fame saith Austin were the aime in the Actors of those admirable things amongst the Romanes Adde then these and we have Thirdly religious righteousnesse which ever strikes the stroke doth the deed and goes through stitch indeed in all comfortable Christian government It onely steeres aright in all publicke employments stands upright in all stormes and is steele to the backe Either there must be an addition of Religion to reason piety to policy counsell out of GODs Booke to the light of naturall conscience sanctified righteousnesse to civill honesty or as tho preferred party himselfe though otherwise of never so good parts never so universally and excellently enriched with all endowments of all kinds naturall morall politicke learned is but as a dead man a rotten carrion stucke over with flowers so certainely with whatsoever outward flourishes and formalities he may seeme to dazle the eyes of underlings he will poyson his place by preferring his owne particular and private ends by putting sometimes hatefull businesse into good language for his owne advantage and further advancement and ever by temporizing rather then hazard his temporall happinesse Heare what judicious Master Hooker did happily let fall from his pen to this purpose So naturall saith he is the union of Religion with Iustice that we may boldly deeme there is neither where both are not For how should they be unfainedly just whom Religion doth not cause to be such or they religious which are not found such by the proofe of their just actions If they which employ their labour and travaile about the publicke administration of Iustice follow it onely as a trade with unquenchable and unconscionable thirst of gaine being not in heart perswaded that Iustice is GODs owne worke and themselves his Agent in this businesse the sentence of right GODs owne verdict and themselves his Priests to deliver it formalities of Iustice doe but serve to smoother right and that which was necessarily ordained for the common good is through shamefull abuse made the cause of common misery It is no peculiar conceit Note but a matter of sound consequence that all duties are by so much the better performed by how much the men are more religious from whose abilities the same proceede This explication thus premised I come to confirme the point first by Scripture And first take notice of GODs owne words to King David 2 Sam. 23.3 The GOD of Israel said the Rocke of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the feare of GOD. And why a Rocke upon purpose to intimate give assurance of an all sufficiency and omnipotent arme for protection in such cases And why so because all that set themselves to governe graciously and as GOD would have them shall be sure to be mightily set against by all the powers of darkenesse all the Devils in hell and all their wicked instruments upon earth Magistrates that are no medlers as they say but onely seeke themselves and a name and an honour in their places neede no Rocke The Governour of a Corporation who will suffer himselfe to be intreated for the erecting and supporting of those bloody dens of swinish drunkards schooles of misrule and nurceries for the gallowes resolves to take no notice of those sonnes of Belial who belch out their blasphemies in the street against that blessed law provided in such a case is willing to be accessary to all those sinnes through his whole yeare which out of cowardlinesse or connivency he left unpunished I say such a one is like enough to sleepe in a whole skinne he needes no Rocke The negligent and unconscionable Minister which never goes about to stirre the Devill in the ignorant prophane and those that hate to be reformed but is well enough content that so he may rise and jovialize it in the meane time to treasure up the bloody cries of so many murdered soules against the day of wrath he shall not have so much as a drunkard to open his mouth or wag his finger against him he needes no Rocke The idoll Iustice that onely hunts after plausiblenesse and popularity and for the good word of all the good-fellowes about him to serve his owne turne for some intents when the time serves and for that purpose upholds as much as he can for shame or dare for law all prophane sports rotten Ale-houses I say there where the Iustice of Peace is milde and the drunkard merry as they say there is mischiefe enough he needes no Rocke But now that man of Authority who in love to the LORD IESUS and out of the Lion-like boldnesse of a good conscience dare and will draw the sword of Iustice against the proudest Nimrod if neede require sets his breast from the beginning to the end of his yeare with impartiality and resolution against all the flouds of Belial bends himselfe with such an universall sincere severity against all sinne that he is now become the drunkards song c. That man of GOD which being sensible of the horrible sinne of killing soules dares not but discover unto his people the damnablenesse of their state all kinds of hypocrisie all sortes of unregeneration the whole counsell of GOD and so dwell upon their bosome sinnes with terrour and truth and still beate upon those barres with the hammer of the Word which keepes them from CHRIST untill the Devill be driven out of them Which you know what a world of ungodly opposition bedlam rage and railing it will raise against a faithfull Minister The Iustice of Peace which resolves to be serious and reall to doe his Country good indeed and to discharge a good conscience undauntedly without all feare or faction and lookes upon blasphemers drunkards whore-masters railers against Religion c. as the North winde upon raine c. I say such as these and in a word all who deale uprightly and rule in the feare of GOD have neede of a Rocke against the rage of all ungodly oppositions And such a Rocke will the GOD of Israel be unto them all that set against them shall set their shoulders against a Rocke all their cunning and close projects and open base practises of all prophane opposites and underminers the plausible politicke tyrannise of those that sit in the gate all the scurrill dunghill rimes and railings of deboist Bilial drunken jesters All that man or Devill can any wayes doe against them shall all be but like so many proud and swelling waves which dash themselves against a strong impregnable rocke which the more boisterously they beate against it the more desperatly are they dissolved and broken into a vaine sonne or froth The ever glorious Princesse of sweetest and dearest memory Queene Elizabeth is a most memorable and matchlesse instance of protection in this kind The mighty arme of GOD was as a Rock of brasse to beate backe from her sacred and Royall person See Raâ—ot lib. 2. pag. 432. defending the Gospell of IESVS CHRIST such variety
