Election Sermon

Mr. WES T's ■ti» SERMON. MAY 31, 1786. Ar^t^^^.^ no*^l /^. ^' Commonwealth of MASSACHUSETTS. In the house of REPRESENTATIVES, May 31, 1786. ORDERED, That Mr. Treadwell, Mr. Bridge, and Mr. Thatcher, be a Committee to wait on the Reverend Samuel West, to give him the thanks of the House for his SERMON delivered this day, and to requefl a copy thereof for the prefs. A R T E M A S WARD, Speaker. liame of divine wifdom, and drinking deeply of" the cup of forrows for their salvation ; that his kingdom was not of this \vorld, and that instead of the viiible splendours of it, his fubjecl:s mufb expedl distindion only from the real excellence of their character, formed upon his own example. That they who excelled in doing good flioiild pofiefs the post of honour ; and the mod ufeful life (hare the highest glory under his univerfal government. This refers indeed to the spiritua! kingdom of Christ, but is equally applicable to civil States ; efpecially when compofed of such as profefs their belief of chriflianity, fubjeifiiion to its laws, and to be governed by views and motives derived from it. Without hefitation therefore, we addrefs the afTcmbled orders of this Commonwealth, in the language of our text, Wbofoever will be chief cjnong yoUj let him be your servant. Let no man think it sufficient to fecure his pre-eminence, that he wears the title of honour, fits in the feat of office, or even shares the approbation of his country.. Treacherous grounds of greatness ! Would you found your glory so as to last with your being, let it arise from a finccre engagement o\. the heart in the cause of human happiness, and the diligent and [ 8 ] perfeverlng exertion of every faculty, for the ac-* compliflirncnt of that Godhke piirpose ; • and/ should you through some intervening. prejudicesj> fail of your reward from men, you fecure it in a confcioufness of the redtitude and beauty of your own condu6l, the present approbation of heaven, follovved finally with the applaufes of the univer-* fal Judge.. Widely indeed, does this account of rank and dignity, in States, differ from the too commonly received opinions of men. And are then the emulated distindlions in civil society re-rA duced to this ? Are none truly honourable but such as are really ufeful ? None entitled to glory except such as are improved to the good of mankind ? Did not the Saviour of the world know, that titles are ilampt with honour diilindl from the charadler of those who wear them ? That they might defcend by inheritance, and give to the posselTor not only the privilege of being conlidered as chief among his brethren, but of ruling over them, and even trampling on their most essential rights ? — no ; these are the fug-5. gestions of human pride, reaHzed upon human folly. The author of chrillianity does but reilore things to the standard of truth and nature, places the point of honour in its proper light, I 9 y gives pre-eminence to those who excel in publick virtue, and conneds the greatest gloiy with the most exteniive services. Revelation indeed was not essentially ncceflary to inform mankind, that as civil government ought to be the refult of mutual agreement, deligned for the good of all ; £o •they who contribute most to the accomplifhment of thatdefign, are entitled to its first distindions» This, like the first principles of science in general, is by the wifdom and goodness of its Author^ ■enstamped on human nature ; and like the eflentials of religion, is written on the hearts of men, as by the finger of God, being an obvious fuggestion of unbiaiTed reafon. But alas ! the plaineft dictates of reafon, in the courfe of human affairs, are often obfcured by the passions of men, or born down by the prevailing tide of custom» We are therefore under the greatest obligations, to that Divine Instrudlor, who has thrown the clearest light upon civil as well as upon moral and religious truth 5 who has made us acquaintled with ourselves, called our attention to the on- ':ly interestingobjedt, the happiness of the species ; and placed the dignity of charadter on the bafis of virtue, formed from his ov/n refemblance, and tendino; to the good of all. ^ B The r 1° 1 The Father of Being is the father of mercies, a principle of boundless active love ; and the' infi- >ll nitely various in execution, his defign is one, his own glory, or which is evidently the fame thing, the happiness of his creatures, is the center in which all thelines of his government unite. Every thing takes place in the univerfal lyf^em, according as it tends to the accompliOiment of this great parental purpoie* In( our materiid fystem, if the -fun in the heavens shines with a luflre fuperiour to the other luminaries, he is no iefs diflinguidied hy his kindly influence on the w^orld below> The charaders of rational creatures, when weighed in the- scales of trt^th and juHice, mufl "be estimated upon the farnc principle,, with no^ other difference than what arifes from- moral agen- '•cjy^ which evidently Tcqiiires, that the exerted ■'cipacity for doing goodv I§s-'dire6t:ed by choice, ' and animated with ufiiverfal love . To. v/hat pitch: of real greatneis human nature may rife, upon this firm bafis of publiek virtue, may be learned from' the faithful page of hifloi-y, which has recorded the illustrious names' as well as actions of those, who have bled in theeause of human happiness, refcued millions from oppref» sion and mifery, have enlightened mankind witL { II ] the rays of truth, formed wife institutions of government, or, v/Ith a steady, though lenient hand, ■like gods on earth, have guided the affairs of nations, in arduous and difficult times. …