ravaged by fierce invaders; all our comforts and hopeful prospects might have been removed, and every conceivable distress accumulated. We ought therefore to own the mercy of GoD in exempting us from the most excruciating anguish that can rend the human heart. Nay we should remember the words of the Psalmist, "I know, "O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and thou "in faithfulness hast afflicted me.'" Corrections are needful, and are promised as blessings: when we pray for humility, a spiritual mind, increase of faith, and holiness; we in effect pray for chastisement: and we should therefore acknowledge the faithfulness of GOD to his promises, and his wisdom and love in answering our prayers, in a way we did not expect, but which was best suited to promote our most important advantages.

II. We proceed to shew, that it is our duty and wisdom under affliction to turn to God and to seek his favour.

If men smite us we may resist or retaliate; we may flee, or attempt to hide ourselves: but we cannot resist omnipotence, or conceal ourselves from him who is omniscient. Neither can we stand before him in judgment, or justify our conduct in his sight so that we have no possible way of escaping his righteous vengeance, except by fleeing

! Ps. cxix. 75.

for refuge to lay hold of his mercy.-Whether the LORD Contend with an individual or a nation, he will overcome; and he will continue to smite till we turn unto him. Obstinate impenitence is therefore a species of ins nity: it is a perverseness which prolongs misery, and provokes the LORD to lay aside his chastening rod, and take his avenging sword. "When I kept silence, my bones waxed "old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine "iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my "transgression unto the LORD and thou forgavest "the iniquity of my sins."" The LORD still "waiteth to be gracious:" he may be found upon the mercy-seat through JESUS CHRIST by the cry of penitent faith; and he never casts out those who humbly call upon him. Let us hear his words by the prophet. "I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, "and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, "even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, "and none shall rescue.-I will go and return to my place; till they acknowledge their offence "and seek my face: in their affliction they will "seek me early. Come and let us return unto the "LORD: for he hath torn and he will heal us. He "hath smitten and he will bind us up." Thus likewise by the same prophet, "O Israel

be

says

'Ps. xxxii. 3-5.

* Hosea, v. 14,

15. vi. 1.

"return unto the LORD thy GOD; for thou hast "fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, "and turn unto the LORD: say unto him, take "away all iniquity and receive us graciously so "will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur "shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses; "neither will we say any more to the work of our "hands, ye are our gods; for in thee the fatherless "findeth mercy. I will heal their backsliding, I "will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.'”

But another prophet more directly inculcates the duty of a nation under great distress. "There"fore now also, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me "with all your heart, and with fasting, and with

weeping, and with mourning: and rend your "heart, and not your garments, and turn unto "the LORD your GOD; for he is gracious and "merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, "and repenteth him of the evil.--Blow the

trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a so"lemn assembly. Gather the people, sanctify "the congregation, assemble the elders, gather "the children and those that suck the breasts; "let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and "and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, "the ministers of the LORD, weep between the "porch and the altar; and let them say, Spare thy "people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to I Hosca, xiv. 1—4,

"reproach; wherefore should they say among "the people, where is their GOD? Then will the "LORD be jealous for his land and pity his peo"ple."-You see, my brethren, that the ordinances of this day are most perfectly scriptural, and that all orders of men are in duty bound to attend on them: nor will the misconduct of any persons whatever exculpate those who neglect them. Assuredly the LORD will not condemn us, however men may censure us, for complying exactly with the proclamation of our sovereign, provided our services be not hypocritical.

The passage that hath been read, demands our most particular attention: for it teaches us in what manner a people should "turn to him that smiteth "them." We must return to him with all our heart, with unfeigned submission to his righteousness, and repentance of our sins; praying earnestly, "Turn thou us, and so shall we be turned:" "Create in us a clean heart, and re"new

new a right spirit within us." This should be accompanied with fasting, and other tokens of humiliation. Abstinence from every animal indulgence, and from food as far as health and circumstances will admit, is a scriptural acknowledgment, that we have forfeited our most common mercies, and that sin hath embittered them to us. It implies that our minds are too much occupied

1 Joel, ii. 12-18.

with matters of the highest importance, to attend on such low concerns; that we wish to avoid all interruption of our sacred duties; that we mean to afflict ourselves with fasting, as a token of our submission to the LORD's correcting hand; and that we would use all means of crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts.

If we be indeed suitably affected with the consideration of our own sins, and the crimes and miseries of our countrymen; we shall turn to the LORD with that "godly sorrow which worketh

repentance unto salvation not to be repented of." Outward expressions, however emphatical, will not suffice; we shall rend our hearts in deep contrition and self-abasement, perceiving that we have no hope but in unmerited mercy, which we shall supplicate with fervency and importunity. And when princes, senators, magistrates, ministers of religion, and the people in general, laying aside all other employments, unite in thus humbly seeking the LORD of Hosts, a crisis may be expected in publick affairs. "Then will the LORD be jea"lous for his land, and pity his people.”

In this manner the king of Nineveh and his nobles, with all the inhabitants of that immense city, sought the LORD when he threatened to smite them; encouraged merely by a peradventure, "Who can tell, if God will turn and repent, "and turn away from his fierce anger that