have reafon to fufpect that there are « seven abom inations in his heart." I feel a perfuafion, my fellow citizens, that you are from principle attached to our republican system; and that you would oppofe with energy and firmnefs any attempts to

change it: Should any furious demagogue hereaf

ter prefume to play the tyrant, and by any unconftitutional measures place himself in the chair of state, fhould we tamely fubmit to it? No, the Ipirit of the American people would rife indignant, and hurl the wretch from his feat, and turn him out to graze as the Chaldeans did Nebuchadnezzar.

Brethren, "you have been called unto liberty, only ufe not your liberty for an occafion to the flesh, but by love ferve one another." Cherish therefore all those friendly affections which unite man with man, and sweeten the pleasures of focial life. Above all things let the gofpel of the grace of GoD rule in your hearts. If you are made free from civil tyranny and oppreffion, never fuffer yourselves to be the flaves of fin. No fervitude can be more degrading. But having obtained redemption through the blood of CHRIST, even the forgiveness of fins, let us "ftand faft in the liberty wherewith he hath made us free, and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage." And will the GoD of Abraham, of Ifaac, and of Ifrael; the God of our Fathers, de light to dwell with us and blefs us, and be our Gon now and evermore; AMEN.

BY DANIEL SHARP,

PASTOR OF THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH IN BOSTON.

BOSTON :

PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATURE.

True and Greene, Printers to the State.

1824.

553

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

House of Representatives, May 27th, 1824.

Ordered, That Messrs. Thurber of Mendon, Train of Framingham, Bassett of Boston, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. Daniel Sharp, and to return him the thanks of this House for his Excellent Discourse delivered yesterday before the Governor and Council and both Branches of the Legislature, and to request of him a Copy for the Press.

DISCOURSE.

JEREMIAH........CHAP 30, VERSES XIX, XX, XXI.

And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving, and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their Congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. And their Nobles shall be of themselves, and their Governor shall proceed from the midst of them.

In this chapter the Prophet foretells the deliverance of the Jews from captivity in Babylon, and the blessings connected with their return to the land of their fathers. When we recollect the deep-toned anguish with which he elsewhere records the sufferings of his countrymen, it is easy to conceive, that he should announce the termination of their calamities, and the commencement of a happy era in their history, with all the glow of patriotic delight.

And as a man of piety, his delight must have been greatly increased, when he foresaw, that in the enjoyment of a profusion of blessings, the author of them would not be forgotten. He was told, that the voice of joy and thanksgiving should be heard, and that the people would have such a conviction of the kindness of their deliverer, as to engage their hearts to approach unto Him.

There can be nothing more pleasing to God, or more in unison with a spirit of enlightened piety, than a devout and grateful acknowledgment of his benefits. This is a duty which we all owe to our Maker. But if we would perform this duty acceptably, and make it a reasonable service, we must meditate on our personal and relative condition; we must ponder on the nature, extent, and variety of our blessings; and not only review the history of the past, but look forward to the cheering prospects of the future. When our thoughts are thus employed, whatever may be our situation, whether we dwell in the shades of private life, or are elevated by the suffrages of our fellow citizens to public and honorable station, we shall feel innumerable reasons for thanksgiving to Almighty God.

As the Civil Authorities of the Commonwealth are assembled in this house, to render homage to the Governor of the World, and to pray that he would guide their Counsels and bless their measures for the public good, it will not perhaps be deemed unsuitable to the occasion, should I remind them, and my fellow citizens who are present, that the past kindness of Providence to our Country, and the excellent nature of our Civil Institutions, have special claims on our gratitude.

It would be impossible in one discourse, to enumerate all the blessings of our social and political condition. I shall therefore confine myself to such topicks as are suggested by the prediction in our text. In doing this you will not fail to observe, a remarkable coincidence between the blessings that were