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
their Menacings and Boasts least they imbitter their Spirits and extinguish or weaken their Affections and become guilty of these sins which they being provoked commit by having that which is due denyed or things unjust in themselves Commanded or rigorous Commands of things in their own Nature indifferent joyned Or â—ave ighing with bitterness against them when there is no cause by inflicting punishment either unjustly where there is no fault or immoderatly unseasonably or basely where there is a Fault As Inferiours have their bounds which they may not pass but move in the Sphere of their Duty to Superiours so Superiours would mind that there is to Power on Earth so ablolute no not of Kings and Supreme Rulers but implyes Obligation through Vertue of Gods Ordinance Rom 13. on these invested with it to make Conscience of several Duties to Inferiours and Subjects and they are bound to advert not only to the Matter but to the manner of Performance that all Rigour and Oppression be avoided He Rules with most Comfort and Confidence who keeps most room in the Affections and they are likeliest to be the Men of the Promise to build the Old waste Places to raise up the Foundations of many Generations to be called the Repairers of the Breaches the Restorers of Paths to dwell in who loose the bands of Wickedness and un do the heavy burdens and let the Oppressed go free and breake every Yoke who ease people of â—ust Grievances and Impose not nor Continue what is forbidden and Condemned Isaiah 58.6 11. Thirdly it is not VVisdom for Magistrats to be too credulous but to try ere they Trust that they be not Influenced Imposed upon bad Impressions made Satan may borrow Peters Tongue to give bad Advice to his Master Matth. 16.22 A near Relation may whisper what is dangerous and prove a snare 2 Chron. 22.3 Ahaziah his mother counselled him to do wickedly Saul hearkned to false deceitful Slandering Dorg Psal 52. a great Persecutor of David who had done great services to Saul and taken great Ventures for him Kings would beware of all of such Complection who may involve them in Guilt and Danger and all Courtiers and Favourits of Princes would beware of any Tincture of such a Disposition Magistrats of all Degrees has need of two ears to hear both Parties and of discreet Ears to try the Truth of what is Related and the Design of the Relator Job 12.11 As the Mouth tastes Meat so the Ear tryes words None should except against this warning for the best of Men may be warned against the worst of Sins Luke 21.34 Christ warned his Disciples against these Sins that none could have jealoused their Disposition towards Gluttony and Drunkenness they appeared to ly far from the Temptation to these Yet all Men are Men and having Corruption are not without the reach of Temptation the best of Men and best of Kings have made slips Noah Lot David What I say to one says Christ I say to all watch Mark 13. close 4. It is not the wisdom of great Men to seek themselves or great things for themselves this is reproved in Baruch Jer. 45. and an old Complaint of the Apostle which may be renevved Phil. 2.21 All seek their own things and not the things of Jesus Christ it 's a Mark of Dishonour and a Brand of infamy in any especially in great Men to be Self-seekers who live wholly to themselves like the Grave wherein all that is gotten is buried and kept closs and nothing brought forth to publick Benefit on the Tombs of these it may be written such a man sought himself when he lived and losed himself when he died Self seeking dispirits a Man and makes him cold and cowardly in God's Cause This Self is the carnal corrupt part called Flesh that sways the whole Man Christ and this Self are contrary you cannot serve these two Masters this Self will make sinners say concerning the Word of Life The word that 's spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not do it but what proceeds out of our own Mouth Jer. 44.16 17. And concerning Christ we will not have this Man to Reign over us Luke 19.14 For the Lord's sake shake off its Government resist its Reasonings disobey its Commands refuse to follow its inclinations or to satisfie its Lâ—stings 5. It 's not a Magistrates Wisdom to prefer secular Affairs to the Lords they were reproved Haggai 1. Who dvvelt in Ceiled Houses when the Lords House lay waste This is Machiavelians Wisdom to simulate and make all Interests of Religion subservient to Secular and Civil Concerns this is the principle of that damned