Till this is done, it avails little, though we pray fervently to GOD not to lay their fins to our charge-whilft we have fo many remaining of our own. -Unless we are touched for ourfelves, how can we expect he fhould hear our cry? It is the wicked corruption of a people which they are to thank for whatever natural calamities they feel;this is the very ftate we are in,-which by difengaging Providence from taking our part, will always leave a people exposed to the whole force of accidents, both from within and without :-and however statesmen may difpute about the causes of the growth or decay of kingdoms,it is for this caufe, a mate ter of eternal truth,-that as virtue and religion are our only recommendation to GOD, that they are, confequently, the only true bafis of our happiness and profperity on earth. And however we may fhelter ourselves under distinctions of party,-that a wicked man is the worst enemy the ftate has ;-and for the fontrary, it will always be found, that

a virtuous man is the best patriot, and the best fubject the king has.-And though an individual may fay, what will my righteousness profit a nation of men? —I answer,—if it fail of a bleffing here (which is not likely), it will have one advantage, it will fave thy own foul, and give thee that peace at the last, which this world cannot take away.

Which God, of his infinite mercy, grant us all. Amen.

[59]

SERMON XXXIII.

ROMANS 11. 4.

Despiseft thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long fuffering,-knowing that the good, nefs of GOD leadeth thee to repentance?

So fays St. Paul. And

ECCLESIASTES VIII. 11.

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed fpeedily; therefore the heart of the fons of men is fully fet in them to do evil

T

gain.

AKE either as you like it, you will get nothing by the

bar

"Tis a terrible character of the world, which Solomon is here accounting for,

that their hearts were fully fet in them to do evil. And the general outcry against the wickednefs of the age, in every age, from Solomon's down to this, fhews but too lamentably what grounds have all along been given for the complaint.-

The diforder and confufion arifing in the affairs of the world from the wickedness of it, being ever fuch,-fo evidently feen,-fo feverely felt, as naturally to induce every one who was a fpectator or a fufferer, to give the melancholy preference to the times he lived in; as if the corruptions of men's manners had not only exceeded the reports of former days, but the power almost of rifing above the pitch to which the wickedness of the age was arrived.How far they may have been deceived in fuch calculations, I fhall not inquire; -let it fuffice, that mankind have ever been bad, confidering what motives they have had to be better;-and taking this for granted, instead of declaiming against it, let us fee whether a difcourse may not be as ferviceable, by endeavouring, as Solomon has here done, rather to give an account of it, and by tracing back the evils to their first principles, to direct ourselves to the true remedy against them.