become the one no less than the other And when God found out a Man atter his own Heart to preside over his peculiar People He chose David his Servant Psal 78.70,71 and took him from the Sheepfolds following the Ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people and Israel his Inheritance That watchful Care which he exercis'd in the Shepherd's Tent prepar'd him for the Business of the Throne That concern which he shew'd for a Lamb taken from him improv'd it self into a Zeal to rescue Israel from the Philistin Army The Courage which he shew'd against the Lion and the Bear who were about devouring his Flock recommended him to be Saul's Champion against Goliah and the Blessing of God upon his first Enterprize gave him hopes of success in the second 1 Sam. 17.36 Thy Servant slew both the Lion and the Bear and this uncircumcis'd Philistine shall be as one of them Nor did he forget the Crook when he was possess'd of the Scepter but had the same regard to his People which before he shew'd towards his Flock as appears by that Address which in a Shepherds Style he made to God when he saw the Angel smiting Israel with Pestilence 2 Sam. 24.17 Lo I have sinned and I have done wickedly but these Sheep what have they done Let thy hand I pray thee be against me and against my Fathers House If a People be bereft of such a Shepherd such a Prince as this we may conclude with Zachary they had reason to be troubled because they had no Shepherd Zach 102. 5. The last and greatest Title which the Holy Scriptures give to Sovereign Princes is that of Gods Thou shalt not revile the Gods Exod. 22.28 nor curse the Ruler of thy People So high so superlative a Title may perhaps have given occasion to Flatterers and ill Men to suggest to Princes such Notions of their Glory as might be distinct and separate from their Peoples good But I cannot find that the Glory of God himself as Sovereign of all is seperate from the good of Mankind either in his Creation Preservation Redemption Sanctification or Salvation all which are the Works of his Sovereign Power and said to be wrought for his Glory The two first of these may be considered together because the preservation of Beings is but the continuance of the power exerted in their Creation 'T is only the permanency of that Word or Will by which all things were made And if The Heavens declare the Glory of God Psal 19.1,2 and the Firmament shews his Handy-work if one day tells another and one night certifies another Do not all these Works of God as clearly demonstrate to us our own Advantage as much as their Maker's Glory Was not the Earth Water and Air commanded to bring forth Plants Fish Fowl and Beasts for the use of Man as for the Glory of God! Or did God make known the Riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy Rom. 9.23 24. which he had afore prepar'd unto Glory viz. Accomplishing the Redemption of Lost Man by the Mediation of Christ Jesus Heb. 1.3 Who was the brightness of his Glory and express Image of his Person And did he not in this glorifie himself by the greatest Gift the Heavenly Father could bestow upon his Children Or the Son of God purchase for his Brethren And how is God glorified by our Sanctification but as he enriches our Hearts with the Gifts of his Holy Spirit and Treasures of his Divine Graces the only true Comforts and Support we are capable of in this Life and the Earnest of that immarcessible Crown of Glory i.e. The full Completion of Happiness we expect hereafter In all these respects St. Paul joins God's Glory and our Good together Eph. 3.14 c. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant you according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit that ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the length and breadth and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge In Sum. God who is self-subsisting Perfection who in the language of Nature is styl'd Optimus Maximus the best and greatest of Beings cannot serve himself any way by us so as to add any thing to his Power Wisdom Goodness Justice Veracity Immutability or Eternity but on the contrary God serves us by himself Luk. 22.27 so Christ was amongst us as he that serveth and we are every moment sensible of the Benefits we receive from the Power Wisdom Goodness and all the Attributes of God Nay every Precept of his Law contains a Favour bestow'd on us as well as a Duty enjoyn'd And in this Kings are as Gods to their People their Power is imploy'd for their Protection their Wisdom for their Direction their Goodness for their Support and their Veracity is a full Security to them for relying upon their Promises 'T is true the Justice of God executes Vengeance upon Evil-doers and hereby he preserves the Souls of his Saints Psal 97.10 and delivers them out of the hand of the wicked Without this Justice how could his Kingdom stand in this World And had he not so ordered it Psal 55.23 that the bloody and deceitful man should not live out half his days and that the lapsed Angels should be reserv'd in everlasting Chains Jude 6. how could he be called the Preserver of Men In like manner 't is the Glory of a King by Judgment to establish a Land Prov. 29.4 by giving the Law its due course upon all the Enemies to his Government all Oppressors of his Subjects And if a mighty Hunter after Blood shall arise as Nimrod was of old who shall look upon the Prosperity of his Neighbours to be a Diminution to his Glory In such a case 't will be the true Glory of God's Vicegerents to execute St. Paul's Anathema against such an Enemy of the Cross of Christ and make such an Oppressor feel that his end is Destruction because his Glory is in his Shame Phil. 3.19 The Naâ—… of Gods given to Sovereign Princes may import thâ—… they are unaccountable to their People And yet wâ—…nd the Supream Majesty of Heaven and Earth wâ—… receives not his Crown from another does render 〈◊〉 Account of himself to us 〈◊〉 18 25 Hear O House of Israel Is not my way equal Are not your ways unequal He does in a manner set his People on the Seat of Judicature and place himself at the Bar intreating them to give their Judgment upon his Administration Isa 5.3,4 And now O Inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah judge I pray you betwixt me and my Vineyard what could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it In such a manner as this Princes may be said to be accountable