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A75684
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God's king the people's blessing. A sermon preached on the day of thanksgiving for peace, at St. Ann's Church in Dungannon, in the diocese of Armagh. / By Edm. Arwaker, rector of Drumglass, and chaplain to his grace the Duke of Ormond.
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Arwaker, Edmund
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1698
(1698)
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Wing A3909; ESTC R170385
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12,645
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21
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his People he inspir'd him with an extraordinary Valour Taught his hand to war and his fingers to fight Psal 144. 1. The time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak of Sampson and of Jephthah who through Faith were endued with that Courage by which they subdued Kingdoms escaped the edge of the Sword waxed valiant in Fight and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens Heb. 11. 32 33 34. And the People of Israel were so sensible of the evil consequences of wanting a King to go out before them and fight their Battels 1 Sam. 8. 20. that they still persisted to desire one for that reason notwithstanding all the Inconveniencies of it represented to them by Samuel to divert them from that Request And tho' Saul proved as great a Scourge to Israel as the Prophet had fore-told he would yet since from the Blood of the Slain and from the Fat of the Mighty the Sword of Saul returned not empty David reckoned it as just a reason for the Daughters of Israel to weep over him as his Cloathing them in Scarlet and putting Ornaments of Gold on their Apparel and he knew that the occasion of their Sorrow would make the Daughters of the Philistines rejoyce and triumph to find the Mighty fallen by whom Israel stood and the Shield of Saul which was his Peoples Shelter vilely cast away 2 Sam. 1. 19. to the end But the Weapons of War were not wholly perished while David yet survived and succeeded in the Kingdom since 't is part of his Character That he play'd with Lions as with Kids and with Bears as it had been Lambs that he slew a Giant when he was yet but young and took away the reproach from the People whn he lifted up his hand with the Stone in the Sling and beat down the boasting of Goliah Ecclus 47. 2 3. So great a Man of War he was so mighty valiant that he could as well put to flight the Enemies that Invaded Israel as the Evil Spirit that disturbed Saul and compose the Troubles in the heart of his Country as the Disquiets in the Breast of his King 1 Sam. 16. 18 23. But the Safety and Honour which his Country found in the great Effects of his Invincible Courage was afterwards often lost and laid in the dust by the want of that Vertue in many of his Successors Which may suffice to shew how fatal this Defect in a Prince is to his People But in no Miscarriage of the King is the Misfortune of his People so great as in his Impiety and Disregard of God for besides the Grievances of his Evil Reign and the Mischiefs they suffer from himself the Wickedness of a King brings Afflictions from Heaven upon his People in that his Example generally prevails with them to deserve them Thus when Rehoboam forsook the Law of the Lord all Israel did so with him 2 Chron. 12. 1. And tho' at the Preaching of Shemaiah they Repented and were delivered from Destruction yet were they not exempt from Spoil For Shishak King of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the Treasures of the Lord's House as well as of the King 's Vers 9. and the People were made his Servants that they might know Gods Service better Vers 8. Thus Ahab's Wickedness provoked God to shut up the Windows of Heaven 1 King 17. 1. and to with-hold from Israel the common Mercies of Dew and Rain which he usually bestows alike on the Just and Unjust Mat. 5. 45. so that there was a sore Famine in Samaria 1 King 18. 2. and the People wanted their daily Bread because their King had forsaken Him who alone fills all things living with Plenteousness Psal 145. 16. Thus Jehoram's working that which was Evil in the Eyes of the Lord caused the Revolt of the Edomites and Libnah not only from under his hand but the hand of Judah And 't is assigned for the reason of this Defection Because he had forsaken the Lord God of his Fathers For which Impiety of his his People are threatned with a Plague 2 Chron. 21. 