m m w^ » ip Mi SS B| W mml sill DISCOURSE ON ■1 SOME EVENTS OF THE LAST CENTURY, DELIVERED IN THE BRICK CHURCH IN NEW HAVEN, On Wednesday t January 7, i8di. By timothy DWIGHT, D. D. PRESIDENT OF YALE COLLEGE. " — - . COPT RIGHT SECURED, NEW HAVE^r^^^^^' PRINTED BY EZRA READ. 180I, ■l9 ADVERTISEMENT. THE aiidie?2ce, to whom this discourse was addressed, will perceive, that it differs, in so?iie places, from what they heard from the desk. To explain the reason of this, they are reminded, that the discourse, as delivered to them, was the second of two, originally designed for the Students of Tale College ; and that it was preached in the Brick Church, instead of the College Chapel, at the request of the Rev, Dodlor Dana. As it referred in several pla- ces to the former discourse, it became 7iecessary to alter and enlarge it, when the design of pub- lishing it was formed, that the obscurity arising from those references might be avoided. '>-r+T"H"H"i-i"H'-H"H"H-+T-T-{- O .i_;-H-4-i-H";-l"i-i"l-+-i-+4-;"J-i"H- I A DISCOURSE. DEUTERONOMY, XXXII. 7. Remember the days of old ,• consider the years of many generations ; ask thy father, and he will shew thec^ thy elders, and they will tell thee. 1 HE works of God may be confidered as a texr, on which his word is the comment. In creation and providence we learn what is done, and in the fcriptures why it is done. This inftruc- tion is as truly furnilhed by the events of the paft year, or the paft century, as by thofeof the days of Mofes, or of the centuries before the deluge. The only important difference is found either in the pe- culiar magnitude of particular events, or in the flcill ot thofc who comment on them. Great events are not only more important, but more inftrudive, than little ones ; and enlightened men can better derive inftruftion from them, and better commu- nicate it to otiiers, than men unenlight'sned. In- fpired commentators, fuch as the fcriptural writers were, could underftand, and teach, the nature and ufc of providence certainly and exa^ly ; other .men partially, and with uncertainty. By them each part of the fubjeft was underflood, fo far as they were diredled to explain it ; by others only the great and prominent parts. Their inftrudions, therefore, are unerring, and far more excellent and ufeful than our relcarches ^ yet thefe are not without their ufe ; nor are we exculed from the duty of endeavoring to derive knowledge and wifdom from the works of God. Imperfcfl as our inveftigations muft be, they will neverthelefs prove, if we are difpofed aright, of no fmall advantage. On this groutid, it is prefumed, Mofes direfc- ed the Ifraelites to apply each to his father, and to the elders, for inllrudlion concerning chofe things which exifted " in the days of old and the years of preceding generations." Thefe perfons were all, or chiefly, uninfpired, and were of courfe capable of only reciting fa6i:s, and making on them judi- cious obfervations. Yet thefe fafts and obferva- tions were confidered by Mofes, and by the God who taught Mofes, as deferving to be known, and as ufeful, when known, to valuable ends» In the 107th Pfalm, the infpired writer calls upon mankind " to praife the Lord for his good- nefs, and for his wonderful works to the children of men :" that is, for the wonderful works of his providence to mankind. To engage them to the efFe6lual performance of this duty, he giver, them an example of it in this very Pfalm ; and recites to them five different fpecimens of the providential. condu6t of God, as proper fubjefts of their invefti- gation, and proper themes of their praife. Thefe all are fpecimens of his ordinary providence. Thus the Pfalmift teaches us, and with great beauty, eloquence and piety, that his ordinary providence is thus wonderful, and thus deferving of their at- tention an,d praife. But the common providence of God to the Jews v/as no miOre deferving of this regard than his providence to us, nor in the time of the Pfalmift any more than at the prefcnt time. It is always the providence of the fame Jehovah, the refult of the fame wifdom and goodnefs, and equal- ly claiming our admiration and gratitude. Corref- pondently with this fentiment the Pfalmift elfe- where declares, generally, that " the works of the Lord are great, honorable, and glorious, and fought out of all them that have pleafure therein."* Ifai- ah alfo afcnbes the grofs finfulnefs of fome men to §, neglcft pf due reg-ird to the works of God, and to the operation of his hands. f The Pfalmift car- ries the thought ftill farther, and declares thai ** be- caiife men regard not the work of the Lord, nor the operation of his hand, he fhall deftroy them, and not build them up."J To us, as to our fellow men, thofe works of God which we beft know, and can moft deeply feel, are peculiarly proper fubjeds of this inveftiga- tion. The events, therefore, of the paft Century being well known, and ftrongly felt, by us, muft in an eminent degree partake of this propriety. Moft of all, the events, which during this period have taken place in our own country, merit our prefent confideration. Thefe we know better, and cannot fail to feel more deeply, than any others. Permit me, therefore, to mention fome of them for your prefent confideration. Through more than half of the paft Century France polTefTed a great part of the eaflern fide of North America, and claimed moft of the remain- der. Great Britain held the reft. In the fucceed- ing period Great Britain acquired all that was pof- fefTed by France, and loft almoft all which fhe ori- ginally polTefTed. On the territory, which fhc loft, has been erefted a new empire ; the firft civilized ftate, formed on the weftern Ihore of the Atlantic. The greatnefs of the changes, which during the Century under confideration have exifted in the affcurs of this country, may with fome advantage be exhibited in the following manner. In the year 1700, five of the United States were mere forefts, without a civilized inhabitant. Thefe were Vermont, Kentucky, North Carolina, TennefTee, and Georgia. New Plampfhire con- tained eight incorporated towns, out of two hund "f Chap. V. vei, 11, iz, % P^* xxvlii. 5. red and feven which it now contains -, Maffachufetts eighty, out of four hundred and four ; and Con- ne(5licut twenty eight, out of one hundred and eight. New York, New Jerfey, Maryland, and Virginia had far fewer fettleinents than New England j and in Pennfylvania^ Delaware, and South Carolina, fcttlements were fcarcely begun. The manner, in which thefe Colonies were at that time regarded in Europe, m.ay in fome mtaV- ure be learned from the two following accounts : The firft is taken from a work of CluveriuSy a Dutch Geographer, and was publiflied in 1697 j the other from Heyliriy a Britilh Geographer, and Vi'as pub- liflied in 1703. Cluverius himfelf does not even mention thefe Colonies, except under the general name of Virginia J and this he barely mentions. But Reif- kius, one of his annotators, obfervcs, that New En- gland contains feveral villages, and four cities ; of which Newport (Neuf Havre) the public feat of the Parliament (of New England) Bofton, and Cambridge the feat of a College, are the chief. — The other regions, he obferves, are rifing from ob- fcure beginnings by means of new Colonies. Of Virginia the fame annotator obferves, that it borders on New France, derived its name moft probably fiom Queen Elizabeth, is a barren and ill cultivated country, ill furniilied v/ith harbours,* and has a town called Medano. New Belgium he mentions alfo, as fubdued by the Englifli, and as containing New York, and the fortrefs of Albany. Bung, another annotator on the fame writer> fays, that Nev/ England and New York lie between New France and New Virginia, and that New York borders on New Vir^nnia. * Oi' without an^' haibour, mf>orfuofu/;:. Hey LIN fays, that "New England lies be- tween 40 imd 41 degrees of North latitude, 70 miles on the ocean, which affords it plenty of harbour." This Colony, he remarks, is very flrong, and has built feven great towns; the chief of which is Eof- ton, which in 1670 had 50 fail of ih\ps belonging to it. He defcribes this town as large and fpacious, and as built at the bottom of a large bay, on three hills, on which are raifed fortifications, with cannon mounted and well guarded. Thefe fhips, he fays, are firft employed in fifhing, and then, compound- ing a freight of corn and other commodities, they pafs to the fouthern plantations. He further mentions New England as a part of Virginia, as the moft flourifliing of the Britilh Colonies, and as containing at leaft 42 towns ; ot which he fays, " St. George's Fort, New Plymouth, Briftow, Barnftable, Bofton, Quilipiac, Charlef- town, Dorchefter, Cambridge, (which has feveral ftreets, two Colleges, and divers fair and well built houfes) Reading (which he mentions as advanta- geoufly built near a pond, and by means of this fit- nation as peculiarly fortunate in having one mill for corn, and another for timber) and Salem, are tlie chief." New Hampfliire, Rhode Ifland, and Connefticut, are not named by him. Of the other Britifh Colonies he fays, among various remarks, that they have but one or two towns a-piece. Such is the defcription, then given in thole parts of Europe, where it was beft known, and by profeffed geographers, of a country, now an inde- pendent empire ; inhabited by more than five