the propitious fmiles of that gracious Providence, which has hitherto directed our destiny. Happy indeed fhall we be, if our heavenly Parent may fay of us as of Ifrael of old; "They feek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forfook not the ordinance of their GOD; they afk of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching unto God." "Happy is that people that is in fuch a cafe, yea happy is that people whofe God is the LORD." The pleafures of this interefting anniversary, which collects together so many of our civil and re fo ligious Fathers, are greatly heightened by the prefence of the Chief Magiftrate of our Commonwealth. Whilft decency forbids adulation, it is presumed that every good man esteems the approbation of his friends, next to that of his own confcience. And although he does not feek their applaufe, yet it must afford him pleasure to know, that his endea vours to ferve their interests have not been unacceptable. The increasing marks of esteem and confidence, manifested in the late election, are the best eulogy upon his Excellency's paft adminiftration. He will please to accept our fincere congratulations on his re-election to the important office he fuftains. Ev ery class of citizens look up to him with an emboldened confidence, that he will cherish their interests, and confider himself with his people, as a father with his children. They have the fulleft fatisfac tion, that his authority and example will be united in fupporting good order, in encouraging and protecting virtue and religion; and in promoting every measure which shall tend to the general intereft of the people. It It must be pleafing to his Excellency to reflect, that by their own choice he prefides over a free people; and he may be affured that he cannot enjoy greater pleasure in ferving them, than they do in honoring him. That his Excellency's life and health may be preserved, and that he may be enabled to discharge the difficult duties of his exalted ftation to acceptance, our fervent prayer fhall be offered up continually to Almighty GoD on his behalf; that when his term of fervice on earth fhall be completed, he may be received to the immortal felicities and rewards of the heavenly state. His Honor the Lieutenant Governor elect, will indulge us to exprefs the fatisfaction we feel, in his election to the second office in the gift of the people of this Commonwealth. From his long acquaint ance with our public affairs, as well as from his talents and patriotifm, we have full confidence in his affiftance and co-operation with the Executive, in all the important concerns of the government. He will remember that he is to fill a place which has lately been rendered vacant by the death of one of the most amiable and beft of men. Aman in whom "political wisdom, patriotic virtue," and undiffembled piety all united and fhone. While the life of the deceafed may ferve as an example to his fucceffor, his death will admonish him of the end of all human greatnefs. With fuch an example before him, may his public career be equally honorable to himself, and acceptable to the multitude of his brethren. The Honorable Council, fhare in our respectful attention, as an affiftant branch in the executive department of our government. The The elevated ftation they fill, as well as their own perfonal qualities, entitle them to our esteem and veneration. We repole great confidence in their candor and integrity in those cafes where their ad vice and confent may be required; especially in the appointment of perfons to office. That they will feel themselves above the reach of party influence, and will recommend the claims of merit, arifing from fitness of character, rather than those of intereft and ambition. We have only to add our best wishes, that, whilst they effentially aid the interests of government, they may also by their example give encouragement to the cause of religion; and like that honorable Counsellor of Arimathea, may they be willing, not only to lend their tombs to Jesus if needed, but may they confecrate their hearts for his throne. The Honorable Gentlemen compofing the two Branches of the Legislature, will permit us to exprefs the lively intereft we feel in the repeated marks of respect with which their friends have honored them; but especially in their prefent appointment. By accepting this confidential truft, they pledge themselves to the faithful discharge of it. The duty of legiflation is at all times difficult, and often perplexing. It is rendered peculiarly fo at this time, by the divided ftate of public opinion. It would favor of an intolerant spirit to fuppofe, thatgood men may not be aiming to promote the fame object, while they differ in the means best calculated to attain it. Mutual candor and forbearance, therefore, will be neceffary, in order to preserve peace, and promote the public welfare. It is reasonably expected that our honored Rulers, in the whole of their conduct as legiflators, will be governed by the great principles of justice and benevolence; and that every other intereft will be fubordinated to the public good. That they will enforce by example, what they inculcate by precept. In all their attempts to aid the interests of morality and religion, great care will be taken not to infringe the rights of conscience. These ought to be held facred as the prohibited tree in the garden of Eden, and the flaming fword fhould be employed only to guard the way. What Pindar faid of Magiftrates, may be applied on the present occafion, “Be juft, faid he, in all your actions, faithful in all your words, and remember that thousands of wit. neffes have their eyes upon you.' Many are the motives to fidelity, but none more weighty than the confideration of future accountability. Under thefe folemn impreffions, our honored Rulers will attend to the important duties of this day, and during their continuance in office. In their most zealous deliberations they will not forget, that "Gop ftandeth in the congregation of the mighty, and judgeth among the gods." May all their public tranfactions tend to promote the various interefts of the Commonwealth; and to ftrengthen the bonds of our National Union. And after hav ing ferved their generation according to the will of GOD, when they shall fall asleep, may they be gathered to their fathers in peace. Ye venerable Minifters of the Sanctuary; ye fer. vants of the moft HIGH GOD; who fhow unto men the way of falvation. While our civil rulers, who have have invited us this day to the house of God, continue to reverence the inftitutions of religion, and to refpect and honor its ministers; you will not ceafe daily to offer up interceffions and prayers for all that are in authority. Nor will you cease to "put the people in mind to be subject to principal ities and powers, to obey magiftrates, and to be rea dy to every good work." And may God Almighty blefs your unwearied labors of love. Fellow citizens of this refpectable audience. How great, and how precious the privileges we enjoy! While fo many of our fellow beings inhabit the dark regions of flavery and defpotifin; and bow with degrading reverence before some lordly tyrant, who fits upon a throne of ebony, fwaying an iron fceptre; we have the peculiar felicity to live under a free government. Our rulers are of ourselves, and our governors proceed from the midst of us. When thus cloathed with power, we are bound to honor them as the minifters of God, who exercife their authority not for their own emolument, but for the public good. Let us therefore endeavour to strengthen their hands, by a cordial acquiefcence in every measure promotive of our common interest. If we do not protect our laws, our laws will not protect us. By our civil and religious habits let us fhew to the world that Americans are worthy of freedom. Be careful how you entertain unreasonable jealoufies and fufpicions of your old and long tried friends. But when you hear a man, whofe integrity and talents never introduced him to public notice, faying, "Oh that I were made judge in the land;" although his face may be as fair as Abfalom's, you have |