FROM a sense of my incapacity, and the shortness of the time allowed me to prepare, I repeatedly declined speaking in public, on a day set apart to Commemorate the bloody Massacre, the bar­barous butchery at Boston four years ago. And when I looked over the excellent peices that have been printed on that sorrowful occasion, I thought very little new could be offered, and therefore felt the greater inclination to be ex­cused. But the importunity of friends which finally overcame me, I hope will be a sufficient apology, and engage your candour in hearing, while I offer a few things inferred from

IGNORANCE, pride, covetiousness, or the lust of power, has, in all ages, influenced many men to exert themselves many ways, to fix a yoke of bondage upon the necks of some of their brethren. The Jewish Doctors being ignorant of that freedom which Christ gave his true follow­ers by his obedience and death, used their utmost art to enslave their bre­thren by the rites and observances of the ceremonial law, and when our Apostle opposed them, no doubt their pride and covetuousness wrought fervently, as their gain and sovereignty were in danger of being entirely muzzled. And had they obtained their end in bringing this yoke upon the Gentile converts, yet even then, they would not have been easy, for they were never able to bear it themselves.

BUT there are other ways of enslaving men, besides by burdensome rites: Burdensom taxes laid upon them without their consent, whether in the State or in the Church, are a sinful yoke of bondage.

AS to the STATE; Our patriotic brethren in BOSTON, have justly ob­served on one of these anniversary occasions, that a noble attachment to a free CONSTITUTION raised ancient ROME ‘from the smallest beginings to that bright summit of happiness and glory to which she arrived; and it was the loss of this which plunged her from that summit into the black gulph of infamy and slavery.’

AND we shall add, the same spirit of liberty prevailed in Christian Rome at the first embracing Christian principles: But they were soon disposed to enslave their brethren respecting matters of religion, as they had done [Page 7] in the state before they embraced the Christian faith. Their merchan­dize and hire were soon employed for sweet incense and costly perfumes, to serve the pride and luxury of the great; until at last, haughty Popes and Prelates usurped a tyrannical power over the consciences of men and drew money out of their pockets, for pardons and indulgencies, and for praying them out of purgatory, which was to their destruction and not to their salvation.

IT would not have been quite so dark, had the yoke never been put upon the necks of protestants; but persecution for conscience sake—im­prisonment, confiscation of goods, banishment and even death, have often been practised since the reformation, and in protestant nations too. Nor would it be necessary to go out of England and Scotland for many instan­ces of such flagrant wickedness.—But can we pretend that New-England ever attempted to lay a yoke of bondage upon any of its inhabitants, for conscience sake? Here we shall spread a viel over our fore-fathers, and leave their extraordinary conduct with that God who judgeth righteous judgment. We need not go back for proof to make it appear, that men have endeavoured to enslave their brethren in ecclesiastical concerns: for all those that forcibly take away the money or property from their honest neighbours to support a minister which they cannot in conscience attend, are guilty of spiritual tyranny: They take away their money or lay a tax upon them without their consent, and disenable them to support the worship of God agreeable to the dictates of their own consciences. And if this is not enslaving men in their most important interests, in the name of wonder, what is? Our neighbours^* have been convenced of [Page 8] the injustice of such a practice, and have granted liberty of conscience to all denominations of protestants. Nor do I know of any province in New-England, in this enlightened age of liberty, but what has done the same, except THIS, which is foremost in espousing the cause of civil liberty.—But violence and spoil are still heard in our dear province. It has relieved Episcopalians, Anabaptists and Quakers, but still keeps the yoke of bondage upon the necks of Calvinists. ^* These, though they are [Page 9] and through the shifting scenes of state affairs, have been as dutiful subjects as ever the HOUSE of HANOVER had, must be kept in slavery; while we as one united body are pleading for liberty.

BLESSED be God the several congregations in this town, have honoured themselves and done justice in this affair, by cordially agreeing in one united application to our ASSEMBLY with success, that each religious society in the town, should be obliged to pay ministerial charges "where they meet for public worship" and they are exempted from "paying to­wards the support of the ministry, and from other incidental charges at any other place than where they attend." This is truly becoming the sons of liberty, and well worthy the imitation of every town in the province. It is no more than our excellent CHARTER allows us, though, it is pleaded, our laws made for ECCLESIASTICAL affairs abridge us of this liberty.

WERE these equitable principles which have been the price of blood, propagated in ecclesiastical as warmly as in civil concerns, there would be [Page 10] much more peace and social happiness in our parishes than has generally prevailed among us. But whether this privilege be granted to the church or not, yet I am sure the law of reason and equity will stand up in favour of it.

