Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

temper is directly opposite to it. Lions and savages will profess themselves the disciples of the inoffensive Lamb of God; and pretend to believe his religion, without imbibing its gentle, pacific genius; but whatever they are who call themselves christians, christianity itself is a humane, benevolent religion. It tends to inspire that universal love, that meekness and forbearance, that regard to justice and equity, which would establish universal harmony in the world; and it tends to subdue those turbulent lusts and passions which are the source of wars and fightings. In short, it transforms men into quite other creatures, where it exerts its native influence in full force. Christianity would make a wild Indian savage as meek and harmless as a lamb. Now this will be the case in fact, in that blessed period. The Holy Spirit, by means of the gospel, will transform the savage temper of the world, into the very genius of that religion which they will then profess. This glorious change is expressed by the strongest and most beautiful images by Isaiah. "The wolf shall dwell inoffensively with the lamb; and the furious leopard shall lie down amicably with the defenceless kid and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and they shall be so tame and harmless, that a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together, without enmity or injury; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and the sucking child, without hurt, shall play on the hole of the venomous asp; and the weaned child shall put his hand with safety on the cockatrice-den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord."* What a glorious change is this! and what a happy revolution' will it produce in this restless world! Let us look, and long, and pray for this blessed time. Who knows but some of our guilty eyes may see the dawnings of it? The schemes of Providence seem to be now ripening fast to their final result. The prophecies are fulfilling; and who knows but the time of the restitution of all things is just at hand? Many thrones must totter, many kingdoms must fall, which are now the supports of idolatry, imposture, and tyranny, in order to introduce it; and who knows but the present ferment and commotions may work up to this grand revolution? If so, welcome blood and slaughter, and all the terrors of war, though we should be involv; ed in the ruin! Welcome, whatever may introduce a season

* Isaiah xi. 6-9.

which shall bring so much glory to God and the Redeemer, and so many blessings to mankind !*

I shall conclude with two advices :

The one is, "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." You have seen that war is both an evidence and effect of the corruption of our nature, and of the righteous indignation of God against us on this account; and in both these views, it loudly calls upon you to humble yourselves.

The other advice is but a repetition of what I have already recommended to you, namely: "Pray, without ceasing." No sign could be more encouraging than to see the praying spirit spreading among us; to see those who have any influence in heaven through their divine Mediator, using their interest in behalf of their country. The efficacy of believing prayer is very great. The encouragements to this duty are many; and I am sure our need of it is peculiarly urgent; therefore, "continue instant in prayer."§ To engage you the more, I have the pleasure to inform you, that the synod of New York, and the ministers in Connecticut, have appointed, that on the last Thursday in every month, during these troublesome times, the congregations under their care, should meet together in little societies, and spend a few hours in united prayer to God for our country and nation. And I earnestly recommend it to you, my dear people, to join with your brethren in various parts, upon that day, in so seasonable and important a duty; and who knows what extensive advantage thousands may receive from the prayers of a few? They will, at least, return with blessings into your own bosoms.

It is but little we can do to promote a national reformation, much less an universal reformation among all nations. The world will sin on still, in spite of all our endeavours; but, if divine grace concur, we may do much to reform the little spot where we dwell. Every man is of some importance in his family, and perhaps in his neighbourhood; and why should we not begin at home? Why should we not labour to reform the place where we live? Why should not we endeavour to become the salt of the earth, to season the huge mass of corruption-the light of the world, to dart some rays of light through the Egyptian darkness that involves our country; and as a city set upon a hill, conspicuous to all around us, for the beauties of holiness? Olet us labour to bring about so happy a revolution! let us be ambitious to take the precedence in turning to the Lord, and to be the first fruits of the glorious harvest of righteousness, which we hope for, before the consummation of all things.

† 1 Pet. v. 6.

1 Thes. v. 17.

§ Rom. xii. 12.

SERMON 69.

ON THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL BRADDOCK, GOING TO FORTEDE QUESNE.

ISAIAH XXII. 12-14. And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine; let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of Hosts.*

THE heavy burden of this tragical prophecy falls upon the valley of vision, that is, upon Jerusalem, the metropolis of the Jews. It was called the valley of vision because it was enlightened by the visions of the prophets, enjoyed the advantages of revelation, and the privileges of the church of God. But though it was thus graciously distinguished by heaven, it was not safe from danger. The Assyrians were preparing a powerful army to invade the holy land, and the holy city, because it was degenerated into a land of guilt, and a city full of wickedness.

