The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

^-22 SERMdNS.which this tedious war may be brought to an end,without any further fliedcling of Chriillan and kindredblood ; that the Americans may throw afide theweapons of hoflility, and, embracing fair and equitableoffers of hberty and peace, be cemented into acomplete and lading friendfhip-*with Great Britain ;then Ihall all " the king's loyal fubjedls in the Americanprovinces be delivered frona violence, injuftice,2nd arbitrary power j" then we will be the lefs alarmedby any fudden fear, and, by God's help, be able torepel the unprovoked invafion of our old enemies, ifit Cometh.My friends, it is not from a vague report that wefpeak, but by intelligence openly communicated to*the Houfe of Commons, by fonie members of thatIloufe : Hereby we have been informed, that thiskingdom is foon to be invaded by France, or obligedto defend itfelf againfl a French war. The ' flrength"of our fleet and of our army is now abroad, occupiedin the war againft the American colonies. As fubje61:sof this anciently free ftate, muft we not wifliand pray that the kingdom of Great Britain may befor ever fafe and free, defended, as it hath hithertobeen, by the Lord Jehovah, in w^hom is everlaftingflrength ? But, in our private and perfonal capacity,as rational and accountable creatures, w^e are to ftrive^that, by faith ^id holinefs, we may be members ofGod's kingdom, his kingdom of grace, and his kingdomof glory. Every man wifhes for the profperityand temporal greatnefs of his country ; but what confolationwill the greateft degree of fuch profperity affordto any man, at the aweful hour of deatli, if hebe an ungodly, a debauched, a hard-hearted, andfraudulent perlbn ? The kingdoms of this world llrive,alas ! to conquer each other. Let every one of usilrive to conquer himfelf, his appetites, his palFionSjhis fniful inclinations : He that overcometh himfelf,i5 " better than the mighty," aJid