Sermon Before the General Assembly of Connecticut, Sermon · Application 2
Of Direction, and of Exhortation; USE II. Of Direction.
This Doctrine affords Excellent Counſel to all ſuch as have the Power of Chooſing, and Liberty (by divine Providence, and the Royal favour) of Electing Perſons into any Office of Civil Rule and Government among this People. And it ought to be taken no…ice of by you, as a neceſſary Direction in the work that is now before you. It highly concerns you to be very careful of not abuſing ſo great a Truſt. It is a piece of Service that requires your utmoſt Care and Conſcience. You are this day to tranſact a matter of great Importance to the Weal of this People: and the Eyes of God and m…n is upon you: Of God, to obſerve your Spi…its, Deſigns, and Ends in this Days wo…k, to bleſs you accordingly: and the Eyes of Men are upon you; ſome to rejoyce in all the happy effects that may follow your prudent choice; others to take advantage of all the follies that you may this day be guilty of. I may well conclude my ſelf very much a Stranger to the particular Methods and Cuſtoms uſual in the manner of your Elections: But, I ſuppoſe (whatever ſteps have been already taken in other places of this Government) there are many in this Aſſembly who are ſtill to give in their Suffrage. To whom therefore I would more particularly recommend this Rule, that the Doctrine layes before us) and in them to all others, that may hereafter be concerned in the ſame, or like affai…) as that which you ought to attend to. If you would not this day, do that which will be for a Lamentation to this People, and remain ſo. Let your Care then be, to Elect ſuch as may be Able for their Places, and Faithful in them. Don't think your Voices are ſo your own, that you may beſtow them upon whom you will, meerly becauſe you will. Let not that Liberty you have, be abuſed to an undoing Licentiouſneſs. Beware of thoſe corrupt and ſiniſter Ends, which are too too apt to blind your Judgments, and biaſs your Affections, from the Rule thus ſet before you. I ſhall but hint at ſome of them.
There are ſome (of plauſible pretences indeed but ungoverned Spirits) who in Affairs of this nature, conſult only their own Humours; and chooſe for ſuch as they hope will moſt indulge them. Theſe had rather they ſhould be in Authority, then ſuch as have Wiſdom and Spirit to controul them; & if they have any ſecret Grudge againſt a man of Worth, beſure it ſhall weigh heavier with them than all his Accompliſhments.
Some are wholly Swayed by the Favour they have received from, and the Friendſhip and Acquaintance they have with theſe and thoſe men; they think it but a point of Civility, to Vote for ſuch as have been civil, kind, and obliging to them: But we ought to conſider that our good Friends may be poor Patrons of the Common-Weal; they may be as bad Counſellers for the State, as Jobs were Comforters to him; Good men ſhould have other ways to expreſs their Gratitude to their Friends, than by the publick Injury; and (if it muſt needs be ſo) we had bettor diſguſt them, than do that which is worſe.
Some don't ſo much conſider the man, as the Party he belongs to; if he be but of ſuch a ſort or ſet of men, that is the principal Recommendation they look at; this alone is enough with them, to cover a multitude of Infirmities, and as many Sins; whereas the greateſt Worth, if it be on the other ſide, is wholly ſlighted.
Some look at nothing ſo much as Faction, and would with their good wills, have none to ſway the Scepter of Government, but ſuch as will be ſticklers for, and ſtrenuous promote…s of, the Separate Intreagues, and private Deſigns, which under the Countenance of Authority, they hope to drive on ſucceſsfully, againſt all that ſhall oppoſe them.
But ſurely theſe, (and all ſuch as theſe) are pernicious Ends and Deſigns, to be abhorred by all thoſe that are Well willers to the Common-Weal; and to be avoided by all that have any Intereſt in the Electing of Perſons to any Places of Civil Power. Don't think therefore, that you have nothing to do in this Election, but to pleaſe your ſelves, or gratifie your Friends, or maintain a Party, and uphold a Faction; But
Remember, That God hath intruſted you with an Advantage of being Inſtrumental to procure Rich Bleſſings to this People. The Rulers that are this Day to be ſet over you, will be ſo far ſuch, as they ſhall anſwer the Character that hath been given: And you are bound in Conſcience both to God and his People, (deteſting the baſe Ends mentioned) to pitch upon thoſe, concerning whom, you ma… …eaſonably hope that they will prove accordingly.
Give me leave therefore a little more diſtinctly (and as briefly as I may) to open the Particulars of that General Rule, in a few plain Directions.
