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Were the indulgence admiffible, I could utter the feelings of my heart in the language of the pious poet :• «« Oh for a lodge in feme vaft wildernefs, «• Some boundiefs contiguity of Jlnde, *' Where ruir.our of oppreflion and deceit, *' Of unfuccfjfsful or fuccefsful war, f« Might never reach me more. My ear is patn'd, *' My foul is fick, with every day's report *' Of wrong and outrage with which earth is fill'd. *« There is nc flefh in man's obdurate heart, *' It does not feel for man ; the natural bond •* Of brotheihood is fever'd as the flax •« That falls -^funder at the touch of fire." But I muft ftand in my lot. I hear the voice of God: "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto tlje houfe of Ifrael : therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me." This voice I muft obey. The fnoral afpeds of the times I muft faithfully reprefent, I muft declare to you the law and the truth of Jehovah ; I muft difplay before you the glories and the terrors of his holy majefty and government ; 1 muft proclaim in your ears the fins and the dangers of our land, and point you to the v/ay of fafety and peace. — A facred text fuitablc tq my prefent purpofe may be found in Psalm lx. i — 4. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast SCATTERED US, THOU HAST BEEN DISPLEASED; O TURN THYSELF TO U3 AGAIN. ThOU HAST MADE THE EARTH TO TREMBLE ; THOU HAST BROKEN IT : HEAL THE BREACHES THEREOF J FOR IT SHAKETH. ThOU HAST SHEWl O THY PEOPLE HARD THINGS J THOU HAST MADE US TO DRINK * Cow PER. •the WINF OF ASTONISHMENT. ThOU HAST GlVElf A UANNER TO THKM THAT FEAR THEE, THAT IT MAY BE DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH. THIS Pfalm appears to have been compofed and fung, on feme public and folemn occafion, foon after David had come to the throne of all Ifrael. In the latter part of the reign of Saul, who, for feveral years, was more intent on purfuing his hatred againft David, than on feeking the welfare of his kingdom, the nation fuffered greatly by internal divifions, and by foreign incurfions. At the time of Saul's death, his army was overthrown, and Jfrael was fcattered and difmay- cd. During the fliort reign of Ifhbolhcth his fon, the divifion of the nation into two kingdoms, and the bloody civil war which enfued, occafioned heavy ca- lamities, and made the land to tremble. And when David vras crowned king over all Ilrael, the natioa was ftill mourning and fhaking, for the diflifters which it had fuftained, and the wars with which it was threatened. Thefe deplorable fcenes the infpired king, in this, Pfalm, depicts and laments. But in contem- plating them, he rifes above all human agencies, and views the whole as under the fovereign providence of God. Thou haji fcattered us ; — thou hajl made the earth to tremble ; thou hajl broken it ; — riiou hajl jhew- ed thy people hard things ; thou hajl made us to drink the •wine of ajlonijhment. Viewing thofe calamities as brought upon the land under the adminiftration of God, he regarded tiicm, with profound humility and awe, as tokens of God's difpleafurc. God, thou haJi caji us cff;~1hou hofi been difpleafed.—^wx. while he bows before the oivcndcd Majefty of Heaven, with holy fear; he does not yield to defpondency. With hope in the divine mercy, he fervently prays, turn thyfelf to us again ; —heal the breaches of^ the land. And his hope is encouraged by prefent evidence of the divine faithfulnefs. Ihou hajl given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may is dif played becaufe of the truth. In bringing David to the throne, according to his promife, to be the foflering $''• l( 4 ==S:»««iS^#i8; .^^ Tl^fl^;>« (rtH^**"** T ft fiiepherd of hU people, Jehovah lifted up an enlign to the nation ; a banner to be difplayed, as a demon- firation of his truth, and an indication of the way in which they might expecl his favour, and afluredly j&nd peace. Confentaneous with thefe views and fentiments of ;incient and infpired piety, are the views and fenti- ments with which, at this time, our minds, my bre- tliren, ihould be deeply imprelTed.— I flidll therefore endeavour to fliew, I. That God is difpleafed with this nation. . IL That there is great reafon for his difpleafure. HI. That it is moil highly important to us, that we obtain the return of his favour. And, IV. That we have reafon to hope, that the return of his favour may be obtained. First, then. Gad is difpleafed with this nation.—* "Who cgin doubt this ? — He has done great things for us. With an out., firctched arm, he brought our fathers over the Atlan- tic, drove out the heathen before them, and planted them in this land. He fipiled upon them, and they uicreafcd to a numerous people. When our rights were infringed by our parent country, he took us by the hand, and, with many fignal difplays of his power and goodnefs, conducted u^ through the perils of an eight years war, and eftabliftied us at length in inde- pendence and peace. Afterwards, for the fecurity of our rights and privileges, and efpecially for theprofpe- rity of our commerce, it was feen to be necclfary to ftrengthen the union of thefe fovereign States, and to give to the whole a common intereft, and a national capacity and character. He favoured the defign ; and a federal conflitution, combiriing the wiljdom of ages, and admirably fuited to its important purpofes, was adopted. That