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

miiiiiter's chief bufinefs to ftrive that his people mayby faith and holinefs be prepared for eternal happinefs; but I think alfo that he cannot but commifcratethe vifible dillrefs of his flock, and wifli them toenjoy fome tolerable eafe and comfort in the pTefentlife ; and that if by affiflance, counfel, or advice, hecan alleviate their fufFerings, he would be unworthyof his of&ce unlefs he endeavoured it, always condudt-.ing himfelf by the invariable lav/s of truth and righteoufnefsj and it is with a fincere aim to impart toyou fome confolation under your fufferings, and topoint out fome probable and prudent, means of beingdelivered from them, that I preach this fermon.Taking therefore the text before me as the groundof my difcourfe, I fliaii endeavour to obferve the followingmethod;1. I will fliow, that the rate of land in this part ofBritain istoo high.2. Mention fom'i- of the caufes and' means hjwhich It hath been fcrewed up to fuch a height.3. Show what are already the effects of the highrate of land, .and what mull be the further conicquencesof it.4. That it is the duty and confolation of an afilicledpeople to cry unto God.5» That, as the Ifraelites were ddivered our ofthe houfe of bondage by the arm of God, lo thepeople v/ho are opprelTcd in this^ land have, by divineprovidence, an efFe6lual means, of being deliveredfrom the hardOiips they groan under.6. That it is the duty of an afflifted people topurfue the. means v/hich divineprovidence oiikid fortheir deliverance."And thougk the fubjevSl be not common, the doC"trine fliali be found ; and I will cxprefs myiolf asmuch as I can in the ftyle and language of holyfcripture.i» Firft, then, I am to Ihow, that the rate of laudo 3