tate. 6. It will be an important mean, in making the acquisition aimed at, always seriously and attentively to review our conduct in the house of God. This, by exhibiting our deficiencies, will place us on our guard in future. Nothing helps our improvement in any thing, more than calling our selves to an account, and examining wherein we have come short. It makes the failure palpable; it renders it a beacon to us in time to come. Recollection of the exercises which take place in the house of God, is, in every view, a most important employment. Be much in this practice, my hearers. Ask yourselves what advantage did you receive? Were your minds really engaged in the devotional parts? And what can you recollect of the word preached? The prospect of this will naturally engage you to attend and hear with carefulness. subject us to this inspired rebuke I contemplate three degrees of the folly in question, in all of which there is evil. 1. Say that you are simply in not be suffered to break our attention, or make it flag. But we should strive to enter into each, with that comprehension of its nature, and attention to its end, which propriety and utility dic-attentive in mind, while every exterior appearance and circumstance is decent and composed. Still, my hearers, there is a great evil; there is a most important omission; nay, there is active criminality. Whoever comes to the house of God, professes to worship him; and not to do it is to deal falsely. In this place, the mind ought to be intent on God; and if it be not, an infinitely inferior object is made his rival; it supplants him in his own sanctuary. Yet how many are there, alas! who think that their very bodily presence in the church, is a very meritorious service; and who thus satisfy their consciences. What, my hearers!-is this the sacrifice that God requires! Is it to present him an offering in which there is no heart! The inspired penman treats this idea very abruptly, in the text. He calls it "the sacrifice of fools." And truly it is a most senseless imagination to act, or think, in this manner; to think that we ever perform God's service, unless the heart be en'gaged. Of such persons, the text says, they consider not that they do evil"-that is, they do evil, and do not think of it. This is strictly true. They may not have a positive intention to be criminal, but by their careless inattention, they are actually so: and that in a high degree. They mock the Majesty of heaven, by professing to serve him, when they do not. They refuse him the honour he requires. They treat him with a disrespect and irreverence which they would blush to manifest to a fellow creature. Yet how much-how very much of publick worship is of this description! May God, of his mercy alarm those whose con These, then, are the means to be made use of for the acquisition of the important habit I have described. In the use of these we may be said to be "ready to hear." And let me add, that he who just ly estimates the value of the attainment, will not think these means irksome; he will not think them too much to be done, that he may serve God acceptably, and with profit to his own soul. This will appear more fully III. From a few observations showing the detriment which unavoidably ensues from a contrary practice. This, you observe, is pointedly noticed in the text-Offer not "the sacrifice of fools, for they consider not that they do evil." An inattentive mind will certainly sciences testify against them in this particular, and lead them to a better practice. 2. A still higher degree of this evil is chargeable on those who exhibit any visible levity of conduct in the house of God; though it be not done with a deliberate disrespect to the service. All whispering, smiling, the use of significant gesticulations, moving from one place to another, going out of the church or coming in, without urgent necessity-every thing of this kind, is what I here intend. This is an evil both with respect to God and man. It is a most impious and detestable profanation of his service; and it is a trespass on the feelings of every serious person who beholds it. The party who is guilty of it, is deficient in decency of manners, as well as in piety towards his Maker. Oh that such transgressors would consider the hour, the hastening solemn hour, when they must stand at the bar of that God, whose name and worship they thus openly profane! 3. The highest degree of this evil is exhibited by those who behave irreverently in the worship of God, from a positive dislike to it, and with a design to treat it with contempt. This is folly in every sense of the term. It argues a most awful degree of moral depravity, while it discovers a pitiable weakness of the understanding. I speak this most deliberately, my hearers; and the testi. mony even of sensible infidels, (for in such a case their testimony is to be admitted,) corroborates the opinion. He who openly treats contemptuously any act of publick worship, shows, by the suffrages of all, a weak mind, as well as a bad heart. "He has not learned-say unbelievers-to respect the prejudices of men. He does not understand mankind-he is foolish to expose himself, without an object.