• *, < ; : . I ■ . m /■ > v*., V ^ *0 . .^>vT> W c O *. . *5 .4* % "^ .0 % j> :* 1: v* jg|fB& 4 o V ♦* .* 2» « V- o * « V .'.?♦. 'O. .*' r oV » *3 April 13, 1815. Reverend Sir, At the solicitation and in behalf of a number of the Citizens of the Villages of Waterford and Lansingburgh, we tender you our thanks for the Discourse delivered this day, and request you will favor us with a copy for the press. We are, Sir, Very respectfully, Your friends, James Van Schoonhoven, John Cramer, John House, Committee from Waterford. Elijah Janes, Elias Parmelee, Ebenezer W. Walbridge, Committee from Lansingburgh, llev. J)r. Samuel Blatchford. i xvi, 1. Ogive thanks unto the Lord ; for he is cood: for his mercy endureth for evek. IjTRiVTITUDE, expressed to our benefactors, is one of the most reasonable and pleasant exercises of the heart. The psalm, which includes our text, contains a general exhortation to render thanks to God for his various, and manifold mercies ; whilst the inspired penman exhibits several reasons for the discharge of this duty. The general reason mentioned is, thai; the Lord is God, and " his mercy endureth for ever." That God is merciful, is a fact of the first conse- quence to mankind ; and, it would seem, that the Holy Spirit would impress it upon our minds with more than common weight, since the sentence which contains it, is, perhaps, more frequently repeated, than any other which occurs in the scriptures. E3 It r\ •• t* Reverend Sir, At the solic number of the Ci Watcrford and Lai our thanks for the day, and request you will favor us with a copy for the press. We are, Sir, Very respectfully, Your friends, James Van Schoonhoven, John Cramer, John House, Committee from Wat erf or d. Elijah Janes, Elias Parmelee, Ebenezer W. Walbridge, Committee from Lamingburgh, llev. jpr. Samuel Blatchford. A SERMON. PSALM cxxxvi, 1. Ogive thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. IjTRATITUDE, expressed to our benefactors, is one of the most reasonable and pleasant exercises of the heart. The psalm, which includes our text, contains a general exhortation to render thanks to God for his various, and manifold mercies ; whilst the inspired penman exhibits several reasons for the discharge of this duty. The general reason mentioned is, that the Lord is God, and " his mercy endureth for ever.'" That God is merciful, is a fact of the first conse- quence to mankind ; and, it would seem, that the Holy Spirit would impress it upon our minds with more than common weight, since the sentence which contains it, is, perhaps, more frequently repeated, than any other which occurs in the scriptures. To a right conception of the divine mercies, we know that mankind are averse ; and therefore, God, in infinite condescension, is specially pleased to il- lustrate for our use, this perfection of his character. We are called upon this day, by the constituted authorities of our country, to give thanks to God for the many blessings with which he has remem- bered us ; and especially for that prominent favor, which has already produced a burst of joy from the whole nation — I mean the late peace — Its tidings were welcomed as life from the dead — we then said to one another, to our country, and to the world, " JVe are glad.'''' We are now, in the recognition of the blessing, to say to God, we are thankful. I. But what is it to give thanks to God — or rather how are we to characterize the duty ? This shall be the jlrst article of consideration. Of giving thanks, we may in general have some idea, especially with respect to our fellow creatures, when they are at any time pleased to confer upon us any acts of kindness and liberality. Ingratitude, or the withholding of due acknowledgment from those who serve our interests, is branded amongst all des- criptions of men, as the meanest and most hateful vice; for gratitude is one of the natural affections of the soul, and is exercised by all classes of men to- wards one another. Thus the publicans loved those who loved them. But however common this may- be from man to man, there is a great reluctance in the carnal heart to render thanks to God, the su- preme benefactor. It is true, he is the supreme friend of the world ; whose providence pervades the universe ; in whom we live, and move, and have our being ; who orders for us all the circumstances of our existence ; in whom are all our springs, and up- on whom we are absolutely dependent. But men, for the most part, lose sight of this, and betray by their worldly mindedness, their forgetfulness of God. How often does the glorious Sovereign of the world elevate individuals and nations to scenes of prosper- ity and splendor — -How often does he succeed the efforts of men to the accomplishment of their object — He raiseth the poor out of the dunghill, and sit- teth them among princes. But to what are men more prone, than to arrogate their success to them* selves. Were it not for this, the prophet's words had been without meaning ; " They were filled and their hearts were exalted, therefore have they forgot* ten me." Nor could the force of the reproach have been felt, which Israel deserved and received ; " But Jeshuran waxed fat and kicked, thou art waxed fat, thou art grown thick, then he forsook God that made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his