their Judgment and Apprehenfion. Our Souls, whilst in these frail Tabernacles, are much influen'd by their different Make and Compofition: Our Bodies are the Inftruments by which our Souls at prefent a&t, and according to their Fitness for Service, are all our fpiritual Operations. As Men differ in their bodily Tempers and Constitutions; fo do they in their mental Powers and Capacities: As one Man's Eye may be clearer, or his Arm fronger than anothers; fo one Man's Understanding may be brighter, and his Reafon quicker than his Brothers: And because our Faculties are thus different, our Opinions muft neceflarily be fo. Our Thoughts of all things in the World are the most free and ungovernable: Like the Waves of the Sea, they can be bounded by none but the Almighty. We may as cafily warp all our Bodies into the fame Form, as give each of our Minds the very fame Turn. Tho' the Unity of the Spirit may be kept by the Bond of Peace and Love, it can't by an exact Parity or Refemblance: To endeavour this, as 'tis no where required, fo 'twould be no way profitable, but extremely injurious. Among the Spheres above, there's an exact Order and Harmony, and yet they have different Courses, different Qualities, and different Proportions; and to alter this, would in probability damage, if not ruin the World. In our Bodies there are different Members and Organs, and to force the Shape of either, would not only leffen their Beauty, and unfit them for use, but also incommode the whole Compofition. Thus in the Body Politick, fhould all of different Powers and Inclinations, be bent by Violence the fame way, 'twould create much Uneafinefs: Should any way of Worship be rigorously imposed on us, there being fuch different Abilities, 'twould be a Yoke which (as our Fathers could not,fo) we should not be able to bear: Should we be forc'd within the Limits of any particular Opinion, the Space would be too narrow to contain us all. Not only fome would lofe that Freedom, to which, if to any thing they have a Right; but all, tho' not with an equal Senfe, muft fhare in the Smart: The

whole

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whole Society must be weaken'd and infeebled; and therefore that Liberty which prevents this Disorder, is a neceffary, and God grant it may be a lafting Blessing.

4htly. ANOTHER Requifite to the Happiness of a People, is Peace and Union.

AS there is nothing more weakens, or fooner deftroys a Man, than internal Pain and Disorder; fo there is nothing fooner ruins a State than Discord and Divifion. Let a People be ever fo fecurely guarded against foreign Invafion, if Rebellion fpread and flourish, they can't long maintain themselves. If an Enemy is at a Distance, we may provide against him, and know how to refift his visible Approaches: But if there's one Latent in our own House, we are unacquainted with our Danger, and our Prefervation must be very difficult. Divide, & impera, has been an experienc'd and fuccessful Maxim in Politicks. Sideing and Parties in Kingdoms, is the common Foundation of Plots and Treafons, and the Door by which their Destruction ufually enters. A too great Heat but in one part of a Nation, may, if not timely allay'd, breed a Fever in the whole. When the Nourishment is ingroffed by any of the Joynts, tho' they may grow bulky, the Parts which feel its want, will gradually decay, and fo the whole Body be extremely injur'd. As there are no Quarrels more hot and dangerous than thofe among natural Brethren; fo there are no Jars or Contentions more fatal and destructive, than thofe among civil ones. The common Lot of those that bite and devour one another, is that cautioned against by St. Paul, Gal. 5. 15. to be consumed one of another. But when Peace and Union dwell in a Kingdom, they give Eafe and Satisfaction to all that belong to it: Like Mufick, they chear and enliven all within their Influences. Behold how good and how pleasant it is, for Brethren to dwell together in Unity; like precious Ointment upon the Head, it drops a Fragrancy on every Skirt in our Garments; or as Dew on the Mountains, it caufes every Blade to spring and flourish, Pfal. 133. This is as Cement, which keeps every

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every Stone in the Building in its proper Place, and the whole Fabrick from falling afunder: It's not only the Beauty, but the Strength and Security of a Nation: When our Interefts, Hearts, and Hands, are joyned, like a threefold Cord, we fhall not be easily broken. It's therefore highly necessary to the Happiness of any People.

Sthly. ANOTHER Thing neceffary to a People's Happiness, is a wholfome Air, and strong healthy Ĉonftitutions.

