who are not ashamed of Jesus and his words. before a crooked and perverse generation?

On the contrary, what is the frequent treatment of the Bible? This blessed Bible which unfolds the counsels of Heaven, and proclaims the glad tidings of salvation? Is it not despised as the parent of enthusiasm, and calumniated as the offspring of fraud? Are not the exercises of that serious godliness which it inspires, which purifies the human mind; and ennobles the human character, reviled as the whine of fanaticism, or the cant of imposture? Is not infidelity the fashion? Is not the profession of a Christian thought to degrade the dignity of a gentleman? Is not the bold blasphemer of the holy oracles, admired, by many, as a man of genius? Is not the rude and impious jeer, at all which the wise and the good hold sacred, applauded for wit? Is not the paltry witticism, if it be but leveled against religion, complimented with the name of invincible argument? Does not every unfledged sciolist; every ignorant retailer of the sophisms of a Hume, or the quibbles of a Voltaire, set up for a philosopher, and think himself entitled to laugh at the faith of the saint? Is not the progress of principles so pernicious, an awful symptom of deep degeneracy? And is not the fact as notorious as it is dirtressing? "If it

be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?"

When we turn our eyes from these miserable mortals who carry the mark of hell in their foreheads, and survey the generality of professed believers, is there not reason to fear that a large proportion of them have only "a name to live, while they are dead?" How many call themselves Christians, while their whole deportment proves that they are, in truth, the enemies of Christ? No subject so tedious and irksome as redeeming love. Speak to them of the ideal scenes of a romance, and they are all attention and activity. But speak of the sweet realities of the gospel; of the height, the depth, the length, the breadth, of the love of Christ, and immediately they are languid and listless. Set before them the fooleries of the stage, and their bosoms will be agitated with alternate and violent emotions. Now they will be softened into pity, or roused into rage: Anon, they will melt in grief, or be transported with joy. But conduct them to Calvary: Show them that real tragedy which clothed all heaven in sackcloth— Show them a bleeding Savior-Show him stretched on the accursed tree; bowing in agony his guiltless head; and pouring out his soul unto death, a victim to divine wrath, a sacrifice for sin; and they will be cold and unfeel

ing as a stone. Not a pang of remorse will shoot through the flinty heart, nor a tear of contrition steal down the iron cheek.

Do even the disciples of Jesus, who love him in sincerity, walk as he also walked? Do they live, as habitually as they ought, by faith, and not by sight? Do they improve, as they are bound, the precious promises? Do they apply to the fullness which is laid up for them in their new covenant head? Are congregations entirely free. from those iniquities for which the Lord is visiting our land? Are there no ministerial transgressions? Yes, my brethren, the humiliating truth must be told, "The Lord is righteous, I and my people have sinned."

It is, therefore, undeniable that the Lord is speaking to us in wrath, and that his controversy is holy and just. Let us, then, attend,

Secondly, To the duty which our circumstances and our text point out; and that is to plead with him for mercy,-O Lord, in wrath remember mercy!

Here it is requisite to elucidate some of those principles which the petition implies; and the temper with which we should employ it.

1. With respect to the principles of the petition. It plainly implies that there is mercy, pardoning mercy, which may, consistently with both the VOL. I. 10.

divine attributes, and the divine government, be freely communicated to the sinner.

Dreary, my brethren, would be our prospect, and miserable our consolation, were it absolutely necessary for the God whom we have offended to reward us exactly according to our deserts: Then, indeed, might we close our eyes on peace, and lie down in sorrow. "If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity; O Lord, who could stand?" Certainly we could not stand; we, whose conduct has been little else than a series of transgressions; and whose crimes have been attended with every hateful circumstance which can aggravate guilt, or increase punishment. Unable to answer our Judge, "one of a thousand" of the accusations he may bring against us, if we attempt to "justify ourselves, our own mouths will condemn us." But, glory, eternal glory, be to God in the highest! There is forgiveness with him that he may be feared. There is a Savior for whose righteousness' sake the Father is well pleased. Through

this Savior we may safely approach that inflexible justice, and unspotted purity, which are otherwise a consuming fire. Our condition, therefore, though sad, is not hopeless. We are guilty, indeed, but not wholly cast off: We are afflicted, 'tis true, but not abandoned to despair. How great, how unequaled soever our provocations have been, we are encouraged to hope in the Lord,

for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him there is plenteous redemption."

But, it may be asked, "Is there any reason for us to hope when we are visibly the objects of the divine displeasure? May we repair to mercy's throne, when slighted mercy has kindled the vengeful flame?" We may, for our text farther implies, That the present wrath of God is no obstruction to the exercise of his mercy.

This, the very prayer of Habakkuk, which was penned under the influence of the Holy One, manifestly supposes. This is supposed by all the prayers which, the scripture informs us, were directed to heaven for deliverance from affliction. This is supposed by the design of all God's wrathful dispensations, which are intended not only to correct man, with rebukes, for his iniquity; but to humble the arrogance of his spirit-to teach him his entire and universal dependence upon the One Supreme-to create in his mind religious sensibility-and bring the thankless prodigal back to the God from whom he has deeply revolted. Iwill go, says Jehovah by his prophet, and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: In their affliction they will seek me early. This same principle is supposed by his own positive injunction, recorded in the prophecy of Joel: Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart; and with fasting, and with