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DUTY OF ACKNOWLEDGING GOD’S MERCIES
THE prophets, whilst foretelling future events, are often transported in spirit to the period of which they speak; and are enabled to see, as it were, the events themselves actually passing before their eyes. Hence, if they speak of the rise or fall of kingdoms, they behold the armies marching to their destination, engaging in the conflict, and either conquering or conquered, according as the Governor of the universe has fore-ordained. This is peculiarly manifest in relation to the destruction of Babylon; which is more frequently and more fully predicted than any other event, except those which immediately relate to God’s chosen people [Note: See the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of Isaiah throughout, and especially chap. 14:4–12.]. It is of that event that the prophet speaks in the chapter before us, as he has also done in the preceding chapter. Having said in the foregoing verses that God would “send fanners to Babylon, to fan,” to destroy her, though the event was not to take place for sixty years, yet he says, “This is the time of the Lord’s recompence;” and then exclaims, “Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed! howl ye for her!” He then speaks of the deliverance of the Jews from their captivity as already effected, and calls on them to declare in Zion the wonders which God had wrought for them: “The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness (that is, our deliverance): come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.”
It is not of future events that we are now called to speak, but of things accomplished, as it were, before our eyes, and of things that demand our most grateful acknowledgment.
Let us consider,
I. What is that work which we are now called to declare—
At no period of our history had we ever more reason to bless and adore our God than at this day [Note: This was preached on Jan. 13, 1813.]. The mercies vouchsafed to us have been exceeding great and numerous. We cannot enter into them indeed very fully; but we will suggest some distinct heads, under which they may be arranged for your own more easy and profitable contemplation of them. Consider them then as agricultural and commercial, political and religious. Consider,
1. The agricultural—
[Heavy was the pressure on all the lower orders of society, by reason of the dearness of provisions, throughout the last year: and, if the late harvest had been as unproductive as that which preceded it, their distress would have been at this hour exceeding great. But God in his mercy vouchsafed to us a very abundant harvest, so that now all may “eat and be satisfied, and bless the name of their God.” True it is, that other things still continue at a high price: but that very circumstance only shews us the more forcibly, how rich a mercy it is to have plenty of that which is “the staff of life.” In enumerating then the mercies for which we have now peculiar reason to be thankful, let us not be unmindful of that in which the great mass of the community are so deeply interested, and which is perhaps the first of all national blessings.]
2. Commercial—
[To abridge and to destroy our commerce has been the incessant labour of our enemies: and to such a state was it reduced, that it could scarcely be carried on to any extent, without involving; all the persons engaged in it in the guilt of perjury. The whole continent almost was closed against us: and whatever was surreptitiously introduced there, was subjected to such peril, as to prove a most serious discouragement to all commercial enterprise. But now, within these few weeks only, the whole continent is anxious to receive our goods: our manufactures are revived; our people, who during the last year were almost in a state of insurrection on account of the want of work, are employed; and a good prospect is opened to us of increased and permanent prosperity. This, whether viewed in its aspect on individuals or the nation at large, is another blessing, which ought on no account to be overlooked.]
3. Political—
[Who that looks back to the earlier period of the French Revolution, and recollects what sentiments of insubordination and sedition pervaded the land, must not be surprised at the change that has taken place in relation to those things? Formerly the cry of liberty and equality was raised in almost every place, to instigate the people to throw off all submission to the Government: and such was the delusion by which the minds of many were blinded, that thousands were panting to destroy the constitution, and to establish a democracy in its place. The same bloody scenes as took place in France were preparing for this land also; and so great and general was the infatuation, that many, even of religious characters, were ready to help forward the designs and efforts of those who sought our ruin. But now the excellence of our constitution is duly appreciated; the persons who were once ready to subvert it have now seen their error; and perhaps there is scarcely a man in the land who would not willingly die in its defence. Nor is this change peculiar to us: it is now seen in every part of Europe; and those very people who banished their former Rulers, and overturned fill their former establishments, are now desirous of returning to the state they have forsaken, and are actually fighting for the restoration of their former Governments. Thus has order taken the place of anarchy, and respect for constituted authorities banished from amongst us the demon of discontent.]
