DISCOURSE, Delivered on the 26th of November, 1795; BEING THE DAY RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR OF TJ1E STATE OF NEW-YORK TO BE OBSERVED AS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER, ON ACCOUNT OF THE REMOVAL OF AN EPIDEMIC FEVER, AND FOR OTHER NATIONAL BLESSINGS. By WILLIAM LINN, D. D. F THE R TY OF N ONE OF THE MINISTERS OP THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK. NE IT-YORK: Printed by T. and J. SWORDS, No. 99 Pearl-ftreet. — 1795.— I ( ft PREFACE. THE following Difcourfe was hajlily drawn up for the occajion. I'he requefi of fome who heard it, the mifreprefentation it has fuffered, and a hope that it may be ufeful in the prefent junclure of our public affairs, have induced the Author to commit it to the prefs. It has undergone only a few verbal alterations, or tranfpojitions, ftnce the deli- very, with the addition of the notes.— Sufficiently aware that a Minifier of the Gofpel ought not to interfere in the politics of any party, he trufis that he has advanced nothing which can be reafonably fo confirued; nothing which is not properly in the line of his duty, and is not founded on the Jlriclefi principles of morality and religion. He trufis alfo, ( iv ) alfo, that his dejire to fupport the federal government, and to promote the continuance of national peace, will be deemed an evidence of that ardent love of liberty which he has always profeffed, and which, at this moment', glows in his bofom. December, 1795. A DISCOURSE, &c. PSALM cxvii. 0 Praife the Lord, all ye nations: praife him, all ye people. For his merciful .kindnefs is great towards us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praife ye the Lord. \J PON no occafion, my brethren, have I been more perplexed about the choice of a iubjea. Being prefent with you all the time of the affliaive difeafe, and joining with you in repeated fupplications to the Throne of Grace, it was natural to wifh that our gratitude might be expreffed in a manner ( 6 ) manner becoming our deliverance. Shall we, when diftreffed, pierce heaven with our cries? and mall we, when relieved, not make proper acknowledgments ? The difficulty was increafed by the apprehen- fion that while we are called to render thanks for mercies, there are ftill tokens of the Divine difpleafure toward our na- tion ; and that this day is to be confidered not only as a day of thankfgiving, but as a day on which to deprecate impending evils, and befeech the continuance of prosperity. Thefe duties are, at no time, inconfiftent with each other, and at this they appear to be more peculiarly con? neaed. Among the fubjeas which have' occurs red, the choice has fallen, at a late hour, on the pfalm juft read. It is generally believed to be a prediaion of the calling of the Gentiles, and it is quoted as fuch by ( 7 ) by the Apoftle, in his Epiftle to the Ro- mans.* The Pfalmift: excites to praife for this great and joyful event. Some diftinguilh between nations and people; underftanding by the one the Gentiles, and by the other the Jews. When the Pfalmift: fays, his merciful kindnefs is great towards us, fome fuppofe that the Jews are to be underftood, who were chofen of God from all other nations, and who enjoyed fupe- rior privileges. Perhaps the interpreta- tion is rather to be preferred which in- cludes both Jews and Gentiles, who were, in due time, gathered into one under Chrift:; an event juftly demanding their united and higheft praife. But, though the Jews were a peculiar people, and though this pfalm has a re- ference to the glorious days of the Gofpel, when men of all kindreds, tongues, and people •' Rom. xv. ir. ( 8 ) people fhould form one fpiritual kingdom, yet we are authorized to interpret it in a more extenfive fenfe. 'The Mofi High ruleth in the kingdom of men. Jehovah is the King of all nations; and they are called to humble themfelves under his judgments, and to acknowledge him as the Author of every favor which they enjoy. That we muft not reftria the pfalm, is evident from the invariable courfe of the Divine government in rewarding or punifhmg all according to their national conduit; and from thefe words in the 107th pfalm, which extend to the whole human race; Oh that men would praife the Lord for his goodnefs, and for his wonderfuf works to the children of men I The pfalm, then, is a proper expreffibn of gratitude for any nation; and X (hall difcufs it with a particular reference to our own. Confidering ourfelves as a Chrif- tian ( 9 ) fcian nation, we are moft intimately con- cerned, becaufe we are a part of thole Gentiles to whom the Gofpel is preached, and for which the Pfalmift, with prophetic fpirit, praifed God in fuch exalted ftrains. I