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animal bodies: but the Soul, that spiritual and immaterial substance, was not derived from them; it is as an invaluable jewel, drop't down from the hand of God, into the prepared casket of the body; as much so, as when God breathed into the body of Adam the breath of life, (Heb. Lives) and man became a living soul. Gen. 2. 7. And, it is equally true, that the Fathers of our Nation, while forming the body of our Constitution, made "no laws for religion." Our religious liberty, therefore, is the gift of God; and I venture to affirm, that this forms the very Soul, and the glory of the United States of America!-It will be highly interesting to pursue this thought, a moment longer. By this adjustment, and ordination of civil and religious rights, we see the CHURCH, and the STATE, standing upon their own respective basis. Every citizen is at perfect liberty to worship God, according to the dictate of his own conscience, and to his perception of the Divine will, recorded in the holy Scriptures. as the Prophet Micah expresses it, They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. Chap. 4. 4. And where is the other Nation which enjoys this privilege to an extent equal to our own?-The Lord Christ assures us in his Gospel, My kingdom is not of this world. John 18. 36. Its subjects, laws, and institutions, are not of a civil, or political character; but on the contrary, it is spiritual; and therefore, is frequently called, the kingdom of Heaven, to distinguish it from all worldly polity. And although, perhaps, the Fathers of our country, may

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not, at the time, have perceived the full force of this evangelical subject, or the good hand of God this most important concern: yet, we now see the Church delivered from the chains of political bondage; and that God had reserved America, as the nation where her freedom should be enjoyed; and by thus standing upon its own spiritual foundation, enjoying its own privileges, totally distinct from the civil powers, it should be fully demonstrated, that it indeed is not of this world; neither asking its aid to support, nor dreading its frowns to destroy. Frowns, did I say? No, the Constitution of America casts its smiles on all her sons, and leaves them, unmolested, to enjoy the rights of conscience in worshipping their God and Saviour. And so long as the Church stands free and independent from the State, the prosperity of this country will continue; but, should ever a combination be formed between them, the glory of America will instantly vanish ;— which, God forbid! From this statement, who but will honour and cherish the memory of our national Fathers, for being the instruments in procuring our Independence! And this day, let me most seriously impress upon your minds, that while you raise a monument of grateful praise to their memory, however little it may have been contemplated by many, let it be under the double consideration, that, while they separated the chains of our National bondage; at the same time the Church was likewise liberated from those clanging fetters, which for so many ages, she had been doomed to wear in European climes; and then, express your devotional gratitude to God, who, by their honoured means, procured for us, so valuable an inheritance.

III. It may be gratifying to follow this analogy one step further. We cannot possibly forget, how highly interested were our Parents in fostering our tender years, by promoting our education, and afterwards by pursuing every possible means for the purpose of introducing us to useful and honourable stations in active life. The recollection of such parental kindnesses, not only excite our grateful feelings, but will instantly bring to our remembrance that the Fathers of America, who, after establishing our Independence, employed their most assiduous care to nourish the new-born States, and promote their internal interests; for, they were indeed our Nursing Fathers.* While their attention was directed to the political welfare of the country, they were no less convinced of the imperious necessity of recommending and promoting education, and habits of industry; for these were essential to the rising interest of the community. For be it remembered, America was not born in affluence; the struggle for liberty demanded large expenditures, and exhausted her treasures; and necessity dictated invention to produce the adequate supplies. Nor can any of us forget, with what energy the beloved Fathers of our country, procured for us an alliance with foreign nations; who, not only sanctioned our independence, but opened sources for our commerce, extending our trade, and thus increasing our By these, and various other means which the Lord hath blessed, we not only enjoy internal prosperity, but have a name of distinction among

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* ISA. 49. 23.

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the nations of the earth! While therefore other nations have taken some ages to arrive to maturity, and then bore but a scanty harvest, America, in the short space of FIFTY YEARS, has shot her roots deep in the soil of liberty, and extends her fruitful branches far and wide. Surveying the face of our country, we not only see laborious husbandmen collecting the produce of their soil adequate to home consumption: but furnishing our enterprizing merchants with ample surplus, to transmit to distant climes, and with the product of the whole, enriching their native country. No less abundant has been the increase of our population; the extent of our numerous manufactures creates our astonishment; the abundant cultivation of natural soil; the union of the water of our rivers with the lakes and the ocean, equally beneficial in peace or war; the civilization of our native Indians; the increase and harmony of our states; the extensive diffusion of learning and science; and above all, the general promulgation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with its benign influence upon society: all these lay us under the most profound obligation of gratitude to the Most High God; and next to Heaven, of grateful remembrance of the love and the toils of the Fathers of our country! For, with joy and triumph we may this day exclaim, Thou hast not dealt so with any nation.-Praise ye the Lord! Psalm 147. 20.

The analogy which I have now drawn between our natural and our political fathers, was intended as the most promising method to impress your minds with a sense of the obligation we are under

to both; and although they are now covered in the shades of death, we are still bound to respect their ashes, and to revere their memory. We honour our political fathers, as the means which God employed to produce our glorious freedom;-the invaluable charter of our independence should ever be esteemed as the rich gift of Heaven, to preserve our unity, peace and happiness;-and the strong energy which those worthies produced in the various acts of Congress to promote our internal prosperity, and our character among the nations of the globe;all these most valuable services we hope ever to cherish in our bosoms, and enjoin our children to hand them down to posterity, that the remotest generations may know and honour the memory of their ancestors, who gave birth to the freedom of their country.

To express our sense of national favours, the fourth of July has invariably been celebrated throughout the States. The last numbered our FIFTIETII year, and was hailed as AMERICA'S JUBILEE. Our city, ever foremost to testify the warmth of their patriotism, and express their gratitude for the multiplied blessings of peace and prosperity which we enjoy, passed the day with every demonstration of joy! and have left a memorial on record, that future generations may read their high estimation of national freedom.-But, while the festivity of the day was yet warm in their bosom, behold! the hoarse voice of death was heard; JEFFERSON AND ADAMS ARE DEAD!! The bright colours displayed in Jubilee were instantly shrouded in mourning, and every citizen poured forth his deep-toned

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