A SERMON PREACHED AT
YORKTOWN,
BEFORE CAPTAIN MORGAN’S
AND CAPTAIN PRICE’S COMPANIES OF RIFLE-MEN
Thursday, July 20,
1775
By Daniel Batwell,
M.A., Philadelphia, 1775
Being the Day recommended by the Honorable Continental
Congress
for a General Fast throughout the
Twelve
United Colonies of North-America
A PRAYER
O Most Mighty God, terrible
in thy judgments, and wonderful in thy doings towards the children of men! We thy sinful servants here assembled before
thee, confess, and adore the mysterious strokes of thy supreme Providence.
Long has the land rejoiced
in the abundant emanation of thy tender mercies. Not our merit but thy goodness, has turned
the wilderness into fruitful fields, and the lonesome solitude into the
cheerful dwellings of men. From year to
year, almost from day to day, new habitations have sprung up, which ought to
resound with the praise of thy holy name, of thy eternal and uncreated son, and
of thy most blessed spirit.
But alas with grief and
shame we acknowledge, that we have not always made a right use of thy continued
favours. Not according to thy benefits
have been our improvements not according to thy bounty has been our
gratitude. Our hearts smite us when we
reflect on the many instances of our neglect of heavenly, and our attachment to
earthly things. Creation and all its
blessings, redemption and all its graces have but too frequently elapsed from
our memories; and whilst we have been anxiously attentive to the life that now
is, we have been foolishly inattentive to the promise of the life to come. We see, we feel, we own ourselves unworthy of
the least of thy gracious vouchsafements; whereby as a state we have been
gradually led from weakness to strength, as individuals from lonely helplessness
to all the numerous comforts of society.
In this severe distress
whither shall we fly but to thy presence?
As a religious society, prayer is our only weapon: O may it prove the prayer of the humble, may
it pierce through the clouds, reach the footsteps of they Almighty throne, and
not turn away till thou, O most high, regardest it! St. Paul, the chosen vessel of thy son, our savior
Jesus Christ, has taught us to make prayer and supplication for all men – for Kings,
and for all that are in eminent place; that they, exercising their authority
with righteousness and justice, we may lead a peaceable life in all godliness
and honesty, urged therefore alike by our duty, our inclination, and our
necessity, we meekly and devoutly implore thee in behalf of George thy servant,
our King, and Governor, that wisdom descending from above may inform his soul,
and regulate his thoughts, words, and actions; that looking upon himself as the
common father and protector of all his subjects, he may cherish them all
without distinction, watch over them for their good, and endeavour to preserve
them in wealthy, peace and happiness: and more particularly because it is our
more immediate concern; that he may extend his care and regard to the
inhabitants of this land and province – may know, and accept, and rejoice in
their loyalty and dutiful affection – may be always ready to hear their
complaints, and redress their sufferings, that so, happy in the felicity of his
people, and distinguished by a life of goodness here, he may reign over us
honoured and beloved, till it shall be thy pleasure to remove him to a life of
glory hereafter. We also pray thee for
the rulers of this our country, that thou would’st give them righteous and
understanding hearts, that wisdom and gentleness, fortitude and moderation may
equally animate their councils and actions, that in the present dangerous
crisis of affairs, they may leave nothing undone that appertains to our safety
and welfare, nor do any thing from a principle of ambition, vain-glory, or self
interest, that in the midst of war they may remember peace, and in the very
moment of opposition, wish, long, pant, for a safe, happy, and honourable accommodation.
O Gracious God who alone
makest men to be of one mind in a house, a city, a kingdom, a continent, and
even a whole world, suffer not, in the sincerity of our hearts, and bitterness
of our souls we beseech thee, suffer not those to remain long divided, whom the
same language, the same descent, the same manners, the same constitution, the
same religion, have so intimately united.
