::mmm f-^ THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, »- Princeton, N. J. ('a.s<\ Division. Shr1f\ Section Book, /J / r. THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. LATE PROVOST OF THE COLLEGE AND ACADEMY OF PHU.ADELPHIA. VOL. IL [ENTERED ACCORDING TO LAW. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY HUGH MAXWELL AND WILLIAM FRT, 2<10, 25, NORTH SECOND-STREET. 1803. CONTENTS SECOND VOLUME TWO PREFATORY LETTERS. PAG« Letter I. On the Office and Duty of Protestant Ministers, and the Right of exercising Pulpit- Liberty in the handling of Civil as well as Reli- gious subjects; especially in times of public danger and calamity, 1 Letter II. An earnest Address to the Colonies, at the opening of the Campaign, 1758. — Drawn up and published at the request of Brigadier- General Forbes, 17 THREE MASONIC SERMONS. Sermon I. On Brotherly Love, Sec. Preached on the Anniversary of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1755, 27 Sermon II. Preached on Monday, December 28, 1778, celebrated as the Anniversary of St. John the Evangelist. With an Appendix on the Cha- racter of Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, 43 Sermon III. Preached before the Grand Lodge of Communication, on St. John the Baptist's day, June 24, 1795, 72> N. B. The above three Sermons were preached at the request of the Grand Lodge of Communi- cation, for Pennsylvania, and contains in sub- stance all that the Author thinks it necessary to bequeath to the Brotherhood, by way of Ser- mons, preached at different times and in sundry of the neighbouring States, during 48 Years past. THREE FAST SERMONS. Sermon IV. Preached May 21, 1756, on the Pub- lic Fast, appointed by the Government of Penn- sylvania, 90 VOL. II. . A 4* n CONTENTS. Sermon V. Preached July 20, 1775, being on the first American Fast, recommended by Congress, 112 Sermon VI. Preached May 3, 1781; on the Re- commendation of Congress, 127 A THANKSGIVING SERMON. Sermon VII. Preached December 13, 1781, being a day set apart by Congress for a General ^ Thanksgiving, 141 SEVEN MILITARY SERMONS. Sermon VIII. Preached April 5, 1757, at there- quest of Brigadier-General Stanwix, to the Sol- diers under his command, previous to their march, after Braddock's Defeat, to suppress the Ravages of the French and Indians, on our Fron- tier Settlements, 15S Sermon IX. Preached in the great Hall of the College of Philadelphia, April 10, 1768, as Chaplain pro tempore, appointed by Colonel Wilkins, to the XVIIIth, or Royal Regiment of Ireland ; on the Christian Soldier's Military Duty, 1 79 Sermon X, Preached May 1, 1768, on the same occasion, and in the same place, 190 Sermon XI. Preached May 8, 1768, in the same place, to said Regiment; to which was added, the celebrated Speech of a Creek Indian, against the immoderate use of Spiritous Liquors, 201 Sermon XII. The Christian Soldier's Spiritual Duty, June, 1768, 225 ' Sermon XIII. On the same subject, being the last, or larewel to the said Regiment, — then under marching orders, 235 Sermon XIV. Preached June 23, 1775, on the then alarming situation of American affairs; at the request of Colonel Cadwalader, and the Officers of the third Battalion of Volunteer-Mili- tia of the City of Philadelphia. Present also the Members of Congress. To which is pre- fixed a large and interesting Preface, 251 CONTENTS. iii • FAG£ CINCINNATI SERMON. Sermon XV. On Temporal and Spiritual Salva- tion. Preached July 4, 1790; before, and at the request of, the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, 287 TWO SERMONS, ON THE PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE SCIENCBS, AMONG THE HEATHEN AMERICANS. Sermon XVI. Concerning the Conversion of the Heathen Americans, and final propagation of Christianity and the Sciences to the ends of the Earth. Preached May 2, 1760, before a volun- tary Convention of the Episcopal Clergy of Pennsylvania, and places adjacent, and published at their joint request, 308 Sermon XVII. On the same subject, preached before the Trustees, Masters and Scholars of the College and Academy of Philadelphia, at the Anniversary Commencement, May 1761, 337 A DEDICATION SERMON. Sermon XVIII. On the Dedication and first,open- ing of St. Peter's Church for Public Worship. Preached in the said Church, Philadelphia, Sep- tember 4, 1761, 351 TWO INTRODUCTORY SERMONS, BEFORE RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS FOR THE INSTITUTION OF PUBLIC CHARITIES. Sermon XIX. Preached October 10, 1769, in Christ Church, Philadelphia, at the first meet- ing of the Corporation for the relief of the Widows and Children of Clergymen in the com- munion of the Church of England, in America; particularly in the Provinces [now States] oi New-York, New-Jersey and Pennsylvania : to which is prefixed, a short account of the Ori- gin of the pious design, with a copy of their Charters; and annexed thereto is aa Appendix, ir CONTENTS. ?AGE containing the Fundamental Laws, Calculations concerning Annuities, and an abstract of Pro- ceedings, &c. 385 Sermon XX. Preached April 6, 1795; as an in- troduction to a plan for the Establishment and Encouragement of Itinerant Preachers, or Mis- sionaries, on the Frontier Settlements of the United States; with a Supplement or Second Part stating and warning against the abominable tenets of the Illuminati, and the doctrines of the New Philosophy, 444 TWO GENERAL CONVENTION SERMONS. Sermon XXL Preached June 23, 1784, at Anna- polis, Maryland, at the first General Convention of the Episcopal Clergy in that State, assisted by Lay Representatives, 483 Sermon XXIL Preached October 7, 1785, at the request of, and before, the General Convention of the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Protes- tant Episcopal Church ; on occasion of the first introduction of the Liturgy and public Service of the said Church, as altered and recommended for future use in the United States of America, 524 A CONSECRATION SERMON. Sermon XXIII. First preached September 17, 1792, in Trinity Churchy New-York; before the General Convention of the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church; at the Consecration of Thomas John Clagget, D. D. as Bishop Elect for the said Church, in the State of Maryland. Preached in substance also, at the two following Consecrations, viz. of Robert Smith, D. D. for South-Carolina, Sep- tember 13, 1795; Edward Bass, D. D. for Massachusets and New-Hampshire, May, 1787. Both in Christ Church, Philadelphia, 548 LETTER ON THE OFFICE AND-J^^IY PROTESTANT MINISTERS, AND THE RIGHT OF EXERCISING THEIR PULPIT LIBERTY; 'iN THE HANDLING AND TREATING OF CIVIL, AS WELL AS R"E- LIOIOUS, AFFAIRS... .AND MORE KSPKCIALLY IN TIKES 0.F PUBLIC DANGER, AND CALAMITY.*^ MY DEAR SI*.. 