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

SERMONS.have I alio left you in thS hand of Shiiliak. Whereuponthe prmces of Ifrael, and the king, humbledthemfelves, and they faid, The Lord is righteous.'*Formerly, the king was high-minded, and fpakeroughly ; he is now ferious, humble, and devout.He had, it feems, by this time difmiiTed the youn;.^counfellors, being convinced that they had dreadfullymifled him, embroiled his affairs, loft him ten provincesof his father's kingdom, and put him. in dangerof lofmg the whole. We no longer hear of theyoung men grown up with him ; the king is nowattended by the princes of Judah, of Ifrael ; thefeprinces, who five years before " hearkened to theword of the Lord," and declined to " go up and fightagainft their brethren." The kingdom was to be forclychaftifed, " that they might know the diflerenccbetwdbn" God's fervice and the fervice of a foreignking:" But the king and the princes had repented,and it was not to be deftroyed ; for *» when the Lordfaw that they humbled themfelves, the v/ord. of theLord came to Shemaiah, faying, They iiavc humbledthemfelves, therefore I will not deftroy them, but Iwill grant them fome deliverance, and my wrath (hallnot be poured out upon Jerufalem by the hand ofShifhak. And when he humbled himfelf, the wrathof the Lord turned from l>-.i, that he would not deflroyhim altogetlier. And alfo in Judah things wentwell."I have explained this hiflorical paflage of fcripturein the beft way I could. I conclude the difcourfewith a few more remarks.I ft, The fir ft. remark I make, is, That it is an eafything to govern mankind. The bulk of men are, a^I may fay, haltered ; they are born to fcrve ; they ax'cwilling, ever defirous to be led -,they fabmit and livein quietnefs under any go^'crnment that is but halftolerable. If there be infurre6tions or revolts in anyftate or empire; princes or their minifters have con>G 3