenfire Reliih of prefent Happinefs, when we fee the Enemy's Fury fo remarkably restrained, ourfelves refcued out of the Jaws of the De- vourer, and brought back from the very Brink of Deftru&ion I It was then that the fame God, who raifed up Mordecai and Efther for the Deliverance of the Jews-, —who raifed up King Willianiy of immortal Memory, for the Reftoration of our civil and religious Liberties, when all was well nigh loll ; — the fame God, who faved us from utter Ruin at the End of the Queen's Reign, by the timely and peaceable Acceffion of King George I. whofe Name fhall be in everlafting Remembrance; — and to all thefe Bleffings has added our prefent Sovereign, a jult and Proteftant King, the true Father of his People : — This fame graci- ous God then fent to our timely Affiflance his Royal Highnefs the Duke of Cumberland* whom I may call the f pedal Gift of Provi- dence. ( n > dence, endowed with uncommon Wifdom in his earlieft Years, cool and fedate in the Heat of Youth, brave and intrepid as an old Roman, calm and ferene as a Marlborough amidft the Thunder of the Battle. May he grow in every Virtue, and fhine with all the Graces of the Chriftian ! May a Life fo im- portant be ever precious in the Divine Sight ! When Hundreds fall at his Side, and Thoufands at his right Hand, may the Evil not once come nigh him, having the ETERNAL GOD for his Refuge, and the MOST HIGH GOD for his Habi- tation! Time will not permit me to confider, however agreeable, the various Scenes of pur opening Deliverance, from the Arrival of this illuftrious Trince amongft us, to the me- pwrable Day of his compleat Triumph* As the Fear of Mordecai fell upon his Enemies (k) ; juft fo the Rebels, deprived of their natural Fiercenefs and ufual Intrepi- dity, had fled from England in wild Diforder before a very few of the King's Troops under the Command of this heroick Prince ; and, (truck f y Efih. 9. 3, C 3* ) ftruck with the fame Pannick on his Arrival in Scotland, they again fly from him in the ut- moft Confufion and Precipitation, leaving behind them all the Marks of Cruelty and Horror (I). As to the after Affemblage of of thefe impious Bands, and their increafing Number, it appears plainly from the Event to have been meant of Providence, that their Fall might be the greater, and our De- liverance the more compleat. The many merciful Circumftances, all confpiring to promote this grand Defign, cannot now be named. — One Thing is obvious, that Winds, Air and Seas were upon our Side ; and that thefe very Ap- pearances, which feemed at firft to look towards them with a favourable Afpe6t, proved fatal in the IfTue. — Were any Part of our Forces furprifed, and obliged to give Way ? — They are led by the kind Direction of Heaven to the very Coaft where the Enemy's Treafure and Reinforcement from France (l) One remarkable Inftance of this was the blowing up of their own Magazine and the Church of St. Ninians, im- mediately before their Flight from Stirling, February laft, whereby many innocent Perfons were killed.— See a Letter concerning this, printed lately at Edinburgh^ ( 33 ) FraHce falls into their Hand (a) ; — The happy Effect of which is well known. — The Rebels, difappointed of their Hopes, and deftitute of the Means of returning again to the Low Countries, which might have been attended with the mod direful Confequences, were obliged to venture a Battle: — Thinking to have furprifed our Army, as in former Inftances, they fet out under Cover of Night for our Camp ; — But fee again the Divine Agency ! One Half of them loit their Wav, and the Whole were under the Neceffity of retiring ; fatigued, di- fpirited, diftruftful of one another: — A favourable Opportunity, happily improved by the ever- watchful Cumberland ! It feems fcarce needful to remind you, that he di- rectly purfued his tumultuous Foes, and forced them to an Affion under feveral E Dif- (a) Every one will fee, that the above Paragraph refpeds mainly the taking of the Money and Soldiers that were ori Board the Hazard Sloop, who, being forced by the Sheernefs Man of War to land near to my Lord Reay's Houfe, were either killed or made Prifoners by his Lordfhip's Sons, w and thofe very Mackays and Munroes, &c. under their Command, who, a few Days before, were obliged to fly from Dornoch s being furprifed by the Rebels.— ( 34 ) Difadvantages.