360 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/QS 



But, my Christian brethren, I hope better things of you, although I 

 thus speak. I hope we have all pledged ourselves, both clergy and 

 laity, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick 

 and the dead at his appearing and kingdom; that we will make full 

 proof of our zeal, and will persevere therein until the clouds of infidelity 

 shall be dispersed by the refulgent rays "of the Sun of Righteousness 

 arising with healing in his wings, enabling the servants of God to 

 tread down the wicked, who shall be as ashes under the soles of their 

 feet." 



For myself, looking forward to this day-spring from on high, my 

 bosom always expands itself into divine rapture. And I now glow again 

 with a remnant of the warmth of more youthful days — days now half a 

 century fled, when I first visited this American world, and, in rising 

 prospect and poetical rhapsodies,* began to anticipate its future glories; 

 encouraged and animated with the view, even at that time, of the rapid 

 spread of divine knowledge; the thirst that prevailed for founding and 

 supporting seminaries of learning, in order to aid in the propagation 

 of true and rational religion, civil liberty, and all that can adorn or 

 exalt human nature, in the great scale of created excellence and ex- 

 istence in this new world. 



I would not dip farther on this occasion into the depths of prophecy. 

 In other sermons, and according to the subjects, the line of my abilities 

 in this way hath been extended to its utmost length, and would not 

 now, in my feeble state, bear any further stretching. 



I have only to add, then, by way of final exliortation, that you, who 

 are in the active stages of life, will consider yourselves standing, as it 

 were, in the midst of things ; called upon to be consi)icuous actors in 

 the most busy and important scenes of that great drama which the Al- 

 mighty is conducting towards its conclusion. 



Looking forward, therefore, as well as backwaid, and listening to the 

 voice of Scripture, as well as considering the analogy of things, it must 

 appear to you that there is something more perfect and practically pow- 

 erful in Christianity, tending also to its more extensive propagation, yet 

 to be expected before the consummation of earthly things. — But as there 

 are prophecies relating to different ages of the church which cannot be 

 fully understood, and tlierefore not fully explained, until they are fully 

 accomplished, we pretend not to say at what period of the Christian 

 era this reformation or great change is to commence; nor how or by 

 what means it is to be effectuated. Here let conjecture cease. Let us 

 be silent l)efore God; for silence will be our best praise of his incom- 

 prehensible wisdom and goodness. 



Amen ! and Amen ! 



* See verses spoken at the o]ieiiing of tlie College of Miiania, anil on the propaga- 

 tion of Religion, Kr.owledge and Liberty, chielly written about A. U. 1740. 