was the epoch of our national matu- rity : and at that epoch it might well have been faid, " What one nation in the earth is like this people, whom God went to redeem for a people to himfelf, and to make him a name, and to do for us great things ?" Defig people events ( fWerabl perity r bright Our cc ral com ly whit( more ; flowed i of the j cid, pub! all clafTe; ed. Ag found a Simple r< fields J t eitiulouf ahd litet pulfe ; ai dne fcen fiate, wl —But tl Comn whole v: tdr checl ceafed. ' ed, and < fttaint. been imn board be dcftitute Hundred petence, ra'flment. lucrative tions, an( The fpiri the vigoi Difmay -.i».i!t«*ju_i«iii Defignated, by the finger of Providence, as tluj people of Heaven's peculiar favour, tJie fubfequcnt events of our hiftory, for a fcries of years, were an- fWerable to the high defignation. Our national prof- peri ty was beyond all parallel, excepting in fomc bright periods of the hiflory of ancient Ifrael. Our commerce, that principal objecT: of • the fede- ral compaa:, blell with the fmiles of Heaven, quick- ly whitened every fea, and extended itfelf to every fhore ; and, through its thoufand channels, wealth flowed in upon us with a conftant tide, from all parts of the globe. The national treafury was replenifli- cid, public credit was redeemed and cftablifhed, and all clafTes of the community were relieved and enrich- ed, x-^griciiltiiralifts, mechanicks and manufacturers found ample employment, and their various labours, ample reward. Our forefts were turned into fruitful fields J the feveral departments of life and of fociety, eitiuloufly rofe on the fcale of improvement ; fcience ahd literature felt and acknowledged the general im- prulfe ; and our country, in its whole extent, prefented o^e fcene of aftivity, plenty, and joy.— Such was our ftate, while the God of our fathers fmiled on our land. -^But the fcene is changed. — Commerce, whofe influent tide gave motion to the whole vaft machinery of our profperity, by check af- tdr check, has been reprcffed, until its tide has almoft ceafed. Our fliips and our merchandize have been feiz- ed, and confifcated j or burnt, or funk, or held in re- fltaint. Our mariners, taken by force or fraud, have been immured in foreign prifons, compelled to enter on board belligerent fliips, or turned upon the world, dcftitute and forlorn, in diftant and unfriendly climes. Hundreds of families, lately in affluence or eafy com- petence, are reduced to poverty or diftrefling embar- ra'flment. Thoufarids of individuals lately in full and lucrative employ, are flopped in their feveral occupa. tions, and know not what to fet themfelves about. The fpirit of fair and laudable enterprlfe is checked j the vigour of honeft and generous adlivity is palfied. Dlfmay aiid diflrefs pervade our maritime towns. 'T.' ^ I ■ ki ^ =i5*.«!»-^^.,,(gl mammitmBm \ I and thence are communicated to all parts of our coun* try. No claft of the community, no department of foclcty, but feels the fliock. — All this, my brethren, is under the providence of God, and is a fure indica- tion of his difpleafure.— But this is not all. We are a divided people :— the effedls of our divl- fions are deplorable, and the afpccls of them are fear- ful. " Where envying and urife is, there is confufion, and every evil work." This divine aphorifm is aw- fully verified in our land. Our divifions arc infinite- ly more to be deplored, than the adverfity which we feel, in regard to our temporal wealth. They difturb the peace and impair the happinefs of every depart- ment of fociety ; not excepting the domeftick circle, nor even the facred enclofure of the church of God. They rcprefs the focial affections ; they blaft the chari- ties and courtefies of life ; they violate, and almoll fe- rer the ties of facred friendfhip, and of chriftian bro- therhood. They produce chilling alienations, unfleep- ing jcaloufies, bitter animofities, implacable hatreds. They injure the reputations, and hinder the ufefulnefs of individuals, and of whole claflTes of men ; fparing no age, nor condition, nor ftation, nor character. Under their baleful influence, we wofuUy know the import of the prediction, " The people fliall be op- preircd, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour; the child ihall behave himfelf proudly againil the ancient, and the bafe againft the honoura- ble." And under the fame influence, every publick defign, however ufeful, however benevolent, however religious, becomes an objeft of jealoufy ; every effort of publick fpirit, every confpicuous attempt to good, is fare to be oppofed. Yes, my brethren, our divifions fpread through the Ivnd an influence, every where to be felt, which ads Vvith the malignity of a confuming curfe. — Their evils are endlels. — They call into aftion all the bad pafllons of our nature ; they lever the bands of fociety ; they bre;\k down the barriers of virtue ; they poifon the fources of enjoyment ; they obftruft the enterprifes of benevolence j they viglate the fan<^ity of all that is but / facrcd ; they fliake not only thfc pillars, but the very foundations of the Republick.