The Annual Election Sermon

But Christianity, while it promotes and restrains and perpetuates the liberties of a people, is not less decisively favorable to the energy of government. It reminds the citizens that civil rulers, duly elected or appointed, are ordained by God; and that to resist them in the proper exercise of their authority, is to resist the ordinance of God. This, surely, does not invest rulers with omniscience, or infallibility. Still less does it justify or palliate any misuse of their powers. The sacredness of their oflice renders its prostitution but the more criminal. And it would be at once absurd and impious to suppose that the God of heaven will sanction their acts, when they contravene his own authority. Still, the fact, that in the regular and right exercise of their high functions, they act in the name, and by the authority of God, is a fact of great significance. Conscientious and reflecting men will beware how they oppose such an one in the discharge of his duties ; how they vilify his character, or sport with his sensibilities, or mar his just influence. And while they exercise an independent judgment, and a just discrimination, concerning rulers, they will beware of inflicting on their reputations or feelings a wanton injury. The reckless and inhuman severity with which public men are sometimes treated, is in every view unjustifiable. As it regards those who are honestly devoting themselves to the good of the community, it is ungrateful and cruel. And the injury done to the public may be greater still. The direct effect of such severity is to drive from office the best men, and fill the places of trust and honor with men of callous and vulgar feelings. On the other hand, the just honor and gratitude which is paid to the upright and meritorious ruler, recoils, with a medicinal effect, on the community. While it soothes the cares of office, and rewards virtuous exertion, it gives a healthful tone to the public morals, and secures to the government the affections of the people.

There is another method in which religion contributes its influence to the energy of government. It forms rulers to the very character which is calculated to command the confidence and veneration of the community. It is true, there are other paths to public honor, than those of virtue and merit. ‘In the corrupted currents of this world,’’ ambition, selfishness, artifice, may find their way to the very highest places of the state. Still, the world is not yet so bad, but that there is one meed which virtue alone can purchase; I mean, the honest esteem and love of the community. And how truly venerable the ruler whose character is formed on the model supplied by the Sacred Volume. Entering on office with diffidence, perhaps with reluctance, he still makes a cheerful consecration of his faculties, his affections and solicitudes to the public good. Acting as under the eye of God, and leaning on his arm; imploring his aid, and anxious only for his approbation, he calmly pursues a plain and straight-forward path. Not the dictates of ambition, or of interest; of party feeling, or state chicanery; not the ever changing opinion of the multitude; but Ais Maker’s law; the eternal, unchanging principles of truth and rectitude ; these, these are evermore the guides and measures of his conduct. Who does not see that rulers of this description are the strength, the riches, the glory of the state ? Their characters command universal respect; their measures, universal confidence. They are enthroned in the hearts of the virtuous portion of the community. The influence which they send abroad through society is most precious and salutary. It strengthens and unites the good. It appals licentiousness and vice. It paralyzes faction. It refines the public sentiment. It elevates the tone of public morals. It dries up a thousand sources of evil, and purifies society to its very fountain. Thus firmness, consistency and energy are secured to the government, and real happiness to the people. It were easy to prove that Christianity is friendly to the best and wisest legislation, and to the purest administration of justice. We contend not that it prescribes to mankind any particular forms of government, or any codes of civil or criminal law, or any rules of judicial proceedings. The Sacred Volume was given to us for far different purposes. Finding the human family in a state of revolt from the Father and Sovereign of the world, it discloses a method of return and reconciliation. In this disclosure, it brmgs to view the great principles of the divine administration as they regard our world; and thus communicates instruction important to the best temporal mterests of man. Admit the simple and undeniable truth, that the government of God is perfect, and it follows with the certainty of demonstration, that that human government is best, which in its principles and spirit, makes the nearest approach to the divine. Here, then, is a pattern, a guide, a test, for earthly legislation. Can it be doubted, a moment, that the legislator who, in simplicity, brmgs his mind and heart to the Sacred Volume ; who makes it his daily study, and his nightly meditation, will find, in this process, the happiest preparation for his arduous and responsible work ? In this Volume are embodied the profoundest principles of truth, the most exalted maxims of justice, the most delicate shades of morality, the most accurate distinctions between right and wrong ; and all presented with an inimitable simplicity, all rendered comprehensible to every intellect, and all commending themselves to every conscience. Let these characteristics be transfused into the laws of a community ; let these lovely features be instamped on its statute book ; and will it not be a highly favored, will it not be an excellently governed community ? …