"thanks for all men," in general, "for kings and eminent perfons" in particular.

If the making, the interpreting, and carrying into execution the laws, belong to them, does it not, at once, appear, how much is in their power, to render the Chriftian's life quiet and peaceable; to give him no temptation to ungodliness, by perfecution; nor to dishonesty, by oppreffion? Whence, the propriety of the mean recommended in our text, for reaching the end mentioned by the apostle, is fo obvious, that he who runs may read.

But, on this part of the fubject, we will not now enlarge. From what obfervations have been made, the following conclufions will appear to be natural and easy.

That, when men ly under no temptations from the feverity of laws, or rigour in those who carry them into execution, to the practice of ungodlinessTM or dishonesty, their giving indulgence to the one or the other, must be a heinous aggravation of the crime. Aggravation of it, we fay, becaufe fuch a practice would be criminal in any, whatever fituation; but if so,-where godlinefs cannot be profeffed, unlefs at the peril of life and liberty; nor honesty cultivated, unlefs at the rifque of poverty and want; what must be the crimson hue, and what the scarlet dye of thefe offences, where no fuch temptations, from the government, or our governors, fall in our way?

Temptations, did I fay, from the government, or our governors, to the pratice of ungoodlinefs or dishonesty? The reverfe, my bretheren, of this, is the delightful truth; for, toward the fuppreffion of wickednefs and immorality of all kinds, we have many falutary laws; though it must be confeffed, to whofe ignominy every one must fee, that in the execution of them there has been a last

ing, perhaps, an univerfal defect. That reproach, however, bids fair to be foon wiped away, fince, by a recent proclamation from the throne, the carrying of those laws into immediate execution, against all-offenders without distinction, is expressly commanded; and commanded, as the executors of the law shall be anfwerable to their royal master.

In place, therefore, of our lying under any -temptation to fuch ignoble and diffolute practices, the temptation is happily thrown, by our fovereign, into the oppofite scale.

That under the prefent government, distinguished for mildnefs and forbearance, if men lead not a quiet and peaceable life, it must be accounted for from another caufe; their own turbulent fpirits, namely, with a ftupid ingratitude for liberties and privileges, the acquiring whereof coft our fathers fo much blood and treasure. And if the caufe arifes from themselves, it is their own faults, and they alone fhall bear it, if timeous reformation intervene

not.

That our dear young king should have a conftant and particular fhare in our concern before God. Tho', as to fome, the indifpenfible nature of this duty may have never occurred before, as it appears now, to demonftration, from our text, let none be fo hardy, none fo difobedient, as continue in the neglect, or practical contempt of it. Imagine it not enough to join in the public prayers for him, and thofe in authority; but carry the petitions and fupplications with you, in your family and perfonal approaches to God. With what confidence can you expect he will be made a bleffing to you, if you are not, though exprefsly enjoined, at the pains to afk it? Shall he take the weight of the government upon his shoulders, and will you, in the exercife of prayer and fupplication, bear no part with him?

3

him? Would there, let the prayerless fay, in the event of our great hopes becoming abortive, be the leaft propriety in your murmurings and complaints? Let the exhortation, my brethren, on all the accounts fuggefted, be chearfully and immediately complied with. And may the Lord give us understanding in all things.

SE R

SERMON III.

THE

EXCISION;

O R,

TROUBLERS OF THE CHURCH CHARACTER. IZED AND CUT OFF

GALAT. V. 12.

I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

T

HIS letter was wrote by the apostle of the Gentiles, and addressed to the churches of Galatia. The date of it is uncertain; and, therefore, the opinions of the learned, concerning that circumstance, are various. Paul, her, had two ends, particularly, in view: one, the reproof of the Galatians, for receiving doctrines fubver five of the gospel which he had preached amongst them; the other, the vindication of his own character and authority, as an apostle of Chrift, which the Judaifing teachers had endeavoured to undermine. Having difcuffed both thefe, our apostle warmly exhorted his correfpondents, to stedfaftnefs and perfeverance in the perfuafion of gospel truths; the enjoyment

* This fermion was preached on the 8th of April, 1762; at the admiffion of the Rev. Mr. Alexander Moodie, to the parish of Riccarton."

enjoyment of gofpel privileges; and the perfor mance of every fcriptural duty.

Though the apoftle faw cause for administering the sharpeft rebukes to thefe churches, for giving heed to falfe, anti-chriftian teachers; he, by no means, thought the teachers themselves inculpable, nor meant that they fhould be unpunished: on the contrary, he found fault with them once, again, and again, chap. i. 7. and v. 10, 12.-With regard to the reproofs fuch' teachers had expofed themselves to, Paul wrote, probably, as a prophet in the tenth verfe; "He that troubleth you shall "bear his judgment, whofoever he be :" and, in the words of our text, expreffed his wifh towards the accomplishment of that prediction or threatening. From that verfe, fome imagine the apostle had one particular heretic in his eye: but, as they are spoke of in the plural every where else through the epiftle, we apprehend it is much more probable, that the churches of Galatia were pestered with many fuch blind, or defigning, guides.

The grand error, into which they drew the Chriftian converts, will appear in the fequel; and, therefore, we fall only now obferve, that it was, in the apoftl. eftimate, ruining to fouls; and fo mif. -chievous to the interefts of the gofpel, as extorted, from his holy foul, a wifh, which, at first fight, would feem inconfiftent with the Chriftian gentle-. nefs and forbearance, fo eminently examplified in Paul's whole character :—at first fight, we faid; because, in profecution of this fubject, we hope to make it appear, in how many refpects the wish, under confideration, may, confiftently with a gospel meeknefs and benevolence, be both adopted and juflified.

Our method, through divine assistance, shall be,

Ι. Το