one of the best arbitrators of differences, the best cure and preservative against unkind tempers, angry and malignant passions, the best promoter of true friendships; as well as an unfailing test of the state of our own hearts with regard to ourselves and others. All these, and numerous other duties which I cannot here specify, have their foundation laid in the noblest sentiment, love; whence it follows that Christianity is a Religion of benevolence. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." "And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also 16."

Besides the general precepts to which I have thus adverted in a very cursory manner, prescribing the duties of justice and benevolence towards all mankind, there are also particular injunctions in regard to the duties incumbent upon us in the several stations and relations we occupy in civil and social life; all of which are of great importance to the welfare of families and nations, as well as of individuals. Of these I here present you with a selection.

66

Husbands and Wives. "Husbands love your wives, and be not bitter against them." "Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself: so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies." 'Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." Ye husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto 16 Matt. v. 44. Rom. xii. 20. 2 Tim. i. 3. Matt. xxii. 39. John, xiii. 34. 1 John, iv. 10, 11, 21. James, ii. 8. Luke, x. 33-35, &c.

66

66

the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the
grace of life."
"Let the wife see that she reverence
her husband." Wives, submit yourselves unto your
own husbands, as unto the Lord: for the husband is
the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
Church. Therefore as the Church is subject unto
Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in
every thing." "Ye wives, be in subjection to your
own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also
may without the word be won by the conversation of
the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation
coupled with fear17" "The contentions of a wife are a
continual dropping." "A prudent wife is from the
Lord. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in
her; she will do him good and not evil all the days of
her life. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and
in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well
to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread
of idleness. Her children rise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praiseth her "

Parents and Children. "Ye fathers, provoke not
your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nur-
ture and admonition of the Lord; having them in
subjection with all gravity." "Train up a child in the
way he should go, and when he is old he will not de-
part from it." "Chasten thy son betimes, while there
is hope; and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
For foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child:
but the rod and reproof give wisdom: withhold not
correction, and thou shalt deliver his soul from hell."
"The children ought not to lay up for the parents: but
the parents for the children."
If any provide not for
those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and
is worse than an infidel."
Children, obey your pa-

17 Proh quales feminas habent Christiani! said Labanius:-O !
what excellent wives the Christians have!

33,

18 Col. iii. 19. Eph. v. 25-30, 31. 1 Pet. iii. 7. Eph. v.
22, 23, 24. 1 Pet. iii. 1, 2. Prov. xix. 13, 14; xxxi. 11, 12, 26,
27, 28.

rents in the Lord; for this is right. Obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord." "Honour thy father and thy mother (which is the first commandment with promise) that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth.” "The eye which mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it 19."

Masters and Servants. 66 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, forbearing threatening; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him." "Despise not the cause of thy man-servant, or of thy maid-servant, when they contend with thee. Did not he that made thee in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us all in the womb?" "Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour, but shalt fear thy God." "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” vants, obey your masters in all things, and please them well; not answering again, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity." Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward: for this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience-sake towards God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." "Be content with your wages 20. "

66

Ser

Magistrates and Subjects. "The judges and officers that shall be rulers over you shall be able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. They shall judge the people at all seasons, and hear the causes between their brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger

66

66

that is with him." "They shall not wrest judgment; they shall not respect persons in judgment: but they shall hear the small as well as the great. They shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty; neither take a gift; for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. They shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's." 'It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness." The prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession." Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy." "Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.' "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers; for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation: for rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou not then be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same; for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience-sake. For this cause pay you tribute also; for they are God's messengers." "Submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well","

21 Deut. xvi. 18, 19; i. 13, 16, 17. Exod. xviii. 21, 22. Lev. xix. 15. Prov. xvi. 12. Ezek. xlvi. 18. Prov. xx. 28; xxv. 5.

Rom. xiii. 1, 2-6. 1 Pet, ii. 13—16.

You can scarcely fail to remark, that the exhortations to these and other relative duties are independent of character. We are commanded to be dutiful to parents, affectionate to children, kind to servants, just to subjects, obedient to magistrates and monarchs, absolutely; and not merely dutiful to tender parents, affectionate and communicative of instruction to dutiful children, diligent under the employment of kind masters, obedient to wise governors, and so on; which appears to me a mark of great wisdom in the deliverance of such injunctions. For, we thence learn, that though the extent of obligation to several duties may perhaps vary in some slight degree with the conduct of the individuals towards whom the respective sorts of behaviour are due, yet that the obligation itself results from the mutual relation subsisting between the persons, so that each particular duty must be performed, or we are criminal whereas, if the relative duties were made to depend upon character, they would depend upon interpretation of character, which may often be erroneous; and a man's mind, nay, his fancy, would, in reference to his duties to others, become his law, his tribunal, and his judge.

There is an important class of reciprocal duties arising from the connexion subsisting between pastors or ministers of churches, and their flocks; but these diverge into too many separate branches to be adequately treated in small compass. I therefore proceed to notice, though with infinitely more brevity than is commensurate with their immense moment,

III. DUTIES TO GOD. In the Gospel we have imparted to us the noblest and most exalted conceptions of the Supreme Being; and the various relations in which he has been pleased to manifest himself as sustaining, in respect of his creatures and of his people, are amply revealed; while the corresponding duties are urged upon us, and the most palpable and obvious directions given with regard to their extent and obli