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off and commend the rich mercy of God in sparing and delivering us. We do not indeed wish to palliate the crimes of our enemies, which have been most enormous: but are there not with us also

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"sins against the LORD our God," of a very aggravated nature? Sins not in the least repented. of, but obstinately persisted in, against the fullest conviction, and the most solemn warnings? And, considering all our religious advantages, it is not easy for us to determine which nation has most deeply provoked the anger of Almighty God.-We may indeed adopt the words of Moses to Israel-" Speak thou not in thine heart, after that "the LORD thy God hath cast them out from be"fore thee, saying, for my righteousness the LORD "hath brought me in to possess this land. But "for the wickedness of these nations the LORD "doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, nor for the uprightness of

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thy heart, dost thou go in to possess the land; "but for the wickedness of these nations the "LORD thy God doth drive them out from before "thee." Many reasons might be assigned, why God should interpose in our behalf, for the honour of his own name: yet our national character and conduct, as in any sense entitling us to such a favour, is not one of them: but they are all exactly similar to those assigned in the chapter of our text,

'Deut. ix. 5-8.

why he spared Israel, while their sins called loudly for his vengeance upon them.

It hath pleased our gracious God to send the light of his gospel into this land: and, notwithstanding all our heinous crimes, we have not by any national act renounced the profession of Christianity. On the contrary, the holy scriptures are so far had in honour, that they are by authority read continually in every part of the land; and by various ways copies of them are multiplied, and dispersed among all ranks in the community. Some degree of regard is still paid to the holy day of Cod; and very many instances, in which it is profaned, directly violate the law of the land, as well as break God's commandment; while provision is also made, that publick worship should be every where maintained, and divine ordinances regularly administered. These things, in some circumstances, might avail us very little, if at all; and no doubt they tend exceedingly to aggravate the guilt of multitudes. But we are now contending with an enemy, which hath, by publick national acts virtually abrogated the christian sabbath, treated the scriptures with marked contempt, and almost wholly renounced Christianity: while many of the principal actors in these scenes have vented the most daring blasphemies against the Lord Jesus himself; nay have, in the very senate, uttered with general approbation, the language of the most unqualified atheism! Now if God should

permit this people, in such a spirit, to succeed in their designs against our land; they would be emboldened in their impiety, insult over our religion, and consider themselves as prospered in their determination to cast off the yoke of Christ, and subvert his cause in the world. If therefore, the LORD should at length determine to punish us according to our deserts; it seems probable, that he will not employ our present enemies for that purpose; or that he will previously reduce them to another state of mind, and lead those in authority to protest against the blasphemies, and repeal the laws, of their predecessors, against Christ and his holy religion. "I said I would "scatter them into corners, I would make the "remembrance of them to cease from among men: "were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, "lest their adversaries should behave themselves

strangely; and lest they should say, our hand "is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.""

The Assyrians not only conquered the surrounding Gentile nations, but likewise the idolatrous kingdom of Israel; and Sennacherib thought he had prevailed against the God of Israel: but when he attacked Judah, where true religion was supported and countenanced by authority; the honour of JEHOVAH was concerned in effectually silencing the boastings and blasphemies of the insulting invader, notwithstanding

'Deut. xxxii. 22-28.

the hypocrisy and enormous wickedness of great numbers of the Jewish nation.

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I cannot on this occasion conceal the satisfaction I felt in comparing the letter of our British admiral, with the dispatches from the French gene ral in Egypt, which arrived about the same time, 'It hath pleased Almighty God to give a great victory to his Majesty's fleet,' says the victorious Nelson, whose courage and conduct have excited universal admiration; thus rationally ascribing the glory to the Lord of hosts himself: on the other hand, the French commander states, that (in waging war against superstition,) he and his soldiers unite in the celebration of Mahometan festicals he throws the blame of the defeat of the French fleet on the destinies; yet, speaking of Fortune as a real person, he makes her his deity, and says, she favoured him as long as it was necessary! So long as God is thus openly acknowledged by us, and despised or defied by our enemies; we may hope, that, "he will withdraw his

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hand, and work for his name's sake, that it "should not be polluted in the sight of the hea "then."

From the æra of the Reformation to this present time, it hath pleased God to make this nation one principal support of the Protestant religion; which may be considered, with, alas! not many exceptions, as the cause of Christianity itself. On this account likewise his glory hath been con

cerned in our protection; formerly against the vehement assaults of popish powers, and lately against the designs of infidels and atheists for could either of these parties have accomplished their avowed designs respecting us; the interests of true religion in Europe would, as far as we can see, have been greatly endangered. The LORD hath indeed frequently made use of these enemies for our severe correction: yet "he hath not de"livered us over as a prey unto their teeth." But how long our preservation may be necessary for the accomplishment of his wise and righteous purposes, we cannot tell and, unless a great change should take place in our national character, he will, when his plan no longer requires us, cast us off; as he did the Jews after the coming of Christ, and the propagation of the gospel among the Gentiles.

There is likewise in these nations, as there was in Israel of old even in the worst of times, a remnant of true believers; and this little flock enjoys security and liberty of conscience. Now it is reasonable to suppose, that the honour of God is, in many cases at least, concerned, to defend a country where his people are protected and countenanced. Indeed it may be questioned whether any nation can be said to have filled up its measure of iniquity, while a considerable number of true believers remain in it, and are unmolested by per secution. The Christians had long been cruelly

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