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found for such a loss? What, O! what would the whole world then be, if it might be gained? Alas! what a poor trifle! But, suppose you escape with your life, and the lives of those that are near and dear to you, there is yet another dreadful evil to fear, and which has been the case; plunder, lawless plunder, may deprive you of your little all. Now, who can insure another? Who can exempt himself in the time of general distress, from such an evil? Alas! brethren, "we must let this alone for ever. We are of yesterday, and know nothing" of to

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What then must we do to save (not to destroy) our kingdom, and to save (not to destroy) our American brethren? Do, my brethren! Why what would we do, if either our own or our neighbour's house were on fire? We should bring, if in our senses, no combustible matter to increase the flame, but water and a helping hand to extinguish it. This we should certainly do, and our labour would not be in vain. Now, apply this to America and Great Britain. The former is like a house on fire; the devouring flames of an unnatural civil war are already kindled, and some hundreds of lives have fallen a prey to its insatiable violence. And how long before this may be our case here, God only knows!

Stop here then, my brethren, and survey the desolation. Behold the weeping and disconsolate widow refusing to be comforted! Her beloved husband is fallen! is fallen! and is no more! See the affectionate parent hanging down his head like the bulrush! Hear the broken language of his heart! "My son! my son! would God I had died in thy place! O my son! my son!" This is far from the flight of imagination, or the colouring of fancy. It is the real and actual condition of many amongst that unhappy people, and a part only of their manifold distress. In a word, they and we appear to be a people infatuated like the Jews of old, and ripening for destruction; and no marvel if, while we are biting and devouring one another, some stronger beasts of prey step in and divide the spoil! Here stop then, and drop a tear for the slain of our people, through the fire of contention that is kindled amongst them! And if on your recovery from the horrors of so terrible a conflagration, you should begin to inquire into its cause, a spectator begs leave to inform you, that it was occasioned through the unhappy contention of brethren, (which, as Solomon observes, "only cometh of pride,") and begs your kind assistance to extinguish the flames, lest they and their whole substance should be consumed together! great danger of which, as well as the cause of this unparalleled and fatal strife, I would beg leave to present to your view in a piece of fine painting, done by an abler master: "See! Here are some thousands of our brave countrymen gathered together on this plain; they are followed by the most tender and feeling emotions of wives, children, and an innumerable multitude of their thoughtful, humane, and sympathizing countrymen. Then turn your eyes and behold a superior number at a little distance, of their brethren, flesh of their flesh, and bone of their bone,' who only a few years since emigrated to the dreary wilds of America. These also are followed with the most tender feelings of wives, children, and countrymen. See, they advance toward each other, well prepared with every instrument of death! But what are they going to do? To shoot

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each other through the head or heart; to stab and butcher each other, and hasten (it is to be feared) one another into the everlasting burnings. Why so? What harm have they done to one another? Why, none at all. Most of them are entire strangers to each other. But a matter is in dispute relative to the mode of taxation. So these countrymen, children of the same parents, are to murder each other with all possible haste, to prove who is in the right. Now, what an argument is this! What a method of proof! What an amazing way of deciding controversies! But so it is; and O what horrors attend on it! At what a price is the decision made! By the blood and wounds of thousands; the burning cities, ravaging and laying waste the country." Now, who that seriously considers this awful contest, can help lamenting the astonishing want of wisdom in our brethren to decide the matter without bloodshed? What, are there no wise men amongst us? none that are able to judge between brethren ? But brother goeth to war against

brother; and that in the very sight of the Heathen. Surely this is a sore evil amongst us. O how are the mighty fallen! How is wisdom perished from the wise! What a flood of folly and madness has broke in upon us!

But do you farther ask me, Who was first in the transgression? Who began the dreadful strife? I must beg your pardon for not touching this subject now. Excuse my saying any thing of the second cause, as I mean only to inquire into the first. I fear doing harm, and this is far from my design. Another great reason for my avoiding any reflections of this sort, on this delicate subject, is, that it has been already done by some of the most able hands, and to very little purpose. Argument seems lost in clamour, in confusion of passion and party rage; and the Satanic dust of prejudice seems to have put out the eyes of our understanding. But thus much I might venture to say, the case is rendered very complicated, and must in general remain unintelligible, unless to those who thoroughly understand the constitution of each party, and then have wisdom enough to weigh it in an unprejudiced balance.

