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•H6o 
 
f iRTuous RULE^ A NaTIonai Biessin^ 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED AT THE 
 
 /'general election, 
 
 (1 M-A-v fatiiy 1791, 
 
 By TIMOTHY DWIGHT, D. D. 
 
 Pastor of a Church in Fairfield. 
 
 Ojjr holy religion makes good men ; from thence the 
 •tranfition iseafyand natural to regular citizens, and 
 obedient fubjefls. Where private •virtue cannot hefoundf 
 it is in <vain to look for public ; and lanus are of little eficacy 
 luiihout good examples. The operationof tneone isllow 
 and filent ; that of the other is vifible and ^rong, every 
 one fees and feels it. 
 
 Governor Pat tek sou's Anfwertothe Addrefi of 
 the Pre^ytery of New-Branfwic{u 
 
 HARTFORD; 
 
 PRINTED BY HUDSON AND GOODWIN, 
 
 II.DCC.XCI. 
 
yCt a^&ne>%m tAA^emwlu of ike; oiai^ 
 ;- L m y$(yn/ri^Uou/t , holde/nf cd t/hcud- 
 f(yt>(£, tnt mid ifiai&, at, im> p^rnicf 
 dhwradau oJ ^/M^au, t/&. zi), i'^9(* 
 
 iiVavem^uyti, d>da. a/rid 'bolonel CplMcik 
 \j^el, r-eiwt/n, m& XTkcmk^ of im4 
 tA^emwlu to ih& Jim. zDr-. zZ/Tviq'hi, 
 for- ma iJ&'tmiiOTi aeliveri>&df at in& H'&ti- 
 (/toil Gl&dloTit 071 in& i^wi zJJau or 
 ty/tau /75/j amd Teqa&a't a> ^^j^f 
 m&t&of ihdi k w^/zu ue ji%irrde,d. 
 t/C h4(>e, 'bohu of fJh&coTM, 
 Csaca/ini'ned, uu 
 
&££&7S0Jf cfS^JtOJf. 
 
 2 SAMUEL, xxiu. 3, 4, 
 
 ^he God of Ifrael/aid, the Rock of Tfrael /pake, tef 
 me. He that ruleth over men muji bejuji, rul- 
 ing in the fear of God. 
 
 And hejhall be as the light of the morning, when 
 the fun fHfeth ; even a morning without clouds ; 
 as th& tender grafs fpringing out of the earthy 
 by clear fhining ^ter rain. 
 
 WHEN pur anceftors inftituted the fo- 
 lemnities of ' this day, they gj^ve the 
 world a fair exhibition of their jvifdom' and 
 piety. The eledlion of the great officers of a 
 ftate is an event highly iitiportant, and folemn, 
 and ought to be regarded with fokrian emo- 
 tions. To infpire f xh eiiiotions, theyjuftly 
 
S ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 determine^,' nothing would n;ore effedluallf 
 conduce, than the union of the Legiflature ii> 
 the public reverential acknowledgement of the 
 prefence, and agency, of Hi)T>, " whofe throve 
 is prepared in the heavens, and whofe king- 
 dom ruleth over all." Influenced by that pie- 
 ty, whicn wa? their governing . charafteriftic, 
 they wexejexperimentally convinced, that, as no 
 confideration is fo inter efting, fo none . is fo 
 productive of redlitude, in public, or in pri- 
 vate life, as the omniprefence, and omnif- 
 cience^ of that God, to whom we qtjuft give an 
 account of all our conduct. Perfons of fuch a 
 charadler muft alfo have clearly feen, and 
 ftrongly felt, that pertinent religious difcourfes, 
 concerning the duties incumbent on rulers^, 
 delivered ^,t fqch a time, could not fail vof ad- 
 vantageous efitdls. From thefe juft and com- 
 mendable fentiments, the divine fervice of 
 this anniverfary was inftituted by our ancef- 
 tbrs ; and from the fame fentiments,, it has 
 been uniformly celebrated by their defg^ndT 
 ants. * " • . 
 
 * The truth of thefe rerparks will, it is pre- 
 fjmed, be readily acknowledged, by thofe at 
 leaft, whofe authority fandlioned, and whofe 
 prefence countenalnces, the; bulinefs of thi§ 
 meeting.. With equal readinefs will it be ac- 
 knowkdged, that they clearly point out the 
 duty of the preacher. It is vifibly his duty to 
 airn at making fuch imprcffions on the minds 
 of his audience, as will moft effediplly 
 .accomplifh the defign of , the inftitution. 
 
ELECTION SERMON. 7 
 
 It is his duty to addrefs his difcourfe to th« 
 peculiar circumftances of thofe, who fum- 
 moned him to the employment ; and as far as 
 may be, to awaken in them thofe refledlions, 
 which cannot fail to produce^ in men of con- 
 fideration, fome defirable confequences. 
 
 For about a hundred and thirty years, has 
 this inftitution exifted ; and, throughout this 
 long period, wife and virtuous men have annu- 
 ally uttered, from this place, ufeful truths, and 
 pious exhortations. After the labours of fuch 
 a train of refpedtabie charadlers, the prefent 
 preacher cannot hope to entertain his audi- 
 ence with novelty, or inftrudion. In the 
 humbler office of a monitor, he may however 
 advantageoufly remind thofe, who hear him, 
 of their intereft, and duty ; and thus may ren- 
 der to them an office of benevolence, eminent- 
 ly neceflary to fo frail, and fo forgetful a being, 
 as man. 
 
 To a defign of this nature, the paffage 0/ 
 fcripti5J(e pientioned as the theme of the follow- 
 ing difcourfe, is an obvious introduction. The 
 fentiments it contains, are of high importance, 
 and unfold their tr«th, and tnoment, to the 
 flighteft infpedtion. 
 
 In the firft of thefe verfes, it is aflerted to 
 be the duty of a ruler to be juft, and to rule in 
 the fear of God*. In the fecond, the benefi- 
 
 * Tbispaflageoffcrlptore has been fuppofed, pdrfaapt jufflyt 
 
8 ELECTIOlSf SERm6^; 
 
 cent influence of government, formed on thefd' 
 principles^ is declared and defcfibed in tei'ms' 
 of fingular force, and unrivaHed bdauty.' 
 
 On the firlt of thefe alferti6ns> it will be un- 
 neceffiiry to expatiate. Of its truth, there can' 
 be neither denialj nor doubt ; and of its im- 
 portance, a brief examination of the fecond will' 
 furnifli fufficient evidence. The following ob- 
 fervations will therefore he principally confined 
 to thisfoiemn declaration of the God of Ifrael 
 -^ — That ajuft and pious Ruler is an eminent 
 blefling to a people. Of this dodirioe, the 
 text naturally forms the firft illuftratioji.' 
 
 Perhaps there is not, in the whole facfecf 
 volume, a fingle pafiage, introduced with fiich' 
 foknanity and magnificence, as the paflage be- 
 fore us. It is ufhered in by two prefaces ; both 
 of them confpiring, in a ftriking manner, to' 
 increafe the impreffion. We are firft inform- 
 ed by the recording prophet, that thefe are the 
 laft words of David— -his' foleftm farewel to the 
 great kingdom, he had fo long governed ; hisf 
 dying monition to the numerous tribes of fu- 
 
 r 
 
 to be ;a propBecy of the MeffiaS j according to the folloivi 
 ing tranflation — There JhaU be a ruler over men, a jttfl one, rulf 
 mg in the fear of God, &c. Should this opinion be adopted^ 
 the doftrine may be fairly derived from it. The juflice ana 
 piety with vrhich' it 'is propheiied, this glorious perfon fliaUrule 
 over men, are plainly mentioned, as the reafon of that great 
 and general happin^fs, produced by his government. From the 
 force of the argument, and the dignity of ' the example, the 
 do£trine receive* as high a fanfiion, as it could receive fcoia 
 any precept. • ; • . ) 
 
ELECTION SERMON. 9 
 
 ture princes, whom, with the eye of predidion, 
 he faw fpriivgii^g'from his loms ; his final ben- 
 edi(2:ion to thdfe uraiumbeted princes, and na- 
 tions, for whom, throughout the vaft regions, 
 and extended duration, of this world, he knew 
 his inftrudions would be recorded. That we 
 may feel the wdght of this preface, a Angular 
 and illiiflriouS^ char after of David is fubjoined. 
 "David, the fon of Jeffe, the man who was 
 faifed on high, the anointed of the God of Ja- 
 tob, the fweet jPfaimift of Ifrael, faid," &c. 
 
