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 ' ' ' A A A A 
 
AN 
 ANTIDOTE AGAINSTp 
 
 •AND 
 
 %f^t Wittoaxn of, 
 TO R Y I S M. 
 
 BEING 
 
 TWO SERMONS, 
 
 PREACHED IN THE TABERNACLE CHURCH, 
 
 IN SALEM s 
 
 one at the commencement, and the other at the 
 close of the Kevolutionary Wan 
 
 .A Dedicated to Gen. Gesbg^e WASHiKCfon, 
 
 BY NATHANIEL "wHITAKER, D. D, 
 
 *''God overihrmveth the ixickedfor their lokkedness,'* ' 
 
 S^LEM: 
 
 RE.PRINIED BY POOL «t PALFRAY.-.-18U, 
 
 
'"11 
 TO THE PUBLIC. ^ \Y51 
 
 IN offering Uus S(jt"!!o i:.uiiU)iioi ..ii, SurmDiis of the Rev. 
 Dr. \VniTAKica,<"lhe Pubiishei' begs leave to ofFeras a reason 
 for their appe trance at *his time, that he views it of all impor- 
 tance ihdi ilie black unprincipkd conduct of the Tories who are 
 denounced in iliis publication should be deeply imprinted on 
 the mind ol every lover ol Liberty, and handed down to our lat- 
 est posterity ; that generations yet unborn may know fronrv what 
 source have spiang those innumerable. evils whicli now exist j 
 and that ;hty n\ay liave a tendency to promote within us a sense 
 of the importance of loving our own Country in preference to 
 any other, is the siiiceit wish of 
 
 the Public'^ ob't. Servant, The PUBLISHER, 
 Salenu Jfirit 1811 
 
 DEDICATION". 
 
 To IIis Excellency GLOKuL WASHINGTON, Esq. 
 
 Ca/itain General and commander in Chief of the 
 Forces of the Uiiiied States of America, 
 May it please your Excellency^ 
 
 VVITH the frankness aiidopenness, ofoue determined to hvft 
 and die frte. I have, in the loUowing disf ours>e, divulged some of 
 my though lb respecting thf prestni times : Aiid fimling by your 
 rroclairiilion of January 25th 1777, you were executing the very 
 plan 1 had just drdW\', up for public view ; I could not think of 
 one more hktly to patronize a discturse on this«ubject ; or whose 
 influence could make it so extensively useful. I therefore beg 
 leave to piestni it to vi ur lavorabie notice ^ 
 
 bhouUl ah yrur holdiers be inspired with the sentiments of love 
 and beiiev('lence here reccmmended, they, like their General, 
 ^V'^Uid be Heroes indeed ,• and with serene bravery, wir.g theiv 
 ■way ihrtugh legions oropp<'i5i,.g Tyrants, to victory and triumph^ 
 to giory ;>iid renown in this world, and eternal rest and peace 
 in the world to come. 
 
 I hnt ynur Kxcellency, thrcmgli the w4iole of your martial race, 
 may command an ;irmy of sucli ^ood soldiers, and go before thtm 
 from conquering to conquer vhise eremiesolGodand man that in- 
 v.cli oiu iigj.ts, 'till they shall turn back asliamed, and ler.ve 
 these vising Stales fiu^ever unmolested ; ar^d that you, with your 
 band ot Heroes, m •> long live to ei\joy the blessirgs of that peace 
 and libertx G^d shall make you the hnppy instruments of restor- 
 ing to our bleeding land, and still to bles*- us with continued ex- 
 amples of patience, vaior, and benevolence, and that in the close 
 you may go before them, ai>d millions moie, who with ycu pur< 
 sue the huj piness of mankind, into that kingdom, where love, 
 peace and jo> , shall compose an unfading crown of glory, is the 
 fervent piajei of, May ii please ysur t'.xcellency, your Excel- 
 lency's mosi obedient, humbie Servant, 
 
 NATHANIEL WHITAKER. 
 
AN ANTIDOT^E AG \INST TORYISiVt. 
 
 JUDGES, V 23. 
 
 Curse ye Meroz, said the Jyigel of the Lord, curse ue Utterly the 
 inhabitants thereqf\ because they came not to the mill of the 
 Lord, to the help, of the Lord against the mighty, 
 
 ii HE sum of the law of nature, as ^veU -as of t'le 
 written laM'-, is love. Love to God and mm properh tx- 
 crcised in tender feelings of the heart, and beneficient ac- 
 tions of life, constitutes perfect ho'ines:?. The Gospel 
 breathes the sajne spirit, and acknowledges none as the 
 disciples of Christ, but those who luve^ (not their fritnds 
 only) but even their enemies. Bless and curse not. is 
 one of th'j lav^s of his kingdom. Y -c the aversion of men 
 to this good and benevolent law, prompts ihem to frrqtient, 
 Tiolations of it, which is the source of all the evils we f el 
 or fear : And so lost are many to all the tender ft tilings 
 required in this law, as to discover their enmitv to their 
 Creator, by op{x>sing the happiness of his creatures, and 
 5.preading misery and ruin ranorg them. 
 
 When such characters as these present themselves to 
 our view, if ,we are possessed with the spirit of love, re- 
 quired in the law and gospel, we must fee! a holy cihbor- 
 rence of them. Love itself, imiilies hatred ""to maltvo- 
 lence, and the man who feels no abhorrence r;f it, may be 
 assured he is destitute ot a benevolent temper, and ranks 
 with the enemies of Gbd and man. For as God himself 
 hates sin with a '>erfect hatred from the essential holiness 
 of his nature, and sinners cannot stand in his sight ; so the 
 greater our conformity to him is, the greater will be our 
 abhorrence of those pel sons and actions which. are oppo- 
 site t<i the divine law. Z)(^f/t/ mentions this as an evi- 
 dence of his love to God : Do not Niate them, Lord^ that 
 hate thee ? and am not I grieved xvith them that rise up a- 
 gainst thee P I hate them zvith a perfect hatred: J count 
 themmine enemies. True benevolence is therefore exer- 
 cised in opposing those who seek the hurtof society, or 
 even individuals, and none are to be condemned as acting 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 against the \nw oflove, because they hate and oppose sucH. 
 as are injurious to happiness. 
 
 But the weakness and corruption of nature, in the best, 
 is such, that God hath nt3t entrusted to men at large, the 
 exercise of the resentment due to such charnctera, nor al-- 
 lowed them to inflict those punishments which their crimes 
 call for, even in this world, except in some special cases. 
 Gn the contrary, he h<ith strictly prohibited all his sub- 
 jects taking vengeance tor private or personal injuries, in 
 a private and personal manner, and required ih =t if otte 
 smite us on the one cheeky ive turn to him the other alao ; 
 and in the language of love exhorts us. Dearly beloved, a- 
 venge not yoursehe<s. Yet there arc case*s in which he re- 
 quires U3, as his servants, to take vengeance on his ene- 
 mies. And it deserves our particularnotice,that all these 
 cases respect crimes which tend to destroy human happi- 
 ness. Even his commands to punish blasphemy and other 
 sins which strike more directly against himself, are not 
 given because hii own happiness is thereby diminished, 
 but because they tend to erase from our minds, that sense 
 of his glorious majesty, authority, and government, with- 
 out the belief of which, all order and peace among men 
 would come to an end. So God requires us to execute 
 vengeance on the murderer, the thief, the adulterer, revi- 
 ler, and the like ; all which sins strike at the peace and 
 happiness of human society. God's heart is so much set 
 upon diffusing happiness among his creatures, by which 
 he most eminently displays his glory, that he perfectly ab- 
 hors whatever tends to frustrate this end ; and has threat- 
 ened the least opposition to it with everlasting death in the 
 world to come. But as few (through the corruption of 
 nature by sin) have faith in a future state of rewards and 
 punishments, sufficient to influence them to their duty, or 
 deter them from ©pposing God's gracious purposes there- 
 fore to strike our senses with full conviction of his anger 
 against such as counteract his benevolent designs, he has 
 commanded every society of men, to inflict punishment 
 on them in this world, and has specified the crimes, the 
 punishments, and tlie officers who are to inflict them. 
 
 Every punishment involves in it a ciirss, and presup- 
 
( ^^-^ 
 
 poses some crime ; and the curse or punishment is by God 
 exactly proportioned to the nature, heinousness, and cir- 
 cumstances of the crime Therefore, when a grievous 
 punishmtnt is inflicted, we justly infer the aggravation of 
 the offence. To inflict punishment, is actively to curse, 
 and when we pronounce a curse, we do, as fat as we can, 
 consign over the object to some punishnrient. But when 
 God commands us to curse any person or people, we are 
 bound by his authority actually to punish them. 
 
 These observ.ilions may lead us to some apprehensions- 
 of the aggravated nature of the sin of Meroz, whom IsrcH 
 tl i>se commanded to purse bitterly for their conduct in aa 
 afl^alr of a public natvue. 
 
 The text I have chosen as the theme of my discourse, is 
 part of a song uttered bv Ufborah aad Barak, in holy iri- 
 umphand praise for a signal victory obtained over Jabin^ 
 king of Canaan, and Sisera the captain of his host. Ihis 
 powerful prince who h:id nine hundred chi.iots of iron, . 
 and a mighty armvi had brought Israel into subjection, 
 and gric vously oppressed thein for twentv years. This 
 cru'd and ga'ling )cke fit length awakened thcnvio a sense 
 of their sin against God, and to cry to him for deiiv'erance. 
 No sooner are they made sensiblS^of their sin againstj 
 and dependence On him, and to repent and seek his favor 
 and protection, than he appears for their help raises up 
 and inspires De')orah and Barak with courage and faith ia 
 his power and grace, to oppose the tyrant and shake off his 
 yoke. A saw men of Ztbulon and Naphtali, viz lO.OOO, , 
 were dcsignrd by God, to have the honor of conqueiii^g 
 this potent king ; for though other tribes mustered and 
 •were ready fo*- ti;e war, yet it seems Zebulon ^nd Naph-- 
 tali only, were the people that jeoparded their lives to the 
 death, in the: high places ol the field* With this -i, tit x-- 
 my, raistd from two sribes out of twelve, Deborah and lia- 
 rak man h out and w.ige w.sr among iheir oppressor jor " 
 the recovery of their freedoms 
 
 J/sbin, it seems, had no knowledge, or thought th-.i Is- 
 rael was arming against hiiv. . The firyt inte^tige- ce bro't 
 hi.n, was, th.it Br*r.ik was gone up to mount lab- r, tlrt 
 he hatl already murcaed, -undwas on his way to iuv::ae Lii 
 A2. 
 
r>6 ) 
 
 country. Some traitors, who pretended friendship to It^ 
 rael, carried him the news ; hoping, doubtless, to ingratiate 
 themselves with Jabin, by giving him the earliest notice 
 possible of thia revolt. 
 
 No doubt both Jabin and Sisera despised this small bo^ 
 dy of undisciplined, unarmed troops ; and were confident 
 they should carry all before them, and quickly reduce 
 those rebels (as he doubtless termed them) to their former 
 obedience. But God who disposes of all" events, not only 
 gave the victory to Israel, but utterly destroyed the whole^ 
 host of Jabin, that not one escaped, except Sisera the cap- 
 tain general, and him God delivered to be slain by the 
 hands of a woman. Women have sometimes been the de^ 
 iiverers of their country; and can, when God inspires 
 them face the proudest foe. O how easy is it with God 
 to save from the greatest danger, and by the weakest instru- 
 mints, conquer the most powerful enemies ?. 
 
 Deborah and Barak, deeply impressed with a sense o£ 
 God's mercy in this deliverance, sang this song as an ex*- 
 pfesslon of their joy acd gratitude: From v/hich, would; 
 time allow, many instructive lessons might be deduced — - 
 But the words of m^ text lead us more directly to consider 
 some things most v/orthy our attention at this day ;" and 
 therefore 1 have chosen them as the theme of the follow- 
 ing discourse. And in them we may observe : 
 
 1. The crime for which this bitter curse is dencunced> 
 on the inhabitants of Meroz. Probably this was some 
 town or state in Israel, who being called to furnish their 
 ^uota of men and money for the war through fear of bad 
 success, and, in that case, of a heavier burden ; or from a 
 secret lurch to the enemy, arising from hope of Court pre- 
 ferment, or favors already bestowed on some of their lead- 
 ing men ; or frcm some other sinister motive, thought beat 
 to lie still, and not meddle in the quarrel. So much is cer- 
 tain ; they did not go with Barak to the war. The crime 
 they are charged with, i& not their aiding, assisting, or 
 furnishing the enemy, or holding a secret correspondence 
 with, or taking up urms to help them : They are not char- 
 ged OS laying plots to circumvent the rest, or striving to 
 iia-ouragc their neighbors from going to the waj j or as 
 
( / ) 
 
 ierrifying others with descriptions of the irrcsistable poire** 
 of Jabin's nine hundred chariots of iron^ and the like : No, 
 the inhabitants of Meroz were innocent people, compared 
 to these ; they were only negatively wicktd ; they on?y 
 failed in their duty ; they did not arni to recover their 
 liberties when wrested from them by the hand of tyranny. 
 This is all the fault charged on them ; vtit for this they in- 
 curt ed the fearful curse in my text. Now, if f:)r mere 
 negligtnce they deserved this curse, what must they have 
 deserved who aided and assibted the enemy ? surely a se- 
 ven-fold bitterer curse. 
 
 2. Observe the curse pronouncad : Curse ye Meroz^ 
 curse ye bitterly the i7ifiahitants thereof. Their conduct^ 
 on that occasion was such as deserved a seveie punish- 
 ment from the other States, who are commanded to stpa- 
 rate them unto evil, as a just re<vard of their negltct. 
 
