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A i^"^ ■ J <*" 'M'.> % 'ft* SERMON, •""'•■'-■■' PREACHED IW ■"»-i-..^? WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ON THE BAT OF THE ■^" .••■■."'^S'* NATIONAL FAST, " THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1813, I |C)BSERV£D IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF JAMES MADISON, :,-,■} i-"-^. ^:!..\ PRESIDENT OF THE ," z'^. ^^ ••.*•.■. UNITED STATESi. AND IV CONSEQUENCE OF THE DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST GREAT-BRITAIN. ^0 m n »■>;;- ^i^-*.? BY SAMUEL AUSTIN, D; D. I . "' PUBLISHED BY REqUEST* ^^ PUINTKD AT WORCESTER, 3Y ISAAC SJUitr>:v\M. 1312. im>- • • ::>-r '. Cf "Vv- t ritfr ^^(^vF\^ i :%■ n X . i:\.i ,u ^ \i\]s' wyt ■.^■■■■■l^-f^ '.. !^TKl- :f. :^%.AJ&J. . vS'-.-l. i», k i^- Vt '• -''-^ ■ I J' 1 T .' J- ■' '..,;■ s, I , / •.' ■> \^ CHRISTIAMITY was a heresy in the estimate of the Jewish Doctors ; andy according to their decisions^ its adherents were liable to a capital fiunishment. The federal fiolicy is a heresy in the estimate of our JVatiotial Rulers^ and obnoxious^ if not to legal penalties^ to their severe animadversion. It would be no small gratijicaticn of curiosity to trace the analogy be- tween these reputed heresies and their opfiositea. The reader will do it J if he please^ in his own mnd. Christianity is but a develofiementf or farther exposition^ and execution^ of the re- ligion contained in the Old Testament Scriptures, Judaism, which entirely excluded the doctrine of a Saviour, and which con- sisted in a course of external observances, founded principally in a traditionary law, of mere human authority, was a corruption if that religion, and the real heresy. Hence, for the defence of Christianity, the jipostles constantly appealed, when they had before them Jewish auditors, to the Lawy and the Prophets ; and it was a leading object with them to subvert Judaism, as (lie grand obstacle to the progress of the Gospel, 17601.?? A I I •„ . ., > ,. r \ , V , ':.- - , 1 • '■., .^ .\ • » r^-v •t\v^'' (.^^ ^'- (V. .; . \' '-y .<-!- , ■,•• ■: \ .;■;. ^;\^ ■ r: \ ■ -' >',\55-\. ■< ^ f'. . i' ■- ■ ril.ui':!.. •■-; ' SEEMON - ( (:>.•■>'•■ '. .'•'/. :. uci." ACTS, xxiv. U. ;■.. -■■■'■i-'e •ti.-i ■) ■] ,j; ■■ ■ :• '..If;.: .'• .. BUT THIS Z CONFESS UNTO THEE, T«AT AVTER THE WAY WHICH THEY CALL HERESY) SO WORSHIP I THE OOD OV MY FATHERS ', BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WHIT7 TEN IN TUB LAW AND IN THE PROPHETS. MY BRETHREN} T. ' I - [■■iit "id" ' HE grand heresy of our Country, at the pre- sent time, is disagreement with the administration of our goveiiiment, in the character it has chosen to assume, in the course it has taken, since it went into operation, in its re- strictive measures, and, particularly, in regard to the war in- to which it has recently plunged the nation. This heresy is denounced by the administration and by all its zealous adher- ents. It seems to be determined to overwhelm it, cither &y law, or without law ; either by an organized force, or hy put- ting in motion desperate, and unprincipled individuals, w'ho, from the little interest they have in the publick welfare, and from habits of licentiousness, are prepared for outrage and massacre. The machinery of compulsion has begun to act, and how far it will proceed it is impossible for any man to say. But as the spirit of Paul could not languish, while he had so great a charge from his omnipotent Redeemer, as the propagation of his religion among the Gentiles, notwith- standing it was a fact, that, in every city, bonds and afflictions attended him ; so it is not probable that that love to God, and virtue, and the general happiness of our Country which pos- sesset the minds of u considerable portion of the American people, ivill shrink from those persevering efforts which may- seem to promise to dissipate the delusion, and to change tht measures, vrhich threaten «iur national destntction. The he- resy mentioned has an extensive and inci^asing acceptation all over our Country ; but is most prevalent in these northern states, where, we flatter ourselves, the Christian doctrine has most influence, and the principles and measures of genuine Republicanism are best understood. This heresy is the crime cf almost all the professors of religion in New-En- gland, I mean those whose religion^n the doctrines and modes of it, corresponds with that of our pious forefathers. It is the crime of almost the whole body of congregational ministers in this section of the United States ; and it is the ciime of thousands of prudent and sl»b]« patfibts, whtf were the most active in council, and the most valiant in arms, in achieving the grand object of the revolution. With this crime I stand charged, by, it is probable, a majori- ty of my parishioners, and felloW-townflmen ; and to this charge I frankly plead guilty. With the unreservedhess of the Apostle to the Gentiles, and I hope with a little of his consciousness of right, when' he stbod' before Felix as his judge, and in presence of hie ncdusers, who had come down from Jerusalem to Cesarea to fcdlbW up a prosecution against him, this I confess unto you, ** that, after the ^ay which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing al\ things that are writt)en in the lav and in thd prophets." As Paul wtis permitted to make his alj^ology before Felix, and was attentively heard by Hitn through the whole of his dis- course, notwithstanding he was of a relijgion wMchit was the design and tendency of Paul's heresy to extirpate ; so I hope you will perttiit me to make my apology* be^t'e you, for my- self, my fellow Christi^ans, and fellow Countrymen, with whom 1 have the honor to agree in what oonci^rns the safety * The careless reader must not take the torn apology here in the mom of concession, a» it is more, commonly used, for no concei&ion it intended ; bnt in the scn&c of eni- tent reflection and prayer will be presented. It