mil- lions of people ; employing near a million of tons of fhipping, in a commerce, of which the exports, in i8oOj amounted to about ninety millions of dol- lars; cultivating about fixty millions of acres; and poffeffing a confiderable influence in the great af- fairs of mankind. From the beginning of the Eighteenth Cen- tury to the year 1763, thele Colonies were affefted by every war, in which Great Britain was involved againft France. Nor were their ftruggles, their expenfes, their dangers, or their loffes, fmall. France, from an early period after the difcovery of North America, had caft her eyes on this country as a moft defiraiDle acquifition. According to the then acknowledged law of the European nations, the fole right of the preemption and fettlement of the country was in Great Britain. France, howev- er, at an early date pafTed up the river St. Law- rence, and planted a Colony at Quebec ; whence fhe foon ftretched her arms fouthward, on the in- terior of the Britilh fettlements, fo far as almoll to complete a chain of fortreffes from Canada to the mouth of the MifTifippi. The turbulent ambition of her kings, which, as may be feen by the flighteft examination of hiftory, has, from the time of Clovis, kept Europe in an uproar, and the world in confu- fion ; and the furious zeal of her hierarchy, impa- tient to fubjugate mankind to the Romifii fee ; aimed at nothing lefs than the entire extirpation of the Britilh Colonifts. For this purpofe her agents, civil, ecclefiaftical, and military, v/ith that aftivity and perfeverance, that flexibility of morals, and that fafcination of manners, for which they have been fo long and fo eminently diftinguiflied, laboured v/ith intenfe exertions, through more than the firfh half of the Century, to acquire over our anceftors every advantage, and to infiid on them every fufFcring. In this work of death and deva-Ilation they embarked the great body of thofe favages, who bordered on our frontiers. To the third for war, inherent in thefe wild and unfeeling peoplb, were now added by their employers all the inducements, which can allure and engrofs a favage mind, the applaule and honour conferred by the fplendid and the powerful, the prefcnts which moft eflentially relieved their wants and flattered their ambition, prices promifed and paid for the fcalps of the En- glifli fettlers which they fhould produce, and re- wards, moil interefting to them, for all the cruel- ties which they fhould inflift, and all the ruin which they iliould accomplifn. The evils, produced by this fyfbem of mif- chief, were immenfe. By the regular and infidious attacks of the French on the one hand, and the folitary ambuiliments and midnight incurfions of the Natives on the other, thcfe Colonies were kept in an unceafing alarm and convulfion. The night rung v/ith the v/ar-whoop, and the day finoked with the conflagration of churches and private dwellings. The labourer at his work, theflumberer in his bed, and the congregation at their worfliip, were attack- ed and deft:royed. The fmile of the infant, the bloom of the virgin, and the locks of the hoary head, alike furniihed no prote6tion from the pro- mifcuous carnage. It was not war, but aflTaffina- tion and butchery ; butchery extended over a coun- try ; butchery contrived and ftimulated in a pro- feiTedly chriftian cabinet, and honoured and reward- ed in a profefledly chriflian metropolis. In the progrefs of thefehoflilities, vafl multi- tudes of our countrym.en were deftroyed, and an amazing fuccefTion of miferies fuffered, until the re- duction of Canada," and the peace of Paris, put, in 1763, a period to our calamities, and placed a fpeedy renewal of them beyond the power of our enemie-8. But, although this fcourge had ceafed to op- crate, our chaflifements were not ended. When a people is to be punifned, the means of infliction in the providence of God are always at hand. Soon after the peace. Great Britain adopted towards this B so country a new, unfounded and cpprcfTive fyftem of policy; a fjftenn equally repugnant to the fenti- mentsofthe AinericanSj and to thofe of great num- bers of her own bcfl: and Vv'ifeft citizens. The alarm was inftantly founded through the Continent, and a firm oppofirion deterniined on by the great body of the Colonifts. Provoked, but not difcour- aged, by this unexpe6led refiftance, the Britifli gov- ernment increafed the exorbitance of their claims, and the unreafonablenefs of their mealures, until they iffued in 1775, in open war, begun at Lexing- ton. On our part this war was profecuted with vaft difficulty, and with various fuccelfes and difafters. The fufferings which it created v/ere numberlefs and immeafurable. Our tov;ns were burned, our fields wafted, our houfcs plundered, and our foldiers in great numbers perifhed by fickncfs, by the fword, and by the hard-handed oppreffion, famine, and difeafe, of prifons and prifon-fhips. Our country was impoverifhed, and the furviving inhabitants were haraffed with continual alarms, driven from their dv/ellir>f;S by invafion, and diftreffed by anx- iety and fulpenfe to a degree which experience only can comprehend. At the fame time a great part of our country was wafted by difeafe, little lefs affliftive than the peftilence. A depreciating cur- rency, alfo, fundering the bonds of amity betv.'een man and man, deftroying the grounds of confidence in dealing, perplexing the fenfe, and relaxing the ties, of juftice; and infufing into all human inter- courfe apprehenfion and diftruft, harrafled the peace of fociety, and threatened with no liiiall probability its utter ruin. But the fame glorious Being, who had watched over lis from the beginning with pe- culiar care and tcndernefs, terminated at length the fufferings of this war, alfo, by the final eftablifli- ment of our independence, and a final deliverance from our adverfaries. II; Thk embarrafllnents of our country were, however, not yet brought to an end. No fooner was the peace concluded, than the debt, which we had contracted during the war, began to create uni- vcrfal perplexity and alarm. This widely fpread- ing evil extended its malignant influence through public and private concerns alike, affefted every citizen and every tranfiidtion, and reached equally the great affairs of commerce and the minute bufi- nefs of the firefide. The weaknefs and inefficiency of the exifting Government, faihioned in the Vv^ild moments of enthufiafm, and founded on vifionary ideas of patriotifm, became alfo a new and moil diftreffing fource of univerfal perplexity.' The larger, and particularly the commercial. States, throwing oflf all regard to a government, whofe bonds were a parchment, and whofe energy was a requefir, began a fyilem of oppreiiive commercial regula- tions, and fported with the privileges of their lefs powerful neighbours. In this period of peril and anxiety the fame good providence took us again by the hand, and conduced us from the brink of civil war, and the verge of diflblution, to fafety and peace. While all hearts were trembling, and all hands feeble, a general Convention was propofed, probably as a mere expedient, to avert odium, and avoid a tem- porary embarraflrnent, and not as a foundation of permanent union and happinefs. The propofa], however, caught the attention, and acquired the approbation, of the Continent; and, within a fliort time, originated in peace, and through calm delib- eration, the prefent American Conilitution. This fcheme of Government, foon after it was publiflied, was generally adopted by the feveral States, and fpeedily commenced its operations. No event could have been more timely, more honourable to our country, or more declarative of the fuperintcn- dence of God. Other governments have ufually 12 been compelled by conqurft, or hurried into being by civil war; ours was voluntarily formed by cool confultation and Ibber conviction, was the offspring of the general choice, and the objeft of unextorted approbation. Under this government we have enjoyed un- exampled profperity, and long continued peace; and might, it would feem, long pojGTcfs thefe blell- ings, if we could be contented to be happy, and would difcern, in this our day, the things which belong to our peace, before they are hidden from our" eyes. In the year 1700, there were one hundred and fixteea incorporated towns in New England, and probably about 80,000 inhabitants. Tliere are now about eight hundred and fixty towns, and pro- bably ij^oOjOOO people. In thefe towns there are not far from one thouland three hundred religious consregations, of different denominations of Chrif- tians. In Maflacnuietts and Conneflicut there are, if I have numbered them accurately, one thoufand and eight fuch congregations, of which feven hund- red and forty nine are furniflied with the preaching cuftomary to the feveral clafTes. The emigrants from New England and their defcendants, who have fettled in the other States, may be reckoned at half a million. The people of New England have therefore doubled, notwithilanding their al- moft incefiant wars, within a little lefs than tvv'enty three^years, on an average. The v,/hoie number of original Coloniils is computed at 2.0,000. Within New England, alfo, there are in all probability not lefs than four thoufand fchools ; in which about 1 30,000 children of both fexes, are con- tinually educated. Seven Colleges are alio erefled in this country, of v.'hich the five, firfl efcabliihed, ufually contain about 700 Hudents. 