we perish not?" Surely that heathen city will rise up in judgment with this Christian land and condemn it; for it repented at the preaching of Jonah; and doubtless our religious advantages are inconceivably greater: yet alas, how little does the observance of a fast in London resemble that proclaimed at Nineveh !

The words of the apostle likewise demand our serious consideration. "Submit yourselves to "GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. "Draw nigh to GOD, and he will draw nigh to you. "Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your "hearts ye double minded. Be afflicted and mourn "and weep; let your laughter be turned into "mourning, and your joy into heaviness. Hum"ble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and he "shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, "brethren." Instead of reviling or condemning other men, every individual should be employed in confessing and lamenting his own sin, in humbly deprecating the LORD's indignation, and in using every means of overcoming evil habits and forsaking sinful courses.

This accords also with the exhortation of the prophet. "Seek ye the LORD while he may be "found; call ye upon him while he is near. Let "the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous "man his thoughts; and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy on him.3" But

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' Jonah, iii.

2 Jam. iv. 7-11.

3 Is. lv. 6, 7.

without true repentance and works meet for repentance; no appearances of strictness, humiliation, or grief will constitute such a fast as the Lord hath chosen. "Wherefore have we fasted, "and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted "our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?-Be"hold in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, "and exact all your labours. Behold ye fast for "strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of "wickedness.""

The substantial and permanent effects of repentance, and faith in God's mercy, must be manifested in our future lives; if we would be thought sincerely to have turned to the Lord and sought him in our distresses. Nor can any nation be considered as having duly regarded the rod and the word of God; unless a general reformation and revival of religion take place: or at least till numbers, in the different orders of the community, use the most decided endeavours to restrain and discountenance vice and impiety, to reform inveterate abuses, which have been connived at and sanctioned by a corrupt policy; and to encourage and promote genuine piety and purity of manners.

III. This leads me to observe, that as the people of Israel did not, neither do the inhabitants of Great-Britain, turn unto the LORD that smiteth :

'Is. lviii.

an observation which I make with reluctance and

unfeigned sorrow.

Our peculiar mercies have been numerous and invaluable, for a long course of years: but our prosperity seemed at its height, just before the American war; when our iniquities provoked the LORD to smite us. During the calamities attending on that unhappy contest, we were called upon to observe one season of fasting, humiliation, and prayer after another. On these occasions, while numbers employed themselves in political discussions and party-disputes; there were also many ministers from the pulpit, and some from the press, who endeavoured to observe the LORD's command to the prophet, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy "voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their "transgression, and the house of Jacob their "sins." They alleged, that the nation had been intoxicated with prosperity; was become arrogant and insolent; and had forgotten the LORD, ascribing their success to their own wisdom and prowess, and depending on themselves for its continuance. They shewed, that negligence and lukewarmness in religion had introduced various antiscriptural deviations from the gospel, which gaining ground among the superior orders; and even the professed ministers of CHRIST, had opened the door to scepticism and infidelity, which were making rapid progress in the nation. They lamented, that im

'Is. lviii. 1.

piety, contempt of God's word, profanation of his holy day in a variety of ways, perjuries multiplied and connived at beyond all former examples; venality among all orders of the community; and shameless prevarication in solemn subscriptions, sacred engagements, and sacramental tests, were notoriously common. They affirmed that systems of fraud, oppression, and cruelty, especially in foreign parts; unprecedented luxury and dissipation among the higher orders in society; and licentiousness among their inferiors, even beyond the ordinary measures found in pagan or papal countries, together with many other crying iniquities, had provoked the LORD to contend with us. This representation was accompanied with earnest calls to repentance, and exhortations to every one to use his influence in attempting reformation, and promoting the cause of truth, piety, justice, and mercy, in his own sphere, and according to the duties of his station. Yet those warnings and admonitions, repeated from year to year, produced no sensible effects: the same evils continued and increased; and the services of the fast day seemed generally and willingly forgotten, as soon as they were finished. We were, however, at length brought into a very alarming situation: yet the LORD, in answer to the prayers of the pious remnant in the land, remembered us in mercy: the storm was rebuked, and a flattering calm succeeded.

But alas, instead of making suitable returns for such mercies; every one of those evils which had been scripturally proved to be the causes of the LORD's controversy, still contaminated the land: and all the protests and warnings of ministers and Christians were ridiculed as visionary, enthusiastical, and superstitious. The event, as men supposed, contradicted their forebodings, and increasing prosperity succeeded to the alarm. Yet, while the nation was thus saying "Peace and safety," a dark cloud began again to threaten a most tremendous storm. The violent and extraordinary changes which took place on the continent, and and the spirit manifested by numbers at home, combined to excite most serious apprehensions. After a time this deplorable and eventful war broke out and though our distresses have not hitherto been worthy to be compared with those calamities which many dreaded; yet they have certainly been very great, and none can say in what manner they will terminate.

Immediately, the same means of averting the divine indignation was resorted to: days of fasting and prayer have repeatedly been observed; and similar warnings and exhortations have been urged from the pulpit and the press. This is now the fourth time we have complied with the royal proclamation: and many zealous efforts have been made to awaken men to a sense both of our situation and our duty. But what effects have been witnessed? Who almost can be found, that mani