―128―

Art. X.

A Discourse on National Sins: deli-
vered May 9, 1798; being the Day
recommended by the President of the
United States, to be observed as a

―129―

Day of General Fast. By Wil-
liam Linn, D. D. one of the Mi-
nisters of the Reformed Dutch
Church in the City of New-York.
8vo. pp. 37. T. and J. Swords.
New-York. 1798.

“TWO motives, principally,”
says the author in his pre-
face, “have induced me to publish
the following discourse; the one is,
that those who disapproved of cer-
tain parts, may have an opportunity
of giving them a second and dispas-
sionate consideration; the other is,
that the sentiments advanced ap-
pear to me highly seasonable, and
ought to be diffused as extensive-
ly as possible. The discourse is
printed, word for word, as it was
written in the first copy, and only
three sentences, which will be found
marked, were forgotten at the time
of delivery. This is mentioned to
apologize for the inaccuracies which
will occur, and which would have
been corrected, had it not been
judged best scrupulously to adhere
to the very words, which all who
were present can be called to attest.”

The subject of this discourse is ta-
ken from Joshua vii. 13. Up, sancti-
fy the people, and say, Sanctify your-
selves against to-morrow: for thus saith
the Lord God of Israel, There is an ac-
cursed thing in the midst of thee, O Is-
rael: thou canst not stand before thine
enemies, until ye take away the accursed
thing from among you. The principal
aim of the author is, to exhibit what
he supposes to be the accursed things,
or the national sins, which have been
the procuring cause of national pu-
nishments. Those he arranges un-
der the following heads:—viz. In-
attention to family instruction and
government—Neglect of the ordi-
nances of divine worship, and of the
due observance of the Sabbath—
Abuse of temporal prosperity—The
prevalence of infidelity—And the
want of union among our citizens
—Each of these topics is illustrated

at some length, and the principles
arising out of them warmly en-
forced.

The style of this discourse is sim-
ple, and frequently forcible. Though
it is sometimes deficient in smooth-
ness, it is generally perspicuous, po-
pular, and impressive. And though
inaccuracies now and then occur,
the apology which we have quoted
from the preface, forbids the seve-
rity of criticism. With respect to
some of the sentiments maintained
by Dr. L. our readers will differ in
opinion. We have some doubts
as to the propriety of introducing
political discussion into the pulpit;
but on this subject every preacher
must judge for himself, and ascer-
tain his duty, by referring to the
particular circumstances in which
he is placed. Dr. L. asserts the
importance of morality and religion,
to the well-being of civil society,
with a laudable zeal, and he calls for
approbation and support of public
measures, with a fervour of decision,
which indicates that he is a very firm
friend to the government and ad-
ministration of his country. We
have no doubt but that all who con-
cur with him in sentiments, will
consider this discourse as worthy of
publication, as calculated to do good,
and as affording honourable testi-
mony of its author's talents.