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^.-^•c^. 
 
 T^^af mem yotf,^ Bg tpis Sermcef 
 
 
 tj E 5 T I O 
 
 r, 
 I'rop'^sed and DisctrssfiBi 
 
 % IN A 
 
 S ]5 R M O 
 
 PREACHED ON THE LATE 
 
 E; N E R A L F ii S ,T* 
 
 .Bi? j O H N JVI A R T i k 
 
 L *N D O N! 
 
 ^ Printed by Richard Hett; 
 
 |And Sold by J. Btfe|tJ.AND, in Pater-nofter-Row^ %r 
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 ^^ -^M.DCC.LXXXir. 
 
 tP**CE SlX-PENCf.) -^ 
 
Exodus Xllth. . 26, .i r 
 ' JFhat mean you by this Service ? 
 
 IT was t'orefeen', that the children of If- 
 rael, when called; to the annual folem- 
 nity of the paflbveF, would afk their im- 
 mediate parents, what they meant by that 
 fervice : who were commanded to give 
 them a plain and prosper anfwer. " Ye 
 " fhall fay, it is the faprifice of the Lord's 
 *' paflbver, who paffed over the houfes of 
 ♦* the children of Ifrael in Egypt, when 
 '* he fmote the Egyptians, and delivered 
 *• our houfes." , ' ., - . , 
 
 <^- ; 
 
 I ACKNOWLEDGE, it would be impro- 
 per for me, at this time, to treat profef- 
 fedly of the Jewifh paflbver. But, I hope, 
 I (hall not incur the charge of being impru- 
 dent, if I take the, liberty to introduce frpm 
 thefe words, the following obfervations : 
 
 I WOULD firft obferve, that thofe fer^ 
 vices which are of divine appointment, are- 
 fignificant, and replete with meaning; and,- 
 
 A z that 
 
[ 4 ] 
 
 that flaey who regard them, fliould enq^i^e^ 
 what was originally intended by fuch fo- 
 lemn fer vices. 
 
 I WOULD further obferve, That when we, 
 ourfclves, practically regard any inftitution, 
 which we believe to be Divine, we have 
 fome end in view; and, that it becomes u^ 
 to confider, whether that which we mean 
 by our obedience, accords and coincide^ 
 with the meaning of the Moft High. 
 
 Enquiries like thefe, claim our atten- 
 tion in every duty: not lefs under the pre- 
 fejit difpenfation of the gofpel, than if we 
 had exifted under the part. — If then, in 
 every fervice, fuch queftiohs defervc our 
 notice, ought we not, in fo fingular and 
 folemn a fervice as this, to afk ourfelves 
 what we mean, and with what view we 
 are come together on this occafion ? 
 
 Fasting and prayer are of Divine ap-r 
 pointment. In this light, the firft and 
 beft of men, in every age, have occafionally 
 attended to thefe duties. " Sandify a faft, 
 " call a folemn affembly ; gather the el- 
 " ders, and all the inhabitants of the land 
 " into the houfe of the Lord your God, 
 p " and 
 
[ 5 1 
 
 ** and cry untp thi^ Lord*;" this Is the 
 language of th6 OJid-Teftament. ** As 
 ** they minifteredUo iht Lord, and faft- 
 ** ed-j-," is the language of the New. 
 
 It is true, that formerly, as well as at 
 prefent, fafting and prayer have been per- 
 verted by the leaven of hypocrify. But 
 does it, therefore, ceafe to be a duty ? We 
 are convinced it does not, by our Lord's 
 advice refpedting private fafts, which it 
 will be our wifdom to regard in every faft 
 we keep. Thus the counfel of Chrift 
 iiands on record for our inftrudlion : 
 <•* Moreover, when ye faft, be not as the 
 " hypocrite? of a fad countenance : for 
 " they disfigure their faces, that thay may 
 '.' appear unto men to faft. Verily, I fay 
 *f pnto you, they have their' reward. But 
 ♦5 thou, when thou fafteft, anoint thine 
 " head, and wafli thy face j that thou ap- 
 " pear not unto men to faft, but unto thy 
 *f Father which is in fecret; and thy Fa- 
 " ther, which feeth in fecret, ftiall reward 
 *' thee openly J." 
 
 Among the many, engaged as we are 
 this day, probably different meanings are 
 
 * Joel i. 14. f Ads xiii. 2. t Matt. vi. 16, 17, 18. ' 
 
 indulged. 
 
[ 6 ] 
 
 indulged. But what is that to us ? Why 
 fhould we perplex ourfelves concerning 
 others, or indulge uncharitable fufpicions 
 of any ? The queftion which it becomes us 
 to afk, and which we fhould endeavour to 
 anfwer, is this, what do lae mean by th's 
 fervice ? — This queftion is, I confefs, not 
 that which is propofed in the text, but it 
 does hot ftand in oppofition to it ; nor will 
 this accommodation of the words to our 
 prefent purpofe, guarded as above, lead 
 any from the true meaning of that memo- 
 rable fentence. The fingle queftion then, 
 now to be difcufled, is, what do we our- 
 felves mean, by engaging in the extraordi- 
 nary fervice of this day ? 
 
 I. Do we mean to obtain any thing from 
 the Almighty, from the fuppofed merit 
 of our waiting on him by fafting an4 
 prayer? 
 
