FROM the beginning, the world has been favored in every age, with one or more eminent characters, who have diſtinguiſhed themſelves, in a very remarkable manner, by their virtues, in promoting the public good.—The Great Governor of the Univerſe, when about to confer any ſpecial favor upon any particular nation or people, has permitted them to be brought into ſtraits and difficulties, that in raiſing up and inſpiring ſome highly favored character among them, with wiſdom and courage to ſuperintend the affairs of the body politick, they might be convinced they owed their deliverance to HIM, who ſitteth upon the flood and rudeth King forever. In this chapter we have the dying teſtimony of Stephen, relative to the deliverance of Iſrael, after four hundred years bondage, by Moſes, one of their own nation, whom the Lord had choſen as their leader, whoſe life was preſerved amidſt innumerable dangers, and who, under the direction of Providence, was brought up in the court of Egypt and was learned in all the wiſdom of the Egyptians, who were then famed for all manner of polite literature, particularly philoſophy, aſtronomy and hieroglyphics. Moſes receiving his education at court, had opportunities of improving himſelf by the beſt of authors, the beſt of tutors and the beſt of converſation in all the arts and ſciences and had a genius for them; by this means, he detected and confuted the aſtrologers and magicians of Egypt and the way was paved for his entering upon the difficult and arduous taſk of delivering his own nation from their long captivity and bondage.—Being advanced to the office of prime miniſter of ſtate, the favorite of heaven and the friend of the friendleſs Jews then under the hand of the oppreſſor, he was rendered conſpicuous by his courage, conduct and ſucceſs, and being prepared by human helps and divine emulation, he became mighty in words and in deeds. After the miracles he wrought and the deliverances he procured for Iſrael, as an honeſt and faithful ſervant of God, He aſcribed all the glory to Him in whoſe cauſe he embarked and by whoſe power he had been ſuſtained. Upon all occaſions, he conſulted the Lord and proved by his exemplary conduct that he feared and ſerved the God of Iſrael.

BEING called together by the Executive and Legiſlative authority to celebrate the auſpicious birth of the illuſtrious GEORGE WASHINGTON, who was born February 22d, 1732, whoſe name alone ſtrikes earthly titles dead, and to mourn his death, which took place December 14th, 1799, while authority commands and duty ſupports that authority, gratitude and affection, which are the moſt powerful conſtraints, lay us under the moſt pleaſing, yet painful neceſſity of complying with the wiſhes of our rulers and of uniting with millions of our fellow-citizens in paying a ſmall tribute to the memory and ſublime virtues of our deceaſed and beloved deliverer, guardian and father, and which humble tribute will no doubt be annually paid, while the page of hiſtory continues to hand down to poſterity the peculiar Exploits and ſingular Virtues of one of the greateſt of Men that ever inhabited this lower world. Like Moſes, he was ſingularly eminent in the following reſpects: Firſt, In wiſdom—Secondly, In words—Thirdly, In deeds.

FIRST, Eminent in wiſdom. Though Moſes was learned in all the wiſdom of the Egyptians, yet the firſt and greateſt mark of his wiſdom appeared in his regard to the divine authority, in chooſing GOD for his portion, embracing the promiſe of Chriſt expreſſed in Judah's bleſſing, Gen. xlix. 10, "The ſceptre ſhall not depart from Judah, nor a law giver from between his feet, until SHILOH come: and unto him ſhall the gathering of the people be." Thus proving like a wiſe man, that the concerns of the Soul were of infinitely greater importance than thoſe of a temporal nature; he regulated his conduct accordingly, as one made wiſe unto ſalvation. So our illuſtrious Father deceaſed, was a partaker of that wiſdom which is from above which is "Pure, peaceable, gentle, eaſy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocriſy," therefore a man of prayer, a man of faith and a Man of God—He evidenced his religion by the ſtrictneſs of his morals, the integrity of his heart and his love to his country. No • influenced by corrupt principles or ſelfiſh motives, the happineſs of mankind lay near his heart, and his affection and zeal burſt forth in liberating this extenſive empire from the galling yoke of European tyranny. Long had oppreſſion reigned and deluged this land with human blood. The mournful cries of widows, orphans and diſmembered families had long been heard; yet not heard in vain. May we not adopt the language of a celebrated writer?

