than dignified; but we soon become convinced, that it is filled with true wisdom, and endowed with noble purposes.

Such a character can be formed nowhere but in a civilized country, and in a country which is blessed with the light of the gospel. Among savage nations women are the slaves of the stronger sex; among the ancient heathen they were subjected to disgraceful tyranny; and in the present age, among nations, who are unacquainted with the Christian religion, they are deprived of personal freedom, and are nothing more than beautiful birds confined in cages. Whatever reason, therefore, men may think they have for wishing, that the arts of civilization were lost, or that the licentiousness of paganism would return, women would lose everything by such a change. The religion of Jesus is of infinite importance to women; and it should be precious in their eyes, and dear to their hearts. If men therefore, puffed up with the pride of skeptical philosophy, dispute the pretensions of its author, let not women, whose refined sensibility frequently leads them directly to truth, refuse to admit his claims: if men will not have the Prince of peace to reign over them, let women cheerfully submit to his rightful dominion. The Christian religion restores to women all their rights, and establishes their equality with man in everything which is valuable. From the dishonorable condition of being one slave among many of the same haughty lord, it raises them to the rank of being the single companion, and the only complete and perpetual friend of their husbands; of being equal sharers with them in the same property and privileges, in the same labors and cares, in the same sorrows and joys. It confers on them the right of being

the children of the same God, the disciples of the same Master, and the heirs of the same salvation. They should therefore adhere to it as the charter of their freedom, which not only makes them good, but which also renders them happy. The Christian religion refines and ennobles all who receive it; but it is in particular adapted to the character and habits of the female sex. Women are, almost by nature, humble, gentle, pure, faithful, affectionate, and compassionate, and more distinguished for passive, than active courage; and these are the virtues, which the gospel everywhere enjoins. It lays no stress on the false virtues, which are supposed to adorn savages and pagans; on no virtue, which is merely masculine, but on those virtues only, which can be performed by every human being.

During the course of my life, I have seen many instances of the triumphs of this divine religion in the female heart; and I doubt not, my brethren, that I express sentiments, which you feel, when I say, you rejoice in having passed your days among Christian women. You remember with pleasure and gratitude the affection, which watched over your infancy; the tender solicitude, which guided your youth; and the conversation which has charmed, the friendship which has blessed, and the many virtues which have edified, your riper years. These pleasing recollections are however imbittered with the thought, that many excellent women, whom you have known, and esteemed, and loved, now sleep in the grave. If there was not a future state of happiness, you could with difficulty support their loss: but whilst as Christians you believe, that the precious remains, which have been committed to the dust, will and restored to bliss, you

again be animated with life, can with reason indulge the

hope, that you shall see them again, not shining, as on earth, with feeble and reflected light; but when, in a more emphatical meaning of the text, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days; when the ransomed of the Lord shall come to the holy mountain with songs and everlasting joy on their heads; when they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

4th S. in Advent.

SERMON IV.

OLD AGE.

PSALMS XCII. 14.

THEY SHALL STILL BRING FORTH FRUIT IN OLD AGE.

If we expand the metaphor of the text into a simile, we may say, that the Psalmist compares human life to a fruit tree, which exhibits different appearances, as it is variously affected by the progressive seasons of the year. As the tree in spring produces blossoms, which become fruit in summer, and ripe fruit in autumn: so man, in his childhood, which resembles spring, brings forth the beautiful flowers of promise; in his youth, which resembles summer, the fruits of wisdom and virtue are beginning to be formed, and every day gradually increase in size; in his manhood, which resembles autumn, his intellectual and moral character is ripe, and he now gathers the reward of his labors. When we arrive at winter, the comparison no longer runs parallel; for the tree brings forth neither blossoms nor fruit in December; while in old age, which, as it is the last and coldest period of life, in some points resembles it, fruit may still be produced; the fruit of happiness, and the fruit of duty.、 We are now in the midst of the shortest days of the year: no subject therefore appears to be more proper

for the season than old age, the winter of life. It is my intention, first, to show that long life, which must of necessity terminate in old age, is a blessing; and secondly, to mention several duties, which become the aged.

I. Long life is a blessing. The blessings which we most ardently desire are long life, riches, and health. Without health all other enjoyments would be of little value. Riches are desired for the sake of enabling us to procure every other pleasure; for he who has wealth, it is supposed, can purchase with it whatever is necessary to his happiness. But even health and riches would not be much prized, if they were to be of short continuance. It is therefore our fervent prayer, May I be blessed with a long life! However disposed we may sometimes be to inveigh against the world, we are willing to remain in it; and however prone to consider life as full of evil, we quit it with regret. Though we are too ready on every occasion peevishly to quarrel with it, yet we still cherish it, like an old friend whom we fondly love. That these are the sentiments of nature, your own feelings, my brethren, will confirm: and in this light is long life represented in the ancient scriptures. When the happiness of a favorite of heaven is described in the Old Testament, this particular blessing is enumerated among the others which he possessed. Thus does Moses speak of the founder of the Jewish nation, a man who was distinguished for the felicity of his life: Abraham, says he, died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years. This reward also was one of the most eminent, by which God incited his people to obey his commands: Honor thy father and mother, that thy days may be long in the land. The like reward was