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could reach the remotest corners of the land, to proclaim to all its inhabitants the wishes of Britain, that her children would dwell together in unity; that they would not employ their shining talents, and extensive attainments, merely in thwarting each other; that they would not revive old jealousies and animosities, or sow new ones; that they would abolish enmity, and strain every nerve in the prosecution of this only contention-who shall stand first, and do most service in the cause of their king and their country.

Such is the nature of the reformation to be desired. Blessed are the eyes that shall see it; but still more blessed the hands that shall have contributed to effect it! Viewed in the aggregate, it may seem difficult-it may seem impossible. But let us divide the task among us, and it will become easy. Let each of us undertake for ONE, and let us begin TO-DAY. "Then will the Lord be gracious to his "inheritance, as in the ancient days, in the genera❝tions of old: the Lord will make our way pro" sperous, and we shall have good success;" we have had some we shall have more-" the Lord will

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give STRENGTH unto his people; the Lord will "give his people the blessing of PEACE.

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DISCOURSE XXXVI.

A FAST SERMON.

ISAIAH, XXVI. 9.

When thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

IN that part of Isaiah's prophecy which is comprehended between the thirteenth and twenty-third chapters, inclusively, the fate of several cities and countries is denounced. Stationed for the purpose, by divine command, in his watch-tower on mount Sion, and from thence casting his eye over the different states and empires in that part of the globe, the prophet is made to behold, in vision, the judgements of the Almighty prepared for them. He sees the mighty tempest sailing, in an awful manner, around the horizon, and falling successively, as the transgressions of each called it down, on Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Egypt, and Tyre. At length, as there is no respect of persons with God, he perceives the storm approaching Judea itself, and the whole weight of the divine displeasure impending on the chosen people, for their wickedness and apostasy. The desolation induced thereby on the holy land makes the subject of the twenty-fourth chapter, where it is de

scribed with a sublimity of sentiment and expression peculiar to the sacred writings. There is no need to detain you by a minute inquiry into the particular period supposed to be intended. Isaiah, as his learned translator and expositor has very justly observed, chiefly employs general images; such as set forth the greatness and universality of the ruin that was to be brought upon the country by these great revolutions, involving all orders and degrees of men, changing entirely the face of things, and destroying the whole polity both religious and civil; yet with intimations of a remnant to be saved, and a restoration to be at length effected by a glorious establishment of the kingdom of God. Having thus viewed this extensive and interesting scene in all its parts and all its consequences, he breaks forth, in the twenty-fifth chapter, into a song of praise, in which his mind seems to be more possessed with the prospect of future mercies, than with the recollection of the past. The heavenly strain is resumed in the twenty-sixth chapter, from whence the text is taken.

A chorus of the faithful is introduced, ascribing to God the glory of protecting them from their enemies: "We have a strong city; salvation shall he establish "for walls and bulwarks." A procession is seen, advancing towards the temple, of such whose fidelity had been experienced in the day of public calamity; and the ministers there attending are commanded to give them an entrance into those sacred mansions of rest and peace. 'Open ye the gates, and let the " righteous nation enter; constant in the truth, stay"ed in mind, thou shalt preserve them in perpetual

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peace, because they have trusted in thee." this example, an exhortation is addressed to the weak and the wavering, the timid and desponding, to repose their confidence in Him who can bruise the strongest enemy under the feet of his people: "Trust ye in Jehovah for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah "is never-failing protection. For he hath humbled "those that dwell on high; the lofty city he hath

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brought her down; he hath brought her down to "the ground, he hath levelled her with the dust. "The foot shall trample upon her; the feet of the “ poor, the steps of the needy." A question might be asked, why the good should suffer with the bad? Answer is returned, that nothing can befall them, which is not proportioned to their case, and calculated for their final benefit: "The way of the righteous is per"fectly straight; thou most exactly levellest the path "of the righteous." The confessors, thus persuaded of the wisdom and equity of God's proceedings, go on to describe in what manner and with what affections they receive his chastisements, passing the calm and silent hours of the night, and the dawn of the morning, in devout meditation and prayer, and waiting patiently till the divine judgements should produce their proper effect, in reclaiming and reforming those who are the objects of them: " Even in the way of "thy laws, O Jehovah, we have placed our confi"dence in thy name; and in the remembrance of "thee is the desire of our soul. With my soul have "I desired thee in the night; yea, with my inmost

a See Vitringa.

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“spirit in the morn have I sought thee: for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of "the world learn righteousness."

Give me leave to offer a few reflections, suitable to the present occasion, on the Teacher, the School, and the Lesson. The Teacher is God; the School, that of Affliction; the Lesson, Righteousness.

I. When from these happy and sequestered seats we look abroad and acquaint ourselves with what is now passing around us, a real scene presents itself, resembling that visionary one exhibited to Isaiah. The rage of man seems to be contending with that of the winds and waves, which shall produce the greatest degree of misery upon the earth: we hear the wailing of afflicted islands, and the cries of nations in distress. Aghast, amidst so much havoc and devastation, the mind shrinks back upon itself, and asks, anxiously asks, from whence proceeds such variety of wretchedness? Whose hand imposes this load of woe upon the human race? We must reply, in the prophetical language, it is "the bur"then of the Lord," who governs the world which be created.

The primary design of these solemnities is to direct our thoughts, amidst the changes of this mortal life, to the superintending providence of Him who ordereth all things aright in heaven and earth. Destitute of this instructive and comfortable consider

The preceding citations are made from the bishop of London's translation, as expressing the sense of the original with greater force and precision.

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