Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Woe Unto you When Your King is a Child...



Once upon a time, the pulpit was used to shape the nation.  Preachers held the church accountable to the word of God and the church, in turn, held their civic leaders to the word of God.  Once upon a time the church held sway over the people.  Now, the people hold sway over the church.  The nation has been turned upside down.  What follows is a portion of a sermon that was delivered to the Honorable Council and the Honorable House of Representatives of the State of Massachusetts-Bay on May 31, 1780, by Simeon Howard, A.M., Pastor of the West Church in Boston.    I ask you - when was the last time you heard a sermon preached from the pulpit that would set fire to your belly?  I dare say never.  Woe unto us.

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"Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers".  Exodus XViii.21 (18:21)

Let us now consider, the qualifications pointed out in the text necessary for rulers:

They must be able men.  God has made a great difference in men in respect of their natural powers, both of body and mind; to some he has given more, to others fewer talents.  Nor is there perhaps a less difference in this respect arising from education.  And though there are none but what may be good members of civil society, as well as faithful servants of God, yet every one has not abilities sufficient to make him a good civil ruler. "Woe unto thee, O land, when they king is a child," says Solomon, hereby intimating that the happiness of a people depends greatly upon the character of its rulers, and that if they resemble children in weakness, ignorance, credulity; fickleness, etc., the people will of course be very miserable.  By able men may be intended men of good understanding and knowledge, - men of clear heads who have improved their minds by exercise, acquired a habit of reasoning, and furnished themselves with a good degree of knowledge, - men who have a just conception of the nature and end of government in general, of the natural rights of mankind, of the nature and importance of civil and religious liberty, - a knowledge of human nature, of the springs of action and the readiest way to engage and influence the heart, - an acquaintance with the people to be governed, their genius, their prejudices, their interest with respect to other states, what difficulties they are under, what dangers they are liable to, and what they are able to bear and do....

By 'able men' may be further intended men capable of enduring the burden and fatigue of government, - men that have not broken or debilitated their bodies or minds by the effeminating pleasures of luxury, intemperance, or dissipation.  The supreme government of a people is always a burden of great weight, though more difficult at some times than others.  It cannot be managed well without great diligence and application.  Weak and effeminate persons are therefore by no means fit to manage it.  But rulers should not only be able men, but, 'Such as fear God.'  The fear of God, in the language of Scripture, does not intend a slavish, superstitious dread, as of an almighty, arbitrary, and cruel Being, but that just reverence and awe of Him which naturally arises from a belief and habitual consideration of His glorious perfections and providence, - of His being the moral governor of the world, a lover of holiness and a hater of vice, who sees every thought and design as well as every action of all his creatures, and will punish the impenitently vicious and reward the virtuous.  It is therefore a fear of offending Him productive of obedience to His laws, and ever accompanied with hope in His mercy and that filial love which is due to so amiable a character.  Let me observe, once more, that it is of great importance to their happiness that religion and virtue generally prevail among a people; and in order to this, government should use its influence to promote them.

For, they must be men of truth.  This means men free from deceit and hypocrisy, guile, and falsehood, - men who will not, by flattery and cajoling, by falsehood and slandering a competitor, endeavor to get into authority; and who, when they are in, will conscientiously speak the truth in all their declarations and promises, and punctually fulfill their engagements..."

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Do the people that you have elected fulfill these qualifications?  The overwhelming answer is "By no means"!  Oh, what we have lost.

Our pastors must re-take their pulpits and use their influence to shape the nation.  "Woe unto thee, O land, when thy king is a child".

10 comments:

  1. I wonder if there's a government of the planet that could meet those requirements? My guess is no-and only at very rare times during the history of the world could that be said of any leaders. The United States has a lot of built in resilience-we may vote in a few losers every now and then, but, as a nation, learn from those mistakes. The amount of government should be kept to the bare minimum necessary to protect the rights of the people..

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    1. "We" learn nothing from those "mistakes" "The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

      Calvinist Wildman

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    2. I think we, as a country and as individuals, can learn from our mistakes, but it's like turning one of those huge oil tankers around-it isn't done in a hurry. There are idiots in the world, always have been, and likely always will be, but they are in a minority. I don't consider the vast majority of people around me fools-mistaken at times as everyone is. I think we can make a comeback-and I don't think my faith is misplaced.

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    3. If we learned from our mistakes, we would have learned much from Carter. We would have learned from FDR that presidents tell bald-faced lies to get their social programs implemented (social security promoted as a voluntary insurance and then when it went to court, in order for it to be deemed legal when all were forced to participate, the administration declared it was a tax).

      If we learned from our mistakes the child in office now would not have been re-elected.

      sidetracksusie

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    4. On that order, the Affordable Healthcare Act is very likely going to be a grand TARFU-once created, any government agency is immortal-it ain't going away, and will mutate into a monster no one can now imagine. More from the Good Intentions Asphalt Company.
      Politicians and leaders have been lying since the beginning of time-the "secret" is to remember that's what they do best...I have faith in the people around me, for the most part. That doesn't extend to the various leaders of the third planet out.

