WITHOUT any Reference to the prime and particular View of the Words; I shall now only observe the General Truth repre­sented in them, and then apply it to the Special Occasion of the joyous Solemnity of the present Day.

For, the General Truth exhibited in the Text is this—that some extraordinary Events, without being properly term'd miraculous, have such lively Characters of their being the Doings of GOD, as they are evidently so to unprejudic'd and careful Observers, and appear marvellous in their pious Eyes.

[Page 8] By some extraordinary Events, I mean some remarkable Ones in the natural and moral World, even in the present Ages as well as the former, which greatly affect humane So­cieties or particular Persons, especially the People of GOD; and these Events connected with the various Means and Causes leading to them.

By Events not properly term'd miraculous; I mean, when GOD does not appear to work on his Creatures in a Manner contrary to the usual Ways of his Working, singly in themselves consider'd.

And by their having such lively Characters of their being the Doings of GOD, as they are evidently so to unprejudic'd and care­ful Observers; I mean, these Characters are distinguishingly bright and legible to such qualified Persons: Or if they are inadvertent, or under a Prejudice; they are not like to see them to be the Doings of GOD, much less admire them in a pious Manner, or yield him the Glory of them. See Psal. xcii. 4,—6.

But to clear this Truth, we must consider these three General Heads, as—Time allows—

1. In what Manner may the sovereign GOD be said to operate usually among his Creatures.

2. When have his providential Operations such lively Cha­racters of their being his Doings.

3. The pious Admirations they should raise up in us, and which they happily raise if we are duly disposed.

1. In what Manner may the sovereign GOD be said to operate usually among his Creatures.

And here we must needs observe; that as there are three Sorts of Creatures or created Substances, viz. Corporeal, Spi­ritual, and Compos'd of Both; so there is a different Sort of Operation of GOD upon and among them.

[Page 9] I. In his Operation on meerly corporeal or material Substances—He not only by his continual Influence, preserves them in their Being, Nature or essential Properties of Solidity, Ex­tension, &c. which he has been pleas'd to give them; but to this Influence he also seems to add his further usual Operation in these three different Manners, viz.

(1) In continually causing all material Substances to incline towards each other, in regular Proportions to their Quantities and Distances: Which is commonly called the Law or Power of Attraction or Gravity.

(2) When they come to a certain Nearness, he by a con­trary Operation moves them, in regular Proportions also, to fly off: Which is commonly called the Law or Power of Re­pulsion; without which all material Substances on Earth wou'd soon unite in one solid Body.

(3) When they are forced within a certain Nearness, he by a different Operation makes them move and join together in certain Degrees of Power: Which is commonly called the Law or Power of Coboesion; without which there would be no such Thing as Union or Cohaerence in material Substances.

And these are called the three prime and general Laws of Nature in the material World; whereby he chiefly appears to govern it. But yet it is most evident, that he confines not himself to these: For he plainly operates in diverse other Manners on the Planets, Comets, Rays of Light; as also in the Cases of Electricity, Magnetism, Cold, Heat, &c. Which are so many various Ways of his Operation, needful for the Schemes of Providence and the Blessing and Chastizing of the World.

And in the different Proportions of all the various Powers and Actions abovementioned, there is no doubt amazing Wis­dom; which I leave the Learned, of Leisure, to consider.

To which we must likewise add, that for the perfect Go­vernment of all Things here below, in a due Accommodation between the material and the moral World, for the latter of which the former is made, preserv'd and govern'd;—It is [Page 10] doubtless needful, that the absolutely sovereign, wise and om­nipresent LORD, Proprietor, and Ruler of all, should reserve to himself the just Liberty, either mediately by brutal Animals, Men or Angels; or where their Powers are in­sufficient to answer his wise Designs, by his immediate Influence (which tho' unseen by Men may be seen by Angels) to move and order all material Substances this way or the other, as He sees best.

And it seems absurd to suppose, that the infinite GOD, who is absolute and all-original Life and Power, should con­stantly afford to Angels and Men, yea to the most minute Animat [...], the Power of moving material Substances even contrary to the abovementioned Laws of Nature every Mo­ment; yea that he should be continually making Millions of Animals [...] such a Power as this; and yet confine himself from doing as much as they, by his immediate Power. Thus for Instance, [...] affords me by a single Breath the Power of moving Millions of Atoms upwards against the Laws of Gravity: And can we imagine that this great and universal AGENT has confin'd himself from doing as much upon all Occasions, by his immediate tho' secret Influence? Or even infinitely more than this: As in raising, turning, allaying Winds and Seas, and numberless other Operations, where O­ther Powers inferiour to his are insufficient to compass his Designs.

So, in Scripture, the vast Varieties of Winds and Seas, of Clouds and Vapours, Snow, Fire and Rain, Cold and Heat, and other material Substances, are represented as continually directed by him, to fulfill his Pleasure. See Job xxxvi, xxxvii, xxxviii. Psalm lxv, cxlvii, cxviii, &c.

Normay this be accounted properly miraculous—For'twould be strange indeed that the huge Leviathan should by a Power derived from Him, throw up a Cloud of Water into the Air; or even the most minute Animalculum, by the Pad of a Fin, in a Moment raise up Millions of watery Particles against the Laws of Gravity, without a Miracle: And yet for the great GOD to raise up a single Atom by his imme­diate Power, should be esteemed a Miracle. And as long as these are the usual, tho' the immediate Operations of GOD: [Page 11] they are no more miraculous, than his immediate Impression of Gravity on material Substances, or on any primary Substance whereby the Impression may be made on others.

2. In his Operation on Substances purely spiritual—He not only by his continual Influence preserves them in their distin­guishing Existence, Nature or essential Properties of Life, and Powers of Perceiving, Thinking, voluntary Motion, &c. He has been pleas'd to give them; but to this Influence He also seems to add his further usual Operations in these three Ways.

(1) By producing and continuing secret, inward Bents or Dispositions in them; as the holy Bents of holy Angels, and holy Souls departed, &c.

(2) By raising and continuing Idoeas in their Imaginations, Memories and Understandings; as also impressing them with various Perceptions of Delight or Trouble: Whereby he chiefly seems to rule the moral World. So he continually gives the Millions of holy Angels his Directions: And they are con­stantly attending to him, and in every Part of the Universe accomplishing his Orders. And so he makes the holy An­gels happy with Perceptions of pure Delight; and the sinful Angels wretched with Perceptions of Anxiety.