lhall, firfi, mention fome things for which we are called to praife the Lord, or mow in what refpeas his merciful kind- nefs is great towards us; and then con- clude with a few refleaions. The caufes of thankfgiving are judici- oufly enumerated and arranged in the proclamation of the firft: Magiftrate of this State. A particular attention to them all is neither neceflary nor pofli'ble. Were we to go back to the proteaion which the Lord afforded to " our anceftors in " their firft eftablifhments in this then " favage wildernefs," we would find much matter for praife. It would be a pleafure to recount the difficulties, the B deli- (' i° ) deliverances, the gradual advances to po- pulation and ftrength. The contraft be- tween what this country once was and what it now is, would not fail to give adoring views of that Providence which ;5 over all. In like manner, were we to dwell on the late revolution, when we became a feparate nation, the wonders which the Lord wrought for us muft ftrike the moft inattentive obferver. The opportunity and wifdorn likewife which were given us to eftablifh govern- ments, and particularly our general go- vernment, have been often the fubjeas of celebration. It ought ever to be remem- bered, to the praife of God, J:hat this go- vernment was deliberately formed and chofen; that it embraces the true repub- lican.principle of reprefentation; contains a pro- ( » ) a provifion for amendments, if experience {hall fhow them to be neceffary; and that; fince its eftablifhment, the flourifhing situ- ation of our country has abundantly proved jts excellence. Not to dilate on thefe, let me feleft a few things which require, on this day, a more attentive consideration. First, The Lord hath " preferved us " from being involved in the wars anc\ ;c other grievous calamities which at this " moment afflia and diftrefs many na- " tions." The continuance of peace was mentioned on the laft thankfgiving as a remarkable bleffing; but it is a bleffing fo fino-ularly great as can never be brought too often to our minds, and it offers itfelf now with additional reafons of gratitude. Such are the difmal efTeas of war, that k i ( ^ ) it ought never to be undertaken except in cafes the moft clear and urgent, in necef- fary felf-defence, and when submission would entail upon us and our pofterity the galling yoke of oppression. To engage for flight injuries and affronts, is wickedly to hearken to the diaates of pride, and foolilhly to plunge ourfelves, by this ill- judged remedy, into great and lasting evils.* The rules which the Prince of Peace hath given, apply to nations as well as to individuals, if any man will fue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak alfo.-f If thy brother Jhall trefpafs againfi thee, go and tell him his fault between * I find that in feveral thankfgiving fermons deliver- ed on February 19th, 1795, the above fentiment, and many others in this difcourfe, arp Strongly enforced. " War," fays Dr. M'Knight, '; is a dreadful calamity, " and a nation ought never to be involved in it, but in 4'cafes of abfolute neceffity."—" Of all wars thofe f« which are inteftine are moft to be dreaded and de- " precated." • f Matt. v. 40. ( '3 ) between thee and him alone.* With refpea to nations he hath given us, in illustra- tion of a certain point, what will be ever found not only duty, but the foundeft po- licy. What king, faith he, going to war againfi. another king, fitteth not dovunfofi, and confulteth, whether he be able with ten thoufand to meet him that cometh againfi him with twenty thoufand? Or elfe, while the other is yet a great way off, he fendeth an ambaffage, and dejireth conditions of peace.\ It * Matt, xviii. 15. f Luke xiv. 31, 32. Thefe precepts of our bleffed Lord are not to be conftrued as enjoining paflive obedience and non-refift- ance, but as enjoining patience under injuries, forgive- nefs of them,' a defire of reconciliation, and a proper regard to our own fafety. Revenge is no more allow- able between nations than between individuals; and, if by feeking revenge we deftroy ourfelvas, we add folly to wickednefs. Juft and beautiful are thefe words of Dr. Smith on the laft thankfgiving: " Shall we, in " purfuing either reparation or revenge, inflic"t tenfold 4i injuries on our own country ? It is lawful, fay they, " it is laudable to deteft, and to nurfe in the hearts of " our children, a military rage againft a nation that has ( *4 ) It has been propofed long ago, that when nations cannot amicably compofe their differences among themfehes, they fhould submit to the arbitration of others. When mankind fhall be more influenced by the fpirit of the Gofpel, we hope that this happy asra will commence, and which is fo