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Nº a 3 - AN
ADDRESS
GRADUATES
IN
WASHINGTONI (G(OLLEGE3
DELIVERED
ON THE
ANNIVERSARY COMMENCEMENT,
SEP Tenneh 28, 1820:
BY THE
*EV. ANDREW wVLIE, PRINEIFArs,
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST
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YOUNG GENTLEMEN,
THE time has at length arrived, which puts
a period to the course of your studies at this seminary. You
are now waiting to receive its honors through us as its
constituted organ, accompanied by a few such monitory
suggestions as our present circumstances may admit:
The occasion is, in this point of view, truly affecting and
solemn ; and the duty it imposes upon us, no less difficult
than important. You have become endeared to us by the
intimacies of that relation, which has, for a considerable
time, connected us as teachers and pupils, a relation, which,
we are happy to say, has not been attended by a single un-
pleasant occurrence, and which, though it now terminates,
has, as we trust, been productive of a friendship, which
will be as lasting as life. You are now to leave us and
mingle with the general mass of society, in a world where
you will be exposed to innumerable snares, and where trou-
ble, the common lot of mortals, is, in some form or other,
surely awaiting you. We should, in these circumstances,
be chargeable with a criminal unconcern, did we not feel
towards you emotions of the tenderest solicitude. Suffer
us, then, to give expression to these emotions, in a few gen-
eral directions, which may be of use to you in after life.
And, in the first place, let me exhort you to diligence in
augmenting those attainments which you have already
made. Suffer not your present stock of knowledge to go to
waste, by neglect ; but, on the contrary, avail yourselves
of every advantage which your education affords for im-
proving it, by fresh acquisitions. Beware of sloth. The
mind, like the body, requires exercise. Its energies are
impaired by indolence; and to maintain their vigor, they
+
need the stimulus of exertion. There is, moreover, a pow-
er of expansion in the human intellect, which is increased,
rather than diminished, by the knowledge it receives. A
principle of accumulation, within certain limits, is a pro-
perty of intellectual, as well as of material wealth. In both
cases, the more we possess, the easier it is to make fur-
ther acquisitions. From this circumstance arises one of
the principal advantages of a liberal education. Take
heed, that you use and improve it. Neglect not to culti-
Yate any braich of knowledge, from the mistaken belief
that it is useless. “Knowledge is power;” and, as well as
power, may be put to bad purposes, and, under the guid-
ance of vicious principle, may produce incalculable mis-
chief; but it is not the less true, that he who is contented
to be ignorant, is not likely to be useful. In the course of
your past studies, your attention has indeed been directed
to several branches, whose connexion with the business
and pursuits of life, is, at first view, by no means obvious.
You are not, however, to lay aside the cultivation of them,
as unimportant. Though you may never have occasion to
use the language of Greece and Rome, in ordinary dis-
course; and though you may never be called to measure in-
accessible heights and distances, or to calculate eclipses,
or to assign longitudes; yet you must not, for this reason,
suppose that the time you have spent in the study of Latin
and Greek, Geometry, Algebra or Astronomy, has been
spent in vain. The knowledge of these branches of litera-
ture and science, has been, in a variety of ways, productive
of immense advantage to human society. . Its influence is
still felt among all classes, and even by those who do not
know from what quarter it proceeds. To this, the various
arts which adorn and enrich society owe their origin. To
the same cause, may be ascribed, in a great degree, that re-
finement of feeling and delicacy of sentiment, which form
the characteristic and the glory of civilized man. The
study of the Learned Languages, which it is customary with
many to decry, is calculated to produce a happy influence
upon the general state of learning. The interests of men
and the good of society depend, in a much greater degree,
upon the correct use of language, than the generality of
people are apt to imagine. I refer not, in making this re-
{j
mark, to the administration of justice, where not only the
property but the lives of citizens depend upon the knowl-
edge of words; nor yet, exclusively, to the subject of reli-
gion, where a knowledge of those languages in which that
communication of his will which it has pleased God to
make to man, was originally given, is so indispensable, es-
pecially to every public teacher of religion; but I refer
even to the common and ordinary concerns of men as pla-
ced in society. Without the use of written language, the
experience of every generation would die with them. And,
to the learned languages are we indebted for all we know
of the state of the world and of the progress of improve-
ment, from the dawn of Philosophy down to modern times.
Besides, it is the property ...}}| living languages to be
in a state of perpetual change. Words, as well as those
that use them, are mortal. Some fall into disuse, and be-
come obsolete. Others gradually put off their original mea-
ning and assume one altogether new ; while others, again,
undergo but a partial change, continuing to signify the same
object, but under a different aspect. Not so with a lan-
guage that is no longer spoken: for a language, when it
departs out of use, like a person when he departs out of life,
enters into an unchangeable state, and assumes a character,
which must remain firmly and unalterably fixed. This is
the case with the dead languages: and as our own lan-
guage is derived in a great degree from them, a knowledge
of them is not only an excellent means to the attainment
of a more perfect skill in our own, than could be otherwise
gained, but also of preserving it from change, or, what is
worse, from being used in a vague and indefinite sense.
