Political Sermons of the American Founding Era: 1730–1805: In Two Volumes

5. Civil Magistrates Must be Just, Ruling in the Fear of God [1747]

- s CIVIL MAGISTRATES MUST BE JUST, RULING IN THE FEAR OF GOD Charles Chauncy BOSTON I 7 4 7 CHARLES CHAUNCY (I705-I787). The most influential clergyman in the Boston of his time and-apart from Jonathan Edwards the elder -in all New England, Chauncy was graduated from Harvard and served as pastor of the First Church in Boston for sixty years. A thoroughly prosaic character who opposed enthusiasm and the revivalism espoused by Whitefield and Edwards, he prayed he would never become an orator; those who knew him well concluded that this was one prayer that undoubtedly had been answered. He was nonetheless a vigorous controversialist and prolific pamphleteer, devoting the decade of I762 to I77 I to combating the British threat to send an Anglican bishop to America. It was an issue that rallied Congregationalists across New England in the period leading up to the Revolution. The election sermon reprinted here was preached to Governor William Shirley, the council, and the house of representatives of Massachusetts on May 27, I747· The bracketed passages in the printed text of this sermon were omitted during the oral delivery. q8 Civil Magiftrates mufl htjufl, ruling in the Fear of God. A s E R M 0 N Preached before His ExcELLENCY William Shirley, Efq; The Honourable His Majefty's CouNCIL, AND Houfe of Reprefentatives, Of the Province of the Maf!achufetts-Boy inN.England; May 27. 1 7 4 7· Being the ANNIVERSARY for the Er.ECTioN of His Majefty's Council for faid Province. By Charles Chauncy, D. D. One of the Pafi:ors of the firft Church in BosToN. Deut. XVI. 20. 'lhflt which is altogether ju.ft jhalt thouJ•llow---. N. B. The feveral Paragraphs which, for want of Time, were omitted .in Preaching, are inferted in their proper 'Places, and,forDiftinction's fake, comprehended inCrotchets. B 0 S '!' 0 N: Printed by Order of the Honourable Houfe of REPRESENTATIVES. 1747· ~ The God ofIsrael said, the Rock ofIsrael spake to me; he that ruleth over Men must be just, ruling in the Fear of God.~ II Sam. xxiii. 3. f we may judge by the manner in which these words are introduced, there are none in all the bible, applicable to civil rulers, in their publick capacity, of more solemn importance. c:.-....!2-.....,_ _ The last words of good men are commonly tho't worthy of particular notice; especially, if they are great as well as good, of an elevated station as well as character in life. This is a consideration that adds weight to my text. For it is enrolled among the last words of one of the best and greatest men that ever lived. Such was David, "the man after God's own heart," who was raised up from low life to the regal dignity, and stiled, on that account, "the anointed of the God of Jacob." And was my text nothing more than his own private sentiments, formed with due care, upon long observation and experience, it might well deserve the particular attention of all in civil power; especially, as he was a man of extraordinary knowledge, penetration and wisdom , as well as piety; and, at the same time, singularly qualified to make a judgment in an affair of this nature, as he was called into publick service from a youth, and had for many years reigned king in Israel. But it is not only David that here speaks. The words are rather God's than his. For they are thus prefaced, The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spake to me. "That God who had selected the Jews to be his people, and was their God so as he was not the God of other nations; the rock on whom their political state was built, and on whom it depended for support and protection": This God spake unto David, either by Samuel, or Nathan, or some other inspired prophet, or himself immediately from heaven, saying, as in the words I have read to you, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. It is certainly some momentous truth, highly worthy of the most serious consideration of civil rulers, that is here delivered, or it would not have been ushered in with so much solemnity. Some read the words, (agreable eno' to the original, as criticks ob- CHARLES CHAUNCY serve) there shall be a...