The Plymouth Thanksgiving Sermon

Mr. Hitchcock's SERMON.

A true Copy of Record, Attest.

Ephraim Spooner, Town Clerk.

And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

Deliver me from the oppresssion of man: So will I keep thy precepts.

BEING assembled in the house of worship, which is erected on the ruins of paganism, and where satan's seat once was; to commemorate the arrival of our illustrious ancestors, under the auspices of Heaven, to this new world; and to improve an event astonishing in its rise, and progress, and in every gradation and circumstance, wearing the signatures of the divine care and providence, for the purpose of raising in our breasts sentiments of piety and gratitude towards God; the two passages of sacred writ now read, though of a dissimilar nature and aspect, may not be unsuitably chosen for the foundation of our design.

MY reverend brethren, who have gone before me on this occasion, having refreshed your memory with several historic facts, relative to the removal of our fore-fathers, through great impediment, p. 6and hazard, by means of the merciless rage, and cruelty of their persecutors, from England, to Holland; their first settlement at Amsterdam; afterwards at Leyden, and their return to England, with resolutions, by the will of God, to pursue their voyage, with all convenient speed, over the Atlantic, to the uncultivated regions of America; and their landing on these distant and then savage shores, in a cold and inclement season; actuated by the same principles, that at first induced them to abandon their fair inheritance in their own country, and seek an asylum from the illiberal persecuting spirit of their fellow citizens, in the more peaceful climes of a neighbouring state.

I shall not therefore risque the censure of this grave and intelligent audience, if I excuse my self from the repetition of such interesting particulars, and invite their attention to that part of the inspired word proposed for our present consideration; which, however, I trust, will lead us to employ our minds in sentiments not altogether foreign from the intention of this anniversary.

p. 6The first passage, in accommodation to human conception and practice, represents the supreme Being, as reviewing his works, after they were finished; and being satisfied when he saw his plan compleated; and that every thing He had made, every class and order of beings, and each individual, in regard to the diversity of their rank, power, propensity and pursuits, perfectly corresponded to the original model formed in his own mind. God saw every thing that He had made, and behold it was very good, framed according to his purpose, and endued with every capacity, and quality, to answer the end of it's creation.

p. 7Among the works of God, man holds a place of distingushed rank, and dignity; being made in the divine Image, and invested with dominion and superiority over the rest of the creatures.

The change of phrase, and the manner of expression used, at the formation of man, it has been observed, denotes that he is the chief, and most perfect of the works of God, in this lower world.

It is beside our design to enquire particularly, what is intended by the Image of God, in which man was at first created; about which divines have held some different opinions: But as it cannot imply less than pre-eminence of nature, and vastly superior endowments both of body and mind, as well as dominion, above any of those works which God pronounced very good; we shall dismiss the consideration of other natures, and confine our attention to his.

As God designed such a creature as man should exist at the head, and as Lord of this world; having prepared the way, and provided for his regular exercise and entertainment, by the previous formation of the earth, and the great variety of things both of the animal and vegetable kind that replenish and adorn it; his almighty fiat spake him into being.

In his exalted station, he was happy in the favour and approbation of his Creator, the superior principle of reason, and moral sense with which he was endowed, rendered him capable of discharging the duties of it; and behaving with that propriety, and dignity, as should redound to the divine glory, and his own progress, and advantage.

p. 7He had a capacity to improve in natural and moral science, and perfection; his appetites and p. 8passions were controulable by the superior principles of his nature, and his propensities carried him into acts of love, gratitude and obedience towards God. By observing the law of his nature, and those positive precepts which perfect wisdom saw fit to subjoin, he was able to make high advances in moral rectitude and happiness, and continue in the smiles and benediction of his maker.

He was a moral agent, endowed as it is commonly expressed, with freedom of will, or a self-determining power, in regard to such volitions and actions as form the moral character, and beget a likeness to the divine purity, or the contrary.

Liberty was an essential principle of his constitution, a natural quality, and a necessary spring, and incentive to all virtuous improvement.

His right to use the things provided for the supply of his necessities, or convenience, was derived from the divine grant, either explicitly made, or discovered by the light of his own understanding; subject to no restraint, but the law of his nature, which was not only consistent with, but the perfection of Liberty; obligation to obey the laws of the Creator, being only a check to licentiousness, and abuse.

He could not reasonably desire any change in his state, or any of his circumstances, but what his progress in holiness, and in the several pious, and social affections, would to the advantage of his felicity, necessarily produce.

Had he persevered in his natural rectitude, and attachment to God, and obedience to his laws, of which he was made capable; and posterity descended from him in his own likeness; angry contentions, p. 9oppression, and cruelty which now take place, and are the sources of so much havock and misery to the human race, would not have been known in the world.