this information, and I may say, demonstration, concerning the horrid iniquities and cruelties of this execrated trade. The effects of this, it is highly reasonable to suppose, will be very great, extensive, and permanent: and, though at present the prospect concerning the devoted race of Negroes, in Africa and America, a race unoffending as far as concerns us, and more deeply injured than any other on earth, is tremendously gloomy; yet it is not impossible, nor even improbable, that the full investigation of the case, thus occasioned, may eventually conduce, in a most eminent degree, to promote the cause of justice and humanity in general, and towards that injured race in particular.

May not also these speeches, and debates, and measures of our senate, and this protest of the nation,—in which THE WORD OF GOD is openly and avowedly recognized as the rule of our conduct towards all men, in public measures as well as in our private deportment; and as suggesting the motives of our exertions in behalf of our fellow-men ;-be overruled to render that wORD OF GOD more noticed and regarded, in the councils of nations, and in the congresses of princes, than it has hitherto been? At least, I must think that the decided part of Great Britain (this single article of the late treaty excepted,) in this truly Christian cause, on this avowed ground, and from these motives, is unprecedented in the annals of Christian countries; and is suited to produce the most extensive good to mankind in general. Let us then render to our God, from whom all holy desires, all good coun'sels, and all just works do proceed,' our fervent thanksgivings for these mercies; together with our

earnest prayers for his effectual blessing; and our intercession in behalf of those whose miseries we deplore. Let it also be remembered, that the same considerations which unite Britons in petitioning the Legislature will powerfully tend to unite all zealous and well informed Christians in earnest prayer to Him, who has all hearts in his hand, and who turneth them as he pleases; who can open the hearts of the rulers of France, Spain, and Portugal, and those of all other potentates, and induce their concurrence with perfect ease, if he sees good. The effect of such united and fervent prayers may, on scriptural ground, be anticipated as very great indeed: so that we may humbly expect that blessings, granted in answer to the prayers of many, will ere long" abound in many thanksgivings unto "God." Let us then imitate Nehemiah, when about to petition the king of Persia in favour of his people, and lift up our hearts to God with this short but fervent request, "Prosper, I pray thee, thy "servant this day, and grant him mercy in the "sight of this man." So we may hope, in due time, to be enabled to use the words of Ezra ; "Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who hath

put such a thing as this in the king's heart ;"and hath extended mercy unto me before the "king and his counsellors, and before all the king's "mighty princes."

3rd. The dire calamities of the war, which is now closed, were existing realities; they had prevailed for a long time, and extended very widely; they continued to increase; and there appeared much

1

' Neh. i. 11.

2 Ezra vii. 27, 28.

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ground of apprehension that they would not speedily terminate. Hundreds of thousands, yea millions, had perished; and far more survived in the deepest distresses. Blessed be God, these dreadful scenes are now no longer witnessed: and, though we cannot but fear that evils of a still more tremendous nature will, in consequence, take place in the distant regions of Africa and the West Indies; that, instead of European conscripts, children will be torn from African parents, with still more complicated cruelties and enormities; and war of a more savage nature be waged, with exterminating horrors though we dread the revival of the horrid system of man-stealing, (the only kind of theft punishable with death, according to the law of God;1) with other evils incalculably great: though we tremble for our missionaries on the coast of Africa, and for the children under their care, who may soon be torn from them, and carried on board a slave ship: yet, these things are still future, and may never take place. That God who says to the ocean, "Hitherto shalt thou go, and no further; "and here shall thy proud waves be stayed; "who stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of "their waves, and the tumult of the people; "3 may yet interpose, and prevent all the evils which we anticipate with such heart-felt distress. "Surely "the wrath of men shall praise thee; the remain"der of wrath shalt thou restrain."4

"2

However alert the government or the merchants of France may be, they cannot get their measures

'Deut. xxiv. 7.

3 Psalm lxv. 7.

* Job xxxviii. 11.

• Psalm lxxvi, 10.

to bear for some time to come: and what may be done in that time, by the use of all proper means, and by incessant prayer, who can say? It is not impossible but that the loud voice of justice and mercy may yet be heard by the rulers and people of France themselves; and that, discovering the atrocities and impolicy of their purposed measures, and the infamy which must attach to them in other countries, and among posterity, they may yet desist from availing themselves of this article of the treaty. It is not even improbable that suitable statements and arguments may convince the government of France, that the subjugation of St. Domingo is impracticable, at least without such measures, as would make the possession a more pernicious acquisition even to France, than can be conceived; besides all the exterminating cruelties on its present large population; and that the attempt would be impolitic in the extreme. It is not beyond all hope, that the sentiments of the approaching Congress may be so strong and decided against these enormities, as at least to check and repress the mischief: besides what may be done directly by our own government, in favour of the African coast, in the vicinity of Sierra Leone.

When Haman formed his diabolical design of extirpating the Jews, he was led to select the day for its execution by casting lots: now "the lot is "cast into the lap, but the whole disposal of it is "of the Lord;" and the effect was, that nearly a year passed before the appointed day arrived. He easily obtained the consent of the king, through heedlessness and inattention, to his most ruinous proposal: but the delay gave Mordecai, and Esther,

and the Jews, time for using means to defeat his project; which were introduced by the strictest fasting, (and, doubtless, fervent prayer,) for three set days. Accordingly it pleased the Lord to prosper the measures of Esther and Mordecai; and to turn the mischief on the head of wicked Haman, his children, and his adherents; not, however, without much distress, disgrace, and political loss, to the heedless monarch who had consented to Haman's request without at all reflecting on the consequences. Now, my brethren, that God, who defeated Haman's wicked project, can as easily defeat those formed against the poor Negroes: and, though they, alas! have no one to teach them, and to lead them by example, to humble themselves before our God, and implore his interposition; time is given to all their pious and benevolent friends in Britain, and elsewhere, to supplicate God in their behalf. This, I trust, will be done by very great numbers; and I cannot but indulge a hope that these prayers will yet effectually prevail.

Herod seized on James, the brother of John, and, without delay, put him to death: no time was allowed to pray for his life: but the persecuting tyrant apprehended Peter also, and kept him in prison. Time was thus given for prayer and prayer without ceasing was made by the church

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to God for him." Prayer prevailed: Peter was preserved: Herod perished in a most awful manner: "but the word of God grew and multiplied."'

Let us, then, thank God that we have time for intercession, as well as for other means of averting

1 Acts xii. 24.