SERMON XIV.

CHRISTIAN PATRIOTISM illuftrated by the CHARACTER of NEHEMIAH,

NEHEM. V. 15.

But fo did not I, because of the fear of God.

THE cavil which has been advanced

against the gospel, that patriotism is not enjoined as a chriftian duty, needs little examination to disprove it. What is patriotism ? The love of our country. But what love? The bigoted love cherished by the Jews, which impelled them to abominate every other nation as accursed? The proud love, difplayed by the Greeks, which despised the rest of mankind as barbarians? The felfifh love predominating among the Romans, and stimulating them to enflave the world? No. Patriotism is that christian love, which, while it refpects as facred the rights and the wel• fare of every land, of every foreign individual, teaches us to manifeft, within the limits of justice, fpecial affection to our own

men,

country, in proportion to the special ties by which we are united with the region that gives us birth. If our Lord then inculcated, by his own lips, or by the pen of his apostles, the univerfal obligation of justice and love: if, in regulating the exercise of justice and love, he pronounces that wrong and fraud are the more finful when directed against the Brethren (a); that while we do good unto all we are bound specially to do good unto them who are of the boufebold of faith (b): that affection of more than ordinary ftrength is mutually to be evinced between husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and fifters: He has decided that every additional tie by which man is connected with man is an obligation to additional love; He has established the duty of patriotism, by establishing the very principle from which the duty neceffarily flows. If he bore with unwearied pa tience hatred and contempt and perfecution unto death, from his Jewish adverfaries: if He mourned with the most tender fympathy over the impending deftruction of Jeru falem (c) if he repeated at a fecond risk of his life his efforts for the converfion of his countrymen the Nazarenes (d) by his own (a) 1 Cor. vi, 8. (b) Gal. vi. 10. See alfo Rom. ix. 1—3. X. I. xi. 14. (c) Matth. xxiii. 37. Luke, xiii. 34. (d) Luke, iv. 16—30. Matth. xiii. 54. Mark, vi. 1—6. conduct

conduct he fanctioned patriotism, by his conduct he exemplified it, by his own conduct he commanded it.

Patriotism may glow with as pure a flame in the breast of a peafant as of a monarch; in the fhades of retirement as in the glare of obfervation. In perfons, however, who are eminent in rank, or called to public services, the example is the more confpicuous. It was under fuch circumftances that Nehemiah illustrated in his day that duty of Patriotism, which, though virtually declared in the Mofaic law, was by his countrymen little underftood; and was fubfequently, as we have feen, re-affirmed and practifed by our Lord.

Nehemiah was by birth a Jew. His father, as it fhould feem, had not accompanied his countrymen into the land of Ifrael, when they were permitted by Cyrus, after their captivity of feventy years, to return thither and rebuild Jerufalem: but appears to have remained in Perfia. For we find Nehemiah an inhabitant of the city of Shushan, the capital of Perfia; and actually a refident in the royal palace, in confequence of having been raised to the honorable fituation of cupbearer to Artaxerxes the King. While he was in this office, fome of his brethren arrived

$ 3

up

rived from Judæa, with lamentable accounts of the condition of the Jews. "The remnant. which are left," faid they, "of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerufalem alfo is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire (e). Nehemiah was grieved to the heart by these tidings: and was filled with earnest anxiety to obtain permission from Artaxerxes to repair to Jerufalem with power to build and fortify the city. But before he offered his request to the King, he addressed himself to a higher fovereign. He fat down and wept and mourned certain days, and prayed before the God of heaven. With deep humiliation he acknowledged the tranfgreffions of himself and of his forefathers. He pleaded the ancient covenant mercifully established with the people of Ifrael and the promife given unto Mofes that if, when scattered for their wickedness among the heathen, they fhould even from thence turn unto God, they should receive forviveness, and fhould again be fecurely fettled in their own land. And now, O Lord, faid he, I beseech Thee let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy fervant, and to the prayer of the reft of thy fervants who defire to fear thy name: and profper, I pray Thee, thy fervant,

this man.

this day, and grant him mercy in the fight of When Nehemiah prefented himself in the palace to discharge the duties of his poft, the King difcerned forrow painted upon his countenance. Why, enquired he, is thy countenance fad, seeing thou art not fick? This is nothing else but forrow of heart. Then was Nehemiah very fore afraid. But having again lifted up his foul to God in prayer, in the filent prayer of the heart, he communicated to the King the cause of his diftrefs and being encouraged by his royal mafter to declare the extent of his wishes, ventured to submit his petition that he might. be fent unto the land of Judah, unto the city of the fepulchres of his fathers, with authority to build it. He, in whofe rule and governance are the hearts of Kings, He who doth difpofe and turn them as feemeth best to his godly wisdom, difpofed Artaxerxes to grant in the fullest measure the requests of Nehemiah. Without delay Nehemiah took his journey to Jerufalem. There he found himfelf conftantly furrounded by difficulties and dangers arifing partly from the enmity of the neighbouring nations, partly from the treachery and the refractory conduct of many among the Jews whom he was to govern. By faithful perfeverance, however, in the path