to civill honesty and conscionable dealing with our Brethren none shall ever see the LORD Thirdly I meane not the superstitious Puritane who out of a furious selfe-love to his owne will-worship and sencelesse doting upon old Popish customes thinkes himselfe to be the onely holy devoid man and all forward professours prophane You shall heare a knot of such fellowes speake Esa. 65.5 Come not neere to me for I am holyer then thou Fourthly I meane not the Pharisaicall Puritane characterized to the life Luke 18.11 12. Who being passingly proud of the godly flourish of out-side Christianity thinkes himselfe to be in the onely true spirituall temper and whatsoever is short of him to be prophanenesse and whatsoever to be above him to be precisenesse Now these kinds are true Puritanes indeed for they thinke themselves to be the onely men and all others hypocrites whereas poore soules they were yet never acquainted with the great mystery of grace but are meere strangers to that glorious worke of conversion pangs of the new birth wrastling with inward corruptions breaking their hearts and powring out their soules every day before GOD in secret open heartednesse and bountifull doles to distressed Christians and the poore members of CHRIST selfe denyall heavenly mindednesse walking with GOD c. Fiftly I meane not the true Catharists pestilent heretikes about the yeare of our LORD 253. See Hosâ—cent 3. lib. 3. cap 8. pag. 163. c. See Epiphapa pag. 222. See Euseb. Hist. Eccles lib. 6. cap. 42. pag 79. See Hos. Cent. 4. lib. 2. ca. 25. pag. 173. c. See Hos. Cent. 4. ibid. pag. 17. They were also called Novatians of Novatus their Authour but Cathari from their opinions and profession who wickedly denyed to the relapsed reception into the Church upon repentance c. and called themselves pure Sixtly I meane not the African Donatists about the yeare of our LORD 331. who were also called Circumcelliones Circuitores Paermeniani Montanistae Montenses Seventhly Not the furious Anabaptists of our times who are as like the ancient Donatists as if they had spit them out of their mouth Eightly Not the giddy Separist Ninthly Nor the unwarrantable Opinionist quâ talis as ungroundedly disopinionated I speake thus because I am perswaded good men may differ in things indifferent without prejudice of salvation or just cause of breach of charity or Disunion of affections If I see the power of grace soundly appeare in a mans whole carriage and a constant partaking with GOD good causes and good men he shall for my part be ever right deare unto my heart though he differ from me in some indifferent things By Puritanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then I meane onely such as IESVS CHRIST his owne mouth stileth so Iohn 13.10 and 15.3 The same word is used here but in a more blessed sence that Eusebius hath to describe equivocally the cursed Sect of the Novatians You are all pure or cleane saith CHRIST by the word which I have spoken unto you I meane then onely CHRIST 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom the powerfull worke of the Word hath regenerated and possessed with purity of heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. holinesse of affections and unspottednesse of life to whom he promiseth blessednesse Matth. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart And to whom alone his beloved Apostle promiseth the blessed vision of GOD in glory 1 Iohn 3.3 Now that the name of Puritanes which is as you may conceive by that which hath beene said a very equivocall terme is put upon such as these in contempt See Disc. of True Happines pag. 193. and reproach is more then manifest by a thousand experiences and by the testimony of a great Doctour at Saint Pauls Crosse. And yet I date say the greatest opposites to these derided wayes of purity if he dye not like drunken Nabal would upon his bed of death give ten thousand worlds And I prove it out of Bish. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Abrahams Tryall pag. 72. to have lived as one of them And through the name of Puritane by a malicious equivocation they strike at the very heart of grace and the power of godlinesse Puritanos Puritanos inclamant vociserätur at per puritanorum latera orthodoxam vuâ—nerant veritatem Secondly I adde thorow the sides of this Nickname they have laboured to wound and lay wast the truth of our blessed Religion as pure as any since the Apostles time c. Heare what I heard Doctor Abbots Professour there complaine of at Oxford Act. What Doctor Hackwell saith of Carrier Thus those whom we call Papists he calls temperate Protestants and those whom we call Protestants he calls State Puritanes Epist. Dedicator He concludes it by good consequent that by Carriers assertion Harlwell against Carrier pag. 104. our greatest Bishops our wisest Counsellours our gravest Iudges and our Soveraigne himselfe must be accounted the great masters of Schismes And now I come to tender my counsell to men in Authority and all those who are or may be hereafter put into any place preferment or publicke employment over their brethren that they may governe righteously and make the people rejoyce In the first place let them be sure to get possession of IESUS CHRIST and assurance upon good ground that the all-sufficient GOD is their owne Else say or doe what ye will men will be ambitious covetous sensuall they will hunt after preferments profits honours precedency or whatsoever will adde to their outward happinesse But plant once the eye of faith in the face of the soule which will utterly darken with its heavenly brightnesse the eyes of sence and carnall reason as the presence of the Sunne obscures the starres and then and then alone and never before we shall be able to looke upon the world set out in the gandiest manner with all her baites and bables of riches honours favours greatnesse pleasures c. as upon an unsavoury rotten carrion For all true Converts desire and endeavour and have in some good measure the world crucified to them as they are to the world IESVS CHRIST embraced in the armes of their faith so fills and satisfies the soule that so they may please him they are at a point for any worldly preferment except it comes fairely by good meanes and his allowance Here then it will be very seasonable to give some light for tryall whether you have IESUS CHRIST already or no if not how to get him for both which purposes know that that blessed LORD of life is brought into the soule by such saving workes of the Spirit such degrees and acts as those described in my booke of Comforting afflicted consciences Secondly Let them enter into their Offices Benefices preferments high roomes in GODs name I meane not by money or any wicked meanes not by Symony bribery flattery temporising not by any trickes over-reaching undermining supplanting competitours imployment in any vile service not by any basenesse or iniquity at
worthy of advancement then those who hunt most eagerly after it that those who ambitiously seeke an office or honour doe ipso facto by that very Act discover their extreme unworthinesse and that of all other men they deserve it not Nay the very light of sounder reason led Tamerlane to a right conceit herein as I told you before And Mornay tells Henry the fourth of France that such have laid their â—â—â—t already and most certainely seeke the place foâ— their owne profit not for the publicke good Excellently then doth our Law exclude such fellowes not onely from that office they so greedily gape after but also from all other It is great pitty so goodly a body should want a soule And it must needs be so by that observation from men of best conscience greatest worth and deepest understanding and noblest parts if truly sanctified unto them are most unambitious loth to rise and fearefull ever to enter upon and undertake any publike charge A modest under-valuing of themselves an ordinary attendant upon true worth sensiblenes of the burthen doubtfulnes of a thorow discharge of the place fearefulnesse of being ensnared and overcome by temptations a right apprehension and fore-conceit of the great account c. easily take them off from too much forwardnesse coole their courage for over eager pursuit and quite extinguish all ambitious heate nay many times thereupon they draw backe and retire A rare thing in this age but former times afford many examples It is reported of father Austin a man of more incomparable learning then thousands that thinke themselves worthy of a Bishopricke that he would