head for the benefit and advantage of the whole body Very fitly therefore in the body politick are the rulers by way of allusion called Heads And in case of inability to discharge those functions such societies may not undeservedly be compared to the Palmists Idols that have eyes but see not and have ears but hear not Suppose the hands be never so strong for action or the feet never so swift for motion yet if there be not discretion in the head to discerne or judgement to determine what is meet to be done for the obviating of evil and danger or procuring of good it will be impossible to save such a body from ruine and destruction If the Mast be never so well strengthened and the Tackline never so well bound together yet if there wants a skilful Pilot to Steer and Guide especially in a rough and tempestuous Sea the lame will soon take the prey as it hapned a little before this time in the Reign of Saul when the Philistines had so often harressed that Country and placed their Garisons in the very heart of the Land and not long after when in the days of Rehoboam who had shields enough some of Gold with other weapons of War many thousand stalls of Horses with Horsemen proportionable to manage them yet for want of wisdome and understanding in the head of that rich and populous Kingdome how soon is it become a prey to the first assaylant as afterwards also in the dayes of Joash when there was but a small company of the Syrians that came against him a great Host was delivered into their hand and all through that ill conduct of the Head of that Kingdome But by the way here we are to mark according to the sence of the words already given under the wisdome of conduct or understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do is necessarily comprehended piety before God as well as prudence amongst men according to the received rule of Scripture Language and Phrase where as Divines use to say verba sensus denotant affectum cordis therefore understanding to know Israels duty requires a great deal of divine skill and spiritual wisdome attained by Faith in Gods promises diligent reading of the precepts of his Law fervent and frequent prayer for divine assistance by which means David became wiser then his Teachers yea was accounted wise as the Angel of God to discerne good and bad and to know all things that were in the earth It was by a special Law required of God that the King in Israel should have a copy of the divine Law written out by his own hand say some of the Rabbines and kept by him that he might read therein all the dayes of his life Deut. 17 19.20 that from thence he might receive direction how to govern his Kingdome so that according to the excellent patern before us in the Text it is requisite that the Heads and leaders of Israel should be versed in Divine as well as in humane Law Therefore we find that when Solomon after he was advanced to be the chief Head and Leader of Israel when he had his Option granted him of God could not ask any thing so well pleasing to God and so needful to himself as wisdome or an understanding heart to judge the Israel of God and to discerne between good and bad As herein had David his Father before him approved himself as a meet Shepheard over the flock of God in feeding of them according to the integâ—ity of his heart and guiding them by the skilfulness of his hands Psal 78. ult That is he guided them by his counsel and preserved them by his power in which two branches is contained the sum of a Rulers office And though in many cases the rule is very plain and easie and he that runs as is said may read what Israel ought to do yet things may be oft times so circumstanced in Israel that it is no easie matter to know what Israel ought to do many times the right way lieth in a very narrow the Channel may run between two dangerous precipices on either side so that a man who hath not great understanding Incidit in syllam volens vitare charybdin A Ruler may oft times run into one or more evils and it may be great ones too that intended only to avoid some lesser one yea sometimes he that resolves to keep the middle of the Channel yet for want of insight and experience not making allowance for emergent cases difficulties not easie to be foreseen may by the setting of the Current be shipwracked on the opposite Shoar Si tempora rerum status ita circumvolvantur ut administrandi ratio cum illis consentiens sit bona faeliciter omnia contingent at si tempora et res ipsae mutentur poribit qui in agendo rationem non mutat As said that great Italian Polititian A fitter Instance of which dangerous errour cannot be given then that of Josiah who yet was one of the best Rulers that ever headed the Kingdome of Judah for he to prevent a lesser inconvenience of having his own Kingdome that lay between the two great Kings of Assyria and Egypt made the seat and field of War denies liberty to the Egyptian to pass through his Kingdome and so opposing him in an hostile way is overcome and slain and his Kingdome spoiled by him it proving the most fatal Battel that ever was fought by any of the Kings of Judah and which made way to the final overthrow of the Kingdome and following Captivity of the People So great mischiefs oft times do attend the want of understanding to know what Israel ought to do Rehoboam also and his people did both strangely ruine themselves by a contrary extream in this kind in not understanding of the times to know what they ought to do to avoid the danger which either of them feared The King was afraid of being mated by his Subjects puts on a garb of greater Majesty then was usual in his