ing their own words; let the fecure, impenitent hearers break off their fins by righteoufnefs, and their iniquities by turning to the Lord. Are there any prefent who, through the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the influence of ungodly affociates, have departed from the holy commandment, and thrown off their chriftian profeffion, let them be impreffed with the danger of their fituation, and return in the exercife of repentance to the Living God: let the vain and the thoughtless youth remember their Creator, left they mourn at the last when their flesh and their body are confumed, faying, how have we hated inftruction and our hearts defpifed reproof? By all that is dreadful in the wrath of Almighty God, by all that is defirable in his loving kindness I exhort finners of every age, of every condition to turn this day to the frong holds while they are prifoners of hope. The door of the city of refuge is now open, and Jehovah Triune, Father, Son and Holy Ghoft are inviting you to enter in. The door of the city of refuge is now open, and all the redeemed on earth, and all the redeemed in heaven, and all the angels of light will hail with tranfports of joy your entrance and your efcape from the avenger of blood. Haften, haften to Jefus Chrift, to his facrifice, to his righteousness as your only fecurity from the wrath that is to come. The Lord God of gods in whofe prefence I now ftand, whom I ferve in the gospel of his Son bears me witnefs that I have aimed on this day of humiliation at efpoufing you all to one husband, and thus preparing you to meet your God; to meet him now as he is coming forth to a venge his quarrel with our country; to meet him hereafter in the hour of final, irreversible retribution. But if ye will not hear it, my foul fhall weep in fecret places for your pride, and mine eye fhall weep fore and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried away captive. 2. BE exhorted to live at peace among your felves, and whatfoever ye do, whether in word or in deed, do all in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift. Let the Saviour's cross be the only point around which you rally in all your deliberations, whether civil or religious; let it never be mentioned to the reproach of the christian name; let it not be told in Gath, let it not be heard in the streets of Afkelon that an avowed enemy of the dear Redeemer, who coincides with you in political fentiment, fhould lie nearer your hearts; fhould poffefs a greater, or an equal fhare in your confidence and affection with a Brother in grace, whofe political views may be different from your own: And I am bold to affirm that while you live habitually on the Son of God; while you derive from him daily that wifdom which is pure, and peaceable, and gentle, and eafy to be entreated, all your diverfity of fentiment refpecting public meafures will not alienate your hearts from each other. This facred unition will excite to the exercife of mutual forbearance wherein you differ. A variety of political opinions must be expected. In this ftate of imperfection where we fee but in part, and know but in part; where we are actuated by different motives, and look through different mediums, it is rare that our views fully harmonize on any subject: This very diversity of fentiment affords a greater opportunity for exercifing the most illuftrious graces, charity, patience and forbearance. At a moment fo critical to our own country, fo eventful to the world in general, I cannot therefore addrefs you more fuitably than in the language of Jofeph to his brethren, fee that ye fall not out by the way. Every citizen poffeffes an equal right to the enjoyment of his own fentiments, and in this free government he has liberty to communicate his views on public men, and public measures: but let this freedom be always exercifed with moderation and prudence. Liberty of speech, when ufed with difcretion, proves a public bleffing, but when indulged in a manner, intemperate and indifcreet, it becomes a political curle. Finally, brethren, be perfect; be of good comfort; be of one mind; live in peace, and the God of love and peace fhall be with you. Should thofe fparks of diffention, which are already kindled in every part of the community, burst into an open flame, it will be a confolation to reflect, in the general calamity, that I never added fuel to the fire by irritating the paffions of my fellow-citizens. I SHOULD feel chargeable with the omiffion of a very important duty did I conclude thefe folemn exercifes without directing your attention to the figns of the times. A cloud is feemingly collecting over the church and the nations more gloomy than has been witneffed for ages. It is the general opinion of commentators,* * The calculations of expositors, both antient and modern, relative to the slaying of the witnesses, have been lately who have made prophecy the subject of particular inveftigation, that the two witneffes, mentioned in fcripture, are yet to be flain, and that the religion of papal Rome will obtain a univerfal diffufion through the earth. The remarks of a learned expofitor,* who appeared in the laft century, are fo interefting that you must readily excufe me in quoting them at large."The light of the gofpel will be wholly withdrawn for a while; the flaying of the witneffes is yet to come; it will make a difmal night, and be accompanied with the univerfal fpread of popery." A late and moft profound divine,† in the church of Scotland, was fo deeply impreffed with the fame fentiment, that he is faid to have collected every fragment which has been written in oppofition to that heresy, and circulated it to his correspondents in different countries. Do not the prefent appearances of the world obviously correfpond with the opinions of these commentators ? Probably in no period of time did the anti-chriftian religion extend its influence more rapidly than in the prefent. It is now the eftablished worship of France. There is a decree of that government, that "no church-book, no pfalm book, nor catechifm fhall be published without the permiffion of the bifhop of the diocefe." It is virtually established in Holland and Switzerland, as the regulation of all ecclefiaftical concerns is committed to their fovereigns who are paexhibited by the author, at considerable length, in two lectures, which he designs to offer to the public. * Dr. Gill in a sermon delivered in 1750. + Dr. John Erskine. pifts This religion has recently obtained a rapid fpread through Germany, and other countries adjacent: Bills, at different times, have been brought before the parliament of Great-Britain for fecuring to the votaries of Antichrift privileges in common with the proteftants. If we turn our eyes from Europe to our own country, how very alarming is the prof pect? In feveral of our capital cities the churches, profeffing the religion of Rome, are more flourishing than those of any other communion ; and three Bishops* have lately been confecrated to superintend the papal interefts in the United States. When we add to these things the open infidelity of fome, the abject ignorance and utter indifference of others, there is little, humanly fpeaking, to prevent the general fpread of that abomination through our country. AMIDST thefe realities and apprehenfions our duty is obvious. Let every man look to his own intereft, by making his calling and election fure: Let every parent look to the dearest interefts of his children, by bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; let him confider a profound education in the doctrines of chriftianity as the moft impenetrable fhield against the affaults of either fuperftition or error: Let every mafter look to the deareft interefts of those committed to his charge, by recommending Jefus and his falvation as, beyond comparison, their moft enriching portion: Let every magiftrate, as he * This fact was stated in a public print during the last summer, and was since confirmed to the author in a letter from a respectable correspondent, |