this very thing. If they had, I would not think of doing it. I may for this once indulge." When a child argues thus in favor of the tempter's schemes, knowing at the same time how mournfully a knowledge of the act must strike on his parent's heart, that child has not within it the principle of filial obedience. God looks down upon him with stern disapprobation, for violating that holy precept, “honor thy father and thy mother."

But, on the other hand, if the child say: "Well, though my parent has not given, for this particular act, an express command, still I know it will be displeasing to him. Shall I then, for a momentary gratification, incur his displeasure and wound his heart? I will not do it. The fear of God and respect for a parent's feelings shall in this instance govern me." Here is a beautiful exemplification of the very spirit of filial respect and obedience. This is compliance with the command in question; and he who exhibits such a temper is, I might almost venture to predict, not far from the kingdom of heaven.

The respect and obedience which is thus enforced by a divine precept, is obligatory principally during a state of minority. But if then it be rendered, it will assuredly modify the conduct of subsequent years. When the lapse of time shall have changed the relative position of the parties, and they who were children have become men and women, there is little room to fear that a venerable parent will be neglected or forgotten. Time may have abated the sensible emotion; or, as Providence would have it, new relations may have called forth new and stronger affections; but what is taken from the force of the current is added to its depth; and filial respect is never more cordially rendered than after the obligations of filial obedience have ceased.

What a lovely picture does Virgil present to us in his description of the sacking of Troy! His hero proposes to abandon the city now wrapt in flames and ready to fall and bury its remaining inhabitants beneath its ruins. But his venerated sire is incapable of flight. Age has intimidated his heart and weakened his limbs; nor is it easy to persuade him that a life so nearly wasted is worth the effort to preserve it. But Eneas will not stir from the spot until his father consents to accompany him. Filial affection overpowers all his fears. The old man is, at last, prevailed upon to resign himself to the conduct of his son, who, receiving him upon his shoulders, with the boy on one hand, and the wife following close in the rear, he treads the fiery avenues until he reaches the place of safety. This touching scene is from the pen of a heathen, but is worthy the inspiration of a christian poet.

Respect for the aged is a criterion of character. He who has it not, lacks an essential element of social happiness; and he who proceeds to positive acts of contempt or neglect-especially where strong filial obligations exist-must expect to incur the vengeance of heaven and the indignation of a virtuous community.

"Honor thy father and thy mother," is a precept, as much in accordance with the dictates of nature as it is with a sentiment of reli

gion. Hence the reward of compliance has a respect to the reception of good in this life. Can any doubt that such good will be awarded? That sense of right which always attends a course of virtuous action is of itself reward enough. Has not many a child felt it, when in a spirit of prompt and cheerful obedience, it has met the wishes of an affectionate parent? See in the sweet smile of conscious happiness, that gilds its young face, and which is reflected by an answering smile from the gratified parent, how certainly virtue is its own reward. How unlike the sullen selfish cloud that darkens the face of disobedience, and makes the heart sad and heavy for hours! Is the known pleasure of the parent no recompense? Is there nothing in the approving eye, or the fond kiss, to repay the affectionate regards?

There is a reward also in the approbation of the good. Filial respect and obedience have always elicited admiration. The opposite course has invariably branded its perpetrator with infamy. Can the young heart be insensible to this universal sentiment? A scrupulous regard to the obligation of the fifth commandment, is not only in itself a lovely exhibition of juvenile character, but is accepted as a recommendation of no ordinary value, by those who are seeking alliances of a business or domestic kind. It is on the youth whose home virtues are strongly developed, that the sagacious eye of the public fixes, as the candidate for the honors and felicities even of this world; and no young person can more effectually foreclose all prospect of success in the pursuits of honorable distinction, than by trampling on parental authority, or treating with disrespect the authors of his existence. On this subject, there is even in this life both a reward and a retribution.

4. But finally, God has said to those who comply with this command, "Thy days shall be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Here is a promise of temporal life not less emphatic than the promises of a life to come. It may have respected originally that peculiar people, the Jews, and have looked to the practice of the domestic virtues when settled in that goodly land to which they were traveling. But is there any thing in the circumstances of that ancient nation which authorizes us to confine the obligation to them? And if the command apply to us and to all, as without doubt it does-shall not the reward annexed to compliance, be in some sense of equally extensive application? That it will assuredly and in every case be bestowed, we may not be at liberty to assert; but we may say, that he who fulfils the obligation, has a right unpresumptuously to expect the reward. This is not leaving faith and going over to the doctrine of works. I am speaking, it must be remembered, of temporal rewards. But suppose the individual complying, find an early grave. In that case, though his days may not be long in point of time, they may be in point of practical wisdom. They may be also as to the amount of felicity enjoyed. And, long or short, when they shall have been numbered, it will at least be no matter of regret, in the closing scene, to have practised the filial virtues; whilst on the other hand,

a consciousness of unfaithfulness towards a beloved parent, must plant an additional thorn in the dying pillow.

How signally has Almighty God set the mark of his displeasure on filial disobedience! The elder sons of Jacob treated their venerable sire in a manner calculated to bring down his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. Was not this act of filial perfidy sorely punished? The sons of Eli too; mark their conduct and their end! A rebellious Absalom soon met the fate, which his unnatural crimes had merit

Are these the only instances of heaven's just retribution for filial impiety? By no means. Could the history of thousands who have died in dishonor or by violence be revealed, it would show, I have no doubt, a relation between their filial unfaithfulness and their wretched end. On the other hand, how close is the connection between the practice of the domestic virtues and a life of honor and of felicity.

