ably fear, that the LORD's vineyard will be laid waste, and only bear thorns and briers; and, in that case, he will surely "command the clouds to "rain no rain upon it.""

Such of us, as are past the meridian of life, may perhaps hope, that the light will not be removed in our days; but we may well tremble for our children, lest they should be left, as a part of this guilty nation, to prefer man's devices to the sure testimony of GoD: and lest the candlestick should be removed from this land, after the example of the churches of Asia. This spiritual judgment is more to be feared than war, famine, or pestilence; than subjection to a foreign conqueror, or a domestick tyrant; nay, than the fury of an ungovernable multitude, the horrors of anarchy, and the cruelties of factions contending with, and by turns prevailing against, and wreaking their vengeance on, each other. But if the LORD be provoked to withdraw his gospel, he will depart from us in other respects, and "woe be to us, if he depart "from us."

It is vain to say that ministers in former times have dolefully foreboded the same thing, and yet we are preserved and prosper. "Because sentence

against an evil work is not executed speedily; "therefore the hearts of the sons of men are "wholly set in them to do evil." Doubtless the unbelieving Israelites would urge the same objec

'Heb. vi. 7, 8.

2 Rev. ii. iii. 3 Eccles. viii. 11.

tion against the messages of the prophets, when the threatened vengeance was mercifully delayed: no wonder then, if," in these last days,there are scof"fers, walking after their own lusts; and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?" "But though the LORD be long suffering and slow to anger, he will by no means acquit the wicked:" and he will surprise them by his judgments, when they least expect them. If we decide about the time when national punishment will be inflicted, we exceed our commission: but if we declare, that

except we repent we shall perish," as Israel did, we only say what the LORD hath commanded us. Many a time did he deliver his ancient people, when they "provoked him with his counsel, and were brought low by their iniquity;" yet, at length, "wrath came upon them to the uttermost;" and so it will upon us, if we copy their example, and do not use proper means of averting his indignation. And this leads me to enquire,

V. What withholds these judgments at present, and prolongs our national mercies?

I would not willingly aggravate, or palliate any thing in our national character; but would impartially and simply state the doctrine of God's word on this important question, so far as I am capable of discovering it. We may, therefore, safely allow, that there is a bright, as well as a dark side,

belonging to our subject; and it is far more agreeable to discuss this, than some of the preceding topicks. Our measure of iniquity, alas! fills apace; but it is not yet full: nay, many favourable circumstances may be descried, which give some ground for hope, that we may yet be preserved; if by any means a proper attention to the important concern can be excited in the minds of the inhabitants of our favoured land.

1. Then, we observe with heart felt satisfaction, that persecution of the church of CHRIST is no part of our national guilt: at least should any defects in our laws be called by so harsh a name, we may rejoice, that a blessed inexperience of greater severities occasions our noticing such trivial deviations from the system of complete toleration, which hath been introduced among us.

When God hath a number of spiritual worshippers in any country, and they are permitted to live unmolested, and to follow the dictates of their consciences in his service; I apprehend, that something must still be wanting to render that nation ripe for vengeance; and that the prayers offered by believers, for the peace of the land in which they enjoy peace, will continue to prevail, until they be removed from the evil to come; or until a departure from tolerating principles drive them away, or bring them under the yoke of oppression. Herod, to his other crimes, added yet this above all,

that he shut up John Baptist in prison and put him to death. It was the principal charge brought against the nation of Israel, that they murdered the LORD's prophets, and persecuted his faithful servants and the crucifixion of CHRIST, with the violent rage and cruel enmity of the Jews against his disciples, filled up the measure of their iniquity, when wrath came upon them to the uttermost: nay, the abominations of mystick Babylon would not have been complete, had she not been "drunken "with the blood of the saints, and of the martyrs "of Jesus." We may, therefore, consider the tolerating spirit that at present prevails in our land, as a very favourable circumstance, and an encouJagement and obligation to pray for the continuance of its peace and prosperity.

2. We may remark, that christianity, as it hath of late years been displayed among us has produced great effects in rectifying the judgments, and in some things meliorating the dispositions of vast multitudes, who are very far from being the genuine disciples of the LORD JESUS. that humanity and philanthropy constitute a part of our national character, as it is displayed at home: would to GOD, it were equally manifest and undeniable in all our concerns with other nations, throughout the whole earth!

Hence it arises,

However, the benevolence and liberality, with which distress in every form obtains relief in

Britain, should be noticed with due commendation, and cordial satisfaction: and this benign and friendly spirit hath lately been very honourably exercised, in the hospitable entertainment given to the poor destitute outcasts, who have sought an asylum in this country, and who by nation and religion might have been considered as inimical to

us.

We are not indeed authorized to expect, that liberality, when unconnected with repentance, faith, love to CHRIST, and true holiness, will be a man's passport to heaven; for, those acts of kindness, which the Judge will adduce at the great day, as the reason of his people's admission to their inheritance, are evidently such as spring from faith in him, working by love, and manifesting itself by kindness to his disciples for his sake.— Nevertheless we may hope that the LORD will recompense the mercy shewn to the poor in this land, "by the lengthening of our tranquillity,'" for he commonly rewards external services with temporal benefits; even when he disapproves of the motives and principles from which they result."

3. The infidelity, impiety, perjuries, oppressions, and cruelties, before enumerated, have not been let pass, without a solemn and earnest protest being entered against them, both in the senate, and from the pulpit and the press: and this helps to 1 Kings. xxi. 29.

I Dan. iv. 27.