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■PJ(..i",i;i miiiiMi.i

GOD*S VISITATION OF SINFUL NJTimS.^ . :^\ ^

TWO

SERMONS,

?^5a-l>

DELIVERED IN COLRAIN^

f.'^

O^t THE PUBLIC FAST, JULY 23^

AND AFTERWARDS IN SHELBURNE,

AUGUST 20, 1812 :

By SAMUEL TAGGART, A. M.

Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Colrain,

'Published bt revest.

GREENFIED,

' 'PRISTED'NBY DENIO AND friELPS,

i8is.

#- •

"^ VA-^^^^

ADVERTISEMEOT.

Thefe difcourfes were compofeH about eleven months ago, without any ref-
erence to the particular occafion on which they were delivered, and without a-
ny fixed purpofe of delivering them on any occafion : This is a reafon why
the particular occafion of the public fafts is fo little alluded to. They are pub-
lifhed from the copy originally prepared without any other alteration than fome
verbal connexions and what is inferted in the notes. They have occafioned
fome fpeculations, and feveral mifreprefentations have gone abroad. They are
now publifhed that they may fpeak for themfelves. All that 1 can fay of the
remarks which may appear a Utile out of the common road, is, that they were
written under the moft entire convidtion of their truth. The reafon why the
publication has been fo long delayed, has been that the manufcript from which
they are printed, was out of my reach, and only came into n:y hands this day.
Colrain, September i8, if' >.

SERMON I.

ut any ref-
without a<
eafon why
ey are pub-

than fome
occaiioned

They are
fay of the
they were
on why the
Tom which
this day.

Jes. 5, xsix.—S/jall I not visit for these things saith the Lord >
bball not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ?

.,llL 7*!^** '°' u ^ .«he prophet Jeremiah to be raifed up and
called to the prophetic office in a very degenerate aee The
floods, as well of idolatry as vice, with which .he narion had
been inundated, during a long reign of a cruel, wicked and
.do atrous Manaffeh, had,it is t!ue,?eceived a teniporary checl,

nfoLs MiT'ff r'^^T'"^ endeavours of a virtuous and
pious Johah to effea a reformation. Apoftacy had however
taken fuch a deep root, that altho' the current of defeftion

authority, yet it does not appear that the body of the nation
ever concurred heartily in that reformation. Hence i" was
that nearly all its good fruit* and efflcts difappeared as foon
nrnT M ^'S.^'^^J^te offspring mounted the throne. The
prophet Jeremiah being himfelf a witnefs to this awful pro-
grels m the road to ruin, was frequently fent both to thp rul-

thL':ifh"'\"''r ^"> ^''^'^ '''^^"Ss- It does not appear
that either his denunciations of impending vengeance, or his
pathetic exhortations to repentance and reformation, were
accompanied with any remarkable fuccefs. Bv his faithful
nefs he roufed the indignation of a profligatf Lu , and ^i^
equally profligate people, againft himfelf, and becam^ the vie
tim of a moll cruel and unrelenting perfecution, by which hi»

Unhke thofe prophets who foretold things which were not
to come to pafs until after the lapfe of many ages, he lived to
witnefs the accomplifliment of fo'me of his moft important
predidions in the adual deftruftion of Jerufalem and the
femple, the flaughter and captivity of the principal part of
lanV" ^ '^' °^ ^°^"^ defolation '>t the whole

God was the political King and Lawgiver of the Jewifh
nation, in a fenfe which was peculiar to that people. We can
not therefore find any other nation whofe fuuation is, in all
refpecls, parallel to that of the Jews. But altho' there is a

i.,l

.^'

difference in many refpeas, yet it will P^rhaps be Icarcely pol^
fihU to find anv other nation between whofe Utuation ana
fw of the Jewl there are more points of refeniblance than m
ha of the United States. To trace that refemblance by
takne a review of the hiftory of thefe States, and comparing
k wUh that of the Jews, woild lead to difcnffioiis foreign to
mv nrefent purpofe. But altho' there fhould, in many ref-
ne^afbe a d^ffimilarity in our fituation, there is M a refem-
blatc'e not only between them and us, but between them
and a 1 other nations, in this leading feature of their
refneaL fituations, i.e. That every nation is under the
wE care of providence, and will, in the r nationd capac-
1 b^rewarded^or puniOied according to their condua, m
proportion to the advantages for religious and moral improve,
ment which they enjoy. In that remarkable paffage of holy
writ which we have, JeR. 18, vii-x, there is no reftriaion
7ok7ht or to any particular nation. It is, Jt ■what mtant
1 shall speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom, i}-^-f°^-
cernin- any nation or any kingdom) to pluck uf, to pull down
VndTode/lL it. If that nation, against -whom I have pronounced,
Urnfrmtlir eJ, I ^U repent\f the evil that 1 thought to do
unto thZ. And a what instant I shall speak concernmg a naUon,
7ld concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it ; >f,t do ev.mmy
skh That it obey mf my voice, then l-will repent of tbegoodihatl
slid would belfit them. Agreeable to this declaration has
been thtufual condud of providence in every age Nations
have been raifed up from time to time, and foftered with the
moft indulgent care of heaven. They have been afterwai^s
ftverely "Greeted for their fins, and had their nam^ final y
bSout from among the nations of the earth .^^" ' ">
be viewed in a two-fold capacity. Rrft as an individual ph^-
ed in this world in a ftate of trial, as a candidate for an im-
mom itv ot either happinefs or mifery-and 2dly. as a con-
touen Lumber of civil fodety, or as belonging to a part.c
ur kingdom, nation or body politic As it ref^fts man as
an individual, his fituation is undoubtedly in the firftpont of
v"ew the moft important. Our time in this world ^s but
fliort, and aU are rapidly haftemng to an untried ft^^/ o* ^^t
ittence, where we mull appear before the 3»dg>f «' ^f °*
CJhriftj to give an actouu". or 5.iiw aw-«b «u.ic 4*4 »-"*« ^w ^

ely pol-
on and
than in
nee, by
nparing
reign to
any ref-
a refem-
;n them
)f their
ider the
lal capac-
jducl, in
improve-
! of holy
eftridion
)at instant
(i. e. con-
pull down^
ronounced,
mght to do
g a nation^
evil in my
good that I
ration has
Nations
d with the
afterwards
lies finally
Man is to
i^idual plac-
for an im-
\ as a con-
to a partic-
eds man as
irft point of
orld is but
ftate of ex-
ent feat of
Le body. Sq

extenfive, ftricl:, and accurate, will be this fcrutiny, that cvc
ry work muft be brought into judgment, and every (ccret
thing that men do, whether it be good or evil ; and every
man will be rewarded according to his works. God is alio
to be confidered as the judge of kingdoms and nations, as
well as of individuals, only with this difference, that the pe-
riod of retribution for the latter, will be after the clofe of the
prefent fccne, and the full mealure of rewards and punifh-
ments will be difpenfed in a future world, whereas, on the
other hand, nations as fuch, or in their national capacity, arc
ludffed and their rewards and puniftiments difpenfed in the
prefent flate. This world is the only theatre on which na-
tions exifl. Here they are either built up or pulled down,
exalted to a ftate of national profperity, or corrected and pun-
iftied by fevere chaftifements. Thefe national clamities are
fometimes inflicted for their good, but at others for their ex-
tinaion from the lift of nations. Righteousness exaltclh a na-
tion, but sin (particularly national fin) is the reproach to any people.
The prophet Jeremiah, as well in this chapter as in many
other parts of his prophecy, gives an affeding and melancholy
pidure of the corruption and degeneracy of the Jews. Ihis
degeneracy confifted of two branches ; which have not only
a natural but a neceffary connexion together ; viz. In an
apoftacy from the principles and pradlce of the true religion,
by adopting the idolatrous cuftoms of the lurrouncung na-
tions, and in the awful prevalence of almoft every fpccies of
immoraUty. This ihe prophet paints in glowing colours,
chap. 2, xiii. For jny people have cGmmitted two evils ; they ha%-e
forsaken ' Ue.the foiin.. ' " t uf llvhig "paters, and iH-.ved them oid cis^
terns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water, lor thcle things
God threatens them with his difpleafure, the fruits of which
they foon after lo feverely experienced. The words of the
text are twice repeated in this chapter, viz. vcr. ix & xxix, to
Ihow that this vifitation and vengeance were both certain and
neceffary in the nature of things. Shall not wy soul be avenged
on such a nation as this ? The vifitation here threatened was a
national vifitation, and the fins fir which they were to be vi-
fited were national iins. For the farther illuftration of the
(ubjed, I ihall

' i

OftcT Ibine general remarks on God's vifitation of fin-
ful nations, and the manner in which he vifits them.

2. I fhall notice feveral traits in our national character
which go to fhow, that we are fuch a nation as has juft rea-
fon to dread the righteous vifitations of heaven.

1ft. I am to make fome general remarks on Gv)d*s vifita-
tion of iinful nations,and the manner in which he vifits them.

When mention is made in the facred oracles, of G.^d's vifit-
ing either an individual or a nation, the term is not always to
be underftood in the fame fenfe. The term to vifit is indif.
criminately applied to acts of judgment and of mercy. In
many inftanccs it means the fame as the performance of a
mercy promifed, but in others it means the inflidion of a pre-
vioufly threatened judgment. The places of fcripture in
which the term is ufed in both thefe fenfes are too numerous
to particularize. A few however may be briefly noticed.—
God ivill surely visit you ; (i. e. in order to perform the mercy
promifed to your Fathers, in delivering you out of this land)
and ye shall carry up my bones from hence^ fays dying Jofeph to
his liirrounding brethren. What is man that thou shouldst visit
him every morning ? fays Job. God of hosts look down from
Heaven, and visit this vi?ie and the vineyard which thine own right

hand hath planted. - visit me with thy salvation Pfalmift.

Ihe coming of Chrift is alfo called a vifitation and redemp-
tion of Goij's people. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he
hath visited and redeemed his people.'^Luke 1, Ixviii. The day
spring from on high hath visited «i.— -Ver. vxxviii. But in many
places God's vifiting a people is the fame with his inflifting a
threatened punifhment. I the Lord am a jealous God, visiting
the iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children, fays Jehovah him-
fclf. And again. In the day when I visit, I will visit tk ir sin
upon them. He vifits his people's iniquities with a rod, and
then- tranfgreilions with Itripes. All afflictive difpenfations of
providence, whether more or lefs fevere, may be confidered
as God's vifitations. It plainly appears, from its connedion
with vengeance, that this is the fenle of vifiting in the text.
It was a correclion, and one of the fevereft kind, which was
threatened.

The way-i in which God vifits offending nations, either for

en,

of fin-

lara^ler
lift rea-

} vifita-
5 them.
I's vifit-
vays to
s indif'
y. In
:e of a
f a pre-
ture in
merous
iced. — '

mercy
is land)
feph to
dst visit
m from
vn right
Talmift.
edemp-
l^for he
The day
n many
ifting a

visiting
ill him-
thi ir sin
)d, and
tions of
ilidered
nedion
(le text,
ich wa3

correction or feverer punifliment are various;. Sometimes
he punifhes by wars, which, notwithftanding all their power
and preparations, are, by the immediate interpolition of heav-
en, rendered unfuccefsful. The race is not always to the
iwift, nor does victory uniformly fall to the lot of the appa-
rently moft powerful. It has not been an uncommon event,
for one nation to be crufhed, and to fall under the dominion
of another people apparently much lefs powerful than them-
felves, ef[>ecially when God delivers them into the power of
their enemies, as he did the Jews into the hands of Nebuchad-
nezzan God frequently in this way vifited the children of
Ifrael, as well for their idolatry as their other vices. The pcf-
tilence is alfo another weapon whereby God frequently pun-
ifhes offending nations. This has proved fometimes more
and fometimes lefs extenfive. In this way. He feveral times
punifhed the children of Ifrael in the wildernefs, particularly
when they tranfgrefled fo grievoufly in the affair of the Gokl-
en Calf ; in the matter of Peor, and when he fent quails to
gratify their luftings, and with them fent the plague to pun-
ifh their murmurings, and many of the people perifhed. In
this way he alfo punifhed David's fin in numbering the peo-
f)le. Sometimes alfo He vifits offending nations by famine,
by fending cleannefa of teeth in all their dwellings, and want
of bread in all their habitations. God has many ways to ef-
fect this, as, by withholding the former and latter rain in their
feafon j by making the heaven over their head iron, the
earth brafs, and the rain of the land powder and dutl ; by
unfeafonable rain, hail and ilormy winds ; by blafting and
mildew ; by the caterpillar and locuft, which are God*s ar-
my, or by earthquakes', inundations, and fiery eruptions. —
Thefe and many other phenomena of nature are all obedient
to the divine will, and God can ufe them either for the cor-
redion or deftrudion of a guilty nation. In this way he once
vifited Ifrael, in the days of David, and flill more feverely,
during the reign of Ahab, when there was no rain upon the
land for the fpace of three years and fix months. The pro-
phet Jeremiah was once a witnefs to a fevere correction of this
kind, the confequences of which he paints in fuch alFecling
colours in the 14th chapter of his prophecy.

ther for

Even thole inlUtutions which are in themfelves calculated
for the good, the happincfs, and the profpcrity of nations,
when perverted from their original defign, become in God s
hiMid, the inftruments of chaftifement, and even of ven'];eance.
We may notice as one inftance of this kind, the ordmance
of civil government. Unlefs it is where there is violent per-
verting of juftice in a nation, rulers are the minifters of God
for good, and a terror only to evil doers. Nothing can be a
greater temporal blefling to a nation, than wife and virtuous
rulers. On the other hand, not^^ii.g can be a greater fcourge
than wicked men when inverted with great power. While the
righteous are in authority, the people rejoice ; but when the wicked
hear rule the people mourn. When the Queen of Sheba beheld
the wifdom and equity with which Solomon adminiftered the
government, (lie exclaims, Becaufethe Lord loved Ifrael forevery
) here fore made He thee King to execute judgment andjujiice.^ What
a ric h blefllng did God's antient people find in the admimltra-
tion of Mofes, Joihua, David, Solomon in the early part of
his reign, Hezekiah, Jofiah and others ? On the other hand
how many nations do we find groaning under the hand of al
cruel unrelenting defpotifm ? Indeed it is probable that by
far the greateft part of the human race, inftead of enjoymg
theblefling of a government confulting the happinefs and
profperity of the nation, are at this moment bound down
under a defpotifm which is rather a curfe than a bleffing.—
Both weak and wicked rulers are a curfe to a nation, and as
fuch they are frequently the fubjeds of complaint in the fac-
red oracles. Woe unto thee Land, when thy king is a child.
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves. Every one
loveth gifts andfolloweth after rewards. They judge not the fath-
erless, neither doth the cause of the Widow come unto them. That
they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the Prince asketh and
the Judge asketh for a reward, and the great man he utter eth his
mischievous desire, so they wrap it up. The best of them is as a
briar, and the most upright of them is sharper than a thorn hedge.
But great as was this calamity, the prophet Micah confiders
it as infliaed on himfelf, and on his nation by the hand of
God, and as fuch, he refolves to bear it with patience, fay-
ing, / will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned

•■-««tfffs<''"jwir*»"- ••"

ilculated
nations,
in GoD*s
n'i;eance.
rdinance
lent per-
5 of God
can be a
virtuous
r fcourge
While the
he wicked
Da beheld
[lered the
el for every
ce. What
iminiftra-
y part of
her hand
hand of ai
le that \yf
enjoying
pinefs and
ind down
)leffing. —
in, and as
in the fac-
is a child.
Every one
ot thefath'
lem. That
asketh and
ittercth his
hem is as a
born hedge,
. confiders
; hand of
ience, fay-
have sinned

ti^aimt Him, un^Il He phad my cause and execute judgment for me,
Altho* the dc{lj;n of infinite wifdom be very different, yet
when it falls to the lot of a nation to have children to be their
princes, and babes to rule ovor them, or to be fubjed:ed eith-
er to weak or wicketl rulers, men who either do not know,
or have not integrity and independence enough to purfue
inch a courfe as the public welfare demands ; Should fucli
rulers be elevated even by the people tliemfeU es, the finger
of Gjd is as really vifi'olo in their elevation, as when a Mofes,
a Jofhua, a David or a Wafliiiigton is raifed up, It is God
who raifes up one and puts down another, whether it be His
defign to plant or to rear up to maturity a kingdom or na-
tion, or to beftow a king in His anger whom He will again
take away in His wrath. Nations as well as individuals may,
many times, read their crime in their punilhment. When a
people poffefling the invaluable privileges of feleCling rulers
by their free fuffrages, for important places of public truft,
exercifc that right without havmg any regard to fuitable qual-
ifications, either moral, religious or pohtical, but either mere-
ly to ferve party views, or to gratify fome fmifter paflion, it
it is far from uncommon tor fuch rulers to prove a curfe rath-
er than a blefling to a people. When God thus caufes the
wickednefs of a people to corred them, and their backflid-
ings to reprove them, melancholy experience teaches them
that it is an evil thing and a bitte/, to depart from the Lord
their God. A ftriking e vairiple of this we have in the She-
chemites, after they had elevated Abimeleck to the fupreme
power among them, while his hands were reeking with the
innocent. blood ot his murdered brethren. Fire came out
from Abimeleck and devourerl the men of Shechem, and fire
came out from the men of Shechem and devoured Abime-
leck, agreeably to the curfe of Jotham the fon of Zerubbaal,
PalBng by other infi:ances which are of a more antient date,
1 IhalJ barely allude to one which has come within the fph'^re
of our own obfervation, and which perhaps gives as ftriking
an illuftration of the truth of this obfervation, as any which
the world has witneffed for many centuries paft. There can-
not be a doubt but the prefent French Emperor, who rules o-
ver moft of the nations of continental Europe with fuch def*

potic fway, has been raifed up as a fcourge in the hand of
God to punifli offending nations for their wickediiefs, and
that he is as truly the rod v f God's anger, as was the Allyri-
an of old. But while tliat nation, with this man at its head,
ilill continues to be a rod in Gud's hand to punifli other
nations, fhe has been herfelf compelled to drink deep ot the
bitter cup. The many unjuft, cruel and fanguinary execu-
tionsand maffacres which characterized the commencement
of her revolution, together with the defolating wars whica
have and iliU do mark its progrefs, connefted with the con-
Icription and other tyrannical means to which it has beea
found neceffary to refort to recruit her armies, which are dai-
Iv hurried on to the Haughter in order to fatiate the infatia-
ble an^bition of an upftart ufurper, conneaed with almolt
every fpecies of domeilic tyranny and oppreflion, are means
whereby flie is feverely chattifed at this moment. Perhaps
her correaion is Uttle lefs fevere than that of other nations
which ihe has fubdued and enflaved. ^ , . ^.

Some times God vifits nations feverely for their correaion,
when he means nothing but mercy in the end. By humbhng
them firft before he lifts them up, he intends the better to
prepare them for thofe meicies, which he has in ftore. At
other times his vifitations are intended for deftruclion and
not for correaion. There is an analogy between the man-
ner of God's dealing with offending nations, and the punith-
ments inflicted on the violators of wholfome laws m a well
rejruiated commonwealth. Some punilhments are correftive,
and are intended both for the fecurity of fociety, and it po -
fible to bring about the reformation of the offender. All
punilhments are not of this kind. Capital punifhments, at
leaft, form an exception, and perhaps others lefs than capital.
They are intended for the good ot fociety, and to deter others
from the commiffion of fimilar crimes. Juft fo it is with
either thefe national or individual chaftifements which pro-
ceed immediately from the hand of God. All the affliaions
to which mankind are fubjeaed in the prefent life, may be
properly termed correaive. They at all times may, and ot-
tentimes do turn out for the good of the individual. By this
shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and all the fruit is to take away

I hand of
iiefs, and
lie Aflyri-
: its head,
liih other
lep of the
iry execu-
lencement
ars whica
L the con-
has been
:h are dai-
he infatia-
Lth almoft
are means
Perhaps
ler nations

correftion,
r humbling
; better to
ftore. At
iiction and

the man-
the piinifh-

in a well
corre<ftive,
and if pof-
;nder. All
hments, at
:han capital,
ieter others

it is with
which pro-
e aJlHidions
fe, may be
ay, and of-
ual. By this
to take away

sin. But whatever valuable ends future punifhments anfwer,
as it refpe(5ts the intelligent univerfe, and no doubt thefe ends
are vaftly important, yet it muft be admitted that when
Chrift (hall come in flaming fire, to take vengeance on them
who know not God and obey not the Gofpel, who are to be
puniftied with everlafting deftrudion from the prefence of
the Lord and the glory of his power, the end to be anfwered
is very different from one which is merely corredive, or cal-
culated only for the good of the individual. Juft fo it is with
GoD*s vifitations of kingdoms and nations. Many fevere pub-
lic calamities are inflided which do in the end terminate in
national good. Such was the iffue of thofe, many of them
very fevere chaitifements, which God inflicted on his antient
people for their fins during the forty years which he fuffered
them to wander in the wildernefs. How great foever thefe
troubles were in order to prove them, God brought them fafe
to Canaan at laft, and they were conftrained to acknowledge
that not fo much as one good thing had failed of all that he
had promifed. In many inftances, however, we find that
judgments are not only threatened but adually inflided upon
nations, not for their correftion and reformation, but for
their deftrudion. When Ifrael was commanded to deftroy
the Canaanites, a punilhment inflided, under Jofhua, or when
Saul was ordered to deftroy the Amalekites, or when fire and
brimftone were rained from the Lord out of heaven, none
will fay that thefe vifitations were corrective, or intended for
the good of the nations which were puniflied in this fumma-
ry way. A very different purpofe was intended,viz. that they
might be held up as a warning to deter other nations from
the com million of fimilar crimes. Such has alfo been the fate
of many other nations who made a confpicuous figure both
in facred and profane hiftory. Where are now to be found
the feveral nations of Ammonites, Moabites,Philiftines, Edom-
ites, &c. They have as much vaniihed from the face of the
earth as nations, as does an individual when he defcends into
the filent tomb ; wLile the country they once occupied has,
for the moft part, become a defart without inhabitant. Where
are now the antient and renowned cities of Niniveh, Babylon,
Tyre, &c. fo famous in antient hillory, and whofe fate was

^HH

I'uch a particular fubjea of prophecy ; fome of which, partk-
ularly Niniveh and Babylon, at the head of empires which
made the world tremble ? They are no more. Ihe prophe-
cies, dooming them todeftrudion, have, loni^fmce, had their
accomplifliment. The feveral empires of Affyrians,Babyloin-
ans MedesandPerfians, Greeks and Romans, which, each m
their turn, appeared to be fo firmly eftablifhed that no human
power was fufficient to Ihake them, have long fince iunk in-
to oblivion, having been mutually the inftruments ot lub-
verting and deftroying one another. Thefe were without
doubt raifed up and upheld by providence, as inftruments ot
vengeance upon guilty nations and upon one another. ^ Inele
punilhments, thus infliaed, could not be coniidered as intend-
ed merely for the corredion of thefe nations. Ihey were
calculated to hold them up as beacons to the world m future
affes. There is ufually a gradual progrefs in divine chaltiie-
ments. God does not ufually punifli nations in the hilt in-
ftance, for their deftrudion, but bears long with them, giving
them repeated calls to repentance. It is not until they have
proved incorrigible, under calls and warnings to repentance,
that nations are doomed to deftrudion.

