view of suffering, and the spread of misery; and when we reflect, that amidst the dreadful convulsions which have shaken the surrounding world, and the wide devastations which the most unjustifiable aggression has made, we have preserved unimpaired our constitution, our laws, our rights, our liberties, and the chief preservative of these, our Established Faith, we cannot help acknowledging, that we have received at the hands of God an overflowing measure of bounty, and that we are under the strongest obligations of gratitude to "show the memorial of his abundant kindness." Still, however, there is much wickedness in the land; so much, that were God to deal with and reward us according to it, we should soon lie with the mighty that are fallen, and be left desolate and in misery; we should soon be swept, like Babylon," with the besom of destruction," or become, like Egypt, ‡ "the basest of the kingdoms." But sinful as * Psalm cxlv. 7. + Isa. xiv. 23. Ezek. xxix. 15. we are, and righteously as we deserve the indignation of the Almighty, we are, without doubt, the most virtuous and religious people upon the face of the earth. In what clime does religion breathe so pure a spirit, and charity dispense so full a cup of blessing? Where, as among ourselves, are there so many labourers in the vineyard of Christ, so many associations for disseminating Christian knowledge, so many benevolent councils for promoting both the temporal and spiritual welfare of all denominations of our suffering fellow-creatures? On every side of us stand monuments of Christian love; monuments, more gratifying to the sight than the splendid mansions of the great, or the magnificent palaces of kings; monuments, erected, not in commemoration of victorious battle, but in memorial of Christian benevolence and humanity; monuments, which shed the brightest lustre on our national character, and which posterity will esteem the most illustrious registry in the annals of our nation. In this truly Christian country, the female Orphan finds an Asylum; the Des titute a Refuge: the poor despised Magdalen a house of penitence and peace. Here the innocent offspring of guilt and shame are received under the protection of Religion, and made happy in the loss of their inheritance, and in the gain of the knowledge of their God. Here Christian Compassion stretches out her hand to administer relief to the blind; the deaf and dumb; the frenzied sufferer; the disabled warrior; the ruptured labourer; the sick and afflicted; the infirm and aged; and the distressed and unfortunate of every description. And here, above all, Christian charity, taking into merciful consideration the interest of souls, and extending her views from earth to heaven, is exerting her noblest efforts in bringing up the children of the poor* “ in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" and in endeavouring, not only to circulate the knowledge of the Gospel amongst the ignorant of our own country, but to convey its glorious light to the dark corners of the earth. It is, in all probability, * Eph. vi. 4. this comparative worth, certainly not our own righteousness, which has induced the Deity, not only to spare us, but to shed the light of his countenance upon us. During the awful contest, in which we have been so long engaged, and which every individual must wish were brought to a safe and honourable conclusion, how often have we experienced some signal mark of his interposing providence! At no period of this contest have we had reason to acknowledge his mercy towards us more than at the present. He has wrought a great victory * for us, and spread joy and gladness throughout our land. He has hereby opened to us a prospect of seeing ambition stopped in its mad career, its power beaten down, and its rod broken; and afforded us a hope, that the hour is arriving which will bring peace to our Israel, and give rest to the weary nations. But whatever be the events of fu *This Sermon was preached soon after the battle of Salamanca. A A ture time, whether prosperous or adverse, let us not be unmindful of mercies that are past. For the particular token of God's favour, which we have now received, let us pour forth the voice of pious gratitude, and offer him that tribute, which it is our duty to pay, and his delight to receive; an amendment of heart and life. This will induce him, as he ever loves and protects the righteous, to inspire our councils with wisdom, and bless our arms with further success. Notwithstanding ambition fulminate its threats of destruction, and pour out its proud boasts of conquest and of empire, the Lord God of heaven and earth can bring them all to nought. *"He, with the breath of his nostrils, can consume them that plow iniquity, "+"make the pomp of their strength to cease," and scatter their armies ‡“ as the dust before the wind." §" He alone is great in counsel, and mighty in work:" He alone is all-powerful to save or to de * Job iv. 8, 9. + Ezek. vii. 24. Jer. xxxii. 19. |