 Nothing could; witit tftdre pertinehce, 
 nave been prefixed to thefe remarlczlble words, 
 by the prophet who has recorded them. From 
 the character of the author they derive the 
 higheft humail faindlion. Seledled by the wif- 
 €om of Jehovah from the whole Ifraelitilh na- 
 tion, at the divine command^ he afcended the 
 throne. In this dignified ftafion, he gave the 
 cleareft proof of the propriety of this provi- 
 dence,, His country had, for ages, been invol-i. 
 ved in the moft diftreffing Wars. In a period 
 of the deepeft calamity, heaflumed the diredli- 
 On of its public affairs, roufed its difmaycd in- 
 habitants to arms and ehtetprife, and, in a lit- 
 tle timej. fubdued all the furrounding nations, 
 from the great fea to the river Euphrates. 
 With foldiers, whom he rajfed, officered, and 
 idifciplined, with a heroifm arid military wif- 
 dom wholly unprecedented, and in dangers, 
 difficulties, and diftrelFes, of which there are 
 few examples, he eftablifhed the moft refpe<it- 
 able empire, at that time in the world. 
 
sa ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 For the government of thefe extqnfive dcv- 
 minions, he projected, and executed, a feries* 
 of the wifeft- military, and political meafures. 
 Steadily attentive to all the great obj efts df 
 policy, he effedlually provided for the defence 
 of his kingdom,, for the enlargepent of com- 
 merce, for the improvernent of agriculture, for 
 the promotion of ufefulknowledge, and for the 
 regular adhiiniftration- of jultice J and, in all,, 
 difptayed a ftrength of genius, and a largenefs- 
 of heart, to which we fhali not eafily find a 
 parralleh At the fame time, he exhibited an 
 illuftrioua example of the moft diftinguilhed 
 virtue. In his. excellent and fplejidid inftitu- 
 tions for the public worfhip of the nation ; in 
 thofe glorious- monuments* of genius and piet^, 
 thofe perpetual diredtories of private and pub- 
 lic devotiony the pfalms he compdfed ; in the 
 regular,.expeditious, andimpartial diftributioil- 
 of civil juftice ; and in the combined beauties 
 of a noble perfonal example ; he gained frorh 
 the voice of heaven that exalted title, ** the 
 man after God's own hearts;" and left his me- 
 morial to fucceeding ages,, as a fweet finelling 
 favour, as an objedl of the applaufe, and the 
 imitation,, of all who fhould come aftethim. 
 
 It is further to be remembered^ that he was 
 advanced to the kingdom, from the humbleft 
 ftation of private life. Tho' defcended frorh 
 princes, he was, like the Melfiah, whom he 
 principally typified, borzi, and educated in the 
 vale of poverty. In the condition of a fubjeft, 
 he had feen, and felt,, all the evils of unjuft and 
 
ELECTION SERMON. i% 
 
 impious rule, exercifed by his predecelTor. As 
 ja fubjedt, he knew' how to feel for other fub- 
 jedts ; as a man perfecuted, for other objedis 'of 
 perfecution ; while, from his long pofleffion of 
 the fceptre of governnient, he became exten- 
 iively acquainted .with thp art of governing 
 ayith dignity, and fuceefs. 
 
 Of fuch 3: man, are thefethe laft words, ut- 
 tered at the clofe of fuch a life. 
 
 '» 
 
 The preface of David is ftill more folemn^ 
 .and affedling. " The fpirit of the Lord," faith 
 he, "fpake by jne;, and his 3vord wag in ipy 
 tongue," That eternal fpirit " who fearcheth 
 iall things, even the de^p things of God," fpeaks 
 jcxprefsly the things, which I now utter, as the 
 furn of his own infinite knowledge of this great 
 fubje(Sl, and the eSu^pn of his infinite benevo- 
 lence to the children of men. <** The God of 
 Ifrael faid, the Rock o/ Ifrael fpa,ke to n>e," 
 &c. The father of the univerfe, ;the ruler of 
 an infiniteveiiipire, declares to xnankind thefe 
 counfels, as a general conformity t;o his pleaf- 
 ure and example ; and as the refuk of his own 
 experience, in the auguft employment of rul- 
 ing the iinmenfity of intelligent bpings. 
 
 Sucif. is the magnificent introdudlion of this 
 lingular paflage ; and fuch is the force, with 
 which it is intended to operate on die mind of 
 every reader. 
 
 In a manner, perfe(fHy fuited to £p imprefliYe 
 ^n exordium, is the dodlrine exhibited by the 
 
7$ ELECTION ^ERMQNr 
 
 paffage itfelf. Aj>d he, i. e.. a,.virtuou3.rulej^, 
 ^all he as the light ot the morning, when the. 
 ilin rifeth, even a morning without clouds, ; as: 
 the tender grafs fprjnging out of" the earth, by 
 clear fhining aftejr rain. Never were objedls- 
 of more pleafing, and fplendid beajity exhibit- 
 ed in com:parifon ; nor cpuld.any conceivable 
 images unfold this fubjedl with fuperiouf ener- 
 g,y. , The light; of the morning is, witjiout a 
 queftion, the firfl; obje<3; in the natural world,, 
 for ISeauty and glory, and the happieft ailufioii 
 for the illuftration of fcenesj rasuiSteed-with- un- 
 ufual gladnefs, profperity , and fplendour. But! 
 it is here enhanced v/ith p6Guhar fe-licity. ' It 
 is not only the morning,- but the- happieft timej 
 of the morning; the time when the fan.rifetb; 
 it is a- morning without clouds' ; a-morrtibg off 
 the fpring, wberi the- tender grafs is fpriiiging' 
 out\ of the earth, and peculiarly ende-are<i' by ' 
 tbe remembrance- of the drearinefs of winter-; 
 a morning! tucceeding a- night of clouds and- 
 fain, and d(bubly delightful 'by the contrail' it 
 formSjto the melancholy gloomof the preceding 
 darknefSi Thus is- the general gkdnefs and> 
 felicity, produced by the benignant infltjencej 
 of;a- virtuous ruler, moft adVantageoufly im— 
 prefled onusj by the voice of the infinite Godw- 
 in the fingularjy happy allufion to the uniypr- 
 fal delight, createdj thro* this-lower worlds "by, 
 theglorrousrifingof an unclouded^piorning in-; 
 the fpring, wlten a pre-cedirtg nigHt-of rain and' 
 darknefs has uftiered it in with incrca:fedt)eau- 
 ty awd fplendour ; when the new born an4 
 newly frelhened verdure has mightily enhaiiq- 
 
^ L E G T? I ON & E R M N. 13, 
 
 jed the general laftre of alithofe-pleafing.fornniS: 
 of eLegianGe. and grandeur,, ,wSich> the- day* 
 fpring, in the, magnificent. language of the Cre— 
 alor, has Itamped on the face of the earthy tui> 
 ned to the fun, " as clay to a feal," that it may 
 deriA^e from his power an ijapi^^efJlon, fo-Mwn- 
 derfi^l and- divine; . r/ 
 
 i ; . - = . 
 
 24 The condu6lo£a v-irtuousv ruler, both-iiv 
 his public,, and in his private charadter^ will al-- 
 ia happily illuftrate the dodrine. 
 
 To form fatisfadlory ideas of tlk natural, thie* 
 neceflaryj condudl of a, virtuous ruler* it may- her 
 ufeful to| turn our attention, for a moment,, tOf 
 the feve^al prindijleSi under the influence q6 
 which, a^iuler may be fuppofed toain* at the. 
 public gb^^l. 
 