runne from those Cities which wanted Bishops least they should lay hold upon him Nazianzen having all the voyces heaped upon him stoutly refused the advancement and at the length saith the story very hardly after many intreaties and perswasions of the Emperour yeeled Great Basil was hald into the Bishoprike with much adoe * See the Argument before Chrysost. De incerdotâ—o Chrisostome hid himselfe and desired to be excused And this their practise is answerable to the principle intimated before That men of honesty and sufficiency are more sensible of the burthen carefull of the charge and apprehensive of the account then affected with the honour or in love with standing in a slippery place These Fathers that feared these great charges were resolved to preach every day twice a day sometime thrice a day and they did take to heart aforehand that account they must give for the soules commited to their charge the terrour of that commination saith Chrisostome Heb. 13.17 For they watch over your soules as they that must give account makes me quake and tremble From such grounds as these men of innocency and true worth especially enjoying the comforts of a good conscience and communion with IESUS CHRIST are well enough content to continue in a private estate and would not willingly stirre except by a direct and comfortable calling GOD would have them to doe him service in a more publicke employment and higher place and they ordinarily undertake them with much feare selfe-distrust and extraordinary prayer Full little doe you know who in the meanetime stop the cries of your guilty consciences with gold good-fellowship or great place what the pleasures of an appeased conscience are had you ever truly tasted their sweetnesse and soundly smarted with the anguish of a troubled one in conversion I dare say you would not by your good wills wound it for a Kingdome for a world A good conscience saith one well is of the same mind with the trees in Iothams Parable Iudges 9. It will not with the Olive loose its fatnesse nor with the Fig-tree loose his sweetnesse nor with the Vine its wine of chearefulnesse to have the fattest and sweetest preferments and pleasures of the world no though it were to raigne and domineere over all the trees in the forrests Onely the Bramble as you know the most base and contemptible a dry saplesse kexe and weed will needs up into a high roome Weake and worthlesse men ordinarily are the onely men old excellent as they say most active and pragmaticall to serue themselves by bribes and base tricks into benefices Offices and other undeserved places of preferment For they want honest wit to conceive fore-see the waight of the charge and conscience to discharge it faithfully their onely aime and aspiration out of an ambitious itching humour is to advance their owne particular private ends although they be many times as empty of all true worth as the vainest Idoll yet they desire to sit aloft and be adored above others Though they may take some directions and motives from the grounds of reason and light of naturall conscience to deale honestly and ingeniously in their places yet for a thorow universall unshaken stoutnesse and integrity in the discharge of them let them principally be enlightned guided quickned by the supernaturall principles of divine truth and dictates of a conscience sprinkled with the blood of CHRIST and sanctified by speciall grace The ordinary temptations to which the profession of Lawyers is sometime subject are such as these Iust as advocatus injustus ciuisas nullo mo lo suscipit Greg. Hom. 8. in Ezechi First Patronage of bad causes which they know out of their Legall skill and in their owne consciences are rotten at the roote and will prove naught at the last 2. Pleading against the right 3. Mercenary silence 4. Wire-drawing their Clients suites for their owne advantage using causes as unconscionable Surgeons doe sore legs hold them long in hand not for the difficulty but for the gaine of the cure 5. Taking unreasonable fees 6. Tampering about their Law buisinesse upon the LORDS day 7. Receiving the fee and not speaking in the Clients cause The last of which I could never yet beleeve of any because in my conceit for any thing I know he might as well take their swiftest horse and keenest sword and lye by the high-wayes for a rich usurer or wealthy clothier what to sell so much as in them lyes to a poore man the ruine of his lively-hood for his owne peece of gold where is the valuable consideration so much talked of nay unvaluable is the wrong whereas if they had not trusted in him he might perhaps have prevented the mischiefe But for my purpose to instance in two of them pleading for a bad and against a good cause are both upon the matter and in plaine English lying against the truth Now if any palliate and pretend that an officious lye especially accompanied with so much gaine is no such great matter Let them looke then upon the light of sounder reason which inforced the very heathen Philosopher Aristotle to affirme that a lye is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 evill per se in it owne nature and therefore no consideration circumstance or Religion can possibly legitimate it but it is still a base and loathsome vice But principally let
muddinesse imperfection and infirmity Who doubts then but when we spy these last muddy streames to crosse the current of the divine Law we must have recourse unto the well-head Divine Lawes do bind the conscience primarily as they say properly and by themselves GOD is the LORD of the conscience and onely able to damne and save the soule for the breaking or keeping of his Lawes and therefore he alone hath an absolute and soveraigne power to binde the conscience If humane Lawes even that are just doe any way it is by the power and precept of divine Law See Rom. 13.1 c. I meane meerely humane For that is false which Bellarmine hath De laicis Cap. 11. Par. 5. that every just Civill Law is either a conclusion or determination of the divine Morall Law Iunius as all along in his Animadversions so here he hath also nobly conquered and confounded him And therefore as we would preferre the keeping of a good conscience before the sleeping in a whole skin and the feare of him which can destroy bondy and soule in hell fire before him that can onely kill the body let us cleave unto the commandements of GOD against the contradictions of the whole world Yet notwithstanding the mis imployment and the errour in the exercise of it Authority is still venerable in the originall and to be reputed GODs creature else had Daniel never spoken thus to Nabuchadnezzar an ungodly King and scourge of Nations Dan. 2.37 Thou O King art a King of Kings for the GOD of heaven hath given thee a Kingdome power and strength and glory And hence it is also De Civitate Deili 5.6 21. that Austin that renowned Father tells us Hee that gave Soveraignety to Augustus gave it also to Nero. Hee that gave it to the Vespasians father and sonne sweetest Emperours gave it also to Domitian that bloody monster In a word saith he hee that gave it to Christian Constantine gave it also to Iulian the Apostata That infinite wisedome of GOD which hath distinguished his Angels by degrees which hath given greater and lesse light and beauty to heavenly bodyes which hath made difference betweene beasts and birds created the Eagle and the Flye the Cedar and the shrub and among stones given the fairest tincture to the Ruby and the quickest light to the Diamond hath also ordained Kings Dukes or Leaders of the people Magistrates Iudges and other degrees amongst men Reason 2. Secondly Government is the prop and