their's, living as we do under so much greater light, having so many superior advantages, for all of which we must render a most strict account. How exact a representation does the apostle give of us! [2 Tim. iii. 1. 5.] "This "know also, that, in the last days, perilous "times shall come. For men shall be lovers "of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce"breakers, false-accusers, incontinent, fierce, 66 ઃઃ despisers of those that are good; traitors, "heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more "than lovers of God; having a form of godli ness, but denying the power thereof." "Ex"cept we repent, we shall likewise perish."Oh! then, that the inhabitants of our land would learn righteousness! Oh that "the wicked "would forsake his way, and the unrighteous "man his thoughts; and return unto the Lord, "that He might have mercy on us, and to our "God, that He might abundantly pardon !" It is with this view, our Sovereign, following the example of ancient times, has appointed a day of public fast and humiliation:-God grant that it may be truly such! A day, " to loose "the bands of wickedness, as well as to deal our "bread to the hungry, and hide not ourselves " from "from our own flesh*." "Then shall our "light break forth as the morning, and our "health shall spring forth speedily. We shall "call, and the Lord shall answer; we shall cry, "and He shall say, Here I am. The Lord shall "guide us continually, and satisfy our soul in drought; and we shall be like a watered gar"den, and like a spring of water, whose waters "fail not t." 66 As the wickedness, so the reformation of a people, is that of the several individuals of which it is composed. We may, each of us, therefore, either increase or diminish the national calamities; either retard or hasten the restoration of former blessings. Nor let us imagine, for an instant, that our labour can be entirely in vain, even though it should fail to procure peace and plenty for our suffering country; since we shall, at the same time, be securing the eternal happiness of our own souls. Happy will it be, if the awful calls of the pre. sent alarming period,-if the weekly lectures lately established here,-if these, or any other means, should truly awaken any of the inhabitants of this town to so important a concern; *Ifa. lviii. 6, 7. · Ifa. lviii. 9, and 11. to Preached at Darlington, and alluding to the Thursday evening Lectures lately established there, to an anxious solicitude for the welfare of their country, and their own everlasting salvation! But then, in order to this, your reformation must be not partial, but complete and entire; not merely outward, but inward also; not merely that of the branches, but of the root of your sins. It must be not merely moral, but evangelical; not heathen, but christian. It must change not only the outward actions, but the will, the thoughts, the desires, the affections, the whole heart. It is represented in the Sacred Scriptures, as a complete conversion,—a turning from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God; as a new and spiritual birth; a new creation, in which old things pass away, and all things become new. They who were once darkness, become light in the Lord; and walk as children of light. They who were once under the power of Satan, taken captive by him at his will, have now a shield of faith, sufficient to quench all the fiery darts of temptation, with which he assails them. They who, with the world, lay contentedly in a course of wickedness, following the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,—now overcome the world; like their Divine Master, are not of the world; but being chosen by him. out of the world, testify of the world that the deeds deeds thereof are evil; have no longer fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. They who were once the children and worshippers of Satan, the God of this world, and performed all his impure desires, become now the adopted children of God, and worship him with an holy worship, in all the beauty of holiness;-Not with mere formality, and outward ordinances; but in spirit, and in truth. This is indeed a great and wonderful change! and far less than this will be sufficient to obtain the praise of MEN: nay, the very strictness and purity of such a life, may be the means of losing this; but nothing short of this circumcision of the heart, can obtain the praise and favour of GOD. We must adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour in all things; be holy in all manner of conversation; do all things to the glory of God, having that mind which was in Christ Jesus; being, like him, meek and lowly in heart; gentle and forgiving, even towards our very worst enemies and persecutors; in all things following his bright and perfect example. Would you wish the blessings of peace and plenty to be restored to our land? Would you wish to live under the love and favour of God-- under under his approving love? Would you wish to save your souls,-to preserve them from the consuming fire, the everlasting burnings of God's displeasure,-the fire prepared for the devil and his angels; the worm that dieth not, and the fire that is not quenched? Would you wish to dwell for ever in the presence of Ged, and of the Lamb, of holy angels and just men made perfect;-with no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, nor any more pain; but fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore? Would you wish to see God, not merely as through a glass, darkly; but face to face,---as He is,in all his brightness of majesty and glory, even as fully as the eyes of created beings, then spiritualized,--- glorified,--- powerful, --incorruptible, shall be capable of enduring his divine radiance? If these be your wishes, thus must you obtain them. Without holiness no man can truly see the Lord, even in time; far less see him, altogether, 66 as He is," in eternity. Every man that hath this hope(not a weak and tottering and fallacious hope, but a well-grounded, firmly established hope of this)---purifieth himself even as Christ is pure; is renewed daily by the Holy Ghost, in the spirit of his mind,---perfecting holiness in the *1 Cor. xv. 42, 43, fear |