CHAPTER XIII.

CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON.

Let the poor witling argue all he can,
It is Religion still that makes the man.

WHEN the children of the years to come, hearing his great name re-echoed from every lip, shall say to their fathers, "What was it that raised Washington to such height of glory ?" let them be told that it was HIS GREAT TALENTS, CONSTANTLY GUIDED AND GUARDED BY RELIGION. For how shall man, frail man, prone to inglorious ease and pleasure, ever ascend the arduous steps of virtue, unless animated by the mighty hopes of religion? Or what shall stop him in his swift descent to infamy and vice, if unawed by that dread power, which proclaims to the guilty that their secret crimes are seen, and shall not go unpunished? Hence, the wise, in all ages, have pronounced, that "there never was a truly great man without religion."

THERE have, indeed, been courageous generals, and cunning statesmen, without religion, but mere courage or cunning, however transcendent, never yet made a great man.

"ADMIT that this can conquer, that can cheat! ""Tis phrase absurd, to call a villain great! "Who wickedly is wise, or madly brave, "Is but the more a fool, the more a knave."

No! to be truly great, a man must have not only great talents, but those talents must be constantly exerted on great, i. e. good actions-and perseveringly too--for if he should turn aside to vice-farewell to his heroism. Hence, when Epaminondas was asked which was the greatest man, himself or Pelopidas? he replied, "wait till we are aead:" meaning that

the all of heroism depends on perseverance in great and good actions. But sensual and groveling as man is, what can incline and elevate him to those things like religion, that divine power, to whom alone it belongs to present those vast and eternal goods and ills which best alarm our fears, enrapture our hopes, inflame the worthiest loves, rouse the truest avarice, and in short, touch every spring and passion of our souls in favour of virtue and noble actions.

DID SHAME restrain Alcibiades from a base action in the presence of Socrates?" Behold," says Religion, 66 a greater than Socrates is here!"

DID LOVE embolden Jacob to brave fourteen years of slavery for an earthly beauty? Religion springs that eternal love, for whose sake good men can even glory in laborious duties.

DID the ambition of a civic crown animate Scipio to heroic deeds? Religion holds a crown, at the sight of which the laurels of a Cæsar droop to weeds.

DID avarice urge Cortez through a thousand toils and dangers for wealth? Religion points to those treasures in heaven, compared to which all diamond beds and mines of massy gold are but trash.

DID good Aurelius study the happiness of his subjects for this world's glory? Religion displays that world of glory, where those who have laboured to make others happy, shall "shine like sturs for ever and for ever."

DOES the FEAR of death deter man from horrid crimes? Religion adds infinite horrors to that fear— it warns them of a death both of soul and body in hell.

In short, what motives under heaven can restrain men from vices and crimes, and urge them on, full stretch, after individual and national happiness, like those of religion? For lack of these motives, alas! how many who once dazzled the world with the glare of their exploits, are now eclipsed and set to rise no more!

THERE was Arnold, who, in courage and military talents, glittered in the same firmament with Wash

ington, and, for a while, his face shone like the star of the morning; but alas! for lack of Washington's religion, he soon fell, like Lucifer, from a heaven of glory, into an abyss of never ending infamy.

AND there was general Charles Lee, too, confessedly a great wit, a great scholar, a great soldier, but, after all, not a great man. For, through lack of that magnanimous benevolence which religion inspires, he fell into the vile state of envy: and, on the plains of Monmouth, rather than fight to immortalize Washington, he chose to retreat and disgrace himself.

THERE was the gallant general Hamilton also-a gigantic geniusa statesman fit to rule the mightiest monarchy-a soldier "fit to stand by Washington and give command." But alas! for lack of religion, see how all was lost! preferring the praise of man to that praise" which cometh from God," and pursuing the phantom honour up to the pistol's mouth, he is cut off at once from life and greatness, and leaves his family and country to mourn his hapless fate.

