The Welfare of a Government Considered

Mr. HUNN's SERMON ON

And also in Judah Things went well.

George Wyllys Secr.

An Election SERMON.

—And also in JUDAH things went well.

REHOBOAM, whose History we have in this, and the two preceding Chapters, was a weak and impolitick Prince; he came to the Throne with a Mind imbued with arbitrary and tyrannical Notions and Principles of Government, received from his young and unexperienced Counsellors, to the Rejection of the good and solid Advice given him by the grave Senators, who had been long versed in the Art of Government, and were well acquainted with the wholsom Maxims of Policy: And he stands upon Record with the blemished Character of one, who did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD, ver. 14.

By his ill Government, and his other impious Practices, he bro't many Calamities upon his People, both as the natural and moral Effect thereof, and the just Judgment of Heaven. p. 2I shall not enlarge upon his History or Character, but only take Notice that as a Punishment of his Sins, and the Sins of his People (because they had transgressed against the LORD, v.2) the King of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and reduced them to great Distress; which together with the Reproof of the Prophet SHEMAIAH, brought them in some measure to a Sense of their Sins and made them humble themselves before GOD; which very much turned the Course of things; the Wrath of the LORD turned from him that he would not destroy him altogether. GOD promised likewise that he would not destroy this People, but grant them some Deliverance, and that his wrath should on be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of SHISHAK, v.7.

NOW it was at this Juncture, that the Sacred History informs us, And also in Judah things went well. These are the words which I have chosen for my Text at this Time, and may, I think, be a proper Introduction to a Discourse on the Welfare of a Government in general. And though I am not Studied in the Rules of Government or the civil and religious Rights of a People, so as to treat this great & weighty Subject, with that Clearness that it deserves, (alas! I find my self very unequal to the Task) yet since Providence has called me to Speak before this honourable Auditory, I shall attempt the Subject, as the most proper, I could think of p. 3upon this Occasion; And also in Judah things went well.

p. 3THE Method I propose is this, viz.

I. TO consider when things may be said to go well with a People; or, attempt to shew in several Instances wherein the Welfare of a Government consists.

II. APPLY the whole to the present Occasion.

1. shall consider when things may be said to go well with a People; or attempt to shew in several Instances wherein the Welfare of a Government consists.

I shall not confine my self to those particular Instances mentioned in this Chapter, as the Reason or Cause of things going well in Judah at that Time; but consider the Matter more at large, and endeavour by divine Assistance, to trace out the Causes and Reasons of the Happiness & Welfare of a Government, from the Scripture Account in General, from the Nature and Dependance of things, and the Circumstances of Mankind.

1. ONE thing that has a mighty Influence, to the Welfare of a People or Government, is the, flourishing of RELIGION. As far as Ignorance, p. 4Prophaneness and Immortality prevail in a Nation or Country, so far are they, removed from Happiness, and so far are they wretched, & miserable, & poor, & blind, & naked. 'Tis Righteousness that exalteth a Nation, but Sin is a Reproach to any People, Prov. 14.34. 'Tis a Reproach that can never be wip'd off, but by GOD's forgiving Grace, which attends true Repentance, and an effectual thorough Reformation.

'TIS then that the almighty GOD returns to a People that had departed from him, scatters impending Calamities, delights to do them good, engages his Kind, Allpowerful and Allwise Providence for their Defence, their Blessedness and Glory; and in a word, keeps them as the Apple of His Eye.

SIN has a natural Tendency to depress and keep a People low, besides the terrible Judgments of Heaven which by GOD's positve Appointment are entail'd to it. And Piety and Vertue, Faith unfeigned, and true Holiness have a native Tendency to pomote the true Intersts of a People, and moreover to engage the Favour of the blessed GOD to them, and render them meet for a store of Supernumerary Blessings. If we did but know and consider the infinite Plagues and extreme Curses, temporal and spiritual to a Person or People, to a Nation or Land, that are wrapt p. 5up in the Bowels of Sin, we should fly from it as from Hell, and never rest impenitent, nor cease begging and pleading at the Throne of Grace, till we had obtained Forgiveness thro' the Blood of the Redeemer: And if we did but duly consider the true Worth & Excellence of Religion, and the innumerable Blessings contained in it, both publick and private both for Time and Eternity, we could not but be enamoured of so much Beauty and Loveliness, we could not but with the greatest Earnestness seek to be possest of a Pearl of such inestimable Value, we could not cease crying after Knowlege, and lifting up our Voice for Understanding until GOD shall come and rain down Righteousness upon us, and make us an holy People. Whoever therefore considers the proper & genuine Influence of Religion, to the making Men temperate and pure, sincere and upright, patient and forgiving, kind and charitable, meek and humble, pious & devout, and in a word happy themselves and Blessings to one another, must acknowlege the Truth of this great Doctrine, that the Welfare of a People or Government, consists very much in the flourishing of Religion. And whoever considers likewise the many additional Blessings of Heaven, which commonly attend a People when Religion flourishes must confess it a Confirmation of this Truth.