IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A. '■/ % 4 i/.A 1.0 us I.I 1.25 1.4 21 IM M 1.6 ^- p^ ,>^ 1^ Oy^ /A Photcgraphic Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 87^4503 m :\ \ ^ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ I T^howthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ r~| Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ D Pages wholly or partially obscu'ed by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensL^re the best possible image/ Las pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc.. ont iti filmies d nouveau de facon i obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed st the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document es: filmi au taux de rMuction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 18X 12X 16X 20X 26X 30X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Metropolitan Toronto Library Canadian History Department The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grflce A la g6n6rosit6 de: Metropolitan Toronto Library Canadian History Department Les images suivantes ont 6tii reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^{meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning In the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les exempiaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimis sont fil.Tids en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exempiaires originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la dernidre image de chaque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent 6tre filmds d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, 11 est film6 d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche it droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 f* t^ 3 4 5 6 %- ■PJ(..i",i;i miiiiMi.i % T~ GOD*S VISITATION OF SINFUL NJTimS.^ . :^\ ^ TWO SERMONS, ?^5a-l> DELIVERED IN COLRAIN^ f.'^ O^t THE PUBLIC FAST, JULY 23^ AND AFTERWARDS IN SHELBURNE, AUGUST 20, 1812 : * By SAMUEL TAGGART, A. M. Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Colrain, § 'Published bt revest. GREENFIED, ' 'PRISTED'NBY DENIO AND friELPS, i8is. #- • ;* "^ VA-^^^^ ADVERTISEMEOT. Thefe difcourfes were compofeH about eleven months ago, without any ref- erence to the particular occafion on which they were delivered, and without a- ny fixed purpofe of delivering them on any occafion : This is a reafon why the particular occafion of the public fafts is fo little alluded to. They are pub- lifhed from the copy originally prepared without any other alteration than fome verbal connexions and what is inferted in the notes. They have occafioned fome fpeculations, and feveral mifreprefentations have gone abroad. They are now publifhed that they may fpeak for themfelves. All that 1 can fay of the remarks which may appear a Utile out of the common road, is, that they were written under the moft entire convidtion of their truth. The reafon why the publication has been fo long delayed, has been that the manufcript from which they are printed, was out of my reach, and only came into n:y hands this day. Colrain, September i8, if' >. .0 '{ SERMON I. ut any ref- without a< eafon why ey are pub- than fome occaiioned They are fay of the they were on why the Tom which this day. Jes. 5, xsix.—S/jall I not visit for these things saith the Lord > bball not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ? .,llL 7*!^** '°' u ^ .«he prophet Jeremiah to be raifed up and called to the prophetic office in a very degenerate aee The floods, as well of idolatry as vice, with which .he narion had been inundated, during a long reign of a cruel, wicked and .do atrous Manaffeh, had,it is t!ue,?eceived a teniporary checl, nfoLs MiT'ff r'^^T'"^ endeavours of a virtuous and pious Johah to effea a reformation. Apoftacy had however taken fuch a deep root, that altho' the current of defeftion authority, yet it does not appear that the body of the nation ever concurred heartily in that reformation. Hence i" was that nearly all its good fruit* and efflcts difappeared as foon nrnT M ^'S.