IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 
 ^ A 
 
 {/ 4!^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 f/. 
 
 4^ 
 
 ^c, 
 
 ^ 
 
 t 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 ■iilM 125 
 UA Ui2 ■2.2 
 Z U£ |2.0 
 
 IJ£ 
 
 IL25 III 1.4 
 
 1.6 
 
 \ 
 
 Hiotoj")3phic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporajion 
 
 33 WiST MAIN STREfT 
 
 WIBSTIR,N.Y. M5M 
 
 (716) •72-4503 
 
 r<\^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ;\ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 B 
 
 ^^ ^\ ^rS 
 
CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Cnadiin Institute for Hi.to,ical Micror.p,oductloni / l„.titut cnadlen d. mlcror.productlon. hlnoriquM 
 
T«chnieal and BibHograpMc Notaa/Notas tachniquaa at bibtiographiquaa 
 
 Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat 
 original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia 
 copy which may ba MMiographioaHy uniqua. 
 which may altar any of tha imagaa In tha 
 raproduction. or which may aignificantly changa 
 tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. 
 
 □ Colourad covara/ 
 Couvartura da coulaur 
 
 I I Covara damagad/ 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Couvartura andommag#« 
 
 Covars raatorad and/or laminatad/ 
 Couvartura raataurAa at/ou pallieulAa 
 
 rn Covar titia misaing/ 
 
 La titra da couvartura manqua 
 
 r~n Colourad mapa/ 
 
 Cartas gAographiquas an coulaur 
 
 Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black)/ 
 Encra da coulaur (i.a. autra qua blaua ou noira) 
 
 r~~| Colourad platas and/or illuatrationa/ 
 
 Planchaa at/ou illuatrationa 9n coulaur 
 
 Bound with othar matariai/ 
 RalM avac d'autras documanta 
 
 Tight bindcng may causa ahadowa or distortion 
 along intarior margin/ 
 
 La re liura sarrAe paut causar da I'ombra ou da la 
 diatortion la long da la marga intAriaura 
 
 Blank laavas addad during rastoration may 
 appaar within tha taxt. Whanavar possibla. thasa 
 hava baan omittad from filming/ 
 11 sa paut qua cartainas pagas blanchaf ajouttes 
 lora d'una raatauration apparaissant dans la taxta, 
 mais, lorsqua cala 6tait poaaibia, caa pagaa n'ont 
 paa tti filmAas. 
 
 Additional commants:/ 
 Commantairas supplAmontaires; 
 
 L'inatitut a microfilm* la maillaur axamplaira 
 qu'il lui a 4tA poaaibia da aa procurak*. Las details 
 da oat axamplaira qui sont paut-Atra uniquaa du 
 point da vua bibliographiqua. qui pauvant modifiar 
 una imaga raproduita, ou qui pauvant axigar una 
 modification dana la mAthoda normala dc :>9maga 
 aont Indiquia ci-daasous. 
 
 □ Colourad pagas/ 
 Pagaa 
 
 Pagaa da coulaur 
 
 Pagaa damagad/ 
 Pagaa andommagAaa 
 
 Pagaa rastorad and/oi 
 
 Pagaa rastaurtes at/ou palliculAas 
 
 Pagaa discoloured, stainad or foxai 
 Pagaa d^colorAas, tachatAas ou piquias 
 
 Pagaa datachad/ 
 Pagaa dAtachias 
 
 Showthrough; 
 Tranaparanca 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Quality intgaitt da I'imprassion 
 
 Inciudas supplamantary mat,«rii 
 Compcand du material suppMmantaira 
 
 Only adition avaiiabla/ 
 Saula Mition disponibia 
 
 r"! Pagaa damagad/ 
 
 I j Pagaa rastorad and/or laminatad/ 
 
 rri Pagaa discoloured, stainad or foxad/ 
 
 r~n Pagaa datachad/ 
 
 Fy] Showthrough/ 
 
 r"! Quality of print varias/ 
 
 I I Inciudas supplamantary material/ 
 
 r~n Only adition avaiiabla/ 
 
 D 
 
 Pagas wholly or partially obscurad by errata 
 aiips, tissues, etc., hava been isfilned to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Lea pagas totalament ou partiaiiement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont 6ti filmtes it nouveau de fa? on A 
 obtenir la meilleure image possible. 
 
 This item is filmed at tha reduction ratio checked beiow/ 
 
 Ce document eat film* au taux da reduction indiquA ci-daaaoua. 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26X 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 >/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 
 
 
 16X 
 
 
 
 
 aox 
 
 
 
 
 24X 
 
 
 
 
 28X 
 
 
 
 
 32X 
 
 
Th« copy filmed bmn has b««n r«produe«d ttianks 
 to tha owMToalty of: 
 
 Library of tlia Pubiic 
 Arcliivas of Canada 
 
 L'axamplaira fHm4 fut raproduit grica A la 
 gAiWkoaltA da: 
 
 La bibiiotMqua daa Archivaa 
 pubiiquaa du Canada 
 
 Tim imagaa appaaring iiara ara tlia baat quality 
 poaaibia conaidaring tha condition and iagibiiity 
 of tlia original copy and in Icaaping with tha 
 filming contract spacificationa. 
 
 Original copias in printad papar covara ara fllmad 
 beginning with tha rront eovar and anding on 
 tha last paga with a printad or illuatratad improa- 
 aion, or tha bade covar whan appropriata. All 
 other original copiaa ara filmed beginning on the 
 firat page with a p: ited or illuatratad imprae- 
 aion, and ending on the iaat page with a printed 
 or illuatratad impraaaion. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol — »■ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol ▼ (meaning "END"), 
 whichever appliaa. 
 
 Lea imagaa suh^antea ont AtA reproduitea avac la 
 plus grand soln, compta tenu de le condition et 
 de le nettetA de i'exemplaire fiimA. et en 
 conformity avac las conditions du contrat de 
 fiimage. 
 
 Lea exempleirea originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier eat imprimia sent filmAs en commen^ant 
 par la premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 damlAre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impreaaion ou d'iliustration, soit par le aacond 
 plat, salon la caa. Toua lea autras exempiaires 
 originaux sent flimto en commandant par la 
 pramiAre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impreaaion ou d'iliustration et en terminant par 
 la darnlAre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la 
 darniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: la cymbole — ► aignifia "A SUIVRE". la 
 aymboia Y signifie "FIN". 
 
 IMaps. plates, charta, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Lea cartea, planches, tableeux, etc., peuvent Atre 
 filmAs A des taux de rAduction diff Arenta. 
 Lorsque le document eat trop grand pour Atre 
 reproduit en un aeui clicliA, ii eat f ilmA A partir 
 de i'angie supArieur geuche, de geuche A droite, 
 et de haut an baa, en prenant la nombra 
 d'imagea nAceaaaire. Lea diagrammes suivhnts 
 iiiustrent la mAthode. 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
M^ 
 
leeaiK 
 
 16 
 
 our American Colonies Examined. 
 
 A 
 
 ■ . > i'jt^' 
 
 v^.^ 
 
 ^:.' 
 
 4 E R M O N, 
 
 Preached at Imveresk, December la. 1776, 
 
 BEING 
 
 The Fa ST -Da T appointed by the King, on account of 
 The American Rebellion. 
 
 
 I 
 
 JByALEXANDER C ARLYLE,D.D. 
 
 Minifter of InTerefk, and Almoner to hisMajefty* 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 Printed for J. MURRAY, London, 
 And J. DICKSON, Edinburfh. 
 
 I r — 
 
 M,DCC,UXXVII. 
 
 (PjllCK 0»% SHILLlNa.) 
 
 '^f^^ 
 
 Vi'. 
 
mf 
 
 4 
 
 If ii'^p" 
 
 ;5>. 
 
 i VI ^.^ u inj y.hDi^.:i%h •; uo 
 
 
 \J 
 
 ,!■>' 
 
 
 i,-..i» 
 
 * 1 
 
 i\ '^ -< I 
 
 tr 'i-'f'/l^'J*"'-^.!^' .??.l '« f '^'/yl 'f: ^ ''f;:^.';''l 
 
 i . " , -1 . 1 
 
 '..r*.v iTO ,;j>i;yt 5ii} vJ f.?-»n''-q?j» t^.O- i?i,4 .ri»' 
 
 v'O^J 
 
 I ; i # J] 
 
 ' r' 
 
 :. -^J v.^t(t,a. ■ :. ( 
 
 
 .^i-^V'^-^^-* '^ ■- 
 
 
 % 
 
 ^ 
 
'\ 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 THIS Sermon fhould have been publiih- 
 ed fome time ago, in deference to 
 the requeft of the hearers, had it not been 
 for the author's rehi6tance to trouble the 
 Public with his thoughts on a fubjed, that 
 had fo often employed much abler pens. He 
 will be happy if his difcourfe fhall contri- 
 bute in the leaft to increafe that great tide 
 of national opinion, by which even Sove- 
 reigns and legiflators muft be carried along. 
 
