Election Sermon

yi, _ heer . sdctetely ote tetas Mh Oe neta An ELECTION SERM N. I. CHRONICLES, xxviii, 8Now, therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of eur God, keep and seek jor all the commandgents of the Lord your God, that ye may sess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for- : ever. : __HESE words were uttered by one who had ‘seen much of life. He had paifed through many scenes ; and had enjoyed large opportunities for obferying the operation of things in human society. By acourfe of fingular events he had | raifed from the walks of private life to the of the kingdom. He reigned many years in Hrael. Directed by his genius, the nation arose to an high degree of grandeur and opu- = ay) aga Se a OVO Loe pee EEE ELSES SELL LILI SSL ILS S 5 pf A 4 _ He was now at an advanced period of life. « He had grown old in the service of his country. ce odeey his days on earth were clofing, that hetime of his departure was at hand, he aflempape ae him, at Jervfalem, all the princes of Wael, the princes of the™tribes, and captains a ver /the thoufands, and over the hundreds _ and the flewards and other officers, with’ the x “mighty and valiant men; or,in.a werd, all the me of ‘@ilice and of influence. these, as beoo ing the leaders and reprefentatives of the whol Cae) nation he addrefled. He imparted to them j portant information,—gaye them direétions fh speGting some interesting matters—gave the asse€tionate advice, and delivered to them) folemn charge. Among the things delivered ¢ that occasion, we find our text. It manise deep views of the nature of society ; and corre understanding of the means the best calculat to promote its interefls. Ardently loving country, and greatly folicitous that his cou trymen might continue to enjoy their prefe advantages, and tranfmit them unimpaired: their posterity, he dire€ts to those meafur which he felt confident were the only ones th would enfure a continuance of national blessing Would they expect the smiles of heaven, wot they look for national profperity and happiag they must be faithful to their God ; they n be diligent to know, and careful to obey his commandments. The direétion of t pious ruler and great statefman, eviden founded upon this truth, that the providence! God is concerned in the profperity or ady sity of a people, inthe rife and in the fall i empires. Hence, with flrong reafons, is ana dient life urged upon every one, whatever his itation in society, upon every one who ld his country and seeks its good. Such is the fubje& fuggested by our text. In giving attention to it we will difcourlé the following order. We will first dwell a ti upon this all important truth, a truth which: never be kept too much in mind, that the pr perity and welfare of a nation is ufually Prop tionate to the regard which they have andt ifet for religion and yirtue. We will noti (Ag Be to) some of the many rich favors, which the goyerning providence of God has already bestowed ypon us ; and confider the obligations which lie upon 2 people, who have been, and still arc, so favored. We will then enquire what we are to 3 do, in order that we may enfure a continuance of the divine bleflings, and the enjoyment of our privileges. ne ‘ My hearers, it is not my defign to go into any olitical difcufsions, unbecoming my _ holy profeflion, as a minister of Jesus Christ : but it is my defign to make those plain remarks, which I feel myfelf fully authorifed to make ; which, men of every name must, I think, fay are just f and proper, and tending to ufefulness ; and which I feel no doubt will be heard with patience and with candor. Our first obfervation is, that the profperity and welfare ofa nation is ufually proportionate to the regard which they have and manifest for religion and virtue. The truth of this obfervation will, at once, be perceived, if we confider the nature and tendency of virtue and of vice : confider also the doctrine of providence. If we have just views of virtue and of vice, we may eafily fee what different essets they would produce upon the public welfare. What do we mean by national profperity and happiness ? Surely not the fame with that to which worldly heroes and tyrants ; afpire, a mere increase of power, with which to invade the rights of others, and make the world fubmissive to their will. But we mean that found and healtifal ate of society, which constitutes its beauty and its strength; which renders it refpe€table in the view of others; fecured, in good meafure against attacks, vigorous to Aa tet y, i a Vite ge ee ss a me yew: Praag Goan eg aE eS TEES Pye Speer meme (6) refit them when made; peaceful, happy ang fourifhing. Now, canfucha state be acquire and preferved by any other means, so well” by the oblervance, among all its members, ¢ the diGiatcs of religion ? of religion, whic teaches us to be juit, frugal and temperate) honest in all our attions, upright in all ow condu&t ; which teaches us, that we shou render to all their dues, tribute to whom tribut is due, cultom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor; that we shoul owe no man any thing, but to love one another that whatfoever we would that men should d unto us, we should do even fountothem? …