Religion the only source of National Prosperity

Resolved, Thata Committee of three Members be appointed to wait on the Rev. Tobias Spicer, and return him the thanks of the Legislature, for his Election Sermon, and requeata copy of the same for the press. In Generst Assempiy, Octoper 11, 1833, ‘Read and Passed. R. PIERPONT, Clerk. SERMON. Acts, XII. 23. AND IMMEDIATELY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SMOTE HIM, BECAUSE HE GAVE NOT GOD THE GLORY; AND HE WAS EATEN OF WORMS AND GAVE UP THE GHOST. Tue portion of holy scripture selected as the foundation for some remarks on this interesting occasion, refers us toa period in the history of the Jews, when they were tributary to the Romans, and when a king whose name was Herod, reigned over them. The sceptre had departed from Judah, for their long promised Messiah had come; he had fulfilled the numerous prophecies respecting the time, the place, and other circumstances which were to attend his advent— The purity of his life, the excellency of his doctrine, and the many miracles which he had wrought, had abundantly established his claims. But the Jews had nevertheless, rejected him, and by their wicked hands had crucified and slain him. Though he was crucified and buried by them, he arose from the dead, for their Messiah was the son of God, and God was determined to set his king upon his holy hill, to be Vermont Historical Society a Prince and a Savior, and the future Judge of {he human race. He had risen from the dead and had appoint-. ed his disciples to be his ministers, and had directed them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. These holy men bad commenced their benevolent work, and were laboring indefatigably to spread the knowledge of salvation through the redemption that isin Christ. In the midst of efforts well calculated to promote the glory of God, the present and eternal welfare of man, this “Herod stretched forth his hands” to vex them. Some he had imprisoned and some he had already put to death, and was proceeding in this wicked work, when arrested by the providence of God and made a monument of his fearful displeasure, and a solemn warning to all future generations. He was proceeding to fill up the measure of his iniquity; for after having cruelly treated the servants of Christ, he sat on his throne arrayed in royal apparel, and made an oration to the multitude. The people who heard him gave a shout, saying “it is the voice of a god and not a man.” With this adulation and idolatrous applause, Herod appears to have been highly pleased, and probably congratulated himself on account of the mighty honor which the people had _ conferred on him.

But this conduct of Herod and the people, was highly offensive to him who is king of kings, and who alone is worthy to be adored. He is “God” and beside him there is none other, either in earth or heaven. Immediately by divine commission, an angel who probably had seen his wicked course, and the excessive pride of his heart, smote him with a loathsome disease, while yet the robes of royalty were on him. So that he who ascended his throne in the morning in gaudy attire, amid the shouts of an admiring multitude; retired ere the sun went down with the arrows of the Almighty sticking fast within him ;—Because he gave not God the Glory ;— And he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. From the circumstance here detailed, I shall endeavor to bring to your view, several very important lessons of instruction, to which I entreat your most serious attention. I. As the great crime laid to the charge of this wicked king, consisted in not giving God the glory; we will first inquire what is implied in giving glory to God. 1. Lconceive in the first place it implies an acknowledgement of his existence. In acknowledging the existence of God, we do but according to the dictates of reason.— The plainest dictates of reason lead us to conclude that every effect must have an adequate cause. Creation and providence declare analmighty cause, and this cause must of necessity be self-existent, and infinitely wise and good.— This is the being whom we call God. And the apostle says, “ whoso cometh to him must believe that he is;—that is, must believe that he exists. Without this belief, there is no such thing as giving hitn the glory in any sense what~ ever. And we must not only admit his existence, but we must also ascribe unto him those perfections which belong tohim. We must not imagine that he is a being like unto ourselves, or that he is like unto any thing whieh is the work of men’s hands. Neither the Atheist nor the Idolator give God the glory. 2. In giving glory to God, it is implied that we acknowledge his providence.

It is not sufficient that we admit his existence, and form even the most exalted notions of his perfections, if we at the same time consider him only as an idle spectator of the affairs of men. But we must also give him the glory of governing the world which he has made. We must acknowledge that by him kings reign, and princes decree justice. And that his kingdom is an universal kingdom, extending to all parts of creation, both matter and mind. His government extends to every thing in the universe, whether it constitutes the sublimities of the heavens, or the varieties of the earth. Every thing whether it rests or whether it rolls; from the unorganized particle of earth, through all the gradations of being, up to the brightest archangel in the world of light. Yes, we must acknowledge that God governs allthings, and governs them by laws suited to their various natures respectively. …