But foremost of all the duties which he enjoined upon the Ephesian ministry and laity were those of making “Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all men.” For men in general, embracing the whole family of Adam, in all their _varieties_ as nations, tribes, communities, peoples. This is God-like, because the Eternal loves all, and manifests the infinity of his nature, by his universal care for all mankind. In this, He also demonstrates His universal Fatherhood, and thereby establishes the brotherhood of man. But guided by the benevolence of unerring wisdom, the Apostle descends from a general to a particular statement of the case, and _commands_ us to single out from among the nations of the earth their chieftains――_Kings_ and _authorities_――for whom we are to make special “Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks.” To the cheerful and fervent performance of this gracious work, he presses several motives upon us――“that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”――because “it is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour”――because God “will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Let us briefly trace out this line of thought. To supplicate, is to _implore_ God _submissively_. To pray to God, is to adore Him for His glorious perfection, to confess our sins to Him, and to beseech Him for mercy and pardon. To intercede with God is to entreat Him by the fervent, effectual prayer of faith, to be reconciled to offending man. This we may do as well for our enemies as for our friends. We are gathered to celebrate the emancipation, yea, rather, the _Redemption_ of the enslaved people of the District of Columbia, the exact number of whom we have no means of ascertaining, because, since the benevolent intention of Congress became manifest, many have been removed by their owners beyond the reach of this beneficent act. Our pleasing task then, is to welcome to the Churches, the homesteads, and circles of free colored Americans, those who remain to enjoy _the boon of holy Freedom_. Brethren, sisters, friends, we say welcome to our Churches, welcome to our homesteads, welcome to our social circles. Enter the great family of Holy Freedom; not to _lounge in sinful indolence_, not to _degrade yourselves by vice_, nor to _corrupt society by licentiousness_, neither to _offend the laws by crime_, but to the _enjoyment of a well regulated liberty_, the offspring of generous laws; of law as just as generous, as righteous as just――a liberty to be _perpetuated_ by equitable law, and sanctioned by the divine; for law is never equitable, righteous, just, until it harmonizes with the will of Him, who is “_King_ of kings, and _Lord_ of lords,” and who commanded Israel to _have but one law for the home-born_ and the _stranger_.