1 he lail year. '3 upwards of 200 ftudents were admitted into theic five fcminaries. The wealth of the New England States has much more rapidly increafed than the number of inhabitants, and, fince the exiftence of the prcfent American Government, much m^ore rapidly than at any former period. In*prcof of thele aflertions, if they can be fiippofed to need any proof, may be allt-ged the fences, the herds, the cultivation, the public and private buildings, the drefs, the furni- ture, the mode of living, and the bufinefs, of the inhabitants. If we except Great Britain, we pof- fcfs more than half the fhipping, owned by any country in Europe. Our exports cannot be accu- rately eftimated, becaufe a large part of them is fent abroad from the port of New York ^ but thofe, which we dire6lly convey to foreign countries, are very great. In the mean time it is probable, that abundance is more univerfally found in our houfes, barns, and cellars, than in thofe of any other peo- ple. We do not, therefore, pofTcfs merely, but eminently enjoy, alfo, the bounties of Providence. Health has ufually exified here, iji a de- gree, not often equalled, and pt-rhaps never exceed- ed. In fome towns it appears, by long continued regifters of births and deaths, that one out of four and one out of five, extenfively one out of fix, and generally one out of leven, of thofe who are born, live to feventy years of age ; and that half, of thofe who are born, live to twenty years. The internal peace of New England, the har- mony of the inhabitants with each other, and with their government, has been almofl uninterrupted. One c(.nfiderable interruption has indeed exifted for a fhort time, and only one ; except fuch, as have been originated by thofe who were not inhab- itants. The people of this country have appeared always to underfiand diftin^flly, what has moft 14 ufually not been underftood at all, the perfedt con- fiftency of being free and being governed. The plenty, which I have mentioned, has in every period abounded here, with hardly an excep- tion. A fcarcity of food has been rarely known ; a famine never. This plenty, and indeed the wealth generally, lias been more equally diftributed than in any other country, and as equally, as prob- ably can be, amid the prefent unequal endowments, and e^jertions, of men. The number of public poor, it is prefumed, is not greater than one, out of four hundred, of the inhabitants ; a fafl equally uncommon and delightful. Public crimes at the fame time have been few J and moft of thefe have been committed by fuch, as were not natives. Law, except at the commencement of the Revolution, has not been interrupted for a moQient by the choice of the cit- izens. All thefe things, united, conftitute a mafs of blelTings, rarely, if ever, feen in the prefent world. How great ought to be our gratitude to that glori- ous Being, who has fo eminently diitinguilhcd us from the great body of mankind ? Ought we not, with the enraptured Pfalmift, to fay, " He hath not dealt ib vsnth any nation" ? Among the fubje6ts, which claim a fhare of our attention on this day, the feminary of fcience, in which a confiderable part of my audience have fo intimate a perfonal intereft, is clearly one. It was founded, fo far as that term is predicable of the firft donation made, in the year 1700. The firft charter was given in Odober 170 1, and the firft public Commencement holden 1702. It was then, and for feveral years after, a mere wanderer from town to town, and was not finally fettled in this place until the year 17 17. 15 Within the firfl: thirty years after it was in- ftitnted there were graduated 217 fludents i which is cxaflly the number belonging to the four claflcs, at the beginning of the prefent year. Since that time, there have been graduated h( re 2568 perfons ; of whom 2326 were educated in this fttminary. Of this number 136 have been advanced to the high offices of magiftracy and government ; and 786 have been ordained to the miniilry of the Gof- pel J almod all of whom have been men of ac- knowledged piety and evangelical life. Great numbers have, in early life, been occupied by the inftruftion of youth ; have, together with others, been afterwards members of our ov/n and of oth'^r legiflatures ; hav^ fate on the bench of juftice ; have ufefully filled the profe/Tions of phyfic and law ; have fuflained with reputation the inferior offices of magiftracy ; and have perform.ed for their fellow citizens that immcnfe variety of public bufi» nefs, which, without any appropriate name, exifts every day, and in every place. The importance of this inftitution may eafiiy be feen in thefe fafts; particularly in this ; that it has furnifhed the preach- ing of the Gofpel, and the means of the regular public worfliip of God to feven hundred and fixty congregations, probably confifting of more than 600,000 perfons, who would not otherwife have en- joyed thefe bleffings. Hence is evident the wif- dom of our anceftors in founding the inftitution, and the good nefs of God in giving it birth, and continuing and enlarging its profperity. The progrefs of knowledge, it will befuppo- fed from the literary eftablifhments, has been ref- peftable j probably not inferior to the fame prog- refs in the enlightened countries of Europe. Wc are indeed far behind thofe countries in learning, and the fpeculative fciences. This, I apprehend, is no difhonour to our country. Great literary and fcientifical attainments cannot be made without i5 great ieilure, as well as great talents and applica- tion. Such leifure is rarely found here. No am- ple literary foundations are furnifhed here for the fupporr of ingenious and fpeculatjve men, in the purfuits of learning and fcience. No inilitutionj exift, on which genius may. undifturbcd and fecure, indulge itfelf in the field of mere learning, or mere fcience. All men, here, are, and mull be, men of bufinefs, and take Ibme adlive part in human affairs. The knowledge which qualifies for this, is imbib- ed by great multitudes to a refpc-ftable degree ; while the people at large are furniihed with infor- mation, it is believed, beyond thole of any other country. A child of fourteen, who cannot read, write, and keep the cuftomary accompts, is rarely met with ; and a great part of thofe, who arrive to adult years, read to a confiderable extent. The religion of this country has exhibitc*^. sl- very commendable fpirit of catholicifin and mode- ration during the pafb Century, a fpirit extended perhaps as far, as can be reafonably expefted from men, and producing a general and happy harmony of fentiment and conduft. In no country, it is pre- fumed, can be found a more general decency and liberality of condu6l in the various clafles of reli- gious towards each other. Indeed, the exifting error appears to be a tendency, in many perfons, towards what is emphatically called modern liberal^ ity; which is no other than mere indifference to truth and error, virtue and vice : a more dangerous and fatal character than the moft contemptible en- thufiafin, or the moft odious bigotry. Toleration, ftricliy underftood, has no exiftence here ; for all religious denominations are placed on the fame equal and independent ground. This, if it can be: prefcrved, as there is hitherto much reafon to be- lieve, is certainly an improvement in human affairs, and ous[ht to be regarded both as an honour, and a bleiT.ng, to our country. In the courfe of this period God has, in va- rious inftances, been pleafed to revive his glorious work of lanflification, and to extend it through many parts ot the land. I know that a number ot men, and fome of much refpecflability, have enter- tained unfavourable ideas of what are called revivals of religion J but I cannot help thinking their opin- ions of this fubjeft rather formed in the clofet than derived from fads, or warranted by the fcriptures. Seafons of enthufiafm about various fubjeds have indeed often exifted, and probably in every civili- zed country. In thefe feafons the human mind has not unfrequently exhibited many kinds and de- grees of weak nefs, error, and deformity. Hence, perhaps, fober men have, in fome inftances, been led to believe that wherever enthufiafm exifts thefe evils exift alfo. As therefore revivals of reli- gion have frequently been more or lefs accompa- nied by enthufiafm, they have, I think without fuf- ficient grounds, determined, that all which exifted was enthufiafm, and that nothing would flow from it but thefe evils. That the mind under the firft clear, ftrone:, and folemn views of its own fins ihould be deeply affedled, and greatly agitated, is to be expeded from the nature of man. He is always thus afFe fhare. But, with the reft of mankind, we have abuf- ed cur bleflings. Loofe opinions and loofe prac- tices have found their place here alfo. The firft confiderable change in the religious c]iara6Ler of the people of this counrrv was accomplifiied by the war, Vs^hich began in 1755. War is at leaft as fa- tal ro morals, as to life, or hnppincJs. The ofticers and foldiei-s of the Bricifh aniiies, then employed in this country, although probably as little corrupted as thofe of moft armies, were yet loole patterns of opinion and conduft, and were unhappily copied by confiderable numbersof our own counirynnen, united with