A Sermon Preached Before His Excellency Isaac Tichenor

Rev. Mr. Sanders' Election Sermon.

State of Vermont. In General Assembly, 12th October 1797.

RESOLVED, THAT Mr. ELIAS KEYES, Mr. JONATHAN ROBINSON and Mr. AMOS MARSH, be a committee to wait on the Rev. DANIEL C. SANDERS; return him the thanks of this House for the Sermon by him delivered before the Governor and both branches of the Legislature on election day; and request a copy for the press.

Extract from the Journals. Examined.

Attest. RICHARD WHITNEY, Clerk.

AN ELECTION SERMON.

Attachment to our Country an important duty.

"I DWELL AMONG MINE OWN PEOPLE."

MAY this be the language of every American, until the globe shall be lost in undistinguished ruin, and empires rise and fall no more! Never may we be so attached to any nation on the whole earth, as not to feel it to be the summit of our political felicity that we dwell among our own people! The benevolent spirit of our government; its originating in the wishes, the sentiments of individuals; its subjection to future amendments at the sovereign will of community; and the high state of prosperity enjoyed by all classes of citizens, at a period too, when distresses are carried, in every form, into all quarters of the world, induce more reasons to wish to dwell among our own people than could ever have existed in the mind of the Jewess of Shunem.

THE good Shunamite seems to have been a bright constellation of the virtues. Hospitable, in the most generous manner; with abundance equal to the goodness p. 6of her heart; artless in her kindness; unaffected in her piety, often had she entertained the prophet of the College of Gilgal. In just returns of gratitude, the holy man of God was not to be excelled. In strong sensibility of his obligations, he had thoughts of using his influence at the Court of his nation to bring such modest merit into public-view. His grateful mind was busy to discover what particular objects would meet her wishes. "Behold! thou has been careful for us with all this care. What shall be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king? or to the Captain of the host?" To most minds this grand proffer would have been peculiarly attractive; which pride and ambition could hardly have resisted. But she had learned to put a different estimate upon human life. That calm enjoyment, after which the heart of man perpetually sighs, refuses to reside in high stations; forsakes the pageantry of courts; dreads the keenn◊s◊ of rivalship, the competition of interest, and the wild envy of the ambitious. Attentive only to what promotes knowledge, virtue and happiness, the prospect was much more inviting ◊n the humble mansion of Shunam than in the gorgeous palace of Jehosaphat, or in the honor of alliance with the General of Judah.—Contented in a more obscure but more peaceful situation in her native city; delighted with opportunities of artless hospitality; attached to her own Countrymen: prosperous under the reign of laws and government, foreign influence could not have bribed her vanity, nor the hopes of distinction have supplanted her patriotic attachments. To every proposal, either of generous gratitude, or of base intrigue, she would have answered them all, "I dwell among mine own people." Such an answer would well become the true sons of Columbia▪ and would be sufficient to repel the soft insinuations of the p. 7designing, the misrepresentations of the discontented, and the corruptions of bribery, and leave the American character firm, unsullied and covered with glory.

p. 7THIS passage of holy writ naturally leads us to consider patriotism as an important duty; and to what particular objects that duty ought to be directed.

1. WE are to consider attachment to our Country as an important duty. The sacred scriptures present us with some of the most sublime instances of love to their Country, which ever were exhibited; some of the most patriotic heroes, who ever shone on the stage of human action. Moses and David seem desirous to sacrifice themselves on the altar of their Country, could their destruction expiate the crimes of their subjects, and procure their happiness. St. Paul, the learned orator of Tarsus, could wish himself separated from Christ and his church, might such an event secure the conversion and redemption of his Jewish brethren. The patriotic psalmist breathed out the most ardent love to his Country, and made it the most pathetic part of his devotion. "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem! let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer thee above my chief joy!" Frequent and ardent are the prayers, which ascended up from ancient Saints, supplicating for the prosperity of their nation. It was a divine direction to the captive Jews of Babylon to "seek the peace of the city, where they were carried away captive; and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace." How much more solemn the duty to seek the welfare and pray for the land, which, instead of captivity, gave us birth, freedom and happiness?

p. 8IT has been objected against the gospel revelation that patriotism is not among the express laws of the christian legislator. His religion, indeed, is all moral and spiritual. It would have been unworthy of his glorious design to have published a system of human laws and politics. His kingdom is not of this world. A political system, which would have been proper for one portion of mankind or one degree of national improvement, would have been impossible or injurious to another.—His religious system was not designed to interrupt the order of human affairs; but, by making us holy, wise and good, to render us happy.

p. 8BUT the several duties of his religion necessarily imply the virtue of attachment to our country. Were the spirit of Christianity felt, were its laws universally obeyed, there would be nothing but pure patriotism and philanthropy. The conduct of Christ exhibits a most pathetic proof of national attachment. See his tears at the mount of Olivet, over the expected miseries of his corrupted, deluded countrymen; and let that most moving scene speak how high this virtue stood in his opinion!