that we occupy houses which they built, and travel roads which they assisted to render smooth. The sweat of their brow adds to our daily comforts, and the labor of their hands contributes to our subsistence. They commenced works, which we only extend, improve or complete. While the prominent features of our country, its capes and islands, its mountains, lakes and rivers, are those which the Creator's hand impressed upon it, the hand of man has done much to hew away the forests, to gather out the stones and enrich the soil. Nor should we fail to acknowledge a kind Providence in fixing our location at a distance from any hostile, rapacious or powerful nation. Oceans, gulfs and mountains mark our boundary.

Our republican form of government, and the impartial administration of an equitable system of laws, make one portion in the legacy bequeathed from our fathers. To their wisdom and patriotism is it to be ascribed, that our government is not an hereditary monarchy or an aristocracy, and that our land is not subject to continual disorder and misrule. An elective Republic places all power in the body of the people, who intrust the exercise of it to men of fidelity and discretion for the common good. Every office is open to any individual at the election of the majority of his fellow citizens. Trial by jury is an important feature in this system. Prejudice or bribery or injustice is guarded against as effectually as possible. Personal liberty, safety and the enjoyment of the fruits of our labors are secured. Taxation is contemplated no further than it is indispensable to provide for the poor, to sustain schools, and to defray the inevitable expenses of the government established and chosen by the people. Under a system of laws, so mild, so equal and so salutary, a people may well be content, grateful and prosperous.

Free schools, which bring the elements of a good education within the reach of all the children, is another portion of our fair inheritance. This system is simple in its structure, but uniform, universal and efficient in its operation. Its parallel is hardly to be found in the legislation of the world. The outline of it needs no amendment, but the practical application is doubtless capable of many improvements. It is to the common school that the body of the people owe their intelligence, taste for reading, and talent for business. No one can estimate the power of this simple machinery. It was early instituted, and it appears to be destined. to move forward with increasing efficiency. In connection with the schools, there are many other facilities for acquiring knowledge, as the circulating library, the periodical press, the popular lecture, and the great multiplication of books, scientific, instructive and religious.

The church of Christ, with its ordinances, is another portion

of our inheritance. The fathers established churches with their first settlement on these shores. They took their households to the place of worship on each returning Sabbath. They provided for the support of an able, devout and intelligent ministry. They expected that the priest's lips would teach knowledge. They waited at the gates of wisdom with reverence and prayerfulness. The word of God was read and expounded, hymns of praise were sung, prayers offered, and the sacraments administered. These services were renewed every Sabbath, and from year to year. No one, in the present state of being, can tell how salutary and how widely extensive and how deeply operative, is this system of divine ordinances. The conscience becomes enlightened, the understanding enlarged, the heart subdued, and the passions restrained. Saints are confirmed and sinners are converted. Thousands of minds are strongly affected from Sabbath to Sabbath. These means of knowledge and salvation, divinely ordained and approved, do much to mould and stamp the character of a people. And to the pure and salutary influence of this divine system were we subjected in our early years. Much of our talent and moral virtue may be traced to this source. Nor should we think this item overrated, if we could look into the actual condition of pagan lands. Truth is pure, but error is contaminating: idolatry renders base and abject, but Christianity elevates.

In this connection, the Bible is entitled to a distinct notice, as a part of our inheritance. How many parents, who could do little more, have given it to their children, as they assembled around the dying bed, or as they went forth into the world from under parental care! Like Timothy, we have from our childhood been taught to read "the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." This volume contains the law of God, as revealed to men. It opens the invisible world. Philosophers, statesmen and kings, have made it the subject of profound research. It is a prudent counsellor, a safe guide. Who, that knows its value, would resign his Bible? It guides the believer in the pilgrimage of life, and comforts him in the prospect of death.

