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BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME	
EROM THE	
SAGE ENDOWMENT	FUND
THE GIFT OF	
Hcnrg HD* Sage	
1891	
		aJmJjA.	
35I3-IThe DIVINE GOODNESS
TO THE
„ *	; T '	- W *.
.	\ -V it t \ . O . **
i*- -A ■	'*■' V'
UNITE© *
of AMERICA,
PARTICULARLY IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR>
A*,
/thanksgiving sermon,
fj
PREACHED in NEW-YORK, February 19, 1795,
■jf'-V*?
J,/■
£‘V
By JOHN M’KNIGHT, d* d. 1 J ^^
One of the MINISTERS of the UNITED PRESBYTE-
RIAN CONGREGATIONS in theCity of NEW-YORK,
'ih~

NEW-YORK—trjn.ted byTHOMAS GRE E.N.L E A F.
The P R E F A C E.
1 HE Difcourfe here prefented to the pub*
lie, when delivered', was prefaced thus :
" Having for fbme time paft been consi-
derably indifpofed, I have neither had time,
nor been in a capacity to pay that attention
to the following Difcourfe which I could have
wilhed. It is, therefore, hoped, that the few
thoughts which may be offered, and which
have been haftily thrown together, will be
received with candor and indulgence.”
From this it will be juftly fuppofed, that
when the Difcourfe was delivered, there was
not the moft diflant thought entertained of
printing it. Mifreprefentation, calumny, and
perfonai indignities on the one hand ; and
folicitation and importunity, on the other,
have, at length, prevailed upon the Author
to offer it to the public through the medium
of the prefs. The occafionVf the publication
rendered it improper that, however defe&ive
or imperfett, it fhould undergo any alterati-
on. It is, therefore, printed from the original
copy from which it was delivered, without
any alteration.PREFACE.
It was not the wilh nor the intention of the
Author to wound the feelings of any of hiss
audience. He did not then fuppofe, nor can
he yet think, that there is any thing in the
DifcourTe that is juft caufe of offence. He
is confident that he has not advanced any
thing that is not well founded, that was not
directly fuited to the bufinefs of the day, and
for which there was not a juft and Tneceffary
foundation laid in the Prefidents proclama-
tion. Born in Amferica, uniformly, decided-
ly, and firmly attached to her interefts, he
has fpoke what he thought and- felt.; He has
not, from particular enquiry, been able to
find, that among thofe who have, taken ex-
ceptions. at it, there is one who has fuftained
the character of a whig. And he flatters him-
felf, that what he. has/advanced will meet the
fentiments and viewsofevetyAmerican. The
perfon whole neck is under a foreign yoke,
and wfio is inimical;tqfth’e country, in which
fie refides, and to which he is indebted for
all his poffeflions and profpehls; b# no bufinefs
here. . ** Tfius-faidi.tfie.,-LQf4:>9[f Holts, feek
the peace of the city .whither I have caufed
you to be carried away captives, and pray
unto the Lord for it ;, for m the peace thereof
ihall ye have peace.; If captives, &c. much
more, &c.	; . •	y •,
The Difcourfe has been charged with being
improper to be delivered from the pulpit—with
being a difh of jumbled politics collected from
one fide of the news only—with containing ma~PREFACE.
ny things not well founded, andfalfe—with be-
ing, the true hypoerify of a Jacobin, or a De-
mocrat—And I am told, that though there
may be a majority of my opinion, yet the mi-
nority are, by far, the mojl refpedable, &c.
Be.
On thefe I (hall make no comments, but
cheerfully fubmit both the difeourfe and the
charges againft it, to the decifion of a candid
and impartial public, before whofe tribunal
they now Hand.
")THANKSGIVING DISCOURSE.
u Thou erownejl the Year with thy Goodnefs.'*
GREEABLY to the recommendation of the
Executive of our general Government, we
are this day affembled, gratefully to recognize the
inftances of the Divine Goodnefs to us, as a nation,
particularly in the courfe of the laft year. The
words which have been read will ferve as a fuitable
fubjeft from which to addrefs you upon the occafi-
on—“Thou crowneft the Year with thy Good**
The language here is highly figurative and beau-
tiful. A crown is an emblem of honor; it encom-
paffes the head of the perfon upon which it isplacedj
and it denotes the completion, perfe&ion, and happy
accomplishment of an undertaking. Have we, as
a nation, arrived to any promotion or honor in the
courfe of the year ? We owe it to the Divine good-
nefs. This has run throughout the whole, and been
manifeft in the different parts of it. As it began
with it, and has been difplayed in its feveral parts,
fo it has continued even to the clofe. How far
this has been the cafe with us, will more fully ap-
pear in the fequel of the difcourfe.
