put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, and to obey magistrates, and to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men 1.' Of these duties he must "put them in mind." But what if they do not acknowledge them; or if they pervert or misunderstand them? What if they consider passive resistance to be equivalent to "obedience ;"—insurrection to be a sacred right;—or if they look upon "meekness" to be unworthy of a freeman ;-and" brawling," and "speaking evil of dignities," and libelling their rulers, to be a fair liberty of speech ;-or, if instead of "being ready for every good work," they imagine themselves justified in hanging back and taking no part in the performance of what they acknowledge to be necessary for the well being of the community? If such opinions and practices as these have crept into men's hearts, are openly avowed by some,

1. Titus iii. 1, 2.

and unconsciously adopted by others,then surely it is time for the preacher to do something more than "put them in mind" only, of duties which they do not acknowledge or precepts which they do not understand. It is time for him to explain the principles and details of society and civil government, and to apply the economy of the Gospel to the habits of the age in which we live. If a loose morality on these subjects,—a contempt for authority and insubordination to laws, or a supine indifference and selfish indolence, grow up in a parish, surely a minister has not delivered his own soul if he makes no effort to inculcate better principles. Though he may preach the great doctrines of the Gospel,-faith in a crucified Saviour, and need of sanctifying grace, yet if he neglect to teach the application of these doctrines to the prevalent habits and modes of thinking of those whom he addresses, he has failed in one of the primary requirements of his office.

Again, we cannot doubt that the infu

sion of Christian principle into our political institutions is that which, of all things, is most desirable to the community. And where is religion to begin to operate in a community like ours, but in the hearts of the people? How is it possible for our political institutions to be Christianized, unless our constituencies, themselves religious, shall send to Parliament men who shall honour God, and call on the government to promote his glory? If our legislators were uniformly guided by God's word, and our laws enacted in accordance with it, and administered on the the same principle, might not a much nearer approach be made, in all our political relations, to the precepts of the Gospel, than any that has hitherto been achieved? Might we not look for the realization of those promises of better and more peaceful days which the word of prophecy gives us so much reason to expect; and the kingdoms of this world become indeed "the kingdom of our God and of his Christ 1?"

1 Rev. xi. 15.

And, lastly, let it not be thought that he who advocates the application of religion as a political engine for the improvement of society has an eye only to temporal results. No, for surely it is self-evident, that, in proportion to the spiritual improvement of a nation, in like proportion are more individuals of that nation trained to a happy eternity. If society be evangelized, more members of that society will be fitted for the communion of saints in heaven. If our political institutions be modelled according to the Gospel, more subjects will be prepared for Christ's everlasting kingdom. The labourers in God's vineyard must not only bestow their attention on each particular vine, but they must exert themselves to improve the soil in which the vines are planted.

NOTE." Clergymen are now almost afraid to explain in their pulpits the ground of their being Protestants. They are completely cowed by vulgar harassings of the press, and hectoring sciolists in Parliament. There should be no party politics in the pulpit to be sure, but every Church in England

ought to resound with national politics."-COLE

RIDGE.

"The true criterion of such sermons is to be found in the question, With what feelings will those who hear them leave the temple of God? Will it be with gentler [or at least not less gentle] tempers? Will it be with holier dispositions? Will it be with that mind of Christ, with that spirit of the Gospel which urges us to 'bless and curse not,'' to love and not to persecute?"-British Critic.

The union of the spirit of these two passages is the problem which the preacher should endeavour, with God's grace, to solve; and that has been the aim in the present volume.