A discourse delivered at New-Ark, in New-Jersey. January 1, 1755. Being a day set apart for solemn fasting and prayer, on account of the late encroachments of the French, and their designs against the British colonies in America. / By Aaron Burr, A.M. President of the College of New-Jersey. ; [Four lines of Scripture texts] Burr, Aaron, 1716-1757. Approx. 93 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 42 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI : 2009-10. N05805 N05805 Evans 7373 APX3384 7373 99020152

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Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 7373. (Evans-TCP ; no. N05805) Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 7373) Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 7373) A discourse delivered at New-Ark, in New-Jersey. January 1, 1755. Being a day set apart for solemn fasting and prayer, on account of the late encroachments of the French, and their designs against the British colonies in America. / By Aaron Burr, A.M. President of the College of New-Jersey. ; [Four lines of Scripture texts] Burr, Aaron, 1716-1757. [2], iv, 5-41, [1] p. ; 21 cm. (4to) Printed and sold by Hugh Gaine, at the printing office in Queen-Street, between Fly and Meal-Market, M,DCCLV. (Price, one shilling, and three coppers.), New-York: : [1755] Half-title: Mr. Burr's discourse, &c. January 1, 1755. Parentheses substituted for square brackets in imprint transcription.

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eng United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763 -- Addresses, sermons, etc. Fast day sermons -- 1755 Jan. 1. 2008-08 Assigned for keying and markup 2008-09 Keyed and coded from Readex/Newsbank page images 2008-12 Sampled and proofread 2008-12 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

Mr. BURR's DISCOURSE, &c. January 1, 1755.

A DISCOURSE DELIVERED At NEW-ARK, IN NEW-JERSEY. JANUARY 1, 1755. Being a Day ſet apart for ſolemn Faſting and Prayer, on Account of the late Encroachments of the French, and their Deſigns againſt the Britiſh Colonies in AMERICA.

By AARON BURR, A. M. Preſident of the COLLEGE of NEW-JERSEY.

O Lord, what ſhall I ſay, when Iſrael turneth their Backs before their Enemies.

Joſ. vii. 8.

And the Lord ſaid unto Joſhua, fear not, neither be thou diſmayed; take all the People of War with thee, and ariſe, and go up to Ai,

Joſ. viii. 1.

NEW-YORK: Printed and Sold by HUGH GAINE, at the Printing Office in Queen-Street, between the Fly and Meal-Market, M,DCCLV. [Price, ONE SHILLING, AND THREE COPPERS.]

THE PREFACE.

THE Subſtance of what is here offered to the Public, was the Application of a Sermon, preach'd in the former Part of the Day, from Hoſea ix. 12. Woe alſo to them, when I depart from them; which is ſuppreſſed, leſt it ſhould ſwell the Pamphlet too much, and the Diſcourſe thrown into ſuch a Form, as to have no neceſſary Dependance upon it.

MY conſtant Hurry of Buſineſs, made it doubtful for ſome Time, whether, or not, I ſhould comply with the Importunity of thoſe Friends who requeſted this Publication: Which is the Reaſon why it was delayed.

BUT, when, on farther Reflection, I tho't it might be a Means of awakening in my Countrymen, ſome Senſe of their Danger, and Duty, in this dark and critical Day, I readily conſented.

FOR tho' this has been, and no doubt will ſtill be done in a better Manner, by thoſe who have more Leiſure, and a further Acquaintance with our political Affairs; yet, as it appear'd of Importance, that theſe Things ſhould be ſet in various Lights, and made as public as poſſible at ſuch a Seaſon, when ſo much depends on our being unanimouſly alarm'd, to the Defence of our Lives and Properties; I chearfully offer this Mite, ſuch as it is, to the Abundance others are doing, towards ſaving their Country from impending Ruin.

A DISCOURSE, &c.

WE have this Day, My Brethren, ſanctified a Faſt, called a ſolemn Aſſembly, to humble ourſelves before God, for the crying Sins of the Times; to deprecate impending Judgments, and implore Direction and Aſſiſtance from Heaven, againſt our Enemies, who, by their unrighteous Encroachments, on our Properties, and the Preparations they are making againſt us, ſeem to threaten the Ruin of our Country.

I PRESUME, it will not be thought unſuitable to the Occaſion, to give you ſome hiſtorical and political Account, of the Power and Policy of our Enemies, and their wicked Deſigns againſt us; that we may have a proper Senſe of our Danger, and be excited to our Duty, in the preſent critical Juncture. To this Purpoſe, it will be proper we ſhould look back to the Source and Spring of our preſent Troubles; which are well known to be the boundleſs Ambition of the late Kings of France, and their inſatiable Thirſt after arbitrary Power, and univerſal Monarchy.

WHOEVER conſiders, that France, from a ſmall and inconſiderable Kingdom, in a few Centuries, is become one of the moſt numerous and powerful in Europe, and by what arbitrary and unrighteous Methods, her Dominions have been extended; will be convinc'd, that all Encroachments from ſuch a dangerous Enemy, ſhould be guarded againſt, with the utmoſt Precaution.

IN King HENRY the VIth's Time, the Engliſh poſſeſſed a great Part of their preſent Dominions Normandy, Picardy, Champaine, and the Iſle of France. , and even Paris, the Metropolis, where he was crowned 1431.. Their Territories ſince that Time, have been vaſtly enlarged, and very much at the Expence of the juſt Rights of their Neighbours; eſpecially by the preſent reigning Family, who are known by the Name of the Houſe of Bourbon.—The firſt indeed of this Race, Henry IVth, who came to the Throne 1589, while a Proteſtant, diſcovered a very different Spirit, from his degenerate Offspring.—Tho', from Reaſons of State, he was induced to declare himſelf a Roman Catholick, yet he had ſo great a Regard to Juſtice and Gratitude, as to eſtabliſh the famous Edict of Nantz So called, becauſe publiſhed in that City, 1598., in Favour of the Proteſtants, who had advanced him to the Throne. This has done more Honour to his Memory, than all the warlike Exploits, whereby he acquir'd the Name of GREAT. But his Succeſſors and Poſterity, the Lewis's, have, for above one Hundred Years paſt, been the Plague and Scourge of Europe, and rendered their Reigns infamous, by perſecuting the Proteſtants, in Violation of the moſt ſolemn Engagements; whom Lewis the XIVth, in a Letter to Cromwel, acknowledged, were ſome of the beſt and moſt peaceable Subjects he had.

THE Scheme for abſolute Power, and univerſal Monarchy, was concerted, in the Minority of Lewis the XIIIth He ſucceeded his Father, 1610, at about 9 Years of Age., by that haughty and aſpiring Miniſter, Cardinal Richlieu. By Bribes and Force, depriving the Parliament of Paris of their Privileges, he endeavoured by every Stratagem, to render the King abſolute, and to enſlave the Subject; envying the Proteſtants the Privileges granted them by Henry IVth, he raiſed a ſevere Perſecution againſt them; took away all the Places given as a Security, that the Edict of Nantz ſhould be obſerved; the laſt and moſt important of which, viz. Rochelle, (being ſhamefully forſaken by King Charles the Iſt. notwithſtanding repeated Aſſurances of Aſſiſtance) after a terrible Siege of two Years, ſurrendered October 8th, 1628. Here we may date the Beginning of arbitrary Power, in France. In this Reign alſo, her Territories were conſiderably enlarged, and the Foundation of her future Greatneſs and tyrannizing over her Neighbours, was then laid.

LEWIS XIVth, being in the 5th Year of his Age, at the Death of his Father, 1643, Cardinal Mazarine (equally noted for his Pride and Covetouſneſs) was admitted into the Adminiſtration, who effectually proſecuted the Plan laid by his Predeceſſor; rendered the Crown wholly abſolute; bereft the Subjects of the little Remains of Liberty; and upon them, and their Poſterity, rivetted the Chains of an abject Slavery.

IN the Beginning of his Adminiſtration, France made herſelf dreaded among her Neighbours, by a Series of Victories obtained in Flanders, againſt Spain, under the celebrated Prince of Conde, at a prodigious Expence of Blood. Tho', in the End, very little Advantage was derived from them, yet they ſerved to ſhow how little Regard was had to the Lives of their Fellow-Creatures. Soon after, indeed, his proud Deſigns, of extending the French Dominions, were, for a While obſtructed, by the civil Broils and inteſtine Wars, which, at that Time, prevailed in the Nation: They alſo met with an effectual Check, for a Seaſon, by the Valour of the Engliſh, under Cromwel, when Diſputes with France were eaſily and ſpeedily ſettled, without any Bloodſhed. Witneſs, that haughty Miniſter's being obliged, by a ſingle Meſſage, contrary to his Intentions, to deliver up Dunkirk to the Engliſh Ambaſſador Delivered to Lockhart, 1659.; and to ſtop the Duke of Savoy from perſecuting the Proteſtants, tho' he pretended it was not within his Juriſdiction. But, notwithſtanding the Confuſion of a Civil War, at the celebrated Treaty of Weſtphalia, he had the Art and Policy to ſecure the Sovereignty of Alſace, and ſome Parts of Lorrain, to the Crown of France.

No ſooner had Lewis XIVth taken the Reins of Government into his own Hands, than he acts the Tyrant over his own People, and diſcovers his ambitious Deſigns of enſlaving the Reſt of Europe. Finding no better Pretence for falling on his Neighbours, he lays claim to Flanders, and Franché-Comté, by his Wife (Maria Thereſia of Spain) tho' ſhe had expreſsly renounced all claim to it, on her Marriage; which, by a Series of bloody Battles and Sieges, at the Expence of Millions of Lives, he ſubdued: Tho' he was obliged to reſign the latter; yet, at the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle 1668., he got confirmed to the Crown of France, almoſt all the Places he had taken in Flanders.