 A RULM. may fee fuppoledta ^m at the pub*- 
 lie good, ^om the felfifli principles of avairie& 
 and ambitSon ; Ip far as he conceives the pub--, 
 lie good and his own private intereft to be in- 
 feparably- c^i^nnefted. With what uncertainty 
 and hazards the welfare of a community isi en-^ 
 trufted to ijr^en, governed folely by. thefe prin*^ 
 ciples, we rtxay eafily determine,^ by recolle(5ting 
 how often tl^iat welfare will be reajiiy feparated; 
 from the priy^e -intereft of any individuali, afl4 
 how much-kjjftenerJthefe things will be viewed 
 a^ feparate,l by the felfijli affefiions, and- die 
 biafled- judgwaentof that individuak M tihis 
 mode-. of determining', flaouldbe thoEght imprio- 
 per, , hiftoryjl^Akd with, the unHvunbertid md 
 
14 ELECTION SERMON^ 
 
 infinite evils of fcepKred atribition, and ava^j. 
 jicc, Tvill effiablifh the like determinationj with 
 an authority,- which' can neither be gainf^yed^ 
 nor refifted; 
 
 HonOu-r conftitutds-another bafis, on which 
 it has been thought, the public intereft might 
 fafely reft. Honour, . as commonly ufed, and 
 pride are but difFerdnt naimes for the fame or 
 dious, titeaeherous, domineering paffiop. Of 
 its ufual and natural eiftdls, we may fiitd an 
 imprelfive lift, in the private hiftory of. garn- 
 bling, lewdneis, dueling and fuicidej anda 
 more fplendid one, in the' public aiinals of 
 imperial luxury, war, and defpotifm. ' It is 
 however further to be remarked, tjiat, as hon- 
 our, in this fenfe, is wholly governed by a re- 
 gard to the eye of mankind, fo it can have no 
 influence in meafures, withdrawn from the 
 itifpediion of that eye : a clafs of meafiires, ori . 
 ^hich always a great.part, and often tjie whole^ 
 of the public good ultimately depend^. 
 
 But it has been urged, that there is another 
 and fuperiour kind of honour, which, in oppo- 
 fition to the falfekind, I have mentioned, is 
 called true honour. Thisis varioufly defined. 
 Sometimes itis afferted to be an ii^indtive and 
 exquiftte fenfibility to right and wrong, to that 
 which is noble or debafed ; by which the mind 
 fe irrefiftibly, oratleaftvery forcibly, led to 
 purfuethat, which is right and fldble, and to 
 fhun that which is wrong and debafed. Some- 
 times it is fpoken of, as a governing reverence^. 
 
EtECTION SERMON. i-^ 
 
 fdtby^a man for the approbation, of his own 
 mind, and a difpofition fteadily determined to 
 deferve it. The opinion, contained in thefirft 
 of thefe definitions,, is fairly prefumed to be 
 chimerical ; no fatisfadlory evidence having 
 been hitherto offered, of the exiftence of fuch a 
 principle. According to the laflr, honour will 
 probably be found to differ little from confci- 
 entioufnefs j a principle which I fhall now 
 proceed to confider. 
 
 - The natural confcience, then, carefully cul- 
 tivated by education into habit, enlivened by a 
 fixed fenfe of accountablenefs to God, and 
 flrengthened by the belief of future eternal re- 
 tribution; as revealed in the fcriptures of truth, 
 forms another, and it muft be confelTed, a much 
 more folid foundation, on which to reift the 
 welfare of a community. A habit of confcien- 
 tioufnefs is frequently lading, and frequently 
 extenfive in its effed|:s ; and the fteady belief of 
 a certain, endlefs retribution, beyond the grave, 
 furnifhes a guard againft: temptation, and ini- 
 quity, which is powerful in its operations, and 
 which extends its influence to the clofet, as 
 well as to the houfe top ; to the condudt, which 
 no human eye, feeth, as well as to that, which 
 , k opened to the eye of the world. 
 
 But real or fcript^ural virtue prefents us a 
 ftill different objed: of public as well ^s private 
 confidence. The great ""law of righteoufnefs, 
 by which the Creator requires his intelligent 
 creatures to regulate their affedions, is " Thou 
 
a^ E L E C T I ^ i^ ^m R M 6 % 
 
 ■?!ia1t lovetTiyTtelghbour as thyfetf;" or, as it 
 TeQjefts the adrions of fuch creatures, " What-^ 
 ever ye would that men fhould do unto you/do" 
 -ye even fo to ihetn." A cheerful obedience 
 -df the heatt to ihis great comffiaiid, and "to that, 
 "other, whith is like untD it;;." is the futti of 
 teal; or foriptobtl virtue/ 
 
 Hbw fair aWA' 'fu'f6«itnt grbuiid df public 
 confidence is difplayed by this principfie, a few 
 pbfervations will eafily illuftrate. The -gov- 
 erning difpofition of a tiiler, • ^hofe heart is' 
 -conformed to this great law, muft l^ceffarily 
 lead him t6 -a faithful^ Uniform .putfuit of the 
 public -iTrtereft, in preference to atty private' 
 •line, and to Fedkthe good of millions rather 
 Than his own. Between felfifli and general ob-' 
 jed:s, us there is in reality, fo there will be in' 
 his view, no proportion j and between the 
 pleafure of feekingthe otne, and the duty of 
 jpromoting ihe other, he can admit of no bal- 
 lancing. The principle, '1jy\i^hich he is ren-^ 
 dered the objedl of the public confidence, is 
 fuperior tothat ofthe avaricious, and that of 
 :the ambitious man,-not only becaufe itpoffeff- 
 es higher dignity, and amiablenefs/but alfo be-- 
 caufe'his intettft can never be feparated by it 
 from that of the community: to that of the 
 man of honour, becaufe it furnifties a ruling 
 motiveto rdftittfde, in fecret, as well as in open 
 lineafures ; and to that of the man habitually 
 confcientious, and poffeffed of clear convidtim 
 of accOQntableneTs and retribution, becaufe vir- 
 tuous habits cannot change ; -and becaufe, -as 
 
ELECTION SERMON. 17 
 
 we daily difcern, in the different degrees of o- 
 bedience, rendered by the dreading fervant, 
 and by the affedlionate child; love is an incom- 
 parably more efficacious fpring, than fear, of 
 fteady, fiithful, and uniform duty. 
 
 Unoer the diredlion of this principle, th^ 
 inagiftracy of a ruler will naturally be fuch, as 
 to fecure the approbation of wifdom, and to 
 command the applaufe of virtue. This all a- 
 miable difpolition, pointing, with a few varia- 
 tions of humaTi infirmity, to the pole flar of 
 public happinefs, will diredt the extenfive 
 means of ufefulnefs, encircled by his office, to 
 the nobleft purpofes; In the laws he enadls, in 
 the jifdgments he pronounces,- and in the pun- 
 ifhftients he executes, juflice, benignity and 
 mercy will form the great outlines of his cha- 
 radter. It will be his natural, his conflant la- 
 bour, fo to diftribute the burthens of the com- 
 munlty^ that they will refl moft eafily on the 
 public fhoulder y to hufband the public pro- 
 perty, with the exadtnefs of private oeconomy ; 
 to treat the creditors of his nation with the 
 fcrupulous fairnefs of mercantile puridtuality j 
 and to purfuc,- tlfrough all its' numerous paths,: 
 that righteoufncfs,- which nourifhes, adorns^ 
 and exalts a nation. As a magiftrate, he 
 would blufh toprojedt, or to countenance, any 
 meafure, which would difgrace him as a man. 
 If it were propofed to fandlion fraud, to pro-* 
 mulgate falfehoody or to eftablifh iniquity, by 
 law, it would prefeiiti him no temptation, it 
 C 
 
fS ELECTION SERMONl- 
 
 would yield him no fupport, to remember* 
 that multitudes, befide himfelf, were iharers in- 
 the guilt and in the infamy. 
 
