A Discourse

I us IZ3S8. 23 . 5" HARVARD COLLEGE r ^ r r V ®i^®(§wmo d PBONOUl^CED BEFORE ms is^(si2£ll:ss?^'2' mm^ m^^'^^o iss^< GOVERNOR, HIS HONOR WILLIAM PHILLIPS, ESQ. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ▲KB TBE TWO HOUSES, COXPOf lire THE iiiS(^£@:LAi'wmi&'(^ii' s[yisa^€itw@isiT@i d Oir THE ANNIVERSARY ELECTION, MAY 98, 1823. MINISTER OF LANCASTER. BOSTON : PRINtED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATURE. 1823. , ^^ i^9S'^.^*,\i / ^^«^' '-'VV;,;.., l'»KA«1. V <' ^ CosttmonUir altti Of J|{a!»»icfiufi(rttfi(. /JV SEMITE, MAT 29, 1823. Obdebed, That the Hon. Messrs. Adams, Gardner, and Tufts, be a Committer io wait upon the Rev. Nathaitiei. Thater, D. B. and in the name of the Senate, to thank him for the Sermon, by him deUvered before His Exqellency the GovemcHT, His Honor the Lieutenant Goyemor, the Honorable. Council, and both - branches of the Legislature; and to request a copy thereof for the press. i Kthsat^ <^ PAUL WILLARD, Clerk. DISCOURSE. DEUTEBONOMY....CHAP. XXVI., VERSE XIX. Ani to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honors and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken. • It is the appropriate duty of an assembly of christian patriots^ to meditate the condition and destiny of their country. They will anxiously inquire after the means, which will extend and perpetuate its honor^ peace^ prosperity, and happiness. From a variety of sources they may derive aid in this review. They will weigh the probable result of the form of civil government^ which is adopted. They will consider the natural tendency of the degree of encouragement given to learning. Their hope will be measured by the evidence which exists of the faithful application of a correct system of morals and religion. They will be assisted in forming a judgment by the veneration which is paid to christian oirdinances. They will take into the account the character of the rulers^ the course of their policy^ the manners of the great, the general taste and habits of society. They will ^ot overlook the estimate which is declared of the sacrifices and services of the founders, friends, and defenders of their nation. They will survey the history of other. 'countries and kingdomjs^ and from the causes which led to their rise i or decliue, prosperity or adversity, will learn the reasonable grounds of expectation. They will especially consult the sacred records. From the principles there published^ the conditions of national glory or debasement there rev^aled^ they may come to a safe conclusion. Every community may collect lessons of instruction, encouragement, and warning from the divine communications to ancient Israel. It will be found without variation, that when a purpose is affirmed, promise . made, or threatening pronounced, the accomplishment is to depetid on an important* condition. This condition is at the difection and control of the individuals or people, who are addresse<L The instance before us is an illustration. If the Israelites should " perform their solemn vows on the day, that they avouched the Lord to be their God, should walk in his ways, keep his statutes, and his commandments, and .his judgments, and should hearken unto his voice,'' which would be in the most comprehensive sense to gain and support the character of a holy people, they might then rely on the' promise, that they should be '^ high above all nations, in praise, and in name, and in honor.'' Many causes combine to rai^e the hope, that America is destined by providence to distinction. One of the first efforts of patriotism will be, to ascertain and urge the adoption of a course, which will lead to the highest national honor and happiness. The attention of this respected auditory is invited to a reference to facts in the isituation and prospects of our country, which encourage the expectation, that it may hpld a pre-eminent rank amongst civilized and christian nations ; and to a rehearsal of the means, which in the nature of things and by the appointment of heaven, dre essential to the attainment of it. In the history of communities is found a reason for the opinion, that the character and prospects of a people depend in a degree, on climate and local jsituation. The salubrity and uniformity of a temperate zone have proved favorable to physical strength and intellectual vigour. Inhabitants of countries, thus located^ are happily formed to endure labor; engage in enterprize; secure a reputable subsistence; and per* form the responsible duties of social and civil life. When surveying our scenery^ our attention is arrested by a wonderful exhibition of rivers, lakes, and mountains. At these, the partiality of the native citizen leads him to gaze as designed by Uim, ^^who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, meted out heaven with the span, comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure^ weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a bdlance/^ as indications of the uncommon grandeur of his country. Ue will also find much to raise his attachment to it in its remoteness from powerful nations, who^ if they have the desire, can with difficulty exert the means, for retarding its elevation. There is also some merciful proviv sion^ if it be duly regarded, against the rise of envyings, jealousies, and evil surmisings in the inhabitants of this favored land. Each section of the territory has some distinguishing excellence. It has either an atmosphere, which is a pledge of general health ; a soil, suited to the luxuriant growth of some valuable articles of subsistence, convenience, or comfort; special advantages for the amassing of wealth by agriculturje^ manufactures, or commerce; liberal provision for extending to the niembers of every class the benefits of knowledge ; qr circumstances, which have excited ardour in the investigation of christian truth and support of religious institutions. …