camp, immediately upon the obtaining of a victory, | of, that the wickedness which is not prevented, yet and from her in the church, in due time after, and may not be laid to the charge of the land, nor bring from both, in the most solemn manner, the incense judgments upon the community. of praise ascends to the glory of God, as the God of our salvation. These, who thus honour God, no doubt, he will yet further honour; and make those crowns, those coronets, to shine yet more bright, which are thus laid at his feet, with Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give glory.

If we be remiss to ascribe the praise of our achievements to God, we provoke him to turn his hand against us, and by some judgment or other to distrain for the rent which is not duly paid. When Samson had with the jaw-bone of an ass laid a thousand Philistines dead upon the spot, he seems to take the praise of the performance too much to himself, and to overlook the arm that strengthened him, when he called the place Ramath-lehi—the lifting up of the jaw-bone; and, therefore—by a very afflictive thirst which seized him immediately after, | and drove him to his prayers-God reduced his pride, and made him know his own weakness, and | dependence upon God, and obliged him to give a new name to the place, Enhakkore—the well of him that cried, not of him that conquered. The more thankful we are for former mercies, the better prepared we are for further mercies.

2. Has God thus crowned the year? Let not us then profane our crown, nor lay our honour in the dust, by our unworthy walking. Let the goodness of God lead us to repentance, and engage us all to reform our lives and families, to be more watchful against sin, and to abound more in the service of God, and in every thing that is virtuous and praiseworthy. Then, and then only, we offer praise, so as indeed to glorify God, when we order our conversation aright; and then shall we be sure to see his great salvation, and be for ever praising him.

But it is our duty to lament the wickedness of the wicked; to sigh and cry for the abominations that are found among us; to witness against them in our places; and, so, to keep ourselves pure from them, and to do our utmost by our prayers and endeavours to bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end. And thus we may prevent the mischief of it to the nation, and empty the measure which others are filling, that there may be a lengthening out of our tranquillity.

Now we are reviewing with thankfulness the mercies of the year past, let us at the same time reflect with sorrow and shame upon the sins of the year past; our own sins, I mean, for it is enough for us to judge ourselves. The year has been full of goodness on God's part, but very empty on ours. He has not been as a barren wilderness to us, or as waters that fail; but we have been so to him, very careless and defective in our duty, and in many instances we have come short.

Our time has been mispent, our opportunities not improved; God has come this year seeking fruit among us, but how little has he found! God brings Our r years to an end, as a HISTORY THAT IS WRITTEN, so substantial and valuable are the gifts of his favour to us; but we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told,' so idle, and trifling, and insignificant are we in our carriage toward him.

4. Let God's goodness to us engage, and increase, our goodness to one another: it is justly expected, that they who obtain mercy should show mercy, and so reflect the rays of the divine goodness upon all about them; being herein followers of God as dear children; followers of him that is good,' in his good

ness.

Let God's goodness to us constrain us, as we have opportunity, to do good to all men; to do good with what we have in the world, as faithful stewards of the manifold grace of God; (charity must crown a thanksgiving day ;) to do good with all the abilities God gives us, remembering that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

It does indeed give both a damp to our joy, and a shock to our hopes, at this day, that notwithstanding the great things God has done for us there is yet so much wickedness to be found among us; so much impiety, so much immorality; and both arising from practical atheism and infidelity, and accompanied with a contempt of religion and sacred things. What shall we say to these things? It is some en- Let it particularly incline us to do good to those couragement to us to hear, as we do by some, that from whose sentiments ours differ in the less weighty through the pious care of the general, there is a ma- matters of the law. This I would take all occasions nifest reformation of manners in the army; vice dis- to press upon myself and others, pursuant to the countenanced, and virtue in reputation; God grant | great royal law of charity. There is an infinite disit may be more and more so! it would be the happi- tance between God and us, and a just controversy est omen of any other. It is likewise to be rejoiced he has with us, and yet he is kind to us, and does us in, that there are national testimonies borne against good; and cannot we then be kind to one another, vice and profaneness, and national endeavours used and do all good offices one to another, notwithstandfor the suppressing of it; which we heartily praying the matters in variance between us? How ill God both to give success to, and graciously to accept does it become us to bear a grudge to any of the

p Judg. xv. 17.

q Judg. xv. 19.

r Ps. XC. 9.