THOUGH I have observed "with high satisfaction, the zeal and exer­tions of the Americans in defence of their rights and liberties" of a civil kind, and earnestly with that HE who holds the universe in his hands, may crown their warmest efforts with everlasting success—Yet I own it looks odd to me, that a PROVINCE which holds on ecclesiastical tyranny beyond all her sister colonies should be foremost in her attempts and pleas for civil liberty.—Nor can I groundedly hope for the smiles of Heaven upon us, in our utmost efforts, if we endeavour to enslave our Christian brethren in their ecclesiastical concerns; for while we plead for liberty on one hand, and promote slavery on the other, our principles are too contracted and corrupt; and if we regard oppression in our hearts the Lord will not hear us. Christian liberty, both civil and ecclesiastical, is the greatest blessing of the kind, that we can enjoy; and therefore to be deprived of either, is the greatest injury we can suffer; and whoever they be that at­tempt to hold us in the claws of tyranny, must be heineous offenders in the sight of God. All attempts to justify slavery, are but the feeble endea­vours of selfishness to oppose the law of nature and divine revelation, and serve to show us the weakness of the judgment and the wickedness of the human heart.

I WISH and earnestly pray that our patriotic House of Representatives may be inspired to exert themselves, in the wisest and most effectual way, to put an end to all civil and ecclesiastical oppression, and to make liberty e­qual [Page 11] to all men inhabiting the province.—This, this would immortalize their names, and all the sons of liberty would rise up and call them blessed. When that time commences it will be a token for good that justice will run down our streets as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

BUT whether success attends our endeavours or not, it becomes us, as men and christians, to assert our natural and constitutional privileges —never to give them up, but if possible to recover and defend them a­gainst all malicious claims of haughty and covetious tools of arbitrary power, they are a legacy left us by Christ, the purchase of his blood. And will any tamely submit to be entangled with the yoke of bondage, now Christ has made us free!

SURELY, My Friends and Townsmen, you will be very jealous for the defence for our excellent constitution, and where a breach is made upon it you will earnestly contend for its being healed. Neither the high no­tions of the British Parliament, nor the groundless prejudices in this Pro­vince, should intimidate your minds. Where is the brave spirits of our Fore-fathers that ventured life and all that was dear to them, rather, than give up their privileges to the pleasure of Sir Edmund Androse and his creatures! Sure, in this enlightned age of liberty, you will not readily yeild to slavery. Now natural and constitutional rites are so well under­stood, and appear so reasonable you cannot desert the cause, nor grow indifferent about it. I perswade myself, that you, in combination with our brethren, will be more successful than our mother country has some times been, in preserving that reverance and authority which is due to christian liberty.

I PITY rather than hate the British parliament, in their tyrannic sen­timents [Page 12] respecting the Colonies. We chuse to be as one body—like Jerusalem, as a City COMPACT together. We desire to live in con­nection with Great-Britain, in a sweet harmony, and are grieved to see the dispotism that is breaking us asunder. I pity the place-men and pensioners in this Province, who are striving by public measures among ourselves, and private letters to men abroad, to keep up and increase the alienation between us and our mother country. I wish the bleeding wounds may be thoroughly healed, and the true interests of Church and State may govern all denominations in their future contests, and regu­late all their claims: They were designed to be mutual benefits; and if they were cordially united in the truth, we might be led forth in the right way of peace, by the hand of Moses and Aaron. May the vir­tuous on both sides endeavour, by all probable means, to remove all grounds of complaint, and restore equal liberties—If every one upright­ly considered his own happiness as a part of the whole, and inseperable from it, he would feel no disposition to enslave any. All would chear­fully submit to a righteous government in church and state; for they would find all turn to general good, friendship and gratitude would be restored between Great-Britain and her Colonies, love and peace between the various denominations of protestant christians.—Church and state would be mutual helps in this province; and as we are beautiful for situ­ation▪ we should soon be the joy of the whole land. None would be taxed without his consent, to support a ministry he conscientiously dissent­ed [...] The enemies would not roar in parishes, nor break down the carved work with axes and hammers; the same public spirit would reign in all orders and conditions of men, which reigned in Christ Jesus.—If a [...] of Christian benevolence was properly cultivated in all the different classes, [...] lines would not bind any one to pay their money to support a [Page 13] worship which they esteemed corrupt, but where they could with peace and comfort set down with their brethren; and this would not lessen the extent of good order and pleasure nor shorten their duration.

