give an example of amiableness in himself, and set before his wife the pattern of a prudent, lowly, loving, meek, self-denying, patient, harmless, holy, heavenly life. Vitium uxoris aut tollendum aut ferendum est. Qui tollit vitium uxorem commodiorem prostat: qui fert, sese meliorem facit. Who knoweth what is good for man in this life? All the days of his vain life, which he spendeth as a shadow! Connections passionately sought may prove scourges in our sides and thorns in our eyes [when acquired.] Let not those who are young form too flattering a picture of human life. Let them believe the testimony of scripture, and listen to those who have gone before them. They who have not travelled far, see only a little narrow arm of the sea of life, sheltered by neighbouring hills but some who have sailed beyond the reach of the eye, have seen storms and wrecks, and can warn others of impending dangers. Government. IMPERATOR: Refrænet prius libidines, spernat voluptates, iracundiam teneat; coerceat avaritiam, cæteras Animi labes repellat; tum incipiat aliis imperare, cum ipse improbissimis dominis, dedecori ac turpitudini parere desierit. Dum quidem his obediet, Imperator non modo, sed Liber habendus omnino non erit.-Cicero. Utraque pessima, Libertas et Servitus immoderata: utraque optima, libertas et servitus moderata sed laxari vulgus libertatem sine fine & sine modo cupit.-Plato. : [Libertas arbitrium meum, in rebus honestis, respiciet Servitus, leges quibus moderetur arbitrium Utraque itą moderata sit.-Ed.] Let us pray much for our country, since every passenger is concerned in the safety of the ship. : A bad cause cannot be made good, nor a good one bad, by the event of them seeing God's judgments are unsearchable. A poet among the Heathen says, Careat successibus opto, quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putet. The saying of Tacitus seems applicable to the late proceedings in a neighbouring country, [France in her revolution]: Vastitiem quum fecissent pacem appellant: They make a desert and they call it peace! Legum copia, Justitiæ inopia. Imperium concitatum [violentum] ut multum habet impetûs sic minus virium. Citius contemnitur, facilius frangitur. Non sic excubiæ nec circumstantia pila-ut tutatur amor. Non arma aut opes præsidia regni sunt, sed amici. Nemo enim vult noeere ei quem amat. Philip Henry always recommended to his friends a submission to Government, without using means to excite disaffection. In one of his discourses, he expresses himself to this effect. It is the character of the people of God, that they are a quiet people in the land-living in an orderly peaceable subjection to governors and Government, in the land. We must maintain a reverent esteem of them and of their authority, in opposition to despising dominion: we must be meek under severe commands and burthensome impositions, not murmuring and complaining at them; but take them up, as our cross in our way. We must not speak evil of dignities: Paul checked himself for this. We must not traduce their government, as Absalom did David's: great care is to be taken how we speak of the faults of any, especially of rulers. The people of God are taught that magistracy is God's ordinance, and magistrates God's ministers that by Him, kings reign, and the powers that be are ordained of Him: the lawful commands of these are to be obeyed, and that readily and cheerfully: what may be inflicted for not obeying unlawful commands is patiently to be undergone. This is the rule; and as many as walk according to this rule, peace shall be upon them and there can be no danger of their unpeaceableness. : If some professing religion have been unquiet, their unquietness hath given the lie to their profession. Quietness is our badge: it will be our strength, our rejoicing in the day of evil it is pleasing to God, it may work upon others. A good means of keeping our minds quiet is, to have them filled with the knowledge and belief of these two things:First, that the kingdom of Christ is not of this world, (many have thought otherwise and it hath made them unquiet); secondly, that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. [It may indeed be made subservient to His purposes, and bring about His counsels, Ps. lxxvi. 10; but it is wrath and malice still, an unsubdued, unchristian spirit; and woe will be to those that are found in it! The unconscious good result, the unintentional event of their violence, will not save them from just condemnation.-Ed.] We must therefore mortify unquietness in the causes of it. We must beware of the company and converse of those that are unquiet: though deceitful matters be devised, we must be quiet still. Qui statuit aliquid parte inauditâ alterâ, æquum licet statuerit, haud æquus fuit.-Sen. Ignorantia Judicis fit calamitas innocentis. Christ was peaceable himself, and his religion abounds with pacific maxims. We have room to rejoice in Him as our king for He brings inestimable blessings to his subjects, both for time and eternity. Let us pray that His kingdom [of Truth, Righteousness and Peace] may be supported and advanced [the happiness of the world being intimately connected with it]: and let us be thankful that there is such a foundation laid by the Gospel dispensation for the hope of frail creatures. He shall speak peace unto the heathen: his dominion shall be from sea even to sea; and |