Strong medicine has become needful for the nation!

(Letters of John Berridge, 1775)

Dear Sir,
The times are awful; and likely to become more so. Rods have been used without effect, and now the scorpions are coming. May their bite awaken us, but not destroy us!

National pride, infidelity, and profligacy are growing very rampant, and will grow from bad to worse unless restrained by heavy judgments.

The worst evil God can bring upon a nation is to say to it, as once He said to Ephraim, "Let him alone!" But if the Lord intends our good, He will chastise us sorely. This is the Bible-road to reformation.

On this account, however formidable His judgments are, I know not whether I should fear them more, or bid them welcome. Strong medicine has become needful for the nation; and however nauseous to the palate, or painful in the operation, it must be deemed a blessing. May the Lord prepare us for the tempest, and prove to be our hiding-place!

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John Newton, "The Imminent Danger and the Only Sure Resource of this Nation".