 I HOPE, this is not the meaning of any 
 perfon prefent. I am fure it is not mine. 
 Our fervices, the whole of them, are con- 
 feffedly imperfe£t : for fuch fervices, fliall 
 we dare to think, that God is our debtor ? 
 Befides, we are either under a covenant 
 of grace, or under a covenant of works ; 
 
 if 
 
[ 7 ] 
 
 if we are under a covenant of grace,' by thit 
 covenant, the merit of man is annihilated j 
 if we are under a covenant of' works, re- 
 member," that this covenant is a broken co- 
 venant : at firft, it demanded perfed: obe- 
 dience; afterwards, when fin had entered 
 into the world, with the original claim, 
 it required, and ftill requires, fatisfadtjon 
 for our numerous offences : if fo, .what 
 place can be found for adtibns like ours to 
 merit any thing under this broken covenant? 
 He that cah difcover any merit in them, on 
 account of which, one judgment -fllduld 
 be averted, or a title to one bleflirig pro- 
 cured, will difcover that, which I am by no 
 means able to difcern. It is true, God is very 
 gracious at the voice of the cry of his people. 
 But certainly, grace from God, doqs not 
 fuppofe merit in us. I have long thought 
 it fuppofes the reverfe. What that is, which 
 a difplay of the grace of God to us fup- 
 pofes, we, my brethren, have repeatedly, 
 this day confefTed : for we have been un- 
 animous, and cordial, in the confeffion of 
 owt Jins. Let us, therefore, rejoice, not 
 that there is any merit in us to balance our 
 crimes, but, that there^ is forgivenefs 
 with God, that he may be feared*. This 
 
 * Pf. cxxx. 4. 
 
 is 
 
{ 8 ] 
 
 is a fa6t; but that we are able to obtain any 
 tiling from him, as the reward of our me- 
 rit, this is falfe. — The promifed reward is 
 not reckoned of debt, but of grace. 
 
 2. Do we mean to mock the Almighty 
 by attending to this fervice ? — God forbid! 
 
 It may Teem unkind to afk this qucftion; 
 feut I beg you will recolleft, that horrid as 
 the idea Teems, this has been done repeated- 
 ly. Wbat can we think of the faft appoint- 
 ed by yezeSely at wbich, and alfo by that 
 mean, Naboth was flain * ? What can we 
 think of tbofe fafts concerning which it is 
 faid, they were for ftrife and debate, and 
 to fmite witb the firt of wickednefs ")- ? Or 
 of thofe, that were fo feverely, and ye^ 
 fo juftly cenfured by Jefus Chrift;^ ? — It is 
 true, accurately fpeaking, " God is not 
 ** Blocked." But we are often faid to dd 
 what Ive defire and endeavour to efFed:, 
 and dre treated accordingly j unlefs th6 
 grace of God interpofes. Now, in adiions 
 of this nature, what has been done, may 
 be done again. It is our duty, therefore, 
 to be cautious. — The befl way to prevent 
 
 ♦ I Kingsxxi. 9 — 14. f If. Iviii. 4. % Matt.vi. 16. 
 
 every 
 
t 9 ] 
 
 every infdlt of'this naturcj is to bcjealoUs ol" 
 bur own hearts; to examine them with care* 
 land to entreat, that whatever we do not- 
 obtairij V?e may not be- denied that grace 
 whereby we inay ferve God with reverence^ 
 and with godly fear.* — My language on this 
 fubjedti is not the language of cenfurc; 
 from thatj yoiif own conduct exempts you; 
 but it is, as I conceive, the language of pru:- 
 dent affedtion, which j I am perfuaded> you 
 will not r^jed:. 
 
 3. E)o vre mean by this fervlce to offend^ 
 Xivflatief o\\.v fuperiors f 
 
 Were this our deflgn* is it poilible to 
 imagine that fiich an intention could qfeape 
 the notice of the all-feeing eye, or that fuch 
 behaviour could be difcefned with approba- 
 tion ? Shall we give juft eaufe of offence tp 
 "themj by whom we are protedlfd ? This 
 would be ungrateful. Shall we ^reat thet^i 
 with contempt, whom we are commanded to 
 ■obey -f- ? This would be impious. Shall we 
 provoke and infult them for whom we 
 are exhorted to make intereeffion J ? This 
 would expofe us to the charge of hypo- 
 crify.-^Butj (hall v^e flatter thofe fuperiors 
 
 * Heb. xiL a8. f Rom. xiii. i — -j. % i Tiiii. ii. i — 3^. 
 
 - . B .vfhooi 
 
[ lo ] 
 
 twhom we may not offend ? This would be 
 to affront the Almighty, and expofe our- 
 felves to his providential vengeance. Let us 
 not, I pray you, accept any man's perfon, 
 neither let us give flattering titles to men -, 
 in fo doing, our Maker would foon take us 
 away*. For myfelf, I charitably believe, 
 and have reafon to conclude,, that our king 
 neither expedls nor approves of the moft 
 oblique ftrokes of flattery in the offices of 
 devotion. If any man does, he deferves to 
 be difappointed. 
 
 4. Do wemean by this fervice to be j^^r- 
 tizans in popular debates, and to offer the un- 
 hallowed inbenfe of political paJJio7is to 
 God, in the form of fervent prayer ? 
 
 Hitherto, my brethren, you have been 
 much better employed. Something more 
 ferious, more folemn ; fomething far more 
 confifl:ent, both with your profefllon, and 
 with the Divine Providence, you have kept 
 in view in your confeflions and fuppli- 
 cations -j-. And, I ftiould be very forry, in- 
 
 * Job xxxii. 21, 22. t It is ufual with us, and 
 others, in thefe extraordinary ferviccs, for feveral of the 
 members of the church to engage in prayer ; after which, 
 the paftor delivers a fermon, and concludes the public 
 ftrvice by engaging in prayer himfelf. 
 
 ^* 5 deed. 
 
[ " ] 
 
 deed, if, now the fervic© of the day Is fal- 
 len into my hands, I fhould either difgrace, 
 or difturb your devotion. You -have trufted 
 me with the management of the remaining 
 part of; this fervice, and I will endeavour to 
 be faithful to my truft. 
 
