,,the ,,religion ,,of ,,politics4    ,a 
,,sermon ,,delivered ,,before ,,his     
,,excellency ,,john ,,davis1 ,,governor1
 ,,his ,,honor ,,george ,,hull1         
,,lieutenant ,,governor1 ,,the          
,,honorable ,,council1 ,,and ,,the      
,,legislature ,,of ,,massachusetts1 ,,at
 ,,the ,,annual ,,election1 ,,january   
#e1 #ahdb4    ,,by ,,ezra ,s4 ,,gannett1
  ,junior ,pastor of the ,federal ,st4  
,church in ,boston4    ,boston3 ,,dutton
 ,,and ,,wentworth1 ,,printers ,,to     
,,the ,,state4 #ahdb4     ,commonwealth 
of ,massachusetts4                      
,,house ,,of ,,representatives1 ,,jan4  
#f1 #ahdb4    ,ordered1 ,that ,messrs   
,,duggan1 of ,quincy1                   
,,greele1 of ,boston1 and               
,,read1 of ,pawtucket1  be a ,committee 
to present the thanks of the ,house to  
the ,rev4 ,,ezra ,s4 ,,gannett1 for the 
able and eloquent ,discourse1 delivered 
by him yesterday1 before the ,government
 of the ,commonwealth1 and to request a 
copy thereof for publication4           

,l4 ,s4 ,,cushing1 ,clerk     ,,sermon4 
#a ,,corinthians1 x4 #ca4      ,,whether
 ,,ye ,,eat ,,or ,,drink1 ,,or          
,,whatsoever ,,ye ,,do1 ,,do ,,all ,,to 
,,the     ,,glory ,,of ,,god4   ,the    
solemnities of this occasion belong to a
 ,christian people4 ,by them religion is
 solicited to throw her protection and  
authority around the institutions of the
 ,state4 ,the citizen and the magistrate
 recognise their common relation to a   
higher ,power than the functionary or   
the ,state1 and in such recognition     
exchange the pledge of a mutual         
fidelity4 ,the custom which this day    
renews comes to us from the founders of 
the ,commonwealth--men of strong faith  
and religious hearts1 who erected their 
political fabric as a temple in which to
 worship ,god1 and inscribed over its   
front the name of the one ,master whom  
they honored1 even ,christ4 ,the place  
to which our legislators and rulers have
 come upon entering on their official   
duties is the house of prayer and       

,christian instruction4 ,every thing    
that distinguishes the occasion seems to
 point out the course of remark in which
 he who addresses this audience should  
invite his hearers to follow him4 ,the  
relation of religion to politics--the   
religion of political life--is the      
subject to which he is unequivocally    
directed2 and of which it is my purpose 
to treat1 at such length only as the    
limits of the occasion will allow1 but  
with such plainness of speech as should 
alone be used before freemen by one as  
free as they when speaking on their     
common duties4  ,there is however what  
may be called a political side to this  
subject1 on which it would be improper  
for me to introduce any remarks at this 
time4 ,the bare mention of religion and 
politics in connexion alarms some minds1
 who fear lest the liberties of the     
people be invaded by zealous            
religionists1 or the public affairs of  
the time be handled by honest or        
ambitious preachers--in either case     

wandering beyond their appropriate      
limits4 ,let me at the outset disclaim  
all intention of touching questions to  
which a temporary interest only can     
belong1 or of assailing the order of our
 civil state4 ,it is higher ground which
 ,i hope to occupy as ,i examine the    
religious aspects of citizenship4 ,when 
,i speak of the religion of political   
life1 ,i mean that religion should      
control men in the exercise of their    
political rights as it should control   
them in all their other relations and   
concerns4 ,the religion of politics is  
nothing else than the application of    
religious principles to political       
action1 whether it be the action of a   
statesman or a private citizen1 of an   
individual or of the community4 ,the    
politician should respect these         
principles as much as any other man4    
,political opinion1 political           
discussion1 political life should be    
brought under the influence of religious
 convictions4 ,this is the ground which 

,i take1 and which ,i shall endeavor to 
prove is the only ground on which a     
,christian can consistently stand4      
,religion should govern all political   
sentiment and action4 ,why not8 ,why    
should such a claim on behalf of        
religion be accounted extravagant1 or   
meet with any other than a unanimous    
assent8 ,is not religion the supreme    
law2 so acknowledged by the people of   
this land1 at least by the thoughtful   
and sober part of the people8 ,we but   
repeat one of the common-places of the  
pulpit1 which however disregarded no one
 thinks of denying1 when we say that the
 influence of religion should be        
paramount in every department of life4  
,we but adopt an illustration with which
 every one is familiar1 when we speak of
 it as a spiritual atmosphere1 that must
 enclose the institutions and movements 
of society1 and insinuate itself into   
every form of personal existence4 ,the  
authority of religion1 its right to     
exercise sway over human wills and human

 hearts1 is admitted on all sides4 ,it  
is not monks and nuns1 nor religious    
teachers and their families1 upon whom  
in these days it is believed that the   
command to fear ,god and work           
righteousness expends its force2 it is  
not men on sick beds and in dying       
moments alone1 of whom it is said1 that 
they ought to think of the duty which   
devolves on them in view of their       
relations to ,god and eternity2 but men 
and women full of life1 in the midst of 
life's cares1 temptations and           
labours--the young1 the vigorous1 the   
busy--merchants in their traffic1       
farmers in the fields1 scholars in their
 studies1 mechanics in their workshops1 
the wife and mother in her domestic     
occupations1 the daughter of toil at her
 needle--the rich1 the poor--the wise1  
the simple--all should be religious1    
heartily1 truly1 constantly religious4  
,this is the doctrine of the present    
time2 or if it is not1 it should be4    
,this is the democratic doctrine about  

religion1 and this is the ,christian    
doctrine about religion4 ,it includes   
all men under one law1 and all sinners  
under one condemnation4 ,now why shall  
the politician be released from the     
demand made upon every one else8 ,why   
shall political life form an episode in 
the history traced by successive        
generations on the tablet of the ages1  
which shall have not only its own rules 
of composition1 but its own principles  
of moral interpretation8 ,shall         
mercantile life be required to cover    
itself with the sanctity of moral       
obligation1 shall the demand of the age 
be for a ,christian literature1 shall   
there be a general lamentation over the 
want of faith and virtue2 and yet an    
exception be made in favor--no1 not in  
favor1 but to the disadvantage and      
disgrace--of one class of engagements1  
in which all the people of this country 
participate8 ,such injustice will not   
bear a moment's examination4 ,away with 
it forever6  ,it seems impossible to    