 3. We observe by whom this curse was to be pronoun- 
 ced and inflicted. Not by Deborah nnd Barak alone, in a 
 Ht of anger ; as profane persons in a rage curse their neigh- 
 bors, and undertake to punish them ; such often pronounce 
 curses without cai^se ; but the curse causeless shall not 
 come. This curse was to be pronounced and inflicted by 
 all the people, who ire here required to be of one Keart, 
 & engage seriously, religiously Scdeterminately in cursing- 
 them, and as God's miniscers^ to execute h^s w'ath upon 
 (hern. We may no I suppose, that this work was left to 
 the people at large, or to a mcbj, but ihe rulers are first 
 to proceed against them, and all tne people to support and: 
 assist them in this work'; and so all were to join, as one 
 man, to curse them, and thatbitterly, i e. they were fully 
 and without hesitation to condemn them tosevtre punish- 
 ment, and inflict it on them. They were not to deal gin- 
 geily with them, nor palliate their ofi'ence. Thev are al- 
 lowed to make no excuses for them, nor to plead that they 
 were of a ditferent opinion, that they thought it their xiuty 
 not to take up arms against i^f'ir k'og that f uiedover thend, 
 but to submit to the higher powers ;. That, liberty of con- 
 science ought to be allowed to everv one, and that it would 
 be liBrd to punish them for acting their own judgments. 
 No such yleas roighv be made for them, nor one wprd 
 
C 8 ) 
 
 spoken in their favor^ their sin being against the great law 
 of love and light of nature, but all with full purpose of heart, 
 were to curse those cowardly, selfish, cringing, lukewarm, 
 half-way, two-face^ people, and to treat them as out-casts, 
 and unworthy the common protection or society of others. 
 
 4. Observe by whose command thev were required to 
 curse Merozi It was not by the command of Deborah 
 and Barak, but of God himself ; \eai by the command of 
 Jesub Christ, 'he meek and compassion'ite Saviour of men. 
 Curse ye Meroz sair^ the angel of the Lard This WaS the 
 Angel of God's presence, who then fought f©r Israel, and 
 who- was so offend c?d with the people of ' Meroz 
 for their selfishness and indifference in this important 
 cause; tliat he not only cursed them himself.but commands 
 all the people to cjrse thera, and inflict his wrath on them 
 jn this world. 
 
 5. Observe the circumstance which aggravated their 
 crime, v?z. the enemv that enslaved them was mighty. 
 Had the foe been weak and contemptible, there had been 
 less ntsd of their help. But when a powerful tyrant op- 
 presfed them, and they were called upon to unite with their 
 suffering brethren in shaking off his yoke, and all their 
 3ti'eng»h little enough lo oppose him, then to excusethem- 
 selres, wa$ highly criminal, and in effect to join with the 
 tyrant to rivet slavery and misery on the whole nation. 
 This was highlv provoking to God, whose great end is to 
 diffuse happiness, and not misety, among his creatures, 
 and never punishes, but when his subjects oppose this 
 design. 
 
 This was the crisis when their all lay at stake, They^ 
 ifftW knew that their brethren (however they themselves 
 might be distinguished with court favours by the tvrant) 
 "were groaning under cruel bordage : But as selfishness 
 Tenders people callous and unfeeling to the distresses of 
 others, so they were easy and satisfied to see their breth- 
 ren tortured by the unielenting Hand of oppression, if so 
 be they might sleep in a whole skm. They were content- 
 ed others should go forth and endure the hardships of war, 
 bur refused to engage in the work or bear any pare of the 
 burden with ihem, though all was hazarded through iWa 
 
r 9 > 
 
 neglect. How base was this conduct, wKile tliey knew 
 the strength of th<i enemv ?, This consideration was enough 
 to have engag-^d tvery one, not lost to all the feelings of 
 humanity, to the firmest union, and the most^vigorous ex- 
 ertions. But these servile wretches would rather bear the 
 yoke, and see thie whole land involved in slavery, than enter 
 the field,and share the glory of regaining their freedcfm fi ona 
 a powerful foe. They preferred their present ease, or 
 some court favors, with chains and slavery, to the glorious 
 freedom they were born to rnjoy. 
 
 From ihis view of the text and cbntest, we may deduce 
 the following doctrinal cbs: rvations. 
 
 I That the cause of Liberty is the cause of God and^ 
 truth.. 
 
 II. Thit to take arms and repel force by force, when 
 our Liberties are invaded, is well pleasing to God. 
 
 III. That it is lawful to levy war against those who op- 
 press us, even whfn they are not in arms agiiiist us. 
 
 IV. That indolence and backwardness in taking arras, 
 and exerting ourselves in the seivice of out Country, u'hen 
 called thereto bv the public voice, in order to recover and 
 Secure our freedom, is an heinous sin in the sight of God. 
 
 V. That God requires a prople, struggling for their 
 Liberties, to treat such of the contmuniiv who will not 
 join them, as open enemies, and to reject them as unwor- 
 thy the privileges which others enjoy. 
 
 I, T<ie cau^e of ficedom is the cause of God. To cpea 
 tliis, I will enquire 
 
 1. What we are to uftderstand by Libertv, or freedomi 
 and then 2d, prove that this ts the cause of God. 
 
 I. What is mi;ant by Liberty or Freedom ? 
 
 I* is bufRcient to ray present purpose, to distinguisb- 
 Liberty, into dfora/, Natural:, and CivtL 
 
 Mor.d Liberty lies in an ability or opportunity to act or 
 cOi.duct as the agent pleases- 
 
 lle th It is not hindere^y aoy external f rce from act-t 
 rng as hvi chuses or wdls to act, is perfictlv free in a Mo- 
 ral sense ; and so far as he possesses this freedom, so far, 
 and no farther is he a Moral, accou,:table creature, and 
 bis actions worthy ot praise or biaiue. 
 
(■ m ) ' 
 
 Bv naturaVLiberty I mean, that freedom of action and 
 conciact which all men have a right to, antecedent to their 
 I,, in- members of society. This, Mr. Locke defines to 
 be ^- that state or conclhion in \yhich all men naturally are 
 to order all their actions, and dispose of themselves and 
 possessions as -heN think fit, within the bounds of the law 
 of nature, without asking leave, or depending on the wiU 
 cf any man." In this state all men are eq;jal, and no one 
 h.th a righc to govtrn or controul another : Anathelav/ 
 of natur?, or the eternal reason and fitness o. things, is to 
 be the only rule of his conduct;, of the meanihg of wmch, 
 everv one is to be his own judge. _ 
 
 But since the corruption ol nature by s.n, the lusts ?.nd 
 passions of men sa blind their minds, and harden th.ir 
 hearts, that this perfect law of love is Imle considered 
 and less practised ; so that a state of nature which would 
 have been a stme of perfect freedom and happiness had 
 man continued in his first rectitude, is a state of war, ra- 
 Tine and murder. Hence arises an absolute necessity 
 r.t soc'cties should form themselves into politic bodies 
 n order to enact laws for the public safety and appoint 
 some to put them in execution, that the good may be en- 
 Touragel, and the vicious deterred from evil practices: 
 And these la.vs should always be founded on the law of 
 
 ""'n^nce it appears, that perfect civil Liberty differs from 
 ratural only in this, that in a natural state our actions, 
 ;" -".s a^d ospessions. are under ^^e direction, ;udg.^.t 
 and controul of none but ourselves ; but in a civil state 
 urderThe directiouof others, according to the laws of ,haC 
 unaer lacu.icv, , , ^ supposition, are 
 
 state in which we live ; whicn, uy lu^ i ^ . 
 
 ^rfectly agreeable to the l?w of nature. In the first case^, 
 S va e ucLment ; in the second, the public judgment of 
 ZZlTo'f thela; of n.ture is to be th. rule of -nc uc^^^^ 
 When this is the case, civil Liberty is P^'^'^'^ ^^^^^'^'^ 
 oneenioys all that freedon. which G^de.^^^^^^ 
 tionaV creatures m a social st<.te. AH Jio^riy y 
 U mere licentiousness, a Ubcrty to sin, which ^^ .te w°^a 
 ol Savery. But when any law« are enacted ^hich c^oss. 
 1 1^ if nature, there civil Liberty i. luvaded, and Goi 
 
< tl ) 
 
 an3 man justV offendad. Therefore when those appoint^ 
 ed to enact and execute laws, invade this Liberty, they vi- 
 olate their trust, and oppress their subjects, and their cdn- 
 stituents may lawfuHy depose them by force of arms, if 
 they refuse to reform. 
 
 Now if it be unlawful for magistrates in a State, to bin^ 
 their subjects bv laws contrary to the law of nature, ond ^|^, 
 in this case it is lawful for their subjects to depose them ; 
 it follows, a fortiori, that should the rulers of one State 
 assume a power to bind the people of another State, who 
 never intrusted them with a legislative power, by such un- 
 righteous laws, those oppressed people would be under no 
 kind of obligation to submit to them ; but ought, if ir their 
 p®^wer, to oppose them and recover their Liberty. There- 
 ifore the freedom of a society or state consists in acting 
 according to their own choice, within the bounds of the 
 law of natUJ.e, in governing themselye". independent of all 
 other states. This is the Liberty wherewith God hath 
 made every state free, and which no power on earth may 
 lawfully abridge, but by their own consent ; Nor can they 
 lawfully consent to have it abridged, but where it appears 
 for the greater good of society in general : And when this 
 end catinot be attained, they have a right to resume their 
 former freedom, if in their power. I proceed— - 
 
 II. To prove that the cause of civil Liberty is the 
 cause of God. 
 
 This follows from what hath been now said. For if the 
 law of nature is the law of God ; and if God hath given 
 every society or State, liberty, independent of all other 
 States, to act according to their own choice in governing 
 themselves, within the bounds of the law of nature ; then 
 it follows, that this freedom is of God; and he that is an 
 advocate for it, espouses the cause of God ; and he that 
 opposes it, opposes God himself. This Liberty hath God . 
 not on!y given, b«t entailed on all men ; so that they can- 
 not resign it to any creature without sin. Therefore 
 should any State, through fear, resign this fret- dom to any 
 oihej power, it would be offensive to God. Thus, had 
 An.erica submitted to, and acquiesced in the declaration 
 -ef the British Pariianftent, *' That they ttave a right to bind 
 
{ 12 ) 
 
 ^s in all *' cases wTiatsoever," ive should have greatly pro* 
 voiced God, bv granting that prerogative to men, which 
 belongs to God onlv : Nor could we have had reason to 
 •hope for pardon and the Divine favour on our land, with- 
 out unfeigned repentance : But as repentance implies a 
 change of conduct, as well as of mind, so we must hive 
 exerted ourselves to undo what we had done, and by eve- 
 ry method ia our power, to cast off the chains, and resume 
 «)ur Liberty,: 
 
 But to Leave the dim light of reason, let us hear what 
 Divine revelation says in my text and context* 
 
 Israel were a free, independent commonweftlth, plant- 
 ed by God in Canaan, in much the same manner that he 
 planted us in America. The nations around always view- 
 ed them with an envious and jealuus eye : As well they 
 -might, since they drove out s°ven nations more powerful 
 than themselves, and possessed th* ir land. Rut when by 
 their grievous sins they provdk H God, he often^^ermiued 
 those neighbouring nations to inv^tde theirYights, that they 
 might be brought to a sense of their sin and duty. 
 
 Jabin the king of Canaan, one of those States, was God's 
 rod to humble them. Ht invf^d^d Israel, ntbbed them of 
 their rights, and held them in slavery twenty years : In 
 all tvhich he acted the part of a crurl tvrant, and provi k- 
 ed God, to his own destrucion. Jubin had lortg ruled 
 over Israel ; but ihis gave him no right : His dominion 
 was still mere usurpation, as he robbed them of the Lib- 
 erty God had given them ; And with a single view to n— 
 cover this and punish ihe'invuder. (^od commanded them 
 to wage war on the tyiaut, and sh ke f ff his yoke. They 
 obey the Divine mandate, assemble ih^-^ir torct-s, cal! on 
 the various States to join thc;m in the glorious conflict c 
 And God bimstlf curses those who would not assist to 
 punish this oppressor. 
 
 No doubt J.ibin called this Rebellion, and made proc- 
 lamiticti that all who wctt found in arms, or any way aid- 
 ing the revolt, should be deemed ; nd created as reb- Is, 
 and their I states confiscated ; but th.u al' who would in ke 
 their submissi-ns, should frjoy all their p'-i\i!fgs. a» 
 before, at his sovereign disposal* A glorious offer I How 
 
( 13 > 
 
 "Worthy the jo5fal and thankful acceptance of men born to 
 freedom ! Rather, where's the wretch so sordid as not to 
 feel this as an insult to human nature ? or where's the 
 chtirtian that does not view it as a reproach of his God ? 
 and who will not, with good KeZiekiah, spread before the 
 Lord, iu humble prayer, the words of this Rabshekah, 
 published to reproach our God, as unable to defend us, 
 though engaged in his cause ? Or where is the man, so 
 lost to all noble and generous feeling, that would not chuse 
 to die in the field of martial glory- rather than accept such 
 insulting terms of peace, or rather of misery ; to live and 
 see himself, hisfriends, his wife, children and country, 
 subjugated to the arbitrary will and disposal of a merciless 
 tyrant ? 
 
 Cut doubtless these inviting, gracious terms of peace, 
 had great influence on some. The inhabitants of Meroz 
 seem to have been such dastardly, low-spirited, court sy- 
 cophants ; and also many in the tribe of Reuben, lor 
 whose divisions there were great searchings of heart. 
 These probably trembled at the power of Jabin, Sc thought 
 him invincible, though opposing God hiirself, whose cause 
 they were called to t-spouse. Some might call the war re- 
 bellion, and others, by open or secret practises, discour- 
 age and weaken the cause. 
 
 This is very applicable to our present case. We are 
 declared rebels by the king of England : His servants of- 
 fei- pardon to all who will lay themselves at his feet to dis- 
 pose of as he shall see fit, and ' to bind them, their children 
 and estates, at his pleasure, in all cases Av^hatsoever.' What 
 gracious terms of peace ! Must not this yoke sit with pe- 
 culiar ease and pleasure on the ne:ks of free-born Ame- 
 ricans ! Yet, with horror be it spoken, there are free- 
 born sons of America, so lost to all sense of honor, Liber- 
 ty, and every noble feeling, as to join the cry, and press 
 for submission. O tell it not in Gath, publish it not in 
 the streets of Ashkelon. 
 
