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INEQUALITY OF INDIVIDUAL WEALTH THE ORDINANCE OF PROVI-

DENCE, AND ESSENTIAL TO CIVILIZATION.

A

SERMON

PREACHED BEFORE

HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN DAVIS,

GOVERNOR,

HIS HONOR SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG,

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,

THE HONORABLE COUNCIL,

AND

THE LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS,

ON THE

ANNUAL ELECTION,

JANUARY 7, 1835.

BY JONATHAN M. WAINWRIGHT, D. D.
Rector of Trinity Church, Boston.

Boston:

DUTTON AND WENTWORTH, PRINTERS TO THE STATE.

1835.
1:. 6

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

IN SENATE, JANUARY 8th, 1835.

Ordered, That Messrs. WILLARD, GRAY, and G. BLISS, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. JONATHAN M. WAINWRIGHT, and present him the thanks of the Senate, for the discourse delivered by him yesterday, before the Government of the Commonwealth, and to request a copy thereof for the press.

Attest,

Wormele in Jive 1934.

CHARLES CALHOUN, Clerk.

Inequality of individual wealth the ordinance of Providence,

and essential to civilization.

SERMON.

Deuteronomy, xv. 11.

THE POOR SHALL NEVER CEASE OUT OF THE LAND.

FROM these words we must of necessity infer that there existed amongst the Jews a marked inequality in the distribution of wealth; and moreover, that this condition of things was not accidental or temporary, but was to be regarded by them as perpetual. The same prominent feature being equally discernible in our own and in all other communities of civilized men, two questions obviously claim our attention. First, is this distinction between the rich and the poor essential to the improvement and happiness of man, or may we anticipate its removal at some future period, and under some more favorable combination of the elements of the social compact? And again, if we cannot reasonably look forward to its removal, but are constrained to believe that it is a distinction arising out of the nature of man and the present order of God's providence, can such a con

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