— Yet thefe, alfo, are un- der the providence of God : and what furer token could we have of his holy dlfpleafure ? Connefted with this ia another token, too confpicU- ous and too awful to be paffed unnoticed. An in- fatuation of mind, as evident as it is deplorable, pre- vails in our country. Infatuation naturally and ne- ceffarily refults from the prevalence of the evil paf- fions. When thefe paflions prevail, people will not fo- berljr cxercife their undcrftandings, and their minds are mfatuatcd of courfe. And this infatuation, firft ' he efFeft of the paflions, afterwards becomes a Caufe of excitement to them. It always views things in a deceptive light ; and fuel for the paflions is what it perpetually leeks. Does any one doubt that fuch an infatuation pre- vails ? If it does not, what reafon can be afllgned for the irreconcilable difagreement, regarding almoft eve- ry thing ?— regarding, not matters of fpeculation on- ly, but matters of facT:,— matters open to public view, and capable of being mod perfedly afcertained. Why- is It, that what one affirms, another is fure to deny f that what one believes, another is fure to difbelieve ? that what one receives and holds as moft important, another cannot with patience, even hear mentioned ? -—I aflign this infatuation to no party, to no clafs : but that it exifts, that it moft fearfuUy prevails, no one can doubt, who is not himfelf, in the higheft de- gree, under its influence. _ It is an old adage, « Whom God will deftroy, he in- fatuates ;" and the adage is warranted by the facred oracles.— y/jow haji made us to drink the wine of q/io- niJhment.^When the people of Ifrael fupported Saul whom God had rejefted ; when, to pleafe him, they concurred in perfecuting David, who was the Lord** anomted, and worthy of their higheft efteem and con- fi^ence ; and when, after Saul's death, they adhered to Ifliboflieth, and engaged in war againft David, in di- rect oppofition to the declared will of God ; then it was, that they were filled with the wine of siftoaiili. /< 4, ^^ r .. .4 ,.._^n-q^,~^- $«&"•■«; ( 10 mcnt, were intoxicated, were infatuated. This wine of aftonilhment, or fpirit of infatuation, is often mention- ed in the divine threatenings againft guilty nations,* ** Take the wine-cup of this fury at my hands," faid Jehovah to Jeremiah, " and caufe all the nations to whom I fend thee to drink it; and they Jhall drinks and be moved, and be mad"\ Efpecially, according to divine predi(aion, the nations, adhering to the great ten horned Beaft of the Apocalypfe, in the laft times of his power, are to drink of this infatuating cup, to the moft defperate intoxication. — ^Do we, then, par- take of it in this land ? — and can we doubt whether we are under the Divine difpleafure ! The token laft to be mentioned is the prefent w ar.— No perfon, ferioufly converfant with the divine oracles, can difbelieve that war, whether defenfive pr^ offen- five, juft or unjuft, expedient or inexpedient, is a to- ken of the Divine difpleafure. It is one of God's ex- prefsly appointed judgments, for the punifhmcnt of guilty nations. What courfe this war is to take, how long it is to continue, or what is to be its iffue, is known only to Him, who has nations with their rulers in his hands. This, however, we know, that war cannot exift with- out calamity. ** Every battle of the warrior is with confufed noife, and garments rolled in blood." Eve- ry march of an army is with terror and devaftation. But the carnage of battles and the ravage of march- es—the deftruftion of life and of property, by land and by fea — the lamentations of widows and orphans, and the diftrefs of ruined families — the diminution or cxcifion of the fources of national and individual wealth — the preffure of neceifary taxes and contribu- tions, and the confequent privations, embarraffments, and fufFerings :— Thefe are not the only evils of war. " From whence come wars and fightings among you ? Come they not hence, even of your lufts that war in your members ? Ye luft, and have not : ye kill, and defire to have, and cannot obtain : ye fight * See Patrick and Scott on die UiU f Jer. zxt. 15. ilCStfB!" *. * " wine of tention- itions,^ 5," faid ions to / drinky ding to e great ft times cup, to ;n, par- ivhether WAR,.— oracles, r offen- , is a to- od's ex- mcnt of J it is to only to s hands, ift with- ' is with " Eve- aftation. " march- by land orphans, ution or dividual ontribu- ifTments, of war. among afts that not : ye ye fight TE? ^Ty ff | wi« Za:^ ss 11 md war, yet ye have not, becaufe, ye aflc not." So' i^eaks the divine oracle. — ^Pride, ambition, avarice, hatred, revenge ; thcfe and the kindred lufts and paf- fions of our depraved nature are the inftigators and fomentors of war. But commenced and profecuted, with thefe lufts and paffions, what will not war do ? It will not heiitate to trample on all the laws of God, and rights of men. Utterly contemning the divine precept to love others as ourfelves, to love even our enemies, it glories in hatred and revenge, and offers every incentive to the thirft for plunder and for blood. Of all the evils, indeed, refulting from war, its moral efFefts and confequences are the moft to be deplored. Hundreds and thoufands, called away from the ordi- nary occupations of life, from the bofom of virtuous fociety, from the means of moral and religious inftruc- tion, are devoted to purfuits in which every corrupt propenfity finds encouragement, are placed in the way of every temptation to vice and impiety, and are de- luded with an imaginary difpenfation from the laws of morality and religion. A hideous mafs of corrup- tion is embodied ; the contagion fpreads uncontrola- bly and without bounds ; and a