THE Penman of this Pſalm is uncertain, but the Occaſion was doubtleſs the Babyloniſh Captivity, in the Time of which, or ſoon after, it ſeems to have been compos'd.

The People of Iſrael in their melancholy Exile by the Rivers of Babylon, Euphrates and Tygris, lamented the Loſs of their religious Solemnities; We wept, ſaid they, when we remembred Zion; there they endured the Inſults of their Enemies, in demanding Mirth and a Song, of ſuch who were almoſt overwhelmed with Sorrow and Sadneſs! but this unſeaſonable Demand they juſtly refuſed to comply with, leſt they ſhould ſeem to forget the Miſeries of their Church and Nation, whoſe Proſperity they preferred to all the other Delights of Life: If I forget thee, O Jeruſalem, let my Right Hand forget her Cunning: If I do not remember thee, let my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth, if I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chief Joy!

While they reflect upon the Cruelty of the Children of Edom, their inveterate Enemies, who in the Day of Jeruſalem's Calamity, urged the Babylonians to raze it to the Foundation, or to ruin it entirely: They are hereby excited, not from a Principle of private Revenge, but from a generous Regard to God's Glory and Kingdom, to pray to Jehovah to puniſh them: Remember, O Lord, the Children of Edom: From the ſame pious Principle they are pleaſed with the Proſpect of the utter Overthrow of their Conſederates the Babylonians; O Daughter of Babylon, who art to be deſtroyed; and pronounce a Bleſſing upon ſuch, who ſhould be Inſtruments of inflicting this juſt and righteous Judgment of God upon the Enemies of his Church and People. Happy ſhall he be that rewardeth thee as thou haſt ſerved us; i. e. It will be to his great Honour and Advantage, who by executing Juſtice and equal Severity upon the unrighteous Enemies of God's Heritage, is hereby an Inſtrument in the Hand of God to vindicate his Honour, execute his Judgments, fulfil his Word, and relieve his People: Thus it was with Cyrus, as both ſacred and prophane Hiſtory witneſs, and hence he is call'd God's Servant, his Shepherd, his Anointed (Iſ. 44. ult. 45. 1. Iſ. 13.3.) and the Soldiers which were employ'd in recompenſing upon the aforeſaid Enemies of Iſrael, the Deeds which they did to them, are called his ſanctified Ones. (Iſ. 13.3.) From the Words of our Text thus explained, I would obſerve the following Propoſition, viz.

That ſuch, who in the Courſe of a lawful War, recompence upon the Enemies of God's Church and People the Injuries they have done to them, are happy Perſons!

In Diſcourſing upon this Propoſition, let us, 1. Enquire what Kind of War is Lawful? And, 2. Whence its Lawfulneſs appears? And, 3. What are the Injuries our Pagan and Papal Enemies have done to us of late in this Province? And, 4. Wherein conſiſts the Happineſs of recompenſing them?

I return to conſider the

1ſt propos'd, which was, to Enquire what Kind of War is lawful? In anſwer to which it may be obſerved, that there are two Kinds of War, viz. Offenſive and Defenſive: The former is an unjuſt Invaſion of another's Property, from Principles of Ambition and Avarice; the Latter, is an Attempt to preſerve or recover our own from the Hands of Violence, or to puniſh ſome publick Injury, which affects the Credit or Intereſt of a Nation or People; this Kind of War, viz. Defenſive, when entered into by the ſupreme Magiſtrate with due Caution, after pacific Meaſures have been try'd in vain, and is, in the Mean Time, ſuitably conducted, cannot but be lawful and right, ſeeing it has Juſtice and Right for its Foundation and Scope, and is the Support, the Execution and Defence thereof; but Offenſive War, being an unjuſt Invaſion of another's Property, is not only different from, but contrary to this, and therefore ſinful and unjuſtifiable; a clear View of the Contrariety of theſe Kinds of War, is of great Importance in this Controverſy, and caſts a Light upon the whole Argument. I proceed to the

2d propos'd, which was to ſhew, whence Defenſive War appears to be lawful or right. Now this, I think, appears evidently from the Suffrage both of Reaſon and Revolution.

There is nothing that Reaſon teaches with greater Clearneſs, or inculcates with a ſtronger Pathes, than the Excellency and Neceſſity of commutative Juſtice, or giving to every one his own: Now ſeeing the Deſign, Nature and Tendency of Defenſive War, is to maintain and diſtribute this among Mankind, it muſt therefore of Conſequence be good in itſelf, when under proper Regulations, ſo long as there is any intrinſick Excellency in that Virtue on which it is founded, to which it is directed, and of which it is an Executor: He that oppoſes this, muſt either ſay, that Juſtice itſelf, in its own Nature, is bad, or that it is wrong to do or promote what is good; each of which is equally abſurd, and contrary to the Reaſon and Common Senſe of Mankind, as well as everſive of all Virtue and Religion; thoſe therefore that oppoſe Defenſive War, will never be able fairly to carry their Point, till they ſolidly prove, that Juſtice itſelf is ſinful and wicked, which, if I am not much miſtaken, is a difficult Task.

I might here obſerve, that ſeeing Offenſive and Defenſive War are Contraries, it therefore follows, That all the Arguments advanced by any againſt Offenſive War, do turn virtually and conſequentially in Favour of Defenſive, and are ſo many Proofs of its Excellency and Neceſſity. E. G. He that oppoſes the Evil of Injuſtice, does at the ſame Time tacitly recommend its Contrary, whether he will or not, for Contraries can neither be oppos'd or defended together with Reaſon and Propriety; the more abominable and dangerous the one is, the more excellent is the other, which is oppos'd to it. So that all the Opponents of War, complexly conſider'd, are of Neceſſity Patrons of one Kind of it, tho', perhaps, without their Knowledge, or againſt their Wills: Now ſeeing Deceit lurks in Genarals, it is but right that the Oppoſers of War, ſhould candidly tell us which Kind they are againſt, to prevent farther Diſputes about the Matter: As for our Part, we declare expreſly our Abhorrence of Offenſive War, as a great Iniquity, and are willing to make this evident, not only by Words, but by Actions, in labouring by main Force to deſtroy that Monſter, if milder Meaſures will not anſwer the noble End, of introducing the deſirable Bleſſing of Peace.

Charity would incline me to think, that the Oppoſers of War, muſt mean Offenſive; for ſurely they wou'dn't knowingly expreſs ſo much Zeal and Invective as is ſometimes uſed in this Argument againſt Juſtice: Well, if the Caſe be ſo, we have them upon our Side of the Queſtion; they are, in Effect, warm Advocates for Defenſive War, and this indeed is no ſmall Comfort, that our Opponents are ſo friendly in this Debate, we with they would either underſtand us or themſelves, and join with us in proving by Fact, the Reality of their Hatred againſt that Abomination that maketh deſolate, Offenſive War: Their Invectives againſt it are juſt and commendable, but inſufficient to deſtroy it; Words won't kill that Hydra; herein therefore they fail, that they don't join with us Heart and Hand, by Force and Arms to cruſh that cruel Cockatrice! May it not be hoped that in Time-coming they will better bethink themſelves, and act a more conſiſtent Part; that they will not ſerve ſo good a Cauſe as preſs'd Men by Conſtraint, but nobly and openly join as VOLUNTEERS!

But in Addition to the Maxim of Juſtice now mentioned, the Light of Nature teaches every one to preſerve his Life from unjuſt Violence, by the Principle of Self-Love, which is implanted in all, and which, when kept within due Bounds, is good and neceſſary, and therefore made by our Lord the Standard of Love to our Neighbour; this Principle diſpoſes us to deſire Life, as well as to fear and ſhun the Approaches of Death; when we therefore neglect a neceſſary and ſeaſonable Self-defence, we are without natural Affection, Self-haters; a rare and ſtrange Sort of Monſters in Nature; for no Man ever hated his own Fleſh, but nouriſheth and cheriſheth it.

