CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LBRARY 
 
 3 1924 104 014 588 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924104014588 
 
MR. DOW'S 
 
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THE DUTY OF PTtMYWO FOR jlLL T'UT ARE IN 
 AUTHORiri, ILLUSTUATED. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 IKEICHED EEroRS 
 
 HIS EXCELLENCY 
 
 HONOURABLE LEGISLATURE 
 
 OF THK 
 
 STATS OF CONSrSCTXCUT, 
 
 AT THK 
 
 GEJ^ER^L, EI.KCTIOJV, 
 
 BY DANIEL DOW, 
 Pastor of the Church of Christ in Thompson. 
 
 HARTFORD : 
 •KARLBI BABCOCK FBIBTBR. 
 
 1825. 
 
f' 
 
 At a Getierat Aisemhly of the Slale ofConnectieul, helden at TTartford, in said 
 Slate, on the first IVfdnesday eifMay, in the year of out Lord one thousand 
 tight hundred and twenty-five. 
 
 HESOIiVED, That Hon. Mr. Young and S. Holmes, Esq. be a Com- 
 mittee to waitontlie Rev. Daniel Dow,-and return the thanks of the General 
 Assembly for his Sermon delivered before them, at the anniversary Election, 
 -•nd reciuest a copy thereof for the press. 
 A true copy of record. 
 
 Examined by 
 
 THOMAS DAY, SecreUrg. 
 
ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 I. TIM. iul,2. 
 
 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giv- 
 ing of thanks, be made for all men ; fi)r kings, and for all tliat are in auvhciri- 
 ity ; that we may lead a qalet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty^ 
 
 Prayer, in the sacred scriptures, is consider- 
 ed, not only as a duty, but as a duty of primary im- 
 portance. So important, that no other duty can be 
 pprformed without it. Tie man who wholly neglects 
 prayer, will either not attempt his duty, or. if he 
 makes a feeble attempt, will be sure to fail in it, for 
 want of divine assistance. Accordingly, the apostle 
 exhorts that prayer be attended to, as the first of all 
 duties. I exhort therefore, first ofitU, that supplications^ 
 prayers, intercessions, and giving ofthanksy be mide. 
 
 2 We are also here informed, w hat ought to be 
 our leading desire and petition when we come be- 
 fore God in prayer. God has made it our duty, and 
 our privilege, to pray, not only for ourselves, but for 
 others : and he can graiit an ansH er to our prayers on 
 the behalfof others as well asfoi ourselves. Tlie prayer 
 of faith shallsave the sick. Theprayerofa Moses, orofa 
 Samuel may avert impending judgments And the 
 prayers of God's pe pie may be heard, and God in an- 
 swer to ihem, may pour out his spirit upon the nations, 
 when tiie set time to favour Zii n shall come. B it ihe 
 man of prayer is always a benevolent one, and desires the 
 
4 
 
 ) 
 
 greatest good. Though he has respect to his own 
 well-being, according to its true importance, yet as 
 his neighbour's welfare is as desirable as his own, the 
 general welfare must be far more so : and according- 
 ly, when lie thinks of the good of the great family at 
 large, it appears to him of so much greater impor- 
 tance than any private benefit that can redound to 
 himself, he seems to be swallowed up and lost, like a 
 drop in the vast ocear", and the leading desire of his 
 heart, in his prayers and supplications, is for the gen- 
 eral weal. Hence the apostle exhorts, first of all, 
 that suppplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving 
 of thanks, be made for all men. 
 
 3. In praying for all men,the apostle exhorts that we 
 particularly pray for Kings, and for all that are in au- 
 thority. That we should pray for the sick, the afflict- 
 ed, the destitute, the widow and the fatherless, and 
 for sinners of mankind in the general, is easy to be un- 
 derstood. But does it appear equally evident, that 
 they also are special subjects of prayer, who hold the 
 highest stations in life, and who seem so much more 
 highly favoured than the rest of their fellow men ? 
 Why pray for Kings, when they have so many sub- 
 ject" under their controul to minister to their wants 
 and to their gratifications ? Or why pray for such as 
 are in authority who may be persons of affluence and 
 who live in so npuch splendour ? The apostle, how- 
 ever, exhorts, /rs< of all, thai, siipphcutions, prayers, 
 intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for Kings, 
 and for all that are in authority. 
 
