The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

7BSERMONS.monly themfelves to blame. If princes will pay 2becoming regard to the eftabllflied religion,—if theywill govern by the known and equitable laws of theland,—if they will execute juftice impartially,—ifthey will abllain from atrocious and bloody a6ls ofoppreflion,— if they will preferve inviolated the rights,the privileges, and ancient charters granted to thepeople ; in all ordinary cafes, there will be no infurre6lion,no revolt at all. Even though rights be encroachedupon, or taxes augmented, if it is Ilowly andgradually done, the people will flill be quiet. Indeed,Avhen, like the Ifraelites, a people have been long o-verburdened with a grievous yoke, and fee comingupon them all at oiice an additional burden, whichM'ould crufh them to the ground, and render life itfclfinfupportable, they may fometimes be exafperated andprovoked to a6t as that people did ; and if there beunanimity among many tribes or provinces, who haveicpamte interells, and were many of them formerlyjealous of one another, this feems to be a decifiveproof, that the provocation given them hath been extremelygreat. But how quiet and peaceable fubje(ftsare, even under defpotic rule, we may be fully fatisiied,by furveying the ftate of the known world as itis at prefent.Confider how wretched men are in eaftcrnkingdoms and empires ; confider the deplorableflavery of the fubje£ts in Turkey, in Ruflia, and infeme other kingdomis and ftates in Europe, where thecommon people are, they fiiy, driven to market, andfold along with the land on which they pine awaytheir lives in mifery. Yet in all thefe ftates the peoplelive quietly, and feldom make any infurredlion ;they couch down under the mighty burden ; they* bow the flioulder, and become fervants unto tribute."Well would it become any fuccefibr to athrone, where the fubje