SO general an appearance of affliction was never depicted here before. To stand in this immense concourse of fellow citizens, where every face is marked with sor­row, almost unmans the speaker. Verily there is a great mourning here to-day, like the mourning of Israel when MOSES died, and to improve the occasion let us turn to

IT must be a solemn season, when a great peo­ple lament before the LORD, the death of those, whom his infinite goodness hath made the in­struments of their greatest benefits. On such occasions the mind must be impressed with me sovereignty of GOD, and frailty of man in his best earthly estate; and a tender and respectful [Page 6] remembrance of deceased virtues will open all hearts to a mutual condolence. All blessings are from GOD, who upholds the civil state, girds the civil and military rulers of men, and keeps his church in peace and quietness, thro the in­fluence of his servants who fear his name.

The LORD hath set his king upon his holy hill of Zion, who is the CREATOR, REDEEMER, and JUDGE of men. He is GOD forever on the throne in heaven, and thro the earth, and to fulfil his counsels he works thro instruments pre­pared by himself, and made worthy of acting in his name, and bearing the marks of a divine commission. There have been but few men in the world eminently great, and those have, in general, been on the side of virtue. There have been many tyrants and destroyers, for it requires only small talents to work ruin; but to build up, to bless, to humanize society, to de­fend the oppressed, to vindicate human liberty, and at the same time restrain licentiousness, is an arduous task; where none but good men will be inclined to expose themselves, and which none but great men are able to accomplish.

That we may on this occasion, honor the su­preme Sovereign of the world, and duly esti­mate the public loss sustained, let us,

1. Contemplate the providence of GOD in raising up great and eminent men, and qualify­ing [Page 7] them for the good which they are appointed to do to mankind.

In the formation of such persons, there must be a union of rare and great natural talents, with an eminent love of moral virtue. when­ever GOD hath a great work to do in the world, he forms instruments fitted for the trust to be reposed in them, who are possessed of talents, guided by his providential care, and inspired with a spirit of understanding from himself, whereby they are enabled, whatever difficulties and opposition may occur, to do the things determined for them.

We know that those, who despise a supreme providence, are prone to refer every remarkable thing, either to a certain blind necessity of na­ture which they cannot describe, or to the effects of accidental but uncommon genius; indeed like other foolish men who think themselves to be wise, they have recourse to any means which will hide the being, the holy perfections, and the providence of GOD. Herein infidels show themselves to be at an equal remove from piety, wisdom and truth; and that they are as far from discerning in what the true greatness of a creature consists, as they are from being good and pious.

The rise of eminent and good men is one of the highest displays of a supreme Providence, [Page 8] for they always appear at periods, when there is a work prepared for them to do, for the honor of GOD and the good of the world, and at no other times; so that we may consider their for­mation and introduction to the scenes of action, their good lives and their great actions, eviden­tial of a SUPREME BEING, of the stability of his counsels and the irresistible energy of his government.

Divine wisdom, in the provision of means and instruments, always hath regard to the magni­tude of the work that is to be done by them in the world, under the direction of his providence. To accomplish a great work in the earth he mak­eth his own instruments great, either thro un­common natural endowments, assisted by a se­ries of propitious providences; or by a super­natural aid evidencing their commission and the presence of GOD with them in discharging some important trust, or in both of those ways at the same time. MOSES, the Father, Lawgiver, and Commander of Israel was great, in the fight of Israel his people, and in the fight of Pharaoh and his servants their enemies, both by uncom­mon natural endowments and by supernatural aid. The FATHER of his Country, for whose decease we mourn before the LORD this day, was made great in the fight of his people, and of all their enemies, by his eminent natural endow­ments, which GOD was pleased to aid by a se­ries [Page 9] of propitious providences, for the salvation and good government of his country.

When we see remarkable instruments of prov­idence coming into action, it indicates an inter­esting period in that scheme of divine counsel, which will be forever unfolding; and when such instruments of blessing to mankind are with­drawn by the power which raised them up, it be­comes cause for public mourning and fear; cause for mourning, for every good man will re­gret the departure of virtue from the earth; cause of fear, for we are told that the righteous are taken from the evil to come, and that while they live, GOD will spare an ungrateful people from judgments, for their sakes.

When a MOSES, a CYRUS, and a WASHING­TON were brought on the stage of action, it was to effect changes in the state of mankind, favor­able to religion and civil rights, which could not have been done, in the manner that divine coun­sel chose to execute, under the auspices of com­mon characters, nor even of great men, as great­ness is usually estimated in this imperfect world. These actors in the scenes of the world, were specially raised up, and guided by an infinite GOD, to atchieve things which will ever make them celebrated in the history of mankind and of the church.

