"foolish and hurtful lufts, which drown " them in destruction and perdition." Our table hath indeed become our fnare: and the uncommon bleffings conferred on us, instead of heightening our gratitude, have only caused us to forget the hand that beftowed them, and proved the means of alienating our hearts from God.

For this abuse of prosperity, the land doth mourn this day. They must be blind indeed, who do not fee the uplifted hand of God, and even read, on the rod with which he hath fmitten us, our national guilt engraved in fuch deep and legible characters, that it may truly be faid, “Our own wick"ednefs hath corrected us, and our back"flidings have reproved us.'

Do we complain of the ingratitude of our American colonies, which flourished so long, and profpered fo much in a state of union with the mother-country, and as the free subjects of a free state? In what words can we utter our complaints more expreffive, than those which are pre-occupied, if I may se speak, by the great Lord of heaven and earth, in that folemn appeal which is recorded

(Jaiab i. 2.), "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, "O earth, for I have nourished and brought

up children, and they have rebelled against "me." So that the very expreffions with which we would naturally reproach our rebellious colonists, may justly remind us of that more aggravated rebellion, wherewith we ourselves are chargeable against that God, who hath not only planted, but cherifhed and protected us in a good land unto this day.

Now whatfoever things were written aforetime, were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. God is always the fame. He is in one mind, and none can turn him. His love to righteoufnefs, and his hatred of fin, are both unchangeable; and therefore, the truth of that affertion must be equally unchangeable, that righteousness exalteth a nation: whereas fin is the reproach, and without repentance muft, in the iffue, be the ruin of any people. Would we then pray with acceptance acceptance for the for the peace and profperity of our Jerufalem, let us begin with praying for the good of Zion; that it

may

with which they appear to have been accompanied. And it is obvious, in general, that David had a just impression of his abfolute dependence on God, and that he did not trust in the arm of flesh, but looked for help from God alone. No man poffeffed larger measures than David, either of political wisdom or warlike fkill; but he did not confide in his own talents for building or defending the walls of Jerufalem: He knew, as he expreffeth it in another of his Pfalms, that " except the Lord build the "house, they labour in vain that build it; " and except the Lord watch the city, the "watchmen waketh in vain." He therefore looks directly to the God of Zion, and commits Jerufalem, and her walls, to his keeping, who neither flumbers nor fleeps, even the Creator of the ends of the earth, who fainteth not, neither is weary.

The form of his addrefs doth likewise discover the deep conviction he had of his own unworthinefs. He pleads with God, as a humble fupplicant, with that penitent and contrite heart, of which he speaks in the verfe preceding my text. He claims

nothing

nothing upon the terms of justice, but applies folely to the mercy and free favour of God. "Do good," faith he," in thy good pleafure, unto Zion.”

This expreffion may be further confidered, as denoting that fubmiffive and refigned frame of spirit with which he put up his requests both for Zion and Jerufalem. He did not prefume to limit the Holy One of Ifrael; but left it entirely to his own wisdom and goodness, to grant the matter of his prayer at what time, and in what manner, or by what means, he fhould choofe.

In all these refpects, he prefents to our view an approved example for our imitation in fimilar circumstances.

It now only remains, that I should inquire what is incumbent on thofe who adopt the Pfalmift's prayer, in order to prove the uprightness of their hearts, and that they fincerely wish to obtain what they afk.

I obferved, in the introduction to this discourse, that every request which we make to God, is not only an explicit declaration, that we highly efteem, and ardently defire, the benefits which we pray for, but doth VOL. III. likewife

T

likewife imply an, obligation and promife on our part to use all the means in our power to obtain them.

As to what concerns the public ftate of the nation, and the means of building up and cementing the walls of our Jerufalem, these matters I leave to thofe who have the constitutional charge of them. The best aid I can contribute in my sphere, is to pray for wifdom to direct the public counfels, and to do what I can for the good of Zion; and in this you all may and ought to be workers together with me. If, then, we have any love for our country, or any fincere defire of faving her from impending calamity, let us now form hearty and vi-. gorous refolutions of correcting and amending our ways. Let our reformation begin in thofe points from which our corruption may be traced. Remember, that piety towards God is the best fupport of all thofe virtues which form the good man or the ufeful citizen. Legiflators may devife what regulations they pleafe; but if there is no fenfe of a God or of a providence among the fubjects, they will never be able

to