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Danger announced, and Deliverance ſought from
God : or the Condućf of JehoshAPHAT and
his People, exemplified in Britain and
her King.

S E R M ON,
PREACH E D To THE

*CONGREGATION of PROTESTANT DISSENTERs,

- ass 1. E. D. *

On WEDNESDAY, 0āober, 19th, 1803,

*N*PHHe

... • 9

REING THE DAY APPo1NTED BY HIS MAJESTY FoR

A GENERAL FAST.

/
BY GEORGE LAM BERT. "

1publiſbet bp beſitt.
—-Gººse

HULL;
PRINTED BY J. FERRABY ; sold BY T. williams,
STATIONERS’-courT, LONDON ;
AND THE BOOKSE L LERS IN H U LL.

##########
18o3.
--- ***
-
 PR E F.4 CE.
Nothing could be more remote
from the view of the Author, both in compoſing.
and delivering the following diſcourſe, than
that public appearance it now makes. In com
pliance with the requeſt of an affºliomate feo
ple, who, for more than four and thirty years,
have made it their uniform ſtudy and aim, to
render their Miniſter happy and comfortable ;
this diſcourſe is now put not only into their
hands, but probably into the hands of others,
who would never have heard of it. Its prima
ry deſign was to promote theſe two things—Hu
mility before God, and Hope in him ; and
$f theſe diſpoſitions were not only promoted by its
delivery from the pulpit, but may now be more
widely diffuſed by means of its publication, the
Author's end is gained. If he may be permitted
to judge, from the fixed attention, and ſerious
deportment, which pervaded that aſſembly to
which he miniſtered, and two others, with
which, he afterwards united in worſhip on the
laſt Faſt : he flatters himſelf there was an unity
of ſpirit, and an ardour of devotion, more than
- a 2 wfual
 ( iv. )
uſual on ſuch occaſions. He feels himſelf pe.
culiarly happy alſo, not only in noticing but
applauding that truly chriftian ſpirit, which
many eſted itſelf in the public form of prayer
drawn up for the ſervice of that day. The fol
lowing petitions, have his moſt cordial Amen,
“Give us all grace to put away from us
* all rancor of religious diffenſion, that they
“ who agree in the effentuals of our moſt holy
faith, and look for pardon through the me
&&.

“ rits and anterceſſion of the Saviour, may not

“ withſtanding their differences upon points of
“ doubtful opinion, and in the forms of exter
“ nal worſhip, ſlill be united in the bonds of
“ chriſtian charity, and in thy beloved Son's
“ commandment of loving one another.” From
that pretty extenſive knowledge he has of the
principles and diſpoſitions of the Orthodox
Diffenters, our Epiſcopalian Brethren may reſt
affured they have no hoſtile deſigns againſt any
part of the Conſtitution either in Church or
State. They love their King, they highly vene
rate the Conſtitution of their Country, and ac
count themſelves happy in thoſe privileges, civil
and religious, which they and their Anceſtors
have now ſo long enjoyed, under the reigns of
his preſent Majeſty and his ulluſtrious Forefa
thers. Their churches are indeed neither Na
tional nor Epiſcopal, but ſeleči and voluntary :
conſequently
 ( v )
conſequently upon the principles on which they
aël, while from conſcience they can own no
other Head of the Church, nor Lord in it, but
#eſus Chriſt, they can never attempt the over
throw of any public inſtitution, which is ſup
poſed calculated for the promotion of the know
ledge and worſhip of Almighty God. As Bri
tons and as Chriſtians, their deſire is to ſtudy
the things that make for peace, ſeeking the
good of the land in which they dwell, and
cordially praying for our Britiſh Zion. And
that this ſpirit may diffuſe itſelf through
all ranks of men, and denominations of
Chriſtians, is the prayer, and ſhall be the
purſuit of

THE AUTHOR,

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 s E R M O N.
2 CHRONICLES, XX. 2–4.
rhERE cAME some who told JehoshAPHAT,
say FNG, THERE cometh A GREAT MULTITUDE
AGAINST THEE FROM BEYond The SEA, on
This si DE syrIA, AND Behold: THEY BE IN
HAZAZON-TAMAR, WHICH IS EN-G EDI. AND
JEHoshAPHAT FEARED, AND SET HIMSELF to
SEEK THE LORD, AND PROCLAIMED A FAST
THROUGHOUT ALL JUDA.H. AND JUDAH GA
THERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER, TO ASK HELP
OF THE iord; EVEN OUT OF ALL THE CITIES

of JUDAH THEY CAME To seek The LoRD.

