SERMON I.

GEN. XLIX, 14:

ISSACHAR IS A STRONG ASS, COUCHING DOWN BETWEEN TWO

BURDENS.

Every theological scholar knows, that the language of the Old Testament, is peculiarly suited for drawing characters in few words. It is usual, in the Hebrew language, to present the image of a multitude, by a single character. We find it very common, by the figure of a beast, to point out the image of a whole people; and there is always at least some resemblance to the thing signified. It is needless now to go far for examples there is one in the text: Issachar is a strong ass, &c. And, indeed, he has much need of strength, for he carries two burdens.

The tribe of Issachar were a wealthy, inactive, slothful and licentious people; as appeared in the sequel, they loved rest and abundance of idleness, more than liberty, and chose to be duped and enslaved, rather than inform themselves, and assert and maintain their freedom. There was a reason for this the father had set them an example; he saw that the land was good, productive of every thing required for sensual pleasure-perfectly adapted to his slothful and sluggish disposition; self-interest, ease, and sordid self-enjoyment, were of more importance, in his view, than intelligence, and the welfare and happiness of the whole nation. There are many such asses as Issachar, that prefer present ease, brutal ignorance, and indulgence, to intelligent, religious, moral and political freedom. Our text is a prophecy,

OR EVANGELICAL BONUS.

in the present tense, which is common in the Hebrew writings. Jacob, here, in his last words, foretells the general character of the tribe of Issachar. I need not tell my readers any more concerning the object of this prediction, than that it included the whole tribe of the children of Israel. It was too well verified by their subsequent behavior.

JACOB, I think, is the first mentioned in the scriptures, who preached to asses; but, since his time, many have been thus usefully employed. This term, "ass," I admit, is a shameful monosyllable, when applied to reasonable creatures men, who are endowed with reason and understanding, to degenerate so basely. Oh! what a falling off, is here!!! This was quite a numerous tribe; it rose to the number of fifty-four thousand and four hundred! Truly,

a large family! far too many of them to be so mean-spirited! They wanted not wealth, nor strength, but intelligence, and energy of character. Many good gifts, indeed, alas! have been ill bestowed! Strength, without intelligent activity, is always a debasement in human nature. A nation of slaves, is a kingdom of asses. That is a dishonorable rest, and execrable indulgence, which prevails to the ruin of the common weal. Ease and indulgence may be good -but not unconnected with liberty. But what was I saying? Rest, without liberty, is bondage absolute.

But what can these "burdens" mean, that Issachar "couched down" so decently "under"? They were, doubtless, civil and religious slavery. Strange! that such a number of rational creatures should so tamely bear two such insupportable burdens! I had almost forgotten that they were asses; no people, of any spirit, could endure such bondage without complaining! But examples in modern days, of such a mean-spirited condition, have become so common, that we may cease to wonder at the ineffable degradation of the tribe of Issachar. The greatest part of the world, certainly all Europe, and thousands in America, have been successively couched down between these execrable burdens of fraudulent civil and religious oppressors.

TO DIVERSE, NOTABLE FOOLS AND ASSES.

The Jews, as a nation, in the days of our Saviour, were become a sort of tame asses; they couched down, till the loco foco* priests laid on their burden on the one side; and the political Roman loco foco demagogues, on the other. This assinego character, is, at best, a slovenly one; and I wish it were gone out of the world.

If

In the scriptures, you know, an ass, is contrasted with a horse, which is a generous and noble animal; that is, it is tractable and energetic; but not abject. Obedience to just laws, and submission to slavery, are two very different things; the former denotes a people, energetic, wise and good; but the latter, a duped, base, degenerate generation. Enlightened understandings, and good morals, make men good members of civilized society; ignorance, heedlessness, and licentiousness, render them the legitimate candidates for all the execrable degradation of dupery and bondage. human beings, through ignorance, indolence, and licentiousness, degenerate to such asses, they always find a plenty of loco focos, in both church and state, to fix their burdens upon them. Peradventure, I shall give offence, by repeating this disagreeable epithet; I here lay it aside; and instead of the sign — (ass) — pursue the thing signified. The original word signifies an ass of bone, which denotes strength, but yet plainly indicates leanness. And, indeed, all slaves are generally, intellectually and morally lean; all, who know not the enjoyment of liberty, are poor enough, both in a political and moral sense. And to go back a moment, to the old man, Issachar; he is presented to us as a creature, strong, truly; but without any judicious, wise and salutary motion; precisely like all people in a state of servitude; being entirely unfit for any profitable business, unless they were led to it, by some "loco foco" sportsman; or scourged to the work, as loco foco slave holders do, in our own times.

Now there is nowhere a profitable trade, except among a free and energetic people. And wealth, it must be admit

*The term loco foco, as used in this work, according to the common and universal acceptation of wise men, denotes all errorists—workers of iniquity: or misleaders in either religious, political, or moral subjects.

OR EVANGELICAL BONUS.

ted, after all said about it, does not consist in specie, but in a judicious circulation of it; and slaves are entirely indifferent about the matter. Such have no just sense of property, nor correct notions of right; and therefore want the springs of action, by the use of which, reasonable beings can be kept in their proper place.

It is wonderful, what human custom will do; it is called a second nature, and justly; for, through long use and habit, men will actually stoop to take on their own burdens! Issachar stooped down. Indeed, he deserved a heavy burden for such debasement of spirit! It is then, soon enough to submit to dupery and bondage, when, by the inscrutable providence of God, we cannot avoid it. But dupery and slavery are the just reward to all such as heedlessly and voluntarily, give up their natural, civil and religious. rights and privileges; such as do not value intelligence, good morals, industry, and freedom of thought and action, deserve to be duped and enslaved. It is an insult offered to our Creator, thus to give up our prerogative to any of his creatures. Such as voluntarily give up their rights and privileges, which have been bestowed by him, and submit to dupery or any human yoke, deserve the name of Atheists! Human beings are not at liberty to give up such a high. trust, till God, in his providence, requires it. Look back to our first parents. There, see the ruinous consequences of listening to, and being duped by, the royal arch loco foco patriarch!* When men are conquered and forced to submit, their subjection is no crime, but a call of our Creator; but when, for some private, or party interest, or from inattention, we give up our own and the public welfare, we render ourselves unworthy the protection of heaven, by such foul rejection of its government.

Time was, when almost all, of many generations, of the character of the tribe of Issachar, were in the land of our

*We have the highest authority for giving his Satanic majesty this ap pellation. Said our Lord Jesus Christ, to the chief priests, scribes, pharasees, and elders who were loco focos- "Ye are of your father, the devil