On this point also, the scriptures are not deficient in impressive illustration.

In what an attractive light do they present the character and conduct of Joseph? In him, the virtues of filial respect and affection were early developed, and remained in full force amid the vicissitudes. of his eventful life. They beat warmly in his bosom throughout his long exile; nor could the extremes of human suffering and grandeur extinguish them. One of the first inquiries on revealing himself to his brethren was, "Doth my father yet live?" Upon ascertaining the fact, he exclaims, "Haste ye and go up to my father and say unto him, thus saith thy son Joseph; God hath made me lord of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not, and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, and there will I nourish thee. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither." When the aged patriarch drew nigh to Egypt, "Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet his father, and presented himself unto him, and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while." Is there no connection to be traced between this filial piety, and the long and happy life which the honored viceroy of Egypt was permitted to enjoy ?

But a still more illustrious example remains. The divine Savior voluntarily subjected himself to domestic government. He put on the weakness of infancy, and passed the gradations of childhood and youth, to maturity beneath the paternal roof. The evangelist Luke expressly says, "He went down with his parents, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them." Who cannot discover in this an instructive lesson for the young! The weight of this example is to be estimated by the dignity of the Son of God. To illustrate and enforce one of his own commands, he exchanges the position of the sovereign for that of the subject. What an honor has thus been put upon the domestic government! Behold also this Savior on the cross! When the human nature was writhing under the death pangwhen all his thoughts might be supposed to have been absorbed in

his own sufferings, or in the sublime object for which they were endured, he could still feel and express an interest for one whose heart was pierced with the same spear which pierced his own. Turning on the beloved disciple his dying eye, he says, " Behold thy mother." What youthful bosom can be insensible to such an instance of filial respect and affection, exhibited by such a being and under such circumstances?

O then, let me urge upon the young of this congregation, by all the arguments which have been adduced, the importance of a sacred regard to parental authority and influence. The name of father has a high and solemn import; for it has been appropriated even by Jehovah himself. To treat it with practical disrespect, involves the double guilt of rebellion against the family government and the government of God. And the name of mother; what shall we say of that? Can any other word express so much disinterested affection? How many tender images of the past does it suggest! What a weight of obligation lies in that word, mother! How black must be the heart that can repay all her kindness with ingratitude or neglect! Whilst you have it in your power to do honor to your parents, fail not to render it. Soon their venerable forms will have sunk into the grave. What you can do for the promotion of their happiness must be done soon, or left undone. If conscience accuse you of sin in this respect, and something whispers of reparation and confession, make haste to heal the wounds which your conduct has inflicted, and to ask forgiveness of them and of your God. With some, the possibility of craving forgiveness for filial disrespect is gone forever. So will soon go the opportunity for asking God's forgiveness. Is it the displeasure of an earthly father only that we have incurred? Has there been no high handed rebellion against God? Is not unfaithfulness in the one case, indicative of sin in the other? Has not God's holy law, in every instance of filial disobedience, been trampled under foot? According to that law," the soul that sinneth, it shall die." The awful penalty is death eternal. That penalty hangs over every sinner's soul. And fall upon him it must, unless he take shelter beneath the cross of Christ. There, and there only can he escape its infliction,

AN ABSTRACT OF A

SERMON,

SUITED TO THE MONTHLY CONCERT.

"Let us rise up and build."-NEH. xi. 18.

"HAD not Nehemiah risen up to the work, the rest would not have built. Had he loitered he might as well have been dead. The office of a minister is solemn and of amazing importance. If ever the songs of heaven are to be brought down to earth, the ministers of the sanctuary must begin the concert and prolong the praise. Their prayers, their examples, their contributions, their thrilling appeals, and their unwearied labors, must stand in the foremost rank of every successful enterprise. If the church is ever to reach the summit of her glory, her ministers must make much nearer approaches to the holiness, zeal, and labors of the apostles.

Among the things most wanted at the present day are the following.

1. The prayer of faith. As the millennium approaches, the efficacy of prayer is to be most gloriously illustrated; for it was long ago foretold that this event would be brought about in answer to prayer. But it is no ordinary prayer, it is the Holy Ghost praying in the heart of the christian; the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. No wonder that such intercession prevails. Before every revival of religion there is a spirit of prayer for this influence that never was and never will be disappointed. It is attended with desires so agonizing as almost to break the heart, and yet so submissive as to refuse to set up any other interest or will against the interest and will of God. It is attended with a sense of absolute dependence on God, and yet with an earnest and diligent use of means that can never stop. It is marked with deep humility and self loathing, and with an awful sense of past backslidings. Nothing, this side of God himself, is so much wanted on earth as prayers like thesc. The prosperity of the church is waiting on the clouds for such prayers to bring it down. The world is waiting in the regions of death for such prayers to call it forth.

2. Christians must give more of their property to Christ. The Hebrews were constrained by their laws to give at least four tenths of their income. And when christians have obeyed the injunction," Sell that ye have, and give alms ;" when they have reached the point of