We confess that we are severed for our mutual sins, but do thou most
gracious father, re-unite us for thy mercy’s sake. A terrible misconception is gone forth, remove
it, O remove it, thou, whose conceptions are clearer than light, and who alone
can’st regulate the wills and affections of sinful men. We humble ourselves under thy correcting
hand, and confess the justice of all thy judgments, but we pray, we are allowed
to pray, that the duration of our punishment may be shortened, and our
tribulations come to an end. We pray for
millions now under affliction, and for millions yet unborn in both countries,
who wihout thy interposing favour, will hereafter be affected by the
consequence of the present calamities, yet not on ourselves but on thee do we
rely for our deliverance, not on our merits, but on our Saviour’s merits do we
depend for mercy: Hear us therefore, O Lord, hear thy people who call upon
thee, that all the world may know, that thou art our savior and mighty
deliverer, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A SERMON
“That they may fear thee all the
days that they live in the land which thou gavest to our fathers. (1 Kings 8:40)
By the covenant which
Almighty God was pleased to enter into with his people the Jews, an immediate
intercourse was established between heaven and earth. Each deviation from the divine law was
followed by sure pains and penalties; each return to holiness was a certain
return to peace and prosperity. The sin
of individuals never failed to bring upon them the curse, their repentance
always restored them to the blessing.
Whensoever the state fell from its allegiance to Jehovah, then
straightway came the great, the terrible day of vengeance: No sooner was the
trumpet blown in Zion, the fast sanctified, and the solemn assembly called, no
sooner did the Priests and Ministers weep between the porch and the alter, and
say spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach; no
sooner was the act of public humiliation performed, than public redress ensued –
the Lord was jealous for his land, and pitied his people, and removed far off
them the northern army.
Of this foundation of God’s
unchangeable promise it is, that King Solomon at the dedication of the temple
frames his petition in the verses preceding the text. His claim, the sacred historian goes on to
inform us, was allowed; and the most high by fire from Heaven ratified afresh
the covenant.
The process is most plain
and most awful. Israel offended, the God
of Israel punished with the famine, the pestilence, or the sword: The people
conscious of their sins, made solemn prayer and supplication; the Lord saw the
sincerity of their repentance, and heard from heaven his dwelling place and
forgave them. What was the
consequence? Man by correction learned
to fear his God, and that holy fear insuring the divine protection, he
continued to dwell in safety in the land of his fathers.
Happy will it be for us,
happy will it be for every nation under the sun, if due attention is given to
this important lesson. Were we but all
convinced that righteousness exalteth a
kingdom, whilst sin is a reproach to any people, and did we sanctify this conviction by
practice, what a glorious, what a delightful scene of things would immediately
present itself to our view! The nations
would be bound in a golden chain of amity: None would groan under oppression,
for no one would dare to oppress: The haughty invader, the cruel spoiler, the
relentless destroyer, would be terms no more made use of: And each man sitting
in safety under his own vine, and under his own fig tree would rapturously
exclaim, – Lo this is the true, the genuine reign of Christ upon earth! Behold, the kingdoms of this world are
become, not in name, but in deed, not in appearance, but in reality, the
kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.
But the multiplied
provocations of the sons of men forbid us to indulge the least expectation of
so pleasing a prospect. The beauteous vision
shifts away from before our eyes, and in a moment we return to the real unhappy
state of things, a world of discord and lamentation, of violence and woe, where
the long forbearance of the Almighty is much more conspicuous than his
judgments. Where it is more reasonable
to ask, why cities and states are permitted to stand, than why they are
destroyed – where the abominations of Canaan, and even of Sodom and Gomorrah,
are frequent in some communities – and where in the best and most virtuous
congregations, the preacher has still to cry aloud the solemn and unceasing
voice, - except ye repent ye must inevitably perish.
Blessed forever be the
hallowed lips of our most gracious redeemer, who foreseeing that faith would
decay, and love wax cold among his disciples, has so affectionately called us
to repentance, who delivering us from sin, and well knowing that we should lead
ourselves therewith a fresh, has softened all the difficulties of this essential
duty, and rendered it easy for us to perform; who kindly himself receives our
intercessions, presents them to the throne of grace, and from thence procures
us indubitable and authentic pardon! And blessed be the influence of that
divine comforter, who has this day removed the stony from our hearts, and
melted them into the sincerest contrition, all humbly to bewail our manifold
transgressions, all devoutly to acknowledge the divine dispensations, all
piously to pray for the removal of them from ourselves and our brethren, and
all, I trust to depart in peace and comfort, full of good hopes and good
resolutions, unburthened of our sins, our consciences appeased, and the love of
the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, beaming upon our souls with
unclouded splendor.
