M R CLARK 5 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 DELIVERED 
 APRIL NINETEENTH, 
 
 M,DCC,LXXVL 
 
The Fate of Blood-thirjly Oppreffors, and GO US 
 tender Care of his dijlreffed People. 
 
 A 
 
 S E R M O N, 
 
 PREACHED AT LEXINGTON, 
 April 19, 1776. 
 
 To commemorate the MURDER, BLOOD- 
 SHED and Commencement of Ho/lilities, be- 
 tween Great-Britain and America, in that 
 Town, by a Brigade of Troops of George 
 III, under Command of Lieutenant-Colonel 
 SMITH, on the Nineteenth of April, 1775. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED, 
 
 A brief NARRATIVE of the principal 
 Tranfaclions of that Day. 
 
 By JONAS CLARK, A. M. 
 
 Pastor of the Church in Lexington. 
 
 Thofe Things doth the Lord hate : — A proud Look, a lying 
 Tongue, and Hands thai flied innocent Blood. Pro. vi. 1 6, 1 7 . 
 
 -Quid non mortalia pettora cogis, 
 
 Auri facra fames ?- 
 
 Quis ~talia fando^ 
 Mymidonum, Dolopumve. aut duri miles U tyjfei, 
 Temperet a lachrymis ? 
 
 Vir. jEneid. 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS-STATE: Boston: 
 
 Printed by POWARS and WILLIS. 
 
 M,DCC,LXXVI. 
 
Fkasklin Press: 
 Band, Avert, & Co., Boston. 
 1875. 
 
 55207 
 
The fate of blood-thirfiy oppref/ors, and 3 
 GO Us care of his diflrejfed people. 
 
 JOEL, III. 19, 20 and 21. 
 
 Egypt fiall be a defolation, and Edom fhall be a 
 defolate wildernefs, for the violence againfl the 
 children of Judah, becaufe they have flied IN- 
 NOCENT BLOOD in their land. But 
 Judah fhall dwell for ever, and Jerufalem from 
 generation to generation. For I will cleanfe 
 their blood that I have not cleanfed; for the 
 LORD dwelleth in Zion. 
 
 N r EXT to the acknowledgement of the 
 exiftence of a Deity, there is no one 
 principle of greater importance in 
 religion, than a realizing belief of 
 the divine government and provi- 
 dence, as fuperintending the affairs of the uni- 
 verfe, and intimately concerned in whatever 
 happens to mankind, both as nations and king- 
 doms, and as individuals. 
 
 Deeply to be impreffed with a fenfe of the di- 
 vine providence, to realize that God is Governor 
 among the nations, that his government is wife 
 and juft, and that all our times and changes are 
 in his hands, and at his difpofal, will have the 
 happieft tendency to excite the moft grateful ac- 
 knowledgements of his goodnefs in profperity, 
 the moft cordial refignation to his paternal dif- 
 cipline in adverfity, and the moft placid compo- 
 fure and equanimity of mind in all the chang- 
 ing 
 
4 The fate of blood-thirfly oppreffors, and 
 
 ing fcenes of life. Infpired with this divine 
 principle, we fhall contemplate, with grateful 
 wonder and delight, the goodnefs of God in 
 profperous events, and devoutly acknowledge 
 and adore his fovereign hand in days of dark- 
 nefs and perplexity, and when the greater!; dif- 
 ficulties prefs. This will be a fource of comfort 
 and fupport under private afflictions and trials, 
 and this {hall encourage our hope in God and 
 truft in his name, under public calamities and 
 judgments. — Yea, however dark and myfterious 
 the ways of providence may appear ; yet noth- 
 ing mall overwhelm the mind, or deftroy the 
 truft and hope of thofe, that realize the govern- 
 ment of heaven, — that realize, that an alwife 
 God is feated on the throne, and that all things 
 are well appointed for his chofen people, — for 
 them that fear him. 
 
 This principle and thefe fentiments therefore, 
 being of fo great ufe and importance in religion, 
 under the various difpenfations of providence, 
 one great defign of the prefent difcourfe, is to 
 roufe and excite us to a religious acknowledg- 
 ment of the hand of God, in thofe diftreffmg 
 fcenes of MURDER, BLOOD-SHED and 
 WAR, we are met to commemorate, upon this 
 folemn occafion. 
 
 The paffage before us, it is humbly conceived, 
 is well fuited to confirm our faith, to excite our 
 truft, and encourage our hope, under fuch awful 
 difpenfations, as it points out the method of 
 God's government and the courfe of his provi- 
 dence towards the enemies and oppreffors of 
 his people, and the fate of thofe that fhed inno- 
 cent blood ; and at the fame time, reprefents his 
 peculiar care of his church and chofen, and the 
 
 affu ranee 
 
G O Us care of his diflreffed people. 5 
 
 affurance they have, when under oppreffion, of 
 reftoration and eftablifhment, — and that God 
 himfelf will plead their caufe and both cleanfe 
 and avenge their innocent blood. "Egypt fhall 
 be a defolation, and Edom fhall be a defolate 
 wildernefs, for the violence againft the children of 
 Judah, becaufe they have ftied INNOCENT 
 BLOOD in their land. But Judah fhall dwell 
 forever, and Jerufalem from generation to gen- 
 eration. For / will cleanfe their blood, that I 
 have not cleanfed; for the LORD dwelleth in 
 Zion." 
 
 It is not neceffary to enquire as to the imme- 
 diate occafion, or literal fulfilment of the pro- 
 phecy before us, with refpect to the particular 
 nations, or kingdoms here mentioned. It is 
 fufficient to our prefent purpofe to obferve, that 
 Egypt was early noted, in fcripture hiftory, for 
 oppreffmg God's people, and caufing them to 
 ferve with cruel bondage. Edom alfo is menti- 
 oned as guilty of violence towards them, and 
 expreffing a moft imbittered hatred and revenge 
 againft them ; and from the expreffions in the 
 text, it is natural to fuppofe, that there had been 
 fome, if not many inftances of their fhedding in- 
 nocent blood in their land * Ifrael, God's chofen 
 people, had often fuffered violence, from both 
 thefe ftates : So that we have good reafon to 
 fuppofe, that both Egypt and Edom, in the lang- 
 uage of fcripture prophecy, in the text and 
 other paffages, may intend not Egypt or Edom 
 only, but (proverbially) in a more general fenfe, 
 enemies, perfecutors or oppreffors of God's peo- 
 ple, who violated their rights and liberties, 
 religious and civil, and by the fword of perfe- 
 ction 
 
 * Vid. Pfal. cxxxvii. 7. 
 
6 The fate of blood-thirfly oppreffors, and 
 
 cution or oppreffion, flied innocent blood in their 
 land. 
 
 Prophecies, efpecially thofe that are, or may- 
 be, of general ufe to the people of God, are but 
 feldom literal, either in prediction or fulfilment. 
 They are rather of ufe to forefhew great and in- 
 terefting events, as taking place in the world, in 
 fuch time and manner, and upon fuch perfons, 
 focieties, nations, or kingdoms, as mall difplay 
 the juftice and equity of divine government, 
 and the peculiar care which Heaven takes of 
 the church and people of God, for their cor- 
 rection, inftruction, prefervation or eftablifhment. 
 Agreeably St. Peter fpeaks ftrongly for this 
 method of explaining and improving fcripture 
 prophecies, where he fays exprefsly, that " no 
 prophecy of the fcripture is of any private inter- 
 pretation."* It is, therefore, rational to fuppofe, 
 that though prophecies may have fpecial or im- 
 mediate reference to particular perfons, focieties, 
 nations or kingdoms, and to events in which 
 they may be immediately interefted ; yet they 
 may be fitly confidered as having a further and 
 more important interpretation, which may be of 
 general ufe for the direction and edification of 
 God's church and people, in all ages, to the end. 
 In this general fenfe, therefore, you will permit 
 me to confider the prophecy in the paffage be- 
 fore us : and thus underflood, it is eafy to fee 
 feveral things fuggefted in it, worthy our moft 
 ferious attention and religious improvement, 
 upon fuch an occafion as this. 
 
 In the firft place, it is admitted, that for wife 
 purpofes, a juffc God may permit powerful ene- 
 mies, or oppreffors, to injure, do violence unto 
 
 and 
 
 * 2 Pet. i. 20. 
 
G O Us care of his diftrejfed people. 7 
 
 and diftrefs his people, and to carry their meaf- 
 ures of violence and oppreffion to fuch lengths 
 among them, as to ftrike at their life and " fhed 
 innocent blood in their land." 
 
 As God is the Sovereign of the world, and 
 exercifes his government for the glory of his 
 name, in the good of the whole, fo he hath a 
 paternal concern for the fpecial benefit and im- 
 provement of his church and people. All 
 creatures are his fervants : and God accom- 
 plifheth his defigns and carries his counfels to 
 effect, by what means and inftruments he pleafes. 
 It is with him alone, 'who is wonderful in coun- 
 fel and excellent in working," to bring good out 
 of evil. When God defigns the reproof and 
 correction of his people, he can exercife this 
 holy difcipline in various ways and by various 
 means, as {hall beft anfwer the purpofes of his 
 government. This holy ^difcipline is accord- 
 ingly exercifed, fometimes by the immediate 
 hand of providence : as in wafting ficknefs, 
 parching drought, awful and defolating earth- 
 quakes, or other judgments, which are imme- 
 diately from God himfelf. Or this may be done 
 more mediately, by the inftrumentality of his 
 creatures ; and even the wicked, and thofe that 
 love the washes of unri^hteoufnefs, that delio-ht 
 in oppreffion, wafte and fpoil, or thirft for inno- 
 cent blood, may be improved as the rod in his 
 hand to correct, or punifh the fins of his peo- 
 ple. With this view the oppreffor is permitted 
 to injure, infult, opprefs and lay wafte in a land ; 
 and to carry his meafures to the fhedding of in- 
 nocent blood. With the fame defign does a 
 fovereign God give the enemy a commiffion, in 
 war, with fire and fword, to diftrefs and deftroy. 
 
