THERE is not a greater evidence either of the reality or the power of religion, than a firm belief of God's uni­versal presence, and a constant attention to the influence and operation of his pro­vidence. It is by this means that the Christian may be said, in the emphatical scripture language, to walk with God, and to endure as seeing him who is invi­sible.

[Page 2]THE doctrine of divine providence is ve­ry full and complete in the sacred oracles. It extends not only to things which we may think of great moment, and there­fore worthy of notice, but to things the most indifferent and inconsiderable: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthings, says our Lord, and one of them falleth not on the ground without your heavenly Father; nay, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. It extends not only to things beneficial and salutary, or to the direction and assistance of those who are the ser­vants of the living God; but to things seemingly most hurtful and destructive, and to persons the most refractory and disobedient. He over-rules all his crea­tures, and all their actions. Thus we are told, that fire, hail, snow, vapour, and stormy wind, fulfil his word, in the course of nature; and even so the most impetu­ous and disorderly passions of men, that are under no restraint from themselves, are yet perfectly subject to the dominion of Jehovah. They carry his commission, they obey his orders, they are limited and restrained by his authority, and they con­spire with every thing else in promoting [Page 3] his glory. There is the greater need to take notice of this, that men are not ge­nerally sufficiently aware of the distincti­on between the law of God and his pur­pose; they are apt to suppose, that as the temper of the sinner is contrary to the one, so the outrages of the sinner are able to defeat the other; than which nothing can be more false. The truth is plainly asserted, and nobly expressed by the Psal­mist in the text, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shall thou restrain.

THIS psalm was evidently composed as a song of praise for some signal victory obtained, which was at the same time a remarkable deliverance from threatning danger. The author was one or other of the later prophets, and the occasion probably the unsuccessful assault of Jerusalem, by the army of Senacherib king of Assyria, in the days of Hezekiah. Great was the insolence and boasting of his generals and servants against the city of the living God, as may be seen in the thirty-sixth chapter of Isaiah. Yet it pleased God to destroy their enemies, and, by his own [Page 4] immediate interposition, to grant them deliverance. Therefore the Psalmist says in the fifth and sixth verses of this psalm, The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep. None of the men of might have found their hands. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob! both the chariot and the horse are call into a deep sleep. After a few more remarks to the same purpose, he draws the inference, or makes the re­flection in the text, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain: which may be paraphrased thus, The fury and injustice of oppressors, shall bring in a tribute of praise to thee; the influence of thy righ­teous providence shall be clearly discern­ed; the countenance and support thou wilt give to thine own people shall be gloriously illusrated; thou shalt set the bounds which the boldest cannot pass.

I AM sensible, my brethren, that the time and occasion of this psalm, may seem to be in one respect ill suited to the inte­resting circumstances of this country at present. It was composed after the victo­ry was obtained; whereas we are now [Page 5] but putting on the harness, and entering upon an important contest, the length of which it is impossible to forsee, and the issue of which it will perhaps be thought presumption to foretell. But as the truth, with respect to God's moral government, is the same and unchangeable; as the issue, in the case of Senacherib's invasion, did but lead the prophet to acknowledge it; our duty and interest conspire in calling upon us to improve it. And I have chosen to in­sist upon it on this day of solemn humili­ation as it will probably help us to a clear and explicit view of what should be the chief subject of our prayers and endea­vours, as well as the great object of our hope and trust, in our present situation.

THE truth, then, asserted in this text, which I propose to illustrate and improve, is,— That all the disorderly passions of men, whether exposing the innocent to private injury, or whether they are the arrows of divine judgment in public cala­mity, shall, in the end, be to the praise of God: Or, to apply it more particularly to the present state of the American Co­lonies, and the plague of war,— The am­bition [Page 6] of mistaken princes, the cunning and cruelty of oppressive and corrupt ministers, and even the inhumanity of bruial sol­diers, however dreadful, shall finally pro­mote the glory of God, and in the mean­time, while the storm continues, his mercy and kindness shall appear in prescribing bounds to their rage and fury.

IN discoursing of this subject, it is my intention, through the assistance of divine grace,

I. To point out to you in some particu­lars, how the wrath of man praises God.

II. To apply these principles to our present situation, by inferences of truth for your instruction and comfort, and by suitable exhortations to duty in the im­portant crisis▪

IN the first place, I am to point out to you in some particulars, how the wrath of man praises God. I say in some in­stances, because it is far from being in my power, either to mention or explain the whole. There is an unsearchable depth in [Page 7] the divine counsels, which it is impossible for us to penetrate. It is the duty of eve­ry good man to place the most unlimited confidence in divine wisdom, and to believe that those measures of provi­dence that are most unintelligible to him, are yet planned with the same skill, and directed to the same great purposes as o­thers, the reason and tendency of which he can explain in the clearest manner. But where revelation and experience ena­bles us to discover the wisdom, equity, or mercy of divine providence, nothing can be more delightful or profitable to a seri­ous mind, and therefore I beg your at­tention to the following remarks.

IN the first place, the wrath of man praises God, as it is an example and il­lustration of divine truth, and clearly points out the corruption of our nature, which is the foundation stone of the doc­trine of redemption. Nothing can be more absolutely necessary to true religion, than a clear and full conviction of the sin­fulness of our nature and state. Without this there can be neither repentance in the [Page 8] sinner, nor humility in the believer. Without this all that is said in scripture of the wisdom and mercy of God, in pro­viding a Saviour, is without force and without meaning. Justly does our Saviour say, The whole have no need of a physici­an, but those that are sick. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Those who are not sensible that they are sinners, will treat every exhortation to re­pentance, and every offer of mercy, with disdain or defiance.

