Religion and Patriotism PDF

& RELIGION AND PATRIOTISM The Constituents of a Good SOLDIER. A SERMON Preached to Captain Overton's Independant Compan...

& RELIGION AND PATRIOTISM The Constituents of a Good SOLDIER. A SERMON Preached to Captain Overton's Independant Company of Volunteers, raifed in Hanover County, Virginia^ Au- gujiljy I75S. By Samuel Da.vies, A. M. Minifterof ttie Gofpel there. PHILADELPHIA, Printed: L O N DON; Re- printed for J. Buck land, in Pater-nofter Row, J.Ward at the 1 King 's- Arms ia Cornhill, and T. F 1 £ L d in Cheapfide. 17 Religion and Patrictifm the Confti- tuents of a good Soldier. 2 Sam. x. 12. Be of good Courage^ and let us play theMen^for our People^ and for the Cities of our God : And the Lord do that whichfeemeth him good. N Hundred Years of Peace and Liberty in fuch a World as this, is a very unufual Thing; and yet our Country has been the happy Spot that has been dif- tinguifhed with fuch a long Series of Blef- fings, with little or no Interruption. Our Situation in the middle of the BritiJJi Co- lonies, and our Separation from the French *, thofe eternal Enemies of Liberty and Britons y en the one Side by the vaft Atlantic, and B 2 on  2 Religion and Patriotifm the on the other by a long Ridge of Mountains, and a wide extended Wildernefs, have for many Years been a Barrier to us and while -, other Nations have been involved in War, we have not been alarmed with the Sound of the Trumpet, nor feen Garments rolled in Blood. Butnow the Scene is changed : Now we begin to experience in our Turn the Fate of the Nations of the Earth. Our Territories are invaded by the Power, and Perfidy of Frajice ; our Frontiers ravaged by mercilefs Savages, and our Fellow-Sub- jects there murdered with all the horrid Arts of Indian and Popifh Torture. Our General, unfortunately brave, is fallen, an Army of 1300 choice Men routed, our fine Train of Artillery taken, and all this (Oh mortyfying Thought!) all this by 4 or 500 daftardly, infidious Barbarians. Thefe Calamities have not come upon us without Warnings. We were long ago apprized of the ambitious Schemes of our Enemies, and their Motions to carry them into Execution And had we taken timely : Meafures they might have been crufhed, before they could have arrived at fuch a formidable Height. But how have we ge- nerally behaved in fuch a critical Time ? Alas !our Country has been funk in a deep Sleep : A ftupid Security has unmanned the Inhabitants : They could not realize a Dan- ger  : Constituents of a good Soldier. 3 ger the Diftanceof 2 or 300 Miles : They at would not be perfuaded, that even French Papifts could ferioufly defign us an Injury And hence little, or nothing has been done for the Defence of our Country in Time, except by the Compullion of Authority. And now, when the Cloud thickens over our Heads, and alarms every thoughtful Mind with its near Approach, Multitudes, I am afraid, are ftill diffolved in carelefs Security, orenervated with an effeminate, cowardly Spirit. When the melancholy News firft reached us concern- ing the Fate of our Army, then we faw how natural it is for the Prefumptuous to fall into the oppofite Extreme of unmanly Defpondence, and Confirmation ; and how little Men could do in fuch a Pannic for their own Defence. We have alfo fuffered cur poor Felhw-SubjecJs in the Frontier Coun- ties tofall a helplefs Prey to Blood-thirfy Savages, without affording them proper Af- fifiance, which as Members of the fame Body Politic they had a Right to exped;. They might have continued in a as well State of Nature, as be united in Society, if in fuch an Article of extreme Daneer. they are left to fhift for themfelves. The bloody Barbarians have exercifed on fome of them the moft unnatural and leifurely Tortures 5 and others they have butchered B 2 in 4 *r Religion and Patriotiim the their Beds, or in fome unguarded Hour, Can human Nature bear the Horror of the Sight See yonder ? the hairy Scalps clot- ! ted with Gore the mangled Limbs Wo- ! ! men ript up the Heart and Bowels, ftill ! palpitating with Life, and fmoking on the Ground See the Savages fwilling their ! Blood, and imbibing a more outragious Fury with the inhuman Draught Sure ! thefe are not Men they are not Beajis of -, Prey ; they are fomething worfe ; they mull be inferffid Furies in human Shape. And have we tamely looked on, and fuf- fered them to exercife thefe hellifh Barba- rities upon our Fellow-Men, our Fellow- Subjecls, our Brethren ? Alas with what ! Horror muft we look upon ourfelves, as being little better than AccelTaries to their Blood ? And mail thefeRavages go on