USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Portsmouth > The glory of America : a century sermon delivered at the South Church, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, IV January, MDCCCI ; together with a number of historical notes, and an appendix, containing an account of the newspapers printed in the state > Part 1
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GLORY OF AMERICA CENTURY SERMON DELIVERED AT THE SOUTH CHURCH, IN PORTSMOUTH NEWHAMPSHIRE
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00056 0992
THE GLORY OF AMERICA, -
CENTURY SERMON A
DELIVERED AT THE
SOUTH CHURCH, IN PORTSMOUTH, NEWHAMPSHIRE,
IV JANUARY, MDCCCI.
TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF HISTORICAL NOTES,, AND AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE NEWSPAPERS PRINTED IN THE STATE.
BY TIMOTHY ALDEN, JUN. A. M. COLLEAGUE PASTOR WITH THE REVEREND SAMUEL HAVEN, D. D.
Presented to the public, at the solicitation of a number of the hearers, to whom it is respectfully dedicated.
PORTSMOUTH, PRINTED BY WILLIAM TREADWELL AND CO. 1801.
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F84275.11
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TO THE READER.
A few sentences, which seem, in some measure, malapropos to the solenmities of the Sabbath, were passed over, in the delivery, or have since, together with the notes, been added.
It is hoped, that the errors, which may be discovered on perusing the subsequent pages, will be kindly veiled with a mantle of candor.
" Siquid novisti rectius istis, candidus imperti, si non, his utere " mecum.". T. A.
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THE GLORY OF AMERICA.
THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE AND BLOSSOM LIKE THE ROSE. ISAIAH, XXXV. I.
THIS is, a beautiful description of that glorious epoch, which christendom beholds with an eye of faith, and in which the world will finally rejoice."
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The time is rapidly advancing, when the out- casts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah will be gathered together, from the four quarters of the globe, to the antient land of promisc. They will wail because of him, whom their forefathers have pierced, and will flec to the standard of the cross.
This great event will usher in the aurora of that happy day, which prophets, time immemo- rial, have predicted, and which poets, with rap- tures, have often sung.
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The children of Abraham, who are now de- spised, as the mere offscouring of the earth, will then be revered as the fivored of heaven. Ten men, * at that time, out of all languages of the nations, will even take hold of the skirt of him, who is a Jew, and will say to him, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.
The kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of Immanuel. The knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth, as the waters cover the depths of the sea, The great family of man will become a family of brethren. Every knee will bow in the name of Jesus. Every tongue will confess that he is Lord, to the glory of the God supreme. The fear of Jehovah will dwell in every heart, and tranquility and happincis in every dominion of the globe.
Agreeably to the ideas, which the speaker has been led to form, these are the outlines of that joyful period, which the followers of J. sus antic- ipite and which is elegantly prefigured in the language of the prophet. The desert shall re- joice and blossom like the rose.
Having, my christian friends, touched upon the ori rinal and special import of the inspired pas- sage, before us, it will not be deemed an unwar- * Zechariab, viii. 3.
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rantable violence to improve it, on the present occasion, as a motto, strikingly descriptive of that unparalleled glory, to which God, in his providence, has exalted this western world.
Upon entering a new century, there seems to be a propriety in taking a religious notice of the times, which are past. It is, therefore, our present · design to animadvert on the great things, which God has done, to give us a name, among the na- tions of the earth, and to make the howling deserts of America to rejoice and blossom like the rose.
Without a formal division of our subject, we shall dwell, considerably, on the two most impor -. tant eras in the history of our country ; the first settlement of Newengland, and our deliverance from an ungenerous oppression. We shall then no- tice some of the special interpositions of provi- dence. Finally, it will be our endeavor to make some miscellaneous reflections on our national prosperity, and, occasionally, to introduce a few historical facts.
There is, in many respects, a striking similar- ity between the fortune of the first settlers of Newengland and that of the children of Israel.
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Like the chosen people, our venerable, puritan- iç, progenitors were loaded, from time to time, with a rich exuberance of the most signal divine regard.
Like the chosen people, they fled from a land of tyranny and oppression, passed through clouds of difficulty and distress, were obliged to root out and destroy many barbarous and idolatrons na- tions, and, at length, possessed a land flowing with milk and honey.