'WJIZZ'^uOc 
 
 i« 
 
 
 1 1 . 1 
 
 f/U dc^^'^, 
 
The juflicc and ncccfTity of the War 
 with our AmericanColonies, 
 r. confidcrcd. 
 
 Shall I yet again go out to battle againji the 
 children of Benjamin my brother^ or Jhall I, 
 ceafe ? Judges xx. 28. 
 
 THESE words are taken from the hifto- 
 ry of that war which the children of 
 Ifrael carried on againft the tribe of Benja- 
 min, on account of an enormous a£t of 
 cruelty and injufllce done to a private per- 
 fon of Ifrael, by the men of Gibeah, a town 
 of Benjamin. Compenfation for this inju- 
 ry was at firft demanded ; but it was refufed 
 with infolence. War enfued ; and the Ifrael- 
 ites were defeated in two great battles, with 
 the lofs of forty thoufand men. They had 
 confulted the Lord each time they had ta- 
 ken the field ; but, for wife reafons, only 
 known to himfelf, he fought not on their 
 fule. The children of Ifrael, afflided and 
 difmayed, and afFraid that their fins wer^— 
 
 A the 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 the Iccrct caiife of their difcoinfiuiic, kept a 
 
 folernn fafl: unto the Lord, * and went up, 
 
 Vand came unto the hoiiieof God, and wept, 
 
 ' and tiiero fiit before the LonU and faft- 
 ' cd that day until even, and ofTercd burnt- 
 
 * offerings, and pcace-ofl'erings before the 
 ' Lord.' After this lu^ly preparation, they a- 
 gain inquired of the Lord, * Shall 1 yet a- 
 ' gain go out to battle againfl the chil- 
 
 * dren of Benjar. iii my brother, or lliall 
 
 * I ceafe V l he plain conclufion from 
 this condud. of the Ifraelites is. That na- 
 tions mud perfevcre with fortitude in a righ- 
 teous caufe, and continue to apply to God 
 by prayer, and all the duties of religion, if 
 they hope for fuccefs in war. 
 
 On former occafions, fimilarto this, when 
 we have been called upon, by ourigj^^jj 
 Sovereign, to addreis the King of Kings, for 
 a blefling upon bis counfels and arn)S, it 
 has been on account of foreign wars, in 
 which the fafetyor honour of the nation or 
 its allies, have neceflariiy engaged us on the 
 clearen; grounds ; and there Tifl no need of ex- 
 plaining the:n to you. The very laft w^ar 
 was undertaken on fuch grounds ; for it was 
 
 in 
 
( 3 ) 
 
 in dclcuicc of our ancient colonics, (now in 
 arms agalnft their prurcdors), wlio were then 
 in daiij^er of being fubdued by tlie enemies 
 vi the I>riiilh empire. You may remember 
 with what zeal and afFcdion you efpouled 
 their caufc, and what fincere and fervent 
 prayers you repeatedly (jffered up to hea- 
 ven in their behalf, touched with the fcni'c 
 of their calamities, and alarmed at their 
 danger. How fuon are things changed ! 
 and how great the change ! Not long after 
 the conclufion of that bloody and expenfivc 
 war, in recent remembrance, while that ge- 
 neration ftill lives and flourilhes which we 
 faved from the foe, thofe ungrateful colo- 
 nies, by their foul revolt, have forced us in- 
 to the mOi\ unnatural and dangerous war a- 
 gainft themfelves. And, led your minds, 
 my brethren, fliould not be prepared to 
 change as faft as theirs, led the remains of 
 your partial affedlion fhould make you 
 fliut your eyes to the juftice and necefTity 
 of this war, I think it incumbent on me, as 
 a proper exercife for this day, to fliew you 
 the grounds on ivh'ich zve are gone outt and 
 9ught again to go out againf. the children of 
 
 Benjamin^ 
 
{ 4 ) 
 
 litnjamin^ our brother ^ andjljouhl not ceafcy 
 that your prayers for fliccefs to almighty 
 God may be equally rational and fervent. 
 I Ihall, in tl^.c \Jl pLice, endeavour to flicv/' 
 the juftice anj necellity of" this war. And 
 then, 
 
 2dlyy Point out our duty, in the prelent 
 circumftances, to God and to our country. 
 
 In the ift place, I am to fhew the juftice 
 and rieceflity of this war. 
 
 But how fhall I enter into fo wide a field ? 
 or in what method fhall I treat fuch a co- 
 pious fubjed ? The iketch I can, now give 
 you of it, muft of necefTity be fhort ; And 
 I muft truft to your previous knowledge, to 
 fill up and fupply my brief and imperfect 
 delineation. 
 
 Let us examine the grounds of this re- 
 volt, and try if we can find them in an- 
 cient right, or in recent provocation; or, if 
 thefe fliould fail, let us then fee if expedi- 
 ency obliges, or the honour of the nation 
 permits us, to yield to their demands. 
 
 The adventurers who firft fet out from 
 Europe to the new difcovered country of 
 America, went all in fearch of the pre- 
 cious 
 
 L. 
 
i 5 ) 
 
 cious metals. Our colonifls engaged in 
 their cnterprizes with the fame view j and, 
 when they were difappointed, they chan- 
 ged their ohjedl: for others more hicrativcto 
 themfelves, and to the mother^country. 
 Difcontent with the various forms of 
 government, civil or ecclefiaftical, chat pre- 
 vailed in their turns at home, during the 
 laft century, led many afterwards to feek 
 for more peaceful abodes in that diftant 
 region. But, whatever were the obje£ls of 
 the iirft fettlers of our American domini- 
 ons, feparation troni the government of 
 Britain was none of them ; for, to preferve 
 their connexion with their native land, 
 they went all under charters granted by 
 the fovereign of this country, with certain 
 rights to the lands where they fettled, and 
 with the grant of certain powers defined by 
 the charters, and to be adminiftered in fuch 
 manner as they prefcribe. As corpora- 
 tions, they had rights given them to make 
 bye-laws for themfelves ; and, as corpora- 
 tions derived from, and fubfifting by high- 
 er authority, they continued fubjtdl to the 
 conlroul of that authority. It is impoffible, 
 
 indeed^ 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 ! ) 
 
 indeed, to conceive any other idea of a cor- 
 poration ereded by charter, than that it 
 Ihoiild continue fubjed to the author of 
 
 that charter. 
 
 . And if they, for their own intereft, an- 
 xioufly preferved their connection with 
 Britain, it was clearly her part to keep them 
 in fubjedion and dependence. For what end 
 did flie fend out colonies, but to benefit her- 
 felf, to extend her commerce and her power, 
 to increafe induftry and population, and ad- 
 vance her happinefs and profperity ? Why 
 fhould (he have nouriflied and protected 
 them in their infancy, lupplied them with 
 the neceflaries of life, and the means of 
 improvement, if fhe had not confidered 
 them as part of herfelf ? Why fhould fhe 
 have fettled them once and again, when dri- 
 ven off by the natives, and encouraged and 
 ftrengthened them at great expence of blood 
 and of treafure, if not for her own com- 
 mon benefit and theirs ? And why have 
 the colonics, for almofl two centuries, been 
 fuch favourite objedts of her legiflation? 
 Thofe who are acquainted with our body of 
 
 law 
 
 •^1 
 
jeen 
 on? 
 of 
 
 r&l 
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 laws, know well how great a part of it re- 
 fpeds the colonies. Their affairs of go- 
 vornmcnt and commerce are (o thoroughly- 
 incorporated with that code, that they 
 could not be erafed from it, without al- 
 moft deftroying the whole. This of it- 
 Telf lufficiently ihews how much their inte- 
 reft and ours have been blended together, 
 and ftrongly marks their dependence on the 
 legiflature of Great Britain. 
 
 On this fubjed, indeed, till of late years, 
 there has been no difpute. The colonifts ac- 
 knowledged the authority of the King and 
 parliament, and fubmitted to them on all oc- 
 cafions. In return for their obedience, 
 they claimed the protedlion of the ftate, 
 which was given them, with every mark 
 of partiality and indulgence. And thus, 
 with all the advantage of diftant fettle- 
 ments for the improvement of their for- 
 tunes, they and their pofterity remained 
 denizens of Great Britain, with the power 
 of returning when prompted by inclination 
 or wealth, and of enjoying the moft ample 
 privileges of native fubjeds. Antient right 
 then furnifhes no ground for this revolt. 
 
 Let 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 h 11 
 
 Let us next fee if it can be juftified by- 
 recent provocation. 
 
