8/12/2019 2008 Issue 1 - The Republic of the Israelites: An Example to the American States - Counsel of Chalcedon
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The
Republic of
the
Israelites an Example
to
the American tates
Samuel Langdon 1723 - 1797)*
Of the
US
Constitution,
Langdon
stated:
That
as
God
in
the course
of
his
kind
providence hath given you
an excellent constitution of
government, founded
on the
most rational, equitable, and
libera l principles, by
which
all
that
liberty is secured
which
a
people
can
reasonably claim,
and
you are impowered to make
righteous
laws for promoting
public
order and
good morals;
and as he has moreover given
you by his Son Jesus Christ,
who is far superior to Moses, a
complete revelation of
his
will,
and a perfect system of true
religion, plainly delivered in
the sacred
writings; it will
be
your
wisdom in
the
eyes of
the
nations,
and
your true interest
and
happiness, to conform
your
practice in the strictest manner
to
the
excellent principles
of
your
government, adhere
faithfully to
the doctrines and
commands of
the
gospel,
and
practice
every public
and
private
virtue. By this you will
increase
in numbers, wealth,
and
power, and obtain reputation
and
dignity among the
i More about
Samuel
Langdon
pg
3
nations; whereas, the contrary
conduct will make
you
poor,
distressed,
and
contemptible.
'[E]quitable' referred to
principles of natural equity:
i.e., mora l law, expressed
by
the
Ten
Commandments
(and
indeed, throughout the rest
of the Bible), and discerned
by
the conscience
as
a
sense
of justice,· of right
and
wrong.
Therefore,
the
principles of
the
Constitu tion should always
accord with the
moral law.
2
Langdon noted,
regarding
the
Federal
( general ) Constitution:
Soon
after this Sermon
was delivered,
the
Convention
of
the
State of New Hampshire,
met according to adjournment,
and on the twenty-first day of
June
accepted
the
proposed
general Constitution of
government. This being the
ninth State which has acceded
to
this form of national Union,
it
will
be
carried
into
effect;
and there
is no
reason
to doubt
of the speedy accession of all
the other
States, which
are
now debating
on the important
question. Mayall rejoice in the
Lord, who
has
formed
us
into a
nation,
and
honour him as our
Judge, Lawgiver,
and
King, who
hath saved us, and will save us
from all enemies
and
fears, i we
thankfully receive
and
rightly
improve
his
great mercies.
(Emphasis added.)
[H] onohr him as our
Judge, Lawgiver,
and
King':
That's
an
acknowledgment
of the sovereignty of God
over
human
government.
Yet
at the
same
time, it was a
government of 'we, the people',
for Langdon wrote in 1788
regarding
the
Constitutional
Convention of 1787
in
Philadelphia: 'The general form
of such a constitution hath
already
been
drawn up,
and
presented
to the people,
by
a
convention of
the
i s e ~ t
and
most
celebrated patriots in the
land: eight of
the
states have
approved
and
accepted it, with
full te stimonies of joy: and i
it passes the scrutiny of the
whole,
and
recommends itself
to
be
universally adopted, we
shall have abundant
reason
to
offer e l ~ v t e d thanksgivings
to the
supreme
Ruler
of
the
The Gou·nsel of Ghalcedo n
8/12/2019 2008 Issue 1 - The Republic of the Israelites: An Example to the American States - Counsel of Chalcedon
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The Republic
qf
the Israelites an Example to the Anwrican 8tates .1787
uni'Ve1 se for
a go'Venl1nent
completed under his
direction.' (Emphasis added.)
At the
same
time, Langdon
also wrote:
'Wisd0111
is
the
gift
of God, and social happiness
depends
on
his providential
governnlent; therefore, if
these
states
have fraI11ed their
constitutions with superior
wisd0111, and
secured
their
natural rights,
and
all
the
advantages of society, with
greater precaution than other
nations, we
l11ay with
good
reason affin11 that
God
hath
given
us
our
goverl1mwnt;
that
he
hath
taught
us
good
statutes
and
judg11wnts,
tending to nlake us great and
respectable in the view of the
world.' (Enlphasis added.)
