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

1^6SERMONS.fider, and if they be wife they ought to confider, thata country is their country no longer than by reafonablelabour and induftry they are able to provide atolerable fubfiftence in it. I fliall have occafion toenlarge farther on this point under a follovi^ing headof dilcourfe ; at prefent I break off, and conclude thisforenoon's fernion. But as I apprehend there arefeme hearing me who have either exai£led extravagantrents, or encouraged, and advifed that rigour andopprefTion, I will take the liberty of making a fliortaddrefs to them in the language of holy v/rit." Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the houfe ofJacobs and princes of the houfe of Ifrael, that abhorjudgment^ and pervert all equity ; is it not for youtheto know judgment, who hate the good and loveevil ? By reafon of the multitude of your oppreflions,you make the opprelled to cry •, men groan from outof the city, and the foul of the wounded crieth outthey cry out by reafon of the arm of the mighty.Tcu pluck ofF their ikin from ofF them, and breaktheir bones, and chop them in pieces as for the pot,and as flefh within the caldron. You turn judgmentinto wormv/ood, and leave off righteoufnefs in theiparth. You pluck the fatherlefs from the breaft, andtake a pledge of the poor. You caufe them to gonaked without clothing, and take away the fheaf fromthe hungry," If a tenant thrives in your land, yougrudge at his profperity ;you either ra:ck his rentthat he may thrive no m^ore, or you fend him adrift,and bereave him of the fruit of his labour. If yourtenants go to v/reck, as many of them m.uft do, youfee their mifcrable (late, and you have no pity ; youi'natch the lean morfel from the ftarving miOuth, andembitter the mifery of the miferable. Are your heartsHeeled againft all the imprefhons of humanity ^ Areyour ears fhut againft the piercing and doleful criesof the poor ? Do not ycu hear them often faying tayou, " We have underftanding as well as you, where-