BUT when shall this happy aera commence! Not in the STATE, as long as fleets and armies are palmed upon us, to threaten distruction in a time of peace—Not as long as the parliament of Great-Britain strive to tax us without our consent.

THE shocking effects of these violent measures we have already felt by the ever memorable tragical scene at Boston four years ago! We mourn with our brethren, that the sons of violence and blood were ever suffered to parade the streets of our Metropolis! We feel for them, who saw their streets stained with INNOCENT BLOOD, by worse than butcher­ing Soldiers! Should the Lord arraign the blood-thirsty crew as he did Cain, they might add rebellion to their other sin, as he did: But if they should hear GOD say, "What have you done! The voice of your bre­thren's blood crieth unto me from the ground;" they would be ready to cry, "Our punishment is greater than we can bear:" They would feel themselves cut off from the church, and forbid to bring any more vain oblations, unpardoned guilt would fill their souls with continual terror. May the awful catastrophe of that evening be ever deeply engraven up­on our hearts as it is this day!

I READILY own that I feel upon my mind a great aversion to all en­slaving measures, and a strong desire for public liberty. I wish to see all those fetters which parliaments have endeavoured to fix upon us, done away. When will the time come, that fleets and armies shall be [...], [Page 14] and better employed than to threaten us with bondage and death! I could also wish for the peace and happiness of the church; and there­fore, that all denominations of protestants might be at liberty to seek their edification in those worshiping assemblies with which they agree in sentiment, and be discharged from ministerial taxes to any but where they attend, as it is in this town, through the benevolent application of its inhabitants. We see many sad consequences of violence in the church; we have tried force long enough to convince us that we have no reason to be proud of the experiment. Methinks a collector has as much rea­son to tremble at the face of an honest man when he demands his money or property in such a case, as a thief would have at the sight of a sheriff. What benefit has ever accrued to people by the plunder of honest men, who soberly dissent from their brethren—the consequence of so much injustice has been to excite people to devise several schemes to get rid of their fetters. Besides, it is attended with a general loss of credit and confidence in one another. It requires no great degree of virtue and wisdom in a court to put a stop to such gains of ungodliness.

BUT a spirit of liberty is wanting, even among those that are pleading for liberty▪ and dread slavery. The Church as well as the State must be founded on principles of justice, benevolence and moderation, or there can be no peace The wisdom that is from above is first PURE, then peace­able—but envy and strife arise from beneath.

I PRESUME not to dictate the legislators of the people: But it is our duty as Ministers of Christ, to open the nature of justice and oppressi­on We have a right to say that what any man can call his, must re­main his, [...] he agrees to part with it; and if it is taken away by force, [Page 15] it is an act of injustice. Justice will regulate the happiness of church and state; but oppression will promote their misery. By what bond so­ciety and social happiness will be promoted, I know not, as long as they bite and devour one another.

RIGHTEOUSNESS and mercy are due to all men, especially to those with whom we are nearly connected. The law of nature and the writ­ten law of God, ought to be the great maxims of all civil and ecclesi­astical policy. It is truely surprising to observe, how Slowly the prin­ciples of freedom prevail respecting the Church in a land so warmly en­gaged for liberty in the State. It has been the policy of some, who are zealous for liberty, to lay their brethren under the severest restrictions on religious accounts, though doubtless if proper freedom was granted, the whole body would feel the blessings of it; for the most effectual me­thod of receiving good from others is to do good to them. Equal liber­ties granted to all denominations, would naturally tend to beget affecti­onate union. The time I am perswaded will come, when the restraints laid upon some christians, and the violence used towards them will cease, and there will be as great freedom in the Church as we plead for in the state. It would be a noble effect of laudable ambition in our whole legis­lative body, if they should follow their neighbours in this matter, or fix upon some better plan for relief. O that court and country may break through the prejudices and selfishness of the age! O that all may be led into the right path to promote truth and social happiness! The path that would make the province peaceful among themselves, and respectable a­mong others! But force and fraud will never effect this blessing, thou [...] love and friendship might. And then we should, with a be [...] grace, plead the merits of our cause, whenever called thereto [...] it should [Page 16] be at the expence of life and treasure—the evidence in our favour would shine the brighter in the view of all wise and good men. It would be a good means to convince them that we are contending for our rights and liberties, with a benevolent and christian spirit—by the armour of righ­teousness on the right hand and on the left, through the manifestation of the truth; and that we dread the defence of liberty by external force— that nothing but meer necessity shall draw us into it.