 You all know, my brethren, the necefli- 
 ty of taxes for the fupport of the ftatc. 
 As we give up part of our natural liberty, 
 and fubmit to be reRrained by laws, that 
 our perfons and property may be fafe from 
 the criminal invafions of other men, we 
 likewife yield part of our property to fecure 
 the reft : T hat is, to pay the neceflary ex- 
 pence of government and the execution of 
 the laws ; to fupport the fupreme magiftrate 
 and his judges and officers in fuitable dig- 
 nity, and to defray the expence of fleets 
 and armies, for the common defence and 
 protedion of the whole. And, left the co- 
 vetous ihould with- hold his fliarc, the law 
 forces it out of his hoard, that the reft of 
 his fellow-citizens may not pay more than 
 their juft proportion. By the happy confti- 
 tution of our country, thefe taxes are not 
 arbitrary demands, but laid on by the re- 
 prefentatives of the people, with the confent 
 of the houfe of Lords aud the Sovereign ; fo 
 that no nation was ever fo well fecured a- 
 gainft an oppreffive or unequal taxation. 
 
 To 
 
 't 
 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 To make it compleat, every perfon within 
 our wide extended empire fhoulJ contri- 
 bute according to his ability, otherwife the 
 burden muft tall unequally. 
 
 When the colonies were in their infant- 
 ftate, flruggling with difficulties and with 
 enemies, they were not in a condition to 
 contribute to the common charge. They 
 needed bounties and rewards for their en- 
 couragement; and accordingly they received 
 them from the parent-ftate. But afterwards, 
 as their commerce and wealth incr^afed, 
 they were fometimes diredlly taxed, as well 
 as the reft of the Britifli dominions, and 
 that as early as the times of Cromwell 
 and Charles the Second, and down to 
 the period immediately previous to the 
 difpute. Thefe taxes, indeed, were laid 
 on with a fparing hand, becaufe the co- 
 lonies had but lately emerged from infant- 
 weaknefs ; Hut the authority of the ads 
 of parliament was never difputed till now, 
 and the taxes impofed by them were p^id 
 when demanded. 
 
 B But, 
 
i! ! 
 
 ( i° ) 
 
 But, if there had been no exercife of this 
 right of the legiflature, prior to our own 
 days, the right muft have remained entire, 
 becaufe it is elfential to government, found- 
 ed in juftice and equity, and in the law of 
 nature ind nations. The fupreme power 
 of the ftate would, at any time, have been 
 .entitled to impofe part of the public burden 
 on our fellow-fubjeds in America, provided 
 thofe impofitions were juft and fair. For 
 I do not contend for paflive obedience 
 and non-refiftance to fupreme authority : 
 But then the only juft ground of refiftance 
 is the oppreffive, tyrannical, or unconfti- 
 tutional exercife of that authority. * 
 
 The 
 
 * The colonies pretended, at the beginning of the 
 dlfpute, that it was unccnftitutional to tax them, becaufe 
 they were not reprefcnted in parliament, and a new 
 diftinftion was formed, in their behalf, between the 
 right of legiflation and that of taxation, Confuetude 
 was fufficient to obviate tliefe objedions. All the argu- 
 ments in fupport of them have, however, been again and 
 again ably refuted , and particularly of late, in a fermon 
 on allegiance, by Dr Campbell Principal of the Mari- 
 thai! College, Aberdeen. See alfo the rights of Great 
 Britain afl'erted, and an Enquiry into the guilt of Uc 
 war, &c. by Dr Roebuck. 
 
 Iffi 
 
( " ) 
 
 
 The Americans, however, do not plead 
 that they were taxed beyond their proportion 
 or ability : They abfoluteiy deny the right 
 itfelf. This dodrine is entirely new, and 
 is the undoubted offspring of their wealth 
 and power. Let us trace the fads that ap- 
 parently led them to take arms, as they rife 
 
 in their order. 
 
 After a war, undertaken, as I have faid, 
 
 entirely on account ot' the colonies, which, 
 though fuccefsful beyond our moil fanguine 
 wifhes, was cxpenfive to the enormous ex-p 
 tent of near one hundred millions ; when, to 
 leflen this grievous burden in a fmall de- 
 gree, the (late laid on them an inconfider- 
 able tax, the amount of which was to be 
 applied to their own internal government, 
 they would not fuhmit to it. Though they 
 could neither jui^iy complain of the quan- 
 tity impofedj nor of the application of 
 the tax, nor plead their inability to bear 
 it ; for their trade and riches were greatly 
 increafed ; yet tiiey wantonly refufed pay 
 ment ; and, without the leaPc provocation, 
 riotoufly dcftroyed the property of fair mer- 
 chants, to a great a:nouiit, that happened to 
 
 be 
 
T 
 
 i|- 
 
 1 1 
 
 ( 
 
 12 
 
 ) 
 
 be the fubjed of that taxation. Compenfa-' 
 lion was dcmancled for this great injury to 
 private proprietors, and fatibfadtion for fuch 
 a daring affront to the laws. Both were 
 haughtily refufed. 
 
 On the refufal of fatisfa^'^iun for their 
 violation of private property, and outragi- 
 ous contempt of public authority, the le- 
 giflature, equitable and lieady, cnadled laws 
 to puniih the offenders, and to enforce the 
 authority of the ftate. As it was impof- 
 fible to bring the guilty to juftice in com- 
 mon form, it became neceffary to pu- 
 nifh the community that fcreened their 
 crimes ; but the penalty was to ccafe 
 the moment they delivered up the offen- 
 ders, and made compenfatlon. But the 
 colonifts made choice of the moft violent 
 part ; they obRruded the execution of thefe 
 laws, and an armed force became neceffary, 
 as in other cafes of refiftance againil law. 
 They attack the troops in the execution of 
 their duty: Then, conlcious of the atrocious 
 nature of their offence, or rather in the 
 train of a concerted plan, tliey combine, 
 from Dan to Ikerffieba, from one extre- 
 mity of the land to another. Trufting to 
 
 their 
 
 7f« 
 
 J^" 
 
 
in) 
 
 their diftance from the parent-ftate, and the 
 ilrength they had acquired under its genial 
 wings, they overturn the antient chartered 
 governments, and ere6t new ones in their 
 place. They inflame the ignorant multi- 
 tude. By ledudion, or by force, they arm 
 every man. They opprefs his Majefty's 
 loyal fubjedts, and the befi friends of the 
 conftitution, and drive them from their e- 
 Itates and poflbffions *. At laft, after \ ari- 
 ous fubtile and artful profeffions, they pull 
 off the mafk ; they declare themfelves ah 
 independent republic, make war upon the 
 parent-ftate, and implore the aid and pro- 
 tedtion of our antient foes, from whom we 
 io latelv delivered them. 
 
 Such is the recent provocation of which 
 the colonics complain. Such rather are their 
 pretences to juftify the eflPedts of their info- 
 
 lence 
 
 * Thtir treatment of ihe epifcopal clergy has been 
 remarkably barbarous, and demonftrates that, to be 
 Whigs with them, men muft be of the higheft republi- 
 can and antimonarchial principles The church of En- 
 gland fupports the revolution on good grounds, and, in 
 South Britain, ^s indifputably the firmed barrier againft 
 fanaticifm, either in religion or politics. 
 
 their 
 
( H ) 
 
 ;i 
 
 lence and pride. They excite the few by the 
 profpcds of ambition : They intangle the 
 many in the mazes of fophiftry. They dig- 
 nify their own unreafonable claims, lately 
 propounded, by the name of facred rights, 
 though hoftile to the conftitution. The 
 mildeft execution of the laws, they hold to 
 be tyranny, . and juft punifhment, orfelf-dih- 
 fente, they exclaim againft as the moft bar- 
 barous murder. Though, in every reipedt, a 
 part jf our dominions, united to this go- 
 vernment and fubjedl to its laws, they af- 
 fume the language of a feparate arid inde- 
 pendent (late, and thereupon form reafons for 
 adually becoming one ; ihey rebel againft 
 lawful government, and, from the neceifary 
 confequences of their own condud, they form 
 arguments to juftiry rebellion. But thefe 
 colours are employed only to impofe on and 
 deceive the giddy multitude, who are not to be 
 driven lo arms without either real or imagi- 
 nary oppreflions. The projed is of a more 
 antient date, coeval with the century it- 
 felf, with the dawn of their wealth and pro- 
 fperity ; and, when Canada yielded to the 
 Britiih arms, the long-wiilied for profpe<ft 
 at laft arofc on the cloudy imagination of 
 the New-England fanatic, the flattering 
 
 idea 
 
 ■■^ 
 
 ^;y 
 
( '5 ) 
 
 idea of power and independency, and a 
 glorious republic. 
 
 It 18 their ambition, then, that has led 
 them into an unjuft and unprovoked rebellion 
 againft the patent-ftate. Let us now inquire, 
 what motives may be derived from expedi- 
 ency to engage us to yield to their claims, 
 or how far we can honourably agree to them. 
 