It is alfo tobeobfervedthat God fometimes viiitSji. e. pumihes
offending nations, by fpiritual as well as temporal judgments
When a people grow worfe and worfe under the correcting
hand of providence ; when, inftead of being reclaimed from
national lins, and learning righteoufnefs from God's judg-
ments, which are abroad in the earth, they, like llrael, revolt
more and more, it is a ftriking indication that their corredion
will be very fevere at leaft, if it does not iffue in utter de-
ftruaion. We have an afieding pidure of a lucceflion of di-
vine judgments, and of iiardening under them, in the 4th
chapter of the prophecy of Amos, to which I refer without
quoting. After each of the feveral judgments, the complaint
is repeated— r^/ ^e have not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
* , This is followed with a folemn and awful threatening of judg-
' me.itsftill more fevere. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O
Israel, and because I will do thus unto thee, prepare to meet thy God
O Israel, Such a hardening under judgments is not only no-
ticed in fcripture as what has fometimes happened, but is alio
threatened as a puniihment j i. e, when national calamities

1, p:;rlic-
3s which
J prophe-
had their*
kbyloni-
i, each in
X) human

iunk in-
j of lub"

without
.ments of
•. Thele
IS intend-
hey were
in future
i challiie-
le firlt in-
Ti, giving
:hey have
pentance,

. puniflies
Lidgmenis
:or re cling
med from
d's judg-
lel, revolt
correction

utter de-
lion of di-
i the 4th
r without
complaint

the Lor J,
g of judg.
'to tbee, O
ect thy God
it only no-

but is alio

calamities

and chaftifements have not, in the firft inftance, had the do-
fired efi'ec^, God fometimes gives a people up to i-rdiiels ot
heart. Such was the punifliment threatened agamit ilmel,
after the nation had been called to repentance by a fuccc flion
of mercies and judgments. Ezek. 24, xiii. In thy Jilthiness is
lewdness : because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged,
thou shalt not be purged from thy jilthiness any more, tdl I have caus-
ed my fury to rest upon thee. Another ilriking inflance M^e have
ia thofe Jews who went down into Egypt after the deftruc-
tion of Jerufalem by Nebuchadnezzar's forces ; and the
treacherous murder of Gedaliah, who had been made gov-
ernor of the land. Thither they carried the prophet Jeremi-
ah, who gave them faithful warning from the Lord, ot tne
confequences of their idolatrous practices. To thefe vyarn-
ini^s they return this rebelii.>us anlwer : As jor the word that
thou hast spoken unto m, in the name of the Lord, we wdl not
hearken unto thee. But we will certainty do zvhatsoever thing goeth
iorth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen cj heav-
en, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we
and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Juciab,
and in the streets of Jerusalem ; for then had we plenty of victuals,
and were well and saw no evil. But since we left ojf to burn in-
cense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her,
we have wanted aU things, and have been consumed by the sword
and by the famine. But what was the punifhment ir.fiicted on
thefe rebels for this open and obftinate idolatry ? In addition
to a miferable end, in the land of Egypt, they were given up
to judicial hardnefs of heart, in their infatuated attachment
to their idolatrous cuttoms. Thus said the Lord of hcsts^ the
God of Israel, saying ; ye and your wives have both spoken with
your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, we will surely per-
form our vows that we have vozved, to burn incense unfothe queen
ef Heaven, and to pour out drink ^ff rings to her : ^ewulsureiy ac
complfh your vow: and surely perform your vows, 1 hcrrjore hear
ye the word of the Lord,aU Jueiab that dweU in the land of tgjpt ;
Behold I have sworn by my great name, saiih the Lorci, that my
name dmll no more be named in the mouth of any manofJudah, in
all the land of Egypt, saying the Lord God liveth. Initaaces
thii kind of puiiiihrnent, ccnneaed with other prcvidentiai

»1

?V,<'

i I

cKaftiiements, have not been confined to the Jewifli nation*
God has frequently punifhed chriftian nations, particularly
apoftatifing churches, in the fame way, i. e. by withholding
the influences of his fpirit, and removing his candleftick out
of its place, and by giving up the nation itfelf to the fevereft
public calamities. It was part of the punifliment threatened
to feveral of the once famous feven churches of Alia, that un-
lefs they repented of their backflidlngs, he would remove his
churches out of that place. This threatening has been long
fince fulfilled. Where are now thefe once famous churches ?
They have been unchurched ; the feats where they once flour-
ilhed, long fince overrun by the delufions of Mahomet, the
countries involved in flavery and ruin, and the cities con-
verted into heaps of rubbifh ; fo that, of fome of them at
lead, fcarcely a fingle veftige remains, while probably but
fevi^ of the defendants of the antient inhabitants now occu-
py the country once pofTefled by their forefathers. One thing
which indicates an increafing feverity in the vifitations of
heaven upon the French nation, is the grofs contempt of all
religion and religious inftitutions, and the entire and almoft
univerfal prollration of morals, with which the feveral fleps
of the revolution have been accompanied. Ic commenced, it
is true, with the mofl: flattering profeflion of refped for the
rights of man, and for refigious liberty. But how foon was
this beautiful horizon overcaft by fcenes of horror, tyranny,
cruelty and oppreflion ; by the renunciation and profcription
of all religion, and an entire depravation of morals ? In thefe
fcenes of cruelty and impiety, we may read both the fin and
the punifhment of that nation. When people have no wifh
to retain God in their knowledge, he gives them up to flrong
delufions to believe a lie. God will furely vifit for thefie
things, nor are we to expect that the calamities of the French
nation will ceafe, before they accept of the punifhment of
of their fins and return to the paths of religion and virtue.

Should the inhabitants of thefe highly favoured United
States, Jefhurin like, wax fat and kick, by forgetting God
and lightly efteeming the rock of their falvation j fliould they
publicly and nationally renounce the religion of the Gofpel,
and turn infidels, deifts, ^nd it may be atheifts j Ihould this

■■^\

l atw i w r" — iWA 'i . i' .y p n-y.i^y

Ii nation*
rticularly
hholding
jftick out
B fever eft
ireatened
, that un-
niove his
)een long
hurches ?
nee flour-
»met, the
ties con-
them at
)ably but
lOW occu-
Dne thing
ations of
npt of all
id almoil
ireral fteps
nenced, it
ft for the
foon was
tyranny,
ofcription
? In ihefe
le fin and
e no wilh
> to ftrong
for thelie
he French
hment of
d virtue,
d United
tting God
lould they
le Gofpel,
tiould this

become the complexion not only of the government but of
the nation, if we may judge by God's former ways of dealing
with offending nations, we may expeft, either to be brought
back to the acknowledgment of our offences, and to genu-
ine repentance and reformation, by fevere correction, by fore
judgment, or that we will ripen apace for ruin until we are
completely deprived of thofe privileges we have fo grofsly
abufed.

2d. I fhall now proceed to notice fome of thofe traits in
our national character which go to fhow that, as a nation, we
are expofed to thofe righteous vifitations of heaven. Shall
not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ?

In adverting to thefe traits in the character of our nation,
which give us reafon to dread heaven's awful vifitations, it is
neceffary to bring into view — ifl. Our privileges and advan-
tages — 2d. Our national character and condud while in the
poffeffion of thefe privileges.

In forming a juft eflimate of the comparative guilt of ei-
ther nations or individuals, it is neceffary to bring into view
the peculiar circumflances in which either the one or the
other is placed. Superior advantages grofsly mifimproved,
never fail to aggravate guilt. Previous to the coming of
Chrift, the Jewifh nation enjoyed many privileges above the
other nations of the world. To thefe peculiar advantages,
as well as their manifold tranfgreflions, the prophet alludes
in the phrafe. Such a nation as this. To form a jufi: eflimate
of the character of our nation, we mufl bring into view our
privileges and advantages, as well as our defection and wick-
ednefs. Tou only have I known of all the people upon earthy there*
fore will I punish you for all your iniquities^ faith the Lord by the
prophet Amos. Under that difpenfation, no other nation
was favored with a revelation of the divine will. This was
by the Apoftle noticed as one of their greatefl privileges. —
What advantage then hath the Jew ? What profit is there of circum-
cision ? Much every way^ chiefly because unto them were committed
the oracles ofG^D. While other nations were left to grope in
the dark without any other light, than the dim light of na-
ture to point out the way of their duty, God gave them flat-
utes, laws and ordinances, which had on them the flamp of

W.i

1-^

• 16

His own iniar-o and authority. He was their political King,
I a v" ver and Jucl^e, in a manner peculiar to that nation.-

=^nn£.a writers^ a^^^^^^^

v^ie^n r. an a tonders He had brought them out of
E^yntCi^^h a ftrong hand and outftretched arm and dunng
rife^bace of forty years, he had miraculoufly fed them with
m nn^rinfhe wLfernefs. He had brought them >n.o t,^
land of Canaan, by driving out and ^leftroy ng the nauon

before them, and had greatly b"="^'''* '"l!, 'f Zoort for a
hands caufing the earth to yield an abundant fupport tor a
vaft muWtude. By a train of remarkable providences, they
had been a^ed upLm fmall beginnings fo as to become a
Jreat nation. ALceffion of Prophets had alfo been rajfed
UP from time to time, to inftrucf them more fully m their
dSty, and fix them in the belief, and exc te them to the prac-
Uce of the true religion. He had alfo ^.ven them many fig-
nal deliverances ou?of the hands of their enemies, when ap-
narently they had but little power of their own. Ihefe pecu-
har Drivileees theyhad grofsly mifimproved, and had even re-
eaed h Lord r^om being theirKing,& manifefted analmoft
ncorriglble propenfity to"imitate the idolatrous cuftoms of
he fur^ounding nations. This depravity,both m pnnc.f^e and
practice,had arllen to a great extent m the time of the proph-
et Jeremiah. To reclaim them-K. Lord God of thar Faih-
en sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes and sending,

beaut He J compassion on t^'' P^f ^^ '" dltked'nfs
tiace. But they moeked the messengers of God, and dipiscjl His
Zrds, and mislsed His prophets, until th.yrath^the Urdji,^
against Hispeople, till there -^as no remedy. S" I' ";'=»''«
pf ivileees, and fuch was the fm and pun'ft'ment of the Jews.
?)ur fiwaUon is not in all refpecls parallel We have n Kh-
cr been raif ■ \ up, protected, or delivered by rniracles, ftr.aiy
fo called. vvTe hive not been miraculoutty fed by manna
from heaven, during our journey to, and peregrinations in
thrthen howling wUdernifs, nor was the fea divided .0 give
,is a naffa-re from Europe on dry land. But in moft refpefts

.p,-,***!**:*- --•^w*j&-*?«K-

cal King,
riation. —
e, in fuch
TJilar ex-
itb any na-
own by a
3m out of
id durinjT
hem with
into the
e nations
of their
port for a
ices, they
become a
een raifed
f in their
) the prac-
many fig-
when ap-
hefe pecu-
id even re-
i an almoft
cuftoms of
nciple and
the proph-
their Faih^
nd sending^
lis dwelling
displscd His
Lord arose
were the
f the Jews.
lave neith-
;les, ftriaiy
by manna
.nations in
.kd to give
oft refpe<5ls

our privileges have been equal, and in many, far greater than
thofe of the Jews. To illuftrate this, I fhall take a brief
glance, ift. At our natural, civil and poHtical, and 2dly. At
our moral and religious advantages.

With refpea to the firft— Altho' no miracles ftriaiy fo call-
ed attended the fettlement of this country, yet fo many re-
markable providences were combined in that event, as clear-
ly proved our planting in this land, to be the work of God's
own right hand. No perfon who takes even a curfory view
of thofe events, which, combined together, brought our forp-
fathers from the land of their nativity, to this then howling
wildernefs, made room for them by the expulfion of the
heathen, and raifed them up to fo great a degree of refpeda-
bility as a nation in fo Ihort a time, but muft be fnfible that
It IS the Lord's doing. So rapid has been our increafe, that
thofe words of the prophet, that a little one Jljould become a thou-
sand, and a small one a strong nation, have been almoft literally
fulfilled ; and, in emerging from a colonial ftate, and taking
a rank among the nations of the world, we have feen a na-
tion born in a day. In addition to thefe natural advantages,
we have been favored with the enjoyment of perfonal, civil,
and political liberty, in a degree perhaps beyond that of any
other nation. While the eftablifliment of moft other govern-
ments, has been the refult of either accident or force, or a
combination of both, ours has been deliberately framed and
adopted by the colJecled wifdom of the nation ; while the
men to whom the naceffary powsrs were delegated for that
purpofe, have had both the excellencies, miftakes, and defects
of other fyftems before them, either for iheir imitation or
warning. While the rulers of other nations have been gen-
erally impofed upon them without their confenr, and fre-
quently, contray to their wiflies, our governor have been
from oiirfelves j elevated to the places of public truft which
they have occupied, by the fuffrages of freemen. While ma-
ny, if not moft other nations, have been the viclims of an un-
relenting defpotifm, and cruftied into the duft by the iron
hand of tyranny, our laws have been, with a few exceptions,
equitable ; our public contributions light, our perfons and
property protected, and our penal code, perhaps as mild^ and

t^unifliments as rare as is confiftent with public and general
fecurity. In addition to thefe privileges, we have been
for a long interval, for the nioft part favored with peace in
our borders ; at a time when many nations, ufually denom-
inated chriftian, have been in a manner defolated by the ca-
lamities of a war, almoft without parallel in the annals ot civ-
ilized man. We have alfo been bleffed, not merely with a
competence, but with an abundance of the good things ot
this life ; God having, as truly as he did Ifrael of old, ted us
M^ith the fineft of the wheat, with lambs and rams equal to
the breed of Bafhan, and made us to ride on the high places
of the earth. No earthquakes or volcanoes, have delolated
our cities, no wafting judgments have overtaken us, and few
nations have been more exempt trom the peftilence which
walketh in darknefs, and from the deftruaion which walteth

at noon day.

With refped to religious and moral advantages, we may
alfo fay, that God has rarely dealt fo with any nation. The
means of education have perhaps been more generally dittul-
ed, particularly in the northern Hates, than in any other na-
tion. Our fchools are accefTible not only to the rich, or thole
in the middle walks of Hfe, but to the pooreft claffe^ in focie-
ty. God has alfo favored us with a revelation of his will,
much more plain and full than was enjoyed by the Jewifh na-
tion, even after the canon of the old teftament was complete.
Life and immortality are brought to light by the gofpel, and
the vail which was on the face of Mofes is done away m
Christ. While many other nations h^ve no accefs to thefe
Uvely oracles, and icarcely know of the exiftence of fuch a
book as the Bible, and others, altho* not in fuch a ftate of to-
tal darknefs, have few or no opportunities for refearch, the
fcripturos, being inacceffible by the common people, became
locked up in an unknown tongue, and the pure doclrines of
the gofpel corrupted by the inventions of men, and the fim-
plicity of gofpel worfhip debafed by fuperftition, we enjoy a
free and unrel^rained accefs to the fcriptures, and the gofpel in
its purity, a precious day and means of grace, with the hope
of glory thro' a redeemer ; conne<fted with all that liberty of
conlcience which heart can wifli. We may worfhip God in

d general
lave been

peace in
y denom-
by the ca-
als of civ-
ly with a

things of
)ld, fed us
iS equal to
ligh places
; defolated
5, and few
nee which
,ch wafteth

s, we may
tion. The
rally difFuf-
y other na-
ch, or thofe
Te3 in focie-
of his will,
! Jewifli na-
is complete,
gofpel, and
le awav in
:efs to thefe
2 of fuch a
L ftate of to-
efearch, the
3le, became
doctrines of
and the fim-
we enjoy a
the gofpel in
ith the hope
at liberty of
fhip God in

that way which comports with the dictates of our own judej-
ment, unawed by a proud overbearing hierarchy, without
danger of fire or faggot, or of pAins and penalties of any
kind : or if more agreeable to our wilhes and feelings, we can
entirely neglect the worlhip ot God, without being amenable
to anv tribunal unlefs it be to that of Him who is the judge
of the quick and the dead. Conne6tod with thefe external
means and advantages, God has frequently owned his own in-
ftitutions in our land, by making the word of his grace ef-
fectual for the conviction and converfion of fmners, and for
building up his people in faith and holinefs.

Such have been our privileges, but what has been our im-
provement ? It is a truth frequendy inculcated in holy writ,
that the more numerous and important the privileges of a
people are, the guilt of mifimprovement will be the more ag-
gravated and the puniftiment the more fevere. Such was the
iituation of the Jews compared with that of other nations,
and God threaten . them, faying, Tou only have I known of all the
families of the earthy therefore will I pmijh you for all your iniqui-
ties. The Jews of that particular generation who were fa-
voured with the orivileges of Chrift's perfonal miniftr) alfo
enjoyed advantages above thofe of their predeceffors, and he
declares them to be expofed to a more aggravated condemna-
tion. Jnd this is the condemnation, that light is come into the worlds
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were
evil. If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin,
but now they have no cloak for their sin. If I had not done among
them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin ;
but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father, woe
unto thee Chorazin, %voe unto thee Bethsaida. For if the mighty
works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
thiy would have repented long age in sackcloth and afhes. But I say
unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the
"'ly of judgment, than for you. And thou Capernaum, which art
exalted unto heaven, Jhdl be brought down to hell. For if the
mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained unto this day. But I say unto you, that it
Jhallbe more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment^
than for thee. As the fins of gofpel tranlgreffors are more ag-

J-l

gravated than even thefe, fo their punifliment will be propor-
tionably fevere. He that despised Moses* law died without mer-
cy^ under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer pumjhment^
suppose ye, Jhall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under Joot
the son of God, and hath counted the blood of the co'venant where-
with he was sanSltftd an unholy thing.

Now are there not alfo with us fins againft the Lord our
God. Here we muft not loofe fight of an important dillinc-
tion already made, i. e. between fuch sins as are public and
national, and fuch as are merely private and perfonal ofi'ences.
The sins of individuals are not always chargeable on the na-
tion, nor do they call for national vengeance, whatever may
be the cafe of the guilty individual. When a particular sin
feceives no public countenance from the nation, but on the
other hand, the current of public fentiment goes to dilcoun-
tenance, reftrain, or even to punifti the offender where the
public welfare requires it, then let the guilt be ever fo great,
it is not juftly chargeable on the nation, nor can it with pro-
priety be termed a national sin. But fins become national
when they become fo common as to be patronized by the pub-
lic ; when inftead of being difcouraged by any public mark of
difapprobation, they are countenanced and encouraged by the
example and approbation of men, whofe bufinefs it ought to
be to reflrain them ; when the current of public fentiment
is fo flrong in favour of particular vices, that wholfome laws
for either their prevention or punifhment cannot be carried
into effect ; when they are committed without fliame and
without a bluih, and an honeft and virtuous attempt to car-
ry the moft wholfome regulations into elFecl for their preven-
tion would be the moil direct method to incur the popular
odium, fins, which might otherwife be viewed as private of-
fences, become public crimes, and contribute to fill up the
meafure of national guilt. Sins which have the fanclion of
a law publicly acquiefced in by the nation, for their fupport,
become, in a fenfe ttill more ftriking, national sins. National
tranfgrefTions of this complexion were far from uncommonj
during the reign of idolatrous princes in lirael. Defedion
and idolatry had then every fanclion which the law could give
^hem. This rendered them not the lefs, but the more ofleo-

le propor-
thout luet'
umjhmLnty
undtr joot
int where'

Lord our
lit diftiric-
lublic and

I ofi'ences.
in the na-
ever may
icular bin
It on the
) dilcoim-
vhere the

fo great,
with pro-
national
\f the pub-
c mark of
;ed by the

ought to
fentiment
bme liPws
be carried
lime and
ipt to car-
ir preven-
j popuhir
irivate of-

II up the
mction of
r fupport.

