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Another Point is, to take Notice, for a Caution to us, what amazing Lengths of Sin human Creatures are capable of going, unless they stop themselves at firft; efpecially when Love of Power and Dominion hurries them on: and how poffible it is, for the vileft of Designs to be covered, as Herod did his, with Pretences of the utmost Zeal for Religion. Nor fhould we omit to remark at the fame Time, how painful the Agitations of an evil Heart must furely be, while it is working itself up to Refolutions and Deeds of fuch Horror, and how terrifying its Reflections afterwards. But efpecially we should dwell on this Meditation, which arifes most naturally from the Subject before us, that oppofing our own Wisdom to that of Heaven is the groffeft of all Follies. Doubtless the crafty Monarch, when he gave out his Orders, applauded within himself more than a little the Prudence of this Master-Stroke: and defpifed the cowardly Politicians that have Scruples, and stop at half Way. But why boastest thou thyself, thou Tyrant, that thou canst do Mischief, whereas the Goodness of God endureth yet daily? Through that, wicked Men will always fail, either of the Point, at which they are aiming,

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• Pf. lii. 1, Z.

or of the Happiness, which they expected from it. Herod failed even of the firft. The Infants, whom he would have wished to spare, he destroyed the Infant, whom alone he wished to destroy, to destroy, escaped him. So he plunged himself into the deepest Guilt, and gave up his Memory to endlefs Infamy; and got nothing by it of what he hoped. Thus was he mocked, not fo properly of the wife Men, though by Means of them, as of God himself; according to the Prediction, many Ages before, concerning him, and all resembling him. Why do the Heathen fo furiously rage together, and the People imagine a vain Thing? The Kings of the Earth ftand up, and the Rulers take Counsel together against the Lord, and againft bis anointed.-He, that dwelleth in Heaven, fhall laugh them to fcorn: the Lord shall have them in Derifion. Nor was he disappointed only which he might know in this Life, though we are not fure he did, but called foon after, in a dreadful and exemplary Manner, to his final Account: dying in all the Agonies of a Body tortured with a Complication of noisome Difeases, and a Soul driven to the Extremity of Fury and Defpair: as the before-mentioned

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Hiftorian, Jofephus, whose Testimony in this Particular cannot be suspected, relates at large.

From fuch Difpenfations of Providence as this, and from the gracious Promises of God's holy Word, his Church, though tenderly affected by the Wickedness of its Perfecutors, as well as the frequent Sufferings of its Members, may yet learn to look beyond both, and contemplate with Triumph its own Security; the fhameful Defeats of the former, and, even if they appear to fucceed, the glorious Rewards of the latter. The Virgin, the Daughter of Zion, bath defpifed thee, and laughed thee to fcorn; the Daughter of Jerufalem bath fhaken ber Head at thee ". Hence the Days, on which the Apostles and others died Martyrs, have been joyfully observed as their Birth-Days and fhedding their Blood, confidered as fowing Seed for the future Increase of Believers. Hence alfo the Memory of these Infants hath been celebrated in the Affemblies of Christians from the primitive Times: as we read in a Work, that hath been afcribed to Origen, who lived 1500 Years ago ". พ. For their Murder was regarded as a Martyrdom undergone by them in Deed, though not in Will; fince they w Hom. 3. in diverfos.

" If. xxxvii. 22.

loft

loft their Lives on Chrift's Account, and, as the Collect of our Church for this Festival expreffes it, glorified God by their Deaths; were inftrumental in making the Birth of his Son, and his watchful Care of him, remarkable in the highest Degree. And thus, conformably to the Pfalmift's Words, inferted into the fame Collect, God ordained Strength, gave additional Evidence to the Chriftian Faith, and by fo doing, perfected Praife to his holy Name, even from the dying Cries, which proceeded out of the Mouths of thefe Babes and Sucklings.

Let us therefore likewife pay due Regard to their Memory and look on it as their unspeakable Happiness, that they were sent, on fuch an Account, by the Tyrant's Sword, to Heaven, in the Morning of their Days, fecure from the Danger of living to be wicked here, and miferable hereafter. Let us alfo apply the fame Confideration to any fimilar Affliction of our own; for we cannot undergo a feverer, and few, if any, upon Earth, have ever undergone fo fevere a one, as that of the poor Parents of these Children. Let us recollect from this inftructive Leffon, that the sharpest Sufferings may fall on the moft innocent Per

y Matt. xxi. 16.

* Pf. viii. 2.

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fons;

fons; that the nearest of our Relations, and dearest of our Bleffings, are God's Property more than our own; but that, if he takes them from us, he not only can, but, unless it be our Fault, will, make us ample Amends in a better World: and that therefore, though we may lawfully mourn the Lofs of them, yet we ought meekly to fubmit to it; fupported by the Hope of a bleffed Refurrection for them and ourselves; and applying to our own Cafe, in a higher Senfe, what was originally faid, perhaps in a lower, to Rachel, weeping for her Children: Thus faith the Lord, Refrain thy Voice from weeping, and thine Eyes from Tears: for thy Work fhall be rewarded, and they shall come again from the Land of the Enemy";

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