misunderstand the language of           
,christianity on this subject4          
,undeniably it affirms its right to     
exercise universal dominion4 ,it takes  
cognisance of all human action1 extends 
its scrutiny to motives and feelings1   
and allows no condition1 employment or  
exigency to raise a barrier against its 
entrance as the messenger of ,god to    
deliver and enforce his commands4 ,it   
has one and the same instruction for all
 men1 whether they live in palaces or   
wander houseless1 whether they are      
versed in tongues or are rude of speech1
 men of science or men of handicraft1   
subjects of a monarchy or citizens of a 
republic2 to them all it says1 ,hearken 
and obey--walk by faith--lead holy      
lives--fulfil all righteousness4 ,even  
if this be called by the unbeliever the 
pretension or the arrogance of          
,christianity1 he must admit that the   
claim which it sets up is as broad as   
human existence4 ,wherever the religion 
of the ,new ,testament can reach a man1 

over him it asserts its authority4 ,no  
place so public1 no spot so private1 no 
situation so humble1 no office so high1 
that ,christianity will not rise to its 
eminence1 descend to its depth1         
penetrate its seclusion1 occupy its     
position1 and still reiterate the same  
language1--speaking as one having       
authority1 because it speaks in the name
 and in behalf of the ,almighty4 ,from  
the first has it advanced this claim of 
unlimited empire2 its prerogatives      
change not with the mutations of        
society4 ,it still shows a charter of   
divine right for the sovereignty at     
which it aims4 ,it still claims1 as it  
always has demanded1 and ever will      
demand till it shall acquire1 dominion  
over all classes1--from the slave of    
toil to the heir of a throne1 from the  
pauper whom the charity of the ,state   
supports to the ,ruler by whom the      
majesty of the ,state is represented4   
,it is important however that we have   
right conceptions of the nature of this 

dominion4 ,christianity1 as we have     
noticed1 aims at exerting a control over
 the motives1 feelings and unseen life4 
,it asks not for outward deference1 but 
for inward submission4 ,the conscience1 
the heart1 the will must bow to its     
authority4 ,a respect which lies on the 
surface only of the character1 or which 
glides from the tongue like the         
schoolboy's recitation of a few         
well-conned sentences1 is not what the  
,christian owes to his religion1 nor    
what it will accept in place of that    
homage of the soul which is the only    
proof of an insight into its nature4    
,strange that men should ever think to  
deceive ,god by playing the parrot or   
the hypocrite6 ,there are many who make 
the fatal mistake of substituting       
profession for reality2 and in a        
community who hold religion in high     
regard there may be politicians who will
 take this course in the hope of winning
 their fellow-men4 ,if they succeed1    
they only effect a selfish purpose2 they

 do not illustrate the influence of     
religion4  ,neither is it an attention  
to forms1 however sincere1 nor a use of 
institutions1 however constant1 that    
will satisfy the demands of             
,christianity4 ,it requires something   
more than reverence for the means by    
which it binds its power upon the       
disciple4 ,the age in which faith       
terminates in the means of religion is  
the precursor of an age of unbelief4    
,ceremonies are but the ghosts of dead  
professions1 unless a living faith      
convert them into ministers of goodness4
 ,forms are needed1 institutions are all
 but essential2 but they are only the   
garments in which the ,divine spirit of 
religion must be clad for its exposure  
to a cold and ungenial world4 ,many are 
there who look with profound respect    
upon the dress1 but think not whether it
 covers a divinity or a fiction4 ,how   
have men--great statesmen and small     
politicians as well as others--praised  
the ,established ,church of ,england1   

and actually stood in awe of its        
majesty1 when the thought of its        
spiritual relation to themselves or any 
one else had perhaps never crossed their
 minds4  ,it is not reverence at certain
 times--a periodical service--by which  
men are required to prove themselves    
disciples of ,christ4 ,righteousness1   
holiness1 is not confined to any hour or
 place4 ,the sanctuary whose walls the  
hands of labour have raised1 is not the 
only house of ,god4 ,there is a temple  
which the ,divine ,architect has reared1
 whose walls are immortal1 in which his 
worship must be maintained by faculties 
ever conscious of his presence4 ,there  
is an altar1 the altar of the heart1 on 
which a perpetual sacrifice must be     
presented4  ,that sacrifice too must be 
a whole burnt-offering4 ,the man must   
give himself to ,god1 a living          
sacrifice1 in body and in soul1 which is
 but his reasonable service4 ,i pause   
not from my original purpose1 to show   
how reasonable2 but ,i insist upon the  

truth that a partial obedience1 in      
whatever sense it be partial1 will not  
meet the requisitions of ,christianity4 
,it is neither a part of human nature1  
nor a part of human life1 which must be 
devoted to religion2 but the whole--the 
whole of life1 the whole of man4 ,the   
man must be thoroughly1 habitually1     
entirely religious4 ,his loftiest       
purposes and grandest conceptions1 his  
most familiar exercises and meanest     
employments1 his whole impulse1 energy  
and activity must be sanctified by      
faith--faith in ,god and his will1 in   
,christ and his revelations4 ,whether he
 eat or drink1 or whatever he do1 he    
must do all to the glory of ,god4       
,whatever he do4 ,mark the words4 ,they 
leave room for no exception4 ,whatever  
be the nature of one's engagements1     
public or private2 wherever he be1 in   
the house or the street2 whenever his   
course be examined1 on ,sunday or       
week-day1 morning1 noon1 or night2 he   
must be found living to ,god's          

glory1--through faith1 ,i repeat1 and   
through the obedience which is the      
consequence of faith4 ,character is the 
service which he must render4  ,a       
character of which the principle is     
indicated by the words of the ,apostle1 
will obtain a twofold development1 as it
 shall seek the direction on the one    
hand of piety1 and on the other of      
morality4 ,each of these forms of growth
 will proceed from an idea as its germ2 
the one from the idea of ,god1 the other
 from the idea of man4 ,the idea of     
,god1--the ,supreme1 ,eternal1 ,infinite
 ,being1 whose will nothing can         
overrule1 but whose unimpeachable       
perfection is a guarantee for the       
rectitude of his government4            
,god1 the mighty source   ,of all       
things1 the stupendous force         ,on
 which all things depend2   ,from whose 
right arm1 beneath whose eyes1   ,all   
period1 power1 and enterprise           
,commence and reign and end4  ,he is    
,governor among the nations2 but justice

