Glass Book P a ^4- uo- T ^f I If « / lit, THE WORK OF THE LORD, A.XD Tilt COWARB CURSED. SERMON, DELIVERED IJT THE First Presbyterian Meeting House IS CINCINNATTI, OHIO, TO THE CIKCINNAIT^I LIGHT COMPANIES. MAY 14, 1812. ^" BY JOSHUA LACY WILSOSf, V. D. M. 'sed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed thai keepeth back /us sxvordfrem blQod. ^ J£R£UIAH. > J * • • « lished at the request of Captain's Mansfield and Sloajt, shortly before they marched to Detroit. CINCINNATTI— PRINTED : H* %. COJVCORD, M H. RE.PRINTED BY I. AND W. R. HILL. 181:3. ^' "3C1- ^.A.-' at A SEHMON". JEREMIAH Xlviii, 10. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cuisui be he that kcepeth back his sword from blood. Ge7itte?nen Officers^ Genllemen Soldiers^ Friends^ " Brethren^ and Fellonv -Citizens ^ JL HE time is come, when the voice of our long inswUed and injured country calls to arms. The time is come whtn yon gentlemen Officers and Soldiers are called by the voice of your country to exchange for a season your honora- ble, peaceful occupations and the sweets of domestic life, for the toils, the dangers: and the glory of warfare- It must be a consolation to your friends, whom you leave behind, to witness the part you are acting this day, in assem- bling at the house of prayer, before your departure ; and I consider it a high honor conferred upon me, that I am thus aff^jrdid an opportunity of delivering to you a parting address. You k^ow, gentlemen, that I am a public minister of that Holy Religion, which <^\yt% glory to Gcdin the highest y speaks Peace oti earth and good will to men. Among the many be- nevolent precepts of this relit^ion, the following occupies a conspicuous place-—" If it be fiosaible^ as much as lieth in you, live peaceaoly with ail men.'' Tliis plainly implies, that cases may arid do occur, in which it is impossible to maintain /zfcre but at the expense o^ firincipley which v/ould be sinful and in. c:lorious. Therefore from the same divine source whence this peaceful precept emanates, we receive the following les- son of instruction : — " To every thing there is a season, and a tiiiie for every purpose under heaven — a time to kill and a lime to heal— a time to break down and a time to build up—- a time to love and a time to hate — a time of war and a time of peace." The passage choser as the foundation of my present ad- dress, forms apart of our sacred canon. It was originally spcken by a prophet of the Lord, when an important military xpeditlon was set on foot against Moab, one of the most iiaughty, tyrannical and God-provoking nations then upon earth. The strong features of this text are, that war is the work of the Lord, and that God's curse rests upon the heads cf traitors and cowards. '' Cursed be/fe that doeth tlie work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepelh back his sword from blood.'' The original word here translated deceitfully, signifies treacherously^ carelessly, negligently, or inattentively; and the sword, by a usual figure in rhetoric, is made to signify any weapon or instrument of war. The plain meaning of this passage of Scripture is, that when men are legally called to take up arms in a just cause, the curse of Heaven falls with vengeance «pon the head of that wretch, who, through the ]ove of ease, the tenderness of connexions, or the fear of his enemies, loiters and shrinks back, betrays or refuses to use his weapon of defence against the cruel, unjust invaders of his country's rights. In speaking upon this subject, 1 design, I. To shew, that war is the work of the Lord. IL Point out how men perform this work deceitfiilly— And then improve the subject. *' Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceUfwlly, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. ' L I am to shew, that war is the work of the Lord. This I shall do by producing the- Scripture testimony upon the subject, and shewing its correspondence with sound reason. I hope gentlemen you will keep in your eye, what I am about to prove, that war is the woik of the Lord. 1 com- mence the evidenc'^ upofl this head, by calling to your recol- lection, the son^ of Moses after the overthrow of Pharaoh and his hosti in the Red Sea. ** I will sing unto the Lord for KE hath triumphed glori- ously. The Lord is my