AND there was the fascinating colonel Burr. A man born to be great-brave as Cæsar, polished as Chesterfield, eloquent as Cicero. Lifted by the strong arm of his country, he rose fast, and bade fair soon to fill the place where Washington had sat. But alas! lacking religion, he could not wait the spontaneous fall of the rich honors ripening over his head, but in evil hour stretched forth his hand to the forbidden fruit, and by that fatal act was cast out from the Eden of our republic, and amerced of greatness for ever.

BUT why should I summon the Arnolds and Lees, the Hamiltons and Burrs of the earth, to give sad evidence, that no valour, no genius alone can make men great? Do we not daily meet with instances, of youth amiable and promising as their fond parents' wishes, who yet, merely for lack of religion, soon make shipwreck of every precious hope, sacrificing their gold to gamblers, their health to harlots, and their glory to grog-making conscience their curse, this life a purgatory, and the next a hell! In fact, a young man,

though of the finest talents and education, without religion, is but like a gorgeous ship without ballast. Highly painted, and with flowing canvass, she launches out on the deep; and, during a smooth sea and gentle breeze, she moves along stately as the pride of ocean; but, as soon as the stormy winds descend, and the blackening billows begin to roll, suddenly she is overset, and disappears for ever. But who is this

coming thus gloriously along, with masts towering to heaven, and his sails white, looming like the mountain of snows? Who is it but "Columbia's first and greatest son!" whose talents, like the sails of a mighty ship, spread far and wide, catching the gales of heaven, while his capacious soul, stored with the rich ballast of religion, remains firm and unshaken as the ponderous rock. The warm zephyrs of prosperity breathe meltingly upon him-the rough storms of adversity descend-the big billows of affliction dash: but nothing can move him. His eye is fixed on God! the present joys of an approving conscience, and the hope of that glory which fadeth not away-these comfort and support him.

"There exists," says Washington, "in the economy of nature, an inseparable connexion between duty and advantage."-The whole life of this great man bears glorious witness to the truth of this his favorite aphorism. At the giddy age of fourteen, when the spirits of youth are all on tiptoe for freedom and adventures, he felt a strong desire to go to sea: but, very opposite to his wishes, his mother declared that she could not bear to part with him. His trial must have been very severe; for I have been told that a midshipman's commission was actually in his pocket -his trunk of clothes on board the ship-his honour in some sort pledged his young companions importunate with him to go-and his whole soul panting for the promised pleasures of the voyage. But religion whispered "honour thy mother, and grieve not the spirit of her who bore thee."

INSTANTLY the glorious boy sacrificed inclination to duty-dropt all thought of the voyage-and gave tears of joy to his widowed mother, in clasping to her bosom a dear child who could deny himself his fondest wishes to make her happy.

'Tis said, that when he saw the last boat going on board, with several of his youthful friends in itwhen he saw the flash, and heard the report of the signal gun for sailing, and the ship in all her pride of canvass rounding off for sea, he could not bear it ; but turned away; and, half choaked with grief, went into the room where his mother sat. "George, my dear!" said she "have you already repented that you made your mother so happy just now? Upon this, falling on her bosom, with his arms around her neck, and a gush of tears, he said: my dear mother, I must not deny that I am sorry. But, indeed, I feel that I should be much more sorry, were I on board the ship, and knew that you were unhappy."

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WELL," replied she, embracing him tenderly, "God, I hope, will reward my dear boy for this, some day or other." Now see here, young reader ; and learn that HE who prescribes our duty, is able to reward it. Had George left his fond mother to a broken heart, and gone off to sea, 'tis next to certain that he would never have taken that active part in the French and Indian war, which, by securing him the hearts of his countrymen, paved the way for all his future greatness.

Now for another instance of the wonderful effect of religion on Washington's fortune. Shortly after returning from the war of Cuba, Lawrence (his half brother) was taken with the consumption, which made him so excessively fretful, that his own brother Augustin would seldom come near him.

But

George, whose heart was early under the softening and sweetening influences of religion, felt such a tenderness for his poor sick brother, that he not only submitted to his peevishness, but seemed, from what