Our pious ancestors, through conscious duty, forsook the endearments of friends and country, to gain the tranquil enjoyment of that holy religion, which descended from above. €
For a few years, those, who were destined, in prov- idence, to become the first settlers of the Oldcolony, sought an asylum in a hospitable.city of Holland. Such, however, was the fligrancy of vice, in their neighbours, and such their apprehensions for the religious weal of their rising offspring, that, once more, they committed themselves to the mercy of an unstable element. After a most humble, serious, and melting address to the great Father of all, they sailed, in the midst of a thousand ca- lamities, for the wilds of America,
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At home, through the pragmatical phrensy of a weak and inconsiderate prince, they were perse- cuted. Abroad, through the irreligious deport- ment of those, with whom they sojourned, they were unhappy. On the wide Atlantic, they were often threatened with the moft imminent danger. The dreary wilderness, for which they were destined, was peopled with tribes of unfeel- ing savages:
It was a zeal for the prosperity of Zion, which supported this little band of brothers, when over- shadowed by the dark clouds of uncertainty and distress. Their trust was in the God of Abra- ham. On the land and on the deep, at home and abroad, his banner over them was love. They gloried in the cross of Christ. Like the primi- tivemartyrs, they were ready to brave the storms of life, and even to die in the cause of heaven.
Perhaps it may be thought, that these observa- tions are too minute, considering how small was the number, to whom they principally refer ; but, it may be asked, were not the first adventurers to Newengland a band of christain herocs, who no- bly dared to wage war with incalculable jeopar- dy ? Were they not an important instrument, in the hand of God, in laying the foundation of this great and powerful empire ?
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. It is worthy of notice, that, seemingly through a miraculousinterposition, a most desolating * pes- tilence, a little before the arrival of the first set- tlers of the Oldcolony, had swept away thou- sands of the native Indians. If the way had not been prepared by this extensive destruction, a- mong the aboriginal tribes, the probability is, that our ancestors would have experienced, on their first approach, the fatal vengeance of the ghastly tomahok.
: It is a historical fact, as handed down by un- questionable tradition, that the first adventurers, when they had reached the territory, destined for their settlement, stepped from their barge upon a ROCK, t the identity of which is still ascertained. We may innocently consider this solid rock, as a sure prognostic, and a significant emblem of the permanence of the future faith, freedom, and in- depence of this western world.
* History informs us that the Massachusetts' fighting Indians were reduced, from thirty thousand, to about three hundred.
+ During our late revolutionary war, the people of Plymouth re- moved a piece of this rock, of several tons weight, to a conspicuous situation, in front of the court houfe. It was then contemplated to erect a handsome monument, by the side of it, which was to have been enriched with some pertinent historical inscription. It is visived by many, from various parts of the conntry, with a veneration, liule in- ferior to that, with which the followers of Mohammed repair to the black stone at Mecca.
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The remarkable enterprise of the antient colo- nists will continue to be a subject of the highest *eulogy, so long as a spark of civil and religious liberty shall animate a soul of their posterity.
To form an idea of the hazardous adventure, on which we have descanted, we should bring to view the silken ties of kindred and country ; the dangers of the long and tedious voyage ; the un- cultivated wilds of this distant land ; the howling monsters of the extensive desert ; and the unnum- bered tribes of savages, who exulted in scenes of the most wanton barbarity.
Well have heard with our ears, O God, our fa- thers have told us what works thou didst in their days, in the times of old ; how thou didst drive out the heathen ; for they got. not the land in possession by their own sword ; but, it was bythy right hand, and thy arm, and the light of thy countenance ; because thou hadst a favor unto them.
This national scion, ingrafred on the American stock, has ever beer nurtured by the hand of Dei-
* The anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims of Leyden has, for many years, been celebrated, with a laudable zeal, by their descend- ants, at Plymouth, and, for several years, at Boston.
#|Parts of the 44 psalm.
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ty.' Like the tree, in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, its height has reached the Heavens and its beauty the ends of the earth.