4. Religious—
[With a contempt for all ancient institutions, there went forth an utter disregard of Revealed Religion. Infidelity stalked abroad, as it were, at noon-day. It no longer blushed to shew its face, but obtruded itself upon the attention of all; and reviled, as enemies to sense and reason, all who dared to maintain the cause of God in the world. Philosophy forsooth was deemed a safer guide than the voice of inspiration; and the word of God itself was held up to ridicule, as a composition of falsehood and absurdity. How different is the state of things amongst us at this time! The Holy Scriptures are revered and honoured to a degree altogether unprecedented and unknown in this country. All ranks and orders of men amongst us not only receive the sacred volume as true, but stand forth to advocate its cause, and to extend the knowledge of it to every quarter of the globe. If we judged from the zeal exerted for the diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, we should be ready to think that the Millennial period were already come. But, though we cannot yet congratulate ourselves on such an extensive change as this, we nevertheless behold a most astonishing increase of true religion in the land. We are happy too to declare, that a similar spirit is rising in other lands; and that, “whilst God’s judgments have been poured out so awfully and so extensively upon the earth, the inhabitants thereof have been learning righteousness [Note: Isa_26:9.].”
These then are mercies which may well “be declared in Zion,” and which we are now called in a more especial manner to commemorate.]
Having drawn your attention to some of those mercies which deserve especial notice at this time, I proceed to shew,
II. In what manner we should declare them—
Since these mercies are so great and numerous, let us all unite in improving them as we ought to do:
1. Let us acknowledge God in them—
[Who is it that “hath wrought all these deliverances for us?” Is it our own hand, our own arm, that hath effected them? Who is it that gave us such a rich abundant harvest? We must be blind indeed, if we see not the hand of God in it [Note: Hos_2:8. Psa_65:9-13.] — — — Who is it that hath opened all the ports of the continent to our manufactures? Backward as men are to trace the operation of God in such things, there is scarcely a person in the land that does not say, “This is thine hand; and thou, Lord, hast done it [Note: Psa_109:27; Psa_44:3. Isa_45:7.]!” And must we not trace the revolution of sentiment to the same source? Who but God can “still the madness of the people?” It is he, and he alone, that “turneth the heart, whether of princes or of people, whithersoever he will [Note: Pro_21:1. Psa_65:7.].” Above all, to whose agency must we refer that great work of dispelling the clouds of infidelity, and of making his light to shine into the hearts of men? Truly, none but He “who commanded the light to shine out of darkness” at the first creation of the world, is sufficient for these things [Note: 2Co_4:6; 2Co_5:5.]. In reference then to every thing that has been done for us, we must say, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name be the praise!”]
2. We must adore him for them—
[It is not a cold and speculative acknowledgment only that we are called to make: our hearts should be warmed with a sense of God’s mercies: and our lips be devoutly occupied in his praise. The first effect indeed which they should have upon our minds is, to fill us with wonder and admiration of the Divine goodness [Note: Psa_40:5.]: but when we have, as it were, recovered from the overwhelming sense of his goodness, then should we declare it, and publish it with all the powers of our souls. Look at David, when recounting the mercies God had vouchsafed to Israel [Note: Psa_98:1-8.]: such is the language which well befits us on the present occasion; yea, we should “make our boast in God all the day long, and praise his name for ever and ever [Note: Psa_44:7-8.].” In this way “we must declare his work, if we would wisely consider of his doing [Note: Psa_64:9.].”]
3. Let us, by anticipation, bless God for the yet richer mercies which he has in reserve for us—
[We began with observing, that “the deliverance” from Babylon was yet distant, at least sixty years, though the prophet spoke of it as already accomplished. So may we look forward to the blessings which are made over to us by the sure word of promise, and may even now bless God for them as though they were already possessed. As Abraham rejoiced at the prospect of the day of Christ, just as if he had actually seen it with his eyes, so may we do, and so we ought to do, in reference to his future advent to reign on earth. Then will peace and plenty, and truth and righteousness, prevail throughout the world. Then shall men “beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, and they will learn war no more.” Then “Judah will no more vex Ephraim, nor Ephraim envy Judah,” but all will “sit harmonious and contented under their own vine and fig-tree.” “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid:” nor shall any hurt or destroy in God’s holy mountain. Then, whilst plenty abounds in every place [Note: Amo_9:13-15.], “the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea.” O what a day of wonders will that be! It is our privilege to look forward to it, and even to see it now, as it were, before our eyes. See how the prophet, who lived almost three thousand years ago, beheld it, and gloried in the sight [Note: Isa_49:12-13; Isa_60:1; Isa_60:4; Isa_60:8.]! and shall not we, who are almost on the very eve of that day? We have no doubt but that all these events, which have been taking place in the world these twenty years, are preparing the way for the promised advent of our Lord. Let us then anticipate it with joy and gratitude [Note: Isa_52:9-10.]: let us adore our God for giving such prospects to sinful man: and let us endeavour to hasten it forward by every possible exertion in the cause of Christ.]