IN 1672, without the leaſt plauſible Pretence for War, he makes the moſt formidable Preparations, to ſubdue the United Netherlands, and wholly to extirpate the Dutch Common-Wealth. The States General, in a very ſubmiſſive Manner, requeſted that his Majeſty would let them know, if thoſe mighty Preparations were deſigned againſt them: To whom that haughty Monarch made no other Reply, but, That he ſhould employ his Troops in ſuch a Manner, as his Dignity deſerved, which did not require him to give an Account to any one.

ALL the Places that lay in his Way, fell an eaſy Prey to his victorious Arms. The Provinces of Utrecht, Overiſſel, and Guelders, with all the adjacent Places, being ſubdued, Amſterdam, the Metropolis, was juſt on the Point of being ſurrendered. So near and evident did their Ruin appear, that the moſt noted Families, who were fond of their Liberties, had actually prepared for a Remove to the Eaſt-Indies; chuſing rather to live in the Extremities of the Earth, than become the Slaves of a Tyrant. But divine Providence prevented their total Overthrow, which ſeemed inevitable, by ſundry favourable Interpoſitions. Heaven rais'd up at that Time, the great Hero of his Day, King WILLIAM, then Prince of Orange, who, by his ſingular Wiſdom and Valour, put a Stop to that 〈◊〉 , which ſeemed to threaten all Europe. In theſe wicked and ambitious Deſigns, of deſtroying the Dutch, and enſlaving Mankind, to the Amazement of all Europe, he was aſſiſted by King Charles the IId, who, as Voltaire juſtly obſerves, "was active in nothing, but his Pleaſures;" unleſs, as he might have added, in perſecuting his own Subjects, and promoting the Grandeur and Power of France, which it was ſo evidently the Intereſt of England to humble. To ſupport the Expence of his extravagant Pleaſures, and this unnatural War with the Dutch, which in ſcandalous Violation of publick Faith, he had undertaken, he ſold thoſe very important Places, Dunkirk and Mardyke, to the King of France 1662.; at a Price, ſays the above mentioned Author, glorious to the Purchaſer, and ſhameful to the Seller: And to compleat the Scandal of that debauched and effeminate Reign, ſoon after added Nova-Scotia 1667..

THE King of France, altho' obliged to quit moſt of his Conqueſts in the Netherlands, yet at the Treaty of 1678. Nemiguen, acted like the Arbiter of Europe, and had confirmed to his Dominions, ſeveral advantageous Places The Country of Burgundy, Valenciennes, Cambray and Ypreſs. . The barbarous Orders he gave, for reducing to Aſhes, that ſine large Country the Palatinate There were about fifty Caſtles, many well built Towns and Villages, in it., ſhowed his Cruelty to be equal to his Ambition. The wretched People drove off in the dead of Winter February 1689.; their Houſes, and their very Graves ranſack'd by mercileſs Soldiers, afforded ſuch a tragical Scene, that even a French Author, who labours to ſet all his Conduct in the moſt favourable Light, ſays, "all Europe look'd upon it with Horror;" and that thoſe who hitherto only blamed, while they admired his Ambition, now exclaimed aloud againſt his Barbarity.

THE King of Spain's 1700. dying childleſs, and leaving his Dominions, by Will, to the Duke of Anjou, Grandſon to Lewis XIVth, gave a new Specimen of his Treachery, and boundleſs Ambition. Some of the Powers of Europe, being ſenſible of the Danger that would ariſe from the Union of two ſuch powerful Monarchies, entered into what is known by the Name of the Partition Treaty Auguſt 〈◊〉 , 1698.. To this the King of France acceded, with pompous Expreſſions of his Deſire to preſerve the Peace of Europe, declaring that a Will, from the King of Spain, in Favour of his Family, ſhould not alter him. But his own, and his Father's ſolemn Renunciations, (on their Marriages) his public Faith twice given, appeared to him as ſolemn Trifles, when a new Opportunity preſented, of aggrandizing his Family. Immediately on the Death of Charles, he accepts the Will, ſeizes the Kingdom of Spain, in Right of his Grandſon, tho' adviſed againſt it, by one of his principal Miniſters, as what might involve him in a bloody and expenſive War; but the Proſpect of ſo greatly increaſing his Grandeur and Power, had too many Charms to be reſiſted. The Execution of his ambitious Deſigns, was for ſome Time prevented, by the Grand Alliance This was made by the Union of the Emperor, Great-Britain, the Dutch, and the King of Sardinia. formed by King William. Surprizingly ſucceſsful were the Conſequences of that Confederacy, in the ſucceeding Reign of Queen Anne. That renowned General, the Duke of MARLBOROUGH, by his Valour, and good Conduct, almoſt reduced France to the laſt Extremity; and had he been continued, might, the next Campaign, have carried his Arms to the Gates of Paris; dictated Terms of Submiſſion to that baughty Monarch, and ſo prevented the ſad Calamities of the laſt War, and the Grounds of our preſent melancholly Apprehenſions. But the Queen, under the Influence of wicked Counſellors, taking an unhappy Turn, at the Cloſe of her Reign, diſcarded one of the braveſt Generals the Engliſh ever had; turned out a wiſe, faithful, and truly patriot Miniſtry, and put in a Set of mercenary and treackercus Men, who miſerably betrayed her, and ſacrificed to Gain, the Honour and Intereſt of their Country; ſhamefully abandoned their Allies, and patched up a ſeparate Peace with France At Utrecht, 1713., on Terms the moſt ſcandalous, and diſadvantageous. To behold the Manner in which England, after all her glorious Conqueſts, accepted Conditions of Peace, from a vanquiſhed Tyrant, 'tis hard to ſay, whether among our Neighbours, it created more Mirth or Contempt. To hear the King of France, talk of acknowledging the Queen's Title;—inſiſting on an equivalent for Dunkirk;—demanding and receiving Cape-Breton as an Equivalent for Newfoundland, with many Hardſhips on our Trade;—and to ſee the Pretender baniſh'd no farther than Lorrain, was Matter of Aſtoniſhment to all who knew that he had been a little before humbly ſuing for Peace, and that it was in our Power to have preſcribed to him what Terms we pleaſed.

Quid non mortalia Pectora cogis Auri ſacra Fames?

THE ſad Effects of the treacherous Conduct of that Miniſtry, we groan under to this Day; and had not the ſudden Death of the Queen, and Acceſſion of King GEORGE the Iſt, to the Throne, prevented, ſhould have felt it in a very different Manner. For, as Voltaire ſays, (who cannot be ſuſpected of Prejudice againſt them, ſince he endeavours to juſtify that ſcandalous Peace they made) It is certain, that the new Miniſtry of Queen ANNE, had ſecretly formed a Scheme for eſtabliſhing the Son of James IId, on the Throne. Queen Anne herſelf, influenced by her Miniſters, began to liſten to the Voice of Nature, and entered into the Deſign, of ſettling the Succeſſion on her Brother, whom ſhe had proſcribed againſt her Inclination. And indeed this has appeared beyond all Contradiction, by a Letter of Lord Bolinbroke's, lately publiſhed.

THE Duke of Burgundy, Great Grandſon to Lewis XIVth, ſucceeding to the Throne on his Death 1715., when a Minor of about five Years old, the Duke of Orleans was appointed Regent of the Kingdom, under whoſe Adminiſtration Europe enjoyed a little Reſpite from the Treachery and Ambition of France. But, as ſoon as the preſent King Lewis XVth, was capable of taking the Government into his own Hands, he diſcovered the ſame aſpiring Spirit and Thirſt after univerſal Power, for which his Predeceſſor was ſo remarkable.