general diffolution of morals and manners enfues. But while contemplating war with its endlefs evils, as a token of the divine difpleafure, we ought not to forget the peculiarly portentous afpefts of the prefent age and ftate of the world. No enlightened believer in the divine oracles can doubt, that the times in which we live are eminently times of God's vengeance and.recompence on guilty nations: — the "perilous times" fo often mentioned, and fo awfully defcribed, in prophetic fcripture. For years, we have viewed with amazement the tremendous fcenes, exhibited on the theatre of Europe, and congratulated ourfelves on our remotenefs from them. That terrifick drama is proceeding ; and it will proceed, until its cataftrophe Ihall be developed, in " the battle of the great day of God Almighty." After having been long fpared in divine mercy, we are at length drawn into the direful conflift J and no man can tell how deeply we are to I 13 be involved, or what is to be our ultimate deftiny !— • Surely, my brethren, God is difpleafed with this n&« tion. — And, II. There is great reafon for his difpleafure. — ^^ Ah, £nful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a race of evil doers, children degenerate! we have forfaken Jehovah, we have provoked the Holy One unto an- ger, we are gone away backward." As a people, we have been ungrateful. We have not remembered '* God our Rock, and the high God our Redeemer." We have not rendered unto him according to the benefits which we have received ; but we have abufed his bleffings, and confumed them on our lufts. We have " waxed fat, and kicked." — We have been a worldly people. Exceffive love of the world has ftrongly marked our general charafter ; has given to us a prominent feature, by which we have been dillinguiihed, and for which we have been re- proached, among the nations. — And we have been a proud, a vain people. We have been vain of our li- berties and privileges, vain of our increafing wealth and general profpcrity, vain of our fuppofed know- ledge and goodnds. Praifing ourfelves, perpetually, as the wifeft and moft virtuous people on earth, we have been deluded into a moil dangerous covfuknce vmS. fecurity. In the vanity of our minds, we have imagined ourfelves fe- cure from the dangers and difafterf; of other nations ; and have refufed to take warning from the fallen re- publicks of ancient and modern times. And have we not refufed to take warning, even from the oracle of Heaven ? Though " the God of Ifrael hath feid, and the Rock of Ifrael hath fpoken. He that ruleth over men muft be juft, ruling in the fear of God >" have we not ventured to contemn this divine maxim ? Though " the wicked " fliould " bear rule " over us ; have we not believed that, wife and good as ive are, our " land " would not " mourn ?" And, while com- plimenting ourfelves as a religious people, have we not been wakefuUyjealous, left religion and its inftitu- tions ihould abridge our liberties, and have too if It much influence on our concerns? And hence, in# ftead of taking our maxims from the word of God, and the found experience of ages ; have we not ta- ken them rather from the infidious infidels of thefc laft times, whofe great objeft has been to "crush** religion, and rid the world of its reftraints ? Jehovah has exprefely informed us, that the /r^- nation of thefabbath was a principal reafon of his dif* pleafure againft Ifrael, and of their being given into the hands of the Affyrians and Babylonians : but we have difregarded the warning. The profanation of the fabbath is a public and a crying fin of our land j a fin by which we are conftantly provoking the Holy- One of Ifrael unto anger — ^Did the land of Ifrael mourn, « becaufe oi /wearing ?" Who then can paft through our ftrcets, and not feel at his heart, that God has reafon to be difpleafed with us ! How many mouths in our land are continually open againft Hea- ven, uttering the moft horrid blafphemies, and auda. cioufly invoking damnation on themfelves and all around them i-— Lying alfo, vmd gander, were among the provocations, by which the people of Ifrael brought down upon themfelves the vengeance of « Him who cannot lie.'* But, my brethren, if the criminations and recriminations which we every day read and hear are juft, the people of this land are all liars and flan- derers! How far this is true, it behoves every one moft ferioufly to confider. Certainly, however, it would feem to have been adopted as a maxim in this country, that lying for certain purpofes is juftifiable, and even commendable ; and that a faMehood once uttered, Ihould never be retraced " Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil ,- that put darkne/s for light, and light for darkne/s ; that put bitter for fweet, and/weet for bitter P*-^^^ Wo unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men o//lrength to mingle fir ong drink : that ju/iify the vjicked for a reward, and take away the righteou/ne/s o/the righteous from him /" " In the laft days," fays the Spirit of prophecy, « pe- rilous times fliall come. For men fhall be lovers of their owafelves} covetous, boafters, proud, blafphe. "y '' I 4 \^. u mers, difobcdient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural afFeftion, truce breakers, falfe accu- fers, incontinent, fierce, defpifers of thofe that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleafurcs more than lovers of God ; having a form of godlinefs, but denying the power thereof." This awful defcrip- tion comprifes all manner of wickednefs ; yet to what a fearful extent is even this defcription applicable to the prefent generation of this land ! Who can make the application, in the extent to which it will obvioufly go, and not feel the blood chill to his heart !