BIG "SLOW 
 
 s Charge unto 
 Israel. 
 
 BV 
 4260 
 M5 
 1836
 
 REV. ANDREW BIGELOWS 
 
 ANNUAL ELECTION SERMON, 

 
 GOD'S CHARGE UNTO ISRAEL, 
 
 S E K M O N 
 
 PREACHED BEFORE 
 
 HIS HONOR SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, 
 
 LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, 
 
 THE HONORABLE COUNCIL, 
 
 AHD 
 
 THE LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS, 
 
 AT THE 
 
 ANNUAL ELEC TION, 
 
 ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY, 6, 1836. 
 
 BY ANDREW BIGELOVV, 
 ^ 
 
 Pastor of the Fiist Cougrejfational Church in Taunton. 
 
 Boston: 
 
 DUTTON AND WENTVVORTH, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 
 
 1836
 
 dtontmontoealtl) of f&assacjwsetts, 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JAN. 7, 1836. 
 
 Ordered, That Messrs. LEONARD of Norton, WALKER of Taunton, and FULLER 
 of Newton, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. ANDREW BIGELOW, and present 
 him the thanks of this House, for his very interesting and appropriate discourse, de- 
 livered yesterday before the Legislature, and request a copy for the press. 
 
 L. S. GUSHING, Clerk.
 
 s \ The length of the ensuing discourse obliged the omission or abridgement of 
 considerable portions of it at the time of delivery. It is now presented as originally 
 prepared for the pulpit and occasion.
 
 SERMON. 
 
 ** SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THAT THEY GO FOR- 
 WARD." 
 
 Exodus, nth Charter, 15th Verse. 
 
 IT was a dark hour for Israel, when the charge, 
 now rehearsed, was given by the voice of Israel's 
 God to the leader of the chosen tribes ; a still dark- 
 er hour, when the order it conveyed was proclaimed 
 in the hearing of the awe-struck host, and their 
 marshalled bands prepared to resume their march. 
 Pilgrims to a distant land, advanced but a few 
 stages on their toilsome route, not yet emancipated 
 from the power, and still within the dominions of a 
 fierce and cruel monarch, they were already brought 
 into a situation of great perplexity and hazard. 
 Encamped in a desert place, entangled mid rocky 
 defiles, the sea in front, bleak mountains around, 
 a hostile force urged on by a ruthless chief press- 
 ing upon their rear, the crisis was fearful, the 
 fate of Israel appeared to be inevitably sealed.
 
 6 
 
 To stay, was to perish. To resist, was madness. 
 To advance, was seemingly but to plunge into a 
 watery grave. At this juncture, the mandate of 
 God as recorded in the text, thundered through the 
 camp of Israel. " The Lord said unto Moses, 
 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they GO 
 FORWARD!" And forward they moved. He, the 
 herald who transmitted the divine command, with 
 unshrinking reliance on the succouring arm of God, 
 himself led the terror-stricken van. Arrived at 
 the brink of the intercepting flood, he stretched 
 forth his rod, the mysterious wand which oft had 
 waved in dreadful power over Egypt, and the sea 
 was cleft in twain, opening a path for the amazed 
 and rejoicing tribes, through crystal walls miracu- 
 lously heaped on either hand. The opposite bank, 
 that friendly longed-for shore, was reached in safe- 
 ty. The sea then regained its ancient channel, 
 engulphing at the same time with terrific doom, the 
 pursuing host, burying the pride and flower of 
 .Fgypt, its chariots and horsemen, its captains and 
 v arriors, its nobles and menials, prince, page and 
 v<ssals beneath its wild and vengeful billows. 
 
 It was a dark hour for that little company of pious 
 ar.d dauntless spirits, exiles from the land of their 
 forefathers, sufferers for conscience sake, men 
 "persecuted but not forsaken, perplexed yet not 
 in despair," when they -gathered upon the quay 
 of Delft, on the memorable morn of the 22d of 
 July, 1620, surrounding their spiritual chief, the
 
 patriarchal Robinson, and knelt down and implored 
 of God, that He would grant "aright way for 
 themselves and their little ones, and all their 
 substance,"* on their voyage to that far-off land, 
 here in this Western hemisphere, whither they 
 were bound. Yes, dark was the hour when with 
 streaming eyes and bursting hearts, that little 
 group joined in the last prayer they were destined 
 to listen to from the lips of their venerable pastor 
 and guide ; when they clung around the good 
 man's knees, and took their parting look, and ex- 
 changed a fond, final embrace ; when turning from 
 their pleasant homes though in a strange land, they 
 embarked in quest of a refuge on these then house- 
 less, savage shores, when so touching was the 
 scene that even the bosoms of the coldest observers 
 heaved in sympathy, and tears coursed down the 
 cheeks of men " albeit of no melting mood." But a 
 call as from heaven summoned them away. They 
 felt and obeyed the holy impulse. And He who 
 holdeth the waters in the hollow of his hand, and 
 who ruleth the winds and the seas, provided for 
 them a safe pathway across the Atlantic deep ; and 
 hither they came and laid the foundations of an 
 empire, which so long as it shall stand and flourish, 
 will abide a monument of their faith and fortitude, 
 their heroism and their renown. 
 
 It was a dark ho.ur when in 1675 the flame of a 
 
 * Ezra viii. 21, the text from which their beloved Pastor. Robinson, preached 
 a parting discourse on the melancholy occasion.
 
 8 
 
 most barbarous Indian war was lighted on our soil ; 
 when the'genius of a fierce and crafty savage had 
 succeeded in combining the most fearful elements of 
 destruction ever let loose on the habitations of civil- 
 ized man ; when the cloud which had been gathering 
 in blackness, and hung lowering over the land, at 
 length burst with appalling violence ; and the de- 
 mon of havoc and slaughter sped on the furious 
 blast ; and amid savage yells, and victim groans, 
 and the hideous glare of blazing villages flashing 
 through our vallies, and reflected from hill to hill, 
 the work of threatened extermination seemed hasten- 
 ing to its certain and awful consummation. But did 
 our fathers quail at the peril? Did they "shake 
 and become as dead men"? No, they girded them- 
 selves to deeds of desperate resistance. They rallied 
 with intrepid firmness " to play the men" in defence 
 of their homes, their fields and their altars ; and 
 they moved where danger was greatest, and where 
 shafts flew thickest. For God spake and said unto 
 them, Go forward! And lifting their banners in the 
 dread name of Israel's God, they struggled, prevailed 
 and vanquished. 
 
 It was a dark hour when, a century still later, 
 our nearer ancestors, then suffering under oppres- 
 sion and goaded by wrongs, roused themselves in a 
 burst of indignant patriotism to cast off the yoke of 
 a grievous foreign tyranny, when they appealed for 
 justice and cried for succor to the God of Battles, 
 and with means as feeble as the Hebrew stripling's,
 
 went forth to their stern encounter with a giant 
 adversary. That conflict was resolutely waged. 
 Their march was onward, " from conquering to 
 conquer." They were made strong in the Lord, 
 and by the power of His might. For God was with 
 them ; and HE their defender was invincible. 
 
 The time would fail me to count up all the dark 
 hours, contrasted with the bright passages and aus- 
 picious deliverances, which crowd our country's 
 annals ; to trace the steps of our national march 
 from feebleness to power, from lowliness to gran- 
 deur ; to exhibit the fruits of our fathers' courage, 
 constancy, and trust in God ; to point out the won- 
 drous energy of their faith crowned, as it was, by 
 most brilliant and surprising issues ; to show how a 
 benignant Providence has oft proved better than our 
 fears, turning our reverses into triumphs, our mis- 
 chances into blessings, and "from seeming evil, ever 
 educing good." 
 
 Brought as we are to the opening of another year, 
 and assembled at the chosen era for the re-organi- 
 zation of the civil authorities of the government of 
 our favored Commonwealth, as we pause to pay our 
 grateful homage to that Almighty Power whose guar- 
 dian hand has hitherto led and sustained us, it is nat- 
 ural to glance at the past, in connection with the 
 present and the anticipated future, and to ponder upon 
 our joint privileges, solicitudes and obligations. We 
 have completed another stage of our civil progress.
 
 10 
 
 We have come to Elim,* pleasant for its salubrious 
 fountains, its verdant pastures and its shady palms. 
 But it is only for temporary refreshment and repose, 
 to cheer our hearts with the goodly scene around 
 us ; and to reanimate our zeal and fortify our reso- 
 lution for the toils and conflicts incident to our future 
 appointed career. We are then to strike our tents, 
 and set forward our standards, and press to the high 
 destinies which allure us from afar. 
 
 Let me have your indulgence then as I proceed 
 to remark on a few of our combined privileges as 
 citizens on some qualifying circumstances in our 
 otherwise bright and enviable lot on the duties 
 imposed by the juncture and on the means and 
 motives for obviating existing dangers, and perpet- 
 uating the blessings we enjoy. 
 
 I. Let us survey a few of our privileges. The 
 blessings we possess, are mainly the accumulated 
 treasures, or the rich products of the disposing agen- 
 cies, of by-gone generations. We owe them, under 
 God, to the wisdom, firmness and piety of the men 
 of clear heads, stout hearts, and high-souled pur- 
 poses, who planted the germs of empire upon our 
 shores. We dwell on a soil redeemed by their valor 
 from savage foes, and reclaimed by their patient 
 industry from a state of rudeness to fertility, from a 
 wilderness to "a fruitful field." 
 
 We enjoy by transmission the heritage of Liberty. 
 That precious boon, denied to many nations and 
 
 Exodus xv. 27.
 
 11 
 
 but partially possessed and fiercely strove for by 
 others, is here the immunity of all. Whilst, in 
 divers regions, the will of one, or the tyranny of a 
 few, holds in slavish subjection the prostrate multi- 
 tude ; whilst there the people are degraded to a 
 populace, and the populace sunk to the character 
 and condition of a mob ; whilst the great mass of 
 mankind are counted as scarce endued with the 
 attributes of humanity, or but just supplied with so 
 much intelligence as to render them mechanically 
 more serviceable to their proud oppressors, are 
 treated as drudges and tools born to contribute to 
 the convenience or pleasure, the luxury, dignity and 
 pomp of the haughty ones who trample them down ; 
 here the poorest citizen is recognised in his just 
 relations. He stands up every inch a man. He is 
 placed on an equality of footing, in personal rights, 
 with the most prosperous and opulent. Station can 
 give no prerogative to crush, or to browbeat. The 
 poor man's hut is his castle, more strongly guarded 
 from spoil or aggression, than feudal fortress in the 
 iron age of Gothic barbarism. The avenues of pre- 
 ferment, the seats of power, the halls of legislation, 
 civic honors, official distinctions, are open to the 
 meritorious of every class. Useful arts, gainful traf- 
 fic, the rewards of industry invite the competition of 
 all ; and every man, pursuing the business of an 
 honest calling, may " sit under his own vine and fig 
 tree, having none to molest or to make him afraid." 
 But Liberty, sound Liberty, is not licentiousness.
 
 12 
 
 The broadest charter of freedom can never give 
 exemption from all restraints. A man, whether 
 high or low, rich or poor, is not privileged to do that 
 which is alone right in his own eyes, to pursue 
 selfish and sinister aims, where they interfere with 
 the just claims or the absolute immunities of others. 
 The moment he enters into, or finds himself incor- 
 porated within the social state, he has to relinquish 
 some personal and natural rights both for the com- 
 mon interest, and in consideration of greater com- 
 pensating advantages to himself. Paradoxical as it 
 may seem, the first step to the enjoyment of rational 
 liberty, is the abridgement of a certain measure of 
 personal freedom. A citizen must sacrifice a por- 
 tion of his original rights, or make them, over (so to 
 speak) to the custody of the community at large, 
 His will, in many particulars, must be subordinate 
 to, or regulated by, the will of the public. But, in 
 return, he enjoys its protection for rights reserved, 
 as well as others acquired by the implied exchange. 
 Obedience is the price of such protection ; and the 
 power of a state the united force of the individuals 
 composing it is pledged, by parity, to make good 
 that protection to the humblest of its citizens, stipu- 
 lating life, property, and numerous domestic and 
 social privileges. 
 
 Hence arises the necessity of law a frame of 
 government a structure of civil polity, all skilfully 
 arranged and wisely administered to secure the pri- 
 vate interests of individuals, and to subserve the
 
 13 
 
 salutary ends of the general union. Hence, too, 
 the duty and indispensableness oflegislation. Codes 
 of jurisprudence are a natural consequence. And 
 heads there must be to plan, and hands io execute ; 
 rulers to enact, and a people disposed (or submis- 
 sion. In a populous community one highly ad- 
 vanced and civilized such arrangements are matters 
 of great delicacy and moment. They require from 
 rulers besides a careful garnering of the lessons of 
 experience, an enlightened observation, the faculty 
 of prospective adaptation, keen, patient and profound 
 research ; and withal an honesty of purpose, and 
 fearless, single-eyed probity. Laws thus framed are 
 an inestimable dowry to a land. They cannot be 
 too highly prized, nor too sacredly guarded. And 
 the memory of their contrivers should be enshrined 
 in the grateful hearts of the people whom they 
 benefit. 
 
 Such are the accessory distinctions of our fortune. 
 For, besides the heritage of Liberty, we have the 
 heritage of Law. Our civil jurisprudence is the 
 digest of the wisdom of ages. Our constitutions of 
 .government transcend, the vaunted models of other 
 and elder times. Our statute-books are the fruits of 
 a legislation illustrated by the lights of the past, 
 but shaped and improved according to the wants, cir- 
 cumstances and perceptions of the present. Laws, 
 in fine, we have providing for the social order, the 
 harmony and well-being of those collectively on 
 whom they operate ; laws which shield the meanest 
 2
 
 14 
 
 and awe the mightiest, and spread the shelter of a 
 common defence over the poor man's cabin and the 
 rich man's mansion. 
 
 Defects in theory, or faults of detail, may be 
 detected in these institutions ; but a novice may spy 
 flaws in the noblest monuments of human skill and 
 genius ; and fools may blame what wise men cannot 
 always remedy. It is the part of legislation to en- 
 deavor to rectify what is palpably amiss ; to answer 
 every reasonable demand on its rightful interposi- 
 tion ; and to keep pace with the progress of society 
 by correspondent improvements in its statutory pro- 
 visions. The best political machinery is liable to 
 injury and disorders. It may be weakened by using, 
 or acquire a rust from age. Its weights may run 
 down, some spring may give way, a wheel may be 
 broken, or thrown from the grapple of the master- 
 regulator. Our civil fathers are the artificers to 
 whom we must look for the requisite repairs. Theirs 
 is the task, and at times a difficult and no enviable 
 one, to replace the unsound, to strengthen what is 
 weak, and haply to wind up and re-adjust the curi- 
 ous mechanism. More or less of this duty is annu- 
 ally necessary. But there is danger of over-much 
 doing. Innovations may not be improvements ; nor 
 are substitutes always amendments. 
 
 There was much of good sense in the language of 
 the Barons of England, when rebuking the arbitrary 
 and capricious edicts of a tyrant^ they said, " We 
 are opposed to changing the laws of the Realm."
 
