whether it be the master, the overseer, the magistrate, or a powerful neighbour. He must be the peace-maker of all differences. that arise; he must insinuate himself into the confidence of the worst characters in his parish. But in all these cases he must not go as a perpetual sermon-maker; but show that he possesses common sense for the ordinary details of secular life. If the clergyman betrays that he does not know a cabbage from a potato, such of his parishioners as know little else, will shrewdly suspect that he has as little wisdom in the affairs of the next world, as he manifests in those of this. If he has nothing on his lips but a neverending sermon, he will be shunned as a pest by all who do not hold the same amount of scriptural truth as himself, be it much or little. The knowledge of the labourers, and even of the farmers, and indeed of country gentlemen, is far behind those of corresponding rank who reside in towns. A few cheap periodical publications, pointing out the most recent improvements in cottage and agricultural economy, might be lent out with advan

tage as well to their moral as totheir physical culture.

Ministers of the Gospel are apt to run into two very opposite and contradictory errors. There is a great disposition in the weaker and worst instructed part of their congregations to idolize and flatter them, which arises from such hearers looking to the man, and not to the ordinance; this leads to priestcraft, that is, to an assumption of authority to themselves, as individuals, which is only due to their office. While there is such a tendency in one part of their flock to like to be priest-ridden, begetting in the minister a spirit of domination, there arises in another part of their congregation so much disgust and repugnance at this, as to produce an undue re-action to the other extreme, in not paying proper deference to the word of Christ speaking in His ambassador. The other error into which ministers are apt to fall, is speaking contemptuously of other ministers; more especially of such as are in any way eminent for their gifts in the pulpit. Cotemporary poets can admire the

merits of each other's writings. Officers in the army give their due meed of approbation to the skill of their brethren. Young beauties can speak with kindness of the different charms in which they severally excel: but it is very rare to hear one preacher speak of another but in terms of disparagement. The effect of this is not only prejudicial to their own characters, by marking how little they remember the recommendation of the apostle for each to value the difference of gift in a brother, but it also produces a most pernicious spirit of cavilling, and of attending the ordinances of God in a spirit of judging, rather than of receiving instruction, in the people; so that they are led to look upon preaching in the light of any other declamation on which the audience are to sit in judgment, and act accordingly. I have myself heard some ministers mention, in their pulpits, others of their brethren, by name, from whom they differed; or rather from whom they thought they differed; when they had not had the common decency, and

common candour, to enquire of those brethren themselves concerning the sentiment which they publicly and falsely denounced.

All the foregoing directions for husbands, fathers, and masters, apply with tenfold force to a minister, since God says, "A bishop must be one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God?" The deacons, too, it seems, must be men "ruling their children and their own house well;" not indifferently, but well.

The last, and, in some respects, the largest, since it enfolds, as it were, all the rest, is the relationship of SOVEREIGN and SUBJECT. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers: for there is no power but of God." (Rom. xiii. 1.) This then is the sanction of all government, upon which it claims the obedience of every subject to the laws. If the government enacts laws which are contrary to the will of God, it is the duty of every Christian to refuse submission to them, and to abide the consequences of that

refusal, whether it involve the loss of pro

perty, liberty, or death.

"The powers that

be, are ordained of God.

Whosoever, there

fore 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, 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." Of all national blessings which can be conferred upon a people, none is comparable to that of equal and settled laws. "For this cause pay ye 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 whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." Thus we find that respect to all the deputies of the kingly authority; to the persons who, in his name, carry on the sub