must be obvious besides, that this will perfectly coincide with ihe pro- clamation which has called us together, so far as the senti- ments expf eased in it coincide with evidence and fact. This apology will be i ,- ; I. Personal. i ' II. It will respect th(i body of Congregational miniHtera, and the greater body of Ameticanrptttriots, who atandcharged with the heresy mentioned, in a personal view. ; n r ■ .v/> III. It will respect the nature (>f this heresy ; and ; br, ■ ; 'IV. It will shew what will be the salutary and benign ef- fects, should this heresy triumph in our country, and supcr< cede, by a general influence, that philosophic and imlitical or- thodoxy, which, to our eye, is a mere system of infidelity, in- fatuation and ruin. In the first place then you will permit me, that this apolo- gy should he a little personal. It is not indeed, in ordinary cases, very decorous for a speaker to discourse to his auditors respecting himself. But on some occasions it is warrantable, and even necessary; and we have many examples of it in the sacred scripture, and particularly we have one in the very a- pology of Paul which is, at this time, before us. He says to Felix, " And they neither found me in the temple disputing^ with any man, neither In the synagogue, nor in the city ; neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me." As prejudices are known to exist against met found- ed partly in religious, partly* perhaps most) in political, con- sideration ; and some have carried their most unfounded re- sentments so far, as, for a time at least, to leave my congre- gation, a short personal apology will not be deemed improper. I came among you, my friends, not obtrusively, but in com* pliancc with request. My settlement here, as a minister, was not in consequence of any solicitation of mine, but in sub- mission to the almost unanimous and repeated call of the Church and Congregation. It is nearly twenty two years since my installation took place ; almost the whole of the Church, who united in this transaction, are in their graves. But a single, now acting, and resident, male member survives. A large proportion of what was then the congregation are also gone to the bouse of si- lence. During the time that has elapsed since my installa- tion, according to the maturity of your years, and the period of your residence in the town, I have been in the midist of you, going in and out, in the pulpit, at conferences, in your houses, at the bedside of sickness and death, and attending your fu- nerals. You have heard my doctrine and prayers, and you have seen my conversation. Certainly a thousand weaknesses, and deficiences have attended them ; but you are witnesses, and God also, that my doctrine has been according to his word ; that in prayer I have sought with some apparent de- sire to draw down spiritual and everlasting blessings upon you. In regard to my moral walk, it is but justice to say, that I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel ; ye, yon yourselves know, that, forabout eighteen years I have patiently borne the reduction of my stipulated salary to about half its original value, and that these hands have ministered to my necessities and to them that have been with me. In regard to political subjects the personal apology is per- haps moi'C important. My being a disciple of Christ and a minister of his Gospel, does not separate me from civil socie- ty, strip me of civil privileges, or make it proper for me to he indiflerent to the safetv and welfare of the nation. I have M accuse , found- :al, coll- ided re- coDgre- iproper. in com- ninister, t in Bub- 1 of the ion took 1 in this ing, and 1 of what 90 of si- installa- seriod of tof yoU} r houseSf your fu- and you iknesseS) itnesscS) ig to his arent de- tgs upon ) say, that ; ye, you patiently thalf itft sdto my ;y is pcr- ist and a Lvil socic- )r me to I have I » right with other citizens to the elective franchise, and to the protection oi law, to form opinions of public men and measures, and, en all suitable occasions, to declare them ; to use the little influence I possess to promote the good, and prerent the evU. At the same time you perfectly know, the appeal maf be made to all my people with safety on this point, that my conversation with them has not been upon polit- ical subjects i that my preaching has never been of that char- acter, except one or two fast sermons, which some have chosen to understand as partaking somewhat of that descrip- tion; and that almost as little has been done by me to proselyte) as if no political controversy existed. Never have I voted. Pa- tiently have I given up my rights in this respect, to keep in a little quiet,that political pt%judice,that8trongparty seal, which can endure nothing but what is promotive of its own designs. I had my birth and education in a State more perfectly re- publican than any other. When the revolutionary war began, I was too young to be obliged^ by law, to perform military du- ty, and never was liable to any coercion of that kind. Yet I repeatedly volunteered in arms, and was with the army at the most perilous periods, and in the most perilous situations. My life was spared to permit me to see the war auspiciously terminated) and to partake in the general joy, which the es- tablishment of the independence of the country, and the res- toration of peace, produced. Certainly my acquaintance with political subjects was then) and ever has becn^ limited and im- perfect. A little attention however I have bestowed on these matters ; and have endeavoured to form my judgement, im- partially and upon! evidence.