IN connexion with the command of the

Sovereign of theſe Realms, great encourage
ment is held out to us by God himſelf in his
word, carefully and cordially to enter into the
ſolemn ſervices of this day. In this ſančtuary
and under the more immediate preſence
of the Almighty we are now aſſembled
to humble ourſelves at his footſtool on
account of our perſonal, relative and natio
- - nal
 ( 8 ) - --

nal tranſgreſſions—to deprecate deſerved

wrath—ſupplicate unmerited mercy, and to
implore the continuance of our civil and re
ligious privileges. We are come to intreat
the Lord, that the great concern which ſo
many of his people have evidenced for the
ſpread of the knowledge of ſalvation, and the
fervent prayers they have put up for the en
largement of the Redeemer's kingdom, may
not be cruſhed in the very bud.—That the
hoſtile deſigns of our enemies as they reſpect
ourſelves may not only be fruſtrated ; but,
that we may yet be ſpared to hear from their
country, ſongs, even ſalvation to the great
Deliverer of the ſouls of men. Conquered
and captivated by the doćtrine of the croſs,
how ſhould we rejoice over them, and with
them in ſuch a ſpiritual and glorious vićtory
of grace. And we yet would indulge the
hope that, at the particular ſeaſon when we
were deviſing by what means, that ignorance
or infidelity with which their minds had been
ſo long and ſo completely infatuated, might
be removed ; our God will not deliver us as
a prey into their hands. Not by carnal, but
by ſpiritual weapons our deſires have been
to bring them into the obedience of faith,
that we might be rendered the honoured in
ſtruments of leading them into that glorious
liberty,
 ( 9 )
liberty, which is effected by truth and grace.
We humbly truſt therefore, that the God of
ſalvation will not ſuffer them by hoſtile wea
pons to murder all our benevolent defigns
for them.”—to break down the walls of our
ſančtuaries—to envelop our land once more
in the darkneſs of ſuperſtition—to bind Bri
tons who have long gloried in rational liber
ty, with the chains of ſlavery—and to deliver
our habitations, our wives and our daughters
a prey to their avarice, or their luſts. “Lord,
we have been called by thy name; forſake
us nott.” Even in this day of our diſ.
treſs, from thy word we ſtill hear thee ſpeak
ing to us and ſaying, “If my people, which
“ are called by my name, ſhall humble them
“ ſelves, and pray, and ſeek my face, and
“ turn from their wicked ways ; then will I
* hear from heaven, and will forgive their
“ fin, and will heal their land†.” This pro
miſe, Lord, is thine own. Mercifully beſtow
upon us thoſe graces, which ſtand conneéted
B both

* The London Miſſionary Society had ordered the New Teſtament,

and an excellent eſſay on the divine authority of that book, by the
Rev. D. Bogue, to be publiſhed in the French language, and widely
diſperſed through that country. Every thing was juſt prepared for the
accompliſhing of this determination, when the preſent war began.
+ Jer. xiv. 9. --

+ 2 Chron. vii. 14,

 ( 10 )
both with the introduction and completion
of all the bleſſings it involves. Grant to us
genuiné repentance for our ſins—clothe us
with humility—pour upon us the ſpirit of
grace and ſupplication—unite all our hearts
in one general concern to ſeek thy face and
to obtain thy favor –and yet reform us as
a nation, that we may be a ſaved and not a
ruined people.

The words of our text bear ſo ſtriking a re

ſemblance to our preſent ſtate as a nation—
to the condućt of our gracious Sovereign in
ſeparating this day for ſo ſolemn a ſervice—
and to the unity of his ſubjects with him, in
ſentiment, in affection, in concern, and de
fire ; that all further introduction ſeems ſu
perfluous and unneceſſary. May we enter
into the defign and ſpirit of the ſervices of
this day, as Jehoſhafthat and his ſubjects did
upon a former occaſion ; then may we hope,
that the preſent, will not be numbered
amongſt our loſt days, but be crowned with
ſimilar and abiding ſucceſs.
The ſacred hiſtorian in theſe words in
form us, “ There came ſome who told Je.
“hoſhafthat, ſaying, there cometh a great
“ multitude againſt thee from beyond the
“ ſea
 ( 11 )
“ ſea, on this fide Syria, and behold they be
“ in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-ged. And
“Jehoſhaphat feared, and ſet himſelf to ſeek
“ the Lord, and proclaimed a faſt through
“ out all Judah. And Judah gathered them
“ ſelves together, to aſk help of the Lord ;
“ even out of all the cities of Judah they
“ came to ſeek the Lord.” We have here
an acCOunt, . . . . ... . .

