Class. Book_ L%1 * A ' k £<&> I S C O U RS E DELIVERED AT SPRINGFIELD, OCTOBER 30, 1805. On occasion of the Completion 'and Opening OF THE GREAT BRIDGE OVER CONNECTICUT RIVER, 1. i Between the towns of Springfield and West-Springfield* — £<> BY JOSEPH LATHROP, D. D. . Pastor of -the First Church in West-Spring field. V? «=«a Second Edition. L? / SPRINGFIELD, J^^f [H. BREWER — PRINTER.] ■ At a Legal Meeting of the Proprietors OF THE SPRINGFIELD BRIDGE— October 30, 1 805 — Voted — That the thanks of the corporation be presen- ted to the Reverend Doctor Lathrop, for his excellent dis- course this day delivered, on the completion of the Bridg- » and that Thomas Dwight, Justin Ely, and John Hooker, Esquires, he a Committee to present the same and to request a copy for the press. Attest — GEORGE BLISS, Proprietor's Clerk. •*• «?• * v*/» \V A v'» «fc «!» »!> »5» ^..aV .Aii*fe-4» -<|f» .jfc-afe-ifr ■4 , -..^-jfejMM'-4 t JJ- «...►>"--<..►» -J). ^e r ,..'^.'...j > .'...,..^«..«"».«-4>-»*Ir«--®"f?>--*p-»'"»<-;< ••»•«■ ••■*■ ><■■«••«• «-W >-•!>■«" *l« »i* »!* \i* «lV *v V'* V* *> V* V# %V \> V/ \> V>» NV V/» ..V' V/ . 554 ,>'>!. .>''!..>''!.■.>'< •>'-<., >'^*S14- ISAIAH xlv. 18. God himself that formed the earth and made it Ae created it not in vain he formed it t« be inhabited. E VERY rational being directs his operations _j to fome end. To labor without an object, and aft without an intention, is a degree of folly too great to be imputed to n en. We muit then conclude, that the Being, who created the world, had a purpofc in view adequate to the grandeur of the work. What th s purpofe is the prophet clea^y exprefierin our text and a preceding ve fe. " He made the e*rth — he created man upon it — he formed it to be inhabited j" to be inhabited by men ; b) fuch beings as we are. Let us furvey the earth, and we (hall find it perfectly aiap.ed to this defign. Mofes, in his hiftory of the creation, informs us, that man v. as the laft of God's wo-ks. lhe earth was en- lightened and warn ed with the un, covered with fruits and herbs, and fto' kea with every fpecies of animals, be- fore man wes placed upon it. It was rot a naked and drea y, but a beautiful and richly furnifhed world, on *hich he fir ft opened his eyes. He was not fent to fub- due a rugged and intractable wildernef: , but to occupy a kind and delightful garden, where, wiih moderate labor, h's wants might be iupplied. When Adam fi. ft awoke into exigence, contemplat- ed his own wond<-rful frame, furveyed th- ground on which he trod, beheld the groves which waved around him, 'ailed he fruits which hung before him, and traced the flreams which meandered by his fide, at once he knew, that there muft be' an invifible Being, who form- ed this pieafant place for his habitation. The fame evidence have we, that the eanh was made for the children of Adam. The fun, that vaCr. fcndy of fire in the heavens, is fo fhtioned, as to cheer and fructify the globe, and render it a tit msmfion for human beings. By there^ulir chan- ges of the ft-afons, thofe parts of the earth become ha" it- ab'e, which otherwife would be barnt with intolerable heat, or iealed up with eternal froft. Around this^lobe is fpread a body of air, fo pure as to traufmit the rays of light, and yet fo ftrong as to fuf- tain the flight cf birds. This ferves for the brea h of life, the vehicle of found, the fufpenfion of v.a:ers, the conveyance of clouds, the promotion of vegcta ion, and various other ufes necelTary to the fubfiilance, or condu- cive to the comfort of the human kind. The earth is replenished with innumerable tribes of an- imals, of which fome ailift. man in his labors, fome yield him food, and fome furnifh him with ornaments and clothing. " To man God has given dominion over the work of his hands : Under man's power he has put all things ; a 1 fheep and oxen, the beafts of the field, the fowl of the air, the fifh of the fea, and whatfoever paf- fe r h thro' the paths of the deep." The productions of the earth are various beyond con- ception. Some fpontaneous — fome the tffedts of hu- m.n culture — fome defigned for the fuppo T t of the ani- mal tribes, and fome more