National
1 common,
Defedion
:ould give
ore oilec-

live to God, and called more loudly for national juJgments,
Shall the throne of iniquity have fclloivfiip -with thee luhich ftameth
mischief by a law. To illuftrate this point a little farther, let it
be obferved that not only the political, but the moral and re-
ligious charac1:er of a nation borrows its complexion from the
genius of the government and the character of the rulers of
that nation. A pious few, whofe characters may be but little
known and noticed by the world, may, and often have been
the means of averting the judgments of heaven from a na-
tion, but they do not give a complexion to the chaiacler of
the nation itfelf ; efpecially when their piety is diicounten-
anced both by the rulers and the body of the people. In the
moft degenerate times in Ifrael, there were always a pious
few who mourned in fecret over the national defection and
idolatry. Perhaps, there never was a time when defeclion
was more general, or when true religion was at a lower ebb,
or more borne down and difcountenanced, than during the
reign of Ahab. So much were the true worfliippers of Gjd
unnoticed at one time, that the prophet Elijah conceived him-
felf to be left alone. But altho* the pious few were fo tho-
roughly concealed that even the prophet did not know of
their exiftence, yet the Lord had referved untohimfelf feven
thoufand in Ifrael, who had not bowed the knee unto Baal.
Thefe hidden ones, however, did not impart a rehgious com-
plexion to the nation. No — their national character was
taken from a profligate idolatrous court. On the other hand
we find that whenever that nation was blefled with wife and
virtuous, but efpecially with religious rulers, it gave a relig-
ious tone to the charader of the nation. But when the char-
acTier of the rulers, particularly of the fupreme ruler, was the
reverfe, it ufually carried the voice of the nation fo fully with
it as to be confidered as a national oefection, and the nation
was frowned upon and chailifcd accordingly. Inftances con-
firming this oblervation may be found in the hidory of Ifrael
during the reigns of David, Solomon, Jeholhiph at, Hozekiah,
Jofiah, &c. as well as during the reigns of Jeroboam and
other kings of Ifrael and Judah, who were of oppolite char-
acters. The inftance of Jofiah is perhaps more particularly in
point, on this fubjeclj than that of any other. It does not

appear that the body of the nation ever engaged cordially in
that reformation which he profecuted with fo much piety,
zc al, and perfeverance. Had this been the cafe, it does not
feem as if the defection could have be a to fudden and uni-
verfal, as foon as one of his degenerate offspring came to the
throne. Vice, and particularly id. >V,try,leems only to have
been overawed bv his prefence and authority. Yet this retor-
mation was fo faV the means of faving the nation, that the
puniOiment juftly due for national iniquity did not come up-
on them during his reign. ,

Rut it is time to proceed to the application of thefe obler-
vations to the particular fituation of this American nation. It
is not my intention to enumerate a large catalogue of immo-
ralities, more or lefs heinous, or, more or lefs prevalent a-
monjr us. Thefe are fo numerous that, alas, our gold is be-
come dim and the moft fine gold changed. I intend to ad-
vert merely to a few, and only a few thmgs which have, m
my view, affumed fuch a complexion, that they muft be con-
fidered as national evils of great magnitude. And here 1 am
conftrained in the outfet, fomewhat reluaantly I confefs, to
notice a feature in our national government itfelf, which pre-
sents to my view a national evil of great magnitude ; I mean
its beinjr entirely J. 'Rkute of every appearance of a feature
which can be ter r ^ious. And as if the entire filence

of the original conltitution had not been fufficient to calm the
fears of the nation, left fbmething of a religious nature, might
poffibly, either at one time or another, become in lomelhape
connected with the government, Congrefs is, by the firlt a-
mendment fmce added to the conftitution, exprefsly prohibit-
ed from making any law refpeding religion. This is not
merely fuch a limitation of the powers of Congrefs, as to pro-
] libit the eftablithment by law of any fuperiority, or the giv-
ing of any preference to any particular denomination ot
Chviftians above another. It extends to the fubjeft of relig.
ion on the broadeft ground, i. e. Congrefs muft give no pref-
erence to Chriftianity above Deifm, Judaifm, Paganilm, the
impoftures of Mahomet, or even above Atheifm itfelf. A^^y
muft bv no law. aft. or refolution, acknowledge the exiftence
of a Supreme Being, becaufe that would be a law relating to

■ i"!P>

jrdially in
ach piety,
t does not
n and uni-
ime to the
ily to have
this refor-
, that the
t come up-

hefe obfer-
nation. It
e of imnio-
>revalent a-
gold is be-
end to ad-
:h have, in
luft be con-
d here I am
confefs, to
, which pre-
ide ; I mean
f a feature
ntire lilence
: to calm the
ituie, might
[1 fome (hape
J the firft a-
My prohibit-
This is not
jfs, as to pro-
^ or the giv-
mination of
)je6t of relig-
rive no pref-
iganifm, the
itfelf. ^ They
the exiftence
w" relating to

a great and fundamental do<5lrine of religion with which
government has no concern. According to a conftruclion
given to this article of the conftitution, by high authority,
we find that a bill to incorporate the Proteftant Kpifcopal
Church of Alexandria, in the diftrict of Columbia, for the
purpofe of enabling the fociety the better to manage its tem-
poral concerns ; and another to beftow upon a religious focie-
ty at Salem, in the MiiTiflippi Territory, the paltry donation
of five acres of the public lands, including the i'pot where they
had erected a meeting houfe, both of which had paffed both
houfes of Congrefs, were obje^led againft and returned, be-
caufe, by pafling thefe bills into laws, Congrefs would go be-
yond their conftitutional limits by interfering in a fubjecft
conne<fled with religion.* If this conftruclion of the confti-
tution of the United States be juft, and it is not my prefent
intention to call it in queftion, it prefents a view of the re-
ligious fituation of our country which is truly alarming.—

*0n February 15, 181 1, a bill which hid pafTed both houfes for the incor-
ation of the Proteftant Epifcopal Church of Alexandria, in order to enable the
fociety the better to manage its temporal concerns. This bill the Prefident re-
turned with his ohjedlions, too lenghty to infert at large in a note. But they
were grounded on a fuppoled opinion that it exceeded the limits of that article
of the conftitution, which fays, ** Congrtfs ftiall make no law refpefting religion,"
altho' the pafling of fuch laws was not without precedent. A law had been pafTed
during Prefident JefFerfon's adminiftration for the incorporation of a Preftjyte-
rian Church in Georgetown. Thia bill was afterwards rejedted by the houfe.
Vide journal of H. R. 3d feflion Congrefs, page 290.
A B;<ptift fociety in a town called Salem, Mifliflippi Territory, not poflefs-
ing a convenient fpot on which to eredt a meeting houfe, built one on the pub-
lic lands of the United States. The iociety petitioned Congrefs for liberty to
purchrffe a lefs quantity of land than could be fold according to the exifting
laws, which could not be lefs than a quarter fe<5\ion, or 1 60 acres. Congrefs
did not fee fit to grant the petition, but pjifled a bill in which a claufe was in-
ferted to make the fociety a donation of five acres of land, including the fpot
where this meeting houfe ftood, for the purpofe of a common. This bill was
prefented to the Prefident not long before the clofe of the feflion, and he re-
turned it with the following obje£lIon, viz.

** Becaufe the bill, in referving a certain parcel of land of the United States,
for the ufe of faid Baptift Church, comprifes a principle and precedent for the
appropriation of funds of rl^e United States, for the ufe and fupport of religious
focieties, contrary to the ariic'e of the conftitution, which declares " that Con-
grefs ftiall make no law refpefling a rel'gous eftablifliment.**
This bill like the other was afterwards rej^i^ed.

Journal, ext. fiipra, page 357.

i ■

Chriftianity U not only treated with entire neglect, but Is ab-
folutely profcribed. I fee not, but agreeable to this conftruc-
tion of the conftitution, Congrefs has annually violated it by
eleding chaplains, and giving them a trifling compenfation
out of the public treafury. At leaft, the joint refolution of
the two houfes, which limits the choice of chaplains to par-
ticular denominations of Chriftians, to the exclufion of Paj^jans^
Jews or Mahometans, muft be unconftitutional, becaufe it has
the appearance of giving Chriftianity the preference above
other fuppofed religions, fome of which at leaft have more
numerous votaries in the world at large than Chriftianity it-
felf. Indeed, if the feparation between religion and s^overn-
ment muft. be fo entire, I fee not upon what grounds Congrefs
poffefTes the power of making provifion by law for the ad-
miniftration of oaths, as this is a fubjed which is certainly
moft intimately connefted with religion, and is in itfelf an
acknowledgment of the Being, Omnifcience, and moral gov-
ernment of God, and the accountability of man. Where
there is no fenfe of religious obligation, no awe or reverence
of a deity, no confcioufnefs of his all-feeing eye, it is diffi-
cult to conceive ot what ufe or importance an oath can be in
any cafe. Government therefore cannot renounce all con-
nexion with religion, without furniftiing the means of its
own deftruclion. But to this length does the principle irt
queftion lead us.

It was a charge urged againft Ifrael by the prophet Jeremiah,
and one which he confiders as a peculiar aggravation of their
guilt, that while other nations were generally ftedfaft in their
idol worfliip, they, viz. the Jews, had apoftatifed from the
fervice of the true God. Hatb a nation changed their Gods;,
which are yet no Gods ? But my people have changed their glory
for that which docs not profit. Be ye astonished ye Heavens at
thiSi and horribly afraid ; be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For
my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me the
fountain of living waters, and hewed them nut cisterns, broken cis-
terns, that can hold no water. To this source, this national forsak-
ing of the Lord their God, is traced the calamities which follow, — '
Is Israel a servant, is he a home born slave, why is he spoiled > The
young lions roared upon him and yelled ^and they made his land waste ^

but Is abi
; conftruc-
ated it by
ipenfation
Dlution of
ns to par-
Df Pai^ans,
aufe it has
ice above
ave more
Hanity it-
d s^overn-
Congrefs
• the ad-
certainly
itfelf an
loral goV'
Where
reverence
it is diffi-
can be in
J all con-
ans of its
nciple in

Jeremiah,
n of their
ft in their
from the
heir GoDf,
'heir glory
h'a-vtns at
.onf. For
m me the
broken cis'
naiforsak-
'} follow. — '
i/eJ> The
and waste.

bis estates burnt without inhabitant. Also the children of Noph and
Tahapares have broken the crown of thy head. Hast thou not pro-
cured this imto thyself in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God
when he led thee by the way ? I'he people of thefe ftatcs once
acknowledged theinfelves as a chriftian nation. The north-
ern Rates, in particular, were in their fnil fettleinent a planta-
tion ftriclly and eminently religious, and I believe there are
but few, if any of thefe ftates, but in one fhape or another,
once gave legiflativc countenance to the chriilian religion. —
And when it is confidered that as a people, vi?e have been fo
diftinguiilied by the care of heaven, that the Lord has been,
from lime to time, even from generation to generation, our
ftrength and our i^y^^<^., and has f > frequently, in fuch a fignal
manner, become our falvation, have not we as vt'ell as the
Jews, been guilty of forfaking the Lord our Gud, who has
led us by the way ? Can it therefore be that the people of
theie ftates have not incurred national guilt of a very deep
die, by placing themfelves in fu- h an attitude before the world,
that not a ftngle trace of the charader of a chriftian nation
is left ? Indet'd the whole catalogue of national fms may be
confidered as fhoots fpringing from this root.

I am fenlible that I am entering on a very delicate, and
with miiny a very unpopular fubjecT: ; and that I fliall proba-
bly not barely incur the odium ot the avowed enemies of re-
ligion, but the cenfure of many ot its pretended, and offome
ot its real friends. lY-rhaps there is no one feature in the
conftitution of the Dnited States, which has been the fubjed
of more numerous encomiums, of more unqualified praife
upon both fides of the Atlantic, than this, that it takes no no-
tice of, and is not at all connected with religion. It is not
difficult to point out the quarter from whence thefe encomi-
ums have, in the firft inftance originated. 1 he placing of all
religions, or of all fentiments on religious fubjects, whether
for or againft religion itfelf, upon an equal footing, has been
the popular theme of modern phiiofophifts. By thus degrad-
ing chriilianity to a level with paganifm. inlideHty, and athe-
iliu, they doubtlefs expected to be put in a better fituation
to overthrow and exterminate it altogether. It is a juft mat-
ter of lamentation, that fo many who are friends at heart to

IB?

the re il interefts of religion, fnould have fo greedily fwallow-
ed the p-rnicious bait that was thrown out to them, regard-
lefs of the hook which was concealed beneath. This equal-
izin'^ of all religious opinions ; this ranging of atheiftn, inii-
deli?y, and blafphemy, fide by iide, with the Goipel of Jelus
Christ, has been a popular topic, and as it is much eaher to
cull hard names, than to produce found arguments, the molt
opprobrious epithets have been liberally beftowed on all wlio
fliould dare to difpute the orthodoxy of thele fentiments.-—
It has been reprefented as little better than facrilege for relig-
ion and government to have the remotell connexion togeth-
cr. 1 his principle was avowed, and the moll unhmited tol-
eration ot all relif;ious opinions proclaimed at the commence-
ment of the French revolution. But how foon was every
form of chrillianity profcribed ? That fome of our moft zeal-
ou'^ advocates for religous liberty and toleration, and our
wp.rmtft declaimers againll any connection between religion
and ivovern.ment, have nothing lefs in view than the entire
baniiliment of chriftianity out of the world, as foon as they
are able to fuperadd violence to their other modes of oppoli-
tion, cannot admit of a doubtc Should they fucceed in the
attempt to render the chriitian religion contemptible and odi-
ous. the traiifition from that ftate to actual violence, is natur-
al and ealV. A very g(Kod preparatory ftcp towards render-
in'.' it contemptible, is, if pollible, in the hrft place to render
the imprcllion univerfi!, that it is a matter of fuch abfolute in-
dilFcrence, as tg be emir- ty f.parated from the cafe, and un-
worthy of the noiico, 01 even of the remoteft attention of
government. I have already obferved, and 1 again repeat,
that I am far from attributing!: any fuch motive to many, and
probably to the great('fl: nun.ber of thofe who efpoule theo-
pir-ionl am endtavoring to comba'. 1 could wilh however,
to be able to convince them, that the opinion is an incorrea:
one, calculated vitally to i, jure a caufe which they profefs to
have at heart. In this inftance the L!nued States are exhibit*
ing perhaps a new and fingular fpectacle to the world. A gov-
ernment without a connexion with religion of fbme fort, is
probablv, a novcltv, a plienomenon which the world has nev-
er witntfl'ed betore. It is a bold expcriinciit, and one which

Witim,

f fwallovi*-
1, regard-
liis equal -
eifm, infi-
1 of Jefus
:h eafier to
, the moft
on all who
timents. —
e for relig-
ion togeth-
iimited tol-
commence-

was every
: moft zeal-
1, and our
en religion

the entire
)on as they
3 of oppofi-
:ceed in the
ible and odi-
ce, is natur-
rds render-
:e to render
I abfolute in-
ife, and un-
attention of
gain repeat,
) many, and
fpoufe the o-
Ih however,
an incorred:
ey profcfs to

are exhibit*
orld. A gov-
fbme fort, is
irld has nev-
id one which

1 fear can only ifliie in rational apoRacy and national ruin.
Many plaudble arguments have been urged on this funject,
which have, without doubt, had a powerful elfecl upv)n hon-
eft mir.ds. But it appears to me that they are more plaufible
than {olid, and go tofupporta theory which is both vifionary
and fallacious. Some ot the moft plaufible are — That Christ
will protect his church, and maintain his own caufe, inde-
pendent of any aid derived from the civil powers of the
world. That the chriftian religion refts on its own bafis, and
requires nothing but fair play, i. e. to be neither countenanc-
ed or fupported, oppofed or pcrlecuted by civil authority, to
caufe it to flourifli. That human authority has been gener-
ally on the fide of fuperftition and error, and may be indiffer-
ently ufed for the fupport of paganifm and chriftianity. —
Thefe and iimilar arguments have been urged with much
warmth, and a degree of plimfibility, attended with fp. cial
care to brand their opponents with the charge of intolerance
at leaft, if not with being aduated by a perfecuting fpirit. It
is granted that civil government has been oftentimes aflociat-
ed with, and the powers of the civil magiftrate exerted in
fupport of a falfe religion, as well as perfecuted the true. —
But that is no reafon why the fupreme power of a nation, af-
fecting to retain the name of chrillian, fhould give no prefer-
ence to the benevolent, heaven-born fyftem of chriftianity,
above thofe falfe relimons, or above no religion at all. Civil
governments have oftentimes been very oppreffive. Inltead
of protecting the rights of tlie cit izens, they have eftablifhed
mifchief by cruel and opprefhve laws. But that is no argu-
ment againft either the neccility^ ufefuLiefs, or importance of
civil government. It is granted that, under the influence of
a falfe rehgion, chriftianUy has been oftentimes perfecuted,
and that different religiims iecls, calling themleives Chriftians,
have Ibmetimes opprcfVed and periecuted one another. This
may, perhaps, be a go(Hl reafon why difftirent feels of chrif.
tians ought to be placed on an equal footing, as the heft mean
to cultivate harmony and mutual clsarity ; and to prevent the
undue preponderance of one feci; over another. But it is no
argument t\ .':y chriftianity itfelf iln-uld be placed upon a lev-
el with either paganifm or a!)(oluto irreligion. It is alfo 2.

;\(

I i

glorious truth, and one which, in times of trial, aflords the
beft, if not the only ground of fupport and confolation to the
pious mind, that Chris r will protecl his church ; and that
neither the malice, power, or policy of earth or hc!l, fliail fi-
nally prevail againft it. In the protecflion of his caufe, he is
not only independent of the civil powers of the world, but
where they are found in oppofition, he will do it in fpite of
this enmity. The queilion therefore is not wliat the great
head of the church cither can or will do, but what is the duty
of thofe nations where chrilllanity lias been the religion long
publicly profeffed. It does not follow that thofe powers who
either oppofe, or refufe to lend their aid in fupport of his
caufe, do their duty, or take that courfe which Infinite wif-
dom has pointed out to them as proper. Altho' Christ is
able, and will aclually maintain his own caufe, yet he has ui'u-
ally feen fit to do it by the co-operation of human means, and
of thefe means the countenance of civil rulers, by ranging
themfelves on the lide of his religion, and enacting wholfome
laws for the fuppreilion of vice, and the prevention and pun-
ifhment of fuch crimes as are not only in oppofition to relig-
ion, but injurious to civil fociery, are not matters of minor
importance. The propofirion that Christ will defend his
church, carried to the length which fome are difpoled to ex-
tend it, may be urged with equal plaufibility againft any oth-
er human endeavors to promote the caufe and extend the
kingdom of Christ, as in favor of fuch an entire foparation
between government and religion, as is the fubject of lb much
popular declamation at the prefent day. It is no more than
an extenfion of the pi inv'iiple contended for, to fay that Christ
will maintain his own caufe, independent of the })reachingof
the Gofpel,and all endeavors to extend it, and of the tranlla-
tion & circulation of the fcriptures,and all other helps for the
promotion of religious knovv'ledge ; and that all thtl'e things
are improper, becaufe elKcted by the intervention of human
means. The truth however is, thiit wlienever Chrisi' fees fit to
interpofe in a remarkable way in behalf of his church, he al-
ways does it by the intervention of Imman means, by railing
up and qualifying fuitahle inftruments to carry on his own
works. God originally brought his ^ people up out of iu^

iji' '■.,._

■-' ^il i i i li i Hn u\i mm mimmi .M -m

(lords the
ion to the

and that
1, fliall fi-
jle, he is
eoild, but
in Ipite of

the irreat
s the duty
[(rion lony;

o o

)\vers who
irt of his
ifinite wii"-
Christ is
le has u Tu-
ne a ns, and
)y ranging
wholfome
a and pun-
in to reli<jf-
; of minor
Icfcnd his
)led to ex-
ft anvoth-
xtend the
foparation
3f lb much
more than
lat Christ
'caching of
he tranlla-
ilps lor the
itfe thiiiq;s
of human
'i- fees fit to
ncli, he al-
bv raifniG:
1 his own
out of il-

gypt with a (Irong hand and outfirctched arm ; but he botli
brought them up out of Egypt and led them through the wll-
dernefs^ by the hand of Mofes and Aaron, under whom tl;e
power of the magittrate and the irilluence of religion were
combined. He aUb raifed up Zerubbabel the governor, and
Jofhua the high prieft, and no doubt he flill makes ufe of re-
ligious magirtrates to promote the intcreft of Zion. Magif-
trates as fuch, it is fiiid, mud carry it with an even hand, i. e.
with the utmoft impartiality and indifference with regard to
rehgion. Ihey muft, in their pubHc capacity, be neither for
or againft it in any refpecSt. This was not a principle incul-
cated on antient Ifrael under the im.mediate guidance of infpi-
ration. God ever taught that rebelHous people, tliat their
national concerns and reUsfion were intimately connecled to-
gether. It is not a principle inculcated upon his followers by
our blefled Lord. He t)wns no fuch indifferent characters,
either in the perfons of princes, legiflators, magiffrates or in-
dividuals, but exprefsly declares, He that is not zvitb ?ne, is a^
gainst 7fie, and he that gat beret b not with i}u\ scat tenth abroad. —
Governments therefore which allume this attitude of impar-
tiality and indifference with regard to religion, will, in the
eftimation of Him who is to be the judge of the quick and the
dead, be confidered as taking their rauk on the fide of his
enemies, as the enemies and perfecutors of his caufe. When
I confider the attitude affumed by this nation with regard to
religion, I cannot but tremble for my country. We tfiil af-
fect to confider ourfelves as a chriUian nation ; but wliere
are the evidences of it ? I hope and beHtve there are many
chriflian individuals among us, and that their number is rath-
er increafing than diminifhing in our country. Ihefe may
be the means of laving us from ruhi. But v.here can we
find a fingle veftige of chriftianity in our national character ?
There is none. Whatever character of indiflcrence thereff ;r(j
our national governnjent may liave feen fit to allume, as it is
not tor Christ, or a rankirg on liis fide, it mud be agiiinit
i\im. If your national character is not chriltian, it is anti-
chriftian, for there is no midway.

