f^X^ ■»^^iif-Mm CORNELL UNIVERSITY LBRARY 3 1924 104 014 729 €n%t\\ %mm%\ii JilrOTg THE GIFT OF •--"*-^"* ^JTu£JUka^... A. TOST 2£?|. Ve/ S^/^19 9 Delivered BEFORE THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, AKt) THE fWO HOUSES COMPOSING THE LEiSlSCATURE OF THB Commoniseal^ tit #a£t£ac^usett£e, MAY 31, 1809. i Being the Day of General Election, BY 2Dat)to ^stgooD, D. D. Futor of the tiburch in Medfor^. FSOjr THE FBESS OF lN'SeN^TE,JvSBl, 1809, ORDERED, That the Hott. William Spooner, Peter C. Brooks and John Welles, Esquires, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. Datid Osgoob, j. u, and in the name of the Senate, thank him f^r the ESscourse deliyered yesterday by him before His Honor the -Lieu tenant-Goyernor, the Honourable Council, and the two branches of the General Court ; and also to request of him a Copy for the Press J' Attest. NATHANIEL COFFIN, Cler^k of Senate, # DISCOURSE. Judges ix. 56, 57. Thus Ood rendered the wickedness of AiimeUeh which he did unto his father, in staying his seventy brethren : And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon theiv heads; and upon them came the curse ofJotham, the son of Jerutiaal, IN these words the inspired wrffeFgives us his reflections upon the preceding history of the family of Jerubhaalj originally called Gideon. Like those old Romans who were called from the plough to the dictatorshipPGrideon was thrashing wheat at the time when he received his commission to head the armies of Israel. Among all the celebrated heroes of anti- quity, none could have been entitled to greater res- pect, than is expressed by the angel of God in this sa- lutation to Gideon, the lord is with thee, thou MIGHTY MAN OF VALOUR. Though he had not, as yet, advanced far in life, this greeting suggests the idea of an illustrious established character, that, by some pri- or achievements not recorded, his great taknts and heroic qualities had already been signalized, Many opportunities for his becoming thus distinguilhed^ must have occurred during, the overwhelming calam- ities under which his country had groaned for the last seven years. Through each revolving season, what the Israelites had sown, tlieir enemies had reaped ; and the pillaged inhabitants who had escaped with their lives, were left destitute of the means of subsistence^ Dispersed among the mountains, in dens, caves and strong holds ; they were languishing through want, while the combined forces of their enemies, numerous as grasshoppers, were spreading their ravages far arid wide and destroying the country. Such was the situation of the Israelites when their (God interposed by the hand of Gideon, to effect their deliverance. Never perhaps before or since, was so great and splendid a victory gained by such a hand-« fill of troops. With but three hundred men, through divine assistance, Qideon put to ingtant and total rout, an army of more than one hundred thousand. AU these and twenty thousand more, fell in the course of his success. He ceased not the pursuit till he had captured and slain the combined kings and chiefs of the enemy. Amid&t i^L^i^ eflS}rt9j»g«!Linst JPooEa^jaa— i»v£^deri>j he had to contend with the unfriendly views, the bases* ness and treachery of a numerous party among his own people, A great nation, is seldom, if ever, redu- ced to thecondition in which thelsra,elit^ are here star- ted to have been, without its being occasioned in part^ at least, by disunion and discord among themselves, When they are destined t^ subjugation and conquest, their intestine divisions prepare the way and facilitate the event. The intrigues of their conquerors are usually as efficacious as their weapons. Among the Israelites at this time, whole cities, if not tribes, had taken uo decided a papt gainst the cause of their country ; and either through fear or corruption, were so attached to that of its invaders that, after Gideon'^s first great and miraculous victory, they would not ad- mit the probability of his final success. Instead of the feelings of gratitude and the language of praise, they uttered that of contempt. To his demand of re- freshment for his ^xhaus^d.^d fainting soldiers,. the magistrates of Succpth and Penuel returned this most insolent answer. Are Zehg^ and ZyJmunna now in thine handy that we should give bread unto thine army ? Jn the punishment of these faithless cities afterward^^ patriotism, as well as justice, was displayed, The, h common safety required an example of terror in such vile traitors. On various other occasions, Gideon exhibited the abilities and virtues of a great and good commander. While he was yet in pursuit of the flying enemy, he found himself unexpectedly involved in controversy with a part of his own forces. The succours from the powerful and warlike tribe of Ephraim, took offence at their not having received au earlier sum- mons to the war. Their anger was as unseasona- ble, as utterly unfounded ; yet for these very reasons, the more-wild «nd intracteWe. Had tSttdcon answer- ed them as Jepthah did afterward, the consequences might have been equally lamentable. We cannot but admire his self-command, his superior wisdom and goodness in turning away their Wrath. Bypas- sing unnoticed the absurdity of their allegations, and by his modesty and humility in extolling their ex- ploits as superior to his own ; he disarmed their inso- lence and so flattered their vanity, as prevented any detriment to the public service by so foolish an alter- cation. — In short, by his valour and good conduct, greatness of mind, soundness of judgment, modera- tion, prudence, and