in their breasts against religion, as inimical to their happiness. And this prejudice is confirmed by the contempt in which religion is held by the generality of mankind, and the persecution to which it often exposes those who profess it. But when once men's minds are disabused of these prejudices, and religion is held up to their view in all her native beauty and excellence, they clearly perceive where their true interest lies, and that there is no small profit in serving the Lord.

Under the influence of these reasonings then, and feeling this first principle of human nature in all its force, the Christian cheerfully as well as dutifully resolves, " As for me, I will serve the Lord. I am sensible that the discipline of the heart is not to be maintained without many painful sensations, that the right discharge of duty will often require great exertions, and that a steady adherence to truth and conscience will sometimes draw after it obloquy and reproach. In this warfare I have many powerful enemies to struggle with. In this course I must put out all my strength. And through various causes I shall frequently Yet to serve God, be the difever so numerous, is to serve

endure great dejection of spirit. ficulties I have to contend with myself. The ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace a. In keeping his commandments there is great reward b. And godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come c. By avoiding temptation and sin I shall escape much anguish, which I must otherwise sooner or later suffer. Every advantage gained over my evil passions, will create real pleasure in my breast. Communion with God in the duties of religion will cheer and enliven my spirits. A persuasion that he hath forgiven my sins, and that I am interested in his favour, will make me sublimely happy. And a sincere endeavour to advance his glory, and to do good to my fellow-creatures, will be accom panied with refined satisfaction and delight. Whatever affliction I suffer in the course of my duty, it will turn to my advantage: and whatever opposition I meet with, it will heighten the glory of the victory. Christ is my Master, and he will not fail to assist, succeed, and reward me. He is my Captain, and through him I shall come off more than conqueror. He is my

é Prov. iii. 17.

Psal. xix. 11.

é 1 Tim. iv. 8.

Judge, and having finished my course he will put the crown upon my head, and say to me in the presence of angels and men, Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord a. As for me, therefore, I will serve the Lord."Such, in short, is the spirit and language of real religion.

Would to God we were all possessed of this inestimable blessing! Let us examine ourselves upon this matter. Are we the servants of God, or of Satan? the willing subjects of divine grace, or the miserable vassals of sin? What is our grand object -the enjoyment of the refined and exalted pleasures of religion -or the gratification of our irregular passions and desires? Have we devoted ourselves to God, or do we live without God, without Christ, and without hope, in the world? If the latter is our character, how tremendous is our state! We shall miss of real happiness in this life, and dying in our sins, suffer the wrath of God in the world to come. But if the former is our character, we have every imaginable reason to rejoice. Religion is the noblest cordial of human life, the best security against the evils of it, and the only preparative for a future happy state. Oh! ! let us be persuaded seriously to consider these things.

And permit me more especially to press the consideration of these matters upon young people. You, my friends, are just entering on life, just launching out into the world. Your voyage may be tempestuous: and in that case would you not wish to be prepared for the event? Would you not be glad to possess that which will calm your minds in adversity, elevate your hearts above the world, and enable you to outride the storm with magnanimity? Or if the reverse should be the case, would you not wish to be secured from the undue influence of the fascinating gales of prosperity? Life is short, its joys and sorrows are passing swiftly away. Is it not of infinite consequence that you safely reach the haven of everlasting rest and happiness? And what can avail you to that end short of an interest in the mediation of Christ, and a prevailing sense of religion in your hearts? Would you be esteemed by wise and good men? Would you be useful in your generation? Would you be composed and cheerful in your dying moments? Would you, in fine, be happy to all eternity? Oh! join issue with this man of God in our

a Matt. xxv. 21.

text. Adopt his resolution, and humbly depending on divine grace, say, with the same sincerity and firmness he said it, As for me I will serve the Lord. But we have other motives wherewith to urge you to the consideration of these interesting matters. You will soon, it is probable, have houses of your own: would you preside in them with dignity and comfort to yourselves, and with advantage to those whom Providence may entrust to your care? Your doing as Joshua did is necessary to that end. And this leads us to the main object of this discourse, which is,

SECONDLY, To shew the influence which a due sense of religion will have upon the master of a family, to regulate his temper and conduct towards those under his care-He will use his endeavours that his house, as well as himself, may serve the Lord.

