Thefe duties are not merely to be thought of, in their propriety, value, and excellence; nor only to be fet about, in way of purpofe or promife; but, if the apoftle's words have any meaning at all, they are to be actually performed,-performed inftantly, refolutely, and conftantly: for the exhortation bears, that "fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giv. "ing of thanks be made." As Paul was directing Timothy how to act in the difcharge of his miniftry, it will fearce be difputed, that public worfhip is particularly intended. The obligation upon every Christian, in his perfonal capacity, to make conicience of thefe generous duties, by no means fupercedes the neceffity of Chriftians their performing them, as families, focieties, or churches.-So far from fuperceding that neceffity, it infinuates, proves, and highly corroborates the important truth.

The apoftle was no lefs in earneft himself, than he would have Chriftians to be in this matter: he did not exprefs the obligation of these duties with the coolness of a philofopher; but with all the warmth, the pathos and addrefs of the faint, as well as the dignity and mein of a public teacher: "I exhort therefore," faid he. In the preceding chapter he had touched on his favourite theme, the exceeding riches of grace toward his own foul; declared the diftinguishing efficacy the death of Chrift might have on the chief of finners; and delivered a folemn charge to Timothy, enforced by the apoftacy of Hymeneus and Alexander from the faith; and, to thefe interefting facts he refers, now, as a poignant argument, by the particle therefore. Seeing in me, would he have faid, there is an example of a blafphemer, a perfecutor, and an injurious perfon, obtaining mercy; feeing the death of Chrift lays a foundation of hope, refpecting finners, the chief of them not excepted; you need not defpair

fpair of fucceeding in behalf of others, whatever their characters, their circumftances or provocations: nor muft you fail in the difcharge of these duties, as you would not run the rifque of being fubjected to the fame cenfure with thofe, who, through the neglect of them, have made fhipwreck of the faith. Affected with fuch confiderations, he not only told his fon in the miniftry, what was incumbent on him to practife and preach, but exhorted him to preach and practife accordingly. Exhortation carries fomething of the pathos in the very nature of it, and fuppofeth conclufive and per-fuafive arguments, couched or expreffed, to obtain men's compliance with it. When, therefore, our apostle faid, "I exhort," it is, emphatically, expreffive of his earnest and hearty concern to prevail; as his reference to the foregoing chapter, was, of the arguments by which he meant to fucceed."

Had Paul addreft this exhortation in particular, as he did the epiftle in general, to Timothy, it might have been inferred, that the duty was only of a temporary nature, and, at most, extended to the age in which Timothy lived; but, as it is not, "I exhort thee," which would have wore an exclufive air in it; but, "I exhort," which is evidently an univerfal direction; it is abundantly plain he intended, that the commanding force of the exhortation fhould extend to all the members and office-bearers in the church of Chrift, until the myftery of God fhould be finished.

The fubjects of this Chriftian concern, according to our reading of the text, are not perfons of one or another denomination only, but of all denominations; for the apoftle enjoins, that the duties under view be performed "for all men." In whatever refpects they may differ, as to nation, language, kindred, government, principles, or practices,

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as

men

men, there is an undoubted relation, an indiffolvable connection, that no diftance, no circumflance, can render void and null; for God hath of one "blood made all the nations of the earth :" and they, having all fprung from one original, and defcended from the fame common parent, fhould, in performance of the duties here recommended, act toward each other as brethren,-as dear brethren according to the fleth.

Whether, in this exhortation, the apoftle means, that Chriftians fhould exercife fuch concern for all men, as our tranflation, with great propriety, bears; or, that fuch concern fhould be exercifed by all men, according to the critical remark offered before, there is no room for difpute, that kings and thofe in authority, are, in a fpecial manner, the fubjects in whom the Chriftian concern, pointed out by our text, fhould concenter.

With regard to our late fovereign, of happy memory, "fupplications, prayers, and interceffions," are now no more to be made by us; if it is not for the divine bleffing upon fuch plans of operation as were approved, or begun to be execute under his eye, though, in the infinite wifdom of God, his defire of feeing the fpeedy and happy issue of them was denied. Though, we fay, his, juftly and generally lamented, death, fupercedes the neceffity of fupplications, prayers, and interceffions," for himfelf, it diffolves not the obligation upon us to give thanks to that God, "by whom kings reign, "and princes decree juftice," for the numberless bleffings, whereof, to his happy subjects, he was, in the hand of God, the chearful inftrument. If no nation under heaven, has enjoyed equal peace, fafety, freedom, and outward happiness, with the fubjects of the British crown, for above thirty three years back, will it not follow, that, of all others,

Britons

Britons are obliged,-indifpenfibly obliged, to the exercife of thanksgiving and praise.

A digreffion here, on the character of that illnftrious and royal perfonage, whose memory must be dear to Britons in particular, and Proteftants in general, would be no lefs agreeable to me, than acceptable to you; but diffidence of my own ability, for fuch an unequal task, lays me under the painful neceffity of leaving you to imagine, rather than hear, what I would, was I capable, gladly fay. Without meaning, in the leaft, to exaggerate,-if talents for the cabinet or the field, if love to his fubjects, veneration for the laws, concern for the Proteftant intereft, charity and compaffion, juftice and impartiality, and, in one word,-if an unwearied endeavour to diffufe or promote happiness and profperity; if thefe, and fuch as thefe, constitute the truly loyal and princely character, it may, from all I have had accefs to learn, be juftly applied to our late dear and honoured fovereign.

Nor can I help obferving the propriety of these lands appearing now in fable weeds: Do we mourn the lofs of a friend, a benefactor, a guide, a pro. tector, a father? In him, my brethren, we have loft one who stood and acted towards us in all thefe endearing relations; whence, gratitude, affection, and even decency itself, confpire to justify fuch expreffions of forrow and diftrefs.

I fhall have done with this digreffion, when I have juft put you in mind, that ingratitude to the God of gods, for the last peaceful and benign reign, might justly provoke him to blaft our expectations, however promifing, refpecting the tranquility and happiness of future years.

My text, as the proper clue to this difcourfe, would lead me next to point out the prefent fubjects, in whom our "fupplications, prayers, inter" ceffions

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"ceffions, and giving of thanks," should particu larly meet, our fóvereign, namely, and thofe in authority; but, previous to our doing fo, the following corollaries, from what you have heard, may may not be unufeful.,

If thefe things are fo, then it follows, that Chritianity infpires with a truly public and generous fpirit. Thofe whofe concern is confined to themfelves, or extends not beyond the limits of any particular order of men, or denomination of Chriftians, may put in what claim to the venerable chaTacter they pleafe; but they fhow, to demonftration, how finall, and how groundlefs, their pretenfions. Such pitiful fouls were never formed upon the gofpel of Chrift, and fuch groveling creatures deferve not fo much as a name amongst his friends.

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But, from what was faid, it is equally plain, that concern for others, which is not expreffed by "fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks," whatever it may be in the eye of mortals,―weighed in the balance of fcripture, is found wanting, it deferves not the name. Men may talk refpectfully of others, and perform many ufeful fervices to them; as to princes, they may fight under their banners, fit at their council-boards, carry their orders into execution, and be fcrupuloully exact in every outward expreffion of loyalty and efteem, while, living in the habitual neglect of the duties prefcribed by our apoftle, they are held, in the estimate of heaven, as chargeable with the most criminal contempt of the intereft of others, -whether princes or people.

In fine, From this doctrine, it evidently appears, that fuch a difinterefted regard to the happinefs of others, claims a principal fhare in our public folemn worship. As a part of the church of Christ, we should make confcience of keeping the ends of