I. Of the premediated and threatened in.

vaſion of the kingdom of Judah during the
reign of Jehoſhapkat. -
º -

- --→
-
• * *
* * *
º

II. of his condua under the charader of

a good ſubject to Jehovah his God, and as
the affectionate ſovereign of his people.

III. Of that ſpirit of attachment and una

nimity, with which the people univerſally
entered into the deſires and deſign of their
prince. * - -

Like that people may we be all heart to

ſeek the Lord, and to manifeſt our affectio
nate attachment to the king whom he has
given to reign over us. His honours as a
prince and our intereſts as individuals are
cloſely connected. May the ſame ſpirit of
. . . . . . B 2 humiliation,
 ( 12 )
humiliation, of ſupplication and of faith per
vade both his heart and ours. O ! that with
ſtrong cryings and tears, we may be enabled
yet to prevail with our God, that the throne.
of our king may be eſtabliſhed in righteouſ
meſs, and that our habitations and families,
may be preſerved in peace. The firſt thing
that meets and claims our attention in the
paſſage now before us is,

I. The account here given of the preme

ditated and threatened invaſion of the king
dom of Judah, under the reign of Jehoſha
phat. “ There came ſome that told Jehoſha
“ phat, ſaying, there cometh a great multi
“tude againſt thee from beyond the ſea, on
“ this fide Syria, and behold they be in Ha
“zazon-tamar, which is En-ged.” The
perſons who brought this intelligence to Je
hoſhaphat, might either be ſome ſcouts which
he had ſent out to give him the earlieſt notice
of the approach of danger; or ſome of his
ſubjects that hved at the extreme parts of
the country, and as an evidence of their
loyalty and affection, haſtened with all ſpeed
to inform him of ſo unexpected an event; or,
perhaps, they were ſome neighbouring
princes, who not only revered Jehoſhafthat
on account of his piety, but were fincerely
. . . . - concerned
 ( 13 )
concerned for his welfare. Whoever they
were that firſt communicated theſe mourn
ful tidings, the invading army we find con
ſiſted of Moabites, Ammonites, and Syrians.
Probably this 'invaſion was firſt excited by
the Syrians, becauſe Jehoſhaphat had united
with Ahab, king of Iſrael, againſt them.
Jehoſhaphat had not only been expoſed to
perſonal danger on that occaſion, but now
his country is invaded by theſe Syrians and
their confederates. Three things are here
recorded reſpecting theſe invaders.-The
multitude of them was great;—they had al
ready ſurmounted conſiderable difficulties;—
and, they were now upon the very borders of
the country they meant to invade.
-

1. They were a great multitude. They

were ſuch a multitude that Jehoſhaphat, who
had been a mighty man of war, acknow
ledged that he and his people knew not what
to do with them, and that they had no might
againſt them. As a people, the deſtruction
of the poſterity of Abraham was not only
threatened at this time, but they could not
entertain the leaſt hope of deliverance, ex
cept from their God, who was as able to
ſave by few as by many. Jehoſhaphat's ſword
was no doubt made of well tempered ſteel,
* * ** . . . - his
 ( 14 )
his 'arm was ſtrongly nerved to bend the
bow, his army were firmly attached to him
as their general, and his people were both
loyal and affectionate: but he was ſenſible
that unleſs their God graciouſly interpoſed,
neither could they help him, nor he deliver
them. As a wiſe and pious Prince, he en
deavours therefore to direct his own eyes, and
the eyes and hearts of his people, to expect
ſalvation only from the Lord. The royal
proclamation probably was to this effect:
“My people, more is to be expected from
the prayers of contrite hearts, than from
the proweſs of our generals and armies.
Lean not upon an arm of fleſh. Our help,
(if there be yet any help in reſerve for us)
muſt come from heaven. Let us while we
wreſtle with our God, place our confidence
alſo in him, that we may prevail and proſ.
per. Let us intreat him to ſtretch
his arm to come and ſave us.” •.
forth

