will go right or stand long among us It is a great Trust which is this day to be committed to you your Advantages hereupon to do much for the Glory of God among his People by going before them and leading them in the way of the Lord are very Eminent And God hath answerable Expectations concerning you you may be for a Name and a Praise unto him and we may be so too by God's blessing on your Conduct This God expects and this is the Hope and Prayer of such as fear the Lord among us You have our hearty Wishes that God would be with you as he hath been with those that are gone before you That you may be as the Mountains that bring Peace and as the Hills that produce Righteousness to his People That your Wisdom Justice Courage Piety may be the safeguard of our Land and the Stability of our Times These are the things which duely improved will make you Rich Blessings Be intreated therefore to shine in the Improvement of them The Lord hath said Ye are Gods Psal 82.6 Let these Virtues appear as inseperable Properties of your Deity If you lack these things you cannot stand and we must fall I might remember you of many particulars by way of Motive As 1. You have the Care and Charge of a People whom God hath by special Favour taken to be his own Peculiar And such a Tâ—ust as this ought to be strenuously faithfully discharged The Lord our God hath by signal Protections and a stretched out Arm made these once dark corners of the earth a place of comfortable Entertainment to a Remnant of his faithful Servants and their Seed Here he hath intrusted us with the choise Mercies of his Word Ordinances we have had them enjoyed them in safety from all the Endeavours of such as with an envious eye and vexed Soul have beheld what God hath been doing for us and though we have sadly proved our selves ungrateful backsliding Children untrue to the Interest of the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ among us yet Oh! how are Covenant Mercies prolonged to us and how great are the Covenant Engagements and Obligations that we are continued under to this Day And what is the Lords end in all this but that we should be holiness unto him What doth God design but that we should shew forth his Praises who hath thus crowned us What doth the Lord look for from us but sach fruit as this And the Honour God puts upon you whom he makes the Rulers of his People the Authority which he doth vest you with is with Subserviency to this end God hath designed the Civil Government of his People to concenter with Ecclesiastical Administrations and though by different Mediums they are both levelled at the same end the maintaining of Piety and promoting of a Covenant walk with him That which is the Lords Aim in this should be yours also all your Conducts should center here This is the work that belongs to you in your Publick Capacities and it calls for your Wisdom and Justice and Zeal and Holiness if you would be found thus ruling with God and faithful with his Saints Hosea 11.12 2. Again Do net those palpable Declensions from the way of the Lord and Covenant Violations which we are manisestly guilty of loudly proclaim it necessary for you to bestir your selves with a holy Prudence and Zeal for the Cause of God among us Oh! how justly may the Lord complain of us that we are become the degenerate Plant of a strange Vine unto him Where is that Zeal for God and his ways that high esteem of Gospel Priviledges that faithful improvement of Sacred Ordinances that Care Concermnent for the Advancing of the Kingdom of Christ which things were once our praise Are not these great Interests miserably disregarded And Oh! what Irreligion Lukewarmness Prophanes and Immoralities have usurped their Room And doth not the Lord expect that the Leaders of his People should be their Reformers You have great Examples the Royal Presidents of Jehosaphat Hezekiah Josiah famous in this matter accepted and blessed of the Lord. let this then be your great Care to recover us a sinful sinning People from all our Apostasies And Oh! how much may you do by your Wisdom Piety Zeal and Justice Precept and Example Authority and Awe to awaken us and recover us again to the good wayes os God The Good Lord strergthen you yet more and more in all your endeavours for this and think upon you according to all that you have done and shall still be doing for his People 3. Further. Hath not the Lord himself been coming near to Judgment and pleading with and against his People It is obvious that God hath a Controversy with us and He is wrath with his Inheritance The tender mercy of God indeed doth spare us to this day many good and pleasant things yet in divers respects God hath been and is humbling us and bringing us low Tho' we may with thankful Admiration at the Divine Goodness say as the Psalmist Psal 78.38 concerning the Lords Dispensations towards 〈◊〉 Many a time turned He his anger away and did not stirâ— up all his wrath yet if we coâ—sider