Boardman, Benjamin, 1731-1802. Sermons, 1769-1797. The Gallant Joab animating his Army in the Defence of the People and Cities of God. bMS 730/1 (2), Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard Divinity School.

(10) The Honor of {God} is deeply concerned in this affair, and we should have a single Regard to it. The Glory of {God} is much interested in {the} publick welfare, and Peace of a people; & ergo it concerns all to promote {the} genera; Good, {that} {the} Name of {God} be not blasphemed. If we do not exert ourselves for {the} Defence of {God's} Heritage, we shall be guilty of giving it up to Reproach, and shall incur {the} [?] [?] of Heaven upon ourselves, & entail {the} Curse of God upon Posterity: {the} Temples of out {God} will soon be laid waste, our candlestick be removed out of its place; Satans kingdom arise, & Hell will enlarge itself. Surely if such Considerations as these will not move us, engage us, unite us, & make us avliant for {the} Honor of {God}; it must be because we have lost {the} Spirit of True Virtue, and have not a Sense of {God}, {Religion}, or true Liberty remaining in our minds. And if so, {then} we are just fit for {the} Dingeries of Abject Slavery, & are nigh unto Cursing; & must expect shortly to be under {the} Yoke of Bord-Men, to be H[eavens?] of Wood & D[rowem?] of Water. - What Soul can quench {the} [martial?] fire from kindling into a Flame, when {God} & our Contry so loudly call upon us to be of good courage, & to play {the} Man for our People, & for {the} Cities of our God. - Wherefore observe 4. That a publick Spirit must be cultivated, This must live {the] Breath of {the} Valiantest of Men for the Defence of the Rest. - That

(11) that are able to bear {the} Burden & Heat of {the} Day are more especially called upon to exert {their} abilities for {the} publick Good. And as should {God} in his Providence called upon us to defend our Liberties & Privileges Sword in Hand; {the} stout Hearted, {the} Ablest, & Mightiest Men we have are now would be much needed. Those that went with Joab for Israels Defence, {that} were so Valiant for {their} people, are called {the} Host of Mighty Men; and {the} Choice Men of Israel Vs 7. 9. Cont. - And it is a brave thing when {the} Case required it, {that} Choice Men can be found, who are fired with a publick Spirit to defenc {the} Aged, {the} feeble, {the} infirm, {the} Women & {the} Children of {their} People {against} {the} Invasions of {their} enemies. {Gof} grant {there} may be a Sufficiency of this publick & generous Spirit prevailing among the People in these British American States, Colonies, in full Proportion to {the} need {thereof}. 5. Another Consideration & Motive {that} should engage us in this affair, is {that} it is {the} Cause of {God} {that} we are called to defend. - We are to play {the} Men for {the} Cities of our God. - 'Tis of {the} ;ast importance {that} we should rise up & plead, & defence {the} Cause of {God}; {that} we should be brave, and valiant to defend his Heritage against Oppression. - These {Children} are {the} Cities of our {God}, and this should greatly endear {them} to us, and excite in us a Valour, & God-like Boldness and Resolution to

Suffer me in a word or Two more and I have done: - My Friends: The Eyes of your bleeding Country are now upon you; under the great God, for safety & protection: Your wives, your children, your Fathers & Mothers, moving Consider [that] they all look up to you to exert yourselves for their safety: play The Man for them: The {Children} of our {Lord} {Jesus} {Christ} are calling upon you in most pathetick language to defend {them} from the [?] of a most unfeeling, inhuman Enemy! An Enemy {that} are looming out their wrath to tread down & Destroy; who say, let us raze it, let us raze it to the very foundation. In proportion to these moving calls, so may the Spirit of Valour and Bravery glow in your Breasts: and animate you to level all Difficulties; let the loud calls of God & your Country, move you to play the Men in a [J? Soldier] like bravery, and manly [?]; taht it may appear to all around you, even to your enemies

as well as Friends, that you are an Host of Mighty Men; Choice Men of {God's} Israel, Men on Renown, Valiant for the Safety & Deliverance of distressed America! This will encourage your friends; they will put confidence in you; they will honour you: they will load you with laurels of fame from Generation to Generation. - Without flattery, for flattery I hate; to your Honor be it spoken, your Readiness to serve your Country has been admirable! Much pleasure & satisfaction has it given me your Chaplain to see your Alertness to play the Men for your People, & the Cities of your God; and I cant but hope with some sense of the overuling Hand of a divine Providence, so that you leave Events with The all wise Arbiter & Disposer of All Things. Confident that you would [sit?] upon the best and most Honourable Motives; That you

may have a just claim to {the} applause and appreciation of all rational and good Men; and I trust the Testimony of a good Conscience in the sight of God before Men: I take the Freedom to Recommend to your most serious Consideration the earnest Defence of your much Esteemed General, that you would stand by him, & with him, and not quit the Field till the First Day of {January}: 'Tis but a few Days that he asks for, more that what you have actually engaged. And tho it may be attended with some inconvenience, & difficulties that you dont feel so willing to comport with, yet considering the Danger of having this Post Defenceless, and exposing {the} Cause to the Enemy's invasion, I hope you will give the Matter a most candid & serious consideration. There is nothing with give The Enemy such Pleasure as to see you quit your Posts, which hitherto you have maintained with such honoue & bravery: and nothing would give your Friends such Pain and Concern as to see you come