EMORY UNIVERSITY
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► A SERMON, 4
> 4
^ OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF 4
^ Lieutenant-General GEORGE WASHINGTON, \
LATI
4
PRESIDENT 4
4
OF THE A
\
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA j ^
WHO WAS BORN* FEBRUARY iit«, 1732, IN VIRGINIA, AND DIED,
DECEMBER 14.th, 1799, ON MOUNT VERNON, HIS FAVORITE 4
SEAT IN HIS NATIVE COUNTRY ; FIRST DELIVERED ^
IN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SAVANNAH, ^
GEORGIA, JANUARY 19th, 1800, ^
AND NOW PUBLISHED, AT A
THE REQUEST OF THE 1
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL, *
4
By HENRY HOLCOMBE, Minijhr of the IVord of God in Savannah. ^
w 4
► " Mark the perfeEl Man, and behold
f< the upright: for the end of that Man is peace," David.
P
by Sumowr & WootHorTU, on the Bat,
ro
The Honorable Mayor and Aldermen,
of the
City of Savannaht
I'he following Difcourfe* delivered, and publifhed by their dejire,—•
as a public exprejjion of his high fenfe of their zealous and unremitted attention to
the interefl and profperity of this flourifhing commercial city in particular, as wejl
as of their country in general,—is moft refpecifully dedicatedand, under their
patronage, fubmitted to the candor of the worthy friends, without number, of the
late
General WASHINGTON,
by
The AUTHOR.
* In tranferibingfor the Prefs, a few frnall alterations, by tranfpofition,
have been made j and, it is hoped not for the worfe,
INTRODUCTORY .HYMN.
fl
VJREAT G ot), we low he fore thy throne.
Our projlrate fouls adore thy. name,
Thou art ihe Jource from which along
All being and pevjeclion came.
¥he greatefl and ihe beft below t
And nobler effences above,
To thee their excellencies owe,
As emanations of thy love.
Thy wifdomy power, and £oodnefs ffjine
In all the wonders thou haft done
For North America, thro' thine
llluflrious fervant, Washington !
In rueful war thou wajl his God,
Gave him fuccefs and kindly fpread,
,Mid(l dying fhrieks and waves of blood
Protection o'er bis facred head.
Thine all pervading hand appears
In all his grateful country's blifs,
The fplendor of his highefl fpherest
And all the charms of fmiling peace.
Thy grace fuftain'd him in his death,
Thro' faith in Christ he knew no fears,
With Chrijlian hope refign'd his breathy
In perfect peace, mature in years.
With melting eyes on thee we call,
O God, of ev,ery good the fourcey
May we who mourn our Hero's fall
Purfue with zeal his foining courfe !
^5&3*»C50i3*S3fc;3£36
A SERMON, &c.
2d of Samuel, 3d Chap, and part of the 38th Vcrfc.
"KNOW YE NOT THAT THERtf *S A GREAT MAN FALLEN T'
IN thefe words David refers to Abnef, at difiiriguifhed officer of his day, whv?
fell ail unfufpeding vi(ftifn to the welt known traitrous fcheme, and
by the bloody hand of Joab, whofe brother Afaihel, to fave his own life, Abner
had reliiiflantly flain in a battle at Gibeon. To awaken a correfpondent fenfe
of their great lofs in the afflicted Tribes, David addrefled to them the pathetic
inquiry adopted on this melancholy occalion, as applying with the molt forcible
propriety to the late Lieutenant General George Washington. Know ye
not that in him a great man, a much greater than Abner, is fallen ? The fuffi-
ciently vilible effects of this penetrating convidtion, render a comparifon of thefe
great men unneceffary, would the dignity of my fubject, and the folemnity which
reigns over this unexampled and overflowingconcourfe admit it. Their coinci¬
dence in point ofgreatnefs, eftablifhed by the higheft authorities, whatever dif-
parity as to the degrees of it, may exilt, is all that is requifite to my purpofe. In
reliance therefore, on the plenitude of candor, to which t am already greatly in
arrears, however inadequate to the important fervice which has unexpectedly
devolved on me, and with all the unaffected diffidence which overwhelms me, I
iliall make immediate advances towards the awful ground on which our greateft
orators link unnerved, and giants in literature Hand and tremble ! And though 1
am not about to deliver an oration, nor to pronounce an eulogium ; but to preach
a fermon, and briefly touch on one of the greateft merely human characters, 1
am fully apprifed of the delicacy of my fituation, and too fenfibly feel the pref-
fure of difficulties.
My feeble foul take courage ! a Demofthenes or a Cicero might fail here
without dishonor; and though the famed Caefars, Alexanders, Pompies and
Marl boroughs, muft refign their inferior laurels to the more famous American
Generalr he was but a man ; all his greatnefs was derived from his and thy Crea¬
tor, and thou wilt be aflifted in the execution cf thy arduous defign by the
prayers-, candid allowances and liberal conftrudtions of thine audience, who will
deem it very pardonable on thy theme to be defective. The firft dodtrinal
o'•fcrvation which cur text, and thfe occafioivof ouralTembling, unitedly fuggeft,
is l^nouOy important: Great as Abner-was, he feft; and Washington is
i ?i!cn ; it, therefore, undeniably follows that great meny as well as others, mufi
■ K Though it would be abfurd to attempt a formal proof of this dodtrine,.