Reaſon likewiſe teaches the Propriety and Neceſſity of Self-defence, from the Capacity given to this Purpoſe, and Inclination to exerciſe it; Man is endowed with Underſtanding and Ability, which the innocent Reſentment common to all, urges to exert in oppoſing Violence, and guarding againſt the Approaches of Danger: And therefore he that ſuffers his Life to be taken from him, by one that hath no Authority for that Purpoſe, when he might preſerve it by Defence, betrays it, and conſequently is guilty of Self-Murder, one of the greateſt of Crimes!

Conſidering the preſent State of human Nature, to baniſh Self-defence, though proſecuted by Force, would be ſo far from promoting Peace, that it would on the Contrary contribute to the utter Deſtruction of Mankind! For Injuſtice in this Situation of Things, having no Fear of Puniſhment to check its Courſe, would inundate the World, and introduce univerſal Anarchy, Confuſion and Ruin: a melancholy Confirmation of which we have lately had in the defenceleſs Frontiers of this ſecure, unhappy Province!

Sirs, If it be not lawful and right, to oppoſe with Force unjuſt Invaders, then the Goods of Providence are given to no valuable Purpoſe, and the beſt of Men are expoſed as an eaſy Prey to the Worſt, and that by God's own Order, which is abſurd! Is it rational to ſuppoſe, that the Law of Nature, which was deſigned to promote Man's Safety in this World, ſhould countenance ſuch a ſorry Sort of Peace, as tends to promote the very Contrary? no ſurely! For this would, in Effect, charge Weakneſs and Folly upon God himſelf, which to impute to infinite and unerring Wiſdom, is a blaſphemous Reflection!

Farther, my Brethren, give me leave to add, that Reaſon likewiſe teaches the Neceſſity of the Magiſtrates Office in a Community, to puniſh Injuſtice, and to protect our Perſons and Properties; now how can theſe be done without Force and Arms, in ſuch a degenerate World as this is? And if either of theſe be neglected, what is Government but an empty Name, a meer Cypher, that, inſtead of Honour, deſerves Contempt! Such a ſorry Government is much worſe than none a at all; worſe than a State of Nature, becauſe it binds Mens Hands till they are robb'd and murder'd, which, otherwiſe, they might uſe in their own Defence!

Nothing admits of clearer Demonſtration, than that Force and Fighting are eſſential to the Being and Preſervation of Civil Government, in Man's preſent corrupt State; now, if the Caſe be ſo, it is the very ſame (in all Things material) with Defenſive War, the Subſtance of both is the ſame, viz. Force and Fighting, Bloodſhed and Death; the Authority enjoining both is the ſame, viz. that of the Magiſtrate, the End of both is the ſame, viz. the Preſervation of the State; the Occaſion the ſame, viz. that eaſier Methods will not, at Times, anſwer the aforeſaid Ends: Certainly the Number of Villains cannot leſſon their Crimes, nor have Rogues of another Nation any Right to rob and murder us with Impunity more than thoſe of our own: Why then ſhould they not be oppos'd with equal Care and Force?

What is Civil Government but the Union of Individuals, for the more effectual Protection of Perſon and Property from Injuſtice and Violence? whereby a ſufficient Meaſure of Power is, by common Conſent, treaſured up for the Security and Benefit of all the Members of that Body, which is to be exerted to compaſs the aforeſaid important Ends, as the publick Officers of the Society ſhall direct: And hence it is that Perſons who are wrong'd, or in Danger of being ſo, reaſonably fly to the Officers of the Community for Juſtice and Protection, which if they are abſolutely deny'd, or unreaſonably deferred, beyond the proper Seaſon for Succour, and many Perſons are in the mean Time robb'd and murder'd, the principal End of Government is contradicted and deſtroyed; and the People wrong'd and robb'd of their Right, as Members of Society; nor will it be eaſy to clear ſuch publick Officers (or thoſe of them who are acceſſary to the aforeſaid Meaſures) from the Guilt of Blood!

Now if Magiſtracy and Defenſive War be the ſame in Subſtance, as has been obſerved, it is ſtrange that any ſhould be ready to accept the one, who ſcruple the other, as if it was a wicked Thing to put a foreign Criminal to Death, but juſt and good to kill one of our own Country and Nation! Wou'dn't it look more like Candour, Humility and Conſiſtency, for ſuch as ſcruple Defenſive War, or deny it, to keep clear of Offices in the Government, which oblige them, if they will act in Character, to do what is equivalent thereto: Then there would be no Need of ambiguous, general and artful Terms, poſſibly to conceal from vulgar Obſervance and Prejudice Practices really contradictory to profeſſed Principles; to reconcile ſuch extraordinary Conduct to common Candour and Sincerity, is a Task ſo difficult, that it vaſtly ſurpaſſes the Reach of an ordinary Underſtanding.

I muſt confeſs I am utterly at a Loſs to conceive the Conſiſtency of Perſons who are principled againſt Defenſive War accepting of Offices in the Government, the chief Deſign of which is to defend the Community; it is a Contradiction in Terms as well as Matter, a groſs Abſurdity; and this is the more unaccountable, when it is done in a Time of publick Danger; for hereby, if Mens profeſſed Principles may be ſuppoſed to have any Influence upon their Conduct, they will be tempted to take wrong Meaſures, or over-ſlowly proſecute thoſe that are right; and hereby others are kept from the Helm in a Storm, whoſe Principles would probably lead them to do what is neceſſary to the Safety of the State.

Nor is it eaſy to clear thoſe from the Charge of Inconſiſtency, and ſomething worſe, who deſire and expect Protection, and perhaps complain if they have it not, and yet CHUSE into publick Offices thoſe who are principled againſt it, whether they are not, by the aforeſaid Choice, in ſome Degree chargeable with all the unhappy CONSEQUENCES of ſuch a Government, it is but proper they ſhould ſoberly enquire?

The Practice of all Nations, not only of the moſt civilized, but even of the moſt rude and barbarous, who all with one Conſent have oppos'd Force to Force in their own Defence, from the Beginning of the World to this Time, is no inconſiderable Argument to prove that Defenſive War is agreeable to the Reaſon and Common Senſe of Mankind; the Denial of it is therefore a Contradiction to Reaſon, and an Affront to Common Senſe.

Yea the very Beaſts, by natural Inſtinct, are diſpoſed to defend themſelves, and are provided with Weapons for that Purpoſe; it ſhould therefore be queried, in caſe we make no Reſiſtance when Neceſſity urges, whether we do not act with leſs Wiſdom than Pagans, and with leſs Diſcretion than Beaſts? Now can it be with Reaſon ſuppoſed, that the Chriſtian Inſtitution, which was deſign'd to exalt us above the Angels, ſhould, at the ſame Time, ſink us below Infidels and Beaſts?

Having offered ſome what reſpecting the Suffrage of Reaſon in favour of Defenſive War, I proceed to enquire wether Revelation in the ſeveral Periods of the Church of God, or Diſpenſations of Heaven towards it, does not coroborate and confirm the aforeſaid Suffrage? Here a large Field opens, but the Time allows me to mention only a few Hints.

As to the Patriarchal Age, I would only offer one Inſtance, viz. That of Abraham, the Friend of God, and Father of the Faithful, he trained up his Servants, inſtructed them in the Uſe of Arms, to prepare them for Action, when Neceſſity required; and therefore when he heard that his Brother was taken captive, he arm'd his train'd Servants, ſmote the Enemy, and purſued them. It would have been happy for this poor Province, if ſuch in it who profeſs themſelves to be the ſpiritual Children of Abraham, had followed the Example of the Father of the Fruthful, in haſtening to the Relief of their diſtreſſed Proteſtant Brethern, it would have ſhown ſome Brotherly Love, prevented much Bloodſhed, and given ſome Evidence of their ſpiritual Claim. Now that the Almighty approved of this memorable Battle of Abraham, is evident from Melchizedek's congratulating him on Occaſion of his Victory, and likewiſe by his bleſſing him, and bleſſing God on the ſame Account, and by his receiving Part of the Spoils, all which would have been abſurd and impious, if the Battle itſelf hadn't been lawful. See Gen. 14 (18, 19, 20. Verſes.) And Melchizedek King of Salem, Prieſt of the Moſt high God, bleſſed him, and ſaid, Bleſſed be Abraham of the Moſt High God, Poſſeſſor of Heaven and Earth, and Bleſſed be the Moſt High God, which hath delivered thine Enemies into thine Hands. Here obſerve, that ſeeing this Battle of Abraham was fought before the Jewiſh Policy and Ceremonies were form'd, was likewiſe an important Action, that concern'd the Goods and Lives of Men, and met with the Divine Approbation, Defenſive War muſt therefore be morally and unalterably good and lawful.

