not be made in Gath or Askelon, "lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice; lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph." He asks that on the degraded mountains of Gilboa, no dew nor rain may descend; no fields of offering may be seen. He directs the daughters of Israel to weep, exclaiming thrice in the course of his short, but beautiful effusion, "How are the mighty fallen. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions."

Far different, indeed, was the dissolution of the eminent statesmen, whose loss we are convened, this day, to improve. They expired on their couches, surrounded with those gentle and solicitous attentions which filial affection and faithful friendship could supply. When the chief magistrate of our country heard of the deep affliction of his beloved parent, he hastened, with all rapidity, that he might, like Joseph in reference to Jacob, pay the last tribute of filial af. fection-but, he could not command the chariot of the lightning, or the wing of the whirlwind. He arrived too late; not indeed to receive a father's blessing, for that had been already bequeathed.

But if in nothing else the slaughtered heroes of Israel and the deceased patriots of America can be found to correspond, in this they resemble each other;

"lovely and pleasant were they in their lives, and in their death they were not divided."

To impart order to meditations, which the strong feelings excited in our bosoms, are well calculated to interrupt,

Let us exhibit that tenour of conduct which it becomes all men, and especially such as are moving in the higher circles of life, to maintain. It should be "lovely and pleasant."

Let us reflect that the most amiable career of human deportment must be succeeded by death. And

Let us observe, that sometimes the dissolution of man is marked with circumstances of unusual interest. "In their death they were not divided."

It cannot be concealed that there were some traces in the history of Saul, which were far from being charming or courteous. Of these none could be more sensible than the writer of our text. But who can cease to admire the man, who, after repeated provocation and injury, could speak as David speaks? His wisdom discovered the source of the jealousies of his adversary-his familiarity with the imperfections of the human heart awakened his compassionand the eminence of his piety forgave them all; especially when he recollected that the shield of Saul which had been vilely cast away, was the shield of one that had been "anointed with oil."

The sweetness of disposition and deportment which our text supposes, is to be obtained only by a constant and careful cultivation of the best affections of the heart. They are finely exemplified in the language of Joseph, who, on seeing the chief butler and the chief baker of Pharaoh, to whose charge they were committed, deeply dejected, generously and humanely asks, "wherefore look ye so sadly today?" The recommendation of Paul, the Apostle, is full of the ideas before us. "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned and heard and seen in me, do, and the God of peace shall be with you." The same divine writer offers a prayer on behalf of the Church at Colosse, embracing a rare but delightful association of duties, "That ye walk worthy of God unto all well pleasing."

The loveliness and pleasantness we contemplate, are discoverable in that sense of justice which renders to every man his due; in that solemn respect for truth which disdains the artifices of duplicity, and in that regard for the character of our neighbour which ever frowns on false representation. They are seen in that temperance which disclaims the ine

briating draught, and in that forgiving passion, at whose feet, anger and revenge expire. Behold them in that domestic circle where parents and children, and relatives and friends dwell together in unity; where fragrance is found, precious as the ointment of Aaron, and refreshful as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion. How amiable the conduct of that master who ever conducts himself towards his domestics with rectitude and kindness. I find in the life of Mr. JEFFERSON, in the work published by Mr. Delaplaine, the following passage."His oldest servants never saw him angry, or even fretful. He points out their faults in the tone of a father and convinces them of the consequences, with the mildness of a tender preceptor. These facts are derived from a gentleman who received them from the lips of the faithful domestics themselves, while their full eyes confirmed the account they were giving of their blessed master, for such was the appellation their love and gratitude bestowed upon him." From the best authority, I am well assured, that the same condescending attentions, beautified the life of Mr. ADAMS. How lovely that charity which delights to diminish the mass of human misery, and after the example of the Lord Jesus, to communicate "the oil of joy for mourning, and the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness."

When man is a little elevated above his fellow man, his heart, too frequently, becomes turgid. He seems almost to have forgotten that his origin is dust, and his elevation, vapour. But, O, there is an unutterable charm in that merit, that power, that station, that influence, that nobleness of intellect which reverences the precept, "mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate." I venerate that greatness, which, while it stands like a towering mountain on the margin of the ocean, finds its chief delight in the idea, that it can serve as a director to the mariner in distress; that greatness, which, though it shines like the sun, rejoices not in its own splendours, but in the kind influences it communicates. How much an unasuming temper governed the lives of our deceased friends, let the easy and unceremonious hospitality of Quincy and Monticello testify.

But to impart to moral excellence its full and real character, we are taught, in the divine word, that "the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost," are indispensable. The highest motives to every good word and work are to be deduced from the history of holy men of God, and especially from the character of the Lord Jesus-from the offices which he sustains, and from the example which he has left.

Nothing conduces so effectually to wither the