Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
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A89792
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A sermon preached to the Honorable citizens of London, September 29. 1659. being the day of the election of their Lord Major. Wherein is distinctly shewed, I. The usefulness of a powerful ministry to the civil governor. II. Integrity when in conflict is most amiable and in its highest glory. III. What virtues are desireable in a good magistrate. By Philip Nye a servant of Jesus Christ in his gospel.
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Nye, Philip, 1596?-1672.
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1660
(1660)
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Wing N1500; Thomason E1048_6; ESTC R208118
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17,332
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35
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do as I wil do yet found even in this a very common person and inferior to his fellow Disciples Applic. 1. To you that are to choose a great trust is committed unto you the welfare of the most famous City in the world another Jerusalem a City inhabited by the people of God 1. Be not Carried on in this work by old Cus-TOMS and WONTS why should you depute in so great a work so blind a Guide yet we are brought to it in most Elections and thereby lose one of the choycest Priviledges that belong unto us as Citizens Moses chooseth Joshna who was ful of the spirit of wisdom Where are such to be found if not amongst your selves Covet the best Gifts lower then what the Apostle hath about Widows we may not go in placing this honor 1 Tim. 5.3 Honor Widows that are Widows indeed choose such as may be Magistrates indeed and not in shew only where Electors are thus Consciencious in this work the Properties though not the Person of a good Governor will be the same every year and so hereditary and for ever though your Election be yearly 2. Your Judgments rather than your Affections ought to be exercised in this work It 's God only that chooseth persons from the good pleasure of his wil and it 's peculiar to his ELECTION and so great a prerogative as some are unwilling to yeild it him But for us men we must choose ex praevisis operibus Qualities and Virtues rather than persons must be the most immediate object of our choyce It is no error in the Doctrine of this Election but much of our duty this day is expressed in it and accordingly I shal leave each mans Conscience under this the Apostles charge 1 Tim. 5.21 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality 3. I need not add where there is so much Civility what might be sutable if this Election were in some hands namely that though there be a Praeterition yet there must not be a Reprobation in your Election How sadly men have suffered in their names and what advantages malicious minds have taken in such competitions to sink men under Color of Comparison seeking their revenge upon the Credit and repute of whom they please is not unknown to you You may each of you that are Electors commend your man and do it to the utmost and yet according to that old and honest phrase without Comparison Lastly having elected your person there is a special Obligation laid upon you that are Electors that you submit and yeild Obedience unto the Person you have chosen for your Magistrate and it ought to be done with such freedom and affection as that you may provoke and become examples unto others in the like Obedience for he is your choice The great God and Governor of the world put not himself upon us no not upon those of whom he expects his most peculiar and affectionate submission But as he hath chosen them so he enclines their wills to choose him and this because cause choyce is the spring of all willing and free obedience And therefore Joshua having a purpose to bring his people into a more strict submission unto God puts them upon a new Election of him Chap. 24. and having brought it to pass he makes it solemn and signal by express stipulation ver 22. And Joshua said unto the people Ye are Witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen you or for your selves the Lord to serve him And they said We are witnesses Witness against your selves if now you be disobedient having chosen him for out very Election is a choosing to serve as the phrase is there a choosing to submit to obey yea and to bring others also into obedience with you Joshua undertakes not only for himself but his Houshold ver 15. to submit where he hath made choyce do you likewise in your own persons and all your relations honor and obey whom this day you shall choose and as you of the Common Counsel of this City in this choyce go before and represent others so in your submission and assistance be Examples unto others If he be not worthy whom you have chosen it wil be your unhappiness but not dispence with your duty if he be an Idol he is the workmanship of your own hands and you that have made an Idol must be contented to bow down worship it Applic. II. to you that shall this day be chosen our Governor our Nehemiah now begin to be a God the name is coming upon you meet it with a sutable frame of Heart that you may not take his name in vaine be you holy as he is holy like minded like affected love what he loves persons things and hate what he hates yea with a perfect hatred Whatsoever your hand finds out to do do it with all your might for there is no work nor device nor knowledg nor wisedom in the grave whither thou goest Eccl. 9.10 While you are gods and in place be like your selves afterwards you become men again you are as it were in the grave and then you are like other men Moses prays that he might be able to number his days and know how long he had to live that he might apply his heart to wisedom your dayes are numbered to you you know to a day the longest day you are to govern make the same use of it meditate your duty as it hath been shewed you in Nehemiah I cannot go over all the particulars but this is a principal one and to be remembred in the first place Be of a publick Spirit there is but one Lord Major for the whole City as but one Sun for the whol world you must travail a greater compasse that you may be light and comfort to both Hemispheres to the Ministers to their people to all persons in all places to rich to poor to servants and Masters to Orphans and Widowes c. If you be an Olive tree you must not say shall I leave my fatnesse or a Fig tree shall I forsake my sweetness no though you be a Vine you must leave your fruitfulness that is to bring forth to your self which if you do you will be accounted an empty Vine Consider 1. You are men men of note and eminency before this choyce It will be for your own honor and comfort how desireable is it for any of you to have the story of his life the story of his Mairolty to end like the story of Mordecai Esth 1.1 Mordecai was next to the King great amongst the Jewes those that profess godliness seeking the wealth of his people not his own profit There is also great Equity in it for therfore he receiveth perquisites that being Gods Minister he may attend continually upon this thing Rom. 13.6.2 You are Christians as such you pretend to the most publick end as your chief the glory of God now there is nothing conduceth more hereunto then this to be of a publick spirit 1 Cor. 10.31 whatsoever you do do all to the glory of God how shall we so do vers 33. even as I please all men in all things not seeking my own profit but the profit of many Paul was able to forbear the glory of Heaven that he might be serviceable here on earth Phil. 1.23 24. FINIS