As to the Moſaick Diſpenſation, or Jewiſh Oeconomy, nothing is more evident, than that divers Wars, were carry'd on while that ſubſiſted, by various Worthies, with the divine Approbation and Direction; thus devout Gideon, a mighty Man of Valour, was commiſſioned to fight againſt the Midianites, and reſcue Iſrael from their Tyranny▪ (Judges 6 14 16.) And the Lord ſaid, Go in this thy Might, and thou ſhall ſave Iſrael from the Hand of the Midianites, have I not ſent thee! ſurely I will be with thee, and thou ſhalt ſlay the Midianites as one Man.

Pious Joſhua was alſo rais'd up of God, to conduct Iſrael in their Wars, for which he had the divine Preſcription. (Joſh. 8. 1, 2.) And the Lord ſaid unto Joſhua, take all the People of War with thee and ariſe go up to Ai, and thou ſhall do unto Ai and her King, as thou didſt to Jericho and her King.

Farther David, the Man after God's own Heart, was another Inſtance of the like Kind, who praiſes the Almighty that he had taught his Hands to war, and his Fingers to fight: He conducted his Battles according to the expreſs Order of God. (1 Sam. 30.8.) Well ſeeing Defenſive War was enjoin'd by divine Authority under any Diſpenſation, at any paſt Period of Time, it follows neceſſarily, either that it is in itſelf innocent, or that God is the Author of Sin, by enjoining what is in itſelf ſinful: But the latter is blaſphemous, and therefore the Former is moſt certainly true; viz. That Defenſive War is in itſelf innocent and good, and, if ſo, becomes a Duty, when Providence calls to it by the Neceſſity of Affairs, and the Magiſtrates Order: Why therefore ſhould an innocent Thing be dreſs'd up in Bears-skins and a Huc-and-Cry rais'd againſt it? Is this fair or reaſonable?

As to the Chriſtian or New Teſtament Diſpenſation, there are divers Inſtances which ſufficiently confirm the Point in View. E. G. When the Soldiers ask'd John the Baptiſt, what they ſhould do? he did not direct them to lay aſide their military Employment, but to be content with their Wages: Which ſuppoſes his Approbation, of the Buſineſs they were engaged in, and implies an Encouragement to continue in it; it cannot be with Reaſon imagined, that this inſpired Perſon, would give Inſtruction how to conduct an Employment obſolutely ſinful; for that would be to give Direction how to commit Iniquity, which is abſurd! No, if he had judged that Manner of Life to be ſinful, he would have ſaid ſo; for indeed he had not only an Opportunity, but a proper Call to this Purpoſe, in Anſwer to the Queſtion propoſed to him; nor was he ever known to mince the Matter.

Farther, Theſe Words of our Lord, recorded John 18.36. do expreſly declare his Approbation of Defenſive War; If my Kingdom were of this World, then would my Servants fight, that I ſhould not be delivered to the Jews. Here the Redeemer ſignifies that temporal Kingdoms ſhould be protected by Fighting or by War and Force.

Of the like Tendency is the following Declaration of Chriſt expreſſed by the Evangeliſt Matthew, Chap. 24, and 43d Verſe, But know this, that if the good Man of the Houſe had known in what Watch the Thief would come, he would have watched, and not ſuffered his Houſe to be broken up.

This our Lord ſpeaks of with Approbation, and therefore hereby teaches the Lawfulneſs and Neceſſity of oppoſing Robbers by Force, and of preparing for this Oppoſition: The good Man would have watched, and would not have ſuffered. Well, if we ſhould reſiſt one Robber, much more many, becauſe the Danger is greater; and if we ſhould reſiſt Robbers, when they only attempt to take away our Goods, much more when they attack our Lives, which are of more Importance.

Another memorable Paſſage of our Saviour to the ſame Purpoſe, is that directed to the Apoſtle Peter, Mat. 26.53, 54. Thinkeſt thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and he ſhall preſently give me more than 12 Legions of Angels; but how then ſhall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it muſt be. The Meaning of which is plainly this, that Chriſt muſt die for the Sins of his People according to the Scriptures, and therefore the Uſe of Force to protect his Life in this extraordinary Situation, was unneceſſary and inconſiſtent; but that if the Caſe had been otherwiſe, he would have us'd a military Force for his Protection againſt unjuſt Violence. Our Lord ſpeaks of the Angels as military Troops, and ſignifies that on Suppoſition his Caſe was ordinary, and he attack'd by the Hand of Violence, he would uſe Means to obtain an arm'd Force for his Protection; and did not the great Doctor of the Gentiles who well knew the Mind of his Maſter and Lord, actually do this, when a Conſpiracy was form'd by the Jews againſt his Life: (See Acts the 23d Chap.) I hope then there is no Harm in following our Lord and his chief Apoſtle.

Here it may be farther obſerved, reſpecting the laſt Inſtance, that the Apoſtle Paul before he apply'd for a Military Force to protect him, had the poſſitive Promiſe of God that he ſhou'd preach the Goſpel of Chriſt at Rome, and conſequently be protected from the preſent Combination againſt his Life (Acts 23.11.) in which Promiſe he doubtleſs truſted, yet notwithſtanding he tho't it neceſſary to uſe the proper outward Mean for his Defence, viz. an arm'd Force; this plainly ſhews the Conſiſtency thereof with the Promiſe of God, and a Dependance on him.

Nor ſhould theſe Words of our Saviour be overlook'd, are ye come out againſt me as againſt a Thief with Swords and with Staffs; here the bleſſed Jeſus ſignifies his Approbation of the Uſe of Arms and Force againſt a Thief to bring him to Juſtice, well if in the Judgment of Chriſt, this be lawful and neceſſary againſt one; it is much more ſo againſt many: Nor is there any good Reaſon why we ſhou'd be more tender of Foreign, than Domeſtick Thieves.

When the Centurion or Roman Captain addreſs'd our Saviour on Account of his ſick Servant, and us'd his Military Office as an Argument to obtain his Requeſt, our Lord granted the Petition infere'd by that Argument, and commended the Faith encourag'd by it: which conſidering the Call the Redeemer then had to declare his Mind in Relation to Defenſive War fairly imply his Aprobation of it.

If Defenſive War be ſinful, then to what purpoſe or with what conſiſtency did our Lord command every one of his Diſciples, that had no Sword, to ſell his Garment and buy one, (Luke 22.39.) and why is Cornelius Captain of the Italian Company ſo highly honour'd by Heaven and Earth, and adorn'd with the moſt amiable Character, of being a devout Man, and one that fear'd God with all his Houſe, which gave much Alms to the People, and pray'd to God always; and in the mean Time no Cenſure paſt upon his military Office by an inſpir'd Apoſtle, ſent for by divine Direction, to inform him of his Duty, and that under the expreſs Promiſe of an Angel, that ſaid Apoſtle ſhou'd tell him what he ought to do▪ from this Inſtance therefore, one of two Things neceſſarily follows, either that the Angel's Promiſe fail'd, or that Cornelius ought not to deſert his military Station, but the former is impoſſible, and therefore the latter is true, and thus the labouring Point is gain'd, that Defenſive War is lawful.

