Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
B08892
|
A sermon preach'd at the election of the Governour, at Boston in New-England, May 19th 1669. by John Davenport.
|
Davenport, John, 1597-1670.
|
1670
(1670)
|
Wing D367A; ESTC W26450
|
12,827
|
18
|
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