the Bloodshed and ruinous Devastations in some Places of this Land together with the languishing Sâ—ate oâ— the whole Country at this Day we may also take up the Psalmists complaint Psal 80.5 And say Thou feedest us with the Bread of Tears and givest us Tears to drink without measure I shall no need to mention those various Rebukes of Providence as Blastings and Mildews Droughts Unseasonable Frosts of late Sickness the Sword which you have so often in your Orders for Publick Humiliation piously directed us to take notice of as Tokens of the Lords Anger surely by these Providences God hath been loudly testifying against our Transgressions And we may read in them that of the Prophet Jer. 5.25 Your Sins have withholden good things from you We have a case fit and proper for us under our present Circumstances to propound and consider stated and resolved to our hand in Deut 29.23 24. Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this Land what meaneth the Heat of this great Anger Then men shall say because they have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their Fathers And if this be a Day wherein the Lord is coming out against us in Judgment Oâ— How should you that are the Lords Substitutes bear witness in your places against the Transgressions which provoke him If you are thus a Terrour to Evil Doers it may be God will do no more terrible things in Judgment against us If you do wisely and courageously Execute Judgment who knows but it may divert the Lords Phinehas did so and the Plague was stayed Psal 106 30. 4 You do ordinarily I suppose I may say constantly bring your selves under the Sacred Bâ—nd of a Solemn Oath with impartiality fidelity to discharge the Trust committed
promoted This twofold Power there is in Civil Rulers â—nd may respectively belong to both Supreme â—nd Subordinate Of this latter sort there is a great variety There are Viceroys of Countries and Kingdoms Governours of Colonies and Corporations Judge 〈◊〉 Causes Civil and Criminal Magistrates Juâ—ices and as the word is abused Commissioners â—ome that represent the Commonalty and are â—eputed to act for Them With many more â—ccording to the various Forms and Methods of Government that are in use among men Who â—ave All of them some more some less of â—uthority residing in them and each of these â—â—ders according to their several distinct Proportions of this Authority may come under 〈◊〉 Denomination of Civil Rulers 2. What is it that makes them such Râ—â—â— Blessings The Doctrine informs us That the Strenâ— of these Rods lies in these two things 1. Their Ability 2. Their Fidelity The one Respects their Accomplishment 〈◊〉 their Places The other their Honesty in thâ— Places And these two like the two Pillars 〈◊〉 the Temple are the main Props of a Commâ—â— Weal To begin with the First That they may such Blessings 1. They must be Able Men. Exod. 18.21 else it will be a Vanity to expect any Securâ— or Benefit from their Conduct and a point the greatest madness to be Flattered with 〈◊〉 Hope of it Here Observe these few Particulars 1. They should be Men of Knowledge and â—â—â—dence Deut. 1.13 Without Knowledge neiâ—â— can Wholesome Laws be Enacted or those 〈◊〉 are so understood or put in Execution Thâ— is not perhaps any Study more copiousâ— any Practice more difficult than that of Law There is such a vast Variety of Actiâ—â— requiring a particular Application of the Geâ—â— Rules of Justice to them there are so mâ—â— knotty intricate Cases wherein the Truth 〈◊〉 notâ—â—ly so shallow as to be easily come at 〈◊〉 be of any tolerable Attainments in this sort 〈◊〉 Skill calls for Good Parts and a good Imâ—ovement of them This Wisdom Solomon â—gg'd of God 2 Chron. 1.10 And when he â—d it he found it so rich a Jewel in his Crown 〈◊〉 necessary to Government that he speaks of â—em which had not a good measure of it as â—t worthy To Speak in the Gate Prov. 24.7 i. e. 〈◊〉 have any thing to do as Judges in Matters of â—dicature The Gates of Cities being of Anciâ—â—t Time the Places where they Held their â—urts of Justice Such is the Unskilfulness of some that have an â—est and just Cause Such the Craft and Subtilty 〈◊〉 many that have a bad one such the Tricks Shifts â—at men have devised to pervert the Sense of â—e best and to Evade the Force of the strongest â—ws such the Fair Colours that the wicked â—ngues worse Consciences of unconscionable â—dvocates study to put upon the most unjust and â—egal Actions that if there be not Wisdom to â—arch out the Matter there will be no Judging 〈◊〉 which side Truth and Justice lies Again â—udence is another Branch of this Requisite â—d a principal Ornament of an Able Ruler 〈◊〉 Wise men are not Prudent Rulers They â—â—st have moreover a Discretion and Aptness â—apply the Knowledge they have to the Ends â— Government and to the Nature and Circumâ—nces of those things that come under their â—ndling that Matters of State may be manaâ—â— with a suitable Honour