agreeable to the principles, of every good republican. Then, inftead of the kingly trade of butchering one another to gratify diabolical passions, the human race will dwell tog-ether as brethren of the fame o family. It is certain that we have been in immi- nent " been willing to deftroy us. This maxim, my bre- " thren, is contrary to the fpirit of our holy religion. " But, religion apart—be it as they will—let every " American have been led by his father, like Hannibal, " to the altar, to fwear eternal hatred againft the enerm " of his country—fhould he not, like Hannibal, wait "the proper moment to avenge her wrongs ? Should " he not at leaft be compelled by neceffity alone to " wage a difadvantageous war?" ( '5 ) nent danger of war with a nation with which we once fuccefsfully contended, and whofe arrogance and power are ftill per- mitted as a fcourge to the earth. What- ever may have been the means to prevent, or even delay hoftilities, we muft fay that the Lord, who formerly delivered us, hath been again our fhield and defence. He hath ordained peace for us. He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, ana1 among the inhabitants of the earth. The hearts of kings are in his hand, and he turneth them as the rivers of water are Uir?icd.*' Peace * Mr. Mafon, in his uhankfgiving fermon, gives an affecting defcription of the complicated evils of war, and in one place fays, " We ftand aftonifhed at the " precipice over which wo were nearly hurried—a pre- " cipice that would have plunged us into evils for which " their immediate authors could never have atoned: "no, not though they wept in fackcloth the remainder ** of their lives: no, not though their heads were waters, " and their eyes fountains of tears—tears ftreaming in " perpetual fucceflion, and every drop embittered with ** the gall of heart-wringing penitence," ( 16 ) Peace will be enhanced when we com* pare our condition with that of nations abroad. In Europe, what mighty armies- are in the field! What confusion, devaf- tation, and bloodfhed! Who, at this day, would leave his habitation here for the moft fertile spot in Auftria ? Who would exchange what is fettled and peaceful for what is uncertain and mixed with the horrors of war? Why are we thus dif- tinguifhed? All the praife is due to the Sovereign of nations. Let us not forbear to remark here the Divine goodnefs, in making America in- dependent on any foreign power. Had fhe remained in fuch a conneaion, the muft have neceffarily been involved in great diftreffes. Her revenues muft have been exhaufted, her coafts deftroyed, and her blood lavifhed, and all to humour the accurfed ambition of thofe whom God, in his ( '7 ) His righteous judgment is punifhing for their iniquities. How happy, that while with them, the battle of the warrior is with confufed noife, and garments rolled in blood, weft every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree; and none to make us afraid! How happy, if wifdom be given us to remain independent; neither inter- fering with, nor partaking in the quarrels of others, and always remembering that as a nation we are called the American. Moft High God! make us thankful for the enjoyment of peace; continue it to us; and haften the time when nation Jhall not lift up /word againfi nation, neither learn War any morel Secondly, I mention as a caufe of gratitude, " the restoration of peace be- " tween us and the hoftile Indians who " infefted our borders." Though the Lord hath preferved us from foreign war, yet he G hath ( i8 ) hath permitted, for feveral years, fome fa- vao-e tribes of the wildernefs to lay wafte ' our infant fettlements. He hath granted them viaory more than once, and left our citizens to perifh by their mercilefs hands. At length he hath inclined them to peace. On the laft thankfgiving, this event was anticipated; it is now made fure, and ought to fwell our notes of praife to the King of nations. Only thofe who have been ex- pofed to the cruelty of the favage natives can conceive the affliaion, and duly ap- preciate the deliverance. There is too much reafon to believe that they were encouraged by thofe who con- templated them as allies, in cafe of war ; but this encouragement being happily -withdrawn by accommodation, the In- dians have the more readily hearkened to terms, and fought to recline on the bofom of peace. It is devoutly to be wifhed, that they ( '9 ) they could be brought to civilized life, and that missionaries could be fent to diffufe among them human and divine know- ledge. Then would they bury the hatchet, and as part of the glorious Mediator's kingdom, join with us in finging, O praije the Lord all ye nations: praije him.all ye People. Thirdly, Let me mention as a caufe of gratitude, that the Lord hath " con- " flantly favored us with fruitful feafons." Not only has this country never been dif- trefted with famine, but the land has yield- ed abundant increafe. We have had wherewith to fupply others. This year God hath bleffed the labour of the hufband- man; and fuch is the variety of climate, and the fertility of foil, that we may juftly adopt, in general, thefe words of the Pfalmift: Thou vifitefi the earth, and wa- terefi it.