Some excuse themselves from giving their support to religious institutions, because they have an ill opinion of individuals, already supporting them; or because they disapprove some parish proceedings. Both of these reasons, my friends, are very deficient, as justifying reasons. You are bound, at all events, to do your duty, and to make the best of every thing. Dislike to other persons will certainly be a poor excuse to offer to your Judge, for neglecting an institution, expressly designed as a means of preparation for another and a better world. And what an ill symptom is it, that pilgrims on the same journey, and bound, as they imagine, to the same city of rest and glory, should fall out by the way, and refuse to walk together for mutual comfort and encouragement! What an evidence is it of want of proper views and feelings! of want of that meekness and comprehensive benevolence, which distinguished the character of Him who died, that we might live!

As to parish proceedings, no person should expect, that they will always be conducted in the best possible manner, nor in the manner he thinks best. Imperfection is *the lot of all human institutions; it is especially the lot of towns and parishes. Of this you should always be sensible; and, instead of refusing your aid to the support of gospel order, stand forward in the good cause, and remain firm at your post. If measures at any time are adopted, which are wrong in themselves, or which you disapprove, do all you can by fair, and gentle, and christian methods, to obviate their injurious effects. Religious society, and all other society, in this imperfect world, must be supported on principles of mutual concession.

But the great apology, which we most frequently hear offered, for neglecting to support religious order in our towns, are divisions in religious sentiments. Some are Congregationalists, some are Baptists, some are Methodists, some are Calvinists, some are Arminians, some are Trinitarians, and some are Unitarians; and there is such a diversity of opinions, that no general measures for the support of any one denomination, can be adopted. Has it then come to this? And is it true, that God has revealed a religion, that you might know how to honour him, and how to work out your own salvation? has he revealed a religion, speaking peace on earth and good will to men? and now is it such a matter of uncertainty what the essential

2

principles of this religion are, that you cannot be so far united, as to worship your Creator under the same roof, and sit under the preaching of the same minister? that you cannot, in fact, agree to support regularly any worship and instruction at all? Is Christ divided? Is he not forever one and the same? And must not all who receive the benefits of his mediation, possess one and the same spirit? Is not his religion most eminently a religion of love? Did he not, in the most solemn and affecting language, exhort his followers to be united; declaring, that the very badge by which they were to be known, was mutual love? Now, how does this comport with the divisions among us; and with the party names, that are got up, to prevent these divisions, if possible, from ever being healed? For my part, I consider most of our divisions as arising more from will and feeling, than from conviction and principle, and the names by which they are distinguished, as answering the views of the great enemy, rather than of the great Head of the church.

I believe, my friends, there are such things as conscientious differences in religious opinion. But these seldom form a proper ground of separation. Those who possess the spirit of Christ's religion, can forbear one another in love. They can agree to differ; and can walk together, although they cannot think alike on all subjects of Divinity. We have no reason to expect, that men will all think alike; but we have a right to ask, that they would not make their differences in opinion such a ground of separation, as to abolish the very institutions of religion. And we have a right to say, that this argument for neglecting these institutions, on account of differences in opinion, is a false argument, because it proves too much; it goes to the destruction of gospel order. It is my belief, that it cannot be taken as an excuse at the hands of any people of competent numbers and property, that they cannot maintain gospel order, because they cannot agree to do it; any more, than it could be taken as an excuse for their general want of uprightness, that they could not agree to be upright. The matter of agreement is a matter of duty; of duty, which no people can perseveringly neglect, without bringing down upon themselves, in one form or another, the judgments of Heaven;-without perpetuating a moral desolation.

Strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die.

THESE words contain a serious admonition to all churches and religious societies, in which religion itself is in a languid and decaying state; and, I trust, they will not be considered as ill adapted to the present circumstances of this church and people. They were originally addressed to a church of which it was said, that it had a name, that it lived, and was dead. That is, the church was still in an organized state; the institution remained; but the ends of the institution were very scantily answered. The institution itself was much less cherished, than it had formerly been; its friends were remiss, or discouraged; and its enemies, unceasingly vigilant in contriving its ruin. The situation of the church at Sardis, seems to have been remarkably similar to that of many churches at the present day; and, I am persuaded, bore no distant resemblance to the situation of the church in this place. The same general considerations, therefore, which made it desirable that the things which remained in that church, should be strengthened, make it likewise desirable, that the things which here remain, should be strengthened. And the same general duties, which devolved upon the few disciples of Christ at Sardis, devolve also upon his few professing followers here; and, indeed, upon all, who have any serious desire to see the regular ministrations of the gospel reestablished in this place. "Strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die."