^'^^J^te offspring mounted the throne. The prophet Jeremiah being himfelf a witnefs to this awful pro- grels m the road to ruin, was frequently fent both to thp rul- thL':ifh"'\"''r ^"> ^''^'^ '''^^"Ss- It does not appear that either his denunciations of impending vengeance, or his pathetic exhortations to repentance and reformation, were accompanied with any remarkable fuccefs. Bv his faithful nefs he roufed the indignation of a profligatf Lu , and ^i^ equally profligate people, againft himfelf, and becam^ the vie tim of a moll cruel and unrelenting perfecution, by which hi» Unhke thofe prophets who foretold things which were not to come to pafs until after the lapfe of many ages, he lived to witnefs the accomplifliment of fo'me of his moft important predidions in the adual deftruftion of Jerufalem and the femple, the flaughter and captivity of the principal part of lanV" ^ '^' °^ ^°^"^ defolation '>t the whole God was the political King and Lawgiver of the Jewifh nation, in a fenfe which was peculiar to that people. We can not therefore find any other nation whofe fuuation is, in all refpecls, parallel to that of the Jews. But altho' there is a i.,l .^' difference in many refpeas, yet it will P^rhaps be Icarcely pol^ fihU to find anv other nation between whofe Utuation ana fw of the Jewl there are more points of refeniblance than m ha of the United States. To trace that refemblance by takne a review of the hiftory of thefe States, and comparing k wUh that of the Jews, woild lead to difcnffioiis foreign to mv nrefent purpofe. But altho' there fhould, in many ref- ne^afbe a d^ffimilarity in our fituation, there is M a refem- blatc'e not only between them and us, but between them and a 1 other nations, in this leading feature of their refneaL fituations, i.e. That every nation is under the wE care of providence, and will, in the r nationd capac- 1 b^rewarded^or puniOied according to their condua, m proportion to the advantages for religious and moral improve, ment which they enjoy. In that remarkable paffage of holy writ which we have, JeR. 18, vii-x, there is no reftriaion 7ok7ht or to any particular nation. It is, Jt ■what mtant 1 shall speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom, i}-^-f°^- cernin- any nation or any kingdom) to pluck uf, to pull down VndTode/lL it. If that nation, against -whom I have pronounced, Urnfrmtlir eJ, I ^U repent\f the evil that 1 thought to do unto thZ. And a what instant I shall speak concernmg a naUon, 7ld concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it ; >f,t do ev.mmy skh That it obey mf my voice, then l-will repent of tbegoodihatl slid would belfit them. Agreeable to this declaration has been thtufual condud of providence in every age Nations have been raifed up from time to time, and foftered with the moft indulgent care of heaven. They have been afterwai^s ftverely "Greeted for their fins, and had their nam^ final y bSout from among the nations of the earth .^^" ' "> be viewed in a two-fold capacity. Rrft as an individual ph^- ed in this world in a ftate of trial, as a candidate for an im- mom itv ot either happinefs or mifery-and 2dly. as a con- touen Lumber of civil fodety, or as belonging to a part.c ur kingdom, nation or body politic As it ref^fts man as an individual, his fituation is undoubtedly in the firftpont of v"ew the moft important. Our time in this world ^s but fliort, and aU are rapidly haftemng to an untried ft^^/ o* ^^t ittence, where we mull appear before the 3»dg>f «' ^f °* CJhriftj to give an actouu". or 5.iiw aw-«b «u.ic 4*4 »-"*« ^w ^ r ely pol- on and than in nee, by nparing reign to any ref- a refem- ;n them )f their ider the lal capac- jducl, in improve- ! of holy eftridion )at instant (i. e. con- pull down^ ronounced, mght to do g a nation^ evil in my good that I ration has Nations d with the afterwards lies finally Man is to i^idual plac- for an im- \ as a con- to a partic- eds man as irft point of orld is but ftate of ex- ent feat of Le body. Sq extenfive, ftricl:, and accurate, will be this fcrutiny, that cvc ry work muft be brought into judgment, and every (ccret thing that men do, whether it be good or evil ; and every man will be rewarded according to his works. God is alio to be confidered as the judge of kingdoms and nations, as well as of individuals, only with this difference, that the pe- riod of retribution for the latter, will be after the clofe of the prefent fccne, and the full mealure of rewards and punifh- ments will be difpenfed in a future world, whereas, on the other hand, nations as fuch, or in their national capacity, arc ludffed and their rewards and puniftiments difpenfed in the prefent flate. This world is the only theatre on which na- tions exifl. Here they are either built up or pulled down, exalted to a ftate of national profperity, or corrected and pun- iftied by fevere chaftifements. Thefe national clamities are fometimes inflicted for their good, but at others for their ex- tinaion from the lift of nations. Righteousness exaltclh a na- tion, but sin (particularly national fin) is the reproach to any people. The prophet Jeremiah, as well in this chapter as