The Duty of a Christian People under Divine Visitations

Transcribed from the 1832 J. G. & F. Rivington edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
BY THE REV. NEWTON SMART, M.A. OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, OXFORD.
“WHEN THY JUDGMENTS ARE IN THE EARTH, THE INHABITANTS OF THE WORLD WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL’S CHURCH-YARD, AND WATERLOO-PLACE: AND SOLD BY J. HATCHARD & SON, PICCADILLY; PARKER, & TALBOYS, OXFORD; ANDREWS, DURHAM; CHARNLEY, NEWCASTLE; RENNEY, SUNDERLAND; AND OTHER BOOKSELLERS.
1832.
LONDON: PRINTED BY GILBERT & RIVINGTON, ST. JOHN’S SQUARE.
TO THE REVERED MEMORY OF ONE OF THE KINDEST AND BEST OF MOTHERS, WHO RECEIVED HER CHILDREN AS A GIFT THAT COMETH OF THE LORD, AND PRAYED AND LABOURED, WITH EARNEST AND FAITHFUL DILIGENCE, TO BRING THEM UP IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD, THIS WORK IS INSCRIBED WITH THE DEEPEST FEELINGS OF FILIAL LOVE, GRATITUDE, AND VENERATION.
“THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED.”
Isaiah x. 3. “WHAT WILL YE DO IN THE DAY OF VISITATION AND IN THE DESOLATION WHICH SHALL COME FROM FAR? TO WHOM WILL YE FLEE FOR HELP?”
Thus far, the duty of a Christian people collectively , under Divine judgments, has been shewn; it remains to consider their duty individually ; which involves the consideration of what man owes to his God, his country, his neighbour, and himself, under any general visitation of Divine Providence. The Christian’s duty towards God, when His judgments are abroad, is a recognition of, and submission to, His chastening hand: to his country, unwearied exertion for the removal of the evils which appear to have called down the Divine vengeance: to his neighbour, friendly assistance, religious exhortation, and spiritual consolation: and to himself, through Divine grace, humiliation, repentance, amendment, and daily preparation for death and judgment.
These several duties, being all dependent upon each other, and intimately blended in their operation, may, perhaps, be not unfitly considered, as embraced by the public and private obligations of Christians under afflictive dispensations; which may be briefly stated to be—earnest prayer and incessant labour to effect a PERSONAL REFORMATION, and, as far as in them lies, a NATIONAL REFORMATION; which are proposed to be considered, as follows, more at large.