 15 
 
 And much also of shrewdness in the reply of the 
 mercantile deputation of Bordeaux to Louis XIV. 
 when asked what should be done to advance their 
 interests? "Sire," was their answer, "Let us 
 alone." Every one knows that there is such a thing 
 as encumbering with help. Where this may be sus- 
 pected in questions of legislation, the wisest course 
 obviously is, to refrain from so thankless an office. 
 Better assuredly it is, to do nothing > than work 
 mischief; better to bear the incidental ill, than 
 endanger the abounding good ; better to acquiesce 
 in a mixed benefit, than pass from a partial bad to a 
 possible worse, As our history knows of no fabu- 
 lous age, so our ordinances of government date back 
 to no mean nor obscure origin. Beginning with the 
 memorable compact on board the May Flower, when 
 the emigrant colonists deliberately combined into 
 "a civil body politic," and solemnly bound them- 
 selves to yield "all due subjection to such just and 
 equal laws, acts, offices and constitutions" as should 
 from time to time be enacted, and be "thought most 
 meet and convenient" for the general good, com- 
 mencing with that noble instrument as the corner- 
 stone of our civil edifice, the fabric has risen and 
 expanded, growing with the wants, and modified by 
 the circumstances of succeeding times, till attaining 
 its present fair and majestic proportions. If, aside 
 from occasional repairs, any alterations be thought 
 needful in so venerable a pile, prudence would sug- 
 gest that they be made in accordance with the rule
 
 16 
 
 of established symmetry. If an enlargement of the 
 dimensions be called for, let it be done by the 
 simple method of annexations, instead of the bolder 
 process of entire re-construction on another ground- 
 plan and model. 
 
 I cannot leave this topic without adverting to a 
 feature of unfairness charged upon our systems of 
 legislation. Our laws are said to operate unequally. 
 A class of political seers has risen up in our times, 
 who pretend to have spied out this blemish ; though 
 they leave unexplained how it chanced to escape the 
 penetration of antecedent examiners. Their notable 
 discovery purports to be this : That our laws are 
 chiefly contrivances for the benefit of the rich, to 
 the aggravated grievance and damage of the poor ; 
 that they are the offspring of a cruel conspiracy to 
 exalt the one, and depress the other ; that they are 
 the ministers of a stern and jealous monopoly, per- 
 versely acting upon the maxim, " that whosoever 
 hath to him shall be given, and whosoever hath not, 
 from him shall be taken away even that which he 
 hath." 
 
 But who are the rich? Men sprung from the 
 mixed multitude thrown up from the indiscriminate 
 classes of society. Every walk of life leads natu- 
 rally on, or it opens into innumerable by-paths, 
 which conduct to ease, or competence, or affluence. 
 Industry, intelligence, frugality and uprightness are 
 ever sure of a fair recompense. Legislation influ- 
 ences wealth not wealth, legislation. It is the
 
 17 
 
 object of the former to aid the general acquisition of 
 property, not, of course, by narrowing and shutting 
 up, but digging open and multiplying its springs for 
 the accommodation of all. Such policy is dictated 
 by sound interest, conformably to the homely but 
 common-sense adage, that every man, to be a good 
 citizen, must hdve a stake in the hedge. A needy and 
 starving population, on the other hand, having no- 
 thing to lose, would never fear the consequences of 
 public turmoils and insurrections. 
 
 But legislation, be it observed, whilst seeking to 
 increase the means of general wealth, has taken 
 care to provide that the fortunate possessors, in 
 proportion to the amount of their acquisitions, shall 
 bear their part in the public burdens of taxation for 
 the common welfare and defence. Laws, you may 
 say, protect the rich. We grant it; but the secu- 
 rity is just that which they extend to the private 
 possessions of all. So far, in fact, from their oper- 
 ating exclusively to roll up and concentrate capital 
 in the hands of a few, they have done all they can 
 to ensure its frequent change and dispersion. The 
 prohibition, for example, of entails and rights of pri- 
 mogeniture, is alone enough to preclude the possi- 
 bility of long continued accumulations of fortune in 
 any family lines. All is in a state of ceaseless 
 fluctuation. And hence, as we often find, the rich 
 man or the 1 flourishing household of to-day, may be 
 sunk into impoverishment and obscurity on the mor- 
 row ; and the meanest ^poor, or their children in 
 2*
 
 18 
 
 another generation, may mount on the swel'ing 
 wave of prosperity, to as enviable a height of afflu- 
 ence and distinction, as the proudest and most 
 favored of their cotemporaries. 
 
 Never was there a more senseless clamor than 
 this cry of partial legislation ; never a more pre- 
 posterous accusation than such alleged and success- 
 ful combination of the rich against the poor. The 
 rich are confessedly a minority, and the more odieys 
 and overgrown rich constitute a very small minority. 
 Under a government whose fundamental maxim is, 
 that the will of the majority shall bear rule, and 
 where the men who represent that majority are ever 
 shifting and dependent en the popular suffrage, 
 how absurd to suppose that, in action, so plain a 
 theoretic principle could be reversed! Where, still 
 more, a vigilant public scrutiny is posted at every 
 avenue of place and power, watching with keen and 
 lidless eyes each official act of maladministration, 
 what folly to charge on a fractional part of society, 
 such a controuling influence as shall outweigh the 
 acknowledged and far mightier powers of numbers ! 
 Is that influence won by bribery? What a reflec- 
 tion on the virtue of a people! Is it accomplished 
 by artifice? What an insult on their understand- 
 ings! Has it been suffered to creep stealthily, of 
 long time, into our schemes of legislation, to twine 
 its parasitical fibres and tendrils around the goodly 
 vine planted by our sage ancestors, and under whose 
 shadow we have tasted the sweets of peace and
 
 19 
 
 jprosperousness? Oh, what a libel on the patriotism 
 t)F those appointed to watch and guard that sacred 
 stem, and to cherish the precious fruits which it has 
 yielded in our common rights and liberties! The 
 man who indulges, on whatever ostensible grounds, 
 in imputations of this sort, displays more of the qual- 
 ities of self-conceit and consummate effrontery, than 
 shrewdness of intellect or integrity of heart. He 
 slanders the living, and he vilifies the dead. Re- 
 spect for the one, and veneration for the other, can 
 have no place in his bosom. It is hazarding little to 
 say of men of this stamp, that they pay a poor com- 
 pliment to the virtue and good sense of the people 
 whom they seek to cajole. But much or little I 
 will venture to pronounce that the very public whose 
 honest though sometimes misguided prejudices they 
 would bend to their selfish purposes, will send back 
 an indignant voice to rebuke their hollow preten- 
 sions, and silence or drown their worse than silly 
 their atrocious accusations. 
 
 The most conclusive evidence of the efficacy of 
 our frame of laws, is the gladsome picture of content 
 and prosperousness spread abroad over the commu- 
 nity: the means of social comfort so liberally pro- 
 vided and dispensed ; the rapid accumulation and 
 unmolested security of the gains of honest toil and 
 enterprise ; the many institutions, so blest and 
 blessing in their character and influence, nourished 
 into being by the self-same spirit which produced 
 our combined system of law and government ; the
 
 20 
 
 multiform associations for the relief of human need 
 and suffering, whether moral or physical, teeming 
 on every hand; innumerable instrumentalities for 
 the encouragement of the diversified " arts which 
 make for peace;" establishments opened up for the 
 dissemination of knowledge, the promotion of sci- 
 ence, the dispersion of the blessings of religion ; our 
 seminaries and lyceums, our schools and colleges, 
 our churches and temples; Oh, these are the living 
 witnesses these the clustering fruits of the wisdom, 
 piety and patriotism of our fathers, which distil the 
 richest fragrance on their memory, and shed a grace 
 and glory over New England. What though we 
 boast no vine-clad, laughing shores, like the sunny 
 regions of poetic song some fairy "land of the rose 
 and the myrtle," where nature wantons in exhaust- 
 less fertility, and pours forth her ripened stores 
 disdainful of the aid of man? Ours is a soil which 
 kindly repays the toils of culture ; and human skill 
 and painstaking exertion have developed no niggard 
 resources ; and beauty and luxuriance have been 
 made to deck our rugged hills ; and we have drawn 
 "from the abundance of the seas, and the treasures 
 hid in the sands." What though we boast no clas- 
 sic fields, no long-drawn line of storied generations, 
 no pomp of heraldry nor race of kings? We can 
 look back with pride on an honored lineage, deduced 
 from a pious ancestry, and ennobled by Pilgrim blood. 
 We can turn to a history brief but crowded, bright- 
 ened with deeds of lofty heroism and virtues of pure
 
 21 
 
 and spotless excellence. We can point to a shining 
 roll of names, themselves the titles of a deathless 
 renown, which children's children will revere and 
 blazon, and 
 
 " Set them down with gold on lasting pillars." 
 
 And if we look abroad and take a wider survey, 
 if we contemplate the mighty field of our Country's 
 vigorous and successful enterprise, we behold a scene 
 of surpassing magnificence nd grandeur : A peo- 
 ple of yesterday, sprung from a feeble handful, and 
 already grown to a great multitude a nation of fif- 
 teen millions ; the tide cf population rapidly sweep- 
 ing to the farthest west, destined ere long to cover a 
 continent, its foremost wave even now touching the 
 margin of the Pacific ; the march of improvement 
 corresponding with this unparalleled progression of 
 the living mass ; the triumphs of genius and art 
 multiplying as by enchantment on every side ; new 
 springs of wealth bursting forth like fountains among 
 all our valleys and hills ; commerce gathering the 
 offerings of fairest and richest climes ; our ports 
 stretching out their colossal arms into the deep, to 
 welcome the fleets and embosom the tribute of a 
 thousand foreign shores ; our starry banner displayed 
 with honor alike under the burning line, along the 
 11 coral strand" of India, among the glaciers of the 
 north, and the spicy isles of the east ; our gallant 
 eagle towering on strong pinion at times, per- 
 chance, stooping its flight in placid skies, but anon
 
 22 
 
 careering upon the stormy blast, or soaring to a 
 bolder, grander elevation. Surveying these splen- 
 did results of the causes we have indicated, our 
 hearts may naturally beat high, with a throb of 
 patriotic exultation. But the emotion is tinged with 
 a shade of sadness. We may rejoice indeed grate- 
 fully rejoice. But can we refrain from trembling ? 
 Can we forget that proportionate to our ascendancy 
 in the pride of privilege and advantage, will be the 
 depth of our degradation and fall, if we prove false 
 to our duties as citizens false to those principles 
 which have borne us onward and upward to our 
 present height of national felicity and aggrandize- 
 ment ? 
 
 II. We are led to consider some qualifying cir- 
 cumstances in our otherwise bright and enviable 
 condition. 
 
 With all that is exhilerating in the features of the 
 times, there are it cannot be disguised signs 
 which are discouraging. It is r ith nations as with 
 individuals, that prosperity, though ardently cov- 
 eted, is often perverted into the means of harm. It 
 is the parent of vice ; and developes, even where it 
 does not engender, many germs of mischief. In the 
 long festival of peace which has smiled upon us, the 
 very sunshine of our fortunes has hatched out a per- 
 nicious brood of evils. The political atmosphere is 
 becoming charged with noxious miasmata, which 
 threaten grievous distempers to society. The pub-
 
 lie mind ever craving of excitement in the ab- 
 sence of foreign disturbing causes, yields with morbid 
 appetence to others of a domestic nature. Party 
 animosity is rife. Religious feuds are fanned to 
 exasperation. Political controversies are waged 
 with increasing keenness and asperity. Schemes 
 of selfish and unprincipled ambition are beginning 
 to be openly avowed and shamelessly prosecuted. 
 Principles, specious in theory but impracticable 
 in operation, we see zealously propagated by heat- 
 ed and misguiding visionaries ; a spirit of dark and 
 sullen discontent with the established order of 
 things plotting measures at war with our dearest 
 institutions, and threatening if triumphant to up- 
 heave their old foundations, to reduce government 
 to anarchy and society to its original chaos ; a grow- 
 ing impatience in the minds of others who yet would 
 recoil from the latter extreme, manifested neverthe- 
 less in their ill-disguised aversion, and sometimes 
 downright uncalculating resistance to those just and 
 salutary restraints of law, without which no wise nor 
 well regulated freedom could possibly exist ; a 
 scornful indifference exhibited during outbursts of 
 popular ferment, (alas, too frequent in these times!) 
 to the dull delays of judicial redress, that fiery 
 impetuosity to execute justice, whereby justice her- 
 self has indeed been all but summarily executed cut 
 down by parricidal blows inflicted by men whose 
 rights and liberties, in common with all classes of 
 citizens, are alone safe when under her tutelary aegis.
 
 24 
 
 I might speak of the sectional irritations and en* 
 mities so unhappily prevalent of late and these 
 busily fomented with the certain consequence of 
 widening schisms which, unless early healed, must 
 result in the dissolution of our proud confederacy. 
 We behold the South fiercely arrayed against the 
 North, jealous not merely of the commercial ascen- 
 dancy and enriching industry of the latter, but spe- 
 cially so of that most intrusive interference by a class 
 of our citizens naturally chargeable upon all in 
 certain domestic institutions which the South holds 
 to be matters of its own exclusive concern, and 
 vitally essential to its well-being and its interests. 
 We behold the West, in its lust of aggrandizement, 
 disdainful of the plainest principles of justice, and 
 eager to lay a rapacious hand on the queenly terri- 
 torial domain, the common heritage of us all. 
 States we have seen once leagued in closest fel- 
 lowship, and which moved shoulder to shoulder in 
 the glorious march of the Revolution now alienated 
 as though baptised with " the waters of strife:" 
 the Union openly assailed; the national compact 
 with the solemn pledges it enshrines, denounced or 
 scoffed at; an Ishmaelitish temper springing uo in 
 the bosoms of our twice-twelve tribes, the hand of 
 each being turned against a brother's, and brother's 
 against all ; our glorious alliance of kindred states 
 fast verging to a separation, breaking into jarring 
 and discordant fragments, their masses momenta- 
 rily liable to be driven from their ancient holds
 
 25 
 
 tossed to and fro on the angry sea of civil commo- 
 tion jostling and crashing like hostile fleets or a 
 convoy in a storm. 
 
 If we look further, we are presented with another 
 catalogue of evils. We see luxury, the fatal bane 
 of all republics, spreading its infection and eating as 
 a gangrene into the vitals of the state : Intemper- 
 ance, insatiate monster, still rioting in the land, and 
 claiming new hecatombs to swell the mighty heap 
 of victim inebriates already offered in the horrid 
 sacrifice ; habits of extravagance growing apace, 
 confined to no one class of society nourished by 
 false estimates of things, and exercised on objects of 
 fond and foolish desire, tastes often outstripping 
 the means of supply, and bringing distress into fam- 
 ilies, embarrassments in business, and a fatal blight 
 on men's fortunes and worldly expectations. 
 