disinterestedness in serving the public ; he completely succeeded in breaking from the neck of his country, the yoke imposed by foreign powers, vanquishing and expelling those invaders, chastising their partizans among his own peonle, quelling sedition, reconciling parties and divisions, and, at, length, establishing the independence, peac« and prosperity of his nation. So manifold, great arid extensive were his services that, the Israelites, feeling the happiness derived from his administration, were constrained to the most grate- ful acknowledgments. Nay, their gratitude led them to offer much more than he was willing to accept. — Always prone to imitate the customs and manners of 6 the nations around them^ they already entertained the desire of resembling thena in the form of their govern- ment. Having received such proofs of Gideon's abi- lities and of the excellence of his character; a great majority of them agreed to make him king, and to render the crown hereditary in his family :^tt/e thoii Qver lis, doth thou and thy son, and thy son's son also. Gideon seems to have been sensibly hurt and grieved that his fellovF-eitizens were capable of making such a proposal. Most memorable is his answer ; and for patriotism^ piety, and disinterestedness, almost unex* am>pled tl-reUt not ruleisster j/ou, neither shall my sou rule over yim : the Lord shall rule over yau, Thua firmly and sternly did he oppose the wishes of an in- fatuated people to make a surrender of their liberties by turning their divinely constituted republic into a mona,rchy. Thus nobly did he reject a sceptre when offered, showing a mind superior to the charms of poweri the splendors of r^jyalty, and all the allure- ments of worldly grandeur — at the same time solemn-^ ly admoriishing the Israelites that, as God was their king, no one, unauthorised by him, could lawfully ex- ercise the siipreme dominion over them , Gideon was a true repxtblican. Would to God that the principal leaders of those who affect to be so called in modern times, were not, in their principles and conduct, their views and pursuits, perfect contrasts to this Israelite indeed! Though he refused the title and prerogatives of king, yet Gideon's great services and the weight and respectability of his character, gave him an influedHeS in the affairs of the nation, superior to that usually attendant on royal authodty. Such was the consti- tution of the Jewish commonwealth, that idolatry par- took of the nature of treason and rebellion. If it were not immediately punished and extirpated by the executive authority, it uniformly brought divine judg-?. toents upon the nation: Yet it seems that through their whole history down to the Chaldean captivity, this sin continued to be precisely that which most ea- sily beset them. Prone however as they were to this sin, in such awe did they stand of Gideon, that, du- ring his life (which was mercifully prolonged to a good old age) it was not openly practised. For this reason the historian adds, TJie countrg was in quiet- ness forty if ears, in all the days of Gideon. What an uncommon and almost singularjnstance of nation-^ al peace and prosperity i^swd. all appkrcrtitly Herived from the authority, influence and example of an in- dividual ! What a blessing to mankind are such in- dividuals ! How truly are they the salt of the earth and the light. of the world ! The characters of great and good men are essen- tially the same in every nation and through every age. Under the name of GideoOj v/e have marked much of the conduct and many of the virtues of that illus- trious Chief to whom our own country, was indebted for its deliverance, peace and prosperity. The gov- ernment of such rulers is compared in Scripture, to the rain earning down upon the mown grass, showers on the thirsty earth— to thelight of the morning when the sun is rising, to a mo'^ning without clouds ; while on the other part, rulers 'of an opposite character, devoid of the principles of true religion and virtue, are depicted, in the consequences of their administra- tion to the people, as roaring lions and ranging hears. The truth and justness of' tiiese representations are confirmed by the experience of all nations and by the whole history of the vporld. Is it then conceivable, that the nation of Gideon or the nation of Washing- ton, after having for years rejoiced in the rich bles- sings derived from such rulers, after having had per- fect acquaintance with the principles and maxims of thisir administration, after having received from them 8: their last sqieninpaternjal.^dvicey should, in direct contradictioVi to such advice,, ba. capable of giving their suffrages for rulers known to- ^e of a different ^nd opposite, character .?,i Of,a,ll the follies to which human beiiigs are liable* is, there any more unac- countable',, more i^stpnishiiig tpain this ? . . ', ; The Lord shall rule over you, said Gideon to tliei assembled Israelites ; and this he continued repeating, inculcating and^ with the utmost exertion of his pow- er and inflnence, energetically enforcing throughout his lei^thrased.