 From the fhort reprefentation I have 
 given of the cafe, you will obferve, that 
 this is a war merely in defence of ov.r 
 eftablifhed conftitution and government, 
 and the rights of the ftate. On our 
 part, it took its rife from a legal attempt to 
 enforce the laws, and preferve their authori- 
 ty. And, though the legiflative powers, in 
 abhorrence of civil diflention, were willing to 
 depart from their juft claims ; yet their mild 
 propofitions were rejected with difdain : 
 And we are now involved in a war, (h(3w 
 tedious, expenfive, or bloody, God only 
 knows), in defence of that conftitution 
 which was eftablifhed by the wifdom, the 
 courage, and fortitude of our forefathers, 
 thofe venerable anceftors, who protedled 
 and cherilhed, with fo much care, the firft 
 
 inhabitants 
 
 ring 
 idea 
 
T 
 
 ( •« ) 
 
 :i -: 
 
 inhabitants of our plantations^ and impart- 
 ed to them that freedom which they had' fo 
 nobly acquired. 
 
 Under this government, we have lived 
 with more fecurity and happinefs than any 
 nation ever did. In their religion, all men 
 have enjoyed an ample toleration; in their 
 property, undifturbed fecurity ; and, in their 
 perfons, a liberty inviolate. Far fuperior to 
 the republics of antiquity, the govern- 
 ment of Britain has maintained the rights 
 of human nature, with a happy equality : 
 And, while the multitude has been an objed 
 of her moft tender care, the avenues of lau- 
 dable ambition have been opened wide 
 to talents and merit of every kind. Not 
 only have we lived equal, andfafe, and free, 
 under the government of laws interpreted 
 with equity and adminiftred with modera- 
 tion, but, in confequence of this peculiar 
 (late, we have attained to the higheft degree 
 of national felicity, profperity, and glory. 
 
 Shall we then fuffer the beft of govern- 
 ments to be fhaken to its centre, to be in- 
 vaded, to be difmembered, to be deftroyed ? 
 No, furely ; for, befides that the dignity of 
 
 the 
 
 I P-: 
 
 i 
 
( 
 
 ^7 
 
 ) 
 
 I 
 
 the ftate, makes it highly inexpedient to lei 
 rebellious fubjedls go unpimilhed, our va- 
 luable interefts, and the fecurity of that con- 
 flitution which we hold To dear, call upon us 
 to go 9ut to battle ag^inji the ehihiren of 
 Benjamin^ our brother. You will obfcrvc, 
 that every argument which is ufed in behalf 
 of the revolted Americans, except what 
 arifes from their diftance alone, applies e- 
 qually ta many other parts of the Biitifh 
 empire; and the views of their adherents on 
 this fide the Atlantic extend, if not to 
 the entire deftrudlion of this happy govern- 
 ment, at leafl to fo new a model of it, as would 
 not leave one (lone upon another of the ar 
 cient and goodly fabric. Without upbraid- 
 ing the colonifts in this place, by obferving, 
 that the diftance which they now alledge 
 with fo much arrogance againll cur inter- 
 fering in their affairs, was not pleaded by us 
 when of late they fo humbly implored our 
 protection, it is obvious, that, if the feet, be- 
 caufe they are more diftant, fhall be fuffered 
 to withdraw their fubjedion from the head, 
 foon will the hands and arms and every mjm- 
 
 C ber 
 
ber of tlic body revolt, in their turn, again(i 
 their guide and condudor. 
 
 But, fiy fort^e, it is more expedient to 
 yield even to tlicir uiireafonable claims, 
 than to eijgajrc in a war foexpeniive, and la 
 bl()v»dy, np. tliis is likely to prove. The firlt 
 counlbla of prudenc(; are not always wife, 
 nor the fit ft didatcs of humanity always 
 hun-anc. Such counfellors do not confider, 
 that, by one great exertion to rc-eRablifh tha 
 auihority of the ftate, we Ihall fave millions 
 that would be loft in the violent disjundion 
 of this mighty empire ; that, by carrying 
 on this great war with perfeverance and forti- 
 tude, we fliall prevent innumerable and end- 
 lefs wars that might enfue ; and that it is as 
 juft and ncceiTary to fhed our blood now, ia 
 reducing our ungrateful children to a fenfe 
 of their duty, as it was fo lately to defend 
 them againft their foes. 
 
 Nor is it our intereft alone that obliges 
 us to rejedl their demands, but their intereft 
 alfo. Now, indeed, they are deluded by fub- 
 tle leaders, ambitious of pre-eminence and 
 power, who have known by what arts to in- 
 flame the people, even to madnefs : Yet 
 
 they 
 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
 4k 
 
( '9 ) 
 
 
 ihcy very lately confelfed, that, under thii 
 f^ovcrnmcnt againft which they revolt, they 
 have hecn free and hnpj^y, and have fr;rf>wn 
 to that height of wealth and pop'.luJon 
 which, we lay, has made them tor^ei oi 'e- 
 fpifeall ohligation,and afpirc atindepcruien- 
 cy. What region of the world indeed could 
 boalt of greater felicity ? They enjoyed un- 
 bounded liberty of confcience, and civil li- 
 berty in perfedion ; they were governed 
 by their own laws, that partake of the 
 ' fame liberal fpirit with ours ; they poflefled 
 a fertile country, and a flouri filing trade; 
 they paid next to no taxes* ; and, in ex- 
 change for their fubjedion to the fove- 
 reignty of Britain, provincial animolity 
 and rivalfliip was kept within bounds by her 
 controlling power, ai^d foreign hollility was 
 warded off by her fleets and armies. In 
 fhort, the ftate of mankind was fo happy 
 and fo inviting in tha\' diftant region, that 
 the mother-country was in danger of being 
 depopulated by the paflion with which meri 
 
 were 
 
 * Not above the 50th part of what is paid by every 
 perfon in Britain. 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 hi 
 
 were feized to go, in quefl: of profperity, to 
 
 thit fortunate and favourite clime. While 
 
 we languifhed under a heavy debt, contrad- 
 
 ed on their behalf, they were flourifhing 
 
 in cornmerce, and increafing in numbers, 
 
 from the happy efFtds of that war which 
 
 cod U5 fo dear : Aiul the qomparifon witU 
 
 their ftate made ours Teem the more grievous. 
 
 And yet they at once darken the glory of 
 
 this goide ) age by their own pervcrfity : For, 
 
 when we call upon them, in the fullnefs oi 
 
 their opulence, topayafmall proportion of 
 
 the expence of government, they refill the 
 
 law that impofes it, and fly to arms. The 
 
 annals of mankind do not con un a more 
 
 unprovoked or inexcufable revolt. 
 
 Let them not add falfehood to rebellion! 
 Let them not lay, that we are the aggref- 
 fors ! Ihe Britiih parliament had enaded 
 laws that bound the colonies, from their 
 firfl: eftabliilimcnt. By their charters they 
 were fubjeded to taxes, and they had been 
 frequently taxed by ads ot parliament. 
 Was it a jail ground of refillance to law, 
 that we did not yield at once to their new 
 requeft to be exempted from taxes ? Was it 
 
( 
 
 21 
 
 ) 
 
 t 
 
 a foundatioa for a civil war, after we had 
 put them in a profperous ftate, that they 
 were jealous lell we fhould one day lay 
 heavier taxes upon them ? This might have 
 been the fubjed of proper reprefentations, 
 and of new plans offered to the ftate ; but 
 iurely no juft caule of war. For what go- 
 vernment can give up the antient and efta- 
 blifhed mode of raifing a revenue, till a 
 new and better method is fubllitutcd in its 
 flead ? 
 
 I faid, that it was for their intereft *, no 
 lefs than ours, that we fhould reduce the 
 plantations again under the legal govern- 
 ment 
 
 V 
 
 Wf 
 
 * It has been often faid in private converfation, 
 That, whatever we may think as Britons, yet furcly, 
 were v/e Americans, we would think and a<*l as they do; 
 and I have often heard it rafhly anfwered in the affir- 
 mative. I call it ralhly ; for, befides all the tics which 
 ought to bind the people of that country to this ftate, 
 from allegiance, afFe(5lIon, or gratitude, as the objeft 
 of all government is the happinefs of the people, a wife 
 and good man would deliberate maturely, before he 
 would agree to a change that might, in place of cer- 
 tain freedom and profperity, introduce the moft uncer- 
 tain effefts, perhaps flavery and the worft of all govern- 
 ments. 
 
