are the true Sons of it who can never be unfaithful to Him so long as they are true to it to dissent from which Church either on the one hand or on the other will be a lessening of the number of the Kings fast friends We cannot turn to the Church of Rome without denying a part of the King 's governing Power that is His Supremacy in all Causes and over all Persons within his own Dominions We cannot side with the Phanaticks but we must hold Seditious Principles and Doctrines destructive of Government such as are Dominion is founded in Grace the King is major singulis but minór universis the King may be resisted and deposed if he doth not govern as the People would have him the safety of the People is the Supreme Law which if taken in a good sence may be true but otherwise is false and dangerous and many the like pernicious Opinions which are to be found in Buchanan's jus regni apud Scotos and Baxter's Holy Common-wealth and in several of the Non-conformists Writings all which the Church of England abhors and condemns And therefore let not the specious insinuations of the one Party nor the pretended zeal of the other prevail with us to forsake the best constituted Church that is at this day in the whole Christian World let it be seen to all the World that we can be true at the same time both to our Church and our King 6. And lastly that God may be graciously inclin'd to bless the King and the King's Dominions let us make it our business to lead religious and holy lives without which we cannot expect that either He or we shall prosper Let us often consider these places of Scripture and lay them seriously to our hearts If ye will fear the Lord and serve Him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord then shall both ye and the King that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God but if ye shall still do wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your King And again Righteousness exalteth a Nation but sin is a reproach to any People Again Take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall be established in righteousness From all which places and many others of the like nature we may plainly see how much publick evil a wicked conversation may be the cause of how much publick good a Godly life may promote We are generally too apt to impute the ill success and miscarriage of things to the wrong measures of our Governours to the ill management of the King or the ill advice of his Councellors little in the mean time considering how much the grievousness of our sins may be the cause of them whereby God is provoked to take vengeance on us in that way who oftentimes punisheth a wicked People by withdrawing from their King the grace and conduct of his Holy Spirit by blasting his good endeavours by suffering him to incur great misery and trouble What can we imagine was the cause that moved God to visit this Land with a long unnatural civil War that provoked him to suffer so great a breach to arise betwixt the King and his People till they had ruin'd themselves and their King by their own hands what I say can we think to have been the cause of it but the crying sins of the Nation so true is that saying of Saint James Whence come Wars and fightings amongst you come they not hence even of the lusts that war in your members And may we not fear that that great impiety that prodigious licentiousness that vile profaneness that horrid blasphemy that scandalous neglect of God's publick worship which are great sins now too rife amongst us may if not timely repented and amended of bring down upon us the like heavy judgments how justly may that of Isaiah be laid to our charge Ah sinful Nation a People laden with iniquity a Seed of evil doers Children that are corrupters they have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the Holy One of Israel to Anger they have gone away backward And is this the way to do the King service Is this the means whereby to express our loyalty to him and to obtain the blessing of God upon Him No surely if we love the King and would have Him reign prosperously over us we must then make a thorough reformation of our lives and become good Christians that we may be good Subjects We can hardly do a greater disservice to the King than by living unanswerably to the Rules of our holy Religion They are the intemperate and the debaucht Persons the common horrid swearers and the great neglecters of the publick worship of God that let them boast never so much of their Loyalty are the greatest enemies the King hath forasmuch as through their sins God may be provoked to punish Him Wherefore let us all begin to repent and amend our lives and then we may hope that God will bless Him and us Let us have the fear of God before our eyes and then we shall be the better enabled to Honour the King Then we may reasonably expect that things will succeed well both in Church and State when our conversation is as it becometh the Gospel of Christ. Let us therefore fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all our heart for consider how great things God hath done for us For a farther encouragement to all which let us often reflect upon the Glories and Happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven where all good Subjects that have faithfully served God and the King shall be rewarded with eternal felicity where no Rebels without severe and sincere repentance shall ever come where all good Kings for an earthly Diadem shall receive an immarcessible Crown of Glory and be for ever happy in the beatifick vision and fruition of the King of Kings To which most glorious Kingdom God of his infinite mercy bring our King with all his Subjects through the Merits of the King of Glory to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost three Persons and one God be ascribed by you and by me and by all our Fellow-creatures all Honour Glory and Power both now and for evermore Amen FINIS Jud◠7. 6. 18. 1. 19. 1. 21. 25. Josh. 24. 31. ii Kings 18. 31. Act. 19. 38. Rom. 13. 3 4. Judg. 2. 19. Prov. 20. 8. Prov. 20. 26. Act. 24. 2 3. 1 Tim. 2. 2. Luke 22. 25. Lament 5. 16. 2 Sam. 21. 17. Lament 4. 20. Psal. 126. 1. Psal. 126. 2. Lament 4. 20. 1 Kings 10. 8 9. 1 Sam. 12. 14. 1 Sam. 12. 25. Prov. 14. 34. Prov. 25. 5. Jam. 4. 1. Isai. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Philip. 1. 27. 1 Sam. 12. 24.
