The whole tenour of the scripture promises is in favour of the sentiment, that God is the protector of good men, and that he will grant them the desire of their hearts. Our Saviour teaches, that God is better, than the best of parents. "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give good things unto them who ask him."

The conduct of the divine providence towards the virtuous, in every age, has been a beautiful illustration of the same consolatory truth. Recollect, my brethren, the lives of those eminently good men, whose pious desires were mentioned in the preceding discourse. You will find, that they had a sense of the divine favour, and a hope of the divine guidance. See the presence of God with Abel, in the witness which he received, that he was righteous. Enoch, before his translation, had this testimony, that he pleased God. The presence of God was eminently with Noah, whilst building the ark, and was afterwards his salvation and joy. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, though they did not receive the promises, had yet the favour of God, in this world, and died in expectation of a better country, than Canaan supplied. The presence of God was with the patriarch Joseph, and the divine counsels wonderfully prospered in his hand. And Moses surely, among whose records the text is found, was extraordinarily the subject of divine favour. So too were Joshua, Caleb, and the posterity of the hebrew emigrants. Jehovah fulfilled the promise, which he had made to their fathers; his presence went with them to the country of Palestine, where he gave them rest. It was a rest from the yoke of bondage, which

they endured in Egypt; it was a rest from the wearisome journies, which they were obliged to take in the arabian wilderness; it was, lastly, a rest from the wars, which they necessarily waged with savage nations. But it was not a rest from the ordinary labours of life, nor from the calamities, to which our nature is at all times exposed.

Beginning with the sacred founder of our religion, and tracing the history of his apostles and followers, through every successive period to the present, we shall have additional proof, that good men may be sure of the guidance of heaven. In every age of the world, God's presence is with them, and he gives them rest ; not indeed a rest of sloth; not a rest of voluptuousness; and not always a rest from the arrows of slander, and the sword of persecution; for every age, probably, can furnish its Neros and Domitians. But the good are generally secure of a tranquil life, and are always untroubled by the persecutions of a guilty conscience, and the multitude of sorrows, which usually infest the path of the wicked.. The rest, which God gave to good men, under the former dispensation, and to the early christians, was a rest from the unfruitful works of darkness, and from that sorrow of the world, which worketh death. And this kind of rest is the infallible portion of the righteous in the worst countries, and in the worst times. The good man cannot be deprived of his confidence in God, and in the final rectitude and benevolence of the divine administration. To be able to praise God in adversity as well, as prosperity, is to enjoy a peace, which passeth all understanding. To be superiour to the petty disasters and vexa

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tions of life; to be able steadily to pursue, what is bravely designed; to be deaf to the noise of a turbulent world, that the whispers of conscience may be distinctly heard; and to descend with cheerfulness and hope into the valley of the shadow of death; this is the peace of the just, and the most valuable rest, which, on this side heaven, remains for the people of God.

May those of us, who have experienced the presence of God, in moments of danger and affliction, and been able to commit our souls to a faithful Creator, when the terrible image of death was staring us in the face, be duly grateful to the almighty physician of soul and body! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits!

Such a rest, my brethren, as I have been describing, was eminently the portion of those worthy men, who gave a name and a character to Newengland. Where was there ever a people, since the age of miracles, more favoured of heaven, than these puritan pilgrims ?

- The governour and company of Massachusetts Bay, who laid the foundation of this christian society, in 1630, met innumerable difficulties in accomplishing their pious designs. But the presence of God was with them to dispel their fears, to increase their faith, and to animate their labours. The church, which they here planted, became a fruitful field. Their efforts to enlarge and enrich it were marvellously blessed. The expectations of our fathers were gloriously realized. A few years of toil were succeeded by an age of improvement and of rest. They were no longer tormented with the warwhoop by night, nor with the sight of con

flagrations and ruin by day. We rejoice to reflect upon the success, which crowned the exertions of men, who were warmed with a love of truth, freedom, and the general welfare to make the most noble sacrifices. We, this day, look back with admiration and gratitude to God, when we think of the powerful talents, exemplary lives, and faithful services of a long succession of pastors and teachers, who have laboured in this christian vineyard, and who are now at rest with God.

Let us be thankful, my brethren, for all the good effects, which have resulted from this institution, in times past; and for all the advantages, of whatever nature, which it now enjoys.

As far, as fallible mortals can judge, this day is aus, picious to our interests, as a religious community. In place of an ancient and decaying house, situated in the most busy and populous part of the town, we possess this new, commodious, and beautiful edifice; where, in the silence of retirement, yet in the centre of the territo ry of the metropolis, we may worship the Lord our God. Not that we contemn those venerable walls, which have enclosed so many pious worshippers, and which have so often resounded with excellent instructions and the divine praises. No, thou God of our fathers, thou knowest, that we, thy servants, " take pleasure in the stones, and favour the dust thereof,"

Nevertheless, we rejoice in a more decent and com. fortable church. And we bless God, who giveth skill to the children of men, for his remarkable protection of and smiles upon its artificers; for the fortunate circumstances, that have attended its erection and completion; for the activity and firmness, gentleness and discretion,

which have marked the conduct of the committees of the society, in effecting this important arrangement; and for the entire union, subsisting among us.

Ah, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Next to the favour of God, it is nat ural and right for good men to love the approbation of God's children. They may not indeed seek the praise of men, as an end; but it delights their hearts to know, that their services are acceptable to the multitude of their brethren. It cheers and encourages them, in their labours for the good of the community, to know, that they have the wishes,prayers, and cooperation of the virtuous.

Withhold not this encouragement, my brethren, to well doing, when it is in the power of your hearts and tongues to bestow it. It is impossible, in all cases, to reward the patriotick for their publick-spirited exertions. The Israelites were unable to repay the benefi cence of Moses with any thing in their gift; the least they could do, was to give him their gratitude and confidence. Who does not admire the self-denial and enterprise of Abraham, and what one of his descendants did not reflect on his faith, piety, and benevolence, with the highest degree of gratitude? In every age of the world, those men are to be ranked among our greatest benefactors, who exert themselves to rear temples to the living and true God. We honour and love our parents, who brought us into the world, and nursed our infancy, and guided our childhood; but those are our parents in the truest sense, who labour to create us anew in Christ Jesus; who travail, as it were, in birth again, until Christ be formed within us, the hope of glory; who indoctrinate us into the principles of the gospel, and mould us into the image of its blessed founder.