that thou wouldest put a stop to this bloodshed and misery! Oh, that thou wouldest say to these proud waves' Peace!' for thou only canst say it." Such a man is standing, like Aaron, between the living and the dead: like Abraham, he is interceding for us before the throne of God. 3. The Signs of the Times point out THAT PROVISION FOR SOUL AND BODY, WHICH EVERY MAN IS CALLED TO MAKE IN SUCH TIMES; not knowing what vicissitudes, troubles, and extremities he may have to encounter. He was a wise man, who said, "I see warfare and misery spreading over the earth; and it may bend its course shortly toward me: but I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower : and will watch to see what he will say unto me; and what I shall answer when I am reproved. I will be in a position to meet every event." This is true wisdom; and to this the Signs of the Times particularly urge us: that, when the Son of Man comes in his providence, we may have nothing to do but to meet him. 4. The Signs of the Times point out to us, AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD'S GOODNESS AND SPECIAL MERCY. God is now saying, as it were, "Chain up, a little longer, the force that has been prepared against that land!" It is as though he said to the enemy, Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. VOL. II. Let us, then, look up to God, that he would make the wrath of man to praise him; and that he would restrain the remainder of that wrath. Surely, if there is any nation on the earth that has special benefits to acknowledge, sparing mercies to record, and high privileges which it has long enjoyed, it is England! Let us, therefore, beseech God to give us a deep sense of his mercies. My Dear Hearers, you may remember, that our · Lord divides the world into what he calls the children of this World, and the children of Light. I would improve this subject by addressing both these classes. 1. I will speak to those, who are the CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD. You have perhaps often looked out to discern the face of the sky, and the posture of affairs. No one, perhaps, will deny that you are men of sense, or that you are men of science, and perhaps men of great information: but yet suppose; that, in conversing with you, it was to be found, that you did not know the day of your visitation: that you knew nothing of the spiritual or moral considerations, or signs of your times; that you had made no provision to meet God or eternity-I know not a more deplorable sight on earth, than you exhibit? I know not a more affecting sight, than a man of sense and science, a man looked up to, a man who not only admires himself but is univer sally admired; and yet is a fool, an idiot, in the sight of God! for he has not at all concerned himself about the one thing needful-the better part, that shall never be taken from him! The astronomer, who was examining the heavens, stumbled, because he did not regard his steps: what are men who are conversant only with the prospects of this world, which pass away like a dream? What are men, who engage in no commerce, but in that of temporal affairs; and in no science, but what respects the moment? Oh, that thou hadst known, and wouldst consider, at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace, before they are hid from thine eyes! for, this is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. While, then, you are considering, the late victory, and swallowed up in its importance, Oh that you would lay to heart also, that, unless you overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the power of his Spirit, it will only be a ground of lamentation to you to all eternity, that you heard the Gospel, that its privileges were afforded to you, and that, like the fig-tree, you were cultured and manured in vain! for God saith of his ancient people, You, of all nations upon the earth, have I known: therefore will I punish you. May you lay this to heart; and pray earnestly to God, that you may know the day of your visitation, the Sign of your Times, and the things that belong to your peace. 2. CHILDREN OF LIGHT! you have prayed for your country! Your prayers have been answered! it is yet preserved! God hath stretched out his arm, in its defence: and therefore you have been encouraged to persevere in prayer. Cease not, but still pray. Beg of him to put forth his mighty arm; and to supply that strength and wisdom, which man cannot supply. While others scorn your principles, and misunderstand you, and are not concerned in your griefs, remember, that, in the ninth chapter of Ezekiel, a grand distinction is made between those who lament over the evils of the times, and those who do not. God is evidently doing a strange work in the earth, far beyond our comprehension. It would be mere vanity to conjecture his designs. Yet your duty is plain:-Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men, that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth, and serve them. And if he shall I come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. Be ye, therefore, ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not. |