 In 
 
8 The fate of blood-thirfly opprejjbrs, and 
 
 In fuch public calamities, it is true, it often 
 comes to pafs, that as individuals, the innocent 
 are involved and fuffer with the guilty; and 
 fometimes the innocent alone. But however 
 unjuft, or cruel the oppreffor, and- thofe that 
 thirft for blood may be, in contriving and carry- 
 ing into execution their wicked, oppreffive, or 
 bloody defigns, they are no other than inftru- 
 ments in providence and the rod in the hand of 
 the great Governor of the world, for the reproof 
 and correction of his people. Thefe things 
 happen not by accident, or chance, but by the 
 direction, or permiffion of that God, who is 
 righteous in all his ways and holy in all his 
 works. When Ifrael finned and did evil in the 
 fight of the LORD, it is faid, "the anger of the 
 LORD was hot againft Ifrael, and he delivered 
 them into the hands of fpoilers that fpoiled them, 
 and he fold them into the hands of their ene- 
 mies round about, and they were greatly dif- 
 treffed."* Hence alfo the Ajfyrian King is 
 exprefsly called " the rod of God's anger" for the 
 correction of his people.! And thus Egypt 
 and Edoni, in the prophecy before us, in com- 
 mitting violence upon the children of Judah 
 and in fhedding innocent blood in their land, 
 are held up to view as the rod in God's hand, 
 for the correction, reproof and inftruction of 
 his people. Agreeably, this is the language of 
 a juft and faithful God, in fuch difpenfations, 
 " hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.% 
 
 It matters not, therefore, who are the imme- 
 diate inftruments of violence and oppreffion, or 
 by whofe hands the blood of innocent perfons 
 is fhed, or their fubftance wafted and habitations 
 
 deftroyed ; 
 
 * Judg. ii. 14, 15. t Ifai. x. 5. % Mic. vi. 9. 
 
G O D*s care of his diftreffed people. g 
 
 deftroyed ; nor yet from what motives, or views 
 fuch acts of oppreffion and cruelty are perpe- 
 trated, with refpect to the religious improve- 
 ment, that God expects us, or any people, to 
 make of fuch heavy difpenfations. 'Tis God, and 
 his hand — 'tis God and his providence, which 
 we are firfl of all concerned to notice, acknow^ 
 ledge and improve. However unjuft our fuffer- 
 ings may be from man ; yet, when we realize 
 the hand of God, the great and wife Governor 
 of the world, as concerned herein, filence and 
 fubmiffion is our indifpenfible duty, and no 
 murmur, or complaint ought ever to be heard, 
 but with reverence and humility it becomes us 
 to bow before the LORD, and adoring his fov- 
 ereignty, afcribe righteoufnefs to our God. 
 Neither the infults of oppreffors, nor the flames 
 of our once delightful habitations, nor even the 
 innocent blood oi our brethren Jlain, fhould move 
 to a murmuring word or an angry thought, 
 againft God, his government, or providence. — 
 "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and 
 mail we not receive evil ?"* — And " mall not the 
 Judge of all the earth do right!"! The more 
 grievoufly we are fmitten, the more deeply we 
 are affected, the more carefully fhould we en- 
 deavour to realize our dependence upon God, 
 the more religioufly acknowlege his hand, and 
 the more earneftly return to him that fmites. 
 This is the leffon of inftruclion, which God ex- 
 pects we fhould learn, by fuch bitter difpenfa- 
 tions, and this the improvement he looks for, 
 in us and his people, in order to the refhoration 
 of his favour and our redemption from enemies 
 and oppreffors, who threaten to lay wafte and 
 
 B deftroy. 
 
 * Job ii. 10. f Gen. xviii. 25. 
 
io The fate of blood-thirjly opprejfors, and 
 
 deftroy. May thefe things, then, be deeply im- 
 preffed on each of our hearts. — But I pafs 
 
 Secondly, To obferve the fate of oppreffors, 
 and the fentence of heaven againft thofe that 
 do violence to God's people and fhed innocent 
 blood in their land. Egypt fiall be a defolation, 
 and Edom fJtall be a defolate wildernefs, for the 
 violence againfl the children of Judah, becaufe 
 they have fhed innocent blood in their land. 
 
 However juft it may be in God to correct 
 his people, and whatever right is afcribed to 
 him of improving the wicked, as the rod in his 
 hand to correct, or the fword to punifh them ; 
 yet this alters not the nature of their oppreffive 
 defigns, neither does it abate their guilt, or alle- 
 viate their crime, in thefe meafures of injuftice, 
 violence or cruelty, by which the people of God 
 are diftreffed. 
 
 Thus God fpeaks of the Affyrian king, a 
 prince noted in hiftory for his avarice and am- 
 bition, cruelty and oppreffion, (and in him, of 
 the Affyrian flate, whofe character was included 
 in that of its king) faying — 44 O Affyrian, the 
 rod of mine anger, and the ftaff in their hand 
 is mine indignation. I will fend him to an hy- 
 pocritical nation ; and againfl the people of my 
 wrath will I give him a charge to take the fpoil, 
 and to take the prey, and to tread them down 
 like the mire of the itreets. Howbeit, he mean- 
 eth not fo, neither doth his heart think fo, but 
 it is in his heart to deftroy. Wherefore it mall 
 come to pafs, that when the LORD hath per- 
 formed his whole work upon mount Zion, and 
 on Jerufalem, I will punifh the fruit of the (tout 
 heart of the king of Affyria, and the glory of 
 his high looks."* And fo it came to pafs : For 
 
 this 
 
 * Ifai. x. 5. — 12. 
 
G O Us care of his diftreffed people. 1 1 
 
 this power, that with fuch a mighty hand, and 
 for fo long a time, oppreffed God's people and 
 other nations, in God's due time, felt the weight 
 of the iron yoke, and received double for all the 
 injuftice, oppreffion and cruelty it had exercifed 
 towards others. 
 
 In this, and many other circumftances, with 
 which hiftory abounds, it is eafy to fee the fate of 
 the enemies of God's people and oppreffors of 
 mankind. — But we need not q;o from the text, for 
 fatisfaction in this matter. In the words of the 
 prophecy before us, we have the fentence of 
 heaven againft the oppreffors of God's people 
 and the doom of thofe common enemies of man- 
 kind, pronounced, and the reafon thereof af- 
 figned, in the cleareft terms. Egypt /hall be a 
 defolation, Edom Jliall be a defolate wildemefs, 
 for the violence againft the children of Judah, be- 
 caufe they have filed innocent blood in their land. 
 
 The LORD is a God, that loveth righteouf- 
 nefs and hateth iniquity, in whatever fhape, or 
 character it appears. Injuftice, oppreffion and 
 violence (much lefs the fihedding of innocent 
 blood) fhall not pafs unnoticed, by the juft Go- 
 vernor of the world. Sooner, or later, a juft re- 
 compence will be made upon fuch workers of 
 iniquity. — Yea, though hand join in hand, in 
 meafures of oppreffion and violence, againft 
 God's people ; and though their avarice, ambi- 
 tion, and lawlefs thirft for power and domi- 
 nation, may carry them on, 'till their fteps {hall 
 be marked with innocent blood \ yet, certain it is, 
 they fhall not, finally, go unpunifhed. For a 
 time, indeed, and but for a time, fuch workers 
 of unrighteoufuefs, fuch deftroyers of mankind 
 may praclife and profper; but 'vengeance flow, 
 
 is 
 
1 2 The fate of blood-thirfly opreffors, and 
 
 is vengeance fure.' Their ways are marked be- 
 fore God. Their punifhment and deftruclion 
 are fealed in his prefence : And the time is 
 haftning, when deftruc~tion, without remedy, 
 mail be their portion. 
 
 The truth of thefe fentiments hath often been 
 verified in providence, and the proudest princes 
 and the moft powerful ftates have been taught, 
 by fevere, by fatal experience, that defolation 
 from the LORD awaits the impiety of thofe, 
 that do violence to his people and ' fhed inno- 
 cent blood in their land.' 
 
 Here then we may fee the light in which 
 that people, or nation, are to be confidered, that 
 walk in the ways of oppreffion, and that thirffc 
 for and fhed innocent blood. Here we may al- 
 fo fee the ruin to which they are haftning, the 
 awful judgments that await them, and the great 
 reafon they have to fear the fentence of heaven, 
 denounced againfl; them, in the prophecy be- 
 fore us, and its literal fulfilment upon them. 
 Which naturally leads in the laft place. 
 
 Thirdly, To obferve, in the prophecy before 
 us, the peculiar care God takes of his church 
 and people, and the affurance they have, even 
 when actually fuffering violence and under the 
 cruel hand of oppreffion, of redemption, ref- 
 toration and eftablifhment ; and that God him- 
 felf will plead their caufe, and both cleanfe and 
 avenge their innocent blood. Nothing can be 
 more directly expreffive of this fentiment, or a 
 firmer ground of affurance, for the confirmation 
 of the faith and hope of God's chofen people in 
 the belief of it, than the promife and prephecy, 
 concerning Judah and Jerufalem in the text. 
 While Egypt and Edom, while the enemies and 
 
 oppreffors 
 
G O Us care of his dijireffed people. 1 3 
 
 oppreffors of God's people, are doomed to that 
 defolation, they fo juftly deferve, the ftrongeft 
 affurances are given, "that Jndah mall dwell 
 forever, and Jerufalem from generation to ge- 
 neration. For I, faith God, will cleanfe their 
 blood, that I have not cleanfed : For the Lord 
 dwelleth in Zion." The words are plain, and 
 need no comment. They fpeak the language 
 of fcripture, fact and experience, for the confir- 
 mation of the faith and hope of God's church 
 and chofen, in days of perplexity and darknefs, 
 and when actually under the injuftice, violence 
 and cruelty of inveterate enemies, or blood thir- 
 Jly oppreffors. 
 
