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Un dea symboles suivants apparaitra sur la damiire image de cheque microfiche, selon le caa: le symbole — »>signifie "A SUIVRE ', le symbole V signifie "FIN". Lea cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., pauvent dtre filmte A dee taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmd i partir da I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche i droite, e\ do h^ut en baa, an prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 — 1 ««_ 32 X 1 2 3 4 5 6 REASONS Foil JOY AND VRAISL SERMON, PREACHED APRIL G, 151,5 Bliii^tt THE DAY OF GENERAL rHANKSGlVINO. roR PEACE mTH THE UNITED STATES: TN THE PRESBITERIAN CHURCH. St. TETER'S STEEET, JJONTIiEAL. It Pi i '■■'2 If'' ?! l^iY THE REV. ROBERT EASTOX MONTREAL : PRINTBB BV XAHUM MOWER. "im." ^;'ii ss' S-s?, THE Printing of the Ibllowing Sermon, is in coinpL reme Lord, who " sits on the circle of the earth," com- manding universal obedience to his will. Hu man cupidity, however armed with power, and set off with plausible pretexts, is incapable of annoying the world, without permission from God's over-ruling providence : and its most eccentric and violent motions nuist instaiit]\ stop, when he gives the orders. Whilst we confess, with shame and sorrow our share in those sins, which procure his per mission of pubhc calamities : let us attend to the pleasant duty of this day, sending up the incense of unfeigned gratitude from cur hearts to the same 5 (0 tiic same Almighty Ruler, for his late iner- ciful interposition, in behalf of oppressed and suffering humanity. « Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be axalted in the earth." In the circumstances of this country from the commencement to the conclusion of the late struggle with our neighbours, if we are at all attentive to the hand of God, we must per- ceive many reasons for exulting in him, as a just and merciful sovereign. By his goodness we were kept from being the aggressors in the war. He gave to many parts of Canada a singular run of commercial prosperity, as a balance to those evils, which other places had to suffer. He has, with striking justice, compleatly frus- trated the designs of the common enemy : And granted peace, before the war could assume all that terror, which might have been expected from its continuance. L The inhabitants of this country have rea^ m\ to rejoice that, however deserving- thev havp 1 11 If i] %■' jk t ] ill U\ b been of licavcn's jucltrments, the guilt of,bluwJ., biiriiin- tlic infliction of these judgments, docs not lie at their doors : for they were not the aggressors in relation to the United .States. Canada did nothing to provoke hostilities. Nor was there any thing new, oppressive and Tumecessary in the measures of Great-Britain, to justify the effusion of human blood. Wiien we consider the very critical time, and hasty manner of delaring wai-, together with the sudden disappearance of all its osteii- sible causes in the negotiations for peace ; the suspicion is unavoidable that the authors of this tragic-comedy were actuated with motives, which they durscnot avow, and that patriotism had less share in their conduct than blind de- votion to the despot of France. "\Vhate\ er wero the principles, from which they acted ; or how- ever they may answer to God and their coun- try for the ruinous consequences, which havr followed their schemes : one thing is consolin;; to our minds, that the miseries of the war are not imputable to those, who took up arms wit!i reluctance, merely to defend their British ebp- '•acter and rii^hts. God ce and leavin blessed be war were, the govern nor the pun gainst the i II. Ap] of an intim h our encnics calculated on lanic .ubnn^ sion iioni an idea that the British province, were ripe for rcvoll, the event has shewn that the calculation was of a piece with the rest ol tlieir pohcy. Never were there a people more highly favored in a civil respect, than the Can- adians ; nor less disposed to barter the solid advantages of i3ritish protection, for 1 he doubt- ful blessings of democratic liberty. If the States had any thing of good to give us, we held that good before, in a higher degree, and upon a much surer foundation. This aggra- vates the guilt of invading our terrUory ; v^ich can be viewed in no better light, than as a rude attempt to force a contented child out of the fostering arms of an indulgent parent. God certainly was just in hiding his face, and leaving us in darkness and trouble : but blessed be his name that the sufforings of the war were, neither