d National Gratitude due for Na- A THANKSGIVING SERMON PREACHED AT PECKHAM in SURRY,ODLE On Occafion of the Total DEFEAT OF THE REBELS at CULLODEN By the KING'S FORCES, under the Com- WILLIAM Duke of Cumberland, By JOHN MILNER, D. D. LONDON. Printed for the AUTHOR; and Sold by J. Noon, ·1. a. 149. [3] LUKE Xvii. 17, 18. Were there not ten cleanfed; but where are the nine-There are not found, that returned to give glory to God, fave this ftranger. T HERE is no Temper fo univerfally, and so justly condemned as that of ingratitude; an infenfibility of Kindness, a neglect of making fuch returns of Efteem, love and duty, as we are able, and as might reasonably be expected from us. We feem apprehenfive enough of this amongst ourselves; and fhould we not bring the reflection home, and fee whether we are not guilty of the very fame thing with respect to the Great God? The Obligations he has laid us under, infinitely exceed, both in number and value, all that creatures can do for us; and yet are we not defective in our returns? We would be thought grateful. But is that Gratitude that dies away as foon as the bounty ceafes? Is that Gratitude that receives without acknowledgement; that acknowledges without returns; that returns, but without integrity, or conftancy. Our Saviour's reflection on the bafeness of this Temper deferves to be confidered; efpecially when we are come to exprefs our Gratitude for a Publick and National Mercy, of fuch confequence to Liberty and Religion. The words refer to the cafe of healing ten Lepers. Their disease was loathsome, and by the Law separated them from human Society: And for this reafon, when our Saviour paffed by, they kept at a distance from him. There are some circumstances in this History, that deferve our notice. FIRST, They lift up their voice, and Said, Jefus mafter have mercy on us. v. 13. They could not have met one more compaffionate, or able to help them; and a fenfe of their mifery made them very importunate for mercy. Nor merely fome occafional charity, or accidental relief; but the entire re moval moval of their affliction. Affliction is a means of bringing us to God, and of leading us into fober confiderations of our interest and duty. Before I was afflicted I went aftray, but now I have kept thy Word". SECONDLY, Our Saviour faid unto them go fhew yourselves to the Priests. v. 14. Go, as if the thing was certain, and the cure performed; go, and receive the legal testimony of it, without which they durft not affociate with mankind. This might seem odd, yet the manner of expreffing his Goodnefs was a further inftance of it. It was Goodness to the Lepers themselves, as hereby they were put in mind of their duty to God, and obedience to his Law, which required certain offerings, as acknowledgments of their gratitude and dependance upon God'. It was Goodness to the Priests, that they might fee a miraculous proof of his diviné miffion ; and be convinced that their fufpicions of him were unreasonable, fince he came not to destroy the Law. THIRDLY, And it came to pass as they went they were cleanfed. ib. They might a Pfal. cxix. 67. b Levit. xiv. have |