thy thoughts Exod. 22.28 Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people 1 Chro. 28.4.29.1 And David the King said unto all the congregation Solomon my son whom alone God hath chosen is yet young and tender 1. Obs That God alone chuses Kings 2. Obs That God may chuse Kings when they are young and tender 3. Obs That it is not in the power and will of man to chuse Kings Prov. 8.15 By me Kings reigne 4. Obs That the congregation ought to take notice how the Lord alone chuses Kings 2 Chro. 30.12 King Hezekiah and his Princes tooke counsell together to keep the passeover And the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the King and the Princes by the word of the Lord. 1. Obs That Kings and Princes are to councell together 2. That Kings and Princes ought to councell together for the establishing of Gods worship the Church Government 3. That it is God that unites the hearts of the people to do the Kings Commandement 4. Obs That the King and his Princes ought not to establish any worship but according to the word of the Lord. Ezra 6.10 King Darius made a decree and gave to the priests to offer sacrifices of sweet savour unto the God of heaven and pray for the life of the King and his sons 1. Obs That all sacrifices are to be offered up unto the Lord. 2. Obs That in all our spirituall sacrifices we ought to offer up our prayers to the God of heaven for the life of the King and his sons Ezra 7.26 Artaxerxes King of Kings said unto Ezra the priest And whosoever will not do the law of thy God and the law of thy King let judgement be executed upon him speedily whether it be unto death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment 1. Obs That we all ought to be obedient to the laws of God 2. Obs That all we ought to be obedient to the laws of the King 3. Obs That punishment ought to be inflicted upon the transgressors of the laws both of God and the King whether death banishment confiscation imprisonment according to the Kings mercy Ezra 7.27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers which hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart to beautifie the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem 1. Obs That the priests and the scribes of the law of the God of heaven ought to blesse the Lord for the house of the Lord. 2. Obs That the Lord ought to have his house at Jerusalem the Metropolis 3. Obs That the Lords house ought to be sought unto and to be beautified Micah 4.2 4. Obs That they ought to be punished that goe about to deface the house of the Lord. 5. Obs That its the Kings duty to see that the house of the Lord be beautified Neh. 2.3 Nehemiah who was the Kings cupbearer said unto the King Let the King live for ever 1. Obs That Godly rulers ought to pray for their King 2. Obs That Godly rulers ought to pray for the long life of their King 3. Obs That Godly rulers ought not to think slightly of their King but pray Neh. 2.6 And the King said unto me the Queen sitting by him for how long shall thy journy be 1. Obs That there hath been Kings and Queens to rule and govern the nations 2. Obs That no man ought to seperate those that God hath joyned together Esther 7.5 King Ahashuerus said unto Queen Esther who is he and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so 1. Obs That Kings ought to maintain their Queens and make enquiry after those that oppose them 2. Obs That all those that oppose Queens ought to have the wrath of the King stirred up against them 3. Obs That all those that provoke the King sin against their own souls Prov. 20.2 Job 34.18 Is it fit to say to a King thou art wicked and to Princes ye are ungodly 1. Obs That no man ought to speak evil of the King 2. Obs That all men ought to strive to maintain the Kings honour and the Princes innocency Psal 18.50 Great deliverance giveth he to his King and sheweth mercy to his Anointed to David and his seed for evermore 1. Obs That we ought to pray for deliverance for our King 2. Obs That we ought not to imprison our King 3. Obs That Kings are the Lords Anointed 4. Obs That we ought to pray for the King by his name David Charls 5. Obs That we ought to pray for the Kings seed for evermore Psal 72.1 Give the King thy judgements O God and thy righteousnesse unto the Kings son 1. Obs That we ought to pray to God for the King 2. Obs That we ought to pray to God that judgement and wisdome and understanding may be given to the King for government 3. Obs That we ought to pray that the Kings seed may be endued with righteousnesse 4. Obs That we must all strive to maintain the King in judgement and his seed in righteousnesse Psal 84.9 Behold O God our sheild and looke upon the face of thine Anointed 1. Obs That its the duty of Kings to rely upon God and make him their shield 2. Obs That its the duty of Kings to pray to God for themselves 3. Obs That Kings in their prayers may set out their prerogatives before God Anointed Psal 89.18 For the Lord is our defence the holy one of Israel is our king I have exalted one chosen out of the people I have found David my servant with my holy oyle have I Anointed him 1. Obs That Kings ought to rely upon the Lord for defence 2. Obs That Kings must not put confidence in man for defence but in the Lord. 3. Obs That Kings are the holy ones of God 4. Obs That Kings are exalted and set up by God 5. Obs That Kings are chosen out of the people by God 6. Obs That Kings are the Lords servants 7. Obs That the oyle wherewith Kings are Anointed is an holy oyle Prov. 8.15 By me kings reigne and princes decree justice 1. Obs That the reigne of Kings is by the power of God and their authority is from the Lord. 2. Obs That no man hath power to subdue the King in his reigne 3. Obs That Princes ought to decree nothing but that which is just 4. Obs That Kings and Princes ought to make no law nor decree but that which is according to justice according to the word of God Prov. 16.10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king his mouth transgresseth not in judgement 1. Obs That the sentences of Kings ought to be highly esteemed as the oracles of God 2. Obs That in the judgement of a King is no transgression 3. Obs That we are to yeeld to the Kings judgement and not stand upon our own judgement Prov. 16.15 In the light of the kings countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud
