ing from thy precepts and from thy judgments."

Yes, brethren, great as our national mercies and privileges are, we cannot but lament the prevalence of vice in society at large. If we look with any attention at the moral character of the times, what do we observe, but an awful contempt of the Divine authority,— a sad abuse of Divine mercies,—a defiance of Divine judgments,-a neglect of sacred privileges,—and, in fine, the abounding of every species of iniquity? But, to this we may add, that we see also, in the present times, much of the ancient prophecies hastening to their fulfilment.

1st. We observe in the character of the times an awful contempt of the Divine authority. We are dependant creatures, under the control, and at the mercy of him who made us,—and yet we forget him! We are helpless, decaying, and dying creatures,— and yet how the thousands among us scorn the warnings and the remedies of God! We are depraved and guilty creatures,—and yet, how multitudes spurn at rebuke, despise repent

ance, and rush, unprepared, into a fearful eternity! Now, what is the complaint that a holy, just, yet insulted God makes of such a people?—even that which he made, long since, of Ephraim: "I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing." He who has a right, as our sovereign, to lay down the law, has himself revealed it in clear, intelligible terms; but we refuse it, as a strange thing, with which we will have nothing to do. He, to whom we are best known, has so pitied our case, as to give us the best, the only directory to life and happiness; but we have loved our own darkness, rather than his light; and have treated the great things of his law as unworthy of our regard. This is a hard and severe charge, say you, to bring against the people of our day. But will its truth be disputed? What, then, means the awful infidelity which is so daringly avowed in every grade of society? What means that disgusting habit of taking the name of God in vain, so prevalent in a large portion of our population, and wounding our ears in every street? What

the

open desecration of the christian sabbath? and what the frequent sneer and sarcasm cast on every form and expression of piety, in numerous circles around us? Do not these and other glaring sins which might be mentioned, justify the charge we have made?

2ndly. We observe also a sad abuse of Divine mercies. The mercies which we, as a nation, as well as individuals, have received at the hand of God, are countless in number, and inestimable in value. If we attempt to enumerate them, we know not how to begin, or where to end. Consider the advantages of our insular position, by which, under Providence, we are secured from foreign invasion, and the consequent horrors of war. Consider the temperature of our climate, affording us safe and salutary alternations of heat and cold; and bringing round to us, with but little interruption in the regularity of their succession, our seed-time and harvest, our summer and winter, in all their varied benefits and beauties. Consider our commercial advantages, by which our rivers are studded with ships; our country is enriched;

C

the produce of every distant land is spread upon our table; our "merchants are princes, and our traffickers the honourable of the earth." Think of the general fertility of our soil; of the abundance of our flocks and herds, and the facilities most commonly existing, for procuring the necessaries and the comforts of life. But more especially, think of our land, as a land of Bibles,,—a possession of itself the most ennobling, the most enriching. Its doctrines are explained, its precepts enforced, by the ministers of sacred truth, through the length and breadth of the land. "The lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage." But how have all these mercies operated upon our mind and conduct as a people? Truth, alas! compels us to acknowledge, we have greatly abused them. How uncommon-nay, how unfashionable is it, in general conversation, to attribute any of our enjoyments to the kindness of God's providence, or the blessings of his grace. So far from giving God the glory, it seems to be the conventional practice among us to ascribe every advantage we possess

to our own energy, our own industry, our own wisdom. We seem to deny that it is he who giveth us power to get wealth; and we

66

say in our hearts, Our power, and the might of our hands hath gotten us this wealth;" and thus, like the haughty Chaldeans, "we sacrifice to our own net, and burn incense to our own drag." But what is more, in how many instances are the very bounties of God's hand made to minister to intemperance, to pride, to dissipation of every description. And even the talents, with which we may be personally endowed, a superior intellect, a bright genius, extensive learning, how often are they arrayed against all that is sacred or decent in society, and prostituted to the service of the basest passions of our fallen nature! Truly, brethren, there is great abuse of Divine mercies in the character of the times.

3rdly. We observe in the present times a defiance of Divine judgments. The abuse of our mercies endangers our possession of them; it provokes the Almighty to withdraw them; it does more, it turns the God of mercy