And from all which we must therefore conclude,1
That it is a very vain thing to place any confidence2
in Man upon this first Account, viz. That the3
Power, even of the greatest Persons, to Help us is4
exceeding Small; exposed to so many Casualties,5
and attended with such Inconveniencies, as renders6
it of very little Use, and of no Dependance at all7
to us.8
But 2dly Were the Case quite otherwise;9
were there any Order of Men so perfect, in all10
other Respects, that they Could supply us with All11
that we should ever be likely to Want, and Would12
give us whatsoever we should Desire: And were13
their Inclinations towards us so Fixt and Immutable,14
that we might depend upon them that they would15
never forsake us, but be at all times ready to Grant 16
us whatsoever we should ask of them: Yet still17
their Life is so Uncertain, and, at the best, so Short;18
that it would be a very vain thing for us, after all,19
to set up your Trust and Confidence upon them.20
For alas! Where is the Man so Great and Self-sufficient,21
that can secure himself the next Hours22
Breath? And in the heighth of all his Fortune23
presume to say, that to Morrow shall not lay him24
Equal with the Dust, and return him to the Earth25
from whence he was taken?26
It is an extraordinary Character which the Holy27
Spirit gives to some Persons, Psal. lxxxii.6. I have28
said that ye are Gods, and that ye are all the Children29
of the most High. And yet what follows immediately30
upon it? A Sad, but Certain Truth: Nevertheless31
ye shall Die like Men. This is the Conclusion32
of all; The Common End of the Greatest,33
as well as of the Meanest, Persons. Here they34
may seem to be a Sort of Gods upon Earth: May35
dispense the Fortunes of Men as they please; Set36
up, whom they will set up; and Pull down,37
whom they will pull down. They may be Honour'd38
too as Such, by Those who know no Religion39
above their Interests; nor think any Divinity40
more worthy of their Regard, than Those who41
have in their power to promote them to Riches,42
and Honour, and Authority.43
But Death observes none of these Formalities.44
When that strikes, the Crowned Head falls as45
surely before it, as He who had not where to lay46
his Head, till the Grave afforded him a place for it.47
All the difference is, that as such Persons are exposed48
to more Dangers, and subject to Greater49
Hazards, than lesser Men; so are their Lives more50

B

Uncertain; and, generally Speaking, more Short51
too. A Cottage may, and oftentimes do's afford52
us an Example of a Vigorous Old Age: But this53
is a Sight which the Palaces of Princes are seldom54
blessed with; nor can it reasonably be expected55
they should often Enjoy it.56
And when this is the Case, what a folly must it57
be to build our Hope upon such Protectors? Who58
are so far from being able to Help us, that alas!59
they are not able to Help themselves, in those60
Instances, in which both They and We, the most,61
stand in need of Assistance. Whose Breath is not62
their Own: who live by the meer Favour of Another:63
Who to day appear in Glory and Honour; and64
to morrow go down into the Grave, and yield to65
the Fate of other Ordinary Men.66
So foolish a thing is it, in point of Reason, to67
put our Trust in Man; be the Place, the Power, or68
Authority which he Enjoys, what it will. And69
for a yet more sensible confirmation of this Great70
Truth; give me leave, but briefly, to illustrate it71
to you, in that Fatal Evidence it has pleased God at72
this time to give us, in the Person of our late Royal73
Soveraign, How little dependance is to be placed upon74
any Human Support; upon the Best, or Greatest of75
the Children of Men.76
If, First, We consider Her with respect to her77
Power and Dignity; She was Queen of a Mighty and78
Renowned People: Endued with the Highest79
Authority that a Crown could give her; and in80
that with the largest Capacity that any Creature81
could pretend to, of Doing Good. Her Opportunities82
were Many, and her Advantages very Great83
for such a Purpose. Much was expected from84
Her; and we must, with Gratitude, Acknowledge,85
that much she did Do.86
For indeed, 2ly; Her Will was not at all Less, nay87
I may venture to say, it was much Greater than her88
Power. Nor did she value any thing so much in the89
Eminence of that Station to which it had pleased90
God to raise her amongst us; as that it put her91
in a Condition of extending the Exercise of her92
Vertues a great deal farther, than it had been possible93
for her to have done in a Lesser Fortune.94
Never was there Any in so High a Place,95
more free and easie of Access, even to the most96
Ordinary Persons: More Desirous to Oblige all, or97
that better knew how to Do it. Insomuch that I98
believe it has seldom been known that Any ever99
Applied to Her, but what have gone away Easie100
and Contented from Her: And either obtained101
what they wanted, or not known how to Complain,102
if they have not.103
The truth is, She was a Person in whom Nature104
and Grace seem to have concurr'd, to make up105
One great Master-piece of Excellency and Perfection.106

