I should think I dishonoured my subject, if I were to give way to feelings of indignation against the men who have plunged us into those calamities, which now overwhelm us. May they find mercy! It is blindness, perhaps, more than wickedness. But I cannot repress the feelings which arise in my heart at the remembrance of those men who have done all they could, in their situation, to prevent the evils which we now endure, and the still worse which we fear. I never think of that small band of faithful patriots, who have continued, from the commencement of this inauspicious war, to exert themselves to the utmost, to save their country from the ruin, which they foresaw must be the certain consequence of such a contest, without the liveliest sentiments of gratitude and esteem; nor of their patient perseverance, amidst calumny and defeat, in the service of a misled people, without admiration. They are now rewarded with the approbation of their own hearts, and the sincere attachment of all the best friends of our constitution and liberties; and posterity will not fail to honour their memory, for exertions which are now calumniated.

But it is not to men we look for the salvation of our country, and for rescue from the miseries which infatua tion has brought upon us. None can save us but the Maker of heaven and earth. But means are to be used. Means and ends, causes and effects, are dependent one on the other. It is nothing less than an entire change of character and manners; it is nothing short of an entire change of public measures; of the restoration of our rights; and such a reform of all abuses and corruptions; and this, by those whom the people suspect of having an interest separate from their own, as may convince them that they seek the common good, and are deserving of the public confidence; it is nothing less than this, and our immediate withdrawment from the party of the beast, whose end is to perish, that can afford us any hope. When we see this, we may rest secure, but not before.

But let us not be guilty of ingratitude, by entirely forgetting that consolation which is provided for the servants of God against the worst possible case, Let us suppose

the worst. Let us suppose that the great body of the people of this country, will not only go on in putting unlimited confidence in those whose measures have brought us to our present miserable condition; fondly fancying

T

that the day of our triumph is not far off, and that at any rate our navy is invincible; but, which is much more to be dreaded, that they will continue insensible to the hand of God, which is upon us, and persevere in their crying sins. Let us suppose, also, that all political reformation will be resisted also, and that our diviners are mad, and our wise men turned backward; yet still we are not without hope. At evening time it shall be light.

THE

FIRST APPENDIX

ΤΟ

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

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NEWBURY, Dec. 20, 1798.

T is predicted of Jesus Christ that he shall break all nations with a rod of iron, and dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. And all Protestants are agreed that there are many passages in holy writ, and particularly in Daniel and the Revelation of John, which not only foretel the rise, nature, and enormities, of the Antichristian church of Rome, and of the states and kingdoms which have given their power to the support of corruption and oppression; but which also give the most unequivocal assurances of their utter overthrow, preparatory to the coming of that kingdom of God on earth, for which the Saviour taught his disciples to pray. That these prophecies have never yet had their full accomplishment, is certain; but that they will, no enlightened Christian can doubt; and that the time for their fulfilment is not very far off, is generally allowed: and if we turn our eyes to France, the Netherlands, Spain, Savoy, Piedmont, Genoa, Milan, and the other states of Italy, and particularly to Rome, the kingdoins and states which have been the great scene of corruption and persecution, and attentively consider what, within these few years, has passed there; the revolutions which have taken place in some of these countries, and the critical situation of others, is there not some reason to suspect that God, in his providence, is now accomplishing those important events, of which his prophets have excited an expectation; and for which the church of Christ has

long been looking and praying? Surely there is: and that thinking Christians are no more impressed with awful apprehensions, as to what appears approaching, and are no more alive to watchfulness and prayer; and that men and Protestants, in general, blinded by their prejudices, inattentive to the great principles of our religion, and absorbed in the love of the world, are so little disposed to give glory to God because of his righteous judgments, by whatever instruments he may be pleased to execute them; but are rather disposed to join issue with the destroyers of the earth, is matter of deep concern; and certainly forebodes evil to the nations, who, forgetful of that command from heaven respecting the mystical Babylon (Rev. xviii. 4.) Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues, rather court union with the mother of harlots, than shun her alliance. But, though this is a matter of sincere regret, it is not a circunstance which need much surprise us. Jesus Christ has forewarned us of what is very near akin to such a state of mind. His all-comprehensive mind foresaw the long series of afflictions to which his church would be exposed; he foresaw the judgments by which the sufferings of God's servants would be avenged, and he assured his disciples, though delayed, they would certainly come; and, at a time when least expected, (Luke, xvii. 20-37.) And he spake a parable (chap. xviii. 1-8.) to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint and for what, particularly, does he exhort his disciples thus to pray that God would avenge his own elect, in the punishment of their enemies, and in the redress of their grievances.-Mark what follows, (ver. 8.) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, in the aispensations of Providence, for this very purpose, of avenging the wrongs of the servants of God, shall he find faith on the earth? Shall he find an active faith in this particular promise? No, men in general will be lulled asleep. Most will have forgot the promise; and very few, indeed, even among genuine Christians, will be found praying and looking for its accomplishment as they ought.

But, however the generality may think or act, what, at this awful period, is the duty of intelligent, serious Christians? and what may naturally be expected from them? May it not be expected at such a time as this, that they will be on the watch to observe the movements of Provi

dence, and attentively compare events with God's word; and see whether there may not be some good grounds for concluding, that those scripture prophecies, which speak of the coming of the Lord, and which foretel the destruction of the Antichristian church, and of the kingdoms which give their power to the beast, are not now accomplishing, by the wars and commotions which agitate the nations, and which lay in ruins the strongest fortresses of tyranny and superstition?

The motives and principles of the men whom God may see fit to employ as the instruments of his vengeance; the justice or injustice of their measures (as theirs) has nothing to do with the conclusion. Whether they be this or that, proves nothing. The history of the past informs us that God has generally employed the worst of men to execute his judgments; and over-ruled the proud, ambitious, and ferocious, passions of nations, for the chastisement of each other; and often have the worst actions of men been over-ruled to bring about the best purposes of Providence. That which is unjust with respect to men, may be the highest justice as it relates to the divine government. For instance, the attack of the French on the papal government, might be unprovoked and unjust (I do not know that it was so), but, what Protestant is prepared to say that the papal government has not merited its fate; and, for the innocent blood which it has shed, and caused to be shed, deserved the vengeance of God and man? The attack of the French upon the Ottoman empire may be a breach of faith, and the effect of wild ambition; but what Christian, what man of justice and humanity, at all versed in the history of that monstrous tyranny, but must be constrained to acknowledge; that it deserves to be rooted from the earth; and that the heavier the vengeance which falls upon it, the more conspicuous the justice of Providence.

We must beware, then, that, whilst we reprobate the corrupt motives and principles of men, and, that whilst we execrate their unjust and violent measures, whom God may see fit to employ as his instruments, we do not arraign the equity of his proceedings. A nation may merit chastisement, and its government may deserve to perish; but they, who perform the service, may be guilty of injustice in doing it.

Passing by, then, all questions about who is right and