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as the

result, either in his glory, or in our own real good. But the duties devolving upon us as Christians are to be studied and learnt, not only from the ways of God, but also from the ways of men ;-in other words, from the character of the age in which we live. We ought to be ever awake to catch instruction, and that from every source. We are the professed servants of God, and eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so should our eyes wait upon the Lord our God." We are witnesses for him in our generation; and have to testify to his sovereignty by our obedience; to his wisdom and power, by our praise; to his holiness and majesty, by our adoration; and to his goodness and grace, by our supplications. As it regards our fellow-men, we are, as Christians, deeply interested in whatever concerns them, and we have important duties to discharge, arising out of the ever-varying condition of the community to which we belong. Public calamities call us to humble prostration and prayer, and every exercise of christian sympa

thy; while public blessings demand our grateful acknowledgments to the Giver of all good, with all those gratulatory expressions which flow from the Spirit of him who bids us “rejoice with them that do rejoice." It is obvious, therefore, that, to the thoughtful and devout mind, there is no season without its duty.

The subject now before us is, "The Duty of Christians at the Present Time." In the review we took of the present times, in a former Lecture, we briefly depicted some of the more prominent features. These, we found, were of various, and even opposite characters. Some it was pleasing and gratifying, others, grievous and deplorable, to contemplate. The duties which both kinds present to us are of a corresponding variety; and it may be a profitable exercise to specify some of these, and consider their claims to our attention.

1. In the discourse alluded to I had remarked that the liberality of our civil constitution leaves us unfettered in the matters of our holy religion; and not only so, but also secures our religious liberties by legal pro

visions. Hence the duty of grateful obedience to the government under which we live. Brethren, if the advantages of our civil condition are rightly appreciated, we shall be careful to exemplify every quality of good citizenship. We shall not only in our own deportment be exemplary in respecting the persons and officers of civil magistrates, but, as far as in us lies, we shall support their claims to the respect of the community at large. We shall take no part in political factions, nor connect ourselves with the extremes of any party in the state. We shall "follow after the things that make for peace ;" and act upon the counsel of the wise man, My son, fear thou the Lord and the king, and meddle not with them who are given to change." Without compromising any principle of right and wrong, without a pusillanimous and dastardly surrender of our due rights and privileges, it becomes us to "submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king as supreme, or to the governors under him; to render to all their dues; tribute to whom tri

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bute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." And by the highest authority of all the rule prescribed to us is, "to render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's." These are scriptural injunctions. In adhering to them we shall not make shipwreck of a good conscience; for they enjoin nothing that either prohibits our censuring the measures of public men, when they are decidedly wrong, or making a firm stand for our rights and liberties, when they happen to be invaded. But a temperate and respectful exercise of our privilege, in either case, is our bounden duty; and when exercised in this way, it will not unfrequently prove beneficial, no less to the rulers than to the people.

2. We admitted that pious and talented individuals are not wanting in our land, who have understanding of the

what Christians ought to do.

times, to know

For this let us

"thank God, and take courage." These characters are at once the ornament and protection of their country. They do honour to

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their native place by the strength and grandeur of their talents, and the loveliness of their moral virtues. They prove also a defence to the land in which they live; for the Lord has respect to the godly. For ten righteous men he would have spared Sodom; and respecting Jerusalem, he said, "I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake." By the mouth also of Jeremiah, he proclaims, "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it." Now what duty is suggested to us by this delightful feature of our times? Is it not that we should pray earnestly, and without ceasing, that men of such character may long be preserved among us; that their lives may be precious in the sight of the Lord; and that their number may be more and more increased? And if in this last object of our prayers we be sincere, we shall study the excellences of their character for our own imitation, and so multiply their