pillar of all States and Kingdomes the cement and soule of humane affaires the life of society and order the very vitall spirit whereby so many millions of men doe breath the life of comfort and peace and the whole nature of things subsist Let the heart in a man surcease from the exercise of its principality prime motion and the wholebody would presently grow pale bloudles and livelesse If that glorious Giant in the sky should retire his light into himselfe and through a languishing faintnesse stay his course and the Moone should wander from her beaten way whom GOD hath appointed rulers over day and night the times and seasons of the yeare would blend themselves by dis-ordered and confused mixture This goodly frame of the world would dissolve and fall into confusion and darknesse Proportionably take Soveraignety from the face of the earth and you turne it into a Cockpit Men would become cut-throats and Canibals one unto another Murder adulteries incests rapes roberies perjuries witchcrafts blasphemies all kinds of villanies outrages and savage cruelty would overflow all Countries We should have a very hell upon earth and the face of it covered with blood as it was once with water Reason 3. Thirdly It giveth opportunity by GODs blessing for the free exercise and full improvement of all humane abilities to their utmost worth and excellency Trades traffike lawes learning wisdome valour policies of State religion all Arts and excellencies thrive and flourish with much happinesse and successe under the wings and warmth of a godly government Some shadowes of these notable and worthy effects appeared even in the Heathenish State as in that of the Romanes to what a matchlesse noone tide of earthly glory and greatnesse to what an incredible and uncomparable height of humane felicity did that people aspire by managing their mysteries of State and guiding the raines of their commanding power by a faire ingenious and noble hand and that out of the meere illuminations of reason and principles of naturall policy But I must tell you by the way they were notably assisted in this Imperiall rise by their strict and severe lawes against those two grand impoysoners of the strongest See Godwin de Ro. Leg. pag. 161. and most flourishing States first Bribery secondly basenesse in comming to high roomes They had many lawes De ambitu de pecunijs repetundis If a Senatour were found to have used unlawfull meanes for the attaining of any Office he was to suffer ten yeares banishment and so proportionably of bribery No Kingdome under heaven harbouring these two cut-throates can stand long without basenesse or ruine If Government then hath such power and workes such wonders in Pagan Kingdomes what heavens upon earth what worlds of happinesse by GODs mercy may be comfortably expected when it is seasoned and sinewed with the truth of Religion and power of Christianity which is the chiefest top and well-spring of all true virtues even as GOD is of all good things For all other ornaments and excellencies of Nature Art Pollicy are as but a dead and livelesse carkasse except they be animated and quickned with the true feare of GOD and religious forwardnesse for his glory Nay a gracelesse Magistrate is a grievous plague for when he followes the publique administration of Iustice onely as a trade with unquenchable and unconscionable thirst of gaine and attaining his owne ends being not in heart perswaded that Iustice is GODs owne worke and himselfe his Agent in this businesse the sentence of right GODs owne verdict and himselfe his Minister to deliver it Formalities of Iustice doe but serve to smoother right and that which was necessarily ordained for the common good is through shamefull abuse made the cause of common misery which is too manifest by too many wofull experiences See Bacons aduancement pag. 3â— But now for instance of those happy fruits and excellencies springing by GODs blessing out of Government sanctified by the effectuall and powerfull Majesty of true Religion I will goe no further then our owne State since that peerelesse Princesse Queene Elizabeth of sweetest and dearest memory the happiest instrument of GODs glory of her sexe since the most blessed Virgine I say since she rose into the Imperiall throne what a deale of glory and light admiration and honour what miracles of unparalled deliverances and preservations have crowned this famous Iland To say nothing of temporall felicities for which purpose instance might be given in some
ordinary negotiations and conversation amongst men Now I come to the next point the subject of Soveraignety a righteous man whence I briefly and plainely ground this point Doct. Those that rule should be righteous or thus men in Authority should be righteous men That you may understand a right what I meane by righteous take notice of a double righteousnesse first imputed second inherent Inherent two-fold first morall second religious By imputed I meane the glorious justice of IESUS CHRIST purchased by his blood and obedience and imputed as his owne most sure for ever to a truly humbled sinner wherewith being richly and compleatly arrayed from top to toe as with a Royall and everlasting Robe he stands thereby acquit justified and accepted at the strictest Tribunall of the ever-living GOD world without end and so ipso facto as they say becomes ever after favourite to the mighty LORD of heaven and earth one of his jewels as the apple of his owne eye the dearely beloved of his soule a Royall Diademe in his hand for so are GODs Children though vilified by the world yet stiled in the World This righteousnesse is required in Rulers and such as are placed above their brethren to wit that themselves be reconciled unto GOD in IESUS CHRIST For sense of this alone is able to beget that right noble and well-composed temper of spirit those high and unshaken resolutions which onely are fit to make a Magistrate and create earthly Gods as Iudges are called Psal. 82.1.6 Without this righteousnesse assuredly whatsoever faire pretexts and representations to the contrary may dazle and deceive the worlds eye yet all is rotten at the heart-roote And the executions of their places though they may carry things smoothly and palliate with much art and pollicy yet questionlesse in case of strong temptation great advantage rising and enriching themselves gratification of some great one hazard of temporall happinesse c. will be exorbitant and yeelding and at the best but formall The cry of that happy soule which leanes and hath taken up his everlasting resting place upon the rocke of eternity is constant and still the same in all cases and causes Vt fiat iustitia ruat coelum Let right be done and a good conscience discharged and then come what come will Let me not onely loose my place and the favour of the times but let even the heavens fall and they will all is one to me by the mercy of GOD I shall stand upright under the ruines and rejoyce in the testimony of a good conscience amidst the confusions both of heaven and earth But to speake in Scripture phrase for the other was the speech even of an honest heathen Ever when standing on the better side and keeping a good conscience threatneth danger and disgrace he growes into Hesters happy resolution well whatsoever comes of me I will take GODs part and if I perish I perish But not to perish so is to perish everlastingly and so to perish is to be eternally saved But now on the other side he which hath not made his peace with GOD nor hath any part upon good ground in the Person Passion and promises of CHRIST will most certainely especially in stormy times and such tryals which search