American Political Writing During the Founding Era: 1760–1805: Two Volume Paperback Set

12. Daniel Shute, An Election Sermon

PolWritV1_101-150.indd 109 2/21/12 9:09 AM [ 12} DANIEL SHUTE 1722-r8o2 An Election Sermon BOSTON, 1768 H arvard graduate and Congregationalist minister in Hingham on the east coast of Massachusetts, Daniel Shute took an active interest in colonial grievances against British policy but appears on the whole to have been a moderate in his views on the necessity for independence. He is said to have "stood aside and watched the Revolution run its course, " but the little we know of him today does not suggest that his parishoners classified him as a Loyalist. In any event, after independence had been won and government under the Articles of Confederation had proved ineffective, Shute stood well enough in the eyes of his neighbors for the town of Hingham to name him a delegate to the Massachusetts Convention called to approve or reject the new federal constitution drawn up in Philadelphia. He supported adoption and spoke strongly in favor of its provision forbidding the application of religious tests in choosing persons for public office. Shute in this sermon is addressing the Governor, Council, and House of Representatives in the annual Election Day Sermon. As is typical for such efforts, he rehearses the values and commitments of the community through the explication of a biblical text so as to edify and instruct the decision makers of the community. Shute's effort is a good example of the breadth of concern and consistency in quality of these sermons. Province of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. In COUNCIL , 26th May, q68. Ordered, That ISAAC ROYALL, BENJAMIN LINCOLN, and ROYALL TYLER, Esquires, be a Committee to wait on the Rev'd Mr. DANIEL SHUTE, and return him the Thanks of the Board for his Sermon [ 109] PolWritV1_101-150.indd 110 2/21/12 9:09 AM { I I 0} BOSTON, q68 preached Yesterday, before the Great and General Court, being the Day appointed by the RoYAL CHARTER for the Election of Councellors for the Province; and that they desire a Copy of the same for the Press. A. OLIVER, Sec'y. AN ELECTION SERMON EZRA X. 4 ARISE; for this matter belongeth unto thee; we also will be with thee; be of good courage, and do it. He whose happiness can admit no accession, and whose perfect rectitude excludes every degree of malevolence, must design the happiness of those creatures he calls out of nothing into existence; to suppose the contrary is inconsistent with absolute perfection, and implies the worst of characters. [6] The communication of happiness being the end of creation, it will follow, from the perfections of the creator, that the whole plan of things is so adjusted as to promote the benevolent purpose; to which the immense diversity in his works; the gradation in the species of beings that we know of, and many more perhaps than we know of, and the somewhat similar gradation in the same species, arising from their make, their connections, and the circumstances they are placed in, are happily subservient. And every creature in the universe, according to its rank in the scale of being, is so constituted, as that acting agreeably to the laws of its nature, will promote its own happiness, and of consequence the grand design of the creator. Agreeably hereto, all beings in the class of moral agents are so formed, that happiness will result to them from acting according to certain rules prescribed by the creator, and made known to them by reason or revelation. The rules of action, conformity to which will be productive [7] of happiness to such beings, must be agreeable to moral fitness in the relation of things; in perfect conformity to which the rectitude, and happiness of the creator himself consists. And such is the connection and dependency of things, that happiness will result from conformity to these rules, not only to individuals, but likewise PolWritV1_101-150.indd 111 2/21/12 9:09 AM ( I I I ) DANIEL SHUTE I722-I802 to the whole; for the beneficial effects of such conformity are reciprocaL-It naturally tends to promote the order and harmony of the moral system, and so the general good . The plan of the creator being thus manifestly adapted to promote the happiness of his creation, his conduct herein becomes a pattern to his creatures that are rational moral agents, and the rule of their duty, according to their measure; for all moral obligation...