PSALM LXV. ii.[ 8 ]
It becomes us, my brethren, upon proper occ ro-
llons, to recount, with gratitude and praife, every
inftance of the goodnefs of God to. .us, whether
public or private, temporal or fpiritual, fpecial or
common, as individuals, or as members of fociety.
This, however, would be too extenfive a fubjeft
for our prefent meditations. If we attempt to re-
count all the inftances of the Divine Goodnefs to
us, whdre will the growing numbers end ? Surely
we fhould be fwallowed up in the enumeration, and
ipuft be conftrained tofay, with the Pfalmift, “ Ma-
ny, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works
which -thou haft done, and tby thoughts which are
to us ward : they cannot be reckoned up in order
unto thee ; if I would declare and fpeak of them,
they are more than can be numbered.”
Confining ourfelves, then, to the particular ob-
jects of the day, my defign is, to endeavor to pror
mote in you a difpofition, and excite you to excr-
cifes fuitable to it, by leading you to a view of the
goodnefs of God to us, in a national capacity, par-?
ticulaily in the courfe of the laft year.
. L The goodnefs of God has been tnanifeded to
us in the general and great profperity and fuccefs
which have attended all clafles of citizens among
us, in their refpeclive occupations and employ-
ments. _ This muft ftrike every one upon the
flighted and molt general furvey. The increafe of
property has been general, rapid, and great. Agri--
culture, trade, and commerce have flourilhed; and
the honeft induftry of the farmer, the mechanic,
and the merchant have been crowned with fuccefs.
All ranks are dependent upon the labor of the huf-
bandman, and equally fupported:by the produce of
the field. The abundance yielded by .the fertility
of the foil, is io be eftimated among the firft ofC 9 1
temporal blefiings. This God, in his great good-’
nefs, has afforded us. Our land has yielded its
increafe. He has given us winter and fummer,
fpring and autumn, feed-time and harveft, in their
refpeftive feafons. He has given us rain from
Heav.env and fruitful feafons, filling our hearts with
food and gladnefs. He has fed us with butter of
kine, with the fat of lambs, and with the fat of
kidneys of wheat, and given us to drink the pure
blood of the grape. And fuch has been the pro-
fufion of the goodnefs of God to us, that our own
wants have not only been fupplied from the open-
ings of his hand, together with the wants qf thofe
who have taken refuge among us from the calami-
ties and diftreffes of other nations, but our exports
for the fupply of others in. different parts of the
world, have been large, and a fource of much
wealth flowing in upon us. Never had nation.,
greater caufe to adopt the language of this pfalm,
from the gth verfe to the end, “ Thou vifiteft the
earth, and watereft it: thou greatly enricheft it
with the river of God, which is full of water : thou
prepared them corn, when thou haft fo provided,
for it. Thou watereft the ridges thereof abundant-
ly ; thou fettleft the furrows thereof; thou makeft
it foft with fhowers; thou bleffeft the fpringing
thereof. Thou crowneft the year with thy good-
nefs ; and thy paths drop farnefs. They drop up-
on the paftures of the wildernefs; and the little
hills rejoice on every fide. The paftures are cloth-
ed with flocks ; the rallies alfo are covered over
with corn : they fhout for joy, they alfo fing.”
The tradefman and mechanic, abundantly fup-
plied with the neceffaries of life, from the produce
of the field, readily poffeffing themfelves of the ma-
terials requifite for' -their different occupations,
£r >» 3
finding ready fale, and receiving an advanced price
fpr whatever they have toanufaftured, have alfo
greatly advanced their profits and their ftoek.
And, perhaps, notwithftanding the partial injuries
to which our commerce has been fubje&ed, the pro-
fits of the merchant have hot been lefs than either
of thefe.' Whilft they, ha ve contributed largely to
the increafe of the revenues of government, by the
duties paid into the treafury, which, in the courfe
of the daft year, have far exceeded thofe of any of
the preceding, we hope, and are perfuaded, they
have alfo proportionabiy enriched themfelves*
In fhort, the fources of wealth have been pro-
portionabiy open to all thofe whofe occupations
led them in the purfuit of it. Even the price of
daily labor has kept pace with the increafing value
of other articles. And the advanced price of the ;
neceffaries of life, amidft abounding plenty, are
inconteltible evidences of the increafe of the cir-
culating medium, and the general profperity per-
vading all claffes of our citizens.
