SERMON XXXVI.

THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. PSALM xlvi. 9.

It is probable, though not certain, that David composed this Psalm in consequence of a remarkable interposition of the Almighty in his favour; when he had delivered him from all his enemies, subdued internal rebellion, and established his throne in security and peace. The phraseology of it alludes to the ancient manner of going to war. The bow and arrow were, from their nature, designed for distant engagement. The spear might either be employed as a missile as a missile weapon, and thrown from afar, or be used in the closest combat hand to hand. The chariot was in

general use among the ancients, (and by the Israelites, equally with the rest, although expressly prohibited by a divine command,) as the vehicle of heroes. There they could watch every motion of the enemy; and from thence, as from an elevated stage, they could behold and direct the war. It is dreadful to relate the barbarous invention of the Scythians to render these carriages destructive; they affixed scythes to their wheels, and then, driving furiously into the midst of the enemy, mowed down living armies by ranks.

The Almighty Ruler of the universe is represented, in my text, as destroying these instruments of slaughter, and putting a period to the ravages of war: "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth up the chariot in the fire."

These words may, I think, serve as an appropriate motto to a discourse on the duty of thanksgiving to God, for restoring to Britain the invaluable blessing of peace."

I am naturally led to remark:

1. How desirable is peace!

II. In what sense God is the Author of peace.

• Preached June 1, 1802, the Thanksgiving Day for the Peace of Amiens.

III. What is the improvement we should make of such a blessing?

1. How desirable is peace!

Suppose it were my duty to deliver to you a discourse upon the blessing of health;How should such a subject be treated? Would it not be necessary to speak of the evils of sickness, to show how it unfits us for every duty, and renders every pleasure, and every amusement, tasteless?-to point out the incapacity of enjoying social intercourse, and exhibit to your view the weakness and pain which are its attendants, as well as the fear which accompanies it, that a termination will shortly be put to our mortal existence? Would not meditations like these tend to heighten the value of health?

In like manner, we cannot fully estimate. the blessings of peace, without adverting to the calamities of war.

What is the origin of war? The evil passions of mankind. The Apostle James has given this answer, when in the first verse of his fourth chapter, he himself proposes the question; "From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts, which war in your mem

bers?" The passions of envy, ambition, avarice, coveting another's possessions, and an inordinate thirst for power;-to these are the calamities of war to be ascribed; if these feelings predominate in the breast of a very few individuals at the helm of public affairs, hostilities must commence. It matters not what is the form of government, whether under a monarch or a republic; the remark will, upon close examination, be found equally to apply to both. The evil passions which I have mentioned are not only, generally speaking, the occasion of a war; they are often greatly fomented and increased by its contiIn peaceable times the subjects of the State were probably all of one mind, as to public concerns; but no sooner does war break out, than different opinions are adopted; and each, without reserve, extols or condemns those masters, or those measures, which they individually admire or blame.

nuance.

Nor is it in public life alone that these divisions exist; they invade the domestic circle, and those hours, which ought to have been sweetened by social intercourse, are often embittered by political debate. Shall we not, then, hail Peace, which puts a stop to all these animosities?-which extinguishes these hateful passions, and causes harmony and love to regain their empire in the heart?

But I have yet only glanced at the horrors of war; permit me to enter a little more particularly into the distress it occasions.

The miseries occasioned by war extend much farther than we may at first imagine. How many pallid countenances, and cheerless cottages, do we view around us, where the sickness and the penury which appear, are either entirely, or at least, in a great measure, the result of war! The pressure of taxes may not immediately affect the lower classes, but they must ultimately feel it. If the upper part of an edifice sinks, it must increase the weight on the foundation. Many useful inventions, many ingenious plans among the rich, are hindered; these were the bread of the poor. The amazing increase in the price of provisions, is a burden which all must feel; and this is necessarily occasioned by war; since, I will venture to affirm, that, where one is maintained abroad, three might be supported at home. Were I to mention the expenditure of war, it would only be to adopt the language of the very first authority in these kingdoms, who, in the proclamation appointing the service for this day, calls it," an extended and expensive war."

There are distresses of another kind occasioned by war. The royal psalmist, in the