England once free, the glory of the earth; now loaded with crimes, uſurping the right of univerſal empire, has ſtained her hands with human gore, and become the land of deſpotiſm—her rulers the moſt cruel of oppreſſors— The laws are hateful—inhumanly ſevere— For ev'ry trifle, blood. For ſheep, or oxen, Blood muſt flow. For a few paltry guineas—Blood. Thro' all the penal page, 'tis nought but blood.

Millions have lately fallen, as unpitied victims at ambition's ſhrine— Dr. PORTEUS, Biſhop of London. One murder made a villain, Millions a hero—Princes were privileged To kill, and numbers ſanctified the crime. Ah! why will Kings forget that they are men? And men that they are brethren? why delight In human ſacrifice? why burſt the ties Of nature, that ſhould knit their ſouls together In one ſoft bond of amity and love? Yet ſtill they breathe deſtruction, ſtill go on Inhumanly ingenious to find out New pains for life, new terrors for the grave. Artificers of death! ſtill monarchs dream Of univerſal empire growing up From univerſal ruin.—Blaſt the deſign, GREAT GOD of hoſts nor let thy creatures fall Unpitied victims at AMBITION's ſhrine.

To reſcue mankind from theſe dreadful woes, was the labor and toil of the late illuſtrious character. For this he was raiſed up and qualified—for this he fought—for this he prayed, and in the poſſeſſion of this he rejoiced. In the victories he obtained, and in the nation's quiet enjoyment of theſe invaluable bleſſings, he ſheathed his ſword, retired to his ſhade and glorified his God.

SECONDLY, Eminent, or mighty in words. Few they were but weighty; as well choſen, as the ſubjects which called for them were important. The gentleman, the ſcholar, the ſtateſman, the warrior and the chriſtian ſhine forth in his letters of correſpondence, on all public lie as well as private occaſions, while his diction in his farewell addreſs and laſt legacy to his dear countrymen and fellow-citizens, diſcovers his genius and eloquence. His word was a law—not enforced by arbitrary authority, but by reaſon and argument, and as cheerfully was he obeyed as he humbly commanded. His words were fitly ſpoken, therefore, like apples of gold in pictures of ſilver.

THIRDLY. Eminent, or mighty in deeds. Read the hiſtory of the revolution—Contemplate the bleſſings enjoyed as the fruit of his labors, and with me you will join in aſcribing the glory to God, as the author, while acknowledging the merit and praiſe due to his wiſdom, courage and prudence, as the inſtrument. Eulogium upon eulogium and oration upon oration has been delivered and circulated through the union to make the impreſſion of his virtues upon our minds more plain and clear, and to emulate our youth with becoming ardour to imitate his bright example, that generations yet to come may ſee and be aſtoniſhed at the great things the Lord has done for this highly favored nation, through the indefatigable labors of this great man. Theſe American ſhores are now become the grand aſſylum for the oppreſſed of every nation, and here may be found the footſteps of an indulgent providence, while drops of mercy are in many parts falling to cheer us with the delightful proſpect of the wilderneſs being turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field into the garden of the Lord.

I ſhould encroach upon the office of the hiſtorian and do injuſtice to the character of the American Hero, were I to attempt to unfold his plans, to deſcribe his exploits, his battles, his victories and the fruits of all, in the vaſt variety of bleſſed conſequences which follow. While we admire the man, let us admire that wiſdom which directed his mind and conduct—that power which ſhielded him from every danger and that goodneſs which rendered him ſucceſsful in promoting and eſtabliſhing the liberty, independence and proſperity of his country; and let us bow with cheerful ſubmiſſion to the will of God in his removal from us, fully perſuaded that the God of America is at no loſs to raiſe up an Eliſha to catch the falling mantle of our deceaſed Elijah. Amidſt all theſe prominent marks of wiſdom and true excellency, Waſhington was but a man, a moral man and a ſinner, who needed the blood of the covenant to atone for his guilt, the Chriſt to illuminate and renew his ſoul, as well as every other branch of the earthly family. Could he now be an eye witneſs of our devotion, and were it in his power to addreſs us, inſtead of ſoliciting our homage and adoration, he would check that promptitude for creature worſhip▪ and with the angel ſay "See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow-ſervant, worſhip God." He would direct our attention to one infinitely more deſerving our adoration, than even the moſt uſeful and celebrated mortal, even to CHRIST JESUS, and to the character of this glorious perſon I now call your attention, who was before Abraham and who is a greater than Solomon, even God's fellow, and in whom dwells all the fulneſs of the Godhead bodily—Who is both white and •• ddy, the chief among ten thouſand and altogether lovely—whoſe head is as the moſt fine gold, and whoſe locks are buſhy and black as a raven—who came from heaven upon the kind errand of peace, who fought our battles, gained our victories and invites us to gather up the ſpoils—Our ſituation, as ſinners, was deplorable in the extreme, hopeleſs and helpleſs as to any aſſiſtance we could afford or had any reaſon to expect, left like the new born infant in the open field to periſh without any eye to pity or hand to ſave. An all-ſufficient Redeemer was provided— What ſhall his name be called? IMMANUEL, "God with us." God in our nature, God on our ſide: He ſtooped from heaven to earth, he ſuffered the juſt for the unjuſt, fulfilled all righteouſneſs, magnified the law, died to atone our guilt, aſcended on high as the mighty conqueror, and now lives, ever lives to make interceſſion even for tranſgreſſors. Thus he fought our battles, vanquiſhed our foes, obtained a complete victory over ſin, death and hell; received the approbation of his Father in theſe words of inſpiration, "This is my beloved ſon, in whom I am well pleaſed," and opened the gates of life and ſalvation, with the moſt preſſing invitation, and ſure promiſe of acceptance, on our laying down the weapons of hoſtility, falling at the footſtool of mercy and pleading the promiſe of his grace.