 In discoursing on these words then, I would endea- 
 vour to show 
 
 I. Why w e ought, especially, to pray for kings, and 
 for all that are in authority ? and 
 
 II. In what manner we should pray for them. 
 
1 . We should pray for kings and for all that are in 
 authority because they need special wisdom to direct 
 them. Wisdom, prudence, and foresight, are always 
 needed, whenever a person is called to transact any 
 important business. ?uch wisdom, as comes from 
 the Father of lights, and which is granted only in an- 
 swer to prayer. An individual, attending to his own 
 privdtie concerns, has need to be divinely directed. 
 A parent providing for the wants, and superintending 
 the affairs of a numerous family, needs superior wis- 
 dom. But kings, and such as are in authority, have 
 to superintend the affairs, and in some sense to pro- 
 vide for the wants of a whole community. Where 
 there are not only thousands, but millions, in a state 
 of subordination ; so many various occupations, all of 
 which must, in their place, be consulted ; and such a 
 variety of character and pursuit, which must in a 
 greater or less degree claim attention ; to give direc- 
 tion to public measures, and to do, in all respects, 
 what will be politically just, must undoubtedly re- 
 quire the highest wisdom. That body politick will 
 be but poorly served, whose princes are children, and 
 babes rule over them And all civil rulers, let thei^ 
 natural abilities, or their acquirements, be great as 
 they may, will be but babes in political wisdom, un- 
 less God shall see fit to give them understanding, 
 and direct them in all their counsels. In praying, 
 therefore, for the general good of mankind, we should 
 pray for kings, and for all that are in authority 
 
 2. Kings and such as are in authority are subject 
 to peculiar temptations. All persons, indeed, are 
 surrounded with temptations to evil. But there are 
 some, whose temptations are more numerous, more 
 pressing, and consequently, more dangerous, than 
 what others are called to experience. Now they, 
 
6 
 
 who stand in front of the battle, where the fiery darts 
 of the adversary fly thickest are surely to be consid- 
 ered as special subjects of prayer. But this is just 
 the situation, in which they are placed, who are pro- 
 moted to high stations of honour and trust. How pe- 
 culiarly liable are they, to be led away with the glare 
 of worldly glory, ^ind the splendour of a court, as 
 though it were the supreme good? 1 !ow prone to es- 
 teem the praise of m^n, more than the praise of God ? 
 How tempted to make religion subservient to their 
 policy, instead of making their policy subservient to 
 religion ? How tempted when opportunity is presen- 
 ted of consulting for their own aggrandizement, to 
 the neglect of the publick good ? How templed to 
 make an excuse of the multiplicity of business, for 
 casting all thoughtsof God and religion out of mind ? 
 How tempted, when they have gone a certain length 
 in the career of a vain ambition, to turn infidels, and 
 atheists, and say there is no God, because they are 
 afraid to believe that there is one. But at the best, 
 the post, in which kings and such as are in authority 
 are placed, is always the post of danger, and, there- 
 fore, as we are in duty bound to pray that God would 
 succour, and deliver the tempted, we ought to pray 
 for them. I exho't, therefore, that supplications, pray- 
 eis, and intercessions be made for Kings and for all 
 that are in authority. 
 