(3) By awakening, sharpening, strengthening, guiding their intellectual Powers, to conceive and penetrate; compare, distinguish and judge of Things, and contrive and form their Schemes; and by exciting their Pursuits: Whereby he secretly and wonderfully governs in the midst of numberless Contin­gencies among the Creatures.

And then,

3. With Respect to Creatures Compos'd of Substances both Corporeal and Spiritual, as brutal Animals and Men; his Ope­rations on them may be of all the various Kinds together, according to their several Natures and Capacities, we have in brief described; besides writing them, keeping them united, and some peculiar Impressions of Pleasure, Pain, &c. suitable to their mysterious Union.

[Page 12] And it seems highly reasonable to think, that where the Powers of inferiour Creatures suffice not to accomplish his Designs, He employs the higher, or both together: And where they are all insufficient, He puts forth his Power above them; makes them instrumental as far as may be, and then acts by his own superiour Influence.

As to brutal Animals—they no doubt receive their various Instincts from him: And he may by Angels often give them Idaeas and rule them.

And as to Men—He no doubt inspires their various Ge­niuses: As also frequently, if not continually, uses Angels, the Evil by Permission, the Holy by Command, to suggest Idoeas to them; and then uses them to suggest Idaeas to one another: Which are instrumental Causes under his permissive, con­trolling and directive Influence, of numberless Passions, Ap­petites, Consultations, Projects, Resolutions, Actions and Events. He awakens, sharpens, strengthens, guides the in­tellectual Powers of Men: And where the Powers of Angels are insufficient to give compleat Idaeas to perform his Schemes; He may secretly by his immediate Operation, utterly unknown to Men, suggest innumerable Idoeas in them; and therewith in­fuse his exciting Influence of Zeal, Activity, Courage and Re­solution to fulfill his Councils.

Nor may the unknown Suggestions of good Angels be ac­counted proper Inspirations; any more than the Suggestions of Satan when he raises up in our Minds Idaeas of Scriptures, as he did in the humane Mind of CHRIST: Or when one Man by Signs suggests Idaeas to others, and excites their Courage. Nor are the Idoeas and Excitations receiv'd from GOD, either mediately by Men or Angels, or immediately by Himself, proper Inspirations: Any more than his infusing Mil­lions of Spirits every Moment into new Seeds or Embrios of Animals, making them alive and active; or infusing into them various Instincts or Geniuses; or impressing them with Pleasures, Pains, &c.

For, by Inspiration I mean the certain Revelation he has been pleas'd to give of Himself & of his Will, & of Things past and to come, by CHRIST and his Prophets and Apostles of old, [Page 13] put into the BIBLE and confirm'd by Miracles, as a definitive Rule of Faith, Worship, moral and religious Conduct. Every Kind of Idoea and Excitation or Propension in us, whether arising meerly from our own Minds, or from evil or good Men and Mi­nisters, or from evil or good Angels, or even immediately from GOD himself, are therefore all to be brought to this only in­spired Rule, and tried thereby; for which End it was inspired and confirmed. And the true Origin of our Idaeas and Ex­citations is kept concealed from us, (without any internal Cri­terion to judge from whence they come, as the Prophets had of Old) that by this known divine Rule we might forever try them. In which Trial, we are carefully to use our intellectual Powers: And being aware that in the midst of all we need the Help of GOD, both in understanding the Rule and in the Application of it; to Him we must humbly and ever repair in CHRIST and seek for Guidance.

For Illustration—I might easily bring a Multitude of Scrip­tures; but the Time would fail me. I shall only cite to Deut. xxxii. 1 Sam. ii. 2. Sam. xxii. 1 Chron. xxix. Job v. xii. xxxii—xxxv. Psal. xxxiv. xlvii. ciii. civ. cvii. and cxiii. Isai. xxviii and xliv. Dan. ii and iv. Joel i. and ii. Mat. x. 29, 30. Acts xvii. 24,—28.

In short, all Nature, both inanimate and animate, both humane and angelical, is full of GOD; full of his perpetual moving, guiding and over-ruling Influence; and as the Apostle perfectly expresses it, Eph. i. 11. Who worketh all Things ac­cording to the Council of his own Will.

But then I may not omit to observe, that agreeable to Scripture-Revelation, THE ETERNAL WORD or SON of GOD, who with the eternal FATHER and SPIRIT created all Things; in a perfect Union with those divine Persons, He also upholds and rules the World from the Time he made it: But from the Fall, He rules it also in the special Form of a MEDIATOR: And upon the Exaltation of his humane Na­ture to Heaven, it is advanced to a wondrous Participation with his DIVINE PERSON, in his supreme Dignity, tran­scendent Glory, and universal Empire. See John i. Eph. i. Col. i. Heb. i. &c.

[Page 14] And thus have we shewn in what Manner may the sove­reign GOD be said to operate usually among his Creatures.

We now come more briefly to consider,

II. When have his providential Operations such lively Cha­racters of their being his Doings, as they are evidently so to unprejudic'd and careful Observers.

Even the common Operations in the meerly material World, the more we search them, the more they appear to be the Doings of GOD. But there is such a natural Atheism, Blindness, and Prejudice in us, as we are averse to see it, and prone to ascribe them to Nature only, or any thing else than his ever acting Influence. A terrible Storm of Thunder and Lightning, or a more fearful Earthquake, or some ex­traordinary Danger or other, seems needful to bring us to see his Operations in Nature.

And so it is likewise in his mixt Operations of Providence. When there is only a Circle of common Occurrences, we are apt to imagine there is only a Course of Nature, blended with the common Powers, Arts, Contrivances and Actions of Men; and the Doings of GOD appear not in them. We have therefore need of some extraordinary Work of GOD in Providence, to awaken our Minds and more evidently show his Doings. And this he graciously condescends to give us in the following Cases.

1. When in Affairs of vast Importance, there is a wonder­ful continued Train and timely Coincidence of innumerable Va­rieties of Means, both in the material and moral World toge­ther, without our Power and beyond our Prospect, all conspi­ring to some great Event, exceeding happy in its present In­fluence and future Tendency.