^iays t^^t^Jast hour of his lijfe,' j^dt, says the historiari, as smmUs (Gideon 'U^ds dead^ tjfc cJiildren of Israel turned again, and went a •whoring after Baalimj and mam Badlheritji their god. This choice of new gods could iiot so immediately havje taken place had not the people been previously thws in- cliiied. The probability isi that, like a mighty stream obstructed in its course, their idolatrous inplinii|,|ions had been long swelling andlumultuou^y risinga,gain^t the authority of Gideoii, On, the ceasingof this author- ity therefore, they rushed prepipitately the downward way of their hearts— From the subsequent history however, we are led to concludethatthe commencq^ inent of this apost^cy was, nO]t at Ophrah where Gi-r deori had dwelt and was buried ; bjit, in a distant ter^ iritory at Shechem "i city of the first rank in.the nu- meirous tribe of Ephraim. The inhabitants of this |)lace had been long yvs^itiiig with impatience for the tidings of old Gideon's exit, .that they might, with- 6ut'fear, openly avovv t^ir|||ttai;hn)eHtto Ba$L No sdoner therefore were> tlwos^i^Aidings announced, ^a». all hands \yere employed in erecting a temple to. their favorite idol, preparing sacfifiiies and establishing the ritual of his, worship. . With the zeal of new proselyted," and with the ma- lignity . which apostates .from the true religion al«. ways feel towards those whoin they have deserted; the' She6hemites wefe thus employed wh«h there ap- pea^tsd ^naoxig them, a base born s6ia of the late Gideon^ named Abimelech, signifying in the drjiginal Hebrew, my f either a. king. The vanity of \m mother, in all pro* bability, gave him this name, that it might denote her connexion with die most eminent personage in Ii^-ateL Nor is it unlikely, that its early impression upon %^ «nind of her son, contmually cherished by materijal pride in his education, kindled in his hosoni that am- bition which, on the death of his father, led him to aspire at royalty. The difieUfl.tie$ to^ be encountered,, the pbstacles to be remo>^ ^ surmo.U]ftted} Were uU* doubtedly such as woirfankve discouraged 4ny other spirit less daring and wicked* Samuel metde his sons judges in the land : In. this, he most probably follow-^ ed the example of hjs predecessors, who, ve;ry natural-* fy, introduced their sons a? subor4inate» officers an^ assistants in the adwnisttatiicHi of the govemnient* Gideea left seventy legitimate s«^s. Forty years had el^»^d skice Jpther the eldest, attended his father in the war against the Midianitesi By this tijaae,, the mosit, if not all, of them had arrived to that age which usually gives men the greatest Sway in the affairs &f rtie public ; and were probably in static>n& of poWec and trust at the death of their father* If they were in ^eaeral attached to his religion ind government, as, it is certjun, one of them was, they must, with their frierwis and connexions,, have formed a me«t formida- ble phfllanx against the ambitious designs of Abi- melech. The disadaf^taigqsiof A?* birth, m the son of a maicl^servant, refide^ed his claim more questionable than diat of any «f his brethren. In short, he waisj wellj?ift*sffe,,itf«t- he had.»w5> prospect of success but through $beir previous destruction j and he seems to have jKjssessed too much of thfc modem philosophy, to feel my check or restraint from that coi'vsid of so many young princes — all aspiring to tlife sovereignty. The history being totally silent with respect to any ambitious de- signs enterta,ined by the Other sons of Gideon ; these insinuations of Abimelech, we're the grossest forgeries, vile and wicked slanders, contrived and promulgated £at? no other purpose but to ploak the deeds of horror which he already medlfeiti^. '*>"After possessing the minds of the people with those prejudices against his brethren ; Abimelech's' paitisaris were next to sound his praises, and finish their harangue with reminding the people that, as' originating from their city and rela- ted to many of them, he was V/jeir hone a'^d their flesh. 11 ." The brethren' of his jnather arid their kindred seem most faithfully to have fulfilled their instructions : They, spake of Mm in the ears of all the men of She- chem all these -words.'; and by their eloquence and in- flufence, succeeded in wiuijing the hearts of the citi- zens, and attaching, tjiem to. his interest. He is our brother, one and another exclaimed ; ' and so, his party daily increased. When it had become strong, the first thing >requested of tliem was, that the money in the public treasury, might be at his disposal. To this tile elders of the city conseinted, and were probably "not ignorant ;of the cru^ asi^ bloody^ though as yet, secret enterprise for wMch it wa^'^ntdl; As they were the worshippers of that ido! whose altar Gideon had thrown down, their religious principles,- as well as political views, might render them willing that a se- vere revenge should be executed upon his family. With their moneys Abinidech Mred a troop of ban- ditti ; the history say^s,,, vain and light persons, to sur- ■^rise and massacre hi^^ brethren. As a stone was of- ten used as an .altar, the history, in stating thdt thet/ slew the three scorp and ten, sons ofJerubbqalupon one stone, may be understppd as insinuating that all these persons were offered as so'many victims to Baal, by way of atonenjent for the injury which that idol had formeriy received from their/father. ■ With this sacrifice, shocking and horrible as it was, the Shechemites seem to have been well pleased ; be- lieving, no doubt, that it would if'ender their idol the more propitious to them. Soon after, they assembled in a formal manner to place the cjown upon the head of Abimelech, arid, take thpjr dfath of allegiance. -Thus ' tliey publioly appr«J^>siiiuate» to the Shebhemites, tlie pitiful origin of their deities — theyheijip such as were supposed to he, or to havebe'eh'i 14 to power ; the healing, cheering artd beneficent iiiflii. ences of the one ; and the . wounding, fretting and fcfaneftil influences of the other. , The diiferent ways by wMch they frequehtly'attaia' to power, are