Sir THOMAS RAWLINSONį

Lord Mayor

OF THE

City of LONDON.

My LORD,

Q

Uiet at home, and Conqueft abroad, are two of the greatest Blessings that can happen to a People; and thefe have remarkably diftinguifh'd the Year of Your Lordship's Magiftracy: which, as it hath been a continu'd Scene of Victories and Succeffes, so it began, and ended, without any of thofe unnatural Struggles for the Chair, which bave fo long and often difturb'd the Peace of this great City. That thofe Paffions, which seem now to be fomewhat calm'd, may be entirely laid afleep, and never more awaken'd, that the City may flourifh in Trade, and Wealth, and all manner of outward Advantages; particularly, that it may never want fuch Magiftrates to guide and govern it, as Your Lordship, and Your Worthy Succeffor, is the fincere Wish, and hearty Prayer of,

My LORD,

Your most Obedient

Humble Servant,

Fr. Atterbury,

JOB xxix. 14.

I put on Righteousness, and it clothed me, my Judgment was as a Robe and

J

a Diadem.

O B's Reflections on the Flourishing
Eftate he had once enjoy'd, did at

the fame time afflict, and encourage him. Doubtless, it increas'd the Smart of his present Sufferings, to compare them with his former Happiness: and yet a remembrance of the good Ufe he had made of Profperity, contributed to fupport his Mind under the heavy weight of Adverfity which then lay upon him. He had been a Person, not only of great Opulence, but Authority; a Chief Magiftrate in the Place where he dwelt; as appears from feveral Paffages in the Book which bears his Name: and he had (it feems) executed that high Office juftly and honourably; with great Satisfaction to himself, and with the Univerfal Applaufe of his Country.

Dd

To

To this Confideration, therefore, he re treats, in the midst of all his Preffures, with Comfort and Confidence; in This Thought, notwithstanding the fad Afflictions with which he was overwhelm'd, he mightily exults and triumphs. For hear, how he expreffes himfelf on this occafion, in the Verfes next to that of the Text! I delivered the Poor that cry'd, fays he, the Fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The Bleffing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the Widows Heart to fing for Joy. I was Eyes to the Blind, and Feet was I to the Lame; I was a Father to the Poor, and the Caufe, which I knew not, I fearched out and I brake the Jaws of the Wicked, and pluck'd the Spoil out of his Teeth. One would imagine these to be the Expreffions of a Man, blefs'd with Eafe, and Affluence, and Power; not of One, who had been just stripp'd of all thofe Advantages, and plung'd in the deepest Miferies, and was now fitting Naked, upon a Dunghil! But the Spirit of a Man will fuftain his Infirmities; the Confcioufnefs of Integrity, the Sense of a Life fpent in doing Good, will enable a Man to bear up under any Change of Circumftances; and, whatever his

Out

Outward Condition may be, is fuch an Inward Spring of Contentment and Pleafure, as cannot fail. This was that, which not only arm'd the Mind of Job with Firmness and Fortitude, but fill'd it also with thofe pleafing Reflections which the words, I have read to You, contain. Therein he particularly mentions, and values himself upon, the Compaffion, and Readiness, and Zeal, with which he had 'apply'd himself to relieve the Injur'd and Afflicted; the Impartiality he had obferv'd, the great Diligence he had us'd, and the fearlefs Courage he had fhewn, in the Administration of Juftice: He adds also, in the words of the Text; I put on Righteousness, and it clothed me; my Judgment was as a Robe, and a Diadem; that is, my chief Delight, my greatest Honour, and Happiness lay in thus difcharging the Duties of my Station; fo that, in Comparison of it, I undervalu'd all the Enfigns of Authority which belong'd to me, all the Pomp and Splendor of Life which which I was fur rounded.

The Words, therefore, will afford us a proper Occafion of confidering,

I. First, What a Publick Bleffing a good Magiftrate is for it is on This Suppofition that the Reflections, which Job here makes to his own Comfort and Advantage, are built.

II.

III.

Secondly, The Regard that is juftly paid the Magiftrate, on this account, in thofe Outward Marks of Diftinction and Honour with which he is attended. These have their Ufes, with refpect both to Him, and to the Community over which he prefides. However, he must remember always, in the

Third Place, That the Chief Honour of the Magiftrate confifts in maintaining the Dignity of his Character by fuitable Actions, and in difcharging the high Truft that is repos'd in him, with Integrity, Wifdom, and Courage. Then doth he appear most Venerable, and every way Valuable, when, with upright Job, he can truly fay, I put on Righteousnefs, and it clothed me; my Judgment was a Robe, and a Diadem.

We may, I fay, in the