— No wonder, my brethren, that God is difpleafed with thif nation. — But, III. It is moft highly important for us, that we obtain the return of his favour. «« Thine, O Lord, is the greatnefs, and the power, and the glory, and the viftory, and the majefty : for all that is in the heaven, and in the earth, is thine ; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reigneft over all ; and in thine hand i» power and might ; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give ftrength unto all." This devout acknowledgment was made by David, at the clofe of his long and profperous reign ; and the fentiments of it fhould evermore dwell m the hearts of all rulers and people. In this view of God, a nation, as well as an individual, has every thing to fear from his dif- pleafure, and every thing to hope from his favour. « Bleffed is that people whofe God is Jehovah :'* but when once he " rifes out of his place" to puniih a perverfe nation, deplorable indeed muft the condition of that nation be, until he reft from his anger. If, my brethren, our prefent calamities are from his dif- pleafure, muft they not continue, and even increafe, until he turn himfelf to us again ? Is the adverfity of the times, in regard to our tem- poral interefts, a token of his difpleafure ? How thea can we expect a change for the better, fo long as his difpleafure towards us continues ? Should we not ra- ther expeft this adverfity, with the various embarrafi. » * unholy, fe accu- hat are ileafurcs ^dlinefs, defcrip- to what cable to in make bvioufly :t !— No vith thit that we 5 power, fty: for is thine ; t exalted come of ! hand is to make s devout : clofe of ments of all rulers , as well n his dif- s favour, ih:" but puniih a :ondition iger. If, n his dif- increafe, our tem- iow thea ng as his ve not ra- imbarraiTo 15 ments and diftreffes refultingfrom it, to become more and more infupportable ? Are our civil divifions a token of his difpleafure ? What then are we to expeft, if he do not turn himlelf to us again ? The ftrife will increafe j the animofities and hatreds will become more and more rancorous ; and erelong they will "break out, and blood will touch blood !** Is the prevailing infatution a token of the divine difpleafure ? If then the difpleafure be not turned away, what have we to exped, but to drink of this wine of aftonilhment even to the dregs ? What, but to become more and more infatuated, until, totally blind to the things of our peace, we furioufly rufli into ruin ! It was thus with the Jews in the laft times of their na- tional hiftory. Thus the Spirit of prophecy has foretold It fliould be, with the nations, adhering to the ten horn- ed Beaft, or under his influence, in the laft times of hi» power. And have not awful inftances of the fulfilment, m part, of this prediction, been witncfled in our day ? What but this fpirit of infatuation was the ruin of Holland, of Italy, of Switzerland, of Germany, of moft of the States and Kingdoms of continental Eu- rope ? They did not fall under the arm of the conquer- or, till they had drunken of this wine, and were " mad." The rulers as well as the people were intoxicated. Iheir councils were perverted, their arms were en- feebled 5 they were " aftonied one with another," and their ruin became inevitable. And if God do not turn himfelf to us again, how can we afliire ourfelves, that he will not foon fay,« Behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marrcl- lous work and a wonder : for the wifdom of their wife men fliall perifh, and the underftanding of their prudent men fhall be hid. W© unto them them that leek deepi and hide their counfel from the Lord ; and their works are ift the dark, and they fay, Who feeth us ? and who knoweth us ? Surely your turning of things upfide down liidl be efteemed ag the potter's 16 Is the war a token of the divine difpleafure ? What then muft be its progrefs, and what its iffue, if the difpleafure be not turned away ? We fondly indulge the hope, that the conflift will be fliort, and the cala- mities of it light ; but the whole difpofal of it it with the Lord. Under his providence, the courfe of events may be altogether different from what -we calculate ; and the awful appeal which we have made, inftead of iffuing in the eftabliflirnent of our rights, may turn to their utter fubverfion. "The race is not to the fwift, nor the battle to the ftrong." The relation in which we now ftand to the ^reat conflift in Europe, is not to be regarded with hght- nefs. We fhall deceive ourfelves, if we imagine that we Ihall not be confidered as having a part in that conflia. Firmly refolved as we may be to ftand by ourfelves, and to carry on our own warfare, uncon- trolled and unaffifted by any other power ; we fliould certainly lay our account, that the mighty power> under whofe iron rod all Europe groans, will regard us as a confederate ; and will employ all the refources of its policy to connea our d^ftiny indiffolubly with the deftinies of the great empire. On this point there can be, it would feem, no difcordance of opinion. Nor can there be any difcordance of opinion, in regard to the event, fliould fuch a connexion be formed. That terrible power knows no difference between friends and dependents, between allies and vaffals. And what is that power, but the Roman empire re- vived—the ten horned Beaft, with his' deadly wound healed ? " His deadly wound was healed ; and all the world wondered after the Beaft."