"jealous for the Lord of hosts." They feel their obligations to him, and know he well deserves to reign in every heart. But when, on the contrary they see almost every one in a conspiracy against him, despising him to his face, trampling upon his laws, rejecting his authority, and abusing his patience; their eyes affect their hearts. What man of sensibility could brook to see every one about him contriving how to affront and injure the person whom he most loved? Now the Lord is the believer's best friend, the beloved of his soul; and therefore he is grieved and troubled when he "beholds "the transgressors."

This emotion is likewise heightened by compassion to souls. Grace gives some view of the evil of sin, the dreadfulness of the wrath of God, and the vast importance of that word ETERNITY. Thus instructed in the sanctuary of God, they would be stocks and stones, were they capable of beholding sinners rushing upon destruction without being grieved for them. But they cannot bear it. They cannot but give and repeat a faithful warning though they have little reason to expect any better return than scorn and ill-treatment, for what the world accounts an impertinent officious

ness.

But who then are believers? Who are thus on "the Lord's side?" If these sentiments are common and radical to all who are born of God, can we make no abatement? or must we unchristian perhaps the greater part of professors at this time? for it is too evident, that many who bear the naine of gospel-professors, discover but little of this concern. In general, I think, this subject affords no improper test for the trial of our spirits. The effects of grace, in similar circumstances, are uniform; but if any, who think themselves possessors af it, feel no grief for the aboundings of sin, and

the obstinacy of sinners, they differ from the saints recorded both in the Old and New Testament; and it will be their wisdom to examine and take heed lest they be deceived. It is easy to call Christ, Lord, Lord; but a criminal lukewarmness of spirit, where his cause, honour, and gospel are in question, will one day meet with an awful rebuke, and be treated, in those who make mention of his name, as high treason against his person and govern

ment.

But if we allow, that, through the contagion of the times, and the power of Satan, it is possible for true Christians to sink into this indifference, and for the wise, as well as the foolish virgins to sleep, when they should be watching unto prayer; even these have much to fear, lest they should largely participate in the sufferings which the provocations they connive at have a direct tendency to bring upon a sinful people. When national sins draw down national judgements, the Lord has given us a hope, that he will fix a mark of protection upon them who sigh and mourn in secret before him, for the evils which they are unable to prevent. To these he will be a sanctuary; he will either preserve them unhurt in the midst of surrounding calamities, or he will support them with consolations superior to all their troubles, when the hearts of others are shaken like. leaves in a storm. But none have reason to expect to be thus privileged, who have not a heart given them to lament their own sins, and the sins of those among whom they live.

Surely the Lord has a controversy with this land; and there hardly can a period be assigned in the annals of ages, when it was more expedient, or seasonable, for those who fear him, to stir up each other to humiliation and prayer, than at present. What is commonly called our national debt, is swelled to an enormous greatness. It may be quick

ly expressed in figures; but a person must be something versed in calculation, to form a tolerable idea of accumulated millions. But what arithmetic is sufficient to compute the immensity of our national debt in a spiritual sense? or, in other words, the amount of our national sins? The spirit of infidelity, which for a time distinguished, comparatively, a few, and, like a river, was restrained within narrow bounds, has of late years broken down its banks and deluged the land. This wide-spreading evil has, in innumerable instances, as might be expected, emboldened the natural heart against the fear of God, hardened it to an insensibility of moral obligation, and strengthened its prejudices against the gospel. The consequence has been, that profligate wickedness is become almost as universal as the air we breathe; and is practised with little more reserve or secresy than the transactions of common business, except in such instances as would subject the offender to the penalty of human laws. O the unspeakable patience of God! The multiplied instances of impiety, blasphemy, cruelty, adultery, villany, and abominations, not to be thought of without horror, under which this land groans, are only known to him who knoweth all things. There are few sins which imply greater contempt of God, or a more obdurate state of mind in the offender, than perjury; yet the guilt of it is so little regarded, and temptations to it so very frequent, that perhaps I do not go too far in supposing, there are more deliberate acts of perjury committed amongst us, than among all the rest of mankind taken together. Though some of the Roman poets and historians have given very dark pictures of the times they lived in, their worst descriptions of this kind would hardly be found exaggerated, if applied to our own. But what are the sins of Heathens, if compared with the like evils,

perpetrated in a land bearing the name of Christian, favoured with the word of God, the light of the gospel, and enjoying the blessings of civil and religious liberty and peace, in a higher degree, and for a longer continuance, than was afforded to any people of whose history we have heard?

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The state of the churches of Christ at this time affords likewise ample cause for humiliation and grief. The formality, conformity to the world, the want of love, the intemperate, and unprofitable contentions, which prevail among us, show how faintly the power of the gospel is felt, even by many who profess to have embraced it. The true and undefiled doctrine of Jesus is not only opposed by its declared enemies, but wounded and dishonoured in the house of its friends. And though the sins of those who avow subjection to the institutions of Christ, may not have so gross a stamp of profligacy and immorality, as of those who set him openly at defiance; yet they have, in some respects, an aggravation, of which the others are notcapable; as being committed against clearer light, and peculiar acknowledged obligations. From the consideration of both taken together, who, that has a spark of seriousness and attention, and that has learned from Scripture and history the sure connexion between sin and trouble, can forbear trembling at that alarming question, so often proposed to the consciences of ungrateful Israel of old, "Shall not I VISIT for these things? saith the "Lord and shall not my soul be AVENGED on "such a nation as this?" especially when we see the dispensations of God's providence so awfully corresponding with the threatenings in his word.

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How much is it to be desired, then, that all who truly fear the Lord, instead of wasting their time,

in useless squabbles, may unite in earnest prayer ; and, with deep compunction of heart, bemoan those evils, which, unless repented of and forsaken, may bring upon us, as a people, such distress as neither we, nor our fathers have known! If he is pleased thus to give us a heart to seek him, he will yet be found of us; but if, when his hand is lifted up, we cannot, or will not see, nor regard the signs of the times, there is great reason to fear, that our case is deplorable indeed.

A few, however, there will be, who will lay these things suitably to heart; and whom the Lord will favour and spare, as a man spareth his only son that serveth him. That you and I may be of this happy number, is the sincere prayer of, &c.

LETTER XL.

A Word to Professors in Trade.

Dear Sir,

T is suspected (or rather it is too certainly known), that, among those who are deemed gospel-professors, there are some persons who allow themselves in the practice of dealing in prohibited, uncustomed, or (as the common phrase is) smuggled goods, to the prejudice of the public revenue, and the detriment of the fair trader.

The decisions of the word of God, upon this point, are so plain and determinate, that it is rather difficult to conceive how a sincere mind can either overlook or mistake them. The same authority which forbids us to commit adultery, or murder, requires us to render unto Cæsar the things "that are Cæsar's ;" to render unto all their dues;