ssed are the
merciful_, _for they shall obtain mercy_.

If we all felt the importance and necessity of discharging our Christian
duties as the sailor and the soldier do in their different stations, no
difficulties would deter us; but God expects every _Christian_ to do his
duty. A celebrated commander once called his officers together, and
said, "We must carry such a garrison." The officers said, "It is
impossible; the attempt would be vain." The general replied, "It can,
and must be done, for I have the order in my pocket." Oh! ye ministers
of Christ! you have the order lying on your table, and in your desks, at
this moment; read it in the Bible:--_Go ye into the highways and hedges_,
_and compel them to come in_, _that my house may be filled_. Luke xiv.
23. The duty is ours: have we done it? Have we done it as opportunities
have presented themselves? Have we done it as we ought? Yea, more; have
we sought for opportunities to instruct souls? Our adorable Master did
so. He came from heaven to earth, to seek and to save them who were
lost. Private Christians! you also have your order from the high throne
of heaven, in your houses, perhaps unnoticed; or, it may be, you have not
rightly interpreted these orders to their full extent. Others may have
acted the coward's part, and thrown these orders aside. Would a soldier
or a sailor thus serve his king and country? If you saw your countrymen
perishing on your shores by shipwreck, or likely to be destroyed by fire,
would you not be anxious to assist both the virtuous and the wicked?
Gipsies are perishing around you; hear their cries, ere they are plunged
into eternity; and attend to these orders from the King of Kings:--

_Thou shalt not avenge_, _nor bear any grudge against the children of thy
people_; _but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself_. Leviticus, xix.
18. _The stranger that dwelleth with you shall be as one born amongst
you_, _and thou shalt love him as thyself_; xxxiv. 5. _Beware of
hardness of heart toward thy poor brother_. Deut. vii. 15, 9. _Be ye
therefore __merciful_, _as your Father who is in heaven is merciful_.
Luke vi. 36. _For he raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth the
needy out of the dunghill_. Psalm cxiii. 7. _Therefore all things
whatsoever ye would that men should do to you_, _do ye even so to them_;
_for this is the law and the prophets_. Matt. vii. 12. _Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself_. Matt. xix.