"mies," in almost every encounter; and the greater and more formidable our preparations for any enterprize, the more pitiful the iffue, and the more fhameful our defeat and difappointment. Has there not been an obftructed trade, a lofs of territory, a loss of honor, and expence of treafure? Is not this nation, once in a manner the arbitress of the fate of Europe, now become the fcorn and derifion of her neighbors and all that are round about her? What weak and divided councils among thofe that prefide? Inftead of any genuine public fpirit, a proud and factious endeavor to disgrace each other's measures, and wreft the enfigns of government out of each other's hands. How numerous and expenfive, but how ufelefs and inactive have been our fleets and armies? And how deplorable is the condition of our colonies abroad? They are the chief theatre of the war, because, indeed, they are the subject of the contest. And furely it is affecting to think of the unnatural barbarity and cruelty that there is often exercised, when no age or fex is fpared. It is true, the distance of the place may probably make us lefs fenfible of their mifery. But if it please God to fuffer our enemies to continue their progrefs, it is hard to fay how far the defolation may extend, or how univerfal it may prove.

Are we not alfo in a very low and fallen ftate as a church, or a nation, ftill retaining fome profeflion and form of religion? This will be found to correfpond with the other, as the caufe with the effect. How have all ranks, from the highest to the loweft, corrupted their ways? How grofs and prevalent is infidelity, undermining the principles of natural, with the fame zeal and eagerness, with which it formerly endeavored to weaken the foundations of revealed religion? How many of high rank have wholly deferted the houfe and worship of God, nay, openly and boldly treat his fervice and fervants with contempt? How often do we obferve fuch, with a criminal and infolent felf-contradiction, trample upon the very laws against profanenefs which they contribute to make? And, with how much zeal and diligence does the lower part of the nation emulate the higher, in that which is the reproach of both? So great is the preva

lence of irreligion, contempt of God, fenfuality and pride, that many of the groffeft crimes are not only practised but profefied, not only frequent but open, not only perfifted in but gloried in and boasted of: infomuch, that it requires no fmall degree of fortitude and resolution, ftedfaftly to adhere to the principles and character of a difci ple of Chrift, in oppofition to the fpirit and ftrain of fafhionable converfation.

It is not, indeed, to be wondered at, that not only this nation, but the proteftant ftates of Europe in general fhould be brought under the rod, as they have fo fhamefully departed from that purity of faith and ftrictness of morals which was the glory of the reformation. How many have of late been afhamed of the crofs of Chrift, and the doctrine of the grace of God? And what hath been fubftituted in their room? A pliant and fashionable scheme of religion, a fine theory of virtue and morality. A beautiful but unfubftantial idol, raised by human pride, adorned and dressed by human art, and fupported by the wifdom of words. And hath it not, in this, as in every preceding age, in this, as in every other chriftian country, wherever it gained any credit, been the fore-runner and brought fast at its heels a deluge of profaneness and immorality in practice? Can any of these things be called in question? And are not they, as well as many more which might eafily be enumerated, the melancholy proofs of our degenerate and corrupt character?

In the fecond place. From what hath been faid you may fee what wrong measures we have hitherto taken for removing these evils, fo far as we have been fenfible of them. Our gracious fovereign hath, indeed, been pleased to point out our duty, by calling us annually to fafting and humiliation. But with the far greater number it hath been no more than an unmeaning and lifelefs form: and they have continued ftill in the fame forgetfulness and contempt of God. You have heard above that nothing is more contrary to the genuine spirit of interceffory prayer in public calamity, than putting truft in an arm of flesh. And yet, is there any thing with which this nation is at prefent more justly chargeable? Nothing is more appa

rent from the very face of our common channels of intelligence. In the case of disappointments, on the one hand, are we not ungovernable and head ftrong in our refentment against men? and equally foolish and fanguine on the other, in our hopes of thofe who are fubftituted in their place? We give pompous details of armaments, and prophecy, nay, even in a manner defcribe their victories, long before the season of action; and incautiously celebrate the characters of leaders, while they are only putting on the harness, and going into the field. What proud and arrogant fentiments do we often exprefs on the fubject of our national courage, and ancient British fire, as it is called? In fhort, we feem to have got entirely into that vain-glorious, oftentatious fyftem, with which we used to upbraid our neighbor and rival nation; and they feem to have given it up in our favor, and to have adopted the wifer and more profitable method of putting deeds for words.

