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racter of an intercessor. Prayer for herself is an important duty. Intercession for others no less so. Her heart must be enlarged in imitation of her Master, who gave himself for the propitiation of the sins of the world. The world then craves, and is enjoined, an interest in her prayers. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men." But God's care of his people is special, and therefore he specifies the most important special objects of intercession,-"For kings, and for all that are in authority."

Thus it is seen, that it is an absolute duty incumbent upon the Church to pray for God's blessing upon the established authorities.

It is a happy thing for any country, when, by the course of time, the character of its government and the title of its rulers have been acknowledged and substantiated. Essential indeed to the welfare of man is stability of government; else the Holy Spirit had not, in so many passages of the Word, defined our duty with reference to it. In our text we are commanded to give them a constant interest in our prayers; the wise man also thus exhorts us-"My son, fear thou the Lord and the king; and meddle not with them that are given to change: for their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of

them both ?"* while St. Paul further enforces these duties" 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 then not 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, for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."+

We are well aware, that we are touching delicate grounds; and that we now moot a subject, with regard to which the disposition of people is sensibly alive. It is, however, the duty

* Prov. xxiv. 21-22.

+ Romans xiii, 1~7.

of a Christian Minister to be faithful to his trust. His views of duty must not oscillate with the times. His standard of propriety is always one. He is the reprover of men's manners; the detector of the symptoms of national declension. He is the sentinel upon his watch-tower-an elevated one: and if he is faithful in the post, has peculiar promises of discernment, support, and blessing. We do not arrogate more for ourselves in such assertions than the holy Scriptures justify. And they are combined and accordant symptoms of the times,-indications of an approaching crisis,-on the one hand, that the voice of Christ's Ministers is so little heeded in the direction of men's manners and in the forming of public opinion;-and on the other hand, that men are so hasty, intemperate, and ill-judged in their estimation of their rulers, and in their conduct towards them:-of the one saith the Holy Spirit "they walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government: presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities."* Of the other He saith -"The days will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the

* 2 Peter ii. 10.

truth, and shall be turned unto fables."* Of both He saith-" This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." There is one feature, above all striking in this catalogue of crimes; and that is the professedly religious state of society accompanying the fearful development of wickedness, "having the form of Godliness." It would not be difficult in the history of passing events, both at home and abroad, to avail ourselves of many facts, which accord with the prophetic language, and stamp the times with a mournful and ominous mark.

Is there not almost a deification of mind in the present day? When was there greater intellectual enlightenment? When had knowledge made such rapid strides? and yet when so little humility? When was every man so self-sufficient? We fear that we have a novel crucible in which to pass a fiery ordeal. Society has passed through

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one, when few men could read, and literature was confined within a few walls, and isolated places. It proved that the heart of man, in ignorance, was alienated from God through sin and wicked works; and now we fear, that we shall pass, or rather are passing, through a different trial, through the age of knowledge-an age which shall prove, and is proving in tenfold greater measure, that man's heart, in his highest state of civilization and enlightenment, is alienated from God.

Perhaps when refinement and knowledge shall have done their utmost for mankind, when all the elements shall have been reduced to the greatest permissible state of servitude to his will; when nature's mines shall have been exhausted, and all her hidden laws revealed,-man's pride, running parallel with his intellect; at that awful climax, when the proof, that the "heart is alienated," and "that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God," is most complete, shall the sign of the coming of the Son of Man appear.

Many of us have mistaken knowledge for religion. The masses of the people, left to themselves, through years, which England may yet live to rue, have provided knowledge for themselves; but it is the knowledge which man's heart prefers when kept aloof from Christ; it is

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