'TIS ſtill fresh in our Memory, what Wars and Tumults he raiſed in Europe 1733, under a Pretence of revenging the Affront he received, by the Rejection of his Father-in-Law Staniſlaus, from being King of Poland, and Choice of the Elector of Saxony in his Room. Tho' the Ruſſian Army was the principal Cauſe of this, he takes no Notice of them, but inſtigates the King of Spain and Sardinia, to join him, in falling on the Emperor CHARLES VIth;—takes away his Dominions in Italy;—procures the two Sicilies for the King of Spain's ſecond Son, Don Charlos, a Branch of the Houſe of Bourbon;—and gets the Dutchies of Barrois and Lorrain, annexed to the Crown of France. To this, more by his Policy, than his Power, he perſuaded the Emperor and Duke of Lorrain, to conſent, upon a ſolemn Engagement, that he would join the King of Pruſſia, and other Powers of Europe, in guaranteeing what is called the pragmatic Sanction; by which all the hereditary Dominions of the late Emperor, were ſecured to his eldeſt Daughter Maria Thereſia married to Francis Stephen, Duke of Lorrain, afterwards Grand Duke of Tuſcany, now Emperor of German. . But in open Violation of his publick Faith, as ſoon as ſhe had ſucceeded to the hereditary Dominions of the Houſe of Auſtria, on the Death of her Father 1740., he joins the King of Pruſſia, in taking away Sileſia and Bohemia; got the Duke of Eavaria choſen Emperor; carried his Arms even to the Gates of Vienna, and would have ſtripped that Lady of the greater Part, if not all, her Dominions, had not Providence interpoſed, and given a new Turn to the Affairs of Europe, by the Death of the Duke of Bavaria, and King GEORGE the IId coming ſeaſonably to her Relief: whoſe Example Holland, Sardinia, and even Ruſſia, ſoon after followed. This put a Stop to the aſpiring Views of France, raiſed the Queen of Hungary from the Brink of Ruin to which ſhe was reduced, and by the Election of her Huſband, to the Head of the Empire September 1745., reſtored to her Family, the Imperial Dignity. The Aſſiſtance his Majeſty afforded the Houſe of Auſtria, in Faithfulneſs to his Engagement, of guaranteeing the Pragmatic Sanction, which the King of France had ſo perfidiouſly violated, provoked him to declare War againſt us March 4th, 1744., when we had been already for ſome Years engaged in one with Spain. The repeated Inſults and Injuries we received from that Nation, in which they have been always aided and countenanced by France; their ſearching and plundering our Ships in the Weſt-Indies; ſeizing the Effects of our South-Sea-Company, &c. after much Patience, and many fruitleſs Complaints, obliged us to declare War againſt them October 1739., and we ſhould eaſily have brought them to Terms, and got Reſtitution for the many Abuſes we received, had not France come to their Aſſiſtance, which put us under a Neceſſity of maintaining the War againſt both Nations, for many Years. I need not acquaint you, with the various Succeſs, and Event of that dangerous and expenſive War; 'tis freſh in every one's Mind; and how little to the Credit and Intereſt of our Nation, it ended, is no Secret. It is true, we gained ſome Advantages by Sea, and were ſignally ſmiled upon, in taking Cape-Breton, an Acquiſition which will be celebrated by Poſterity, to the laſting Honour of New-England! Had it continued in our Poſſeſſion, ſuch is its Situation, and Strength, that it would have been an unſpeakable Loſs to the French, and a vaſt Security to us, againſt any future Inſults from them. Was that Key of their Part of America, yet in our Hands, it would not be in their Power, to give us new Troubles at this Day. But the King of France carried all before him in Flanders; was every where victorious over the Allied Army, far inferior to his own in Number. This Superiority was much increaſed, by the Duke's being oblig'd to withdraw his Forces, for the Nation's Defence, againſt a dangerous Rebellion, formed in Favour of the Pretender 1743., ſo that at the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle 1748., we were forced to deliver up that important Fortreſs and Harbour, for the Return of thoſe Places he had taken in Flanders, to the Queen of Hungary. The giving up his Conqueſts at this Place, Voltaire mentions, as a moſt unexpected and unparallelled Inſtance of Moderation, in the King of France. I confeſs, if there had been any Moderation in it, it would have been unexpected, and unparallelled, in a French King; but had he conſidered the vaſt Importance of Cape-Breton, to France, he would have ſeen, it was Neceſſity, not Moderation, that induced him to quit his Acquiſitions. Thus after a great Expence, increaſing the national Debt to above 70,000,000, with the Loſs of a Multitude of Lives; France and Spain, were left in the Poſſeſſion of all their former Territories. FRANCE, ſays the above mentioned Writer, at the Peace, was re-eſtabliſhed on the ſame Footing, as at that of Utrecht, and became more flouriſhing; conſequently more dangerous.

THE Houſe of Bourbon, the preſent reigning Family, is now arrived to a very high Pitch of Grandeur and Power, being in Poſſeſſion of France, Spain, Italy, Sicily, and Naples, together with large Dominions in America; and they are ſo connected together, that it is highly probable, they would join againſt any other Power in Europe. I know that Alliances by Blood and Marriage, ſignify little with the Princes of this World, unleſs, as is the Caſe with France and Spain, they are united in Intereſt too: I may add alſo, in the ſame ambitious Deſign of aggrandizing their Family. And what makes them the more to be dreaded, is the Proſpect, that the King of Pruſſia may join them on a new Rupture, who, ſeems at preſent, to hold the Ballance of Europe, in his Hands; and is ſuppoſed to have no leſs than 150,000 well diſciplined Troops at Command.

SINCE the Revolution, Great-Britain has been the principal Means of reſtraining the lawleſs Ambition of France, and preventing her farther unrighteous Encroachments, on her Neighbours: It may therefore be expected, that every Scheme which their Policy can invent, or Perfidy execute, will be attempted to weaken and deſtroy us.

WE are well aſſured, that Lewis XIVth, made repeated Efforts, to reſtore King James; and at his Death, declared his pretended Son, King of England, contrary to his ſolemn Engagement, at the Treaty of Ryſwic 1697.: And indeed France has, at the Expence of her public Faith, from Time to Time, ſecretly countenanced, and encouraged the Pretender; even in Times of Peace, keeping up the Spirit of the jacobitiſh Party, who are madly bent upon enſlaving themſelves and their Country; and ſtands always ready at any favourable Juncture, openly to aſſiſt him.

JUST before the breaking out of the laſt War, the King of France fitted out a Fleet at Dunkirk, with 16,000 Troops to invade England, in Favour of the Pretender; and had not Providence rais'd a Storm, which prevented their Landing, juſt as they were on our Coaſts, it is not improbable they might have accompliſhed their wicked Deſign, as the Nation was at that Time, unconcerned about, and unprepared for, ſuch an Event. 'Tis hard to ſay, whether ſuch a perfidious Enemy is moſt to be dreaded, in War or Peace. Certain, however, it is, that Experience teaches us the Neceſſity of keeping a watchful Eye upon him, at all Times; and of what Importance it is, that we ſhould endeavour to cruſh his pernicious Schemes in the Bud.

THE French, not only exceed us in Times of Peace, in extending their Trade, and augmenting their Forces, but uſe every Art and Stratagem to acquire ſome new Advantage, againſt a Time of War; while we lie aſleep, and are utterly unconcerned about it.—That pernicious Fort at Crown-Point, built in a Time of Peace, and evidently in our King's Dominions, ſtill remains, as well a Monument of our Weakneſs and Stupidity, as of their Treachery and Policy. What Miſchief it has done, and is ſtill like to do, to our Frontiers, our Trade and Intereſt with the Indians, none can tell. Our fatal Error in not ſeaſonably preventing that, might, methinks, learn us Wiſdom in the preſent Day.

EVER ſince the Peace, our Public Prints have been filled with Accounts of the various Methods France has taken, in Conjuction with Spain, to increaſe their naval Force, and put themſelves in a Poſture of diſputing with us, the Dominion of the Seas. By the beſt Advices the Ships of War they have built ſince the Peace, amount to above 100 Sail.— In Lewis XIVth's Time, 1664, a French Author ſays, They were in want of Officers, Sailors, Manufactures, and in ſhort, every Thing neceſſary for the Conſtruction and Equipment of Shipping, not having above 15 or 16 Ships of the loweſt Rate. But they have made ſo great Improvements ſince, that they bid fair to rival, if not exceed the Engliſh, in that which has hitherto been their great Security and Glory.—By theſe brief Hints, it appears exceeding evident, that France is graſping at a univerſal Monarchy, and bent, per Fas, et Nefas, on accompliſhing the wicked Deſign. And as her Schemes for effecting this in Europe, have hitherto, by the Interpoſition of divine Providence, and the Strength of the Alliance formed againſt them, been defeated; ſhe is now undoubtedly making the ſame Attempt in America.

WE have heard of the Policy and Perfidy of France, of her arbitrary Power, Popiſh Tyranny and Bigotry; we are now like to feel the bitter Fruits that flow from them. The Cloud gathers thick and dark upon us. 'Tis manifeſt beyond Diſpute, that the King of France has for theſe many Years, been laying Schemes to enlarge his Dominions in America, and diſtreſs us. Tho', by the Treaty of Aix-laall Things were to remain on the ſame Footing, as before the War; yet, no ſooner was it ratified, than he begins to ſend Colonies to neutral Iſlands;—projects a Settlement in Nova-Scotia;—raiſes a Diſpute about the Limits; embroils the Affairs of our Indians;—labours to draw them off from our Alliance;—and enters unreaſonable Claims, utterly inconſiſtent with the Safety and Proſperity of our infant Colonies. To lull us aſleep, he made ſham Pretences of ſettling a Line between the French and Engliſh Territories in America: Commiſſioners were appointed; much Time and Money ſpent, in fruitleſs Negotiations at the Court of France; which anſwered no End, unleſs to convince every Body, that he never had a Deſign of ſettling it any otherwiſe than by the SWORD: And for a Deciſion this Way, he has made the moſt artful and diligent Preparation. It is now ſufficiently known, that the French have been fortifying themſelves on our back Parts; laying in great Quantities of Proviſion, and Magazines of warlike Stores, as if they had actually concluded on War. While we have been wholly ſecure. The Maſter-Piece of their Policy has been lately diſcovered, tho' long ſince concerted, viz. their compleating and ſecuring a Communication between St. Lawrence's River and the Miſſiſippi. They are in Poſſeſſion of two Forts on the Lake Ontario, and have lately built two or three below the Lake Errie, on a Branch of the River Ohio, that empties into the great River Miſſiſippi; the Mouth of which they have long poſſeſſed. By the beſt Advices they have very much fortified, and well-manned theſe Forts; ſo that now they have actually ſurrounded the Britiſh Colonies, and are in Poſſeſſion of a vaſtly extended Country, from Cape-Breton to the Bay of Mexico. Enough has been ſaid of late in the public Prints, to render it indiſputable, that their Settlements on the Ohio are within our King's Dominions. 'Tis ſufficient to obſerve that they were made without their Conſent, and againſt their Inclination, on Lands belonging to the Indians in our Alliance, which have been confirmed to them, under the Protection of Great-Britain; and ſo, are inconſiſtent with both the Letter and Spirit, of their Treaties: And if we ſuffer them quietly to poſſeſs what they have ſo unrighteouſly ſeized upon, and to go on fortifying themſelves, there requires no Spirit of Propheſy to foretel, that it muſt ſooner or later prove fatal to theſe Colonies. All Communication with the powerful and numerous Tribes of our Indians, will unavoidably be cut off; our profitable Trade with them wholly loſt, and our Frontiers conſtantly expoſed, to all the barbarous Cruelties which woful Experience hath taught us, thoſe ſavage People, under the Influence of French Policy, are capable of committing. The Line of Forts they have already between Canada and the Miſſiſippi, gives them an unknown Advantage, to draw off the Natives from our Alliance. To effect which, no Pains or Coſt, are ſpared, no Stratagem is left untried. We are well aſſured, they keep Miſſionaries conſtantly among them, to inculcate the diſtinguiſhing Principles of their Religion; and what appears ſtill more important in their Eyes, to infuſe into their Minds, Prejudices againſt the Engliſh, and attach them to the French Intereſt. They have been unwearied in their Pains, ſince the laſt Peace, in alienating their Affections from us. For this Purpoſe, they have deſired Liberty to ſend Miſſionaries among the Six Nations, and have lately ſent them an Invitation to come and ſettle at Canada. Should they ſucceed in theſe Attempts, the Conſequence would be very pernicious. Our Frontier Settlements would be broke up, and all Hopes of driving the French from their Encroachments, be very much at an End.

