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"•■ 2 3 2 - 3 4 5 6 tf^ £^. (KXX-^i X 0-- ffOL. C\..^^AJ^ . Being a Day recommended, by the OONJIXITUTED AUTHORITIES 07 THE KATION, As a Day of SPECIAL HUMILIATIQjY Amj PRAYER^ * ^'" • OK ACCOUNT oir THE PRESENT WAR. ** V '\>^ "■1 ■I:. BY T?1LLIAM PARKINSON, A. M. Pastor of aaid Church. ** He maketh wars to cease, &c." Psalm xlvi. 9. ) 1 I NEW-YORK : VRIMTEB TOR JOHN TISBOUt, MO. 338) VATSR'STRESTk 1812. mi T\e Copy for Publication, was suhmitted at the request of Friends, W* «/N>V^«r<^nlly of Ishmael or the Hap^rites, "Jetur^ ar.'l A'efihiah, and J^odab"* that is the posterity of these men, and who were ^he sons of Ishmael. Gen. 25. 15. The Circumstances : \. " The War ii'u.s of God." v. 22. 2. It was waged on the part of God's. Israel : " they made •war," fjfc. V. 19. 3. The forces engaged were very unequal ; of the Israel- ites, 44,760. V. 18, and of the Ilagaritcs, probably three times thai number; for, besides 100,000 of thim taken prisoners, « there fell down many slain" v. 21, 22. Yet 4. The conquest was on the side of Israel, v. 20. 5. The conquest was given them by divine interposition : « they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were de- livered into their hands, and all that were with them ;" that is ,all their possessions. Ii>id. 6 The success of Israel was in answer to prayer: "for they cried to God in the battle, and he v as intreated of them, be- cause they put their trust in him." ^bid. 7. What the Providence of God delivered to Israel, they took; and which furnishes an example of what may be lawfully done in a lawful war. They took men ; of these 100,000, which alone was near 5,000 more than twice the whole num- ber of the army of Israel. They took firo/ierty ; of camels 50,000, of sheep 250,000, and of asses 2,000, v. 21. They took possession also of the enemy's territory^ " and dwelt in their steads until the captivity." v. 22. • Aodat, ia sup/iosrd to be the sa7ne nvi h ICedemah^mentioned . usually converted into barracks for soldiers, or perhaps sta- bles for horses. That such was the fate of public buildings in this and other cities on our continent, during the revolu« tionary war, is well recollected by many in this assembly. fVars moreover, is a fruitful source of almost all manner of wickedness. Not to speak of that flood of immorality which commonly attends an army, and which more or less dissem inates its baneful influence among all classes of society, war has its very origin in wickedness : " Whence come wars and fighting among you ? Come they not hence even of your lusts?** Jas. 5. 1 As between individuals or families, so between nations, whenever war occurs, there must be, on one side at least, an egregious departure from equity and justice, and which can only praceed from the lusts of the human heart ;. such as resentment, envy and jealousy ; restless ambition, false glory, wantonness of power, or perhaps a mere thirst for dominion. When these lusts predominate, right is for- jjutten, national charters are disregarded, and the most 50- % 8 lemn treaties wantonly violated. Yes, to gratify thcne detest^' able passions, armies, consisting of tliousands, have beciir deliberately sacrificed, and multitudes, which no man can numbcri have been precipitately launched into the world of spirits. Alas, how many into the world of misery ! When these, and many other evils that might be mention- ed, as accompanying war, are duly considered, surely no one can doubt that war is always to be deprecated. Nevertheless, I proceed to shew, II. That a nation may be so treated by another, as to justi* fy, on her part, a declaration of war, and that the name can- not be avoided, consistently with her dignity, her safety and even her independence. In this dilemma a nation is involved when another, in re- ference to her, vioUtcs,— perseveringly violates the law of nations. This law I" define thus :— /f is the common consent of civil authorities^ for time immemorial., that all free and in- de/iendent natioiis fiosseas equal rights and are entitled to equal jirivileges. By this consent nations are cunstitutcd a society, differing only as to magnitude, from that which obtains among individual free men. Hence, as among individuals, so among nations equally free and sovereign, no one can claim the right of dictating another; nor do it, without violating, as in the one case tlie luw of civil society, so in' the other that of na- tional usage. Suppose, for the sake of illustration,* that one man, though free, should presume to enjoin his will upon another etjually free, — suppose he should say to him, You shall neither buy nor sell at such or such a market ;— or, finding him on the highway, going to or returning from market, he should for- cibly take away his property and injure his person:— Or suppose that, seeing him in the pursuit of some profitable business, he should tell him. You shall pursue that business no longer; perhaps because he is in it himself and wishes to monopolize the profits ; or possibly, because he is so circum- ^ \ * This mode of i'lustrationf it is ho/iedf loill be