And how negligent have we been of promoting, or praying for the intereft of religion? You have heard, that when the arm of the Lord puts on ftrength, it must be to appoint falvation for walls and bulwarks to a people. But how few difcover any concern upon this fubject? The want of public fpirit, in thofe who retain any fenfe of religion, is an evidence of its low and languishing state. When it is lively, it will always be communicative. Love to God and love to man, the two great branches of practical religion, neceflarily imply a concern for its progrefs. And yet, fo rare is any thing of this kind, that when it appears as a fort of prodigy, it is looked upon, by moft, as romance and extravagance. Let experience tell, if this is not often the cafe. When any one appears, in imitation of the Scripture faints, to grieve for the fins of others, or discovers any more than ordinary concern for their reformation, are not all his endeavors immediately refifted and refented as troublesome, or branded with every name of contempt, as vifionary frenzy and enthufiafm?

In the third place. From what hath been faid on this fubject, you may learn what ought to be the great aim VOL. I.

3 B

of every ferious and fenfible Chriftian among us, at prefent in his interceffion at the throne of grace, viz. That the power of the Almighty may appear in behalf of this nation, in fuch a manner, as all may be obliged to fay, "This is the doing of the Lord." That, as he useth to do on extraordinary occafions, he may raife up inftru ments for this purpofe, who may be as polifhed fhafts in his own hand, and may have a fingle eye to his own glory. That not for our fakes, who have deferved to be caft off for ever, but for his own name's fake, he would support those who still adhere to the proteftant caufe. And, in a particular manner, for this end, that he would difcover his power and glory in an eminent and remarkable revi val of religion among all ranks. That our bleffed Re. deemer, the king of Zion, who reigns to all generations, who hath afcended up on high, and received gifts for men, would fend forth his Spirit in a large and plentiful meafure. That his work and power may appear in all his gracious influences, convincing and converting finners, fanctifying, quickening and comforting believers. That this may be a common bleffing on all corners of the land, on perfons of every clafs and denomination, of every rank and degree, from the highest to the lowest, of every ftation and office, civil and facred. Above all, that he would "cloath his priests with falvation, that his faints (6 may fhout aloud for joy." O when shall the time come, when "the Lord of hofts fhall be for a crown of "glory, and a diadem of beauty to the refidue of his people;" when, inftead of fine fchemes fpun for the honor of their makers, thofe who are called minifters of Chrift, fhall preach the gofpel, "with the Holy Ghoft fent down "from Heaven?" When the truth of God, by its fimplicity, majefty, force, and efficacy, fhall make its way into the hearts of the moft obftinate, and Satan's kingdom fall as lightning before it. Plead, my beloved hearers, that proteftants in general may be brought back to their first faith and their firft love; that the unhappy divifions among us may be abolifhed; and that the bond and centre of union may be Chrift crucified, the only author of falvation that men may be no longer ranked in par

ties, and marshalled under names, but the great and only ftrife may be, who fhall love our Redeemer moft, and who fhall ferve him with the greatest zeal.

And in this critical conjuncture, when the bloody sword is threatening fo many nations, and when there is fo general a combination of anti-chriftian powers, be earneft in prayer, that it may please God to fubvert their fchemes, and turn their counfels into foolishness; and that he, with whom is terrible majefly, may confume "the man of fin with the fpirit of his mouth, and de"ftroy him with the brightnefs of his coming."-Pray for our gracious fovereign king George, under whole mild and legal government, we have long enjoyed as much happiness as our national guilt would allow that God, by whom "kings reign and princes decree juftice," would give him a wife understanding heart in his fear, protect his perfon, direct his councils, and profper his arms and long preferve his numerous iffue, as happy pledges of the fecurity of our civil and religious liberty. Let us alfo, while we give thanks to God for railing up an eminent prince in Germany as the head of the reformed intereft, and fignally fupporting him bitherto, pray, that he may continue his protection to him, encourage his heart, and ftrengthen his hands, and fight his battles. In fine, let us pray for the speedy accomplishment of the prophecy, whoever fhall be the inftrument of it, of the downfall of Antichrift, when the cry fhall be heard, "Ba"bylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and fhall arife no

แ

In the laft place. For our encouragement in this duty, let us remember, that we ferve an unchangeable God, the rock of ages. We pray for the appearance of the arm of the Lord. " as in ancient days, in the generations "of old," when it cut Rahab and wounded the dragon." Review the hiftory of his conduct to the church and people of Ifrael, how, with a mighty hand and out-ftretched Parm, he delivered them from, bondage, and humbled their proud oppreffors. And remember how often, in fucceeding ages, he has appeared in behalf of his own peo ple, and fupportet his own caufe when at the very low