380 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [^793 



church ; and with great delicacy and tenderness to me, in my mournful 

 situation, he hinted a wish for some temporary assistance from me, if I 

 was able, and that in preaching only : at the same time offering me my 

 choice of the tufti of duty. I told him that, so far as I was able, it 

 always gave me happiness to co-operate with him in any duty, but that 

 he must give me the choice of my subjects as well as of the turns of 

 duty; that none but melancholy subjects — themes of distress, notes of 

 woe — could accord with my feelings and then gloomy frame of mind. 

 His reply was with his usual look of complacency, intimating ap- 

 probation. 



Nine Sermons from ist Thessalonians, chap, iv., verses 13-18 — on 

 Death, a Resurrection from the Dead, a Future Judgment, and an 

 Eternal World to Come, were the fruits of that period of melancholy 

 and deep reflection. The first was preached on Sunday, December ist, 

 1793, and the last on March 9th, 1794, in Christ Church, all in the 

 forenoon. This was understood to be according to the wish of the 

 President and his good lady. It is certain that they were present 

 at the delivery of all of them, and generally of every sermon 

 preached in Christ Church, in the forenoon, during the session of 

 Congress. 



General Washington, exemplary in all his conduct, and anxious to 

 know when it might be safe for the citizens to resume their business and 

 stations in town, had officially consulted the physicians. Under- 

 standing by their answers to him, as well as to some of the clergy who 

 had consulted them also, that sundry of the churches, and particularly 

 Christ Church, where he and his lady always attended divine service, 

 would be opened on Sunday, the first of December, that day, or the 

 day before, he came from Germantown, and presented himself early 

 before God in the church on Sunday. His example was followed by 

 multitudes; and the church was more than usually crowded, before I 

 got into it. The scene was sadly solemn: all eyes were apparently cast 

 down in afflictive meditation. The deepest attention and silence pre- 

 vailed, during the morning service ; and at the delivery of the sermon, 

 not a cheek appeared dry ; for scarcely a man or woman was present, 

 who had not to mourn the loss of a dear friend or relative. The 

 preacher's duty was interesting. He was a fellow-sufferer and co- 

 mourner. He does not remember that ever he lifted his eyes from his 

 notes, which were drenched in tears. He was then, if ever, in the situ- 

 ation described by Luther, and impressed with the feelings of every 

 preacher, who, like Luther, is truly interested in his subject, and, so to 

 speak, weighed down with its truth and importance. 



