tuous perfons in them; and he gives them up to calamity, only when this number is fo inconfiderable as not to afford a fufficient reason for faving them. In fuch circunftances, or when virtuous men are very scarce among a people, they become, as this hiftory teaches us, a devoted people, and they fall a prey to dreadful calamities and judgments.

But we are farther taught by this history, that when a people for their iniquities are vifited with judgments, particular care will be taken of fuch righteous perfons as may be left among them. This care will be different in different circumftances; but it will be always such as will produce an infinite difference between them and the wicked part of a community. Sometimes it may extend fo far as even to provide for their temporal fecurity and happiness. When the country, to which they belong, comes to be devoted, they may perhaps be conducted by the hand of Providence to a region of peace and safety, where they shall escape the general defolation. Such was the privilege granted to Lot and his family. He was taken from Sodom, left he fhould be confumed in its iniquity. Gen. xix. 15. And it is remarkable, that the mesfengers of Divine vengeance are represented as fo anxious about his fafety, that when he lingered, they laid hold of his hand and pulled him

away,

away, faying, as we read in the 5th verfe, they could do nothing till he was fafe. How high an idea does this give us of God's care of virtuous men in a time of public calamity? In merciful condefcenfion to our low conceptions, he is defcribed as not having power to destroy this wicked country while there remained in it one virtuous man.

But there is a circumftance in this account ftill more remarkable. The place to which Lot was allowed to fly was a little town in the plain of Sodom, afterward called Zoar, which was itfelf one of the five devoted cities, but is represented as fpared on purpose to provide an afylum for Lot. His virtue could not weigh fo much, or avail fo far, as to fave the country; but, at the fame time, fuch was the regard paid to it, that for the fake of it, a part of the country was preserved and given to Lot as a reward for his probity and piety in the midst of prevailing wickednefs. As foon (we read) as he was fafe lodged in this little city, the defolating tempeft began, and all the country was fwallowed up. Gen. xixth and 23d. When Lot entered into Zoar, Jebovah rained fire and brimfione from Heaven, and overthrew all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities. So precious is righteoufnefs in the fight of Heaven; and fuch favourites with the Judge of all the earth are all who practise it. In conformity to the representation on which I am infifting C 2

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we are led to conceive, that fhould there (in a time of public calamity) be no diftant country provided by Providence, to which the righteous may fly, yet there may be fome part of the devoted country itself spared on their account; and, that though their virtue may not avail fo far as to prevent or fufpend the effects of Divine refentment, yet it may render them lefs extenfive and deftructive.

You must, however, remember, that in the common course of things it is not to be expected, that in either of thefe ways God will manifeft his care of the righteous. There may be no distant country to which they can fly, nor may an ex

emption for their fakes be proper of any part of the country to be destroyed; and, therefore, it may be neceffary they fhould remain in it, and fhare its fate. In the prefent world, we know, the righteous often fuffer with the wicked, and indifcriminate diftrefs is permitted. In fuch cir cumstances, however, the Deity will still manifelt himself a favourer and friend of the vir tuous. The lofs of worldly bleffings will be made up to them by infinitely nobler bleffings, Instead of that treasure on earth, which may be taken from them, they fhall have a treasure in Heaven; and instead of a temporal, they shall be bleft with an eternal deliverance. The distress, in which they may be obliged to fhare, will be alleviated to them by the reflection on their having

done

.

done their part to fave their country; by the unfpeakable fatisfaction attending the consciousness of their own integrity; by communications of grace and fupport to their fouls; by a fenfe of God's love to them; and the affured hope of an intereft in his favour, and of a place under a government of perfect virtue and peace in the Heavens. These are fprings of relief and felicity, which no calamities can deftroy. They will communicate sweetness to the bittereft draughts, and render distress an occafion of joy and triumph. The worst that any calamity can do to a good man, is to take from him that which he does not value. His proper happiness is always fecure; and the enemy that tears him from this life removes him to a better. There full amends will be made to him for all those fufferings in which he may be involved by his connections with wicked men in the prefent ftate. It is, indeed, in the other world only that a perfect discrimination will be made between men, according to their differ ent moral characters. It is there only that the wicked will ceafe from troubling, and the weary be at reft; the righteous receive an adequate reward, and the wicked an adequate punishment. Let us, amidst the fhocking fcenes to which we are witneffes in this world, keep our eyes fixed on that awful ftate of univerfal retribution; and never forget the period when (according to the af furance of our Saviour) the wicked fhall be fe

vered from the juft, and the righteous fhine forth as the fun in the kingdom of their father.

These reflections may help to give you an idea of the importance of righteous men in a kingdom, and of the favour that will be fhewn them. It is to them that ftates owe their preservation. It is on them that the very being of a fociety depends; and when they ceafe or are reduced to a very small number, a nation neceffarily finks into ruin. But when this happens, and the Supreme Governor vifits a nation with judgments, his providence watches over them, and we may confider him as faying to them in the words of Ifaiah, xxvith chapter and 20th verfe, Come ye into your chambers, and shut your doors. Hide yourselves for a little moment, till the indignation be overpast; for bebold I come out of my place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. Or we may apply to good men in fuch circumstances the words in the xcift Pfalm. Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day. A thousand fhall fall at thy fide, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes fhalt thou behold the reward of the wicked. Because thou haft made the Lord thy refuge, there shall no evil befall thee. He shall call upon me, and I will anfwer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will I deliver him and fhew him my falvation.-Behold, fays the prophet Malachi, the day cometh that shall burn, as an oven, and all that do wickedly fhall be stubble,

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