The example of our fathers is another portion of our inheritance. "Being dead, they yet speak." Why did they live such a life? Why did they cross the ocean, and enter this wilderness? Why did they sacrifice the conveniences of home, take leave of dear friends, and often renounce worldly possessions? Why did they endure privation, danger, and hardship? Why did they found schools and institute churches, and defend their civil and religious rights? Let us analyze their principles and motives of action. We shall find that their example of self-denial, philanthropy, patriotism, and courage, is highly instructive. And on the princi

ple of assimilation, if we look at it with steady and admiring gaze, we shall gradually imbibe the same spirit, and be disposed to pursue the same course. The example of those whom we love and venerate, is contagious; and if we cultivate a due respect to our ancestors, it will be easy to acquire some resemblance to their image.

To these, we may add their prayers for their children to many generations. At an early period, prayer to God, morning and evening, was nearly universal in every family. Those who neglected it, had little reputation for intelligence or character. This service is a bond of union, a means of order, a source of knowledge it conduces to domestic harmony, strengthens mutual attachment, and renders parental government easy. To bow together before God, to read his laws, to implore his mercy, with a frequent meditation on the event of death and the retributions of eternity, cannot fail to give to this service a restraining and subduing power. Besides this daily prayer in the family with and for their children, they often assembled for mutual exhortation and counsel. They occasionally observed whole days with fasting and special prayer for the revival of piety among the young. They believed that God had established a covenant with his true people, and made rich promises to their posterity, if obedient and faithful. They professed to enter into solemn covenant with God, to dedicate their children in the ordinance of baptism to his service, engaging to instruct and govern them in his fear, and pleading his promises of grace and mercy towards them. In the baptism of every child, parental sympathy was enlisted, and covenant obligations renewed. And if we believe that God hears and remembers the prayers of his people, how rich a portion is this in our inheritance. Thousands of prayers may stand on record against our names. Who, that is not an infidel or an apostate, will not value such a birth-right above any earthly treasure?

A good land, a republican government and free institutions,— the school, the Bible, the ministry and the church,—a pure example, wise instructions and devout prayers,-baptismal consecration and covenant-relationship,-are portions of our inheritance. A miracle alone can dissolve the connection between parents and their children, by which without our virtue or voluntary agency these benefits are entailed upon us. "Whose are the fathers."

III. Why is such an ancestry entitled to our remembrance? Filial affection imposes the duty: They are worthy: A remembrance of them will be useful to ourselves and to our successors, and be honorable to God.

Filial affection imposes the duty. They labored and suffered

for us. They submitted to poverty and seclusion from love to their children. They endured a voluntary exile from their country and kindred, that we might enjoy freedom of conscience, and a rational mode of worship. They fought battles to defend our rights, and interposed their own persons between the rod of oppression and their posterity. If they had been less wise, or less patient in suffering, or less bold in danger, or less willing to exercise self denial, our state had been widely different. Filial impiety alone can wish to forget their services.

They are worthy. They possessed much intrinsic excellence of character. They exhibited noble traits. No base sensuality, no narrow selfishness, no mutual oppression, no self-indulgent delicacy, no false views of honor and shame, are evinced in their history. They displayed a large share of benevolence toward each other, and much practical wisdom in their plans for the good of a distant posterity.

A remembrance of them will be useful to ourselves. Good example is always salutary. We may safely adopt their moral principles and habits. Can we fail to consult the welfare of our children, when the fathers did so much for us? Can we consent to political division, when they did so much to cement us together in the strictest bonds? Can we indulge in luxury and pride, or degenerate into ignorance and barbarism, when we have such a model before us? With our superior means and facilities for benevolent action, what might we not accomplish, if we exercised their self-denial and expansive philanthropy?

We

We are under obligation to our children to perpetuate the memory of the Fathers. We are a connecting link in the chain. They are entitled to the legacy which was bequeathed to us. could do something to impair the just reputation of the Fathers, to blot out the memory of their courage and trust in God, and to lessen the influence of their example. Would not this be injustice to our children ?

