A Sermon Preached to the Ancient and Honourable Artillery-Company in Boston

AN Artillery-ELECTION SERMON.

—Waxed valiant in Fight, turned to Flight the Armies of the Aliens.

TO teach the Art of War, is not the Office of the Ministers of the PRINCE OF PEACE: The Gospel breathes the most extensive Benevolence to Mankind; and has the highest Tendency to unite all Nations of the Earth, in inviolable Friendship.

IT is our Departure from God, that renders us Enemies to one another: The extravagant Lusts of Men enkindle those Fires of Contention, which consume the Beauty of this lower Creation, and transform the Globe we inhabit into a Valley of Tears.— Did the Spirit of Jesus universally prevail, it would subdue that Ambition and Avarice, which are the Source of so many Miseries to a guilty World.—It would inspire the Breasts of Princes with that disinterested Goodness, which would soon diffuse Order p. 8and Harmony, among the different Cantons of Mankind.—Then the Arts of Peace would triumph over the Policies of War; the Fields of Death, smile in all the unrifled Charms of Nature; and this disordered Earth, become a Paradise of Beauty and Pleasure.

BUT since the happy Day is not yet come, when the Nations shall beat their Swords into Plow-shares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks.— Since, in the Dispensations of Providence, we hear the Sound of the Trumpet, and the Alarm of War; and are call'd to gird on the Sword, and prepare the Instruments of Battle.— It is becoming the Character of a Minister of the Gospel, to shew what Direction, Encouragement, and Assistance, the Book of God affords us, on these melancholy Occasions.

I am perswaded, none of my present Audience will question, whether the Profession of a Soldier is consistent with the Character of a Christian: We know, that many of the Military Order, have, in all Ages, appear'd the shining Ornaments of the Church of Christ, as well as the strongest Bulwarks of civil Society: [MANY of the first Fathers of New-England, justly deserved this Character;—they were noble Instances of sublime Piety, and martial Accomplishments. —they were equally qualified to adorn the Church by their exemplary Vertue, and defend it by their Valour. PERHAPS the present Age has not produc'd a more truly Christian Hero, than the late Col. GARDINER, who maintain'd uninterrupted Communion with Heaven, amidst the Tumults and Disorders of a Camp—and after a Life spent in perpetual Toils and Dangers, in the Service of his Country, —died in the Bed of Honor, fighting against the Enemies, of the civil and religious Liberties of Great-Britain.—I wish the Life of this devout Warrior, wrote by the late celebrated Dr. Doddridge, was in the Hands of all the Gentlemen of a Military Character. I am perswaded, it would afford them an agreable Entertainment, and the best Instruction.] They have merited the public p. 9Esteem, as much by the Charms of their Vertue, as by the Splendor of their Conquests.

p. 9THE Great God, condescends to wear the Title of a MAN OF WAR; and Princes, His Vicegerents here below, are commanded, not to bear the Sword in vain.—When the Faith of Treaties is violated, the Rights of a Community invaded, all Proposals of Accommodation obstinately rejected,—it becomes the immediate Duty of the supreme Magistrate, to have Recourse to Arms; that he may establish Peace, protect Innocence, humble the Proud Oppressors of the Earth, and put a Stop to the Progress of Tyranny and Usurpation.

THE only Question is,— How we shall behave, when call'd to War, so as not to violate the Obligation of our Christian Profession, or injure the Rights of our fellow Creatures,—but maintain the Character of good Soldiers of Jesus Christ, and successful Servants of the Common-wealth?—In this the Word of God is profitable to direct.

THE Apostle causes the illustrious Heroes of the Jewish Church, to pass in Review before us; and proposes their noble Example, for the Imitation of the People of God in all Ages. By Faith, they passed thro' the severest Trials, surmounted the most terrifying Dangers, waxed valiant in Fight, put to Flight the Armies of the Aliens.

THE Apostle, in this Chapter, speaks of Faith in the most extensive Signification of the Word.—He intends that divine Principle, which inclines us to adore the Perfections of the infinite Deity, to resign ourselves to the Government of His Providence, to believe the Revelations of His Word, to depend on the Promises of his Grace, to obey his sovereign Orders,—in Times of the greatest Difficulty and Danger,—notwithstanding the Terrors and Allurements of this present evil World.—This is that Faith which p. 10animated these ancient Worthies▪ and enabled them to perform these mighty Exploits, which were the Glory of the past, and will be the Admiration of future Ages. The same Faith should animate the Breasts of the military Gentlemen of the present Day, if they would receive the Honors▪ and enjoy the Success of their illustrious Predecessors. To show p. 10HOW admirably this Faith is calculated to produce this happy Effect, is the Design of my present Discourse. Faith teaches us to engage in War upon the noblest Principles,—it inclines us to prosecute it with intrepid Valour,—It secures us the most powerful Assistance,—It promises us the most glorious Reward. —This is the Plan of my Discourse, the Subject of your serious Attention.—

FIRST, Faith teaches us, to engage in War upon the noblest Principles.

WHAT was the Spirit, that animated the Pompey's▪ and Caesar's, and other celebrated Warriors of the Heathen World?— What is the Spirit, that animates many of our Modern Heroes?—Their Characters are surrounded with a false Blaze of Glory; their Names are trasmitted to Posterity, in flattering Titles of Honor; they are profanely stiled invincible Conquerors, Arbiters of Peace and War, Disposers of the Fate of Kingdoms.—Thus the Truth is disguised by their servile Dependants; and their secret Designs conceal'd, by all the Refinements of Art and Eloquence.—But if we examine their Conduct, with an unprejudiced Mind, we shall immediately find, the fatal Influence of insatiable Avarice,—insolent Pride, —unbounded Ambition.