* Of the deHirabteness and * It ii true that religion i* the proper busiaess of the Goipel minister. Yet it is not to be forgotten that a prosperous civil goveminer.t is intimately con* nected with the progreis of religiod— else, Why is civil government an or- dinance of God ? And do hot political convuliioni, and espteiallya state oi war, create great obstacles to the progrefs of religion P The same benevolence then, which will induce a minister, to seek with zeal the spiritual good of his fellow men, will lead him to give some attention to political subject:), and to seek the preservation, and welfare of the government under which li; lives. And there is no situation in life, more exempt from ihalc sinist i in. fluences which blind the understanding, and p'?rvert the iudj^cmcnt. B / 10 light ol" oui* independence, as a people, which was achieved by this war ; of the preferableness of a republican fonn of government to that of any other imagined, or put in practice by man ; of the excellency of our Constitution generally con- sidered ; and of the wisdomof the administration of it, contem- plated on a like general scale, nd have you entered upon the philosophic /irq/e; of extirpating Christianity ; prostrating'the most useful religious institutions, which it has been the glory of New England to have so carefully cherished ; levelling all distincticnsin civil society j equalizing property, and opening M ichieved fonn of practice illy con- contem- trifling perationi been in- BRts and Lnd-work tediouft) only in tmost of lystemat- ''ashikc- ly, and us nt, to any (tlessness dare my- opposed) lin State, our own i i does the reat a dif- se resent- 3f them ? leism and iction and otism I I ! you con- ngled no- •ur forefa- upon the rating'the the glory veiling all d opening 11 the flood-gates of lawless licentiousness ? Then we are funda- mentally at disagreement ; and I declare to you plainly that I will have no part in your crimes or your foHies. 2. The apology now presented is to have respect to the great body of Congregational ministers, and the greater body of Washingtonian patriots, through the country, in a personal tiew. This apology is not to regard their conduct as men ; still less is it to go to prove that they are all of them reli.u;ious men ; but to rebut those most unjust imputations, and the force of those reproachful epithets, which are designed to spread an inveterate prejudice against them, and to weaken and disappoint all their efforts to save the sinking nation. It is a fact, perfectly known to all who were of an age ad- milting of their acquaintance with the state of things at the devolution, that the congregational clergy were, almost to a man, in favour of what was called the cause of the country. It is a fact that, with an admirable consistency and uniformity, which has distinguished them from all other classes of men, they have, during the intervening period, retained the same principles and attachments, and held the same ground. It is a factthat, at the present moment, they hold the same ground, and feel and act from the same views. The exceptions I be- lieve, and I have had an opportunity to know them, much be- yond what is ordinary, are not more than one to fifty. It is a fact, that the far greater body of Washingtonian patriots, who now constitute the peace party, are, with a few exceptions, either those who stood boldly forward and hazard- ed tHeir lives in the revolutionary cause, and had a leading and influential agency in forming and adopting, and, when formed and adopted, in maintaining, the constitution of government which we still enjoy ; or, having come upon the stage at a later period, have received their political belief and impres- sions, justified, as they imagine, by strong evidence, from them. It is well known that great efforts have been made a few years past, by spreading infidel books and forming infidel so- cieties ; by encouraging sectaries and strengthening tlieir in- terest ; by attempting to change the laws and annul the coni" »> pacts,* which provide for their svibustence ; and by publishing libels, destructive of their reputation, to bear down the fonder class of men, the congregational ministers. The love qf monarchy, and the design of imposing upon the people a pompous and an oppressive hierarchy, that some of thev^i, at least, might rise to deaneries and bishopricks ; a resistance of the just will of the people, toryism &c. have been imputed to them. They have been represented as, I know nQt how* combined, with the leaders of a reputed aristocracy^ t,o over- turn republican freedom, and either to throw the people back under the power of Great-Britain,or to sink them undera gov- emment equally oppressive. They have been denounced in publications, one of them domestic and very celebrated; and which, that the fame of its author might lose nothing by age, has recently had the honor of a new edition^ threatening tliem with being shortly silenced, 9pd given over, with their families, to want and penury, if they did not submit quietly to the triumphs of an administration which they verily believed was detroying their country.! The most of these Christian ministers I personally know, their sentiments and their course of action. With most of them I have been coversant in ministerial duty and acts of fellovvship. They are my brethren. With pleasure I give n>y attestation in their fa- vour. With alacrity will I goto martyrdom with them here* if Providence call to it, as I hope to go with them to glory here- after. Where is the evidence which supports the justness of these imputations ? Nothing like evidence has ever been pro- duced or can be produced. These insinuations I know to be false. A word savoring of monarchy has nrver polluted their lips. Not a thought of it has entered their hearts. To all hierarchies, which admit of honorable and lucrative Ecclesi- astical preferments, they are decidedly opposed. They are so opposed to them as almost to think it an abandonmen of their everlasting hopes to commune with an Episcoplian. They are friends of the people, firm and ardent. They are not monarchists. In politicks they are genuine republicans. When they go into the ministry, I speak of the main body • Note [4.] + Note [JJ.] m 19 of themi their object is to serve their iaWoyr men