[Page 10] Much honor is due to them as instruments of Almighty goodness. Let their virtues—their love and friendship to human nature—their justice—their firmness in holding the sword of the LORD—and their political eminence as rulers and lawgiv­ers; let these be admired and remain perpetual ex­amples to such as wish to be on GOD's side; but let the glory of fashioning them from the womb, of girding them to lead his armies, of inspiring them to give laws to nations or creating new commonwealths, and of enabling them to die great as they had lived; let the glory of these things be given to GOD.

It can be no glory to a man, either living or departed, to say that the great things he hath done for his country, either by his sword or sceptre, were done without a divine aid; for all considerate persons would know it to be a false eulogy. Even infidels, in the midst of their vain pretensions, know there is a divine provi­dence; and in the profane words they utter on this subject, they speak the wishes of their hearts▪ and not the dictates of their consciences and of their better understandings. Such men are like actors in a farce, saying that which they know to be untrue, and it is a false complaisance to sup­pose they may be honest; for it is very evident they dare not trust their own honesty, when dan­ger and death approach them.

[Page 11] The highest honor which we can give to mor­tals, is to say, that the infinite Author of life, power and wisdom, made them greater and more virtuous than other men, inspired them with talents above their brethren, and filled them with a rare understanding, to do things for the glory of GOD and the good of mankind, which were not permitted to others.—Many have made a conspicuous figure for a short season and within national limits, who were neither great nor good; but death is written on the glory of such, by the pen of future historians, nor is it their privilege to live in the affections of mankind, or to be held up as examples for forming the morals of the world. Their praise rested in adventitious circumstances found in the corruption of courts, and an era of false opinions, and was never spoken by plain and good men, who were not poisoned by sensuality and the expectations of un­principled ambition; but the merits of great and good men, are seen by persons of every descrip­tion. The peasant descries them as soon as the man of letters.—They are more admired by the virtuous yeomanry of a country, than by the gay circle who bow and flatter to make them­selves noticed.

Such instruments of GOD's goodness to men, have a divine impression on their character, seen by all virtuous people—all look to them as [Page 12] being, under GOD, fathers, defenders in war, and rulers in peace. Such was MOSES to the Hebrews, and such was WASHINGTON to us. If any expect me this day to draw his character with precision, let me beg such to recollect that they are expecting an impossibility, and that it is as much beyond me to do this as it is to be such a man as he was. All will allow, that he was formed by the providence of GOD, to walk in a path where other men cannot guide their steps, and to be an eminent agent in the formation of a new empire, which is to be conspicuous in the future history of mankind; but what it is to be such an instrument of the infinite Ruler, what divine energies meet in originally forming and providentially guiding, and how those energies were consciously felt and exerted by the recipi­ent, certainly is not for me to tell and for but few of mankind to conceive.

MOSES was formed to rescue the ancient and eastern Israel from bondage, and after they were rescued to form their civil, military and reli­gious state, and be an instrument of delivering the moral law to mankind in a new manner; and he was, in every respect, perfected for the office to which heaven designed him.

WASHINGTON was formed to rescue from bon­dage the modern and western Israel of the LORD, and after they were saved from foreign enemies [Page 13] by his sword, to save them, a second time, from destruction by themselves; from the miseries of anarchy; and to bring them into a state of government, whereby they might be pre­served from devouring one another, and be­ing devoured by the whole earth. These were great objects in the divine government, and worthy of that display of his sufficiency, which was made in the provision of instruments. The glory of furnishing protectors must belong to GOD, and if the people who have been saved are pious, they will praise him for the means of executing his most gracious counsel. The formation of great characters, for the good of mankind, is really an exhibition of GOD's providential efficiency, and is observed by the pious as a display of himself, thro the instrumen­tality of means made for his own glory. Their progress and their works thro life are the unfold­ing of his gracious counsels, and their exit from time is to be marked as a temporary withdrawment of the remarkable energies of divine providence, in favor of those who have been his care. For this reason, the whole congregation of Israel mourn­ed thirty days when MOSES died; and for the same reason the American Israel mourn when WASHINGTON dies.