the fruits of disaffection to the goverimient, under which we are })laced , nor the punishment of original machinations a- gainst the repose of our neighbours. II. Appreciating, as we do, the advantages of an intimate connexion with Great-Bntain, i5 Ltf 8 we are called upon to return the most cordial thanks to' the Almighty for crownintr our v i:^!; '\s, our arms, and the goodness of our cauM with success. *♦ They arc turned back, and brought to confusion, wlio devised our hurt." Oar possessions remJiin as they were. The dominant party in the States have drawn :. blank, after impoverishing their country to gain a prize. They have lost their aim in everv res pect ; after drenching the earth, and crimson- ing the floods, with the blood of their fellow creatines. Ah ! what presumption ! What murderous folly, to attempt, against all the ad- monitions of providence, to brake the strong arm of Britain, to cut olT the essential sourccf; of her prosperity and defence ! The result has proclaimed the rashness of the attempt, and consigns the names of the projectors^ to the contempt of posterity. •Let us glance at the means under God, b) which the Canadas have been preserved entire ; notwithstanding every effort, m the power of political delusion, to alienate and subdue them. This was owing to diGunion abroad, unanimity 3.!: home, and the active perseverance of thcs-, to whom t It woul the Americ of the war, was it in th obedience, ( opposition ^ the enemy, { Another ed to the ini iiivcrsal atta goveiTiment, Jield up an quelled, nev in Lower Ca country in tl tion of Mon threatened in same magnai sister provinc of arduous cc ed to yield. even of melai ^y this obstin; the skill and < ♦o Whom the defence of therri was intrusted. It would appear that a great proportion of tA.nencan people condcn.ncd the principle ofthe war and withheld their support. Nor -.tm the power of congress to coerce their obedience, or reduce them to inactivity. This opposition was certainly favorable, by criplin^. tliecnemy, and embarrassing all his operations! Another powerful cause, which contnbut- od to the mtegrity of the provinces, was the u- nivcrsal attachment of the inhabitants to their govemment, laws, and institutions. They have l>elcl up an example of patriotism, seldom e- quelled, never surpasseci. Their forwardness •n Lower Canada to fly to the standard of their country in the hour of danger, was the salva. tm of Montreal at different times from the threatened incursions of invading armies. The same magnanimous spirit did wonders in our sister province. There we behold it in a state of arduous conflict with the enemy. It refus- ed to yield. But what scenes of carnage, and even of melancholy desolation, were produced by this obstinacy of patriotism; supported by the skill and discipline of British troops. But B 10 let us spare the feelings of huniaritj, by turn, ing away our eyes irom such scenes of horror, We cannot rejoice in human miseries. Even the pleasure of victory is stifled by painful le- collections. There is one thing, however, in which wc do well to rejoice, that our arms by aca and land, though not successful in every instance, have yet preserved our liberties, and conquer- ed peace. Let us look to the King of nations, as the great author of our success, a^ bavin" " disappointed the devices of the crafty ; so that their hands could not perform tl.eir enter. prize." III. In this review of the war, it cannot es- cape oui notice, and pught not to be passed o- ever in silence, being a matter of peculiar obli- gation to the Almighty, that the province of Lower Canada has not only been exempted in a great measure from the scourge of war ; but actually blessed with an uncommon degre? of prosperity. The npise of the warrior has t)ecn scarcely heard within these limits. The work of destruction has rather exercised our sympa- thy for distant sufferers, than tried our o^vji courage i have fldi vout and ffr tribute; if, iiv(;s artd enc I.:?! h courage and fortitude. Trade and commerce have fldiirished more, than they were ever \n6^yn to do at any former period ; raising many of our citizens above want ; and enabling bthers of them, by an influx of wealth, to com- mand the embellishment.