in many other parts of his prophecy, gives an affeding and melancholy pidure of the corruption and degeneracy of the Jews. Ihis degeneracy confifted of two branches ; which have not only a natural but a neceffary connexion together ; viz. In an apoftacy from the principles and pradlce of the true religion, by adopting the idolatrous cuftoms of the lurrouncung na- tions, and in the awful prevalence of almoft every fpccies of immoraUty. This ihe prophet paints in glowing colours, chap. 2, xiii. For jny people have cGmmitted two evils ; they ha%-e forsaken ' Ue.the foiin.. ' " t uf llvhig "paters, and iH-.ved them oid cis^ terns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water, lor thcle things God threatens them with his difpleafure, the fruits of which they foon after lo feverely experienced. The words of the text are twice repeated in this chapter, viz. vcr. ix & xxix, to Ihow that this vifitation and vengeance were both certain and neceffary in the nature of things. Shall not wy soul be avenged on such a nation as this ? The vifitation here threatened was a national vifitation, and the fins fir which they were to be vi- fited were national iins. For the farther illuftration of the (ubjed, I ihall ' i 1- n OftcT Ibine general remarks on God's vifitation of fin- ful nations, and the manner in which he vifits them. 2. I fhall notice feveral traits in our national character which go to fhow, that we are fuch a nation as has juft rea- fon to dread the righteous vifitations of heaven. 1ft. I am to make fome general remarks on Gv)d*s vifita- tion of iinful nations,and the manner in which he vifits them. When mention is made in the facred oracles, of G.^d's vifit- ing either an individual or a nation, the term is not always to be underftood in the fame fenfe. The term to vifit is indif. criminately applied to acts of judgment and of mercy. In many inftanccs it means the fame as the performance of a mercy promifed, but in others it means the inflidion of a pre- vioufly threatened judgment. The places of fcripture in which the term is ufed in both thefe fenfes are too numerous to particularize. A few however may be briefly noticed.— God ivill surely visit you ; (i. e. in order to perform the mercy promifed to your Fathers, in delivering you out of this land) and ye shall carry up my bones from hence^ fays dying Jofeph to his liirrounding brethren. What is man that thou shouldst visit him every morning ? fays Job. God of hosts look down from Heaven, and visit this vi?ie and the vineyard which thine own right hand hath planted. - visit me with thy salvation Pfalmift. Ihe coming of Chrift is alfo called a vifitation and redemp- tion of Goij's people. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people.'^Luke 1, Ixviii. The day spring from on high hath visited «i.— -Ver. vxxviii. But in many places God's vifiting a people is the fame with his inflifting a threatened punifhment. I the Lord am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children, fays Jehovah him- fclf. And again. In the day when I visit, I will visit tk ir sin upon them. He vifits his people's iniquities with a rod, and then- tranfgreilions with Itripes. All afflictive difpenfations of providence, whether more or lefs fevere, may be confidered as God's vifitations. It plainly appears, from its connedion with vengeance, that this is the fenle of vifiting in the text. It was a correclion, and one of the fevereft kind, which was threatened. The way-i in which God vifits offending nations, either for en, of fin- lara^ler lift rea- } vifita- 5 them. I's vifit- vays to s indif' y. In :e of a f a pre- ture in merous iced. — ' mercy is land) feph to dst visit m from vn right Talmift. edemp- l^for he The day n many ifting a visiting ill him- thi ir sin )d, and tions of ilidered nedion (le text, ich wa3 ' correction or feverer punifliment are various;. Sometimes he punifhes by wars, which, notwithftanding all their power and preparations, are, by the immediate interpolition of heav- en, rendered unfuccefsful. The race is not always to the iwift, nor does victory uniformly fall to the lot of the appa- rently moft powerful. It has not been an uncommon event, for one nation to be crufhed, and to fall under the dominion of another people apparently much lefs powerful than them- felves, ef[>ecially when God delivers them into the power of their enemies, as he did the Jews into the hands of Nebuchad- nezzan God frequently in this way vifited the children of Ifrael, as well for their idolatry as their other vices. The pcf- tilence is alfo another weapon whereby God frequently pun- ifhes