whether he be steele to the backe or no manifest and make plaine by his practise that in the height of his counterfeit courage his heart did hold in earnest that pestilent principle It is better to sleepe in a whole skin then with a good conscience If he be put unto it indeed for alas no heavenly strength as yet doth steele his spirit he will warpe winde-out one way or other and shrinke in the wetting Againe it is a cause of great comfort and matter of much joy to have a favourite to the highest Majesty and one whom GOD accepts graciously in his Sonne to sit in a high place and beare sway over others It is a goodly sight right pleasing unto GOD applauded of Angels amiable and admirable in the eyes of all good men And thrice happy is that people which breathes under the influence of such a blessed Authority and all those who are judged ordered and over-ruled by him be he Iudge Iustice of Peace Minister or Magistrate in any kind whom GOD ownes for his servant who entered into his office Benefice Bishopricke or any other publicke employment in GODs Name and not by bribery symony flattery temporizing or any other base and unblessed meanes and afterward in every passage of his place aimes principally at GODs glory and not at his owne particular to advance the Kingdome of CHRIST and not his kindred and outward estate And it is the better with them and they are the more blessed besides many other in these two respects First He that growes into familiarity with GOD by the favour of IESUS CHRIST besides an universall and impartiall integrity in the managing and discharge of the particulars in his publike calling may comfortably and with a good conscience presse daily to the Throne of grace and bring downe abundance of blessings both upon himselfe and those that are under him He doth not onely watch over his owne heart but also wrastle with GOD continually by prayer for himselfe that he may not disparage the Majesty of his place by any personall lightnesse or make his person odious by partiality in his publicke deportment that he may neither poyson his people by any scandalous example or plague them by private revenge that he neither lessen his Authority or loose good mens love by serving the time or servile yeelding or swell over the banks of patience and moderation with selfe-wild sowrenesse and unseasonable severity In a word that he may doe just so as GOD would have him and therefore begs not onely generall ability to weld aright the great body of his publick charge but also speciall direction and resolution in every severall affaire which passeth his hand that it be ever carryed faire and never crookned to his owne ends For his people that he may ever preferre his peoples spirituall welfare before the wealth of the whole world Now whether doe you thinke were it more happy and comfortable living under that Minister Magistrate or man of Authority whatsoever who thus acquaints himselfe with GOD and walks with him as with his friend or under that fellow who is an alient and meere stranger to any such precise mystery and might of prayer who never thought with comfort of comming to this place it being empoysoned unto him as he knowes full-well himselfe though he tell no body with basenesse or indirection never aimed so much in the discharge of it at GODs glory and the good of his people as at his owne particular his rising enriching or revenging is so far from discharging Samuels duty in constant praying for those commited to his charge that he prayes not even in his owne family constantly not in private to any purpose was never feelingly humbled
for his owne sinnes or the abominations of the Kingdome in any day of humiliation Give me an Angell upon earth and an incarnate Devill a faire coole shaddow under a goodly tree in a sweltring heate and a scurvy thorny-bush to which the poore sheepe never flies for succour in a storme but looseth some of her fleece a showre of raine in a great drought upon the new Moone-grasse and the scorching Sunne upon a dry parched heath an Obadiah and a Shebna GODs dearling and the Devils drudge and you have made the difference Secondly Consider the difference of the Kings eye I meane in respect of anger and amiablenesse cast upon a desperate Traitour and his nearest Favourite proportionably but with infinit more loathing or liking the aspect of GODs pure eye is diuersified looking upon an enemy to the power of Godlinesse and profession of the Saints and that happy one who hath made his peace with him and is cloathed with the righteousnesse of his Sonne that glorious eye of his which is ten thousand times brighter then the Sunne and cannot looke on iniquity doth cast downe a direct perpendicular raye as it were upon every wicked man without any diversion or retraction that I may so speak of its fierce edge and fiery pointednesse and therefore sees him in his colours a very vile sinnefull cursed loathsome beast though he seem to himself and the great of the world a brave and jolly fellow abhorred of GOD and man heaven and earth and by consequent as an object of infinite indignation and hatred But he ever lookes upon his owne Child through the meritorious sufferings and satisfactions of the Sonne of his love in whome all his discontents against him are done away and drowned for ever and so beholds him such and so lovely as the blood and righteousnesse of IESVS CHRIST hath made him Even as to a man looking through a red glasse all the world appeares red and orient in his eye So to the eye of GOD the Father looking from his throne of mercy upon a godly man through the bleeding wounds of his blessed Saviour he is rendered and represented right faire and ruddy deeeply impressioned with an heavenly dye of acceptation and grace Now tell me whether a people be liker to prosper under him upon whom the mighty LORD of heaven lookes amiably or angrily 2. By morall righteousnesse I meane all those perfections and possibilities of civill honesty and upright dealing attaineable by the light of naturall understanding generall notions of right and wrong and practice of morall precepts inlarged improoved and husbanded to the height hereby many ancient Heathens went farre and did many admirable and excellent things even such and so worthy that may justly make the best of our meere civill honest men hang downe their heads and be horribly ashamed For instance Fabricius that famous Roman was so precise that as it is reported of him it was easier to turn the Sunne from his course then to draw Fabricius from just and honest dealing King Pyrrhus could with no gold or gifts no not with promise of the fourth part of his Kingdome possibly corrupt this man And yet how many miserable men in this very mid-day of the Gospell will be easily drawn by a secret bribe office honour preferment some earthly favour to doe villanously to betray a good cause a good man and a good conscience to shame himselfe for ever grow odious to GOD and man and goe to hell In these dissolute and formall times would it not be deemed to draw towards too much strictnesse if a Minister should presse this duty upon Lawyers that every time before they goe out of their doores to plead at the Barre they should prostrate themselves in private and besides other passages pray unto GOD that he would so guide their tongues that day that they may speake nothing but advisedly and to the purpose And yet Pericles that famous Oratour of Greece who for the excellency of his eloquency and mightinesse of his speech was said to thunder and lighten at the Barre out of the very principles of nature and naturall sense of of a Deity ever before he went to plead a cause as Plutarch