The early settlers of Newengland were the off- spring of men, who had long been the guardians of a liberty, establised by the sword, and coment- ed with the blood of heroes. At the unhappy period of their departure, the helm of the British empire was guided by an unskilful pilot. They were doomed to flee from the impious scourge of a despot." They were obliged to bid adieu to their natal shore ; but, thanks be to God, they retained and cherished that holy religion, for which they had suffered persecution, and that bravery and independence, which they had im- bibed from their parent soil. .
Planted in this remote and fertile territory ; if England had ever been crowned with a minis- try and a monarch, faithful to her interest ; at length secure from the inroads of the savage foe ; flushed with the bounties of nature ; happy in the enjoyment of the true religion, and the in- defeasible rights of man ; the Angloamericans would, for ages, have remained the loyal subjects of their parent empire. At some distant period, like the full ripe fruit, they would have gently
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dropped from their maternal stock. Then, col- lected in themselves, they would have stood an independent kingdom ; but, oh the wretched ty- ranny of foolish, weak, and inconsiderate man ! How fatal, to the glory of England, was that dreadful blow, which, since George the third as- cended the throne, tore us asunder, never to join again'!
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There were not wanting friends, who, in the cause of justice, opposed reason and humanity to the base demands of a haughty, daring, and impe- rious ministry. In the cause of America, long did the British parliament resound, with the thunders of a Chatham. . His majesty, said this. nobleman, may wear his crown, but, the American jewel out of it, it will scarce be worth the wearing.
On the part of America, justice, innocence, and loyalty were urged in vain. While, in the most suppliant manner, we were prostrated at the throne of that monarch, who ought to have been the father of his loyal subjects, we were unno- ticed, or spurned with scorn and contempt. In addition to a long and shameful neglect, and a se- ries of insults, our mother country, at last, turn- ed upon us the instruments of death, and we were forced into measures, which we viewed with ab- horrence.
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After a most devout and solemn appeal to the tribunal of unerring wisdom, we commenced that hazardous but glorious career, which, under a gui- dance from above, liberated us from the shackles of an ungenerous oppression, and crowned us with liberty and independence, while our enemy lost nearly a hundred thousand lives, and added many millions to her national debt.
The wonders, which we achieved, are the a- 1 stonishment and the applause of the world. Un- der that almighty being, whose kingdom is over all, we had 'no reliance, but the justice of our cause, and the bravery, which we inherited from our fathers.
The enterprise, on which we have ventured a few sentiments, was big with the fate of millions. It was vast in its design. It was fraught with the utmost hazard. Our situation was the most precarious possible. We were defenceless as the tender lamb. We were ignorant of the martial employment. Our enemy was unequalled in arts and arms. Her fleets had overspread the ocean. Her flig had waved triumphant in every quarter of the globe,
A great proportion of this society has heard,
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and many still recollect, with keen sensations, what scenes of rapine and plunder, fire and sword, bloodshed and carnage, distorted the face of this country, from Georgia to Maine.
Our enemy was, at length, obliged to yield the palm, and to return, in shame, to reap the fruits of folly.
Let us never forget to give the glory and the praise to whom they are due. It was the God of armies, who lifted up his buckler, in the excel- lency of his might, and gave us peace, liberty, and independence. By the blessing of heaven, " Under* the banners of Washington and free- " .dom, we fought, conquered, and retired," to en- joy the sweets of peace, the reward of valor, and the bounties of a rich and happy country.
It would be the height of ingratitude, the black- est stain in the catalogue of guilt, not to acknow- ledge the repeated, special interpositions of God, on our behalf, from the earliest dawn of our na- tional existence.
It was a kind and overruling providence, which conducted our pious forefathers to the howling wilds of America ; gave them this goodly herit- age ; protected them, when their number was * Philenia.
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small ; carried them from one degree of prosper- ity to another ; and built them up, till they be- came a great and powerful nation. When our mother country threatened us with chains, forg- ed by the omnipotence of parliament, the heav- ens were melted at the voice of our complaint ; liberated us from an ungenerous oppression ; gave us peace, liberty and independence ; and crown- ed us with a form of government, which is admi- rably calculated to secure the rights, and promote the happiness of every order of citizens.
