Election Sermon

SERMON, DELIVERED ON THE DAY OF GENERAL ELECTION, AT MONTPELIER, OCTOBER 42, 4818, BEFORE THE HONORABLE; LEGISLATURE OF VERMONT. BY HENRY DAVIS, D. D.. |° PRESIDENT OF MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE. Snonreeresvocenevessast Published by order of the Legislatyre. MONTPELIER, Vi. PRINTED BY WALTON AND GOSS, OCTOBER, 4816, s9Oa9 SLILe pag Ow, es somes AN ; ELECTION SERMON. ROMANS, xiii. 4. For he beareth not the sword in vain ; for he is the minister of Gop, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Ar the period, when this epistle was written, Rome was sunk in gross idolatry, and her rulers were implacable enemies of the cross of Christ. The disciples of Jesus were despised and persecuted; and in many instances put to death by the most eruel and ignominious tortures. The descendants of Abraham boasted themselves of their distinction. Because Gop had favoured them with peculiar privileges ; had dictated to them a system of polity, both eivil and religious ; had anciently proclaimed himself their king ; and in later times governed them by rulers of his own appointment. They arrogated to themselves exemption fronr the ordinances ef men, and deemed it impious and degrading to submit to their authority. Many of them, after embracing christianity, entertained still the same views and dispositions. And of the Gentiles, also, who had reneunced their idols and devoted themselves to Gop, there were not a few, who vainly contended, that the spirityal wisdom, with which HE had endued them, was a sufficient directory for their conduct; and that they were under no obligation to render obedience toa government, which was imposed upon them by unbelieving rulers. By these means, their dangers and sufferings were inereased, and the Gospel of Christ was evil spoken of. In this chapter of his epistle, the Apostle shews them, ina manner elear and forcible, that their principles were erroneous, and their conduct reprehensible. He begins his address, by teaching them the foundation of civil government ;—that it is the ordinance of Gov. Not indeed that it is, as to its form, of divine appointment ; but that it is sanctioned by Gop as essential to man, both as to the security of his happiness, and to the performance of his duties ; and that its obligations are saered and universal. et every soul be subject unto the higher powers ; for there is no power but of Gon: the powers that be are ordained of Gop. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinauce of Gon, It is no matter then, what the genius or denomination of the government, or by what means established ;—what the religion of the ruler, or the religion of the subject. The obTigation to obedience is ever the same ; for it is founded in the will of God, and the constitution of man; and is indispensable to the being of society. But what, it will be asked, is the measure of this obedience P Or is it to be regarded as absolute and unconditional ? Does the Apostle enjoin upon his Roman brethren the doetrine of non resistance, and, by this means, legalize tyranny ? Does he establish a principle so abhorrent from reason and our feelings, that men are born to be slaves ? That the will of the magistrate is his only law? That subjects have ue method of redress under the most grinding oppression ? And that to resist the encroachments of rulers is, in all cireum-, stanees, to resist the ordinance.of God ? Doetrines and principles like these, are inconsistent with every enlightened sentiment of humanity, and direetly repugnant both te the precepts and spirit of the Gospel. They deliver aver the multitude to the eaprice and ambition of a few, and bind them in chains. That the Roman government was, at this period, immensely corrupt, and its subjects groaning under oppression, will not be questioned. But with this matter the Apostle had no eoncern. It was totally incompatible with the sacred objects of his mission. An interference, in the political concerns of the state, would haye awakened against the disciples of Christ a most deadly jealousy and resentment. It would have provoked a spirit of universal extermination, and brought down upon them, in a mauner still more dreadful, the vengeance of the civil arm. The founder of Christianity had expressly taught his followers that his kingdom is not of this world. The great pur- ‘pose of his manifestation in the flesh was, by the sacrifice of himself, to take away the sins of the world ; to reveal to man his true character and condition ; to increase and to enforce his motives to duly ; and to make him wise unto salvation.

While the primary and ostensible object of the Apostle, in addressing the Roman brethren in the eontext, was to make them acquainted with their relation to civil government, and the universal obligation of obedience to it, he indirectly, yet obvieusly, and forcibly, teaches the magistrate the nature and extent of his authority. Having first declared that all power emanates from God ; that civil government is ordained by God; and that every f. 6. Rugg, Bequest 1957 VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MONTPELIER, VERMONT soul is hound to render obedience toits he adds, For rulers are not a terror to good worlcs, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power ? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid s Jor he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God, a vevenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. — These considerations, it will be remembered, are urged by the Apostle on his brethren, as an additional argument for submission to the authority of the Roman magistrate. …