1 HAVE carefully read the sermon that came enclosed to me in yours of the fifteenth instant; and cannot but think the subject well chosen, and highly seasonable. The thoughts you have chiefly dwelt on, are truly interesting; and their frequent intrusion shews a mind more deeply impressed with its sub- • This letter was written on Braddoct's defeat, in answer to one from the Reverend Thomas Barton, then exercising his ministerial office in the frontier counties of York and Cumberland, Pennsylvania, as mis- sionary to " the venerable society in London, for propagating the gospel in foreign parts.". ...The anthor intends both this letter, and the address to the colonies, which follows it, «' On the opening of the campaign, 1758,'' as a kind of preface to the following Sermons on Special Public Occa- sions, and an apology, where it may be necessary, for the manner or ex- pression, in any particular parts of tlaem, VOL. II. <* 2 ON THE DUTY OF ject, than attentive to external niceties and method. But, for this very reason, perhaps, the sermon may be more generally useful to such readers as want to have the same truths set in various points of view; so that I have been very sparing in my proposed alterations of method. Some transpositions and abridgments I have, however, offered to your consi- deration, agreeably to the confidence you are pleased to repose in me. There is, if we could hit upon it in composition, a certain incommunicable art of making one part rise gracefully out of another; which, although it is to be seen by a critic only, will yet be felt and tasted by all. To please in this respect is well worth our warmest endeavours. We are debtors alike to the wise, and the unwise; the learned Greek, and the foolish Bar- barian. None but a few choicer spirits, have sense and goodness enough, to be captivated by the naked charm of Religion. Vulgar souls need to be roused from the lethargy of low desire, and to have their love of God and goodness, excited and enfiamed. Hence, Religion must be taught, as it were, to breathe and to move before them, in all the grace and majesty of her most winning and attractive form. We shall, therefore, err greatly, if we flatter our- selves that it will cost us less labour to preach or write to the ignorant, than to the intelligent. To please and profit the latter, requires sense only. To please and profit the former, requires sense and art both. I am obliged to you for your kind expressions towards me. An intercourse of compliment would ill suit the seriousness of our characters; and, in re- PROTESTANT MINISTERS, Sec. 3 gard to any small services I have been able to render you, I am more than repaid in observing that I have, in some measure, been instrumental in supplying our poor back-settlers, with a minister of the blessed gospel; who, in this day of our visitation, will, to the best of his abiUties, stem the tide of popular vice and folly, and disdain to appear cold to the cause of his God, his king, or his protestant country. I know, however, that your appearing warm in these grand concerns, will even procure opposition to your ministry, as well as objections to all sermons of this kind. You will hear it said — " That a minister " professing to be a disciple of the meek and blessed " Jesus, should confine himself to subjects purely *' spiritual and eternal. What have the clergy to do " with civil and temporal concerns ? And as to blow- " ing the trumpet of war, and declaiming against " popery, a subject so long ago exhausted, what pur- " pose can it serve, but to kindle the flame of perse- *' cution, and banish Christian charity from the habi- " tations of men ?" These objections will seem plausible to many, though they will not so much be levelled against any particular performance, as against every protestant minister in general, who shall have the noble resolu- tion to discharge the important duties of his office, in the present emergency. I shall, therefore, endea- vour to strip such objections of their false varnish, and shew that to admit them in their full force, tends clearly to involve the w-orld in error and slavery. It is indeed a melancholy consideration that such a task should be necessary at this day, even under the 4 ON THE DUTY Of happy auspices of liberty and a rcfonued rciigion. . But I know that, in the course of youp duty here, you will find arguments still wanting to combat pre- judices of this kind, and even to plead before very partial judges the cause of a protestant ministry. And it is our good fortune that such arguments may rea- dily be produced, even upon principlesof reason and good policy, if those of a higher nature should be re- fused. We may grant that, in the infancy of time, when men lived in a dispersed state,, it was possible that every one might be priest as well as king in his own family. Not being as yet collected into larger so- cieties, men were not then engaged in that constant round of action, which hath since been the lot of their short-lived posterity. Their manners were more simple; the distinctions between right and wrong were less perplexed; and they had leisure to attend not only to the dictates of a heart less corrupt, but also to those positive injunctions, received occasion- ally from God himself, conversing face to face, or handed down from their first parents, in pure and fiiithful tradition. But althougli in these times of simplicity, as they are described to us, we may suppose every man ca- pable of discovering his own duty, and offering up the pure and spiritual worship of his own heart, yet such a worship was too- refined, abstracted and soli- tary, to last always. Human affairs soon became more complicated. Societies were necessarily form- ed; and this sacred intercourse of individuals, with the Father of Love, soon began to decay. The uvo- PROTESTANT MINISTERS, Sec. S cations of life made many forget it; and many more were too much sunk in ignorance and indolence, to mark those displays of wisdom, power and goodness, which ought to raise it in the breast. Such persons could see the sun set and rise, and could turn their sight upon the spacious sky, without adoring the Maker's greatness, or extolling his wisdom. They could wander, with unconscious gaze in the midst of nature, neither listenmg to her voice, nor joining in her grand chorus to: creative goodness. Now it was easy to foresee, that this defection of individuals from their Almighty Parent, might HOt only spread itself into general corruption, but involve particular societies in temporal misery. It, therefore, became necessary to institute a social v/orship, by which all the members of a community might be assembled, in one solemn act, to give some pub- lic mark of that homage of heart, which was univer- sally agreed to- be due to the supreme head of the social^ system. From this time, then, a chief ruler, to administer law and superintend the public weal, was not a more salutary institution, than the separate institution of an order of men to preside in these solemn acts of de- votion, and to form the minds of the people to tlie knowledge both of law and duty. For action follows ©pinion; and, in order to act right, ive must first learn to thmk ri^ht. Thus, the priesthood seems to rest on the same foundation with society itself, and takes its rise from the necessity of human affairs, which requires some institution for assisting the busy, rouztng the indo- 6 ON THE DUTY OF lent, and informing all. Without this, every other institution for the good of mankind would be found imperfect ; and there never was a society of any kind that did not find it necessary, under some name or another, to appoint certain persons, whose particular business it might be, to study and explain what was conceived to be the great interests of that society, especially to such of its members as had less oppor- tunity or ability of informing themselves. We see, then, that the office of such an order of men (call them priests, or by any other name) is im- portant in its