In this discourse, I shall endeavour to shew, that the things, which here remain are worthy of being strengthened; and to suggest the means of doing it.

The church and society here remaining, are of the ancient order, introduced and established by the first fathers of New-England. For almost a century from the landing of the Pilgrims, the people of New-England were nearly all of

this order. Ample time had been given to test the worth of their religious institutions, long before some denominations, now growing numerous, were ever heard of in this country, or even in the world. Now, my friends, all who have paid any attention to the history of New-England, know very well, that our Fathers were wonderfully prospered and blest. Their religious institutions had a happy influence upon their general character. They were eminently a moral and religious people. Indeed, no person can fairly examine their history without perceiving, that God, in a remarkable manner, owned and blessed their religious institutions. Shall we, then, lightly esteem, nay, shall we count as vile, what God himself has owned and blest? Shall we turn our backs upon institutions, which the great Head of the Church has honoured with his own presence, and rendered subservient to the conversion and sanctification of multitudes, who have gone before us? Shall we not rather strengthen what yet remains of these ancient, venerable, and precious institutions; and do all in our power, to repair the breaches they have sustained? You will not understand me as recommending an institution, merely because it is ancient. I know very well, that the antiquity of an institution, is no certain evidence of its real value and utility. But when an institution has been found by the experience of successive generations, to be highly capable of answering all the important purposes, for which it was established, it certainly is a good reason for continuing to support it. We ought not to exchange such an institution for any other of recent origin, and, at the same time, of very doubtful tendency.

The Congregational churches of New-England have been instrumental in bringing down the richest blessings upon the land. In the bosom of these churches were nurtured that fervent piety, that christian fortitude, that unwavering trust in a superintending Providence, which prepared our fathers for the grand enterprise of converting a savage wilderness into a dwelling-place for enlightened and civilized man. In the bosom of these churches were nurtured that spirit of liberty, and that boldness of character, which fitted them for resisting, at every step, the encroachments of arbitrary power. The Congregational Fathers of New-England laid the foundation of all, that is most valuable in our civil institutions.* To those fathers, *I allude to the civil institutions of the New-England States.

under God, we owe it, that we are now a free people; and so richly provided with the means of becoming wise, and virtuous, and happy. It was their earliest concern, to establish schools, to organize parishes and churches, to build houses of worship, to settle and maintain pastors and teachers, and to do all in their power for the improvement of succeeding generations.

I would not be understood to say, or to believe, that our Fathers were perfect. I know they were tinctured with a portion of the intolerance of their age. But I believe myself entirely justified in saying, they were as worthy a race of men, as existed in their day. Their memories are worthy of being honoured by us; and their institutions, worthy of being maintained. And, I will add, unless they are maintained; unless they are cherished and supported with greater zeal and interest, than seem to be customary at present, especially in this quarter, there is much reason to fear, that the state of society will grow worse and worse; and, at no very distant day, that we shall become a grossly wicked and profligate people. Every father, every mother, every friend to his country, has reason to be anxious for the rising generation.

What, my friends, would have been the feelings of our Fathers, had they supposed, that their children would treat their most valuable institutions with cold indifference? Would they have encountered so many hardships for the sake of transmitting such privileges to a thankless posterity? Would they have offered so many fervent prayers to God for his guidance and blessing, had they imagined, that the more they themselves were prospered, the more guilty would be their children? And what a sad compliment to the memory of those worthy and pious Fathers, is the situation of many a Congregational church and society in New-Hampshire! Say not that I am unreasonably attached to a particular order of christians. I can heartily say, 66 peace be with all those, that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity;" and I can heartily rejoice in the success of true religion, in whatever sect or denomination it may be found. Still I feel authorised to plead for the Congregational churches; because I believe them well calculated in themselves, to promote piety and good morals; entirely consonant to the principles of republican government; and, to say the least, as much as any other existing order, agreeable to scripture. I believe these church

2*