Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-10-10
EVANGELICAL DOCTRINE.
rHE MORAL GOVERNMENT OF GOD.

L
The Authority of God, as Supreme
LaWgirer.-The government of God ex-
tends over all created existence. The il
material universe is perfectly under his
control He has subjected it to certain
permanent laws, whose supremacy he
maintains by his own resistless agency
Constructed by his skill, originated by /
his creative power matter, in all its forms
and notifications, is in his hands. By /
the moral government of God, we intend |
the system of laws which he has extend
ed over his moral universe His moral |
universe includes all those beings who !
are proper subjects of moral government,
or capable of responsible agency These
are clothed with intelligence. with a sense
of moral accountability, with strong af
fectons and Immortality of existence.
Here, in this moral universe, God alone
reveals his PROJECTIONS and designs The
material creation, with all the laws which
govern it, and all the agency that moves
it, is valuable chiefly in lis relation to The
moral universe
As we have already implied, moral
government supposes moral agency. That
we are moral agents, is a truth which re-
quires for its establishment no long array
Of metaphysical argument We feel our
selves responsible. We treat each other
as responsible beings. The parent con-
siders his child proper subject of moral
government. The legislator considers
himself and his constituents proper sub
ljects of law. The arrangements of civil
society all imply personal responsibility.
We write for those who are members Of
society. We shall have few readers who
will become outlaws for the purpose of
proving themselves not capable of moral
agency. By our acquiescence in the es-
tablished regulations of community, we
canfess our moral responsibility. There
are other moral agents, besides men, in
the universe. The scriptures inform us
of angels, and the analogy of nature
leads Us to believe in the wide extension
of Jehovah's moral government How
ever extended is the circle Of moral intel
, ligence, God claims authority over tbs
whole, as supreme lawgiver. The valid
| ity Of this claim is manifest, from the fol.
lowing considerations
|. The relations a0hicb eriSt IN the
moT0t ~m1uerSe render moral goUern-
ment necessary The created intelligence
has sprung from God. The moral agent:
which compose it have derived their exist
ence, and depend for its continuance anc
for all their blessings, all their faculties,
even upon him. They ought, therefore
to live for him. His character is infinite
, ly glorious. His infinite projections ough
? 10 inspire reverence, alteration, and su
preme affection. from all that know them
His own happiness, so infinite and per
feet, ought TO inspire the benevolent re
gard of all who can understand the valu,
of happiness at all. These relations
therefore, demand these affections and cor
responding conduct This demand SHOULD
be prescribed, expressed in some defnil,
a rule, and enforced by some guardian pow
er.
: There are also important relations ex
= agents. They are capable of happines
. and wo-of being affected, in these re
. spects by their mutual feelings and con
n duct: they are sharers in the same rela
20 tIons to God, and in the same immortalit
i OF being. They are therefore exposed t
- the most dreadful evils, if these relation
y y are not respected. There is a course &
~ feeling and conduct which correspond
9 with these relations, and there is a cours
:. utterly at variance with them. Tha
!. course of conduct which harmonizes
= demanded by the nature of things. an
:. that demand should be prescribed, e,
~ pressed, and enforced, by proper author
% ty. In other words, there must be mora
= government.
rs 2. The infinite perfections of God rel
~ der him perfectly qualified to goreri
= His wisdom enables him to perceive VIII
~ system of laws all these multiplied, in
d. portant, and eternal relations requir
en His goodness assures US that he will ado
III ! that system. His power enables him
* defend it for ever. His absolute contr
y" over all the world of matter, and the a
- solute dependence of all existence upc
his will, not only confirm his claim, b
ia render it impossible for any other TO occ
IN, py the throne. No other being has Il
1t natural or moral qualifications to fill
'ai No other being could for momen; su
ed tain system Of universal goveFnmer
De independent of him, or at war with h
claim. The necessity of the case, Their
al fore, assigns the throne to him.
ch 5. TIE relation schich he sustainS
Dr. the aohole, gires him alone, the suprea
his right 10 gocern-Ofiginating all, sustai
ur- ing all, he is the proprietor Of all. F
re- himself they were originally called in
existence. He is the proper being
guard and secure his own right to the S
&c, preme affection, and perfect obedience