offending nations. This has proved fometimes more and fometimes lefs extenfive. In this way. He feveral times punifhed the children of Ifrael in the wildernefs, particularly when they tranfgrefled fo grievoufly in the affair of the Gokl- en Calf ; in the matter of Peor, and when he fent quails to gratify their luftings, and with them fent the plague to pun- ifh their murmurings, and many of the people perifhed. In this way he alfo punifhed David's fin in numbering the peo- f)le. Sometimes alfo He vifits offending nations by famine, by fending cleannefa of teeth in all their dwellings, and want of bread in all their habitations. God has many ways to ef- fect this, as, by withholding the former and latter rain in their feafon j by making the heaven over their head iron, the earth brafs, and the rain of the land powder and dutl ; by unfeafonable rain, hail and ilormy winds ; by blafting and mildew ; by the caterpillar and locuft, which are God*s ar- my, or by earthquakes', inundations, and fiery eruptions. — Thefe and many other phenomena of nature are all obedient to the divine will, and God can ufe them either for the cor- redion or deftrudion of a guilty nation. In this way he once vifited Ifrael, in the days of David, and flill more feverely, during the reign of Ahab, when there was no rain upon the land for the fpace of three years and fix months. The pro- phet Jeremiah was once a witnefs to a fevere correction of this kind, the confequences of which he paints in fuch alFecling colours in the 14th chapter of his prophecy. ther for H: il il i 8 Even thole inlUtutions which are in themfelves calculated for the good, the happincfs, and the profpcrity of nations, when perverted from their original defign, become in God s hiMid, the inftruments of chaftifement, and even of ven'];eance. We may notice as one inftance of this kind, the ordmance of civil government. Unlefs it is where there is violent per- verting of juftice in a nation, rulers are the minifters of God for good, and a terror only to evil doers. Nothing can be a greater temporal blefling to a nation, than wife and virtuous rulers. On the other hand, not^^ii.g can be a greater fcourge than wicked men when inverted with great power. While the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice ; but when the wicked hear rule the people mourn. When the Queen of Sheba beheld the wifdom and equity with which Solomon adminiftered the government, (lie exclaims, Becaufethe Lord loved Ifrael forevery ) here fore made He thee King to execute judgment andjujiice.^ What a ric h blefllng did God's antient people find in the admimltra- tion of Mofes, Joihua, David, Solomon in the early part of his reign, Hezekiah, Jofiah and others ? On the other hand how many nations do we find groaning under the hand of al cruel unrelenting defpotifm ? Indeed it is probable that by far the greateft part of the human race, inftead of enjoymg theblefling of a government confulting the happinefs and profperity of the nation, are at this moment bound down under a defpotifm which is rather a curfe than a bleffing.— Both weak and wicked rulers are a curfe to a nation, and as fuch they are frequently the fubjeds of complaint in the fac- red oracles. Woe unto thee Land, when thy king is a child. Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Every one loveth gifts andfolloweth after rewards. They judge not the fath- erless, neither doth the cause of the Widow come unto them. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the Prince asketh and the Judge asketh for a reward, and the great man he utter eth his mischievous desire, so they wrap it up. The best of them is as a briar, and the most upright of them is sharper than a thorn hedge. But great as was this calamity, the prophet Micah confiders it as infliaed on himfelf, and on his nation by the hand of God, and as fuch, he refolves to bear it with patience, fay- ing, / will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned •■-««tfffs<''"jwir*»"- ••" ilculated nations, in GoD*s n'i;eance. rdinance lent per- 5 of God can be a virtuous r fcourge While the he wicked Da beheld [lered the el for every ce. What iminiftra- y part of her hand hand of ai le that \yf enjoying pinefs and ind down )leffing. — in, and as in the fac- is a child. Every one ot thefath' lem. That asketh and ittercth his hem is as a born hedge, . confiders ; hand of ience, fay- have sinned ti^aimt Him, un^Il He phad my cause and execute judgment for me, Altho* the dc{lj;n of infinite wifdom be very different, yet when it falls to the lot of a nation to have children to be their princes, and