 The firft duty of a ruler, and the firft con- 
 cern of a virtuous ruler^ is the fupport of re- 
 ligion. Let not my audience from this re- 
 mark imagine, that I wifti a revival of that 
 itiotley, fyftem of domination- which in Europe 
 has fo long, fo awkwardly,, and fo unhappily 
 blended civil- and fpiritual obj^drs. An infi- 
 del could not,, with more regret, fee fpiritual 
 eourts, laws prefcribing faith, binding the con^ 
 fcience, and diftinguifhing . by civil privileges 
 the feveral clafles of religious,' or- magiflrates 
 *jfurping the throne of the Creator, and claim- 
 ing the prerogatives of the fupreme head of 
 the church.. The ruler,, who wiflies to be- 
 friend religion, is forced by no neceffity to adla- 
 ®f perfecution, injuftice, or party ; nor becaufe- 
 he is defirous of avoiding fuch-afts, is he by 
 any neceffity reftrained from adiing at all. 
 Friendlhip to religion is the firft characteriftic 
 ©fa good man. As fiich a man muft univer-- 
 lally defire the good of mankind,, fo he muft,. 
 with the greateft ardency, dffefire this: infinite 
 goodv That elevation ta office, which enlarg- 
 es the means of doing good, will-v- in his view, 
 inftead of leffening, in<;reafe his obligations to 
 " feek firft the kingdom of God, its righteouf- 
 nefs," and profperity. This duty he will en- 
 endeavour to perform,not in the miftaken 
 ways already mentioned, -but by fteadfaftiy 
 oppofing immorality, by employing and hon- 
 
ELECTION SERMON, i^ 
 
 «ouring the juft, by contemning the vicious, 
 by enlarging the motives to righteoufnefs, by 
 jfemoving the temptations to fin," and, in a 
 word, by that general train of virtuous meaf- 
 ,ures, which, like a magical charm, unobferv- 
 edly fpreads its influence over moral things, 
 and, in a gloomy waflie of vice and impiety, 
 jealls up a new creation of beauty, virtue, and 
 happinefs. 
 
 Among the means of advapcing religion, a 
 perfonal example is commonly of the firft im- 
 portance. Even in private life, its elFecSs ar^ 
 ^reat and flriking— In family education, a 
 good parental example inftrudts more than the 
 wifeft precepts, and regulates beyond the beft 
 ,exerted government. But in a ruler, the im- 
 portance of example is not eafily meafured. 
 So numerous are the perfons, who obferve, and 
 ^imitate his condudl, fo diftinguilhed is the 
 brilliancy refledted on it by office, that in form- 
 ing an idea of its influence^ the moft romantic 
 imagination will eafily fall ihort of the truth. 
 Strongly affed:ed by the importance of thefe 
 fadls, it will be the daily ftudy of a virtuous ru- 
 ler, to acft always in fuch a manner, as to allure 
 .others to virtue, and not to vice ; to uphold re- 
 ligion, and not licentioufnefs ; to fupport the 
 righteous, and riot the enemies of righteouf- 
 nefs. Though, during his a"dminiftration, as 
 at the prefent time, " iniquity fhould abound, 
 and the love of many fhould wax cold" the 
 ftrength of the oppofition, the boldnefs of the 
 yidicule, and the impudence of the contempt, 
 
5P ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 wi'U, inftead of relaxing, confirm his refolutiora, 
 and redouble his efforts againft the enemies of 
 religion. 
 
 Thus to leflen the public diftrefles, to in- 
 cr^fe the public happiriefs, to difcourage vice, 
 to uphold religion, to fiarid approved at thci 
 awful tribunal of his confcience, and to gain the 
 approbation of him, from whofe judgment 
 there is no appeal, will be the end of his plan^ 
 and his exertions, his example and his magi-^ 
 llracy. ■ , ^ 
 
 3. The peculiar power which a virtuous ru-, 
 ler poffeffes, of being ufeful to a nation, may 
 alfo advantageoufly illuftrate the dodrine. ' 
 
 - The pertijtiencc of this obfervation, which i^ 
 interjded principally to be applied to the ruler 
 of a free people, may be exhibited in the fol- 
 lowing manner.' An important part of a ru- 
 ler's ability to be ufeful confifts' in his influ- 
 ence. The influence of any man depends 
 principally on his- perfonal charadter. If his 
 adlions befuch, as td manifefl: principle, inte-. 
 grity, or virtue, to the genefal eye, he be- 
 comes, of courfe,' pofleffed of the general confi- 
 dence. In a country where all Tneafures are 
 decided by fuffrages, a fixed belief of the 
 mover's integrity, and fteady patriotifm, as of- 
 ten comhiands thofe fuffrages in favour of the 
 meafures, which he propofes, and gives popu- 
 larity, and efficacy, to the execution of them, 
 as the nature of the me^fur^s. Perhaps it is 
 
 ^:. 
 
Ei^ECTION SERMON. a? 
 
 pot even a ftrong aflertion, to declare, that the 
 confidence, repofed in the virtue of the firft 
 inagiftrate of this country, has had as much in- 
 fluence, in procuring the general voice in be- 
 half of our national conftitution, and in fanc- 
 tioning its operations, as the nature o| the g^n- 
 ftitution, or thewifdomandjufticeconfpicuoUs 
 in its operations. As therefore it will fre- 
 quently happen, that very important public 
 meafures will much depend on this confidence, 
 or the want of it, for their adoption, or their 
 rejedlion, and as the whole wellbeing of a na- 
 tion may not unfrequently be decided by this 
 circumftance, it's weight cannot fail of a high 
 eftimation. 
 
 4. In the laft place, I fhall endeavour to il- 
 iuftrate the doctrine by a fummary exhibition 
 of the contraft, formed by a wicked ruler, to a 
 jyirtuous one. 
 
 In all the important particulars, I have mcn- 
 tioried, a wicked ruler is the reverfe of a virtu- 
 pus one. His adminiftration commences unr 
 der the government of thefe two noxious prin- 
 ciples — That his own higheft intereft is diftind: 
 from that of the public — and that his own in- 
 tereft is, in all things, to be preferred by him 
 to that of the public. Magiftracy is, there- 
 fore, in his view, but a convenient engine for 
 the accomplishment of his felfilh wifhes ; a 
 courfer, put into his hands, merely that he may 
 ride, for bufinefs, or for pleafure. From theffe 
 governing principles are derived all thofe e- 
 
^2 , E L E e T I O N SERMON, 
 
 r 
 
 ivils, in puMic adminiftration, which diftracil 
 a community from within, or wafte it from 
 without. ■ Oppreflive Ig-ws, partial judgments^ 
 and cruel executions ; ^urdenfome taxes^ 
 and fquandered revenu.es ; injurious promo- 
 tioj^s, eaufekfs ejedions from office, negledl of 
 the worthy, and employment of the worthlefs ; ' 
 caballing, ele<£tioneering, and corruption ; ge- 
 neral fufferings, and general murmurs, are in 
 the number of thofe evils, which, under the 
 fftagiftracy of fuch ^ ruler, diftrefs the internal 
 itate of a people. \t wiU be needlefs on this 
 occafion to turn our eyes to the external 
 pniferies of war g.nd devaftation, naturally 
 fpringing from the fame fountain ; war kind- 
 led merely to gratify pride, and devaftation 
 and rapine extended merely to glut the rapaci- 
 ty of avarice, or cruelty. Our own immediate 
 concern is with the other clafs of objedls ; and 
 from this cljifs, I prefunae, a fuffic^ent ftlpdtio:^ 
 has been made, 
 • ^ 
 T^E particular <:ourfe of wicked condud:, 
 purfuedf by an unprincipled ruler, will indeed 
 be pointed out by his predominant propenfity. 
 A§ this may happen to be avarice, ambition, 
 floth, or fenfuality^ his condudl will be marked 
 by the colouring peculiar to it ; or fhould he, 
 as frequently occurs, be governed by feveral, or 
 all of them, his magiftracy will be tinged by 
 the evil difpofition, at the time prevailing ; but 
 the tindture will be always deep and poifonousi, 
 and the variegations will be only variegations 
 pf foulnefs, guilt, and difhonor. 
 