1. Direction. Look at Wiſdom as a principal thing, and ſeek for men of Underſtanding. Solomon tells us, That by ſuch as theſe a State is prolonged. Prov. 28.2. Religion commends it to us as a duty, and the Light of Reaſon as the moſt Excellent Policy. Nebuchadnezzar, though a Heathen, ſpake wiſely, when he gave thoſe Inſtructions unto Aſhpenaz, concerning the Choice he was to make among the Children of the Captivity, for ſome to be improved in Affairs of State. Dan. 1.4, 5. that they ſhould be ſuch, as were Skilful in all wiſdom, cunning in knowledge, and underſtanding Science; who were firſt to be inſtructed in the Affairs that were to be committed to them, v. 4 ſince they were to be taught the learning of the Chaldeans, and afterwards, in the end of three years, to ſtand before the King, v. 5. i e. to be introduced to Service. Thoſe that are well knowing, and verſed in the concerns that belong to any place of Publick Truſt, are moſt likely to do good in it. Others (perhaps) may, but when they do, it is but by accident; And it is a meer chance if an unskilful Pilot eſcape a Shipwrack. It is knowledge that lights the way, and diſcovers the path of Juſtice; and 'tis knowledge that begets a confidence in the Adminiſtration of it. If men know the way they are in to be right, it makes them go on boldly in it; but if they are once at a loſs, it ſoon diſheartens them. In a word, There's the Power Legiſlative and Executive, and neither can ſtand without there be wiſdom to ſupport it. The making of good and wholeſome Laws, the vigorous and ſucceſsful Execu…ing of them, when they are made; the maintaining of the Honour and Dignity of Government, which are all of great Importance to a Common-Weal, & principal parts of the care of Rulers; (and they are things that belong to the Wiſe; Prov. 24.23.) They are to be expected from none other; and therefore theſe only are to be entruſted with the management of them.
2. Direction. Account that Juſt men (only) will become the Seats of Juſtice; and that none but ſuch are worthy to have any thing to do in the Adminiſtration of it. When the Miniſters of Juſtice have wiſdom and knowledge to inform them about the R…le, and Conſcience to keep up to it, we may then hope, that Judgment will run down as Waters, and Righteouſneſs as a mighty Stream. Amos 5.24. That Advice of Chriſt's, Mat. 10.16. is very accommodable to Rulers; They ſhould be wiſe as Serpents, but harmleſs as Doves withal. David was eminent in his place, as well for the Integrity of his Heart, as for the skilfulneſs of his hands. Pſal. 78.72 And in Jethro's Advice to Moſes, Exod. 18.21. He counſels him to Chooſe Men of Truth, hating Coveteouſneſs, i. e. ſuch as out of their Love of, and Zeal to Juſtice, would abho… to be temp…ed, either by Flattery, Bribery, of Company, (Honour, Profit or Friendſhip) to w…ong their Conſciences, and wreſt Judgme…t▪ Theſe are they that will reſpect not the Perſons, but he Cauſe, and do that which is right to th… ſmall …s well as the great: as Moſes charged the Judges he ſet over that People▪ Deut. 1.17. Bu… … …hat are of unrighteous diſhoneſt Principles, though they may poſſibly ſometimes do that which is juſt; yet it is not ſo, as it is done by them; nor is it reaſonably to be expected from them. When the Adminſtration of Juſtice …alls into their Hands, they cannot have any greater care about it than to make …ain of it. He that will have it ſhall purchaſe …; and if it will not go off ſo, Injuſtice ſhall … put inſtead of it; to them the matter is one … the ſame, ſo they can but get by the Bargain.
3. Direction. Think none fit to wear the Sword Juſtice, but ſuch as have Courage and Reſolution, …d Zeal to manage it. Such as dare ſay with …avid: Pſal. 75.10. All the Horns of the Wicked …ill I cut off, and dare, whenever there is need, … as good as their word. Such as are concern…d for the Honour of that Authority they are …eſted with; and fear not to undertake whoſoever …hall adventure to trample upon it. They abhor …uch a tameneſs of Spirit, as can endure the ſaw… Inſolencies of ſuch as ſhould Honour them in …heir Places: And whatever Reſemblance it may pretend to Patience, they know it too well to be …eceived by it, and juſtly reckon it to be an in…xcuſable ſhameful Timorouſneſs. Theſe are …hey that know they ſhould not, and will make all now they will not bear the Sword of Juſtice in …ain. All others are more for ſhew than any …ood Service. Be adviſed therefore in your …hoice to avoid them: Do you ſee any, that …ill be daunted with great words, or fear the fa…s of men; that will tremble at the Frowns of …me that can do them a diskindneſs, or at the …hreats of one that can do them a Favour, or …at dare not (with Phinehas) ſhew themſelves in … Front, to make head againſt prevailing im…rious Wickedneſs: Never expect much of ſuch men: A Sword will never do any Feats, ſo long as it is in a Cowards hand: And for them that hope for Defence and Protection by it, to put it into ſuch hand as theſe, is (to ſay no worſe of it) the greateſt indiſcretion.
