thy thoughts Exod. 22.28 Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people 1 Chro. 28.4.29.1 And David the King said unto all the congregation Solomon my son whom alone God hath chosen is yet young and tender 1. Obs That God alone chuses Kings 2. Obs That God may chuse Kings when they are young and tender 3. Obs That it is not in the power and will of man to chuse Kings Prov. 8.15 By me Kings reigne 4. Obs That the congregation ought to take notice how the Lord alone chuses Kings 2 Chro. 30.12 King Hezekiah and his Princes tooke counsell together to keep the passeover And the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the King and the Princes by the word of the Lord. 1. Obs That Kings and Princes are to councell together 2. That Kings and Princes ought to councell together for the establishing of Gods worship the Church Government 3. That it is God that unites the hearts of the people to do the Kings Commandement 4. Obs That the King and his Princes ought not to establish any worship but according to the word of the Lord. Ezra 6.10 King Darius made a decree and gave to the priests to offer sacrifices of sweet savour unto the God of heaven and pray for the life of the King and his sons 1. Obs That all sacrifices are to be offered up unto the Lord. 2. Obs That in all our spirituall sacrifices we ought to offer up our prayers to the God of heaven for the life of the King and his sons Ezra 7.26 Artaxerxes King of Kings said unto Ezra the priest And whosoever will not do the law of thy God and the law of thy King let judgement be executed upon him speedily whether it be unto death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment 1. Obs That we all ought to be obedient to the laws of God 2. Obs That all we ought to be obedient to the laws of the King 3. Obs That punishment ought to be inflicted upon the transgressors of the laws both of God and the King whether death banishment confiscation imprisonment according to the Kings mercy Ezra 7.27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers which hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart to beautifie the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem 1. Obs That the priests and the scribes of the law of the God of heaven ought to blesse the Lord for the house of the Lord. 2. Obs That the Lord ought to have his house at Jerusalem the Metropolis 3. Obs That the Lords house ought to be sought unto and to be beautified Micah 4.2 4. Obs That they ought to be punished that goe about to deface the house of the Lord. 5. Obs That its the Kings duty to see that the house of the Lord be beautified Neh. 2.3 Nehemiah who was the Kings cupbearer said unto the King Let the King live for ever 1. Obs That Godly rulers ought to pray for their King 2. Obs That Godly rulers ought to pray for the long life of their King 3. Obs That Godly rulers ought not to think slightly of their King but pray Neh. 2.6 And the King said unto me the Queen sitting by him for how long shall thy journy be 1. Obs That there hath been Kings and Queens to rule and govern the nations 2. Obs That no man ought to seperate those that God hath joyned together Esther 7.5 King Ahashuerus said unto Queen Esther who is he and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so 1. Obs That Kings ought to maintain their Queens and make enquiry after those that oppose them 2. Obs That all those that oppose Queens ought to have the wrath of the King stirred up against them 3. Obs That all those that provoke the King sin against their own souls Prov. 20.2 Job 34.18 Is it fit to say to a King thou art wicked and to Princes ye are ungodly 1. Obs That no man ought to speak evil of the King 2. Obs That all men ought to strive to maintain the Kings honour and the Princes innocency Psal 18.50 Great deliverance giveth he to his King and sheweth mercy to his Anointed to David and his seed for evermore 1. Obs That we ought to pray for deliverance for our King 2. Obs That we ought not to imprison our King 3. Obs That Kings are the Lords Anointed 4. Obs That we ought to pray for the King by his name David Charls 5. Obs That we ought to pray for the Kings seed for evermore Psal 72.1 Give the King thy judgements O God and thy righteousnesse unto the Kings son 1. Obs That we ought to pray to God for the King 2. Obs That we ought to pray to God that judgement and wisdome and understanding may be given to the King for government 3. Obs That we ought to pray that the Kings seed may be endued with righteousnesse 4. Obs That we must all strive to maintain the King in judgement and his seed in righteousnesse Psal 84.9 Behold O God our sheild and looke upon the face of thine Anointed 1. Obs That its the duty of Kings to rely upon God and make him their shield 2. Obs That its the duty of Kings to pray to God for themselves 3. Obs That Kings in their prayers may set out their prerogatives before God Anointed Psal 89.18 For the Lord is our defence the holy one of Israel is our king I have exalted one chosen out of the people I have found David my servant with my holy oyle have I Anointed him 1. Obs That Kings ought to rely upon the Lord for defence 2. Obs That Kings must not put confidence in man for defence but in the Lord. 3. Obs That Kings are the holy ones of God 4. Obs That Kings are exalted and set up by God 5. Obs That Kings are chosen out of the people by God 6. Obs That Kings are the Lords servants 7. Obs That the oyle wherewith Kings are Anointed is an holy oyle Prov. 8.15 By me kings reigne and princes decree justice 1. Obs That the reigne of Kings is by the power of God and their authority is from the Lord. 2. Obs That no man hath power to subdue the King in his reigne 3. Obs That Princes ought to decree nothing but that which is just 4. Obs That Kings and Princes ought to make no law nor decree but that which is according to justice according to the word of God Prov. 16.10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king his mouth transgresseth not in judgement 1. Obs That the sentences of Kings ought to be highly esteemed as the oracles of God 2. Obs That in the judgement of a King is no transgression 3. Obs That we are to yeeld to the Kings judgement and not stand upon our own judgement Prov. 16.15 In the light of the kings countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud
their defence and shield and not put confidence in man 4 To make all their Lawes and decrees and ordinances according to the Lawes of God and their sentences and words to be as the Oracles of God 5 To shew a cheerfull countenance and their due respects to their good subjects And to hold forth the Attributes of God according to the word of truth and to shew mercy and to do righteous works 6 To endeavour to have all one godly Ministry one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one union in Religion and Church Government and no liberty if they walke contrary to God 7 To appoint Governours and to Authorize them to punish evill doers and to praise them that do well And let us now see the duty of Godly Rulers to their King 1 GOdly Rulers and Elders must desire to have a King to Rule them and to Govern them 2 Godly Rulers have no power to chuse a King to dis-throne a King or to imprison a King 3 Godly Rulers ought to pray for the King to pray for the long life of the King and not compare themselves to the King nor thinke slightly of the King 4 Godly Rulers ought to strive to maintain the Kings Honour the Princes innocency and not to seperate the King and the Queene 5 Godly Rulers ought to punish evill doers and to praise them that do well And here next behold the Prophets duty 1 ANd they are to Prophesie Loyalty and Obedience to the Kings commands 2 They are to offer Sacrifice to pray for the King and his Sons 3 They are to preach to the people subjection to supreame Authority And because we will have compassion on the multitude and not let them depart without a blessing we will shew them their duty And here observe now and behold the peoples duty to their King 1. THe peoples duty is to pray for wisdome and understanding for the King 2. The peoples duty is to pray for the King by his name God save King Solomon God save King Charls 3. The peoples duty is to pray for the King and his seed for evermore 4. The peoples duty is not to compare themselves to the King nor thinke slightly of the King nor curse the King 5. The peoples duty is to maintain and uphold with their lives and estates the Kings honour and to humble themselves and submit their lives to the Kings mercy 6. The peoples duty is to obey all the Laws and commands of the King 7. The peoples duty is not to provoke the King to anger nor to controle the King nor to rise up against the King by thought by word or by weapon 8. The peoples duty is to serve and obey the King lest the punishment of disloyaltie to the Kings commands befall them as sword famine pestilence 9. The peoples duty is to pay customes or tributes to their King Caesar 10. The peoples duty is to observe the duty for fear of a greater punishment damnation is the reward of all those that resist the Kings supreame AUTHORITY blessednesse is the reward of all those that submit unto and obey the Kings supreame AUTHORITY And thus having laid ten commands upon the people to which they must all submit and obey Let us againe view and behold England And here by these commands of God by his servant Moses and by all his holy Prophets by the practice of Jesus Christ and by the commands of his holy Apostles Let us now with Moses the servant of the Lord call Israel to a reckoning and with Israel England and see what God could have done more for Israel England then he hath done Deut. 10.12 And now O Israel O England What doth the Lord thy God require of thee to fear the Lord thy God to walke in all his wayes to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes and to doe that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God Deut. 12.28 for it is true which S. Luke saith Luke 12.47 He that knows his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes And to this Christ himselfe saith Mat. 7.21 Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of heaven but he that doth the will of my father which is in heaven Therefore I shall desire you with the Noble Bereans Acts 17.11 to search the Scriptures daily whether these things be so or no that ye may beleeve and in beleeving have everlasting life But withall I must admonish you according to that of 1 Jo. 4.1 Beleeve not every spirit but trie the spirits whether they be of God or no for false Prophets are gone out into the world And behold they come unto you in sheeps cloathing but inwardly they are ravening wolves and if it were possible they would deceive the very elect Mat. 24.24 But by their fruits you shall know them And if you desire to know them then I shall exhort you as 2 Chro. 20.20 Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall ye be established beleeve his Prophets as Jam. 5.10 that have spoken to you in the name of the Lord so shall ye prosper 1 John 3.23 And this is his commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another for there is no Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved but the name of the Lord Jesus Acts 4.12 Thinke not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our father Mat. 3.9 or we are great or rich or have this priviledge or other God is greater and able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham But now the ax is laid to the root of the tree Therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire By their fruits therefore ye shall know them for now is the time of envying strife and division 1 Cor. 3.3 Now is the time of confusion and every evil work Jam. 3.16 Now then this is the time as Jam. 5.16 That the fervent prayer of the righteous man should availe much with the Lord. And therefore shall we with Abraham the father of the faithfull shall we follow his example Gen. 18.23 stand and draw neere before the Lod and intercede for Sodom for England and pray peradventure there be fifty righteous within England wilt thou also destroy and not spare the Kingdome for the fifty righteous that are therein Shall we follow the example of Moses the servant of the Lord Exod. 32.30 Goe up unto the Lord and make an attonement for the Kingdome and say this people have sinned a great sin They have denied the Kings AUTHORITY Yet now if thou wilt forgive their sin and if not blot me I pray thee out of the Book thou hast written And likewise shall we follow his example againe for a good example cannot be too much followed As