The Apoſtle Paul in his Epiſtle to the Hebrews, ſpeaks with Honour and Approbation of the Bravery and martial Exploits of divers antient Heroes, who through Faith ſubdued Kingdoms, waxed valiant in Fight, and put to Flight the Armies of Aliens Here obſerve, that War and Fighting in a good Cauſe is ſo far from being contrary to Faith, that they are Fruit of it. Thoſe therefore who inſtead of bringing forth this Fruit condemn ſuch as do, ſhou'd enquire how they will prove their Faith to be of the ſame kind with that of David, Samuel and the Prophets. Hebrews. 11.32, 33.: And in diverſs other Paſſages of Scripture, God himſelf who is the beſt Judge of Truth, Excellency and Worth, ſpeaks with Honour of military Bravery, and hence the Perſons poſſeſ'd of it are call'd mighty Men of Valour, it is therefore a ſorry Sort of Goſpel, that contradicts the Judgment of God himſelf and his inſpir'd Servants; that CASHIERS from the Catalogue of Virtues, Fortitude and military Bravery, which are ſo noble in themſelves and neceſſary to the publick Weal, and Dubs in their room either ſordid Cowardice, or ſtupid Negligence, or rather both together, which are as baſe in themſelves, as pernicious and deſtructive to Society. Unreaſonable and abominable is that pretended Chriſtianity, which directs us to take more Care for the Support of our Bodies, than the Protection of our Lives, which our Lord tells us are better than Food and Rayment. If ſome have been protected in Dangers miraculouſly, ſo others have been fed in like manner, well, ſeeing the Caſes are Parallel, why will not ſuch who expect Protection without the Uſe of Arms, try whether they can live without Food, a little Trial of this, if we cou'd but perſuade them to it, would ſoon convince them of the Folly of their Faith, or rather Preſumption, and be of more Service than many Arguments. But to preced,

Give me leave farther to obſerve, that the Argument before us'd of the MAGISTRACY in Favour of Defenſive War from Reaſon, is confirm'd by Revelation, and that not only in the Old Teſtament, but the New: The Apoſtle Paul in his Epiſtle to the Romans, obſerves, that the Magiſtrate is a Miniſter of God, to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil, and ſhou'd not bear the Sword in vain, and elſewhere Governors are ſaid to be ſent for the Puniſhment of evil Doors, and Praiſe of thoſe that do well, that under them we may live peaceable and quiet Lives, in all Godlineſs and Honeſty; and hence we are told, that he that ſheds Man's Blood, by Man ſhall his Blood be ſhed; we are likewiſe enjoin'd to give Tribute to Ceſar, and to be Subject to the higher Powers, becauſe there is no Power but of God: Well, if Government be a Divine Inſtitution, and Force and Fighting are eſſential to it, as both Reaſon and Revelation aſſure us, then ſuch as oppoſe Defenſive War, if they will be conſiſtent with themſelves, muſt alſo oppoſe all civil Order and Government upon the Earth, which if put in Practice wou'd ſoon open ſuch a Scene of Confuſion, Deſolation and Blood, as wou'd entirely ruin the whole human Race. It is but right, that all they that take the Sword (without or againſt juſt and lawful Authority) ſhou'd periſh with the Sword, Matt. 26.52. and that he that leadeth into Captivity ſhould go into Captivity. He that killeth with the Sword, muſt be kill'd with the Sword, here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints, ſaith the Scriptures, Rev. 13.16.

Once more, if we muſt without Oppoſition, tamely and ſordidly ſuffer all that is dear to us, as Men and Chriſtians, to be made an eaſy Prey of by our unrighteous and implacable Enemies, then we are in a worſe Condition under the Goſpel than ever Mankind were in before it; then the laſt, the brighteſt and moſt gracious Diſpenſation of God towards Men, inſtead of enlarging our Priveleges as it profeſſes, has overſet them all at one Stroke, and left us in a State of the moſt abject Slavery, and dreadful Vaſſalage to the Luſts of every Invader, which is contrary to the Truth of the Scriptures, and to the Wiſdom and Goodneſs of God, as well as entirely everſive of all human Happineſs in this LifeI might here add to the Suffrage of Reaſon and Revelation, that of the Chriſtian Church, the primitive Fathers of which declared their Sentinents in Favour of Defenſive War, witneſs Clement, Clemens Alexandrinus, Irenius, Origen, Tertullian, Minutius Felix, Cyprian, Chriſoſtom, Nazarius, Baſil, Auguſtine, Ambroſe, Cyril, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory Niſſ • n, and others, but not only particular Fathers; but whole Councils have ſignified various Ways their Approbation of Defenſive War; they therefore made it a poſitive Rule and Conſtitution among them, that Soldiers of a ſober Life, ſhould be admitted to Church Memberſhip their Words are theſe, Let a Soldier that deſires to be baptized, be exhorted to abſtain from Wrongs and Oppreſſions, and to be content with his Pay; if he complies with theſe, let him be admitted. See Conſtitu. Clem. Lib. 8. Cap. 32. This is exactly agreeable to John the Baptiſt's Counſel to the Soldiers, and to the inſpired Apoſtle Peter's Practice, who without the leaſt demurr, baptized the worthy Soldier Cornelius, thereby receiving him into Church Fellowſhip; and in the mean Time declared, that none could reaſonably deprive ſuch of it; Can any Man (ſaith he) forbid Water that theſe ſhould not be baptized, that have received the Holy Ghoſt as well as we; and he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord, Acts 10.47, 48. Any Paſſages in the Writings of the Antients, of a different Appearance at firſt View, upon Examination will be found only to ſignify either their Averſion to the Method of propagating Religion by Force, or of reſiſting the lawful Government under which they liv'd, or the Unſuitableneſs of the Clergies bearing Arms, or of Chriſtians engaging in War when idolatrous or other ſinful Terms, were impos'd. The Lawfulneſs of Defenſive War under proper Regulations, was not ſo much as diſputed, and far leſs was the Denyal of it made a Term of Communion by any (of Note) or by any Society of Chriſtians for above 1500 Years after Chriſt; and therefore the Opinion that every kind of War is in itſelf a great Evil, and that ſuch as are for the defenſive Kind, ſhou'd be caſt out of religious Society; is a novel upſtart Notion, of very late Date, as contrary to Antiquity as to Scripture and Reaſon. See this confirm'd and illuſtrated, in a Treatiſe entitled, Defenſive War defended; Printed here Anno. 1748..

As to the Objections that are made againſt Reſiſtance and War, ſeeing I have not Time at preſent to offer a particular Reply to them, I wou'd in place thereof, propoſe ſome general Conſiderations, which rightly underſtood, and ſuitably attended to, thro' the Courſe of this Controverſy, will ſerve as a Key to ſolve them with Eaſe. viz.

1. It ſhould be carefully obſerv'd, and conſtantly kept in View, that Offenſive and Defenſive War are Contraries. And,

2. That private Offences, and thoſe which are publick and national, are very different; the Firſt, in Society, we have no Right ourſelves to puniſh, and in leſſer Inſtances ſhould paſs by for the Sake of Peace, but the Latter, the Magiſtrate, as God's Vicegerent, is oblig'd to avenge, for the Glory of God, and Safety of the Community. And,

3. That whatſoever is grounded upon the Nature and Reaſon of things is moral and perpetual. But I proceded to the

3d. GENERAL HEAD of Diſcourſe propos'd, which was to Enquire what are the Injuries, which our Pagan and Papal Enemies have done to the Inhabitants of this Province? this, my Brethren, is a melancholy Subject, and deſerves to be lamented with the tendereſt Paſſion! you know, Sirs, they have carried many of our Brethren into a melancholy Captivity, Captivity big with Danger and Horror, they have laid waſte by Fire and Sword a conſiderable Part of the back Settlements of this Province, burnt the Houſes, the Barns, the Goods, the Crops of the Inhabitants, and kill'd their Creatures, without which they cannot ſubſiſt; by all which, no ſmall Part of a once flouriſhing Country is cover'd with a general Ruin, and reduc'd even to a Funeral Pile! but what is ſtill worſe, they have murder'd, they have murder'd, many Hundreds of innocent Perſons, and that with ſuch Circumſtances of Inhumanity and Barbarity, as are too ſhocking to relate; they have ſpar'd neither Age nor Sex, the pregnant Mother and tender Infant, as well as the boary Head, and ſprightly Youth, have been alike ſacrificed to their cauſeleſs and cruel Reſentment! and indeed, many who have hitherto ſurviv'd the Cataſtrophe, are reduc'd to the moſt piteous and deplorable Circumſtances by the Loſs of their dear Relations, and of their worldly Subſtance; encompaſs'd with frequent Alarms of the Aproach of a mercileſs Enemy, and of the Miſchiefs they have done in other Places, in hourly Expectation of a violent Death, not knowing what to do, or where to fly for Safety; in this awful Perplexity, while there Way is ſhut up, and their Lives hang in Doubt, every Moment, they ſuffer 1000 Deaths before they die. Theſe Injuries our Enemies have done unprovok'd (unleſs by our defenceleſs and ſecure State) yea after many important Kindneſſes, and contrary to the Faith of Treaties; nor is this diſmal Scene come to a Period, we ſtill hear of the Alarm of War, and of Garments roll'd in Blood; we ſtill hear of freſh Incurſions, and of Deſolation upon Deſolation; alas, for this miſerable Province, what will be the End of theſe Things?