countenance and words at that time when a condescending carriage with more mildness and gentleness had been more necessary and in all probability had saved both his Honour and his Kingdome on the otherside the people acted by the same fatal and precipitant counsels of rash and unadvised persons to avoid the heavy yoke of the house of David as they conceived advanced one of the Servants of their former Kings whose little finger proved indeed as the other proudly speaks heavier then the loyns of the two former Kings for the Kingdome was not able to stand long under the weight thereof but was soon crushed and ruined by the tyrany of the succeeding Kings of the ten Tribes The consideration of such dangerous consequences might obviate the heady and tumultuous humors of many who upon the least discontent against their Rulers for want of success or the like think of nothing less then of removing them out of the World or
out of the Government at least and substituting others in their room which if they should accomplish possibly might intangle them in the like or a worse mischief then that which they expected to be delivered from as many have found by sad experience Oft doth the remedy prove worse then the disease Infaeliciter agrotat eui plus mali venit a medico quà m a morbo As good to have no King in Israel as to anoint a Bramble over the rest of the Trees In the present exigent before us in the Text the case appeared difficult a good while There was Abner the Captain of the Host of Israel with the Son and Heir of the former King engaged on the one side David and a few of his Servants and followers on the other yet to those that had understanding of those times it doth at the last manifestly appear what Israel ought to do Saul had outed himself of the Kingdome by asking counsel of the Devil how to continue it in his family who were therefore justly rejected of God David was by a special mandate from God chosen to be King in his stead which Abner and the Captains of the Host can readily acknowledge when prejudice and self-interest is laid aside and Conscience but permitted to speak The Kingdome belonged unto David not only in regard of ability and fitness but also in point of right and title as being the person designed of God for them to choose yet is it something long before the people are willing to understand it Though wisdome be alwayes too high for a fool as Solomon speaks yet in the darkest times that ever befel the Israel of God they that will do the will of God may by inquiry study and prayer come to know what it is However it doth hereby appear of how great concernment it is for the Heads in Israel to know what Israel ought to do least otherwise they be drawn to do that which in Israel ought not to be done Gideon was a wise man that judged Israel with great approbation of God and man yet out of a superstitious conceit will needs make an Ephod which thing ought not to have been done in Israel what followed All Israel went a whoring after it and so it became a snare to himself in his family and to Israel also The body of a people are not much unlike the body of waters which are not apt to move of themselves if let alone in their own receptacle but as they receive an impression from a forreign Element or a power that is above them and things that are soft and flexible are susceptible of divers yea contrary impressions David by an insinuating and melting speech bowed the hearts of all the men of Israel as one man They that have such interest in them had need know what they ought to do seeing they may make them do almost what pleaseth themselves that are their Rulers for Absolom had bowed them as well as David though it were the wrong way All mens hearts are not in their own keeping wise men can easily find keys that will open the Cabinet and take away the Treasure for t is said Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel Thus in things of the greatest moment it is easie for Princes and Leaders and Heads of the Tribes to draw them that are their bones and their flesh as David speaks to be of their mind and to engage in their quarrel be it right or wrong Many Instances of the like kind may be given out of prophane as well as Sacred Hystory for the sea of examples of this nature is withous bottome whereby it will be found most evident that those who are the Heads and Leaders of any people may easily engage them in their own quarrels to their ruine and destruction as often as otherwise Thus did Jeroboam Ahab Jehu and others perswade the people of Israel after their own example to embrace the abominable idolatry of the Calves which brought inevitable and fatal ruine upon the whole Kingdome of the ten Tribes as well as upon their owne families Cato was wont to say of the people of Rome and it is as true of any other sort of people that they were like sheep in that it was easier to drive or lead a whole flock or multitude of them then any one single creature amongst them By all which Considerations it is manifest that things are no where like so succesfully to be carryed on as where they who are concerned in the leading of Church or state have such understanding of the times as to know what Israel ought to doe 3. The third thing considerable in this unparalleld pattern of civill polity is the unity of their Counsels That which in this juncture of affairs before us in the text was apprehended as most meet for Israel to doe is by the joynt advice and counsel of the heads of this tribe propounded and by the whole body of the people consented unto and approved such a rare pattern of unity is seldome found in our