Extract of a sermon preach'd at the South Church in Boston, November 27, 1746. By the Rev. Mr. Thomas Prince, ; occasioned by the surprizing appearance of divine providence for North-America, in the destruction of the French fleet and army, sent to Chebucktah the preceeding summer: ; and re printed at this time with a view to encourage and animate the people of God to put their trust in him, and to call upon his name, under the severe and keen distresses, now taking place in Boston and Charlestown; by the rigorous execution of the late act of the British Parliament, called the Boston Port-Bill. ; [Sixteen lines of Scripture texts] Prince, Thomas, 1687-1758. Approx. 36 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 16 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI : 2008-09. N11906 N11906 Evans 15036 APY5083 15036 99032240

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Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 15036. (Evans-TCP ; no. N11906) Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 15036) Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 15036) Extract of a sermon preach'd at the South Church in Boston, November 27, 1746. By the Rev. Mr. Thomas Prince, ; occasioned by the surprizing appearance of divine providence for North-America, in the destruction of the French fleet and army, sent to Chebucktah the preceeding summer: ; and re printed at this time with a view to encourage and animate the people of God to put their trust in him, and to call upon his name, under the severe and keen distresses, now taking place in Boston and Charlestown; by the rigorous execution of the late act of the British Parliament, called the Boston Port-Bill. ; [Sixteen lines of Scripture texts] Prince, Thomas, 1687-1758. Prince, Thomas, 1687-1758. Salvations of God in 1746. Selections. 15, [1] p. ; 21 cm. (4to) Re-printed and sold by B. Edes, near the bridge., Watertown [Mass.]: : 1776. Extracted from Prince's The salvations of God in 1746.

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eng History, Modern -- 18th century. Boston Port Bill, 1774. United States -- History -- King George's War, 1744-1748 -- Addresses, sermons, etc. Thanksgiving sermons -- 1746 Nov. 27. 2006-08 Assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 Keyed and coded from Readex/Newsbank page images 2007-07 Sampled and proofread 2007-07 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

EXTRACT OF A SERMON Preach'd at the South Church in BOSTON, November 27, 1746. By the Rev. Mr. THOMAS PRINCE, Occaſioned by the ſurprizing Appearance of Divine Providence for NORTH-AMERICA.

In the deſtruction of the French fleet and army, ſent to Chebucktah the preceeding ſummer: And re-printed at this time with a view to encourage and animate the PEOPLE of GOD to put their TRUST in HIM, and to call upon HIS NAME, under the ſevere and 〈◊〉 diſtr ſes;es now taking place in BOSTON and CHARLESTOWN; by the rigorous execution of The late ACT of the BRITISH PARLIAMENT, CALLED THE BOSTON PORT-BILL.

Pſalm cxiv.17.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Iſaiah 〈◊〉 22.

It is he that ſitteth upon the circle of the Earth and all the inhabitants thereof are as Graſhoppers.

Pſalm 〈◊〉 1 .

The Lord ſitteth upon the floods, yea, the Lord ſitteth King forever.

Pſalm 〈…〉

The Lord reigneth let the People both rejoice and tremble.

Iſaiah xxvi.30.

Come my people enter thou into thy chambers and ſhut thy doors, &c.

Joel ii.15.

Blow the trumpet in Zion; ſanctify a faſt, call a ſolemn aſſembly, &c.

Jonah iii 9.

Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger?

Lam. 〈◊〉 .5.

Remember O Lord, what is come upon us, Our necks are under perſecution.

WATERTOWN: Re-printed and ſold by B. EDES, near the Bridge. 1776.

Re-printed again at this time, with the ſame views, viz. To encourage the people of God to put their truſt in Him, and to call upon His name;—Now that a moſt formidable Britiſh fleet and army are expected ſoon to arrive on theſe coaſts, (which with thoſe already arrived) ſent by Adminiſtration to ſpread fire and blood through this devoted land.

Let not him that g •• deth on his harneſs, boaſt himſelf as he that putreth it off.

I. Kings, xx.11.

For, we have heard with our ears. O God! our fathers have told us what work thou didſt in their days, in the times of old.

Pſalm, xliv.i.

The Lord is a man of war.

Exod. xi.111.

Therefore, let no man's heart fail becauſe of them.

