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in our future lives, if we would be their success to their own wisdom thought sincerely to have turned to and prowess, and depending on the Lord and sought him in our themselves for its continuance. distresses. Nor can any nation be They showed that negligence and considered as having duly regarded lukewarmness in religion had introthe rod and the word of God, un- duced various antiscriptural devialess a general reformation and re- tions from the gospel, which, gainvival of religion take place; or at ing ground among the superior least till numbers, in the different orders, and even the professed miorders of the community, use the nisters of Christ, had opened the most decided endeavours to restrain door to scepticism and infidelity, and discountenance vice and im- which were making rapid progress piety, to reform inveterate abuses, in the nation. They lamented, that which have been connived at and impiety, contempt of God's word, sanctioned by a corrupt policy, and profanation of his holy day in a to encourage and promote genuine variety of ways, perjuries multiplied piety and purity of manners. and connived at beyond all former examples; venality among all orders III. This leads me to observe, of the community; and shameless that as the people of Israel did not, prevarication in solemn subscripneither do the inhabitants of Great tions, sacred engagements, and saBritain turn to the Lord that cramental tests, were notoriously smiteth; an observation which I common. They affirmed that sysmake with reluctance and unfeign- tems of fraud, oppression, and crued sorrow. elty, especially in foreign parts;

Our peculiar mercies have been unprecedented luxury and dissipanumerous and invaluable, for a long tion among the higher orders in course of years: but our prosperity society, and licentiousness among seemed at its height, just before the their inferiors, even beyond the American war, when our iniquities ordinary measures found in pagan provoked the Lord to smite us. or papal countries, together with During the calamities attending on many other crying iniquities, had that unhappy contest, we were call- provoked the Lord to contend with ed upon to observe one season of us. This representation was acfasting, humiliation, and prayer, companied with earnest calls to after another. On these occasions, repentance, and exhortations to while numbers employed them-every one to use his influence in selves in political discussions and attempting reformation and proparty disputes, there were also moting the cause of truth, piety, many ministers from the pulpit, justice, and mercy, in his own and some from the press, who en- sphere, and according to the duties deavoured to observe the Lord's of his station. Yet those warnings command to the prophet, Cry and admonitions, repeated from aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice year to year, produced no sensible like a trumpet, and show my people effects: the same evils continued their transgression, and the house and increased; and the services of of Jacob their sins." Isaiah lviii. 1. the fast-day seemed generally and They alleged, that the nation had willingly forgotten, as soon as they been intoxicated with prosperity; were finished. We were however was become arrogant and insolent; at length brought into a very alarmhad forgotten the Lord, ascribing ing situation: yet the Lord, in an

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swer to the prayers of the pious disposition, in consequence of these remnant in the land, remembered ordinances? The few instances of us in mercy: the storm was re- this kind, which doubtless have ocbuked, and a flattering calm suc- curred, are scarcely visible in the ceeded. great mass of those, who outwardly

But alas, instead of making suit- observe the day, and then think no able returns for such mercies, every more about it. Many who are supone of those evils, which had been posed to concur in its appointment, scripturally proved to be the causes openly refuse to attend on any of its of the Lord's controversy, were con- duties; and this gives others an octinued still to contaminate the land; casion of representing the observand all the protests and warnings of ance as a political device, and of ministers and Christians were ridi- turning the whole into profane ridiculed as visionary, enthusiastical, cule!

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and superstitious. The event, as Some fast, or pretend to "fast for men supposed, contradicted their strife and debate, and to smite with forebodings, and increasing prospe- the fist of wickedness:" and while rity succeeded to the alarm. Yet, they revile, others pay court to, their while the nation was thus saying superiors: and thus they make a day peace and safety," a dark cloud of fasting and prayer an opportunity began again to threaten a most tre- of seeking favour, either from the mendous storm. The violent and populace or from the magistrate! In extraordinary changes which took short, the very observance of so implace on the continent, and the spi- portant and solemn an occasion, as rit manifested by numbers at home, it is too generally conducted, may combined to excite most serious be considered as an accession to our apprehensions. After a time, this national sins: and the spirit discodeplorable and eventful war broke vered by numbers, even of those out; and though our distresses have who in other respects seem to be not hitherto been worthy to be com- religious, creates an alarm, lest the pared with those calamities which proper remedy for our maladies many dreaded, yet they have cer- should hasten the death of the entainly been very great, and none feebled patient. can say in what manner they will In the mean time the most daring and blasphemous infidelity, scarcely Immediately, the same means of distinguishable from atheism, is zeaaverting the divine indignation was lously propagated, and greedily imresorted to days of fasting and bibed, by a deluded populace and prayer have repeatedly been ob- the rising generation : "while almost served; and similar warnings and every effort to counteract its proexhortations have been urged from gress is marked with feebleness; the pulpit and the press. This is nay, too often with treachery, the now the fourth time we have com- defenders of the outworks betrayplied with the royal proclamation: ing the citadel into the hands of the and many zealous efforts have been besiegers. Impiety, profanation of made to awaken men to a sense the sabbath, perjury, venality, dissiboth of our situation and our duty. pation, licentiousness, are rapidly But what effects have been wit- increasing. An unruly spirit disnessed? Who almost can be found, daining subordination threatens to that manifests a more humble, spi- level all distinctions in society; ritual, zealous, and conscientious while alas! few of those, who are