strength and mv- song, and HE is be- come my salvation, the Lord is a man of war, the Lord is his Name — Pharaoh's chariots and his host, hath he cast iwto the sea. his chosen captains also are drovned in the Red Sea." King David, the sweet singer of Israel, delivers his testimo- ny to the same point. " Who is God, save the Lor J — HE is a buckler to all those that trust in Him — It is God that girdetli me with strength ; HE teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers Xojight — for by I'hee, have I run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall." And in the xxivth I P^alni, he gives \is the following suWime view of Jehovah— »^ Life up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up ye tver- lasuno- doois, and the Kinp; of giory shall come in. Who is this Kin,^r of glory ? The Lord strong and mighty— the Lord mighiy in battle.'* Hear uosv whiU the Lord niig/:gy in dottle, said to Cyrus. ; i i)i;s saith the i ord to his anon)l-d, to Cyrus, whose riu-ht nand I have holden to subdue the nations before him ; awd I ^vill loose tne loins of kings to open before him, the two leaved gutcs, and the gates shail not be shut ; I will ^o Ijcfore thee and make the crooked places straiiyht : I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars cf iron ; and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, th:it thou mayest know, that I the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name; I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me ; I am the Loid, and there is none else, there is no God besides me : I girded thee, though thou hast not known me ; I furna the lig/u and create darkness ; { vadk^/ieace and cr.^ate evil ; I the Lord do all these things." But what pats this subject beyond all controversy is that un- eciualed portrait of the Alpha and Omega drawn by the hand ot a divine artist in. the book of Revelation. *' I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse and he that sat on him was cai kd laithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judae ana make war— His eyes were ^s a flame of fire, and on his head were muny crowns— and He was clothed with a vesture dipped ID bleod. and out of hr> mouth goeth a sharp sword, and he treadeth the winc-press of the fierceness of the wrath m God -and He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name wriuen Kins qf kings and Lord o.f lords. ' Here vou see the great I AM, the Theos een^O Loses, the word which was God, m all the pomp and grandeur of Jehovah Jesus en- gaged m the mseparable transactions of Judgment and War In rig/i:eoumess He doth judge and make war. Christians adore your Savior—ye Kings of the earth em- brace your sovereign lest ye perish-Heathens bow to the sceptre of nis gracc-Infidtls fear before the '' Prince of the kmgs^Gt the earth;" whde devils tremble to the lowest pit .ouTrlToZ'"" ''"^ ^''"^'"^ "''''''' corresponds ^W. ^r, i, e Here se''tl'=men, I fake it for granted, I am spenkm^ to those who believe in God. who reject the principle* of ancient l^d modern Atheism. Abdiefin God implies a p.rsua on that God t!6Verns the world, yea the universe. 1 he doctrii.es of Polytheism, of Fate or Chance, cannot gam the credence of yiur en ghte^ed rar.ds. You admit the in.erveBtion of second ^»,,Ls but vou •' look through nature up to nature s God. Andin this'^g^ze of rational prospective you beho d Jehovah ft^m the soear of grass to the majestic oak-fiom the smadest ^Tuceofd'st to the lofty A^des-from the microscopic ani- L^rule to the mammoth of the forest, or the Leviathan of the T nrl t-rlm th^ «low worm to the blazing comet, or more dazzling b™ms of noon day splendor. In the forked lightning vou b"hold his glory, in the thunder you hear his voice, in tr 'anhSiaU: y'ou '^ee. his POwer, and in ^he Reaming of shields and the clangor of arms, HE shew, his ju». a.i>i ^■'•xS^roctrirofTustice and Judgment, are no unseasonable tenes sYnisinthe world, and death by sm. Nations are 4nfu as well as individuals. But nations can on y be juoged nthir national capacity, and rewarded or Pun-hedj';,;^^^ present woild. God, who is XT^,\'i:uJn:iom ''^•7,''nn?or:hltydictatefol,imtrem^^^^ ' "f ^nf des°™c i^n ' Famine, pestilence, earthquake, fire Tnd wo d, become, in turn, the ministers o. his vengearxe^ Zi when in righteousness He doth judge and ™^ke U r. HD t"ercises the most complete dominion over the ^'^^ ^Z-HE ,naketh th, -wrath of man to prmse Htm, ar.u J.c re '"t^T:;^'r^U;!orwi::-we„ .