C 5 3
arid have the appearance of an infult on dying man, there is frothing that me¬
rits more frequent, or more ferious conllderatipn ; and a few explanatory remark"?
orl it are fo far from being amifs, that they are indifpenlible* The Heathens
and Deifts, of all defcriptions, believing the immortality of the hurtian foul,
conlider their bodies as falling by death into corruption and duft, never to rife;
and their notions of the ftate, exercifes, and "enjoyments of the foul after death
are fo vague, indiftindt, andunimpreffive, that they have little or no vifible effect
on their practice. Atheifts, and fuch Deifts as believe the loul of man to be
mortal, conlider all who are "fallen, and our immortal Washington among the
reft, as plunged into undiltinguiflied and irretrievable ruin ! as consigned to
their original nonentity ! ! Happily for our various interefts, few, if any, of
thefe gloomy mongers difgrace, or infeft the United States: They are chiefly,
if not altogether, confined to the fmoke and flame in which they have involved
miferable Europe. Let Americans never fufFer their nature and its author to
be infulted and degraded by the influence, or exiftpnee of fuch delegable fen-
timents j " ♦Scorned be the man who thinks himfelf a brute
ff Affronts his fpeciesy and his God blafpbemesS*
But gladly I turn your attention from the cold, lifelefs principles, and pain¬
ful uncertainty of the better fort of Heathens and the Deifts, and efx eciall/
from the infupportable horrors of annihilation, to what we are to understand by the
falloi men in death ; and, in a word, it is their fall from this world; from its
honors,, pleafures,, profits ; and from the exercife of their mortal powers. By a
figure of fpeech, which puts a part for the whole, or the contrary, and common
with infpired, and other writers, in faying that a great man is fallen, David
means no more than that his mortal part is dead j but he was better informed
than to fuppofe that even this was dead or fallen, to revive, to rife no men .
We not only know from divine revelation, but from an important and v>ell
attefted fact, glorioufiy demonstrated at this time by its numerous and hapjbv
confequences, that our bodies are not only capable of a re furred! ion, but fhali
actually rife ! Were, the horrible reverfe of thefe exhilirating rcprefentations true,
inconfiderable indeed would be our caufe of triumph in exiftencc, or rcif m to
boaft of human excellence ! <f Verily every mant at his befi ftateconhdered
merely in his relation to this tianlitory (cere, <r is altogether vanity." And
the inevitable fall of the greateft, as well as all other men, when viewed in a
ti'ue light, and confklered in its eternal confequences, muft fill the enlightened
cOnfiderate mind with the mod ferious reflections. It is faid,
" Xerxis furveyed his mighty bojl with tears,"
tf To think they'd die within an hundred years
But judging from paft events, what enormous devaftations among tl/j inha¬
bitants of the earth mult be fpread in lefs than half that time ! Your I;ath<_rJ:,
[ 6 ]
v.'here are they ? and the prophets, do they live forever?" Where are all prece¬
ding generations, and the great men who illuminated and adorned them ?
Alas ! the mighty ruins of mortality ! With a few illultrious exemptions, recorded
in the oracles of God, the filent, and almoft imperceptibly flow, but fleady
and irrefjftibly ftrong current of time, has borne them into the boundlefs ocean
of eternity ! And yet Philip of Macedon was far from being alone, in needing
daily to be told that he was a mortal man.
That all menmuft fall, is univerfally acknowledged ; but too few apply this
ferious truth to their own cafes ; Doctor Young had reafons for his bold all'ertion,
All men think all men mortal but themfelves." And great men, from a
variety of circumftances, are more than others, additfted to this waking dream,
this fometimes fatal delufion ; and ftrange as fatal ! " Know ye not that there
is a great man fallen und that confequently great men mud fall I Riches,
power, titles, univerfal applaufe, to which may be added even virtue and piety,
avail nothing in this warfare, " Death enters, and there's no defence." Ac¬
knowledge this all do, they muft, however inconliderate and profir.e, for wl o
can deny it ? But O, that they were wife, that they under]} ^od ihisy thai thcy
would confider their latte> end V* How natural, reafo.iable, and interelhng is
this ? and one would think it might be added, how difficult to avoid it 1
As man perhaps the moment of his b>eath>
Receives the lurking principle of death ;
*1"he young difcafe that mutl fubdue at h ngth,
Grows with his growth, and Jlrengthens with hisJlrength.'*
And when thefe latent feeds of diffulution produce their ultimate effect, our
text direcfts us in what regards our duty to the memories of the jufi". By fair
^ind obvious implication, it fays, the fall of a great man merits rcfpe&ful and
public attention.
fr Know ye not that there is a great man fallen
This'quefiion was not afked for information, and it not only forcibly affirms
the fall of a great man ; but evidently excites to mourning on account of it, and
proper expreffions of refpeA for his memory. Know ye noty that is, are ye not
apprifed, or difpofed to confider, as ye fhould be, and to pradlically declare,
that in your judgment, there is a great man, a man of worth, and entitled to
high and public regard, fallen P
And accordingly we find that David faid to the people to whom he addreffed
the words of our text, " Rent your clothes, and gird you with fackcloth, and
mourn before Abner." The facred hiftorian adds, " And king David him-
felf followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: And the king
jilted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.'-'
'fhe foirmni'y concludes with an oration bv the kins:, which produced the
C 7 -3
Jiigheft effects of oratory, and clofes with an Acknowledgment, that he was
rendered weak though anointed king, by the lofs of that great man. Pare)id
paflages, in great variety, might be recited in confirmation of this doctrine.
