‘ [50] thankfully commemorate his death, renew the dedication of himself to Christ at his holy table, that he may become more and more conformed to his Likeness; that through his merits he may be prepared for the Life immortal, to meet his Redeemer at his second coming, and enter with him into his everlasting Kingdom.’ Four pages of a sermon, dated April 6, 1775, are extant, preached probably to the company of Menotomy minute-men.1 In this fragment, Mr. Cooke reviews extensively the conduct of the events which had influenced the country for a considerable period, somewhat as follows: ‘America, though penetrated with indignation and grief at the perfidious rebellions fomented by multitudes in Scotland and England a few years past to unthrone the present royal family, subvert the Protestant religion, and raise to regal power a stupid, bigoted Roman Catholic [Charles Edward, the Pretender], asks, shall these be indulged with the softer name of insurgents, while the Colonies, of unshaken loyalty, are pronounced and treated as Rebels and traitors? A charge we cannot, we dare not acknowledge?’ He continues,We are putting on the harness; let us not boast of our strength, or numbers; nor let anyone say, with Judah of old, the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed; and give up all for lost! But remember the Lord our God, who is great and terrible! He hath broken for us the Sword of the Wilderness [referring to the Indian enemy]; the Heathen are perished out of the land. God is infinitely able, and we trust yet will maintain the lot of our inheritance. He has not yet forgotten the kindness of our Youth—the love of our espousals—when our renowned Fathers followed him into this wilderness. The wilderness has now become a fruitful field. While our enemies are opening their mouths wide against us by way of reproach, and gaping for our possessions [these expressions were favorite figures with the speakers of the period], and our persons to be their slaves; let us
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1 Four thousand British troops were sent to Boston in 1768, to aid in the collection of duties imposed by the royal government. The London, Eng., Town and Country Magazine, for January, 1776, p. 66, says, under date of Boston, Dec. 9, 1774: ‘The regiments, &c., now at Boston, or under orders for that place, are the 4th, 6th, 10th, 23d, 38th, 43d, 47th, 52d, 69th and 64th regiments; three companies of the 18th and two of the 65th regiment, with four companies of artillery. The 6th and 14th regiments are on their way from the West Indies, and the 35th, 42d, 46th, and 63d, are under orders from hence. Besides these the 7th and 26th are in Canada, the 8th on detachments on the Lakes, and the 16th at Pensacola. There are six or eight hundred marines at Boston besides the regiments.’ The 4th (King's Own), 6th, 10th, 18th (Royal Irish), 23d (Royal Welsh Fusileers), 38th, 43d, 47th, 52d, 69th, and 66th regiments arrived during 1774. See dates of landing places where landed and encamped, &c., in Newell's Diary, published by Frothingham (Siege of Boston, pp. 363-65).
To oppose this force in case of attack, the towns raised ‘alarm-list companies,’ or minute-men, ready at a moment's call for service. These companies formed a part of the organized militia of the Province, and were composed of the best and ablest-bodied citizens. It was customary after their fieldexer-cises, sometimes to repair to the meeting-house to hear a patriotic sermon, or partake of an entertainment at a public house.Tufts University provided support for entering this text.
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