FOR

FRIENDSHIP AND PATRIOTISM;

IN

TWO DISCOURSES,

PREACHED AT FIRST CHURCH, IN BOSTON,

Joseph McKean

ON LORD'S DAY, 27 MARCH,

NOT without strong reluctance, does the writer yield up these discourses. The wishes of numbers, who are entitled to highest consideration, have been urged in a manner, which he could not resist. Among many expressions of regard, too flattering to be repeated, the following had decisive effect. “In making this request, we think we are not actuated by any improper political bias, nor by any other than a high sense of the value and usefulness of these discourses. Extremely desirous of preserving them in a more durable form than manuscript; we wish to have them in our families, and to leave them to our CHILDREN." Some friends, in whose judgment confidence is reposed, have united in a similar opinion of their good tendency. Cordially reciprocating all the friendly sentiments of the address, and disposed to give to the HEARERS and their FAMILIES Some memorial, however feeble, of his sincere gratitude; he has controlled objections otherwise insupera.. ble and consents to the multiplication of copies of what was composed very rapidly, amid many pressing engagements; and from utter want of leisure, cannot receive a thorough revisal. Probably some will perceive a few slight alterations, and several omissions.

THE PLEASURES, BENEFITS, AND OBLIGATIONS

OF CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP.

SABBATH AFTERNOON, XXVII MARCH.

DEUTERONOMY XIII. 6.

"Thy Friend, which is as thine own soul."

THE revelation, which God in his infinite wisdom and grace has been pleased to bestow on his rational offspring, confirms and sanctions all the deductions of sound reason. It unfolds many truths, which the human understanding could not have discovered; it prescribes many duties which this never had, and never would have taught. It has defined with certainty, what was doubtful; limited, what was vague; corrected, what was mistaking; rectified, what was erroneous, in the

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