of men, or in such a vast array of numbers. “What am I among so many? True, the thing was wrong in itself, but we could not save the party without it. I only acted as I was compelled to act in the circumstances, and the blame must rest upon my friends, not upon me." Ah, and what a scene have we here! See this Roman governor. He had protested again and again, saying, "I find no cause of death in this man." But they would not hear him; and they begin to tell him in their rage that he is not Cæsar's friend. Now he assents; and see the solemn farce that follows! Secretly disturbed, perhaps, by the admonition his wife gave him, he calls for water, takes it, and washing his hands before the people, says "I am innocent of the blood of this just person, see ye to it." Ah, let him wash again! Rivers of water cannot wash out the blood that stains his guilty hands! Pilate is responsible for what he has done, and when he meets the Lord Jesus at his bar, he must meet him as a perjured judge and a crucifier. It will not suffice to say that he only went with the multitude: he ought to have withstood them. So is every one of you responsible to God for what you do, however pushed by numbers. You cannot wash your hands by throwing your guilt upon others. And for every wrong or corrupt act you favor, you must go into judgment side by side with Pilate, when tried as a cruel magistrate and a crucifier of the Lord.

Again, we ought to be admonished of the fact, that men do often seal their undoing in the strifes of politics. The trial and crucifixion of Christ, I have shown you, is in one view a scene of Jewish politics. Then, doubtless, the unhappy Pilate sealed the fate of his immortality. The same was true, probably, of many others; and they have gone to their account as the crucifiers of Jesus with the blood upon their heads. To all these that was a fatal hour. Think it not incredible that many, in the great election of our country now at hand, may do the same. What terrible passions are here brought into play! What desperate means and expedients will be suggested! How many will be tempted to give or receive a bribe! How many will violate their oath of office, or their elector's oath! How many will do a fatal violence to their conscience! Yes, my hearers, in this single campaign many of your countrymen will probably seal their eternal ruin; and it becomes you all to go into it with this truth full before you. I by no means counsel you to stay away and take no part in the election. You escape no responsibility by so doing. You have a duty here which must be performed. When the disciples forsook their Master and fled, it was no credit to them; it was only forsaking virtue and truth, and leaving them in the hands of their enemies.

Again, it must be remembered, in our subject, that the fate of a country is often at stake on the issue of a single turn of politics. From the moment when the Scribes and Pharisees prevailed, the doom of their country and temple was sealed. The sceptre now departed from Judah and went over to the Gentiles. Shortly after, in the siege of Titus, Jerusalem became, within, such a scene of starvation, faction, and murder, that it seemed as if some wonderful curse had changed the nature of men to that of fiends and monsters. So was the glory of the temple and the covenants blotted out for ever by the visible hand of the Almighty. Deem it not impossible that we may decide, even in a single election, the fate of our nation for ever. Would that our political leaders had a greater sense of their responsibility in this respect. They do not consider, I fear, the vastness of the interests they hold in jeopardy,-not impossibly our name and constitution, the happiness they have given this great people, and the glorious history by which their memory is sanctified.

Once more, if our institutions are to fall in this or any other future crisis, it ought to be a source of comfort that the government of God will stand, and that he will permit such an event only as he can overrule it to the furtherance of his glorious plans. What a fall was it when the Son of God was crucified! There virtue fell! There the prince of Israel! There the divine person of the Son! The wreck came close to the throne and fell against it! But that fall was the life of the world, our hope, our light, and the spring of eternal joy to myriads of redeemed spirits. If, then, our great nation, and our free institutions, which are now a star of hope to many gazing eyes, should be overwhelmed, which I trust in God and really believe they never will, be assured that God will suffer it only for the furtherance of his good designs. The event will come, only to be overruled and blessed to mankind. How cheerful and composing a thought, that when all the bulwarks of human law and order are tremulous, there is a government above which no agitation or tumult ever reaches; one whose laws are equity, whose councils are those of eternal wisdom and love. In this grand monarchy, or, if you please, republic of the skies, (for such in a sense it is,) all events are peacefully turned and moulded to their place; everlasting order reigns unshaken. I should think, my friends, that some of you who are weary and war-worn in this dusty field of politics, would be often looking away thither, and sighing for a rest in its arms!

I have thus taken you, my hearers, over a somewhat promiscuous field, but I hope not without benefit. My aim has been to impress you with the seriousness of your responsibilities in this direction. I have endeavored to go after you into this great field, and carry with me truths which you ought to remember. I hope you are at least impressed with a sense of the very intimate relation between

politics and morals in our country. How easily are the passions of our people enlisted here, and how deeply. These great gatherings, these fervid appeals, stir the strongest feelings in their bosoms. Are they virtuously stirred? I believe they often are. But I see so many appeals that are base in the lowest degree, and witness the assault of so many things that are sacred, that I cannot restrain my anxiety. And the more so because the strongest force is here at work upon our moral character that can be produced. What, then, is to be the result of these political agitations on the moral tone of our country? We are going rapidly in some direction, and it is time for every true American to ask WHITHER?

THE NATIONAL PREACHER.

The object of this work is to circulate monthly, throughout the United States, Original Sermons, from the ablest divines of the different evangelical denominations of our country. The work will be found to be eminently useful to the younger portion of the ministry, as presenting models of pulpit eloquence, on a great variety of subjects; while no work can be introduced into families with greater propriety, as furnishing les sons and directions adapted to almost every class, in respect "to the life that now is, and that which is to come." It will be found especially useful to individuals and families when detained from the Sanctuary, or deprived of the stated preaching of the Gospel.

It is believed that the christian community will feel the importance of sustaining this periodical. It is the organ of no sectarian or party spirit, and may safely be introduced into every family as a strictly religious work. The time was, when the "Village Sermons" were deemed a necessary requisite in every family library. It is hoped that this work will supply their place, and at the same time counteract the dissipating effects of the great mass of light reading which is the peculiar characteristic of the day,

The National Preacher is the only work of the kind now before the religious community. There are now completed fourteen volumes, which, as a body of sermons, are not inferior, either in their piety, style, or force, to any collection to be found. It embraces in its list of contributors many of the most celebrated divines of the United States. It has been regarded as a standard work in this country; and it gives the Editor pleasure to state that the demand from Europe is nearly equal to its circulation in America.

The fifteenth volume commences with January, 1841. It is proposed to publish a series of sermons (five or six in number) from the Rev. Albert Barnes, on revivals of religion, contemplated in reference to cities and large towns, beginning with the January number. These will be found to be eminently useful in every family.

ENLARGEMENT OF THE WORK. The Editor has been obliged to decline publishing some valuable sermons for want of room. In order to remedy this difficulty, the work will be enlarged to twenty-four pages. The postage will remain the same.

The Editor would respectfully solicit the co-operation of its friends and subscribers in extending its circulation.

Price of the work $1 00 a year, in ADVANCE. Any individual sending five subscriptions shall be entitled to a sixth copy.

Communications may be addressed to

2

DARIUS

MEAD, EDITOR,

Brick Church Chapel

NEW YORK, December, 1840.