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himself what the holy apoftle fays, He who con verteth a finner from the evil of his ways, shall fave a foul from death, and fhall hide a multitude of fins.

SERMON XI.

Preached in the Time of

great Dearth.

ISAIAH, XXVI. 9.

WHEN THY JUDGMENTS ARE ABROAD IN THE WORLD, THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

OD's judgments, my brethren, are now abroad in the world. In many parts the calamities of war and peftilence are feverely felt. God's judgments are severely felt alfo among ourselves. The critical state of our public affairs is a heavy judgment. The diftrefs of the poor in this time of dearth, comes ftill nearer home. Let me then take up the prophet's words, and exhort you all, from the melancholy fymptoms of the times, to learn righteoufnefs. Let me first addrefs you in general; and, fecondly, the rich, and poor in particular. The admonition belongs to all.

Let us then, first, my brethren, with gratitude to God, look back on happier times. Happier times we all have known; when God bleffed us with peace and plenty: when provifions and labour kept pace with each other.-Such times we all remember: but do we remember our behaviour under these bleffings of Providence? Can we fay, when God's bleffings were abroad in the world, that we learned righteousness? I fear not. Were we thankful to God for his mercies? Did we receive them with that gratitude which leads to a religious life? or did not God's bountiful mercies increase our fins, and tempt us to turn plenty into licentiousness?

As the kindnefs of Providence therefore hath had fo little effect upon us, what should we naturally expect?-Let us anfwer ourselves. How fhould we treat a child, who continued to return our indulgence with disobedience? We should certainly, if kindness had no effect, try harsher measures. And can we not in this, trace the Almighty's behaviour to us? If we will not learn righteousness from his bleffings, we must surely expect his judgments. It is not juftice merely; it is the fame kindness, which directs our own severity to an undutiful child.Let it then, my brethren, have

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have its effect. If we regard not God's mercies, let us at least stand in awe of his judgments-let them teach us to obey his laws-to trust in him for our fupport-to confider this world, and all its afflictions, as our trial-and look up to heaven for our reward.

Thus far the text applies to us in general. We all want the judgments of God—or, at least, his correcting hand in some shape, to draw us to our duty.-But now, my brethren, in this time of distress, there are particular, as well as general duties the rich have their peculiar duties, and the poor have theirs.-Let us first reason a little with the rich.

The first great question is, By what tenure do hold your poffeffions?

you

You answer, By the laws of the land. You have received your property by inheritance; or you have gained it by your own industry; and the laws of the land fecure you in the poffeffion of it.

It is true, my friend, the laws of the land fecure you from the violence of bad men. They leave you also at liberty to spend your property as you please. You may hoard it-or you may squander it. With all this the law does not interfere.-But

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you furely mistake the matter greatly, if you fuppose the law of the land is the real tenure, by which you hold your poffeffions. You do not furely exclude God Almighty; but confider him as lord paramount. You must not therefore, in the pride of your heart, confider yourself as the real proprietor of what you poffefs. God knows, that at best you are only a poor tenant at will.You remember, perhaps, the ftory of the rich landlord, whofe grounds brought forth plenteously. He filled his barns with their produce, and as corn did not yet bear a price that invited him to fell, he fatisfied himself with glorying in his future profpects. He was fully fecured by the laws of the 'land, which was all the fecurity he wished, and thought of nothing now but of plenty and happiness. Poor wretch! having not taken the great Lord, under whom he held, into the question, he was fuddenly difmiffed from his poffeffions, with this short sentence, Thou fool! this night fhall thy foul be required of thee*.

This point then being acknowledged, that God Almighty is the great proprietor of all we enjoy, the next queftion is, on what terms do we hold

* Luke, xii. 16.

our