 It is high time to f eoollefl:, that the ori- 
 ginal queftion, propofed to be difcufled at 
 the beginning of this difcourfe, yet remains 
 unanfwered. I, indeed, can only anfvver 
 that queftion for myfelf. And this, to fa- 
 tisfy my own confcience, I have attempted. 
 But it gives me real pleafure to find, that 
 what I meant by this fervice, was your 
 meaning alfo. What I intended by it 
 was, " ^ 
 
 I. To juftify God. 
 
 II. To fray for thofe blefiings which vi?e 
 have not, or have not in fuch a mea- 
 
 - fure as pious men could wifh^ and, 
 
 III. To be thankful, truly thankful, for 
 thofe bleffings which are yet con- 
 
 ^'^ • tinned with us. 
 
 And this, give hie leave to repeat it,, now 
 
 appears to have been our mutual intention. — 
 
 B2 Are 
 
[ 12 ] 
 
 Ar« we,, however, on this day only, to he 
 thus employed ? I hope not- I will, then, 
 endeavoar to recall the ideas I have men- 
 tioned, and under each attempt to add fomc- 
 thing, which inay confirm us in our prefent 
 refolutions. 
 
 I. We mean hy this fetvice to 
 God. 
 
 •.Whenever we are chaftened and cor- 
 refted of, the Lord, this, I think, is our firft, 
 o'ur capital duty. It is admi-tted by moft, 
 that we now are, as a nation, under the 
 chaftening hand qf the Almighty, Believ- 
 ipg, this, if we do not acknovvledge that our 
 chaftifements are juft, we cenfvire him 
 whofe ftripes we feel.— Infidels, I know, 
 are willing to imagine, that afflidlion 
 Cometh forth of the duft, and that trouble 
 ipringeth out of the ground : but rejeding 
 jfuch impiety, and being delivered from fuch 
 ignorance; believing both a general and 
 particular providence, what is our duty ? — ; 
 To jupfy God.. You grant.it; yet, fon;iemay 
 be difpofed %q afk. In what manner, and by 
 what afts, ought we, in the prefent ftate of 
 
 things, tojuftify God ? We ought io do, 
 
 this, by acknoASrledging his dojoainion Aver 
 
[ 13 1 
 
 us, and his indifpi^table right to chaftife us 
 in fuch a manner as feems good in his fight. 
 We ought to do it, by eonfefling our tranf- 
 gnejSions publicly j and ftill more particu- 
 larly in private i and by declaring, that we 
 have deferved, not only all we feel and fear, 
 but that it is owing, entirely owing to the 
 piercy of the Almighty, that fuch finners 
 are hot confunied. — Further, we ought to 
 acknowledge, that our chaftifements, all of 
 them, accord with juftice, and are blended 
 with mercy ; nay more, that they are wife 
 as well as kind: or that ^theyare from the 
 Lord, the effedis, not of ciiprice or cruelty, 
 but of wifdom and pompaffion. It is if need 
 be, that real Chfiftians are in heavinefs 
 throvigh manifold temptations -j-. And.wc 
 are alTured, that God.chaftifes fuch for their 
 profit ^ J therefore, if upon the whole, we 
 are lofers by afflictive difpenfations, it is 
 probably owing either to our ignorance, our 
 infolence, or to our infidelity. *' All thing? 
 work together for good to therp that love 
 God, to them who are the called according 
 to his purpofe§;" and they who juftify.him, 
 and accept of that perfed: righteoufnefs by 
 which he juftifieth the ungodly, are, appz-, 
 fently, of that number. 
 + I Peter, i. (>. * Heb, xii. lo. § Rom. viii. 28. 
 
[ 14 ] 
 
 If our acknowledgements of the domi- 
 nion and grace of God be fincere, and if the 
 confefilons of our own guilt be confiftent, 
 they will be connefted with repentance, pa- 
 tience and reformation. We (hall moucn 
 over our own iniquities, as well as mention 
 them; and be ready and willing to fay, that 
 we will bear the indignation of the Lord, 
 becaufe we have finned againft him *. The 
 goodnefs of God, which is always confpi- 
 cuous to the humble, will lead us to repen- 
 tance; and repentance, if genuine and 
 evangelical, will produce real reformation^ 
 —Thus ought we ^ojufiify God. 
 
 Lbt him who only perceives general 
 truths, -attempt to juftify his Maker : but 
 let us, who profefs to be Chriftians, do 
 this, and every thing elfe, with aa eye to 
 the mediation of Jefus Chrift,— Confeffion 
 of fin, without faith in Chrift, will pro- 
 bably ifTue in prefumption, or in dcfpair. 
 Repentance and reformation, without faith 
 in him, will, as probably, 4)e fuel for our 
 pride. Chrift is the immediate fource and 
 centre of all that is excellent in the prac- 
 tice of piety. Of the fituation of fuch 
 as never heard of his- name, we know enough 
 to make us thankful for Chriftianityj hut 
 too little to fit in judgment on their future 
 
C '5 ] 
 ftate. But where Chrift is preached and 
 jfejedied, there, I am perfuaded, is cither 
 opeh profanenefs, or only the appearance of 
 piety, filppbrted by pharifaical pride. 
 
 How reludtant, O how reludtant are men 
 in common, to jurtify God, in all his ways.! 
 *' Fools, becaufe of their tranfgreffion, and 
 becaiife of their iniquities are affli(fted * ." 
 And, what then ? If only afflicted, their 
 folly ftill remains-f-. Either they are fullett 
 and difcontented, or they are fo fuperfti- 
 tious and haughty, as to imagine, that their 
 tears and tempers, their prayers and pro- 
 mifes, their difcipline and devotion, can 
 avert impending judgments, and make their 
 peace with God. Is this Chriftianity ? 
 Were Pagans to a6t in this manner, who 
 could wonder? Were nve thus to adl, who 
 might not wonder ? May we, therefore, do 
 every thing in the name and faith of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift 1 Wait on the Lord ; but truft 
 in him while you wait on him. Juftify 
 him, and though chaftened, you fhall not 
 be condemned with the world ;|:. Juftify 
 him in all your afflictions, and you' fliall 
 find, that " with the Lord there is mercy, 
 and with him is plenteous redemption §." 
 