This
is what is l11eant
by
the oft-used
phrases
''America is a
Christian
nation , America's
Christian
heritage , and Al11erica has
a Christian government .
The following are excerpts
fr0111
The Republic
of
the
IS1-aelites
an x a 1 1 ~ p l e to the
A m e r i c a 7 ~ 8tates. A 8ennon,
Preached at Concord, in the
8tate ofNew a n ~ p s h i r e ; B ~ f 0 1 e
the Hon01-able Gene1-aZ CouTt
at the Annual Election, June
5, 1788. By SaI11uel Langdon,
D.D. Pastor of
the
Church
in
Hampton Falls. Exeter: Printed
by LaI11son and Ranlet, 1788.
(Spelling and punctuation has
been
preserved.)
\Vhile
SOl11e
Christian
citizens
may debate
some of the details offered by
the author, this is clearly a
testiI110ny to the Biblical basis
for civil govenll11ent and a
historical witness to our own
national origins and foundation.
The
Republic of
the
Israelites an
EXaI11ple
to
the Anlerican States
Nations
Christ s Disciples
Sanluel Langdon (Edited)
[I:
I:
I: 1: ]3
There
is a rel11arkable
paragraph in the sacred
writings,
which nlay
be
very
well
acconll11odated to nly present
purpose and merits particular
attention. You have it in
DEUTERONOMY, IV, 5-8.
Behold, I have taught you
statutes and judg1nents,
even as
the Lord y God
c 0 1 n 1 1 ~ a n d e d nw,
that )'e
should
do
so
in
the
land
whither ye go to possess it.
Keep
therefore
and
do
t h e ~ ;
f01
this
is
your
wisd01n
and
your understanding
in
the
sight
of
the nations,
who
shall
hear all these statutes,
and
sa.)', surely this great nation
is
a
wise and understanding
people: for what nation
is
there
so great, which hath God so
nigh
unto
the1n
as
the Lord
our
God is in all things
that
we
call
upon
hi1nfor? and
what
nation is there so great, which
hath
statutes
and
judg1nents
so 'righteous
as
all this law
which I set b ~ f o r e you this day.
Here Moses reconll11ends to
Israel the strict observance of all
the
laws which he had delivered
to thel11 by God's conll11and,
relating both to their civil polity
and religion, as
the
sure way
to raise their reputation high
anl0ng all nations as a wise and
understanding people; because
no
other
nation
was
blessed with
such excellent national laws,
or the advantage of applying to
the oracle of the living God, and
praying
to
him in all difficulties,
with
assurance that all
their
requests would be answered.
As to every thing excellent
in
their
constitution
of
govenll11ent,
except
what was
peculiar
to
thenl
as a
nation
separated to God
fr0111
the rest
of nlankind the Israelites
l11ay
be
considered
as a pattern to the
world in all ages; and fr0111 thel11
we
nlay
learn what
will
exalt
our character
and what will
depress and bring us
to ruin.
Let us.
therefore
look over
their
constitution and laws,
enquire into their
practice
and
observe
how
their prosperity
and faI11e
depended on their
strict
observance
of the divine
conll11ands both as to their
govenll11ent
and
religion.
They had both a civil
and
l11ilitary establislll11ent
under
divine direotion, and a
o0111plete
body of judicial laws drawn
up
and delivered to thenl by
Moses in God's nat11e. They
had
also a
fon11
of religious
worship, by
the
sal11e authority
l11inutely
prescribed
designed
to preserve at110ng
thenl the
knowledge of the great Creator
of
the
Universe,
and
teach
thenl
to love and
serve
hh11;
while
idolatry
prevailed
through
the rest
of
the
world: and this
religion
contained
not
only
a publio ritual, but a
perfect
though very concise, systenl
of nl0rals, comprehended
in ten conll11ands, which
require
the perfection of
godliness, benevolence,
and
rectitude
of
conduct.