BUT where can we have a more affec­ting view of the corruption of our na­ture, than in the wrath of man, when exerting itself in oppression, cruelty, and blood. It must be owned, indeed, that this truth is abundantly manifest in times of the greatest tranquillity. Others may, if they please, treat the corruption of our nature as a chimera; for my part, I see it every where, and I feel it every day. All the disorders in human society, and the great­est part even of the unhappiness we are ex­posed to, arises from the envy, malice, co­vetousness, and other lusts of man. If we [Page 9] and all about us were just what we ought to be in all respects, we should not need to go any further for heaven, for it would be upon earth. But war and vio­lence present a spectacle, still more awful. How affecting is it to think, that the lust of domination should be so violent and universal? That men should so rarely be satisfied with their own possessions and acquisitions, or even with the benefit that would arise from mutual service, but should look upon the happiness and tran­quillity of others, as an obstruction to their own. That, as if the great law of nature were not enough, Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return, they should be so furiously set for the destruc­tion of each other. It is shocking to think, since the first murder of Abel by his brother Cain, what havock has been made of man by man in every age. What is it that fills the pages of history, but the wars and contentions of princes and empires? What vast numbers has lawless ambition brought into the field, and delivered as a prey to the destructive sword?

[Page 10]IF we dwell a little upon the circum­stances, they become deeply affecting. The mother bears a child with pain, rears him by the laborious attendance of many years; yet in the prime of life, in the vigour of health, and bloom of beauty, in a moment he is cut down by the dreadful instruments of death. Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but the horror of the scene is not confined to the field of slaughter. Few go there un­related, or fall unlamented; in every hos­tile encounter, what must be the impres­sion upon the relations of the deceased? The bodies of the dead can only be seen, or the cries of the dying heard for a sin­gle day, but many days shall not put an end to the mourning of a parent for a be­loved son, the joy and support of his age, or of the widow and helpless offspring for a father, taken away in the fullness of health and vigour.

BUT if this may be justly said of all wars between man and man, what shall we be able to say that is suitable to the [Page 11] abhorred scene of civil war between citi­zen and citizen? How deeply affecting is it, that those who are the same in com­plexion, the same in blood, in language, and in religion, should, notwithstanding, butcher one another with unrelenting rage, and glory in the deed? That men should lay waste the fields of their fellow subjects, with whose provision they them­selves had been often fed, and consume with devouring fire those houses, in which they had often found a hospitable shelter.

THESE things are apt to overcome a weak mind with fear, or overwhelm it with sorrow, and in the greatest number are apt to excite the highest indignation, and kindle up a spirit of revenge. If this last has no other tendency than to direct and invigorate the measures of self-defence, I do not take upon me to blame it, on the contrary, I call it necessary and laudable.

BUT what I mean at this time to prove by the preceding reflections, and wish [Page 12] to impress on your minds, is the depra­vity of our nature. From whence come wars and fightings among you, says the apostle James *, come they not hence even from your lusts that war in your members. Men of lax and corrupt principles, take great delight in speaking to the praise of human nature, and extolling its dignity, without distinguishing what it was, at its first creation, from what it is in its present fallen state. These fine speculations are very grateful to a worldly mind. They are also much more pernicious to uncautious and unthinking youth, than even the temp­tations to a dissolute and sensual life, a­gainst which they are fortified by the dic­tates of natural conscience, and a sense of public shame. But I appeal from these visionary reasonings to the history of all ages, and the inflexible testimony of daily experience. These will tell us what men have been in their practice, and from thence you may judge what they are by nature, while unrenewed. If I am not mistaken, a cool and candid attention, [Page 13] either to the past history, or present state of the world, but above all, to the rav­ages of lawless power, ought to humble us in the dust. It should at once lead us to acknowledge the just view given us in scripture, of our lost state; to desire the happy influence of renewing grace each for ourselves; and to long for the domi­nion of righteousness and peace, when men shall beat their swords into plow­shares, and their spears into pruning hooks; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more ^*, ^†.

[Page 14]2. THE wrath of man praiseth God, as it is the instrument in his hand [Page 15] for bringing sinners to repentance, and for the correction and improvement of his own children. Whatever be the nature of the affliction with which he visits ei­ther persons, families, or nations; what­ever be the disposition or intention of those whose malice he employs as a scourge, the design on his part is, to re­buke men for iniquity, to bring them to repentance, and to promote their holiness and peace. The salutary nature, and sanctifying influence of affliction in ge­neral, is often taken notice of in scripture, both as making a part of the purpose of God, and the experience of his saints. ^‡ [Page 16] Now no affliction, says the apostle, for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous▪ Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them, which are exercised thereby. But what we are particularly led to observe by the sub­ject of this discourse is, that the wrath of man, or the violence of the oppressor praiseth God in this respect, for it has a peculiar tendency to alarm the secure con­science, to convince and humble the ob­stinate sinner. This is plain from the nature of the thing, and from the testi­mony of experience. Public calamities, particularly the destroying sword, is so awful that it cannot but have a powerful influence in leading men, to consider the presence and the power of God. It threatens them not only in themselves, but touches them in all that is dear to them, whether relations or possessions. The prophet Isaiah says, ^§ Yea in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee,—for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. He considers [Page 17] it as the most powerful mean of alarm­ing the secure, and subduing the ob­stinate. ^† Lord when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see, but they shall see and be ashamed for their envy at the people, yea the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. It is also sometimes re­presented as a symptom of a hopeless and irrecoverable state, when public judg­ments have no effect. Thus says the prophet Jeremiah, ^* O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refus­ed to receive correction: They have made their faces harder than a rock, they have refused to return. We can easily see in the history of the children of Israel, how severe strokes brought them to submission and penitence. When he slew them then they sought him, and they returned and enquired early after God, and they re­membered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer ^‡. Both na­tions in general, and private persons are [Page 18] apt to grow remiss and lax in a time of prosperity and seeming security, but when their earthly comforts are endan­gered or withdrawn, it lays them under a kind of necessity to seek for something better in their place. Men must have comfort from one quarter or another. When earthly things are in a pleasing and promising condition, too many are apt to find their rest, and be satisfied with them as their only portion. But when the va­nity and passing nature of all created com­fort is discovered, they are compelled to look for something more durable as well as valuable. What therefore can be more to the praise of God, than that when a whole people have forgotten their resting place, when they have abused their pri­vileges, and despised their mercies, they should by distress and suffering be made to hearken to the rod, and return to their duty.