also strongly niarked. ' No arts however, vile, no intriigu^s however base and wicked; ai^e scrupled or declined by unprincipled men when circumstances are such^»,to give them any hope of success. » Forthe honors.ajid emoluments of office, their thirst is-insatiablCj andcthey hurry bji to their attainment per fas 8c nefas. Though in themselves, weak.and worthless, and, from their want abilities or from their*ant of integrityj total^ineom- petent to trie duties 61 a high station ; yet, these are the men whose souls are devoured by. ambition, .in whom it reigns predominant. They are always as^ piring to the chief dignities, always pn.the/^catBhvto burst the doors of public confidence and thi-ust them- selves forward to the chair of St^e ; while, OQ.titie other part, the truly wise and good are too modest and diffident thiis to obtrude themsdves upon the notice of the public. Instead of placing their happiness, in the exercise of dominion Over others, they are content withtlie due government of themselves, and, prize the ease and freedom of private life. = It is with no sipall reluctance, that sUch men are drawn from tiieir belayed retirement. ' The olive tree, the jig tree, the vine, and every good and useful tree^ are afraid to turn aside from that course of beneficence allotted them by. jia- ture and the author dfnatul^. • Aware of the responsi- bility annexed to a high station, they dread its snares and temptations. Doubting of their own capacity to serve the Publick iil^tlK; best mannerj they dread lest by some mistake irf tJSliSt-i'adm'inistration,' tiie peace, safety or prosperity of the. State should bd endangered. They therefore wish to 'decline a province to which they fear their; falehts are not equ^'. Nothing but a conviction of duty, of a call in providence will enable them to surmount ithese scruples. On the other part, unprincipled men have no difficulties of tjxia kind. The 15 btaitibk, whose very nature unfits it to be useful in any ^ place or condition, bol41y comes forward, self-assured and self-confident, to be made the head of the whole vegetative creation. ' The vanity of base men when thus invested with poWel", is painted in colours the most vivid and strik- ing ; a;rid the ridicule thrown upon that vanity, is in- iiyiitably marked and pointed in those, circumstances where the bramble bids his new subjects, who needed no s:hadow, to come, and put their trust in his — " If iri tru^h ye anoint me king over you, then come and put ydur trust in wij^ i shadow' '—»in the shadow of a Stfeh a claim is never made by rulei^ truly wise and good. From a deep and habitual sense of their Habteiiess to err, they darg not demand implicit confi- dence. "Though I am unconscious of intentional cirdr,' says one of the best of rulers, I may have com- mitted many. Whatever they may be, I fervently be- seech the Almighty to avert jdie evils to which they tefnd." The election of sueh a ruler seems to have been, at first, proposed by the republic of trees. To such a choice, the revfealed wisdom of God confines the republic of men. ixThou shalt provide oiit of nil the people, able men, such as fear God, men oftrtith, hating esveteousness. The whole nation is to be scru- tinized that its best characters may be selected. Ab l e MEN, possessing extensive knowledge, clear and ra- tional ireclecessors in the administration, stigtnatize thefti-aS ksect, charge them with "having proscribed half thei society ais unworthy of any triist" — ^and with having conferred offices upon others guiUy ofpplitical " de- linquency, oppressiohV intolerance, and anti-revolution- fcry adherence tb our enemies ?'^-^Then exhibit them- selves as brought forward to correct such abuses j de- clare "their purppse to effect itj and warn the nation that till' it shall be acdomplishedj it must not be ex- pected that " th^ hbnestyj capacity and faithfulness" Mof candidates will be the qualities principally regarded in ap*pintrtients to office, j, ^i,? " In«fi©egov^iTiments, "dSttnj^ the excitements and tumultuous scenes of populaf election \{rhile the parti- sans of rival c^didates are discussing the merits ^id exerting their influence in behalf of their respective fa^ VoFites ; uhple&stof things are vinavoidable. • But-ijo truth in tJie Bible' is more certain than this, that gre^t aiid good minds, upright and enlightehed statesmen, possessed of ai true pati'iotii^y 'will? retain no remem- brance of these irritatiphs^ afterward. Placed at the helm, from that nioinent they will cease to kno^w, and from every wish to know, who voted for or against Jhem. ' It v^ill be thfeir most Studious concern through- out their adminidtfutioh, ,to show themselves alike blind to, and ignofant of,'all parties ; bearing an equal relation to, and aKt equal affection for, each' itidividual and each class arid description of the people; entertain-^ ing no other thought or design but by an equals univer-' sal; most strenuous aiid impartial beneficence, to dis-" golve and melt down into one cbmmbn mass^ all party Sistinctibifs. They will consider themselves as sus** llteBil^ the re^feSentative ^jg^ignty of the country I^!