The Sermon of William Symmes

aan of MASSACHUSETTS. IN SENATE, May 25, 1785. RDERED, That Moses Gill, William Phil. lips, and Charles Turner, Esquires, be a Committee ta wait on the. Reverend Mr. William Symmes, and Aank him, in the name of the Senate, for the SERMON preached by him this day, before his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, the Honourable the Council, and the two branches of the General Court; and also to request of him a copy for the press. A true copy. Attest, SAM VEL AD A Ms, Prefident. PREACHED BEFORE | His Honor THOMAS CUSHING, Esa; IIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, 5 TE HoNoRABLE THE COU SS © AM | AND THE TWO BRANCHES or THE GENERAL COURT, OF THE COMMONWEALTH MASSACHUSETTS, MAY. 2, % Beings THE ANNIVERSARY or GENERAL ELECTION. By WILLIAM SYMMES, A.M. PASTOR or THE FIRST CHURCH IN ANDOV rn os Tem ; PRINTED BY ADAMS and NOURSE, PRINTERS TO Tux HoNovaABLE Tuk GENERAL COURT: and dissolution of manners have never failed to pu 4 Election "up x 3 h : ; wor LEG wo” th oo FIR CHRONICLES, XXVII. 8. Now therefore, in the fight of all Israel, the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God ; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you forever. s T has generally been observed by historians * of the best hearts and information, that the rise and growth, the decay and fall of States and Empires, have corresponded in a great measure to their virtues and vices. These have been deservedly considered as the great hinges on which the fates of nations turn. If in every instance their advancement to splendor and power is not to be ascribed to the influence of moral principles, degenera down their banks, and lay them open to such an inundation of miseries, as have at last overwhelmed them in ruin. To prevent so fad a catastrophe, and ensure their civil happiness, the Ruler of nations and Father of men, required his ancient favorite people to employ * N themselves E themselves in that holy service, to which they wers bound by his laws, and their own consent. Trz1s kings were expressly required to write a copy of the law, which was to form their private character, and be the rule of their administration. Nor was there any other test whereby abuses in overnment could be rectified, or the faith of the church and worship of God restored to their primitive purity. | | ACccoRDINGLY David, who was by divine commission a ruler and a prophet, and by principle a devout patriot, having subdued the enemies of the State, and established the regular course of justice, . near the close of his life prescribes, in the passage before us, the only means whereby a profesling people can secure the continued fayour of Heaven, and dom and happiness, INVEST ED with the supreme authority in the State, he assembled the princes and beads of the twelve tribes at Jerusalem. Constrained by the social affections of a good and great mind, and ardently withing the prosperity of the people committed to his carc, he in.the most solemn manner impresses the charges of God upon them. „ALL Israel, the congregation of the Lord,” are supposed to be present by their representatives, in whom they had reposed an honorable trust. A _ consequently their own and their childrens freefaithful discharge of the proper duty of their station obliged them to deny themselves for the general good, and.use their utmost efforts to promote the interest and increase the happiness of their brethren, A STRANGER to the insolence of little minds in an elevated station, the Jewish monarch addresses the assembly of the elders in the Jgst endearing of brethren ; gives them a sketch of his own history, and points out his successor by name, who should perform that pious service which be himself had designed, and would gladly have executed, had he not been denied that honor. : SoLrcirous to support the distinguishing characer given him by the unerring fudge of real worth, he reminds the“ aflembly of the mighty“ of the peculiar presence of the Deity; gives him the attractive title of the Lord our God,” which imports parental asseQion, and covenant privileges: And then fixes their attention to the main point, endeavouring to persuade them to * keep and seek. for all the commandments of the Lord their God.“ THE1Rr punctual obedience is rennen for their own sake, but principally as a could take to secure to the present, and transmit. do future generations, the possession of that good land, and a fair inheritance of civil and religious privileges. pry +12 Chih I some instances there is a similarity of circumstances betwixt the ancient congregation of the Lord and us. Were they a people nigh unto God since their rejection we have been taken into a like visible relation to him? Were their long and arduous contests. for freedom happily terminated? our redemption from the Fas 5p of, the enemy is completed by the establishment of peace in our borders.” Did their civil constitution secure the rights and privileges of the people, ours is like to, theirs before they trespassed in asking a king? Our religious advantages are greatly superior, and our land is perhaps as good and fertile as theirs, were 1t equally cultivated. And the late revolution 7 a in t and probable! . means of dissusing a similar spirit of piety and virtue among the people; and as the only course they 5 8 . 2 e wm n in America, tho' not effected by the wonder- work. …