When
first the Israelites
Canle out fr0111 the bondage of
Egypt,
they
were
a
nlultitude
without
any
other
order
than
what had been kept up, very
feebly,
under the
ancient
patriarchal authOrity. They
were suddenly collected into
a
body under the
conduct of
Moses, without any proper
national or l11ilitary regulation.
Yet
in
the
short
space of about
three months after they had
Conti1vued
on
Page
27
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The Republic qf the ISTaelites an Exmnple to the A1neTican States
1787
(continued f1-01n page 7)
passed the red sea, they were
reduced into such civil and
Inilitary order, blended together,
by the advice of Jethro, as
was well adapted to
their
circunlstances in
the
wilderness
while destitu te of property. Able
Inen were chosen out of all their
tribes, and made captains
and
rulers of thousands, hundreds,
fifties and tens: and these
cOllllnanded theIn as military
officers, and acted as judges in
matters
of conl111on
controversy.
But the great
thing
wanting
was
a
pennanent
constitution,
which nlight keep the people
peaceable
and
obedient while
in
the desert,
and
after they
had gained possession of
the
prOlnised land. Therefore, upon
the conlplaint of Moses that
the
burden of govenllnent was too
heavy for hiIn, God conlnlanded
him to bring seventy Inen,
chosen from aJnong
the
elders
and officers,
and present them
at the tabernacle; and there he
endued them with the satne
spirit which was in Moses,
that
they nlight
bear the burden
with hinl. Thus a Senate
was evidently consti tuted,
as necessary for
the
future
govenllnent of the nation,
under a chief conllnander.
And as to
the
choice of this
Senate, doubtless
the
people
were consulted, who appear to
have
had
a voice in all public
affairs
fr 1n
time to time,
the
whole congregation being
called together on all iInportant
occasions:
the
government
therefore was a proper republic.
And beside
this
general
establislllnent, every tribe
had
elders
and
a prince according
to
the
patriarchal order, with
which Moses did not interfere;
and these had an acknowledged
the
Nations Ohrisc's isciples
right to Ineet and consult
together, and with
the
consent
of
the
congregation do whatever
was necessary to preserve
good order,
and
promote the
conlnlon
interest
of
the
tribe.
So that the government of each
tribe was very similar to the
general govenllnent. There was
a President
and
Senate
at the
head of each, and the people
asseInbled and gave their voice
in all great Inatters: for in those
ages the people in all republics
were entirely
unacquainted with
the
way of appointing delegates
to act for theIn, which is a very
excellent nlodern improvenlent
in the nlanagelnent of republics.
Moreover, to c01npleat
the establislllnent of civil
governnlent, courts were to
be appointed in every walled
city, after
their
settleInent
in Canaan and
elders nlos t
distinguished for wisdonl and
integrity were to
be
made
judges, ready always to sit
and decide the conlmon
controversies within
their
respective jurisdictions.
The
people
had
a right likewise
to
appoint
such other
officers as
they Inight think necessary for
the
Inore effectual execution
of justice, according to
that
order given
in DEUT. 16. 18, 19.
--- ''Judges and officers shalt
thou 11 tahe thee in all thy gates
which the L01-d thy
God
giveth
thee throughout thy tTibes;
and
they shall judge the people with
just
u d g ~ e n t :
thou shalt
not
WTest judg111ent; thou shalt not
1-espect pe1-sons, neitheT tahe
a gift; for a gift doth blind the
eyes of the wise, and peTveTt
the wOTds of the 1-ighteous. --
But fr01n these courts an appeal
was allowed
in
weighty causes
to higher courts appointed over
the whole tribe, and
in
very
great and difficult cases to the
supreIne authority of
the
general
Senate and chief nlagistrate.
A govenunent thus settled
on republ ican prinCiples,
requi red laws;
without which
it
must have degenerated
inllnediately into aristocracy,
or
absolute Inonarchy. But
God
did
not
leave a people wholly
unskilled
in
legislation,
to nlake
laws for theInselves: he took this
iInportant matter wholly into
his own hands and beside
the
l110rallaws of
the
two tables,
which
directed
their
conduct
as
indiViduals, gave thenl
by
Moses
a complete code of judicial
laws.
