But, while the unthinking amuse themselves with the splendid apparatus of war, and more solid minds sadly ruminate on its dreadful necessity, every good man must deplore its inevitable consequences. Το say nothing of the scarcity of provisions, which it may occasion; the demand upon property; the sweeping away the flower of the youth and strength of a nation, and appointing them like so many sheep for the slaughter-to say nothing of the miseries attending war from fatigue, famine, contagion, dangers, and mortal diseases, as well as from the swordnot to mention the grey hairs of parents brought in sorrow to the grave; nor the deeper sorrows of bereaved widows and their fatherless children:― I say, passing by these-I would call your attention, as members of a Christian Church, to the consideration of the vast multitudes of your fellow-creatures plunged at a stroke into eternity; and plunged at a moment, when the spirit of war has roused their minds to violence and revenge little short of fury.

Let none mistake me here, as if I meant to reflect on the profession or heart of a soldier, as such.

He may be, and he often is, a man of the most humane and generous feelings: and such an one will be found weeping over the miseries, which he must, as a soldier, inflict. A soldier, who, like the brave Col, Gardiner, unites piety and hu

manity with the most determined courage, stands among the first of human characters. It must be evident, therefore, that I am speaking, not of the defect of the man, but of the nature and tendency of WAR, and of its ordinary effects as a sore judgment.

But the appearance of Armed Citizens naturally calls my recollection to that part of war, which is attended with accumulated horrors: I speak of INVASION. It is this destination of the sword, that the present prophecy particularly regards. Before Pharaoh, the Invader, smote Gaza, the prophet predicts that waters, the prophetical figure for a great multitude, should rise up out of the north-that an overflowing flood should overflow the land and all that was therein-that the inhabitants of it should howl at the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels; and such should be the general consternation of that day, that even fathers should not look back to their children for feebleness of hands— You, who are parents, will feel, with me, that a stronger image than this could not be used, to express terror in the extreme.

If the most ordinary conception did not exceed any description, it would be sufficient to recollect facts, even of our own times, respecting a country subjugated by war. The Scriptures describe almost literally-the field wasted-the land mourn

ing the inhabitants trembling-a fire devouring before the enemy, and behind them a flame burning -the land, as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness-all hands fainting, and every man's heart melting: pangs taking hold of them as a woman that travaileth-they stand amazed at one another-Well, therefore, may this be called the day of the Lord's anger; great, and very terrible; and who can abide it?

But, would to God, this were the worst that could be said of the sore judgment which we now consider! There is something yet worse than the plunder of the ruffian-than the outrage of the ravisher-than the stab of the murderer. These are, comparatively, but the momentary evils of war. There is, also, (as all history, as well as that of our own times, will shew,) a shocking moral appendage which naturally grows out of national conflict, though it may be occasionally restrained. For, instead of listening to the counsels of divine mercy, and concurring in the design of a Kingdom of Heaven set up on earth in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; the spirit of warlike discord tends to intomb every such idea. It rather tends to set up something like a kingdom of Hell-a reign of violence, where destruction is the grand enterprise; where the means of death and desolation are cultivated as a science; where invention is racked to produce ruin, and the performance of it is ennobled by

public applause. Moloch seems once more enthroned: while ambition, revenge, and oppression erect their banners amidst groans and tears; amidst cities desolated, or smoking in their ashes.

If, therefore, we contemplate this sore judgment in a moral view, it appears to be an incomparably greater calamity than either pestilence or famine. I must, therefore, repeat the distinction already made, that, however lawful and necessary the recourse to arms may be in times like ours, yet such is WAR; and such it appears, my Fellow Citizens, you have considered it in thus forming yourselves into a band to prevent its ravages. What is all the military toil, expense, and preparation, which I see, but your efforts to prevent what I describe and deplore? If you take arms, it is only to preserve peace. If you draw the sword, it is that the sword of an aggressor may be returned to its scabbard. You do but arrest the hand, which seizes a weapon; and from what I now advance, you will, I trust, be more ready to arrest it. We, therefore, perfectly agree in de sign; and may God accept, this day, our joint endeavours!

But, to pursue our subject. We shall find this day of vengeance darken as we proceed in the examination, since it tends to eclipse the only ray of hope sent to cheer a perishing sinner. Its storms roughen his path to a better country, and deprive him of his appointed supports in the way.

-Ah! heavenly RELIGION, holy, humble, benevolent, travelling to a city wherein dwelleth righteousness, where shall rest be found for the sole of thy foot whilst war is ravaging the earth?True Religion, like her Prophet, is very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts; but the sons of violence despise his covenant, throw down his altars, and slay his prophets with the sword: in the mean time, she wanders a stranger; listening, after the earthquake and the fire, to a still small voice, Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. Let us thus listen, my FellowWorshippers, in this House of Prayer, till the sword is returned to its scabbard; remembering, at the worst, that it is a sword in the hand of our Father.

You will say, "This view of the sword is horrible, in the extreme; though such extreme cases do not always occur."

I must beg your attention, while I correct this sentiment; and prove, that the sore judgment of War has not yet been shewn in the extreme.

The Prophet looked far beyond the hand of man when he exclaimed, O thou sword of the Lord when wilt thou be quiet? In the hand of man, however ambitious and cruel, the sword may sometimes be resisted. Caprice or interest may sheath the sword of a tyrant: a moment may sink him, like Pharaoh, as lead in the mighty