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DISCOURSE*
&ELIVERE& IN IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS,-

ON THE

F'OURTTH OF JCl*1f,- 182^
SEIKO THE) FIFTY-FIRST AKMIVERSAay
OS THE BEOLARATieif Op
AMERICAN IJVDEPEJTDEKCE*
ON JULY 4th, 1776.

BY JOSEPH DASTA, J>. ».
GifE OF THE MINISTERS OF SAID IPSWI<3H.

ipswich :
s-aiKTED Bjr J0HN H, HA^1S} }fl
I827«

ANNIVERSARY DISCOURSE.

'Deuteronomy ir. 9.
Oiik/ take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou
forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart
from thy heart, all the days of thy life ; but teach them thy sons,
and thy sons'1 sons.
SO great is the occasion which every fourth of July
Anniversary brings to remembrance ; so filled with Divine
benignity ; so unprecedented in the annals of our country ;
that one could wish, even now, for a new language to ex
press it, and for unknown strains to celebrate it. For new
hearts, we may well wish and pray, if sentiments of purest
gratitude are not yet known.
Fifty one years are now past, since that magnanimous
Declaration by our patriotic Fathers, which severed the po
litical bands, which had connected us with the parent coun
try : a Declaration made in the sight of their whole arma
ment, recently arrived ; a Declaration made at the hazard
of life, of liberty, and all that is dear to man.
" O pass not on — till thou hast bless'd their memory."
Nor let us ever think ourselves not bound to imitate their
virtues ; their fortitude in duty. But most of all, bless Him,

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who, after a seven years conflict, established that Indepen
dence ; and gave to our America this honorable standing
among the nations, from whence have been flowing, ever
since, security to the rights of man ; security to our dearest
liberties — legitimate government— liberty with order— un
paralleled rapidity of population — unexampled prosperity.
Shall we not consider it our incumbent duty to be deeply
affected with such favpr ; not only at the first reception, but
in all time after ; and to do what in us lies to perpetuate the
memory of what the Lord hath done for us ?
Shall w« then, in the first place, note some of the memor
able things which the eyes of our fathers saw, and numbers of
us have seen in the course of the revolutionary contest, and
in its conclusion. Then, bring up the important charge here
given, It is one painful circumstance attending our first proposi
tion, that we cannot trace the goodness of a gracious God$
Without bringing up afresh the unkind manauvres of man. —
May divine mercy preserve us from every unhallowed foel-
ing ! It is now profound peace — blessed be our Rock — and
let the peace of Gem rule in our hearts ! If the parent coun
try were once hard-hearted, the Lord forgive them : if they
thought evil against us* God meant \t unto good.
But it is one of the memorables to be now mentioned, that,
when such were the claims of that nation, that to have yield
ed, would have been relinquishing every idea of property,
and laying our natural rights, chartered liberties, every val
uable possession, down at her feet ; apd when that submis
sion was demaBded at the point of the bayonet ; these states
were spirited tp united resistance ; all animated hy one soul
in the great cause, notwithstanding such diversities of genius,
habits, manners ; notwithstanding every local prepossession.
It is a circumstance equally memorable, that this so great
and determined union of these states for the defence of their
libertieSj was so long hidden from their adversaries. They

Plight have read it in every page of our transactions, hajj
not a blindness happened to them. The candid part of that
nation saw it early, and warned the rest : but the ruling
part, and those whose special duty it was to obtain the best
intelligence, must not see it until afterward. It was astonishh-
ing to ms, to see how long the deception was kept up— that
America was not united, America was a rope of sand. It
had its effept. If it did not answer the ends of its propaga
tors, it served the great intention of proyidence. First, it
cherished in the parent kingdom'the idea of frightening the
states into submission ; next, of decoying them by promises-.
or of crushing them with ease, at all events; and thus it
went on, till America, favored by Heaven, had escaped, as a
bird out of the snare ; and no art of the fowler could retake
her. Praise the Lord — the snare was broken, and we es
caped i
It is another circumstance much to be noted in honor
»f the Divine over-ruling favor, that, when the contest must
come to a decision by horrid War, the commencement of
hostilities should be at such a period — no earlier — no later.
First, that it was no earlier. Our people, unpractised
in the art of war, must have time to be instructed. And by
whom ? They were to learn it from the troops of Britain —
and those troops, before the war begins, must be stationed
some length of time, in different parts of this continent. In
that way, an idea of their discipline must be diffused. Our
minds too, must be gradually fitted for the dreadful conflict;
by insults — and by contemplation of what was practicable.
On the pther hand it was probably a happy circumstance,
that the crisis was not later. Beside that a lower degree of
fear and dread pf their enemy, might not have been suffi
cient to unite these states so firmly as was necessary, and
awaken their attention to the necessary means of safety. —
Besides this, strenuous endeavours had been used to divide
the Colonies, and so to rule them. More were to be em,-"