 Here are two things, for the inducement and 
 confirmation of the faith and hope of God's 
 church and people, in fuch times of darknefs 
 and diftrefs, which are well worthy ferious no- 
 tice and attention. 
 
 Firft, God's word and promife, in which he 
 affures his people, that notwithstanding the vio- 
 lence of their enemies againft them, and the 
 diftrefs and forrow their oppreffors may have 
 caufed them, by fhedding innocent blood among 
 them ; yet they fhall never avail to overthrow, 
 or deftroy them ; but they fhall affuredly be re- 
 deemed and delivered out of their hands, and 
 reftored and eftablimed, as his church and peo- 
 ple, in a flourifliing ftate. 
 
 And then, fecondly, To leave no doubt upon 
 their minds, as to the fulfilment of this bleffed 
 promife, a gracious God condefcends to explain 
 himfelf in the clearer!, terms poffible, and to fat- 
 isfy them, that nothing mould fail of all that 
 he had promifed, he affures them that he would 
 take the work into his own hands, and fee to 
 
 the 
 
14 The fate of blood-thirfly oppreffors, and 
 
 the accomplifhment of it himfelf; that thus it 
 might appear to them and to the world of man- 
 kind, that the Lord was with them and dwelt 
 in the midft of them. "Judah mall dwell for- 
 ever, and Jerufalem from generation to genera- 
 tion : For /will cleanfe their blood, that I have 
 not cleanfed ; for the Lord dwelleth in Zion? — ■ 
 Words well fuited to chear and comfort the 
 finking fpirits of God's afflicted, oppreffed peo- 
 ple: and words which might roufe the faith, 
 and give a fpring to the hope of the molt feeble 
 and faint-hearted, among God's people, in the 
 depths of diftrefs. For ' God is not a man that 
 he fhould lie, nor the son of man that he mould 
 repent* — ' Hath he promifed, and (hall he not 
 perform ? — Hath he fpoken, and mall he not 
 bring it to pafs ?' — 
 
 Blood is faid to be cleanfed, or avenged, when 
 juftice hath taken place, and the murderer is 
 punifhed. God may be faid to cleanfe the in- 
 nocent blood, which may have been fhed among 
 his people, by the fword of oppreffors, or ene- 
 mies, when in providence he undertakes for 
 them, avenges their blood upon them that flew 
 them, and reduces them to reafon or ruin. 
 
 The fword is an appeal to heaven, — when 
 therefore, the arms of a people are eventually 
 fuccefsful, or by the immediate interpofition of 
 providence, their enemies and oppreffors are 
 fubdued or deftroyed. — When a people are rein- 
 ftated in peace, upon equitable terms, and eft- 
 ablifhed in the enjoyment of all their juft rights 
 and liberties, both civil and facred : then may 
 it be faid, that the Lord hath cleanfed their in- 
 nocent blood, and then will it be manifeftly 
 
 evident, 
 
 * Vid. i. Sam. 15. 29. 
 
G O Us care of his diflreffed people. 1 5 
 
 evident, that their God is with them and dwell- 
 eth in the midft of them. 
 
 Now of this God hath given his people the 
 ftrongeft affurances, in the prophecy before us : 
 and thefe affurances are confirmed by the word 
 of God, to his people, throughout the facred 
 fcriptures. So that, though for their fins and 
 the multitude of their tranfgreffions, a righteous 
 God may juftly afflict and correct: his people, by 
 the hand of oppreffors, and permit their moffc 
 important rights to be violated, their fubftance 
 destroyed, their habitations to be laid wafte, or 
 even the innocent blood of their brethren to be 
 wantonly fhed in their land ; yet ftill he is their 
 God, in the midft of them, and will readily ap- 
 pear for their help, when they return from their 
 evil ways, acknowledge his hand and implore 
 his mercy and affiftance. This holy difcipline is 
 no more than what God hath given his people 
 to expect, as a reproof of their declenfions, and 
 as a means of bringing them to a fenfe of their 
 dependence upon him. Such difpenfations, are 
 fo far from being an evidence, that God hath 
 forfaken his people, given them up, or forgotten 
 to be gracious, that they are rather to be confid- 
 ered as demonftrations of his paternal care and 
 faithfulnefs towards them. Agreeably, in his cov- 
 enant with his fervant David and his houfe, this 
 method of conduct is exprefsly ftipulated, 3s a 
 token of his fpecial care and faithfulnefs, and of 
 the remembrance of the covenant he had made. 
 " If his children forfake my law, and walk not in 
 my judgments: — Then will I vifit their tranf- 
 ' greffion with the rod and their iniquity with 
 ftripes. Neverthelefs, my loving kindnefs will 
 I not utterly take from him, nor fuffer my faith- 
 fulnefs 
 
1 6 The fate of blood r thirfty oppreffors, and 
 
 fulnefs to fail. My covenant will I not break, 
 nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips."* 
 In fuch vifitations, God evidently intends the 
 befl good of his people; not their deftruction, 
 but their reformation : and if they fee his hand, 
 humble themfelves under it and feek him aright, 
 God will not fail to remember his covenant and 
 his promifes for them, and in his due time ap- 
 pear, in his power and glory, for their relief. — 
 Yea the bowels of his mercy will be moved at 
 their diflreffes, and his language will be the 
 fame as unto his people of old, when under the 
 Egyptian yoke, they were caufed to ferve with 
 
 cruel bondage " I have feen, I have feen the 
 
 affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and 
 have heard their groaning, and am come down 
 to deliver them."f And to encourage his faints 
 and people, to trufl on his name and hope in 
 his mercy, a gracious God hath moft explicitly 
 promifed them his prefence, direction and af- 
 firmance, in all their diflreffes, be they ever fo 
 numerous, ever fo great. His language is mer- 
 ciful, condefcending and endearing — efpecially 
 when by the prophet Ifaiah, he fays to his af- 
 flicted people — " When thou paffeft through 
 the waters, I will be with thee ; and through 
 the rivers, they fhall not overflow thee : When 
 thou walkefl through the fire, thou flialt not be 
 burnt ; neither fhall the flame kindle upon thee. 
 For I am the Lord thy God, the holy One of 
 Ifrael, thy Saviour."£ From thefe paffages of 
 facred writ, it appears, that as God in infinite 
 wifdom, fees fit to exercife his people with trials 
 and afflictions ; and fometimes to call them to 
 pafs through the depths of adverfity : fo he 
 
 hath 
 
 * Pfal. Ixxxix. 30. 31. 32. and 33. t A6ls vii. 34. 
 X Ifai. xliii 2, 3. 
 
G O D's care of his diflrefjfed people. 1 7 
 
 hath provided for their fupport, and given them 
 the greater! reafon to hope for his prefence and 
 affiftance, and the ftrongeft affurances, that they 
 mail be carried through all, and in the end re- 
 joice in God, as the holy One of Ifrael, their 
 SA VIOUR. — In fhort, nothing can be more 
 expreffive of God's care of his people in diftrefs, 
 and of the folid ground they have to hope for 
 redemption and falvation, in his way and time, 
 which are always the beft. 
 
 We may add, that further to confirm our faith 
 and encourage our hope, in thofe bleffed affur- 
 ances of God's prefence with his people, even 
 in their heavier!; trials and greater! perplexities, 
 we might fafely appeal to the experience of his 
 chofen, in every age, from the beginning to the 
 prefent time. This will mow how eafy it is, 
 with an infinitely wife God, to bring good out 
 of evil, and by the over-ruling hand of Provi- 
 dence, to caufe the councils and meafures of 
 perfecutors and oppreffors, to haften the redemp- 
 tion and eftablimment of the injured and op- 
 preffed, as well as to bring upon themfelves, 
 that confufion and defolation they fo juftly de- 
 ferve. — And this will alfo prove, how truly 
 applicable the words of the prophet are, to 
 God's chofen people in their diftreffes in every 
 age, when fpeaking of the large experience If- 
 rael had had, of the tender loVe and faithful care 
 of a merciful God exercifed towards them, he 
 fays, that, " In all their affliction he was afflicted, 
 and the angel of his prefence faved them : In 
 his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and 
 he bare them, and carried them all the days of 
 old*" 
 
 C Nothing 
 
 * Ifai. vi. 3. 9. 
 
1 8 The fate of blood-thirfiy oppreffors, and 
 
 Nothing is more evident from hiftory and ex 
 perience, than God's care of his people, and the 
 wifdom of his providence, in caufing the vio- 
 lence and oppreffion of their enemies, to operate 
 for their advantage, and promote their more 
 fpeedy deliverance. This appears too plain, 
 from various inftances, to admit of difpute. 
 
 The children of Ifrael would not have been, 
 fo early, perfuaded to have left the gardens of 
 Egypt or the fertile fields of the land of Goflien, 
 and in the face of every danger, attempted to 
 free themfelves from the Egyptian yoke, had not 
 their burdens been increafed to an unreafonable 
 degree, by the violence and cruelty of thofe that 
 oppreffed them, in that houfe of bondage. And 
 Pharoah and his armies would never have met 
 with that difgraceful defeat, and awful deftruc- 
 tion, which overtook them in the red fea, had 
 they not been infatuated to purfue their meaf- 
 ures of oppreffion and violence, even after it 
 was evident that their caufe was defperate, and 
 that God was againft them. 
 
