bility to order, dignity to rank, sacredness to property, weight to authority, and cheerfulness to subordination. It is the cement of civil union; the essential support of legislation. It also procures for a nation respect from other nations; for it produces correct principles of national conduct: such as a respect for treaties, and the established law of nations; a spirit of moderation in all their actions, founded upon a strict regard to justice, and an ambition, not of conquest, but of doing good and extending human happi ness. 4. Righteousness exalts the social state of a nation. By this is meant their manners. Under this general term are included the modes of living; the rules of decorum in the intercourse between man and man, and families with families; personal address and accomplishments; together with amusements. All these result from, and are regulated by, the knowledge, morals, and government of a people. In proportion to the soundness and extent of information which a people possess, the purity of morals which they exhibit, and the excellence of the government which rules them, will be their urbanity, courtesy, affability, candour, uprightness, correctness of deportment in their intercourse with each other. Righteousness influences a people to combine gravity with cheerfulness, being neither dull on the one hand nor frivolous on the other. Their amusements will be innocent, subordinate to God's glory and the public benefit. Righteousness proscribes the theatre as licentious; chance games as profane; pugilistic feats as brute-like; bull-baits as execrable. It forbids every pleasure purchased at the expense of God's glory, or of human feelings, or of moral principle. It utterly condemns that fashionable politeness which clothes the face with smiles, fills the mouth with kindness, whilst the heart cherishes contempt and meditates revenge. 5. Righteousness exalteth a nation by promoting its physical state. By this is meant its natural resources, such as its population, wealth, and means of defence. Each of these particulars constitute distinct heads of inquiry. My design, however, is merely to take notice of them, without entering into a detail. Righteousness promotes the population of a people, by promoting contentment of mind and happiness of condition. It discountenances oppression or unnecessary exactions from subjects. Under its genial influence numbers and wealth increase. Righteousness creates habits of industry, and promotes useful inventions. It encourages the cultivation of the mechanic arts, the establishment of manufactures, the prosecution of agricultural and commercial pursuits. Righteousness, whilst it excites to industry, enjoins honesty and forbids covetousness. Wealth must be justly acquired, or it will prove a Thus acquired, it must not be squandered on luxuries, or wasted in revelry. Righteousness, whilst it restrains the extravagance of magistrates, and their consequent oppressions, also forbids dissipation in subjects, requiring simplicity, and sobriety, and frugality. curse. Thus the wealth which is acquired under the influence of righteousness is, under the same influence, a promoter of national strength. By it all necessary expenses are paid, and improvements made of great public utility. Numbers and wealth are two great means of defence to a nation; but without courage in these numbers, and a liberal use of that wealth, if necessary, they are of no avail. Righteousness is the parent of courage and the guide of liberality. It imparts a spirit of power to individuals and nations, as well as a spirit of wisdom, and of a sound mind, connected with love. Nations may resort to arms in their own defence, if negociation has been tried to no purpose. Since they exist only in this life, they must, under God, be their own avengers. Righteousness does not forbid a just, but an unjust war. By its influence on a nation, it prevents the latter, and enables them to engage in the former with propriety, humanity, justice, and the most determined and deliberate valour. It creates brave soldiers, as well as good statesmen. Thus, to proceed no further, righteousness, by improving the intellectual, moral, political, social, and physical state of a nation, truly exalts them.. Its influence is as extensive as the influence of sin: it extends to the mind which sin has darkened; to the affections which sin has depraved; to the civil and social relations which sin has mar |