sal- vation. Of the rock that begat thee, thou art un- mindful, and hast forgotten the God that formed thee." To correct this disposition of the human heart, God often brings us into distress ; and in his hand there is a cup, it is full of mixture, and the wine is red. He pours upon us his judgments : permits us to indulge our passions, and unrestrained by his pre- ventive grace, we seek the high places of the field— sword meets sword — havoc and carnage rage — the red blood stains the sod, and colours the ocean— man is the murderer of man — The chaste labors of the husbandman cease—the busy hum of commerce- is still- -the cottage of the poor is deserted ; save, where the widow weeps for her husband, and hushes her orphans to sleep on a pallet of straw. The pal- aces of the great, too, sink under the rude violence of war, and the Lord is known by the judgments of his hand. It is in distress that we commonly begin to think about God. But prayer, in distress, would seem to be a work of necessity :---It Mas so considered dur- ing our late conflict ; and our citizens were called to the confession of their sins, and to humiliation before God : Now we are called to thankful praise ; and this is AN ACT OF DUTY. Of this, we have a noble example in the devout psilmist. With what ardency of affection — with what fervency of spirit does he express his obliga- tions to God ! It is almost impossible not to catch the fire, and feel the glow, which inspired him in that flight of sublime praise, of which we have an instance in the hundred and third psalm ! " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who croAvncth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies." Such ardent addres- ses as these, so often repeated, display the strength of the impression on his heart, and intimate to us the propriety and excellence of that sensibility of feeling, which ought never to be restrained in the re- cognition of the divine mercies. The duty is un- deniable : It may be characterized as a SPIRITUAL DUTY. Brethren, the spring of that thankfulness, which is acceptable to God, is in the heart. Thankfulness is the soul's exercise ; for it is the soul which recog- nizes divine favors, and understands those obliga- tions to the goodness of God which such favors create. Its expression, indeed, is often found in vo- cal praise : in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs . And this is natural ; because, when the heart is filled with sincere gratitude and love to God, it will express itself in devout and thankful praise. Be- tween the heart and the tongue, there is a natural and undeniable correspondence- --so that, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. But the chief act of thanksgiving is to be sought in the interior of the man : it is, as we said, the act of tht soul. In this, there is a manifest propriety and ne ■ s cessity ; for "God is a spirit, and he will be worship- ed in spirit, and in truth." " He searches the heart, and tries the reins of the children of men," and resents it as derogatory to his glory, when we draw near with our lips, whilst our hearts are far from him. There is, therefore, an important design in the psalmist, when he calls upon his soul, and all that is w ithin him, to unite in offering praise to God. The understanding must be engaged to consider and ad- mit the great arguments of praise ; to admire, whilst it traces the divine goodness in all its glorious dis- plays, and to ascribe the glory which is due to God for all his mercies, which is a reasonable service. — The memory is employed to register the benefits which heaven confers, and bring them into light : And the will and affections are used to rejoice in his character, and love him for the beneficence of his designs, and the condescension of his acts. Thankfulness to God is a SOLEMN DUTY. This remark is intended to correct a mistake into which thousands are apt to run : for multitudes, in all ages, have considered days of thanksgiving, as seasons of feasting and carnal mirth. So the Israel- ites, when they had sacrificed to their idols, sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. This prac- tice was consistent enough for idolators, but it can- not be suitable for the worshippers of the true God. Christians should know belter. True thankfulness is immediately connected with humility. We are then most thankful, when we have upon our hearts the clearest perceptions of the divine character ; and every proper view of the glory of God and his per- fections, will produce that solemnity which is cha- racteristic of the duty. Thankfulness to God im- plies a SERIOUS RECOGNITION OF HIS MERCIES WITH ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ADD LUS- TRE TO THEM. Our mercies are both common and special ; and they should both be continually acknowledged by us. Not only on such a day as this, should we call them to mind ; but more or less every day. An habitual feeling of obligation to God is so reason- able in itself, that it ought to be indulged ; and it is so congenial to a heart, penetrated with the divine goodness, that it is one of the best evidences of our sincerity. The mercies of God are new every morning and fresh every evening : great is his faith- fulness. Our common mercies are included in what our Lord styles " our daily bread" — that