souls must not be neglected; in attempting as civil rulers to promote good order in society, or as spiritual rulers to advance the edification of the church we must not overlook the edification of ourselves and our families.

The present season of the year is peculiarly adapted for forming and entering upon resolutions of this nature. We have now completed one period of our lives and are introduced to another: we are almost necessarily reminded of the passing nature of time, reflecting that another year is gone, never, never to return; we are naturally admonished to prepare for death and judgment to which we are constantly advancing, considering that the period is hastening when a separation will be made between us and our family connexions, and we must answer to an impartial God for the discharge of each relative duty. A New-Year's day is therefore a proper occasion for those who have utterly neglected private religion to begin this most reasonable service; It is a suitable time for those who have occasionally attended to this ordinance to resolve greater diligence and fidelity; for all, through a humble confidence on divine strength, to appropriate the resolution contained in our text, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."

As a means of encouraging and assisting you in this duty, permit me

I. To make some general observations, and

II. To point out those various exercises in which we should aim at "serving the Lord."

1. It may be remarked that this and every other resolution should be formed with a deep conviction of our own insufficiency and with an entire reliance on promised grace for our support. A principal reason why we so frequently come short of obvious duty, why we so mournfully fail in fulfilling our resolutions to the dishonor of God and our own mortification is that we depend so much

on strength in ourselves, and so little on strength in the promise. The natural air is not more necessary for supporting the natural body, for strengthening it in performing the common offices of life, than the influence of divine grace, the breathings of Jehovah the Spirit, to enliven and invigorate the soul in the discharge of every incumbent duty. "Abide in me, and I in you," is the call of our divinely gracious Lord, of him who knows perfectly the insufficiency of man and the purity and spirituality of his own law, "as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine: no more can ye except ye abide in me: He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing." A righteous God frequently permits his people to fall when there is the least appearance or appre

hension, merely to check a presumptuous confidence and lead to a more uniform and entire reliance upon himself for necessary support.

2. The resolution expressed in the text, should be embraced by both parties; by the wife no less than her husband. She ought not barely to concur, not barely to consent, but actually use her influence that family religion be faithfully maintained; that they and their "house might serve the Lord." The woman unites her exertions with the man in making provision for their bodies; she rises early, sits up late, fulfils the duties of her station in securing the necessaries of the present life; all this is becoming, but all this is not sufficient on her part.

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She ought to aim at becoming an help meet not merely in promoting their temporal but their spiritual interests: she ought to unite her endeavors with her husband not only in providing things needful for the body, but in advancing the edification of the immortal soul. This observation however familiar, there is reason to apprehend, is too generally neglected. In the absence of the husband the woman becomes the head of the family in arranging their outward affairs; she feels bound to oversee their property that it be not squandered; in directing the children and servants that they attend diligently to their respective employments; but does she officiate as head in religious concerns? Is she diligent in teaching, admonishing and ex

horting them? Is she faithful in urging them to secret devotion? Is she conscientious in offering up, morning and evening, the sacrifice of prayer before them? More is incumbent on the woman in this respect, more may be effected by her in promoting the spiritual order of the family than is perhaps generally apprehended. She has opportunity of consulting with her husband on the most seasonable time for performing spiritual exercises; she may remind him of duties when he appears disposed to omit them, or gently admonish him when they are altogether neglected. It is not without some important design that the Holy Ghost so explicitly represents Zacharias and Elizabeth 66 as both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." The apostle sends the salutation of Aquila and Priscilla with "the church in their house," plainly intimating that they mutually concurred and co-operated in maintaining the various exercises of religion. Thus, those whom the God of providence connects in the marriage relation and ordains over a particular household should become "workers together," not only with God but with each other, in promoting the spiritual order and edification of that household; living together as fellow heirs of the same grace, as fellow expectants of the same glory; encou raging and exhorting each other in attending the means of salvation.

3. The heads of families should use their influence that every member of their household walk regularly and uniformly in the ordinances of God. The authority of prudent parents and masters is exerted to keep each member in his station; they sharply reprove any instance of disrespect which one may express towards another; and they notice whether each member performs such services as are appointed him; much more should they examine whether each individual discharges his duty to Jehovah his Creator and Redeemer. This attention is evidently implied in the resolution of Joshua, "as for me and my house," all who reside under my roof, "we will serve the Lord:" He not only expresses his resolution to aim at performing his duty as an individual, but to use his influence by admonition and example over all that were subject to his authority. The command which relates to the sanctification of the sabbath, and consequently to all the other ordinances of God, extends "to son and daughter, to man-servant and maid-servant that is within our gate." How instructive in this respect, and how honorable is the testimony borne by the living God to Abraham the father of the faithful," I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."