I. Sam. xvii.32.

But Be of good courage, and let us play the men for one people and for the cities of our GOD, and the Lord do that which ſeemeth him good.

II. Sam x.12.
Extract of a SERMON, &c. EXODUS xiv.13.

—Stand ſtill, and ſee the ſalvation of the LORD!

II.] OUR more near and eſpecial dangers in North-America,—in theſe particulars.—

1. In the laſt winter and early ſpring, the French with the utmoſt app e 〈◊〉 itted out at Breſt and Rochfort, the greateſt and moſt powerful armament againſt theſe Northern Colonies, that was ever ſent into North America: Having twenty men of war a hundred tranſports, about eight thouſand diſciplined tro ps with veteran officers, and vaſt quantities of proviſion, powder, •• ot, arms, vannon, bombs and mortars, ſufficient to take the ſtrongeſt places.

2. They were all under one commander of figure, duke D' Anville; a nobleman of ability, ſkill and courage; who came with reſolution to exert himſelf to his own honor and to the glory of his king and nation, or die in the cauſe: And the whole armament and all their officers, both naval and terrene being united under him, had a natural tendency to prevent contention, and promote the execution of every order.

3. They 〈◊〉 they had the beſt plans and many ſkilful pilots with th •• , well acquainted with all the coaſts and harbours of Newfoundland, Cape Breton, Nova-Scotia, and N •• England; in particular of L uiſbourgh, C nſo, Jebu ta, Annapolis, Caſco Bay, Boſton, &c.

4 They came with the very exciting motives, both of reſentment, policy and neceſſity.—Of reſentment; for our ſaving Annapolis and diſapp in ing the French invaſion there in 1744; and for our taking Louiſb urgh deſtroying the fiſhery, block ng up the Bay of St. L wrence, and taking their great man of war, and their Eaſt India and South S a ſhips, in 1745: —Of policy, to recover their loſt fortified city and harbour of Louiſbourgh, their loſt opportunity by their privatee s thence to ſeize our veſſels, their loſt fiſhery with the inf •• ite profits thence ariſing their loſt fort and harbour of Annapolis their loſt territory of Nova-Scotia, and their loſt reputation both in Europe and America eſpecially among the Indian ſavages And laſtly of Neceſſity, to ſave their Canada with all their ſettlement and trade, in North America; and either by taking Cape-Breton oblige us to come to a peace and ſave their encroachments in the Netherlands; or by taking Annapolis oblige us to return C pe Breton and to ſave themſelves from ignominious •• a h or ruin, in caſe they return •• without taking the one or the other.

5. That which rendered our caſe more dangerous was, that we were a long while wholly ignorant of their deſigns againſt us and when we had them hinted we were eaſy with hearing that admiral Martin was bl cking them up, firſt at Breſt and then at Rochfort, and that we had a powerful fleet of men of war and tranſp rts preparing at Portſmouth in England, to come on the expedition to Canada.

6. At length they got out of Breſt and ſailed to Rochfort: On June 11 they ſailed from this laſt port paſſ d by admiral Martin's ſquadron unobſerved, and he could not find what way they were gone: Yea, while they were coming toward us admiral Leſtock, with his fleet at Portſmouth, ſailed ſeven times from England; and was as oft drove back by contrary winds 'till Mid September, when our enemies fleet was come to Nova Scotia, and the Britiſh-miniſtry judging it too late in the year, diverted their enterprize.

7. In the mean time: while duke D' Anville's fleet is coming a fatal illneſs ſweeps away many of our New England ſoldiers a Cape Breton: And being now without any help from England, or any where elſe; if GOD had given our foes a ſpeedy paſſage, and had brought them on in health to Lou ſbourgh; they had come there with ſurprize: And with their ſhowers of bombs from twenty five mortars. and cannon ſh t from fifty braſs field pieces, it ſeem highly probable, they would ſoon have taken the place. And then Placentia and St. John's in Newfoundland, with all their fiſh and veſſels would have been as nothing to them. All the French and Indians in Nova Scotia, and the neighbouring places would have joined them at once, and made them ten or twelve thouſand ſtrong, beſides their ſeamen; Annapolis would have been ſoon reduced, and then their mighty and triumphant forces, both French and Indians both by land and ſea, would have doubtleſs come quick all along our Eaſtern ſhores, carried all before them like a ſweeping deluge; and where they cou'd be ſtop'd, and whether this town cou d have baffled them GOD only knows.