—Thou waterefi the ridges thereof abundantly; ( 2° ) abundantly; thou fettlefl the Jurrows thereof \ thou makeft itjoft with fiwwers; thou bleffefi the Jpringing thereof. Thou crownefi the year with thy goodnejs; and thy paths drop fatnejs. They drop upon the pafiures of the wildernejs; and the little hills rejoice on every fide. The pafiures are clothed with Jkcks ; the vallies alfo are covered over with corn; they Jhout for joy, they alfofing.* Fourthly, The Lord hath blefled us " with the civilizing light and influence " of his holy Gofpel.'' This is to be marked as a principal thing in which his mere Jul kindnejs is great towards us. To avoid religious perfecution, our forefathers fled to this new world; they carried the Gofpel with them, and it,has profpered ever fince. Liberty, as to articles of belief and modes of worfhip, has been always allowed; and fince our happy revolution, this * Pfalm lxy. 9—13. ( 21 ) this has been peculiarly the cafe. The unchriftian intolerance which fome were difpofed to affume, from their conneaion with eftablilhed churches abroad, has been deftroyed, and all put upon the fame foun- dation. No preference, no superiority is admissible, but what arifes from learning, piety, and zeal. Here, and here only, has truth an equal advantage with error, and muft: obtain an eternal viaory. Not to enlarge on the effea which the Gofpel has in civilizing a people, correa- ing their morals, and making them good citizens, of what avail would all temporal advantages be feparated from the hope of a blefled immortality hereafter ? Does the Chriftian religion afford the beft rules for human condua ? and does it befides reveal to us the way in which our guilt can be pardoned, and our depravity removed? Are we favored with this, while others are ( M ) f are buried in fuperftition or idolatry? What an unfpeakable privilege ! What caufe of praife to the Almighty Father who hath made us to differ! It is true, that the flood of infidelity which has overwhelmed part of Europe, has, in fome measure, aifeaed us; but, as a nation, we have not caft off the pro- fefilon of the Chriftian religion. The or- dinances of the Gofpel are enjoyed and attended. O that God would make us thankful for this diftinguifhing favor! that he would deftroy error and delusion, and copioufly pour out upon us his holy Spirit J I mention, Lastly, That the Lord hath, in his merciful kindness, removed the ficknefs which has been fo " fatal to the lives of " many in our principal city, and in fun- " dry places of this and other ftates." This has ( *3 ) has been referved for the laft particular, becaufe it was, no doubt, a principal caufe of our folemn thankfgiving, efpecially at fo early a day. From the extent of the mortal difeafe, and the alarms and em- barraffments which attended it, it is to be considered as a national judgment, and the removal of it as a national blessing. Several things prefent themfelves here, for which to praife the Lord. The cala- mity, taken in itfelf, was not of the moft grievous kind, and such as our fins deferr- ed. When David was offered his choice of war, famine, and peftilence, he chofe the laft. Let us, faid he, fall now into the hand of the Lord, (for his mercies are great) and let me not fall into the hand of man.* Of thefe three judgments war is certainly the moft dreadful, and often brings the others in its train. By the neg- iea * 2 Sam. xxiv. 14. ( 24 ) lea of agriculture, and thedefolation which is made, a fcarcity of provisions is necef- farily produced; and in war malignant diftempers are generated, fo that it is not unufual for more to perifh by thefe than by the fword. Let it be added too, that war not only deftroys the bodies, but has a moft baneful influence on the morals of men. Famine and peftilence tend to a- waken them to a {cti{q of their fins, and difpofe them to receive religious impref- fions; but War inflames wicked passions, and leads to a general corruption. This is lamentably the cafe in all internal dif- fenfions, or what are called civil wars. That nation is accurfed of God which is thus given up.