 3. Kings, and such as are in authority, are often 
 involved in such circumstances, as are peculiarly try- 
 ing and perplexing. Admit that they are persons of 
 the strictest integrity. Admit that they are influen- 
 ced by the purest benevolence ; that they act with a 
 single and persevering ain at the glory of God and 
 the best good of their subjects; yet, amid the con- 
 flicts of foreign nations abroad, and contending par- 
 
ties at home, what perplexing scenes mil rise, in 
 which even the honest and wise legislator, like the 
 mariner in a stortn, will be at his wit's end, to know 
 whai course to sieer. Treaties are to be entered in- 
 to with rival powers, everlastingly jealous of each 
 other's interference ; laws ar to be enacted wbic i 
 will deeply affect the feelings of large and respecta- 
 ble classes of the citizens ; the political horizon so 
 overcast with cluuds, that the most discerning poli- 
 tician cannot seeai inch before him ; and yet all 
 expecting that they who preside over the affairs of 
 the nation, will keep the vessel clear of shoals and 
 quicksands, and guide her into the port of safety. 
 Yet, there are thousands constantly w.itching for 
 faults, magnifying real ones, fancying them where 
 there are none, while foul-mouthed slander raises her 
 voice from one end of the kingdom, or republic!*, to 
 the other, and they who sit at helm, whether they do 
 right or whether they do wrong,are sure to be blamed. 
 Or if there be any difference, ihe man of truth and in- 
 tegrity falls under censure, which the artful and in- 
 triguing who never sou ht for any thing beyond their 
 own popularity, oremolumen', gooflF with applause. 
 In such a situation as this, no one can stand more in 
 need of the support and ctmsolations of religion, as 
 Well as of divine direction, than the true patriot, upon 
 whom h 13 devolved the duty oflegislation. I exhort 
 therefore that supphcationf!, pmyers, and inter cessions^ 
 he made f'n kings, and for all, that are in author itif 
 
 4. We should pray fo." kings and forpuch as are in 
 authority, because, from their proceedings, very im« 
 portant consequences will result to the community 
 at large. As they are acting for the whole body poli-« 
 tick, so their administration must affect the interests 
 of the whole, and the times may either go well, or ill^ 
 
as publick measures are either wisely, or unwisely 
 conducted. By mal-adminislration, all the wheels 
 of business may be, clogged, or entirely stopped. 
 Vice may be publickly countenanced, honest indus- 
 try discouraged,; and all the v iciouspart of ihe commu- 
 nity go mad wuh speculation. The nation may be 
 unnecessarily involved in war, and the country rava- 
 ged by foreign armies. Indeed it is very possible, 
 that, through the folly of a few individuals at helm, 
 a whole empire may be utterly ruined. While, on 
 the other ha.ul, by a wise and virtuous administra- 
 tion, industry may be encouraged, all the useful arts 
 of life cultivated, peace preserved, both at home and 
 abroad, and the nation conducted to the zenith of 
 political prosperity. Such being the important con- 
 sequences, which result from the conduct of civil ru- 
 lers, in praying for the peace and prosperity of the 
 nations of mankind, we shall find occasion to pray for 
 kings and for all that are in authority, 
 
 5. Kings, and such as are in authority, may exert 
 themselves upon a larger and more extensive scale 
 of influence, either for, or against religion. They 
 who are in private life will have their influence, with 
 their children, their domesticks, their kindred, their 
 families, their neighbours, and all with whom they 
 have any intercourse or acquaintance. 'I here is 
 no man, whose influence is so small, but he may 
 contribute something, by his example, in leading 
 others in the way, either to heaven or hell. But 
 they who are in high stations of authority, will, in 
 a common course of things, have far greater influ- 
 ence. Their character and conduct are more exten- 
 sively known. They are generally considered as men 
 of superior discernment. A nri as they have already 
 risen to a post of honour amongst men, it will always 
 