excused by those who do not u.ed it. 9 »tanccd as not to be able to engage in it, and therefore grudges his neighbour the advantuge. Again, suppose he should fancy it to be the duty of this man whom he has un* dertaken to controul, to be the enemy of every man to whom he is an enemy, and should treat the man himself as an enemy when he thinks and acts otherwise :— .or, supposing that, en- vying the leace and prosperity of this certain man, he should employ his influence, by secret missions, bribeiy, 8cc. to move his neighbours to commit depredations upon his pro* perty, or to excite his own family to mutiny ;— in fine, sup- pose him to demand of this man, as a matter of superiour right, any act whatever, as a token of inferiority or submis- sion; — suppose, I say, any one of the things mentioned, and you suppose what is a violation of the common rights of free men. Can you then for a moment hesitate as to the duty of the ci» tizen thus insulted ! — >thu8 injured ! — ff, indeed, he possess no means of self-dcfence->no means of teaching his insolent neighbour his duty, and of shewing to others that he is a free man, then, to be sure, he must peaceably submit. And if so, where his dignity, his safety, and his freedom ? They no longer exist. But, if the requisite means be at his com- mand, then say you, and I believe with united voice, let him avail himself of them — let him, without a moment's delay, repel the attacks of the lawless usurper, and assert and main- tain his own rights. The application to nations is perfectly convenient. If among the society of nations equally free and sovex-eign, any one presume to make her will the rule of another's conduct ; if, for instance, she prohibit, or attempt to prohibit a free and neutral bister, the right of trade, at any port not legally block- aded and in articles not contraband ; — ^if she authorise, or (unremunerated) permit her armed vessels to molest the merchant ships of her peaceable sistei,— -especially to plunder her property, and either to kill or to impress her seamen ;•— if she attempt any monopoly, or even any superior right upon the high seas, which, not only by the law of naiious, but also 3 #* 10 of nature and of nature's God, are equally free to all ;— if she use her influence by any means to excite the neighbours of a bister nation to acts of aggression against her, or to promote among her own people, disaffection to her government, and disunion of her members ; — if, I say, a nation do these things, then is she guilty of conduct similar to that supposed of a •wicked, haughty, and domineering individual, and is worthy of the same treatment to which, in your minds, that individu- al hath been already adjudged. Now, how far the conduct of Great Britain toward this country, for at least five years past, hath assimilated her to such an individual, I kave you, my fellow-citizens, to think for yourselves, claiming to myself, as a free man, the right of doing the same, liut supposing the similitude to be ap- propriate, and that the acts au/i/iosedj have been really com- mittcd : — can there, under such a supposition, a single doubt remain as to the course which this country, in return, ought to have pursued ? If, indeed, these insults and depredations had not been repeated — had they not been often repeated, — and had riot a disposition been manifested, still to repeat them, it might have been well, on the part of this country, to have forborne. But having given no provocation to such treat- ment, having used, in vain, all honourable means to prevent it, and having already sustained considerable loss, not only of property and reputation, but even of blood ; and this, all this, having been wantonly continued, until hope had beconte folly, -and delay subjection ; there remained, of course, for our in- sulted, injiu'cd country but two objects of choice :— Either she must tamely and dastardly submit to the dictates and oppres- sions of imperious iiritain, and so make, at once, a surrender of her rights, and an acknowledgment that she is no longer free ; or, in the noble -spirit of '76, call together her patri- otic sons — vest them with authority — furnish t lem with arms, and say to them Go,— Go by sea and land,— Go vindicate my rights, avenge my wrongs, and maintain my liberty, the bounteous gift of Heaven, and the invaluable, price of your father's blood. The former she has nobly disduuied,— t) j ■% #* 11 / latter, by her constituted authorities, she has hononrablf, so- lemnly and seasonably done. — Mor was ever a mother's man- date more promptly obeyed. No sooner had it reached the ears of her free-born sons, than her flag was seen waving from every principal port on her meandering coast, and her stand- ard planted, with her banner unfuiMed, at many of the princi- pal avenues to the enemy, on her extensive frontier. And for ■what purpose ? Not to invade the rights of others, but to pro- tect her own: and to do which, we are taught, not oivly by the impulse of nature and tl)e dictate of reason, but by the voice of Revelation itself :*— yea, not to doit, were to sanc- tion the vices of a rapacious foe, and to pour contempt on the favours of Ciod.