— -What follows ! — Thdu- fands of the Rebels are flam, — many of them taken Prifoners,— - all routed and di- fperfed : — While, on the other Hand, God remarkably preferred his Majefty's Forces ; few of them were wounded, and fewer of them killed (b) : A Circumttance of great Confequence at all Times, but more favourable in the prefent Cafe, when (c) " every brave Soldier, and much more " every valiant and experienced Officer, " is, as the Prophet fpeaks, more precious " than the Gold of Ophir." The Time of our Deliverance deferves Obfervation : We were anxious, and fome- times, I'm afraid, apt to repine becaufe this Rebellion had been of fo long Continuance ; but now, to every attentive Mind, there ap- pears much of the Divine Wifdom, and even Mercy itfelf, in that the Trial was not fooner over, or farther lengthned out. — And fure the Place of our Deliverance ought not to be palt without due Notice, as (b) Only two or three Officers, and perhaps not above Fifty private Men. (cj Dr. Dodridge's excellent Sermon, Page 30. on Oc- cafion of the Flight of the Rebels from Stirling. ( 35 ) as attended with this, among other vifible Advantages, That our Army, being nigh the Strong-holds of the Enemy, have had the more immediate Accefs to pluck up the Seeds of this Rebellion, and fap its Foundations. — It is likewife to be carefully remembred, that a violent Storm of Hail and Rain, that had lafted for fome consi- derable Time, and might have been ex- tremely hurtful to our Fire-arms ( dj, ceafed juft as the Battle began. — The Courage and Bravery of every Officer, and every Soldier, is no lefs remarkable ; efpecially confidering the Pannick that had formerly feized many of them oftner than once : — ~ But, above all, the Kindnefs and Interpofition of Heaven is to be reverenced and adored, in the Prefervation of their ILLUSTRIOUS LEADER amidfl all the Dangers of the Field and Inlfruments of Death, when Thoufands of fuch were flying about him, and pointed at him ! " Had God per- " mitted the hurtful Sword to have ap- E 2 " proached (I) The Battle of Falkirk is fufficient to convince, that Wind and Rain may prove very hurtful to an Army v/ho ufe for the molt Part Fire-arms, efpecially when fighting againft broad Swords, ( 3* ) " preached this precious Life, furely the " Joy of our compleat Victory, and na- V tional Deliverance, would hardly have " been felt, and our Shouts would have " been turned into one univerfal Groan (f) ." But our merciful God preferved him, and has made him, as Mordecai, the great Inftrument in the Divine Hand of bring- ing Salvation to an oppreffed People ; Sal- vation obtained in a Way agreeable to our warmeft Willies, great beyond our ut- moft Expectations, and doubtlefs far beyond what we deferve. What is faid concerning the Jew s, is equally applicable to us ; In the Day that the Enemies of the Jews hoped to have Tower over them, it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had Rule over them that hated them, and fought their Hurt (g). Which leads me to obferve, ^dly, That our happy Situation refembles that of the Jews, in refpe6l of the Reft they enjoyed from the Fear, the Violence, and Oppreflion of their Enemies, in con- fequence (f) Dr. DcddrMgs's Sermon before quoted, Page 30. (g) Efthtr 9. I, 2. ( 37 ) fequence of the compleat Vi&ory obtained over them. According to the alarming Apprehen- fions, and racking Thoughtfulnefs, of our former perplexed Situation,— — proportion- able to the Injuries fuftained, — — and many more dreaded, for thefe Months by- part, from the rapid Progrefs, and growing Oppreflion of the Enemy ; fo great will be the Relifh of the Reft we now enjoy. — Our Houfes fafe from Fear, — our Streets free from Robberies, — our Cities no longer the open Receptacle of Thieves and Murde- rers,— the Country faved from their wild Ravages and Devaftations, — the peaceable Pofleffion of the San&uary,— and our pre- fent Appearance in the Houfe of God under the Shadow of lawful Authority \ are all in- cluded in this Reft from our Enemies. We may fay with refpeft to avowed Re- bels, with fome Abatement in the Inter- pretation ; The Extortioner is at an End, the Spoiler ceafeth, the Opprejfors are confumed out of the Land ; the Habitations of Cruelty are once more become the Habitations of Juftice : The Wicked ceafe from troubling, and ( 38 ) and the Weary are at Reft ; fweetly repo- fing themfelves (the violent Storm being happily difperfed) as in a fafe Harbour ; and again blefs'd with the free Exercife, and full Enjoyment, of our holy Religion, and excellent Conftitution, the great Means of our Happinefs here and hereafter ; the Spring of all our Comfort in Life, and all our Hope in Death. Laftly, The Jews had a good Day, not only in refpeft of prefent Reft from the Oppreflion of their Enemies, but in regard there was Reafon to expeft the Continuance of this happy, peaceful Situa- tion. A Vi&ory may be obtained, great Peace enjoyed, and yet all may again foon be overturned ; but here many Things pro- mifed a more lading Blefling : — The God, who had now delivered the Jews, refteth in his Love ; in him is everlafting Strength, and his Goodnefs endureth continually (h). The King, to whom they had been repre- fented as a wicked, rebellious Sett (i)9 is now perfwaded of their Innocence and Loyalty j (h) Ifa. 2.6.4. Pfal, 51. r, (i) Efik. 3. 