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thus distinguished, take proper and even the scarcity of provisions could decided methods of counteracting give alarm in respect of the future, its inroads, or softening the odium, to a mind accustomed to judge acenvy, and contempt, from which it cording to the Scripture. But an springs. The various species of opposite conduct, in a nation favice and profaneness, heretofore voured like Britain with every adprotested against, are permitted to vantage for religious improvement, exist and gather strength; while must excite serious apprehensions little is so much as attempted in for the consequences. No doubt we removing occasions and encourage- stand in the same relation to the ments to them. Yea, that horrid Lord, that Israel did of old, and monster, the slave trade, is still sanc- must expect to be dealt with accordtioned by the British legislature, ing to the same measure. Nations, and conducted by merchants pro- as well as individuals, which have fessing to be the disciples of Him, not known the will of God, may be who said, "Whatsoever ye would beaten for their crimes with few that men should do unto you, do ye stripes: but we, who have had even so unto them." These are no- the most abundant opportunities of torious facts, and demonstrate that learning his truths and precepts, notwithstanding all appearances, yet have pertinaciously continued "The people turneth not to him in disobedience, must expect to be that smiteth them, neither do they beaten more severely. "You only seek the Lord of Hosts." And have I known of all the families of though the present scarcity seems the earth; therefore will I punish to have given a temporary check to you for all your iniquities." Amos the excessive luxury that prevailed, iii. 2.

and to have called forth a very com- Let us attend to the words of the mendable spirit of humanity to the prophet, " In that day did the Lord indigent; yet other symptoms prove God of Hosts call to weeping and this to be merely a partial and oc- to mourning, and to baldness, and casional effort and we may still to girding with sackcloth, and besay, that with comparatively a very hold, joy and gladness, slaying few exceptions, "the whole head is oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh sick, and the whole heart is faint." and drinking wine: let us eat and So that "except the Lord of Hosts drink for to-morrow we die." Senhad left us a very small remnant, nacherib's invasion was a divine we should have been like Sodom call to fasting, mourning, repentand Gomorrah."

ance, and prayer: but the people united excessive sensual indul

IV. Then we observe, that this gence, with infidel principles and circumstance may justly excite seri- daring impiety. "And it was reous alarms, concerning the event of vealed in mine ears by the Lord of our present difficulties. Hosts; surely this iniquity shall

If we were, as a nation, generally not be purged from you till ye die." united in turning to the Lord, and Isaiah xxii. 12-14. Alas, does strenuously seeking a revival of not the spirit and conduct of men genuine Christianity; neither the in general throughout our land so number, courage, or violence of our exactly accord to this description, foes, the wavering or dubious con- that a serious mind cannot but duct of our allies, the weight of dread the denunciation of a like taxes and public incumbrances, nor sentence against us? Thus Amos