in re|;ard to to their beat interests, and this is their conscAe.ntipus ai)d prayerful endeavour through their piinistiy. This is their, profession, and of th^ sincerity of the.if profession, you have a thousand proofs. Thip you oughf to believe tiU^jjrou liayp some evidenqc to the conti^iy, f '» . • , . ^ , , . It is equs^ly veUJknQWii that the greater body of Waslv Ingtoni^n patriots an^ repuhlip^s, because they were not for goio^ all the lengths of a tumultuous and foolish demo- cracy, have been denounced as ^ tones a^d monarchists, trai- tors and tyrants,* >y design to bring on ^ monarchy, o^ to get the naxiou bjPkck ^gai9 w4?.r the poFcr of Great-Britain has been imputed to them^ XJud^f the force of these jfjE^rQ- sentations and od^ou^ epith&Ubi49>riPS ipdividuals hayi? h^^ep e^Qite4 to treat ,thp;)o w,ith opjpreasive, and v)jur|,ouif violence, and, in some ■recpnt instaiiiqeQ^ yri^th QUtrji^^ aod j^nrder. Where is th^ .evidence of .^^^ tn^th of , che^^^ |ip[>^ujtaUp|^ Is it in the self-consi^ji^ncy o^ the^r^.'^iRcipl9.9> aqid their zealf for the preservation o| the Constitution and of the Independ- ence of their Country ? Is it in their att?ichment to the per:, son, and sentimei^ts, and policy of Washington ? h it in theif preference Qf the i^eutrality he endeavoured to main- tain, to a}l alliajpces with foreign governments ? Is it in theij: wish to secure to the American peopje such a proiital>ie com- mercial intercourse with Great-Qritain as «vill take your surplus produce 00* your hands, which is useless to you, and give you, in return for it, their valuable msjinufa^tures, which, while it feeds the families of thousands of poor manufacturers in their dominions, would give a spring to industry, and multiply improvements in your own Country ? Is it in their abstinence from every thing like, insurrection and i*ebcllion, and their adherence to the laws, and their obedience to them, when, in their judgment, they are partial and oppressive ? Is it in the zeal with which ihey generally countenance and support those valuable literary and reli- gious institnAtions, which have been transmitted to us by our ancestors, and without the maintenance and influence ' ■' ■■ •Note [C] ^i'. , -. •• .. .• u i t otWhIcti we mtisiiiievUabljr revert back to barbarous ignd« rancC) and alt the stupidity of heathenism ? Is it in their pre- ference of peace to the cohfusiotis and desolations of war ? Or is it in the fifty thousand dollars' worth expositions of Hfehry ? Miserable evidence '.Poor support to the mere clamour of words ! Depend u^oii it, my hearers, these are all scarish tales, inventeid and propagated to answer a pur- pose. These people are as 'fkr'from b^iiig tones and mon'< archists' ; as far from whatever partbikes df suf>jugation to a foreign power, or natidnal'Stitiidfe ; they ai-e as far from wish-? ing to introduce any meas'iireswliich shall impede the public prosf)ienty, as'W arreh, or Montgoimeiy, or Mercer, or any of tb^ bravelierbcs were, wh'diii you have ' been Hccustomed to Eulogize in 'ybiir atinus^ repi]A)Iiban festivals. ^ They deplored Indeed 'that me'^d dietlensioh^ Which has turhciaus away f'rdiA 'flie' ddbet' habits of the first' planters of New-Eirigtind: ' Tliey d(^pl6'^^, lind ' it is confessed that, keeipihg themselves within thcilr 'dbn^titutional rights, they do resist, ihatl mistaken j^olity Whibh oegan wrong, and has been perpetually going from bad to' wbts^ ; which has sunk your national character in the ^yesof all mankind ; %hich has de- nied bread to poor ajid suffering foreigners, whien we had abundance of it to spare, and oppressed a large proportion of your fellow-citizens ; which has destroyed your revenues, exhausted your treasury, and palsied your arm ; which has almost annihilated your commerce, and is abbut to press you down with a heavy direct taxation ; a policy, which, in their judgments, was bringing, and which a leading mem- ber of the majority in Congress explicitly acknowledged had brought, you into that situation, that the cord put about your neck had only to be drawn a little tighter, and you would ex- pire. They labour to wrest the Country from this thraldom ; and to restore it to its former independence and prosperity. Is this wrong ? No, it is right. Then it is a serious and solemn question, which you aro called upon this day to re- solve, whether you are not sacredly bound to recal these foul aspersions, and take ofi* these restraints ; to loose these bands of wickedness, and undo these heavy burdens ; to let t/if T ■• 1 ';r, /■ 'I K 15 your oppicBsed fellow*citizens and Country go free, md and break every yoke ; to deal your bread to the hungry, and hide not yourselves from your ©wn flesh. — This apolo- gy is» III. To respect the nature of the neresy denounced.— We will remember it is, disagreement with the admin^ istration of our government in , the character it hat choaen to aatumCi in the course it haa tak,^** aince it went inter^ at best, the excess of captures must be worth less to them, ibeyond all comparison, than our trade ; and the subjugation /Of the country has ever been entirely oat «! the question. Our trade has been of great importance to them, not only for the nett profit of it, but •to keep their numerous manufacture!