But has this Train of Miſeries, this Complication of Calamities, broke in upon us ſuddenly, without any previous Notice? no! we have had repeated Intimations of the deſtructive Deſigns of our Enemies, and of their warlike Preparations in the Back Parts of this Continent, but have ſtupidly ſlighted repeated Warnings of our approaching Danger and awful Fate; like Leviathan we have laughed at the ſhaking of the Spear, as tho' we were invulnerable; and hence the Report of Colonel Waſhington's Defeat was reckon'd by many to be fabulous; and that of General Braddock believ'd ſlowly, yea, even after repeated Expreſſes had conſtrain'd a general Credit, and the Enemy had done conſiderable Damage in Verginia; tho' a Number were ſeiz'd for a little Time with a Panick, yet the Province in general remain'd in a State of Indolence and deep Security, without any ſuitable religious Improvement of this awful Providence, without any proper Preparation made in due Seaſon to protect the back Inhabitants, who where left defenceleſs, and expos'd as an eaſy Prey to a bloody Enemy, as Sheep for the Slaughter! Alas for it! many Self-righteous People among us preſumptuoſly expected, that this Province wou'd not ſhare the common Fate of the reſt; and hence they boaſted for a Time that no Hurt was done by the Enemy in Pennſylvania, and therefore, after divers were murdered in it, the News thereof were by many too flowly credited, unreaſonbly contradicted, or diminutively repreſented, and treated with Slight and Indifference: Yea, after the moſt preſſing Remonſtrances of the Diſtreſſed for Help and Protection, how little has been done to any good Purpoſe to relieve them? and how ſlowly? how late? It is indeed ſhocking to think of the Infatuation and Security that have prevail'd among us, in a Time of ſuch general, great, and growing Danger and Calamity! Had FORTS been built in the back Parts of the Country in due Seaſon, the Inhabitants train'd up in the Uſe of Arms, and form'd into a regular MILITIA, by an equitable and impartial ACT of the LEGISLATURE for that Purpoſe, an ACT not calculated to ſerve the Eaſe and Emolument of a Party, at the Expence of the the Reſt, who, as loyal Subjects to the beſt of Kings have a Right to equal Privileges with others of the ſame Community; if theſe Things had been done, and the Warnings we have had credited and improv'd, our preſent Diſtreſſes wou'd probably have been either wholly prevented, or much leſſen'd; but Sirs, if the Truth may be told, ENTHUSIASTICK PRINCIPLES, againſt Defenſive War, have been in a great Degree the Cauſe of our preſent Miſeries, and, if cloſely and conſiſtently acted up to, are like to be our utter and final Ruin! theſe have prevented neceſſary, proper and ſeaſonable Preparations for War before it came, and either diverted from, or retarded proper Meaſures for Defence when it did come, theſe have caſt Multitudes into a deep Sleep, and prejudiced them againſt their Duty, and their Intereſt ſo that they will neither do any Thing themſelves to any good Purpoſe to ſave a ſinking State, nor ſuffer others to do it with Impunity. Theſe have bro't us not long ſince to the Verge of a Civil War among ourſelves, one of the moſt dreadful Calamities that can beſal any State or Community! In our ſingularly awful, and melancholy Situation (eſpecially of late) every Eye not blinded with Prejudice, might ſee in the ſtrongeſt Point of Light, the grand Abſurdity and Danger of Enthuſiaſm, its abſolute Inconſiſtency with Civil Government and the Safety of any Country; eſpecially when it has the Direction of the Helm in the Time of a Tempeſt. It is ridiculous to talk of Privileges! Privileges! when we are in Danger of being murdered by the Enemy, for Want of a proper Defence; as if it was a Privilege to be robb'd, and ſcalp'd! Theſe Things, Gentlemen, I have ſpoken not from Prejudice to any Party or People, but from a Principle of Love to God and my Country, whoſe Protection and Proſperity I ſincerely wiſh! The

4th General Head of Diſcourſe, comes now to be conſidered, which was To ſhew wherein conſiſts the Happineſs of Recompenſing the Injuries our Enemies have done to us? Hereby, my Brethren, we conform to the commanding, approving Will of God; hereby we promote his declarative Glory among Men, even the Glory of his Juſtice and Righteouſneſs; hereby we copy after the Example of pious and prudent Men in all Ages and Periods of the Church and World; hereby we evidence in Fact the Sincerity of our Love to our Religious and Civil Liberties, as well as to our King and Country, and manifeſt the Reality of our Regard to our dear Relations and Friends, to whom we are bound by the tendereſt Ties! hereby we do our utmoſt to preſerve inviolate the Sacred Depoſitum, or inexpreſibly valuable Truſt of our Religion and Liberty, and to tranſmit them pure and uncorrupt to future and diſtant Ages; hereby with manly Bravery, we, to good Purpoſe, oppoſe thoſe Enemies to all that is great and good, French Tyranny, Romiſh Idolatry and Superſtition; in a Word, we expreſs the Courage of Men, and the Piety of Chriſtians, in thus nobly contending for our People, and the Cities of our God! in this Way we may expect Peace in our own Minds, and the Bleſſing of God upon all our Enjoyments; in this Way, in Caſe we repent and believe, we may with Reaſon hope for all neceſſary and deſirable Comforts here, and a diſtinguiſh'd Crown of Bleſſedneſs hereafter: For this, my Brethren, the Boſoms of generous Patriots, and undaunted Heroes, who do Honour to their Species, and are the Glory and Defence of their Country, beat with the fierceſt martial Fires, the braveſt Ardors! for this they abondon inglorious Eaſe, break thro' the ſtrongeſt Ties and tendereſt Endearments of Relation; for this they boldly tread the high Places of the Field, and nobly court Dangers and Deaths of the moſt hideous and formidable Forms! Such, ſuch, will be mention'd with Honour, in the Records of Time, the Annals of Nations; yea, ſuch Generations unborn will riſe up, and call them bleſſed; while the Names of ſordid Cowards, wild Enthuſiaſts, and deteſtable Gallees, ſhall be cover'd with Contempt, and not in the Duſt! if any Thing can yield Comfort to a generous Mind, ſurely theſe that have been mentioned may eſpecially in a complex View.

