3. The filent christian speaks for God, 3. Lord, fhall my foul again conceal 4. Shall fhame fubdue the lively zeal, O may my thoughts for ever keep Religion. THE light of nature, duly attended to, willevidently lead us into belief of a Supreme Being, infinitely holy, powerful, juft and good, the creator and preferver of all things, the friend and judge of mankind. It is therefore our duty as well as highest intereft often, at stated times, and by decent and folem acts, to contemplate and adore the great original of our existence, the parent of beauty, and of all good; to exprefs our veneration and love by an awful and devout recognition of his perfections; and to evidence our gratitude, by celebrating his goodness, and thankfully acknowledging all his benefits. It is likewife our duty, by prop er exercifes of forrow and humiliation, to confefs our ingratitude and folly, to fignify our dependence upon God, and our confidence in his goodnefs, by imploring his bleffing and gracious concurrence in affifting the weakness, and curing the corruption of our nature.-And, finally, to testify our fenfe of his authority and our faith in his government, by devoting ourselves to his difpofal. This is that internal piety or the worship of the mind which unäffifted reason dictates, and all the great and wife men of the heathen world recommended and practifed. It may be proper, However, to remark, thefe duties are not therefore obligatory, because the Deity needs not or can be profited by them but as they are apparently decent and moral, fuitable to the relations we fustain of our creator, benefactor, law-giver, and judge, expreffive of our ftate and obligation, and improving to our tempers, by making us more rational, focial, and confequently more happy. And as God is the parent and head of the focial fyftem, as he has formed us for a focial ftate, as by one we find the beft fecurity against the ills of life, and in the other enjoy its greatest comforts, and as by means of both, our nature attains its higheft improvement and perfection: and moreover, as there are public bleffings and crimes in which we all fhare in fome degree, and public wants and dangers to which all are expofed; it is therefore evident, that the various and folemn offices of public religion are duties of indifpenfable moral obligation, among the best cements of fociety, the firmeft prop of government, and the faireft ornament of both. Extract of a letter from his excellency General Washington, addressed to the people of the United States, on his resignation of the Presidency. QF all the difpofitions and habits which lead to political profperity, Religion and Morality are indifpenfible fupports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to fubvert thefe great pillars of human happinefs, these firmeft props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man ought to refpect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it fimply be afked, where is the fecurity of property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation defert the oaths, which are the inftruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the fuppofition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar ftructure, reafon and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclufion of religious principles. Tis fubftantially true, that virtue or morality is a neceffary fpring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or lefs force to every fpecies of the government. Who that is a fincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric? Promote then, as an object of primary impor tance, inftitutions for the general diffufion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of government gives force to public opinion, it is ef fential that publie opinion should be enlightened. Peace of Conscience and Prayer for YET gracious God, amidst the ftorms of nature, Like heavenly fun-beams hid behind the clouds, O glorious folace of immenfe diftress, A confcience and a God! A friend at home, And better friend on high! This is my rock Of firm fupport, my fhield of sure defence Against infernal arrows. Rife, my foul, Put on thy courage: Here's thy living fpring Of joys divinely fweet, and ever new, A peaceful confcience, and a smiling heaven. My God permit a creeping worm to fay, Thy Spirit knows I love thee. Worthless wretch, To dare to love a God! But grace requires, And grace accepts. Thou feeft my laboring foul: Weak as my zeal is, yet my zeal is true; Love divine Incarnate love Has feiz'd, and holds me in Almighty arms: O thou all-powerful word, at whofe firft call H |