 We have some, but blessed be God that we have no 
 more, of the inhabitants of Mercz scattered among us j 
 some whose eiidetivours to divide us, cause great search- 
 ings of heart. But be it known to them, and to all men, 
 B 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 that they, aa Metcz, are fighting against God. This as- 
 sertion is confirmed by the curse denounced on dieroz by 
 God^s comnaand ; for had they not opposed him, he would 
 iiot have cursed them. They then were the rebels, in the 
 judgment of God, and not those who took up arms to re- 
 cover their liberties : Rebels against the God of Heaven ; 
 and therefore fell under his, and his people's curse ; as 
 all those shall, who oppose, or neglect to promote the like 
 glorious cause. 
 
 From what hath been said, the tiuth of the second ob- 
 servation appears ; viz, 
 
 11.^ That to take arms, and repel force by force, when 
 our Liberties are invaded, is well pleasing to God. 
 
 This is a natural concequence from what is said above, 
 and from the text itself. Deborah and Barak, io taking 
 arms against Jabin, acted agreeable to the law of nature, 
 which is the law of love ; were also particular'A' excited, 
 c'irectfd and commanded thereto b)' God himaelf. They 
 did not by this war aim at dominion over others, nor seek 
 to deprive any of their natural rights ; but only to recover 
 and secure the Liberties and rights which had been v/rest- 
 ed from them ; that they might thereby spread peace and 
 happiness through all the tribes of Israel ; while the real 
 happineas of others would 'not thereby be diminished. 
 This, by the l:iw of nature, was sufficient to justify them. 
 If then ihev conformed to the law of love in taking.. up 
 arms ; and if God required them to make war on Jabin ; 
 then it was undeniably pleasing to him. But if God ap- 
 proved their conduct in this case, he sertainly will approve 
 thi li!:e conduct in all'similar cases. Therefore when one 
 country or State invades the liberties of aaother ; it is 
 lawful and well pleasing to God for the oppressed to defend 
 their rights by force of artns : Yea. to neglect this, when 
 there is a rational prospect of suxcess, is a sin , a sin against 
 God, and discovers a want of that benevolence, and de- 
 ire of the happiness of our fellov/ creatures, which is the 
 shighest glory of the saints. 
 
 I ut^ed not spend time to prove that our struggle with 
 (ireat Britain is very similar to that of Israel with Jabin. 
 As they hid, so have we been long oppressed by a power 
 
( is ) 
 
 that never had any equitable right to our land, or to rule 
 ever us, but by our own consent, and ag/eeable to a scipma 
 con^pact. When they violated, this, r.ll their right ceaseil ; 
 and they could have no better claim to dominion, thfin Ja- 
 bin hid over Israel. A power indeed has been usurped 
 by the Court of Great Br'tain, "to bind us in, all cases 
 whatsoever :'' Which claim hath already produced many 
 most unrighteous and oppressive laws, which they hm 3 
 attempted to enforce by their fleets and t.rmies : In ail 
 which they can be no more justified, than Jabiu in his ty- 
 rannv over Israel. Therefore if it was their duty to fight 
 for the recovery of their freedom, it must likewise be ours. 
 And to neglect this, when called to it bv the public voice, 
 will expose us to the curse of 31eroz. Yea, 
 
 lil. It is lawful, yei duty, to levy war against those 
 who oppress us, even when they are not in arms against 
 us, if there be a rational probability of success. 
 
 I say, if there be a rational probability of success Fot 
 the law of love or nature will not justify opposition to the 
 greatest oppression, when such opposition must be attend- 
 ed with greater evils than submission. Therefore tiie 
 primitive christians, and manv of later ages, did not op^ 
 pose their cruel persecutors ; as it would, v/ithout a mir- 
 acle, have brought on them inevitable destruction. Bui 
 where there is a ratiotial probaI)ility of success, any peo- 
 ple may lawtuUy, and it is their duty, to levy war, on those 
 who rob them of their rights, whether they be rulers in 
 the St;Ue they live in, or any more distant powers, even 
 before war is wajved against them 
 
 The truth of this appears from the instance before ns. 
 Jabin, at this time, wa^? not at war with Isiael : no, they 
 had been conquered and under his government iweruy 
 years ; and nothing was heard, but the groans and cries 
 of the oppressed. How, then, it may be* asked, can they 
 be justified in commencing a war ? Doubtless they had 
 often petuio.ied for redress of grievances, as we have 
 done, and to as little purpose What more could they do 
 in a peaceable way ? — They were reduced to the dread- 
 ful alternative, either tamely to subtnit themselves and 
 children after them, to (he galling yoke of merciless ty- 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 ranny ; or wage wa»- on the tyrant. The last was the mea- 
 sure God approved, and therefore, by a special command, 
 enjoined it on them. This we are sure he would not have 
 -done, had it been offensive to him. He did not require 
 Israel to wait till Jabin had invaded their country, and 
 struck the first blow, (as we did in respect to our British 
 oppressors) but while all was peace in his kingdom, for 
 ought v/e find, God commands Israel to raise an army, 
 and invade the tyrant's dominions. 
 
 The moral reason of this is obvious :■ For usurpation 
 or oppressio.i, is offensive war, already levied. Any Stale 
 which usurps a power over another State, or rulers who, 
 by a wanton use of their power, oppress their subjects, 
 do the) eby break the peace, and commence an offensive 
 war. In such a case opposition is mere self defence, and. 
 is no more criminal, yea as rerdly our duty, as to defend. 
 ourselves against a murderer, or highway robber. Self- 
 preservation is an instinct, by God, implanted in our na- 
 ture ; Therefore we sin against God and nature, when 
 we tamely resign our rights to tyrants, or quietly submit 
 to public oppressors, if it be in our power to defend our- 
 selves. 
 
 A rebel indeed is a monster rn nature ; an enemy, not 
 only to his country, but to all mankind : He is destitute 
 of that benevolence which is the highest honor and glory 
 of the rational nature. But what is a rebel ? ^Vhat those 
 actions for which a man or people deserve this opprobri- 
 ous charge ? Those only are rebels who are enemies to 
 good government, and oppose such as duly execute it* 
 A state of nature is a state of war. Civil government, 
 which is founded in the consent of society to be governed 
 by certain laws framed for the geaieral good, and duly ex- 
 ecuted by some appointed thereto, puts an end to this 
 state, and secures peace and safety. He therefore, wha 
 transgresses this compact, even he opposes good govern- 
 ment, and is a rtbul^ rebellaty he raises war again. 
 
 In this, it matters not whether the person be a king or 
 a subject ; he is the rebel thatJbrEaks the compact, he re- 
 news the v/ar, and is the aggressor : And every member 
 of the body-politic is bound, by the eternal law of Uenevc- 
 
( tr ) 
 
 lence. to set himself against him, and if he persists, the 
 whole must unite to root him from the earth, wht ther he 
 be high or low, rich or poor a king or a subjt-ct. The 
 latter indeed less deserves it, by how much less mischief 
 he is capable of doing. But when a king or ruler turns 
 rebel (which is vastly more fftquent in proportion to thtir 
 numbers) being armed with power, he ever spreads des- 
 olation and misery around his dominions, before he can 
 be regularly and properly punished ; and thrrefore is- pro- 
 portionably higher in ;^uilt : Witness Pharaoh, Saul, 
 Munasseh^ Antiochiis yiilion, Charles the First, of bles- 
 sed memory, and G^^fjr^^ the Third, who vies with the 
 chief in this black catalogue, in spreading misery and ruia 
 round the world. 
 
 The ruler who invades the civil or religioiis rights of 
 his subjects, levies waron them, puts them out of his pro- 
 tection, and dissolves all their iallegiance to him : For al- 
 legiance and protection ar^reciprocal, and where one is 
 denied the oth( r must cease. 
 
 If these obseivations are true (and thev cann^ be de- 
 nied with modrsty) then it is as lawful, -and as strongly 
 our dutv to prosecute a war agdnst the king of England 
 for invading our rights and liberties, as to bring an oNsti- 
 nrjte rebel to justice, or t.ke arms against some for< ign 
 pfwer thit might invade us. Oppression alone, if per- 
 sisted in, justifies the oppressed in making war on the op- 
 pressors ; whether they be rulers or private persons, in 
 our own or a foreign State. The reason is,' because op- 
 pressors are enemies to thp great law of nature, and to the 
 happiness of mankind. For this, God commands d Israel 
 to commence a war against Jabin, that, being free from 
 his po\trer, happiness and peace might be restored. 
 
 In our contest with the tyrant of Great Bri'ain, we did 
 not indeed commence the war : No ; But tho' under a 
 load of almost insupportable insult, abuse and reprosich, 
 we raised our huml)le and. e;'rnest petitions, and praved 
 only for Peace, Libertv and Safety, the natural rights of 
 all men. But be astonished, O Htavens ! luid tremble O 
 England ! While our dutiful supplication.s ascended be- 
 fore the throne, the monster was meditating ihe blow;' 
 3 2 
 
( ^8 ) 
 
 and e'er we rose from our knees, he fixed his daggej^ ?i5 
 our heart ! If this is to be a father, where can be the 
 monster? If this be the excuse of lenity and mercy, as 
 he vainly boasts, what must be his acts of justice ? O mer- 
 ciful God, look down and behold our distress, and avenge 
 ^us of our cruel foe, — —Can we reflect on those scenes of 
 slaughter and desolation which he hath spread before our 
 eyes, and doubt of our duty ? Is it any longer a scruple 
 whether God calls us to war ? If such insults and abuse 
 will not justify us, no abuses ever can. Yea, had George 
 withheld his hand from shedding our blood, the grievous 
 oppressions we groaned under before, and the contempt 
 and insult with which he treated our petitions, were fully 
 sufficient to justify us in the sight of God and all wise 
 men, had we began the war, and expelled hi$ troops from 
 our country "by fire and sword "Is it possible that Jabiii 
 could treat Israel with greater insult, or more unjustly in- 
 vade their rights ? But for this God commanded Israel 
 to make war on him, and pronounces a heav}' curse off 
 those vrho refused to join in carrying it on. I'his leads 
 me to shew, 
 
 IV. That those who are indolent, and backward to 
 take up arms and exert themselves in the service of 
 \he\r country, in order to recover and secure their free- 
 dom, when called thereto by the public voice, are high- 
 ly criminal in the sight of God and man. 
 This doctrine is wrapt up in the very bowels of my text. 
 Curse ye 3feroz said the Angel of the Lord, cKrse ye bit' 
 terly the inhabitants thereof^ because they came not to the 
 help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. 
 The curse of God falls on none but for -^in ; for he delights 
 in blessing, and not in cursing And he never permits 
 any of his subjects to execute his curses on their fellow 
 subjects, but v/here the crime is high y aggravated ; much 
 less does he allow themto curse them bitterly, unless their 
 guilt is exceeding: great. Now smce God commands Israel 
 :o curse Meroz bitterly, we fairly infer, that their sin 
 Was of. a crimson dye, and most piovoking to him and 
 his people. And whoever is guiltv of ihelike conduct in 
 *>ur contest with Great Britain, incurs the like guilt. 
 
"This needs r.o further proof. For if It be :.IIov;/e(t, in: i. 
 ttie s^ate of the case between Great Bi'itaiu ao-ti Ameiicn, 
 is, in its main parts, parallel with that b'etv/een Jabin nnd 
 Israel, as hath been sher/n, then the ciimt? is as heinous 
 in this struggle as in that. And as Israel were required to 
 curse bitterly those cowardly, selfish, half-way people, so 
 are \ve to curse the like characters at this day. And as those 
 people, for their neglect, exposed thernseivcs to the loss of 
 all the privileges and blessings of a free State in this world, 
 and to the eternal vengeance of God in the next ; so it high- 
 Iv concerns all to take heed that they do not fall under th'j 
 same condemnation.- That we may avoid Ut* fock oi:^ 
 which they were lost, I will, 
 
 I. Give their charaoVcf. 
 
 II. Mention sQ^ne aggravations of their sin. 
 
 I. I will h'nt rtt Some things which discover people to 
 be like the inhabitants of Meroz. 
 
 Few, I fear, are perfectly clear in this matter : Alas^ 
 there is too great negligence among pecple in general. ^-- 
 Private interests and selfish considerations, ingross the 
 thoughts and cares of many who wish well to the cause 
 of Liberty, and divert their attention and exertions from; 
 the main thing which calls for our first and chief regard, 
 viz. the defence of our country from tyranny, and se- 
 curing our civil and religious freedom. It is mournful 
 :o see most nien eagerly pursuing worldly gain, and heap- ' 
 ing up unrighteous mammon by cruel oppression and 
 grinding the facts of the poor ; while our country lies 
 bleedingof her wounds, and so few engaged to bind them 
 uo. Let such consider, that they are guilty of the sin of 
 Mevoz, and tho' thev rhay not feel the curse of men in 
 this world, they shall not, without sincere repentance, es- 
 cape the wrath and curse of God in the world tocotne. Kv- 
 "V^ cry one is called, at this day. to come to the help of the Lord 
 against the mighty ; either to go out to war, or in some 
 way vigorously exert himself for the public good. There 
 are various things necessary for the defence ot our coun~ 
 tr\' besides beariRg arms, tho' this is the chief; and all 
 m-iy, one way or other, put to a helping hand. There 
 ar t various arts and manufactures eSsential to th'-- support 
 of the inhabitants and army, without which we must soon 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 he ot^ercome t In one or other of tliesj, men ancL^omen, 
 youth, and even chilrjren, may be employed, and as essen- 
 tiallvhelp'n the deliverance of their country, as those m ho 
 go out to war. All are now called to more than ordinary 
 frugality and diligence in th.-ir respective callings ; and 
 those of ability should be liberal and forward to encourige 
 m.inufaf tures for the pulilic good. But alas, that so few 
 make the interest and welfare of .the public the main ob- 
 ject of their pursuit. Yet there are some, and I hope 
 many, who wi'h truth can say, they h u-e done their best, 
 according to their circumstances, for the defence and 
 safely of their country. Such, however the contest may 
 . issue, will erijov the i^pprobation of God^ their own con- 
 sciences, :md of all the friends of mankind. 
 
