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them both will know, and they themselves too, that even in their last extremity, Providence may be expected to fight for them. Great are the troubles of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. The Lord delivereth the souls of his servants: and they, that put their trust in him, shall not be destitute *.

But then it must be observed, that such as have long been sinners, and are at last become penitent, (the former is certainly our case, would to God the latter were!) if relief doth not appear immediately, ought to wait for it with much patience, and be well satisfied if they are exalted in due time in God's time, not their own. Wickedness ruins nations by degrees reformation may restore them by degrees. An imperfect reformation will be likely to bring forth but imperfect fruits. And the completest reformation of a few may prove insufficient to save the whole. Still these are reasons, only why all should repent not why none should, unless all will, which it is impossible to foresee. For be the generality ever so incorrigible, and their destruction ever so absolutely decreed on that account; there is encouragement enough, notwithstanding, for those who do humble themselves, and return to a better mind. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment. It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger †. At least, whatever such may suffer in common with others, far from being a mark of his anger towards them, will contribute largely to improve their virtues, and increase their future reward. So that in every event they may cast all their care on God, for he careth for them. Undoubtedly they will feel the uneasiness, + Zeph. ii. 3.

*Psal. xxiv. 20. 22.

1 1 Pet. v. 7.

which human nature must from whatever is painful to it and in particular, a tender concern for multitudes, who have none for themselves. But still they will submit with composedness and reverent approbation to the severest sentences of Heaven; and reflect with joy, that their chief interest is safe, though inferior comforts be lost.

Let us therefore acquaint ourselves with God, and be at peace* : for he will keep those in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on him t. Whoever they are, that, sensible of their offences and their weakness, apply for the pardon obtained by Jesus Christ, and the grace communicated by the Holy Spirit: who, in their private capacity, honour God, study to be harmless and useful amongst men, and govern themselves by the rules of virtue; who also, in their public capacity, earnestly pray for and impartially seek the peace of Jerusalem, the welfare of their country, civil and religious; not led by interest, resentment, or vanity, but having at heart real common good; and in their whole conduct encourage and restrain themselves as the case requires, by the faith of a future recompense: whatever may befall the society of which they are part, it shall be well with them. Whatever else they may undergo, others will have nothing to reproach them with, they will have nothing to reproach their own souls with; and in the darkness light shall arise unto them §. All such persons therefore, after doing conscientiously what is incumbent on them, not only may, but ought to be without solicitude: and should let the foundation of their peace be known; that all around them may perceive, how vastly preferable the consolations of

* Job xxii. 21.
Psalm cxxii. 6.

+ Isaiah xxvi. 3.
§ Psalm cxii. 4.

religion are to every other method of making themselves easy. The pious man doth not labour to quiet his thoughts by obstinately shutting his eyes, or plunging into excesses, or taking off his attention by amusements: but can with tranquillity look towards the evil day, and see it coming: wait for it, and bear his share of it, less or greater; being assured, that all things work together for his good*. A very different state from theirs, who know they have deserved the judgments of God, who know they have contributed to bring them down to their own and others' hands; who have nothing to cheer them, when the clouds gather on every side of them; nothing to direct them, when the blackest tempest pours upon them, but the momentary glimmerings of human hope, struck out by their own imaginations; and if they should escape, if they should outwardly prosper again for the present, will only be tempted by it to treasure up to themselves hotter wrath against the day of wrath †, and final judgment. But hear, I intreat you, how the word of God expresses the case of each and may its enlivening exhortation to the former, and its terrifying admonition to the latter, sink deep into your breasts! Who is among you, fearing the Lord, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold all ye that kindle a fire, and compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks which ye have kindled: this shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow ‡.

Rom. viii. 28.

+ Rom. ii. 5.

Psalm 1. 10, 11.

SERMON IV.

PREACHED ON OCCASION OF THE REBELLION IN
SCOTLAND IN 1745.

2 SAM. X. 12.

Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.

MANY of you, I hope, remember, that I discoursed to you upon these words, a year and seven months ago*: when God, for our sins, threatened us first, with what for the continuance of them, he hath at length permitted to fall on part of this land. The renewal and nearer approach, of the same danger, requires a more earnest inculcating of the same exhortations. For perhaps we may now lay to heart the things we did not then. It is very true the pulpit ought never to be profaned, and I trust never hath or shall by me, to serve the purposes of party-interest; or intermeddle with any points of a political nature, about which the friends of their country, that think at all, can possibly be of different opinions. But the present is a common cause, affecting every one of us, without distinction, in what is most important to us: and God forbid, that the ministers of the Gospel should be either unwilling February 26, 1743-4.

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or afraid to speak, when his providence calls on them so loudly, to lift up their voice. Should the storm, which is now beating on many of our fellowsubjects, be dispersed by Infinite Goodness ever so soon and so entirely, without reaching us; it may yet be of unspeakable use, to have made the proper reflections and resolutions, whilst it was approaching towards us. And should the Almighty suffer us to feel it, as we have well deserved; nothing, but thinking and behaving rightly under his judgments, can give us hope of his mercy to moderate and shorten them.

Now whatever is requisite for these ends, is clearly comprehended in the words of the text: which bring naturally to our thoughts the three following particulars.

I. The interests we have at stake. Our people, and the cities of our God.

II. The spirit, which we ought to show in defending them. Be of good courage, and let us play the

men.

III. The humble dependance on Heaven, which we ought to exercise at the same time. And the Lord do that which seemeth him good.

I. The interests we have at stake. Our people, and the cities of our God: in other words, our civil rights, and our religion.

The defence of their persons and possessions against lawless power, and the secure enjoyment of the means of happiness here and hereafter, were the great motives, that induced men to submit originally to government. And every particular government is good or bad, as it answers or fails of answering these purposes. Now in our own, as it stands at present, our liberties are greater than those of any other

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