 ' * Pfal. evil. 17. t Ifaiah xlii. 25. % i Cor. xi. 3!- 
 
 § Pfal. cjycx, 7. .. « 
 r II. 
 
t i6 3 
 
 ll. We mean by this fervice to fray tof 
 thofe bleffings which we have not, or 
 which we have not in fueh a meafure as 
 pious men eould wifh. 
 
 He that juftifies God in the midft of his 
 judgments, with fincerity, has, or foon 
 will have, that freedom and fervency in ap- 
 proaching the throne of grace, which, giv- 
 ing way to a contrary difpofition, it would 
 be impoffible to obtain. This facft is eftab- 
 lifhed by a blaze of evidence, in the fad^ 
 but inftruiSive cafe of David. He keeps 
 filence, but cannot reft. He attempts to 
 juftify himfelf, but has no quiet. He fpeaks,; 
 (hear his language) " Againft thee, thee 
 *• only, have I finned, and done this evil in 
 ** thy fight." — I fay this, " that thou 
 *• mighteft be juftified, and clear from 
 *« every cenfure, when thou judgeft*.'' 
 Thus, at length he fpeaks ; and then with 
 freedom, and with uncommon energy, he 
 prays to obtain the moft important bleffings. 
 Let us endeavour to follow his example. 
 Having acknowledged, as a great prophet 
 once did -j-, that to us belongeth confufion 
 of facej to our king, to our princes^and 
 to our fathers; becaufe we have fmned 
 
 * Pfal. li. 4. t t>anleU 
 
 againft 
 
t 17 ] 
 
 iagalnft the Lord; let us not, I befeech yoU* 
 forget what that great prophet to feafonably 
 recolleifted, " that to the Lord our God 
 *• belong mercies and forgiveneffes, though 
 *• we have rebelled againft him*." Firm- 
 ly confiding in this, and other declarations 
 of the Divine mercy to the guilty, what 
 Ihould hinder/us from making fupplicatibri 
 for fuch biemngs as we have not, or have 
 not in fuch a meafure as pious men could 
 wilh ?-^=-I fay, as pkus men could wi(h ; for, 
 men who are ftrangers to piety, and who have 
 no relifh for its pleafures, will naturally de* 
 fire what godly men would dread. What 
 they would fhudder at, would, in too many 
 inftances, caufe thofe to ftiout for joy. 
 
 The deftruition of our national enemieg 
 is, I fear, the ardent wifli of fome* 1 can- 
 not, however, indulge a defire like this. I 
 wifli their converfion, and not their deftrue* 
 tion. I defire it, both in a civil and in a 
 moral fcnfe. I ardently vsrifh, that rebellion 
 both to God and man might ceafe; and, 
 that envy and ambition, pride and opprefilon, 
 might at once expire ! Till then, may oui* 
 enemies, abroad or at home, be unable to 
 
 
 * Dan. ix, 9. 
 
 C injare 
 
[ it ] 
 
 injure us, and we unwilling to injure them f 
 Continuing to be what they are, may they 
 be fubdued, but not deflroyed I, 
 
 The three great bleffings which, as a 
 nation, we feem to want, are Peace, Pu^ 
 rity, and Humility. What ideas I now in- 
 clude in thefe terms, permit me to men- 
 tion. 
 
 By Peace, I mean a ftate of pacification 
 with thofe powers with which we are at 
 war. America, France, Spain, Holland; 
 theTe, all thefe powers, are in a ftate- of 
 Koftility with us ; and we, without a fe- 
 cond, in a flate of hoftility with them. 
 This is a mournful fubjedl for meditation. 
 Confidered as a calamity, it is awful. The 
 Tource of this calamity is awful. Its <ltira- 
 ration, and the manner in which it has 
 been augmented and prolonged, makes it 
 truly alarming, and {hows, that peace, 
 'national peace, is greatly to be defired. 
 That bleffing is the gift of God. To pray, 
 therefore, that war may ceafe to the ends 
 of the earth, and that we may foon and 
 fong enjoy, on terms both equitable and 
 wife, peace with our foreign enemies, and 
 peace among ourfelves; this, furcly, is one 
 S great 
 
[ 19 ] 
 
 gvest bleffing whicl). we fhoul4 inceffantly 
 implore. 
 
 But he who prays for peace, per- 
 verfely prays, if, while thus employed, h? 
 willingly dillurhs the portion of tranquility 
 that yet remains amongft us, and endear 
 vours to augment thofe animofities and di7 
 vifions, which are, already, by far too great. 
 Why fhould we add hypocrify to a haughty 
 temper? Yet, if vexatious to the iiate, to 
 religious focieties, or to thofe with whom 
 we deal, or with whom we dwell j indulg- 
 ing fuch a temper, is it not hypocritical to 
 pray for peace ? If it be by the ufe of means 
 that we are led to the enjoyment of any 
 bleffing, thofe means will either be regard- 
 ed,, or the bleffing connefted with them, 
 will, comparatively fpeaking, be defpifed. 
 Every thing is beft fought when it is fougl^t 
 in its proper order, and in due connection. 
 Peace of confciencp, is effential to a proper 
 .improvement of peace in any other view. 
 I He that does not value peace with God, 
 will either not have, or not improve, as he 
 ought, the bleffings of peace and friend- 
 ship with his fellow-creatures. Pray for 
 the peace of your country; but endeavour 
 to dp th^s with peace of confcience, by 
 C 2 faith 
 
