15. Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16. Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heather should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

The preacher began by saying that it was now about fifty years since a similar call to that which assembled the people this day was made to the British nation. In the declaration of the present war, the sovereign did not direct but followed the opinions of the people. This day is the sentiment of the nation, commanded by our Queen. By its solemnities we add acts of worship to the public diligence, enterprise, and skill. To national prudence, it unites national religion. A great people in the posture of humiliation before God, is grand, especially when that people is not brought low by pestilence, famine, or defeat, is in the enjoyment of unexampled prosperity: when she is in possession of all that raises the exultation, or flatters the pride of man; when her armies have reached a state of efficiency, such as it never knew; when she sends forth fleets that surpass all history; and both look immediately back upon an unequalled course of success, - yet bow in reverence before the throne of God.

The preacher, after having mentioned the various reasons, which made it right to share in the humiliation and contribute to the offerings of the nation, passed on to a short enquiry into the causes of the war, the unprovoked aggression of the Emperor of Russia upon the neighboring country. The calls of the wretched inhabitants for England's aid were imprudently accompanied by the plunderer's profession of moderation and desire for peace. England felt that he must be restrained by the police of nations, but first used the language of entreaty, reason, and forbearance, which only confirmed the imperial robber in the notions of his power, and the opinions of his rights. The people of England demand war to beat back the spoiler, and deliver the oppressed.

The Emperor of Russia is the represenation of despotism. England and France stand the defenders of liberty - the preservers of the liberty of nations.

The war may not be an unmixed evil notwithstanding its terrors. Inventions are made - energies awakened - impossibilities shewn untrue. Nations are brought into contact, and, as occurred after the crusades, commerce is stimulated, and new directions opened.

National feeling and unity are also the result of war, which consolidates differing people into compact empires, and therefore causes the mighty works, which strong nations alone can effect. In the case of Turkey good may be effected, and has already begun in the emancipation, to a certain extent, of her Christian subjects. Trade will probably be vastly stimulated in the east, and with our manufactures will enter many of our notions upon morality, religion and law.

Yet in itself war is misery and a punishment, - its expenses burden, - its horrors alarm, - its miseries, and men learn from it and other instances that advertsity is the root of prosperity.

That miserable mangled soldier, whose agonizing cries and dreadful appearance shock every emotion, whose body has been torn with shot, or mangled with the sabre, and now lies helpless beneath the wind and dews of heaven, is not its only victim. Follow into some city they have stormed, the maddened army loosened from restraint. Witness the anguish they bring to the wretched town. Young and old cruelly butchered - the sanctity of every house invaded - no age - no rank - no sex respected - all the victims of every lust.

The parents, the wives, the children of the wounded ask for news of the battle. They hear of a glorious victory. But what is a glorious victory to them; they hear not of those they love, or they hear what awakens every emotion of anguish. The victorious nation is wild with joy; but where are the spirits of her slaughtered sons, by whom the victory was won? Who are they, that in the midst of these songs, and shouts of triumph, turn away to weep for those they loved, because they are not?

The miseries of war end not here. Peace is proclaimed, honours won, the glory of the nation increased, but so are her burdens. Her sons who ought to have increased her wealth have spent the sowing time in the camp, and the harvest in the battle field. Manufacturers too are taken from the occupations of peace to furnish the chariot of the demon of discord. Still more, that poor wretch shivering beneath a single blanket, might have had two but for the past war; for not only would more blankets have been made, and therefore each been cheaper, but the trifle she was obliged to contribute to the taxes of war has made her so much poorer. She has less coal to warm her, less food for herself and her miserable children, less wages for her work; because, owing to the smaller demand for military supplies, and the sudden dismissal of those who produced them, more labor is in the market. Her children have fewer opportntities of forgetting their hunger in the employment of the school, because that important institution had been neglected in the excitement of the strife. The want and distcomforts of home drive them into the streets, where they may per chance earn, or beg, or steal a penny, or at least forget their misery in the amusement of idleness.

Perchance they are seized by the police, because they stole for a morsel of bread. They are put in prison, mingled with hardened criminals, and because the nation has not had time to attend to law reform, they are sentenced beyond their deserts by one who has never felt the pains of hunger, or any other of the sorrows of the poor. They fancy they are born to crime and punishment, and become, through the vices of their misfortune, an additional burden upon the overtaxed resources of the country. That widow may have been the wife of one who died in fighting our battles. Those children, the offspring of him whose death gave us peace and prosperity. To avert this chain of evils we are called upon to contribute to-day, and are urged to humble ourselves before the throne of God in confession, and mourning, and prayer.

The preacher then spoke of the necessity for deep personal humiliation on account of each one's own sins, whose aggregate is now punished by the war. He imagined the sinner standing before omniscience, and added, He calls to you, and what do you answer? He pleads with you and what do you say? His voice, now divested of the Majesty of terror, speaks in the words of gentleness and mercy. To you sinner does he speak, "Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

Sinner, is your heart so right, that it need not the heavenly admonition to turn to the Lord? Are there no sins, no faults, no worldliness, and forgetfulness of God, for which you need weep, and mourn, and plead for mercy? If so, what are they? Can you name them to yourself - confess them to your merciful God - pray for strength, and with honest purpose strenuously begin to amend your life. In them who obey shall be fulfilled the joyful words, "Your heart shall live, that seek the Lord."

Coupled with the duty of humiliation is a call for our contributions towards the relief of the families of the soldiers who may be killed. It is an act of justice, as well as of benevolence, to the ill-paid soldier. When marching to the battle his natural shrinking from death is increased by the thoughts of his orphan family, and when he needs every mental support, his arm is weak because his heart is sad. If such be not the case with the British soldier, it is because his manliness flings from his mind every disheartening thought, and he thereby doubles his right to commit his fatherless children to our care, for whom he is shedding his blood. When lying helpless with wounds and pain, to the suffering of his mangled body is added the anguish of his heart on account of the miseries his loss entails upon those who are dearer to him than himself. He has guarded our shores from invasion, and has enabled us in peace to enjoy our comforts; shall we not in the solemn name of justice - in the gentle mercies of benevolence, which we love so well, when exercised towards ourselves - shall we not out of our abundance, or even of our necessity, give to those who suffer for our protection.

May the Lord of Hosts be their leader. May the tyrant be put down, and the enslaved made free. May arts and learning, prosperity and peace, widely spread their benign influences, and be covered with the harmonizing glory of Christianity. May our confessions be accepted, our prayers heard, and our gifts blessed this day to our own true happiness and the honor of our blessed Saviour, who gave His life and opened the treasures of heaven for miserable sinners.