babes to rule ovor them, or to be fubjed:ed eith- er to weak or wicketl rulers, men who either do not know, or have not integrity and independence enough to purfue inch a courfe as the public welfare demands ; Should fucli rulers be elevated even by the people tliemfeU es, the finger of Gjd is as really vifi'olo in their elevation, as when a Mofes, a Jofhua, a David or a Wafliiiigton is raifed up, It is God who raifes up one and puts down another, whether it be His defign to plant or to rear up to maturity a kingdom or na- tion, or to beftow a king in His anger whom He will again take away in His wrath. Nations as well as individuals may, many times, read their crime in their punilhment. When a people poffefling the invaluable privileges of feleCling rulers by their free fuffrages, for important places of public truft, exercifc that right without havmg any regard to fuitable qual- ifications, either moral, religious or pohtical, but either mere- ly to ferve party views, or to gratify fome fmifter paflion, it it is far from uncommon tor fuch rulers to prove a curfe rath- er than a blefling to a people. When God thus caufes the wickednefs of a people to corred them, and their backflid- ings to reprove them, melancholy experience teaches them that it is an evil thing and a bitte/, to depart from the Lord their God. A ftriking e vairiple of this we have in the She- chemites, after they had elevated Abimeleck to the fupreme power among them, while his hands were reeking with the innocent. blood ot his murdered brethren. Fire came out from Abimeleck and devourerl the men of Shechem, and fire came out from the men of Shechem and devoured Abime- leck, agreeably to the curfe of Jotham the fon of Zerubbaal, PalBng by other infi:ances which are of a more antient date, 1 IhalJ barely allude to one which has come within the fph'^re of our own obfervation, and which perhaps gives as ftriking an illuftration of the truth of this obfervation, as any which the world has witneffed for many centuries paft. There can- not be a doubt but the prefent French Emperor, who rules o- ver moft of the nations of continental Europe with fuch def* B II lO potic fway, has been raifed up as a fcourge in the hand of God to punifli offending nations for their wickediiefs, and that he is as truly the rod v f God's anger, as was the Allyri- an of old. But while tliat nation, with this man at its head, ilill continues to be a rod in Gud's hand to punifli other nations, fhe has been herfelf compelled to drink deep ot the bitter cup. The many unjuft, cruel and fanguinary execu- tionsand maffacres which characterized the commencement of her revolution, together with the defolating wars whica have and iliU do mark its progrefs, connefted with the con- Icription and other tyrannical means to which it has beea found neceffary to refort to recruit her armies, which are dai- Iv hurried on to the Haughter in order to fatiate the infatia- ble an^bition of an upftart ufurper, conneaed with almolt every fpecies of domeilic tyranny and oppreflion, are means whereby flie is feverely chattifed at this moment. Perhaps her correaion is Uttle lefs fevere than that of other nations which ihe has fubdued and enflaved. ^ , . ^. Some times God vifits nations feverely for their correaion, when he means nothing but mercy in the end. By humbhng them firft before he lifts them up, he intends the better to prepare them for thofe meicies, which he has in ftore. At other times his vifitations are intended for deftruclion and not for correaion. There is an analogy between the man- ner of God's dealing with offending nations, and the punith- ments inflicted on the violators of wholfome laws m a well rejruiated commonwealth. Some punilhments are correftive, and are intended both for the fecurity of fociety, and it po - fible to bring about the reformation of the offender. All punilhments are not of this kind. Capital punifhments, at leaft, form an exception, and perhaps others lefs than capital. They are intended for the good ot fociety, and to deter others from the commiffion of fimilar crimes. Juft fo it is with either thefe national or individual chaftifements which pro- ceed immediately from the hand of God. All the affliaions to which mankind are fubjeaed in the prefent life, may be properly termed correaive. They at all times may, and ot- tentimes do turn out for the good of the individual. By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and all the fruit is to take away I hand of iiefs, and lie Aflyri- : its head, liih other lep of the iry execu- lencement ars whica L the con- has been :h are dai- he