 \ 
 
y y 
 
 ELECTION SERMON. f| 
 
 It has been generally agi-eed by enlightened 
 riien, and even by enlightened infidels and 
 atheifts, that religion in a community is effen- 
 tially neceflary to its well being. This agree- 
 Jnent may, I prefume, be fairly fuppofed to be 
 a fufficient proof of the juftnefs of the opinion. 
 Should higher proof be demanded, perhaps it 
 may be furnjlhed by a momentary furvey of 
 the ftate of a people, wholly without religion. 
 Think, for a moment only, of a country, inha- 
 bited by thofe, who neither feared God, nor 
 regarded man ; by men, infenfible to moral 
 obligation, governed by fierce paffion, and grofs 
 appetite v men of this world merely, uncon- 
 cerned with truth, or duty, rewards, or punifli- 
 ments ; mea, ftrangers to veracity, juftice, de- 
 ficacy, and decency ; men, exceptions to the 
 Gharadter of human nature, even in the vileft 
 national condition ; an aftonilhment, a by- 
 word, and a hiffing, to their fellow creatures j 
 a nuifafice to the univerfe, and a fmoke in the 
 noftrils of their Creator. On what grounds 
 could the infinitely wife and juft God be fup- 
 pofed to continue the exiftcnce of fuch a na- 
 tion ? What valuable end of being could they 
 be fuppofed to anfwer ? 
 
 But if a nation of profligates would be fuch 
 a blot in the creation of God, let it be uni- 
 formly remembered, that a profligate ruler is 
 the firft and greateft inftrument of national 
 profligacy. That flriking and infamous cha- 
 racter of Jeroboam, " that he finned himfelf, 
 and made Ifrael to fin," belongs, as the com- 
 
a4 ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 mon fenfe of nfilnkind, f ecording with an un- 
 erring, and prophetic hand, fteadily teftifies;/ 
 to every wicked ruler. , Goiiibining in himfelf 
 the great fp rings of Jtiflion', preftding over ali 
 the great rnterells of a nation, dirediing all it's 
 great operations/ and diffiiflng a malignant 
 moral influence over all the parts of it, he is 
 at once the moving principle and the regulat- 
 ing power,- of the whole machine. Nor cair 
 we for a moment hefitate to believe, that, thuS" 
 moved, and thus regulated,- it mufl: be foon dif- 
 ordered, and deftroyed. 
 
 From the m'agiftracy, and from the ex-i" 
 ample,- of fuch a ruler, alike, will corruptioir 
 and ruin fpread through the members of a com-i' 
 munity, and potfon the ftreams of health and 
 life. Awed by his power, authority, and mea-. 
 fures, the friends of virtue are neceffitated to 
 hide their heads from fhame, infult, and pun- 
 ifhment. Called forth,- from their lurking, 
 places, into office, charadler, and diflindioni 
 " the wicked walk on every fide." Charmed 
 by the fplendor of dignity, by the glare of 
 pomp, and by the. dazzling elFedts of influencci 
 all feen with a falfe deceiving gaudry, by the 
 jaundiced eyes of ambition, the young, the gay/ 
 the afpiring, and the brilliant, look up to him^ 
 as the ftandard of excellence, and pant " to be 
 perfedt, as he is perfedl." His fentim.ents are 
 greedily imbibed,, his adlions anxioufly imitat- 
 edy and his fpeeches repeated with admiration 
 and applaufe. Example always powerful, and 
 in a ruler always peculiarly powerful, in a vi- 
 
ELECTION SERMON. 25 
 
 pious rulfer has a redoubled power. The vici- 
 bus inclinations which are fo commonly the 
 governing ones, are peculiarly delighted to fee 
 the door to vicious indulgence opened by the 
 example of officed vice, and feel themfelves 
 ftreiigthened to eve'ry evil purfuit, by the flat- 
 tering union of wickednefs and dignity. Thus 
 is an allurement to depravity and corruption 
 prefented to youth, efpecially to the brighteft 
 and moft ambitious, Sgainfl: the ruinous effedls 
 of which, reafonand religion ftruggle in vain. 
 
 Thus all the valuable interefts of a nation,' 
 the public and the private happinefs alike, fuf- 
 fer, from the magifbracy of an impious ruler. 
 Law no longer looks with an equal eye on the 
 feveral claffes, and the feveral concerns, of the 
 nation. Juftice weighs, and diftributes, with 
 an uneven balance, and fuffers that fword 
 which was appointed to be the terror of evil 
 doers, to ruft in the fcabbard. Religion, op- 
 pofed by his meafures, and difcountenanced by 
 his example, languiflies a:nd decays: Ixrcligi- 
 on, elevated to diftincflion; and graced by office, 
 impuderitly lifts up her deformed face, and 
 looks down upon humbled wifdom and piety. 
 The parent trembles for the morals^ the cha- 
 fader, the falvation of his children ,- the huf-^ 
 band's heart beats with perpetual alarms, for 
 the fidelity, the honour, and the happinefs of 
 his wife ; the wife lickens at the changed coun- 
 tenance, and warping affedlions, of her huf- 
 band ; and the wife and good man is daily ex- 
 D 
 
d4 ELECi'TfdN' SERMONi- 
 
 Cfuciated by the fight of his degenerating' 
 friends, aiid his corrupting country, by the de-' 
 cline of piety and wifdom, bjr ttee ^etjeat of 
 tecuth and faivatioh/ 
 
 The feveral fenti^ents advanced i& illuftra'-* 
 tions of tbii^intereftingdoftrine, fraught with- 
 truth and evidence in themfelves, receive the 
 highe^fl: fan6lioh fro^ the i!nfpired declarationsif^ 
 In the loiff PfalrrljDavid, with the voice of 
 truth, beautifijlly unfolds t^e p^'oper' charade? 
 of a ruler, in a^folemn covenant with his-Mak-' 
 ex, to '* riole in the fear of God." ^ "I will fing, 
 of mefcy and judgment, unto tfeeV O Lordj 
 wiH I fing.- I'willbebave rnyfelf wifely iri; a' 
 perfedl w^y, I will walk within my houfe with* 
 a perfed hearts I- wilt fet no wicked thing be- 
 fore mine eyes. ; s frowaird heart fhall diepart 
 from me ; I will not know a wick^ perfon*- 
 tVhofo privity Handereth his neighbour, hint 
 wiU 1 cut off ; him that hath a high look^ and 
 a proud beart,- will I not fuffer. Mifie eyes 
 Ihall dwell upon the faithful of the land, that 
 they may dwell with me ; and he that walkeitb 
 iii a: perfedl way, he iliall ferve me. He that 
 wofkqth deceit fhall not dwell within my 
 houfe ; he that telkth lies fhall not t&vi^ in;^ 
 my fight. I wild defl:roy all the wicked gut of' 
 the land, that I may cut off all- wicked doers 
 from the city of the Lord,"' In the 72d Pfalm' 
 he alfo exhibits both the charadlerofa virtuous- 
 ruler, and the. blefling's of his govefnmenty 
 With that glow 6f feeHngjthat- fplendor of poe- 
 try and infpiration, which are not oftert to' bef 
 
^J.EC-TIlON SERMON, p^ 
 
 /ound even in his writings, and which prove, 
 ^t once,the peculiar fincerity of the writer, and 
 the high importance of the fubjedt. In the 
 firft nine chapters, and occafion^lly through 
 the remaining part, of the boojfc of Proverbs^ 
 Solomon urges the ftri<9;eil cou.rfe of piety, and 
 jrighteoufnels, upon his fon and fucceflbr, ..jvith 
 the wifdom of the wifeft of men, with the 
 yearnings of a father's heart, and with the fef- 
 your of a man bleeding at every pore, from th? 
 Remembrance of his ownbackflidings. In the 
 jdefcription of a corrupt ^nd impious prince, 
 givento the IfraeUtes by Samuel, i . Sam. viii. 
 'i ii, &c. we.have one of the many ftriking pic- 
 tures, in the Bible, of the c^iious charad:er, and 
 unfpeakablemiferies, of unri^teous dominion. 
 To appeal to other pajdages of .either jkind will 
 be unneceflary. Thefe prove, beyond difpute, 
 jchat, *" as a roaring lion, and as a ranging 
 Jjear, fo is a wicked ruler over the poor peo^^ 
 pie ;" and that |^' the king by jiidgment" ai^cj 
 ifighteoufaefc " jpftablilheth the la^d*" 
 
 ,^. History alfo yields abundant aftd unan-' 
 fwerable proof of the dodlrine, and of the fen- 
 timents,, by which it has been illuftrated- In 
 the hiftory of the facred volume, a hiftory, 
 ,which, befide its unqueftidnable authenticity, 
 poffefles the great advantage of being far bet- 
 ter known to every chriftiah audience, than any 
 other hiftory, and is therefore more happily ap- 
 plied to this delign, it feems to have been ^ 
 principal intention, throughotit feveral books, 
 
 jf PrtJV, xXviii. ij. t Prpv. *xix. 4. 
 