Decorum This will command Respect from all that are concernâ— in them and preserve Government from falliâ— under the Contempt of those that will regardâ— no longer than while it hath an Aw upon theâ— In a word many things may be lawful in themselves which are not expedient for the Good 〈◊〉 the Common Weal He is a Wise man thâ— knows them and he is a Prudent Ruler that knoâ— how to avoid them It was Davids Praise Thâ— when God had set him over his People He Gâ—ded them by the Skilfulness of his Hands Psal 78. â— 2. They must be Just and Upright Men. Aâ— unless they be such all their Knowledge will bâ— serve to render them the more heinous Sinneâ— and the worse Common wealth's Men. Thâ— must be Men of Truth Exod. 18.21 Agaâ—â— 2 Sam. 23.3 Such an one was Job concerniâ—â— whom the Lord testifieth that he was Uprigâ—â— Job 1.1 And Job professeth concerning hiâ—self chap. 29.14 I put on Righteousness c. â— Judgment was as a Robe and Diadem These Vâ—tues were the Attire and Ornaments of his Sâ— The work which God and men call them to â— to distribute Justice to others and without thâ— be such men themselves they can never do 〈◊〉 If they han't a steady constant Care and Zâ— and Love to promote Justice and Righteousneâ—â— among men they will but abuse their Plaâ—â— and be false to their Trust and this care 〈◊〉 zeal they can never have unless they be meâ—â— just and honest Principles themselves Be 〈◊〉 â—â—vs they are to Rule by never so good and â—lesome yet Judges of a corrupt Conscience â—y either wittingly misconstrue them wilfully â—vert the true intention of them or wink at â—m that do it ignorantly or they may delay 〈◊〉 Justice Sued for upon them or positively deâ—it When such as Rule over others own no â—jection to the known Rules of Justice and â—nesty their own wills shall be their Law or 〈◊〉 mans will beside that hath but Wickedness â—â—ugh to go to the cost of purchasing it at their â—â—nds Flattery and Bribery come upon such 〈◊〉 armed men and there is no Power nor â—art to withstand them Finally that Authoriâ—â— which is not exercised under the Influence of â—n Principles will prove either Arbitrary and â—annical or turn to Anarchy and Confusion â— They must be Men of Courage and Resolution 〈◊〉 if they knew never so well what they ought â—o if they have never so much a mind to do â—et a faint heart will betray both their Knowâ—ge and their Honesty to the Will of any â—at One that dares to oppose them Moses â—efore gives it in Charge to his Judges Deut. â— 7. Ye shall not be Afraid of the Face of Man 〈◊〉 Let their Looks be never so big or their â—â—ds never so bold you that have the Sword â—ustice should not be daunted at them Those 〈◊〉 Corruptions in men that make Government â—ssary make it as necessary that Rulers should â—iri Fortes Strong Rods or they will soon be trampled down and become insignificant The Poor when they transgress may be easily punished and kept under a little Courage if there be but any care and Conscience in the Magistrate will serve to reduce them to order and make them weary of their disorders But when men of aâ— higher Rank do offend and that is as often 〈◊〉 as any when they that should be Examples of 〈◊〉 Obedience to others scorn to stoop to the Laws 〈◊〉 themselves bid defiance to those Ordinances which they owe Subjection to and when they have so done think by their Riches or Power or Friends or Interest
to you and so Rule this People according to the Laws of God and the King than which nothing can be a stricter tie to those that know and believe that the same God whom they have thus called upon to be a witness of the sincerity and integrity of their hearts in what they are undertaking will if they be either careless or false not suffer them to escape his Righteous Judgment and most severe Reflections 5 Shall I add this one consideration further both to stir you up to and strengthen you in your publick work It is this You have the Royal Favour of a most Gracious Soveraign whom the Divine Providence hath in a wonderful manner raised up and hitherto preserved to be the Bulwark of Religion and Property to the English Israel We are a little Branch of that Vine our Civil Life and Liberty is bound up in theirs we have felt the warmth of those benign Influences which have refreshed the wearied Land of our Fore fathers Sepulchres and as the Prophet Ezekiel speaks chap. 34.27 God hath broken the Bands of the Yoke that were upon us and delivered us out of the Hands of those that would have served themselves of us God who hath the Hearts of Princes in his Hand hath whatever our Enemies have endeavoured to the contrary given you Favour in the sight of the King You have in this respect great opportunity and advantage to be consulting and promoting the things which will be for the Glâ—ry of God the Interest of his Kingdom and the Weal of his People According as it is improved we may hope God will prolong it He will not take it well at our