admired. He intended it as a copy for universal imitation, for when He had asked which of the three was neighbour to him who fell among thieves, He immediately subjoined, "Go and do thou likewise." What a blessed thing is the grace of God which maketh men to differ! How many there are, praised be His name! who daily show mercy, so far as they can, in the temper, spirit, and unselfish exertion of the "Good Samaritan" of old.

CHAPTER VII.

RULERS.

"He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God."

"THE powers that be are ordained of God;" how needful then that those who are delegated with authority should hold their power in submission to the will of Him who gave it! The history of society develops that, in order to continue in existence, the arm of government must be extended over it. No matter in what diversity of form, whether despotism, monarchy, or republicanism, but rulers of some sort are indispensable. The flight of time makes no alteration in the constitution of man in his present condition on earth; "there is no

F

new thing under the sun"—it is the same scene repeated again and again. He knows and feels that there must be government, for his well-being and protection. Commencing, then, from the lowest step, children must have governors, savages must have their chiefs and kings, soldiers their captains and generals, and nations their presidents or sovereigns. Every portion of the human race then finds in one way or other that the adoption of government is obligatory. Nowhere perhaps may men more reasonably look for evidence of friendship than in the devoted agency of their rulers. Moses, that meek yet mighty man, whom God set over the children of Israel to be their commander and deliverer, established his character as the friend of the people. It is true that in his office he was a type of Jesus Christ; but still, simply as appointed leader of the Israelites, he left indisputable proof that his best desires and affections were

bound up in their welfare and future happiness, as well as in the honour of Jehovah.

Throughout his whole career, during the tedious and trying wanderings in the wilderness, the ingratitude, perverseness, obstinacy and rebellion of the people never shook them from his heart. Notwithstanding their continual murmurs and unjust accusations against him, he ceased not to supplicate, and use every argumentative intreaty his wisdom suggested, that the judgments and destruction so frequently threatened by Almighty God might be averted. He too well knew and felt their wickedness, and hated the sins they committed, but nevertheless he was their friend, and remained so to the end of his days.

Josiah king of Judah (whose early piety proclaims him kindred in spirit with our youthful Edward of more modern days) has also shewn us what can be done for a people

when the hand of power is guided by a heart that fears the Lord. What national crime is like idolatry? especially where the smallest gleam of God's truth has pierced through the crevices of a legislature to enlighten the miserable gloom of superstitious heathenism what can justify the fostering of an iniquity which is hateful in the sight of God, and brings down eternal ruin upon the souls and bodies of deluded men! Josiah thought it right to do away with offences disgraceful to a people professing to follow the true God, and which subjected them to just vengeance from the Most High, whose honour and commandment they had dared to despise. This king cared for the people, though they cared not for themselves; and his vigorous spirit knew no rest, till he had purified the land not only from idols, but all the conveniences intended for the practices of idolatry, as well as "the workers with familiar spirits and wizards" and every