1 
 
 .■ i 
 
 i 
 
 it 
 
 III 
 
 M 
 
 i-iii 
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 tncnt of Great Britain; for, befiJ^s the relief 
 that may be juftly expeded by his Majefty's 
 loyal and fufFering fubjeds, who have been 
 expelled in great numbers from their 
 homes, and robbed of their property, who 
 can forefee, fuppofing the revolted colonies 
 to prove luccefsful in their attempt to be- 
 come independent of the parent ftate, under 
 what form of government they may fall, in- 
 to what divifions they may be broken, to 
 what foreign yokes fome of them may 
 yield, or what fpecies of defpotifm may a- 
 rifc among them ? When the branches fall 
 off from a mighty tree, not only are they 
 <ieprived of the principle of life that 
 made them fiourifli, but the bond that u- 
 nited them together is diffolved. But, on 
 the fuppofition that they fhall remain in 
 union, in cafe of fuccefs, and form one 
 great independent ftate, muft not that ftate 
 be the rival of Great Britain ? and would ftie 
 not foon fubdue our remaining provinces ou 
 the continent, and make herfelf mi^lrefs of 
 all our iflands in the weft Indies, whence 
 
 we 
 
 de 
 
 rive 
 
 fo 
 
 Would not all 
 
 much wealth and 
 the arts follow 
 
 power 
 
 ? 
 
 the rifing 
 Empire, 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 s 
 
 > 
 
 Empire, and Britain be left a gloomy and 
 defolate ifle, to furnifh new abodes for the 
 Danes and Normans of a future age ? 
 May heaven avert fo great a calamity ! I 
 love my country, I revere her conftitution. 
 No form of government ever difFufed fuch 
 equal happinefs over the human race. 
 And (hall I fee that facred temple of liber- 
 ty reduced to ruins, on the uncertain pro- 
 ject of rearing an Utopia in a diftant land? 
 Religion and reafon, as well as every feel- 
 ing of a Britifli heart, forbid me to behold 
 fuch a profpedt without grief and indig- 
 nation. If If or get thee, ! JerufaUniy Let 
 my right hand forget its cunning \ If I do 
 not remember thee. Let my tongue cleave to 
 the roof of my mouth, Pfal. cxxxi. 5. 6. 
 
 To yield to the unreafonable demands of 
 our colonies, would be no lefs difhonour- 
 able, than it is highly inexpedient. 
 
 The profperity of nations depends, under 
 God, in a great meafurej '^n the credit they 
 maintain with their neighbours around them, 
 on their reputation for wifdom and arms. 
 
 Such as arc ill able to defend themfelves^ if 
 
 « 
 
 they have acquired wealth, are fo much the 
 
 more 
 
1\ 
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 more a tempting prey to braver and more 
 warlike nations. It is imprudent to rely 
 entirely on the law of nations, or on 
 the faith of treaties : To be fafe, or to pre- 
 fer ve peace, a people mull be ftrong ; for 
 a name in arms is the mod formidable of 
 all barriers. How muft wefink, then, in the 
 eyes of all Europe, if we fufFer our laurels 
 to be torn by our own degenerate and 
 rebellious fons, whom we haye long fofter- 
 ed with fo much care ? 
 
 Twenty years are hardly elapfed, fincc 
 (might we believe their lond fupplications) 
 they were in the utmoft danger from their 
 neighbouring colony of Canada. To have 
 liftened to them, one would have believed, 
 that fifty thoufand Canadians were enough 
 to have driven no lefs than two millions of 
 Britifh Americans, that is, forty times their 
 own number, from their abodes and poflef- 
 fions,from their cities an*' their havens, and 
 overwhelmed them in the Atlantic ocean. On 
 their alarms and complaints, we engaged 
 in that moft expenlive war. They had not 
 then roufed their warlike fpirit ; they refer- 
 ved it for rebellion ; but retired behind the 
 
 fhield 
 
 
( ^s ) 
 
 lliield of Britain ; and it was owing to their 
 unmanly countenance and ieeble defence, 
 that tiie enemy gained i'o n^uch giound, as 
 made it difhcuh ro expel him. At length he 
 v/as exnelled from our dominions ; ai.d, to 
 deftroy the very root of fe.ir in lime coming, 
 all the colonies of the enemy on that conti- 
 nent were kihdued, and, at the peace, more 
 important conquelU were ceded, to retain 
 the former as provinces to the ,vjrent'llate. 
 What return have we received for placing 
 them in a ftate of perfed: fecurity ? They 
 have become proud, and turned againfl their 
 deliverers. The indignant fpirit of the na- 
 tion muft rife on the bafenefs of their con- 
 dud ; and the reccntncls of the benetit 
 heightens the guilt of their ingratitude *. 
 
 D To 
 
 * It may be faid, that gratitude is not a virtue to'oe ex- 
 pe<5led from one nation to another : But that I deny ; for, 
 though it is not wife always to trail to the ^u)od faith of 
 nations, becaufe their (rovernors may he prefidious, 
 yet, without jullice, and good faith, and gr<itiiude, all the 
 great focieties of men would be no better than robbers 
 or banditti. BehJes, the Americans ;:re not another na- 
 tion, (on which fupjioluion, there has boen much falfe 
 reafoning)) but aprat of Britaio, unitea to it by every tye^ 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 
 *•!') 
 
 li'iJ 
 
 J 
 
 To ingratitude they have added tiie moft 
 falfe and infidious aits. At firfl: they 
 make the mofl ample declarations of duty 
 
 and allep;ianc.e to the King : They profefs 
 ih'.^ warineR dclire of prcferving their con- 
 nc'Vion wiih this govein'.vicnt : They dif- 
 claiiii all prvtcnfions to indepeiuhticy: They 
 aff'cd to lay themielvcs at the h)')! of the 
 throne, imp-lorini;- deliverance from the thral- 
 d m of parliament : And, ftrange to tell, are 
 defnoiis oF fnbmiiting to the will of one 
 mrni, in order to be freed frjm the govern- 
 ri)c, itot* laws. Ihit, when our Sovereign, like 
 a true frieiui of lii)crty, refers their complaints 
 to the great council of the nation, |his wifdoni 
 and virtue dilgult their poifoned minds, and 
 they Ipurn at that royal authority which they 
 pretend to revere. They frame falfe and in- 
 fidious addreiTestothe neighbouring colonies, 
 whom, for their loyalty, they hnd ]ui\ now 
 treated with the utmoA contempt. They e- 
 vcn attempt to miflead the inhabitants of 
 thefe iflands. They endeavour to fliake our 
 allegiance to the King, and to deftroy our 
 reverence ut the conftitution. They try 
 to pervert our underltandin-s, to feduce our 
 wills into revolt. They would convince us, that 
 
 dcfpotifin 
 
( '7 ) 
 
 derptlfm is eiiabS/nied, while we i'ecl 
 that vvc are governed only by laws : And 
 that we are a wretched nation of llavtS) 
 while we enjoy perfect freedom under the 
 mildcft adniiniftration. And, to crown all 
 their infulrs on our underftandings, they at 
 laft break out with their declaration of inde- 
 pendency, their fir II and darling objedl, 
 which they concealed fo long under a 
 cloud of grievances and fears. Turning 
 their averfion and malice trom the parlia- 
 ment on the King, they reprcl'eat our mild 
 and gracious Sovereign, who reveres the 
 laws, and fupports the conlUtution, as the 
 moft cruel, vindidive, and defpotic tyrant. 
 
 But why need I enumerate their mildeev's ? 
 After the mod: violent outrage on private 
 property, the moil haughty refufal of fatif- 
 fadlion when demanded, and the mofl: da- 
 ring refiftance to the execution of the laws, 
 they have reforted to open rebellion to juUi- 
 fy their conduct. They are in arms againit 
 their country. They have muftered a force 
 which they deem invincible : Their iliips of 
 war cover t!ie ocean : Their hofls ot armed 
 men croud the Qiorc of the vaft Atlantic. 
 
 They 
 
 it 
 
f 28 ) 
 
 
 (:'■ 
 
 
 Thcylift themfelvcs upagamd that patcrnar 
 arm which fo long cherifhed and protedted 
 them ; They would fhcath the fword in thole 
 bowels from whence ihey fprung. Liberty 
 was but a pretence, for they were always 
 tree ; independence was their aim. They 
 complained or grievances that did not exift, 
 and muftered up phantoms of ideal appre- 
 hcnfions, thai;, under the colours of paft or 
 prefcnt opprclTion, and jealoufy of the future, 
 they might raife fuch a power as would 
 cancel thole obligations they were unwil- 
 ling to repay. 
 
 Who then can doubt for a moment on 
 whom to lay tlie guilt of this war ? The faith- 
 ful ma'iillrate who dors his ear tothccrimi- 
 nal's defire to elcape from juRice, or the 
 kind parent who docs not yield to the un- 
 reafonable demands of a froward child, may 
 as v/ell be accufed as Great Britain on 
 this occafion. The very name of Brethren, 
 by which, with all the tics that it implies, we 
 have lb oftc;i been or)teAed to deliil: from 
 this cruel and unnatural war, demonftrates 
 the jufticc and nccciFiry of it on our part, 
 fmce it points out their connedion with us, 
 marks their dependence and obligations, 
 
 and 
 
mmB 
 
 { 29 ) 
 
 and aggravates the treachery and violence 
 of their condudt. Thefe unfteady meafures 
 with which they have upbraided us ; that 
 lenity which they have conftrued into inca- 
 pacity to govern ; that reluctance to punifh, 
 which they held to be weaknefs and fear ; 
 now that, from feditious fubjeds, they have 
 become open enemies, are fo many incite- 
 ments to us, to ad with unanimity and vi- 
 gor. # 
 
 Let us, then, no longer hefitate. Whether 
 ive /hall go out to battle againji the children 
 of Benjamin our Brother^ or Jhall ceafe. 
 The oracle of reafon (and the lacred oracles 
 fupport it) obliges us to conclude, that it is 
 moft expedient and honourable, as well as 
 juft and neceflary for the ftate, our com- 
 mon parent, to bring back by force this fa- 
 vourite and froward child, made rebellious 
 by indulgence, to a juft fenfe of his duty, 
 and to the happinefs he fo long enjoyed in 
 his father's hoiife, 
 
 I come now, in the fecond place, as 
 I propofed, to point out our duty, in the 
 prefent circurnftances, to God and to our 
 country. 
 
