A thorough reformation would be the most effectual expedient for a lasting peace among mankind, and to put an end to the ravages and devastations of war. Were their tempers formed upon the model of christianity, that humane, gentle, benevolent religion of the harmless Lamb of God, they would then live like brethren, in the bonds of love; they would observe the rules of justice towards each other; they would naturally care for each other's welfare, and promote it, as that of another self. Therefore, if we would contribute to the peace of the world, let us labour to reform it. It is but little, indeed, that you and I can do, in so narrow a sphere, for a general reformation: but let not that little' be undone; at least, let it not be unattempted. Let us first begin at our own hearts. Let it be our next care to reform our families; then let us extend our endeavours to our neighbourhood, and to our country, as far as our influence can reach. Small and unpromising beginnings have sometimes, under the divine blessing, ripened into a very grand and happy result. Twelve fishermen, with the power of God along with them, did more to reform and save the world, than was ever done before or since. And who knows what happy effects might follow, if even this small contemptible company, should resolutely set themselves upon promoting a reformation in our country, with a humble dependence upon God for success, and exhibiting an example of it in our own practice. In the name of God, let us unanimously make the attempt. The attempt is glorious and Godlike; and if it should fail of success, it will not fail of its reward. Let our lives be a loud testimony against the wickedness of the times; and a living recommendation of despised religion. Let our children, our servants, and slaves, be instructed in the knowledge of Christ; and "let us labour to make them sincere practical christians; let us exhort each other daily, lest any of us be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin !"* let us by our conversation and advices, endeavour to bring our friends and neighbours in love with religion, and to be solicitous about the concerns of eternity. Let us zealously concur in every scheme, that is likely to have a good influence upon our country. And oh ! let us earnestly pray for our country for we can never be suffi ciently sensible, that the Holy Spirit is the only effectual reformer of the world. And, blessed be God, we are encouraged Heb. iii. 13. to hope that he will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him ;* which leads me to add, Fourthly, That the consideration of war as proceeding from the lusts of men, may make us sensible of our need of an outpouring of the divine Spirit. I must repeat it again, that the Holy Spirit is the only effica cious reformer of the world. It is he alone who can effectually "reprove the world of sin." If he be absent, legislators may make laws against vice, philosophers may reason, ministers may preach; nay, conscience may remonstrate, the divine law may prescribe and threaten, the gospel may invite and allure; but all will be in vain. The strongest arguments, the most melting entreaties, the most alarming denunciations from God and man, enforced with the highest authority, or the most compassionate tears, all will have no effect--all will not effectually reclaim one sinner, nor gain one sincere proselyte to righteousness. Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, with all their apostolical abilities, can do nothing, without the Holy Spirit. "Paul may plant, and Apollos water; but God alone can give the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth ;" they are both nothing together: "but God, that giveth the increase,f" he is all in all. "Until the Spirit be poured forth from on high," says Isaiah, "briers and thorns shall come up upon the land of my people ;" that is, their country shall be laid waste, and made a mere wilderness of briers and thorns, by the ravages of war: or the people themselves shall be like briers and thorns, fruitless, noxious, and troublesome. In this language the prophet Micah describes the same people: " the best of them is as a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn-hedge." Such shall they continue, "until the Spirit be poured upon them from on high." But when the happy time comes, "then the wilderness shall be a fruitful field. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field." This effusion of the Spirit shall put an end to the desolations of war, and extinguish those flaming passions, from which it proceeds. This shall introduce the blessing of lasting and extensive peace : for, as it is there added, "the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the native effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habita1 Cor. iii. 6, 7. ¶ Isaiah xxxii. 13-18. * Luke, ii. 15 † John xvi. 8. Micah vii. 4. tion, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. This is the blessed effect of the outpouring of the Spirit; and never will harmony be established in this jangling world, until this divine agent take the work in hand. It is he alone, that can melt down the obstinate hearts of men into love and peace-it is he alone that can soften their rugged and savage tempers, and transform them into mutual benevolence-it is he alone that can quench those lusts that set the world on fire, and implant the opposite virtues and graces. Love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, are mentioned by Saint Paul, as the fruit of the Spirit,t because the Spirit alone is the author of them. And if these dispositions were predominant in the world, what a serene, calm, pacific region would it be, undisturbed with the hurricanes of human passions? "If ye bite and devour one another," says the apostle," take heed that ye be not consumed one of another: this I say then," as the best preservative from this evil, “walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh." Oh! brethren, did we all walk in the Spirit, what peace and harmony would reign in families and in neighbour. hoods! Were the Spirit of God poured out upon the nations, we should no more hear the sound of the trumpet, nor see garments rolled in blood; but peace would spring up in every country as its native growth, and allure contending kingdoms into friendship with its fragrance. O how much do we need the influence of this blessed Spirit to calm the tumult of the world, to restrain the ambition and avarice of princes and their ministers, and to quench the savage thirst of blood?