wards him upon the grand principle of duty to God.

As a general guide how to act towards him, we have this admirable rule in the Gospel: "All things," says our Saviour, "whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Were we to follow this rule at all times, and on all occasions, we should not only never do our neighbour an injury, but should also exert ourselves to do him every ser vice in our power. In this precept, every branch of Christian Charity is comprehended. When we wish to know how to act towards any person, let us in imagination change places with him, and then ask ourselves how, under similar circumstances, we should like to be treated by him. This, by letting us, as it were, into the knowledge of his heart, and making us acquainted with his probable feelings and wishes, will induce us to judge less harshly of him, and to forbear doing that which we are now sensible would give him pain, and, perhaps, excite animosity

*Matt. vii. 12.

own.

in his breast, and uncharitableness in our Much good may be done, and much evil prevented, by following this rule in our dealings and communications with each other. Indeed, were mankind to adopt it universally, injustice and dishonesty would be known only by name, and the passions of the human heart, subdued before they grew into strength, would cease to spread around the seed of enmity and contention. No more should we witness the sad, and often tragical, events of anger, malice, envy, and revenge; no more hear the voice of slander, nor the sound of lying lips; no more see men quarrelling and disputing with one another, extorting from their neighbour that to which they have no right, injuring him in his honour, in his property, or in his reputation, and over-reaching him by all the various ways of treachery and fraud. Enmity would cease to inflame the passions, and the desire of retaliation to disturb the quiet of mankind. Peace, good-will, harmony, and confidence would shed their kindly influence around. In every home we should meet a brother; at

every corner turn upon a friend. Suspicions would vanish, and apprehensions die away. Honesty and justice would fix their seat in every heart; truth and candour flow from every tongue, and love and mercy kindle their gentle flame in every bosom. The milder virtues would grow into general practice, and all the endearing charities of life expand in every breast and in every home.

Having made these few general observations, I come to show you your duty, as it respects the particular relations in which you stand to your fellow-creatures. I shall discourse to you, first, on your Duty to your Parents.

In every part which you are called upon to fulfil, your primary object should be, to enquire into the Will of God respecting it and your secondary, to perform it in the manner which that Will has enjoined. It is the command of God that you honour your parents. It follows, therefore, that if you do not honour them, you are guilty of disobedience to God; and you cannot but know, that the

consequence of disobedience to him will be punishment to yourselves.

* "Hearken," says Solomon, "unto thy Father that begat thee, and despise not thy Mother when she is old." And in another place he says, to show that evil would in some way or other overtake the unnatural child, "The eye that mocketh at his Father, and despiseth to obey his Mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." To honour Father and Mother

"is the first commandment with promise." If, therefore, you wish, not only to escape punishment, but to obtain reward, you must pay them that respect and veneration, which the Law of Nature requires of you, and which the command of God positively enjoins. This respect and veneration are shown by your observing towards them all those external marks of deference and attention, which their age, their experience, and their evident affection for you, so forcibly demand.

*Prov. xxiii. 22,

+ Prov. xxx. 17.

+ Eph. vi. 2.

In the first place, then, you are to honour your Parents, because commanded to do so by Almighty God. In the next place, you are to love them, because of the benefits which they have conferred upon you. Consider how many anxious hours they have passed on your account; with what unremitted care and attention they watched over your tender years; what fearful solicitude they felt, when disease threatened to cut short the thread of your existence; what pains and diligence they bestowed in informing your minds, and training you up in the way you should go; what labour they have undergone, and what sacrifices they have made, for your sakes and welfare; and how often, in the full emotion of the parental feeling, they have implored of Heaven to bless and protect you. Consider all this, and surely you will allow, that you can never sufficiently pay the vast debt you owe them. If they have done their duty by you, not merely fitting you for shining in this world, but also and principally for becoming through Christ inheritors of glory in the next,