We are not to think, that the LORD can give counsel and preserve, only by those who have been great instruments of salvation; nor are we [Page 14] to distrust a future divine care; or to suppose that he will not raise up instruments according to the day and exigencies in which they have to act; but still the withdrawment of so great a benefactor, under existing circumstances, is to be devoutly and penitentially noticed as a divine frown; especially when we consider the evidence that he was remarkably formed to be the father and deliverer of his country. None who have considered the American revolution with its sub­sequent events and the state of our country, can deny this; nor can they doubt the evidence of a most wonderful interposition of heaven, in the formation and continuance of one so fitted to sup­ply our great national wants.

2. There are two kinds of evidence by which great and good men are clearly commissioned from on high, to act a conspicuous part, under GOD, in his government of the world. The first is, supernatural works which evidence them to be immediate organs of divine power and truth speaking to men. The second, is uncom­mon natural talents and moral integrity, accom­panied with fit opportunities for their exertion. In the case of MOSES, both these evidences were united to answer particular purposes in the divine government of the world, at that period of time.

His natural abilities and moral attainments were great, and continued to the end of his life; [Page 15] for when he died an old man, his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. He was skill­ed in the learning of the world, and especially in the wisdom of that people, whom he was de­signed by the power of GOD to overcome. By a special providence, he was brought into a state of power and riches, and reputedly the son of Pharaoh's daughter, that having had an experi­mental taste of worldly wealth and pleasure, and found its vanity compared with the delights of moral and pious integrity, he might not be brib­ed from his duty by any worldly overture, when he came to a state of confidential trust.

Whoever reads his history as a lawgiver and military leader, considering the condition of the world in those ages when he acted, must be con­vinced that he was a great and good man, even apart from those supernatural aids, which he re­ceived to evidence his appointment and authority from heaven, and that he had that uncommon genius and self-command which all can see and admire, but only a rare few can imitate in the science and practice of legislation and govern­ment.

Also, he was a good man, fearing the provi­dence and adoring the holiness of the GOD of Israel. If he had not been possessed of religious rectitude; neither great natural talents, nor ac­quired attainments, nor supernatural aid could [Page 16] have given him so venerable an appearance in the eyes of his people, and sanctified their judg­ment in the opinion of all posterity. At the head of the LORD's Israel he was a meek man, and humble in the midst of greatness. He es­teemed himself one among many brethren and citizens, and relying on a divine providence to lead him and the people to whom his life was consecrated, he was never forsaken, but witness­ed a gracious presence thro his whole adminis­tration.

To the evidence that he was divinely commis­sioned, which arose from great natural talents and uncommon piety, we may add the supernat­ural works he was enabled to perform, and the revelations which were made to him. To learn the reason, why these additional and great evi­dences of the divine presence were given to MO­SES, we must consider the extent of his commis­sion. The flood had once cleansed the world of idolatry, but at the time of this great prophet, the nations in their new dispersion had forgotten the LORD, and the worship of idols had become almost universal. The people of Israel, who were descendents of Abraham, were designed to be depositaries of a written law of religion, and the works of providence, which regarded them and their enemies, were intended to show that their LORD JEHOVAH, was the GOD of the whole earth.

[Page 17] These intentions of heaven were foretold to their fathers, and to accomplish the divine prom­ise it was necessary a character like MOSES should be raised up, who, being mighty in word and deed, should confound the idolizing nations, so that the world might look upon him and see that his LORD was the true GOD. Also, that no other ruler of men had been like unto him, in all the signs and wonders which he was sent to do, and in all that mighty hand and all that terror which he shewed in the fight of Israel and their enemies. This was the reason for a supernatural evidence of his divine commission being added to those rare talents and piety, which he possessed in com­mon with other great and good men, who were made by GOD, in their respective times, to honor his name and bless mankind.

3. At other times GOD hath raised up his eminent servants and sent them abroad into the world, without this supernatural evidence of their commission from him; and indeed this hath been his usual manner in providential govern­ment. But in all such cases, there hath been to the considerate observer, sufficient notices of GOD's special providence, in forming his instru­ments and guiding and making them successful in his hand, to execute the counsels of his will. The production of rare talents at a time when they are needed to execute the benevolent purposes of [Page 18] Providence, and preparing the way for their ex­ertion, is a sufficient evidence that GOD is with the actor. In this part of my discourse I shall pass over many instances of the truth of this doctrine—many eventful epochs in the history of the world and the church—many great charac­ters in the cabinet, in the temple of the LORD and in the field, who were raised by the almighty providence of GOD, at fit times to execute his pre-determined counsels for the benefit of men; and I shall come down to our own times and the occasion which hath gathered us before the LORD, the death of General WASHINGTON. Among modern characters there hath been none to whom the words of our text would more per­tinently apply. He was very great, both in the sight of his own people, and in the sight of all their enemies; nor at the time of his death, was his eye dim, nor his natural force abated. As thro his life, so at the time of his death, circum­stances seem to have been specially ordered by di­vine providence to hide human weakness, and make him an extraordinary example to men, in fortitude and in all the moral virtues. The com­mon age of man had not in him, impaired a great understanding, nor any of those energies which decide in the cabinet or execute in the field.