 And 
 
 m 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 if 
 
 I 
 
 
 And here, without queftion, we ought, in 
 the firft place, to confefs and lament our 
 fins, and to turn to God and our duty. 
 For, though we cannot be accufed of any 
 guilt in refpcift of the immediate occa- 
 fions or grounds of this war, yet, as they 
 lie in the order of Providence, 1 am af- 
 fraid we cannot clear ourfelves of blame. 
 
 From the beginning of the world unto 
 this day, fill has occafioned the downfall of 
 nations and of kingdoms. Infidelity and 
 irreligion, negled: of God and of his wor- 
 fhip, and the moll licentious morals, as 
 they are intimately connedled together, 
 fo have they generally preceded the de- 
 clenfion and fall of dates. And who can 
 deny, that thefe are theftgns of the times ' 
 that thefe are the ftrong features of iniqui- 
 ty which mark the prefent age? 
 
 If men retain found principles, however 
 much they may fometimes depart fro^ 
 them in pradice, being led a-way by tempta- 
 tion and the error oj the ivicked ; yet there is 
 hope that they may one day return to their du- 
 ty, becaufe a flumbering confcience may ftill 
 awaken, and dying principles again revive. 
 
 But 
 
 \ 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 ^ 
 
 But wliat can he expected, when there is a 
 profcflcd difbe''ef ot* all m )ral diftindlions, 
 'A hen truth, and jidlice, an(^ honefly, and 
 the love of our country, and indeed every 
 principle but daring ambition and vileielf-in- 
 tered. are ridiculed, dclpiled, and exploded? 
 While the inferior ranks of men are cor- 
 rupted, by the delire of gain or pleafure, in- 
 to fraud or profligacy of manners, the fu- 
 perior ranks fall facrifices to luxury a^d ef- 
 feminacy. Inflead of the manly purfuits 
 that would lead then to acquire fuch talents 
 and qualities, as might enable them to a- 
 dorn and detend their country, and ftrength- 
 en her conlVitution, they wmHc their health 
 and fortunes in everlading gaming and vo- 
 luptuoufnefs, and in all the modes of living 
 that debafe or debilitate the mind, no 
 lefs than the body. I fpeak only of the 
 many; for, God be praifed, we have ftill 
 fome in the higher ranks of life, who 
 would do honour to the moft virtuous 
 age : We have (lill fome, who, in fpite of 
 the infedion of the times, think it glorious 
 to lead or to join the fleets and armies of their 
 country, and are now expofing their lives 
 
 ia 
 
32 ) 
 
 
 i::;!; 
 
 ■:i!( 
 ■3 
 
 >-', 
 
 I A' 
 
 ^ 1* 
 
 11 
 II 
 
 in defence of that conftitution, which, of 
 old, was the nurfe of patriots and heroes. 
 
 But, when we confider our fad degeneracy, 
 upon the whole, mud we not confefs, that ive 
 are afinful nation^ a people laden ivith iniqui" 
 ty% a feed of evil doers^ Ifai. i. 4. &c. and may 
 we not ftand juftly amazed to confider, that 
 I'ven the God of all patience fhould have 
 born with us fo long, and fuffered our pro- 
 fligate manners? When wc refledt on the 
 high degree of profperity and glory to 
 Vvhich this nation was railed in the laft war, 
 by the hand of the God of battles, and confi- 
 der our own dreadful ingratitude, by the 
 fad abufe of our great and fi ngular pri- 
 vileges ; have we not juft reafon to fear 
 that God is now faying to us, as he faid 
 formerly to the Jews, Shall I not vi/it^ for 
 theje things^ faith the Lord? andfhallnot 
 my foul be avenged onfuch a nation as this ? 
 
 What then can be more proper, on fuch a 
 day as this, than to deprecate God's difplea- 
 fure, and join in humble fupplications to him, 
 that he would be pleafed to avert thofe dread- 
 ful judgitients that hang over us, and which 
 we have fuch jult caufe to fear may fall 
 
 upon 
 
I 33 
 
 upon UG ! What can wc do, but every one 
 of us this day conim^^iice a thorough rctbr- 
 mation of thofc particular vicf!9 and crimes, 
 which, though fnuill in our eyes, accural- 
 late the mighty fun ut national guilt ? \nd 
 let us join the holy prophets of Hracl, who, 
 on their folcMiin days of taftin.; and prayer, 
 befought God to remove his jud|j;mcnts, 
 and turn away his anger fron them : And, 
 particularly, let us join with the prophet 
 Daniel, when he thus addrcfl'es the almigh- 
 ty, Dan. i^-. i6. &c. ! Lord^ according to all 
 thy right eoufwfs^ I befeech thee, let thine anger 
 and thy fury be turned atuay from thy city 
 Jerujaletn, thy holy mountain : becaufe^ Jor 
 our fins ^ and J or the iniquities of our fathers^ 
 Jerufalem and thy people are become a re^ 
 proach to all that are about us, &c. 
 
 I have mentioned in general that torrent 
 of corruption which overwhelms this nation, 
 and may be the caufe (as it has been in 
 other ages and regions of the world), why 
 God fhould now vifit us with fore calami- 
 ties. But this obfervation applies to other 
 nations as well as to us. Let us try if we 
 can point out fome particular grounds of 
 fear, which are more peculiarly applicable to 
 our own country, that we may lament and 
 
 H corre^ 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 11' ■! 
 
 8'; 
 
 corred them as far as we can. For, though 
 the plans and cpndu6t of providence are 
 laid deep, and are carried on in iilence and 
 darknefs, yet the moral caules that under- 
 mine the grcatp.tfs of natic.is, may fome- 
 times be traced. Allow me to mention a few 
 that leem to me to have been immediately 
 produclive of oar prefent danger. - 
 
 The ly? I (hall mention is unbounded 
 ambition, and national pride. 
 
 In the late war, which was undertaken 
 m defence of the colonies, though we were 
 at firft unfuccefsful ; yet the fpirit of the 
 nation being roufed at laft, and well con- 
 duced , we were victorious in every quar- 
 ter of the globe, and left not our enemies 
 a fmgle province or ifland that could be 
 the fubjetfl of conted. When the negocia- 
 tions for peace were entered upon, you 
 may remember how difficult it was for his 
 TvLijcRy's prudent and moderate minifters 
 to frame fuch a peace as would pleafe the 
 people ; and, after it was made, there a- 
 rofe a ftorm of violence and clamour that 
 has hardly fubfided to this day. Nothing 
 lefs would fatisfy the national pride and 
 ambition, ilian the retaining all the con- 
 quells their arms had made. Time and 
 
 experience 
 
( 
 
 
 ) 
 
 CTiperiencc have ihewn the truth of wha l 
 fbme then holdly averred, th^t we kept by 
 far too many of" our conqiiefls ; enow ind ;ed 
 to threaten perpetual commotions, if n3t 
 downfal to the I'iate. To the miininfij oi 
 Canada for the fecurity of the Ajiiericaiis. 
 it is entirely owing that they have become 
 To infolent as to rebel againfl the parent- 
 ftate. And, in fo great and unwieldy an 
 empire, we may expert convullions every day. 
 
 The great objeiit of a free Hate ought to 
 be to perpetuate its liberty ; and no tempta- 
 tion of wealth or of power Ihould ever fe- 
 duce fuch a (late into a conduct that may 
 prove fatal to its chief obje(fk. Hiftory 
 proves, that great conqueils have always been 
 ruinous to free governments : And fimilar 
 caufes will operate fimilar effects to the end 
 of the vv^orld. Such dominions r.re too un- 
 wieldy to be ,i;Overned. If they confifl of 
 fertile regions, in climes favouraole to hu- 
 man nature, they are m danger of depopula- 
 ting the mother-country : If they are barren 
 and unhofpitablc deferts, they are not worth 
 the expence of retaining them. 
 
 Europe, for iome centuries paft, has been 
 tbemoft flourilhing quarter of the world* * 
 
 The 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 ! t 
 
 it- "in 
 
 The goveronaents of it, though various, havi? 
 been balanced by each otlier ; and the 
 people in general have been happy even un- 
 der the rrioft; deipotic ycrms it contains, be- 
 caufe the views and condud: of princes have 
 been moderated by their mutual JL^aloufies. 
 
