so may we, hesitate at no sacrifice and shrink from no danger for the preservation of our integrity. As he was, so may we be, forbearing considerate and kind in all the intercourse of life. As he did, so may we, each and all of us, regard as the great end for which we came into the world, to bear witness to the truth.' We may not be called on to bear our testimony in the same form as he was; but we may, in our humble sphere, bear it as conscientiously and effectivelywith a love as pure, and a devotion as ardent as his. Why not? If there be in us the same fidelity to obligations imposed, and trusts committed, as there was in him, is there any reason to doubt that the spirit will be imparted to us, as it was to him, without restriction? The example of our Saviour, I apprehend, is rendered less powerful on our hearts by our not distinguishing as we ought, between his miraculous powers, and his moral attainments. With the former of these we have no concern. They were given him for a specific and most important purpose; but they formed no part of his character-they did not distinguish him as a moral agent, from others. They constituted, indeed, a part, and a most important part of the probation to which his virtue was subjected. They were a trust committed to him, involving a high and solemn responsibility; and for his fidelity to which, along with others, 'God hath highly exalted him.' But this peculiarity in his condition touches not us, and ought not to diminish the force of his general example. This is distinctly proposed for our imitation. And we can imitate it. Guided by its light, and drawn by its power, we may follow -at humble distance, perhaps, but still drawing nearer -we may follow in his footsteps.

M. L. H.

ON THE FESTIVAL OF THANKSGIVING.

THE festival of our Thanksgiving bears the closest resemblance to the Jewish Festival denominated sometimes the feast of tabernacles' or of tents, and at others 'the feast of ingathering.' The Jewish Festival was designed originally to commemorate the passage of the Hebrews through the wilderness; and the people were required to dwell for several days in booths or tents as they did in the journey from Egypt. As this feast of tabernacles was instituted to commemorate God's goodness in providing for the Israelites, during their wanderings, and in bringing them to a land flowing with milk and honey; it was appropriately made, also, an autumnal festival, a feast of ingathering. The time of this festival was at the year's end;' being in October. As the people had originally passed through the wilderness, and had come into a land of abundance, so in the close of every year they had passed through another year of Heaven's protection, and had found their granaries and their dwellings stored with Heaven's bounty. It was meet, then, that they should rejoice, and give thanks in a public, and solemn, and cheerful commemoration of their Maker's goodness. Therefore, the Lawgiver said to them, Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine.' And he proceeds to describe the spirit and intent of the required festivities. He says,' thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite,and the stranger, and the fath

erless and the widow, that are within thy gates. Because the Lord thy God will bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thy hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.' (Deut. xvi. 13—16.)

To this Jewish Institution, I have said the festival of our Thanksgiving bears a striking resemblance. It bears a resemblance even to the complex character of the ancient commemoration, as being both historical and autumnal. Historical allusions are, indeed, less frequent both in the proclamations of our magistrates and the sermons of our preachers, as we depart farther from the scenes and sympathies of the old time. It is natural for the same reason, that the sense of immediate blessings, such as the bounties of the season, the stores of autumn, should press upon our attention, and occupy a larger space in our thoughts. But in former times, it was common to speak much of the good hand of God that led our fathers through the sea and through the wilderness, that sustained them amidst the perils of the ocean and the threatnings of famine on a wintry coast, and the machinations of savage foes, and opened for them, at length, a secure refuge in the broad and beautiful land we inhabit.

This double commemoration, like the union of the feast of tabernacles and of the feast of ingathering in the Jewish festival, is at least, extremely suitable for us; and I shall make it the basis of some suggestions on the propriety and utility of our own anniversary.

It is in speaking of its propriety, that I shall find the principal occasion to refer to the two objects which I have mentioned, but I would offer some remarks in the first place, on its utility. Recreation and festivity, even

of the purest and most domestic character, are so litthe thought of, as having any connexion with the public welfare, they are so commonly regarded as no better and no other than trifles and vanities, that it may seem singular that a religious man should concern him self with recommending them. There are some who mistake gravity for wisdom, and demureness for seriousness, and who are scarcely able to think of him as either serious or wise, who contemplates among the provisions for the public improvement and happiness, a due intermixture of needful relaxation and innocent gaiety.

1. In the first place, then, let me speak of the utility of a custom like our festival of Thanksgiving. I am not, indeed, about to say that it has any very great, or very important influence. It occurs too rarely to exert any such influence. All that it is necessary to maintain is that its effect, so far as it goes, is good. And I consider it as singularly excellent. It is a remarkable fact, that there is no other known festival or holiday, either in this or any other country, which has not been so much abused as to make the expediency of its celebration, questionable. Even the festival of Christmas, and this too, sometimes, in our own country, where it is celebrated with comparatively little display or expense, is strangely perverted from its original design—so that the expediency of a general observance of it, is very much to be doubted. Sacred as it is, in its origin and its recollections, it is undoubtedly made the occasion of far more excess and more frivolity when it is observed, than the festival of Thanksgiving. And as to celebrating the anniversary of our National Indepen

sence.

dence, in the manner in which it has commonly been done-I say, has been done, for I trust, that some improvement is taking place-but in the mode of celebration that has prevailed, it is, I believe, more than questionable. Meanwhile the day of Thanksgiving has been kept with a remarkable degree of order and decency. And this, I think, is owing cheifly to the domestic character of the observance. Throughout New England, the Thanksgiving has been an occasion for the assembling of families, Sons and daughters return to their homes. Brothers and sisters meet after a term of abParents behold themselves surrounded with their children. It is the festival of kindred. It is the feast of our nativity. Its incense ascends to the roof, beneath which our childhood dwelt. In such circumstances, it is almost impossible to fall into any improper indulgences. Revelling and excess around the paternal board, in the presence of sisters, parents, children, is a thing that can hardly take place, under any circumstances; by no means, among near relations, that experience the first tenderness and warmth of friendship that an occasional meeting inspires. At least, you must go to the feasting halls of a ruder people than we are, to find anything so unseemly and

monstrous.

Nor do I think it an indifferent circumstance that this opportunity is given, for the strengthening of the domestic ties; and I may add, for the prevention of domestic jealousies and misunderstandings. It is the custom in some countries, for friends who have been at variance, on the New-Year's day, to meet and be reconciled. And the Thanksgiving assemblies may indi