[ " 1 
 
 laith in the Mediation of Jefus Chrift.— • 
 Pray for the peace of your country ; but 
 at the fame time, if it be poffible, live 
 peaceably with all men,' — Pray for the peace 
 of your country j but let the congregation 
 where you worfhip, have juft occafion to fay^ 
 that you are men of peace, — Pray for the peace 
 of your country; but let the peace of your 
 families, or of the families in vvhich you re- 
 fide, be that which you ftudy to preferve, and 
 endeavour to proK^Ote. — To feem importu- 
 nate for peace on this public occafion in 
 the houfe of God, and to be foiind in our 
 own houfes vexatious wafps, or malignant 
 vipers, would be horribly inconfiftent. May 
 we ever be preferved from the appearar\ce of 
 fuch incongruity I 
 
 By Purify, I mean purity of doftrine, 
 purity of difpofition, and purity of conver- 
 fation. Thefe bleffings, or this bleflinoj 
 thus modified, is much wanted in Great 
 Britain. — He who has the Bible, has in- 
 deed, in it, the pureft dodtrines that were 
 ever delivered to mankind. But it is our 
 misfortune, it is more, it is our fliame, 
 that thofe dodtrines are treated as they are 
 by fome, from whom better things might 
 h.ave been expefted. By fome, the capita^ 
 
 ^uth.s 
 
[ 21 1 ' 
 
 truths of revelation are denied j and by 
 others, they are derided. By feme, they 
 are ironically diftorted ; by others, they are 
 either artfully concealed, or partially repre- 
 fented. By charadlers fuperior to thefe, 
 they are flatled corredlly indeed, but in a 
 manner fo cold, fo dry, and fo abftradled, 
 that confcienee feels not the unanimated 
 found ; and but few, very few perceive, 
 under fuch lifelefs declamations, that doc- 
 trines thus ftated, were ever intended to 
 produce pradical refolutions. But when 
 with greater meafures of light and lovej 
 when, with the energy of the Holy Ghoft, 
 the gofpel fhall be preached in its primi- 
 tive fimplicity, then, as formerly, it /hall 
 be found the power of God to falyation. 
 
 While things continue as above de- 
 fcribed, (which every competent judge 
 will fay, is no exaggerated defcription), 
 what wonder ; I fay, what wonder is it, 
 that there aire fuch vifible defedts in purity 
 of difpofition and converfation ? Ought 
 any Rian, who lives in the eighteenth cen- 
 tury, to be furprifed, that infolence fliould 
 be connected with infidelity ? Or, that cor- 
 rupt doflrine fhould produce corrupt con- 
 yerfation ? Spqnd docjlrine may be per- 
 verted I 
 
E ?2 ] 
 
 verted; but falfe dodlrine, can producf 
 nothing that will mend the morals of man-, 
 Jcind.— If fo, let us pray, that with peace, 
 we may have purity j and, that with de- 
 liverance from diftrefs, we ma^y obtain fucl^ 
 9. reformation of manners, as refults from ^ 
 renovation of mind. This connexion ap-» 
 pears important; fof, if the docftrine which 
 we embrace be corrupt, whether it be po- 
 litical, or theological, depraved are ouf 
 difpofitions, and corrupt wil/ be our con- 
 verfation.-w-Long may they live, whoever 
 they are, that promulge purity of fenti-. 
 ment to fociety ! Greatly may they be 
 ^fhamed, be who they may,^who maintain 
 the innocency of error, or who diflemi- 
 nate the tares qf unfpund do<^rine among 
 men 1 
 
 By Humility^ I mean that difpofition 
 which inclifies us to think, and fppak of 
 ourfelves, with fobriety a;id rnodefty, an4 
 to treat others with meeknefs and benevo- 
 lence J and which, whenever we fpeak tp 
 the Divine Being, or of him, engages us 
 to do it with delight, and with the deepeft 
 jeverence. Devoid of this difpofition, we 
 fnay pofl'efs, indeed, an appearance of holi- 
 p?fs fufRcient to deceive many ; but ge- 
 nuine 
 
r 23 1 
 
 nulne purity is at no greater diftance from 
 any perfon than from him who, is habi- 
 tually haughty : fuch a man, were he to 
 dwell in the manfions of peace and plenty, 
 would be both unholy and unhappy. Be 
 ye therefore, clothed with humility. May 
 this blefling, fo much wanted amongft us, 
 be ardently fought, and always eftimated, 
 according to its real and relative value! 
 From rtational, as well .as from perfonal 
 pride, may we be preferved ! God may af^ 
 flidt, but he will never hurt the humble. 
 Let us " humble ourfelves therefore un- 
 "' der the mighty hand of God, that he 
 may exalt us in due time* 1" 
 
 *t 
 
 Hitherto, we have dwelt on the du- 
 ties of confejjion and fufpUcation. But 
 are thefe duties to exhauft our ftrength ? Is 
 no other duty compatible with the folem- 
 nity of this day? Have we no caufe* or 
 have we no inclination to be thankful f It 
 cannot be faid that we have no caufe, nor 
 fhall it-be faid that we are without an in- 
 clination! For, 
 
 * I Pet. V. 6, 
 
 III. We 
 
[ 24 ] 
 
 III. We mean by this fervice to be t^ut^ 
 thankful ioT thofe bleffings, which^ 
 notwithftanding our accumulated 
 guilt, are yet continued with us. 
 