— This, however, will become more evident, while I attempt to shew III. What concern God has in war. *' The war wa» of God." Text. His concern in this, as in all human affairs, though not al- ways manifest, at letist not in the same degree, yet always exists. And that not merely " as in him we live, and move and have our being ;"t but also, as by him all our changes are meted :— " God is the judge ; he putteth down one, and uetteth up another."^ « I" saith he, " form the light and cre- ate darkness ; I make peace and create evil ; I, the Lord, do all these tlungs."§ However strange, it is nevertheless evi- dent, that God, for reasons certainly known, only to himself, did, at an early period of the world, discover that his secret arrangements, in relation to the human family, provided for war : hence the remarkable govarnment which he gave to the ancient Hebrews, — a government in which all tlie males of Israel, able to bear arms, were, by divine command, divided, under several captains, into companies of thousands, hun- dreds, fifties and tens ; ready for the field, whenever the cir- cumstances of the nation rendered it necessary. Shall thla be m * 2 Chron. xx. 15. t ^cta 17. 28. \ Psalm 75. 7. § laaL 45. 7. 12 urged tLi fnrniEhing an example of a standing army? Cer- tainly not, without either much ignorance or much sophistry. For the Israelites were not, like a standing army, a standing ex/ienae^ and a standing nuisance to the nation ; nor, like that> an engine at the command of a lawless tyrant, to impose his will upon the people. . No ; but rather like an eni*olled and well regulated militias—in peace, pursuing their civil employ- ments and defraying their own expenses, and yet bestowing so much attention on the cultivation of military skill, as to be ready, on any emergency to repair to the theatre of action. I am aware that it may be said, that God, in the arrangements made for war among the ancient Hebrews, had a mystical de- sign ;— that the warlike state of the Hebrews was to prefigure that of the Gospel Church ; and that the wars they were com- manded to wage, and the conquests they were enabled to gain, were typical of the wars which we are commanded to wage with our spiritual enemies, and the conquests which, through grace, we arc encouraged to expect. All this is rea- dily granted. But were the Hebrews influenced by these con- siderations ? Or did they not rather act from the common motives which influence soldiers? or, at most, from a sense of present duty ; — while the mystical design remained to be understood by the Gospel Church, under the superior light of the Gospel dispensation.* So, no doubt, God has had a de- sign no less important ^nd no less worthy of himself, in all the wars, both ancient and modern, since the commencement of this dispensation: nevertheless that design remains to be understood by the Church in the greater light of her millen- nial glory, or perhaps not fully until she arrives in heaven.! That God has a concern in war, appears in its commence* mcnt, its progress, and its termination. • In its commencement. That he had such a concern in that war of which our Text is a record, is plainly asserted : " The * ,» •i (• « £/}/i. 6. 1 1—17. t Matt. 24. 6, 7. Jsai. 30. 26. John 13. 7. Rev. 19. 1", 18 % 13 war ivaa of God." In this, however, aa In all other eyents -which give occasion for the exercise of human corruptions, we must always distinguish between these corruptions and God's control of them. War, as already noticed, proceeds, on the part of men from their lusts ; nevertheless, even these^ in their propensity to war, as to every other outrage, are sub- ject, to the overruling power of God, as much as the ele- ments of nature ; and his address to the raging ocean, is no less applicable to depraved man : " Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further ; — here shall thy proud waves be stayed.* The king's hearti " and so the heart of every human ruler and of every human being, is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water ; he turneth it whithersoever he will."t Hence, Sometimes when men determine ivar. God prevents it j either by checking their lusts, or frustrating their designs.| At other times, he not only permits, in his holy providence, circumstances to occur, which call those corruptions into ex- ercise, but also leaves men to pursue their dictates, either to conquest or to ruin, as he, in his righteous sovereignty may- have determine d.$ And there are also instances in -which, either by a strange concurrence of providences, or by some mysterious, ineffa- ble and inconceivable impulse upon the minds of men, God manifests his concern in ivar^ by actually stimulating to it :-^ ♦* The God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser, kings of Assyria," to make v/ar against . Israel. 1 Chron. 5. 36. Do we 5nd our hearts rising in oppo* sition to such sovereignty ? Let it remind us that we are de- praved, and are nor yet in due submission to him, who is saying «' Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46. 