THERE is an inexpressible depth and variety in the judgments of God, as in all his other works, but we may lay down this as a certain principle, that if there were no sin, there could be no suf­fering. Therefore they are certainly for [Page 19] the correction of sin, or for the trial, il­lustration, and perfecting of the grace and virtue of his own people. We are not to suppose, that those who suffer most, or who suffer soonest, are there­fore more criminal than others. Our Sa­viour himself thought it necessary to give a caution against this rash conclusion, as we are informed by the evangelist Luke, There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sa­crifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, be­cause they suffered such things, I tell you nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ^‡ I suppose we may say with sufficient warrant, that it often happens, that those for whom God hath designs of the greatest mercy, are first brought to the trial, that they may en­joy in due time, the salutary effect of the unpalatable medicine.

I MUST also take leave to observe, and I hope no pious humble sufferer [Page 20] will be unwilling to make the applica­tion, that there is often a discernible mixture of sovereignty and righteousness in providential dispensations. It is the prerogative of God to do what he will with his own, but he often displays his justice itself, by throwing into the fur­nace those, who, though they may not be visibly worse than, others, may yet have more to answer for, as having been favoured with more distinguished privi­leges, both civil and sacred. It is im­possible for us to make a just and full comparison of the character either of persons or nations, and it would be ex­tremely foolish for any to attempt it, ei­ther for increasing their own security, or impeaching the justice of the Supreme Ruler. Let us therefore neither forget the truth, nor go beyond it. His mercy fills the earth. He is also known by the judgment which he executeth. The wrath of man in its most tempestuous rage, fulfills his will, and finally promotes the good of his chosen.

3. THE wrath of man praiseth God, as he sets bounds to it, or restrains it by his [Page 21] providence, and sometimes makes it evi­dently a mean of promoting and illus­trating his glory.

THERE is no part of divine providence in which a greater beauty and majesty ap­pears, than when the Almighty Ruler turns the councils of wicked men into confusion, and makes them militate a­gainst themselves. If the psalmist may be thought to have had a view in this text to the truths illustrated in the two former observations, there is no doubt at all that he had a particular view to this, as he says in the latter part of the verse, the remain­der of wrath shalt thou restrain. The scripture abounds with instances, in which the designs of oppressors were either wholly disappointed, or in execution fell far short of the malice of their intention, and in some they turned out to the honour and happiness of the persons or the people, whom they were intended to destroy. We have an instance of the first of these in the history to which my text relates ^*. We have also an instance [Page 22] in Esther, in which the most mischievous designs of Haman, the son of Hameda­tha the Agagite against Mordecai the Jew, and the nation from which he sprung, turned out at last to his own destruction, the honour of Mordecai, and the salvation and peace of his peo­ple.

FROM the New Testament I will make choice of that memorable event on which the salvation of believers in every age rests as its foundation, the death and sufferings of the Son of God. This the great adversary and all his agents and instruments prosecuted with unre­lenting rage. When they had blackened him with slander, when they scourged him with shame, when they had con­demned him in judgment, and nailed him to the cross, how could they help es­teeming their victory complete? But, oh the unsearcheable wisdom of God! they were but perfecting the great design laid for the salvation of sinners. Our blessed Redeemer by his death finished his work, overcame principalities and powers, and made a shew of them openly, triumph­ing [Page 23] over them in his cross. With how much justice do the apostles and their company offer this doxology to God, They lift up their voice with one accord. and said, Lord thou art God which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the Heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were ga­thered together against the Lord, and a­gainst his Christ. For of a truth, against thy holy Child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Isra­el were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel de­termined before to be done ^*.

IN all after ages in conformity to this, the deepest laid contrivances of the prince of darkness, have turned out to the confusion of their author; and I know not, but considering his malice and pride, this perpetual disappointment, and the superiority of divine wisdom, may be [Page 24] one great source of his suffering and tor­ment. The cross hath still been the ban­ner of truth, under which it hath been car­ried through the world. Persecution has been but as the furnace to the gold to purge it of its dross, to manifest its puri­ty, and increase its lustre. It was taken no­tice of very early, that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of christianity; the more abundantly it was shed, the more plentifully did the harvest grow.

