SERM. at all, is precarious and uncertain beyond XXI. all things. Let us then cast back our thoughts to the events of the past yearlet us narrowly examine into the condition of our souls; consider the temptations we have yielded to, and the sins of all kinds and degrees which we may have committed; let us repent of them all as we recal them to our remembrance, and pray to the Almighty God to give us grace" to "redeem the time so lost or so abused." It is impossible for me to know what crimes your consciences may have to accuse you of; but though this must needs be unknown to me, yet remember that there is a Being to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom, by no stratagem or subterfuge, any secrets can be hid; and perhaps, as in the days of the Apostle, the necessity of such circumspection may be encreased at present by the same cause, namely, "because the days are "evil." We live in times big with extraordinary events, and few men are so private and retired as not to take some part or concern in them; but there are three

more

more particular events of the preceding SERM. year*, which most probably have disquieted XXI. the minds of every thinking person, and

which, therefore, we should do well to look back upon, and re-consider, lest the same circumstances should occur again. And, first, we have had to deplore the continuance of war and bloodshed: war is an evil of the greatest magnitude, and should be brought to a conclusion as soon as possible; nor can it be vindicated upon any lesser grounds than those of self-defence. But as distractions at home cannot fail to give advantage to the enemy, and prolong the war, it becomes the temperate and judicious man to foment them as little as possible; not to embarrass the conduct of the war by illtimed objections to its causes and consequences; for it is seldom that a private man can competently judge of the former, and the latter are often more unavoidable than we may be disposed to think them. Politics are an intricate study, and the causes of

* This Sermon was preached at Oxford at the commencement of the year 1796.

war

SERM. war may lay deeper than we think for; XXI. and as to the consequences, though they

are always dreadful and deplorable, and must greatly wound every feeling mind, yet let us not aggravate them, by fancying that in all cases they might have been prevented. No man can command success; and when things so frail and mutable as even the winds and the waves must be trusted to, and besides the chances of open combat, stratagem must be opposed to stratagem, artifice to artifice, and secrecy to secrecy, it is scarcely to be expected but that some things must fail. In such cases the candid man will make all allowances, and the prudent, at all events, suppress his dissatisfaction, while dissentions at home can but encourage the enemy to persist. Another sore distress befel us in the year just closed, from the cry of famine in our streets. Great and grievous was the cry, and no doubt many did most sorely and bitterly suffer. God forbid that any such distresses should return upon us! This is always an event which leads to great misapprehensions, and

none

none perhaps is greater than our assigning SERM. all possible reasons for it, except that of XXI. our own transgressions, which, if we would narrowly enquire into, would probably always serve to vindicate such just judgments of Almighty God. We think we have detected the causes, perhaps, in the profligacy of some, or the sordid covetousness of others, forgetful all the while that both may be but instruments in the hands of God, to awaken us to a sense of our dependance on him, which previous prosperity, and blessings, perhaps without interruption, may have stifled and obliterated. Woful misapprehenions also occur in regard to those who put themselves forward on such occasions to alleviate the evil. If œconomy is recommended, it is aggravating the famine; if the transportation of corn is attempted, for the relief of others in greater want, an act of Christian charity as well as of civil justice, it is called plunder and robbery, and resisted without remorse. Often, too, open violence, in many other ways, is had recourse to-the worst mistake and misapprehension of all;

for

XXI.

SERM. for in no way whatever can it conduce to any good end, but is always destructive of its own views, and in its consequences leads to every thing ruinous to man's happiness, both here and hereafter. The last event I have to allude to is one in which, though we were all concerned, but few, it is to be hoped, had any share; I mean the base and black attempt upon the life of the Sovereign. Though this may well be referred to the operation of principles not of our own growth, yet that they should have taken any root among us, is a foul degradation of that high character we once were proud of. It was a deed of darkness unbecoming a Briton. I need not, I am sure, enlarge upon the value of the life attacked; it is deeply felt by all good men-by all men of common reflection and consideration. It is felt at home, abroad, wherever civil order, justice, virtue, religion, have a friend; it is felt by millions of faithful subjects, attached to him by long acquaintance and undoubted experiment of his good and gracious government. But let the event warn us of

the