10. As God has a concern in the commencement, scr also in tha firogrest of war ,• which is long or short, severe or moder- ate, according to his sovereign control. 'I ; I It • Job 38. 11. t J'rov. 21. 1. \ i Sa7n. 23. 7—17. £5" 25, 26, 34. b" I Kings 12. 22—24. $ 1 Sam. 4. 9, 10. 2 Chron, 25, 20—24. Deut. 1. 42—44. 14 Ih ll>! As the hearts of all are in his hand, he imboldens or inti- midates them at pleasure.* As " unto" him " belong the issues from death " Psalm 68. 20. it cannot be reasonably doubted that the shafts of battle, as well as of disease, are all directed by his sovereign hand. Witness the stone from David's sling, which prostrated the vaunting Philistine, and the arrow from the •» bow, which a certain man drew at a venture," but which, divinely directed, penetrated,— fatally penetrated " the king of Israel between the joints of the harness .f Yea, if not a sparrow, much less a man, can fall to the ground without his will. Matt. 10. 29. Besides ; as at all times and places in common, the des- tinies of all men and of all nations are in his power, ^ so un> doubtedly, in times of war and at the place of battle. If not, why the exhortation, " Trust ye in him at all times," Psalm 62. 8. — or why did God himself say to Israel, " The battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chron. 20. 15. Nor is the concern which God has in the ivar^ any less ma- nifest in its termination : " He maketh wars to cease." Psalm 46. 9. And, as of him is the decision of the contest so also the disposal of the conquest. '• The battle is the Lord's.'* 1 Sam. 17. 47. Men, indeed, commonly view these events as depending wholly on the comparative numbers and military- skill of the forces engaged ; or, if any thing extraordinary occur, they attribute it, usually to mere chance ; but» in real- ity, they are like the lot, >' The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." Prov. 16. .33. That " the battle" as remarked by the wise man, " is not to the strong," i. e. not always, or not merely because strong, is evident from our Text ; for the Is- raelites, compared with the Hagarites, were but few ; yet, being " heJped," divinely helped " against them, the Hagar- ites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with • 2 Chron. 20. 29. i3^ 2 Kings 7. 6. t 1 Sam. 17. 49. 1 Kings 22. 84. Paaim 31. 15. \ 8 Ckron. 20. 6. 15 them," i. e. all their possessions. That these events, how- ever, depend on divine interposition, no one surely can doubt) who for a moment reviews them in relation to the revolution- ary war in this country : for then, to use the language of scripture, " One chased a thousand, and two put ten thou- sand to flight ;" and why ? Because the war^ like that re- corded in the Text, noaa of God. He moved our fathers to engage in it — he conducted them through the whcle process, and he crowned them with victory and triumph. From the consideration of the concern which God has in Wiir, I proceed to shew, IV. What measures, especially in a moral point of view, arc proper for a nation to take in relation to war, — when ex- empted from it — when threatened with it, and when involved in it. First. When exempted from it. During sucli times, the greatest care should be taken to preserve neutrality. To this the situation of the United States is peculiarly favourable ; being so widely separated by water. fr()m every other nation, from which ^ war of any con- sequence could be apprehended. The principles of neutral- ity are often violated by presumptuous individuals: but this evil It is in the power of government easily to remedy, by chastisement and remuneration. O that proud England had done this ! Then had not our government, at this time, been driven to the last, the lamentable resort of injured nations. Wliile exempt from war, it is of primary importance in preserving the blessings of peace, that the people preserve unity of sentiment on the principal measures of government ; strict adherence to the constitution, the great charter of na- tional rights, id a proper submission to " the powers that be "* It may indeed, often occur, that men in office act un- wort.y the trust reposed in them; but, in such cases, the remedy lies, not in faction, riot and defamation, but in elec- ■■';i li •■'A Romans 13. I. 16 1 1' 'Mt 7'. tiows. When these return, it is the privilege df the sovereiga people to withhold their sufrageB from those who have abused their confidence, and to give them to other and better men. But above all, a nation, while exempt from the evil» of war, should habitually acknowledge God as the author and presei*ver of the blessings of peace. When he is forgotten, and the blessings enjoyed are ascribed to the merit of the people-^the management of rulers— military power—or, in- deed to any cause whatever, short of divine goodness, there is reason to expect public trouble at least, and, without national reformation, the scourge of war.— " If," said God to the peo- ple of Israel, and which is not inapplicable to the people of these United States — " If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land ; but if yc refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."