horror by his curses and blasphemies ?—had David, I say, such an one to meet ? and need I attempt to PROVE to you that we are in similar circumstances ?

Proofs of facts are impertinent and absurd, while every man is trembling and smarting under their consequences. This congregation can bear witness, that political discussion of every kind is a stranger to this pulpit. It is consecrated to the higher concerns of eternity. “Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Such strife shall have no consideration here, even on special occasions : nor shall I be intimidated by a term now so often misapplied. But, resolutely as we avoid politics, may we not consider FACTS ?-facts, which involve all that is dear?-all that is sacred ?

And what facts could I not produce? How closely could I run the parallel, between the enemy of Israel and the enemy of Europe ? Did I say, what facts could not I produce? What facts could not every one of you produce? Who is such a stranger in Jerusalem, that he knoweth not these things ? The principles and practices of our enemy have not only made

the ears of every one that heareth them to tingle, but will almost induce posterity to question whether the history of our times be a fact or a romance.

Tell me not now what errors, in the high or the low, have accelerated the occasion. Who needs to be told, that a course of sin and error is the history of fallen man ?--that, when national sins arise to a certain height (especially under great privileges) national judgments will follow ?—and that our errors are part of the punishment of our sins ? The state of Israel proved it then, and the state of Europe proves

it now; ‘for sin is a reproach to any people. But we are bound, as Citizens and as Christians, wisely to meet existing circumstances, as well as to deplore their causes. We are bound to regard the danger and the duties of the times in which we live: and we have a bright ex

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ample* before us, in the conduct of David, who while he knew the cause, aimed to repel the effects. If, therefore, citizens now stand forth in arms against a spirit of universal depredation; if ministers now stand up, and are valiant for the truth against a dissolution of all principles, civil and sacred—What have we now done? Is there not a cause ?'

Still some will object.—More easy, indeed, is it to invent invidious objections with Eliab, than to feel a holy indignation with David. It is more easy to stand still, and say, "Why camest thou hither? I know thy pride,' &c. than to take a sling and a stone, and make what efforts we can against an impending danger. It is still more easy to dart out a scornful and exasperating insinuation, than to meet it, like David, with recollection, and reply in words of truth and soberness.'

It has been objected, that war is inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity; and arms still more incon

; sistent, when found in the hands of private citizens. Wars of ambition or aggrandisement, of caprice or revenge, are certainly opposed to the spirit of Christianity, and he that thus takes the sword,' may expect to perish by the sword. If no other evil at

'' tend his undertaking, the very principle on which he proceeds is evil. I am ready to declare with a late ingenious writer,f that “ If Christian Nations were nations of Christians, all war would be impossible and unknown amongst them."

But this question seems scarcely to come before us on the present occasion. I am. now, not even contemplating, much less defending, what I must deplore both as the sin and the

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you meditate no violence: you join hands to avert it. You foment no such wars: you recoil at them. War brings nothing before you but danger, and labour, and loss. Why then are you found in arms ? I can confidently answer for you, It is merely and entirely to keep Peace. It is to defend your King and Country;

. to perserve Order; to maintain your Liberty, your Property, your Lives, and your Religion. It is, that your families may enjoy quiet at home; that I may, in quiet, meet this attentive congregation on the Sabbath; that we may have a building remain, in which God may be worshipped, and man may be taught the way of salvation. In a word, while outrage is only waiting for an occasion, you are found watching to suppress it.

Who then dwells on War! I see nothing before me but officers of the Peace:-Volunteers for Order : Citizens banded together for mutual Defence; as men who can depend on one another, and as having property and principles to defend. Who speaks of hostility? I hear you saying, “We will oppose it under every pretence. We are sworn enemies to disturbance: and are resolved to bear the toil and cost of making a stand against invasion, against insurrection, against plunder, against murder, against sacrilege." I hear you saying, “We have seen what has been transacted and is still transacting on the continent; what has reached and has already laid waste part of our Sister Kingdom; what is attempted even in our own-and shall we sit still while mischief is on the wing ? Is it any thing but mischief that we aim to resist? Are we not now legally commissioned to resist it? Do not EXTRAORDINARY OCCASIONS NARY EXERTIONS ? What then have we done, that we ought not to have done, on the present occasion? Is THERE NOT A CAUSE ?"

There certainly is. Were I, indeed, to observe the principle upon which you now proceed, lost in a spirit

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of contention; or debased by habits of intemperance, profanation of the Sabbath, or by any other modes of dishonouring that religion which you unite to defend ; no one, I trust, would be found more ready to reprobate the conduct or lament the evil : but on the contrary, while your object is rightly pursued, as a Minister of the Gospel of Peace I must be glad of such an union of effort to preserve it. I am glad to see the nation at length roused to a sense of its danger: I hail it as awake; as wise to foresee the evil, and active to preventits approach.

Nor is such precaution and girding of ourselves inconsistent with the purest and most absolute dependance on divine preservation, or any precept of revelation when rightly understood. It is the enthusiast alone, who expects the end, while he neglects the

ABRAHAM believed God: but, on a proper occasion, 'he armed his trained servants born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen;' and, after recovering his brother, was met on his return and blessed by Melchizedec. JACOB wrestled with God for deliverance from a cruel avenger: but still planned, with as much policy as if he had never prayed. DAVID was wise in not trusting to his bow: but did he throw it away? He resolved not to trust in chariots or in horses: but did he destroy them?

But you are men engaged in business—not more so than NEHEMIAH. He was a man of business, and tells us how he conducted it in the midst of enemies. “They conspired all of them together,' says he, to come and fight against Jerusalem. Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night. I even set the people, after their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the

people, Be ye not afraid of them: remember the Lord which is great and terrible, and fight for your breth

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ren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. He also tells us, that every one, with

, one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he, that sounded the trumpet, was by me.' In this way he could appeal to God, and plead, “Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.'

I therefore repeat it, it is not the believer, but the enthusiast, who expects the end while he neglects the

The Apostle, when shipwrecked, was assured that no life should be lost; yet when he saw those men deserting the ship who were proper to secure it, he warned the Centurion, 'Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved.'

It has been objected, "What if, in the event, a man should fall by my hand ?" Would to God such a Christian sensibility were more prevalent through Europe! It would stop many a vain-glorious enterprise. It would wrest the sword from many a rash hand, and turn it into a ploughshare.

But that our conscience may be enlightened well as tender, we should consider, that the same Scriptures which teach us meekness, in that beautiful hyperbole, "unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; teach us also to regard the interests of society, and the governments under which we live --governments appointed of God ‘for the punishment of evil doers,' as well as ‘for the praise of them that do well. It ought to be no question with you as Christians, whether you would save the invader of your peace; but, it may be a question with you, as citizens legally appointed to maintain it, whether, all things considered, you can. We are bound to pray for an enemy; to do him good for evil; and to try to save him, if possible from the pit which he is digging: but the law of love, which seeks his good, must not