8. In the mean time we are this Summer exceedingly moleſted with our Indian Ene ies 〈◊〉 about, both in th and the neighbouring Provinces: Murthering our men, women, children: carrying many into a barbarous captivity; breaking up many houſes and divers villages and new towns, deſtroying cattle and fields of corn; yea ſ ven hundred French and Indians deſtroying a fort an hundred foot ſquare on ou weſtern borders on Auguſt 19: Reducing us to ſuch diſtreſſes as have not been known in the preſent generation; And Sep. 2. we are informed, that about two thouſand French and Indians were aſſembled at Menis in Nova Scotia, in order to beſiege Annapolis.

9. Our trouble is yet increaſed by our ſurpriſing intelligence from the ſix valiant nations of Mokaw Indians above our weſtern borders, who had been our conſtant friends from the beginning of theſe Colonies:—That the French had made them believe, they had taken an Engliſh letter, wherein they pretend we wrote, We intended firſt to ſubdue Canada, and then deſtroy the Indian Nations, the French in Canada being the only obſtacles that hinder us: Which made moſt dangerous impreſſions on them, raiſed their jealouſ s began an alienation, diſpoſed them to j in our Enemies, and was like to lead to fatal conſequences.

10 All this while we were wholly ignorant of the French el coming towards us— till at the ſame time, viz Sep. . we had a hint in a letter from Hall in England of June 4. by a ſhip from Newcaſtle, that they were 〈◊〉 ſhip days before, but none knew whither; S pt 9. 〈…〉 from Liverpool was the hint above conſumed 〈…〉 many in England thought them bound for No th merica About a week after we begin to he r a ru our of 〈…〉 number of ſhips ſeen near Cape S ble Shore; but whe 〈◊〉 French or Engliſh, we are at a loſs to gueſs. About a 〈◊〉 after the rumour is confirmed; but wh •• they are 〈◊〉 uncertain, 'till Sept. 28: And then by expreſs from g v rnor Kn wles and admiral Tow nſhend at Lou ſbourg, we are inform'd they are the French rmada were ſeventy ſail when they came from France; fourteen being ſ ips o the line from fifty to ſeventy four guns, two •• re ſhips with eight thouſand troops on board; ſtanding for Je •• cta or le Have And by a veſſel from Jamaica, that the four French men of war which had eſcaped com •• do e M ch l near Domingo, were deſign'd to join them.

11. And laſtly, about Mid September, eight ſhips of the line and about forty others arrive at Jeb cta, the port of their rendezvous, on the ſouth eaſtern ſhore of Nova Scotia, one of the fineſt harbours of the globe; i , which the Britiſh nation had utterly neglected for a courſe of thirty years from the peace of Utrecht, to ſettle one inhabitant; and in the very way to interrupt all our fiſhery, and even all the trade from Great Britain, Ireland, Newfoundland and Cap Breton, to the colonies on the •• ain, and from theſe to them: There they water, wood, refreſh, ca een, re it thence take our ſhips, ſtrike ſurprize and terror through the countries round about them. And thence deſerting their deſign of attempting Louiſbourg, they ſet ſail with all their power towards us.

And thus, in the room of our long look'd for friend from England to go againſt Canada, there are now coming on a powerful armament of reſolute enemies; and none to prevent them or defend us againſt them. We look for our powerful friends, but our e es fail us and we look in vain. Our caſe ſeems like that of David, Pſalm 42 and 3. We look on our right hand and behold; but there is no man that knows us, refuge fai s us, no man ſeems to are for our ſouls: We cry unto thee, O Lord! Thou art our refuge and portion in the land of the living! O attend to our Cry for we are brought very low —we •• retch forth our Hands to Thee! — hear us ſpeedily, O Lord:—Cauſe us to hear thy Loving-kindneſs in the Morning, for in Th e do we truſt—Deliver us O LORD from our Enemies —We flee to Thee to hide us! And we further cried as A p in Pſa m 83: Keep not thou silence O GOD! Hold 〈◊〉 thy Peace and be not ſtill. O GOD! For ſo thine Ene •••• 〈◊〉 a Tumult and they that hate Thee lift up the 〈◊〉 They have taken crafty Cou cil againſt thy People: hey hav ſaid, "Come and let us cut them off from b ing a People, that the Name of New-England may be no more in Remembrance." O our GOD, make them as Stubble before the Wind: As the Fire burneth the Woods, and as the Flame ſe te h the Mountains on Fire [as we often ſee in America] ſo perſ e them with thy Tempeſt, and 〈…〉 afraid with thy Storm: Fill their Faces with Sh me; th •• they may ſeek thy Name, O LORD! [or if they will not ſeek it] let them be confounded and troubled forever: That Men may know, that Thou, whoſe Name alone is JEHOVAH, art the moſt High over all the Earth, &c.