* To this means of advancing either ♦he prosperi- ly, or the ruin of the nation, every individual may contribute, as he may contribute either to that morality, that *' righteous^ ness which exalteth a nation," or to that immorality, that *' sin which is the disgrace of any people."t However, when the moral character of a nation is taken into view, there are two classes in the community which require a more than ordinary attention. The one class intended, unites those who, in the providence of God, are called by the voice of the people, to transact the civil affairs of the n-^tion ; whether by enacting laws or ad- ministering government. And as the moral qualifications re- quisite in these men, are so much ths topick of popular cla- mou»', it may be proper, on this occasion, in some measure, to investigate that subject. It is contended by many, that they ought to be religiout men., If by religious be meant regenerate, then is it irdced essential that they be religious men. Not, howt-vcr, to qua- lify them to be statesmen ; for as their work, 'n that capacity, * Isai. 1. 19, 20. t Prov. 14. 34. 17 4s wholly of a natural and civil kind, so also the qualificatlbns^ requisite to perform it : but, in order to their own eternal sal- Oation ; for God respects no man's person ;— and •* Except a man" whether gr jat or small> " be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3. 3. But is it not awfully to be feared, that the greater part of those who make such an outcry against statesmen, whom they deem irreligious, are themselves strangers to experimental- religion ; and that their ideas of religious men, extend no further than to men who. by education or otherwise are connected with some religious sect, attend public worship and approach the Lord's table. But who does not discover that all this may be true of men, strangers to a work of graco upon the heart, and even of Deists ? That it is the duty of those who possess religion, to profess it. and the privilege of those who have been enabled to rely on the merits of Christ for salvation, to commemorate his sufferings in the ordi- nance of the supper, is heartily admitted ; but to make a pro- fession of religion, especially a partaking at the Lord's table, a test of qualification for civil office, is to hold out a strong-— if not the strongest inducement to hyfiocrisu and imfiiety. Should it be said, they ought to believe ; as well might it bo said, they ought to keefi the whole moral law, and so to be/«er- fect.* But duty and ability are two things. And whoever makes such an observation proves, to me, that he is an utter stranger to living faith, or he would know it to be, not at the command of the creature, but the gift of God, and a fruit of the Holy Ghost.f If it be saiO, that it is the duty of men in public life, to observe, and treat with respect, the externals of religion,^ it is only saying what I admit and contend is the m 1:*^ * Matt. 22. 37w-40. f ^/^A. 2. 8. and Gal. 5. 22. ^ JVcglcct of this duty hath been attributed to our Chief Magistrate, and to his worthy predecessor ; and on which aC" count they have been stigmatized aa Deists. The charge is -not true ; and if it were, it could no more prove them to bt Deists, than, neglect of the same dutu proves many others tt 3 Mi 18 111 J:!I %\ (l>ify of men in common. For the command of Christy " Search the scriptures,"* is binding on all, and the injunc- tion on his ministers " Preach the Gospel to every crea- ture,! plainly implies the duty of every creature to attv nd >vhere it is preached. But to contend, as many seem to do, that it is the duty of statesmen^ to profess experimental reli- gion, and to partake at the Lord's table, to set an example to others, is to contend that it is their duty I, Se hypocrites, in order to influence others to be so, and to " v^ ^t and drink dam- nation" that is, coJidemnation^ or judgment, or guilt,^ to themselves, that, by their cxampU , they may teach others to do the same. From such hypocrisy and wickedness '♦ good Lord deliver us 1" That it is not the object of those who reason in that way, to induce the men now in office, in the United States, to become guilty of such crimes, that so tluy might peaceably retain their several stations, is readily ad- mitted ; for their object, on the contrary, is to have them re- moved : and why ? Not, surely, because they refuse to be guilty o( hij/iocrisy and i?n/iiety ! No ; but that they might fill the offices Uuy hold with men of different politicks. Should they succeed,! pray Ciod that they may not be permitted to sub- stitute men already guilty, or who are capable of becoming guilty of such deception and ini(,uiiy, in order to secure their favor ! For of all men that might be put into power, such aro the most dangerous.|| Nor docs that, in my humble opinion, w ■| !:.. he so, Kvho nevertheless stand high ivith their calianniators. Whether those great men thus abused, are siihjccis of ^r ace or not, is known only to God ; but of their being Deists, I am bound to believe that there is no more evidence, than of moral men in common being so,ivho make no Jirofessio7i of ex- perimental religion. * John 5. 