Page:Cu31924104036037.djvu/12

8 thro' various Revolutions, and differing Forms of Government, preerved their Contitution till entire: Who made a noble Figure for 2000 Years: Who urvived Three mot potent Monarchies and were not broken by the Fourth, till after Calamities and Devatations incomparably more dreadful, than any state beides was ever able to utain.

Tis true, their Afiairs were not always properous; but when they were otherwie, God till appeared nigh unto them. The dimembring ten Parts of that Body at once, the long Captivity in trange Lands, and the frequent Diaters in their own, did in the nature of the things, plainly tend to their peedy Decay and utter Diolution. But in the Event, What End did all thee erve, o much as to render the pecial Providence over them more conipicuous and atonihing? For to What ele can we acribe thoe wonderful Recoveries of Strength, which, like Health to Patients given over for dead, no ordinary Means were adequate to, no Rules of Humane Policy could account for? The barbarities of their Adveraries reorted back in Vengeance and Ruin upon the Oppreors themelves, and the ubtlet Contrivances to work their Downfal o often converted into Means of their firmer Etablihment and more glorious Exaltation, mut needs have proceeded from the immediate Hand of Him, who takes the Crafty in their own Devices, and uffers no Weapon formed againt his Choen to proper.

To thee uncommon Conequences the Righteounes of their Statutes and Judgments did alo greatly contribute. Upon Them the Promies of Divine Protection and Favour were upended, o that Thee, while oberved, continued an impregnable Defence. The Afflictions ent for neglect of Thee, by bringing them back to a better Sene, did at the ame time bring back God's Readines to hear and help. The Widom of this Law truck an Awe into Strangers, oftned their Enemies, and more than once recommended them to uch Indulgence from Heathen Princes, as patronize their Caue, and became the principal Intrument of retoring the Peace of their Country