of church government, which is legitimate and obligatory, is contained in the scriptures; that there is, upon earth, no infallible head of the church; that we have only one master, even Christ, and one only father, even God.

These articles of belief, my brethren, have, for many years, been firmly fixed in the minds of the members of this church. May these capital objects of our religious association be kept constantly in view!

Through all the changes, incident to an ancient institution, there has never been a time, in which you have not devoted the Lord's day, either by yourselves, or in union with a sister church, to the worship of God and christian edification.

The covenant, which was signed at Charlestown, on the twenty-seventh of August, 1630, was renewed in Boston, on the sixteenth day of October, 1632. It was then that this ecclesiastical establishment was begun. In that year was built the first edifice, which was ever reared for publick worship in the town of Boston. It stood at some distance from this place, and was far less spacious and magnificent, than even this ancient house. But its thatched roof and walls of mud answered all the purposes of marble temples with their gilded domes and cushioned altars. Enclosed in that humble meetinghouse were some of the noblest and purest spirits, that ever bore the christian name. There the venerable Wilson exercised the functions of the pastoral office with the meekness of Moses, and the benevolence of St. John. There the learned, ethical, and eloquent Cotton expounded the scriptures with the boldness of an inspired prophet, and dictated, with holy zeal, the measures of both church and state. There the excellent

Winthrop, the inflexible Dudley, and the godly Nowel alternately prayed and prophesied, and gave the whole weight of their talents and influence in favour of evangelical principles and manners.

In the second edifice, which was completed in 1640, and stood till 1711, were still heard the teachings of Wilson and Cotton. It was there too, where the copious and masterly Norton urged home the doctrines of the gospel, upon the consciences of sinners; where Davenport lifted his aged voice in pious supplications; where Allen guarded the flock against the fanaticism of innovators; where Oxenbridge poured forth his eloquence before the great congregation; where the scientifick Wadsworth perspicuously taught the way of salvation; where the energetick Bridge called sinners to repentance; and where the persecuted Moody and the unoffending Bailey generously lent their aid to the service of the sanctuary.

The present house was built in 1712, and has resounded with the instructions of Wadsworth and Bridge, whom I have already named, and here my three immediate predecessors have publickly laboured. Yes, here the worthy Foxcroft exhorted his hearers to become reconciled unto God, through a blessed mediator. Here Chauncy's erudition dispelled the glooms of ignorance and fanaticism, and taught his hearers to offer to their God a reasonable service. And here the admirable Clarke, equally distinguished for his biblical and classi.. cal knowledge, charmed his hearers to the knowledge and love of their duty.

In addition to the regular services of the ministers of this church, the several edifices, which they have built,

have been devoted to the weekly labours of the neighbouring clergy. As early, as the settlement of Mr. Cotton, the 5th day or thursday lecture was begun to be preached. It was maintained by the ministers of this church, until 1679, when, at the request of the magistrates, and by a vote of this church, the ministers of the Old North and Old South churches, then the only ministers in town, were invited to take their turns in preaching this lecture. From that period to the present, as often, as a minister adjoins himself to the Boston Association, he is requested, as a thing of course, to take his turn in preaching the thursday lecture. There was a time, when this lecture was suspended, about ten months, in the years 1775 and 1776. Dr. Andrew Eliot preached the last of the old series, and the first of the new. How many excellent sermons has this institution been the means of producing! What an incentive to laudable emulation among the divines of this metropolis !

But this place is henceforth no more to be a scene of moral and religious entertainment. We are going to the fourth spot and the fifth house, which have been devoted by this church to divine service. The history and habits of our society show, that it has indulged no superstition in regard to the places, modes, and times of religious homage.

We sometimes wish, and wish in vain, for the clear intimations of the divine will, which the Jews enjoyed. To us no Urim answers. For us no priest, in gorgeous habiliments, supplicates the divine benediction. The time was, when a certain mountain in Judea alone was deemed holy; and the belief still is, in many parts of christendom, that particular forms are exclusively ac

ceptable to the most high God. But, to rational christians, the hour has long since come, when true worshippers worship the Father in spirit and in truth; when every place is accounted holy, in which the one living and true God is adored by enlightened understandings and honest hearts, and where the rituals of religion are made subservient to a virtuous life. To the ancient jew indeed Jehovah declared, “In all places, where I record my name, there will I come 'unto thee and bless thee." And true it was, that, where that awful name was not inscribed, the priest offered no sacrifice, and the prophet waited in vain the inspiration of his God. Now, wherever there is a heart to pray, there the altar and the sacrifice are made ready. Now, wherever two or three are met together, in the name of Christ, there his father and our father, his God and our God will be in the midst of us, to listen to our requests, to pardon our sins, to sustain us under the troubles of life, and to grant us consolation and encouragement in our heavenly course.

you are not Much as we

Farewell, then, ye venerable walls! necessary to the purity of our worship. have loved this ancient habitation of the Most High, and notwithstanding the tenderness, with which we would treat the feelings of local devotion, we disclaim the idea, that, in relinquishing this for a more spacious and convenient church, we are guilty of robbing God of his dues, or the community of their sacred rights. No. We violate none of the laws of God in bettering our accommodations for publick worship. We break none of the commandments of Jesus Christ, in exchanging a house, which is exposed to the noise and dust of a

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publick street, for one, which is remote from the business and amusements of the town.

To my heart this edifice is dear, from various circumstances. But to say, that the removal is attended with no painful sensations, we do not. Here it was, my brethren, that I received the charge of your souls, and here have I often renewed to you my vows of fidelity. Here we have frequently sitten, under the banner of Jesus, and his fruit has been sweet to our taste. How often have we here eaten the bitter herbs of penitence for past offences, and taken to our lips the cup of joy and salvation! Here have I baptized and instructed your children, endeavouring to form them to the temper and habits of Jesus.

In uttering my own feelings, I have no doubt of expressing yours. It is true, not one of you present contributed personally, either of your wealth or wisdom, to the identical establishments, of which I have been speaking. But, God be praised, you have continued to walk in the steps of your fathers. There has never been a time, when you have been unwilling to provide things decent and honourable in the sight of all men, for the support of religious instruction, and for rendering commodious and amiable the tabernacles of our God. The church, which you have recently built, and in which you expect shortly to worship the God of your fathers, is another confirmation of the truth, deduced from the text, that good men desire the presence of God. If there were no zeal in this society for the maintenance of sabbatical rites, the advantageous arrangement, which you have lately made, would not have taken place. However therefore we may in this age be blamed for