instead of having to contend with him on our own soil. Still however we must have fallen before him, had not his insup- portable despotism goaded to resistance the Russian monarch. But at one time, even that event also appeared to have prepared for us a more complete destruction. But God suffered the proud oppressor madly to protract his stay amongst the ruins of Moscow, till a retreat became extremely difficult. Hence arose defeat : the severity of the climate, and the extraordinary energy of the Russian armies, soon dissipated the forces of our enemy ; and enabled many who had been compelled to fight under his banners, to turn their arms against him, and to seek the recovery of their former independence. Yet, after all, if the last great battle had not been decided in favour of the allied armies, our enemy might still have retrieved his former losses, and again forged chains for the whole civilized world. But the time was come for God to have mercy on us; and he has had mercy beyond all that could possibly have been expected : he has trodden down the oppressor, as the mire in the streets ; and has restored peace amongst all the contending nations, even such a peace as the world never saw before; a peace cemented by universal harmony and love.]
Let us then, instead of contemplating our mercies only, proceed to consider, II. The duty of acknowledging God in them —
In the psalm before us, all the success is ascribed to God alone : God's gracious agency is acknowledged to have been the sole cause of Israel's preservation0; for this his name is humbly and gratefully adored d; and he is declared to be henceforth the only hope of his people6. In like manner should we acknowledge him in all the mercies which we now celebrate: for,
1. They do all in reality proceed from him — [We are by no means disposed to withhold our tribute of praise from those who have been the instruments of our deli- verance. Those who have been at the helm of our affairs have certainly laid their plans with consummate wisdom ; and our forces both by sea and land have carried them into execution with extraordinary energy. But still, without the Divine blessing their united efforts, however great, would have failed. It is God alone who inspired them either with wisdom or courage ; and he alone who gave success to their endeavours. We are assured that even the ploughman and the thresher de- rive all their skill from himf ; how much more then the gover- nors of nations, and the conductors of fleets and armies ! The
c ver. 1,2. d ver. 6. e ver. 8. f Isai. xxviii. 26 — 29.
71(3-1 GOD TO BE A^k^Owledged IN OUI1 MERCIES. 389
victories of Cyrus were, as much as any could be, the result of human energy ; because God was not known either to him or to his people : but God tells us, that he, even he alone, gave him success g. In like manner it is he, and he alone, who lias conducted us in safety through all our troubles, and brought them at last to such a happy issue. That we should see and acknowledge this, is of infinite importance ; because God is " a jealous God, who will not give his glory to another," or endure that we should " sacrifice to our own drag,, and burn incense to our own net." Hear with what earnestness he cautioned the Jews against this great impietyh; and let us learn with all possible care to avoid it : let us bear in mind that it is God alone " who maketh wars to cease, and breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder, and burnetii the chariot in the fire ' ; " and that, as there is not evil, so neither is there good, in the city, which is not the work of his hands .k] 2. The acknowledging of him in them gives us the truest enjoyment of them —