 Chrifiendom would never have been roufed, 
 from that ftate of ignorance, and darknefs, and 
 flavery it was in — the proteflant league would 
 never been entered into with fuch firmnefs and 
 refolution, to fhake off the papal yoke, and re- 
 deem both church and flate from the hierarchy 
 of Rome, had not the enormities and violence 
 of that power, by which they had been fo long- 
 oppreffed, rofe to an intolerable heighth, and 
 put them upon the expedient* The 
 
 * The event of this bold attempt was happy. A juft and 
 faithful God crowned the meafures, of the confederate flates, with 
 fuccefs, beyond their moft fanguine expectations. The church 
 was refcued from the darknefs and error, in which it had been 
 involved for feveral hundred years before. A glorious reforma- 
 tion 
 
G O D's care of his dijlrejjed people. 1 9 
 
 The united Jlates of Holland would not have 
 been very eafily induced, to have oppofed the 
 power of Spain, when at the meridian of its 
 ffcrength and glory, much lefs to have attempted 
 independence of that kingdom, had they not 
 been effectually convinced, by a long feries of 
 injuries and oppreffion, and numberlefs viola- 
 tions of their molt facred rights, that there was 
 no other remedy.! Britons 
 
 Hon took place, which in a good meafure, reftored the chriftian 
 religion to its ancient purity and native implicitly, in many prin- 
 cipal ftates and kingdoms in Europe. And a foundation was 
 laid for refcuing the civil liberties of individuals, focieties, ftates 
 and kingdoms, as well as the common rights of mankind, from 
 the iron hand of tyranny, the good effects of which was felt, by 
 the proteftant ftates and kingdoms, for feveral ages fucceeding, 
 and are not totally loft as to fome, even at the prefent day, though 
 more than two centuries lince. By this important confederacy 
 of the proteftant powers, in Europe, it is evident, that, under 
 providence, the power of the beaft and the falfe prophet received 
 a fhock which it hath never recovered, — the papal power, both 
 in church and ftate, having been upon the decline, from that time 
 to this. 
 
 f It is worthy of remark, that when the Spanijh court under- 
 took the fubj ligation of the Dutch provinces in the Netherlands, 
 Spain was in the moft refpectable ftate, it had been for a long 
 time ; having juft concluded a victorious war, and being then at 
 peace with all the world. At the fame time, Spain had the beft 
 regulated army in Europe, commanded by the renowned Duke 
 of Alva, the moft experienced General then upon the ftage. 
 This wife, experienced and victorious General, with his veteran, 
 victorious troops, was fent by the Monarch and court of Spain 
 (like Gage to Bofton) upon the wholefome and pacific bulinefs 
 of fupporting government in the Dutch provinces, and enforcing 
 obedience to what were called the laws of the kingdom, or the 
 mandates of their fovereign. Accordingly, after renewed injuries 
 and repeated infults and cruelties, which rather invigorated than 
 difheartned the free and truly noble fpirits of the Dutch, at laft, 
 it came to blood ! — The conteft was, as might be expected, long 
 and bitter / — But, under every difadvantage, but the righteouf- 
 nefs of their caufe, they rofe fuperior to their mighty and numer- 
 ous oppreffors; and heaven, at length, decided in their favour, 
 crowned their endeavours with defired fuccefs, and gave and ef- 
 tablifhed unto them that freedom and independence, for which 
 they had fo bravely fought and fo freely bled. This freedom 
 and independence, fo dearly purchafed, they well knew how to 
 
20 The fate of blood-thirfty oppreffors, and 
 
 Britons would never have refifted their kings, 
 and flown to arms, in defence of their invaluable 
 rights and liberties, had they not felt the weight 
 of the iron rod of oppreffion and tyranny, and 
 feen their danger and the abfolute neceffity of 
 fuch refinance to prevent the total deprivation, 
 of all they held dear and facred, as Freemen, 
 Chriftians and a free People. — Charles would 
 not have loft his kingdom, and finally his life 
 upon the Scaffold, by the hand of the execu- 
 tioner; nor James been obliged, in difgrace, to 
 quit his throne and abdicate the government of 
 the kingdom, had it not been for their own vio- 
 lent counfels and meafures, to opprefs and en- 
 flave the people, whom they were called to gov- 
 ern and protect 
 
 Our fathers would never have forfook their 
 native land, delightfome habitations and fair 
 poffeffions, and in the face of almoft every dan- 
 ger and diftrefs, fought a fafe retreat, for the en- 
 joyment of religious and civil liberty, among 
 favage beafts and more favage men in the 
 inhofpitable wilds of America; had they not 
 been drove from thence, by the violence and 
 cruelty of perfecutors and oppreffors, in church 
 and ftate. The hierarchy of the church, by 
 which they looked upon the rights of confcience 
 
 infringed, 
 
 prize and preferve ; and by the fmiles of heaven, upon the wif- 
 dom and policy of their government, they have now enjoyed the 
 bleffings thereof, with but little interruption from enemies abroad, 
 or factions at home, for near two hundred years : And, in propor- 
 tion to the extent of their territories and the number of inhabi- 
 tants, they are, at this very time, juftly efteemed one of the richeft 
 and moft flourifhing ftates in Europe. Thus hath a righteous 
 God been pleafed to plead their caufe, and cleanfe and avenge 
 their innocent blood; and fet them free from the oppreffors hand. 
 Is not the caufe of Americans equally juft? ... Is not their God 
 the fame ? 
 
G O Us care of his oppreffed people. 2 1 
 
 infringed, and the arbitrary meafures of the 
 flate, by which they efteemed their civil liberties 
 abridged, if not grofsly violated, rather than any 
 views of worldly gain (as hath been envioufly 
 hinted by fome) were the principal caufes of 
 their emigration, and the hope and expectation 
 of deliverance therefrom, gave the fpring to the 
 hazardous undertaking. 
 
 And when heaven fo far fmiled upon their 
 enterprize, as to give them footing in the land ; 
 and when, after numerous hardships and dang- 
 ers, toils and diftreffes, they had fecured a pof- 
 feffion for themfelves and pofterity, and obtained 
 a confirmation of thofe civil and religious liber- 
 ties they had fought ; ftill retaining a filial af- 
 fection towards their native country, they feemed 
 to have nothing more at heart than that Ameri- 
 cans might be happy, in the enjoyment of their 
 juft rights and liberties, as men and chriftians, 
 under the protection of Britain ; and that Brit- 
 ain might be flourishing and glorious, in re- 
 ceiving the profits of the labour, trade and in- 
 duftry of Americans : And that the connection 
 of America with Britain, and her dependence, 
 in this way, upon the Parent flate, might have 
 been preferved inviolate to the end of time. — 
 And it may be added, that theie is no juft 
 ground to fuppofe, that it would have ever en- 
 tered the heart of Americans, to have defired 
 a diffolution of fo happy a connection with the 
 Mother-Country, or to have fought indepen- 
 dence of Britain, had they not been urged, and 
 even forced upon fuch an expedient, by meaf- 
 ures of oppreflion and violence, and the fhedding 
 of innocent blood. 
 
 But, alas! — Ill-judged counfels! — Ill-fated 
 
 meafures 
 
22 The fate of blood-thirfty oppreffors, and 
 
 meafures of Britain, and the BritifJi adminif- 
 tration, with refpect to America, have broken 
 in upon the pleafmg fcene, and fatally deftroyed 
 the happy profpects of both Britain and Amer- 
 ica / 
 
 At the clofe of the laft war, we arrived at 
 that happy period, to which our anceftors looked, 
 with earneft expectation as the utmoft of their 
 wifhes, as the anfwer of their prayers, and the 
 reward of all their toils and fufferings. The 
 favages were fubdued, thofe reftlefs neighbours, 
 the French were fubjected, and this wide ex- 
 tended continent feemed to be given us for a 
 poffeffion : And we were ready to fay, 'there 
 was none to make us afraid.' — But how uncer- 
 tain the moll blooming profpects? — How vain 
 — how difappointing the moft rational, as well 
 as raifed expectations, in this imperfect ftate ? 
 — Scarcely emerged from the dangers and fa- 
 tigues of a long and diftreffing war, we are un- 
 expectedly involved in perplexities and anxieties 
 of a different kind, which by degrees have in- 
 creafed, 'till they are become more ferious, dan- 
 gerous and diftreffing, than any ever yet felt, by 
 God's people, in this once happy land. 
 
