vindicating or palliating the measures of men which may be wicked in the extreme: but neither ought we to overlook the hand of God.

The great point with chriftians fhould be, an attachment to government as government, irrespective of the party which adminifters it; for this is right, and would tend more than any thing to promote the kingdom of Christ. We are not called to yield up our confciences in religious matters; nor to approve of what is wrong in thofe which are civil: but we are not at liberty to deal in acrimony, or evil-speaking. The good which refults to fociety from the very worst government upon carth is great when compared with the evils of anarchy. On this principle, it is probable, the apoftle enjoined obedience to the powers that were, even during the reign of Nero. Chriftians are foldiers under the King of kings their object should be to conquer all ranks and degrees of men to the obedience of faith. But to do this, it is neceffary that they avoid all thofe embrangle

ments and difputes which retard their main defign. If a wife man withes to gain over a nation to any great and worthy object, he does not enter into their little differences, nor embroil himself in their party contentions; but bearing good will to all, feeks the general good: by these means he is refpected by all, and all are ready to hear what he has to offer. Such fhould be the wifdom of chriftians. There is enmity enough for us to encounter, without unneceffarily adding to it.

If a chriftian be under the neceffity of fiding with a party, undoubtedly he ought to act in favour of that which appears to him the beft: but even in this cafe it is not becoming him to enter with eagernefs into their difputes. Let worldly men, who thirst after preferment, bufy themfelves in a contested election-they have their reward—but let chriftians, if called to appear, discharge their duty, and retire from the tumultuous fcene.

By entering deeply into the party contentions of the nation, religious people on both fides will be charged in their turn with

difloyalty; and it may be not always without a caufe. Fifty years ago, that party was out of power which at prefent is in power. At that time the charge of difloyalty was directed against them; and they were then denominated patriots. It is poffible that many who now feem to abhor a fpirit of difaffection towards administrative government, would be themselves not the beft affected, were the other fide to recover its authority. But if we enter into the fpirit of the gofpel, though we may have our preferences of men and measures, we fhall bear good will to all, and whoever be at the head of affairs, fhall reverence the powers that be. Whatever be our private opinion of the men, we shall refpect and honour the rulers. That loyalty which operates only with the prevalence of a party, whichever it be, is at a great remove from the loyalty enjoined by the fcriptures.

By ftanding aloof from all parties as fuch, and approving themfelves the friends of government and good order, by whom

foever administered, chriftians would ac quire a dignity of character worthy of their profeffion, would be refpected by all, and poffefs greater opportunities of doing good: while by a contrary conduct they render one part of the community their enemies, and the other I fear derive but little fpiritual advantage from being their friends. ON THE SYMPTOMS OF A BACKSLIDING SPIRIT.

It was reckoned a matter of confequence in cafes of leprofy, real or fuppofed, that the true ftate of the party fhould be examined, and judgment given accordingly and by how much a moral difeafe is more odious, contagious, and dangerous than one that is natural, by fo much is it more neceffary to form a true judgement concerning it. Every fpot was not a leprofy; and every finful imperfection in a chriftian profeffor does not denominate him. a backflider. Paul had to lament the body of death; he had not attained, nor was he already perfect; yet he preffed forward; and while this was the cafe he could not be

Levit. xiii,

faid to draw back. On the other hand, every departure from God must not be reckoned a mere imperfection which is common to good men. We are extremely apt in certain cafes to flatter ourfelves that our Tpots are only the fpots of God's children, or fuch as the beft of men are fubject to, and therefore to conclude that there is nothing very dangerous about them. We do not pretend to deny that we have our faults: but are ready to afk, What have we done SO MUCH against thee? This felf-justifying fpirit, however, fo far from indicating any thing favourable, is a ftrong mark of the contrary. It is faid of Ephraim, He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to opprefs. And Ephraim faid, Yet I am become rich; I have found me out fubftance: In all my labours they Shall find none iniquity in me that were fin. * A more finished picture of a modern oppreffor could not be drawn. He ftudies to

keep within the limits of the law, and defies any man to impeach his character: he has imperfections, but they are only fuch

#Hos. xii. 7, 8.