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blossom as the rose." Our navigation shall be freed from its present embarrassment; and trade recover a flourishing state. Our rights and privileges shall be established on a firmer basis than ever. Every revolving year shall add something to the glory and happiness of America. And those that behold it shall see occasion to say, "Happy art thou, O people! Who is like unto thee, saved of the Lord! The shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thine excellency !" Deut. xxxiii. 29.

Whose breast doth not burn with desires to see his dear native land in such a state, the happy reverse of its present one! Who would not be ambitious of contributing something towards it! This we have all power to do. Let us up, and be doing, and the Lord shall be with us.

We

But Christianity, my respectable hearers, which we profess, carries our thoughts beyond this present state of things. This life is but the preface of our existence. Affairs will never be in so happy a situation in it, as we could wish for. It is not agreeable to God's universal plan of government, that we should here be free from every pricking brier and grieving thorn. are too apt to lay our account for refined happiness in this life. Frequent disappointments are necessary to teach us our error, and to wean us from the vanities of time and sense. This is the salutary effect of our troubles; and when we find it in ourselves, we should acknowledge the kindness of Heaven in permitting them.

A few days will close the present scene with us all. We must quit our stations, be they higher or lower. We must bid adieu to this world, and enter into the eternal one. There an endless circle of happiness, infinitely greater than can be derived from the most prosperous state of things here, is provided-provided by the mercy of God, through the mediation of Christ-provided for all, who repent and believe the gospel-for all, who act their part well on the stage of the present life-who serve God and their generation faithfully, according to his will.

Be this the object of our principal hopes, and desires! Let us continue patient in the ways of well doing; seeking for glory, honor and immortality; till, through the riches of God's grace in Christ, we be crowned with eternal life.

DISCOURSE

OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF

MRS. HANNAH RICHARDS,

OF DEDHAM,

WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 8TH OF FEBRUARY, 1770,

IN THE 83D YEAR OF HER AGE.

DELIVERED THE LORD'S DAY AFTER HER INTERMENT.

Rev

BY JASON HAVEN, A. M.

PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN SAID TOWN.

"Whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."-Heb. xiii. 7.
"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."-1 Peter i. 5.

BOSTON:

PRINTED BY RICHARD DRAPER, IN NEWBURY STREET.

B

SERMON.

HEBREWS vi. 12.

"That ye be-followers of them, who through faith and patience, inherit the promises.'

"PRECEPTS teach, but examples move:" This is a remark often made, and confirmed by experience. We have reason to be thankful, that so many shining examples of piety and virtue are set before us, in the holy Scriptures. To imitate these, as well as later ones, is our duty: To this the apostle exhorts in my text"That ye be followers of them, who through faith and patience, inherit the promises." In these words, three things are observable, which I shall endeavor to illustrate and improve, at this time.

I. A summary description of the life which the saints of God have lived.

II. Their happiness at the end of this life.

III. An exhortation to us, to imitate them, in a holy life, that we may be happy with them after death.

I. The words give a summary description of the life which former saints have lived, in their way to heaven, viz. a life of faith and patience.

The apostle perhaps might have his eye particularly on the ancient patriarchs and prophets, of whom he speaks in the 11th chapter of this epistle; and whose example he, on several occasions, recommends to imitation. But to live a life of faith and patience, is not peculiar to them: All the saints, in every age of the church, who are gone to heaven, have done the same; though these virtues do not shine equally bright in all. In these two virtues or graces, with their genuine influence, we may com

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