Inftanc^s are numerous in the patriarchal age, of burying perfons of eminent
piety and worth, with every mark of refpecl and folemnity.
The venerable founders of the Jewifh church and nation, had the tribute of
high encomiums, and genuine mourning for many days, paid to their memories
and their merits. A beautiful fpecimen of ancient eulogy, is David's lamen¬
tation over Saul and Jonathan. With an ardor and elevation peculiar to hiin-
felf, he exclaims, " The beauty of Ifrael is llain in thy high places; how are the
mighty fallen 1 Tell it not in Gath, publifh it not in the ftreets of Afkelon, left
the daughters of the Philiftines rtjoice, left the daughters of the uncircumciftd
triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa let there be no dew, neither let there
rain upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the fhield of the mighty is vile¬
ly caft away, the fhield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oiL
From the blood of the llain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan
turned not back:, and the fword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jona¬
than were lovely and pleafant in their lives, and in their deaths they were no*
divided : They were fwifter than Eagks, they were flronger than Lions. \c
daughters of Ifrael weep over Saul, who clothed you in fcarlet, with other de¬
lights, who putpn ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the tijig hty
fallen in the mid ft of the battle !'•
This natural and laudable, as well as ancient and tiniverfal cuftom of honoring
the pious and eminent dead, may be further juftified by1 quotations from the
new teftament. At the grave of Lazarous," Jesus wept}" devouS men buried
Stephen, who had the honor to be the firft martyr in the chriftia^ caufe, with
great l^mention; and Paul mentions a number ot the illuftriou* characters of
antiquity, with the higheft refpect, and warmly recommends llieir noble and
heroic condudt to the imitation of pofterity. After beftowing on many thd
encomiums proper tp their refpedive merits, he adds, " ApA what fhall I more-
fay ? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barack, and of
Sampfon, and of Jepthae, of David alfo, and of Samuel, And of the prophets;
who through faith fubdued kingdoms, wrought righteoufnefs, obtainedprdmifes",
flopped the nouths of Lions, quenched the violence of fire, efcaped the edge
of the fword, out of weaknefs were made ftrong, waxed valient in fight, anc|
turned to ili^ht the armies of the Aliens." So warm a panegyrift of thefe
great men was the Apoftle, that he avers, "-Of them the world was not worthy.'''
And though many of thefe failed of obtaining the attention due to their merits
in, and immediately after their refpedlive generations, by having their names-
and worthy deeds enrolled ia the volume of infpiratlon, God has plainlv-fhewnuA
C « 3
that the fall a cf great good man fhould excite refpetflful and public attention.
F.ncniiraged, therefore, and in Tome degree a flirted by fuch precedents, I will
proceed to what is finally incumbent on me ; and that is, to evince the applied-
hilly of my text to the illmlrious dcccafid.
It muft be acknowledged that the fcriptural and confequently rational
and becorVmg cuftomof praifing departed perfons, has been fhatnefully abufed.
The great among the Heathens have., in many inftances, been exalted to celefbal
honois, and idolized to diftant generations. And by perfons of better infor¬
mation, funeral panegyric has been fo indifcriminately beftowed, that it has
blended all distinctions of character and become proverbially falfe. But it is
not on thefe or any other accounts, to be refufed on proper occafions, this would
be falling into the oppofite extreme. And perhaps a more proper occafion than
the prefent for commendation and applaufe never occurred, or one on which
higher might be beftowed, confidently with truth and moderation. Never I
believe could it be/aid of any with more propriety than of General Washing¬
ton, that what his acquaintances would condemn as below his merit, ftrangers
would confider as the moft fulfome adulation, or exaggerated applaufe. But to
proceed : Moft obvioufly does my text apply to this great man, confidered as
enriched with merely natural endowments. His features, actions, and whole
deportment, before he was refined by learning, clothed with power, or known
to fame, attracted every eye, fixed attention, and commanded refpe£t. As the
immediate effect of divine bounty he poffeffed the feeds whofe bloffoms and
fruits ultimately rendered him the boaft of his country, and the glory of the age.
The rich furniture of his mind could receive no affiftance from the common
rule" of art, becaufe by innate ftrength it rofe nobly fuperior to them, compre¬
hending thu* true principles, and proper ftandard of criticifm.* His perceptions
were prompt intuitive, clear; and were difplaycd from earlieft youth in the facility
and rapidity with which he acquired knowledge, and intheexadt order, method
and propriety confpicuous in the management of all his affairs. And to the fatal
day which put a period to the moft valuable of mortal lives, his conduct and
achievements, pi ^claimed his genius entirely original, fuperlatively bright, the
offspring of the Father of Lights. In his vaft mind centered that fhining
aggregate of excellencies which beamed with fuch effulgence in his dignified
and manly countenance, and were fo eminently ornamental, I will not fay ofhis
country, nor of this generation, but of human nature. When we confider that all
elf^ts muft have? an adequate caufe, we are led to trace the wonders which have
appeared in Washington's life, to, atleaft, an equally wonderful fourcc : This
we find in a foul calm and fcrciic as the moft delightful fummer-evening, more
cxpanfive than the ocean, move refplendent than yonder fun, and fteady as the
* True crhicifn is the application of tafle and of good fenfo to the fcveral fine arts. Clair.
