pacifying the discordant elements-by her great and glorious success she restored peace to a world in arms. "Nation no longer warred against nation, but the sword was turned into the ploughshare, and the spear into the pruning hook."

And while we call to mind these signal manifestations of divine favour and protection extended to our country, and reflect how she became the instrument in the hands of Providence for stilling the raging of the nations, and for restoring peace and security to the world, can we forget that under the auspices of the illustrious individual now numbered with the dead, these purposes of the divine will were accomplished?

Let us continue our reflections too from the time when universal peace brought repose to our exhausted country. What wonders in science, what improvements in the arts, what brilliancy in literature, what new fields for commerce and enterprize have since that period burst forth to elevate our country, and which seemed reserved, in an especial manner, for the fostering care of our late beloved sovereign to call forth, to appreciate and to reward.

Whatever can tend to raise our country above surrounding nations-whatever constitute the refinement of society and the comforts of social and domestic life, have during his reign been brought to a degree of unprecedented perfection.

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But the most glorious feature which will distinguish of our departed sovereign, and which will con

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secrate his memory to every well-wisher of his country's happiness, is that great and important measure which provided accommodation in our established Church to thousands who had been driven to desert her standard, or to range themselves under the banners of contending sects. Those sacred piles which have been raised and consecrated to the honour of God and the service of religion, will stand as lasting monuments to the memory of GEORGE THE FOURTH! and will shed a lustre over his name when the memorials of more brilliant, but less useful, acts shall fade or be forgotten.

When then we reflect on these manifestations of Divine favour and protection extended to our country, and the blessings and privileges which, under the government of our departed sovereign, we have enjoyed, will it not naturally lead us to inquire to what ends these tokens of Almighty favour towards us have been applied, and to what purposes the blessings and privileges extended to us have been devoted?

And if the fate of the Jewish nation depended in a great measure on the return they made for the divine favour and protection which they experienced, if their inspired legislator denounced against them such dreadful punishment on account of their disobedience and ingratitude, can we imagine that greater forbearance will be shewn to us as a nation, if we, through a forgetfulness of God, abuse or lightly esteem the mercies which at his hand we

have experienced? When their venerable legislator threatened the Israelites with the dreadful consequences which he foretold awaited their obstinacy and disobedience, he shews them the aggravated nature of their guilt by recounting what the Almighty had done for that faithless and froward generation. Surely then it must become a matter of the greatest moment to ourselves as a nation, seriously to reflect how far the many instances of Divine favour and protection which we have experienced, have produced in us a disposition to promote the wise purposes for which they were designed, and in what degree the blessings and privileges extended to us, have become the means of our promoting the honour of God and our own present and future welfare.

If, in extending our inquiry throughout the various classes of the community, we should discover that the recollection of all which we have experienced at the hand of God form the theme of our acknowledgment and gratitude; if all of us should be found to be fully impressed with a lively sense of the obligation we are under of furthering the gracious ends for which the tokens of providential favour extended to us were designed; and if this consideration, influencing all classes of society, should have led to an increase of religion and morality amongst us; if a disposition to promote the honor of God, a reverence for his laws, and the practice of the great duties of Christian holiness be observable in our national

character-if, I say, serious reflection on all the mercies and blessings which, as a nation, we have experienced, have led us to testify, in return, gratitude and obedience to the source whence they are derived; then indeed may we venture to look back upon the past with feelings of joy and thankfulness, and forward to the future with humble confidence

and hope!

But may we venture to pronounce that all this has been done on our part? Can we presume to assert that a grateful acknowledgment of God's merciful dealings with us, as a nation, is a prevailing consideration amongst us? Could we dare to affirm that the recollection of his favour towards us, and the consequent obligation on our part of obedience and love, are distinguishing features which mark our character? And can we lay the flattering unction to our souls, that a continuance of the Divine favour and protection is a blessing we have laboured to secure?

To what class of the community shall we appeal for a reply?

Shall we look to the nobles of the land, to the rulers and governors of the state? Are they all fully impressed with a lively sense of the Divine favour and protection extended to their country, and anxious to testify their gratitude by promoting the honour of God, and a reverence for his laws amongst all classes of society? Is the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom a leading feature which adorns

their rank? Are they solicitous to purify the stream of national morals by preserving uncontaminated the source whence they issue? Is their example such as is likely to promote among all classes a reverence for the laws and religion of their country?

Shall we turn to the great body of the clergy of the realm? Are they, as ministers of the Gospel, always found faithful to their trust, as those that must give an account? Are they all fully impressed with a sense of the awful responsibility they incur in bearing rule over the Church of Christ, or in feeding the flocks committed to their care? Is the promotion of the glory of God, and the salvation of the souls of men, the great and paramount object of their ministry?

Shall we appeal to the middle classes of society? Are they all living in the true faith and fear of God? Is religion a matter of primary importance to themselves and their families? Are they unaffectedly desirous to promote its interest both by their practice and example? Are they anxious to discourage every thing that may tend to infuse irreligion and immorality among the community, and to set such examples to their servants, their dependants, and to the lower orders of society in general, as may tend to promote the honour of God, and their temporal and eternal interest?

Shall we venture to ask the lower classes of society? Are they all living in the discharge of the duties which belong to their humble station? Are

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