God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist, shall receive unto themselves damnation." We are furthermore commanded " to pray for our rulers,"2 "and not speak evil of them; "3 but then, we should not deify them; should not make them the ground of our hope and rejoicing, as respects the kingdom; but looking away from Man, place our dependence on HIM, who is the blessed and only potentate; who ruleth in the kingdom of men, setting up one, and putting down another: who bringeth princes to nothing, and maketh the judges of the earth as vanity: who defeateth the counsel of the wisest Abithophel, and giveth wisdom to the weak and simple. Has not past experience taught us, that those we esteemed the firmest and most trust-worthy, bend as a reed before the torrent, in the hour of trial? And did not the Lord in every such case plainly rebuke our creature-dependance. Ah! then, let us for the future obey his command" Put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man; for, verily, every man, even at his best estate, is altogether vanity." Let us transfer our affiance to the "Wonderful Counseller, by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice ;" and say of him, "He only is my rock and my salvation he is my defence, I shall not moved." In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge. Trust in him at all

1 Rom. xiii. 12.

21 Tim. ii. 1, 2.

3 Acts xxiii. 5.

4 Prov. viii. 15.

times, ye people; pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us.

It is not talent, nor statesmanship, nor powerful alliances, nor navies, nor armies, nor eloquent orators-it is not any, or all of these, that form the true glory and muniments of a nation. What can any wisdom, or any bulwarks avail against the blast of the Almighty? "There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength." "Only righteousness exalteth a nation": "only by righteousness is the throne established." Righteousness is attended

by the blessing of the LORD, and that alone gives national prosperity. Let us then cease from man, and apply ourselves to prayer, that the Lord may in mercy rain righteousness upon us. "Some put their trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." 4 "He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth, he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in

sunder, he burneth the chariot in the fire. and know that he is GOD. He will be

2 Prov. xiv. 34.

Be still exalted

3 Ibid xvi. 12.

1 Psalm xxxiii. 16. 4 Psalm xx. 7. Though most reluctant to call in question the conduct of many illustrious individuals, intensely devoted to the interests of Protestantism, the Author cannot help doubting, whether, in the event, that high and holy cause is likely to be advantaged by such expedients, as Conservative dinners,' and similar assemblages. In all such, there is generally much excess, and consequently sin. If sin, God is displeased, and the object so far frustrated. 'Banquettings,' are amongst those things denounced in Scripture. 1 Pet. iv. 3. Can such things prosper then? No. Rather let us, in our truly solemn and critical circumstances, adopt the course enjoined by Je

among the heathen, he will be exalted in the earth."1

Let Satan and his confederates do their worst; -let them stir up and assemble the nations in one wicked armament against the Lord, and against his people,-let them rush against the camp of the saints, like the rushing of many waters,-let them cover the land like a cloud and a storm,-yet faith, heroic faith can bid them all defiance,-and say, "Associate yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces, gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces, take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand; for God is with us!" 66 'Surely, the wrath of man shall praise Him; the remainder of wrath He shall restrain."

It is the glorious privilege of the believer to live superior to the fluctuating sea of worldly politic and to be exempted from those sudden fears,

hovah in the prophet Joel-" Therefore, also, now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even unto me, with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."-" Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly," &c. "Then," (and not till then) "will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people." Then," only " will the Lord do great things" for us. See Joel ii. 12—21.

Accordingly, a correspondent of the London Record-' a clergyman of great age and experience, recommends all ministers of the gospel, to sound an alarm from their several pulpits, as with one voice urging the people to humiliation and repentance. "The times," he says, 'call for humiliation for sin on the one hand, and a concentrated repugnance to the encroachments of a Popish faction on the other.' And most unquestionable is that which he adds- 'It is indeed only by humiliation for sin, that we can hope to avert the judgments of God upon a sinful people.'

1 Note XXX.

panics and amazements, wherewith the minds of the multitude are wont to be shaken, "as the trees of the wood are shaken with the wind." While the sons of Belial rage and bluster, asserting what mighty and terrible things they, forsooth, shall bring to pass; as if they were omnipotent, and there were no Supreme Director of the universe, to control their machinations :-the child of Faith, standing on the high vantage-ground of Scripture, like the angel in the sun, can from that commanding eminence, look down upon these petty tyrants and troublers of the earth, as so many puppets in the hand of Omnipotence, and laugh them to scorn. The Christian is assured that, let man say what he may, yet unless GOD say it also, it is a vain word; that "THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH; doing whatsoever he pleaseth, both in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: that the Captain of Salvation, "the Captain of the Lord's hosts," being made the head over all things to the church, no weapon that is formed against her shall prosper, but all things, however apparently hostile, contribute to his people's prosperity. "Happy art thou, O Israel who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency? and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places." 1

1 Deut. xxxiii. 29. If God be with us, who can be against us? Let tyrants rage, let the world roar, let hell groan, and the devil bel

Thirdly, let us cease from man in Spiritual things. We should not place implicit confidence in any human teacher, however eminent. "Call no man Rabbi, (or master) for one is your master, even Christ." It is our duty to follow the Christian minister so far as he speaks according to the inspired oracles; and we "should search the Scriptures daily" to ascertain whether he does so or not. While he so speaks," he that heareth him, heareth Christ; and he that despiseth him, despiseth not him only, but also the Father that sent him." The King is insulted in the person of his Ambassador.

At the same time, the various pestilent heresies which have infested Christendom in all ages, our own not excepted, teach us this lesson very impressively not to be deceived by any reputation of the person propagating a doctrine; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Pious men are not always judicious; nor are those always pious who appear to be so. They are generally persons of piety and ability, whom the Adversary selects as his decoys in perverting others. No deceivers prove so dangerous to the church, as these fallen stars. For who would listen to novelties, coming from one devoid of sanctity or talent? Would the elect be deceived

low; we, under the protection of such a companion, shall be secure : and we shall sing with him, who slew the lion, the bear, and Goliath. "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people, that have set themselves against me ound about."-BISHOP HALL.

1 Rev. ix. 1.