the war of the
Revolution, and exhorted his hearers to cherish the memory of the men
who had consecrated their lives and fortunes to Liberty, and sealed
that consecration with their blood. Warming with his subject, his eyes
shone with a brighter lustre and seemed gazing into a far future, as
in prophetic tones he proclaimed the advent of the latter days, when
the beacon fires of Freedom kindled on the mountain tops of the new
Canaan should send their streaming rays across the seas, and the
kingdoms of this world should become the heritage of God and of His
Christ. "Seeing these things are so, brethren," he concluded, "seeing
that God hath chosen you unto himself for a peculiar people, the weak
things of the world to confound the strong, the rejected, the cast
away and despised, to be held up as an example to the wondering
and admiring nations, what manner of men ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness?"

Such is an imperfect sketch of the remarks of Mr. Robinson. With such
language sought the ministers in times past to keep alive the flame
of patriotism, and to inspire with humility, yet animate with a just
pride. Nor are such discourses thrown away. They do much towards the
formation of a national character.

Long as was the sermon--and of not a moment of its orthodox length was
it defrauded--it was listened to with the deepest attention, by the
older members, especially, of the congregation. The grave decorum of
a place of public worship forbade any open exhibition of approval, but
more than one knit brow and lighted eye, betrayed the emotions excited
by the allusions. Let it be remembered, it was nearer the times that
tried men's souls; the later events were fresh in their memory; some
of the hearers, perhaps, had borne a personal part in them, and all
were animated by the generous fire of '76--sparks of which, we trust,
still glimmer in the bosoms of their descendants. What to us, in
these colder and as some say more worldly days, might have seemed
extravagant, if not vain-glorious, was to them sober truth; and
if there were any who, perverting into poison what was meant for
wholesome nutriment, thanked God that they were not as other men,
there were others who, without losing their humility, felt an impulse
given to the nobler feelings.

At the conclusion of the services, there was the usual grasping of
hands, and congratulations of the season, and inquiries after healths,
and encomiums on the ser