are punishments threatened and executed by far the most destructive of the two. by God on account of iniquity. Sin, it has TheJewish nation,to whom the words of our been remarked, is a common word, a little text were first addressed, were the subjects word, and some imagine there is little of judgments of both kinds at different times. harm in it. But sin is the common source Often did the judgments of God, in the of all suffering and misery. It was sin that shape of external calamities, war, famine, caused hell to be constructed, and cast pestilence, captivity,-sweep and desolate down the angels who sinned into "bottom-their land. And the spiritual visitations less perdition." It is sin which is the cause of heaven were also poured out upon them. of all the calamities that have desolated For a long period God bore with them; but, our world, and destroyed our race from at length, in the time of the Saviour, he exeage to age. It is sin which will inflame the cuted upon them those judgments which burnings of Tophet, and embitter the pangs he had threatened by the mouth of Isaiah of the wretched for ever and ever. And the prophet. He gave them eyes that they sin is necessarily the cause, and the sole should not see, ears that they should not cause, of all the judgments of the Lord, hear, and hearts that they should not be understood as we have explained the converted and healed. And now we see term. Unless men were sinners they that they are lying under the extreme could not be sufferers; for infinite good judgments of heaven-are bearing the ness cannot inflict pain unnecessarily upon burden of the anger of God—and are an the innocent being, and perfect justice object of fear and terror to themselves cannot oppress, or even annoy an unof and all about them-exhibiting, in their fending person. Sin, therefore, is the history, perhaps, more of the severity and cause, the sole cause, of the sufferings of goodness of God than were ever displayed a mortal creature. Accordingly, we find in the history of any one people on the it testified in Scripture, that the wages of face of the earth,—of his goodness in their sin is death; and sin, by a most emphatic singular protection and long continued expression, is termed “ the sting of death." | privileges, and of his severity in the divine Nor is the following declaration less in judgments that have overtaken and are accordance with reason, than agreeable to now oppressing them. the other portions of divine revelation, The judgments of the Lord will ordin"By one man sin entered into the world, arily manifest themselves in such a way and death by sin, and so death has passed as to make themselves known to mankind. upon all men, for that all have sinned." God Who is there that cannot recognise the is a God of infinite benignity-" he doth not anger of the Lord in war, famine, and afflict willingly, nor grieve (without cause) pestilence, especially when these are exthe children of men.' "He delighteth in ceedingly aggravated? And oft-times there di mercy." Judgment is his strange act- are such circumstances attending afflictions judgment is his strange work." It is that as demonstrate, to the reasoning mind as to which the benignity of his nature ren-well as to the pious spirit, that they are dered him originally averse, which he the judgments of God, and are to be traced the comparatively seldom executes, and which to him. When war is long continued, is, as it were, wrested from him by the

th

claims of his government, and the crimes of his creatures.

bloody and desolating-when famine breaks forth, in consequence of the extraordinary suspension of the influence of heaven, or Of these penal visitations of God, called of the agency of some terrible physical judgments, there are two general classes | phenomena-when pestilence arises unspiritual and temporal. The latter, as you expectedly, when it marches from afar, will at once infer, are those inflicted on when it comes forward, stalking in its terthe outward state of man, destroying his rible might as an armed man, and may be property, injuring his connections, affect- traced in its progress by the ravages it ing his worldly interests. The former, commits; when it overleaps boundaries, namely spiritual judgments, affect his and despises precautions; when it cannot more intimate concerns, withering his be anticipated in its approach, or arrested holy enjoyments, wasting his religious in its career; when, above all maladies, it privileges, injuring his eternal interests-proves itself the most frightful and the and though unheard, unseen, and oft-times | most fatal; when it bears upon itself the unfeared, they are the most dreadful, and characters of divine sovereignty legibly

impressed—in these circumstances, where
is the man that may not recognise the
agency of a God?
And should not every
reflecting observer exclaim, as even the
magicians of Egypt did, when their en-
chantments failed them, and the plagues
began to desolate their land-" This is the
finger of God?" It is true, there are, as you
will infer there must be, calamities which,
though most grievous in themselves, are
not yet palpable to sense, and may not
be recognised by men at all. We refer
to spiritual judgments. These weave
their own chains, and forge their own
fetters. They bring their own blindness
and insensibility with them. They inflate
pride, stimulate perversity, and instigate
to rebellion against the Lord. The men
who fall under these judgments are not
sensible of them, and others may not sus-
pect them at all. Never was the nation
of Israel more proud and impenitent than
when they were sore afflicted during the
days of our Lord, and never were their
privileges greater than at that period, or
their danger more imminent.