Brethren, we were born not meerly for ourſelves, but the Publick God! which, as Members of Society we are obliged (pro virili) to promote! Life without Liberty, Life under the ſordid Shackles of Idolatry, Superſtition and Tyranny, is worſe, infinitely worſe, than Death! happy therefore, and bleſſed is the Man, who rewardeth our Pagan and Papal Enemies, as they have ſerved us! but, on the contrary, ſaith the Scripture, curſed be he that doth the Work of the Lord deceitfully (or negligently) and curſed be he that keepeth back his Sword from Blood; here obſerve, that Shedding the Blood of our Enemies in a lawful War, is a good Work, it is the Lord's Work, becauſe enjoin'd and approv'd of by him, and likewiſe that the Man is accurſed, who either neglects or refuſes this Work, or does it by Halves; Parallel to the Paſſage of ſacred Scripture but now mention'd, is that in Judges 5.23, 24. Curſe ye Meroz, ſaith the Angel of the Lord, curſe Ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof, becauſe they came not to the Help of the Lord, to the Help of the Lord againſt the Mighty; here obſerve, that taking up Arms, and actually joining in Battle with God's People, engag'd in a lawful War againſt their Enemies, is here call'd a Helping the Lord againſt the Mighty, becauſe the Lord requires it, and his Cauſe is defended by it, and likewiſe that ſuch who refuſe to aſſiſt in Arms, or deſert their Brethren engag'd in ſuch a Cauſe, are under the bitter Curſe of God! But bleſſed above Women ſhall Jael the Wife of Heber the Kenite be, bleſſed ſhall ſhe be above Women in the Tent! why? becauſe ſhe ſmote and ſlew Siſera the Enemy of God's Iſrael; well, if martial Bravery exalted Jael above her Sex, then certainly by the Rule of Contraries, Cowardice (in Principle and Practice) degrades Males not only below their own Sex (of whom Courage is expected) but even below Females; ſuch Perſons forfeit the Character of Men, and are weaker than Women; the ſame God that ſeverely puniſhes Cowards, and Deſerters of his Cauſe and People in a Day of Danger and Difficulty, will amply reward with Important Bleſſings and Benefits, brave Soldiers, gallant HEROES and HEROINES! this famous Inſtance of FEMALE FORTITUDE is a ſtanding Reproach to Cowards and Galleos of the hardier and robuſter Sex, and may juſtly cover them with confounding Bluſhes, as unworthy of the Name of Men, or of a Place in civil Society! to play the Man, in Scripture Language, is to be couragious in Battle 2 Samuel 10.12.. But it is Time to proceed to the Improvement of this Subject, in which I muſt be brief.

The Caſe of Moab, my Brethern, as repreſented by the Prophet Jeremiah in the 48 Chapter of his Book (the 7, 11 12 Verſes) is very much the Caſe of this Province; Moah truſted in his Works, was at Eaſe from his Youth, was ſettled on his Lees, had not gone in to Captivity, and therefore his (bad) Scent was not altered; but now the Scene changed, the righteous God ſent Wanderers unto him, that caus'd him to wander, that empty'd his Veſſels, and broke his Bottles! Moah had no Changes, and therefore he fear'd not God! but now he is puniſh'd for his Pride, Security and Self-confidence! are our Enemies, my Brethren, let looſe upon us, and have they committed ſuch Barbarities as are before mentioned? then let us make a ſuitable Improvement of this melancholy Providence, by humbling ourſelves under the Mighty Hand of God, that in due Seaſon he may lift us up. If we humble ourſelves and pray and ſeek God's Face, he will hear from Heaven and forgive our Sin, and heal our Land. Famine and the Sword are Judgments which a righteous God ſends upon guilty Nations and Communities, to puniſh them for their Wickedneſs: now have we not been threat'ned with the former, by the late ſcanty Crop, and is not the latter making our Country deſolate? The Sword is at preſent drawn, and made drunk with the Blood of our Brethren, and is there not ſufficient Cauſe, why the righteous God, ſhou'd frame Evil againſt us, and deviſe a Device againſt us? Yes, Sirs, there is; for our whole Head is Sick, and our whole Heart faint; do not the following great Iniquities abound among us, viz.

Drunkenneſs, Pride, Wheredom, Sabbath-breaking, prophane Sevearing, Falſhood, Oppreſſion of the Poor, Contempt of the Goſpel of Chriſt, and Unfruitfulneſs under it, Neglect of Family Religion, SCANDALOUS CONTENTIONS while the Enemy is at the Door, ſordid Security, preſumptuous Expectation of Impunity in the Midſt of great and growing Dangers and Miſchiefs, without the Uſe of proper Means; yea, Balls and Dancings in a Time of general Calamity, and that not only by Citizens, but by Soldiers, when we ſhould be either girding on our Harneſs for Battle againſt the Ravagers of our Country, or praying between the Porch and the Altar, that God would ſpare his Heritage, and not give them up to Reproach! Here it may be queried, whether ſuch a Conduct is decent and ſuitable in a Time of publick Mourning and Woe? And whether it does not tend to render Men effeminate, and unfit them for War and Arms? And therefore, whether it becomes the Gentlemen of the Sword, the Glory of whoſe military Character will be more advanced by leading on their Troops with Skill and Courage to charge the Enemy, than by leading a Lady in a Dance! Were not the hardy, brave, veteran, and victorious Troops of Hanibal, the Carthaginian General, much Hurt, and enervated by ſuch like ſoft and luxurious Entertainments in Italy, to the great Prejudice of his after Encounters with the Roman ArmiesI might add one Particular, that has a very threat'ning Aſpect upon our Nation at preſent, and that is, a great Degeneracy among many, in Reſpect of the Doctrines of Grace, or main Principles of the Reformation: While the Diſeaſe and Remedy are overlook'd, and nothing but moral Virtue without Chriſt recommended, what can be expected but a dead Form of Religion, if ſo much? If the Foundations are deſtroyed, what can the Righteous do? Pſ. 11.3.?

Has not God threatened to puniſh others for thoſe Impieties I have now mentioned? See Iſa. 28.1.3. Wo to the Drunkards of Ephraim, they ſhall be troddon under Foot. (Prov. 16.18.) Pride goes before Deſtruction, and a haughty Spirit before a Fall. (Jer. 5.8, 9.) They where as fed Horſes in the Morning, every one neighing after his Neighbour's Wife, ſhall I not viſit for theſe Things, ſaith the Lord, ſhall not my Soul he avenged on ſuch a Nation as this. (Ezek. 20.13.) But the Houſe of Iſrael rebel'd againſt me, my Sabbaths they greatly polluted, then I ſaid, I wou'd pour out my Fury upon them to conſume them. (Jer. 23.10.) For becauſe of Swearing the Land mourneth, the pleaſant Places of the Wilderneſs are dried up. (Jer. 9. Chap.) They bend their Tongues like their Bow for Lies, they be all an Aſſembly of treacherours Men, for every Brother will utterly ſupplant, and every Neighbour 〈◊〉 with Slanders, ſhall not my Soul be avenged on ſuch a Nation as this? (Iſa. 3.15, 25, 26.) What mean ye, that ye beat my People to Pieces, and grind the Faces of the Poor, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts.—Thy Men ſhall fall by the Sword, and thy Mighty in the War, her Gates ſhall lament and mourn, and ſhe being deſolate, ſhall ſit upon the Ground. (Heb. 6.7, 8.) For the Earth that drinketh up the Rain that cometh upon it, and bringeth forth Herbs, receiveth Bleſſing from God, but that which beareth Thorns and Briars is rejected, and nigh unto Curſing, whoſe End is to be burn. (Mat. 21, 43.) The Kingdom of God ſhall be taken from You, and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof. (Jer. 10.25.) Pour out thy Fury upon the Heathen, that know thee not, and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name. (Amos 6 Chap.) Wo to them that are at Eaſe in Zion, that put far away the Evil Day, and are not grieved for the Affliction of Joſeph, therefore now ſhall they go captive with the firſt that go captive. (Iſa. 22.14.) And in that Day did the Lord God of Hoſts call to weeping and to mourning, and to girding with Sackcloth, and behold Joy and Gladneſs, ſurely this Iniquity ſhall not be purged from you, till ye die, ſaith the Lord God of Hoſts!

For theſe Abominations, my Brethren, the God of Truth hath actually executed the Puniſhments before mentioned upon other Nations and Churches; now ſeeing Sin is of the ſame Nature, the Juſtice of God invariable; and theſe Things were written for our Learning upon whom the Ends of the World are come; and likewiſe conſidering that the Sins of Nations and Communities, as ſuch, can only be puniſh'd in this World, becauſe they expire and terminate with it, have we not Reaſon to fear and expect the ſame Fate, except we repent.

The once famous Monarchies of Aſſyria, Chaldea, Greece and Rome are now no more! and is not the Jewiſh Nation ſo much celebrated in ſacred Story, at this time reduc'd for their crimſon Impieties to deplorable Ruins, as well as many Thouſands of Chriſtian Churches, in Aſia, Greece, Paleſtine, France, Bohemia, and other Places? Now if we will not take Warning by the Judgments of God upon others, we ourſelves will be made a Warning and a Terror to others!

