to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honor to whom Honor Rom. 13. 1. I exhort therefore that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men For Kings and for all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty for this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates to be ready to every good Work to speak evil of no Man to be no Brawlers but Gentle shewing all Meekness unto all Men Tit. 3. 1. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake Whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well For so is the Will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the Ignorance of Foolish Men As free and not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness but as the Servants of God Honor all Men. Love the Brotherhood Fear God Honor the King 1 Pet. 2. 13. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished But chiefly them that walk after the Flesh in the Lust of Vncleanness and despise Government Presumptuous are they self-willed they are not affraid to speak Evil of Dignities whereas Angels which are greater in Power and Might bring not railing Accusation against them before the Lord 2 Pet. 2. 9. Likewise also these filthy Dreamers defile the Flesh despise Dominion and speak evil of Dignities Jude 8. Something may be here not unseasonably added out of the Old Testament They answered Joshua saying All that thou commandest us we will do and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things so will we hearken unto thee Only the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy Commandment and will not hearken unto thy Words in all that thou commandest him he shall be put to Death Josh 1. 16. Then Samuel told the People the manner of the Kingdom and wrote it in a Book and laid it up before the Lord And Samuel sent all the People away every Man to his House And Saul also went Home to Gibeah and there went with him a Band of Men whose Hearts God had touched But the Children of Belial said how shall this Man save us And they despised him and brought him no Presents But he held his peace 1 Sam. 10. 25. The Men of David said unto him behold the Day of which the Lord said unto thee Behold I will deliver thine Enemy into thine Hand that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee And he said unto his Men the Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lord 's Anointed to stretch forth mine Hand against him seeing he is the Anointed of the Lord. So David stayed his Servants with these Words and suffered them not to rise against Saul 1 Sam. 24. 4 6. Then said Abishai to David God hath delivered thine Enemy into thine Hand this Day Now therefore let me smite him I pray thee with the Spear even to the Earth at once and David said to Abishai destroy him not For who can stretch forth his Hand against the Lord 's Anointed and be guiltless David said furthermore as the Lord liveth the Lord shall smite him or his Day shall come to Die or he shall descend into Battle and perish The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine Hand against the Lord 's Anointed 1 Sam. 26. 8. David said unto him the Amalekite How wast thou not affraid to stretch forth thine Hand to destroy the Lord 's Anointed And David called one of the young Men and said go near and fall upon him And he smote him that he died 2 Sam. 1. 14. In those Days while Mordecai sat in the King's Gate two of the King's Chamberlains Bigthan and Teresh of those which kept the Door were wroth and sought to lay Hand on the King Ahasuerus And the thing was known to Mordecai who told it unto Esther the Queen and Esther certified the King thereof in Mordecai's Name Esth 2. 21. The fear of a King is as the roaring of a Lion whoso provoketh him to Anger sinneth against his own Soul Prov. 20. 2. My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their Calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the Ruin of them both Prov. 24. 21. Curse not the King no not in thy Thought Eccl. 10. 20. The Nation and Kingdom which will not serve the same Nebechadnezzar the King of Babylon and that will not put their Neck under the Yoke of the King of Babylon that Nation will I punish saith the Lord with the Sword and with the Famine and with the Pestilence until I have consumed them by his Hand Therefore hearken not ye to your Prophets nor to your Diviners nor to your Dreamers nor to your Enchanters nor to your Sorcerers which speak unto you saying ye shall not serve the King of Babylon For they prophesie a Lie unto you to remove you far from your Land and that I should drive you out and ye should perish I spake also to Zedekiah King of Judah according to all these Words saying bring your Necks under the Yoke of the King of Babylon and serve him and his People and live why will ye die thou and thy People by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence as the Lord hath spoken against the Nation that will not serve the King of Babylon Jer. 27. 8 12. The Duty of Subjects is publish'd by the Spirit of God First That they are to acknowledge the Power that is over them to be of God 2dly That they who are vested with Soveraign Power acting by the Authority of God and being therefore his Ministers Honor Obedience and Tribute is due to them 3dly That there may be an Exception in the Obedience that is when they enjoin what is contrary to the known Will of God since it cannot be reasonable to obey in such things when they command contrary to his Orders whose Ministers they are 4thly That as the Orders of those in Power are to be receiv'd with Obedience so their Punishment with a peaceable Submission And this so far that whether they prosecute justly or unjustly yet no Resistance can be made against them all that Subjects can do in this case is either to suffer with patience or peaceably to withdraw but as for lifting up hand against Power it is resisting the Ordinance of God and the fruit of this as the Apostle has declar'd is Damnation CHAP. XXXII Of Persons of Quality Q. ARE there any
