Sermon Delivered Before the Vermont Legislature

‘SERMON, DELIVERED Cee ’ ed. i eA HIS EXC ERLENCY, THE GOVERNOR, His HONOR tw THE LIEUT. GOVERNOR, THE . HONORABLE COUNCIL, . AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF VERMONT At Montpelier, ‘October 13, 1809 ; z BEING THE DAY OF — >) GENERAL ELECTION. r % em OS eee BY hay he HAYNES, Ve PASTOR OF” f K “RANDOLPH, (vVERMONT.) a _~. ®® PRINTED BY SERENO WMCHT, . H22: S g) STATE PRINTER. * Ao a axiltcnm—----———___- 1.1809... a, ray > if . J tag - mi, xi Verme “2s J , zy | * sity ie wis lon SS ASGMO730 Mr. Hercainsox, on motion and leave, introduced a resolution, which was read and adopted, as follows : In Generar Assemsiy, Oct. 13, 1809. Resorven, That a committe of three members from this house be appointed to wait on the Rey. Srivanvus Harness, and return the thanks of this house for his sermon delivered on the second Thursday of Oct. inst. before the two houses of the legislature, and request a copy thereof for the press. The committee appointed to rdurn the thanks of the house to Vs er Sylvanus Haynes for bis sermon delivered on election i» aud request @ copy thereof for the press, made report, ant: Mr. Haynes will furnish a copy of the sermon jx the Ordered, That the clerk transmit a deli ered on the 12 inst. by the Rev. § Ws args - 2% i requesting him to furnish this house eith one thous Extracts from the Journals, ‘ Aitest. W. D. SMITE, Clerk. bu LPO? A) i? Ve tae A sermon : Proy. tiv. 34. Righteoutness exaltech a nation 2 but sin is a reproach to any people. HE passage of holy writ which we have selected as i the ground of our meditations upon this import «nt oy. occasion, are'the words of the wisest man, and probably ” of the greatest statesman who ever'lived. He is by way ~ of eminence called Te wise man. And although we find in him a mixed character, and a melancholy instance of human fullibility ; yet virtue and piety finally gained the ’ aseendency, and held the sceptre in his heart and life. » Having proved all things, both as it respected his domes- ~ tic concerns, and theaffairs’of state, he concludes, (and his conclusion is’ sanctioned by the voice of revelation) ' that righteousness and that ‘alone exalteth a nation, and ~ renders it respectable, and that sin is a reproach to any “ipeople. He found that any good form of government was established only in righteousness. Righteousness reigning in a nation puts an honor up- “ on ity and adds.a blessing to its) A righteous adminisivation of government, impartial equity between the citizens ; ‘ty religion, not mutilated nor degraded by the imposition of human inventions and institutes, nor oppressed with persecution ; the, profession oe practice of virtue ; the protecting, and preferring of virtnous men : these things exalt a nation. ‘They strengthen and confirm the govern. rent, they elevate the people’s minds, and fit them for the favor of the Most High. While on the contrary, vice renders a people despicable among their neighbors. The ancient Jews were often instances of both parts of this observation. They were great when they were good, bur when they departed trom God, they were insulted and trampled on. Our exordium naturally leads us I. To endeavor to describe that righteousness w’ axulteth a nation, with its blessed effects. Vermont Historical Society yn oe - in saying that it approaches the nearest to perfection of a- < We shall ended¥or to point out some of the sins ich are a reproach to any people, with their evil tendency. Then scme improvement, and some occasional addresses will close’the discourse. Pursuant to the proposed order, we are I. To describe that righteousness which exalteth a nation, with its blessed effects. * That which les at the foundation of all national right. eousness, is a good constitution, which secures the equal rights of every citizen. And we are happy to reflect that through the tender mercy of our God on us, we are favored with the best that ever fallen men enjoyed. To say it is perfect, would perhaps be too great a compliment to the wisdom and goodness of American sages. But we feel safe ny we have ever seen. And, the better cur national constitution is, the greater will be the guilt of those who violate it, or seek to overthrow it. And if jealousy and calumny against the federal constitution are suffered to | blow their malignant and contagious venom through the states, we have reason to fear that the poison will prove epidemical, and its effects, anarchy and civil war. From — these considerations, we are led to look to our legislators — as the supporters of our valuable constitution, expecting — that the statutes they may enact will be congenial to its © native design. ‘ug Pursuant to this important interest, a good constitue tion, and a code of just laws in each state, form a conspicuous part of national righteousness. Indeed, by th laws of nations, we form an opinion of their righteousness as bodies politic. And although I would not be guilty a the arrogance of attempting to dictate the superior wig dom of this venerable body in political matters, yet I be leave to mention, and freely express my thoughts on of point which has sometimes been introduced into the civ, code 3 the making of legal establishments in matters off ligion. And I flatter myself that I may do this witli, cility at this time without being justly impeached of) dertaking to instruct our political fathers in their funetié al duties, because at their session in 1807, the Jast re of this evil were expunged from the statute, and I no reason to think the present legislators will be inclu to introduce them again. …