-Ah! and he is most horribly profane, exclaims the Chris tian. He is an awful instance how a person, forsaken of God, will dishonour his understanding by the vileness of his heart." Thus have I finished the discussion of this subject. I have endeavoured to make it, as far as I could, application throughout.O, that God may apply it! Would God, it might be the means of correcting any improprieties of an external kind, which may occasionally appear in this place. And O, that it might, in an especial manner, stir us all up to a more serious inward engagedness in this sacred service. Then, by worshipping more devoutly, we should do it more acceptably to God, and more profitably to our own souls. For this let us now most earnestly pray Speaks a tale to the soul of long ages gone by And a voice whispers thence "Every creature must die." I thought on the heart once so light and so gay, With smiles like the beams of a bright summer's day, Each year as it came brought more bliss than the last, And the hopes of the future were bright as the past, Those years of the future are still flowing on, But where is that cheerful heart?-broken and gone! Those hopes once so brilliant are hushed in the grave, Disappointment's chill blights all the fruit that they gave. I looked on the starry sky, boundless and free, And it seemed in its vastness an emblem of Thee; Though clouds may sweep o'er it, and tempests may lower, They but sully its brightness, and calm for an hour; While all earthly things vanish, their pride and their fame, Still Thou art immutable, ever the same! Miscellaneous. CHRISTIAN MORALS IMPORTANT IN RURAL LIFE. ESSAY VIII. riches of the Levant, the gems of Chersonesus, the gums of Arabia, the barks of Quito, and the gold of Peru, find their way to the pro "The king himself is served of the foundest dells of Albion. The field." ruby and dun coloured deer, from distant lands, rove in the parks of her Norman castles; and birds of all dyes and notes warble in the But we leave with civilians all lawns of her woodbine cottages. questions of this kind, and proceed to say, that a peasantry of the right stamp, must constitute a prominent part of the strength of states. This is the declaration of one who knew from what resources the power and wealth of kings are derived. We might smile, perhaps, to see the Chinese emperor repairing, in the vernal season, to some appointed field, and there handling the plough, and depositing the seed of the future harvest. But the custom evinces the truth of the maxim, that agriculture is of essential service to states. It is it recorded of one of the kings of Sicily, that he would lead armies on one day, and on the next reap the harvest, and expertly bind his sheaves. It is far from our design to enter into any comparative views of agriculture and commerce. There have been rulers who have married their states to the sea, and the cable of commerce has kept many a nation steady, on the agitated ocean of war. By the channels of commerce, the ductions of the Delta, and the pro * See Anderson's learned History of Commerce, and Dr. Young's Merchant. In the organization of states, is of the utmost importance, whether their peasantry be ignorant or enlightened. is a pleasing account of the civiliIn lady Morgan's France, there ty and courteousness of the French peasantry. But it is of incalcula ble moment, that the peasantry of our country should be placed under the light of purer religious systems, than those which prevail in that kingdom. The rural population of a country, contribute not a little to its resources, even in times of tranquillity; but in times when national defence is necessary, this population are the right arm of the state. They are capable of being deeply embued with the love of peasantry, even in republican states, be once aroused against existing forms and institutions, and they will appear in incensed hordes, pausing at nothing but the at country; and when they are so, they endure every hardship and privation, sooner than surrender their freedom. For their altars, as well as their firesides, they have often contended, even to despera-tainment of their purpose.* It is tion. Nothing takes stronger hold on the minds of men, than their religious rights. Oceans of blood have been shed, to secure the privilege of worshipping God according to the dictates of conscience. When this privilege is once guaranteed, in the compacts of society, it is not often surrendered without a struggle. History illustrates this truth; it shows that this population have at times, started up from their rural haunts, and repelled, with promptitude and decision, the impious invader. They have, when overcome in former battles, still hung on their upland declivities, or retreated to caves and dens; and moistened with their blood the fastnesses of their mountains. They who dwell among the luxuries of sequestered life, are not well fitted for the hardships of the field. When entrusted with the confidence of their country, and having their reputation to sustain, they have indeed encountered perils to admiration. But although with them is the mind to direct, with them is not the arm to execute. This, as we have said, belongs to the peasantry; and hence the importance that this class of society should be enlightened by knowledge and influenced by religion; for nothing is plainer than if the peasantry may be essentially serviceable to communities, they may also be dangerous in the extremes. All power does in fact reside in the