Election Sermon

-_ SERMON, HIS EX€ELLENCY, JONAS GALUSHA, ESQ. GOVERNOR, HIS HONOR, PAUL BRIGHAM, ESQ, LIEUT. GOVFRNOR, THE HONORABLE COUNCIL AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE _ $TATE OF VERMONT, AT MONTPELIER, ON THE DAY OF ELECTION, OCTOBER 10, 1811. BY THE REV. THOMAS SKEEL, RUTLAND : PRINTED BY WILLIAM FAY, Printer to the State. In General Assembly, Oct 11, 1811. Resaleeds That 2 committee be appointed, consisting of three members this House, to wait on the Rev. Taomas Skee, return him the 's of the House, for bis Sermon delivered before his Excellency the nor, Lieutenant-Governor, the Honorable Council and House of ntatives, on the 10:h inst. being the day of Election, and request s. ks In General Assembly, Oct. 11, 1812. cy “Introduced by Mr. C. Rrcn, read and adopted. -. fitest, Wx. D. Smirn, Cleré, , B. Kissy, E. Barry, and C. G. Parsons, Committee, 5 Attest, Ws. D. Surru, Cler#. a of the Committee, My ill health has prevented an earlier compliance with your pest; and for the same reason,I have found it necessary to abridge iscourse as much as possible, and yet preserve the original ideas, Iam, gentlemen, With much esteem, Your’s, &c. 3 THOMAS SKEEL. Montpelier, Oct. 26, 1811, SERMON. 4 every soul be rubject unto the higher 8; for there is no power but M fo = the powers that ve are ordained of God. © Whosoever, the refore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of Gad ; J nd they that resist shail receive ts themselves damnation. ; ; w Morrucersare nota terror to good works, butte the evil. Wile thou thea = 7 gfraid of the power ? Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise gi same. * THE Apostle being acquainted with the opposition and per- - eeution which arose against the Christians, under the pretence | oftheir being a factious band of disturbers of the peace ; comes forth, and in the face of the world declares: The powers that be, are ordained of God—and, that there is no power put of God, and not only puts his adversaries to silence, but teaches his brethren the necessity of obedience to all wholesome jaws, by urging, that, they that resist shall receive to them__gelves damnation.

~ Jn the further investigation of the subject, let us consider, _ First. What are these powers, and in what sense are they "said to be ordained of God. 7 Secong. The office and duty of rulers in relation to their subjects. _ Third. The fina! destiny of him. who' resisteth, and of him that doeth good, contrasted. _ First. The powers that be. 1, God made man an accotintable being, endowed him _ with a power of moral agency, or power of choice # by which ' to determine his own actions, without which, he could never have been accountable. Absolute free agency belongs to God alone ; irrational free ‘agency to the beasts ; necessary agency to stocks and stones ; but, free moral agency to man: and all laws, whether human or divine; are given on this principle. Hence no man can be _ Supposed to be a subject of law or accountability, unless he posSesses a power of determining his own actions in favor of do- | tg or not doing the things enjoined. On this principle it is shat justification and condemnation are something mo empty: sounds. That we may the better understand how it is that y rational creatures, determine our own actions, let we the following illustrations.* First. Suppose an enemy, concerning whom] h: mation, that he is determined to destroy my charact course my influence. He meets me—we are alone sir, saith he, is a dollar of which I will make you a p It is before me. ; The power of perception through the medium of of seeing, perceives the object—The power of refle templates it, desire, (a passion) craves it. The matter ig: red to the understanding, which decides against receiy Because, 1. The man is my enemy and hath no pose in view ; not only so, but there is a particulat mar} and his design is to make me this present, and then ; say, that [have stolen it from him. He will deseribe hig erty, with a certain mark: I shall be searched 3 the p will be found, and I shall suffer innocently. The w the ruling power of the soul, determines, I will not rec The reply ismade3 no,sir, my necessities are not six this time, that I can receive your present. ne Second. Suppose a real friend meets me, and presen a dollar ; itis perceived, reflected on, desired, &c. as b the understanding detides in favor, the will gives flight, animal life, which moves the body, the hand is reached the present is received—I thank you sir. And thus all the powers and faculties of the whole ma subordinate to the will or power of choice : and of cou passions never bear rule, but when the will gives up of government. i To such a race of moral beings 2s this, it is that Gc revealed himself as the governor of the universe, and as takes upom himself the authority of Supreme Legislator. 4 this capacity, has revealed to man the power of self-g ment, as individuals, and of national government as nati The Jews were the only nation to whom God gave al lawsdirectly. But a power of enacting and exect Jaws, be hath given to all nations equally. *The author hopes not to be censured for the use of meta D wince the Scripiures, the best records on carih, abound with them, : Jewish law had three branches, each of which found a tact Jaw. The first political, the second ceremonial or typidist the third moral. Under the administration of the first of they were governed in all things as a body politic. …