Selected quad for the lemma: grace_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A66475
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A sermon preached before his Grace the King's commissioner, and the three estates of Parliament: June the 15th. 1690. By David Williamson, Minister of the Gospel at Edinburgh
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Williamson, David, d. 1706.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing W2796; ESTC R219573
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24,635
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21
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A SERMON Preached before His GRACE the King's Commissioner And the Three ESTATES PARLIAMENT June the 15th 1690. On Psal 2.10 Be Wise now Therefore O ye Kings be Instructed ye Judges of the Earth By David Williamson Minister of the Gospel at Edinburgh The Second Impression Corrected and Amended â—Dâ—NBVRGH Re-printed by the 〈…〉 Andrew Anderson Printer to the King and Queâ—◠〈…〉 lent Majesties Anno Dom. 1690. A SERMON ON PSALM 2. Verse 10. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be Instructed ye Judges of the Earth THESE things are clear 1. That David was Pen-man of this Psalm Acts 4.24 25. verses 2ly That this Psalm relates to the Stability of Davids Kingdom I make no Question But it 's most clear that it mainly concerns the Stability of Christ's Kingdom for many things in this Psalm cannot be applyed to David 3ly It 's clear this Text has a Connexion with the preceeding and subsequent Words Take this Paraphrase on the Psalm to make it out That the Opposers of Christ who Rebel against him but shew their Teeth and Labour in vain For the Lord will settle Christ's Kingdom in the visible Church Nill they will they and mock his Enemies and vex them till he ruine them for the Stability of Christ's Kingdom is decreed in the Covenant of Redemption and here it is revealed Christ shall have a full Victory and dash them by his Rod who will not be instructed by his Word And therefore it's incumbent to all especially to Magistrats to learn their Lesson and be wise in time to Adore Embrace subject themselves and do homage to Christ least if they kindle his Anger by provocation they be consumed in the Flame of his wrath This Text contains an Exhortation wherein we have 1. The Persons exhorted Kings and Judges 2. What they are exhorted to to take Instruction that they may be wise 3. The Connexion therefore be wise 4. The seasonableness of it now therefore if ever least it be too late afterwards when there is no place for Repentance I offer some Questions 1. What is that to be wise be Instructed Answ It is take your lesson from the Word where true Wisdom is to be found and Repent For he that hates Instruction is Brutish Prov. 12.1 And a Fool who rues it out of time when his Flesh and Bones are Consumed by severe Correction Prov. 5.11 12. And a Man is out of his Wits till he repent For it 's said of the repenting Prodigal Luke 15.17 When he came to himself he was not at himself before He that is in a course of Sin in Scripture is called a Fool and Mad the Drunkard Unclean Oppressor and Persecuter Paul sayes of himself he was exceedingly mad against the Church Acts 26.11 Quest 2. What Wisdom is that which they should studie Answ There is a threefold Wisdom 1. There is wordly Policy that makes a Man his own Burrio 2. There is Moral Prudence that 〈…〉 an to serve his Generation 3. There is Christian Wisdom that makes a Man wise for Heaven For the first worldly Policy 1. The ends of it are the lust of the Flesh the lust of the Eyes and the pride of Life 2. The means for attaining these ends are correspondent Namely Self love Distrust or suspicion Disparagement or Detraction Complyance or Neutrality Reservedness or Clossness Surprizal or Advantage Irreligigion or Atheisme 3. The Miscarriages in the use of these Means are 1 From the shortness and inconsistencie of Mans both Life Temper for bringing any great Design about 2. The Emergency of indiscernable Accidents that will be sure to Interpose 3. The Miscarriage of Instruments that must be employed 4. The competition of Adverse Partieâ— that will be sure to binder what they may This is not the Wisdom meant in the Text it being Earthly Sensual Devilish and from below James 3.15 It is but Craft and such plat a Sâ—are for themselves 1 Cor. 3.19 He takes the wise in then own 〈…〉 2. For Moral Prudence 1. the ends of it are Peace Safety Contentment and Usefulness 2. The means attaining their ends are four 1. Moderation in our Affections Opinions Discourses and Expenses 2. Recognition in 〈◊〉 Customs Reports Resolutions and Undertakings 3. Intogrity in our Dealings Words Professions and Endeavours 3. Improvement of our inclinations Abilities interests and injuries 3. Mistakes of the world about it are Difficulty Stupidity Severity and Singularity This Moral Providence is included in the Text. 3. Christian wisdom the Ends of it are 1. Reconciliation with God VVe are to Notice these things about it 1. The means of it The Covenant of Grace 2. The Parties to be reconciled to an offended God especially in his Justice and Holiness and offending Man in whose offence there is a condemning Guilt and commanding Power 3. The Remedy is Christ's Death the price and the Power of it 4. The Condition applying is the Grace of Faith 5. The Grant or Tenor in which this Covenant runs God our God and we his people The second end of this Christian Wisdom is Communion with God the means of it the New Birth whereof God is the Author the instrument is the word the sear and subject of it Man esperially his will The manner Spiritual who attain this Wisdom have advantages in crosses Coâ—stâ—cts Desertions and Death This is the Wisdom that is mainly meaned in the Text. Q. 3. Who are under Rood by Kings and Judges Ans Manistrats Supreme and Subordinat both these are joyned in the Old Testament here and in the promise Isaâ—ah 32.1 Behold a King shall reign in righteousness and princes shal rule in judgement And in the New Testament in Peter's exhortation to subjection to the King as Supreme or unto Governours as sent by him And in Paul's exhortation to prayer for Kings and all that are in Authority 1 Pet. 2.13 14. 1 Tim. 2.2 Whey are these joyned To shew that Magistrats must not desire to be solitary and independent It would be a burden too heavy even for Moses alone to rule a Nation or a great City wo to him that is alone and bath none to counsel him In the multitude of counsellors there is safety Prov. 11.14 There is a Common-wealth in best case when it hath a good King and adjoyned to him as Eyes Ears and Hands to assist in Justice good Ministers of State and Under-Rulers And a good wise King will choose such now both supreme and subordinate Magistrats have need of Wisdom For if a King be a fool although his Courtiers and subordinate Officers were never so wise they will not manage him he will be a willful fool and ruine himself who will who will not And if a King were never so wise if his Counsellours be Foolish Selfish Kâ—â—vish they will make his Throne totter and hazard the falling of the Crown off his head and make the Common-wealth smart Many observe under Nerva a good Emperor by reason of wicked Under-Rulers the Roman Common-wealth was in worse