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porary inconvenience you feel from the present contest, I trust you are impressed with a grateful recollection, that, while the floods lift up their voice, and the waves are mighty and rage horribly; yet the LORD, who dwelleth on high, is mightier;' and, respecting us, hath said, 'Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall the proud waves be stayed.'

But let us, as Christians, rejoice with trembling : for Infidels, of late, have employed a new and successful engine. Christians, whom they despaired of moving by their arguments, they have enticed to dabble in their politics; till in the abounding of iniquity, the love of many has waxed cold. Watch ye,' therefore, Christians! 'stand fast in the faith: quit you like men: be strong. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.'

But a Christian should not only keep his ground in such times, but should advance with an energy and an interest peculiar to himself. If you cannot, with Abraham, arm yourself or your family, you certainly can with him, intercede. If you cannot be a leader, like Moses, you can, with him 'lift up your hands' in prayer for the defeat of Amalek. If threatenings mixed with blasphemies are poured out and alarm the nation, you can, with Hezekiah, spread them before HIM, who dwells between the Cherubims. You can stand in the gap: you can run, like Aaron, 'between the living and the dead, till the plague is stayed.'

CHRISTIANS, it is not conceived by others, nor do you sufficiently conceive yourselves, what one steady, resolved, recollected believer, with a public spirit, may effect. The man, who dares to be right-who asks, not what men are pleased to think or say, but what he ought to think and do-who feels this short life to be his only opportunity, for glorifying God on this side of Eternity:-this man is a host. Witness the man, the stripling, I should say, in my text. Such 3*

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an one sees the Captain of his Salvation going forth in every tempest which arises, and directing them all. He joins himself to Omnipotence. He fears God, and therefore has none else to fear. He rests in Him, and thus collects fresh strength for his labours. ChrisTIANS, are your loins thus girded? Let your lights also be burning, and stand like men who wait for their Lord.'

To the CONGREGATION, at large, I now address myself.

The Lord of these servants is coming; and, before him, shall be gathered all nations. But there will not be a single individual among them, who will not then feel these truths to be THE GRAND CONCERN OF

Oh may they be accepted with gratitude and joy, now; that they may not overwhelm us with unutterable anguish and despair in the presence of the Judge! For, 'behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also that pierced Him. Even so. Amen."

MAN.

When I bring a sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a

man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman-If the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned, if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood will i require at the watchman's hands.... EZEK. xxxiii, 246.

TO THE

CONGREGATION

OF

ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL.

a

MY MOST RESPECTED FRIENDS :

The following Discourse, preached on the late General Fast, would not have been made more public, but at your particular request. The exemplary conduct of the Volunteers, who assembled with us on that Day of Humiliation, could not escape your notice; and their unanimous thanks, communicated to me by their Lieutenant-Colonel, cannot but afford me satisfaction: but your written request, signed by names of such consideration, must have with me the force of a command.

I must, indeed, forget myself, before I can forget the marked attention which you have paid, both to my ministerial labours, and to my personal interests ; and I embrace this occasion of expressing my sincere regret, that a long and painful disease has prevented my having a nearer intercourse with you than from the pulpit or the press. Such unavoidable seclusion, however, shall not prevent the exercise of my best efforts and fervent prayers for your welfare; nor my continuing to remain through life, Your faithful and affectionate Servant,

RICHARD CECIL.