HEALTH, this, like Salt, gives a Relish to all our other Comforts: Without this, the most charming Sounds, the nobleft Sights, and the sweetest Draughts, are naufeous and offenlive: Without this, the activest Spirits flag, the bravest Hero stoops, and the strongest Hand trembles. Sickness is like Poifon to the human Nature; it either speedily destroys Perfons, or renders them, during its Operation, dull and useless. Let a Disease enter the moft flourishing and best order'd Family, what Confufion, what Distraction will it make? Let a raging Diftemper fpread thro' an Army, the ftouteft Army, it will cool their Courage, weaken their Pow ers, and make them an easy Prey to thofe they would conquer. And the fame Effects has Sickness in a Country or Kingdom; it will foon humble its Pride and stain its Glory. Tho' the Soil fhould be ever fo productive, and its Fruit ever fo delicious; if the Stomach fhould be weak, and Nature feeble, what would all fignify? Tho' the People should be numerous as the Sands, would they not, like the Shechemites, when fore, be an easy Prey to fuch as fhould invade them? Or might not their own Diseases foon leffen their Numbers, and weaken their feeble Force? But when a People have a pure and free Air, robuft and manly Conftitutions; they can taste the Sweets of their Country, they can bear the Influence of different Seafons; they will multiply and increafe; their Quiver will be full of Arrows, they will not be alhamed, but be able to speak with the Enemy in the Gate. This therefore is neceffary to make them happy.

B

6thly.

6thly. ANOTHER Thing required, is Plenty of all neceffary Provisions.

'TIS not present Strength or Number that can fecure or fave a People: Thefe, without fome neceffary Supports, will quickly lofe all their Glory and Fervour. Let a befieged Town be ever fo ftrongly fortified, or vigorously defended; if Ammunition and Provisions fail, it muft foon beat a Surrender: Let a People be ever fo fpreading at prefent, if necessary Nourishment is denied, as in a Tree, the Leaves will drop off, and the Branches wither: But if Plenty in numerous Heaps appear in a Kingdom; if Trade and Commerce flourish, and Money, the Blood of the Body Politick, circulates briskly, it will put on a good Face, be filled with Courage, be able, like fome little active Men, to contend with those that in, Bulk far exceed it: This will give eafe to the Subject, and Satisfaction and Glory to the Sovereign: Twill fit the Footstool to fupport the Throne, and the Throne the better to defend the Footftool: This will purchase the Affiftance of Neighbours, gain the Credit and Efteem of Foreigners, incourage Industry, increase Inhabitants; like Money at Ufe, 'twill yearly augment the Riches, and add to the Stores of a Nation; and therefore must be neceffary to give Happiness.

7thly and lastly. ANOTHER Requifite to the Happinefs of a People, is Safety from Enemies at home, and Succefs and Victory over them abroad.

THERE's fcarce a People (how inoffenfive foever) that can be fo happy as to be free from the Infults of all around them. War was the Lot of God's ancient Heritage, fo 'tis frequently of his prefent Church. The wild Beasts of the Forreft, if not oppofed, will break in and tread down the Vineyard of the Lord. Kingdoms, like Beasts or Fishes to one another, if not on their Guard, may be made the Prey of other Kingdoms. A lawful War is fometimes to be preferr'd to Peace and Quiet; and when 'tis ingaged in, fcarce any thing will affect the People more than the Snccefs of it.

IF

IF Armies and Navies, the Strength and Bulwark of a Kingdom, are routed and confounded, it must yield it self to be rifled, enflaved, or deftroyed; or if it fhould be able to recruit and repair again, it must weaken one part or other. If Men, which are as the Spirits of a Nation, are drawn forth into the Field, the Heart will foon feel them wanting, and grow cold and languid. Tho' a Man after feveral Bleedings may retain his Courage and Chearfulness; yet he has loft much Strength, and after a few more, muft complain. Tho' a People by a Lafh or two, may only be the more roufed and quickened; yet after a few good Beatings, they will be humbled, if not quite difabled. The Reverfe of this therefore, Success and Victory, is necessary to make them happy.

II. I AM next to fhew how we may obtain or prolong these Blessings, which are neceffary to make us a happy People.

IN the general, we fhould ftrive for the Prefence and Affirtance of God with us, and be exact and règular in our Carriage to each other.

ift. If we would be a happy People, we must strive for the Prefence and Affiftance of God with us.

THIS is that Fountain whence all our Streams of national as well as private Comfort flow: This is the glori ous Sun that niuft make our Country thrive and flourish, and bleed, thrice blessed is the Nation whofe God is the Lord, Pfal. 33. 12. Or in the Words following my Text, Happy is that People whofe God is the Lord. None can vanquith us when in Alliance with him, or conquer when he is our Second. Let us therefore chiefly endeavour to get him on our fide: Let us do any thing that may gain us his Favour and Aid; particularly let us perform these three things which are necessary thereto.