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his church and nation against their enemies by his prayers, deserts his post, and leaves, for his part, the coast defenceless. One has as good a right and reason to desert his post as another: if all desert, if none remain to make intercession, we are defenceless indeed. But if each christian abounds in this duty, our cause shall certainly prosper. Pray then, my brethren, each of you, under this persuasion, that you are one of a numerous army of supplicants dispersed all over the land; and unitedly intreat the LORD to preserve peace, to revive religion, to reform our manners. Intreat him to bless your king and his family, with all the blessings of time and eternity; and to continue his descendants a blessing to these lands for generations to come. Intreat the LORD to impart his grace to our princes and nobles, that they may improve their greatness, wealth, and influence, to promote and adorn true religion. Pray that magistrates may be indeed" for a terror to evil doers, "and for the praise of them that do well:" that ministers of the gospel may be endowed with knowledge and wisdom, judgment and experience, boldness and faithfulness, humility and holiness, zeal and love. Did you pray more for us, we should live more holy lives, preach more powerfully, and be blessed more abundantly with extensive usefulness, Pray the LORD of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest: pray for the conversion

of wicked clergymen, those blind leaders of the blind pray for the rising generation of ministers, that they may be furnished and prepared for the work and charge, that is about to devolve on them: pray for the places of education of our youth, publick and private; that men may thence come forth qualified, and disposed to serve God in church and state; and that the rising generation may be trained up to godliness and honesty: pray that bigotry, superstition, error, and real enthusiasm, may cease; that offences and divisions may be prevented; that all true christians may love one another with a pure heart, fervently; may adorn the gospel by exemplary lives; be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory; and strive together for the faith of the gospel. Pray for your children, relations, neighbours, benefactors, and enemies, be sure not to forget them. Pray for the spread of the gospel, the fall of antichrist, the calling of the Gentiles, the conversion of the Jews, and the universal prevalence of true religion. Finally, my brethren, pray for the unworthy author of this exhortation, that both by his life and doctrine he may set forth the true and lively word of GOD, and when death comes, may be found so doing.

5. Perhaps, at the time alluded to, you did not heartily pray, but have since been taught to pray: well then, you have double cause for thankfulness:

you partake of many blessings in answer to pray-. er, though you never joined in seeking them by prayer. Be not then now negligent in thanksgiving, though you were in praying; and henceforth forget not to unite your requests for national mercies, with those of that army of supplicants, of divers denominations, who are indeed the bulwark of the land.

Finally-Do any continue impenitent and ungodly? I fear I shall exhort you to gratitude in vain if you neglect prayer, I fear you will have as little heart to praise and thanksgiving, though you have abundant cause. But two hints I will leave with you: though you despise spiritual blessings, you value temporal blessings inordinately. In answer to prayer, these are continued to our land, and to you among the rest. Do not then revile and ill-treat your praying neighbours, to whom under God you are indebted for your share of national security. And remember, that although, through the intercession of others, you may escape temporal calamities during life: yet death will come shortly; and then if you be found impenitent, the most tremendous earthly judgments, in comparison of your eternal portion, will be known to be but light afflictions, and but for a moment. "The "hand of the LORD shall find out all his enemies; "his right hand shall find out them that hate him. He shall make them as a fiery oven in

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"the time of his anger. "-" Seek then the LORD, "while he may be found; call upon him while he "is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and "the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our GOD, and he will abundantly pardon."

SERMON II.1.

EZEKIEL XX. 22.

Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen.

IT is of great importance that christians should

possess a distinct and comprehensive knowledge of the doctrine of scripture, in respect of God's providential dealings with nations who enjoy the light of revelation, and of their own duty in this particular. For this would supersede a variety of questions and discussions, which prevent numbers from joining cordially either in prayer for publick mercies, or thanksgiving for them when evidently Vouchsafed. It would teach them to consider all creatures as instruments in the hand of him "who "worketh all things after the counsel of his own

will;" and shew, that humiliation before him for sin, or gratitude for unmerited comforts, has nothing to do with approbation, or disapprobation

'Preached at the Lock Chapel, Nov. 29, 1798.

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