The surprising success of the enemy on the Continent, and the disposition of the contending powers, to make the best terms they could with the conquerors; when considered in connexion with the vast prepara. tions that were making, and the boasting menaces thrown out against this country, excited in the spring many serious apprehensions, that an invasion would actually be attempted; and whatever the success had been, various distressing consequences must have followed. Most of us expected a turbulent summer; yet, through the mercy of GoD, we have never enjoyed more tranquillity. Whatever induced the enemy to send so large an armament into Egypt, instead of ex. erting their whole force against Great Britain and Ireland; we have reason to be very thankful, that they were disposed to take another course, and to leave us in peace and quietness.

I am wholly incompetent to speak of the probable consequences to be expected from the most seasonable and most decisive victory gained by Lord Nelson: but contrasted with the supposition of the French fleet having obtained such a victory over ours, they must be almost incalculable. The diminution of their naval force and the increase of ours, in so great a degree; and the probable disappointment of their plans against our distant commerce, and to deprive us of one great source of that wealth, by which we have been hitherto, by the blessing of GOD, enabled to maintain our national independence, seems to be only a small part of the advantage. The effects produced on the minds of the European powers; on those of our own country. VOL. II. 3 F

men, and even on those of the enemy, are doubtless very great; and the prospect of our being able to weather out the dreadful storm is proportionably augmented. The revolution in France, and the new principles and sentiments circulated on that occasion, excited in most parts of Europe an enthusiastical eagerness for liberty, which resembled intoxication or the delirium of a fever. I would by no means speak against true liberty, and the rational love of it; or the endeavour to improve and secure the measure which we possess by every regular and proper means; or even the sober attempt to communicate the blessing to others. But the liberty, lately contended for, was utterly incompatible with the state of regular society, and the lapsed condition of human nature; it was indeed such a liberty as was never established in any nation since the beginning of the world, nor ever will be while the earth remains. In this delirium multitudes, in different countries, were ready to join the enemy, in violently subverting their ancient governments, and in substituting an untried system, devised by inexperienced speculators, who began by treating the wisdom of former ages with profound contempt. In consequence of these hasty resolves, the tree of liberty has been planted very extensively; and now that it has produced very different fruit from what men expected, it is too late to root it up, and to restore the former state of things, with the prospect of a gradual and rational amelioration. But through the mercy of GoD, we have been preserved, till the delirium has in some measure subsided; and till most men have seen quite enough of

the effects of French principles, reduced to practice under French patronage, to cure them of all predilection for them. I apprehend, that by this time, almost every honest man, however he may disapprove of the state of things here in Britain, would protest against a change, to be effected in that manner, by which some neighbouring nations have been liberated from their former rulers. Now, to be preserved so long in such a destructive storm, and till it begins to subside, is a mercy which should excite abundant gratitude and praise.

That union which at present prevails among us, in a determination to withstand the designs of innovators and invadors, and in bearing the necessary burdens, is a very hopeful symptom, that the LORD will yet prolong our tranquillity at home, and at length restore peace to the nations, in a measure by our means. We are indeed still at a great distance from that state of affairs, which every humane and pious person must long and pray for: yet hitherto the LORD hath preserved us, beyond our expectations, and contrary to the confident predictions of many, who foreboded nothing short of our immediate destruction.

Among our many mercies, we must by no means overlook the very plentiful harvest which the LORD has vouchsafed us, and the reduced price of almost all kinds of provisions. When I travelled through the country in June, I was ready to say, "What a beau"tiful prospect do the fields present? But who can "tell whether we shall reap the harvest, or enjoy the "abundance of a bountiful Providence?" The harvest however is safely gathered in, and we are preserved in

peace to enjoy our plenty: and at the same time, we have been exempted from those dreadful pestilential diseases, which have raged with destructive force in some parts of the world. "Oh, that men would praise "the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful "works to the children of men! And let them sacri"fice the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and tell out his "works with gladness."

Each of the circumstances enumerated bears evident marks of the Lord's merciful interposition in our behalf: but the whole viewed together so conclusively demonstrates it, that I cannot understand how any pious man, whatever his peculiar sentiments may be, can help seeing and owning that God hath wrought these things, and that all parties ought to join in praise and thanksgiving to his holy name.

2. I would next enquire in what sense the Lord hath "withdrawn his hand, and wrought for his name's "sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of "the heathen:" as the words may be applicable to the subject before us.

My brethren, we are here reminded, not to look to instruments and second causes, so as to forget the author of our deliverances. Let admirals, officers, seamen, and all concerned, have due commendation and liberal rewards: but let us not give to them that honour which belongs to God alone. Neither let us ascribe our safety to our insular situation, to our national spirit, the fidelity and loyalty of this or the other order of men, to our powerful fleets, or our naval skill and prowess: for we have had sufficient proof, that these confidences

must have failed us, and hastened our ruin, if the LORD himself had not been our Protector. Let us then acknowledge his goodness, as well in bestowing on us our peculiar advantages, as in making use of them for our preservation in the crisis of danger.

But we must be at least equally careful not to consider our success as in any degree the recompence of our own righteousness: for did the occasion permit, it would be easy for me to lead your attention through a variety of scenes, descriptive of our national character, and exhibiting such ungodliness and wickedness in every rank and order of the community, as would fully prepare your minds for the alarming enquiry," Shall "not I visit for these things? saith the LORD; and shall " not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" A man must either be very ignorant of the state of things in this country, or he must judge of them by a very different rule than the word of God; not to be convinced that, at the very time when each of the mercies before enumerated was bestowed, the LORD might very justly have executed vengeance upon us by the most desolating judgments. My brethren, the ministers of Christ do not mean, on this occasion, to retract the reproofs and warnings, which they have repeatedly given on the days appointed for humiliation, fasting, and prayer; but rather to use the consideration of our national guilt, in order to set off and commend the rich mercy of God in sparing and delivering us. We do not indeed wish to palliate the crimes of our enemies, which have been most enormous: but "are there not "with us also sins against the Lord our God," of a very