his wealth by honest means continue, by honest means, to preserve or to increase that wealth, every law of justice, both human and divine, secures it to them; and so long as the ruined children of the spendthrift (hard though their case may be, and pitiable their lot) do not raise themselves, as they might, by their exertions and their industry, to a higher station, so long will they remain among the poor of the land.

There have been many nations where all are poor, but none where all are rich. Poverty is a wise ordainment of God "The poor," said our Saviour,

Himself.

66

ye have always with you." Those persons can have observed to little purpose the aspect of human society, who have not learnt, that the fear of poverty is to many the only spur to exertion. Take away this stimulus, place the indolent and dissolute on the same footing with the honest and industrious, and it is selfevident that general gacy would prevail.

idleness and profliSo far, therefore,

poverty, as one of the ingredients of the social state, is a blessing rather than a

curse.

It is in accordance, principally though not exclusively, with different degrees of wealth, that the different ranks of soci

ety have sprung up. I say, not exclusively, because in a free country like this, personal worth and talent, unaccompanied by wealth, may raise a man to reputation and honour. Still unquestionably, wealth is the principal standard by which the different ranks and degrees of men are measured. Since then it is highly important that each man should have a just notion of the duties of his particular station, let us endeavour as far as our limits will allow to take a survey of the different ranks of life.

With regard to the duties of the highest person in the realm, very little need be said; because in all religious enquiries we should dwell on those topics which concern ourselves rather than those which relate to others. Let me entreat you, my beloved brethren, to view the conduct of

your Sovereign always with that spirit of candour and charity which the gospel demands from every man towards his neighbour. And do not scorn to cherish in your hearts that instinctive feeling of attachment to the person of your king, which is called loyalty,-a feeling, which, though somewhat out of fashion in the present day, is, nevertheless, one of the finest and noblest, and I may add, one of the most useful instincts of our nature-a characteristic of the highest intellect as well as the warmest heart, and in every way worthy of a Christian. But above all, forget not to offer up your prayers for his prosperity; for most truly does he need the prayers of all good men in the land, to enable him, even with the most upright intentions, to govern the people which God hath committed to his charge. If the whole nation would but do their duty, and pray to God to direct the heart of their King, they would never have occasion to complain of him.

Let us descend a step lower, to those who are called nobles. Liable as they

are to the same failings and infirmities as ourselves, and no better in the sight of God than the poorest among us; yet, as their title implies, we look for something of a higher and more dignified bearing than is expected in other ranks. Possessed of ample revenues, we expect in them a noble generosity and munificent spirit, a liberal encouragement of all institutions, which tend to the honour of God, or to the good of man. Any thing mean, illiberal, or ignoble in men of this rank, we justly deem highly unbecoming and reprehensible, for we look to them for an example of what is good and great.

We have a right also to expect that they will employ the leisure which Providence has placed in their hands, for the good of their country, especially since the institutions of this nation confer upon the nobles, the high and responsible privilege of sitting as legislators in the upper house of Parliament, a part of our constitution, which, as it appears

B 6

to me, is no less wise in principle, than useful in practice. The science of government and legislation cannot surely be learned, without a proper education and previous training. A man taken, like Cincinnatus, from the plough, or fresh from the duties of a laborious profession or business, is not likely to make so good a legislator for the complicated interests of such a nation as this, as one who has been trained for the senate from his youth up, and has had leisure to turn his mind to the business which it requires. "The wisdom of a learned man, says the author of Ecclesiasticus, "cometh by opportunity of leisure, and he that hath little business shall become wise. How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough1?" Certainly every consideration would lead us to judge that great questions, of internal and international policy, would be handled with the soundest wisdom, by men trained up for that very purpose. Accordingly, we justly

1 Ecclesiasticus xxxviii. 24.