be the case that many will not only be emulous to 
 imitate their example, but will think themselves safe 
 in so doing. Hence, when kings, and such as are in 
 authority, are just men, ftaring God, their example 
 is one of the best means of restraining vice, Wi.ich it 
 is in the power of men to use, and their influence in 
 encoui aging religion and virtue is, in very deed, like 
 showers of rain upon the tender grass, and the clear 
 shining of the sun after the rain. Vice, when con- 
 trasted with such illustrious examples of virtue, filled 
 either with shame, or remorse, or both, is obliged to 
 secrete herself in the darkness of the night, or retire 
 to the dens and caves of the earth. But when civil 
 rulers are men of immoral conduct, and irreligious 
 principle, the contagion of their evil example spreads 
 far and wide. Vice, in all its forms, no longer confined 
 to its covert, will even be ambitious of lifting its bra- 
 zen, shameless front in the open light of day. And it 
 will soon become a common plea with such as are 
 addicted to the most flagitious crimes, that they are 
 only copying the examples of such as are high in of- 
 fice. Some poor deluded sinner will plead the ex- 
 ample of another, as though it were a sufficient ex- 
 cuse. The wicked will walk on every side, when the 
 vilest of men are exalted. In praying, therefore, for 
 the prevalence of goo'l morals, as well as f jr that civ- 
 il order, which is so essential to the i.appiness o!" man- 
 kind, we mu=t not forget to pray for kings, and such 
 as are in authority. 
 
 6. King=?, and such as are in authority, are highly 
 responssible for their conduct. If, indeed, they never 
 were to be called to an account, though their conduct 
 would still have its influence, as above stated, yet, as 
 it respected themselves, individually, they would not 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 be, so specially, the subjects of prayer. They might 
 live as they list, and yet, in the judgment of the great 
 day, be treated as a privileged order. But. notwith- 
 standing, they who are in authority are placed in a 
 post so dangerous, and are acting a part so important 
 and interesting, yet at that final and grand assize, they 
 must stand upon a level with all their fellow- citizens. 
 Then, without any laurels of distinction, without any 
 badges of office, without any splendour of a court^ 
 without any applauses of their fellow men, to screen 
 their vices, they must awake from the dead, and be 
 judged by that God, who knows whit all their ad- 
 ministration has been And, what if it then appear^ 
 that they have always been influenced by selfishness^ 
 and a love of worldly glory ? What if it then appear, 
 that instead of leading the people in the ways ofgod^ 
 liness, they set them an example of the foulest vices ? 
 What if instead of endeavouring to use their influence 
 in favour of religion, they always manifested their op- 
 position against the Lord, and against his anointed? 
 What if with all their means and advantages of know- 
 ing the truth, they die in their sins unconverted? l{ 
 kings, and such as are in authority, finally come 
 short of salvation, it must surely be more intolerable 
 for them, than for ordinary sinners. And therefore, 
 from a tender concern for their own eternal salvation, 
 that they hiay flee from the wrath to come, we should 
 pray for kings, and for all that are in authority. 
 
 Having thus shown it to be a duty, to pray for 
 kings, and for all that are in authority, I would now 
 proceed 
 
 II. To show in what manner we ought to pray for 
 them. And 
 
 1 . We should pray with a holy desire of hteart. God 
 being holy in his nature, can never do any thing in- 
 
11 
 
 consistent with holiness. If, therefore, we would- pray- 
 acceptably, we must pray lifting up holy hands. It 
 will be in vain to pray that the desires of the wicked 
 may be granted, or that a kingdom may be establish- 
 ed by unrighteousness. i^ 
 
 2. We should pray in faith. He that cometh to 
 God must believe that he is, and that he is the reward- 
 er of such as diligently seek him. We must believe 
 then in that God whom the scripture reveals, and ap- 
 proach into his presence in the name of a mediator. 
 
 3. We should pray in the exercise of universal be- 
 nevolence. Some feel interested only in that king- 
 dom, or that dominion, to which they as individuals 
 belong; and, accordingly, when they have expressed 
 their patriotism, by which we are to understand their 
 selfishness, all their prayers are ended. But the views 
 of the apostle were not circumscribed by sychgep- 
 graphical boundaries. He exhorts us to pray, not for 
 any particular king, or kingdom,, exclusively ; but for 
 kings, for all kings, for all kingdoms, foE all that are 
 in authority, yea, for all men. For this is good and 
 acceptable in the sight of God, our Saviour. Chris- 
 tianity is no enemy to patriotism ; though it does ex- 
 ercise a far more extensive philanthropy. 
 
