God the Strength of Rulers and People

Election dee eee GOD the Strength of Rulers and People, and 4 them to be so, 10 each other mutually. Preach'd before His Exc EL ; ENCY Jonathan Belcher, Es 4; Governour, And the Ho NOURABIR His Majestys Council, And the als House of Representative Of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, | | in New- England, May 27th. 1741. Being the Day for the Election of His Ma jesty⸗ $ Covuncir for the said Province. By W . WW Villiams, M. A: Pastor of the Church | in urch in Weston. * K * Job 12. 16. With binr l 1 and Wisdom. | Pfal. 1 tl. God is our Refuge and * a very present Help in Trouble. Printed by S. KN EELAD, Printer to the Honourable House ot Reprelenta!iyes. Mopccxri18 r 4888 C8288 Province f the 12 Massuchusetts- Bay. In the Baue of Representatives, Jobis 28. Die Pat, A. D. 1741. Rdered, That Mr. Cotton, Mr. Brewer, and Col. Buckminster, be directed to give the Thanks of the House to the Reverend William Williams of Weston, for his Sermon preached yesterday before the General Court, being the Annivecsary for the Election of Councellors, and desire a Copy thereof for the Press. — William Fairfield Speaker, ee eee AN Election Sermon. ZECH. XII. 5. 8 25 be Governours of Judah shall say in their Heart, the Inbabitants of Ferusalem shall be my Strength, in ibe Loxp of Hosts their God. Sy WINE HIS Day of our Anniversary Solemnities, when the Heads of our Tribes, $ the Tribes of the Lord, are afsembled roWorship the G 0D of Israel, - in this principal Seat of the Government; may very justly be the Day of the gladness of our Hearts: on the Account of the yet continuedEnjoymeat of our invaluable civil and religious Liberties and Priviledges, and as it keeps up a fresh Remembrance of thePiety of our honoured Ancestors both of the civil and sacred Order ; whose early united Care it was to seek the Lord their God, and to express their Dependance upon him, for Counsel and Assistance in all our publick Affairs, And as ia the religious . * | . cises, An Election SERMON, cises of it appointed and attended by our Rulers, we hope, with a like Spirit of Piety, they profess humbly to acknowledge Him who is able to direct their Paths, and meekly to receive Counsel from the sacred Oracles, which the wisest and best of Rulers will always take for their constant Counsellors. And fince we all acknowledge that the Happiness of Rulers and People is in the Lord of Hosts their God; and that only his Favour maketh their Mountain to fland strong, and that his Presence and Blessiog is to be expected only upon our humble seeking to him, and our pious Care that our Ways please him: it seems very suitable that the important civil Affairs and Elections of this Day should be prefac'd in such religious Manner; as the divine Direction is to be expected not only in theBusiness of this Day, but on all the Assaits of the Government thro' out the ensuing Tear. For which Reason it is to be wished,that this religious Practice, so long as it may be thus piously defign'd and attended, may never be laid aside. It is my humble and fincere Desire, that I may be enabled faithfully to discharge (however unequal to it) the weightyService devolv'd upon me this Day: That I may speak to our bonoured Rulers Words in Season, and as becomes the Oracles of God. And if I may herein approve my self a Messenger of the Lord of Hosts, J hope for their candid Acceptance, as well as of this numerous, and honourable, Christian Audience. | This Text, which T have read, is among the merciful Promises which God made concerning his ancient People, which was in Part fulfilled in the Time of the Prophet who foretold these Things, and is understood to have a furtherReference totheTimes of the Gospel, and the ChristianChurch.---* To the Church of Christ among the Fews, until their Re- \ © jeQion, and among the Gemiles fince their Vocation, both have theic Concerameat in the Things 6 hers An Blection SER MON. 5 © here foretold v.. As the preceeding Chapter fore - c told the Doom of the remaining Carcass of the © Fewish Church, which rejected Christ, which was © left a Prey to the Eagles that were gathered to it, © (o in this we have many Promises made to the © Gospel Jerusalem the Christian Church. 48 The Prophecy is entitled, The Burden of the Lord, which is a Title sometimes of such Prophecies as carry Threatnings of God in them, and so doth this) but it is for /rae/ The Threatnings are against their Enemies, which will be a heavy Burden, to them, but for the Comfort and Benefit of God's People. | I shall not stay to takeNotice of the several Predict ions, but immediately consider the Fords---only observe, by ubom this Promise is made (ver. 1.) It is the Lord that saith ir, who is able to make it good; the Lord Febovab who siratcheth forth the Heavens, and layeth the Foundations of the Earth, and formeth the Spirit of Man within bim. And who therefore exerciseth a constant Providence over all the Works of hisHands,and rules over all the Kingdoms of Men, and hath the Spirits of all Men in his Hands, and can fashion them according to his own Will. The Governours of Fudab-=-=, This may signify, firstly their chief Ruler; for after their return from their Captivity, they were ruled by Governours, as Nebemiab, Zerubbabal and others, as also other Rulers, Counsellors, Officers and Leaders. | ball say in their Heart-=-- -, Shall really so apprehend and judge, they shall not only so profess their Regards to the People, but shall be hearty and fincere in it. …