discharge of your high and honourable Callings The testimony of your Conscience that you have done your Duty especially in so difficult and useful a Station will be a continual Feast a Pleasure which no sensual Delights can equal no Adversity extinguish no outward Violence no Changes or Revolutions can rob you of What a noble Satisfaction will it be to reflect upon all the happy fruits of your Industry the Glory you have brought to God and the Good you have done to Men how highly instrumental you have been to the Peace and Safety the Prosperity and Reformation of that People committed to your Care and Government This will give you of the Joy of Angels those heavenly Ministers of God for our good yea of the greatest pleasure of God himself who chiefly delighteth in exercising loving-kindness upon Earth and doing good to Men. What an assured Hope what a delightful Prospect will it give you of the Glory and Happiness reserved in Heaven for you What an unspeakable Comfort and Refreshment will it be in the hour of Death when you must part with all your Wealth be devested of all your Pomp resign all your Preferments and yield up your Bodies to Dust and Worms then to be able to say with St. Paul that you have fought the good fight and finished your Course and faithfully served God and your Generation With what Confidence then may you look up to God with what Peace and Pleasure may you give up your Souls to him in hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot Lye hath promised to all his good and faithful Servants Mark the perfect Man and behold the Vpright for the End of that Man is Peace Psal xxxvii 37. Thirdly Consider How much the faithful and zealous discharge of the Magistrate's Office will advance your Honour and Reputation It is not Mens great Offices but the faithful exercise of them that maketh them truly Honourable To have great Opportunities and great Obligations to do publick Good as Men in Authority have and through sloath or meanness of Spirit through Fear or any selfish regards to neglect them must needs expose them to the Scorn and Indignation of the People Every one will grudge to see such a price in the hand of those that have not a Heart to use it But those that are diligent and zealous in doing all the good Offices their Authority qualifieth them for and obligeth them to perform Those Magistrates by whose Care and Zeal and Industry our Properties and Possessions are secured our Rights and Priviledges maintained our Persons defended our Peace preserved the Poor imployed or relieved Religion advanced and Wickedness suppressed such Men such great such publick Benefactors will be honoured of God and Men They will be as Signets on God's Right Hand and remembred when he maketh up his Jewels the excellent ones upon Earth in the sight of God of great price Every Man will think them worthy of that Power and Authority which is so zealously and effectually employed by them to such beneficial purposes The Ear that heareth them blesseth them and the Eye that seeeth them beareth witness to them they are every where Job xxix 11. extolled and praised and secure a great and good and lasting Reputation Their very Graves will be persumed their Works will praise them in the Dust and the generations to come will call them blessed Such Righteous Men especially Righteous Men in Authority will be had in everlasting remembrance Fourthly Consider The glorious reward which God hath prepared in the other World for all such good and faithful Servants Your Work is great on Earth and your Reward will be great in Heaven The Lord himself hath said ye are Gods He hath given you of his Power and Authority and set you to Judge for him upon Earth and if you act for him faithfully and diligently with Zeal and Courage he will make you partakers of his Nature and Glory his Joy and Happiness in a degree far beyond what you can now conceive and ye shall be like God in Heaven The faithful improvement of those more rich and numerous and useful Talents you are intrusted with will intitle you to a proportionable reward in the great day of recompence Your temporal Honours and Preferments cannot follow you into the other World but the Service you do to God and his People by virtue of them will and obtain for you from a merciful God a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory It is to you God hath given the ten Talents and if you make a due improvement of them to you he will pronounce that blessed Sentence Well done ye good and faithful Servants have ye Authority over ten Cities He will advance you to the highest rank of Saints in Light among the chiefest Favourites of the King of Heaven where you will sit upon unmoveable Thrones and shine with the brightest Rayes of Divine Glory What then remains but that we all make our earnest Addresses to God that he would continually supply this great City with such Righteous and Religious Magistrates as may faithfully and diligently imploy their Power and Authority to the