1767 MSS SERMON. Preached in Salem, Massachusetts. Psalm 1.1. American Revolutionary Parson

A rare and complete Colonial American sermon Preached at Salem, Massachusetts on June 11, 1767 just in advance of the American Revolutionary War. It appears to have been preached again on the 13th as well, which seems to have been an election day.

The sermon may be that of important pro-Revolution divine, Rev. Thomas Barnard. He was a firebrand for the Patriots. The North Church in Salem was, at the time, populated with ship captains and merchants, citizens very much affected by British taxation issues. This is one of the reasons Salem played such an important role in the Revolutionary War. To this day, many people locally believe that the War for Independence actually began in Salem.

In February of 1775, the British Colonel Leslie was dispatched from Boston to seize a munitions depot in North Salem. It is reported that Rev. Barnard upon learning of the British regiment marching through town, left his pulpit during Sunday worship and went down to the North Bridge in Salem where Colonel Leslie and his troops were standing. Rev. Barnard and local officials negotiated with the British officer and brokered a resolution to the conflict, permitting the soldiers to march to the other side of the river and then turn around and return to their ship without "molesting anything." As a result, local historians conjecture that the Revolutionary War almost began here in Salem, two months before April of 1775 and the "shot heard round the world" in Lexington and Concord. To this day, the First Church tells the story of "Leslie's Retreat" and keeps on display a scale model of the first Meetinghouse of the North Church where Rev. Barnard served as Pastor.

This seems the best candidate for our sermon, though we can locate no corresponding sermon of his from the era to compare. So, just Salem. 

The text is Psalm 1.1 "Blessed is ye man who walketh not in ye counsel of ye ungodly nor standeth in ye way of sinners nor sitteth in ye seat of ye scornful."

And, as expected, it is calculated to produce practical piety in the listener, earnest repentance, and to cultivate citizens for the "new Israel" now getting ready to make Caanan her own for good. 

8pp complete. Very good condition.