B2

Her Natural Dispositon was Free and Generous;107
Open and Sincere. She had a Sweetness of Temper,108
finish'd and heightned with a large mixture109
of Christian Charity and Compassion: Such as110
never loved to see any in Misery, Otherwise than111
as it gave her an Opportunity thereby of Doing112
somewhat for them to make them Easie.113
Thus was she fitted to Do Good: And a singular114
Dexterity She had in the Doing of it. She115
knew What was fit to be done for Every One;116
and After what Manner; and At what Time. And117
seldom did She Vouchsafe a Favour to Any, but118
the very Way that she bestow'd it in, doubled119
the Obligation; and made a deeper Impression120
upon the Mind of Him who receiv'd it, than the121
Benefit it self did.122
In short; So Great was her Comprehension;123
So Correct her Judgment; So Easie her Dispatch,124
of whatever came before her; That God seemed125
to have fitted her Soul to her Place and Character:126
And to have given her a Capacity as far beyond127
that of Other Common Persons, as she was in128
Rank and Dignity above Them.129
Such good reason had we, upon All these accounts,130
to expect some more than Ordinary Blessings131
under her Government; and to put a greater132
Trust and Confidence in her, than was almost fit133
to be placed in any Creature. And the more to134

10

encourage us so to do, it had pleased God to all135
his Other Endowments, to Add such a Vigour136
of Body, and Firmness of Constitution, as seem'd137
to Equal the Vivacity of her Mind: And promised138
us almost an Age of Happiness yet to come,139
under the Influence of her Conduct.140
And now, when so many Circumstances concurr'd141
to encourage our Relyance upon Her;142
who could Blame us for being willing to flatter143
Our Selves, that such a Queen was certainly raised144
up by God to do some extraordinary Good for145
that Church and Kingdom to which He had given146
Her? But alas! a Sad Experience has shewn us147
that we ought not to have put our Trust even in148
Such a Person. And if Such a Person may not149
be rely'd upon, We may then safely conclude,150
that We must look beyond this World for our151
Support: And not place our Confidence on any152
but that God who alone, both Can Do All things153
for us; and will continue, for ever, to Help and154
Defend Us.155
Which therefore brings me to the Other Point156
I proposed to speak to;157
Secondly, That he who will place his Trust158
upon a sure Foundation, must place it upon159
God; who alone is Able to Succour us in All160
our Exigencies, and will Always continue in161
a Capacity so to Do.162

11

And 1st. That God is Able to Succour us in All163
our Exigencies; is evident from hence, that he164
is Able to do whatsoever he pleases both in Heaven165
and Earth. That he has no Equal, much less166
any Superiour Power, to Controul his Will;167
and to hinder him from bringing Whatsoever168
he purposes, to the End which he Designs.169
That as he is the first Being, and Author of170
all Others; So was there Nothing before him171
to Confine, or Limit his Perfections. He Received172
not his Power from Any; Nor has he173
therefore any Restraint upon it but what proceeds174
from himself, and is subject to his Own Will.175
Man, as he was Created by God, so was he176
limited too by him in his State and Condition,177
to a certain Degree of Perfection, beyond which178
he cannot Go, nor Raise up himself above it.179
And therefore, whatsoever Power he has, is confined180
within those Bounds which the Divine181
Wisdom has thought fit to set to it: Nor can182
he Go, the least Tittle, beyond what God has183
permitted him to Do.184
But God himself is Free and without Constraint.185
With him nothing is impossible, but186
what is Sinful; And that is not an Instance of187
true Power, but of Impotency and Infirmity.188
So that if we would then Trust in Man, we189
must do it with those Restrictions which his Nature190
requires us to limit our Trust withal: And191
depend upon Him as One whose Power may fail;192
Whose Mind may Change; nay, whose very Life193
may be taken from him.194
But with God we shall need none of these Reserves.195
He is Absolutely Able, in Every thing, to196
Help and Succour us: And in all such Cases wherein197
it is fitting for Him to Do it, He will help us, if198
we do but duly apply our selves to Him, and depend199
upon Him. And when such is the Advantage of200
God, in this Respect, above Any of his Creatures;201
much more above Man, the Lowest of all the Rational202
Kind in Power and Dignity: Well may203
the Psalmist pronounce him Blessed, whose Wisdom204
and Piety have taught him to fix his205
Trust there, where Nothing can hinder it from206
being Beneficial to Him, but his own Neglecting207
to seek for Help as he ought to Do.208
I say nothing now of the many Other Arguments209
that might be offered to Encourage us in210
this Trust, and to shew the Happiness of that Man211
who has placed his Hope upon it. Such are,212
The infinite Wisdom of God, in judging what is213
Best for Us, and after what Manner it will be214
most for our Interest to be Helped by him. His215
infinite Knowledge, for the Discovery of our Wants,216
oftentimes long before We Our selves are sensible217
of them. His Power to Relieve Us, not only218
in All our Exigencies, which I have before Observed;219
but to Do it in a Moment, at the very Minute220
that it will be most Seasonable for Us to have221
it done. And, not to mention any more; His222
Ability to Prevent Evils from Coming upon us, no223
less than to Free us from them, or to Support us under224
Them, when they have Overtaken Us. And225
in all which the Wisdom and Power of Man can226
either Do Nothing at all, or Nothing Comparable227
to what God is able to Do.228
But One Consideration more there is, which229
neither the express Words of my Text, nor the Occasion230
of the present Discourse, will permit me to231
pass by: And that is, 2dly. That God is not only232
thus Able, as I have shewn, to Help us in All our233
Needs; but will continue for Ever in a Capacity to234
save and defend Us. For God is Eternal in his235
Duration, as well as Infinite in his Power; and236
as He never had a Beginning of Being, so neither237
can He Ever Come to an End of it.238
Now how far this sets him up above all239
Earthly Benefactors, I have already shewn you;240
and the mighty Loss, we have just now sustain'd,241
does but too plainly Declare.242
When One of our Earthly Benefactors Dies, not243
only all his Good Dispositions towards us perish244
together with Him, but all his Power too of putting245
them in Execution, from that instant, Ceases.246