SO certain has this appeared, that the most violent infidels, both of early and later ages, have endeavoured to ac­count for it, and have observed that there is a spirit of obstinacy in man which in­clines him to resist violence, and that se­verity doth but increase opposition, be the cause what it will. They suppose that persecution is equally proper to pro­pagate truth and error. This tho' in part true will by no means generally hold. Such an apprehension however gave oc­sion to a glorious triumph of divine pro­vidence of an opposite kind, which I must shortly relate to you. One of the Roman emperors, Julian, surnamed the [Page 25] apostate, perceiving how impossible it was to suppress the gospel by violence, endea­voured to extinguish it by neglect and scorn. He left the Christians unmolested for sometime, but gave all manner of en­couragement to those of opposite princi­ples, and particularly to the Jews, out of hatred to the Christians; and that he might bring public disgrace upon the Ga­lileans, as he affected to stile them, he encouraged the Jews to rebuild the temple 2of Jerusalem, and visibly refute the pro­phecy of Christ, that it should ly under perpetual desolation. But this prophane attempt was so signally frustrated, that it served as much as any one circumstance to spread the glory of our redeemer, and establish the faith of his saints. It is af­firmed by some ancient authors, particu­larly by Ammianus Marcellinus a Hea­then historian, that fire came out of the earth and consumed the workmen when laying the foundation. But in whatever way it was prevented, it is beyond all controversy, from the concurring testimo­ny of Heathens and Christians, that little or no progress was ever made in it, and that in a short time, it was entirely defeated.

[Page 26]IT is proper here to observe that at the time of the reformation, when religion began to revive, nothing contributed more to facilitate its reception, and increase its progress than the violence of its persecu­tors. Their cruelty and the patience of the sufferers, naturally disposed men to examine and weigh the cause to which they adhered with so much constancy and resolution. At the same time also, when they were persecuted in one city they fled to another, and carried the discoveries of Popish fraud to every part of the world. It was by some of those who were perse­cuted in Germany, that the light of the reformation was brought so early into Britain.

THE power of divine providence ap­pears with the most distinguished lustre, when small and inconsiderable circum­stances, and sometimes, the weather and seasons have defeated the most formidable armaments, and frustrated the best con­certed expeditions. Near two hundred years ago, the monarchy of Spain was in the height of its power and glory, and determined to crush the interest of the [Page 27] reformation. They sent out a powerful armament against Britain, giving it os­tentatiously, and in my opinion profane­ly, the name of the Invincible Armada. But it pleased God so entirely to discomfit it by tempests, that a small part of it re­turned home, though no British force had been opposed to it at all.

WE have a remarkable instance of the influence of small circumstances in provi­dence in the English history. The two most remarkable persons in the civil wars, had earnestly desired to withdraw them­selves from the contentions of the times, Mr. Hampden and Oliver Cromwell. They had actually taken their passage in a ship for New-England, when by an ar­bitrary order of council they were com­pelled to remain at home. The conse­quence of this was, that one of them was the soul of the republican opposition to monarchical usurpation during the civil wars, and the other in the course of that contest, was the great instrument in bringing the tyrant to the block.

[Page 28]THE only other historical remark I am to make is, that the violent persecution which many eminent Christians met with in England from their brethren, who called themselves Protestants, drove them in great numbers to a distant part of the world, where the light of the gospel and true religion were unknown. Some of the American settlements, particularly those in New-England, were chiefly made by them; and as they carried the knowledge of Christ to the dark places of the earth, so they continue themselves in as great a degree of purity of faith, and strictness of practice, or rather a greater than is to be found in any protestant church now in the world. Does not the wrath of man in this instance praise God? Was not the accuser of the bre­thren, who stirs up their enemies, thus taken in his own craftiness, and his kingdom shaken by the very means which he employed to establish it ^§.

[Page 29]II. I proceed now to the second general head, which was to apply the principles illustrated above to our present situation, by inferences of truth for your instruc­tion and comfort, and by suitable exhor­tations to duty in this important crisis. And,

IN the first place, I would take the op­portunity on this occasion and from this subject, to press every hearer to a sincere concern for his own soul's salvation. There are times when the mind may be expected to be more awake to divine truth, and the conscience more open to the arrows of conviction than at others. A season of public judgment is of this kind, as appears from what has been al­ready said. That curiosity and attention at least are raised in some degree is plain from the unusual throng of this assembly. Can you have a clearer view of the sinful­ness of your nature, than when the rod of the oppressor is lifted up, and when [Page 30] you see men putting on the habit of the warrior, and collecting on every hand the weapons of hostility and instruments of death? I do not blame your ardour in preparing for the resolute defence of your temporal rights. But consider I beseech you, the truly infinite importance of the salvation of your souls. Is it of much moment whether you and your children shall be rich or poor, at liberty or in bonds? Is it of much moment whether this beautiful country shall increase in fruitfulness from year to year being cul­tivated by active industry, and possessed by independent freemen, or the scanty produce of the neglected fields shall be eaten up by hungry publicans, while the timid owner trembles at the tax gatherers approach? And is it of less moment my brethren, whether you shall be the heirs of glory, or the heirs of hell? Is your state on earth for a few fleeting years of so much moment? And is it of less mo­ment, what shall be your state through endless ages? Have you assembled toge­ther willingly to hear what shall be said on public affairs, and to join in implor­ing [Page 31] the blessing of God on the councils and arms of the united colonies, and can you be unconcerned, what shall become of you for ever, when all the monuments of human greatness shall be laid in ashes, for the earth itself and all the works that are therein shall be burnt up.

WHEREFORE my beloved hearers, as the ministry of reconciliation is committed to me, I beseech you in the most earnest manner, to attend to the things that be­long to your peace, before they are hid from your eyes. How soon and in what manner a seal shall be set upon the cha­racter and state of every person here pre­sent, it is impossible to know, for he who only can know does not think proper to reveal it. But you may rest assured that there is no time more suitable, and there is none so safe as that which is present, since it is wholly uncertain whether any other shall be yours. Those who shall first fall in battle, have not many more warnings to receive. There are some few daring and hardened sinners who despise eternity itself, and set their maker at defiance, [Page 32] but the far greater number by staving off their convictions to a more convenient sea­son, have been taken unprepared and thus eternally lost. I would therefore ear­nestly press the apostles exhortation, We then, as workers together with him, be­seech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain: For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: Behold, now is the accepted time; be­hold, now is the day of salvation ^*.

