formed; by cutting them off by the fword, famine, or peftilence; or by delivering them into the hands of their enemies, to lead them captive into a strange land. The strength of the mighty man, the equity of the judge, the inftructions of the prophet, the counfels of the prudent, the influence of the ancient, the ability of the officers, the example of the honourable, the advice of the counfellors, the fkill of the artificer, and the eloquence of the orator, were the great fupports of the ftate. The removal, therefore, of thefe pillars, on which the public welfare depended, would be attended with certain ruin, and occafion the immediate downfal and deftruction of the whole fabric of the ftate. Read the exact accomplishment of this prediction, recorded 2 Kings xxiv. 10th, and following verfes. Let us, brethren, be thankful to the Governor among the nations, who raises up among us men of fuch illuftrious characters as thefe above mentioned, to be the ornaments and ftrength of the community to which we belong; and let us hold fuch in reputation for their works fake. 4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes fhall rule over them. The nation of the Jews, deprived of the care and management of prudent, able men, was to be intrufted to those who were weak, unexperienced, and unfkilful. I prefume it is unnecessary to understand the words literally, and to explain them in the strictest fense, of babes and children. Let it fuffice to remark, that the princes and rulers of that people, who, in the days of their profperity, were renowned for their wifdom, vigour, and the adminiftration of government, were to be fucceeded by perfons either under age, fubject to tutors, incapable of managing their own affairs, and much more of directing the important concerns of others; or, if come to age, were yet children in understanding, and unfit for holding the reins of government. This is a heavy judgment upon a people and land: and, in this view, God fpeaks of it by the wifeft of kings; Wo to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning. Bleffed art thou, O land, when thy king is the fon of nobles, and thy princes eat in due seafon, for ftrength and not for drunkennefs. Some princes and rulers are bestowed upon a nation in great mercy, and prove ineftimable bleffings to thofe over whom they prefide; others are given in wrath and judgment, and prove fevere fcourges to their fubjects. Among this latter clafs, we rank thofe here mentioned, who were totally incapable of performing the difficult duties of their elevated ftation, the lamentable effects of which must have been feverely felt through the whole body of the nation. Such was the deftitute condition of Judah, after Nebuchadnezzar carried away to Babylon Jehoiakim, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, and all the craftsmen, when, we fuppofe, this prediction was verified. Senfible of the many important advantages, facred and civil, that we enjoy, under the beft of governments, let us value and improve them; and diligently beware of forfeiting them to ourselves, or pofterity, by a careless abuse of them. 5 And the people fhall be oppreffed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child fhall behave himfelf proudly against the ancient, and the bafe against the honourable. The diffolution of good order, and political confufion, are here described, as the difmal confequences of the judgments mentioned in the foregoing verfes. Oppreffion and pride every where prevail. The Hebrew word tranflated oppreffed, fignifies to demand by force, * Ecclef. x. 16, 17. to to compel to work, or pay debt or tribute. And as labour, debt, and tribute, are often demanded with violence and cruelty, in a manner inconfiftent with right and equity, it is called oppreffion. The word may denote here, either that oppreffion which comes from the tongue, or from the hand; that which is inflicted by violence, or executed by fraud; whether it confifts in injuriously with-holding what is due, or forcibly taking away what is rightfully enjoyed, or unjustly hurting by unmerited cenfure, or evil-fpeak, ing. This oppreffian Solomon obferves, in his book of Ecclefiaftes, makes a wife man mad. Indeed fools are not greatly diftreffed by it, because they do not understand juftice and equity; and therefore tyrants commonly endeavour to keep their fubjects in ignorance and poverty. When rigorously exercifed, however, upon people of fenfe and knowledge, it is enough to render them distracted. Such was the iniquitous conduct of the men of Judah toward one another: fuch was their injurious behaviour toward their neighbours, whom they ought to have loved as themselves, and to whom they ought to have done whatsoever they would that they fhould do to them. Those in high rank knew the incapacity of the prince to detect their artful frauds, or to check their avaricious meafures, whereby they meant to enrich themfelves. Thofe in the lower walks of life, distressed by the oppreffion of the great, from which they could not obtain redrefs, and unawed by the fear of punishment, imitated the great in their rapacity, cruelty, and injustice, until the practice complained of becomes univerfal, as here intimated: The child fhall behave himfelf proudly against the ancient, and the bafe against the honourable. Oppreffion is accompanied with pride, which leads to the moft indecent and ridiculous behaviour. Among the many excellent ftatutes which God delivered to his people Ifrael, the following is recorded: Thou fhalt rile up before the hoary head, and honour the face A a of of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the • Lord *.' He hath commanded to render unto all their due, fear to whom fear, and honour to whom honour belongeth, either on account of advanced age, high ftation, or important office. Indeed honour is not only due to those who are our fuperiors in any of these refpects, but to those who are our equals, yea, even to those who are our inferiors, as is evident from fuch apoftolical directions as thefe; Be kindly affectionate one to another, in honour preferring one another+: In lowlinefs of mind let each efteem another better than himfelf t.' How diametrically oppofite to this good conduct is the fupercilious behaviour here defcribed! The child in age, in understanding, in experience, foolishly over-rating his natural endowments, his acquired abilities, his fuppofed qualities, and fpecious performances, affumes a most unbecoming, haughty behaviour toward those whom he ought highly to refpect, for their age, their judgment, and experience, and the other advantages which they poffefs.The bafe, i. e. thofe of mean parentage, and in low circumstances in the world, who ought, in a special manner, to cultivate a humble temper and deportment, fuited to their condition, difcovered indecent pride and infolence toward those who were defcended of illuftrious ancestors, and were in high rank and eminent ftation. Thus the beautiful order which the great Lord of all hath established among fociety is inverted; tranfgreffors incur much guilt, and though the profligacy and depravity of the times might fcreen them from the hand of justice, those against whom they acted thus undutifully, would most fenfibly feel the indignities they received.The prophet Jeremiah mentions the accomplishment of this prediction, Lam. iv. 16. where we thus read; The anger of the Lord hath divided them, he will no more regard them: they refpected not the per+ Rom. xii. 10. * Lev. xix. 32. Philip. ii. 3. <fons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.'Beware then, my friends, of oppreffion and pride, which difturb the good order and happinefs of mankind; and which, when properly confidered, appear to be not only aggravated iniquities, but terrible judgments. Diligently attend to the relative duties incumbent upon you, in your various ftations and connections. Endeavour to perform them with fidelity and diligence, that thereby you may promote the happinefs of fociety, adorn your holy profeffion, and the amiable doctrines of God our Sa viour. 6 When a man fhall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, faying, Thou haft clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand. The defcription of the confufed, difturbed ftate of the Jewish nation, at the time referred to, is here continued.Then a person would take hold of fome of his connections, who were chief of their fathers houses, in this manner expreffing his earnest desire, that the request he was going to prefent might be speedily granted. This action is repeatedly mentioned in fcripture, as intended for this purpose. We are told, that as Samuel turned about to go away, Saul ⚫ laid hold of the skirt of his mantle *: and that in those days (referred to by the prophet) it fhall come to pafs, that ten men fhall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even fhall take hold of the kirt of him that is a Jew, faying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you t.' The words reprefent, a perfon earneftly fupplicating from his friend that affiftance to the ftate, which he reckoned him capable of affording. When we reflect for a moment on the anarchy and confufion which |