14

And we from thenceforth become as Destitute247
and Forlorne, as if we had never had any such248
Friend or Patron, to rely upon. In such a Trust249
therefore there is no certainty: Nothing on250
which to build any lasting Hope: any wise and251
comfortable expectation.252
But God endureth for ever, and therefore his253
Help can never fail us. He will be our God unto254
Death; nay, and even after it too, will save and255
deliver Us. The Grave it self, which puts an256
end to all things else, cannot take us out of his257
hand, nor deprive us of his Protection. But in258
that melancholy Place and State, tho' we know259
but little else of what relates to it; yet this we260
are sure of, that our Souls continue under his261
Care: And that, after a certain Period of time,262
our very Bodies themselves shall again be restored263
to us; and so we shall be for ever with the264
LORD.265
And thus I have shewn you, What the Advantages266
of that God are, above all Other Supporters,267
in whom our Text exhorts us to put our Trust;268
and pronounces Him Happy who has taken Care269
so to do. And when such are his Advantages270
above any of his Creatures, in this respect, as271
well as in All Others; What resolution can we272
better take up, than that which is pointed out to273
us in that Exhortation of the Evangelical Prophet,274

C

Isai. 26.4. Trust ye in the LORD for ever;275
for in the LORD Jehovah is everlasting276
strength. 277
And this may suffice for the two Points I proposed278
to speak to: I shall only draw a few plain279
Consequences from what has been said, and so conclude280
this Discourse. And,281
First, Since such is the Vanity of putting our282
Trust in any Humane Help; let us resolve to283
take off our Hearts from all such Dependencies:284
And not build our Hope on such a Foundation, as285
we are sure in a little time will fail us, and we286
cannot tell how soon it may do so.287
I do not deny, but that as God orders the Affairs288
of Mankind by the Ministry of Second Causes;289
so we may, without incurring any just Censure290
for it, look to them as the Instruments which he291
makes use of in his Dispensations towards us.292
Nay, we may put some kind of Trust too in them:293
Provided that it goes no farther than the Nature294
of such Causes admits of; and that we still take295
care to look beyond them, to that God who employs296
them to our Interest and Advantage. But297
yet, when all is done, our last and highest Dependance298
must be placed upon God only; who299
alone is Able, and will always be so, in all our300
Exigencies to Help and Deliver Us.301
It cannot be doubted but that We of this Country,302
and especially We of this Church, have indeed received303
as great a loss, as could well have happen'd304
to us, in the unexpected Death of our late305
Royal Sovereign.306
A Princess she was, such as this Nation never307
before had, nor was it now worthy of her. To308
draw her Character, and set her out to you with309
all the Advantage that her real Worth deserves,310
is a Task too difficult for me to presume to attempt:311
Though this security I should have in the312
doing of it, that let me say what I could, no313
one would accuse me of Flattery in it; a Vice ever314
odious, and I think no where more so than in315
the Pulpit. For howsoever 'tis impossible to316
speak of Her, and not say Great things; yet very317
hard it is to speak, but a small part, of what318
all must allow might justly be reported of Her.319
Let it suffice, at present, to say; That if a Queen320
so Vertuous, that her very Example was enough321
to convert a Libertine, and to reform an Age:322
So Courteous and Affable, as to be the wonder and323
delight of All that Knew her: So great a Lover324
of her Country, and the Interests of it; as to be willing325
to hazard what, next her Conscience, she326
the most valued, her good Name, and good Opinion327
in the World, for the preservation of them:328
So firm and constant in her Mind, as not to have329
once known, no not in Death it self, what it was330

