The Election Sermon

by sal PREACHED BEFORE THE HONORABLE Council, AND THE HONORABLE | Hovsx of REPRESENTATIVES, or u Typ Colony of the MagSACHUSETTs-Bay, so "ob Nzw-ENGLAN p. MA ggth, 1776. Bains my Aunivingany For” THE Exserio ov run uo COUNCIL vor Tus Cor tr. By SAMUEL WE! Patton os A Chuxcn tn DaaTMOuT Ho And | will restore thy judges av abe first, AY u as at the beginnin ginning : : afterward thou shalt be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city, Is a. 4- 26. Theic children also shall be as aforetime, and their e shall be eflablisked. before me, * T will punish all that oppress them : and their nobles shall be ood themselves, and their governor shall proceed srom the midst of them, Jees; 30. 20. 2r. As free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness;... but as the ts of GOD; 1 Peres 2 16. The beast that thou sawest, shall ascend out of the bottomlesa Led, into perdition : and they that dwell-on the I wonder; whose names were not writted in the _— of fe from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beafi, Rav. 17. ver. Paiitep vy JOHN GILL, is Queey-sTREEt, He Copncil, May 30, 1776, Motion, "Ordered, That Tromas CusHING,' BENJAMIN LINCOLN, and Mosrs Girx,*Esquires, be a Committee to wait on the Rey, Mr. WEST, and return him the Thagls of the Board, for his SER MON delivered Yesterday, before both Houses of Assembly; and to request Copy th thereof for the Prefs. mow Nt Fs Wermpn v. Boer be ADVERTISEMENT.» " »»!dci *© 4 bys its; 7 22 the por that foveral pessages (Which Were mitted, when the Sermon was delwered, delivered, fot fear of being tedious" to the astembly, are igel 5 tre eossecrra 10 the bearers bl 1 'X oP TAXES PL rad BW. -- FLECTION-SERMON. TITUS, | Chapter 34 Verse mY Put them in mind 1 to be subjett to principalities 40 powers, to obey, mag! Harten, ta be e to every L. rel oF E t. Creator 38 een the race for society, has made us dependent on one another for happiness ; he has so constituted us, that it becomes both our duty and interest, to seek the public good. And that we may be the more — engaged to promote each -' others welfare, the Deity has endoweꝗ us with tender and social. affections, with generous and benevolent principles: Hence the pain, that we feel in eeing an object of distress: Hence the latisfaction, that arises. in relieving, the asslicbd, was the superiar pleasure, which, we exe. 5 2 rience in communicating bappiness to the miserable. The Deity has also invested us with moral powersand facultics, by which weare enabled to discern the difference between right and wrong, truth and falshood, good and evil: Hence the approbation of mind, that arises upon doing a good action, and the remorse of conscience, which we: expenence, when we counteract the moral sense, and do that which is evil. This proves, that in what is commonly called a state of nature, we are the subjects of the divine law and government, that the Deity is our supreme magistrate, who has written his law in our hearts, and will reward, or punish us, according as we obey or disobey his commands. Had the human race uniformly persevered in a state of moral rectitude, there would have been little, or no need of any otlier law, besides that which is written in the heart; for every one in such a state would be a Jaw unto himself. There could be no occasion for or enforcing of penal laws, for such - are not made for the _— man, but for the SE % lawless and disobedient, for the ally, and for 13 Faner, for the owed and 1 murderers of = fathers, and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 4 Sf whoremongers, for them that defile themselves | . with mankind, for menstealer s, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing, that. ic contrary to moral rectitude, and the happiness of mankind. The neceslity of forming our- {elves into politic bodies, and granting to our rulers, à power to enact laws for the publie alex, and to enforce them by proper pe.

1 5 Halties, arises from our being in a fallen, and degenerate estate : The flightest view of the resent tate and condition -of the human race, 15 abundantly sufficient to convince any perJon of common sense, and common honesty, that civil government is absolutely necessary for the peace and safety of mankind, and confequently that all good magistrates, while they , faithfully discharge the trust reposed in them, aught to be religioussy and conscienciously obeyed. An enemy to good government 1s an enemy not only to his country, but to all mankind; for he plainly shews himself to be divested of those tender and social sentiments, which are charaQteristick of an human temper, even of that generous and benevolent difposition, which is the peculiar glory of a ration- 1 al creature. An enemy to good government 8 has degraded himself below the rank and dig- | nity of a man, and deserves to be clafsed wit | the lower creation. Hence we find, that wise | and good men of all nations, and religions, | 0 have ever inculcated subjection to good go- 'Þ vernment, and have born their testimony 4 against the licencious disturbers of the public | 4 Peace. Nl Nox has christianity been deficient in this | capital point. …