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snpreinacy of the seas . Finally , it pleased Almighty God to bestow it upon Great Britain , who . lias now for a considerable time enjoyed it , and is , thank God ^ still in possession of it . By this train of thought , fellow-christians , our thoughts are conducted to the very object itself of our present assembling together , and of this discourse ; and that is , that the Supreme Being , of his infinite mercy hath , at a most critical juncture of our affairs , confirmed to us what he at first gave us , and iiath long kept us in possession of , the empire of the ocean—the domi- > jiion of ine seas $ for God is the only giver of victory , and by affording us a most decisiye one over a fleet superior in numbers , commanded by skilful and gallant officers , manned with brave warriors , well provided
-with more than the usual means of destruction , composed of the flower of the maritime forces of two-of the greatest naval powers , next to Great Britain , now existing in the world : I say by this signal , and I may perhaps with truth add , this unparalleled victory > , Godnath confirmed to Great Britain his munificent grant of dominion over the
seas . The genealogy of this munificent grant is here made out as satisfactorily , as our bishops trace their succession through the Church of Rome from the apostles ,. It has not before we believe fallen to the lot of a divine to advocate the right of Great Britain to rule upon the ocean ; but civilians have
succeeded so ill in establishing this point , that they will , we have no doubt , gladly avail themselves of the church as an auxiliary , and instead of appealing in defence of their position , as formerly to navigation laws , or to the more cor \ yenient and convincing LexFortiorisyWiW henceforwards take their stand on the ground
of Scripture . \ Does Mr . E . seriously believe that religion confers upon one state , a right and title to oppress other states ; for that is the exact amount of the prerogative he contends for , the subjection of one power being necessarily included in the supremacy of
another . Nature and reason woufd seem to teach , that every kingdom has a natural property in those waters that lie conti scuoils to it . and that those tracts of water that are remote from every inhabited country are the common property of all nations . If Great Britain derives from God a charter of naval dominion ,
that chartqr must be absolute , and consequently every vessel that moves upon the waters without the consent of this country , commits a trespass , and every man that seizes , without the game consept , upon any part of the riches of the ocean is 4 plunderer . Is this the doctrine of the Bible ? r 'he claim of naval empire will always be disputed whilst ; there are two or more states coexistent , and equally balanced in power ; to advance it therefore is to erect the standard of war—to support it on religious considerations , is to sanctify oppression and cruelty ! The argument besides will apply equally to the land . as to th $
Untitled Article
46 Thanksgiving Sermons .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1806, page 46, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1720/page/46/
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