8. ( 39 ) Loyalty ; their moft inveterate Enemies are no more, and their Abettors unable to make Head againft them (kJ.~Mordecai their belt Friend and Deliverer was next unto j4hafuerus9 feeking the Wealth of his Teople, and /peaking Teace to all his Seed (1). A hopeful Profped: indeed of their future Tranquillity and Advancement ! — Your Thoughts have already prevented me in the Application of thefe Circumftances. — Our Rock is as their Rock, their God our God, equally willing, equally able to defend and proteft us, when praying to him, when trufting in him. Again, vain have been the repeated Attempts of open or more fecret Enemies to reprefent the Church of Scotland and its Adherents as a diiloyal fedi- tious People, whofe Loyalty and inviolable Attachment to the Proteftant Succeffion in the illuftrious Houfe of Hanover, hath on this, and on all Occafions, fhined forth as the Light. Further, as the Jews were, fo is this Nation, happily delivered, I don't fay from all our Enemies, of which after- wards ; but doubtlefs delivered from vaft Num- (k) Efth. 7. xo. &9. S> 8. Q) Bfth. xo. 3, ( 4° ) Numbers who fought our Deftru&ion. I need not repeat, that their Overthrow has been fo great, and attended with fuch fa- vourable Circumftances, for reftralning the Remainder of their Wrath, that, if the Ad- vantages now gained are rightly improved* may we not reafonably hope for Reft from their future Infults ? nay, may we not even hope from the over-ruling Providence of God, which makes the Wrath of Man to praife him, that what was intended to de- stroy, fhall more firmly eftablifh, our happy Confiitution ; thus faring the Wicked in the Works of his own Hands, as in the Hiftory before us ? Once more, in Allufion to the Character of Mordecai, and his Influence with Ahafue^ rus ; Permit me to obferve, that the ami- able Character of our Great Deliverer un- der GOD, his generous difinterefted Zeal for the publick Good, and his Interefl with his Royal Father, muft greatly heighten the joyful Expectation, that, by the Bleffing of God on his Endeavours, Jerufalem fhall remain a quiet and peaceable Habitation. More might be added to increafe thefe growing Hopes: ( 41 ) Hopes : We have not only a Friend at Court, but a Friend on the Throne, who ftncerely wipes the Welfare of all his People. And what good Things may not our Chil- dren and Generations yet to come expert from his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales and his hopeful IfTue! A Prince whofe lovely humane Difpofitions, which fo emi- nently adorn his prefent Sphere, give the higheft Reafon to believe that he fhall one Day become a true Nurflng-father to the happy Inhabitants of Britain. — Mean Time it ought always to be remembred, that our abounding Sins, if not duly repented of, and wafhed away by the Blood of Atonement, may foon provoke God to blaft the pleafant Profpeft ; and we are certainly never out of Danger, when fo many call themfelves OF US, and ARE NOT. — Having thus repre- fented in what Refpefts our Situation is firni- lar to that of the Jews, of whom it is faid, They had Light and Honour, and a good Day y — We fhall next fhew, as was propofed, Secondly, That we ought to imitate them, in making this GOOD DAY a Day of Gladnefs and Rejoicing. — F This ( 4* ) This needs little or no Illuftfation. Evil Days don't more naturally call for Weeping and Mourning, than good Days call for Gladnels and Rejoicing.— Gladnefs propor- tioned to the Happinefs in Poffeffion, or the ■Eleffings hoped for.— If we find the Jews fo glad and joyful,— what Cheerfulnefs, what Elevation of Soul may be expected from us ! — Did thofe who lived under the Old-teftament Difpenfation, the Yoke of Bon- dage (a), and were at this Time fcattered up and down the Dominions of a Perfian Monarch; — Did they rejoice on Occafion of their prefent Deliverance from the Enemy, when, notwithftandingofthe Probability of their future Reft fbj, they were ftill in the Hands of ONE MAN, who might by fome unforefeen Accident be milled to devote them once more to Dellruction!— And fhali w*e the Members of the New-teftament Church, fo lately refcued from the Malice and Oppreffion of a favage barbarous Race, —again enjoying the precious Liberty .whereivith Chrijl hath mate us free (c), — vi- fited with the pure Light of the everlafting Gofpel, (a) Gal. 5. r. (b) See p. 38. (;) Gal. 5. 