ISAIAH li. 9.

Awake, awake, put on firength, O arm of the LORD: Awake as in the ancient days in the generations of old. Art not thou it that bath cut Rahab and wounded the dragon.

M

Y Brethren, we are this day called by our fovereign to the duty of folemn fafting and humiliation, and to earnest prayer for the bleffing of

God on his councils and arms. Religion and humanity confpire in urging us to a hearty compliance, especially while public affairs wear fo threatning an afpe&t. It ought alfo to awaken the attention, and increase the ferioufnefs of every particular worshipping affembly, that they are joining with fo many others in intreating deliverance from thefe national calamities, in which all are equally concerned."

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We have often, for fome years past, profeffed to humble ourselves in the fight of God, and have done it alas! with a fhameful coldness and indifference, or with an hypocrify ftill criminal. But it is remarkable, that fuch is the fituation of affairs at prefent, as hath given an alarm even to fome of the most insensible, and constrained them to confider this duty as now fomewhat more than a form. There has been for fome time paft, fuch a continuance and increase of public judgments, fuch a series of abortive projects, and broken difconcerted schemes, as makes the most obftinate and inconfiderate ftand and paufe, and ferioufly afk, Is there not a caufe?

Our fetting apart this day, and applying ourfelves to the duty of fafting and prayer, implies a confeffion of the power and providence of God.

It implies, that we believe in him, as the Almighty Creator, and righteous Governor of the world; the fupreme Difpofer of every event, and fovereign Arbiter of the fate of nations. How were it to be wifhed, that there was a just sense of this truth on the minds of all of every rank! And that, in all who are in any measure fincere on this occafion, the impreffion may not be tranfient and partial, but lafting and effectual! It fhould excite us to a holy jealoufy over ourselves, that we have fo often effayed the like duty without

any

any apparent fuccefs. "Is there unrighteoufnefs "with God? God forbid!" The fault, doubtlefs, lies in ourselves. Our fafts have not been fuch as God has chofen, and therefore he hath refused to hear our prayers.

In general, no doubt the evidence and the effect of an acceptable faft, is repentance compleated by reformation. Where this is wanting, we are juftly liable to the charge brought by the prophet Isaiah against the children of Ifrael, “Bring 66 no more vain oblations, incenfe is an abomi"nation unto me, the new moons and fabbaths, "the calling of affemblies I cannot away with, "it is iniquity, even the folemn meeting. Your "new moons, and your appointed feafts my foul "hateth, they are a trouble unto me, I am weary "to bear them. And when ye fpread forth your “ hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, << when ye make many prayers, I will not hear:

ર your hands are full of blood *." There is no queftion but the unreftrained flood of impiety which has overspread this nation, folicits divine vengeance, and prevents the efficacy even of the fincere prayers that are offered up for deliverance and mercy. But as, with respect to particular perfons, every error or defect in practice is the confequence of an erroneous or defective principle, as every vicious action proceeds from an im

* Ifa. i. 13, 14, 15.

pure heart; fo, in a national capacity, I am perfuaded, that our fafting and prayer has been fundamentally wrong, or effentially defective in itself, and therefore, has been followed by little or no fenfible fruit; or rather that impiety, which it fhould have removed, it hath only contributed to increase.

For this reafon my intention at this time is to pint out to you what is the juft and proper object of prayer for divine aid in a time of public calamity, as well as the great encouragement to its exercise. For this there is a proper foundation in the paffage of Scripture juft read in your hearing. In the former part of the chapter, the prophet had pronounced many gracious promises, of inward and fpiritual prosperity, and of outward protection and fecurity to the church, tho' furrounded and threatened, by enemies to her intereft in both refpects. He then changes the form of his difcourfe, perfonates believers, and in their name, as one of them, addreffes to God the prayer: in the text," Awake, awake, put on ftrength, "O arm of the Lord: awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old: art not thou it "that hath cut Rahab and wounded the dragon?"

The beauty and ftrength of this language, the juftnefs and force of the figures here used, it is almoft impoffible to overlook. The prophet prays

for