II. The goodnefs of God has been manifefted to
us, in the courfe of the laft year, in the peace which
we have enjoyed, in its reftoration where it feemed
to be threatened, and in the profpefcls afforded us
of its continuance and eflablifhment. Our atten-
tion is neceffarily dire&ed here to three different
pbjefts—To the danger with which we were threa-
tened, of being involved in a war with Great-
Britain ; to the incurfions of the favages upon our
frontiers ; and to the infurre£lion of fome of our
own people.
i. The depradations made on our commerce,the
detention of thofe polls which, according .to treaty,
Ought long fince to have been delivered up, andC;m. 3
the continuance,fupport,and encouragement afford-
ed to the favages, threatened, in the courfe of the
laft year, to involve us in a war with Great Britain.
Lord Darchefter’s fpeech to the Indians, and the
inftruftions given, by the Britifh miniftry, to the
officers and judges of the admiralty in the Weft-
Indies, were diffident indications of their defigns.
Thefe were,, indeed, high indignities, and very pro-
voking. From the nature and circumftances of
thefe aggreffions, from the obligations which we
were under to France, from the part which Britain
was afling both towards them and us, and the means
of which we were fuppdfed pofleffed to retaliate, *
and do ourfelves juftice, it was the opinion of a
large and refpefclable body of our citizens, that we
ought to have adopted vigorous meafures of re-
drefs. But, my brethren, however fenfible I am
of the obligations we are under to our generous
ally, for the effe&ual and decifive afliftance af-
forded us in the ftruggle for our own Liberty ;*
however heartily and fincerely I wifti them fuccefs
in every meafure tending to their eftabliftiment in
all the bleffings of Peace, Liberty, and Indepen-
dence ; with whatever indignation I have beheld
the interference of the combined powers, for the
regulation of their internal police, or the infultand
injuftice which we ourfelves have fuffered, ftill I
* I am one of thofe who believe that there are fuch things as
national,as well as individual honor and honefty,and that the nation
which doth not refpe<5t them, will never herfelf become great or
refpe£table ; and from my heart I deteft and defpife the bafe and
partial policy which would condu6l the concerns of a nation folely
upon the principle of intereft.
I believe farther, that arguing againft our obligations of grati-
tude to France, for her moft necetfary and efficient aids,” in
the war with Great-Britain, becaufe the prefent were not the
then ruling powers, is palpable and abfurd fophiftry, and, if ad-
mitted, would equally prove, that we are under no pecuniary ob-
ligations t« her.
/n « j
muft confider it as a happy circumftance, and an
inftance of the goodnefs of God to us, if, upon
terms equitable and honorable, we can keep our-
felves clear of the vortex of European politics, and
from being involved in the miferies of war ; if
moderation and delay can procure reftkution and
juftice. War is a dreadful calamity, and a nation
ought never to be involved in it but in cafes of
abfolute neceffity. We are informed, in general,'
of a fuccefsful negociation ; and the public mind
waits, with anxious fufperice, to be informed of the
particulars. At any rate, to me it is clear, thatf
in the courfe of diyine providence, France has
fought our battles for us ; and that to their fuc-*
celTes, under God, we owe our peace, and prof-
pe£ts of redrefs.*
* As T learn that the opinion here advanced has been particu-
larly cavelied at, and the truth of it denied, it may be proper to
hint at the fadts on which it is founded.
At what period were thofe private inftru&ions, to capture
and condemn American veffels, lent, by the Britiili miniftry, to
their admiralty in the Weft-Indies ? Was it not when they flat-
tered themfelves with the profpe£r of conquering France by the
combination which was formed againft her ? Was it-not at the
fame period that Lord Dorchefter, no doubt in confequence of
limilar inftrudtions (he dared not to aft thus without them) endea-
vored to excite the favages againft its ? When were thofe inftruc-
tions counterafted ? Was it until their flattering profpefts were
all entirely blafted ? To what probable catife fhall we impute their
alteration of conduct hut to the fuccdfes of France i For my own
part, I know no other to which it can be imputed.
