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against any one, neither curse, nor revile" "When you speak of God, or his attributes, let it be seriously and in reverence.' "Let your recreations be manful, not sinful." Labor to keep alive in your breast, that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience."

That young man who will adopt, and steadfastly adhere to, such a code of rules as these for the government of his conduct when in company, may expect great peace and comfort for himself, and at the same time the high regards and sincere friendship of all who know him. Life will be passed away pleasantly, and death itself will be disrobed of some of its most formidable terrors.

HOW HE REGARDED PROFANE SWEARING.

When still a young man, and whilst commanding a portion of the British army, he applied earnestly for Chaplains to perform divine service among the troops, and in his orders he desired the officers "to punish severely any man whom they should hear swear, or make use of an oath." And when he was at the head of the American army, he gave orders to the commanding of ficers of each regiment to procure chaplains, and directed that all inferior officers and soldiers pay them suitable respect, add ing, "The blessing and protection of heaven are at all times necessary; but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and private will live and act as it becomes a christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and interests of his country." And after expressing his regret that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing had become common, and a hope that the officers would by their example, as well as by their influence, check it, he said, "And that both they and the men will reflect, that we can have little hope of the blessing of Heaven on our arms, if we insult it by our impiety and folly. Add to this, that it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character, detests and despises it."

Every well-balanced and upright mind will and must agree with Washington in all this. Profanity is certainly one of the lowest vices; and it is just as useless and foolish, as it is degrading and detestable. And yet how many young men and others are there, who daily live in the practice of this abominable and soul-destroying vice!

Another general order, issued by General Washington, in relation to profane language, and which we will transcribe in full without note or comment, is in the following words:

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"Many and pointed orders have been issued against that unmeaning and abominable custom, swearing; notwithstanding which, with much regret the General observes that it prevails, if possible, more than ever; his feelings are continually wounded by the oaths and imprecations of the soldiers. Whenever he is within hearing of them, the name of that Being from whose bountiful goodness we are permitted to enjoy the comforts of life, is incessantly imprecated and profaned in a manner as wanton as it is shocking; for the sake, therefore, of religion, decency and order, the General hopes and trusts that officers of rank will use their influence and authority to check a vice which is as unprofitable as it is wicked and shameful. If officers would make it an invariable rule to reprimand, and if that does not do, to punish soldiers for offences of tnis kind, it could not fail to have its intended effect."

GEN. WASHINGTON A MAN OF FAITH AND PRAYER.

During the session of the first Congress, of which Washington was a member, a gentleman asked Mr. Secretary Thompson, how he should be able to know Washington. Mr. Thompson replied, "You can easily distinguish him when Congress goes to prayer: Mr. Washington is the gentleman who kneels down."

In one of the most gloomy periods of the Revolution, a gentleman came to him from Massachusetts. It was the late Governor Brooks. They talked of the condition of the army and of the country. Washington shed tears, and at last said: "My only hope is in God; go back to Massachusetts and do what you can to raise men and money."

One day during the war, a countryman was passing the skirts of the woods near Washington's camp, and heard a low voice. He stopped to listen, and looking between the trees he saw General Washington engaged in prayer. On his return to his family, he said he knew the Americans would succeed, for their leader did not trust in his own strength, but sought aid from the hearer of prayer.

A young lady who lived at Valley Forge, told a friend who visited her after the army had left, that it was the habit of Washington to retire to a short distance from the camp to worship God in prayer.

It was his constant custom, as related by one of his nephews, to be instant in prayer. "One morning at day-break, says our authority, an officer came to the General's quarters with despatches. As such communications usually passed through my

hands, I took the papers from the messenger, and directed my steps towards the General's room. I heard a voice within and paused, and distinctly recognized the voice of the General. Listening for a moment, when all was silent around, I found that he was earnestly engaged in prayer. I knew this to be his habit, and therefore retired.

It is no wonder, surely, that the Americans conquered, when their captain was a man of so much faith and prayer. Here was the great secret of their success. Washington believed in God, and in his providence and government among the nations; and believing that his country's cause was a just and righteous one, he carried it before the Lord, and asked His aid in its vindication and support. The good man's prayer was heard; his army was victorious, and the united colonies became free and independent states.

After the proclamation of peace in April, 1783, General Washington directed "that the chaplains with their several brigades should render thanks to Almighty God for all his mercies, particularly for his overruling the wrath of man to his own. glory; and causing the rage of war to cease among the Nations."