^derstood^ always a^ , ixedbuii rp. ^„ rorresDond n sayine, Jehovah hatti pear harmonious. 1 hey couespuuu n. » y ^ im'^E^eth, Sr I th War H.viPK proven, that war is the work of I Men do the work ol the Lord deceitfully, when they ^'^lS^:FS^b::;r?whl:S:^"iy exercised, is,nu., JX S:UU.a,s and governments . ^t ^ - ■- P™- - which it ought to cease, and «^^'^;^;;5',°,^ rising too long For^towIJdXse ;;h:L'vrtra^.,led upon ^etir right. 1 do'ot spelk her. -e n.liou more than atiother. . When Spain, with insult and injury, trampled on our iic:htS| national foibcarance vnas IrngHtncd out lili those who felt themselves most deeply injured were almost r< us.d into re* bellion and treason, the union cf the states was jeopard ztd, and that at last vvas |aiichustd wiih money, -which might in justice have been taken by the sword I mean the free na^i^a- tion of the Mississippi. But as human life is more dear than treasure, Americans, in that case, acquiesced in wiinholdaig the sword from blood. France in turn, has held the cup of insult and outrage to the lips of the American people. The laws of N8poleon*& empire have JDcen rigorously exvcnted to the flugiant violation of neu- tral rights, to the tuin ot many of our citizerts, and to the dis- grace of the American name, and yet we forbear. But England at present, deserves our more particular no- tice. England related to us by blood, by lani;uage, by inter- est, by laws, by customs and religion, with all the infernal principles of devils incarnate has ruined (as far as in her pow- er) our commerce, impressed our brave seamen into her ser- vice, insulted our government in her negocialicns, and stirred up the heathen against us. American rights purchased by the blood of our fathers, have been trampled under fool — Some of the best blood of our nation has alre^^dy been spill-— The companions of our youth have faller — Our women and children have been massacred I do not pretend to doubt but some among ourselves have had a sinful hand in exciting the Shawnoe Prophet to hostilities But much excitement and much aid have been from the British. The British and A- merican governments have both made presents to the Sav- ages — this vi'as politic and fair ; but have we excited them to hostilities against the Canadians? No. But they have ex- cited them against us by bribes, if not by threats ; and siirely in such a combination against wur frontiers hell must make a third parry. But you will perhaps say this is not an act of the British government. How do you know ? If the corrupt ministry of England can send emissaries among us in time of peace, to divide and distract our union, which only comes to light by the perfidy of Henry himsdf, laboring under disap- pointment, what will ti»ey not do ? Before we ever consent to peace with such a ministry the question ought to be fairly settled— .are they men or devils ? England waa forced lo ac- knowledge our independence against her will, and she rtr(>ains still ^^ur implacable enemy. After a treaty our < utposts were detained, and the fury of the savages made to rage ;j«jains^ us 8 for many years. The cltxi'/ive battle was at length fought undt-T the command of the brave Wayne, in sight of a British prarrison on our own territory. In time ot the French revolution, to the astonishment of Eu- rope, it was found that America hsd 60,000 schmtn. liie num'o-r h-as since increased, and such is iiie abomination of Briiitih outrage, thht 5 or 6 000 of our brave Arnerlcins forced lata the servxe cf that despotic government, are niade to fight her unjust battles> and commit depreclativ ns upr n their f Ilo\y citiztnis. If this statement be incorrect I will stand corrected here or eUewhere. but such is my information, i know, gentlemen, that many of these have been pressed out of Brit- ish merchant ships, t.