them in military life. Thefe, on their return, fpread the infcdion through thofe around them. Loofer habits of thinking began then to be adopt- ed, and were followed, as they always are, by loofer conduct. The American war increafed thefe evils. Peace had not, at the commencement of this war, reftored the purity of life, which exifled before the preceding war. To the depravation ftill remaining was added a long train of iaimoral dodrines and practices, which fpread into every corner of the country. The profanation of the Sabbath, before unufual, profancnefs of language, drunkennefs, gambling, and lewdnefs, were exceedingly increaf- ed i and, what is lefs commonly remarked, but is perhaps not lefs mifchievous, than any of them, a light, vain method of thinking, concerning facred things, a cold, contemptuous indifference toward every moral and religious fubjeft. In the mean time, that enormous evil, a depreciating currency gave birth to a new fpirit of fraud, and opened nu- merous temptations, and a boundlefs field for its operations ; while a new and intimate correfpond- ence with corrupted foreigners introduced a multi- plicity of loofe dodtrines, which were greedily em- braced by licentious m.en, as the means of palliating and juftifying their fins. At this period Infidelity began to obtain, in this country, an extenfive currency and reception. As this fubjeft conilitutes far the moft interefting and prominent charafteriltic of the paft Century, it will not be amifs to exhibit it with fome degree of minutenefs, and to trace through fevcral particu- lars the fteps of its progrefs. IxFroELiTY has been frequently fuppofed to be founded ca an, apprehended deficiency of the •20 ^svidenee, which fupports a divine Revelation. No opinion can be more erroneous than this. Thac iblitary inftances may have exifled, in which men did not believe the icriptiires to be the word of God, becaufe they doubted of the evidence m their pofTeilion, I am ready to admit ; but that this has been the common fa6l, is, at leaft, in my view, a clear impofTibility. Our Saviour informs us, that "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darknefs rather than light, becaule their deeds were evil :" and fubjoins, that " he who doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, left his deeds fliould be reproved." Here one of the two great caufes of Infidelity is diftinftly and exa6i:Iy alleged, viz. T'bc cppcjiiion of a hearty which loves ftn, and dreads the puniffjment of ii^ to that truthy liohichy 'with infinite authority ^ and under an immenfe penalty y demands of all men a holy life. The ouher great caufe of Infidelity is frequently mentioned by the infpired writers, particularly St. Paul, St. Peter, and St. Jude. In the following paffages of St. Peter it is exhibited with peculiar force. " For when they fpeak great fwelling words of vanity, they allure through the lufts of the flefh, through much wantonnefs, them that were clean efcaped from them, that live in error. While they promife them libertv, they themfelves are the fervants (bond-fiaves) of corruption." *' There iliall come in the laft days fcoffers, walking after their own lulls, and faying, Where is the promife of his coming ? for, fince the fathers fell afleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." The Infidels, here referred to, are plainly philofophijis ; the authors of -vain and deceitful pki- lofophy ; of fcience falfelyfo called , always full ef vanity in their difcomfes : Scoffers, walking after their own hiflsy and alluring others^ through thefama 21 lujis^ to follow them-, promijtng them liberty ^ as their reivard^ and yet being themfelveSy and making their difcipleSy the loweji and mofi wretched of all fiaves, xhtflaves of corruption, Philojopbifiical pride, and the love of finning injeciirity and peace ^ are, there- fore, the two great caufes of Infidelity, according to the fcriptiires. A MORE exa<5l account of this fubjeft, as ex- ifting in fad:, could not even now be given. Infi- delity has been aflunned becaufe it was loved^ and not becaufe it was fupported by evidence , and has been maintained and defended, to quiet the 7nind in fin^ and to indulge the pride of talents and /peculation. The form, which it has rec^eived, has varied in the hands of almoft every dillinguifhed Inndel. It was firft Theijm^ or natural Religion ^ then mere Unbeliefs then Animalijm^ then Scepticijra^ then par- tialy and then total Alheifm. Yet it has, in three things at leaft, preferved a general confillency ; op- pofition to Chriflianity ^ devotion to fin and luflj and a pompous projeffion of love to Liberty. To a can- did and logical oppofition to Chriftianity, confiding of fafls fairly ftated andjuflly exhibited, no reafon- able objection can be made. It is to be wifheJ, that this had been the conduct of the oppofition a£tu ally made; but nothing has been more unlike that conduft. The war has been the defultory at- tack of a barbarian, not of a civilized foldier ; an pnfet of paffion, pride, and wit; a feint of conjec- tures and falfified facls ; an incurfion of fneers, jefts, grofs banter, and delicate ridicule ; a parade of hints and infinuations ; and a vigorous aflfaulc on fincy, paflion, and appetite. Thefe were never the weapons of fober conviction ; this was never the conduft of honed men. In the earlier periods of this controverfy there were, however, m.ore frequent efforts at argumen- tation, on the part of Infidels. For the laft twen- ry or thirty years they fcem to have defpaired of fuccefs in this field, and have betaken themfelves to that of adlion and influence. In this field they have wrought with a fuccefs totally unprecedented. Nor is this at all to be wondered at, if we confider the opportunity of fucceeding prefented to them, during the latter half of the lafl Century, by the ftate of fociety in Europe. The cxcefTive wealth of that divifion of the eaftern Continent has gener- ated an enormous luxury, the multiplied enjoyments of which have become not only the ruling objefls of defire, and the governing morives of aflion, but, in the view of a great parr of the inhabitants, the neceflary means of even a comfortable exifhence. On thefe life is employed, ambition faftened, ar- dour exhauiled, and energy fpent. Voluptuouf- nefs and fplendour, formed on the Aliatic fcale, en- grofs men in public and private ftations, in the iiniverfity, the camp, the ihop, and the defk, as well as the court and the cabinet. To glitter with diamonds, to roll in pomp, to feaft on dainties, to wanton in amufements, to build palaces, and to failiion wildernefTes of pleafure, are the fuprcme objects of millions, apparently deftined to the grave, ftill, and humble walks of life, as well as of thofe, who were high born, and highly endowed. Sci- ence toils, ingenuity is fbretched on the rack, and art is wearied through all her refinements, to fatisfy the univerfal demand for pleafure ; the mines of Golconda are ranfacked, the caverns of Mexico emptied, and the mountains of Potofi tranfported acrofs the ocean. Of this univerfal devotion to pleafure and fiiew, modern Infidels have availed themfelves to the utmoft. To a mind, to a nation, dilTolved in floth, enervated by pleafure, and fafcinated with fplendour, the Gofpel is preached, and heaven pre- fented, in vain. The eye is clofed, the ear flopped, gnd the hvtarc rendered grols and incapable of heal- _!1 ing. The foul isof couiTe, Uinconfcious of danger, impatkfnt of reftraint, and infcnfible to the demands of moral obligation. It is, therefore, prepared to become an Infidel, without refearch, and without Gonviftion. Hence, more fagacious than their pre- deceflbrs, tlie later Infidels have neither laboured^ nor wilhcd, to convince the underftanding, but have bent all their efforts to engrofs the heart. In the mean time other events, highly favour- able to their defigns, have taken place both in America and Europe. The American Revolution, an augull, folemn, and mod interefting fpeflacle, dre\r towards it at this time the eyes of mankind. The novelty of the fcene, the enchanting found of Liberty, to which the pulfe of man inftindlively beats, the fympathy ever excited for the feebler and fuffering party, embiirked deeply in the American caufe a great part of the civilized world. Benevo- lent men, of all countries, hoped, when the conteft was ended profperoufly for us, and ardent men boldly pronoun.ccd, that a new era had arrived in human things, that "the iron rod of the opprefTor was broken," and that *' the opprefTed would foon be univerfally fet free." Among the agents in the American Revolu- tion, were many natives of France ; men, in nume- rous inllances, of ardent minds, and daring fpecuia- tions J who either imbibed here new fentiments of liberty, or ripened thofe, which they had already adopted at home. Thefe men, returning to their ©wn country, difFufed extenfively the enthufiafm, which they had cherifhed here, and thus haflened the crifis, to which France was otherwife approach- ing- Long before this period, even fo early as the year '713, the publication of the bull Unigeni - tus had thrown this kingdom into a flame. Two- immcnfe parties were formed by the attempts to- =4 e:5JCGutc this editft, which in the end involved th<; •whole nation. At the head of one of thefe was the King, feconded by the great body of the Clergy ; at the head