ing to the uniform tenour of the divine œconomy, from the beginning to the end of time. From a survey of God's proceedings, learn we to rectify and regulate our own. To punish wickedness and vice, to preserve and promote true religion and virtue, appears to have been the end and design of all his dispensations. Let it be the end and design of all our transactions, upon the present, and upon. every other occasion. The series of events which has been exhibited points out the difference between that which is of the earth, earthy, and that which cometh from above; and directs us where to fix our choice. Not princes only, but empires, you see, are mortal. They sink, to rise no more. The Assyrian, the Babylonian, the Persian, the Grecian, the Roman,-where are they? They are gone— they sleep among the dead. And, what they are, the states now subsisting around us, which have so often disturbed the repose of Christendom, and, with their numerous and well-appointed armies, threaten again to disturb it, shall one day be. All below is inconstancy and agitation. But the kingdom of God shall stand. Its foundations were laid before those of the world; and when that shall be in ashes, when the powers of the earth and the lights of heaven shall fall, and be extinguished for ever, its superstructure will appear in perfect beauty. Death dissolves the relation we bear to an earthly government, and all civil distinctions drop into the dust together. But our citizenship, as saith the apostle,-μw TOXITEUμa,-is in heaven. As Philip. iii. 20. Christians, we belong to a polity not subject to dis solution; a society, whose duration runs parallel with the days of eternity. We form a body of which Messiah is the head, and to which angels are therefore enjoined to minister. What wonder is it, that we find exceeding great and precious promises made to this high and heavenly community, and fulfilled, with regard to the empires of the world, from age to age? Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down "to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet". The sons also of them "that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee, "and all they that despised thee shall bow them"selves down at the soles of thy feet, and they "shall call thee the city of the Lord, the Zion of "the Holy One of Israel. Therefore thy gates shall "be open continually; they shall not be shut day "nor night; that men may bring unto thee the "forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may "be brought; for the nation and kingdom that will "not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall "be utterly wasted "." Thus "glorious are the things spoken of thee, "thou city of God!" May we not, therefore, take up our parable, with Balaam, and say, Surely "there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is "there any divination against Israel'! How shall we curse whom God hath not cursed? or how. u Isa. xlix. 23. w Isa. Ix. 14, &c. 11, 12. y Numb. xxiii. 23. "shall we defy whom God hath not defied? Be"hold, we have received commandment to bless : "He hath blessed, and we cannot reverse it." If the dealings of the Almighty with a people be squared by their dealings with his religion, the state of religion will always be the surest criterion whereby to judge of the state of that nation wherein it is planted; that there can be no greater enemies to their country, than those who are enemies to her; since concerning her He hath declared, who cannot deceive, or be deceived" No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that "shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt con"demn." God doth not every day manifest his will, by his prophets, respecting the kingdoms which he setteth up and putteth down. But having so often done it in the cases of those great empires of which we have been speaking, he showeth us, by such remarkable and prominent instances, how he acts in all others, and thereby enables us to form a competent idea of our own situation and circumstances. Sacred history informs us what was the particular state of the ancient people of God, when he punished them by the Heathen nations; and both sacred and profane history informs us what was the state of each empire, when subverted by another. Similar causes produce similar effects. For though God's counsels are always executed, yet they are executed, for the most part, in that way which we are wont to call the Numb. xxiii. 8. Numb. xxiii. 20. b Isai. liv. 17. natural course of things. He who has ordained that all parts of the universe should have a mutual dependence on each other, and operate regularly, by a due concatenation of causes and effects, has likewise ordained that the course of human affairs should have its progression and proportion. Individuals and communities arise, accordingly, at proper times, with qualities suited to the station they are destined to fill, and the work which they are intended to perform. It is, therefore, no less useful than curious, in reading history, to mark the different dispositions, manners, and characters of nations, and their rulers; since these are the instruments, working under the direction of Providence, for the accomplishment of its designs, without any infringement of man's free will. If you behold a nation distinguished by irreligion and contempt of things sacred, by licentiousness, faction, luxury, dissipation, and effeminacy, be assured that, without a reformation, and a return to first principles, the conquest of that nation by some other is becoming more and more feasible every day; the same vices which provoke divine vengeance, preparing the way for its execution. Such were the characteristics of the ancient people of God in the times preceding their several captivities. Such was the case when the old Assyrian empire perished with Sardanapalus; when Babylon was surprised by Cyrus; when Darius was overthrown by Alexander; when Greece fell under the dominion of the Romans; when these last were overwhelmed by the northern nations; and when Constantinople was taken by the Turks. Every man, who has the prosperity of his country at heart, should very seriously consider, how far these tokens are to be found upon ourselves; what can be done to prevent the farther spreading of the infection, and to eradicate the seeds of the disorder. Those in the higher ranks of life, it may be said-it ought to be saidcannot complain, that a bright example of virtue is not held forth to them from the throne. Happy would it be for themselves, happy for the community, would they study to reflect its lustre on the wide-extended circles of their inferiors and dependants. The legislature hath by no means shown itself backward in supporting that establishment of Christianity settled among us at the reformation. The integrity of those truly reverend and respectable persons, intrusted with the important charge of administering justice and judgement in the land-that particular, which rendered the Romans, in the opinion even of their enemies, worthy to be masters of the world-is universally seen, and gratefully acknowledged. In these sequestered and peaceful scenes, the destined mansions of literature and religion (long may they continue to be so, loved by the good, and patronised by the great!) though the fences of our enclosure will not serve entirely to exclude the turn and temper of the world about us, yet many are diligent to teach, and many attentive to learn. Wisdom uttereth her voice, and the sound of the Gospel is heard. There is a river, the streams whereof, going forth from this their fountain, often cause the wilderness to become a fruitful field; to rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It must be added, |