— «* And they wor- fhipped the Beaft, faying. Who is like unto the Beajl t 'ivho is able to make war with him /"-—" The ten horns are ten kings, which — receive power as kings one hour ivith the Beaji. Thefe have one mind, and jhall pve their power and Jirength unto the BeaJi"—''' They Jhalt hate ihe whore, and Jhall make her defolate and naked, and Jhall eat her flejh, and burn her with fire:*— And I &i hi the Make come th\ and th and fai more e power the Ro dently ; years aj clare itf againft ■ though papal fc characl:( avowed brethrei and is p defperat purfue, mens," kings oi mies fli; tie of tl My b: prophec made pi all peopl watchm; lefs of r€ fible thai infzdel ei deeply ii taining t tion. E of her, 11 and that inoft fen ^aw , BEAsr, and the kings of the earth, and their ar- mies gathered together to mate war againji Hm that fat on, fi \ > What e, if the indulge the cala- of it is e courfe m what we have t of our , "The ftrong." lie great th hght- ine that in that [land by , uncon- re fliould POWER» il regard refources bly with int there opinion, n regard formed, between iflals. npire r6- f wound id all the ley wor- be Beafi ! en horn* one hour fhall nvt I hey Jhalt id nakedy ^—And I their ar^ ihatfat on hi the horfe, and againjl his anny:'—.<^ These shall MAKE n^AR wnH THE Lamb, and the Lamb Jhall over^ rome them ; for he is Lord of lords and King of kinffs • ^"? J¥L *''^^ ^''^ '''"^ ^"^" ^'"^ called, and chofen! and faithful.*— Could dcfcription, my brethren be more exaft ? or predidion more diainft ? Is not'the power here defignated, while it has hated the whore the Romifh Church, and made her ddolate, yet evi' dently alfoat war with the Lamb? Diditnot,but a few years ago, explicitly and in the face of the world de- clare itfelf againft the King of kings r.ndLord of lords— agamft the throne and " monarchy of lieaven ?" And though it has fince, for purpofes of {late, put on the papal form of religion, are we to fuppofc that its real character is altered, or that it has relinquiflied its once avowed defign to « crush " Jefus Chrill ! No, my brethren, it is the fame infidel, atheiilical power Hill • and is purfuing, though now under cover, the fame defperate defign. And this defign it will not ceafe to purfue, until by the influence of its " fpirits of de- nions," itsinfidious emiifaries, "that go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world," its ar- mies fliall be aflTembled at Armageddon, for the bat- tle of the great day of God Almighty ! My brethren, if there is a plain and " fure word of prophecy" in the book of God, this is one ; and it was made plain, becaufe it was intended as a warning to all people in thefe lafl: times :— a warning which, as a watchman on the walls of our Zion, 1 am bound, fear- lefs of reproach, mofl loudly to proclaim. If it is pof- fible that this nation may be connected with the great infidel empire of Europe j the bare poffibility fhould deeply imprefs our minds with the importance of ob- taining the fpeedy return of God's favour and protec- tron. His own warning voice proclaims, " Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her fins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." And the moll fervent prayer of every friend to him, of every * Rev. xiii. 3, 4. xvii. 12, 13, 16. xix. 19. xvii. 14, friend to his country, fliould be, * From that ^ofuf doom, good Lord deliver us !'-^But, IV. We have rcafon to hope, that the return of the divine favour may be obtained. Great as I view our fins to be, and imminent our dangers ; yet 1 am not of the number of thofe, if any there are, who « defpair of the Republick :*' but while mine eyes would run down with tears for the Condi- tion of my country, my heart cleaves to the hope and to the confidence, that the God of our fathers, though difpleafed, and greatly difpleafed, has not utterly for- faken her. t ^ .^ Theu hqfi given a banner tiy them that feat thee, that tt inav be difplayed becaufe of the truth, David, raifed to- the throne in fulfilment of the divine promife, wa* the leader and commander of Ifrael, under whofe ban- ner the fcattei-ed tribes were reunited, their breaches Were healed, and their land became profperouS an(J To them that fear him in this land. Cod has alf^ given a banner, that it may be difplayed becaufe of the truth. Chrift, of whom David wais an eminent type, was acknowledged by our fathers as their "Leader and Commander." He was their « Hope," he was their « Saviour in times of trouble." '* They cried unto him and Were delivered ; they trufted m him and were not confounded."