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SERMON

PREACHED BEFORE HIS EXCELLENCY

FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq;

GOVERNOR and Commander in Chief,
O THE HONOURABLE

His MAJESTY'S COUNCIL,

THE AND THE HONOURABLE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Of the Province of the

Massachusetts-Bay in New-England,

MAY 28th. 1766.

BEING the Anniversary for the ELECTION of His
MAJESTY'S COUNCIL for faid PROVINCE.

By EDWARD BARNARD, A.M.

Paftor of the First Church in HAVERHILL.

BOSTON:

Printed by RICHARD DRAPER, Printer to the Governor and
Council; and by SAMUEL DRAPER, at their Printing-
Office in Newbury-Street. MDCCLXVI.

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BIBL

OTH

KOM

Province of the

Majacbufetts-Bay, S

In COUNCIL, May 29. 1766.

RDERED, That ISAAC ROYALL, JAMES RUSSELL, and NATHANIEL ROPES, Efqrs, be a Committee to wait upon the Rev'd Mr. EDWARD BARnard, and return him the Thanks of the Board for his Sermon preached Yefterday, being theDay appointed by the Royal Charter, for the Election of Councellors for the Province; and to defire a Copy of the fame for the Prefs.

Atteft. A.OLIVER, Secr.

AnELECTION SERMON,

NEHEMIAH V. 19.

THINK upon me, myGod, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

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N acquaintance with the history of past ages will lead us to obferve, that a common method of the exaltation of a people, hath been by a fucceffion of men of eminent abilities and influence. A great genius appears at their head, and forms a general fcheme of institutions and laws. This being adopted, active fpirits follow, who carry it into execution, and the community swiftly afcends to the height of profperity.

EVEN Ifrael taken under the peculiar tutelage of Jehovah thus arose to a flourishing ftate. Mofes, by divine direction, gave them the rudiments of civil and ecclefiaftical polity. Joshua, by the fame influence, led them over Jordan, and fixed them in the deftin'd inheritance.

In a way somewhat fimilar may we well fuppofe a people emerging from the depths of distress to regain their national character. Patriots, perhaps of different qualities, exert themselves in turn, agreable to their circumstances, 'till they make a refpectable figure as in the former period of their exif

tence.

AN illuftration of this we have in the cafe of Judah reftored to Palestine and the rights and privileges of their fathers, after their refidence in a ftrange land, and fubjection to a foreign yoke, for feventy years.

DURING fo long a term, when the public offices of religion could not be regularly performed, when they were converfant with the fuperftitions of Gentilifm, and the manners of mafters upon whom they were en

tirely

tirely dependant, it is fcarce poffible bur that the knowledge of divine truth must be greatly loft, the ardor of devotion cool'd with many, their spirits broken, and a generous public, temper well nigh extinguish. ed.

LET us view these exiles going to a defolate country, and a capital in ruins, with intention to poffefs and improve their ancient patrimony, rebuild their city, fet up the worship of God upon the Hebrew ritual, and fettle the civil administration to adtantage; at the fame time defpis'd and hated by their neighbours, and retarded as much as poffible in every falutary projection.

THESE things confidered, nothing can be clearer than the vast importance that they should have wife men for pilots to direct them, men of goodness and intrepidity, to animate them to every arduous undertaking.

ACCORDINGLY a gracious God not only favored them with his prophets to inftruct and support them, but rulers to lead and protect them, and forward the enterprifes to which they were called----firft

Zerubbabel

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