Is not this the fast that I have chosen ?
To loose the hands of wickedness ; to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free; and that ye break every yoke ? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that arc cast oat to thy house ? When thou seest the naked that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh 1 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily.'
" Do we not see," he adds, "in our days, many such strange and unexpected changes in the fortunes of men as should lead all to consider the possibility of changes in our own condition, and to make ourselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness ?
The language of Lear may occur to us every day-
" 0 I have trien Too little care of this. Take physic, PoMp ; Expose thyself to feel What wretches feel, That thou may'st shake the superfiux to them, And show the Heavens more just."
But shall we tax Heaven with injustice ? Have we not as a nation enjoyed many privileges, and been exempted from many evils, that others have snffered ? Can we say that we are more righteous ? Surely we cannot. And shall we not then fear before God's threatened judg- ments ?" Under such impressions, the writer hopes "that our gracious Sovereign will see it Isis duty, as the father of his people, to call them to a solemn National Festival, that we may be humbled before Him who is King of Kings. if, peradventure, he may be entreated of us, and our national tranquillity prolonged. The call to this exercise, by the signs of the times, is loud. Let us not he found to despise the chastening of the Lord, neither faint when we are rebuked of him.' But let us do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God ; remembering. always that his promises and his threatenings are alike faithful."
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