ployed (who knows with what effect?) had not a particular
instance of opposition to insidious designs of the ruling pow
er, precipitated that government into a violent measure,
(that of the Boston Port bill) which at once determined ev
ery state to make a common cause of it, and lake a decided
part. Adored be the over-ruling power !
In the mean time, the union of our New England was not
a little strengthened, by the detection of a great number of
secret confidential letters, which manifested beyond a doubt
what a change of government was intended for us ; and how
unworthy those were of the confidence of their countrymen
who under the guise of friendship, had been concealed ad
vocates for that change ; hoping to find their account in it —
but whose reputation for wisdom, and integrity, had been a
snare to many.
To go on. It was wonderful, considering the power we
were to contend with, and the many disadvantages we were
under, what courage was given to this people at the very
commencement of hostilities. Some kind invisible hand ev
idently strengthened their hearts, and with all the fear and
trembling, a prevailing persuasion, that Gracious Heaven
would not leave us in the power of the oppressor, strangely
pervaded all ranks of people. Bless the Lord — a panic at
that time would probably have been fatal.
And let us not forget, what admirable good order, this
people were influenced to maintain, for such a length df
time ; when no courts of law were held, and we were in
many respects without government.
At the same time it is much to be remembered, to the
praise of Divine compassion, that our enemy did not think
proper to bring forth all their strength against us, at the
first. Unfurnished as we were with necessaries for the
war — (not to mention how much time was required to col
lect a sufficient army, and form it into regular order) 
who docs not tremble at only looking back on the almost en-

tire emptiness of our magazines after the action of Bunker-
hill. But so early and striking discovery of spirit in the
little handful of Americans, wh© were engaged in that mem
orable action, and the serious effects of their exertions, stag
gered their enemy. And so it pleased Heaven, that nothing
further of any consequence was attempted by them, until
more than fourteen months after* when they had collected
all their force. Supplies in the meantime, such as were1
most wanted, were sent us in an extraordinary and almost
miraculous manner. Who would have thought of a plenty
of military stores, which were intended for the army of
Britain, captured on the Atlantic, by oar little privateers,
and brought into our ports, while the coasts were lined by
British ships of war— ^which is another circumstance worthy
of lasting remembrance.
But it is quite time to mention a particular, which these
states, I am very sure, have considered with great pleasure,
and I believe will never forget. (The Lord enable us to
remember it with devout acknowledgments to His great
mercy, and give Him all the praise) — That such a Com
mander in Chief was raised up for us : — whose greqt
qualities I would not attempt to delineate at laTge, but
am compelled to say — whose abilities in his important
station, approved upon all occasions, formed a most strik
ing counterpart to the diffidence with which he accepted it —
whose admirable talent of at once commanding, and ma
king happy, every soldier under him— whose respectable
dignity, and yet easiness of access, and fatherly attention to
the lowest person who had business with him — whose vigil
ance, consummate prudence, calm, cool temper, and yet en-
terprisingness, and greatness of spirit, appearing upon all
great occasions ; have all been so conspicuous — whose
impartial treatment of the troops of every line, approved
itself to all, and was of no small influence to banish invidious
comparisons, and unite them as a band of brothers — whose