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  2. I read some of the comments...if a person knows the history of these united states one would understand the great impact that the pilgrims had. AND would understand what made this country great was God himself - because of the faithful. American had two great revivals, had not it been for the first revival we would have never been a country. We had our first great revival before the civil war out of that revival came great men of courage, intelligence and fortitude. Before that revival there was distress in the land things were not well, criminals were being sent by England and King George was giving the people in the new land a very hard time over everything, he had is thumb on top of the people. It was tough indeed so the people prayed. We had the civil war and won against all the odds. There was no way we should have won. We were out financed, out gunned, out trained, we should have lost, but we were fighting a righteous war for freedom and liberty we trusted God and God delivered the victory. There was a second revival in the mid 1800, around 1857 (I think) That revival came out of a severe financial melt down of the country because we lost a huge shipment of gold at sea. So people prayed.

    The way I see it we are due for another one. But God's people have to pray it in. We have to pray for change, it will not come automatically. Just like our fore mothers and fathers believed, looked to heaven for their help and prayed so must we. We cannot see our faults without God. We do not have that ability. Jesus said we can do nothing without him. The founders of this country knew that. God can do anything, nothing is impossible for him. America became America against all the odds because we trusted God. We had fearless preachers in this country who said what needed to be said and did what needed to be done. They rallied the people and spoke against evil. They were willing to give their life for the gospel. To live was Christ to die was gain. God honors bravery. If the church leaders won't preach then we the people on blogs just like this will. We were born for such a time as this. Praise be the name of the Lord forever.

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    1. Sorry a typo, I meant before the revolutionary war with England. I need to do a better job at editing my writing.

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  3. Prior to this last election, I agreed with you. They wanted change, and boy did we get it. However, it is inexcusable that they voted him in again. A confederacy of fools? It truly boggles the mind. I simply cannot understand how that many people can be that blind to what is going on in this country. It would not surprise me a bit if somehow they get to keep him the third time around. God help us.

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  4. Can you imagine a pastor today making a public statement from the pulpit supporting the Right to Bear Arms; bold enough to tell his congregation to NOT register and to NOT turn in ANY of their guns? Bold enough to state that the real purpose of the 2nd amendment had nothing to do with hunting or self-defense, but rather about citizens’ right to resist government tyranny? Well one exists and he is leading hundreds of like-minded pastors across America.

    I moved 2,900 miles to the American Redoubt to be with a true Patriot Pastor. Pastor Chuck Baldwin’s messages set fire in my belly every Sunday. Pastor Baldwin was also the Constitution Party’s presidential candidate in 2008. He was endorsed by Texas Republican Congressman Dr. Ron Paul. On Election Day, November 4, Pastor Baldwin received more than 200,000 votes.

    You don’t have to move to Montana to attend our church. Join thousands of Patriots across America who watch us Sundays live at 2:30 MST. Also Pastor’s video sermons are archived and can be viewed at your leisure.
    Montana Guy

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  5. "I really do not care how you spin it, the so-called founding Fathers of this country allowed for the open worship of false gods. But the God of the Bible was clear, in both the Old and New Testaments that He did not and would not tolerate the promulgation of such idolatry and paganism -- either by individuals or the masses. Those who follow after false gods will be judged and that judgment would last forever.

    If you are a Christian and the first and second commandments are not clear enough for you, consider the divinely inspired words of the prophet Isaiah found in chapter sixty verse twelve,

    For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

    Notice that this is not directed toward national Israel only, but all the nations without exception.

    John Gill, the great Baptist preacher observed the same thing when he noted in his commentary,

    The country that will not serve the Lord Christ, and worship him with his church and people; that will not be obedient to the laws and ordinances of his house; but appoint another head over them (you may want to read in here the U.S. Constitution) and make other laws, and set up other ordinances, rejecting the authority of Christ, the rule of his word, and the order of his churches: yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted; even all the antichristian states the vials of God's wrath will be poured out upon them.

    Christian, allow me to say this again! And please hear me on this. God's is NOT an American. He does NOT get all choked up when He hears the National Anthem. Tears do not stream from His eyes when a performer belts out God Bless America.

    For you see, all these things are meaningless, a rotten stench before His throne, when they are made to false gods and not the true God who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

    In the last campaign during the conventions Democrats, you may recall, wanted to take out any and all references to God. Some thought this was a travesty. I simply thought the Democrats were being more honest and forthright -- they do not intend to hide the fact that they are anti-Christ.

    Republicans, on the other hand, are wolves in sheep's clothing. They use the word God, but as the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer noted, it is a word without content -- devoid of its Biblical meaning. In short, Republicans are taking the name of the Lord God in vain and God will not hold the one guiltless who takes His name in vain."

    Calvinist Wildman

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