of judgment, said, "There was one thing he would "be bold to affirm, That the day of judgment was

nearer now, than ever it was since the beginning " of the world." So the war is certainly nearer an end to day than it was yesterday, though it does not end these twenty years.

Ibid. "Such fickle, inconstant, irresolute crea"tures are we in the midst of our bravest resolu"tions. When we set out, we seem to look at what "we are aiming at through that end of the perspec"tive that magnifies the object, and it brings it nearer to us; but, when we are got some way, "before we are aware we turn the glass, and, look

ing through the little end, what we are pursuing 66 seems to be at a vast distance, and dwindled "almost into nothing." This is strange reasoning. Where does his instrumentmaker live? We may have the same constancy, the same desire to pursue a thing, and yet not the same abilities. For example, in hunting, many accidents happen; you grow weary, your horse falls lame, or in leaping a hedge throws you you have the same reason to pursue the game, but not the same ability.

P. 67. "Their zeal perhaps flames at first; but "it is the flame of straw, it has not strength to last. "When the multitude once begin to be weary and

indifferent, how easily are they then seduced into "false measures! how readily do they give into "suspicions against those who would encourage "them to persevere, while they are fond of others, "who, to serve themselves, fall in with their complaints, but at the bottom mean nothing but their "own interest!" How base and false soever this reproach be, I have set it almost at length, that I

may not be charged with unfair quotation. By the company the doctor keeps, and the patrons he has chosen, I should think him an undoubted judge when people mean their own interest, but that I know, conversing only on one side generally gives our thoughts the same turn; just as the jaundice makes those that have it think all things yellow. This writer is prejudiced, and looks upon the rest of the world to be as self interested as those persons from whom he has taken his observation. But, if he means the present ministry, it is certain they could find their own interest in continuing the war as well as other people; their capacities are not less, nor their fortunes so great, neither need they be at a loss how to follow in a path so well beaten. Were they thus inclined, the way is open before them; the means that enriched their predecessors, gave them power, and made them almost necessary evils to the state, are now no longer a secret. Did their successors study their own interest with the same zeal as they do that of the publick, we should not have the doctor in these agonies for fear of a peace; things would be then as he would have them; it would be no longer a flame of straw, but a solid fire, likely to last as long as his poor countrymen had any materials to feed it. But I wonder he would talk of those who mean their own interest; in such an audience, especially before those "who fall in with their com"plaints," unless he had given it quite another turn, and bestowed some of his eloquence in showing, what he really thinks, that nothing in nature is so eligible as self interest, though purchased at the price of a lasting war, the blood and treasure of his fellow subjects, and the weal of his native country.

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P. 68.

P. 68. "This is a misfortune, which free assem"blies, and popular or mixed governments, are "almost unavoidably exposed to; and it is for this

reason, so few nations have ever steadily pursued, "for any long time, the measures at first resolved on, were they never so right and just; and it is for "the same reason that a single power seldom fails at "long run to be too hard for a confederacy." A very good argument for this war; a good overture and warning, to make a general for life. It is an excellent panegyrick upon arbitrary power; at this rate, the French king is sure to get the better at last. This preacher must certainly be an admirable judge of popular assemblies, by living in an army. Such poor writers get a rote and commonplace of talking by reading pamphlets, and from thence presume to make general observations upon government, and set up for statesmen. If the duke of Marlborough be Moses, what promised land is he bringing us to, unless this sermon be preached only to the Dutch? He may have promised them land, and they him something else, and both been as good as their words. In his allegory of the people brought out of Egypt, does the doctor mean our army? The parallel must then be drawn to make the war last forty years, or else it can be no parallel: we may easily see how near the comparison grows. Moses was accused by certain Israelites; "Is it a small thing," say they, "that thou hast brought us out of a land that "floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the "wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a

prince over us?" Hath the duke of Marlborough been suspected of any such design? Moses was wroth, and said unto the Lord, "Respect not

"thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from "them, neither have I hurt one of them *. And to the same purpose Samuel, "Whose ox have I "taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have "I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose "hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes " with? and I will restore it you!" Does the British Moses speak thus to the people? is there any sort of agreement between them? Nor are we sure of God's commands to go up against the Amorites, p. 69, as the Israelites were; and we have fifty times more reason to murmur. They were carried from the wilderness," into a land flowing with milk and honey;" we from such a land into the wilderness, that is poverty and misery, and are like to be kept in the wilderness till this generation and the next too are consumed, by mortgages, anticipations, &c.

P. 71. Where the doctor says, "the country it

"self was much too narrow for them," he must certainly mean the Dutch, who never think their frontiers can be too much extended.

The doctor tells us, p. 72, "The justice and "necessity of our cause is little short of the force of "a command." Did God command to fight, because the chaplain general will have no peace? He asks, "what is bidding us go on, if our successes are not?" At this rate, whenever any new success is gained, or a town taken, no peace must be made. The whole exhortation against peace, which follows, is very proper for the chaplain of an army; it looks like another Essay of the Management of the War. "These successes have generally been so much

*Numb. xvi, 15.

+ Sam. xii, 3.

"wanted

"wanted and so little expected." If we have been ten years at this vast expense getting successes that we could not expect, we were mad to begin this war, which hath ruined us with all this success. But why this acclamation? is taking one small town such great success as points out to us the finger of God? Who is his God? I believe the general has no little share in his thoughts, as well as the present ministry, though upon a quite different consideration. "The "clouds have never this war thickened more or "looked blacker than this year: things looked so "black on every side, as not to leave us the faintest "glimpse of light. We apprehended nothing less "than the dissolution of the alliance." Whatever the doctor may be for a preacher, he has proved but an indifferent prophet. The general and army may be obliged to him for the dissipation of these clouds, though the ministry are not. Were they the cause that such clouds gathered, "as made him fear an "universal storm, which could no way be fenced

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against? To hear him run on in praise of the wonders of this campaign, one would scarce believe he were speaking to those very persons who had formerly gained such memorable victories, and taken towns of so much greater importance than Bouchain. Had the French no lines before? I thought. Mons, Lisle, &c. had been once esteemed considerable places. But this is his youngest child: he does like most mothers, when they are past the hopes of more; they dote upon the youngest, though not so healthy nor praiseworthy as the rest of the brethren. Is it our fault, that "three of the princes in alliance with us "resolve to call their troops ?" p. 76. We brought our quotas, if our allies did not. By whose indulgence

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