 But not to make our case appear better than it really is ; 
 I fear there are many among uj, in one disguise or other, 
 who, when siript of their viz irds will appear to be o<"the^ 
 inhabitants of Rieroz ; and who, if their characters were : 
 justly drawn. w^ouM secreiJv , if not openly say, as the 
 Ph uisees in another case In saying this, thou refirooch- 
 est us also. But us birds which are hit, show it by their 
 fiutteringi and it may .serve to bring such contemptible 
 characters to \!jifw. and expose them to the cutse ihey de- 
 Scrvv; and on the other hand, may ccnvince some real 
 frii nds to freedom <'f their sinful negligence in the com- 
 mon cause, I will venture to point out a few. 
 
 Among these characters I do not include such as aid, 
 or in words or actions defend, or openb declare for the 
 cnernv, and plead the right of Great-Britain "to bind us 
 in all pases whatsoever Of such there are not many 
 among us ; owing probably to iheir fear of a vast major- 
 ity, which is on the side of freedom ; and therefore they 
 put on the guise of iriendship, while they endeavour se- 
 cretly to work destruction to the cause. These may be 
 knov^n by the following marks. 
 
 1. Observe the m^n who will neither go himself, nor 
 contribute of his substance (if able) to encourage others 
 to go into the war. Such do what in them lays to break 
 Up the arm\ : These incur the curse of Meroz. 
 
 2. Others will express wishes for our success, but will 
 
C 2i ) 
 
 be sure to back tl^crr, with doubts of the event, ^n^ ^ea^^ 
 of ! heavier yoke. You may hear them frequently mag- 
 n ft Se power of the enemy, and telUng ot the mn. 
 l^^M^^ar lots cf Iron; the dreadful tram of artdlery, 
 a dihe good discipline of the Brilish t^oops-Of the m- 
 tolerab!c\ardslnps the soldiers undergo, and the =tarv ng 
 condit on of their families at home : And by a thousand 
 such ar°s endeavouring to discourage the people from the 
 
 war 
 
 3 There are other pretended f-irnds whose counten= 
 Jc'e bewruvs them. When things go iU with-our army, 
 thev appear with a cheerful countenance, and assume airs 
 ofTmpona;ce, and vou'll see the Core holding conferen^ 
 c s^one corner or'another. The joy o the ir hearts oa 
 
 Occasions , will break t W all ,^-g-!-' ^ t^;-J :; 
 ver their real sentiments ; while their gnef and long tace. 
 In a reverse of fortune, is a plain uidex pomting to the 
 end at which they really aim. .„ c i o~ 
 
 4 Others, who talk much for liberty, you will find eve. 
 opposing the measures of defence proposed ; making ob- 
 Sections to them, and shewing their inconsistency ;whde 
 ihev offer none in th.ir steacl. or oaly sucn ..s tend to em. 
 bar'rass the main design : They are so prudent that tliev 
 waste away days, yea months to consider ; .rad are ever 
 full of their wise cautions, but never zealous to execute 
 any important project; When such men get into subhc 
 stations ; especially if they fill a -eat in our pubhe coun- 
 cils, they greatly endanger the State i they protract busi- 
 
 Tuess, and often defeat the best councils. Pruaence aud 
 moderation are amiable virtues, and the modest mmd 
 feels pain on being suspected as sanguine, rash and mi- 
 prudent. This gives the over prudent great advantage 
 ID obstruct every vigorous measure, which they brand 
 with the name ofrashness : And every friend to vigorous 
 action feels the reflectico, who, without great fortitude, 
 sits down abashed, and with grief sees his counsels de- 
 feated. But if the measure be adopted, the i^ext motion 
 of the prudent man is, to delay the execution, that 
 the happy moment, on which all depends, may be lost. 
 These over aud over prudent men ought to be suspected^ 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 5. Some ar= discovered by the cortipanv they keeD - 
 Yo. may find them often vvl.h those who Lvelive?," 
 much reason tu suspect their enmity to our cause 4' 
 rarely vv.th the zealous friends of liberty, except bv'acii" 
 dent ,. and then they speak and act like'creatures out < f 
 thejr element, and soon leave fh..r>^m,>-, ^luics oui cf 
 Tvhen Jtberty is the subject ofdiscou.se " 
 
 6. J here ate others who in heart wish well tn our 
 cause, but .hroush fear of the power of our enenies 
 hey are backward to join vigorously to support it ;Th 5 
 
 shS nT """ '^■^^' '"."*^'^^' ^^' '^'y d^^'d the hard- 
 ships of a campa.gu, and choose so to' condocr. that on 
 whoever s.de victory may declare, they may be safe. , 
 
 r. Others wish well to the public cause,' but have a 
 m^ch greater value for their ow'n private and personaliu! ' 
 
 • cro-.;.V ^' '"'^'^^ '■"' °^ ^'^'''y> t'^J her cause 
 Cio.s.s tbe.r pnvate views, and even then they boast in 
 her name, while like Georg. 3d. they stab her To the 
 heart, by .efusmg submission to those regulations which 
 =. w w;>3w.iuai to ner preservation. 
 
 All these, and many others of the ^ like kind, miffht 
 doubtless have been found m Meroz, and yet the best of 
 them all fell under this bitter curse : For whatever were 
 their pnvate sentiments, they all led to the ishue, viz. to 
 keep them back from those vigorous efforts that the cause ■ 
 ot liberty then required, and for want of which it was greatly ■ 
 hazarded. And whatever motives influence men at this day 
 whether a desire of ease, hope of pow.:, honor or we .uh ; 
 It they do any thing against, or negect to assist all in 
 their power, the gloiious cause of irecdom, now in our - 
 hands, they m a greater or less degree, incur the curse of 
 Meroz. No-.r, ,t ^ver, is that text to b. applied to su- h 
 Cursec/ he he tkat doth the toork of the Lord deceitfui'u ] 
 and cursed be he that holdeth back his sxvord from blood 
 This Iciads me 
 
 II. To mention some aggravations of this sm. 
 
 t. This conduct is a violation of the law ef sature. 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 which requires all to exert themsetvea to promote happi- 
 ness among mankirid. Love k the fulfilling of the law, 
 but this implies a benevolent frame of heart, exercised in 
 beneficent actions towards all men, as we have opportu- 
 nity. When therefore we see our fellovz-creatures, es- 
 pecially our friends and brethren, whose happiness ia 
 more immediately our care, reduced to a state of misery, 
 robbed of their most dear and unalienable rights, and 
 borne down with a heavy load of oppression and abuse by 
 the hands of tyrants j this law requires us to stand forth 
 in their defence, even though we are not involved with 
 ihem in the same evils, and how much more when our 
 own happiness is equally concerned ? The man who cau 
 stand by an idle spectator, when a murderer or robber 
 assrtuUs his brother, and not exert himself in his defence, 
 is deservedly accounted aa criminal, in law and reason, 
 £s the murderer or robber himself, and is exposed to the 
 same punishment. Inactivity in such a case, is justly es- 
 teemed an approbation of the crime. But as freedom is 
 an inheritance entailed on all men, so whosoever invades 
 it, robs mankind of their rights, endeavcr& te spread mis- 
 ery among God'screatures. and violates the i;iw of nature, 
 and all who refuse to oppose him, when in their power, 
 are to be considered and n-eated as confederates and a." 
 Ijettors of his conduct, and partakers in his crimes. 
 
 2. This sin is against posterity. Our children after 
 us must reap the fruit of our present conduct. If we 
 ^pobly resist the oppressor, we shall, under God, deliver 
 them from his galling yoke ; at least shall avoid the guilt 
 of riveting it on them. But i! we bow tamely to have it 
 fastened on our necks, unborn generations through un- 
 known centuries may never be able tc shake it off; but 
 must waste awa}' a wretched existence in this world, with- 
 '\)ut any other claim to the fruit of their labors, or even 
 to the dear pledges of covijugai love, the fruit of their own 
 bodies, than such as depends oa the uacoairouled will of 
 an haughty tyrant. 
 
 Let us for a moment glnnce an e)'e on the next and 
 succeeding generations. What a scene opans to view ! 
 Behold these delightful and stately mansions for whica 
 
' < 24 ) 
 
 "i^v^e labored, possessed by the minions of power : See 3 oi> 
 der spacious fields, subdued to fruitfulness by the sweat 
 and toil of our fathers or ourselves, yielding their in- 
 crease to clothe, pamper and enrich the tyrant's favorites, 
 who are base enough to assist him in his cursed plots to- 
 
 enslave lis. Does this roitse your resentment? — Stop 
 
 a moment, and I'll show you a spectacle more shocking 
 than this. ^-^Hiat meagre visages do I see in yonder 
 field, toiling and covered with sweat, to cultivate the soil ? 
 Who are those in rags, bearing burdens, toiling for these 
 liaughty lords, and then cringing to obtain irom.thein. 
 that veiy gift which God had so generously bestowed en 
 them when he gave th«;m this land for an inheritance. — 
 All these auu man}' other troubles of the same nature will 
 come upon us, and the curse of Meroz rest upon us, if 
 ■we resign-ihe patrimony, so dearly bought by our fathers, 
 and entailed to us by their will, living and dying. Shall 
 we resign this patrimony to ihatt3aant power, which drove 
 thena from their native land to this, then howling wilder- 
 ness ? Shall we bow our necks to the yoke which thev, 
 though few in number, nobly cast off? — Should our fath- 
 ers rise from their graves, they would^disown such chil- 
 dren, and repent their care and toil for such degenerate 
 sons. 
 
 ,/ How provoking then in the sight of God and man is it 
 to see some quite unconcerned for the good of the public, 
 rolling in ease, amassing wealth to themselves, and slyly 
 plotting to assist our e^-emies in their murderous designs ; 
 while others endure the fatigues of war, and hazard all 
 that's dear to secure the peace, liberty, and safety of the 
 ^ whole ? 
 
 May we not suppose that the Curse of Mervz consisted 
 in these things ? 
 
 1. That they should be deprived of that dtlightful free- 
 dom and liberty, Israel had regained from the tyi^cnny of 
 Jabin. As these wretches discovered their servile tem- 
 per in reiusing to exert themselves for the recovery of 
 their liberty, why should they not be condemned to the 
 slavery they chose ? Jabin (like George) probably claim- 
 ed a right to lay any taxes on them he pleased, and '* to 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 bind tbem in all cases whatsoever ;" and they, rather than 
 jeopard their lives in defence of t.heir rights, tamely 
 submitted to his demands. Well, since this was their 
 choice, why should it now be ^lenied them ? Let them 
 be taxed at the sovereign will of the other States, with- 
 out allowing them any representation. Since they loved, 
 and sought to involve all Israel with themselves in slave- 
 ry, they should have it from the rest, and receive but the 
 just revyard of their conduct. With what face could they 
 complain of such treatment, since they chose to submit to 
 the same from Jabin ? The change of masters made no 
 change in the task ; and if they preferred slavery then, 
 rather than fight for their liberties, let them have it now, 
 since they would do nothing to regain them. 
 
 Why may we not suppose that they were deprived of 
 ' their estates, and reduced at least to a state of tenantage 
 at will ? They had implicitly joined with the enemy, by 
 which they put to hazard every dear and valuable enjoy- 
 ment of the whole nation. Through their neglect all 
 might have been lost : And their fault was not the less, 
 because victory declared for Israel ; and all their posses- 
 sions could never countervail the damag(^ their conduct 
 had exposed the nation to. 
 
 The application of this to our times is easy. The pres- 
 ent war, 'tis probable, had never been commenced, had 
 none oi the inhabitants of Meroz been in our land ; or if 
 began, could not have been carried on to this day. Oa 
 them, therefore, as the confederates, abettors and sup- 
 porters of the tyrant, lies the, guilt of this war . And as 
 thev are partners with hira in the sin, so ihey ought lo be 
 nwolved in the punishment he deserves. If it is lawful 
 to deprive the inhabitants of Great Britain of their prop- 
 erty, vhen in our power, and convert it to our use ; if this 
 be a just retaliation for the injury they have done us, and 
 all too httle to countervail the damage ; much more the in- 
 terest of those who live among us, and yet assist the cue- 
 my in their cruel designs, ought to ht confiscated for the 
 service ol the public, by how much more mischief they 
 have done and are capable of doing these States, and by 
 now much gieatf;r their sin. 
 
 C 
 
' ( 26 ) 
 
 I can't but think it would have been happy for tliesc 
 States, had our rulers, longe're now, declared that all who 
 should be found any way aiding and assisting the enemy, 
 or holding a correspondenc ' with them, should be deemed 
 enemies to th^e States, and forieit all their estates at 
 leasts Yea, 
 
 3. As the curse of MeroZ( no doubt, extended to a de- 
 priving the inhabitants ot a capacity to enjoy any place g£ 
 honor in government, and the ordinary privileges of free- 
 men ; and also inflicted some corporal punishment at least 
 on their principal leaders : So the like charr.cters among 
 us ought to share the same punishment. And I am per? 
 suaded these states will still be unsafe, atid all our efforts 
 for deliverance from tyranny, attended with great hazard 
 and uncertainty, till there shall be -sontie more effectual and 
 vigorous measures adopted by our rulers to distinguish 
 friends from foes, and expose the latter to. some exe^mpla- 
 fy punishment. The law of Tetaliation is sometimes just 
 and necessary, even when the. persons offending are not 
 made the subjects of it ; -how much more when the trans- 
 gressors themselves arc in our power ? Nor can we do 
 jusnce to ourselves or the public, or to our brethren now 
 sufifering in hare^and cruel durance among the enemy ; 
 nor to our posterity ; nor lastly to the manes of our mur- 
 dered Tiiends who hav€ fallen in the field, or expired in 
 loathsome prisons v/ith cold and hunger ; till we inflict 
 some just and exemplary punishment on those who have 
 brought these calamil»ies on us. 
 