This is Part of our late dangerous Circumſtances: And now, ſtand ſtill and ſee the Salvation of the LORD!

On two Accounts in general, though widely different both the laſt Year and this have been as remarkable as any we have ſeen, ſince the happy Acceſſion of the Proteſtant Houſe of Hanover to the Britiſh Crown: — The laſt Year, 1745—for GOD's ſucceeding our Enterprize in a wondrous Manner, and giving us Cape Breton;—and This,— for his working wonderful Salvation for us, while we could only ſtand ſtill and ſee them with Admiration:—Let this be ever the Character of 1746.

While we knew nothing of Danger, GOD beheld it, and was working Salvation for us. And when we had none to help in America, He even prevented our Friends in Europe from coming to ſuccour us; that we might ſee our Salvation was His Work alone, and that the Glory belongs entirely to Him.

And here are the the following Things obſervable—

1. That our enemies fleet were detained ſo long in 〈◊〉 arbours of France, even to the 11th of June, though ready long before: Whereby a greater Fome was prepared fo ſcorbuti al Weakneſſes and A ls, before they arrived at America whereby they alſo loſt the cooler Weather and more eaſterly Winds of the Spring, were kept for the Calms and Heat of the Summer, their Voyage muſt be lengthened, and they could not come with quite ſo much Surpriz upon us.

2. That after their getting clear from the Coaſt of France, they ſhould be led to bear ſo far to the Southward: Whereby they not only went from the ſtraite Courſe, but likewiſe into a more rari ed Air and calmer Latitudes, which yet further ſerved to lengthen their Voyage: And whereby they alſo went into more ſultr Climates, even in the hotteſt Months of the Summer; the Air between decks among ſo great a Number ſo cloſely ſtowed, muſt be more ſuffocating, putrid and nauſeous and both further weaken, and breed Diſeaſes.

3. That partly by theſe Means, partly by Calms, and partly by contrary Winds their Voyage was ſo lengthened out, even to ninety Days from Rockfort, that it wa the 9th of September before the forwardeſt of them a rived at Jebucta.

4. That by the Means above, and it may be others, GOD was pleaſed to •• ſit them with ſuch a mortal Si kneſs that they owned, Th rteen Hundred died at Se , and moſt of the reſt were extreamly weakened, waſted and diſpirited.

5. That by terrible Storms they were likewiſe ſo diſperſed in the midſt of the Ocean; that by Aug. 26. they had left but twelve ſhips of the line and forty one others, beſides five Prizes they happened to meet with.

6. That on Sept. 2. at one at Noon, when they came near the Shoals of the Iſ e of Sables, the moſt dangerous Place in all their Paſſage, and had but three Days Sail to Jebucta; GOD was pleaſed to raiſe againſt them ſuch a violent Storm of Wind, which held all that Day and Night: Wherein one of their Tranſports was loſt on the Shoals; four Ships of the Li •• and a Tranſport were ſeen in great diſtreſs, and never heard of after, and the reſt of the fleet had like to have run on the ſhoals in that terrible night, and were wholly diſperſed: Or if they had been but three days earlier, they had got to Jebucta before the ſtorm.

7. The weather after the ſtorm, was ſo very foggy for ſeveral days, that Duke D'Anville, their Admiral and General was obliged to lie off and on, not venturing to approach the Nova Scotia ſhore; that it was Sept. 12, before he got, with but one more ſhip of the line, viz. his Vice Admiral, three more men of war and five tranſports, into Jebucta There being but one of the fleet got in three days before him and but three more in three days after him; his Rear Admiral with ten of the line, and all the reſt yet miſſing. And finding his few ſhips ſo ſhattered, ſo many men dead, ſo many ſickly, and no more of his fleet come in; he ſunk into diſcouragement, and Sept. 15, died; but in ſuch a condition, and ſo much ſwell d, it was generally thought h poiſoned himſelf, and was buried without any ceremony. Upon which their government fell upon the Council of war, their union was entirely broken, and their counſels grew divided.

