But one agent of retribution never rests-Discord. When Religion is neglected by Rulers there is and ever will be a turbulent spirit in the people. When Governors do not act as servants of Christ their subjects lose all thought of their own solemn reponsibilities. They regard society as a mere human contrivance, they consider Rulers as only ministers of man, and laws as nothing better than cunning devices of the strong to oppress the weak.

Let us imagine ourselves, my brethren, to be reduced to this most miserable condition. Let us, I say, suppose that such were the notions now current among us on these most important subjects. Where then, let me ask, would be our reverence and affection for the office and persons of our Rulers? Where our attachment to the institutions of our country? Where our obedience to her laws? The external force of civil authority, and the fear of temporal punishment, might still have some influence to restrain men from open violations of the law. But, supposing

the foundations of righteousness to be overthrown, then, let me inquire, what would become of men's belief in future rewards and punishments, and where would be the sanctity of oaths in Courts of Justice-which belief and sanctity are the two strongest bulwarks of public peace-and what then would be able to exercise any control over the mainspring of men's actions-their hearts?

What would restrain them from seditious thoughts and factious words, nay, and from rebellious acts, if they could be done with impunity? What from secret plots and dark conspiracies? Nothing. Penal enactments and a vigilant and vigorous police may, perhaps, secure peace in broad daylight in public streets; but they thus often delude men by making them imagine that there is the spirit of peace in the national heart while there is no peace. They can indeed dress up, as it were, the outside of the mountain, and can make it look fair and flourishing with the olives of peace and the vines of plenty, but they cannot touch the volcano below, which is smouldering in its dark crater, and ready to burst forth in a flood of fire. No; they cannot repress turbulence in the national mind, or quell it in the secret haunts of clandestine cabals. It is Religion-it is Religion alone-which can do this. It is the dread of Judgment and of Hell which can give ubiquity to law. It is the Gospel-it is the Gospel alonewhich can hallow a State, and consecrate a Throne, and shield the Sovereign seated upon it. It is the knowledge and fear of Christ, the Great Lord of the World, and our Everlasting Judge-it is the hope of an imperishable reward for holy obedience from His hands, which alone can render us as loyal in our own homes, as we may appear to be in a Court of Justice, or in a Christian Church.

If therefore the true welfare of a nation de

B

pends, as surely it does depend, on the mutual affection of the governors and the governed, if it consists in loyalty to the Throne, and in reverence for Law, and in attachment to our National Institutions; if it is derived from a spirit of unity and love, of peace and contentment, of justice and honesty, of diligence and sobriety pervading all classes of the community, then we must all confess that Righteousness exalteth a Nation for it is Righteousness alone which can produce these blessed results.

Yes, and if Righteousness animated the whole national heart, we should need no other protection; we should realise the poetical description of the golden age of the world, in which men are represented as just without laws, and holy from the love of virtue.

To conclude. No nation of the world has yet proved as fully as might be shown by a practical example, that Righteousness exalteth a Nation; and the present condition of States, especially in Europe, where nations in their public character, instead of strengthening their religious foundations, seem to be apostatizing from Christianity, fills the mind with despondency and dismay with respect to the future.

Would to Heaven then that our own beloved Country, which seems to have been so highly privileged and favoured, as to have been specially selected and called by Almighty God to be a faithful

witness to Christ at home, and a zealous Missionary of the Gospel to the World, would awake at length from her slumber to a due sense of the high and holy dignity of her great commission! and, in the sight of God and men, would act in the firm belief, that Righteousness exalteth a nation!

It was said by the wisest of the ancient heathens* that the World would not be happy till Kings were Philosophers and Philosophers were Kings; but we would rather say, that a Nation cannot be truly exalted, till rulers and the ruled are good Christians. Hence then it is necessary, that all who have power among us should remember that Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and that He is Head over all things to His Church, which is His body; and that all the Christians of this land, high and low, rich and poor, are fellowmembers, one with another, in His body; that those in authority in our State bear a commission from Christ Himself to promote the welfare of His body, and that they will be called to a strict account hereafter at His judgment seat, whether they have used their power for the glory of Him Who has entrusted them with it.

Who

Who (says He) is

that faithful and wise servant whom His Lord

hath made ruler over His household, to give them

meat in due season?

*Plato, Rep. V. 473, C.

Blessed is that servant

† Eph. i. 22, 23; Col. i. 18; and Rev. xvii. 14, xix. 16.

Matth. xxiv. 45, 46.

whom his Lord, when He cometh, shall find so doing.

Such a servant as this, my brethren, will assuredly reject the unchristian tenet of modern times, that Religion is no concern of Rulers, and that they exist only to take care that men are well fed and clothed; as if the Civil Magistrate had no higher duties to perform than those of a feeder of horses and hounds, and as if men had no souls, and there were no judgment to come! Rather he will prove by his acts that he believes Religion to be the first care appertaining to public rule, and that he knows Piety to be the best Policy, and that Righteousness exalteth a Nation.

Would to God also, my brethren, that we who are subjects, would all bear in mind that our Rulers are Christ's deputies; that he who resisteth them in any lawful command resisteth the ordinance of God; that we are not to indulge in rash censures upon them, but to remember the command of God, Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy people; and of His holy Apostle, The Lord will punish those who despise government and speak evil of dignities! Would that we all duly reflected that they are to be reverenced and loved by us for conscience' sake; that, above all,§ they are to be remembered by us in our daily prayers; and that we are to beg God's richest blessings, tem

*Rom. xiii. 1, 2.

2 Pet. ii. 10.

+ Exod. xxii. 28; Acts, xxiii. 5. § 1 Tim. ii. 1.