— His name, my brethren, is ftill the glory of our laud; and his call to' lis is, " Look unto me, and be ye faved." If we obey his word, if we rally round his ftandard as the centre of our union, and the pillar of our hopes, he' will affure^y •* deliver us out of the hand of our ene- mies," fave us from our dangers, and make us to dwelt Jn quiet and joyful habitations. ^^ Is ours, then, a defperate cafe ? Degenerate chil- dren as we are, and deeply as we have revolted from God ; yet is there not a precious number in our latid, who remember him ftill, and who will hear his voice? They muft be the firft to rally round the ftandard. To them the banner is given, and they muft difplay it. By all that is dear to them :— by the welfare of i \l f. i V ^r-- ,^«ji^.f. "•»« urn of nt our If any t whil© condi-i ipeand thougli rly fbr- , thai it iifed to* fe, was' ife ban- ireaches [>u5 and das alfb* caufe of :minent IS their Hope," «* They afted in ne, my is call to' If we d as the opes, he our enc- to dwelt rate chit- ted from 3ur laftd, is voice ? ftandard. 1 difplay irelfare of If their families and of their country, by the honour of their Lord and Saviour, by the peace and profperity of Zion, by the Wood of their redemption and their hopes for eternity, the call is urged home to their liearts, to ccafe from ftrife and from difcord among themfelves ; to lay afide aU wrath, and clamour, and evil foeakmgi to love as brethren, forbearing one anQther, and forgiving one another ; and to fliew thcmfelves in true charadcr, as the difciples of Chrift, as foldier^j of "the Captain of falvation." United under ;his banner, they muft " take unto them the whale armour of God, that they may be able to with- Jtand in the evil day, and having done all to ftand.** They muft " ftand, having their toins girt about with truth, and having on the breaftplate of righteoufnefs ; Rnd their feet fhod with the preparation of the gofpel of peace. Over all they muft take up the fhield of faith, with which they will be aWe to quench all the *ery darts of the wicked. And they muft take the the helmet of ialvation, and the fword of the Spirit, M^hich is the word of God : praying always with all prayer and fupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with aU pcrfeverance."-^Ycs, with one heart and one mouth,they muft lift up the fervent and MiceiTant prayer, « Spare thy people, O Lord, and give pot thme heritage to reproach." « We have heard thy fpeech, and were afraid : O Lord, revive thy work in the midft of the years, in the midft of the years make l^nown ; in wrath remember mercy." Will not all good men do this ? By whatever dif. tent names they may have been called, will they not gU unite under this banner j and let their motto be one, «FoR Christ and our Country!' If they will, God will be entreated for our land. He will turn himfelf to us again, and " remember for us hi$ former loving kindnefs, and tender mercies." « The Spirit will be poured out from on high j" hundreds and thoufands will flock to the ftandard ; "truth fliall fpring out of the earth, and righteoufnefs fliall look ^own from heaven ;" « and the work of righteoufnefs ithall be peace, and the effed of righteouihefs, quietne^^ r' ?/ f> I «0 and fecurity." Cod will dwell in the midft of us j ^^"rl m akeolr land as " a ftrong city ; and wi appoint H vad n for walls and bulwarks." He will dilpofc our enemies to be at peace with us, and us to be at c cc >^Sl^ them ; or elfe, if he call us to vindicate our ii^h^s n he high places of the field, he will « go forth ^ our armie?, cover their heads in the day of bat- tk " and ffive to them the fong of viaory. He will rclloreouf judges as at the firil, and our counfellors 'is at the beginning;" "andwifdom and knowledge Jhall b the flabiUt^ of our times and ftrength of fal- vation, and the fear of the Lord our treafure. -"Hap- py is the people that is in fuch a cafe ; happy is th forth of bat- "will ifellors wledgc ot fal- ."Hap- ^ is th^ inner is )r your lis ilan-» ' Leader lothing, to enlilt, tie fafety for time I, Ihovild xtenfive, 'he fame he differ- fands, we t, then } e fervice. , and the y explaii^ ler of the :e the fer- renounce ;ry world- ghteoufly, luft refign [ervice you Squ of tha 'f IHgheft, the Prince of the kings of the earth, to whom angels, principalities and powers arc fubjcct j ** in whom are all the treafures of vvildom and know- ledge," who is " mighty to fave,'* and who will allur- cdly conduct his followers to" glory and honour, and immortality." Thcfe are the terms of enlillment ; and correfpondent with thefe are the duties of the fervice. Having entered the fervice, implicit obedience to your Commander will always be indifpenfablc. You will hold yourfelves no more at liberty to walk " in the way of your own hearts, or the fight of your own eyes j'' no more at liberty to regulate your de- portment, or converfation, by the culloms, or max- ims, or courfe of this world ; but taking the facred manual given you by Chrift, the fcriptures of truth, for your diredory, by this perfeft ftandard, ail your opinions and all your aftions muft be formed. Love to God and love to men muft rule in your hearts ; and the glory of God, the honour of Chrift, and the highcft good of men, all which unite in one, muft evermore be held in view, as your ultimate objeft. You will love your country, and feek her profperi- ty. *' Submitting yourfelves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake," you will " render unto all their dues : tribute to whom tribute is due ; cuftom to whom cuftom ; fear to whom fear ; honour to whom honour." But you will ferve your country, only un- der the banner of Chrift. You will hold it as a fure and facred maxim, that *' except He keep the city, the watchmen watch in vain ; if he be not the fun and the fhield of the nation, our deareft rights, and li- berties, and interefts, muft be in conftant jeopardy. ** Ceafing from man then, whofe breath is in his nol- trils," you will put no confidence for fafety in princes or rulers, any farther than their mculures fliall appear to be conformable to the eternal princi- ples of truth and right. Neither will your confidence reft in the boafted wifdom and virtue of the na- tion ; in our civil inftitutions, excellent as they are ; in our local fituation, remote from the feats of Euro- i ■"> i i ^w»«(. '■'/"'Vr"*, he Wonderful, the Comn.ei- """tll^MLHTV G0D7.he P..NCE OF PeaCE," » ««- ^rfit ^rioTo"".ur . untry and to wh.ujvc' <««. «^f arduous duty J"" l'' ^liSa^s " o^u'yo«. "thSr« '^e however, in your <^^^'^ ^"^V' w^ w"ofe you »e, and whom you fave. i„ the time -^^"'^'^^V^l^mlC^M «'«!