^ey hire in the East-Ii.dies, to man the merchant vessels to Liverpool, Dover, &c, and the press-a-anp* takes them out ot British bottoms; but^tdlit is unjust ai]d tyrannical. If Americans expatriate thcAiselves and volun- tarily enlist in the British service, tney may do so ; but Britain has no right to force an American into her service, and detain him without his consent — And if there we^e but 6 instead of 5,000 it would be a sufficient cause of war. V/ar cannot just- ly be waged but in sell-d-fence ; but self-defence consists either in opposing the enemy when he directly moves against us, or by a collateral stroke, in case of collateral invasion. In- vasion of rights we have by sea, war we have bv savages ; both are British, bth unjust, and both cruel. If we cannot strike at the head, let us sirikc at the i^eel — the great Achilles ftll by a w-.und in the heel. Cursed be he that do^ih the "Mork oflhc Lnrd dcctitfulaj. 2. When men seek their own ease, niore than the iust dc- fence ot their counMy^, ih^y do the v/ork of tlic Lord dcxeil- fully. tinv far this curse may fall upon lazy men, who seek plyccs irt the army in lime of peace, in order to indulge them- Eelvts in idleness, or hu-cr in tinic of war to avoid the fatigues and dvmj^trs of ihe field I shall not prerend to determine ; but I have liUle fear of its lightinj^ upon you, gesiUMBen. I know you *o be men of i.)dus ry, and I b-lieve you to be mcQ of valor. S. When men eag", g-e in war lor the sake of spoil, they -come u.der the curse. To be t^re -Ay of suoil is a hateful disposition, and beneath the dignity of a true patriot. But spoil cannot be your object in the p"csenr. campaign, for you are making great sacrifices for your country *{> service. 4. When men effeminate themselves by noting in places of safety. If you. gentlemen, should at any time be stationed in a place of safety and plenty, avoid indulgence as you would the deadly poison. Accustom yourselves to the fatigues of the match and the handle of arms 5. When men shun their enemies, they do the v/ork of the Lord deceitfully. This docs not imply that retreat under certain circumstan- ces is not lawful. Sometimes there is more real merit in a retreat than in a combat ; but what I mean is, if men t!. rough cowardice betray the confidence and the safety of their coun- try by shunning the foe, they deserve the execration of our text 6. When men are unwilling to submit to necessary disci- pline and yet pretend to bear arms, they do the work of the Lord deceitfully. Discipline or order is all-important in an array. I have been happy in witnessing the discipline of these Light Companies. You, gentlemen soldiers, are under officers of your own choosing — men who are your fellow citizens, companions and friends, and you have submitted to a discipline which, while it does honor to yourselves, shows the soundness of your judgment in the selection of officers who are capable of commanding without usurpation. But I fear this curse ivill fall upon the militia of our country in general. What is the boast of the American nation ? We boast not in fleets or standing armies, but as far as we dare to boast in an arm of fitsh, we boast of our militia. The words well organi-zedls introduced and the tone of the administration is, a well orgunized militia is the buhvark of our nation. But this is trusting in a non-entity. Men we have, thousands and tens of thousands of miliiia can be rfiarched into ihe field, but a w(ll organized militia we have not- The law may be good, but it is not executed. Officers hold commissions who arc themselves ignorant ; and what is still worse is, that many are too lazy or too proud to karn. Offxers we have who know their duty, but such is the licentiousness and indolence of the soldiery they will not submit to command. It is truly painful to attend our musters. What do we see and hear ? — While men are in the ranks unarmed, some with slicks and some with their hands in their pockets, we hear some gabbling, and some grunting, and some yawning — wc see some silling, and some lolling, and some standing more like oxen than men. And is this the bulwark of our nation ? No; but a well orgajiized militia. I am willing to hazard an opinion that 10 a well organizijd militia would supersede the necessity of regu- lar troops; but in the present state of things the miJilia operates only as a scare-crow. I wish uot by this to give offence, but to slate facts which are within the knowledge of all, that we may be roused to energy and order. I am happy to hear that in the eastern states discipline is much better attended to ; but I relate facts which exist among ourselves, and fear the curse of heaven for our negli- gence. 