39. f Mark 16. 15. \ That is, because statesmen ; though they should be unregeneratc-—. § I Cor. 11. 27 — 29. From which scrifiture it is evident that faith is essential to ati evangelical /lartici/iation in that sacred ordinance, as without it none can discern the Lord's body. II Jiven Gallio, who *' cared for none of these things," bet- ter understood civil authority, and civil rights, and was more 19 g.ished by the »??>="»"' "'°; . i„k, that there »re men o have aUvaya U.ouBht, and "°* 'l^.* ^.^,^^ ^„ , ;,a. integrity, '^Wl"- anc p. '"U m^_,^^ ^^ .^ i, ; U- tick; for. ""'»"■ °"S°;"r'";Re„ublican.«ithoutbe,ng without being a R^P"" '" ' ™ , pect to the confederacy o , l..edc,-aUsti the o"^,^" "'^^^."^gnty of the people; and the states, .he ot.er to *e jov j ^„„„i„t.„n both being comprehended .n on ^ digression, I After begging ^'-e'v--^ '" ^ ,„e tnora. qualificauons .ome to offer my o«n opt..on a. t ^^^^^^ .^ ^^„^,^,„ „, that are desirable msta«sn».n. an ^^^ such, they ought «-''"7;"!jhey ought to be Their mom' ^x^W"''" . ,. Men of good morals, ai-a understanding ;. Men of liberal «"»"'-'^;-r"d Alienable rights of andduly ''PP'-"'^""^ 'h^, -'" ^„,i,,„d, in common w«h conscience ;-men «'^°' '^°;,L„u, opinion, and the choice other men, to the nght "^ 'f "« ° jX to control the con- ot ..eligious society, V" f -. ™ ^^ „,tters of religion, to sciences of others, no. to their fellow men. .^ „j^„.„( „/»««!/, ouff^ The manner in «'"'* "f ' should do „ ackn<,'.vMge God. 1 h.^ "ey sho <,f „„science, and :: By submitting to •-- ";;;';,S„dividuaU to worship consequently, leaving all »«'^ " ,„ ^hem shall appear o Mm, il that way and manner^ wh.^H __^^^^^^_.^ ^^.^ „^ te most acceptable unto him ^P .„^^rf,,e with the i„g in their customs and manner ^ cm establishment ! ■ •>'■: II *1 I I 20 {■'ll'ii rights of others, nor with the peace and good order of civil society. 2. By discharging their official duties with an integrity be- coming the solemnities under which they entered into office, and in wliich they called upon him to witness their obliga- tions. 3. By acknowledging, at times of special emergency, thcii- need of his special direction, and requesting their constituents to unite with them in imploring it. The other class of the connnunity deserving special con- side lation, are professors of the ('hristian religion. And our duties, my brethren, in relation to the subject before us, are concisely and specifically state d in these words of our blessed master : " Render unto Cxsar the things which ai'e Cajsar's, and unto God, the things that are God's. Matt. 22. 21. That is, unto civil authority, render obedience in civil things, and unto God, and to him oJily, render obedience in apiritual thingn ; that so while they attend to the duties of the one, tliey may not neglect those of the other. Christians should recol- lect that, as they " arc the salt of the earth," in common, so in particular of the nations in which they respectively dwell ; and therefore that, as it is their duty to use all means to pre- serve peace and good order in the churches, with which they are connected, so also in the nations to which they belong. Especially they should be in the habit of returning thanks to God, as for all other blessings, so for the peace and pros- perity of their nation, and of praying for " all that are in au- thority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." 1. Tim. 2. 2. As there are certain measures in relation to war, proper to be taken by a nation when exempted from it, so Secondly. When threatened with it. Here much might be said as to erecting fortifications, preparing military stores, raising and an*anging forces, fee. &c. but these I leave to statesmen, confininr; myself to what is of a moral nature, and which therefore, comes more immediately within my providence. A* ivar, like every other judgement is procured by sin, the fii-st act of a nation when threatened with it, should he n 21 fiublic humiliation. And this, as all are equally conccrned(, oi'ght to be as g«ncral as possible ; and therefore it is proper that a day or days'for that purpose be recommended by the na- tional govcninient. Not indeed to make it the duty of the peo- ple to fust and pray ; for that is already done by the authority cf God him&'lf, and by the example of his ancient servants ; • and if it were not, no human authority could make it so ; t but to secure the object just mentioned, unanimity : that so, from all the worshipping assemblies in the natioui the cries «f the saints may ascend in one common and united prayer to the throne of mercy, for pardon of accumulated guilt, and pres- ervation from threatened evil. Such was the counsel of king Jehoshaphat, and such the conduct of all Judea. 2. Chroo. 20. 3—4. But suppose the cloud shouJd still thicken, and either sub- mission or war become inevitaide ; it is then the duty of the constituted authorities of the nation to act as recommended in the case supposed by Christ, Luke 14. 