 Through the crafty infinuations, falfe repre- 
 fentations and diabolical counfels, of the ene- 
 mies of God's people and the common rights of 
 mankind, in America and Britain, acls of op- 
 prefjion are made by the Parliament of England, 
 in which we are not reprefented, which deeply 
 affect our moft valuable priviledges. In open 
 violation of our chartered rights, thefe acts of 
 unrighteoufnefs and oppreffion, are attempted 
 to be carried into execution, in thefe colonies. 
 After various threats of coercive meafures, a 
 
 military 
 
G O Us care of his oppreffed people. 23 
 
 military force is fent to inforce them. An in- 
 nocent, loyal people are diftreffed, and every 
 art, which wit or malice could invent, is ufed to 
 flatter or fright, to divide or difliearten, and 
 finally fubjecl; us to the will of a power, not 
 known in our charters, or even in the BritifJi 
 conflitution itfelf. And as one of the natural 
 confequences of /landing armies being ftationed 
 in populous cities, for fuch execrable purpofes, 
 many of the inhabitants of Boflon are infulted. 
 At length, under pretence of ill-treatment, the 
 ftreets of that once flourifhing city, are ftained 
 with the innocent blood of a number of our bre- 
 thren, wantonly or cruelly flain, by thofe fons 
 of oppreffion and violence ! * 
 
 Upon the high refentments of the people, in 
 confequence of this horrid outrage and violence, 
 there was, for a fhort time, a paufe in their mea- 
 fures. — For a moment the oppreffors themfelves 
 feemed to be ftruck with the horrid effects of 
 their own iniquitous proceedings, and ftand 
 aghafl at the fight of the innocent blood they had 
 flied ! Perhaps they were not, at that time, fo 
 thoroughly hardened in fin as they have proved 
 themfelves fince ! — But this paufe feemed to be, 
 not to repent of their evil deeds, but rather to 
 collect themfelves, and devife fome meafures 
 more effectual : For fo far from giving over 
 the execrable defign, the plan of oppreffion is 
 renewed. New acls are paffed to diftrefs and 
 inflave us. The luffc of domination appears no 
 
 longer 
 
 * This refers to the horrid maffacre, in Bo/ton, on the even- 
 ing of the 5th of March, 1770, when the guards, under the com- 
 mand of Capt. Prefton, fired upon the inhabitants, in King 
 ftreet, killed 5 perfons upon the fpot, and wounded a number of 
 others, feveral of whom afterwards died of their wounds ! 
 
24 The fate of blood-thirfly oppreffors, and 
 
 longer in difguife, but with open face — The 
 flawing Port-Bill comes forth — Gage arrives 
 with his forces by fea and land, to carry it into 
 execution, with vigour and feverity. — And to 
 compleat the fcene, and at once, to make tho- 
 rough work of oppreffion and tyranny, imme- 
 diately follow the Bills, that fubvert the confti- 
 tution, vacate our charter, abridge us of the 
 right of trial by juries of the vicinity, in divers 
 fpecified capital cafes, and expofe us to be 
 feized, contrary to the laws of the land, and car- 
 ried to England to be tried for our lives ! — As 
 alfo the Bill for eftablifhing the popifJi religion 
 in Canada, contrary to the faith of the crown 
 and the flatutes of the kingdom. 
 
 Add to thefe things, the people are treated, 
 in various inftances, with indignity, feverity and 
 even cruelty. And, notwithstanding every pof- 
 fible expreffion of a peaceful difpofition, in this 
 people, confiftent with a determined refolution 
 and chriftian firmnefs, in defence of their rights 
 and liberties, which they held dearer than life, 
 their property is frequently and violently feized, 
 and even their perfons and lives are threatened. 
 The inhabitants of Salem are threatened with the 
 fword* for peacefully meeting to confult upon 
 matters of importance to themfelves and the 
 public, as they had an undoubted right to do, 
 by the Handing: laws of the colony. A number 
 
 * A detachment from the troops, then at Danvers, actually 
 marched, by Gage's order, into the town of Salem, with orders 
 (as it was faid) to fire upon the inhabitants, if they refufed to dif- 
 perfe. — But, as it happened, they had accomplished the affairs 
 upon which they met, before the troops arrived, and even before 
 they knew of their approach. This happily prevented the troops 
 the opportunity of executing their orders, and of Jhedding of 
 blood, for that time. 
 
G O Us care of his dijireffed people. 25 
 
 of the molt refpectable inhabitants of that town, 
 were arrejled and threatened with imprifonment, 
 by General Gages order, for calling the inhabi- 
 tants together, at the meeting aforefaid. The 
 province Jlores of powder, which were depofited 
 at Medford were alfo clandeflinely feized, by a 
 large detachment of the troops, and conveyed 
 with all poffible difpatch, to Bojlon ; as were, at 
 the fame time, alfo, fome field-pieces at Cam- 
 bridge* Intrenchments are thrown up, by 
 Gages army, and the town of Boflon becomes 
 a garrifon, and the inhabitants become prifon- 
 ers, at the pleafure of the troops. And notwith- 
 standing Gage's repeated profeffions, of having 
 no defign againft the lives, or liberties, of the 
 people, every thing hath the appearance of hof- 
 tile intentions, and of the near approach of blood 
 fhed and war.i 
 
 Many inhabitants both of the town and coun- 
 
 D try, 
 
 * This feizure of the ftores, &c. roufed the people more than 
 any thing, that had happened before. Accordingly, the next day, 
 viz. Sept. 2, 1774, feveral thoufands, not of the rabble, as minif- 
 terial hirelings have been difpofed to fpeak ; but of the refpecta- 
 ble freeholders and free-men of the adjacent towns, collected at 
 Cambridge ; and to fhew their refentment at fuch hojlile yneafures, 
 and their determined refolution never to fubmit to the opprejfive 
 acls, without tumult or outrage, called Lieut. Governor Oliver, 
 and a number more of the mandamus councellors before them, 
 and invited them to refign their feats at the board, and to declare, 
 in a very folemn manner, that they never would hold any office 
 or poft, by virtue of faid acis. The gentlemen applied to, com- 
 plied with their propofals, to general fatisfaction. 
 
 Whether this ftep, of the people, was prudent and juftifiable, 
 or not ; it ferved to difcover their fentiments of the ac"ls, of which 
 they complained, and their determined refolution to oppofe them : 
 And this was the main thing aimed at, by the fteps they took, 
 upon this occafion. 
 
 \ Gen. Gage repeatedly declared, in his anfwers to the re- 
 monftrances of the town of Bofton, the county of Worcefter and 
 the Provincial Congrefs, that he had no hoftile intentions, in any 
 of thefe meafures. With what truth and fincerity, the General 
 made fuch declarations, his after conduct fully determined. 
 
26 The fate of blood-tkirjly oppreffors, and 
 
 try, are daily abufed and infulted, by the troops. 
 The devotion of God's people, in their worship- 
 ping affemblies, is frequently interrupted, and 
 marks of the utmofi contempt are caft. upon re- 
 ligion itfelf. Bodies of troops from time to 
 time march into the country, with a view (as 
 was fuppofed) to alarm, terrify, or awe the in- 
 habitants to a fubmiffion. On the Sabbath, a 
 day held facred to God and religion, by chrift- 
 ians, while God's people were in his houfe, en- 
 gaged in devotion and the inftituted fervices of 
 religion, a detachment of thefe inffcruments of 
 tyranny and oppreffion, clandestinely landed at 
 Marblehead, and making a quick march to Sa- 
 lem, attempt to feize upon fome cannon and 
 other military ftores depofited there to be ready 
 for ufe, if wanted upon any important emergen- 
 cy : — But, happily, they are difappointed in 
 their defigns, by the fpirit and refolution of the 
 inhabitants, who fpeedily collected upon that 
 alarming occafion.* 
 
 At length on the night of the eighteenth of 
 April, 1775, the alarm is given of the hoftile de- 
 figns 
 
 * This unfuccefsful expedition was made on Lord's day, 
 Feb. 26, 1775. The party confifted of about 200 or 300 men ; it 
 was commanded by Lieut. Col. Leflie. The veffels which brought 
 them to Marblehead, arrived in the harbour, on the morning of 
 the fabbath ; and the better to conceal their intentions, lay quiet- 
 ly, at anchor, near to the wharves, with but very few hands upon 
 deck (the troops being kept clofe) 'till the people of the town 
 were affembled for the fervices of religion. While the inhabi- 
 tants were thus engaged in their devotions to God, the party 
 landed and made a fpeedy march to Salem. But all their pre- 
 caution did not avail them for the accomplifhment of their enter- 
 prize. The eagle-eyes of a watchful and wary people, juftly jeal- 
 ous of every meafure of their oppreffors, are not eafily evaded. 
 Their motions were obferved, and fuch timely notice given, that 
 fuch numbers were collected and fuch meafures taken, before 
 they arrived, as effectually fruftrated their defign and obliged 
 them to return defeated and chagrined. 
 
GO Us care of his diflreffed people. 27 
 
 figns of the troops. The militia of this town 
 are called together, to confult and prepare for 
 whatever might be neceffary, or in their power, 
 for their own, and the common fafety ; though 
 without the leaft defign of commencing hoftili- 
 ties, upon thefe avowed enemies and oppreffors 
 of their country. In the mean time, under 
 cover of the darknefs, a brigade of thefe inftru- 
 ments of violence and tyranny, make their ap- 
 proach, and with a quick and filent march, on 
 the morning of the nineteenth, they enter this 
 town. And this is the place where the fatal 
 fcene begins ! — They approach with the morn- 
 ing's light ; and more like murderers and cut- 
 throats, than the troops of a chrifiian king, with- 
 out provocation, without warning, when no war 
 was proclaimed, they draw the fword of vio- 
 lence, upon the inhabitants of this town, and 
 with a cruelty and barbarity, which would have 
 made the moft hardened favage blufh, they fJied 
 INNOCENT BLOOD!— But, O my GOBI 
 — !How mail I fpeak! — or how defcribe the 
 diftrefs, the horror of that awful morn, that 
 gloomy day ! — YonderjlSir field can witnefs the 
 innocent blood oi our brethren flainf — And from 
 thence does their blood cry unto God for ven- 
 geance from the ground! — There the tender 
 father bled, and there the beloved fon ! — There 
 the hoary head, and there the blooming youth ! 
 — And there the man in his full ftrength, with 
 the man of years! — They bleed — they die, not by 
 the fword of an open enemy (with whom war is 
 proclaimed) in the field of battle ; but by the 
 
 hand 
 
 iH" The field (not of battle) but of murder and blood/Jted, 
 where our men were fired upon by the troops. 
 