THEY are a warlike People: Governor SHIRLEY in one of his Speeches, if I don't miſtake, ſuppoſes they have 16,00 or 17,00 fighting Men; and having the moſt of the other Tribes under their Influence, are powerful Friends, and would be very dangerous Enemies.

THE Twightwees, a numerous Tribe, in whoſe Country the French have lately built Forts, ſome Years ago entered into an Alliance with the Governor of Pennsylvania, which they have hitherto faithfully preſerved. In 1751, they eſpouſed our Cauſe, and revenged the Affront, which the French put upon us, in ſiezing and impriſoning our Traders, by bringing two of theirs to Philadelphia, and delivering them up to the Government. But unleſs ſome ſpeedy and vigorous Step be taken to ſecure them and ourſelves, their Friendſhip will be inevitably loſt, as they will be obliged to join the French in their own Defence.—Our weak and ill-concerted Meaſures to diſpoſſeſs the latter, have very much ſunk our Intereſt with the Indians. Since Colonel Waſhington's Defeat, they appear wavering and ſhow an unuſual Degree of Coldneſs. Our formal Way of Treaties, and giving Preſents, ſignifies very little; half the Money well laid out in erecting Fortreſſes in their Country, and ſupporting proper Miſſionaries to reſide among them, would be much more to the Purpoſe. However, at preſent, it is Madneſs for us, by our dilatory Methods of proceeding, to increaſe the Advantage the French already have in their Hands, for depriving us of thoſe neceſſary Allies, who will have it very much in their Power, to turn the Scale in the preſent Diſpute. Our Eyes muſt ſurely, by this Time, be open, to ſee that the Schemes they have hitherto, ſo ſecretly laid, and artfully conducted, tend to, and if not ſeaſonably prevented, will iſſue in, the utter Deſtruction of all our Provinces. And if we view our Enemies, in a religious, as well as political Light, we ſhall ſee the Neceſſity of guarding againſt them with all poſſible Care.

THEIR eſtabliſhed Religion is Popery; which, beſide all it's other Corruptions, diſpoſes them from Principle, to be cruel to Proteſtants. They are early taught as undoubted Truths, That there is no Salvation out of the Church of Rome;—That all who ſeparate from it are damnable Heretics;— That no Faith is to be kept with them;—That it is highly meritorious to uſe the moſt cruel Methods of reclaiming ſuch, and bringing them back into the Boſom of that Mother of Harlots;—and that all ſuch as are obſtinate, ought to be extirpated from the Face of the Earth. And what we are to expect, if God ſhould deliver us into their Hands, we may learn from what our Brethren have ſuffered, whoſe Lot has been caſt among them.

THE beginning of the Reformation in France, was A. D. 1124; which ſpread very much, 1160, by Means of one Peter Waldo, of Lyons, from whom they were called, Waldenſes. And tho' there was a Perſecution rais'd againſt it, from its firſt Commencement, it was, by divine Providence, wonderfully preſerved, and carried on. To paſs by numberleſs cruel and inhuman Methods, to deſtroy the Proteſtants, and ſuppreſs the Reformation, in the four following Centuries, I have only Time now to remark, That in 1572, there was the moſt barbarous Maſſacre, committed on the Proteſtants, at Paris, where ſome of their chief Men, being invited, under an Oath of Safety, to ſolemnize the Marriage of the King of Navarre, were, at a Signal, by the Toll of the Bell, fallen upon, and inhumanly butchered by the Papiſts, their being at the ſame Time an Inſurrection againſt them in the other Parts of the Kingdom. By all Accounts, a great Number, and by ſome, not leſs than 100,000, were ſlain in this perfidious Manner. But deteſtable as their Conduct was, the News of it was receiv'd with Joy, at Rome. They found a great Deliverer in King HENRY IVth; who, as hath been obſerved, was indebted to the Proteſtants, for his Crown, when the Papiſts, with the King of Spain, under the Influence of the Pope, were in League againſt him. To reward their Fidelity, or rather, being ſenſible how juſt and equitable it was, he eſtabliſhed the Edict of Nantz, by which free Liberty of Conſcience, in religious Matters, and Acceſs to all Places of Honour and Truſt, were ſecured to them; declared it to be perpetual and irrevocable; put 100 fortified Places into their Hands, as a Security, that it ſhould ever be obſerved. This was confirmed, by LEWIS XIIIth, tho' it was repeatedly violated in the Courſe of his Reign. The ſame Edict was confirmed alſo by LEWIS XIVth, and by him too declared perpetual and irrevocable; yet by the continual Remonſtrance of the Clergy, and Inſinuations of the Jeſuits, a cruel Perſecution was carried on againſt them, through a great Part of his Reign, which was very much increaſed, towards the Cloſe of it, when he acted, as if he was determined to extirpate them from his Kingdom.

IN 1681, he publiſhed a Declaration, by which their Children were permitted, at the Age of 7 Years, to renounce their Religion. In Conſequence of this, (ſays a French Writer Voltaire's Life of Lewis XIVth.) great Numbers of Children were ſeized in the Provinces, with a View to make them abjure, and Troops quartered on their Parents. At the Cloſe of the Year 1684, he ſet on foot the Helliſh Method of converting them, by Dragoons. The principal Men were aſſembled together, and ordered to abjure their Religion; and upon ſuch as refuſed, the Soldiers were let looſe to treat them in the moſt inhuman and barbarous Manner. According to ſome Accounts near 500,000 Families were plundered. And to cut them off from that laſt and only Refuge, flying their Country, a Proclamation was iſſued, confiſcating all Eſtates that were ſold, if the Seller departed the Kingdom within a Year after: And as if this was not enough, Soldiers were quartered on the Frontiers, to ſeize any that attempted to make their Eſcape; and ſuch as they could apprehend, were confined to the Gallies. Multitudes however found Methods of eſcaping, and took Refuge in England, Holland, and other Proteſtant Countries, where they were kindly received, eſpecially by King William, their great Patron; 50,000 Families (ſays Voltaire) in the Space of three Years, left the Kingdom.

To convince you that I don't aggravate the Matter, hear the Words of a Letter from his Prime Miniſter The Marquis de Louvois., dated 1685, It is his Majeſty's Pleaſure, that ſuch as refuſe to conform to his Religion, be proceeded againſt with the utmoſt Rigour, and that not the leaſt Indulgence be ſhewn to thoſe who affect the fooliſh Glory of being the laſt to comply. And to uſe the Words of the above mentioned Author, While all the Churches of the Reformed, were thus every where demoliſhed, and Abjurations demanded in the Provinces, with an armed Force, the Edict of Nantz was at laſt revoked, in the Month of October, 1685; which compleated the Ruin of the Proteſtant Cauſe, already weakened and undermined on all Sides. This may ſatisfy us, that no Security from a Popiſh Prince, for our religious Liberties, can ever be obtained. Promiſes and Oaths, even Edicts, declared perpetual, ſtand for nothing, when made with Hereticks. With ſuch Bigotry and blind Zeal, does their Religion inſpire them, that they will perſecute their Subjects, againſt all the known and conſeſt Rules of good Policy.

THEY had indeed ſome Reſpite from the Fury of their popiſh Adverſaries, while the Duke of Orleans was Regent of the Kingdom: But it has ſince been renewed again with the ſame Cruelty, under his preſent Majeſty, Lewis XVth; who, in the Year 1745, publiſhed an Edict, making it immediate Death, for any Miniſters that officiated; perpetual Impriſonment for the Women, and Gallies for the Men, who attended; and few of the ſucceding Years, to the preſent Time, have been without Inſtances of the barbarous Treatment they have met with from popiſh Bigots.