Antichristian Hierarchie This Wisdom is but Craft however it be plastered over Jeroboam who withdrew the people from the established worship of God pretended their â—ase and not only Tollerate but Established another way of Worship for which cause the Lord draws a black line on his fore-head oft stigmatizing him thus Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin 2 Kings 10.31 c. 6. A Magistrates wisdom stands not in pride and upliftedness of Spirit proud Pharaoh said who is the Lord Exod. 4.2 But the Lord laid his pride as he did Haman's Esther 7. The king of Assyrias Isaiah 10. Nebuchadneezar's Dan. 4. True wisdom humbleth and advanceth to Honour Prov. 15.33 Before honour is bumility It 's the ready way to honour both from God and Man to be humble and gains love and respect from both whereas pride procures hatred and contempt 1 Cor. 3.18 If any man among you seem to be wise in this World let him become a fool that he may be wise If any man would be wise to God wise to eternal Life and Salvation let him be content to be accounted a fool by the men of the world The proud man and the fool gets one name 1 Tim. 6.4 The original Word signifies smoak importing that the proud man has a tumour and is puft up with ill and noisome Air. 7. It is not the wisdom of Magistrats to overlook dangerous persons by a cruel indulgence one Achan spared may endanger the whole Camp of Israel Traitours to Kirk and State would be duely noticed I am not for Rigours Severity and Blood and would be far from saying what a Preacher in the South of Scotland said within these twelveyears preaching before the Justiciary Court of some that he called Phanaticks He desired the Lords to dye their scarlet robes in these Mens scarlet blood At which they themselves blush'd This I had from Persons of Credit Ear-witnesses some whereof are yet alive But sure Persons of a Dangerous Complexion to undermine the State would be incapacitate and put out of reach to hazard the Common-wealth If he were a Church-man an Abiathar he might be sent to Anathoth Q. But wherein stands the wisdom of Princes and Magistrats Ans 1. In having a good foresight and not to be stiff head-strong and willful in what
abolish any Ordinance of Christ either because of some outward Evil they bring with them or hope of some outward Advantage by casting them offâ— 6ly Mens driving the Lord Jesus out of his Ordinances by secret and spiritual pollutions thereof either by secret contempt and weariness of them or by unbrokenness of heart in the enjoyment of them when people live not in the dayly sense of an extreme need of Mercy 7ly When people go to Ordinances and go not to the Lord of Ordinances for the blessing 8ly When the People are unwilling and careless to receive the stroak of the Eternal Power of the Life of Jesus in their hearts 9ly When people do not only sin but grow to that height to cast off all reprooss and christ-like admonitions for sin 10ly When Men cast off secret Dread Fear and Reverence of the Majesty Dominion and Soveraignity that God stamps on Authority Jude 8. and have low despising thoughts of Magistrats and seek to pluck the Sword of Revenge for sins that hurt the Common wealth out of their hands without which the greatest Power and Authority is but a Vanity and Nuility 11ly Whoredom and uncleanness tho rise among us for which the Lord will Judge Heb. 13.4 12ly Swearing and Corsing too rise also among all sorts prosaning the Lords holy Name Men and great Men thinks Oaths the flowrish of their Discourses and that then they speak with Power and Authority But I tell them be of what Quality they will they are Gods enemies who take His Narâ—â— in vain Psalm 139.20 13ly Frequent Familiar needless haunting with persons perverse in principles and practices by which many learn their wayâ— get a snare to their Soul and partaking of their sins receive of their plagues Prov. 22.25 Rev. 18.4 This has been the neck break oâ— this Generation Prov. 13.20 by which companions of Fools have been destroyed 14ly Much unrepented of guilt in the Persecuters of these bygone years I am afraid till there be more resentnâ—â—nt of these things Gods wrath will not be paciâ—ied We have been deeved with the noise of some abusively called the Clâ—â—â—y their Sufferingâ— in Pamphâ—â—â—s with Attestations justly jealoused which will be overthrown â—re long by a true Relation I am not speaking by way of Approbation of Injuries But how tender the Consciences of Authors are you may conjecture from their wide speaking likening their