31 — S3, that is, to tonsult whether they possess a sufficient power to afford a reasonable probability of success, should they engage in war ; if not, let them propose peace, which is to be preferred on al- most any terms, rather than a wanton and unsuccessful effu- sion of blood ; but if a sufficient force be at command to de- fend the rights, and preserve the property of themselves and their constituents, let them recommend an immediate appeal to arms, and let all the people heartily acquiesce. \ Hence Thirdly. The measures which,in relation to war, are prop- er for a nation to take, when involved in it. This, at least, as ■ i, . ,' !l 'I'll M. *Zech.%.\9. Luke 5. 55. Ezra 8. 21—25. Jer. 36.9. Joet 2. 15 — 18. Thia indeed, like all other external act* »f religion, may be enjoined and observed both by public and private fiersons, as a mere sfiecious shotu of fiicty, and then it is an abomination to God. See 1. Kings, 21. 7—13. Isai. 58. 3— J'* Matt. 6. 16. But the abuse qf a duty can nevernulify it. t Matt. 15. 9. % Thia ia plainly implied in the supposed case already allu- ded to. 22 to form, is the lii'cscnt condiiion of these tJnitcd States. Aim! ahhough I make no pretentions to special disccrnmi'iit, 'ind much less to a spirit of prophecy, yet as I have uniformly saiil for seven years past, I still say, th.it. of war in this cou- try, Jicrc will be little more than the form. Tliis oph>ion is found d in a firm persuasion that all the modern wars that have occuiTcd among the nations of the i arth. arc procured by that Antichrislian al)omination, a union of church and statr ; and as this abomination docs not exist in our country and is not provided for in our national constitution, so neither shall v/c share in the " overflowing scourge" which is designed to remove it. At Cannad;'. indeed it exists, and British squad- rons under the sanction of it, are cruizing on our coasts ; and therefore, it is within the limits of my opinion already ex- pressed, that it may in those situations, occasion distress and juid bloodshed. And as it hath been attempted in some of our Eastern states, what degree of trouble they may expe- I'ience on account of it, I will not pretend to determine. Of this however, I have no doubt, that all governments under heaven, in which that abomination has a being, must be sha- ken to their centre, and so changed in their forms, as to be no longer, as they now are. obstacles to the *' free course" of the gospel, and the equal enjoyment of civil and religious liber- ty. The government of the Jews v/hich was originally a theocracy, became indeed by divine permission,* a monnrchy ; and the Jewish nation with their two fold officers of kings and priests was, it is admitted a figure of the gospel church ; but then, as the antitype of their offerings was found in the sacri- ^ce,\ so that of their kings and priests in the /;er«on of the MESSIAH, \ who is not only the substance of preceeding shadows, but also at once " king in Zion," and the great high priest of our profession. Hence, as at his deaths the Aaronic order and ceremonial service of right forever ceascd,§ so at * 1. Sam. 8. 7. •r IM. 9. 11— U. t //<■*. 4. 14. Rev. 17. 14, i Daniel 0, 24— 2'J. Col. 2. 14—17. 20 his rcHurvectton^* the power and authority of all human kinjvsv Ncv«;rtht'U.93, IS the ceremonies of the law wen presumpiii- ously persisted in by the Jews, until the dcsti uctioii ol Ji lu- suleni, when it was no longer possible, i' e Temple and its furniture being destroyed ; so have tlie nations of tlie earth presumptuously persisted, and will continue so to persist, it\ the support of kings and kingly governments, until the cf- fei;tual destruction of Anlichristian power, both civil anci ec- clesiastical ; aiid then shall be tviken up that doleful lamenta- tion, " Babylon the great is fdlcn, is fallen, Sec. — For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornica- tion, and the kings of the earth have committed fornicatioa with her," 8cc. 8cc. Rev. 18. 3 — 3.t But to return : However confident I feel that tho present war will not prove an overjl'jivitti; scourge to our country, 1 do not. on this account wish any relaxation in tlic use of means ; for it is by these, I believe, thai God will preserve us. And therefore, as Paul, although he had a vihion from heaven as- suring him that there should be no loss of the crew, neverthe- less said to the mariners, concerning means, *' exccpl these abide in the ship, ye cannot be savcil" •.\ so much more may I, having but a general view of the scriptures in support of my opinion and being like mer in common, liable to err, say to the rulers and people of our nation, ivithout the means of defence.^ ye cannot be secured from the evils threatened : Yea, to expect it would be presumption. As to the means proper to be used, there can be no reasonable doubt. A primary object with every citizen, public and private, in church and state, should be to promote union, and firmness in the support of government. " A house," a family — a nation " divided against itself cannot stand."§ On a disunion of the states and disaffection to the general government, the enc- • This is firobahly the true sente of Horn. 1. 4. /loiver^ 7nean' hig authority. See also Jets, 2. 