times Let a body politick be never so well proportioned as to its constitution and form of goverment never so well furnished with wise and able men for its conduct and guidance yet if the several members be not well tuned together by a spirit of love and unity there will never be any good harmony in their Administrations Where the whole multitude is not of one heart and of one mind as was said of them in the Acts. Chap 4.32 there will appear little beauty or strength and no success in any of their motions In the beautifull Systemâ— of the world which yet is compounded of sundry Elements and those of differing qualityes one from the other yet is there such a necessary and mutual connection between the parts that they are all so firmly knit one to another that it is altogether impossible to make any breach in their union rather will those several bodies forget the propertyes of their own nature then theâ—e shall be any Chasma or Vacuum amongst them which would tend to a dissolution of the whole Thus in the body politick where it is animated with one entire spirit of love and unity and setled upon lasting and sure foundations of quietness and peace all the several members must and will conspire together to deny or forbear the exercise of their own proper inclinations to preserve the union of the whole that there be no Schisme in the body as the Apostle speaks Therefore where the higher bodyes in Church or state cannot descend and that of their own voluntary inclination without forcible compulsion and the lower and grosser ones cannot ascend up to meet the other any man may easily read the destiny of such a society It had been much better for Rehoboam to have denyed himself and become the servant of his people and subjects for that one day rather then to have made them his enemies if not his lords for
The Happiness of a People In the Wisdome of their Rulers DIRECTING And in the Obedience of their Brethren ATTENDING Unto what Israel ought to do RECOMMENDED IN A SERMON Before the Honourable GOVERNOUR and COUNCIL and the Respected DEPUTIES of the Mattachusets Colony in New-England Preached at Boston May. 3d. 1676. being the day of ELECTION there By WILLIAM HVBBARD Minister of Ipswich Exod. 18.21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear God men of Truth Rom. 12.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers for there is no Power but God Psal 44.15 Happy is the people that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Ubi Ordinis defectus ibi exoriuntur in aere fulmina in terrâ commotiones in Mari inundationes in corporibus Aegritudines in urbibus Seditiones in an imabus peccata Ordo continet Coelestia terrestria Ordo est in intelligibilibus Ordo in sensibilibus Ordo in astris Ordo in omnibus Naz. BOSTON Printed by John Foster 1676. TO THE HONOURABLE John Leveret Esq Governour of the Mattachusets Colony Together with the rest of the Honourable Council of Magistrates of the said Colony WHereas it hath been customary and commendable in former and less curious times it seems in this critical age not only expedient but necessary to send such discourses as the ensuing abroad into the world under the shadow protection of some Worthyes whose countenance authority may defend them from any malevolence they may be incident unto wherefore the following Sermon being by providence now called forth into publick view I am necessarily emboldned to dedicate it unto your Names not knowing to whom the patronage of it doth more properly belong As it is a favour from you I may the better expect it in that you gave the first occasion to any Elucubrations of mind about it As it is any testimony of Observance from me none may better then you deserve it I never intended any further publication then the preaching lest such Crambe bis cocta might not relish well in the Palates of this curious Age so plentifully furnished with all varietyes of Wisdome Knowledge but for their sakes who by the exigence of the Times and present distress of the Warre were denied the opportunity to be of the Auditory I have condescended to make it Legible I shall not insist upon any Apology aebout the Subject chosen to treat of it giving so fair an occasion to speak of all the most important dutyes that either Rulers or People can be concerned in whatever juncture of affairs should come upon them It cannot be denied but in the latter end of the former year the wisest amongst us were under sad apprehensions concerning the issue of the present troubles that were then come and dayly coming upon us in regard of the Rage of the Heathen so far let loose against us and those that were concerned in the Election of Magistrates for this present year were ready to fear they might bespeak the persons on whom the next Election should fall with the words of the prophet Thou hast Cloathing be thou our Ruler and let this ruine be under thine hand But Thanks be to Almighty God that hath verified that antient Proverb of the Hebrews to our late experience Cum duplicantur lateres hinc venit Moses And as Israel was never brought into greater Streights then a little before Pharaoh and his Host were to be drowned in the red Sea so hath it in a sence been with our selves There could not but be a very sad face of things in Israel when their first King had by his ill Steerage and bad Conduct of affairs after a long Tempest of Warre shipwracke himself his Family all his Kingdome in that fatal Battle on the mountains of Gilboa But he whose sole Prerogative it is to bring good out of evill ordered that disasterous Calamity to become an occasion to usher in the greatest