larity. There are, alas! but too many striking instances exhibited in the world to eradicate every doubt as to the justness of this remark. And while we deplore the unhappiness of families, where, for the want of religion, irregularity prevails, we cannot but devoutly wish that those who profess to be the sons of Gospel peace would study the relations they bear to each other, render just subordination, and, mutually determining to pursue the things which make for peace, set a brilliant example to others. We dare not say that nature is quite lost to her respective relations; but we affirm, that the Bible is the most valuable book of ethics, having placed every relation of society, whether domestic, national, or ecclesiastical, in the most admirable and beneficial point of view, sanctioned by the authority of the God of peace. Permit me to select some instances appropriate to these relations of domestic life. "Let every one of you in particular, so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." "Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." "Servants be obedient to them that are your masters; and ye masters, do the same things unto them." "He that hath friends should show himself friendly." "Use hospitality one towards another." These are precepts as plain as they are necessary; they need no comment; an observance of them cannot fail to produce the most agreeable sensations, and happily secure both the interest and the pleasure of the family. May you, like David, walk within your house with a perfect heart.

3. FAMILY WORSHIP. If to worship God be the duty and felicity of an individual, it must be equally so to an

household. By family worship is intended an observance of stated daily periods for approaching God by prayer and praise, accompanied with reading the Scriptures, or such other volumes as may tend to the edification of the family. Who shall perform this service? the times when? and in what manner? As there are no positive rules in the Scriptures, perhaps it had better be left to the discretion of those who are immediately concerned, and who will adjust them as best comports with the circumstances of the family. It has been said, and I think with much propriety, that " every master of a family should be a prophet to teach, a priest to pray for, and a king to rule over his household." That family worship is agreeable to the dictate of nature, is not only evident from the idea of our perpetual dependence upon a SUPREME BEING, but from the acts of worship paid by heathens to their household deities. Revelation informs us that Abraham, Job, Joshua, David, and other ancient worthies, were zealous in promoting family worship. In the New Testament we read of the practice of devotion in the house of Priscilla and Aquila; also in the habitation of Mary the mother of John; and in the family of Nymphas; particularly in the instance of Cornelius, who feared God with all his house, and prayed to God alway. The advantages to be derived from domestic worship are extremely great. While the hearts of the pious, in the discharge of their duty, feel the most happy emotions, their devotion to the God of their mercy sets a valuable example to children and to servants.

Amongst the most regular families it is too often found that through diversity of tempers, temptations, and mis understandings, mistakes unavoidably occur, and create general disquietude: But called to family worship, bow

ing before the most high God, is the most likely way to bury every animosity, and the gloom of disquietude is exchanged for affability and pleasure. Such are some of the benefits of family devotion; and such an house, like the family of Obededom, shall be blessed for the Ark sake.

4. A conscientious observance of the LORD's Day is certainly a mean of promoting the moral felicity of a family. Private and public worship are inseparably connected. It is to be lamented that a neglect of the Lord's day is one of the growing evils of the age. It certainly has the most fatal tendency to vitiate the morals of youth, and frequently proves the first step to infamy and ruin. In proportion to the piety of parents and of masters, will be the government of their children and servants in regard to observing the private and public duties of the Lord's day. Recreation is unquestionably necessary to preserve the health and vivacity of youth, and with it they should be indulged; but since the use of the Lord's day for that purpose has proved so fatal to the morals of young persons, and has been attended with so many evident marks of the Divine displeasure, it is earnestly to be wished that a portion of time in the week should be allotted them for recreation, and that every incitement should be given them to keep holy the Sabbath day. Can a pious parent or master enjoy the sweets of devotion while his children or his servants are willingly per mitted to turn their back upon the worship of Jehovah, probably, either on land or water, united with companions who encourage them in the rounds of dissipation and sensuality? Impossible! For the sake, therefore, of the moral interest of those committed to your care-for the happiness of domestic life-and for the public wel

fare, govern your families in the fear of your God, that his blessings may abide upon you.

You cannot expect that, in this single discourse, I should give general directions for meditation, reading, examination, prayer, praise, and cheerful conversation; all I shall at present say is, may you, with the beloved John, be in the Spirit on the Lord's day; and the Lord of the day grant you his benediction.

5. The last thing I shall name as contributing to the pleasures of domestic life, is the frequent contemplation of the felicity of the FAMILY IN HEAVEN. Unconscious of to-morrow, we live upon the bounty of an hour. The place that now knoweth us in our families will soon know us no more. Parents and children, masters, servants, and friends, the most tender and endearing ties must submit to the stroke of death! This solemn reflection may cast a damp upon the joys of those whose breasts are strangers to the peace of God; but it will never fail to operate in a very different manner upon that family whom the Lord shall bless. Being joint-heirs with Christ, they will welcome death as a friendly messenger to usher them into the family in heaven. An innumerable company, related to one EVERLASTING FATHER, interested in the same inestimably precious LOVE, redeemed by the same CHRIST, called by the same spirit, enriched by the same grace, and preserved by the same power; after having suffered and wept here below, by death, they dropped their cumbrous clay: free from sin, and free from pain, they now reside in one sacred house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. There the FATHER spreads his glories all around! There JESUS, our heavenly Joseph, fully makes himself known to his brethren in all the charms of love! No need of the sun, nor of

the moon, nor of the light of the candle; natural nor artificial light are necessary in that celestial mansion, for God and the Lamb are the light of it: no discordant notes are heard; prejudice and party names, which kept them at "jarring odds" below, are vanished away, and pure love and joy flow from soul to soul. Bear with me while I suggest the thought, though at the expense of a silent tear—in that blessed family above reside some of your dearest, pious relatives, whom death has taken from your arms! They are not lost; they are not lodged in the dark regions of despair; they are with the Lord, who bought them with his blood; and they now sing his praise on harps of gold! Let the Saviour's peace dwell in your heart-obey his holy will in every relation of your life-regard his holy day-let your conversation be in heaven and soon you will be transmitted from your tabernacle of clay, to dwell for ever in the mansion of eter nal bliss!

The number to the appropriate HYMNS, at the end of the volume, will be found to correspond with the number of the Lecture.