THANKSGIVING

SERMON,

PREACHED IN THE CHAPEL OF THB

ASYLUM FOR FEMALE ORPHANS,

ON THURSDAY, THE 13TH OF JANUARY,

1814;

BEING THE DAY APPOINTED BY AUTHORITY

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GENERAL THANKSGIVING.

SERMON XIII

PSALM CXXVI. 4,,

THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US ALREADY, WHEREOF WE REJOICE.

THE first great Empire of the world was the Assyrian or Babylonian. At the time of its highest elevation,when numerous nations were comprehended within its limits, and when Babylon was rendered by Nebuchadnezzar in greatness and magnificence one of the wonders of the world, lived Daniel the Prophet. He predicted the Fall of this vast Empire, and the rising up of three other great Kingdoms successively, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman, and likewise the existence of a fifth of a peculiar description, which should begin to show itself during the ascendency of the fourth, and should ultimately destroy it, and become universal.

Now this Prophecy has hitherto been

literally fulfilled. The Babylonian Empire was in the lifetime of Daniel overturned by Cyrus, who in its stead erected the Persian. The lion with eagle's wings was devoured by the bear.

In process of time another monarchy arose, called the Grecian, which grew by degrees into strength, and at last succeeded in overpowering the Persian, and subduing the nations under its feet. The bear was with irresistible force assailed by the leopard, and totally overcome.

At length the Roman power, bearing down all before it, subdued the Grecian Empire, and established the fourth Monarchy, which devoured the whole earth, and trod it down, and brake it in pieces. The leopard was destroyed by the beast, that was dreadful, and terrible, and strong exceedingly."

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During the times of this fourth kingdom, a Stone was to be "cut out without hands," which should in the end "become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth." By this stone cut out without

* Dan. vii. 7%

+ Dan: ii. 34, 35.

hands was meant a Kingdom, small at the beginning, which the God of Heaven should set up; and by its becoming a great mountain, its complete triumph over the other kingdoms, and its universal and perpetual dominion. Here we see evidently the Prophecy concerning Christianity. It first appeared, like a little stone, when the Roman Monarchy was at its highest pitch of glory. It was the kingdom cut out without hands, a spiritual Kingdom of God's own erecting. It has been increasing ever since, is still increasing, and will continue to increase till it become a great mountain, that is, till it fill the whole earth, and be owned by all people, and nations, and languages, as the universal Kingdom which shall not pass away.

We infer, then, from Scripture, that there never will arise out of the earth another vast monarchy, absorbing into itself other powerful nations, and reigning sole and absolute mistress of the world; and that the only universal kingdom which shall be established, will be the Kingdom of Christ, not an earthly, but a heavenly;

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