^ in employment and satisfied, and they have studiously endeavoured to preserve it. Farther proof we have in the protection often extended to our merchant vessels ; la their readiness to negotiate ; their' missions of public agents to thb country in succession, and notwithstan^ng some of them have been treated with indigni** ty ; the liberality of several public acts in favor of our com^ inerce ; and, lastof all,which is a very recent event,the prompt, and unconditional manner in which they have revoked their de^ creea in Council, as soon as they became possessed oi a proper revocation of the decrees of Berlin and Milan, by the French Emperor ; and their furnishing our ships, laden with valua- ble cargoes and leaving their dominions, with passports, se- curing them from capture by their ships of wai*, in confidence that our non4niportation laws would be repealed, yet wilhoiit the knowledge that they certainly would. With these things in view, it seems to me that no man in his sober senses can question, but that, as it has been certainly the policy so ii has in fact been the strong dcsire,of the British government to re- main at peace with us« And this ought to go far with us, and -*i.M^ indeed to be conclasive, unless we have wtry clear and indubi- table evidence to the contrary^ that these allegations are not founded in truth. . i As to the impressment of our native seamen, which has been so long a subject of controversy, and interested the pub- lic feeling so deeply, there have been undoubtedly wrongs. But the evidence seems to be that they are reciprocal, the most aggravated,and perhaps the most numerous on their side^ But this is a matter of negotiation. It has been once, at least, in a course of amicable adjustment, and would in fact have been adjusted, upon terms satisfactory to our own public min- isters, if we had chosen to have it so. Their government have disclaimed the right of impressing native Americans, and of retaining them when impressed. And their public minister, Mr. Foster, has formally assured our goverment, that upon proper infoi*m:ltion and evidence, every such per- son should iyc sought out and released. We ishall find noth- ing hexe then to prove that this war is a defensive war. 'As to the other source of complaint, the blockade of a part of the coast of France, lining the English Channel ; that is a point of doubtful disputation, and to us of trivial consequence, unless we choose to take part with the French Emperor in all his quarrels, and assist hitn,to the titmost of our ability ,to sub- jugate the world. We then have declared this war against Great-Britain, and invaded their territories, when they gave us strong proofs of their reluctance to enter into the combat. Nor is it to be forgotten, if we would be impartial in our en- quiries, that they have their complaints and pleas as well as ■we. If we complain that some of our seamen have been un- justly impressed; they complain that we ha^e encouraged the desertion of their seam6n, by holding out to them the* prospect of high wages, and that personal liberty and safety which our laws of naturalization extend to thera ; and that we have in fact detached multitudes of them from their allegiance, and decoyed them into our mercantile ser- vice, to the great reduction of their physical means of de- fence.* • Note[f.] ft *JI They have captured some of our vessels in execution ol ' their decrees in Council. But they plead that these decreet are altogether defensive, and that the execution ot'them is ea-' sential to their existence, as a maritime and commerci-.tl na-* tion, -whose destruction their enemy was seeliinia; by every * mean in hh power. Are we sure that this plea is not well i fouiided»and that webughtnot to have submitted to such a small rediictibn of our commercial profit^ rather than strengthen the hands of this cinielibe ? Thei question then- comes really to tHift ; Have I a right to become the open rno-" my of my unofTcriding neighbour, who wishes to live peacea- bly by me, and to maintain an intercoui's^ which shall be' mutually advantageous f Have I a 'right to rise upon hiiii," and to kill hittl, because he dedthes to submit to certain terms of doubtful equity Hvhich I prescribe to him ? It appears to' me that the conscience of every man, who has not a pretty' strong inclination to shed the blood of his fellow creatiirei must determine instantly in the negative. And, W hat says' the Qcripture, that infellible authority, to which we are to ap-' peal in all questions of moral right ? To the enquiry, <^ Whence c6me wars and fightings among you ;'* it replies^ by the farther enquiry, ** Come they not hence, even of your^ Itasts that war in your members?" One of its express laws- is, (( Thou Shalt not kill." It tells you that he that hareth his brother is a murderer ; and that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. It assures you that '< he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done, and that there is no respect of persons." It Informs you that *^ he that taketh the sword shall perish with the sword.*' It instructs you to recompense no man evil even fur evil; and, if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, to live peacea- bly with ail mien. It pathetically entreats, << Dearfy beloved§ avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath ; for it is written, vengeance is mine, 1 will repay, saith the Lord. ' Therefore, if thine enemy hvmger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. Be not overcome of evil ; but over- come evil with good." It goes farther : your Redeemer thus addresses you, " Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and » tuuth for a tooth . But I say ante you that ye resist not evil, but wliosoever shall smite the* on thf right cheekt turn the other ulso ; and if any roan will su« thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him hav« thy rioak also : And whosoever shall compel thee to go a milet go with him twain. Yc have heard tliat it bath been saidt Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies ; bless them that curse you ; do good to them that hate you, and pray fur them which despitefuUy use you and persecute you i that ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven j for he roaketh his son to rise on the evil and on the good, and aendeth rain on the jubt and on the unjust." .,, ^f,^, , if,,;,),,. . See then how the Scripture arrays itself) by clear and pathetic instructions, in defence of the heresy according to which we worship the God of our fathers ! Think, my brethren, of the spirit and effects of war. What malignant and furious passions does it excite ! What