them. The amiable Dorcas, who made them, but a few days before, was in the land of the living. Her fingers, then so nimble in her daily employment, were now cold and motionless! And but for the interposition of a merciful Savior, they were to move no more forever! The coats and garments then before them, were valuable monuments of what they once could do. They were monuments of the skill, ingenuity and diligence of their authoress. In her works, there was a sample of the living before them; in her remains, a sample of the dead. They could then most feelingly unite in the mingled emotions, arising from a contemplated view of the living and the dead.

The works of antiquity, as the remaining and living testimonies of what the dead once were, present themselves to the human mind, with a kind of solemn veneration. Through them we contemplate those we never saw, in active employment; those who have long since vanished from the view of mortals. Successive generations have each in their turn left our world, and their works to each other, till we have become the occupants of those places that are to know their former inhabitants no more. How soon must the seats we occupy be left for those who are yet to come upon the stage of action! who are yet hidden in the arcana of posterity!

It is not unworthy of our notice, that the moment a friend leaves us, their works are viewed, like the works of antiquity, with peculiar emotions of mind. Such was the case in former times, and such is the state of the human mind now. When Peter was called to behold the remains of Dorcas, the coats and garments which she had made, were viewed with impressive emotions of solemnity and grief. They were then to be classed with the things of old time. How soon had the change taken place! But a short time before, and Dorcas was their fellow-laborer!

Examples of this kind are numerous in our day. Go, visit the house of mourning. Has the deceased been a man of the field? You are shown the works of his hands; some peculiar labor is selected, and noticed as a token of future remembrance. Was he a husband? with what emotions of indescribable tenderness do you find his virtues and faithfulness mentioned by his remaining and surviving friend. But was the deceased a wife? Was she a mother? Then a numerous train of worthy deeds are presented to our view. The interests of a faithful and affectionate wife, the watchfulness of a careful mother, present incidents too numerous for us to particularize. Like the coats and garments of Dorcas, they will be mentioned with a look of tenderness and grief, which the bereft situation of the lonely husband and motherless children alone can describe. Even the child, or the little infant seldom departs without leaving something peculiarly impressive in the memory of its friend; some noble deed, some attracting gesture, or beautiful smile. Things altogether unnoticeable among numerous cares and much prosperity, are carefully and impressively treasured in the memories of those who have lost the precious objects of their affections, before those objects were capable of expressing their pleasure at any thing visible whatever. How does human experience bear testimony to these things? and how precious in the eyes of the living are the impressive recollections of those actions and labors which their friends have left behind them. They are to them as the coats and garments of Dorcas were to those widows who surrounded her pale visage, then shrouded in death.

The deceased person whom we now call to remembrance, was one whom most of us never saw, as she lived and died in another State. But we are acquainted with some of her friends. Two of her brothers are our townsmen, and members in our society. They re

member their departed sister. The many occurrences which have taken place during a long acquaintance, are now fresh in their memories, and impressive on their minds. Let us then participate in this social and solemn interest, which seriously calls upon us to mourn with those that mourn, and to perform the office of a united remembrance of departed worth.

The great and renowned of the earth are the usual topics of the writer, the orator and the poet. Their deeds are in the mouths of the multitude, and are sounded in the language of wonder and admiration. But the works of one who occupies a humble, tho laborious and diligent part in life, are little thought of. They are performed without noise and tumult; they are therefore, passed over as unworthy of notice.

That person who diligently and faithfully fulfils the duties of private life, tho he acts a part of less renown, often acts that which is of equal, and, sometimes, superior merit. Take away the labors of those who are in private life, and society is destroyed at once. But let us for a moment compare the renowned exploits of the hero. What does he? He acts a most conspicuous part in some mighty deed of value, perhaps for a few hours; and for this his name is rung around the world. But the labors of the person in the humble and usual employments which are allotted to the far greater portion of the human race, are the labors of life; they are the labors of unremitted diligence.

Having offered the preceding observation, let us proceed in our remarks, and notice particularly the following relations of life. 1st. The relation of a sister. 2d. Of a wife. 3d. Of a mother. 4th. Of a widow.

The relation of a sister calls to mind many peculiar circumstances and incidents of life. It brings up the thoughts of a father's board. Was she one of the elder of the family? Then may we contemplate her under the

immediate care of our parents as rendering us many benefits, and much assistance in the early part of our lives. If she were one of the younger; then was she measurably an object of our early care and affection. In either case we contemplate a sister as one early in our society, and a fellow-partaker with us in the mutual cares and admonitions of our parents. She was one with us in our first love of human society. When our eyes gazed on every object around us as new and wonderful, she was one in the company of admirers. When former objects were changed for those that invited the attention of maturer years, behold our sister was pressing along with us; she acted her part in travelling from infancy, with all the variety of youthful exploits, till age exchanged them for the real business and cares of human life. From all these circumstances in the social relation of life, arise many things calculated strongly to unite the affections, and render the remembrance of many things very impressive and striking to the mind.. Once were we thus in active employment; but now we only carry those things along with us, in our memories and in our books.

But we find that one sphere of action in life often succeeds to another. When we contemplate the relation of a wife, we find many things from this social connexion, which we account worthy of remembrance. We find much that impresses our minds, in a most peculiar manner, the moment we contemplate that the faithful companion is no more. Her faithfulness in the employment of the duties that belong to the house, secludes her much more than her husband, from the noise and bustle of the world. She is therefore less exposed to the temptations of many evil habits, than the stronger sex. The influence of her industry and retired habits, are often of invaluable consequence to her husband.

Again, we further observe, we perceive in this additional situation of life, the progress of life's experience. Brothers and sisters from early childhood, we behold travelling together in their experience, acquirements and friendship in that stage of life in which they form social connexions, and refine on those good principles which they received in earlier life. By enlarging the sphere of acquaintance, and at the same time, expanding the social affections, people become qualified for more extensive usefulness, and, in the same proportion, render themselves valuable in human society.

The relation of the wife becomes still more interesting,. when we contemplate that she has become a mother. Here arise many valuable traits of character, which are no where else to be found in human society. In the mother we look for the most refined affection and vigilant attachment to her offspring that human nature can possibly experience. Hence the affection of the mother is used in scripture to prefigure the love of our Father in heaven. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." Isai. xlix. 15, 16. How much are many of us indebted to the advice and watchfulness of a faithful mother, for many virtues which we have imbibed and practised, in the course of our lives. These are little thought of in the days of youth; but in maturer years, and especially, when those faithful guardians of our early days are no more, they rest on our minds with an impressive importance. The coats and garments of Dorcas cannot bear an equal comparison with a remembrance of the kindness and watchful care of a departed mother. Many of us have been called to experiences of this nature. We have known what it was to receive the friendly benefits of a