To'fhew that I am not Angular in my opinion, I will add a quo-
tation or two from Dr. Smith's fe.rmon, of Princeton, preached in
Philadelphia on the fame day.
iC Has not the former,” viz. Great-Britain, u affefting a tyran-
ny, and dictating a new law of nations upon the ocean, committed
the mod injurious and infolent fpoil upon our commerce ? Has fhe
not treated our citizens with every outrage that could flow from
hatred and contempt? Has fhe not held fortifications ? Has fhe
not claimed dominion within our territories ? Is Ihe not known to[ »* ]
2. The gobdnefs of God to us has been conspi-
cuous, in the courfe of the laft year, with refpefT
to the war in which we have been engaged with the
favages. Jealous of our increafmg greatnefs,
alarmed at the rapid extenfion of our frontier fet-
tlements, and mortified at their own decreafe and
exclufion from territory, which they formerly pof-
feffed, their minds were highly irritable. Of this
fituation of mind the Bridfh incendiaries availed
themfelves, in rendering them hoftiie to us. Elated
by their fuccefs in defeating the troops fent againft1
them on former campaigns, they were become
haughty, backward to treat, and bent upon war.
The murders which they perpetrated upon our
frontier fettlements, were many and cruel, and the
diftreffesu occafioned to our citizens great. But the
iffue of the laft campaign appears to have much al-
tered their difpofition, and given us favorable prof-
peds of peace with them. By the goodnefs of God,
have excited diat ferocious war that has fo long affri£ted our fron-
tier—-to have kindled againft us the rage, aflifted the councils, and
concentrated the force of the favage tribes ? Is it not plain, that
(he meditated hoftilitjes ? That (he had already conceived the pur-
pofe of attacking us, and only waited the opportunity to carry it
into execution
' And again—“ Shall I not a(cr?be it to a merciful providence
over us, that the hoftiie plans of Britain have been all blafted
on the plains of Belgium V’
Precifely the fame fentiment, I am well aflured, was advanced
by feveral of the clergy jn this city on the lame day.
If any thing farther was neceftary to (hew the effrontery and
ftupid obftinacy of controverting this opinion, I might add the
teftimony of Mr. Fox, in the Britifh parliament. Speaking of the
treaty of amity and commerce which America had obtained with
Great-Britain, and which he terms a very advantageous one, he
adds—“ A treaty, as far as I have heard of it, which juftice and
policy would have dictated at any time, but which he feared the
difficulties in which the miniftry had involved themfelves, rather
than their juftice or policy, induced them to give,”[ *4 J
our arms againft them have been viEorious. They
were utterly routed, and a great {laughter made of
them. Looking in vain for fuecour from their in-
ftigators, they have been taught, that upon our
clemency, moderation, and j lift ice, they are to
depend. And there is now a favorable profpeE of
treating with them upon terms of equity and mu-
tual advantage.
, The 3d inftance referred to here is, thelnfurrec-*
tion which took place among the inhabitants of the
four weftern counties of Pennfylvania, beyond the
Alleghany mountain. Of all wars, thofe which
are inteftine, are moft to be dreaded and depre-
cated.
When all due allowances are made for the fup-
pofed noxious and exceptionable nature of the ex-
cife law ; when full weight is given to the unfuc-
cefsfui legal oppofition made to it by petition, re-
monftrance, and a body of our reprefentatives in
Congfefs; and when every palliating circumftahce,
ariflng from the particularly oppreffive nature of
the exeife law upon them, from their local lituati-
on, are admitted, ft ill theiroppofition iauft appear
unjuftifiable, and highly criminal. > If, more efpe-
cially in a republican government, the minority
will not acquiefce in the decifions of the majority,
there is an end of all order and peace.
This infurreEion, in its firft ftages, wore an
alarming afpeE. By the goodnefs of God to us,
it has been quelled. Happily, the decided firmnefs
and aEivity of our citizens, in fupport of the exe-
cutive, have proved fuccefsful, and order and tran-
quility reftored without the fhedding of blood.—
Thou, O God, JUllejl the noife of the fea, thenoife
iluit waves, and the tumult of the people*E >5, 1
III. The goodnefs of God has been mariifefted
in continuing us in the pofleflion of conftitutions of
government, which unite, and by their union ef-
tablilh, liberty and order. Civil government is
the inftitution of Heaven, and, in the prefent ftata
of human nature, abfolutely neceffary to the pre-
servation of peace and order in the world j and
happy the people who live under a government
well conftituted and equitable, in companion of
thofe who are fubjeft either to tyranny or anarchy.
The peaceable adoption of our federal conftitu-
tion was an event lingular, and unparallelled in the
annals of the world. To nothing fhort of that
all-pervading energy which influences the hearts of
the children of men, making them fubfervient to its
Sovereign and gracious purpoles, can we impute the
friendly coalefcence, and continued union, of fo
many Separate and interfering views and interefts.
This conftitution, you ought never to forget, was
framed and adopted by yourfelves; by the people
in their reprefen tatives. In you is the power veil-
ed of altering and amending it, agreeably to pro-
vifion which itfelf contains. And to you it belongs
to fee it faithfully executed, and to preferve it in-
violated.