tumults and terrors, what disorders and crimes does it pro- duce ! What desolationji does it spread ! What scenes; of horror does it present ! How opposite, in its iiatare, and in all its effects, to that charity which is so distinctly delineated by the sacred penmen, and of which our holy Redeemer wa» a perfect example ; which suifereth Kmg and is kind ; irhicb envicth not, and vaunteth not itself which is not easily pro- voked, and thinketh no evil I Faither, 0«r Lord gives us a lessen of wisdom which is particularly apposite to thi« subject. He asks <* For which of you, intending to build a house, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, wbetber he hav^e sufficient to build it ? Lest, haply, after he hath laid the fininds^on, aOd is not able to finish it, all that behold him, begin tomock him^ saying. This man began to build and was aot aUe to finish* Or, What king, going to make war with another king, sitteth not down firstj and consuiteth, whether he be able, vcith ten thousand, to meet him that coroeth against him with twenty thousand i Or else, while the other is a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. Upon j)»,WK'rtiSS»t'« li*««^»JfcV, t> th« Btrengtb of Umm letiont of a cautUmAiy wMdom^ I would therefore remark) ,r..;... 4. That k is a con«deratioii «rhkh goes far indeed in de- fence of the heresy mentioned, that the war is entered upon> in the most ioauspidoua circumstances, and*witK ecarce a shadow of a proapect of aucc^ts, and wUh the moral certaintf) if it proceeds, of extingiiiahing wtMt remains of eur foreign commerce, and brin^^g upon the nation a debt, and taxation wliich it will not be able to bear. Has oui* government aitten down wisely and eatiroated the strength of the nation thef have made their enemy, and their own strength ^ Have they not dona exactly otherways ? Have they not fti stent off their own arms, and then, with the bleeding stamps, rushed on the object of their vengeance, shielded in every part, well armed tu destroy, and of gigantic strengtli I Divided, as we are ; the great majority in the northern sections of the country, where only the power of doing any thing effectually exists, decidedly opposed to the war ; its advocates irreso* late, at least in the point of quitting their homes, and offering tbems^ves to the battle ;. a conaiderable debt already upon our handi i our commence and revenue next to annihilated ; our treasury exhausted, and without a navy, how great is our wealuEiess I And is not the nation we have challenged to thia combat shielded in every part, and of gigantic strength ? Is net their ability perpetually on the increase, notwithstanding they have carried on along war with the greatest power in the world, next to- themaelves I Are not their dominions, their po- pulation, and their means immense ? Have they not a prodi-- gious force on. the land, organized in every part of it, and ready for action I And how' very powerful is their marine ? Have they lost a foot of gvouud for the few years past, or a single battle ? How invariably do they triomph at sea ! Al- ready doi their ships of war line our coasts, and spread des- truction among our privateers and merchant vessels. This is in consequence of our declaring war against them. And where will the destruction stop ? We arc to calculate merely upon loss, vast expenditures, and national degradation. Ex- pedience then comes in strong-ly to the support of the heresy^ 24 according to which we think it ourdiity to worship the God of our fathers. . lu the fifth and last pkcc, thia opposition jut reasonable and just, and even a matter of most imperious rtecessity, be* cause there are, such clear indications of an understanding, and a coalition between our administration, and the imperial despotof Europe ; aiding his nefarious designs, and, in its proper tendency, subjecting us to his Avill. Not to descend to minute particulars, whicli have been iwticed by writers well acquainted with these subjects, we need only look at the aspect of palpable and undisguised facts. Have we not Frenchmen in office ? Have we not Frenchmen in our cities who are ardent in their national partialities, and who feel themselves under so much countenance here, that they dare to attempt to exasperate the citizens against each other, and to subvert the government ; dare to trample on the laws, stop the course of public information, and tumultuously and murdurously, and by unparalleled barbarities, to uke away the lives of our citizens ? Has not the French Emperor told us that he will have no neutrals, and that in fact we were at war with Great-Britain, long before tlie formal declaration of it ? Have not our restrictive measures been in perfect agree- ment with his continental system I Has not the declaration of war exactly coincided with his wishes and expectations I Has he not relaxed, and finally revoked, his decrees, in rc- !^ect to us, upon this ground ? Was not the declaration of war a matter of congratulation between its advocates in Con- gress, and the French minister at the elbow of our cabinet I Does not the war operate in favour of the Emperor's designs, just as though it was in fact in obedience to his will ? Then, if, the evidence falls something short of conclusively proving a coalition which amounts to a proper alliance, or rather a vas- sal subjection, it is of such an aspect as to be greatly alarming, and as furnishes abundant cause to deplore this war, and to in- duce us to make every practicable effort to bring it to a closa as soon as possible. Could a greater calamity befal the country than for it to be completely caught in the toils of this relentless oppressor of I 35 ■ the human family ? What an abject condition should we be in ! How great would be our fall 1 How irretrievable our ruin 1 Whata melancholy contrast to that manly independence and un- exampled prosperity which we enjoyed under the first admin- istrations of our government ! Look over the