7. Samuel Haven, Excerpt from Joy and Salvation my Christ;
His arm displayed in the protestant Cause: 1763:
There was a huge blend of semi-religious, semi secular view
of Progress and Mission in the Thanksgiving Sermons which celebrated
the conquest of Canada in 1760 and the peace treaty of 1763
Four bloody colonial conflicts with France had occurred, and
the view that God's chosen had reached a new milestone is reemphasized
in lots of Thanksgiving sermons. Haven was a less known Pastor
who starts with a quote from scripture (a common way to start
a speech for Puritans) from Isaiah which talks about the Jews
return from Babylonian captivity, Isaiah explained and emphasized
both the Jews immediate SUCCESS of God's chosen but also prophesized
further SUCCESS es. The quote states "thou didst afflict the
PEOPLE didst drive out the heathen. they got land and possession
by their own sword" He then explains that they left their "dear
native COUNTRY . and endured a train of hardships" (is explaining
the backgrounds, as the Puritans would have). He then talks
about the sacrifices they have made while bringing the gospel
of "Jesus the savior" and how God brought the "glorious sun
of righteousness. the wilderness began to blossom as a rose"
He explains the "tranquil scenes came to a close as "numerous
tribes combined together. to make an utter end of the English
in America" and explains that Jehovah was on their side "he
taught their hands to war, and their fingers to fight" he explains
that they had triumphed over the Indian tribes, but that Canada
and the French were at "arms to drive us from this good land
which God gave unto our fathers" he then talks about how they
attacked them and sent the Indians after them but "god blew
with his wind and discomfited them. Our God broke their ships
and sent his destroying angel." He then discusses war "our troops
irresolute, our men dying" he begins to talk about PEOPLE from
all colonies as "us" and "we" rather than simply referring to
his own colonies. It is a mix of both secular and non secular
language, this is interesting because it is truly a RHETORIC
al language as the PEOPLE were both interested in the language
of religion and of others (a unifying method of speech rather
than separate). They also are looking at their suffering as
motivation to move forward because God has blessed them and
are looking at their wins as God showing their favor and motivation
to move forward with the cause of the revolution (also a very
common strategy of the revolutionist language). Speaks of all
of his victories "in both the Indies, the African coast. Cherbourg.
etc." to show that they should keep moving to gain more "vast
riches and strength" they are no longer just looking out for
the Puritan or separatist colony thought, but for the good of
a unified nation.
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