As the federal conftitution tends to fecure the
liberties and privileges of the colleHive body, fo
each ftate has its particular rights fecured by its
own conftitution. In how many inftances is fo
complicated a machine liable to be deranged? How
great, then, the goodnefs of God in preferving its
regular and uniform motion !
IV. It becomes us, my brethren, as profeffing
Chriftians, and as members of religious fociety, to
©bferve, and gratefully acknowledge the goodnefs[ i6 ]
of God to us in the religious liberty and privileges
•which we enjoy. Among us, every man is left to
adopt the religious principles, and to pra&ice that
mode of worfhip which are mod conformable to the
di&ates of his own conscience. Here every reli-
gious denomination is left to Support and eftablifh
itfelfy and to extend its influence by its conformity
to the light of divine truth, the force of reafon, and
the influence of examples.
This, you may fay, is the right of every one.
Religion is a thing between God and every triaft’s
own confcience, and civil authority has no right to
interfere or meddle with it, whilft he conduQs him-
felf as a good citizen, and neither his principles nor
praftice tend to difturb the peace and order of So-
ciety* Be it So. But how few have enjoyed this
privilege ? Where is the nation, under Heaven*
which now enjoys it, in its, full extent, but our-
felves ? When we confider what has been the lot
of pure and undefiled religion, and its profeffors,
in every age ; when we confider the particular op-
pofitions which have been made to genuine Chris-
tianity, and the perfections and Sufferings to which
its profeffors and advocates haye been fubjefted ;
when we confider that, as the things of the .Spirit of
God are foolifhnefs to the natural man, and he can-
not either receive or know theifi, fo the carhal
mind is enmity againft God, and every thing that
refembles his pure and holy nature; and that,were
the reftraints of the providence and grace of God
taken off from the lulls and corruptions of men,
they would wage open and eternal war with every
thing good : When, I fay, thefe things are duly con-,
fidered, will we not find abundant reafon to ac-
knowledge the great goodnefs of God in the reli-
gious liberty and privileges which we enjoy ? We
have free accefs to the houfe and ordinances of[ 'f ]
Cod, and are allowed to worfhip him In the man*
ner we judge mod conformable to the prefcriptions
of his holy word, whilft there are none to moleft or
make us afraid.
\ . . .
In the Vth and laft place. As a mean of beget-
ing in you a difpofition, and exciting you to eXer-
cifes fuitable to the day, let me befeech you to con-
trail, for a moment, your fituation throughout the
pall year, with that of other nations. Your minds
will readily anticipate more here than I can pretend
to infill largely upon, or even to mention. See
mpft of the powers of Europe in arms. Spain,
Pruflia, Auftria, Holland, and England combined
againll the peace and the liberty of France. Ruflia
and Pruflia confpiring to keep the Poles in that
ftate of flavery from which they were endeavoring
to emancipate themfelves. The Netherlands the
great field of battle, and every where exhibiting
fcenes of devaftation, bloodlhed, mifery, and death.
The groans of a large proportion of the miferable
inhabitants of the earth, under the iron rod of ty-
ranny and oppreflion, are heard from afar. Whilft
Britain, which formerly gloried in being the feat of
liberty, and in affording proteHion to the oppreff-
ed, is burdened with an enormous national debt,
which fhe has no profpeft of ever being able to re-
deem, flie is threatened with a foreign invafion, and
many of her fubjeQs, unable any longer to bear the
exaBions which are laid upon them, are ripe for a
revolt. Whilft, in many parts of the world, a
large proportion of its inhabitants, by the utmoft
frugality and hard labour, with difficulty procure
a fcanty fuftenance, fcarcely, in this happy coun-
try, can honeft induftry fail of fecuring a compe-
tency, if not of being crowded with wealth. How
many of the nations of the earth are yet in heathen-z IB ]
ifh darknefs, under the influence of Mahometan
delation, or fubjeft to popifti idolatry, fuperltition,
and tyranny ? Whilft the arms of France have pe-
netrated into the very heart of the furrounding
kingdotn^ which have been hoftile to it, and been
every where crowned ,with aftonifliing fucccfs, infi-
delity, the natural offspring of that many-headed-
monfter fyhich had been long obtruded upon them
for religion, has boldly reared its hedious front
among them,/ and every .where ftalked in open-day.