These languages are, therefore, deservedly held in high
estimation by the really learned, not only as being the de-
positories of valuable information, but as forming a standard
to which reference may be constantly had, in forming our
opinions respecting language in general. The most cele-
brated works of the Greek and Roman philosophers, histo-
rians, poets and orators, have received the approbation of
the learned, in all ages. The sanction of so many suffrages
in their favour has given them a character and an authority,
which no other writings possess: and, after all the attacks
that have been made upon them, they remain, and must
still remain, the models of style and composition, -
-->
6
Words and ideas are so closely connected in our minds,
that it is impossible to separate them ; and the influence,
which, through this connection, words have over the judg-
ments we form, renders an acquaintance with the princi-
ples of criticism and philology essentially requisite to the
formation of habits of correct thinking. Let any person
look over the various fields of controversy, in which oppo-
sing parties have so keenly contested for victory, on all
those subjects that affect the great interests of individuals
and of public bodies; and he will readily perceive, how
much the forming of a correct opinion respecting the points
in dispute, depends upon the principles and laws of lan-
guage. Words often pass for things. Were it necessary
to exemplify this remark, how easy would it be to point
out instances of persons, who can contemplate certain
truths with satisfaction and complacency, when they are
presented in connection with a particular set of terms and
phrases, and who have every feeling and sentiment with-
in them shocked and revolted, at the same truths, when
exhibited in the dress of a language a little different. A
principal reason, I am persuaded, why men of liberal edu-
cation are more free from narrow and illiberal prejudices
than others, is, that they have been taught to distinguish
between words and things, an advantage which, alone,
would be safficient to compensate for the time spent in ac-
quiring a knowledge of the languages.
As it is through the medium of language that the thoughts
and discoveries of others are conveyed to us, it mustaff rºl
you an advantage which the uneducated do not possess, to
be able, at once, and without the least difficulty, to discover
the precise meaning of whatever author you peruse. I refer
to works of science. These are not intelligible to the
common reader. It is impossible they should be. The
ideas contained in such works are unknown to him ; and
of course he cannot understand the language in which they
are conveyed. The writer is under a necessity of becom-
ing unintelligible to him, the moment he enters upon the
discussion of his subject. The conceptions, which belong
to the subject of which he treats, are beyond the bounda-
ries of common thought, and therefore, the terms he em-
ploys must be beyond the sphere of ordinary language.--
7
Now, it so happens, that these terms are all of Greek and
Roman origin. An acquaintance, therefore, with the Greek
and Roman languages must be of essential service to every
one who wishes to extend his inquiries into the several
branches of science.
These observations are made, not for the purpose of e-
vincing to you the advantage to be derived from an ac-
quaintance with the Greek and Roman Classicks; for of
this I suppose you have no doubt; but for the purpose of
shewing in how many ways this one branch of knowledge
—one which has been supposed to be less useful than some
of the rest—is connected with every other, and also the
advantage which it gives, in rendering the way more pleas-
ant and open to the enlargement of your present stock of
knowledge by further additions. Let me not, however, be
understood as intimating the necessity, or even the expe-
diency of extending your inquiries equally into all those
departments, which compose the general round of science.
Life is too short, and the business of it too important for
this. We were born rather to act than to speculate; and
knowledge is principally to be valued as it enables us to
proceed in the duties and labors of life, with confidence and
vigor. The end of the instructions you have here received,
is merely to enable you to direct the course of your own
studies, for the future, and to prosecute them to the best
advantage. To accomplish this end much is requisite: an
acquaintance with the principles of literature and science
in general ; the formation of a correct taste; the excite-
ment of an ardor for literary and scientific pursuits; hab-
its of study; and the power of ratiocination. These ac-
quisitions are all that, as yet, your friends can reasonabl
expect you to have made. But more than all this is requi-
site to render you distinguished and useful in any of the
learned professions. Your eminence in any one of these,
will greatly depend, upon a minute and accurate acquain-
tance with those particular branches, with which it stands
peculiarly connected. Should it be your ambition to serve
your country in any of the departments of her government,
an acquaintance with jurisprudence and political economy
will be particularly necessary. If the practice of the heaf-
ing art be your choice, chymistry is that branch, which
8
will, more particularly, claim your attention. Should the
grace of God dispose you to relinquish the expectation of
this world's honors, for sake of “teaching to men the way
of salvation,” Philology, Psycology, Rhetoric, besides those
studies, which are either comprehended under Theology
itself, or more immediately connected with it, will afford
ample scope for the exertion of all your faculties. A spe-
cial acquaintance with law will be obviously necessary to
qualify you for advocating, before the bar of justice, the
cause of innocence, against the wrongs and frauds of the
dishonest and injurious. But, whatever profession you
may choose, content not yourselves with that knowledge
merely, which is peculiar to the profession. The ascend-
ency of a well informed mind will soon manifest itself, in
every department. And, it is minds of this description
that ought to have the ascendency. Others may furnish
the muscle, the nerve and the bone of society; on these it
depends to fulfil the functions of the animating and presi-
ding spirit. The mere business of the several professions
may go forward; and yet, all that gives dignity, and worth,
and interest, and harmony, and loveliness to society may
insensibly pass away from it, for want of men of enlight-
ened minds and enlarged views, to take the direction of
affairs, and to stamp upon the public mind the impression
of their own greatness.
