A Sermon Delivered at Montpelier, October 18, 1808

SERMON, DELIVERED AT MONTPELIER, OCTOBER 18, 1808 ; BEFORE HIS HONOR THE LIEUT. GOVERNOR, THE HONORABLE COUNCIL, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE STATE OF VERMONT. ————EEEO) sD: Oa BY TILTON EASTMAN, A.M. PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN RANDOLPH. ———e) tt 9? Qe j PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATURE. RANDOLPH, (VERMONT.) PRINTED BY SERENO WRIGHT, STATE PRINTER. als of the people. And nothing can be more evi-) dent, than that the morals of the community will) be very confiderably effected by the influence of/ those who are concerned in the administration of) government. f The constitutions adopted by these states, for the) fecurity of their natural rights, and the promotion) of national peace and profperity, we fay, with confidence, will ever be the boast of all friends to civil) and religious liberty. But, we should do well to” remember, that the wife institutions of a Lycurgus © and a Solon could not preferve the republics of” Greece from ruin, after they became infected with — the vices and luxury of the east. The fad effects of © degeneracy, as exhibited in the overthrow of free “~ states, in ages past, will not fail to attract the notice ~ of patriotic statefmen and legiflators, at the present day. They will learn the folly of trusting to bills of rights, or codes of laws infcribed on paper, to preferve the privileges and immunities of freemen. They will fee that the promotion’ of moral and focial virtue is an obje&t which demands the ferious ~ attention of all, who are entrusted with the power of legiflating for a free people. The utmost care and vigilance, in attending to the rights and interests of the community, cannot infure profperity to a state, so long as vice, that deadly foe to liberty, is suffered to spread its baneful influence through the bedy politic. Among those who renounce, as fic.” tious, the sacred institutions of christianity, we find but few, who will openly condemn the morality of the scriptures, or fay that its effects on society are not falutary. The light of nature, in which some place much confidence, is fufliciently clear to show the connexion between wickedness and mifery, both in individuals and in states. A view of this ferious truth must fuggest to legiflators the importance of fach ordinances as have a tendency to control or regulate the natural propenfities, as well as the overt actions of mankind. And to the fame extent that exertions for the attainment of this end are fuccefsful, it may be expected that the bleflings of liberty and independence will be rendered fecure. But, it is not enough, that laws are enacted for the fuppreflion of vice and the encouragement of virtue. In addition to this, a strict and impartial enforcement of them is of the first importance. When the ordinances of society are trampled upon, with impunity, by the lawless and disobedient, all authority is brought into contempt. ‘The magistrate is no longer ‘ a terror to evil-doers.” Men devoid of moral principle very readily contract habits of infubordination, which threaten the fubversion of focial order. Itis vain to expect, that those who treat with contempt the duties which devolve on them, in confequence of the relations they fustain to the Almighty, will long regard those obligations which are of a nature merely political or civil. Admitting the‘correcinefS of these obfervations, it will be perceived, that faithfulness in magistrates, whose bufiness it is to maintain the honor of the laws, is eflential to the peace and wellbeing of the state. On them it devolves to fee that the laws are respected : in difcharging their duty, they will not inquire what vices are popular, and of courfe not eafily fupprefled, and resolve to wink at them, through fear of facrificing their popularity. They will look at the welfare of others, not at their private interest, while bearing the sword of justice. They will confider, that they exercise authority under God, while ruling over men, and that to countenance or tolerate difrefpect for any of the ordinances of men, which are defigned for the promotion of virtue, is to defpise the Author of all government. Magistrates cannot be too _our charatters, habits, manners and opinions. In fensible of their obligation to fupport the character 7 which an infpired writer gives to those, who are or- ~ dained of God, to difpenfe justice to men. , “ For ¥ rulers,” fays he, “ are not a terror to good works, © but to the evil. Wilt thou then be afraid of the | praise of the fame.” “ Butif thou do that which is © evil; be afraid ; for he beareth not the sword in vain ; for he is the munijter of God, a revenger to ex- ‘ ecute wrath upon him that doth evil.” a. Of all the laws ever enacted by God or man, | none has ever operated so forcibly as that of exam- — ple. And the example of those, who are raifed above the ordinary rank, will operate the moit pow- _ erfully. It has often been remarked, that in the ty- ¥ rannical governments of Europe, corruption has had its origin at court, and from thence spread its pestilent influence through the nation, and infected all orders of the community. This appears to be the natural courfe of things. Pride difpofes us to look up to our fuperiors for 2 model by which to form this way, ‘ folly is fet in great dignity,’ and true wifdom regarded as athing of nought. Too many are ready to excule irregularities in their fuperiors, which they would detest in those, whom they have been accustomed to confider as their inferiors. We are more inclined to attach worth to rank and fortune, which are eafily seen, than to real merit, which is lefs ostentatious, and often concealed from the view of fuperficial obfervers. …