 and judgment are the habitation of his 
throne4 ,thine1 ,o ,lord1 are the       
greatness1 and the power1 and the glory1
 and the victory1 and the majesty2 for  
all that is in the heaven and in the    
earth is thine2 thine is the kingdom1   
and thou art exalted as ,head above all4
 ,both riches and honour come of thee1  
and thou reignest over all3 and in thine
 hand is power and might1 and in thine  
hand it is to make great and to give    
strength unto all4 ,worthily1 so far as 
language could go1 did the greatest of  
,israel's monarchs1 and one of the first
 of human bards1 in these words         
celebrate the majesty of ,him who is    
,higher than the highest1 the ,maker1   
,guardian1 and ,sovereign of the        
universe4 ,religion adopts this         
description as the groundwork of its    
sentiments and exercises4 ,with ,god it 
begins1 to ,him it returns1 in ,him it  
rests4 ,to ,him it traces all blessing1 
from ,him receives direction concerning 
the aim and course of life1 and as its  

first and last and central principle    
aspires to do all things to his glory4  
,led to ,him as the ,creator by his     
works1 which it contemplates1 reminded  
of ,him as the ,almighty ,ruler by his  
providence1 the aspects of which it     
reverently studies1 and taught to call  
,him the ,father by ,christ1 to whose   
instructions it yields a joyful         
obedience1 it revolves around the       
,supreme ,being as its light and        
security1 through its relation to whom  
it is safe amidst the world's commotions
 and blessed in life's decay4  ,the idea
 of man--this is the other point of     
departure from which religion will seek 
its appropriate issues2 of man in those 
attributes which are the universal      
endowment of our race1 and not in the   
artificial prerogatives which           
distinguish a part of mankind--one      
nation1 or one class in society2 of man 
the partaker of a common humanity1      
before whose indestructible capacities1 
rights and destinies the distinctions of

 colour1 wealth and office fade away1 as
 the glare of night-lamps which shed    
illumination over a few feet of space   
before the beams of the sun which enwrap
 the whole land in their brightness4    
,this idea of man1 as everywhere the    
creature of ,god1 and therefore         
dependent1 everywhere the child of ,god1
 and therefore in his nature proclaiming
 himself of a nobler lineage than if he 
could show an ancestral register bearing
 the names of half the monarchs of the  
earth1 as everywhere the same in virtue 
of his indefeasible possession of       
reason1 conscience and immortality1 and 
therefore entitled to fraternal         
treatment from his fellow-men1--this    
idea whence came it8 ,where did our     
fathers learn that men were born free   
and equal8 ,from the religion of the    
,new ,testament1 for centuries a sealed 
book1 and from whose truths when opened 
the darkness of ages did but slowly     
disappear4 ,equal2 not free only1--this 
latter word might seem to be used with  

some license of speech1--but equal1 in  
the essential gifts and purposes of     
existence4 ,christianity by addressing  
the common nature and unfolding the     
immortal destiny of mankind has shown a 
broad ground1 on which all may meet and 
lift up the chorus of a united and      
acknowledged brotherhood4 ,the framers  
of our ,declaration of ,independence    
thought they were proclaiming a         
political axiom1 when they republished  
one of the great revelations of the     
,gospel1 the full meaning of which can  
be learned only through sympathy with   
him who came to save the lost and       
reconcile the estranged4 ,the common    
people1 it is said1 heard him gladly4   
,and the people it is who should welcome
 his religion1 which condemns the       
selfishness alike of the tyrant and of  
the demagogue1 and rebukes at once the  
arrogance of an aristocratic and the    
meanness of a servile spirit by its     
pregnant charge to honor all men4 ,all  
men8 ,what1 of every class and          

condition8 ,yes1 men of every name1     
rank1 and complexion4 ,hear it1 ye      
slaves1 and ye masters of ,america4     
,hear it1 ye nobility1 and you the      
starving millions of ,britain4 ,hear it1
 ye rulers1 and ye defrauded and        
oppressed subjects of ,continental      
,europe4 ,aye1 hear it1 ye nations of   
the ,east1 where first the blessed words
 were spoken1 though since long buried  
in oblivion4 ,words of righteous and    
joyful import to those to whom false    
opinion and unjust institutions have    
denied the place which by the will of   
their ,creator they are entitled to     
hold1--standing erect by the side of    
their fellow-men1 and not crouching     
submissively at the feet which trample  
or spurn them4 ,alas6 how few yet       
comprehend the law1 on which the        
morality of every ,christian people1 and
 every ,christian believer1 should be   
built--,thou shalt love thy neighbour1  
be he who he may1 thou shalt love him as
 thyself4  ,it must now appear in what  

sense ,i use the expression1 the        
religion of politics4 ,we sometimes hear
 of the morality of political life1 but 
the term is not comprehensive enough for
 my purpose4 ,i do not indeed           
acknowledge a morality that is not based
 on faith in ,god1 whose will is the    
only standard1 as from his government   
must be derived the sanctions1 of       
virtue4 ,but a compliance with the      
requisitions of morality is not all that
 should be demanded of him who enters   
political life1 or of any one in the    
discharge of his functions as a citizen4
 ,he should remember what is due to     
,god1 as well as what is due to man4    
,let us see how the principles which we 
have laid down will affect political    
action4  ,first1 a man must carry into  
political life a sense of ,god as the   
,source of power and privilege4 ,the air
 and the light are not more truly his   
gifts than are the civil institutions   
which we enjoy4 ,we are fond of         
describing the virtues and deeds of our 

ancestors2 our grandsires are regarded  
with mingled admiration and gratitude4  
,it is well that we turn back to those  
days of fortitude and energy1 and seek  
there the springs of our present        
prosperity4 ,but our gratitude must not 
rest in the men of that period4 ,they   
were but the instruments of a higher    
will1 the agents of a mightier strength 
than their own4 ,those patriots of the  
revolution1 and their progenitors who   
planted the seed of liberty wherever    
they took up their habitation on this   
soil1 were the last men to have claimed 
for themselves the praise1 as if in     
their own self-derived wisdom or force  
they had achieved the works which       
history will connect with their names4  
,not unto us1 not unto us1 would have   
been their cry1 if they could have      
foreseen the sentiments of their        
posterity1 but to thy name1 ,o ,lord1 be
 the glory4 ,nay1 such was their        
language4 ,the ,pilgrims1 with all their
 faults--for faultless they were        

not--were men of an ardent piety1 whose 
faith rose up to heaven with an almost  
profane confidence and laid hold on the 
arm of ,god as their sustaining and     
guiding power4 ,the heroes of the       
revolutionary struggle--that struggle   
which began long before blood was shed  
on yonder height--looked up to ,heaven  
to approve their cause1 and when ,he    
whom they invoked had crowned it with   
success poured out their thanksgiving at
 his altars4 ,and shall we1 their sons1 
forget the ,god whom our fathers        
acknowledged8 ,it is a good thing to    
celebrate their deeds and keep their    
memories hung round with fresh tributes 
of love2 but let them not receive our   
final homage4 ,oh no6 ,let that pass    
beyond them to the ,eternal ,fountain of
 good1 from whom our liberties and our  
institutions have been received through 
these channels which his ,providence    
selected4 ,look abroad1 my hearers1 upon
 this great land1 with its spreading    
population4 ,see what a country is      