people; and it is with them when they choose, to strip kings of their diadems, and noblemen of their stars and coronets. Let the vindictive passions of the See the good yeoman, in Fuller's Holy State. not so easy as some suppose, to quell popular tumult, and stand at the confluence of those inundations, which sometimes course furiously over the face of society. But we turn from scenes of insurrection to repeat, that the peasantry of every country are capable of moral cultivation and religious restraints; and that, when well taught, no class of men are more susceptible of romantick national attachments. Such, in fact, are the attachments of the Caledonian peasantry; and when Burns rises to the dignity of the true Scottish peasant, and depicts his religious habits, we feel that "From scenes like these old Scotia's grandeur springs." The Sabbath," of Grahame, and the "Cotter's Saturday Night,' of Burns, are pictures purely Scottish. Their authors did not wander out of their native land, to find materials for their construction. It would give us inexpressible pleasure, to see the peasantry of the American union displaying the traits of a solid religious character; for a wider difference cannot be imagined than between a vicious and a moral peasantry. Nor in the eye of the true philanthropist, is any sight more pleasant, than a rustick population, conforming itself with enlighted views to the laws of the great Creator. Let our poets, therefore, from time to time, look out upon the character of our rural population; and their exertions may * See Robert Hall's Sermons on the French Revolution. A pleasing description of the religious habits of the Scottish islanders, may be seen in a late poem, called Arran. achieve much in elevating them;* and it is surely worthy the attention of legislators, to devise schemes for the promotion of their moral and intellectual character. Raise the tone of morals and intelligence among them, and we shall also practically elevate the standard of polished circles: and it will put scepticism at defiance, when our men of wealth shall be seen girding themselves round, with a tenantry obedient to their Maker's commandments. But if much may be done by legislators for the benefit of this population, still more may be done by the gospel ministry. Our Saviour did not disdain the kindest offices towards the humble orders of society. The gate of opulence did not allure his footsteps. He was pleased to assume for himself the appearance of a Galilean peasant; and he associated exclusively, for the first thirty years of his abode on earth, with the peasantry of Judea. His faithful servants in every age, have copied his example. In our recollections of Fenelon, his contests with kings, and with those whose crosiers were powerful as sceptres, are forgotten, whilst we dwell with tears of delight on his acts of condescension to the peasantry of his diocese. This, said they, after his decease-" this was the chair which he occupied. This was the elm under which he read; this was the lawn on which he greeted us; this was the closet in which he prayed; and this was the chamber in which we lost him." Similar acts of kindness to the peasantry of the Isle of Wight, embalm the memory of Legh Richmond, at the present We have a few; Percival, Bryant, Mellen, Tappan, Paulding, Hillhouse, Hill, Brooks, Willis, Sigourney, Neal, Pinkney, and at least one or two hundred versifiers. Irving and Cooper seem averse to rhyme, but their works are a good deal tinged with romance. Perhaps Bishop Berkley's prediction may one day be fulfilled, that the Muses will take refuge in America. hour. The picturesque scenery of that island has received hues from his pious deeds, sweeter than the blushing pencil of the artist can give. The peasantry of Aston Sandford, too, will long cherish the memory of Scott; and that of Hodnet will not soon forget him,` who left its green alleys to carry the light of Christianity to "India's coral strand." Our national independence may be lost. History reads in our hearing its solemn monitions. It tells us of states once free, whose freedom is irrecoverably gone. It tells us of kingdoms whose monarchs, stately even in distress, and whose queens beautiful even in captivity, have served but to grace the triumphal retinue of their conquerors. Had Persia preserved her ancient simplicity, she would never have yielded to the power of Greece. Greece was herself once free. But her soft skies have for ages been suspended over a land of slaves, bondsmen of dejected mien and downcast eye. Had Rome preserved her integrity, as in the days of Cincinnatus and Fabius, her fair heritage would never have been devoured by swarms northern barbarians. Spain was possessed of martial fire, when she resolved on the expulsion of the Moors; and there was a time. when the Swiss peasant climbed the steeps of the Helvetic republic, with the elastic step of the free of But notwithstanding these examples, can there be any necessity that our liberties should ever be lost? Remote from the vortex of European politics, embracing within our own limits adequate resources of self-defence, aspiring to no foreign conquests, with a constitution prescribing rotation in office, and the elective privilege guaranteed to all, we should hope that our independence would be insured as a sacred deposit, by the |