They
were not nUlnerous
indeed,
but
concise and plain,
and
easily applicable
to ahnost
every controversy which Inight
arise between nlan and nlan
and every criIninal
case which
Inight
require the judgnlent
of
the court. Of these sonle were
peculiarly
adapted to
their
national fortn,
as
divided
into
tribes
and
faJnilies always
to
be
kept
distinct;
others
were
especially suited to the
peculiar
nature
of
the govenunent
as a
theocracy, God hiInself being
eIninently their king, and
Inanifesting hiInself aJnong
thenl in a visible nlanner,
by the
cloud of glory
in the
tabernacle and telnple. This
was
the
reason why blaspheIllY,
and all obstinate disobedience
to his laws, were considered
as high treason,
and
punished
with death; especially idolatry,
as being a criIne against the
fundmnental principles of the
constitution. But far the greater
part
of the judicial laws were
founded on the plain inlnlutable
principles of reason, justice, and
social virtue;
such
as are always
27
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8/12/2019 2008 Issue 1 - The Republic of the Israelites: An Example to the American States - Counsel of Chalcedon
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2008-issue-1-the-republic-of-the-israelites-an-example-to-the-american-states 5/7
The Republic
of
the Israelites
an
Exantple to the Al1wrican
States 787
to their
own wisdonl
than
to SUbI11it
to
his
authority,
and
adhere
strictly to his
conll11ands: by this, their
reputation
among
the nations
would have
been equal
to
the
excellency of
their
laws.
[ I ~ ~ < ~ < ~ ~ ]
Now by the foregoing
view of the general state of the
11ation during the time of
the
judges, we Inay plainly see
the
reason why, instead of rising
to fanle
by the
perfection
of their polity, religion,
and
1110rals their character sunk
into
contel11pt. But
let
us see
whether they
conducted
better
afterwards, under
their
kings.
t
was
their
crime to
demand such
a king as was
like
the
kings of
other nations,
i.
e.
a king
with the saI11e
absolute power, to
command
all
according to his own pleasure.
In this
view
God
only was
their
king, and the
head
of the nation
was only to
be
his viceregent.
Therefore as
they
had
implicitly
r e j e ~ e d
the divine govenll11ent,
God
gave
them
a
king in his
anger; the consequence of
which was, the total loss of
their
republican
form of govenll11ent,
and
sad experience
of
the
effects
of despotic power. Indeed their
religious establishnlent,
which
had been
very much i1npaired
in the
days of the judges, was
restored,
and
brought to its
greatest
glory,
by
David
the nlost
pious, and SolO111on the wisest
of kings;
and
during
their
reigns,
the nation
gained the height
of grandeur;
but
no national
senate was appointed, and the
power of the kings continued to
be
despotic,
and
so
the
days of
their prosperity were soon over.
As soon as Rehoboanl ascended
the throne he openly
avowed
the
Ncaior/,s Ohdst:'s Disc'iples
l110St despotic prinCiples, so
that
ten
tribes revolted,
and
nlade
Jeroboanl
their
king.
o
:
o
:
o
:
o
<]
Nor is
it
to
be
wondered at
that
false religion
so
easily
gained
ground; for
the
people grew very
ignorant: no
care
was taken to
instruct
theIn,
in
their several
cities,
in
the law of God; but,
being
without teachers,
they
were very little
acquainted
with
their own religious institutions.