The 'id Pfalm is undoubtedly a prophecy relating to tlie
Coljpel kingdom of the Meihali, and a warning to princes

•|

3°

and rulers of their danger in oppofing that kingdom. The
kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take council togeth'
cr against the Lord, and against hi\ anointed, saying. Let us break
their bands asunder, and cai>t away their cords from us. He that
sUteth in the hea-vcns shall laugh ; the Lord shall hold them in deris'
ion. Then shall he speak unto them in his lurath', and vex them
in his sore displeasure. Such is to be the fate of the oppofers
of Christ and his caufe ; thofe who break his bands .ifun-
der and call: his cords from them. But what is the advice
given to rulers that they may efcape this righteous indigna-
tion ? Is it to ftarid aloof from religion and beware of med-
dling with any of its concerns ? Does he tell princes and ru-
lers, thit however they may be permitted to be chriftians in
their private capacity as men, yet, in their public characters,
they muft uct with the utmoil impartiality between the in-
terell of Christ and of Belial ; or that they mull not give
the flighteft preference totheintereils of religion, above thofe
ofatheifm. Nothing like this. On the other hand he ex-
horts them, frying. Be wise now, therefore, ye kings ; be in-
structed ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and re-
joice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish
from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are
all they that put their trust in him, i. e.. embrace Jtsus Christ.
Let not merely your hearts, but your power, authority and
influence be en the Lord's fide.

The confideration that Christ both can and will defend
his church, independent of the power and policy of the world,
ought to have a very different effect both upon nations and
individuals, from that of promoting indifference and inatten-
tion to the interefts of religion. While it ought to difcour-
age all oppolirion on the one hand, from the confideration
that whoibever falleth on this Ifone iliall be broken, and on
whomfoever it fliail fall, it will grind him to powder ; fo the
reflection that it is a caufe which muff eventually triumph, is
a confideration which ought to animate all to the moft vig-
orous exertions, and neither give way to defpondency or dif-
couragement,even when the profpcd is the moft gloomy. It is
thereiore a great error to fuppofe that chriftianity will be the
moft apt to flourilli under the indifference or neglect of the

1 F

'■■mmmtM.^.mmmii^s^^:.

lom. The
incil togeth'
,€t us break
r. He that
^em in derU'
id vex them
le oppofers
inds afun-
tlie advice
IS indiorna-
.re of med-
ics and ru-
iriftians in
characters,
en the in-
lI not give
ibove thofe
and he ex-
ngs ; be in-
ear, and re-
nd ye perish
Blessed are
js Christ.
hority and

vill defend
the world,
lations and
nd inatten-
to difcour-
)nrideration
:en, and on
der ; fo the
triumph, is
e moft vio:-
oucy or dif-
;loomy. It is
' will be the
ylect of the

civil magiftrate. Akho* the condition of the chriftian church
is different from that of the jewifli, and it is neither to be
defired or expected, that chriltian rulers fliould have all that
authority in things facred, which was once enjoyed by the
jewifh kings, yet if we attend to the prophecies whicli re-
late to the lituation and duty of chriftian rulers in Gofpel
times, we will find them by no means reprefented as that in-
different kind of charaders with regard to religion, which
many would wifh them to be. I Ihall tj[uote two or three
paffages for illuftration.

And kings Jhall be thy nursing Fathers .^and their Queens thy nurs-
ing Mothers. Arise, shine, for thy light is come and the glory cf
the Lord is risen upon thee. And the Gentiles Jh all come to thy light
and Kings to the brightness of thy rising. And the sons ofthejiran-
ger fhall build up thy walls ; and their Kings floall minifter unto
thee. Thou Jhalt suck the breqjis of Kings, and thou fh alt know
that I the Lord am thy Saviour and Redcerner,

One thing which tended greatly to ftrengthren the grand
apoftacy was that the kings of the earth gave their power and
ftrength unto the Beaft. The fame kings of the earth, i. e.
of the Latin earth, or Roman Empire, were to have an agen-
cy in the downfall of the great whore v.'ho fitteth upon many
waters. They were to hate the whore and burn her with fire.
As a counterpart to this agency, both in tlie growth and down-
fall of the man of fin, it was to be proclaimed at his down-
fall on the founding of t' e feventh Angel, that The kingdoms
of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriji,
I, e. As the inllrumentality of earthly princes and potentates
was ufed in the promoting of this apoftacy, fo, at his down-
fall, and the advancement of Christ's kingdom on his ruins,
the characters of chefe fame earthly potentates would be
changed, and they would equally exercife their power in liib-
ferviency to the caufe and intereft of the Redeemer. Chrif-
tian rulers may, no doubt, do much to promote the caufe of
Christ and the intereft of religion by their examp]e,andbleff-
ed be God that our rulers are not abfolutely prohibited from
fetting a chriftian example in private life, and that a regard
for the chriftian religion is not as yet confidered as an abfo-
iute difqualification for office. But I conceive that chiiftiaa

1 5

':. (

rulers arc !)c)und to countenance and fupport religion in other
ways than merely by f'etting a chriftian ex unple. I'hey are not
to act the part of athcills, or of men abfolutely indiflerent to
all religion in their public, any more than in their private ca-
paciry. While idolatrous nations were deadfall in their falfj
worlhip, Goo blames his people for apoftatifmg from the tru-:;
worlhlp of God, and changing their glory tor that which did
not profit. This entire feparation of every thing which be-
longs to reUgion from civil g(wernment, and the duties of the
maoillrate from reliij;ion, is a ch mc^inr^ of the true reU^ion not
for another,but for no religion at all. Indeed it goes to make
magiftrates and rulers refemble, in their public capacity, Dan-
iel's wilful king, wiio was neither to regard the God of his
father?, the dehre of women, nor any God.

An idea has been already fuggefted, which it may not be
amifs again to bring into view, i. e. that if we trace this prin-
ciple to its fource it will be found to have originated, not in
a regard to the parity of chriftianity, or a fear leaft it fliould
be contaminated by the maxims of worldly policy, but in a
delire to overthrow it. Infidels have been both the firft and
warmeft advocates for this unhmited toleration ; this unre-
ftrained circulation of all opinions for and againfi: religion ;
and this entire indifference on the part of government, with
a view to obtain the greater facility to circulate their own :
thinking; no doubt that that art and craft, in the ufe of which
they have proved themfelves fuch experienced adepts, would
be an overmatch for golpel funplicity. Hence their unweari-
ed endeavours to render chriftianity contemptible and even
odious, that it may be the more eaiily fuppreiled. Men of
honeft minds and upright intentions, being either deceived
by their fubcilty or not fufpecling their real intentions, have
joined in the popular cry of Uberty, toleration, au.i itie en-
tire feparation of government from every thing that is con-
nected with religion. But it is natural that the fruit grow-
ing on fuch a tree Ihould excite fufpicion. If religion is un-
worthy tlie attention of the government of a nation, a very
natural inference is, that it is of little coi\fequence in inielf,
and that it will ioofe much Oi its influence on public morals.
mvcany of the rukrs or of the Fharisecs bdicvjdyWi \ ^xy old ob-

■i '.

)n in other
ley are not
iittercnt to
private ca-
their falfj
m the true
which did
which be-
lies of the
4igion not
es to make
city, D.m-
)D of his

lay not be
; this prin-
3d, not in
I it fliould
, but in a
3 fir ft and
this unre-
; religion ;
lent, with
leir own :
3 of which
)ts, would
r unweari-
: and even
Men of
r deceived
ons, have
lid Ltie en-
at is con-
mi t ?jjrow-
;iijn is un-
m, a very
? ia inielf,
lie morals.
:ry old ob-

jodion againft religion, and it hath its influence ftill. The
progrefs from indiiference lo either fecret or open oppofition,
or even to perfecution, is natural and eafy.

I am fenfible that I fliall be here met with the cry of bigot-
ry, intolerance, and a perfecuting fpirit. This cry is '.vithout
foundation. Were I advocating the elevation of one fed of
profefled Chrjftians, to the depreffion of all others, there
might be fome ground for the clamour. So far is this from
being the cafe, that I have no wifh to difturb any clafs of cit-
izens, whether Jews, Mahometans, or even Infidels, in the
enjoyment of their civil rights, while they demean them-
felves peaceable, much lefs to elevate one feci of profefled
Chriftians above another. A portion of real chriftianity,
doubtlefs, is to be found in different feels, and every chrif-
tian fed holding to the great principles of chriftian morality,
and the future accountability of man,however fome of their o-
pinions may be erroneous and even abfurd,may yet hold to all
thofe principles of religion which are neceflary to the fafety,
and conneded with the ftability of civil government. All I
plead for is, that, as it is impofllble for government to exifl:
without calling in the aid of religion, fo if the chriftian re-
ligion is the true religion, it ought to be acknowledged and
fupported in our national capacity, at lesft fo far as to declare
ourfelves, by fome public national ad, to be a chriftian na-
tion. But to place a lyftem of atheifm, or one fo near it as
to cancel all moral obligation, even the obligation of an oath,
and to obliterate ail diftindion between virtue and vice, on
the fame footing with chriftianity, is not merely to betray
the caufe of Christ into the hands of its enemies, but to un-
hinge the bonds of civil fociety, and to let men loofe like
Tygers to devour one another.

But the popular fyftem of the day, which is to diflblve all
conne(5lion between civil government and the religion of a
country, does not flop at mere indifference about religion, but
goes a ftep father. It places chriftianity in the back ground,
and as refpefts one clafs of men, at leaft,is not perfedtly free
from that fyftem of perfecution it profefies to abhor. When
a particular clafs of men, poflbfling, perhaps, at leaft an equal
fliare of virtue and intelligence wkh the fame number of their

•I

>R3Wte«tf^^a^-»

B.ea»aBa^_ ^,jMM!S^^^i!«<i3aSi^iSIM&iiM^tbtj£iM,!ktMmeiskUaailtlai^Sf'

'.j» V

■(

fellow citizens of any other clafs, and important at leaft, if
not abfolutely neceflary for the due adminiftration of chrif-
tian inftitutions, are, in a nation calling itfeU chriftian, dc
prived of any of the common privileges of citizens, it mult
be a fpecies, a fniall degree at leaft, of perfecution. Of all
the n-rhts of citizens, the right of property is one of the moft
unaii liable. No fpecies of property can be confidered as more
abfoluely a man's own than his perfonal fervices. Gofpel
iTiiiiiftcrs ill particular inuft, if faithful, devote their time,
f!»eir talents, and their perfonal fervices, to the proper bufi-
ii fs o^' their c?.' ling. To fiy that this clafs of men neither
h ive, TioY ot right ought to iiavc any legal claim to remuner-
ation for their perfonal fervices, but muft either devote their
time and talents to the work gratis, or be dependent upon
the cold hand of charily for their fupport, is to place them
in a fituation dilfLrent from that of every other clafs of men,
by impofing upon them peculiar hardfhips, and fubjedt-
ing theni to difabiUties not impofed upon any other clafs
of citizens. What other clafs of men would be willing, either
to bellow th(?ir perfonal fervices upon the public, for the prin-
cipal part cf ti i^ir lives, without compenfation, or depend for
that compeniaiion on mere voluntary contributions, furnifh-
ed either by the cold hand of charity, or the colder calcula-
tions of avarice ? But is it not true that the laws of feveral
ftates afford no protection to this mod facred property of this
clafs of men j and that the little ftiadow of legal fecurity
which is enjoyed in other ftates, is a theme of conftant clam-
our and a fubjecl of almoft incellant attack, and, if we may
calculate on prefent appearances, will not be of long duration.
I fay not thefe things from an imprefllon that minifters of
the gofpel have any caufe to defpair of the care and protection
of their mafter, or that they ought to flirink even from fuf-
fering in his caufe. My aim is merely to Ihow that this dif-
pofttion to throw the chriftian religion and its minifters out
of the protection of the law, is a manifeft dereliction of duty,
on the part of the government of a nation laying any claim
to the character of a chriftian nation, and carries the point of
indifference about religion farther than any fuppofed impar-
tiality will warrant, and does not merely flow from a want of

t leaft, if

of chrif-
ftian, dc-
5, it muft
I. Of all
F the moft
d as more
Gofpel
leir time,
oper bufi-
n neither

reniuner-
ivote their
lent upon
lace them
fs of men,
\ fubjeft-
jther clafs
ing, either
r the prin-
lepend for
;, furnilh-
er calcula-

of feveral
rty of this
il fecurity
lant clam-
f we may
J duration,
inifters of
protection

from fuf-
t this dif-
nifters out
)n of duty,

any claim
lie point of
fed impar-
n a want of

religion, but is a real acl of oppofition to it, on tlic part of
the government.

It is true, it may be fald that this irreligious feature in our
national gn rnmont might be remedied, if in our eleaions
ot men to fill the ieveral departments we were generally to
ad: up to the chriftian character, by feleding for places of pub-
lic truft not only men of probity, but men known to have a
confcientious regard to religion, i. e. If public fentiment did
not at all partake of the fpirit of the government, which is
itfelf an expreilion of public fentiment, then the defeds of
the government might be remedied. But is fuch an event as
this rationally to be expefted ? Is it not much more probable
that the genius and fpirit of the nation will participate large-
ly in the irreligious features of the Government ? Had not
this fpirit prevailed in the nation, at the time when the con-
ftitution was formed, it is not probable that fuch a feature in
the government would have ever exifted. When it exills in
the head, what can- we exped but that it will diffufe itfelf a-
mong the branches ? Has not what it was reafonable to anti-
cipate been verified in fact ? Tell it not in Oath, publKh it
not in the ftreets of Aflikelon, that men profefllng to re^rard
chriflianity and chriftian inftitutions fhould be found to ad-
vocate the fentiment, that a regard to chriflianity is neither a
neceflary nor a very important qualification for a ruler in a
chriftian country, and that a chriftian does not ad a part in-
confiftent with a fmcere and confcientious regard to the reli-
gion he profelTes, in being inftrumental in elevating a man,
openly profefting himfelf to be an infidel, to the higheft place
of public truft, among a people ftill claiming the character of
a chriftian nation. The practice of many Ts, as it might be
expected, agreeable to the principle thus openly avowed. It
is to be lamented that, in many inftances, we fee infidels, men
equally without religion and without morals, elevated to the
moft important places of truft, places which fix them in a
fituation in which they can do the greateft injury to that re-
ligion which they contemn, both by their influence and exam-
ple. It is a maxim of eternal truth, equally applicable to all
times, places and nations, but more efpecially to a people pof-
feftin^ the privilege of fw^leding rulers by their own free fuf.

Irage, that, J'fZ'^w //j^ righteous are in authority the people rejoice^
but when the wicked bcareth rule the people mourn. That an infi-
del, as fuch, fhould wilh to inveft perlbns oF his own moral
and religious complexion with important oflices is naturally to
be expeded. It will afford him an additional advantaj^e for
oppofing that religion which he wifhes to undermine and de-
ftroy. But that a Chriflian, one whofe coniiant wilh and
daily prayer is for the advancement of the kingdom of Chkis r,
fhould wifli to elevate either an athcift, an infidel, or a man
grofsly and fiagitioufly immoral, to a fituation which will give
him an opportunity to do the gfeateft injury to that religion,
both by his influence and example, which he himfelf profeif-
es to love and efteem, isS one ot thofe unaccountable infatua-
tions, which, it would feem, could only influence the minds
of thofe who are, in this particular at loaft, given up to flrong
delufldns to believe a lie. Indeed it feems very much like a
voluntary furrender of the caufe into the hands of its ene-
mies, if not a Judas like betraying of the Son of man with a
kifs. A deift, or an infidel as fuch, can be viewed in no oth-
ier light than as an enemy to the chriftian religion and its pro-
feffors. Had he the power, and did not the maxims of world-
ly policy forbid it, he would extirpate every veftige of chrif-
tianity from the face of the earth. Whatever may be the va-
riety of opinions among the oppofers of chriilianity, and the
different fliades between immortal deifts, or deifl:s vvho be-
lieve in a future fl.ate, and abfoliite atheilb, are very numer-
ous J enmity to the Gofpel is the only point in which they
all agree. In this they imitate the feveral feds of antient
philofophers, and the votaries of thevafl: number of pretend-
ed deities in the heathen world. Thefe could give the molt
unbounded and unlimited toleration to one another, that:
they might unite aU their forces to bear down chriftianity a-
lone. So it is with infidels of differenL ftiades. Their own
differences of opinion are almofl: infinite. Oppofition to chrif-
tianity is their only point of union. Jo this object they bend
all their forces, and the reafon is obvious. Chrifl:ianity can
enter into no compromife with its oppofers, any more than
it could with the feveral claffes of idol worihippers ot" old.—
What concord hath Christ wi^h Belial ? What fart hath he that

t r V

oplc rejoice^
lat an infi-
)vvn moral
aturally to
intaq;« for
nc and de-

wilh and
jf CiiKisr,

or a mail
h will p;ive
It religion,
elf profeif-
)le infatua-
tlic niindii
p to llroDf;
ucli like a
\ its ene-
iian with a

in no oth-
,nd its pro-
5 of world-
e of chrif-

be the va-
y, and the
:s vvho be-
jry numer-
^hich they
of antient
3f pretend-
J the molt
other, that
'iftianity a-
Thelr own
)n to chrif-

they bend
ianity can
more than
s of old. — •
lib hi3 that

helieveth with an itijidd? The very infnlci uill firft come with
the fong of mutual forbearance in his mouth. This c.int frp-
quently gains ground in public opinion, by the conlidcratiori
that different feels of profelled chrillians have fncjuently ex-
crcifed too little forbearance towards one anr)ther. In avoid-
ing one extreme, it is natural to run into another. This cant,
when coming from the mouth of an infidel, means more than
is exprefled. It is ufed merely as a decoy to gain time and
ftrength, that he may obtain the greater advantage againft tlio
whole.^ What kind of toleration chriftianity may expec't,
when infideUtyis completely triumphant, has been exempli-
fied in France during the bloody era of the republic. They
began with the fo ft, deceptive language of charity and forbear-
ance. But how loon was the tone changed to tliat of violence
and blood ! Chriilianity in every form of it was profcribed ;
the churches either fliut up, or appropriated to the moft pro-
fane ules ; the chriftian fabbath abolifhcd, and the minifters of
religion, without any regard to fecfl or denomination, either
maffacred, profcribed, or driven into banifhmenr. This was
precifely what Voltaire, the arch apoftle of infidelity, wanted.
While he was daily chaunting in public the foft melifluou-j
ftrain of toleration, he could tell his confidential friends, that,
if he had one hundred thoufand men at his command, he
would know what to do. The unwearied endeavors to ren-
der chriif ianity odious and contemptible, by uttering, pub-
lilhing, and often repeating the blacked calumnies, are only
prefatory to harfher means to fupprcfs it, ihould ever power
and expediency unite in the meafure. I cannot therefore but
view the contempt fliown to chriilianity by the national gov-
ernment itfelf, and the treachery to the caufe of religion,' dif-
covered in the encouragement given to infidelity, by the ele-
vation of men of luch fentiments and correfpondent pracfice*,
to fome of the moft important places of public truft, as one (*f
the national abominations of the prefent day, for which w^;
have reafon to apprehend that O. d will vifit u<?. He has fe-
verely vifited other nations for finiilar crimes, and can we ex-
pect to efcape ?

