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

SERMONSceed from nothing but vile adulation, or as vile a de—fireto accumulate a minifterial ellate.4th, From the temper of Rehoboam toward the Ifraeiites,every mafter or fuperior fhould learn not to.be harfli toward his dependents. The pooreft dependentsmay have it in their power to retaliate, and maybe exafperated to retaliate in a very dreadful manner.But feverity toward inferiors is furely unmanly and unbecoming.The labouring part of mankind, efpeclallythofe v/ho till the ground^ fnculd be treated with lenity,and allowed to live fome way comfortably upon thefruit of their labour ; and yet very often this is notthe cafe : The new mafter fays, in effect, to thofepoor laborious and ufeful people, as Rehoboam faidto the ten tribes, My ^' father.made your yoke heavy,and I will add to your yoke." It ought notto be fo;.nor fhould mafters of any kind, treat their, fervantswith rigour. If providence hath placed them in thathumble flation, they are, however, partakers of thefame nature with their mafters, and have the fameexalted hopes of glory. Every thing rcafonable fliouldbe done by the mailers to render their condition asagreeable as pofTible. *< Mailers," fays the great a-poftle, " give unto your fervants that which is jufi:and equal, forbearing threatening, knowings that yealfo have a mafter in heaven, neither isthere any refpe£lof perfons with him."3rMy next remark is,5th, That in this hiftory we have a ftriking inftanceof the uncertainty ami ihort duration of worldly greatnefs,of opulence, and of liberty itfelf. The kingdomof Judah, united to that of Iirael, had been awefuland refpecSlable in the time of David and Solomon ;but, weakened by the revolt of the ten tribes, Rehoboamwas not able to protect the fmall remainingkingdom of Judah. Solomon had made filver and goldat Jerufalem as plenteous as ftones; and in particularihe richnefs of the temple was immenfe. But " thetrgafuresL of the houfe of the Lord, and the treafures^