truth (and Revelation does not forbid it) of you, who have sheltered these poor * Spencer. "trumpet SERMON trumpet fhall found, and the dead "fhall be raised," God of his infinite mercy grant, that the fentence of final bleffedness may be paffed on these little ones, and on you, their benefactors and patrons ! SERMON VII. ON THE DUTIES OF CHILDREN. St. LUKE, chap. ii. verse 51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was fubject unto them. AT this feafon of the year, when families are affembled together, perhaps there is no fubject on which I can more usefully employ your meditations, than on the great relative duty of children towards their parents. In recommending fo weighty an obligation to you, I have thought it expedient to engage your attention by the high example of our bleffed Lord; who, in SERMON VII. in the days of his incarnation, thought it neceffary to be fubject to his human parents till the moment of his public ministry for the falvation of loft finners. He has thereby given an illuftrious example of filial duty to all mankind: an example fo high as to have all the obligation of a command. All the relative duties of men are neceffary to the dignity and the comfort of of society: they are parts of morality and virtue, because they intend good and happiness by the pureft means: they are parts of piety, because they are precepts both of the Law and the Gofpel; in both which they are thought to be of fuch confequence, that these offices are not only in general commanded, but even particular rules are given for the exercise of them. The duty of children to parents St. Paul calls in a more particular manner piety; piety; "let them learn (fays he) firft to "fhew piety at home, and to requite "their parents *.' SERMON |