What a ſimilarity do we perceive be

tween their condition then, and ours in the
preſent alarming crifis. Are not the great
multitude which have already overflowed
Holland, ſurmounted the Alps, trampled
upon the liberties of Switzerland, ſubju
gated the Auſtrian Netherlands, divided Ita
by, and conquered Rome, once the miſtreſs
of
 ( 15 )
of the world, and with the fraternal em
brace, have juſt bound Portugal with ſilken
cords; are not this great multitude, even
now collected upon the oppoſite ſhores
againſt us? In their purpoſe, London, the
mart of nations is to be blotted out, and
Britons, the envied wonders of the world,
are to be extirpated. Their menaces ſeem
to indicate that they do not wiſh us to enter
tain the moſt diſtant hope of favor at their
hands, and, after all our preparations we
muſt acknowledge, that we have no might
againſt them, unleſs it be ſent from above.
As Britons, we ought to be thankful for our
fleets and armies; but ſhould we place our
confidence in them, and not in the Lord,
we are already under the curſe of that in
fatuation, which may provoke the Majeſty
of heaven, to give us a painful conviction
of our error, and of his vengeance againſt
it. Our defire is to direče your views above
all human means, and beyond the deepeſt
ranks of that formidable hoſt that cometh
againſt us:—We wiſh you to look to that
Omnipotent Jehovah, who is able to ſave us,
and either to deſtroy or drive back our ene
mies. May future ages, with pleaſure read
a new record in the annals of our country,
that the God who was for us; was more
than all that were againſt us; and that his
right
 ( 16 )
right hand and his holy arm obtained the
vićtory, and wrought for us a great deli
verance. It appears alſo, -

2. That the great multitude referred to in

the text, had already ſurmounted very con
fiderable difficulties. This great multitude,
ſay theſe meſſengers to Jehoſhaphat, that come
againſt thee are from beyond the ſea on this
fide Syria. The Aſphallites, commonly called
the ſalt or the dead ſea, probably is here in
tended, as this lay between Syria and Judea.
This ſea, once renowned for its barren
ſhores, and the noxious vapours that it
emitted, they had already paſſed, whether by
ſurrounding or paſſing that narrow part
which lay near to En-gedi, we pretend not
to ſay. They had got within forty miles of
the holy and royal city; and nothing now
appeared ſufficient to impede their progreſs,
or prevent its falling into their poſſeſſion,
but the out-ſtretched arm of the Lord,
in anſwer to the faith and prayers of his
people.

As an iſland, our country is on all hands

bounded by the ocean; however, on the
part of the enemy, we learn that great pre
parations are making to ſurmount that bar
r1er.
 ( 17 )
rier. Their numerous flotillas are intended
to bear their veterans to our country; and
they flatter themſelves, that they ſhall be
able not only to evade our fleets, but to be
forwarded by the winds and waves in the
accompliſhment of their dark deſigns. Should
they even ſucceed thus far, they have yet to
vanquiſh our armies, and to ſurmount thoſe
mounds of prayer which we have been heap
ing up under the eye of our God, between
them and ourſelves. May the importunity
of our ſupplications increaſe as the danger
appears to draw nearer. It is not yet too
kate for us to ſeek the Lord. May we give
amongſt
him no reſt till he eſtabliſh his Zion
us, and make England not only a praiſe in
the earth, but a bleſfing to the whole
world. It is added,