22 — 36. Here he is at once made Lord and Christ, the ruler and the /irirst. ^ Sec also Ezekiely 21. 27. Daniel 7. 9. Psa. 72. 10.. \ Acta 27, "AX. yxiark.},. 25, u^ ^y chiefly relies. Whoever therefore contributes to these, contiibutes to the interest and encouragement of the commoil Ibe of our belored country ; and is therefwe no longer worthy the honourable distinction of an American citizen. Means, though to be used, are not to be trusted in. Go(i alone should be the object of our trust : so of Israel it is said in the text, *' they trusted in him." Lot us do likewise. He only can give that wisdom to our rulers, and that success t» •ur forces, which are necessary tc conquest. And as he is to be trusted in so also to be called upon ; and that not only in common, nor only in common durinff ivaVf but evej in the time of battle : '* they cried to God in the bat- tle," — nor did they cry in vain ; " he was entreated of them ;'* because they trusted in him." Prayer then for success of arms, is evidently lawful, and avaiUng. It hath been offered by God's Israel, and answered by Israel's God. May we. and may all God*s people in these United State s abound in it I Then may we hope for a short war, and an advantageous peace. 1*0 the declaration of war lately made, on the part of our government, we all know there are many objections. But •when we consider whence t^ey come j — that from the same tjuarter, eleven years ago, the chambers of the Capitol rung with arguments in favor of an appeal to arms for taking Louis- ianna ; which, in the wisdom of our then chief magistrate was, to much greater advantage, honourably purchased ; and that the same men who accuse the present administration of madriess, for going to Avar, when, in fact there was no other rcsort.no less accusedthe former administration of /rwszV/rJTzimi- ty, for pursuing milder measures, notwithstanding there cer- tainly did then remain grounds of hope that a reconciliation might be effected ;— when, I say, these things are considered, we are tempted, strongly tempted to doubt, in this particular, their sincerity, and to conclude that all the outcry is intended only to answer electioneering purposes, and to put the admin- istration into other hands. It is urged that, hud it been proper for our governincnt to declare -war, it should have been declared against France, as well as England. Thut the conduct of France, toward thie m 25 country, has been very unwarrantable, is not denied ; nor yet that a national anjustment with her may hereafter be necessa- ry. It must be obvious, however, that the principal provo- cations to war have been only on the part of Entjland : France has indeed robbed as on the highway of nations, and even burnt our vessels ; nevertheless she has not, li':e England, impressed our citizens, blockaded our harbours, and crim- soned our waters with American blood. It is contended that the declaration of v. r at all was impo- litick. I cannot think so ; but believe that this declaration and correspondent arrangements, were^ of all means, the most likely to procure peace — lasting and honourable peace. The present, however, is not the time to contest that point. When the flames arc raging, it is too late for firemen to stand disputing whether, by certain means, they might not have been prevented from kindling; their duty then is to unite in quenching them. The flames of >yar are already kindled — they are gathering along our coast and threatening upon our frontiers ; the duty—the common duty, therefore, of Ameri- can citizens is, to use all means in their power, to bring tlie contest to the most speedy and most favourable issue. Yes, my friends, the time for idle and speculative debate is, with us, at an end. We, in holy providence, are placed in a situation which demands the greatest national unity and exertion ; and which, in its result, must necessarily furnish occasion for the greatest national triumph or lamentation. From the latter may we be mercifully preserved ! In the for- mer may we soon participate ! And all the glory shall re- dound to God. Amek. Hi i (. •; f \: *;: i- 'H ii'.t . H Y M N, Suv»; at the close of Public Worsh'n, when the preceding Sermon was delivered. IM I', I 1. Great God of all ! thy matchlcjs power Shouid e. ry nation still adore ; Thee, our sovereign, we would own> And bow before thy gracious throne. 2. May peace her balmy wing extend, From age to age upon this land ! Grant freedom and the gospel's sound! Make every blessing here ab jund ! 3. Our President with wisdom crown, His soul with thy rich grace adorn ; Resolve his heart, 'midst all lus foes, " To launch the stream which duty shows." 4. Over our caftitol diffuse, From hills divine, thy welcome dews ; While Congress, in ono patriot band. Prove the firm fortress of our land.; 5. Our Magistrates^ O Lord, sustain, Nor let them bear the sword in vain ; Long as they fill their awful seat, Be Vice seen dying at their feet. 6. For ever from the western sky, Bid the destroying angel fly ; With grateful songs our hearts inspire, And round us blaze " a wall of^re." Parkinson's Sslect. H. 402*. t