IN the Year 1752, a Gentleman from Languedoc, writes thus, The Perſecution is fiercer than ever, the Papiſts demand Abjuration of all that have been married, or had their Children baptized in Proteſtant Aſſemblies, and on the Refuſal, the Mothers are proclaimed Whores, and the Children Baſtards. They ſeize on Father, Mother, and Children, and force them into Romiſh Churches, &c. And by the lateſt Advices, Perſecutions ſtill continue in France, as furious as ever. A Letter from Paris, dated September 25, 1754, gives the following melancholly Account. The Perſecution of the unhpapy Proteſtants, has been long carried on with great Rigour, and no Meaſures are neglected, either to diſturb their Aſſemblies, or ſeize their Miniſters. This appeared very particularly the 19th of June laſt, near St. Foy, in the Perigord, where an Aſſembly of Proteſtants being held the Night before, a Detachment of Troops lay in Ambuſcade near the Place, to wait for their breaking up, and then fell upon theſe unhappy People, who could make no Reſiſtance, and dangerouſly wounded a great many of them: But, this is nothing to the Diſtreſs occaſioned in Languedoc, and the Cevennes, by a general Search which was ordered to be made there the 3d of Auguſt laſt, for which all the Troops that were in thoſe Provinces, were employed, except thoſe which ſerve to garriſon the Forts and Citadels: They were ordered to march in the Dead of the Night, and with all imaginable Silence, to inveſt certain Towns, Villages, and Country Houſes; a Liſt of which was given to every commanding Officer. At Break of Day, the Search was begun with all Rigour imaginable. The Soldiers burſt the Doors open with their Muſkets, and entering with their Bayonets at the End of them, ranſack'd every Corner of the Houſes, deſtroying every Thing that came in their Way, and ſparing neither Furniture nor Perſons. In ſhort, the Places they went to, could be compared to nothing but a Town taken by Storm.

THUS you ſee, My Brethren, the Power and Policy, the Treachery and Cruelty, of our Foes, have a dark and threatning Aſpect upon us. But I have a more diſtreſſing and affecting Scene to open to your View: I mean, our Expoſure to the angry Reſentments of Heaven, from thoſe crying Abominations, which, at this Time, ſo greatly abound. To declaim againſt the prevailing Iniquities of the Day, is far from being a delightful Theme; but ſhould we, who are ſet as Watchmen on the Walls of God's Jeruſalem, neglect to declare to his People, their Tranſgreſſions, and their Sins, we ſhould betray our Truſt, act beneath our ſacred Character, and involve our ſelves deeply in the public Guilt.

'TIS no leſs lamentable to be thought of, than true in Fact, that our Nation is greatly degenerated, and become extremely corrupt. We are a ſinful People, laden with Iniquity. From what kind of Heaven-daring Wickedneſs are we free? If we begin at the Height of Atheiſm, and deſcend to the loweſt Pitch of Senſuality, and beaſtly Uncleaneſs, what Exception can be made? Are we not in all theſe Reſpects defiled? To ſuch a Degree of Wickedneſs have ſome profane Sinners arrived, as not only, like the Foot, to ſay in their Heart, but openly proclaim, That there is no God; and employ the very intellectual Powers he has given them, in diſputing againſt the Author of their Being. And what Multitudes live and act, as if they believed not his Exiſtence; or, as if they thought he was altogether ſuch an one as themſelves? How many make a Scoff and Banter of revealed Religion, pouring Contempt on the Goſpel, and all its Glories; denying the Lord that bought them, and bringing ſwift Deſtruction on themſelves.

INFIDELITY, has of late Years, been ſpreading faſt in the Kingdom, and is evidently growing on the preſent Generation. Books, that turn the divine Oracles into Ridicule, and tend to unhinge Men's Minds, from all Principles of Religion, have been induſtriouſly propagated.

THE lamentable Increaſe of Profaneſs, in our Day, muſt be manifeſt to the moſt careleſs Obſerver. What Numbers of thoughtleſs, ſtupid Sinners, ſhow an utter Diſregard to all that is ſacred and ſolemn; fill the Ears of all that hear them, with their vain Oaths, and horrid Imprecations; interline their filthy Diſcourſes, with the venerable Name of the ever bleſſed Deity; and in meer Sport, or, on every ſlight Provocation, wiſh Damnation to themſelves, and all around them. 'Tis eaſy to ſee, how this infamous Practice deſtroys all Reverence for an Oath; opens a Door to Perjury, and the whole Train of direful Conſequences that flow from it. And what ſhall we ſay, as to the various Kinds of Luxury, Lewdneſs, and vile Debauchery, which ſo much prevail? It is a Shame to ſpeak of the ſordid Methods invented by corrupt Minds, for the Gratification of their brutiſh Luſts; tho' many of theſe unclean Wretches, glory in their Shame, declaring their Sin, like Sodom, and hide it not.—Nay, too often many turn Factors for the Devil, and labour to promote his Kingdom, by ſpreading their fatal Infection among all with whom they converſe: Affecting, to this Purpoſe, are the Words of the preſent Biſhop of London: Have not, ſays he, all the Abominations of the publick Stews, been opened to View, by lewd Pictures, expoſed to Sale at Noon Day? Have not Hiſtories or Romances of the vileſt Proſtitutes, been publiſhed? intended meerly to diſplay the moſt execrable Scenes of Lewdneſs; Lewdneſs repreſented without Diſguiſe, to inflame the corrupt Paſſions of the Youth of the Nation; and the quick Sale thoſe Pictures and Books had, is a deplorable Circumſtance, and ſad Inſtance of the corrupt Diſpoſition of many among us. And that this excellent and pious Letter, ſhould be lampooned in the public News-Papers, is a flagrant Evidence to what a Height Impiety is arrived. And if the Sinners of our Land have not gone the ſame Length in all thoſe beaſtly Pleaſures, and deteſtable Abominations, 'tis evident they make ſwift Advances, and great Improvements in thoſe Myſteries of Iniquity.

TIME would fail me, to ſpeak of the open Contempt, every where caſt on God's holy Day; all the Ordinances of his Houſe, and all the Riches of his Grace, offered in the Goſpel; nor can I eaſily deſcribe the Gluttony and Drunkenneſs, Robbery and Deceit, Oppreſſion and Violence, Pride and Covetouſneſs, for which our Land mourns. We look far Judgment, but behold Oppreſſion; for Righteouſneſs, but behold a Cry.—Will any enquire, where are thoſe Enormities to be found? Have we not Reaſon rather to ſay, where are they not to be ſeen? What ſad Defects and Corruptions, are to be found among all Ranks and Degrees, Sexes and Denominations; among Rulers and ruled; high and low, rich and poor.—'Tis not my Buſineſs to accuſe and condemn; nor would I here affirm any Thing. Would to God, that Pride and Ambition, Bribery and Extortion, Debauchery and Uncleanneſs, were baniſhed from the Britiſh Court. O! that juſt and righteous Men always ſtood around our King, who feared God, and bated Covetouſneſs.—How lamentable is it, when Vice comes recommended to the lower Sort of People, by the Practice of the Great, and is connived at, and even countenanced by thoſe, whoſe Buſineſs it is to ſuppreſs it! Would to God there was nothing of this found among the Rulers of our Nation and Land;—that they were all Terrors to evil Doers, as their Office obliges them to be!

ARE thoſe of the ſacred Profeſſion free from a Share in the public Guilt; who ſhould be the Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World, to keep it from Darkneſs and Corruption? Are all God's Miniſters cloathed with Salvation, then may his Saints ſhout for Joy. But if it be too evident to be denied, that the Pride and Covetouſneſs, the Ignorance and Sloth, the carnal and ſenſual Lives of too many among thoſe of that Order, have made the Offerings of the Lord to be abborred, and deeply wounded Religion in the Houſe of its Friends. What ſhall we ſay? Muſt we not confeſs? Muſt we not lament, with the Prophet Iſaiah, i. 5, 6., That the whole Head is ſick; the whole Heart is faint; from the Sole of the Foot, even to the Crown of the Head, there is no Soundneſs, but Wounds, Bruiſes and putrifying Sores. Theſe Things bring the Wrath of God on a guilty World. Sin is the fatal Source of all the Calamities and Woes that have ever over-ſpread the human Race. When ever it prevails, it threatens the Deſtruction of a People, both from its natural Tendency; and as it lays them open to the deſolating Judgments of Heaven. This may be affirmed of all Kinds of Iniquity, eſpecially of that abominable Luxury, and extravagant Taſte for lawleſs Pleaſures, which are ſo much the Source of all the Corruptions of our Day. We may well ſay with the Poet, Soevior Armis incubuit Luxuria More fatal than deſtructive Arms, — fell Luxury prevail'd..