Our second direction, therefore, to you, is, cultivate the
virtues of a generous and public spirit. Consider that you
do not live for yourselves alone, but for your friends, for
your country, and for posterity. Be ever ready to encour-
age measures of public and general utility. Scorn the lit-
tleness of a sordid and ignoble spirit, concerned only for
itself. Rise above it. Be aiding, to the utmost of your
power, in plans to promote the public good. Patronise
the cause of literature. The heathens gave to Apollo, the
god of learning, the direction of the chariot which bore the
sun: and upon whom should the task of guiding the sun
of science more properly devolve, than upon those whose
minds are enlightened with its beams ? Others may pre-
sume to guide the light-bearing carr, but the attempt, like
that of Phaeton, must always end in confusion, darkness
and disaster,
9
My third direction to you is, be cautious what con-
nections you form, and what company you keep. Let your
leisure hours be filled up by conversation with persons of
virtuous character and improved understandings; if such
are not at hand, spend them in meditation by yourselves
alone. Flee the conversation of the idle, the thoughtless
and the vain; no less than that of the lewd, the vicious and
the profligate. Go not to the places where such characters
resort; nor permit any of them to come upon such terms
of intimacy with you, as to seek your company or intrude
upon your retirement.
Let me caution you, in the next place, against indulging
anxious thoughts respecting your success in life, or seeking
promotion by unworthy and dishonorable means. Consid-
er that the course of events is not placed under your direc-
tion. Remember, that “the heavens do rule.” Learn to re-
pose your confidence in the care of that superintending pro-
vidence which God exercises over all his works, which pre-
serves from harm the falling sparrow, and numbers the hairs
of our heads. Leave it to Him to assign to you your places
in life; and rather be content in an humble station, than
desirous of being raised to an exalted one. Recollect, that,
according to the universal testimony of mankind, happi-
ness consists more in tranquillity and contentment of mind,
than in eminence of station, wealth or power. Let, then,
the question of duty, rather than of interest, engage your
thoughts. We may be deceived in our calculations as to
what course of conduct may lead to the most advantages;
unforeseen occurrences often break in upon and destroy
the best schemes of policy: but of this there can be no
doubt, that we cannot ultimately be the losers by a course
of conduct, such as comports with the rules of virtue. It
rarely happens, that the world continues, for any consid-
erable length of time, insensible to the claims of real mer-
it. Calumny may succeed for a while, in casting a cloud
over a man’s character; or a combination of the envious
may be formed to bear him down; or a turbulent state of
things, produced and kept up by party views, may depress
him; but if he possesses real merit and strength of char-
acter, these obstacles will gradually give way before him,
and some field of usefulness will be presented, which he
may cultivate with honor and success, .
40
Remember, also, that your success in life, will, under
Providence, depend more upon the moral qualities of your
conduct than upon the vigour of your genius, or the extent
of your acquirements. Genius is, indeed, a rare thing:
and, for a man to arrogate any thing to himself on the score
of parts, is to rouse at once the pride and the jealousy of
every one he meets, and to make it the interest of all a-
round him to oppose his pretensions. Besides, there is a
numerous tribe, who are the sworn enemies of talents. A
prudent man will, therefore, find many ways of rendering
himself useful to society, without once starting a question
as to the extent of those gifts that he may have received
from nature. To evince to the world, that we are habitu-
ally governed by honorable motives; that we seek the
good of those around us; that we maintain a firm adhe-
rence to correct moral principles; to display, in the whole
tenor of our conduct, a regard to truth, integrity, justice
and humanity, will go farther in gaining the confidence of
mankind, than the greatest displays of mere talent that
ever dazzled the eyes of the astonished and gazing multi-
tude. You will do me the justice to believe, that, in mak-
ing these remarks, it is far from my intention to hold out
the idea, that these virtues, which I have just been endea-
voring to recommend, are to be cultivated merely with the
view to gain the confidence and approbation of your fellow-
men, and thereby to advance yourselves in the world. If
cultivated with these views, they lose their character as
virtues, and degenerate into the contemptible arts of a
wretched and detestible hypocrisy. No man ever deserv-
ed the esteem of mankind, who was actuated by no high-
er motive than the desire of obtaining it. No wise man
will despise the good opinion of those around him: no good
man will make this the governing principle of his actions.