After dismissing the army and assuring them that he would recommend them to their grateful country, and in his "prayers to the God of Armies," he wrote an address to the Governors of the different States, which he said he wished them to consider as the legacy of one who had ardently desired on all occasions to be useful to his country, and who even in his retirement would not fail to implore the divine blessing upon it." He concludes his invocation in these words: "And that He would be most graciously pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humanity, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion; without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation."

On resigning his commission at Annapolis, after he had finished his glorious work of freeing his country, he delivered an address to Congress, which concluded as follows: "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendance of them to his holy keeping."

WASHINGTON'S REGARD FOR THE SABBATH.

During his long and useful life, Washington had a becoming

respect for the Lord's day. In making regulations for his family, whilst he was President, he remembered the Sabbath; he always attended a place of worship, and was not accustomed to receive any visits, except those of Mr. Trumbull, who was then Speaker of Congress, and who was in the habit of spending an hour with him every Sabbath evening.

After his final retirement to private life, it was his custom to read to his family on Sunday evenings the Bible and a sermon. Sometimes he would sit as if he forgot that he was not alone, and raising his hand, would move his lips as if engaged in prayer.

In town or country he was a constant attendant upon public worship on the Sabbath, and by his devout deportment there, proved that he went there for the purpose of worshipping God. He always acknowledged by his example, that he felt it his solemn duty to keep holy the Sabbath day, and to influence others to do so as far as was in his power.

Bushrod Washington, his nephew, when he succeeded to the Mount Vernon estate, was elected a Vice President of the American Sunday School Union, and in his letter accepting the office, he concludes thus: "The Sabbath was never violated at Mount Vernon, during the life and with the permission of its former and truly christian owner."

WASHINGTON IN THE CHURCH AND AT HOME.

Early in life he was actively interested in church affairs; was a vestryman of Truro parish, in which was Pohick Church, seven miles from Mount Vernon; he was also a vestryman in Fairfax parish, the place of worship of which was Alexandria; he had a pew in each church. On a day appointed for fasting, humiliation and prayer, he wrote in his diary, "Went to church and fasted all day."

His private devotional habits were in accordance with his public life. He usually rose at 4 o'clock and went into his Library. His nephew, Mr. Robert Lewis, who was his private secretary, when he was President, said that he had accidently witnessed his private devotions, both morning and evening; that on those occasions he had seen him in a kneeling posture, with a Bible open before him; and that he believed such to have been his daily practice. A grand-daughter of Mrs. Washington, who lived in the family for twenty years, wrote a letter in 1833, which contains this remark: "It was his custom to retire to his Library at nine or ten o'clock, where he remained an hour, when he went to his chamber. He always rose before the sun, and ramained in his Library until called to breakfast. I never wit

nessed his private devotions. I never inquired about them. I should have thought it the greatest heresy to doubt his firm belief in christianity."

He always, unless a clergyman was present, asked a blessing at his own table in a standing posture. If a clergyman was present, he was requested to ask a blessing before, and return thanks after dinner.

The following touching and refreshing incident shows that General Washington was free from all religious bigotry:

While the Army lay encamped at Norristown, he called on the Rev. Dr. Jones, of the Presbyterian Church of that village, and said: "Doctor, I understand that the Lord's Supper is to be celebrated with you next Sunday; I would learn if it accords with the canon of your church to admit communicants of another denomination?" The Doctor replied, "Most certainly; ours is not the Presbyterian's table, General, but the Lord's table; and we hence give the Lord's invitation to all his followers of whatever name." The General replied, "I am glad of it; that is as it ought to be; but as I was not quite sure of the fact, I thought I would ascertain it from yourself, as I propose to join with you on that occasion.-Though a member of the Church of England, I have no exclusive partialities." Dr. Jones assured him of a cordial welcome, and he took his seat with the communicants on the next Sabbath.

We might also state numerous facts in relation to Washington's benevolence and charity, and other traits of religious character, as evidence of piety; but our space is full-the Guardian itself is not large enough to contain them.

And now, dear reader, who can doubt that the great character of Washington, as a patriot, a hero, and a statesman, was based on sound christian principles. Through all his course of trials and temptations, in adversity or prosperity, he was just, industrious, temperate, honest, generous, brave, humane and modest, a real lover of his country, and an humble worshipper of his God. Is not his example worthy of your constant and earnest imitation?

LOVE.

There's a bliss beyond all that the minstrel hath told,
When two that are link'd in one heavenly tie,

With heart never changing and brow never cold,
Love on through all ills, and love on till they die!

One hour of affection so sacred is worth

Whole ages of heartless and wandering bliss!
And oh! if there be an Elysian on Earth,

It is this, it is this.

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