AN Assize-Sermon Preached in the CATHEDRAL-CHURCH OF St. PETER in YORK March the 8th 1685 6. Before the Right Honourable Sir EDWARD NEVILL AND Sir HENRY BEDINGFIELD His Majesties Justices of Assize FOR THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT By CHRISTOPHER WYVILL Fellow of Trinity College in Cambridge and Chaplain to His Grace the DUKE of ORMOND LONDON Printed for Walter Kettilby at the Bishop's-Head in S. Paul's Church-Yard 1686. To the Right Worshipful CHRISTOPHER TANCKRED Esq High Sheriff of the County OF YORK Dear Sir YOU Having laid upon me a necessity of publishing This Sermon I have at last comply'd therewith though I cannot conceive what could induce You to have been so earnest with me in This particular unless it were the design of its composure which being to perswade men to be true and obedient to the establish'd Government it might upon That account the more easily meet with a favourable acceptance from You whose constant Loyalty to the Crown and unshaken stedfastness to the Church of England have gain'd You not only the love and esteem of all good men but the particular Favour of Your Royal Master His Most Sacred Majesty of which He hath given the World a sufficient instance by continuing You High Sheriff of so large a County this Second Year an Honour granted to few and an Office which none can execute better That God Almighty may be graciously pleas'd to bless You so as that You may still do Him and the King more Service is the Hearty Prayer of Your most Affectionate Uncle and Humble Servant CHRIS WYVILL IMPRIMATUR Apr. 19. 1686. Ex Aedibus Lambeth Io. Battely Reverendissimo Patri ac D no D no Wilhelmo Archiep. Cantuar. Ã Sacris Domesticis JUDGES xvii 6. In those days there was no King in Israel but every man did that which was right in his own eyes WE have in this Chapter and in the rest that follow to the end of this book the history of what befel the Children of Israel immediately after the death of Joshua and of the Elders that were contemporary with him wherein we meet with several irregularities and disorders that were then brought in amongst them with a great corruption in their Religion instanced in the Idolatry of Micah and afterwards set up and established by the Tribe of Dan which occasion'd a large Division and Schism of a long continuance with a general depravation of their manners exemplified in the prodigious lust of the Gibeonites where we have their sin of a monstrous nature in forcing the Levites Concubine to death and the punishment ensuing thereupon inflicted by the rest of Israel even to the cutting off of almost the whole Tribe of Benjamin The cause of all which the Holy Ghost hath no less than four times set down to be their want of a King for in those days there was no King in Israel no supreme Ruler that had the management of publick affairs no Chief Governour to keep the People in mind of their duty no setled Magistrate to take cognizance of evil doers and to put the Laws in execution against Offenders or to confer rewards upon them that did well for Joshua was dead in whole days we are told they forsook the Lord and the Elders were dead that had known all the works of the Lord that he had done for Israel and by their countenance and Authority upheld things in a good posture and the Government under the extraordinary power of particular Judges was not as yet erected There being therefore no publick Person that had the sâ—le power over the whole Community then it was that every man did that which was right in his own eyes by which manner of speech may be understood whatsoever disorder in the worship of God whatsoever misdemeanour in common conversation a rude multitude without an Head to guide and govern them might be guilty of whatsoever distraction and confusion either in Church or State a Nation not having a lawful Governour to support and protect it may be liable unto And thus much being premised by way of Introduction to the Text from the words thus explain'd I shall propound to your consideration and through God's assistance endeavour to press home to all our Consciences three things I. The Benefits of Government II. The Happiness of a Nation that hath a King III. The Practical influence arising from both I. In prosecution of the first of these I shall not trouble either you or my self by comparing one sort of Government with another or giving my opinion which ought to have the preheminence I speak to those that have the happiness to live under the Government of a King and shall therefore take it for granted that it is the best and in speaking upon such a Government I shall have respect chiefly to This under which we live It was for want of Government among the Children of Israel that things went so ill amongst them that every man did that which was right in his own eyes If they had had a King Government would have been preserved That Government would have kept the state of affairs in a good condition and prevented the mischiefs and evils that might arise from every mans doing what was right in his own eyes Now the benefits of Government may be considered in reference First 1st To every particular private Man who in a well constituted Kingdom setled upon good Laws and administred by lawful Magistrates may receive great advantages He may keep what is his own with quietness and immunity without disturbance or distraction He may reap the benefit of his own labours eat the fruits of his own Vine and of his own Fig-tree and drink the Waters of his own Cistern in happiness and peace He may serve and worship God in publick according to the will of God which is the greatest priviledge a Man can have upon Earth with security and chearfulness Liberty and property which are so much in every Mans mouth the desire of every Mans heart things in themselves most excellent and useful he may in great measure enjoy provided that he keeps himself within the compass of the Laws which are the great conservatives of them both If his Goods be invaded by violence and oppression if his good Name be called into question his Reputation injured by evil reports or his Life in danger through malicious suggestions and false accusations in such cases he hath the Government on his side to protect him to clear him to do him right and justice What the Town-Clerk of Ephesus said in the Acts of the Apostles concerning That City may as well be said of every good Government if Demetrius and the Craftsmen that are with him have a matter against any man the Law is open and there are Deputies let them implead one another It is free for every Man to sue for what is his own to seek redress of injuries received and to urge what he can in his own defence Every Man may have a