 4. We should pray that all who are in authority, 
 may be influenced by the spirit of God to prosecute 
 the designs of benevolence, and that in this way they 
 may be greatly prospered in their administration. If 
 kings and all that are in authority, were only heartily 
 engaged in the cause of truth and righteousness, what 
 a scene of general happiness and prosperity would 
 ensue ? They would have no occasion to draw the 
 civil sword for the propagation of religion; by the in- 
 ifluence of their example, they would be nursing fa- 
 
12 
 
 thers to the church otGod, while they who might sit 
 under their peaceful administration, would beat their 
 swords into plomghshares, and their spears into pi'un- 
 ing hooks, and learn war no more. But for such de- 
 sirable events as these, we must pray to that God in 
 whose hands are the hearts of kingSj and who turnelh 
 them as the rivers of water are turned. 
 
 6. We should pray that God would overrule all 
 their errors, and all their wickedness, for his own glo- 
 ry, and for the advanceMJent of the R edeemer's king- 
 dom. The tittle when all kings, and all such as are 
 in authority, shall be just men, probably, the present 
 generation will not live to see. We are to expect 
 that iniquity and iBrror both, will frequently be found 
 at the seat of judgment. Some will administer 
 wrong, ihtentionally ; while the wisest and the best, 
 will'ndt'be entirely free from mistake.' But as God 
 is able^.to oVerrtile evil for good, we should pray, that 
 all publick measUri-es, which are not in themselves 
 ' wisely calculated, may be hindered in their natural 
 operation, siM the designs of the wicked disappoint 
 ted. We should pray; that all the blessings which'are 
 enjoyed undera wise adminisiteation of government, 
 maybe long'continued. Or, ifrevolutions muptcome, 
 and one empire be blotited'-oat after another, yet, that 
 God would cause all these overturnings to issue in 
 ihe rightftil reign of the Prince of Peace. 
 
 €. In praying for kingjs, and all that are in authori- 
 ty, we ought also to -give thanks. We should thank 
 Godj that the kingdomsof the world, tihrough the 
 wickedness and the wrath of man, have not been 
 more miserable than4;bey are. We should thank 
 'God, forallthe virtuous and the wise, that have ever 
 been raised up to seats of power and influence ; and 
 
13 
 
 we should give thanks for all the invaluable blessings 
 that have been derived to the peo()le, from their ad- 
 ministration. / exhort, therefore, that supplications, 
 prtiyers, intercessions, and giving of thinks, be made for 
 all men •,for Kings and fur all that are in authority ; 
 thai we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in godliness 
 and honesty. 
 
 In the review of what has been suggested, I would 
 observe ; 
 
 1. Chrihtianity never encourages sedition, under 
 any regularly constituted government. In the days 
 of Cbrist and his Apostles, perhaps the furm of civil 
 government was as objectionable, as it ever was, 
 and, in many instances, badly administered. The 
 Roman Caesars, take them altogether, were far from 
 gracing the catalogue of kings. They were, with 
 very few exceptions, the worst of tyrants. But what 
 is the course of conduct, which our Lord tells his dis- 
 ciples to pursue, in relation to civil government ? 
 Does he tell them to rebel, because Caesar was a bad 
 man.? No. Pay Caesar his tribute money. Render 
 wnto Caesar, the things that are Caesar 's ; and, unto 
 Crodj the things that are God's. Only demean your- 
 selves as the faithful followers and disciples of Christ, 
 and God will lake care of Caesar, and punish hira in his 
 own time and way. Christianity, though it reproves the 
 Tpices of kings, and calls upon the judges of t lie earth to 
 be instructed, yet, it will always make orderly citi- 
 aens, under every regularly constituted. government. 
 