 Every man is emulous to overtop his fellows. 
 Every grade of life down to the poorest and hum- 
 blest, is pressing upon the skirts, and striving for an 
 equality perhaps to something more, on the score 
 of wealth and privilege with that next above. 
 Expenditures are suited not to the standard of one's 
 means, nor yet of one's rational wants, but the 
 measure of other men's disbursements. Difference 
 in the length of purse by no means produces always 
 a proportionate difference in the outgoes. To rem- 
 edy the inconveniences so surely to follow, even 
 where the darker feelings of envy and sullen ill-will 
 may not be indulged, a passion for wealth is inordi- 
 3
 
 26 
 
 nately cherished. A man is in haste to grow rich. 
 He hears of sudden and brilliant acquisitions of prop- 
 erty, and covets like fortunes for himself. Small 
 gains no longer content him. Frugality, or a wise 
 and prudent thrift, he unhappily despises. He em- 
 barks capital, pawns credit, and in a luckless hour 
 launches forth on the sea of speculation. All is 
 put to hazard. He is afloat on a treacherous ele- 
 ment where for one chance of making a prosperous 
 venture, he is exposed to fearful odds. High-blown 
 in hope and confidence, he sports awhile "like wan- 
 ton boys in summer seas ;" but soon the sky dark- 
 ens a tempest lowers the deep heaves and swells 
 the port is far distant his canvass flutters to the 
 rising breeze he skims awhile along the curling 
 waves but a fiercer blast comes rushing on sud- 
 denly it falls, and whelms his bark, his hopes, his 
 all. 
 
 This avidity for riches, with the hazards involved 
 in the desperate chase, is too sadly one of the beset- 
 ting sins of the times. In the eager competition, 
 men are found to forsake the paths of prudence and 
 safety, to sacrifice ease, comfort and social happi- 
 ness, and, not seldom, to set at nought the obligations 
 of truth, honor and uprightness. Our fathers were 
 wont to make sumptuary regulations for the repres- 
 sion of a taste for extravagance. We plumed our- 
 selves in advancing further, when we banished by 
 penal statutes many public enticements to dissipa- 
 tion before tolerated and countenanced. Much was
 
 27 
 
 thought to be gained when laws were passed for the 
 suppression of games of chance, together with the 
 pestilent establishments which specially patronized 
 them. Many an old "rookery" was broken up, and 
 many a kindred haunt of open vice shared a similar 
 fate. Something more of good was thought to be 
 effected when lotteries were interdicted, and the 
 demoralizing traffic was fordidden which they en- 
 couraged and invited. Arid we rejoiced in witness- 
 ing these and similar measures of legislation sus- 
 tained, as was believed, by the force of sound public 
 sentiment. But have we not reason to fear that we 
 calculated too fast? That the evil was only or 
 chiefly driven in, not expelled? That the foul 
 humors have become, from whatever cause, more 
 widely if more latently diffused in the great body 
 of the community? Or rather, that having festered 
 awhile unseen, they have begun at last to reappear 
 and effloresce on the surface of society? To what 
 else can we ascribe the popular mania for bold and 
 rash speculations, the jobbing and chaffering, trade 
 and barter in land stock, and fancy stock, and scrip 
 of all stamps and names, that spirit of reckless 
 adventurousness nay worse, of downright gambling, 
 which pushes at the most desperate contingencies 
 watching the turn of a wheel where prizes are few 
 and blanks are many, peradventure staking prop- 
 erty, credit, prospects, every thing, on the fling of a 
 single die in the game of moneyed speculations? 
 Again ; a ruffian spirit has broken forth, subver-
 
 28 
 
 sive of the vital guards of all property. Men there 
 are, (as already intimated,) who would pull down 
 the defensive barriers of wealth and industry, and 
 drive the ploughshare of violence over the rubbish 
 of their fallen muniments. And why? Not in the 
 vain hope of keeping, when reduced, all things at 
 the same dead level ; not the romantic disinterest- 
 edness of being themselves if as good yet no 
 better than the residue; but from motives wicked 
 as base, the love of rapine, a craving for spoil 
 and plunder, an inflamed expectancy of making 
 their own fortunes amid the general rush and scram- 
 ble of the overturn, and vaulting into stations of 
 place and consequence, by outwitting or outstripping 
 the less wary and active of their fellows. 
 
 No man in his senses can seriously believe that 
 all distinctions of privileges and possessions can be 
 melted down in one promiscuous mass, to continue 
 so under any compulsory state of civilized society. 
 The plan of a community of goods has been tried 
 over and over again, and resulted in disastrous failure. 
 If in name or form, the system has ever maintained 
 its ground beyond the hour of its unpromising birth r 
 it has only been in some petty societies, the regula- 
 tions of which could not for a moment exist among 
 the complicated relations of populous states. The 
 experiment was made, under the best auspices of 
 which it was susceptible, in the infancy of our own 
 Commonwealth. Lands in fee were withheld from 
 all the original settlers. Every thing was then
 
 29 
 
 common. The avails of husbandry and the products 
 of the fisheries were thrown into a general stock, 
 from which supplies of food and other necessaries 
 were again issued like rations in a garrison. The 
 consequence was, that as the idle were sure to be 
 fed if bread there was from the public storehouse, 
 they were little anxious to contribute their share of 
 toil and exertion to meet the common exigencies ; 
 and the industrious were overtasked for the purpose 
 of furnishing the requisite sufficiency. Some im- 
 provement was made when, three years after the 
 settlement at Plymouth, acre lots were assigned to 
 colonists in usufruct; and more, when four years 
 later, these lots were extended to sections of twenty 
 acres. The absolute property therein continued to 
 be some time longer withheld shut out by rigorous 
 interdict; nor was it till every contrivance was 
 resorted to, short of the one inevitable though long 
 deprecated issue, that the whole policy was aban- 
 daned.* Real estate was then created; full titles 
 to possessions were granted; lands distributed in 
 clear severalty ; trade was thrown open to the fair 
 rivalry of all; and every man's gains were guaran- 
 teed for his sole, exclusive behoof and disposal. 
 And what followed? Spurs were at once put to 
 enterprise. Business no longer languished. Useful 
 occupations multiplied and flourished. The hum of 
 cheerful industry resounded on all sides. The tide 
 
 *Sop Hisioricnl Memoir of Plymouih, (Vol. I. pp. 120, 118, 15H, ft. al.) by lion. 
 Francis Baylies. 
 
 3*
 
 30 
 
 of wealth began to set into the little colony, at 
 first fed by scanty rills, then swelled by ampler 
 streams, till it rolled at length its broad and silvery 
 current through the smiling landscape, transmut- 
 ing, like a second Pactolus, its very sands into gold. 
 Property, in short, there must be. Its fountains 
 must be open to all ; but every man's reservoir, 
 dependent as it is for capaciousness on his personal 
 means and abilities, must be sealed against intruders. 
 Where there is property, there must be confidence ; 
 and confidence presupposes and exacts a state of 
 security. Destroy these immunities, and you dis- 
 band society. Rather might I say, destroy it 
 though you would, reduce it to its original atomic 
 state, the decomposition cannot be permanent. So 
 long as man continues man and associates with his 
 fellow man, and human skill and powers, tempers, 
 tastes and opportunities remain, as they ever will 
 remain, endlessly diverse, new artificial combina- 
 tions and orderly arrangements and protective meth- 
 ods of checks and encouragements, will inevitably 
 ensue. You may break down, but you cannot keep 
 down. You may pluck up, root and branch, the 
 existing establishments of a civilized age or peo- 
 ple. You may furrow afresh the field of society. 
 You may trundle your rolling stones across its 
 smooth and even surface ; but you cannot preserve 
 such unnatural level. Other forms of social lite 
 forms of order, and beauty, and freshness will 
 spring up from the clearing. They will be found 
 vegetating again in mixed and harmonious assem-
 
 31 
 
 blage, and mounting in regular gradation from the 
 hyssop on the wall to the tall and stately cedar of 
 Lebanon. 
 
 III. I go on to remark upon the duties imposed by 
 the juncture. Dark as the portents may be, there 
 is nothing to warrant despondence. In darker 
 hours, our fathers sought and obtained deliverance. 
 We are not to to fold our arms in supineness, nor 
 look quietly on, and fruitlessly bewail evils suscepti- 
 ble of relief or cure. If we bestir ourselves ? an 
 Almighty Protector will vouchsafe His aid. The 
 Lord's arm is not slackened that it cannot save ; nor 
 His ear heavy that He cannot hear. He who "sift- 
 ed a kingdom for the wheat" sown in our wilderness, 
 will, in answer to the prayers of His servants, still 
 bless the springing and the increase. He who 
 raised up a people upon these shores by a train of 
 such brilliant providences, from "a little one to a 
 thousand, and from a small one to a strong nation," 
 will not suffer His gracious purposes to be frustrated. 
 Bright tokens of hope and promise are flung out to 
 our gaze. And the gloomiest signs which chequer 
 the prospect, will prove, we will hope, but as the 
 clouds to usher in the more triumphant coming of 
 the Son of Man the Prince of Peace and of Right- 
 eousness. 
 
 That the institutions under which, in the main, 
 we have so pre-eminently prospered, should be 
 carefully cherished, is what every good citizen must 
 admit. The prominent evils of our times proceed
 
 32 
 
 in a great measure from the teeming blessings con- 
 veyed by the privileges of our lot engendering by 
 abuse, a species of plethory in the heart of the 
 nation. What the prophet recorded of Jerusalem, 
 " Behold, this was thine iniquity pride, fullness of 
 bread, and abundance of idleness; and thou hast 
 multiplied thine abominations" is, alas, too appli- 
 cable to ourselves. Our table has become to us a 
 snare; and from the cup of prosperity we have 
 drunk unto surfeit. 
 
 Perversions, nevertheless, of the wisest institu- 
 tions only illustrate the weakness or viciousness of 
 human nature. They do not make against the value 
 and importance of the institutions themselves, any 
 more than the common abuses of the gifts and boun- 
 ties of Heaven prove the latter to be intrinsically 
 bad and worthless. Whatever is good, placed with- 
 in our reach, should be gratefully and rationally 
 applied to its true and proper uses. And our bless- 
 ings we should conscientiously hold and exercise, as 
 faithful and wise stewards. 
 
 Our duties as citizens embrace a double class of 
 responsibilities. Partly they pertain to our public 
 functionaries; and partly they respect the great 
 body of the people. Rulers may be eminently 
 instrumental, by measures of sound legislation, in 
 contributing to the support and usefulness of the 
 institutions of which they are the special guardians. 
 By prudent enactments, timely and dispassionately 
 framed to meet emergencies, to strengthen old and
 
 33 
 
 salutary regulations, to check the facilities of dex- 
 terous legal evasions, to expunge what is obsolete, 
 explain what is doubtful, soften what is harsh, and 
 liberalize what is narrow, by these and similar 
 provisions, they may become the ministers of God 
 for great good to a people. Laws, whether civil 
 statutes or penal ordinances conceived in a spirit 
 of justice and moderation should be resolutely and 
 promptly executed. Indulged impunity is a bribe 
 to transgression ; and excessive lenity is a wrong to 
 the public. The laws of Draco, which were so 
 severe that they were said to be written in blood, 
 adjudging the sternest punishments to even trivial 
 offences defeated their own aims. Instead of ter- 
 rifying from all crime and misdemeanor, they broke 
 down in the public mind the distinctions between 
 right and wrong. Offences, the gravest as well as 
 the lightest, vere committed in open defiance of so 
 arbitrary a code. Penalties could not be exacted ; 
 and the whole system sunk into early abandonment 
 and scorn. Our legislation is planned on a different 
 policy, tempering rigor with mercy, and aiming to 
 reduce extreme punishments, to the minimum stan- 
 dard consistent with general safety. Duty therefore 
 demands that retribution should follow swift on the 
 steps of crime ; that every penal act on our statute- 
 book be inflexibly enforced, or forthwith be blotted 
 from the page which it stains as a dead letter ; that 
 instead of connivances at flagrant violations of legal 
 enactments, every serious breach of them be punished,
 
 34 
 
 and every insult to their authority be indignantly 
 frowned down; and the prerogatives of the civil 
 power, the reign of order and the majesty of law be 
 maintained inviolate. 
 
 Vigilance in the performance of these duties is 
 doubly requisite at a crisis like the present, when the 
 elements of society are so liable to disturbance; and 
 when those two antagonist forces, namely, authority 
 and subjection, existing with more or less intensity 
 under every form of government, are being brought 
 into such frequent and serious collision. But with 
 institutions like ours, if all good citizens and sound 
 patriots, whether holding official or mere private 
 relations, will do their duty and use the necessary 
 precautions, if our sentries on the watch towers, 
 or the warders which man our ramparts, will sound 
 the timely alarums, and stand to their posts, and 
 cover their defences, the citadel will be safe. No 
 weapon turned against it shall prosper. God will 
 fight for us. For, government is from Him ; though 
 forms of government be of men. As it is written : 
 " Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordi- 
 nances of God; and they that resist shall receive 
 condemnation.'' If we therefore be not wanting to 
 ourselves, with God for our helper, success in 
 the struggle is certain ; as, contrarily, disaster and 
 defeat must rest upon a cause where the demon 
 spirit of anarchy is suffered to carry the standard. 
 
 It is not irrelevant to remark in passing, on the 
 aptitude of extremes to approximate and interchange,
 
 35 
 
 although separated, to all appearance, wide as the 
 poles asunder. Under despotisms, the spirit of 
 insubordination is kept down by the sternness of 
 governmental regulations acting as a ponderous, 
 mechanical weight pressing from above. Under 
 republics, through the absence of unnecessary and 
 vexatious restraints, it has fewer temptations and 
 appliances for action ; and it exists in comparative 
 inertness, only requiring in general a prudent and 
 steady watching. In the former, whenever the elas- 
 tic force succeeds by a convulsive effort to extricate 
 itself, it shakes down the pillars of a monarchy, 
 perhaps burying its every vestige in one wide and 
 yawning gulf of ruin ; and from out of new materials 
 an emancipated people set to work, to construct 
 other and more liberal institutions adapted to the 
 forms of a free commonwealth. In the latter case, 
 if by some fatal catastrophe caused by insurrection- 
 ary violences, the frame of a government be dislo- 
 cated, the short and turbulent reign of mad licen- 
 tiousness is almost sure to be succeeded by an iron 
 tyranny. Some master-spirit speedily arises to 
 combine anew the scattered powers of sovereignty, 
 and to reduce and shape them into an engine of 
 most galling oppression. Social relations, in the 
 two cases, are reversed. In the first instance, a 
 nation of slaves is transformed into a nation of free- 
 men ; in the second, a commonwealth of freemen 
 is degraded to the condition of slaves. 
 
 The example of Revolutionary France offers an
 
 36 
 
 illustration sufficiently in point. There, a despoti- 
 cal monarchy, on the first overturn, was exchanged 
 for a republic, short lived indeed because of the 
 intoxication which liberty inspired, acting on the 
 passions of an ignorant and brutalized populace. 
 The blessings of freedom they knew not how to 
 apply to their legitimate uses ; and when the few 
 frail breastworks hastily run up for their protection 
 during the earliest storm of the Revolution, were 
 swept away by the hurricanes which followed, the 
 people sunk under a more absolute tyranny, led 
 captive, nay chained to the conquering car of one 
 of the haughtiest oppressors that ever trampled 
 on the freedom and happiness of man. Liberty, 
 I have said, they were incapable of enjoying. 
 They were ignorant, and could not appreciate it. 
 They were profligate, and lost it. And this sug- 
 gests another reflection bearing upon our duties. 
 
 Laws are of no permanent avail, without the 
 sanction of public sentiment. The main reliance is 
 Opinion ; and this, to be effectual, must be informed 
 and enlightened. As ignorance is necessary to the 
 stability of despotisms, general knowledge is essen- 
 tial to the security of republics.* A discerning 
 people, from the instinct of interest, will be naturally 
 led to uphold institutions whose practical advantages 
 they are made capable of estimating. 
 