"We have transiently adverted, my christian friends, on the present occasion, to a number of historical facts, which are intimately connected with the two most important eras in the history of our country, in order to, exhibit the; urparal- leled goodness of Jehovah to this western world. We shall now,in some measure, retrace the ground, with a design, as has already been proposed, to notice more particularly, the special hand of hea- ven towards the American Israel. It is a pleasant thing to meditate on the loving kindness of our God. This is the least return, which we can make to him, whose mercies are as numerous, as the leaves of autumn, or the stars of light. A thankful recollection of his unmerited favors is more acceptable, to him, than rivers of oil, or the
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incense of a thousand hecatombs. Has any peo. ple ever been under gicater obligations to grati- inde, than the American : Have we not been planted, upholden, prospered, and raised high a- mong the nations of the earth, by the special pro- vidence. of. God ? * Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another genera- tion."
If it had not been that God was on our side, the aborigines would have exterminated every European, who should have dared to set foot on the American land.
· When our ancestors had gained an establish- ment, in this territory, the bloodthirsty heathen would probably have spared neither root nor branch, but for the friendship and alliance of the good Massasoit.
At the time of the great conspiracy, in 1630, John Sagamore became an instrument, in the hand of God, in delivering them from the jaws of de- struction.
To all human appearance, it would have been an easy task for the Newengland tribes, with the
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artful andinsidious #Philip, the sachem of Mount- hope, at their head, to have effected the utter extirpation of the colonists, at the time, they combined for that nefarious purpose. The God of Israel, however, by a mighty hand and an outstreched arm, drove out these idolatrous na- tions, and gave our fathers this land for a posses- sion forever.
We shall now turn our attention to the over- tures of providence in later times.
The capture of Louisburg, in 1745, is so re- markable a proof of a special overruling. power, that we shall be indulged if somewhat minute .. ...
This | fortress was so strong as to be called the Dunkirk of America. It was, seemingly, as im- pregnable, as the rocks of Gibralter. It was oft the first importance to France. In peace it was a safe retreat and, in war, a dreadful terror o her foes. The project for reducing this modern Carthage, originated in Newengland. It was at first rejected, by the general court of Massachu-
* He was killed in 1676. His successor, Annawon, was soon af- ter taken, by the brave colonel Church, and an end was put to the most bloody and alarming war, which Newengland has ever expe- rienced with the aboriginal tribes.
King Philip's scalp is said to be preserved in the museum of Rhode-Island college.
" For this paragraph the writer is much indebted to Hutchinson and Belknap.
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setts, as a chimera. It is worthy of notice, that the vote was finally obtained, in the' absence of a number, known to be opposed to the expedition, through the address of two influential characters, by a majority of only one. The heavens and earth seemed to combine in aid of the undertak- ing. Our winters were usually severe. This was as mild, as the spring Rivers, which were comunonly frozen, were navigable, in the month of February. The news of the expedition was considered, in Canada, as a mere idle report, and was altogether unknown in Novascotia. A for- tunate concurrence brought together a number of British ships, from various parts of the continent, at the most important juncture. It, afterwards, appeared that the garrison was in want of war- like stores and provisions, and was in a state of mutiny. The provincial forces were also in want of provisions, but prizes supplied the deficiency. The siege continued for fortynine* days. At length, this celebrated fortress surrendered, to the astonishment of Europe, and to the joy of the A- merican colonies. The weather was extremely favorable during the expedition, but, directly af- ter the surrendry, a terrible storm commenced, which continued for ten days. The pious ac. knowledged that they saw the immediate finger of Deity, in this train of fortunate coincidents.
* French's sermon,
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Was there ever a more remarkable interposition of providence ? When God is for us, who, can, be against us ? ; .
Equally worthy of our notice is the destruc- tion of the Chebucto* fleet, on the ensuing year. France was exasperated at the loss of Louisburg and was determined on revenge., She, according- ly, raised a naval armanent of seventy sail, by the aid of which, it was her design to recapture the formidable garrison she had lost and to subjugate the English colonies, or to lay waste, with fire and sword, every settlement from Novascotia to Georgia. This fleet which, was commanded by. the duke of Anville, having taken its departure, was soon separated by a most tremendous storm. Some of the ships were so injured as to be oblig- ed to return. Some were driven to the Westin- dies, and not more than one tenth arrived at the place of destination. In addition to this disas- ter, they were visited with severe sickness and mortality. Such, therefore, was the con- consternation of the duke that he put an end to his life. The second in command was equally . discouraged, and fell upon his own sword. At length, the fleet, reduced to a very small number of ships, without effecting or even attempting .