C 9 ]
poles! Thefe intelle&ual, and confcqucntly immortal treafures rendered him
uncommonly great as the child of nature j and our.text applies to jinn very'
forcibly as enlarged and enobled by mental acquifdions.
Divine Providence gave him opportunities and difpofitions to add great ac¬
quired, to the greateft natural abilities. If his education Trere not cladital, it
was profound: If he had not the comparatively fuperficjal knowledge cf all
names, he poiTefled an umverfal knowledge of things; And tho' 110 great pro¬
portion of his precious time was fpent in the fludy of dead languages, it was
becaufethe beautious obje&s of all kinds of ufeful and ornamental knowledge
invited his attention and perfuit, in all the copious elegance of Englifh attire.
His great mind was occupied with correfpondent objects, jfte had well
arranged and diftindt ideas of all aflentially interefting, and truly important
fadts, domeftic and foreign, antient and modem, teqiporal *md fpiritual. Among
the fubje<fts which Washington inveftigated, and the o*bjcdts which he regar¬
ded with an afliduity and ferioufnefs becoming their importance, were fcicnce,'
morality and religion ; civil and religious liberty ; agriculture commerce and
navigation; tactics, and the different forms pf civil government j the rife
revolutions, and falls of empires, in connection writh their caufes. and confe-
qnences j and the religions, laws, cuftoms, characters and origin of nations.
With a Angular felicity of perception, he comprehended th.e fubjeets of his
knowledge in all their extensions and relations ; and we well know, that in his
converfation, public fpeeches, and admirable writings, eafe and ilrength wer.c
united with all the beauty and fimplicity of precilion. JBut as it would require
talents brilliant as his own to do juftice to a fubjecft of fuch extent and fubli-
mity, I fhall conclude thefe imperfect remarks on his great literary merit, by
obferving that the honor of conferring on him the degree of L.L.D. was refer¬
red for Rhode-Ifland College* : From the ceconomy obfervable in all the
* "Sept. i ft, 1790, the degree olDoftor of Laws, was conferred on George Washington,
Prefidcnt of the United States ot America."' Soon afterwards, it appears from the Baptift annual regi¬
ster for 1791, of which Doftor Rippon of London is theeditor, that "In a converfation between
Several friendly gentlemen, which turned chiefly on the confinement of Ljewjs the Utile, who, like an
.abfolute fovereign, had faid to five and twenty million of people, J nvill be obeyed; contrafted with the
popularity of Washington the Great—it was mentioned, that the Baptift -College, in Rhode-
Ifland, had conferred the degree of Doflor of Laws, on the Prefident of the United States; while it
ieemed to be the general mind that this diftinguilhed character in the hiftory of man, would prefer the
Jaurels of a college to a crown of defpotifm, one of the company, it is faid, quite impromptu, gave veiit
•to the feelings of his heart, in the following efFufion;
When Kings are mere fovereigns, or tyrants, or tools,
No wonder the people fur,uld treat them as fouls;
But Washington therefore presides with applaufe,
Becaufe he 1 vtll merits the 'Doctor of Laws.
I'll ne'er be a ruler till I'm L. L. D.
Nor England, nor Scotland (hall fend it to me,
I'll have my diploim from ['rotidenc-e Hall,
For Wa sh 1 n g to n'hi?d, or I'll havx none at all."
c io i
vancty and profufion, if I may fo exprefs myfelf of Heaven's bounties, we are
led to conclude that fuch mental ftrength and excellence as Washington pof-
ieiTed, mu(t have been properly depoiited, furnifhed with fuirable organs, and
imended for appropriate and important purpofes: And our expectations are ful¬
ly anfwered when we view him as entitled to the application of our text, by the
difpofals of an all fuperintending Providence.
Born and raifed under a tree government, he early imbibed, and always che-
riHied, and retained the facred principles of liberty, his birlh right, inviolable.
Though of refpectable defcent, anceftry need not be mentioned, where perfonal
and intrinfic worth is fo eminent and confpicuous. Nor does he derive any of
his greatnefs from the large poffeflions with which his many and diftinguilhed
virtues, and fervices, were to as great a degree as he would permit, but by na
means adequately rewarded : he conferred honor on affluence. The complicated
organ of his vaft and noble mind, a glorious fpecimen of divine ingenuity, was
moderately large, elegantly proportioned, and amply endowed with agility and
ftrength, gracefulnefs and dignity. In early youth his fuperior parts and abili¬
ties attracted public attention ; and by traverfing a tracklefs defert, obtaining
the intelligence io interefting to his beloved country, and faving Bradock*s army
on the Monongahela, from thejaws of a cruel death by mercilefs lavages, he pro¬
ved himfclf capable of the moft difficult, arduous and perilous fervices. The
figacity andprovvefs, promptitude and decifion, which he difplayed, about this
time, on feveral trying occafions, were ftrongly indicative of his future elevation.
