Selected quad for the lemma: act_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A45541
|
The apostolical liturgy revived a sermon preached at the assizes held at Chelmsford in the county of Essex, March 18, 1660 / by Nath. Hardy.
|
Hardy, Nathaniel, 1618-1670.
|
1661
(1661)
|
Wing H708; ESTC R27167
|
22,011
|
41
|
pray we pray not for one but the whole people because all the people are one Thus as our prayers must be for their depth cordiall from the bottome of our hearts for their height celestiall chiefly for the things of a better life and for their length continuall to the end of our dayes so they must be for their breadth universall for all men But withall 2. Eminently for Kings and for all that are in authority where besides the explicite Doctrine there are severall truths implicitely couched which would not be passed by and for the better handling of these words I shall proceed by these steps 1. All that are in authority supposeth a distinction of Superiors and Inferiors That there should be some Regnis praediti invested with dominion and others Regnantibus subditi obliged to subjection is not saith St. Austin without divine providence nay saith St. Chrysostome it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a work of divine wisdome so to order it Look as the earth is made up of hills and valleys mountains and dales so among the Inhabitants of the earth God hath appointed that there should be some above and some below In the naturall body there are severall members and some of them in the upper some in the lower part so it is and ought to be both in the Civill and Ecclesiasticall body A Consideration which not only serveth to justifie Superiority against the Levelling Party in Church and State but also minds those who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 placed on high to remember that being set upon an hill they are more obvious and ought to be the more exemplary to others and therefore that as they exceed them in greatness they would excell them in goodness and as they are above so they would go before them in the paths of vertue and piety 2. Kings and all that are in authority implyeth that not only authority in general but Monarchy in particular is agreeable to the will of God it is the voice of wisdom not only non sine me not without my permission but per me by me that is my ordination Kings raign and had not Monarchy been approved by God St. Paul would not have exhorted Christians to make prayers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for but against Kings Yea when I consider 1. What Pliny observeth that in omni rerum conditarum genere unum quiddam eminere cernimus in all sorts of Creatures one hath the preheminence among the Planets the Sun Trees the Oak Beasts the Lion Birds the Eagle and the like 2. What St. Ambrose saith of Kings that they are dei imaginem babentes such as in a peculiar manner represent God himself for which reason his name is imparted to them and 3. that one of the offices which Christ himself undertaketh is Regal yet further 4. when I take notice what a special providence there must be in it that such multitudes of persons as are in every Kingdom should willingly subject themselves to and stand in awe of one person And 5. add to this when I observe a kind of Monarchy among Bees and Cranes unreasonable Creatures and that among Heathens no Government so usual as Regal as if the light of nature directed them to it Yea lastly when I read that promise to Abraham that Kings should come out of his loyns to the Christian Church that Kings should be her nursing Fathers and that it is set down as a signal favour confer'd by God upon Israel that it did prosper into a Kingdom I shall not fear to assert that of all Authority Regal is that which is most consonant to the Divine Will 3. It is not all in Authority and Kings but Kings and all in Authority whereby is implyed the subordination of others in authority under Kings which will more plainly appear if you compare this of St. Paul with that of St. Peter To the King as supream or to Governours as them which are sent by him The King in his Kingdom is sole deo minor only inferior to him whose stile is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and as he deriveth his power immediately from God so all other Authority is derived from him It was Moses who chose able men out of all the people and made them heads over the people Rulers of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens It was Jehoshaphat who set Judges in the Land through the fenced Cities City by City The Statues of Kings were of old placed by fountains to intimate that they are the fountains of honour the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports that Kings are the basis and foundation of the people and all other Magistrates are pillars reared and supported by that foundation In our own Land those who serve in Parliament are elected and called by the Kings Writ Judges sit by the Kings Commission even Constables act in the Kings name all owning that authority which they have to be originally from the King in whom the Supream power doth undoubtedly reside 4. Lastly That which is expresly required is that intercessions be made for Kings and all that are in authority Mos hic egregius ut multa alia laudabila venit à Judaeis This as many other laudable practises cometh from the Jews saith the Learned Grotius whose custom was as you read in Ezra to pray for the life of the King It is here enjoyned by the Apostle to Christians and was accordingly practised Tertullian saith of those in his time Sine monitore quia de pectore oramus pro imperatoribus We need no Monitor our loyal hearts prompt us to pray for our Emperours There are two sorts of persons who of all men stand most in need of our prayers namely Magistrates and Ministers the King and the Bishop the Prince and the Priests no wonder if else-where St. Paul requireth praying for all Saints and for me and here for all men for Kings and all that are in authority Indeed on the one hand it is a great weight and burden which lyeth upon the shoulders of Kings and all that are in authority though earthly glory be but an empty shadow yet in this sense we may make use of St. Pauls phrase concerning that which is heavenly it is a weight of glory and quò sublimior gloria cò major cura the higher the glory the greater the weight which lyeth upon them great reason there is that the people should help them to bear it with their prayers it is but gratitude since they watch for us that we should pray for them and since they take upon them the care of our welfare we should put up our requests to God for theirs Besides on the other hand Kings and all in authority are exposed to manifold dangers in respect of themselves as well as cares in regard of us in perils they are by false friends fawning flatterers and in