 2. We learn the proper mode of effecting a reform 
 in government, whenever it is found needful. Some 
 will say,if pubiick measures go wrong, and we may 
 not rebel, what shall we do ? The answer is, you must 
 pray. God is able to change thie bearts of them that 
 
14 
 
 are in authority. God is able fo change the hearts 
 of the people. And if he do either, all grierances 
 will soon be redressed. The spirit of prajer and re- 
 formation, generally diffused among the people, will 
 effect abetter reforrri iii government, and establish it 
 upon a more permanent foundation, than could ever 
 be effected, by an armed force. Let what revolutions 
 will lake place, the people must still be miserable, 
 and still oppressed, so long as wickednes's prevails. 
 There is no revolution, that will have any very im- 
 portant effect upon the happiness of the people, un- 
 less it be a revolution in morals. Praying, therefore, 
 is always better than sedition. But if the evils, which 
 are suffered in the present world, are not removed ; 
 yet, the time is not far distant, when they certainly 
 wil be redressed, by him who ct)meth to judge the 
 world with righteousness, and the people with his, 
 truth. But 
 
 3. Though we are to pray for kings, and for all 
 such as are in authority, yet, this is no reason, why 
 we should not be thankful, for that happy constitution 
 of Government, under which we, by the good provi- 
 dence of God, are placed^ It must, indeed, be ac- 
 knowledged, that in many parts of the world, such 
 gross darkness covers the people, that monarchy is 
 the only form of civil government, that is practicable. 
 And any form of government, such is the depravity 
 of apostate man, is unquestionably better than none. 
 Suppose, beloved, from a mistaken benevolence, you 
 were immediately to cut the throats of kin^s ; to dis- 
 solve all those constitutions of government, which 
 have been so long establithed, but which do not come 
 up to our standard of liberty ; and suppose you were 
 to tell the people, many of whom are so igaor^nt that 
 
15 
 
 they can neither write nor read, who know little or 
 nothing about the concerns of their own country, and 
 much less concerning other nations, now you shall all 
 be free, choose your own representatives, go, form 
 new constitutions, and govern yourselves ;■ — in what 
 condition would you place them ? — in a condition far 
 more deplorable than that in which you found them — 
 in all the horrors of anarchy. The experiment of a 
 republican government was tried even in France, one 
 of the most distinguished nations of Europe, but ut- 
 terly failed, because the people had neither knowl- 
 edge enough, nor virtue enough, to receive it All 
 that we have to do with kings, is to pity them, and to 
 pray for them, that they may' be disposed to rule in 
 righteousness while their services are needed, and, 
 that when the time shall arrive, that their subjects are 
 prepared for the enjoyment of liberty, that they may 
 then lay aside the robes of royalty, with a good grace^ 
 and carry peace of conscience and the consolations 
 of religion with them, into the shades of their retire- 
 ment 
 
 But if God was pleased to make a selection of wise 
 and virtuous men ; brought them, by a special provi- 
 dence to these American shores; and through their in- 
 strumentalityj laid the foundation of all the civil, lite- 
 rary, and religious institutions, which have prepared 
 this nation for the enjoyment of a more perfect free- 
 dom, under a republican constitution, which, at this 
 present time, stands forth the wonder and the envy of 
 the world ; surely, whilst we pray for kings and such as 
 are in authority, it becomes us to give thanks for all 
 our distinguished privileges. And especially, when 
 we take a review of the history of this State, from the 
 time it was first founded down to the present ; whea 
 
16 
 
 we call to remembrance the long list of enlightened 
 Christian patriots, who have filled IhiB chwir of State, 
 under whose benign influptice so much prosperitj has 
 been enjoyed, and which we still enjoy ; when we 
 comeraplate the general information which has been 
 diffusffi amongst the people, and the order which has 
 so generally prevailed, and which still prevails ; when 
 we contemplate our present condition, and contrast 
 it with the conditionof sd many others who are groan- 
 ing under the iron rod of oppression, while we are 
 sittmg ihis day unmolested under our own vines and 
 fig tree: who among us all, that believes in the ex- 
 istence, and in the superintending providence of God, 
 will not be constrained to admit, that, as a people, 
 we are under peculiar obligations nf gratitude ? A nd 
 4. Should we not offer our devout supplications to 
 God, that all these distinguished privileges may be 
 continued? He who bestowed them upon us, is 
 equally able to take them away. And is there not 
 ?ame occasion to fear that he will ? If we sought him 
 iathe day of our national calamity, and he heard our 
 cry^ and wrought deliverance for us, whaif may we 
 not expect, if in the day of our prosperity We, as a na- 
 tion, renounce his fear, and begin to say,' " We are 
 Lords, we will come no more unto thee ?" Or, in the 
 linguage of Pharaoh, "My river is my own — and! 
 made it for myself?" God will certainly vindicate 
 the honour of his own great name. — Only let vice and 
 irreligion universally prevail, of which many appear 
 go desirous, and whose clamorous voice is so fre- 
 quently heard in the public places ; let the Sab- 
 bath be generally disregarded, and the rights of 
 Jehovah denied, by all those who are in authority ; 
 and the time will not be long before all our happy in- 
 
