quieted, as if he distrusted God's providence. He is not tormented by gloomy apprehension, nor" afraid of evil tidings;" he does not give way to those bitter feelings of animosity against men who differ from him in opinion, which too often unchristianize the minds of others. No! when he has performed the duty which God and his country have reposed in him, he leaves the rest to Providence and to his rulers. He prays indeed for them, but he leaves the result to his Maker; well knowing that God causeth all things to work together for good to them that fear him, and whensoever he chasteneth a nation for its sins," he knows how to deliver the righteous out of temptation."

But in order that our prayers may be heard and accepted, let me, in conclusion, remind you that on two things conjointly depends the success of our supplications; on our own faithful earnestness, and on the intercession of our Redeemer on our behalf. "The effectual

fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," but the prayers " of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord"." If we are ungodly, faithless, stubborn, rebellious, forgetful of our Maker, given up to worldly cares and pursuits, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, our supplications, so far from moving the Lord in our favour, will only exasperate his wrath against us. "Because I have called," said the Lord, "and ye refused to hear, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought my counsel and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you, then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early but they shall not find me 39 Many alas! who now go

1

James v. 16.

* Prov. xv. 8. .

'Prov. i. 24-28.

softly and dwell securely, and think little of God's judgments, will, if misfortune and desolation fall upon their country, then cry out with bitter tears and lamentations, and weary God with prayers to restore to them the comfort which they have lost. But when the blast of his displeasure is gone forth, who shall then stop its course?

O, then let us all devote ourselves more truly to God's service: let the wicked turn from their sins, and let the righteous never cease to supplicate for God's mercy and forbearance; and let us all fervently pray that he will give our rulers strength and our senators wisdom, and let us doubt not that our prayers will avail much :-yet not for our own merits or deserts, but for the sake of Jesus Christ our Mediator and Redeemer.

In His name always let us pray; and be well assured, brethren, that the good Christian who thus prays for God's blessing, will do more for his country's good, many who make much boasting of

than

N 5

their patriotism;-be well assured that the good Christian is after all the truest patriot, the wisest politician, and the best friend of his king and country.

1

SERMON XIII.

ON CHRISTIAN ZEAL.

GALATIANS iv. 18.

"It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing."

No precept can be laid down more plainly or positively than that contained in the text; nor can any rule be more conformable to our natural sense of duty, than that which is implied in it,-that every Christian ought, according to his means and opportunities, to enter with a zealous spirit into the duties, both public and private, of the station in which God has placed him.

Very contrary, as it appears to me, to the tenor of this plain precept, is the