Finally, The catastrophe which we have described is pregnant with the most important instruction to the whole world. From amidst the ruins of Jerusalem, a voice may be heard calling loudly and incessantly in the ears of all nations, and saying, "Beware that ye depart not from the living God!" whilst the insulted descendants of Abraham, scattered over the face of the earth, re-echo, in despite of themselves, the solemn admonition, and, in effect, exclaim, "Behold! pictured in our fate the awful consequences of apostacy. and especially of our rejection of the Mes siah, the Redeemer of the world!"

To the British nation, between which and the kingdom of Israel, during the period of its prosperity and glory, there are so many striking features of resemblance, these solemn warnings come with peculiar emphasis and import. May the Almighty mercifully incline us, as a people, to regard them with due seriousness and

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attention, lest, after having been exalted like the Jews, by our civil and religious privileges, to the highest distinction among the nations, we at length fall, like them, into proportional ruin and disgrace. The progress of iniquity in our country is already sufficiently great, notwithstanding a variety of encouraging considerations*,

*The excellent character of our beloved monarchthe wisdom and harmony of his councils-the moderate, just, and humane temper of our government-the purity and equity with which justice is administered in our courts of law, and by our magistrates in general—the spirit of loyalty and unanimity which pervades the country-the patriotic ardour which is displayed in its defence -an evident revival of the spirit of religion in our national church, and also among those who dissent from itthe decline of bigotry-the cordial union of pious individuals belonging to different religious communities, and their friendly co-operation in the same benevolent undertakings-the erection of societies "for the suppression of vice," and the increase of schools for the religious instruction of indigent children-the establishment of many other institutions for the more general diffusion of religious knowledge in our land, and for imparting the blessings of christianity to heathen nations: and, above all, the formation of societies for the more extensive dispersion of the holy scriptures in the world, and for promoting their translation into languages through which revetation hath not permanently spoken to man-all these con.. siderations, and a variety of others which might be enu

to excite in the mind of the serious christian very alarming apprehensions concerning the final issue of the contest in which we are at present engaged. Alternately he trembles and weeps while he contemplates the impiety and dissoluteness of our national manners, and the dreadful insen

merated, we admit are not the features of a country forsaken by the Almighty, and given up to be a prey to its enemies, but are rather encouraging indications of his gracious and paternal favour towards us. Still, when we reverse the picture, and seriously reflect upon the spirit. of infidelity which pervades, and the abominable immoralities which overspread our country, it is impossible not to feel that we are justly exposed to the wrath and indignation of heaven. The profanation of the name of God, sabbath-breaking, neglect of religious ordinances, con. tempt of genuine piety, swearing, perjuries, drunkenness, adultery, prostitution, &c. and such an inordinate pursuit of earthly things as absorbs all due regard to those of a future state, are impieties and vices that dreadfully prevail in the different classes of the community; and which, while they exclude from the divine favour the individuals who are justly chargeable with such enormities, are secretly operating as so many principles of dissolution in the great social edifice of our country, tending to diminish the security of our civil and religious privileges, and to expose us to the dangers of an external hostility, against which our powerful means of national defence, under the blessing of divine providence, might otherwise prove an impregnable barrier.

sibility which every where prevails, both as it respects our deserts, and the successive manifestations of the divine displeasure against us. Without any invidious comparison between the moral state of the present and that of former generations, we would ask, what is the fact concerning ourselves? Can any one say, that a pious, devout, and humble demeanour is the characteristic of our times, or that every species of wickedness does not alarmingly prevail throughout the land? So far from the pure spirit of christianity animating, directing, and governing our conduct, is there a principle or maxim of common morality that is not generally and habitually outraged among us? What is the national feeling upon sacred things? How beats the pulse of society here? Talk of religion; make only a distant allusion to it; what is the effect? A repulsive silence, a frown, a sneer, perhaps an insult. What is the national sentiment? What are the constant topics of discourse? to

what principles do we make our appeal? By what maxim do we regulate our actions? Are they the principles and maxims of a spurious philosophy, of an arbitrary system of morals, of public opinion, of custom, or the fashion of the day? or are they the principles and maxims of the religion of Jesus? Let daily experience reply to these questions. What, also, is our colloquial phraseology? Are not words and phrases, prophane, immoral, and antichristian in their spirit and tendency, interwoven in its very texture? and are not such as convey ideas of the first importance to mankind almost totally excluded from it? The word holiness, for instance, which is descriptive of the "highest style of man" here, and the brightest jewel in his crown of glory hereafter, is almost banished from conversation; and the appropriate expressions by which the progress of christianity in the heart (and what is a christianity that does not obtain dominion here ?) are contemn.