For tho' in such extraordinary Works of GOD as these, the several Parts consider'd singly, are his usual Operations and don't affect with Wonder, or strike our Minds with so clear and strong an Evidence of their being his Doings: Yet to see them all so perfectly adjusted, as to make up One, great, wise, curious and consistent Scheme, to accomplish an Event of [Page 15] vast Importance;—This yields sufficient Evidence of wise Design and superiour Management in HIM, who has all the Powers of Nature, Men and Angels in his Hands, and over­rules them all to fulfill his Purposes.

2. This yet appears with a stronger Evidence, and even still more wonderous; when among a great Number of sur­prizing and important Incidents, there are many so momentous and critical, that if any one had not fallen precisely in its special Place and Juncture, there wou'd have been exceeding great Imbarrassments and Hindrances; and many others so essential, that if all and every one had not come in exactly as they did; the great Event had fail'd, and the main Scheme with all its vast and curious Apparatus totally miscarried.

3. When in exceeding difficult, perplex'd and dangerous Cases which look almost desperate, and much more which seem in a Manner lost, there opens at once a great Deliverance, beyond our Power and Thought: And much more still, when the Deliverance opens with Success, and the very Means of our Distress and Danger are made subservient to our Prosperity and Safety.

4, and lastly, When in this Conjuncture, the sovereign GOD is more than usually acknowledged; looked to and trusted in; an extraordinary Spirit of Prayer is raised up in many; and all these surprizing Incidents and Means, with all our wonderful Salvations, Success and Happiness, come on in punctual Answers to many fervent and fiducial Addresses to Him.

I might mention Other Cases and illustrate These; but the Hour would fail me. And to make the larger Room for the Application, we must be also short on our.

III General Head; which is to represent the pious Admira­tion which these extraordinary Appearances and Works of GOD should raise up in us, and which they happily raise if we are duly disposed.

[Page 16] Admiration is one of the sublimest Actions of a created Spi­rit. It is the rising up of the Mind in a respectful View of Something it sees and owns to be superiour to it. And when it rises to the reverent View of GOD, it rises to the highest and most worthy Object, and pays him some of the Honour in the highest Measure eternally due to his transcendent Ex­cellencies and Operations.

And as this all wise CREATOR has made us capable of this noble Action, and in our very Make infused a Disposition to it on extraordinary Appearances; he therefore frequently does extraordinary Things in Providence, to awake our At­tention and excite our Wonder; to give us more open Dis­plays of his supream Wisdom, Power and Government, and raise our due and reverent Admirations of him.

In the heavenly World; from the inexhaustible Source of his infinite Perfections, no doubt there now are and will be eter­nally surprizing Displays of his Glories, to the perpetual and entertaining Wonder of the happy Inhabitants. But as in these lower Regions we frequently need them, he frequently gives them: And if we were as observant as Eliphaz, we should find abundant Cause to cry out in Admiration of GOD as He, Job v. 9. Who does great Things and unsearchable, marvellous Things without Number.

But when the sovereign GOD is pleas'd, in distinguishing Favour to us, to go out of his common Course, and show a vast Contrivance, and over-rule a Multitude of all Kinds of Causes, making them conspire to some great and happy Event, or do something extraordinary for our Salvation and vast Ad­vantage;—Then he more highly obliges us, and more loudly calls us to consider his wondrous Works; to see HIM, i. e. his superiour Hand and Excellencies in them, and pay our due and distinguishing Admirations to him.

Then we should carefully lay aside every Prejudice: And our obliged Souls should open to every Beam of Light and Evidence of the Operation and Care of GOD in all the Parts of the Providence, and forming them all into an admirable System. We should enlarge our Views to see the vast Im­portance of his wondrous Work, both to Ourselves and Others, [Page 17] in all its Branches: And attentively mind the various Springs and Incidents in the Run of the Whole, and how they all sur­prizingly conspire to a prosperous Issue. Nor yet—content with the bare viewing of these; but our grateful Minds should see the Wisdom, Power, Justice, Holiness, Truth and Goodness of GOD illustrious in them; and then consider how He should thus be working for Us, while we were unworthy of the least of his Mercies. Lastly in our admiring Views of the whole Work of GOD, our Souls should rise into the high­est reverent Admiration of Him; and then brake out in most thankful Praise, as the pious Psalmist— It is the LORD' s Do­ing! It is marvellous in our Eyes!

And as all this is clearly most due to GOD on such Appear­ances, it is the lively Bent and Practice of unfeigned Piety.

But we must hasten on to APPLY these Things, in Pur­suance of our first Design, to the great and extraordinary Occa­sion of this happy Solemnity.

For, the sovereign GOD, who ruleth by his Power for ever, and does what he pleases among the Sons of Men, has by a surprizing Course of Providence led us into a most ad­venturous Enterprize against the French Settlements at Cape-Breton, and their exceeding strong City of Louisbourg, for warlike Power the Pride and Terror of these northern Seas; and by a wonderous Series and happy Coincidence of various Means, deliver'd them into our Hands. And this, in a most signal Manner, is The LORD' s Doing in the present Day; and is truly marvellous in every pious, yea, I may say, in every un­prejudic'd and considerate Eye.

And here, I shall endeavour these two Things, as the Season allows

1. In brief lay open to view the vast Importance of the Place; that we may more clearly see the Greatness of the Mercy in giving it to us: And then

2. Look into the wonderous Scenes of Providence, and see some of the various and surprizing Steps that led to the happy Acquisition.

[Page 18] I. In brief lay open to view the vast Importance of the Place; that we may more clearly see the Greatness of the Mercy in giving it to us.

The Island belong'd originally to the British Empire: Was at first compriz'd in the general Name and grand Patent of New-England in 1620; but in the following Year set off and included in Noca Scotia by a separate Patent; and since, in Noca Scotia comprehended in the Royal Charter of the Massachasetts Province in 1691.

It abounds in the best of Pit Coul known in America: And so near the Surface of the Earth and Coast of the Sea, as to be very easily dug and put in Vessels. Yea, from 1703, Lahontan had told us of the French Ships loading with and carrying the same to Gaudalupe and Martineco, for the refin­ing of Sugars, to their great Advantage. And its commodious Harbours; with its happy Situation in the Centre of our Fishery, at the Entrance of the Bay and River of Canada, and in the Wake of all the Trade from Europe to the British Colonies on the Main Land of America, and both from them and our West India Islands to Europe; rendered the Place of such vast Importance—that I remember while in England, when we came to know the Tory Ministry had by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, resign'd it to the French; all true-hearted Britons who knew the Circumstance of the Island, most grie­vously lamented the Resignation, as full of teeming Mischief to the British Trade, Wealth and Power, and as one of the most fatal Acts of that unhappy Ministry.