of the other was the parliament of Paris, and the provincial parliaments, fupported by the great body of the people. Throughout the pro- grefsofthiscontroverfy the parliaments and the peo- ple gained ground on the royal authority and the power of the Clergy ; and, what was of more im- portance, they found in their fuccefs full afliirancc of future viftories. Future attacks on the crown and on the Clergy were encouraged, becaufe thefe had fucceeded, and Infidels were too fagacious not to avail themfelves of this important dilcovery. Their own caule they now artfully, and with complete fuceefs, blended with that of liberty ; and, although the union was unnatural and m.onftrous, yet they were eafily able to prevent this fadl from being dif- cerned, even by feme fagacious eyes, during the moment of popular phrenzy. This junftion was clearly the mofb politic fingle fiiep, v/hich they have ever taken. The idea was not indeed new ; the Infidel writers of the laft Century declaimed largely on this fubjedj but by the fober manners and firm eftabiiftiments of that period they were wholly prevented from feeing- their wilhes realized. Near the clofe of the fuc- ceeding Century, however, the enervation of the hierarchy, the corruption of courts, the diffolution of morals, the enthufiafm generated by the Ameri* can Revolution, and the hopes of vanquifhing again the kingly power in France, ftimulated in thejr fuccefibrs new ardour, and promifed them com- plete fuccefs. To thefe things ought to be added the publi- cation of various latitudinarian dodlrines of reli- gion, in moft countries of Europe. Thefe doc- trines, by lowering the fpirit of the Bible to the corrupt tafte of man, lelTcning the difliKClion be- a5 tween virtue and vice, and rendering the teriTj^ of falvation convenient, lowered alio, in the view of thofe who liftened to them, the dignity of the fcrip- tures, and the importance of chriilianity. In the Gvc of fuch men religion degenerated into mere de- cency ; and to become acceptable to God nothing more was felt, or miftrulled, to be neceffary, than to be agreeable to men. All thefe perfons were in faft become Infidels without knowing it, and> when they renounced the fcriptures entirely, were confcious of no change of charadler. TfiE door thus opened, Infidels entered in mafs, and laboured with a zeal, adlivity, and per- feverance, unrivalled fince the days of the apoitles. In every polTible inftance they pofTefTed themfelves of every office of honour and pov/er, of inftrudion and influence i fecured the literary fociety and the fecret club, engrofTed the prefs and the ftage, de- bauched the prince and the peafant, the noble and the ecclefiaftic, deceived thc'aged, and enfnared the young. The authority of the monarch, the addrels of the courtier, the gravity of the apoftate divine, and the abftraft jugglery of the fophiil, the myfte- rious trade of the bookleiler, and the humble lef- fons of the fchool nnfter, were all employed to fup- port, to fpread, and to rivet Infidelity. Their writers have been nolefs affiduous and perfevering. A part of their labours has been pr^- fented to the world under the form of new fyftems of philofophy ; which, if believed, are utterly fub- verfivc of chriftianity, but in which no dircft at- tack is made on chriftianity. Thefe, though ufli- ered into public v-ew with great pomp and lolemni- ty, have been mere theories of the clofet ; often in- genious, but ahvays unfupportcd by fa£t or evi- dence. The terms employed in theiii are ib whol- ly abftraft, and the phraftology fo myfterious and perplexed, that the reader, engaged by the ingenu- D 26- hy of the writer, is loft in a mill of doubtful ex- prefilons and unfetded fcntiments. His faith is conilantly folicited to gravely defcribed drearr.s j. and his eye is required to fix on the form of a cloud, varying its fiiape through every moment of his in- fpeflion. From the highway of common fenfe he is invited into bye paths v/here indeed nothing wor- thy of his curiofity is ever fcen, but where, he is continually informed, fomething, of vaft importance is in the end to be feen. Whatever he reads is ut- tered with the gravity and confidence of fuperiour wifdom, and an impofing air of myftery, and with continual hints of fomething, immenfc'Iy important, jn due time to be revealed. Thus he v/anders on, a dupe to artfully excited expcdlation, and lofes liimfelf in '• a wildernefs, where there is no way." He is not informed, but allured j not convinced, hut perplexed ; yet he is often, perhaps ufually, by his own curiofity, pride, and ftif-conuilency, and by the doubt and ridicule artfully thrown in againft Revelation, fo thoroughly eftranged from truth and virtue as never to return. To ruin in this way are i'urely led moft readers, of a particular clafs, and that a numerous one ; readers, pleafed \v'n\\ reafon- ing extended to a certain degree, and conduced with a due niixture of brilliancy ; readers, fond of novelty, and efleeming fingularity of thought a proof of fuperiour underftanding. This, iiov/everj has been but one, and that a very partial objeft of their reliance* Their writ- ings have afilimed everv form, and treated every' fubjc6l of thought. From the lofty philcfophicai difcourfe it has dtfcended through all the interven- ing gradations to tiie news-paper paragraph ; from the fermon to t!ie catcchifm; from regular hiftory ro the anecdote ; from the epic poem to the fong j. and from the formal fitire to the jeft of the buffoon. EfFjrts in vaft numbers have alfo been made to dif- fufe infidelity in a remark, unexpeftedly found in. a dif.ourfe, when a totally different fobjcft was un- der confideratlon, in a note, fubjoined to a paper •on criticilhi or politics, in a hint, in abookoftrav- els ; or a ftroke, in a letter of civility. In thefe and the like C^s the reader was intended to be ta- ken by furpri^lPand to yield his judgment before he was aware, that he was called to judge. The number and variety of the efforts have alio been increafed beyond example ; have poured from in- numerable prefles, and from, all civilize d countries ; have been fold at the low.efl: prices, and given gratu - itouOy ; and have been circulated with vail indul- try, and by innumerable hands, throughout chriften- dom. The intention of this amazing niuiritudeof exertions has plainly been to aftonifli and difcour- age their adverfaries, to amaze and overwhelm their readers, and to perluade, infenfibly, the mafs of mankind, that the world was coriVcrted to Iniideli- But the pen has been a far Itfs important and juccefsful infbrument, than adion and influence. This has been exerted with immenfe vio^our, em- ployed in everyplace, and addrclled to every mind. In confequence of the profpeds of triumph opened to them, during the latter part of the Century un- der confideration, they loudly proclain":c:d them- felves the champions of liberty, and the frientis of perfecuted man. No knight-errant ever offered himlclfto an affrighted damlci with more gencrofi- ty, as her proteiflor, than they to the human race. The common people, never honoured by Vokairc with any higher title than the r;ibblc, or the Uiob, yet as they poffeffcd the pliyfical ilrength of man fuddenly beheld thefe philanthropic gentlemen . ftarting up in the form of their guardians and fofcer fathers, and volunteering in the huinane em.ploy- ment of vindicating^ their wronG;s and affertinn; their rights.. The tak, which in the mind of every fober man awakened no eiiiotions but indignation and contempt, roufed, Ecrverthelefs, in the feelings of tlic ignorant, the a:- lent, and the eathufultir, i 1% phrenzied expeftation of good, unknown indeed, but certain and iDntmenfe. An univerfal thrill was fclr, a millennium feen already dawning in the hor- izon. All the weak, the tender, the doubting, the boding, the eager, the daring, pftlGons of the hu- man mind were now attacked, fucceflively, by the perfuafion of eloquence, the llings of ridicule, the parade of argument, the alarm of danger, the hope of fafety, and the promife of reward. In this great moral convulfion Royalty and Chriftianiry funk in the kingdom of France. Em- boldened beyond every fear by this aftonifhing event. Infidelity, which anciently had hid behind a rnafk, walked forth in open day, and difplayed her genuine features to the fun. Without a blufh fhc now denied the exigence of moral obligation, anni- hilated the diftinftion between virtue and vice, challenged and authorized the indulgence of every ,lufl, trode down the barriers of truth, perjured her- felf daily in the fight of the univerfe, lifted up her front in the face of heaven, denied the being, and dared the thunder, of the Alm/ighty. Virtue and truth, her native enemies, and the objefhs of all her real hatred, fhe hunted from every cell and folitude ; and, vv'henever they efcapcd her fangs, Ihe followed them Vv'ith the execrations of malice, the finger of derifion, and the hiffes of infamy. Elevated now, for the firfl time to the chair of dominion, Hie ufhered forth her edifts with the gravity of deliberation and the authority of law, and executed th'^m by the opprelTive hand of the jailor, the axe of the executioner, and the fword of the warrior. All rights fell before her, all interefts were blafted by her breath, and happinefs and hope were together fwept away by her befom of deftruc- ticn. In the midfc