if he had judged merely by appearances, and had not known the characters of these individuals, and the designs of the Almighty, have at once pronounced that the former was the object of the infliction of heaven, and the latter of the favour of Almighty God? Yet the reverse was the truth. And ought not all of us to remember, that this was the very error into which the friends of Job fell? Viewing the sore and successive calamities which visited this man ofGod,wasted his substance, and oppressed his spirits-viewing his body covered by loathsome sores, and his mind afflicted by perplexing troubles, they rashly reproved him, and argued that he was a very wicked man, and that these were the infallible tokens of the anger of Almighty God against him?

After all, with these two exceptions of personal calamities and spiritual judgments, the former containing much that is unknown, and the latter not exhibiting themselves to view, we may know that there are visitations of the Almighty which are fitted to make themselves known to men, and which we ought, therefore, to observe and improve. That the children of Israel did not so, is the very crimé charged upou them in our text. They did not know the judgments of the Lord: and this leads us, in the second place, to explain, as we proposed, the nature of the charge that is here brought against the children of Israel, or to show you what it is not to know the judgments of the Lord.

And, as certain judgments may not be observed, so others may be mistaken. We refer now to the calamities which are poured down by God upon individuals. There is much modesty needed in the interpretation of judgment here. These calamities, it is true, may be judgments, and, doubtless, often are so; but when the causes are unknown-when the designs of the Almighty are not understood--when the day of grace is not yet closed-when Now, in the first place, and most obvi the call of the gospel is addressed to men ously, not to know the judgments of the generally-there is room for much he- Lord, is not to observe or remark them at sitation in ascribing any personal in-all. We might think this was altogether fiction to the vengeance of God, and impossible. What! it might be said, has a considering it as a judgment of heaven. man eyes, when the judgment of God is You know Christ, our Saviour, has en- sweeping the country, and does he not joined this modesty of interpretation by perceive it! Has a man ears, and will he the following question, and the illustration not hear the sound of the chariots of the accompanying it. Think you, said he, that Almighty rushing to judgment, the rattling "the eighteen men upon whom the tower of the arrows in the quiver of the Lord of in Siloam fell, were sinners above all men Hosts, as he marcheth through the land in that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay; indignation! Has he feelings, and will not but except ye repent ye shall all likewise his very sensibilities, while they induce perish." Who, my brethren, that had seen, him to sympathise with men amid these on the one side, Lazarus lying on the calamities, dispose him also to adore the ground, clothed in rags, attended only by majesty of heaven, and intercede for the the dogs, full of sores, and desiring to be sufferers! These are natural conclusions, fed on the crumbs which fell from the and we might think that the question table; and, on the other side, the rich could be always answered in the affirmaman, clothed in purple and fine linen, and tive. But it cannot be so. Many are too faring sumptuously every day, would not, deaf to hear the loudest voice of Almighty

God-too blind to see, what the prophet of those things which affect most deeply aptly calls, "his glittering spear." Even the life and comforts and interests of man. at present, how many are insensible to the Yet do we not hear men oft-times speaking whole train of that calamity by which of every cause except the great first cause? others are agitated! How many have no Appealing to every influence except his infears amid the general alarm, and the fright- terposition?-availing themselves of every ful tokens of the Lord's anger gone forth resource except the last and best refuge? against us! How many are quite insensible Do we not perceive them tracing, with to the visitation, and unfeeling amid the af- anxious care, the history and progress of flictions which have befallen others! They the disease; but never adverting to the are too busy or too selfish-too much en- hand that inflicted it-invoking every hu grossed with a present evil world-too man aid, and forgetting Jehovah-looking infidel, perhaps, in sentiment-and too to the physicians, and not to the Lord? atheistical in feeling, to be accessible to Unquestionably this is at once preposterous any of these emotions or exercises! Nor and irrational. It is a bias, not less unis this temper confined alone to the un-philosophical than irreligious. Yet it has thinking multitude. It may be found been so in every age. The people of God, among those who conceive themselves the in ancient times, amid the most direful children of wisdom, and are, generally calamities inflicted upon them, when they speaking, men of sagacity and observation. had provoked the Lord by the greatest So it was at least in ancient times. "Ye hypocrites," said our Lord to those who deemed themselves men of wisdom, "Ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, why in your selves judge ye not what is right?" And it is recorded in the book of Jeremiah, "The stork knoweth her appointed time, and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow observe the time of their coming, but my people know not the judgments of the Lord."

