GOD ferves himself of them, though they mean not to please GOD, but to gratify themfelves. The chastisers of his people have been themselves feverely chaftised: their very fucceffes and triumphs, exhaust and punish them. The LORD did give Ifrael into the hand of Babylon: yet, fee how fhe is addressed: remember the awful judgments with which she was vifited, according to the prediction, Ifa. xlvii. "Come down and fit " in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon: "fit on the ground, &c. &c."

THE other caution, I fuggeft to you on this fubject is, that we ought not to be rafh in pronouncing what are the objects of providence, in the difpenfations with which the world is vifited, and that are intended to be forwarded by battles and warfare.

A DISPOSITION to pry into the defigns of Heaven in its difpenfations, but in fo far as immediate duty is concerned, ought to be repreffed pronouncing pofitively respecting the mind of the LORD, is very blameable. When the disciples asked their master, "LORD! wilt thou at this time restore again

"the

"the kingdom to Ifrael?" they were answered, "It is not for you to know the times or "the feafons which the Father hath put in "his own power." See that you take not too much upon you, in judging the difpenfations of GOD: his path is often in the great waters: his footsteps are not known: clouds and darkness are round about him: his ways are paft finding out.

THE LORD feeth the end from the beginning: we perceive but a small portion of his mighty plans. They are not, they cannot be unfolded and perfected at once. One miracle did not bring Ifrael out of Egypt: they were not brought into the land of promise, nor established there, till after a lapse of years. It was gradually alfo, but fo as to display the wisdom and goodness, and agency of Heaven, that the Gospel had free course and was glorified. Judge not before the time, but reft affured that, in the review of the ways of GOD, the most dark and inexplicable at prefent, respecting nations or individuals, refpecting peace or war, it will be found that

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Righteousness and judgment are the habi"tation of his throne." "What I do," faid

our

our LORD to St. Peter, "thou knoweft not now, but thou fhalt know hereafter."

3. To remove or to prevent anxiety, fear and alarm, when there are wars and rumours of wars, let us remember, that God hath often fignally distinguished his fervants in wars and battles. From the many histories preferved in the facred records, which demonftrate the care and bleffing of God towards his fervants in fcenes of danger and death, we felect that of King David. He was involved in wars: he was often exposed to the ftratagems and violence of his enemies: he was often in imminent danger: but he encouraged himself in the LORD his GOD, and was not disappointed of his hope. In his devotions, with admiring gratitude, he publifhes and celebrates his frequent experience of divine protection and affiftance; and afcribes deliverance, fuccefs and triumph, to the Most High. See particularly his pious acknowledgments and thanksgiving Pfal. "He delivered me from my ftrong enemy, and from them which hated me; "for they were too ftrong for me: they pre"vented me in the day of my calamity, but

xviii. 17.

"the

"the LORD was my ftay: he brought me

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forth, alfo, into a large place, because "he delighted in me." In this and many fimilar fongs of gratitude and joy, we fee the fecurity and confidence of his fervants, and that we need not fear what man can do unto us, though thousands fhall fall at our fide and ten thoufands at our right hand, if we are indeed the fervants of the LORD.

ISRAEL and David and eminent faints, under the former difpenfation, of more immediate and fometimes miraculous interpofitions of Heaven, let us remember, are not exclufively enfured of protection and favour in the days of tumult and death:

4. LET us remember, and rejoice in remembering, that there are general promifes addreffed to all his people, under every difpenfation, and in every trial: In fix troubles and in feven, in famine, in deftruction, as your day is, all things co-operating for good, there is fafety and favour, and the bleffing of heaven, to the pious. In fuch general promifes and affurances, is included whatever is connected with wars and rumours of

wars.

wars. In the paffage before us, there is a fpecial reference to the alarms and defolations of war: the prediction even adds, they shall kill you; while the exhortation is," See " that ye be not troubled." Though not a hair of the head fhall perish but according to the will of their heavenly Father, the faints may be carried away; yet precious in the fight of the LORD is the death of his faints. Not ancient faints, not the apostles of the LORD only, but all his fervants, are affured that "He that dwelleth in the secret place of "the most high, fhall abide under the fhade "of the Almighty." Let us therefore fay, He is our refuge and our fortrefs; our GoD in him will we truft: we will not be afraid of evil tidings, our hearts are fixed, trusting in the LORD.

To these abundant fources of peace and confolation, amidst the apprehenfions and horrors of war, can any thing be added? they are indeed perfectly fufficient: we have however, to the diftreffed and alarmed; to those who dread, and to those who are involved in, the dangers and calamities of war ; to add the foothing reflection that they share

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