of men or measures; except as in case of approbation there is additional cause for gratitude, in case of disapprobation for deeper humiliation.'

Let it then be allowed, (and who can deny it?) that this nation has been peculiarly favoured by a merciful Providence: and waving, but by no means yielding, the question concerning publick measures, I would ask such as continue dissatisfied, whether Elijah was the less bound to thank the LORD for his daily provision, because it was sent him by ravens? whether David did wrong in blessing GOD for seasonable deliverance from the rage of Saul, because he could not approve the conduct of the Philistines, whose sudden invasion called away his persecutor?-or whether the primitive Christians, during three hundred years under pagan emperors, generally of very bad character, and most of them persecutors, were never called on to thank the LORD for their share in publick peace, or exemption from national calamities? Alas, in how few ages and places, if this reserve be admitted, have Christians been so much as required to be thankful for national mercies! How small a tribute of praise must our gracious GoD receive from his whole church in this behalf!

My brethren, we do not meet together at this time to enquire what men have been doing; but what the LORD hath done for us as a guilty nation. 'He hath not dealt with us according to our sins,

12 Sam. xxiv. 1. 2 Chron. ii. 11.

'neither hath he rewarded us after our iniquities:' but "he hath withdrawn his hand, and wrougn "for his name's sake, that it should not be pol"luted in the sight of the heathen." In prosecuting this subject, I shall,

I. Make some brief observations on the text, as illustrated by the LORD's dealings with the nation of Israel.

II. More fully consider the words as applicable to the present circumstances of this our favoured land.

I. Then, I shall make some brief observations on the text, as illustrated by the LORD's dealings with the nation of Israel.

If we carefully weigh the import of a few remarkable passages of scripture, we shall find them throw much light on the subject, and prepare the way for all our subsequent enquiries. When Israel had made and worshipped the golden calf, the LORD said to Moses, "Now therefore let me alone, "that my wrath may wax hot against them, and "that I may consume them; and I will make of

thee a great nation And Moses besought the "LORD his GOD, and said, Why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt, with 46 great power and with a mighty hand? Where

"fore should the Egyptians speak and say, For "mischief did he bring them out to slay them in "the mountains? Turn from thy fierce wrath "and repent of this evil against thy people. Re"member Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own 'self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your "seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that "I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and 'they shall inherit it for ever. And the LORD re

pented of the evil, which he thought to do unto "his people." On this occasion, you perceive that he "withdrew his hand and wrought for his "name's sake."

When the Israelites "despised the pleasant land, "and believed not the word of the LORD," He said to Moses, "I will smite them with the pesti"lence, and disinherit them."-And Moses said unto the LORD " Then the Egyptians shall hear of

it; for thou broughtest this people by thy might "from among them: and they will tell it to the "inhabitants of this land; for they have heard that "thou, LORD, art among this people, that thou, "LORD, art seen face to face, and that thy cloud "standeth over them, and that thou goest before

them, by day-time in a pillar of a cloud, and in

a pillar of fire by night.--Now if thou shalt kill "all this people, as oue man; then the nations "which have heard the fame of thee, will speak,

'Ex. xxxii. 9-14.

saying, because the LORD was not able to bring "this people into the land which he sware unto 66 them, therefore he hath slain them in the wil"derness.'" In answer to this supplication "the "LORD again withdrew his hand, and wrought for "his name's sake, that it should not be polluted in "the sight of the heathen.'

Joshua also pleaded in the same manner, when some of the people were slain by the men of Ai. “O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth "their backs before their enemies? For the Can"aanites, and the inhabitants of the land, shall "hear of it, and shall environ us round, and shall "cut off our name from the earth; and what wilt "thou do unto thy great name?""

The pious and animated address of David to Goliath was made at a time, when the conduct and measures of King Saul could not but be justly disapproved by all pious Israelites: yet he assigned the same reason, why the LORD would deliver Goliath into his hand, and the Philistines into the hands of Israel, namely, "that all the earth may "know that there is a GOD in Israel. ""-Hezekiah's plea, in prayer for deliverance from Sennacherib and the Assyrians, was this, "that all the king"doms of the earth may know, that thou art the "LORD GOD, even thou only.4"

The plea of Jeremiah, during a terrible drought,

2

'Numb. xiv. 11-23. Josh. vii. 7-9. 31 Sam. xvii, 45—47. 42 Kings xix, 15-19.

"O LORD, though our iniquities testify against 66 us, do it for thy name's sake;'" and that of Daniel during the Babylonish captivity, with very many others which might be adduced, abundantly teach us, that Israel, even when deserving the severest vengeance, was frequently placed in such circumstances, that the honour of GOD was concerned in sparing and delivering them.

The chapter, whence the text is chosen, introduces JEHOVAH recapitulating to the prophet, a variety of instances of this kind, and repeatedly subjoining, "But I wrought for my name's sake, that "it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were. From this recapitula

tion we may observe, that GoD had called Abraham; and had engaged to him, by covenant and by oath, to render his posterity exceedingly numerous, to give them the land of Canaan, and to raise up the Messiah from among them: and that he had ratified this engagement in the same manner to Isaac and Jacob. But when the descendants of these patriarchs had been increased to a vast multitude in Egypt, they had so degenerated from the piety of their ancestors, and had become so vile by their iniquities and idolatries, that they justly deserved destruction, at the very time when God had purposed their deliverance. Yet if he had cut them off by some tremendous judgment, or left them in Egyptian bondage; the