Religious discomposure
tends ultimately to our composure and tranquility, When the judgments of God are abroad, the inhabitants of the earth
learn righteousness. Did we ever
expect to see the day, when all the various communions of this wide-extended
continent should be bowed as the heart of one man to deprecate the wrath, and
to entreat the protection of heaven, in one and the same hour, in one and the
same cause? O it is a goodly sight, and
all the angelick host will applaud our humiliation! It is to begin at the right
end; for being once secure of defense from above, what is it that can possibly
confound us. Lovest thou, and art thou
beloved of thy maker? His friendship shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in
seven shall no evil touch thee; in famine he shall redeem thee from death, and
in war from the power of the sword, thou shalt not be afraid of the scourge of
the tongue, nor of destruction when it cometh, yea though thou walkest through
the valley of the shadow of death thou should fear no evil, for he is with thee
his rod and his staff shall comfort thee.
The present situation is
the most distressful that could have happened to beings endued with
humanity. It is more replete with
anguish, than even with danger. I have
heard, and can well believe, that the opposing armies respect and pity each
other in the very instant that their weapons are uplifted to destroy. Can we avoid praying that hearts so framed
might be permitted to meet in equal and honourable union; neither conquering
nor conquered, but as free citizens of the same realm, intitled to the same
rights and privileges. Much, too much,
does our case resemble that recorded in scripture where King Rehoboam assembled
the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin to fight against the house of
Israel: But alas! Alas! There is no Prophet, no Shemiah the man of God, to
speak unto Rehoboam and to all the house
of Judah and Benjamin, saying, ye shall not go up, nor fight against your
brethren the house of Israel; return ye every man to his house.
But my duty in this sacred
place leads me no farther than to bewail the miseries brought upon this country
by those fatal misconceptions that have gone forth on the other side of the atlantick,
and to exhort my little flock, so to prepare themselves by unfeigned faith, by
holy prayer, and by genuine repentance to deserve (if man can be said to
deserve) the temporal blessings of the Almighty, which I trust, nor trust in
vain, will be poured out upon us, if we patiently and manfully abide the
appointed trial. There is who reigns on
high, and at his pleasure breaketh the bow and knappeth the spear in
sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire; for his good time let us wait
with calmness and submission, and let us endeavour to shorten the period by the
integrity of our behavior, and by the fervor of our devotions. That good time
will come; let us not doubt it for we have a gracious master in heaven; when
the labour of some of our fellow citizens, and the sorrows of others shall
cease – when our darkness shall be turned into light, and our mourning into
joy- when our loyalty shall stand confirmed, and our liberty established by
sufferings – when we shall meet again in the Lord’s house, to celebrate his
returning mercies, whose wrath we now deprecate, and to whose judgments we now
bend with submissive adoration.
For in revolving the days
of old, and considering the manner in which it has pleased the almighty ruler
to exercise his moral government, there is no reason to think, that any state
legitimately constituted, will be destroyed by his supreme fiat, till that
state has rendered itself unworthy of continuance, by acts that defile its
purity, and corrupt its very essence. I
say legitimately constituted, meaning where the natural rights of mankind have
been respected in its constitution, because with domination founded in tyranny
the allwise, and alljust ruler has no connection: That is not his work, but
rather the work of that malignant being, who delights in human wretchedness. Now the means by which the rulers of a state
may shamefully deviate, and thereby provoke the fullness of divine anger, are
chiefly idolatry, persecution for religious opinions, wanton invasion of their
neighbours, mean pilfering and stealing of adjacent lands, and laws made on
purpose to oppress, or corrupt the people.
When enormities such as these prevail, it is neither to be wondered or
murmured at, if the storm descends from above, and sweeps away such a perverted
government from the face of the earth.