BUT if these and other equitable measures will not prevail over those that would enslave us, Christian benevolence will inspire us to secure our rights, and repair our injuries at the point of the sword; for if one man may defend himself and his rights against an assailant, much more may a whole country defend themselves when their rights are invaded, because the concern is greater. In such case, the spirit of Christian benevolence would animate us to fill our streets with blood, rather than suffer others to rob us of our rights. I readily grant that arms are a sad remedy, and the more undesirable where there has subsisted useful connections: But if old friends are disposed to be terrible, if they endeavour to enslave, and bring mischief and misery upon their brethren, this is a false notion of glory, and condemned by true religion. Then it becomes us to take up arms and use them in the nature of a remedy. Such corossives are pain­ful, but the causes which make them necessary are more dangerous. When nothing else will serve to preserve or restore our liberties, it be­comes a duty to make use of arms—We desire liberty with peace, and would gladly live as friends, but if the blessing of liberty cannot be had with peace, it is lawful and right to enter into a contrary state. If for­mer friend [...] [...] now resolved to entangle us with a yoke of bondage, God [Page 17] forbid that we should suffer them to cut off our limbs and mangle our whole body to gratify their injurious demands. Such terms of peace are no better than what Nahajh the Ammonite proposed to the men of Jabeth Gilead, that they would let him thrust out their right eyes, and bring reproach up­on all Israel, leaving them one eye to serve him in some mean and servile drugery. If it should be so that our natural and constitutional liberties cannot be recovered and maintained without repelling force by force, who could hesitate for a moment, about the propriety of taking up arms! If our brethren will not be easy unless we suffer them to thrust out our right eyes, and enslave our families, it is a very loud call from God, to de­fend ourselves from their encroachments: And if we go forth in the name and strength of Christ, he will be our sun to guide and animate us, and our shield to defend and give us salvation.

IT is matter of deep lamentation that any of the ministry at home, or a­ny pensioners and their tools in the British colonies should distress a tree people with any outward inconveniences from a sinful, imperious spirit directly opposite to the genius of the gospel: It is a great pity that those who are so nearly connected in interest, and a long combination produc­tive of their common good and happiness should be broken asunder by un­principled tyrants and traitors,—traitors to their King and to his loyal sub­jects! They deeply offend him who has purchased all our privileges, and who will severely judge and condemn all tyrannizing over a free people. They cannot be justly offended though in this open and undisguised way, I affirm they are acting over the old trade of persecution, rather than we should be free, and the methods of distress are calculated to prevent the [Page 15] nation and colonies from being a flourishing people, so long as the old connection lasts. The same plan if it should prevail, will issue in most fatal consequences. It has laid waste many flourishing countries, and mul­titudes, for liberties sake, have been killed all the day long; the blood of martyrs have run like rivers down the streets of famous cities; it has put others to cruel mockings, bonds, imprisonments and banishments. Yea it was the same principle that crucified the Lord of life and glory, And as these have been the shocking consequences of such principles pre­vailing in the church or state, the like may be acted over again, if the principles are not seasonably suppressed.

BUT should we suffer ever so many temporal inconveniences for it, yet, as Christians, we may not give up those rights and privileges that Christ has purchased for and bestowed upon us; for giving them up, would not only reflect great dishonour upon Christ, but would be incon­sistent with the peace and welfare of the people, and therefore be quite intolerable. We hope that HE by whom Kings reign, and Princes de­cree justice, will inspire our DREAD SOVEREIGN with those feelings of pity, humanity and goodness, which were very conspicuous in his ROYAL GRAND-FATHER; and dispose him to put a speedy and final end to all those measures of despotism, invented and propagated by a corrupt ministry.

GOD grant, that we may so conduct in our ecclesiastical concerns, as that all denominations of protestants may enjoy equal privileges. I am warranted to tell you, that it has been the opinion of good judges of our charter, that no denomination of protestants can be a legal establish­ment [Page 19] in the province, so as to interfere with the freedom of another de­nomination: That if, by Parish lines, any of our laws bind men to pay toward the support of a ministry from which they soberly dissent, such laws will be judged a breach of charter, if the matter be properly repre­sented home. I humbly apprehend that, in such a day of jealousy as this is, all of us are called to consider whether there has not been a breach upon our Charter rights in this matter, for if the affair should be complained of, our own arbitrariness may soon bring us into slavery.

MAY that God, who loves righteousness, and hates violence and op­pression, dispose all orders of men among us, both in church and state, to put away the evil of our doings, seek judgment, relieve the oppress­ed! If mutual benevolence and righteousness should reign among our­selves, we may hope to enjoy the blessing of liberty: but if we refuse and rebel, we may justly fear being devoured by the sword of those that are watching to enslave us.