s
patience in difficulties, great feeling for the lives and coin-
fort of his troops, and generous participation of their hard—
ships, have been of such infinite service to us in difficult
times. What mote? whose religious respect to sacred
things, and whose blameless morals have been such a check
upon profanity and licentiousness in the army — who, with all
his military power, was never known to encroach on the
civil department — who knew how to treat his enemies, and,
by the elegant address appearing in all his communications,
by his magnanimity, humanity, unspotted honor, and uni
form adherence to the line of delicacy, was greatly revered
by them, and as much trusted as by ourselves.
While we admire and love his memory, let us bless the
God who made him such, and reserved him for so great an
occasion. What passes for a great general in other coun
tries, would not have been adequate to our necessities.
But in other respects* it is distinguishing favor, and distia-
guishing honor, that ever there was such a character in
America. Is it possible that, among the millions who have
beheld it with such veneration, there are not large numbers
whose ideas of greatness, and of honor, it has done much to'
improve ? And shall not the \ery name of WASHINGTON
correct, more or less, the false taste of modern times ? and
teach the disciples of Chesterfield how low are their concep- '
tions. 0, if I were near enough, to drop a word to the
" vain persons" of the age, who would fain be something,
and scarcely know what ; sensualists, latitudinarians, pro
fane monsters — any thing to figure away and* be distin
guished — I would say to them, behold this great man's
character, and ask if it was any defect in it, that he did
not think himself above religion ; that he was neither infi
del, nor libertine.
But to return. It would be ingratitude not to acknowl
edge the goodness of a graeious God, in othei- great charac-

ter's, both in the civil and military departments— Statesmen,
whose virtues and abilities have shone conspicuous in
that important struggle— Heroic Officers and Soldiers who
have honored themselves and their country— Praise the
Lord, who, when he called these States to such a conflict,
raised up such numbers of qualified persons to stand fore
most in it.
But O, how worthy of affectionate remembrance are the
many signal interpositions of a gracious Providence, to ex
tricate us out of our difficulties ! Instance, the wonders on
Bunker-hill, before mentioned ; the astonishing deliverance
Of Boston out of the enemy's hand, which everyone seemed
to have despaired of seeing recovered, except in ashes. —
But the God of New England so provided, by planting in the
night time, our beloved General, with his artillery, on Dor
chester height, that the enemy was glad to leave Boston
unharmed, on condition of being unmolested in his retreat.
Can we ever forget our army's safe retreat from Long
Island, after a hard and unequal combat with the enemy ;
which retreat, it is astonishing that they, when they were so
near, did not discover, and defeat, in the first attempt.
Can we remember without trembling, the unpromising, but
heaven-protected flight before the enemy ? When, after the
loss of all our fortresses near New York, our army, reduced
by losses, and the expiration of enlistments, to a very small
number j when that little band, with their beloved General,
the faithful companion Of their toils and dangers, was for so
many days pursued through Jersey by their enemy then in
full force ; pursued in vain ! for the Lord was their helper !
Add to these the brilliant retreat from Trenton, a few
nights after the memorable enterprize upon the Hessians at
that post. Can we ever forget that night, when the two ar
mies, our own and that of the enemy, far superior in numbers,
both encamped in the same town, on opposite sides of a
bridge ; (as if it had been on opposite sides of our Ipswich

10
river ;) and the British thought themselves sure of their prey,
when the morning should arrive. Yet. when the morning
opened, our people, with their artillery and baggage, were at
twelve miles distance ; and had intf rcepted a British regiment,
before the enemy at Trenton had one idea of their having
moved a step from thence. Blessed be the Lord, who gave
to our beloved Commander such presence of mind at that
hour, and inspired him with such invention !
Need I mention the distress at the Northward, and the
paleness upon all faces, at the evacuation of Ticonderoga,
and the triumphant progress of the British army toward
Albany ? Who would have thought that such distress and
fear would soon be succeeded by the joy of such victory as
that at Bennington, that at Saratoga, and the surrender of
a whole army there ? Glory to the Most High, who in this
instance, and in many beside, over-ruled the success of our
enemy to his greater disappointment in the issue.
Shall I call to mind the deplorable state of affairs at the
Southward, when Charleston, after a long and gallant de
fence by the brave Lincoln, had surrendered : and the ene
my reigned triumphant in all that region 1 And, yet, how
soon the face of things was changed ! and in the issue, all re
covered ! Much praise is due to the illustrious Greene ; but
who inspired him and the little army under him, to those
great actions : and covered them with such glory?
How worthy of lasting remembrance, is the Divine favor,
in raising up for us such a powerful ally, in the King of
France ! And how much is due to heroic and liberal spirits
of that nation, for their early friendship to the American
cause ! Great Britain, in the mean time, could form no al
liances ; so general was the disposition of Europe to favor
our cause, even beyond what the most sanguine had pre
conceived. Time would fail me to recount one half of the memora-
bles of a war so distinguished. But let me add, that, al-