immediately adapted to the ufe of man. On the furfa 'e of the earth we meet with fprings and ftreams at convenient distances to fatisfy the thiiity beaft, as -.veil as to ferve th± purpofes of the rational inhabitant. And beneath the furface there are, every where, contin- ual currents ofwa f er, fpreading, like the veins in a hu- man body, in various ramirkitions, from whi~h, wuh litt : e labor, daily fupplies may be drawn. The «jreat bodies of water, with which the land is in. terfecTed, furnifh food for man, facilitate the commerce of nations, ana refrei'h and fertilize the earth. By the heat of the fun, and other co-operating caufe?, waters from the leas, rivers and fountains are railed into the cooler regions of the atmofphe-e, there condenfed in- to clouds, wafted around by winds, and fifted down in. kind and gentle' fliowefs. Thus are our fields wateied without our iaoor or fkiil. The eairh fupplies us with timber, done, cement, me- tals, and all neceffary materials, from which we may fa- bricate implements for labor, coverts from cold and ftorms, Bridges for palling the ftreams, and veflels for navigaiing the feas. The natural world is governed by uniform and ftea 4 y laws. Hence we may judge, vithin our fphere, what means are nectfiary to certain ends, and what fuccefs may ordinarily attend the works of our hands. Now to what end was all this order and beauty of na- ture — this fertility and furniture of the earth, if there were none to contemplate and enjoy them ? Without fuch an inhabitant as man to behold the works, and re- ceive the bounties of God, this earth would be made in vain ; it might as well have been a fandy defert, or an impenetrable rock. But ftill the earth, richly furnifhed as it if, would lofe more than half of its beauty and utility, if man the poiT flbr were not endued with a fa ulty of invention and action. " This alio come h forth from the Lord of hofts, wh-> is wonderful in courfel and excellent in -woiking — for his Qod doth inftrucr, him to d.fcreuon. and doth teach him.** God has done much for man ; but has left fomething for man to do for himfelf. 1 he materials ate furnifned to his hand ; he muft fit and ap- ply them to aclual ufe. In the fird ages of the world, when its inhabitants we^e few, its fpontaneous productions in a great meafure fupplied human warns. But as men inaeafed in num- bers, they found it necelTary to form fociety, inftitute government and introduce arts for a more ea y, and efs precarious fubfiften:e, and for more effectual defenfe and fecurity. Hiflory carries us ba*-k to the time when arts firfl be^an — when iron and brafs were nrlt wrought inro utenfils b) the hand of the artificer — *-hen tents a id houfes weie confiru&ed for human accommodation— - when mufical it ft.uments were invented to amufe the mind, or to affift devo ion. The hiitory which we ha»e of the beginning and progrefs of a-ts — [he flare in which we now fee them, and the improvemei ts made in ihem within the time of our own re^oPe&ion, all tend ;o con- firm tie Mofaic account cf the origin of the world. The improvement in arts, tho* in general but fl ^w, has nearly kpt pace with human exigences. For iome time pail, their progrefs has been remarkable. Their p"efent ftate of advancement would have been thought incredible a century ago. A century hence there ma) be fuch aJdiiional uifcoverits and improvements as would feem incredible now. Not only in Europe, but alfo in our own countrv, es- pecially frnce our late revolution, great progrefs has been made in agronomical difcoveries, by whi .h navigation is aflifte 1 ; — in medical f.ienceby whi h dif ales a e pre- vented or cured — in agriculture by which our lands have much increafed in their produce and value — in in tru- ment6 and ma nines to expedite and diminifh human la- bor — in the mechanical conftrudion of mils and other water- works to effect the fame and iuperior euds by a lighter impulfe of water — in the formation and ereftios of Bridges to bieak the power of ices, and withftand the impetuofity of floods — in opening artificial canals by whLh the falls and rapids of fti earns are furmounted cr