yours1--washed by two oceans1 and       
stretching from the arctic to the torrid
 zone4 ,note its immense resources2 its 
mountains reaching to the skies1 its    
vallies nestling in the bosom of        
sunshine1 its rivers on which a nation's
 traffic may be borne1 and its lakes on 
which the navies of the earth might     
ride4 ,mark its capacities in their as  
yet incipient state of development2 its 
various fertility1 its mineral wealth1  
its gigantic promise of support for     
future generations4 ,survey the people  
of this ,union1 pursuing their several  
branches of enterprise and industry1    
with none to hinder or molest4 ,ponder  
the statistics of your country's growth4
 ,see the iron rods of communication    
along which the electricity of life will
 be transmitted from the ,atlantic      
shores to the distant ,west4 ,examine   
the architecture of that social order   
under whose security you live1 simple1  
yet firm1 a model for other communities 
in its principles1 and a blessing to    

ourselves in the protection it extends  
over us1--all the protection 7but no    
more7 that a freeman needs4 ,and when   
you have filled your contemplation with 
the spectacles presented by your own    
beloved ,republic1 then bless the ,lord 
for his goodness and his wonderful      
loving-kindness2 for it is ,he who has  
given us this ample heritage4 ,if ever  
men were bound to own that ,god is good1
 it is the people of these ,united      
,states4 ,if ever a community on earth  
should be distinguished by religious    
sensibility1 it is this of which we are 
a part4  ,with this recognition of the  
,divine power and goodness must be      
united a sense of the responsibleness   
under which every one lies before ,god4 
,these privileges--many and great--of   
which we have spoken are entrusted to us
 by ,one1 the righteous principle of    
whose government it is1 that to whom    
much is committed1 of them will much be 
required4 ,our political advantages lay 
on us a peculiar weight of obligation4  

,we are accountable1 we shall be held   
accountable1 for the use we make of     
freedom and of power4 ,what is freedom8 
,it is liberty to do right--nothing more
 than this2 what more could an honest   
man desire8 ,but mark1 the liberty      
imposes the duty4 ,the freeman must do  
right1 or his immunities will enhance   
his guilt and deepen his condemnation4  
,the power which is committed to the    
hands of every citizen of this          
,commonwealth--the power of controlling 
public sentiment through his speech and 
of directing the public affairs through 
his vote--the power of national         
sovereignty in which he participates as 
one of the sovereign people--is a solemn
 trust4 ,he by whom it is abused sins2  
he by whom it is neglected sins4 ,his   
guilt may never come under the notice of
 his fellow-men1 but it will be         
established before a higher tribunal    
than any which they can erect4 ,every   
political act is a moral act1 in view of
 the principle which we have expounded1 

that whatever we do1 all must be done to
 the glory of ,god4 ,through the force  
of this principle it acquires a         
religious or an irreligious character2  
is clothed with a fearful significance1 
as it indicates the condition of the    
inward life2 and is linked to           
everlasting consequences1 as it forms   
part of the history of an immortal      
being4 ,whatever is done1 whether in    
public places or in secret chambers1 is 
done in the sight of ,god4 ,and over the
 least as well as the greatest of human 
actions has ,he extended the law of     
duty4 ,duty6 that word which expresses  
man's glory and his peril4 ,god save us 
from disregarding its import6  ,the     
necessary consequence of entertaining   
this sense of obligation will be the    
preservation of one's integrity1 which  
is the next point that claims our notice
 in considering the influence of        
religion upon politics4 ,a man who acts 
religiously will act conscientiously1   
unless he grossly mistake the meaning of

 the former word4 ,he will endeavour to 
maintain a clean heart and a clean      
tongue4 ,whatever would debase his      
character he will avoid as he would shun
 a pestilence2 he will dread moral      
disease more than natural death4 ,let   
such a man enter on the performance of  
any service which devolves on him       
through his relation to the ,state1 and 
he will proceed as to a work demanding  
high and holy principle4 ,he will esteem
 it treason to his country to let go his
 own rectitude of soul4 ,temptation to  
sacrifice his uprightness to interest   
will only make him more resolute4 ,the  
persuasion of example will be as vain as
 an open bribe4 ,the question he will   
ask in each case is1--not what will     
custom or public opinion allow1         
but--what ought ,i to do4 ,he will      
pursue this course of fidelity1 alike to
 himself and to the trusts which he is  
called to execute1 because he accounts  
the obligations of righteousness to be  
immutable4 ,and here his judgment is    

according to the truth4 ,there is no    
sphere or scene of life which gives a   
man the privilege of doing wrong2 no    
land of license1 nor castle of power1   
where he is exempt from the authority of
 religion4 ,neither the throne nor the  
senate-house1 the secret conclave nor   
the popular assembly1 can shield one    
from the force of that primary law of   
human action--thou shalt not sin against
 thine own soul4 ,purity of purpose and 
sincerity of conduct must preserve the  
citizen from the taint of evil1 or he   
will become corrupt1 and if he do not   
disgust1 will corrupt others4  ,i have  
intimated that justice should pervade   
both the sentiment and the action of    
political life4 ,i now add1 that another
 element of the ,christian character1   
love1 must be brought into exercise4    
,selfishness must be banished from this 
ground1 as from every other4 ,need that 
commandment of our religion1 to which   
the command1 to love ,god1 alone has    
precedence1 be observed only under      

certain relations2 or was it meant to   
bind the individual1 and the world1 in  
any and all possible relations of       
existence8 ,may the law of brotherly    
love be virtually abrogated by the      
institutions or the habits of society8  
,if not1 then we must consider the good 
of others as well as our own1--not only 
respect their rights1 but labor to      
advance their interests4 ,the ,apostolic
 maxim should find place among the      
principles adopted by politicians1--look
 not every man on his own things1 but   
every man also on the things of others4 
,the charity that envieth not1 that     
vaunteth not itself1 is not puffed up1  
doth not behave itself unseemly1 seeketh
 not her own1 is not easily provoked1   
thinketh no evil1 rejoiceth not in      
iniquity1 but rejoiceth in the          
truth--does it not almost seem as if the
 portraiture was drawn in view of the   
contrast often exhibited by men in their
 political relations8--this charity must
 be preserved1 its image unbroken1      

