The Road to Revolution

Summary

The sermon discusses the colonial American opposition to the potential appointment of a bishop by the English king in the 1760s, which symbolized a feared imposition of aristocratic hierarchy. This fear of "episcopacy," alongside the desire for "rights as Englishmen" and opposition to "taxation without representation," fueled anti-royal sentiment and ultimately contributed to the American Revolution. The practical takeaway is that widespread resistance to perceived overreach by the English crown, exemplified by the bishop issue, was a significant factor leading to the Declaration of Independence.