whether they be Good or Bad, fo wholly to the immediate Hands that managed our Affairs, as not in the first Place to take notice of the Hand of God in them.

There is a Divine Power that governs all these Matters. And tho' it be true, that no Misfortune, no ill Success ever happens, but there is a Human Reason to be given for it; and it may be found out upon what Occafion, or by what Neglect, or thro' what ill Manage ment, that Misfortune happened; yet it is as true, that if thofe that managed for us had the Wisdom, and the Conduct, and the Strength of the very Angels of God, yet their Endeavours would not be effectual, for the making us happy, unless we ourselves were in a Capacity of being fo, by being proper Objects of God's Mercy and Favour. This muft likewise be true, if perfect Justice govern the World.

Thirdly, It follows from hence, that even the feverer Difpenfations of God's Providence towards us; the Things we complain of, and are uneafie under; our very Calamities, and Misfortunes, and Difappointments; even these are the Effects of God's Kindness, though at the fame Time they may be likewise Inftances of his Justice: That is to fay, they are meant really for our Good, and will prove fo, if we make that Use of them we should do.

The very Nature of God is to do all Good, at all Times, to all his Creatures. For, he had no other End in making them, nor has he any other End in looking after them: But God cannot do Good to all in the fame way. Cor

rection,

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rection, and Chaftisement, and Punishment, is in fome Cafes more expedient for the bring ing People to rights, and promoting their true Interefts, than the giving them all that their own Hearts can wish. In fuch Cafes therefore God muft deal with his Creatures, as every wife Parent deals with his Children. And tho' thefe Chaftifements (as the Apostle tells us) are not joyous, but grievous, yet are they defigned for the bringing forth the peaceable Fruits of Righteousness in all them that are exercifed thereby.

The Truth is, We do not know what is Good for ourselves. We often wish for Things, that perhaps, if our Wishes were granted, would undo us: But our Happiness is, that God knows all, and fo tempers all, that all Events, even thofe that we are apt to look upon as the greatest Judgments, fhall at laft appear more visibly to have been the wifeft Me. thods that could poffibly have been contrived for the doing the Greatest Good to us. And if they do not fucceed accordingly, it will be our own Fault.

This must likewife needs be true if perfect Goodness govern All: For even Justice itself is but a different way of expreffing Goodness. And all that, which we call Judgment and Vengeance, is unaccountable, unless it ferve for the doing Good to the World.

Fourthly and Laftly; From hence it follows, that all Events whatsoever, that ever did, or do, or fhall happen in the World, either with refpect to Nations, and Kingdoms, or with respect to particular Perfons, are really

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the Best that could, or can happen. And if Things were ordered otherwife, it would not be fo well.

A ftrange Paradox you will fay this is; that not only the Mifchiefs and Calamities that fall upon Mankind, but even their Faults and Mifmanagements, nay, their very Sins and Wickedneffes, fhould be for the beft. But really fo it is, and fo it must be, if both infinite Wisdom, and Goodneß, and Power, govern the World.

Not, but that a particular Man's Sins may be the Occafion of his Ruin, nay, and certainly will be fo, if he perfift in them.

And likewise the Faults of a People may, and will have fuch an ill Influence upon the Commu. nity, as, if they be not amended, the Defolation of the Nation may at last enfue thereupon.

But ftill, tho' every Thing that happens do not prove for the Good of that particular Perfon, or that particular People, that is immediately concerned in the Event; yet it will certainly prove for the General Univerfal Good.

So that, take all the whole Series of Events together, that have, or fhall come to pass all the World over, we may undoubtedly affirm, that all Things have been as well managed, as it is poffible they could be; and will be fo to the End of the World: And this we ourfelves fhall be fatisfied of, when we come to be in a Condition of making a juft Estimate of Things.

For, indeed, to fuppofe otherwife, is to fay, either that Infinite Wisdom doth not act fo mifely as it might do; or, that Perfect Goodneß might do more Good than it does do; or, Laftly, that VOL. I. Omni

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Omnipotent Power cannot do every Thing that is poffible. All which Suppofitions are plainly abfurd and contradictious.

And now, if all thefe Things be true (as they certainly are) how natural is the Conclufion of my Text? Since God is the King of all the World, and fuch a King likewise, that the Measures of his Government are exact Goodneß, and Wisdom, and Righteousneß; what have all Mankind to do, efpecially Good Men, but to rejoice and be glad?

This is the Pfalmift's Inference from this Doctrine. And this is the prefent Business of the Day: And therefore let us all practise accordingly. That is the only Application I defire to make of what hath been faid.

And Two ways we ought to express our Re

joycing.

First, In a hearty Senfe of all God's past and prefent Mercies to us, and an actual giving him our Thanks for the fame.

Secondly, In a chearful Dependance upon him for his future Bleffings. Give me leave to speak a little to thefe Two Points, and I have done.

Firft, Let us be heartily fenfible of all God's Kindness to us, both past and prefent, and unfeignedly thank him for the fame.

It is very remarkable, that not only David, but the Prophets likewise, when they are treating of God's Kingdom, call upon the Iles in a particular manner to take notice of it; [See Ifa. 24. 15. 42. 4, 10, &c.] as here in my Text, Let the Multitudes of the Ifles be glad thereof: As if the Ifles in a more particular

manner

manner were to have a Share in the Bleffings of his Government. And, no doubt, it was so intended, and accordingly it hath fo come to pafs. For it is the Iles of the Gentiles, by which Name the Scripture expreffeth thofe Countries that were at the greatest Distance from the Continent of Judea; I fay, it is thefe Ifles, which now, at this Day (God's ancient People the Jews being for their Infidelity long ago rejected) are the principal Seat of his Church and Kingdom, and to which he vouchfafeth the Light of his Gofpel, and the Means of Salvation; so true is God to all his Promises.

But now, of all the Ifles of the Gentiles, if any one above the reft hath felt the benign and gracious Influences of the LORD's being our King, certainly Ours is that Ifland.

How wonderfully bountiful hath God been to us in a continual Succeffion of Publick Bleffings, even from the firft Beginning of Time, that we have had any Memorials of Events among us?

We had the Happiness to be early made a Province of the Roman Empire, and by that Means were trained up to Civility, and Arts, and good Manners.

That made way for the greatest Blessing that Heaven could bestow upon us, even the receiving Chriftianity: And that Bleffing we had with the moft early, being the first among the Nations that embraced it.

When through the juft Judgment of God, Barbarifm and Ignorance overfpread the Face of Europe, and by the Occafion thereof Superftition and Idolatry made its way, and all the Cc 2

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