recovery in CHRIST; of the redemption of the world by our LORD and SAVIOUR; of the means of grace, and of the hope of glory. We are "to fear" GOD; to have the greatest dread of offending Him, by disobeying his commandments; because, He is a Being of infinite power and justice, and will" in no wise let the sinner go. We are" to love GOD," with all the affections and powers of our nature; because, all that we have, and all that we hope for, come from Him; because He is our first, and last, and greatest friend; and has given, and will give us, more than we can ask or think, if we will but "return Him love for "love." We must "worship" GOD, because he is " Alpha and Omega, the be

་་

ginning and the end;" who made and preserves all things; "who is the blessed "and only potentate; King of kings, and "LORD of lords; who only hath immortality;

وو

dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see. We are to 66 give thanks" to God; because, in Him we live, and move, and have our being; and because He hath "given us all things richly to enjoy here "below," and hath made provision, through the blood of the atonement, for our everlasting and unspeakable happiness hereafter.

We

are to call upon" GoD for mercy and pardon, because we are miserable sinners; the children of wrath; the heirs of corruption; and can only hope for restoration to his favour, through his free grace, and the merits of a crucified Redeemer. We are "to honour Gon's holy name and his "word;" because, the Bible is the only fountain of light to our darkened souls; the only lamp to our feet; and the only safe and true guide of our paths through time to eternity. We are 66 to serve GoD "truly all the days of our life;" because He has a right to our obedience, as our LORD and Master; and because, unless we obey his laws, we cannot obtain his favour: "for not every one that saith unto Him, "LORD! LORD! shall inherit the kingdom "of heaven; but he that doeth the will of "the Father who is in heaven."

Equally full, but, at the same time, short and clear, is the information which the Church Catechism gives of our duty to man, or our neighbour. "Our duty towards our neigh "bour is to love him as ourselves, and to ❝ do unto all men as we would they should "do unto us: To love, honour, and suc"cour our father and mother: To honour "and obey the king, and all that are put

in authority under him: To submit our

"selves to all our governors, teachers, spi"ritual pastors and master's: To order "ourselves lowly and reverently to all our "betters: To hurt no body by word or "deed To be true and just in all our deal"ings: To bear no malice nor hatred in our

hearts: To keep our hands from picking "and stealing, and our tongues from evil “speaking, lying, and slandering: To keep our bodies in temperance, soberness, and chastity: Not to covet nor desire other "men's goods; but to learn and labour "truly to get our own living, and to do our duty in that state of life, unto which "it shall please GOD to call us."

It is hardly possible for so few words, to contain more meaning, than this quotation from the Catechism does; or to give a view of all the duties of man to his fellow-creature, in more plain and intelligible language. It requires, indeed, no explanation. poor and the rich may equally understand

The

The small as well as the great will find all their duties included in it. The great command of the law and the prophets,-of loving one's neighbour as one's-self; and the royal law of the gospel,-of doing to all men, as we would wish them to do unto us; stand first upon the list of our duties to man; because we cannot perform any others of

them with pleasure, or with strictness, if we do not, in the first instance, feel these kind dispositions towards our fellow-creatures. Our duty to our parents comes next; be cause, next to our Father who is in heaven, we are indebted to them for our existence, protection, nurture, and support. Obedience to the king, and all in authority, naturally follows; because, without an observance of this duty, society could not subsist all would be disorder and confusion; and every man's hand would be against his neighbour, and the hand of every man against him. The duties of forbearance, justice, benevo lence, and honesty, and of refraining from lying and evil-speaking, are next commanded; because, if these are not performed, there could be no confidence between man and man; no safety of life or property; no dependence on the word, no trust in promises, and no cordiality among neighbours. The personal duties of keeping the body in temperance, soberness, and chastity, are then enforced, and with the strongest reason; because, health and credit in this world, and salvation in the next, so much depend upon them. Freedom from the cove tous disposition, and honesty and industry in our callings, are lastly enjoined; because, the one will prevent us from desiring, and endea

vouring to obtain, what is not our own; and the latter will enable us to provide something for ourselves, and make that something, whatever it may be, sufficient for all our wants. With contentment in his heart, and the spirit of honest industry animating his hand, sanctified by the love of GoD and his neighbour, the peasant, the mechanic, and the artificer, will be better off than thousands who roll in gold and silver; for he has the means in his own power, which the rich have not, of being independent and happy.

Such, my friends, is the explanation, which your Catechism gives, of the two great duties mentioned in the text; " on which," our blessed LORD tells us," hang all the law and "the prophets;" or, in other words, which embrace the whole of religion. They include, you perceive, both piety and practice; which are alike necessary to everlasting salvation. As a creature made and preserved by GoD, and redeemed by JESUS CHRIST, man has to perform the duties of praise and adoration; prayer and supplication; repentance for sin; petitions for grace, and faith in his Saviour,-these constitute piety. And, as a creature made for society, to live in the world among his fellow-men, and to fill up the different ranks and situations,