28 ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 to exhibit the beneficent influence of virtue, 
 jand the malignant influence of vice in rulers. 
 iDavid, Jehofhaphat, Jotham, Hezekiah, Jofi- 
 ^h, and Nehemlah, are illuftrious examples of 
 virtuous magistracy. The jufliice with which 
 they governed, the heroifm with which they 
 (defended, ' the conftancy with whicli they loV- 
 ed, their people, were glorious proofs of their 
 benevolence. The encouragement which they 
 uniformly gave to the friends of religion, and 
 the opposition they uniformly made to its en- 
 emies, by their public cbnducfl and perfonal. 
 example, were equally glorious proofs ■ of their 
 piety. Under their protedtion, their ^ countfe- 
 nance, their aufpicious patronage,piety and righ- • 
 teoufnefs, as in a fruitful foil, cheered by kind- 
 ly rains, and temperate funs, fprang up, flour- 
 ilhed, and yielded a plentiful and moffc profita- 
 ble harveft;. While the whole earth befide was 
 one gloomy fcene of ignorance, violence, and 
 profligacy, the country which they ruled, en- 
 joyed, 'in a greater degree thah cbuld be rati- 
 onally hoped, peace, liberty, light, and happi- 
 tiefs. Tinged they undoubtedly were with hu- 
 man imperfe<3:ipns ; but they were yet very 
 fair examples of the amiablenefs, the excellen- 
 cy, the propitious influence, of "ruling juftly,. 
 ^nd in the fear of God." 
 
 From our own hiftory, ]ivhich after that of 
 the fcriptures, is better known to us than any 
 other, I might multiply examples, of the like 
 pertinent application. Perhaps no country 
 has enjoyed the goverijment pf fo many tulers. 
 
ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 s^ 
 
 pf diftinguiftied virtue, as this. Our rulers 
 liave not only been decent, and unexceptiona- 
 ble, but bold, ftrenuous, and exemplary, in 
 their virtue. In their public and private con- 
 .dudt, they have fought, and fecured, the gene- 
 ral profperity, and caufed " the righteous to 
 flourilh, with abundance of peace." 
 
 Correspondent with their efforts havebeett 
 the bleflihgs generally enjoyed. The liberty, 
 the order j the peace, the population,the learning, 
 the piety, of our State have Icarcely kndwn an 
 example. No fuch exhibition has probably 
 t)eeh given to the eye of time, of the' feign of 
 righteoufnefs ; no fuch fpecirrien of the weight 
 of wifdom and integrity, uncloathed with tile 
 enligns of fplendour ; no fuch proofs of the hap- 
 py influence of virtuous rule, fince authority 
 lirft ieredted her throne among the defcendant? 
 ..of Adam. • - ■ • 
 
 The minds of all my audience will, almoft 
 -of neceflity, call upon me to produce, on fucli 
 a lift, the name of the firft Magiflfate of the 
 , IJnited States of America. Had hot the moft 
 evident propriety forced' me to mention this 
 great and illuftrious perfon, I woyld have a-, 
 voided maldng an addition to that burden of 
 praife, with which he has been fo long diflrelT- 
 ed. But as there are fome perfbns from whom, 
 on every occafion, infamy inftindlively borrows 
 her examples ; fo to him, with equal fponta- 
 jieity, commendation always turns her eye, 
 whether ihe fearches for proofs, of private a- 
 
^9 ELECTION SERMON, 
 
 paiablenefs, or of public dignity and virtue^ 
 The application of this example to the dodrin^ 
 in hand is, in every refpedt, obvious and ftrifc- 
 jng. All perfons mult feel, and confefs it, whp 
 Remember, that to the charm of his influence, 
 and to the confideijce univerfally repofed in 
 his integrity and wifdom, the adoption of our 
 national conftitution, the peace, the order, and 
 ^e facilityj with which it lias begun to operate, 
 and^ of confequence, our prefent union, and all 
 its intercfting g^ttendants^ are, in a prime mear 
 fUre, to be attributed. 
 
 Jt may alfo, ,:^yit3hi the greateft propriety, be 
 pbferved, that both the countries, from which 
 pur hiftorical illuftrations have been drawn, 
 have, while thus governed, and thus influenced, 
 been regarded by" Heaven, with peculiar fav-1 
 pur. That this might be fairly expedled, few 
 perfons will difpute ; and that it t|0ok place, 
 with regard to Ifrael, we are affured by God 
 himfelf.; • Concerning our (Jwh'oduntry, we 
 have not jndeed a prophet to teftify ; but if 
 an uniform experience may be allowed to de-- 
 fide, there will be left little room for doubt, 
 if we remember the bleffings, which we have 
 received ; if we remember the declarations, on 
 the general fubjedl, in the wprd of God, if we 
 remember, that the inhabitants, by their fiifFra- 
 ges, have ever created their rulers ; we fliall be 
 eafily convinced, that the application of the 
 fentiment is as juft, to this country, as to Jude'a. 
 While, therefore, the fteady eledion of perfons, 
 diftinguipaeci by virtue, tp the firft offices of 
 
government, refle<3s the higheft gl6ry on the' 
 wifdom and integrity of the inhabitants of this- 
 State, we haVe very fufficient reafori greatly to 
 attribute, to this condudt, the peculiar favour 
 of Heiav^n, which we have always enjoyed. 
 
 From hiftory, alfo, we are fuMifhed with the 
 afmpleft proof, that the operations' of wicked 
 iiaagiftracy have ever ccfnftituted the firft clafsr 
 of human evils, and ftained the name of man 
 with the d^epeft infamy. The earth ha^^ 
 groaned with the infupportable burthen ; time 
 has fhuddered to rehearfe the tale; and Heaven^ 
 ies at the dehige, has been often called upon for 
 new feelings of repentance, that manwasmade^ 
 Thenames of Ahab,-Man^eh, Nerd, Catliguk, 
 Heliogabalus, Mary the i ft, and Charles the ad', 
 with innumerable others, are i fufficient veri- 
 fication of thefe remarks ; but every page of 
 hiftory; facred and profane, niuft be feardled', 
 if we would comprehend the height, and tjie 
 depth, of this- vaft and humiliating' fubjedl. 
 
 I HAVE only to obferve further, concerning^ 
 the dodtrine, that it is applicable to all rulers, 
 of what office foever, in proportion to the im- 
 portance of their offices, and the exten^venels 
 of their inftuenccif 
 
 Among the feverjtl fentiments, natufaljy de^ 
 duced from this difcourfe, two appear to be 
 peculiarly commended to our attention* 
 
32 ELECTION SERMON; 
 
 I. How illuftrious a charadtcr is a virtuous^ 
 ruler. 
 
 « 
 
 Alt things, relating to this fubjedt, unite to 
 unfold, and to complete, the charader ofa vir-. 
 tuous ruler. The ftation, to which he is ad- 
 vanced, is the firft eminence,' beneath the fun. 
 The views, excited by it,- in the human fnind,: 
 are ftrongly pidlured to the eye, by thofe enfigns ; 
 of majefty, which have furrounded it, from , 
 t^xe beginning ; the throne, the crown, the 
 fcepter, the pomp of attendance, and the other 
 numerous peculiars of royalty. On the ear 
 are thefe views imprelTed by titles of dignity, 
 of awfulnefsybf fandity, of divinity. The fer- 
 vices of the body, the treafures of the purfe," 
 and the homage of the heart, have confpired to' 
 ihew, and that, even when miftaken and im- 
 pious, the fublime ideas, men have inftind:ive- 
 ly formed of the dignity of a ruler. 
 
