their's is the elevation of rank, but not of nature. No prince ever thought of conferring so great an honour on his servant, as to admit him into his family. He He may bestow upon him titles, dignities, wealth, familiar and friendly intercourse -but here the line is drawn: the hero and the statesman are favoured with the countenance of their sovereign, but are not adopted by him. 'Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is,'

The purity of God operates upon the character of his servants as a spiritual influence, inducing moral habits, and imparting Christian graces. To move in the higher circles of society, gives the final polish to the manners, and completes what education began. To associate with men of comprehensive views, eminent talents, and extensive knowledge, enlarges, strengthens, and elevates the mind. Constantly to attend the person of the monarch, imparts dignity to the deportment, and gives a lofty tone to the feelings. But to approach Infinite Purity, must sanctify; and to dwell in Light, at its source, must irradiate. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have

fellowship one with another.' God is then our Master, and we approve ourselves to every man's conscience, and to our own, as his servants.

The generosity of our Heavenly Master transcends all conception. No one grows old in his service unrewarded: no one will be able to say, that the recompense is less than the labour. The contrary obtains so decidedly, that the reward is not of right, but of grace: not founded upon any imaginable claim, but bestowed as a free gift. The greatness of a servant of God will further appear, from,

2. The service in which he is engaged. It is as honourable in itself, as it is illustrious in its relation to the Being who requires and accepts it. Princes have not always an elevation of mind correspondent with their exalted rank. They may be enslaved by their passions, and their servants may be reduced to the ignominious employment of ministering to their vices. They may be agitated by a restless ambition, and may consequently plunge their country into the horrors and miseries of war; while their most efficient and faithful servants will be impelled, by their allegiance, to become the instruments of their injustice and cruelty. But in the service of God, there is nothing mean. Every thing contemplated and effected is worthy of him. This is distinctly proved, in the grand scheme of human redemption. The

plan involves in it many difficulties, and some apparent contradictions, in our apprehension, because of the limitation of our faculties, and the partial knowledge which, at present, we have of the design and its execution. But the testimony

of St. Paul on this subject is decisive.

For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.' And the remark will be found applicable to every purpose, and to every work of Deity. The whole is founded upon infinite wisdom, executed by infinite power, impressed with infinite purity; worthy the high and holy character with whom it originates, and by whom it is consummated. There is, therefore, nothing degrading to the individual who is the instrument of carrying the divine designs into effect. No servant of Jesus is compelled to blush, either for his Master or for himself: to revolt from the service, as unworthy either the employer or the agent. He is not reduced to the necessity of palliating that which is avowed, or concealing that which is improper to be revealed. Nothing is done in a corner; nothing shuns the light and courts darkness: all is open, honourable, and glorious. Far less can the service be charged with injustice. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Great and marvellous

are thy works, Lord God Almighty: just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.' 'Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice.' In these delineations, we find more than negative ascriptions. The absence from the service of all that is mean, degrading, and unjust, is not the whole of its character. It has every elevated and ennobling property. It deeply influences the powers of the human mind, and stamps upon it the image of Him to whom its energies are consecrated. It not only withholds from gross immorality, but teaches us to abstain from all appearance of evil.' It causes the spirit to shrink, as by an instinctive impulse, from the approaches of all impurity; and implants in the soul those high and holy sentiments, which scarcely endure the necessary contact with human infirmity. Of such an inspiring nature is this divine service, that it imparts to mortality an unearthly character; and such is its dignity, that an archangel considers it an accession to his glory.

3. The character which is thus formed, is a servant' of God. And he is distinguished by qualities according with the principles of the ser

The

vice and of the Master. He will be known by the spirituality of his mind: and this will manifest itself in all his deportment. It will influence his joys and sorrows, his hopes and fears. The apostle Paul strikingly contrasts this temper, and its operation upon the character, with that of the world: They,' said this eminent servant of Jesus Christ, mind earthly things: but our conversation is in heaven.' Again he exhortsSet your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.' The individual so instructed, learns in every state 'therewith to be content;' and uses this world as not abusing it,' knowing 'that the fashion thereof passeth away.' spirituality of mind exhibited by a servant of God, demonstrates the origin of his character to be divine. It is God that worketh in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure;' and thus are we enabled to obey him, and to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.' The Holy Spirit quickens us, and the nature of the life given shows whence it was derived. The same writer describes the source and the effect of this spiritual existence- I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.' Not that faculties are imparted to the Christian which he did not possess before; but they receive a