OF LANCASTER COUNTY, 245 



Jesus Christ by faith, as a hiding- place from the storm, and a covert 

 from the tempest— be much in prayer to God, to over-rule these unhappy 

 disturbances for his own glory, and the best weal of Zion— pray that 

 they may be brought to a speedy and happy issue on the genuine prin- 

 ciples of liberty and true religion— pray that the just attempts of all 

 America, for these great ends, may prove successful— guard against 

 everything that has the least or remotest tendency to jar the blessed 

 unison of the whole American harpsicord, as now set to the tune of 

 liberty, by the honourable great artists the Continental Congress, 

 Let every denomination of Christians treat each other with love and re- 

 spect, as brethren engaged in, and struggling for the one and same com- 

 mon cause — treat all the officers of civil government in this province 

 with becoming honor and respect — sympathize with your distressed 

 suffering brethren in Boston, both with your prayers and purses. Fi- 

 nally, dread nothing that can befall you, so ruinous to yourselves and 

 posterity in this life, as slavery. Therefore use every lawful means to 

 avert it : see then that you most heartily accord with whatever may be 

 the final determination of all America agreed to in the Continental 

 Congress, 



I now turn myself to the Gentlemen of the Militia^ Officers and Sol- 

 diers that appear before me in Church in their Uniform. 



By your present appearance you declare to the world, that you are 

 nobly willing to risk your lives and fortunes to save your country from 

 slavery ; you are accompanied with the sincere wishes of all good people, 

 for God Almighty to bless you, protect and succeed you in your brave 

 undertakings. 



Your own improved understandings will lead you to apply the several 

 instructions suggested in this Sermon, relative to your duty as warriors; 

 should we be all so unhappy, as that you should be ever called to action 

 on account of the present struggles for liberty. In the mean time allow 

 me to require of you, to do your utmost to preserve and maintain the 

 good order and peace of this province inviolate ; for it is certain, that 

 nothing next to slavery is more to be dreaded, than the anarchy and con- 

 fusion that will ensue, if proper regard is not paid to the good and 

 wholesome laws of government. And should we be subjected to such 

 evils, we will, and must blame our ]\[ilitia — for no men have it so much 

 in their power to keep the peace and good order of society as the gen- 

 tlemen of the sword. 



You must still continue to revere royalty, and observe your allegiance 

 to the King, on the true principles of the constitution. Your drawing 

 the sword now must not be against the person of his Majesty; but the 

 mal-administration of his government, by designing, mischief-making 

 ministers. Your present appearances must then be not of choice, but 