And from the univerfal re^itude of his conduct in private and public, civil and
religious life, as well as from the proofs he had furnifhed of his great military
capacity, Prefident Davis, long before there exifted a thought of the late revo¬
lutionary war, faid from the Pulpit, "I miy point out to the public that heroic
youth, Col. ll^a/hington^vhom 1 cannot but hope, providence has hitherto preferved
for fome important fervice to his country." And this has lince aflfurned the ap-
peara ice of a divine prediction : For zve feel, and the world knows what an im¬
portant fervice he has rendered his country. When the unhappy controverfy be¬
tween Great-Britain and her thirteen American Provinces, rofe fo high, and
produced fuch effects, that the dreadful appeal to the fvvord was no longer dif-
penfible, Washington, whofe name can receive no additional luftre from
epithets, was unanimolly appointed by the reprefentatives of the American
people, to head their undifciplined troops, almoft without money or arms a-
gain ft Britijby well armed and well difciplined veterans. The bloody conflicts which
enfued, the prodigies of addrefs, valor and preferverance of the commander in
chief, and the glorious refult are well known and need not now be repeated.
His fuperiority to difficulties, to all other men embarraffing and infuperable,
uncon juerable fortitude, well-timed, and well-planned attacks on a fuperior
[ « ]
foe, and fplendid vi&ories, are clothed in all the elegance-and pomp of lan¬
guage by hiftorians and poets of the firft eminence. Uninfluenced by ambi¬
tion, when he had conduced us /even long yearst through fields of blood and
carnage, to fovereignty, independance and peace, like another Cincinnatus,hc
returned co his agricultural employments, and fought repofe in the fhades of
retirement. Through his influence, an army angry and diftrefled from painful,
important, and yet uncompenfated fervices", iheathed their fwords, and followed,
the example of their illuftrious chief!
But his well-tried, and fterling merit, united to the fplendor of his talents,
and the unbounded confidence ofhis fellow-citizens, foon rendered it neceflary,
from the inefficacy of our Governmental arrangements, that he ihould again
embark on the ftormy fea of politics. Summoned by his country, to whom he
could deny nothing, to aflift in forming, and adopting our prefent energetic*.yes
free and happy conftitution, he readily obeyed ; and after the accomplifhmcnc
ofthele important objects, he was called by the unanimous voice, of, at leaft,
three millions of people to prefide overthefe Sovereign and Independent States.
To the prcfidential chair he continued a noble ornament, by the united wi{h of
his grateful country, who delighted to honor him-, eight yearst and difcharged
the important duties of this high ftation with his ufual wifdom and firmnefs, in¬
tegrity and redtifude. And after retiring the fecond time, in full poHellion of
the affections and confidence of the people, to the folitude which he was as ca¬
pable of enjoying, as of adorning public life, he was prevailed on, tho' hoary
with years, and covered with glory, to accept the command of our armies, when
the political hemifphere wore a moft menacing and wrathful afpedt, Behold
the greateft General in the world, tho' on the borders of three fcore and ten, in
obedience to his much indebted country, ready, again, to take the field againlt
her infulting foes 1
And fo obvipus was the policy of this appointment, that it was anticipated, as-
well as ardently wifhed by every intelligent citizen. His martial and auguft
appearance, the found ofhis name and voice, the glance ofhis experienced eye,
and the lightning ofhis fuordat the head of our armies, rendered them gloriouf-
ly enthufiaftic, and abfolutely invincible ! But great as he was by nature, a libe¬
ral education, and the difplay and perfection ofhis fuperior powers, natural and
acquired, in fpheres of acftion the moft confpicucus, elevated and important, he"
was ft\\\greaterhv the invaluable gifts of the God of grace. Confidered as ag¬
grandized by thefe, our text applies to him- with the utmofi propriety and force !
Know ye not that a great man, the greateft of men, is fallen ?
He would have been equalled by feveral if he had not fhone in the mild ma-
jefty of morals and religion. This luftre, when other things are equal,
gives a decided f'lp^ricrity. Befcre, and an effential part of his honor wses
[ IS ]
"humility. He had as little of that tumid pride, which in its plenitude goes
before deftruftion, as any man on earth. lie always felt his dependance as a
man ; and trufting in the living God, whom he ferved, his boldnefs and mag-
.'nanimity, could be equalled by nothing but his modefty and humility. 13y
thefe radical advantages, he difplayed an equanimity through the mod trying
extremes of fortune, which does the higheft honor to the human character.
He was the fame whether ftruggling to keep the fragments of a naked army
together in the difmal depths of winter, a^ainft a greatly fuperior foe, orpreli-
ding under the laurel wreath over four millions of iree men !
Fie was too great to be denreffed or elated by any thing that ceafcs with this
life.
<f 'Tis moral grandeur makes the mighty man.
<( How little they who think ought great below !"
V/asiiington's as all true wifdom ever did, and always muft, began with the
fear, which was the only fear he ever knew, t he fear of the Lord of Hafts: And
this was truly filial, for its tranfcendently glorious objetfl, was equally the object
of his fuprcme a i reel ion.