original, and noble in its design; being nothing less than the great design of making men wise and happy — wise in knowing and happy in doing what God requires of them. But what is it that God requires us to know and to do as the means of happiness ? Is it not to know and do homage to him as cur supreme good, and to know and do our duty in the several relations he hath appointed us to sustain ? Shall those, then, who are called to instruct man- kind be told after this, that things belonging to civil happiness fall not within their sphere? Hath not God himself joined the table of social duties to that of re- ligious ones? Hath he not, in his benevolent consti- tution of things, made temporal wisdom and happi- ness introductory to that which is eternal? And shall we perversely put asunder what God hath so kindly joined? Or is it not evidently our duty, as teachers, to explain to others their great interests, not only as they are creatures of God, but also as they are mem- bers of a particular community ? PROTESTANT MINISTERS, &c. 7 The contrary doctrine would soon pave the way to entire wretchedness. For what nation hath ever preserved a true sense of virtue, when the sense of liberty was extinct? Or, in particular, could the pro- testant religion be maintained, if the spirit of protes- tant liberty were suffered to decay ? Are they not so intimately connected, that to divide them would be to destroy both? Indeed, languid and remiss as many of our pro- fession are said to be, yet to them is gready owing what sense of virtue and liberty is still left in this re- mote part of the globe. Had not they, or some of them at least, from time to time, boldly raised their voice, and warned and exhorted their fellow-citizens, mixing temporal with eternal concerns, most cer- tainly popish error and popish slavery (perhaps hea- then error and heathen slavery) had long ere now overwhelmed us! Where, then, would have been the blessings purchased by our reformation and glo- rious revolution? Or, where would have been that inestimable liberty of conscience, which, as the best things may be most readily abused, — " Now views with scornful, yet with jealous eyes, *' Those very arts that caused itself to rise?" POPE. But further, in favour of the point in question, I might here also bring the sanction of God himself, and plead the example of our blessed Lord and master, that great high-priest and best preacher of righteous- ness, who had a tear — yes, a heart- shed tear— for the civil distress incumbent over the very country that S ON THE DUTY OF crucified liini, and would have led its inhabitants to shun their temporal as well as their eternal misery. But this I pass over, as I know you will have to deal with those who will be for trying every thing at the bar of what they eall impartial Reason. I have, therefore, hinted such reasons as I think will hold immutably true, in societies of every kind, even in the most enlightened, and far more so in those that are circumstanced as we are at present. We are a people, thrown together from various quarters of the world, differing in all things — lan- guage, manners, and sentiments. We are blessed with privileges, which to the wise will prove a sanc- tuary, but to the foolish a rock of offence. Liberty never deigns to dwell but with a prudent, a sensible and manly people. Our general conduct, I fear, will scarce entitle us to this character in its proper degree. We are apt either to grovel beneath the true spirit of freedom ; or, v/hen ^ve aim at spirit, to be borne, by an unbridled fierceness, to the other extreme; not keeping to that rational medium, which is founded on a more enlarged and refined turn of sentiment. Add to all this, that an enterprising enemy behind us is read}- to seize every advantage against us. We arc continually advancing nearer to one another in our frontier settlements, and have here no surrounding ocean, or impassible barrier between us. Now, in such a situation, v/hat can c\er unite us among ourselves, or keep us a separate people from our crafty foes, but the consciousness of having se- parate interests, both civil and religious? It should, therefore, be the constant endeavour of the clergy, PROTESTANT MINISTERS, &c. 9 in all their public addresses, to inspire every bosom with a rational zeal for our holy protestant faith, and an utter aversion to all sorts of slavery, especially in the present emergency. How far a just sense of our inestimable privileges, will contribute to exalt the genius of one people above another, is evident from the conduct of our brave countrymen, in the colonies to the northward. Their preachers have been long accustomed to dwell much upon the rights of Britons and of protestants. In consequence of this, to their immortal honour, they are now acting, as one man, like Britons and pro- testants, in defence of those rights. Among us, on the contrary, w"here the few, who ought to explain those noble subjects, labour under many disadvantages, which I need not mention to you, a quite different* temper and spirit are to be seen. We either think it unlavvful to act at all in the assertion of these sacred rights; or if we act, it is only with half a heart, as if but half informed with that sublime spirit, which is kindled by the love of truth and freedom, and burns in the bosom, like some pure etherial flame, lighting the soul to deeds of vir- tue and renown. Every endeavour, therefore, to kindle up this all- enlivening flame, and exalt our country's genius, is truly worthy a preacher's character, notwithstanding • This was the strae of things at the time of writing the above, wlien some unhappy disputes and prejudices greatly retarded the public service of the country. But these being at length done away, it must in justice be owned that full compensation hath, in the issue, been mad? for this firs: dday. VOL. II. C -V, 10 ON THE DUTY OF ten thousand such frivolous cavils as those above- mentioned; every one of which falls of course, on the removal of the fundamental one. For, having already shewn, that it becomes those w ho are placed as watchmen on the walls of our holy Zion, to " cry *' aloud and spare not," on the approach of every thing that can " hurt or make us afraid," either in our civil or religious capacity ; surely no warmth can be unseasonable at a time when all that we account dear or sacred is threatened with one indiscriminate ruin. Those who are in good earnest, in the great work of instructing others, will suit themselves to seasons and occasions; and for a preacher to neglect the pre- sent opportunity of making impressions of holiness, and diffusing a just sense of those excellent privi- leges, which are but too little understood, though fully enjoyed among us, would be the most unpar- donable breach of duty. It were, no doubt, sincerely to be wished, that the harsh voice of discord, and the clangor of the trumpet, could be forever hushed in the world. And we, in particular, who preach the kingdom of the Messiah, cannot but prize and even adore peace, as it is the chief of blessings, and auspicious to religion and all the best interests of mankind. But the greater this blessing is, the more necessary it often becomes to assert it arainst those who deli2:ht in violence and blood. There is no unmixed felicity in this imper- fect state. It was only in Eden and the state of inno- cence, where