The Character of the Candidates for Civil Government

Mine Eyes, shall be upon the Faithful of the Land, that they may dwell with me.

THrough the tender Mercies of Almighty God, being returned, on this Anniversary, and great Occasion, to this principal Seat of the Government, we are met together in this his House, pursuant to the laudable Institution and Usage of our devout Predecessors, to give Thanks to his Holy Name, to view the Beauty of the Lord, and inquire as in his Holy Temple.

That I might properly and faithfully perform this part of Divine Service, assigned to me, by the late Honourable House of REPRESENTATIVES, I have read these Words of the inspir'd Royal Psalmist, very naturally leading us to the Business of the Day: nor will it be thought unfit immediately to apply p. 6our selves thereto; since for this Purpose we are called together: Especially having so excellent a Teacher and Guide, to assist our Meditation as this Royal Prophet, who furnisheth the entire Design, and very much the Materials of our Discouse, in the particulars which compose and compleat the Character of the Persons, whom he designed to take into the Administration of the Civil Government in general, especially in Council. This Honourable and Great Assembly will therefore be pleased to allow me, with some Explanations, to refresh their Minds and Memories thus seasonably, with the recital of those things, with which this admirable good Ruler did his own; that, like him, you may more fully discharge your high Office and Trust of electing and fixing the most eminent Persons in the important Office of His MAJESTY's Council. In order whereto, you will make proper Observations on the People of the Land, that you may discern and promote the faithful in it. It may be a Circumstance worthy of a particular and close Thought, viz. The time when this Psalm was compos'd, with the special Occasion thereof; about which, tho' there has been a different Sentiment among Expositors, some conceiving it was before he was invested with the Royal Power; Yet others, more agreeably and consistently with the Psalm, conclude he had been in Possession of the Crown, and was now advanced over p. 7all Israel, having in the course of Providence, experienc'd a great Variety of Prosperity and Adversity. And if it be thus, certainly it was but a very becoming Acknowledgement and Return made to the great Ruler of the World, in whose Hands his own times were, and by whom his Changes were ordered, to go into the general Resolve he here makes, which is the Imitation of the Divine Clemency and Chastisement to him and his People, by filling up his own Administration with Mercy and Judgment, as Occasions therefor should 〈…〉 particularly to form a Scheme and Method of Behaviour and Management of personal and publick Conduct, in his Close◊, Family, the Church, Court and Kingdom, to the end Piety and Vertue might revive, & a general if not universal Reformation be happily accomplished.

p. 7But because he needed COUNSELLOURS to advise, and other Officers to assist him, he resolves on the turning Character of the Persons on whom he would fix his Eye, and lay Authority, as the effectual, successful Instruments of so great & good a Work: which general Circumstance and Occasion is increas'd by what is supposed had lately occur'd, at a time when he was moving the Ark, the Residence of God, to his own City and House; for Uzza, who beheld the Ark trembling and tottering, contrary to the express Prohibition of God, touch'd it and dy'd; which gave Occasion to this good p. 8and zealous King to think of the divine Mercy and Judgment, and to form a Method of preparing himself, his House, Court & Kingdom, for the return of their God. And what other could he have judg'd God or Man did expect from him. On which, I need not say to this Audience, how applicable, the great Variety and Succession of merciful and afflictive Providences to this Province, have rendred these Words to our selves at this Day. In general, on the Text, I would observe the Character here given of the Candidates for Government and Council: For tho' it be in a single Term, is very comprehensive, as the original Word, translated faithful, imports. And indeed Fidelity and Truth, more strictly taken, are very great Vertues; much more when considered as attended with all others. These were the Objects of the King's Eyes, which, tho' the Translators have taken the liberty to turn only forward, doubtless the Reason of the thing leads to the past and present as well as future time. For, without Question, he had long since tho't on the matter; his present thought was upon it; and for the same Reason ever should be. And as he had frequent Opportunity to see his People, at their publick Solemnities, & in his own Progress and Circuit, he would single out the best qualified, investing them with proper Power and Authority.

p. 9Agreeably whereto, at this time, we may do these following things.

I. Unfold the Character here given, descriptive of the proper Candidates for Election.

p. 9II. Consider the proper Business and Office of the Electors, described by having their Eyes on these Faithful of the Land.

III. Present some Arguments and Motives, to induce hereto, that they may prefer the Faithful alone. And finally,

IV. Make some more particular Application on the whole.

I. Let us open the general Character here given, of the Persons proper to be elected.

In general, They should be faithful and true Men; for they stand oppos'd to the Vicious, and Ill-qualified, whom he Names with design to reject and exclude them. 'Tis observed, the Persons, whom he resolves not to employ, are not the most scandalous and gross Sinners; for the putting such into Authority was too bare-fac'd to be done in any Government, where Vertue and Order have any tolerable Influence: but Persons of a far less undesireable Character; who yet, by their real Wickedness, and secret Designs and Practices, were p. 10unfit for a publick Trust. Now the Faithful must design a Character the reverse of both these: and that the Psalmist so meant, is very evident on the bear reading of the Psalm. They must be Persons of real good Abilities, of apparent and visible Vertue; not grossly Vicious, such as Drunkards, Adulterers, Fornicators, Murtherers, Blasphemers, and prophane Swearers. For it would be an Insult on God Almighty for such to represent Him. They should be Persons of real and inward Vertue, as well as apparently fober, just and good. To which we must add, they were to be very much of King David's Spirit, Ability and good Life; wearing his own Character. This appears from his Design in promoting them, which was, as he expresses it, to dwell with him: which very good Expositors interpret, to sit in his Council, advising, and assisting in the Administration; so that the particulars he mentions of himself, as well as those pertaining to such whom he renounces, as unfit for Office, are justly to be considered in the Description. I shall therefore, agreeably hereto, mention two Things which generally enter into it.