The prophet Isaiah, at the foresight of this, feels all the generous and mournful passions of a patriot, a lover of his country, of liberty and religion. However others were sunk into a stupid security all around him, and indulged themselves in mirth and luxury; he is alarmed and mourns for his country. Look away from me, says he, do not put my bursting grief under the restraints of modesty, by your presence: I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me; for the case requires the full indulgence of sorrow; and it is remediless "because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people." Thus was Isaiah affected with

the danger of Jerusalem, and his native country.

And, oh Virginia! oh my country! shall I not lament for thee? Thou art a valley of vision, favoured with the light of revelation from heaven, and the gospel of Jesus thou hast long

* Hanover, July 20, 1755.

† Verse iv.

been the region of peace and tranquillity; the land of ease, plenty and liberty. But what do I now see? What do I now hear? I see thy brazen skies, thy parched soil, thy withering fields, thy hopeless springs, and thy scanty harvests. Methinks I also hear the sound of the trumpet, and see garments rolled in blood-thy frontiers ravaged by revengeful savages; thy territories invaded by French perfidy and violence. Methinks I see slaughtered families, the hairy scalps clotted with gore; the horrid arts of Indian and popish torture. And, alas in the midst of all these alarms, I see thy inhabitants generally asleep, and careless of thy fate. I see vice braving the skies; religion neglected and insulted; mirth and folly have still their places of rendezvous. Let our country, let religion, liberty, property and all be lost yet still they will have their diversions; luxury spreads her feast, and unmans her effeminate guests. In spite of laws, in spite of proclamations, in spite of the principle of self-preservation, thy officers are generally inactive, thy militia neglected and undisciplined, thy inhabitants unprovided with arms; every thing in a defenceless posture but few Abrahams to intercede for thee; but few to stand in the gap, and make up the breach, to prevent the irruption of vengeance; but few mourning for the sins of the land! "The Lord God of hosts, and every thing around thee, call thee to weeping and mourning, and girding with sackcloth : but, instead of this, behold joy and gladness, eating flesh, and drinking wine; let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." And shall I not weep for thee, O my country? Yes; when I forget thee, O Virginia, "let my right hand forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth.* My bowels! my bowels! I am pained at the very heart; I cannot hold my peace; because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, and the alarm of war." And now, to whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear?" Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken-I hearkened, and heard; but they spake not aright; no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, what have I done? Every one turneth to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle, and the crane, and swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord," nor discern the signs of the times. What then can I do for thee, O my † Jer. iv. 19. Jer. viii, 6, 7.

* Psa. cxxxvii. 5.

country? What but weep over thee, pray for thee, and warn thy careless children? To give this seasonable warning is my present design.

There are two things mentioned in this chapter, as glaringly absurd, and highly provoking to God. The one is, that in the military preparations which the Jews made, they had no proper regard to the Supreme Ruler of the world. The other is, that instead of making proper preparations for their own defence, and humbling themselves before God, they were sunk in security, luxury, and wickedness.

They had made some military preparations-Thus far had I studied my discourse, before I was alarmed with the melancholy news that struck my ears last Thursday. Now every heart may meditate terror indeed: now, every face may gather blackness: now I may mingle darker horrors in the picture I intended to draw of the state of my country. For what do I now hear?-I hear our army is defeated; our general killed-our sole defence demolished ;* and what shall we now do? Whence shall we derive our hope? Our militia has hitherto been a mere farce, and most of the inhabitants know little or nothing of the art of war-they are generally unfurnished with arms. What effect the present alarm will have upon them, I cannot yet determine: but I am afraid they are proof against even this, and will still dream on in security. They seem to have this brand upon them, of a people given up to destruction; they cannot realize a danger at the distance of two or three hundred miles, though it be making quick approaches towards them; or, if they be alarmed at length, it will be apt to throw them into an inactive kind of consternation and terror; for it is natural to the presumptuous and secure to fall into this opposite extreme, when the danger they would not fear, comes upon them, and this throws them into such hurry and confusion, that they can neither contrive nor prosecute measures for their own defence; so that we have little ground to

* What truth may be in the report, is, as yet, unknown; and while it is uncertain, the fate of our country must lie in an anxious uncertainty too. This alarm, however, has served to shew me into what a consternation the visible approach of danger will cast the presumptuous, and how naturally they fall from the extreme of security to confusion and despondency. If this alarm awaken us to proper activity, I shall account it a happy stratagem of divine Providence. Be this report true or false, it is sufficient to drive us to the throne of grace, with Jehoshaphat's prayer in our mouth; 2 Chron. xx. 12.,

« ÖncekiDevam »