For this reason when
good
king
Jehoshaphat
resolved
upon
a
refonllation in
church
and
state,
after having
taken
a circuit
thro
his
kingd0111
to
bring the
people bach to the Lord God
of
thei1 fathers, he sent out
SOl W of
his
principal
officers,
with
priests
and
le'Vites, to
teach the people
in
the cities
of
Judah;
and
these carried
the booh
of
the
law with
them
and went
about
th1 oughout
all the cities
of
Judah,
and
taught them, that religion
which God c01nrnanded by
Moses.
t
likewise
appears
by
what
inll11ediately follows
this
account of
his
proceedings,
that there
had been
a long
O111ission
of
the
adI11inistration
of
justice in the
cities;
that
no
courts
had
been kept
up
by
the
preceeding
kings, or
such
as
were corrupt, in
which
the
judges
paid little regard
to law
and equity: for
the
king set
judges
in
the land, throughout
all the
fenced
cities
of
Judah,
city by city,
and said unto
the
judges, tahe heed what do,
f01
ye judge
not
for n ~ n but
for the Lord, who is with you
in
the judg1nent: --- wherefore
now
let the
fear qf
Lord be
upon
:you,
tahe heed
and do
it,
f01
the1 e is
no iniquity with
the
Lord our God, 1101 respect
of
persons,
nor
taking
of
gifts.
Repeated
atteI11pts were
I11ade
by
the few
pious kings, to put
a
stop to
the
corruption of
religion
and nl0rals;
but
all
in
vain;
the
people relapsed
again
and
again
into
ignorance, idolatry,
and
wickedness:
their
vices had
increased to the utInost degree
of
enornlity in
JereI11iah s titlle;
and their conlplicated crimes
at
length brought
upon theI11
desolation and a long captivity.
And now let us just
take
a
glance at their
general
state
after the
captivity
in
Babylon.
When they
returned to their
own
land
they
endeavored
to
confonn their
religion
and
govenunent to the
n10saic
standard;
idolatry was
entirely
purged
out;
they
discovered
great
zeal for
the
law of
their
God
and
the
instituted
worship;
they
appOinted a general
senate
of
seventy
elders,
called by
thenl the
Sanhedrin,
with
a
supreI11e I11agistrate
at the
head,
for
the
govenll11ent of
the
nation;
and
while
their
pious
zeal continued they grew
and
prospered. But,
according
to
the
con1n10n course of
things
in the
world, [
..
] the
affairs of
state
were
badly
adI11inistered,
and
the highest
honors
were gained by favor,
bribery, or
Violence;
hypocrisy
was
substituted in the r0O111
of
the true
fear of
God, and the
practice
of righteousness; all
the
vices
natural
to
I11ankind
daily
increased
[ ... ]
Therefore upon the whole
view we see,
that the
Israelites
never attained
to
that
faIlle
and
dignity
aIllong
the nations which
their constitution encouraged
theI11
to expect,
because
they
took little care to practice
agreeably
to the good statutes
and
judgI11ents given then1
by
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The Republic of the Israelites an Example to the merican States 1787
Moses. Their constitution both:
of
government and
religion.
was excellent in writing,
but
was
never
exemplified
in
fact.
APPLICATION
And now,
my
fellow
Citizens, and
much honored
Fathers of the State, you may
be ready to
ask --- To
what
purpose is
this long detail
ofantiquated
history
on
this
public occasion? --- I answer
--- Examples are
better than
precepts; and history
is
the best
instructor both in polity and
morals. --- I have presented you
with the
portrait
of a nation,
highly
favoured by Heaven with
civil and religious institutions,
who yet, by
not
improving
their
advantages, forfeited
their
bleSSings, and
brought contempt
and destruction on themselves.
f I am not mist3;ken, instead
of
the
twelve tribes of Israel,
we
may substitute the thirteen
States of
the American
union,
and see this application plainly
offering itself, viz. ---
That
as
God
in the course of his kind
providence hath given you
an excellent constitution of
government; founded on the
most rational, eqUitable,
and
liberal principles,
by
which all
that liberty is secured which a
people can ·reasonably claim,
and
you
are impowered to
make
righteous
laws for promoting
public
order and
good morals;
and as he has moreover given
you by his Son Jesus Christ,
who is far
superior to
Moses, a
complete revelation of
his
will,
and a perfect system of true
religion, plainly delivered in
the sacred
writings; it will
be
your wisdom
in the
eyes of the
nations,
and
your
true
interest
and
happiness,
to
conform
your
practice
in the
strictest manner
to the excellent principles -
of your government, adhere
faithfully to the
doctrines and
commands of the gospel, and
practice every public and private
virtue . By this you will
increase
in
numbers,
wealth,
and
power,
and obtain reputation
and dignity among the
nations; whereas,
the contrary
conduct
will
make you
poor,
distressed, and contemptible. .
