and accepted in the beloved, is qualified to perform either filial duties, or duties of any other class, in a way truly acceptable to the Lord. The children addressed in the text are supposed to cherish supreme regard to the authority and the claims of God. "Children," says the Apostle, "obey your parents, in the Lord;" that is, I conceive, from the impulse of love to his name, and gratitude for his mercies, and reverence for his authority. Obedience, then, to parents must be essentially defective, in the sight of God, if not animated and guided by these high and holy principles. How indispensable then is that influence from above, which renews, and elevates, and purifies the heart. With what earnestness of desire, and importunity of prayer should you seek the aid of the sanctifying Spirit. And will it be refused to the prayer of faith? Let the very confidence you have been accustomed to feel, in the kindness of earthly parents, awaken still greater confidence in the goodness and the faithfulness of God. " If ye being evil," said the Saviour," know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him ?"

LECTURE XV.

THE DUTIES OF MASTERS AND OF SERVANTS.

COL. III. 22. & IV. 1.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

An inequality of rank, of station, and of property, has more or less prevailed in every country and in every age; and were it possible for a system to be introduced into any community, which would, in the first instance, level all distinctions, that equality could not be maintained one single day; unless, by an unprecedented and inconceivable miracle, the whole population should lose all diversity of character, and become absolutely equalized in talent, in disposition, and in all their habits of mind and of conduct. But never was it the design of providence, never was it the design of christianity, to render equal the intel

lectual endowments, or the external circumstances of mankind. Rightly viewed, the diversity itself will not appear to be an evil. It is unquestionably compatible with a high degree, if not even with an equal degree of happiness, throughout the various gradations of a well-ordered community. The several ranks and orders of society render to each other most welcome and most useful aid. The poor are not more dependent on the rich, than, in another sense, the rich are dependent on the poor. If the poor are indebted to the rich, the rich are no less indebted to the poor. By the interchange of valuable assistance, and the sense of reciprocal benefits, there is also effected a moral discipline, highly conducive to the future, as well as to the present interests of both. Under this impression, I now invite both masters and servants to a consideration of the duties, arising out of their respective circumstances in life; and of the principles, on which those duties should be performed. Following the order observed by the Apostle, in the injunctions which have been read, let me first address myself to SERVANTS. Let me endeavour to point out,-

FIRST, The Duties devolving on servants. First, There is the duty of strict and unbending fidelity.

"It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful;" and, in a greater or less degree,

every servant is a steward of the property entrusted to his or her care. Even in domestic economy, much is often confided to the use and management of servants; and it is nothing less than a breach of trust, as well as a violation of honesty, either to appropriate to their own use, that to which they have no right; or to consume, by wasteful extravagance, the property of their employers. "Exhort servants," said the Apostle Paul to Titus, "to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity." The species of dishonesty here forbidden, but which, it is to be feared, is carried on to a most lamentable extent, is the taking of little things, on a small scale, but by a frequent repetition of acts. "There is a very simple rule by which to determine whether there be any violation of this precept. Whatever a servant would openly take, under the eye of a master or mistress, cannot be considered as purloining. But if something be taken by stealth, which he would not wish to be seen using, this is a breach of the injunction, and is clearly contrary to the will of God."

Fidelity has also regard to the diligent employment of time. On entering into domestic, or into commercial employment, the servant voluntarily surrenders either the whole, or a certain proportion of his time, in consideration of a

stipulated recompense. To squander away that time, therefore, by idleness, or to devote those hours to his own purposes, which, by an explicit or implied contract, had ceased to be at his own disposal, must be an act of palpable injustice and absolute dishonesty.

Fidelity, on the part of female domestics, frequently involves also, in a pre-eminent degree, the vigilant care of children. A more sacred charge than that of children, in the early stages of existence, can scarcely devolve upon a human being. Their life, their limbs, their constitution, their health, their opening and impressible minds, are more or less confided to the care of servants. How great a treasure to a family is the servant whose conscientious assiduity, prudent foresight, tender feelings, and gentle manners are such as to authorize, at all hours and under all circumstances, that confidence! "There was a description of persons known in a former age, (observes the judicious author of Domestic Religion,'*) but which, it is to be regretted, are seldom now to be met with,--old and confidential servants in a house, who were considered, from their long and faithful services, as almost as fixed and regular parts of the family, as any of its other members. Their interests became, as it were,

*The Rev. W. Innes.