their defence and shield and not put confidence in man 4 To make all their Lawes and decrees and ordinances according to the Lawes of God and their sentences and words to be as the Oracles of God 5 To shew a cheerfull countenance and their due respects to their good subjects And to hold forth the Attributes of God according to the word of truth and to shew mercy and to do righteous works 6 To endeavour to have all one godly Ministry one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one union in Religion and Church Government and no liberty if they walke contrary to God 7 To appoint Governours and to Authorize them to punish evill doers and to praise them that do well And let us now see the duty of Godly Rulers to their King 1 GOdly Rulers and Elders must desire to have a King to Rule them and to Govern them 2 Godly Rulers have no power to chuse a King to dis-throne a King or to imprison a King 3 Godly Rulers ought to pray for the King to pray for the long life of the King and not compare themselves to the King nor thinke slightly of the King 4 Godly Rulers ought to strive to maintain the Kings Honour the Princes innocency and not to seperate the King and the Queene 5 Godly Rulers ought to punish evill doers and to praise them that do well And here next behold the Prophets duty 1 ANd they are to Prophesie Loyalty and Obedience to the Kings commands 2 They are to offer Sacrifice to pray for the King and his Sons 3 They are to preach to the people subjection to supreame Authority And because we will have compassion on the multitude and not let them depart without a blessing we will shew them their duty And here observe now and behold the peoples duty to their King 1. THe peoples duty is to pray for wisdome and understanding for the King 2. The peoples duty is to pray for the King by his name God save King Solomon God save King Charls 3. The peoples duty is to pray for the King and his seed for evermore 4. The peoples duty is not to compare themselves to the King nor thinke slightly of the King nor curse the King 5. The peoples duty is to maintain and uphold with their lives and estates the Kings honour and to humble themselves and submit their lives to the Kings mercy 6. The peoples duty is to obey all the Laws and commands of the King 7. The peoples duty is not to provoke the King to anger nor to controle the King nor to rise up against the King by thought by word or by weapon 8. The peoples duty is to serve and obey the King lest the punishment of disloyaltie to the Kings commands befall them as sword famine pestilence 9. The peoples duty is to pay customes or tributes to their King Caesar 10. The peoples duty is to observe the duty for fear of a greater punishment damnation is the reward of all those that resist the Kings supreame AUTHORITY blessednesse is the reward of all those that submit unto and obey the Kings supreame AUTHORITY And thus having laid ten commands upon the people to which they must all submit and obey Let us againe view and behold England And here by these commands of God by his servant Moses and by all his holy Prophets by the practice of Jesus Christ and by the commands of his holy Apostles Let us now with Moses the servant of the Lord call Israel to a reckoning and with Israel England and see what God could have done more for Israel England then he hath done Deut. 10.12 And now O Israel O England What doth the Lord thy God require of thee to fear the Lord thy God to walke in all his wayes to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes and to doe that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God Deut. 12.28 for it is true which S. Luke saith Luke 12.47 He that knows his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes And to this Christ himselfe saith Mat. 7.21 Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of heaven but he that doth the will of my father which is in heaven Therefore I shall desire you with the Noble Bereans Acts 17.11 to search the Scriptures daily whether these things be so or no that ye may beleeve and in beleeving have everlasting life But withall I must admonish you according to that of 1 Jo. 4.1 Beleeve not every spirit but trie the spirits whether they be of God or no for false Prophets are gone out into the world And behold they come unto you in sheeps cloathing but inwardly they are ravening wolves and if it were possible they would deceive the very elect Mat. 24.24 But by their fruits you shall know them And if you desire to know them then I shall exhort you as 2 Chro. 20.20 Beleeve in the Lord your God so shall ye be established beleeve his Prophets as Jam. 5.10 that have spoken to you in the name of the Lord so shall ye prosper 1 John 3.23 And this is his commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another for there is no Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved but the name of the Lord Jesus Acts 4.12 Thinke not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our father Mat. 3.9 or we are great or rich or have this priviledge or other God is greater and able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham But now the ax is laid to the root of the tree Therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire By their fruits therefore ye shall know them for now is the time of envying strife and division 1 Cor. 3.3 Now is the time of confusion and every evil work Jam. 3.16 Now then this is the time as Jam. 5.16 That the fervent prayer of the righteous man should availe much with the Lord. And therefore shall we with Abraham the father of the faithfull shall we follow his example Gen. 18.23 stand and draw neere before the Lod and intercede for Sodom for England and pray peradventure there be fifty righteous within England wilt thou also destroy and not spare the Kingdome for the fifty righteous that are therein Shall we follow the example of Moses the servant of the Lord Exod. 32.30 Goe up unto the Lord and make an attonement for the Kingdome and say this people have sinned a great sin They have denied the Kings AUTHORITY Yet now if thou wilt forgive their sin and if not blot me I pray thee out of the Book thou hast written And likewise shall we follow his example againe for a good example cannot be too much followed As