tells us in his life intreated his GODs that not a word should fall from him besides his purpose which he practised no doubt out of conscience of Platoes principle in Tim. See Hooker pa. 63. That in all things we goe about GODs helpe by prayer is to be craved In the administration and execution of Iustice many of them though led onely and inlightned by the conduct of reason were extraordinarily exact and of admirable integrity See sir Walter Rauleigh lib. 2. pag. 549. Tit. A. C. ad Leg. Ful. Repetund Carion Chron. pag. 89. Zaleneus made a law that every adulterer should loose his eyes his sonne was first taken in the fact least that law should be violated he was content to part with one of his owne eyes and his sonne was punished with the losse of another Cambyses King of Persia having detected the corruption of a Iudge in his Kingdome commands him to be put to death his skin to be plucked off and spread upon the Iudgement Seate as a Carpet his sonne to sit in the fathers throne so adorned that he and all posterity might feare for ever to pervert Iustice and to deale untruly in judgement Mount Essa pag. 479. The Egyptian Kings solemnely and usually presented this oath to their Iudges Not to swarve from their consciences what cōmand soever they should receive from themselves to the contrary The Roman lawes called the lawes of the twelve Tables See Vol. lib. 2. pag. 668. Aemilius Paulus his love to the publicke and Hannibals also D.p. 570. And also that of Canutus See Drexel Infernus Rogus Epi. Dedicur so often magnified by Tully appoints That if a Iudge or any other in Authority for that purpose should take money in the point of administring Iustice he should die for it If any should beare false witnesse hee should be throwne downe from the Tarpeian rocke Thus you heare in a few particulars that Morall righteousnesse guided onely by the light of naturall conscience goes farre and yet it comes farre short of that righteousnesse required by my Text and in Christian rules it is many wayes defective First There wants a right roote Faith in IESUS CHRIST and therefore all its productions famous atchievements and excellencies were stiled by the Fathers but beautifull abominations having no better grounds then selfe-love vaine glory rules of policy naturall notions at the best they all withered and came to nothing Secondly There wants speciall grace as the soule and life to quicken and sanctifie it in every passage and particular circumstance to Christianize it that I may so speake and crowne it Thirdly There wants supernaturall principles and divine light to irradiate enlarge and fortifie it Fourthly There wants the right end GODs glory Liberty and immortall
of murderous complotments as no age or story can possibly parallell Whereas on the other side that knife that could but strik out the teeth of Henry the fourth while he stucke to the truth of GOD and true Religion upon the pulling downe the Pyramis for their gratification and admitting againe those bloody firebrands and cut-throats of Christendome the Iesuits had power to take away his life Secondly consider that counsell given to great ones Psal. 2.10 11 12. Be wise now therefore O yee Kings be instructed yee Iudges of the earth serve the LORD with feare and rejoyce with trembling Risse the Sonne least he be angry Here Princes Iudges and all that beare Authority are charged to lay hold both upon imputed and inherent righteousnesse Kisse the Sonne entertaine and embrace IESUS CHRIST blessed for ever bleeding upon the Crosse for your sinnes and sakes and sweetly and amiably offering himselfe to all broken hearts in the armes of your faith love and everlasting affection And serve the LORD in feare Let the feare of GOD be ever before your eyes in all places at all times about all affaires and thereupon neither thinke nor speake nor doe neither judge nor plead nor being in verdict c. But so as you would be content when it is new done to goe immediatly to give an account of it before the high and everlasting Iudge otherwise this Sonne whom you should Kisse and to whom all Iudgement is committed Iohn 5.22 will be angry and if once a fire be kindled in his anger against an impenitent wretch that hates to be reformed it will burne unto the bottome of hell and set on fire the foundations of the mountaines And howsoever you may carry things faire to the worlds eye in the meane time yet assure your selves very shortly for that day hasteneth apace all the judgements pleadings sentences verdicts which have passed against IESUS CHRIST the truth any good cause or a good conscience they shall all be reversed and repealed before that last and highest Tribunall in the face of heaven and earth before Angels men and Devils and there and then you shall be horribly universally and everlastingly shamed be then advised before hand and in the Name of GOD take heed what ye doe Thirdly for our purpose let us ponder well those properties which the Scriptures require in a man of place Exod. 18.21 Deu. 1.13 They are seven in all foure in the first three in the second place I name them not in their order you shall finde them all in the Text Magistrates should be First Able men apt to fill the place with some competency of parts and equallity of worth to answer and sustaine the heat and burthen of it with a fit sufficiency of endowments ability activenesse and industry There ever ought to be a convenient correspondency betweene the importance of the place and the capacity of the party It is a thousand pitties to see in a Church and Common-weale many places full and yet so few filled when there is no proportion nay a vast distance betweene the height or rather the weight of the place and the weakenesse worthlesnesse if not the notorious wikednesse of that unworthy person who either by a golden violence or temporising basenesse hath most impudently thrust himielfe into it Secondly Wise sapient men Such as are skil-full in the Theory nature mystery and meaning of the place and Office into which they are to be preferred A man can never happily execute and successefully any function office or Art which is not learned in the speculative part before he descend unto the practicke Is it fit thinke you for a man to plead at the Barre before he hath well studyed and profitably passed thorow the course of the Common-law If a Physician should fall to practise before he be skilled in Hypocrates Galen in the natures causes signes symptoms prognosticks and remedies of diseases he is like enough to kill all before him Proportionable miseries and mischiefe may be expected and ensue when important places are prest into and undertaken without habituall understanding and speculative skill what belongs unto them It is a pittifull thing when a man will needes thrust into publicke imployments onely for the gaine and honour and depend upon others for the discharge of them or else doe them beastlily Thirdly Prudent So fitly rendred by Iunius approved also by Vatablus that great Professour of the Hebrew tongue They must not onely be Sapient if I may so speake and it cannot possibly be otherwise exprest in the English tongue but also Prudent endowed with a practicall dexterity and discretion to order wisely all the particulars in the execution of their place This prudence which is as the Moralists speake the generall Queene superintendent and guide of all other vertues Auriga virtutum without which there is nothing good beautifull fit and decent being sanctified especially will enable them by comparing one thing with another by well weighing all accidents circumstances appurtinances times persons places c. to guide and