prosperity that ever that Nation enjoyed either before or since that time For as God when he had a purpose to exalt his people to be the Head of the Nations amongst whom they lived and not the tayle he infused a spirit of Counsel and Wisdome into the minds of their Leaders Instructing them to find out the right and ready way of their future peace and tranquility together with a spirit of Love and Obedience in the People to attend thereunto It is a good O men unto Israel when the Goverment of the Tribes falls into such hands as have Understanding in the times to know what Israel ought to doe it will then be no hard matter to perswade their Brethren to comply with their Commands As every season of a mans life carryes its particular dutyes along with it so doth every age of the World bring with it particular dutyes as the work of that Generation As it concerns every judicious Christian to know the one so it doth every Head or Leader of the Tribes to be acquainted with the other as also prudently to observe the fit season and peculiar manner of acting for the performing such duties upon which narrow point depends the success of al humane affairs undertakings Because to every purpose there is time and judgment therefore is the misery of man great upon him faith Solomon i. e. Because time and Chance hapneth to them all the sons of men that know not their times are taken as Fishes in an evill net If any thing be found hinted in the following Discourse that hath any tendency that way or may become an help thereunto as it is all I aimed at so shall I rest abundantly satisfied if what is humbly offered in that kind find favourable acceptance with your selves or others As for the times in which and the place where our Lot is cast although in many respects we may say with the Psalmist The Lines are fallen to us in pleasant places and that we have a goodly Heritage yet must we owne that what with the imperfections of our minds Wills what with many other temptations that ly before us in the work of our Generation concurring therewith we have met with a sufficient degree of â—ffliction and trouble enough to ballance our hearts and keep us from being exalted above measure yet need not this be any Remora or hindrance unto us in the present duty and Service we are called unto there being no reason to be rendred why we should not walk together in Vnity Love and Peace in those things whereunto we have attained because in some others and possibly those of less moment some may be otherwise minded Concerning which minute and lesser Differences I shall not presume here to offer any thing tending to make the least alteration in any of your judgments being fully perswaded that in all the main and essential matters of Religion both of Faith and Order as well as righteousness you are all of
then from the executioner or officer of Justice 3. The third and last branch of the Magistrates care about Religion is to reform it when it is grown corrupt or is in tendency thereunto In clearing of which I need not stay long this part of their power so undeniably following upon the other two ex natura rei To whom doth it belong more properly to repair the house then to them that first laid the foundation and set it up As the first famous Kings of Israel prepared the matter and erected the Temple of God 〈◊〉 Jerusalem so the following Kings took it to be their duty to repair and put it in order again Solomon put out Abathaâ— as an unmeet person from the office of the priesthood no reason can be rendred why the Kings and Princes of our times may not do the like if the case be the same or if the like unworthiness be found in the persons of them that minister about holy things Idolatry was suppressed by Asa Jehosaphat Hezekiah and Josiah and the worship of God restored to the first Institution What hath been done by Christian Emperours and Kings in all former ages to our present dayes is well known by the History of those times by the Laws Edicts and Constitutions left upon Record enacted by their power But still we must keep in our minds that the power so exerted by the civil Magistrate supream oâ— subordinate is to be understood cumulativè not privativè so they that take it to be their duty to abolish Catholicorum Hierarchiam doe not in the stead thereof establish Poli icorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Uzz ah must not meddle with the exercise of the Priests office although he may and â—ught to require those that enjoy such offices to perform their duty As Paul or the Collossians may or should exhort Archippus to fullfill the ministry he hath received in the Lord to fullfill it The Magistrate may require and command it and prevent the corruption of the Church by removing such and substituting others in their room and in their stead 2. We are in the next place to consider of the political concernments of those who are the Heads of Israel the which are of two sorts Civil or Military i. e. take care it be done by them whom it concerns 1. For the civill concernments of the Leâ—ders in Israel there are exigenâ—s in reference to this as well as the former that require much prudence and skill to know what Israel ought to doe in and about the same There are two things principally to be attended here 1. The moderation of the civill power to a due Temperament 2. The faithfull improvement of it for the publick good For the first it is very true which a learned person observes that power is a lâ—quor very apt to overflow iâ— what vessâ—l soever it is put unless it be tempâ—red with a due proportion of Wisdome and Goodness and is apt though never