uncheck'd ? Shall Virginia incur the Guilt, and the ever- Jafling Shame of tamely exchanging her Liberty, her Religion, and her All, for arbitrary Gallic Power, and for Popifh Sla- very, Tyranny, and Maffacre ? Alas are ! there none of her Children, that enjoyed all the Bleffings of her Peace, that will efpoufe her Caufe, and befriend her now in the Time' of her Danger i Are Britons ut- terly degenerated by fo fhort a Remove from their Mother-Country ? Is the Spirit of  Conftituents of a good Soldier. ) of Patriotifm entirely extinguished among us ? And muft I give thee up for loft, O my Country ! and included in that ail that is important Word ? Muft I look upon thee as a conquered, enflaved Province of France, and the Range of Indian Savages ? My Heart breaks at the Thought. And muft ye, our unhappy Brethren in our Frontiers, muft ye ftand the fingle Barriers of a ra- vaged Country, unaflifted, unbefriended, unpitied ? Alas muft I draw thefe mock- ! ing Conclufions ? No; I am agreeably checked by the happy, encouraging Profpecl: now before me. Is it a Dream? Or do I pleafing really fee a Number of brave Men, with- out the Compulfion of Authority, with- out the Profpecl: of Gain, voluntarily af- fociated in a Company, to march over track- lefs Mountains, the Haunts of wild Beafts, or fiercer Savages, Wmi1tGm£d dmm*m0 into ank hideous Wildernels, to fuccour their helplefs Fellow- Subjects, and guard their Country ? Yes, Gentlemen, I fee you here upon this Defign and were you all united to my -, Heart by the moft endearing Ties of Na- ture, or Friendfhip, I could not wifh to fee you engaged in a nobler Caufe and -, whatever the Fondnefs of Paffion might carry me to, I am fure my judgment would never fuffer me to perfuade you to defert it. You all generoufly put your Lives in your Hands ;  6 Religion and Patriotifm the Hands; and fundry of you have nobly dif- engaged yourfelves from the ftrong and tender Ties that twine about the Heart of a Father or a Hujband, to confine you at ', home in inglorious Eafe, and fneaking Re- tirement from Danger, when your Country calls for your Affiitance. While I have you before me, 1 have high Thoughts of a Virginian and I entertain the pleafingHope -, that my Country will yet emerge out of her Diftrefs, and flourifh with her ufual Bleffings. I am gratefully fenflble of the umerited Honour you have done me, in making Choice of me to addrefs you upon fo lingular and important an Occafion And : I am fure I bring with me a Heart ardent to ferve you and my Country, though I am afraid my Inability, and the Hurry of my Preparations, may give you Reafon to reoent your Choice. I cannot begin my Addrefs to* you with more proper Words than thofe of a great General, which I have read to you Be of good Courage, and : play the Men, for your People, and for the Cities of your God ; and the Lord do what feemeth him good. My prefent Defign is, to illuftrate and improve the fundry Parts of my Text, as They lie in order, which you will find rich in fundry important Inftruftions, adapted to this Occafion. The  Conftituents of a good Soldier. 7 The Words were fpoken juft before a very threatening Engagement by Joab, who had long ferved under that pious Hero King David, as the General: of his Forces, and had fhewn himfelf an Officer of true Courage, conduced with Prudence. The Ammo?iites, a neighbouring Nation, at fre- quent Hoftilities with the Jews, had un- gratefully offered Indignities to fome of David's Courtiers whom he had fent to con- dole their King upon the Death of his Father, and congratulate his Acceffion to the Crown. Our holy Religion teaches us to bear perfonal Injuries without private Re- venge : But national and Indignities Infults, ought to excite the public Refentment. Accordingly King David, when he heard that the Ammonites, with their Allies, were preparing to invade his Territories, and carry their Injuries ftill farther, fent joab his General, with his Army, to repel them, and avenge the Affronts they had offered his Subje&s. It feems the Army of the Enemy were much more numerous than David's Their Mercenaries from other Na- : tions were no lefs than 3 1,000 Men and no -, Doubt the Ammonites themfelves were a ltill greater Number. Thefe numerous Forces were difpofed in the mofl: advantageous Manner, and furrounded Joab's Men, that they might attack them both in Flank and Front  : 8 Religion and Patriotifm the Front at once, and cut them all off, leaving no Way for them to efcape. Prudence is of the utmoft Importance in the Conduct of an Army And Joab, in this critical : Situation, gives a Proof