In 17th century America, it is said that the average American would hear over 7,000 sermons in their lifetime. Those sermons were not like the ones we hear today through our TV Evangelist. They did not promise us quick and easy fixes, good health, and prosperity. But they did speak to the issues of the day and of righteousness and judgment. What they had to say was directed at the heart and meant to affect the life and manner of the hearer. Unlike today, (most of America is unlike today) sermons were sought after, even in the political realm.
Preachers were not promoting candidates, but they were promoting righteousness and setting forth God's Word as it related to the Government and those who had charge of the office. Request would be made to ministers to preach to the elected officials and the candidates for political office. Officials and candidates alike would assemble to hear the minister expound the scriptures concerning their oath to office and the responsibility to govern rightly. After charging the officials in their responsibilities the people would be instructed in obedience to such officials who would govern rightly. In the following text, we see such a sermon preached by Daniel Forster on May 26, 1779. All of this would be illegal now, but that was when America was still committed to its founding principles. Let us listen in on Pastor Daniel Foster and see if we can find some help for us today.
In the text, the person speaking is doubtless Jesus Christ, who by the Apostle, is called “the wisdom of God, and the power of God.” “By me Princes rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the earth:” That is, by my Providence and appointment, they are advanced to rule and govern; and their government is merciful and righteous, happy and prosperous, by my council and assistance.
The text leads us to speak of civil government, as ordained of God, in the hands of the mediator; of civil rulers, as holding their commission and authority under Christ; of their duty and dignity as his Ministers, and of the duty and privilege of the people under their administration.
[I wonder how the scope of our government would be today if our current leaders understood and actually governed as if this were true?]
That civil government is ordained of God in the hands of the Mediator, the Absolute necessity of order and government, for the existence and happiness of society, pleads its divine original: For without it, the affairs of mankind would fall into the utmost confusion and disorder. [Humm, are we experiencing and confusion and disorder today?]
The nature of man, as a sociable creature, would no doubt, have led him to some sort of government had sin never entered the world. But since sin has debased the noble nature of man, and spread itself through the whole world, both reason and revelation plead for government.
The mode of government, and persons to govern, are submitted to the wisdom of men, in pursuance of a divine ordinance, that second causes might operate. It being the method of God to carry on the designs of his government in this world, by the instrumentality of subordinate Agents. When therefore, a people unite in a form of government, and choose persons to rule and govern them and pledge their faith to be obedient to, and support the government, “though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth thereunto.” [They pledged this wither they won the election or not, they did not spend their time trying to destroy what they were trying to build. Today, the losing party spends great effort to obstruct, discredit, and derail the winning party.]
The Magistrate then, called to office by the voice of the people, and solemnly sworn, becomes an ordinance of God, and receives his authority from him, “by whom Princes rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the earth.” And the apostle, when he enjoins obedience to civil rulers, “because the powers that be, are ordained of God,” means to include in his idea, the methods by which they become possessed of their power, and likewise the use and improvement they make of it: If they rule for God, and for good to the people, they are to be subjected to, otherwise, “we ought to obey God, rather than men.” [Whereas today most of our officials don't even believe there is a God.]
Under this dispensation, the gospel and its ordinances, are our glory and defense. And as magistrates are honored by Christ, and act under his banner, they should be careful to be his glory, and support his religion in the world. [Maybe in American founding principles, but in America today the Gospel and its ordinances must be removed from public view and disregarded in their honor.]
All men should be possessed of a principle of piety and virtue; but none stand in greater need of it than those who are called to rule and govern. [Truth never spoken at a more proper time.]
Religion dignifies and enables the mind, refines and purifies the heart, fits men to act worthily their part on the stage of life, and shines with a peculiar luster in the Christian magistrate. This will procure for them honor in the sight of all men; “for those that honor me, I will honor.” [Likewise, without religion the mind is not refined and purified, and men do not act worthily their part on the stage of life.]
If religion is not honored and supported by men in places of public trust, the glory of the Lord will soon depart, and the fire of God be scattered over the city. [Humm, reckon?] It is the duty of Christian rulers, to preserve and secure to the people, their liberties and properties. The end and design of civil government is to secure the happiness of the whole community. For this, rulers are appointed; “he is the Minister of God to thee for good.”
The liberties of mankind have ever been held dear, for they are given by God and nature. “With a great sum, obtained I this freedom,” says the chief Captain to Paul, who relied, “but I was born free.” This has been and still is the voice of Americans; and our attention to the voice, which is from Heaven, has brought us into possession of the liberties and privileges, we this day enjoy.
An infringement on these, has ever awakened the fears, and kindled the resentment of an enlightened people! It has overturned empires and kingdoms, caused the stars to fall from Heaven, and princes to walk, as at this day, like servants on the earth!
In order to secure the liberties and privileges of the people, righteous and equitable laws should be made, and preserved. “That which is altogether just shall ye follow,” is an injunction from the First Magistrate in the universe. [We cannot know and understand these just laws without instruction from the Scriptures which we are now disregarding.]
We plead for a government of laws, not of men. The law is a rule to try all causes between man and man by; and it is a rule between the magistrate and subject, it teaches the one how to rule, and the other how to obey.
They are the pillars on which the Commonwealth stands; to them we appeal for a redress of grievances, and into their hands we are willing to fall; but not into the hands of men. They are in scripture, called the foundations of the earth; and said to be out of course, when the magistrate is either ignorant of them, or neglects to support his authority in their execution.
I know you heard the sarcasm in my inserts along with the text, but it was the awaken us to where we are as a nation. This was America, it is what we lived and governed ourselves by. All of which we have abandoned, yet still call ourselves Americans. We are not those Americans, we do not believe as they believed. We do not understand freedom as they understood freedom, nor do we understand government as they understood government. We are an irreligious, rebellious, and rioting people which have cast off the arms of freedom through the restraints of our passions, and have loosed our passions upon one another in the streets of our cities and offices of government. If God will grant us repentance and once again cast our eyes upon His precepts we may be saved. If not, we are doomed to our own destruction.
As another election comes upon us and our politicals parties plead their case before us, if the sound is not the sound of our American founding principles, let us proceed with great concern and much pray, for that we have been warned of is upon us.!
May God bless,
David