of all this elTrontcry, Infidels for- got not their arts and impoficions. As occafion 29 diftated, or ingenuity whifpcred, they availed thcnn- fclves of every difguife, and of every peifuafive. As if they had defigned to give the laft wound to vir- tue, they afiumed all her titles and challenged all her attribuces to their own conduft. Daily forfworn, and laughifig at the very diilindion between right and wrong, they proclaimed themfelves the affert- ©rs of juftice, and the champions of truth. Vvhile they converted a realm into a Baftile, they trum- peted their inviolable attachment to liberty ; while they " curfed their God, and looked upward,'* they announced themfelves worlhippers of the Su- preme Being. With a little finger, thicker than the loins of both the monarchy and the hierarchy, en- circled with three millions of corpfes, and in the center of a kingdom changed into a ftall of flaugh- ter, they hung themfelves over with labels of phi- lanthropy. Nay, they have far outgone all this. Two of their philofophers, independently of each other, have declared, that, to eftabliih their favour- ite fyftem, the facrifice of all the exifting race of man would be a cheap price : an illuftrious inftance of Infidel benevolence, and of the excellence of their darling maxim, that " the end fanftines the means," These, however, are but a fmall portion of their -arts. They have, as the ftate of things re- quired, difguifed their defigns j difavowcd them j doubted their exigence ; wondered at thofe, who believed them real ; ridiculed the belief; and pro- feffed themfelves am.azed at fuch credulity. This conduct has been even reduced to a fyftem, and taught and enjoined on their followers, as a code of policy, and as being often the moft effcflual means of fpreading their opinions. ^NoR have they lefs frequently reforted to the aid of obfcure^ unfufpcfted, and apparently undc- figned communication. Their do6lrines have, with great fuccefs, been propagated by remote hints; 3Q by foft and gentle infinuations ; by half ftarted doubts, and half propofed objeftions J and by the luggeftion of a train of thoughts in which thofc doftrines are taken for granted, and confideied as being fo plain, and fo generally received, that no perfon can be imagined to difbelieve, or even to doubt. The reader himfclf is prefuppofcd to have long fince admitted them, as the only do6lrines of truth or common fenfe 3 as being too rational and candid to hefitate about things fo clear and ac- knowledged ; as unqueftionably lifted above the reception of the contrary pitiful abfurdities ; and as thus prepared to aft, as all other fenfible and lib- eral perfons have already afted. Thus their opin- ions fleal upon his ir.md in methods equally unfuf- pe<5ted and impofing. The world, in the mean tlmie, is exhibited as having long agreed in admitting them without a queftion ; particularly all the learned, irgenious, and refpeftable. Thofe, who diflent, are the n^ere eanaille ; the refufe of mankind j a contemptible, ignorant, bigotted fet of fuperftitious wretches, hoiden in fhameful bondage by another fet of mer- cenary and defpicable priefts, leagued from the beginning to deceive and fleece their fellow men. Themfelves, and their friends, are exhibited, at the fame time, as the only -people, with whom truth, wijdom and benevolence, live and die; the happy few, on whom partial Nature has bcftowcd Benja- min's portion of talents, tafte, and virtue. * It ought by no means to be forgotten, that Infidelity has been formed into a regular fchool, in which, with unprecedented efforts, the young, the ingenious, the unwary, and the licentious, have, throuo;h a feries of folemn gradations, been efnared, initiated, and entangled, beyond a hope, or wilh to efcape. To thefe has been formally committed the work of demoralizing mankind ; and all that art can devife, ingenuity fugged, or patience mode], * See Note A. to render mifchief palatable, efficacious, and fure, and dcftruftion inviting, and inevitable, has been taught by laborious education, fixed by habit, and enforced by every motive, which can influence the ambition, the fears, and the hopes, of nnen. Thus a fcminary has been formed for fin, and a train of unhappy beings, educated for evil only, have ifllied forth in the charafter, with the feelings, and for the purpofes, of fiends, to deftroy truth and virtue, to fpread falfhood and iniquity, and to plunge a world in ruin. As a6lion is declared to be the great mean of propagating Infidelity, and reafoning acknowledged to be infufficient, it is accordingly communicated by the firefide, in the feafon of convivial relaxation, in the private and focial meeting, in the fl:reet, in the thoughtlefs, unguarded, and fufceptible hour, in the moment of danger, of terror, of hope, of high ftimulation, and of exquifite expofure. Those, who fpread the poifon, are alfo taught to afiTume, and put off, any charafler at pleafure; and to wear that only, v/hich may fuit the occafion, and pleafe the company. They are occafionally chriftians, philofophers, fcholars, warriors, plain men, men of pleafure, travellers, men of bufinefs, and men of idlenefs j are of any party and of no party ; and alTert and deny, cfpoufe and oppofe, any doctrine, and any caufe ; changing their colour even v/hile the eye is fixed on them, and alTuming new hues from every new objedl: which attracts their attention. In all thefe and the like forms, Infidelity has been feafoned and fet-ved up ; in all thefe and the like metliods, it is infinuated, urged, and forced, on mankind. To thefe things ouglit to be added, that the magic of the pencil, the fl^ill of the archi- tect, the chiftrl of the fcuJntor, tlie gaiety of public fcftivals, the pomp of procefTions, the fplendour J2 and fafcination of the theatre, and the aii command- ing power of fafhion, have been engaged, and en- grofled, to adorn, to folemnize, and to imprefs on every mind, the fentiments of Infidelity. Even the fair feXj whofe intercourfe and elegance of mind have fo exceedingly refined and improved men, arc embarked in the great bufmefs of corruption, and lend dicir wit, their accomplifhments, and their per- fons, to promote the ruin of human fociety. Such is the aftonilhing ftate of moral things, in feveral parts of Europe, which, within a fhort time, has opened upon the view of our countrymen. The ftrong fym.pathy which, unhappily, and on no rational grounds, prevailed here towards thofe, who v/ere leaders in the French Revolution, and to- v/ards the Revolution itfelf, prepared us to become the miferable dupes of their principles and declara- tions. Thev were viewed miCrely as human beings ^ embarked deeply in the glorious cauje of liberty ; and not at all as Infidels ^ as the abettors of falfijoody and the enemies of Right eoufnejsy of Truths and of God. Hence all their concerns were felt, and all their condutl covered with the veil of charity. Thev were viewed as having adventured^ and Juffered^ together with oiirfelvesy and as now enlijled for the /upport of a kindred caufe The confequences of thefe prejudices were fuch, as would naturally be expefied. A general and unexampled confidence was foon felt, and manifefted, by every licentious man. Every Infidel, particularly, claimed a new importance, and treated religion with enhanced contempt. The graver ones, indeed, through an affe£ted tendernefs for the votaries of chriftianity, adopted a more decent manner of defpifing it ; but all v/ere fccure of a triumph, and fatisfied, that tal- ents, cliciraifler, and the great world, were on their fide. The young, the ardent, tlie ambitious, and the voluptuous, v^ere iri-efirdbly n)licited to join a Ciufe, which harmonized with all their corruption?,. \ 33 pointed out the certain road to reputation, and ad^ miniftered the nccefiary opiates to confcience j and could not refufe to unite themfelves with men, who Jpcke great /welling words of vanity^ who allured them through much wantonnejs^ and pronii/ed thera the unbounded liberty of indulging every propenfi- ty to pleafure. The tinnid at the fame time were terrified, the orderly let loofe, the Ibh^er amazed, and the religious fhocked beyond example j while the floating part of our countrymen, accuftomed to fwim with every tide, moved onward in obedi- ence to the impulfe. Thus principles were yield- ed, ufeful habits were relaxed, and a new degree of irreligion extenfively prevailed. Happily for us, the fource, whence thefe pe- culiar evils flowed, furnifhed us in fome degree with a remedy. It was foon difcovered, that the liberty of Infidels was 7iot the liberty of New Eng- land; that France, inftead of being free, merely changed through a feries of tyrannies, at the fide of which all former defpotifms whitened into modera- tion and humanity ; and that of the immeafurable evils, under which (he and her neighbours agonized. Infidelity was the genuine fource ^ the Vefuvius, from whofe mouth iflued thofe rivers of deftruc- tion, v/hich deluged and ruined all things in their way. It v/as feen, that man, unreftrained by law and religion, is a mere beafl of preyj that licen- tioufnefs, although adorned with the graceful name- of liberty, is yet the fpring of continual alarm, bon- dage, and mifery ; and that the reflraints, impofed by equitable lav/s, and by the religion of the fcrip- tures, .were far lels burtheufome and diftrelTing