1. ( 43 ) Gofpel, — the happy Subjects of a Br hi ft Go- vernment;— —a Conftitution, by the be- nign Influence of which, our civil and re- ligious Interefts are fo well fecured againft the lawlefs Attempts of Fraud and Violence : Shall we remain infenfible of all this Happinefs? Shall we not rejoice in the PoiTeffion of fuch darling Privileges, and the hopeful Profped even of greater Bleffings ? Confider, my Brethren, the Deliverance which God hath wrought for us, out of the Hands of our Enemies •, " with regard to the " favourable Afpe£t which it has — upon our " Subftance, — our Liberties, — our Religion, * and our Pofterity (d) " — —And let each View increafe the joyful Senfe of our prefent peaceful and agreeable Situation, who amidft ALL the Faults that may have been com- mitted in relation to this or the other Particular, and ALL the Difficulties we may yet have to grapple with, are neverthelefs, upon the whole, the happieft People under Heaven. — Was this ineftimable Treafure, the RELI- GION OF JESUS, and the LIBERTY F 2 OF (d) See thefe Particulars beautifully illuftrated in Dr. Dod- dt'ige's Sermon already cited, from p. 8. to p. 24. ( 44 ) OF BRITISH SUBJECTS, in the utmoft Hazard of being loft? Do we {till enjoy thefe invaluable Bleffings ? Were ALL of us in Danger of being involved in the com- mon Calamity ? Do we ALL now fhare in the common Happinefs ? And ought not ALL to bear their Part in the univerfal Joy of this GOOD DAY?— Too too many in this City, I am afraid, cannot well fufFer this Word of Exhortation, who, inftead of re- joicing To-day with the Friends of Liberty, #re lamenting over the dying Hopes of a Popifh Jacobite Party. — Thefe we fhall leave to mourn either their criminal Indolence in the Caufe of God and their Country ; — or their ralh and unguarded Speeches, to fay no worfe ;— or their finful a&ive Hand, in aid- ing the Promoters of this monftrous and unaccountable Rebellion. — Would to God that their Mourning may ifTue in that godly Sorrow which ivorketh Repentance unto Salva- tion, not to be repented of (e). We go on to (hew, Thirdly, That the Text and Context call? all the true Britifh Ifrael to imitate the Jews, by (t) 2 Cor. 7. io. ( 45 ) by exprefling their Joy on account of this GOOD DAY, mfimewhat of the fame fe- cial, grateful Manner, according to the Na- ture of our Deliverance, and the Genius of our holy Religion. Here a few Words muft fuffice, that the more Time may remain for the laft Head of Difcourfe. — — The Jews, as was already obferved, had Feaftings and other publick Rejoicings ;-< — In which Repefts you have not been wanting : And inftead of exhorting you to Things of this Nature, however warrantable under proper Limitations, 'tis by ;far more becom- ing the Place where I now Hand, to warn and caution you againft running with many of the Jews to the fameExcefs of Riot (a) ; left inftead of the manly, religious Joy of the CHRISTIAN, you tafte only the low, earthly Gratifications of the HEATHEN or JEWISH Senfualift, whofe grovelling Pleafure, bafer than that of the Brute Creation, lofes itfelf amidft the Fumes of intoxicating Liquors. They i&) See Prideauxs Connections, Part x. Book 5. ( 4* ) They gave Gifts to the Toor.- Your known Liberality, my Brethren, throughout all the Churches, fuperfedes what might be faid for enforcing the flricteft Imitation of this reafonable and neceffary Duty, efpecially on Days of Thankfgiving for Deliverance from publick Danger: — You have often felt the exalted Pleafure flowing from A6ts of Charity and Beneficence ; — You have frequently known, from your happy Ex- perience, that it is far more hlejfed to give than to receive. Go on, as the charitable Difciples of Jefus, to the more abundant Exercife of this Divine Grace, and you fhall fhare in the Joy of God himfelf, who delights, who glories in fupplying the Wants of his needy Offspring : The neceflitous Cafe of the numerous Poor we have always amongft us, and the calamitous Circum- ftances of the many Families and Orphans, reduced to the utmoft Straits through the late mournful Situation of our Country, are fo many loud Calls to open every Heart and Hand, that you may give Gifts unto the Toor according to your feveral Abilities ; thus fhall (" 47 ) lhall you exprefs, in a truly noble, Chri- jftian Manner, your thankful Gratitude to the liberal Giver, and merciful Preferver of all you now enjoy ; and thus fhall you make to your/elves Friends of the Mammon of Un- righteoufnefs, that, when ye fail \ they may re- ceive you into everla fling Habitations (b). — Again, . The Jews fent ^Portions one to another. — Which may hint to us the many focial, endearing Duties, that lhould ever adorn the Character of all true Proteftants, and every honeft-hearted Briton, efpecially in Times of uncommon Danger, or uncom- mon Deliverances. — Fervent Prayers at a Throne of Grace for our Brethren and Companions Sake ; — A. generous Concern for one another's Welfare ; — A warm Re- gard for the Profperity of them who love and feek the Good of the Houfe of the Lord our God ; — Mutual A&s of fpecial Kindnefs and Affection ; and the moft vi- gorous, conftant Endeavours in the Pur- fuit of each others* Happinefs ; Are all our undoubted Duty (c)% — But fuffer me to re- (b) Lake 16. 