manage all the severall passagâ—â—f their publicke charges with wisdome equity and impartiality It consists principally in three things which are all of one ranke to consult deliberate well to judge and resolve well to conduct and execute well It hath a chiefe stroke in affaires of judicature to moderate rigour with equity That you may more clearely apprehend the necessity of adding this to the former requisite in a good Magistrate take an instance or two It is not enough for a Minister of GOD to be a good Scholler and preach generall truths though I confesse a great deale of learning is required in euery Minister of our times I say besides his speculative Divinity and ability to preach he must exercise a prudent zeale to winde himselfe by the Word into the consciences and affections of men to convince and cast them downe and so conduct them thorow the pangs of the new birth into the holy path he must labour to adde to the excellency of learning the art of converting else woe unto the people that are under him It is not enough for a Iustice of Peace to have a good revenew and rich attire and to present himselfe solemnly upon the Bench every Sessions and Assize but he must be skilfull in the duties of his office and Statutes so farre as they concerne it other wise he will sit but as an Idoll or cipher upon that Tribunall which requires a great deale of understanding and action Nay and not onely so knowledge in the duties of his place though never so univerâ—â—â—l and exact will not serve the turne except he be also active and imployed Being thus furnished with speculative abilities and wisdome for that purpose he must take to heart the good of the Country out of conscience labour and pray for an holy dexterity to discover and dive into the depth of the Devils Agents their combinations haunts and hypocrisies to search businesses that are brought
before him to the bottome and that with gravity and in earnest out of a spirituall prudence to take all advantages and fit opportunities to suppresse the flouds of Belial to disgrace a gracelesse and honour an honest man otherwise he will be so farre from being a good Patriot that he may prove a very plague to the Country There is not a more notorious villany there can be no greater wrong and greater indignity offered to an ingenious and free people then to have a Magistrate set over them which adding craft to his power and skill welds them all three to worke his owne ends and practise his private revenge from time to time upon his supposed opposites Fourthly Men of of truth Let them be true-hearted Nathaniels in their private and personall conversation let them prize and preferre the truth in all causes that are brought unto them and all matters they medle with before gold or friend favourite or richest fauour There is a truth in things when they are conformable to the divine Idea There is a truth in the mind when there is an adequation betweene the conceit and the thing apprehended out of the understanding There is a truth in the tongue when there is an agreement betweene the speech and the thought There is a truth in the action when there is a correspondency betweene a mans word and deed let me adde a fist fittest for the present to make you compleatly true There is also a truth let them consider of it seriously whom it neerely concernes when the verdict answers exactly and punctually to the evidence and the Sentence to the true meaning of the Law Fifthly Haters of covetousnesse For assuredly if these Kite-footed corruptions domineere in the Magistrate all is mard then must his high place honour friends favourites servants dependants officers all occasions circumstances advantages wit pollicy nay religion conscience and all be made to serve and feede this unsatiable daughter of the horse-leach Sacriledge that monstrous incongruity of Laymens taking Titnes and not preaching to the people Isa. 59.14 Symony bribery turning of judgement away backeward temporising betraying the truth and good causes selling of offices benefices Iustice silence sharking of under officers c. are the filthy vermine that breed onely in this Burrow Excellent then was the counsell of * Praees ut de subditis crescas nequaquamsed ut ipsi de te Bernard to Eugenius So rule that the people may prosper and grow rich under thee and not thou wealthy by them Sixtly Such as feare GOD Here is the life and crowne which gives a spirituall being and gracious beauty to all the rest which were it possible a man could possesse in perfection yet without this they would be but as matter without forme a body without a soule a soule without IESVS CHRIST Nay in this case the greater sufficiency would prove but as a sharper sword in a madder hand ever the greater man without grace the greater beast as a good Divine concludes from that Psal. 49.20 Man that is in honour and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish If the feare of GOD be not planted in the heart to season and sanctifie the other severall endowments They will all degenerate wisdome into craft power into private revenge valour into violence prudence into plotting for his owne ends courage into foole hardinesse to uphold a faction pollicy into putting faire pretences upon soule businesses all his abilities and sufficiencies into setting foreward and securing his owne temporall happinesse If this holds him not in and serves him as a load-starre to steere still aright we cannot looke for an universall uprightnesse and constancy of just dealing in any man of place but sometimes at least especially in time of some great tryall and when he is put to it indeede he will slinke and fall off A great man his friend his enemy his feare cowardlinesse affection faction covetousnesse malice or something will ever and anon transport inordinately and sway him away So that he will be in great danger of turning judgement into gall and righteousnesse into hemlocke Seventhly Men well knowne And that two wayes principally for the present purpose 1. To be honest in their personall conversation if there be but any one sinne that corrupts their conscience staines their life or disgraces their calling to which they give allowance in themselves it will not onely hinder and discourage them from drawing the sword against that but also the sence of its guiltinesse will put such an universall faintnesse in the arme of Iustice that they will be much disabled from a resolute execution of their place and cordiall punishment of sinne 2. To rule well their owne house 1 Tim. 3.5 If a man saith the Apostle knoweth not how to rule his owne house how shall hee take care of the Church of GOD or indeed any publicke charge at all Is it fit thinke you for one to be a Iustice of Peace who is a swearer himselfe c. and harbours under his roofe drunkards swearers scorners of Religion Papists c. Is such a man fit or like to execute with any heart or resolution those excellent acts against swearing drunkennesse Recusancy c. upon offenders abroad Is it fit for a man to undertake any Ministeriall charge who is an haunter of Ale-houses a fashion-monger an idle fellow himselfe and a patrone of good-fellowes and if he hath a family had never any care to pray evening and morning sing Psalmes c Is such a companion like to lift up his voyce like a Trumpet against the sinnes of the time and stand at swords point against the severall corruptions all the sinfull prophanations of his Parish himselfe being a notorious delinquent A Magistrate thus endowed as the Scripture appoints is a man after GODs owne heart and a starre in his right hand he that wants any of these is but a blazing Comet how high soever he seemes to soare 2. By Reasons The first may be taken from the maine and principall end of all government Regall or subordinate To wit the advancement of the Kingdome of IESUS CHRIST and the cherishing of his Children For let men of the world which have their portion onely in this life thinke and say what they list it is for the sakes and safety of the Saints alone whom they looke upon so disdainefully themselves being extremely contemptible and would if they might have leave trample them into the dust with the feet of pride malice who ordinarily become the drunkards song a by-word to men viler then the earth and Musicke at the tables of gracelesse great ones I say it is onely for them that the mighty LORD of heaven not onely supports and preserves all the States and Monarchies all the Common-weales and Kingdoms of the earth but even the world it selfe Assuredly when the last of these Elected ones whom GOD hath everlastingly loved from before all worlds shall be called converted and fitted