C2

to fear: So Happy in Business, as to astonish, rather331
than satisfie, those who were the best versed332
in it: I say, If to have been deprived of such a333
Queen as this; and that at such an Age, when our334
Expectations were at the highest from Her, be a335
loss above the power of Words to express; then336
such is our loss: The greatness of which337
we are so far from being able sufficiently to declare,338
that perhaps we cannot yet make a just339
Estimate of it.340
But yet, were we not hereby too much convinced,341
how little we ought to depend upon342
such kind of Helps; I might presume to say, to343
the Glory of God, and to our own Comfort,344
that we had still enough of these remaining, to345
suppress all disorderly Fears, and undue Repinings346
at that which we have lost.347
God has, 'tis true, removed our Queen from348
us: But He still continues his Sacred Majesty to349
us, notwithstanding all the Dangers to which He350
has been exposed. He has deprived us of the351
Benefit of Her Conduct: But He has left us Him,352
under whom She herself grew up in that Wisdom353
and Courage, we so much admired in Her.354
And even beyond this, we have the Prospect355
of a yet farther Succession to fill the Throne; and356
to support the Interests both of the Church and357
State amongst us.358
But yet when all is done, 'tis not upon these359
fair and promising Expectations that we must360
place our Trust, or account the Fortune of our361
Publick Welfare to depend: But it is that God, who362
has so long and wonderfully defended us, that363
must still be our Support; or all these Helps will364
signifie Nothing to us.365
Indeed these are the Persons by whom we366
justly may, and therefore accordingly do Hope to367
be Protected and Defended. And a singular Hapness368
it is to us, that we have such a fair Succession369
of the Royal Family before our Eyes. But yet370
when all is done, 'tis from the Blessing of God371
in preserving these Persons to us, and prospering372
their Endeavours, that we must look for safety:373
And God, even without any such Helps, could,374
if he pleased, secure and protect us. But,375
Secondly, As these Considerations should move376
us, not to put our Trust in any Humane Help; so377
should they keep us from being very much surprized,378
if at any time such kind of Helps shall379
chance to fail us.380
It was a Great Expression, and argued a Worthy381
Mind, in Him anciently, who being told382
of the Death of his Son, pass'd it off with this383
only Reflection; That He always knew that He384
was Mortal.385
And the same should be our Consideration upon386
these Occasions. We know that all Humane387
Helps are Transitory and Uncertain: And why388
then should we stand amazed, as if some strange389
thing had happen'd to us, when we come to be390
Deprived of that, which we always knew we391
had no security of.392
I am not so unsensible of the loss we have393
now received, as not to think that we ought to394
pay a very just regret to it; and to consider seriously395
with our selves, for what Sins of this Nation396
especially it is, that God has taken away from397
us our Royal Defender. But yet I cannot think398
that it ought to be any great Surprize to us: Unless399
it be some new Calamity to see a Mortal400
Die, and to find that to have happen'd to One,401
which happens to Thousands every day.402
Nay, but Thirdly; We ought not only not to be403
Surprized at the failure of such kind of Helps, but404
neither should we be immoderately Concern'd and405
Cast down at it: Because God is never the less Able406
to preserve us for the loss of these, but can either407
raise us up New Supporters, or save us without Any,408
if He rather sees fit so to Do.409
I am verily persuaded that we have at this410
time received as sensible a Blow, in this respect,411
in the Loss of our Royal Sovereign, as could have412
befallen us in any One Life, excepting that of413
His Sacred Majesty. But yet far be it from me414
so far to despond, or to distrust the Providence of415
God, as to think we must needs be ruined, because416
our Queen is taken from us. This were certainly417
to confine too much the Power of God, and to418
give too great an Advantage to our Enemies;419
who because they earnestly wish our ruine, are420
therefore ready, upon every Occasion, to flatter 421
themselves that the time is coming which they422
so much desire to see.423
But to shew you how little Reason either we424
have to be rejected, or They to exalt their425
Hopes, on any such Account; Let us suppose the426
Case be as bad as the most Melancholly Mind427
can fansie, or our most bitter Enemies could desire428
it to be. That we were indeed left Naked429
and Destitute of all Humane Help; and had no430
prospect remaining of any succour, much less431
had so good a one, as I have before shewn; and432
as it is evident to all the World that we have:433
Yet still I say that all this would not be enough434
to warrant us to Distrust God; but rather,435
Fourthly, We should then more especially rely436
upon his Help, when all other Supports do the437
most fail us.438