The religious and loyal subject's duty considered: with regard to the present Government and the Revolution

Delivered from the lofty nave of Canterbury Cathedral on a solemn fast day, this 18th‑century sermon opens with a mournful remembrance of King Charles I’s martyrdom. The preacher, a learned clergyman of Christ‑Church, Oxford, frames his address as a warning against the chaos that followed the recent Revolution, urging listeners to reflect on the cost of rebellion.

The core of the discourse rests on three timeless injunctions: fear of God, fear of the King, and avoidance of those who would stir up change. Drawing on Solomon’s wisdom, the orator argues that true piety demands both reverence for the divine and loyal support for the earthly sovereign, presenting these duties as the foundation of social peace. Listeners are invited to contemplate how these principles, articulated in vivid theological language, sought to safeguard both church and state against the temptations of upheaval.