50 LIFE AXD CORRESrONDEXCE OE THE [1781 



verance, which enabled our allied forces to accomplish this great 

 deliverance ; almost without any bloodshed of their Enemies ; and to 

 exercise all the Virtues of Moderation and Christian Heroism, even 

 amidst the Triumphs of Victory? 



This great event hath already been celebrated in Camps, in Cities, 

 in Towns and Villages, by separate and voluntary marks of joy and 

 gratitude — But we are this day called to join, with one voice, through- 

 out all these United States, as a people connected in one great and 

 common interest to celebrate this goodness of the Almighty; and the 

 ministers of the altar, by their sacred office, are to stand as the mouth 

 or organ of the people, to offer up and convey their public gratitude to 

 the throne of the Omnipotent ! 



The joy of this day, therefore, Brethren, must not be that noisy and 

 tumultuous joy, which consists in outward actions ; the glare and pom]) 

 of victory; the display of the spoils of War and Enemies ; Shouts of 

 Triumph ; Illuminations ; Feastings, and carnal Mirth. It must be a 

 Religious Joy; the Joy of the Heart before the Lord ; mixt with a holy 

 and reverential Fear. We are to rejoice in our prosperity, but yet 

 chiefly as we consider it to be the means of Peace and Safety; and, 

 therefore, while the final issue of things remain undetermined, althougli 

 we may rejoice, we must rejoice with fear and trembling; lest our future 

 Unworthiness should provoke the Almighty to withhold his promised 

 blessings, and lengthen out the day of our visitation for the further cor- 

 rection of our sins, and the manifestation of his power and goodness. 



Thus did Israel rejoice on their great deliverance, referred to in our 

 text. 



For, " Israel saw that great work, which the Lord did upon the 

 Egyptians ; and the people feared the Lord, and his servant Moses. — 

 Who, said they, is like unto Thee, O Lord, amongst the Gods? who 

 is like unto Thee ; glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing 

 wonders ? ' ' 



In this spirit runs the proclamation for this day's solemnity, which 

 has been recited above. 



Let us therefore lift up our voices to God, who, for our deliverance, 

 '' hath triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider hath he thrown 

 into the sea. The Lord is our strength and salvation, and he shall be 

 the subject of our song. He is our God and we will prepare Him an 

 habitation ; our father's God, and we will exalt Him. The right hand 

 of the Lord is become glorious in power, and hath dashed in pieces the 

 enem). They said, we will pursue, we will overtake, we will divide the 

 spoil." — But the weakness of God is stronger than the strength of 

 proudest man — When his people were but few, and strangers in a foreign 

 wilderness; when they went from nation to nation in search of a settle- 

 ment for themselves and their unborn posterity, the Lord suffered no 

 man to do them wrong; yea He reproved even Kings for their sake. 