3. That this great multitude was then

upon the borders of Judah, at the very
moment while this report was ſounding in
the ears of Jehoſhaphat. Behold they be in
Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. Thanks
be to God, here, the ſimilitude fails; for
our enemies have not yet been able to obtain
footing on our ſoil. But while thankful that
this is not the caſe, we dare not be too con
fident that it may not be accompliſhed.
C Their
 ( 18 ).
Their boats are preparing, but we fear our
fins as a nation and as individuals more than
all their force, or preparations to render it
effectual. We fear leſt theſe fins ſhould arm
the winds, and bribe the waves, and form
a bridge, worſe than boats, to aid them in
croſſing the ocean. You will probably
ſay, but as a nation are not the French as
wicked, or, even more ſo than ourſelves?
When our ſpecial privileges and our miſim
provement of them, come to be thrown in
to the ſcale, I doubt much whether that be
really the caſe. You will probably add, but
are they not governed by a man that acts as
a tyrant over themſelves, while he wiſhes to
impoſe upon our country a far heavier yoke?
This may be readily granted, but from it
we can derive no ſolid confidence, that he and
the hoſts he leads on, fluſhed with the hopes
of plunder, may not ſucceed. “It would na
“turally occur to us, that when God meant
“ to puniſh a people for their wickedneſs,
“ he would employ inſtruments prepared for
“ the work by a love of righteouſneſs; that
“ the innocent ſhould wield the weapons of
“ his vengeance againſt the guilty, the fin
“ cere againſt the hypocritical, the humble
“ againſt the haughty, and the merciful
- “ againſt
 ( 19 )
“ againſt thoſe who breathe out cruelty.”
“But his ways are not our ways, nor his
“ thoughts our thoughts.” “ He often takes
“ a plan directly the reverſe of that which
“would be ſuppoſed, or approved by us.
“He employs the worſt of men for the beſt
“ of purpoſes. He takes inſtruments out
“ of the devil's hand for performing his
“ own work. He lets looſe hell, that it may
*

“fight the battles of heaven. Short-fighted

“ creatures are in danger of denying the
“work to be his, becauſe they do not im
“ mediately diſcern his hand; becauſe they
“ diſcern no hand, ſave that of his enemies.
“. But they confider not, that while the
“work is as really his own, as if inſtru
“ments more apparently ſuited to it were
“employed, there is a more ſtriking diſplay
“ of his wiſdom and power, in making the
“very wrath of man to praiſe him, and in
“reſtraining the remainder of it”.” The
idolatrous and hypocritical Jehu was em
ployed by him to execute his vengeance
upon Ahab's wicked houſe; the blood-thirſty
Sennacherib, and the vain glorious Nebu
* * c 2 chadnezzar

* See-the-uſe of ſacred hiſtory; eſpecially, as illuſtrating and con- -

firming the great doćtrines of Revelation, by John Jamieſon, D. D. F.
A. S. S. Vol. II. page 236.
 ( 20 )
chadnezzar to chaſtiſe his Iſrael; and who
can tell but a vain-glorious Bonaparte, may
be employed by him to be a ſcourge and a
chaſtiſer of Britons for their ſins. By the
circumſtances already referred to, we are
prepared to conſider,

II. The condućt of Jehoſhaphat as a true

ſubject of Jehovah, and as the affectionate
ſovereign of his people. We are told that
he feared—he ſet himſelf to ſeek the Lord—
and he proclaimed a faſt throughout all
Judah.

1. He feared. But was this a condućt

worthy of ſo good a man, and ſo great a ge
neral? Was it not calculated to intimidate
his court and diſpirit his captains? It ap
pears, brethren, that it was not ſo pro
perly the fear of man, but of GOD, which
poſſeſſed the mind of this pious ſon of Da
vid on this occaſion. It was the dread of
the divine diſpleaſure againſt himſelf and his
people. He viewed this great multitude
as no more than the ſword, but he trembled
before that hand of God, which ſeemed not
only to hold, but to brandiſh it over him
and his country. The puniſhment of his
own iniquity was now before him. Through
his
 ( 21 )
his affinity with Ahab, (if the expreſſion may
be allowed, the Antichriſt of that day.) Je
hoſhaphat had already been diſcomfited in
battle, and although a temporary reſpite
had been obtained, the divine diſpleaſure
againſt his condućt yet ſounded in his ears.
jehu, the ſon of Hanani, had addreſſed him
thus: “Shouldeſt, thou help the ungodly,
“ and love them that hate the Lord? there
“ fore is wrath upon thee from before the
“ Lord”.” And from the ſtrong affection
and attachment I bear to my country, I
wiſh—I moſt ſincerely wiſh, that our late
connexion with Rome and Conſtantinople,
the ſeats of the eaſtern and weſtern Anti
chriſt of our times, may not arm the wrath
of heaven againſt us. Forbid it, gracious
God, that either the name, or even the mark
of the beaſtt, ſhould be found upon our
nation. Jehoſhaphat feared, but it was with
that holy, fiducial fear, which has always
proved a ſtimulus to prayer. It is therefore
added, -

2. That he ſet himſelf to ſeek the Lord.

He confidered it as a perſonal concern in
which he felt himſelf deeply and primarily
involved.

* 2 Chron. xix, 2. + Rev. xvi. 2.

 ( 22 .)

involved. This work began at the court:

The king, the queen, and all the royal fa.
mily, humbled themſelves before the Lord;
probably ſaying, with their predeceſſor Da
vid, “We have finned, but theſe ſheep what
“ have they done?” But whatever might be
the caſe with others, Jehoſhaphat we are
told, ſet himſelf to ſeek the Lord. He was
ſerious, earneſt, yea, importunate with God,
in this buſineſs. And that fear which ope
rated upon his mind, was accompanied with
a degree of compoſure, of faith, and of
hope, that God would pardon, repent, re
turn, and leave a bleſfing behind. *

And in a political point of view, from the

crown of the head to the ſole of the foot;
that is, from the king upon the throne, to
the pooreſt ſubjećt in his thatched cottage,
we are equally concerned, and may we be
as ſincere and as deeply humbled before the
Lord in the ſolemnities of this day, as good
Jehoſhaphat and his people were.-But while
he feared, and ſet himſelf to ſeek the Lord,
he alſo, - * - -

3. Proclaimed a ſoft throughout all judah.

We conclude this good prince was ſo well
- informed
 ( 23 )
informed reſpećing the nature of genuine
religion, as not to ſuppoſe, that by either.
himſelf or his people abſtaining from their
ordinary refreſhment on that day, they could
merit any thing from God. He recom
mended faſting only as expreſſive of their
humility, and as calculated to promote
greater ardour of devotion. Times of pub
lic calamity and danger, ſhould be made
ſeaſons of extraordinary prayer. We are
called to rend our hearts, not our garments:
and by abſtaining altogether, or in part from
our ordinary food, to acknowledge that by
our fins we have forfeited every comfort,
and are utterly undeſerving of the leaſt of
God's mercies. Our national tranſgreſſions,
and our perſonal offences, this day teſtify
againſt us, and call on us to humble ourſelves
before God. If we may form a judgment
of what great men were, from the de
dications prefixed to ſome of the beſt works,
that have been handed down to us by our
forefathers; and from the characters therein
given of ſome of the firſt perſons in the
land; how much doth the honor and influ
ence of the chriſtian religion appear to have
loſt ground among the higher ranks of ſo
ciety. Their manſions were formerly houſes
for prayer, and their religion was exem
plified
 ( 24 )
plified in their condućt. Trade is in too
many inſtances carried on by ſome with
out either any reſtraints of honor or checks
of conſcience. The unfeeling hand of op
preſſion has riveted the chains of ſlavery
upon the poor degraded ſons of Africa.
Extravagance has got to a moſt enormous
pitch amongſt us. Even the law of the
ſabbath is broken down, in order to teach
thoſe the uſe of arms, who are to be called
forth in the defence of the country; and theſe,
while learning to contemn the fear of danger,
are teaching each man his fellow, to entertain
no fear of God before their eyes. Witneſs
thoſe horrid oaths and dreadful blaſphemies,
which like ſo many bullets diſcharged from
the lips of our ſoldiers, daily penetrate our
ears and wound our hearts.-In many indi
viduals, what deception, what extortion, and
what impiety is to be found. In this town,
long famed for the means of ſpiritual im
provement, how many families are there,
who live without prayer' What num
bers daily intrude upon that table, which
a kind Providence has ſpread for them in
this wilderneſs, without a fingle thought of
the Father of their mercies, or even ſo much
as ſupplicating his bleſſing upon their meals |
Many let day after day ſlip from them with
Ollt
 ( 25 )
out ſo much as reading a fingle chapter in
that book of God which contains the words
of life and ſalvation! Not a few there are,
who never enter a place of public worſhip
from the commencement to the cloſe of the
year; and too many who do, either ſlight or
ſlumber over their mercies. Even as to
thoſe who are moſt fincere, what cauſe do
they ſee to exclaim, the good Lord pardon
the iniquities which cleave to our holy
things in the cloſet, the family, and the
ſam&tuaryl Collecting the whole into one
view, may we all with one ſentiment en
ter into that general ſupplication: “Lord,
“ pardon our iniquity for it is great;”
and if thou, Lord, ſhouldeſt mark iniquity,
we cannot ſtand before thee or even our
adverſaries.—It only yet remains, that we
attend,

