gives us a ground for hoping that we shall not be given up to ruin and desolation. There are, I apprehend, several zealous Christians in the superior orders of the community; a larger, perhaps an increasing, number may be found among the mi nisters of religion; and a considerable remnant in the middle and lower ranks of society. How far the whole multitude of them are, this day, in their closets, families, and publick congregations, employed in those duties, to which the royal proclamation hath so seasonably called us, can only be known by the heart-searching GOD. But as ten righteous persons would have sufficed for the preservation of Sodom; and as "the LORD delighteth "in mercy," we may humbly hope that he will only correct, and not destroy, us.

III. What then may we reasonably expect that the LORD will do "for his name's sake," if he graciously accept our prayers in behalf of this guilty land? As the prophet only requested the removal of the visitation under which Judah then groaned so we should merely expect deliverance from deserved and threatened judgments. But should any man feel a vindictive spirit, excited by the enormous crimes and unprovoked injuries of our enemies; should he stand prepared to rejoice in their calamities, and imagine that the LORD will answer prayers suggested by this disposition: let him remember him who said to his disciples,

(when they were desirous of avenging his cause on the Samaritans by fire from heaven,) "Ye "know not what manner of spirit ye are of; for "the Son of man is not come to destroy men's "lives, but to save them: "" We may indeed beseech the LORD to confound the devices' of those who seek our ruin; and we may adore his righteous sovreignty, when he executes vengeance on them: but we ought rather to desire, that he would abate their pride, assuage their malice,' and turn their hearts, and transfer the authority to those among them who are disposed to peace.— Victory is often needful to the termination of war: but as all men, in every land are sinners; and as "after death is the judgment," and an eternal state of retribution; so every soldier, that is slain in either army, is a sinner transmitted to the tribunal of his Judge, and commonly in the worst state of mind that can be imagined; not to speak of the miseries occasioned to the mourning relatives of the dead. In this view the most splendid victory suggests many painful reflections to the pious mind, however actuated by genuine patriotism; and even our thankful praises, for such answers to our fervent prayers, must be mingled with tears of commiseration dropt over the miseries of this sinful world.

Should another say in his heart, If the hostile and rival nation, that now menaces us, be abased; 'Luke ix. 52-56.

'if her resources be exhausted, her wealth drained, 'her cities and villages depopulated, her trade 'ruined, and her military prowess enfeebled, this

country will derive proportionable advantage 'from that event: we shall then be advanced in 'the scale of political importance our commerce 'will be more extended than ever; wealth will 'flow in upon us; we shall be able to hold the 'balance of power; nay, we may perhaps give law 'to the surrounding nations.' Let not, I say, that man presume to infuse this selfish and rapacious spirit into his prayers to Him, who commands us to "love our neighbour as ourselves." "He that rejoiceth at calamities shall not be un"punished." Tyre of old thus exulted over the desolations of Jerusalem, saying, "I shall be replenished now she is laid waste:" but "the "LORD heard, and it displeased him;" for this he denounced the doom of Tyre also: and that once flourishing city, now made "like the top of a “rock, and a place for the spreading of nets," remains a perpetual warning to all who regard the bible, not not thus "to covet their neighbour's

"goods.'"

Or should any one suffer his mind to be inflated with the vain-glorious desire of splendid conquests, the acquisition of cities and provinces, or the renown and spoils of successful war; let him not vainly suppose that the honour of God is con

'Prov. xvii. 5. xxiv. 17, 18. Ezek. xxvi. 2-6. 14. VOL. II.

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cerned in answering prayers to this effect. As "he "abhorreth the covetous," so "the things that

are highly esteemed among men, are abomina"tion in his sight;" and none more than the bloody triumphs, and usurped domination of ambitious conquerors; for whom thousands or millions must bleed, that they may be celebrated and exalted! Nor is this spirit less odious in communities, than in princes: the Roman patriotism, in the most illustrious ages of the republick was, in this respect, as contrary to genuine philanthropy, as the projects of the most aspiring monarch that was ever raised up to scourge mankind.

What then should be the objects of our desires and prayers at this time? What does it become a people, whose "iniquities testify against them," to expect from the LORD, "for his name's sake?" We may, I apprehend, beseech him "who stilleth "the raging of the sea and the madness of the

people" to preserve us from the fatal effects of popular phrensy; from insurrections, revolutions, and civil wars; and from all those internal convulsions, massacres, and cruel oppressions, which waste the nation that hath declared war against us. We may intreat the LORD to preserve to us the blessings of that free constitution, which has been formed by the wisdom and experience of successive ages, availing themselves of manifold providential interpositions; and which we may reasonably despair of seeing equalled by the

combined genius and sagacity of any single generation. Like all other things here on earth, it is doubtless liable to imperfection and abuse; which temperate counsels in peaceful times may remedy and obviate but it affords more real liberty of every kind to the whole multitude of the people, than was ever yet enjoyed by all the inhabitants of any city or country in the world: and he who undervalues those things which are highly advantageous, because they are not absolutely perfect, is not qualified to live among men on earth. We may beg of GoD to shower down his blessings on our Sovereign, and on all his ministers and counsellors; and to direct them and the parliament to such wise and salutary measures, as he may see good to prosper for the preservation of our domestick tranquillity, protection from foreign invasions, and the restoration of peace to all the contending nations: that he would dispose the hearts of all parties to hearken to moderate and equitable conditions; that further effusion of human blood may be prevented; that he would preserve our favoured land from becoming the seat of horrid war, the desolations of which who can sufficiently deplore? That he would defend us from famine and pestilence; and (whatever he shall appoint, in respect of our excessive and abused wealth and prosperity,) that he would not suffer our commerce and manufactures to be so ruined, as to deprive the poor of employment