Honour of God the Interest of Religion and Virtue and the great and general good of this famous Corporation that so all the People may rejoyce and the worthy Instruments of our Happiness may be loved and honoured whilst they live and unspeakably happy when they die Amen Some Books Printed for B. Aylmer at the Three Pigeons over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill THE Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury containing Fifty four Sermons and Discourses on Several Occasions together with the Rule of Faith Being all that were published by his Grace himself and now collected into one Volume To which is added an Alphabetical Table of the Principal Matters Price 20 s. Six Sermons viz. Of Stedfastness in Religion Of Family Religion Of Education of Children Of the Advantages of an Early Piety By his Grace John late Archbishop of Canterbury In 12o. price 18 d. A Perswasive to frequent Communion in the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Also by his Grace John late Archbishop of Canterbury In 12o. bound 6 d. or Stitch'd in 8o. 3 d. or something Cheaper to those that are so Charitable to give away Numbers The Holy Bible containing the Old Testament and the New with Annotations and very exact Parallel Scriptures To which is Annex'd the Harmony of the Gospels as also the Reduction of the Jewish Weights Coins and Measures to our English Standards And a Table of the Promises in Scripture By Samuel Clark Minister of the Gospel Printed in Folio on a very Fair Letter
Mr. BUTLER'S SERMON Preach'd before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen c. On the Feast of St. Michael 1696. Houblon Mayor Martis 29 Sept. 1696. Annoque Regni Regis Willielmi Tertii Angliae c. octavo THIS Court doth desire Mr. Butler to Print his Sermon preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of this City at the Parish-Church of St. Lawrence Jury this Day being the Day of Election of the Lord Mayor of this City for the Year ensuing Goodfellow A SERMON Preached before The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor and Aldermen AND Citizens of LONDON AT St. Lawrence Iewry On the Feast of St. Michael 1696. At the Election of the Lord Mayor for the Year ensuing By LILLY BUTLER Minister of St. Mary Aldermanbury LONDON Printed for Brab Aylmer at the Three Pigeons in Cornhil over against the Royal-Exchange 1696. TO THE Right Honourable Sir John Houblon Lord Mayor of the City of London And the Court of Aldermen MY LORD I Have obeyed your Order for the printing this Sermon and the more readily because it will be a publick Acknowledgment of the Necessity and Vsefulness of Religion especially in your own Hearts and Lives to the good and happy State of the People committed to your Care and Government A Confession very seasonable and honourable in such an Age as this wherein so little Regard is had to Religion in all our Schemes of Politicks My particular Obligations to your Lordship do also deserve the most publick Acknowledgment I endeavoured in this Discourse to represent and inforce the Magistrate's Duty with the greatest Plainness and Sincerity that whilst I was preaching the Duty of others I might not be thought to forget my own May the God of Heaven stablish strengthen settle you in every good Work in a prudent and impartial a diligent and courageous Execution of those great Offices he hath called you to to the Glory of God the Joy of the People and your own double Honour both here and hereafter This is the hearty Prayer of My Lord Your Lordships most obliged and humble Servant LILLY BUTLER Prov. xxix 2. When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoyce ONE great design of Solomon in this Book of Proverbs is to recommend Religion by declaring the excellent fruits which single persons and publick Societies might reap from the sincere practice of it He tells us that length of days are in Prov. iii. 16 17. her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour that her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace that the Throne is established that a Nation and a City are Prov. xvi 12. Prov. xiv 34. xi 11. exalted by it That it is the Safety and Honour and Happiness of a People That it doth in a most eminent manner conduce to the Publick Good and deserve a general rejoycing when it adorneth and influenceth the Lives of those that are in Authority When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoyce This is a Political Aphorism of Solomon a great and mighty Prince who better than any before or after him understood all the most advantageous methods of governing for the publick good having Wisdom and Knowledge given him by the special favour of God to judge his People over whom he had made him King 2 Chron. 1. 