A Sermon Preached Before the Honorable Legislature of the State of Vermont

MR. BLOOD's ELECTION SERMON.

RESOLVED, That Messrs. EMMONS, AILEN and I. SMITH, be 〈…〉 to wait on the reverend Mr. BLOOD, to return him the 〈…〉 of this House, for his ELECTION SERMON, delivered 〈…〉, and request a copy of the same for the press.

Attest. RICHARD WHITNEY, CLERK.

In GENERAL ASSEMBLY, October I9th, I792.

RESOLVED, That the Committee appointed to wait on the reverend Mr BLOOD, with the thanks of this House, for his ELECTION SERMON, and request a copy of the same for the press,—be a committer to procure three hundred copies thereof to be printed.

Attest. RICHARD WHITNEY, CLERK.

AN Election Sermon.

ECCLESIASTES iii, I5.

THAT WHICH HATH BEEN, IS NOW; AND THAT WHICH IS TO BE HATH ALREADY BEEN; AND GOD REQUIRETH THAT WHICH IS PAST.

IT is hard to find a more complicated character, in all the annals of time, than that of Solomon. The first part of his life presents us with the greatest instance of human sagacity, and wisdom, joined with a special regard to religion and virtue, but a second part was filled up with luxury and wickedness.

THE just portrait we have of this complex character, not only exhibits the impartiality of the sacred history; but is joined with a display of infinite wisdom.

GOD in his all wise providence, raised Solomon, to the very summit or worldly glory. There was scarce a single thing in all the rich variety of nature's garden, but he might pertake of at his pleasure. But alas! instead of improving the mercies he had to the glory of that God from whom they came; he laid the reins on the neck of his lusts, and gave a loose to almost every vain desire. This conduct of Solomon appears the more exceedingly criminal, when we consider his exalted station in life, which gave him a superior influence among men.

p. 6IT pleased the Lord however to magnify the infinite riches of his grace, in making this celebrated king of Israel, a true penitent for all his sin. This occasioned him to write the book, of which the words now read are a part. This indeed contains as full, and ample a confession as any we shall find extant upon earth.

BY this means the Lord has graciously left a sacred record, a standing monitor to the world. By which we are assured, that however great our abilities, however high our attainments in wisdom and knowledge; or if we are raised to the summit of worldly honor and riches, yet that we are poor, fallible, changing creatures, wholly dependant on him that made us. By this we are assured that all plans and systems, founded in human wisdom, however we may think them placed on a sure basis, or arranged with the greatest coherence; yet they are subject to error.

p. 6IT is often that the turning of but one leaf in the book of divine providence, makes us sensible, that the firmness of their foundation, is not sufficient to dissipate our fears; or prevent the disappointment of our most sanguine expectations. Well did the prophet say, Isaiah ii.22 Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of. Again Psalms xxxix, 5. Verily every man at his best estate, is altogether vanity. This king of Israel, deeply sensible of this humiliating truth and the madness of his own sin and solly while he anticipated the p. 7scene of trouble that must come upon his family and subjects by his means; was led, in our context, particularly to warn others of the changing, fluctuating state, of all men and things, in this sinful world: and of the great necessity of our engrossing in our affections some superior objects for delight.

ROVING in his thoughts, through the wild confusion, of a sinful world; he at length found the desired object, (viz.) The system of God's unchanging government, and the glory of his character displayed therein, for the good of being. Like the dove of Noah, he here found an ark of rest. Here he had found a system that could suffer no change. I know, says he, verse I4th. That whatsoever Gcd doth it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doth it that men should fear before him.

FURTHER to express his views, of its unchanging sameness, he makes use of the words of our text. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is past.

THIS sacred passage, therefore, affords us this soul consolating doctrine; (viz.) that that eternal rule of righteousness, contained in God's moral government, and the ground of our acceptance with him, is so infinitely perfect, and so well suited to the capacities, and circumstances of his creatures, on every occasion, that it can admit of no change. But that which hath p. 8been the rule of our conduct towards God & our fellow men, and that which hath been the ground of our acceptance with God, is now; and that which is to be hath already been. And likewise that the same virtuous exercises, that were required in past ages of the world, are required now.

p. 8FOR our further improvement of this subject on the present important occasion we shall observe,

I. THAT the scheme of divine administration, both in its nature and requirements, is so suited to the capacities of men, that it is the indispensible duty, of all ranks of men, without distinction, cheerfully to submit to, and obey God therein,

II. THAT this obedience only, can afford substantial and lasting satisfaction to the human heart.

III. THAT this obedience will qualify us to fill our several stations in life, as well in the civil as the ecclesiastical kingdom, to the glory of God and the good of our fellow men.

I. THAT the scheme of divine administration, both in its nature and requirements, is so suited to the capacities of men, that it is the indispensible duty, of all ranks of men, without distinction, cheerfully to submit to and obey God therein.