Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

At such a time, a man of simple mind, a man of plain good sense, a man of moderation, a man of unquestionable integrity, a man of indomitable firmness, has a special worth, and adaptation. The people take to such a man. They call him, "Rough and Ready." They rally round him. They grow into him. They grow together, in growing into him. He binds them all, in one; and is, what laws might fail to be, and fleets and armies could not be, the bond of an imperishable union. There was another thing in General Taylor. He was no party man. He would not be, to be the President. When he became the President, he would not be, to magnify his office, or to keep it. It was a noble trait, in his great character, that he disappointed the party men, that helped to put him into power. He knew the people, and he knew the nation. But he knew no set, among the one; no fraction, of the other. This was an element of strength, that was to grow; and that, more rapidly, with time. And there was one thing more, in him. We cannot shut our eyes, to the inevitable fact, that the great magnet of our nation has opposing poles; or seems to have. It was the peculiar fitness of General Taylor, for his responsible position, that he was of the one; and, yet, not against the other. The one could trust him; while the other need not fear him. It seemed, to human sight, the stronghold of the times. And, in a moment, like the house, which a child builds, of cards, it has been swept away, from us. May it not be, to teach us to "cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils?" May it not be our lesson,

for these times, that "God seeth, not as man seeth?" May it not be the way, which we "know not of," by which, God, means to lead us? Has not the death of the Chief Magistrate taught us, as argument could never teach, that we are one people? Has it not touched the general heart, from East to West, from North to South, as children's hearts are touched, when, by their side, a father falls? Could legislation, could judicial action, could commercial interests, could any thing, have shown so clearly, so feelingly, so instantaneously, so universally, that, divided as we may be, or may think we are, we are but one, in heart? And, may there not proceed, from that new grave, in which the funeral rites of twenty millions garner up, to-day, the ashes of our patriot-soldier, an influence, which knitting all our hearts together, as true brethren, of one blood, shall pervade our national councils, and control our national actions, and mould our national interests; and, with God to bless us, as the answer to our penitent and faithful prayers, set up this nation, in the eyes of all mankind, as the light and joy of all the lands: shedding, on all, the mild and genial radiance of free institutions; and spreading, among all, the blessings and the benefits of Christian Freedom; the freedom, which, can only dwell with truth and peace; the freedom of the freemen of the Lord! That it may be so, it becomes us to receive, with an unhesitating confidence, the distinguished Statesman, who sits, now, in General Taylor's seat. By the immediate act of God, he is the President of the United States. Receiving him, at

God's hand, let us receive him, with a generous trust. Let us resolve, to give him our support; the support of our sympathy; the support of our confidence, the support of our co-operation, the support of our prayers. Let us commend him, and the counsellors, that are to share, with him, the cares and toil of State, to the favour, the guidance, the protection, of Almighty God. Let us renew our vows, to-day, to the admirable Constitution, which our Fathers vindicated, for us, with their blood. Let us renew our vows, to-day, to the glorious Union, which their blood cemented, sealed, and consecrated. On our knees, let us join hands, here, in God's house, upon God's day, with the great multitude of Christian Freemen, whom the day's solemnities have knit in one. On our knees, let us join hearts, with them, here, in God's house, upon God's day; and pour, from souls, which sorrow softens, and which grace subdues, the Christian Patriot's prayer, "that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established, among us, for all generations."

Nor, let us lose the lesson, which, as men, and sin ners, this startling and afflictive providence is so well adapted to convey. How can we clasp our darlings, to our hearts, and not remember, how a moment may resolve them into dust, and leave us desolate! How can we lie down on our beds, this night, and not remember, that the morning light may find us, gar nished, for the grave. The prayer,* which_asks from

* PASTORAL LETTER TO THE CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY. DEAR AND REVERend Brethren :-Regarding the death of President Taylor, as a great national calamity, and our whole nation as one afflicted family, I do not hesitate to request, that, on Sunday next, the seventh after Trinity, you will use

God, for the bereaved of this day, the strength and comfort of His grace, will be the commendation of our darlings to the favor of His love. And, the deep penitence, which such a death should waken in our hearts, so sudden, so startling, so appalling, will bring us to the Cross, where none can perish, through the Lamb, Who died for all. To Whom, one with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, three Persons, and one only God, shall ever be ascribed, the glory and the praise.

the Prayer which follows, before the two final Prayers of Morning and Evening Service. We shall do well to humble ourselves, under the chastening hand of Almighty God; and to beseech Him, for His dear Son's sake, to pardon our manifold transgressions, and turn away His anger from us, lest we perish. If prosperity have hardened the national heart; if we have been tempted to forget God our Saviour; in whatever way we have offended Him, who holds the nations in His hands, this signal Providence should be improved by us, in that humility of spirit, and with that consecration of heart and life, which become us, as ransomed sinners, and with which, alone, we can come acceptably before Him, through the propitiation of the Cross. Upon our hearts, thus softened and subdued, He will send down the blessings, and the comforts of His grace, and restore to us, His pardoning and preserving love. Commending the bereaved household, of our late venerable Chief Magistrate, the honoured successor to him, in the highest trust which men bestow, his associates, in the several departments of the government, and the whole appalled and mourning nation, to your faithful prayers, and to the mercy and favour of God, I am, affectionately, and faithfully, your brother and servant in Christ, GEORGE W. DOANE,

RIVERSIDE, July 19, 1850

PRAYER.

Bishop of New Jersey.

O Merciful God, and Heavenly Father, who hast taught us, in Thy holy Word, that Thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; Look with pity, we beseech Thee, upon the sorrows of Thy servants. In Thy wisdom, thou hast seen fit to visit us with trouble, and to bring distress upon us. Remember us, O Lord, in mercy; sanctify Thy fatherly correction to us; endue our souls with patience under our affliction, and with resignation to Thy blessed will; comfort us with a sense of Thy goodness; lift up Thy countenance upon us, and give us peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

DANIEL WEBSTER'S REAL GLORY.

* A SERMON ON THE DEATH OF DANIEL WEBSTER.

JEREMIAH IX. 23, 24.-Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this; that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

THE meaning of God's word is never so well developed, as when His Providence is its interpreter. When, from some solemn text He preaches in some awful judg ment—at once, its exposition and its application-the nations shrink and quail: like startled reapers, when, without a cloud in heaven, the thunder bursts, at noon; and leaps, from crag, to crag, till Alps or Andes seem to topple, to their fall. I have meditated much, for many years, upon this text of Jeremiah; and have heard fre quent sermons from it: but I never felt its fulness until now; and it never preached to me, as in the death of Daniel Webster. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him

* At the request of the students of Burlington College, November, A. D. 1852.

« PředchozíPokračovat »