drawn
in by the soul living on the provision of God's covenant, sanctified by
the word and prayer--including the solemn vow, intense as the flame on
God's altar kindled from above, holy because from the Holy Spirit of
promise, it would go out on the members of the hallowed circle, subduing
as the power of an ever active principle, ennobling as all the gifts of
God, and as the bond of a glorious union, that may not be broken in
life, beyond the dissolving power of death, to survive to eternity.

Secondly, to civil communities. "Honour all men,"[262] is an injunction
imperative on all. It includes that the duties owing to all in their
various relations, should be discharged because of God's appointment.
Masters should honour their servants by recognising the just claims
which these have upon them. Servants should honour their masters by
showing that respect, and rendering that obedience, which they owe to
them. Rulers should honour their subjects, by recognising them as the
channel through which in the providence of God their just title to reign
was transmitted, and by acting towards them as in possession of rights
committed to them by the Moral Governor of the universe, which rulers
deputed by him are bound to acknowledge and preserve entire. And nations
are called to honour lawful civil rulers by rendering to them all that
homage and subjection which is consistent with the dictates of the
Divine law; and all should honour all men by vowing to perform the
duties owing to them. If men do not vow unto God in a secret and in a
public manner to fulfil to the various lawful civil communities with
which they may be connected, their obligations, by reckoning those as
unworthy of the solemn promise to God to obey them, they do not honour
them, and thus by disobeying His command, they dishonour God. The duties
of masters and servants to one another, are duties which each
respectively owe to Christ. "Servants, be obedient to them that are your
masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness
of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers;
but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
with good-will, doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing
that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of
the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same
things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also
is in