"which Heaven approves,) have thus acted their part, "whether in more elevated or inferior stations, form "the first class in the roll of Worthies. And when

they descend again into private life, casting behind "them vain pomp and fastidious pride, to mingle "with their fellow citizens in all the tender charities "and endearing offices of society and humanity, their "characters, if possible, become still more illustrious. "Their very maims and scars are nobly honourable. "The respect, which they command, grows with "their growing years; and as they descend to the "horizon of life, it is like the Sun in serene and set

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ting glory-with orb more enlarged and mitigated, "though less dazzling and splendid. Even their 66 garrulous old age, while it can only recount the "feats of former days, will be listened to with atten❝tion; or should they survive all the active powers "both of body and mind, yet still, like some grand "structure, tottering and crumbling beneath the hand "of time, they will appear majestic even in ruins, " and venerable in decay!

And, when at last the messenger, Death, who "comes to all, shall come to them, undaunted they "will obey his summons; in conscious hope of be

'ing speedily united and beatified with their com"patriots and fore-runners, in the mansions of end"less bliss.

"Such, to name no more, was the character* of "Cincinnatus in ancient times, rising awful from

In a note annexed to this Sermon, which was dedicated to General Washington, a short account was given of the life and character of Cin

cinnatus.

"the Plough' to Save his Country, and, his Country "Saved, returning to the Plough again, with in"creased dignity and lustre. Such too, if we divine "aright, will future ages pronounce the character of

a Washington to have been. But his presence on "this occasion, as a brother*, forbids me to add "more-Seek to derive virtue from his example; "let your principles animate you with intrepidity in "the hour of danger, and humanity in the moments "of triumph."

Thus far on that occasion-And now gentlemen, having said all that seems necessary to you as a distinct body, and respecting your honourable claim to the title of Cincinnati, I trust that I shall obtain an equal attention from you to my second head of discourse; in which you and every member of the com munity here assembled are alike interested. Nay, as examples, to lead the attention of others to that Spiritual Salvation, which remains to be more fully treated of, perhaps you are more interested than others; and more may be expected from you, as you have nobly avowed the principle-That the Soldier's glory cannot be completed, without acting well the part of the Good Citizen and Good Christian!

But, before I proceed further-It having been declared, that the great design of the Cincinnati on this day is to commemorate the blessings of religious and civil Liberty; and the Churches in this city, having for some years past, made use of a particular Service composed for that purpose; it may seem

• He was present as a Mason, but his name was not mentioned from the pulpit, only the words " Character of a"

strange that the said service hath been omitted on the present occasion. To this I am instructed, by the Right Rev. Bishop and Pastor of this Church, to answer-That, although such a service was, with a pure, a pious, and patriotic design, proposed by a Convention of our Church some years ago, yet it was never received into general use; nor did it appear that any other religious denomination of Christians in the Union, were disposed to follow the example, or to make a similar provision for commemorating the day. This, however, would have had but little weight with us, if it had been considered by the members of our Church as a religious rather than a political institution. But being convinced by the remarkable scarcity of worshippers, which attended the Service, on former returns of this day, that the multitude were too much drawn off, by the external parade of shews and rejoicings, from an attention to religious duties (except when the day fell on Sunday)—what was originally introduced as a proposal, is now omitted in an authoritative Liturgy established by the late general Convention of our Church. The religious observation of the day, however, will always be encouraged, as it is on the present occasion, when a similar disposition shall call for it.

I proceed now to consider more fully that Spiritual Salvation, which Almighty God, after " having made bare his holy arm," to rescue us from temporal calamity, hath promised to extend" to all the ends of the earth."

By this Salvation, as mentioned in our text, I need scarcely observe to a Christian audience, that we are to understand the knowledge and practice of

the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ; to which is an nexed not only the promises of temporal happiness in this life, but the rich reward of eternal happiness in the life to come. To be convinced of the sufficiency of the blessed Gospel, for the great purposes of this mighty Salvation, is the chief wisdom of man. For therein is contained that wisdom, which is of God; that true knowledge, without which all else, that is called knowledge, is nugatory and vain! The further we carry our inquiries into the works of Nature and Providence, the more we are convinced of their greatness, and our own insufficiency to comprehend them: the length, the breadth, and the depth, far out-measure our scanty line, without deriving help from on high. We find many things of the utmost importance for us to know, which yet baffle all our efforts, and elude our most eager researches.

The creation and various revolutions of the world which we inhabit, the fall and redemption of man, the last judgment and an eternal world to come— these are grand and interesting concerns, in which no wisdom of our own could instruct us, unless the Lord had been pleased to reveal himself concerning them.

Can we, then, neglect or despise that heavenly system of truth, by which he hath made himself known to us in those great points? Shall we not rather take it to our bosoms, search into its depths, and reverence it as containing the words of eternal life; as being the richest legacy which heaven could give, or man receive?

In all the majesty of truth, and beauties of holiness, the blessed Gospel delivers to us those laws, by which we are to live here, and be judged hereafter. Containing doctrines the most rational and sublime, precepts the most benevolent and salutary, a stile the most rich and powerful, in all the variety of language and colouring, and sharper than a twoedged sword-this heavenly book was given to purify the heart and affections; to enlighten and exalt the understanding; to awaken and guide the conscience; to confirm our hopes and remove our fears; to banish ignorance and superstition; to cast down the idols of the nations; to mitigate or destroy lawless power; to check the rage of barbarism; to humanize the hearts of men, and call them off from a vain dependence upon external worship and ceremonies, to a trust in the living God; obedience to his moral laws and the voice of conscience within; repentance for past offences; an acceptable, rational and elevated devotion of heart, a longing after immortality; an exaltation to the life of angels, the joy of God, and happiness unspeakable and full of glory!

All our other Knowledge, all that is called Philosophy, will avail us but little, without the divine finishing of this wisdom of the spirit of God, which teacheth all things. "For whether there be tongues they shall cease, or whether there be [human] knowledge it shall vanish away." But the sublime knowledge of the Gospel will be forever new. It will lead us to that Salvation of God, promised in our text. It will be the endless subject of our inquiries