7. Men fall under this curse when they unnecessarily pro- long the war in order to live at the public expense. I have no fear, gentlemen, of your doing this. Let this curse full upon cur enemies. Let it fall upon those corrupt administrations v/ho delight to shed itsnccent blood. Your in- terest, your happiness and glory, are inseparable froiii the privileges of free citizens, of one of the best governments upon earth. Your interest is interwoven with that of your country. At her voice you draw the sword for the protection cf those rights, which were purchased by the blood of American patri- ots and heroes, and at her pacific voice, you will exchange im- plements of death for those of husbandry, when justice has been done to our injured country. Hail the happy moment ! Hail the j^^-yful hour, when you shall return to Circinnatli, covered with military glory, to enjoy all the comforts uhich you now so nobly relinquish for the safety find peace cf ©ur nation. / I proceed now to the improveirieTi t of this subject. 1. Ijtet us learn from this subject, that tliough war is the work of the Lord, yet m:m is not excusable when i)c engag-cs in it for b:.se p'jr- poocs, or from evil motives. Ii is no unconnno-a thing- for men to ful- fil the decrees of heaven, by the works of wicked hands. The history of Jospph, the history of the Jev/s, and tl:ie doctrines of the Apostles respcctir.c^ tlic cviicifix'on of our Savior, go to prove this truth, th«,t men do wickcaiy what Jeliovali means for f^ood- Let «» examine v.'ell our motives, never engap:e in war but in a juat cause, and, when we do enjciige> let us do the wo;k f;.itirruily. 2. If the curse of God fails upon the nogligxnt, its li^^hts with ennal vcng-eance upon the cov/ind. " Curserl be he that keepeth back his sv.ord from blood." Of all tlie reptiles tJiat crav/1 upon the surface of o\u- guilty ,^'lobe, the cov/ard is the ip.ost contemptible. A man who tnjovs the privileges of a citizen, and r-jfuscs to meet ids enemy, when lawfully called to the defence of his country, deserves not the name of a man. He deserves not to be ranked with decent bru'.es. He is not fit to live, he is not fit to die. Ijct him r:.nk witJi the terrapin and snail, or if their motion be too stow for his hi.sty timidity, let him shroud himself in the precipitant darkness of the mole, or assume the pinions of the nceturBai lapwing. Bat wbut sh»ll wo say of tV.cse 11 -hose titniditv is sanctioned l>y law, v/ha keep b;icJk the sword from blood, under pretence of the rights of conscience '.r a vuin excuse ot invaUdi^- ' Passion, prejucl-ce and coxvurdice, have each m turn been cTlled conscience. Bit what has conscience to do ^^^^-J-^^^^^l' ^> as these people pretend, it is contrary to the laws of Chnst, to taJ^e up "m inrelMcflnce, then no hun.an law can m^e ^^^^-'^ anv human law contradicts the divine law, we are bound as Christians WoTood, and not man, if it cost us our livcs. The Imman uw sav « If any man conscientiously refuses lo bear arms, he shall not be cSnpelledtodo.^., but shall pay an eqvuvalent for persov^ scrv.c ! ^ With this law uiese conscientious people comply. Thev uill not fip-ht • but thev will pav others for hghtuigr. It the human lau savs, then «VOU shall cut your neighbor's throat," you say you cannot m conscieLe do it, but \f it givel. you an alternanve to c;n his thro^ or pay for somebody else to do it,you can very conscK.iciou 3 ad dcA outly comply. The truth is, conscience haS VroUung to do n ^lie ca^^J^^^ fore us ; it is downright cowardice, interwoven wita a conti.mea ^'Stkere are real invalids, I do not deny. The old and Innrm ai^ among us. But how many in time of pe.ce, ^'^^}^^Z''^-!^}l'^^^e% .^^^^ as soon as the drum beats to arms, are invalids'. Ou^^js ^"^le^ , who are exempted from military service, on account of age or v. » who might be of service for home defence. Wiule others are called to the field, are we quietlv to fold up our hands and snuii the ashes ? It war be declared against England, we know not at what moment emis- saries and tories may appear among us — We know not at^wnat mo- ment, the negroes may rise against us— It is not more than 30 miles to our frontiers on Whitewater, and we know not at what instant they may need our aid. But if by considering ourselves exempt from duty, we remain unarmed and undisciplined, the moment may arrive wl^eii we shall fall an easy sacrifice in our own domicils. 