* We * " Experience, that faithful monitor, has fhewn " that the wounds inflicted by civil war are far deeper, " and of more difficult cure, than any that can be receiv- " ed from the hand of foreign violence. The murder- " ous tempers which, in other wars, are indulged, in " this are wrought up to the height of fury. Refent- " merits are more keen, revenge more implacable, and " hatred more lading," &c. Mr. Mafon's fermon. ( *5 ) We fee then, that though God hath af- fliaed us, yet it has not been in the fevereft way, and the way in which he is affliaing others. How fatal would war and convul- fions be to this young country! What im- prudence, not to fay wickednefs, to tempt the Lord to bring thefe upon us, when a little patience, and a little time, will effec- tually cure every political evil which we either feel or imagine !* Can we have for- gotten thofe vears in which we were ba- nifhed from our homes, our cities in poffef- D fion * " War, in our prefent fituation, particularly with " Europe, would be to us one of the moft fatal cala- " mities." Dr. Smith's fermon. Dr. Green, in his excellent fermon, fpcaking of our deliverance from the broils of the old world, lavs, " Imminent was the danger, at a certain period, that " we fhould become a party in thefe fhocking conten- " tions. But the good providence of God has warded " off the danger. To him we owe our thanks, that " he infpired the Prefident of the union with wifdom " to difcern, and with firmnefs, calmnefs and refolu- '* tion, to purfue, at the moft trying moment, the true " interefts of our country." ( *6 ) lion of an enemy, our houfes of worlhip a defolation, our land drenched with our dearcft blood, and every thing alarm, con- fusion and dismay ? Can we have forgot- ten the day on which peace returned, how we were tranfported with joy, and hymned the eternal King who gave us viaory, and turned away the battle from our gates? We have not forgotten thefe things, for yefterday we celebrated them; and may every returning anniverfary find America cultivating the arts of peace !* Again, The ficknefs with which the Lord hath afflicted us, was not fo general, and fo mortal, as we had reafon to fear. This city did not suffer in the degree which a sifter city did a few years ago. Here the dispersion was not fo great. Here pub- lic * The thankfgiving was on the day following the unniverfary of the evacuation of New-York by the Britifh troops. ( 27 ) lie worfhip on the Lord's day was regularly continued, befides thofe evenings on which we aftembled to pour out our hearts to God, that he would " flay the hand of the de- " ftroying angel." Thofe were evenings which ought lonq; to be remembered, when o o God gracioufly admitted us near to his mercy-feat, and enabled us to order our caufe before him. Here the deaths were comparatively fmall. Though we deplore the lofs of fome in this congregation, and weep with thofe who weep, yet we mifs fewer than was to have been expeaed. In common years there have been more bereavements, and more tokens of mourn- ing {een among us.* But, •'•'■ The moft accurate account makes the number of deaths, during the ficknefs, to be feven hundred and forty- fix, from the 26th of July till the 5th of November. The moft alarming mortality was on the 25th and 26th of September, when thirty-one died on each day. In Philadelphia, in the year 1793, there died, in the fame fpace of time, on the moft moderate computation, four thoufand; and on one Single day the number of deaths amounted to one hundred and nineteen. ( 28 ) But, the malady h now entirely remov- ed. Health is reftored; the difperfed have returned; bufinefs has revived. O Praije the Lord, all ye nations: praije him, all ye people. For his merciful kindnejs is great towards us: and the truth of the Lord en- durethfor ever. Praije ye the Lord. On a review of thefe caufes of thankf- giving, may we not, my brethren, indeed fay, that the Lord hath " given to us a " greater portion of public welfare and " prosperity than to any other people?" Look abroad, and point us to a nation equally favored. What would we have that we have not? Our governments, general and particular, have the moft ex- cellencies, and the feweft defies of any now in the world. We feel that we are free in our civil and religious concerns; that our perfons and property are fafe from the lawlefs and difobedient. Our new fet- tlements ( 29 ) tlements are rapid and extenfive. The wildernefs is made to bloffom as the rofe. The old cities increafe, and new ones spring up. The land yields abundance, and is interfected with fpacious rivers for the con- venience of mutual intercourfe. Our mer- chantmen go to the ends of the earth, and return laden with the richeft treasures. Schools and colleges are instituted in every quarter for the inftruftion of our youth. The Gofpel of the bleffed Jesus