28 The fate of blood-thirjly oppref/brs, and 
 
 hand of thofe that delight in fpoil, and lurk pri- 
 vily that they may fhed innocent blood! — But 
 they bleed, they die, not in their own caufe only ; 
 but in the caufe of this whole people — in the 
 caufe of God, their country and pofterity. — And 
 they have not bled, they mall not bleed in vain. 
 — Surely there is one that avengeth, and that 
 will plead the caufe of the injured and oppref- 
 fed ; and in his own way and time, will both 
 cleanfe and, avenge their innocent blood. — And 
 the names of Munroe, Parker, and others, that 
 fell victims to the rage of blood-thirfly oppref- 
 fors, on that gloomy morning, fhall be had in 
 grateful remembrance, by the people of this 
 land, and tranfmitted to pofterity, with honour 
 and refpecl:, throughout all generations.* 
 
 — But who fhall comfort the diftreffed rela- 
 tives, — the mourning widows, the fatherlefs 
 children, the weeping parents, or the afflicted 
 friends? — May the confolations of that God, 
 who hath hitherto fupported them, be ftill their 
 fupport! — Upon him may they ftill depend, and 
 from him and his grace may they ftill derive all 
 needed fupplies, in things fpiritual and tem- 
 poral ; and yet more and more experience the 
 faithfulnefs and truth, the mercy and goodnefs, 
 of the God of all comfort. 
 
 May thofe that were wounded, and have fince 
 
 experienced 
 
 * The perfons killed, in the morning, when hoftilities were 
 firft commenced, were, Meffieurs Robert Munro, Jonas Parker, 
 Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Harrington, jun. Ifaac Muzzy, Ca- 
 leb Harrington and John Brown, of Lexington ; and one — Por- 
 ter, of Woburn. Wounded, Jedediah Munro, Thomas Winfhip, 
 Nathaniel Farmer, John Robbins, Solomon Peirce, John Tidd, 
 Jofeph Comee, Ebenezer Munro, jun. and Prince, a Negro, of 
 Lexington, and Jacob Bacon, of Woburn. Afternoon. Killed. 
 Jedediah Munro, John Raymonds and Nathaniel VVyman. 
 Wounded, in purfuit of the enemy, when retreating, Francis 
 Brown, all of Lexington. 
 
G O D's care of his dijlr effect people. 29 
 
 experienced the tender mercy of that God, "who 
 woundeth, and healeth, and bindeth up," be 
 deeply impreffed with a fenfe of his diftin- 
 guifhing goodnefs, that their lives were fpared, 
 while others were taken ; and be perfuaded, 
 more entirely than ever, to devote them to God, 
 his fervice and glory 
 
 May all in this place, ftill carefully remember, 
 notice and improve this awful difpenfation. — 
 Particularly, it concerns, not only thofe whofe 
 fubftance hath been plundered, and whofe habi- 
 tations have been burnt, by thefe lawlefs inva- 
 ders ; but alfo all, in general, diligently and 
 ferioufly to enquire, wherefore it is, that a right- 
 eous God is contending with us, by the fire and 
 /word of the oppreffor : — And wherefore it is 
 that this awful fcene, of bloodfhed and war, was 
 opened in this place. May we ftill humble our- 
 felves before God, under a fenfe of the terrible 
 things, which in righteoufnefs he hath done in 
 the midft of us. May we alfo be deeply im- 
 preffed, with a moft grateful fenfe of the good- 
 nefs of God, in that fo much mercy was remem- 
 bred in judgment; that fo few were found 
 among the wounded and flain, and fo few habi- 
 tations were confumed by the fire of the enemy, 
 when fo many were fpared, that were equally 
 expofed. And may this day be remembered, to 
 the glory of God, and our own inftruclion and 
 improvement, fo long as we live. 
 
 But it is not by us alone, that this day is to 
 be noticed. — This ever memorable day is full of 
 importance to all around — to this whole land 
 and nation ; and big with the fate of Great- 
 Britain and America. — From this remarkable , 
 day will an important cera begin for both Amer- 
 ica 
 
30 The fate of blood-thirjly oppreffors, and 
 
 ica and Britain. And from the nineteenth of 
 April, 1775, we may venture to predict, will be 
 dated, in future hiftory, THE LIBERTY or 
 SLAVERY of the AMERICAN WORLD, 
 according as a fovereign God mall fee fit to 
 fmile, or frown upon the interefiing caufe, in 
 which we are enoao;ed. 
 
 How far the prophecy before us, may be ap- 
 plicable, upon this folemn occafion, and with 
 what degree of truth, or probability, it may be 
 predicted, in confequence of the prefent unjuft 
 and unnatural war, " that Great-Britain fhall be 
 a defolation, and England be a defolate wilder- 
 nefs, for the violence againft the children of 
 America, becaufe they have fhed INNOCENT 
 BLOOD in their land: But America fhall 
 dwell forever, and this people from generation 
 to generation. And the LORD himfelf will 
 -deanfe their blood, that he hath not already 
 cleanfedr — How far (I fay) this prophecy may 
 be applicable, in the prefent interefiing contejl, 
 and how far it may be accomplished in the iffue 
 thereof, God only knows, and time only can dif- 
 cover. — But of this we are certain, if we " hum- 
 ble ourfelves under the mighty hand of God 
 upon us, we fhall be exalted, in his due time;" 
 and if we rightly improve his dealings, " accept 
 the punifhment of our fins" and religioufly 
 truft in his name, we fhall fee his falvation. 
 
 From what hath already happened, in the 
 rife and progrefs, and even unto the prefent 
 ftate of this moft interefiing conflict:, we have 
 the greateft. reafon to hope for an happy iffue, 
 in the end. Though with fire and fword, our 
 , enemies and oppreffors have endeavoured to 
 lay wafle and deftroy, and though they have be- 
 gun 
 
G O D's care of his diflreffed people. 3 1 
 
 gun and caried on the war, fo far as their pow- 
 er could enable them, with more than favage 
 cruelty and barbarity ; yet, through the pecu- 
 liar favour of heaven, they have not been able 
 to carry their defigns to effect; yea, in moft of 
 their enterprizes, they have been greatly difap- 
 pointed. — Not to fay defeated and difgraced. — • 
 Inftead of awing the people into fubmiffion, by 
 thefe meafures of violence and cruelty, with 
 which they commenced hoftilities againfl; us, as 
 they undoubtedly expected, their fpirits have 
 been roufed and awakened thereby, beyond what 
 anv other means could have ever effected : and 
 with a union and firmnefs, exceeding the moft 
 fanguine expectations, they have armed to de- 
 fend themfelves and their country, and to re- 
 venge the injuries received and the innocent 
 blood of their brethren flain. And a merciful 
 God, in various inftances, hath crowned our 
 arms with fuccefs and victory. Not only the 
 acquifitions at the weftward, and the progrefs of 
 our army in Canada, but the prefervation and 
 defence of this colony ; and above all, the unex- 
 pected evacuation of the town of Boflon, which, 
 at fuch immenfe coft, they had fortified, and had 
 fo long in their poffeffion — and their deftroy- 
 ing the works of their own hands, which with 
 fo much labour and expence, they had erected ; 
 befpeak the fpecial favour of heaven, to this in- 
 jured and oppreffed people ; and appear to be 
 happy omens of thofe further fucceffes, which 
 are neceffary to complete our deliverance, and 
 render this land a quiet habitation. 
 
 May that God, who is a God of righteoufnefs 
 and falvation, ftill appear for us, go forth with 
 our armies, tread down our enemies, and cleanfe 
 
 and 
 
32 The fate of blood-thirjly oppreffors. 
 
 and avenge our innocent blood. And may we 
 be prepared, by a general repentance and tho- 
 rough reformation, for his gracious and power- 
 ful interpofition in our behalf; and then may 
 we fee the difplays of his power and glory for 
 our falvation. Which God of his infinite mer- 
 cy grant, for his mercy's fake in Chrift Jefus. 
 
 AMEN. 
 
 m i m rrr*~ TjiHTflTTHflin n u iiiiui i iMTO MMniiMrBnToioii^ 
 
 / 
 
A NARRATIVE, &c. 
 
 As it was not conjiflent with the limits of a Jingle difcourfe, to 
 give a full accotmt of the ■particulars of this moll favage and 
 murderotis affair; the following plain and faithful narrative 
 of facts, as they appeared to us in this place, may be matter of 
 fatisfaclion. 
 
 ON the evening of the eighteenth of April, 177$, we received 
 two meffages ; the flrft verbal, the other by exprefs, in writ- 
 ing, from the committee of fafety, who were then fitting in the 
 wefterly part of Ca?nbridge, directed to the Honorable JOHN 
 HANCOCK, Efq; (who, with the Honorable SAMUEL 
 ADAMS, Efq; was then providentially with us) informing, 
 " that eight or nine officers of the king's troops were feen, juft be- 
 fore night, paffing the road towards Lexington, in a mufing, con- 
 templative pofture ; and it was fufpe&ed they were out upon 
 fome evil defign." 
 
 As both thefe gentlemen had been frequently and even pub- 
 licly, threatened, by the enemies of this people, both in England 
 and Ame7-ica, with the vengeance of the Britifh adminiflration : 
 — And as Mr. Hancock in particular had been, more than once, 
 perfonally infulted, by fome officers of the troops, in Bofton ; it 
 was not without fome juft grounds fuppofed, that under cover of 
 the da.vknefs,f udden arrejl, if not affaffination might be attempt- 
 ed, by thefe inflruments of tyranny ! 
 
 To prevent any thing of this kind, ten or twelve men were im- 
 mediately collected, in arms, to guard my houfe, through the 
 night. 
 
