An Intolerant Spirit Hostile to the Interests of Society

r ~ "" .,,,,, ,, .^ "if M ♦ 111 g| V IN TME CUSTODY OP THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. - * ^aaBSHaL m k ■M ~ .1! MinihyBflllllll IT ■*" T£S&ryf ^^ A/'? W/Cy 7?^* c6&>/r /?^C?7C&6 V 't 3n intolerant Spirit, Ijostile to tlje interests of gwirtp. DELIVERED BEFORE HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN BROOKS, ESQ, GOVERNOR, HIS HONOR WILLIAM PHILLIPS, ESQ. • LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE HONORABLE COUNCIL, AND THE TWO HOUSES COMPOSING THE liEUISTLATYmE OT MASSAC H\J SETTS. ON THE MAY 29, 1822. BY REV. D. HUNTINGTON. BOSTON : REPRINTED FOR B. RUSSELL, PRINTER TO THE STATE, BY RUSSELL AND GARDNER. 1822. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, In House of Representatives, May 29, 1822, ORDERED, That Messrs. Keyes, of Concord, Billing's, of Boston, and Phelps, of Hadley, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. Dan Huntington, and return him the thanks of this House, for the Discourse delivered by him, before thesslj this day ; and request a copy for the press. Attest, P. W. WARREN, Clerk. SERMON. ACT9....CHAPTER XVIII.... VERSES XIV AND XV. ;i If it were a matter of wrong, or wicked lewdness, 0 ye Jews4 reason would that I should hear with you : But if it be a question of words, and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will he no judge of such matters." THESE are the words of Gallio, the deputy of Achaia, one of the old Grecian States, then a province of the Roman Empire. The Apostle Paul was now before him, in Corinth, the capital of the province, under an accusation brought against him by the Jews. He was charged with worshipping God contrary to the law. The charge was. in connexion with his having recently become a convert to the faith of the Gospel. From having been a proud persecuting Pharisee, he becomes an enlightened Christian. Commissioned from on high, he goes forth into the world, a preacher of righteousness. In the cities which he visits, to carry the glad tidings of the Gospel, he occasionally meets with the Jews, his "brethren and kinsmen, according to the flesh." His conversion to Christianity, does not make him a stranger to them. He does not avoid their society, neither does he conceal his sentiments. Very frankly he expresses to them his convictions and his hopes. He appeals to his conduct, as the test of his sincerity. So far as they are disposed to accord to him the civilities of life, he accepts them. He takes up his residence with them : he labors with them, in his occupation : he goes with them "to the house of God in company," occasionally addressing their assemblies, on the weighty subjects "pertaining to life and godliness." While he avails himself of their hospitality and their fellowship, however, he does not forfeit his independence as a man, nor does he forget his message as an Apostle. The theme of his preaching is "Jesus and the resurrection :?: Jesus Christ, the Son of God: the hope of the sinner; in whom, as he often repeats, "we have redemption through his blood," and the animating hope of "life everlasting." His instructions " distil as the dew," and drop as "the small rain upon the tender herb." The desired effect is produced. Many of the Corinthians, both Jews and Greeks hearing, believe and are baptized. It is noticed by his former friends with a jealous alarm. Soon does he perceive among them, the consequences that too commonly follow disappointed ambition and wounded pride. Their indignation at length bursts forth, in acts of open violence. The banners of a religious warfare are unfurled. The usual engines of persecution are brought into operation. The Apostle is denounced. His name is cast out as evil. The doors of their synagogues are closed against him. The harshest epithets are applied. He is "a babler;" "a setter forth of strange Gods ;" " a fellow that persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law." Whereever he goes, he is met by the Jews, "stirring up the people against him." Not having been convinced, however, by their arguments, nor duped by their flatteries, he is not now to be awed by their menaces. Alluding to their conduct, afterwards, in his epistle to the inhabitants of this very city, he says, "Wherein soever any is bold, I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am 1. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I am more." He ventures still to think for himself, and to teach as he believes. Such being the nature of his crime, he is arraigned before the Proconsul of the province. Gladly would lie have availed himself of such an opportunity, at ouce for attesting to his innocence of the charge brought against him ; and for exhibiting to $ those around him, as he had hesore done, in similar instances, the consolations of the religion of Christ.

But when now ahout to opeu his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong, or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you : but if it be a question of words, and of names, and of your law, look ye to it, for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment seat." The story is instructive, showing us that there is a disposition in men, to control the opinions of their fellow men : The means used to accomplish the object: And that such a disposition, wherever it exists, is not only hateful in itself, but hostile to the interests of social happiness. It deserves attention, as one of the opening acts of a scene, in which, for ages, the human character has been unfolding, in events disastrous to society beyond description, and which, we trust in God, is now drawing to a close. …