The Dignity of Man

THE DIGNITY OF MAN, ESPECIALLY AS DISPLAYED IN CIVIL GOVERNMENT. A SERMON, PREACHED ON THE GENERAL ELECTION AT HARTFORD, IN CONNECTICUT,

By BENJAMIN TRUMBULL, D. D. PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN NORTH-HAVEN. HARTFORD: PRINTED BY HUDSON AND GOODWIN.

I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man. And keep the charge of the LORD thy GOD, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies as it is written in the Law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou dost, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.

MEN of the most distinguished fame, piety and usefulness, after a few years of faithful services, must quit the stage, and retire into darkness and silence. Kings, who, like David, have filled the throne with honor, must exchange their robes of royalty, the sceptre and the crown, for the shroud and the tomb. To this solemn and momentous period, David, that eminently pious and magnanimous ruler, was now advanced. And how august, how instructive and interesting is the scene, which his example, as exhibited in the text, presents to our view? We behold a renowned and mighty prince, after achieving wonders in the field, and rendering the most essential services to the church of GOD, taking leave of the world, resigning his government, and giving his final charge to Solomon, who was to reign after him upon the throne of Israel. I go, says he, the way of all the earth. "Exhausted with years and public labors, I suffer the common lot of man, and must sleep with my fathers. I have done with courts, government and life itself; I am bidding a long adieu to them, to you and to all mankind. You are now to accede to the government of a numerous and mighty nation, the people and heritage of the GOD of Jacob. Upon this great occasion, in these tender and solemn moments, I therefore intreat and charge you, by the affections of an aged, dying father, by all my desires and prayers for your honor and prosperity, and for the welfare of Israel, GOD's chosen people, that you be strong and show yourself a man: That you act up to the dignity and glory of your nature. This your exalted station, as the ruler of GOD's people, and the immense interests committed to your care will constantly demand. To you, and to them it will be of incalculable importance."

THE words import, That there is great worth and dignity in man: That to conduct himself agreeably to them is to act an useful, wise and glorious part. They comprise every thing which a wise, magnanimous and dying father could wish for a favorite son: Every thing which a pious prince, who preferred Jerusalem to his chief joy, could desire to see in him, who was to bear rule over the heritage of the LORD. Indeed in this short sentence, David compriseth distinguishing piety and righteousness, whatever is enjoined in the subsequent verses, relative to keeping the charge of the LORD and walking in all his commandments. It also imports that civil government is an arduous work, equal to the utmost stretch of human capacity, challenging all the dignity and powers of the greatest men; and that it is of the highest importance that civil rulers be men, displaying that piety, knowledge, prudence, fortitude and magnanimity which are the glory of man. In this view of our text it will be natural, for its further illustration, to give some sketches of the dignity of man: To show how this is displayed in civil government, or what it is for rulers to show themselves to be men: And lastly how important it is that they should act in character, agreeably to the dignity and excellency of human nature. I. IT will be natural to give a sketch of the dignity and capacity of man. To show the dignity and awful weight of government, it is necessary to exhibit the dignity and worth of the creatures governed, and the immense value of their interests. This only can show the magnitude of the trust committed to the civil magistrate and the dignity and importance of his office. But man, who is a subject of divine and human government, is a creature of vast dignity, worth and interests. This is expressed in the text, in the terms, be strong and shew thyself a man. For though it must be conceded, that the word man is sometimes used to express his pollution, nothingness and vanity, yet in this passage it is strongly expressive of his worth and dignity. It is used to communicate the same ideas, in other parts of the scripture, as 1 Samuel iv. 9. and chapter x. 12. Be strong and quit yourselves like men. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our GOD. Man is capable of the most signal usefulness and enjoyment in time and in eternity. In a variety of respects, his CREATOR hath exalted him, and put a matchless dignity upon him. Though by his apostacy he hath lost the moral image of GOD, and in that respect the crown is fallen from his head, the gold is changed, and the most fine gold is become dim, yet he still retains resemblances of his natural image, and in many respects is a glorious creature. He is a master-piece of divine workmanship; fearfully and wonderfully made. The erectness of his stature, the convenience and usefulness of his members, the wisdom with which they are all placed, + Job xv. 14, and chapter xxv. 4, 6. Psalm viii. 4, and cxliv. 3, 4.

the beauty and majesty of his countenance, the gift of language, and harmony of his voice are endowments by which he is distinguished and exalted above all creatures in this lower system of worlds. But his intelligent soul more especially gives him his dignity and inestimable worth. This is a bright resemblance of the natural perfections of his common father. …