 This discouise shews us, how defensive war is consist- 
 ent with true benevolence, and a sincere desire ot the hap- 
 piness of mankind ; ."^nd howJt is consistent for the sol- 
 dier to love and pray for the happiness of those he oppo- 
 ses and endeavors to root from the earth. Every soldier 
 should enter the field wiih benevolent, tender, compassion- 
 ate sentiments, which is the temper of Jesus Christ.- A 
 morose, cruel, revengeful, unmerciful temper, is no more 
 consistent with the character of a christian soldier, than 
 ivith that oi" a minister of the Gospel of peace ; nor can it 
 be justified even in the heat of the fiercest battle. He 
 should evcJr be possesaed with a disposition to pray ibr 
 
( ^y 5 
 
 lliose he endeavors to destroy, and wish iheir best, their 
 eternal g»od. These are no more inconsistent in a sol- 
 dier engaging in battle, and doing his best to kill his ene- 
 mies, than they are in a juilge and executioner, who take 
 away a murderer from the earth. For as the judge and 
 executioner are God's ministers to execute vengeance on 
 the wicked who endeavour to destroy the happiness of so- 
 ciety ; so the soldier, engaged in a ju^Jt defensive war, is 
 the minister of God to render vengeance to the invaders 
 of others right : And as ihe executioner may, and ought 
 to pray for the suffering criminal, so should the soldier let 
 his foe. As benevolence is the source of vindictive laws 
 in the state, so it should ever be of defensive war ; and 
 they both tend- to the same end, the happiness of man- 
 kind. How absurd then is the pretence that the Gospel 
 of Jesus Christ forbids 'iS to take up arms to defend our- 
 selves ? and that defensive war is inconsistent wicli ihc 
 patient, meek, long-suffering temper it requires ? It n^ay 
 wiih as much reason be said, that to punisfi a murderer or 
 robber is forbidden by the Gospel ; which is in effect to 
 saj', that the Gospel of peace forbids the exercis'^ of love 
 and benevolence in acts absolutely n';cessary,in this sinful 
 world, for the peace and happiness of society and individ- 
 uals. 
 
 'From what has been said we may clearly infei% that to 
 levy offensive war is murder, and all who engage in it are 
 murderers in God'j sight. They are guilty, not only oi 
 the murder of those they kill in battle, or who otherwise 
 perish in the war ; but they are self-murderers : They 
 put themselves to death ; their blood is on their own lieads. 
 Well then might Solomon say, vjith good advice r,iakr-xvar. 
 
 The character therefore of two States or armies at war, 
 ar« as opposite as their actions. The aggressor is a mur- |^ 
 derer and robber, and all who assist him are involved in 
 his guilt ; every soldier who fights lor hmi is a tnurdercr 
 too : But we know that no murderer hath eteraullife.— 
 How should this make those shudder who engage on the 
 side of the aggressor ? If they fall in battle, what hope 
 can they have of God's approbation ; since they die mur- 
 dering others aud themselves too ? But such who oppose 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 them in defence of their cvvn p.tid country's peace, liberty 
 and safety, are God's ministe»-s, commissioned and order- 
 ed by him to punish his, and his people's enemies : They 
 therefore may draw their swords with a quiet, approving 
 conscieEce, and with pity view the wretches slain by their 
 h^nds as self-murderers : Or if they fall, they can die, in 
 regard to the war, free of the blood of all mrn, and in 
 peace resign their spirits into the hand of their redeemer. 
 
 This consideration surely must animate every man in- 
 spired with the benevolent temper of the Gospel, which 
 disposes to the {greatest advancement of human happiness, 
 and to relieve the miserable and oppressed ; to vigorous 
 exertions in defence of our bleeding land ; bleeding under 
 the hund of oppression, rapine and murder. Would you, 
 my fi lends, count it an honor to be employed by God to 
 restore peace and happiness to the oppressed and misera- 
 ble ? do you wish to perform acts of love and kindness to 
 mankind, and therein be like your creator and redeemer? 
 do you fear the wrath at.d curse of God pronounced on all 
 who spread misery among his creatures, and on all that 
 aid or assist them, or so much as connive at, or neglect 
 to oppose them ? Do you desire to be workers together 
 with God in restoiing peace and felicity to your groaning 
 country, and to be owned of him as his servants when you 
 die ? are these the objects of your desire and pursuit ? X 
 know they are, 5f che love of God and your neighbor rules'^ 
 in your hearti, — Well then, here is an opportunity pre- 
 sented' to vou, to manifest your love, by coming to the help 
 of the Lord against the mighty. The cause we are enga- 
 ged in, is the cause of ('od j and you may hope for his 
 blessing and fight under his banner- In supporting and 
 defending this cause, you may, you ou^ht, to seek for^lo- 
 ry and honor ; even that glory and honor which comes 
 from God and man for acts of benevolence, goodness and 
 mercy, for the performance of vvh'ch the fairest opportu- 
 nity now cffers. 
 
 But what shall I say of those whose religious principles 
 forbid the performance of any such labors of love, and ne- 
 cessarily involve them in the curse of Meroz ? If their 
 religion be right, love itself must be wrong. But argu- 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 merits are vam -May God in his mercy shew them 
 
 their error, give them repentance, and msp.re them with 
 the love which the law and gospel require, before they fall 
 under the wrath and curse ot God,^for neglecting to come 
 to his help against the mighty. • . . . * ^ 
 
 This discourse also shews us how we ought to reat 
 those who do not join in the cause of freedom we have 
 
 espoused. , , , 
 
 1 As thev are accursed of God, Jind we are command- 
 ed to curse them, we ought at Icasi to shun their company. 
 What a shame is it to see those born to freedom and f.ro. 
 fessinK zeal for her cause, associating themselves with 
 the wiUioR slaves of an^abandoned tyrant and murderer . 
 O how do such debase themselves, and give occasion to 
 suspect them as belonging to the same herd. But it njay 
 be asked, how shall thev be distinguished from friends ? 
 Attend to the characters already given, and you may see 
 enough to justify you in avoiding intimacy with them; 
 though they may so disguise that no .vidence appears to 
 condemn them to open and copdign punishment. Happy 
 would it be should oar civil fathers draw Some determinate 
 line of distinction between freemert and the slaves of pow- 
 er.* For want of thi* we have suffered greatly » ''^^ay, 
 and if this be not done, the consequences 1 tear will be fa- 
 tal. , J. 
 
 2; As soon ds they are discovered we ought to disarra- 
 them • For as thev will not assist us, we should put it out 
 of their power to hurt us or our families, when we at any 
 time shall be called to action. Y^a, 
 
 3.^ As such forfeit all the privileges of freemen ; their 
 estates should be forfeited and applied to support the war ; 
 and thems..lves banished from these states, l^be /urse 
 we are commanded to inflict on the inhabitants of Meroz, 
 must imply as much as this ; and benevolence^tj^^miilions 
 
 ~^nTe~The above wasT^d for the press, a P.oclamation by 
 His Excellency Gknkral Washingt )N has been P^b'^shea, 
 and also iwo acts lo pui.ish treason aud other comes against the 
 State ofless enormity ; by which the hne ot d.stinc. .or. is u. a 
 good measure drawn ; >YiicU is cause of oy to all the f nemb of 
 
 Liberty. 
 
 c 2 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 demands this of us; ne^ out of hatred to their persons, 
 but their crimes which stnke at the life and happiness of 
 these States. This punishment must be irflirted not by 
 the people at large, bui by our rulers, with whom, under 
 Ood, we have entrusted our safety ; and in whose wisdom 
 S^T iJ ^u.^'u^ T'-'^Per vengeance on them in due time. 
 But should this be delayed, without proper reasons as- 
 signed we shall have no cause to wonder, though there 
 should be great thoughts of heart among a people, behold- 
 «g their fnends and brethren, barbarously murdered, or 
 wandering forlorn, destitute of food or shelter ; while the 
 ^etested authors of these unparallelled distresses smile 
 
 S-iuml^Jn '"^ ""P""'^^^^' ^' ^^"^ 'I're calamities, and 
 triumphing in our distress. But should such delay hap- 
 pen, we must look on it as another instance of divine dis- 
 pleasure, which speaks to all to search after, and by sin- 
 ecre repentance arui thorough reformation, remove the 
 moral cause of God's controversy with us. 
 
 r;i« fiirV^-'tf^"'^ '^^^ P^^"^' ^^ «^^" '^^^ see our coun- 
 
 Z'ulhlt '^f^i, °"'' ^.''™' victorious and triumphant j 
 the inhabitants of Meroz justly punished : Peace, Libert; 
 
 *n.1n r^i'^'T^' '^" '°^ °f ^3'ranny broken ; pure 
 ftndundefiled religion prevailing, and the voice of j^y and 
 gladness echoing round our land. May God hasten this 
 
 LTl^iTr"''^- """^ '" ^" 'he people say, aL^. 
 ana Amem . " _ Hallelujah, 
 
THR REWARD OP TORYISMS 
 
 A DISCOURSE DELIVERED 
 
 AT T H P 
 
 TABERVACLE IN SALEM-^M^r 1783. 
 TlHis sarth the Lord, becausetheu hast let go a man out of ih-f 
 
 1 Kitigs; XX. 42. 
 
 f . ^. JCDGES V. 23. 
 
 great danger, not only from ihT'o "l Jf R'i""t''^=" >" 
 
 .heT:.Tr„i'a:/r,h:d"„"^/:r;'e;: rr '^^'-r- 
 
 whether found in .he cabinet.'th^:™; "'r hetTnt^r'' 
 
 ^eTe'^rlZHnVd^nt^r':''-''^''' '•'•'■^-S'' '■'" ^^ 
 .he p^us,, of ^hichTrtt'.'^n ",rZ Ir^I fn""^ ' 
 are k,d ti.e grounds and reasons of .1 .n 1 ™ ^f.! "° 
 Prov.d.nce now calls you to pursue. ' °^ """''"" 
 
 Is -e'ruc d toTelir .t"„= f "^ '^ -"1-«d = J-bin 
 
 huu^hty »re hu j;iei ",'h7s "i: 'ir"'°i",'''' •• ">^ 
 
 migluv: AMERICA is FREt/. " Thr''"'/''T "'^ 
 « over us, who threatened tobr*;;,' us fo tl.W '""'"^ 
 toos.rained lo acknowledge us fref and L /"'' "* 
 «l.n,ui3h^,cUi™ .o.ouf„b":dlScr.„d"So": "" 
 
^K 
 
 ( 
 
 Many of \.hf. inferences I then drevr from the justice of 
 »ur cause, the infatuation of Britain, and the barbarous 
 wickedness of our enemies, you may now see verified in 
 this great J«nd glorious revolution ; and the events serve 
 to e^iablish several oi the observations I then made* Hap- 
 py >v)ll it be for these States if they shall have wisdom and 
 virtue so to conduct in this important crisis, when the 
 disappointed foe is looking after the prey, snatched 
 from his devouring jaws, \V^th regret and chagrin, and 
 eagerly wishing for an opportunity to ensnaie and circum- 
 vent us, as to shun those dangers that my fears prompt 
 me now to suggest and predict. , , 
 
 Among the various means It hath pleased God to make 
 use of to rouse people to vigor in the late contiest for free= 
 dom, that discourse, with others of a lil«i nature, may 
 doubtless be allowed a place. 
 
 Our Independence is gained, but our danger is not o- 
 ver, nor is our work done Great Britain rs not yet our 
 friand, and many of tht inhabitants of Meroz are still in 
 our land, and mj»nv who fled from us in our distress, and 
 would aflord u* no help, yea assisted and comforted ou? 
 cnetiiies. are, under the patronage of Britain, seeking to 
 return, and enjov those privileges- the v ijsed their utmost 
 endeavours to deprive us of. The time the proper time 
 is now come to execute on them the command of God in 
 my text, viz. Curse ye Mero-z. said the angel of the Lord. . 
 
 If the cases are similar, the command is binding. If it 
 can be shewn that they «ire not all must own it will not ap- 
 ply in the present case^ But if those wh- have reiiised 
 xo come to our help against the, mighty, but especially 
 those who have gone over to, counselled, comforted and. 
 assisted the cnem),atnd murdered their brtthren. and with 
 more than savdgr barbarit;^, triumphed in their torture 
 at^d blood; whom the fortune of v»^ar hid put into their 
 hands : if such, I sav. are not gxjilty of the sin of Meroz j 
 if tht) can be considered as coming to the help of the Lord 
 Ggainst the mighty, then, indeed we ought to bless, and not 
 cutsc tbcm. 
 
 But d.tes the-re need a moment's coiisideration to deter- 
 miue this pomt ? Lki vhe aavocatts io-r the tones ef these 
 
C S3 ) ^ 
 
 States shew, if ihc}' can, from scripture or reason, that they 
 have liOt been guilty of the sin of Meroz, and they will clear 
 thsm of the curse. But if they stand charged, convicted 
 and condenined for the same sin, then we . are bound by 
 invincible obligations from heaven, reason, religion, our 
 ciwn safety, from our fore-fathers and from posterity, to 
 curse them ; or as it is emphatically expressed in the He- 
 brew, in cursing., to curie them. 
 
 See then the sin of Meroz. They did not commit any 
 ■acts of violence, insult, barbarity or murder ; thev did 
 not burn, or assist in hurning the towns and dwellings of. 
 their brethren ; they did not, that ws knov<r, go over to, 
 assist, counsel, or comfort the enemy, as our tories have- 
 done : no ; they only neglected their duty ; they d.id not 
 come to their help, when their enemies oppressed thtm^, 
 nor assist in casting ofT the galling yoke. 
 
 This, this is the only crime, the single offence which 
 brought on them this bitter curse. But the tories of these 
 States, many of them, have not only neglected their dutv, 
 but endeavored to recommend themselves to the tyrant- 
 by the mast barbarous treatment of their brethren, as ma- 
 ny yet living can testify. 
 
 The consequence therefore follows, A fortiori, with 
 greater force, that those persons fall with greater proprie- 
 ty under the curse, in piopovtion as their offence is more 
 heinous. 
 
 The point I now mean to discuss, and which naturally 
 results from the words, is this ..That when God hathi 
 spirited a people, under oppression, to shake of the gall- 
 ing yoke of tyranny, and given them victory over their op- 
 pressors, it is his will and positive command, that in curs- 
 ing they curse surh of the communitv as have not joined 
 with them in their struggle for liberty, aiid especially 
 those who have aided and assisted their oppressors. 
 
 I say, such of the community, for these are not only 
 
 more aggiavatedly guilty than the common enemy, but 
 
 th'-y arr now supposed to be in the hands of the states, 
 
 and as it is their duty, so it is in their power to curse them. . 
 