avoided, and in " cutting out rivers among :he rocks, and binding the floods," fo that an inland navigation is accomplifhed. Who among us, twenty years ago, exnecled to fee the two banks of Connecticut river unite 1 at Springfield by a Bridge, which mould promife durability ? Yet fuch a ftructure we fee, this day, completed and opered for p flTge — a flru&ure which difplays the wealth and enttr- priz^of the Proprietors, and the fkill and fidelity of the artifi e'rs, and which will yield great convenien e and advantage to the contiguous and neighboring towns and to the public at large. " Except the Lord build the edifice, they hbor in vain that build it ; and except the Lord keep it, the vatch- mtn wake in vain." In a work of tnis kind, the e is the fame rtafon to acknowledge the favoring and pre- serving hmd of God, as in all other enterpnzes and un- dertakings; and mo*e in proportion to its complexity, difficulty and magnitude. The feafons have kindly fmil- ed on the operations ; and the work was nearly comple- ted without any unhappy accicentor eviloccurrent. We lament the cafualty, by which a number of the woikmen were endangered, fome were wounded, and one loft his life,* a life important to his famils and varia- ble to fociety. And yet, confideri ig the ratureof the work, the it-ngth of time fpenr, and the number of peo- ple empo\ed in it, we mutt, gratefully afcribe it to the wat hful cae of providence, tha~ no other cafually has occurred. And when we consider the fuddennefs rtfeen caufe of that event, by which io great a num- be were imminently expofed, we fee great caufe of thank; uinefs, that it was i.ot more difaltrous. They who * Captain Amos Snow, of Aihford, Connecticut. ef^aped without injury, or with but temporary wound?, ought ofien to look back to the time, when theie was but a itep between theni and death. This work, tho* the unhappy occafion of one death, may probably be the means of preferring many live?. If we were to calculate on the fame number of men, em- plo\ed for the fame number of days, in constructing and erecting our ordinary buildings, we mould certainly ex- pect casualties more numerous and di r adrous, than what have happened in this great, unufual, and apparently more dangerous undertaking. The dructure which we this day behold, naturaMy fuggefls to us a mod convincing evidence of the ewftenU and government of a Deity. Let a (hanger come and look on yonder Bnd^e ; and he will at once know that fome workmen have been there. Let him walk over it, and find that it reaches: from more to fhore ; and he will know that it was built with defign, and will not feel a moment's doubt what that defign is. Let him then defcend and examine the W'O'kmaBinip ; and he will be fure, that much {kill and the niceft art have been employed in it. And now let this fame man cad his eyes around on the world, offferve its numerous parts, the harmonious adaptation of one part to anoher, and of aU to the ufe and benefit cf mar ; and he vviil have equal evidence, that there is a Go , who made, fudains and rules this ftupendous fabric wf nature, which hi beholds every day, and which fur- rounds him wherever he goes. Such a (Iruct'.re as vender Bridge convinces us o f the importance ct Civil Society, and of a Firm and Steadj Gov* eminent. It is only in a date of focietv and under the influfnotf of government, that grand works of public utili y can be effected. Ihere mud be the concurrence of man ; — • there mull be union and fubordinatior — there muft be transferable property — there mufl be a knowledge cf am — there mull be fome power of coercion ; none of which can take place in a fava^e (late. An agreement purely voluntary among a number of individuals, with- out any bond cf union, but each one's mutable will, would no more have been competent to the completion of this Bridge at Springfield, than it was anciently to the fiaifliing of the tower on the plains of Shinar. It was neceflary here, that there mould be a corporation veiled with a power of compulfion over each of its mem- bers, and with a right to receive gradual remuneration, for theexpenfe of the work, from thofe who