raise ourselves out of this n te the east helping hand towards our i vich God are as at the first we lost by 3. nd name forfeited that grace which 4 by de misuse of it. So that if we loc tems we all and nothing but this dismal Į testar: we can claim nothing of God, nor TT TA DA SU our and help us; to us belongs co Lamentation, mourning, and Bar 1 we ook in mir we may there behold that bow Is tucet Lout the timing, to remind us of that cove mad has es busted with us, and ratified and co via the 2000 in Els teary-beloved Son, to assure every ITI DLM TEnt saber that though He is a terrible forums, Tar He will be a gracious and merciful S are reconciled to Him through Christ, an Per sa pitoned by E's death and satisfaction. HA VIS Domer as of that desperate conditic sure reduced purseires. To the Lord our God i HR IN DEtangs firmneness, though we have rebelled a All Der-fira, it is observable that this bow has no s SWT DET I Care God's vengeance upon us, but it is i v de arme is astments of war used to be in times of Na ze Ã.mans, die zenaments to their houses and the te tx God i SAD Weet in amw, denoting to us that our b Immuased. God's wrath and taken away the sin and as it were disarmed God's justice; s is reconciled to God through Christ has no 1 vs that dy by night, nor the pestilence that w The most dread threatenings and judgments of das de His thunder out of His hand, and is enomice as wit the arms of a loving and indulgent Father. And 20" 23 a bew encompassing the throne, denoting tar God's mercy is exalted above His justice; for though all ambones an equal as they are essentially in God, yet in efvers and in the exercise of them they shine with a different and the goodness of God is that attribute which in a peculiar n wars the the nature, and renders it amiable and lovely, a as venerize and adorable. God's mercy, which is only the e at Es goodness towards offenders, is represented in the Holy Sure a poc ar privileges above the rest of His attributes. is shed the Father of mercy; “ He is rich in mercy,” and s sad to please Him." He desires to be known by this at the whole world; He is the Lord God, gracious and mercif pubcr Beclares that His mercy rejoices over judgment. meretics the rainbow is placed about the throne, to signify that God is always mindful of His gracious covenant mad manand, and that in the midst of justice He remembers me Ir may be thought pertaps a m us to believe mysteK VLA believe is above our COMETERS neither doth it appear at for them doth concert etter the goodness or wickedness of gerous mistake. Tem faith both in the Old and New how the faith of Ab would raise from fall ap issue? And thE WES petually preating at a the mercy of B.C. 370-322.] DEMOSTHENES. ANCIENT AND CONTINENTAL ORATORY. D DEMOSTHENES. EMOSTHENES, the greatest orator of antiquity, was born at Athens about 370 years before Christ. He was first placed, says Chalmers, under Plato and Euclid of Megara, to study philosophy: but observing with what applause Callistratus pleaded before the people, he applied to the study of oratory, under Isocrates and Isæus. He was left fatherless when very young, and was much neglected and defrauded by his guardians; on which account he pleaded against them at seventeen years of age, and with so much success, that they were condemned to pay thirty talents; but, it is said, he forgave them. This was the first time that he distinguished himself by his eloquence, which at length he improved to such perfection that Philip said "it was of more weight against him than all the fleets and armies of the Athenians;" and that "he had no enemy but Demosthenes;" and Demetrius, Phalereus, and Eratosthenes said, "he actually appeared like one inspired." He could present an object in any light he pleased, and give it whatever colouring best answered his purpose; and where he found it difficult to convince the judgment, he knew how to seduce the imagination. He was not perhaps so universal an orator as Cicero, not so powerful in panegyric, nor had he his turn for raillery; and Longinus says, whenever he attempted to jest, the laugh was sure to turn upon himself. But then he had a force of oratory which, as Longinus observes, bore down, like a torrent, all before it. He opposed Philip of Macedon with his full strength, and Alexander after him. Alexander requested of the Athenians to have Demosthenes given up to him, but this was refused; yet when Antipater, his successor, made the same request afterwards, after his victory, these same Athenians, as the price of their pardon, were obliged to sacrifice Demosthenes and the orators of the same party. Demosthenes fled to the temple of Neptune at Calauria, where he poisoned himself B.C. 322. The speeches of Demosthenes are natural, concise, vigorous, and logical; he was by turns calm, vehement, or elevated as the subject required; in energy and power of persuasion, in beauty and vigour of expression, and language at once strong and melodious, he surpassed all his predecessors. The following extract is from Demosthenes' first Philippic. The general subject is to rouse the Athenians to guard against Philip of Macedon, whose growing power and crafty policy had by this time endangered, and soon after overwhelmed, the liberties of Greece. The Athenians began to be alarmed ; but all their deliberations were slow and their measures feeble, several of their favourite orators having been gained by Philip's bribes to favour his cause. In this critical conjuncture of affairs Demosthenes arose. The Athenians Aroused. HAD we been convened, Athenians! on some new subject of debate, I had waited till most of your usual counsellors had declared their opinions. If I had approved of what was proposed by them, I should have continued silent; if not, I should then have attempted to speak my sentiments. But since those very points on which these speakers have oftentimes been heard already are at this time to be considered, though I have arisen first, I presume I may expect your pardon; for if they on former occasions had advised the proper measures, you would not have found it needful to consult at present. First, then, Athenians! however wretched the situation of our affairs at present seems, it must not by any means be thought desperate. What I am now going to advance may possibly appear a paradox; yet it is a certain truth that our past misfortunes afford a circumstance most favourable to our future hopes. And what is that? even that our present difficulties are owing entirely to our total indolence and utter disregard of our own interest. For were we thus situated in spite of every effort which our duty demanded, then, indeed, we might regard our fortunes as absolutely desperate. But, now, Philip hath only conquered our supineness and inactivity; the State he hath not conquered. You cannot be said to be defeated; your force hath never been exerted. If there is a man in this assembly who thinks that we must find a formidable enemy in Philip, while he views on one hand the formidable armies which surround him, and, on the other, the weakness of our State, despoiled of so much of its dominions, I cannot deny that he thinks justly. Yet let him reflect on this: there was a time, Athenians when we possessed Pydna, Potidea, and Melthone, and all that country round; when many of the states, now subjected to him, were free and independent, and more inclined to our alliance than to his. If Philip, at that time weak in himself, and without allies, had desponded of success against you, he would never have engaged in those enterprises which are now crowned with success, nor could have raised himself to that pitch of grandeur at which you now behold him. But he knew well that the strongest places are only prizes laid between the combatants and ready for the conqueror. He knew that the dominions of the absent devolve naturally to those who are in the field the possessions of the supine, to the active and intrepid. Animated by these sentiments, he overturns whole nations. He either rules universally as a conqueror, or governs as a protector. For mankind naturally seek confederacy with such as they see resolved and preparing not to be wanting to themselves. If you, my countrymen! will now at length be persuaded to entertain the like sentiments; if each of you will be disposed to approve himself a useful citizen, to the utmost that his station and abilities enable him; if the rich will be ready to contribute, and the young to take the field; in one word, if you will be yourselves, and banish those vain hopes which every single person entertains, that the |