To be plain, the present melancholy dispute either is, or is not, founded in a constitutional right on the one part, and a constitutional opposition on the other. So far is certain. Therefore, till the entire nature of both constitutions is well and fully understood, it is utterly impossible to decide thereon. I speak as to the matter of the dispute only; the manner of it is another point. Now, how many understand, or ever properly consider, either the one or the other? I fear but few. How deplorable then is it, that almost every one is sufficient for it, and accordingly passes sentence. An outcry is raised. The Americans should or should not be taxed; and many have drawn their swords, and are well-nigh ready to cut their antagonists' throats! But this is not our wisdom; it is far from it. It is indeed fighting uncertainly, and scattering firebrands, arrows, and death. But go no farther. Stop here, and calmly reflect on the above argument. Settle it in your heart, that unless you properly understand the merits of the cause, you talk at random; you argue uncertainly, and worse than to no purpose.

But if any man has this wisdom, and this well-poised balance, let him stand forth in defence of his country, and be assured his labour will not be in vain.

Here we must lament, that, instead of its being a matter of great and general concern, it is more a party affair; and to our shame may it be said, that such a spirit has so unhappily influenced almost all sorts of people, that some are breathing out slaughter against one party, and some against another. Now, while this is the case, is it any marvel that we should perish together? While we are contending who set the building on fire, and looking with rage and vengeance on the suspected party, instead of bringing the assuaging water of heartfelt grief and pious concern, with the helping hand of wisdom, moderation, and love, it is more than certain the flames will spread and endanger the whole building.

If these things, therefore, are so, let us cease contending with each other. Let us avoid unkind and bitter reflection on one another; seeing it can do no real service to the cause we would defend, but, in all probability, much harm. Let us bring no combustible matter of this sort to increase the fire. But as the flames are actually spreading, and may soon reach from them to us, let us do our utmost to extinguish them. Ye salt of the earth, exert the seasoning, preserving quality which you are favoured with. Bring your contentious brethren in your loving arms of faith and prayer, and lay them at your Father's feet, praying him "to forgive them, as they know not what they do." Look upward for help, to Him "who doeth whatsoever pleases him in the armies of heaven, and among the sons of men;" knowing it is He alone that "can quench the violence of fire, still the raging of the sea, and the madness of the people." Much, brethren, depends on you, though "the world account your life madness, and your end to be without honour;" for you are the true "salt of the earth;" you alone preserve it from general putrefaction; and you, under God, are the great means of saving a divided kingdom, "a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers ;" and had not the Lord 66 left you as a small remnant," we should long since "have been as Sodom and Gomorrah !”

But do not you, for your Master's sake, lose your favour in that unhallowed fire of contention, which the people who know not God are now burning in. The old serpent may herein deceive us, as he has too often done already. As an angel of light he is most likely to succeed, and, under the specious show of doing our country service, betray us, in treating our opponents, into a spirit and temper not from above. And how many may unhappily be influenced and led away with our error, God only knows! But this seems to be the design of the adversary of God and man; and if he can set the Christian world together by the ears, he has gained his point. But again, brethren, we may be deceived respecting the cause itself. Our veneration and respect for the cause we would espouse may betray us into a maze of error, imprudence, false zeal, and bitterness of temper; which must prove highly injurious to the public good. What has been, you know, may be again. And as the great Governor of the world has often permitted, particularly upon his own people, a judicial blindness, hardness of heart, and an amazing infatuation, which terminated in their ruin; so it is not improbable but the great and spreading defection and intemperate zeal on the one hand, and the determined purpose of maintaining the authority and dignity of government by fire and sword on the other, is more judicial than we are

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aware of. And that this is the case, I fear, is more than probable. has been so in this kingdom, as well as the kingdom of Israel in the matter of David and his son Absalom; and it will be so while iniquity beareth rule. If this be so, take heed what you do. Do nothing hastily or rashly. But, rather, before you touch this awfully delicate subject, and enter the lists, examine and weigh well the thoughts of your heart, and the springs of motion. And with David pray, " Search me, O God, and prove the ground of my heart," &c. Beg to be directed. If you cannot act from a full persuasion that this is required at your hands, and if you cannot see the Divine cloud go before you, desist in time. "Let the dead bury their dead;" but let not those who are designed to save the earth destroy it. Let not Christians engage in the controversy in the spirit and temper of the world, and bite and devour one another, lest they should be consumed with the world. But rather let them wish, with an eminent Prophet, (an admirable way of showing our love to our country, and doing it the most effectual service!) "O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" and with Christ himself, the Inspirer of the Prophets, "when he beheld the" rebellious "city, weep over it!"

