God will be most our comfort; and will give us a foretaste of those happy mansions; for which, through its blessed influence, we have here been prepared.

END OF THE SERMONS.

HINTS

FOR

SERMONS.

4

I.

Doing service, as to the Lord, and not to man.-Ephesians, vi. 7.

AMONG all the evils of life, that of slavery is one of the hardest to bear. To be totally subject to the will of such a mischievous, capricious creature as man, is certainly very grievous.

In compassion to this miserable part of the human species, the apostle St. Paul is frequent in his advice to them. He tells them in general, that he was not authorized to make any change in the civil establishments of mankind. All he could do for them was to administer topics of consolation. Many of them, no doubtone, we know he converted to christianity; and if he could not make them happy in one way, he did it in another.

Among christians, the idea of service is changed; and (except in one instance, which is a disgrace to a christian legislature,) the servant is as free as his master. But though the nature of service is changed; yet still, as there must be different

different ranks among mankind, there will be oppression and tyranny. The gospel therefore has given us many precepts to enable us to bear the oppression of bad men with christian patience and in this light I know of none more effectual to a well-disposed mind than the text: in which all mankind are taught to consider themselves as the members of one great family, under God. As in a private family there are different stations; so there are likewise in God's great family. And all people should make themselves satisfied with those stations, in which they are placed, by considering themselves as connected with a still greater Master than their earthly one; and should look upon their stations, rather as employments under God, than as services imposed by man. And though many of these employments may be hard, yet it is a consolation to those who suffer under them, that they have a great, and kind Master in heaven, who beholds their patient sufferings with a tender eye.

The happiness, that would result under this great principle of doing service as to the Lord, and not to man, might be considered at large, both as ít respects mankind in general, and individually.