the rose bloomed without its thorn; and till we are admitted into a kinjj-dom of universal PROTESTANT MINISTERS, &c. 11 righteousness, we must not look for the blesshigs of peace, entirely free from the miseries of war. While wc have public sins, we must expect public chastise- ments. With regard to the last objection, which I said might probably be levelled against such sermons as yours, I would observe, that I think the subject of popery can never be exhausted, while the danger of it remains; and though it may be a subject well understood by those who have been long blessed with feithful protestant pastors, yet this cannot be the case with those who have had so few advantages of this kind as your infant congregations. Indeed, that you should be more than ordinarily alarmed at this most singular crisis, is not to be won- dered at. For, while we sit as yet safe in our metro- poUs, your situation on the frontiers is most dreadful; and our last accounts from you are truly distressing to humanity— The army sent to your protection, defeated, retreating and leaving you defenceless behind them! murderers stealing through midnight darkness, and polluting the bed of rest* with savage death! Our poor back settlers, who, after much hard- ship and toil, had just begun to taste ease and comfort, daily forced from their habitations, leaving their un- reaped harvests to the spoiler; and— what is far more severe — leaving, some a beloved wife, some an affec- tionate husband, some a tender parent, a brother or a son, — leaving them bleeding beneath the unrelent- ing hand of merciless barbarians ! • The inhuman butcheries and outrages of ihe Indians. 12 ON THE DUTY OF In sucli a case, shall we be silent to avoid the imputation of too much warmth? Shall we expose ourselves to worse than persecution, for fear of stir- ring up a persecution of others ? The rest of the fore- going objections would onl}'^ lead us to give up all concern for the civil rights of our fellow citizens; but this goes farther, and, under an extraordinary shew of benevolence, would induce us tamely to yield up our sacred truth and religious rights also, for fear of being thought rude and uncharitable to such as seek to rob us of them. Surely we may guard against slavish and erroneous doctrines, without any breach of our Christian charity towards those who have un- happily embraced such doctrines. And surely we may strive to awaken in every protestant bosom a due sense of our exalted privileges, and a noble resolution to defend them against every foreign invader, without kindling the flame of persecution against any of those who have peaceably sheltered themselves amongst us, upon the faith of a rational toleration. Most certainly, my friend, all this may be done; and I think it has been cleanly shewn that all this ought to be done by every minister, and more espe- cially those of our national church, which is the great bulwark of the protestant interest. Antl, indeed, we who belong to that church, can want no farther argu- ments on this head when we have the example of that great and good prelate* who now presides over it. In his crail capacity, I need not mention the noble stand which he made in his diocese of York, during • Archbishop Herring. PROTESTANT MINISTERS, &c. 13 the late rebellion. It will never be forgotten by En- glishmen. And, in his episcopal capacity, when that danger was over, if yon read his sermon preached at Kensington, on the Fast-day, January 7th, 1747, you will there find him as strenuously engaged for the pre- servation of the public virtue of his country, as he had been before for the preservation of its public li- berty; considering the one as inseparable from the other, and breathing forth that candid benevolence to his species, together with that tempered zeal for the protestant religion, and the rights of the British na- tion, which distinguish his character. And here I cannot forbear the transcribing a pa- ragraph of a late most excellent letter, which I had the honour to receive from him by your hands. It is not foreign to the subject we are now upon; and I persuade myself that you will make the same good use of it, which, by the help of God, I shall strive to do. *' You will, says he, not only maintain, but cer- tainly increase your credit, by promoting the interest of vour countrv and the honour of relia:ion; in which I will venture to call it tho. golden rule of conduct, to keep strictly to the spirit of protestantism, and to pre- serve the dignity of our establishment, in the temper of every reasonable degree of liberty." This is ?i golden rule indeed; and while wt frame our conduct by it, we need not be au'ed by tlie faces of men, but boldly proceed to warn and exhort them in every species of duty. It is true, we have but fev/ temporal advantages, in these parts, to support us in such a noble cause, ])ut yet we are not leit destitute 14 ON THE DUTY OF of the most animating motives. Whilst others arc proposing, and justly proposing, to themselves the palm of high renown, for bravely subduing and main- taining a rich and spacious country for the name of Britain and liberty, we may consider ourselves even in a still higher light, as subduing it to the name of Christ, and adding it to his everlasting kingdom! Compared to this, the glory of temporal conquests and foundations is but unsubstantial air, and short- lived renown! Hence, then, my friend, were it my lot to be in your situation, at this perilous season, methinks I should consider myself as one who had advanced to the very frontiers of those places to which the gospel hath yet reached, and among the first who had un- folded its everlasting banners in the remotest parts of the West. Recede* I would not, nor give back a single inch to the gloomy reign of Heathenism and Error; but would strive to subject still more and more to the kingdom of God and his Christ. To see the ■fire and vigour of youth spent in such a work, is in- deed a most lovely spectacle, because they are spent in his service who gave us both youth and fire ! And if we .exert ourselves manfully in such a cause, who knows, but at length, through Almighty assistance, a flame may be kindled which shall not only exalt every bosom among us to an equality with the fore- • The gentleman to whom this was addressed, as well as some mini- sters of other denominations, did a few months after this find it necessary to appear at the head of their people, and were signally instrumental in preventing some of the Frontier-counties from being totally abandoned by their inhabitants. PROTESTANT MINISTERS, ?jc. 15 most of our neighbours, but shall also burn, and catch and spread, like a wide conflagration, till it has illu- minated the remotest parts of this immense conti- nent! I would not, however, be understood from any- thing here said, to think it expedient for ministers of the gospel to interfere any farther in civil concerns than is just necessary to support that spirit of liberty, with which our holy religion is so inseparably con- nected; for such a conduct might engage us in broils, ruffle our tempers, and unfit us for the more solemn part of our duty. Nor do I think we ought to dwell any farther on the errors of others, than just to enable those, with whom we are connected, to shun them; lest, instead of the spirit of true holiness, a spirit of vain-glory, self-righteousness, and hypocritical-pride, should be promoted. 