infatia- Lth almoft are means Perhaps ler nations correftion, r humbling ; better to ftore. At iiction and the man- the piinifh- in a well correus anlwer : As jor the word that thou hast spoken unto m, in the name of the Lord, we wdl not hearken unto thee. But we will certainty do zvhatsoever thing goeth iorth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen cj heav- en, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Juciab, and in the streets of Jerusalem ; for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well and saw no evil. But since we left ojf to burn in- cense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, we have wanted aU things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. But what was the punifhment ir.fiicted on thefe rebels for this open and obftinate idolatry ? In addition to a miferable end, in the land of Egypt, they were given up to judicial hardnefs of heart, in their infatuated attachment to their idolatrous cuttoms. Thus said the Lord of hcsts^ the God of Israel, saying ; ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, we will surely per- form our vows that we have vozved, to burn incense unfothe queen ef Heaven, and to pour out drink ^ff rings to her : ^ewulsureiy ac complfh your vow: and surely perform your vows, 1 hcrrjore hear ye the word of the Lord,aU Jueiab that dweU in the land of tgjpt ; Behold I have sworn by my great name, saiih the Lorci, that my name dmll no more be named in the mouth of any manofJudah, in all the land of Egypt, saying the Lord God liveth. Initaaces thii kind of puiiiihrnent, ccnneaed with other prcvidentiai »1 f \ ?V,<' i I 14 cKaftiiements, have not been confined to the Jewifli nation* God has frequently punifhed chriftian nations, particularly apoftatifing churches, in the fame way, i. e. by withholding the influences of his fpirit, and removing his candleftick out of its place, and by giving up the nation itfelf to the fevereft public calamities. It was part of the punifliment threatened to feveral of the once famous feven churches of Alia, that un- lefs they repented of their backflidlngs, he would remove his churches out of that place. This threatening has been long fince fulfilled. Where are now thefe once famous churches ? They have been unchurched ; the feats where they once flour- ilhed, long fince overrun by the delufions of Mahomet, the countries involved in flavery and ruin, and the cities con- verted into heaps of rubbifh ; fo that, of fome of them at lead, fcarcely a fingle veftige remains, while probably but fevi^ of the defendants of the antient inhabitants now occu- py the country once pofTefled by their forefathers. One thing which indicates an increafing feverity in the vifitations of heaven upon the French nation, is the grofs contempt of all religion and religious inftitutions, and the entire and almoft univerfal prollration of morals, with which the feveral fleps of the revolution have been accompanied. Ic commenced, it is true, with the mofl: flattering profeflion of refped for the rights of man, and for refigious liberty. But how foon was this beautiful horizon overcaft by fcenes of horror, tyranny, cruelty and oppreflion ; by the renunciation and profcription of all religion, and an entire depravation of morals ? In thefe fcenes of cruelty and impiety, we may read both the fin and the punifhment of that nation. When people have no wifh to retain God in their knowledge, he gives them up to flrong delufions to believe a lie. God will furely vifit for thefie things, nor are we to expect that the calamities of the French nation will ceafe, before they accept of the punifhment of of their fins and return to the paths of religion and virtue. Should the inhabitants of thefe highly favoured United States, Jefhurin like, wax fat and kick, by forgetting God and lightly efteeming the rock of their falvation j fliould they publicly and nationally renounce the religion of the Gofpel, and turn infidels, deifts, ^nd it may be atheifts j Ihould this ■■^\ l atw i w r" — iWA 'i . i' .y p n-y.i^y Ii nation* rticularly hholding jftick out B fever eft ireatened , that un- niove his )een long hurches ? nee flour- »met, the ties con- them at )ably but lOW occu- Dne thing ations of npt of all id almoil ireral fteps nenced, it ft for the foon was tyranny, ofcription ? In ihefe le fin and e no wilh > to ftrong for thelie he French hment of d virtue, d United tting God lould they le Gofpel, tiould this 15 become the complexion not only of the government but of the nation, if we may judge by God's former ways of dealing with offending nations, we may expeft, either to be brought back to the acknowledgment of our offences, and to genu- ine repentance and reformation, by fevere correction, by fore judgment, or that we will ripen apace for ruin until we are completely deprived of thofe privileges we have fo grofsly abufed. 