 * The late crowned head of the Holy Alliance, Francis I. of Austria, had sagac- 
 ity enough 10 understand this; when to the Faculty of the College of Layback, on 
 their presentation to his majesty, he had the imperial effrontery to say " Gentle- 
 men, I want not learned men, but only loyal and good subjects."
 
 37 
 
 But knowledge, to produce this end, must not be 
 -confined to a small circle of select and gifted minds, 
 constituting a privileged order, or caste, in society. 
 With such restriction, under the most liberal forms 
 of government, it would only serve to embellish 
 without strengthening the columns of a state. There 
 were wise minds, and sound minds, and intelligent 
 minds, in France at the memorable outburst of its 
 first Revolution ; but they formed a club by them- 
 selves holding the keys of the temple of science 
 chary of its golden stores unto others and specially 
 jealous of admitting the people to a share in their 
 monopoly. The consequence was., that in the gen- 
 eral confusion which ensued, on their attempting to 
 manage and guide the undisciplined masses of society, 
 their wisdom profited not for want of a correlative 
 judgment that instructed reason In the public mind 
 whereby alone the people could be brought to 
 co-operate in their schemes of political and national 
 regeneration. Will you say that Knowledge is 
 Power, and that like many of the blind forces of art 
 or of nature, it is capable of being determined to 
 objects either of good or evil? We grant it. But 
 the fact only goes to prove, that for the purpose of 
 preventing and neutralizing the possible misapplica- 
 tion of knowledge when confined to a few, the safest 
 course assuredly is to extend the gift unto all. Just 
 as a standing army would be dangerous to the 
 liberties of a people. But put weapons into the 
 hands of all, and you make every man at once a 
 4
 
 38 
 
 national guardsman. A people thus collectively 
 armed, sjpposing them to be endued with an ordi- 
 nary share of intelligence, whilst they are prepared 
 to resist the encroachments of arbitrary power, are 
 enlisted to protect a government to the last extrem- 
 ity, so long as it shall restrict itself to its legitimate 
 sphere and functions. 
 
 But there are other evils to be guarded against. 
 As knowledge, we have admitted, may prove injuri- 
 ous where unequally apportioned, it may become 
 such when unsound, or baneful, or defective. The 
 learning of the dark and scholastic ages was little 
 better than chaff, which might cram the intellect 
 without ever nourishing a strong and healthy growth. 
 The philosophy of the school of Frederick* and 
 Voltaire, may be compared to a honey-cake mixed 
 with ratsbane. And in our times, what is called 
 popular knowledge is restricted too much to bare 
 rudiments. A man may be able to read, write and 
 
 * I call it the school of Frederick, for he the first of ihe name, miscalled the 
 Great affected as is well known, the character of a philosopher as well as patron 
 of the eminent philosophers, (i. e. the famous infidel writers ;ind geniuses) of his 
 own times. No man contributed so much as that monarch to the dissemination of 
 those pestilent principles which, sown throughout France and Europe, shot up in 
 the succeeding generation, like the dragon's teeth, into a harvest of armed war- 
 riors, reared, il would seem, expressly to lake vengeance on his line, and shiver a t 
 a blow the colossal military power which he had been at such consnminate pains to 
 establish. A writer in a lale number of the Foreign Quarterly Review has an 
 admirable reflection on this point, which I shall make no apology for transcribing. 
 Alluding to the fatal battle of Jena, he says " If on that day the shade of Fred- 
 erick the Great had risen from the dead, he would have feh in the blighted glories 
 of the House of Brandenburgh, ihe solemn and gory retribution of the infidelity 
 which he had taught to France, and the love of conquest with which so long he had 
 afflicted Europe. In fourteen days from Napoleon's crossing the Rhine, he was 
 tilling victor in ihe palace of Frederick."
 
 39 
 
 cypher, and not be intelligent. That depends on 
 the use he makes of the elementary helps of know- 
 ledge he has obtained, and the absolute acquisitions 
 which by their means he may amass. A taste for 
 these should be actively encouraged. Every aid to 
 improvement, by stimulating a thirst for knowledge, 
 enkindling manly thought, promoting liberal investi- 
 gations, gratifying a love of science, in short, aught 
 that may contribute to elevate and dignify the intel- 
 lectual nature, should be an object of solicitude to a 
 patriot's heart. The private citizen who lends his 
 influence towards these ends, whether by the es 
 tablishment of village Lyceums, enlarging through 
 the press the stock of popular literature, or familiar- 
 izing science by means of oral instruction in the 
 form of public lectures or addresses is a benefactor 
 to society. Rulers, by giving both an official and 
 personal patronage to helping on the same great 
 objects, are entitled to a double measure of gratitude 
 and praise. 
 
 But virtue, you may remind me, should be the at- 
 tendant on knowledge. Unquestionably. They are 
 the twin handmaids to lead on the march of social im- 
 provement. They are bound by a common ligament 
 closely and vitally bound, as was that famous pair 
 of another species once brought co us from Siam. 
 Their aims and interests strictly are identified ; nor 
 can they, in the natural order of things, be with any 
 prudence or safety dissevered. I might go a step fur- 
 ther, and say, that knowledge of the right stamp is
 
 40 
 
 virtue; knowledge, do I mean, discharged of all 
 impurities, knowledge clarified from the foul admix- 
 tures of error and falsehood, and sublimed and recti- 
 fied in the crucible of Truth ; this, I repeat, is virtue. 
 A mind thoroughly wise has its moral sense quickened, 
 and it sees the propitious tendencies and inherent 
 excellence of the law of right. It perceives that as 
 every vice is a struggle against nature, so true virtue 
 is most eminently auspicious to the good of man, and 
 the elevation and happiness of the species. As 
 transgression is the parent of shame and sorrow^ so 
 obedience to the moral commands of the Creator is 
 the alone absolute security of the welfare of individ- 
 uals, and the cement of society. A community of 
 minds thoroughly enlightened, could not fail to be 
 virtuous. Hence it is that in Scripture, Piety is oft 
 termed " Wisdom." Hence also the saying of the 
 prophet, "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the 
 stability of thy times." And again, "Righteous- 
 ness," (which by the analogy of interpretation, is 
 but the converse term of the former,) " Righteousness 
 exalteth a nation ; and sin is the reproach n aye 
 worse the ruin "of any people." That we have 
 not more virtue in the land, is for the reason that 
 we have .not more of sound intelligence more of 
 that keen-eyed perspicacity which takes into sober 
 view the ordained relations and consequences of 
 things, which follows out the indissoluble chain of 
 consequences between moral effects and their causes, 
 and which convincingly sees that sure as the law
 
 41 
 
 of gravity virtue steadfastly maintained, must ulti- 
 mately result in good, error in harm, and vice in 
 wretchedness. 
 
 The business of elucidating these great principles 
 is too narrowly parcelled out to different classes 
 of teachers ; and the harmonious connexions and 
 dependencies subsisting among the hws and insti- 
 tutes of God in the natural and moral worlds, are 
 not sufficiently brought into view to be duly heeded 
 or apprehended. Truth is of God. It proceeds 
 from, depends on, and leads back to Him, as its 
 source. In all its varieties and modifications, it 
 maintains therefore an agreement and perfect self- 
 consistency. One truth is compatible with all other 
 truth ; human science with divine philosophy ; the 
 demonstrations of reason with the revelations of 
 God. But one class of men employs itself in some 
 exclusive branch of science. Another selects a dif- 
 ferent department; and investigation proceeds in 
 separate paths, hedged in by strong and artificial 
 barriers, as though there existed no natural affini- 
 ties in their objects, and no point of convergence for 
 their common terminus. Here, a philosopher takes 
 the chair of natural science, and discourses learn- 
 edly on the properties, laws and phenomena of 
 matter. There, a professor of political economy 
 ingeniously lectures on the duties of legislation, and 
 descants on the various expedients it should employ 
 for increasing the stock of national wealth or melior- 
 ating the condition of man in society. The geome- 
 4*
 
 42 
 
 trician devotes himself engrossingly to his mathe- 
 matical calculations, his problems and his diagrams. 
 The metaphysician chooses a track of his own, and 
 wanders away, haply to be lost in a maze of fanci- 
 ful disquisition. Whilst the preacher employs him- 
 self on themes of doctrinal theology, very possibly 
 in exalting religion to the disparagement of morality, 
 and vilifying reason in his anxiety to magnify revela- 
 tion. But why should these things be? Why should 
 that which God hath joined together, be so per- 
 versely and unnaturally sundered? Why should the 
 fields of science, human and divine, be so carefully 
 cantoned out into narrow and separate enclosures; 
 and their lines of demarkation be so jealously kept 
 up and defended? May not the naturalist be the 
 devout and sober theist ; and in beholding the beauty,, 
 order and consummate wisdom of the material crea- 
 tion, extend his widened vision, and " look through 
 nature up to nature's God?" Should the politician, 
 shut out all thought of God and providence, of the 
 sanctions of religion and eternity in his plans for 
 the public good ; and content himself with pru- 
 dential contrivances studying a nicely-poised sys- 
 tem of economic arrangements as though he could 
 by any art or craft solely of his own, provide against 
 the possibility of national reverses, or resolve in the 
 apparatus of government the long sought for problem 
 of a perpetual motion ? Shall theology remain 
 intrenched in her ancient state and mystery, and not 
 rather come down to accommodate herself more
 
 43 
 
 practically to the moral wants and interests of man- 
 kind? And when mixing in the walks of life, shall 
 she appear in the character of a jealous spy, instead 
 of a kindly companion, a sage, yet welcome, mon- 
 itress and friend, designed to regulate with grace 
 and wisdom all the affairs of men presiding to equal 
 advantage in the councils of nations, the diversified 
 transactions and employments of social intercourse, 
 and the more sequestered scenes and duties of pri- 
 vate life? Claiming the prerogative of infallibility 
 in questions of abstract faith and doctrine, shall she 
 also look coldly and suspiciously on the honest 
 researches of human genius in the realms of creation 
 and providence, as though that "elder scripture," 
 the Book of Nature, were not worthy of consultation, 
 or if read at all, must only be interpreted with the 
 forced glosses of some of her many narrow and 
 hampering schemes of divinity? 
 
 Whatever the cause may be, the fact seems cer- 
 tain, that whilst religion such as she came down 
 from God out of heaven, "pure and undefiled," 
 is worthy of the love, the admiration and homage of 
 all intelligent natures, she is denied that controuling 
 influence in human interests and pursuits so reason- 
 ably her due. She is divorced from science little 
 relished by the sons of taste and genius passed 
 uncared for by the men of the world and dethroned 
 from the seats of her rightful occupancy in the sta- 
 tions of business, the haunts of social life, the cham- 
 bers of senates and the cabinets of rulers. Men ply
 
 44 
 
 their profound researches and observations in the 
 various departments of the kingdom of nature ; but 
 alas, not to feel after God and find Him out, though 
 He be not far from every one of us. They plan 
 and toil ; but with an absorbing interest in things 
 seen and temporal, and scarce the shadow of a sol- 
 emn realization of the certainty and awfulness of 
 the dread futurity before them. They govern, de- 
 vise and legislate; but how rarely in thoughtful 
 dependence how seldom with a fixed and rooted 
 faith on the sovereign disposals of an unseen yet all- 
 eyed God, HIM who holding in His hands the 
 forces of the universe, can instantly execute every 
 purpose of mercy or of wrath ; who has made 
 known those laws of His moral government whose 
 sanctions are eternal, and from whose dominion 
 there is no escaping, laws established on principles 
 broad as the empire of intelligent being, deep as the 
 foundations of His immortal throne. And shall we 
 disown their authority? Oh, let us submit rever- 
 ently submit to all God's immutable statutes. Let 
 us yield our implicit obedience to the everlasting 
 rules of truth and righteousness ordained for men 
 on earth and angels in heaven. And in all our get- 
 tings, let us get divine wisdom. In all our schem- 
 ings, let us scheme as creatures of God and heirs of 
 eternity. In all our conditions ruling or ruled 
 let us walk in the fear and seek the blessing of One, 
 who alone can " speak concerning a nation to build 
 and to plant," or "to pluck up, pull down and de- 
 stroy it."
 
 45 
 
 IV. It remains that I remark on some special 
 means and motives for arresting existing dangers, 
 and perpetuating the blessings we possess. 
 
 The effective safeguards of our public institutions 
 have been shown to be the virtue and intelligence of 
 the people. Legislation, whatever else it may en- 
 courage, should steadily aim to strengthen these 
 bulwarks of national security. The mental and 
 moral culture of the people must be a primary 
 object of solicitude; and whatever promotes this, 
 will invigorate all the other operations of good gov- 
 ernment. Although the remark might more prop- 
 erly have fallen under the preceding head of the 
 discourse, still it may be indulged here, that it is the 
 amount of public virtue little or much diffused in 
 our land which, under God, has hitherto been the 
 support of our civil and political institutions. Occa- 
 sionally, a dangerous incendiary has arisen among 
 ourselves, and many have been the turbulent and 
 fiery spirits cast upon our shores by the revolu- 
 tionary storms of the old world, who have threatened 
 the public safety and tranquility ; but thus far, we 
 have escaped all serious detriment. The fiercest 
 anarch of mischief from the infidel schools, or the 
 disastrous battle fields of Europe, that has come 
 among us, has been here tamed and reduced to 
 reason and order at least, to comparative impo- 
 tence. And even the mighty undulations which 
 have swept abroad over the face of society, and 
 swallowed the proudest wrecks of empire in their
 
 46 
 
 bosom, have rolled with harmless swell around the 
 pillars of our Republic, and left the fabric in its 
 original strength and steadfastness. And whence 
 this security? We say again, that the main efficient 
 cause must be sought in the aggregate virtue and 
 intelligence of the people. This has proved the 
 grandly simple preservative of our rights and liber- 
 ties, our laws and union, our confederated govern- 
 ments, state and national. Eulogize as you may all 
 other political guards, extol, nay reverence, though 
 you should, the Constitution as a miracle of human 
 wisdom, still every thing else is of secondary influ- 
 ence. The civil edifice has rested it must continue 
 to rest on the one basis already indicated. Weak- 
 en it, and the building totters. Dislodge it, and 
 the superstructure will tumble into ruin. 
 
 The question recurs as to the nature of the pro- 
 tecting means. Education, in one word, compre- 
 hends the whole ; education directed to the facul- 
 ties of the head and heart, the mind and soul of 
 man. He was a wise statesman who said,* ere the 
 opinion had been so completely verified by observa- 
 tion, That popular instruction is "the cheap defence 
 of nations." Our infant, day and sabbath schools 
 our seminaries of general literature our halls of 
 science our institutions of learning and religion, are 
 the main props of the nation's hope. In the re- 
 stricted sense of the term, which confines education 
 to a developement of the powers of mind, legislative 
 
 * Edmund Burke.
 
 47 
 
 aid, judicially administered, may be advantageously 
 applied. Endowments for the erection of useful 
 seminaries, or appropriations to enlarge the sphere 
 of their operations, will be prompted by a wise fore- 
 cast towards the public interest. 
 
