a purpose no less kind, and they will be enforced with no more severity than is needful to secure that end. He hates sin, because it brings misery into his family. He is angry with the wicked, because they disturb its harmony and order, and destroy its purity, while they are ruining themselves. But this anger is like the anger of a father-it is equally considerate-makes all just allowances, and inflicts only necessary punishments. And as a parent watches for the recovery of his erring child, God waits for the restoration of sinners, and equally delights in the happy termination of their offences, and chastisement. It is impossible to conceive of any thing more truly parental, than the language of the Father to us. In the gospel, menaces are sparingly, and, as it were, reluct antly used. Entreaties and encouragements are abundant. The most persuasive mildness-the most compassionate earnestness-a benignity unbounded, and a munificence unparalleled, are continually manifesting themselves. Joy, peace, and love pervade the whole. We are made to feel that God desires not the death of the wicked, but rather his repentance; that he is kind to the evil and unthankful.

Without pursuing the consideration of this subject. further at present, we may derive from it several most important inferences.-And, in the first place, I would remark, that all systems of religion, professedly founded on the gospel, must be considered as defective in a principal point, if they do not perfectly coincide with the import of the name under which alone we are taught by Jesus to worship God, and which is the peculiar appellation given him in the christian dispensation. We have a right to complain of those who substitute for our Father,

a being who exhibits nothing of a parent's disposition; and who borrow all their illustrations from princes, civil rulers, and earthly governments, instead of the parental relation. And that mode of preaching the gospel, which excludes the Father almost entirely from our view, and places Christ, our elder brother, in the most prominent place, is not evangelical preaching. The New Testament, and Jesus himself, points us continually to God, as the fountain of all the blessings communicated by Christianity. Let us adhere to this, and while we acknowledge as we ought, the value of Christ's labors and sacrifices for us, let us never direct to him the worship which he himself has taught us to offer only to the Father.

Secondly-The character of all sin is placed in its most odious light, by the consideration of God's government as truly parental. Never is disobedience more detestable, than when it is filial. It is an obvious fact, that an offender against civil power, and political sovereignty, is always held more excusable by the observer, than those who break the closer ties, and inflict injury on those to whom they are united in the nearer relations. If iniquity is represented only as rebellion against God in his character of sovereign, its baseness does not strike our hearts, as when it appears to the mind as the infringement of a Father's laws, a contempt of parental authority, an ungrateful return for parental goodness. Let us then learn to regard our offences in this light, that we may perceive their true character, and that we may be excited to abhor evil, and beware of it.

Thirdly--Obedience also derives a new character from the view of the divine relation to us. Should we think so much of the smallest instance of duty, if we felt for

whose sake we discharged that duty? Filial obedience to an affectionate and beloved parent, is surely not a hard service. It is delightful to such as make it habitual, even in its hardest requisitions. If we have been backward and reluctant, hitherto, in God's service, let us strive to quicken our interest and zeal by contemplating him in the tender character in which he is represented in the Gospel.

Again-our hopes and expectations from futurity acquire new strength and confidence from the consideration suggested by the name, Our Father. If it be indeed as a parent that God rules cur destiny, what shall we fear? "Which of you being a father, if his son ask bread would give him a stone?" And why then be so doubtful, and suspicious, and distrustful in your dependence on God? Let us open our hearts to better feelings. Let us commit ourselves to his keeping with no less confidence of our security, than we should have in placing ourselves under the direction of a wisdom so inferior, and a goodness so feeble. Solicitous ever to possess the character which belongs to the children of God, let us cherish a childlike submission to our Father in heaven, under every allotment.

And let us not forget that exhortation which holy scripture addresses to us in our character of sons of God. "Beloved, if God so loved us we ought also to love one another. Let us love one another, for love is of God." How does every mild, gentle, and kind affection harmonize with the name of brethren of one family. The domestic virtues so cherished by him who desires a peaceful and happy home, are but images of those christian graces which tend to make a peaceful and happy world. Would to God, that society might be more penetrated by

their spirit, and that the christian community at least, might seem more like the family of Heaven.

[The following is from the Manuscript of JOHN BOWRING, ESQ. It purports to be in part a translation from a beautiful Hymn of Novalis, used in some of the churches in Germany.]

O WITHOUT Thee, my Father, Thee,
What am I, or what should I be?
A child of grief, and doubt, and care,
A lonely stranger, wandering here,
With nought but earthly love to cheer,
And nought but darkness o'er tomorrow-
And none in sorrows' moment near,
To whom I might unveil my sorrow.

There was a day of joy and love
When all was bright around, above;
Then came the days of griefs and tears
As I bent down the vale of years;

And tumult's wearying minister,

And hopes o'erwhelm'd, and blessings riven;
O! who could bear earth's storms and fears
Without some better friend in heaven?

Now sweetly from thy heavenly throne
The gospel beams descended down,
And o'er time's vale of darkness threw
New rays of light and glory too;
Then first the germe of gladness grew
Within me, and my soul desiring
Some bliss all worthy to pursue,
Rose, on the wings of faith aspiring.

A thousand, thousand joys I found
And wept, and pray'd--with strong emotion;
And felt that every utter'd sound
Reach'd thee, when wafted by devotion.

Go forth-go forth, in every walk,
And call the erring wanderers back;

Stretch out-stretch out thy gracious hand,
And pour thy light on every land;
And make the people understand

That heaven is now on earth descended;
That men must be one happy band,
All tongues, all tribes, all nations blended.

Tear from our yielding hearts within
The old and withering roots of sin,
And lead us from life's midnight way,
With thine own pure, thy perfect ray;
What peace,
what pleasure to "obey,"
And in the very scenes which gave us
Thoughts full of darkness and dismay,
Find hopes to cheer, and faith to save us.

O we were trembling prisoners bound
With iron fetters to the ground;
Haunted by dreams, the mournfullest,
And spectred shapes, and sights unblest,
A heavy weight upon our breast,
The weight of doubts and fears was lying;
And even the sweetest hope of rest
Could not subdue the dread of dying.

When lo! the great deliverer came
And lighted in our hearts a flame
Of hope, of joy-an effluence bright
From Him, the very source of light;
All heaven was open'd on our sight,
And all its joys in prospect given ;
O vision of supreme delight!
For sons of God, for heirs of heaven.