And the mischievous Consequence has since every Year been a growing Confirmation of their judicious Prospects. For the French well knowing the vast Advantage of their Acquisition, have built a walled City on the most convenient Port both for Trade and Fortification;—for these Thirty Years been ad­ding to its natural and artificial Strength; and by immense Sums and the utmost Art and Diligence, made it one of the strongest Fortresses in America if not in Europe: Such as was not like to be taken without a very powerful, skillful and re­solute Army both by Sea and Land, or being starved to a Surrender. In short, it was the Dunkirk of North America, and in some Respects of greater Importance.

[Page 19] For, by Means of this Island and Fortification, the French have every Year enlarged their Fishery; and thereby their Trade, Wealth and Shipping: And by Fishing [...] than we, they have more and more commanded [...] of Spain, Portugal and Italy; drawn away their [...] and Sil­ver; and greatly diminish'd our Trade and Fishery, a prin­cipal Source both of the British Wealth and naval Power.

So pernicious a Settlement was this—that for above these Twenty Years, it has seem'd to me, 'twere worth the while to engage in a War with France, if 'twere for nothing else but to recover this most important Island to the British Em­pire. Tho' a War was dreadful, the Necessity and Hazard seem'd every Year to encrease: The longer 'twas deferr'd, the more powerful and dangerous they grew, and the less our Hope of their being ever reduced.

Yea, from the Consideration of such a strong Defence, the Advantage of Wood, Sea-Coal, Fishery, and Free-Gift Land in this and the neighbouring Islands, the Settlement of Thousands of People on them already, and the innumerable Poor in the Sea-Coast Towns of France, ever swarming and coming over to them;—it seems highly probable, that if the Peace conti­nued much longer, there would be in a few Years Time such a Multitude of French Inhabitants, as with the growing Num­bers in the bordering Continent of Nova Scotia and Canada, with the addition of the Indian Nations, would exceedingly vex and waste, yea, endanger the Conquest of our English Colonies.

At length, without our Seeking, & in the most critical Time, the LORD was pleas'd to leave them to proaecipitate a War upon us. An unexpected Season opens to make the dange­rous Trial, if the ALMIGHTY would please to prosper us. And now all the northern Colonies and Ours especially began to feel their destructive Power and Influence: In a few Months Time, infesting our Coasts, taking our Shipping, ruining our Fishery and Trade, destroying Canso, invading Annapolis, re­ducing us to Straits, and carrying our People Captive into a Place almost impregnable.

[Page 20] And as it was a Source of Privateers and Men of War di­stressing to Us; it was also a safe Resort, both of their West and East India Fleets, to their great Advantage in returning Homeward.

Of such vast Importance was this strong Port of our Ene­mies; and this possess'd by one of the most enterprizing, powerful and active of Nations.

But in the Wisdom of GOD, the stronger it grew, the better in the Issue for us: The French having built a regular City, and laid out immensely more to render it both strong and commodious, than we should, if the Place had been in our Power. Yea, it seems most likely, that if they had not possess'd it, there would neither have been a Battery, nor even a House in the Port to this Day; no more than in many fine Harbours of Nova Scotia; which tho' so near the Fishery, have been neglected by us for so many Years, from the Peace of Utrecht. But now in a few Weeks Time, the sovereign GOD has pleased to give us the Fruits of these Thirty Years prodigious Art, Labour and Expence of our Enemies: And this by Means of so small a Number, less than Four thousand Land-Men, unus'd to War, undisciplin'd, and that had never seen a Siege in their Lives. It is the LORD' s Doing! It is marvellous in our Eyes!

II. Let us therefore look into the wonderous Scenes of Pro­vidence, and see some of the various and surprizing Steps which led to the happy Acquisition.

And these we may review under these Two Heads—

1. The remarkable Steps which led to the dangerous En­terprise: And

2. The surprizing Steps succeeding us therein.

1] The remarkable Steps of Providence which led us to the adventurous Enterprize.

[Page 21] I have already hinted at these Two Particulars—

1. Our Enemies being left of GOD, in Opposition to all the Rules of Policy, but in too early Confidence of their sufficient Growth of Power, while engag'd with the Queen of Hungary, to hurry into a War with us; while their trading Ships were mostly abroad, their Navy not so well prepar'd, and ours by the previous War with Spain, equipt and ready to employ its Power for our Defence and their Annoyance: It seems in as happy a Juncture as we could wish for: With­out which we should not have had the Advantage or Oppor­tunity which they have opened to us.

2. The People of Cape-Breton early and suddenly seizing Canso, invading Annapolis, and M. De Vivier going to France for additional Forces by Sea and Land, to renew the Assault in the Spring of the Year;—were improv'd by GOD as a Means of [...]ouzing us up with the Sense of Danger, and of exciting our Governour to implore the KING for some naval Help: Without which it seems that Commodore Warren with his Three Ships of War had not been ordered from our West India Islands to New-England; Tho' then, I suppose, without any special View to this important Enterprize.

3. By the Cape-Bretoners taking and carrying so many of our People into their Harbour and City, they were obliged to return them to us: Whereby we came to be more acquaint­ed with their Scituation and the proper Places of landing and attacking: And at the same Time it is in the Issue happy, they were not fully aware of the prodigious Strength of the Fortifications, or of the great Number of Men within and near them; or we never had presum'd on such an Enterprize: Yea, 'tis happy that some few, who better knowing the Place, gave the more exact Accounts and spake discouraging; yet we were so set on sending, they were not regarded.

4. GOD was pleased to give last Summer a great Plenty of Provision to our northern Colonies; whereby we were this Spring prepared to supply so great an Armament: And at the same Time cut short the Crops in Canada and the French West India Islands; whereby 'twas apprehended that Those at Cape Breton were considerably straitened, and that both the Canada­French [Page 22] and Indians were hindered the last Year from troubling our inland Borders.

5. By our Accounts of the Uneasiness of the Switzers There, for want of Pay and Provision; and the Call and Wants of their East and West India Fleet in the Fall of the Year, and their Supplies with Men and Victuals, if not Am­munition; 'twas represented, the remaining French were further weakened; and we were the more encouraged. And 'twas further remarkable, that their Store Ships from France in the Fall came so late on their Coast, and the Winter There set in so early and fierce, as to keep them out of their Harbour and drive them off to Martincco.

