For they got not the Land in Poffeffion by their own Sword, neither did their own arm Jave them; but thy right hand, and thy arm, and the light of thy Countenance, because thou hadst a Favour unto them. BY Y the Royal Proclamation we are fummoned this Day to the Houfe of GOD; and private and publick Business is fufpended for a Seafon, while a grateful Nation is offering unto God thanksgiving, and paying its vows unto the Moft High. With what gratitude and chearfulness do we now affemble to celebrate the Lovingkindnefs of our God! Whereas, in Time paft, we have met together with Sorrow and Humiliation, to deprecate the Divine Judgments, and to implore thofe Mercies from the Hand of God, the Vouchfafement of which we are now joyfully and gratefully acknowledging. On former Occafions, when we were dispirited by a Series of Difappointments; when our Councils were divided and diftracted; when our Expeditions and Enterprizes by Sea and Land were unfuccefsful; when our Trade was declining, and our Enemies infulting, and our Hope as the giving up of the Ghoft; with what gloom on our Countenances, with what heaviness and pain at our Hearts did we then affemble in the Sanctuary of God! With what Fervour and Importunity did we then wreftle at the Throne of Grace, for the Divine Bleffing on a Land which appeared almoft to be devoted to Deftruction! With what Humility and Contrition did we then confefs thofe crying Sins, which had expofed us to the fevereft Judgments; and how did we promife-Oh! how folemnly and repeatedly did we promife, that if the Lord would turn again our Captivity, and deliver us out of the Hands of our Enemies, we would ferve him in Holiness and Rightecufness all the Days of our Lives; and that the Bling of a Nation ready to perifh fhould come upon him! This * Pfal. cxxvi. 4. xxix. 13. + Luke, i. 74, 75. Job, me memorable Year has afforded us many glorious Teftimonies that the Lord regardeth the Prayer of the deftitute, and that he doth not defpife their prayer. For he hath remembered the low Eftate of his Servants, because his Mercy endureth for ever; he hath redeemed us from our Enemies, because his Mercy endureth for ever; and given their Land for an Heritage, for his Mercy endureth for Ever even an Heritage to his Servant, our King, for bis Mercy endureth for ever; who giveth Food to all Flesh, for bis Mercy endureth for ever creafe and hath filled our Hearts with Food and Gladness. Praife ye the Lord, praise ye the Name of the Lord, praise him, O ye Servants of the Lord, ye that ftand in the House of the Lord, in the Courts of the Houfe of our God; praife the Lord, for the Lord is good, fing Praifes unto his Name, for it is pleasant; for we may hope the Lord hath chofen Britain to bimfelf, and England for his peculiar Treafure. Bleed be the Lord this Day out of Zion; praife ye the Lord +. who caufeth our Land to yield her in I apprehend it will not be deemed unfuitable to the Occafion of this Day's Affembly: * Pfal. cii. 17. + Pfal. cxxxvi. 21,25. § Pfal. lxxxv. 12. Acts, xiv. 17. * Pfal. cxxxv. I,- 4• It rather appears to me, to answer the fpecial Defign and Intention of the Royal Proclamation, that we give Honour to whom Honour is due +; I mean, that while we cherish a grateful Remembrance of thofe who, under God, have been the chief Inftruments of our Succeffes, we fhould not in the Excess of our Joy, and our gratitude to them, forget or neglect to acknowledge the over-ruling Providence of God, as the primary Cause of our Succefs, to adore him as the Giver and Difpenfer of Victory, and as the absolute and uncontrouled Difpofer of the Fates of Nations and Kingdoms. The Penman of this Divine Compofition is not certainly known; however, the Beginning of it is a pious Recognition of the Divine Providence in fubduing the Canaanites, and giving their Land to Ifrael for an Inheritance: And leaft this People, who were wont to think very highly of themfelves and of their Ancestors, fhould miftake the Caufe of their furprizing Succeffes to be their own Merit, or Power, or Valour; he gives them to underftand, that they were not primarily owing to the Conduct and Courage of their renowned † Rom. xiii. 7.. General General Joshua, nor to the dauntless Intrepidity of those who fought under him; but to the favourable and efficacious Interpofition of the Most High. Accordingly he declares in the Words of the Text; They get not the Land in Poffeffion by their own Sword, neither did their own arm fave them, but thy Right Hand and thy arm and the Light of thy Countenance; because thou hast a Favour unto them. I am perfuaded you have already anticipated me in the Application of thefe Words to the glorious Train of Succefs and Victory over our Enemies, and to the Conquefts and Acquifitions with which we have been favoured, and which we are called this Day to commemorate. SENEGAL, GOREE, GUADELUPE, LOUISBOURG, and especially QUEBEC, (in which Conqueft, in a manner, all NORTH AMERICA is comprised,) are Acquifitions fo valuable and important, that we cannot be deemed Friends to our Country, if our Hearts do not feel an inward Pleasure and Exultation; and I flatter myself I fhall not be charged with defigning or attempting to damp or diminish the publick Joy, or to caft the leaft Reflection on those gallant Men who were employed in thofe glorious Expeditions, if I fay, that They got not the Land in Poffeffion by their own Sword, neither |