revolutions of the empires of the world, which prophecy reveals and defcribes as deftined and directed by heaven, were generally effected by the armies of contending powers. Before the beloved difciple, in holy vision, was unfolded the hiftory of the church of CHRIST. He is informed of those who shall make war with the Lamb, Rev. xvii. 14: it is added, "and the Lamb fhall overcome "them, for he is the LORD of LORDS and "KING OF KINGS, and they that are with him. "are called and chofen, and faithful." His defcription is more particular and striking, and fublime, in the xix. 11. "I faw heaven

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opened, and, behold! a white horse, and "he that fat upon him was called Faithful "and true, and in righteoufnefs he doth judge, and make war. His eyes were as a " flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written which

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no man knew but he himself, and he was "clothed with a vefture dipped in blood, and "his name is called the word of GOD: and "the armies which were in heaven follow"ed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean and out of his "mouth goeth a fharp fword that with it he

46 fhould

"fhould fmite the nations: and he fhall rule "them with a rod of iron, and he treadeth "the wine-prefs of the fierceness and wrath "of Almighty GoD. And he hath on his "vesture and on his thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORDS.

WHEN We believe and inculcate this truth, that wars are under the control and direction of heaven, we moft readily admit that the origin of wars is in the wicked paffions of the human heart we leave not out of view the fchemes of the governors of the nations of the world: much is justly reafoned and afferted of the abilities, and of the imperfections of commanders; of the courage, skill and exertions; or of the cowardice, feeblenefs and confufion of armies: much is juftly afcribed to ground, to station, to wind and weather, as explaining victory and defeat: we queftion, and deny, nothing respecting the merit or demerit, the glory or difgrace of fleets and armies, of foldiers and failors, of those who command, and of those who obey but let us ever look higher than human fagacity or praife or blame, let us ever remember the ruling and controling

providence

providence of God. All are his fervants fire and hail, fnow and vapour, ftormy winds, fulfil his word: he rules the raging of the sea he stilleth the noise of the feas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people. The wicked are his hand, his fword to execute his purpose: he maketh the wrath of men to praise him.

THIS text of Scripture fuggefts our second obfervation for quieting the troubled in the time of wars and rumours of wars.

2. By wars the LORD fulfils his purposes, and manifefts his glory.

WHAT is true of the more immediate interpofitions of GOD, in the cafe of Israel, is true of the wars of all nations, and of their effects: they are the inftruments he employs in the government of the world, for reproof and correction, for the manifestation of his justice and faithfulness; and of his goodness also for, by wars, the interests of humanity, of liberty, of order, of fecurity, and of enjoyment, have been promoted and established.

WHETHER We perceive it at the time or not, we are affured that, in all his difpenfations of what kind foever they are, God will be justified in the end, to use a scriptural manner of speaking, as holy, juft and good. The divine holiness and juftice, and goodness, are easily traced; are indeed confpicuously displayed, in the hiftories of the commotions of nations, as preferved especially by the pen of infpiration. He is the fame yefterday to-day and for ever. He will carry on his plans: he will fulfil his pleasure. As it has been formerly it will be now, it will be hereafter good may arife out of evil, order from confufion, peace from war; and, from defolating judgments, tranquillity and enjoyment. The demolition of antichrist, the difgrace and ruin of irreligion, the spreading and triumphs of the everlasting Gospel, may be forwarded, prepared for, or effected, by the wars of the present time.

On this fubject permit me to fuggeft to you, that these two cautions are ever to be remembered. In the firft place, we are not to imagine that fuccefs in war, either in detail or in refult, is always a proof of the approbation

probation of Heaven to the fuccefsful, or to the objects of the leaders of nations or of armies. There is a ftrange difpofition in many to believe and aver that, fuccefs is the feal of Heaven to thofe who profper. GoD hath indeed permitted them to profper, that is, to gain their object: but how often have we read and heard of the way of the wicked profpering, their ftrength is firm, they have no bands in their death, &c. &c.? But does GOD approve of the wicked, the deceitful, the bloody? Are robbers, plunderers, murderers, approved of Heaven?-By this blafphemous doctrine, Judas Iscariot and the murderers of the Son of GOD are approved. Say not the French leaders or armies have the approbation of Heaven. We have heard of the crimes of the revolution, of the impieties of their public men, in public places: we cannot think of their atrocities or repeat their blafphemies without horror: knowing what we know, and what they are at no pains to conceal, for they have gloried in their fhame, can we call them the fervants of GOD, the approved of Heaven, in any other fenfe, than that ftorms and conflagrations, earthquakes and deluges, are alfo his fervants?