PAGE 12

broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth." Oh, my dear friends, what an example we have here, worthy of all acceptation! And if ever a nation had cause to express their gratitude to Almighty God, it is this highly favoured land. With such inestimable privileges as we now enjoy, let us by constant prayer and supplication, never cease to implore his forgiveness of our sins, and to remove far from our thoughts the abominable sin of ingratitude, and thereby incurring his displeasure, and bringing down his judgments upon us. Again I say, "He hath not dealt so with any nation."

Having thus acquired self-government, it becomes us to acknowledge the goodness of God in having been pleased to confer upon us such great privileges. Let us then remember, that we should so conduct ourselves as not to abuse his great blessings: let us train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; let us never forget that on the proper education of our children, will very much depend the duration of our republic. History informs us it cannot last in ignorance; a people, well instructed, cannot easily be subdued by arbitrary power: let us then strive to maintain our happy and mild institutions by extending the means of education among all classes of society. On the proper education of your blessed children, will very much depend your future comfort, and their future happiness. But oh! my dear fellow mortals - my dear children, how much greater will be your joy, to behold them and you not only happy in the present world, but also that which is of infinitely more importance,

PAGE 13

to find them and you united in the never-ending happiness of the world to come. He exhorted his dear friends and countrymen to be very careful in the selection of men to occupy the offices of chief rulers and magistrates, in these days of infidelity. He impressed on their minds the very great importance that should be attached to their choosing such men as should fear God, keep his commandments, eschew no evil, be a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them that do good; for, said he, "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." - Let us beware that we do not incur the displeasure of Almighty God; for it is recorded in part of my text, "As for His judgments, they have not known them;" - "Praise ye the Lord."

His great mind soared above the ordinary groveling pursuits of mere mortal man. In conclusion, he observed, that with such abundant cause of gratitude to the great Giver of all good, it became us all to unite in fervent prayers to acknowledge these great mercies which he had been pleased, in his infinite goodness, to shower down upon our favoured land.

This is written on Washington's birth-day, the 22d of February, 1825; and it naturally associates the idea, and leads the mind to contemplate on the eventful periods in the life of these two eminent men. While the constant prayers of the pious Livingston were offered up to the throne of grace, in the pulpit, for the preservation of our civil and religious liberties, the prayers of the great and good Washington were daily exercised in the closet and in the field, for the same pious purpose. Have we not then great reason to believe, that purpose. Have we not then great reason to believe, that "The prayers of the righteous availeth much."