 To i1 list rate this, I shall 
 
 l\ Observe as a known and undoubted '^.uth, that the 
 
( 34 ) ^ 
 
 people of these States have for years been stniggling 
 hard for their liberties, against the migiity power of 
 Britain. Tbe evidence of this is so clear that it needs^ 
 only to be meniioned. 
 
 IL That the toriss of these states, whether still resid- 
 ing among us, or gone over to the enem)% are guilty 
 of the sin of Meroz. 
 
 Tkis is evident from what I have already said, and 
 n>eeds no further illustration. 
 
 III. Prove the assertion in the proposition, that it is the 
 command of God that in cursing we curse them. 
 
 IV. Sh'W what is implied in this curse. 
 
 V. Offer some thovights as to the raode of treating 
 them. 
 
 VI. Point out some of the fatal consequences which 
 must attend not inflicting the curse oii them. 
 
 The two first I pass over, as being already fully confirm- 
 ed, and come to 
 
 III. The proof of the assertion, viz. That it is the will 
 and command of God that we curse such of the communi- 
 ty as have opposed, or neglected to assist us in our endea- 
 vors to se4:urc our liberty. Did men believe the holy 
 scriptures to be the infallible word of God, and the uner- 
 ring rule both of duty to God and man, and of sound polir 
 cy, no othsr evidence than this text would be necessary to 
 establish the point. Btit alas, men are generally more at- 
 lached to the wanderings of depraved reason (and at best 
 she is a wretched wanderer, when left without divine rev^ 
 elation) than to the unerring maxims and dictates cfGod'$ 
 word. Yet as there are some who are so wise as to pay 
 more regard* to a thui saith the Lord^ than to the most ac- 
 curate, refined and cogent reasons of the greatest philoso- 
 phers ; so I shall offer some evidences of the point, from 
 scripture ; and then for the conviction of mere reasoners 
 and deists, (of which the number, I fear, increases daily 
 among us) I will offer an argument or two from reasoa 
 and common sense* 
 
 I begin with my text as a demonstration of the point. 
 The words are emphatical, and the more so, because re- 
 peated i Cur s.,ys MeroZj said the angel of the Lord; in 
 
( 35- ^ 
 
 •cursing curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came 
 not to the help of the Lard, to the help of the Lord against 
 the mighty. 
 
 This is delivered to us by Deborah under divine inspi- 
 ration, and she assures that the angel of the Lord gave this 
 in command. This v/as not the efl'ect of an angry, ma- 
 licious, revengeful spirit ,• nor the dictate of prosperous 
 pride or disappointed ra^e ; but delivered b}' command 
 ifrom the angel of God's presence, the kind and compas- 
 sionate Saviour and Redeemer of sinners, who thought 
 this curse on such atrocious offenders, suitable for a sol- 
 emn and joyful tong oi praise; to God for deliverance frona 
 an oppressing tyrant. 
 
 It is worthy of notice that the command is peremptory, 
 and admits of no debate. They were not left at liberty to 
 curse them or not, as they might feel disposed ; but God 
 binds them to this by all his auihorit)', which is absolute 
 and supreme over all men, and which none can evade. — = 
 Therefore the neglect would have been in them, and will 
 be in us, an act of direct and impudent disobedience te, 
 and contempt of his aathority who is heir and Lord of all 
 things in heaven and earth, and who disposes of peoplCj 
 kingdo;.ns and crowns as he pleases. 
 
 This glorious angel not only enjoins this by his author- 
 ity, but shews the reason to draw us to obedience ; because 
 they came not to the help of (he Lord, q. d. "They refus- 
 ed to be on the side of God, truth and freedom .• t\iey 
 chose the tyrantfor their master by their neglect : they 
 trusted more to his power than mine ; They have cast the 
 greatest contempt on rae,and have discouraged thehearts 
 of my people. Now therefore take part with your Lord, 
 who haih given you the victory, and execute his just aD« 
 ger on those who deserted his people and cause, and shew 
 that you are my friends ; that the cause you have been de- 
 feixling is my cause, and that those who opposed il are 
 •jny enemies. Vindicate my Jionor, and plead my cause 
 against those who forsook me in my streights, when the 
 *nighty threatened to waste my inheritance.'' 
 
 God is pleased to represent himself as standing in need 
 
C 36 ) 
 
 of the help of his people ; and as injured aud abused when 
 they desert him. 
 
 The scripture affords further evidence to this assertion, 
 in repeated injunctions given by Moses to the tribes ti 
 Reuben, Gad and ]VIanasseh,not to desert their brethren, 
 butxo go over Jordan, and assist in subduing their ene- 
 mies. God stood in no need of taern ; yet he tells them 
 that such neglect will be like the sin of the spies who dis- 
 couraged the hearts of the people, for which Israel were 
 condemned to wander thirty-eight years, and their car- 
 cases to fail in the wilderness : and he assures them, tkat 
 their sins should Jind them out* Num. xxxii. 6 — 23- 
 
 A further contirmattoa of this assertion is taken from 
 1 Kings, 20 Chup. where we have an account of two re- 
 markable defeats of Benhadad, king of Syria, which re- 
 duced him to the Inst extremity, so that \ic Jted into an in- 
 ner chamber to hide himself. His servants move him to 
 cast himself on the mercy of the conqueror, much in the 
 sams n^anner as the tories are cast on the mercy of these 
 States. He made the trial, and succeeded; The king of 
 Israel, who was fsmong the most abandoned of men for 
 all kinds of wi<:kec!ness, now feels, or for some political, 
 sinister end, pretends to feel compassion, calls Benhadad 
 his brother, takes him into his chariot, makes a covenant 
 with him, and sends him away in peace. His motive to 
 this was carnal, which is always foolish policy. He doubt- 
 less expected great things from Benhaded, who, he tho't 
 would be verv grateful for saving his life ; in that instant 
 he appeared so, and promised to restore to Ahab the cities 
 which his father had taken from him. This w;is a fine 
 cfFcr. But how mean, how unworthy Ahab's acceptance ! 
 He might with more honor and justice have replied to 
 this cringing flatterer, " No thanks to you, Benhadad, for 
 your offer. Those cities and /Damascus too are in my 
 power. Remember with what insult and abuse you treat- 
 ed me last year, when, distrusting my strength, 1 compli- 
 ed with all your first demands ; but notcontent with that, 
 you altered them, rose higher, and demanded my'sbsolute 
 submission to your sovereign wi'i ; yea to the will and 
 plunder of your servants. '1 his I refused j and when you 
 
( sr ) 
 
 Attacke3 me, God delivered your immense army into my 
 hand. You then blasphemed the God whose cause I de- 
 fended, and said he was Jiot the God of the rallies. Deter- 
 mined on my ruin, you again attacked me in the vallies, 
 where you have been taught that God is as great as in the 
 hills, and by the miraculous victories he hath given me o- 
 ver your vast pov/er, hath shewn me that you are to be 
 destroyed for your horrid wickedness, injustice and op- 
 pression. I will therefore accept of none of your cringing 
 offers ; but put it forever out of your power to insult and 
 oppress any more." 
 
 Had Ahab answered him thus, and put him to deaths 
 he would not have heard that dreadful sentence Irom God, 
 verse 42. Thus saith the Lord, because thou hast let go oitt^ 
 of thy hand, a man v)hom I appointed to utter destruction^' 
 therefore thy life jhall go for his lifi, and thy people for his 
 people : which sentcncs was exectued on Ahab three years 
 after. 
 
 The severe punishment threatened, shews the greatness 
 of Ahab's sin in thus sparing a man God had appointed 
 to utter destruction for the baseness of his temper and 
 conduct. 
 
 Many other evidences miglit be adduced from scripture 
 to confirm the point, but I proceed 
 
 2dly. To confirm it by reason, the law of nature, and 
 common sense,>vhich teach the moral fitness of this com- 
 mand, therefore of moral obligation. 
 
 The princioal objection against this is drawn from the 
 excellency of a tender, forgiving spirit, which is also en- 
 joined by oiir Lord in his command to forgive our ene- 
 mies. It must be acknowledgt-d, that if the ab^ve asser- 
 tion is repugnant to this, it ought by no means to be ad- 
 mitted But those must be very ignorant of the nature of 
 a forgiving spirit, and of Christ's command too, who sup- 
 pose that executing public justice on felons and murder- 
 ers, is inconsistent thsrewiih. Should this be admitted, 
 we must resign all the good and happiness of society irito 
 the hnnds of thieves, robbers and assassins. Love, fo'i^ 
 giveness of enemies, and compassion, are most amiable 
 virtues ; but thry degenerate into criminal weakness, as 
 D 
 
( 58 ) 
 
 ihey spring from a vitiated heart, when they are employ- 
 ed to discharge criminals from condign punishment. Sev- 
 eral reasons shew the weakness of this objectiou, and con- 
 firm the assertion. 
 
 I. The good and safety of the public require this.— 
 Caiaphas the high priest spake the truth when he iaid, it 
 ivas necessary that one man sJiould die^ and that the whole 
 7\ation shou'd not perish. The iriaxim w.as true ; but 
 there the application was wrong, as there was no danger 
 to the nation from Christ's setting up for the kingdom, 
 (of which he was accused) but in the present case, nothing 
 more just. <jod and reason te^ch, that they who endan- 
 ger the safety of tlie community, should be removed frern 
 '^ ; for the happiness of many is of more value than of a 
 ^ew : therefore we are bound to seek the good ot the State, 
 in preference to that of individuals. 
 
 But it is manifest that the State c&nnot be safe while 
 the tories remain among us, unless their principles are 
 changed, and their whale man renewed, which we have 
 not the least reason to hope for, as no new arguments 
 have been offered, and no new principles can be supposed 
 to have taken place in them. For the sake ot carrying 
 the bag, they, like Judas, wish to return among us, and 
 like him they will scli us for thirty pieces of silver. I'here- 
 fore, if we do not curse them, we shall curse the public, 
 which will suffer more than all those traitors will ever 
 compensate. But I shall have, occasion to speak more on 
 this point under the sixth head. 
 
 II. A fu'ther, evidence of this point is taken fiom that 
 moral law, known a'bd acknowledged by all nations, viz. 
 'I hat he who sheds ma7i^ a bloody by mart shcUl his tlood be 
 shed. '1 he reason ol ;his law is obvious, viz. That a mur- 
 derer is a pest to society ; that rorie are safe while per- 
 sons so abandoned have it in their power to do mischief^ 
 and therefore they must be put away from ihr public. — 
 But die tories of these States have bttn noicriousiv guilty 
 fef shedding- our blood, and tonses^uently we are botmd to 
 curse them. 
 
 But I p?.s3 to shew, 
 
 IV. \V hat is implied in the curse w« are commanded 
 to iufiict on them. 
 
( 51^ ) 
 
 I take this to be nothing more nor less than inflicting 
 on them the punishment they deserve. There are some 
 crimes which it is better, and more for the public good to 
 pardon, than to punish with rigor ; but toryism cannot be 
 ranked amonc: them ; the offence is too high, and the eub- 
 jects of it are too abandoned and lost to all virtuous prin- 
 ciples, to be allowed a residence in and converse with the 
 public, and therefore God commands us to curse them. 
 
 Some may think that, this command countenances r 
 TVialevolent temper ol mind, such as wicked persons in- 
 dulge when they utter bitter and profane curses ngainst 
 r their neighbours. But this is a great mistake ; for the 
 curse required is a serious, deliberate, religious act of 
 justice, which God requires of us, as a terror to evil doers, 
 and an encouragement And protection to them that da ivell ; 
 and to cleanse our land from the guilt ot blood which these 
 men have shed in abundance : and in the guilt of which 
 we shall involve ourselves, just so far as we act or wish to 
 screen them from condign punishment. Thus saith tlffe 
 Lord, he that doih violence to the blood of any perscn, let 
 himjlee to the pit^ let no man stay him. Prov. xxviii. 17. 
 7. e. let every one curse him, by joining in executing the 
 just sentence of condemnation on him. When God says, 
 Deut. xxi. 23. *■* he that is hanged is cursed of God" it is 
 evident, verse 22> that nothing is intended but that he is 
 punished according to the divine will. If a man cominit a 
 sin worthy of death., and he be put to death, and thou hang 
 him on a tree, &c. i-Those, and only those who are wor- 
 thy of death, are accursed of God ; and none else ought 
 to be so cursed of men. The sentence of condemnation is 
 the curse ; and this ought to be passed according to the 
 nature of their crimes ; and for the same reasons it must 
 be executed. If the tories have been guilty cf treason a- 
 gainst these States ; if they are chargeable with much ot 
 the innocent blood that h'Aih been shed, then they ought to 
 be cursed, or condemned and punished : and no man can 
 .take their part, or wish to screen them from the curse, 
 without proving himself to be an abettor of their crimes, 
 and partaker in their sins ; and all who desire to maintain 
 justice, peace, liberty and safety, Tthe very objects of our 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 exertions and e;rpence of blood and treasure for eight 
 years past) must concur in executing the curse on them, 
 or forfeit their character and waste their conscience. I 
 pass 
 
 V. To offer some thoughts as to the method of treating 
 the inhabitants of Meroz, who have belonged, or do 
 yet belong to these States. 
 
 Doubtless some difference should ba made among those 
 who came not to our aid against the enen^y. There are 
 different-characters among them, which call for different 
 treatmeni. I shall wave a particular description of them, 
 and rank the whole under two heads, viz. those who have 
 l)een commonly called Neuters ; and those who have ta- 
 ken an active part against us. 
 
 I. Neuters, if there can be any in a case*bf such impor- 
 tance. But strict ntutrallty, I conceive, cannot be ad- 
 mitted, ex(;ept In things jn their own nature indifferent, 
 i, e, where the interest of beings capable of happiness is 
 ack concerned, I'he law of love bmds all men to tnke the 
 side of truth, justice, liberty and happiness, and those 
 who are not for, must be against them ; and the part they 
 lake, when these are opposed, discovers their friendship 
 for, or enmity against them. Nothing can excuse inac- 
 tivity but want of knowledge of the case, and opportunity 
 for exertion. Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. If thou forbear to de- 
 liver them that are drawn unto deaths and those that be 
 ready to be slain : If thou say est ^ behold, I knew it not^ 
 doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it f and he 
 that keepeth thy soul,, doth not he know it ? and shall he 
 not render to every man according to his works ? There 
 are but two sides to any case, a right and wroHg ,• and 
 they who neglect to take the right side, when in their 
 power, must stand chargeable with all the ill consequences 
 that follow, or that might reasonably be supposed to loUaw 
 from such neglect. 
 