SUFFER me to beseech you, or rather to give you warning not to rest satisfied with a form of godliness, denying the power thereof. There can be no true religion, till there be a discovery of your lost state by nature and practice, and an unfeigned acceptance of Christ Jesus, as he is offer­ed in the gospel. Unhappy they who either despise his mercy, or are ashamed of his cross! Believe it, there is no sal­vation in any other. There is no other name under heaven given amongst men by which we must be saved. Unless you are united to him by a lively faith, not [Page 33] the resentment of a haughty monarch, but the sword of divine justice hangs over you, and the fulness of divine vengeance shall speedily overtake you. I do not speak this only to the heaven daring pro­fligate, or grovelling sensualist, but to e­very insensible secure sinner; to all those however decent and orderly in their civil deportment, who live to themselves and have their part and portion in this life; in fine to all who are yet in a state of nature, for except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The fear of man may make you hide your pro­phanity; prudence and experience may make you abhor intemperance and riot; as you advance in life, one vice may supplant another and hold its place; but nothing less than the sovereign grace of God can produce a saving change of heart and temper, or fit you for his im­mediate presence.

2. From what has been said upon this subject, you may see what ground there is to give praise to God for his favours al­ready bestowed on us, respecting the pub­lic [Page 34] cause. It would be a criminal inatten­tion not to observe the singular interposi­tion of providence hitherto, in behalf of the American colonies. It is however impossible for me in a single discourse, as well as improper at this time to go thro' every step of our past transactions, I must therefore content myself with a few remarks. How many discoveries have been made of the designs of enemies in Britain and among ourselves, in a man­ner as unexpected to us as to them, and in such season as to prevent their effect? What surprising success has attended our encounters in almost every instance? Has not the boasted discipline of regu­lar and veteran soldiers been turned into confusion and dismay before the new and maiden courage of freemen in defence of their property and right? In what great mercy has blood been spared on the side of this injured country? Some important victories in the south have been gained with so little loss, that enemies will pro­bably think it has been dissembled; as many, even of ourselves thought, till time rendered it undeniable. But these [Page 35] were comparatively of small moment. The signal advantage we have gained by the evacuation of Boston, and the shameful flight of the army and navy of Britain, was brought about without the loss of a man. To all this we may add, that the counsels of our enemies have been visibly confounded, so that I believe I may say with truth, that there is hardly any step which they have taken, but it has oper­ated strongly against themselves, and been more in our favour than if they had followed a contrary course.

WHILE we give praise to God the su­preme disposer of all events, for his in­terposition in our behalf, let us guard a­gainst the dangerous error of trusting in, or boasting of an arm of flesh. I could earnestly wish, that while our arms are crowned with success, we might content ourselves with a modest ascription of it to the power of the highest. It has given me great uneasiness to read some ostenta­tious, vaunting expressions in our news papers, though happily I think, much restrained of late. Let us not return to [Page 36] them again. If I am not mistaken, not only the holy scriptures in general, and the truths of the glorious gospel in parti­cular, but the whole course of providence seems intended to abase the pride of man, and lay the vain-glorious in the dust. How many instances does history furnish us with of those who after exulting over, and despising their enemies, were signal­ly and shamefully defeated. ^* The truth is, I believe, the remark may be applied universally, and we may say, that thro' the whole frame of nature, and the whole system of human life, that which promises most, performs the least. The flowers of finest colour seldom have the sweetest fragrance. The trees of quick­est growth or fairest form, are seldom of the greatest value or duration. Deep wa­ters move with least noise. Men who think most are seldom talkative. And I think it holds as much in war as in any thing, that every boaster is a coward.

[Page 37]PARDON me my brethren for insisting so much upon this which may seem but an immaterial circumstance. It is in my opinion of very great moment. I look upon oftentation and confidence to be a sort of outrage upon providence, and when it becomes general, and infuses it­self into the spirit of a people, it is a forerunner of destruction. How does Goliah the champion, armed in a most formidable manner express his disdain of David the stripling with his sling and his stone. And when the Philistine looked a­bout and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with slaves? And the Phi­listine cursed David by his gods, and the Philistine said to David come to me and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. But how just and modest the reply? Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear, and with a shield, but I come unto thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied ^*. I [Page 38] was well pleased with a remark of this kind thirty years ago in a pamphlet, ^† in which it was observed, that there was a great deal of prophane ostentation in the names given to ships of war, as the Vic­tory, the Valiant, the Thunderer, the Dreadnought, the Terrible, the Fire­brand, the Furnace, the Lightning, the Infernal, and many more of the same kind. This the author considered as a symptom of the national character and manners very unfavourable, and not likely to obtain the blessing of the God of Heaven ^*.

[Page 39]3. From what has been said you may learn what encouragement you have to put your trust in God, and hope for his assistance in the present important conflict. He is the Lord of hosts, great in might, and strong in battle. Whoever hath his countenance and approbation, shall have the best at last. I do not mean to speak prophetically, but agreeably to the analo­gy of faith, and the principles of God's moral government. Some have observed that true religion, and in her train do­minion, riches, literature, and arts, have taken their course in a slow and gradual manner, from east to west since the earth was settled after the flood, and from thence forbode the future glory of Ame­rica. I leave this as a matter rather of conjecture than certainty, but observe, that if your cause is just,—if your prin­ciples are pure,—and if your conduct is prudent, you need not fear the multitude of opposing hosts.

