An Election Sermon

AN , ELECTION SERMON. MICAH, IV. 4. They shall sit every man, under his vine, and under his figtree ; and none shall make them afraid. CIVIL government is essential to the existence of society. Men cannot maintain mutual intercourse without general rules of association; and these rules cannot be enforced without authority. That the members of a community may enjoy personal security, some restraint must necessarily be imposed on personal liberty. If every man were permitied to do what might seem good in his own eyes, no man could be secure, fora single moment, in the enjoyment of property or life ; the curse of Ishmael would fall upon all mankind ; and of each individual it might be said, at his birth, “He will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him.”—It is easily erceived, however, that man was made for society. is propensities, his sympathies, the faculty of speech with which he is endowed; indeed, all his affections and powers clearly indicate this. design of the Creator. But the will of God, on this subject, may be more conelusively ascertained, by considering, that the nobler part of man—his moral and intellectual powers could neither be cultivated, nor afford that happiness, of Which he is susceptible, without social intercourse, For, if society is necessary to moral and intelle improv ement, and productive of human pie if civil government is essential to the very existe society; it follows, that it must be agreeable te the 7 of God, that civil government should be maintain and, of, course, that it must be the duty of every to submit to the necessary restraints, and Suppo or 7 requisite authority. Accordingly the Scriptur decided, that “the powers that be, are ordai in a ‘God ;” and commanded us to “be subject, not er 1 wrath, hat for conscience’ sake.””—Thus the dats maintaining civil government, and of submitting { authority, dbex net depend on compact, ex ead 7 implied; but on the evident “ will of God, ga from expediency,” and confirmed by revelation, I Now the most perfect civil government is that, affords the most complete security, with the leas straint on personal iiberty; or in other wa ~ production of the highest degree of civil liber perfection of civil “government. Thus to gua once, against the oppression of civil power and th hi archy of personal liberty, constitutes the objets Wn siness of political science. In pursuit of this * object—in attempting to invent a political mach which might assume different forms, and thus ace modate itself to the various circumstances and situat of nations, wise and good men have employe talents and spent their lives. Hence the mixture forms, the modification of principles, the diy i powers, the restrictions of authority, the limitations office—the various checks and balances, which 4 heen devised and introduced, sometimes by g rat reform and sometimes by diddek revolution, an -) stitutions of civil government. Nor bave these and changes been altogether inefficient, in imprt the social condition and advancing the general hi ness of mankind ; especially, during the last hal dury: more especially, i in a few favoured nations & fi, specially, in our own comparativeiy happy counYet notwilhstanding the improvements, which have been made in the condition of some nations, by jimiling the prerogative of monarchy; in others, by goftening the rigour and restraining the pride of arisjocracy; and in others, by checking the rashness and reculating the caprice of democracy ;—notwithstanding all this, the object, for which political science and the art of government are studied, has not yet been fuljyaccomplished. Even in the most favoured countries, ihere is still room for improvement. Cases both of unnecessary restrictions on personal liberty, and of insecurity to life and property, still exist. Cases. still exist, in which individuals suffer inconvenient resjraints or severe penalties, without promoting the pubick good ; and, in which the laws of the land neither yestrain violence, nor correct injustice—neither provide a preventive, nor supply a remedy for personal injury. _ [t becomes, then, an interesting inquiry, of practical importance, to the philanthropist and legislator, to the philosopher and christian; what are the prospects of succeeding generations ?—has the science of civil government reached its highest degree of improvement, and produced on human happiness, all the salutary influence, of which it is capable; or can greater general security be reconciled with less personal restraint ; and thus civil liberty be rendered more perfect, and be universally enjoyed?—To this inquiry we may find an answer in our text: They shall sit every man under his vine, and under his figtree ; and none shall make them afraid.— This ceclaration was made with reference to a period, styled in prophecy, “the last days ;” it was made too concerning mankind generally —concerning ‘many peopie, and nations afar off;”? and it was made under the sanction of that Infinite Wisdem, which sees from the beginning to the end; and of that Sevreign Power, which is able to accomplish every good purpose: for the prophet adds to our text; “The mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.”

most & The language of the text is metaphorical s metaphors are so natural, and the meaning 50 0 as almost to supersede the necessity of ex positi io, certainly implies a promise of a social state i a all tions, more perfect than any, which has ever yet g; in any age or country. ‘The context, indeed, 1 to view this predicted state of civil society, in with corresponding changes in the moral ch individuals and the political relations of nat der the universal dissemination of christian | and the general influence of christian principles in the last days it shall come to pass, that the 7 iain of the house of the Lord shall be estab} isk the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalte the hills …