-How much do we need him for a purpose more important still; that is, to make this gospel, this neglected, inefficacious gospel, which sinners are now hardy enough to trifle with, to make it powerful to their salvation-to make the weapons of our warfare mighty to the pulling down the strong holds of Satan, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ? How much do we need him to break the heart of stone, to enlighten the dark mind, and to comfort the desponding soul? This kind office, alas! we cannot perform to a dear child or friend. But, oh! the joyful thought! he is able. And how are we to expect this blessing? In what way is it to be obtained? The answer is, Pray for it. Pray frequently, pray Р * Isaiah xxxii. 13-18. † Gal. v. 22, Gal. v. 15, 16. fervently "Lord, thy Spirit! O give thy Spirit! that is the blessing I need; that is the blessing families, and nations, and the whole race of man, need." Pray in your retirements, pray in your families, pray in warm ejaculations, pray without ceasing, for this great fundamental blessing. Oh! brethren, had many among us done this, the Spirit would not be so much withdrawn; and should many now do this, he would not be long absent. Hear what encouragement Christ has given to prayer, in this particular: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you-if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him?"* Therefore, brethren, let us earnestly cry to God for his Spirit. Would you beg for bread, when famishing? Would you beg for life, if condemned to die? O then beg for the Spirit for this gift is of more importance to you and the world, than daily bread, or life itself. I shall only add, Fifthly, The consideration of the present commotions and tumults among the kingdoms of the world, may carry our thoughts forward to that happy period which our religion teaches us to hope for, when the kingdom of Christ, the Prince of peace, shall be extended over the world, and his benign, pacific religion shall be propagated among all nations. Blessed be God, vice shall not always be triumphant in the world. The cause of truth and righteousness shall not always be kept under. Heathenism, mahometism, and popery, though now supported by the powers of the earth, and seemingly invincible, shall yet fall before this gospel, and rise no more. Jews and Gentiles, whites and blacks, shall all submit to Jesus, and own him as their Saviour and Lord. Of this grand and happy revolution in the world of mankind, we have abundant evidence. The apostle tells us "blindness is but in part happened to Israel," that is, to the Jews, " until the fulness of the Gentiles,"-the whole body of the Gentile nations, "be come in,"-come into the faith of Christ," and then," says he, "all Israel shall be saved ; and the receiving them again into covenant with God, shall be as life from the dead" to them, and to the rest of the world. God himself has promised, that "the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth, as the waters cover the sea." That" from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, his name shall be great * Luke xi. 9-13. Rom. xi. 15, 25, 26. Isaiah xi. 9. وو among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered to his name, and a pure offering.' This universal empire of grace is no where revealed so clearly, as in the visions of Daniel and St. John." There was given unto the Son of man," says Daniel," dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him."+ In prophetic vision, he saw "the time come, when the saints possessed the kingdom."‡ "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high God, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." And when the seventh angel sounded, St. John heard "great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." This happy period is represented as the reign of Christ for a thousand years, when Satan shall be bound, and no more tempt the nations. O blessed period! how long wilt thou delay, blessed Jesus! thy kingdom come! O hasten it, that we may live no more in this turbulent ocean, but enjoy the blessings of perfect peace. Perfect peace is mentioned by the prophets as the distinguishing blessing of this period. Then war and all its dismal attendants shall cease; and all the instruments of destruction shall become useless. "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation," says Isaiah," neither shall they learn war any more. They shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks." Then peace shall extend itself like a river,¶ and the officers and rulers of the world shall then be peace, who are now the fire-brands of contention, and the thunder-bolts of war ;* then great shall be the peace of Zion's children ;† and of "the increase of this peace there shall be no end."‡ Now the grand cause of this blessed peace shall be, that the pacific religion of the Prince of peace, shall not only be professed, but have a powerful efficacy upon the hearts of men to transform them into its own mild and benevolent spirit. Christianized nations, at present, are, alas! as much ravaged with war, as perhaps heathen and mahometan countries: but the reason is, they gencrally have but the name of christianity, while their prevailing |