Election Sermon

is/E^ •'*Z J^jr^-- :t*-j^i ^' ^ ^lij^ THE GIFT OF - crucri^%<:...ezl..^^ A. A'nokcn>_ s:ljJin SERM0N; PREACHED AT^BOSTQN, HIS BiCELLENCY CHRISTOPHER.GORE," GOVER^rOB, HIS HONOR DAVID COBB, ^UT. GOVERJSrOR, TssiljgUNCIIMND i^ia[^i^E^.r : -' ■■■■'.■'»■; THE ANNUAL ELECTION, MAY 30, 1810. BY_ ELIJAH PARISH, D.D. Pasttr of the Church in Byejiekl. IfOSTON, JRINTED BY SCBSOKIPTtON. 1?10. a ULVA I.' .-5=n^5-5^^4 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, HOUSE OF REPSESEJVTATirES,1 Thursday, June 7jl8l0. 3 The ^Committee (Messrs Greene, Phelps,* Snd Moody, of S.) to whom was referred a motion to thank the*Rev. Dt. Par rish for his Sermon, and request a copy for the press, . ■, REPORTED— « " That the discourse alluded to is, in the opinion of your ^^^^ Committee, so replete with unjust accusations against the Government of the United Statqg, and those who administer the same ; and contains sentinaente so disrespectful of those to whom the People of this Commonwealth have entrusted the government thereof, couched in language most exceptionable'j that it would be highly derogatory to tl5 dignity of this House to request a copy of such a discourse for publication." This report was warmly debated, and at a late hour in the afternoon 'was accepted. yl''_ * JUr. Phelps, did not signjhe Report. ■■:. . [This Discourse is printed by private subscription. A ma. jority of the Honorable House of Representatives, against the usage of a century and a half, in like instances, not only refused to observe the customary form of civility, and ask a copy for the press ; but passed a resolution containing high charges against the Sermon, and purporting that the dignity of the House forbade the usual courtesy to the preacher. It is thought proper, the publick should have the means of judging, whether the falshood or the truth of the alledged' " accusations" in the discourse, and whether its "language,'' or its meaning, had the greafest inilueHce, in subjecting it to such- peculiar censure.']] nf^ m ELECTION SERMON. ..^. ROM. 13—4.

FOR HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD TO THEE FOR COOS. THE salutary control of government is ev6r}' wherevConspiciioHs. Order is the glory oF the uriiverse. The excellence of creation results from the subordination of the paits to the whole. Revolving worlds move in obedience to fixed laws. In civil government the people obey, the magistrates rule, order and security follow. Defence and aid are necessary to man ; because he is feeble and exposed to dangers. The goodness of God, therefore, has inspired us with social natures, that dispose us to yield and receive those favors, which are necessary to our being. Thence jirise those conventij>nSj wtich constitu|e civil society. Government, therefore, results from the nature of man and the goodness of God. The people require and the government promise protection. The government demand, and the people promise obedience. These obligations are mutual, whether they rest on usage or a written compact. Civil governmentj therefore, is an appointment, or ordinance of God, and those, who goVern,are the ministers Of God. "'The powers that be are ordained of God." " By him king.s reign, and princes decree justice ; by him princes rule and nobles, even all the judges of the earth." They are the ministers or sei'vants of God. He prepares them for their work. Their understanding, talents^ and opportunities, are from him. He "girded" or prepared Cyrus for his great work. If God raise up Rulers for evil ; if he elevate them in his wrath ; if they be " set over the people for their sins" ; then their hearts are hardened : they abandon the laM's of Revelation^ and the principles of rectitude ; they exult in the ruin, which they bring on their country. Such are God's ministers of vengeance. They pull down the judgments of heaven on the land. When God intendeth good to a people, he elevates good men ; " he giveth wisdom" ; " he maketh man to inherit the throne of glory." " He putteth down one; he setteth up another." The good, accomplished by a wise government is incalculable ,• the comforts and blessings, which it produces, are innumerable. A few of these we shall now mention.

I. A good government is the minister of God for good, by commanding the covjidence of the honest and enlightened part of the community. Is this possible f Will not men always complain of government ? A portion of every community will always complain. They envy those possessions and comforts, which they have not the power or virtue to obtain. They hate those excellencies, which are strangers in their own hearts. They delight in pulling down those monnds-andrbplwarks af society, wkich protect the industrious, the good, and successful citizens. The confidence of such men may not be expected, except when they suppose the government base and abandoned like themselves. The stability and public approbation of good government, therefore, depend on the prevalence of public virtue. By a frank and noble style of procedure the government may prevent murmurs among their most worthy citizens. They enjoy the delight of conscious security ; they eXpect a reward for all their labors ; they are stimulated to noble darings. Mutual confidence is necessary for the most useful transactions between man and man. It is the animating principle of all that is great or happy in society. Unless intelligence and integrity be supposed, timidity, and caution, and distrust, will prevent that union of interest, that combination of influence, and that ardour of exertion, which are necessary for every thing great or excellent. Every bud of hope will be blasted by the wind of jealousy. When the government are suspected of weakness or corruption^ public and private enter prize, will die with the palsy. Public institutions will languish. Corporations will tremble for their rights. Individuals will become torpid with fear. For want of union most of the Powers in Europe have recently fallen in rapid succession, like the spires of a city, overwhelmed in a furious conflagration. …