the difference is only in the name, the thing in fubftance is the fame. They ftill are deputies, invested with a fubordinate, indeed, but with an high authority; in the exercise of which, they are much at liberty, and at their own difcretion. If this opinion were true, it would be difficult to show, that the heathen were much to blame, in the worship which they rendered to them. The officers of any great king are entitled to homage and respect, in proportion to the authority committed to them; and the grant of the power is a legal title to fuch refpect. These officers, therefore, of the greateft of kings, will be entitled to the greatest reverence; and as the governor of fa diftant province will, in many cases, be more an object of awe and veneration to the inhabitants, than the monarch himself, with whom they have no immediate connexion; fo the tutelar deity, or angel, will, with those who are put under him, fuperfede the Lord of all: and the heathen who worshipped those who were fuppofed to have the power over them, were certainly more consistent with themselves, than they who, acknowledging the power, withhold the worship."

"That the holy angels," obferves the bishop, are often employed by God in his government of this fublunary world, is indeed clearly to be proved by Holy Writ: that they have powers over the matter of the universe, analogous to the powers over it which men poffefs, greater in extent, but ftill limited; is a thing which might reasonably be fuppofed, if it were not declared. But it seems to be confirmed by many paffages of Holy Writ; from which it seems alfo evident, that they are occafionally, for certain fpecific purpofes, commiffioned to exercife thofe powers to a prefcribed extent. That the evil angels poffeffed before their fall the like powers, which they are fill occafionally permitted to exercife for the punishment of wicked nations, feems alfo evident: That they have a power over the human fenfory (which is part of the material univerfe), which they are occafionally permitted to exercife; by means of which they may inflict diseases, fuggeft evil thoughts, and be the inftruments of temptations, muft alfo be admitted. But all this amounts not to, any thing of a difcretional authority, placed in the hands of tutelar angels; or to an authority to advise the Lord God with refpect to the measures of his government."

Thus far the bishop; with whom I perfectly agree; though, to return from whence I fet out, it certainly is a most elevated employment to contemplate the celeftial hierarchies; the numerous hofts of heaven, attendant upon the throne

of

of God, exercising all holy obedience to the divine mandates, and engaged in an infinite variety of commiffions for his glory and the general good, throughout the boundless expanfe of the universe.

Here is indeed a fubject admirably adapted to all the purpofes of Holy Living; and here, as in the inftance of Hooker, is a confoling fpring to affift the pious foul in the arduous exercife of Holy Dying.

I am,

&c.

IOTA.

ADDRESS OF A CLERGYMAN TO HIS

PARISHIONERS.,

This excellent addrefs is prefixed to "Difcourfes on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell," publifhed in one fmall volume, in 1806, by the Rev. Mr. HETT, prebendary of Lincoln. Having omitted to notice this work in due course, we have inferted the addrefs in this place, as a fpecimen of the performance, which is admirably adapted for diftribution.

IT

Friends and Fellow Chriftians,

T hath pleased the Almighty to appoint me your fpiritual inftructor, your earthly guide to everlafting happiness. You may believe me, when I affure you, that I am fully aware of the importance of the charge I have undertaken; and that it is the first wifh of my heart, to perform the feveral duties of it, as I ought to do: as well, that I may pro- . mote your edification and comfort in this world, and fecure to you everlasting happiness in the next, as that I may attain the approbation of my Lord and Mafter, when I fhall be called upon to give an account of my stewardship.

When I reflect upon what I have done, with the view of difcharging my facred duty towards you; under a full conviction of many and great deficiencies, I am ftill not without a hope, that if you and I, my brethren, fhall but be able, with the aid of God's Holy Spirit, to reduce to practice, what I, at different times, and upon various occafions, have recommen ded

And

recommended to your notice, we fhall not fail, in the language of one, who was once a worthy neighbour of fome of you, to meet in glory. In addition to those instructions, which I have already given to you from the pulpit, I beg leave to fubmit to your ferious and attentive perufal the contents of this fmall volume. The fubject, upon which I have attempted to enlarge, and to illuftrate, you must admit to be of the higheft importance to every one of you. you. I moft humbly entreat you, to beftow upon the following. pages that degree of regard and attention, which, in your own minds, you must undoubtedly feel for what are properly called the four laft things, DEATH, JUDGment, HEAVEN, AND HELL. In what kind of a manner I have been able to exprefs my fentiments upon these truly interefting topics, I am not able to fay. All I profefs is, that I mean well, and moft fincerely hope, that what I have advanced is worthy of your notice; and will, with the bleffing of God, have that effect upon your faith and practice, which I intend it fhould have: that you will thereby be rendered more fenfible of the conftant prefence of Almighty God, more cautious and more circumfpect in your daily behaviour than you have heretofore been, and more defirous than ever of promoting your everlasting welfare. This is my view in laying before you my fentiments upon this occafion and it will be your fault, if, by your own negligence, you fruftrate these my good intentions towards you. Should you not receive that degree of edification which you expected, from thefe my well meant efforts, I have taken the liberty, at the conclufion of thefe pages, to point out to you a few very excellent and cheap books; from the perufal of which, together with that of the Word of God, you will not fail of being made wife unto falvation; provided falvation be the real object of your defires. Although in the Bible alone are contained the words of eternal life; nevertheless in the books which I have selected for your inftruction, and your improvement in every good word and work, you will find words of a fimilar import: they are the words of pious and devout Chriftians, whofe righteousness remaineth for ever; and whofe happinefs, if their lives were regulated by the fentiments contained in their writings; (and I do not perceive any reafon we have to fufpect the contrary) will be, by the favour of God, increafing to all eternity.