Thefe divine and immortal principles preferved his tongue from every fpecies
of profanity, and not only his actions but his heart from pollution. Alexander
conquered the world ; but far from ruling his fpirit, or being in any refpccl: his
own mafter, he fell an early and loathfome facrificc to intemperance. Far
greater than Alexander the great, was Washington : He ruled his appetites
and pa (lions in lcenes of the great eft: trial and temptation ; and will remain
forever a bright example, to all men, of temperance and moderation in all
things, as well as a (hiking contraft to all, tf The rational foul kennels ofexeefs."
His piety, though like his other fhining excellencies unauftentatious, was
genuine and exalted. Through the veil of all his modeft: referve, it was difco-
verable in the whole tenor of his conduct, and efpecially in his admirable and ap¬
propriate anfwersto the numerous addrelles of his almoft adoring fellow-citizens,
where he uniformly, and with glo wing gratitude afcribes all the glory of his un-
parrelled fucceffes to God.
How high chrijlianily ftood in his eftimation, and how near its interefts lay
to his heart, every one may fee, who has read his excellent anfwers to the con¬
gratulatory addreffes of various religious bodies, on his firft election to the chief
magiftracy of theie United States. And his opinion of religion in a political
view, I will do myfelf the honor to give you in his own words ; fo that though
alas! he is dead, he ftill to his weeping country thus fpeaketh : " Of all the
difpofitions and habits which lead to political profperity, religion and morality,
are indifpenfable fupports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of pat-
riotifm, who fhould labor to fubvert thelc great pillars of human happinefs,
C »3 ]
thefe firmeft props of the duties of men artd citizens* The mere politician^
equally with the pious man, ought to refpect and cherifh them. A volume
could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it
limply be afked, where is the fecurity for property, for reputation, for life, if
thefenfe of religious obligation defert the oaths which are the inftruments of in-
veftigation in courts of juftice? And let us with caution indulge the fuppolition,
that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to
the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar ftru&ure, reafon and
experience both forbid us to expeft that national morality can prevail in exclu-
lion of religious principles. 'Tis fubfiantially true, that virtue or morality is a
neceflary fpring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or
lefs force to every fpecies of free government. Who that is a lincere friend to
it can look with indifference upon attempts to {hake the foundation of the fa-
brick \ Promote then, as an objedl of primary importance, inftitutions for the
general diffufion of knowledge ; in proportion as the ftrudture of a government:
gives force to public opinion, it is efTential that public opinion fhould be en¬
lightened."
Ye winds, waft thefe fentiments on your fwift pinions ; and ye fun-beams re¬
cord them in more than golden chara&ers, throughout the political world !
American, Englifh, French, and all other politicians, hear him who was as
famous in the cabinet, as formidable in the tented field ! In proportion as he is
regarded, will be prevented the effufion of blood ; hoftilities will ceafe, and
order and confidence between rulers and the ruled, individuals and nations,
•willenfue.
The efTential advantages of religion, in a political light, were difcovered
clearly, and felt impreflivi-ly by the American fage, whofe eagle eye diftin-
guifhed plainly betwixt vain pretenders to religion, and its real poffeffors ; and
whofe cool deliberative fagacity, difcerned the difference between genuine re¬
ligion, as delineated in the holy fcriptures, and the empty forms, grofs. adulter¬
ations, and fhameful abufes of it. And it is difficult to determine, whether
he were' moft correft and eminent in religious theory or practice. But one
thing, and that of vaft importance, is evident: Bright as this fun of human
glory fhone, with the fweetly blended rays of morality and religion, through
every ftage, and in every condition of life, like the cloudlefs ftarof day, gently
and with increafing majefty, finking beneath the weftern horizon, his mild
eifulgence was greateft in death !
" His mind was tranquil and ferene't
No terrors in his looks were feen ;
A Saviour*s Jmile difpeWd the gloom,
And fmooth'd his pajfage to the tomb."
t 14 3
O Death ! never hadft thou, but in one aftonifhing inftance fuch a prifoner
before !
A victory which enraged Britain's cannon>fzvord and gold though well iriedt
could never eiiedt is thine ! But monfter ! fpare thy ghaftly fmile ! momentary
will 'be thy triumph ! As the declining fun, by divine energy, foon afcends
with renewed fplendors, Washington fhall ere long burft thy bands afun-
der, all immortal! A while venerable {hade I we muft leave tljiy precious
remains enfhrined by trembling hands, with folemn pomp, and thy deathlefs
pare under the fublime character, of the fpirit of ajuft man made perfed:,
in lively and well founded hope of their reunion, and of the confummation of
thy glory and felicity ! And is a great man fallen ? Is Washington no more ?