^, as well as the com. forts of life. The general experience of my hearers bears testimony to the truth of this ob- servatioh. In such circumstances, my friend^ -^an you be unmindful of him, who " giveth power to get wealth," who hath " covered you with his feath- ei-s," in thnes of general distress ; guarding you against injury, from *' the terror by night, and the arrow that flyetli by ctay, from the pes' tilcnce that watketh in darkness, and the des- tructi6n that wasteth at noon-day?" You may well ask, what better are we, than others of our fellow subjects, who have not had the same ad- vantages? In shewing you so much indulgence, God expects that his bounty will return to him' iti the warm effusions, anci upright services of de- vout and grateful hearts. If you withhold this ^nbute ; if, instead of applying your preserved .ivcs and encreased substance to wise and righ- ''ii '■:m t.oj H ^■f. l|| !' i^ i^': t (»a. in fi Vi tcous purposes, you abuse these favors oF tht AL.iighty ; he may be provocked to hide his face, and leave you to read your ingratitude in some direful punishinent. IV. Qy the return of peace, we are furnish, ed with a reason for joy and praise, in the many blesings, which that lovely stranger brings in along with her. Privations, miseries, and a- larms, flee before her face. Inward compo- sure, external quietness, regular industry, and a competent portion of the good things of hfc, compose her train. The soldier, released from the arduous du- ties of his profession, puts off his armour; re- turns home to reap the laurels of his valor, in the bosom of his family, and in the enjoyment of his fiiends. The prisoner of war obtains and feels thi, happiness of a discharge from his honorable bondage. The harassed citizen looks to his home as his sanctuary, where nosacrdig. eous foot dare now enter to disturb his repose. The useful arts, which the demon of war tram, pled under foot, revive in those places, where they were postrated. Industry in all its bran- ches, promises suitaUe returns j without being it any longer discouraged, by a dread of the bond of rapine, or of those uncertainties, which be- long to a deranged state of society. As com. inercial enterprizeis the great source of nation. al activity and wealth, it is pleasant to think that It IS now unshaWed, and no longer confin- ed to corners j but widely extended for the good of the world, in consequence of a free in- tercourse with almost all nations. Such are the blessings of peace, among which we may justly rank, whatis not the least valua- ble m the eyes of a good man, the liberty, which It gives, of attending to religious ordin- anccs, and performing every domestic and re- lative duty, withput distraction or aljirm. In a time of war, if men are not actually engaged m It, their minds, at least, are full of anxiety. Their feais and hopes are 3II alive to the chances of the war. Though such judgments of God should rather enliven than depress religious at- tentions ; yet it will be found that many, whilst tiiey contemplate these judgments without much feeling of them, are too liable to put off' serious things to a more convenient season, or to sink them in a multiphcity of other cares. f ?■>»• •#* 1^ iJi n» u Peace, tlieieforc, is favorable to religion arid tnorality. in so far as it sweeps off a variety • of distracting cares and amusing subjects j and so leaves the mind more at liberty to attend to its spiritual and eternal Concerns. You sec, then, how much we arc indebted to that 6ver.ruIingprovidcnf:e inhumjiri affairs, -which has prcscr^-ed the honor of our country ur.slained, during the late war, which has '« car. ried headlong the counsel of the froward" and r-eatorcd to us the inestimable blessings of a s'c!- tied order of tilings, «' frajs^ thb Lovd b Jc rusalem ; praise thy God O Zion ; for he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates ; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with th': finest of tlic wheat.'* In addition to some iiint.i, alrc% glvcii. for tlio improvement of our highly favored situa- tion ; I shall em])loy the remainder of this ^llHco^l^sQ, in placing before your view several jxirticulars, which are closely connected with pilsate and public happiness. 