mould en- joy the benefit of it. And fuch a corporation mufl de- rive its power and right, as well as exigence, from fu- perior authority. The man of reafon will pity the weaknefs, or rather defpife the folly of thofe vifionary and whimfical phi'ofo- phers, who decry the focial union, and the controling power of government, and plead for the favage, as pre- ferable to the civilized (late of mankind, pretending that human nature, left to its own inclinations and energies, " tends to perfectability." If fociety were diflblved and government abolifhed, whit would be the confequence ? All the u'eful arrs wou'd be laid afide, loft and forgotten ; no works of public utility couid be accomplifhed, or would be at- tempted ; no commercial intercourfe could be maintain- ed ; no property could be fecured, and little wculd be acquired ; none of the conveniences and refinements of life could be obtained ; none of the cordialities cffriend- fhip and relation would be fe't ; more than nine tenths of the hu nan race mull perifh to make room for the few who mould have the good fortune, or rather the mif- fortune, to furvive. B Compare now the favage and the civilized ftate, and fay; Is it better, when' you are on a journey, to climb ragged mountain?, and defend frightful pie:ipices, 'hun to travel in a plain and kvel road ? Is it better to pafs a dangerous ft; earn by fwimming wi h your arms, or by floating on a !og, than to walk fecurely on a commodi- ous bridge? Is it better to till your ground with your naked hards, or with a fharp ftune, than with the labor of the ratient ox, and with inftruments fabricated by the carpenter and the frnith ? Is it better to cover your bodies with hairy fkins torn from the bones of wild beads, than with the fmooth and foft labors of the loom ? Is it better to ftarve thro' a dreary winter in amiferable hut, than to enjoy a full nble in a warm and convenient manfion ? Is it better to live in continual dread of the ruthlefs and vengeful affailin, than to dwell in fafety un- der the protection of law and government ? When men plead for the preference of the favage to the fociai Mate, they either muft talk, without thought j or muft wifh to aboiifh a free government, that it may be fucceede i by another more abfolute, in the manage- Dfri&t of which they expect a pre-eminent fhare. The work, which we this day feeaccompliihed, fug- gefts forre uleful thoughts, in relation to the nature of civil fociety. The undertakers of this work have Readily kept their great object in view, have purfued it with unanimity and zea 1 , have employed artificers fkilful in their profef- fion, and workmen faithful to their engagements, and the\ have fpared no neceflary cofh Thus they have ken the work completed to their fa; isfa&ion and to univerfal approbaiion. Here is an example for a larger fecicty. Let every member act whh a regard to the common interest, and ftudy the things which make for peace. In his fingle ca- pacity, let him be quiet and do his own bufinefs ; but when he acts in his focial relation, let the general inter- efi: predominate. Let him deteft that falfe and mifera- ble economy, which, under pretext of faving, enhances expenfe, and ultimately ruins the contemplated object. Let him never con Tent to withhold from faithful fervants their merited compenfation. In the feieclion of men to manage the public concerns, let him always prefer the wife to the ignorant, the experienced to the rude, the virtuous and faithful to the felfTfh and unprincipled, the men of activity in bufinefs, to the fauntering fons of idle- nefs and pleafute ; and in fuch men let him place juft confidence, and to their meafures yield cheerful fupport. Thus he may hope to fee the works of fociety conducted as prudently, and terminated as fuccefsfuliy, as the work which we this day admire. In the work itfelf we fee an emblem of a good fociety. The parts fitly framed and cloiely compacted together, afford mutual fupport, and contribute, each in its place, to the common ftrength ; and the whole (tructure refts firm and Ready on a folid foundation. In fociety there muff be a power of cohefion, refulting