 In the mean time, faid officers paffed through this town, on the 
 road towards Concord: It was therefore thought expedient to 
 watch their motions, and if poffible make fome difcovery of their 
 intentions. Accordingly, about 10 o'clock in the evening, three 
 men, on horfes, were difpatched for this purpofe. As they were 
 peaceably paffing the road towards Concord, in the borders of 
 Lincoln, they were fuddenly flopped by faid officers, who rode up 
 to them, and putting piftols to their breafts and feizing their 
 horfes bridles, fwore, if they flirred another Jlep, they Jhould be 
 all dead men! — The officers detained them feveral hours, as pri- 
 foners, examined, fearched, abufed and infulted them ; and in 
 their hafty return (fuppofing themfelves difcovered) they left them 
 in Lexington. — Said officers alfo took into cuftody, abufed and 
 threatened with their lives feveral other perfons ; fome of whom 
 they met peaceably paffing on the road, others even at the doors 
 of their dwellings, without the leaft provocation, on the part of 
 the inhabitants, or fo much as a queftion afked by them. 
 
 Between the hours of twelve and one, on the morning of the 
 NINETEENTH OF APRIL, we received intelligence, 
 by exprefs, from the Honorable JOSEPH WARREN 
 Efq; at Boflon, " that a large body of the king's troops (fuppofed 
 
 to 
 
to be a brigade of about 12, or 1500) were embarked in boats 
 from Boflon, and gone over to land on Lechmere' 1 s-Point (fo 
 called) in Cambridge : And that it was fhrewdly fufpected, that 
 they were ordered to feize and deftroy the flores, belonging to 
 the colony, then depofited at Concord" in confequence of Gener- 
 al Gage's unjujlifiable feizure of the provincial magazine of 
 powder at Medford, and other colony flores in feveral other 
 places. 
 
 Upon this intelligence, as alfo upon information of the con- 
 duel of the officers as above-mentioned, the militia of this town 
 were alarmed, and ordered to meet on the ufual place of parade ; 
 not with any defign of commencing hoflilities upon the king's 
 troops, but to confult what might be done for our own and the 
 people's fafety : And alfo to be ready for whatever fervice provi- 
 dence might call us out to, upon this alarming occafion, in cafe 
 overt-acls of violence, or open hoflilities fhould be committed by 
 this mercenary band of armed and blood-thirfly oppreffors. 
 
 About the fame time, two perfons were fent exprefs to Cam- 
 bridge, if poffible, to gain intelligence of the motions of the troops, 
 and what rout they took. 
 
 The 7nilitia met according to order ; and waited the return of 
 the meffengers, that they might order their meafures as occafion 
 fhould require. Between 3 and 4 o'clock, one of the expreffes 
 returned, informing, that there was no appearance of the troops, 
 on the roads, either from Cambridge or Charleftown; and that it 
 was fuppofed that the movements in the army the evening be- 
 fore, were only a feint to alarm the people. Upon this, therefore, 
 the militia company were difmiffed for the prefent, but with or- 
 ders to be within call of the drum, — waiting the return of the 
 other meffenger, who was expected in about an hour, or fooner, 
 if any difcovery fhould be made of the motions of the troops. — 
 But he was prevented by their filent and fudden arrival at the 
 place where he was, waiting for intelligence. So that, after all 
 this precaution, we had no notice of their approach, 'till the bri- 
 gade was aclually in the town, and upon a quick march within 
 about a mile and a quarter of the meeting houfe and place of 
 Parade. 
 
 However, the commanding officer thought beft to call the 
 company together, — not with any defign of oppofing fo fuperior a 
 force, much lefs of commencing hoflilities; but only with a view 
 to determine what to do, when and where to meet, and to difmifs 
 and difperfe. 
 
 Accordingly, about half an hour after four o'clock, alarm guns 
 were fired, and the drums beat to ar?ns; and the militia were 
 collecting together. — Some, to the number of about 50, or 60, or 
 poffibly more, were on the parade, others were coming towards 
 it. — In the mean time, the troops, having thus ftolen a march up- 
 on us, and to prevent any intelligence of their approach, having 
 feized and held prifoners feveral perfons whom they met un- 
 armed upon the road, feemed to come determined for M U R- 
 DER and BL O ODSHED; and that whether provoked to 
 it, or not ! — When within about half a quarter of a mile of the 
 
 meeting-houfe, 
 
meeting-houfe, they halted, and the command was given to prime 
 and load; which being done, they marched on 'till they came up 
 to the eaft end of faid meeting-houfe, in light of our militia (col- 
 lecting as aforefaid) who were about 12, or 13 rods diftant. — Im- 
 mediately upon their appearing fo fuddenly, and fo nigh, Capt. 
 Parker, who commanded the militia company, ordered the men 
 to difperfe, and take care of themfelves ; and not to fire. — Upon 
 this, our men difperfed ; — but, many of them, not fo fpeedily as 
 they might have done, not having the moft diftant idea of fuch 
 brutal barbarity and more than favage CR WE L TV, from the 
 troops of a Britijh KING, as they immediately experienced ! — 
 ! — For, no fooner did they come in fight of our company, but one 
 of them, fuppofed to be an officer of rank, was heard to fay to 
 the troops, "Damn them; we will have them /" — Upon which 
 the troops fhouted aloud, huzza'd, and rufhed furioufly towards 
 our men. — About the fame time, three officers (fuppofed to be 
 Col. Smith, Major Pitcairn and another officer) advanced, on 
 horfe back, to the front of the body, and coming within 5 or 6 
 rods of the militia, one of them cried out, "ye villains, ye Re- 
 bels, difperfe; Damn you, difperfe /" — or words to this effect. 
 One of them (whether the fame, or not, is not eafily determined) 
 faid, "Lay down your arms ; Damn you, why don 't you lay down 
 your ar)ns /" — The fecond of thefe officers, about this time, fired 
 a piftol towards the militia, as they were difperfing. — The fore- 
 moft, who was within a few yards of our men, brandifhing his 
 fword, and then pointing towards them, with a loud voice faid, to 
 the troops, " Fire ! — By God, fire !" — which was inftantly fol- 
 lowed by a difcharge of arms from the faid troops, fucceeded by 
 a very heavy and clofe fire upon our party, difperfing, fo long as 
 any of them were within reach. — Eight were left dead upon the 
 ground. 1 * Ten were wounded. — The reft of the company, through 
 divine goodnefs, were (to a miracle) preferved unhurt in this 
 murderous action ! 
 
 As to the queftion, 'Who fired firft?' — if it can be a queftion 
 with any ; we may obferve, that though General Gage hath been 
 pleafed to tell the world, in his account of this favage tranfaclion, 
 " that the troops were fired upon by the rebels out of the meeting- 
 houfe, and the neighbouring houfes, as well as by thofe that were 
 in the field ; and that the troops only returned the fire, and paffed 
 on their way to Concord ;" — yet nothing can be more certain 
 than the contrary, and nothing more falfe, weak, or wicked, than 
 fuch a reprefentation. 
 
 To fay nothing of the abfurdity of the fuppofition, 'that 50, 60, 
 or even 70 men, fhould, in the open field, commence hofiilities 
 with 12, or 1500, of the beft troops of Britain,^ nor of the known 
 determination of this fmall party of Americans, upon no confide- 
 ration whatever, to begin the fcene of bloody — A clotid of wit- 
 defies, 
 
 * For the names of the killed and wounded, fee Ser. page 28, note. 
 
 t 1200, or 1500, was the number we then fuppofed the brigade to confift of: though 
 afterwards, by the beft accounts, it appeared, that there were but about 800. 
 
 t From a moft intimate acquaintance with the fentiments of the inhabitants of this 
 
 town, 
 
neffes, whofe veracity cannot be juftly difputed, ttpon oath have 
 declared, in the moft exprefs and pofitive terms, ' that the Britijh 
 troops fired firji: * — And I think, we may fafely add, without the 
 leaft reafon or provocation.— Nor was there opportunity given, 
 for our men to have faved themfelves, either by laying down 
 their arms, or difperfing, as directed, had they been difpofed to; 
 as the command to fire upon them was given almoft at the fame 
 inftant, that they were ordered, by the BritiJJi officers, to difperfe, 
 to lay down their arms, &c. 
 
 In fhort, fo far from firing firji upon the king's troops ; upon 
 the moft careful enquiry, it appears, that but very few of our peo- 
 ple fired at all ; and even they did not fire till after being fired 
 upon by the troops, they were wounded themfelves, or faw others 
 killed, or wounded by them, and looked upon it next to impoffi- 
 ble for them to efcape. 
 
 As to any firing from the meeting- hou/e, as Gage reprefents ; 
 it is certain, that there were but four men in the meeting houfe, 
 when the troops came up: and they were then getting fome am- 
 munition, from the town ftock, and had not fo much as loaded 
 their guns (except one, who never difcharged it) when the troops 
 fired upon the militia. And as to the tieighbou?-ing houfes, it is 
 equally certain, that there was no firing from them, unlefs, after 
 the difperfion of our men, fome, who had fled to them for fhelter, 
 might fire from them upon the troops. 
 
 One circumftance more, before the brigade quitted Lexington, 
 I beg leave to mention, as what may give a further fpecimen of 
 the fpirit and character, of the officers and men, of this body of 
 troops. — After the 7nilitia company were difperfed and the fir- 
 ing ceafed, the troops drew up and formed, in a body on the 
 common, fired a volley and gave three huzzas, by way of tri- 
 umph, and as expreffive of the joy of VICTOR JKand glory 
 ofCONQUES T! — / — Of this tranfaaion, I was a witnefs, 
 having, at that time, a fair view of their motions, and being at 
 the diftance of not more than 70 or 80 rods from them. 
 