THIS GREAT MAN WAS AN AMERICAN BY BIRTH, and the country raised by his sword into [Page 19] independence, and which he afterwards govern­ed as supreme magistrate, gave him the political and moral sentiments, which made him illustri­ous in scenes of action. He early commenced the life of a soldier, and while a young officer, Monongahela witnessed, and Britons owned the talents of the young American, in saving from slaughter the remains of an army sufficiently humbled by savage fury and policy. Even, at that time, the talents of the youth caused a pre­diction that he would be the saviour of his coun­try, but little was it conjectured how the pre­diction would be fulfilled. ^*

It certainly cannot be expected of me, on this occasion, particularly to recite the events which have made him beloved by his country, and owned as their preserver, under the providence of GOD, who girded him for the field, and filled him with the spirit of understanding in all na­tional concerns. To make such a recital requires all the volumes, which have been, and the more [Page 20] numerous ones which will be written on this great subject.—It must suffice for me to say, that General WASHINGTON was the point of strength around whom the political fathers and the mili­tary defenders of this country have rallied, and where they reposed their earthly confidence, from the moment a revolution was contemplated, as the only possible means of avoiding foreign oppression, down to the present time. In a peri­od of almost thirty years, we have seen many changes, many dangers from within and without, from foreign artifice and internal folly and caprice; and during the whole of this term, WASHINGTON has been the name, which would raise a martial spirit and point its energies by the waving of his sword; or sooth the multitude to peace, quiet­etness and subordination, as his voice and pen advised.—These influential energies of the man, were not confined to the uninformed multitude only; for they had as much impression on delib­erating senates, as on armed squadrons;—he was as much the angel of peace as of war;—as much respected, as deeply reverenced in the po­litical cabinet for a luminous coolness of disposi­tion, whereby party jealousy became enlighten­ed and ashamed of itself, as he was for a cool­ness of command, in the dreadful moment, when empires hung suspended on the fate of bat­tle.—His opinions became the opinions of the public body, and every man was pleased with himself when he found he thought like WASH­INGTON.

[Page 21] Our revolutionary war began suddenly, when the country was wholly unorganized in every department, that was necessary to maintain and enjoy an independent state among the nations. There was passion enough, among all orders of men; but passion can endure only for a mo­ment, and there is no safety in its dictates.

It was General WASHINGTON who came cool­ly to the scene of action, under a mighty impres­sion of the greatness of the labor to which he had permitted himself to be proclaimed, and for which, thro the assistance of GOD, he was found able both in word and in deed. He ordained system—induced regularity—was found capable of reducing a half-armed multitude to military bravery and obedience, and for a long time had apparently to create the means, from day to day, by which he defended his country.

It since appears, that while doing this in camp, his pen was the organ of wisdom and of a per­severing firmness to the councils of the union and of the several states; and that the great men, who shone like stars of the first magni­tude, in the several parts of the American hem­isphere where GOD had placed them, shone brighter for their communication with him.—His name soon became reverenced by our enemies, and wherever they heard of him, they joined the apprehension of a senate and host. His name and the fear of him, and of [Page 22] a few tried men and soldiers, who were the heads of military departments and in the line of ac­tual service, often shielded the country against mighty hosts, and finally saved the common­wealth and made it independent.

The fame even of historians will be eternized, in relating how he with the band of his brother officers, and a patient, persevering, gallant army under them, vindicated the foundation of A­merican empire, and then retired into the class of peaceful citizens, to eat the hard-earned, and in many instances, scanty bread of repose.

