But this definition of patriotism is a definition of the abuse, and not of the virtue itself. It is the declaration of a false and delusive principle, which, however it may dazzle for a moment by the air of magnanimity which it assumes, is, nevertheless, the result of the worst selfishness; an instrument to destroy, and not preserve, the true interests of society, and alike disowned by sound reason and pure religion. True patriotism, we maintain, is that virtue which shall lead men to promote, by all lawful means, not the selfish interests of themselves, or of their party, but the general and substantial welfare of that community of which they are members, and under whose government they are protected; and the masterprinciple of this virtue, we contend further, is to be found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For, not only does that Gospel place before us, in the example and teaching of its Divine Author, the duty of

Christian Religion,' pp. 52, 53. Paley also, in Part II. ch. ii. of his 'Evidences,' notices, with his approval, the arguments of Soame Jenyns, with regard to courage, friendship, and patriotism and, in fact, uses them to illustrate his own views of 'the Morality of the Gospel.' The defect of these statements has been forcibly pointed out in a Sermon entitled 'Christian Courage,' preached before the University of Cambridge, March 4, 1832, by the Rev. Dr. Batten, Principal of the East India College; and likewise, in the Funeral Sermon upon Dr. Ryland, of Bristol, by the Rev. Robert Hall, which contains an exposition, no less beautiful than true, of the nature and character of Christian friendship.

loving our neighbour as ourselves, and thus lay the foundation of the most pure and exalted benevolence, but it declares also the objects towards which that feeling is to be directed, and the way in which it is to be exercised. I grant that it does not multiply rule upon rule, and make provision for every possible contingency that may arise, (for that would be to imitate the prolixity and confusion of human laws, and, instead of assisting, would embarrass and perplex the mind'), but it supplies us with motives and principles of action, which are of perpetual use, intelligible to all, capable of being applied, like the laws of the material universe, to the least as well as the greatest occasions; and while, by this simple grandeur, it bears proof incontrovertible of its Divine authority, it supplies us likewise with precepts, which, if duly regarded, would indeed make our Jerusalem " as a city that is at unity in itself." Thus, if the love of country embraces all the subordinate attachments of parents and children, of masters and servants, of friends, and kindred, and fellow-citizens2, you will find that the Gospel sheds its sanctifying

'See some excellent observations on this point in Wilberforce's Practical View of Christianity,' ch. vi. p. 250, and in Paley's Assize Sermon, preached at Durham, 1795.

2 Cari sunt parentes, cari liberi, propinqui, familiares ; sed omnes omnium caritates patria una complexa est; pro quâ quis bonus dubitet mortem oppetere, si ei sit profuturus?'Cic. de Off. i. 17.

power upon all these, and controls and rectifies them by its commandments. It enjoins the Christian parent to bring up his children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" the Christian child "to honour his father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise2;" the Christian master to "give unto his servants that which is just and equal, knowing that he also hath a Master in heaven;" the Christian servant "to be obedient in singleness of heart as unto Christ," the Christian friend to "rejoice with them that do rejoice, and to weep with them that weep ";""to be pitiful, to be courteous ";" to "do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith";"" to warn them that are unruly, to comfort the feeble-minded,; and "be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you

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If, again, patriotism involves obligations yet higher than all these, and, passing on from the duties and sympathies of private life, gives strength and stability to the operations of civil government; even here, likewise, the word of God supplies us with the safest guide to attain that object. Fór it declares

to Christian subjects, that it is by the Lord, "kings reign and princes decree justice';" that "supplications," therefore, "prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty ";" that we must "render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things which are God's3;" that "whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God;" that we should "submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well;" that we should "honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king 5

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And, observe further, the word of God prescribes the duties of governors, no less than of the governed. It bids them "defend the poor and fatherless," and "see that such as are in need and necessity have right;" to "deliver the outcast and poor, and save them from the hand of the ungodly "." It declares that "he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God";" that he must "not respect persons, neither take a gift, for a gift doth blind

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2 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2.

4 Rom. xiii. 2.

• Psalm lxxxii. 3, 4.

the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous1;" but "keep mercy and judgment, and wait on his God continually 2." Lastly, it promises the Divine blessing upon all who thus strive and pray that they may walk worthily of their Christian vocation, and says "Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God 3."

With such precepts and promises, then, before you, say not that Christianity and patriotism are opposed to each other 1. Rather say, that, whilst patriotism, according to the common usage of the term, has been degraded by the worst men to the worst of purposes, and used as a cloak to conceal the designs of treachery and faction, Christianity strips off this deceitful guise, exposes the sophistry and baseness of those "who call evil good, and good

1 Deut. xvi. 19. 2 Hosea xii. 6. 3 Psalm cxliv. 15. 'If the same men be members of a society not to be dissolved even in death, and of the civil likewise, must they not aim, in proportion to the dignity of each society, equally to advance the interests of both? Must not that acknowledged relationship of brethren in the religious society strengthen their attachment to each other as fellow-members of the same civil community? And when they are once persuaded (which every man of common sense will soon be) that to advance the happiness of civil society, is the best means of securing the interests of that other, which is never to end, will not their very zeal for their religion dispose them to as warm an adherence to the service of the State?'-Warburton's Alliance, p. 187.