 Whether this ftep was honorary to the detachment, or agreea- 
 ble to the rules of war — or how far it was expreffive of bravery, 
 heroifm and true military glory, for 800 difciplined troops of 
 Great Britain, without notice or provocation, to fall upon 60, or 
 70, undifciplined Americans, who neither oppofed nor molefted 
 them, and 7nurder fome and difperfe the reft, and then to give 
 the flwut and make the triumph of viclory, is not for me to de- 
 termine ; but muft be fubmitted to the impartial world to judge. 
 — That "there is a God with whom is the power, and the glory, 
 and the victory," is certain : but whether he will fet his feal to the 
 triumph, made upon this moft peculiar occafion, by following it 
 with further fucceffes, and finally giving up this people into the 
 hands of thofe, that have thus cruelly commenced hoftilities 
 againft them, muft be left to time to difcover. — But to return 
 from this digreffion, if it may be called a digreffion. Having 
 
 town, then collected in arms, I think I may boldly affert, that it was their kncrwn de- 
 termination not to commence hoftilities, upon the king's troops; though they were 
 equally determined to ftand by their rights to the laft. 
 * See narrative and depositions, publiihed by authority. 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 Having thus vanquified the party in Lexington, the troops 
 marched on for Concord, to execute their orders, in deftroying 
 the ftores belonging to the colony, depofited there — They met 
 with no interruption in their march to Concord. — But by fome 
 means or other, the people of Concord had notice of their ap- 
 proach and defigns, and were alarmed about break of day ; and 
 collecting as foon, and as many as poffible, improved the time 
 they had before the troops came upon them, to the beft advant- 
 age, both for concealing and fecuring as many of the public ftores 
 as they could, and in preparing for defence. — By the ftop of the 
 troops at Lexington, many thoufands were faved to the colony, 
 and they were, in a great meafure, fruftrated in their defign. 
 
 When the troops made their approach to the eafterly part of 
 the town, the provincials of Concord and fome neighbouring 
 towns, were collected and collecting in an advantageous poft, on 
 a hill, a little diftance from the meeting-houfe, north of the road, 
 to the number of about 150, or 200 : but finding the troops to be 
 more than three times as many, they wifely retreated, firft to a 
 hill about 80 rods further north, and then over the north-bridge 
 (fo called) about a mile from the town : and there they waited 
 the coming of the militia of the towns adjacent, to their affif- 
 tance. 
 
 In the mean time, the Britifti detachment marched into the 
 center of the town. A party of about 200, was ordered to take 
 poffeffion of faid bridge, other parties were difpatched to various 
 parts of the town, in fearch of public ftores, while the remainder 
 were employed in feizing and deftroying, whatever they could find 
 in the town-houfe, and other places, where ftores had been lodg- 
 ed. — But before they had accomplifhed their defign, they were 
 interrupted by a difcharge of arms, at faid bridge. 
 
 It feems, that of the party above-mentioned, as ordered to take 
 poffeffion of the bridge, one half were marched on about two miles, 
 in fearch of-ftores, at Col. Barrefs and that part of the town: 
 while the other half, confifting of towards 100 men, under Capt. 
 Lawrie, were left to guard the bridge. The provincials, who 
 wpre in fight of the bridge, obferving the troops attempting to 
 take up the planks of faid bridge, thought it neceffary to diflodge 
 them, and gain poffeffion of the bridge. — They accordingly mar- 
 ched, but witli exprefs orders not to fire, unlefs firft fired upon 
 by the king's troops. Upon their approach towards the bridge, 
 Capt. Lawrie's party fired upon them, killed Capt. Davis and 
 another man dead upon the fpot, and wounded feveral others. 
 Upon this our militia rufhed on, with a fpirit becom'mg free-bom 
 Americans, returned the fire upon the enemy, killed 2, wounded 
 feveral and drove them from the bridge, and purfued them towards 
 the town, 'till they were covered by a reinforcement from the 
 main body. The provincials then took poft on a hill, at fome 
 diftance, north of the town : and as their numbers were continu- 
 ally increafing, they were preparing to give the troops a proper 
 difcharge, on their departure from the town. 
 
 In the mean time, the kind's troops collected ; and having 
 dreffed their wounded, deftroyed what ftores they could find, and 
 
 infulted 
 
infulted and plundered a number of the inhabitants, prepared 
 for a retreat. 
 
 " While at Concord, the troops difabled two 24 pounders ; de- 
 ftroyed their 2 carriages, and feven wheels for the fame, with 
 their limbers. Sixteen wheels for brafs 3 pounders, and 2 car- 
 riages with limber and wheels for two 4 pounders. The}' threw 
 into the river, wells, &c. about 500 weight of ball: and ftove 
 about 60 barrels of flour ; but not having time to perfect their 
 work, one half of the flour was afterwards faved."* 
 
 The troops began a hafty retreat about the middle of the day : 
 and were no fooner out of the town, but they began to meet the 
 effects of the juft refentments of this injured people. The pro- 
 vincials fired upon them from various quarters, and purfued 
 them (though without any military order) with a firmnefs and in- 
 trepidity, beyond what could have been expected, on the firft on- 
 fet, and in fuch a day of confufion and diftrefs ! — The fire was 
 returned, for a time, with great fury, by the troops as they re- 
 treated, though (through divine goodnefs) with but little execu- 
 tion. — This fcene continued, with but little intermiffion, till they 
 returned to Lexington ; when it was evident, that, having loft 
 numbers in killed, wounded, and prifoners that fell into our 
 hands, they began to be, not only fatigued, but greatly difheart- 
 eined. And it is fuppofed they muft have foon furrendered at 
 difcretion, had they not been reinforced. — But Lord Percy's ar- 
 rival with another brigade, of about 1000 men, and 2 field pieces, 
 about half a mile from Lexington meeting-houfe, towards Cam- 
 bridge, gave them a feafonable refpite. 
 
 The coming of the reinforcement, with the cannon, (which our 
 people were not fo well acquainted with then, as they have been 
 fince) put the provincials alfo to a paufe, for a time. — But no 
 fooner were the king's troops in motion, but our men renewed 
 the purfuit with equal, and even greater ardor and intrepidity 
 than before, and the firing on both fides continued, with but lit- 
 tle intermiffion, to the clofe of the day, when the troops entered 
 Charlejiown, where the provincials could not follow them, with- 
 out expofing the worthy inhabitants of that truly patriotic town, 
 to their rage and revenge. — That night and the next day, they 
 were conveyed in boats, over Charles-River to Bojlon, glad to 
 fecure themfelves, under the cover of the fhipping, and by 
 ftrengthning and perfecting the fortifications, at every part, 
 againft the further attacks of a juftly incenfed people, who, upon 
 intelligence of the murderous tranfaclions of this fatal day, were 
 collecting in arms, round the town, in great numbers, and from 
 every quarter. 
 
 In the retreat of the king's troops from Concord to Lexington, 
 they ravaged and plundered, as they had opportunity, more or 
 lefs, in molt of the houfes that were upon the road. — But' after 
 they were joined by Piercy's brigade, in Lexington, it feemed as 
 if all the little remains of humanity had left them ; and rage and 
 revenge had taken the reins, and knew no bounds ! — Cloathing, 
 
 furniture, 
 
 * See Rev. Mr. Cordon's account. 
 
furniture, provifions, goods, plundered, broken, carried off, or 
 dejiroyed! — Btiildings (efpecially dwelling houfes) abufed, de- 
 faced, battered, flattered and almof ruined 1 — And as if this 
 had not been enough, numbers of them doomed to the flames / — 
 Three dwelling houfes, two fliops and a barn, were laid in afilies. 
 in Lexington * / — Many others were fet on fire, in this town, in 
 Cambridge, Qr'c. and mufl have fliared the fame fate, had not the 
 clofe purfuit of the provincials prevented, and the flames been 
 feafonably quenched! — Add to all this j the unarmed, the aged 
 and infirm, who were unable to flee, are inhumanly flabbed and 
 murdered in their habitations ! — Yea, even women in child-bed, 
 with their helplefs babes in their arms, do not efcape the horrid 
 alternative, of being either cruelly murdered in their beds, hirnt 
 in their habitations, or turned into the Jlreets to perifJi with cold, 
 nakednefs and diflrefs \ ! — But I forbear — words are too infig- 
 nificant to exprefs, the horrid barbarities of that difireffing 
 day!—!—!% 
 
 Our lofs, in the feveral actions of that day, was 49 killed, 34 
 wounded and 5 miffing, who were taken prifoners, and have fince 
 been exchanged. The enemy's lofs, according to the beft ac- 
 counts, in killed, wounded and miffing, about 300. 
 
 As the war was thus began with fav age cruelty, in the aggreff- 
 ors ; fo it has been carried on with the fame temper and fpirit, 
 by the enemy in but too many inftances. Witnefs the wanton 
 cruelty, difcovered in burning Charleflown, Norfolk, Falmouth, 
 &c. But as events which have taken place fince the ever mem- 
 orable nineteenth of April, 1775, do not properly come within 
 the compafs of this narrative, they muft be left for fome abler 
 pen to relate. 
 
 * Deacon Loring's houfe and barn, Mrs. Lydia Mulliken's houfe, and her fon's 
 Ihop, and Mr. Jofhua Bond's houfe and fhop. 
 
 t See dep. publifhed by authority. 
 
 % " Quorum pars magna fui !" Vir. 
 
 I 
 
 FINIS. 
 
BOSTON COLLEGE 
 
 3 9031 01408801 7