who, as he had graciously made us to differ from others in some things, so he mercifully made us to differ from others in the amount of our sufferings and the severity of our afflictions. For, brethren, not to mention the Asiatic nations, where the mortality from this fatal disease has been almost incalculable, we find from the official reports that in Poland onethirty second part, in Austria onethirtieth part, and in Russia onetwentieth part, or one in twenty throughout the whole population of that immense empire has been cut off from cholera, while there is no country in the world which this pest has not visited except Holland; a country, be it remembered, which preceded us in national humiliation and public acknowledgment of GoD's chastening hand, where the mortality has borne as small a proportion to the population as our own. In France, where medical science is supposed to have attained a great degree of eminence, the number of deaths from cholera is reported to have been, taking the minimum, one hundred and ten thousand; while in England and Scotland the official reports gives us a statement only of thirty-one thousand three hundred and seventy-six: making every allowance for the disproportion of the population, surely we cannot but say-the hand of our GoD is here.

ever so honored and so observed. of this morning has already said, Every shop was closed, the stillness of the grave reigned in our streets, and our churches. I need only remind you of the manner in which every step, even to the door of the pulpit of this house of GOD was thronged, to describe the state of all our churches, for this was not confined to a single church, or a parish, all churches and all parishes partook of the feelings of that solemn day throughout the country. It was, indeed, a most solemn and heart affecting spectacle to behold the first Christian nation in the world, the nation which the Lord has delighted to honor above all others, grieving for her sins, acknowledging her transgressions, humbling her- | self in the very dust beneath the chastening hand of her Father, crying aloud by the voice of all the people of GOD of every denomination"Like Israel we have sinned, we have done amiss, we have dealt very wickedly; yet now, O GOD, incline thine ear and hear O Lord and forgive; O Lord hearken unto me for thy city and thy people are calling upon thy name." And what was the consequence? The ear of our GOD was not heavy that it could not hear, nor his arm shortened that it could not save. From that period the virulence of the pestilence began to abate; it fell indeed with severity on some individual places, but in general, throughout the country, the visitation was of the mildest and most lenient nature; and more especially so in this large parish and after the appalling statement of its ravages in foreign countries, from the experience of those who had the means of forming a correct opinion, its effects upon our own country demand the most unequivocal acknowledgment of the Almighty's forbearance; for it was he, and he alone, as our prayer

But, my brethren, we must pass from this view of God's undeserved mercy, to the consideration of man's gratitude; always a most humiliating transition, and in the present instance not forming, I fear, any bright exception to that recorded in GoD's word. We are called together this day to unite our public thanksgiving at the throne of grace. Every true Christian must rejoice that such a day has been appointed at all; for it is a public and national acknowledg