than the boafled freedom of Infidels. Even fober Infidels began to be alarmed for their own peace, fifety, and enjoyments ; and to ivifh, that other men might continue ftill to bet chriUians; while c'uriftians fuw with horror their E 34 God denied, their Saviour blafphemed, and war formally declared againft Heaven. To all this was added a complete deVelope- mentof the bafe and villainous defigns of the French government againft our country, their piratical plun- der of our property, and their inhuman treatment of our feamen. Perfons, who thought nothing, who felt nothing, concerning religion, felt thefe things exquifitelyj and rationally concluded, that men, who could do thefe things, could, and would, do every thing elfe, that was evil and unjuftj and that their moral principles, which produced, and fan6tioned, thefe crim.es, could not fail to m.erit contempt and deteftation. Such perfons, there- fore, began now to lean towards the fide of chrif- tianity, and to feek in it a fafety and peace, which they beheld Infidelity deftroy. Thus having in the midft of thefe enormous dangers obtained help of God^ we continue until the p'ejent time; and this part of our country, at lead, has efcaped not only tributary bondage, but the infinitely more dreadful bondage of Infidelity, cor- ruption, and moral ruin. It ought, here, and forever, to be remember- ed With peculiar gratitude, that God has, during the paft Centurv, often and wondetfully interpofed in our behalf, and fnatched us from the jaws of ap- proaching deftru61ion. The inftances of this in- terpoficion are too num.erous to be now recounted, and are happily too extraordinary to be either un- known or foFgotct-n. We have been frecjuently on the brink of deflrui^lion ; but although caft doivn^ wc have not been deftroy ed. Perhaps we have fo often been, and are ftiil, fufFered to (land on this precipice, that we may fee, and feel, and acknowl- edge, the hand of our Prd^rver. 35 In fucli a period as the prefent, when the ftatc of fociety is fo difturbed, when the minds of men are fo generally fet afloat, and when fo many an- cient landmarks, fo many ftandards of opinion and pradice, arc thrown down j wlun anibition, avar- ice, and fenfiiality, deliberate and decree, and vio- lence and cruelty are charged with the execution, throughout a great part of the civilized world ; a contemplative and fenous mind cannot but afk, JVhatJhall the end of theje things be ^ To fuch a mind it may prove an important confolation, to knov/, that all thefe evils have been •foretold by Omnifcience, and that they cannot ex- tend beyond the Divine permiffion. The prefent time is, at leaft in my view, diftinftly marked out in prophecy, as a time of fingular deception, fin, and hoftility againft religion and againil its author. In exaft accordance with Revelation, fpirits of fingu- lar falfhood, foulnefs, pertinacity, and impudence, have ifTued from the mouth of the Dracron, or fee- ular perfecuting power, of the Beafl, or ecclefiaftic- al perfecuting power, from which the Church of Chrift has fufFered fo intenfely, and fo long, and of the Falfe Prophet, the great miniller of this per- fecution, and the great enforcer of the edifts of thefe monftrous tyrannies. That thefe two perle- cuting powers are in the view of the i'criptures whol- ly united, and that they entirely cooperate, cannot, I think, be reafonably queftioncd. Both of them are defcribed as having Jev^n heads, and ten horns. From tlie angel interpreter we know, that the /even heads are the /even mountains of Rome, the great City which at that innt reigned with undivided em- pire over the kingdoms of the earth ; and that the ten horns are the ten kingdcpsy into which that em- pire was finally divided. Thofe ipirits, therefore, that is, the falfe teachers defignated by them, were to fpring, as they have fprung, from Antichriftian ground. On the fubje(5t of Antichrift fome things ap- pear to me to need further explanation. It has been commonly taught, that the Roman Pontiff, or perhaps more commonly the Romifh Hierarchy, is ibg Antichrift. This, I think, cannot be admit- ted without fome qualification. As the oppofer of Chrift by way of eminence, (the meaning of the original word) this application of the term may t>c warranted, v/herher to the Pontiff, or to the Hie- rarchy. It has not, I believe, been ufually, and with fuflicient deference, remembered, that St. John, to whom we are indebted for the word, has alfo given us its meaning.. This apoflle informs us, that there are many Antichrifts-^ and xki'Mjoine of them were in beings when he wrote ^ and that the An- tichrift is He^ who denieih, that Jefus Chrift is corns in the flefto. As this interpretation is given by the fpirit of God, it mufl, of courfe, be implicitly ad- niitrcd by Chriftians. But, no man can refufe to acknowledge, that^ according to this interpretation, the name, Antichrift, is far more juftly applied to the colleftive body of modern Infidels, than either to the Romifh Hierarchy, or to the Head of it. — Neither of thefe ever denied, that Jefus Chrift is ccme in the flefto, unlefs by diftant implication ; but this is the prime do6lrinc of every modern Infidel. The Romifli Flierarchy, or ecclefiaffical per- fecuting power already mentioned, is exhibited in the fcriptures under various names j as the Beafty the Man of fin, the Son of perdition, and the Wicked, or ratiier the Lawlefs One. Each of thefe names is intended to denote fome particular charafleriftic of this power. Thus the Eealt direflly exhibits its ferocious, fanguinary, or perfecuting character ^ the Man of fin its preeminent v;ickednefs j the Son of perdition its certain deltination to fingular perdi- tion ; and the Latvlefs One its diftinguifhed refufal of being reflrained by the laws of either God, or man. All thefe terms, it is evident, are in a high degree general, and of coiirfe are defcriptive of an innmenre colleftion of mankind, diftant in times and places, exilting through many ages and inhabiting many countries. The hierarchy is formed not on- ly of all, who diredly exercife the power denoted by it, but alfo of all, who under its'dominion con- tribute, by their union with the fyftem, and by their phyfical flrength, to the continuance of its being, and the furtherance of its defigns : In other words, all, who in any, particularly in Romifli, countries, through every age of its duration, unite in its oppo- fition to true religion, and in the perfecution of its votaries. It is manifeft, that, in fome periods, and in fome countries, one or more of thefe charaders of this power will prevail ; in other periods, and in other countries, other charaflers will prevail. This, we alfo know, has been the faft. At fuch times, and in fuch places, the particular names, which de- note fuch charafters, are plainly to be efpecially applied to thofe, who live in them. The predic- tions, denoted by thefe names, are then eminently fulfilled. Nor will it make any difference in the juftnefs of the application, or the fulfilment of the prediction, whether the original form, of the oppo- fition and perfecution be purfued, or a new one. The great defign, the general condud:^ is plainly the thing, aimed at in prophecy, and, io long as this is purfued, the particular fcrm is of no impor- tance. If then the PontifF were never more to exift j if the Hierarchy fhould perifh j and yet the fame general defign of oppofing true religion, and per- fecuting its votaries, Hiould be continued by other hands, and fhould grow out of the original fyftem, lo as to be a mere prolongation oi the fame con- duct and purpofe, in a differnt mode ; we are not only warranted, but necefTitated, by all the rules of correal interpretation, to conlider the prophecy as Vnvoivingj in the mod complete manner, this part, or continuation, ot the general fyilem. The prefent oppofition of Infidels in Europe to true religion, and their perfccution of its vota- ries, is a mere continuation of the general fyftem, begun by the Hierarchy in diftant ages. It has arifen, and been exercifed, on the fame ground, by the defcendantsof the original and moftdiflinguiih- ed perfecutors ; it has fprung from the fame fpirit, been regulated by the fame policy, is the fame de- fign, and has been purfued with the fame, and even greater, zeal and cruelty.