produce  a  corrupt  Society.  321

at  once  to  the  very  root.     He  does  not  mea-
sure a  people's  sin  by  rules  of  human  science^
statistical  calculations,  and  political  ill :    but
he  says  boldly  to  them  all,  that  it  is  '^  pride,
fulne^  of  bread,  and  abundance  of  idleness ;"
that  hot-bed  of  sin,  and  nursery  of  all  national
and  individual  guiltiness.     And  can  we  say,
apart,  for  one  moment,  from  the  remembrance
of  the  divine  inspiration  under  which  he  wrote,
can  we  say,  in  the  lesson  of  experience,  that
the  prophet  erred  ?  Wliat  do  we  learn  in  every
page  of  history  which  tells  the  downfal  of
nations,  but  that  this  which  the  prophet  speaks
of,  was  the  signal  for  their  ruin  ?  In  the  great
ruins  of  nations  since  the  world  was,  first  the
universal  deluge,  which  destroyed  the  earth ;
then  in  the  fall  of  Assyria,  Babylon,  Greece,
and  Rome,  has  it  not  for  ever  been  the  mani-
fest truth,  that  ^'  righteousness  exalteth  a  na-
tion, but  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any  people?"*
And  in  the  increase  of  our  own  moral  guilt  be-
fore God,  may  not  that  be  sounded  in  our  ears,
which  was  formerly  sounded  by  a  prophet  in
the  ears  of  the  Israelites,  '^  Are  there  not  with
you,  even  with  you,   sins  against  the  Lord
your  God  ?"t  ^i^d,  ^^  Your  iniquities  have  se-
parated between  you  and  your  God, "J  was
surely  not  more  justly  the  truth  for  sinning
Judah,  than  it  now  is  for  us.
*  Prov.  xiv.  34.        f  2  Chron.  xxviii.  10.        :|:  Is.  lix.  2.