1^ Endeavour to maintain that loyalty an-J '>bodicacc to tiie laws, wllifch Jyivb tended to much to tl it not be Si what we v and threa Clierish thi the same M'hicli aire, consider p( safety and doctrine in to steal aw, honor to w no ill-humc prejudice yi possible as ] with all me dissimulatic tian fellows jations. T fliies, consic all remains i rankle in yc return of an 2. Guaj cesses, whicl much to the preservation of our country. Le^ it not be said that we give up ^i a time of peace, what we would not surrender to tlie promises and threats of an enemy in tlie time of \\ ar. Ciierish the same loyal sentiments, and prescr\ e the same high sensq of your civil privileges which already belong to your character. S^ill consider political union, as tlie buhvajk of youj safety and independence. Bev.arc of any new doctrine in politics ; lest it comes, as a thief, to steal away your treasure, and rob you of the* honor to which you have attained. Indulge no iU-humour against individuals, which may prejudice you against the pubhc good. « If it is possible as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Let love, without variance or dissimulation, pervade the circles of your chris- tian fellowship, of your domestic and civil re- jations. Those, who were your public cue- mies, consider now as your friends j banishing all remains of jealousy and hate, which may ye" rankle in your breasts, as inconsistent with tJic return of amity and friendly relations. 2. Guard against luxuiy and corporeal c,\. cesses, which are too apt to accompany external II h tl II It peace, and poison the blessings of prosperity Peace has its dangers as wdl as war. Jeshu- nin. living at his ease, and having plenty to eat and drink, becante vain and profligate : he " waxed fat and kicked : then he forsook God who made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation." Selfishness, pride, and dissi. pation, are the very worst diseases, wliich Can seize the members of a community. When they become general in a state ; they wither its beauty, consume its strength, and hasten its downfal. The love of country, therefore, cannot shew Itself to greater advantage than in a regular at- tention to virtuous conduct. Humility, mode ration and industry are not unbecoming virtues m the most exalted stations and the most afliu- cut circumstances. « Happy are the people, that arc in such a case." The Lord will give! them rest from war; or, if they are again vi^^ft- ed with that aweful dispensation, he will again " save them from the power of the sword." UecolIcQt that public virtue is public happines,^. And never k-tthc syren voice of unlawful plea- sures. never let the deceitful charms oi' vice, wisdom of wisdom of 1 :^:uictions, af iiumati, chai" icdge, and a cordii^ly th the power oJ ed again in 'i'iiey prove ■ -■'4 the scb.00] ^y ott-youF hearts from those duties, ,,hich. ... gene.^1 practice, ibnn the stre„gj> ^A^ xy- ot a nation. ® ■i- As Christianity is both the purest source. .nd the surest gu.,,1 of public ™u,„,,, . ^^ would recoanmend the iaith and practice of it asassentially i,„po.tant. It is alamentable fact tl»tma.,y, wlK, have been baptiecdin the name ot Jesus Chnst, know little of his doctrines ■ a..d d.scover no co..ecrn to be acquainted with thera : the consequence is. that such persons « peculiarly liable to fall into the snares of te...ptat.on, pa,tly through ignorance, and pait- fy through a contempt of moral danger. The ■.v.sJom of God is ce.-tai,.ly greater tlian the «sdom of men. And the onlyplan, winch he •:."Ct.ons, as efllctual for tlie right formation of ^u...an cluiacter, is that, of an enlarged know, -cage, andasteadfastbeliefofthegospel. Ac cordat^ly those, wlio know the Uuth and feej tje power of godliness are said to be " creat- eJ ^«a.n i„ Christ Jesus unto good works." ihey prove the excellence of tlieir educatioa 3 the s«hQoj..f g„i,t, by the purit;- and good- 1 * ! i c h ikss of their lives; or by a constant endeavour to discharge their obligations to God ^nd sod ei}% It is impossible it can be otherwise, when the giacious promises, laws, and institu! lions of God, are properly known, and receiv. ed ; because the direct tendency of all these i^, to purify the heart from the love of moral evil, to bring every species of duty into action, and thus to prepare the soul of man for a state of glorious perfection, beyond death and the grave. • . I beseech you, then, to study your Bible, tc make yourselves familiar with the word of God; especially with those parts of it, which exhibit the peculiar doctrines of divine grace, and the ^•al•ious duties of the christian life. Having ac quired just notions on these interesting sub- jects ; shew, that you prefer the peace of your <^wn minds, and an honourable conduct to eve- sy other consideration, by yielding in no in. stance your persuasions of truth, and coil^ic. tions of right and wrong. " Buy the truth and sell it not. Continue in the things, which you have learnt, and of which you have been assu^ "J." By being enabled to ac^ in tliis wise mnuer, -you wiU reap the advunkgcs, and*, vUl your country. . ^ Lastly, Convinced of the value of Christi- anity, as the niost efficient nieansof advnncin.. the moral welfare of the children of