IF your cause is just—you may look with confidence to the Lord and intreat him to plead it as his own. You are all my wit­nesses, [Page 40] that this is the first time of my introducing any political subject into the pulpit. At this season however, it is not only lawful but necessary, and I wil­lingly embrace the opportunity of declar­ing my opinion without any hesitation, that the cause in which America is now in arms, is the cause of justice, of liberty, and of human nature. So far as we have hitherto proceeded, I am satisfied that the confederacy of the colonies, has not been the effect of pride, resentment, or sedition, but of a deep and general con­viction, that our civil and religious liber­ties, and consequently in a great measure the temporal and eternal happiness of us and our posterity depended on the issue. The knowledge of God and his truths have from the beginning of the world been chiefly, if not entirely confined to these parts of the earth, where some de­gree of liberty and political justice were to be seen, and great were the difficulties with which they had to struggle from the imperfection of human society, and the unjust decisions of usurped authority. There is not a single instance in history [Page 41] in which civil liberty was lost, and reli­gious liberty preserved entire. If therefore we yield up our temporal property, we at the same time deliver the conscience into bondage.

YOU shall not, my brethren, hear from me in the pulpit, what you have never heard from me in conversation, I mean railing at the king personally, or even his ministers and the parliament, and people of Britain, as so many barbarous savages. Many of their actions have pro­bably been worse than their intentions. That they should desire unlimited domi­nion if they can obtain or preserve it, is neither new nor wonderful. I do not re­fuse submission to their unjust claims, because they are corrupt or profligate, although probably many of them are so, but because they are men, and therefore liable to all the selfish bias inseparable from human nature. I call this claim unjust of making laws to bind us in all cases whatsoever, because they are separ­ated from us, independent of us, and have an interest in opposing us. Would [Page 42] any man who could prevent it, give up his estate, person, and family, to the disposal of his neighbour, although he had liberty to chuse the wisest and the best master? Surely not. This is the true and proper hinge of the controversy be­tween Great-Britain and America. It is however to be added, that such is their distance from us, that a wise and prudent administration of our affairs is as impossi­ble as the claim of authority is unjust. Such is and must be their ignorance of the state of things here, so much time must elapse before an error can be seen and remedied, and so much injustice and partiality must be expected from the arts and misrepresentation of interested per­sons, that for these colonies to depend wholly upon the legislature of Great-Britain, would be like many other oppres­sive connexions, injury to the master, and ruin to the slave.

THE management of the war itself on their part, would furnish new proof of this, if any were needful. Is it not ma­nifest with what absurdity and impro­priety [Page 43] they have conducted their own de­signs? We had nothing so much to fear as dissension, and they have by wanton and unnecessary cruelty forced us into u­nion. At the same time to let us see what we have to expect, and what would be the fatal consequence of unli­mited submission, they have uniformly called those acts Lenity, which filled this whole continent with resentment and horror. The ineffable disdain expressed by our fellow subject, in saying, "That he would not hearken to America, till she was at his feet," has armed more men, and inspired more deadly rage, than could have been done by laying waste a whole province with fire and sword. A­gain, we wanted not numbers, but time, and they sent over handful after handful, till we were ready to oppose a multitude greater than they have to send. In fine, if there was one place stronger than the rest, and more able and willing to resist, there they made the attack, and left the others till they were duly informed, com­pletely incensed, and fully furnished with every instrument of war.

[Page 44]I MENTION these things, my brethren, not only as grounds of confidence in God, who can easily overthrow the wis­dom of the wise, but as decisive proofs of the impossibility of these great and growing states, being safe and happy when every part of their internal polity is dependent on Great-Britain. If, on ac­count of their distance, and ignorance of our situation, they could not conduct their own quarrel with propriety for one year, how can they give direction and vigour to every department of our civil constitutions from age to age? There are fixed bounds to every human thing. When the branches of a tree grow very large and weighty they fall off from the trunk. The sharpest sword will not pierce when it cannot reach. And there is a certain distance from the seat of go­vernment, where an attempt to rule will either produce tyranny and helpless sub­jection, or provoke resistance and effect a separation.

I HAVE said, if your principles are pure —The meaning of this is, if your pre­sent [Page 45] opposition to the claims of the Bri­tish ministry does not arise from a sedi­tious and turbulent spirit, or a wanton contempt of legal authority; from a blind and factious attachment to particular per­sons or parties; or from a selfish rapacious disposition, and a desire to turn public confusion to private profit—but from a concern for the interest of your country, and the safety of yourselves and your pos­terity. On this subject I cannot help ob­serving, that though it would be a mira­cle if there were not many selfish persons among us, and discoveries now and then made of mean and interested transactions, yet they have been comparatively inconsi­derable both in number and effect. In general, there has been so great a degree of public spirit, that we have much more reason to be thankful for its vigour and prevalence, than to wonder at the few appearances of dishonesty or disaffection. It would be very uncandid to ascribe the universal ardour that has prevailed a­mong all ranks of men, and the spirited exertions in the most distant colonies to any thing else than public spirit. Nor [Page 46] was there ever perhaps in history so ge­neral a commotion from which religious differences have heen so entirely excluded. Nothing of this kind has as yet been heard, except of late in the absurd, but malicious and detestable attempts of our few remaining enemies to introduce them. At the same time I must also for the honour of this country observe, that though government in the ancient forms has been so long unhinged, and in some colonies not sufficient care taken to sub­stitute another in its place; yet has there been, by common consent, a much greater degree of order and public peace, than men of reflexion and experience foretold or expected. From all these circumstances I conclude favourably of the principles of the friends of liberty, and do earnestly exhort you to adopt and act upon those which have been described, and resist the influence of every other.

