MERCY REMEMBERED IN WRATH.

A SERMON,

The substance of which was preached on the 19th of February, 1795,

OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES,

AS A DAY OF

THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER.

SERMON III.

MERCY REMEMBERED IN WRATH.

PSALM CIII. 10.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

MY BRETHREN,

THE providence of God, which threatened the speedy punishment of our crimes, lately called us to humble ourselves under his mighty hand. We came to his sanctuary in the character of penitents; we professed to afflict our souls for the evil we had done in his sight; we addressed his throne in the language of contrition; we implored respite; we implored pardon. Abstinence from bodily food, in the self-denial of fasting, we employed as the symbol of inward bitterness, and as an aid in the mortification of sin.

For purposes of a different nature do we this day tread the courts of the Most High. The oil of joy succeeds to mourning; and the garment of praise to the spirit of heaviness. We come to offer unto God thanksgiving: We come to celebrate his recent benefits: We come to kindle on the altar of common gratitude the mingled incense of our praise.

But where, may some ask, where is the propriety of bringing, at this time, the sacrifices of joyfulness? Is Jehovah's controversy with our guilty land completely removed? Is his anger turned away, and his hand stretched out no longer? Have our citizens, breaking off their sins by repentance, returned to him from whom they have deeply revolted? From his judgments which are abroad in the earth, do they appear to have learned righteousness? And has the Spirit of grace shed down the large effusion of his quickening and purifying influence? Would to God, my brethren, that facts could warrant á prompt and exulting affirmative. But truth obliges us to confess, with blushes, that we have little reason to boast of rectified principle and new obedience. We are still a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers; children that are corrupters; we have forsaken the Lord; we have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger; we have gone away backward.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. But this cannot supersede the necessity, nor lessen the propriety, of thanksgiving. It is rather one of the most cogent reasons for singing aloud of his mercy. Besides, we are to consider, that within a short time the procedure of holy Providence, contrary to our most distressing fears, hath, in matters intimately affecting our happiness, assumed a more favorable aspect. Therefore, although we are not authorized to conclude that the Lord is pacified towards us for all that we have done, yet we may and ought to utter abundantly the memory of his goodness; we may and ought to thank him, and thank him publicly, that he hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

The text, which significantly describes our condition, asserts, that God hath not treated us according to our desert; and strongly implies that this dispensation is replete with singular kindness-subjects which lead to discussion profitable in itself, and obviously corresponding with the design of this day.

I. Let us endeavor to be deeply impressed with the fact, that the Lord hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.