The Election Sermon

Province of Massachusetts Bay. In COUNCIL, May 26. 1763.

Attest.

A. OLIVER, Secr.

An ELECTION-SERMON.

— HEARKEN unto me, you Men of She◊hem, that GOD may hearken unto you. The Trees went forth upon a Time to anoint a King over them. And they said unto the Olive Tree, Reign thou over us. But the Olive Tree said unto them, should I leave my Fatness, wherewith by me they honour GOD and Man, and go to be promoted over the Trees? And the Trees said unto the Figtree, Come thou and reign over us; But the Fig-tree said unto them, should I forsake my Sweetness and my good Fruit, and go to be promoted over Trees? Then said the Trees unto the Vine, Come thou and reign over us; And the Vine said unto them, should I leave my Wine, which p. 6cheereth GOD and Man, and go to be promoted over the Trees? Then said all the Trees unto the Bramble, Come thou and reign over us; And the Bramble said unto the Trees, If in Truth ye anoint me King over you, then come and put your Trust in my Shadow; And if not, let Fire come out of the Bramble, and devour the Cedars of Lebanon.

IT was the Obersvation of an Ancient, who had well remarked the Infirmity of Men, that "becuase they have no Changes, therefore they fear not GOD." But however the calm, uniform Course of Providence may too little affect light Minds, yet a Series of such alarming Events, as we have for Years past seen and felt; the divine Patronage of Right and Liberty; the many unexpected, yea Improbable and marvellous Steps, by which this noble Cause has been resened from Dangers, and at length amply secured; are Proofs of the sovereignty righteous and gracious Dominion of GOD, which should and will fix the Resolution of every sober Mind to ◊◊◊◊ide religiously in Him.

p. 7At the same Time, the best Apprehensions of GOD, which Reason aided by Revelation can form, teach us to rely on the Father of Spirits, the great Preserver of Men, not only in Emergencies, but in the general Course of Life, and even in Affairs wherein human Power and Sagacity have much to do, for a proper Direction of the Powers of the Mind, as well as for the Maintenance of the Health and Strength of the Body.

p. 7PRAYER therefore, is an Application to Heaven, as natural and as obvious, in its Grounds and Motives, as any of the most common Actions of Life. A Mind open to divine Advices, is a Mind in its true State of modest Humility.

THIS important Day then, of the annual Exercise of the peculiar Rights of the Inhabitants of this Province, by which Rights our civil Polity approaches nearer to that of the happy Island from whence we originated, than that of any other of the British Plantations, and if so, to the Standard of a perfect Government; This joyful Day, I say, p. 8is most properly opened, by this solemn Act of public Worship; by a devout Address to the Fountain of Wisdom, from whom are derived all the Streams of it, which are dispersed in innumerable human Minds; and by a decent Attention to those moral and religious Truths, an Attention to which, is indeed in the last Resort, the hearkening unto GOD. What lively Faith should animate these Services; "O People saved of the LORD, for whom he has done such great Things, whereof ye are glad."

FROM whence can a Politician go to the most arduous Affairs, which require Coolness, Deliberation, Integrity, publick Spirit, and an inward Regard to GOD, better than from such an Exercise, as composes the Soul, brings to View the highest Motives to disinterested Benevolence, and presents in their true Colours, Craft, Avarice, little Designs, sinister Practices, and every Thing, which generous Souls and those best acquainted with themselves, are most jealous of, and keep the strictest Guard against.

HOWEVER the Passage of sacred Story now read, which the Wisdom of GOD has handed p. 9down to us, may not lead to those important Points, which have been often treated on this Anniversary, with Accuracy, yet it may suggest to us some such Truths, as however obvious, yet can never pass our Minds, but with Advantage, and which have a direct Aspect on the weighty Affairs of this Day.

THE Style and Construction of these Verses, is that of an Apologue, or Fable, a Mode of speaking extremely popular in ancient Times, and much in Taste among the eastern Nations at this Day. It had its peculiar Advantages, especially in cases of Reproof; it insinuated itself in a smooth and artful Manner into Persons indisposed to hear, and by not making personal Application on the Instant, it delayed that Resentment, thro' which Reproof often fails of its Use.

p. 9SOME Roman Writers have piqued themselves on the famous Apologue of Menenius Agrippa, concerning the Stomach and Limbs of the human Body, which had such a wonderous Influence in calming the irritated Spirits of the Patricians and Commons, as being the most ancient Example of that p. 10Manner of Speaking. It must have mortified them to have known, that this moral and political Fable, correct, beautiful and instructive as it is, was uttered by a despised and in their Opinion, barbarous Hebrew, 700 Years before Agrippa was born.

FOR it was delivered, while Israel was yet governed by Judges of their own Election. Among these Gideon was famous. Under their grievous Oppressions, GOD raised them up this eminent Magistrate and General, who with great Success humbled their Enemies, and restored their Liberty and Tranquility. Such a grateful Sense had the People of his Merit and Services, that they were for rendering the supreme Magistracy hereditary in his Family, which he saw fit to decline. But this was a transient Fit of Gratitude; for when their Danger was no more, they treated his Family with base Neglect. And no wonder, that when (as we find) they had forgotten their supreme Deliverer, they should ill use the Instruments of his Providence for their Good.