Election Sermon

State of Newhampshire. In the House of Representatives, June 3, 1790.

Sent up for concurrence,

Thomas Bartlett,

Speaker.

In Senate, the same day, read and concurred. Mr. Oliver Peabody, and Mr. Green, joined.

J. Pearson, Secretary.

Think upon me, my God, for good—according to all that I have done for this people.

THESE words are the pious ejaculation of one of the first patriots whose life adorns the page of history. They are the overflowings of a heart deeply impressed with a sense of his duty to God, and looking only to the Almighty for a reward for services done to a people, who were become dear by the ties of blood, and the bands of religion. They are the devout address of no less a personage than the truly illustrious Nehemiah, a favourite in the court of the king of Persia, and cupbearer, an office of honour and profit among the eastern nations.

A SHORT review of his history and virtues, will lead us to improve the text as the foundation of a discourse, in which we may present the true patriot only in the true christian—portray his virtues as a pattern for all—and make those observations which are proper upon the occasion of our assembling together and worshipping God on this day; and commending our country, our rulers, and ourselves, to his guidance, and holy protection.

NEHEMIAH shines distinguished, for his anxious solicitude for his countrymen—for his liberality— p. 4disinterestedness—courage—uniformity of deportment—and social virtues; but, above all, for his piety.

THE first of these immediately fired his soul to serve his friends and kindred, as soon as he understood the desolate state of Jerusalem; and he could not suppress his anxiety, even in the royal presence. The king, vigilant for the felicity of so noble and faithful an attendant, asks the cause of his dejection. The answer is full and sufficient—Why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? How unlike most of the world was this man! being in place and prosperity themselves, they forget their best friends and dearest relatives; they choose rather to rise upon the ruin of all these, than to lose the enjoyments of a gay court—the friendship of a chief magistrate—a splendid offi◊◊—lucrative post—and great wealth. Especially are they greedy to preserve these, where they have not the merit requisite to gain them, as rewards for virtuous and noble actions.

p. 4THE liberality of Nehemiah appeared upon all occasions, particularly when he supported the dignity of a governour, at a great expense, from his own privy purse; refusing to accept any reward from the nation—or even the sum which had been paid to those who had gone before him in that station: nay, he proceeded farther—and, vigilant p. 5over those around him, restrained his attendants from committing any plunder or spoil, or doing any injury to the people.

HIS courage was displayed, when he opposed and confronted Sanballat and Tobiah, who were exceedingly grieved when they heard that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel; and when he strengthened the people, by exhorting them to unite their hands in building the walls, that they might no longer be a reproach, and arming them and his servants:—So also he showed a fearless temper, when he gave a resolute answer to those who would wish to insinuate, that he meant to rebel, and set himself up for the sovereign of the country—The God of Heaven will prosper us, therefore; we his servants will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem. Hearing their scoffings—knowing their malice and secret plots, he set a watch—armed the labourers—and, like an experienced general, gave out his military orders. But a worse task, if possible, soon devolved upon him, and tried his valour; for amidst all his cares and exertions, there arose a murmuring among his own people, and they and their wives cried to him against their brethren the Jews, who took the advantage of their distresses, and strove to make themselves fortunes by involving them in debt, for even the necessaries of life, and then gaining a mortgage on their property, to bring their sons p. 6and their daughters into bondage—pushing their oppression to that extremity, as to put it totally out of their power to redeem themselves, because their lands and their vineyards were in the hands of other men: they had been transferred, so as to remove all possibility of extricating themselves from their embarrassments; leaving them nothing but poverty, despair, and slavery, for the future portion of their lives. Nehemiah, stung to the soul at hearing of all these evils, soon resolved what to do:—His honest heart, emboldened by a consciousness of having framed no laws that would screen such unbecoming conduct, and knowing that he had set a diametrically opposite example, encouraged him without delay to rebuke the usurious oppressors, and oblige them to bind themselves by a covenant, to restore their unjust gains; and lest they should attempt to evade or protract this reformation, he called the pries◊◊ and in their presence took an oath for the fulfilment, and shook his lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out and emptied: and all the congregation responded, Amen, and praised the Lord—and the people did according to this promise. But, that demon Avarice could not submit to be thus foiled; and these nobles of Judah entered into a secret correspondence with Sanballat, his enemy, and aided his artful machinations against Nehemiah—they spread lies and false rumours, and hired prophecies, wishing to terrify p. 7him by discovering his designs; nay, they had the effrontery to extol the good deeds of his enemies in his presence; and in return, like genuine sycophants, they carried his answers to their mischievous employers. But he passed firm and undaunted through all these—his big soul could not be shaken—his honest purposes could not be perverted:—And who, my brethren, has not seen such conduct, and such opposition arise, against almost every man, from the days of Nehemiah unto this hour, who has attempted to stem the torrent of vice, irreligion, and oppression, and lead others to the performance of those things which are right?