- Cr'^d'h^t'tli^^oemy," you wiU rcm^bej that his command ia,"X,.«y.Hr «/«».«; "»'*'• ;t'ever imagine '^^ grh^.K^VS'l^tS lo your couotry, confito '»/'"'.'i*°„ "WetDrifes of Ihan thofe of neceffity and mercy, f "- ?' Jf ,„^ Sntion And the P"f-at»n °f h. ^^^^ ?^'Sfcrfli^plce-■;;^w§Ifeelit in^UL^t 0« ;'?u,% =Sl fultS meL to check, and a.iar a. pot iible to fupprels. tVtB0i hearu [y put orcign tE TO e. But in evc- : fceae« ly* •♦ be : yaur- r— id- U haUl J of pri« >l»ces of I, at na m forve. if then y neigh- smcmbcr nor wiU true lov€ sr nation, prifes o£ ►rovfi; ia >u in t^ft you wlft ruppofing. I difpenfjb- ifabbath-; rns, other ;€ your atf. ' ^th, that Jy grow-. unbent oa .far as jKrf» '»" Ifot wSl you forget the exprefs order of your Com* jfiandcr in chief, ^ Swear not at all:"—** take not ihg name of the Lord thy God in vain.** Not only will y (^u refrain im)ft facrcdly yourfelves, from every breachi of this order \ but you wilJ fet your far«?s, firmly and efficiently, agahift the audacious, the heaven daring profanenefs and blafphemy, with which our ftrcms» and corner*, and wharves inccffantly ring, and which is continually afcending, for judgment, to the ears of the Lord of fabbaoth ! . . , Another order of the fame high authonty is : •* Lte not one unto another ; bat Jpeak every man truth unto his neighbour.*' Never, then, can you admit, never care you tolerate the delufion, the pernicious dcftrine, that lithet the divine glory or the good of your country is ti> be promoted by Wifehood, or by a finifter fuppreffion of truth. Nor will you ceafe, m thefe evil tinies, to charge your confciences, on this fubjeft, moft folemn- ly before God ; left by rejoicing in the cxpcded iuc- cefs of a lie, or by connivance at falfchood, you be- come unawares partakers of the guilt. " Let all your things be done with charity** is another general order of great comprehenfion : one which, ia tiie prefent divided ftate of public opinion, demands very fpecial attention. Differences of opinion muft be expe^ed to exift ; and the right of all freely to ex- prefs, and honeftly to maintain their opinions, no en- lightened friend of tru^h, or of his country, can dil- puto, or wifli to abridge. But this right fliould al- ways, and efpecially at a time like the prefent, be ex- ercifed with charity. The folemn and fearful ftate of our country fliould bring every one to a ferious and thoughtful paufc. llie man is mad, who refolvc* that lie will not ice, otherwife than he has feen. Rather ihonld he fit down, and difpaffionately and de-- i llberatdy examine the grounds on which his opinions reft, and the ends for which they are maintained. TLe love of country and the fear of God fliould re- ftrain every one, from yieldmg his judgment to the control of his paflions j from aclins upon the pre- pofterous maxim, that nothing v.hich does not favour ,. views, and --7 ^^\^^^^'^ ed-, from anfwering a bfta^nn^^^^ i .^^^ ^^ gry denunciation. \^f^r preiudice to candour. Ion niuft give place to leafonPJ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ bitternefs to chanty, delulion ^ views to the pubhc good. ^^ ^ fo^ver things are ' Under Chnft, ma ^v"^^', J^^^ whatfoever things < « true, xvhatfoever thmg^j^f^ 7"'"' p^re, whatfoever Z aft, f^t":;hatSr king's ar'e of good re- things are lovely, "^^^'^^ ^f ti°rc be any praife, port; if there t';J> JJ^'.^ely confukr,'' and inva- th^fe tlungs you will ^"e"t.ve y ^^^ ^^.^ .^ ^^^^ riably praclife. A^^'i^^^\^^^'^ J,^^ 'u mull keep your duty or falter \^y«^X ^y on ^m with unwa- eves on your divine Uade^ rey ^^^^^^ .eludancc v^ring affiance and ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ you may do all and without fear. ,^^ ^"'^ '« 'Jiquerors, and more things; he >vdl .^^I'^^^fi,^, foreword is, "To him -CS;;ds,are you co^erned for^V- -^^^ ,0 /ou, aefire her we^^^^^^^ J^^^ this llandard , banner here difj la^ed , join ^^ ^^ ^^ .,nd it will not be y^ur tault,^t y ^^^.^.^ ^,. f,fc and happy. ^"4 "^,^, ^he whole nation, that liavd, I would P-^-^,,;\^;%Tfafety and happi; tins is the way ana ^^^ "^^ j, ^/,/, ;.. .. /^^ «ef3.-'' /..»y^ ^/ f'f^Zlold. ^s the clay is tn the Uer^s hand fo are e mnme . ^^^ \4t -ivhat ivjUnt I fPff"'J'p'ull down, and to de/iroy tnga k,r.^dom,io pluck np^P^ ^^^^ need turn ,,t. if that nau.n. -f ''f JJJ;,, ,,;/ that I thought to do /-" 'Zrh^:^^:tlr. unto .., and l^Ul return tinto tiJiiiiu ,^ »' \' gu- an- paC- )ur, rtial are ings ' ' ever d re- raife, inva- your your mwa- [tance do all more ohim me in mtry ? kr the p.dard ; be not )ic: br- n, that 1 happi- as this s in the )f Ifraeh ' concern- to dejlroy :edi turn ight to do nil return