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

31. The Principles of Civil Union and Happiness Considered and Recommended [1787]

- 3 1 THE PRINCIPLES OF CIVIL UNION AND HAPPINESS CONSIDERED AND RECOMMENDED Elizur Goodrich HARTFORD I 7 8 7 EuzuR GOODRICH (I734-I797). One of the stalwarts of the established order, a fine scholar, and able preacher, Goodrich was pastor of the Durham, Connecticut, Congregational Church from his ordination in I7s6 until his death. He was a Yale graduate, and when he and Ezra Stiles received the same number of votes for president of that institution in I 777, Goodrich exerted himself to ensure Stiles's selection. He was an excellent biblical scholar and an accomplished astronomer and mathematician. Goodrich was a leader in the fight for liberty from the Stamp Act crisis onward, writing on the subject of religious liberty in Connecticut and vigorously opposing a British threat to send an Anglican bishop to America. He argued that participation in the Revolution was a religious duty. The election sermon reproduced here is regarded as one of his finest . It was preached to Governor Samuel Huntington and the legislature in Hartford on May 10, I 787, on the eve of the convening of the Philadelphia Convention. ~he Principles ofcivil UNION and HAPPINFSS confidered and recommended. A S E R M 0 N, PREACHED BEFORE HIS ExcELLENCY SAMUELHUNTINGTON,Es