I. To the characters described, "the fa"therless."

II. To the divine benignity exercised towards these characters," in thee the father"less findeth mercy."

The consideration of these two subjects of discourse, will prepare the way for an application appropriate to the occasion for which we are convened'.

"the

I. The characters described, are "fatherless," that is, those who are utterly destitute both of counsel and ability to defend and govern themselves and whatever belongs to them; who want the prudence and aid of a father to sustain them. But as such unfortunate persons are exposed to injury from all quarters, without the necessary support of life, either from themselves or their parents, the name by which they are designated, is used as descriptive of men involved in misery, and without help to rescue themselves from this misery. Such are all mankind by nature, friendless and forlorn, without a guide to direct them; without a Father to provide for them. Thus the cha

b For the benefit of the Orphan Asylum.

con. Parkhurst's Lex.

d Riveti Com. in Hoseam.

racters described may be ranged under two great classes, viz. such as are destitute in a spiritual, and in a temporal sense. We shall examine each in detail.

1. The fatherless are such as are destitute in a spiritual sense.

Such is the condition of all mankind by nature, without any exception. Once it was not so with them, for God made man upright, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Then he wanted no good thing, for all his desires were gratified. The garden of the Lord was his abode, and the favour of God his enjoyment. He had a Father in heaven who smiled on him with complacency; and in that Father's family he was acknowledged and blessed as a member. But soon the scene was changed! "Man being in honour "abideth not"." He disobeyed the divine commands, and became obnoxious to the divine displeasure. In an eventful moment he did eat of the forbidden fruit, and became "fatherless," an alien from the family of God. He lost the favour of his best friend, and conscious of his guilt, fled from the presence of the Lord. He was banished from

d Ps. xlix. 12.

Eden, and became a wanderer in a wide world cursed for his sake. To him children were born after his image, sinners by nature, and heirs of the curse. Such was the constitution of the covenant of works, of which our common Parent was the head. Had he remained innocent, we would have been born innocent; but as he fell, we fell in him. To deny this doctrine, is to deny facts which occur daily. We are conceived in sin, and brought forth in iniquity. The word of God declares, that "we are dead in trespasses "and sins, children of wrath," and heirs of destruction. Our consciences testify that the declaration of God is true. All mankind without exception, " have sinned and come "short of the glory of God." "They are "all gone out of the ways," whether Jew or Gentile, Christian or Antichristian, "they

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are together become unprofitable: there "is none that doeth good, no not one"." As such we are all "fatherless," destitute of that instruction, protection, and support which we need for our happiness.

Naturally, we are estranged from our heavenly Father, and with the prodigal

e Ephes. ii. 1. 3. f Rom. iii. 23. g Rom. iii. 12.

h Rom. iii. 12.

son feed on the husks which are given to swine'. We dare not to approach the Majesty of heaven on account of our offences; feeling that our offences have separated between God and us. There is darkness in our understanding, restlessness in our feelings, and misery in our prospects. We ask, "Who will shew us any good," so destitute are we, robbed of our happiness, and separated from God. We are enemies of our heavenly Father, and put under the ban of his empire. As such we are emphatically "fatherless.' "fatherless." We have forfeited the care and kindness of our Creator; we deserve not the watchfulness of our Preserver; and have no right to look for the mercy of our Redeemer.

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fatherless," because we have Our separation

We are left the family of God.

He must neces

from him is our own act. sarily disown us; and whilst we remain sinners, threaten us with his displeasure. If we die in our sins, he will disinherit us for ever for our misconduct and crimes. Our situation by nature, therefore, is deplorable, because he who made us, and who

alone can bless us, is estranged from us, by reason of our rebellion; so that we cannot receive from him, whilst we remain rebels, the affection or the tender guardianship of a Father, which are indispensably necessary for our welfare.

2. The fatherless are such as are destitute in a temporal sense.

With these, our miserable world is filled. Go where we will, we meet with them; whether in the palaces of the rich, or in the huts of the poor. In the former is found want of health, as also in the latter want of food. Among all classes we hear the complaint of disappointed expectations, of blasted comforts. Men are fatherless in a temporal as well as spiritual sense, because they are destitute of that happiness, for which they look to the things of time and sense. No man can be considered in this respect as full and wanting nothing. There is something deficient in his family, in his friends, in his business, in his enjoyments. He must confess with a sigh, " Vanity of vanities, all " is vanity'." Could he obtain the whole world, with the Macedonian hero, he would

1 Eccles. i, 2.