It is an obfervation, of late frequently, and probably juftly
made, in relation to the calamities which have overfpread fu

'■!i.

large a portion of Europe, that they have hitherto fallen moft
heavily on Roman Catholic countries. Thefe calamities have
not been confined to the civil and political, but have extended
to the ecclcfiaftical ftatc of thefe countries. There infidelity has
jT.ade the nioft rapid ftrides, and the earthly head of that
church has been deprived of all power to proted himfelf. —
This amonpr other things, is an evidence that we are approach-
ing to the latter times, or towards the clofe of the twelve
hundred and fixty proplietic days ; at the end of which mys-
tical Babylon is to be caft into the fea, as a mighty millftone,
to be heard no more at all. But although catholic countries
have, as yet, drunk moft deeply of the cup of indignation,
thofe nominally prottftant, have not cfcsped. It is however
obfervable, that .itnong proteftant countries, thofe which have
imbibed moft larg- ly of tbe fpirit of infidelity, efpecially thofe
flates where it has l.^cen xhe moft countenanced by the gov-
ernment, and in txiat way become by way of eminence, a na-
tional fin, who have been thegreateft fufferers. Holland forin-
ftance was a proteftant cc»untry, and flie has been made to
drink deep of the bitter cup. But may we not read the na-
tional fin of Holland in h<!r punilhment ? Holland, infatuated
Holland, by means of he r hcentious and polluted preffes, gave
currency and publicity io the atheiftical blafphemies of Vol-
taire, D'Alembert, Diderot, and their affociates, which have
had fuch a powerful, and in many places fatal influence, in
diforganizing focieties, demoralizing the world, and even fap-
ping the foundation of ibcial and domeftic happineis. She is
now reapingthe natural & bitter fruits of thefe principles. She
has been long bleeding at every pore,been ftript of her wealth
^nd national confcquence, and is now fuffering the extreme
of an unfeeling, unrelenting defpotifm. But Holland was the
advocate for the free antJ unlimited toleration, and unreftrain-
ed circulation of all opinions for or againft religion. Papift
and proteftant, infidel aid atheift, were all placed on an e-
qual footing. If there v'as any diiference, it was in favor of
elevating irreligion and blafphemy, to the prejudice of the
chriftian religion. Pruflia was alfo nominally a proteftant
country, but her principles, both religious and moral, had
been greatly debafed. The deiftical principles of the great
Frederick, and the loofe and corrupt fyftem of morals, coiJin^-

alien moft
lities have
I extended
fidelity has
,d of that
himfelf, —
' approach -
he twelve
hich mys-
• millftone,
; countries
idignaiion.
Is however
vhich have
cially thofe
\y the gov-
ence, a na-
iand for in-
made to
2ad the na-
, infatuated
reffes, gave
lies of Vol-
:hich have
ifluence, in
d even fap-
?fs. She is
ciples. She
her wealth
le extreme
nd was the
unreftrain-
3n. Papift
d on an e-
in favor of
lice of the
proteftant
moral, had
' the great
)rals, coiJin^-

tenanced by his court, did more to debafe the charafter of the
nation, than ever the fplendor of his victories did to promote
its political elevation. Now Pruflia is almoft obliterated from
the lift of independent nations. Even that fliadow of inde-
pendence which fhe poffelTes, is abfolutely dependent on the
nod of Napoleon. Whenever he confiders it for his intereft
he can annihilate it with a breath. Should ever like cauies'
predominate in the United States, fimilar efTecls may be ex-
peded as the refult. And as our advantages, both relijrious
moral and political, have been greater than thofe of either
Holland or PruiTia, have we not reafon to apprehend a cataf-
trophe ftill more dreadful, unlefj averied by repentance and
reformation ?

SERMON II.

Afternoon—frome the same text,

I SHALL proceed on the fubjecl begun in the forenoon,

'^'o^?''^'k '''rP''T^^^ ""' repetition. I therefore obferve,
^ 2dly. 1 hat after the remarks which have been already made,
it may perhaps be deemed fuperfluous to obferve that infidelity
or a difbehef and rejedion of the Gofpel is one of the national
fins of our and at the prefent day. The prevalence of a fpir-
It of infidelity m our nation may be confidered as, in differ-
ent refpects, both the caufe and effed of that irreligious fea-
ture in our national government which has been the fubied:
of the preceding remarks. Had not fuch a fpirit been fo prev-
lent that it was deemed necefTary to enter into a fort of a com-
promife vvith infidehty, I can hardly induce myfelf to believe
that this feature in our national government would have ever
al umed the Ihape in which it now appears. And this feature,
taken in connection with an adminiftration in ev.^rv refpec^
correfpondent,* has had a tendency to nourilh thofe feeds
which had been before fo plentifully fown, and had begun to
vegetate w ith fo much luxuriance. It is now almoft two cen-

*It is not my Intention to fay that the adminiflration has been in general,ac.
cription!"'^ ' """' '^'' '''' ^^y '' ^'"^■^^'y '^'^ '^ nien of that dif-

■|

■«a.-rwy.t^ijj|g

furies fmce an attempt was made to organile infidelity into
a fyltem with the faicinating title of natural religion. The
fabulous Proteus himfelf never affumcd, in the fertile imagin-
iition of a poet, fo many Ihapes as it has done fince that time.
Bat altho' this myftery of iniquity had long before began to
work, it was not uniil the laft century, nor indeed until after
the middle of it, that it made fuch alarming progrefs. This
fpread has perhaps been the mod general in fome catholic
countries. Exclufive of a general fuperintendance of provi-
iience, which has probab'y ordained this as one mean to be
ufed in overturning the monftrous fabric of the romifli hier-
aachy, caufes founded in the nature of things have had a pow-
erful operation. In this enlightened and enquiring age, mul-
titudes in catholic coun ies have had fuflicient light and pen-
etration to difcover the abfurdity of many of the luperftitions
of popery. Thefe tney confounded with chrillianity co which
they never belonged, and rejected the whole together. But
altho* the fpread of infidel principles may have been the moft
extenfive in catholic countries,its roots have ftruck deep in a
proteftant foil. We have feen it affuming a bold front, and
proclaiming without a blufti, an intention to banifli chriftiani-
ty out of the world, at the fame time exprefllng the moft ex-
ulting: aflurances of ultimate fuccefs. We have feen barefaced
atheifm, rearing up its hydra head in one nation, and attempt-
ing to deal deftrudtion in every dircdion where a veftige of
chriftianity was to be found. But, as I fliall have occafion to
introduce this fubjecft again in another part of my difcourfe,
I Ihall make no additional remarks here.

Altho' the United States have not gone all the lengths of
revolutionary France in her mad career of atheifm and impi-
ety, yet its roots have ftruck deep- It is but too certain that
in many inftances and places, the chriftian religion i? openly
contemned, while infidelity is, with equal publicity, avowed
without fliame and without a blufti ; and it is not to be doubt-
ed but the fecret influence of thefe principles, equally corrupt
and corrupting, has been extended much farther than the
open avowal. ' In general the operation of irreligious princi-
ples is, at firft, not only begun but fpread to a confit erible
extent in fecret. Strike, but bids the band, is a ma.\ini on whiclj

!•■

lelity into
)n. The
le ima2;in-
that time.

began to
jntil after
?fs. This
; catholic
of provi-
3an to be
nifli hier-
ad a pow-
age, mul-
; and pen-
Dcrftitions

CO which
er. But

the moft
deep in a
ront, and
chriftiani-
3 moft ex-
barefaced
i attempt,
veftige of
ccafion to
difcourfe,

engths of
and impi-
rtain that

i? openly
, avowed
be doubt-
[y corrupt

than the
us princi-
nfu.erible
on which

infidels have pradifed but too fuccefsfully from time to time.
Like other evil doers, when they firft begin to diffsminate
their poifon, they hate the light ; nor do thpy ufually brinff
forward their principles to the public until they have been fo
far fpread and matured in fecret that fociety is prepared to
bear the open avowal. One art which has bee n praclifed with
great fuccefs is to imprefs the public mind with the belief,
that that which has been ufually termed infidelity is nothing
but a harmlefs fpeculation which may be indulged without
guilt and with )ut danger. It is reprefented to be a mere hon-
eft, or, it may be, a laudable enquiry after truth, and as the
refult of that enquiry, that the belief or rejedion of certain
doc1:rines is not the effea of volition, but depends on the na-
ture and clearnefs of the evidence which has been prefented
to the mind. But when divine infpiration aiferts that he who
beheveth not ftiall be damned, and that an unbelieving heart
is emphatically an evil heart, it prefents an idea to the mind
of fomething very diff*erent from that of a harmlefs fpecula^
tion. The true ftate of the matter appears to be, that infidel-
ity has its original rather in the heart than the head, and is
the fruit of a depraved difpofition rather than the diclate of
an erroneous judgment. Becaufe men do not like to retain
God in their knowledge he gives them up to ftrong delufions
to believe a lie. The foul-humbling docT:rines and the holy
and felf denying precepts of the Gofpel are,in the firft inftance,
diftiked, and to quiet the remonftrances of confcience while
trampling on its precepts, the authenticity of the facred re*
cords is called in queftion. This therefore is not only amor-
al evil but one of the deepeft die. It is in fome refpecls the
root of all evils, as it goes to unhinge every principle of mor-
als, and diffolve every focial tie which connects man either to
his fellow men or to fociety. Like every other fpecies of im-
morality, it becomes more or lefs aggravated, in proportion
to the feveral religious and moral advantages which people
enjoy. The advantages for underftanding the evidences, and
for duly appreciating the worth of the chriftian religion, en-
joyed by the people of thefe United States, have been incom-
parably greater than thofe with which the French nation have
been favoured, where the Bible has been ftudioufly kept from

in I

the perulal of the laity, and the pure and fimple doMnes and
duties of the gofpel debafed by fupprftition, and their beauty-
concealed from public view by the inventions of men. It
does not arife from the v^ant of evidence that the chriftian
r.^ligion has been in any inftance dilbelieved. No hiftory was
ever better attefted than that of the Gofpel. And when we
confider the wonderful difplay of divine love made to man,
in the obedience, death and iiifferings of the Redeemer, as
well as the benevolent tendency of the gofpel fyftem to pro-
mote prefent and future happinefs, it is entitled to the warm-
eii, moil cordial and grateful reception. But experience
torches us that it feldom meets with that reception from the
fMld'-en of men to which it is entitled. Men in every age
hav3 been too prone to imitate the Jews of whom our Lord
complains, fayings, And ye will not come to me that ye may have
life. Whoever carefully attends to the prefent lituation of
chrifliinity in the United States, and fees it not only exclud-
ed from all connexion with, or countenance and fupport from
the national government, and equally excluded from fome of
the ftates and but fliirhtly noticed in others, and, alfb obferves
the d:?gree of carelefl'nefs and indifference prevailing in many
parts of the country, which is in fome places fo great that
you may travel for days and fee fcarcely a veflige, that chrif-
tianity is the religion publicly profefTed, taken in connexion
with the too general negl&cl of chrirtian inftitutions, and the
proranation of the fabbath, even where there is fome appear-
ance of religion, and together with this, brings into view the
general prevaKnce of vice, as well as the fmallnefs of the
niinber of thofe who publicly own, and zealoully efpoufe the
Cinfe of Christ, cannot but be convinced that the roots of
infidelity have flruck deep, and that its fpirit prevails fo ex-
tenlively in the United States as to render it one of our na-
tional fins. When we bring into view the nature and import-
ance of the chriftian religion, connected with the clearnefs of
its evidences, may we not confider the commination in the
text as pertinently applicable to us. ^hall I not vhitfor theae
things saiih the Lord ? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a na-
tion as this ?
^ It may be confidered as an enquiry of fome importance,

, ^iiSti

[Irines and
eir beauty
men. It
( chriftian
liftory was
when we
2 to man,
leemer, as
m to pro-
the warm-
fxperience
I from the
every age
our Lord
? may have
tuation of
ly exclud-
port from
m fome of
b obferves
g in many
jreat that
that chrif-
connexion
s, and the
ne appear-
o view the
efs of the
jfpoufe the
le roots of
^ails fo ex-
3f our na-
nd import-
;learnefs of
ion in the
\ it for these
such a na-

nportance.

«
and deferying a moment's confideration in this place, whether
mfidehty is to be confidered as gaining or Joofing ground at
prefent m the United States ? To anfwer this queftion with
precifion, our information is infufficient. There are, howev.
er, fome hopeful fymptoms that, in many places, it is rather
on the decline. In Tarious inftances which have come either
withm the fphere of perfonal obfervation, or of information,
the authenticity of which cannot be called in queaion, it ap!
pears that fome of its votaries have, by a happy change in the
temper of their minds, become the humble followers of
Christ. Others have been hopefully convinced of their er-
ror, and others have been fo fkr abaftied as to become lefs
bold and confident in their oppofition to religion. Perhaps it
may on general principles be fhid, that the tone of infidelity
has become lefs bold and affuming than it was a few years a-
go ; and that the number, both of real and profeffing Chrif.
tians, has been hopefully enlarged. It may ftill admit of a
doubt whether an increafe of zeal and activity in promoting
the caufe m private, while its vo'taries are waiting for a more
convenient time to avow themfelves openly to the world, does
not fairly balance any diminution of boldnefs. We have feen
that it can affume any fliape to fuit the times. If the crude
abfurd, and vulgar blafphemies of Thomas Paine will not pafs
current, it can alTume a milder form, and inlinuate as much
of Its poifon as poffible, under the name of Hberal, rational
and catholic chriftianity ; liberal to every clafs of opinions
only to the truth as it is in Jefus. And whoever impartially
examines fome of the pupular opinions in vogue, under the
name of chriftian dodrines, will find little elfe in them than
infidelity in difguife.

But fhould tlie caufe of infidehty be, in fome refpeds, real-
ly on the decline, this will not be fufficient to exempt us from
all fear of God's vifitation on that account. God vifits the
iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children to the third and
fourth generation. The calamities which befel the Jews,
which terminated in the deftrudion of Jerufalem and the Tem-
ple j the defolation of the nation, and the feventy years cap-
tivity in Babylon, are exprelsJy faid to be for the fins of Ma-
naffeh, and the innocent blood which hf» ^oA

Kilt- fn%tr
IL/ L& L X U TV

;lf

p J.

mi
I

fif ;

who had arrived to maturity at that time now furvived. The
deftrudion of Samaria, and the captivity of the ten tribes,
was alfo an event which happened under one of the leaft wick-
ed of *'..'"* kingi:. God has alfo feen fit to make inquifition
for the \ flied by the houfe of Bourbon, upon one of the

mod viii«.>us of the race. The oceans of blood fpilt in the
deftru(5lion and flaughter of the proteftants, under the aufpi-
ces of Lewis fourteenth, have been avenged, not upon him-
filf but his defcendants ; not upon the individual body of the
clergy who were the principal inftigators of that bloody work,
but upon their fucceflbrs who never had, i their own per-
fons, been guilty of the like enormity. Should God referve
his vifitation for this crime to a time when there was fome
abatement of the fpirit of infidelity, we muft, in that cafe,
be conftrained to acknowledge that the Judge of all the earth
does right.

3dly. Is not profanenefs, I mean profane curling, fwear-

ing, and blafpheming the name of God, a vice fo common as

juftly to ftamp it with the name of a national fm ? It is un-

neceflary to multiply words to Ihow this to be a fm of the

deepell die. Scarcely any thing can argue a greater degree

of irreverence or contempt for the Deity, or more ftrongly

mark the prevalence of atheifm in the human heart. It was

confidered by Jehovah himfelf as a fm of fuch magnitude as

to entitle it to a particular place among the prohibitions of the

decalogue. Tboujhalt noi take the name of the Lord fhy God in

vairiy for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takeih his name

in vain. In many other places the enormity of this crime is

painted in glowing colours. For the land is full of adulterers ;

for became of swearing the land mourneth-~]ev. xxiii, 10. This

is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth ; for

every one that ftealeth fhall be cut off as on this side according to it ;

and every one that sweareth Jhall be cut off on that side according to

it — Zfch. V. 3. By swearing and lyings and hiding ayid Jiealing^

and committing adultery^ they bnak out, and blocd toucheth biood ;

ihenfore Jhall the land mourn — Hoi. iv, 2. Perhaps there is

not oiie among the whole catalogue of vices, for which lefs

can be pled in excule than this. None of the arguments

which axe urged in favour of other fenfual gratifications can

7ived. The
ten tribes,
leaft wick-
inquifition
one of the
fpilt in the
r the aufpi-
upon hini-
)ody of the
)ody work,
r own per-
rOD refer ve
e was fome
1 that cafe,
lU the earth

ng, fwear-
common as
? It is un-

fm of the
ater degree
)re ftrongly
rt. It was
agnitude as
tions of the
/ fhy God in
eih his nam^
his crime is
' adulter en ;
, 10. Jhii

earth ; for
'.or ding to it ;

according to
and Jiealing^
cheth hiood ;
ps there is

which lefs

arguments
icatiuns can

apply to this fin. Indeed it would feem as if it could afford
no other gratification than the malignant plealiire of finning
againft God, and perhaps there is fcarcely one fin in more di-
red hoftility to the fpirit of religion than this. It tends not
only to leffen, but utterly to efface from the mind, all awe
and reverence of a Deity, and confequently, to l ffen the fo-
lemnity, and render flight the impreflion of the lanctity of an
oath, and fo loofen the bonds and undermine the fecurity of
fociety. Cufl:omary profane oaths, uttered frequently about
trifles, without either folemnity, thought or refleclion, and
without much regard to either the truth or falfehood of what
is uttered, may, and no doubt often times do, pave the way
for fuch cuflomary perjuries as may endanger not only the!
property but the lives of the moft virtuous citizens. As it is
a fin which is immediately againfl; God, fo it paves the way
for atheifm, blafphemy, and every abomination. But heinous
as this fin is, the attentive obferver mufl: be fenfible that it
prevails fo extenfively in our age and country, as juftly to give
it the charader of a national fin. On this fubjed I cannot
better exprefs my fentiments than by tranfcribing a few paf-
fages from the PanopUft for Feb. 1811, page 400, 401, 402.
After taking notice of the profanenefs every where prevalent
in the pagan world, the writer obferves, " Our principal con-
cern in this difcufllon is with thofe nations in which the gof-
pel has been preached, and fo far received that the inhabitants
have been denominated Chriftians. The records of hifl:ory,
the details of private manners, and the open teftimony of
the faithful minillers of Christ in every age and country,
warrant the aflt?rtion that the prevailing chara^er of fuch na-
tions is that of bold irreclaimable profanenefs. The monarch,
on his throne, the courtier around him, the officers of his ar-
mies and fleets, the foldiers and foilors under their command,
the tradefman, the artizan, the man of proftflional eminence,
the voluptuary, the country gentleman, the vaffal, the beggiir
on the dung hill, the great mafis of the people in Qiort, ot ev-
ery age and character, have habitually ufed the name of their
Creator with irreverence, with profanenefs, and but too often
have proceeded to blafphemy." It is to be admitted that to this
general and gloomy picTiure there are fome exceptions. And

?f,

^-a.-c»a. i.T^^r:^^^SL!ag^?."

indeedall may be excepted from the chargeof allowed and ha-
bitual profanity, who have embraced the chriftian religion in
fmcerity and in heart, together with many others who have
been reltrained by right reafon and the influence of a religious
Education. Tho' thefe exceptions have exifted among all claffes
of perfons to the glory of God's grace, yet few indeed have been
the inftances in which either a chriftian temper or chriftian
condua, could be juftly faid to be the temper and condud of
a majority m any nation. To fhow that profanenefs is fo far
the charaaer ot this nation, as to be juftly confidered ana-
tional hn, the writer obferves— « That a fm may be faid to
prevail or to conftitute a national charac1:er, when it is open-
ly, publicly and generally pradifed, without fear, without
iname, without punifliment or rebuke, or effeaual difappro-
bation. A lefs forcible difcription might authorize the epi-
thet prevaihng as applied to a fm. But all this, and more, can
be faid of profanenefs in this country. Let him who doubts
the fac% pafs with an obfervant ear, through the ftreets of our
great towns. Let him hear the vociferations of the teamfter,
the dray man, the failor, or the fiflierman ; let him frequent
the bar-rooms of taverns,and any other plac« where there is a
promifcuous mtercourfe of all claffes of people ; let him mark
what IS faid m the boxes of the theatre ; let him liften to the
Iports or the quarrels of boys in the ftreets, and let his ears be
llunnedwith the orgies of the gaming table. If he thinks great
towns an unfair fpecimen.as perhaps they are in fomerefpeds.
let him get into the ftage and pafs thro' the country in dif-
f erent directions ; let him obferve the converfation of his fel-
low travellers, efpecially if they are under no reftraint from
any of the company ; let him attend a country training, or a
village ball ; let him overhear the political difputes which oc

^ZrJZt'^'^'l^T ^^^'" ^^^^^ commontalkoftheinhab.
itants in the new fettlements } let him hear the daily lanoua^e
of the inen who legillate for the different communities°thro'

^J^UK^ fef r * 'f "^l'^'^' who execute the laws j and af-
ter all this, let him fay if he can, that pr.ofanenefs is not the
charaaer of the nation. Should it be faid that we have laws
againft profanenefs, and that therefore it cannot be faid to be
a prevaihng, or a national fm. the anfwpr i« «aA, ^ru^r^ ...^.

w , ... ^.„iy , *iiv/ic very

id and ha-
eligion in
who have
I religious
I all claffes
have been
chriftian
ondu<ft of
^s is fo far
?red a na-
le faid to
it is open-
without
difappro-
; the epi-
nore, can
lo doubts
2ts of our
teamfter,
frequent
there is a
iim mark
en to the
is ears be
nks great
; refpefts,
y in dif-
)f his fei-
nt from
ling, or a
vhich oc-
he inhab-
language
ies thro'
', and af-
{ not the
lave laws

lid to be
^f

■VIC vciy

laws when viewed in conneaion with the manner in which
they are executed, afford demonttrative evidence that the
melancholy view which has been taken of the fubjeft is the
true one. Many, perhaps all the ftates in the union* have
plain, peremptory ftatutes againft profanenefs. Yet, with
thofe laws prominent on their ftatute books, it is doubted
whether there is a lingle town in the American republic,
where they are, or can be executed. Why ? Not becaufe
there are not fome, both magiftrates and people, who would
gladly do all in their power to have thefe falutary reftraintc
put in force, but becaufe the multitudes of the community are
willing to fee them violated and trampled in the duft, and be.
cauie, in their overwhelming majority are included a full pro-
portion of the rich, the influential, and thofe who ouf'ht to
Aand as a rock againft the floods of immorality which are
pouring in upon us." Thus, when profanenefs pollutes the
hall of our legiflators, when it finds its way on the benches
in our Jiigheft courts of juftice,and all laws for its prevention
are rendered abortive by the peculiar ftate of public opinion,
more I think needs not to be faid to prove it to be a national
fin. The Lord will not hold him guiltlefs who taketh his
name in vain. He will not hold the individual guiltlefs on
that great and folemn day of trial, when all muft appear be-
fore the judgment feat of Christ. He will not hold the na-
tion guiltlefs, but will furely vifit for thefe things, when he
vifits their fins upon a people.