11. By the Righteous Solomon doth generally mean in this Book of the Proverbs those that are so in the most comprehensive sense Religious and good Men those that fear God and keep his Commandments That these are the Righteous Men spoken of in the Text doth farther appear from the opposition of them to wicked Men in general When the Righteous are in Authority the People rejoyce But when the wicked beareth rule the People mourn The People rejoyce i. e. Then they have great and worthy cause of rejoycing then their condition will be flourishing and prosperous and happy It being very common to speak of those things as consequent in effect which in reason ought to follow Thus then we may express the meaning of the Proposition in the Text. That Religious Magistrates do contribute very much to the general Happiness of a People When those that have a lively and vigorous sense of God upon their Minds and a sincere regard to his Divine Will when Men of Conscience Integrity and Religion when such Men are in Authority they do highly promote the good estate of that Society they govern I shall First endeavour to clear the Truth of this Proposition And Secondly make some seasonable Application of it First I shall endeavour to clear the Truth of this Proposition as it respects subordinate Magistrates the Ministers of Justice for God and the King in which sense it is most proper matter for our present Consideration by shewing these Four things First That Religious Men in Authority will make Conscience of performing the proper work of their Office in the several parts and exercises of it Secondly That the proper work of the Magistrate's Office in the several parts and exercises of it doth highly tend to promote the good and happy State of the People Thirdly That Religious Men in Authority will perform all the proper exercises of their Office in the most advantageous manner for the effectual promoting the publick good and benefit of the People Fourthly That great Blessings are derived upon the People for the sake and by the intercession of Religious Magistrates First I shall shew that Religious Men in Authority will make Conscience of performing the proper work of their Office in the several parts and exercises of it When a Religious Man one that truly fears God comes into any publick Office he considereth it not only as a Place of Honour or Profit but also as a new Scene of Duty and therefore presently sets himself about the study and performance of it for he cannot be willingly ignorant or regardless of any part of his Duty He knows that Power and Authority are Talents put into his Hands by God who expects to receive his own with Vsury He dares not therefore hide or bury them but imployeth and improveth them to those Ends for which he received them remembring the account he must give of his Stewardship and the fearful doom of the unprofitable Servant He cannot bear the thoughts of Perjury and therefore cannot satisfie himself in neglecting any thing which by solemn Oaths he hath obliged himself to perform A Religious Magistrate then is a Magistrate indeed he doth not only bear the Name but do the Work of his Office and that for Conscience sake from a most strong and lasting Principle Such Magistrates then must needs contribute very much to the Happiness of the People as will be farther manifest by shewing Secondly That the proper work of the Magistrates Office in the several parts and exercises of it doth highly tend to promote the good and happy State of the People They are Ministers of God to them for
Religious Man hath a constant Regard to that publick Good his Authority was given him to advance and he that keeps his Eye always upon his End will not easily miss the readiest Way to it He hath no By-Ends to perplex his Consultations for the People's Good or to tempt him to set aside any fit or proper means to promote it He hath no private Affections or Passions or Interests so prevalent with him as to hinder his seeing what Course is best to take or to divert him from the Choice of it He will be sure never to pursue his Ends with any unjust or dishonest means or betray the Folly of provoking God for the publick Good He is very humble and modest and therefore will not lean too much to his own Vnderstanding but be always ready to hear and take good Advice He acknowledgeth God in all his Ways as the best Guide and Counsellour and is continually asking Direction and Wisdom of him who maketh wise the simple guideth the meek in Judgment and teacheth him Psal xxv 9. ix 12. that feareth the Lord in the Way that he shall choose Religion then better than any thing else will enable a Magistrate to discharge his Office discreetly and wisely and therefore most effectually for the Good of the People Secondly A Religious Man in Authority will perform all the Exercises of his Office most impartially He is a Follower of God in all his Ways and particularly in the Exercise of that Authority he hath committed to him and therefore without respect of Persons judgeth every Man's Work He is not biassed by any partial or corrupt Affections or swayed by any particular respects He dares not favour the unrighteous Cause of a Friend or refuse to interpose his Authority