how much he was Matter of it, and difcovers the fteady Com- pofure of his Mind, while thus furrounded with Danger. He divides his Army, and gives one Party to his Brother Abijhai, who commanded next to him, and the other he kept the Command of himfelf, and refolves to attack the Syrian Mercenaries, who feem- ed the moft formidable ; he gives Orders to his Brother in the mean Time to Fall upon the Ammonites ; and he animates him with this noble Advice Be of good Courage, : and let us play the Men, for our People and the Cities of our God, which are now at Stake : And the Lord do what feemeth him good. Be of good Courage, and let us play the Men — Courage is an Character of effential a good Soldier : — Not a favage ferocious Violence :— Not a fool-hardy Infenfibility of Danger, or headftrong Rafhnefs to rufh into it : — Not the Fury of enflamed Paf- fions, broke loofe from the Government of Reafon : But calm, deliberate, rational Courage ; a fteady, judicious, thoughtful Fortitude - y the Courage of a Man, and not of a Tyger : Such a Temper as Addifon af- cribes  Conltituents of a good Soldier. 9 bribeswith fo much Juftice to the famous Marlborough and Eugene : IVhofe Courage dwelt not in a troubled Flood Of mounting Spirits, andfermenting Blood >— But Lodged in the Soul, with Virtue over-rul'd, Injlaind by Reafon, and by Reafon cooVd *. This is true Courage, and fuch as we ought all to cheriih in the prefent dangerous Conjuncture. This will render Men vigi- lant and cautious againft Surprizes, prudent and deliberate in concerting their Meafures, and fteady and refolute in executing them. But without this they will fall into unfuf- pecled Dangers, which will ftrike them with wild Confirmation They will meanly : fhun Dangers that are furmountable, or precipitantly rum into thofe that are caufe- lefs, or evidently fatal, and throw away their Lives in vain. There are fome Men who have naturally this heroic Turn of Mind. The wile Cre- ator has adapted the natural Genius of Mankind, with a furprizing and beautiful Variety to the State in which they are placed in this World. To fome he has given a Turn for intellectual Improvement, and the liberal Arts and Sciences ; to others a Genius for Trade ; to others a Dexterity in Me- chanics, and the ruder Arts, neceflary for * The Campaign, C the io Religion and Patriotiim the the Support of human Life The Gene- : rality of Mankind may be capable of tole- rable Improvements in any of thefe But : it is only they whom the God of Nature has formed for them, that will mine in them, every Man in his own Province. And as God well knew what a World of degenerate, ambitious, and revengeful Crea- tures this is ; as he knew that Innocence could not be protected, Property and Li- berty fecured, nor the Lives of Mankind preferved from the lawlefs Hands of Am- bition, Avarice and Tyranny, without the Ufe of the Sword ; as he knew this would be the only Method to preferve Mankind from univerfal Slavery ; he has formed fome Men for this dreadful Work, and fired them with a martial Spirit, and a glorious Love of Danger. Such a Spirit, though moil pernicious when ungoverned by the Rules of Juftice, and Benevolence to Mankind, is a public BleiTing, when rightly directed : Such a Spirit, under God, has often morti- fied the Infolence of Tyrants, checked the Incroachments of arbitrary Power, and de- livered enilaved and ruined Nations It is as : neceffary- in its Place, for our Subfiftence in fuch a World as this, as any of the gentler Genius's among Mankind ; and it is derived from the fame divine Original. He that winged the Imagination of an Homer or a Milton,  Conftituents of a good Soldier. i \ Milto?i, he that gave Penetration to the Mind of Newton, he that made Tubal-Cain an Inftruftor of Artificers in Brafs and Iron % and gave Skill to Bezaleel and Aholiab in curious Works -f; nay, he that fent out Paul and his Brethren to conquer the Na- tions with the gentler Weapons of Plain Truth, Miracles, and the Love of a cru- cified Saviour ; He, even fame gra- that cious Power, has formed and raifed up an Alexander, a Julius Ctefar, a William\, and a Marlborough, and infpired them with this enterprizing, intrepid Spirit, the Two firft to fcourge a guilty World, and the Two laft to faveNations on the Brink of Ruin. There is fomething glo?