and commandments of God ought to be the rule and the way wherein every man ought to walke 5. Obs That no command of man bindes the Conscience to be observed that is contrary to the statutes and commandments of God Hosea 10.3 For now they shall say we have no King because we feared not the Lord what then should a King do to us 1. Obs That where a people or a Nation begin to cast off the fear of the Lord that people or Nation desires no King 2. Obs That if England fear the Lord then England desires a King 3. Obs That people feare not the Lord that doe not highly esteeme of and honour their King Hosea 13.10 O Israel I will be thy King thou saidst give me a King and Princes I gave thee a King in mine anger and tooke him away in my wrath 1. Obs That God takes the title and name of a King to himselfe 2. Obs That the people of God hath God to be their King 3. Obs That Kings are given and taken away by God 4. Obs That no man hath power to place or displace the King but God himselfe Mat. 17.12 Jesus asked Peter what thinkest thou Simon of whom doe the Kings of the earth take custome of strangers or of their own children yet lest we should offend goe to the sea cast an hooke take a fish open his mouth take a piece of money and pay for thee and me 1. Obs That Christ allows of Kings to be on the earth 2. Obs That Christ will pay custome to Caesar rather then offend Caesar 3. Obs That Christ will work a miracle to pay custome to the Kings of the earth rather then offend 4 Obs That by Christs Example all men must submit to the customes and priviledges of Kings 5 Obs That free children ought rather to submit to the customes of their Kings then offend Mat. 22.20 Mar. 12.17 Luke 20.25 Whose is this Image and Superscription Cesars Render to Cesar the things that be Cesars and to God the things that be Gods 1 Obs That the Authority of Kings may be enquired after 2 Obs That when the Kings Authority is made known it presently must be obeyed 3 Obs That its the command of God to give Kings their due 4 Obs That no man ought to hinder the King of his customes and his dues but render them to him Rom. 13.1.2.7 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers for there is no power but of God and the powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation 1 Obs That every man ought to submit himselfe to that Authority that is set over him by God 2 Obs That where God sets not Authority that soul ought not to be subject 3 Obs That where Authority commands things contrary to God that Authority ought not to be obeyed by active obedience 4 Obs That no man ought to resist that Authority that is ordained of God 5 Obs That the Authority of Kings is ordained of God and no man ought to resist them 6 Obs That damnation is the reward of disloyalty to the Kings Authority 1 Tim. 2.1.2 I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Obs That all manner of prayers ought to be made for Kings and all in Authority 2 Obs That no quiet and peaceable living can be in any Kingdome where Kings and Magistrates are not prayed for 3 Obs That it is a good and acceptable sacrifice to God our Saviour to offer up prayers and thankes for Kings and all in Authority Titus 3.1 Put them in minde to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates to be ready to every good worke 1 Obs That people must be put in mind of their duty they are apt to forget it 2 Obs That its the ministers duty to preach subjection to supreame Authority 3 Obs That its the peoples duty willingly to yeild obedience to all Authority 4 Obs That by our good works we shew forth our obedience to supreame Authority and power of the Magistrate 1 Pet. 2.13 17. Submit your selves therefore to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supreame or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well for so is the will of God honour all men love the Brotherhood fear God Honour the King 1 Obs That the ordinances of man that are made agreeable to the word of the Lord ought to be obeyed 2 Obs That the King is the supreame Governour and his Authority is supreame Authority and his commands are supreamly to be obeyed 3. Obs That governours are sent by the King and have their authority from the King 4. Obs That the authority of governours is to punish evil doers and to praise them that do well 5. Obs That its Gods will that the King is supreame governour and he commands his commands are supreamly to be obeyed 6. Obs That no government ought to be set up neither in Church nor state that is not according to the word and will of God 7. Obs That all men ought to be honoured in that place of authority whereunto God hath called them 8. Obs That the Saints of God upon earth ought to be loved 9. Obs That high and low rich and poor ought to fear God 10. Obs That all men high and low rich and poor noble and ignoble young and old it is their duty to honour the King God save the King God save King Charls Thus gentle Reader have we run through these places and texts of Scripture which hath sufficiently to satifie every mans soule proved unto us painly the worke we have taken in hand to set forth The Kings AUTHORITY And lest any should with the Atheist deny there is a God or a King we will gather up these fragments again that nothing be lost And now view and behold the The Kings AUTHORITY and the Subjects DUTY And so here we may plainly see and observe That the Lord alone hath chosen Kings not man And he hath chosen them to Rule over and to Govern his own people Israel And Kings are the Lords immediate servants his holy ones The Lords Anointed for that purpose to Govern his people their Thrones are upholden by the Lord their AUTHORITY is from the Lord and their AUTHORITY is supreame AUTHORITY over ALL. And yet they owe duty to God as first 1 To see that the house of the Lord be beautified 2 To maintain their Queens against all that shall oppose them 3 To pray to God for themselves and to make God