But it may perhaps be said, that there are cases in which the advantage as to worldly prosperity is on the side of the bad man, and when he who will not disobey God, must sacrifice what wicked men enjoy. It cannot be denied that this may often happen. A wicked man may obtain riches by means which a virtuous man cannot practise; and still he may not be liable to punishment from the laws of his country. To set the answer to this objection in the clearest light, I will suppose the bad man raised to the highest degree of prosperity, and the good man sunk to the lowest point of affliction and distress; and still I say that this last is the happier man. To prove this, it is only necessary to observe, that the one lives and dies in fear, and that the other lives and dies in hope;-fear which will poison every enjoyment ;-hope which will sweeten every sorrow. The one is conscious of guilt, and lives in fear of punishment; the other has reason to trust in the mercy of God, and lives in hope of an everlasting reward.

And now let me ask of every one who hears me, which of these is the happier man? I hope no Christian can be in doubt what answer to give.

These are the advantages, these are the triumphs of Christianity; and blessed are they

who make it the rule of their lives. In prosperity and adversity, in youth and age, in health and sickness, in life and death, they will enjoy that peace which this world cannot give, that peace which only good men can experience, and which passeth all understanding.

Now to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be ascribed all honour and glory, adoration and praise, now and for evermore.

Amen.

SERMON IX.

ST. LUKE ii. 51, 52,

HER

AND HE WENT DOWN WITH THEM, AND CAME TO NAZARETH, AND WAS SUBJECT UNTO THEM; BUT HIS MOTHER KEPT ALL THESE SAYINGS IN HEART. AND JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE, AND IN FAVOUR WITH GOD AND MAN.

AVING endeavoured to explain our duty to GOD, I proceed to consider what He has commanded us in regard to our fellow-creatures; for the foundation of every duty, of every kind, is the command of GOD. Our reverence for the great Creator is to accompany us in every action of life. "Lord, what wilt thou have ine to do?"" is the Christian's enquiry, on every occasion: and he looks for the answer to it in his Bible. His duty to his neighbour is a part of his duty to God. "Thou shalt love the LORD the

GoD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."* It is not enough. that a man loves his relations and friends for his own sake, and because they contribute to his happiness; it is not enough that he does good merely to relieve himself from the pain of beholding misery; he can then only be said to perform these duties as a Christian, when a constant wish of pleasing GOD, and attention to his commands, is the ruling principle of every action. action. Dear as his wife and children are to him, the Christian would lose them all rather than disobey God. He would see them suffer any degree of misery, rather than attempt to relieve it by a dishonest or wicked action. Thus, in every circumstance of his life, in every affection of his heart, his GoD must be his ruler and guide; and every duty which we are now to consider, is still to be regarded as a part of our duty towards Him.

I will now endeavour to point out the principal duties which God has commanded us to perform to our fellow-creatures; presenting to you the perfect example of JESUS CHRIST in every circumstance in which it is possible * Matt. xxii. 37.

for us to imitate his conduct; and adding some observations on such duties as did not belong to the character in which he was pleased to appear in this world, and therefore are to be learnt from the doctrines, rather than from the example, of our divine Master.

The first duty which we are called to perform in this state of trial, is that which we owe to our parents; and of this our Saviour has left us an illustrious example. We learn, from my text, that JESUS went down with his parents to Nazareth, that he was subject to them, and that under their tender care he increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with GOD and with man. Such is the beautiful picture which is left us in the gospel of the childhood of CHRIST; and short as it is, we find in it all that is necessary for our instruction. The first duty of a child is obedience; and we are told that even the eternal Son of GOD practised this duty; he was subject to his parents. Man, when he comes into the world, is more weak and helpless than any other animal; he depends on his parents. for every thing; and if through life he can ever forget what he owes to their care and kindness, he may justly be considered as a monster of ingratitude. Most other animals. can provide for themselves, but man must perish immediately, without assistance. Many