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B08892
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A sermon preach'd at the election of the Governour, at Boston in New-England, May 19th 1669. by John Davenport.
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Davenport, John, 1597-1670.
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1670
(1670)
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Wing D367A; ESTC W26450
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12,827
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18
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Power of Government is originally in the People and that Three Wayes 1. Radically and vertually as in the first Subject For these Reasons 1. Because if living Creatures have radically in them a power of self-preservation to defend themselves from violence and wrongs men united in Societies being reasonable Creatures must have that power in a more reasonable and honourable way to put this power into the hands of Civil Rulers nor doth a Community in chusing Civil Rulers surrender so much their right and liberty to their Rulers as their Power both Active to do and Passive to suffer unjust violence so as the People shall not have Moral Power to do or avenge injuries proprio marte without punishment 2. Because if men United in a Civil Society may give Magistratical Power to such and such leaving out others then this Power was in this united Society but it was not in them formally for then all should be Rulers therefore this Power was in them only virtually for Nemo dat quod non habet None can give that which they have not either formally or virtually in themselves 2. Communciatively By way of free Donation the People giving to this or that man and not to others the Ruling Power over them For 1. In regular actings of the creature God is the first Agent there are not two several and distinct actings one God another of the People but in one and the same action God by the Peoples suffrages makes such an one Governour or Magistrate and not another 2. God regulateth his People exercising their Power in chusing such and such and not others to Rule over them therefore they have Power from God's Ordinance to do it for none can regulate a Non Ens nor will God by his Word regulate unwarrantable actions as he doth this Exod 18.21 Moreover provide thou among all the People men of courage fearing God men dealing truly hating covetousness and appoint such over them to be Rulers over thousands Rulers over hundreds c. Deut. 1.16 17. And I charged your Judges that same time saying Hear the Controversies between your Brethren and judge righteously between every Man and his Brother and the Stranger that is with him ye shall have no respect of persons in judgment but shall hear the small as well as the great ye shall not fear the face of man for the judgement is Gods c. 3. Limitively For the People so give Magistratical Power unto some as that still they retain in themselves these Three Acts 1. That they may measure out so much Civil Power as God in his Word alloweth to them and no more nor less 2. That they may set bounds and banks to the exercise of that Power so as it may not be exuberant above the Laws and due Rights and Liberties of the People 3. That they give it out conditionally upon this or that condition so as if the condition be violated they may resume their power of chusing another Thus you see the first part of God's Ordinance concerning Civil Rule and Government in Commonwealths by some orderly chosen thereunto The second part of God's Ordinance in this matter followeth which is concerning the qualifications of such Rulers over men 2. That as to the qualifications of Rulers over other men it is God's Ordinance that they be just ruling in the fear of the Lord. 1. They must be just They are to be termed just in the sense of this Text whose wills are sanctified and inclined by the Spirit of God to perform to men whatsoever is due to them according to the Rules of the Word 1. The principal and efficient hereof is the sanctifying Spirit therefore it is said Eph. 5.9 the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth 2. The proper subject recipient of this gift of Grace is the sanctified will into which it puts a bent and inclination unto righteosness For the faculties of the Soul are not by nature bent to that which is good but contrary Gen. 4.5 But unto Cain and his Offering he had no regard wherefore Cain was exceeding wroth and his countenance fell down There may be light in the understanding shewing what is good but that which inclineth to good must be in the will Rom. 7.18 22. For to will is present with me but I find no means to perform that which is good for I delight in the Law of God concerning the inner-man He is truly just who acteth justly out of love to Righteousness unjust men may do just actions upon other motives as Absolom pretended 2 Sam. 15.4 O that I were made Judge in the Land that every man which hath any matter of Controversie might come to me that I might do him right And the unjust Judge acted in Luke 18.4 5. Though I neither fear God nor love man yet because this Widow troubleth me I will do her right 3. The effect of it is the performance of whatsoever is due to men Hence Children doing their duties to their Parents is said to be just Eph. 6.1 Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right And of Servants to their Masters is said to be just and equal Col. 4.1 And all things due to men are performed by living righteously Tit. 2.12 Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world 4. The Rule is not mans corrupt Reasons and Affections but the Scripture Mich. 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do Justice and Judgment and to walk humbly with thy God 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration from God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness Thus Rulers over men must be just 1. In their personal Conversation else that may be applyed to them in Rom. 2.1 3. Therefore thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that condemnest for in that thou condemnest another thou condemnest thy self for thou that condemnest dost the same things and thinkest thou this O man that condemnest them which do such things and dost the same things that thou shalt escape the judgment of God 2. In their administration of Justice and Judgment towards all men impartially and promised Psal 72.2 Then shall he judge thy People in righteousness and thy Poor with equity This God required Exod. 18.21 Moreover provide thou among all the People men of courage fearing God men dealing truly hating covetousness c. And Job practised Job 29.14 and Samuel pleaded when the People would alter the frame of Civil Government Deut. 1.16 17. 1 Sam. 12.3 Behold here I am bear record of me before the Lord and before his Anointed whose Ox have I taken or whose Ass have I taken or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith c. to the 6th vers Wherein he shewed 1. His Integrity in that he