amidst all the struggle and competition 
of public or of private life4  ,i need  
go no farther in detailing the influence
 which religion should have on          
politics2--on its theory and its        
practice4 ,on its theory1 by banishing  
whatever is inconsistent with the       
,divine will or with the welfare of the 
whole human race4 ,on its practice1 by  
causing every one to act under a sense  
of ,god's goodness and his own          
responsibleness1 with uprightness of    
soul and in the spirit of ,christian    
love4 ,the principles of political      
action should harmonize with the        
principles of a perfect character1 and  
no single act be allowed that would     
offend these principles4 ,the consistent
 politician in a ,christian land is he  
who can invite the scrutiny of          
,omniscience upon his motives1 while his
 outward life is shaped by his inward   
purposes4 ,see you a man who in the heat
 of a political conflict1 or the toil of
 public service1 keeps himself humble1  

pure and disinterested2 who never       
violates his conscience1 and never      
forgets his ,god2 who never lets the    
prospect of loss or the hope of         
advantage lure him from the straight    
course of duty2 who illustrates in his  
own example the fine motto of the knight
 of chivalry--without fear and without  
reproach2 who scorns to compass an end1 
though noble1 by unworthy means1 and    
would reject with loathing a proposal to
 substitute expedients for principles2  
see you such an one8 ,honour him1 be his
 station what it may2 take him for your 
model2 give him office1 if he will      
accept it2 give him your hearts1 if he  
refuses your votes4 ,the ,christian     
politician6 one of the noblest specimens
 of humanity2 who can tread dark and    
perilous ways1 and not stumble2 can     
serve his fellow-men without degrading  
himself or offending his ,maker4 ,the   
,christian citizen6 who asks ,god's     
blessing upon his discharge of the      
functions that belong to him as the     

inhabitant of a free country2 who       
appreciates the worth of his privileges1
 and feels the solemnity of his duties2 
who forms his opinions carefully1 and   
expresses them manfully1 though         
candidly2 who when he helps to elect a  
fellow-citizen to take charge of the    
interests of the town1 the              
,commonwealth1 or the land1 is impressed
 with the sacredness of his own act2 who
 upholds good institutions because he   
wishes to see them prosper1 and not for 
any sinister end2 who supports the      
measures which his understanding and    
conscience approve1 and will have       
nothing to do with any other            
institutions or measures2--such a man1  
though his hands be callous with labour 
or his clothes threadbare through       
poverty1 deserves the respect of the    
community4 ,i would rather be such a man
 than a second ,napoleon cutting ,europe
 into kingdoms and tossing crowns to his
 favorites4  ,all that ,i have now said1
 ,i trust1 approves itself to the minds 

of those whom ,i address4 ,i have raised
 no structure of requisition for which  
,i had not first secured deep and broad 
foundations4 ,if the views we have taken
 of the authority and extent of the     
,divine government as expounded by      
,christianity are just1 it follows that 
men should be devout1 upright and       
benevolent everywhere2 that is1 in all  
situations as well as in all places2 in 
the ,state-house in ,boston1 and in the 
,capitol at ,washington1 in a           
,president's ,cabinet1 and in a         
,governor's ,council-chamber1 in a      
political caucus1 and at the freeman's  
ballot-box4 ,religion must control and  
sanctify the whole life of the          
individual and of the nation4 ,and yet  
this doctrine is repudiated2 yes1 openly
 and in high places4 ,and this doctrine 
of repudiation1--not a birth of         
yesterday1 but as old as civil          
government1--is that which should be    
most indignantly rejected by honest men 
and good citizens4 ,it is said1 that men

 need not be as scrupulous in their     
public as in their private relations4   
,there is a morality for the public man1
 and another for the private citizen4   
,there are two standards of conduct even
 for the same person1 in his private and
 in his public capacity4 ,i have heard  
it said by those who knew him well that 
an individual of great influence1 who   
had been placed in the most elevated    
offices within the people's gift1 was a 
man of strict integrity and the mildest 
character in his private connexions1    
though as a politician he was           
distinguished for his disregard of      
truth1 his violence1 and his use of any 
means to carry the ends which his party 
espoused4 ,and on the other hand we hear
 men whose private vices are            
notorious--profane1 profligate1         
unprincipled--commended for the         
consistency and purity of their         
political course4 ,is not this wrong1 is
 it not deplorable8 ,shall we for a     
moment countenance this distinction     

between public and private character1 as
 if they were not subject to the same   
principles of moral judgment8 ,shall    
they in whose veins ,puritan blood runs 
freely admit a doctrine1 the bare       
mention of which would have made        
,winthrop and ,bradford and a thousand  
more like them tremble with horror8 ,it 
came not from them1 it does not belong  
to the ,new ,england soil4 ,it came from
 the corrupt ,courts of ,europe1 from   
ages when ,christianity was scarcely    
known1 and from scenes where its        
influence was unfelt4 ,to the ,old      
,world let it be restored2 to past ages 
be it consigned4 ,and let us no more    
hear the abominable doctrine--as        
irrational as it is detestable--that    
what would be scandalous in private life
 may be just and commendable in the     
management of political affairs4 ,i     
reaffirm1 that religion should purify   
the currents of thought and control the 
movements1 whether secret or open1 that 
belong to this part of human agency4    

,and if ,i needed other support for this
 assertion than is furnished by the very
 terms in which it is expressed1 ,i     
might quote the words of ,washington1   
who in his ,farewell ,address1 after    
remarking that of all the dispositions  
and habits which lead to political      
prosperity1 religion and morality are   
indispensable supports1 adds1 ,in vain  
would that man claim the tribute of     
patriotism who should labour to subvert 
these great pillars of human happiness1 
these firmest props of the duties of men
 and citizens4 ,the mere politician1    
equally with the pious man1 ought to    
respect and cherish them4 ,and let us1  
he further adds1 with caution indulge   
the supposition that morality can be    
maintained without religion4 ,whatever  
may be conceded to the influence of     
refined education on minds of peculiar  
structure1 reason and experience both   
forbid us to expect that national       
morality can prevail in exclusion of    
religious principle4 ,words worthy to be

 inscribed over every hall of           
legislation and every place of public   
resort in this or any other land4  ,the 
principles which have now been presented
 must not be confined to individual     
action4 ,they should also control the   
associated energy which makes politics  
the scene of its efforts4 ,political    
parties should respect these principles4
 ,any organization or enterprise in     
which they are disregarded should meet  
with instant rebuke4 ,the existence of  
parties may not be regretted4 ,they are 
useful1 and they are inseparable from   
any system of government which gives to 
the people an interest in the management
 of public affairs1 or which even       
permits discussion upon public measures4
 ,where men form and express opinions1  
variety of opinion will be sure to      
spring up2 discussion will elicit       
sympathy and enkindle debate4 ,here we  
have at once the elements of party4 ,its
 advantages1 in the more thorough       
examination to which measures of general

