regard much more the life and the comfort of his family; and give his fervants, and fo diftinguish his faithful dependents especially, not only what law exacts and fecures, but what generofity fuggefts, and the various circumstances of mafter and fervant render proper and neceffary.

avoided on the right Prudence and duty

To the enhancing and fecuring of esteem and a worthy fame in the characters we have brought in view, prudence and conducting one's felf with difcretion, to use the expreffion of the Pfalmift in the paffage before us, are supposed, and are effential. In the domeftic character, as indeed in every other, errors are to be hand, and on the left. fhun over indulgence and indifcriminating favour. Difference of difpofition and behaviour, infer difference of regards towards children indeed, as well as fervants. The worthy are distinguished and affifted, and rewarded. They who ferve well are worthy of attention and distinction. Affectionate and dutiful fervants going abroad into the world from a large family, where many have served for many years, respect the memories and

celebrate

celebrate the fame of a juft, a generous master by them his character reaches far and near, and is handed down with honour, to the children of many generations.

II. THE worthy qualities and excellence of character that appear in a family, prepare us for obferving or learning, what the righteous man is in the world. He wishes well to all men: "He seeks the good of many." This is the character of every man who fears GoD and works righteousness, under every difpenfation, and of every true Christian, as well as of the apostle Paul. Some Christians indeed, are enabled more effectually to forward and fecure the "good of many :" their efforts and fuccefs entitle them to the thanks and praise of mankind: they are lights fet in a high place: they attract the attention, and fecure the approbation of the world. For obferving and duly honouring their worth, let us view the righteous as friends of their country, friends of religion, friends of the poor; and as manifefting their excellence of character in the sphere of their more immediate influence.

A RIGH

A RIGHTEOUS man is a friend of his country: he is a real patriot who prays for and promotes the "good of the land ;" the profperity and safety of the people. He rejoices in equal laws, a wife and steady government, good order and tranquillity, fecuring their great objects; the names, the poffeffions, the liberties, the lives of the subjects, protected and enjoyed. He rejoices that manufactures, agriculture, commerce, are encouraged and flourish; and that in every quarter happiness, among all ranks, is diffufed and abounds. If we do not fay, In all these Great Britain stands unrivalled, we may at least affirm, few nations of the earth enjoy them in a fuperior degree. Nevertheless, we have seen diffatisfaction with our condition fedulously fomented, daring and perfevering attempts to fow and cherish feditious principles, and avowed efforts to overturn that noble fabric, the British Constitution, that has become at once more venerable and more perfect by age. We have feen " perilous times." We have seen therefore the righteous loudly called upon. We have seen their prompt and vigorous efforts and exertions, in discountenancing and fuppreffing anarchy and sedi

tion, and a revolutionary fpirit. Happily, indeed, the levelling and revolutionary spirit was never formidable by the abilities or learning, or property, or perfonal influence of its abettors. It was very formidable, however, on account of the defperate fortunes and high expectations of the restless and abandoned, of its founding names, and romantic profeffions and promises, and of the terrible examples of the effects of their operation. To many the praise of patriots is due. Among all ranks, a becoming zeal for repreffing sedition and repelling the attempts of our enemies, was manifefted. We by no means wish to leffen your esteem and gratitude for any, for those of the lowest order in fociety; while we justly remark, that eminence of station and influence, and the exertions of the great, contributed highly to the cherishing, and diffusing and supporting of order and tranquillity, and the preservation of our conftitution. They therefore, in a special manner, are entitled to the esteem and approbation of their countrymen.

THE tranfition to religion from patriotism is very natural. To the question, What is

it that promotes and fecures the good order, the profperity, and enjoyments of a nation? the answer is, Religion. A reflecting man, not to fay a pious Chriftian, will fay, Religion forms the patriot: the love of GoD and the love of men arc infeperable: the one involves the other: the one is a branch of the other. The Gofpel of JESUS, by its conftraining and all-influencing views of the love of God, and of the grace of our LORD, infpires fupreme love to the Father and the Son; and, at the fame time, a pure and fervent, an active and lasting concern, for the happiness of the children of men. Charity, or christian affection, attends to all the interefts of humanity: it is a poor and partial charity that overlooks and neglects the better part: that rejoices in the health and profperity of her objects of regard and diftinction; while the health and profperity, the attainments and enjoyments of the foul, excite no concern, and impart no pleasures.

It is not the facred Scripture only that pronounces," Righteousness exalteth a nation." Obfervation and experience repeat this proverb of the wife king of Ifrael. It

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