6. From the sanguine Representations made by our return­ed Captives, of the Easiness of our taking the Place by an early Surprizal before any Help could come, either from France or Canada; GOD was pleased to lead our Governour, vigilant and active for our Safety and Welfare, into the Project: And early forming the Scheme; in the most timely Season, in the midst of Winter, when our Intercourse abroad was sealed up, to move and press it on the General Assembly; and after, in convenient Time, on our neighbouring Governments; and with wonderous Resolution, Circumspection and Assiduity to pursue the same.

7. Tho' when the Affair was first propos'd to the General Court, the Difficulties seem'd so great and the Expence so sinking to this poor People, that they saw no Light to ven­ture without a powerful, previous Help from England; yet upon further Representations, that the Season would likely be lost for ever, &c. the Affair was unexpectedly reconsider'd: And the sovereign GOD so over-rul'd the Absence of diverse worthy Representatives, who judged it too vast an Underta­king for us; that 'tis said the final Resolution for it on Jan. 25, was just carried But by one Majority: And even that and other Votes had been lost, if the superiour Greatness of the Expence had been then imagined; it soon abundantly exceed­ing their Expectations.

8. When the General Court had agreed on this great En­terprize, it is surprizing to think, with how profound a Se­cresy, [Page 23] so many Members in the Centre of so populous, obser­ving and inquisitive a Town as this, for so many Days, kept their Consultations; 'till the various Parts of the Plan were settled, Committees chosen, and all Things ripe for enlisting Soldiers, hiring Vessels, buying Materials and Provisions: And as surprizing to see with what a general Silence all these Things were done in this City and Land; and the Army and Fleet equipt and ready to sail, while the Rest of the World had scarce any Intelligence of our Preparations.

9. As soon as ever the Design was known among us, it was a marvellous Thing, that when this Province had lately lost so many Hundred Men Voluntiers in the sad Expedition to Carthagena, not One in Ten being alive to return, their Wives left Widows and their Children Orphans;—yet to see so many likely Men, and I conclude the most of them Owners of Lands and Houses, or Heirs of the same, and many Reli­gious, in all our Towns, readily listing even as private Sol­diers; with the small Wages of Twenty-five Shillings a Month, to leave their gainful Farms and Trades, as well as Parents, Wives and Children; all as free Voluntiers, to serve their GOD, their King and Country, in this hazardous Enterprize: Yea, more to list than the Court desired: And that so many Men of distinguish'd Figure should cheerfully offer themselves—even Four of his MAJESTY' S Council for this Province, among them the Hon. William Pepperrell, Esq the first of the Council; as also the Hon. Deputy Governour of Connecticut Colony; and diverse Others of publick Esteem and Character.

10. It was wonderful also to see that during those Two usually stormy Months of February and March, the only Sea­son for our Preparation, GOD was pleased to give us such a constant Series of moderate and fair Weather, as in that Time of the Year has scarce ever been known among us: So that there was hardly any Impediment to our Officers going about and enlisting, or our Soldiers in marching, or our Vessels in sitting, or our Coasters in bringing us Provisions, or our Committee of War in their various Preparations, 'till all were ready to sail.

[Page 24] 11. The extraordinary Tho't, Contrivance, Order, Manage­ment and quick Dispatch, not only of HIS EXCELLENCY, but also of our Council of War, seems wonderful—that Gen­tlemen unus'd to such Affairs, should in Two Months Time, think of and get ready every Thing suitable for so great and various an Armament by Sea and Land: So that nothing proper seems to have been omitted. And I have heard some express themselves with Wonder to see how Things would happen:—Just as they wanted some Kinds of Materials or Provisions, an unexpected Vessel wou'd come in and bring them.

12. It was also wonderful—that tho' the Small Pox, which has been so fatal and dreadful to us, came into this Town and Harbour, as our Troops were coming in both by Land and Water, and continued all the Time they were quartering and anchoring here, very few of the Officers or Soldiers ha­ving had it, and we were full of anxious Apprehensions; yet it neither hindred them, nor did the dangerous Infection spread among them; which in that critical Juncture would, after all, have wholly overthrown the Enterprize.

And now our Army of Three Thousand Land Soldiers, with all Kinds of Stores being ready to sail on the 23 d of March, in about a Hundred Vessels, besides Five Hundred Soldiers more sent from Connecticut, and Three Hundred and Fifty from New-Hampshire—we had almost every gloomy Prospect to make us tremble.

For our inland Borders were now left bare of a great Part of their Strength, by the listing of so many of their able Men Voluntiers in the Expedition. And if the Enter­prize succeeded, the heavy Debt would almost sink us. But if, for our Offences, GOD were carrying forth a great Part of the Flower of our Country to be destroy'd; a most dismal Scene of Ruin seem'd to follow! They were to sail Five Hundred Miles to the Enemies Island, in a raw and stormy Time of the Year. And if the fear'd Infection had taken Place and should brake out among them, especially after their Landing; what a general Terror would seize them from the Hand of GOD which there was no resisting, and in what a miserable Case would they be! A naval Power with Stores [Page 25] and disciplin'd Troops were also early expected There from France, to conquer Nova Scotia: And after all the Labours of our unwearied Governour, to obtain some Men of War from our neighbouring Colonies and West India Islands, to come and protect and help us; our hopeful Prospects seem'd to dwindle away—and we could see no other but that, if Two Sixty Gun Ships of our Enemies, which were early expected, should ar­rive before we took the Place, they would soon make our Fleet and Army Captives:—And then what would become of this Country!

So they must run the most desperate Hazards. The Hearts of many of the wisest ashore now seem'd to fail. Some re­pented they had voted for it, and others that they had ever promoted it. Some judged it best after all for every Man to to go Home; and the Thoughtful among us were in great Per­plexity.—But yet a Wonder it was to see, that those who were venturing into the Danger, seem'd to be fullest of Trust in GOD and Courage. Many fill'd their Vessels with Prayers; and asking Ours, they threw themselves into the divine Pro­tection, in the Name of GOD they set up their Banners, and away they sail'd. Pray for US, and we'll Fight for YOU—was the valiant and endearing Language wherewith they left us.

Thus have we traced some of the remarkable Steps which led to this dangerous Enterprize. We now come

2] To view some of the more surprizing Steps of Provi­dence succeeding therein to the happy Accomplishment.

