Truly, I shall in a word or two congratulate you with good _you_ are
in possession of, and in some respect, I also with you. God hath
bestowed upon you, and you are in possession of it,--Three Nations,
and all that appertains to them. Which in either a geographical,
or topical consideration, are Nations. In which also there are
places of honour and consideration, not inferior to any in the known
world,--without vanity it may be spoken. Truly God hath not made so
much soil, furnished with so many blessings, in vain! But it is a
goodly sight, if a man behold it _uno intuitu_. And therefore this is
a possession of yours, worthy of congratulation.
This is furnished,--give me leave to say, for I believe it is
true,--with the best People in the world, possessing so much
soil. A People in civil rights,--in respect of their rights and
privileges,--very ancient and honourable. And _in_ this People, in
the midst of this People, you have, what is still more precious, a
_People_ (I know every one will hear and acknowledge it) that are to
God "as the apple of His eye,"--and He says so of them, be they many,
or be they few! But they are many. A People of the blessing of God;
a People under His safety and protection. A People calling upon the
Name of the Lord; which the Heathen do not. A People knowing God; and
a People (according to the ordinary expressions) fearing God. And you
have of this no parallel; no, not in all the world! You have in the
midst of you glorious things.