 Knowledge should be popularized. Channels, 
 accordingly, for its distribution should be opened up 
 to every man's door. It should be made to nourish 
 the germ of infant thought ; to invigorate the ex- 
 panding powers of childhood and of youth ; and to 
 satisfy the wants and cravings of more advanced 
 and ripened minds. The aim should be to pre- 
 occupy the thinking and intellectual faculties ; to 
 divert them from low and grovelling pursuits ; to 
 set the bent of the attachments on objects deserving 
 of a generous ambition ; and to give scope to the 
 active energies of our nature by multiplying the 
 sources and dispensing the pleasures of enriching, 
 mental cultivation. But knowledge, to be popular- 
 ized, must first be cheapened, and secondly be sim- 
 plified. 
 
 First, it must be cheapened. Precious as it is, 
 we would have it abundant ^plentiful as gold in the 
 days of Solomon, when " silver was nothing ac- 
 counted of." Every dollar expended for this pur- 
 pose from the public coffers, is of the nature of an 
 insurance premium to guard against heavier liabili- 
 ties that would 'else arise from some other quarter. 
 The more liberal the outlay here, the less shall we 
 have to discount for the public needs, in order to the
 
 48 
 
 repression of vice and crime, and the long catalogue 
 of social disorders incident to an uninstructed state 
 of society. Good policy suggests that like readiness 
 of liberality should prevail in towns, villages and 
 districts. There is a frugality often practised in 
 these matters, which defeats its own ends, a parsi- 
 mony, which like some other devices, is "taken in 
 its own craftiness." To save a few scores or hun- 
 dreds of dollars on the charge of municipal or local 
 schools, is deemed by some a great stroke of pru- 
 dent calculation. But so long as the observation 
 holds good, that ignorance is the parent of pauperism 
 and crime, and that individual and general intelli- 
 gence, by sharpening the mental powers, augments 
 the productive resources of a people, the economy 
 alluded to can have little to recommend it on the 
 score of sound wisdom. A single energetic mind, 
 awakened to a consciousness of its young powers, 
 and mounting by the process of elementary tuition 
 in a village school-house, the first rude steps of the 
 Temple of Knowledge, may go forth not only to 
 personal fame and eminence, but to repay, through 
 the triumphs of inventive genius, in an hundred fold, 
 the slender yet priceless boon of early, juvenile 
 instruction. Many a "village Hampden " has sprung 
 forward from no higher a starting-post on the race of 
 glorious ambition. The genius of Rumford was in- 
 debted for its first bright buddings to the forcing 
 atmosphere such as it was of an humble country 
 school-room. And the imperial mind of Franklin
 
 49 
 
 opened to the earliest inspirations of truth and 
 wisdom within the walls of one of those public little 
 seminaries still the objects of the Civic pride as 
 anciently of the provident care and nurture of the 
 good old Town of Boston. 
 
 Education in its practical effects, has been com- 
 pared by some one, to the artificial process of 
 washing for diamonds. If the analogy be not 
 thought too fanciful, I would say then, Let the 
 operation of sifting and searching be keen and thor- 
 ough. Let every handful of the intellectual soil be 
 subjected to rigid scrutiny and analysis, that its 
 latent wealth be all unfolded, and the gems of tal- 
 ent be diligently sought out and secured. 
 
 However we may illustrate the method of the 
 benefits, the amount of good in all likelihood to be 
 obtained will abundantly justify an ample investment 
 of preparatory means. The cheapness we plead 
 for, respects not the cost of apparatus, but the priv- 
 ilege of the accommodations for the service of all. 
 Those accommodations should be placed on the 
 most liberal footing. No cost should be spared to 
 render our schools not only accessible to every class 
 and to every individual mind, but to elevate their 
 character and extend and improve their means of 
 usefulness. The standard of education should be 
 raised. Professional instructors should be duly 
 honored and encouraged. They should be well 
 paid and patronised, if we would secure in this 
 5
 
 50 
 
 department a well trained and valuable body of 
 men, and render their office inviting and desirable. 
 
 The government of our parent state has never 
 been slack of its bounty in aid of these laudable 
 objects. The recent munificent endowment of a 
 school fund by the destination given to the moneys 
 reimbursed from the national treasury in settlement 
 of our public claims, and from the sale of lands in 
 the state of Maine; the generous patronage often 
 extended to higher seminaries to our academies 
 and colleges, and especially our neighboring Uni- 
 versity, the pride of Massachusetts, these are so 
 many pledges of a noble liberality to be looked for 
 from the same quarter as the interests of education 
 shall hereafter require. May such bounty meet 
 with a large reward! And to her rising offspring 
 gratefully appreciating the blessings of their lot, 
 may our beloved Commonwealth be able to point 
 exultingly and exclaim, as did the Roman matron 
 of her noble progeny, "These are my jewels!" 
 
 But, secondly, knowledge must be simplified. If 
 it is "to run to and fro" in the land, it must move 
 with free and unfettered foot. It should be made 
 clear and enlightening, to be useful and improving. 
 This may seem a trite remark ; but albeit, the art 
 of instruction, at least in former times, has been 
 too much the art of mystification. Time was, and 
 at no remote era, when the school boy in his Latin 
 accidence had to grope his way to a knowledge of 
 syntax, through an opaque cloud of Latin words 
 enveloping the very rules themselves. It was the
 
 51 
 
 age when the maxim was current, that "there was 
 no royal road to geometry" of course, to none of 
 the associate departments of literature and science ; 
 and when the attempt to penetrate by a short 
 North-west passage would have been indignantly 
 repelled by the hereditary lords of those intellec- 
 tual regions. The tempting fruit of the tree of 
 knowledge was as scrupulously guarded as ever the 
 fabled apples in the garden of the Hesperides ; and 
 a literary adventurer, like the hardy, young Argo- 
 naut of old, had to catch the monster, Jealousy, 
 asleep, ere the golden prize could be reached and 
 won. We have made a great advance since those 
 times. Mind has been disenthralled. Numerous 
 avenues of knowledge have been forced open. Sci- 
 ence is discarding her hood and mufflers; and truth 
 no longer with prudish coyness seeks to hide her 
 beauteous features from the vulgar gaze. We per- 
 ceive the change in the more liberalized systems of 
 education getting into vogue ; our improved man- 
 uals of juvenile instruction; the reduction of valu- 
 able principles of knowledge more nearly to the 
 level of ordinary understandings ; and in general, 
 the inculcation of the philosophy of sense, along with 
 the sense of true philosophy. But all is not yet 
 done. Much rubbish remains to be gathered up 
 and removed. A greater degree of simplicity must 
 still be introduced into our methods of teaching, and 
 the elementary treatises of popular instruction. The 
 paths of learning should be rendered more easy,
 
 52 
 
 more smooth and more alluring. The liberal arts 
 and sciences should answer their name and object 
 by being placed on a footing of the freest and most 
 liberal access to every one ; and all, for the purpose 
 of affording a vigorous intellectual aliment, and 
 ensuring the grand desideratum, a sound and ele- 
 vating "Knowledge for the People." 
 
 It is gratifying to find our high schools decidedly 
 on the increase; schools open to all, but where 
 the superior branches of study which have been 
 usually confined to private institutions of greater 
 pretension, are advantageously taught to youth of 
 both sexes. We say, advantageously ; though some, 
 we know, would dispute their benefits, maintain- 
 ing that the introduction of a taste for general know- 
 ledge or polite literature among the poorer orders 
 of society, must make them discontented with their 
 conditions, unfitted for the duties they impose, yet 
 unable to reach an accredited position in the more 
 elevated walks of society. But away with such silly 
 apprehensions! If knowledge possessed no higher 
 recommendation than the yielding a fund of inno- 
 cent and rational enjoyment to the mind, let the 
 comfort be granted to all. The tedious hours of 
 languor and vacuity incident to men in every call- 
 ing, might thereby be agreeably occupied ; the 
 pressure of heart-wearing care be relieved and sof- 
 tened; and misfortune be beguiled, in part, of its 
 sense of suffering and sorrow. Nor is this all : If 
 knowledge should produce the possible consequence
 
 53 
 
 of rendering its initiates in the humbler classes of life 
 dissatisfied with their conditions, why be it so let 
 us heartily exclaim and let them leave those con- 
 ditions forthwith. The attempt to rise by such a 
 ladder would be fair and honorable. Let no man 
 forbid the stirrings of so generous an ambition ; but 
 let us aid them to mount to higher and better for- 
 tunes. The good effect would be extensively felt. 
 It would quicken those who are antecedently in ad- 
 vance, to greater activity and vigilance, that they 
 may not be outdone in the generous rivalry. It 
 would rouse them to correspondent intellectual ex- 
 ertions to maintain their relative ascendancy ; and 
 " forgetting the things which are behind, to press 
 forward to those which are before" in a perpetual 
 progress of vigorous, manly improvement. 
 
 For my own part, I wish to behold no fixed, 
 horizontal layers in society, no arbitrary grada- 
 tions unalterably disposed, having a deep miry 
 base in an ignorant, brutish and sunken populace. 
 Rather, let the social structure be brought into 
 closer conformity to what is often witnessed in the 
 physical, as, for example, among the gigantic, 
 material forms of nature; where the observer finds 
 the primitive rock penetrating the transition, ascend- 
 ing next into the superior strata, and finally pierc- 
 ing the brows of stupendous mountains, like the 
 granite peaks on the tallest of the Alpine summits. 
 
 But whilst we claim much for mental cultivation, 
 we must never overlook as its indispensable co- 
 5*
 
 54 
 
 efficient, the assistant agency of moral instruction. 
 To ensure the last, our systems of common school- 
 education might undoubtedly be rendered more 
 signally available than past observation has gener- 
 ally shown. The remark of the celebrated reformer 
 Martin Luther, in respect to the seminaries of his 
 age, "That they were more pagan than Christian," 
 possesses unfortunately too much of applicability to 
 our own. The school boy, for the most part, is 
 treated rather as a creature of mind than of soul ; 
 and the anxiety seems to be, to turn him out a far 
 better proficient in worldly science and the learning 
 of profane antiquity, than a disciple of divine wis- 
 dom, or a pupil in the school of Christ. I can only 
 glance at the fact with the hope that attention may 
 be drawn to the subject, and remedies may not be 
 wanting, and proceed to advert to the more encour- 
 aging auguries furnished by another class of juvenile 
 establishments ; I mean, our sabbath schools. As 
 an auxiliary among the means of early religious 
 instruction, they should receive the approbation of 
 all. Supplying as they do, to a considerable extent 
 the deficiency, and administering some antidote to 
 the bane, just complained of, they cannot be too 
 warmly commended. Conducted by different and 
 somewhat discordant sects, the end of all is Good ; 
 and the amount of good achieved or in prospect 
 exceeds calculation. The very emulation inspired 
 among the conductors of these noble charities, is 
 not without its salutary uses. I envy not the feel-
 
 55 
 
 ings of that man who can look with frigid indifference 
 on these little nurseries of infant immortals ; who 
 can survey unmoved their gentle yet auspicious in- 
 fluences on the dawning capacities of the deathless 
 soul ; and whose bosom heaves not with kindling 
 emotion as he reflects that here the seeds of good- 
 ness, judiciously instilled, are gradually trained into 
 those plants of piety and holiness which, through 
 the mercy of God, will hereafter unfold with unfad- 
 ing beauty in the pure air and the bright light of 
 heaven. 
 
 Among the provisional means of moral and reli- 
 gious instruction, it is scarcely necessary to say, 
 that the pulpit holds a prominent place. A vast 
 responsibility belongs to it, one which should be 
 wisely and faithfully exercised, and which cannot 
 be top profoundly cherished and realized. The age 
 demands that no meagre nor lifeless form of Chris- 
 tianity be suffered to supplant the noble simplicity 
 of scripture truth. It requires, as we have else- 
 where intimated, that the gospel, stript of the tech- 
 nics and mysticism of bygone times, should be 
 propounded as an enlightening and energizing prin- 
 ciple, adapted to meet all the capacities of the 
 understanding, no less than to satisfy all the wants 
 and aspirations of the soul; that, in short, the 
 religion of Jesus, clad in that meek-eyed grace 
 and virgin loveliness which she wore when following 
 in the steps of One "who went about doing good," 
 shall be triumphantly heralded as a ministering
 
 56 
 
 spirit sent forth to gladden and bless all the habita- 
 tions of men to hallow their joys and sorrows, their 
 hopes and enterprises, their schemes and occupa- 
 tionsto guide them through life, cheer them in 
 death, and breathe her sweet and soothing farewell 
 in the ear of their departing spirits. 
 
 These blessings in their fulness have never been 
 enjoyed perfectly enjoyed in any age or coun- 
 try. Christianity has consequently never been fairly 
 tasked to her utmost powers. Never, at least, 
 has she been completely tried in her sublimely 
 regenerative and strengthening action on society 
 and nations. Under her happiest modifications, 
 it is only the comparative few who have yielded 
 entire submission to her laws. The residue have 
 experienced but partially the purifying and life-giv- 
 ing influences of her "free spirit." Yet when we 
 candidly consider the sum of her benefits ; when we 
 remember that imperfectly as she has been allowed 
 to operate in the world, she has nevertheless dis- 
 pensed an inestimable amount of good; when we 
 bear in mind that, like the ark, she has left a bless- 
 ing on every place where she has rested; that 
 nations, the rudest and most polished, which have 
 bowed to her authority, in proportion to such subjec- 
 tion and their recipiency of her genuine spirit, have 
 been strengthened, and humanized, and exalted ; 
 that the gospel is still the power of God and the 
 wisdom of God for safety and salvation, how pow- 
 erful are our inducements to aid the victorious march
 
 of her principles in our land, and to ensure them an 
 universality of influence and dominion. For these 
 ends, the pulpit must exert a more stirring influ- 
 ence; and the press must lend a strenuous and 
 earnest co-operation; and parents and teachers be 
 inspired with a more solemn sense of accountable- 
 ness in their respective spheres and offices ; and 
 every man must act on the persuasion that by the 
 reform of personal vice and the practice of personal 
 virtue, he may contribute something to his country's 
 advantage ; and there must be principle in citizens 
 and principle in rulers; and men clothed with high 
 official trusts must honor in their lives what they 
 ratify by their public acts, and reverence the divine, 
 as the surest helps to the stability of human laws, 
 and then along with piety will prosperity abound 
 in our land, and the national peace, security, and 
 happiness be planted on the only firm and solid 
 platform, a sound national morality. 
 
 Other specifics may fail. But that public virtue 
 which is associated with a truly enlightened condi- 
 tion of the public mind, will work a cure in the 
 distempers of the most degenerate times ! Educa- 
 tion then, to be completely successful, must be 
 directed to the one grand ultimate object, the thor- 
 ough Christianization of a people. Accomplish this, 
 and all the accompanying pledges of a nation's 
 welfare and security derived from its political insti- 
 tutions, will be abundantly confirmed and made 
 good. Christianity would operate as the transfusion
 
 58 
 
 of fresh, nourishing blood into a weak and languish- 
 ing frame. It would renovate the exhausted, vital 
 principle, supply new powers and energies, give 
 strength to infirmity, and youthful buoyancy in lieu 
 of premature decrepitude, and send a vigorous pulse 
 and a healthy circulation through every vein and 
 artery of the body politic. 
 
