AN ATTEMPT

TO TRACE

DIVINE PROVIDENCE,

IN THE LATE

EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS

WHICH HAVE LED TO

THE PEACE OF EUROPE;

IN

A DISCOURSE

DELIVERED IN

CHERRY-STREET CHAPEL, BIRMINGHAM,

SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH, 1814.

"THE Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

REVELATION.

"JUSTICE and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: Mercy and truth shall go

before thy face."

PSALMS.

"FOR some superior, over-ruling cause

Subjects all mortal things to its appointed laws."

CREECH'S Manilius, B. 4.

ADVERTISEMENT.

On Friday, June 3rd, the intelligence of the ratification of peace was received in Birmingham, by an assembly of fifty thousand people, with the liveliest demonstrations of joy.

An occasion so highly interesting, it was judged, might be religiously improved with great advantage to such as would submit to consider it in the light of reason and the word of God. With this view the substance of the following Discourse was delivered the first succeeding opportunity of assembling for Divine worship. The author presents it to the public with some diffidence. It is the first he ever wrote. The subject is particular, and excludes the discussion of the more important topics which commonly appear in sermons. In the eyes of several persons this will be an objection. It will, no doubt, be improperly supposed by some that this is a true specimen of his usual manner of preaching. And he is sensible, that the pressing request of numbers who heard it delivered will be no sufficient excuse for its publication, should it be found unworthy of the attention of the public.

He does not profess to treat his readers with much original matter; and they will soon perceive that the niceties of style and embellishment have been, perhaps, too much neglected. Some, no doubt, will disapprove of several things he has advanced; but he is open to conviction, and will thankfully receive the corrections of a friend. He is, on the whole, happily conscious that this effort is a sincere attempt to recall their attention to a very important subject—the providence of God, of " God over all, blessed for evermore."

As it was first spoken extempore, it will be readily presumed, that in drawing it up some time after, the language would be, in many instances, materially different. The Discourse is, however, substantially the same. May God Almighty give it his blessing!

BIRMINGHAM,

July 19th, 1814.

SERMON I.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the Heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.-PSALM xlvi.

8-11.

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: For all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.—Rev. xv. 3, 4.

THESE words plainly teach us to adore the hand of God in great national events. We ought equally to admit his government, as extending to every possible circumstance in the whole universe; for, extraordinary effects are intimately connected with the common course of things. A general superintendence implies that of particulars; and present operations may, through the medium of succeeding ones, essentially affect such as are

most remote.

The points of this sublime subject which usually call for proof and reflection relate to the nature, extent, and use of that Divine Providence which is confessed by all to form an express and frequent topic of the Holy Scriptures. If we admit that both passages now read contain general principles, which may apply to any given revolution of a public nature, they will, when taken together, place the subject before us in a very convenient form, by a distinct mention and collective view of its more important branches. The late extraordinary change in the affairs of Europe, including more especially those events immediately connected with the overthrow of Napoleon, who had

long kept France in bondage, and been the scourge of neighbouring nations, is the subject which we intend to illustrate and improve, by a continued reference to the obvious sentiments of these two texts of Scripture. This, however, will oblige us to omit that regular exposition of the words which might involve a practical inquiry of some length into certain Christian doctrines of essential importance, and which may also clearly be deduced from the passages.

The first text contains a sacred triumph, on occasion of certain victories confessed to have been achieved by God, in behalf of the royal Psalmist; probably the conquests over the Philistines and Moabites, mentioned, 2 Samuel viii. 1. The last joyfully anticipates the accomplishment of God's judgments, in the destruction of "the beast and his worshippers, and the consequent spread of the Gospel among all nations. Thus, the former passage furnishes, in the Divine love and faithfulness, a pledge of the fulfilment of what is predicted in the latter; and both are calculated to confirm our confidence in God, and to animate the hopes of his people, with regard to the result of things in every possible instance.

The limits of a single address will not admit of a minute and full discussion of the general theme of a Providence,- a subject eminently copious and interesting, and capable of the most subtle and profound argumentation. But even partial views, if accurate, will be found of importance, when we consider, that the subject is one of those which are encumbered with a variety of the most dangerous errors and mistakes. While some deny a superintending Providence altogether, others, in the contrary extreme of superstition, are beholding it in the most extravagant light, and magnifying its operations in ordinary and trivial matters into miracles perfectly analogous to that which our Lord performed when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Some believe it to be all impenetrable mystery; and others have presumptuously attempted to sound its very deeps, losing themselves and their readers in its immensity. Some make it a pretence for effecting their own purposes; and confidently, by way of assisting God, follow up the most ridiculous and wicked undertakings. And not a few make it a false criterion of persons and things, liberally extolling or depreciating, by this rule only, the characters of individuals; and deeming the success or defeat of an enterprise a sufficient proof of its propriety or folly. Some,

with a weakness highly dishonourable to the Christian faith, sink beneath its judgments into utter despondency; and some, though they receive its gifts with uplifted eyes of acknowledgment, yet prostitute them to purposes of rebellion against God.

From these remarks we may presume, that a right apprehension of some distinct and important revolution in the affairs of men will enable us to judge with greater accuracy and advantage of the general subject of a Providence. Let us, then, proceed to contemplate the late political events which we have already proposed as the theme of this discourse.

I. Remark the surprising nature and incalculable importance of the events themselves.

Astonishment still pervades the public mind, and will, perhaps, prevent for some time longer a due inquiry into their meaning, and the proper application of them to the purposes of life and virtue. No wonder we should now exclaim, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty! Our amazement at the magnitude of things is often in proportion to our ignorance of their causes, of the modes of their existence, and of the ends to be answered by them. If such, then, was the language of those who are permitted to survey Divine Providence behind the scene, what must be the surprise and admiration of mortals at the appearance of such great events as those now under consideration, and which we chiefly behold in the shape of pure facts? But when wonder subsides, we attempt to fathom

reasons.

We have, indeed, seen strange things of late: A man raised by rapid steps from an ordinary sphere of life to an unexampled height of station and power, and possessed of the capacity and disposition to apply that authority to the great detriment of mankind: Immense armies repeatedly collected by the potency of his measures, not on the frontiers of his own dominions for defence, but direted to invade and enthral other nations of far more extensive population and riches, and possessed of equal talents and improvement in the arts of civilization: Dreadfully successful during a space of years over some of the firmest and most ancient of the European governments, and still threatening by his movements to subdue and desolate the rest.

But, at length, the hook is put into his jaws, and he is turned back by the way he came. And now behold a downfall much