crimes, and when he was about to punish them in the severest manner," said, the Lord seeth us not-the Lord has forsaken the earth." And even at an earlier period, you find the same sad ungodly spirit working among that people. “ I, saith the Lord, will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees-that say in their heart the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil." And, in a message by the Prophet Amos, which seems as though it were addressed to us, do we not read this declaration-" Shall the trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid ?— Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it ?" And, adds he, “All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us." Nor can we fail to remark, that, even in our time, there were

2dly, We may be chargeable with not knowing the judgments of the Lord, if we do not recognise them as his operations. As there are men who do not know the judgments of God at all, so there are others who remark the calamities, and yet do not trace them up to their proper source. It is sad to think by how many arts the deceitful and atheistical heart found in the high court of our country, men

contrives to escape from the best instruc- who, in the midst of a people professing tions, and to evade the deepest and most Christianity, would have struck out from salutary impressions. Accordingly, you the act of their legislature all the recogniwill see many (and scientific and observ- tion of the sovereign will and supreme ing men are by no means excluded) who agency of God, in reference to that disease will remark the calamities, who will note which has invaded our country, is raging the signs of the times, who will, perhaps, in several parts of it, and is operating awbe speculating about what is to be done, fully in the midst of our population? O yet will not observe the hand, or recog- how much more pious and promising nise the interposition, or adore the majesty would it be, if we, like the men of Issachar, of God, in these dispensations. And this" had understanding of the signs of the is not only strange, but irrational; for, if times and what we ought to do!" there be a God that governs the earth, as 3dly, We shall be chargeable with the all nature cries aloud there is, then he must take charge of all elements, and of all nature and its operations, and especially

crime of not knowing the judgments of God, if we do not revere them and stand in awe of them. There are certain disposi

Yet, are there not found mockers in the midst of our community,-men who can make themselves merry with the precau tions of the prudent; with the alarms of the fearful; and even with the devotions of the pious?

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tions and feelings, my friends, that correspond with the objects with which we are conversant, and the visitations we contemplate. If we are men, the very sense of humanity will dispose us to feel for those who are in affliction. If we are friends, there is a deep and tender sympathy, 4thly, and lastly, We shall, above all, be which will incline us to enter warmly into chargeable with not knowing the judge their concerns, and especially to commis-ments of the Lord, if we do not improve erate their painful feelings. If we are them experimentally and practically. citizens, we are bound, by the law of God In Scripture, knowledge is frequently and man, to seek the peace and prosperity put for practice: "O," cries Moses, "that and health of those among whom God has they were wise, that they understood this, caused us to sojourn. If we are mercan- that they would consider their latter end." tile and labouring men, we ought to bless " O, (exclaims a greater far than Moses, God for those openings of providence, when he wept over Jerusalem and her tha which give us the prospect of fair remu- coming woes,) if thou hadst known, even neration for our wealth or industry. thou, at least in this thy day, the things And, in like manner, if we are religious which belong to thy peace: but now they men, our feelings ought to correspond not are hid from thine eyes." only with the ordinances of religion in which we may be engaged, but with the aspects and events of providence, as they bear the characters of Deity impressed upon them, announce his will, and affect our interests. If these dispensations be merciful, we ought to feel that they claim our gratitude, and call for our prayers. If, on the other hand, they be afflicting and bereaving, they demand our patience, submission, and resignation; and we ought to say, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." And, in the midst of those terrible things which God may do, our feeling should be that of solemn reverence; we should stand in awe of the majesty of the Lord God. Now, this is the spirit, which the wisest and best of men have indulged in every age. "When I heard this," says Habakkuk, " my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day trouble." And, says the Psalmist, (Psalm 119th,) obviously contemplating judgment in the sense we have ascribed to it," My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments." And O, my brethren, should we not, amid calamitous times, "seek righteousness and seek meekness; that we may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger"? I appeal to your spirit of devotion, nay, to your sense of decorum, is not a light spirit altogether unfitted to such solemn visitations? And of mockery, what shall we say, but that it is the very madness of impiety, equally insane and atheistical?