~ious and inviting in Danger, to fuch noble Minds ; and their Breafts beat with a generous x4,rdour when it appears. Our Continent is like to become the Seat of War and we, for the future (till -, the fundry European Nations that have plant- ed Colonies in it, have fixed their Bounda- ries by the Sword) have no other Way left to defend our Rights and Privileges. And has God been pleafed to diffufe fome Sparks of this Martial Fire through our Country ? C 2 I hope * Gen. iv. f ExocL xxxv. 30, 3 1, &c. 22. X King William the Third, the Deliverer of Britain from Popery and Slavery, and the Scourge of France and her haughty Grand Monarque,  ; 12 Religion and Patriotiftn the I hope he has And though it has been al~ : moft extinguifhed by fo long a Peace, and a Deluge of Luxury and Pleafure, now I hope it begins to kindle And may I not : produce you my Brethren, who are engaged in this Expedition, aslnftances of it *? Well, cherifh it as a facred Heaven-born Fire and let the Injuries done to your Country adminifter Fewel to it; and kindle it in thofe Breafts where it has been hitherto fmothered or inactive. Though Nature be the true Origin of military Courage, and it can never be kindled to a high Degree, where there is but a feeble Spark of it innate ; yet there are fundry Things that may improve it even in Minds full of natural Bravery, and ani- mate thofe who are naturally of an effe- minate Spirit to behave with a tolerable Degree of Refolution and Fortitude, in the Defence of their Country. — T — I need not tell you that it is of great Importance for this End that you mould be at Peace with God, and your own Confcience, and pre- pared for your future State. Guilt is na- turally timerous, and often ftruck into a Panic * As a remarkable Inftance of this, I may point: out to the Public that heroic Youth Col. JVajhington^ whom I cannot but hope Providence has hitherto pre- fer ved in fo fignal a Manner, for fome important Service to his Country*  Conftituents of a good Soldier. 13 Panic even with imaginary Dangers ; and an infidel Courage, proceeding from Want of Thought, or a ftupid Carelefnefs about our Welfare through an immortal Duration beyond the Grave, is very unbecoming a Man or a Chriftian. The mod: important Periods of our Exiftence, my Brethren, lie Beyond the Grave ; and it is a Matter of much more Concern to us, what will be our Doom in the World to come, than what becomes of us in this. are We obliged to defend our Country ; and that is a fneaking, fordid Soul indeed that can de- fert it at fuch a Time as this But this is : not all ; w e are alfo obliged to take Care T of an immortal Soul ; a Soul that muft exift, and be happy or miferable, through the Revolutions of eternal Ages. This mould be our firft Care 5 and when this is fecured, Death, in its moft Shocking Forms, is but a Releafe from a World of Sin and Sorrows, and an Introduction into ever- lafting Life and Glory. But how can this be fecured ? not by a Courfe of impenitent Sinning ; not by a Courfe of ftupid Care- lefnefs and Inaction But by vigorous and : refolute driving by ferious and affectionate ; Thoughtfulnefs about our Condition, and by a confcientious and earned: Attendance upon the Means that God has gracioufly appointed for our Recovery. But " we Cf are, 14 Religion and Patriotifm the €C are heinous Sinners againfl a Sinners, " God of infinite Purity and inexorable *c Juftice. Yes, we are fo ; and does not " the Pofture of Penitents then become " us ? Is not Repentance, deep, broken- that he fuffered, the Jujlfor the Unjufi that God is well-pleafed -, for his Righteoujhefs-Sake, and declares him- felf willing to be reconciled to all that believe in him, and chearfully accept him as their Saviour and Lord. Have you never heard thefe joyful Tidings, O guilty, felf-con- demned Sure you have. Sinners ? Then away to Jefus, away to Jefus ye whofe Con- fciences are loaden with Guilt, ye whofe Hearts fail within you at the Thought of Death, and the Tribunal of Divine Juftice ; ye who are deftitute of all perfonal Righ- teoufnefs to procure your Pardon, and re- commend you to the Divine Favour Fly : to Jefus on the Wings of Faith, all of you, of every Age and Character ; for you all Hand in the moft abfolute Need of him ; and without him you muft perifh every Soul of you. But alas ! we find our Ielves utterly unable to repejit andfly to Jefus : Our Hearts are hard and unbelieving, and if the Work depend upon us y it will for ever re- main undone. True, my Brethren, fo the Cafe isbut do ye not know that this ; ' guilty Earth is under the Diftillings of Di- vine Grace, that Jefus is intrufted with the Influences of the Spirit, wheh can work in you both to will and to do ; and that he is willing to give his Holy Spirit to them that ajk him f i6 Religion and Patriotifm the him? If you know this, you know where to go for Strength ; therefore cry