The true HAPPINESS of a Good GOVERNMENT: Explain'd in a SERMON ON THE Fifth of November, 1714. By THOMAS BRADBURY. PROV. XXV. 5. Take away the Wicked from before the King, and his Throne fhall be Efiablished in Righteousness. Printed The Second Edition. BODLE LONDON HN CLARK, at the Bible and Crown in Cheapfide near the Poultry: And SARAH CLIFT at the Bible and Three-Crowns in Cheapfide, near Mercer's-Chappel. 1714. Price Four Pence. PSALM LXiii. 11. The King ball rejoice in God, every one that Sweareth by him fball Glory; but the Mouth of them that speak Lyes, shall be stopped. Y OU will learn by the Title of this Pfalm hunt him as a Partridge upon the Mountains: There did the Ziphites discover his Abode, and, from a villainous Principle that fome call Loyalty, would have betray'd him to the Ravage of a greedy Court: There did Nabal deny him Bread, when his Army was just a starving, and all the while he continued in that barren and dry Land, he wanted the Sanctuary of God, which lay heavier upon him than his other Afflictions: And yet, tho' he seems to be laid aside from Devotion and Property too, driven out from abiding in theInheritance of the Lord, and, at the fame time expos'd in his Perfon; yet in this Pfalm he opens fuch a Confidence, as if his Life had been fecure, and his Religion unmolested: Which lets us fee how well it is with that Soul, who hath Faith in a Promife; fuch a One cannot only hope for a Turn that his Affairs will take, but the Word of God hath with him both the Sweetness and the Credit of the Thing that he is waiting for. He goes fafter than Providence leads him, and can tafte the Mercy before it comes. He takes it for granted that it will be, and he behaves himfelf with that Prefence of Joy as if he really had it. beis Advantage is the Grace of God; it doth re us for a Bleffing, but brightens all B the 1 the Darkness we are under till it comes. Tho' David was driven out both from the Sanctuary and Court, yet He fpeaks as if he wanted none of the true Benefits that might have been had in either. For, First, THE Work of Religion in his Soul went on. He gives out a large Experience both of his Défires towards GOD, and the Returns that were made from him. Tho' he could not fee the Divine Power and Glory as he had done, yet his Meditation run out upon a Loving-kindness that was better than Life. His Soul was fatisfied as with Marrow and Fatnefs. His Mouth could then praife God with joyful lips. He Ver. 5, 6. remembred him in the Night. He followed hard after him, and was upheld by his right Hand; fo that whatever Enemies were able to do, as Heaven it felf was fure, the Paffage to it was open. Ver. 2. Ver. 3. Ver. 8. Secondly, HE fpeaks with the fame perfuafion of his Temporal Concerns; not only what related to him as a Saint, but what he must come to as a Sovereign. He knew that the Malice of Men could neither cheat him of a Treasure in Heaven, nor of a Crown in Ifrael: and, therefore, at a Time when they feemed to have their full Scope against him, he could look to the end Ver.9, ro, of that Noife and Rage. They that feek my Soul to deftroy it, fhall go into the lower parts of the Earth; They fhall fall by the Sword, and be a portion for foxes: But the King fhall rejoyce in God, every one that fweareth by him fall Glory, but the Mouth of them that Speak Lyes fhall be topped. He is very particular you fee in defcribing the various methods of Vengeance that the Juftice of God and Man fhall follow them with: Which I will not confider now, but place them under that part of my Text where they will beft come in. 11. THESE Words give us the true Glories of a Right First, HERE's a clean and eafie Har othe لا |