IV.

THE LIBERTY WHICH DWELLS WITH DUTY, THE ATMOSPHERE FOR CHRISTIAN FREEMEN.

* THE FOURTH FOURTH OF JULY ORATION AT BURLINGTON COLLEGE.

The snows of

I SAW a hale and vigorous old man. seventy winters rested on his brow. But he stood up, like an old oak. His foot took hold of the firm earth, at every step. There was indomitable might, in the broad muscles of his free, right arm; and, in his glow. ing cheek, and genial eye, summer and autumn more than held their ground, with winter's rugged reign. I looked: and there was brought, to him, the helpless beauty of a new-born babe; to receive the blessing of a father's first and fondest kiss. It was his Benjamin: the son of his old age; "the son of his right hand."

The seventieth birth-day of this nation was the birthday of this College. It is an old man's child. But it is the child of the old man. And, in the way, it stands, and walks, and looks "right onward," and makes its mark on men, and asks no favours of the world, and

* A. D. 1850.

does its battle for the right, and shakes, from its young brow, all doubts, all difficulties, all disasters, "as dewdrops, from a lion's mane," it leaves no question open, as to who its father is. The youngest of the Colleges of America, we challenge, for it, in every deepest, every highest, sense, the name and character of an American College. We make no higher claim for it, we ask no more for it, from God, than, that there go from it, through all the ages, yet to come, in an increasing multitude, a line, that shall be worthy of its lineage; a line of Christian Freemen.

On this fourth birth-day of our College, and seventyfourth, of the Republic, the theme, which I have chosen, to promote this great and gracious end, is one, which well becomes the day, in both its aspects. As the national anniversary, it is the day to talk to Freemen. As the great feast day of our College, a sacred venture, in which more than life has been embarked, for Christ, and for His Gospel, in His Church, it speaks to them, as Christians. I combine the two, when I invite you, all to meditate with me this simple thought: THE LIBERTY WHICH DWELLS WITH DUTY, THE ATMOSPHERE FOR CHRISTIAN FREEMEN.

There is nothing easier, nor, as men account, more popular, than to harangue, of Liberty. At the mere name of it, the school-boy screams, the spruce-beer pops, the crackers fiz. Nay, bells are rung, and cannons roar, and men get drunk. Contemplate, with me, in one of our great cities, the aspects of Liberty, as the Fourthday of July annually reveals them. The liberty of

heat. The liberty of dust. The liberty of noise. Horses, frightened, by squibs. Children, run over, by horses. Nurses, in hysterics, with their children. In the morning, rum, like rain. By noon, republicans, in the kennel. Towards evening, black eyes, as plenty as blackberries. A night, spent, in the watch-house. The next day, before the Police Court. And all, for Liberty, priceless Liberty, glorious Liberty! The Liberty of shame. The Liberty of suffering. The Liberty of sin. The Liberty of death. The Liberty of Hell. Is life happier for this? Is man better? Has God more glory? Is property safer? Are homes more sacred? Are women held in higher honour? Are children better cared for? Is the state adorned? Is learning furthered? Is peace promoted? Is "the area of freedom extended? Is the earth blessed? Is human nature dignified? Is the divine approached? Is this the Liberty, for which the first blood flowed, at Lexington? Is this the Liberty, to secure whose blessings, to themselves, and their posterity, our glorious fathers estab lished, and ordained, the Constitution? Is this the Liberty, under whose auspices, our incomparable WASHINGTON offered his prayers, to Heaven, that "the hap piness of the people of these States " might "be made complete?" Is this the Liberty, by which this day has had its consecration, for all ages, as the holiest in the secular records of mankind; the brightest and the most enduring in the calendar of time? Is this the Liberty, which has set free the stars and stripes, to flout the breezes, upon every sea; and be, to every land, the

cynosure of hearts, that yearn for freedom, and the rallying flag of man? This is no atmosphere, where Freemen can be born, and live? As little like it, as the foul and filthy kennel, that steams with pestilence, is like the mountain stream, which, from its crystal fountain, comes careering down; as pure, and clear, and cool, as full of comfort, health, and life, as when the Prophet brought it, at a blow, from Horeb's cloven rock.

For no such Liberty as this, did Warren, or did Mercer, fall. For no such Liberty as this, did the Assanpink run with blood, at Trenton's heady fight; or the brave men of Monmouth, on that scorching day, gnaw the damp ground, to quench their burning thirst. For no such Liberty as this, did the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, on this day, four and seventy years ago, appeal to the Supreme Judge of the world, for "the rectitude of their intentions;" when they declared, that these United Colonies" are, and, of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States." Theirs, was no impulse of mere passion. Theirs, was no voice of vague and noisy protestation. Theirs, was no clamour of insolvent debtors; no banding of conspirators and bankrupts. They sought no gain. They asked no place. They panted, for no power. They were men of family, of character, of substance. There was no better blood on earth, than circled, in their veins. They were brothers, husbands, fathers. They were loyal subjects. They were pious Christians. But their country was oppressed. Their

rights were disregarded. Their hearth-stones were invaded. And, when the claims of justice, and the ties of blood, had been refused and disallowed, they did, what Freemen must, and Christians may; and, standing up, beside their altars, and their hearths, sworn to defend them, or to die upon them, they signed the immortal paper, which is, now, the Magna Charta of mankind.

Theirs was the Liberty, which dwelt with Duty. Duty demanded it. Duty sanctified it. Duty achieved it. It is the Liberty, which God approves of, and will always bless. It is the atmosphere, for Christian Freemen. It is the atmosphere, for us.

The Liberty, which dwells, with Duty, will be hum ble. It will not shrink from the admission of superiors. It must admit a God. It will own God, in all who represent Him. The child will honour and obey his parents. The servant will be submissive to his master. The pupil will be subject to the teacher. The citizen will reverence the magistrate. All will submit themselves to them, who are God's watchmen for their souls. Short of this, all must be confusion. Short of this, liberty becomes licentiousness. Order is lost. Rights cease. Peace perishes. Even, hope is gone. It was the pride of Liberty, that cast the rebel angels down, to Hell. And, now, the angels that excel in strength, are strongest and most excellent in this; that, with all their consciousness of power, and all the glory of their rank, they hold them in humility; hearkening, to hear His word, that they may hasten, to do His will. And the Apostle