Election Sermon

MR. FOSTER's ELECTION SERMON.

COMMONWEALTH of MASSACHUSETTS. In the House of Representatives, May 26, 1790.

Attest.

GEORGE R. MINOT, Clerk.

AN ELECTION SERMON.

BY ME PRINCES RULE, AND NOBLES, EVEN ALL THE JUDGES OF THE EARTH.

IN compliance with the laudable example of our pious Ancestors, on such joyful anniversary occasions as this day presents us with—we have assembled in the House of GOD, to offer our devout praises to him for what he has done for them, and for us, their children; to seek his direction and blessing upon our Political Fathers here present, in the discharge of the important trust reposed in them, and his smiles on this confederated rising Republic.

AND as it has fallen to one of the least of the Ambassadors of CHRIST, to perform so essential a part of the exercise of the day, it will not be expected that he turn Statesman in this sacred place, or wander into all the affairs of government: But, in compliance with his character as a Minister, make such observations from the sacred text, p. 6as may be profitable for direction and encouragement, that the men of GOD here present, may be furnished to every good work.

THIS book was pen'd by King Solomon—a man famed for wisdom and understanding throughout all the East.

THAT BEING who has an easy access to the human mind, appeared to him in Gibeon, in a vision of the night; and GOD said, ask what I shall give thee? And his request, "give therefore thy servant an understanding heart," was so acceptable, that GOD gave him wisdom above all that were before him in Jerusalem; for the people soon perceived "that the wisdom of GOD was in him to do judgment."

IN these Proverbs of the wise man, we have the comprehensive duties we owe to GOD, and the world, made plain and easy, and enforced with the most powerful motives. By folly, the Preacher would be understood to mean vice and wickedness—and by wisdom, grace and CHRIST.

IN the text, the person speaking is doubtless JESUS CHRIST, who by the Apostle, is called "the wisdom of GOD, and the power of GOD." "By me Princes rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the earth:" That is, by my Providence p. 7and appointment, they are advanced to rule and govern; and their government is merciful and righteous, happy and prosperous, by my council and assistance.

p. 7EVER since the apostacy, the blessed GOD, has pursued an uniform plan of grace, and government with the church, and the world. The merciful design of which, is to reduce to order, peace and happiness, his intelligent offspring.—To prosecute this design, he has sent into the world the "PRINCE of PEACE," and given him a commission for acts of ministry and grace—magistracy and government.

THE intervention of the new covenant, and the advent of JESUS its Mediator, gave birth to order and subordination in Heaven, and upon Earth.

IN Heaven there are thrones, dominions, principalities and powers, angels and arch-angels; and upon earth, princes, nobles, and judges—and CHRIST is Head over them all.

THE text leads us to speak of civil government, as ordained of GOD, in the hands of the Mediator; of civil rulers, as holding their commission and authority under CHRIST; of their duty and dignity as his Ministers, and of the duty and privilege of the people under their administration.

p. 8I. THAT civil government is ordained of GOD in the hands of the Mediator, the absolute necessity of order and government, for the existence and happiness of society, pleads its divine original: For without it; the affairs of mankind would fall into the utmost confusion and disorder.

THE nature of man, as a sociable creature, would no doubt, have led him to some sort of government, had sin never entered the world. But since sin has debased the noble nature of man, and spread itself through the whole world—both reason and revelation plead for government.

IT is not a matter of human prudence only, but of necessity and moral obligation: And being enjoined by him who rules in the kingdoms of mortal men, it is an important mean of delivering us from the evils of the apostacy; and designed to prepare us for the more encouraging restraints the gospel enjoins.

CIVIL government, then, is a branch of the tree of life, and founded in, and built upon that covenant, sealed in Heaven by the oath of GOD, and upon earth by the blood of CHRIST.

p. 8HE being commissioned by the Father to manage the great affairs of Empire, as well as of Zion.

p. 9"YET have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Zion."—"The government shall be upon his shoulders."

THE kingdom of CHRIST, where he rules by his word and spirit, is his Church, a spiritual kingdom. But his commission extends to the utmost ends of the earth.

"FOR the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, is to break in pieces all other kingdoms, and fill the earth."

HIS kingdom will outlive all other kingdoms, and swallow them up; for he must reign till he hath "put down all rule and all authority and power."

THIS implies that rule and authority among men, or which is the same thing, civil government, is a divine appointment, and that it is put into the hands of the Mediator to rule and govern the world. For when the great and important ends for which he received his mediatorial kingdom, shall be accomplished▪ he will put down both ministry and magistracy.

II. THAT civil rulers hold their commission and authority under CHRIST.

NOT that CHRIST has pointed out the form of government, or the persons to rule and govern; p. 10in this sense his "kingdom is not of this world." But christianity enforces the law of nature; and has confirmed the several constitutions of states and kingdoms, and called our obedience to the higher powers, as the gospel finds them.

THE mode of government, and persons to govern, are submitted to the wisdom of men, in pursuance of a divine ordinance, that second causes might operate. It being the method of GOD to carry on the designs of his government in this world, by the instrumentality of subordinate Agents. When therefore, a people unite in a form of government, and choose persons to rule and govern them, and pledge their faith to be obedient to, and support the government, "though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth thereunto▪"