tue tends naturally to the profperity and eftablishment of a state, and vice to its deftruction and is that cold maxim, think you, all that can be learnt from this aftonishing event? Publick vices are frequently found to be detrimental to civil focieties: was this all that the prophet Jonah had to deliver, when he cried, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown? And a reformation of manners is, generally speaking, and all things confidered, of use towards the prefervation of a community: was this the wife philofophical reflection made by the King, when he arofe from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with fackcloth, and fat in afhes, and faid, Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Or is not the true meaning of this hiftory, that which is also the most ob

vious? That Almighty God, in his justice and goodness, offended first with the fins of the people of Nineveh, had decreed and prepared for them an exemplary punishment; and then moved by their repentance and prayer, put a stop to the execution of it. God repented of the evil that he had faid that he would do unto them, and he did it not. The punishment, had it been inflicted, would have been the effect of his displeasure: it was averted or delayed by the interpofition of his mercy.

SERMON IV.

LUKE xi. 8.

THOUGH HE WILL NOT RISE AND GIVE HIM, BECAUSE HE IS HIS FRIEND; YET, BECAUSE OF HIS IMPORTUNITY, HE WILL RISE AND GIVE HIM AS MANY AS HE NEEDETH.

WHI

HENCE arifes the mighty merit of Prayer, if this be the recommendation fo particularly powerful? Ask, and ye shall receive: Why are we not rather commanded to labour, that we may deferve? Or how, in fhort, fhall we

15.

reconcile God's undoubted regard to defert, with the conceffions he is reprefented as making to importunity?

This may deserve to be confidered: for though Almighty God be the master of his own favours; and free, furely, to bestow them wherefoever he pleases, without affigning to any one a reason, besides his own will; according to that Matth.xx. of the houfholder in the parable, Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? and though, whenever he has been pleased to annex any conditions to be performed on our part, or appoint means to be used, as prayer, or any other, we have no choice left, but to comply, and be thankful; yet when we are able to go further, and can difcern, in fome degree, the reafons on which fuch divine appointments are grounded, our meditations will be well and profitably employed on fuch a fubject, The: