me to do?" The promptings of benevolence and the prescriptions of infinite wisdom will make manifest services to be rendered; and the injunction will be deemed personal, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might."

But a good man contemplating these things will cherish in his own mind deep sorrow-will not merely give vent to expressions of grief, but will, as far as he can, regulate his own mind under the influence of these aspects of his country's woes so as to bring him to a state in which he will be a partaker of the common calamity. We live in our ceiled houses, we inhabit our sea-girt isle, and boast ourselves of our defence against an adversary from abroad. Ah! but let us, with sympathy in our hearts, follow those family circles which have been bereaved. I have observed already, in the divers assemblies in which it has been my province to administer instruction and impart comfort, that the silent tear has fallen down the cheek when a word appropriate to such scenes has been spoken, or a prayer offered in behalf of those who have been led forth, at the behest of our rulers, to mingle in the fray in a distant land. How many mothers and wives there are who are full of sadness on this account, who sigh and cry in their own lonely homes, while the nation is talking and vaunting itself of troops, battalions, armies, battles, and vic

tories! The rulers of the nation are urged to multiply their forces and increase the strength of their armies, and every day some new demonstration is given or some new movement is heralded to indicate how, for the accomplishment of great purposes, troops are sent forth: and thus additions are made to the multitude who are even now the children of sorrow on this very account.

Nor does it become us, as Christian men, taught the Christian principle of love, to confine our sympathies to those of our own nation, or to our own confederates and allies. Who does not admit the claim to pity of the Russian serf? The enlightened and generous mind will unfeignedly bewail the fact, that, out of some sixty millions of subjects belonging to the empire of Russia, there are forty-five millions downtrodden, abject, and heartless slaves; and that these forty-five millions must-as mere mechanical instruments, not daring to have a will of their own, or to seem to think of what is the wisdom or the justice of the actions required of them-do what is pleasing to the ambition of an irresponsible ruler, whose usurping and encroaching mind only aspires after extended dominion and increased submission. Christian philanthropy will contemplate the Russians -infatuated by superstition or impelled by the knout, and engaged in battle or perishing in the marshes of the Danube-with intense feelings of sorrow for

them, and a practical desire to compassionate their condition. Oh, if we could crush to annihilation the ships! if we could break down the batteries, and destroy the weapons of war, prepared by the Russian autocrat and his ministers, without touching the poor, miserable, ignorant myriads who are organized, by this resistless power, to fight against surrounding nations! We might everyone unhesitatingly rejoice to hear that his ships were burnt or broken up, his batteries thrown down, and his armies dispersed: but every ship that is taken, and every battery that is destroyed, will be accompanied with the confused noise of the warrior, and with "garments rolled in blood"; with burning, and fuel of fire; straitened sieges, and famished multitudes; desolated hearths, and ruined families; mothers weeping for their children, and refusing to be comforted. The Christian man will contemplate the matter in this light, and think of the disasters and wretchedness connected with the progress of war. Instead of thinking merely that troops and fleets are going forth to battle, we should seek as much as possible to contemplate the horrors arising out of the sanguinary strife.

But the devout man will not only cherish a proper feeling of sorrow in his own heart, he will also "direct his prayer unto God, and look up." He will exercise himself in profound and incessant supplication, both that the principles of the gospel may prevail, and

that the peace of the nations may be restored. It is his duty to remember always that his petitions are required especially for the accomplishment of such changes as are congenial to the genius and principles of the gospel. The avowal that we are for peace, and the 66 prayer, scattered be the people who delight in war," are in harmony with the maxims and spirit of him who is Prince of Peace as well as King of Righteousness. It would be no disparagement to his most honoured servants, and the leaders among his people, if they would separate themselves for seasons of devotion and importunate solicitations at the throne of the heavenly majesty, that the kingdom may come which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

But still further-the duty of Christian men, looking upon the scenes of war, will be, to seek to recognize the presence and judgment of God in all the concurrent events. There is a purpose to be served by all the mysterious and desolating scourges of Providence. Not only does he rule over all, but he overrules all things for his own glory. His own word has declared, all things shall work together for good to them that love him; and he has said, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations: I will be exalted in the earth.” God has, doubtless, a purpose of wisdom and goodness to serve, even by the strife of nations; and it is

the duty, the privilege, of the good man to try to recognize him as ruling over all. "Shall a trumpet

be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? Surely, the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants, the prophets."

And yet again, we may safely yield to the conviction, and the Christian will be assured, that these very tumults will turn out for the furtherance of the gospel." It is a most remarkable fact in the history of the nations of Europe and of Asia, that almost every war during the last two hundred years has terminated in arrangements which have led to the extension of the gospel. The agitations and fears of men in power have yielded an increase of religious liberty, and this has been followed by spiritual and religious blessing. Even when England embarked in continental warfare, with an infatuation that could hardly have been expected from so enlightened a Government-when she imprudently rushed forth to aid in the restoration of the Bourbons, and talked of repairing the hearths and altars of the Popish people of France-when she employed her greatest men and strongest armies against Napoleon Bonaparte, and when she occupied the Peninsula to withstand France, in favour of a Ferdinand with his imbecile court, and to restore Popery to its hated