erent way, and whose work too, is not less important nor less toilsome and exhausting: without dwelling however any longer upon this, I shall now beg the attention of that class to which the expression is at present almost invariably applied.

The object then, brethren on which you are fully bent, is the attainment of certain political ends which you deem of great importance. Now I am not going to offer any opinion as to the value or expediency of the several particulars embraced in the object you are seeking. I am not going to advocate party politics, nor to desecrate this place by endeavouring to make converts to any class of worldly politicians: on the contrary, I readily admit your right to seek to secure any civil advantages or immunities you may think proper. My aim is to shew you the real value of all matters of this nature, with a view to induce you to pursue them as rational men, and especially as Christians, that you may be enabled so to pass through things temporal, that finally you lose not the things eternal.

I do not say then, that there is any thing sinful in itself in the object you are seeking, Still we see from the principles laid down in the text, as well as in various other passages of scripture, it may become highly sinful from the manner in which it is sought. A matter perfectly innocent in itself, nay truly good, assumes

a very different character, when it leads us to look from God, to it, for satisfaction. God is entitled to our hearts, and our supreme affections and ser vice, and whatever therefore it be, that usurps his place in our souls, becomes the occasion of sin to us. Now, if you examine yourselves by this rule, I am afraid that many of you will find that you are seeking what you believe to be your political rights, in an improper in a sinful manner. Indeed it is unhappily but too evident that you are disregarding God in your eagerness to secure those rights. In my own congregation I have had painful proofs of this. There are families who were constant in their attendance here, and who were apparently exemplary in their observance of the sabbath, who are now very seldom, some of them never, seen within these walls, and whose sabbaths there is too much reason to fear, are now spent in reading, or hearing read, Sunday, or some other profane and inflammatory newspapers, rather than in the holy employments that befit, this day of sacred rest. There is therefore" utterly a fault among you." Evil communications," as usual, "corrupt good manners,” You are sinning against your God; how then can you expect his blessing?

Let me in a spirit of the sincerest regard for your welfare. advert to another circumstance which

marks the sinful character of your proceedings. There

is no secret made of the matter

-

that if you can

not gain your end by peaceful means, you are prepared to do so by resorting to force. How can you as men who acknowledge the truth of God's word, think of such desperate wickedness? I wonder that you do not shrink with instinctive horror even at the bare thought of being guilty of such a proceeding? of being guilty, did I say? Why every man who has deliberately joined, and continues in such a confederacy, is guilty of entertaining feelings which differ very little, if at all, from those which lead to wilful murder. For if he who is "angry with his brother without a cause, be in danger of judgment," how much more must they, who for weeks and months have been preparing to resist the laws, which (inasmuch as the constituted authorities must enforce them,) does in effect amount to a determination to imbrue their hands in the blood of their fellow-citizens. The scriptures plainly tell us, that we are to obey the laws, and that resistance to them is a sin of the darkest die. Permit me to read you a few passages from the New Testament bearing upon this point. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God: the powers that be, are ordained of God; whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves

damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same; for he is the minister of God to thee, for good, but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake; for for this cause pay ye tribute also. for they are God's ministers attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due: custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake : —whether it be to the king, as supreme; or untò governors, as unto them that are. sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God' that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Honour all men; love the brotherhood. Fear God: honour the King," Such are the scripture doctrines of the duty of obedience to the ci vil magistrate, and you cannot but perceive that they condemn in the strongest manner, the conduct you are pursuing. This, those who lead you, know perfectly well, and accordingly I find, in the publications they are so industriously circulating amongst you, that they are

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endeavouring to destroy your religious principles. This is in some instances attempted, by an hypocritical profession of respect for the word of God, whilst they impiously pervert it from its obvious meaning: in other cases, by treating it with open contempt, and by praising and recommending to your perusal, the works of writers, whose avowed object was to destroy the credit of Christianity. The envious and the disaffected, and the ambitious, know full well, that they are never likely to succeed in their schemes, as long as men are under the elevating influences of the Gospel,-as long as men continue to look upon this world as a state of trial, and consequently a state in which trouble and difficulty, must necessarily exist as long as they are led to expect a judgement day in which God shall render unto and thereby shew

every man according to his works"

the equity of his present government of the world.—As long as men firmly believe that there is a hell, where the wicked shall be eternally tormented, and a heaven in which the contented Christian, shall be everlastingly rewarded, so long those who desire to spread popular discontent, know that they can make no progress, and consequently, they have recourse to the daring expedient of attempting to shake your religious belief. This was what was done previously to the French Revolution; and the whole world knows the horrid atrocities that followed. Godliness, let deluded men say what they may, is profit