 Conclusively to test the remedy, and make full 
 trial of the various means and instruments placed 
 within our reach for the maintainance of our public 
 privileges and blessings, we are urged by the strong- 
 est Motives which can address our sensibilities as 
 men and patriots. To the existing generation our- 
 selves in common with our fellow-citizens have been 
 committed in custody the highest interests ever en- 
 trusted to human charge, involving not only our own 
 welfare and the happiness of our posterity, but bear- 
 ing on the condition and prospects of civilized man 
 in every quarter of the globe. However we may 
 flatter ourselves that the problem has been success- 
 fully solved, we have not yet lived sufficiently long 
 as an independent nation, to silence the cavils of 
 those who affirm the incompetency of a great and 
 free people for the arduous duties of self government. 
 To the princes and cabinets of the old world the 
 patrons and minions of despotism, we stand forth 
 collectively an object of suspicion, aversion or hate. 
 Our example is dreaded ; our influence deprecated ; 
 our vaunted institutions and the blessings they be- 
 stow are regarded with a temper of ill-disguised
 
 59 
 
 jealousy, or open and uncompromising hostility. 
 Every movement of intestine disorder, every explo- 
 sion of popular violence, every symptom of social 
 disaffection, real or imaginary, are interpreted as 
 evidences of national degeneracy and the approach- 
 ing overthrow of our Government and Union. And 
 if, in return, we have no feelings of special sympa- 
 thy for invidious observers of this description, we 
 should be deterred through dread of honest shame 
 from aught that might seemingly countenance their 
 predictions, or justify by the issue their sinister fore- 
 bodings. 
 
 But it is a more animating consideration that in 
 the eyes of others, a fast multiplying host, our 
 position is admiringly contemplated; that hither- 
 ward, the friends of freedom in regions the most 
 distant, turn a look of hope, and joy, and confidence ; 
 that our land has become the asylum of the children 
 of misfortune, the home of the exiled sons of liberty 
 and conscience from every enslaved and suffering 
 clime ; and that the star of our country's fortunes is 
 followed as the beacon light of millions more, in 
 their struggles for national emancipation. And shall 
 we disappoint their fond and ardent hopes? Shall 
 we halt midway in our glorious career, or what is 
 worse, tread back our irresolute footsteps? Shall 
 we abandon the pledges and securities so oft and so 
 nobly renewed of constancy in freedom's cause, and 
 our steadfast assertion of principles in the successes 
 of which are bound up our country's fortunes, and 
 the interests of oppressed and persecuted humanity
 
 60 
 
 the wide world over? Forbid it, charity! Forbid 
 it honor ! Forbid it, patriotism! 
 
 Let it quicken our emulation to reflect that, ele- 
 vated as we are in the sight of the nations by our 
 distinguishing privileges, there is no culminating 
 point unalterably fixed in the book of fate whither 
 we may go but no further, and where our ascend- 
 ing course shall imperatively be stayed. We may 
 rear indeed the fatal barrier at any chosen limit. 
 We may say when, or where, that limit shall be. 
 For God has placed our destinies in our own hands. 
 We may advance, or we may retrograde. We may 
 climb or fall prosper or perish. The alternative 
 is left with ourselves. But there is no escaping the 
 effects of moral causes once deliberately chosen, 
 and whose dominion, by our discretionary permis- 
 sion, is established in the midst. By wisdom and 
 righteousness we shall assuredly be exalted. By 
 folly and wickedness we shall sink and be undone. 
 A people wise, virtuous, free true to reason and 
 justice, to duty, conscience and to God a people 
 uniting with these moral requisites, the many subsi- 
 diary elements of political power enjoyed by our- 
 selves a people pre-eminently privileged by every 
 feature and circumstance of their condition masters 
 of half a continent, heirs of the noblest patrimony 
 that ever fell to the lot of man a people, 
 
 " Mature in youth, a nation at their birth. 
 \Vho start where Europe stops, or at her side; 
 Who spread their commerce o'er the distant earth, 
 And press where science leads inventive pride,"
 
 61 
 
 such a people, solemnly alive to their high and 
 momentous responsibilities, may reach a pinnacle of 
 grandeur that would transcend the pomp of the 
 proudest empires ever known to history or fame. 
 
 Will you say that the issue is dependent on 
 the virtue and patriotism of the whole, and not a 
 part ; that we form but a fractional portion a small 
 contingent in the great mass of our country's popu- 
 lation ; and that it is the character and conduct of 
 the people at large, which must determine our 
 future progress? Have you forgotten, let me ask, 
 the moral influence of our own New England, not 
 alone by her voice in the national councils, nor yet 
 the silent efficacy of her bright and beaming exam- 
 ple, (that practical exemplification of the value of 
 her institutions so promotive of knowledge and piety 
 among the various classes of our citizens :) but do 
 you take into account the indirect force of sentiment 
 and character produced by the personal intercourse 
 of her children with our brethren throughout the 
 Union? Do you consider her as the nursing-mother 
 of a teeming offspring that go everywhere, mingle 
 everywhere, and diffuse far and wide the wholesome 
 principles and habits wherein they have been bred? 
 New England from the beginning has been a 
 great OFFICINA GENTIUM, the prolific parent of 
 colonies dispersed all over the land ; and from the 
 bosoms of these, as so many radiating centres, the 
 genial emanations of her wise and beneficent institu- 
 tions have never failed to be disseminated. And no 
 6
 
 62 
 
 man of perception will be startled at the assertion, 
 as too extravagant, which we offer, that to this 
 day, New England continues to exert a preponder- 
 ating influence on the whole national character, on 
 the genius of our government, and the general pol- 
 icy and bias of all our public legislation. Her image 
 and superscription are stamped deep on the face of 
 society. She has thrown those distinctive ingredi- 
 ents into our country's character which make it 
 what it is individuated from all others a character 
 of unconquerable energy and enterprise a charac- 
 ter of wisdom and firmness a character of "power 
 and a sound mind." 
 
 The influence of New England, whether for good 
 or evil, is felt ; and it will continue to be every 
 where felt so long as our national league shall be 
 perpetuated. It is not to be estimated by the ratio 
 of its congressional representation within the walls 
 of the Capitol. Nor is it an arithmetical product 
 expressible in plain figures, or which may be arrived 
 at by the rules of common equations ; but rather a 
 politico-algebraic quantity determinable by other 
 exponents, and requiring deeper powers of compu- 
 tation and extraction. Enough that the spirit of the 
 Pilgrims, so much of it as has lived down to our 
 days, far from being confined to New England, has 
 imperceptibly spread from the strand first printed 
 by Pilgrim feet, to the remotest " log-house beyond 
 the mountains." That spirit was the spirit of free- 
 dom, informed and regulated by virtue and under-
 
 63 
 
 standing. And shall we not cherish it? Shall we 
 not foster the institutions which have contributed to 
 preserve it? Shall not Masachusetts, she who 
 first breathed its vital breath, and grew and waxed 
 strong under its generous nurture, repay the debt 
 of filial gratitude by treasuring the principles which 
 were infused into her young bosom, and giving them 
 a precedence in her esteem and veneration? And 
 shall not we, the sons of Massachusetts, maintain 
 and honor them? Shall we not bind them as a sign 
 upon our hands, and as frontlets between our eyes?* 
 Shall w r e not write them upon the door-posts of our 
 habitations, and inscribe them upon our gates ? 
 Shall we not speak of them to our children, when 
 we sit in our houses, or when we walk by the way, 
 on our lying down and on our rising up ? Yes, 
 though all others should forget them, yet will not 
 we. Sooner shall the right hand forget its cunning 
 sooner shall the tongue cleave to the roof of its 
 mouth, than we prefer them not above our chief joy ! 
 To my respected audience, whose indulgent at- 
 tention I have perhaps too heavily taxed, I beg to 
 commend the thoughts suggested by the theme and 
 the occasion. I cherish the hope that in the bosoms 
 of those at whose command I have ventured on the 
 responsibility of this discourse, the sentiments ad- 
 vanced will find a cordial response. I rejoice to 
 believe that in addressing the Representatives of the 
 people of Massachusetts, I address the heirs of the 
 
 * Deuteronomy, vi. C 9.
 
 64 
 
 virtues of our common progenitors; that in appear- 
 ing in an assembly embodying the collective wisdom 
 of our ancient Commonwealth, I behold around me 
 the worthy sons of worthy sires, Hebrews of the 
 Hebrews, "whose are the FATHERS." 
 
 And what a sublime spectacle do we contemplate t 
 A whole people, in the persons of their rulers, con- 
 vened as the first act of official duty at the opening 
 of the civil year, to invoke on their bended knees 
 the blessing of the God of their ancestors ! Shall 
 it be in mere solemn form ? Should not every soul 
 ascend in fervent gratitude to that Benignant Power 
 whose covering wing has been about us, and pro- 
 tected us amid all the perils of the way, and guided 
 us from "the day of small things," the first faint- 
 ing march in a waste, howling wilderness " through 
 the sea" and "under the cloud" through dark- 
 ness, storm and sunshine till we have reached a 
 landscape rich in beauty and promise, where the 
 eye is regaled with scenes of smiling content and 
 gladsome prosperousness spread out in brightest 
 perspective around us 1 Is there a heart that 
 should not feel stronger bound to a brother's heart, 
 by participation in common deliverances and mer- 
 cies, and the sweets of kindred joys and kindred 
 remembrances ? Is there a bosom that nurses oh 
 no, it cannot be a bosom nevertheless not totally 
 devoid of feelings of ungenerous rivalry, or bitter 
 enmities, or schemes of dark, selfish and sordid 
 ambition? Should it not offer up the whole in
 
 65 
 
 cheerful and manly sacrifice ? And every foul pas- 
 sion should it not be brought at once to the altar 
 of patriotism, and be unsparingly condemned and 
 consumed 1 Here in this hallowed court, should 
 not hand strike to hand, and heart and voice unite 
 in solemn vows of unshaken loyalty to freedom, and 
 virtue, and country, and God ? And should not all 
 resolve ever more to move forward as brethren and 
 patriots, seeking the common good, "provoking to 
 love and good works," scorning all parley with the 
 serpent tongue of crooked policy and deceit, nor 
 ever stooping to one base compliance that would 
 assoil the noble blood that flows in their veins ? 
 
 In presenting my valedictory respects to His 
 Honor the Commander in Chief, on his retirement 
 from the elevated station he has so ably filled, the 
 cheering hope is indulged that his distinguished 
 public services will not long be lost to our beloved 
 Commonwealth. Our hearty prayers and best 
 wishes attend him to the arduous and honorable, 
 though narrower sphere which he goes to occupy, 
 that in exchanging the chair of state for the civic 
 wreath, he may be equally successful in winning 
 the warm attachments and confidence of his new 
 constituents, as it has been his merited fortune to 
 secure from all classes of his fellow citizens whilst 
 administering the highest functions of the govern- 
 ment of this state.* 
 
 * As it is probal>!e that a few copies of this Discourse will survive .to another 
 generation, on ilie shelves at least of our public libraries, it may not be amiss to
 
 66 
 
 His Excellency, the Governor elect, will indulge 
 the expression of my cordial congratulations on the 
 new and brilliant preferment which has fallen to his 
 singularly happy lot. We rejoice with him that he 
 lives in an age and a community in which splendid 
 merit need fear no political ostracism on the score 
 of envy; that "he dwells among his own people," 
 a people keen to appreciate, and which delight to 
 honor, public worth in proportion to its eminence, 
 a people ever ready to shower with liberal hand the 
 rewards which are due to lofty, unswerving and 
 devoted patriotism. His Excellency is too well 
 versed in the study of the ancients to have forgotten 
 the memorable maxim of an illustrious sage "That 
 a people will be then well governed, when rulers shall 
 become philosophers, or when philosophers shall be 
 made rulers." From a civil magistrate who has 
 drunk deep from the purest fountains of wisdom, 
 and whose name has become one of the fairest 
 ornaments of letters and of science, we cannot but 
 anticipate that the interests of sound learning as 
 
 record for the informationof some fulure chance-reader, (hat in consequence of the 
 election of His Excellency Governor Davis to the Senate of the U. S. in February, 
 1835. the chair of state was filled during- the residue of the political year by His 
 Honor Lieutenant Governor Armstrong. The latter having been chosen Mayor of 
 the city of Boston, entered upon the duties of that office on the first Monday in Jan- 
 flary, 183G, but continued to preside in the Executive Government of the Common- 
 wealth until his successor, Governor Everett, was duly inducted into the chief 
 magistracy. This was on Wednesday, 13th January. Accordingly, on the day 
 of General Election, (Jan. 6th) Lt. Gov. Armstrong exhibited the rare spectacle 
 of an individual combining in his person, at one and the same lime, the triple 
 offices of acting Governor of the State, (of course, Commander in Chief,) Lieu- 
 tenant Governor, by his own right and Mayor of the metropolis.
 
 67 
 
 Well as those of piety, virtue and humanity will be 
 zealously aided and befriended; that the public 
 welfare, wisely discerned and steadily pursued, will 
 be the grand and successful aim of his ardent solici- 
 tudes ; and that his administration will be as blest 
 in future realizations, as it is bright in present 
 promises, of extensive and durable usefulness. 
 
 The Honorable Council and the members of the 
 two branches of the Honorable Legislature will 
 please to accept the respectful salutations of one 
 who shares in the gratulatory sentiments of the 
 community at large, that the government of the 
 state in all its branches is entrusted to able hands 
 men of wise heads and honest hearts who 
 doubtless will watch over with fidelity, and man- 
 age with prudence and sound discretion, the im- 
 portant interests committed to their charge. But 
 pardon, Brethren and Fathers, pardon the solemn 
 earnestness of the voice that adjures you never 
 to forget the amount of stake involved in those 
 interests. Remember that you hold in qualified 
 trust the welfare and happiness of the present and 
 coming generations. Your measures of policy, your 
 legislative acts, may tell by the chain of lengthening 
 consequences on the fortunes of a far distant age. 
 Agencies, commenced at a point in time, may 
 stretch their undulating circles over an illimitable 
 expanse. They may sweep their mighty segments 
 across the tide of human existence and human affairs 
 at points that lie hid by their remoteness afar from
 
 68 
 
 mortal ken and forethought. Man is ephemeral; 
 but not man's influence, nor yet his responsibility. 
 
 I have glanced at the spectacle as no less inter- 
 esting than sublime, a people on their bended 
 knees imploring the blessing of the God of their 
 forefathers. But more deeply solemn is the thought, 
 that we, who present this act of homage in the pres- 
 ence of Him before whom empires are bubbles and 
 worlds are atoms, form but a moving group in the 
 long procession of years and generations, connect- 
 ing the shadowy past with the dim and uncertain 
 future, ourselves but transient figures, here to- 
 day, anon to remove and be gone. Two hundred 
 congregations, on as many anniversaries, have suc- 
 cessively gathered to worship in this city of our 
 solemnities, on the recurrence of the self-same occa- 
 sion we have come to celebrate.* But how changed 
 
 * The precise number of these religious assemblages on all the days of General 
 Election, is believed to be two hundred and four. The first Election Sermon U'as 
 preached in 1631 ; and there is no reason to suppose that the service was ever after- 
 wards omitted except in the years 1752 and 1764, when the small pox prevailed in 
 Boston. Once indeed it was preached to Convention, and not before the Execu- 
 tive Government, namely, on the deposkion of Andros in 1689. But in 1775, two 
 Election Sermons were preached one of them before the Provincial Congress 
 in May, and the other before the General Court in July. This was 3t Water- 
 town. Thrice previously, these discourses had been delivered in Cambridge. 
 Deducting therefore the?.e four years for the change of place, and the two years of 
 entire omission of religious exercises in consequence of the prevalence of small 
 pox, it leaves the number, (estimated from 1630,) exactly Two Hundred, in which 
 the annual Election Sermon has been preached in Boston. 
 