'Tis true, as hath been already said, that we can never be too much upon our guard against the growth of a corrupt and slavish religion among us, but we may be in as much danger, on the other hand, from infidelity, a morose and censorious spirit, and a ne- glect of the practice of all religion. Hence, then, though on proper occasions, we are to rise with a no- ble contention of soul, against vice and error; yet still our favourite subjects ought to be on the brighter side of things — to recommend the love of God and our neighbours, together with the practice of every social and divine virtue. I would just observe farther, though, in such cir- cumstances as the present, sermons from tlie press may be sometimes both necessary and seasonable, 16 ON THE DUTY OF, &c. yet I am far from thinking that this will be our most effectual method of serving religion, in general. We shall be vastly more useful in this cause, by being much among the people committed to our care, and knowing how to accommodate our private as well as public instructions to their various dispositions and necessities. That the author of every good gift may enable you to be more and more useful in this and every thing else that can adorn the character of a preacher of righteousness, is my sincere wish, as I cannot think myself indifferent to any thing that affects the credit of your ministry. I am, &c. Philadelphia, 2Ut August f 1755, \ AN EARNEST ADDRESS THE COLONIES, IPARTICULARLY THOSK OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT; ON TMl, -OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN, 1758: WRITTEN AND PUB- LISHED, AT THE DESIRE OF BRIGADIK R-GENER AL FORBES, WHEN LEVYING FORCES FOR THE EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT DU qUESNE, WHICH WAS AFTERWARDS TAKEN B'S UIM. Brethren and Countrymen, 1 AM now to address you, in the most solemn manner, on the present posture of affairs, and the duty we owe to his sacred majesty, to our holy reli- gion, and to our latest posterity, on this important occasion. As I would be understood by all, I shall not affect a vain parade of words, or pomp of stile. Brevity and perspicuity shall be my principal aim. The almighty author of our nature has thought fit to create man a needy and dependent being, inca* pable of subsisting in a solitary state with any degree of happiness. In order to his well-being, a mutual interchange of good offices with his fellow creatures is absolutely necessary. Hence the origin and foundation of civil societies, which are nothing else but certain bodies of men linked together by common compact or agreement, VOL. ir. D / 18 ADDRESS TO THE COLONIES. for the better securing themselves against want, and defending themselves against danger. In conse- quence of this compact, every individual is under the most solemn obligations to contribute what he can, for the general welfare, and preservation of the community, whereof he is a part; and when this is done with zeal, fidelity, and an elevated sense of duty, it is denominated public virtue and love of our country; than which, human nature boasts of no quali- ties that are more amiable or more divine. Both reason and religion inculcate this in the strongest terms. A narrow selfish spirit is odious to God and man; and no community ever subsisted long where such a spirit disgraced its members. It is scarce to be conceived how great a difference public virtue makes in the state of nations. Animated by it, the smallest remain powerful and safe; while, without it, the most populous are despicable and weak. The little state of Sparta was an illustrious proof of this. To acknowledge no lord or master; to live independent and free; to be governed by their own laws and customs; to preserve themselves from cor- ruption, selfishness and effeminacy; and to be the avengers of justice and the scourges of tyranny — were the highest wishes which Spartans knew; and, whenever they were called to exert themselves on this score, they declined neither toils nor dangers nor sufferings. The blaze of public spirit then shone illustrious from bosom to bosom, till it had effectu- ally subdued and consumed the enemies of their country. Their very women shared the holy flame; and whenever the trumpet sounded the alarm of war, '. ADDRESS TO THE COLONIES. 19 one fitted out a husband, and another a son; charging them, by all the ties of love and honour and dut}^, not to disgrace the dignity of the Spartan name, and either to chastize the insolence of their enemies, or perish in the glorious attempt. Seeing then, my countrymen, such was the vir- tue of a Spartan, and even of a Spartan woman, what may not be expected from Britons; who, added to all the advantages which the former enjoyed, have that of the Christian religion and its everlasting pros- pects to animate and inflame their conduct? We are, or might be, the happiest and most enlightened peo- ple in the world; and, by consequence, we ought to be the bravest. Were we to cast our eyes over this globe, and to take a view of the condition of our fellow crea- tures in other countries; how should we bless our lot, and how dear would the name of Britons become to us! Not to mention many parts, even of Europe itself, where the common people are in a manner the pro- perty of their lords, and on little better footing than their cattle themselves; I might carry you through Asia and Africa, to shew you the deplorable state of human nature in those countries, groaning under a race of monsters that disgrace their very shape ; and in a condition so completely miserable, that you have neither seen nor can imagine any thing of the kind. The wild savage, that roams the American wilder'- ness, is infinitely happier than they. But I shall not take up your time with these eastern scenes of servitude and woe. Thanks be to 20 ADDRESS TO THE COLONIES. God! we are as far removed from the danger of them> as we are from the place of their existence. Our apprehensions are from another quarter. Our am- bitious French neighbours on this American conti- nent, are the only people on earth, from whom we have any thing to fear. It may therefore, be proper to give you a sketch of the situation we should be in, under their government and power. And, on this head, I would observe, first that among them, you would in vain look for that happy equality and security which you now enjoy. All the property of the subject lies, among them, at the abso- lute disposal of the sovereign; and the poor labourer has no encouragement to be industrious or get before hand in the world, since he can neither be certain to comfort himself thereby, nor those with whom he is most nearly connected. You have frequent opportunities of being informed of the manner in which the French are forced to live near ourselves in Canada. You know on what poor fare all who can bear arms among them, are obliged to follow their arbitrary leaders through these inhospita- ble American woods ; seldom enjoying a comfortable meal, unless by chance they can seize it from us, which makes them the more eager to dispossess us of these happy settlements, and to reap the fruit of our labours. But, added to all their other miseries, the greatest is, that they are not only deprived of freedom of body, but even of mind. Instead of being permitted to pour forth the genuine worship of the heart, accord- ing to the dictates of their own conscience, before ADDRESS TO THE COLONIES. 