4. Another evil which I cannot but confider as one of the
national fins of the prefent day,is the profanation of the Lord's
day. Here I fhall occafionally make ufe of fome of the obfer-
vations of the fame writer in the Panoplift. The inilitution
of afabbath was for the moft benevolent purpofes ; and is, in
its nature calculated to promote both the fpiritual and tem-
poral happinefs and comfort of the children of men. In a
teniporal view, it is undoubtedly calculated for comfort, and
is, in a degree, an alleviation pf that part of the curfe which

dooms man to acquire his bread by the fvveat of his brow.

It gives him one day in feven for reft and repofe, to repair the
decays of nature, both in man and beaft ; and it is ftill more
immediately calculated for our fpiritual comfort, as it is ap-

■i

: 1

pointed on purpofe to lead the human mir.d off from the things
of this lower world to the immediate contemplation of the
divine perfections, and of that refl which remaineth for the
people of God. No one command of the decalogue is guard-
ed by more fevcre fanctions than this. None, the violation
of which was more feverely punifhed. The religious obferva-
tion of the fabbath is not merely enj«nned by the fan<5lion of
fevere penalties ; the obforvation of it is alfo recommended
by many precious proniifes. Of thefe I fhall notice only the
following, Ifai. Iviii. 13, 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the
sabbath^ from doing thy pleasure on my holy day ; and call the sab-
bath a delight ^t he holy of the Lord, honorable ; and shalt honor Him,
not doing thine own ways^ norjinding thine own pleasure, nor speak*
ing thine own words : Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord,
and I wdl cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and
feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father, for the mouth of the
Lord hath spoken it. In the brief hints which it will be practi*
cable to make at prefent, there will be no room for contro-
verfy, either in relation to the morality of the fourth com-
mandment, or to the change of the time from the feventh to
the firft day of the week (ince the refurredlion of Christ. I
merely obferve, that the fame moral reafons for the obferva-
tion of a day, devoted to the immediate worftiip and fervice
of God, not only exifl, but have equal force under the Gof-
pelthat they had during the exiflence rf the Mofaic econo-
my. The fame Go'j is to be worfhipped. And to keep up
in the human mind a fenfe of the preft nee of the objedl of
worfliip, and of the obligations we are under to render unto
the Author of our being, that homage and adoration which is
His due. There is the fame need of a fet time to be appro-
priated to this worfliip now, that there was under the law.-
The refurreclion of Christ, connected with his perfeding the
work of redemption, and entering into his reft, is an ev nt
of at leaft equal importance to point out the firft day of the
\veek,as the day proper tobeobf.-rvedunder the Gofpe!,aswas
either God*s refting from his labors after the fix days* crea-
tion, which was referred to from the beginning, as a reafon
why the obfervation of ? fabbath was enjoined, or the deliv-
erance cut of Egypt, which feems to be referred to as ^ rea-

1 1

the things
ion of the
eth for the
e is guard-
e violation
us obferva-
fan<5lion of
Dmmended
e only the
foot from the
call the sab'
honor Him,
?, nor speak"
in the Lord,
€ earth, and
outh of the
1 be practi*
for contro-
)urth com-
feventh te
ZIhrist. I
he obferva-
and fervice
T the Gof.
faic econo-
to keep up
e objedl of
nder unto
:)n which is
3 be appro-
r the law.-
rfediing the
IS an ev nt
day of the
ofpe!,as was
days* crea-
as a reafon
the dehv-
to as 'd. rea-

fon for tha obfervation of the jewin. fabbath. As the fabbath
was mftitutecl for the moft benevolent purpofe, both as a
day devoted to the immediate worihin and Trvice o God
and as a day of reft from thofe labours to which mn is doom!
ed dur.ns the other fix days of the week ; fo, vvl'erever X
day has been reliRiouOy and confcientioufly obferved Tt h^
ienTe ofcon"!'™'"." ^'" moft valuable eLu The exp"

ed the^ru?h of ,^h !^b '" '^''^ u^^"^"'^ ^'>"^^h' ^as verifi.
ea the tru h of the oblervation, that relimon always decline<i

nellXd"'"!-!::;':.''''?'""' obferva.ion'^of the I.o'rd's day 1

ftnai V 1 . I .''' M-' ''^''° '"'^^''^"^ '» diminifliihe
lanctity and relax the obligation reli-ioufly to obferv-e the

i^io '^' ""'^ Y^""^^^ '^""'^^'^^^'J as\elaxlg. religions ob!
ligafon It. general ; and thofe who habitually profane it prob-

tlir^^^^ "° '"^" 7'^ "■"■•« effec-tually fend thtir'aM to
bam(h chr.ft.an,ty out of the world. The reafon why inf"
delsand .rre'.gious men, of every defcription, have fliown fo
much anx,ety to abolifti the fabbath, is obvious. It would

chrrar/ 'TK"'"lPt' sained towards the abolition of
chnltanity. When the French revohitionifts undertook to
bamfh chnftianity out of France, they did not confider the
work as done while the fabbath remained. The aboh^ion of

decad 's^'°1 • ^ru'T "^ "'^^ '^'y- '"'^ '^' inftitution of the
decades, which hadno connedion with religion, was therefore

an important part of their plan for the abolition of chrifthnU

ty. lo maintain for any length of time a juft fenfc of reli?-.

ion, without the fabbath and its fervices, will, on making he

experiment, be found equally impradicable ^vith an attfmpt

to fupport our bodies in health without the aid of neceflkrv

ouTs wir'/r;'*1 ?"'""'^^ "''° ''^^^ """<^'' 'heir endeav^
r.hvTl uy ?^ ""= ?"'="''^' °^ '"="g'°" i" attempting to
relax the obligations religioufly to obferve the Lord's day, do
not confider how effeclually they are going over to the ene-
niies camp, and contributing to their own deftrudion. Christ
friends ^ ^'^ evidently wounded in the houfe of fuch

,hll .'"u!"'?'"' ""'! ^"^^y '" '^""'•'^^'" fome of the evidences,
that t^his IS one of our national fins. A definition of a nation-
.1. iin iids ulreatiy been given : i. e. a iin becomes national when

i'^'

'<i

rfther there is no law to reftrain it, or the current of public
eit ler tn"« " ; " . , ^f it that the law cannot be ex-

r:X ';h n'^ t f c'o"- nX. openly m the face of.day wix^
«i,t (hame and without a biulh. U we take a view of the
fimattn of our country, we < annot but be convinced that
fheer<MTeft profanation of the Lord's day .s thus "pen and
nationa in our land. Indeed this is but a natural fru.t of n-
fidelitv which we have feen to be a national Cn ; and we can-
J' '^pTa but that the profanation of the Lord's day wm go
vma in hand. Let us for a moment advert to fafts. Irav.
el rnlor iourneyh.^^either f.ng!y or with waggons and droves
t in^ W ma ket. h^is became nearly rs c..T>mon on this as on
fnv other dV of the week. Taking a ride for pleafure or
eTr tion isllfo another abufe of late V-rs very common
oarticularlv in the vicinity ol large towns. A jaunt to tae
cour^try o fpend the day in feailing and atriufement, by which
not onW themlelves but' the families to which they refort are
de ta^^ from public worfliip '^^^ ^ecotne a fafhiona.le mode
of fpending the fabbath, and has taken place of a regular ^"d
religious Attendance on the worlhip of God. Unnecellary
yi finrand other kind, of recreation has become common
bo in'town and country. In fo.ne places it is "Ot merely
app , priated to unneceffary vifitin-T, but is converted in o a
diyf public refort at plac's of diffipa.ion. at t?verns t.pp ; g
ami "am" ling houfes. Inftances of the groffeft profanation
are n« uncommon in many places in New England. Here
the fin of profanation is undoubtedly the moi-e aggravated,
a,N-w England was, in it. lirtl fettlement, a plantatioij ftr ft-
U M\noJ, and for a long time that part of the United
late has been noted for the ftricf obiervat.on of the Lord s
dav An authentic hiftory of the manner in which this day
harbeen regarded in New ^England, from its firft lettlemenc
to th prefent time, would both exhibit the value of the mfti-
utbn.'^and be a proof of the ftrong tendency which there is
in our natures to deftroy the fources of human happinels.

If the labbath is in foine inftances, thus grofsly and openly
profaned even in New England ; if New England,once lo lam-
Ka W thi- rep-ilaritv of her attendance on rehgious inititu.
tions & ths'llrict ob'fervaiion of the Lord's day.is lo tar degen.

of public
not be ex-
iay, with,
jw of the
need that
open and
ruit of in-
d we can-
ay will go
ts. Trav-
ind droves
this as on
)leafure or
common,
;nt to the
, by which
refort are
la'ole mode
jgular and
(nneceflary
; common
lot merely
ted into a
ns, tipplii.g
)rofanation
nd. Here
Lggravated,
ation ftridt-
the United
the Lord's
ch this day
lettlement
of the infti-
lich there is
ippinefs.
and openly
:)nce lo fam-
ous inilitu-
o far degen-

crated from her former habits, what are we to expert in feme
other parts of the union ? In many places the Lord's day is
undiftinguifliable from any other day in the week, uniefs it
be rather by a greater degree of riot and extravagance, than
by a fingle veftige of religion or religious worlhip. In fome
of the ftates, it is true, laws againfl the grofl'er violation of the
fabbath exift in the ftatute books. But have they not be-
come, in general, worfe than a dead letter, by the impradica-
biUty of carrying them into effect, on account of the flate of
the public mind ? The very exiftence of thefe laws in the
ftatute book, conne<5led with their almoft total inexecution,
is an evidence, that, even in thofe Hates in which fuch laws
nominally exift, the violation of the fabbath is a national fm.
This farther appears from the confuleration that it is inti-
mately connected with, and partakes of the irreligious feature
of our government already noticed. The tranlportation of
the iTiail in every direflion on the Lord's day by public author-
ity, without any real or apparent neceflity, as well as the late
law, not only authorifmg, but enjoining it upon pofimafters
to open and fort trie mail, are acls of theconftituted auinori-
ties of the nation, which have had a tendency to increafe the
evil. If public ftagcs travel, private carriages, teams, and eve-
ry other vehicle for the conveyance of men or goods, will fol-
low the example. This gives a national fan<5lion to the evil.
In a time of war, or of public darger, the conveyance of in-
telligence in the moft expeditious manner, from one part of
the continent to an other, may be an objt ft of fuiHcient im-
portance to authorize the tranfportation of the mail on the
Lord's day. But in time of peace, when nothing but the or-
dinary tranfanctions of civil life require it, thele cannot be
put, ordinarily, to fuch hazard by the delay ot one day, as to
afford fufHcient caufe for ericroaching on the time which
ought to be peculiarly devoted to the purpofes of religion. —
We may add to this, the examples of too many men in the
moft important places of public truft, who frequently devote
this day either to public or private bufuiefs, or to the pur-
pofe of amufement. Thefe things all tend to the national pro-
fanation of the day. This, therefore, is one of the fins of our
nation, and whenever a juftly offended God is pieai«id to viiit
us in judgment, he will vifit this fm upon us.

>-«

3ii

1^^

Ml'

5thly. Blood guiltinefs,or murder,muft alfo be conlidered as
one of the fins of our nation. Perhaps there is no one fin for
which God ufually makes a more fevere inquifition than for
blood. When I fpeak of blood guiltinefs or murder, 1 don't
mean murder of every difcription. Murder of feveral kinds
is ftill punifhable by our laws, and the flate of public opinion
is, in moft places, fuch as to prefent no obftade to the due
execution of the law, on fair and legal conviction. If inftan-
ces of murder are either more numerous or flagrant than for-
merly, a point on which I have not fufficient information to
be competent to decide, (but admitting the fact,) it may ar-
gue a greater degree of individual depravity, but it is notjuft-
ly chargeable to the amount of national guilt, unlefs fo far as
it is connected with that fpecies which cuilom and folly au-
thorizes, and which the laws ufually do not reach, or are in-
adequate to reftrain. It will be readily perceived, that that
fpecies of murder, falfely called honorable, which is too much
winked at by our laws, is meant ; I mean the pradice of du-
elling. To the people of New England this fin has appeared
to be one with which they had but little concern. Its horrid
afpeA has been contemplated from a fafe, and as we fuppofed,
an undiminifhing difl;ancc. We have been taught to regard
it as murderous and deteftible in its nature, and as deplorable
in its confequences. We have not imagined that our broth-
ers and our fons were in danger of being maflacred by their
affociates, and their friends, and that our fields and retired
places were to become the theatres of fingle combat, and be
confecrated to the purpofes of revenge and flaughter. But
when we deemed ourlelves fecure from all danger of partici-
pating in this crime, our hopes were too fanguine. Several
duels have been fought either in New England, or by New
England men, and there is danger that the evil may increafe.

The word murder is one which jullly firikes ttie mind with
horror, and never 'vithout making us conlcious of its tremen-
dous fignification, without exciting lentiments of pity and
companion for the fufferers, and of indignation againft the
perpetrator of the crime. But fuch is the ftate, may I not
call it the depravity of public fentiment among us, that the
term duelling is heard of with but little emotion, and the

■1; .

idered as
le fin for
than for
:, 1 don't
ral kinds
: opinion

the due

f inftan-

than for-

ation to

may ar-

notjuft-

fo far as

folly au-

)r are in-

hat that

00 much

e ofdu-

appeared

is horrid

uppofed,

o regard

eplorable

ir broth-

by their

d retired

and be
er. But
■ partici-

Several

by New

increafe.

lind with

i tremen-

pity and

;ainft the

ay I not

that the

and the

pra<aice itfelf is Ipoken of with complacency and approbation.
The man who lays in wait for, and takes away the Hfe of an-
other, is juftly condemned to an ignominious death, while he
who takes away the life of his friend by that ipecies of mur-
der which is authorized by the laws of honor, falfely fo call-
ed, inftead of being frowned upon indignantly, is received
with applaufe, and openly carefled in the nioft falhionable and
poliflied fociety ; while many times, the man, who either
from motives of tendernefs for the life of a fellow creature,
or from a regard to his own, or fiom any other confideration,
dilated either by motives of religion or humanity, declines
to enter the lift in the bloody combat, is treated with every
mark of contempt. Surely this is to give the countenance of
fociety to the praclice in queftion, and all who thus coun-
tenance it, participate in the guilt and crime. A contra-
ry practice, ftiould it become general, would, in almoft every
inftance, prevent thefe deeds of blood. Yet can the praftice
when examined either at the bar of reafon, or by the ftandard
of either fcripture or found morality, be viewed in any other
light than as murder ! Indeed it is a compound of murder, in
the common acceptation of the word, and fuicide. The
principals are guilty of a voluntary deftrui^iion of thdr own
lives in cafe of death, and of an expofure to fuicide in cafe
death does not follow, if the parties actually proceed to fight.
It cannot be pretended that the morality of an a<5tion depends
in any degree on a man's ability to fhoot ftraight, or handle
a fword dexteroufly. Indeed the duellift who kills his fellow,
it may be his intimate friend, is frequently, by many degrees
more guilty, more inexcufable than a common murderer. —
Duellifts are not generally to be found among the loweft
rabble. They are, for the moft part, men of more knowledge,
and of a higher education than thole who commit murder in
other ways. The felons who are executed for the crime of
murder, are, for the moft pai t, ignorant, uneducated, and
perfons who have been but hitle accuftomed to the blefiings
and reftraints of an improved ftate of fociety. They have
never been taught to govern their pafiions, nor fubjected to
the influence of that decorous treatment which the rules of
politenefs indifpenfably require. Duelling is commonly per-

■i

petrated with much greater coolnefs than any other fpecies erf
murder. There are undoubted exceptions to this general
ftatement. Some murders are the fruit of long harbored
malice. Still the greateft part of murders, which are brought
before courts of juftice in civilized countries, are committed
under the immediate influence of fudden and violent paflions.
But men, many times not only engage in, but profecute and
finifli a duel, while every ftep from the incipient provocation,
until one of the parties is laid dead at the other's feet, is con-
duced with the greateft coolnefs and deliberation. Some
times the duel is deferred for a confiderable time, and after-
wards refumed with as fteady a purpofe as accompanies the
moft laudable of human adions. Other murderers feldom
kill thofe with whom they have had much intimacy, but du-
ellifts many times kill thofe with whom they have long Hved
in the habits of friendfhip ; thofe whom they have profeffed
to efteem and love, and whom they were bound by every
fecial tie to protedl and defend. Other murderers inflid ven-
geance either on their enemies or on ftrangers, at leaft this is
generally cafe. Even the American Savage, or the fero-
cious Arab, does not imbrue his hands in the blood of his
friend. I have not room farther to expatiate on the enormi-
ty of this crime, as would be ealily done, by fhowing that it
is murder committed on fettled principles, and by tracing its
confequences both as they refped government and fociety, and
the immediate connections of thofe who happen to fall vic-
tims to their own folly and the tyranny of a barbarous cuf-
tom. If every fubjed of petty altercation were to be magni-
fied into an offence which could be expiated only with blood,
then all perfonal fecurity would be dellroyed, and neither fo-
ciety or government couM fubfift. But how trivial are the
caufes from which many quarrels of this kind originate ? —
"Wiien God makes inquilitiun for blood there is no doubt but
that (hed in duels will undergo a fevere fcrutiny.*
^ It remains now to confider the evidences that this is a na-
tional fin, according to the definition of a national fin already
given : i. e. if a particular crime cannot be reftrained and pun-

>W——i—i ■■■■■—

* The preceding obfervations are principally extrafted from the Panopiift
for March iSii.

pedes erf
general
liarbored
brought
nimitted
paflions.
cute and
i^ocation,
r, is con-
. Some
nd after-
anies the
? feldom
, but du-
3ng lived
profeffed
)y every
iflid ven-
id this is
he fero-
)d of his
5 enormi-
ig that it
racing its
:iety, and
) fall vic-
rous cul-
)e magni-
ith blood,
either fo-
il are the
inate ? —
loubt but

is is a na-
n already
and pun-

le PAnopltll

ifiied by law becaufe fupported by public opinion ; if the moft
efficient 1 »ws are evaded and the guilty uniformly fcreened
from juftice, then the guilt of the crime is juftly chargeable
on the nation. Let us apply this to the crime in quellion.
There is no law of the United States againft duelling. So far
from being punilhable it is no obftacle to preferment. We
may find duellifts in the moft important offices. In our courts
of law ; in either or both brances of the national legiflature,and
upon the benches of juftice, without exception of the high-
eft judicial tribunal in the United States. We may find a man
called to legiflate perhaps upon the very crime of murder, as
well as to pronounce the fentence of the law upon that crime,
whofe hands are reeking with blood. Laws there are in ma-
ny, perhaps in moft of the United States, to prevent or in
fome (hdpe to puniih this crime. But how are they execut-
ed ? Perfons difpofed to fhed each others blood have only to
ftep over the line into another ftate to be free from profecu-
tion. So far is public opinion from oppofing any barrier to
the praftice that many are driven into duels by the force of a
tyrannical cuftom, contrary to their own fenfe of right and
propriety. In fome places the torrent of public opinion in
favour of this barbarous cuftom is fo irrefiftible, that the man
who dares to obey the laws of God or his country, the voice
of confcience or the dictates of humanity, in preference to
what are abfurdly called the laws of honour, may expect to
be hunted from what is called genteel and honourable fociety.
This is a fad well known as it refpeds many parts of the U-
nited States.* The laws of God and man, the great law of

* As one hopeful fymntom of an abatement of the evil pra<EHce of duelling,
I feel a degree of fanstadion in having it in my power to notice a late law of
Virj^inia in relation to that pradiLe, \> iTed, if I miftake not, in the year i8 lo.
That large, and in many refpefts, refpedable (late has perhaps produced as ma-
ny, if not more duels than any other fLte of the union, to the great grief of
many of its beft inhabitants. The Legiflature has at length interpofed to re-
ftrain the evil. Having never perufed the law itfelf, I cannot ftate its provif-
ions with accuracy. I underftand one of them to be, to render the perfon who
has been either diredly or indirt 6tly concerned in a duel, forever after incapable
of being appointed to any office of public trult, from the higheft to the
moft inconliderabie office in the ftate ; and before his appointment to of-
fice, the candidate muft make lolemn oath that he has never in any way vio-
lated that law. This difcjualification extends not only to tliofe who have ailu-

i ,

benevolence to our fellow creatures, all the choiceft feelings
of humanity, the firft law of nature which is felf-preferva-
tion, or an endeavour to preferve our own lives and the lives
of others, the choicelt blelTings of fociety and of domeftic
happinefs, and frequently the perfon's own fenfe of propriety
and moral obligation, nmfl all be proftrated before the wick-
ed and abfurd maxims of what are called the laws of honour ;
and creatures formed for immortality are thus hurried uncall-
ed into the prefence of their God with all their fms upon
them. Thefe lav;s of honour tend to fofter a fpirit of cruel-
ty and revenge, even all the worft paffions of the human heart.
In the public countenance given to the practice we fee mif-
chief eftablifhed by a law, at leaft by a tyrannical cuftom of
equal force, if noc above all law. Thefe confiderations are
fufficient to prove, that the guilt of this fin lies upon the na-
tion as well as upon the individual who commits the crime.
Both rulers and people are guilty ; the lattei: becaufe they
countenance it by public opinion, and the former becaufe
they do not reftrain and punifli it. If perfons are in a man-
ner compelled, by the irrefiftible force of public opinion, to
put their own lives and the lives of their friends at hazard in a
duel ; if there is no law of the United States againft the
pradlice ; if in thofe ftites where there are laws they are evad-
ed and rendered nugatory for want of due execution ; if the
man who has thus imbrued his hands in the blood of his
friend, is, fo far from being frowned upon, in the high road
to public notice, and can find his way into our halls of legif-
lation, our Senates or the benches of juftice in our highefl:
courts in the United St Ues, then the nation takes the guilt
upon the^ifelves, and the crime becomes the fin of the nation.
I forbeai farther enlargement on the fubje(fl;. By killing, or
as a confequence of killing or murder, the land mourns.
When God vifits our nation he will make inquifiiion for blood,

ally fought, but to every man who hns either given or accepted, or been the
bearer of a challenge, or confents to be fecond in a duel. The wifdona of this
!a<.v is tefted by its tfft'(f>3. Since it was enadted.a duel has rarely happened in
Virginia. May this prove a prelude of the cxpullion of every ve(}ige of this
remnant of gothic birbarity, fo highly difgraceful not only toihc chriftian char-
aifter, but to humanity itfelf, from every part of our country.