^|^g3dd of the whole jtfftl of ev^ry part ; and in the t%idcv)^on of tiieir high o##ej will regard nothing but the general weal, peace, dm prosp^it^. ' • Such rulers cian have nodbcasibn for a veil of myste- ry QVer their proceedings* The general good being the object of all their ^cfitmftsels, th^ kre willing that their plans for its proiuoticm, should be examined by 3 18 iiie people for whose sake they are proposed and whoso interest? will be a6ected by them. Nor are they hasty in their decisions. No question of great moment, is deter-mined till it has been first weighed and thoroughly considered in all its bearings and relations. It was an acknowledged trait in the character of that ruler whom pur country recognizes as it^ fatHer, that his ey^ and ears were always open to information from every Vjuar- ter. He chpse that a difficult question^ previous to its receiving hi^ decision, should be exposed to public discussion, that he might avail himself of any light that migh^be'throwtf ujeron it by the collision .of .par- ties. He wished the nfetjfessity or usefateess ■ of *vcry act of hii^ adniinistratioti, should be so manifest as to paeet the approbation of all reasonable unprejjadJEed minds.- , Alas ! when we think of Mm, do we not feel a gloom at the reverse witnessed in our public affairs since they have fallen iptp other hands, iijto the hauds of thosp, J mean, who' ijhiformly opposed his most s^ise and salutary measures ? What a different teftiper and conduiQt have marked their course ? and, ^:wkkt a result have they progressed ? The very things against which Pe, with such anxious solicitaide aiud bpding apprehension, most solemnly, again and again caiition-. f;d us, have taken place. "' Excessive partiality to one foreign nation, and excessive dislike of another ;" timid and mean submissions to the outrages of the one, and hostile menacing air^ towards the; other, con- tinued through a long course ;of equivocal negoeiiitipn, at length, brought us to the brink of a precipice; ■ To effect our gscape, gracious heaven ! -vj^hat iwas done ? Measures strange, 7iem un^jhe sun, not recorded in any history, not tested by, 3tjje experience of ajiy na- tion, were precipitately proposed alid as precipitately, adopted. "I would not; deliberate" exclaims tho infatuated senator : ; and so laws ai"e at once enacted whose execution brings distress upon thousands, arrf rests a commerce said tp be the-^eeond in the world, and turns thenayal and n^ilitajcy force of the country 19 Against the industry and peace of its inhabitants ; laws which, in a free republic, outrage all the principles of freedom, a-ample upon the most essential rights t)f man, and dissolve the bonds of the social compact.-— The obstinacy with which the blundering* authors of these measures adhered to them, was truly astonish- ing. ' To the clgud of petitions, remonstrances and resolves, from whole states, as well as from' towns, cduhties and other collections of piedple, all pointing out the absurdity, unconstitutionality, oppressive sftid ruinous tendency of those j|aws— the only answer was, this langiia^ of the bra^^i^, come aniput your trust m my shadow. In case of disobedienfce, menaces fol- lowed. If every mouth were not stopped, if every tongue were not silent from censure or opposition, the most treniendous piinishment was denounced : 'Z,et fire eome out of the- bramble and devout the cedars qf Lebanon. • ... • It seems essential to public liberty, that the choice of rulers should be in the hands of the people. A- mong the nations who have understood the nature, and beeur capable -of estipiating the value of Kberty, what rivers of blood have been shed, and what" count- less millions of treasure have been expended to obtain or to preserve this privilege ! Yet what people-, in the full enjoyment of it) have not,- sooner or later, abpsed • Blundering— !t^s epithet needs no apology, since, by the late ac- Oaminodation with 6reat-Bpita.iri, on the very terms offered from the be» ginnii^, our govemmeiit has implicitly ackapwledged tbat the ejihargo Uneasures were unnecessary ; of course, foolislj and hbmdering. Must, not the adviseljs and ahettors of those measutes, the sduTce of so many^ eyils, have f^^^s of .brasjif they ever shfaw theifi again in our .nationiJ. cpuncils .' My prayer -to God- for them is, that i they ijiay be restored to the use of thefr reason, frjpd ftom thxise prejudices and partialities vfhich have hltberto periiiitKd 'Ihein'icf see only through the eyes of a Jefferson. Had it been thfe ; stuifeitutes of the vileUwsincJumfQiiT" '" '^ ■ ' '• 20 it to their own destruction, by giving their suffrages in favor of a bramble ? Mfl^choly instances of this phrenzy among republican states, occur in all history, sacred and profane, ancient .and modern. If parasites and flatterers besiege the ; throne of princes, hollow' hearted patriots, and noisy aspiring demagogues are not less assiduous, or less intiiguing, in paying their, court to, the sovereign people. By such agents and. such means, the ancient republics of Greece ^nd, Jlome, onoe so flourishing, great and renowned, were chea.ted- out of ^eir tib^tij^i, and ultimately degra^^d to the-bcrt*©«»'qf the scaii| l^^ong ^^ nations ©f j^- ropej *£$& n^ijre pf all /republican governnients is such, that they almost necesisarily engender parties' and; factions, divisions and contests. In these contests with each othfer, men professing themselves republi- cans, Ipse sight pf their principles in their blind, yet viplent attachment tp their respective parties. Enlist. ' ed under the banners of desi^r and Pompey, bpth sides fight most furiously for their j-epublic, that is, for it§. shadow, its empty name after all its essential pow- ers and privileges have been surrendered into the hands of their respective leaders, now sovereigns ?Mid deq>ots.' Are not we ourselves far advanced to- ,ward a situation like this, when the leaders of a domi- nant party commence an invasion on our^bill qfrightSt ?uid bpldly usurp ppwers not granted by the constitu- tion? In such case, the only hope, or cpnsplation left us, consists in this', that no free people will submit to such uEfurpations, and thus suffer their liberties to be wrested from them till, by vjce and corruption, they have become prepared for slc^very.