What the improvement is, that we should make of public calamities, you do not need, I trust, in general, to be informed. They should lead us to abasement and resign tion to the will of God; to repentanc and amendment of life, to embrace the great salvation, and, by betaking ourselves to the atonement through the death of Christ, and the grace of God reigning by his righteousness, to prepare ourselves for whatever may befall us, and flee from the wrath to come. You will recognise the general source of your duties as indicated in such passages as the following. the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee." "When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." "Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." "I will tell whom you ought to fear, fear not them that kill the body, and, after that, have no more that they can do But fear him, which, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him." "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." "The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their soul to him, as unto a faithful Creator.”

And

These duties are, it is obvious, powerfully impressed on us at present, and i

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In the second place, this subject suggests to us the extreme folly of mankind. How astonishing is it, when God cometh forth out of his place to inflict war, or famine, or pestilence, that men should not see the hand, or hearken to the voice of the Lord? That the men, who, it may be, boast

nay anticipate the language of many here, anger? Is there one among us who dare who would say, These things will we do, wipe his mouth, and pronounce himself f God enable us. But, O how little do we innocent? No: all of us have had a deep know what is in our hearts! These things hand in the provocation. Let us then ave not always been done. Yea, has humble ourselves before the Lord. Let us ot the reverse been the case? I appeal to repent ourselves as it were in the dust, and acts. Have you not heard of him, who in ashes, crying each, What have I done? ecklessly laughed amid the howlings of he tempest, which might have whelmed im in the deep!-have you not heard of hose who have been busy intoxicating hemselves when the vessel was founderng, and about to sink!-have you not seen nen, who, perhaps have made themselves nerry with the calamities of others,-yea, of observation and understanding, should s hoards of savages pounce on a wreck hat has been cast on their coasts, and as hieves and evil doers avail themselves of conflagration or of an execution to pursue heir nefarious occupation-have you not known regardless beings fasten upon the poil of the wretched and helpless, drench hemselves in intoxicating liquors amid he ravages of disease, which seizes on the lissolute as its chosen victims, and, in the worst of times, work iniquity with increased greediness! We have read, that those whom God means to destroy, he first distracts, and this may be seen verified in too many indubitable instances. But there is one great fact in history, which illustrates this truth the most awfully. In the final sack of Jerusalem, when all were suffering, and every effort should have been made for mutual help, they were found slaying one another, and by their dissensions ensuring, as well as aggravating their destruction.

not mark the dispensation at all;-that men, with such striking and awful things before them, should not trace them up to the hand of God-should have no suitable feelings in regard to them-should feel no concern to improve them. And these judgments are the last lessons of God. If a man will not be taught by great and terrible calamities, by what else will he be taught?

In the third place, this subject directs our attention to the grace-the astonishing grace of God. The human family, almost since the beginning, have been the children of corruption and of crime; and, during that long period which has elapsed since the origin of our world, trespasses have been accumulating in a fearful ratio; and the guilt of man has been unspeakably aggravated. But he has, all along, pitied and spared. Here then, are involved amazing views of the divine mercy. As Thus, my friends, have I spoken to you, for ourselves, have we not profaned God's of these two things-of the judgments of ordinances and despised his judgments! Almighty God, and of the sin of not know- If so, should we not expect, that God ing them. As to the latter, we have would come out of his place to punish shown, that not to know them, is not to us, every one for his iniquities! Should observe them all, or not to recognise you not expect, that judgment would not them as the operations of God, or not to be "his strange work;" but his conrevere the majesty of heaven in them, or not to improve them for the purpose of amendment of life, or the salvation of the soul. Now what general practical views may be deduced from this subject?

In the first place, you may see crime is the cause of all our calamities, and of all the judgments of God. If then, we suffer, let us at once conclude that we are sinners; and if we suffer much, that we are great sinners. And, I ask you, have not we, and our fathers, and our kings, and our princes, and the children of our people, sinned and provoked the Lord greatly to

tinual employment; and that he would have been still sweeping our land with calamity from age to age. And, if our nation has been distinguished, like that of Israel, above other nations, as it certainly has been, ought we not to dread that we should be distinguished also with the judgments of Almighty God-" For we are a people laden with iniquity: our land is full of sin against the Holy One of Israel." Yet, behold his grace! Amid all this defection, he waiteth to be gracious

amid all our fearful, and aggravated, and accumulated iniquities, he is ready to