 The vaft means ofufefulnefsj within the li- 
 mits of fiiperibur offices in government, not on- 
 ly render them defirable objeds of pofleffion' 
 to a perfon, who wifhes to be ufeful,but exceed- , 
 ingly enhance their imiportance in the eyes of, 
 mankind. The human eye beholds, with the 
 moft fblemh regard, fo much happinefs en- 
 trufted to the difpofal of a fingle man, fuch ex- 
 fcnfive means of doing good attached to a fin- 
 ^e office, and is inftinclively led to form no- 
 diftant refemblaWe between him who fills that 
 office, in a manner correfpondent with the' 
 divine defignation, and that glorious Agent,, 
 
tLECTl6N SERMOT^J. 3^ 
 
 ^hOi in an office infinitely more elevated, " is 
 good, and doth "good, and exercifes his tender 
 fnercies over all his works." Nor is this re-i 
 femblance iftipioufly, or irrationally formed. 
 In the language of infpiration itfelf^ we find 
 the name Elokim, one of the titles of divinityi 
 applied to thofe,- who are appointed to be 
 " Minifters of God, for good, to his people." 
 We can therefore fcarcely be fpfprifed, though 
 we may well be difpleafed, that the mind of 
 inan, darkened^ as it has generally been, with 
 ignoranct and fuperftition, and difpofed, as it 
 has ever been, to carry all its condudt into ex- 
 tremes, fhould attach to fupremacy of domin- 
 ion fome of the attributes of Godhead, and 
 render to the perfons of prince-s that facred 
 homage, which is due to Jehovah alone. 
 
 In the hands of a virtuous ruler, all thefe 
 tnaterials of dignity, and all thefe means of ufe- 
 fulnefs, are prefented to the confiderate eye^ 
 with a; peculiar fplendour. Such a ruler not 
 only fills the ftation, which, in this world, is; 
 •the neareft approach to tha;t infinite ftation^ 
 filled by the Creator ; but he alfo adts the cha- 
 radrer, which is the neareft refemblance to his. 
 Far from being fatisfiedwith efcaping cenfure^ 
 and paffing, with quiet decency, through his. 
 adminiftration ; far from' contenting himfelf 
 with wilhing kindly to the pubUc weal, he 
 makes it his prime objedt, he ufes his moft 
 ftrenuous efforts, to promote it. To accom- 
 plilh extenfive good, to make mankind betteri 
 E 
 
34 ELEG.TIGN SERMaiSf. 
 
 and happier, to give' confidence to virtue, to' 
 trample vice under foot, to extend the king- 
 dom of righteoufntfs, to enlarge the general af-* 
 fembly of the flrft-born, to increafe the glory 
 of the Father, the Redeemer, and the Sanc- 
 TiFiER, of mail, is his conftant, his favourite^ 
 his profeffional employment.' 
 
 To a ferious mind, the character of fuch i 
 ruler appears invefted with Angular glory. In 
 the view of fuch a mind, he ftands the vice- 
 gerent of jErfovA», appointed to execute 
 the , nob left, purpofes. In the view of fuch 
 a mind, he is not only elevated to the firft 
 earthly diftin6Hon, cntrufted with the firft 
 Bieans of ufefulnefs, and feparated from the 
 reft of men by peculiar enfigns of dignity ; but^ 
 by the voice of God, he is entitled to an unri- 
 v'alled hoi^ia'ge, and fecured from oppofition, 
 obloquy, and irreverence.- A long train of fo-^ 
 lemn commands, refpefling the virtuous ruler a~ 
 lone, and pointed direcStly to great and general 
 ihappinefs,. oblige us to love, to fear, to honor 
 him, with a regard wholly lingular,' and inferi^ 
 or to that only, which is due to the infinite Ru^ 
 ler. Awful in his ftation, and amiable in his 
 ,charadter,iie is juftly confidercd as a fellow-lai- 
 bourer with the Redeemer, in that glorious 
 kingdorn of righteoufnefs which he came to efta- 
 blifh. Temporal good he fteadily promotes-, 
 todifchargehisduty, to indulge his benevolence,, 
 and to furnifh daily means of accompliihing 
 eternal good. To him, the fuppprt, the rev- 
 erence, the applaufe, pf wifdom and piety are 
 
ELECTION SERMON.. 35 
 
 uniformly given ; and fervent fupplications af- 
 eend daily from that great family, of which he 
 is the common parent, that his life -may be hap-w 
 py, and that his death may be bleffed. 
 
 Venerable, hov/ever, as this charadler al- 
 ways is, in this country it is peculiarly venera- 
 ble. It is here a diftinidtion of reafon, and 
 redtitude ; an elevation, holding -a oonfeffed fu- 
 periority of intelligence, virtue, and amiable- 
 nefsi A ruler is here the favourite objedl of 
 the approbation, and the choice, of an immenfe 
 number of vs^ife and good men^ He is fingled 
 out from other men, not by Conqueft, lav(^, or 
 birth ; but by the hearts of thofe, who obey. 
 Free and unfoljcited fuffrages raife him to of- 
 fice. In the original bond, therefore, by 
 "which our fbciety was formed, in the covenant 
 interwoven in the very adl of eleciting, our re- 
 fpedl, affedlion, and allegiance, are pledged to 
 our rulers. Happy in preflding over a people 
 eminently free, enlightened, virtuous, and hap- 
 py, they are ornamented with diftinguifhed 
 glory, and affured of a moft honorary, and to 
 an enlarged mind, a moft delightful obedience. 
 
 2dly. The preceding obfervations ftrongly 
 urge the duty of ruling virtupufly. 
 
 To imprefs the importance of this great du- 
 ty is the principal end for which the preacher 
 was fummoned to this place ; the firft ufe of 
 this folemn inftitution. This remark, there* 
 fore, cannot be efteemed improper, or unfe^* 
 
36 ELECTION SERMON, 
 
 fonablc. Should it be thought unneceflaty,. 
 a little refledion may perhaps perfu^de us tq 
 adopt a contrary ppinion, 
 
 It is a humiliating, but juft obfervation, 
 verified by daily experience, that human 
 nature is much more refolute in perpetratirng 
 that, which is wrong, than in pradiifing that, 
 which is right. The friends of virtue are of- 
 ten characleriftically difbinguifhed by modefty, 
 and meeknefs ; while the votaries of vice are 
 as often marked by a brazen front, and an over- 
 tearing mfolence. This calamity, at all times 
 exifting, in tirnes of degeneracy is predomi- 
 nant. In fuch tijnes, vicious men, encouraged 
 by numbers, and feeling bold by increafing ex-, 
 ample, naturally indulge their hatred to virtue, 
 ^nd throw off that mafk of decency, which fear 
 and felfiflinefs have before obliged them tq 
 •wear. As their audacity gains ftrength, the 
 confidence of moft men's virtue ufually^dimi- 
 nilhes. When wickednefs afcends the throne, 
 ■ivhen her condud: is faftiipn, when her voice ii^ 
 law, and her minifters are elders and nobles ir^ 
 the land, thofe, " who have not bowed the knee 
 to Baal" will be unqbferved, and unfeen. 
 
 In our own country, the prefent period, th a 
 not a period ofthe moft abfolutedeclenfion, will 
 yet furnifh a ruler fufiicient allurepients to a 
 lukewarm temper, and timid adniiniftration, 
 A bold and fteady courfe of virtuous, meafures 
 will ufually produce oppbfition, and obloquy j 
 and, in a degree, the lofs opf fufrages, and the 
 
ELECTION SERMON. 37 
 
 Jofs of reputation. Cabals will undermine, 
 jcaloufy mifconftrue, rivalry mifreprefent, and 
 enmity blacken. Thus threatened, alarmed, 
 and wearied, human frailty will be too ^afily 
 induced to feek the midway, inoffenfive courfe 
 of magiftracy : a courfe, often leading to poli- 
 jical f^fety, but oftener conducing away from 
 duty and righteoufnefs. 
 
 But however frequently timidity and in.*, 
 difference may mark tlic public, or private 
 condudl of thofe, who adt in public offices, it 
 is not becaufe they are not furnifhed, by Provi- 
 dence, with motives to ftrenuous virtue, fuffi- 
 piently numerpMs, and fufficiently important. 
 
