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Brethren! it should be so always and if we ever lived before the cross, so it would be. Our littlenesses would vanish in that presence, as the taper light before the midday sun, and our hearts would expand beneath rays which reach like those of his type "to the ends of the earth." * There is none so miserable, none so mean, none so wicked, none so distant, who should not be brought within the prayer of the Church. Thus she may reach, and most effectually, those whom she cannot reach by any other means: and thus she can, and will uphold in their strength and efficiency whatever means she devises and puts forth in their behalf. The sustained prayer of the intercessor is victory to the arms of the hosts of the Church gone forth against the powers of Satan. If she faint, they are weary, and Amalek prevails: but support the Church's arms by faith, and let her prayer go on, and God will even lengthen the day for the overthrow of her enemies." The missionary enterprise (to mention no other) had not now been comparatively in its infancy, if the Church had known, and had more used prevalent because believing prayer.

But I must not allow myself to range too far in so wide a field. I will come nearer home, and specially invite you to be much in prayer,

* Ps. xix.

+ Exod. xvii., and Josh. x. 12.

in reference to what is going forward in a neighbouring land. It is impossible to look at France at this moment without deepest interest. Considered in herself, we see a people struggling for liberties, for which indeed they had bled before, but which they had not secured, -a people forced by circumstances (I conceive) into a position, which the more thinking (if not the majority) of them have not desired, and never contemplated,-a people on the brink of convulsions, (apparently inevitable,) of the most fearful nature. Connected with their movements, the peace of Europe depends. Without ever purposing it, their acts may produce results as disastrous (probably more so) to the states around them, than those which followed the revolution of their fathers. It is impossible to look forward, without apprehension. And therefore, these circumstances call loudly for the prayers of God's people. The prayer of faith will shorten the days of tribulation, if it does not altogether avert them,* and He who said to the primitive Church, "pray that your flight be not in the winter," has thereby encouraged the Church in all ages to deprecate even particulars in approaching or bursting

storms.

But, dear brethren, if your prayers should be

* Matt. xxiv. 22.

+ Ib. 20.

offered for all men, the text also teaches us that they should be especially offered in behalf of the rulers of the earth, "for kings, and all in authority," and that for this end in particular, "that we may lead a quiet, and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty :" or as it is well expressed in one of the prayers of our own Church, (for the high court of Parliament,) that "all things may be so ordered and settled, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety may be established among us for all generations."

Brethren! our domestic peace and securitythe security of our lives and properties-the enjoyment of our personal liberties-the free exercise of our religion-the liberty of conscienceall that is valuable in social, all that is to be prized in domestic life—is dependant (under God) on the constituted authorities of the land. For an hour, wrest from government its power, and you open the door to all that is savage, to all that is horrible. From the lowest and worst of society will spring up a band of lawless ruffians, seeking nothing but the gratification of the most brutal lusts by the most fearful means. Such dregs there always are in all large populations, and nothing keeps them from being grievously injurious, but law, enforced by those who are in authority. A quiet and peaceable life we cannot have, but through good laws wisely and lawfully administered.

If you would lead such a life, if you would see peace and quiet in the land, then pray for all that are in authority.

And here, if it were suitable to do so from this place, at any length, I might well enlarge on the blessings we enjoy under just laws, and a constitution the growth of ages -the result of many a struggle on the part of our forefathers-the envy, and the admiration of the world:-a constitution under which the various estates are so admirably balanced, that no one outweighs the other. To disturb such a form of government, would be to deprive ourselves and our children of blessings, the loss of which would be incalculably grievous, and probably irreparable. Under this blessed constitution what peace and quiet may we not enjoy?— nay-have we not enjoyed?-and, moreover, what increase of peace, quietness, plenty, and happiness, might we not expect, should nothing arise from without, as we trust and believe nothing will from within, to hinder?

Again, let me advert for a moment to the advancement that has been made in so many ways, of highest value, during the last thirty years of peace. Our national burdens lightened, -capital and science going hand in hand for social improvement-education making rapid advances thousands of churches erected to the

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glory of God, and for the advantage of our increased population, through the length and breadth of the land-attention more and more directed to the bettering of the condition of the poorer classes, and that both physically and morally-great efforts (though still inadequate) made to overtake the ignorance and destitution of the dense masses in our overgrown towns and manufacturing districts :-and when I consider that these things are the results of peace, of quiet, of order, springing from good government, then I see in them so many most powerful arguments pressing on every benevolent christian mind, to pray for kings, and for all that are in authority."

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And further, when I consider that by such means, and the increased efforts made for the spread of the Gospel, the will of Christ, as stated in the conclusion of our text, is attained; and that such efforts cannot be effectively, or so effectively made, except under such happy circumstances as those of the last five and thirty years, the urgency and importance of the apostolic exhortation strikes me more and more. The spirit that has been manifested in England since the revolution in France, gives indeed every reason for hoping that the great mass of the population of this land are duly sensible of their natural advantages. May that spirit of loyalty

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