judgement-day. Are any disgusted with the view of the debased and humble state and lot of some of the human race? Rather let humility possess their souls; and let them give due praise to the Author of every good and perfect gift, for their elevated rank, and exalted privileges. It is truly an interesting and most solemn reflection, that so many millions of human beings as have peopled the globe, and as now dwell on all the face of the earth, should have their genealogy from that once holy and happy pair, whose abode was paradise. How vast, astonishing, and manifold are the works of God, and how worthy the study and admiration of man, who is made after his image.

2d. If the identity of the human race is established, then all mankind are brethren. They have all the same original parents; are all one family, made of the same fellow clay. They all partake of the same human flesh and blood; have common wants and common interests. They have all the same human principles implanted in them by nature; and are each one accountable to the same Judge for the improvement of his talents, and for all his moral conduct. Do we sometimes behold a fellow mortal of inferiour, bodily and mental accomplishments? perhaps a black slave? We may well exercise the feelings of compassion and sympathy, for such an one is our brother. Blood as precious as ours, runs through his veins. He must die; and after death, be an inhabitant of heaven or hell, as well as we. Yes, my hearers, as we have souls to be saved or lost, so have all our fellow mortals, however varied their complexion or condition, and in whatever part of the habitable globe they live. Then

3d. How desirable that they enjoy privileges in common with us. How friendly, that we should reach forth a helping hand, to raise those, who are sunk into the lowest depths of human degradation. Can we highly prize our privileges, and not feel

anxious that the destitute enjoy the same blessings? How would the face of the moral world be brightened, if all nations and tribes enjoyed the social, civil, and religious privileges, which heaven has confered upon us. The face of nature would seem to be changed, whilst pagans and heathens would be exalted in point of privilege.

4th. My friends, this subject calls loudly upon us for the exercise of gratitude and thankfulness. It is God, who has made us to differ from those classes of human beings, who are brought into the world under circumstances far less favourable. His sovereign and gracious providence has placed us amidst a nation highly enlightened; whilst some of our kindred, grope in civil ignorance, and dismal, moral darkness. We may well exclaim in the view both of climate and every endearing privilege: Our lines have fallen to us in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage. Contrast our situation with some of the tribes and nations of the earth; and then feel the force of the expression, Exalted to heaven in point of privilege. With weight, then, we are addressed, and this subject demands of us a song of nobler praise. What civil and religious liberty do we enjoy; whilst others of the same blood, groan under the chains of civil and religious bondage. Then let hymns of praise and songs of joy abound. Let God be glorified and exalted in our hearts, to whom alone are praise and glory due. Conscience points all the tribes of mortals to a God; but the gospel points out the way to heaven with far brighter rays. In time, may our theme be gratitude and thankfulness; and in eternity, may our nobler strains be glory to God in the highest for the unspeakable blessings we now enjoy. Amen.

SERMON III.

MAN URGED TO ACT WORTHY OF HIS Dignified nature.

1 Kings, ii. 2.

Show thyself a man.

THESE words are the charge of a dying father, to a surviving son. They were addressed by king David, to his son Solomon, who was to succeed him on the throne, and be king over Israel. Solomon was, at this time, about twenty years of age; an early period for him to enter upon so weighty a charge, as the government of God's people. But, as he was endued with extraordinary wisdom, David exhorted him to show all Israel, though he was but a child in years, he was a man in capacity and attention to business, and qualified for the elevated station, to which God would shortly raise him. Now the days of David drew nigh, that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong, therefore, and show thyself a man: And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes and his commandments. This is an address truly worthy, from an aged king to a young prince; and worthy the consideration of all human beings.

The doctrine to be drawn from the words of the text, is this: The conduct of man should be such as becometh rational and accountable beings. To illustrate the subject, I propose first, to point out some of the characteristicks of a human being. Second, show how human beings should conduct, would they show themselves men, or act as becometh rational and accountable beings. Therefore I proceed in the first

place to point out some of the characteristicks of a human being. And I would observe, that the terms man and human being are synonymous expressions, and designate the highest order of being upon the earth. An inquiry is sometimes made, whether man is an animal or spirit. But a direct, affirmative answer, to either of the interrogatives, would not be correct. No single term will answer the definition, as the two natures, which are essentially different, must be united to form a correct idea of a human being. The impropriety of calling man an animal, will appear, when we consider that the soul of man is far the most excellent and noble nature. The impropriety of calling him a spirit, may appear, when we consider that the idea of a human being, necessarily includes an animal frame.

Therefore 1st. Man, or a human being, is compounded of soul and body, of intellectual and animal nature. His soul, as it respects its nature, or its natural faculties, is akin to angels. It is made lower than they, both as it respects its station in the universe, being placed on the earth, the footstool of the Deity; and as it respects its capacities not being so enlarged as those of the angels. Angels are spirits, so is the soul of man a spirit, though possessing powers and station inferiour to theirs. As it respects the body of man, it is a complete animal frame, and is kin to the animals of the earth. Its very nature is matter, as it is formed of the dust of the earth, is subject to pain, disease, and death. In this respect the body of man has no pre-eminence over the beasts of the earth. Its superiority over them, arises from its being of a more delicate, beautiful, and noble frame; from its erect posture, its admirable figure, its countenance, most expressive; but especially from its being a subject of resurrection, and of transformation into a spiritual body. Hence, the peculiar propriety of calling man the uniting link in the great scale of being, between the animal world, and the world of

spirits. Not merely because he partakes of the natures of both; but, also, because whilst his superiour nature is inferiour to the powers above, his inferiour nature is superiour to the other animal natures upon the earth. As the body of man consists of various members and senses, capable of performing the actions and offices, suited to its corporeal nature; so the soul consists of several faculties, which sustain and discharge a variety of offices, suited to its intellectual nature. Divines make some variation in the enumeration of the several faculties of the human mind. Some class them in the following order: perception, reason, judgement, and will. Others into the following perception, memory, reason, and conscience. An inquiry and dispute have long existed, respecting the part of the animal frame, in which the soul is seated. Some maintain, that it has its seat or place in the brain, as that is peculiarly the seat of sensation. Others think, that it is seated in the heart, as that is peculiarly the seat of affection and will. Perhaps, it is impossible to ascertain or point out the local situation of the soul in the body. But, its seat of influence, even the peculiar seat of the influence of its several faculties may be known even by a child. Perception, memory, and reason have their seat of operation and influence in the head or brain in a particular manner; as is evident, from the various operations they perform, affecting, particularly, that part of the bodily frame. Conscience has its seat of influence in the breast; as is evident, from the pleasure or pain that is experienced, from the discharging of its office, in approving or condemning. The heart is the seat of affection, whether of love or hatred; and of the will, whether of good or evil. Having made some observations concerning man as a being compounded of soul and body, of an intellectual and animal nature, I would proceed to bring to view,

2nd. Some of the various and interesting views, in which the human soul may be considered. And