21 the great creator of heaven and earth, they are obhg- cd to pay a mock adoration to those " who are no ** gods!" Instead of putting their trust in his mercies throueh the only Mediator Jesus Christ, they arc taught to put a vain confidence in relicks, and de- parted spirits, and those who can afford no help. Instead of following the plain dictates of common sense and the light of their own understandings, they must submit to be hood- winked, and to have their consciences ridden, by a set of priests and Jesuits and monks and inquisitors, swarming in every cor- ner! But how different is the case among us! we enjoy an unprecarious property; and every man may freely taste the fruits of his own labours, " under his vine *' and under his fig-tree, none making him afraid.'* If God has blessed us with the good things of this life, we need not fear to make an appearance answerable to our condition ; and what we do not spend our- selves, the laws will secure to our children after us. The king, upon his throne, cannot exact a single far- thing of our estates, but what we have first freely con- sented to pay by laws of our own making. We cannot be dragged out, in violation of justice and right, to wade in seas of blood, for satiating the ava- rice or ambition of a haughty monarch. We need not fear racks, nor stripes, nor bonds, nor arbitrary im- prisonments, from any authority whatsoever; or could such prevail for a time abo've laiv, yet, while the constitution remains sound, we may be sure the very act would soon destroy itself, and terminate at length in the utter ruin of the projectors. 22 ADDRESS TO THE COLONIES. It is our happiness too that our minds are as free as our bodies. No man can impose his own dogmas or notions upon our consciences. We may worship the God of our fathers, the only living and true God, in that manner which appears most agreeable to our own understandings, and his revealed will. The bible is in our hands; we are assisted by an orthodox gospel- ministry ; we may search ant! know the words of eternal life; and, what is equally valuable, we may convey what we know to our children after us, no man having it in his power to wrest their education from us. This, my dear countrymen, is happiness indeed! and what still enhances it, is the consideration that we are not only called to enjoy it ourselves, but perhaps to be the blessed instruments of diffusing it over this vast continent, to the nations that sit " in " darkness and the shadow of death." Surely the thought of this ought to rouse every spark of virtue in our bosoms. Could an ancient Spar- tan rush into the field of death, upon the motives men- tioned above? and is there any danger which a Briton ought to decline for the sake of these inestimable privileges? or shall a French slave and popish bigot, at this day, do more for the glory of his arbitrary lord, than a freeman and protestant, for the best of kings, and the father of his people? This land was given to us for propagating free- dom, establishing useful arts, and extending the king- dom of Jesus. Shall we, then, be false to such a trust, or pusillanimous in such a divine cause ? We have hew n out habitations for ourselves m an uncul' ADDRESS TO THE COLONIES. 23 tivated wilderness -, and shall we suffer them to fall a prey to the most faithless of enemies? We have unfurled the Messiah's banner in the remotest parts of the earth ; and shall we suifer the bloody flag of per- secution to usurp its place? We have planted the blessed Gospel here; and shall we suffer heathen error to return where the glad tidings of salvation have once been preached ? No, countrymen ! I know your souls disdain the very thought of such a conduct; and you would rather suffer ten thousand deaths (were so many pos- sible) than be guilty of that which would entail infa- my on yourselves, and ruin on your latest posterity. Your readiness to join in the measures concerted for your safety, and to strike a decisive blow against the enemy, may much determine your future happi- ness and safety as a people ; and I may well trust, when so much is at stake, you will not be backward in offering your service for a few months, under a General of humanity, experience, and ever}^ amiable accomplishment. I hope even to hear that our women Vvill become advocates in such a cause, and entitle themselves to all the applauses so long ago paid to their Spartan predecessors ! I would not now wound you, with a disagreeable recapitulation of our past misconduct and fatal indo- lence, especially in these southern colonies. Many a time has it been in our power to crush out this dangerous war widi a single tread of our foot, before it blazed up to its present height — But this we sadiy neglected J and, perhaps, the all- wise disposer of 24 ADDRESS TO THE COLONIES. events meant to shew us that, when our affairs were at the worst, he was mighty to save. Never was the protestant cause in a more despe- rate situation, than towards the close of last campaign. The great and heroic king of Prussia stood ready to be swallowed up of the multitude of his enemies. The British nation was torn to pieces by intestine divisions; its helm continually shifting hands; too many bent on sordid views of self-interest; too few regarding the public good; Minorca lost; Hanover over-run; our secret expeditions ending in disgrace; our forts in America destroyed; our people captivated or inhumanly murdered, and our fleets dispersed and shattered before the winds. Yet even then, when no human eye could look for safety, the Lord interposed for the Protestant Religi- on. In the short space of two months, the king of Prussia extricated himself from his difficulties, in a manner that astonished all Europe, and will continue to be the admiration of ages to comel And had we only done our part in America at that time, the pride of France would have been effectually humbled, and we should probably now have been rejoicing in an honourable peace. But as that was not the case, the nation, in con- cert with the king of Prussia and other protestant powers, has been obliged to make one grand push more for the general cause in the present campaign; and if that is unsuccessful, God knows what will be- come of our liberties and properties. This we may lay down as a certain truth, that the expense of the present war is far too great to be borne long by the ADDRESS TO THE COLONIES. 