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But, it may be you are of a different complexion. You "fear not the Lord, neither regard the operation of his hands." Your case, I fear, is too similar to his, who of old said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?" But he is, though you know him not, the God of your life, your health, your strength, and all your mercies. It is "through him you live, move, and have your being;" and is therefore altogether worthy of all you have and all you are. "Acquaint yourself with him, and be at peace; and thereby good shall come unto thee." Till this is the case, it is morally impossible that you should be a true patriot, a real lover of your country. You may indeed assume the sounding title; but it is an empty name. You may in word mightily contend for your country's good; but, while you are a slave to sin, you are an enemy to God, and your country too. But let the time past suffice. Be henceforth, not only in word, but in deed and in truth, a patriot. Put away the accursed thing, the evil that is found in you; so shall you love your country as your own soul, and prevent the fearful end of botn.

That we may do this, and that it may please infinite Wisdom to succeed our attempts, I would beg leave to pass from the Second to the First cause. Here I would fix my foot, as on a sure and solid foundation that will stand for ever. The Holy Scriptures give us ample accounts of the fall and rise of the greatest monarchies. It is simply this: they rose by virtue; but they fell by vice." Righteousness" alone" exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." And this ever will be the case, till the end of all things. So much in general is certain; but wherein we have well nigh filled up "the measure of our iniquity," and may therefore expect their fate, is another point. But it is certain that iniquity of every kind, and amongst all ranks and orders of men, has and does abound; and as we are punished with the sword, it is not improbable but one principal sin of our nation is, the blood that we have shed in Asia, Africa, and America. Here I would beg your serious attention, while I observe, that however extensively pursued, and of long continu

ance, the African trade may be, it is nevertheless iniquitous from first to last. It is the price of blood! It is a trade of blood, and has stained our land with blood! And is the East India trade a jot better? I fear not. They seem very nearly allied. For though here is no leading into captivity, as in the former; yet the refined iniquity practised there, of fomenting war amongst the natives, and seizing the chief of the plunder, has been as conspicuous to the serious and attentive. What millions have fallen by these means, as well as by artificial famine! O earth, cover not thou their blood! It will speak to heaven and to the inhabitants of the earth to the latest posterity. O ye governors of this great nation, would to God that ye had seen this, and timely done your utmost to separate those tares from the wheat of fair and honest trade! What peace therefore can we expect, while these evils continue? "There can be no peace, saith the Lord." While the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground," "what hast thou to do with peace?" "Shall I not visit for these things? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" Yes, my brethren, we have much reason to fear and tremble, as upon the brink of fate.

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But there is (if aught can be worse) a sorer evil, namely, an astonishing contempt and neglect of truly sacred things; especially the solemn worship of Almighty God: and herein our nobility and gentry almost universally distinguish themselves. This is indeed a sore evil; one of the grossest affronts that can be offered to the great Governor of the world. And I am bold to say, that as he hath spoken to this nation as he hath not to any other nation upon earth of late years, and that in an uncommon way and manner, but as in general we have stopped our ears, and utterly despised his call; the day will come when the candlestick will be removed, and the kingdom of God given to another people that will attend the call, and bring forth fruit. And when the Divine glory, in this respect, begins to depart, the natural glory will soon follow. Probably that day is not far off, unless we repent.

We seem indeed to have been at our meridian height of power, greatness, &c; (not of holiness unto the Lord;) and it is to be feared that the glory has begun to depart, which, like the sun when he begins to decline, will continue its declension, finally disappear, and leave us in total darkness, unless a Divine interposition prevent. For we seem judicially given up to pursue those measures that will effectually accomplish it. Now, as what God hath joined together (especially such powerful people as we and the Americans now are) for the mutual support, comfort, and defence of each other, should not be put asunder by any means whatsoever, as it would undoubtedly frustrate his gracious design in this well compacted body; so, if one powerful member should rise up against the whole body, or the whole body against one such member, and disunite from it; this schism must, in the nature of things, occasion such a weakness and deformity in the whole body, as is only to be known by an unhappy experience. The disunion of the ten tribes is a melancholy proof of it. And as Judah vexed Ephraim, and Ephraim Judah, so will it be with us. The counsel therefore to separate cannot be from God. It has no foundation in the nature and fitness of things beneficial, either to them or us, and must, in the end, prove like the counsel of Ahithophel.

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