A Family is a little society, usually consisting of parents, children, and servants. This social connection is a plain dictate of nature, and hath uniformly subsisted in the world from the beginning of time, and all over the earth. It is the wise contrivance and appointment of Providence, for the general good of mankind. And in order rightly to understand the duties and privileges of the several members of this little community, we need only contemplate the relation they bear to each other. It shall suffice at present to speak of those which are peculiar to the master of a house. To him nature and the consent of all nations have delegated the care, protection, and government of the family, upon a presumption that affection will induce him to do the utmost in his power to promote their honour and happiness. The conjugal and parental ties are most intimate and endearing, and will therefore stimulate him to the noblest exertions in their favour. And his own interest, as well as considerations of friendship and equity, will dispose him to seek the good of those who voluntarily serve him. And surely it is fit that in him the government of the family should be vested, on whom the weight of its care and protection thus devolves. His sex, age, experience, and ability to provide for the welfare of the whole, entitle him to the supreme authority. And the prudent use of that authority, mingled with good-nature and parental fondness and love, will be likely to secure to him reverence and obedience..

Now the utility of religion to assist the master of a family in the discharge of all the duties he owes to those under his care, will clearly appear upon a little reflection. It will have a considerable influence in the management of his temporal concerns, in the success of which his family are deeply interested. To him they look up for their maintenance and protection, the necessaries and accommodations of life. And if prudence, integrity, frugality, and industry, are virtues which contribute largely, with the blessing of Providence, to worldly prosperity; it is easy to see that religion, which evidently teaches and inculcates them, must be of no small use to the head of a family in his worldly pursuits. And hence Solomon describes Wisdom as having Length of days in her right hand and in her left riches and honour a. It will make a man honest, discreet, and diligent: or, if he at all fails in the two last particulars, it will not be owing to any defect in religion itself, but to his own folly. And then, that affection for their offspring, which strongly impels parents to the most vigorous exertions for the improvement of their worldly circumstances, receives additional strength and energy from a lively sense of religion. A good man feels the operation of this passion in its full force and extent and however some worthless parents, by precipitating themselves into sensual indulgences, may have lost sight of the interests of their families; his religion will effectually secure him from thus denying the faith, and becoming worse than an infidel b. Yea, there have been instances of persons naturally slothful, who upon their conversion to the knowledge and love of religion, have become remarkably industrious and their families, though no friends to serious godliness, have acknowledged the secular advantages they have derived from this extraordinary revolution in their characters.

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But let us now view the Christian presiding in his family, and see how happily the fear of God assists him in the exercise of that authority with which nature has invested him. His object will be to make all under his care happy. But domestic happiness is not to be enjoyed where the master is churlish, morose, and severe. Set on the gratification of his peevish humours, and the making all about him submit obsequiously to

a Prov. iii. 16.

bi Tim, v. 8.

his contemptible idea of despotic power, he may be feared, but he cannot be loved. These notions, and this kind of demeanour, which are the result of ignorance, vanity, and ill-nature, religion will not fail to correct. A Christian will value his authority, as a parent and a master, no further than as it is a means to promote the welfare of those entrusted to his care. And if on any occasion the resolute exertion of it becomes necessary, he will not forget to blend prudence, forbearance, and good-nature with it. That meekness, serenity, and joy, which the grace of God inspires, will, in proportion to their prevalence in his breast, infuse mildness, sweetness, and cheerfulness, into the whole of his deportment. And O! how pleasing the scene, to see him, under the influence of his religion, smiling on all around him, assisting with the soft language of conjugal affection the cares of the dear partner of his joys, embracing his young offspring in the arms of paternal fondness, taking a part with them in their innocent amusements, and contriving how to render the offices of those who serve him easy and beneficial to themselves! Is religion unfriendly to domestic happiness? No, it is most friendly to it. For the truth of this we appeal to the reason and nature of the thing itself, to the book of God, to history, and to what I doubt not your eyes must have beheld in many houses consecrated to virtue and religion. How much is it to be lamented that any who profess the name of Christ, should, by a contrary demeanour, induce a doubt in the breasts of others that such is its tendeney!

But the happiness of a family depends not only upon the good nature and benevolence of those who preside, but on the religious character of those who compose it. This therefore is the grand object with that master who himself fears God. And to this idea our enlargement in this discourse will be chiefly directed. Here then let us view him, under a deep impression of the truth and importance of religion, exerting all his prudence, good-nature, and authority, to the purpose of conciliating the affections of every one under his roof to it. The duties which he will consider himself obliged to practise to this great end, may be comprised under the following heads-the diligently watching the morals of his family-the carefully instructing them in the principles of religion-the regular maintenance of