9, (c) See PfaL m, <5,-»-9. Phil, v 4. ( 48 ) recommend, in a particular Manner, an Union of Hearts and Hands as to the Meafures which may be thought proper for promoting the Intereft of Individual in a due Subordination to the Good of the WHOLE. Private Differences, and Party-fa&ions fhould doubtlefs all ceafe, when the common Enemy would come in like an overflowing Flood ; one Heart and one Mind, in fuch Times of mutual Danger, are our Glory and our Strength: If at Variance amongfl ourfelves, we are an eafy Prey ; but, if firmly united as a City com- paBly built together, vain (hall be the Attempts of our foreign or domeftick Enemies to fcale our Walls, or difturb the Peace and Profpe- rity of our Palaces. But farther, The Jews paid all due Regard to Mordecai, Efther, their other Friends, and all the Infiruments of their Deliverance. — And, I perfwade myfelf, nothing will be wanting on your Part to teftify the juft Regard of your grateful Hearts to the Friends and Guardians of our excellent Eftablifhjnent.™ You will agree with me, that it is not eafy to exprefs how much Love and Refpecl we owe ( 49 ) owe to the ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE* the great Inftrument in the Divine Hand of prefer ving or reftoring to us at this Time every Blefling that can make Life eafy or happy: The GENEROUS HERO whom we fee giving up, for our Sokes, with the Pleafures and Honours of a Court, fub- mitting to the greateft Hardfhips, and the mod painful Labours, expofing himfelf to the Changes and Injuries of Weather, to the Dangers, and even to all the Horrors of War ; • Cif cumftances which ought greatly to endear tou9, and excite a peculiar Regard for, tire KING and Royal Fami-» ly, wrhich produces fuch fignal Inftances of true Bravery and publick Spirit in this effeminate and felfifh Age. — You would not, I apprehend, forgive me, if I fhould on this Occafion omitt to mention the NOBLE PEER, of diftinguifhed Loy- alty to his Sovereign, and AfEe&ion to his Country ; who has often reprefented his Majeity in our General AfTemblies, in a Manner fo acceptable to his Royal Mafter, and fo advantageous and endearing to this G Church* ( 5o ), Church.™ The HONOURABLE HIGH- LAND CHIEF muft not be forgot, whofe inviolable Attachment to his Majefty's Perfon and Government, and timely Servi- ces for both, no Man ever called in queftion ; the unjlmken Fidelity of whofe Cl^n is one Inftance, what probably might have been the happy Temper and Difpofi- tion of many other Highlanders, had their Matters been equally careful to infpire them with the fame Principles of Religion and Loyalty.— The TRULY GREAT MAN muft not be patted in Silence, whofe uncommon Qualifications fit him equally for finning in the Camp and on the Bench ; and who, I may fay, has been, with the Afliftance of his NOBLE FRIEND, the great Bulwark of Loyalty in the more Northern Parts of our Ifland. — You have, I doubt not, already called to Mind, the GENIUS of Scotland, die Ornament of the Law, and Patron of Juftice ; of whofe fincere and valuable Friendship the Britijh Conftitution may juftly boaft. To this Number of honett-hearted Whigs, every one ( 5i ) one will add the true SON of fuch a Father, the late Servant of the Crown, whofe Fidelity to his Truft, and known Abilities for a higher Office, fo eminently adorn his other amiable and growing Qualities.— Time forbids me to mention the other GREAT and GOOD MEN amongft us, to whofe kind Offices, during the Courfe of this Rebellion, we are fig- pally indebted. But, when ex- horting to give civil Honour and Refpeit to whom it is due, I niuft not forget to remind you of the fupreme Honour and profound Veneration due to the GREAT GOD, the Author of all our Mercies, in refpeft of whom the Creature is as ijothing, and at belt only a Mean in the Hand of Jiim whofe Arm alone brings Salvation ; to whom therefore alj our Praifes rauft afcend, and in whom all our Joy ought to centre, — And this leads me to obferve, Laftly, That the Jews appointed an annual Fejlival \ in Commemoration of the great Things G 2 which t Some think they likewife appointed an annual Fall:, to keep in Mind that Sin had been the Caufe of their Diftrefs. £hd Prayer the Mean of their Relief. ( 5* ) which God had at this 'Time done for tliem. And with refpeft to us who live under the more perfect Difpenfation of Grace, which does not confift, even as to its external Forms, in Meats and Drinks ; we are the more bound to comply with the fpiritual Meaning and Intent of fuch religious Feftivals, by ihewing forth, in fpiritual Sa- crifices fuited to the Genius of Chriftianity, the marvellous Loviiig-kindnefs of our gracious God. Doubtlefs from us may be juftly expected — Souls magnifying the Lord, Spirits rejoicing inGod our Saviour f l)% Hearts warmed with Love and Gratitude to our Almighty Friend, who has delivered our Souls from Death, our Eyes from Tears, and our Feet from falling (k) i — Mouths filled with the high Praifes of the Lord God of Ifrael, wrho has fo remarkably vifited and redeemed his People (I) : Lives confecrated to the Honour of the God of our Life, the Length of our Days, and the Rock of our Salvation (in) : — A firm Truft in an all-governing Provddence in every After-difficulty, which has fo often, and (i) PfaK xi6. 