11
though we have too often had cause to deplore the failure of
public spirit in our countrymen ; yet it is, on the whole, a
great wonder, that the spirits of this people were so kept
up amidst the embarrassments, and great sufferings to many,
from a sinking currency, that deplorable, and yet perhaps,
in our case, necessary evil. That our sinking currency did
not sink us ; that we were so much aided, as well as endan
gered by it, and at last struggled to the shore — we may well
remember with great thankfulness. Our poor bark went to
the bottom ; but we, through surprising favor, were safe
landed. But how great, and memorable an event, was the cessa-1
tion of wa*, which our beloved country, after so many con
flicts, and dangers — at length experienced! In the most
general view, how sweet is the return of peace, after an
eight years absence ! If defending our country by arms,
against the invader, is sometimes necessary, and a duty in
dispensable ; still war, in its nature, is dreadful. Men and
brethren, Christians, in name, and of kindred blood, destroy
ing each other, plundering one another, distreising eaeh
other ; and striving " which shall do the other the most
harm ;" — what a sight is this, for angels to behold ! — How
long, blessed Savior, before that day shall arrive, when the
nations shall learn war no more : when there shall be no
invader, none to hurt or destroy? How pleasant have we
found it, after so many fearful alarms, as our land has wit
nessed — to sit quietly, and have none to make us afraid !
Peace is a sweetener of every sweet — a cherisher of in
dustry, arts, learning, every valuable improvement ; friend
ly to commerce, and, w hat is more than all, friendly to vir
tue and piety. Heaven bless it effectually to these ends.
But to pass from general observations ; In our peace there
were great specialties. First, we had escaped greater evils
than nations ordinarily at the close of war, realize an es
cape from. For the object of this war, on the part of the

assailants was, at last, nothing short of entire conquest; and
the reduction of these States to absolute; unconditional sub
jection : Say, like the state of Ireland, that conquered coun
try—Do not our hearts tremble, to think what we have esr
caped 2
In the second place, we had much more confirmed to us by
treaty, than we contended for, or even dreamed of, at the be
ginning of the contest. The utmost we then had in view was
to be placed on the footing we were upon in 1763; when a
King, at three thousand miles distance, had a negative upon
all our laws — appointed most of our Governors through the
States; in some, a whole train of principal Magistrates and
Officers ; the British parliament to regulate our trade at
pleasure. But such, in the progress of things, was the al
ternative ; we must be independent, or be slaves — We chose
the first : and through the smiles pf Heaven, this Indepen
dence was not barely left to us ; but acknowledged ; — with
this memorable circumstance, that those who had thought to
bring us to their feet, confessed themselves compelled to that
acknowledgment. Praised be the Lord, by whose favor,
our horn was so exalted. We are left to govern ourselves by
our own best judgment — Heaven grant us the wisdom for it,
and the integrity .' —Add to this, an extent of territory conT
firmed to us, which exceeds what had been our utmost ex
pectations. What shall we render ?
Let us now, as compendiously as is allowable, brfng up
the Memorable charge in the text. " Only take heed to thy
self, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things
which thine eyes have seen ; and lest they depart from thy
¦ .heart, all the days of thy life; but teach them thy sons, and
thy sons' sons." — The words are still of the same authority,
in every case like that which Moses had now in view ; and
if ever they were justly applicable to a nation since Israel's
}ime, they are to us.