mightily to God for it. This I earneftly recommend to all my Hearers, and efpecially to you Gentlemen, and others, that are now about generoufly to rifque your Lives for your Country. Account this the beft Preparative to encounter Danger and Death the beft -, Incentive to true, rational Courage. What can do you a lafting Injury, while you have a reconciled God fmiling upon you from on high, a peaceful Confcience ani- mating you within, and a happy Immor- tality juft before you! Sure you may bid Defiance to Dangers and Death in their moft mocking Forms. You have anfwered the End of this Life already by preparing for another ; and how can you depart off this mortal Stage more honourably, than in the Caufe of Liberty, of Religion, and your Country ? But if any of you are per- plexed with gloomy Fears about this im- portant Affair, or confcious you are entirely unprepared for Eternity, what muft you do ? Muft you feek to prolong your Life, and your Time for Preparation, by mean or unlawful Ways, by a cowardly Defertion of the Caufe of your Country, and drifting for your little Selves, as though you had no Connection with Society ? Alas this would ! but aggravate your Guilt, and render your Condition  ; Confti t uent s of a good Soldier. 17 Condition ftill more perplexed and dis- couraging. Follow the Path of Duty wherever it leads you, for it will be always the fafeft in Diligently improve the Iffue. the Time you have make your Calling and to 'Election fure, and you have Reafon to hope for Mercy, and Grace to help in fuch a lime of Need. You will forgive me, if I have enlarged upon this Point, even to a Digref- fion ; for I thought it of great Confequence to you all. I (hall now proceed with more Hafte. It is alfo of great Importance to excite and keep up our Courage in fuch an Ex- pedition, that wc mould be fully fatisfied we engage in a righteous Caufe,----and in a Caufe of great Moment ; for we cannot pro- fecute a fufpected, or a wicked Scheme, which our own Minds condemn, but with Hefitation, and timerous Appreheniions and we cannot engage with Spirit and Re- folution in a trifling Scheme, from which we can expect no Confequences worth our vigorous Purfuit. This Joab might have in View in his heroic Advice to his Brother > Be of good Courage, fays he, and let us play the Men, for our People, andfor the Cities of our God. q. d. We are engaged in a righteous Caufe we are not urged on by an unbounded ; Lujl of Power or Riches, to encroach upon the Rights and Properties of others, and di/lurb D our  1 8 Religion and Patriotifm the our quiet Neighbours : We ac~t entirely upon the defenjive, repel unjuft Violence and avenge ', national Injuries -> we are fighting for our People, for the Cities of our God. and We are engaged in a Caufe of the utmoft alfo Importance. We fight for our People ; and what Endearme?its are included in that figni- ficant Word! Our Liberty, our Eftates, our Lives ! our King, our Fellow-SubjeBs, our venerable Fathers, our tender Children, the Wives of our Bofom, our Friends the Sharers of our Souls, our Pofierity to the latejl Ages ! And who would not ufe his Sword with an exerted Arm, when thefe lie at Stake ? But even thefe are not all : We fight for the Cities of our God. God has diflinguijhed us with a Religion from Heaven ; and hitherto we have enjoyed the quiet and unrejlrained Exercife of it : He has condefcended to be a God to our Nation, and to honour our Cities with his gracious Prefence, and thf Ffiitutions of his Worjhip, the Means to make us wife, good and happy : But now thefe mojl in- valuable BleJJings lie at Stake ; thefe are the Prize for which we contend and mufi it not -, excite all our active Powers to the highefi Pitch of Exertion? Shall we tamely fubmit to Idolatry, and religious tyranny ? No, Godforbid : Let us play the Men, fince we take up Arms for our People and the Cities of our God. ',  Conftituents of a good Soldier. 