ONCE more, if to the justice of your cause, and the purity of your principles you add prudence in your conduct, there will be the greatest reason to hope, by [Page 47] the blessing of God, for prosperity and success. By prudence in conducting this important struggle, I have chiefly in view union, firmness, and patience. E­very body must perceive the absolute ne­cessity of union. It is indeed in every body's mouth, and therefore instead of attempting to convince you of its import­ance, I will only caution you against the usual causes of division. If persons of every rank, instead of implicitly comply­ing with the orders of those whom they themselves have chosen to direct, will needs judge every measure over again, when it comes to be put in execution. If different classes of men intermix their lit­tle private views, or clashing interest with public affairs, and marshal into parties, the merchant against the land­holder, and the landholder against the merchant. If local provincial pride and jealousy arise, and you allow yourselves to speak with contempt of the courage, character, manners, or even language of particular places, you are doing a greater injury to the common cause, than you are aware of. If such practices are ad­mitted [Page 48] among us, I shall look upon it as one of the most dangerous symptoms, and if they become general, a presage of approaching ruin.

BY firmness and patience, I mean a resolute adherence to your duty, and lay­ing your account with many difficulties as well as occasional disappointments. In a former part of this discourse, I have cautioned you against oftentation and vain glory. Be pleased further to ob­serve, that extremes often beget one an­other, the same persons who exult extra­vagantly on success, are generally most li­able to despondent timidity on every little inconsiderable defeat. Men of this cha­racter are the bane and corruption of e­very society or party to which they be­long, but they are especially the ruin of an army if suffered to continue in it. Remember the vicissitude of human things, and the usual course of provi­dence. How often has a just cause been reduced to the lowest ebb, and yet when firmly adhered to, has become finally tri­umphant. I speak this now while the [Page 49] affairs of the colonies are in so prosperous a state, left this prosperity itself should render you less able to bear unexpected misfortunes—The sum of the whole is, that the blessing of God is only to be look­ed for by those who are not wanting in the discharge of their own duty. I would neither have you to trust in an arm of flesh, nor sit with folded hands and ex­pect that miracles should be wrought in your defence.—This is a sin which is in scripture stiled tempting God. In opposi­tion to it, I would exhort you as Joab did the host of Israel, who though he does not appear to have had a spotless character throughout, certainly in this instance spoke like a prudent general and a pious man. Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our peo­ple and for the cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight ^*.

I SHALL now conclude this discourse by some exhortations to duty founded upon the truths, which have been illus­trated above, and suited to the interesting [Page 50] state of this country at the present time; and,

1. SUFFER me to recommend to you an attention to the public interest of reli­gion, or in other words zeal for the glory of God and the good of others. I have al­ready endeavoured to exhort sinners to re­pentance, what I have here in view is to point out to you the concern which every good man ought to take in the national character and manners, and the means which he ought to use for promoting pub­lic virtue, and bearing down impiety and vice. This is a matter of the utmost moment, and which ought to be well understood, both in its nature and prin­ciples. Nothing is more certain than that a general profligacy and corruption of manners makes a people ripe for de­struction. A good form of government may hold the rotten materials together for some time, but beyond a certain pitch e­ven the best constitution will be ineffec­tual, and slavery must ensue. On the o­ther hand, when the manners of a nation are pure, when true religion and internal principles maintain their vigour, the at­tempts [Page 51] of the most powerful enemies to oppress them are commonly baffled and disappointed. This will be found equal­ly certain, whether we consider the great principles of God's moral government, or the operation and influence of natural causes.

WHAT follows from this? That he is the best friend to American liberty, who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who sets himself with the greatest firmness to bear down prophanity and immorality of eve­ry kind. Whoever is an avowed enemy to God, I scruple not to call him an ene­my to his country. Do not suppose, my brethren, that I mean to recommend a furious and angry zeal for the circum­stantials of religion, or the contentions of one sect with another about their peculiar distinctions. I do not wish you to op­pose any body's religion, but every bo­dy's wickedness. Perhaps there are few surer marks of the reality of religion, than when a man feels himself more join­ed in spirit to a truly holy person of a different denomination, than to an irre­gular [Page 52] liver of his own. It is therefore your duty in this important and critical season, to exert yourselves every one in his proper sphere to stem the tide of pre­vailing vice, to promote the knowledge of God, the reverence of his name and worship, and obedience to his laws.

PERHAPS you will ask, what it is that you are called to do for this purpose far­ther than your own personal duty? I an­swer this itself when taken in its proper extent is not a little. The nature and o­bligation of visible religion is, I am af­fraid, little understood and less attended to.

MANY from a real or pretended fear of the imputation of hypocrisy, banish from their conversation and carriage every ap­pearance of respect and submission to the living God. What a weakness and mean­ness of spirit does it discover for a man to be ashamed in the presence of his fellow sinners, to profess that reverence to almighty God which he inwardly feels? The truth is, he makes himself truly liable to the accusation which he means to avoid. It is as genuine and [Page 53] perhaps a more culpable hypocrisy to ap­pear to have less religion than you really have, than to appear to have more. This false shame is a more extensive evil than is commonly apprehended. We contri­bute constantly, though insensibly, to form each others character and manners; and therefore, the usefulness of a strictly holy and conscientious deportment is not confined to the possessor, but spreads its happy influence to all that are within its reach. I need scarcely add, that in pro­portion as men are distinguished by un­derstanding, literature, age, rank, office, wealth, or any other circumstance, their example will be useful on the one hand, or pernicious on the other.