■ Eph. v. 1.

t1 Pet. iii. 13.

children of our people, or wish ill to any, who are the house of God yet to be set up in your hearts, the every day and every year crowned with the good-work to be begun? begin it to-day; as Moses did, ness of God, and are, and hope to be, forgiven of who, on the first day of the first month, set up the him! Let not our eye be evil one toward another, | tabernacle. Are there things amiss with you to be when God's eye is so good toward us all, and he does amended, corruptions to be purged out, and things things for us, which we all come in for a share of wanting to be set in order? begin this day to rethe benefit of, and are all this day giving thanks for. form; as Hezekiah did, who, on the first day of the Let our common success against our enemies abroad, first month, began to sanctify the house of the Lord: help to stay all enmities at home; and let all our so will you make this day in the best manner reconsciences be able to witness for us, that we walk in│markable, and this year comfortable. love, and keep the unity of the spirit.

4. et ult. Let this year's experience help to support and encourage next year's expectations. Has God crowned us with his goodness this year? let us thence infer, that if we approve ourselves faithful to God, surely goodness and mercy shall still follow us. And our hopes ought to be the matter of our praises as well as our joys. Unto thee do we give thanks, (says the Psalmist,) unto thee do we give thanks ; for that thy name is near, thy wondrous works declare." The wondrous works we are this day giving thanks for, are upon this account the more valuable, that they give us ground to hope, that God's name is near, —the advancement of his kingdom,—and, in that, the accomplishment of his promise. That comprehensive prayer, Father, glorify thy name, has already obtained an answer from heaven,-which true believers may apply to themselves,—I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it again. Amen, so be it. Hallelujah.

ENGLAND'S HOPES;

A SERMON.

PREACHED

JANUARY THE FIRST, 1706-7.

ISAIAH lxiii. 4.

The year of my redeemed is come.

A NEW year is now come. The common compliment of the morning is, "I wish you a good new year; and it is well; hearty well-wishers we ought to be to the welfare one of another. God by his grace make us all wiser and better, and give us to live better every year; better this year than we did the last, and then it will be indeed a good new year. Good hearts will make good times and good years. Have any of you had any good purposes and resolutions in your minds, the prosecution whereof has hitherto been delayed? put it off no longer. Is

But that which at present I aim at, is to direct you |-in wishing a good year-to the church of God, and the kingdom of Christ in the world; and, particularly, to the land of our nativity; to the prosperity of which, in all its interests, I hope every one of us bears a very hearty good-will, that in the peace thereof we may have peace. For we are members one of another.

My text would easily lead me to foretell a good year: but I am no prophet, nor prophet's son, nor dare I ever pretend to prediction; nor indeed, can I give heed to any other but the most sure word of prophecy in the written word, which is a light shining in a dark place. Christ's parting words to his disciples at his ascension, is sufficient to silence all bold inquiries, and much more all presumptuous determinations, concerning future events; it is not for you to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Astrological predictions I utterly condemn; I hope you know better things than to have any regard to them. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the astrologers, the star-gazers, and the monthly prognosticators, in his time, as great cheats, that imposed upon the world. The heavens declare the glory of God; and magnify the ro yvw50v 78 088,—that which Is, and MAY BE, known of God; but were never intended to declare the will of God,' or any of those secret things which belong not to us. Scripture prophecies I have a profound veneration for, and of admirable use they are to give us a general idea of the methods of Providence concerning the church, and to furnish us with a key to many of the difficulties of it, and thereby to assist our faith and hope in the worst of times. But the particular intention and application of them, till the event unfolds them, though I greatly value the labours of those who searched into them, yet to me it seems higher than heaven, what can we do? deeper than hell, what can we know? It is what we cannot by searching find out to perfection, or to satisfaction.

