ample fail to influence ;--- fhould furrounding Nations persist in serving MAMMON rather than GOD,---though we may be moved at the "" Hardness of their Hearts," we fhall be happy in the difcharge of an obvious Duty;*---shall cease to be "Partakers of other men's Sins, and be undefiled and innocent from the GREAT OFFENCE. We fhall be "innocent of the Blood of those injured Perfons,----of thofe poor unoffending Creatures, who are "faft bound in Mifery and Iron:" and whofe Blood cries aloud to Heaven for Vengeance, and implores the Rulers of the earth to stop its effufion.

To this noble Inftance of national Juftice and Humanity, let us endeavour to add more national Virtue.-To effect this (within one fphere of Influence) let me again press upon you-(you, in particular whofe proper Concern it is) the Expediency-the Neceffity of fuppreffing all Receptacles of Vice, and öf ̈ re

*Sunt hic etiam fua præmia laudi

Sunt lachrymæ rerum: et mentem mortalia tangunt.

En. 1.465.

claiming

claiming the Nation from those Sins which stain its Character; which croud our Jails with atrocious Offenders, and which may draw down the juft Vengeance of Heaven.

To prevent these fatal confequences, let us, I befeech you, in the Name of God!-let us earnestly and zealously have recourfe to REFORMATION.-To use the Language of a learned Writer*"Let us prevent what is Evil by implanting what is Good. Let us enlighten the Understanding, as well as controul the

Will. Let us govern the lower Orders of Society-not by the Dread of fing Existence; but by the Hope of finding it comfortable. Let us fhew ourfelves the Prefervers of Men's Lives by standing forth as the Guardians of their Innocence. Instead of shedding their unrighteous Blood-let us endeavour, by wholesome and pious Inftruction, to fave their precious Souls!"

Then fhall the Smiles of Heaven

defcend upon us, and the Lord will

Dr. Parr. See his Difcourfe on Education.

continue to be "gracious unto this Land." He will blefs us, and will fet us on high above all the Nations of the earth. Bleffed fhall we be in the city, and bleffed fhall we be in the field. "Bleffed fhall be the fruit of our body, and the fruit of our ground; the fruit of our cattle, and the flocks of our sheep. Bleffed fhall be our basket and our flore.. "

66

Blessed shall we

be when we come in, and bleffed fhall we be when we go out." The Bleffing of the Lord will be upon all that we have, in the houfe and in the field."

6.6

Then shall our Country be profperous, and the Lord will bless all the work of our hand. "Then fhall Peace be within our walls, and Plenteoufnefs within our Palaces. Then fhall our People be ftrong to labour, and there shall be no decay,-no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets. Then fhall the earth bring forth her increase; and God,—even our own God shall give us his Bleffing.Then, with grateful Rapture and Devotion, we fhall fay-Happy are the People that

are

are in fuch a Cafe: yea, bleffed are the People who have the Lord for their God!"

PRAYER.

Almighty God! who ruleft over all the Kingdoms of the world, and difpofeft of them accord-. ing to thy righteous Pleasure; we praise and magnify thy glorious Name for all the Bleffings thou haft fhowered upon this Nation. Continue, O Lord, to blefs us; and, in GRATITUDE for thy Mercies, make us a peculiar People zealous of good Works. In particular, blefs, we beseech thee, thy Servant, our Sovereign, King George. May thy wisdom be his Guide, and thine Arm his Protection! May his days be lengthened, and his reign profperous. May he ever poffefs the Hearts of his People: and may we never be wanting in Honour to his Perfon, or in Obedience to his Laws! May the voice of Joy and Health refound in his royal dwelling; and the Bleffings of his Government defcend to his Children's Children! May his Throne be for ever established in Righteousness; and, when it fhall please Thee to call him from corruptible Crown, may he receive a Crown of Glory, incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away!-Grant thefe Prayers, we befeech Thee, Jefus Chrift's fake, our only Mediator and Re

a

for

deemer,

SERMON IX.

ON JUSTICE AND MERCY:

Preached at the Summer Affize, held at Warwick by Lord Chief Baron Eyre, and the Honourable Sir W. H. Afhhurft.

ZECHARIAH Viii. 9.

Thus Speaketh the Lord of Hofts:

"Execute

true Judgment, and fhew Mercy and Compaffions every Man to his Brother."

remove an erroneous Opinion respecting the observance of certain Ceremonies, the Prophet Zechariah delivered the words I have just recited; words from the highest and most conclusive Authority, -even from тHE LORD OF HOSTS.

To the Jews-exhortations of this kind were peculiarly neceffary. They were a people fo prone to pervert every falutary Ordinance, and fo apt to deem a mere ceremonial