Sirs, if when God's Hand is lifted up, we will not ſee and acknowledge his Controverſy with us, if, when he ſpeaks to us in the Language of Thunder by his awful Rod, we will not hear his Voice, if, while his Judgments are abroad in the Earth, we refuſe to learn Righteouſneſs, walk contrary to God, and harden ourſelves in our Impieties like Pharaoh, Jehovah will puniſh us ſeven Times for our Iniquities, he will ſurely break us with Breach upon Breach, and run upon us like a Giant, he will deſtroy and devour at once, he will ſtir up Jealouſy like a Man of War, he ſhall cry, yea, roar, he ſhall prevail againſt his Enemies! nor will our religious Profeſſion, ſcreen us from the Strokes of his angry Rod; no, Judgment ſhall begin firſt at the Houſe of God, and becauſe Jehovah has done more for us than many other Nations, therefore will he puniſh us for our ungrateful Abuſe of his Goodneſs, if we remain impenitent!

If, while the Lord is forming Evil againſt us, we will not return from our evil Ways, and make our Ways and our Doings good, Jehovah will ſcatter us as with an Eaſt Wind before the Enemy, and ſhew us the Back and not the Face in the Day of our Calamity! In brief, if we will not mourn over our own Sins, and the Sins of our Nation and Land, and reform our Ways, no human Meaſures, how apt ſoever, will protect us from the juſt and terrible Vengeance of an angry God, we ſhall ſooner or later meet with the Ruin and Deſtruction our Impieties deſerveIt is Matter of Reproach and Lamentation, that ſince our late Troubles, there have been in the publick Papers, many vain Boaſtings of our Courage and Strength, and vain Confidence of Succeſs, meerly by the Force of our Fleets and Armies, without any Regard to God and his Providence; this is as imprudent as impious; he that girds on his Harneſs ſhould not boaſt as he that puts it off Such Infidel contempt of God, as it is an Argument of the dreadful Degeneracy of our Nation, ſo it is a low Imitation of the French Gaſconade, an Impiety ſufficient to bring the Blaſt of angry Heaven upon all our Meaſures; may God graciouſly pardon the bold Affront to his Crown and Dignity, and ſave our ſinful Nation and Land from the Deſolations we deſerve for it.; And, indeed, before this general Reformation takes place, the very Removal of Judgments for a Time, is, itſelf, a Judgment, like the abus'd Reprieve of a condemn'd Criminal for a little Moment before his Execution.

But if while the Almighty is threat'ning to pluck up, pull down and deſtroy our Nation, we turn from our Evil, viz. the Evil of Sin, he will repent of the Evil he thought to do to us, viz. the Evil of Puniſhment, i. e. he will, by his Providence, deliver us from the threat'ned Calamity; an affecting Inſtance of which we have in the People of Nineveh, who when they heard the divine Threat|'ning by Jonah, believed God, faſted, prayed, reformed, and were delivered from Deſtruction; for God ſaw their Works, that they turn'd from their Evil Way.

But, my Brethren, there is Need of civil as well as ſpiritual Means in the preſent Caſe; for therein we have not only to do with God, but with Men like ourſelves, who are induſtriouſly uſing both the Methods of Art and Force to ruin and deſtroy us, we ſhould therefore prepare for our Defence, and for Recempenſing the Injuries done to us upon our Enemies: I cannot therefore but highly commend the Meaſures lately taken in this City by divers of the Inhabitants, in voluntarily forming themſelves into Companies, in order to learn the Art of War, that they may be ready upon any Immergency to defend themſelves and others with a Probability of Succeſs.

Gentlemen, In this you conform to the Counſel of the wiſeſt of Men, and the Example of the beſt; Solomon obſerves, That the prudent Man ſoreſees Evil, and bides himſelf, but the Simple paſs on, and are puniſhed; but how does the prudent Man hide himſelf? not by a cowardly Flight from Danger, but by preparing for Defence! and hence the Father of the Faithful was induced to train up his numerous Family in the Uſe of Arms, which his unhappy Brother, with many others, reduced to a State of Captivity, ſoon found the Advantage of.

This Undertaking, Gentlemen, is ſo much the more excellent and worthy of Commendation, as it is diſintereſted and voluntary, tho' attended with Fatigue and Expence: Hereby you act up to the Reaſon of Men and the Zeal of Chriſtians, of Proteſtants, of Britons! expreſſing by Action a real Reward to your Religion and Liberty, to your King and Country, to your Friends and dear Relatives; for by this Undertaking you declare that you will not tamely and ſordidly give them all up to the Luſts of our inveterate Enemies, without ſtriking a ſtroke in their Defence: Go on, Sirs, in the Name of God, and be not diſcouraged by any Difficulties or Reflections you may meet with in the Proſecution of your Deſign, which is honeſt and honourable, and of Service to your Country!

Now in order to proſper herein, give me Leave with Humility and Earneſtneſs to intreat you, to endeavour with Speed and Vehemence to be ſincerely religious yourſelves; this is the beſt Preparative for hazardous Enterprizes, the beſt Foundation of undiſguiſed Patriotiſm, and undaunted Courage, as well as the moſt probable Mean to obtain Succeſs, to this End therefore bewail your Offences againſt God, accept of the Redeemer, and obey his Laws.

Be clothed with Humility, by this you will adorn your military Character, be better prepar'd to ſerve the Publick, and inclin'd to avoid thoſe unhappy Contentions which ſpring from Pride as their Source, and are as ſcandalous as prejudicial to Society, not only by marring the Comfort of it, but by rendering (frequently) the moſt noble Deſigns, and promiſing Appearances, abortive.

Beware, my Brethren, of a narrow, bitter Party-Spirit, ſlight not each other becauſe of different Sentiments in Religion or Politicks, for ſuch a Diverſity is unavoidable in the preſent State of Imperfection: However you may differ in other Matters, yet agree in this common and noble Cauſe, the Defence of your Country, and the rather becauſe by its excellent Conſtitution, it maintains your Religious Liberty inviolate!

O preſerve the Union of Peace and Love among yourſelves, without this your military Aſſociations are neither like to be honourable or comfortable to yourſelves, or ſerviceable to your Country; and ſeeing your Companies are not formed by the Conſtraint of Authority, but by your own Choice, and have no Proſpect of private Intereſt to encourage their Continuance; there is of Conſequence the greater Need of the aforeſaid Union, without which they are not like to be of long Duration.

But I proceed to offer a few Words to ſuch of the Inhabitants of this City, who have not hitherto join'd in the late Aſſociations for Defence, or military Companies: My Friends and Brethren, when any, in a Time of publick Danger and Diſtreſs, freely and voluntarily of their own Motion, offer themſelves to defend their Country by Force and Arms, and avenge its Wrongs, it furniſhes ſufficient Matter for Thankfulneſs and Praiſe to Almighty God, who has ſtirr'd them up thereto, and gives great Pleaſure and Delight to ſuch as have their Country's Good at Heart; but the Enemies of our Religion and Liberty are griev'd at ſuch a Sight. (See Judges 5. 2. 9. And Nehemiah 2.10, 19, 20.) Praiſe ye the Lord for the avenging of Iſrael, when the People, willingly offered themſelves; my Heart is towards the Governors of Iſrael, that offered themſelves willingly among the People, bleſs ye the Lord! When Sanballet the Horonite, and Tobiah, the Servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it griev'd them exceedingly, that there was come a Man to ſeek the Welfare of the Children of Iſrael: Then ſaid I unto them, Ye ſee the Diſtreſs that we are in, how Jeruſalem lyeth waſte, come and let us build up the Wall, that we be no more a Reproach; but they laught us to Scorn, and deſpiſed us; then anſwered I them, and ſaid, the God of Heaven he will proſper us, therefore we his Servants will ariſe and build, but you have no Portion, nor right, nor Memorial in Jeruſalem!

Sirs, It is exceeding agreeable to devout Minds, and God ſhou'd be acknowledged for it, when not only Perſons of a lower Order, but thoſe of the higheſt, are VOLUNTEERS in the Cauſe of their God and their Country, and appear in Arms in Defence thereof, altho' they might plead Excuſe becauſe of their Dignity; My Heart is towards the Governors of Iſrael, that offer'd themſelves willingly among the People; As if the gallant inſpir'd Heroine Deborah had ſaid, I highly eſteem and heartily love thoſe brave Patriots, who do not inſiſt upon the little Punctillio's of their Honour, when all their religious and civil Privileges are at Stake; no, great Souls, in ſuch important Conjunctures, treat ſuch Trifles with a noble Negligence; ſurely thoſe Eagles will not meanly drop their ſublime Flight, to catch Flies, nor fooliſhly loſe the Subſtance by graſping at a Shadow!