general support and care afforded us by the paternal provi- dence of our Father who is in heaven. But sometimes God is pleased to interfere particularly in our favor by the most signal displays of his wisdom and pow- er. He rescues us from deep calamity and distress : 10 He calms the tempest of sorrow which would over- whelm us : He saith to the waves of affliction u be still ; hitherto ye have gone, but ye shall go no fur- ther." He places us on a rock — the billows indeed may beat at our feet, but we are safe ! And then, whilst, like the shipwrecked mariner, snatched from the horrors of the deep, we survey the ruin we have escaped, it is indispensible to true thankfulness, that we should go over the incidents of our deliverance, and revive the impression of the mercy by a con- stant recognition of the blessing. Thankfulness to God implies A DUE ESTIMATION OF HIS BENEFITS. This will be effected by a realizing consideration of who God is, and what we are. The great God, whose name alone is Jehovah, is infinite in his glory. His majesty filleth the heavens. He is ex- alted above all praise. He bows beyond all expres- sion, when he notices the bright intelligences of his throne, and listens even to the soiip-s of angels. — Now the smallest favor done to us by such a Being, rises in estimation beyond all thought ; for as the guilt of sin swells, in enormity, according to the dig- nity of the object against whom it is committed ; so that, altho some sins against God may be consider- ed as comparatively small, yet there is no such thing, in its intrinsic nature, as a small sin. In like man- ner, although of mercies, some are, in comparison. II eminent, and some ordinary, yet every mercy is in- expressibly great with respect to the glorious Au- thor from whom it comes. In contrast with nim, what are we ? — " Lord, said David, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him" ! What indeed is man ? What is he in his collective capacity ? In comparison with God, all the nations of the earth are as grasshoppers, inconsiderable «as the dust of the balance, less than nothing and vanity. Considered in his natural state, man is a creature as but of yesterday, and crushed before the moth. In his moral state, he is a child of wrath, polluted with sin, corrupted from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet ; poor and wretched, blind and naked, destitute of all things.— Yes, brethren, a reflection upon our own vilcness, will assure us, that we do not merely, not deserve the smallest blessing at the hand of God, but rather deserve his heaviest judgments ; and such reflection will necessarily heighten our esteem of his mercies. II. Having thus characterized the duty of thanks- giving to God, our next article will be, to consider the reasons of this duty, as we find them particular, ly mentioned in the text : " O give thanks unto the Lord" — Why ? " For the Lord is good, for his mercy endureth for ever." " The Lord is good." He is so ; and we are witnesses of the fact. It is continually manifesting itself. Consider, 12 god's general providence over the WORLD. His kingdom, saith the scripture, ruleth over all. It is under his government, that we are blessed with the sun, and moon, and stars ; with the revolving seasons ; summer and winter, seed time and har- vest. As the great Father of us all, he shelters the family of man under the shadow of his wings : gives bread to the eater, and seed to the sower ; accom- modates the constitutions of his creatures to the snows of Lapland, or the burning heats of the tor- rid zone. He is the God of the sea, where the sai- lor climbs the mountain wave, and the God of the dry land, where the shepherd feeds his flock. — " The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice.-' But we must not roam at large — Let us consider some of the particular acts of his goodness, with which he has remembered us. 1st. And here first, shall I call your attention to that AMPLE SUPPLY OF THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE WITH WHICH WE ARE FAVORED. America is justly styled, the poor man's country ; for here the hand of industry makethrich. It is the land of corn, and oil, and flax, and wool. The earth 3 ieldeth her increase to the husbandman, who tills the soil, and casteth in the wheat, and the rye and the cummin and the barley — Her productions are so abundant and so uniform, that here is no dread of famine, none of scarcity — every mouth is filled ; there is no want — America is a granary for countries far distant. The surplussage of our pro- duce supplies the necessities of other nations, and alleviates the miseries of other people. With the labor of the farmer, the ingenuity of the mechanic is respected, and his work rewarded. — Indeed, there is not one among us, but the improv- ident, the lazy, or the intemperate, but may exclaim, the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places, I have a goodly heritage. Even the child of misfortune and sorrow is here provided for by the most active benevolence. The chief city of our own state affords the most splendid instances of combined charity of which, in propor- tion to the number of inhabitants, any city in the world can boast. The friendless orphan finds an assylum, the regularity and comforts of which, al- most make him