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SERMON XIII.

FOR THE GREENWICH JUBILEE ESTABLISHMENT FOR WIDOWS.

PSALM XXI. 1. 6, 7.

THE KING SHALL REJOICE IN THY STRENGTH, O LORD!

EXCEEDING GLAD SHALL HE BE OF THY SALVATION. FOR THOU SHALT GIVE HIM EVERLASTING FELICITY: AND MAKE HIM GLAD WITH THE JOY OF THY

COUNTENANCE. AND WHY?- -BECAUSE THE KING

PUTTETH HIS TRUST IN THE LORD: AND IN THE MERCY OF THE MOST HIGHEST, HE SHALL NOT MISCARRY.

OUR holy Church selected this Psalm of triumph, as a part of the Service on the day of the accession of our Monarchs to the throne of these Realms: and prays that we may never be wanting in honour to their Persons, and dutiful submission to their

authority. Did time permit, we could easily trace, from the first Ages of the World, a supreme authority among the Nations of the Earth, derived from, and sanctioned by, the Almighty we read of our Saviour's own. acknowledgment of submission to the powers that be.

:

He, upon Earth a Jew subject to Cæsar, paid the tribute, or tax, levied upon the subjects of the Roman Empire: and in His own dutiful observance of the social engagements, whether to the Church, or State, set forth a plain example of fidelity. In all our Lord's words, and actions, He proved how truly He had asserted; "I came not to destroy, but to fulfil."

He duly attended the place of Established worship, where He read, and also taught, the Law to the people. He conformed to all the ordinances of Moses; upon whose Law given by the Father from Mount Sinai, our blessed Redeemer founded His Gospel in spirit, and in truth.

Therefore was it, that David prophetically foretold in this very Psalm the glorious reign of the Messiah; and, under the commemora tion of his own protection, and success,

"who

plainly set forth the majesty of Him led captivity captive." Grateful to God for triumphs over his Earthly enemies, he breaks forth into rapturous thanksgiving. Like his Ancestor, "the friend of God," and "Father of the Faithful," he believed in our Lord Jesus Christ's Redemption.

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Full of faith, and divinely inspired, his awakened harp resounds the triumph of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords;" his Soul is elevated beyond this perishable World, and proclaims the glorious, unfading, happiness of Eternity.

How natural, how beautifully expressive is David's gratitude; “The King shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord!"—how truly conformable to the meek spirit of the true believer in an all-seeing, powerful, and gracious Providence!

Elsewhere in his immortal hymns of praise, leading his few faithful adherents to conquest, he exclaims, "I will go forth in the strength of the Lord God, and will make mention of thy righteousness only."

Unlike Antiochus, or the proud Herod Agrippa, both of which Kings died miserably from the wrath of God-the latter, when the

people had proclaimed him more than human, falling from his throne a horrible spectacle of Divine vengeance-David never forgot to whose outstretched arm he was indebted for

success.

Frail like the rest of mankind, even David incurred the anger of Heaven; but his sincere, and deep, humiliation; his humble resignation of his Child to God: his many

faithful services were not "blotted out from the remembrance of the Lord." That Saviour, to whose first Advent this pious man looked forward in faith, and hope; as we Christians now earnestly expect his second Advent; became the only Mediator between God and men: and in His merits David foresaw his own Salvation.

He, who was "the only begotten Son of God before all worlds were made;" "to whom a thousand years are but as one day:" He beheld, with the eye of pity, the deep sorrows of the repentant sufferer; and by His Holy Spirit poured upon his heart the balm of consolation-for that Holy Spirit of God is He "who spake by the Prophets."

To every reflecting mind the reasons are already apparent, whence I have thought it

necessary to dwell thus much upon the character of David; a pious King, faithfully protecting the Established form of Government of his Country.

And, as from every dispensation of Almighty God some good may be drawn forth; so, even under our melancholy reflection that our late revered Monarch is from us, gone there is this consolation. That he, whose long, and virtuous, reign is commemorated by your Jubilee Establishment for poor Widows, of more than sixty years of age; and whose reign I am about to contemplate for our general benefit: is, alas! equally insensible to the base voice of insincere flattery; as to the cheering report, the grateful acknowledgment of honest truth.

Were all others of his people silent on such an occasion, because the Sun of our earthly Throne is shorn of his beams; still will it become his faithful Church to set forth the truly Christian character of the Defender of her Faith.

Like the bright luminary of Heaven whose beams though withdrawn for a time, still benefit the earth; breathing through all nature the invigorating warmth of life, and

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