V.

SERM. Or, as it is faid in the book of Job, He can deliver in fix troubles, yea even in feven; in famine he can redeem from death, and in war from the power of the fword. If we are fure of his almighty power to protect us, we may then say with the Pfalmift, God is our refuge and firength, a very prefent help in trouble; therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and the mountains carried into the midst of the fea.

In the last place, the confideration of the power of God ought to be matter of terror to vicious and wicked men. As they have acted in oppofition to him, as it were in open rebellion against him, they may justly fear that his almighty power will take vengeance upon them. And who can defy his power and screen them from his omnipotent arm? It can crush them in a moment, and bring them down to swift deftruction. Τα ufe the words of the prophet Amos→→→→ He that fleeth of them, shall not flee away; and he that escapeth of them, shall not be delivered. Though they dig into hell, thence fball his hand take them; and though they climb up into heaven, thence will be bring them down. Nothing can be more terri

ble,

VI.

ble, than to be at enmity with the pow- SER M. erful God of the univerfe; for alas! who can deliver from his hands? The whole affemblage of created beings can make no resistance against him. Confider this Divine Power, all

he tear you in pieces,

ye who forget God, left
while there is none to

deliver you.

SER

REVELATION, XV. 3.

Juft and true are thy ways, thou King of

W

Saints.

VI.

HEN we confider God as the SER M.
fovereign of the univerfe, who
has all power and dominion,

we cannot but have the most exalted and
awful thoughts of him; but when we
reflect farther, that he is of a moral cha-
racter, that he regards the happiness of
all his creatures, and always acts towards
them in righteousness and truth, this is
much more interesting to us, and give us
a still more affecting view of him; it is.
a juft matter of praise and thanksgiving,
that we are under his equitable govern-
ment, that he over-rules all for the best
and most benevolent purposes, and that
all rational agents may join with the hea-
venly company described by St. John, in
their fong of praife, in the words of the

SER M. text; Juft and true are thy ways, thou King

VI.

of faints.

These words are part of that form of praise and thanksgiving, which the martyrs and faints are reprefented to have, after they were delivered from their perfecutions and troubles in this life, on account of their faith and religion. It is called the fong of Mofes, because it is to the fame purpose, though not in the fame words, with that which he compofed after the deliverance of Ifrael from the Egyptians, at the Red Sea. St. John says, he faw them that had got the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over bis mark, and over the number of his name, baving the harps of God; and they fung the fong of Mofes the fervant of God, and the fong of the Lamb, faying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of faints! When those bleffed fpirits had finished their course, and got beyond all their troubles and uneafinefs here, they faw clearly the Juftice and reasonableness of God's government; they had a more extensive view of the divine scheme, and they plainly discovered that nothing could be wanting to carry on the infinitely wife purposes