It will sound with encouragement and admonition along the vast spine of mountains that binds the American continents, from the frozen ocean to the streights of Magellan. It will pervade the Pacific. It will cross the Atlantic. Wheresoever it reaches, proclaiming independence; startling enthroned monarchs; reproaching how many that survive dethroned! Not a child but must understand the lesson. Europe and America are covered with the wrecks of warlike potentates and principalities, unable, with prodigious means, to resist the storms, which the serene pilot of the rights of man has weathered with his little venture of despised integrity. Who that feels but shares in the present benediction! Who that thinks but appreciates its value! If this world's favours have any price, what can exceed this reward? If there be any philosophy in history, what can teach like this? Cordial, glorious, and formidable, are the free sympathies of an independent nation. Cheering is this national acclaim to America-warning to Europe— full of promise to mankind and to posterity. It is the religion of politics, proving the voice of the people to be the voice of God. A SERMON, DELIVERED BEFORE THE NEW-ENGLAND SOCIETY OF THE CITY AND STATE OF NEW-YORK, ON THE 22d OF DECEMBER, 1820. BEING THE SECOND CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS AT PLYMOUTH. BY GARDINER SPRING, D. D. NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED BY L. & F. LOCKWOOD, 154 & 177 BROADWAY. J. Seymour, printer. At a special meeting of the Board of Officers of the New-England Society of the City and State of New-York, held at the City Hotel on Tuesday, the 26th day of December, 1820,—It was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, That the thanks of the Board be presented to the Rev. Doctor SPRING, for the Sermon delivered at their solicitation on their Anniversary of the 22d instant, and that he be respectfully requested to furnish a copy of it for the press: and that Gen. STEVENS, President of the Society, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. BRACKETT, be a Committee to present the above resolution to the Rev. Dr. SPRING. Extract from the Minutes, AMHERST WIGHT, Secretary. REV. AND DEAR SIR, New-York, 27th December, 1820. In compliance with the above Resolution of the Board of Officers of the New-England Society of the City and State of New-York, we have great satisfaction in communicating the enclosed to you, hoping you will not hesitate to comply with the request therein contained. We feel, from impressions made by the delivery, that a perusal of your impressive Discourse cannot fail to prove animating to patriotism, and enlivening to piety. With great respect and consideration, Your obedient servants, EBENEZER STEVENS, Rev. Dr. SPRING, GENTLEMEN, New-York, January 2, 1821. I had hoped the very respectable Board of the NewEngland Society would have excused me from submitting the ensuing discourse to the public eye; and it is not without much diffidence and hesitation that I now submit it to their disposal. |