- Had the She- chemit^s been Jsrae'liies ind^^^^iTa, in the religion of their ancestors and under me influence of virtuous principles ; all the arts of such a character as Abime- iech, would have failed of success. But having apos- tatized from Jehovahj and become thoroughly deprav- ed bpth in their principles and morals — being thus ripe for ruin, divine justice permitted them, with* their ewn hands, to pull th^t ruin upon themselves. They 21 were given over to the infktuation of putting their trust in the shadow of a bramble. The .sacred historian mentions it as not the least among the sins of the Israelites, that they shewed no kindness tp the hous» of Gideon according to all the goodness which he had shewed untp Israel. Nay, this their ingratitude to the family of their great human benefactoi:, is mentioned in close connexion with their ingratitude to Jehovah their covenant God, as. next in aggravation and heinousness to their guilt ofcipostacy. ' — My respected auditors, wi have had ;wr Gideon. After procimng us a great' fiiitory, and; establishmg our indepeudenpe, he assisted in framing for us a system of liberty with order. The noble machine be- ing finished, he applied his own shoulders to the task- of putting it in motion, in connexion with coadjutors partaking of his spirit. Thus guided in its operations, it progressed to die admiration of the world ; and af- ter rescuing these States froin disgrace and danger, exalted them in honor and prosperity; A dreadful counterpart to this felicity would, in all probability, , have t^kepi place had the reins of the national govern- ment at that early ppriod fallen into the hand^ of aspiring demagdgues, men destitute of religious principle,, in- .. tent upon nothing but the aggrandizement of them- • selves and their party, tainted with wild and romantic notions of liberty, heedless of the experience of former ages ; and hurrying on to the trial of their own new and fandful theories. That the infancy of our general govemnient escaped the ignorance, violence, and wick* edness of such vile attendants, is surely, among the most brilliant ip-oofs of the' waitfcbful care of heaven for our preservation,* '^ most certainly have sought repose at a©y e:^pense. When rest is absolutelyuecessary, it miist be taken though, vader the shade 6f a. bramMiSi - : * Even this did not satisfy tfetT: mccessors in office. They wished to ^ry the matter still further, andBterally to c'ompletetheir'oten resem- ]9ance to the Shechemitea. For years already they-hadbeen massacring t^e reputation of the friends of WaaMzig'^n, Unprincipled scribblers had been hired to write libels upon them, .and half the newspapers of tlie country WCTe the vehicles .of jihese libels j — ^the sufferer^ qf.^is abuse, in the mean-while standing, Ukethe b^nd of Leon^das st the Straits of Thermopyla, to save, us from the perdition of French inifluence. , It was this very eircumstanp^ however, which inBamed the jrage of the new ru-., lers, who, oil their coming into pbweri prosecuted those honest and faith- ful patriots upon charges so utterly unfounded, that the wprld was as* tQjusVd at their indiscretion in thus betraying their malignity. S3 Shecfiem, says the history, deali treach^otisly with Abimdech — and cursed him in the house. of their God, Towards them, he proved a most cruel tyrant,. By dear bought experience they learnt what it was tp re- pose under the shadow^ of a: bramble. Their sufief- mgs seem to have been for soine. time protracted that fheymight have opportunity to fe«l ajl their sharpness ; and in the issue, both parties succeeded in destrdyi?^ each other; After, recording:, the particulars of thb destruction,* the historian concludes, Thus,,Go.dr^n' dered the wickedness of Abimelech which he did unto his father, in slaying his sevf^yJjrethren.rkA^ all the evu-of themenofSheehtffkiii4 Gvd ^^W^ upon their heads : and upon them camfi the curse of Jotham, ihe son ofJerubbaaL In bringing about tihis retribution, no miracle seetns to have been wrought^ nor the opei;atiQn of stay partic- ' * Mutual hostilities se.em to have been carried on for some time wlieit Abimeleck, with his mercenaries, siicceeded in storming the city of his mother's relations, putting its inhabitants to the sword, levelling it with tiie grbundj and- sirmng it -mth salfsi By th^s |.a&t qeremony he expressed his hatred of the Shechemites, ana his wish that their eity' might always lie desolate, a perpetual monument of his revenge.-7-He next attacked |he tower of Shecheni, an appendage tp.the teqiple of .the go4 Berith, out of which he had some time before received the money to hire the assas- sins of his brethren. Into this temple and tOWfer the hoiue of Wlh had fied, that isj the nobles or elders of the city ; for < this seems to be the meaning of the. Hebrew word, JUillo. This cpllec'tion of tl^e ^incipal citizens, having had the chief hand in making Abimelech king, now re- ceived a just recoiiipense. The temple and tower being set oil five, they and their wives, to the number of a thousand persons', perishe4.,in the ilames. Thus fire came out of the bfamite, and devoured ihe cedars of Lebanon. — Not far distant from Shechem, stood the city of Thebez whose ijihabitan,ts had so far sided wdth thet Sheicli^jniteg a^, idrgw jupojx.theia. the wrath of the .tyrant. On his approach, not attempting to defend the