 Those bleffings are neither feW, nof irl- 
 confiderable. But were we ftripped of 
 every thing, except a well-founded hopd 
 of immortal happinefsj had We nothing 
 left us but a fenfe of fin, and a hope of 
 tnercy ; (the former ferious, and the latter 
 jiedfajl) we fhould be inexcufably ungrate- 
 ful if we did not allot fome part of this fer- 
 vice to the duty of praife. A venerable 
 prophet faid, " although the fig-tree fliall 
 " not bloflbm, neither Ihall fruit be in 
 •* the vines, the labour of the olive fhail 
 " fail, and the fields fhall yield no meat* 
 " the flock fhall be cut off from the fold, 
 " and there fhall be no herd in the ftalls: 
 *• yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy 
 " in the God of my falvation * !" Shall we 
 then be unwilling to rejoice in the Lord* 
 or be relu(5tant to praife him, and fpeak 
 well of his Name ? No, were our outward 
 circumflances dreadful as thofe defcribed by 
 the prophet's pen, ingratitude ought not to 
 
 * Habakkuk iii. 17. 
 
 have 
 
[ 25 ] 
 
 have dominion over usj even in that dc- 
 plorable ftate, were it ours. We ought ]to 
 prefent our fupplications with thankfgiv- 
 i'ng. But, thanks be to God ! that la- 
 mentable condition is not ours. We are yet 
 exempted from thofe calamities; we are 
 furrounded with many bleffings. May this 
 awake our gratitude ! • ' 
 
 I. Let us be thankful, that our native , 
 country is exempted from being the feat of 
 war. :\ 
 
 Foreign Invafions, and civil war, have 
 frequently alarmed, and violently agitated 
 the inhabitants of this country. Our pre- 
 deceflbrs have feen the frontiers of this in- 
 vaded ifland covered with fanguinary foes. 
 Rapid and irrefiftable as an overwhelming 
 flood, they ruflied forward, flaying or fub- 
 duing all before them! — Our forefathers 
 have witnefled the rage of civil fury ; the 
 vefliiges of which remain to this hour, in 
 almofl: every county, and every city in this 
 kingdom. What alarms, what battles, 
 what mournful events, what a train of rhi- 
 feries thofe dreadful days produced ! Are, 
 we exempted . from this carnage, and from 
 this confufion, and fliall we be unthankful? 
 
 D No, 
 
[ 26 ] 
 
 No, for this we will be thankful to the 
 Lord of Hofts ; without whofe permiffion 
 no hoft can be affembled, nor without it, 
 can any army be difperfed. At fuch ex- 
 preffions an infidel m^y fneer ; but it forms 
 no inconfiderable part of our praife to Al- 
 mighty God, that we ourfelves, are not fet- 
 tered in the horrid chains of infiidelity. 
 
 2. Let us be thankful, that our country 
 is exempted from famine, and from pejii'- 
 lence. 
 
 These are tremendous judgments. 
 Dreadful, however, as they always are, they 
 have been experienced in this kingdom. Li 
 this kingdom, the force of famine has been 
 felt J and the peftilence, with greater fury 
 has chaftifed all ranks of men. This great 
 city has fighed under the weight of that 
 awful judgment; nor could flight, though 
 precipitate, preferve the timid or the fhrong. 
 As they fled, they carried with them the 
 mortal contagion, and communicated to 
 many the feeds of death. Gentler judg- 
 ments have been more recently inflid:ed. 
 The influenza lives in the remembrance of 
 moft who hear me. Why was it fo fhort in 
 its duration, and fo limited in its fatal ef- 
 5 . fefts ? 
 
f 27 ] 
 
 fodls ? Who fent amongft us thofp noxious, 
 vapours, and reftrained and checked the 
 fpreading evil ? S,ome cold head, and colder 
 heart, will gravely fay. It was according to 
 the co-urfi and lams of nature.— ^^ it fo: yet 
 kt me aik, what is nature ? What its laws,. 
 and what, its courfe ? Is this co.urfe, are; 
 thofe laws, independent of the Almighty T 
 htde&di What then is dependent on Him ? 
 But, if they were by Him arranged, and are 
 by Him preferved, there is nothing fortui- 
 tous. All is under his management, every- 
 thing is under his control ! — To Him, there- 
 fore, ^wjio ris/Zf the ilars along,' who bindeth 
 the i^e^t influences of the Pleiades, and. 
 loofeth the bands of Orion, who bringeth 
 firth Mazzaroth in his. feafon, .and 
 gazW^/A Arcturus with his fons.; to Him, 
 who ikmsimth the ordinances of .heaven, and 
 fetteth the dominion thereof on the earth *, 
 to Him let us all be thankful, that our land 
 yields her increafe, that our harveflg are 
 plenteous, that our air is wholefome, and 
 that our lives are fpared ! — Thefe mercies, a^ 
 anytime, would demand ourpraife; but, at 
 this time, when our taxes are augmented, 
 and our trade diminiftied; when our fears 
 are many, and our foes are more ; at fuch a 
 
 * Job xxxviii. 31. 33. 
 
 D 2 period 
 
[ 28 ] 
 
 period as this, who can do lefs than look on 
 thefe remaining mercies with gladnefs, and 
 fpeak of them with gratitude and praife ! 
 
 3. Let us be thankful, that ourcZ-yr/and 
 r^/f^/o«j liberties remain inviolate; and in a 
 greater meafure than in any other country. 
 
 Liberty confifts in doing what we 
 pleafe. But its real value confifts, in doing 
 what we ought. Liberty, in every fociety, 
 muft of necefljty be limited : for, no fo- 
 ciety on earth now is, or ever was, in all 
 refpedls of the fame mind. Law, there- 
 fore, is as eifential to the well-being of fo- 
 ciety as liberty. He who ehoofes to do 
 -what he ought not, muft be reftrained. 
 Were there no reftraints for fuch perfons, 
 the moft ftiocking outrages would be com- 
 mitted, and the moft abominable anarchy 
 would foon commence. Were there no pu- 
 nifliment for evil doers, . all would be chaos 
 and confufion ! — If, then, in fociety, legal 
 liberty be all that any man but a mad-man 
 can exped: from the civil power, where fhall 
 we find it of greater extent, or better fe- 
 cured than in this kingdom ? Were we able 
 to take the wings of the morning, and tra- 
 vel with the fun through every ftate on 
 
 which 
 
[ 29 ] 
 
 which he fhines, where fhould we find 
 a greater portion of civil, and of re- 
 ligious liberty, than may now be enjoyed in 
 Great Britain ? As to the latter, fince that 
 period when John the Baptiji preached in 
 the wildernefs of Judea, where has reli- 
 gious liberty in any country, and at any 
 time, equalled that, which is now granted 
 in l;his nation ? In this refpedt, is there any 
 nation like it ? I believe I may fafely fay. 
 Not one! 
 
