A Sermon Delivered Before His Excellency Levi Lincoln, Governor

I U& izsst. zq. CO HARVARD COLLEGE ^ DELIVERED BEFORE HIS EXCELLENCY LEVI LINCOLN, GOVERNOR, HIS HONOR THOMAS L. WINTHROP, LIEUTENANT GOVERJIOR^ TtiE HdN; CX)UNCIL, THE SENATE, AND JKOUSE OP EEPRESENTATIVES OP THE COMMONWEALTH OP MASSAOHUSBTTB, ON THE DAT OF GENERAL ELECTION^ )»AT 87, 1889. BY WILLBUR FISK, A. M. Principal of the Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham. Bofiiton: TRUE AND GREENE, STATE PRINTERS* yi.r/... eommontDfalti^ of fSUinnat^untttn. IN SENATE, Mat 28th, 1829. Ordered, That Messrs. Train and Lewis be a Committee to wait upon the Rev. Willbur Fisk, to present him the thanks of tiie Senate for his Sermon delivered yesterday before his Excellency the Governor, the Honourable Council, and both branches of the Legislature, and request a copy for the press. Attest, PAUL WILLARD, Clerk. IN SENATE, JuwE 10th, 1829. Ordered, That the Clerk be directed to procure the additional number of one thousand copies of the Rev. Will bur Fisk's Election Sermon, for the use of the Members of the Legislature. Attest, PAUL WILLARD, aef*. SERMON. 1. PETER : 4, 7. BUT THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND ; BE YE THERBFOEB SOBEsty AND WATCH UNTO PAATER. The circumstances of the public religious teacher are unlike those of most public speakers. These, in most cases, have their subjects specifically marked, and their topics of discourse distinctly proposed. Not so the gospel minister. He has, indeed, but one object in view, — the moral and religious improvement of his hearers ; but to accomplish this object he may draw his materials from heaven, earth and hell. Like the great apostle to the gentiles, he determines to know but one thing among the people — " Jesus Christ and him crucified," — but around this proposition as a common nucleus, gather all the truths of revealed religion. This contains in itself, directly or impliedly, all the doctrines and precepts, the admonitions and promises of the Bible. In one discourse, however, but a small portion of this vast field can be brought into view. Hence the necessity of selecting such a portion as is best adapted to the circumstances of the audience addressed. The question then arises, — ^What subject is best suited to this audience ? To answer this question satisfactorily, we must enquire what is the design of a religious discourse and devotional exercises, on an occasion like this ? Is it a mere indication that the christian religion is recognized in the principles of our governmenti and by the great body of our citizens, and therefore, when we induct men into the principal offices of the State, God and his religion must have a passing compliment ? If this were all, then the shorter this compliment, the better : and the subject selected, and the time occupied, should be such as would least divert attention from the civic honors and ceremonies of the day. But this is not all — the reason of these religious exercises is founded in the relation of man to God — in his known proneness to forget God, and in the evident need of religious influence and divine aid in the responsible duties of administering civil government. Hence the object sliould be to impress deeply upon the memory and upon the heart, the principles and obligations of our holy religion. — ^While the flag of our country is waving in the breeze, and the rush and the acclamations of thousands give interest and animation to the occasion, it is very proper that the banner of the cross should also be iinfurled, the voice of the multitude be hushed, and the civil ceremonies suspended, that we may gather around the altar of God to acknowledge, " Thou God seest us," to learn our dependence, and to become deeply impressed with our high responsibility to the court of Heaven. It is for this end that your speaker claims the attention of this audience — claims it not that he, or those of his profession, may share in the political honor§ of the republic, but that the civil officers of the Commonwealth may share in the wholesome instructions and binding motives of the gospel he preaches. The more common course pursued on such occasions is, to point out the duties and qualifica- ^ons of rulers, and to discanc on the blessings of a good government, and the freedom and prosperity of our public institutions. These are appropriate, but they are already better understood than the means by which they are secured, or the motives by which they are enforced. That preaching which is merely didactic, under such circumstances as the present, and before men who know their duty so well, if it should not be actually tedious and irksome, promises little profit. If this audience should be told that rulers must be good men, " fearing God and hating covetousness," that " righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people," that in proportion as men are high in office, their example and influence will be more extensively felt, and that therefore they owe it to their country and their God to be upright and virtuous, — all this would be important truth, but it might not, under existing circumstances, be the most profitable. To cure the evils of life, and to promote righteousness among men, the work should be commenced at the proper place, and be enforced by proper motives. The religion of the Bible aims at the inner man, and wars with the elements of moral evil in the heart, where alone they can be successfully combatted. And to do this effectually, it arrays the transient character of earth and earthly objects, in striking contrast with the eternal and immutable realities of the world to come. …