also warned the Jews and Israelites is the multitude of your sacrifices in his time. "Woe to them that unto me? saith the Lord: I am full are at ease in Zion, and trust in the of the burnt offerings of rams, and mountain of Samaria. Ye that put the fat of fed beasts: and I delight far away the evil day, and cause not in the blood of bullocks, or of the seat of violence to draw near. [lambs, or of he-goats. When ye That lie upon beds of ivory, and come to appear before me, who hath stretch themselves upon their required this at your hands, to couches; that eat the lambs out of tread my courts? Bring no more the flock, and the calves out of the vain oblations; incense is an abomimidst of the stall: that chant to the nation unto me; the new moons sound of the viol, and invent to and Sabbaths, the calling of assemthemselves instruments of music blies, I cannot away with: it is inilike David; that drink wine in quity even your solemn meeting. bowls, and anoint them with the Your new moons, and your apchief ointments: but they are not pointed feasts, my soul hateth: they grieved for the affliction of Joseph. are a trouble to me, I am weary to Therefore shall they go captive with bear them. And when ye spread the first that go captive; and the forth your hands, I will hide mire banquet of them that stretched eyes from you: when ye make themselves shall be removed. The many prayers, I will not hear. Your Lord God hath sworn by himself, I hands are full of blood. Wash you, abhor the excellency of Jacob and make you clean, put away the evi hate his palaces: therefore will I of your doings from before min} deliver up the city with all that is eyes; cease to do evil; learn to de therein." Amos vi. 1-8. And in well; seek judgment, relieve the another place-"I have given you oppressed, &c." Isaiah i. "They cleanness of teeth in your cities, and seek me daily, and delight to know want of bread in all your places: my ways, as a nation that did righyet have ye not returned unto me, teousness, and forsook not the ordisaith the Lord. I have withholden nance of their God; they ask of me the rain, yet have ye not returned the ordinances of justice, they take unto me. I have smitten you with delight in approaching to God. Is blasting and mildew;--I have sent not this the fast that I have chosen? pestilence upon you. I have over- to loose the bands of wickedness, thrown some of you as God over- to undo the heavy burdens, and to threw Sodom, and ye were as a fire- let the oppressed go free; and that brand plucked out of the burning: ye break every yoke?" Isaiah lviii. yet have ye not returned unto me, 2-6. Think not to say within saith the Lord. Therefore thus yourselves, We have Abraham to will I do unto thee, O Israel: and our Father. Now is the axe laid because I will do this unto thee, unto the root of the trees: thereprepare to meet thy God, O Israel." fore every tree which bringeth not Amos iv. 6-13. If the people forth good fruit is hewn down, would not return to the Lord, when and cast into the fire." Matt. iii. he corrected them as a Father, let 7-12. them prepare to meet him as an avenging Judge.

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These Scriptures, to which many more might properly be added, abunIn this case the form of godliness dantly prove that no external humior profession of Christianity, will liation, or public honour put upon avail nothing. "To what purpose God and religion, can procure more.

than a respite to a guilty nation, they had never been forewarned. unless repentance, and works meet Thus it was with Israel and Judah for repentance, be connected with in the Assyrian and Chaldean capthem. Such an outward show of tivities; and especially this was the contrition Ahab exhibited, and a case of the Jews, at the time when reprieve was granted him: but the Jerusalem, the temple, and the destruction of him and his family whole country was finally desolated was not averted. by the Romans.

We are not authorized to say at When the Lord has a number of what time, or in what manner, the believing servants and faithful miLord may see good to be avenged nisters in a land, and they enjoy on such a nation as this. He deals toleration and protection, a hopeful with collective bodies and with in- symptom remains. Their example, dividuals in some respects accord-prayers, and exertions in various ing to the same rules. Young per- ways, prevent a total prevalence of sons, having heard the wrath of God impiety and iniquity. They are denounced against sin, frequently "the salt and the light of the land:" venture upon flagrant vices with and for their sakes the Lord delays considerable apprehensions: but national judgments, and executes escaping with impunity, they grow vengeance on the individuals who bolder in wickedness, and are apt provoke his indignation. But preto conclude the threatenings of vailing divisions among professed Scripture to be mere empty words. believers, attended with lukewarmThus" because sentence against an ness, formality, loose principles, evil work is not executed speedily, extravagant sentiments, and scantherefore the heart of the sons of dalous practice, tend to subvert this men is fully set in them to do evil." bulwark of our country. The gra Eccl. viii. 11. But "he that being dual but effectual success of those, often reproved, hardeneth his neck, who " privily bring in damnable shall suddenly be destroyed, and heresies" into congregations and that without remedy." Prov. xxix. bodies of men, hitherto steadily at1. Some are cut off in youth, others are spared, and persist in wickedness till they are grown old: but in general ungodly men are most secure when vengeance is at hand." 1 Thess. v. 1, 2.

tached to the peculiar doctrines of the gospel; with the progress of infidelity on every side, are " signs of the times," which threaten to deprive us of our last ground of confidence.

In like manner, guilty nations If the present generation of pious being often warned that their ini-Christians should be taken from the quities will bring down the judg- evil to come, and be succeeded by ments of God upon them, and find- such " as have the form of godliness ing respite, become hardened in sin; but deny the power of it:" and if the remonstrances and reproofs of the number of zealous defenders of the Lord's servants are disregarded, the truth should decrease, and or only expose them to reproach, timid, feeble advocates be substiscorn, and ill usage; the measure tuted in their room; it is very proof their wickedness fills up rapidly, bable that the Lord may permit the but without being observed; and open enemies of Christianity to prewhen infidel and impious presump- vail for a season. In this case pertion are at the height, vengeance secution may waste, or drive to a overtakes them as suddenly as if distance the faithful remnant, sup

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