Alas is he gone ! gone forever! The conqueror of royal armies and their migh¬
ty generals, the late Frelident of the United States, and later Commander in chief
of the American armies, is fallen! The father, friend, benefactor and bulwark
of his country, is fallen! Washington is fallen! A fcene of action the moft bril¬
liant; a life with virtuous and heroic deeds, the moft luminous, is now the fubject
of eulogy ! All the refpectful, affedionate, and aggrandizing epithets, contained
in our language, are employed in vain> to fet hi? exalted merit in an adequately
confpicuous point of light: And we anticipate the elaborate productions of rival
pens of the firft diftinction, now moving with celerity and ardor, to give an
admiring world the life of Washington : But to draw his true portrait is more
than mortal hands can do; " It merits a divine." t( When he went out to the
gate, through the city, when he prepared his feat in the ftreet, the young men
law him and hid themfelves; and the aged arofe and flood up ; the princes
refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth; the nobles held their
peace and their tongues cleaved to the roof of their mouth. When the ear
heard him, then it bleffed him ; and when the eye faw him, it gave witnefs to
him ; becaufe he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherlefs, and him that
had none to help him. The blefling of him that was ready to perilh, came
upon him ; and he caufed the widow's heart to ting for joy. He put on righte-
oufnefs, and it clothed him ; his judgment was a robe and a diadem. He was
eves to the blind, and feet to the lame; he was a father to the poor, and the
caufe that he knew not he fearched out. And he brake the jaws of the wicked,
and pluckt the fpoil out of his teeth." To this inimitable fketch by the pencil
of infpiration, let us add, in iilent grief for our irreparable lofs, badges of deep
mourning, melting eyes and bleeding hearts, which will more emphatically cx-
prefs his worth than the fublimeft imagery, and the moft glowing encomiums
in the hands of Erudition and Art.
And permit me toobferve, that the greateft honor of all that we can do to his
memory, and the beft improvement that we can make of his life and death,
[ IS ]
is to imitate his virtuous and pious examples! And this may be done by thofe
of the tendereft capacities, and in the loweft ranks of fociety.
,f Honor and fame from no condition rife,
Aft-v6ell your part there all the honor lies.**
My fair hearers, may I not hope that you will, do more than weep ? 7'his is
natural, it is becoming, it is unavoidable. Many of you could not refrain from
tears when, fome years ago, you faw the face of the hero who had, for you, en¬
dured fo many painful years of fatigue, and hardfhips of all kinds, amidft dan¬
gers in all forms : Much more abundantly muft your tears flow, now you hear
your great friend and benefaftor, is no more, Mourn with his venerable relictt
finking under ftupendous grief, for him who has flain your enemies, faved your
country, and put on ornaments of gold upon your apparelBut I am
perfuaded you will do more\ you will, like the great and virtuous Washington",
in your meafure, increafe the dignity and happinefs of human nature j you will
adorn by your folid, though private virtues, focial life, of which you were inten¬
ded to be thebrighteft ornaments.
War-worn veterans t venerable fathers L you muft feci the moll pungent
grief for him who led you in battle and to .victory : And having enjoyed the
advantages of his glorious examples, both in the peaceful cabinet, And on the
hoftile plains, you need not be reminded of your fpecial obligations to patriotic
virtue, and genuine piety.
He has taught you how to live and how to die.
Painfully tender, on this folemn occafion, muft be the feelings of you, my
fellow citizens, who lately,*at the appearance of danger ftepped forward, \virh
an honorable zeal, in your country's defence. Your great commander in chief,
is fallen ! I Tee you feel the fhock, and yop need not wifti to conceal it,
Mafculine cheeks bedew'd with tears.,
Become the auguft occafion j
Nor need they blulh, fhould heaving figlis
• Efcapethe manly breaft, to day.
We have fuftained, our country, and the world have fuftained m fo&mcn lof:\ ■
Nations fhould mourn. Our Nation dees mourn. Our venerable and much belo-vt ,i
chief magistrate, the fupreme council of the land, our bereaved armies, rifin^
navy, cities, towns and villages, exhibit a widely-extended, cndlefsly-divcrfified,
and moft melancholy fcene of deep mourning ! All chriftian and mafonic focie-
ties with an honeft pride and exultation claiming Washington as their Brother,
are laudably ambitious of making the moft em'phatical cxprefiions of their
fraternal regard and affe<ftion. The Cincinnatiy after thefe, in particular, and all
other focieties in general; and in fineall delcriptions of the American people, haw
Varioufly, and yet as with one voice, tefiified their high refpeel, and melt Cordial
C '6 1
altection, for the dear and illuflrious objecft of their common attachment.
" Knozv ye not that there is a great man fallen?" Methinks I hear the hono¬
rable Cuy Council, and the reft of the worthy magiftrates prefent, the officers
of all grades, the reverend clergy, the congregation who llatedly meet here, and
the refpedlable refidue of this vaft mourning concourfe, reply—Alas ! too well
we know it ! the moft callous heart feels it! Washington is indeed fallen!
The awful report is propagated in thunder along the North American coaft,
and reverberates in tremendous accents from the diftant hills ! The fhock of
Mount Vernon, trembling from the fummit to its affrighted centre, fhakes the
Continent from New-Hamplhire to Georgia ! O fatal, and Jolitary Mount!
Vernon is an appellation that no longer becomes thee, and may thine appear¬
ance correfpond with thy fituation ! No more let cheerful green array thee !*
Tiiine august inhabitant is fallen! But words are vain! Come
more exprcfiive f:lencet we refign the unutterable thtme to thee !
QkQk
* As federal of the Author's friends politely hinted that when the following
imprecations on Mount Vernon were delivered from the pulpit, in imitation of
David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan, fome thought them liable to an
unfavorable conftrudiion, he has excluded them from the fermon, but to prevent
any miftake as to their matter, amongft the numbers who heard them, they are
retained in this place :—
When vernal funs return, let vernal {howersand dews withhold their wonted
influence, and perpetuate thy melancholy hue ! Let germinating fap no more
afcend thy variegated fhrubs and trees ! Odoriferous breezes wake there no more ?