!;.;

feelings
preferva-
the lives
domeftic
propriety
he wick-
honour ;
;d uncall-
ins upon

of cruel-
lan heart.

fee mif-
:uftom of
tions are
>n the na-
he crime,
aufe they
r becaufe
n a man-
inion, to
izard in a
;ainft the
are evad-
in ; if the
)d of his
iigh road
1 of legif'
r higheft
1 the guilt
be nation,
killing, or

mourns,
for blood,

or been the
fdona of this
happened in
dtige of this
hriiUan char>

lie will take vengeance on fuch a nation as this.

H;id.I not already protra(5ted the detail to fo great a length,
I might eafily fwell the black catalogue, by mentioning many
other fins both againft God and man, which, altho' fome of
them may not have io fir obtained the public countenance as
to be ftriclly national fins, or fms of which the nation as fuch
alTumes the guilr, are at leaft awfully prevalent. I might have
mentioned and largely commented upon the fin of intemper-
ance, which is not only a heinous fin in itfelf but an inlet to
almoft every other vice. Had I a talent for defcription, I
might have portrayed, in glowing colours, the fcenes of mif-
ery and wretchednefs which the drunkard brings upon him-
felf and his connections. This is a vice which is very com-
mon in our land. Scarcely a town or a village can be found,
where there are not fome, frequently many, who have bro't
diftrefs and ruin upon themfelves by this fin. Scarcely a col-
leclion o^ people can be found, afTemblad on any public occa-
fion, among whom an attentive obferver cannot difcern evi-
dences of the prevalence of this evil. I might mention lafciv-
ioufnefs, including all the kind3,from a grofs violation cf the
marriage covenant, to every ramification of the vice. This
may proceed in part from the impetuofity of paflion ; but it
is alfo derived from a corruption of principle. No point have
infidels laboured more afilduoufly, than to defl:roy the fancli-
ty of the marriage covenant. Wretched indeed would be
the ftate of fociety, Ihould thefe libertine labours be crowned
with complete fuccef-. Indeed it is doubtful whether it could
fubfift at all. Whf her are they to be deemed, the friends or
the enemies of foCi ty, who would diffolve all thofe tender
& endearing ties which link focieties and families together I
I hope this fin is not openly countenanced by the nation. No
legiflative body in our nation, has, as yet, declared in the face
of the nation and the world that there is nothing criminal or
difgraceful in the promifcuous intercourfe of the fexes. A
laxnefs of morals in this particular is neverthelefs awfully prev-
alent. I might enlarge the catalogue, for indeed there is
fcarcelv any of the fins of Sodom, or of any other nation,
which is not more or lefs prevalent in our land. For thefe
things the land mourns. I muft however clofe this, perhaps,

.^•t'

fl:,:

tedious detail. Thefe vices are all branches of the fame roof/
viz. that fpiri't of irreligion which has already been noticed as
fo generally prevalent ; and vain will be the hopes of reform-
ation from any other fource than the principles of the Gofpel.
I cannot however clofe the fubjed without mentioning one
particular more, growing out of the peculiar iituation of our
country, which threatens to become a national evil^ of equal,
if not of greater magnitude than any which have been men-
tioned ; I mean the prefent fituation of our foreign relations,
and the attitude which it appears probable will be aflumed in
a fhort time. I muft therefore mention,

6ihly. That another evil with which we are threatened at
prt-fent is the making a common caufe with the tranfatlantic
enemies of GoD and religion.* As thi^ Is a delicate fubjecl,
I don't wifli to venture on it raflily nor purfue it any farther
than I believe myfelf poflelTed of the cleareft evidence. It is
not my intention in this place to attempt a difcuflion upon any
iuppofed partiality in our foreign relations, or a difpofition to
cringe and bow to one foi'eign nation or irritate another. I
mean merely to advert to what appears to be our prefent fit^
uation, without noticing the manner in which the way has
been prepared for it. Nor fliall I touch upon this an farther
than it has a bearing upon our moral and religious Iituation,
and our national and individual accountability for our con-
duct. It can neither be denied, difguifed, nor concealed, that
we are in danger of an entanglement at leaft, if not of mak-
ing a common caufe with the conqueror, or rather the tyrant
and oppreiTor of continental Europe. Should fuch a connection
actually take place, its fatal confequences to our profperity and
happinefs, and even to our national exiftcnce and independ-
ence, cannot be painted in too livid colours. I (hall however
confider them only in a moral and religious point of view.

* The reader is reminded that this difcourfe was compofed nearly a year
ago. Any allufion to a ftate of war is therefore to be confidered as only by an-
ticipation, grounded upon the then Itate of our foreign relations. What was
then confidered as a probable event is now hiltorically true, and war has in-
creafed the anticipated d,»nger. If providence does not foon interpofe to fnatch
us out of the gulph into which we have rafhiy plunged ourfelves, it is impoflible
to forefec wbeo or where Uie calamity will end.

me roof/
oticed as
f reforin-
e Gofpel.
ning one
>n ot our
of equal,
jen men-
relations,
fumed in

itened at
nfatlantic
e fubjecl,
ly farther
:e. It is
upon any
ofition to
other. I
refent £iu
way has
V farther
lltuation,
our con-
aled, that
: of mak-
he tyrant
onnedion
)erity and
independ-
l however
of view.

early a year
» only by an-
What was
war has in-
)ofe to fnatch
; is impoflible

That this terrible power exhibits all the difcriminating char-
avfteriftics of the Antichrift of the laft times, has, I think,
been fatisfaclorily proved by late writers who have made that
fubje6l their particular ftudy. Their arguments and explana-
tions of prophecy I have not room to detail. St. John de-
fines Antichrift to be one who was to deny the Father and
the Son, i. e. one who was to be both an infidel and an atheift,
or rather as an atheiftical power who was to rife up in oppo-
fition to the chriftian religion, and indeed to every religious
and moral principle, and not as any mere individual. To
this power the character of the wilful king defcribed by Dan-
iel ftriclly accords. — Dan. xi. 36, h7. A7id the kingjhall do ac-
cording to his will, and he JJoall exalt himself and magnify himself
above every God, and fhull speak marvellous things against the
God of Gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be aceompliflo'
ed. Neither Jhall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire
of women, nor regard any God, for he fJoall magnify himself above
all. By a king, in prophetic language, we are not to under-
fi:and an individual monarch but a kingdom, or the fupreme
power of a nation, whatever may be the form of its govern-
ment. No power exhibiting all thele diftind marks of the
Antichrift of the laft times has appeared in the world before
atheiftical France. But when we fee revolutionary France re-
nouncing the chriftian religion, abolilhing the chriftian lab-
bath, defacing and profaning the places conlecrated to the
public worftiip of the Deity, publicly burning the Bible, with
every expreflion cf contempt and indignation ; fixing this in-
fcription publicly in their burying grounds, that death was
an eternal fleep ; forcibly (hutting up the houfes of public
worftiip, and making the mere expreffion of adefire that they
might be opened a great, if not a capital crime ; difregardinj;
the God of their fathers, and him who was antiently the de-
fire of women, by proclaiming themfeives a nation of atheifts,

alter throughout the world, we need not be at a lofs for a clue
to difcover the Antichrift of the laft times. This was a ftate

of things for which the public mind had been long preparmg
hv the labours of Voltaire and his atheiftical afluciateb. When>

i f

' 60

in addition to the moral and religious view of this power, we
confider her preponde- ating influence among the nations ;
the vaft armies under her controul ; the exte'nfive and popu-
lous territories reduced to a (late of complete fubjcdion ; the
eagernefs with which Ihe grafps at univerlal donnnion, and
the confidence with which her prefent ruler exprelles the be-
lief that it is within his reach, and the conlumniate art with
which one conqueft is ufed to effect and extend another, we
cannot be much at a lofs to find Gog and his numerous ar-
mies, defcribed in the 38th and S9th chapters of Lzekicl. In
the change from a pretended republic, or rather from a rev-
olutionary vortex, to a military defpotifm, other predictions
have been circumftantially fulfilled. That people, who had but
juft before magnified themfelves above God and all legitimate
authority, and fpoken marvellous things againft the God of
Gods, have received a foreign God, i. e^ a foreign ruler, from
an origin which neither they nor their fathers acknowledged,
manifeiling the nioft abjeft fubmiffion to his authority, 'and
honoring him with every fJDecies of imperial magnificence.
Nor does the fubfequent alliance of that tremendous atheifti-
cal power with popery render the charafteriftics of Antichrift
lefs difcriminating. It is obfervabje in the revelations, that
before the great battle in which the antichriftian beaft was
to bear the papal harlot to execution, and they were to pcrilh
together in the great battle of Armageddon, popery was to
change its appearance, and be no lonojer the beaft it was for-
merly but the falfe prophet. That which gave the popifli hier-
archy the diftinguiiliing character of a beaft, was not merely
the fyftem ot idolatry and fuperftition, introduced, patronized
and eftablilhed by that church, but the civil power with
which its vifible head was invefted, or rather the overbearing
influence exercifed by the pope over the civil authority of all
nations within the pale of the romifh communion. The kings
of the earth, i.e. the latin earth, or Roman Empire, were to
give their power and ftrength unto the beaft, i. e. to lend
their influence, or rather become the mere paflive inftruments
of upholding the grandeur and extending the influence of
lum who blafphemoufly pretended to be Chrisi 's vicar up-
on earth. V

wcr, we
lations ;
id popu-
on J the
on, and
; the he-
art with
ler, we
rous ar-
kicl. In
1:1 a rev-
jdiclions
had but
;;inmate

God of
?r, from

ledged,
ty, and
ilicenco.
atheifti-
titichrift
IS, that
•aft was
o pcrilh
' was to
was for-
ifli hier-

merely
ronized
M' with
bearing
^y of all
»e kings
were to
to lend

uments
ence of
icar up-

But allho' this fhme ecclefiaftical power full continues to
t^atronize fuperftition and idolatry, yet being divelled of civil
authority, or any controuling influence over the kings of the
earth, it ceafes to be a beaft, which. in prophetic langua-e in-
c udes the idea of an idolatrous civil power, and affumes the
cliarader, which is in prophetic language dcfignated by the
name of a falfe prophet. The beaR, i. e. the power who will
then be peculiarly entitled to the character of a beaft,will en-
ter into a confederacy with the falfe prophet and both ihall
perifh together.

Let us for a moment fee how this defcription, borrowed
from the facrcd oracles, agrees with the prefent Hate of thincrs.
liie Emperor Napoleon has reflored popery in France, and in
other countries compofing his vaft empire. But how is it re-
Itored t Has he, in reality, evinced any more regard to chrif-
tianity or even to popery, than formerly, when'he was alter,
nately papift, muflulman, and atheift ? Has he reftored to
popery any of its former powers, or given liberty to the free
exerciie of clin{hanity, in any fhnpe, any farther than it ac
cords with his capricious will for the moment ? No. The
temporal power of the pope has been long declining ftep by
Itep, and it has been left to Napoleon to give it the death
biow. The fpiritual power he has alfo places under his own
controbl, and it can only be exercifed in immediate fubfervi-
ency to his will. I'he popery reflored is the mere creature of
the ftate, the inflrument of an ambitious and capricious poli-
cy, whicli he can annihilate at pleafure, whenever fuch a
mealure becomes congenial to his political views. Popery
then, as at prefent exifting in the world, completely diverted
of all civil, and nearly ftript of all ecclefiaftical power, and ex-
ilhng only by the courtefy of a man who has no other view
in its iupport than to render it fubfervient to the purpofcs of
his ambition, is no longer that tremendous beaft it was form-
erly,when it carried terror and d'lUiay to the imperial throne,
and nearly all the thrones of Europe. But as the fyftem of
idolatry and fuperftition ftill remains, it is properly, in the
language of the revelation, ftyled the falfe prophet, with whom
the antichri^ian beaft, being, as is generally fuppofed, the
Roman Empire, und:r its laft head/ was to connecl; himfeif,

and which was, together with the beuft, to go into perdition.
It is farther qucftionable whether Napoleon has any thing elfc
in view, in the re-cftablifliment of popery within his domin-
ions, than its entire deftruction together with chriftianity.
The antient priefthood had been principally dettroyed during
the horrors of the revolution. No encouragement is givcii
to young men to embrace the facred funcT:ion. Th'-y have
nothing to exped but the mod abjecT: poverty and the moft
fovereign contempt. The few minifters of rclif^ion are gen-
erally old men, their numbers at prefent wholly inadequate
to the difcharge of their fundions, and rapidly diminilhing
by death, while few or none appear to take thiir places. This
obfervation is applicable to chriftian teachers of every fort,
whether catholic or proteftant, while, by the bulk of the na.
tion, religion is treated with the utmoR contempt. It is pro-
bably expected that, in this way, the entire deftruaion of
chrillianitv will be effeaied by time. Such is that tremend-
ous power with whom we are in danger of forming a more
clofe poliiical union, if not entering into a direcl: and formal
alliance ; a power exhibiting in the moft ftriking colours all
the marks of the Antichrift of the laft times. I need not here
detail the preient ftate of our relations with that power— per-
haps I may not fally underftand it,& if I did this might be nei-
ther the time nor place io make the detail. One remark how.
ever is obvious— that the prefent (late of our relations with
France renders acoUifion almoft certain with the only power
which has hitherto been able to fet up any thing like an eifec-
tual i^arrier againittheboundlefs ambitionof Napoleon. Si.ould
that unfortunate event take place, the probable immediUe
coniequence would be our being brought completely within
the vortex of his political view's, if we ftiould not be confid-
ered as an integral part of his vaft empire, It would be eafy
to expatiate upon the probable confequences, probable did I
fciy, rather upon the neceflary and unavoidable confequences
ot fuch an event to our pohtical conftitutions, and national
independence ; but I only afk, what will be its confequences
to morality and religion ? What will be its tendency to expofe
us to the awful vifitations of heaven ? I do not mention this
from any anprehenrinn that this antichriftian power will fuc-
ceed in his plan for deltroying chriftianity. Christ's church

)erdiuon*
:hing elfc
s domin-
•iftianity.
d durinpj

is given
[I'-y have

the moft
1 are gen-
1 adequate
ninilhing
ces. This
ery fort,
)f the na.

It is pro-
•udion of
tremend-
g a more
id formal
:olours all
1 not here
ver — per-
;ht benei-
I ark how-
ions with
ily power
? an eifec-
m. Si.ould
mmediite
'ly within
be conlid-
Id be eafy
>able did I
ifequences
d national
ifequences

to expofe
intion this
r will fue-
l's church

IS founded on a rock and the gates of hell cannot prevail a-
gainft it. But what is to be the ultimate fate of the beaft
and the falfe prophet ? 1 beheld (fays tlie prophet Daniel) even
until the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given unto the
burning jlamc. He was to profper till the indignation was ac-
compHfhed ; was then to come to his end,and none Ihould help
him.^ That this tremendous power, at the head of which Napo-
leon is now placed, is raifed up by providence for the exprefj
purpofe of fcourging andpuniihing the nations for their wick-
ednefs, cannot admit of a doubt. Allies and enemies indif-
criminately feel the fmartof this fcourge. Until the purpof-
es of indignation, which the Sovereign of the Univerfe has in
view, are accomplilhed, he will profper ; but when that which
is determined is done, he will be call down and deftroyed, as
was the AlTyrian his prototype of old. By joining with An-
tichrift, and in that way becomin.^ partakers of his fins, wo
may exped to become the partakers of his plagues. To join
with, and help the ungodly, haj always been attended with
the worft confequences to a people profefling the true religion.
It is a crime on which providence always frowns, either
firfi: or laft. Even good king Jehofliaphat brought wrath upon
himfelf & upon Judah, by joining in affinity with Ahab ; and
when this fame Jehofliaphat afterwards joined with Ahazi-
ah, who did very wickedly in equiping a fleet to go to Tar-
fhifli for commercial purpofes, as a teftimony from heaven
that a connection with that wicked prince was difpleafing to
God, the fliips were deftroyed by a tempeft, fo that they
could not proceed to Tarfliiih. Much more reafon have we
to dread the fevereft chaftifement, fliould we be fo far infatua-
ted as to unite our deftinies with the Antichrift of the laft:
times, who is doomed in the end to perifli with a terrible de-
ftrudlion. If we are partakers of his fins, if we make a com-
mon caufe with him, (and by a war with the only power
who has been able to oppofe any thing like an effectual bar-
rier to his ambition, we do in fad make a common caufe with
him,) we muft; expeft to be, in a mealiire at leaft, involved in
his calamities. Rather ought we not to comp' with the ad-
vice given in the language of infpiratlon. Come out from her my

■hP.CitilP- ihnt 'jp l)P tint -hnrt/ibprt nf h/>r tint /tm/V //>/?/ vp r^r/'ir'£> nnJ

\ i

,p-

iSi

1: ;

9/ her plagues. That tlicro U an antichrlftian influence jit
prelent prevalent in the United Statcf., is a fad, the proof of
which depends upon evidences by no means ecjuivocal. De-
ifm itfelf U antichrilVianifm, as it is a direct oppofition to
Christ ; and as wliat has been ulually termed deifm, has do-
gencr.ited nearly or quite to atheifm, it is a denial both of the
Father and the Son. — St. John's defcription of Antichrill:.—
The infidelity of our land is not the mere fpcculativt: fenti-
ments of a few detached ifolated individuals. There cannot
remain adou!)t, but the fyftematic infidelity of the laft days,
a fyftem, in which it; votaries, altho* agreeing in nothing
clfe, unite in an endeavor to extirpate chrilHanity out of
the world, has found its way into our lutherto highly favor-
ed land. ■ Of this we have had not only intimations, but di-
XQdi proofs, v/hicli have been fpread before the public. This
fyftematic attack may be probably carrying on more fecretly at
prefent, but we have no reafon to believe it to be abandoned.
The bitter fruits of it are dill vifible in the awful prevalence
of irreligion in the United States, If, in connection with this
prevalence of antichriftian fentiments and feelings, a po-
litical connexion fhould be formed with the very Antichrift
himfelf, as we fhould in that event be more deeply as well as
more nationally partakers of his fins, fo we fliould have rea-
fon to dread a more immediate participation in his plagues.
To fuch a ftate of things the words of our text would be
ftriclly applicable. Shall I not visit for these things saith the
Lord ? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ?

By way of application of thefe remarks to the prefent fitu-
ation of our country, I fliall fuggeft a few things, which ap-
pear to be duty in the prefent crifis.

