Election Sermon

ELECTION, AT MONTPELIER, OCTOBER 9, 1823. BEFORE THE HONORABLE LEGISLATURE OF VERMONT. BY JOSEPH W. SAWYER, A. M. rll _ ~PASTOR OF THE CHURCH AND CONGREGATION IN WHITING. _ tors of Greece and Rome, Minos, Lycurgus, Zaleucus and Numa, nor the _aws of the twelve Roman Tables, for order and regularity, for clear_ Ress and perspicuity, for comprehensiveness and brevity.” —— MONTPELIER, Vr. PRINTED BY E. P. WALTON. SERMON, ST MATTHEW XXIi. 21, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesars ; ; und unto God the things that are God’s.”” THe history of our Lord, in every view, is replete with wonders. ‘Throughout his life we trace a mixture of dignity and abasement. ‘Though he was God, man, mediator; yet was he -crucified through weakness. | In perusing the history of ancient heroes, we often _ admire their skill and valor, and at the same time _ are shocked at the means they used to exalt and ag_ grandize themselves. When we behold them procuring for themselves trophies from the ruin of slaughter_ ed millions, and the destruction of nations and their _ kings, we are induced to consider them scourges to | _ mankind. Most of the feats, proposed for our.ad-| wmiration, serve only to evince the depravity of of ‘a man nature, and are calculated to excite, in min well instructed, horror and disgust. But far _ will be our sensations, when we read the ites Christ. Here we meet with nothing unpleas i the. benevolent mind. Should we trace him i : course through the whole of his ministry, we shal once behold displayed the benevolence of a Ge Never has the world witnessed so glorious a diss of real magnanimity. Like the sun in his oi was steady and uniform in his course, and like th . bright luminray, he diffused the richest bles wherever he came. Through the whole of bie he was the most illustrious pattern of condesce a to man, and fidelity to God. An example, | a the imitation of all, was his regard to parenta ' thority. What reverence for their persons, obed: to their requirements, and whatever else is com ip hended in the whole circle of filial duty, was f fested by him without intermission, without allo ) q That religion too, which he came from Heayen earth to reveal, of which he is the author, sachs 2 due regard to civil government, as being of di bp appointment, and essential to the happiness, “ we as tending to promote the good of the human fa | D. It was a remarkable trait in the character of th Saviour, that he turned all his discourses to the exalted purpose of piety towards God; full of wisdom and goodness, and, in the highest degree, calculated to promote the best spiritual and temporal interest of mankind. What sentiment more sublime and magnanimous, more just and benevolent, more patriotic, and at the same time more pious, and worthy of the supreme regard of men in every condition, and in every station and office to be filled either in church or state, as rulers or subjects! This is the grand compendium of the whole duty of man. It marks the path of rectitude for every grade of men, from the king on the throne tothe lowest subject of his realm. It marks, without exception, the relation in which we stand to our Creator ; and involves all the duties we owe to him, and the duties of all the social relations in life: and enjoins obedience to the law of God, and to the laws of the land in which we dwell. Thus our blessed Saviour, instead of absolving men from the restraints of law, either civil or divine, gives the fullest sanction to its claims, without which society could not exist in this apostate world. f _ Subjection to the civil authority is by no means in_ Consistent with the reverence and fear of God; and each demand their proper, their respective ck a ro To Cesar we are to render that tribute, ie honor and obedience, which are his due; and x may be done without interfering with the he - ¥ God, or prejudicing his interest and glory; fo the worship and obedience due to God must be r dered to him. And each of these respective’ are to be rendered without intrenching one up on a | other. Z'o Cesar the things which are Cwsar’ and unto God the things that are God’s. “ind In illustrating these words, on this consionia be proper to notice our respective obligation moral Governor of the world; as also to civ thority. God is the moral governor of the universe. — kingdom is everlasting, and his dominion over Nations are not so mighty as to supercede the ne 1 sity of his superintending care. The vavious z lutions of kingdoms, how casual and contingen ever they may appear, are all foreordained i in | ‘Ga scrutable counsels of the Deity; and made si ent to the accomplishment of the eternal pur D Him who worketh all things after the counsel Cf OS a ( own will. ‘ i? Se 4 The kingdoms of this world have fallen, ané she wl i = fat; nor can the best established governments oe tain their stability beyond the time allotted them in the divine economy. But the kingdom of Jehovali gill stand forever ; his power shall never be trans- . - ferred to other hands, nor shall any revolutions shake the foundations of his throne. ‘The time is at hand when he will put down all rule and authority and power, and his enemies will become his footstool. ‘This dreadfal God is ours; and we are under solq dain obligations to him ;—to make his law our rule s— q his service our delight ;—his honor our aim ;—his glo- | “ty the chief object of our pursuit. 4. …