A

DISCOURSE,

DELIVERED IN THE

CHAPEL OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE,

JULY 4th, 1819, ·

AT THE REQUEST OF THE INHABITANTS OF COLUMBIA.

A DISCOURSE.

"HE HATH NOT DEALT SO WITH ANY NATION; AND AS FOR HIS JUDG. MENTS, THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN THEM. PRAISE YE THE LORD."-147 PSALM, 20th verse.

THE blessings which God bestowed on the ancient Israelites were great and peculiar. After delivering them from bondage imposed by a cruel tyrant, he carried them as on eagles' wings, through innumerable displays of mercies and judgments; he instructed and governed them by miraculous interpositions of his providence; and after discomfiting all their enemies, triumphantly established them in the promised land. Here, he most signally interposed on their behalf; and was indeed, their shield in war, and their sun in peace. He dealt not so with other nations. These, left to their own direction, wandered into distant quarters of the globe; lost the knowledge of their creator; debased and dishonored themselves, by the vilest superstitions and the most enormous vices. On the other hand, the Israelites, chosen by God for his peculiar people, were taken under his immediate government and instruction, and furnished with laws religious, moral and political, which at length elevated them to the highest pitch of national prosperity. Well might the royal Psalmist say, "He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord."