pendence, he sunk into the most humiliating bondage; every thing in nature perverted by his folly and guilt, partook of his fatal apostacy, and added to his degeneracy and misery.-As the Apostle Paul expresses it, "The creature was made sub

ject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of "him who hath subjected it, so that the whole "creation groaneth and travaileth in pain toge "ther until now." God cursed the ground for man's sake: hence at times the earth quakes, the mountains tremble, the sea roars; sometimes the guilty fears of man are alarmed by the awful frown of the black tempest, or the solemn peals of the loud thunder, or the sudden and successive flashes of the destructive lightning.

But these are not the only things threatening or fatal to man; they suffer more from what are called the good things of this life. Such is the perverseness of the depraved mind, that we can scarcely look on nature in her loveliest form without being betrayed into increasing vice and more swift destruction. How often have the comforts. of this life attached the heart to the creature in preference to the Creator; to the pleasure of time and sense in preference to the joys of religion and the hopes of eternal life? How often hath the

pursuit or possession of riches produced sordid avarice or shameless extravagance? Can we rise to great honour in the world without thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, and despising others? Are not power and influence, which might afford protection and happiness to the feeble, the defenceless, and miserable, the more frequent occasions of oppression, mischief, and violence? Learning, instead of diffusing use. ful knowledge, oftener spreads delusion and error. The industry of study, of trade, and of commerce, while it hath been the parent and nurse of invention, of exertion, and of various improvement and happiness to individuals and society, hath too often corrupted both by a cruel rapacity abroad, and a vicious dissipation at home. Even the institution of government ordained of God for the bene fit of society, and essential in every country to its good order, dignity, peace, and prosperity, hath too frequently by usurpation, iniquity, or violence, become a system of tyranny or corruption, and the source of spreading infidelity, irreligion, and immorality.

But notwithstanding so much perverted good, approved and practised iniquity, we are assured by our text and the gospel in general, that all

these abuses and wickednesses shall be finally and universally subdued by the prevailing triumphing influence of the Christian system. Their own sin shall find them out and consume them, while on their ruins shall rise a new creation of men and things, distinguished by the glory and grace of God, and the goodness of renewed man. Then shall universal nature wear a smiling aspect, and look with kindness and blessing on the reformed inhabitants of the earth. The sun shall not smite them by day, nor the moon by night. When mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other; "truth shall "spring out of the earth, and righteousness look "down from Heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give "that which is good, and our land shall yield her "increase. Righteousness shall go before him, "and shall set us in the way of his steps. The "wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad "for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blos"som as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly, " and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory "of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellen"cy of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the "glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our "God. The mountains and the hills shall break

"forth before you into singing, and all the trees "of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of "the thorn, shall come up the fir tree; and in"stead of the brier, shall come up the myrtle "tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for "an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." Universal reconciliation, and universal improvement are inseparable. When swords are converted into ploughshares, and spears into pruninghooks, and the hostile rage of the camp into the peaceful labours of the field, how must this im proved character of man and manners improve the order and harmony of the city, the beauty and richness of the country! Heaven and earth, men and things, shall be reconciled. No more shall learning cherish the pride of understanding, or impose on others the dictates of a vain philosophy. It shall become the sanctified guardian of sacred truth, unfold the mysteries, elucidate the prophecies, illustrate the doctrines, and recommend the morals of genuine Christianity. No more shall navigation lend its aid to the excursions of piracy; the avarice and fraud of unlawful commerce; or the ambitious designs of foreign invasion and conquests; it shall be consecrated to the universal conveyance of the gospel of peace, to

the diffusion of its spirit through all the regions of the globe, and to all the mutual communications of love and goodness. In no place shall the throne of majesty be the seat of tyranny, nor the sceptre of power the scourge of oppression or persecution; but kings shall be nursing fathers, and queens nursing mothers to the church; for all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ. All the authority, power, and wealth of nations shall be devoted to the service and glory of God and the Redeemer, and shall every where be combined in the plans and works of goodness and mercy. "Thus saith "the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy "One, to him whom man despiseth, and him "whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of "rulers; kings shall see and arise; princes also "shall worship, because of the Lord that is faith"ful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall "choose thee. And the Gentiles shall come to "to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy "rising. Lift up thine eyes round about and see: "all they gather themselves together, they come "to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy "daughters shall be nursed at thy side; then "thou shalt see and flow together, and thine