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SERMON VII.

TRANQUILLITY AMIDST WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS.

[Preached March 9th 1797, the day of the National Fast in Scotland.]

MATTHEW, Xxiv. 6.

And ye fhall hear of wars and rumours of wars: fee that ye be not troubled.

RETURN, O LORD! how long! and let "it repent thee concerning thy fervants. O fatisfy us early with thy mercy; that we

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rejoice and be glad all our days. Make

us glad according to the days wherein thou "haft afflicted us, and the years wherein we "have seen evil." In this ftrain of expoftulation and prayer, we began the folemn fervice of this day. With us, I am perfuaded, in the closet, in the family, in the congregation, thousands of thousands have joined, and are joining, in deploring the ravages of war; and in earneft fupplications to GOD,

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for the speedy restoration of the bleffings of peace. The defolations of the earth, (perhaps with much propriety I may use the words of our LORD,)" the abomination of "defolation," and of the prophet to which he refers," the overspreading of abomina"tions that make defolate;" have caused many with us to exclaim, in the words of Jeremiah, "Righteous art thou, O LORD, "when we plead with thee: yet let us talk "with thee of thy judgments: Why doth "the way of the wicked profper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Thou haft planted them, yea they "have taken root: they grow, yea they bring forth fruit.'

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YEAR after year, we have assembled together, as a nation, and as a church, confeffing our finfulness, under the chaftening rod; fupplicating the mercy of Heaven, imploring the bleffing of GOD on the councils and arms of our Sovereign; and the restoration of peace, on fafe, honourable and lasting conditions yet the awful vifitation of Heaven continues: the judgments of GoD are abroad in the earth; fears and alarms, confufion

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and distress respecting our fafety and enjoyments, fpread over our own country. The enemy has dared to threaten us with invafion attempts have been made, hitherto indeed providentially defeated, to land troops on our coafts. But for the ftorms, a confiderable force had been landed at Bantry Bay in Ireland: but for the fpirit and activity of the inhabitants, much mischief might have been perpetrated by those who landed in Wales. "His anger is not turned away, "his hand is ftretched out ftill!" we may complain in the words of the prophet: Wars and their devastations are renewed: Battles and victories, the most profperous, the most fplendid, afflict us. Can there be glorious atchievements in fight, and fuccess and triumph, without blood and death, and human wretchedness? The rod is ftill lifted up: it chastises the nations: it chastises us. "Hear "the rod," fays the prophet," and him who "hath appointed it." The men of wisdom hear his voice. By his judgments, GoD calls us to "confider our ways:" to return to GOD, and to duty. The call of Heaven is echoed by the proclamation of our Sovereign. Mixing loyalty to our King with

piety to our Gon, we are affembled this day; and have united in confeffions, fupplications, interceffions.

GODLY forrow and contrition distinguish the acceptable faft. Humiliation and mourning are expreffed and felt, in its exercises. The great objects of fetting this day apart, and of our thus affembling together, are forwarded and obtained, if finners are awakened to a ferious confideration of their finfulness. Are there any here who are ftout-hearted and far from righteoufnefs? Any who have not bethought themfelves, have not remembered GOD their Maker, the fource of all their enjoyments, the LORD and Judge of all? Any who are convicted of hating the Father, because they hate the Son, and neglect and defpife his great falvation? Any who fhew they are enemies to GOD in their minds, by their wicked works? Any who deny not ungodlinefs and worldly lufts; who do not live foberly, righteoufly and godly in the world? With all affection and earneftnefs, we beseech you to bethink yourselves: examine yourselves: confider your ways: mourn and be in bitterness for your fins, and their

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aggravations. We entreat you to remember his power is omnipotent, whom you make your enemy: his knowledge, whofe laws you have broken in thought, word and action, is perfect his laws are holy, juft and good: he hath not left himself without a witness, in any age, of the world, manifefting his. wrath against all unrighteoufnefs: He fpeaks to us by his Son from heaven: JESUS is "the image of the invisible Gop," the beloved of the Father: oppofition to his Gospel, to his kingdom and government, is the most heinous and daring wickednefs: depravity, ingratitude, perverfity, the most enormous and provoking, are theirs who will not have him to reign over them: If that Rock, under whofe fhadow the exhausted traveller rests and is fafe, falls upon us, it will grind us to powder.

IN the hiftory of the world and of the church, we learn that God hath awfully manifested his difpleafure against the workers of iniquity; against individuals, against focieties, against finners in general: but, the most awful and affecting manifestation of human guilt is, The mediation of that blessed

Saviour,

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