"pray not for this people for their good.-Though Mo"ses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could "not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, "and let them go forth.-Though these three men, “Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should deliver "but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the "Lord God." What learn we from all this ?-But that there are cases in the history of nations-when the divine forbearance is exhausted, and when the cries of the righteous will avail no more than those of the wicked. Were there not in Judea some of the best men that ever lived, when the Babylonians invaded and conquered them? Have there not been pious people in every christian country when destroyed? Does God love his followers now better than formerly, when he suffered them to share in a thousand public calamities? -While he punishes his enemies, may he not correct his friends? Or cannot he indemnify them? Or hide them? Or deliver them? He must fulfil his word to his servants, upon which he has caused them to hopebut he is also engaged to render vengeance to his adversaries he will not spare the guilty.

"What then would you have us despair?" I would -If we are resolved still to do wickedly. If we are not brought to national repentance I would wish every individual to expect that we shall be destroyed, both we and our king. At what instant I shall speak concern“ing a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and "to plant it; if it do evil in my sight that it obey not "my voice, then I will repent of the good wherewith I "said I would benefit them."

But the reverse is true. "At what instant I shall "speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, "to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if "that nation against whom I have pronounced, turn "from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought "to do unto them." Blessed be God for this welcome intelligence. For by this he assures us---and the scripture cannot be broken....that not only innocent and

Aighteousness will save a country-but also repentance and reformation. O! that our country may be led to make trial of this encouraging truth. May we search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord. May we seek him while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near...." for he is gracious and merciful, "slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth "him of the evil."

We learn therefore who is the worst enemy of his country....the sinner; and who is the best friend....the christian. "By the blessing of the upright the city is "exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the "wicked."

Let us all therefore seek after divine grace to renew our own souls, and to sanctify our own lives---and do all in our power to promote godliness around us. Let us endeavor to hinder all the sin we can—in our families and neighborhood-by prayer, by example, by influence. As much sin as we hinder, so much misery and danger shall we prevent.

Let us prize those institutions which are favorable to the morality and sanctification of mankind. Especially let us value the GOSPEL. It is the grand, and the only effectual means of " teaching men to deny all ungod"liness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteous"ly and godly in the present world."

We are called upon to confess and bewail our national wickedness, and on such an occasion as this, we should feel ourselves to be parts of one great whole. But no man will ever be properly affected with the sins of others, till he is impressed with his own. Here then our concern is to begin. We are individually to look backward—and inquire, what have I done, and to look forward-and ask, Lord what wilt thou have me to do? We find the builders in Nehemiah, laboring every one over against his own house. And it is a plain, but an expressive image, of an old writer-that the best way to have a clean street is for every one to sweep before his own door.

Let us therefore personally cease to do evil, and learn to do well. Let us fear the Lord and serve him, and mourn and weep for the abominations that are done in the land....And if we are not the repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in....let us remember it shall be well with us. If we suffer with others, we shall not suffer like them. And we shall soon reach Immanuel's land where the din of war will be heard no

more.

And O remember if your country should be saved, and you as an individual continue impenitent....you.... you will be certainly destroyed. And what is any national calamity to "everlasting destruction from the "presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power?"

"I say unto you, my friends be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that "they can do ; but I will forewarn you whom ye shall "fear fear him which, after he hath killed, hath power "to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, fear him.”

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DISCOURSE XXV.

THE SAVIOUR COMFORTING HIS DISCIPLES.

(AFTER A FUNERAL.)

In my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also....Johu xiv. 2, 3.

NEVER man spake like this man! Grace was poured into his lips! And in him were accomplished in the highest sense, the words of the prophets ..." He hath "given me the tongue of the learned, that I should "know how to speak a word in season to him that is "weary."

....Having assembled with his disciples in an upper room, and administered to them the memorials of his death....he announced his approaching departure. Sorrow filled their hearts. Perhaps they expressed it in words; perhaps it was visible in their countenances. However this may be....he perceived it, and said, Let not your heart be troubled.

But what can bear them up under such a loss?.... We grieve when we lose a good man, a friend, a common benefactor. But they were to lose their Lord and Saviour, their teacher, the resolver of their doubts, their comforter in every affliction.-How then would he relieve them? What is the remedy he applies ?— it is faith!—The discoveries of faith are the best supports under the evils of sense. "I had fainted," says

David, "unless I had believed to see the goodness of "the Lord in the land of the living.-Ye believe in "God," says our Saviour," believe also in me." But what would he have them believe ? You have heard

"In my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare "a place for you; and if I go and prepare a place for "you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; "that where I am, there ye may be also.".

Let us consider the various particulars of this intelligence; and the certainty of the whole.

I. The declaration of our Saviour contains every thing that can feed the contemplation, and enliven the hope of the christian.

In describing heaven he calls it his Father's houseas much as to say, I am only going home. Now he is not ashamed to call his people brethren. "Behold," says he, after his resurrection, "behold I ascend to my "Father and your Father, and to my God and your "God." Heaven therefore is their home also. The world knoweth them not-it knew him not. They are only strangers and pilgrims on earth. They take many a weary step; and often meet with rough usage, and trying weather. But when tempted to complain, they are prevented, by the reflection that this is not their home-better entertainment awaits them at their journey's end-heaven will make amends for all. Dr. Rowland Taylor, when drawing near the tower of Hudley, in Suffolk, where he had been a minister, and was now going to be a martyr-being asked how he didanswered," never better; for now I know that I am al"most at home."-And looking over the meadow between him and the place where he was to be immediately burnt, he said "only two styles more to get over, " and I am at my father's house.' "And when the venerable Mr. Mede was asked how he did, replied, “I am "going home as fast as I can, as every honest man ought "to do, when his day's work is over; and I bless God I have a good home to go to."