400

RESPITES HAVE INDUCED PRESUMPTION.

[SERM.

tion and promoting the cause of truth, piety, justice, and mercy, in his own sphere, and according to the duties of his station. Yet those warnings and admonitions, repeated from year to year, produced no sensible effects the same evils continued and increased; and the services of the fast day seemed generally and willingly forgotten, as soon as they were finished. We were however at length brought into a very alarming situation yet the Lord, in answer to the prayers of the pious remnant in the land, remembered us in mercy : the storm was rebuked and a flattering calm succeeded.

But alas, instead of making suitable returns for such mercies; every one of those evils, which had been scripturally proved to be the causes of the Lord's controversy, were continued still to contaminate the land: and all the protests and warnings of ministers and Christians were ridiculed as visionary, enthusiastical, and superstitious. The event, as men supposed, contradicted their forebodings, and increasing property succeeded to the alarm. Yet, while the nation was thus saying peace and safety," a dark cloud began again to threaten a most tremendous storm. The violent and extraordinary changes which took place on the continent, and the spirit manifested by numbers at home, combined to excite most serious apprehensions. After a time this deplorable and eventful war broke out: and though our distresses have not hitherto been worthy to be compared with those calamities which many dreaded; yet they have certainly been very great, and none can say in what manner they will terminate.

Immediately, the same means of averting the divine indignation was resorted to: days of fasting and prayer

XVII.] IMPROPER CONDUCT IN OBSERVING FAST-DAYS. 401

have repeatedly been observed; and similar warnings and exhortations have been urged from the pulpit and the press. This is now the fourth time we have complied with the royal proclamation: and many zealous efforts have been made to awaken men to a sense both of our situation and our duty. But what effects have been witnessed? Who almost can be found, that

manifests a more humble, spiritual, zealous, and conscientious disposition, in consequence of these ordinances? The few instances of this kind, which doubtless have occurred, are scarcely visible in the great mass of those, who outwardly observe the day and then think no more about it. Many who are supposed to concur in its appointment, openly refuse to attend on any of its duties; and this gives others an occasion of representing the observance as a political device, and of turning the whole into profane ridicule !

Some fast, or pretend to "fast for strife and debate, "and to smite with the fist of wickedness:" and while they revile, others pay court to, their superiors: and thus they make a day of fasting and prayer an opportunity of seeking favour, either from the populace or from the magistrate! In short, the very observance of so important and solemn an occasion, as it is too generally conducted, may be considered as an accession to our pational sins and the spirit discovered by numbers, even of those who in other respects seem to be religious, creates an alarm, lest the proper remedy for our maladies should hasten the death of the enfeebled patient.

In the mean time the most daring and blasphemous infidelity, scarcely distinguishable from atheism, is zealously propagated, and greedily imbibed, by a

Dd

402

NATIONAL CRIMES STILL INCREASE.

[SERM.

deluded populace and the rising generation: while almost every effort to counteract its progress is marked with feeblenes; nay, too often with treachery, the defenders of the outworks betraying the citadel into the hands of the besiegers.-Impiety, profanation of the sabbath, perjury, venality, dissipation, licentiousness, are rapidly increasing. An unruly spirit disdaining subordination threatens to level all distinctions in society; while alas! few of those, who are thus distin guished, take proper and decided methods of counteracting its inroads, or softening the odium, envy, and contempt, from which it springs. The various species of vice and profaneness, heretofore protested against, are permitted to exist and gather strength; while little is so much as attempted in removing occasions and encouragements to them. Yea, that horrid monster, the slave trade, is still sanctioned by the British legislature, and conducted by merchants 'professing to be the disciples of Him, who said "whatsoever

ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even "so unto them." These are notorious facts, and demonstrate that notwithstanding all appearances, "The people turneth not to him that smiteth them, "neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts." And though the present scarcity seems to have given a temporary check to the excessive luxury that prevailed, and to have called forth a very commendable spirit of humanity to the indigent; yet other symptoms prove this to be merely a partial and occasional effort: and we may still say, that with comparatively a very few exceptions, "the whole head is sick and the whole "heart is faint." So that "except the Lord of

XVIL] AGGRAVATED BY OUR PECULIAR ADVANTAGES. 403 "Hosts had left us a very small remnant, we should "have been like Sodom and Gomorrah."

IV. Then we observe, that this circumstance may justly excite serious alarms, concerning the event of our present difficulties.

If we were, as a nation, generally united in turning to the Lord, and strenuously seeking a revival of genuine Christianity; neither the number, courage or violence of our foes, the wavering or dubious conduct of our allies, the weight of taxes and publick incumbrances, nor even the scarcity of provisions could give alarm in respect of the future, to a mind accustomed to judge according to the scripture. But an opposite conduct, in a nation favoured like Britain with every advantage for religious improvement, must excite serious apprehensions for the consequences. No doubt we stand in the same relation to the Lord, that Israel did of old, and must expect to be dealt with according to the same measure. Nations, as well as individuals, which have not known the will of God, may be beaten for their crimes with few stripes: but we, who have had the most abundant opportunities of learning his truths and precepts, yet have pertinaciously continued in disobedience, must expect to be beaten more severely. "You only have I known of "all the families of the earth; therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities'.'

Let us attend to the words of the prophet, "In that

day did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping and

› Amos, iii. 2.

404

66

JUDGMENTS DENOUNCED ON ISRAEL,

[SERM.

to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth, and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking "wine: let us eat and drink for to morrow we die." Sennacherib's invasion was a divine call to fasting, mourning, repentance, and prayer: but the people united excessive sensual indulgence, with infidel principles and daring impiety. "And it was revealed "in mine ears by the Lord of Hosts; surely this ini

quity shall not be purged from you till ye die'." Alas, does not the spirit and conduct of men in general throughout our land so exactly accord to this description, that a serious mind cannot but dread the denunciation of a like sentence against us? Thus Amos also warned the Jews and Israelites in his time.

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust " in the mountain of Samaria.Ye that put far away "the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to draw << near. That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch "themselves upon their couches; that eat the lambs "out of the flock, and calves out of the midst "of the stall: that chaunt to the sound of the

viol, and invent to themselves instruments of "musick like David; that drink wine in bowls, "and anoint them with the chief ointments: but δε they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph, "Therefore shall they go captive with the first that

go captive and the banquet of them that stretched "themselves shall be removed. The Lord God hath sworn by himself, I abhor the excellency of Jacob and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the Isai. xxii. 12-140