 Was it for us, who had exclaimed fo loudly 
 againft univerfal monarchy, and had laid 
 out fo much blood and treafure to oppofc 
 
 thofc atnbitious powers, who, at ditierenj: 
 periods, were fuppofcd to have conceived 
 the idci, was it for us to extend our do- 
 minions from pole lo pole, and to all the 
 lliores that are Wiihcd by the India^. l;- 
 Atlantic oceans ? Was it lyiie in a free (late 
 to raife fuch a jealouiy in other ftates, as 
 would produce a combination againll us, 
 winch might one day prove our ruiu, whether 
 we conquer or are conquered ? For, in the 
 firft cafe, we flK-^uld certainly penlh by our 
 own corruption, as, in thefecond, by the 
 power of the enem). 
 
 To fhiS caulc 13 probably owing that 
 weaknds r f governme.it, w^hich has been of 
 late :o much felt and complained of, and 
 which no capacity fecnis hitherto able to 
 
 fepajr. 
 
 i: !s 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 repair. 1 mean, the machine of government 
 itfelf, (not the adminiftration of it), which 
 has loft much of the fpring and energy it 
 had in former times ; witnefs the infamous 
 abufe that has been fuflPered, the dangerous 
 tumults that have paffed unpunifhed, and 
 the relaxation of the executive power, even 
 in refped: of crimes againft itielf. In vain 
 has oppofition, with her warning voice, and 
 fadion, with her clamorous tongue, afcribed 
 this imbecillity to the hands who diredt the 
 machine ; for the chiefs of every party in the 
 Hate have direded, in their turns, with 
 no better fuccefs. And no wonder that it 
 is fo ; for the internal force that was fuffi- 
 cient to move thofe wheels of government, 
 which fo long guided thefe happy iflands, 
 and their ancient colonies, could not fail to 
 prove too weak, when loaded with new con- 
 quefts, diftant as the extremities of the 
 globe, and larger than all our former domi- 
 nions. Such are the effedls oi unbounded 
 pride and ambition : And fuch are the re- 
 bukes which the wife providence of God 
 has contrived for the haughtinefs of man. 
 
lit: 
 
 1: 
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 In the 2d place, Let me mention, as one 
 of the more immediate caufes of our pre- 
 fent danger^ that unbounded licentioufnefs, 
 which, for a long time, has prevailed in 
 writing and difcourfe. 
 
 The liberty of the prefs is indeed a rr.ofl: 
 facred right of Britifli freedom ; hut, like 
 all other privileges, it may be abufed, and, 
 and when it is, may be productive of the 
 moft pernicious confequences. No charac- 
 ter h '' b^en lacred enough to be fafe 
 from tht jrrent of calumny and reproach, 
 which, for fome time paft, has poured itfelf 
 upon the public ear. The moft private a- 
 fylum of domellic peace has not been fecure 
 againft that malignant poifon that glides in 
 every breath, and is fcattered about on e- 
 very page. The throne has been openly 
 attacked ; and not only have the meafures 
 of government been arraigned, as in former 
 times, but the legiflature itfelf has been ri- 
 diculed, traduced, and almolt libelled in its 
 own hearing. And what is the confequence 
 of this vile licentioufnefs ? Kas the tongue 
 of fedition, and the pen of fad'on proceed- 
 ed to fuch outrage, that they are now no 
 
 longer 
 
 u I 
 
39 ) 
 
 longer believed ? That may be true with 
 
 refped to the charaders of individuals ; but 
 we may reft allured, that the unbounded 
 
 freedom which has been ufed has leffened the 
 refped due to the Soveregin ; has deftroy- 
 ed that reverence in which* the legiflature 
 lliould be held ; and, while itj has overawed 
 the magiftrate in the execution of his office, 
 it has, at the fame time, impaired the dignity 
 and weakened the force of the laws them- 
 felves. We may be certain, that this ram- 
 pant licpntioufnefs has overturned all ideas 
 of fubordination, which is the bond that 
 holds men in fociety together, and prepared 
 their minds to meet, without concern, if not 
 to vvifh for, a revolution of government. 
 
 How can we otherwife account for the 
 publications that have proceeded from men 
 of gravity, of profefledly good intentions, 
 and of no mean talents * ? With what other 
 view, than to a revolution, have thofe elabo- 
 rate treatifes been compofed ; or what other 
 
 can be the aim of their authors, who, amidft 
 
 pro- 
 
 * See the works of the Reverend Dr Price, and o* 
 thers. 
 
( 4° ) 
 
 t 
 
 I'.i 
 
 
 
 '^r 
 
 profcflions of allegiance too, take fo much 
 pains to decry the prefent government of 
 Britain, and to prefent us with an idea of 
 fomething infinitely more perfect, which we 
 are foon to fee eftabliihed in America, and 
 which they feem to wifli, and hope may 
 likewife take place at home ? But a repu- 
 blic of fuch unbounded extent, as that of A- 
 merica would prove, is an experiment that 
 remains to be tried in the hiftory of the 
 world. We know that our anceftors tried 
 it in vain, within far narrower limits. They, 
 too, had great expectations of that perfe<fJtion 
 to which human government was going to 
 arrive: They believed that a millennium, and 
 the kingdom of the faint: vas at hand : But 
 they were fadly deceived; for they found, in 
 their ftead, the iron fceptre of an ufurper, 
 fupported by military force. 
 
 There is a line fomewhere between the 
 liberty of the prefs, and that licentioufnefs 
 which would fubvert the very government 
 which fupports the liberty of the prefs. 
 When the times are calm, that line will be 
 found out and applied. 
 
 Allow 
 
( 4« ) 
 
 Allow me to mention, a? one otlier more 
 immediate caufe of the prefent danger, in the 
 3^ place, The murders, and rapines, and 
 enormities that have been commitced in va- 
 rious places of the Britifh empire, and flill 
 remain unaccounted for, unpunillied, and 
 unarraigned. 
 
 Befides, that fuch inftances of impunity 
 to great crimes, demonflrate the v eakncis of 
 the executive power, and tend to incrcaic 
 corruption, making men more during and 
 obftinate by their pernicious example, they 
 likewife continue to cry to almi^^hty God 
 for vengeance : For blood mnjl ha^ve 
 blood. And who can iay that tiic Cod of 
 heaven is not now ftretching out his ana 
 to recompcnfe thofe nations who Lave rhat 
 guilt ftill hanging on their heads \ The Indi- 
 an tribes of America havealmoft entirely va- 
 niflied, through the treachery or ci uclty of 
 the new podellbrs. Thofe very colonies, 
 who plead fo high for liberty, and ailedge 
 that they have taken up the fword only in 
 its defence, under prerence of driving out 
 the heathen, (a pretence in Chriftians no lefs 
 impious than it is bloody,) by barbarous 
 
 
 F 
 
 policy, 
 
I .,.' 
 
 w 
 
 i 
 
 
 l' ■! 
 
 (.42 ). 
 
 policy, or by force, have almoll wholly era- 
 dicated the ancient inhabitants of thofe regi- 
 \...is; v;hilc they hold thoufands and ten thou- 
 ^' )dii of wretched Africans under a cruel 
 bondage, from which the moll painful death 
 would be a joyful dehverance. 
 
 Can we believe, that deeds have been 
 committed in another quarter of tiic globe, 
 by natives of thefe iflands, that will make 
 the odious names of Cortes and Pizarro be 
 forgotten, andftainthe Britifli annals to the 
 latell pofterity ? In times of ignorance and 
 bigotry, the minds of men have been known 
 to run a career of enthufiaftic fury that 
 aftonilhed themfelves when they became 
 cool ; and ftern war is an apology for the 
 moft atrocious adtions. But, in a period en- 
 lightened like the prefent, in profound peace, 
 amidft intercourfes of mutual confidence, 
 and the mild operations of commerce, to 
 furpafs all former ages in perfidious barba- 
 rity ! Ah I Curfed third of gold ! thou 
 canft transform nian, even when refined 
 and civilized, into a furious beaft; of prey! 
 
 Nor can we, as a nation, clear ourfelves of 
 the guilt of thefe great crimes, if we have 
 
 fufFered 
 
{ 43 ) 
 
 (ufFcrccl thofe under our controul to comtnit 
 them with impunity : Or if, after making 
 cxteufive conquefts, \\c iiave robbed inno- 
 cent and defencelefs nations of the benefit 
 and protection of their ancient governmep/is» 
 without eftablithinfj; new ones in their Read : 
 Thus leaving them an eafy and a templing 
 prey to avarice and cruehy. i iie bloody and 
 deceit fill man^ the ven^eamr of God ivi/l 
 Jiirdy overtake. 
 
 But, in the midft of all our fubjeds of 
 confeilion and forrow and lamentation, whe- 
 tlicr of a private or public nature, and with 
 a firm refolution to contribute all in our 
 power to correal what is amifs, and to do 
 our utmoft for the national welfare, by 
 carefully keeping every man of us from his 
 iniquity y noiv that the Hojl has gone forth 
 againji the enemy, we fliall do well alfo to 
 turn our thoughts on the peculiar and fea- 
 fonable bleflings which the Almighty has 
 poured down upon us, left, if we Ihould fail 
 to mark them, or prove ungrateful for 
 them, he may turn a deaf ear to our fuppli- 
 cations for farther mercies. 
 