19 I need not tell you how applicable this Advice, thus paraphrafed, is to the Defign of the prefent affociated Company. The Equity of our Caufe is moft evident. The Indian Savages have certainly no Right to murder our Fellow-Subjects, living quiet and inoffenfive in their Habitations; nor have the Fre?ich any Power to hound them out upon us, nor to invade the Territories belonging to the Britift Crown, and fecured to it by the Faith of Treaties. This is a clear Cafe. And it is equally clear, that you are engaged in a Cauie of the utmoft Importance. To protect your Brethren from the moft bloody Barbarities— to defend the Territories of the beft of Kings againft the Oppreffion and Tyranny of arbitrary Power, to fecure the ineftimableBleffings of Liberty, BritiJJj Liberty from the Chains of French ', Slavery— to preferve your Eftates, for which you have fweat and toiled, from falling a Prey to greedy Vultures, Indians, Priefts, Friers, and hungry Galic Slaves, or not- more-devouring Flames to guard your Religion, the pure Religion ofjeji/s, dream- ing uncorrupted from the facred Fountain of the Scriptures ; the moft excellent, ra- tional and divine Religion that ever was made known to the Sons of Men ; to guard fo dear fo precious a Religion (my Heart grows warm while I mention it) againft D 2 IgncN 20 Religion and Patriotifm the Ignorance, Superftition, Idolatry, Tyranny- over Confcience, Maffacre, Fire and Sword, and all the Mifchiefs beyond Expreffion, with which Popery is pregnant— to keep from the cruel Hands of Barbarians and Papifts, your Wives, your Children, your Parents, your.Friends to fecure the Li- berties conveyed to you by your brave Fore- fathers, and bought with their Blood, that you may trafmit them uncurtailed to your Pofterity— thefe are the Bleffings you con- tend for ; all thefe will be torn from your eager Grafp, if this Colony mould become a Province of France, And Virginians! Britons ! Chriftians ! Proteftants ! if thefe Names have any Import or Energy, will you not ftrike home in fuch a Caufe ? Yes, this View of the Matter muft fire you into Men 3methinks the cowardly Soul muft tremble, left the Imprecation of the Pro- phet fall upon him, Curfed be the Man that keepeth back his Sword from Blood. To this mocking, but neceffary Work, the Lord now you, and curfed is he that doth the calls Work of the Lord deceitfully ; that will not put his Hand to it, when it is in his Power, or that will not perform it with all his Might*. The People of Meroz lay at home in Eafe, while their Brethren were in the Field, delivering their Country from Slavery. f Ja\ xlviii. 10.  1 ' Constituents of a good Soldier. 2 Slavery. And what was their Doom? Curfe ye Meroz, faid the Angel of the Lord, curfe ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof becanfe they came not to the Help of the Lord, to the Help of the Lord againjl the Mighty % I count myfelf happy that I fee fo many of you generoufly engaged in fuch a Caufe ; but when I view it in this Light, I cannot but be concerned that there are fo few to join you. Are there but 50 or 60 Perfons in this large and populous County that can be fpared from home for a few Weeks upon fo neceffary a Defign, or that are able to bear the Fatigues of it ? Where are the Friends of human Nature, where the Lovers of Liberty and Religion ? Now is the Time for you to come forth, and mew yourfeives. Nay, where is the Mifer ? let him arife and defend his Mammon, or he may foon have Reafon to cry out with Micah They have y taken away my Gods, and what have I more 1 Where is the tender Soul, on whom the Paffions of a Hufband, a Father, or a Son, have a peculiar Energy ? Arife, and march away you had better be abfent from thofe ; you love for a little while, than fee them butchered before your Eyes, or doomed to eternal Poverty and Slavery. The Aiibcia- tion now forming is not yet compleat ; and if it were, it would be a glorious Thing to form * Judges v. 23. 22 Religion and Patriotifm the form another. Therefore, as an Advocate for your King, your Fellow-Subjects, your Country, your Relatives, your earthly All : I do invite and intreat all of you, who have not fome very fufficient Reafon againft it, voluntarily to enlift, and go out with thofe brave Souls, who have let you fo noble an Example. It will be more advantageous to go out in Time, and more honourable to go out as Volunteers, than to be compelled to it by Authority, when perhaps it may be too late. The Confideration of the Juftice and Im- portance of the Gaufe may alfo encourage You to hope, that the Lord of Hofts will efpoufe it, and render its Guardians fuccefs- ful, and return them in Safety to the Arms The Event how- of their longing Friends. ever is in his and it is much better Hands ; there, than if it were in Yours. This Thought is fuggefted with beautiful Sim- the remaining Part of my Text, plicity, in The Lord do that which Jeemeth him good. This may be looked upon in various Views, as, i. It may be underftcfod as the Language of Uncertainty, and Modefty. q. d. Let us do all we can but after all, the IJJue is un- ; certain; we know not, as yet, to what Side God will incline the Victory. Such Language as this, my Brethren, becomes us in all our Under-  Constituents of a good Soldier. 