30 WINTER SKETCHES. 



not understand as evidences of their faith in 

 things not seen, and that their works should be 

 in accord with the ten commandments, and 

 especially with the eleventh, which they had 

 taken the liberty to add. '* Thou shalt go to 

 meeting twice every Sabbath and pay thy 

 parish taxes." 



A conformity to this obligation, in addition 

 to a good moral life with due reticence of opin- 

 ions, afforded sufficient evidence that a man 

 was a Christian. In short, beyond the essen- 

 tial requisite of a good character, the great 

 point which the old ministers endeavored to 

 bring to bear on their parishioners was that 

 they should hold fast to the monopoly of relig- 

 ious observances, and that they should combine 

 to prevent all outsiders from religious action 

 in opposition to it. 



These excellent men would not have for- 

 given me for riding on horseback on the Sab- 

 bath day, but I will atone for the offence 

 by preaching from the saddle this sermon in 

 vindication of them, bringing it to a close by 

 quoting the simple yet comprehensive cov- 

 enant, which they brought with them from 

 their landing-place on the shores of New Eng- 

 land, and which was a sufficient rule of prac- 