is con- stantly proclaimed in our ears. What heart fo depraved as to defpife thefe many and great favors ? Who would not weep, if ino-ratitude to the beneficent Donor, if wild ambition, or the peftilence of party, fhould, in one unhappy hour, rob us of all thefe enchanting profpeas ? Our poli- tical horizon has been unclouded; the fun has fhone bright, and the gales have been gentle and refreming; but, if irregular paffions be permitted to rage in our breads, fbon ( 3° ) foon will the dawn be overcaft, and gather into darknefs, and blackness, and tempeft. It is ordered in Divine Providence, that nations feldom enjoy fuch a length of prof- perity as we have; and when we confider the return which we have made to God, and the prcfsnt afpea of our affairs, we will fee that it becomes us to rejoice with trembling* It * " I fee, with infinite regret, that obftinate faction* '; :irc beginning to be formed. To what degree they " may proceed in decompofmg and diffolving the pre- " fent harmonious fyftem, can be known only to God " and to pofterity. But, next to flavery, I deprecate " its diflblution as the worft of evils. If we would " effectually guard againft it, we ought to be no lefs " cautious ot weakening the federal government, than •• vigilant againft the inlidious approaches of tyranny." Dr. Smith's fermon. The following words of Dr. M'Knight, in his fer- mon, were very judicious and feafonable, and they ap- ply with greater force now than when delivered: " As ■'' a mean of fecuring the continuance and increafe of " the goodnefs of God to you, let me caution you " againft the influence of faction and party. Beware •' of the man who is artful and induftrious in exciting " your prejudices, and inflaming your paffions. Whilft ( 31 ) ft would afford a fubjea for a feafonable difcourfe, and would not be improper on this very day, to inquire what thofe fins are with which God hath been difpleafed. It would not be improper, becaufe our gratitude is never fincere unlefs we feek reformation. If we have suffered public judgments, there muft be public fins which have occasioned them; for God doth not ajfiic~l willingly, nor grieve the children of men. This, however, would lead to an enu- meration and difcuffion too long at prefent. Other- " the public good is made the oftenfible, pride, ambi- " tion, and intereft are generally the real motives by " which the leaders of party are influenced." " We muft manifeft our gratitude by efteeming, and " fupporting, and obeying the government under which " we live; by fuppreffing in ourfelves and in others all " unreafonable furmifes, jcaloufies, murmurs and com- " plaints againft it; by rightly valuing and endeavor- " ing to preferve the national peace," &c. Dr. Green's fermon. ( 32 ) Otherwife, I would venture to fpeak out mv heart, convinced that no man need fear when he is fhielded by truth, and is confcious of feeking the glory "of God, and the beft happinefs of men. Surfer me only to fay, and I befeech you to receive it with affeaion, that the calumny and abufe which prevail, to whatever fource We trace them, are offensive to the God of truth. Aaions the moft difinterefted and magnanimous are construed into ambitious artifice. No- thing fo facred, and no perfons fo dignified and ufeful as not to be expofed to ridicule and contempt. The favorable reception which such publications ieem to have in the community, is a fymptom of great de- generacv. Can any of us ferioufly believe, that a man can be found among us who, if dif- pofed, would dare to betray the interefts of this country ? Thoufands of gleamy fwords would ( 33 ) would leap from their fcabbards to immo- late on the altar of freedom this prodigy of folly and wickednefs. Can the man who toiled and fought for years to fecure our liberty and independence; the man whom unanimous suffrage raifed to the firft: feat in our new government; the man who has long fince arrived at the summit of fame; the man who is the admiration and envy of the world; the man to whom crowns and fceptres would be empty baubles; the man with whofe virtues future hiftorians fhall blazon their page, and all generations fhall arife to call bleffed; can fuch a man betray us ? 'Tis impossible. 'Tis too like the whifper of mifguided zeal, of difcontent, or of malevolence. 