And as these are more in Number than can be reckon'd, I may here but mention a few—

1. As it was very encouraging to think how many pious and prayerful Persons were embarqu'd in the Cause, which we accounted the Cause of GOD and his People; it gave fur­ther Ground of Hope, to see such a Spirit of Supplication given to many in this Town and Land on this Occasion. For be­sides the solemn Days of publick and general Prayer appointed by these three Governments; there were particular Days observed in several Congregations. There were also in diverse Towns [Page 26] religious Societies, some of Women as well as others of Men, which met every Week, more privately to pray for the Preservation and Success of their dear Countrymen: And I have been well informed of their extraordinary Fervency, Faith and Wrestlings, as so many Jacobs, in this important Season. Psal. cviii. 10—13. was usually among our Petitions: As also, ‘That GOD would preserve, direct and spirit our Friends; and surprize and terrify our Enemies; and make them yield without much Blood-shed, and in such a Man­ner as the Work and Glory might appear to be his alone.’

2. GOD then began in a remarkable Manner to hear our Prayers: In that when so many Vessels sail'd from Hence and from New Hampshire and Connecticut, in such a turbulent Time of the Year, thro' a Course of Five Hundred Miles on the Ocean; they every one arriv'd at Canso, the Place of Concourse, about sixty Miles on this Side Cape Breton, with­out the Loss of more than One Soldier and Three Seamen, and but Fifteen sick; and Time enough to meet together and refresh themselves, and get into Order for their Descent at Louishourg.

3. It was remarkable also, that GOD was pleas'd to keep our Enemies Shore and Harbour inviron'd with Ice longer than usual: So that none of their Vessels could enter nor go forth for Intelligence, 'till our Twenty Gun Cruizers (which our Governour sent above a Fortnight before the Rest of the Fleet) came Thither: And that some of their Vessels coming early to them, both before and after the Harbour was open, were happily intercepted and taken by Ours; whereby our Enemies within fail'd of their Supplies, and We were recruited by those without.

4. That by a most gracious, seasonable and wonderful Di­rection of GOD, thro' our Governour's Sollicitations the Fall before, the brave and active Commodore Warren, a great Friend to these Plantations, is ordered by the Government in England, to come immediately with Three Men of War from Antego to Boston: That on his Voyage hither near Cape Sables, he, on April 12th, met with a Fisherman, who inform'd him of our Army's being gone to Canso the Week before: That on board the Fisherman there was One of the best of Pilots, who had got out of the Way of our Committee of [Page 27] War, to avoid being press'd for the Service: That tho' the Commodore wanted fresh Provision and Cloaths for his Men in so cold a Climate and Season; he wisely consider'd the ne­cessitous Case of our Army, took the Pilot, generously tack'd about, went after them, overtook them at Canso, to their great Joy; and instead of stopping, pass'd on to watch the Harbour of Louishourg, that no Supply from Canada, Martineco or France might slip into it: Without all which a 64 Gun Ship with near 600 Men and full of Stores, had enter'd, and this great Affair had been soon defeated.

5. That the Commodore, by the Fishermen, sent his Order for the King's Ships that should be found in these Parts, forth­with to follow him: That the Fisherman timely arriving, our Governour immediately sent the Order to a 40 Gun Ship at Piscataqua ready to convoy the Mast Fleet for England: And tho' she was got to Sea, yet by a Boat the Order reach'd her; and sending her Fleet into Harbour, she bore after the Com­modore and quickly join'd him. So that our Army before they fail'd from Canso, had the Comfort of 4 Men of War, under GOD to protect and help them.

6. That tho' our Fleet and Army staid near three Weeks at Canso, within 20 Leagues of Louisbourg, and within Sight of their Island; yet the People There knew nothing of it, 'till early in the Morning April 30, when they were so surpriz'd to see us, that they had no Time to get in the fresh Provision and Force of the neighbouring Country to help them. It seems very wonderful, that none of the French or Indians near to Canso, should happen to see us, and give our Enemies Intel­ligence of us: And when our Fleet and Army were compleat and ready, the Ice went off at once; and the Winds and Weather conspir'd to favour our Descent on the Island.

7. It is also remarkable, that the French had made no For­tification at the Place of our Landing, tho' 'tis said they de­sign'd it, and were preparing for it: And tho' they had Six Hundred regular Troops, and about Fourteen Hundred other Men in the City, that yet they should make so small an Opposition at our going ashore: That GOD so encourag'd and help'd the few who landed first and engag'd them, as to beat them away with the Loss of Eight of their Men stain, several wound­ed, [Page 28] and Ten taken captive, without the Loss of One of Ours: That thereby he struck a Terror into our Enemies: And tho' our People were so eager of Landing, they were ready to quarrel to get into the Boats, and the Surf ran high; yet all our Army landed safely, without oversetting a Boat or loosing a Man.

8. That He mov'd them to improve the Time and forthwith march up Five Miles, thro' a rocky & boggy Country, and en­close the City. That in the following Night he led some of our Soldiers, thro' strange Places to the Storehouses near the Grand Battery, which was strongly fortified with Walls and Ditches, and at each End a very thick Bomb-proof Tower: That the Storehouses full of combustible Matter, being set on Fire, burnt & flash'd in a horrible Manner, and in the Night en­creas'd the Enemies Terror: That the Wind also bearing a pro­digious black Smoke upon them, in which expecting our Army to enter, they were every Soul frighted out of it into the City: And that in the Morning, but 13 of our Men observing there was neither Flag flying, nor Chimney smoaking, nor Person appearing, but the Gates open, &c. ventur'd in and took Possession.

9. That yet the Enemy aware of their fatal Error, soon after came with Forces in many Shallowaes to recover it: But 8 of the 13 going out of the Battery and meeting with about 8 more of our Friends, run to the Water Side, and so plied the Boats with Small Arms, as damp'd and hinder'd them, 'till seeing more of our Forces coming, the Boats turn'd back to the Town again: And if they had come but one Hour soon­er, they had regain'd the Battery before we found it deserted. And thus this strong Fortress of 32 great Cannon, 30 of them 42 Pounders, which might alone have maintain'd itself against all our Army, the LORD deliver'd into our Hands, without the Loss of a Man, or Shot of a Gun, and before we de­manded it: Whereby he at once fav'd us both Time, Toil and Blood, and surprizingly gave us a great Power over the Har­bour, as well as so many of the largest of the Enemies Can­non, with a great Number of their own Balls and Bombs to improve against them.