men, let us recommend it to all, over whom we have my influence ; lamenting the state of those I ^*^""^^''^^' ^'^^^^-^ its principles are unknown; and assistmg other christians to eniigiiten their darkness, and to reform their character. A time of peace is favorable for this end. And a recent experience of the evils of war should make us the more ;^ealous, in promoting the peaceable kindgom of Jesus Christ. We Iiav- seen the end of one dismal night, in which the comet of war darte^ its baneful influence tlu-ough the incumbent shades. When the empire of reason and religion, or the kingdom of ngliteousness,. peace, and joy i„ the'noly Ghost shall be universally established, which IS the ultimate object of Providence ; ther^ will bo no night in that new- order of ihing^. The glory of the Lord shall - shine without 4p uJterventiuii of darkness. :.,. , .,. ;,..., : -^ Ct im-i.l. i^L ^ 11 11 I I! A doubt can liardly be cnteitahied df the general diliusion of Christianity, and at a ptii Gd not far distant. It is foretold of Messiali, that he " shall have dominion from sea to sc and from the river to the ends of the earth. Yea all kings shall fall down before him ; all nations shall serve him." Such promises aro both numerous and explicit. We cannot sup. pose that the God of truth hath forgotten these promises, or that his arm cannot reach the object of his wishes. That spirit of zeal, which now |)ervades the religious world, is an evidence of his unchangeable fidelity. Nor can we foj bear to hope that it is also a prelude to the promised time, when all the families of the earth shall be blessed in the seed oi' Abrahatti, When ve see the sacred scriptures translating into all languages, and the giil of them accompanied, in many places, with the erection of schools, Rnd the ordinances of exhortation and worship ; We behold something, like the hand of Provi- dence, giving to Christ "the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession," These consid- erations, should induce all, who value the 21 jTosp^el, to exert tliemselvcs for ha tlifTusioii througli the eartli. Religious blessings are not, like other beuelits, lessened to thoHC who hold them, by mcrcasing t!ie iiiuubcr of liolc^en;. Like the light of heaven, they are free to all» and may be enjoyed by all, without loss to. in- dividuals ; The extension of ^heuij therufortr, becomes a propf of the \ alue, which we j)irt upon them; whUst it is one of the greatest luxuries to a benevolent niind. Indeed, iti^ difficult to concei\ c how any ni^i can hold b:iclv from a work of benevolence in which thousands are engaged, in a consistency with christian character, or with a professed tlefare oi' being eminently useful to his fellow crea- tures. My Brethren, I do not intend by these' re- marks to reflect upon you as if you had dis- covered any indifference \yith regard to the pro- gress of religion j no, you have done wcJl in every former appeal to you christian gener- osity, I only plead for your perseverance and for an increase of your eiforts in the best of all employments, that of diliusrng through the earth the Jcnowledge of tfe true God and of ii i- If ! Jam Christ who.n he hath sent. I only mean to say, -let us not be weary hi welKdoin.. for we shall reap, if we faint not." I shall finish this discourse, by suggestin. one solemn argument, which should of itself enforce attention to all the objects above enu- merated. as belonging to the improvement of ^e many blessings, which we at present enjoy. We are not our own masters. We arc ic countable to the Most High for our time, our talents, and enjoyments. We must all stand before the bar of God. <.who will r.nder to every man according to his deeds. To thciii who. by patient continuance in well doing' seek for glory ^onor and immortality, ctcrnai life ; but unto them that arc contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness; indignation and wrath." Such a prospect as this, and so near rf being realized, is certainly calculated, if any thing be, to rouse all the en' orgies of christian faith and hope ; and to bring the most thoughtless to serious re/icction % brethren. « the very God of p.,,, ...ctify you wholly;" and I pray God your whole spj. nt and soul and body be preserved Uamdc, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus C:brist. nly mean iggestin^ of itself ►ove cuu- -^ment of nt enjoy, arc uc- ime, our lil stand .'ntlcr to ro tliciii, I doing, , eternal ', and do )iisncss ; spect as ;ertainly the cu- to bring n. My s.'Uictify lolc ppi- amelee? rist. '^:jl I 'i '5 t I ;■ a.