 Therefore when I speak of Neuters, I would be under- 
 stood to mean those who, having knowledge of our cause, 
 and opportunity to assist, yet have stood by as idle spec- 
 tators, and have kept one foot, as it \rerc on American 
 liberty, and the other on British despotisiiii ever rendy to 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 step into -that scale where they thought their interests 
 ' would be most secure. 
 
 Among these may be ranked those who, in the begin- 
 ning of our troubles, talked and acted in favor of British 
 tyranny : many such, when the current grew strong against 
 them, shifted sides, and put on the guise of friends. We 
 cannot determine that none of these were true penitants j 
 but in general they have given no very convincing proofs 
 of it. If they are, such ought to be forgiven ; but we 
 
 - should be careful how we trust them in our publ c affairs. 
 
 Others, from open toryism have appeared warm for our 
 cause, whose conversion, there is too much reason to sus- 
 pect, was owingto a view of profitby speculating in trade, 
 privateering, or of some post in the army or State ; into 
 which, men of such jirinciples will stick at nothing to 
 worm themselves ; and such have generally been a kind of 
 dead weight on all our movements 
 
 AH such, of whatever description, who have not, as 
 they had opportunity, exerted themselves in our glorious 
 cause, if they should be allowed to continue among us., 
 (which may perhaps be best with respect to some) yet 
 they ought forever to be secluded from our councils, and 
 the more manifest of them be deprived ot the liberties of 
 freemen, rendered incapable of voting for, or holding the 
 meanest offices in the States. 
 
 There is another sort who may b« termed Neuters by 
 some, who have done more mischief to the interests of 
 freedom, and caused the shedding of more blood thau 
 any who have gone over and joined with the en?my ; 
 I mean those who have carried on a trade with the enem)' 
 during the war. These by draining off our money and 
 sendingj it to the enemy, have entblcd them to prosecute 
 
 - the war. 
 
 There may be some who have engaged in this trade 
 inadvertently, not seeing the fatal consequences. But 
 many have prosecuted it with determinate resolution, in 
 defiance of conscience and all the laws That have been 
 made against it. The first ought to be forgiven ; the last 
 should be considered as most dangerous members of the 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 community, secluded from all the privileges of freemen, 
 and never allowed to import goods into any of the States 
 from any part of the world. If even those who have in- 
 advertently dipt into this trade, cannot avoid the shocking 
 reflection, that they have been instrumental in shedding 
 the blood of their brethren ; what remorse and anguish 
 tnuit seize those (when conscience is awake) who have 
 knowingly assisted the enemy to murder them ! But 
 alas, the love of gold has rendered these wretched specu- 
 lators and sharpers callous to all feelings of conscience, 
 and fitted them for any line of conduct however base and 
 unworthy ! And that which adds to the distressing idea 
 is, thi\t those persons who have been most active in shed- 
 ding so much innocent blood, will probably (as wealth be- 
 gets power) in a short time become possessed of the reins 
 of government, direct, or rather pervert the councils of 
 ihe United States, lull us back into the hand of^our ene- 
 mies, and rivet on us the galling yoke of tyranny more 
 firmly than ever ; while the friend to his country, who 
 has virtuously espoused her cause, and sacrificed his all in 
 her defence, may see himself sink into silent contempt, 
 his lands and possessionsheldpnd enjoyed by the Neuters, 
 or by those very American British factors who, by their 
 trade with her, have supported their plundering armies j 
 yea even by those who have openly joined our enemies. 
 
 II. The other class of tories are, those who have tak?n 
 an active part against us, of which class are all those who 
 have deserted us and gone over to the enemy. It may be 
 said, that even among these there are different characters^ 
 and some whose crimes are more aggravated than others* 
 This is readily admitted, and therefore, were they in our 
 power, they ought to receive different degrees of j^unishr 
 -ment. But the most innocent of these are highly criminal. 
 These may be divided into two sorts ; those who went to 
 the British from fear of the issue, and have remained quiet 
 among them j and those who, from hope of favor, pen- 
 sions, promotions, or interests of any kind, went over, 
 counselled, assisted and comforted the enemy, and lent 
 all their aid in the war against us. These last, I should 
 ^suppose, aot even a s«mi-tory in the States could wish to 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 return, lest those hands so long soaked in the blood of 
 their brethren j those hearts so long inured to barbarity 
 and slaughter, to burning and devastation, should, as it 
 were by habitual impulse, act over the same scenes with 
 them. For, let the Ethiopean change hi& skin, and the 
 leopard his spots, then will such abandoned wretches cease 
 to do evil, and learn to do well j then, and not till tben, 
 may we hope they will be safe members of society, and 
 leave their murder and treason. 
 
 As to the first sort, what plea can be offered for them ? 
 Why, they were good and honest men ; they had no en- 
 mity to us, nor to the cause of freedom ; they wished to 
 have peace, liberty and safety, but they feared the issue, 
 viz. that Great Britam would prevail, and that they might 
 suffer : they wished no hurt to America, but only sough 
 safety for themselves. 
 
 This perhaps is the best plea that can be made for the- 
 But by seeking safety in this way, did they not disc 
 age and weaken our hands, irs the spies did the Israe! 
 and did they not encourage the enemy to prosecutt 
 war, and thereby" became accessary tb the death i 
 slaughter of thousands of their brethren'? 
 
 No man is so void of sense as to imagine that 'Great 
 Britain would ever have begun, much leas prosecuted the 
 war for so many years, and after so many defeats and dis-- 
 appointments, had all those who went to her help from a- 
 mong us, and all who were her secret friends who resided 
 here, been firm and resolute in the cause of freedotn. 
 
 The best character therefore among them, is justly 
 chargeable with the guilt, I had almost said, of all the 
 blood-shed on both sides in this contest. And to them 
 may be applied what David said to Saul in a similar case, 
 1. Sam. xxvi. 19. If the Lord hath stirred up England a- 
 gainst w?, let him accept an offering ; but if the torieSy 
 cursed be they before the Lord. But it is time to pass ta 
 
 VI. The fatal consequences that will probably follow 
 not inflicting the curse on these. 
 
 Could sagacity discover, yet time would not allow to 
 point out all the ill consequences which may, and proba- 
 bly will follow from receiving the tories hue these States, 
 I shall hint a fewt 
 
44 
 
 1st. This will grently endanger the internal peace of 
 the States. Should our rulers open the door for their re- 
 turn, agreeably to the fifth preliminary article, they will 
 soon find a general discontent among their constituents. 
 They will soon hear thousands of the innocent, peaceable, 
 defenceless inhabitants of these States, who have been dri- 
 ven from their possessions, their property rifled, their 
 dwellings burnt, t^eir interest diminished by the war ; for 
 whom no provision is made ; to whom there is no resti- 
 tution of estates, no compensation for losses : — they will 
 soon hear thousands whose husbands, sons, brethren and 
 near friends have perished in purchasing for us our free- 
 dom ; in whose blood the tories have stained their mur- 
 •7eiing hands ; to whose tortures, crie^, and dying groans 
 icy have danced, as to the sweet sound of the viol ; to 
 hose humble and piteous cries and prayers for a draught 
 water or a morsel of bread, when famishing with hung- 
 nd thirst in their noisom goals and prison-ships, they 
 •eturned nothing but insult and horrid imprecations, 
 vho have escaped their rage v/ith the skin of their 
 n, and still carry the scars of their barbarty in their 
 dies ; and still deeper wounds of their scoffs and in- 
 sults in their mind. — They will soon hear those whose 
 daughters, wives, mothers, these abandoned beings, and 
 the slaves of their British Lord they called to their assist- 
 ance, have ravished and abused. They will soon hear 
 the brave, the virtuous and gallant soldier, who has for- 
 saken the pleasures of domestic life, and endured hunger, 
 cold and innumerable fatigues in the field, to defend our 
 jights and purchase our freedom, to whom no compensa- 
 tion is made ; I say, they will soon hear a mighty throng 
 of these, and other sufferers in the glorious cause of lib- 
 erty, cry aloud of unreasonable, cruel and unjust conduct 
 in their rulers, for permitting those who have been the 
 wicked occasion of all their distresses, to obtain restitu- 
 tion of the estates they forfeited to the justice and laws of 
 their country, and, in common with them, to enjoy that 
 freedom and sweet liberty which they spared neither 
 pains nor conscience to destroy. — They will soon hear 
 them lamenting, if not cursing, their foll^, for risking 
 
iheir all, and loosing their dearest enjoyments on eartK; 
 next to their Hbetty, to purchase and dejend their free- 
 dom and rights, now equally shared among their betray- 
 cs and murderers, v/ho wisely slipt out of harm's way 
 till they had gained the prize for thern. 
 
 These cries will not expire in mere- noise, but, like a 
 ioaded cannon, will make impression. Actions will nat- 
 urally follow such roused passions, aad internal discon- 
 tents, Isroils and commotions, to say the least, must ensue. 
 Be xv'isc. ihzreio'e; L/si rulers^ be imtructed yn legifila- 
 torn of these States ; khstheSon^b^\w to his command, afyl 
 ioflict his curse on the tories, the inhubitants of jNIuroz,. 
 lest he he angry and ye perish ; blessed are they, and only 
 they, that put their trust in him.. Ye have no right to • 
 admit them r»moDg us without the previous consent of 
 your constituents at large; and should you do it, you will 
 probably find, that they who dared to oppose the power 
 of Britain, will not fear to call their stewards to account. 
 
 Besides, when these murderers shall be seen among us, 
 exultiug in the smiles of that liberty they have endeavor- 
 ed to destroy, and perhaps reproaching us for our foUy in 
 buying sush a treasure for ihcm v/ith our v/ounds and 
 blood, where is the man of sensibility, of a grain of spirit, 
 jvho will not feel emotions which nothing but great grace 
 ^nd prudepce can restrain ; What son of freedom can see, 
 i?mch less, take an insult, an indelicate word, or a wry look 
 frorti a tory, or sit at the feast of freedom with him, when 
 he reflects on the blood of a ?Qn, a brother, a father, 
 shed by his impious treachery ? He that can do this with- 
 out uneasy sensations, must imbibe the same slavish and 
 murderous spirit. What a source this, of broils, quar- 
 rels, and even of bloodshed ! 
 
 2d. The admission of the tories will be a shameful . 
 breach pf the public faith. 
 
 When the state made laws to confiscate their estates 
 for public use , they passed thai property to the people, 
 as an encouragement for them to support the war. And 
 ^vill they now break their faith so solemnly pledged, and 
 rob their constituents of their property without their cen^ 
 seiU ? They n> ay as well take away the private property 
 
( 4t> ) 
 
 gT every man in the state, and give it to the British sol- 
 diers who ravaged our country : and who would tver a- 
 gain rely on the public fiith ? and I n^ay add, who need 
 ever fear public threatening ? 
 
 Besides, will not France, our faithful ally, havejusrt 
 cause to con^pla'ii, that we have taken into our bos'-ms, 
 those who while they reproached us as tools to a domes- 
 tit facti-jn of tyrants, have scandalized them as deceitful 
 betrayers of our liberties ; as having nothing in view but 
 to enslave us, after we should be separated trom Great- 
 Britain ? 
 
 3d The restoration of the tories among us will expose 
 us to innumerable and constant dangers which will natur- 
 ally result from having in our bowels a multitude of 
 subtil enemies, void of all honor and virtue, who, as they 
 never wid be reconciled to us, will plot our ruin, and lie 
 ever on the watch for the most favorable advantage to 
 avenge themselves, by betraying us into the hands and un^ 
 der the tvranny of Great-Britain, in order to recommend 
 themselves to places of honor and profit under their now 
 avowed sovereign. Some may imagine that they will 
 gratefully acknowledge the favour, and Become good sub- 
 jects of these States, if periTiiited to return. 
 
 But what ground for such a fancy ? Is it common to 
 find gratitude such a powerful principle in the human 
 heart? — It is a true proverb, that he who injures cannot 
 forgive. We may aswelfhope for Satan's cordial friend^ 
 ship to mackind, as for that of the tories to these states t/ 
 for 
 
 " Never can true reconcilement groxv; 
 
 " Where toounds of dfcidly hqtc have pierced so deep^ 
 
 * Milton. „ 
 
 *Wfe h?v€ an instructive instance of this in Benhadad' 
 king of Syria, 1. Kings, 20 and 24lh, Chapters. Two 
 years successively he had met with a defeat by Abab. In 
 the second his army was well nigh cut off; and he fell in- 
 to Ahab's hands. He humbled himseli, begged his life, 
 promises Ahab fine things, obtains forgiveness, restora- 
 tion to his kingdom, and reconciliation with the conquer- 
 or whpq» he had mpst shamefully abused and insulted. 
 
(47 ) 
 
 We may imagine that he never would forget such a fu- 
 'vour, or be unkind lo his benefactor. Yet we find, three 
 years after, this same Benbadad, whose malice was in- 
 curable, like that of tories, marked out, from among 
 thousands, this very benefactor, as the single object of 
 his hatred 1. Kings, xx. 31. And the king- of Syria said 
 — fighf-i'jith neither smell nor great, save only xvitli the 
 king of hraeL " I am in torment to feel such obligations 
 to a petty king. The thought that I oive my life tu him, 
 ris a. dagger in my heart. I would rather die than see the 
 •man prospiV, who looks on me as his most deVoted debt- 
 or — away with him from the earth, that he may never re- 
 proach me with his kindness." 
 
 Disappointed malice cannot br ook submission ; and 
 kindress bestowed on such is the most ilnpardonable of- 
 fence. 
 
 This shev/s what we are to expect iVom Britain ; and 
 especially from the toiies, should they return amons us. 
 
 4th. Should we restore those murderers, we shall bring 
 on these States the guilt of the innocent blood that has 
 been shed in our late struggle, of which they have been 
 the chief, if not the only procurers and authors. 
 
