He will abundantly pardon; he will receive you graciously; he will not deal with you according to your sins, nor reward you according to your iniquities. Leave, then, every unsubstantial hope; and resembling the dove of the patriarch Noah, return to the ark of the covenant, as the only proper rest for the sole of your feet. Hear his gracious inviting voice-" Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." There is no other safe, no other satisfactory way of getting rid of the cares of this world, but by casting our cares upon him who careth for us.

your present and eternal joys. The gratitude of faith knows no bounds in fervency or in fruits. Suspect your love where it is cold, and calculating, and limited in its character. Beware of its decaying nature: it needs daily to be exerted. You know where to apply for assistance, however, in such extremities. Return to your rest-kindle your love afresh at the altar of consecration-renew your affection and allegiance at the throne of grace-meditate frequently upon the accumulation of God's bountiful dealing-and press onward to the attainment of feelings of hallowed regard. Oh, let it not be said of you as of the lepers that were cleansed by our Lord, with respect to the acknowledgment of his mercies-" Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? there are not found that return to give glory to God, save this stranger." If God has dealt bountifully with you as his servants, it is for this purpose-that you may love, and that you may keep his word, and that you may glorify God in your body and in your spirits which are his.

You will remark, my brethren, that before this pointed and marked enquiry is proposed, "Who among you will give ear to this?" the Jews had been charged with gross negligence and inattention-seeing many things, but observing not-opening their ears, but hearing not. These words explain the nature of that blindness and deafness whereby the Jewish people are characterised. Though endowed with the faculties of reason and understanding, they did not trace the effects

which they beheld, to the causes whereby they were produced; nor did they deduce proper consequences from those things which came under their notice. They heard the word of the Lord, and the messages delivered to them by his servants; and though they possessed the powers of perception and intelligence, yet they paid no serious attention to them. They did not consider the design of what they saw or heard; nor were they thereby disposed to the exercise of faith, obedience, and

gratitude. They did not improve their natural faculties for the best of purposes; they did not set a just value on the means of salvation wherewith they were favoured, nor did they turn from their evil ways and doings, but went on frowardly in the way of their hearts. They did not revert to the design which the calamities and deliverances they experienced were intended to accomplish; nor did they mark the dis plays of the righteous power of Jehovah in the dispensations wherewith they were visited.

Now, brethren, it is too true that here we behold a lively image of ourselves as a nation, and as individuals, at the present moment. How many remarkable interpositions of Divine Providence have we witnessed! How many admonitions have we received! How many blessings have been vouchsafed, and what invaluable privileges we enjoy! Alas, the description here given of God's ancient people is too applicable to ourselves! May we seriously consider it; and may it have a salutary effect on our minds.

How awful are the threatenings denounced against those who regard not the works of the Lord, nor consider the operations of his hands! Who among you then, brethren, will give ear, and hearken for the time to come? Though I am encouraged to hope and believe, judging from the past dispensations of Providence toward this little isle of Britain, and his conduct towards certain nations noticed in the Sacred Volume, from the goodly number of praying souls that are to be found in the midst of us, and the valuable institutions that are established and supported by us, that God has a favour for the land, and will yet spare us from suffering to the full extent of the judgments we have merited, though I hope this, I deem it right to sound the trumpet of alarm, and to fulfil the command of Jehovah, in crying aloud and sparing not, in showing the people their transgressions, and you, brethren, in particular, your sins. I deem it right in our present circumstances, fellow Christians and fellow countrymen, to call on you to humble yourselves before Almighty God, on account of your own individual shares in the national guilt,

which is the true cause of all the calamities that exist among us.

As it regards our privileges, what nation is there which has God brought so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is brought nigh unto us? We are notwithstanding a sinful people, a people laden with iniquity. We are, we say, sinners against the Lord, sinners of a most gross and daring character. His authority is set at defiance-his word given in mercy to be a light to our feet and a lantern to our path, and which contains the purest and most important doctrines, able to make us wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus-this blessed book, this volume of inspiration, is rejected, ridiculed, and despised by a class of infidels, who are endeavouring to poison the principles and morals of the people, and to sow the seeds of discord, anarchy, and confusion throughout the land. It is astonishing that the Almighty has not long since risen from his place to take vengeance on such characters. How great his forbearance! how unparalleled his mercy towards those who insult him to his face, and even deny, and set at nought, his very existence and perfections! But, my hearers, we are not without contributing our share to the huge mass of national guilt which lies heavily upon us, and on account of which the Almighty has a controversy with us. "Who among you, therefore, will give ear to this? Who among you will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon them the fury of anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart."

The true cause of national calamities is here pointed out; the just consequences of transgression is here described; and the only method to escape divine judgment is here suggested. To these points, therefore, we propose to attend this evening; and let us pray that the Divine Spirit may render them profitable to our souls.

THE TRUE CAUSE OF NATIONAL CA

LAMITIES IS HERE POINTED OUT-SIN.

The public distresses of the men of Judah and Israel did not proceed from fate or fortune, but from the Supreme Lord of the universe, who, as the just punishment of their atrocious wickedness, delivered them into the hands of them who spoiled and deprived them of their possessions. Their most powerful enemies could not have treated them in the manner here described, had not He who rules in the kingdoms of men, given them as a prey on account of their aggravated and multiplied transgressions. And, brethren, though the various events, prosperous and adverse, that happen to nations and individuals, are brought about by the intervention of means and instruments, the hand of the Almighty ought never to be overlooked, but humbly acknowledged. "Is there any evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it ?"