'Tis a tale too much calculated to undermine, and to bring into difrepute all republican governments. Flattery in any man, and in any place, is bafe. It is bafeft of all in a minifter, E and C 34 ) and from the pulpit. But it ought to be diftinguifhed from that juft praife to which public and eminent fervices are entitled; efpecially when attempts are made to bring theie fervices into difrefpea. It ought to be diftinguifhed from that fupport which a Chriftian people owe to their government, and with which the reputation of executive officers is infeparably conneaed. Who will ferve Us, if obloquy be the reward? Few men have magnanimity enough to leave peace and independence, to encoun- ter cabal and faaion. Few men are capa- ble of conceiving the magnanimity in ex- changing the pleafant groves and flowers Of Vernon for thorns and briars.* My * The following is the conclufion of that beautiful eulogy by Dr. Smith, in his eloquent fermon: " I ef- " teem it one of our chief mercies, and I count it one of " the nobleft a£ts of patriotifm in him to forfake his fe- " cure fituation on the fummit of fame, to accept the " dubious helm of government, and, for the good of his " country, to put to rifk a reputation which hiftory af- " fured to him, untarnifhed and immortal." Mr. Ma- ( 35 ) My brethren, I love liberty as well as any of you', and have now exercif :d it. Being of no party, and having no perfonal intereft to promote, nothing but a regard for the honor and happinefs of the Ameri- can nation has extorted thefe obfervations. I may be condemned by my heft friends ; I may be reproached by my enemies, if fuch there be; but I reply to both in the words of the Apoftte; With me it is a very fmall thing to be judged of man s judgment. He that judgeth me is the Lord* Many ion, when fpeaking of the fuppremon of the weftern infurrecYion, fays, with his ufual accuracy and energy, '* Above all, our eyes involuntarily faften on that " man, whofe timely application of die fevere, but fa- '' lutary difcipline entrufted to his prudence, was the " happy mean of reftoring peace.—On that man, " whom God hadi honored to be the inftrument of " countlefs bleffings to this land ; whofe name will live, « and whofe memory will be revered, when the,blight- " ing eye of malignity is fealed up in darknefs; and die 4< tonuue of calumny fettered with the irons of death." * Such has been the abufe, for fome time paft, of public characters, that every friend to virtue and good ( 36 ) Many refkaions which were originally intended, and would be profitable in the conclusion of this fubjea, fhall be omitted. Let me intreat you, my brethren, in brief, carefully to mark and abftain from thofe fins which have provoked the Divine an- ger. Without obedience to the laws of God, the judgments which we have felt are order is bound to bear his teflimony againft it. How lew foever the authors of this abufe maybe, the curren- cy of it fhows the depravity of our tafte and manners, and degrades us in the eyes of foreigners. To a fair difcuflion of meafures, there can be no objection; but to fubftitute railing for argument, and to impute, with- out foundation, unifier defigns to the conftituted au- thorities, is to turn our liberty into licentioufnefs. The writer of this would not be furprized to find himfelf charged with a change of fentiment, and with being an enemy to liberty; though he dares to challenge any to the proof by all that he has ever faid or written. He took a decided part in the late revolution; he is a re- publican in principle; he is an unchangeable friend to die French nation; and he believes, at the fame time, that he is perfectly confident, as a man, as a citizen, and as a Chriftian, in fubmicting to the government of his country, and condemning the unjuft abufe which is caft upon it. ( 37 ) ure the forerunners of others, and more fevere. / will hear, fays the Pfalmift, what God the Lord willjpeak: for he will Jpeak peace unto his people, and to his faints; but let them not turn again to folly.* As to the late ficknefs, the lcifons it ^ teaches, and the improvement to be made, I have fo fully pointed out on the evenings of prayer, that little remains to be faid. Remember that death is the unavoidable l)t of all men. It may be delayed, but it will furely come. UJe, then, this world as \ not abujing it; make now your peace with God through Chrift, that fo you may be happy when all human fcenes are paffed away forever. As to our national concerns, let us be thankful for our prefent profperity; let us pray for, and by every mean in our power, promote * Pfalm lxxxv. 8. ( 3» ) promote its continuance; let us extend our defires, that the prefent revolutions may terminate in univerfal peace, liberty and happinefs. The Lord hath done great things for us, and we are encouraged to put our truft in him. He can with infinite eafe difperfe the clouds which feem to threaten, or caufe them to break with blef- slngs on our heads. Whatever may be the courfe of things; whether the Sovereign of the univerfe fhall afflia or prosper us, O SAVE MY COUNTRY, HeAv'n, SHALL BE MY LAST ! riettrbfS WJZ- 0-10 I7?S~