[98] Sermon, No. 1628, by Mr. Cooke, was on the ‘Thanksgiving —Continental,’ after the Surrender of Cornwallis, appointed for Dec. 13, 1781. It begins: ‘As God shall assist me, I shall improve, and apply to America on this very joyful occasion, the Song of David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel—as recorded in 124th Psalm—And I can recollect no words in the Bible, more adapted to our case—or better suited to the joyful solemnity of this day.’ The words are here given. He continues, ‘The United States of America, with gratitude, may adopt the language of this Divine Song. While we rejoice in God, and in our religious assemblies * * * God grant, that a remembrance of our late dangers may quicken each one of us, and all who love their country, through these United States, in our praises this day, to the God of our salvation.’ * * * *
We were called to withstand the rage of a Nation, the most powerful at the time, especially by Sea, of any people under Heaven, at peace with all the world, and grown wanton, by their successes, in the last War [the French War, 1754-1763, in which the conquest of Canada was accomplished], in which we fought and bled in their armies, and contributed to their victories; but soon were doomed to fall a victim to their unbounded pride and avarice. Every step was taken that the malice of earth and hell could invent, to bring us tamely to submit, to yield up all our rights, and we and our descendants, forever become their slaves. They resolved in their corrupted Parliament, called the Great Council of the Nation, that they had a right “to make laws binding on America, in all cases whatsoever.” So that not only our properties, but even lives, must lie at their mercy—whose tender mercies are cruelty. To accomplish our speedy ruin, our harbors were shut up, our Charters vacated; Governors commissioned, who were active and leading in our destruction; our Judges made entirely independent of the people; Jurors rendered only tools of the Court; and under officers put into place, who were unfriendly to our Liberties, or made so, by the prospect of enriching themselves on our spoils. Our Militia was discountenanced by the ruling powers. Our Colonies were then disunited, and separated at the distance of near two thousand miles. While revengeful Britain might have employed great part of their Naval force against us, and an Army of thirty thousand men (murderers ) as they have done since, which we were then utterly unable to withstand, by our own strength. I need not add, the great number of our Countrymen, who opposed every measure for our safety, and stood ready to join the enemy, in our destruction. * * * * Orders were given to send supposed offenders against their inhuman laws, over the vast Atlantic, to Britain for trial. Also to seize and secure our present
