the honour of his people that they participated so deeply in his affliction. All approbation of the crime was thus formally dis- avowed ; and the guilt of it was made to rest on him who had committed it.
We rejoice that an universal abhorrence of the assassination has been expressed in our land : or, if there have been any so abandoned to all sense of duty both to God and man as to approve the deed, they have made themselves partakers of the crime, and contracted in the sight of God the guilt of murder. We would however remind you all, that this should be a season of deep humiliation amongst us, and of earnest prayer. We must mourn over the deed, and wash our hands in the blood of our great Sacrifice, if we would not have the guilt of blood imputed to us, or visited upon our land*^.]
It is some consolation to us however to consider,
III. That whatever obstructions arise, God's pur- poses shall surely be accomplished —
[The establishment of David on the throne of Israel was now nearly completed ; yet in the very moment of its comple- tion, as it were, was it counteracted by this horrid crime ; the influence that was to accomplish the measure was destroyed ; and the rival monarch deterred from his purpose. No prospect now remained but that of continued war : and the very coun- sels of Heaven appear to have been defeated. But God's counsel shall stand, though the expected instrument of its accomplishment be taken out of the way, and the greatest obstacle to its accomplishment remain. Accordingly in an unlooked-for way the point was eflfected, and the promise made fifteen years before to David, was fulfilled.
We did hope, that by the elevation of him, whose loss we deplore, to the government of this country, God had designs of mercy toward us : and we have reason to adore our God for the benefits which through his instrumentality our nation has received. Such a character, all things considered, has rarely been seen at the head of our affairs ; for piety is but a rare associate with political power. But, if the channel of God's mercy is withdrawn, the Fountain still is full ; and if we plead with him to pour out his benefits upon us, he will yet find other channels through which to communicate them to our land. True it is, that this is a season of uncommon difficulty, and the political horizon is gloomy in the extreme': but we hope that our nation shall yet be preserved a blessing to the
h Deut. xxi. 1—9.
' No person being fovmd to take the lead in our government ; and new difficulties arising, by means of Russia being just about to be again involved in war with France.