1742 NATHANIEL APPLETON. Godliness Necessary in Government Leaders. Owned by Satan-Pact Family.

A significant early American sermon attempting to establish Christian piety as a necessary ingredient in the life of any effective political leader. And Nathanial Appleton's [1683-1784] voice would not have fallen on deaf ears. Educated at Harvard, he was from there granted the degree of D.D. [which had only previously been granted to Cotton Mather]. He pastored the influential church at Cambridge, Massachusetts and was a noted correspondent with Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Jeremy Belknap and others.  

His 1766 Thanksgiving Sermon on the repeal of the Stamp Act is considered one of the most significant in the run up to the Revolution. And his 1760 sermon on the surrender of Canada is significant as well, a copy having just fetched over $2,000 at Christies.

In the present sermon, he at length extols the necessary prerequisite of a deep, abiding godliness for the effectiveness of any ruler, governor, politician, or community leader. 

"God forbid that we should have any irreligious, prayerless Rulers among us; for whatever Qualifications they have besides, this is sufficient to disqualify them for any Place of Power or Trust."

Signed on the title page, this almost certainly the copy of "Colonel George Leonard," [1698-1778]. He served as Royal Councillor from Norton, MA to the Governor Shirley for 25 years [1741-1776] and would have likely been present when this sermon was preached. He also served at various points as Norton's Justice of the Peace, Chief Justice, Moderator, etc., He also served in the local Militia, obtaining the rank of Colonel. 

Leonard may well have needed the sermon. As legend has it, his ancestor, also George Leonard had made a devil's bargain. The region was a center of the witch panics. Apparently, the ancestral George had made a devil's bargain for wealth in exchange for his body and soul when called for. The local story was thought to explain the generational wealth and power of the Leonard family. As the legend said, in 1716, the devil did come for his due, and not only took Leonard's soul, but his body as well, leaping off the roof to distant cliffs with his corpse.

When Whitefield preached in the town, just previous to the sermon of Appleton offered here, Whitefield said the town was full of people who were "part man, part beast, and part devil." When he returned to preach a few years later, he recalled his previous assessment and said that he had been mistaken; they were "all devil."  

Appleton, Nathaniel [1693-1784]. The Great Blessing of Good Rulers, Depends Upon God's Giving His Judgments & His Righteousness to Them. A Sermon Preached before His Excellency William Shirely, Esq; Governour, His Honour the Lieutenant Governour; The Honourable His Majesty's Council, and House of Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New-England, May 26. 1742. Being the Day for the Electing His Majesty's Council for said Province. Boston. Printed by J. Draper, Printer to His Excellency the Governour and Council, for S. Eliot in Cornhill, 1742. 60pp. 

Good, complete example of a rare volume. Removed from a sammelband at some point, a bit handled and tender. No half-title, as usual.