In mo ft of thofe places, where Chriftianity is pro-
feifed,; ho.w is it corrupted by error arid herefy, and
flhacjded by: civil .eftabliflunents, religious tefts, and
impofitions of different kinds ! Cbtripare now your
fitua'tiorr in thofe refpeQs, and in many others which
might be mentioned, with all or any of thefe, and,
fare I am, you mad be conftrained to confefs, that
God Hath not dealt fa with any qther nation ; that
there is not, one upon the face of the earth which
enjoys the blcffings and privileges which you do.
O happy Americaas l praife ye the Lord. >
The only improvement which I lhall make of the
fubjeft, {hall be by offering you a few dire&ions
for fecriring the continuance and increafe of the
divine gOOdnefs to you. And I muft content my-
felf with barely mentioning the moft of them.
t. Then, Let the goodnefs of God, manifefted
to Us in fo many inftances,ferve to make us afhamed
and forry for the many xnftances of undutifii! con-
duct with which we ftand chargeable againft him ;
and engage us to turn, from every evil way. This
is its native and genuine tendency. “ Not know-
ing that the goodnefs of God leadeth thee to re-
pentance.” Q what difingenuous and bafe con-
duct to continue in a courfe of fin againft a God
of fo great goodnefs and inercy J He has nourilh-E 19 3
ed and brought us up as children • let 11s not be
found rebelling againft him.
2.	See'that the goodnefs of God, manifefted to
you in fa hi any inftances, 2nd in lb diftinguifhed a
manner, meet with fuitable"returns of thahkfgivirig
and praife. This he is juftly entitled to. This he
expeQs, and claims. The Lord has done great
things for us. Let us be glad, and rejoice in Ms
goodnefs ; and let us, from hearts deeply penetrate
ed with a fenfe of His goodnefs, and overflowing
with gratitude, with joyfullips Ihew forth his p'raife.
Let the language of our hearts, on this day, be,
Let the people praife thee, O Lord ; let sail the
people praife thee. Blefs the Lord, O our fouls,
and forget not all his benefits. Why fhould the
wonders he hath wrought be forgotten, or loft in
filence ?
% . ■
3.	Let the ftreams of the divine goodnefs, which
flow to us in fuch great variety, and ih fuch rich
abundance, ferve to lead us to himfelf, the great
original and fource of all good. Real perfonal re-
ligion is the only true fecurity both of public Virtue
and of private happinefs. “ O tafte and fee,’* then,
“ that the Lord is good.” And let each of us ad-
* drefs ourfelves in the language of the Pfalmift,"Re-
turn unto thy reft, O my foul, for the Lord hath
dealt bountifully with thee.” %
4.	Let me recommend to you fuch manners, and
fuch modes of living, as become republicans and
free men, and as will tpnd to preferve the liberty
and privileges which you enjoy, and to tranfmit
. them fafe to pofterity. Flattery, fupplenefs, fer-
vility of conduct, and all the filly parade of com-
pliment and ceremony, are below the noble and
generous fpirit of a free-man ; and fit only to ef-C *0 ]
tablifh and fupport the throne of ufurpation and
tyranny. Idlenefs, prodigality, diffipation, and
luxury are the bane of republicanifm and of liber-
ty ; and the fcenes and amufements which tend to
jfofter thtefe, are the hot beds of vice, from which
fuch noxious vapors arife as will taint and pollute
our political atmofphere. A nation become fen-
fual, luxurious, and effeminate, cannot poflibly be
long free. In fuch a cafe, the rulers become cor-
rupt with the people. But were not this the cafe;
•were they to remain ever fo virtuous and upright,
the people are not in a capacity to be free. Their
various exceffes and enormities require the-iron
rod to be laid heavy upon them, to be a reftraint
to thofe vicious and ungovernable difpofitions
which are the enemies of all peace and order.
Are you poffeffed of large wealth ? Have you
more than heart could will), or you know how to
difpofe of ? InRead of fquandering it away in thofe
courfes which are fruitlefs of comfort, which leave
a fting behind them, and which will end in death,
employ it for the afliftance of the honeft and in-
duftrious, who may be in low circumftances, and
have many to provide for. Help them forward in
the world.Letthe ble fling s of them that are ready
to perilh, come upon you, and caufe the heart of
the widow and fatherlefs to fing for joy. This will
be fervice well pleafing to God, and, believe me,
it will be a fource of rational pleafure to your own
minds.