8. (k) Luke I. 68. (1) Pfal. Il6. and for a Time, go all Lengths with its real Friends. If you appoint any particular Teft, they are among the firft who will fubmit;— they will vow and fwear, — addrefs and congratu- late,—feemingly pray and give Thanks,— and perhaps lend a helping Hand to weaken in fome Refpecls that very Party which they wifh to fupport, if by this Means they may deceive to greater Advantage, and after- wards more effectually dellroy, thofe who are foolifh enough to rely on their falfe Preten- ces.— The many People of the Land, who became only the nominal Difci pies of MOSES, H yet (x) Ffih. 9. 3, 4- ( 58 ) yet as his fvncere Followers (according to the Opinion of fome) fubje&ed themfelves to all the painful Rites of the Xhiaic Inftitution (a), and actually helped the Jews (b)y againft thofe who fought their Hurt, when once they (aw that the Jews had Power over them. 4thly, When Terfons become Trofelytes only in Appearance, like thofe taken Notice of in the Text, we may behold in them the true TiBure of a finifhed Hypocrite -y than which there is no Character more odious in the Eyes of God and all good Men. Perfons devoid of Honour and Honefty, fairing their civil and religious Principles to the Fafhions of the Times, or rather afting a (a) What we trar.fhte, became jezvs, is but one Word in the Original, viz,. EPTjTJTQ and, in the Opinion of very- good Judges, of fuch a ftrong acTtve Signification, as to im.- po~ their fttrring up themfelves / ans, to judaize, or to make themfelves be cfteemed Jezvs, leaving nothing undone that might clothe their Profeff.ons of Judaifm with an Air of Truth and Sincerity.-- But, if any ^ne (hould apprehend that thefe Profelytes were not circumcifed, or mould even think that their Profeilions went no further than that of great Friend- fhipforthejto'** andafeemingEarneftnefsto afiift them ; yet what is obferved concerning pretended Converts, in this third Remark, will neverthelefs remain true in general, and is ve- rified by daily Experience. (b) Eftb.9.i,-t. ( 59 ) a mere Tart, and pretending to be what they are not ; — Jews outwardly, Heathens in- wardly;—In their Lips the Law of Kind- nefs, in their Hearts hellifh Malice ;— Open Friends, fecret Traitors; Clothing the blackeft Perfidy with the faireft Appearances of Honefty ;—- Calling the God of Truth to witnefs the greateil Falfhoods ; — Appealing to the Searcher of Hearts for the Sincerity of their lying Tongues; — Worfhipping in Appearance the true and living Jehovah, adoring in Reality dumb and deaf Idols; Whofe Blafphemy we know, who fay they are Jews, and are not, but are of the Syna- gogue of Satan (cj. 5thly, This feeming Change from one Tro- fefpon to another, proceeds ujually from the moji unmanly and h of eft Motives, mere fervile Fear . and Dread .* Many of the People of the hand became Jews, for the Fear of the Jews fell upon them. Regardlefa of the Divine Precept, which ilrittly prohibited all idolatrous Worihip (d) } negle&ful of Nature's Light, that H 2 plain,. (c) Rev. 2. 0. (d) We find that Haman had fome Knowledge of the $eiv~ ( 6o ) plainly enough taught them the Impiety and Folly of worfhipping the Fire, or the Sun, the Moon or the Stars;- — Infenfible of the Beauty and Advantages of the true Religion as profefled by the Jews; Unmoved with the mournful Situation of this innocent harmlefs People, given up to the Will of their wicked Adverfary ; they continued in their idolatrous Practices, impatiently waiting to affift at the intended Maffacre of the true Ifrael of God. But fee now thefe cruel daftardly Spirits, forfaking their Party and its GRAND ABETTOR, as foon as their own Fortunes and Perfons are in Dan- ger ; Cringing to Mordecai, the Object of their Malice; Courting the Favour of the Jews, the Objects of their implacable Hatred ; Submitting to Tefts of Judal/m, formerly the Subject of their Scorn and Ri- dicule ; — Nay, aflembling themfelves in the Houfe of God, with thofe they had affigned to Damnation: Thus facrificing, from mere Cowardice, their Patron and their Bre- thren, jJ&Law (See Efih. 3.8.) and many of the Perfians muft necef- farily have known, by the Jews living amongft them, that their Laws ftri&ly prohibited all idolatrous Worihip. ( & ) thren, and (what will be dearer to every good Man than Life itfelf ) their Principles, their Honour and Sincerity. 