"See Hutchinson and others.
Chebucio was the Indian name of Halifax, whither the Reet was destined to repair.
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a descent upon any part of the country, returned, like the messengers of Job, with a sorrowful tale.
Many of you, my christain friends, ftill recol- lect the anguish and distress, which were por- trayed, in every countenance, at the awful ven- geance, which was menaced the American colonies, by this formidable Gallic armada. * " Never did " that religion, for which this country was set- " tled, appear more important, nor, prayer more " prevalent, than on this occasion. A God, hear- " ing prayer, stretched forth the arm of his pow- " er, and destroyed that mighty armament in a " manner almost as extraordinary, as the drown- " ing of Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea,"
What a series of providential interpositions distinguished us, in the various steps, by which we were carried through the late revolutionary war ! Before it commenced, a military ardor, like an electric shock, had fired the colonies. The pulpit, the rostrum, and the press glowed with the warmest zeal, in the cause of liberty, which was justly deemed the cause of God. The contest begun, warlike implements and stores, in a remarkable manner, and frequently, at most crit- ical junctures, poured into our hands from vari- ous parts of the world. The success of our
* Thanksgiving sermon by the reverend Jonathan French, of An- dover, in 1798.
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forces, at Trenton, and at Princeton ; the capture of Burgoyne ; the surrender of Cornwallis ; the timely development of Arnold's treason ; in a word, the glory of our arms, under the victorious banners of Washington, are full demonstrations of a repeated providential interposition, in behalf of united America ..
How often, was every human probability against us ! How often, were we on the very brink of despair ! How often, did every face gather paleness, and every soul tremble, like the king of Babylon, for the fate of his country ! No tongue can describe, they alone, who have wit- nessed, can conceive the awful distress of a land, overrun with veterans, scattering arrows, fire- brands, and death.
To give a narrative of the multiplied interpo- sitions of providence, in aid of the American cause, would require a volume. They are engrav- ed deep on every grateful heart. Many of them were almost miraculous. Suffice it to say, the God of armies girded his sword upon his thigh, and rode upon the heavens for our help. He laid our enemies prostrate, at our feet, or he destroyed them with the thunder of his might.
How many have been the wonderful works of God ! How great has been his loving kindness !
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How unbounded has been his goodness to his American Israel !
At the conclusion of the war, when, to our shame be it spoken, we had cheated our soldiers out of a great part of their scanty stipu- lations, why did they not turn their arms upon their cruel and ungrateful courtry, till indemnifi- ed for the toils, and the hazard, which they had endured ? :
When we were without law and government, as it were, what prevented us from falling an ea- sy prey to our enemies ?
Is it not astonishing, that Shays* and his nu- merous retinue, when they were in arnis, and rea- dy to shed the blood of theirfellow citizens, were put to flight, and the tumult quelled in the bud ?
When the collected wisdom of our country had formed a national constitution, so various was the public opinion, does it not seem a matter of equal astonishment, that it was not finally rejected, and our country ruined, by civil commotions ?
Is it not the hand of heaven, in a most emin- ent degree, which has so thwarted the machina- tions of enemies, at home, and enemies, abroad, as to preserve us from an implication in that aw-
In 1786 and 1787.
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ful war, which, having lost its primary object, has burned with the unhallowed lust of universal domination, drenched Europe in the blood of mil- lions, and even tinged the Nile with the stain of her guilt ?
If, my christian friends, we cannot see a special overruling providence, in these various mercies, and thousands of others, which have been poured upon us, like the manna upon antient Israel, from the first landing of our fathers, to the present day, neither should we see it, we may be bold to assert, though transported to the joys of the heaven of heavens.
What shall we say ! Has any people, without the intervention of miracles, ever been so highly favored as the American ? Let him, who protects the feeble, debases the proud, and exalts the hum- ble, have all the glory, the honor, and the praise. It is he, who has preserved us, fought our battles, and carried us, from one grade to another, till wc. are become a great, powerful, and independent na- tion. It is he, who has made this desert to re- joice and blosom, like the rosc.
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