they are bound to recognize these relations, and
feel and act accordingly. Such is the will of God. Such is the law
of God. There can be no holiness in man aside from conformity to the
will of God in this thing.

This principle is carried out in all the teachings of the New
Testament, with an emphasis and a plainness which no candid and
unprejudiced mind can fail to understand. Jesus Christ has
incorporated it into his sermon on the mount in many particulars,
wherein he insists upon our social duties, while he teaches
religion. He preached this principle when he said, "render unto
Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that
are God's." He practised on this principle when he made the fish
bring in his mouth the tribute-money which, as a citizen, he owed to
the government of the country,--a government a thousandfold more
oppressive than ours.

It would be a fundamental error, if we were to maintain, that
_religion_ has nothing to do with the regulation of our conduct
towards one another,--as parents, as children, as magistrates,
subjects and citizens; but that it has left all that field of duty
to be regulated by the individual preferences of men. It has not
done so. Social duties come as really within the field of
_religious_ obligation, as any other duties. "The fifth commandment
requireth the preserving the honor and performing the duties
belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as
superiors, inferiors, and equals." As men, in any relationship we
hold, neighbors, citizens of the state, children, parents, or any
other earthly connection, religion extends its authority over us;
and our conduct in each one of these relationships constitutes a
part of our holiness or our sin.

God has not seen fit to enact special or particular laws for us, to
regulate our conduct in all respects, as here associated with one
another, and owing duties to one another, as neighbors, citizens of
the commonwealth, husbands, wives, and children. He has himself
enacted only _general_ laws for us,--laid down great general
principles, under the authority and light of which, he has left men
to regulate the particulars as they please, by the governments which
they establish.--only not contravening his great general principles
and laws.

He has himself made _all_ the laws which are needful, and all
which can be justly obligatory upon us in respect to _divine
worship_,--such duties as praise, prayer, p