PART SECOND.

OUR RELATION TO OUR COUNTRY, AND THE MOR-AL DUTIES THENCE ARISING; THAT IS, THEDUTIES OF PATRIOTISM.

It has sometimes been said, that “ a Christian is of no coun-try,” that he ought to esteem all countries alike, and to have noattachment to one country more than to another ; * but this sen-timent will not bear examination when submitted to the test ofScripture, any more than when brought to the bar of reason.The Hebrew Scriptures abound with the most enthusiastic andeven exclusive sentiments of attachment, on the part of the au-thors, for their native land, f In the New Testament, this enthu-siasm and exclusiveness of attachment to country are not seen ;still the sentiment and the duty of patriotism are fully recognised.Our Saviour instructed his disciples to render unto Caesar allthings which Caesar might rightfully claim ; J that is, he instructedthem to comply with all the lawful ordinances of civil govern-ment. While predicting the destruction of Jerusalem for its sins,he still accompanied his prediction with the most pathetic lamen-tations. § The benefits of his personal ministry, too, were con-fined to his own countrymen, || and those, who were commission-ed to preach his Gospel, were enjoined to make it known firstto the Jews and then to the Gentiles. IT St. Paul was especiallycommissioned to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles ; still herecognises his obligation to make it known first of all to hiscountrymen. ** We are instructed “ to make supplications,prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for kings, and all thatare in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all

* Soame Jenyns’ Internal Evidences of Christianity, prop. 3.t Psalm cxxxvii. 5 - 7. i Mark xii. 13-17. § Mat. xxiii. 37.

|| Mat. xv. 24. H Mat. x. 5, 6. ** Rom. i. 13-16.