BUT I cannot content myself with barely recommending a silent example. There is a dignity in virtue which is en­titled to authority, and ought to claim it. In many cases it is the duty of a good man, by open reproof and opposition, to wage war with prophaneness. There is a scripture precept delivered in very singu­lar terms, to which I beg your attention; Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy [Page 54] heart, but shalt in any wise rebuke him, and not suffer sin upon him. How prone are many to represent reproof as flowing from ill nature and surliness of temper? The Spirit of God, on the contrary, con­siders it as the effect of inward hatred, or want of genuine love, to forbear reproof when it is necessary or may be useful. I am sensible there may in some cases be a restraint from prudence, agreeably to that caution of Solomon, Cast not your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you. Of this every man must judge as well as he can for himself; but certainly, either by open reproof, or expressive si­lence, or speedy departure from such so­ciety, we ought to guard against being partakers of other mens sins.

TO this let me add, that if all men are bound in some degree, certain classes of men are under peculiar obligations to the discharge of this duty. Magistrates, mi­nisters, parents, heads of families, and those whom age has rendered venerable, are called to use their authority and influ­ence for the glory of God and the good [Page 55] of others. Bad men themselves discover an inward conviction of this, for they are often liberal in their reproaches of per­sons of grave characters or religious pro­fession, if they bear with patience the prophanity of others. Instead of enlarg­ing on the duty of men in authority in general, I must particularly recommend this matter to those who have the com­mand of soldiers inlisted for the defence of their country. The cause is sacred, and the champions for it ought to be ho­ly. Nothing is more grieving to the heart of a good man, than to hear from those who are going to the field, the horrid sound of cursing and blasphemy; it cools the ardor of his prayers, as well as abates his confidence and hope in God. Many more circumstances affect me in such a case, than I can enlarge upon, or indeed easily enumerate at present; the glory of God, the interest of the deluded sinner, going like a devoted victim and imprecating vengeance on his own head, as well as the cause itself com­mitted to his care. We have some­times taken the liberty to forebode the [Page 56] downfall of the British empire, from the corruption and degeneracy of the people. Unhappily the British soldiers have been distinguished among all the nations in Europe, for the most shocking profanity. Shall we then pretend to emulate them in this infernal distinction, or rob them of the horrid privilege? God forbid. Let the officers of the army in every degree re­member, that as military subjection, while it lasts, is the most compleat of any, it is in their power greatly to restrain, if not wholly to banish, this flagrant enormity.

2. I EXHORT all who are not called to go into the field to apply themselves with the utmost diligence to works of industry. It is in your power by this means not only to supply the necessities, but to add to the strength of your country. Habits of industry prevailing in a society not only increase its wealth, as their immedi­ate effect, but they prevent the introduc­tion of many vices, and are intimately connected with sobriety and good morals. Idleness is ths mother or nurse of almost every vice, and want, which is its insepa­rable companion, urges men on to the [Page 57] most abandoned and destructive courses. Industry, therefore, is a moral duty of the greatest moment, absolutely necessary to national prosperity, and the sure way of obtaining the blessing of God. I would also observe, that in this, as in every other part of God's government, obedience to his will is as much a natural mean, as a meritorious cause of the advantage we wish to reap from it. Industry brings up a firm and hardy race. He who is inured to the labour of the field, is pre­pared for the fatigues of a campaign. The active farmer who rises with the dawn and follows his team or plow, must in the end be an overmatch for those effeminate and delicate soldiers, who are nursed in the lap of self-indulgence, and whose greatest exertion is in the important pre­paration for, and tedious attendance on, a masquerade, or midnight ball.

3. IN the last place, suffer me to re­commend to you frugality in your fami­lies, and every other article of expence. This the state of things among us renders absolutely necessary, and it stands in the most immediate connection both with vir­tuous [Page 58] industry, and active public spirit. Temperance in meals, moderation and decency in dress, furniture and equi­page, have, I think, generally been characteristics of a distinguished patriot. And when the same spirit pervades a people in general, they are fit for every duty, and able to encounter the most for­midable enemy. The general subject of the preceding discourse has been the wrath of man praising God. If the unjust op­pression of your enemies, which with­holds from you many of the usual articles of luxury and magnificence, shall contri­bute to make you clothe yourselves and your children with the works of your own hands, and cover your tables with the salutary productions of your own soil, it will be a new illustration of the same truth, and a real happiness to yourselves and your country.

I COULD wish to have every good thing done from the purest principles and the noblest views. Consider, therefore, that the Christian character, particularly the self-denial of the gospel, should ex­tend to your whole deportment. In the [Page 59] early times of Christianity, when adult converts were admitted to baptism, they were asked among other questions, Do you renounce the world, its shews, its pomp, and its vanities? I do. The form of this is still preserved in the administra­tion of baptism, where we renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh. This certainly implies not only abstaining from acts of gross intemperance and excess, but a humility of carriage, a restraint and moderation in all your desires. The same thing, as it is suitable to your Christian profession, is also necessary to make you truly independant in yourselves, and to feed the source of liberality and charity to others, or to the public. The riotous and wasteful liver, whose craving appe­tites make him constantly needy, is and must be subject to many masters, accord­ing to the saying of Solomon, The bor­rower is servant to the lender. But the frugal and moderate person, who guides his affairs with discretion, is able to assist in public counsels by a free and unbias­sed judgment, to supply the wants of his poor brethren, and sometimes, by his [Page 60] estate and substance, to give important aid to a sinking country.

UPON the whole, I beseech you to make a wise improvement of the present threat­ning aspect of public affairs, and to re­member that your duty to God, to your country, to your families, and to your­selves, is the same. True religion is no­thing else but an inward temper and out­ward conduct suited to your state and cir­cumstances in providence at any time. And as peace with God and conformity to him, adds to the sweetness of created comforts while we possess them, so in times of difficulty and trial, it is in the man of piety and inward principle that we may expect to find the uncorrupted patriot, the useful citizen, and the in­vincible soldier.—God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable, and that the unjust attempts to destroy the one, may in the issue tend to the support and establish­ment of both.