putation or comfort, or dangerous to his future. His resentments at the neg

prospects in life.

lect of wise and salutary counsels, arise from parental affection; and when he proceeds to chastisement, it is with the hopes of producing reformation. We may farther assert, that where repentance and contrition are sincere, the subject himself will always manifest ardent endeavours to reform. To confess sins of which we are totally unconscious, or concerning which we are perfectly indifferent, is irreverent and trifling; and to entreat for pardon, without the sorrow which leads to reformation, is an insult. A disposition to future obedience must be implanted, before this pardon can be pronounced, and former misdemeanours be obliterated from the remembrance; and this disposition will render the penitent inquisitive respecting that line of conduct, which the offended parent has commanded him to pursue.

The grand object of a wise parent is to direct his son into the paths which may lead to his future well-being. Whatever may be the particu lar destination, it will be watched over as containing the means of Good. Whatever may be the situation, profession, or occupation intended, ardent wishes are entertained that the son may become duly qualified for the station; and

that he may live happily, usefully, and respectably in the world.

It must be the object of the universal Parent to make his intelligent and moral offspring happy; and if the love and practice of personal and social virtue, be the only means of securing permanent, and diffusing general happiness, if the cultivation of every devout affection be the inexhaustible source of the most exalted felicity, both in this, and in the future world; such must be the pre-requisites, the qualifications which he will demand? Without these, pardon itself could not confer happiness. It could solely consist in a remission of the chastisement due to the offended laws; but it would leave the wretched Being, to the misery naturally resulting from disorderly passions and affections.

But since right conduct is essential to wellbeing, all Ignorance respecting right conduct must be removed; and since personal and social duties are numerous and complicated; since they have a reference to every action in life, and even to the thoughts and dispositions of the mind, the Science of right conduct becomes the most extensive, as it is the most important, of all sciences. Worthy dispositions must be directed into the proper channel, or the beneficial affections cannot be produced. If pro

found respect, and inward unrivalled affec tions for a wise and good parent, be the best guarantee of steadfast obedience, as well as the perpetual sources of happiness to an obedient son, the supreme happiness of a devout mind will consist of those choicest ingredients, in all intelligent and depending beings, love, gratitude, admiration, hope, and joy. This is an ele vation of soul most earnestly to be desired; but not hastily obtained.

It is, therefore, a characteristic excellence of our holy religion, that it traces the minutest of those duties we owe to ourselves, our neighbours, and our Creator. The divine Teacher has republished and enforced the law of morals; which was neglected and become almost forgotten and obsolete, through every part of the habitable world. It was scarcely known by the Heathen nations, although they were advanced, at this period, beyond their grosser manners of the early ages. It is true there appeared, occasionally, certain philosophers who professed to teach the principles of virtue and morality; to the small circle of their followers; whose active and penetrating minds paid more attention to these subjects, than is paid by many of the professed disciples of Jesus; and they deeply revered those moral maxims,

which some Christians have neglected, or treated with a degree of contempt; yet, compared with the doctrines of our Divine master himself, their conceptions were partial, their precepts circumscribed, and sometimes erroneous; their influence was feeble, and they were devoid of authority. Nor could they enforce their doctrines, by motives which were able to impress the minds of the multitude, who were slaves to the customs of their country, and habits of their countrymen; and whose best affections were confined to their families or their clans. The Jews had been assiduously instructed by their lawgiver Moses, in all the precepts of religion and morality. The duties of uprightness, integrity, fidelity, and compassion towards the poor, the stranger within their gates, and their slaves, were assiduously inculcated. Efforts were incessantly made to impress upon their minds the fear of God, and obedience to his commands. The variations and gradations instituted in their numerous sacrifices, taught them the various degrees of culpability attendant upon a breach of the divine commands. But their moral conduct was, at the most favourable period, very disproportioned to their advantages; and at the time of our Saviour's appearance they were become ignorant and depraved. Those who profess

ed religion, were hypocritical formalists, making void the law of God by their tradition, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men; explaining away the true spirit both of virtue and religion, depending upon all the frivolities of Superstition for acceptance with God; and substituting an eagerness for rituals of their own designing, in the place of a pious zeal for the essential duties of religion,

It was, therefore, an important part of our Saviour's mission, to instruct the world in the necessity, excellence, and extent of virtuous conduct, both personal and social. He not only censured, with asperity, every vice which degrades human nature, but he attempted to inspire an inward love of Virtue. He enforced that inward purity of mind, that uprightness and benevolence of heart, which would be the most effectual preservation against every overt act of injustice, cruelty, oppression; and would check the emotions of hatred, envy, malice, and revenge, covetousness, and every impure desire. He incessantly enjoined upon them that inward love both of God and of man, which would best produce a fulfilment of the law. That we may not mistake in our conceptions respecting the obligations of Justice, in the minuter offices of