10 14. To die an Untimely Death for the Irregularities of his Life Thus Ahaz's wicked Reign exposed his People as well as himself to the hand of the King of Syria who not only smote him but carried away a great multitude of his Subjects Captives to Damascus 2 Chron. 28. 5. And afterwards he was delivered into the hands of the King of Israel who smote him with a great slaughter so that there were slain in Judah in one day 120000 which were all valiant Men and the Israelites carried away captives to Samaria 200000 Women Sons and Daughters with much Spoil Vers 6 8. And as if this had not been enough the Philistines also invaded and took no less than six of the Cities of Judah whom the Lord brought low because of Ahaz for he made Judah Naked and transgressed sore against the Lord V. 18 19. Since then the Sin of an Evil King is often the Reproach and Ruine of his People Prov. 14. 34. How great a Blessing is a good King to his Subjects because he not only frees them from this Misfortune but is Instrumental to procure and promote their Happiness Which occasioned that saying of the Psalmist of such a one Thou hast set him to be Blessings for ever Psal 21. 6. for so 't is in the Original signifying that a Good King is the means of conveying many Blessings to his People And this Truth has been proved by a Cloud of Witnesses Heb. 12. 1. How did Judah enjoy the Benefit of Asa's Piety The first ten years of his Reign the Land was quiet 2 Chron. 14. 1. and he had no War because the Lord had given him rest Vers 6. so that the People built and prospered Vers 7. And when Zerah the Ethiopian came to disturb their Peace he did it to the Ruine of his own Vers 9. for the Men of Judah overthrew and spoiled him Vers 13. and had no War unto the five and thirtieth year of the Reign of Asa Chap. 15. 19. This Tranquility his People had because he did that which was good and right in the Eyes of the Lord his God 2 Chron. 14. 2. And they after his Example had entred into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers which as they had sworn with all their heart they performed with their whole desire Chap. 15. 15. And Jehoshaphat succeeding to his Father's Piety as well as to his Throne continues his Peoples happiness The Kingdom was not only stablished in his hand so that he had Riches and Honour in abundance 2 Chron. 17. 5. but the fear of the Lord fell upon all the Kingdoms of the Lands that were round about Judah so that they made no War against Jehosaphat Vers 10. And when afterwards the Children of Moab and Ammon came against him to Battel they were destroyed but his People returned to Jerusalem with Joy and his Realm was quiet
because the Lord had given him rest 2 Chron. 20. 30. So certain it is that when a Mans Ways please the Lord he maketh even his Enemies to be at Peace with him Prov. 16. 7. For this are Good Kings called The Breath of their Peoples Nostrils Lam. 4. 20. who live Safe under their Shadow and enjoy Peace and Prosperity by their means And since it is by God that Kings Reign Prov. 8. 15. it must needs be an Evidence of his signal Favour to that People over whom he places a Good King whose Excellent Qualifications establish their Felicity and whose Great Example teaches them the Practice of that Righteousness which exalts a Nation Prov. 14. 34. Since then Solomon had not only brought Plenty to his People in making Silver as common at Jerusalem as the Stones 1 King 10. 27. but Peace and Splendor too the Queen of Sheba might very reasonable conclude that Because God loved Israel to Establish them for ever therefore he made him King over them And as his love to Israel made him bless them with so Good a King so his taking a delight in Solomon induced him to make Choice of him to set him upon his Throne to be King for the Lord his God since he found in him those Excellencies and Perfections which endear a King to God and render him a Blessing to his People For the Vertues of Justice Prudence Temperance Fortitude and Piety the want of which in a King I have already shewn to be of pernicious consequence to his Subjects were so signally Eminent in Solomon that his People could not desire a more Accomplish'd Soveraign to compleat their Happiness Justice which is a constant and perpetual Will to render every Man his Right or rather a habit of so doing upon all occasions was the Rule of all Solomon's Administrations This was Judah's and Israel's Security in the Possession of their Rights and Properties and gave every Man a safe Enjoyment of his own Vine and his own Figtree all the Days of that Righteous King And this could not but be well-pleasing to God as giving Man a near Resemblance of himself who is Righteous in all his Ways Psal 145. 