for heaven the world shall stand no longer but the heavens shall shrivell together like a scrole and passe away with a noise the whole frame of this inferiour world shall be turned into a ball of fire the Imperiall Crownes of the greatest Monarchs upon earth shall flame about their eares you that carry now all before you and wallow impenitently in the glory pleasure applause and wealth of the world shall tire the rockes and mountaines with bootlesse cries and intreaties to fall upon you the Trumpet will sound and we shall all come to the Iudgement of that great and last day This serviceablenesse and subordination of all Imperiall Regall and inferiour power whatsoever to the Kingdome of CHRIST King Iames of famous memory clearely intimates and acknowledgeth in his Royall remonstrance when he speakes thus To that GOD that King of Kings I devote my Scepter at his feeete in all humblenesse of spirit I lay downe my Crowne to whose service as a most humble homager and vassall I consecrate all the glory honour splendor and lustre of my earthly Kingdome And what will become of all the power pollicy that opposeth the people of GOD we may see in the second of Daniel ver 34 35 44 45. Those foure strongest Monarchies and mightiest States that ever the Sunne saw shaddowed by Nabuchadnezars great Image setting themselves against the servants of GOD were beaten upon and blasted by the curse of divine wrath and so sunke in their severall times into the jawes of ruine and irrecoverable desolation They blustered a while like mighty winds with much threatning and impetuous rage but presently breathed out into naught and vanished for ever That stone saith the Text which was cut out without hands smote the Image upon his feete that were of yron and clay and brake them to peeces Then was the yron clay the brasse and silver and the gold broken to pieces together and become like the chaffe of the Summer threshing flower and the wind carried them away that no place was found for them And so let all the implacable enemies of IESUS CHRIST perish to the worlds end Selah Thus you see what is the maine end of Magistracy which necessarily requires righteousnes in Rulers For A wicked Magistrate or Minister entering into this place not by GODS doore but by the Devils window as they say which is ordinary with men of ill conscience if they be of a medling and malignant humour sense of his guiltinesse in comming in basely and at a backe-doore enraging him or the curse of GOD for his Symony or bribery justly hardning his heart it is his wont to vexe and fall soule upon honest men to stand for rotten causes to take the worse part without repentance all the dayes of his domineering But if he be of a duller and more unactive spirit and given to the world he is resolved to medle as little as he may to live reservedly make a shew grow rich and there is an end of what temper soever they be if they feare not GOD they are so farre from seeking his Kingdome and righteousnesse in the first place that it is least and lowest in their thoughts Nay doth not every spirituall eye see that they are upon the matter close Agents or publicke acto urs against the power and holy precisenesse of it Their seeking is themselves their serving is the time their heaven is their high place But now give me a godly man indeed and as he would rather lye in the dust all the dayes of his life and dye in obscurity then be advanced by any wicked or unworthy meanes So being pulled into any place of publicke employment his holiest and highest desire ambition is to be as a refreshing comfortable shower in a great drought to every honest man but as a terrible tempest upon the face of every sonne of Belial and hairy-pate of every one that hates to be reformed to stand no longer in his slipery place then he may continue an upright industrious instrument to advance GODs glory promote good causes protect good men ever most willing rather to part with the highest promotion in the world were it crowned with the riches and revenewes of all the Kingdomes upon earth then with a good conscience It was aright noble worthy answer and exemplary of Benevolus to Iustina an Arrian Empres Dike of Cons. pag. 140. offering him preferment to be an instrument in some vile service what saith he do ye promising me a higher place for a reward of iniquity Take this away and welcome which I have already so that I may keepe a good conscience and thereupon threw at her feete his girdle the ensigne of his honour Thus undoubtedly will a good conscience trample under foote the highest preferment to preserve its owne integrity Secondly The righteous man onely will be thorowly and universally resolute for he knowes full well and feeles that he cannot possibly have any higher preferment then IESVS CHRIST whom he already happily possesseth in the armes of his faith nor any greater crosse then a wounded conscience and therefore he dare by no meanes either hurt the one or hazard the other Hence it was that Moses casting the eye of his faith upon the recompense of reward refused to be a favourite in Pharohs Court and that Ioseph did so invincibly withstand the impure and impudent sollicitations of his wicked and wanton Mistresse he clearely foresaw what horrour was like to scaze upon his heart by so sinning against his GOD. Now the reason that the righteous man is so resolute is the sense of his reconcilement to GOD and the clearenesse of his conscience and the cause that every wicked man is a coward and will so conforme to the current of the time is his ill conscience The wicked flee saith Salomon when no man pursueth but the righteous are bold as a Lion Prov. 28.1 The word in the originall signifies a young Lion which as a Lion feares neither man nor beast great nor small he turneth not away for any Prov. 30. But as young by the fresh and furious boyling of his abundant native heat is more audacious and undaunted for any adventure then other Lions so lion-like bold should every Magistrate be for he must pull the prey out of the Lions mouth and rescue the oppressed from the man that is too mighty for him he must not be afraid either of mortall or immortall adversaries he must not feare the face of man or frownes of greatnesse the losse of preferment present or promised he must hold to the death such principles as these Let Iustice be done and let the heavens fall if I perish I perish Should such a man as I flee and bee faint-hearted lively-hood liberty life and all for a good conscience c. And so bold can a Ruler never be unlesse he be righteous and reconciled unto GOD. It is the comfort of a good conscience alone which is able by a secret and