Taking that court complexly,-in the characters and fuperior abilities of the judges, the extent of their privileges, the greatness of their power, the length of their attendance, the order, decorum, and folemnity of their forms, the number and erudition of their barrifters, together with the weight and influence of their decifions, it will, in Europe itself, be equalled by few courts of judicature, scarce excelled by any. While, therefore, Christians should exercise a holy gratitude to God, for such an effectual security from the caprice and oppreffion of their fellow-subjects, they are indispensibly bound to make intercessions for such as have the honour to fill those eminent places, that the fpirit of their station may be given them; and that, in the faithful and judicious discharge of their office, they may, under God, be for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praife of them that do well.

The end, to themselves, that Christians may pro. pose by such concern "for kings, and all that are " in authority," should next fall under our view; namely, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable "life, in all godliness and honesty." The kingdom of Christ is a kingdom of peace, and the end of it is quietness for ever; godliness, as Christians, and honesty, as men, are equally the ambition and endeavour of all its subjects: every lawful mean, toward the enjoyment of fuch quiethess and peace, so as to have freedom to exercise godliness and honesty, is incumbent on them: that prescribed in our text, is not only lawful, but laudable; not only so, but vastly conducive to the end in view; wherefore, without excluding motives of the generous and disinterested kind, it is evidently the interest, as well as the duty, of Christians, to make

thanks for all men," in general, "for kings and " eminent persons" in particular.

If the making, the interpreting, and carrying into execution the laws, belong to them, does it not, at once, appear, how much is in their power, to render the Chriftian's life quiet and peaceable; to give him no temptation to ungodliness, by perfecution; nor to dishonesty, by oppreffion? Whence, the *propriety of the mean recommended in our text, for reaching the end mentioned by the apostle, is fo obvious, that he who runs may read.

But, on this part of the subject, we will not now enlarge. From what observations have been made, the following conclufions will appear to be natural and eafy.

That, when men ly under no temptations from the severity of laws, or rigour in those who carry them into execution, to the practice of ungodliness or dishonesty, their giving indulgence to the one or the other, must be a heinous aggravation of the crime. Aggravation of it, we say, because such a practice would be criminal in any, whatever situation; but if fo, where godliness cannot be professed, unless at the peril of life and liberty; nor honesty cultivated, unless at the rifque of poverty and want; what must be the crimfon hue, and what the scarlet dye of these offences, where no such temptations, from the government, or our governors, fall in our way?

Temptations, did I fay, from the government, or our governors, to the practice of ungoodliness or dishonesty? The reverse, my bretheren, of this, is the delightful truth; for, toward the fuppreffion of wickedness and immorality of all kinds, we have many falutary laws; though it must be confeffed, to whose ignominy every one must see, that in the execution of them there has been a last

ing, perhaps, an univerfal defect. That reproach, however, bids fair to be soon wiped away, fince, by a recent proclamation from the throne, the carrying of those laws into immediate execution, against all-offenders without diftinction, is expressly commanded; and commanded, as the executors of the law shall be answerable to their royal master.

In place, therefore, of our lying under any temptation to fuch ignoble and dissolute practices, the temptation is happily thrown, by our fovereign, into the opposite scale.

That under the present government, distinguished for mildness and forbearance, if men lead not a quiet and peaceable life, it must be accounted for from another cause; their own turbulent spirits, namely, with a stupid ingratitude for liberties and privileges, the acquiring whereof cost our fathers so much blood and treasure. And if the cause arifes from themselves, it is their own faults, and they alone shall bear it, if timeous reformation intervene

not.

That our dear young king should have a conftant and particular share in our concern before God. Tho', as to fome, the indispensible nature of this duty may have never occurred before, as it appears now, to demonftration, from our text, let none be fo hardy, none so disobedient, as continue in the neglect, or practical contempt of it. Imagine it not enough to join in the public prayers for him, and those in authority; but carry the petitions and fupplications with you, in your family and personal approaches to God. With what confidence can you expect he will be made a blessing to you, if you are not, though expressly enjoined, at the pains to afk it? Shall he take the weight of the government upon his shoulders, and will you, in the exercife of prayer and fupplication, bear no part with him? Would there, let the prayerless say, in the event of our great hopes becoming abortive, be the least propriety in your murmurings and complaints? Let the exhortation, my brethren, on all the accounts fuggested, be chearfully and immediately complied with. And may the Lord give us understanding in all things.

SER

SERMONIII.

THE

EXCISION;

OR,

TROUBLERS OF THE CHURCH CHARACTERIZED AND CUT OFF *.

GALAT. V. 12.

I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

T

HIS letter was wrote by the apostle of the Gentiles, and addressed to the churches of Galatia. The date of it is uncertain; and, therefore, the opinions of the learned, concerning that circumstance, are various. Paul, here, had two ends, particularly, in view: one, the reproof of the Galatians, for receiving doctrines subversive of the gospel which he had preached amongst them ; the other, the vindication of his own character and authority, as an apostle of Christ, which the Judaising teachers had endeavoured to undermine. Having discussed both these, our apostle warmly exhorted his correspondents, to stedfastness and perfeverance in the perfuafion of gospel truths; the enjoyment

* This sernion was preached on the 8th of April, 1762; at the admifssion of the Rev. Mr. Alexander Moodie, to the parish of Riccarton.