17. And being advantagious to his People in keeping them from Injuries and Oppression and securing them in the Possession of those Acquists to which they had just Right and Title Thus A Divine Sentence is in the Lips of the King when his Mouth transgresseth not in Judgment Prov. 16. 10. and by it he establisheth the Land Prov. 29. 4. But to do Impartial Justice requires a Solid Prudence which being a True Habit of Acting with Reason in respect of those things that concern the well or ill being of Men must therefore be a Requisite Qualification for Kings on whose Management the Happiness or Misery of their Realms must necessarily depend The Consideration of this prevailed with Solomon when God left it to his Option to ask what he should give him to desire an Understanding Heart to judge his People that he might discern between Good and Bad 1 King 3. 9. Which Choice was an Argument that he was in great measure endued already with what he so judiciously desired And God was so well pleased with his Petition that he not only gave him what he asked but an Overplus of Riches and Honour Vers 13. Now how signal his Prudence was and how great the Benefits thereof appears from his Celebrated Decision between the Harlots who contended for the living Child ver 27. Which proves it as much the Happiness of a People as the Honour of a King that he shou'd be able to search out a matter by so nice a Scrutiny Pro. 25. 2. And since the Wisdom of God was in him to do Judgment 1. King 3. 28. it must needs please him to see the Stream retain the Pureness of its Fountain and he wou'd Love him for this as much as all Israel Feared him Nor did Solomon permit his Justice to be perverted or his Prudence baffled by any manner of Intemperance but as those Virtues were his Peoples Safeguard against Injuries and Outrages from one another so his Temperance was their Defence against all Oppressions and Severity from himself But when magnified in the noblest part and demonstration of it Clemency it free'd them from the Just Punishments they had deserved and provoked him to inflict on them by their Crimes This was evident in his dealing with Adonijah whom tho' he had set up a Title to the Crown he pardon'd and assured that if he wou'd shew himself a worthy man there shou'd not an hair of his Head fall to the earth 1 King 1. 52. Nor was it less visible in his proceedings with Abiathar who promoted the Usurpation for tho' the King declared him worthy of Death yet he contented himself with deposing him from the Priesthood and confining him to his House at Anathoth 1 King 2. 26. Thus by his slowness to Anger did he render himself better than by all his Might and greater in Ruling his Spirit than in the Government of Judah and Israel Pro. 16. 32. and as it was his Glory so it prov'd his Peoples Safety and God who his is slow to Anger and of great Goodness cou'd not but be delighted with Qualities so resembling his own and chuse him for the Representative of his Power as fittest to Rule Others who had so great a Government over Himself But if Judah and Israel were thus obliged to their King for their Domestick Ease and Enjoyments they were no less indebted to him for their Protection from Foreign Ravages and Incursions Fortitude which is a Mediocrity between Fear and Confidence was so eminent in Solomon that it left him no Famous Opportunities of exerting it more than in the Methods which took the occasion from him It led him to strengthen himself with all the necessary Provisions of War at Land with a powerful Army 2 Chron. 1. 14. By Sea with a sufficient Fleet 1 King 9. 26. Which supplied him with Gold from Ophir to support the charge of both ver 28. So that he kept his People in Peace Fourty Years a Blessing which needs no other recommendation than the Terrors and Calamities of War Their young men were not slain with the Sword nor their Cities wasted there was no desolation in their Fields nor complaining in their Streets but Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the Sea in multitude eating and drinking and making merry 2. King 4. 20. There was no one durst attempt to disturb or trouble them but their Tranquillity was firm and unshaken as the Resolution of their King who cou'd not have manifested his Fortitude so much in subduing Enemies as he did in preventing his having Enemies to subdue and keeping his People in so perfect a Peace that it was preferable to the greatest Victories And as God who was always loving to Israel and desirous of their Establishment had reason to be delighted with that