[Page 29] 10. That our Army was preserv'd from the dangerous In­fection: And tho' being open to the Air, Fogs and Dews, upon the Melting of the Ice, in a raw Climate and Season of the Year, the Camp- Dysentry seized many; yet some of our Physicians in their Letters signified, that it look'd almost mi­raculous, they should so soon and generally, without Means, recover.

11. That they should be inspir'd with wondrous Courage, Eagerness, Activity and unfainting Strength: Be supported under their extraordinary and constant Toils, Fatigues and Labours, in carrying Stores, drawing Cannon over Hills and Valleys, among Rocks and thro' Morasses, up to the Middle in Mire; and in digging Trenches, raising Batteries, firing Shot and Bombs almost incessantly both Day and Night a­gainst the City: And that GOD so speedily taught their Hands to war, and their Fingers to fight, as presently to throw them with great Exactness, and do continual Execution among our Enemies; dismounting their Cannon, heating down their Houses, Gates, Walls, Flankers, and greatly distressing them.

12. That when a new 64 Gun Ship from France with near 600 Men, and great Quantities of Arms and Stores, came so near the Mouth of their Harbour and before a fair Wind, that two Hours more would have given her Entrance; she was happily discover'd by some of our smaller Ships, who led her along to the larger and soon made her Strike: And tho' by the Fog in the Night they lost her, yet in the Morn­ing they happily recover'd her; to the growing Discourage­ment of the Besieged, and our encreasing Strength and Benefit.

That tho' to show our Dependance on GOD continually, He was pleas'd to suffer the barbarous Indians, twice to sur­prize and murther some of our People; yet in several Land­Encounters both with French and Indians, in divers Parts of the Island, He was pleas'd to give us the Victory.

That by Means of the extraordinary quick Dispatch of a Messenger, our Governour in February sent to the KING for naval Help; GOD was pleas'd to send so many Men of War successively, as by the 12th of June, with the 64 Gun Prize, and those who were there before, to amount to Eleven; to [Page 30] the sinking Fear of the Enemy, and the rising Joy of our Fleet and Army; as also to preserve a happy Harmony between our various Officers.

That tho' GOD was pleas'd to humble us in defeating our Attack in the Night on their strong Island Fort; yet He hap­pily guided and with surprizing Strength, Agility and Quick­ness helped us to hoist up some of the heaviest Cannon and Mortars on the Light House Cliff, which overlook'd that Fort in which they trusted to hinder our entering into their Har­bour: And then assisted in casting our Bombs so exactly, as after the two or three first, to throw in every One of the rest, and do such Execution as quickly beat them out of this strong Hold they tho't impregnable, and frighten the City to a quiet Surrender.

That GOD shou'd move 'em to it in that critical Moment, when the Navy and Army had just agreed on a general, despe­rate and fierce Assault both by Land and Water; which was like to be exceeding bloody and of doubtful Consequence: For upon the Capitulation, when our Forces enter'd the City and came to view the inward State of its Fortifications; they were amazed to see their extraordinary Strength and Device, and how we had like to have lost the Limbs and Lives of a Multitude, if not have been all destroy'd.

That in all our close and constant Assaults and Skirmishes, some of our Batteries being within Pistol Shot of the City, and receiving such a vast Number of Balls and Bombs almost continually by Day and by Night, we should not have above a Hundred slain; in so raw a Climate and Season, and under such Fatigues, not loose above a Hundred more by Sickness; and of so many Vessels transporting and cruizing, in so many Storms in March and April, loose but One; tho' this a Cruizer of a Hundred Men, supposed to be overset, is a grievous Loss.

That in the Time of the Siege, there were many other surprizing Events in our Favour—Such as timely Supplies to our Army, either by Transports or Prizes, as we were near to want them—That the very Balls from our Enemies Can­non were of no small Service, being as fast almost as they fell, catch'd up and put into Ours, and return'd with Advantage [Page 31] —That digging a Trench to protect our Men, and meeting a Rock in the Way we could not remove; just as we left it, a Bomb from the Enemy came down in the most suitable Spot, and without any Harm remov'd it for us, &c.

That from the Army's leaving Canso, April 29, to their land­ing April 30, and during all the Siege, there should be such a con­tinual Series of fair Weather, as was never known, at that Time of the Year, in the Place before, 'till their entering into the City, June 17; and then the Clouds to gather Blackness and pour down Rains for Ten Days together: Which would have spoil'd our Batteries, fill'd our Trenches, and greatly hinder'd and dis­abled us!—It seem'd to close the Scenes of Wonder!—As if the sovereign GOD would suspend the hurtful Opera­tions of Nature, 'till he had quite accomplish'd his great De­sign, deliver'd the Fortress into our Hands, and led us into a Place of Shelter.

In the mean while, it is also remarkable, that the North American Coasts have been unmolested by both the French and Spanish West India Privateers, 'till this great Affair was ended. And that by Means of Du Vivier's Project of taking Annapolis in the Spring or Summer, both our French and Indian Enemies have been all this Time diverted from our exposed inland Bor­ders; they being drawn to Menis, and to make a transient Show at Annapolis: So he was guided into this mischievous but fruitless Project, and to go even to France, to promote our Safety, and give us an unmolested Season for the taking of Louisbourg.

Lastly, That tho' our GOVERNOUR, our GENERAL COURT, the Council of War, the General, the Commodore, the Officers and Soldiers, both by Land and Sea, have display'd a wonderous Wisdom, Zeal, Courage, Resolution, Diligence, and unwearied Application; yet they have the eminent Ho­nour in receiving these from GOD, and in his employing them to atchieve and bring about such a glorious and happy Addi­tion to the British Crown and Empire: Nor without his num­berless other Directions wou'd all their Skill, Care, Toil and Diligence, have availed any thing: And to HIM be therefore all the Glory. For the infinitely inferiour Brightness sparkling in them, is wholly deriv'd from HIM, both by his original and [Page 32] continual Influence; like the Glitters of Diamonds from the Morning Sun, and when He wholly hides his Light, they va­nish. And yet the brillant Diamonds are more to be valued than unshining Pebbles.

And thus have we seen this Passage of Scripture, in a re­markable Manner exemplified in the present Day.