2d. I fhall now proceed to notice fome of thofe traits in our national character which go to fhow that, as a nation, we are expofed to thofe righteous vifitations of heaven. Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ? In adverting to thefe traits in the character of our nation, which give us reafon to dread heaven's awful vifitations, it is neceffary to bring into view — ifl. Our privileges and advan- tages — 2d. Our national character and condud while in the poffeffion of thefe privileges. In forming a juft eflimate of the comparative guilt of ei- ther nations or individuals, it is neceffary to bring into view the peculiar circumflances in which either the one or the other is placed. Superior advantages grofsly mifimproved, never fail to aggravate guilt. Previous to the coming of Chrift, the Jewifh nation enjoyed many privileges above the other nations of the world. To thefe peculiar advantages, as well as their manifold tranfgreflions, the prophet alludes in the phrafe. Such a nation as this. To form a jufi: eflimate of the character of our nation, we mufl bring into view our privileges and advantages, as well as our defection and wick- ednefs. Tou only have I known of all the people upon earthy there* fore will I punish you for all your iniquities^ faith the Lord by the prophet Amos. Under that difpenfation, no other nation was favored with a revelation of the divine will. This was by the Apoftle noticed as one of their greatefl privileges. — What advantage then hath the Jew ? What profit is there of circum- cision ? Much every way^ chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles ofG^D. While other nations were left to grope in the dark without any other light, than the dim light of na- ture to point out the way of their duty, God gave them flat- utes, laws and ordinances, which had on them the flamp of % W.i i. 1-^ • 16 His own iniar-o and authority. He was their political King, I a v" ver and Jucl^e, in a manner peculiar to that nation.- =^nn£.a writers^ a^^^^^^^ v^ie^n r. an a tonders He had brought them out of E^yntCi^^h a ftrong hand and outftretched arm and dunng rife^bace of forty years, he had miraculoufly fed them with m nn^rinfhe wLfernefs. He had brought them >n.o t,^ land of Canaan, by driving out and ^leftroy ng the nauon before them, and had greatly b"="^'''* '"l!, 'f Zoort for a hands caufing the earth to yield an abundant fupport tor a vaft muWtude. By a train of remarkable providences, they had been a^ed upLm fmall beginnings fo as to become a Jreat nation. ALceffion of Prophets had alfo been rajfed UP from time to time, to inftrucf them more fully m their dSty, and fix them in the belief, and exc te them to the prac- Uce of the true religion. He had alfo ^.ven them many fig- nal deliverances ou?of the hands of their enemies, when ap- narently they had but little power of their own. Ihefe pecu- har Drivileees theyhad grofsly mifimproved, and had even re- eaed h Lord r^om being theirKing,& manifefted analmoft ncorriglble propenfity to"imitate the idolatrous cuftoms of he fur^ounding nations. This depravity,both m pnnc.f^e and practice,had arllen to a great extent m the time of the proph- et Jeremiah. To reclaim them-K. Lord God of thar Faih- en sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes and sending, beaut He J compassion on t^'' P^f ^^ '" dltked'nfs tiace. But they moeked the messengers of God, and dipiscjl His Zrds, and mislsed His prophets, until th.yrath^the Urdji,^ against Hispeople, till there -^as no remedy. S" I' ";'=»''« pf ivileees, and fuch was the fm and pun'ft'ment of the Jews. ?)ur fiwaUon is not in all refpecls parallel We have n Kh- cr been raif ■ \ up, protected, or delivered by rniracles, ftr.aiy fo called. vvTe hive not been miraculoutty fed by manna from heaven, during our journey to, and peregrinations in thrthen howling wUdernifs, nor was the fea divided .0 give ,is a naffa-re from Europe on dry land. But in moft refpefts .p,-,***!**:*- --•^w*j&-*?