Flea bit Sufferings in comparison of ours to the Dragooning in France What shall I say it would consume time to reckon up so much as the kinds of the Sufferings we have been trysted with Some of all Degrees and some of the best Quality shaâ—â—d deeply in Suffering even unto Blood Banishment and Confinement and Imprisonment and Ministers among others to pave the way to Prelacy and make its introduction the more easie and alâ— the Ministers of Edinburgh save one who had little cause to boast of any outward advantage by Conformity summarly warned by the States to remove from their Charges without Citation oâ— Accusation and by the dash of one Act a little after about 300 Ministers removed from their Congregations without Citation or Accusation It were easie for me to prove the sufferings of sour oâ— five Presbyterian Ministers to surpass what a hundred of them has met with What shall I say oâ— the Sufferings before and in the year 1666 a few pages in that once forbidden Book Naphtali will far surmount all the Accounts of their Sufferings what vast sums of money exacted pillaging of houses preferring their Dogs to the Children of the Family in sharing of the provisions of the house besides unheard of Barbarities Mockings Threatnings when the people went about the Worship of God c. And the shedding of the blood of many and since that time what Intercommuning of many denying them the use of things useful and comfortable some of whom were strangely circumstantiat blind and imprisoned who could not move for their own rellef cruâ—â— Imprisonment in unwholesome Prisons Minister and others some several months some severaâ— years two three five seven some eleven years in Prison which usage has occasioned Diseases and the death of many and not a few Ministers and others dying in their Prisons for whom no Intreaties could prevall for getting them out of prison where they might have been better attended many shut up in closs Prisons and no cause made known and one among the rest above 20 weeks shut up for 13 weeks whereof his nearell relations not admitted to see his Face nor so much as speak to him through the lock of the Door though he was in great indisposition none allowed to do him any service and to this day the cause never signified what Finings Confinings Forseltures and Banishments what Tortures and unheard of Tortures and some of these multiplied upon one person and men without bowels beholding them Tormented What killing in cold blood and women execute meerly for their Opinion who were no Idolaters nor abettors of Idolatry some after Sentence not getting leave to draw their breath before execution what barbarous beating of Drums at Scaffolds what hunting of Ministers and others like Partridges on the Mountainâ— night and Day lying whole Nights Summer and Winter in woods and open fields What violent driving of Families from their Houses driving and selling of their Goods and Cattel laying many Families waste violent intruding possessing their Houses Lands and Goods withouâ— any sentence in Law There be hundreds of unquestionable witnesses of all these thingâ— What Cruel Urging the Consciences of People Men and Women who had but a free Cottage with a Bond to give such and such Ministers and others not so much as a Nights Lodging or 〈◊〉 meal of Meat which appeared to be heavy on the Consciences of many overtaken with the Temptation that when awakned they had no rest till they made a publick Consession before Congregations of People I knew a Minister speak to above 80 of them who with Grief and Tears confessed their Guilt before the People At one Meeting 39. Men and Women not above two known to the Minister before resolving their appearance rose up in all quarters crying Guilitie Guiltie What Exorbitant Exactions and Vast Summs before some Noble Men and Gentlemens Families could be Relieved by any access to their own Estates not to speak of the Barbarous Highland Host nor of that Violent Pressing of the Oath of the Test a perplexing Oathâ— on many even beyond Lew to the pressing of their consciences and that Pitisul consequences followed on it amongst the rest the Cuting off of one of the greatest men of our Israel the late Noble Earl of Argyl What Volumes beyond Foxes monuments might be Written there is but one â—nstance that were it meet to relate the circumstances thereof which I know from a Minister and another person of Credit both sharing in that deep diâ—â—ress would make hearts that were not rocks to rent A number in prison taken from Dumfries some