The Election Sermon

Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, In COUNCIL, May, 31. 1759.

THAT BENJAMIN LYNDE and WILLIAM BRATTLE, Esq'rs, be a Committee to wait on the Rev'd Mr. JOSEPH PARSONS, and return him the Thanks of this Board for his Sermon preached Yesterday before the General Court, being the Anniversary Election of Councellors for this Province; and to desire a Copy thereof for the Press.

Copy attest. A. OLIVER, Secr'y.

AN Election-Sermon.

FOR Mordecai the Jew was next unto King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews; and accepted among the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of all his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

THE sacred scriptures, always intending the sanctification of sinful men, exhibit characters of various kinds; that there may be found in them, dissuasives from vice and motives to godliness, not only rational and forceable, but of peculiar influence upon every turn of mind.

THE principal persons in this book are Ahasuerus, Haman, Esther and Mordecai.

Ahasuerus king of Persia, whose dominion extended even from India to Ethiophia, over an hundred and twenty-seven provinces, was a monarch vested with such unlimited power, as no wise man would be willing any one should be possessed of, below the character of a confirmed angel; at lest any of the sinful race of fallen man; a power by edict to murder thousands of innocents in a day to gratify a favourite's passions; and a power able to perplex and distress the affairs of peaceable states round about, contented with their own possessions, and coveting no other.

AMBITION, pride and cruelty are the most conspicuous marks in the character of Haman; who had crept into the monarch's favour above all others, and was likely to make a distressing use of the absolute power which he could command.

Esther the queen, an orphan, without father or mother, but brought up by her near kinsman Mordecai, by the gift of nature, and her kinsman's pious paternal care, possest every lovely quality of the sex, made more illustrious by grace, which illustrates virtue it self; and had merit enough with the monarch to be advanced to his bed upon the divorce of Vashti, the former queen.

p. 7Lastly, THE character of Mordecai the Jew was truly excellent and great: from which, if I mistake not, something may be inferred sutable to that part, which, thro' the ill health of my dearly beloved brother in Christ, is so suddenly and unexpectedly fallen to my lot upon this retured anniversary.

p. 7AND his character seems to be that of a pious, just, wise man, and strictly tenacious of his purpose; a character in some danger of moroseness: (should I be much mistaken if I resembled him to the roman Cato?) but yet, when sanctified by the divine spirit, and influenced by the fear of God, a temper fitted for arduous undertakings, and to act sedately in shocking disasters.

HIS piety towards God is seen in his prayers, and in the prayers of his people by his direction under the queen, and their devout humiliations before God; a pious practice, always used in dangerous times, in the church of God; which it becomes the religious rulers and leaders of his people to recommend and urge as a becoming acknowledgement of his care and government of the world, due for his glory, and the way to his mercy. It is also seen in his firm reliance upon God, the protector of his church, expressed in that message to the queen: If thou altogether hold thy peace at this time, from making p. 8supplication to the king, then shall enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place — and who knoweth whither thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this.

HIS justice is vindicated and declared, as the slaughter of a great number of the enemies of the Jews was necessary self-defence, and standing for their own lives; and in that when his enemies were in his power, and the law of retaliation might seem to justify the taking not only their lives, but their spoils, it is said more than once, on the prey they laid not their hands.

HIS wisdom appears in all his method to deliver his people from the massacre intended by that wicked Haman: and his inflexibility in continuing in sackcloth, which kept him from the queen's presence, tho' called, and which the circumstances of things seemed greatly to require.

OUR text is the last verse in the book; and, for the encouragement of virtue in the service of God and his people, describes the felicity of Mordecai's condition after the difficulties and dangers he had passed thro'. He was next to the king; and the ambition of a subject can look no higher, nor the benevolent mind wish for a better prospect of extensive usefulness. He was great among the p. 9Jews: in true greatness distinguished, and universally honoured among them. And accepted among the multitude of his brethren: his person respected, and his services well received: and no wonder, considering what he had done, and was still disposed and able to do for them: seeking the wealth of all his people, and speaking peace to all his seed: the peace and welfare of his people was his continued concern, which he promoted by his wise counsels and powerful influence with the king.

p. 9IN discoursing upon this text, I propose to speak to the following observations; which, I think, naturally arise from it in relation to the story.

I. WHEN God is pleased to advance men of integrity and ability into the frequent presence and favour of their sovereign, they have an happy advantage to serve with him the interests of their people.

II. TRUE greatness may commendably be sought; and when possessed should be considered, and thankfully acknowledged as the gift of God.

III. THE acceptance of an obliged people is a just satisfaction to the minds of men of great usefulness in exalted stations.

IV. Good Men advanced will hold themselves obliged to improve their power and fame for the prosperity of their people.