6thly, It will admit of no Queftion, that fuch unfaithful^ cowardly and fef-feeking Men are by no means to be trujied. Many of the People of the Land became Jews, fo far as Publick Professions, and National Tests could make them fo; but the Jews wifely obliged them to witnefs their Sincerity by their After-conduft, ere admitted to their Society and Fellowfhip. MEN whom no Favours can oblige, — whom no Principles of Juftice and Equity can influence, — whom neither Reafon nor Religion can gain,— and, as Slaves, are on- ly to be won by the La(h ; compell'd to become FRIENDS and BRETHREN, from the mere Fear of fuffering as Enemies : Thefe indeed are FRIENDS and BRE- THREN in whom one would do well to put no Confidence; — broken Reeds, whereon if a Man lean, they will certainly go into his Hand and pierce him (e) ; and are doubtlefs no longer or further to be trufled than the con- (e) I fat ah 36. 6t ( 62 ) containing forcible Caufe continues to aft. • Suppofe them free from this Dread of fuffering, and they naturally return to their old Biafs ; their Wrath and implacable En- mity, inftead of being thus removed, only breaks out the more violently, as the raging Sea, whofe reftlefs Billows, having been pent up for fome Time, have afterwards broke down the inclofing Fence, and over- flow all Boundaries with irrefiftible Force. « If any of the Medes and Terjians had been concerned in former Con/piracies againft the Jews, and had often vowed perpetual Friendfhip when faved from their deferved Fate, whom nevertheless we find Hamans chief Accomplices in his prefent barbarous Plot ; would the Jews have again trufted thefe un- grateful perjur'd Men, whom the moft fo- lemn Oaths could not bind, nor repeated Pardons reclaim from the Error of their Way \ Again, had there been, amongft the Subjects of King Ahafuerus, a SETT of MEN who would not venture a Darick (f) in the Caufe, wrhichthey onallOccafi- ons declared to be the Caufe of God ; — or who had (f) A Perfian Coin, about i L. 5 Jb, Sterling. ( % ) had deferted, on the firft approach of Danger, ONE whom they called the LORD'S ANOINTED; MEN whohadno Fortitude to profefs what they alledged to be of Divine Original, when fuch Profeffion was attended with the fmallejl Lofs;— and had now changed their Gods rather than run any temporal Hazard; Mordecai, I dare fay would not have thought it extremely fafe to meddle with Men thus given to Change ; far lels would he have entrufted them with a Share in the Management of the Jewijh Conftitu- tion ; efpecially if all their Maxims of civil and religious Polity taught, nay obligd them to deftroy that Confutation by every poffible Method of Fraud and Violence, Cruelty and Oppreffion. Once more : It follows as the jujt Confequence of all we have faid, that thofe that call thern- felves of a People and are not, generally prove that ^Peoples mo ft inveterate Enemies, againft whofe fatal Contagion the utmoji 'Precautions are necejfary. It will be admitted, that we are feldom in greater Hazard than when in the Houfe of pretended Friends , and that Wounds received there f 64 ) there are bv far the mod dangerous.— A Viper lurking in one's Bofom has im- mediate Acce'fs to prey upon the Vitals* and, if not inftantly pluckt out, will foon fuck the very Heart's Blood. — An open Enemy warns you of his Approach, that you may prepare for the Attack \ but a fecret Traitor reaches a deadly Blow while you fufpeft no Harm, or, JudasAike, betrays you into the Hands of "Murderers with a Kifs, — Common Prudence, the Law of Self-prefer- yation, Regard to the Publick, and every juft Principle of A&ion, make it neceffary that the Governors of Cities and Kingdoms ihould fearch out fuch perfidious Men, left they imperceptibly mine the very Intereft wherewith they are intrufted, and which they profefs to ferve. — It may in fome In- fiances be difficult to fee thro' all the Difguifes of ARCH-TRAITORS, but in moft Cafes the Mask is too thin to fcreen from the dif- cerning Eye.— Sure it was eafy to obferve,that thofe of whom the Text fpeaks were in ail Probability only acting a mere Tart, being hitherto IJraeH avowed Enemies, and having never once thought of profeffing Judaifin^ ( 65 ) till Mordecai was great at Court, and his People honoured with fignal Marks of the Royal Favour (a). -As to others, who had not fo openly appeared in the Interefts of Raman, and poffibly had fo?netimes aflem- bled themfelves with the Jews ; they would no doubt now talk much of their fecret Friendship for Mordecai; narrate many of their fpecial Services in behalf of his People, which none ever before heard of; and would not fail to brand the wicked Plot of devoting fo many peaceable Subjeth as Sheep to the Slaugh- ter, with all the odious Names which it juft- ly deferved. — But methinks, yet unacquain- ted with the Shibboleth of the Jews, their very Speech would betray them : And if we fup- pofe them formerly admitting, tho* by way of Lamentation, that Subjects being the Property of Princes, and Raman having ob- tained the