My design therefore, in the choice of this text today, is not to gratify your curiosity with prognostications of what shall be; but to direct your prayers for the church of God, and to offer something for the assistance of your faith in those prayers. For we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. I

remember the rule long since given me, with refer- | his precious blood, to purchase them, and purify

the events themselves, and the times of them, from | time.
the beginning of the world. Which yields an un-
speakable satisfaction to all those who have but so
much reason and religion as to believe, that God
knows what is fit to be done, and when, better than
we do, and that his time is, without doubt, the best
time.

The providences of God concerning Israel of old, as well as their ordinances, were typical; and things kappened to them for ensamples or patterns of the great salvation to be wrought in and for the gospelchurch. Many a time was Israel afflicted, from their youth up; many a time in the house of bondage; but still there was a year fixed for their redemption, when their warfare or appointed time should be accomplished, and deliverance should be wrought for them. The year was fixed for their redemption out of Egypt; and God kept time to a day; At the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day, they went out triumphantly." The year was likewise fixed for their return out of their captivity in Babylon; when seventy years were accomplished in the desolations of Jerusalem.s And the distresses of the New-Testament church are in like manner limited to a time, times, and half a time; which, if we know not how to compute with any certainty or exactness, yet, we may with the greatest assurance infer from it, that Infinite Wisdom has fixed the time, though it is not for us to know it. Times are not hidden from the Almighty, though they that know him do not as yet see his day,' nor foresee it.

3. That the year of the redeemed will come; though it may be long first, long wished for, long waited for, yet it will come at last. Concerning the thing itself, we may be clear, we may be confident, though, concerning the time we may be in doubt, and in the dark. Though many years intervene between this, and the year of the redeemed, and those, perhaps, dark, and cloudy, and melancholy years, years in which we see evil," yet the days of affliction and captivity will be numbered and finished, and the years of servitude will come to an end; hitherto it shall come, but no further; so long it shall last, but no longer. God will have mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, though he has had indignation against them threescore and ten years; and he will make them glad with the joys of his salvation, in some proportion to the days wherein he has afflicted them.

Observe with what an air of triumph and exaltation the Redeemer himself here speaks of this great day; as one who longed to engage the enemy, and rescue the beloved of his soul, and who almost grew impatient of the delay. He cannot anticipate the

The divine counsels are as mountains of brass," which can neither move nor moulder; but when the wheels of his chariot, which have been so long in coming, arrive at last, how welcome are they! Now the year of my redeemed is come; it is come. And, Lo, I come. With this shout does the Lord himself descend from heaven, ride upon the wings of the wind, and make the mountains flow at his presence. With this does the Lord awake himself as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine; The year of my redeemer is come. Now, Χρόνος our εsai erɩ—Time, that is, delay, shall be no longer.a Now will I arise; now shall the everlasting arm be made bare. Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh.

ετι

Now for the more distinct improvement of this, let me apply it, both to the universal church of the redeemed, the whole family, in every age; and to particular churches, and the interests of the kingdom of Christ, in some special time and place.

(1.) Let me briefly apply it to the whole mystical body of Christ, the universal church of the redeemed; in which we have cast our lot; and hope to have a place and a name in the general assembly of all who belong to it. And understanding it of this, there are two which above all the rest may be called the years of the redeemed; one long since past, the other yet to come.

[1.] The year of Christ's dying was the great year of the redeemed, and that on which all the rest depend; from the salvation then wrought, the foundation was laid on which all the other more particular salvations of the church are built. Therefore, in the Apocalypse, the Lamb that was to make war with the beast, and to overcome him, appeared as a Lamb that had been slain. And it is by the blood of the Lamb that the victory is said to be obtained. And many understand the text of that year of the redeemed, when Christ by death destroyed him who had the power of death; trod the winepress of his Father's wrath alone, and stained all his raiment, both with his own blood, and with the blood of his enemies.