The contest for self-aggrandizement, in which the men of
the world engage with so much eagerness and ardor, is,
perhaps, in all cases, attended with a loss of peace, if not
of principle, which is of vastly more value than the prize.
My serious and deliberate advice to you, therefore, is, ne-
ver to embark in a contest for houor or office, unless where
something more than honor or office is concerned. If they
come, let them come, in all other cases, unsolicited.
44
Let me, then, remind you, in the last place, of a tribunal
infinitely above that of public opinion, to which all your
actions are to be referred. It cannot be too often nor too
deeply impressed upon your minds, that your conduct and
character must be formed upon principles of an higher or-
der, than those which belong to the transient relations of
men as existing in a state of society. You compose a part
of one grand moral system. At the head of this system is
God. His will is our law; his authority the basis of moral
obligation. Go, then, to the law and to the testimony—
Hence derive your notions of duty; hence deduce the prin-
ciples, according to which you will frame the economy of your
lives. Ponder, in deep meditation, the important informa-
tion contained in the bible: the origin of man ; his primi-
tive state of honor and innocence; his present state of de-
gradation and guilt; what God has done for his recovery;
the terms on which the divine favor may be shewn to the
guilty; and the alternatives awaiting us after death.
These are matters of the utmost moment. Let them press
upon your minds with the whole weight of their impor-
tance. Never imagine, that, when you have acted your parts
as members of society, you have done the whole of your
duty. Consider the relation you stand in to God; your
obligations to Him ; your need of his grace to enlighten,
renew, and sanctify your natures. Remember, that the
grand question which involves all your interests, is the
question of your title to His favor. Let this, then, engross
your cares. Never deem it unbecoming your characters
as men, or as scholars, to think, speak and act as Christi-
ans. Nothing can excuse you for neglecting the claims of
Christianity, but the firm and unwavering conviction, that
it is false: and, rest assured, that, while you retain the use
of your intellectual and moral powers, such a conviction
you shall never attain. Every other system that you may
embrace, from Atheism itself up to Socinianism, you will
find to be cold, dark and comfortless; and for this reason,
that they are all unsuitable to the nature and circumstan-
ces of inan, or, in other words, that they are false. Man
is dependent; and he must have something that is not so,
to rest upon. He is immortal; and he must have a source
of enjoyment commensurate with the duration of his exis.
42
tence. He is surrounded by ills of various kinds, the child
of sorrow and an heir of disappointment; and he must
have something to preserve him from sinking under the
burden of his griefs. Above all, he is a sinner; and he
must have some other ground of hope in the mercy of his
God than any that can be derived from himself. All this
is to be found in the religion of the Bible, and it is to be
found no where else. Devote yourselves, therefore, to this
religion; and never rest satisfied till you feel its penetra-
ting, subduing and purifying influence. Then shall you
find its consolations to flow, in a bright and exhilarating
stream along your path. Then shall you find a refuge in
distress, “a very present help” in every time of trouble.
When foes combine and friends prove false, you shall ex-
perience the faithfulness of Him who has promised, “I will
never forsake thee.” The tenor of your life, evenly and
tranquil, shall be free from that fretful impatience which
disquiets others. Fearing God, you shall have nothing else
to fear; and feeling your dependence on him, you shall be
delivered from the temptation of trusting in an arm of flesh,
or stooping from that respect which every good man owes
to himself, to any undignified method of gaining the patro-
nage of others.-But I have done. With lively emotions
of concern for your welfare, we now bid you adieu! What
may be before you, we know not. But this we do certain-
ly know, that if you follow the course in life which we have
endeavored to sketch out for your direction, it will conduct
you to happiness and glory; but if not—let me, however,
rather hide the dreadful alternative, lest I should embitter
the hour of parting with fears—which—may the God of
mercy prevent from ever being realized in any of you. To
His almighty protection we desire to commend you; and,
whatever may be the events, or wherever the scenes of your
future life, rest assured, that we shall often think of you
with sentiments of affectionate concern; and shall indulge
the hope, that those instructions which we have endeavor-
ed to give may long remain with A." and be visible in the
course of a virtuous and pious life, and so extend their in-
fluence into another state and through an endless duration.
TVN \S.