forget, if ever he remembered, that he once had a father to supply his wants, and a mo- ther to sooth his griefs. The sick are provided with the means of cure, in establishments, where the most eminent skill is gratuitously afiorded to their relief — Nor is it only in that city ; through most of our cities and villages, benevolent associations arc formed to raise the head of dejection, and supply the wants of the poor. I love to hear of" Houses of In dust/"/" li JVidoiv Societies" " Societies for the Relief of the u Sick" " Female Benevolent Societies" They arc the ingenious devices of a generous sensibility for distress, and proofs of regard to the sufferings of hu- manity. They do honor to those who framed them, and to those who support them — they are amongst the rich blessings of our country, and a ground of thankfulness to God. Then let us beware that we forget not him who is the supreme Benefactor ; whose controling influence disposes the heart to charitable deeds ; who is the sick man's best friend ; " the hus- band of the widow ; and the father of the fatherless. — The Lord of hosts is his name.'" The natural advantages of our country are beyond all others. Our shores are washed by an immense ocean, which bears on its bosom the productions of other climes ; and gives to the merchant the cane of the Indies, the silver, the gold and the pearl ; "a country watered with the dews and rain of heaven, feeding innumerable springs and wells and naviga- ble rivers. A land out of whose hills you may di g iron and stone, marble, coals, clay and innumerable articles of daily use. A land which maintains herds and flocks, dairies and hives, and a thousand other classes laboring for the inhabitants." Our lakes are inland seas of vast measure, long known to our country, either as separating lines between this and other dominions, or, as the means of facilitating an increasing and extensive commerce; and lately they are known to the world by events, which astonish by their magnitude and their novelty. But vve mtist not enlarge. Consider therefore 15 OUR MEANS OF EDUCATION. Perhaps there is in no country, if we except Scot- land ; and Switzerland in happier times ; where the means of education are so cheap and so extended. Here, in most of our States, the poorest child is taught to read and write, and the expense is paid at the easiest rate. The system of common school education is rising in magnitude, and improvement ; and unspeakable advantages are flowing in upon society from our charitable and public institutions. Our Lancastrian establishments afford instruction to thousands, and present, to the friend of his country, a spectacle of no common interest — The scheme: originated elsewhere; but, having obtained the plan, we adopted it. We do credit to the author, and enjoy the blessing. The higher branches of learning, too, are acquir- ed within our own boundaries ; and he who would prepare himself for any of the professions, called learned, need not go to Europe for his qualifica- tions. Our halls of science, open to the student the philosophy of Newton; the metaphysics of Locke, and Stewart and Reid ; the languages of polished Greece and Rome, in the heroic verse of Homer ; the sweet numbers of Virgil ; the profuse eloquence of Cicero, and the thunder of Demosthenes. The young civilian is taught, in schools of law, the principles of justice, which in our courts are ex- pounded, and reduced to practice. The student in 16 medicine, with advantages which are every day in- creasing, may explore the arcana of animal econo- my, and, profiting by the experience of professors of established fame, be the successful instrument, of arresting disease in its progress, and reanimating the lamp of life, just trembling in its socket. The youth also who devotes himself to the service of the sanc- tuary has now, in our theological seminaries, the means of acquiring those branches of knowledge, so desirable in themselves, and so important to the church, which, under the blessing of him whose gospel they expect to preach, will be the probable means of supporting truth, of putting gainsayers to silence, and of exhibiting, in the best possible man- ner, the mysteries of grace to a ruined world. Con- sider further, THE CONSTITUTION OF OUR COUNTRY, AND THE PRECIOUS LIBERTIES WE ENJOY. Civil liberty is a choice blessing ; and we possess it in that degree, in which we ourselves have chosen to possess it. The constitution is the palladium of our liberties ; and the good providence of God per- mitted the people to form it for themselves. It re- cognizes common rights : the life, the property, the liberty of thinking and acting is secured to every citizen, within the boundaries' of law and equal jus- tice. In some other countries, says a late writer, the life of a subject is at the will of his lord. Pro^ 17 perty, in some nations, the poor have none, they are property themselves ; the slaves and beasts of nobles. There are subjects on which no conversation is al- lowed, and there is nothing but one general slavery. Like Egypt, the whole country is resembled to a large gaol — a house of bondage ; in which the chains of some are of iron, and those of others are of gold ; but all are in slavery, and they have no deliverer to to set them free. O happy people of America ! " Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good!" Again consider THE RECENT INSTANCE OF DIVINE GOODNESS IN SUDDENLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY, CHANG- ING THE RAGE OF WAR INTO THE TRANQUIL- ITY OF PEACE. This blessing of heaven is prominent. Let us, that we may feel it, look at the evils of war, con- nected with the blessings of peace- --But where am I going ?