 or local importance are subjected1 and 
in the restrictions which reciprocal    
vigilance imposes upon the use of power 
or opportunity1 are as great as they are
 obvious4 ,it is1 then1 both foolish and
 useless to inveigh against parties as  
in themselves evil4 ,let them be formed 
on correct principles1 and conducted in 
a right spirit1 and they will be found  
among the best securities of liberty and
 the most effectual means of            
intelligence4 ,but let them be formed on
 unsound principles1 or without         
principle1 or let them be conducted in a
 greedy or vindictive spirit1 and they  
will become the occasions of            
incalculable mischief4 ,when falsehood  
and violence are the weapons which one  
party provokes another to adopt2 when   
the passions of men are addressed1 and  
their prejudices are fostered instead of
 being enlightened2 when the aim is not 
to serve the country so much as on the  
one side to get1 and on the other to    
retain power2 when recourse is had to   

means for baffling an opponent or       
securing a triumph1 which the very men  
who guide the party would be ashamed to 
use as private individuals2 when        
excitement is made the great instrument 
of success1 and the people are carried  
along blindfold by sympathy1 like a herd
 of animals1 moved by an impulse which  
they are unable to explain and care not 
to understand2 when office is the prize 
that stimulates exertion1 and worldly   
gain the object which lies at the heart 
of party strife2 then is that which     
might be a blessing converted into a    
curse4 ,vice and ruin are its fruits4 ,a
 despotism could not inflict on a       
country greater evils than must result  
from the action of parties born of      
selfishness and nursed in injustice4 ,it
 is sad to believe--yet who can         
deny--that political parties in this    
country bear too much the character     
which we have described4 ,oh6 for a     
party that shall plant itself upon      
principle1 shall appeal to the good     

sense and candid judgment of the people1
 shall look not at reward1 but at duty1 
and shall adopt no measures but such as 
virtue can approve and on which religion
 can invoke the benediction of a        
righteous ,god4 ,a party composed of    
good men and true patriots1 each of whom
 should interpret the charge which the  
,roman ,senate gave to the ,dictator    
whom public emergencies called into     
office as applicable to himself and as  
indicating the aim which he must pursue1
 let the cost to himself or the         
consequence to his party be what it     
may1--see that the ,republic sustain no 
harm1--such a party would be the        
salvation and glory of our land4        
,sentiments are advanced which          
contradict this view of duty4 ,maxims of
 political action have been             
promulgated1--not only in the fierce    
struggle that attends an election1 but  
in calmer moments1--which shock common  
sense as well as religious feeling4 ,it 
is said1 but by no one it may be        

presumed who has any sense of character1
 that all is fair in politics2 as if    
success were the only thing to be       
regarded4 ,but ,i need not stop to      
expose such an atrocious rule of action1
 which would justify whatever is base or
 criminal4 ,it is urged1 however1 in    
vindication of methods of acquiring     
influence which offend a clear-sighted  
conscience1 that if a party cannot      
prevail but by using the weapons with   
which it is attacked1 it must resort to 
these means of self-preservation4 ,what 
is this but another way of expressing   
the doctrine on the enormity of which we
 have just remarked8 ,self-preservation 
should not be the object most studied by
 a party4 ,the preservation of a        
character which will stand the test of  
moral principle should be far dearer4   
,if a party cannot live without adopting
 what it condemns1 let it perish2 let   
falsehood and shamelessness triumph4 ,it
 will be only for a season4 ,from the   
ashes of a party that has fallen a      

sacrifice to its own rectitude will     
arise another phenix of political       
virtue1 with fresh vigour and immortal  
hope4 ,it is sometimes contended1 that a
 man must go with his party1 though it  
be against his conscience4 ,mischievous 
and infamous language4 ,what6 a man put 
himself into chains1 that he may plead  
captivity as an excuse for sin8 ,shall  
the partisan with his own hand efface   
the prerogatives of his humanity1 and   
dare to trample on the laws of ,god1    
though he has not1 and because he has   
not1 the courage to break the leash in  
which he is led along like a hound      
watching his master's eye8 ,no4 ,every  
one of us is bound by higher obligations
 than those which connect him with a    
party4 ,if the higher and the inferior  
obligations come in conflict1 let the   
true man snap the latter1 as if they    
were bands of tow and not fetters of    
iron4  ,the most powerful instrument    
that a political party can use for the  
accomplishment of its ends1 whether good

 or bad1 is the press1 and therefore    
this should be placed under the control 
of moral and religious conviction4 ,a   
press which violates the sanctity of    
truth and lends itself to unrighteous   
uses1 is a disgrace to the community    
which gives it support1 and which cannot
 long endure its presence without       
feeling its disastrous influence4 ,if   
men sit beneath the shade of the        
poison-tree1 they cannot but inhale its 
noxious atmosphere4 ,the press should be
 consecrated to intelligence and virtue2
 but if1 instead of the service which it
 may render to the highest interests of 
man1 it condescends to become the pander
 of his prejudices and the slave of his 
passions1 to do the scavenger-work of a 
party in the unclean ways of falsehood  
and calumny1 it deserves only scorn and 
reprobation4 ,an independent press is a 
blessing to a land2 but a vagabond or a 
hireling press is a nuisance4 ,the      
independence of the press6 much talked  
about1 but little exemplified1 and      

probably little understood4 ,it does not
 consist in recklessness of assertion1  
or violence of language1 in gross       
misrepresentation1 and grosser assault  
on character2 but in maintaining itself 
above the fluctuations of opinion in the
 serene heaven of truth and principle1  
in trying political theories and        
measures by the standard of a pure      
morality1 in breasting the current of   
popular or party sentiment when it runs 
towards evil1 and in advocating the     
right though it have few to speak on its
 behalf4 ,why cannot we have a press    
that shall exhibit this character8      
,ought it not to exist in a ,christian  
nation8 ,now1 with honorable exceptions1
 our public journals give no evidence   
that the conception of such a character 
was ever entertained1 or at best        
indicate that it is regarded as an ideal
 excellence1 about which practical men  
need not trouble themselves4 ,the tone  
of a large portion of the political     
press on the eve or during the progress 

of an election--and in our country but  
little time falls without this          
description--is unchristian1 immoral1   
barbarous4 ,strange as it may sound1 ,i 
believe that the words with which the   
birth of the ,redeemer was celebrated by
 the heavenly host1 ,glory to ,god in   
the highest2 on earth peace1 goodwill   
among men1 express the aims which the   
press should adopt and the spirit in    
which its labours should be pursued4    
,the same great principles of conduct   
which we have traced in their           
application to the private offices of   
citizenship should be adopted by public 
men1 and by these principles should     
their course be judged4 ,they should act
 under a sense of their relations to    
,god and their duty to their fellow-men4
 ,the common remark is1 that they are   
responsible to their country4 ,but there
 is a higher responsibleness than this1 
which they must not forget4 ,they act in
 the sight of ,god1 and on each one of  
them devolve the obligations of personal