As you, my dearly beloved in the Lord, are chiefly farmers and graziers, cultivators of the ground, or breeders

and

and feeders of cattle; or perhaps, fill more properly, engaged partly in the one and partly in the other of these truly pleafing and highly useful occupations; permit me to recommend to you a mode of living; by the means of which, you have it in your power, to convert every farm you occupy into a nursery of divine wisdom, a school for a bleffed eternity.

As foon as you open your eyes in a morning, let your first thoughts be dedicated to God, and utter the following, or fuch like words, "I thank thee, Lord of heaven and earth, for having preferved me in health and fafety during the night paft; and for having given to me another opportunity of rifing up to praife thy goodness." Before you leave your dwelling, with the view of paying your morning vifit to your grounds; call together your whole household, wife and children, men-fervants, and maid- fervants; then reverently all kneel down together; and do you, in their prefence, with humility and devotion, read a family prayer. After this is done, let each of you go about their refpective occupations. If you thus employ in the service of your Maker the first moments of every morning of your life, you may hope for his bleffing upon your family, and upon their different employments, with a much fairer profpect, than if you were to omit this facred duty. A family prayer, repeated morning and evening, will not take up more of your time, than twenty minutes, and I should hope you will not think this too large a portion of every day in the week to be appropriated to the pious adoration of him, who gives you rain and fruitful feafons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.

You no fooner fet foot out of your own doors, than you fee all things full of God. It is through the influence of his goodness, that the tender herb of the field puts forth and flourishes, that the corn fprings up and ripens, that all vegetables attain their full growth and fruitfulness. It is God's bleffing alone, that causes your cattle to increase in number, to grow up for your ufe, and to become fat for your ad vantage. If your crops are abundant, and your flocks and your herds multiply; it is your duty, every time you furvey them with complacency, to give thanks to the author and giver of all good things. Should the contrary of this take place; fhould your crops be greatly damaged or wholly deftroyed by unfavourable weather; fhould your flocks and your herds be swept away by any grievous malady; ftill you ought not to repine at what you may haftily deem your

hard

hard lot, nor, on that account, to murmur against God. You are not the only one who fuffer in the fame way; and why should you expect to be exempted from the effects of a general calamity? This vifitation of Providence is kindly meant, for the good of yourself, and of your brethren in the fame line of employment. It is intended to try your faith and dependence upon God; to teach you to be humble and refigned to his holy will; to caufe you to confider your ways, and to oblige you to beg of him, that he will be graciously pleased to affift you in amending whatever he fees amifs in your daily conduct. At any rate, be the lofs you have fuftained ever fo great, or ever fo unmerited, as you may suppose, on your part; ftill it is your duty, with holy Job, to fay, "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: bleffed be the name of the Lord."

Having spent the day in attention to the business of your farm, after a frugal repaft, once more call together your household, and clofe the time of your labour with that of thankfulness and devotion. If you have leifure, you may read to your affembled family a part or the whole of a chapter in the Bible, and then all join in prayer to that God, who made you, who redeemed you, and who fanctifies you; who affords to you all things richly to enjoy. When you have done this, you may lay your heads upon the pillow, and your fleep fhall be fweet.

With regard to thofe of your domeftics, and of your poor neighbours, who affift you in the labours of your farm; permit me to advise you to look upon them, not as flaves, or as mere tools, but as, what they really are, your humble friends, and your equals in almoft every refpect, except as to worldly circumftances, and to treat them with gentleness and forbearance. The foul of a fervant or of a labouring man is full as valuable as yours: it had the fame origin, and is precifely of the fame nature. Jefus Chrift died to fave them as well as to fave you. And what would become of you and of your farms, were it not for their bodily exertions in your favour? Be ye therefore kind to them and tender hearted, knowing that they have in heaven a powerful friend, who will hear their cry, and will help them, and that ye alfo have a Mafter in the fame place, who will call you to a fevere account for any morofeness and oppreffion, which you may have exercifed towards them. Exact not from your hired fervants more work than their ftrength will bear; and pay to your labourers their weekly allowance, when it becomes due, on any day except the Lord's Day. If I were

to