But from enormities such as these, blacker than the blackest night, more
savage than the howlings of the wild beasts of the forest, disgraceful to
reason, to truth, to justice, and to human nature, this land of our hopes, and
desires is most notoriously, and remarkably free. No man can dwell therein who believes in more
than one God, the Creator of the universe, and none who profess themselves the
servants of that all-glorious being, can be molested for their religious
principles. It is not upon the records
of history, nor in the memory of man, that this government has ever in any
shape, much less in wantonness, invaded the property of others: From the poor
untutored Indian it has uniformly disdained to borrow, and abhorred to steal:
Fair and open purchases have preceded every settlement: Its laws – but why
should I praise its laws to those who live under them, when their good report
is spread far and near, when I have heard it a thousand times acknowledged in
Europe, that they are the mildest and most equitable now in force on the
terrestrial globe? Can we entertain a
suspicion that such a state is obnoxious to the supreme legislator? No, we may rather comfort ourselves with the
assurance, that however greatly we have sinned as individuals, yet that the
judge of all the earth will not suffer the benevolent work of one immortal man
to be defaced or demolished.
With respect to the present
unnatural disputes, it would ill become my place and station to say any thing
with the tone of decisive authority: My master’s kingdom is not of this world,
nor am I appointed a Ruler, a Judge, or a Divider: But if nothing more is
designed, than what is professed; if to preserve our rights and privileges be
the sole aim of the Continental Congress, and of those who assemble at their
biddings; if no sparks of disloyalty, no desire of change, no intentions of
removing the ancient land marks, lie concealed beneath the fair outside of
public good; I say, if this be the case, and according to the best of my
observation it really is so, then we have a good cause, and may expect the
blessing of Heaven upon our endeavours.
For the blessing of legal, and equal Liberty we pray; and tho’ our
prayers are sincere, yet because of our tender attachment to our parent state,
grief mixes with our devotions: For the same liberty our fellow citizens are to
fight; and they will surely do it, with steady tho’ reluctant courage – with hearts
that wish to save, in the same moment that they are obliged to destroy.
It happens, that many
defenders of this land are now before me.
Summoned to immediate service, they have arrived here at this solemn
season, and have joined in our act of humiliation. These I will exhort to go on to their appointed
destination, in the fear of God, n the sentiments of true honor, in the love of
Liberty and of their Country. Descended
from ancestors who in the old world often proved, they preferred freedom to
life, I trust you have not degenerated from their nobleness of soul, but will
even strive to exceed your forefathers in deeds of valour, generosity and humanity. Remember that they mean to hazard every thing
dear for the recovery of our rights, and the moment those are recovered to
sheathe the sword. I have a commission,
and it is written in the most luminous characters of truth; to bid you hour the
King – yet I trust you want not the admonition: But I have no commission to bid
you honour those, who wickedly stand between the throne and the subject; and
yet I believer, you will begin to respect them, when they learn to respect
themselves, and the common rights of humanity.
Go, Brethren, and may the Lord of Hosts be with you: Go, and fill up the
measure of your fame, more by generous behavior, than even by feats of arms:
God, and defend our franchises, our wives, our children, and possessions: God,
and bring us back a speedy and honourable peace: And having done so, may you
long enjoy in the bosom of that peace, the illustrious title you will have
acquired of Protectors and Preservers of your Country.
For us, Brethren, beloved
in the Lord, let us, as I have already admonished you, proceed as we have this
day begun, and strive to deserve in some sort, the Benediction of the
Almighty. Nor only now with united
hearts and voices, but also singly and separately in the closet, unfeignedly
confess and deplore our many sins, and offer up our supplications to the
allwise, omnipotent, and merciful Disposer of all events, to forgive our
iniquities, remove our calamities, and avert those desolating judgments with
which we are threatened: That he will bless our rightful Sovereign King George
the Third, and inspire him with wisdom to discern and pursue the true interest
of all his subjects: That a speedy end may be put to the discord between
Great-Britain and the American Colonies without further effusion of blood; and
that the British nation may be influenced to regard the things that belong to
her peace before they are hid from her eyes: That these Colonies may be ever
under the care and protection of a kind Providence; and be prospered in all
their interests: That the divine blessing may descend upon all our civil
rulers, and upon the Representatives of the People in their several Assemblies and
Conventions; that they may be directed to wise and effectual measures for
preserving the Union, and securing the just Rights and Privileges of the Colonies:
That virtue and true religion may revive and flourish throughout our land: That
America may soon behold a gracious interposition of Heaven, for the redress of
her many grievances, the restoration of her invaded rights, a reconciliation
with the parent state on terms constitutional and honourable to both: And that
her civil and religious Liberties may be secured to the latest posterity.
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