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N publications of this kind the importunity of friends bath been often pleaded, and as often difregarded. For after all ароlogies which can be made, people will exert their natural right of judging, concerning the propriety of the publication, from the performance itself. The author however requests, that his youth and inexperience, joined with the Small time ufually allotted for fuch compofitions, when they are not defigned to make their appearance in the world, may be deemed at least some excufe for any want of fentiment, or inaccuracy of expreffion that may appear. Let alfo the place where it was delivered, a fmall congregation in the country, be remembered. If af ter thefe allowances are made, and fuch others as candour will readily fuggeft, fentence of condemnation fhould be paffed, the public need not fear being put to the trouble a fecond time.

ISAIAH XXV. 9. and xliv. 23.

Lo this is our GOD, we have waited for him, and he will fave us. This is the LORD, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his falvation. Sing O ye heavens, for the LORD hath done it: fhout ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into finging ye mountains, thou foreft, and every tree therein. For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Ifrael.

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MONG the civilized part of mankind, when they have been

fuccefsful in war, or have received any remarkable national deliverances, it hath been a constant custom, to fet apart days for folemn thanksgiving to that being, whom they regarded as the governor of the univerfe. Such acknowledgments are indeed no more, than the afcribing to God that glory, which is in the highest degree reasonable and juft. For as the LORD of universal nature, and the director of all the

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the various events which occur, whatever happens, whether it refpects nations or private perfons, must be fubject to his controul. A bare permiffion therefor, is in the present cafe equal to the actually ordaining the things which come to pafs. The fame to all the purposes of fupplication or thanksgiving. For they must all be confidered as parts in the fcheme of providence; each of them the best calculated in its particular connection with others, to answer that important end which the Divine Being hath ever in view. We especially who have often waited upon GOD in our diftreffes, and fupplicated him to fave us; are under the ftrongest obligations to rejoice in that deliverance, which he hath fo wonderfully wrought out. Let us therefor at this time fummon all the powers and faculties of our minds, to affift us in raifing and animating our devotions. Let us call upon all our kindred and friends,-upon our children, our fervants, and our household,-upon all that are dependent on us, or with whom we are any way connected, to join with us in this facred fong of thanksgiving to our God, Let all ranks and orders of men among us, our inferiors, our equals, our gentry, our judges, our governors, our nobles, our princes and our king; all unite their joyful voices, and lift up their grateful hearts to him, who defendeth his people, and disappointeth

pointeth the devices of their enemies. Let our colonies and fettlements abroad, our fleets, our allies, and all our friends in every part of the earth, re-eccho the pleafing founds. And let all the people fay Amen, praise ye the LORD.

The words chofen for our text, point out feveral things, which will very properly employ our meditations at this time.

FIRST, They fhew the duty of nations, and intimate to us the practice of Ifrael when in diftrefs: viz. waiting upon GOD by prayer and fupplication.

SECONDLY, We have the refolutions which people in diftress form, of rejoicing in, and praifing GOD, if he fhould deliver them.

THIRDLY, We may obferve the happy confequences of fuch a conduct.

FOURTHLY, The Words point out, where the praise and glory of all fhould terminate. And,

FIFTHLY, They teach us the joyful effects, the exultation and triumphs, which the contemplation of thefe mercies fhould produce in our minds, engaging us to pay our most grateful thanksgivings to GoD, and to fummon all around us to join in the same delightful service.

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Each of thefe particulars are peculiarly applicable to our late and prefent national circumstances. In this view we fhall infift on them, and of each in their order.

FIRST, We fee the duty of nations, and the practice of Ifrael of old when in distress: waiting upon God by prayer and fuppli

cation.

Calamities have frequently a good effect on the minds, both of private perfons and nations. They teach them to confider that Being, whofe agency and providence they were too apt to forget in profperity. Haughty finners are frequently brought by fuch methods to acknowledge, that there is one greater than they. The proud and fcornful lofe their arrogance, and attend more than ufual to their focial dependences and connections. Even the most inconfiderate are forced to own the propriety of those sentiments, and that conduct by which the religious man is diftinguifhed. Few, if any, are fo infenfible, as to remain unmoved in times of general calamity. At fuch times a ftrong feeling of our dependences and our wants, engageth all to join in the common. fupplications to that Being, who regardeth the crying of his fervants. To whom indeed can creatures more properly address themselves, than to their merciful creator? Children

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