 In addition to thofe, already fuggefted in 
 this difcourfe, the remembrance of what has 
 been done, to eftablifh virtue and piety in this 
 land, and of the bleffings, which they have 
 produced, prefents to the mind one of the 
 tnoft powerful, and interefting. Superior to 
 danger, triumphant over perfecution, and 
 glowing with piety, our generous anceftors, 
 that they might leave to their children this 
 beft of all legacies, braved .every hazard, and 
 overcame every difficulty. Heaven, as if to 
 try, to refine, and to beautify their virtues, to 
 hand down to their defcendants a glorious ex- 
 ample of meek and matchlefs fortitude, and to 
 give the world an illuftrious pattern of 
 chriftianity, " enduring to the end,*' led them 
 to feek a refuge in a diftant and favage wilder- 
 nefs, fummoned the tempeft to meet them, on 
 
38 ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 the ocean, and fpread want and difeafe before 
 thennf, on the land. Chaftened, but not for- 
 faken, call down, but not deftroyed, they fub- 
 mitted, yet they endured ; they fufFered, yet 
 they overcame. Religion was their conftant, 
 their angelic gueft, a cheering inmate of every 
 dwellirig, a divine Paraclete of every heart. 
 This heavenly ftranger, fince the apoftacy of 
 man, and the clofure of paradife, had travelled 
 down the gloomy progrefs of time, and wan- 
 dered over this inhofpitable globe, fliut out 
 from the greateft part of human fociety, andj, 
 in moft regions, but the gueft of a night. 
 Even in Judea, her proper dwelling place, flie 
 was often alarmed by violence, and often thruft 
 out by corruption aijd idolatry ; and when the 
 Redeemer of mefl made that land his earthly 
 relidence, though, like him, fhe went about do-, 
 irig good, yet, like him alfo, fhe was fhunned, 
 and perfecuted, and " had not where to lay her 
 head." In the company of his apoftles, in- 
 deed,- with the wifdom, ftrengrti, and loveli- 
 nefs, which Ihe had derived from his precepts, 
 miracles, and example, fhe gained a noble, but 
 tranfient triumph, and faw, with ecftafy, her 
 *' ftill fmall voice' s vanquilh, for a feafon, the 
 fophiftry of philofophers^, the powei?- of em- 
 perors, a;nd the furious perfeeution of igno- 
 rance and idolatry. But her tranfports were 
 foon to terminate. In the midft of her 
 friends, in the temple where her facred myf-, 
 teries were celebrated, arofe a new and moft 
 terrible enemy, and with " a deadly wound,'' 
 pierced her to the heart. After a long and 
 
ELECTION SERMON. 3^ 
 
 iktal torpor, fhe was raifed, however, as ffoift 
 the grave, by the reforming voice of Zuingle, 
 Calvin, and Luther, lifted up her head with 
 returning ftrengthj and placed her habitation 
 in the weftern parts of Europe. But, as if 
 warned by a divine premonition of returning 
 liceatioufnefs, with our forefathers fhe fought 
 out this new world, as a laft: and permament 
 afylum. The favage, nurfed with blood, and 
 trained up to fraud, revenge, and idolatry, 
 fhrunk from her prefence. Called into ex- 
 iftence, as by a creating voice, towns and 
 villages, fchools and churches, rofe up in the 
 wildernefs, and the defert was changed into 
 the garden of God. Let there be peace, fhe 
 faid, and there was peace. She commanded 
 order^ liberty, and happinefs, to arife, and it 
 was done. The land was no more called de* 
 folate ; but fhe named it " Beulah, and Heph- 
 zibah," " an enduring excellency, a joy of 
 many generations," 
 
 By her fide, and for her bleffings, our pro- 
 genitors toiled, watched, bled, and died. In 
 their counfels, fhe animated and prefided ; in 
 their wars, fhe infpired and overcame ; in 
 their government, fhe influenced, and blefTed ; 
 and in their families, fhe ruled and trained up 
 for endlefs life. 
 
 To watch, to preferve, to extend, to perpe- 
 tuate this mighty mafs of good, earned by our 
 anceflors, and given as an anfwer to the pray- 
 ers, and as a reward of the obedience, of piety. 
 
46 ELECTION SERMO]<^. 
 
 is the firft duty of ^very magiftrate, minifter/ 
 and man. Moll unnatural children fhall we 
 prove, if, with the combineKd force of fo glorii 
 ous an example, and in the poffeffion of fuch 
 hard earned happinefs, we negled any means, 
 or refufe any efforts, to difeharge this duty. 
 
 On the magiftrate this burden refts' with 
 peculiar weight ; for " if the foundations be 
 deftroye-d, what fhall the righteous do ?" Whiley 
 therefore, thofe of my audience who hold of- 
 fices of government may, in purfuing this 
 ineftimabk objedl,. affure themfelves of the 
 fupport and the prayers of the minifters of 
 righteoufnefs, aind of all wife and good men, 
 let me, to clofe with faithfulnefs the prefent 
 duties of my office, fummarily addrefs to 'them 
 the folemn motives to virtuous magiftracy,- 
 fuggefted by this difcourfe. 
 
 Are you called by the Creator of men, to 
 rule in the feveral ofRces of g^ernment, let 
 me intfeat you to think folemnly of the digriity,- 
 the importance, the ufefulnefs of this employ- 
 ment. "Remember that it is; the nobleft of all 
 tmployments, the firft of all the ftages of ufe- 
 fulnefs. Remember that it is a Angular ho- 
 nour to be fummoned, by God, to the office,- 
 and to the power, of doing more good, than 
 other men. Think affedtingly, and always, 
 cf the ineftimabk worth of that religion, which 
 the Son of God came from hea:veh to teach,- 
 and to eftablilh which he died on the crofs. 
 Often recall to view the illuftrious things,' 
 
ELECTION SERMON; 41 
 
 ■Which your fathers have done, to leave the in- 
 valuable inheritance to, you ; and think, that 
 your children julily demand of you limilar 
 proofs of parental tendernels. Feel, that it is 
 unworthy of the defcendants of fuch anceftorsi 
 to tarnim, or even to lelfen, that high moral 
 glory, which they attained ; and that it is em- 
 inently cruel, to deprive your children of the 
 fuperlative bleflings, which thofe anceftors, 
 with fuch ftrenuous duty, fuch unexampled 
 diftreffes, fuch enduring fortitude^ purchafed 
 for them, as well as for you. Call up into re- 
 alizing view the glory of making a people vir- 
 tuous and happy, of promoting the honour^ 
 and kingdom of Jehovah, and of leaving a 
 name to the affeition, the reverence, and the 
 imitation, of fucceeding ages. Think of the 
 rnanher, in which virtuous rulers, ^yho have 
 departed, are loved and mentioned ; of the 
 manner, in which you yourfelves love and 
 :ft\ention them. In all the temptations, dan- 
 gers, and diftreffes, which furround you, you 
 will find fufficfent confolation, and firm fup- 
 port, in the love of good men, in the applaufe 
 of confcience, and in the approbation of God. 
 Thefe are fatisfadtions, of which you cannot 
 fail, independent folaces with which no gran- 
 ger can ffieddle, and which worlds and ages 
 cannot diminifh. In that, folemn period, 
 " wfien flefh and heart {hall fail," when friends 
 Ihall retire, and the world recede from your 
 view, when the awakened guilty mind ihall 
 open its eyes, with infinite difmay, upon ac- 
 
42 ELECTION SERMON. 
 
 cumulated crimes; furpafling number, and con-. 
 eeption, and fhrink, with inexprellible amaze- 
 ment, from the approaching fentence of im^ 
 mutable jufticcj *' the -rod and the ftaff" of 
 your Redeehier, your Shepherd, the teftimony 
 of a' good confcience, the I'erttembrance of fp 
 important a ftewardfliip ftiithfully difcharged, 
 the confcioufnefs of having ftedfaftly done 
 ,good to your fellow men, -" will fupport and 
 tomfort you," will give you peace in fo awful 
 an hour, and firmnefs in fo ffupendftus a trial. 
 And may He, " who holds the hearts of rulers 
 ^n his hand, and turns them as the rivers of wA~ 
 ,ter are turned," aid you to a faithful difcharge 
 of the duties of magiftracyj to a fixed reliance 
 on his favour, to a cohttant fear of his prefence, 
 to a lledfa'ft love of mankind, and to a final at-, 
 tainment of the ipfinite-^pprobation. 
 
, J\