Political Sermons of the American Founding Era: 1730–1805: In Two Volumes

40. A Sermon on the Anniversary of the Independence of America [1793]

- 4 0 A SERMON ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF AMERICA Samuel Miller NEW-YORK I 7 9 3 SAMUEL MILLER (1769-18jo). A native of Delaware, Miller was educated at home by his father, Reverend John Miller, and his brothers, followed by a year at the University of Pennsylvania and theological training with Reverend John Nisbet, principal of Dickinson College. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister in New York City in 1793 (the year of the sermon reprinted here) and eventually became pastor of the Wall Street congregation that later became First Presbyterian Church. He was appointed professor of church history and government at Princeton Theological Seminary, which he had helped to found in I8IJ. Under Miller, Archibald Alexander, and George Hodge, the seminary dominated Princeton for over fifty years. A man of great energy, Miller published dozens of books and pamphlets on a wide range of subjects, from suicide, to slavery, to the theater. His BriefRetrospect ofthe Eighteenth Century (2 vols., 18o3) won him honorary D.D.s from Union College and from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a founder of the New York Bible Society, a corresponding member of the Philological Society of Manchester, England, corresponding secretary of the New Historical Society, a trustee of both Columbia College and the College of New Jersey, historian and later moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, and chaplain of the first regiment of the New York State artillery. Although Miller was not a striking preacher, he was a good one, and the quality of his mind and depth of learning are reflected in the sermon from July 4, 1793, published here. 1150 A s E R M 0 N, PREACHED IN NEw-YoRK, JuLY 4th, 1793· BElNC 'l'H.i. A N N I V E R S A R Y OF THf: INDEPENDENCE oF AMERICA: AT THE KKQUE£T OF 'U!E TAMMANY SOCIETY, oR. COLUMBIAN ORDER, BY SAM U E L M I L L E R, A.M. ONT. CF na: MINiSTERS OF THE UNITED PR.E~BYTEP.L~N CHURCHES, IN THE CITY OF NEW-YO!',K. NEW-YORK-PRINTED .BY THOMAS GR:EEN.LEAF. ~And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.~ II. Corinthians, iii. 17. n contemplating national advantages, and national happiness, numerous are the objects which present themselves to a wise and reflecting patriot. While he . remembers the past, with thankfulness and triumph; ~-z:....li--.. and while he looks forward, with glowing anticipation , to future glories, he will by no means forget to enquire into the secret springs, which had an active influence in the former, and which, there is reason to believe, will be equally connected with the latter. These ideas naturally arise, in the mind of every American citizen, especially on this anniversary of our country's natal hour. While we review, with gratitude and exultation, the various steps which have paved the way for our political advancement, we are obviously led to search for the happy principles, which laid at the foundation of these -and while we suffer fancy to draw aside, for a moment, the veil which covers futurity, and to disclose its bright scenes, we cannot overlook the same objects, on the extension and farther influence of which, we are to build our hopes. We have convened, indeed, principally to celebrate the completion of another year of freedom to our western world. We are to keep this day as a memorial of the time which gave rise to the precious privileges we enjoy, as a sovereign and independent people. It may, therefore , be imagined, that our only proper employment, on the present occasion, is, to take a retrospect of the interesting scenes, which that glorious a::ra presented to the mind, and to recount the noble atchievements, which, under the direction of infinite wisdom, laid the foundation of our prosperity and happiness. But why should our chief attention be directed toward these objects? They are objects, indeed, upon which to gaze, delight and elevate the patriotic mind. They are objects, which, to lose sight of, is to forfeit the character of a faithful citizen. But, at the same time, they are objects too familiar to all present to need the formality of repetition. I address many of those who were near witnesses of these stupendous transactions; and not a few who were agents in the important work. Whose hearts bum [3...