IN ſacred and profane Hiſtory, we meet with mournful Accounts, of ruined States and Kingdoms, whoſe Deſtruction ſprung from this Cauſe. In the Days of Noah, they were eating and drinking; marrying, and giving in Marriage: wholly regardleſs of the divine Threatnings; ſo immerſed in ſenſual Pleaſures, that the Imaginations of their Hearts, were wholly evil, till God was provoked to deſtroy them from off the Face of the Earth, by a Deluge. Sodom and Gomorrah ſet forth as an Example, ſuffering the Vengeance of eternal Fire; are a ſtanding Monument to a guilty World, of the awful Danger ariſing from ſenſual and luxurious Indulgences.—Fullneſs of Bread, Idleneſs, and the too common Conſequences, abominable Uncleanneſs, brought that tremendous Judgment of Heaven, on their guilty Cities. This drew down ſudden and ſurpriſing Deſtruction on Babylon CYRUS got into the City, by the Stratagem of turning the Courſe of the River, that run thro' it; ſeized on the King and Nobles, as they were feaſting in the Palace, and ſo buried in Luxury and Senſuality, that they were not able to make any Reſiſtance., of old, the moſt powerful and magnificent City, in the then known World. 'Tis affectingly deſcribed by the Prophet Iſaiah, xlvii. 8, 9. Therefore hear now this thou that are given to Pleaſures; that dwelleſt careleſsly, that ſayeſt in thy Heart, I am, and none elſe beſides me. I ſhall not ſit as a Widow, neither ſhall I know the Loſs of Children. But theſe two Things ſhall come to thee in a Moment; in one Day, the Loſs of Children, and Widowhood; they ſhall come upon thee in their Perfection, for the Multitude of thy Sorceries, and for the great Abundance of thine Enchantments. This was exactly accompliſhed, in the Night when the King ſaw the Hand Writing on the Wall. God's ancient People the Jews, are a moving Inſtance of this Kind, on whom Wrath came to the utmoſt, when they had filled up the Meaſure of their Iniquity; as alſo the Romans, who were the Inſtruments of executing upon them, the Judgments of Heaven. That powerful State which was ſo long the Wonder, Terror, and Envy of the World, which the moſt powerful Enemies could not ſubdue, fell a Sacrifice to their own Luſts and Corruptions, as all acquainted with their Hiſtory, well know. And does not Deſtruction threaten the Britiſh Nation, and her American Colonies, from the ſame Quarter? Such Vices as now prevail, ſap the very Foundation of a Society, exhauſt its Riches, weaken its Power; deſtroy a Spirit of Induſtry, Frugality, and good Oeconomy; introduce Idleneſs and Effeminacy; Diſcontent with, and Contempt of Authority; which are the Bane of a People, and render them an eaſy Prey to their ambitious Neighbours. And do not theſe Things cry to Heaven, for Vengeance, and lay us open to the Diſpleaſure of an angry God? Shall I not viſit for theſe Things, ſaith the Lord? And ſhall not my Soul be avenged on ſuch a Nation as this? Jer. v. 9. The Pſalmiſt ſpeaks of it, as the uſual Method of divine Providence, to turn a fruitful Land into Barrenneſs. for the Wickedneſs of them that dwell therein, Pſal. cvii, 34. 'Tis true, public Judgments are executed in a Way of Sovereignty, on ſome Nations ſooner, and in a leſſer Degree, as a Warning to Repentance; on others, who are more ripe for Vengeance, later, but in a more terrible Manner: However, national Sins perſiſted in, unreformed, and unrepented of, will ſooner or later bring down the Judgments of Heaven.—The Reaſon is plain. As to particular Perſons, altho' Rewards and Puniſhments ſhould be ever ſo promiſcuous here, yet all will be rectified at the great Day; but Societies will be diſbanded; and if ever they are puniſhed as ſuch, it muſt be in this World. And, indeed, the Experience of all Ages, has verified the Obſervation of the wiſe Man, Righteouſneſs exalteth a Nation, but Sin is a Reproach to any People.

IN this View, our Caſe looks dark; but bleſſed be God, not deſperate. Sentence againſt our evil Deeds is not yet executed. Tho' God might in righteous Severity long before this, have caſt us off and left us to all the Miſery of a People, wholly abandoned by him, which we heard deſcribed in the former Part of the Day, yet he affords a Seaſon of Repentance, and waits to be gracious. He ſeems, with an amazing Condeſcention, and Kindneſs, to ſay to us as to Ephraim of old, How ſhall I give thee up Ephraim? how ſhall I deliver thee Iſrael? How ſhall I make thee as Admah? How ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? Mine Heart is turned within me, my Repentings are kindled together. Our Danger from our Enemies, and eſpecially from our Sins, is great; ſo is our Encouragement from the ſovereign boundleſs Mercy of our God, and the many Tokens of his favourable Preſence which yet remain with us. We may apply to ourſelves the Words of the Prophet Jerem. li. 5. For Iſrael has not been forſaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of Hoſts, tho' the Land was filled with Sin againſt the holy one of Iſrael.

I TRUST there is yet Mercy in Store for us. God has in his ſovereign Goodneſs, choſen the Britiſh Nation to be the Bulwark of the Reformation; to hold up a Standard againſt thoſe Deluſions, Superſtitions, and Impoſtures, which the Church of Rome has been for above a thouſand Years, ſpreading in the Chriſtian Church, and diſtinguiſhed it above all the Nations of the Earth, by the peculiar and conſtant Care of his Providence; by numberleſs ſignal Deliverances, and Salvations, which Time does not allow me to recount

AND I can't but eſteem it a Token for Good, and Ground of great Encouragement, that, notwithſtanding all our mournful Declenſions, there are ſtill among us, a Generation that fear God, whoſe righteous Souls are vexed from Day to Day, with the filthy Converſation of the Wicked; who are jealous for the Lord of Hoſts, and plead his Cauſe againſt the Workers of Iniquity, who are labouring by their Prayers, by their Example and Influence, to reform a degenerate Age. How melancholly ſoever our Caſe is, it is not ſo bad as theirs, of whom God complains Ezek. xxii. 30, 31.: And I ſought for a Man among them, that ſhould make up the Hedge, and ſtand in the Gap before me, for the Land, that I ſhould not deſtroy it; but I found none: Therefore have I poured out my Indignation upon them: I have conſumed them with the Fire of my Wrath; their own Way have I recompenſed upon their Heads, ſaith the Lord God. We may indeed ſay with another Prophet Iſai. i. 9., Except the Lord of Hoſts had left unto us a very ſmall Remnant, we ſhould have been as Sodom, and we ſhould have been like unto Gomorrah. But bleſſed be God, ſuch a Remnant is left, who have an Intereſt at the Throne of Grace, and improve it in daily Supplications, not only for themſelves, their Families, and the Church of God, but for the Land of their Nativity, that God would ſave it from deſerved Ruin, and not come out againſt it, and deſtroy it with a Curſe.

HAVING thus, my Brethren, laid before you ſomething of our Danger, from the Power, the Pride, and the Policy of our Enemies, the Greatneſs of our Sins, and at the ſame Time, what Grounds we have to hope, that we are not forſaken by God; but that there is yet Mercy in Store for us. It only remains, that I briefly point out our Duty in this important Seaſon, which it becomes us to hear, with Hearts fully diſpoſed to a ready and unfeigned Compliance: And I think it lies plain before us, and may be conciſely ſummed up under the following Particulars.

I. WE ought to humble ourſelves; repent as in Duſt and Aſhes, before God, and return to him with all our Hearts, from whom we have ſo grievouſly revolted. The Voice of divine Providence to us, at this Time, may well be expreſſed in the Words of the Prophet Joel 11.12, 13, 14., Therefore alſo now ſaith the Lord, Turn ye even to me, with all your Heart, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rent your Heart, and not your Garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, ſlow to Anger, and of great Kindneſs, and repenteth him of the Evil. Who knoweth, if he will return, and repent, and leave a Bleſſing behind him, even a Meat-Offering, and a Drink-Offering, unto the Lord your God. 'Tis not enough that we ſpeak of public Sins, as being Matter of Lamentation, and confeſs them in a formal Way, in our Prayers, on ſuch an Occaſion as this; but we ſhould in our private, as well as public Addreſſes to the Throne of Grace, bring our Caſe before God, with broken Hearts, and contrite Spirits, ſaying with the great Reformer of Iſrael Ezra IX. 7, 10, and 15., O! our God, we are aſhamed, and bluſh to lift up our Faces to thee; for our Iniquities are increaſed over our Heads, and our Treſpaſſes are grown up into the Heavens. The following Words we may adopt, with a little Variation: Since the Days of our Fathers have we been in a great Treſpaſs, unto this Day, and for our Iniquities, we, our Kings, and our Prieſts, our Nobles and our Commons, may juſtly be delivered into the Hands of the King, who ſeeks our Ruin, to the Sword, to Captivity, to a Spoil, and to Confuſion of Face.—And now, O our God! what ſhall we ſay after this; for we have forſaken thy Commandments.—O Lord God of Iſrael, thou art righteous; for we remain yet eſcaped, as it is this Day, behold we are before thee in our Treſpaſſes, and we cannot ſtand before thee, becauſe of this.

IN ſuch a Day, Let the Prieſts, the Miniſters of the Lord, and all his People weep, between the Porch and the Altar; and let them ſay, Spare thy People, O Lord, and give not thy Heritage to Reproach, that the Heathen ſhould rule over them. Wherefore ſhould they ſay among the People, where is their God? Then will the Lord be jealous for this Land, and pity this People.

II. We ſhould labour after a thorough Reformation. Our Faſtings, Humiliation, and Shews of Repentance, will ſignify Nothing without this. O! how much is a general thorough Reformation, to be deſired! how vigorouſly ſhould it be attempted, by all that have the Honour of God, and Intereſt of their Country at Heart! When our Land is ſinking under the Load of public Guilt, and Iniquity is coming in upon us, like a Flood, ſhall we not lift up a Standard againſt it, and labour to prevent the Ruin we fear and deſerve, by removing the Cauſe? Did but an holy Ardor, and Zeal for this noble Work, begin to kindle among every Order and Rank of Men, it would be a Token for Good; it would enliven our Hopes, and invigorate all our Attempts for the Protection and Defence of our Country. For how little ſoever we may think of it, our worſt Enemies are thoſe of our own Houſe; our multiplied Tranſgreſſions, which expoſe us to the Angry Reſentments of Heaven: And were theſe ſubdued, theſe that now riſe up againſt us, and ſeek our Ruin, I doubt not would ſoon be made to flee before us.

How deſirable a Proſpect would it therefore afford, ſhould all according to their various Stations and Capacities, cordially unite in this neceſſary Work.

1ſt. THE civil Magiſtrates in the Land, are loudly called upon in ſuch a Day, to exert the Authority God has put into their Hands, for the Suppreſſion of Vice and Immorality. They are appointed to execute Wrath on evil Doers Rom. xiii. 3., and did they conſcientiouſly put in Execution the many excellent Laws we have againſt Vice, and ſtrike a Dread into preſumptuous Sinners, by reſtraining their enormous and ſcandalous Crimes, it would be of unſpeakable Service to the public Intereſt; give Life and Vigour to all Attempts for a Reformation. When Men of ſuperior Characters and Influence, appear againſt Sin, it puts it out of Countenance, and the Vicious are aſhamed to ſhow their Heads. They might do much towards putting a Stop to that Torrent of Iniquity, that threatens the Ruin of our Land. And ſurely they are not only by the ſacred Solemnity of their Oath, but by a Regard to the dying Cauſe of their Country, and as they would not have the Public Guilt crying againſt them at the laſt Day, bound to exert themſelves at ſuch a Seaſon, and not bear the Sword of Juſtice in vain. And ſhould they add to their Authority, the engaging Force of their ſuperior Example, for the Encouragement of Piety towards God; Juſtice and Charity, towards Men; Sobriety, Frugality and Chaſtity,—who can ſay how far the kind Influence might extend?