17 
 
 stitiitions will be laid prostrate, and our Republick 
 will be at an end. Then our boasted Constitution, 
 the wonder of the world, will have become like a me- 
 teor of the night, that shot a momentary glare athwart 
 the sky, and then went out in stench and darkness — 
 And what can prevent? Nothing but the restraining 
 grace of God. Nothing but the outpouring of his ho- 
 ly spirit, both upon them that rule, and upon, them 
 that are ruled. — Should we not then in our suppli- 
 cations bi^seech the God of mercy, to heal our nation- 
 al backslidings, and save us from self destruction? — 
 Shtiuld not iVloses, should not all our political Fa- 
 thers, the Heads of our tribes, and the Representa- 
 tives of the people, spread forth their hands toward 
 heaven, while the ministers of the Lord stand be- 
 tween the porch and the altar, and say, "Spare thy 
 pei iple U Lord, and give not thy heritage to reproach." 
 And should not all the people say, Amen? O could 
 this large and respectable congregation only feel as 
 they ought to feel, were they all truly disposed to 
 draw near to God in the exercise of fervent, eflFectual 
 prayer, which always availeth much ; instead of reap- 
 ing the fruits of our vanity, our levity, our impiety, 
 and our abominations, the bottles of heaven would 
 soon be emptied, and a blessing poured out upon us, 
 which this house would not have room enough to 
 contain. Oh God of mercy, let thy blessed spirit, in 
 its enlightening, convicting, converting, sanctifying, 
 and comforting influences descend and rest upon us. 
 But once more. 
 
 5 If we are to pray for Kings and for all that are 
 in authority, was there ever a time when it was more 
 needful for Christians to attend to this important du- 
 ty than at the present? When was vice ever more 
 prevalent, among all ranks and orders of the people 
 
18 
 
 -throughout the whole world ? When was there «ver 
 a greater reluctance manifested, to submit to those 
 moral restraints, which every provernment, founded 
 in, righteousness, must impose? When did revolu- 
 tions ever follow each other, in so rapid succession ? 
 And what great changes ftiust yet take place, 'in the 
 condition of States and Empires, before the glory of 
 the nillenaai ^y, shall dawn upon this depraved 
 world? The tifri1§ is at haad,,when God will redeem 
 Zion with- judgnsjen^, and|he battle-of the great day 
 of Gad AlmigJi|j!f5,is fast ^pproachihg. Never was it 
 . faiore diffidUk, foi^aqtu^as are in' authority," conscien- 
 tiously to discharge the: duties of their office. M ever 
 did they stand in morfe heed of v^isdom; of grace, and 
 of ibrtitude. -Let all, therefore^ who feel'the benevo- 
 lent desire to pray for the prosperity of " our own be- 
 loved country, for the' interests of Zion, or for the 
 wealof.mankiad, pray for^kings, ;a6d for all tb?it are 
 in authority. Pray that they all may bdmen of God. 
 Prag? that their counsels may be wise and their v^^ay 
 pj-ospfefous, in the- administration of general juslice, 
 and in guiding the nation^n the paths of Virtue, g()od 
 order, and peace. May the Ume. soon come, whfen 
 all, who rule over men,*hallrule in-the fear of God, 
 their subjects be all righteous, and the earth filled 
 with the knawledgjB and glojy of the Lord.-»-AMEN.