"I the Lord form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil." Though the consummate rectitude of Jehovah clearly evinces the absolute impossibility that he should be the author of sin or moral evil, yet from Scripture and from facts it is evident, that natural evil or the calamities and afflictions with which mankind are visited, are all under his wise superintendance and control. Afflictions, as we often remind you, are nominal evils-in reality they prove useful and salutary; they manifest the glory of the divine excellencies, they promote the best interests of the members of the heavenly family; they are necessary to the government of the world in its present state; they check the progress of wickedness and show the dreadful consequences of incurring the wrath of the Almighty. In this view how awful, how majestic are the words, "I make peace and create evil." I grant deliverance both from outward and inward disturbances to individuals and nations, and confer on them that accumulation of blessings necessary to the enjoyment of tranquillity and happiness. I cause hostilities to cease among states and kingdoms. I set them free from foreign war and domestic feuds, from contention and tumult; and I command the sword to devour, the pestilence to de

stroy, the famine to waste, the fire to consume, the waters to overflow, and the enemy to ravage and despoil. I the Lord do all these things according to my sovereign pleasure, in the best manner, at the fittest season, and to accomplish the most important purposes. Israel, no doubt, might have blamed their enemies for their rapacity, cruelty, and injustice; but they ought to have considered that the Most High over all the earth admitted and employed them to stain their glory, and that they might severely correct them for their sins. This was the true cause of their calamities-their multiplied and aggravated transgressions.

To God the Governor among the nations, the all-wise Disposer of persons and events, whom we have offended, let us turn, and look up, and acknowledge in the present posture of our national distress. He doth according to his good pleasure in the armies above and amongst the inhabitants of the earth; and he is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. He cast down the throne of Babylon-he took away the crown of Persia-he deprived Greece of its power, and Rome of its empire-and he gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers. He has brought about what has recently taken place in neighbouring nations; and if we still continue to rebel against him, and hearken not to the voice of his Providence, who can tell what may befall ourselves? We may justly dread that similar sins may bring down similar judgments. Sin against God and the transgression of his laws, is the source of the violent calamities with which mankind are visited. It extends its influence over all the relations of life, injures social enjoyment, domestic felicity, and national glory. This affecting truth, which is generally known, and almost as generally acknowledged, does not require proofs and illustrations. The posterity of Jacob, who were peculiarly indebted to Jehovah above all the people on the face of the earth, proudly refused to walk in his ways, the ways of holiness and righteousness. They would not obey his holy precepts, given to them to guide their feet in the paths of peace; but were found perverse and disobedient, and so fell under the

weight of the divine judgments. Has it not been thus with you? Has it not been thus with ourselves? Have we not proved a rebellious, ungrateful, and disobedient people? Oh yes; we have. We will not stay to enumerate our sins as a nation against the Lord; they are so many and so great. But we have a sample, brethren, in that slavery and oppression of our fellow-creatures, which lie at our door, on account of which the voice of the nation is at present raised, and we trust will not be raised in vain; for the voice of our brother's blood crieth in the ears of the Lord God of Sabaoth for vengeance. We have an awful sample too, in that abuse of the Sabbath Day, which prevails among all ranks and classes of men-devoting the day which God has commanded to be kept holy, to seek our own pleasure and doing our own work. The sins of swearing and drunkenness, extravagance and extortion, lie heavy on us; and by reason of these, and others connected with them, it may be said the land mourneth. The Lord is calling as in the days of old for mourning and sorrow-and behold joy and gladness. He is calling for humiliation and weeping, and behold mirth and feasting, the slaying of oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. And what is the language used amidst these scenes of festivity, riot, and drunkenness? "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."

I need not, and will not dwell, on the gross and glaring offences with which, as a nation, we are chargeable. I wish you to think of yourselves, my brethren. We ourselves are the partakers of the national guilt. We have contributed in no small measure to draw down the just displeasure of the Almighty; for, as individuals, we have contemned the Divine perfections-we have violated the Divine laws-we have abused the Divine mercies-and we have dispised the Divine judgments. I shall only offer a few words on these points; but they are the causes, the true causes of our national calamities. Which of us has not disregarded the perfections of the Omniscient God, who from heaven beholdeth all the sons of men? Which of us has not acted in direct opposition to the purity of the divine nature? Which of us has not

despised the wisdom of the Most High, who has shown us the way wherein we ought to walk. Confident of our own understanding, and insensible of our need of divine guidance and direction, we have walked after the counsel of our own hearts, persevering in the dictates of our own corrupt minds. In truth, we have acted as if we were competent to provide for our comfort here, and our happiness hereafter; resisting his Almighty arm to whom vengeance belongs. Which of us has not slighted the faithfulness of God, who has solemnly declared, that "though hand be joined in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished;" and that though heaven and earth pass away, his word shall be fulfilled. Which of us has not reproached the righteousness of the Supreme Ruler of the universe, and ventured to say, when things have not been according to our mind, O that I were judge!

We have not only contemned the divine perfections, but we have violated the Divine laws. The great and glorious Governor of the world has been pleased to give us laws which are holy and just and good,-holy as they contain a perfect transcript of his immaculate purity, an explicit declaration of his holy will-just in all its demands, as they are unquestionably equitableand good as they require whatever is excellent and praiseworthy, and prohibit every thing that is evil and pernicious. The law of the Lord is admirably suited to our human nature, well adapted to our present circumstances, being designed to regulate not only our external conduct, but the inward movements of our minds and our inward affections, and to promote our true happiness and comfort. This law we have ventured to transgress. We have refused obedience to those divine commands which in our hearts we cannot but approve, and which require those things which are good and profitable for us.

We have abused the Divine mercies. These have been many and greatthey have been renewed every morning-they have been continued throughout the day. By divine mercy we have been supported and sustained in the midst of dangers, tribulations, and afflictions. We have not been left to sink under our trouble. God has