proper to secure it, he warned the Centurion, Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved.

It has been objected, "What if, in the event, a man should fall by my hand?" Would to God such a Christian sensibility were more prevalent through Europe! It would stop many a vain-glorious enterprise. It would wrest the sword from many a rash hand, and turn it into a ploughshare.

But, that our conscience may be enlightened as well as tender, we should consider, that the same Scriptures which teach us meekness, in that beautiful hyperbole, unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; teach us also to regard the interests of society, and the governments under which we live-governments appointed of God for the punishment of evil doers, as well as for the praise of them that do well. It ought to be no question with you as Christians, whether you would save the invader of your peace; but, it may be a question with you, as Citizens legally appointed to maintain it, whether, all things considered, you can. We are bound to pray for an enemy; to do him good for evil; and to try to save him, if possible, from the pit which he is digging but the law of love, which seeks his good, must not be opposed to the law of self-preservation, which prevents his doing evil.

If, then, while you are thus disposed and thus commissioned to keep the peace, any one should fall in his attempt to break it. How,-let every one

ask himself,-how does such a man fall? Verily, as the housebreaker-as the incendiary-as the assassin-as Goliath. Who kills the lawless ruffian? the magistrate that executes the law? the. citizen that stands merely upon his own defence? No: the man kills himself. The son of violence as clearly puts himself to death, as a mad dog that rushes upon the opposed spear. He digged a pit and fell therein, and his blood is upon his own head.

God forbid that any one should so mistake me here, as to imagine I would justify on any account a single act of violence, that can, all things considered, be prevented! But all things must be considered, before we can judge rightly of any one thing. I would, therefore, recommend to him, who may hesitate to act on account of the possible. consequences of present exertions, to extend his views to the very probable consequences of making no exertions at all; and to ask, What if the son of violence succeeds? What if no spear is held out as he rushes on? What then? Probably, not one perishes, but thousands-not the guilty, but the innocent.

And is this the way to prevent evil? Look at the blood that has been shed,-not only of men in arms, but of men who have made every sacrifice for peace-men, who have presented their cheek to the smiter! Recollect the blood that has been poured out like water on every side-of helpless

Old Age! of Women! of Infants! And after contemplating the massacres and conflagrations on the continent, look at Ireland in order to ascertain the duty of the times in England! Let any one ask, if such calamities had befallen us as have overwhelmed other nations, what bitter reflections must, with reason, have seized every heart on the recollection of a torpid supineness-a death-like lethargy-a fatal presumption of peace where there was no peace.

The sluggard, therefore, who is sent to an insect to learn industry, may go again to study self-preservation. Providence, which presents such occasions to man, has given man reason to meet those occasions. You feel this: and, after the example in my text, you are come down, not to provoke, but to prevent a slaughter.

In the name of your God continue thus to set up your banners; and justly may be inscribed upon every one of them, IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?

Having thus attempted to answer the first inquiry under our general proposition, let us now proceed to another no less necessary: namely,

DISPOSI

II. WHAT ARE ARE THOSE THOSE TIONS, WITH WHICH SUCH EXERTIONS SHOULD BE MADE?

This is an important question: for motives and principles determine the character of actions; insomuch, that two men, in performing the same VOL. III.

C

act, may be the one a good, the other an evil agent. Now no man acts with a right disposition, who does not, like David, proceed,

1. With a reference to GOD.

What, in this affair, respects his honour? What, is to be read of his mind, in the signs of the times? If a controversy is rending the nations, in which the agents of Hell are to be resisted; yet hath not the Lord also a controversy with Europe? The Lord's voice crieth in the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it!- Is there evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it!

And who, that believes his Bible, can wonder at God's controversy with the nations? especially with Christendom! What provocation can He receive, like that of rejecting or slighting the inestimable gift of his Son? The sentiment, This man shall not reign over us, is the master-sin of Europe. It is propagated by system: it is adopted by fashion it is even countenanced by moralists: and it is expressed in an infinite variety of ways. But, whether it appear open or disguised, it involves such ingratitude and malignity, that, if it could exist alone, it would sufficiently account for any measures of a righteous indignation.

"We will maintain Christianity," says one party. But what Christianity ?--A solemn farce! in which the work, and word, and Spirit of Christ are made void, and of no effect by your traditions?

"We will have no Christianity," says the other party." The abuses of Christianity, which we have observed, lead us to determine that it can be of no use. We are too good to need any atonement: we are too enlightened to need divine instruction: and, as to spiritual influence, none but knaves or fools so much as consider the subject."

Are these things so? Has this spirit gone forth, not only among the Philistines, but in Israel? No wonder that the Lord hath a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways. He, therefore, is not rightly disposed, who does not humbly hear the rod, mark who hath appointed it, consider why it is appointed, and personally depart from iniquity, while he engages himself to oppose its effects.

But a right disposition not only fears, but also TRUSTS the Lord. Contemplating the occasion, it will employ proper means; but on none of them will it depend. The language of such a disposition is, Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain-There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.-The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

Thus went David to meet his enemy: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of