from benevolence and mutual confidence ; and there mud be a ground work fufficient to fupport ir, and this muft be Religion. It is obvious, that no fociety ran fubfifl long in a ftate of freedom, without juftice, pe&ceablenefs, fobriety, in- duftry and order among the members •, or without fidel- ity, impartiality and public fpirit in the rulers. It is e- qually obvious, that the bafis of thefe virtues can. be no- thing lefs than religion. Take away the belief of a divine moral government, and the apprehenfion of a future flate of retribution; and what principle of fociai or private virtue will you find ? It is too much the humor of the prefent day to confi- der religion as having no connection with civil govern* t. This fentiment, firlt advanced by infidels, has too implicitly adopted by fome of better horts But it is a Sentiment contrary to common experience, and common fenfe, and pregnant of fatal evils. As well may you build a cattle in the air, without a foundation on the earth, as maintain a free government without virtue, or fupport virtue without the principles of reli- gion. Will you make the experiment ? Go, firft, and tear away the pillars from yonder Bridge. See if the well-turned arches will fa/tain themfelves aloft by thtir own proportion and fymmetry. This you may as well expect, as that our happv Hate of fociety, and our free constitution of government will ftand fecure, when reli- gion is (truck a^ay from under them. If a breach fhould happen in thofe piilars, immediate reputation will doubtlefs be made. Let the fame atten- tion be paid to the ftate of religion and morals. Let every fpeci.es of vice and every licentious fentiment be difcountenanced — be treated with abhorrence — Let vir- tue and piety be enccursged and eheriflhed — Let the means of religion be honored and fupported. Thus on* ly can our focial happinefs be maintained ; thus only can we hope, it will defcend to our pofleriiy. The progrefs of arts naturally reminds us of the im* fort a net of rt vi L, tlon. The acquisition of the r e is left to human experience and invention. HeftCe they are more peri eel: in the pre- fen", than they were in preceding a'rfi lo- ans 21 Let us gratefully acknowledge and aiTiduoufly-improv our moral and religious advantages ; regard this lif .., it is, a fhort term of trial for end lefs felicity and fuln of jov ; and whi'e we remain pilgrims here on ea walk as expectants of the heavenly world. Let us be fellow helpers to the kingdom of That is a kngdom of perfect benevolence. To for that itate, we mud begin the exercife of ben slence in this. God is the great pattern of goodm Our glory is to be like him. We then fhew ourf j like him, to be his children and heirs of an : in his kingdorr, when we love our enerr r the mifersbie, encourage virtue and righte promote the common happinefs within the } of our activity and influence. How active and enterprizing are many day, so facilitate an intercourfe betweer of the country by oreparing fmooth road? by fh etching Bridges over dangerous opening canals around rapid falls, ar towns ? — Their motives, we truft, ar . vhaever be their motives, they are a eit and prosperity cf their country. ■ L\ be a prelude to works more pious and' more extenfive!y beneiicent. May the time foon come., when an equal zea.Ufcall appear to remove all impediments, which lie jn jAe:way of a general fpread of the gWpe! and a pene- ra^tonverfion of mankind to the chviliiin faith. May tWpubiic fpirit, which operates f» ■£&Q«cefsftilly in the farmers caufe, rife and expand until iktyjdently embraces the latter. May we foon hear a voice, trying in the wil- x$©rnefs, * ; Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make ftrait En thedefert a high way for our God. Call ye up, cafl ye up, prepare the way, tak'e up the Humbling bio ks out of the way of his people." And may we fee thou- fands and thoufands promptly obeying the call. "Then (hall every valley be filled, and every mountain and liill fhall be brought low ; the crooked mall be made ftraif, and the rough ways fhall be made fmooth. And all fiefh ihail fee the falvation of God." COPT RIGHT SECURED.