 Shal'l we then, who were born, and 
 who dwell in this diftinguiflied country, 
 fhall we be infenfible of thofe mercies 
 which fo many envy, becaufe we have not, 
 in every refpedt, all that we could wifh?— - 
 I hope not. If, however, any before me 
 find it difficult to be thankful, on account 
 of difappointment and diftrefs, let me in- 
 treat him to be patient. Recdlledt, my 
 friend, that he who judges partially, judges 
 falfly. If you would judge of providential 
 difpenfations fairly, you would do well to 
 alk yourfelf this queftion, Am I more in- 
 jured, than I have been benefited byfociety? 
 Aflc y6urfelf this queftion alfo. Is fociety 
 more indebted to me, than I am to fociety ? 
 Thefe queftionS have a tendency to produce 
 
 patience 
 
I 30 ] 
 
 patience and humility j and if frequently 
 put, and fully copfid^red, they will per- 
 haps be produdive of praifc. 
 
 4. Let us be thankful, for the Jefi/ed 
 tnagijlracy of this country, and for the 
 minijiers of the go/pel yet abidmg with 
 us. 
 
 The King, who is the fopreme magif- 
 trate of this country, is, I believe, in a 
 moral view, as bright an example to his 
 court, as any of his predeceflbrs fince the 
 Revolution*. I think of this with pleafure. 
 
 For, 
 
 * Can he be a gocd man, who is fo unfortunate ? This 
 is a queftion, feme may be tempted to indulge. And, to 
 weaken the ftrengtb of this temptation, 1 would afk, 
 Wtrc the calamities that attended the reign of Hezekiah, 
 any ju§ impeachment of his moral chara£ler? Yet, 
 they were great. His kingdom was invaded by a power- 
 ful army. The general of that army approached to the 
 gates of Jerufalem, and horribly infulted, and greatly 
 
 terrified Hexeklah and his fubjefts f. But, can he be 
 
 n good king, who is fo unfuccefsfu! ? Thi^ queftion I will 
 alfo anfwer with another. Was Hezekiah a good king, or, 
 a bad one? I woulJalfo beg leave to afk, whether the ca- 
 lamities attending the reign of Hezekiah, were fent on his 
 account, or on account of national guilt, accumulated 
 before became to the throne of Ifrael ? Of which, per- 
 haps, 
 
 f 2 Kings xviii. 17, to the end. 
 
[ 31 ] 
 
 Por, the morals of a monarch are of ino- 
 ment to, the nation in which he lives. 
 Prior to the Revolution, the profligate man- 
 ners of Charles the Second, greatly in- 
 fnared this nation. They were imitated by 
 his courtiers, by his citizens, and by the 
 commonality i and to this hour, the king- 
 dom feels the baneful confequences of that 
 reign of duplicity and diffipation. 
 
 -MoNARCHS are but men. But, if vicious 
 men, their examples are, I am perfuaded, 
 the moft pernicious. I muft be allovved, 
 then, to think, that if his majefty's regard 
 for juftice, by making the judges indepen- 
 dent; for liberty of confcience, by concur- 
 ring with his parliament to extend that 
 bleffing further in this country, than other 
 kings have done ill theirs; if thefe dif- 
 coveries of his Majefty's difpofition, with his 
 
 well- 
 
 haps, both he and his fubje6is were too infenfible, till 
 they were alarmed by providential judgments. Let it be 
 remembered, at leafl: by Chriftians, that, " thejace is 
 " not to the fwift, nor the battle to the ftrong, neither 
 ♦'yet bread to the wife, nor yet riches to men of under- 
 " ftanding, nor yet favour to rtien of fkill; but tinie 
 ** and chance ha^f)enetb to them all f-"— The horfe 
 " is prepared againft the day of battle, but fafety, or 
 '' vi<Sory, isof the Lord*." 
 
 f Ecclef. ix. II. > * Prov. xxi. 31. 
 
[ 32 ] 
 
 well-known domeftic charafter, be not feen 
 • with pleafure, and mentioned with fatisfac- 
 dtion, I muft be allowed to think, it may be 
 attributed to fomet^ing vicious in us, of which 
 we ought to be afhamed; but not to any 
 thing that is virtuous, or praife-worthy. — 
 Of her Majefty, in her lefs public fcene of 
 adtion malice itfelf, is dumb ! All parties 
 unite in her applaufe. Should we not for 
 this be thankful ? We fhould, and will. 
 
 I WAS fpeaking of magiftrates. And, 
 next to the fupreme magiftrate of this 
 country, permit me juft to mention the 
 judges of the land. It appears to me, that 
 they are an honour to their exalted ftation. 
 And of this, I think, I am as able to judge 
 as moft before me. For their office, I have 
 had a growing regard from my infancy; 
 and have, for many years, occafionally, at- 
 tended our courts of juftice. From what 
 I have feen and known, 1 may venture to 
 fay, when they aflume their feats, that 
 much of legal intelligence and integrity, 
 much of patience and humanity are con- 
 fpicuous. May thefe fountains in our Bri- 
 tijh Ifrael be fo preferved, that Juftice and 
 equity may flow amongft us to general 
 fatisfadtion ! 
 
