A sermon preached upon the much lamented death of our late gracious sovereign Queen…

Her Religion was not only exercised in Divine Worship, but was influential into her Practice. The Law of God was written in her Heart, and transcribed in her Life in the fairest Characters.

She had a sincere Zeal for the healing our unhappy Divisions in Religious Things, and declared her Resolution upon the first Address of some Ministers, that she would use all Means for that Blessed End. She was so wise as to understand the Difference between Matters Doctrinal, and Rituals; and so good as to allow a just Liberty for Dissenters in Things of small Moment. She was not fettered with Superstitious Scruples, but her clear and free Spirit was for the Union of Christians in Things essential to Christianity. This revives in me the sorrowful Remembrance of the late Excellent Arch-bishop, tho in Place incomparably inferior to the Queen; their Principles and Temper, their Designs and Endeavours were for Peace: And the hopes of obtaining it are weakened by the fatal Conjuncture of their Funerals.

She had a sincere Zeal for the healing our unhappy Divisions in Religious Things, and declared her Resolution upon the first Address of some Ministers, that she would use all Means for that Blessed End. She was so wise as to understand the Difference between Matters Doctrinal, and Rituals; and so good as to allow a just Liberty for Dissenters in Things of small Moment. She was not fetter'd with Superstitious Scruples, but her clear and free Spirit was for the Union of Christians in Things essential to Christianity. This revives in me the sorrowful Remembrance of the late Excellent Arch-bishop, tho in Place incomparably inferiour to the Queen; their Principles and Temper, their Designs and Endeavours were for Peace: And the hopes of obtaining it are weakened by the fatal Conjuncture of their Funerals.

The Holiness of her Life was Universal. She was Born and Lived in the Court that shines in Pomp and flows in Pleasures, and presents charming Temptations to all the Diseased Appetites. Pride that destroyed both Worlds, and cleaves so close to Human Nature, reigns there. The Love of Pleasure is a soft Seducer, that easily insinuates through the Senses, and captivates the Soul. 'Tis an Observation of St. Chrysostom that the three Hebrew Martyrs that were preserved unpolluted in the Court of Babylon, was a greater Miracle than the preserving them unsinged in the Fiery Furnace. In the absence of Temptations the Corrupt Nature is sometimes so concealed that 'tis hardly known to it self; but when tempting Objects armed with Allurements offer themselves, the corrupt Nature is presently discovered: Especially if a Person comes to the Licence of the Sceptre, that swells Pride, and authorizes the exorbitant Desires. To be humble