hands if it be neglected Give me leave then to say to you that are or may this Day be Rulers over us as once it was said to Ezâ—a chap. 10.4 This matter belongeth unto you It is your part principally to take care for the Improvement of such an Opportunity and ours to be with you in it When the Lord by whom Princes â—â—le maketh them Nursing Fathers to his People it opâ—â—eth a wide door of Liberty and Power to all that derive Authority from them to be in their respective places Rods of Strength for desending and encouraging the Good for suppresling and punishing the Wicked for promoting Piety and Rightcousness and if there be an heart wanting to improve such an advantage we may probably repent it when we can do nothing else Suffer then the Exhortation I beseech you in the words of the Lord which you have in Hag. 2.4 Be strong O Zerubbabel and work Do the work of your publick Capacities with Prudence Honour and Fidelity I am with you saith the lord of Hosts Thus if you approve your selves it will be Honour to God your Comfort our Weal and the rejoycing of all that love God his People There are a sew thingâ— which I would crave your Patience Honoured and much Respected that I may briefly recommend unto you as needful to be much in your Eyes and upon your Hearts if you would thus acquit your selves be Strong Rods to us at such a Day as this 1. Let the Interest of Religion and Holiness be your principal care Labour the reviving and promoting of it with all your strength This is both our Decus Tutamen we may truly say of this great Article that it is Articulus stantis et cadentis Nov Angliae It is this that engageth the Lord to deal gâ—aciously with his people and to be their Saviour in Isa 63.7 When the Church had reckoned up the Loving kindnesses of God many ways expressed we have in the following verse the consideration intimated upon which the Lord proceeded in deing those great things for his people verse 8. For he said surely they are my People Children that will not lie so â—e was their Saviour q. d. They will not be salse to my Covenant they will walk in my ways and keep my Commandments they will remember their Engagements and fulfil them and upon their so doing he had and would shew them his Salvation In this way they might hope for it but if they should prove lying unholy backsliding Children they would but deceive themselves to expect it Upon this ground hath the Lord been proceeding with our Fathers in time past and upon the same will he deal with us at this Day If we consider the things that were at the beginning when God first laid the Foundations of Gospel work in these Ends of the Earth if we remember the Wonders of old which we have heard and our Fathers have told us we may say of those Providences where by God through many Difficulties brought a Remnant of his faithful People into these remote corners of the World planted and preserved them here as David doth Psal 44.7 That the Lord did it By his Right-hand c. because he had a favour for them By great Deliverances and Salvations did the Lord manifest his Presence among them and Loving-kindness to them and they were all u pon this account Psal 22.4 Our Fathers trusted in thee they trusted and thou dâ—lst deliver them They had Holiness to the Lord Engraven upon their hearts designs and ways and God was with them If we are true to this Interest and Cause of God and walk in the Covenant of the Lord God of our Fathers it shall be well with us Exod. 20.6 But if there be a declining backsliding apostatizing Spirit in us if we give the Lord cause to take up that Complaint concerning us in Mal. 3.7 Even from the dayes of your Fathers ye are gone away from mine Ordinances and have not kept them Oh! what Presumption what Madness will it be for us to hope that as he was theirs so he will be our Saviour Alas How many are there that have forgotten forsaken this great Interest of the Lord among us Beyou intreated therefore who shall have the rule of this People to consider it and engage your hearts to the advancing of it Remember that there is a Solemn Covenant between God this his People God hath taken them to be his they have owned themselves to be the Lords upon this Foundation stand all our Mercies Priviledges Enjoyments whatsoever can contribute any thing to our present or suture Felicity and therefore the recovering of us from all our Apostasies and the maintaining promoting of serious Godliness among us should will be the chief Scope of such Rulers as make Conscience to Serve either God or his People 2. Express a high Veneration for and Regard unto Gods holy Ordinances Let them have all that Security from the Blasphemous Reproaches and Abuses of Ungodly men that either your Laws or your Examples can afford them If they that go before a People go out of this way sad Experience proves it but too natural a practice for them to follow their Leaders So Jeroboam the son of Nebat made Israel to Sin 1 King 16 26.