 Our cause was either right or wrong. If wrong, the 
 guilt of all the biood lies on us ; and we ought to atone 
 for it by die sacrifice of an Hancock, an Adara«, a VVash- 
 JBgton, and other leaders in the horrid rebellion and 
 ■bloody masacre, and by an humble and penitent retura 
 to the authority of Britain's Lor^. If right, the tories 
 ought to atone for it, as being the thief authors, by ^ sac- 
 rifie of, at least, th^ir property now among us, and an 
 everlasting bani'^hment from us. if not of the lives of their 
 principals who f:ill into our h.ioc^s 
 
 The guilt of blo<:;d is not easily pu/ged away. Lei our 
 rulers, let all consid r what G^)d saith Num. xxxv. 33, 
 For blood, it defikth the land^ andthe land cannot he clenv.Hrd 
 of ih' blood th<t is shed therein but by the blood of him that 
 ihed it : and let all take notice of that mark of divine 
 ven^^eance against the whole kingdom of Israel, in the 
 days of good king David, fur the innocent blood of tliO 
 Gibtonites tha-tShul in his z.e.il for issatl had shed. For 
 
( ^s ) 
 
 this God sent three years famine, and nothing could at6"iic 
 lor the crime, or render God propitious to the land, but r 
 the blood of some of Saul's wicked house; ir. of Samuel, ^ 
 xxi. 1 — 14, 
 
 We cannot hope that God v/ill give us rain and fruitful! 
 seasons, detend us from our enemies, and make us happy, 
 while we shew favor to such cruel murderers. And 
 should the honorable Congress recommend to the states 
 to restore them, they would, as I conceive, involve them- 
 selves in the guilt of innocent blood : and should any of 
 the general courts or assemblies of the states comply, they 
 would partake with them in the horrid guilt : and should 
 the people at large tamely submit, the whole land would. 
 be polluted with blood, and divine vengeance and judge- 
 ments must be expected to follow. In this case none can 
 avoid the guilt, and clear their own souls, but by an open . 
 protest and testimony agaics-. a measure so sinful 
 
 And as I v.'ould not, under the price of innocent blood 
 concur with such advice from Congress, the general court, 
 or any other power in trhe universe, except that of Jiho-/ 
 VAM ; I do hereby enter my public and most solemn pro* ' 
 test against it, for reasons herein assigned, and call on all 
 the friends of God, religion and their country, to join with 
 me in this, and in every lawful exertion to prevent a mea-« 
 sure so sinful, so calamit'ous and destructive, and thereby 
 as far as possible, clear themselves, if they cannot save 
 the land, from ihe guilt of innocent blood. But this is 
 not all, for, 
 
 5th. Should they return, they will probably soon fa- 
 gross the chief wealth of these states ; and, as wealth us:- : 
 ually begets power, they will (as before asserted) easily 
 possess themselves of the *hief seats of government, per- 
 vert our counsels, and reduce us, by their arts, to that 
 subjection to Great Britain which the power of her arms 
 could not acci.mp!ish.f It is too manifest that Greai-Bri- 
 
 t Haw itiism-ty toll jw is not iiard to conceive 1 tity niust 
 be infatuated who imagine-that Britain will, for a long lime, be 
 recfiBcilfcCto our sepavaiicn from her. We (Uglit w be very 
 jenlous, that eveiy art in her pqwer will be used to reduct us, 
 Under her domiuidn. Many are the £>lots already laid, and avlifi- 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 tain is far from approving our independence. Necessity 
 compelled her to a cessation of hostilities. TJie check 
 given her the last year, by preventing British goods from 
 coming among us, reduced her ta shift the plan of subju- 
 gating us ; (for this is still her object) her resources here, 
 were by this cut off„ and she reduced to the greatest dis- 
 trerss. Her only safety lay in a present cessation of hos- 
 tilities ; this would give her respite, to repair her strength, 
 till a more favorable opportunity should offer to attain her 
 wished-for end» the enslaving America. If she gains this, 
 with more rigor than ever will she claim the power " to 
 bind us in all cases whatsoever." Then we must expect 
 new scenes of horror and slaughter. Then will our d&* 
 fenceless frontiers bleed afresh ; our sea-coasts be infest- 
 
 ces used to this end. But the principal, I apprehend, is to procure 
 the return of the tories amongst us, as being the most suitable 
 tools by which to work our ruin. This is the Trojan horse con- 
 trived to take us in ; which, if admitted into our city, the fleet 
 and armies from Tenedos will soon return, and lay our coun- 
 try in* ruins, or at least reduce us to slavery. The lories 
 here among us, but especially the refugees, have doubtless form- 
 ed their connections already with the merchants, and probably 
 ■with, the court of Britain, for a large supply of goods. By these 
 means those murderers, who ought to suffer for treason, will get 
 the start of the friends of all liberty who have not yet tsrmed any 
 connections there; wilKhavelhe run of the trade; will sell 
 even below the sterling cost to gain custom ; sink the price of 
 goods in the hands of our honest merchants which they procured 
 at a high pric*, and so break them ; stop all our home manufac- 
 tures/ drain off all our money into the hands of Britain, except 
 what sticks in the hands of the tories, and by whicn they will ^e 
 able to influence our eleOiions, rise in power and subvert our 
 counsels ; weaken, by disabling us to pay our taxes, and strength- 
 en Great-Britain to renew & prosecute the war, or to rise in their 
 demands in the definitive treaty of peace. These tory-merch- 
 ants, in the mean time, will probably be secured by the British 
 court, for sinkage on their goods ; which would be of a peice 
 with thair conduct during the war, when, as I have been inform- 
 ed, they paid the overplus of insurance above 10 per cent, in or- 
 der to lead the trading part of the nation to think the risque was 
 «mall. And should that same court furnish them wiih money 
 for bribery, to gain such a boon as tha reduction of these states, 
 
 it need not surprize any who have been acquainted with their 
 
 gross corruption. 
 
 E 
 
C -so ) \ 
 
 cd by their fleets ; our trade ruiaed, our sons murdered^ / 
 our wives, daughters and mothers ravished, our coVinti^ . 
 plundered, and our fair edifices and towns laid in ashes., 
 These days are not far distant. The seejds are spwR^j 
 yea, the plants already flourish which threaten to produc^^ 
 this noxious fruit. But xvh9 will Relieve our report f whgtj; 
 will lay to heart our danger ? Alas ! we are so intoxicant 
 ted with the joy of peace ; so bewitched with the loye ojS 
 gain ; so enamoured with the cheapness of their goodsi^ 
 (which is the very bait to their barbed hook, that is de- 
 signed for our ruin) that there is reason to fear, that;, no 
 warnings will move us ; no dangers alarm ua ; no plot^, 
 however open, awaken our fears and jealousies, till thei 
 match is put to the fatal train, and we perish in the horrid 
 explosion. As^ it is said of sinners in Zion on sp'^ritual ac* ^ 
 counts, so I may say to my fellow-citizens with respect to • 
 our civil and political concerns j woe to them that are ajf' 
 ea^e in these States; or rather, woe to those States who 
 are not, both rulers and people, awake to their preseiii^ 
 danger, and jealous of the plots of our cruel foesr 
 
 The searcher of hearts is my witness, that I wish aadt 
 pray that all remembrance of Britain's former barbarity, 
 injustice and abuse, may be forever blotted from the min4 
 of every son of freedom ia America ; and that not only 4l 
 political, but cordial harmony and friendship may be re* ', 
 stored on scriptural, i.'e, rational and solid ground. Birt 
 it is weakness and folly to suffer such a desire to blind u« 
 to our danger, and suppres- our jealousy of a nations© 
 long* mad on our destruction ; which, to this hour, hatht 
 not XT, the least changed her principles, nor discovereii 
 an}' new reason for acknowledging our independence, bu.(( 
 pure force of necessity. Be assured, that alj her fprmejp 
 ambition, lust of power, dominion, tyranny, and aggranw ' 
 dizing herself, siiii remain, and like one whose lusts area* 
 bated by sicknesSi,i\'hen vigor returns, she will put forth 
 the saiiie acts, pl^y ihe same game. As yehii said to ' 
 yoram, ii. Kings, 9 — 2.2. '•'What haul thou to do with 
 peace ^ so long as the xvhoredoms cfthy mother yezehcly and 
 her xuitchcrafts are so rnaity .^" So we may say of Great 
 iiritain ; what hath she to do with peace whilst every ia- 
 
C 51 ) 
 
 tcmal and external motive to raise and prosecute an eight 
 years war against us, and heaven too, still exist in full vig- 
 or, except that of power to conquer us. It is therefore 
 Mly, vea madness to iniagine that she seeks peace with 
 ys for any other end, but to recover strength to renew and 
 prosecute the war with more prospect of success 
 
 6th. Another and a very fatal consequence that will 
 
 probably follow the re-admission of the tories, is a very 
 
 ■* . c .1 ^^.1 „,,^i, „r.» . c.„»o^ 
 
 *> __, ,».o« *.«»e ^/» 'HXtrS on Xllc ^^uu i^Culmc vi» iiicsc tjiai-b^ 
 
 who have borne the burden of the war. This might be 
 easily illustrated were the subject proper for the pulpit*-— 
 But it is time to close. 
 
 The view we have now taken administers cogent mo* 
 trves to the utmost watchfulness and care to prevent the 
 growth of bribery and corruption, which Ihere is the ut- 
 most reason to fear w'lH prevail among us. This is a fatal 
 
 * The fifUi preiiminary article agrees* " That C'Jngress shall 
 recommend to the states to re-consider the lav/s mnde to confis- 
 cate the estates of the refugees ; and to allow them to return to 
 tHese states, at d to endeavour for one ypar to recover their pro- 
 perty, which ihey are to have, paying the same price for it, 
 that ihe present possessor gave. But where is theman> pos.^ess- 
 ed of one of those estates, will resign it back to gnvsrnment for 
 the price he paid for it, after he has improved it for several 
 years ? Have government any demand on him for it ? Surely no. 
 Can you c';mpel him to sell it to them or anv one else ? No, not 
 ■without Ahab's and Ji-zebel's wickedness, in the case of Naboth's 
 vineyard — Can they refuse the same to the returned refugee, 
 if they accede to this ai'ticle ? No,— -Ixe must have it for the vum 
 given for it by the present possessor ^ and the court must instat* 
 him. But how will they get possession ? They must pui'chase 
 it of the present possessor — at what price f At any price he 
 pleases to ask, if it should be a thousand guineas for a single pa- 
 per dollar when sunk fifty foi one. Had I one of these estates, 
 and were disposed to play a large nd sure game for a fortune at 
 one cast, 1 would d(- all in m J power to havr the tories return 
 agrteabiy to that article, and would force government to comft, 
 to' my terms ■ 
 
 . It is easy to see how this wouldlncrease the iiublic debt, and 
 burden ihe people with new and enormous tdxes only to aggran- 
 dize a few who possess such estates, and toiniroduce to the feast 
 of liberty a. set ot slaves Avho have despised, abused and murder- 
 ed us — Awake, ye citizens of America 1 PrevsiU the evil ere 
 it 'be too late ! 
 
{ S2 ) 
 
 poisf>n» and will ^s ceftainly destroy any State, if not curbr-,. 
 cd, as arsenick does the aninnal frame. Every thing thatsi 
 has the shadow of this monster,whether threats, promises, 
 or rewards, should be treated with indignation and scorn 
 by every American sou of freedom ; and with exemplar/ 
 punishment by our authority. This monster has shewtt 
 its odious head already among us in open day-lightj 
 and few, very few were terrified at the sight. Some citi- 
 zens have threatened their fellows with loss of property 
 for voting according to their own judgement ; and mena- 
 ces cf death have been uttered against the execution of 
 lawful authority { and that with impunity.— How alarm- 
 ing this to our liberty and safety, to all good order and hap- 
 piness among us ! If the foundations are thus destroy ed^ 
 what shall the righteous do P And why have we jeopard- 
 ed our all in an eight years war, if the dear bought prize; 
 of freedom may with impunity be snatched from us by the 
 haughty and insolent threats, or the money and whe«dlin^ 
 arts of those who pique themselves on their riches, who, 
 at this day at least, are not all the best of men j nor the 
 most zealous for religion, the safety of the States, and good" 
 ef mankind. Surely some effectual laws should speedily 
 be made and strictly executed, to prevent all corruption 
 bo..h among ourselves, and from abroad. 
 
 And as we have abundant reason to tremble with fear 
 of divine judgments for the sins our land now groans un- 
 der ; for our profaneness and immorahty, colitempt of the 
 blessed gospel and profanation of the Lord's day ; which 
 is now professedly slighted by too many professing christ- 
 ians ; — let us tremble at the thought of adding thereto the 
 guilt of blood, which we shall certainly bring in ourselves 
 if we inflict not the curse of Meroz as far as God hath put 
 it in our power. Did not Ahab act thus in the case of Ben- 
 hadad ? and did not God execute this curse on him three 
 years after, viz. Thy life shall go for his life, and thy peo- 
 ple for his people. Remember, that " a State all mercy, is 
 a State unjust." Mercy, yea public mercy may, find some- 
 times ought to be «hewn to penitent felons : but obstinate 
 rebels and traitors, who have long been inured to desola- 
 tion^ &ad whose souls still abhor peace, (as ihetoriesmac- 
 
( *3 > 
 
 ifest they do by their peiitions and remonstrancca against 
 the peace) ought to suffer condign punishment. Let us 
 then purge our land from blood ; let us beseech the Lord 
 to save us from blood«guiltiness, by giving us firmness 
 and courage to put away the Achans, the accursed things 
 •from among us, lest we, like Israel, flee before our ene* 
 mies. Let us execute judgment, righteousness and truths 
 as well as mercy in our land, and not set them at variance. 
 Then may we hope that God, even our, and our fathers* 
 God will bless us, give us rain and fruitful seasons, con- 
 tinue our health, prosper our trade, increase our store?, 
 defend us from the force and plots of our enemies, succeed 
 the means of instruction, religion and piety, give us faith- 
 ful rulers and teachers that will guide us in the way to 
 heaven, pour out his holy spirit on us, and on our children, 
 revive religion and piety in our land, be a wall of fire 
 round about us, and a glory in the midst of us ; and om aU 
 our glory create a dgfcncc A ' ' ' A Miiii^Ja 
 
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