1. Let us be duly fenfible both of our own fins, and the
fins of our nation. The firfl flep both to individual and na-
tional reformation, is to be feniible that it is necefiary. They
that are whole, have no need of a physician, but they thj't are sick.
It is but too common for people, both in their national and in-
dividual capacity, to pofTefs too much of the felf important,
fllf complacent fpirit of Laodicea, by imagining their fitua-
tion to be direclly the reverfe of what it is in reality. As it
reipccls their nalionui privileges and advantages, the XJaited

luence ii:
proof ot'
>cal. De-
ofition to
n, h.is dc-
.)th of the
:ichrill:. — >
[vv. fenti-
re cannot
laft clays,
nothing
ty out of
ily favor-
s, but di-
lic. This
fecrctly at
)andoned,
irevalence
with this
%^, a po-
ifintichrift
as well as
have rea-
3 plagues.
70u\d be
saith the
IS this /*
efent fitu-
which ap-

, and the
il and na-
Ly. T/yey
't are sick,
lal and in-
nportant,
ieir fitua-
y. As it
e Uaiteci

States are in the habit of exprefllng much of this felf-com-
placency, by confidering themfelves not only the mod free,
but the moft virtuous and enlightened nation in the world,
while they confider other nations as flaves. I have no wifh to
depreciate the advantages we have enjoyed, or to under val-
ue the conftitutional privileges of my country when fairly en-
joyed. Few nations have been fo highly favored. Some of
our diftinguiflied advantages have been already mentioned in
this difcourfe. No man can be more fmcerely attached to
our political inftitutions, confidered merely as political, than
myfelf, and no nation can be under ftronger obligations to
maintain a deep lenfe of the great things which a kind and
indulgent providence has done for them than the United
States. But when we take a review of our religit)us and mor-
al fituation, it cannot but be apparent to every refleding
mind, that it was not for our fuperior virtue, or from our be-
ing more holy than other people, but from confiderations o-
riginating folely within the divine mind, that we have been
thus favored. On taking fuch a review, inftead of indulging
this fpirit of felf-complacency, may we not find abundant
reafon to exclaim in the language of the prophet, y^h sinful na*
tion, a people laden with iniquity ; a seed of evil doer's, chiU
dren that are corrupters, they have forsaken the Lord, they hava
have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, and they have
gone away backward. The pifture of our national character,
drawn in the preceding part ot this difcourfe, is far from ex-
aggerated. It might have been eafy to have defcantcd at
large on many traits which were but llightly touched, if at
all mentioned, which have become fo common as to affume
the character of national. Taking tliefe things in connedioa
with our manifold privileges, as well as the fignal interpcfi-
tion of providence in our behalf, we may juftly cry out, woa
unto us, becaufe we have finned. God has written unto us
the great things of his law and gofpel ; but, as a nation, we
have accounted them as ftrange things, practically faying,
who is the Lord that we Ihould fear him. Ingratitude was
one of the fins of Ifrael. It has been ours. God has re-
peatedly done great things for us, for which we have been

T>.-^ U

or acknowledjre e'ther his being or providence, in our na-
tional capacity. It is jiiftly efteemed a very dark trait in the
character of an individual, when, fo far from blufliing at the
criminahty of his conduct, he glories in his (hame. Is not
the fame thmgequilly criminal in a nation, and is it not ap.
phcable to this nation ? Perhaps there is no feature in our
conftitution which has been viewed with more complacency
and been the fubjed of more unqualified praife, both in this
and foreign countries,than this, that it takes no notice of, and
has no connection with religion. This feature, however, I
cannot but conhuer as a great Pandora box, which is a very
fruitful fource of all the evils we either feel or fear. So long
as the United States, in their national capacity, continue to
deny the Lord, who bought them, renounce all connexion
with, and refufe all protection to religion, there is little prof,
pect of any thing eUe, than that, as they refufe to retain God
in their knowledge, he will permit them to reap the fruit of
their own doings. Do ye thus requite the Lord, foolish people,
and wnmse ? Is not he thy Father that hath bought thee? Hath he
not made thee, and established thee ? Let us be deeply fenfible of
our national fins, of public and prevailing iniquities, which
may not Le ftrictly termed national, but efpecially of private
and perfonal offences, as the firft effectual ftep to ref rmation.
2d y. Let us keep our eyes fteadily to that divine hand
which orders and directs all events. It is a comfortable truth
ot the rariihan religion, that all things, not only in the nat-
ural, but in the intelleaual and moral fyftem, all things re-
latjng either to individuals, or to the fate of kingdoms and
nations, are not only in the immediate view, but fubie<5l to
the control, and under the direct fuperintendance of provi-
dence. IwdUry unto God most high, unto God that performeth
ail things for me. N,)t fo much as a fparrow can fall to the
ground without our heavenly Father, and even the hairs Ox'
our head are all numbered. He puts down one nation
and raifes up another ; puts down one individual and raif-
es another ;abafes the mi-hty, and exalte them of low de-
gree, and none has a right to fay unto Him what doeR thou.
Mercies and judgments, both national and individual, prof,
penty and adverhty, are all equally from his hand. But fuch

U'L

n our na-
:rait in the
ling at the
le. Is not
it not ap.
ire in our
mplacency,
)th in this
:ice of, and
however, I
^ is a very
. So long
ontinue to
connection
little prof.
2tain God
he fruit of
olish people^
•? Hat b he
fenlible of
ies, w^hich
of private
f >rmation.
vine hand
:able truth
n the nat-
things re-
[doms and
fubje<5l to
of provi-
performetb
ill to the
e hairs oi
ne nation
and raif-
low de-
left thou.
!u;U, prof-
But fuch

is the atheifm which is natural to the human heart, that men
frequently overlook a providence, both in mercies and judg-
ments. When the Lord's hand is lifted up, they will not fee 9
when the Lord calls to weeping and to mourning, behold joy
and gladnefs. Who gave Jacob for a spoils and Israel to the rob-
bers f Did not the Lord, he against ivhom we have sinned, for
thcv would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto
his law ? Therefore he hath poured upon him the Jury of his anger ^
and the strength of battle, and it hath set him on fire round about,
yet he knew not ; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. —
Thefe, and many more, are the complaints of the prophets on
God's antient '^eople for their ftubbornncfs under judgments.
And when at times afflicT:ions were noticed, and they gave
fome evidences of a difpofition to accept of the punilhment of
their iins, it was frequently but feigned, tho' they fometimes
apparently acknowledged that God was their rock, and the
moft High God their redeemer, their heart was not right
with God, and they only flattered him with their mcuth, and
lied unto him with their tongue. Equally prone were they
to overlook, or to be unthankful for his mercies. When
made to ride on the high place: of the earth, then Jelhurun
waxed fat and kicked ; forgot God, and lightly efteemed the
rock of his falvation. Equally prone are we to overlook the
giver of every mercy. Altho' God has not mterpofed tor us
m the fame miraculous manner that he did for the Jews, we
have enjoyed many bleflings, to which the Jews were ilran-
gers. Providence has fignally interpoied m our tavor.--
We have had our ieafon of profperity, a profperity aU
moft unparalleled in the annals of nations. Our How ot
profperity has abated ; the tide has turned, and is now lenli-
blyontheebb, and calamities, more ferious than any we
have experienced, appear to be approaching From what-
ever lource thefe calamities may come, it is IbU the hand ot
God. In whatever view we may confider the inftrumejit, it
is our duty to bear the indignation of the Lord, becaufe we
have finned againft him. Whatever may be our future lot,
either in a national or indivi-lual capacity, if our eyes are
conftantly direaed to the hand of providence, we will reap
this two fold advantage. A remembrance of the days ot ad-
verfity, which are many, and of the fudden changes to which

both kingdoms and nations are expofed.will keep us humble
in profpemy , and a belief that all the operations of kZs

^n whn'r "''''' T '"""fl^t^ly "n-ter the control of hefv!
en who fays unto them, hitherto foalt thou come, and no

W or'if ' ^r"^^ 'f'"^?'y '° '^^^P "'^ ""'"d from fink-
in?, or defpondepcy under the preffure of either public or

TOe calamity He will make even the wrath oFmanto
^ fdhZ' ^1. "'7?™«"der.of that wrath he will reftrain.

and inH^fn •"/ '^"m'' *y''"'^ "'^ ""« hand of providence,
and mdeed as infuperably connected with it, we are called to
thegreatdutyof repentance and reformation. Threato>ea

?y bSL off f'"" t'^•"'^"?^^='^«•'^'' "y '''' nationS
Jy breaking off frc p, their iniquities. This is agreeable to

the divine declaration, already quoted from the prophet Jere
PJiah, which I Ihal not repeat.^ As kingdoms WnaS
are, in their public capacity, the fubjefts of God's providen-

hi lZTd"r''\'"'* r''.'^'", ''^'"^ =""« punilhments in
ha' frm^Lt"" '''i''^ '' °"'y ?" external reformation, it
oS liVv Tn P'"'''^i'^^ means of prolonging national tr^n-
&^; ,K \';"' '^PP""^ *h*' ">^ repentance of the Nine-

vites at the preaching of Jonas, was in general, an evangelical

a time. Joluh s reformation, tho' fincere on his part was in

fhreal^r V'^"-""'^-;' "" the part of the natior But tie
threatened cala^mty did not overtake them during his rei^n
nor until they had apoftatized from that reformarion W«
a mere outward reformation to become generalTnour'natb^

trSuilhv ' {^^^"^'!l"'^°tS-'^'-Sthning our na on!
al tranquility. Our exiftence however is not merely for na
onal purp,,fes. We are formed for immortalftv anj Z

X'r"no£ w^iirh "'" "^iT'^ 'P^''' ^fo- ^ 'ribuS
wnere not Jimg wi 1 be approved but pur ty of heart. Let i,«

not the'-efore reftin a mere outward refoLatio^ The I ord
fearcheth the jieart, and as a man thinketh in hi" heart fok
he. That reformation m.y in the iffue becoine eeneral it
mufl in itscommencomen/be individual andperfonal i e
every one ought to refolve in his place to reform Z " wi
my harangue as long as w. pleafe on the degeneracy ;f ^e
fimes. and the need of reforatation ; but unlel k commence

s humble
of kings,
I of heav-
, and no
rom fink-
public or
f man to
reftrain.
)vidence,
called to

ireatened
)ns time-
eable to
het Jercr

nations
iroviden-
ments in
lation, it
nal tran-
he Nine-
angelical
;rted for
:, was in

But the
is reign,
1. Was
• nation,

nation-
' for na-
and the
tribunal
Let us
he Lord
ft, fo is
leral, it
al : i. e.
B. We

of the
imepce§

in individual reformation, it can never become either public
or national. 1 he remark has been already made, that the
charafter of a nation is not to be eftimated by that of a pious
few who happen to be in it. Nor are we to take it from that
ot a number of vicious, diforderly people who are conftantly
tramphng upon the laws. It is to the nation iifelf we are to
look for a national charader. Whatever is countenanced by
public law, or fupported by public opinion, may be confider-
ed as in part conftituting a national charafter. It is in this
view, and not becaufe there were no religious people, no
pradical and experimental chriftians in our nation, that I
confidered we had loll our charader as a chriftian nation.—
i3ut It the charader of a chrittian nation is ever to be regain-
ed, how is it to be done? The anfwer is plain. It muft be
by the progrefs of religion among individuals. No nation
ever aliumed a chriftian charader, immediately on the firft
propagation of the gofpel among them. This muft be the
work of time, and the fruit of a pretty general extenfion and
embracing chriftianity among individuals. Thofe therere-
fore, who would wilh to fee us in the pcflVffion of a national
chriftian charader, will, if they ad a confiftent part, do ev^ry
thing m their power to promote individual reformation and
perlonal religion. Should that happy time ever come, when
men fhall generally know, and follow on to know the Lord,
a national chriftian charader would foon be regained, and
our kings would foon become nurfing fathers, and our queens
JUirfing mothers to the church ; our rulers would foon kifs
the Son, pr embrace J.sus Christ in their public capacity,
and our kingdom, even as a kingdom or govei- ment of this
world, would foon become the kingdom of our Lord and of
his Christ. This can be effed* d in no other way than by
the individuals of which thefe kingdoms are compofed, be-
coming decidedly on the Lord's fide. Every individual rrf-
ormation is therefore one ftep towards our becoming a chrif-
tian nation. Where is the man, who, on taking a view, eith-
er of his heart or condud, does not find fomethingin himfelf
which needs reformation ? Is there nothing in our general
condud which calls for reformation ? Have we uniformly
treated the things of religion in a manner fuited to their

n'l;

■M

nature and importance, and our own deep inten^ft in them ?
Shou'd our lives be without reproach ; are there not many-
heart evils which need reformation ? Let it be kxpt in mind
that I am now addrefling thofe who are chriftians by profeflion.
Is there nothing in our converfation, nothing in our families
which needs reformation ? Arethcrenotmany prayerlefs families
in particular which need reformation ? Are we or are we not
criminally negligent in the great duty of bringing up our fam-
ilies in the nurture and admonition ot the Lord ; of inftilling
into their minds the principles and of exciting to the practice
of true religion, both by precept and example ? Should a real
reformation take place among the profeffing people of G.>d it
might do much. Tho* it did not immediately change our
national charader into that of a religious or chriftian nation,
yet God h .s frequently bleffed whole nations for his churches
fake. No doubt there are many of God's people in our land.
Should thefe univerfally feparate from the camp of the ungod-
ly, and arife and trim their lamps, it might be the means of
not only of calling down prefent bleflings, and prolonging our
tranquillity, but of commencing fuch a general reformation as
might in due time become national, fo that we might in the
iffue become that happy people whofe God is the Lord.

4thly. Another duty of great importance at all times,but in a
fpecial manner in the prefent crifis, is prayer. Do we wifh
for either fpiritual or temporal bleflings, let us pray for them.
Even where the people of God have an abfolute piomife of
good things in ftore, they are direi^edto pray for them. Thus
saitb the Lord God, I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of
Israel to do it for them. The prophet Daniel was a man greatly
beloved of God, and alfo mighty in prayer. It was immedi-
ately after one of the moft fpiritual and heavenly prayers re-
corded in fcripture, in which he particularly confeffes his own
fins and the fins of his people ; at the fame time acknowledg-
ing the juflice of God in all the evils which had come upon
them for their fins ; that the Angel Gabriel was fent unto him
to communicate the moft important of all his prophetic reve-
lations : i. e. that which related to the time ot the Mefliah's
coming. The prayer is recorded at large in the 9th chapter ;
the conclufion of it ver, 18, 19, is remarkable. my Go/?,

hem ?
many
mind
eflion.
.milies
imilies
ve not
X fam-
[lilling
ractice
a real
GoD it
e our
lation,
urches
r land,
mgod-
jans of
ngour
tion as
in the

>ut in a
e wifh
' them.
Tiife of
. T/jus
bouse of
greatly
nmedi-
ers re-
lis own
iwledg-
i upon
ito him
ic reve-
iefliah's
lapter ;
ny GoD^

incline thine ear and h 'ar ; open t/jine eyes and behold our desolations,
and the city which is cu'lled by thy name : For we do not present our
supplicatiom before thee /or our righteousness, but for thy great mer-
cies. Lord hear, Lord forgive, Lord hearken and do ; defer
not, for thine own sake, O my God ; for thy city and thy people are
called by thy name. Immt^diately alter this fervent fupplication,
the Angel Gabriel was fcnc unto him to inform him both of
the time when MelTuh wis to come and of the nature of the
work he was to do. Ti\e famous prophecy of the feventy
weeks, recorded in this 9th chapter, contains perhaps as clear
and full account, both of the work the Mefliah was to do, and
of the time of his appearing, as any which is to be found in
the old teftament. It was communicated by the Angel, im-
mediately afler this moft ferious and fervent praper. God is
ftill a prayer hearing God. Altho* we are not to expect to be
made prophets, or to have any particular revelation commu-
nicated, nor is this one of thofe things for which we ought
to pray, yet we may exped mercies. Mercies, fpiritual and
temporal, public and private, national and individual ; mercies
to the church and commonwealth, for ourfelves and others,
may be expeded in anfwer to prayer. When a mercy is re-
ceived in anfwer to prayer, we will be the better prepared to
relifh its fweetnefs, and the more thankful to the giver. Or
if God fliould fee fit to withhold the mercy afked for, a pray-
ing frame is a powerful fupport under the want or privation
of the mercy prayed for. For example, a fick man prays for
health. If he has a fpirit of prayer it will fupport him under
the want of it, and render him patient and fubmifTive on a
fick bed, or even enable him to face the king of terrors, and
pals out of time into eternity with comfort. If the Judg-
ments of God are abroad in the earth, the man endued with a
fpirit of prayer finds the moft comfoi i. in a feaion of trial. —
Tea, in the way of thy judgments, Lord, have we waited j or thee ;
the desire of our soul u to thy name and the remembrance of thee,
God is our refuge and our sf-^ength, a very present help in trouble ;
iherejore will we not fear though the earth be remoi \ and the
mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. J It ho' the fig tree
fhall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine ; the labour of the
olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be

iii

cut off from the fold ^ an^ there shall be no herd in the stall, yet t
ivUl rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in ths God of my salvation.
Whether light (hall arife out of darknefs, or whether the dark
clouds which now hang over us fliall continue to thicken un-
til they burft in fome dreadful calamity upon our nation, the
man of prayer is beft prepared for either continued trials or
deliverance. Let us pray for ourfelves, pray for the church
and nation, as for other mercies fo for this efpecially, that we
may be that happy people whofe Gv>d is the Lord.

5thly. As there are important duties which we owe to GoDy
fo there are duties which we owe to our focial conne6lions,the
faithful difcharge of which may contribute to the regaining
of our chriftian character as a nation. Of thefe the duties we
owe to a rifing generation ought not to be forgotten. Youth
are the beft hope of their parents, the church, and the nation.
Their morals and principles are of the greatell importance to
fociety. It has been a part of the plan of the infidel and the
.rreligious of every defcription, to fpare no pains and ufe ev-
ery art to corrupt th"m ; the greater diligence Ihould there*
fore be ufed to counterad the defigns of the adverfary. But
I muft pafs this and ohfeive that there are duties which we
owe to civil fociety, with fome brief remarks upon which I
fliall clofe. And as it is not my intention to enlarge, I fhall
barely notice this one, which is of great importance, and that
is in our exercife of the right of fuffrage, to fill important
places of public truft, to pay particular attention to the relig-
ious and moral, as well as the political qualifications of can^
didates : i. e. that we endeavor to fele6t not only men of
wifdom and talents, but men of virtue and religion, at ieafl
men who are known to be believers in revelation, and friend-
ly to gv)fpel order snd chriftian inftitutions, and men whofe
morals are not a public difgrace to the chriftian character. —
The right of fuffrage, to the extent in which it is enjoyed in
this country, is a privlie.!;e with which no other nation is fa-
vored. The value of the privilege depends very much on
the manner in which it ' ; fxercifed. By a wife and confcien-
tious exercife of this right, much might be done to ward off
the ill effects of tha irrligious feature in our national gov-
ernment, which has given rife to a confiderable portion oi

0,4 .

xlie remarks contained in the preceding ditcouries. No doub*
this feature in our government has paved the way for the
introduction of men into our national councils, who are op-
pofed to every form and appearance of chriftianity. In this
the children of this world have proved themfelves to be wifer
than the children of light. The dodrine of the entire fepa-
ration of government from religion, in the e;xtent to which
it is carried, is an infidel do6lrine. But means have been
found, in. fome way, to render it popular with many of the
profefibrs of chriflianity. They have progrefled ftill farther,
and caufed it to be believed, that a refpecl for religion, or even
a fpeculative belief in revelation, is neither a necefl'ary or a
very important qualification of a ruler in a chriftian country.
This impreflion is peculiarly favourable to the caufe of infidel-
ity, and has no doubt been much promoted by the arts and
labours of men of that defcription. It has already been ob-
ferved that an infidel, as such, can be viewed in no other light
than as an enemy to the chriftian religion in every form of it.
By engrofling as much power as poflible into their own hands^
they are placed in a~ fituation to exert a more powerful and
more fatal influence to injure that religion which they take
every opportunity to render contemptible. It is impofllble
that it Ihould be otherwife, for what can be more oppofij:e
than light and darknefs ? What fecurity can we have of even
the political integrity of a man. without religion and without
morals ? Do we depend upon the fanctity of an oath as an
important bond of fociety ? An oath can have no other foun-
dation than religion. Deftroy all impreflions of religious ob-
ligation, and oaths become mere words of courfe. There can.
be noihing binding in them ; one important cement of fociety
is gone, and no other motives to aclion are left than thofe of
ambition, convenience, or felf intereft. All the power which
remains with the people to remedy this evil, is in the proper ufe
of their right of election. Should that be executed wifely,
and without either improper bias or corruption, many evils
which we have afon to fear, might be avoided. But, on
the other hand, .eplorable is the fituation of a nation, when
on each fide walk the wicked, and the vileft of men are exalt-

direa: paffport to promotion. Thofe, who by an imprudent
exercife of this privilege, lend their aid to elevate fuch men
do thereby contribute, by the moft efFeaual mean in their
power, to the defedion of the times, which mull ripen us
more and more for the chaftifements of heaven. The God of
Israel, said the Rock of Israel, spake unto me— He that ruleth over
men must bejust^ ruling in the fear of God,

To conclude—Let us be real chriftians. Whatever may be
the afpecTs of providence towards our nation, our time in the
world will bo but fhort. Let us therefore look beyond all the
tranfitory things of time, to that Iblemn hour when we muft
all appear before the judgment feat of Christ. Neither our
natural relations, or political connexions, are any thing elfe
than monientary, compared with futurity. But a vaft eter-
nity awaits us, and we muft foon enter on that untried ftate.
Let us therefore extend our views to eternal things, and in
the event of fevere trials, either national or individual, be-
take ourfelves to thofe chambers of fecurity, which God has
prepared as a hiding place for all who put their truft in him,
and to which he invites them, faying. Come my people, enter thou
into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee ; hide thyself as it
were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast-^For be-
hold the Lord Cometh out of hi f place to punish the inhabitants of the
earth for ir; :ir iniquities : The earth also shall disclose her bloody
and shall no more cover her slain*

ii •'

»*

ft" Ii

tl^'

iprudent
ich men,
in their
ripen us

be God of
(leth ovet

' may be
nein the
d all the
we muft
ther our
bing elfe
ift eter-
ed ftate.
, and in
ual, be-
GoD has
in him,
?nfer thou
nelf as it
-^For be-
ntsofthe
ler bioody