nest cry.

Oh! that such a spirit prevailed

among our princes and rulers!

Oh! that there

were such an heart in them that they would thus

fear the Lord continually!

SERMON XIV.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONCLUDED.

ISAIAH, XLIX. 23.

"And kings shall be thy nursing-fathers, and their queens thy nursing-mothers: they shall bow down to thee with "their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."

66

As out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," so, according as that which is uttered is really seen and felt within, will be the sincerity and fervour which mark the words that are spoken, and the deeds which ensue, as their native fruit. Sincerity is the chief ornament of character. A man who is not sincere, whether high or low, or rich or poor, offers himself to our notice under an aspect whose moral culpability is not easily described, either in the sensation created in our own bosom or in the just estimation of its own inherent desert. The

steady rule of the divine word is-" And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men," &c. &c. Without this, God's service is nothing to us; it can afford no pleasure, nor yield any profit. Nor does this concern only the ignoble and mean. The prince or the ruler must as heartily" serve God as any of his subjects; or else the throne will totter under his weight, and the crown which dazzles beholders will prove the heaviest burden to sink him into ruin. Have we seen the truth of this remark in our preceding discussions?-in the deep humiliation, the ingenuous confessions, and the earnest prayers, already noticed? Let us pursue the subject; and it is confidently hoped, that our discoveries may not be either without additional interest or profit. Besides what has been already advanced, we observe again,

3. Where there is such a desire to promote the interests of God's will and glory, there will also be a fixed determination to banish all wicked men from their presence, and exclude them from their councils.

"Can two walk together except they be agreed?" Can a man take fire into his bosom and not be burned? Impossible. One of their

first efforts will be to "set their house in order;" not, as it has been often tauntingly proclaimed by wicked men, in eager anticipation of their downfal; but for the strength of their kingdom, and consolidation of their dominion. “Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?" No! it totters; it must fall; for the hand of the Almighty is uplifted against it. Princes that fear God must know this; and every one that would do good to others must begin at home with himself. How excellent was the determination of royal David! “I will

With these words, my Lord —, in the hey-day of popular applause, dared to insult and taunt the whole bench of bishops, in a pointed and sarcastic address in the face of the nation, in his place in the House of Lords! How signally and speedily did the Almighty vindicate the affront thus cast upon his servants! From the very moment those words were uttered, the political doom of the haughty noble was irretrievably sealed. In the short space of a few fleeting years, like a dead man (though still living) he has long since been forgotten and out of mind. You may pass from one end of the land to the other, and not hear the name of the once darling idol and pet of the multitude, even mentioned, except perhaps now and then in the stifled utterance of a deep-rooted aversion or contempt! Oh! let not the lesson be forgotten by others! "Them that honour me," saith God, "I will honour; but they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."-(1 Sam. ii. 30.)

+ Psalm xciv. 20.

walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes; I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me; I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off; him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house. He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight." &c.* All that fear God, and would aim to promote his glory, must come to the same determination, if they would prosper under his blessing. It is reported of his late majesty, George III., of happy memory, when advised by evil men to the adoption of pernicious measures, that he expressed himself to this effect:-that "He knew how to put aside his crown, and how to lay down his life; but he would not violate an oath taken in the presence of God: and that, sooner than submit to the dictation of such councillors, he would rather go into the streets of London,

* Psalm cì.