so necessary in it self to prove pernicious and destructive to them that are concerned in it It is very observable that God gave Israel Laws Judicial as well as Ceremoniall leaving as little as might be to the arbâ—triment of civill Rulers And that hath been the continual care of prudent Law givers to abate the height of Soveraignty by a meet Temperament of some of the inferiour Sort. Such were the Ephori at Sparta of old the Tribunes at Rome and the Delegates of people in most modern Kingdomes and States as well as amongst our selves And it is noted by a very judicious Interpreter that when the people of Israel would not be satisfied without a king God ordered Samuel to write the manner of the Kingdome in a Book 1. Sam. 10.25 That is the fundamental Laws of the Kingdome to temper Monarchy with a liberty befitting his owne people and with equity toward a Nation which of its own free will did chuse a King and with a benignity of Goverment of Brethren of the same race to withstand the abuse of an absolute power which the peoples blind desire might have caused the new King to have run into As Diodate speaks upon that Text As for the improvement of this power the titles given to such Rulers in the Text and other places of the Scripture as a sufficient intimation of the duty of those that are called to the exercise thereof As they are heads so they ought to go before the members of the civil body by their pious and grave examples as well as by their prudent Counsels and their just and wholsome Laws for t is true which one hath longum iter per praecepta breve efficax per exempla examples of Rulers are always observed to take more place with their people then their precepts Posterity will as much honour the pâ—eâ—y of him that left a good patern of honesty or bounty as they will the wisdome of him that left a good body of just and useful Laws And some Princes have inherited the title and surname of good and liberal as well as for other perfections of wisdome or justice This way also is more fruitful in the propagating and increasing virtues Autor est bâ—norum consequentium qui bonum relinquit exemplum As on the other hand a people are apt to be leavened and hardened in vice by the evil example of their Governours Have any of the Rulers believed on him as they speak iâ— John you know David would not yield to an unequal Distribution of the body although thereby greater advantage might have accrued to his own person by which self-denying example so good a custome or standing Law in Israel had its first original We know also how much benefit hath followed such Examples in Nehemiah and others who have been a means to provoke others to the like acts of goodness and charity by their practices They are as Pillars that uphold the Foundation of the state which in a sense may be said to be built thereon David complains of the dissolution of the state in those times before he was called to bear up the pillars of it Rulers indeed if they are built like arches that clasp in all round together the more weight there is laid upon them the firmer they stand but being disunited or not joynted in well together they weaken the authority of each other and hasten the ruine of the whole It was noted of Themistocles and Aristides who alwayes had their private quarrels at home that when they were sent abroad upon publick service they never carried their particular coâ—tests bâ—yond the bounds of their own Country a commendable patern for others to imitate who as they are called also Corner stones ought carefully to endeavour not only to keep up but unite the whole building together They are the Watch-men set upon the Gates of Jerusalem to descry danger afar off which hath its truth in reference to civil Magistrates as well as spiritual Watch-men by the consent of the best Interpreters
given leave The Lord fill you all with the Spirit of Wisdome and Counsell and make you as the men of his right hand whome he hath made strong for himself and grant you may be found like David who being chosen to be the Shepard of Gods Israel fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hand which is the Prayer of Your humble Servant W. H. SOme Faults have escaped in the Press which the Reader is desired to correct by reading In p. 4. l. 28. head for Decades l. 29. Decades for heads p. 5. l. 19. best for bear p. 7. l. 30. several for general p 9. l. 6. read residence p 17. l. 23. immersed for emersed p. 18. l. 16. badges for bodyes p. 19. l. 9 20. l. 36. Apologue for Apologus p 27. l. 25. leave out here p. 22. l. 23. our worst for or worse l 21. vigor for rigor l. 23. peccatur for peccat p 33. l. 13 Isacks for Israels p. 37. l. 26. fifth for first p. 39. l. 14. for hast hate p. 40. l. 13 tardus for territus p. 43. l. 27. booty for body p. 45. l. 18. rights for rites l. 32 wars for way The like errors in spelling or pointing may be helped by them that read as where each is printed for such p. 56. l. 36. 1 Chron. 