4. Direction. Let the Fear of the Lord be deemed a principal Qualification of thoſe that are to be entruſted with the Government. Able men are men …a…ing God. Exod. 18.21. Thoſe that are Ruled themſelves by the fear of God, will Rule others in his fear; and that is the only Government which hath the promiſe of a Bleſſing. You have been often aſſured (and eſpecially by thoſe Servants of the Lord, that have delivered his meſſage to you upon the like Occaſion with this of the preſent day) that the maintaining of the Truths of Gods Word, in Honour and Purity; the promoting of Piety; the Puniſhing & Suppreſſing of all Wickedneſs; are the grand Intereſt of a People profeſſing the Name of the Lord; and of your ſelves in Particular, who have been ſo ſignally owned of God in the work of the Goſpel. Let me yet once more renew this Meſſage to you in the words of the Prophet. 2 Chron. 15.2. The Lord is with you while you be with him … and if ye ſeek him he will be found of you, but if ye forſake him, he will forſake you: Be aſſ…ed, that if this work dies, we ſhall dye with it: and that there is great danger of i…s dying, if th…ſe that Rule us under God, have not his Fear planted in their hearts; but are wholly void of any thing within that may oblige them to be true to him. Irreligious men will be no better Rulers: He that is an Enemy to his own Soul, (and ſo is every one that doth not fear God) He that hath no more Religion than what will ſerve to deceive others withal; and is (as all ſuch are) falſe to the Profeſſion that he makes of Religion; will be no better to his Countrey, whenever he thinks he may be ſo to his Advantage. Such as don't fear God, will eaſily be vaſſalized to the Wills of any that are greater than themſelves, and can do them an Injury; theſe would be very corrupt Judge… in that caſe, which the Apoſtles dared to refer to the Conſciences of their own Judges, Acts 4.14. viz. Whether it be better to obey God or men. And it may be ſaid to ſuch, as Tertullian of old objected to ſome among the Romans; Majore formidine Caeſarem obſervatis, quam ipſum de O…ympo Jovem. But ſuch as fear God, will be afraid (for that very reaſon) of Injuring men. They will as they are Cuſtodes Tabularum, not only command them to be kept, and provide that due Teſtimony may be born againſt thoſe that do not; but alſo they will commend the Obſervation of them, by a Pattern worthy of thoſe, whoſe eminency renders their Example more obſervable and more effectual. In a word, This fear will influence th… to all Fidelity, Diligence, and Honeſty, …, Pains, and Equity. They will remember that the Judgment is the Lords▪ and if any … be wrong done by any of his Vicegerents here below, the meaneſt of his Subjects over whom they rule, have a fair Plea, and Prohibition lying againſt it in the Court of Heaven, where it ſhall be called over again, and Juſtice done them. Such Rulers as theſe will be Nurſing Fathers indeed; and in Conſcience towards God, ſeek the good of their People; advance the common Intereſt, be zealous Promoters of Piety; and all ungodlineſs they will reprove in the Gate. Theſe are the Strong Rods; whereas from all others, there will go out a Fire, devouring all the fruit, and deſtroying all the comforts of a People.
5. I might add farther. Put Honour upon ſuch as will ſtand firm for the Common Interest, and make the Weal of the Publick their chief Care & Buſineſs. In this caſe eſpecially, they that are given to Change are not to be medled with. Prov. 24.21. In all Revolutions (that are not abſolutely neceſſary for the Preſervation of Juſtice and Equity) it is hazardable whether the Publick will not come by the loſs; and when it doth, it doth not always recover it again; & that too (for the moſt part) a long time firſt: and for this reaſon, ſuch as are ſo addicted, are to be eſchewed. Yet, beware of thinking, that all that have been aſperſed as Enemies to the Common Weal, do deſerve that Character (which it may be is but the effect of ſome Secret Grudge of malignant men againſt them.) We ſhall be very unwiſe, to deprive our ſelves of the benefit of thoſe, that can do God and their Country Service, for the Calumnies & Reproaches, that they are laden withal by their Ignorant and Unthankful Neighbours.
6. Again. Reſpect ſuch as will adorn their Authority with an Example worthy of the Dignity that they ſuſtain. Remember that great Examples, if they be good, will confirm the weak; and if they be bad, will enervate and weaken the Strongeſt Laws. When it may be ſaid to them that Rule, as once Chriſt ſaid, in that caſe mentioned, Joh. 8.7. He that is without ſin among you, let him cast the firſt Stone. There will either be no Puniſhment of Wickedneſs, or no Good will come of it. They are very unfit to puniſh others, who are themſelves Tranſgreſſors. But I omit what Particulars might be added, as being compriſed in the General Directions given: and proceed to the laſt,