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all things, and in doing fo he confults our good, as well as his own honour. And like a good mafter as he is, he fails not to inftruct his willing fervants in their duty, to affift them in the discharge of it, and to reward them infinitely beyond their deferts. Their numerous failings he overlooks and forgives; and as on the one hand he gently reproves them when they do amiss, so on the other their humble and cordial endeavours to conform to his pleasure he graciously approves and commends. Indeed his conduct towards them is in every circumstance of it truly admirable. But ah! how disingenuous has been our character, and how base our conduct, towards him! Have we obeyed him in all things? No. We have failed in ten thousand inftances. Instead of ferving him humbly, faithfully, diligently and cheerfully, as we expect our fervants fhould ferve us; pride, infidelity, floth, and reluctance, have too often difgraced our fervices. What cause have we for the deepest humiliation and contrition in his prefence!

Let us acknowledge before him that we are unprofitable fervants. Let us fmite on our breasts, and penitently fay, "God be merciful to us finners." Let us expect pardon and acceptance alone through the mediation of his Son, who took on him the form of a fervant, and became obedient to death, that he might reconcile us to our offended mafter. Let this his amazing condefcenfion, benignity, and love infpire our breafts with the nobleft fentiments of gratitude and obedience. Let us feel the effect of this divine motive to engage us as mafters, to exercife all due tendernefs, compaffion and kindness towards our fervants, and to difpofe those of us who are fervants, to render

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faithful and cheerful obedience to our 'rit which take may we all of us Chriftians, whether vants, be honoured with the approbati vine Master in the great day of "done, good and faithful fervant, ente "joy of thy Lord.”

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all things, and in doing fo he confults our good, as well as his own honour. And like a good mafter as he is, he fails not to inftruct his willing fervants in their duty, to affist them in the discharge of it, and to reward them infinitely beyond their deferts. Their numerous failings he overlooks and forgives; and as on the one hand he gently reproves them when they do amifs, so on the other their humble and cordial endeavours to conform to his pleasure he graciously approves and commends. Indeed his conduct towards them is in every circumstance of it truly admirable. But ah! how disingenuous has been our character, and how base our conduct, towards him! Have we obeyed him in all things? No. We have failed in ten thousand inftances. Instead of serving him humbly, faithfully, diligently and cheerfully, as we expect our fervants fhould ferve us; pride, infidelity, floth, and reluctance, have too often difgraced our fervices. What cause have we for the deepeft humiliation and contrition in his prefence !

Let us acknowledge before him that we are unprofitable fervants. Let us fmite on our breasts, and penitently fay," God be merciful to us finners." Let us expect pardon and acceptance alone through the mediation of his Son, who took on him the form of a fervant, and became obedient to death, that he might reconcile us to our offended mafter. Let this his amazing condefcenfion, benignity, and love infpire our breafts with the nobleft fentiments of gratitude and obedience. Let us feel the effect of this divine motive to engage us as mafiers, to exercife all due tendernefs, compaffion and kindnefs towards our fervants, and to difpofe those of us who are fervants, to render

faithful

325

faithful and cheerful obedience to our

mafters. And

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ant!" Well 'r thou into the

may we all of us Chriftians, whether on of our divants, be honoured with the approbati vine Master in the great day of acco "done, good and faithful fervant, ente "joy of thy Lord."

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Behold how good and how pleafant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the bead, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the fkirts of his garments. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that defcended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the bleffing, even life for evermore.

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UR great Creator hath wifely and benevolent

ly implanted in our breafts a strong propensity to focial connections. Feeling that we cannot fubfift of ourselves, we look to our fellow-creatures for fupport, affiftance, and protection; we covet one another's company, and are happy in contributing to each other's felicity. It is evident, therefore, that we are formed for the pleasures of friendship and fociety, and that thefe, next to the favour of God, are our chief enjoyments.

Now,

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