 Ministers 
 
[ 33. ] 
 
 Ministers of the gofpel, though feeij 
 in humbler ftations, are not of fmall im-^ 
 po'rtance to fociety. If this fait f|i6uld lofe' 
 its favour, the earth would be more cor- 
 rupt, and, by abandoned riiinifters, it 
 would, r believe, be more corrupted alfo, than' 
 moft Imagine. Of the mifchievous efifeits^ 
 of a perv'erfion of the. gofpel miniftry, by 
 minifters theWelvps, every age has exhibited 
 fbmi^ proofs J and this, I apprehend, is 
 well able to increafe th'e ipmber. . Thus 
 to fin, is to fin with vehemence. Whor, 
 ever thinks he is '"wrong in doing wrohgy 
 will ever be tinii4> aad do it bjui't bj halves; 
 bijt he" who imagines xh'zXMl-ddirig is ivell- 
 doing, adts with alt his might . Orallthe coiii- 
 plimerits which are paid to vain andrviciaus 
 men,, thofe which infinuate, that their con- 
 duit is religioiis, are the moft foothing to 
 their vanity,' an^d give, even their depravei 
 minds, . the higheft fatisfadtion. I facrific& 
 thefe conceffloris to truth. .And from the- 
 fatal- cpnfequences w-hich are conneded 
 with an abufe of. the gofpel, miniftry, and' 
 efpecially by minifters themfelves, I infer,; 
 that thofe minifters who -are faithful to 
 their important truft, are a great blcJ3ing 
 to mankind.^ May vsfe,rthen be thankful, 
 that we have fo many,' (both in the efta- 
 
 E ^"blifliea 
 
[ 34 J 
 
 bllflied church of this country, and among 
 thofe who have thought it their duty to 
 diffent from it), who deiire and endeavour, 
 by manifeftation of the truth, to commend 
 themfelves to every man's confcience in the 
 fight of God; and, that there are mini- 
 ilers of different denominations amongft us, 
 whofe abilities and piety are not concealed | 
 whofe labours the Lord of the harveft 
 is pleafed to crown with confiderable fuc- 
 cefs. May their number increafej their 
 lives be fpared ; their reputation be pre- 
 ferved i and, may continued fyccefs attend 
 them, in all their humble attempts to 
 evangelize the inhabitants of this country ! 
 
 Besides thofe bleffings which I have 
 enumerated, what a long lift, what an im^- 
 menfe catalogue of perfonal, relative, and 
 domeftic bleffings, demand, yes, and de^- 
 ferve our praife ! An index of thofe blef-* 
 fings would i%ake a volume ! And we, fhall 
 we be unthansful ! With what face, were 
 we fo inclined, could we a{k for additional 
 favours ? He that is habitually unthankful, 
 is unholy; and he, can he, in any ftate, 
 be happy? 
 
 So much for that queftion which we 
 propofed to difcufs, and for what we 
 
 apprehend 
 
apprehend to be the leading duties of 
 this day. It is our duty to juftify God, to 
 pray for the bleffings we have mentioned, 
 and to be thankful, truly thankful, for th« 
 mercies we have now enumerated. 
 
 We are not, however, only by our lips 
 to be thankful, either to God or man. Gra- 
 titude admits of various modes of expref- 
 iion. It may, a[nd if it be genuine, and 
 ftfOng; it will be manifefted by our gene- 
 ral condufl:. Adlions; as well as words, 
 and fometimes much better, difcover thb 
 mind and heart of man. You will naturally 
 recoliedl, that there is one adt of benevo- 
 lence, which we have always thought it 
 eligible to regard on fuch a feafon as this. 
 I mean, compaffion to the poor. We faft 
 by choice j they arc fometimes, I fear, 
 conjirained to abftairt from fuch food as may 
 be convenient for them. Let ii's, if We 
 can, eafe their burden's, and alleiftate their 
 forrows. Refignatiori is, OT^refent, their 
 leading dutyj benevolence is ours. And, 
 I hope, you will always be of opinion, thit 
 where benevolence is wanting, devotion is 
 defective.-— The ]f)rayers and the alms 'of 
 Cornelius came up for a memorial befote 
 God. - And,- you know who it is that afks 
 '1 E 2 the 
 
[ 36 ] 
 
 the, following queftipns. — " Is it fnch a 
 *' faft as i have chofen ? a day for a man 
 ** to srffli'dt his foul ? is it to bow down hi s 
 " head as a bulrufli, and to fpread fackloth 
 *' and afhes under him ? wilt thou call this 
 " a faft, and an acceptable day to the 
 ** Lord ? — Is not this the faft that I have 
 ** chofen ? to loofe the bands of wicked- 
 *' nefs, to undo the heavy burdens, and to 
 ** let the oppreffed go free, and that ye 
 ." break eyery yoke ? Is it not to deal thy 
 " bread to the hungry, and that thou 
 " bring the poor that are caft, out to thy 
 " houfe ? when thou feeft the naked, that 
 " thou cover him, and that thou, hide not 
 " thyfclf from thine own flefti ?" — How 
 pleafing, how animating are the following 
 declarations of the Divine favour ! " Then 
 " fhall thy light break forth as the morn- 
 " ing, and thine health fliall fpring forth 
 " fpeed|ly : and thy righteoufnefs fliall 
 " go before|Phee ; the glory of the Lord 
 " fliall be thy rereward. Then flialt thou 
 " call, and the Lord fliall anfwer ; thou 
 *' flialt cry, and he fliall fay, here I am : 
 " if thou take away from the midft of thee 
 " the yoke, the putting forth of the fin- 
 " ger, and fpeaking vanity : and if thou 
 draw out thy foul to the hungry, and 
 
 fatisfy 
 
 a 
 <( 
 
[ 37 ] 
 
 *' fatisfy the afflidled foul ; then fhall thy 
 *' light rife in obfcurity, and thy darknefs 
 *• be as the noon day. And the Lord fhall 
 *' guide thee continually, and fatisfy thy 
 *' foul in drought, and make fat thy bones : 
 *' and thou {halt be like a watered garden, 
 *' and like a fpring of waters, whofe wa- 
 " ters fail not/ And they that ftiall be of 
 *' thee, fhall build the old \vafle places : 
 *• thou fhalt raife up the foundations of 
 ** many generations j and thou (halt be 
 " called, the repairer of the breach, the 
 " reflbrer of paths to dwell in *." 
 
 * If. Iviii. 5 — 12. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 it 
 
 ■1%