of two VVitnesses or at the mouth of three VVitnesses shall the matter be established Deut. 19. 15. If there be a Controversie between Men and they come unto Judgment that the Judges may judge them then they shall justifie the Righteous and condemn the VVicked Deut. 25. 1. Cursed be he that perverteth the Judgment of the Stranger Fatherless and VVidow And all the People shall say Amen Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent Person Deut. 27. 19 25. And it came to pass when Samuel was Old that he made his Sons Judges over Israel And his Sons walked not in his VVays but turned aside after Lucre and took Bribes and perswaded Judgment 1 Sam. 8. 1 3. And Samuel said unto all Israel Behold here I am VVitness against me before the Lord and before his Anointed VVhose Ox have I taken Or whose Ass have I taken Or whom have I defrauded VVhom have I oppressed Or of whose Hand have I received any Bribe to blind mine Eyes therewith And I will restore it And they said thou hast not defrauded us nor oppressed us neither hast thou taken ought of any Man's Hand 1 Sam. 12. 1 3. And he Jehoshaphat set Judges in the Land throughout all the fenced Cities of Judah City by City and he said to the Judges take heed what ye do for ye judge not for Man but for the Lord who is with you in the Judgment VVherefore now let the Fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it For there is no Iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of Persons nor taking of Gifts And he charged them saying thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect Heart Deal courageously and the Lord shall be with the Good 2 Chron. 19. 5 9 11. VVhoso rewardeth Evil for Good Evil shall not depart from his House Prov. 17. 13. He that justifieth the Wicked and he that condemneth the Just even they both are Abomination to the Lord v. 15. A wicked Man taketh a Gift out of the Bosom to pervert the Ways of Judgment v. 23. Rob not the poor because he is poor Neither oppress the afflicted in the Gate For the Lord will plead their Cause and spoil the Soul of those that spoiled them Prov. 22. 22. To have respect of Persons is not good For for a piece of Bread that Man will transgress Prov. 28. 21. Learn to do Well seek Judgment relieve the Oppressed judge the Fatherless plead for the Widow Isa 1. 17. How is the faithful City become an Harlot It was full of Judgment Righteousness lodged in it but now Murtherers Thy Princes are Rebellious and Companions of Thieves Every one loveth Gifts and followeth after Rewards They judge not the Fatherless neither doth the Cause of the Widow come unto them Therefore saith the Lord I will turn my Hand upon thee Isa 1. 21. Wo unto them that call evil good and good evil VVhich justifie the VVicked for Reward and take away the Righteousness of the Righteous from him Because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts therefore is the Anger of the Lord kindled against his People Isa 5. 20 23. VVo unto them that decree unrighteous Decrees and that write Grievousness which they have prescribed To turn aside the Needy from Judgment and to take away the Right from the Poor of my People that Widows may be their prey and that they may rob the Fatherless And what will you do in the Day of Visitation and in the Desolation which shall come Isa 10. 1. I know your manifold Transgressions and your mighty Sins They afflict the Just they take a Bribe and they turn aside tbe Poor in the Gate from their Right Hate the Evil and love the Good and establish Judgment in the Gate It may be that the Lord of Hosts will be gracious unto the Remnant of Joseph Amos 5. 12. The Good Man is perished out of the Earth And there is none Vpright among Men They all lye in wait for Blood They hunt every Man his Brother with a Net That they may do Evil with both Hands earnestly the Prince asketh and the Judge asketh for a Reward And the great Man he uttereth his mischievous Desire Mic. 7. 2. Why dost thou shew me Iniquity and cause me to behold Grievance For Spoiling and Violence are before me and there are that raise up Strife and Contention Therefore the Law is slacked and Judgment doth never go forth For the Wicked doth compass about the Righteous Therefore wrong Judgment proceedeth Behold ye among the Heathen and regard and wonder marvelously for I will work a Work in your Days which ye will not believe tho' it be told you Hab. 1. 3. These are the things that ye shall do speak ye every Man the Truth to his Neighbor Execute the Judgment of Truth and Peace in your Gates And let none of you imagin evil in your Hearts against his Neighbor and love no false Oath for all these are things that I hate saith the Lord Zech. 8. 16. CHAP. XXXI Of Subjects Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Persons in this Station A. It expresly mentions several Duties belonging to them and gives the Charge with great Strictness When they were come to Capernaum they that received Tribute-money came to Peter and said doth not your Master pay Tribute He saith Yes Mat. 17. 24. Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's and unto God the things that are God's Mat. 22. 21. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus But Peter and John answered and said unto them whether it be right in the Sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye Acts 4. 18. They that stood by said revilest thou God's High-priest Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the High-priest for it is written thou shalt not speak Evil of the Ruler of thy People Acts 23. 4. Let every Soul be subject unto the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God The Powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God And they that resist shall receive to themselves Damnation For Rulers are not a Terror to good Works but to the Evil. Wilt thou then not he affraid of the Power Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same For he is the Minister of God to thee for good But if thou do that which is evil be affraid for he beareth not the Sword in vain for he is the Minister of God a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doeth Evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake For for this Cause pay you Tribute also For they are God's Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom
the Apostle's account than renouncing Christianity and turning Heathen and yet how common is this among those who esteem themselves Christians The Book of Proverbs describing the vertuous and industrious Woman in her Family I here and some part of it Who can find a vertuous Woman For her Price is far above Rubies The Heart of her Husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil she will do him good and not evil all the Days of her Life She seeketh Wooll and Flax and worketh willingly with her Hands She is like the Merchant's Ship she bringeth her Food from afar she riseth also while it is yet Night and giveth Meat to her Houshold and a Portion to her Maidens She layeth her Hands to the Spindle and her Hands hold the Distaff She stretcheth out her Hand to the Poor yea she reacheth forth her Hands to the Needy She maketh fine Linnen and selleth it and delivereth Girdles unto the Merchant Strength and Honor are her cloathing and she shall rejoice in time to come She openeth her Mouth with Wisdom and in her Tongue is the Law of Kindness She looketh well to the Ways of her Houshold and eateth not the Bread of Idleness Her Children arise up and call her Blessed her Husband also and he praiseth her Favor is deceitful and Beauty is vain But a Woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Prov. 31. 10. An excellent Copy I wish all would set it before them and endeavor to come as near it as their Circumstances will allow Resolution and Virtue will make many things very Practicable which Sloth and Niceness will not allow to be Possible As to Servants When Jesus was entered into Capernaum there came unto him a Centurion beseeching him and saying Lord my Servant lyeth at Home Sick of the Palsie grievously tormented And Jesus saith unto him I will come and heal him Mat. 8. 5. It is a very commendable Charity in them to be careful of their Servants especially in time of Sickness Servants be Obedient to your Masters with good Will doing Service as to the Lord and not to Men knowing that whatsoever good thing any Man doeth the same shall be receive of the Lord whether he be Bond or Free And ye Masters do the same things unto them forbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of Persons with him Eph. 6. 5 7. Masters give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven Col. 4. 1. I beseech thee for my Son Onesimus which in time past was to thee unprofitable but now profitable to thee and to me whom I have sent again Thou therefore receive him that is mine own Bowels For perhaps he therefore departed for a Season that thou shouldest receive him for ever not now as a Servant but above a Servant a Brother beloved especially to me but how much more unto thee both in the Flesh and in the Lord. If thou count me therefore a Partner receive him as my self If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee Ought put that on mine Account I Paul have written it with mine own Hand I will repay it Phil. 10. See how S. Paul shews favor to a poor Servant and pleads for him Behold the Hire of the Labourers which have reaped down your Fields which is of you kept back by Fraud crieth and the Cries of them which have reaped are entred into the Ears of the Lord of Sabbath Jam. 5. 4. I add something from the Old Testament The Hebrew Servant which thou hast brought unto us come in unto me to mock me Gen. 39. 17. This was a false Accusation of Potipher 's Wife and ought to be a Caution against laying Faults upon Servants which are not theirs They did set over them Task-masters to afflict them with their Burthens And the Egyptians made the Children of Israel to serve with Rigor And they made their Lives bitter with hard Bondage Exod. 1. 11 13. To insult over Servants to overcharge them with Labor to give them a perpetual Uneasiness is not a Christian but the Egyptian Method Thus saith the Lord God of Israel let my People go that they may hold a Feast unto me in the Wilderness Exod. 5. 1. To hinder Servants from the Worship of God and to think all that time lost which for this end is taken from their Work is to follow Pharaoh 's Copy The Wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all Night until the Morning Lev. 19. 13. Six Days shalt thou Labour and do all thy Work But the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not do any Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter nor thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thine Ox nor thine Ass nor any of thy Cattle nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates that thy Man-servant and thy Maid-servant may rest as well thou Deut. 5. 13. To keep the Sabbath is the Duty of Servants as well as Masters Thou shalt not oppress an hired Servant that is Poor and Needy whether he be of thy Brethren or of thy Strangers that are in thy Land within thy Gates At this Day thou shalt give him his Hire neither shall the Sun go down upon it for he is Poor and setteth his Heart upon it lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be Sin unto thee Deut. 24. 14. If I did despise the Cause of my Man-servant or of my Maid-servant when they contended with me what then shall I do when God riseth up and when he visiteth what shall I answer him Did not he that made me in the Womb make him And did not one fashion us in the Womb Job 31. 13. The just Complaints of Servants to be heard with Patience and Justice to be done them Here are Instructions for all that have the Care of Families and Servants enough to let them see what God expects from them Those who are Solicitous to please God will endeavor to make these their Rule and this is the Duty of all who profess themselves Christians But to follow the Inclinations of Nature and to govern by Passion in cases where God has manifested his Will is not the part of a Disciple of Christ CHAP. XXVIII Of Servants Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Christians of this State A. It speaks directly to them and in such a manner that it is their great Concern to know and remember it Who then is a faithful and wise Servant whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them Meat in due Season Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Verily I say unto you that he shall make him Ruler over all his Goods But and if that evil Servant shall say in his Heart My Lord delayeth his Coming and shall begin to smite his Fellow-servants and to eat and drink