Walls (rf the city, they retreated into its tower. AbimeleCh thbught to kave $et this on firer, as he had h^forcdone that of Shechtim ; but on his: •oming nigh for that purpose, he m^t his. fsrte. He had slain all his brethren upon one stone y and now a stone, thrown by the hand oTa wo- man fractured his skulL He felt the blow to be mortal and that he Vas actHflly dying. Thus sumin<^|b^ Into tJxe! presence of his.final judge, ^hai has such a monster of wiatedness to expect ! if everlasting punish- ment -awaits guik ef qjiy kind ;-what'must be-the doom 'of the man who has cruelly in cold blood mutdered his brethren and'.by fi^e and swqr (^res that " he believes j^e Christian jai^on and has a'Mrm pefsiiasibn of itsirujh." ThigldeclaratiOnj vir- tually acknowledging all the obligations of Chris- tianity, adds the'rft to the other obligatioos by which our rtilers are bound to legislate upon such subjects only and for such purposes only, as , are specified' in the social compact. Within this inclosure, ye legis- lators, all your labours are confined. If ye pass these limits, your laws .become unlawful ; in m^ing them ye betray your trust, violate your oa^S) and bring li^on yourselves the giiilt of perjury. ' Should our federal rulers thus abuse the trust re- posed in themj and violate the principles of the national compact, you wUl, as the guardians of the rights of your constituents, make a prudent, yet firm opposi- tion, resolutely treading on in the steps of your pre- decessors of the last year. The wisdom and dignity of their proceedings upon this subject, have ranked them with those immortal patriots who began that re- sistance to usurped power, which issued in the inde- pendence of these States. If we would preserve the liberties, . by that struggl^^ so dearly purchasejij^jthe tall for resistance agai&st'the usurpations of our own government, is as ufgent as it was formerly against those of our mother country. No unbiassed mind can review the measures pursued by those who, for some time past, guided our national counsels, without being convinced, not only that the constitution has been violated^ but violated for a purpose the most per- nicious ; that a state of hostility against Great-Britain, 4 26 now nobly contending for the rights of nations ; an^ a consequent alliance with her adversary, the execra- ble scourge of Europe, were most treacherously and wickedly contemplated. To my apprehension, the danger from stich a policy, i§ more to be dreaded than any which had ever before threatened our country. It is a gulf in which our national honor and prosperi- ty, our liberties, our religion, our moral% our happi- ness, will all be lost irretfievably — 'in which we shall be plunged in everlasting infamy and wretchedness. But, apart from this danger, which, blessed be God> seems at present to be happily escaped, most probably m consequence of the patriotic opposition just mention- ed : to what purpose did we frame the natjojigl compact if we suffer its provisions to be disi'egarded ? Why did we, with such extreme caution, aft^r long deliberation^ fifst in an asfiembly of delegates from all the states, then, in seperate conventions in each individml state, pre- scribe the terms of national union* after each of those te;rms had been sifted and, scrutinized over and over again, in every form and shape, through all their possi- ble consequences and effects— why this vasst ^para- tiis, these extended discussions, these unweariea pains in settling the terms of natioiual union, if, whep.- settled, we permit them to be dispensed' with at pleasure, place our confidence in the men who wantonly spvirn their limitations, and reproach,as hostile to the federal union, that 'warning voice which would dissuade ua from such insanity ? The truth is, that the worst and the only enemies of this linidn, are those who break its ties and burst its bonds asunder. . Its only real and sub- stantial friends, are those who perseveringly oppose such infractions. By such opposition only, can the very end for which the constitution was framed be an- swered, and the constitution itself, together witii the liberties which it guaranties, be preserved. This, constitution has indeed been altered, in some instances, for the worsCi, It is hoped that its next al- teration will be for the better, by clearing it of that strange absurdity, which, through the slaves of our southern brethren, gives theia an undue and banefuj 2T influence in our national couns&lsj, , These northern states niust be lost to a sense of their own ri^ts and dignity — They must acknowledge themselves to be something ^ss than men, if all . their parties, do not unite in their endeavours to effect this alteration. It is also equally incumbent upon them, to unite in pro- curing a navy for the protection of their commerce. H^ the many millions, foolishly squandered in the delusive purchase of a wilderness utterly useless, been expended in building ships of war ; our trade, in all probability, would have escaped its late, as weH as present, embarrassments. ' Every man, in the least acquainted with iistory, must know that, of all other means, commerce is pre- eminently useful and indeed necessary for pronioting national wealth and prosperity, spreading general in- formation, advancing arts and knowledge, increasing civilization, refining and polishing the manners of a people, and giving them those improvements which adorn society and constitute its higihest felicity. But nothing can be more absurd, than to dream of a great and extended commerce without a navy for its protec- tion—this being