fair Trial by his own Country-men in a due course of Law and by upright Judges It may indeed so happen that an innocent Man may suffer But that is not the fault of the Government but of the Witnesses that appear against him according to whose evident proof and positive Oaths the Law determines and proceeds to judgment But as far as humane Laws and Constitutions are capable of doing there may be in every well setled Government in This God be praised there is good provision taken for the security of every Man's Person and of whatsoever doth rightfully belong unto him There is no Man whatsoever though never so private and obscure though at never so great a distance from the Royal Court and Residence of his King but may feel the happy effects and comfortable influence of his reign for the Rays of Majesty like the beams of the Sun do reach unto every corner of the Realm and communicate warmth and life refreshment and health to the very meanest Subject and if a Man cannot make immediate application to the King himself he may to his subordinate Officers who act in his Name and by his Commission from whose Hands he may receive the administration of Justice and by them be secured in the full possession of what may truly and properly be called his own 2dly The benefits of Government may be considered in reference to the whole Community or complex Body of the People in general every Order and Society of Men being hugely advantaged thereby The Nobility may enjoy the Honours derived to them from their Ancestors or acquired by their own Merits or conserr'd on them by the favour of their Prince if not unenvied yet undisturbed and undegraded the just Revenues of their large Inheritance are secured from being levelled by those that would have all things common and they may expect to receive all that respect and deference which is by God's permission allowed to their Station The Gentry may according to their Quality be as happy as the Nobles and the Commons need not fear being oppressed or trampled under foot by either The Rich are in no danger of being over run by the Poor though they be far more numerous nor the Poor of being enslaved and depressed by the Rich though in Wealth they exceed them much Publick commerce and traffick is also promoted and a mutual correspondence amongst Men setled and maintained by Government which doth much advance the prosperity of a Nation and without which it cannot thrive and flourish and whilst there are rewards and punishments to be by Governours distributed according to the merits and deserts of Men good Men will thereby be encouraged to proceed in Vertue and those that are ill inclined will be deterred from doing the mischiefs they otherwise would It is not indeed in the power of Government to make Men good when they are not so for that can only be done by the Grace of God's Holy Spirit converting their Hearts changing their natures and perfectly renewing them in the spirit of their mind but it may terrifie them from breaking forth into outragious practices it may restrain them from doing much harm it may inflict just Penalties upon them for what they shall do amiss and by making them a publick example be a great means of hindring others from attempting the like for Rulers are a terrour to evil works and they bear not the Sword in vain for they are the Ministers of God for our good revengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil And the due execution of the Laws upon such Offenders is a great excitement to Virtue and Piety which cannot well be more discouraged than when Vice goes unpunished Religion will then be most likely to take good footing in the Land when it is countenanced by those in Authority when the Professors of it are encouraged by them when those that oppugn it are put to shame and rebuke and the Church cannot but remain in a good condition when the Rites and Ceremonies of it are by the Government upheld when its priviledges are maintain'd when the enemies to it are put down and kept under And then as for the publick Peace of a Nation without which the condition both of Church and State would be desperately miserable where Government is preserved that is sufficiently taken care for For in case of Seditious Tumults or the open Rebellion of ill Subjects there are those who are authorised to oppose them enabled with power to suppress them directed how to proceed against them and to make them quiet and peaceable and though there may be some that are given to change that in their hearts wish for an alteration of affairs and would willingly be in action to the disturbance of common tranquillity yet through fear of being discovered and subdued and brought to condign punishment by the vigilance and care and justice of the Government they are prevented from endeavouring to commit what their Traiterous hearts do suggest to them The very Dread of Authority keeps them in awe and subjection and makes them contrary to their own inclinations appear as friends to That Government which had they power they would totally ruine and subvert And then in case of enemies from abroad a Nation need not be in much fear of them whilst the Government is kept entire at home under the protection of which the whole Body of the People may be safe it being a good guard and defence unto them sufficient care being by it taken to shelter them from suffering under a sudden Invasion or receiving much damage by any outward act of Hostility 3dly The benefits of Government may be considered in reference to the inconveniencies and miseries that will certainly follow upon the want of it God who made the World and gave unto Man a being in it did not only design that he should live but that he should live well and happily To which end he did ordain that there should be some to govern and some to be governed and gave a power to the chief Magistrates to guide correct and rule the People committed to their charge to punish Offenders according to Law to protect the innocent according to right to reward the good according as they shall deserve and to encourage virtue and deter Men from vice and to defend them all against the face of their enemies But if this Ordinance of God which he so wisely design'd for publick good be not upheld there can then be no quiet and good living Take away the good Government of a Place and then how can we look for tranquillity and peace what can we otherwise expect but that great disorder sad confusion and innumerable Calamities will thereupon inevitably ensue the weak will then become a prey to the strong and the good run down by the greater number of the wicked no cause will then be esteemed good but what shall have the most voices to vouch for it or can best be maintain'd