K

LIBRARY

STOR, LENOX

EN FOUNDATION

SERMON

DELIVERED BEFORE

HIS EXCELLENCY LEVI LINCOLN,

GOVERNOR,

HIS HONOR SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG,

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,

THE HONORABLE COUNCIL,

AND

THE LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS,

ON THE

ANNUAL ELECTION,

JANUARY 1, 1834.

BY JOHN W. YEOMANS,

Pastor of the Congregational Church in Pittsfield.

Boston:

DUTTON AND WENTWORTH, PRINTERS TO THE STATE.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 2, 1834.

Ordered, That Messrs. MCKAY of Pittsfield, SWIFT of Nantucket, and PIERCE of Stoughton, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. JOHN W. YEOMANS, and thank him in the name of the House, for the Sermon delivered by him yesterday before the Governor, the Council, and the two branches of the General Court, and to request a copy thereof for the press. Attest.

L. S. CUSHING, Clerk.

SERMON.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.

Matthew, 6: 33.

THE Custom which annually convenes the Rulers and the Legislators of this Commonwealth for religious worship, derives its propriety from the supreme authority of the Christian religion. Whatever we are bound to do at all, we are bound to do religiously; and while, as individuals, we render our respective acts of worship and obedience, it becomes us, as a people, to express, by our rulers and representatives, our united reverence for the institutions of religion. We are assembled, in the name of the State, to acknowledge the supremacy of God; to recognize Him as the object of worship, the source of prosperity, and the judge of moral conduct; to appeal to His word as the foundation of our laws, and to implore His protection and aid in the use and defence of our freedom.