III. To that ſpirit of unanimity and at

tachment with which the nation of Judah
entered into the deſign and deſire of their
Sovereign. Judah gathered themſelves toge
ther to aſk help of the Lord, out of all the
cities of Judah they came to ſeek the Lord.
Hence it appears,

12 - 1. That
 ( 26 J
1. That they unanimouſly and heartily
entered into the propoſal of Jehoſhaſhat.
They were not barely a few who complied
with the letter, and conformed to the royal
proclamation, but all the inhabitants of the
cities, and no doubt of the villages likewiſe,
entered with ſpirit into the deſire of their
Sovereign. There appeared to their minds
not only a propriety in the order, but a ne
ceſſity for their hearty compliance with it.
They viewed it not barely as an act of the
royal prerogative, but of parental concern
for their beſt intereſt and permanent happi
meſs. May we alſo as individuals, this day
manifeſt our zeal for God and his honor,
our cordial affection and attachment to our
king and his family, our concern for our
. . wives, our ſons, and our daughters, and our
love to the ſančtuaries of our God. . And
may we do this, not only by abſtaining from
\ every impropriety of condućt, but by en
tering into the very ſpirit of humiliation and
importunate prayer,

2. The deſign of the people coming to

gether, was to aſk help of the Lord againſt
that great multitude of opponents which
came to ſeize their country. Now, by aſking
help
 ( 27 )
help of the Lord, this people evidenced
that they had not altogether given them
ſelves up to deſpair—they believed that with
God it was as eaſy to ſave whether by many,
by few, or by thoſe who, like themſelves,
had no might. This people did not pre
fume, however, to ſit ſtill in their ſloth,
but they were ačtive. T hey aſked help of
God, and he did even more for them than
they aſked; for he ſaved them from the hands
of their enemies without ſo much as a fingle
ſtroke on their part. They barely ſuppli
cated his interpoſition; but he did exceed
ing abundantly above all that they had
thought of aſking. They truſted in him,
and he delivered them.

3. They ſought the Lord. This I appre

hend implied more than aſking help of him.
They ſought not only reconciliation with
God, and ſuccour from him, but they en
deavoured to combine, the honor of God
with the intereſt of fºr country. They
ſought not barely their own preſervation as
a people, but the honor of their God in
effecting it. The confeſſion they made, and
the petition they now preſented, was pro
bably to this effect; O Lord, though our
iniquities teſtify againſt us, do thou it for
D 2 - thy
 ( 28 )
thy name's fake; for our backſlidings are
many, we have ſinned againſt thee”.

Like this people, let us alſo look up to

God, and beg of him to enable us to unite
his honor with the ſecurity of our country;
ſaying, Lord, ſhouldeſt thou at this ſeaſon
deliver us into the hands of our inſulting ad
verſaries, all the plans which have been laid,
all the pains that have been taken, and all
the prayers we have been offering for the
advancement of thy Son's kingdom will ſo
far as we can judge be loſt—the proteſtant
faith will be greatly eclipſed—the thick
clouds of popery, ſuperſtition, and infide
lity will extend their broad ſhadows far and
wide—other nations muſt ſoon be involved
in the common wreck, and all hell will tri
umph at an event ſo tremendouſly awful.
Save therefore thy people, Lord, and bleſs
thine inheritance; feed them alſo, and lift
them up for evert. Nor did this people ſeek
the Lord in vain; he heard, and he honored
their ſupplication. Graciouſly he made their
cauſe his own, declaring that he would take
it into his own hand. “ Then upon Jaha.
ziel,

