The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

58 SERMONS.ftate are now called the king's fcrvants ; but in pomt:of rank and honour, he was at leafl on a footing withthofe great oiBcers mentioned above, two of whomw^remarried to Solomen's two daughters. He wasa mighty man of valour, ambitious, and a fubtle politician.Hrhad already, it feems, difplayed his greatcapacity for bufmefs *, the people had formed a highefteem of him j and " Solomon feeing the voung man,that he had induftry, made him ruler over all thecharge of the houfe of Jofeph." He had a difficultpart to acl 5 to pleafe the king, by exacting the heavytaxes ; and to acquire and preferve the good-will ofthe people : in both which, however, by his addrefs,he fucceeded, at leafl for a time. But in the courtsof abfolute princes no man is in fo great danger asone in whofe character ability and popularity are u-nited. Neither the prince nor the miniflers are ateafe, whilft fuch a m.an is near them., in ofhce, or isfufFcied to live. It was this that caufed the murderof the renowned and incomparable Germanicus, in.the reign of the vile Tiberius, his uncle, who orderedhrm to be poifoned. This was the caufe of Corbulo*sdeath, in the reign of Nero •, and of the wife and vir»-tuous Agricola's, in the reign of Domitian; Agricola,who, by ere£l:ing Roman Ichools, began firft to civilifethis fayage country. Nay, in modern times, if aminifter is popular, and pofleffed of uncommon talentsand integrity; if he ventures to take the guidanceof public affairs, when-, by a wretched management,the liate is miferable at home, and contemptibleabroad ;if he conducts a dangerous war fuccefsfully•,if he raifes the renown of his country higher,and fpreads it wider tlian ever it was before ; if heattempts to leffen penfions, and to abridge the numberof penfioners j if he applies to the exigencies of4I1C ilate thefe immenfe fums which wqre formerly,given in ihameful bribes—all the corrupted courtiers>.^d their vile flatterers, are his enemies. Not fatis-