And now who can in common Reason deny a particular Providence in this great Affair? Who can in Reason imagine that such a Multitude of various and contrary running Wheels, both of material Causes and spontaneous Agents, shou'd all be made to work together, and in the midst of Thousands of Difficulties and Contingencies, in the happiest Seasons coin­cide, to accomplish this GREAT EVENT; without a SU­PREAM Contriv [...]r, Mover and Director? We may a thou­sand Times more consistently apprehend the most curious En­gine in the World to be made without Design, and to work without a moving Power.

Yea, Those who own not These to be the Operations of GOD, as a wise, sovereign, free and actual Ruler among Men and Elements; must not only deny the Scriptures, but even the very Foundations of all Religion, or Adoration of this supream Governour. For they must deny there is any Need, or Duty, or Wisdom, of fearing Him, or praying to Him, or hoping on Him in any Emergencies; or of acknowledging, admiring, praising, loving, or thanking Him, for the greatest and most marvellous Salvations.

But as for Us—In the Name of GOD, our GOD in CHRIST, yea in the Name of the SON of GOD, as supream Lord and Ruler of Heaven and Earth, of Men, Angels, and Elements, we lifted up our Banners: To Him we looked and prayed: In Him we put our Trust and sought: And now, He has heard and prosper'd, to Him we will ascribe the Praise.

Whatever Instruments or Means He us'd, we will bless Him for them; we see them form'd, endow'd, excited by Him; we see them in his mighty and all-active Hands, deriving Strength and Guidance from Him, and employ'd continually to fulfill his Pleasure. We will own, the Work is his in the [Page 33] highest Sense: It was all comprehended in his sovereign View, Design and Providence; begun, carried on, accomplish'd by his all-governing Wisdom, Power and Efficacy; and the whole together is marvellous in every serious Eye.

When the Tydings came of surrendring the City, ‘we were like Them that dream: Our Mouth was fill'd with Laughter, and our Tongue with singing: Even the Hea­then said, The LORD hath done great Things for them; and We— The LORD hath done great Things for us, whereof we are glad. Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy Name give Glory: Our GOD hath done whatsoever he pleased: The LORD hath been mindful of us: And we will bless the LORD, from this Time forth & for ever. Thine O LORD is the Greatness, & the Power, & the Glory, & the Victory, and the Majesty: For all that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is thine; thine is the Kingdom O LORD, and thou art exalted as Head above all: Both Riches and Honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all, and in thine Hand is Power and Might; and in thine Hand it is to make Great, and to give Strength to all: Now there­fore OUR GOD, we thank Thee and praise thy glorious Name. Give Thanks to the LORD, call on his Name, make known his Deeds among the People: Sing unto Him, sing Psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous Works: Declare his Glory among the Heathen, his marvellous Works among all Nations.’

O that when we have sang his Praise, we may not ungrate­fully forget his Works, or return to Sin; which is to rob Him of his deserved Glory and fly in the Face of our great Preser­ver and Benefactor: It is the vilest Degree of Ingratitude and provoking Baseness: It is to fight against HIM, who has been marvellously fighting for us, and given us a wonderous Series of great Salvations. Yea, this will be the dangerous Way to move HIM to turn our Enemy; to change the Course of his slighted Dispensations, and give the Place into our Ad­versaries Hands again, with a more dreadful and mischievous Increase of Power than ever, to punish us. And the Sins of Drunkenness, Profanation of the Name and Day of GOD, Un­cleanness, Injustice, Oppression, Contempt of CHRIST, & Opposition to the Purity, Power and Practice of his holy Religion; are some [Page 34] of the highest and most dangerous Provocations and Prepara­tives to ruinous Judgments.

Yea, distinguishing Appearances of GOD to save and prosper us, are distinguishing Obligations, not only to distinguishing De­grees of Joy and Praise, but also to distinguishing Degrees of Piety: i. e. of active Gratitude and Love to GOD, of per­petual Contrivances and Labours to promote his Glory and holy Kingdom in Ourselves and Others, and to a constant Life of Service to His Cause and People. And as the Failure of this, will not be a rendering to Him according to his signal Benefits, but a most ungrateful Treatment of Him; his Eyes are always on us, to observe us now, and to judge and Re­compence us Here or Hereafter.

But let us rejoice, not only in our own Salvation, the Salvation of all our Colonies, and some of the most important Branches of the British Trade;—But let our Joy rise higher, that hereby a great Support of Antichristian Power is taken away, and the visible Kingdom of CHRIST enlarged, Methinks, when the southern Gates of Louisbourg were opened, and our Army with their Banners were marching in; the Gates were lifted up—the Gates were lifted up—and the KING of GLORY went in with them. Even the SON of GOD, the LORD of Hosts, the LORD strong and mighty in Battle—having gain'd the Conquest, he rode in in Triumph and took Possession. He set up his Standard, proclaim'd his Gospel of Peace, the Glad Tydings of Salvation, open'd the Prisons, redeem'd his Captives, and began to receive his grateful Incense of pure Adorations. O that There, in Purity of Worship, Doctrine and Conversation, in the Power of his Grace and in the Glory of his Holiness, He may reign and shine to all the Islands round about, as long as the Sun and Moon endure.

And as 'twas one of the chief Disgraces of Queen ANNE'S Reign, to resign this Island to the French; it is happily one of the Glories of King GEORGE the Second's, to recover it to the British Empire. O that it may remain united thereto for ever, and so perpetuate the Glory. O that under the Influence of British Liberties, in a happy Constitution of Civil Government, and the DIVINE Care & Blessing, even Louishourg itself, with Cape-Breton, and all Nova Scotia, may revive and flourish. [Page 35] May they have religious, wise and generous Governours, that may be as nursing Fathers to them; encourage them in Piety, Virtue and good Order, promote their Trade, and protect them in their Properties and Liberties.

Lastly, may this happy Conquest be the dawning Earnest of our DIVINE REDEEMER'S carrying on his Triumphs thro' the Northern Regions; 'till He extends his Empire from the Eastern to the Western Sea, and from the River of Canada to the Ends of America.—THEN from the uttermost Parts of the Earth shall be heard Songs, even Glory to the righteous GOD: They shall lift up their Voice, they shall sing for the Majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the Sea; they shall glorify the LORD in the Woods and Valleys, on the Lakes and Rivers, in the Mountains, in the Islands: And the Hea­vens and the Earth shall be filled with his Glory, and eccho with his Praise.

AMEN.