.
The
God of heaven
hath
not indeed
visibly displayed
the
glory of
his
majesty
and
power
before
our
eyes, as
he came
down in
the
sight of Israel
on
the burning
mount;
nor has he
written
with his own finger
the
laws of
our
civil polity: .but
the
.
signal interpositions of divine
providence, in saving us from
the vengeance of a powerful
irritated
nation, from which
we were unavoidably separated
by
their
inadmissible claim
of absolute
parliamentary
power over us; in giving us a
WASHINGTON to be captain-
general of
our
armies; in
carrying us through the various
distressing scenes of war
and
desolation, and making us twice
.
triumphant
over numerous
armies, surrounded and
captivated
in
the midst of their
career;
and
finally giving us
peace, with a large territory, and
acknowledged independence;
all these laid together fall little
short
of real miracles,
and
an·
heavenly charter of liberty for
these United States.
And when
we reflect, how wonderfully
the
order of
these states
Was
preserved when government
was dissolved,
or
supported
only
by
feeble props;
with
how much
sobriety, Wisdom,
and
unanimity
they formed
and received
the
diversified
yet similar constitutions
in
the different states; with
what prudence, fidelity,
patience,
and
success, the
Congress have managed
the
general government, under
the great disadvantages of a
very imperfect
and impotent
confederation; we cannot
but
acknowledge
that
God
hath
graCiously patronized
our
cause, and
taken
us under
his special care, as he did his
ancien t covenant people.
Or we may consider the
hand
of God
in another
view
Wisdom is
the
gift of God,
and
social happiness depends on
his providential government;
therefore, if
these
sta tes -have
framed
their
constitutions with
superior wisdom, and
secured
their natural rights, and all
the advantages of society, with
greater precaution than
other
nations, we may with good
reason affirm that God hath ;
given us
our
government; that.
he
hath
taught :us good
statutes
and
judgments, tending to
make us great
and
respectable
in the view of
the
world. Only.
one
thing
more remains
to
complete his favor toward us;
which is, the establishment
of a general government, as
happily formed as
our
particular
constitutions, for the perfect
union
of
these
states. Without·
this, all that we glory in is lost;
but if this· should
be
effected,
we may say with the greatest
joy, --- Godhath done great
things for us. --- The general
form of such a constitution
hath
already
been
drawn up, -
and presented to the people,
by a convention of the wisest
and most
celebrated patriots
in the land:. eight of the states
have approved
and
accepted
The
Counsel ofChalcedon
8/12/2019 2008 Issue 1 - The Republic of the Israelites: An Example to the American States - Counsel of Chalcedon
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2008-issue-1-the-republic-of-the-israelites-an-example-to-the-american-states 7/7
'l1w Republic
of
the Israelites
an
Example
t
the A11w1'ican States 1787
it, with full testh110nies of joy:
and i f it passes the sorutiny of
the whole, and reconl111ends
itself to
be
universally adopted,
we shall have
abundant
reasOn
to offer elevated thanksgiVings
to the supreme Ruler of
the
universe for a g o v e r n n l ~ n t
completed
under
his direotioll
Soon after this Sen110n
was delivered,
the
Convention
of the
State of New
H3111pshire
nle t aocording to adjounl111ent,
and on the twenty-first day of
June aooepted the proposed
general Constitution of
government. This being the
ninth
State whioh
has
aooeded
to this form of national Union,
it will
be
oarried into effeot;
and
there
is
1).0
r ~ s o n to
doubt
of
the
speedy accession of all
the
other States, whioh are
now debating on the iI11portant
question. Mayall rejoioe
in the
Lord, who has fornled us into a
nation,
and
honour him as
our
Judge, Lawgiver, and King, who
hath
saved us,
and
will save
us
fr0111
all enemies and fears, if we
thankfully reoeive and rightly
iI11prove his great nleroies.