Royal Mandate, had doubtlefs a juft Title to treat Jews under Ahafue- nus Jurifdidtion according to his Will andPleafure; — — confenting tacitely at the fame Time to the injurious Reflections caft on thefe Ifraelites, as a defpicable feditious I Sett, (g) Edh. 8. throughout. ( 66 ) Sett, who could not well be tolerated in Confiftency with the true Intereft of the Nation (b) ; — or talking, tho' with feeming Regrete, if you will, how fur prijingly the Fates had profpered Hamans Enterprize, and were ready to crown his utmoft Wifhes with the defired Succefs ; —readily allowing that in vain did any oppofe what Heaven had de- creed, and had fo far countenanced ; to whom Prayers for the Welfare of the Jews were as the File in the apothecary s Ointment, which fpoils the Savour of the whole :— - Or if you figure fome of thefe Terfians, fcarce able to conceal their Joy while the Jews were falling and mourning, employing the Hours of publick Worfhip in artful Stra- tagems to pave the Way for the more effectual Execution of this bloody Decree, and opening every Paffage to the defigned Actors of the fatal Tragedy : Or if you admit that others of the prefent Trofelytes were at firft extremely cool in the Caufe of the Jews, — who inftead of taking Counfel with their Friends, paid (to the Conviction of all) undue Regard to their Enemies ; — and (h) Ejih. 3. 8. ( *7 ) and were at length found folUcitouJly con- triving how to remove from the City Shu- Jhan fuch as were bound in Honour to have helped the opprefTed Ifraelites : — On thefe Suppofitions, it would have required no great Penetration, to difcern the Heathen under the Difguife of the Jew. — One could have been at no Lofs to know whence their after flaming Profeffions in behalf of Judaifm had its Rife, and what Regard would have been fhewn to them by Efiher and Morde- cat. It is indeed very poflihle that there were in Ahafueruss Court fome more cautious Hypocrites, whofe profejfed Friendfiip for the Jews might have been of longer Date, and who had called themfelves of Ifrael from their firft Appearance in publick Life. — But fuffer me to ask, Were thefe Men eminently active in promoting the molt pernicious Schemes equally hurtful to their Sovereign and Fellow-fubjects ? Did they ever at- tempt to have removed from before Queen Efiher all that wifhed well to Jerufaletn, and fought the Good of the Houfe of the Lord our God?—™ Were they concerned oftner I Z than ( 68 ) than once in projeding Laws to divide and opprefs the Church of Ifrael? Did they fold their Hands, when the Decree was firft iffued out to kill and deftroy the Jews ? Did they remain unaftive when the ifatal Plot feemed juft ripe for Execution? — Were they even a dead Weight on every Mea- fure propofed for averting the impen- ding Vengeance ? — Did they feem wil- ling that a whole Nation ihould perifh, rather than that their private Malice fhould not have full Vent on thofe who differed from them? Were the true Children of Zion the Objects of their Hatred, Contempt and Revenge? And in fine, who were their chief Companions, Affociates, Ser- vants, Favourites? — With whom had they the mod intimate Connexion? Or who had received diitinguifhed Marks of their Favour ? Do you anfwer me, The known Enemies of the Jcius ? — Then, fuppofe thefe Terfian-Jewijb Courtiers to have pafTed un- der any Name you pleafe, call them Infidels or Believers, Heathens or Jews, I am bold to fay, that Power and Influence in fuch Hands muft have appeared to all the Jews ( *9 ) a ftrange Way indeed of promoting their trueft and beft Intereft. The fmall Affi- ftance which their Dependents poffibly gave to MORDECA1, when once the Fear of the Jews fell on the People of the Land and no Man could withftand them, was, methinks, too trifling a Pretext for their Satraps to merit any Favour, or gain any Credit with the wife and prudent Mordecai; who without doubt confidered the difcre- diting Summer-day Friends, as one of the moft effectual Means by which he fought the Wealth of his real Teopk, and fpoke Peace to all his true Seed. I might have inlarged thefe Remarks, and added many others that deferve our Regard, but have already exceeded the intended Li- mits of this Difcourfe; — and fhall there- fore leave the further Illuftration of this Ar- gument to every one's particular and After- refle&ion. We /peak as unto wife Men y judge ye what we Jay* May ( 70 ) May the Eyes of our gracious Sovereign be ever towards the Faithful of the Land! — The Righteous be always in .Authority under hinii and his *People always rejoice ! — May Teace remain within our Walls, and "Trofperity within our Talaces /« — May Zions God abide our God for ever and ever, and our Guide even unt<* Death ! FINIS. ERRATA Page 23. Line 24. for Acquaintances, read Acquaintance. P. 55. 1. 6. for whence come, read the fatal Source of m* ^ > D .' /f ' %*"