 fidelity1 which requires that they     
never compromise their uprightness nor  
relinquish their hold on a virtuous     
character4 ,let the conduct of statesmen
 in all ages be brought to this         
standard1 and how will it bear the test8
 ,the very principles on which          
statesmanship has proceeded--the        
principles of crooked policy and        
exclusive national advantage--are fatal 
to purity of character4 ,it is related  
of ,lord ,stanhope1 one of the ministers
 of ,george ,i4 that one day1 after     
musing some time in company1 he started 
up and said as to himself1 ,it is       
impossible6 and being asked what it was 
that was impossible1 he replied1 ,it is 
impossible for a minister to be an      
honest man4 ,was there not sad truth as 
well as keen satire in this remark of   
one whose experience must add weight to 
his opinion8 ,still1 not truth enough to
 justify despair2 for it is not         
impossible1 that men in the most        
conspicuous and dangerous positions     

should hold fast their integrity4 ,there
 have been those who have passed through
 the ordeal unharmed4 ,washington alone 
might prove that public station and     
personal excellence may be maintained   
together4 ,and besides other names that 
our own annals might supply1 he whom the
 providence of ,god removed from the    
highest office in this nation when he   
had but just crossed its threshold was1 
if we may believe various and positive  
testimony1 an example of moral and      
religious character worthy of universal 
imitation4 ,by the consent of all       
parties1 the late ,president ,harrison  
was a good man2 and now that he has gone
 to the judgment where there is no      
respect of persons1 who does not feel   
that this is a better title than he     
could have won by the most splendid     
administration of our government8       
,impressive is the lesson of his        
departure1 and sincere was the mourning 
that followed him to his grave2 but the 
remembrance of his inflexible though    

modest worth will abide in the firmament
 of public life1 a bright star sending  
down its calm influence through the     
interval of years and ages4 ,let the    
people demand of their rulers that they 
copy this example4 ,let them say to the 
candidate for public office1--,we       
require moral principle1 we desire      
religious faith1 in those to whom we    
commit the trusts that are at our       
disposal2 we wish for something on which
 we can rely1 and the only thing on     
which we can rely is character4 ,let    
them say to the representatives of the  
nation's dignity on the floors of       
,congress1--,conduct yourselves like men
 of principle2 pollute not these        
chambers by invectives that would       
disgrace a dramshop nor by broils that  
belong to scenes of midnight riot2      
attend to the business for which we sent
 you to the national halls1 and make us 
not ashamed of ourselves that we have   
chosen men1 whom we cannot respect1 to  
be our legislators4  ,and finally1 the  

same principles which should sway       
individuals in all the relations of life
 are applicable to nations in respect to
 both their internal and their foreign  
affairs4 ,the same principles of        
reverence1 justice and generosity4 ,of  
reverence2 for the ,divine providence   
and government embrace within their     
oversight the largest empire as well as 
the humblest man1 even as the same care 
guides a planet that shapes a drop4     
,that prayer which the civil authority  
of the ,state puts into the mouths of   
the ministers of religion1 ,god save the
 ,commonwealth of ,massachusetts1 is not
 a mere form of words4 ,it has a        
meaning1 which the hearts of the people 
should confess4 ,of justice2 for a      
community1 be it larger or smaller1 in  
its action but expresses the aggregate  
or the preponderance of certain human   
wills1 every one of which should be     
subject to the law of rectitude1 and    
whose combined force must therefore     
represent the prevalent morality of the 

members4 ,nothing can be more           
preposterous1 than to maintain that a   
community is not bound by the laws of   
moral obligation4 ,if this be the fact1 
then the most enormous wickedness may be
 perpetrated1 fraud and injustice       
execute their projects and cruelty bathe
 its hands in blood1 and no one be      
guilty2 ,heaven be defied1 and earth be 
stained1 but no one culpable6 ,a ,state 
is bound to keep good faith as much as  
an individual4 ,it is bound to deal     
righteously and glorify ,god1 to eschew 
evil and do good4 ,the doctrine broached
 in some quarters1 that legislation may 
be dishonest and yet reproach not cleave
 to the ,state which suffers it1 is as  
false as it is base4 ,they by whom it is
 promulgated are enemies nurtured at the
 bosom of the ,republic4 ,their         
dishonour   ,mangles true judgment1 and 
bereaves the ,state   ,of that integrity
 which should become it2   ,not having  
the power to do the good it would1      
,for the ill which doth control it4  ,of

 generosity2 for the sentiment of love  
may warm a nation's breast4 ,political  
institutions need not engender          
exclusiveness4 ,nations should treat one
 another honestly and openly1 discarding
 that maxim on which the international  
relations of the world have in past ages
 been conducted1 that the prosperity of 
each must be promoted by the obstacles  
thrown in the way of the rest4 ,this is 
neither a ,christian nor a sound maxim4 
,men are beginning to open their eyes   
upon the fact1 that it is unsound and   
pernicious2 yet how slow are they in    
coming to the real truth1 that the      
nation which pays the most sincere      
respect to the rights1 and shows the    
most liberal spirit in regard to the    
interests1 of other nations1 will most  
effectually secure its own rights and   
advance its own interests4 ,it is time  
that the old ,pagan notion of patriotism
 should be displaced by more just ideas4
 ,love of country was once interpreted  
to mean hatred of all other people1--in 

days when virtue had no other meaning   
than courage1 and he was thought to show
 the most lofty patriotism who bound the
 greatest number of captives to the car 
of victory4 ,it is time that the more   
modern conception of national glory as  
identical with national superiority1 if 
not in arms1 in some other class of     
achievements1 should give place to a    
right appreciation of the end for which 
a nation should labour4 ,this end is    
neither aggrandizement nor superiority1 
but virtue4 ,to what should a nation    
make all its laws and institutions and  
the whole action of its government      
subservient8 ,to the improvement of the 
people2 to their intellectual and moral 
elevation2 to their individual and      
social advancement4 ,as this improvement
 takes place1 they will rise to a nobler
 conception of the service they may     
render to mankind1 and patriotism will  
be found to harmonize with philanthropy4
 ,then will the miserable jealousies    
which have been cherished and the       

execrable policy which has been pursued 
disappear before the progress of        
,christian sentiment4 ,then will        
governments extend to each other an     
open1 and not a closed or mailed1 hand4 
,then will war stand forth before their 
view in all its hideousness1 its        
features distorted by rage1 and its     
garments dripping with blood1--a        
mournful and a fearful spectacle4 ,oh6  
when shall the time come1 that the true 
character of ,war--its horrors1 its     
vices1 its crimes1 unredeemed by a      
single trait properly its own1--shall be
 understood4 ,almost nineteen centuries 
ago was the ,prince of ,peace born into 
the midst of the woes of humanity1--this
 the greatest of them all1--that he     
might drive them from the earth2 and    
still war ravages the globe like a wild 
beast furious with hunger4 ,no2 ,i have 
spoken hastily4 ,rather should ,i have  
said1 like one who feels that decay has 
taken hold of his strength4 ,there is   
promise of a better period1 when men    