General WASHINGTON was formed and pla­ced, in every respect, by the hand of Providence to perform the duty determined for him by infi­nite wisdom. He was skilled, by an early edu­cation, in human science. He expressed on all fit occasions, a reverence of GOD, and his gov­erning providence in all the events of individual life and of empire, and resorted to the throne of grace and called on those around him to do the same when danger threatened, or when suc­cess claimed his praise. He had a luminous un­derstanding—a mind above the ruffle of passion—was as far from the gasconade of mock hero­ism as he was from a servile fear of men and dan­ger. Nothing was too small to call his attention, if it regarded the public good; at the same time he was naturally formed to look on great objects, [Page 23] and survey in one comprehensive view, an em­pire in all its civil and military interests.—He seemed intuitively to look thro men, and know the extent of their capacities to understand, and their abilities for exertion, and from this it came that the heads of departments thro his advice, were filled in general with such extraordinary in­tegrity and talents for exertion; and this was one circumstance which essentially conduced to American triumph.—If the created honors, which are given by crowns and royal nations could have bribed him, many a time he would have been stolen from us; but he esteemed it the greatest honor, to be the defence of a free peo­ple. American freedom, and independence were written on his heart, and he importunately breath­ed out a desire for them in all his devotions to heaven. Under the auspices of this great war­rior, who was formed by the providence of GOD to defend his country, the war was ended, and America ranked among the nations. He who might have been a monarch, retired to his own Vernon, unclothed of all authority, to enjoy the bliss of being a free private citizen. This was a strange sight, and gave a new triumph to human virtue—a triumph that hath never been exceeded in the history of the world, except it was by his second recess, which was from the presidency of the United States.

After the revolutionary war was ended, ex­perience soon taught that freedom cannot sub­sist [Page 24] without government. Anarchy became more dangerous than Britain with all her hosts had been before, and we were near despair. The impressive feelings of danger, again led the peo­ple to ask the aid of General WASHINGTON, and he greatly assisted in forming a constitution which we hope will be perpetual. By the voice of the people, he became once and again the President of the union, and continued thus un­til, in his opinion, the complete organization of the civil state, permitted him to retire a second time into private life, giving in all respects a new example to men and the world, that a virtu­ous mind finds its highest delights, in the enjoy­ments of solitude and in beholding others happy.

A third time danger menaced his country—a third time his country called—he heard his fel­low-citizens and his children and took his sword, and bid them trust in GOD, and keep his laws, and the ordinances of a good government and they should be safe. When lo! the experiment became too great for humanity to exhibit any longer, and he who rules the universe, and hath great men and nations in his hand hath removed him by death.

Do not all our civil rulers say, Know ye not that a great man and a prince hath died in Israel to day.—Do not all the pious look after him heavenward, and say, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. [Page 25] —Ye rulers of the civil state, ye defenders of the land, know ye, that it will be no evidence against the firmness of your minds to weep this day. Ye young defenders of your country; ye virgins the offspring of those who fought the American battles, weep with your parents.

Concerning the final exit of our great and de­parted friend, private information thus says, That he died with one days illness, ‘that his great and good mind, remained unhurt and unclouded thro the closing scene, that he ex­pressed his sense of its near approach, and said it had no terrors for him.’ Thus may all who have served under him, and all the peo­ple of the LORD die.

I have only a word more to say to you my brethren, by way of improvement.

1st. Let us praise and adore the providence of GOD, for raising up such an instrument to save this country from oppression. It was the work of GOD's most gracious providence, and marvellous in our eyes; let us now with reverence adore the sovereignty, which hath withdrawn the gift. Let us remember to adore that Providence which our departed FATHER adored, and taught us to trust. Let us keep far away from those princi­ples of infidelity and atheism which he abhored, and which in the present aera of nations, is both the cause and the means, whereby a holy GOD is punishing an ungrateful world.

[Page 26] 2ndly. Let us seek that public spirit in our feel­ings and practice, which guided him, so hon­orably thro life and brought him to so peaceful an end. You my hearers, are the most of you private men, but if you fear GOD; if you honor his government, and keep his precepts; if you love the state and continue to maintain a right­eous government, you may die unclouded, and say death has no terrors for you.

3dly. Under this bereaving event, there are but two grounds of consolation remain for us; the LORD who hath been our GOD, and the de­fender of our country is still on the throne; and he hath prepared an ADAMS to succeed our WASHINGTON; for we already see the spirit of ELIJAH resting on ELISHA.

4thly. Let us ever remember the political opin­ions of our deceased father. He was an Ameri­can both in principle and feeling, as well as by birth. While he loved all men, and respected the rights of all nations, his most ardent affec­tion was for the household of his country. And as his enlightened life drew towards a close, he had a most deep sense, that the people whom he had saved by his sword, could be preserved in fu­ture prosperity, only by a firm adherence to the principles of their own government, and the re­ligion of their fathers.

May the LORD be with the American states to preserve them. AMEN.