One of the charges brought against the early Christians by their enemies, was, that they were rebellious, and despisers of civil authority; and accordingly we find the Apostles, in all their Epistles to the different churches they had been instrumental in planting, strongly enforcing the duty of submission to "the powers that be:" for, brethren, a more false imputation cannot be thrown upon true Christianity, than that which charges it with giving the slightest countenance, either to rebellion or a contempt of authority. True religion will ever make men the best and most loyal subjects, as well as most faithful, and upright, and conscientious, in the discharge of all the other relative and social duties of life. A man cannot be a Christian indeed, who "despises dominion, and speaketh evil of dignities."[1] The Apostle Jude, speaking of such, classes them among those that are "sensual, not having the Spirit." But if this be the case, we seem to have fallen upon times wherein, whatever be the profession of religion that prevails, there is little of the reality of it left. How few are obedient to the "powers that be, as ordained of God!" How general is the indifference shewn to the office and authority of the magistrate! How many seem to consider religion altogether a separate thing from the submission due to their rulers; whereas the one as necessarily grows out of the other, as the branches do out of the stock of the tree. And who, then, that has witnessed the riotous and tumultuous proceedings of our misguided people for the last few weeks, which has led to the issue of the King's Proclamation, now affixed to the door of our church, will not be ready to take up the complaint of the Psalmist, in saying, "The godly man ceaseth; the faithful fail from among the children of men."[2] I purpose, therefore, for the conviction of those who may have partaken of the disorderly spirit which has been abroad among us, as well as for the establishment and comfort of the truly pious and submissive Christian, to endeavour, in the present discourse, to explain and enforce, from the Apostle's words in the text, the duty of SUBMISSION TO CIVIL AUTHORITY; and I shall, I. Shew the NATURE and EXTENT of the DUTY. II. The MOTIVE by which the Christian is to be actuated in the discharge of it. * * * * *