13
It will not be forgotten, that there is one humiliating sen
timent implied in this charge ; namely, that man is but too
capable of forgetting even the greatest wonders of Divine
favor. May we then note this with humility; and ever
watch and pray, and keep our souls diligently ; against so
great an evil.
At the same time there is an intimation, that nothing is
more clearly due to the Sovereign of the world, — nothing
more indispensable, than keeping in grateful remembrance
such great instances of his Divine favor. This emphat
ic force is evidently carried in the word only. (Only take
heed to thyself.) As if it had been said, Be this the every
thing — in a manner — of thy pious care.
We are likewise reminded, that such great things must
be retained, not in our memories alone, but in our hearts ;
with every pious affection which heart can feel : And that
we must never be content with any forms of celebration,
which do not include this. Such are the deep-felt rememi
brances, which we are to carry with us all the days of our
lives ; and therefore be able to teach them to our children,
not only of the first, but of the second generation, (if we
shall stay long enough for it,) — and teach them, with the
same pious rec<~ nition of that God, who did such wonders
in our day, for us, and for them. We shall, if we feel the
subject properly,
Such wonders have a claim to be handed down to remo
test posterity. And, if we religiously do our part, distant
ages will speak of these wondrous works of the Lord, and
tb.e might pf his terrible acts-*
All the prayers, which were offered in times of America's'
distress, bind us inviolably to this; and if instead of it, there
shall be a negligence, an ungrateful forgetfulness — we shall
sink wonderfully in a moral view. On the other hand, main-
* Psalm cxiv.

14
taining a suitable remembrance of the wonders of our revo
lution, in which so much of God is to be seen, must have a
general influence into the state of religion, and of virtue at
large, through the land. O that the experiment could be
fully made ! and made under that same direction, which Mo
ses has here given !
Such a remembrance, as is here called for, will bring much
assistance, and excitement, in essential duties. For instance,
that of setting a high value upon liberties, for which so many
precious lives have been sacrificed ; and having a care to
use them for the highest and best purposes ; and hand them
down undiminished, and untarnished, to succeeding genera
tions. How will such remembrances teach us compassion to all
the oppressed ! Say, if you please, to the suffering Greeks.
Say, most of all, to the oppressed of our own country ; a
compassion which will never cease from friendly exertions,
that every yoke may be broken, as soon as it is possible.
How otherwise can they, who have felt it so hard, and intol
erable, to have their own natural rights invaded, hold up
their faces without blushing ?
On the other hand, it is hoped, that remembering the past,
will greatly endear a free government ; where the small, and
the great, find equal security to the rights which the God of
nature gave them ; and equal freedom of access to the tri
bunals of justice, for the redress of all wrongs : (with only
one known exception — that which was just mentioned.) We
will prize a free government, respected brethren, and feel
inviolable obligations to honor, and support it.
If there be an individual in all the land, who would prefer
a lawless freedom ; be it known to sueh a one, it was not for
this, that our renowned patriots pledged " their lives, their
fortunes, and their sacred honor." It was for " a government
ef laws." And this was proven out, by their early care to

13
establish constitutions, which combined " liberty with or
der;" and from the first, have happily maintained both 
May the God of our fathers long preserve them unimpair
ed ! To go on.
Proper remembrances will teach us to enjoy in a right
way, that liberty, and those blessings, which so many brave
men have toiled, and bled, to obtain for us. Let therefore,
not only flagrant crimes, but excesses of every species, be
banished by these remembrances ; and a sentimental moder
ation ever accompany the use we make of that profusion of
pleasant things, which that God, who so signally gave us an
establishment in this land of our forefathers, pours out to us
in such abundance ! So far, at least, the example of the pi
ous and heroic David, may with safety be adopted by every
one of us — when tempted to any form of rioting, or of inor
dinate indulgence. '-Be it far from me, O Lord, that I
should do this ! Is not this the blood of the men, that went
in jeopardy of their lives?"*
May a Gracious God, who has done such things for us,
and for this people, fill our hearts, and theirs, with all those
sentiments, which a due remembrance of things so wonder
ful, can inspire. *2 SamKe!, xxiii. IT.

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