shall be the demon's prey no longer4 ,oh
 ,god1 hasten that time for thy         
goodness' and thy mercy's sake6  ,i will
 not detain this assembly to examine at 
length the objections that may be       
brought against the doctrine advanced   
and applied in this discourse4 ,it may  
be said1 that much of what has been     
spoken is the language of fanaticism1   
with which your ears should not have    
been wearied4 ,but no sentiment nor word
 that ,i have uttered can be justly     
stigmatized as fanatical1 if the        
positions which ,i took at first1 and   
from which ,i apprehend that no one     
dissented1 were correct1 and if the     
results to which we have been led are   
the legitimate consequence of taking    
those positions4 ,it may be said1 that  
this is another weak attempt on the part
 of the clergy to regain an influence   
which they have irrecoverably lost4 ,the
 absurdity of the idea is its sufficient
 refutation4 ,it may be said1 that this 
is the first step1 feebly put forth     

indeed1 towards a union of ,church and  
,state4 ,church and ,state6 words of    
wonderful power over our fears and our  
imaginations4 ,but who can for a moment 
seriously believe that such a purpose is
 entertained by one who loves1 or by one
 who understands1 ,american             
institutions8 ,a ,state religion does   
any one dread8 ,i should think there was
 just now more danger of almost any     
thing else4 ,it is not a national       
,christianity1 but a ,christian nation1 
which ,i desire to see2 and if this wish
 betray an unfriendly feeling towards   
republican principles1 then ,i must bear
 the reproach1 but ,i shall not bear it 
alone4 ,thousands and thousands of      
hearts wish the same1 and pray for it   
morning and night1 year after year2 and 
if the answer to that prayer come not   
before they die1 they will have taught  
it to another generation1 who will not  
fail to repeat it1--,i trust1 with a    
hope brightened by the nearer prospect  
of its fulfilment4 ,it may be said1 that

 our demands are unreasonable1 and our  
aims impracticable4 ,but our demands    
only include the righteousness of the   
land1 and our aims are addressed to the 
sanctification of the people by means of
 that religion which has shown that it  
is fitted to exercise universal         
dominion1 by the triumphs it has secured
 in every condition of society and every
 situation of life4 ,it may be said1    
that things are in a sufficiently good  
state2 that the country is at peace1    
though some men and some writers are    
doing their utmost to involve it in war2
 that our public men succeed in keeping 
the wheels of government in motion1     
though they sometimes discover a        
deplorable lack both of skill and of    
principle2 and that the people are1 on  
the whole1 virtuous and perhaps         
religious1 if they do not connect their 
religion with their politics4 ,i do not 
believe that those whom ,i address will 
say that this description satisfies     
their desires in behalf of the ,american

 ,republic4 ,and if it do not1 what is  
our duty but to contribute all the      
influence we can bestow1 by speech or   
example1 to introduce a change8 ,it may 
be said yet again1 that a change is     
going on2 the world is growing better1  
and if we will only be patient1 we shall
 grow better too1 because we belong to  
the world and cannot be left behind4    
,once more ,i say in reply1 that ,i am  
not content with no greater progress    
than the old ,states of ,europe1        
burthened with the institutions of dark 
ages and tottering with infirmity1 are  
able to make4 ,it is for us to encourage
 them1 by the spectacle of what may be  
accomplished by young and unshackled    
energies4 ,it is for us to do the world 
a greater service than it has yet       
received through achievements wrought on
 this soil4 ,we have asserted the       
principles of political liberty1 and    
established them above the reach of     
overthrow4 ,it remains for us to        
vindicate the principles of political   

virtue4 ,we have placed the sceptre in  
the hands of freedom2 let us enthrone   
religion in still loftier state4        
,american patriotism6 be it such as the 
world has never yet seen4 ,american     
statesmanship6 be it such as mankind    
shall wonder at1 till their admiration  
subsides into imitation4 ,american      
character6 be it such as ,christian     
sires would rejoice to see worn by their
 posterity1 and unborn generations shall
 receive as the most precious           
inheritance that could be transmitted to
 them4 ,be morality and piety the       
guardians of our public welfare2 and as 
the years roll on1 may they extend a    
more visible protection over our        
interests1 till the guidance which      
,jehovah granted of old to the people of
 ,israel in the pillar of flame and     
cloud1 shall be more than realized in   
the presence of the ,lord our ,god with 
us and our children4         99       99
       99       99       99  ,to you1   
,sir1 who have again been called by the 

voice of this ,commonwealth to preside  
over its concerns1 ,i cannot doubt that 
the sentiments of this discourse will be
 as acceptable as they are familiar4 ,if
 they seem but the echo of your own     
long-cherished purposes and habits1 ,i  
need not on that account regret the     
course my remarks have taken4 ,permit me
 to congratulate myself1 and my         
fellow-citizens1 on the occupancy of the
 chair of ,state by one who has proved  
himself in various situations an upright
 politician and a ,christian statesman2 
and let me hope that the year of public 
service on which you have now entered   
may still further illustrate the force  
of moral principle1 and the beauty of   
religious character4  ,to him who is    
associated with the ,chief ,magistrate  
as his nearest adviser1 and to the other
 members of his ,council1 ,i may be     
allowed to express my conviction1 that  
in the discharge of their public        
functions they will maintain consciences
 void of offence towards ,god and       

towards men1 and will prove themselves  
worthy of the confidence which has been 
reposed in them by their fellow-citizens
 and fellow-christians4  ,to the members
 of both branches of the ,legislature ,i
 beg leave to extend my congratulations1
 on the opportunity afforded them of    
exhibiting the connexion of the highest 
truths with the most important offices  
of life4 ,with them it remains to show  
how religion and politics can be united1
 without marring the sanctity of the    
one1 or impairing the freedom of the    
other4 ,and in closing the remarks1 to  
which1 if ,i could1 ,i would frame an   
apology for compelling them so long to  
listen--but my only apology must be my  
interest in the subject--,i know not how
 ,i can better express my gratitude for 
their attention1 or my desire for their 
greatest good1 than by indulging the    
mingled hope and belief1 that they will1
 in the discharge of their official     
duties1 show themselves to be able men1 
such as fear ,god1 men of truth1 hating 

covetousness1 and1 whatever they do1    
doing all to the glory of ,god4