The Gracious Presence of God, the Highest Felicity and Security of Any People

In the following verse the Psalmist uses the meta- ‘phors of @ rier and streams. By the river and . streams is represented the gracious presence and blessing of the Lord. Spiritual blessings are many times described under the metaphor of waters: Thus it is declared by the prophet, Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem.t+ In Ezekiel’s vision, waters are represented as issuing out from under the threshold of the +Lord’s House, and increasing to a deep river, emblematical of the divine spirit in his holy influence, and the gracious presence of God. Agreeably to this figure it is said, Iwill pour water upon him that is thirsty ane floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.t—A stream of spiritual blessings will make glad the city of God. This city is * Hag. ii. 6, 7. + Zech. xiy. 8. Isa. xliv. 3. 270064 8 ELECTION SERMON. Zion; the holy place of the tabernacles.of the Most Llgh. God is in the mest of her. Here he appears in the glory of his protection, of his mighty power and exceedingly rich grace. She shall not be moved. Jehovah is tohis people, by his gracious pres: ence, @ place of broad rivers and streams.* They dwell on high, their place of defence is the munitions of rocks. : From this view of the passage will arise this gene. ral doctrine, that the gracious presence of God i is the highest felicity and security of any people. In the illustration of the subject, it will be proper to shew in what respects God may be considered as. graciously present with a people, and then contem. plate their felicity and security. oa God is graciously present with a people, ~~ — I. In giving them godly crvin RULERS. By the operation of second causes men are exalted to rule over a people. ‘They may be raised by real worth, and the wise and unanimous choice of their fellow citizens, to guide the affairs of state. With out seeking to obtain them, they may rise to dignifiz ed stations, and enter with diffidence upon the dis! charge of their public functions. They who reflect neither deeply nor religiously may view these, as events in the ordinary course of things, and resulting merely from human policy. The primary cause may lie hidden from their sight.—But he who makes * Isa, xxxiii. 21. ELECTION SERMON. 9 the Bible his resort, and depends on this for light, will be led to the rational conclusion, that an invisible hand operates inthese high concerns, with well directed and successful force: that the elevation of rulers is one branch of that divine Government, which con_-trols every event, great and small.—In extraordinary _ tases, in which, contrary to all human expectation, men rise to distinguished stations, these principles - are readily admitted. In revolutions highly conducive to the liberties and happiness of mankind, if an individual appear with shining and commanding talents, acquire an ascendency in the hearts of his countrymen, and by his valor, his wisdom and maxims of sound policy, lead them to peace, to happiness and glory, ‘the divine hand is eratefully acknowledged: The agency of Heaven is allowed to be written clear: ly, as with the beams of the sun. To extend it to all cases, when things proceed in their usual and regular course, is, in the minds of some, attended with more difficulty. But let it be considered, that as on the one hand, weak and wicked ruiers are a rod, a scourge in the hand of God, to execute his wrath and to punish a refractory people, so on the other, those who are wise and virtuous, are his appointed mean of conveying innumerable and immense blessings to the obedient. That they are thus to be viewed, we are abundantly taught in the volume of inspiration. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.* Saith the Lord concerning the *Proy. viii. 15, 16. 10 ELSCTION SERMON, proud King of Assyria, OAssyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. Lwill send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give hima charge to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit, he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so.* Ofan illustrious prince, divinely called to be an eminent blessing and deliverer to God’s chosen people, itis written, Zhus saith the Lora to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him ; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut: Iwill go before thee, and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron :—Wor Jacob my seryant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name; I have surnamed thee, though thouhast notknown me.{ Cyrus was the chosen instrument, to capture the city Babylon and set at liberty the house of Israel, at the end of the captivity of seventy years. !

That wisdom and virtue, which are the essential qualifications of good. Rulers, are derived immedi. ately from the fountain of all wisdom and all virtue. Jehovah himself implants in the heart those divine principles, and diffuses in the understanding that light, which constitute a wise, and great, and good ruler. He gives those dispositions, as well as talents,. © sas.) 5506.7; yp Uses esky. 2, gee ELECTION SERMON. ae which adorn exalted stations, and without which we have no reasonable ground to believe that men will rule with honor to themselves, or real benefit toa land. …