to relieve an injured Enemy He doth not connive at the Oppressions of his own Servants or Officers or justifie the wicked for reward Gold hath no Weight in the Balance of Justice when a religious Man holdeth it He takes no Bribes to blind his Eyes no Gifts to pervert the Ways of Judgment nor regardeth the rich more than the poor All other Considerations are impertinent and insignificant to him beside the Right and Reason of the Case or the real Merits of the Person He endeavours to make himself a terrour to evil-doers and a praise to them that do well of what Party or Profession of what Quality or Degree soever they are And Laws are never so likely to accomplish those good Ends for which they were made as when they are thus equally and impartially executed And from whom can you expect this but only from Religious Magistrates such as Fear God and Hate Covetousness Thirdly A Religious Man in Authority will perform all the Exercises of his Office most diligently St. Paul particularly requireth of him that ruleth that he do it with diligence Rom. xii 8. And the Religious Magistrate will be sure not to fail in his Obedience to this Command That he may be the Minister of God effectually for the People's good he will attend continually on this very thing He hath such a constant awful sense of God upon his Mind that he dareth not be sloathful in his business or do the work of the Lord negligently He is such a great and hearty Friend to the Publick Good that he cannot be sluggish or indifferent or soon weary or faint in the pursuit of it He is not softened with Luxury indisposed by Intemperance or diverted by the Service of any sinful Lust like those great Men the Prophet Amos mentioneth Amos vi 6. who lived at Ease in Zion who drink Wine in Bowles who drink and forget the Law and are not concerned for the Prov. xxxi 5. affliction of Joseph disposed or at leisure to Redress the Grievances of the People He hath too great a regard to the Glory of God and the Interest of Piety and Virtue carelesly or purposely to decline or heavily or negligently to perform those Exercises of his Office which are so highly serviceable to the advancing of them How happy then must that People be where such Righteous Men are in Authority Men that make a Conscience of diligently imploying their Time and Care and Study and Endeavours for the Publick Benefit in performing all the Exercises of those high and useful Callings they are advanced to Fourthly The Religious Man in Authority will perform all the exercises of his Office most Courageously Religion inspires a Magistrate with undaunted Zeal and Courage and actuateth all the Vigours of his Soul in doing his Duty In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence Prov. xiv 26. Prov. xxviii 1. saith Solomon and the Righteous is bold as a Lyon he feareth the Face of no Man neither the Threats of the Mighty nor the Censures of the People whilst he is acting and labouring for his God He loveth God with all his Heart and preferreth the Publick before any Private Interest and therefore cannot be Cold or Cowardly in serving God or doing Publick Good He is of good Courage and behaveth himself Valiantly 1 Chron. xix 13. for his People and for the Cities of his God He dares perform whatever the Duty of his Place requireth of him This one Consideration that it is his Duty weigheth down all the Danger and Difficulties and Opposition he is to Conflict with He is not abashed with the sense of his own guilt when he should punish an evil doer He hath the testimony of a good Conscience which is an iron Pillar a brazen Wall an invincible Defence against all the Mischiefs and Reproaches the faithful discharge of his Office can expose him to He hath a constant regard to that recompence of the reward the joy that is set before him and this giveth him Spirit and Courage to bear up against all the Batteries of Temptation He is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might continually fetching down holy Fire from Heaven by fervent Prayers and Supplications to inflame his Courage and animate his Resolution in doing all that is to be done by him He hath a great Assurance of the Divine Protection and Assistance and therefore dealeth Courageously because 2 Chron. xix 11. he knoweth that the Lord will be with the good How great then must the Happiness of that People be where such Righteous Men are in Authority Men that will be always endeavouring the advancement of it with such irresistible Zeal and Courage Fifthly The Religious Man in Authority will perform all the exercises of his Office most Becomingly He is the most fit and proper Person to be so imployed His own practice doth recommend and inforce his Endeavours for suppressing of Wickedness and the encouraging of Virtue and Religion It looks like Envy or Jest or Craft in a Vicious Man to attempt the punishing of that he will not forbear and the encouraging that he will not practice himself And how little good success can be expected from