12.32 Of the Children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do the heads of them were two hundred and all their Brethren were at their Commandment IF ever those words of Wisdome Proverbs 8.15 By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice were true of any of the Kings and Princes of the Earth they were true of David who in his publick as well as private capacity approved himself a Man after Gods own heart leaving an unimitable patern to the Kings of all succeeding ages both of piety in obeying God and of wisdome and justice in ruling over men as if the Book wherein Samuel wrote the manner of the Kingdome had been perfectly transcribed in his life and Government It was not undeservedly therefore that after so large an edition of the whole Hystory of the Acts and Reign of David in the two first Books of the Kings such a considerable addition should be made to that part of the Hystory which concerned his entrance upon his Kingdome in this twelfth Chapter of the first book of the Chronicles where we have the triumphant manner thereof at large described being attended therein with a great Host as it is called ver 22. like the Host of God from which verse to the end of this Chapter it is very remarkable how the Penman of this sacred Chronicle like some Divine Herauld is Marshalling the respective bands of the said Host under the particular Banners of their several Tribes assigning unto each some distinct Character as a special badg of honour according as they best deserved either for the skilfulness of their Captains and Leaders the number and valour of their followers willingness or readiness in both to promote the design in hand which was the turning the Kingdome of Saul unto David Amongst the rest of the Tribes as they are here ranked in this Chapter special notice is taken of the Tribe of Issachar of which Tribe although no great matter had been foretold in the Prophetical Benediction either of Jacob or Moses yet is there here in the Text a very signal testimony given both to their piety and prudence to their unity and magnanimity any of which cannot be conceived but to tend more then a little to the successful carrying on that great affair which now they had in hand so as at that time what Solomon saith of his vertuous Woman Prov. 31.29 might very fitly have been said of the Tribe of Issachar many daughters have done virtuously but thou excellest them all In the words of the Text there are four things very obvious to the view of the observant Reader 1. The Distribution of the whole Tribe into its integral parts or constituent Members as to their political order viz. the Heads and the Brethren of which two united together consisted the body of the Tribe as is here implyed 2. The qualification of each part fitly disposing them to a regular performance of the duty incumbent on either for the good of the whole 1. Wisdome in those that were the Heads described both by its specification understanding of the times 2. By its application to know what Israel ought to do 2. Willingness in the Brethren to attend the advice and counsel of their Leaders they were at their Commandment 3. The regular and orderly proceeding of each part the which is necessarily implyed in the words that when the heads of the Tribe had counselled and determined what was needful to be done the Brethren were ready to put their resolves in Execution It was not in Issachar as Anacharsis the Philosopher sometimes complained of the tumultuous proceedings in the popular Common-wealth at Athens that wise and grave men deliberated on things but fools and mad men resolved thereof but at this time in Issachar the body of the people were ready to put in execution what those who had understanding in the times judged needful to be done 4. The entire unity of the Tribe amongst themselves declaring the unanimous consent of the whole in that it is said all their Brethren were at their Commandment sc at the Commandment of the two hundred which were the Heads which doth justly advance the gallantry of the Action of the tribe of Issachar in this affair above that of any of the rest of the Tribes by the same proportion by which our Saviour preferred the bounty of the poor Widow above all the rest of the Contributers for as she put into the Treasury all which she had so doth this Tribe send all their whole Stock to increase the Host of David which if they were not so many thousands as some of the other Tribes might send yet seeing there were none that staid behind it was for want of number but not of good-will if they did not equal or exceed the rest of the tribes I shall only paraphrase a little upon the words to give the sense and meaning of them before I commend any thing from thence to our present consideration Of the Children of Issachar these were the descendants of the fifth Son of Jacob by his Wife Leah whose Lot as it seems to have fallen in one of the richest and most fruitful soiles of the whole Land of Canaan so was it more likely as was foretold in Jacobs blessing to dispose the Inhabitants by reason of the robustickness of their body an ordinary effect of the fertility of of any soyle to couch down under a double burden of tribute then by any valour of their minds to shake off the servile yoke It may then not unseasonably here be demanded how it should come
great patience before it were accomplished so that in their experiences they must say Qui cupit optatam cursu Multa tulit fecitque c. At Israels first coming out of Egypt God would not carry them by the way of the Spyes though that was nigh a journey of a few dayes lest they should faint and be discouraged when they see war And as afterward God would try Gideons Army before he would call them forth to war for when that Generation that came out of Egypt upon tryal manifested such untractibleness and impatience under the hazard and difficulties of war God saw meet to lay them wholly aside and train up their posterity by degrees to inure and accustome them to bear the difficulties and hazards thereof Amongst Davids small number that followed him while he was at Ziglag one third part t is said was so faint that they could not go over the Brook Bezor but they were not denied their equal proportion in the spoile which shewd their