state, far more widely and far more questions, involving, as they assuroffensively, desecrate this holy day edly do, the interests of eternity, of rest. This great reformation namely, the desecration of the sabshould begin with the great. Let the bath, the continued bondage of a first people in the country show large portion of our fellow-men, the their gratitude to Almighty God, for revenue deduced from idolatrous trihis mercies; not by endeavouring to butes, in these pre-eminently great refine away the divine obligations of and interesting questions to the this holy day, but by acknowledging Christian statesmen, we may read what God has plainly revealed, and the fate of our country. I cannot but by honoring his merciful and gra- believe, that this is the very crisis of cious commands; and there can be no our state; if by the directing grace doubt that other classes of society will of our GOD, our statesmen are led to follow in their train. Let your own postpone temporal interests to spiricattle and servants enjoy a day of rest tual, to seek in all those important as well as yourselves. I speak not, of points (and I am not advocating any coming to GoD's house, for this I particular measures, but speaking, as believe I could show from scripture GoD's ministers are bound to speak, to be no breach of the commandment; for God's glory), if they will be conbut let the parks be empty on this tent to consider, not what is the desire holy day, or at least, occupied only nor the acclamation of interested or by those to whom the fresh air of misguided men, but what is the comheaven is a wholesome and necessary mand of GOD himself, what enactmedicine after the confinement of the ment will most honor and glorify his week. Let your servants be seen in great and blessed name, then we shall a place of worship; and not, as too be rendering to GOD according to his often they are, seen returning with benefits, then will "God be merciful the empty carriages, as if they had unto us, and bless us, and cause his neither part nor lot in the worship of face to shine upon us," and then will GOD. Let the tradesmen who desire the "Earth yield her increase, and to observe this sacred day, be no GOD even our own GOD will bless us," longer prevented by the covetousness then will this country obtain, under the of their neighbours, who, by keeping merciful superintendence of our GOD, open their own shops, almost compel the highest name in the annals of the them to keep open theirs. Let the world, and see bright, far brighter, few no longer be oppressed, to gra- days, perhaps even in worldly prostify the selfishness or the thought- perity, but most certainly in spilessness of the many. Suffer no goods ritual blessings, than have ever yet to enter your house on this holy been her honor. But if these great and day, and give strict orders to your important opportunities be neglected servants to attend to this. Let every and misapplied, if the Lord's day man, whatever be his calling, be pro- still continue, as it now is, to be a tected by the laws of his country, day of business or sinful pleasure, in endeavouring to enjoy the reli- uninterrupted even by a word of exgious repose of the Lord's day. We postulation from a Christian governshall soon, as a nation, be called pub-ment, if the slave-whip and the fetter licly to manifest in the great councils be continued, if men be overwrought of the realm, whether we are willing and underfed, if the demoralizing to render unto GoD according to his influence of one of the most cruel benefits. In the fate of these great despotisms ever exercised by any

nation be persevered in undisturbed | rished from off the face of the earth, shall be followed on the scroll of history by the land of our nativity, the country that we love, and England itself,

by the interposing hand of what ought to be the paternal hand of all its subjects, be their colour what it may -if Christians in England still be permitted to amass wealth from the tribute which the idolater pays to be allowed to dishonor that Christian's GOD, the day cannot be far distant when that GOD will teach us, not such a lesson as he has lately sent, but in lessons of suffering written in | characters of fire and blood-that "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD." The day cannot be far distant when the enemies of Nineveh, and Babylon, and Athens, and Rome, the four great nations of antiquity which have pe

A Sermon,

DELIVERED BY THE REV. W. WILKINSON,

AT THE CHURCH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW, THE EXCHANGE, ON TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1833.

Psalm, iv. 6.—“ Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.” THESE words express the blessed | dently, implying, that, if he granted feelings, and earnest longings, of the this request, he should be equal to truly spiritual mind. We trust they all his trials, and lay down his head express the feelings and the longings in peace; as he says himself—“ I of the minds and hearts of many now will both lay me down in peace, and in the presence of Jehovah; so that sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest this prayer may be at this time the me to dwell in safety." The Psalm prayer of your hearts. Oh, may GoD is supposed to be a prayer addressed condescend to give you an answer to the Messiah, the second person in before we leave this house of prayer! the Godhead-the Christ of God, who "Lift thou up the light of thy coun- is represented in the preceding part tenance upon us.” of the text as Jehovah our Righteousness, in whom we all hope to stand accepted and complete. Having acknowledged this, and put his trust in him, David seems to give instruction and advice, and caution; and then he draws in immediate connexion with our text, a striking contrast between them and himself. He says,

This Psalm is supposed to have been written at the time of Sheba's rebellion. All Israel had followed this traitor, every man of them: and it was under these circumstances that he uttered the prayer in the text. He prays to GOD, that he would give him the light of his countenance; evi

And it appears from the words immediately connected, that this prayer was no sooner offered, than it was answered; for he says immediately "Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased." By lift-sidered, has stood from eternity. From ing up the light of thy countenance the moment Jehovah decreed the salupon me, Lord, thou hast put joy vation of the vessels of his everlastand gladness in my heart, far ex- ing mercy, they were secure in that ceeding any thing that the mind of salvation; as in him there is no