Election Sermon

Mr. WEBSTER'S ELECTION-SERMON.

STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. In the House of REPRESENTATIVES, May 28, 1777.

A true Extract from the Minutes.

Attest.

SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk.

AN ELECTION-SERMON.

I CONGRATULATE the General Assembly of this State, this day convened in the city of their ancient solemnities;—I congratulate this capital, whom the Lord hath delivered out of the hands of the enemy;—I congratulate this respectable audience, on the liberty of meeting here again, with safety on this important anniversary, to acknowledge the Lord God of our fathers, and to seek his direction and blessing on our political affairs to be this day transacted.

p. 6And with the divine leave and assistance, shall discourse to you on those words of holy writ, which you may find in the XLV Chapter of EZEKIEL, part of the 8th, together with the 9th verse.

—And my princes shall no more oppress my people. And the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel, according to their tribes.

Thus saith the Lord God, let it suffice you O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice; take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord God.

'TIS happy, that we have in the holy scriptures divine directions to regulate the conduct of all ranks: nothing less than the authority of God can do this, to any purpose.

p. 7But, when God speaks, before whom prince and peasant stand upon a parr, methinks, all, from the lowest to the highest, must listen with a sacred veneration!

Indeed, as God does not now direct his voice immediately to us, we must not counterfeit it, and say—the Lord saith—when the Lord hath not spoken. But yet, in similar circumstances, we may, by analogy, take the ancient voice of God, as directed to us. This is the use we are to make of a great part of the old testament.

Let us keep this in mind and, I trust, we shall find that we are not unconcerned in the words now read to you.

They were spoken at a time when there was a general corruption of manners; princes and people conspiring to provoke God to anger, and to bring down his judgments.

And, if we look over the prophets, we shall find that the rulers were peculiarly guilty: the princes were become mighty oppressors: and, when foreign enemies attacked them, unnaturally joined, and conspired p. 8their ruin! This was a crime of the highest nature! For, nothing can be more aggravated than for the shepherds to mislead and butcher the flock they were set to defend and feed! And the guardians of the public interests, to turn traitors and assassins to them that raised them to their high places.!

p. 8To the princes and rulers, therefore, who were too big to hear any other, the God of Heaven speaks in my text, and some preceeding and following verses.

Ordering, that the rulers should have a reasonable portion laid out round their cities, by the side of the portion of the priests, which was laid out by measure. And then that the rest of the land, as in the text, should be divided among the people as their inheritance.

And then, says God—my princes shall no more oppress. That is—Thus prince and people shall know their own, and enjoy their own: And the princes shall make no more encroachments upon the people's rights or possessions; which are as sacred as theirs.

p. 9Thus saith the Lord, Let it suffice you O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord God.

As if he had said—Who is he that will not hear, when the Lord of heaven speaks? It concerns all the princes and rulers of the world to listen, for God, God, I say, speaks! It is enough O princes and rulers and more than enough, that ye have done already, in oppressing and abusing those whom you were bound by every tie to protect and make happy! Cease your violence then, make no more spoil upon my people! But let judgment and justice be impartially executed, that all may have the benefit of it: and put an end to your extravagant exactions: and henceforth, let taxes and tribute be requir'd only in proportion to the necessity of the public affairs, and not to support your own luxury or defend your unrighteous claims!

Now, from this, rulers may learn something what is the will of God concerning them; and the people somewhat of their duty to them. And all may be led to p. 10mourn over the mighty oppressions of the earth, and to pray and hope for deliverance in God's time.

Let me therefore beg the attention of this honourable audience, while, in the fear of God, and with a due respect to my numerous superiours, I discourse in the following manner.

p. 10First. Consider, very briefly the duty of princes and rulers to the people.

2dly. The duty of people to their rulers.

3dly. Take a brief view of the oppressions of the rulers of the world.

4thly. Enquire, how it comes to pass that such multitudes of mankind suffer themselves to be thus grievously oppress'd, by a few of their fellow men.

5thly. Consider, how contrary this is to the will of God.

6thly. Just hint to the people at some things, which seem to me most likely to guard against tyranny in their rulers.

p. 11And finally, consider, a moment, the happiness of mankind when oppressors shall cease, and they who rule over men shall be just, ruling in the fear of God.

1. Then, I shall very briefly consider the duty of princes and rulers to the people.

Now as to old-fashion'd rulers hackney'd to the ways of the world, the voice from heaven cries to them to oppress no more. It cries most solemnly in my text. But as such rulers hear neither God nor man, we have no immediate business with them! And God grant we never may.