2dly, AND ſurely it concerns thoſe of the ſacred Order, of every Denomination, moſt heartily to engage in ſuch a Deſign. 'Tis juſtly expected, that we ſhould appear on the Lord's Side, againſt the Workers of Iniquity. Our Profeſſion obliges us to give the Alarm of impending Judgments; to ſhew to God's People, their Tranſgreſſion and Sin, as the procuring Cauſe of all the Calamities we feel, or fear.—Methinks at ſuch a Day, we ſhould lay aſide all Bigotry, and Party Diſputes, about leſſer Matters, and unite our Endeavours, to reform a degenerate Age. We may ſoon be Companions in ſuffering, and ſee all our Differences buried in one common Ruin. There has perhaps ſcarce ever been a Time, when Miniſters were more loudly called upon, to unite their Activity and Diligence, in awakening a ſecure Generation from the Lethargy into which they are ſunk, and exciting them to a ſpeedy Repentance and Reformation, as the neceſſary Means of ſaving a guilty Land. When we look around, and ſee how Iniquity abounds; how God is diſhonoured; the Cauſe of our glorious Redeemer deſpiſed and ridiculed by ſome; ſlighted and diſregarded by moſt; can we be unaffected with the mournful Scene? Shall we ſtand as unconcerned Spectators, of all the Profaneneſs and Security which is ſo viſible and lamentable, in thoughtleſs Sinners? Of all the Hypocriſy, Formality and Apoſtacies among Profeſſors? Where is our Zeal for the LORD OF HOSTS? our Bowels of Compaſſion for periſhing Sinners? our Concern for the ſinking Intereſt of the Common-wealth? When the Ark of God is juſt ready to depart from us, and with it, all our Privileges, to be careleſs and unconcerned about removing the Cauſe of the divine Diſpleaſure, muſt be unpardonable Stupidity. We have every Thing to awaken our Zeal, and animate to Diligence in our great Work. Our Mouths may ſoon be ſtopped, and we called to ſeal our Teſtimony with our own Blood. What therefore we have to do for God, the Souls of our Hearers, and for our Country, we ſhould do quickly, and with all our Might.

3dly, PARENTS and Governors of Families, ſhould uſe their Authority and Influence, for the reforming a corrupt and wicked Generation. Upon a careful Enquiry, we ſhall find, that almoſt all the prevailing Corruptions of the Times, ſpring from the Want of proper Government, Diſcipline, and Inſtruction in Families, which are Nurſeries where Youth are ſormed for the Public, when they are moſt ſuſceptible of any Impreſſions, and moſt like to retain them. Then the Foundation is moſt commonly laid for their being Bleſſings or Plagues, to the World.—It can't eaſily be expreſſed, how much the Welfare of Church and State depends on the proper Management of the riſing Generation. The firſt Part of Education enters much farther into Life, has a greater Influence on the Whole of Perſons future Conduct, than moſt imagine; and an Error here is often attended with a long Train of pernicious Conſequences. Ungoverned Families, where Children and Servants are not inſtructed in the great Things of Religion, but trained up in Ignorance, and ſuffered to walk in the Ways of their own Heart, and in the Sight of their own Eyes, are the Bane of Societies, and do unknown Miſchief in the World; and ſuch ſhould tremble to think, how much of the common Guilt will be found at their Door, and how deep a Share they will have in the Ruin of their Country, if, when their Sons and Daughters make themſelvs vile, they don't reſtrain them. Would Parents and Maſters conſcientiouſly diſcharge their important Truſt to their Children and Servants, open to them the great Truths of Chriſtianity, and ſolemly impreſs them on their Conſciences, paint out the fatal Conſequences of Sin; the Beauty of Holineſs, the Excellency of a Life ſpent in ſerving God and their Generation; with affectionate Exhortations, Warnings and Entreaties, and prohibit them from ſuch fooliſh Diverſions, and extravagant Pleaſures, as debauch their Minds, and ſpoil their Morals; innure them to Temperance, Sobriety, Induſtry and Frugality, enforcing all by an Example of Piety and Virtue; what happy Influence would it have, to produce the Reformation, that is ſo much wanted! What delightful Proſpect would it afford, to behold a Generation riſing up to ſerve God, to ſupport his Cauſe, and hand down Religion to thoſe that are yet unborn! Surely ſuch as have any Regard for the Glory of God, the Welfare of their Poſterity, or the Felicity of their Country, dare not live in the Neglect of ſo reaſonable and neceſſary a Duty. In a Word, Perſons of every Station, Character and Relation in Life, ſhould think themſelves concerned, to contribute all that lies in their Power, towards reforming this corrupt and licentious Age. And ſurely, if we feel any warm Zeal for the Honour of Religion, any due Affection for our dear Country, or any Compaſſion to thoſe abandon'd Sinners, who are pulling down the Wrath of God on themſelves and us, we ſhall be vigorous and active, in this laudable Deſign. I can't leave this Head, without adding my earneſt Wiſh, that Men of Influence and public Spirit, would, according to the Example ſet them in their Mother Country, endeavour to ſet up in the ſeveral Parts of the Land, Societies for Reformation of Manners, founded on ſuch a Plan, as that Perſons of different Denominations might unite in them.

III. WE ought to acknowledge our Dependance on God, and look to Heaven for Direction and Aſſiſtance, againſt our Enemies; with a deep Senſe of the Inſufficiency of human Wiſdom and Strength, without divine Help. Nothing is more provoking to God, than for a People to caſt off their Dependance upon him; overlook his Hand in all the ſignal Diſpenſations of his Providence, and act as tho' the Source of their Safety was wholly in themſelves. Too much of this Spirit of Infidelity has evidently appeared in the Britiſh Nation, which I look upon as one of the darkeſt Symptoms upon us. It was Matter of Grief and Aſtoniſhment, to all that had any Senſe of Religion left, to obſerve how very little Regard we ſhowed to an overruling Providence, by our public Conduct in the late War The Conduct of New-England, in taking Cape-Breton, muſt be excepted. See Mr. Prince's excellent Sermon, on the Occaſion., how we ſeemed to ground all our Expectations on our own Wiſdom and Power, and as it were, bid Defiance to God and Man. This mournful Obſervation is abundantly confirmed, by the ingenious and ſerious Author of a Pamphlet, entitled, Britain's Remembrancer: Having mentioned ſome ſuch Paſſages in the public Prints, as theſe, viz. "Our Fleets are in high Spirits, &c." We only deſire the Arm of Fleſh may decide the Quarrel. Let England but take Care of her Fleets, and what has ſhe to fear? In all which, ſays he, there is ſo far from any Appearance of a Senſe of Dependance upon Heaven, that we ſeem rather deſirous to ſtand by our own Strength, than be beholding to the God of Battles. And ſpeaking of declaring War with Spain, he adds, I appeal to Thouſands, who ſaw it declared, whether there appeared in the Behaviour and Converſation of the People of London, on that Occaſion, the leaſt Senſe of Humanity for their Fellow-Creatures, that were like to periſh in it, or the leaſt Dependance on Heaven, for the Succeſs of it; or whether the Spirit which reigned at that Time in England, was not a Spirit of Inſolence, and Defiance both of God and Man. That an Account of one of the moſt remarkable Tranſactions in the whole War, in which there was ſuch a Series of eminent Dangers, and ſignal Deliverances, ſhould be wrote by a Clergyman Vide Anſon's Voyage, by his Chaplain., with ſcarce the leaſt Acknowledgement of the Hand of God, in any of them, ſhows what a Spirit of Impiety and Infidelity reigned in the Nation; and 'tis hard to ſay, whether the Stupidity, or Wickedneſs of ſuch a Conduct, be the greater.—Who that has the leaſt Acquaintance with ancient or modern Hiſtory, but muſt obſerve, that the Riſe and Fall of States and Empires, ſpring from unforeſeen Cauſes, and turn on ſuch Incidents, as the Sagacity of the wiſeſt Politicians could not diſcover, nor the greateſt human Power prevent! How conſtantly is the Obſervation of the wiſe Man verified 1 Cor. i. 3 and 18., The Race is not to the Swift, nor the Battle to the Strong. Vain Man thinks himſelf ſo very wiſe, his Schemes ſo well-concerted, ſo ſecretly laid, that nothing can defeat them; but, God ſays, He will deſtroy the Wiſdom of the Wiſe, and bring to nothing the Underſtanding of the Prudent. Where is the Wiſe, the great Stateſman and Politician? Where are all his fine Schemes? Has not God made fooliſh, the Wiſdom of this World? Does he not often ſuffer them to take ſuch fooliſh and deſtructive Counſels, as tend to their own Ruin? He makes Diviners mad, turns the wiſe Men backward, and makes their Knowledge fooliſh Iſai. xliv. 25. Ahitophel, was a great Politician; the Oracle of his Day; how confident were many, that his ſuperior Sagacity, would have ſecured Succeſs to Abſolom's Conſpiracy; but how eaſily was it, by a Method altogether unexpected, turned into Fooliſhneſs.