1 am exempt from bearing arms upon two legal grounds ; I am an invalid in flvct, and a minister of the gospel by office, but I have armed myself under a sense of duty, and if my country needs my service, God forbid that I should stand back. " Cui'sed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood," when a just cause and an injured country call upon him to repel the foe. I will read to you, gentlemen, a piece of ancient history upon this subject When Jabin the king of Canaan, miglitily oppressed Israel for *20 years, deliver.ance was wrought by the hands of women— Debo- rah, the wife of Lapidoth, and Jael, the wife of Ueber. When this de- liverance was wrought, a portion of the people kept back the sword from blood, andthe'Cod of armies sent his angel to curse them for their cowardice. " Curse ye Meroz, (said the angel f)f tlie Lord) curse ye.bitterly, the inhabitants thereof, l^ecause they came not to tl-e help of the Lord, to the help of the Lordag.dnst the might)." *' Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be ; biessed above wompn gl.vall%liie>,|^ in the t^jnt— Sli^put her liand to th^>- il^-nnd her right hand to the workm.-.n's lu-mmd^, awd wit-l* the hajlffrjer ^he sniote Sisera, she ^mote ofi'his head, after she had pierced and sti ickeu through his temples." "^ But while we unite- in'^xecs^t in jr cowardice, kt us try"\o understand tme courage. It consis^l.iot mjfiic sv;>^gjwin^fa bully, tlic private aaaiice of the dueiisv, ttieS-age ot desperation, ihc presKimption of Uie 12 ambitious, nor a mean display of military pomp. But consists in thft deliberate intrepidity of tlie mag-nanimous soul, who has justice and righteousness in vie Win the conflict, and writes his motto, "Liberty or Death." ^ 2. Remember, gentlemen, you are not authorised from this subject,' to mdulge a spiteful, revengeful temper towards vour enemies, or ta eng-ag-e in acts of outrag-e and cruelty. When the soldiers came to Jeiin and asked him, " what shall we do ?" he docs not tell them to lay down their arms, nor tamely to submit to every imposition, nor to go « \yith ropes upon their heads, and sackcloth upon their loins," and submit to the sceptre of every invader, but he answered ai:d said, ".do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely and be content witli your Wages." Consider the state of the times. No declaration of war has yet been made . The present preparations are measiu-es of defence. Though the Savages have killed our brs^e fellow citizens and massacred women strike, but discrimiu-^.te, and strike only your toes. And should a case ever occur that v^u can secure an enemy without taking his life, shew liim that yOiiare humane gentlemen, as well as brave soldiers. 'i. I cannot consent to close this subject, without calling you to a more important v/arfare — a warfare against sin. *• Righteousness ex- alteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.'' I know that the doctrine of sin is treated by some with gieat levity and scorvi ; but I y/ill take the liberty of saying, " Foolt. make a mock at sin." The sub- jug-ation of lust a.nd passion is of vast moment, " He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit, tlian he that tuketh a city.'* The anny has been considered the school of vice, but it is not necessarily .so. Abraham and David, and Cornelius, and Gardiner, and Washirlgton, v/ere all maiilary men, and ail men of em ine nt piety and virtue. Take such for your example, and in attempting to conquer sin and Satan, have a proper respect to our Great High Priest, whose blood cleanseth from all unrighteousness, whose spirit leads into all trutii, and who rewards his people witiian inheritance incorruptible, undefiled and that fi^deth not away. Finally, gentlemen, Ibid you adieu. May God prosper you in your way, and gi,ve you a safe return. If you live, live to the Lord ; and if you die, diti to' the Lord ; and glory, honor, and immortality shall be youf sure and tmalteruble rewaid. And let all the people say AaiEN. \ V ^^n^ ^^t'^'^-^-^^^^l- /; ^/// > C \ ■-, i