interior ofConti* tental Europe, where not long ago kingdoms and republics stood and prospered ; where deliberative assemblies acted with independence and effect, and the voice of numerous au- thorities was heard. A death-like silence now reigns over all. Not a motion but what is in obedience to individual will. Not one dares pour his complaints into the bosom of an- other. The deep-drawn sigh is half suppressed. The sun- burnt female, whose hands draw from the soil the means of her subsistence, dares not audibly express her grief to the en- quiring traveller, that her brothers have been torn away from her afflicted parents to serve in the armies,* Arc we prepa**- ed to precipitate ourselves into a state of degradation and mis- cry bordering upon this ? II we would not, let us, as fast us we can, get back again to peace, impartiality, and independence. In a very few words the apology is to shew, IV. What will be the salutary and benign effects, should this heresy triumph over our country, and supersede, by u general influence, that philosophic and political oiLhodoxy, which, to our eye, is a mere system of infidelity, infatuation and ruin. These effects are obvious. From past experience and the nature of the case we may conclude, i!iat our divisions would be removed, and union would be restoicd to us, a.s a people ; that cabal, and tumult and riot would cease ; that the wounds inflicted on our country would be healed ; that peace would immediately take place upon honorable tei ins ; that commerce would be restored to its full vigor ; that the pub- lic credit would be raised j that a new spring woUld be given to useful improvements ; that religion would be disembarras- sed of many of its present impediments ; that the freedom of debate and of the press would be recovered ; that ambitious demagogues, and oflicc-scekers, and men of nterc p:\rty, Such ca^s l\3ve nctuallv come untl.'r * This i, iitjt mere painlinj. ^i"v.- of travellers. I... 9 3'6 \m vvould cease to mislead the public mind, by thdf MlSflipt^ft- seht^tibhs atid falsehoods ; that the elective frdficbh^ -^otd be uiilimitedly enjoyed arid rightly cxerdsed ; dh'd th&t) id consequence, men of integrity and talents wbuld be ^&i'&6(i to oifBce ; that dignity, indepehdehce and ivtsdoni, woiud characterize our public councils ; and that the nation wourd live in prbsperity at least a little longer. *' If thoti taUc away frdni the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the fin- geir, and speaking ymiity ; if thou d^a^v; out tihy soul to this hungry and satisfy the afflicted soiil i then shail tliy light rl^e in obscurity, and ttVy darkness shall be as the noon day. Ahd the Lord shall gUidc thee continually, and satisfy tby soul ih drought, and make fat thy bones ; and thou sh^ll be like a ^vatered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters faii not." Isaiah Iviii, 10. .-.. ... .^ Then let us be penitcntiy humf>Ie, for every miiig, iii res- pect to our God, our country, and one another, wherein our consciences convict us of wrong, particularly in Regard to the calamitious war, in which, not <" the injusti'ce of a foreign power ;"* but our own misguided policy and folly have in- volved us. Let Us worship God, according to righteousness, and pray for the success of our arms so far as, and no farther than, they arc employed in support of a cause which he him- self can approve. Let us mingle with our penitential contri- tions and acknowledgements, grateful prsuse to God tTiat he has disposed the goveVnment of 'Great-Britain, with siicb a promptitude and unconditionality, as soon as they hadinfornna- tion of the revocation of the decrees of Berlin and Milati, in respect to American vessels, and before they had any knowl- edge of our declaration of war, to annul their orders in coun- cil ; and, by thus removing, what some influential advocates of the administration have acknowledged to be, the only prop- er ground of the war, rendering the restoration of a speedy peace, a matter of the fairest calulation, if not of inevitable necessity. And if there, be those present who still choose to consider and treat our opposition to this war, as a dangerous hcrosvj * ProcUmation. 27 kt them be intreated to give ua at least that liberty cf think- ing, speaking and acting which they claim ; and 1 will con- clude by only saying to thepi ii> t|>i^ regard, in the words of St. Paul, which he uttered on the occasion of making a subse- quent apology before another civil magistrate, " Would to God ! that not only ye, but that all who are m the same judg- ment, were not only almost, but. altogetlier, such as wc are, f«?ept(thffsct?oiuJf." . ,,.,., .. :, .,,„,,-,, , ^^ ,-;,..f^ ' ■.■.:)\ini.:i{t hv: 1. . ■• , ' :; ' ' .! v- t .^'ri.i'j- !-::h > Ir 1 . .1 >! •> ■l l; ! ';.: .t f 1 t . •*„ .i i. I PINfJS, •)•■'. . '..jo; -l^ i ' :. . '■",!■; I > ■ f f >t, I :• t-,il; -.1 ' 1 '.'. r\: ii.-j. ,-tb -•• i,\ f !■ ' 0, .1- 'II ;i» 'J ., -■3!'/ :^'.v (■•)«: i> Mij :. ,; ; -i: ' .'• • ' ■• 1- V '. i-i- - ■ I,!''-* • ■' -••;n.'' -.li'/*"- ■';■,• v., , »■ • t: r'-': V . v , ,,■> ^ \ J.. '' . <> ■A. A -'A- NOTES, . . >; ■ \''y.^ r'. •;i:r.rf:r '. , .1 'i ' / ,"u>.'-i ..<;.; • ..'.,' , . > J V, ):. ir ; i;.oU NOTE [^O—-'''^^* ^2. '),:::.