nently perilous times;' clearly reflected in that solemn prediction of the apostle: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy; without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God; having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." The half of our sins have not been stated. So numerous are they, they cover the land like a plague of locusts. We are a nation laden with iniquity. Our transgressions are multiplied, and our sins testify against us. "And shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD? shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"

It will be rejoined, that such have been the characteristics of every age; and that, after all, we are the best nation in the world. But, are we not also the worst, taking into consideration our incomparable advantages? God has not dealt with any nation as he hath with our's. He singled her out as the richest gem of his earthly crown ; honouring her to be the nursery of the Reformation; the strong-hold of Protestantism; the metropolis of the moral world; whence the lights of science, and literature, and religion should radiate toward all quarters of the globe. What nation under heaven so favoured? Taking into account, then,

such signal and peculiar privileges and opportunities, can it be truly said, that our's is the best. nation in the world? Rather, are not her spots darker than those of any other country, standing forth, as they do, from so luminous a ground? Surely, if the mighty works which have been done in " "had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they had repented long ago, in sackcloth and ashes." 1

us,

It is true that the empire has often been in imminent danger, and as often have the hovering clouds passed away. But have we any assurance that such clemency will be extended to us always? Rather, have we not reason to apprehend, that punishment, the longer delayed, will only descend the heavier in the event, like rain after a protracted continuance of fair weather? Surely the aspect of the times would not lead us to suppose that the Lord's face was smiling on us. Our sky is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.' England is' merry England' no longer. A weight oppresses the public mind, analogous to that experienced by the body, previous to some great convulsion of nature. The moral climate is gross and unwholenor can we well expect its purification, before the pouring out of a judgment. Doubtless, there are several sunny gleams breaking forth through the cloudy and dark day,' especially the increasing number and spirituality of the pious in

some;

1 Note XIII.

the land,―for except the LORD of Hosts had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been like unto Gomorrah. Yet this very circumstance constitutes another sign of the times, indicative of approaching storms. For the Lord is thus evidently "making up his jewels: " dividing the oil from the water, the light from the darkness, the wheat from the tares. The two great antagonist principles,1 which have operated in the world from the beginning, are daily more strongly and vividly developed. The neutral ground is rapidly vacated,

The lines are drawing between Christ and the world.' Either body is assuming a position more bold and decided. The godly are becoming more godly, and the wicked more wicked like the two baskets of figs mentioned in Jeremiah," the good figs very good, and the evil very evil.' This must be manifest to every attentive observer.

And what doth it argue? That the Almighty is thus separating his people from the great mass, "lest they be consumed in all its iniquities." When the swallows begin to depart, we augur the approach of winter. Before the city of Sodom was overthrown, Lot and his family were hurried forth of it. Ere the slaying of the first-born in the land of Egypt, the houses of the Israelites were marked by the blood of the paschal lamb, and prior to Jerusalem's being swept with the besom of Even so, destruction, all the Christians forsook it. when the holy seed are being severed from the

1The flesh' and 'the spirit.'

1

world, some by disconformity, and others by death, we may infer that the desolation thereof draweth nigh. When the salt is withdrawn from the lump, we may anticipate, that the latter will very soon perish in its own corruption.

Observe how the Lord is causing new edifices to be every where erected for the propagation of his gospel: how he is opening, in his providence, great and effectual doors for it, in districts formerly the most hopelessly inaccessible: how he is stirring up his ambassadors universally, to warn mankind of the coming wrath. Whence such unprecedented exertions, to promote by every means the knowledge of CHRIST, and the salvation of sinners? Could works so good be carried on, and the LORD not be their originator? No: "Of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things." He is sending his angels, or messengers, to gather his elect from the four winds; to pull them out of the fire; to lead them out from the city of destruction unto the Zoar of safety. And now, why are the plagues stayed? Why are the vials of vengeance not poured forth? Is it not even that the Lord waiteth to be gracious: waiteth till all the elect be gathered to the SAVIOUR? Yes; the angel of destruction can do nothing, till they be come thither ??

1 'Methuselah died the year before the flood; Augustine, a little before the sacking of Hippo, Pareus, just before the taking of Huidelburg; Luther, a little before the wars broke out in Germany.'— FLAVEL'S Spiritual Husbandry.

2 Gen. xix. 22.

The four winds are held in, till the servants of God be sealed in their foreheads.1

Other nations have had their rise and fall, and why may not our's? The present posture of affairs seems alarmingly indicative of such a catastrophe. Grey hairs are upon the nation, here and there. Vigour is leaving her. Her voice is no longer the lion's voice; nor her port the lion's port. Her name has greatly lost its former majesty and authority. It is a talisman no more. Foreigners see this "a kingdom divided against itself," and consequently weakened. The one only thing that can prevent ICHABOD being inscribed upon us is genuine religion. This might infuse youthful blood into Britain's aged veins: but alas! as a nation, we seem casting it off as fast as possible. Undoubtedly a considerable moral amendment has been going forward in this country for years past; but who have been its instruments? That very people "whom the nation abhorreth ; " the people of the LORD. Look to the nation as a nation. Look to her in her public and representative capacity. Have we improved in this respect? Nay, we have grievously retrograded: encouraging false religion, and discouraging the true: treating with contempt every measure calculated to promote the divine glory. Instance the rejection, year after year, of any bill for the better observance of the sabbath. We have departed from the purity and simplicity that brightened the days of our fore

1 Rev. vii. 2, 3.