Barren as Gilboa, fatal to Jonathan and Saul, let blading winds henceforward
howl through the defolated manfion of that Pale Mount !
JrsrttJr»rs<>srs{ font Jt52T{irsPtfWAi Wort Jrir^ Sri^rJ'
T H E P R A Y E Rr
R' '-' '' . 5 .,. ... ...... ...
IG HT F UE' Sovereign of ihe tiniverfe ! - divinely aw Jul 'Jehovah ! We ap- ,
proach thine exalted Majefty with- fupreme veneration, and the mofi profound
awe ! -. ■ ' ...
That.the Lord our God is infinitely Wofthy of religious adoration, ive acknowl¬
edge with the deep eft' pr'oftrationoffoul. All truly enlightened creatures, from
• Ihe weakeft of frail men,- to theinoft illuftrious in moral Jirength and excellence,■
ivorjhip thee as the unoriginated and ejfential fource of being, perfection, and feli¬
city 1 Eternity is thy' time t commenj'urate with immenfity is thy prefence 7 and
ihe united powers of the whole cr'eatio'n are incapable of rendering ihee adequate
\praije I Thine ejjence is love : wonderful thy Councilexcellent' thine operation>
ia.nd infinite the expanfe of thine ability I Supreme intelligence infinitely zvife de-
fign, and boundlefs benevolence, are glorioufly difplayed itrail thy works, and in
all thy ways ! Thine eyes pervade the ejfences, relations and properties of all
things, and furvey futurity's dark abyfsl
With dread ferenity thou walkeft'on the wings of the wind,- and the clouds are
the duji of thy fe'ett Thou haft thy way in the.zvhirlzvind, and in the Jl or m, and
thy footfteps are in the' deep-watfrs ! But judgment and r'ighteoufnefs encompafs"
thy throne. When zve behold thee arrayed, in thefefublimely awful perfections, as
the uncontrolable arbiter of life and death, we are confltained to dequiefee in thy
righteous difpenfations. Reafon and experience render it probable/ and thy word,'
which is truth, affures us, that all things, however diftreffing in themfelves, are
interefting in their ifjues to all who lozie and ferve thee.' -This is our confolation
under the bereavement and great lofs fuffered by our nation, in the removal of thy
fervant, the commander in chief of her' armies, from time to eternity.' It is the
Lord of Hofts, and judge of the whole earth, who hath done it. Though we mourn,
we do not murmur / nor is our forrozv like theirs who have no hope J- By the light
of divine revelation thou haft gracioufty enlarged our mental prgfpetts, and ena¬
bled us to dif cover thy kind fuperintendence[of.our affairs.
With unfeigned gratitude we acknozvledge that thou haft done great things
for, and by our deceafed brother : We render thee our united thanks jir his crea¬
tion-, for the amiable and excellent difpojilions, found principles and uncommon
abilities which he pojfeffed j for his zvonderfulprefervation thro* ^an azvful feries
of dangers j for the many ejfential ferviceshe rendered our country ; and more ef-
pecially for the hope andfortitude, fereyfity and compofure, with which he refigned
his foul to thee.
We praife thee as the God of Grace for the fair examples of public and private
yirtue, and of eminent piety which he has left for our imitation. And permit its'
Jto hefeecb thee of thine infinite goodnefsy to fanBify his diffolution to this weeping
country* May a double portion of the admit able fpirit which he pojfeffedt rejt on
mr Rulers! that all who are clothed with either iegi]lative9 judicial, or execu¬
tive powert may be inftrumental in preferving our many and dijlinguifhed bke(Jingsp
and in effectually promoting all the important interefts of Jbefe United States*
And may that firm perfuafion of the importance of Religion* which .eminently Aftin—
gui/hed the invaluable deceafedtf9 pervade and penetrate mr .own* and the minds
of mr fellow~eitizenst that the bleffed Qofpei maydiffufe, it sdivine influence, and
exert its transforming efficacy throughout this favored land I that all vice may be
fuppreffed, virtue and piety promoted? mr excellent government perpetuated, and
our civil and religious liberties and privileges* tranfmiited unimpaired to the
lat efi pofierity !. . •, „ -
Grant thefe inefiimable bleffings> &nd fpeedily extend, not only thy providential,
but fpecial, goodnefs and mercy to all men> we humbly entreat thee, O God! for
the fake of'Jefus Gbrijl, our only and divine Mediator, to whom with theet and
the fpirit of all grace> be cordially afcribed all honor and dominion, "by fiien and an¬
gels, world without end! Amen,
CONCLUDING HYMN.
** TT OW long (hall death the tyrant reign,
JL JL And triumph o'er the juft ?'*
ffour long Qiall Washington remain
A prifoner in the auft ?
Lo, I behold the fcatter'd (hades.
The dawn of Heaven appears;
The Tweet immortal morning fpreads
Its blulhes round the fpheres.
1 fee the Lord of glory come,
And flaming guards around;
The ikies divide to make him room,,
The trumpet (hakes the ground.
I hear the voice, " Ye dead artfe !'*
A ad lo th« graves obey:
And waking faints with joyful eyea
Salute the' expefted day.
They leave the duft and oh the wing
Rife to the midway air^
In ftiining garments meet their King!
~ And low adore him there,"