Deut. 9.25 Shall we fall downe on our knees and pray unto the Lord and say Oh Lord God destroy not this Kingdome this people thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed through thy greatnesse and brought out of Egypts darknesse with a mighty hand and an out-stretched arme Remember thy servants Abraham Isaac and Jacob and look not upon the stubbornnesse of this people nor to their sin Shall we follow the example of Joshuah a Ruler full of the spirit of wisdome Ioshua 7.10 Unto whom the Lord said Get thee up wherefore lyest thou thus upon thy face Israel hath sinned and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them for they have even taken of the accursed thing and they have also stolne and dissembled also and they have put it even among their own stuffe A goodly Babylonish garment two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight A goodly thing to destroy the soule England be warned by this for what will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his owne soule Shall we follow the example of David a man after Gods own heart who exhorts us Psal 95.6 O come let us worship and bow downe and kneele before the Lord our Maker lest he be grieved with us forty yeeres as he was with that generation and sware unto us in his wrath we should not enter into his rest Shall we follow the example of Solomon who 1 Kings 8.22 stood before the Altar of the Lord and kneeled upon his knees and spread forth his hands towards heaven and said If Israel sinned if England and they would turne againe and confesse their sin and make supplication then he would heare in heaven and forgive their sin and heale the Land Shall we follow the example of Daniel Dan. 9.3 who set his face unto the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes and prayed unto the Lord and made confession saying We have sinned and have committed iniquity and have rebelled and departed from thy precepts and from thy judgements And have not harkned to thy servants the Prophets which spake in thy name to our Kings our Princes and our fathers and to all the people of the land Hearken now and be no more rebellious Shall we now take the example of all examples and follow Jesus Christ who in Mat. 26.39 fell on his face and prayed Mar. 1.35 Who departed into a solitary place and there prayed Luke 22.41 Who withdrew himself from them about a stones cast and kneeled down and prayed Joh. 17.1 Who lift up his eyes to heaven and said Heb. 5.7 Who in the dayes of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared And withall take a caveat here with you not to follow the example of the hypocrites who Mat. 6.5 love to pray standing in the Synagoges and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men And Mat. 23.14 Who devour widdowes houses and for a pretence make long prayers but these shall receive greater damnation Having thus finished our course and now brethren being thus compassed about with such a cloud of examples of witnesses that shall all in the last day rise up in judgement against us for heaven and earth shall passe away but not one tittle of the word of God shall faile Let us follow Jesus preaching and saying Repent for the kingdome of heaven is at hand Mat. 4.17 And Luk. 13.3 Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish And Luke 21.36 Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to passe and to stand before the Son of man And let us follow S. Peters rule 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the divel as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour And with the author to the Heb. 12.1 let us now look about us Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us We have a good example Looking up unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse despised the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God from whence he shall come in the glory of his father with all his holy Angels and he shall reward every man according to his works according to that he hath done in his body whether it be good or bad no shifting from him in that day For before him all nations shall be gathered together and he shall separate them one from another as a sheepheard divideth the sheep from the goates Mat. 25.32 And he shall set the sheepe on his right hand but the goates on the left Then shall the king say unto them on the right hand Come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world For ye are they that have obeyed my word my servant Moses my holy Prophets and Apostles and have obeyed the Kings AUTHORITY delivered by them But unto the goates on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels for ye are they that are disobedient and rebellious against the word of the Lord against the holy Prophets and holy Apostles and against the example and commands of Jesus Christ himself who commands obedience to Caesar Submission to the Kings Supreame AUTHORITY Now these things have I written unto you according to the power which the Lord hath given me for edification 2 Cor. 13.10 In hopes the better learned will amend it And brethren be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind fear God honour the King Live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you And the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Amen The End