equally necessary both at home and abroad^in our own harbours and while traversing the Dcean^The Gun-boat policy, excepting for embargo purposes, is so despicable arad puerile that. Were Buffon still alive, he might bring it as another proof of the "dwarfish nature of every American production," These interesting objects will find their place in the deliberations of our civ& fathers. Sooner or later they will be obtained if this nation be destined to flourish and become great. If present success should be doubtful, this should not discourage our exertions. If heaven, provoked hy our sins, should, in its wrath, give us up to our prejudices and partialities, that, like the Shechemites, we may be ^exed and harassed by the tyranny of brambles ; still every go(«)d ruler and every good citizen should persevere in their endeavours to ward off these calamities. This is the course of true virtue and patriotism. If in this course, like the chil- dren of Gideon, our lives should be cut short by the prevailing faction ; — even the foresight of this should not damp our ardour. We are to remember that there is still a reward for the righteous. We are all plaiced here for the present, on purpose that it may be seen how we can acquit ourselves through that variety of private and public trials allotted us by Him to whom, we are, at last, responsible. Every true patriot has learnt to think and to say with Paul of Tarsus, it is a smaU thing with me to be judged of man's judgment. Of what real and intrinsic valu^ is that patriotism which requires to b6 Continually f^ with present praises or with present rewards ? The true patriot, after the bebt part of,his life has been spent in a series of important and faithful services to his country, will descend the vale of years, serene and happy from the consciousness of a part well acted and from a hope thence arising of the final rewards of virtue. If, instead of this, we behold him wavering in his former patriotic opinions, sour and discontented through mere chagrin that the incense of adulation and the glittering tinsels of office have ceased to nourish his vanity ;— ^while we lament such weakness, we can hardly forbear suspecting whether a patriotism which becomes thus shrivelled at its latter end, were not from its beginning, defective in principle. Our country abounds with professed patriots ; but after an abundance of leaves and of blos- soms, the genuine fruits of that virtue remain wonder- fully scarce. It is earnestly recommended to all whp wish to cultivate it, that they attend' carefully to the soil. If it be planted in an honest and good heart, like the seed of Evangelical truth, it will certainly be fruit- ful, yielding thirty, sixty^ perhaps, a hundred fold. Nor will its fruitfudness be checked by any present dif- ficulties or discouragements. It is animated by the spirit of that Israelitish commander with whose words I conclude. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for. the cities of our Godt And the Lord do that which seemeth him good. APPENDIX. A LIST OF THOSE WHO HAVE PREACHED ON THIS ANNIVERSARY. ^: THE following is added by desire of the Histori- cal Society. Gentlemen of ipfprmation are request- ed to, fill up the blanks. Tj^ose 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 His- torical Society, where they will be gratefully receiv- ed, and carefully. preserved. Those which are now in this library, are marked with a star. B^ whom. Of what place, , Text] 1631 Rct. 32 - 33 34 John Cotton, Boston. [Haggai.ii.4.t] 85 36 37 Thomas Shepaid, jTewtown. 38 39 40 1641 Nathaniel Ward, Ipswich. 42 43 Ezekiel Rogers^ Rowley, 44 45 46 47 48 49 f 50 * * . J65I t ' S3 :'" 1 53 54 55 s6 Charles Chauncy,f Cambridge, 57 Sifi, % What is included in brackets, holt ieen added. (Htj^nlciiiStgteT vnthmtpo^' live authmty. ' t President qfHanard Cvllegt, 30 3y whom, l6ss Rev. S9 60 1661 *Johii Norton, ' 62 63 *Johu Higginson, 64 . 65 ■, 66 67 *Jonatlian Mitchel, 68 *Wm. iSiifiightOD,§ 69 John DSivenport, 70 Samuel B&nforth, 1671 •John Oxenbi'idge, 72 *ThoB^ Shettftfd^ 73 *UjiaH 0«kes,t 74 *Saaiuel Torrey^, i '75 - 76 *Winjam Hubbariil, 77 Increase Mather, ■78 ■ 80 16^1 William Btiibsmeai!, 82 Samuel WiUard, 83 *Samuel Torrejr, 84 [John] Hale, 85 *WiUiain Adams, 86 MichaelWiggl^wertb 87 ;■' ■ 88 89 *Cotton Mather.J go *Cottou Mather, 1691 92 [Joshua] Moodey, 93 *Ihcrease Mather, 94 *Sainuel Willard, 95 *Samuel Torrey, 96 Cotton Mather, 97 [John] Daiiforth, 98 *Nicholas NoyeS, 99 1700 *Cotton Mather, J Joseph Belcher, 2 Increase Mather, 3 Solomon Stoddard, 4 f Jdfriathan Russell, 5 #Jos.Estahrooks,A.1VI. 6 John Rogers, A. M. 7 Samuel Belcher, 8 John Norton, ^ Grindal Rawsou,A.M. 10 *Ebcn. Pemberton, Of what place,' Boston, S^lem. Cambridge. Dorchester. Boston. Boxbury. , .$oston. Cbarlestowit. Ciimbridge. ~" outh. Ijpkwiell. Bostoni' Boston. . Marfbordagb. Bostoii, Weymouth. [Beverley.] [I>edha Revelation ii.. S'. I Chronicle;, xii.j^::da. X ChrOnicies'^viii.g, do. 1 timothy,' ii.:],^. 1 Kings, Viiivi|7. do. Je^enlkb, vi. 8. Jeremiah, xxvi. 12,13. Deut. xxxii. 47. i4to. Hagg^i, ii. 4. do. Isalah,'lxyi, 3. dO. Revelations, ii. 4. do. 3 Chron. ^,. 3^ laioo. Nehemiab,v. 19, do. ^saiafa, i. 26. 4tQ. 2 Samuel,, xxiii. 3. 12mo. Ho^ea, i, 7. . do. Jepmiak, xx!xi, ^. do. Psalm, cxlviiV 2. do. Job, xxix. 2S. do. Esther, X. iii. do. Nehemiah^ ix. 33. 4to. Genesis, xii. 2. do. I Kings,viil.^3S; 13a>o> Matthew, viLSp. do. Numbers, xiv. 11. do. Jeremiah, xiii. 16. do,- Psalm Ixxxti. 6, 7. da> § JflerwardllAetttenant-Governaur. f Preddeni of Hanard College, % To Canvmtion, after Andres uxa depmed.