his appointment, by our meeting together, full in view. of our apostle is allowed to have wrote this letter to Timothy, under the influence of infpiration, then" fupplications, prayers, interceffions, " and giving of thanks," for others, must be claffed amongst the ordinances of heaven; confequently, must be performed by us with faithfulness and concern, as we would not be found chargeable with neglecting to observe any one of the "all

things whatsoever he hath commanded us." These duties, in our church capacity, are not to be performed as so many words of course, which has too much, and long been our reproach'; but with a particular earneftness and fervour, according to the obligation, importance, and neceffity of

them.

SERMONII.

1 Тім. іі. 1, 2. I exhort therefore, &c.

THOSE for whom the apostle would have

Chriftians, fo particularly, to intereft themfelves, are "kings, and all that are in authority."

The exhortation having a respect to Christians in general, plainly infinuates, that without excluding their generous concern for others, elsewhere intrusted with the regal power, fupplications,

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prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks," are especially to be made, for the royal person who Tways the fceptre over themselves.

It was easy for the apoffle to fee, that Chriftians would, by their birth, stations, and places of refidence, be scattered through the dominions of different potentates; and therefore, when he men

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tions

tions the privilege of "leading a quiet and peace"able life, in all godliness and honesty," and mentions it, as one and they should have in view, by complying with the exhortation in our text;-it needs no argument to prove, that the particular fovereign, under whose administration that end can only be reached, has a first claim to the exercise here recommended.

For foreign princes, the concern of Chriftians should be regulated, according as circumstances do, or may, direct. All of them have a title from this apoftolical warrant, to the "fupplications,

prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings," of Christians, in as far as their spiritual and eternal good require: if unconverted, their converfion te God, through Jesus Christ, should be the burden of the exercise under view; and if the fruits of converfion are brought forth by them, then "giv

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ing of thanks" is the Christian's province and duty. If they are joined in a friendly alliance with the sovereign, under whom Christians " lead

a quiet and peaceable life," the exercise of this concern may, with greater safety, be extended to the temporal, as well as fpiritual interests of fuch princes. But if upon the opposite side, or merely neutral in the public controversy, the Christian's concern, for their outward prosperity, must not be inconsistent with what is due to their own sovereign, and the community of which they make a part.

With these limitations, it is highly worthy the Christian character, and particularly expreffive of the Chriftian temper, to extend the concern, here recomended by our apostle, to kings in general, and all in authority under them.

Perhaps this view of the matter may differ,-widely differ, from what even Christians themselves have been

!

1

been accustomed to think and practise; but if it has a foundation in the New Testament, as a part of the counsel of God, it should be honestly declared, and fuirable compliance with it univerfally obtained. If it is the will of God, that "all men "should be faved, and come to the knowlege of the "truth," how do Christians instruct their conformity to that will, if they have no concern for the falvation of others, whatever their station or character, whatever their connections or political system? Such an unbounded compaffion, can, with no degree of justice, be constructed as, any how, subversive of the special interest in their concern, to which their immediate fuperiors have an indifputable right; nor is it, in the least, inconfiftent with that interest, unless it could be alledged, that none of oppofite nations and alliances from them, can have a place in the better world, where entire, universal, everlafting concord, harmony and friendship, invariably reign; which is so abturd in itself, and fo contrary to the very genius of the gospel, that, to the most superficial student of the scriptures, it must, at first sight, appear.

The influence of kings over their subjects, and of those in authority over the inferior tribes of men, at once accounts for the apostle's recommending them, so explicitly, to the concern of the churches of Christ; for though no natural nor political parents, can transfer grace to others, their authority and example may have incredible influence on an external reformation, if not on men's feeking after the like precious grace with themselves. Hence, an inspired politician affures us, that "when the "righteous are in authority, the people rejoice : " but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn," Prov. xxix. 1. According to this view, when Christians exercise a proper concern for the reformation

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mation of kings, and those in authority, their concern, in effect, reaches to all, without distinction, whose principles and practices may be bettered by

it.

* With regard to ourselves; though, as men, all nations; as Chriftians, the whole Christian world; and, as Protestants, every country and kingdom diftinguished by that name, should ly upon our hearts, and have a share in our concern at the thron of grace; yet, my brethren, as Britons, joined to those other relations, our British sovereign has a peculiar title to the concern expressed in this exhortation.

It is impoffible to think of his juvenile years, his high station, his important office, the variety and weight of business laid upon him, the critical conjuncture of affairs at his acceffion to the throne, the temptations with which he must be furrounded, the common enemies of liberty and true religion, againft whom he is our royal guardian, and to think of the very acclamations of loyalty and pleasure, fo univerfally heard amongít his loving subjects; it is impoffible to think of these things, without difcovering the propriety of " fupplications, prayers, " and interceffions," in his behalf. If exposed to evils, not only in common with others, as men, but, peculiar to the pinnacle of dignity and eminence, upon which, as an imperial monarch, he stands, can the neceffity of deprecation bear the smallest difpute? And if he not only needs gifts and graces, with the exercile and improvement of them, as the man and the Chriflian; but, as the king and the fupreme magiftrate; are not prayers for him equally needful, and, by his fubjects, a tribute proportionally due? Interceffions, therefore, in both these views, become the duty of the subjects, as they

1

they are, by ap storical authority, the right and privilege of the lovereign.

Nor is thanksgiving, upon the occafion, to be neglected, or performed without the warmest sentiments of love and gratitude to God. Many circunstances, my brethren, in this noticeable providence, confpire to enforce that duty, to excite that exercise, and to obtain an universal complivance with this part of our apostle's exhortation.

Can we refl ct on the preservation of our late fovereign, until the years of his royal fuccessor's majority were more than numbered? Can we think of the British throne being now filled with a native of our happy ifle? Can we hear of such regards to true Chriftianity appearing in him, as are not common to his years, far less to his exalted station? Can we understand his royal purpose to lay out himfelt, and make it the business of his life, to preferve our invaluable privileges, and tranfmit them entire to pofterity? Can we learn from. his own mouth, that, in discharge of the truft reposed in him, he resolves to depend on the advice and assistance, not of his council alone, but of every honest man? In a word, can we, of this part of the united kingdom, be certainly informed of his undertaking, by oath, to fecure us in the free exercife of the Prefbyterian religion, according to our conftitutional laws? Can we advert to these things, without, at once, seeing cause, feeling and expreffing sentiments, of manifold gratitude to God our 'Saviour, for all his benefits?

There is fomething, my brethren, in our very conftitution itself, that, on every unprejudiced mind, must have a constraining influence, toward the end of the exhortation being reached. Instead of an abfolute monarch, whole will is the only law, and whose subjects are hereditary flaves, our august fowereign