 In proof of the unbroken series, (with the exceptions named.) of these religious 
 celebrations, I am happy in being able to cite the impressions of a gentleman of 
 distinguished accuracy and research, the Rev. Dr Peirce of Rrookliue. In a com- 
 munication received from him whilst these sheets were passing through the press, 
 he remarks : " I have no evidence thai an Election Sermon ever failed, except in 
 the cases, and for the reasons, specified in the list of 1809. Nor does it appear 
 that an Election Sermon was ever delivered, which was not printed."
 
 69 
 
 the scene, contrasted with the era when our pious 
 ancestors first met to pay their votive offerings, on 
 laying the foundations of the government ! They 
 convened within no gorgeous temple, but under the 
 thached roof of a poor, mud- walled chapel. And 
 they came with arms in their hands ; and mothers, 
 in dread of savage yells, or the rustling flight of 
 murderous arrows, prest their babes more closely 
 to their breasts, at the startling note of the pass- 
 ing sea-birds, or the whistling of the rude fitful 
 blasts. We meet in peace; having no foes to 
 alarm us, no weapons borne with us for defence to 
 the house of God. But the Fathers the Fathers 
 where are they ? Their venerable forms have long 
 since vanished as airy nothings, or the phantoms of 
 a dream. But their influence lives. Their princi- 
 ples survive. The impress of their minds, their 
 characters and their acts is discernible or felt in 
 every scene and every object around us. Let us 
 cherish their spirit and emulate their virtues, that 
 the blessings we inherit may be transmitted unim- 
 paired to our posterity. And oft as their hallowed 
 shades rising up through the mist of years shall 
 bend on fancy's vision, let us view them as a cloud 
 of witnesses that beckon us onward in the paths of 
 integrity, and usefulness, and honor; bidding us 
 especially so to improve the fugitive moments of our 
 responsible being, that having served our generation 
 by the will of God, we may ascend at last to " the 
 true tabernacle" in the heavens which "the Lord
 
 70 
 
 hath pitched and not man," and join the convoca- 
 tion of the wise and good, collected from out of all 
 ages, heirs in common of an immortal heritage 
 the "Jerusalem which is above and FREE, the 
 mother of us all."
 
 APPENDIX.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A LIST OF THOSE WHO HAVE PREACHED ON THIS ANNIVERSARY. 
 
 THE following is added by desire of the Historical Society. 
 Gentlemen of information are requested to fill up the blanks. 
 Those who possess any Election Sermons, particularly for the 
 first century of Massachusetts, will benefit the public and pos- 
 terity, by depositing them in the library of the Historical So- 
 ciety, where they will be gratefully received and carefully pre- 
 served. Those which were in that library in 1809, are 
 marked with a star. 
 
 N. B. By comparing the ensuing table with that annexed 
 to the discourse of the Rev. Dr. Osgood, (in 1809,) it will 
 be perceived that a considerable number of blanks has been 
 filled up. In the column of names, between the years 1646 
 and 1717, fifteen deficiences are supplied ; in that of residen- 
 ces, thirteen ; and ten more, under the head of texts or sub- 
 jects. These interesting gleanings have been contributed by 
 the kindness of the friend mentioned on a former page the 
 learned and Rev. Dr. John Pierce. The remainder of the 
 list since 1809 has been completed by another hand; and the 
 endeavor has been to render it scrupulously accurate. The 
 result is, that every preacher since 1691, and both every 
 preacher and text since 1697, have been ascertained and re- 
 corded. 
 
 7
 
 74 
 
 Year. 
 
 BY WHOM. 
 
 OP WHAT PLACE. 
 
 TEXT. 
 
 SIZE. 
 
 1631 
 
 Rev. 
 
 
 
 
 16-W 
 
 
 
 
 
 16.54 
 
 " John Collon, . 
 
 Boston, 
 
 [Haggai,ii. 4.*] 
 
 . 
 
 163 > 
 
 
 
 
 
 1636 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ki37 
 
 " Thomas Shepard, . 
 
 Newtown . 
 
 
 
 1640 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 r i i 
 
 " Nathaniel \Vard, 
 
 
 
 
 1642 
 
 
 
 
 
 1(Ll -* 
 
 *' Ezekicl Rogers, . 
 
 Rowley . . 
 
 
 
 M44 
 
 
 
 
 
 1645 
 
 
 
 
 
 1646 
 
 " Edward Norris, . 
 
 
 
 
 1647 
 
 
 
 
 
 1643 
 
 " Zechariah ^ymmes, 
 
 Cliarlestown, 
 
 
 
 1619 
 
 " Tliomas Cobbell, . 
 
 Ipswich, . 
 
 
 . 
 
 1650 
 
 
 
 
 
 1651 
 
 
 
 
 
 1652 
 
 
 
 
 
 1653 
 
 
 
 
 
 16H 
 
 
 
 
 
 16S5 
 
 
 
 
 
 1656 
 
 " Charles Chauncy.t . 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 
 
 
 1658 
 
 " Joiiaih : in Mitchell, . 
 
 
 
 
 16 9 
 
 " John Eliot, 
 
 Roxbury, . 
 
 
 
 
 1660 
 
 " Richard Mather, . 
 
 Dorrhester, 
 
 Psatm, Ixxvii. 20, 
 
 
 1661 
 
 " *Juhn Norton, 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Jeremiah, xxx. 17, . 
 
 4to. 
 
 1662 
 
 
 
 
 
 1661 
 
 *T 1 IT' -*.-' 
 
 "John Higginson, . 
 
 Salem, 
 
 1 Kings, viii. 57, 58, 59 
 
 do. 
 
 1661 
 
 " Kit-hard Miiiher, . 
 
 Dorchester, 
 
 llajjgai. ii. 4, . 
 
 
 1665 
 
 < John Kussell. . 
 
 Had ley, . 
 
 I'salm, cxxii. 2, 
 
 . 
 
 16(16 
 
 " 'J'homas Cobbett, . 
 
 l|)n\vicll, 
 
 2 ('hroincles, xv. 2, . 
 
 . 
 
 1667 
 
 " "Jonathan Min hel. 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 Nehemiidi, ii. 10, 
 
 do. 
 
 J668 
 
 " *\Vin. iSioiighioii4 . 
 
 Dorchester, 
 
 Isaiah, Ixiii 8, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1670 
 
 " Samuel Daiifbrlll, . 
 
 Koxhury, . 
 
 Matthew, xi. 1, 8, 9 . 
 
 
 1671 
 
 "John ( Ixenhriclgc. . 
 
 Boston, . 
 
 Hosea, viii. 4, . 
 
 12 mo. 
 
 1672 
 
 " "Tboina-iShopard, . 
 
 ("harlestown, 
 
 Jf-remlah. i>. 31, 
 
 4i->. 
 
 167.5 
 
 " *Urian Oakes t 
 
 Cainl>ridj;e, 
 
 Deul. xvxii. 2, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1674 
 
 " "Samuel I'orre^', . 
 
 Weyniouth, 
 
 Revelatidii, i'. 5, 
 
 do. 
 
 167.0 
 
 ' Moody, . 
 
 
 Ju<lges, ii. 12, . 
 
 
 1676 
 
 " *U illinin Mul'bard, 
 
 Ipswich, . 
 
 1 Chronicles, xii. 32. 
 
 do. 
 
 1677 
 
 " Increase Maiher, . 
 
 Boston, 
 
 1 Chronicles, xxviii. 9 
 
 do. 
 
 167H 
 
 " Snnuiel Phillips, . 
 
 Kovvley, 
 
 1 Timothy, ii 2, 
 
 KJ79 
 
 " *James Allen, 
 
 Boston, . 
 
 1 Kings, viii. 57, . i do. 
 
 
 Bulkley, 
 
 
 
 
 1681 
 
 " \\ illiam Ur insmca.l 
 
 Marlborough. . 
 
 Jeremiah, vi. 8, 
 
 | 
 
 1682 
 
 " Samuel Willanl, . Boston, . 
 
 Jeremiah, xxvi. 12, 13 
 
 
 1688 
 
 " *.Samtiel Torre3', . 
 
 \\Vvnioudi, 
 
 Dem. xxxii. 47, 
 
 4to. 
 
 1684 
 
 " [John] Hale, . 
 
 [Beverley.] 
 
 Haggai, ii. 4, . 
 
 do. 
 
 What is inc'uded in brackets, ha been added on probnH iiy, or without positive authority. 
 
 t Presidents uf Harvard College. J Afierward Lieutenant Governor.
 
 75 
 
 Year. 
 
 BY WHOM. 
 
 OP WHAT PLACK. 
 
 TEXT. 
 
 SIZE. 
 
 168 5 
 
 Rev. 'William Adams, . 
 
 [Dedham,] 
 
 Isaiah, Ixvi. *2, . 
 
 4lo. 
 
 16 Bo 
 
 " Mic'l Wigglesworlli. 
 
 .Mulde.ii, . 
 
 Revelations, ii. 4, 
 
 do. 
 
 16^7 
 
 
 
 
 
 1689 
 
 " Totton Mather,* . 
 
 Boston, 
 
 2 Chron. xv. 2, 
 
 12 mo. 
 
 WO 
 
 " *Cottoa Mather, 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Nehemiah, v. 19, 
 
 do. 
 
 1691 
 
 
 
 
 
 1692 
 
 " f Joshua] .Moodey, 
 
 [Boston ] 
 
 
 
 1693 
 
 ' *lncrea.-.e Maiht-r, . 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Isaiah, i. 26, . 
 
 4to. 
 
 1694 
 
 '' "Samuel Willnrd, . 
 
 Boston, 
 
 2 Samuel, xxiii. 3, . 
 
 12 mo. 
 
 1695 
 
 " "Samuel Torrey, . 
 
 Weymoulh, 
 
 Hosea, i 7, 
 
 do. 
 
 1696 
 
 " Cotton Mather. 
 
 Bo>lOH, 
 
 1 Samuel, vii. 6 10, 
 
 , 
 
 1697 
 
 " [John] D.niorlh, . 
 
 [Dorchester.] 
 
 
 
 1698 
 
 " "Nicholas Noycs, . 
 
 Salem, 
 
 Jeremiah, xxxi. 23, . 
 
 12 mo. 
 
 1699 
 
 " Increase* MiiihiT 
 
 
 
 
 1700 
 
 " "Cotton Mather, 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Psalm, cxlvii. 2, 
 
 12 mo. 
 
 1701 
 
 " Joseph Belc her, . 
 
 Dedham, . 
 
 Job, xxix. 25, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1702 
 
 " Increase Mather, 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Esther, x 3, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1703 
 
 " Solomon Sloddard, 
 
 Northampton, . 
 
 Exodus, xx. 12, 
 
 
 1704 
 
 " 'Jonathan Russell . 
 
 Barnsiable, 
 
 Nehemiah, ix 33, 
 
 4to. 
 
 170.^ 
 
 " *J E-tnt. rooks, A M. 
 
 Concord, . 
 
 Genesis, Xii. 2, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1706 
 
 " John Rogers, 
 
 Ipswich, . 
 
 1 Kings, viii. 57, 58, 
 
 12 mo. 
 
 1707 
 
 " Samuel Belcher, 
 
 Newhury, . 
 
 Matthew, vi. 10, 
 
 do. 
 
 1708 
 
 ' John Norton, . 
 
 Hingliam, . 
 
 Numbers, xiv. 11, 
 
 do. 
 
 1709 
 
 " (t. Rawson, A. M. . 
 
 Mendon, . 
 
 Jeremiah, xiii 16, 
 
 do. 
 
 1710 
 
 " *EI'en. Pemberion. 
 
 Boston, . 
 
 Psalm, Ixxxii. 6, 7, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1711 
 
 " Pet.Tharher, A. M. 
 
 iMillon 
 
 Isaiah, Ivii. 18, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1712 
 
 " Samuel Cheever, . 
 
 Marblehead, 
 
 Psalm, x*ii. 27, 28, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1713 
 
 " Samuel 'I'reat, 
 
 Easiham, . 
 
 Psalm, ii. 8, . 
 
 
 17U 
 
 " Samuel Danlorth, . 
 
 Taunlon, . 
 
 Psalm, Ixxx. 14, 
 
 12 mo. 
 
 1715 
 
 " Jer. Shepard, A. M. 
 
 Lynn, 
 
 Isaiah, Ixiii. 12, 
 
 do. 
 
 1716 
 
 " Benja. \Vadsvvoith, 
 
 Boston, . 
 
 Psalm, Ixxviii. 72, . 
 
 do. 
 
 17.7 
 
 " Roland Cotton, 
 
 Sandwich, 
 
 Ecclexiastes, xii. 13, 
 
 do. 
 
 1718 
 
 " Benj. Colman, A. M. 
 
 Boston. 
 
 Nehemiah. v. 19, 
 
 do. 
 
 1719 
 
 " 'Win Williams, - 
 
 Haifield, . 
 
 Judges, ii. 2, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1720 
 
 '' Naihaii'd Sionc. . 
 
 Harwich, . 
 
 Romans, xiii. 3, 
 
 do. 
 
 1721 
 
 " 'Sam. Moo<ley,A M 
 
 York, 
 
 Luke, iv. 14, 15, 
 
 do. 
 
 1722 
 
 " John Hancock,! " 
 
 Lexington, 
 
 Luke, xxii 25, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1723 
 
 " Benjamin Colman, . 
 
 Boston, 
 
 1 Chron. xxviii. 8, 
 
 do. 
 
 1721. 
 
 " Joseph Sewall, 
 
 Boston, 
 
 2 Samuel, xxiii. 3, 4, 
 
 do. 
 
 1725 
 
 " Eben Thayer. A. M 
 
 Roxbury, . 
 
 Jeremiah, vi. 8. 
 
 do. 
 
 1726 
 
 " Peter Thacher, ' 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Psalm, Ixxvii. 20, 
 
 do. 
 
 1727 
 
 " Joseph Baxter, M. A 
 
 Medfiel.l, . 
 
 1 Timothy, ii. 1,2, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1728 
 
 " Robert Breck, A. M 
 
 M^rlborough, . 
 
 Dent. v. 29, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1729 
 
 " Jerem Wise, M. A 
 
 Berwick, . 
 
 Romans, xiii 4, 
 
 8vo 
 
 1730 
 
 " Thos. Prince, ' 
 
 Boston, . 
 
 I Samuel ii. 6, 7, 
 
 do. 
 
 1731 
 
 " Samuel Fiske, " 
 
 Saiem, 
 
 Psalm, ci. 6, 
 
 do. 
 
 1732 
 
 " John Swift, " 
 
 Framingham, 
 
 Luke xiii. 9, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1733 
 
 " Sam. Wigglesworth 
 
 Ipswich, . 
 
