CHA P. III.

From the Revolution, to the end of the reign of King William the Third.

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HE king and queen being proclaim- Anno ed, the lord Churchill on the next 1689. day was fworn of their privy council, and made one of the gentlemen of the king's bed-chamber; and foon after was advanced to the dignity of earl of Marlborough, and accordingly attended in that quality at their majefties coronation, which was performed on the 11th of April, to the great joy of the proteftant part of the kingdom.

THE reception of king James in the French court, and his tranfporting French forces into Ireland, foon made a war neceffary. The houfe of commons in a body, humbly addreffed his majesty for a war with France; and the houfe of lords unanimously refolved to ferve and affift his majefty therein, to their utmoft power: whereupon, May the 7th, the war was folemnly proclaimed. But the affairs of

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the nation, and the fitting of the parliament, requiring his majefty's prefence in the kingdom, he fixed upon the earl of Marlborough, as the most proper person to head his forces in the Netherlands, and fent him thither accordingly; and when the affairs of the nation permitted, he went himself; and by his valour and conduct, not only restored to the English nation that figure they had loft in the world. for near an hundred years paft, but raised them to a greater than ever they had before. It has been a glory peculiar to the houfe of NASSAU, to have fought for LIBERTY, the nobleft caufe, and the greatest stake that mortals can contend for. And it is the fureft and best way to tranf mit a glorious name to pofterity; to relieve the oppreffed, break off their fetters, and fet the world free.

fays*

Dr. Welwood, in his epiftle dedicatory, The memory of that prince muft be lafting, who, in all the wars he has 'been engaged in, and in all the treaties that have been made to restore peace to his country, has never made any terms ' for himself; except once, when the in‹terest of three kingdoms, and his own, were become one and the fame. And he adds, when fucceeding ages fhall scarce fee any other coin in England, but of one ftamp, they must look back with * Memoirs, page 5.

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amazement upon the reign of a prince 'whose image it bears, and wonder, how it was poffible, that during the heat of the most expenfive war that ever was, fo vaft a treasure could be new minted, and at fo prodigious a lofs; while at the fame time they will commend and bless a people, that with fo much chearfulness affifted him with fupplies fuitable to fuch mighty undertakings. They will be no lefs furprized to find, that amidst many hardships and difappointments, which 'could not be avoided, his armies followed him with an inviolable fidelity, and ' inimitable courage; and will hardly believe, that it was within the compass of human prudence to cement fo many jarring interests, and unite fo many princes of different religions into one alliance, till the glorious conclufion of a general peace.'

THESE great things were very much. admired and extolled by the then present age, and ought no lefs by pofterity. And it is but reasonable that the memory of fuch actions fhould live for ever. For, by this glorious revolution, a ftop was put to perfecution, and liberty of confcience to all proteftant Diffenters established by law.

THE face of things being thus changed, it presently appeared how ineffectual those cruel and barbarous methods, by fines and imprisonments, &c. were to ftop the growth

A general and increase of the English Baptifts. For aembly of in this year, it appears by the narrative of Baptifts. the proceedings of a general affembly, there

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were more than one hundred congregations of them affembled together, to confult of proper ways and means to advance the glory of God, and the well-being of their churches. A general faft was appointed by this affembly to be kept by all the congregations, and the caufes and reasons thereof fent to each of the churches. The main and principal evils mourned, on the day appointed, were as followeth.

First, THOSE many grievous backflidings, fay they, fins and provocations, not only of the whole nation, but also ' of the Lord's own people, as confidered in our publick and private stations; particularly, that great decay of first-love, faith, and zeal, for the ways and wor'fhip of God, which hath been apparent, not only in our churches, but also in private families.

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Secondly, THAT this declenfion and backfliding hath been, we fear, for a long ⚫ series of time; and many fore judgments God has brought upon the nation; and a ftrange death of "late come upon the Lord's faithful witneffes; befides divers painful labourers in Chrift's vineyard called home, and but few raifed up in their ftead; little fuccefs in the ministry; 'ftorms of perfecution having been raised ⚫ upon

upon us; a new war commenced by the beaft (through the permiffion of God, • and hand of his juftice) to a total overcoming to appearance, the witnesses of • Chrift in thefe ifles; befides his more • immediate ftrokes by plague and fire, ' &c. God not bleffing all effays used for ' deliverance; fo that we were almost without hope. Therefore our fins that ' provoked the righteous and juft God to bring all these evils upon us, we ought · to bewail and mourn for before him. But withal, not to forget his infinite goodnefs; who, when he faw that our power was gone, and that there was none fhut up or left, that he should thus appear for our help and deliverance, in a way unexpected and unthought of by us.

Thirdly, THE things we should there'fore in the next place pray and cry to the Lord for, are, that he would give us true, broken, and penitent hearts for all our iniquities, and the fins of his people; and wash and cleanse away those great pollutions with which we have 'been defiled; and alfo pour forth more of his Spirit upon us, and open the myfteries of his word, that we may un'derstand whereabouts we are, in respect ' of the latter time, and what he is a doing, and know our work; and that a • bleffing

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