HE was endued with wiſdom. "In him were hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge;" for "In him dwelt all the fulneſs of the Godhead," that "out of his fulneſs we might receive grace for grace."

HE was mighty in words—O what gracious words dropt from his lips! well might one ſay "His lips are like lilies dropping ſweet ſmelling myrrh." The goſpel of ſalvation in all its variety, beauty and ſweetneſs is as "Good news from a far country."

HERE are warnings, reproofs, invitations and promiſes▪ Words of peace to his friends, but terror to his foes. In ſome inſtances they have been words conveying light and giving life; comforting, healing, ſupporting and eſtabliſhing. In others, they have been the ſavor of death unto death. "If our goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt." While theſe words ſpeak comfort to the mourner, they ſpeak terror to the impenitent ſinner.—Mighty in words by making uſe of the weakeſt of inſtruments to accompliſh his great and glorious purpoſes, that the excellency of the power might be known to be of God and not of man. Mighty in deeds as well as in words. What has he not done to ſatisfy the demands of juſtice and make honorable the law which we have broken?—What has he not done to make known his word of truth, in ſpite of all the oppoſition of earth and hell? What has he not done in order to bring home with almighty power and efficacy the word of ſalvation to the hearts of his people, and in guiding, guarding and comforting them, and enabling them to perſevere, that they might receive the end of their faith, even the ſalvation of their ſouls, and in crowning all their efforts with glory, honor, immortality and eternal life.—While therefore, ſome make the fruitleſs attempt, to deify the celebrated WASHINGTON, in whom was united ſuch an aſſemblage of natural, moral and divine excellencies, the greateſt ornaments of human nature, that in his countenance was portrayed the greatneſs of his ſoul and the dignity of his character, ſo that vice before Him ſtood abaſhed, and conſcious guilt appal'd, ſhrunk back, while others have, in vain, attempted to make him an advocate above, exalting him to the ſkies upon the foundation of his virtues, thereby tarniſhing his character as a Chriſtian, diſhonoring their maker, and eclipſing the glory of the Saviour of mankind—While others, again, conſidered his military, literary and perſonal accompliſhments, as the price of his future rewards, they fully his reputation, and little think, he ſpake, he wrote, he fought and conquered for the intereſt of others, and with an eye to a ſtate of futurity—Vain, deluded mortals! The Chriſtian Hero is degraded by ſuch romance. The nation is inſulted, while religion diſowns the foundation on which ſuch principles are built. Let us bow with reverence before the great Arbiter of the univerſe, and celebrate the birth, mourn the death and rejoice in the proſpect of uniting with our beloved WASHINGTON in aſcriptions of praiſe to HIM who hath conferred ſuch ineſtimable favours on this happy land.

LET us not attempt to bring down the curſe of Heaven by turning from the worſhip of the Creator, to that of the creature.—Ever may we improve the bleſſings we enjoy, by acknowledging the hand which beſtowed them with thankfulneſs and humility, expreſſed by the cheerful obedience of our lives to his will. As fallen ſinners in bondage to ſin and Satan, cry to this deliverer, enliſt under his banner, truſt to his wiſdom and ſoon the battle will be over, the victory gained and ſalvation aſcribed to him to whom alone it is due.