GENTLEMEN :

Your attention to the following Discourse when it was delivered, and your unanimous request to have it printed, induce me, for the first time to publish a Sermon.

I should have felt less difficulty in complying with your request had my discourse been a written one; as, in that case, I could have presented you with it in the exact state in which it met your approbation. But having delivered it, according to my usual method, from notes, I can now only hope to present it in substance : though it has been my endeavour to retain the expression also; even to the adinitting of repetitions, which would otherwise need an apology.

Some sentiments, however, will doubtless occur to your memories which have escaped mine : and such deficiency I hope to repair by the addition of others contained in my notes, which a fear of detaining you too long on the Sunday obliged me then to omit.

That a divine blessing may attend your exertions,--and that they may soon be rendered unnecessary by a lasting peace, and that happy period be hastened when the nations shall learn war no more,-—is and shall be the fervent prayer of, gentlemen, Your most Faithful and Obedient Humble Servant,

RICHARD CECIL.

THE TRUE PATRIOT.

1 Sam. xvii, 29.

And David said, What have I now done?

Is there not a cause :

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Invited as I am to address my fellow citizens, associated at this important crisis; and much as I must approve their zeal for the public safety, and still more that which leads them to present themselves this morning before God in his House of Prayer; yet I cannot but lament the Occasion. To meet every where peaceable citizens in arms! to hear fields and dens daily echo with the din of mártial exercises ! Surely this bespeaks a time critical-alarming-new! a time, which a minister cannot but feel, and ought not to neglect. Far from my heart be that frigid indifference, which refuses to take an interest in what affects so many: ‘For who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?'

But since, in times like these, it is of high importance first to settle our principles of action, and then to pursue them with firmness and vigour, I have selected an instance in the text, which, in both these respects, may stand as our example.

Israel had sinned: the scourge of an offended Gođ was now suspended over them; and the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle. On this occasion, an old Israelite had sent three of his eight sons to join Saul and the men of Israel; while the youngest, who had lately gone with his harp to relieve the troubled spirit of the king, was now returned to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper--and came to the trench, as the host was going forth to fightand ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

Here it was that he contemplated the approaching storm, which threatened to overwhelm his country. Here he saw the battle in array with fierce invaders, preceded by a champion whose stature and prowess were only to be equalled by his pride and blasphemy. He heard no terms proposed but absolute submission and slavery. He saw no face which was not blackened with fear; and, as the terror approached, Israel Aed.

A holy indignation rose in the bosom of the young shepherd. A holy flame kindled within him, to take away the reproach from Israel. Yet, considering what an obscure stripling he was, he could only speak by inquiries. What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God ?

Jealousy is cruel as the grave; and who can stand before envy? Eliab, his eldest brother, heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, WHAT HAVE I NOW DONE? IS THERE NOT A CAUSE ?

That this was a holy flame which kindled in his

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breast, is evident from the event: that it was tempered with wisdom, may be gathered from the reply. He would hazard every thing in producing a unity of effort; nothing, that could tend to break it.

"What have I now done," as if he had said, "that should provoke such bitter reflection? What have I now done, that I ought not to have done? If I am come down, is it not in obedience to my father's commands? If, when I came, I felt indignation at the blasphemies which I heard, is there not a cause for indignation? If I even feel and express my desire to withstand the enemies of my country and of my God in their impiety and rage-tell me, WHAT HAVE I NOW DONE? IS THERE NOT A CAUSE ?""

These words of David suggest to us the following general remark for our consideration:

EXTRAORDINARY OCCASIONS WARRANT EXTRAORDINARY EXERTIONS; IN WHICH, RIGHTLY TO ENGAGE, DISTINGUISHES THE GOOD CITIZEN AND THE CHRISTIAN.

Here it will be proper for us to inquire,

I. WHAT MAY BE DEEMED SUCH AN OCCASION.

To discuss this question in the abstract, were to trifle with your time: it is sufficient that I can produce such a matter of fact, as one should suppose would make an appeal to every man's bosom. If the present state of things be not such an occasion, he, who resolves to stand still till a greater presents itself, will probably wait till the opportunity for exertion is passed.

Let me ask such an one (if such an one be present) -Had David before him an implacable enemy, making an attack upon the liberty, property, and religion of his country, and threatening it, If I prevail, then shall ye be our servants?" A haughty foe, glorying in his strength-defying God and man-and treating with scorn all resistance-spreading terror by his arms, and