(. LIBERTY of conscience is a dear privilege. It has full ^cope in this Country, and the clamor of sectarians is utterly with> out ground. To build upon this cl^im, doctrines and measures which leave nothing permanent j which, in effect, annul solemn covenants, and contradict our f:ommonest notions of honesty, is ^aerely to use liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, pr covetous- ness, or licentiousness. Instead of strengthening civil govern- ment, it subverts it. It is directly in the face of the constitution of this Commonwea1th,which declares that, " the legislature shall, from lime to time, authorize and require, the several towns, par- ishes, precincts, and other bodies politic or religious, to make sui- table provision at their own expence, for the institution of the public worship of God, and for the support and maintenance of public protestant teachers of piety and religion." How idle are all laws to this purpose, if they undo themselves by provisionsal relaxations ; if they warrant the individuals, who have de- deliberately acted in forming a contract for the support of such a teacher, to break away, at any moment, from the obligations of the contract, and deny the support they promised to furnish ! Better have no legislation than to have it so extravagantly absurd. The Baptists are the most clamorous for iuch a prostration of constitu- tion and law. And alas ! they have not clamored without effect. It is hoped and believed that thejudiciary will stand firm in defence ct" the Constitution, and treat as mere nullities, as the mere offspring of a disorganizing democracy, all laws evidently subver- sive of it. Let us have full-grown liberty, but no dwarfish licentiousness. NOTE [/?.]— .Pfl^-f 12. A Farmer : No. lo. Such is the strain of malediction in this jMiident disclosure of feeling. *' In this liberty (the voluntary election and support of ministers) and in the politic9l causes which have and are every day disgusting it, if they are continued, we fore- ree the downfall of federal clergymen. — Already has the forgiving spirit plead for clergymen seventy times seven. — Adverse combi^ riations, oppugnations, disrcfpect, reproach, and systematic revil- 2'j '.'<} ings are (in the essence and nature of the crimes) iedition, trea. son, and rebellion. — Justice, duty, religion and patriotism, would not hesitate to denounce such an individual an outrageous offender, and to treat him as an outlaw. — If an individual, obligated by pro- fessioqal ties, holding the keys, and dispensing the seals of the Old and New Covenant, should do this, he would be consideied as deserving every thing that the injured could take, or the insult- ed and betrayed could inflict." Thus, in exact coincidence with the infidel hatreds, and revolutionary projects of the philosopher of Ferney, this writer spread the watchword of the downfall and slaughter of all the federal congregational ministers of New-En. gland, who were forty-nine out of fifty. It was this downfall which his prophetic eye foresaw (for, he knew they were con< scientious men, and would continue in the same course of fidelity to God and their Country) and which he revealed, therefore which he gave his voice to have effected. He gave the watch, ward of their slaughter, I say ; for this is the fair construction of his tyords ; nay, they admit of no other meaning. For he who is an outlaw is put beyond the protection of the law, and any body may kill him with impunity. He who wpuld justly be considered as deserving every thing that the injured could take, or the insult- edi and betrayed could inflict, would certainly be obnoxious to a violent death* The proceeding is to.be without trial, summary, and popular. And what is the crime which is of this malignant character, and which this temperate writer denominates sedition, treason, and rebellion i Why, it is receiving the Palladium, when sent to them gratuitously, and«xpressing, with some independence of thought, occasionally, their opinions of public men and mea< sures. We forgive this writer. We pity him. We wish him well with all our heart. But we are ashamed that such an ebulli- tion of despotism and malignity should ever have emanated from a press in New- England. And we are constrained to say, that if he reinaiins of the some dispositions, towards honest clergymen, who dare to foUdw evidence and conscience, he ought to have been «ent for to act as lieutenant to the French Apothecary at Mob- town. With this may be joined, as a kindred effusion, the anathama found in the string of Resolutions passed by the Middlesex As- semblage of Republican Delegates, in Concord, Samuel Hoak, Esq. Moderator, and, as is supposed, the Honorable, the Presi- sident of the Senate, amanuensis. *^ Resolved that those professed teachers of religion, who have pcrverfd their vocations to party purposes, and have become the 30 ■postlcsot sedition, llie priests of discord and the ministers oi" faction, calumniaiing their rulers, and speaking evil of dignities, nrc lebels against Heaven and traitors to their Country/and, as they have withdrawn trom the duties of their calling, from their obli- gations, as Christians and citizens, so citizens and Christians should withdraw from their employment and support." Reader, Would you not imagine from tlie aspect of this resolution, that a large proportion of the Congregational Clergy in the County of Middle- sex had abandoned their pulpits, and their professional duties, and gone up and down the Country, like Peter the Hermit, preaching a crusade against the government, causelessly vilifying its public j^ents, for the mere purpose of spreading the flame of a civii war i Whereas, they jtre all quietly at their homes^ and discharging, as ever, their pastoral functions ; and no such character exists in the Commopwejilth, unless in tb? precincts of Lracut. Would you not imagin/S that the$e e^^clusLve patriots were warranted by the Supreme Being to a|ct a3 his vicars in the ^reat affair of JMdging the world ? Yet, perhaps, few m^n would be put to more difficulty to furnish evidence of their participation ip his counsels. An4) ff^jftwv "It must be then that the reason why they (the British) insist upon this right is, that they wouid wish to check the disposition of their own seamen to enter into our service, of whom it is admitted on all hands, we have at least from 30,, to 50,000." page nth.. . DATE DUE A fine of five cents will be charged for each day overdue. j v ! tt ft »J • ► ; r J . • • i>rli oti. ' "orn Mm ! >• M ■(jT ,!»'ir SiiiiS' SIGN BOOK CARD AND LEAVE AT CHARGING DESK IF BOOK IS TO BE USED OUT OP THE LIBRARY BUILDING nho\ 2^ ots 176012 ►«— es- J