selling, exchanging one commodity for another, the law of reciprocity is to be observed, and you are to do to others as you would wish them to do to you, if your circumstances were reversed. To act and to trade thus, is the duty of all Christians; and as professors of the gospel they are forbidden to govern their business by those unrighteous maxims of irreligious business men which contradict the law of Christ. "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God," is God's instruction to his people, and to be observed by them in all their transactions between themselves, and toward the world.

5. Religion is to have an important consideration and weight in the whole life of Christians; and in an elective government like ours, God's people are under an obligation to let the principles of the glorious gospel govern their political action. The duty to pray for our rulers is directly enjoined on all Christians; and it is no less their duty to use their right of the elective franchise to have good and just men elected to be rulers. "Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, and rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens." Ex. 18:21. "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." 2 Sam. 23:3. Such are the moral qualifications which God requires in rulers. The consequence of having wicked men for rulers, is stated thus: "As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people." "When the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." Prov. 28:15; 22:2. This effect is illustrated by historical facts in the Scriptures. Look at the case of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin; and Ahab, though faithfully admonished by Elijah; and at the moral and political condition of the people under their reigns; and tell us if “ the people do not mourn" when "the wicked bear rule." Now look at the moral and political condition of the

66

same people under the reigns of Hezekiah and Josiah, and see the difference when the rulers are just men ruling in the fear of God. Christians are to pray for their rulers. God has commanded that "first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty." 1 Tim. 2:2,3. If then, it is our duty to pray for our rulers, are we not morally bound so to exercise our rights of elective franchise, as to put into office just men ruling in the fear of God; men of righteousness and high moral principle? Can Christians consistently vote for men as rulers, of known wickedness and want of principle, and then pray that our rulers may be just, ruling in the fear of God? Is the man, trained from very childhood to tyranuize over crushed humanity, a tyrant and oppressor from his cradle, fitted to rule over a free Republican people? And can a Christian give his suffrage for the oppressing slaveholder, a duelist, or an adulterer, and then insult High Heaven by praying that such may rule in the fear of God? Nay, my brethren-" Be not deceived; God is not mocked." Talk of oppressive laws, and yet give your vote for the oppressor! Mourn over the wrongs of the crushed slave, and then vote for such men as will crush him, lower,, and bind more strongly the bands of slavery! Let, men good and true, let Christians learn soon what they must learn, that if they have an interest for the abused bondman, they have a duty to discharge for him at the ballot-box. Slavery in America is a creature of unrighteous human law, and legislation has an important part to perform in terminating it.

6. Let every soul be subject to the higher powersfor rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil." Hence it is the duty of Christians to lead quiet and peaceable lives, and to obey the laws of their country-unless those laws conflict with the law of God; then like Daniel, and Peter,, and John, they are to

obey God rather than man. They are always to sustain good and wholesome law, the just rules of civil as well as religious society. To be good citizens, as well as devoted Christians, in all things; fearing God and working righteousness, that they may be accepted of him.

CHAPTER II.

DUTY OF CHRISTIANS TO CO-OPERATE IN THE GREAT WORK OF CHRISTIAN BENEVOLENCE.

A profession of Christianity supposes a renunciation of the world, and the dedication of one's self to God. They are to appreciate the sentiment, "Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. Christians willing to do good as they have "opportunity," will be ready to cooperate with the Benevolent Societies, designed to spread abroad the knowledge of God, and promote the happiness of man. And the pious and benevolent ought to lose no time in the great work of ameliorating the moral condition of the great human family; remembering that annually nearly thirty millions of human souls pass from this to the eternal world! Some of these go to rest in glory; but, alas! how many of them go into the spirit land, unprepared to meet a holy God. How rational, then, that those who have the gospel of Jesus Christ, should do all in their power to give it to the destitute; and how inconsistent is the course of the rich and opulent, who devote their extensive incomes to secure still larger earthly possessions; or the proud and gay, in richly decorating their persons; when in a few years death will break up all their worldly schemes, and they lie down in the grave, which knows no distinctions of rich or poor. The one great question alone to be asked alike of all will be, Have they honored God and done good to men, with their riches and their talents?

The present age is an active one. Everything about us seems to be on the advance; everything moving forward. Shall religion alone recede? No! Christians must act. They must go forth and labor in the vineyard. It is not a time to stand idle. The world is to

Our own

be converted, and Christians are the instrumentality. God has commanded, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." The heathen must have the Bible-the gospel must be preached to them. They are ignorant of the way of salvation-of their future destiny, or of what they should do-without hope and without God in the world. And what a field for labor opens upon us on every hand. land is filling up with multitudes from the nations of Europe, almost as ignorant as the heathen; infidelity and damning errors are abounding; evil men and seducers waxing worse and worse. I ask, Has not the Church of Christ a mighty work of Christian benevolence before them; and ought not all Christians to rouse themselves to the vast responsibilities which God devolves on the church? Let us look over some of the departments of Christian benevolence, in which the people of God should be engaged.

1. The great commission, just quoted, which the Savior has given the church-go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature-makes it the duty of every Christian, heartily and actively proportionate to his means, to engage in the cause of Missions. The darkness of heathenism must be dispelled by the light of the glorious gospel; and the errors of our own country be counteracted by religious truth. The duty of co-operation in both Home and Foreign Mission Societies, on the part of all the pious, must be at once apparent. And let me ask, Is it not only the duty, but the sweet privilege, of God's dear people, to enlist in the blessed enterprise of spreading the knowledge of salvation? Let me ask, Is there any where a Christian, can there be found a Free-will Baptist, who takes no part, does nothing for the cause of Christian missions? Are there any whose souls are not stirred within them to co-operate in sustaining our missionaries in India, and in posts of great usefulness in our own land? Alas, there are some who do nothing. Friends, what are your reasons for not coming up to