25 powers concerned in it. The British nation is la- bouring under a heavy load of taxes. These colo- nies are likewise drained to the utmost, and sinking under the burden, as we all feel. Peace, then, of some kind or other, must be a desirable event; and upon our success this campaign it may depend, whether we shall dictate a peace to the French, or they to us. Should the latter be the case, (which God forbid !) it would be a fatal peace to us. Rise then, my countrymen! as you value the bles- sings you enjoy, and dread the evils that hang over you, rise and shew yourselves worthy of the name of Britons! rise to secure to your posterity, peace, free- dom, and a pure religion! rise to chastize a perfidious nation for their breach of treaties, their detestable cruelties, and their horrid murders! remember the cries of your captivated brethren, your orphan chil- dren, your helpless widows, and thousands " of beg- gared families! Think of Monongahela, Fort Wil- liam Henry, and those scenes of savage death, where the mangled limbs of your fellow citizens lie strewed upon the plain; calling upon you to retrieve the ho- nour of the British name ! Thus animated and roused, and thus putting your confidence, where alone it can be put, let us go forth in humble boldness ; and the Lord do what seemeth him good ! VOL. II. s A FEW passages in the former editions of the following Sermon, that related merely to those at whose desire it was delivered, are now entirely left out, as having no immediate connection with the main subject, or the design of the present publication. SERMONS PUBLIC OCCASIONS. SERMON I. AN EARNEST EXHORTATION TO RELIGION, BROTHERLY LOVE, AND PUBLIC SPIRIT, IN THE PRESENT DANGEROUS STATE OF affairs: preached IN CHRIST-CHURCH, PHILADEL- PHIA; ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, JUNE 24, 1755. 1. PETER, ii. 17. LOVE THE brotherhood; FEAR GOD; HONOUR THE KING. 1 O contain rules of conduct levelled to every capacity, and fitted to the circumstances of men, in all their various relations and exigencies, is an excellence peculiar only to God's holy word. In the text, and verses preceding, the apostle has the following noble exhortation " Wherefore, says he, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings; be ye as Ihely stones, built up a spiritual house ;/r(?^ and not using your liberty as a cloak of maliciousness. Lo'ne the brotherhood; fear God; honour tht king'^.''^ Ver, 1, 5, 16, 17. 28 SERMON I. The most excellent doctrine contained in these words is not only highly suitable to the purpose of those at whose instance I now appear here, but like- wise to every man among us of whatsoever denomi- nation or degree. And this, 1 confess, was my chief inducement to the choice of them. It was reasonably apprehended that the nature of this occasion would draw together a very large and mixt assembly ; and therefore I thought it my duty to select a subject, which might equally interest us all, both as men and as Christians^ especially in the present dangerous state of our affairs. In things of inferior moment, I doubt not, our sentiments may differ; but in those principles which are the foundation of the text, 'tis to be hoped we all agree, namely, in believing — That there is one God, the supreme Lord of the universe; that our whole species is one brotherhood, being one flesh, and the work of his hand; and that we were designed for so- cial life, being by nature both fitted and disposed to increase each other's happiness, and incapable of any tolerable happiness in a solitary state. These princi- ples partly constitute a kind of universal religion, of eternal and immutable obligation; and whatever asso- ciations we may form for particular purposes, the great end proposed upon the whole, should be to ena- ble us the more effectually to act in conformity to this obligation, which no power on earth can release us from. As long, therefore, as we believe these principles — and we cannot help believing them, as long as we continue to be constituted as we are — it must, at all SERMON I. 29 times, and in all circumstances, be our indispensable duty, to love this brotherhood who are our own flesh; to fear this God who made us for social happiness; and to honour those who, in a more eminent manner, concur with the benevolent purposes of heaven, to promote the good of the social system. Having thus said what seemed necessary by way of introduction, and having established the duties commanded in the text, by a brief deduction of them from first principles; I shall now lay before you some considerations to enforce the practice of them, taking them singly in their order. First, we are to lo'ue the brotherhood. This fun- damental precept has been so often recommended as the firmest link in the golden chain of all societies, that scarce any thing remains to be added upon it. " Change not a faithful brother, says the wise man*, for the gold of Ophir." And one still wiser lays such stress on brotherly lo^e, that he requires it as the test of our Christianity. " Hereby shall all men know- that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to an- other!." The whole Gospel breathes the spirit of love. Its divine author is all love, and his true followers must be love. Love is the happiness of the saints in glory, and love only can render the christian life an imitation of theirs. Few motives, therefore, one would think, might suffice, to enforce the practice of such a godlike virtue. Eccles. vii. 18. f John, xiii. 35. 30 SERMON I. When we calmJy consider whence Ave came, and what we are; when we find that the same goodness called us forth from dust " to bear our brow aloft," and glory in rational existence; and when we reflect that we depend on the same paternal kindness for all we have, and all we hope to have, and that we are connected by the same wants and the same dangers, the same common salvation and the same christian privileges ; one would imagine it scarce possible for our hearts to be unaffected towards each other! But when we inquire farther what is our destination, and whither we are going; when we extend the prospect beyond the grave, and stretch it down through vast eternity ; how greatly does it endear the tie ? Our hearts would venerate those who were to be the faithful companions of our good and bad fortune through some strange country ; and shall not our very souls burn within us towards the whole human race, who, as well as we, are to pass through all the untried scenes of endless being ? Good heaven! what a prospect does this thought present to us? Eternity all before us! How great, how important does man appear! how little and how trifling the ordinary causes of contention ! Party dif- ferences, and the vulgar distinctions between small and great, noble and ignoble, are here entirely lost ; or, if they are seen, they are seen but as feathers danc- ing on the mighty ocean, utterly incapable to toss it into tumult. In this grand view, we forget to inquire whether a man is of this or that denomination ! We forget to inquire whether he is rich or poor, learned or un- SERMON I. 31 learned! These are but trivial considerations; and, to entide him to our love, 'tis enough that he wears the human form! *Tis enough that he is our fellow- traveller through this valley of tears! And surely 'tis more than enough, that when the whole world shall tumble from its place, " and the heavens be rolled to- gether as a scroll," he is to stand the last shock with us; to launch out into the shoreless ocean beyond; to share the fortunes of the endless voyage, and, for what we know, to be our inseparable companion through those regions, over which clouds and dark- ness hang, and from whose confines no traveller has returned with tidings ! Another motive to brotherly love is its tendency to soften and improve the temper. When a reigning humanity has shed its divine influences on our hearts, and impregnated them with every good disposition, we shall be all harmony within, and kindly affected towards every thing around us. Charity, in all its golden branches, shall illuminate our souls, and ba- nish every dark and illiberal sentiment. We shall be open to the fair impressions of beauty, order and goodness; and shall strive to transcribe them into our own breasts. We shall rejoice in the divine admi- nistration; and imitate it by diffusing the most exten- sive happiness in our power. Such a heavenly temper will give us the inexpressible meltings of joy at seeing others joyful. It will lead us down into the house of mourning to surprise the lonely heart with unexpec- ted kindness; to bid the cheerless widow sing for glad- ness, and to call forth modest merit from its obscure retreats. 