and deceit, with which so many acted in these matters. But I must not enlarge; the reader ⚫ may form an idea of the purity, integrity, heavenly-mindedness, and passiveness under inju•ries, for which the first Christians were so just

ly renowned." The foregoing anecdote presents a beautiful portrait of the spirit and conduct of the primitive Christians, while the imperial throne was filled by heathens. Afterwards, when the Kings of the earth became professors and defenders of the faith; they were remembered in the prayers of the church in the most affectionate and respectful manner, as the antient liturgies, which are still extant, fully evince. If the conduct of these persons were not only consistent with the general spirit of the gospel, but also with the express commands of scripture, what conclusion must we draw, however reluctant, but that, if any modern professors of the same religion act a different part, they are so far defective in these important features of the Christian character.

The servants of God, though their primary regard be unquestionably due to His word, yet are allowed also to have a subordinate respect to their own real interest in the line of conduct, which they are called to pursue. And such are

* Milner's history of the church. Vol. 1. p. 308.

+ See the liturgies of St. Chrysostom, St. Basil, and St. Cyril.

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the unsearchable riches of the wisdom and goodness of God, that his law is so constructed as to promote the happiness and welfare of those, who submit themselves to its requisitions. It is not only holy and just,' but it is also good.' Obedience is happiness, and disobedience misery. Gracious Father, what wisdom and love appear in all Thy revealed will: in the preceptive, as well as the promissory part of it! Grant unto 6 Thy people, that they may love the thing which 6 Thou commandest, and desire that which Thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord!'

Do

We may illustrate the connection, that subsists between our duty and our interest, in the point which forms the subject of the present essay. Are our wives and our children dear to us? we wish to retain our property, and to have that and our lives protected from insult and injury? The wish is natural; and, while we are praying for the life of our Rulers, and the prosperity of their administration, we at the same time promote the continuance of our civil rights. The command of God to his people, while they were captives in Babylon, shews us at once our duty and our interest. Seek the peace of the city, whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in

the peace thereof shall ye have peace.'* What motive could exist to bind a Jew to a compliance with this injunction, which does not lie with tenfold weight on every citizen of the United States?

Are our religious liberties valuable? Do we justly prize them above all our other possessions? Do we pray for the peace and prosperity of our Zion? These questions must be answered with an hearty affirmative by every believer in Jesus. Are not our religious liberties, and our Christian privileges, as extensive as can be desired? Is not the prophesy of Micah experimentally fulfilled in us who are the inhabitants of this favored and? • They shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree; and none shall • make them afraid.'t May not the Lord address the people of these United States in the same language, with which he appealed to His antient church? O inhabitants of America, judge I

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pray you between me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore when I look⚫ed that it should bring forth grapes,' (even the fruits of cheerful obedience and lively gratitude) ⚫brought it forth wild grapes,' ingratitude, discontent, and murmuring?

That part of Christian duty, of which we are treating, does not stand alone and unconnected,

it involves in itself an obligation to various other branches of genuine godliness. Those virtues which are implanted in the believer's heart, and adorn his life, are mutually combined, like the golden links of the chain which suspended the beautiful breast plate of the Jewish pontiff. They follow each the other, as the comely train of virgins, which accompanied the Egyptian Princess, when introduced to her royal husband. The connection is so close, that none of them can be consciensciously regarded, whilst any of the rest are treated with neglect. Fear God and bonor 'the king,' (or, in application to the people of these United States, our Rulers) are so intimately blended, that, what the Bible hath joined together, no man can put asunder.

Such is the union of prayer and thanksgiving in Christian practice, that a separation between them is an impossible thing.* The Apostle, in his exhortation which ye addresses to Christians in behalf of Magistracy, has joined them togethI exhort (says he) that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for kings, and all that are in authority." We cannot cordially intercede for them in their official capacity, unless we are also thankful for

er.

* We cannot, for instance, unfeignedly implore salvation to our souls, without thanking God at the same time that we are not suffering in hell, beyond a remedy, the punishment which our iniquities deserve.

the blessings of the government we enjoy, the Rulers under whose administration we live, the laws which exist, and the protection which they afford us. If government be so valuable, that even the despotism of Nero was better than anarchy, and a just subject for thankfulness; how inexcusable is that man, who hangs his harp unstrung on the willows, watered by the tears of discontent, while protected under the shelter of a Republican government! Were a man to assert the reality of his obedience to the apostolic precept, which has been just referred to, while he gave perpetual proofs of his insensibility of the political blessings he enjoyed; he would thereby demonstrate that he is a liar, and that the truth is not in him.

A due respect and love to the persons and government of our Rulers is inseparable from that spirit of prayer for them, which we have proved it to be the duty of a christian to maintain. To despise dominion and speak evil of dignities' is the characteristic of those, who have no fear of God before their eyes. A disciple of Jesus will labor to stifle the disloyal thought, should the author of all anarchy, the abettor of confusion, the Prince of darkness, suggest it to his mind. Did evils really exist in the government, under which the Christian lives, he would always speak of

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