8. That though after the ſtorm, the Rear Admiral with f e more of the line, and twenty ſeven more of the fleet, beſides the prizes, diſcovered each other and gathered together; yet the weather being foggy and thick, they did not arrive at Jebucta until the day after Duke D'Anville died—or their arrival two days ſooner might have revived his ſpirits, and ſaved his life: Though they were ſo exceedingly ſhattered and fickly, they were forced to ſtay and looſe their fitteſt time for doing us miſchief, until near the midſt of October.

9. That upon the death of the Duke, the Vice Admiral Eſtou nell, being the chief commander, in conſideration of the deplorable caſe they were in, propoſed to return to France to ſave the reſt of the men: But the council of war oppoſing and voting againſt him, he was on Sept. 19. in the morning, found in his apartment fallen on his ſword, and the next morning died alſo: Whereby the chief command devolved on the R ar Admiral Jonquire, who with the council of war, reſolved to attack ſome Engliſh place in theſe northern parts, before they would think of re ing. In the mean while, they landed their men to refreſh them: And yet their ſickneſs ſo prevailed, that they owned there died eleven hundred and thirty more at Jebucta, before they left it.

10. It was alſo very remarkable, that while the French were ſo generally very ſickly, and ſo many conſtantly dying, both aboard and aſhore; our Engliſh captives, though compaſſionately tending upon and helping them continually, were ſo univerſally heal hy and ſtrong, that the poor ſickly French could not forbear to expreſs their wonder: Our people taken captive by them being more merciful to them than thoſe of their own nation. And yet the ſickneſs ſpread among our enemy Indians in Nova Scotia, and it is ſaid carried off near half their number.

11. In the mean time our careful Governor ſends out ſpies and gets intelligence — By the help of GOD removes the jealouſies of the Mohawk Indians, renews our ancient league of friendſhip with them, engages them on our ſide againſt the French Canadians—ſends companies of ſoldiers, who liſted volunteers for Canada, to help defend Annopo •• ; Admiral Warren ſends his 50 gun ſhip alſo: And then our Governor calls in moſt of the regiments of this province, to defend our capital, who come in with wondrous chearfulneſs: Sends expreſs to Governor Knowles, and Admiral Townſend, at Louiſbourg, with the London prints, informing of Admiral Leſtock's waiting for a air wind in England with eighteen ſhips of the line, to ſail •• ither: And Octo. 6, with advice of his Majeſty's council, and at the deſire of the Houſe of Repreſentatives, orders Thurſday the 16th a day of Faſting and Prayer through the Province on this great occaſion.

12. About October 10, the French council at Jebucta being ſenſible that by diſperſing ſtorm and waſting ſickneſs, they are utterly diſabled for attempting Lo iſbourg, reſolved to ſail and take Annapolis. And if they had ſtaid but one week longer they would have had a ſeaſon of ſuitable weather for it. But a cruizer of their's having happily taken the expreſs above for Louiſ ourg with the London prints, informing of Admiral Leſtock's expected coming, and the maſter of the veſſel happily forgetting to 〈◊〉 his order and throw his packets overboard; they were carried into Jebucta, and opened on the 11th early in the morning in a council of war. Upon which, ſurprized in the utmoſt hurry, they pull down all their ten s, burn a ine of battle ſhip, with a ſnow from Carolina, a veſſel from Antigua, and ſome fiſhing ſchooners, embark their ſoldiers; order two thouſand French and Indians to march from Menis to Annapolis:—An October 13, with about forty fail, twenty engineers, and thirty pilots from near Annapolis they came out to go round Cape Sables, and meet them there; having wrote to the court that they determined to keep the ſeas until Nov. 15 N. S. if they could not get in ſooner.

13. The next day, they ſeat three or four of their fleet, with their ſick to France: The diſtemper ſtill increaſing, our captives ſaw them throwing their dead out of moſt of their ſ ips into the ſea, every day after they left Jebucta, for three days they continued with them. October 15, near the Iſle of Sables, a ſecond time came on a great and cold ſtorm, which ſcattere them again: Yet the next day, getting once more together; and perſevering in their purpoſe, they diſmiſſed our captives, who that night left them lying by, and ſaw them no more.