«K- cal King, riation. — e, in fuch TJilar ex- itb any na- own by a 3m out of id durinjT hem with into the e nations of their port for a ices, they become a een raifed f in their ) the prac- many fig- when ap- hefe pecu- id even re- i an almoft cuftoms of nciple and the proph- their Faih^ nd sending^ lis dwelling displscd His Lord arose were the f the Jews. lave neith- ;les, ftriaiy by manna .nations in .kd to give oft refpe<5ls 17 our privileges have been equal, and in many, far greater than thofe of the Jews. To illuftrate this, I fhall take a brief glance, ift. At our natural, civil and poHtical, and 2dly. At our moral and religious advantages. With refpea to the firft— Altho' no miracles ftriaiy fo call- ed attended the fettlement of this country, yet fo many re- markable providences were combined in that event, as clear- ly proved our planting in this land, to be the work of God's own right hand. No perfon who takes even a curfory view of thofe events, which, combined together, brought our forp- fathers from the land of their nativity, to this then howling wildernefs, made room for them by the expulfion of the heathen, and raifed them up to fo great a degree of refpeda- bility as a nation in fo Ihort a time, but muft be fnfible that It IS the Lord's doing. So rapid has been our increafe, that thofe words of the prophet, that a little one Jljould become a thou- sand, and a small one a strong nation, have been almoft literally fulfilled ; and, in emerging from a colonial ftate, and taking a rank among the nations of the world, we have feen a na- tion born in a day. In addition to thefe natural advantages, we have been favored with the enjoyment of perfonal, civil, and political liberty, in a degree perhaps beyond that of any other nation. While the eftablifliment of moft other govern- ments, has been the refult of either accident or force, or a combination of both, ours has been deliberately framed and adopted by the colJecled wifdom of the nation ; while the men to whom the naceffary powsrs were delegated for that purpofe, have had both the excellencies, miftakes, and defects of other fyftems before them, either for iheir imitation or warning. While the rulers of other nations have been gen- erally impofed upon them without their confenr, and fre- quently, contray to their wiflies, our governor have been from oiirfelves j elevated to the places of public truft which they have occupied, by the fuffrages of freemen. While ma- ny, if not moft other nations, have been the viclims of an un- relenting defpotifm, and cruftied into the duft by the iron hand of tyranny, our laws have been, with a few exceptions, equitable ; our public contributions light, our perfons and property protected, and our penal code, perhaps as mild^ and I IJ I T 18 t^unifliments as rare as is confiftent with public and general fecurity. In addition to thefe privileges, we have been for a long interval, for the nioft part favored with peace in our borders ; at a time when many nations, ufually denom- inated chriftian, have been in a manner defolated by the ca- lamities of a war, almoft without parallel in the annals ot civ- ilized man. We have alfo been bleffed, not merely with a competence, but with an abundance of the good things ot this life ; God having, as truly as he did Ifrael of old, ted us M^ith the fineft of the wheat, with lambs and rams equal to the breed of Bafhan, and made us to ride on the high places of the earth. No earthquakes or volcanoes, have delolated our cities, no wafting judgments have overtaken us, and few nations have been more exempt trom the peftilence which walketh in darknefs, and from the deftruaion which walteth at noon day. With refped to religious and moral advantages, we may alfo fay, that God has rarely dealt fo with any nation. The means of education have perhaps been more generally dittul- ed, particularly in the northern Hates, than in any other na- tion. Our fchools are accefTible not only to the rich, or thole in the middle walks of Hfe, but to the pooreft claffe^ in focie- ty. God has alfo favored us with a revelation of his will, much more plain and full than was enjoyed by the Jewifh na- tion, even after the canon of the old teftament was complete. Life and immortality are brought to light by the gofpel, and the vail which was on the face of Mofes is done away m Christ. While many other nations h^ve no accefs to thefe Uvely oracles, and icarcely know of the exiftence of fuch a book as the Bible, and others, altho* not in fuch a ftate of to- tal darknefs, have few or no opportunities for refearch, the fcripturos, being inacceffible by the common people, became locked up in an unknown tongue, and the pure doclrines of the gofpel corrupted by the inventions of men, and the fim- plicity of gofpel worfhip debafed by fuperftition, we enjoy a free and unrel^rained accefs to the fcriptures, and the gofpel in its purity, a precious day and means of grace, with the hope of glory thro' a redeemer ; conne