Then was the price paid down; upon the undertaking of which, the great Redeemer was trusted with the salvation of all the Old-Testament saints; and for which all who in every age believe in him should be justified and accepted. Then the chosen remnant was purchased, and eternal life purchased for them; then principalities and powers were spoiled, and a show made of them openly; the strong man armed disarmed, stript, and triumphed over. To that victory all the victories of faith are owing; for we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

The time was fixed for this great and glorious

achievement; fixed in that determinate counsel and | righteousness;' and a great and terrible day it will fore-knowledge of God, by which that sacrifice was be. God, by his grace, make us all ready for it, that

delivered up; fixed in the Old-Testament predictions, from that of the "Seed of the woman, which should break the serpent's head,e" to that of " Messiah the Prince, who at the period of the seventy weeks should finish transgression, and make an end of sin, by making reconciliation for iniquity, and bringing in an everlasting righteousness.” It was fixed to a day, it was fixed to an hour: how often did Christ speak of it with that exactness: Mine hour is not yet come, and when it was come, This is your hour.

Long was it looked for by them who waited for the redemption; and more earnestly by him that was to work out the redemption, who, having this baptism to be baptized with, was even straitened till it was accomplished. It came at last: Blessed is he that cometh. And of all the years that God has crowned with his goodness, that was, without doubt, the greatest of all that every day and night measured since the clock of time was set in motion. And though they who were to have the benefit of the redemption slumbered and slept, and were not duly sensible of the vast importance of what was then doing till afterwards, when the Spirit was poured out upon them, yet he that was to be at the expense of it, and foresaw how the great affair of man's redemption-and, perhaps, the angel's confirmation-was to turn upon that mighty hinge, tri- | umphed and was transported, when he said in the beginning of the battle, Now is my soul troubled, but now is the judgment of this world; now is the prince of this world cast out; and in the close of the battle, when he knew what an irreparable blow he had given to the devil's kingdom, It is finished. This was that year of the redeemed which we frequently celebrate the memorial of with joy, at the table of the Lord.

[2.] The year of Christ's second coming to judge the world, is that great year of the redeemed which is yet to come; that true Platonic year, which will be, though not the repetition, yet the review and retribution, of all that is past. And as in our observance of the great institution of the Eucharist, that proprium-appropriate rite, of our holy religion, and peculiar badge of our Christianity, we look as far back as that year of the redeemed which is past, showing forth the Lord's death; so we look as far forward as that year of the redeemed which we are yet in expectation of, showing it forth till he come. This of the redeemed, which will be crowned year with the greatness of God, as other years have been with his goodness, is fixed in the divine counsels; unalterably fixed, fixed to a day; for he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in

he who shall then appear may appear to our joy. It is fixed, but it is not revealed; it is not fit it should, nor agreeable to that state of probation and expectation we are now in. It is fixed, and it will come, it will certainly come, to the unspeakable confusion of all those who slight the warnings of it, and the everlasting consolation of all those who embrace the promise of it. As sure as this year is come, that year will come, and you and I shall see it; in our |flesh resumed we shall see it; shall see the terrors, shall see the triumphs, of that day, and, according as we are found then, shall certainly and eternally share either in the one or in the other.

That, that will be the year of the redeemed; in which all our hopes and prospects, which in our present state are still kept moving forward, one event serving only to raise our expectation of the next, will come to a full period. Then we shall see the final end of all those things, which here we are so solicitous and inquisitive about. And a blessed end it will certainly be to all the redeemed of the Lord; who will in that day lift up their heads and hearts with joy, never to despond or be dejected again, knowing that their redemption in its open declaration, and full perfection, draweth nigh."

All the redeemed who are now scattered and dispersed over the face of the whole earth, will then be gathered together into one body; and a great and glorious body it will be; to be presented to the Father without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; and to grace their Redeemer's triumphs, as the trophies of his victory over the powers of darkness, that had held them captive, that he may be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. A general rendezvous it will be of all that ever approved themselves good soldiers of Jesus Christ, when the Captain of our salvation P shall produce all who were given him; they shall every one answer to their names, and not one be missing.

All the enemies of the redeemed will then be conquered and brought down, and death itself, that last enemy, shall be destroyed, and swallowed up in victory. The devil, with all those whom he has decoyed into his interest, will then, by the almighty power of that God, whose the deceived and the deceiver are, be cast into the lake of fire, and the redeemed will be set for ever out of the reach of all their enemies. Then shall the redemption of the soul be perfected, in the redemption of the body from the power of the grave, and that captivity led captive.s

But that which, above all, will denominate it the year of the redeemed, is, that then the ransomed of