Besides, it is honorable to God to perpetuate their memory. They were his servants, and he employed them in a momentous enterprise. If the founding of this Republic was not a matter of prophecy, it will doubtless be commemorated in all future history. At a distance of two hundred years from the time of the event, we are competent in some measure to estimate its importance. When we see thousands of churches established in this land and hundreds of thousands of spiritual converts gathered into the visible kingdom of Christ, and a Christian nation of fifteen millions within our borders,-and when we glance forward to a population dense as the Chinese, and abroad on a territory extensive as the Russian,-no one can say that this Republic is not to have a prominent position in the future history of the world, and that the

eye of Infinite Benevolence did not note down the event of its establishment. What joy has been diffused among the angels above, and how has the song been repeated below, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men!" The spirit of civil liberty is kindled up in Europe, and the Gospel of mercy begins to be published from this land in the isles of the sea and on distant shores.

IV. It is my wish to give some historical sketch of this church from the time of its establishment.

This church is, and has ever claimed to be, in regular succession, the First Church in Dedham; and in testimony of it we have this day renewed our covenant in the same form of words, which was adopted at the organization of this church two hundred years ago. This rank has been uniformly and cordially granted to it by all the evangelical churches, with whom we have fellowship and correspondence.† The secession from the Parish on its

*

* In the summer and autumn of 1838, a special meeting of the Church was held every week for prayer and Christian conference in anticipation of its second Centennial Anniversary. Frequent reference was made to past interpositions of Providence in days of weakness and trial. Many devout prayers were offered, that social virtue and domestic worship may be cultivated among all the people,-that Christ may be acknowledged and honored,-that this church may be established, preserved and enlarged, and that the special work of the Spirit may be revived among us and among our children of every generation down to the next century. When the day arrived, (Nov. 8, 1838,) all secular business was laid aside, and the whole day was devoted to religious services. Much tenderness and solemnity of feeling were exhibited. The covenant was renewed by all the members of the church standing, and Doddridge's appropriate hymn was sung,

"O happy day, that fixed my choice," &c.

The Council, which ordained the present Pastor, March 14, 1821, was composed of the Pastors and Delegates of 28 churches, viz. Boston, Old South Church, Rev. Benjamin B. Wisner and Dea. Edward Phillips,-Park Street Church, Rev. Sereno E. Dwight and Br. Nathaniel Willis,-Essex Street Church, Rev. James Sabine and Dea. Nathan Parker,-Cambridge, Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D. and Br. Thomas Foster, Charlestown, 1st Church, Rev. Warren Fay and Dea. Isaac Warren,— Andover Theological Seminary, Rev. James Murdock, D. D. and Br. L. Ives Hoadley,-Newton, 1st Church, Rev. Jonathan Homer, D. D. and Dea. Ebenezer White, Dorchester, 2d Church, Rev. John Codman, D. D. and Br. John Capen, Jr.-Milton, Rev. Samuel Gile and Dea William Wadsworth,-Dedham, South Church, Rev. William Cogswell and Br. David Andrews,--Braintree, Rev. Richard S. Storrs and Br. Levi Thayer,-Braintree and Weymouth, Union Church, Rev. Jonas Perkins,-Weymouth, South Church, Rev. William Tyler and Br. Eliphalet Loud,—Randolph, 2d Church, Rev. David Brigham and Br. Caleb White, Bridgewater, 4th Church, Rev. Daniel Huntington and Br. Mark Perkins, Stoughton, Rev. Ebenezer Gay and Dea. Nathan Drake,-Foxborough, Rev. Thomas Williams and Dea. Ebenezer Forrest,-Wrentham, Rev. Elisha Fisk and Dea. Robert Saunders,-Franklin, Dea. Joseph Bacon,-Medway, 1st Church, Dea. Josiah Blake,-2d Church, Rev. Jacob Ide and Dea. John Metcalf,-Holliston, Rev. Josephus Wheaton and Br. Timothy Rockwood,-Natick, Rev. Martin Moore and Br. George Whitney,-Sherburne, Rev. Shearjashub B. Townsend and Dea. Aaron Leland,-Needham, 2d Church, Rev. Thomas Noyes and Br. Calvin Shepard, Easton, Rev. Luther Sheldon and Br. David Wheaton,—Waltham, Rev. Sewall Harding and Abel B. Richardson, Rochester, Rev. Oliver Cobb.Dr. Homer presided, offered the Consecrating Prayer and gave the Charge. Dr.