A Sermon

HIS EXCELI<ENCY JONAS GALUSHA ESQUIRE, GOYEIINOR, HIS HONOR PAUL BRIGHAM ESQUIRE, LIEUT. GOYERXOR, , THK }10^0RABLE COUNCIL, ASD HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE STATE OF VKR^^ION T- MONTPELIF/R, ON THK DAY or GENERAL ELECTION, OCT. 8, 1SI2. BY ISAAC BEALL, , PASTOR oy THE bAtTIST CUVRCii OT CUKISJ IN T/IJyjr.T. Published by order of the Legislature. MONTPEHER, VERMONT. rP.INTED BY WRIGHT AND SIB7..EY. 1812. In General Assembly, Oct. 9, 1812. RejioLrED, that a committee be appointed confifting of three members from this houfe, to wait on the Rev. Isaac Beall, and return him the thanks of the hOufe, for his fermon delivered before his excellency' the governor, ' his honor the lieutenant governor, the honorabll council and houfe of reprefentatives ; on the 8th inft/ being the day of eleSiion : and requeft a oopy for the prefs. JVTr. King, T Mr. B. KiNNE, ^ Commit^ Mr. Bailey, J Atteft, " Wm. D. smith, Ciekk. SERMON. .^FsoFESBS- XXIX. 2. When the righteous are in au- thority, the people rejoice .- but lafien the wicked bear- eth rule, the people mourn. CjIVIL government is one of thofe bkflings which a kind God has feen fit to beftow upon the lapfed family of Adam. In this prefent imperfed flate, a people could not long remain happy, with- out civil government : to remain in fuch a ftate of anarchy, would be to remain in a ftate of perpetu- al war. To prevent fuch a dire calamity, God in- ftituted this ordinance. Rom. xiii. . -^ But as important as civil government is, to the happinefs of man ; yet, li% all other gifts of prov- idence its bleffings can never be enjoyed, but through a juft and wife adminiflration, God has ordained fummer and winter, feed-time and har- veft ; but fliould we negleft our relative duties, we fhould neither be fed nor clothed. Though God has Ordained civil government for the good of man, he has not inftituted any particu- lar mode or form of go\'^i!i|ment ; but this he has left to human wifdom, accwding to the different circumftances, cuftoms and habits of different na- tions.

A good and well adapted conftitution is to be preferred ; neverthelefs, a defective conftitution, wifely adminiftered, would be productive of gr6at- er good to thg community, than a gpod conftitu- tion in the bands of unrighteous adminiftratoirs. There may be futh ignorance, negled or injuf- tice in the rulers on. the one hand ; and fucK want of attention and fubmiffion (not to fay oppofition) among the ruled on the other hand, as tp render dvil governitieijt rather a curfe than a blefling. ITiat civil power and authority might be vefted in flich. men, under v?hofe adminiliration the peo- ple might be rendered happy, feems to be the lead- ing idea in the paffage read for confideration. In adverting to this fubj eft, I fiiall endeaii^br to give a fhort defcriptioii of thofe rulers, under whofe aldminiftration the people rejoice. Secondly, reverfe the fubjeft. Thirdly, a fhort imprpvement of the ivhole. Then clofe with cuftontiary addireflies. Agreeably to the propofed method, our atten- tion is caUed, I. To the charactei: of thofe rulers, under whofe admiriiftration the people will rejoice. Righteoufnefs is the only qualification of a civil ruler, mentioned by the infpired penman in our text. There are fon^^ who ftrenuoufly contend, that a perfon muft be made righteous, by the impu- tation of the righteoufi^ of the Lord Jefus Chrift ; or .which is the fame thing, he mufl be poffeffed of chriftianity, or he is not fuitably qualified for civil office. Should this be granted',, in order to be con- flftent, another thing muft be granted (viz.) that it is the only neceffary qualification : for when the right- eous are in authority, the people rejoice That religion would be of great utility to a civil ruler, will be granted ; but that this is the only, or even an effen- tial qualification, cannot be fo eafily admitted. For according to this fehtiment, any man, giving good evidence that he is a chriftian, 'how^ever weak his intelleft, might with fafety be eledted governor o^ the ftate, or prefident of the nation, ^ A fentiment fo weak and glaringly inconfiftent, as to peed no refutation.

It remains therefore, to be afcertsined, what that righteoufnels is, which is a characleriftic of a good ruler. i , As civil government is alluded to in the text, it is juft and reafpnable to conclude that the righteouf- nefs, there fpoken of, is a political righteoufnefs, that is, a rightepus adjniniftration jof the government with which they are entrufted. To which feveral things are neceffary. As 1. They muft be men of good natural abifities, men of penetrating mind and foujid judgment. For fiiould there be a defeat in their intelleft (however btherwife qualified) they would never be able to look through the intricate,, affairs of ftate j or attain to, a qpnfiftent fcheme of adminifl;ration, which the good and fafety of the public calls for. Therefore, men of weak minds fliould never be chofen iiito office by the freemen ; and in cafe of election, they ought not to accept : for though they may be men who poffefs honeft difpofitions of mind, yet the great af- fairs of ftate, exceeding their natural abilities, ren- ders it utterly impoffible for them to adminifter the government in righteoufnefs. In fuch a cafe, it would be more honorable in a man to decline, than ^ to accept of a place in civil government. *■ 2. In order to a righteous admlniftration of gov- ernment^ rulers muft not only have good heads, but they muft have good hearts. They fliould poffefs a~ large portion of philanthropy, an ardent love for their people. Love is the mainfpring of every inter- ' ch ange of kind oiEces among men. In no cafe has this divine principle a more efficacious operation, than when the ruler's heart is infpired with a paternal af- feftion towards his fubjefts. To be the father of his people, is the magiftrate's dignity. . This cOnftitutes his neareft conformity to our univerfal Parent. This will ftimulate rulers topurfue the common hajipi- niefs, under the greateft difficulties and moft preffing trials. It was this, that animated a Mofes, infpired a David, and fortified a Nehemiah, under the moft alarniing trials, perplexities and dangers, while man- aging the great affairs of ftate. And this will give energy to the exertions of our rulersj for the prof- perity and happinefe of their brethren ; and make thejn efteerft the moft affiduous painful labors, but reafonabl^ and pleafant fervices, for the public good. That they may adminifter in righteoufnefs, civil ru- lers muft poffefs a kincSand benevolent aflFeftion for their people. ^ '