14. But the ſame day, viz. Thurſday Octo. 16, is kept the day of general Faſting and Prayer throughout the churches in this province, on this great emergency. And that very night enſuing, the glorious GOD entirely baffled all their purpoſes, and put a total end to their miſchievous enterprize. He mightily aroſe, and wrought a full ſalvation for us. He ſent a more ſerious ſtorm of wind and rain and hail, than ever—which held to the next day noon— which they could not ſtand before—which ſo diſperſed and broke them, they could never get together again: And ſeveral ſhips were ſo crazy, and weakly ha ded, that it is apprehended by our diſmiſſ d captives, who were in the ſame ſtorm, that ſome were overſet, ſome oth rs foundered and ſunk in the mighty waters And the remaining men of war in view, ſo ſhattered and di couraged, that they determined for the Weſt India Iſlands and ſent their No a Scotia pilots home, with orders to the French and Indian army who had march'd to Annapolis, to leave their nter and get away. The ſcattered remnants, it ſeems moſt likely, are gone back to France, abaſed and confounded.

In fine. It is alſo remarkable, that two French frigates who privately came to Jebucta in May or June to gather the French and Indians in all the neighbouring Countries, and raiſed their mighty Expectations; ſhould ail from thence a little before the fleet's arrival:—That the four large men of war who eſcaped Commodore Mitchel near Domingo, and ſailed to the Gape Sable ſhore, in full expectation of finding them; but ſurprized to hear nothing of them and in growing late in the year, ſhould ſail away but a few days before the Duke's arrival, and entirely miſs them:—And that a few days after the fleet ſailed from Jebucta, arrived there two more men of war from France, with abſolute orders to take Annapolis, and not preſume to return without it: And being told they were gone for the purpoſe, made haſte after them: But arriving thither, and inſtead of the triumphing fleet and army, the Menis pilots returning with the dreadful tidings, and our men of war there going to attack them; confounded alſo, they haſtened away.

Thus, when on our ſolemn day of general Prayer we expreſly cried to the LORD, as in Pſal. lxviii.1.2. Let GOD ariſe, let his enemies be ſcattered; let them that hate him flee before him: As ſmoak is driven away, ſo drive thou them away: As wax melteth before the fire. ſo let the (inveterate) wicked periſh at the preſence of God! —When notwithſtanding all the diſplays of his anger againſt them he ſee them ſet upon miſchief:— And when he looked, and there was none to help us, and he wondered there was none to uphold us:—Then his arm brought ſalvation to us, and his fury upheld him: He trode down our enemies in his anger, he made them drunk in his fury, and he brought down their ſtrength to the earth Terrors took hold on them as Waters:— A tempeſt bore them away in the night—The eaſt wind carried them away and they departed: And with a ſtorm he hurled them out of their place.

The ſorrows of death encompaſſed us, and the flood of ungodly men made us afraid: In our diſtreſs we called upon the LORD, and cried to our GOD. He h •• rd our voice out of his temple, and our cry came befor him, even into his ears. Then he bowed the Heaven and came down, and darkneſs was under his feet H rode on a cherub, and did fly; yea, he did fly on th wings of the wind: He made darkneſs his ſecret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the ſkies: Yea, he ſent out his arrows and ſcattered them: Then the channels of waters were ſeen, and the foundations of the world were diſcovered; at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blaſt of the breath of thy noſtrils!

Before him went the peſtilence, and burning coals of diſeaſes went forth at his feet: He ſtood and meaſured the earth; he beh ld and drove aſunder the nations. I ſaw the Tents of Cuſhon in affliction, and the cu tains of the land of Midian did tremble. Was thy wrath againſt the ſea, that thou didſt ride upon thy horſes? But thy chariots were ſalvation! The mountains ſaw thee and they trembled: The overflowing of the water paſſed by: The deep uttered his voice, and lift up his hands on high! Thou wenteſt forth for the ſalvation of thy people: Thou woundedſt the head out of the houſe of the wicked: They came out as a whirlwind to ſcatter us: Their rejoicing was to devour the poor: Thou didſt walk through the ſea with thine horſes, through the heap of great waters! When we heard, our belly trembled; our ips quivered at the noiſe, rottenneſs entered into our bones; and we trembled in ourſelves, that we might reſt in the day of trouble, when they were coming to the people, to invade us with their troops