tarrying behind proceeded not from the want of valour in their minds but from weakness in their bodies which are but jumanta or vehicula animorum so that patience under evil is very necessary for a Souldier 4. In the last place Perseverance whereby we endure unto the end This is a law in the civil as well as spiritual combate that there must be holding out to the end without which the Crown is not to be expected It was one part of the Sacramentum militare by which the Roman Souldiers were wont to be listed of old not only that they should not be unwilling to dye for the Common-wealth and engage to do whatever their Emperour should command but that they should never forsake the Camp while there was need of their service And to this principle was all their success in their Wars to be ascribed that they were unwearied therein of whom it was truly said that though they were saepius in praelio nunquam in bello victi though they lost many Battels yet their valour was so great that they would never yield to adversity Moses will not allow the two Tribes and an half to sit still after their own inheritance was cleared of the Enemy till they had also helped to put their Brethren into the possession of theirs Numb 32.6 And in the 78 Psalm the Psalmist complains of the Children of Ephraim that they turned back in the day of Battel like a broken Bow A true spirit of valour will alwayes stand bent to the same mark not deceiving those that trust thereunto The courage of Davids mind held good after his body grew faint and weak whereby we see that perseverance is the property of a valiant minde as well as confidence or patience Application These four Considerations premised offer a seasonable word of Advice to every one that is come hither this day As John the Baptist was furnished from that measure of heavenly wisdome he was endued with to give a satisfying answer to several that came to him with this question What shall we do Luke 3. ver 10 12 14. So may any wise Scribe instructed to the Kingdome of God from this text be supplyed to give an answer to every person here present and met together upon this solemn occasion that shall enquire what they shall doe in reference to the business before us I presume there is none here present but will be found in one of these three capacityes either of an Elector or one elected or a Subject under the charge of those who are like to be continued in or chosen to the office of an Head or Ruler in this our tribe each one may from the premises hear something spoken unto him in the language of that Capacity wherein he stands before the Lord this day For order sake I shall in the first place address my self to speak unto you that are met here as Electors There was joy in Israel when the Tribes were now met together to establish the Kingdome in the hands of David as is said in the last verse of this Chapter By proportion this day was wont to be a joyfull day unto us being as it were the solemnizing of the Birth-day of our little State the renewall of our Goverment with all our civill priviledges The Advice I shall present you with at this time is by way of Caution in the words of the Apostle Gal. 5.13 You are now called to the exercise of your civill Liberty wherein much of your other libertyes are bound up Use not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love to serve one another Those that doe but seriously consider how much the honour of God as well as their own good and welfare is concerned in the regular and conscientious proceeding in this business of Election cannot but have a solemn awe upon their hearts in this work and judge that the putting a Solemnity upon the grandeur of the day is the least part of the service thereof I might here minde you that although it uses to be accounted oreâ—o the highest civill priviledges a people can enjoy to have the liberty to choose their owne Rulers and not to be imposed upon in that kinde yet if this matter be not carefully lookt unto so as to be both prudently and conscienciously carryed on it may become an occasion of the greatest bondage as hath been too sadly verefied almost in all the elective states and kingdoms in the world The fatal instance of Absalom makes it appear how easie a matter it is to court a well meaning people into such a false conceit of liberty as may end in the ruine both of Electors and Elected As was seen in the person forementioned as in Abimelech and his Tribe long before For they were upon the Election of a King Certainly if they were accounted cursed deceivers that having a male in their flock shall vow and offer to the Loâ—â—â— corrupt thing Mal 1.14 what may we think of them that being called 〈…〉 of their Brethren with the supream power of Rule Go◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—f the highest service for the glory of God good of men sh◠〈…〉 with fact on or prejudice or byassed with self intere◠〈…〉 as to choose persons to such a service as are neither 〈…〉 acceptable to wise men or in in their choise to 〈…〉 those that are I mean not to attend the directions given by God himself Exod 18.27 Able men fearing God c. Yea it is expresly commanded them Deut. 17.15 Thou shalt in any wise set him â—â—ng over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse whom is God said to chuse but those whom he hath not only called but fitted for such office by the gifts of wisdome and grace which were wont to be signified by the holy oyle used to be powred on them God doth in these dayes mediately seem to point at such to rule as he was wont of old immediately to call forth to such service What ever strange