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

-ijOSLR MO MS.and vet it muit be confefTcd that the chnrch and peopleof God may fometimes be long ih adverfity : Ofibis difpenfation of providence we are able to perceivemany of the wife reafons, tliough we be tooblind to fee them all.In general, God leaves his people long in troubleto alarm their confciences, to check them in theirvrlid career, and force them to think of. the eternalworld. A conftant courfe of profperity is extremelydangerous ; men, inch anted with the pleafures of theprcfent world, feldom think of God, or of the worldto come. Whilit they fuffer afflidiion, they think onthe caufes of their fuffering, aiid from the fear ofgreater fufferings in the life to come, they are, by thegrace of God, led to repentance. It is tlierefore fromhis wifdcm, and his loving kindnefs, that God affliclsmen. And if a nation or fociety hath become corraptedand luxurious, it hath great need of being vificedwith the temporal judgments of God.The peo-andple may be awakened, and may r^^pent fmcerely ;for a while fome. flop may be put to the operation ofof thefe caufes which produce national ruin. But I-ihculd rather fpeak in particular of being kept longin tliefe calamities vi^hich accompany a ftate of war.And, fi/ft, it may be faid that God keeps a peoplelong in thefe calamities, to raife and keep alive inthem a habitual diilike of war, and a (irong averGonto begin any particular war, though, at iirft view,and when it is flightly confidered, it may appear tobe juil. War is fo horrible in its afpe6t, and fo defolatingin its progrefs, that it is not to be gone intofrom a fudden fit of paflion, but after long and calm,and ferious deliberation, after every method to procure,to buy peace, hath been tried, and tried in vain:And it fliould not be begun on account of any tranlientor frivolous act of injuftice •, nor fhould it bebegun at all, unlefs the prirlce who begins it is rich,^ad ilrong, and- powerful, and i§ in a manner g^rtaia