that by constant, persevering kindness to an enemy, you will melt down the hardest heart, and bring it to a better temper. The first Christians, we perceive, were exhorted to this high morality, when they were hunted by their enemies like wild beasts, and persecuted with fire and fagot, with racks and tortures. We live in peaceable times; yet these precious christian precepts must not be forgotten nor neglected. Such are the passions, and imprudences, and misunderstandings of men, that daily occasion is afforded, by these christian means, of extinguishing resentments and enmities. And are we Christians, if we excuse ourselves, under any provocations whatever, from obedience to these sweet precepts? Obey them, and the very spirit of Christ is in you. When reviled, he reviled not again, and prayed for his murderers amidst the anguish of crucifixion. But if you are overcome of evil, instead of overcoming evil with good; if you cannot bless them, who persecute you; bless and curse not-especially if you recompense evil for evil, and avenge yourselves; you have not the spirit of Christ, and are none of his.

The time has not been sufficient, fully, to accomplish the original design of this discourse; but enough has been said to show what a lovely character the precepts of the gospel are intended to form. A foundation is laid in a renovation of the mind, by which the Christian cherishes and maintains an abhorrence of that which is evil, and cleaves to that which is good. Yet nothing of Roman pride is permitted to mingle with his unshaken love and practice of rectitude. The christian grace of

humility attends and adorns the whole, so that he thinks not of himself more highly than he ought to think; but looks round upon others with sentiments of candor, and feelings of kindness and affection. In such a heart. reigns the grace which is greater even than faith and hope. His love is undissembled in the family; in the circle of kindred ; in the neighborhood and community; every where its sweet influence is felt, promoting peace and happiness, relieving the wants of the poor, especially the poor members of Christ's body, and advancing the interests of his kingdom in the world. It loves and fulfils the sacred duties of hospitality, and strangers share n those kind offices, which are so tenderly rendered under the domestic roof. But this christian affection rejects all limit to its expansion and embrace; it comprehends enemies, the bitterest enemies, as objects of its blessing and kind offices.

And now let me bring this picture home to ourselves, my christian friends, and let us ask ourselves, in the presence of Him, who judges the heart, if an humble likeness is to be found in our hearts, affections, habits, and manners? For it is in vain for us to say, Lord, Lord, if we do not the things which he says. In vain is it, to eat and drink in his presence, to teach in his name, and, if we had the power, to cast out devils, and do many wonderful works, except we "abhor every thing which is evil, and cleave to every thing which is good." To keep our hearts from evil, to sanctify them as holy temples for the divine residence, to cultivate christian graces, and above all the rest,

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love; love to our God and Redeemer; love to the members of his body; charity to all around us, benevolence and kind offices to our enemies, performed, repeated, continued, till their enmity is subdued-these are the things in which God delights more than in whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. With such affections, sentiments, and purposes, let us this day approach the table of our blessed Lord and exemplar. Let a view of his love, praying, dying for his enemies, melt us into meekness, and dissolve our hearts into a fountain of those sweet affections, which have been now enjoined upon us. And let it be our continual prayer, our untiring endeavor, while we live, to "add to our faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity."

“Now unto Him, who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever," Amen.

SERMON XVI.

AQUILA AND PRISCILLA.

ROMANS, xvi. 3, 4, 5.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus; who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house,

The excellent persons, whom the apostle characterizes in this passage, have been several times mentioned with commendation in the scriptures. It is true there is not much said of them; but the little, that is recorded, presents them in a very interesting light. It seems, that they, with other Jews, were expelled from Rome by a decree of the Emperor Claudius. This event was probably regarded by them as a great misfortune; but God seems to have overruled it for peculiar good to them and others. They were just quietly settled in the city of Corinth, when Paul, retiring from Athens, where he had preached the gospel with but little succes s

found this Jewish couple, and took up his residence in their family. It is said of Aquila by the ancients, that he was a learned man; and we know that Paul had been educated with the best advantages afforded to any of his countrymen. Yet it is remarkable, that the circumstance which first brought them to live together was, that they wrought at the same craft, for by their occupation they were tent-makers.

Though brought together by a circumstance so inconsiderable, a lasting and holy friendship was formed between them. It was a christian friendship, and, I Delieve, never interrupted for a moment by any of the trying scenes, through which they were called to pass. It seems most probable, that this excellent couple, whose names are imperishably associated with the records of our faith, were ignorant of christianity, till their acquaintance with Paul. But the precious opportunities afforded by their daily intercourse in the family and in their labour, were not lost. The heart of that apostle was always full of one great subject; of Christ and him crucified. The narration concerning Aquila and Priscilla is too concise to furnish particulars; but we have reason to believe, that they became converts to the gospel under Paul's instruction. Every sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue and persuaded the Jews and Greeks. With the Jews generally he was unsuccessful. And when they "opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." For the greater