1 7 "4] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. II 



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dering walls of our places of Worship ; while our Burying-grounds and 

 Church-yards, the graves, the monuments, and the bones of our Fathers, 

 Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Children and Friends, are left open and un- 

 protected from the Beasts of the field ; as if all our care was only to 

 succeed to the honours, the estates and places of emolument which 

 belonged to our Friends and Ancestors, without any regard to their 

 Memories or venerable Ashes ! 



In the late times of war, distress and confusion, there might be some 

 plea for this reproach of our Christian name; but now, with the blessed 

 prospects of Peace, Liberty, Safety and future Prosperity before us, I 

 trust this reproach will be speedily done away; to which nothing can 

 so eminently contribute as Love and Union among ourselves, joined to 

 a rational and enlightened Zeal and public Spirit. For, in all our pur- 

 suits, we must rest at plain and practical points at last, which are few in 

 number, and in Religion come to little more than Solomon declared, 

 viz. that "the Fear of God and keeping his Commandments is the 

 whole duty of Man;" or, in all the Sciences, what another wise man 

 declared to be the Sum of all his inquiries — that 



Temperance is the best Physic, 

 Patience the best Law, 

 Charity the best Divinity ! 



O Heaven-born Charity ! what excellent things are spoken of thee ! 

 What a transcendent rank was assigned thee, when the Saviour of the 

 World gave thee as the badge of his holy Religion; and his inspired 

 Apostles enthroned thee as the Queen of all Evangelic Graces and Vir- 

 tues ! Could the tongues of men or of angels exalt thee more than 

 this — declaring — " That neither the Martyr's Zeal, the Self-denial of 

 the Saint, nor all Knowledge, nor any Virtue besides, can profit or 

 adorn the Man, who is unadorned with thy sweet celestial Garb! But 

 he who is thus adorned is the most august human spectacle upon earth — 

 whom even Angels behold with delight, as clothed in that peculiar 

 Garb which Christ vouchsafed to wear here below, and which shall not 

 need to be put off above: and therefore, if on every slight occasion, or 

 indeed on any occasion, we cast off this Garb, we are none his true 

 Disciples ! 



Wherefore then. Brethren, put on this most excellent gift of Charity. 

 Try the Faith that is in you by this great Test — Hold fast the Form of 

 sound Words, the holy Scriptures, the pure Doctrines, the excellent 

 Forms of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, drawn from Scripture by 

 our Church — Hold them fast in Faith working by Love. Take them 

 for your perfect rule and guide — They will make you wise unto Salva- 

 tion — Whatever is imagined more, or beyond Scripture— all that is 

 beside final Perfection and Salvation, count it vain and superfluous. 

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