I would therefore entreat you, my Brethren, to encourage theſe military Companies, by joining in them, and punctually attending the Times of their Exerciſes, as well as by bleſſing God for them, and imploring his Bleſſing upon them!

But I return to offer a brief Addreſs to the military Gentlemen of this City, and others; Sirs, If it ſhould pleaſe Providence to call you to any Engagement againſt our Enemies, with Deſign either to aſſiſt or pretect your diſtreſſed Brethren, or avenge the Affronts of your Sovereign, and your Country's Wrongs; I hope you are determin'd by divine Help to undertake the important Enterprize with Readineſs, and to proſecute it with Reſolution, Bravery and Firmneſs; for happy ſhall he be, that rewardeth them as they have ſerved us. The Cauſe is juſt and important, if any Thing is or can be ſo, viz. The Defence of our Country, and all the Religious and Civil Privileges which that endearing Word contains! The Reward is great, unſpeakably great, in this and a future World; and the Work to a pious, generous and heroick Mind truly noble, deſirable, and amiable!

My Heart bleeds for this ravaged Country, eſpecially for our poor Brethren in the back Parts of it, many of whom have been mercileſly ſacrificed by the Pagan Savages, and the Remainder reduc'd to ſuch Circumſtances of Diſtreſs and Woe, as are enough to pierce a Heart of Iron, of Adamant; My Bowels, my Bowels, I am pained at my very Heart! thou haſt heard, O my Soul, the Alarm of War, Deſtruction upon Deſtruction is cry'd! for the whole Land is ſpoil'd! O that my Head were Waters, and mine Eyes a Fountain of Tears, that I might weep Day and Night for the Slain of the Daughter of my People! Can ye endure, Sirs, without the tendereſt Sympathy, the ſtrongeſt Emotion, to ſee our Brethren, our Fellow-Subjects, our Fellow-Proteſtants, maſſacred by Indian Banditti, under popiſh Influence, without any Aſſiſtance? No, ſurely! or where are Patriotiſm and Britiſh Bravery fled away?

You all know, my Brethren, the diſmal Conſequences of a French, a Popiſh Government, that in ſuch a Situation you muſt be deprived of your Eſtates and civil Liberty, which are no inconſiderable Loſs: But, what is infinitely more, you muſt either ſin, or ſuffer the moſt barbarous Severities; witneſs the Sufferings of the brave Wildenſes, the Torments of the Inquiſition, the Fires of Smithfield in the Reign of Queen Mary, the Pariſian Maſſacre At that Metropolis, where the leading Perſons of the Proteſtant Body in that Nation were invited, under the ſpecious Umbrage of a Marriage with a Proteſtant Prince) the King of Navarre, after the ſtrongeſt Profeſſions of Friendſhip, and an Oath of Safe conduct, began in the dead of the Night the muſt horrid and 〈…〉 , which ſo 〈◊〉 ſpread into other Parts of the Kingdom, whereby a Hundred Thouſand Perſons were cruelly murdered, and among them many of diſtinguiſhed Eminence, particularly one of the greateſt and braveſt Men that ever France produced, viz. Admiral Coligni. Hereby the Foundation was laid for the total Overthrow of that great Number of Churches mentioned in the Sermon. By this crimſon, unequal'd Perfidy, the Papiſts ſhew'd their inviolable Adherence to that traitorous Tenet, viz. That Faith is not to be kept with (ſuch as they falſely call) Hereticks: Yet, be aſtoniſhed O Heavens! this bloody Villany, at which an honeſt Heathen would bluſh, was applauded by the Romiſh Conclave., by which one and twenty Hundred Proteſtant Churches were reduced to Ruins, the Maſſacre in Ireland, in one Province of which 140 Thouſand Proteſtants were murdered. Sirs, The Fraud, the Perjury, the Inhumanity, the Barbarity, and Horrors of the aforeſaid Popiſh Scene, cannot be parallel'd in civil Story, and are too big for the Powers of Language fully to expreſs, or ſet in a ſtrong enough Light.

It is a Thouſand Times better to be under the Government of Turks than Papiſts, for there we might enjoy ſome Liberty, but here none at all; there are not ſuch bloody, tyrannical Task-maſters under the whole Heaven as the Papiſts, we have therefore Reaſon to dread their Government more than Death itſelf; Death, my Brethren, in the Field of Battle, the Bed of Honour, while nobly contending for our Religion and Liberty, is infinitely preferable to the ſordid Life of a Slave, or a Hypocrite under the worſt of Tyrants; yea, in ſuch a Death, there is ſomething ſo ſublime, grand, and noble, in preferring the Safety of the Church and State to our own, to our very Lives, that it cannot but be agreable to great, to good, and heroick Minds; ſuch muſt therefore have diſorder'd Underſtandings, or cowardly, little, ſelfiſh Souls, who want to ſleep in a whole Skin, or ſordidly to ſpare their Caſh, when their Country is bleeding to Death? Prov. 11.24. There is that ſcattereth, and yet encreaſeth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to Poverty. It would be inglorious and baſe, my Brethren, to ſurvive the Cataſtrophe of our Country, to ſurvive the Ruin of our dear religious Liberty! No, it is better by far, greatly to fall and die with them in the Field of Battle, and be buried in one Grave! Should we therefore deſerve the Character of Men, of Chriſtians, of Proteſtants, of Britons, if we ſold cheap into the Hands of our cruel Enemies, thoſe precious Privileges which have been committed to us by our Anceſtors, as a ſacred Truſt, to be by us convey'd to the ſucceeding Generation; Privileges that have been the Price of much Blood in many Ages, and in many Nations; no, Sirs, we ſhould deſerve not only to be unchurch'd, but drove from the Society of Men to herd with Beaſts. But, my Hearers, I am perſuaded ye deteſt ſuch ſneaking Meanneſs, which manifeſts thoſe that are guilty of it, to be Monſters of human Nature, Prodigies of Treachery, Ingratitude and Meanneſs. Allow me to add one Conſideration more, which ſhews that the Oppoſers of Defence, in the preſent Caſe, are without all Umbrage of Apology, and that is this, that the Indian Tribes who are now diſtreſſing this Province by Fire and Sword, are by Treaties (of Right the Subjects of King George the Second, which Treaties they have perfidiouſly broken, and commenc'd Rebels again their lawful Prince; now if it be not lawful and neceſſary to puniſh Rebels, then certainly Government itſelf to unlawful, and Rebellion againſt the beſt of Kings no Crime; which nevertheleſs the Holy Scriptures repreſent to be as the Sin of Witchcraft: Now whether Oppoſing of or Indifferency about puniſhing the Rebel-ſubjects of our gracious Sovereign be conſiſtent either with civil Government, or with Loyalty, I leave to others to determine. Let us all therefore, my dear Brethren, in ſo clear, ſo important a Cauſe, as one Man ariſe, and exert ourſelves to the utmoſt, let us think and ſpeak, and act to one dying Breath, agreeable to the noble Strains of the Pſalmiſt and Prophet, If I forget thee, O Jeruſalem, let my Right Hand forget her 〈◊〉 , let my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth, if I prefer not Jeruſalem to my chief Joy: For Jeruſalem's ſake I will not hold my Peace, and for Zion's ſake I will not be ſilent, until the Righteouſneſs thereof go forth as Brightneſs, and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth: But the Time 〈…〉 , I muſt not enlarge: In one Word, every Conſideration that ought to Influence a human Soul, conſpires to incite you to vindicate your Sovereign's Honour, to preſerve your Religious and Liberty, to relieve your ſuffering Brethren, and avenge your Country's Wrong: I conclude with the Words of our Text, O Daughter of Babylon, who art to be deſtroyed, happy ſhall he be, who rewardeth thee, as thou haſt ſerved us! AMEN and AMEN.