I believe prayer was no less efficacious, towards the end of the year 1792. I know many people treated the idea of danger at that time as chimerical, because the Lord was pleased to avert it. But I hope we have not quite forgotten the language we heard, and the persons we daily met with in the street, the many daring cabals which were held in this city, and the threatenings which were written in large characters, upon the walls of our houses, at almost every corner. But the hearts of men were turned like the tide, in a critical moment. Then I think the interposition of the Lord was evident. Then we had a repeated proof that he hears and answers prayer.

The present likewise is a very important crisis. All that is dear to us, as men, as Britons, as Christians, is threatened. Our enemies are inveterate and enraged. Our sins testify against us. But if we humble ourselves before God, forsake our sins, and unite in supplications for mercy, who can tell, but he may be entreated to give us that help which it would be in vain to expect from man? Yea, we have encouragement to hope, that "he "will be for us," and then none can prevail against us.* But without his blessing, our most powerful efforts, and best concerted undertakings, cannot succeed.

You, who have access to the throne of grace, whose hearts are concerned for the glory of God, and who lament not only the temporal calamities attendant upon war, but the many thousands of souls who are yearly precipitated by it into an eternal, unchangeable state, -you, I trust, will show yourselves true friends to your country, by bearing your testimony, and exerting

* Rom. viii, 31.

your influence against sin, the procuring cause of all our sorrows; and by standing in the breach, and pleading with God for mercy, in behalf of yourselves, and of the nation. If ten persons, thus disposed, had been found even in Sodom, it would have escaped destruction.*

IV. There may be some persons in this assembly, who are little concerned for their own sins, and are, of course, incapable of taking a proper part in the service of the day. Yet I am glad that you are here; I pity you, I warn you. If you should live to see a time of public distress, what will you do? To whom will you look, or whither will you flee for help? All that is dear to you may be torn from you, or you from it.—Or if it please God to prolong our tranquillity, you are liable to many heavy calamities in private life. And if you should be exempted from these, death is inevitable, and may be near. My heart wishes you the possession of those principles which would support you in all the changes of life, and make your dying pillow comfortable. Are you unwilling to be happy? Or can you be happy too soon? Many persons are now looking upon you, who once were as you are now. And I doubt not, they are praying that you may be as they now are. Try to pray for yourself; our God is assuredly in the midst of us. His gracious ear is attentive to every supplicant. Seek him while he is to be found. Jesus died for sinners, and he has said, "Him that cometh to me, I will "in no wise cast out." He is likewise the author of that faith, by which alone you can come rightly to him. If you ask it of him, he will give it you; if you seek it, in the means of his appointment,

* Gen. xviii. 32.

↑ John, vi. 37.

you shall assuredly find.* If you refuse this, there remaineth no other sacrifice for sin. If you are not saved by faith in his blood, you are lost for ever." Oh! kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, if his wrath be kindled, yea "but a little. Blessed are all they that put their "trust in him!"‡

66

Matt. vii. 7.

↑ Heb. x. 26, 27.

↑ Psalm, ii. 12.

MOTIVES TO HUMILIATION AND PRAISE:

A SERMON

PREACHED IN THE

PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MARY WOOLNOTH,

ON DECEMBER 19, 1797,

The Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for our late Naval Victories.

Rejoice with trembling.-PSALM, ii. 11.

And after all that is come upon us, for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass; seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a deliverance as this: should we again break thy commandments?-EZRA, ix. 13.

ADVERTISEMENT.

No other apology is offered for this publication, than the importance of the subject.

Nor is it an exact copy of what was delivered from the pulpit. Had the preacher previously designed to print his sermon, he would have written it; but the method and leading sentiments in both are the same. A few periods have probably escaped recollection, and some of the topics may be a little more amplified.

It was not till after the Thanksgiving-day, that the preacher, considering himself as standing upon the verge of an eternal state, thought it might not be improper to avail himself of the occasion, to attempt at least, in a more public manner, to rouse the careless to a serious consideration of the awful state of the times; and to offer some hints for the consolation and encouragement of those whose eyes affect their hearts, and who are continually supplicating mercy for themselves and their fellow sinners.

May our great God and Saviour make every reader of this feeble testimony, wise unto salvation! Amen.

* Lam, iii. 51.

Coleman-street Buildings,

January 8, 1798.

JOHN NEWTON.