5. In the laft place. As a mean of fecuringthe
continuance and inereafe of the goodnefs of God
to you, let me caution you again ft the influence of
faftion and party. Beware of the man who is
artfnl and induftrious in exciting your prejudices,
and inflaming your paffions. Whilft the publicC 21 1
good is made the oftcnfible, pride, ambition, and
intereft are generally the real motives by which
the leaders of party are inflamed. The people, by
attaching themfelves to the interefts of different
party leaders, make themfelves their dupes, inftead
of their conftituents and their, judges. And you
may lay it down as an important principle, that the
perfon who is anxioufly felicitous to be advanced
to office, or to obtain fome place of public truft,
more efpecially if he can fubmit to any mean and
feryile meafures for obtaining it, is feldorn, if ever,
qualified to fill it with integrity and reputation. As,
in a republican government,all authority.and power
is derived from the people, it becomes them to
view men and meafures with calmnefs and fteady
deliberation. This they utterly difqualify them-
felves for, when they fuffer their minds to be blind-
ed, and their judgments warped, by party influ-
ence.'.
Not to mention parties which are local and more
confined in their influence, it is too well known
that parties exift in our general government.----
Thefe parties mutually charge each other with views
and defigns unfriendly to the liberty, the good go-
vernment, and the welfare of the country ; and
have been active to engage the public mind on their
behalf. , The one party, it is alledged, aim at the
introduftion of monarchy, or to form an ariftocra-
cy unfavorable to the equal rights of men : and the
other with views fubverfive of all fubordination,
order, and good government, and tending to intro-
duce a fcene of anarchy and confufion.
It is, indeed, too often the cafe, that, on the
one hand, men in power are difpofed to increafe
and abufe it; and, on the other, that clamors arid
prejudices are excited againft the woft upright andC n ]	;
dhbhjph • But ijft this cafe you •will permit goe to
fay, ,tli]af whatever the views and defigns of a few
.ijadiyi^ii^ls may he, the imputations, on both lides,
,^re generally and equally unjuft. The true ftate
oftlfe cafe appears to flt\e to be this-—That the one
pa^ty thinks the conftitutioft viould admit of im-
provements, and ought to be amended : the other,
that i,t is better as it is, and Wight be injured by
any attempts to alter it.
Oranting this to be the real ftate of the cafe, as
it appears to me it is, what occafion is there
that the public mind fhould be put into a ferment,
pr our .citizens violently arrangefbemfelves in dif-
ferent parties about it ? Reafon and deliberation
preii,ded to the adoption of the conftitution. Let
reafon and deliberation prefide in all difcuffions
refpcfUng its alteration or amendment, and all will
be well. Are not a good conftitution, a good go-
vernment, liberty and privileges equally the con-
cerja pf.ajl ? The man who engages in a conlpiracy
agatUift them, confpjres again ft himfelf.
Let hot thofe parts of the conftitution which
rpigh.t ife altered £9 r the better, if any fuch there
are, be adhered to, and retained ■with a fbolifh and
pernicious pbft'inacy -. neither let a licentious and
turhufeht fpirit dare to attempt the deftruftion, of
a goodhQnftiWtion, or the fubyerftori of a confti-
tutiopal and juft .government.	'
.$Ut, rpy brethren, zeal for my country, and a
wifh to promote peace and order, may have carried
me too far into politics.
To return, then, to the more important bufinefs
of the .day, and to conclude the whole, let trie.be-
feech you to join with me in the fentiments andwith of the Pfalmift, Pfalm 72. 18, lg, “ Bleffed
be the Lord God, the God of Ifrael, who only
doth wondrous things. And bleffed be his glorious
name forever: and let the whole earth be filled
with his glory. Amen and Amen.”SUBSCRIBERS NAMES,
• A*
William Afli/
Thomas Afih,
James Abeel,
James Alner,
William Allum,
Abraham J. Adriance,
Allard Anthony,
Henry Artley.
B.
Caleb Boile,
Gardner Baker,
Jofeph Bindon,
Walter Bicker,
William Boyd,
John Bingham,
Andrew Brown,
Chriftopher Beckley,
Thomas Bowne,
John Broome,
James Brebner,
Abraham B. Bancker,
Stephen Burdet,
Thomas Buftifield,
James Bingham,
William Brown,
Garret Bleecker,
Thomas Beekman,
Cornelius N. Bogart,
Frederick Baflett,
Walter Buchanan,
Nathaniel Bloodgood,
Thomas Bloodgood,
Andrew Boftwick.
C.
George Clinton,
Jacob Conklin,
Arnet Cannon,
Willet Coles,
c.
Cornelius Cooper,
Dewitt Clinton,
Andrew Caldwell,
Elijah Cock,
RobertWm. Cofborotlgh,
John Crawford,
John D. Coe,
Rofwald Chappel,
John Cantine,
Robert Cox,
Seabury Champlin,
Nicholas Cooke,
Peter T. Curtenius*
Daniel Cotton,
Peter Cole,
Ifaac Clawfon,
JamesCotton.