* Jeremiah xix. 7, ... + Pſalm xxviii. 9,

 ( 29 )
* ziel, the ſon of Zechariah, the ſon of Be- -

ſº
‘ naiah, the ſon of Jeſſel, the ſon of Mat
&
‘ taniah, a Levite of the ſons of Aſaph, came
g
“ the ſpirit of the Lord in the midſt of the
“ congregation. And he ſaid, hearken ye,
“ all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jeruſa
“ lem, and thou king Jehoſhaphat; Thus
“ ſaith the Lord unto you: Be not afraid,
* nor diſmayed by reaſon of this great, mul
“ titude; for the battle is not yours, but
“God’s”,” They ſhould have no occaſion
even to think of helping the Lord in the day
of conflict. “Yeſhall not need to fight in this
“ battle; ſet yourſelves, ſtand ye ſtill, and
“ ſee the ſalvation of the Lord with you,
* O Judah and Jeruſalem ; fear not, nor be
“ diſmayed; to-morrow go ye out againſt
“ them, for the Lord will be with yout.”
All that was required of them, was ſimple,
ſtedfaſt faith, in the promiſe and power of
that God, who had pledged himſelf for their
ſalvation. “ They roſe early in the morn
“ing, and went forth into the wilderneſs of
“Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoſha
“Ahat ſtood and ſaid, Hear me, O Judah,
“ and ye inhabitants of Jeruſalem; believe
66 in

wº

* Ver. 14, 15. + Ver. 17.

 ( 30 )
“ in the Lord your God, ſo ſhall ye be eſta
“ bliſhed; believe his prophets, ſo ſhall ye
“ proſper*.” In the caſe of this people,
we behold the triumph of faith and prayer;
for their enemies became the inſtruments in
the deſtrućtion of each other, “ The chil
“dren of Ammon and Moab ſtood up againſt
“ the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to
“ ſlay and deſtroy them. And when they
“ had made an end of the inhabitants of
“ Seir, every one helped to deſtroy ano
“ thert.” And who can tell but the inha
bitants of other nations, who may now be
compelled to act under the preſent ty.
rant of France, having themſelves felt
the weight of his oppreſſive hand, may
ſeize the firſt favorable opportunity of
ſhaking off his heavy, galling yoke, and that
our country, may thereby eſcape as a bird
when the ſnare is broken for its deliver
ance. It is impoſſible for us to calculate,
or even to conjecture, how much honor may
yet redound to God from ſuch an event.
Hn the caſe before us we are told, “ That,
“ the fear of God was on all the kingdoms
* of thoſe countries, when they had heard
- - - - - “ that

* Ver. 20, + Ver. 23,

 ( 31 )
“ that the Lord fought againſt the enemies
“ of Iſrael”.” In like manner that deſtruc
tion which is now decreed againſt us by a
proud and imperious mortal, may yet ter
minate not only in the eſtabliſhed peace of
this country, and in the high praiſes of
God, but in a very extenſive bleſfing to the
world at large. “ The realm of Jehoſha
“ phat was quiet, for his God gave him reſt
“ round about.f.” Lord, repeat that bleſ
fing in our land, and in our day, then will
we give thee the honor that is due to thy
Name. *

May we while we retire from the ſančtu

ary, make it our holy purpoſe, to fear God,
to honor the king, and to ſerve our coun
try, It is not our province to be miniſters
of ſtate, counſellors of the ſovereign, or
commanders of fleets and armies; but we
are called to intercede for, and, if poſſible
to ſerve our country. You therefore, who
have hitherto been the ſervants of fin, now
ſlay thoſe fins before the Lord.—You who
have hitherto neglected prayer in your fami
lies ; go and ſet up the worſhip of God in
your houſes to-day.—You who have been
teaching

* Ver. 29, + Ver. 30.

 32 )
teaching your children to ſwear, to lie, or
habitually to live without God in the world,
go and henceforth let it be your object and
aim, to bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.--Sabbath-breakers,
from this time ſee that you remember the
ſabbath-day to keep it holy.—And ye that
have found God, go and learn to fear, to
love, to honor, and to ſerve him better.

May the future care and condućt of one

and all of us, evidence that our coming
together this day, was for the better and
not for the worſe. That we have learned
how to break off iniquity by righteouſneſs.
To put our truſt in God, and to place our
ſelves, our families, our king, and our country
under the divine protection. . Thus in the -

patient expectation of faith and hope may

we wait for ſalvation, may we ſanctify the
Lord of hoſt, making him our fear and our
dread, that we may prove him to be our
ſanctuary. Amen. -

5 (C52

FINIs.

J. Ferraby, Printer, Market-Place, Hull,

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