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valiantly; for He it is that shall tread down their enemies [Ps. lx. 12.], And truly it may be said, that if it had not
been the Lord who was on our aide when men rose
up against us, then they had swallowed us up quick,
when their wrath was kindled against us [Ps. cxxiv. 2. 3].
The long and arduous conflict between Great Britain and this country, was brought to a close in the
year 1783.
Provisional articles of peace had been signed at
Paris in the latter part of the preceding year, and as
soon as intelligence of the fact reached here, all
hostilities ceased. A number of the exiles ventured
forthwith to re-occupy their former dwellings; but
they did not generally return, until after an event,
the anniversary of which has been celebrated ever
since — the evacuation of the city by the British
troops, on the twenty-fifth of November, 1783.
About this time. Doctor Livingston came back
to resume his pastoral charge, and commenced a
laborious course of ministeral duty.
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FROM THE RESUMPTION OF HIS PASTORAL CHARGE AT THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR,
TILL THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH, IN 1792.
The first interview between Doctor Livingston
and his flock, upon their return to New-York, after
so long a sepamtion, must have been attended with
mingled emotions of joy and sorrow.
On the one hand, the successful termination of
the war, with the glorious results in prospect — the
re-possession of their former habitations, — a sight
again of those venerable temples in which they had
so often raised the voice of supplication and praise,
and a sight of each other, as preserved through all
the vicissitudes and perils of seven eventful years,
were circumstances which could not but awaken in
every breast the most pleasurable feelings. But,
on the other hand, the many sad events which had
taken place in a number of families, and some of
which, perhaps, had not been extensively known
or heard of before, — traces of the outrages committed by the enemy, visible in many parts of
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