D.
Richard Davis,
Daniel Delavan,
James Dunlap,
John Delamater,
Jacob De La Montagnie,
John Drake, -
John Dixon,
Abraham L Duryec,
John Duffie,
Stephen Dolbeer,
John Durell,
Joleph Durkley,
James Drowley,
Simeon Dewitt,
John T. Delamater,
Peter Duftan,
Cornelius Davis,
George Dickinfon,
William Duncan.subscribers names.
Archibald “Kerley*
E.
Benjamin Egbert,
John Elfworth,
John Elliot,
William Edgar,
Peter Elting.
Theodorus Fowler*
Samuel Forbus.
G.
Thomas Greenleaf,
David Gelfton,	>
John Gamage,* .
John Greenwood,
John Gelfton,
George Qoftnan,
Gideon Gardner,
Thomas, Cilbert.
■*' fit.
Philip Hone,
Ifrael Haviland,
Robert Hunter, P.ftreet.
James Hunt,
Abraham Herring,
• David Hopkins,
John Hazard,
Jacob Hallett,
Robert Hunter,
Jonathan Holmes,
Andrew Hagerman,
Jonathan N. Havens,
John Hathorn, '
Jofeph Haufbroiick,
Reuben Hopkins,
Miles Hitchcock,
Daniel Hitchcock,
, Stephen Hitchcock,
Thomas Hazard.
George Jones,
Gardner Jones,
Thomas fvers,
Robert J ohnfion.
K.
George Knox,
John Laipb,
Peter W. Livingfton,
Brockholft Livingfton j
Thomas Lefoy,
D. Lynch,
Edward Livingfton,
William Leaycraft,
Samuel Lock man,
Peter R, Livingfton,
John Livingfton,
Samuel Loudon,,
William Ledyard,
Jonathan Lawrence^
Samuel Low,
John Lent,
John C. Ludlow.
• ML •
John Merfereau,
William Moore,
John Motley,
John Mills,
William Muir,.
Hugh Montgomery,
William Mooney,
Vincent Mathews,
Edward Meeks*
John M’^eiton,
Stephen M’Crea.
N.
John Nitchie,
William Neilfon,
Matthias Nack,;
James Nicholfon.
o.
Samuel Ofgood,
Andrew Otterfon,
Abraham Okie.
P.
; Jonathan Piercy, jun*
Edward Parker,
Ebenezer Purdy,
Daniel Phoenix,
John P, Pierce,SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
P.
Jofiah G. Pierfon,
Ebenezer Platt,
Jonathan Penny,
James W. Payne.
Qi
John Quackenbofs.
John Reid,
James Robertfon,
Peter Riker,
Robert Rutgers,
Henry Rutgers.
S.
Gilbert Saltonftall,
James Stewart,
Jofiah Ship^y,
George Suffrein, '
Garret StecMifOrd,
Ebenezer Stevens,
George Stanley,
Selah Strong,
Charles Stewart,
Daniel Stanbury,
Jacob Smith,
Jofhua Smith, jun.
Peter Sebring,
Granville Smith,
John Schenck,
Peter A. Schenck,
Solomon Saltus,
John Stevens,
Solomon Simpfon,
Frederick Steymets,
Nathan Strong,
John Strieker,
Cornelius C. Schoonmaker,
Melan&on Smith,
John Sullivan,
Hugh Stocker,
Benjamin Strong.
4
T.
Thomas Thomas,
-Stephen Tillinghaft,
E. Turell,
Chriftian Tupper,
JohnTabley,
James Tylee,
Ifaac Thompfon,
Ifrael Titus,
Timothy Titus.
V.
Theodorus Van Wyck,
Tunis Van Pelt,
Peter P. Van Zandt,
Abraham Varick,
William J. Vredenbergh,
Abraham Van Gelder,
James Van Dyk, fen.
- James Van Dyk, jun.
John Van Dyk,
Simeon Van Antwerp.
w:
Tunis Wortman,
George G. Warner,
Robert Whiten,
William Willcocks,
Garret Walligrove,
Charles Warner,
Robert oodwortk,.
James Warner,
Charles Watkins,
Horace Wells,
Peter Woodhull,
Ebenezer White,
Henry J. WyckofF,
John Waldron,
Lemuel Wells,
William W illfon,
Thomas YValton,
Marinus "Willett*
David Walker.
N. B. The above Subfcribers have agreed to Jake fourteen
hundred Copes of this Sermon,