Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A66475
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A sermon preached before his Grace the King's commissioner, and the three estates of Parliament: June the 15th. 1690. By David Williamson, Minister of the Gospel at Edinburgh
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Williamson, David, d. 1706.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing W2796; ESTC R219573
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24,635
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21
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may endanger â—f not well advised As David in an humour would not be put off to number the people 2 Sam. 14. Notwithstanding Joab told him it might provoke God and produce sad effects for 70 thousand died for it Princes in their resolutions and purposes would have a reserve to change measures on second thoughts especially in what concerns secular Affairs so did David when provoked by an unmannerly Cloun 1 Sam. 25 But for things directly tending to God's Glory constancie is a commendation David never changed his purpose of building the house of God and paying his Vows Psal 66 14 15. Psal 119.106 1 12. Psal 13â— 4 5. 2. The wisdom of Magistrats stands in acquainting themselves with the word of the Lord which makes the simple wise some are Branded Jer. 6.10 The word of the Lord is to them a Reproach for they have no delight in it they mock Piety and Scripture the rule of Piety such are in the highest Classe of Sinners who are in the seat of the Scorner as some translate it the Chair of Pestilence importing as such are plagued in their own Spirits so are they the plague of their Generation Ah! This plague is too rise among us But be ye not Mockers least your bands be made strong Iâ— saiah 28.22 God will cast a Chain of his wrath about such which if Mercy and Repentance prevent not will grip and smart them to all Eternity But I say Magistrats who would be truely wise not only for Eternal Life but for Humane Affairs and Government would acquaint themselves with the word of God where the Rules of Government are insert the sins of Governours related with the Snares they have fallen in by committing such Sins the examples of good Governours for imitation are set before them and the examples of the bad as Beacons to warn of Dangerous Rocks on which others have Split 3. The wisdom of Magistrats stands in the right ordering of the Kingdom the State in Civil Affairs the Church in Religious Matters promoting Religion and the right ordering of their Persons and Familieâ— 1. In right ordering the State in Civil Affairs for it will never be well with the Church if not well with the State for the wicked Will walk on every side when vilest Men are exalted Psalm 12. last When the wicked rise Men hide themselves Prov. 28.28 When the righteous are in Authority the people rejoyce when the Wicked bear rule the people mourn Prov. 29.2 David was of a good mind Mine eyes said he shall be upon the faithful of the Land who walk in a perfect heart that they may dwell with me and I will destroy Evil doers from the City of the Lord. Psal 101.6 8. There be four sorts of Persons Dangerous in a State and who endanger Crowned Heads and runs them on Precipices 1. Sycophants and Flatterers such were the 400 false Prophets to Achab 1. Kings 22. 2. The Envyous such were the Courtiers about Darius Dan. 6. 3. Selfish Ambitious and Covetous Men who seek the glory of their own House such a one was Haman Esther 3. 4. Heady and Young Counsellours like Rehoboams who occasioned the Revolt of the ten Tribes 1 Kings 12. Now then it is the wisdom of Kings to make a right Choice of Favourites for Trust and to have such in the Government as are described Exâ—d 18.21 1. Able men for Greatness Resolution Courage and Constancy of mind the best preservative against Partiality and corruption in Judgement 2. Men fearing God that will restrain them from all injustice even when they have Ability and Opportunity to injure 3. Men of truth Faithful such as love the Truth and diligently labour to find it out in all Causes and pass true and right Sentence without respect of Persons 4. Men hating Covetousness Gifts and Bribes the great Corrupters of Judges and Judgements overthrowing them Prov. 29.4 For when Gifts gets hold on the Heart they blow a Dust in the Eyes of the wise to blind them It is the great Wisdom of Magistrats to be careful that Justice be Dispensed discreetly speedily expeding Causes not fretting the Spirits of people by undue delays impartially and universally to all resolutely couragiously righteously exactly soberly and diligently And thus Judgment returning unto Righteousness and all the upright in heart shall follow it Psal 94.15 2ly Good Laws which are the Sinews of Societies would be Enacted the greatest perfection whereof stands 1. In their conformity to that prime and eternal Law of God the Law of Laws 2ly In their vigour when they are put in execution written Laws are for direction and the living Law that is the Magistrate is for Action to see that direction obeyed Laws are not made for Theory but for Practice and the best Practice on the part of the People it obedience and on the part of the Magistrat Execution when Rewards and Punishments are duely applyed wrong application of either is hurtful Laws would be well resolved before Enacted and ill grounded ill resolved Laws would be Reseinded such as the Law of worshipping the King's Image under the pain of the fiery Furnace Dan. 3. The Law discharging praying to any but the King for 30 days under the pain of being cast into the Lions Den Dan. 6. The strait Commands against Preaching in the Name of Jesus Act. 4. and 5. Many such grievous Laws have been made under which the Lord's people has smarted fore and many has built themselves upon their ruines by the Laws of Forfeitures and Fines those would be reduced which would ease the grieved minds of these best affected to the Government in the Nation the doing whereof would make the Government lightsome The gain of Oppression has a Curse in its bosom there is a Worm at the root of such Gourds the belief whereof would make the Possessors of other mens Estates and goods part with them without a grudge To prevent the making and Execution of bad Laws and for the enacting and execution of wholsome Laws it is the wisdom of Kings to choose single-hearted self-denyed and pious men for Trust such as preser the Interest of the Prince of the Kings of the earth before a Kings interest on earth and the Kings interest before their own and the saving of their own Souls before the raising of their Fortune and advancing of their Honour 3ly The wisdom of Magistrats stands mainly in this in bending their chief care about Religious concerns promoting of Piety advancing Zions welfare David says Psalm 132. By Vow and by Oath he would not come to the Tabernacle of his House nor go up into his Bed nor give sleep to his eyes nor slumber to his eye-lids untill he found a place for the Lord an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob Psal 137.5 6. If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning that is Let me never do a right turn if I do not remember thee Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my