23 Undertakng ; founds Creature-like, 'and it God approves of fuch felf-diffident Humi- lity. Eut to indulge fanguine and confident Expectations of Victory, to boajl when we put on our Armour, as though we were put- ting it off] and to derive our high Hopes from our own Power and good Manage- ment, without any Regard to the Provi- dence of God, this is too lordly and arlume- ing for fuch feeble Mortals \ fuch Infolence is generally mortified, and fuch a haughty Spirit, is the Fore-runner of a Fall. There- fore, though I do not apprehend Your Lives will be in any great Danger in Your prefent Expedition to range the Frontiers, and clear them of the fkulking Indians ; yet, I would not flatter You, my Brethren, with too high Hopes either of Victory or Safety. I cannot but entertain the pleafing Profpect of congratulating You with many of Your Friends, upon your fuccefsful Ex- pedition, and fafe Return : And yet it is very poffible our next Interview may be in that ftrange untried World beyond the Grave. You are, however, in the Hands of God, and he will deal with you as it feemeth him good: And I am perluaded You would not wifli it were otherwife ; You would not now practically retract the Pe- tition You have fo often offered up, Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. 2. This 24 Religion and Patriotifm the 2.This Language ; The Lord do asfeeni- etb him good, may be looked upon as ex- preffive of a firm Perfuafion that the Event of War entirely depends upon the Provi- dence of God. q. d. Let us do our beft ; but after all, let us be fenfible that the Suc- cefs does not depend on us ; that is entirely in the Hands of an all-ruling God. That God governs the World, is a fundamental Article of natural, as well as revealed Re- ligion It is no great Exploit of Faith, to : believe this It is but a fmall Advance be- : yond Atheifm, and downright Infidelity. I know no Country upon Earth, where 1 fliould be put to the Expence of Argument to prove this. The Heathens gave ftriking Proofs of their Belief of it, by their Prayers, their Sacrifices, their confulting Oracles, be- fore they engaged in War; and by their coftly Offerings and folemn Thankfgivings, after Victory. And (hall fuch a plain Principle as this, be difputed in a Chriftian Land? No; we all fpeculatively believe it; but that is not enough ; let our Spirits be deep- ly imprejfed with it, and our Lives influenced by it Let us live in the World, as in a : Territory of Jehovah's Empire. Carry this Impreffion upon Your Hearts into the Wil- dernefs, whither You are going. Often let fuch Thoughts as thefe recur to your Minds, 1 am the jecble Creature of God ; and blejj'ed be  Constituents of 'a good Soldier. 25 be his Name, I am not cajl offhis Hand as a difregarded Orphan to fhift for myfelf My Life is under his Care ; the Succefs of this Ex- pedition is at his DiJpofaL Therefore, O thou alUruling God, I implore thy Protection; I confide in thy Care ; I chearfully refign myfelf and the Event of this Undertaking, to thee. Which leads me to obferve, 3. That thefe Words, The Lord do what feemefh him good, may exprefs a humble Submiflion to the Difpofal of Providence, let the Event turn out as it would, q. d. We have not the Difpofal of the Event, nor do we know what will be : But ^Jehovah knows, and that is enough. We are Jure he will do what is befi, upon the whole ; and it becomes us to acquiefce ! Thus, my Friends, do You refign and fubmit yourfelves to the Ruler of the World in the prefent Enterprize. He will order Matters as he pleafes ; Oh let ! him do by Your chearful Confent. Let fo Succefs or Difappointment, let Life or Death be the Iffue, ftill fay, Good is the Will of the Lord let him do what feemeth him good: Or -, if Nature piaffes Your Wifhes and Delires to the favourable Side, as no Doubt it will, ftill keep them within Bounds, and reftrain them in Time, faying after the Example of Chrift, Not my Will, but thine be done. You may wifti, you may pray, you may ftrive, you may hope for a happy IfTue But You : E mufl 26 Religion and Patriotifm the wit/l fubmit -, Be flill, and know that he is God, and will not be prefcribed to, or fuf- fer a Rival in the Government of the World he has made. Such a Temper will be of unfpeakable Service to You, and You may hope God will honour it with a remarkable Blefling For Submiffion to his Will is the : readieft Way to the Accomplifhment of our own. 4. Thefe Words, in their Connection, may intimate, that let the Event be what it will, it will afford us Satisfaction to think, that we have done the belt we could, g. d. We command Succefs ; but let us do all cannot i?t our Power to obtain it, and we have Reafon to hope that in this Way we Jl:all not be dis- appointed : But if it jhould pleafe God to render all our 'Endeavours- vain, jlill wejhall have the genei'ous Pleafure to refleB, that we have not been acceffary to the Ruin of our Country, but have done all we could for its Deliverance. So You my Brethren have generoufly engaged in a difinterefted Scheme for Your King, and Country : God does generally crown fuch noble Undertakings with Succefs, and You have Encouragement to hope for it But : the Caufe You have efpoufed, is the Caufe of a linful impenitent Country , and if God, in righteous Difpleafure, fhould on thisAccount blaft your Attempt, ftill you will have the Pleafure of reflecting upon Your  ; Conftituents of a good Soldier. 27 Your generous Views and vigorous Endea- vours, and that You have done Your Part confcientiouily. Having thus made fome curfory Remarks upon the fundry Parts of the Text, I fhall now conclude with an Addrefs, firft to you all in general, and then to you Gentlemen and others, who have been pleafed to invite ^me to this Service hope You will for- I give my Prolixity My Heart is full, the : Text is copious, and the Occafion Angular and important. I cannot therefore difmifs You with a fhort hurrying Difcourfe. It concerns you all ferioufly to reflect upon your own Sins, and the Sins of your Land, which have brought all thefe Calamities upon us. If You believe that God governs the World, if You do not abjure him from being the Ruler of Your Country, You muft acknowledge that all the Calamities of War, and the threatening Appearances of Famine, are o*r dered by his Providence "There is no Evil in a City or Country\ but the Lord hath done it. And if You believe that he is a juft and righteous Ruler, You muft alfo believe, that he would not thus puniih a righteous or a penitent People. We and and our Countrymen are Sinners, aggra- vated Sinners : God proclaims that we are fuch by his Judgments now upon us, by ]2 a " withering 28 Religion and Patriotifm the withering Fields, and fcanty Harvefts, by the Sound of the Trumpet and the Alarm of War. Our Confciences mull alfo bear witnefs to the fame melancholy Truth. And if my Heart were properly affected, I would concur with thefe undoubted Wit- neifes I would cry aloud, and not fpare, : I would lift up my Voice like a Trumpet, to fhew you Your Tranfgreffions and Your Sins. O my Country, is not thy JVickednefs greats and thine Iniquities infinite'? Where is there a more Spot to be found upon finful our guilty Globe? Pafs over the Land, take a Survey of the Inhabitants, infpect into, their Conduct, and what do you what fee ? do you hear ? You fee gigantic Forms of Vice braving the Skies, and bidding De- fiance to Heaven and Earth, while Reli- gion and Virtue is obliged to retire, to avoid public Contempt and Infult. You fee Herds of Drunkards fwilling down their Cuds, and drowning all the Man within them. You hear the Swearer venting his Fury againft God and Man, trifling with that Name which Angels adore, proftrate and imprecating that Damnation, under which the hardieft Devil in Hell trembles, and groans. You Avarice hoarding fee up her ufelefs Treafures, dimoneft Craft planning her Schemes of unlawful Gain, and Oppreffion unmercifully grinding the Face  Conftituents of a good Soldier. 29 Face of the Poor. You fee Prodigality fquandering her Luxury fpread- Stores, ing her Table, and unmanning her Guefts ; Vanity laughing aloud, and diflblving in empty unthinking Mirth, regardlefs of God, and our Country, of Time and Eternity ; Senfuality wallowing in bru- tal Pleafures, and afpiring with inverted Ambition, to fink as low as her four- footed Brethren of the Stall. You fee Cards more in Ufe than the Bible, the Back- Gammon Table more frequented than the Table of the Lord, Plays and Romances more read than the Hiftory of the bleffed Jefus. You fee trifling and even criminal Diverfions become a ferious Bufinefs -, the IfTue of a Horfe-race, or a Cock-fight, more anxioufly attended to than the Fate of our Country. Or where thefe groffer Forms of Vice and Vanity do not mock your Senfes, even there you often meet with the Ap- pearances of more refined Impiety, which is equally dangerous. You hear the Con- verfation of reafonable Creatures, of Can- didates for Eternity, engroffed by Trifles, or vainly wafted on the Affairs of Time: Thefe are the eternal Subjects of Conver- fation, even at the Threfhold of the Houfe of God, and on the facred Hours devoted to his Service, You fee Swarms of Prayer- left 3