* In conformity with the fentiments, already fpecified, it may juftly be obferved, that to the In- fidels, who have arifen out of this fyftem, and who have cooperated with this great defign, may, with- out a reafonable doubt, and with lingular propriety, be applied the name of the Lawlejs One ; as beyond example lawlefs, and fpurning at every reliraint from God, or man. Their coming, alfo, is preemi- nently with all deceivablenefs (or deceit) of un^ righteoufnefs ; they and ail their converts are plain- ly the fubjeds of Jlro7ig]ud\c\2\ delufton; fince they have eagerly believed a lie, and enjoyed a fupreme pleafure in unrighteoujnefs. In the fame evident manner it appears, that no times could ever with fo much propriety be cal- led "perilous times, as the prefent times. Never were men fo entirely lovers of their own f elves, cov- etous, hoafiers, proud, blcifphemers, dijobedient to pa- rents, unthankful, unholy ; Without natural affection, truce breakers, falfe accufers, incontinent, fierce, de- Jpifers of thofe that are good ; Traitors, heady, high ininded, lovers ofpleafures mere than lovers of God.f In contemplating this amazing complication of falfhood, fin, and mifery, it is a ftrong confolation * See Not9 B. f z Tvn. 3 Chn^^, 39 to every good man, to know, that the Lord jhall deftroy this Wicked, or Lawlefs One, this wonderful lyltem of evil, with the breath of his mouthy and the brightnejs of his appearifig. This deilru£lii:)n, we are informed, was to proceed, and we fee it has begun to proceed, out of the bowels of the lyflem. The kings, or ftates, into which the fecular perfecuting power was divided, have begun to hate the PFhore, to eat her flefo^ and to burn her with fire. The ecclefiaftical perfecut- ing power is in a fair way to be foon deftroyed. The fecular perfecuting power is rapidly wafting itfelf^ and thut not the iefs becaufe of the prefent fplen- dour of one of its conftituent parts. The reign of the fpirits of deceit is exhibited in prophecy, as fhort, and the coming of Chrift to deftroy them, as fudden, unexpeded, and dreadful. The wafte of mankind, and the deftruflion of happinefs in Catholic countries, have already exceeded all ex- ample, and outftripped ail calculation. The de- ception of the kings, that is, the kingdoms, or ftates, of the earth has already refembled a prodigy ; and the hoftilities againft- Almighty God have al- ready tortured human belief. Principles and con- du6l, like thcfe, cannot be of long duration ; they would empty the earth of mankind, and lay the world in ruins j yet fome time muft doubtlefs clapfe before this abomination of defolation fliall be finiftied. An end however v/ill arrive. Let us turn our eyes from .this Arabian defart, where no fountains of confolation flow, and no moral verdure fprings, to cheer the weary traveller, and explore regions of a brighter afpefb, and feafons of a more delightful character. 'Fhe time will arrive, when the creator of all things will be acknowledged and loved, and the Redeemer of mankind believed and obeyed. Falfliood will not always be preferred to truth, nor fin to hulinefs. The period is on the wing in which 40 "the knowledge of the Lord fhall fill the earth, as the waters fill the fea ;" and in which " holinefs to the Lord ihall be written" on all the purf^jits and enjoyments of mankind. " The Lord of Hofts will, one day, make unto all people a feaft; of fat things full of marrow, a"*fra{l of wines on the lees well refined. He will deftroy the face of the covering, that h caft over all people, and the vail, that is fpread over all nations ; v/iil wipe away tears from all faces, and take away the reproach of his people from all the earth." Another fun, rolling around the great Centurial year will, not improba- bly, have fcarcely finiflied his progrefs, when he ihall fee the Jew *' no more haughty becaufe of the holy mountain," but " reingrafted into the olive, from which he was broken off." " The ftandard Hiall be exalted, the enfign ihall be fet up, to which the outcails of Ifrael fliall gather, and thedifperfed of Judah aiTemble, from the four corners of the earth." " The reception of them" into the king- dom of Chrift '• fhall prove" to all nations " as life from the dead ;" as a general refurreftion from the grave. There is now indeed, and for fome time may continue to be, ''a. tumultuous noife of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together, becaufe the Lord of Hofts muflereth the hoft to the bat- tle." ^^ Nation now rifes againft nation, and king- dom againft kingdom." *' Great earthquakes" have exifted '* in diverfe places, and famines, and peflilences, and fearful fights, and great figns from heaven; and on the earth difirefs of nations, with perplexity, the fea and the waves roaring : Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after thofe things which fnail lliortly come upon the earth." Let us dill " in patience poiTcfs our fouls ;" " for yet a little while, and the indignation (hall be overpaft." The Church of God fnall foon "awake and put on ftrength, and be clothed with beautiful 4* ^ifrmcnts :" "Peace fhall then be extcnoeci uj ft^*, as a river, and the glory of the Gentiles as a flow- ing dream." " A little one fhall become a thouf- and, and a CmaM one a ftrong nation" "The Name and the Praifc of God," the acknowledgment of the Redeemer, and the " fi\ith, baptifm, and woriliip," of his followers, " fhall be one, from the rifing of the fun to the going down of the fame :'* " and the Canaanite fhall no more be found in the houfe of the Lord of Hofts." In that c'.-;: "the iron rod of the opprefTor ihall be broken," " the confufed noife of the bat- tle of the warrior ceale," " the haughtinefs of man Ihall be brought down j the lowly fliall be exalted j'* and the Lord of Hofts will be a flrength to the poor, a flrength to the needy in his diftrefs."— "Darknefs fliall then be no more put for light nor light for darknefs ;" the lantern of vifionary phi- jofophy fhall ceafe to lead mankind aftray from the highway of holinefs ; the fcriptures " fhall be their everlafling light, and the Author of them their glo- ry." But while we look forward with faith, confo- lation, and tranfport, to rifing periods of order, peace, and fafety ; in which truth fhall triumph, juflice prefideover the concerns of men, and mercy pity and affuage the fufferings of this agonizing world J while we forefee fcafons of general happi- nefs and univerfal virtue, a vernal growth of moral beauty, and an autumnal harvefl of converts to ho- linefs ; while the eye travels onward through a new era in the univcrfe of man, and beholds a rebellious world voluntarily refuming its alltrgiancc to the Creator, the great family of Adam acknowledged as the children, God declaring himfelf the common Father, and the eardi confefTedly the temple, in which he is loved, obeyed, and worfhipped j wc cannot fiil to revert to tlie "troublous times," F 42 which are now revolving. The foul irrefiftibly re- turns to furvey the fins and errors, which rage around us, the temptations which alarm, enfnare, and feduce, and the mileries which are refounded from a fuffering world. In this fituation it inftind- ively aflcs, How Ihall thefe evils be averted from ourrelves and ours ? This quedion is now in truth afked, with ftrong emotions, and many forebodings, by the great Body of people in New England ; and is felt to involve the peace, freedom, and fafety, the mor- als, religion, and immortal welfare, of themfelves and their children. The mind is awake, the heart is alarmed j anxiety is on the wing^ and the fpirit of foreboding looks through the eye with melancholy fufpenfe and agitation. Suffer mc then in the in- dulgence of iman-ination to alfemble here this vaft multitude, to view them as already gathered around me, and to addrefs to them, as to you, an anfwer to this folemn enquiry. My Friends and Brethren, In all the changes, v/hich have befallen our native country, the interpofitions of divine provi- dence in its behalf have been wonderful. Think, if you are at a iofs on this fubjed:, of the manner, in which God bare your fathers to this land on ea- gles wings y zx\&^!kept them in the hollo-w of his hand, Recal their numerous deliverances from the lavages, and from the more bitter enemies who fpurred thofc favages to war and (laughter. Remember their wonderful prefervation from the armament of Che- buftoj completed on the night of that folem.a day, when with fafting and fupplication they lifted up their united hands to implore the falvation of their God. Who gave the artillery of your enemies in- to the hands of Manly ; and their ammunition into thofe of Mugford ? Who furrendcred lo you the ar- my of Burgoyne ? WHio in fpite of pretended friends^ 45 more malignant than open enemies, eftabliflied on folid grounds your independence and your peace ; and Jet your feet in a htoad place -, a poflefiion rich, fecure, and immenfe ? Who has filled your veins with health, and your garners with all manner offiore? Who has filled your land with ceiled hou/es, adorned it with fchools, and enlightened it with innumera- ble churches ? A WORK, thus begun, and thus carried on, is its own proof, that it will not be relinquifhed. We may be fcourged, for we merit it, but I truft we fhall not be forfaken ; we may be caft down, but we Ihall not be dejiroyed. The piefent unufual and glorious prevalence of religion is tlie hand of God, writing on the zvall, that we are not yet Jiumbered and finijhed. Would you then be fafe, while all nations are fifted with the fteve of vanity ; would you hide in fecret chambers until the indignation be overpafi ^ Learn your duty, and your fafety, in the memora- ble advice of Jchofhaphat, the iJIuftrious prince of Judah, to his own people, in a feafon of more im- mediate peril : " Believe en the Lord your God, Jo jhall ye be ejlablifhed; believe his prophets j Jo fioall ye proJperT Your ancefiors, who preeminently obeyed this council, and found the promife daily verified to them, who leaned alway on the arm of Ctod, and v/alked in the funfliine of the fcriptures, laid here fiich foundations of human happinefs, under his guidance, as were probably never laid elfewhere. In their eftablifliment of rational freedom, juit government, and perfecl^l order, in their fchools and their colleges, their churches and their worfhip, their exemplary life and their fervent prayers, they lefc a glorious inlieritance toj