32 SERMON I. To act thus is the dehght of God, and must be the highest honour and most exalted enjoyment of man. It yields a satisfaction which neither time, nor chance, nor any thing besides, can rob us of; a satis- faction which will accompany us through life, and at our death will not forsake us. For then we shall have the well-grounded hopes of receiving that mercy which we have shewn to others. The last motive to brotherly love, which I shall mention, is its being the joint command of him who made, and him who redeemed us. Seeing, therefore, a man can neither be " profitable to his Creator," nor make any immediate return for redeeming love, all that we can do for such unspeakable kindness, is to honour the divine will, and co-operate with it in pro- moting tj>e glorious scheme of human felicity. To be insensible to those emanations of goodness to which we are so wonderfully indebted, or not to be charmed to the imitation of it, would argue the total absence of every thing noble or ingenuous in our na- ture. As long, therefore, as the xVlmighty source of all love continues to beam down his love, in such exube- rance, upon us; let us, like so many burning and shining luminaries, in a pure unclouded sky, reflect it back upon each other, mingling flame with flame, and blaze with blaze ! Secondly, we are exhorted to fear God; by which is generally understood the whole of our duties to- wards him. Having already pointed out the founda- tion of these duties, I shall just observe farther, that if the fear of God was set aside, it would be impossible SERMON I. 33 to form any scheme either of private or public hap- piness. With regard to individuals, where shall they &id consolation under the various pressures of life, if they look for no God to rest upon? Whither shall they wander in search of happiness, if, in ail the universe, they know not an object adequate to their most generous and elevated affections ? How shall they fill up the mighty void within, if those ever- active powers of the soul, Vvhich are soon cloyed with the things of this diurnal scene, and still han- kerino- after the e:reat, the fair, and the wonderful in objects, do not center in him who is the first great^ the first fair, and the first wonderful; in the contemp- lation of whom the mind may dwell, with astonish- ment and delight, through an unfaiUng duration? With regard to the public, the magistrate may fright vice into a corner, and secure the being of so- cieties ; but their well-being depends entirely on ihe universal practice of those silent virtues, which fall not under the sanction of human laws. Nothing but the fear of God, and religious sanctions, can take cog- nizance of the heart, and make us " subject for con- science sake." Nothing else can secure the practice of private veracity, fidelity, mutual trust, graiitude, and all the deep-felt offices of humanity, which arq the main sources of public happiness. It appears, then, to use the words of an ingenious divine, that in order to secure human happiness, '- an.4 make the whole chain of duties hold firm and indis- soluble, the first link must be fastened to the throne TOL. XI. F 34 SERMON I. of God, the consummate standard of perfection*, " with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning?" Thirdly, we are commanded to honour the king; that is, all those in general, who are lawfully vested with authority for the public good, as appears from the thirteenth verse. " Submit yourselves, says the apostle, to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors as sent by him, for the punishment of evil- doers, and the praise of such as do well." This duty is founded on the former ones. For if we believe that God made us for happiness, and that our great happiness lies in friendly communion, we must think society, and whatever is essential to its subsistence, of divine original. Government, there- fore, in some form or other, must be the will and ap- pointment of God. But government, without honour- ing and regarding lawful governors, is impracticable. Hence, whatever the form may be, provided it is founded on consent, and a view to public good, the submission of individuals must be a most sacred duty. Nay, though wicked men bear svv^ay, as cannot fail sometimes to happen, yet still it must be a duty to honour them on account of their station, because through them w^e honour that constitution we have chosen to live under. This is clear from the apostle's injunction to the Christians, not to molest the go- yermnent under vv^hich they were born, but to honour * Seed on the fear of God. SERMON I. 8S the king, who was then Nero, the most cruel of men, and their bitter persecutor. The reason is obvious. The Christians were but a few, and the constitution much older than their new sect, as it was then called. To redress grievances, and reform the state, was the business of the majority, who alone had power to make innovations; and any attempt in the Christians, however just, might have been construed into sedi- tion, and would probably have been productive of more evil than good. • But it would be absurd to argue from thence, as some have done, that the apostle meant to enjoin a Of different private Lodges. 1 o. 1 he Secretaries, j i & 14. The Treasurers, J 15. Brother Proctor's Band of Music. 16. Visiting Brethren: and, 1 7. Members of different Lodges ; two and two, according to Seniority. The Procession entered the Church in the order of March ; and being seated in the middle Aisle, Prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. White, the Rector, now the Right Rev. Bishop White ; and the following Anthem sung in its proper place by sundry of the Brethren, accompanied with the organ and other instru»enr tal music, viz. 21 A GRAND SYMPHONY. Chorus. Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, brethreu, to dwell together in Unity. Solo. I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord ! with my whol& heart. Secretly among the brethren, and in the congregation will I praise Thee 1 I will speak the marvellous works of Thy hands ; the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, which Thou hast ordained. Solo. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great Light ; and on them that dwelt in the land of the Shadow of Death, doth the glorious Light of Jehovah shine. Solo. Thou hast gathered us from the East, and from the West, and from the North, and from the South — Thou hast made us companions for the mighty upon Earth — even for princes of great nations. Trio. O ! I AM ! inspire us with wisdom and strength to support us in all our troubles, that we may worship Thee in the beauty of holiness ! After Sermon, near Four Hundred Pounds were collected for the reUef of the Poor. The Brethren then returned to the Col* lege in the same order as above described ; from thence they de- parted to their several Lodges, and spent the remauider of the