- —Shall I trace back to the origin of the war, and pronounce concerning its policy, and its moral- ity ; whether it was just and necessary ? Shall I look at the manner in which it was conducted, and give my opinion of the wisdom of our plans and points of operation ? Shall I look at its termination, and pronounce concerning the terms of peace, whether we have obtained the objects of so tremendous a conflict ?~No, I will not. Justice, however, requires C 18 us to say, that we have gained additional proof of the patient and hardy eourage of our soldiers in the field; whilst, on the ocean, and the lakes, the daring intre- pidity of our seamen has astonished the world. The American eagle tore with his talons the cross of St. George, and bore away in his beak, the trophies of victory, from the mistress of the seas. But still war is a dreadful scourge, call it by what name you please. With us it was connected with innumera- ble evils. Commerce was interrupted. An im- mense property was sacrificed. The ships of our merchants no longer ploughed the ocean ; but found their stations in the secure retreats of harbors, creeks and rivers. The revenue of the country could not support the expenses of the contest ; and the nation- al treasury was exhausted. Increasing taxes upon the community, became necessary. Mutual recrim- ination among our statesmen presented a distressing omen, and the union itself was in danger. A flood of immorality broke in upon society ; and multi- tudes of lives were lost in the sickliness of the camp, and the carnage of the field But thank God we have peace ! Yes, Brethren, we will thank God that we have peace. No longer does the hoarse trumpet call our legions to the embattled plain— no longer does the loud cannon utter its roar of destruction- --Our troops are returning to the hab- itudes of social life-— Our frontiers hail their oppo- nents as their friends, nor fear the deadly incursion 19 to drive them from their homes by the flames of their owndwellings.--Commerce is now flowing into its wonted channel—Our wharves are crowded with busy scenes ; and whatever depressions we may yet feel, the goodness of God hath given an energy, an enterprize to our country which, we trust, will at length overcome the disadvantages of the present moment, and that we shall yet arise a praise in the midst of the whole earth. May the guardian arm of Omnipotence surround us, and the presence of God be a glory in the midst of us ! We dread now no foreign foe: let us beware of ourselves- —our own bad passions— the rancor of party zeal, and what- ever may embitter our blessings and impair our feli- city. Let us look for moral principle and disinter- ested patriotism in our rulers, and be at peace among ourselves. I cannot conclude this discourse without remind- ing you of a blessing superior to every other, and without which we could have no real enjoyment of any ; upon which we should dwell with delight and for which we can never express sufficient praise. — I refer to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; that Gospel which brings us glad tidings of great joy ;--- which proclaims peace on earth and good will to- wards man ; that Gospel which reveals the way of life, exhibits an all-sufficient Saviour to the world, developes an hereafter to man, and resolves the anx- ions enquiry " what must I do to be saved." This 20 Gospel is the foundation of our social happiness ;~ its laws are holy, just and good; its promises cheer and animate the christian pilgrim in his course ; its doctrines shew the way of reconciliation fcith God, support the departing spirit in the conflicts of death, whilst, being interested in the covenant of grace, by faith in the Redeemer, it wings its way to those triumphant seats, where God hath provided an everlasting residence for his children. We enjoy this Gospel in all its rich exhibitions for ourselves : nor do we confine it here ; from our plenitude we are enabled to send the missionaries of the Cross to the habitations of the wilderness, and to nations far remote— May so great a blessing be wisely improv- ed and its benefits be extended from the rising to the setting of the sun, and reach, like the undulations of the pool, from shore to shore. For this Gospel w r c are bound to be thankful ; and here is best explained the last member of our text ; " His mercy endureth for everv" til,. My Brethren, I have done. Upon these altars you offer your thanksgiving to God in the name of Jesus Christ, through whose righteousness and blood alone, we have access to his throne. It is a right- eous— -a holy act : may God accept it at your hands, and whilst he records it in his remembrance, "Be ye for him," and not for another; still bearing it upon your hearts, that those who love him keep his com- mandments. 1 ^ RD 41; > *. * v •*• ^ o ,0 > %<» * ^ ^ a* • <^ A ♦ „ v •5 *5» A *"• % /*' .vS&6- ■** v /i8&\ \ « OBBS BROS. V BINDING tr AUGUSTINE !^* A*