 Among 
 
 I 
 

 !'i 
 
 i 
 
 ■'I: 
 
 ni 
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 Among fuch peculiar and fcafonablc blef- 
 fings, we are to rank the plentiful crop 
 which he hath bertowed on us in all corners 
 of the land ; infomuch, that we fhall have no 
 dependence on foreign nations, who might 
 have taken advantage of our necelFity. We 
 ought alfo to mark, with gratitude, the pro- 
 vidential opening of new channels of trade 
 for all our manufadtures, the demand for 
 which has increafed beyond our moft fan- 
 guine cxpedations, juil in the moment 
 when the breach with the colonies might 
 have occafioned a moll dreadful calamity. 
 Let us trace the over-ruling hand of heaven 
 too, in the prefent peaceful difpofition of 
 our. potent neighbours, who feem to atteiul 
 more to the general intereft of Europe, than 
 to yield to the dictates of national rivalihip 
 and animofity. Let us likewife obferve, with 
 pleafure and thankfulncfs, the alacrity and 
 courage of our foldiers in the caufe of their 
 country, after much infidious pains had been 
 taken to make them cool and backward in 
 the fcrvice. Let us, with the warmeft grati- 
 tude and praife, mark the ardour and fuc- 
 cefs with which they defend that antient go- 
 vernment, which the pretended fons of liberty 
 
 fpurn 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 lj)urn at with contempt, wliilft they lly l)C- 
 fore that manly Ipirit which is its genuine 
 produdl ; and let us return thank«> and hlcf- 
 fings to the Lortl of llofls, the God of bat- 
 tles, by whofe infj^iration alone herot's and 
 patriots are formed, ivho girdcth our loins 
 to might -i and teacheth our hands to 'umr. 
 
 It would be highly improper, it would 
 be impious indeed, to apply the oracle of 
 God in the prefent cafe, and to fay, with 
 prophetic authority. Go iip^Jor to morroiv 
 the Lord ivill deliver them into y^.ur hands. 
 No ; this I may not venture to fay. The 
 event is in the womb of providence ; and 
 the race is not always to the /ivifty nor the 
 battle to the Jlrong^ for God often counter- 
 adts the probability of fecond caufes. But 
 this 1 will fay, in oppofition to the authors 
 of feeble r.nd timid counfcls, that a righte- 
 ous caufe, and perfevering valour, joined to 
 a pious trufl in the Almighty, give the beft 
 ground to hope for fuccefs in war. 
 
 In the wars ufual in Europe, when rival 
 nations have contended with each other, 
 it has often been on points of fmall im- 
 portance, and the parties have gained no- 
 thing 
 
 \' 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 li 
 
 i 
 
 # 
 
 I! I i. 
 
 thing in the end by the conteft, but the e\- 
 ercife of arms. In fuch wars the intereAs of 
 mankind in general are fafe. For that equal 
 balance which has been maintained fo long 
 in the great European republic, does not ad- 
 mit of one nation's making large encroach- 
 ments, or conquefts, on another. But, in 
 the prefent war, we are to retain, or lofe 
 forever, not our new provinces, that are 
 hardly yet a part of the (late, but our an- 
 tient colonies, that are coeval with our navi- 
 gation and -ommerce, thofe great branches 
 that are deeply engrafted into the common- 
 wealth, which have grown with our 
 growth, and cannot now be lopt off, with- 
 out hazard that the tree fhall thereby 
 perifli. An objed of fuch importance re- 
 quires national fortitude and perfeverance. 
 As Chriftians, and as men, no doubt, we 
 ought to wifh and pray for peace. Every 
 thing in the prefent cafe prompts us to fuch 
 a prayer ; but always with this condition 
 under ftood, that it be equitable and fafe. 
 How far we may hope for a retu.n of af- 
 fedion and allegiance from the prefent ge- 
 neration of colonifts, who are now in actual 
 
 rebellion 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 rebellioQ ag^inft the Britifli governmentf 
 I pretend not to fay. God can turn the 
 hearts of men as he pleafes, in oppofition to 
 common rules* But one thing is clear 
 and certain, that, as the fword fhould not be 
 drawn againfl the fubjedts of the ilate, 
 without the moft urgent neceffity, fo fhould 
 it not be fheathed without full fecurity and 
 fubmiflion on the part of the offenders ; 
 for a peace, on any other terms, would only 
 prove a fhort and dangerous truce, to pre- 
 pare them for a frefh revolt. 
 
 Fully employed in our own private oc- 
 cupations, far removed from the feat of 
 war, and in perfedl repofe, 've are apt to be 
 indifferent to the interefls of our country, 
 and carelefs about that very government 
 that gives us fecurity and repofe, till we are 
 roufed by fuch a call as this, to refled: on 
 the blefTings we enjoy. Let us feel the ge- 
 nerous fpirit of Britons, rifmg with jufl: in- 
 dignation againfl thofc degenerate and re- 
 bellious colonifls, who would rob us of our 
 glory, and deflroy that facred temple of the 
 conftitution, that can only fecure their li- 
 berty and ours. And, as our patriotifm 
 
 fliould 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
Si 
 
 it: I 
 Pi- • 
 
 l« * ' 
 
 . ! 
 
 J' H 
 
 1 '. 
 
 m 
 
 
 { 48 ) 
 
 # 
 
 fhoiild be raufed, fo fl.ould our loyalty j -. 
 for, on this occafion, they muft go hand in ' 
 hand together. In times of peace and tran- 
 quility, the exercife oF this duty is not al- 
 ways apparent, even in the moft faithful 
 fubjedls. They are not called upon to per- 
 form any adt of fealty ; and, being at a dif- 
 tance from the feat of government, the 
 perfonal qualities, and even the royal dig- 
 nity of the fovereign, feems to be forgotten. 
 But, v^hen difturbance or danger approach, 
 thofe principles and affedions that lay dor- 
 mant, foon awaken with the alarm, and 
 the moft zealous loyalty appears in the 
 condud of every good citizen. 
 
 Let us now fupport the throne, for it is 
 ibaken ! Let us unite in warm afFedion to 
 our King, whofe charader, like the fun, 
 ihines the brighter for the fpots with 
 which fadion and rebellion, for a whil^, 
 have endeavoured to obfcure it. And let 
 us demonftrate our patriotifm and loyalty, 
 not by loud and empty profefTions, but by 
 a meek and refpedful fpirit 10 thofe that 
 are fet over us, by our reverence for the 
 
 lawsj 
 
{ 49 ) 
 
 N 
 
 Uws, and thankfulnefs to heaven, that we arc 
 ftill under their guveriimeut. 
 
 Above ail, let us not luppreTs that war- 
 like ardour for which »ve have ever been 
 diftinguiihed. Without rDa<:nanimity and 
 valour, vvealth and power are precarious, 
 and wifdom and liberty but empty names. 
 To be fecure, we muft be brave. All Ame- 
 rica is now in arms; fhall we remain feeble 
 and unwarlike i* The plough and the loom 
 muft be left for t'' while, that we may not be 
 obliged to abandon them for ever. For, if 
 the Almighty does not interpofe to fubduethe 
 minds of our domeftic foes, or if we do not 
 exert our native ftrength, in vain fhall we think 
 to conquer them by foreign hands. If we 
 could, they might, perhaps, in future, learn 
 tofearthefeverityof a m after, but never again 
 would they revere the authority of a parent. 
 
 Since, then, my brethren, to yield to the 
 claims of America would be inexpedient and 
 diilionourable J fince the war is juft and ne- 
 ceflary, let us prorecute it with vigour, with 
 chcarfulnefs and perfevcrance, till the re- 
 bellious children of our brother Benjamin 
 find, that the fame ardent national fpirit 
 
 G that; 
 
( 50 ) 
 
 ill 
 
 
 I ;i : 
 
 11 
 
 ll^li 
 
 rt 
 
 ,t I ! 
 
 > 
 
 
 f 
 
 that could cherifli, can alfo corred; and 
 that the fame powerful arm that ftretch- 
 ed acrofs the Atlantic to fave, is not now fo 
 weak but it can punifh. Thus (hall we 
 do all in our power to preferve to pofteri- 
 ty a government, the mod favourable to 
 human nature that ever exifted, and to pro- 
 long the period of light, and liberty, andhap- 
 pinefs among mankind. : 
 
 But, while we are of neceflity at war with 
 the children of Benjamin our brother, let 
 us not forget the near relation they ftand in 
 to us ; let us not entirely extioguifli our 
 affedions to the child, becaufe he is for the 
 prefent froward and difobedient. Let us 
 bend his will, but not fubdue his fpirit. Let 
 us chaPiife him in kindnefs, not Jlay him in 
 anger. Like good King David, when his 
 fon Abfalom rebelled agaiait him. Let us 
 give our captains and our mighty men a 
 charge, that they deal gently -with the young 
 man; and, whcii he returns to his duty, let us 
 receive him with open arms. Amen.