Watson, Richard. An Essay on Civil Liberty; Or, The Principles of the Revolution Vindicated. In a Sermon Preached before the University of Cambridge, on Wednesday, May 29, 1776. Cambridge. Printed by J. Archdeacon, Printer to the University. 1776. First Edition. 13pp.

A very important sermon which used the principles of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to demonstrate that the American disturbences were consistent with English rebellion against the Crown. Perhaps pertinent to the conversations about the appropriate mans and mechanisms for resisting the encroachments or misdeeds of government. The discourse, calculated to be as moderate as possible, faced the formidable task of justyfing rebellion to Loyalists. Thus, when originally preached, he was immediately labeled treasonous, was denied preferment, and the sermon was broadly distributed both by detractors in England and supporters of the American Revolution in both England and America.

Referenced in The Constitutional History of the American Revolution by John Phillip Reid, The English Problem of Identity in the American Revolution by Dror Wahrman, Religion in the British Pamphlets Relating to the American Revolution - 1764-1783, The Church Militant; The American Loyalist Clergy, 

It also prompted a response from William Stevens in Strictures on a Sermon, Entitled, The Principles of the Revolution Vindicated, 1777, where he charged Watson with " laying the blame of the present commotions on the government, and justifying the Americans in their rebellion.”

The third edition added the pre-title, "An Essay on Civil Liberty."

Good, clean, and complete. Previously part of a larger sammelband, here disbound and slightly timmed. Small tear across title for 1.5 inches.