WE may boaſt of our Strength, by Sea and Land; of our Valour and Wiſdom; imagine our Schemes are ſo well contrived, that nothing will prevent their Succeſs: Yet if God be not for us, our Strength will be but Weakneſs; our Wiſdom, but Folly; and we ſhall fall an eaſy Prey to our ambitious Foes. 'Tis infinitely eaſy with God, to defeat the Devices of the deepeſt Policy. What Madneſs therefore and Folly, as well as great Wickedneſs, is it, to put our Confidence in an Arm of Fleſh? And we ſhould tremble at the Thoughts of it, when God has ſaid, Curſed be he that putteth his Truſt in Man, and maketh Fleſh his Arm. And ſurely we ſhall be more inexcuſable, than any Nation under Heaven, if we caſt off our Dependance upon God, when he has repeatedly, in a moſt remarkable Manner, appeared for our Deliverance and Salvation. Let us labour therefore to feel in our ſelves, and to raiſe in others, a Diſpoſition, humbly to acknowledge God, in all our public Concerns, at this critical Juncture, ſaying with the Prophet Hoſea xiv. 3., ASHUR ſhall not ſave us; we will not ride upon Horſes, neither will we ſay any more to the Work of our Hands, Ye are our Gods, for in thee the Fatherleſs findeth Mercy.

IV. WHILE our Eyes are to Heaven, for Direction and Aſſiſtance, we ſhould vigorouſly exert ourſelves in our own Defence, by all thoſe Means that the Providence of God has put into our Power. To pretend to rely on the Almighty for Protection, in Time of Danger, while we careleſsly neglect thoſe Methods of ſecuring ourſelves, which are pointed out in his Providence, is not to truſt, but to mock and tempt him. When Jacob was in eminent Danger, from the Fury of his enraged Brother, he goes to God as his only Refuge; but at the ſame Time, contrives the moſt politic Method to divert, or to ſtand the Shock of his Wrath Gen. XXXII. 9.13.. DAVID went forth in the Name of the God of Iſrael, to meet the inſulting Philiſtine, but did not go without the Inſtruments of Death, which he could beſt uſe; a Sling and a Stone 1 Sam. xvii. 45, 49.. And why need I ſpeak of Joſhua, Gideon, Jephtha, and the Worthies of old, who did ſuch Wonders by Faith; was it not in the Uſe of proper Means? They waxed valiant in Battle, and put to flight the Armies of the Aliens.

WHEN God has appointed Means for our Safety, careleſsly to neglect them, vainly imagining Deliverance will come in ſome miraculous Way, is not Faith, but Folly; not Confidence, but Madneſs. And who does not ſee, that the preſent Defenceleſs State of our Southern Provinces, is not the Effect of Truſt and Dependance on God, but either of meer Sloth, or ſordid Covetouſneſs.

WE ſhall not, I preſume, pretend that our preſent Security ariſes from our having ſo much a greater Senſe of Religion; Diſpoſition to acknowledge God, and depend upon him, than our Neighbours. Muſt we not rather confeſs, it flows from the Want of a becoming Senſibility of the invaluable Privileges we enjoy, and of the Greatneſs of our Danger, tho' it be ſo near and apparent.—But I truſt, after all that has been ſaid, to open our Eyes and alarm our Fears, we ſhall not any longer fold our Hands together, and cry, A little more Sleep, and a little more Slumber. 'Tis high Time to look about us, and vigorouſly fall upon every proper Method of Defence.

WHAT a Pity, that at ſuch a Time, there ſhould be any Contention between our Governors, and reſpective Aſſemblies, but who ſhould be moſt forward and zealous in the Service of their King and Country. All private and ſelfiſh Deſigns; all petty Diſputes and Contentions, ſhould be ſwallowed up in a diſintereſted View to, and Concern for, the public Good. Of what Importance is it, that our Repreſentatives ſhould have enlarged Views, of the public Intereſt, and a deep Senſe, how much the Welfare of their Country, depends upon their Conduct, in this difficult Day.—Nothing can be plainer, than that a parſimonious Spirit, at ſuch a Time, opens a Door to the moſt extravagant Expence. To do Things by Halves, is worſe, than doing nothing at all. This we have learnt by fatal Experience. What £. 10,000 would have done, when we firſt had the Alarm, £. 100,000, 'tis probable, will not now effect; and 'tis conſtantly increaſing on our Hands, thro' the Vigilance, Activity, and continual Preparations of our Enemies. And ſhould they by our Delays, and ſtingy Proviſions for Defence, thro' Fear of putting the Country to Charges, make it the Seat of a long diſtreſſing War, there is no computing the Expence, and Number of Lives it may coſt. War is, indeed, to be deprecated; both Conquerors, and Conquered, are ſure to feel the ſad Effects of it, more or leſs; and Peace is ſo great a Bleſſing, that it is to be purſued by all juſt and rational Methods. But the Way to have Peace in the preſent Caſe, is to make a ſpeedy and vigorous Preparation for War: Had this been done more ſeaſonably, it might have prevented all we now fear. There ſeems but two poſſible Ways left, to avoid the War we are threatned with from France. The one, tamely to ſubmit to their unrighteous Encroachments; quietly reſign up our Poſſeſſions, and all our Privileges, into the Hands of a lawleſs Tyrant; and expoſe ourſelves and Poſterity, to the mad Zeal and Fury, of cruel perſecuting Bigots.— The other is, to let them ſpeedily know, that we have it in our Power to force them, to reaſonable Terms, and oblige them to keep within their own Limits; and I need not ſay which, both Duty and Intereſt, lead us to take.

WERE the ſeveral Provinces thoroughly engaged, to take ſome ſpeedy, vigorous Steps, for the Protection and Defence of the Land, it might ſtrike ſuch Dread into our Enemies, whoſe Inſolence and Courage, ariſe chiefly from our Sloth and Stupidity, as might divert the Storm that is now gathering faſt upon us. And methinks we have every Thing to awaken our Fears, and animate our Hopes. On the one Hand, there is Poverty, Slavery, Perſecution and Death; on the other, a fruitful Country, pleaſant Habitations, Britiſh Liberty, and what is dearer than all, undefiled Chriſtianity. And do not let us put far away the evil Day. Delays may prove of the moſt fatal Conſequence; our Danger may be much nearer, and much greater than we imagine.

SHOULD the French, agreeable to their known Perfidy, before they declare War, ſend a Fleet, with a large Army of well-diſciplined Troops, to lay waſte, and deſtroy our Coaſts; while the ſavage Natives, whoſe tender Mercies, are Cruelty, join them in falling on our Frontiers, what a a diſtreſſing Scene opens to our View? Our Sea-port Towns ſack'd, and laid in Aſhes!—Our Country ravaged! our Houſes plundered!—The Voice of Lamentation and Woe heard in our Streets!—Our Men ſlaughtered!—Our Wives and Daughters delivered to the Luſts and Fury of a lawleſs Soldiery!—Our helpleſs Babes daſhed againſt the Stones!—Men looking on the right Hand for Help, and on the Left there is none to deliver! Their Hearts failing them for Fear, while they hear the confuſed Noiſe of War; ſee Garments rolled in Blood, and the inſulting Foe ſpreading Deſolation and Ruin all around!—But I muſt ſtop:—The tragical Scene is too diſtreſſing, even in diſtant Proſpect! And is there a emote Probability, is there apparent Danger, of our being thrown into ſuch univerſal Tumult and Confuſion and ſhall we not exert ourſelves, in making the moſt ſpeedy and effectual Preparation againſt it? What Folly, what Madneſs; nay I may ſay, what Cruelty to ourſelves and Poſterity, is it, to run the Riſk of having Deſolation, Anguiſh and Deſpair, ſpread thro' the Land, by a ſudden Invaſion, while we are ſo ſhamefully unprepared, to make any proper Defence.

WE have every Thing to alarm, to rouſe and animate us, in ſuch a Day as this, when all that is valuable, all that is dear, lies at Stake. Shall we tamely ſuffer our delightful Poſſeſſions, to be taken from us?—become the Dupes and Slaves of a French Tyrant? What!—ſacrifice our precious Liberty, our Property, and what is more, our Religion, to our Sloth? entail Miſery, Slavery, and Ruin, on our Poſterity, by our Indolence and Cowardice! God forbid! 'Tis high Time, to awake, to call up all the Briton in us, every Spark of Engliſh Valour; chearfully to offer our Purſes, our Arms, and our Lives, to the Defence of our Country, our holy Religion, our excellent Conſtitution, and invaluable Liberties. For what is Life, without Liberty? without the Enjoyment of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, depending on the Will of a Tyrant and expoſed to all the Inſults of perſecuting Bigots? 'Tis not worth having. A free-born Briton, ſhould diſdain the Life of a Slave;—better,—far better, bravely to ſacrifice it to the Defence of our Religion and Country, than to ſurvive the diſmal Day, when theſe Regions of Light and Liberty, ſhall be overſpread with Ignorance, Superſtition, and Tyranny. And had we but the Spirit of our brave Anceſtors, who chearfully ventured their Lives, and reſigned all the Comforts thereof, in an howling Wilderneſs, that they might hand down to us the ineſtimable Privileges we now enjoy: Were we, I ſay, animated with the ſame heroic Spirit, in the Defence of them; with the ſame ardent Deſire of leaving them inviolate to our Poſterity;—did but the noble Ardor kindle from Breaſt to Breaſt, I doubt not, by the Smiles of Heaven, we ſhould ſoon make our Enemies flee before us, and again ſit quietly under our Vines and Fig-trees, and eat the Good of the Land. Which God of his infinite Mercy grant, &c. AMEN.

FINIS.