 Rev. iii. 1,2,. 
 
 do. 
 
 * To Convention, after Andros was deposed. 
 
 < Prom this period, the serie* is nearly complete ; and several duplicates are in the posses- 
 sion of the Society, which they \vouM be hiippy to change for any rare rr curicus historical 
 tract?. Among the few which are wanting, the Sermon lor 1730 Is lot or mislaid, and a copy 
 woul.l be very grateluily acknowledged.
 
 76 
 
 Year. 
 
 BY WHOM. 
 
 OP WHAT PLACE. 
 
 TEXT. 
 
 SIZE. 
 
 17-4 
 
 Rev. John Barnard, A. M 
 
 Marblehead, 
 
 Proverbs, xvi. 12, . 
 
 8vo 
 
 1735 
 
 '' Ji>hn Prentice, '' 
 
 Lancaster, 
 
 2Chron.xvii.3,4,5, 6 
 
 do. 
 
 1736 
 
 " Edw. Holyoke.M. A 
 
 iMarblehead, 
 
 Noheminh, vii. 2, 
 
 do. 
 
 1737 
 
 " Israel Loring, A. M. 
 
 Sudbury, . 
 
 Rev. ii. 5, 
 
 do. 
 
 1733 
 
 " John Webb, M. A . 
 
 Hosloii, 
 
 Isaiah, ix. 6, 
 
 do. 
 
 1739 
 
 " Peter Clarke, A. M. 
 
 Salem. 
 
 Ho*ea, xi. 12, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1740 
 
 " Wm. Cooper, " 
 
 Hoston, 
 
 Psalm, ii. 10, 11, 12, 
 
 do. 
 
 1741 
 
 " Wm. Williams, M. A. 
 
 \Veston, . 
 
 Zech. xii. 5, 
 
 do. 
 
 1742 
 
 " N. Appleton, A. M 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 Psalm, Ixxii. 1, 2, 3, 
 
 do. 
 
 1743 
 
 ' Naih. Eells, V. D. M. 
 
 Sciiuate, . 
 
 Deut. xxxii. 47, 
 
 do. 
 
 1744 
 
 ' J. Allin, V. D. M. . 
 
 Hrookline, 
 
 Isaiah, vi. 1, 
 
 do. 
 
 1745 
 
 ' Eben. G-iy, A. AI. . 
 
 Hingham, . 
 
 2 Samuel, xxi. 17, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1746 
 
 ' John Barnard. M. A. 
 
 Andover, . 
 
 Psalm Ixxxii. 1, 
 
 do. 
 
 1747 
 
 ' Ch. Chauncey, D. D. 
 
 Boston, 
 
 2 Samuel, xxiii. 3, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1748 
 
 " Daniel Lewis. A M. 
 
 Pembroke, 
 
 Isaiah, xxii. 21, 
 
 do. 
 
 1749 
 
 " William Balcli, " 
 
 Bradford, . 
 
 Psalm, cxxii.6,7,8,9 
 
 do. 
 
 1750 
 
 " Sam'l Phillips, " 
 
 Andover, . 
 
 Prov. viii. 15, 16, 
 
 do. 
 
 1751 
 
 " Wm. Welsteed, " 
 
 Boston, . 
 
 Psalm, xlvii. 9, 
 
 do. 
 
 1752* 
 
 
 
 
 
 1753 
 
 " John Collon. " 
 
 Newlon, . 
 
 Fsaiah, xxxiii. 6, 
 
 do. 
 
 1754 
 
 " Jona. Mayhe'w, D. D. 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Matthew, xxv. 21, . 
 
 . do. 
 
 1755 
 
 '' S. Checkley, A. M. 
 
 Pioston, 
 
 Zcphaniah, i. 15, 
 
 do. 
 
 1756 
 
 " Snni'l Cooper, " 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Heb. xi. 24, 25, "1G, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1757 
 
 " Ebenezer Pemberlon. 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Deul. v. 29, 
 
 do. 
 
 1758 
 
 ' Thomas Friuk, A. M. 
 
 Rutland, . 
 
 Isaiah, xxxii. 1, 2, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1759 
 
 " Jos Parsons, " 
 
 Bradford, . 
 
 Esther, x. 3, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1760 
 
 " Samuil Dunbar, " 
 
 Stoughton, 
 
 2 Ciiron xv. 1, 2, 
 
 do. 
 
 1761 
 
 " Benj. Stevens, " 
 
 Killery, 
 
 2 Cor. iii. 17, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1762 
 
 ' Ab'm Williams, " 
 
 Sandwich, 
 
 1 Cor. xii. 25, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1763 
 
 " Thos. Barnard, " 
 
 Salem, 
 
 Judges, ix. 7 to 15, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1764* 
 
 
 
 
 do. 
 
 1765 
 
 " Andrew Eliot, " 
 
 Boston, 
 
 1 Chron. xii. 32, 
 
 do. 
 
 1766 
 
 " Edw. Barnard, " 
 
 Haverhill, . . 
 
 Neh. v. 19. 
 
 do. 
 
 1767 
 
 " Kben. Bridge, " 
 
 Chelmsford, 
 
 Deut. xxxiii. 39, 
 
 do. 
 
 1768 
 
 " Daniel Shnte, " 
 
 Hinsham, . 
 
 Ezra, x. 4, 
 
 do. 
 
 1769 
 
 " Jason Haven, " 
 
 Dedham, . 
 
 Psalm, Ixxv. 6, 7, 
 
 do. 
 
 1770 
 
 " Samuel Cooke.f " 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 2 Sam. xxiii. 3, 4, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1771 
 
 " John Tucker,t " 
 
 Newbury, . 
 
 IPet. ii. 13, 14, 15,16, 
 
 do. 
 
 1772 
 
 " Moses Parsons,t " 
 
 Newbury-Falls, 
 
 Proverbs, xxi. 1, 
 
 do. 
 
 1773 
 
 " Charles Turner, " 
 
 Duxbury, . 
 
 Romans, xiii. 4, 
 
 do. 
 
 1774 
 
 " Gad Hitchcock, " 
 
 Pembroke, . 
 
 Proverbs, xxix. 2, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1775 
 
 " S. Langdon, D D.| 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 Isaiah, i. 26, . 
 
 do. 
 
 
 " William Gordon, . 
 
 Roxbury, . . 
 
 Jeremiah, xxx. 9,0, 21, 
 
 do. 
 
 1776 
 
 " Samuel West, A. M. 
 
 Dartmouth, 
 
 Titus, iii. 1, 
 
 do. 
 
 1777 
 
 " Sam'l Webster, " 
 
 Salisbury, . 
 
 Ezekiel, xlv. 8, 9, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1778 
 
 " I'hillips Payson, " 
 
 Chelsea, . 
 
 Galatians, iv. 26, 31, 
 
 do. 
 
 1779 
 
 " Samuel Stillman, " 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Matthew, xxii. 21, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1780 
 
 " Simeon Howard, " 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Exodus, xviii. 21, . 
 
 do. 
 
 'Small Pox in Boston no Sermon preached. 
 
 t At Cambridge. 
 
 : President of Harvard College. Preached hefore the Provincial Congress, at Watertown, 
 
 May 31. 
 
 Preached before the General Court at Watertown, on the 19th July, on their assembling, 
 agreeably to the advice of Congress, for the choice of Counsellors.
 
 77 
 
 Year. 
 
 BY WHOM. 
 
 OF WHAT PLACE. 
 
 TEXT. 
 
 SIZE. 
 
 1781 
 
 Rev. Jonas Clarke, A. M 
 
 Lexington, 
 
 Psalm, xlvii. 8, 9, . 
 
 8vo 
 
 1782 
 
 " Zabdiel Adams, " 
 
 Lunenburg, 
 
 Ecclesiastes, viii. 4, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1783 
 
 " Henry Cumings, " 
 
 Billerica, . . , 1 Peter, v. ft, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1284 
 
 " Moses Hemmenway, 
 
 Wells, . . j Gnlatians, v. 13, 
 
 do. 
 
 1785 
 
 " \Vm. Symmes, A. M 
 
 Andover, . . 1 Chron. xxviii. 8. . 
 
 do. 
 
 1736 
 
 " Samuel West, " 
 
 Needham,. 
 
 Maithew, xx. 27, 
 
 do. 
 
 1787 
 
 " Joseph Lyman, 
 
 Hatficld, . 
 
 Romans, xiii. 4, 
 
 do. 
 
 1788 
 
 " David Parsons, A. M 
 
 Amherst, . 
 
 Proverbs, xxiv. 2, 
 
 do. 
 
 1789 
 
 " Josiah Bridge, 
 
 East Sudbury, . I Psalm, Ixxxii. 1, 
 
 do. 
 
 1790 
 
 " Daniel Foster, A. M 
 
 NewBraintree, . Proverbs viii. 16, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1791 
 
 " Chand. Robhins, " 
 
 Plymouth, . ; 2 ChroH. xii. 12, 
 
 do. 
 
 1792 
 
 " David Tappan, " 
 
 Newhury, . Psalm, Ixxvii. 20, 
 
 do. 
 
 1793 
 
 " Sam. Parker, D. D. 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Proverbs, xiv. 34, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1794 
 
 " Sam. Deane, " 
 
 Portland, . 
 
 Proverbs, iii. 6, 
 
 do. 
 
 1795 
 
 " Perez Forbes, LL. D. 
 
 Raynham, 
 
 2 Peter, ii. 10. 12, . 
 
 do. 
 
 ngfi 
 
 " Jona. French, A. M. 
 
 Andover, . 
 
 Romans, xiii. 5, 
 
 do. 
 
 1797 
 
 " John Mellen, Jr. 
 
 Barnstable, . ! 1 Peter, ii. 15, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1798 
 
 " Naih Emmdns, A.M. 
 
 Franklin, . 
 
 Daniel, vi. 28, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1799 
 
 " Paul Coffin, " 
 
 Buxton, 
 
 2 Samuel, xxi. 17, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1800 
 
 " Jos. M'Keen, " 
 
 Beverly, . 
 
 Matthew, v. 14, 
 
 do. 
 
 J801 
 
 " Aaron Bancroft, 
 
 Worcester, 
 
 Isaiah, ix. 21,22, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1802 
 
 " Thos. Baldwin, A. M. 
 
 Boston, 
 
 1 Peter, ii. 16, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1803 
 
 " Reuben Puffer, 
 
 Berlin, 
 
 Luke, xix. 44, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1804 
 
 " Sam. Kendall, A. M. 
 
 VV'eston, . 
 
 Deut. xxxii. 46, 47. . 
 
 do. 
 
 1805 
 
 " John Allyn, 
 
 Duxborough, 
 
 Kom.x l,&ix 1,2,3 
 
 do. 
 
 1806 
 
 " Sam. Sliepard,A. M. 
 
 Lenox, 
 
 1 Chron. xxix. 12, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1807 
 
 " Wm. Bentley, " 
 
 Salem, 
 
 Peut. xxxiii. 3, 
 
 do. 
 
 1808 
 
 " Thomas Allen, " 
 
 Pittsfield, . 
 
 1 Timothy, iv. 8, 
 
 do. 
 
 1809 
 
 " David Osgood, D. D 
 
 Medford, . 
 
 Judges, ix. 56, 57, . 
 
 do. 
 
 List of Preachers continued from and after 1809. 
 
 1810 
 
 Rev. Elijah Parish, D. D. 
 
 Byfield, . 
 
 Romans, xiii. iv, 
 
 8vo 
 
 1811 
 
 Thos.Thacher, A.M. 
 
 Dedham, . 
 
 Judges, viii 23,24, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1812 
 
 " Edmund Foster, ' 
 
 Littleton, . 
 
 ICor.xii. 18, 19,20,21 
 
 do. 
 
 1813 
 
 " William Allen, D. D. 
 
 Piitsfield, . 
 
 John, xviii. 36, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1814 
 1815 
 
 ' Jesse Applelon, " 
 ' James Flint. " 
 
 Brunswick, 
 E. Bridgewater, 
 
 ls;iiah, xxxiii. 6, 
 Deut. iv. 9, 
 
 do. 
 do. 
 
 1816 
 
 ' John T. Kirkland," 
 
 Harvard Univ. . 
 
 Psalms, cvi. 45, 
 
 do. 
 
 1817 
 
 ' Thomas Snell, " 
 
 N. Brookfield, . 
 
 Isaiah, iv. 5, 
 
 do. 
 
 1818 
 
 ' Zeph. S. Moore, " 
 
 Amherst, . 
 
 Mark, ii. 27, 28, 
 
 do. 
 
 1819 
 
 ' Peter Eaton, " 
 
 Box ford, . 
 
 Romans, iii. 1, 2, 
 
 do. 
 
 1820 
 
 ' William Jenks, " 
 
 Boston, 
 
 2 Cor. iii. 17, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1821 
 
 " Henry Ware, " 
 
 Harvard Univ. . 
 
 Acts, xvii. 26, . 
 
 do. 
 
 It-. 22 
 
 D. Huntington, A. M. Hadle}-, . 
 
 Acts, xviii. 14, 15, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1823 
 
 Nathl. Thayer, D. D. Lancaster, 
 
 Deut. xx vi. 19, 
 
 do. 
 
 1824 
 
 ' Daniel Sharp, " 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Jer. xxx. 19, 20, 21, 
 
 do. 
 
 1825 
 
 Wm. B. Sprague, " 
 
 WestSpiingfield, 
 
 Luke, xii. 48, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1826 
 
 Orville Dewey, A.M. 
 
 New Bedford, . 
 
 Psalms, Ixxxiii. 2, 3, 
 
 do. 
 
 1827 
 
 Mos. Stuart, S. T. P. Andover, . 
 
 2 Cor. xiii. 17, 
 
 do. 
 
 1828 
 
 James Walker, D. D. (,'harlestown, . 
 
 Exodus, xviii. 21, 
 
 do. 
 
 1829 
 
 Wilbur Fisk, " 
 
 W II bra ham, 
 
 1 Peter, iv. 7, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1830 
 
 W. E. Channing, " 
 
 Boston, 
 
 John, viii. 31,32,36, 
 
 do.
 
 78 
 
 Year. 
 
 BY WHOM. 
 
 OP WHAT PLACE. 
 
 TEXT. 
 
 SIZE. 
 
 1831 
 
 Rev. L. VVithington, A. M. 
 
 Nrwburyport, . 
 
 Tims, ii. 15, 
 
 8vo 
 
 1832 
 
 4 Paul Dean, 
 
 Boston, 
 
 Romans, xiii. 1, 
 
 do. 
 
 1833 
 
 ' \V.B.O.Peabody,AM 
 
 Springfield, 
 
 Acts, xxii. 28, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1834 
 
 ' 3. W. Yeomaus, " 
 
 I'itlsfield, . 
 
 Matthew, vi. 33, 
 
 do. 
 
 1835 
 
 ' J.M.\Vain\v.ight,Dr> 
 
 Hoslon, 
 
 Deut. xv. 11, . 
 
 do. 
 
 1836 
 
 ' Aiidw. Bigelow,A.M. 
 
 Tauiilon, . 
 
 Exodus, xiv. 15, 
 
 do. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 38, line 4th, (Note,) for " his own times," read his times 
 " 47, top line, for "judicially," read judiciously.
 
 BV 
 
 
 
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