FAST-DAY, Dec. 18.1745.

For averting the Judgments and im-
ploring the Bleffing of God on the
Arms of His Majesty, &c.

By PHILIP WILLIAMS, D.D.
Rector of Starflon and Barrow, in the Diocese
of Norwich.
BOL

CAMBRIDGE,

Printed by J. BENTHAM Printer to the Univerfity,
for W.THURLBOURN Bookfeller in Cambridge;
and fold by W. Innys in Paternofter Row, J. Beecroft
in Lombard Street London, W. Craighton in Ipfwich,
J.Gleed in Norwich, and S. Watfon in Bury.

MDCCXLV.

1. b. 151.

(2)

the Tyranny of Egypt, from the diftreffes of the wilderness, and from the rage of the Jeven Nations greater and mightier than thou; reflect upon all these instances of goodness, and distrust, if ye can, either his power or inclination to protect you; refuse, if it is poffible, to fear and obey him, who has preserved you from so many dangers, and loaded you with fo many benefits.

fo

Difobedience is difcouraged from its terrible effects, but if ye shall ftill do wickedly, ye fhall be confumed both ye and your King; or differently expreffed, from the Head to the Foot, from the King to the Peasant univerfal Destruction fhall reign; your Kings fhall be bound with chains, your Nobles with links of iron, and the people shall be scattered abroad upon the earth.

Advice fo friendly and formidably inforced, one would think, could not fail of fuccefs. But, alas! both the Jews and their Kings proved too headstrong and obftinate for either the Reasoning, or the Threats of the Prophet, and verify to this day his fentence against them,

The

The text, like all other parts of Scripture is defigned for the inftruction of all Mankind, as well as the Ifraelites: and all Mankind have found it exemplified in the Histories of their own particular Countries.

National Virtue has ever produced national Happiness, and public Vices have always drawn after them public Calamities'; of which at present we have a melancholy proof among our felves: we are haraffed and alarmed with Foreign Invasions, because overrun with Domestic Vices; Rebellion has been too long triumphant, because Wickedness has been fo too: but we ftill hope, that there is mercy with God, and righteous perfons enough to fave the Kingdom; and may his Mercy and our Repentance daily add to that happy number, who by their private Virtues may share the fatisfaction and honour of refcuing their Country from impending ruin.

To this purpose this folemn Day of Fasting has been appointed, that both the guilty and innocent may unite in humbling them