The French officers told one of our maſters—that when they came from Rochfort, they were ninety ſeven ſail, thirty of which were men of war: That they had forty thouſand arms with proportionable ammunition and blankets for the Indians; and the maſter ſaw above a hundred cheſts of arms with a great quantity of lead landed out of one ſhip of thirty guns which took him: That there were ſeven thouſand North American French and Indians to join them: That upon their taking Annapolis, they expected righteo French ſhips of the line, and ſeventy two Spaniſh men of war would be ſent early in the ſpring to join the fleet on theſe coaſts; which was a matter generally believed and depended upon among them: That they were reſolved to deſtroy the frontier ſettlements of the Engliſh Colonies, and had a great depend nce on getting a ſtrong footing on this part of the North American Continent.

But how do the heathen age, and the people imagine a vain thing! The kings of the earth et themſelves, and the rulers take counſ l together. He that ſ •• s in the Heavens has them in de iſion. He diſappoints the devices of the crafty, ſo that their hands cannot perform their enterprize: H taketh the wiſe in their own craftineſs, and the counſel of the froward is carried he d long. Yea, he ſpeaketh to them in his wrath, and vexeth them in his ſore diſpleaſure: He breaks them in pieces as with a rod of iron: He daſhes them in pieces like a potter's veſſel. But he ſaveth the poor from the ſword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. Be wiſe therefore, O ye kings: Be inſtructed ye judges of the earth: Serve the LORD with fe r, and rejoice with trembling Submit to the SON of GOD; leaſt he be angry, and ye periſh: When his wrath is kindled but a little, bleſſed are they that put their truſt in him.

But we will ſing to the LORD; for he hath triumphed gloriouſly: He hath thrown our enemies into the ſea. The LORD is our ſtrength and ſong, and he is bec me our ſalvation: He is our GOD, and we will prepare him an habitation in the higheſt room of our ſouls: our fathers GOD, and we will exalt him: The LORD is a man of war, JEHOVAH is his name. Our enemies hoſts he has brok in the ſea: With the blaſt of thy noſtrils, the waters were gathered together; the floods ſtood upright as an heap; Thou didſt blow with thy wind; the ſea covered them, they ſank as lead in mighty waters.

But the LORD is our light and ſtrength, our ſhield and our Salvation. We will extol thee O God! For thou haſt lifted 〈◊〉 , and not made our fo s to rejoice over us. In our time of trouble, we cried to thee; and thou haſt ſent from Heaven and ſaved us from thoſe who would have ſwallowed 〈…〉 haſt pu them to ſhame that hated us. Thou h •• t 〈◊〉 our mo •• ning into Dancing: Thou haſt put off our ſackloth, and girded us with gladneſs; that our glory may ſing praiſe to thee and not be ſilent: O LORD our GOD; We will give thanks to thee, and praiſe thy name forever.

Yea, we will praiſe thee, O LORD among the people: We will ſing to thee among the nations. Be thou exalted, O GOD above the Heavens: Let thy glory be above all the earth Sing unto GOD ye kingdoms of the earth: O ſing praiſes unto the Lord;—to him that rideth upon the Heavens of Heavens; aſcribe ye ſtrength unto him: His excellency is over Iſrael, his ſtrength is in the clouds. Let the Heavens and earth praiſe him, the ſeas, and every thing that moves therein: Let the ſea roar, and the fulneſs thereof: Let the fl ods clap their hands: Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the Earth; with righteouſneſs ſhall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

SINCE the above was ſent to the preſs, GOD has in a moſt ſurpriſing manner diſplayed his Divine Sovereignty in delivering th capital of the Colony out of the hands of our enemies.

This is the Lord's doing, and 'tis wonderous in our eyes.

Thine arm, O Lord! is become glorious in power.

Not unto us, not unto us O Lord! but to thy name be the glory.

May the Inhabitants of Boſton, ſing in the ways of the Lord, and glorify his name;—while the Inhabitants of Charleſtown are waiting and hoping for that relief from their Country, which ſhall enable them to re-build their town.

March 20, 1776.