flee, or attempt to hide ourselves: but we cannot resist omnipotence, or conceal ourselves from him who is omniscient. Neither can we stand before him in judg ment, or justify our conduct in his sight: so that we have no possible way of escaping his righteous vengeance, except by fleeing for refuge to lay hold of his mercy. Whether the LORD contend with an individual or a nation, he will overcome; and he will continue to smite till we turn unto him. Obstinate impenitence is therefore a species of insanity: it is a perverseness which prolongs misery, and provokes the LORD to lay aside his chastening rod, and take his avenging sword. "When I kept silence, my bones waxed old "through my groaning all the day long. For day and

night thy hand was heavy upon me; my moisture "is turned into the drought of summer. I acknow. "ledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I "not hid. I said I will confess my transgression unto "the LORD and thou forgavest the iniquity of my "sins."* The LORD still "waiteth to be gracious:" he may be found upon the mercy-seat through JESUS CHRIST by the cry of penitent faith; and he never casts out those who humbly call upon him. Let us hear his words by the prophet. "I will be unto Ephraim as a "lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even 'I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall "rescue. I will go and return to my place; till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face: in their

*Ps. xxxii. 3-5.

"affliction they will seek me early. Come and let us "return unto the LORD: for he hath torn and he will "heal us. He hath smitten and he will bind us up."* Thus he says likewise by the same prophet, "O Israel "return unto the LORD thy GOD; for thou hast fallen

by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn "unto the LORD: say unto him, take away all iniquity " and receive us graciously: so will we render the "calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us, we will

not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more "to the work of our hands, ye are our gods; for in "thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I will heal their "backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger " is turned away from him."t

But another prophet more directly inculcates the duty of a nation under great distress. "Therefore now "also, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all

your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and "with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God; for "he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.-Blow "the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the people, sanctify the congre"gation, assemble the elders, gather the children and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep be

Hosea. v. 14, 15. vi. 1.

+ Hosea, xiv. 1-4.

"tween the porch and the alter; and let them say,

Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heri

tage to reproach; wherefore should they say among "the people, where is their GoD? Then will the "LORD be jealous for his land and pity his people."* -You see, my brethren, that the ordinances of this day are most perfectly scriptural, and that all orders of men are in duty bound to attend on them: nor will the misconduct of any persons whatever exculpate those who neglect them. Assuredly the LORD will not condemn us, however men may censure us, for complying exactly with the proclamation of our sovereign, provided our services be not hypocritical.

The passage that hath been read, demands our most particular attention: for it teaches us in what manner a people should" turn to him that smiteth them." We must return to him with all our heart, with unfeigned submission to his righteousness, and repentance of our sins; praying earnestly, "Turn thou us, and so shall "we be turned:" "Create in us a clean heart, and re"new a right spirit within us." This should be accompanied with fasting, and other tokens of humiliation. Abstinence from every animal indulgence, and from food as far as health and circumstances will admit, is a scriptural acknowledgment, that we have forfeited our most common mercies, and that sin hath embittered them to us. It implies that our minds are too much occupied with matters of the highest import

Joel, ii. 12-18.

ance, to attend on such low concerns; that we wish to avoid all interruption of our sacred duties; that we mean to afflict ourselves with fasting, as a token of our submission to the LORD's correcting hand; and that we would use all means of crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts.

If we be indeed suitably affected with the considera. tion of our own sins, and the crimes and miseries of our countrymen; we shall turn to the LORD with that "godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salva"tion not to be repented of." Outward expressions, however emphatical, will not suffice; we shall rend our hearts in deep contrition and self-abasement, perceiv. ing that we have no hope but in unmerited mercy, which we shall supplicate with fervency and importunity. And when princes, senators, magistrates, ministers of religion, and the people in general, laying aside all other employments, unite in thus humbly seeking the LORD of Hosts, a crisis may be expected in pub. lick affairs." Then will the LORD be jealous for his "land, and pity his people."

In this manner the king of Nineveh and his nobles, with all the inhabitants of that immense city, sought the LORD when he threatened to smite them; encouraged merely by a peradventure, "Who can tell, if "GOD will turn and repent, and turn away from his "fierce anger that we perish not."* Surely that hea

then city will rise up in judgment with this Christian land and condemn it; for it repented at the preaching of Jonah; and doubtless our religious advantages are inconceivably greater: yet alas, how little does the observance of a fast in London resemble that proclaimed at Nineveh!

The words of the apostle likewise demand our serious consideration. "Submit yourselves to GOD. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to GOD, and be will draw nigh to you. Cleanse

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your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye "double minded. Be afflicted and mourn and weep; "let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight "of the LORD, and he shall lift you up. Speak not "evil one of another, brethren."* Instead of reviling or condemning other men, every individual should be employed in confessing and lamenting his own sin, in humbly deprecating the LORD's indignation, and in using every means of overcoming evil habits and forsaking sinful courses.

This accords also with the exhortation of the prophet. "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found; "call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked "forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the LORD, and he "will have mercy on him." But without true repentance and works meet for repentance; no appear.

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* Jam. iv. 7-11.

+ Is. 1v. 6, 7.