Now
our
part
is to
make
a wise
iI11prove111ent
of what God grants us,
and
not neglect
or
despise
our
distinguishing privileges: for
the best constitution,badly
m.anaged, will soon fall,
and
be
ohanged into anarohy
or
tyranny. Without
oonstant
oare of your families, you will
have
bad
servants,
and your
estates will be wasted. So we
nlust pay oonstant attention to
the great f3111ily if we desire to
be
a free
and
happy people.
The power
in
all our
republios is aoknowledged to
M'aking the
Nations
Christ's
isciples
originate
in the
people: it is
delegated by them to every
111agistrate and offioer; and to
the
people all
in
authority are
aocountable,
if h ~ y
deviate
fr0111
their
duty, and abuse
their
power. Even
the
111an
who nlay be advanced to
the ohief oonlnland of these
United States, aocording to
the
proposed oonstitution;
whose offioe resembles that of
a king
in other
nations, whioh
has always
been
thought so
sacred that they have had no
oonoeption of bringing a king
before
the
bar of justioe; even
he depends on the choioe of
the
people for h is te111porary
and linlited power,
and
will be
liable to iI11peaohnlent, trial,
and
disgrace for any gross
111isoonduot.
On the
people,
therefore, of
these
United States
it depends whether wise 111en
or
fools, good
or bad
111en shall
govern
the111; whether they
shall
have righteous laws, a faithful
ad111inistration of govenll11ent,
and
pen11anent good order,
peaoe, and liberty; or, on
the
contrary, feel insupportable
burdens, and see all
their
affairs
run to oonfusion and ruin.
[.: : .]
Will you
hear
111e patiently
a little farther, while I say
one
thing
nlore of very great
iI11portanoe, whioh I dare not
suppress. I call upon you to
preserve the knowledge of
God
in
the
land,
and attend
to
the
revelation
written
to
us
fro111 heaven. f you negleot or
renounce
that
religion
taught
and
00111111anded
us
in the
holy
scriptures, think no nlore of
freeq01n, peaoe, and happiness;
the
judgnlents of heaven will
per sue you. Religion is not
a vain thing for you beoause
it is your life:
it
has
been
the
glory
and
defenoe of New
England fr0111 the infanoy of the
settle111ents; let
it be
also
our
glory
and
proteotion. I
nlean
no
other
religion
than what
is divinely presoribed, whioh
God hiI11self has
~ l i v e r e
to
us with
equal
evidenoe of his
authority, and even superior to
that
given
to
Israel,
and
whioh
he has as striotly oonlnlanded
us to reoeive
and
observe.
The holy soriptures are given
as the only rule of our faith,
worship and obedienoe, and if
we are guided by this perfeot
rule, we shall keep the way of
truth
and righteousness,
and
obtain the heavenly glory.
[.:
.]
While I
thus
earnestly
exhort you to religion, it 111USt
be understood
as equally
an
exhortation to every
branoh
of morality; for without
this
all religion is vain. That
exoellent
sentenoe
of
the
wise
king ought forever to
be in
our
111inds
---
Righteousness
exalteth a nation,
but sin is
the 7'eproach
ofany
people.
--- Sobriety, good order,
honesty, fidelity, indust ry,
frugality,
and the
like
virtues
nlust prevail; publio oriI11es
against person or property l11USt
be restrained and punished
or a people oannot be happy.
Therefore let al l 111aintain
reotitude of oonduot,
and
praotioe every
thing virtuous
and praise-worthy
a1110ng their
neighbours,
and be just and
true
in
all their interoourse
and
oonl111eroe.
Unite
in
assisting the governnlent in
the
exeoution of all good laws:
and let all
the
111el11bers of
the body
politio oonsider
that
their own happiness depends
31