of courage men fearing God hating covetousness c. as Moses did vers 25. which also Moses gave to the Tribes Deut. 1.13 Motive 1. The choice of good Rulers will be a sign and pledge of Gods intendment to bless their Government and his People thereby For when God gives Rulers whom he intends to make a blessing to his People they shall be such as are blessed of him in Christ for the good of that People Isa 1.25 26. Then I will turn mine hand upon thee and burn out thy dross till it be pure and take away all thy tinn and I will restore thy Judges as at the first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning If this be neglected the Government will not be blessed and the welfare of the People will be ruined But if Christ bless the Governours he shall be our peace whatsoever Enemies come against us or rise up among us And he shall be our peace when Ashur shall come into our Land Mic. 5.5 6. c. he will raise seven Shepherds and eight principal Men that shall be our Relief But you have no Instance in Scripture that ever God was with a People to bless them in a course of special Providence when they that feared not God were their Rulers by their own consent and choice Let Christ therefore have the preheminence in all things and in your choice of Rulers for the Commonwealth and in order thereunto see that they whom you choose to be Rulers be men interressed personally in Christ For when they that are called to Ruling Power cease to exert it in subserviency to the Kingdom of Christ there will be an end of New-England's Glory and Happiness and Safety Mot. 2. You must submit to their Authority and perform all duties to them whom you have chosen to be your Rulers whether they be good or bad by vertue fo the Relation between them and you So Wives to their Husbands though Unbelievers 1 Cor. 7.13 And Servants to their Masters though froward 1 Pet. 2.18 Therefore as this should Caution Women and Youngmen to beware of chusing bad Husbands and Masters so and much more it should Caution you in your choosing publick Rulers if you mind the publick or private good of yours Mot. 3. If men unjust and that fear not God be chosen Rulers of the Common-wealth all the People are in danger of being punished by the wrath of God for the sins of their Rulers Bad men being in publick place will give bad counsel to corrupt Religion Ezek. 11.1 2. Jaazaniah and Palatiah Princes of the People are said to be the men that imagine mischief and devise wicked counsel in the City the end will be ruine See when the men of Shechem chose a bramble Abimelech to be their Ruler see Judg. 9.2 14 15 23 52 53. The sins of Jeroboam and of those that succeded him their corrupting Religion ruined not only their own Families but also all Israel which was threatned 1 King 14.15 For the Lord shall smite Israel as when a Reed is shaken in the Water and he shall weed Israel out of this good Land which he gave to their Fathers and shall scatter them beyond the River because they have made groves provoking the Lord to anger The same befel Judah for the sins of Manasseh Jer. 15.4 And for the sins of other Rulers by corrupting Religion and unrighteous dealings whereof the Prophets complained Exhort 2. To those who by the consent of the Freemen Vse are according to Gods Ordinance to be invested with Magistratical Power and Authority to observe Moses his Charge to the Judges Deut. 1.16 17. And I charged your Judges that same time saying Hear the Controversies between your Brethren and judge righteously c. and Jehoshaphats 2 Chron. 19.9 10. Be wise therefore ye Rulers and consider that your Life and all our Good your Prosperity and Protection lies not in this or that Politick design or whatsoever else under the Sun but alone in Gods gracious Presence with you Psal 4.6 7. Oh! provoke him not to depart from us but seek the continuance of his presence with us and fix your thoughts on the things which tend to assure Gods special providential Presence with us The things incumbent on you in order hereunto are such as respect either Persons or Things my desire is to speak in love to the Truth and Peace 1. For Persons Provide for the Protection Encouragement and Liberty of all those whom God owneth to be his People that fear him take care that they be not trodden under foot nor swallowed up nor exposed to the rage and contempt of men only for those that walk orderly and peaceably not offensively to one or other or to the Church of God though they differ from others in their Apprehensions and Perswasions though misguided yet are willing to receive Light in Gods way and time These are to God as the Apple of his Eye and let their Safety be also to you Be not ready to receive ill reports against them Jer. 20.10 Report say they and we will report c. Psal 15.3 nor receiveth a false report against his neighbour 1 Tim. 1.19 2. For Things They are either the things of God or the things of Men 1. For the things of God the publick Profession and Practice of Religion which is in great danger by two extreams misguided Zeal and Formallity Let the Honourable Court therefore approve themselves to Rule in the fear of God by their personal knowing imbracing and obeying the Gospel of Christ and by their protecting the Churches that are orderly gathered and walk according to Gospel-Rules from the violence and injuries of their opposers remembring that dreadful threatning Isa 60.12 For the Nation and the Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish c. I shall add a few Caveats 1. Take heed of a various management of matters of Religion to the advantage of the present postures and condition of your Civil Affairs The things of Christ should be as Josephs Sheaf to which all other should bow When they are made to cringe and bend to mens Policies they are no longer the things of Christ All Gods Truths are Eternal and Unchangeable by men Give them all at once the soveraignty of your Souls and have not the least thought of making them bend to serve your worldly ends but cleave to the Truth of the Precepts and live by the Truth of the Promises for performance whereof the God of Truth hath engaged his Alsufficiency 2. Take heed and beware that you deprive not any Instituted Christian Church walking according to Gospel Rules of the Power and Priviledges which Christ hath purchased for them by his precious blood and given unto them Mat. 16.19 God calls Civil Rulers to protect and preserve such Churches if he hath given them liberty and you subject them to bondage if he hath given them power in their proper concernments within themselves and you countenance and uphold others to exercise